Атлант расправил плечи
The Concerto of Deliverance
AllthosedamnedPeople’sStatesallovertheearthhavebeenexistingonlyonthehandoutswhichyousqueezedforthemoutofthiscountry.Butyou—youhavenoplacelefttospongeonormoochfrom.Nocountryonthefaceoftheglobe.Thiswasthegreatestandlast.You’vedrainedit.You’vemilkeditdry.Ofallthatirretrievablesplendor,I’monlyoneremnant,thelast.Whatwillyoudo,youandyourPeople’sGlobe,afteryou’vefinishedme?Whatareyouhopingfor?Whatdoyouseeahead—exceptplain,stark,animalstarvation?"
Theydidnotanswer.Theydidnotlookathim.Theirfacesworeexpressionsofstubbornresentment,asifhiswerethepleaofaliar.
ThenLawsonsaidsoftly,halfinreproach,halfinscorn,"Well,afterall,youbusinessmenhavekeptpredictingdisastersforyears,you’vecriedcatastropheateveryprogressivemeasureandtoldusthatwe’llperish—butwehaven’t."Hestartedasmile,butdrewbackfromthesuddenintensityofRearden’seyes.
Reardenhadfeltanotherclickinhismind,thesharperclickofthesecondtumbrelconnectingthecircuitsofthelock.Heleanedforward.
"Whatareyoucountingon?"heasked;histonehadchanged,itwaslow,ithadthesteady,pressing,droningsoundofadrill.
"It’sonlyamatterofgainingtime!"criedMouch.
"Thereisn’tanytimelefttogain."
"Allweneedisachance!"criedLawson.
