Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
ChickMorrisonattemptedawhistle-stoptourtobuttressthecountry’smoralebyspeechesonself-sacrificeforthegeneralwelfare.HewasstonedatthefirstofhisstopsandhadtoreturntoWashington.
Nobodyhadevergrantedthemthetitleof"thebettermen"or,grantingit,hadpausedtograspthattitle’smeaning,buteverybodyknew,eachinhisowncommunity,neighborhood,officeorshopandinhisownunidentifiedterms,whowouldbethementhatwouldnowfailtoappearattheirpostsonsomecomingmorningandwouldsilentlyvanishinsearchofunknownfrontiers—themenwhosefacesweretighterthanthefacesaroundthem,whoseeyesweremoredirect,whoseenergywasmoreconscientiouslyenduring—themenwhowerenowslippingaway,onebyone,fromeverycornerofthecountry—ofthecountrywhichwasnowlikethedescendantofwhathadoncebeenregalglory,prostratedbythescourgeofhemophilia,losingthebestofitsbloodfromawoundnottobehealed.
"Butwe’rewillingtonegotiate!"yelledMr.Thompsontohisassistants,orderingthespecialannouncementtoberepeatedbyallradiostationsthreetimesaday."We’rewillingtonegotiate!He’llhearit!He’llanswer!"
Speciallistenerswereorderedtokeepwatch,dayandnight,atradioreceiverstunedtoeveryknownfrequencyofsound,waitingforananswerfromanunknowntransmitter.Therewasnoanswer.
