Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
Empty,hopeless,unfocusedfaceswerebecomingmoreapparentinthestreetsofthecities,butnoonecouldreadtheirmeaning.Assomemenwereescapingwiththeirbodiesintotheundergroundofuninhabitedregions,sootherscouldonlysavetheirsoulsandwereescapingintotheundergroundoftheirminds—andnopoweronearthcouldtellwhethertheirblanklyindifferenteyeswereshuttersprotectinghiddentreasuresatthebottomofshaftsnolongertobemined,orweremerelygapingholesoftheparasite’semptinessnevertobefilled.
"Idon’tknowwhattodo,"saidtheassistantsuperintendentofanoilrefinery,refusingtoacceptthejobofthesuperintendentwhohadvanished—andtheagentsoftheUnificationBoardwereunabletotellwhetherheliedornot.Itwasonlyanedgeofprecisioninthetoneofhisvoice,anabsenceofapologyorshame,thatmadethemwonderwhetherhewasarebelorafool.Itwasdangeroustoforcethejoboneither.
"Giveusmen!"ThepleabegantohammerprogressivelylouderuponthedeskoftheUnificationBoard,fromallpartsofacountryravagedbyunemployment,andneitherthepleadersnortheBoarddaredtoaddthedangerouswordswhichthecrywasimplying:"Giveusmenofability!"Therewerewaitinglinesyears’longforthejobsofjanitors,greasers,portersandbusboys;therewasnoonetoapplyforthejobsofexecutives,managers,superintendents,engineers.
