Атлант расправил плечи

           Personally,I’dagreewithyou,I’mafreedomlovingman,MissTaggart,I’mnotafterpower—butthisisanemergency.

           Peoplearen’treadyforfreedom.We’vegottokeepastronghand.Wecan’tadoptanidealistictheory,which—"

           "Thendon’taskmewhattodo,"shesaid,androsetoherfeet.

           "But,MissTaggart—"

           "Ididn’tcomeheretoargue."

           Shewasatthedoorwhenhesighedandsaid,"Ihopehe’sstillalive."Shestopped."Ihopetheyhaven’tdoneanythingrash."

           Amomentpassedbeforeshewasabletoask,"Who?"andtomakeitaword,notascream.

           Heshrugged,spreadinghisarmsandlettingthemdrophelplessly.

           "Ican’tholdmyownboysinlineanylonger.Ican’ttellwhattheymightattempttodo.There’soneclique—theFerris-Lawson-Meigsfaction—that’sbeenaftermeforoverayeartoadoptstrongermeasures.Atougherpolicy,theymean.Frankly,whattheymeanis:toresorttoterror.Introducethedeathpenaltyforciviliancrimes,forcritics,dissentersandthelike.Theirargumentisthatsincepeoplewon’tco-operate,won’tactforthepublicinterestvoluntarily,we’vegottoforcethemto.Nothingwillmakeoursystemwork,theysay,butterror.

           Andtheymayberight,fromthelookofthingsnowadays.ButWesleywon’tgoforstrong-armmethods;Wesleyisapeacefulman,aliberal,andsoamI.