Атлант расправил плечи

           Youcouldbeleftheretostarve."

           "True."

           "Well,don’tyousee?"TheloudnessofhomeyjovialitycamebackintoMr.Thompson’svoice,asifthehintgivenandreceivedwerenowtobesafelyevadedbymeansofhumor."WhatI’vegottoofferyouisyourlife."

           "It’snotyourstooffer,Mr.Thompson,"saidGaltsoftly.

           SomethingabouthisvoicemadeMr.Thompsonjerktoglanceathim,thenjerkfastertolookaway:Galt’ssmileseemedalmostgentle.

           "Now,"saidGalt,"doyouseewhatImeantwhenIsaidthatazerocan’tholdamortgageoverlife?It’sIwho’dhavetograntyouthatkindofmortgage—andIdon’t.Theremovalofathreatisnotapayment,thenegationofanegativeisnotareward,thewithdrawalofyourarmedhoodlumsisnotanincentive,theoffernottomurdermeisnotavalue."

           "Who...who’ssaidanythingaboutmurderingyou?"

           "Who’ssaidanythingaboutanythingelse?Ifyouweren’tholdingmehereatthepointofagun,underthreatofdeath,youwouldn’thaveachancetospeaktomeatall.Andthatisasmuchasyourgunscanaccomplish.Idon’tpayfortheremovalofthreats.Idon’tbuymylifefromanyone."

           "That’snottrue,"saidMr.Thompsonbrightly."Ifyouhadabrokenleg,you’dpayadoctortosetit."

           "Notifhewastheonewhobrokeit."HesmiledatMr.Thompson’ssilence.