Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
Amonth?You’dsettleforaweek—ontheunchallengedabsolutethattherewillalwaysbeanothervictimtofind.Butyou’vefoundyourlastvictim—theonewhorefusestoplayhishistoricalpart.Thegameisup,brother."
"Oh,that’sjusttheory!"snappedMr.Thompson,alittletoosharply;hiseyeswererovingabouttheroom,inthemannerofasubstituteforpacing;heglancedatthedoor,asiflongingtoescape."Yousaythatifwedon’tgiveupthesystem,we’llperish?"heasked.
"Yes."
"Then,sincewe’reholdingyou,youwillperishwithus?"
"Possibly."
"Don’tyouwanttolive?"
"Passionately."HesawthesnapofasparkinMr.Thompson’seyesandsmiled."I’lltellyoumore:IknowthatIwanttolivemuchmoreintenselythanyoudo.Iknowthatthat’swhatyou’recountingon.Iknowthatyou,infact,donotwanttoliveatall.Iwantit.AndbecauseIwantitsomuch,Iwillacceptnosubstitute."
Mr.Thompsonjumpedtohisfeet."That’snottrue!"hecried."Mynotwantingtolive—it’snottrue!Whydoyoutalklikethat?"Hestood,hislimbsdrawnfaintlytogether,asifagainstasuddenchill.
"Whydoyousaysuchthings?Idon’tknowwhatyoumean."Hebackedafewstepsaway."Andit’snottruethatI’magunman.I’mnot.Idon’tintendtoharmyou.Ineverintendedtoharmanybody.Iwantpeopletolikeme.
