Атлант расправил плечи

           Hewaslookingatablankfacethatseemedcomposed,butthecomposurebecamedisquietingwhenonenoticedthatitlastedforminuteafterminute,withnochangeofexpression,nosignoffeeling.Herfacehadthesamelookasalltheothers,hethought,exceptforsomethinginthesetofthemouththatsuggestedendurance.

           "Itrustyou,MissTaggart.You’vegotmorebrainsthanallmyboys,"hepleaded."You’vedonemoreforthecountrythananyofthem—it’syouwhofoundhimforus.Whatarewetodo?Witheverythingfallingtopieces,he’stheonlyonewhocanleadusoutofthismess—buthewon’t.Herefuses.Hesimplyrefusestolead.I’veneverseenanythinglikeit:amanwhohasnodesiretocommand.Webeghimtogiveorders—andheanswersthathewantstoobeythem!It’spreposterous!"

           "Itis."

           "Whatdoyoumakeofit?Canyoufigurehimout?"

           "He’sanarrogantegoist,"shesaid."He’sanambitiousadventurer.

           He’samanofunlimitedaudacitywho’splayingforthebiggeststakesintheworld."

           Itwaseasy,shethought.Itwouldhavebeendifficultinthatdistanttimewhenshehadregardedlanguageasatoolofhonor,alwaystobeusedasifonewereunderoath—anoathofallegiancetorealityandtorespectforhumanbeings.Nowitwasonlyamatterofmakingsounds,inarticulatesoundsaddressedtoinanimateobjectsunrelatedtosuchconceptsasreality,humanorhonor.