Атлант расправил плечи

           "Ofcourse,MissTaggart!Certainly!Thatrewardisyours—allyours!

           Thecheckwillbesenttoyou,infull!"

           Ithadbeeneasy,becauseshehadfeltasifshewereinsomedrearynon-world,whereherwordsandactionswerenotfactsanylonger—notreflectionsofreality,butonlydistortedposturesinoneofthoseside-showmirrorsthatprojectdeformityfortheperceptionofbeingswhoseconsciousnessisnottobetreatedasconsciousness.Thin,singleandhot,liketheburningpressureofawirewithinher,likeaneedleselectinghercourse,washeronlyconcern:thethoughtofhissafety.Therestwasablurofshapelessdissolution,half-acid,halffog.

           Butthis—shethoughtwithashudder—wasthestateinwhichtheylived,allthosepeoplewhomshehadneverunderstood,thiswasthestatetheydesired,thisrubberreality,thistaskofpretending,distorting,deceiving,withthecredulousstareofsomeMr.Thompson’spanic-blearyeyesasone’sonlypurposeandreward.Thosewhodesiredthisstate—shewondered—didtheywanttolive?

           "Thebiggeststakesintheworld,MissTaggart?"Mr.Thompsonwasaskingheranxiously."Whatisit?Whatdoeshewant?"

           "Reality.Thisearth."

           "Idon’tknowquitewhatyoumean,but...Look,MissTaggart,ifyouthinkyoucanunderstandhim,wouldyou...