Атлант расправил плечи

           "Ifyouhadanysenseofresponsibility,"Taggartwassaying,"youwouldn’tdaretakesuchachanceonnothingbutyourownjudgment!

           Youwouldjoinusandconsidersomeideasotherthanyourownandadmitthatwemightberight,too!Youwouldhelpuswithourplans!

           Youwould—"

           Taggartwentonspeakingwithfeverishinsistence,butMr.ThompsoncouldnottellwhetherGaltwaslistening:Galthadrisenandwaspacingtheroom,notinamannerofrestlessness,butinthecasualmannerofamanenjoyingthemotionofhisownbody.Mr.Thompsonnotedthelightnessofthesteps,thestraightspine,theflatstomach,therelaxedshoulders.Galtwalkedasifhewerebothunconsciousofhisbodyandtremendouslyconsciousofhisprideinit.Mr.ThompsonglancedatJamesTaggart,atthesloppypostureofatallfigureslumpedinungainlyself-distortion,andcaughthimwatchingGalt’smovementswithsuchhatredthatMr.Thompsonsatup,fearingitwouldbecomeaudibleintheroom.ButGaltwasnotlookingatTaggart.

           "...yourconscience!"Taggartwassaying."Icameheretoappealtoyourconscience!Howcanyouvalueyourmindabovethousandsofhumanlives?Peopleareperishingand—Oh,forChrist’ssake,"hesnapped,"stoppacing!"

           Galtstopped."Isthisanorder?"

           "No,no!"saidMr.Thompsonhastily."It’snotanorder.Wedon’twanttogiveyouorders...Takeiteasy,Jim.