Атлант расправил плечи

           Butyou,whoaresointelligentandstrong,can’tyoutakepityonthem?Can’tyouhelpthem?"

           "Bydroppingmyintelligenceandfollowingtheirblindness?"

           "Theymaybewrong,buttheydon’tknowanybetter!"

           "ButI,whodo,shouldobeythem?"

           "Ican’targue,Mr.Galt.I’mjustbeggingforyourpity.They’resuffering.I’mbeggingyoutopitythosewhosuffer.I’m...Mr.Galt,"heasked,noticingthatGaltwaslookingoffatthedistancebeyondthewindowandthathiseyesweresuddenlyimplacable,"what’sthematter?Whatareyouthinkingof?"

           "HankRearden."

           "Uh...why?"

           "DidtheyfeelanypityforHankRearden?"

           "Oh,butthat’sdifferent!He—"

           "Shutup,"saidGaltevenly.

           "Ionly—"

           "Shutup!"snappedMr.Thompson."Don’tmindhim,Mr.Galt.

           Hehasn’tsleptfortwonights.He’sscaredoutofhiswits."

           Dr.FloydFerris,nextday,didnotseemtobescared—butitwasworse,thoughtMr.Thompson.HeobservedthatGaltremainedsilentandwouldnotanswerFerrisatall.

           "It’sthequestionofmoralresponsibilitythatyoumightnothavestudiedsufficiently,Mr.Galt,"Dr.Ferriswasdrawlingintooairy,tooforcedatoneofcasualinformality."Youseemtohavetalkedontheradioaboutnothingbutsinsofcommission.