Атлант расправил плечи
The Climax of the d’Anconias
"Francisco,"shewhispered,"didyoudoitonpurpose?"
Heraisedhishead;shewasstartledtoseethathisfacehadalookofinfiniteweariness."WhetherIdiditonpurpose,"hesaid,"orthroughneglect,orthroughstupidity,don’tyouunderstandthatthatdoesn’tmakeanydifference?Thesameelementwasmissing."
Shewastrembling.Againstallherdecisionsandcontrol,shecried,"Francisco!Ifyouseewhat’shappeningintheworld,ifyouunderstandallthethingsyousaid,youcan’tlaughaboutit!You,ofallmen,youshouldfightthem!"
"Whom?"
"Thelooters,andthosewhomakeworld-lootingpossible.TheMexicanplannersandtheirkind."
Hissmilehadadangerousedge."No,mydear.It’syouthatIhavetofight."
Shelookedathimblankly."Whatareyoutryingtosay?"
"Iamsayingthattheworkers’settlementofSanSebastiáncosteightmilliondollars,"heansweredwithslowemphasis,hisvoicehard."Thepricepaidforthosecardboardhouseswasthepricethatcouldhaveboughtsteelstructures.Sowasthepricepaidforeveryotheritem.Thatmoneywenttomenwhogrowrichbysuchmethods.Suchmendonotremainrichforlong.Themoneywillgointochannelswhichwillcarryit,nottothemostproductive,buttothemostcorrupt.Bythestandardsofourtime,themanwhohastheleasttoofferisthemanwhowins.ThatmoneywillvanishinprojectssuchastheSanSebastiánMines."
Sheaskedwitheffort,"Isthatwhatyou’reafter?"
"Yes."
"Isthatwhatyoufindamusing?"
"Yes."
