Атлант расправил плечи
The Generator
Stadler,becausehismindrefusedtoadmittherealityofthethingshewasseeing.Therewereshiftingfiguresinhalf-lighted,disorderedoffices,thereweretoomanyfirearmsoneverybody’ships,thereweresenselessquestionsaskedofhimbyjerkyvoicesthatalternatedbetweenimpertinenceandfear.
Hedidnotknowwhetheranyofthemtriedtogivehimanexplanation;hewouldnotlisten;hecouldnotpermitthistobetrue.Hekeptstatinginthetoneofafeudalsovereign,"I’mthebosshere,fromnowon...Igivetheorders...Icametotakeover...Iownthisplace...IamDr.RobertStadler—andifyoudon’tknowthatnameinthisplace,youhavenobusinessbeinghere,youinfernalidiots!You’llblowyourselvestopieces,ifthat’sthestateofyourknowledge!Haveyouhadahigh-schoolcourseinphysics?Youdon’tlooktomeasifyou’veeverbeenallowedinsideahighschool,anyofyou!Whatareyoudoinghere?Whoareyou?"
Ittookhimalongtimetograsp—whenhismindcouldnotblockitanylonger—thatsomebodyhadbeatenhimtohisplan:somebodyhadheldthesameviewofexistenceashisownandhadsetouttoachievethesamefuture.Hegraspedthatthesemen,whocalledthemselvestheFriendsofthePeople,hadseizedpossessionofProjectX,tonight,afewhoursago,intendingtoestablishareignoftheirown.Helaughedintheirfaces,withbitterlyincredulouscontempt.
