Атлант расправил плечи

           InRearden’spauseofincreduloussilence,hepointedatthecrowdinthedrawingroom."Whyareyouwillingtocarrythem?"

           "Becausethey’reabunchofmiserablechildrenwhostruggletoremainalive,desperatelyandverybadly,whileI—Idon’tevennoticetheburden."

           "Whydon’tyoutellthemthat?"

           "What?"

           "Thatyou’reworkingforyourownsake,nottheirs."

           "Theyknowit."

           "Ohyes,theyknowit.Everysingleoneofthemhereknowsit.Buttheydon’tthinkyoudo.Andtheaimofalltheireffortsistokeepyoufromknowingit."

           "WhyshouldIcarewhattheythink?"

           "Becauseit’sabattleinwhichonemustmakeone’sstandclear."

           "Abattle?Whatbattle?Iholdthewhiphand.Idon’tfightthedisarmed."

           "Arethey?Theyhaveaweaponagainstyou.It’stheironlyweapon,butit’saterribleone.Askyourselfwhatitis,sometime."

           "Wheredoyouseeanyevidenceofit?"

           "Intheunforgivablefactthatyou’reasunhappyasyouare."

           Reardencouldacceptanyformofreproach,abuse,damnationanyonechosetothrowathim;theonlyhumanreactionwhichhewouldnotacceptwaspity.Thestabofacoldlyrebelliousangerbroughthimbacktothefullcontextofthemoment.Hespoke,fightingnottoacknowledgethenatureoftheemotionrisingwithinhim."Whatsortofeffronteryareyouindulgingin?What’syourmotive?"

           "Letussay—togiveyouthewordsyouneed,forthetimewhenyou’llneedthem."