Атлант расправил плечи
The Non-commercial
Whathaveyoudonewithit?Ifyouhavethemindtounderstandallthethingsyousaid,howcanyouspeaktomeatall?Howcanyoufaceanyoneafterthesortofirresponsibledestructionyou’veperpetratedinthatMexicanbusiness?"
"Itisyourrighttocondemnmeforit,ifyouwish."
Dagnystoodbythecornerofthewindowrecess,listening.Theydidnotnoticeher.Shehadseenthemtogetherandshehadapproached,drawnbyanimpulseshecouldnotexplainorresist;itseemedcruciallyimportantthatsheknowwhatthesetwomensaidtoeachother.
Shehadheardtheirlastfewsentences.ShehadneverthoughtitpossiblethatshewouldseeFranciscotakingabeating.Hecouldsmashanyadversaryinanyformofencounter.Yethestood,offeringnodefense.Sheknewthatitwasnotindifference;sheknewhisfacewellenoughtoseetheefforthiscalmcosthim—shesawthefaintlineofamusclepulledtightacrosshischeek.
"Ofallthosewholivebytheabilityofothers,"saidRearden,"you’retheonerealparasite."
"Ihavegivenyougroundstothinkso."
"Thenwhatrighthaveyoutotalkaboutthemeaningofbeingaman?You’retheonewhohasbetrayedit."
"IamsorryifIhaveoffendedyoubywhatyoumayrightlyconsiderasapresumption."
Franciscobowedandturnedtogo.Reardensaidinvoluntarily,notknowingthatthequestionnegatedhisanger,thatitwasapleatostopthismanandholdhim,"Whatdidyouwanttolearntounderstandaboutme?"
Franciscoturned.
