Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
"Youareaverydifficultman,Mr.Rearden."
Theskyofthelateafternoonwasgrowingheavy,asifthickeningagainsttheglassofthewindowpanes.Theoutlinesoftheman’sfigureseemedtodissolveintoablobamongthesharp,straightplanesofthefurniture.
"Igaveyouthisappointment,"saidRearden,"becauseyoutoldmethatyouwishedtodiscusssomethingofextremeimportance.Ifthisisallyouhadtosay,youwillpleaseexcusemenow.Iamverybusy."
Themansettledbackinhischair."IbelieveyouhavespenttenyearsofresearchonReardenMetal,"hesaid."Howmuchhasitcostyou?"
Reardenglancedup:hecouldnotunderstandthedriftofthequestion,yettherewasanundisguisedpurposefulnessintheman’svoice;thevoicehadhardened.
"Oneandahalfmilliondollars,"saidRearden.
"Howmuchwillyoutakeforit?"
Reardenhadtoletamomentpass.Hecouldnotbelieveit."Forwhat?"heasked,hisvoicelow.
"ForallrightstoReardenMetal."
"Ithinkyouhadbettergetoutofhere,"’saidRearden.
"Thereisnocallforsuchanattitude.Youareabusinessman.Iamofferingyouabusinessproposition.Youmaynameyourownprice."
"TherightstoReardenMetalarenotforsale."
"Iaminapositiontospeakoflargesumsofmoney.Governmentmoney.
