Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Therearesomanydifferentissuesawaitingdecision,hangingbyathinthread.Wecannevertellwhenonesuchissuemayhedecidedandwhatmaybethedecisivefactorinadelicatebalance.DoImakemyselfclear?"
"No."
Theredflameofpouredsteelshotthroughthetwilight.Anorangeglow,thecolorofdeepgold,hitthewallbehindRearden’sdesk.
Theglowmovedgentlyacrosshisforehead.Hisfacehadanunmovingserenity.
"TheStateScienceInstituteisagovernmentorganization,Mr.Rearden.TherearecertainbillspendingintheLegislature,whichmaybepassedatanymoment.Businessmenarepeculiarlyvulnerablethesedays.Iamsureyouunderstandme."
Reardenrosetohisfeet.Hewassmiling.Helookedasifalltensionhadlefthim.
"No,Dr.Potter,"hesaid,"Idon’tunderstand.IfIdid,I’dhavetokillyou."
Themanwalkedtothedoor,thenstoppedandlookedatReardeninawaywhich,foronce,wassimplehumancuriosity.Reardenstoodmotionlessagainstthemovingglowonthewall;hestoodcasually,hishandsinhispockets.
"Wouldyoutellme,"themanasked,"justbetweenus,it’sonlymypersonalcuriosity—whyareyoudoingthis?"
Reardenansweredquietly,"I’lltellyou.Youwon’tunderstand.Yousee,it’sbecauseReardenMetalisgood."
DagnycouldnotunderstandMr.Mowen’smotive.
