Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Yethiseyeslookedatherattentively;theyseemedtoseemorethanshecouldsuspect;theymadeherthinkofone-wayglass:theyletalllightraysin,butnoneout.
"Francisco,Iaskedyoutocomehere,becauseIwantedyoutoseemeinmyoffice.You’veneverseenit.Itwouldhavemeantsomethingtoyou,once."
Hiseyesmovedslowlytolookattheoffice.Itswallswerebare,exceptforthreethings:amapofTaggartTranscontinental—theoriginaldrawingofNatTaggart,thathadservedasmodelforhisstatue—andalargerailroadcalendar,incheerfullycrudecolors,thekindthatwasdistributedeachyear,withachangeofitspicture,toeverystationalongtheTaggarttrack,thekindthathadhungonceinherfirstworkplaceatRockdale.
Hegotup.Hesaidquietly,"Dagny,foryourownsake,and"—itwasabarelyperceptiblehesitation—"andinthenameofanypityyoumightfeelforme,don’trequestwhatyou’regoingtorequest.Don’t.Letmegonow."
Thiswasnotlikehimandlikenothingshecouldeverhaveexpectedtohearfromhim.Afteramoment,sheasked,"Why?"
"Ican’tansweryou.Ican’tansweranyquestions.Thatisoneofthereasonswhyit’sbestnottodiscussit."
"YouknowwhatIamgoingtorequest?"
"Yes."Thewayshelookedathimwassuchaneloquent,desperatequestion,thathehadtoadd,"IknowthatIamgoingtorefuse.
