Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Helookedstraightatherandshesawthefirstsparkofalivingresponseinhiseyes,alookthatwasbright,pitilessand,incredibly,proud:asifthiswereanaccusationthatgavehimstrength.
"Oh,yes,"shesaidslowly,asifansweringhisthought,"Irealizethat.I’vedamnedyouforthosemines,I’vedenouncedyou,I’vethrownmycontemptatyouineverywaypossible,andnowIcomebacktoyou—formoney.LikeJim,likeanymoocheryou’veevermet.Iknowit’satriumphforyou,Iknowthatyoucanlaughatmeanddespisemewithfulljustice.Well—perhapsIcanofferyouthat.Ifit’samusementthatyouwant,ifyouenjoyedseeingJimandtheMexicanplannerscrawl—wouldn’titamuseyoutobreakme?Wouldn’titgiveyoupleasure?Don’tyouwanttohearmeacknowledgethatI’mbeatenbyyou?Don’tyouwanttoseemecrawlingbeforeyou?Tellmewhatformofityou’dlikeandI’llsubmit."
Hemovedsoswiftlythatshecouldnotnoticehowhestarted;itonlyseemedtoherthathisfirstmovementwasashudder.Hecamearoundthedesk,hetookherhandandraisedittohislips.Itbeganasagestureofthegravestrespect,asifitspurposeweretogiveherstrength;butasheheldhislips,thenhisface,pressedtoherhand,sheknewthathewasseekingstrengthfromithimself.
Hedroppedherhand,helookeddownatherface,atthefrightenedstillnessofhereyes,hesmiled,nottryingtohidethathissmileheldsuffering,angerandtenderness.
