Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Hesawforthefirsttimethathehadneverknownfearbecause,againstanydisaster,hehadheldtheomnipotentcureofbeingabletoact.No,hethought,notanassuranceofvictory—whocaneverhavethat?—onlythechancetoact,whichisalloneneeds.Nowhewascontemplating,impersonallyandforthefirsttime,therealheartofterror:beingdeliveredtodestructionwithone’shandstiedbehindone’sback.
Well,then,goonwithyourhandstied,hethought.Gooninchains.
Goon.Itmustnotstopyou...Butanothervoicewastellinghimthingshedidnotwanttohear,whilehefoughtback,cryingthroughandagainstit:There’snopointinthinkingofthat...there’snouse...whatfor?...leaveitalone!
Hecouldnotchokeitoff.Hesatstill,overthedrawingsofthebridgefortheJohnGaltLine,andheardthethingsreleasedbyavoicethatwaspart-sound,part-sight:Theydecideditwithouthim...Theydidnotcallforhim,theydidnotask,theydidnotlethimspeak...Theywerenotboundevenbythedutytolethimknow—tolethimknowthattheyhadslashedpartofhislifeawayandthathehadtobereadytowalkonasacripple...Ofallthoseconcerned,whoevertheywere,forwhicheverreason,forwhateverneed,hewastheonetheyhadnothadtoconsider.
Thesignattheendofalongroadsaid:ReardenOre.Ithungoverblacktiersofmetal...andoveryearsandnights...overaclocktickingdropsofhisbloodaway...
