Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Wardcouldlooktohimforhope,forrelief,forrenewalofcourage.Towhomcouldhelookforit?He,too,neededit,foronce.Hewishedhehadafriendwhocouldbepermittedtoseehimsuffer,withoutpretenseorprotection,onwhomhecouldleanforamoment,justtosay,"I’mverytired,"andfindamoment’srest.Ofallthemenheknew,wasthereonehewishedhehadbesidehimnow?Heheardtheanswerinhismind,immediateandshocking:Franciscod’Anconia.
Hischuckleofangerbroughthimback.Theabsurdityofthelongingjoltedhimintocalm.That’swhatyouget,hethought,whenyouindulgeyourselfinweakness.
Hestoodatthewindow,tryingnottothink.Buthekepthearingwordsinhismind:ReardenOre...ReardenCoal...ReardenSteel...ReardenMetal...Whatwastheuse?Whyhadhedoneit?Whyshouldheeverwanttodoanythingagain?...
Hisfirstdayontheledgesoftheoremines...Thedaywhenhestoodinthewind,lookingdownattheruinsofasteelplant...Thedaywhenhestoodhere,inthisoffice,atthiswindow,andthoughtthatabridgecouldbemadetocarryincredibleloadsonjustafewbarsofmetal,ifonecombinedatrusswithanarch,ifonebuiltdiagonalbracingwiththetopmemberscurvedto—
Hestoppedandstoodstill.Hehadnotthoughtofcombiningatrusswithanarch,thatday
