Атлант расправил плечи

           Hewonderedwhyhefeltreassured—andthen,whyhefeltthesudden,inexplicablewishthatthesethingswerenotleftintheopen,unprotectedagainsttheemptyspaceabove. 

           WhenhecametoFifthAvenue,hekepthiseyesonthewindowsofthestoreshepassed. Therewasnothingheneededorwishedtobuy;buthelikedtoseethedisplayofgoods,anygoods,objectsmadebymen,tobeusedbymen. Heenjoyedthesightofaprosperousstreet;notmorethaneveryfourthoneofthestoreswasoutofbusiness,itswindowsdarkandempty. 

           Hedidnotknowwhyhesuddenlythoughtoftheoaktree.Nothinghadrecalledit.ButhethoughtofitandofhischildhoodsummersontheTaggartestate. HehadspentmostofhischildhoodwiththeTaggartchildren,andnowheworkedforthem,ashisfatherandgrandfatherhadworkedfortheirfatherandgrandfather. 

           ThegreatoaktreehadstoodonahillovertheHudson,inalonelyspotoftheTaggartestate.EddieWillers,agedseven,likedtocomeandlookatthattree. Ithadstoodthereforhundredsofyears,andhethoughtitwouldalwaysstandthere. Itsrootsclutchedthehilllikeafistwithfingerssunkintothesoil,andhethoughtthatifagiantweretoseizeitbythetop,hewouldnotbeabletouprootit,butwouldswingthehillandthewholeoftheearthwithit,likeaballattheendofastring. Hefeltsafeintheoaktree’spresence;itwasathingthatnothingcouldchangeorthreaten;itwashisgreatestsymbolofstrength. 

           Onenight,lightningstrucktheoaktree.Eddiesawitthenextmorning.