Атлант расправил плечи
The Chain
andgoingonwithnomotorsavetheconvictionthatitcouldbedone—thenthedaywhenitwasdoneanditsresultwascalledReardenMetal—thesewerethethingsthathadcometowhiteheat,hadmeltedandfusedwithinhim,andtheiralloywasastrange,quietfeelingthatmadehimsmileatthecountrysideinthedarknessandwonderwhyhappinesscouldhurt.
Afterawhile,herealizedthathewasthinkingofhispast,asifcertaindaysofitwerespreadbeforehim,demandingtobeseenagain.Hedidnotwanttolookatthem;hedespisedmemoriesasapointlessindulgence.Butthenheunderstoodthathethoughtofthemtonightinhonorofthatpieceofmetalinhispocket.Thenhepermittedhimselftolook.
Hesawthedaywhenhestoodonarockyledgeandfeltathreadofsweatrunningfromhistempledownhisneck.HewasfourteenyearsoldanditwashisfirstdayofworkintheironminesofMinnesota.Hewastryingtolearntobreatheagainstthescaldingpaininhischest.Hestood,cursinghimself,becausehehadmadeuphismindthathewouldnotbetired.Afterawhile,hewentbacktohistask;hedecidedthatpainwasnotavalidreasonforstopping.
Hesawthedaywhenhestoodatthewindowofhisofficeandlookedatthemines;heownedthemasofthatmorning.Hewasthirtyyearsold.Whathadgoneonintheyearsbetweendidnotmatter,justaspainhadnotmattered.Hehadworkedinmines,infoundries,inthesteelmillsofthenorth,movingtowardthepurposehehadchosen.
