Атлант расправил плечи

           Itseemedtohimasifafewraysfromitreachedintohispresent:notrays,morelikepinpointspotlightsthatgaveanoccasionalmoment’sglittertohisjob,tohislonelyapartment,tothequiet,scrupulousprogressionofhisexistence. 

           Hethoughtofasummerdaywhenhewastenyearsold. Thatdayinaclearingofthewoods,theonepreciouscompanionofhischildhoodtoldhimwhattheywoulddowhentheygrewup. Thewordswereharshandglowing,likethesunlight. Helistenedinadmirationandinwonder. Whenhewasaskedwhathewouldwanttodo,heansweredatonce, "Whateverisright,"andadded,"Yououghttodosomethinggreat...Imean,thetwoofustogether." "What?"sheasked. Hesaid, "Idon’tknow.That’swhatweoughttofindout. Notjustwhatyousaid.Notjustbusinessandearningaliving. Thingslikewinningbattles,orsavingpeopleoutoffires,orclimbingmountains." "Whatfor?"sheasked. Hesaid,"TheministersaidlastSundaythatwemustalwaysreachforthebestwithinus. Whatdoyousupposeisthebestwithinus?" "Idon’tknow." "We’llhavetofindout." Shedidnotanswer;shewaslookingaway,uptherailroadtrack. 

           EddieWillerssmiled. Hehadsaid,"Whateverisright,"twenty-twoyearsago. Hehadkeptthatstatementunchallengedeversince;theotherquestionshadfadedinhismind;hehadbeentoobusytoaskthem. Buthestillthoughtitself-evidentthatonehadtodowhatwasright;hehadneverlearnedhowpeoplecouldwanttodootherwise;hehadlearnedonlythattheydid.