Атлант расправил плечи
The Chain
Hewonderedwhatresponsetheycouldhopetoobtainfromhiminsuchmanner—ifhisresponsewaswhattheywanted.Anditwas,hethought;elsewhythoseconstantcomplaints,thoseunceasingaccusationsabouthisindifference?Whythatchronicairofsuspicion,asiftheywerewaitingtobehurt?Hehadneverhadadesiretohurtthem,buthehadalwaysfelttheirdefensive,reproachfulexpectation;theyseemedwoundedbyanythinghesaid,itwasnotamatterofhiswordsoractions,itwasalmost...almostasiftheywerewoundedbythemerefactofhisbeing.Don’tstartimaginingtheinsane-hetoldhimselfseverely,strugglingtofacetheriddlewiththestrictestofhisruthlesssenseofjustice.Hecouldnotcondemnthemwithoutunderstanding;andhecouldnotunderstand.
Didhelikethem?No,hethought;hehadwantedtolikethem,whichwasnotthesame.Hehadwanteditinthenameofsomeunstatedpotentialitywhichhehadonceexpectedtoseeinanyhumanbeing.Hefeltnothingforthemnow,nothingbutthemercilesszeroofindifference,noteventheregretofaloss.Didheneedanypersonaspartofhislife?Didhemissthefeelinghehadwantedtofeel?No,hethought.Hadheevermissedit?Yes,hethought,inhisyouth;notanylonger.
Hissenseofexhaustionwasgrowing;herealizedthatitwasboredom.Heowedthemthecourtesyofhidingit,hethought—andsatmotionless,fightingadesireforsleepthatwasturningintophysicalpain.
