Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"Hedidnotwanttoknowtheinsectintricacyofthedealsthroughwhichthe"shares"weresoldandpooled—norhowamanufacturerinVirginiahadproduced,intwomonths,fivethousandtonsofcastingsmadeofReardenMetal—norwhatmaninWashingtonwasthatmanufacturer’sunlistedpartner.
HeknewthattheirprofitonatonofReardenMetalwasfivetimeslargerthanhisown.Hesaidnothing.EverybodyhadarighttotheMetal,excepthimself.
TheyoungboyfromWashington—whomthesteelworkershadnicknamedtheWetNurse—hungaroundReardenwithaprimitive,astonishedcuriositywhich,incredibly,wasaformofadmiration.Reardenwatchedhimwithdisgustedamusement.Theboyhadnoinklingofanyconceptofmorality;ithadbeenbredoutofhimbyhiscollege;thishadlefthimanoddfrankness,naiveandcynicalatonce,liketheinnocenceofasavage.
"Youdespiseme,Mr.Rearden,"hehaddeclaredonce,suddenlyandwithoutanyresentment."That’simpractical."
"Whyisitimpractical?"Reardenhadasked.
Theboyhadlookedpuzzledandhadfoundnoanswer.Heneverhadananswertoany"why?"Hespokeinflatassertions.Hewouldsayaboutpeople,"He’sold-fashioned,""He’sunreconstructed,""He’sunadjusted,"withouthesitationorexplanation;hewouldalsosay,whilebeingagraduateinmetallurgy,"Ironsmelting,Ithink,seemstorequireahightemperature.
