Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"
Theboyhadremainedsilentforamoment,thenhadsaid,"Youknow,Mr.Rearden,therearenoabsolutestandards.Wecan’tgobyrigidprinciples,we’vegottobeflexible,we’vegottoadjusttotherealityofthedayandactontheexpediencyofthemoment."
"Runalong,punk.Goandtrytopouratonofsteelwithoutrigidprinciples,ontheexpediencyofthemoment."
Astrangesense,whichwasalmostasenseofstyle,madeReardenfeelcontemptfortheboy,butnoresentment.Theboyseemedtofitthespiritoftheeventsaroundthem.Itwasasiftheywerebeingcarriedbackacrossalongspanofcenturiestotheagewheretheboyhadbelonged,buthe,Rearden,hadnot.Insteadofbuildingnewfurnaces,thoughtRearden,hewasnowrunningalosingracetokeeptheoldonesgoing;insteadofstartingnewventures,newresearch,newexperimentsintheuseofReardenMetal,hewasspendingthewholeofhisenergyonaquestforsourcesofironore:likethemenatthedawnoftheIronAge—hethought—butwithlesshope.
Hetriedtoavoidthesethoughts.Hehadtostandonguardagainsthisownfeeling—asifsomepartofhimhadbecomeastrangerthathadtobekeptnumb,andhiswillhadtobeitsconstant,watchfulanesthetic.Thatpartwasanunknownofwhichheknewonlythathemustneverseeitsrootandnevergiveitvoice.Hehadlivedthroughonedangerousmomentwhichhecouldnotallowtoreturn.
