Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"
"Whatkindoftrouble?"
"It’sagovernmentorder.Youcan’trejectagovernmentorder."
"Whycan’tI?"
"It’sanEssentialNeedproject,andsecret,too.It’sveryimportant."
"Whatkindofaprojectisit?"
"Idon’tknow.It’ssecret."
"Thenhowdoyouknowit’simportant?"
"Itsaidso."
"Whosaidso?"
"Youcan’tdoubtsuchathingasthat,Mr.Rearden!"
"Whycan’tI?"
"Butyoucan’t."
"IfIcan’t,thenthatwouldmakeitanabsoluteandyousaidtherearen’tanyabsolutes."
"That’sdifferent."
"Howisitdifferent?"
"It’sthegovernment."
"Youmean,therearen’tanyabsolutesexceptthegovernment?"
"Imean,iftheysayit’simportant,thenitis."
"Why?"
"Idon’twantyoutogetintrouble,Mr.Rearden,andyou’regoingto,sureashell.Youasktoomanywhy’s.Nowwhydoyoudothat?"
Reardenglancedathimandchuckled.Theboynoticedhisownwordsandgrinnedsheepishly,buthelookedunhappy.
ThemanwhocametoseeReardenaweeklaterwasyoungishandslenderish,butneitherasyoungnorasslenderashetriedtomakehimselfappear.
