Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
Drivedowntherewithyourtrucks—likeanyotherlooter,butwithouthisrisk,becauseIwon’tshootyou,asyouknowIcan’t—takeasmuchoftheMetalasyouwishandgo.Don’ttrytosendmepayment.Iwon’tacceptit.
Don’tprintoutachecktome.Itwon’tbecashed.IfyouwantthatMetal,youhavethegunstoseizeit.Goahead."
"GoodGod,Mr.Rearden,whatwouldthepublicthink!"
Itwasaninstinctive,involuntarycry.ThemusclesofRearden’sfacemovedbrieflyinasoundlesslaughter.Bothofthemhadunderstoodtheimplicationsofthatcry.Reardensaidevenly,inthegrave,unstrainedtoneoffinality,"Youneedmyhelptomakeitlooklikeasale—likeasafe,just,moraltransaction.Iwillnothelpyou."
Themandidnotargue.Herosetoleave.Hesaidonly,"Youwillregretthestandyou’vetaken,Mr.Rearden."
"Idon’tthinkso,"saidRearden.
Heknewthattheincidentwasnotended.HeknewalsothatthesecrecyofProjectXwasnotthemainreasonwhythesepeoplefearedtomaketheissuepublic.Heknewthathefeltanodd,joyous,lightheartedself-confidence.Heknewthattheseweretherightstepsdownthetrailhehadglimpsed.
Dagnylaystretchedinanarmchairofherlivingroom,hereyesclosed.Thisdayhadbeenhard,butsheknewthatshewouldseeHankReardentonight.Thethoughtofitwaslikealeverliftingtheweightofhoursofsenselessuglinessawayfromher.
