Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
Walkingthroughthedarknessofthestreets,onhiswaytoherapartment,Reardenkepthishandsinhiscoatpocketsandhisarmspressedtohissides,becausehefeltthathedidnotwanttotouchanythingorbrushagainstanyone.Hehadneverexperienceditbefore—thissenseofrevulsionthatwasnotarousedbyanyparticularobject,butseemedtofloodeverythingaroundhim,makingthecityseemsodden.Hecouldunderstanddisgustforanyonething,andhecouldfightthatthingwiththehealthyindignationofknowingthatitdidnotbelongintheworld;butthiswasnewtohim—thisfeelingthattheworldwasaloathsomeplacewherehedidnotwanttobelong.
Hehadheldaconferencewiththeproducersofcopper,whohadjustbeengarrotedbyasetofdirectivesthatwouldputthemoutofexistenceinanotheryear.Hehadhadnoadvicetogivethem,nosolutiontooffer;hisingenuity,whichhadmadehimfamousasthemanwhowouldalwaysfindawaytokeepproductiongoing,hadnotbeenabletodiscoverawaytosavethem.Buttheyhadallknownthattherewasnoway;ingenuitywasavirtueofthemind—andintheissueconfrontingthem,themindhadbeendiscardedasirrelevantlongago."It’sadealbetweentheboysinWashingtonandtheimportersofcopper,"oneofthemenhadsaid,"mainlyd’AnconiaCopper.
