Атлант расправил плечи

           "Hisfacewasbrightwithconfidence,hisvoicesoundedamused,protectiveandgentle;shecoulddiscovernothingelse,helookedashehadalwayslooked,itwasonlythenoteofgentlenessthatseemedstrangeandnew.

           "IkeptfeelingthatIshouldn’thave,"shesaid,"butIdidn’tknowwhy."

           "I’lltellyouwhy."Heleanedforward."WhathewantedfromyouwasarecognitionthathewasstilltheDr.RobertStadlerheshouldhavebeen,butwasn’tandknewhewasn’t.Hewantedyoutogranthimyourrespect,inspiteofandincontradictiontohisactions.Hewantedyoutojugglerealityforhim,sothathisgreatnesswouldremain,buttheStateScienceInstitutewouldbewipedout,asifithadneverexisted—andyou’retheonlyonewhocoulddoitforhim."

           "WhyI?"

           "Becauseyou’rethevictim."

           Shelookedathim,startled.Hespokeintently;hefeltasudden,violentclarityofperception,asifasurgeofenergywererushingintotheactivityofsight,fusingthehalf-seenandhaft-graspedintoasingleshapeanddirection.

           "Dagny,they’redoingsomethingthatwe’veneverunderstood.Theyknowsomethingwhichwedon’t,butshoulddiscover.Ican’tseeitfullyyet,butI’mbeginningtoseepartsofit.ThatlooterfromtheStateScienceInstitutewasscaredwhenIrefusedtohelphimpretendthathewasjustanhonestbuyerofmyMetal.Hewasscaredwaydeep.