Атлант расправил плечи

           "Takemywordforit,MissTaggart,sothatyouwon’ttortureyourselfwithregretsaboutthetiming;thatcouldnothavebeendone."

           Shefeltthatwitheverypassingminutehewasmovingawayintosomegreatdistancewhereshewouldnotbeabletoreachhim,buttherewasstillsomethinbridgeleftbetweenthemandshehadtohurry.

           Sheleanedforward,shesaidveryquietly,theintensityofemotiontakingformintheexaggeratedsteadinessofhervoice,"Doyourememberwhatyouthoughtandfelt,whatyouwere,threehoursago?Doyourememberwhatyourminesmeanttoyou?DoyourememberTaggartTranscontinentalorReardenSteel?Inthenameofthat,willyouanswerme?Willyouhelpmetounderstand?"

           "IwillanswerwhateverImay."

           "Youhavedecidedtoretire?Togiveupyourbusiness?"

           "Yes."

           "Doesitmeannothingtoyounow?"

           "Itmeansmoretomenowthaniteverdidbefore."

           "Butyou’regoingtoabandonit?"

           "Yes."

           "Why?"

           "That,Iwon’tanswer."

           "You,wholovedyourwork,whorespectednothingbutwork,whodespisedeverykindofaimlessness,passivityandrenunciation—haveyourenouncedthekindoflifeyouloved?"

           "No.IhavejustdiscoveredhowmuchIdoloveit.