Атлант расправил плечи

           Yesterday,DagnyhadtoldhimthestoryofherfutileattemptandgivenhimDanagger’smessage.Thismorning,hehadheardthenewsthatDanaggerhaddisappeared.Throughhissleeplessnight,thenthroughthetautconcentrationonthedutiesoftheday,hisanswertothemessagehadkeptbeatinginhismind,theanswerhewouldneverhaveachancetoutter.

           "TheonlymanIeverloved."ItcamefromKenDanagger,whohadneverexpressedanythingmorepersonalthan"Lookhere,Rearden."

           Hethought:Whyhadweletitgo?Whyhadwebothbeencondemned—inthehoursawayfromourdesks—toanexileamongdrearystrangerswhohadmadeusgiveupalldesireforrest,forfriendship,forthesoundofhumanvoices?CouldInowreclaimasinglehourspentlisteningtomybrotherPhilipandgiveittoKenDanagger?Whomadeitourdutytoaccept,astheonlyrewardforourwork,thegraytortureofpretendingloveforthosewhorousedustonothingbutcontempt?

           Wewhowereabletomeltrockandmetalforourpurpose,whyhadweneversoughtthatwhichwewantedfrommen?

           Hetriedtochokethewordsinhismind,knowingthatitwasuselesstothinkofthemnow.Butthewordswerethereandtheywerelikewordsaddressedtothedead:No,Idon’tdamnyouforleaving—ifthatisthequestionandthepainwhichyoutookawaywithyou.Whydidn’tyougivemeachancetotellyou...what?thatIapprove?...no,butthatIcanneitherblameyounorfollowyou.