Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Thereweremanyeasierwaystomakemoney.Whydidyouchoosethehardest?"

           "YousaiditinyourspeechatTaggart’swedding:inordertoexchangemybesteffortforthebesteffortofothers."

           "Ifthatwasyourpurpose,haveyouachievedit?"

           Abeatoftimevanishedinaheavydropofsilence."No,"saidRearden.

           "Haveyoumadeanymoney?"

           "No."

           "Whenyoustrainyourenergytoitsutmostinordertoproducethebest,doyouexpecttoberewardedforitorpunished?"Reardendidnotanswer."Byeverystandardofdecency,ofhonor,ofjusticeknowntoyou—areyouconvincedthatyoushouldhavebeenrewardedforit?"

           "Yes,"saidRearden,hisvoicelow.

           "Thenifyouwerepunished,instead—whatsortofcodehaveyouaccepted?"

           Reardendidnotanswer.

           "Itisgenerallyassumed,"saidFrancisco,"thatlivinginahumansocietymakesone’slifemucheasierandsaferthanifonewereleftalonetostruggleagainstnatureonadesertisland.Nowwhereverthereisamanwhoneedsorusesmetalinanyway—ReardenMetalhasmadehislifeeasierforhim.Hasitmadeyourseasierforyou?"

           "No,"saidRearden,hisvoicelow.