Атлант расправил плечи

           "HasitleftyourlifeasitwasbeforeyouproducedtheMetal?"

           "No—"saidRearden,thewordbreakingoffasifhehadcutshortthethoughtthatfollowed.

           Francisco’svoicelashedathimsuddenly,asacommand:"Sayit!"

           "Ithasmadeitharder,"saidReardentonelessly.

           "WhenyoufeltproudoftherailoftheJohnGaltLine,"saidFrancisco,themeasuredrhythmofhisvoicegivingaruthlessclaritytohiswords,"whatsortofmendidyouthinkof?DidyouwanttoseethatLineusedbyyourequals—bygiantsofproductiveenergy,suchasEllisWyatt,whomitwouldhelptoreachhigherandstillhigherachievementsoftheirown?"

           "Yes,"saidReardeneagerly.

           "Didyouwanttoseeitusedbymenwhocouldnotequalthepowerofyourmind,butwhowouldequalyourmoralintegrity—mensuchasEddieWillers—whocouldneverinventyourMetal,butwhowoulddotheirbest,workashardasyoudid,livebytheirowneffort,and—ridingonyourrail—giveamoment’ssilentthankstothemanwhogavethemmorethantheycouldgivehim?"

           "Yes,"saidReardengently.