Атлант расправил плечи

           Thisisthedayofhumanity,inamuchdeepersensethanyouimagine.Humanbeingsarenolongerexpectedtobesaintsnortobepunishedfortheirsins.Nobodyisrightorwrong,we’reallinittogether,we’reallhuman—andthehumanistheimperfect.You’llgainnothingtomorrowbyprovingthatthey’rewrong.Yououghttogiveinwithgoodgrace,simplybecauseit’sthepracticalthingtodo.Yououghttokeepsilent,preciselybecausethey’rewrong.They’llappreciateit.Makeconcessionsforothersandthey’llmakeconcessionsforyou.Liveandletlive.Giveandtake.Giveinandtakein.That’sthepolicyofourage—andit’stimeyouacceptedit.Don’ttellmeyou’retoogoodforit.Youknowthatyou’renot.YouknowthatIknowit."

           Thelookofhiseyes,heldraptlystilluponsomepointinspace,wasnotinanswertoherwords;itwasinanswertoaman’svoicesayingtohim,"Doyouthinkthatwhatyou’refacingismerelyaconspiracytoseizeyourwealth?You,whoknowthesourceofwealth,shouldknowit’smuchmoreandmuchworsethanthat."

           HeturnedtolookatLillian.Hewasseeingthefullextentofherfailure—intheimmensityofhisownindifference.Thedroningstreamofherinsultswaslikethesoundofadistantrivetingmachine,along,impotentpressurethatreachednothingwithinhim.Hehadheardherstudiedremindersofhisguiltoneveryeveninghehadspentathomeinthepastthreemonths.Butguilthadbeentheoneemotionhehadfoundhimselfunabletofeel.