Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
"
Thatcouldbetrue,hethought;perhaps,bythereasoningofsomecrude,childishcowardice,themotiveoftheirmalicewasadesiretoprotecthim,tobreakhimdownintothesafetyofacompromise.It’spossible,hethought—butknewthathedidnotbelieveit.
"You’vealwaysbeenunpopular,"saidLillian,"andit’smorethanamatterofanyoneparticularissue.It’sthatunyielding,intractableattitudeofyours.Themenwho’regoingtotryyou,knowwhatyou’rethinking.That’swhythey’llcrackdownonyou,whilethey’dletanothermanoff."
"Why,no.Idon’tthinktheyknowwhatI’mthinking.That’swhatIhavetoletthemknowtomorrow."
"Unlessyoushowthemthatyou’rewillingtogiveinandco-operate,youwon’thaveachance.You’vebeentoohardtodealwith."
"No.I’vebeentooeasy."
"Butiftheyputyouinjail,"saidhismother,"what’sgoingtohappentoyourfamily?Haveyouthoughtofthat?"
"No.Ihaven’t."
"Haveyouthoughtofthedisgraceyou’llbringuponus?"
"Mother,doyouunderstandtheissueinthiscase?"
"No,Idon’tandIdon’twanttounderstand.It’salldirtybusinessanddirtypolitics.Allbusinessisjustdirtypoliticsandallpoliticsisjustdirtybusiness.Ineverdidwanttounderstandanyofit.
