Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
Allright,let’sgetitstraight:you’reanobjectofcharitywho’sexhaustedhiscreditlongago.
WhateveraffectionImighthavefeltforyouonce,isgone.Ihaven’ttheslightestinterestinyou,yourfateoryourfuture.Ihaven’tanyreasonwhateverforwishingtofeedyou.Ifyouleavemyhouse,itwon’tmakeanydifferencetomewhetheryoustarveornot.NowthatisyourpositionhereandIwillexpectyoutorememberit,ifyouwishtostay.Ifnot,thengetout."
Butforthemovementofdrawinghisheadalittleintohisshoulders,Philipshowednoreaction."Don’timaginethatIenjoylivinghere,"hesaid;hisvoicewaslifelessandshrill."IfyouthinkI’mhappy,you’remistaken.I’dgiveanythingtogetaway."Thewordspertainedtodefiance,butthevoicehadacuriouslycautiousquality."Ifthatishowyoufeelaboutit,itwouldbebestformetoleave."Thewordswereastatement,butthevoiceputaquestionmarkattheendofitandwaited;therewasnoanswer."Youneedn’tworryaboutmyfuture.Idon’thavetoaskfavorsofanybody.Icantakecareofmyselfallright."ThewordswereaddressedtoRearden,buttheeyeswerelookingathismother;shedidnotspeak;shewasafraidtomove."I’vealwayswantedtobeonmyown.I’vealwayswantedtoliveinNewYork,nearallmyfriends.
