Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
Justkeepyourmouthshut."
TherevulsionthatmadeReardenturnhisfaceawaycontainedaspasmofpity.Therewasaninstantwhenhewantedtoseizehisbrother’sshoulders,toshakehim,tocry:Howcouldyoudothistoyourself?Howdidyoucometoastagewherethisisallthat’sleftofyou?Whydidyouletthewonderfulfactofyourownexistencegoby?...Helookedaway.Heknewitwasuseless.
Henoted,inwearycontempt,thatthethreeatthetableremainedsilent.Throughalltheyearspast,hisconsiderationforthemhadbroughthimnothingbuttheirmaliciouslyrighteousreproaches.Wherewastheirrighteousnessnow?Nowwasthetimetostandontheircodeofjustice—ifjusticehadbeenanypartoftheircode.Whydidn’ttheythrowathimallthoseaccusationsofcrueltyandselfishness,whichhehadcometoacceptastheeternalchorustohislife?Whathadpermittedthemtodoitforyears?Heknewthatthewordsheheardinhismindwerethekeytotheanswer:Thesanctionofthevictim.
"Don’tlet’squarrel,"saidhismother,hervoicecheerlessandvague."It’sThanksgivingDay."
WhenhelookedatLillian,hecaughtaglancethatmadehimcertainshehadwatchedhimforalongtime:itsqualitywaspanic.
Hegotup."Youwillpleaseexcusemenow,"hesaidtothetableatlarge.
"Whereareyougoing?"askedLilliansharply.
