Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
Sittingatthewheelofhiscar,withtheglassy,frozenroadflyingathisfaceanddownunderthewheelsatsixtymilesanhour,heletthethoughtofhisfamilydropawayfromhim—andthevisionoftheirfaceswentrollingbackintotheabyssofspeedthatswallowedthebaretreesandlonelystructuresoftheroadside.Therewaslittletraffic,andfewlightsinthedistantclustersofthetownshepassed;theemptinessofinactivitywastheonlysignofaholiday.Ahazyglow,rustedbyfrost,flashedabovetheroofofafactoryonceinararewhile,andacoldwindshriekedthroughthejointsofhiscar,beatingthecanvastopagainstthemetalframe.
Bysomedimsenseofcontrast,whichhedidnotdefine,thethoughtofhisfamilywasreplacedbythethoughtofhisencounterwiththeWetNurse,theWashingtonboyofhismills.
Atthetimeofhisindictment,hehaddiscoveredthattheboyhadknownabouthisdealwithDanagger,yethadnotreportedittoanyone.
"Whydidn’tyouinformyourfriendsaboutme?"hehadasked.
Theboyhadansweredbrusquely,notlookingathim,"Didn’twantto."
"Itwaspartofyourjobtowatchpreciselyforthingsofthatkind,wasn’tit?"
"Yeah."
"Besides,yourfriendswouldhavebeendelightedtohearit."
"Iknew.
