Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
"
Thethirdandyoungestjudge,whohadactedasprosecutor,snappedimpatiently,"Thisisridiculousandunfair!Doyouwanttoletitlookasifamanofyourprominencehadbeenrailroadedwithouta—"Hecuthimselfoffshort.Somebodyatthebackofthecourtroomemittedalongwhistle.
"Iwant,"saidReardengravely,"toletthenatureofthisprocedureappearexactlyforwhatitis.Ifyouneedmyhelptodisguiseit—Iwillnothelpyou."
"Butwearegivingyouachancetodefendyourself—anditisyouwhoarerejectingit."
"IwillnothelpyoutopretendthatIhaveachance.Iwillnothelpyoutopreserveanappearanceofrighteousnesswhererightsarenotrecognized.Iwillnothelpyoutopreserveanappearanceofrationalitybyenteringadebateinwhichagunisthefinalargument.Iwillnothelpyoutopretendthatyouareadministeringjustice."
"Butthelawcompelsyoutovolunteeradefense!"
Therewaslaughteratthebackofthecourtroom.
"Thatistheflawinyourtheory,gentlemen,"saidReardengravely,"andIwillnothelpyououtofit.Ifyouchoosetodealwithmenbymeansofcompulsion,doso.Butyouwilldiscoverthatyouneedthevoluntaryco-operationofyourvictims,inmanymorewaysthanyoucanseeatpresent.Andyourvictimsshoulddiscoverthatitistheirownvolition—whichyoucannotforce—thatmakesyoupossible.
