Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           Shenoticedsometense,cautiousqualityintheattentivewayhewatchedherasheleanedforwardandasked,"Dagny,themenofyourBoardofDirectorsarenomatchforNatTaggart,arethey?There’snoformofcontestinwhichtheycouldbeathim,there’snothinghe’dhavetofearfromthem,there’snomind,nowill,nopowerinthebunchofthemtoequalone-thousandthofhis."

           "No,ofcoursenot."

           "Thenwhyisitthatthroughoutmen’shistorytheNatTaggarts,whomaketheworld,havealwayswon—andalwayslostittothemenoftheBoard?"

           "I...don’tknow."

           "Howcouldmenwho’reafraidtoholdanunqualifiedopinionabouttheweather,fightNatTaggart?Howcouldtheyseizehisachievement,ifhechosetodefendit?Dagny,hefoughtwitheveryweaponhepossessed,exceptthemostimportantone.Theycouldnothavewon,ifwe—heandtherestofus—hadnotgiventheworldawaytothem."

           "Yes.Yougaveitawaytothem.EllisWyattdid.KenDanaggerdid,Iwon’t."

           Hesmiled."WhobuilttheJohnGaltLineforthem?"

           Hesawonlythefaintestcontractionofhermouth,butheknewthatthequestionwaslikeablowacrossanopenwound.Yetsheansweredquietly,"Idid."

           "Forthiskindofend?"

           "Forthemenwhodidnotholdout,wouldnotfightandgaveup.