Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Hehadahobbywhichwashisonlypleasure:hegatheredcigarettesfromallovertheworldforhisprivatecollection;hekneweverybrandmadeorthathadeverbeenmade.
Dagnylikedtostopathisnewsstandonherwayout.HeseemedtobepartoftheTaggartTerminal,likeanoldwatchdogtoofeebletoprotectit,butreassuringbytheloyaltyofhispresence.Helikedtoseehercoming,becauseitamusedhimtothinkthathealoneknewtheimportanceoftheyoungwomaninasportscoatandaslantinghat,whocamehurryinganonymouslythroughthecrowd.
Shestoppedtonight,asusual,tobuyapackageofcigarettes."Howisthecollection?"sheaskedhim."Anynewspecimens?"
Hesmiledsadly,shakinghishead."No,MissTaggart.Therearen’tanynewbrandsmadeanywhereintheworld.Eventheoldonesaregoing,oneafteranother.There’sonlyfiveorsixkindsleftsellingnow.Thereusedtobedozens.Peoplearen’tmakinganythingnewanymore."
"Theywill.That’sonlytemporary."
Heglancedatheranddidnotanswer.Thenhesaid,"Ilikecigarettes,MissTaggart.Iliketothinkoffireheldinaman’shand.Fire,adangerousforce,tamedathisfingertips.Ioftenwonderaboutthehourswhenamansitsalone,watchingthesmokeofacigarette,thinking.Iwonderwhatgreatthingshavecomefromsuchhours.Whenamanthinks,thereisaspotoffirealiveinhismind—anditisproperthatheshouldhavetheburningpointofacigaretteashisoneexpression.
