Атлант расправил плечи

           Toneitdownanddressitupandgetyourpressboystochantit—andyouwon’thavetoworry."

           "Yes,Mr.Thompson,"saidMouchglumly.

           Mr.Thompson,theHeadoftheState,wasamanwhopossessedthequalityofneverbeingnoticed.Inanygroupofthree,hispersonbecameindistinguishable,andwhenseenaloneitseemedtoevokeagroupofitsown,composedofthecountlesspersonsheresembled.

           Thecountryhadnoclearimageofwhathelookedlike:hisphotographshadappearedonthecoversofmagazinesasfrequentlyasthoseofhispredecessorsinoffice,butpeoplecouldneverbequitecertainwhichphotographswerehisandwhichwerepicturesof"amailclerk"or"awhite-collarworker,"accompanyingarticlesaboutthedailylifeoftheundifferentiated—exceptthatMr.Thompson’scollarswereusuallywilted.Hehadbroadshouldersandaslightbody.Hehadstringyhair,awidemouthandanelasticagerangethatmadehimlooklikeaharassedfortyoranunusuallyvigoroussixty.Holdingenormousofficialpowers,heschemedceaselesslytoexpandthem,becauseitwasexpectedofhimbythosewhohadpushedhimintooffice.Hehadthecunningoftheunintelligentandthefranticenergyofthelazy.Thesolesecretofhisriseinlifewasthefactthathewasaproductofchanceandknewitandaspiredtonothingelse.

           "It’sobviousthatmeasureshavetobetaken.Drasticmeasures,"saidJamesTaggart,speaking,nottoMr.Thompson,buttoWesleyMouch.