Атлант расправил плечи

           They’reoutofdate."

           JamesTaggartglancedatthewindow.TherewerepatchesofblueintheskyabovethespaciousstreetsofWashington,thefaintblueofmid-April,andafewbeamsbreakingthroughtheclouds.Amonumentstoodshininginthedistance,hitbyarayofsun:itwasatall,whiteobelisk,erectedtothememoryofthemanDr.Ferriswasquoting,themaninwhosehonorthiscityhadbeennamed.JamesTaggartlookedaway.

           "Idon’tliketheprofessor’sremarks,"saidLawsonloudlyandsullenly.

           "Keepstill,"saidWesleyMouch."Dr.Ferrisisnottalkingtheory,butpractice."

           "Well,ifyouwanttotalkpractice,"saidFredKinnan,"thenletmetellyouthatwecan’tworryaboutbusinessmenatatimelikethis.

           Whatwe’vegottothinkaboutisjobs.Morejobsforthepeople.Inmyunions,everymanwho’sworkingisfeedingfivewhoaren’t,notcountinghisownpackofstarvingrelatives.Ifyouwantmyadvice—oh,Iknowyouwon’tgoforit,butit’sjustathought—issueadirectivemakingitcompulsorytoadd,say,one-thirdmorementoeverypayrollinthecountry."

           "GoodGod!"yelledTaggart."Areyoucrazy?Wecanbarelymeetourpayrollsasitis!There’snotenoughworkforthemenwe’vegotnow!One-thirdmore?Wewouldn’thaveanyuseforthemwhatever!"

           "Whocareswhetheryou’dhaveanyuseforthem?"saidFredKinnan."Theyneedjobs.