Атлант расправил плечи

           Hecouldtalkashedidnottalkanywhereelse,admittingthingshewouldnotconfesstoanyone,thinkingaloud,lookingintotheattentiveeyesoftheworkeracrossthetable.

           "TheRioNorteLineisourlasthope,"saidEddieWillers."Butitwillsaveus.We’llhaveatleastonebranchingoodcondition,whereit’sneededmost,andthatwillhelptosavetherest....It’sfunny—isn’tit?—tospeakaboutalasthopeforTaggartTranscontinental.Doyoutakeitseriouslyifsomebodytellsyouthatameteorisgoingtodestroytheearth?...Idon‘t,either....’FromOceantoOcean,forever‘—that’swhatweheardallthroughourchildhood,sheandI.No,theydidn’tsay’forever,‘butthat’swhatitmeant....Youknow,I’mnotanykindofagreatman.Icouldn’thavebuiltthatrailroad.Ifitgoes,Iwon’tbeabletobringitback.I’llhavetogowithit....Don’tpayanyattentiontome.Idon’tknowwhyIshouldwanttosaythingslikethat.GuessI’mjustalittletiredtonight....Yes,Iworkedlate.Shedidn’taskmetostay,buttherewasalightunderherdoor,longafteralltheothershadgone...Yes,she’sgonehomenow....Trouble?Oh,there’salwaystroubleintheoffice.Butshe’snotworried.Sheknowsshecanpullusthrough....Ofcourse,it’sbad.We’rehavingmanymoreaccidentsthanyouhearabout.WelosttwoDieselsagain,lastweek.One—justfromoldage,theother—inahead-oncollision...