Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Yes,wehaveDieselsonorder,attheUnitedLocomotiveWorks,butwe’vewaitedforthemfortwoyears.Idon’tknowwhetherwe’llevergetthemornot....God,doweneedthem!Motivepower—youcan’timaginehowimportantthatis.That’stheheartofeverything....Whatareyousmilingat?...Well,asIwassaying,it’sbad.ButatleasttheRioNorteLineisset.Thefirstshipmentofrailwillgettothesiteinafewweeks.Inayear,we’llrunthefirsttrainonthenewtrack.Nothing’sgoingtostopus,thistime....Sure,Iknowwho’sgoingtolaytherail.McNamara,ofCleveland.He’sthecontractorwhofinishedtheSanSebastiánLineforus.There,atleast,isonemanwhoknowshisjob.Sowe’resafe.Wecancountonhim.Therearen’tmanygoodcontractorsleft....We’rerushedashell,butIlikeit.I’vebeencomingtotheofficeanhourearlierthanusual,butshebeatsmetoit.She’salwaystherefirst....What?...Idon’tknowwhatshedoesatnight.Nothingmuch,Iguess....No,shenevergoesoutwithanyone.Shesitsathome,mostly,andlistenstomusic.Sheplaysrecords....Whatdoyoucare,whichrecords?RichardHalley.ShelovesthemusicofRichardHalley.Outsidetherailroad,that’stheonlythingsheloves."
