Атлант расправил плечи

           Thatsummer,whenhegrewexasperatedatTaggart’sdelaysandcontradictionsoveranorderofrailforanewcutoff,anorderwhichTaggartkeptplacing,alteringandwithdrawing,somebodytoldhimthatifhewishedtogetanysenseoractionoutofTaggartTranscontinental,he’dbetterspeaktoJim’ssister.Hetelephonedherofficetomakeanappointmentandinsistedonhavingitthatsameafternoon.HersecretarytoldhimthatMissTaggartwouldbeattheconstructionsiteofthenewcutoff,thatafternoon,atMilfordStationbetweenNewYorkandPhiladelphia,butwouldbegladtoseehimthereifhewished.Hewenttotheappointmentresentfully;hedidnotlikesuchbusinesswomenashehadmet,andhefeltthatrailroadswerenobusinessforawomantoplaywith;heexpectedaspoiledheiresswhousedhernameandsexassubstituteforability,someeyebrow-plucked,overgroomedfemale,liketheladyexecutivesofdepartmentstores.

           Hegotoffthelastcarofalongtrain,farbeyondtheplatformofMilfordStation.Therewasaclutterofsidings,freightcars,cranesandsteamshovelsaroundhim,descendingfromthemaintrackdowntheslopeofaravinewheremenweregradingtheroadbedofthenewcutoff.Hestartedwalkingbetweenthesidingstowardthestationbuilding.Thenhestopped.

           Hesawagirlstandingontopofapileofmachineryonaflatcar.

           Shewaslookingoffattheravine,herheadlifted,strandsofdisorderedhairstirringinthewind.