Атлант расправил плечи

           "Whatdidyoubotherhimfor?Ibelievethefirstorderofrailwasn’tduefordeliveryuntilnextmonth." 

           "Andbeforethat,itwasduefordeliverythreemonthsago." 

           "Unforeseencircumstances.AbsolutelybeyondOrren’scontrol." 

           "Andbeforethat,itwasduesixmonthsearlier. Jim,wehavewaitedforAssociatedSteeltodeliverthatrailforthirteenmonths." 

           "Whatdoyouwantmetodo?Ican’trunOrrenBoyle’sbusiness." 

           "Iwantyoutounderstandthatwecan’twait." 

           Taggartaskedslowly,hisvoicehalf-mocking,half-cautious, "Whatdidmysistersay?" 

           "Shewon’tbebackuntiltomorrow." 

           "Well,whatdoyouwantmetodo?" 

           "That’sforyoutodecide." 

           "Well,whateverelseyousay,there’sonethingyou’renotgoingtomentionnext—andthat’sReardenSteel." 

           Eddiedidnotansweratonce,thensaidquietly, "Allright,Jim.Iwon’tmentionit." 

           "Orrenismyfriend."Heheardnoanswer."Iresentyourattitude. OrrenBoylewilldeliverthatrailjustassoonasit’shumanlypossible. Solongashecan’tdeliverit,nobodycanblameus." 

           "Jim!Whatareyoutalkingabout? Don’tyouunderstandthattheRioNorteLineisbreakingup—whetheranybodyblamesusornot?" 

           "Peoplewouldputupwithit—they’dhaveto—ifitweren’tforthePhoenix-Durango." HesawEddie’sfacetighten. "NobodyevercomplainedabouttheRioNorteLine,untilthePhoenix-Durangocameonthescene." 

           "ThePhoenix-Durangoisdoingabrilliantjob.