Атлант расправил плечи
The Moratorium on Brains
CliftonLocey.
Mr.Loceyraisedtheroof,screamingthatcomehellorhighwaterwecouldn’trefuseademandofMr.ChickMorrison.Idon’tknowwhatdamnfoolfinallytoldhimabouttheextraDieselthatwaskeptatWinston,Colorado,atthemouthofthetunnel.YouknowthewayourDieselsbreakdownnowadays,they’reallbreathingtheirlast—soyoucanunderstandwhythatextraDieselhadtobekeptatthetunnel.IexplainedittoMr.Locey,Ithreatenedhim,Ipleaded,ItoldhimthatshehadmadeitourstrictestrulethatWinstonStationwasnevertobeleftwithoutanextraDiesel.HetoldmetorememberthathewasnotMissTaggart—asifIcouldeverforgetit!—andthattherulewasnonsense,becausenothinghadhappenedalltheseyears,soWinstoncoulddowithoutaDieselforacoupleofmonths,andhewasn’tgoingtoworryaboutsometheoreticaldisasterinthefuturewhenwewereupagainsttheveryreal,practical,immediatedisasterofgettingMr.ChickMorrisonangryatus.Well,Chick’sSpecialgottheDiesel.ThesuperintendentoftheColoradoDivisionquit.Mr.Loceygavethatjobtoafriendofhisown.Iwantedtoquit.Ihadneverwantedtosobadly.ButIdidn’t...No,Ihaven’theardfromher.Ihaven’theardawordsincesheleft.Whydoyoukeepquestioningmeabouther?Forgetit.Shewon’tbeback...Idon’tknowwhatitisthatI’mhopingfor.Nothing,Iguess.Ijustgodaybyday,andItrynottolookahead.Atfirst,Ihopedthatsomebodywouldsaveus.IthoughtmaybeitwouldbeHankRearden.
