Атлант расправил плечи
The Moratorium on Brains
Heslumpedforward,hiselbowinthepuddle,andsaid:"Goddamntheserailroads!What’sthematterwiththeirtrack?
You’dthinkwithallthemoneythey’vegotthey’ddisgorgealittle,sowewouldn’thavetobumplikefarmersonahaycart!"
Histhreecompanionsdidnottakethetroubletoanswer.Itwaslate,andtheyremainedintheloungemerelybecauseaneffortwasneededtoretiretotheircompartments.Thelightsoftheloungelookedlikefeebleportholesinafogofcigarettesmokedankwiththeodorofalcohol.Itwasaprivatecar,whichChalmershaddemandedandobtainedforhisjourney;itwasattachedtotheendoftheCometanditswunglikethetailofanervousanimalastheCometcoiledthroughthecurvesofthemountains.
"I’mgoingtocampaignforthenationalizationoftherailroads,"saidKipChalmers,glaringdefiantlyatasmall,graymanwholookedathimwithoutinterest."That’sgoingtobemyplatformplank.I’vegottohaveaplatformplank.Idon’tlikeJimTaggart.Helookslikeasoft-boiledclam.Tohellwiththerailroads!It’stimewetookthemover."
"Gotobed,"saidtheman,"ifyouexpecttolooklikeanythinghumanatthebigrallytomorrow."
"Doyouthinkwe’llmakeit?"
"You’vegottomakeit."
"IknowI’vegotto.ButIdon’tthinkwe’llgetthereontime.Thisgoddamnsnailofasuper-specialishourslate.
