Атлант расправил плечи
The Moratorium on Brains
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"You’vegottogetthere,Kip,"saidthemanominously,inthatstubbornmonotoneoftheunthinkingwhichassertsanendwithoutconcernforthemeans.
"Goddamnyou,don’tyousupposeIknowit?"
KipChalmershadcurlyblondhairandashapelessmouth.Hecamefromasemi-wealthy,semi-distinguishedfamily,buthesneeredatwealthanddistinctioninamannerwhichimpliedthatonlyatoprankaristocratcouldpermithimselfsuchadegreeofcynicalindifference.Hehadgraduatedfromacollegewhichspecializedinbreedingthatkindofaristocracy.Thecollegehadtaughthimthatthepurposeofideasistofoolthosewhoarestupidenoughtothink.HehadmadehiswayinWashingtonwiththegraceofacat-burglar,climbingfrombureautobureauasfromledgetoledgeofacrumblingstructure.Hewasrankedassemi-powerful,buthismannermadelaymenmistakehimfornothinglessthanWesleyMouch.
Forreasonsofhisownparticularstrategy,KipChalmershaddecidedtoenterpopularpoliticsandtorunforelectionasLegislatorfromCalifornia,thoughheknewnothingaboutthatstateexceptthemovieindustryandthebeachclubs.Hiscampaignmanagerhaddonethepreliminarywork,andChalmerswasnowonhiswaytofacehisfutureconstituentsforthefirsttimeatanoverpublicizedrallyinSanFranciscotomorrownight.Themanagerhadwantedhimtostartadayearlier,butCharmershadstayedinWashingtontoattendacocktailpartyandhadtakenthelasttrainpossible.
