Атлант расправил плечи
The Moratorium on Brains
AlltheragewhichhecouldnotpouruponKipChalmers,waspouredoverthetelephonewireuponCliftonLocey."Dosomething!"screamedTaggart."Idon’tcarewhatyoudo,it’syourjob,notmine,butseetoitthatthattraingetsthrough!Whatinhellisgoingon?IneverheardoftheCometbeingheldup!Isthathowyourunyourdepartment?It’safinethingwhenimportantpassengershavetostartsendingmessagestome!Atleast,whenmysisterrantheplace,Iwasn’tawakenedinthemiddleofthenightovereveryspikethatbrokeinIowa—Colorado,Imean!"
"I’msosorry,Jim,"saidCliftonLoceysmoothly,inatonethatbalancedapology,reassuranceandtherightdegreeofpatronizingconfidence."It’sjustamisunderstanding.It’ssomebody’sstupidmistake.
Don’tworry,I’lltakecareofit.Iwas,asamatteroffact,inbed,butI’llattendtoitatonce."
CliftonLoceywasnotinbed;hehadjustreturnedfromaroundofnightclubs,inthecompanyofayounglady.HeaskedhertowaitandhurriedtotheofficesofTaggartTranscontinental.Noneofthenightstaffwhosawhimtherecouldsaywhyhechosetoappearinperson,butneithercouldtheysaythatithadbeenunnecessary.Herushedinandoutofseveraloffices,wasseenbymanypeopleandgaveanimpressionofgreatactivity.TheonlyphysicalresultofitwasanorderthatwentoverthewirestoDaveMitchum,superintendentoftheColoradoDivision:"GiveanenginetoMr.Chalmersatonce.
