Атлант расправил плечи
The Moratorium on Brains
SendtheCometthroughsafelyandwithoutunnecessarydelay.Ifyouareunabletoperformyourduties,IshallholdyouresponsiblebeforetheUnificationBoard.CliftonLocey."
Then,callinghisgirlfriendtojoinhim,CliftonLoceydrovetoacountryroadhouse—tomakecertainthatnoonewouldbeabletofindhiminthenextfewhours.
ThedispatcheratSilverSpringswasbaffledbytheorderthathehandedtoDaveMitchum,butDaveMitchumunderstood.Heknewthatnorailroadorderwouldeverspeakinsuchtermsasgivinganenginetoapassenger;heknewthatthethingwasashowpiece,heguessedwhatsortofshowwasbeingstaged,andhefeltacoldsweatattherealizationofwhowasbeingframedasthegoatoftheshow.
"What’sthematter,Dave?"askedthetrainmaster.
Mitchumdidnotanswer.Heseizedthetelephone,hishandsshakingashebeggedforaconnectiontotheTaggartoperatorinNewYork,Helookedlikeananimalinatrap.
HebeggedtheNewYorkoperatortogethimMr.CliftonLocey’shome.Theoperatortried.Therewasnoanswer.Hebeggedtheoperatortokeepontryingandtotryeverynumberhecouldthinkof,whereMr.Loceymightbefound.TheoperatorpromisedandMitchumhungup,butknewthatitwasuselesstowaitortospeaktoanyoneinMr.Locey’sdepartment.
