Атлант расправил плечи
The Moratorium on Brains
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Heputcarboncopiesoftheordersintohisownpocket,thenopenedthedoor,yelledforthenightdispatchertocomeupandhandedhimthetwoordersforthetwomendownstairs.Thenightdispatcherwasaconscientiousyoungboywhotrustedhissuperiorsandknewthatdisciplinewasthefirstruleoftherailroadbusiness.HewasastonishedthatMitchumshouldwishtosendwrittenordersdownoneflightofstairs,butheaskednoquestions,Mitchumwaitednervously.Afterawhile,hesawthefigureoftheroadforemanwalkingacrosstheyardstowardtheroundhouse.Hefeltrelieved:thetwomenhadnotcomeuptoconfronthiminperson;theyhadunderstoodandtheywouldplaythegameashewasplayingit.
Theroadforemanwalkedacrosstheyards,lookingdownattheground.Hewasthinkingofhiswife,histwochildrenandthehousewhichhehadspentalifetimetoown.Heknewwhathissuperiorsweredoingandhewonderedwhetherheshouldrefusetoobeythem.Hehadneverbeenafraidoflosinghisjob;withtheconfidenceofacompetentman,hehadknownthatifhequarreledwithoneemployer,hewouldalwaysbeabletofindanother.Now,hewasafraid;hehadnorighttoquitortoseekajob;ifhedefiedanemployer,hewouldbedeliveredintotheunanswerablepowerofasingleBoard,andiftheBoardruledagainsthim,itwouldmeanbeingsentencedtotheslowdeathofstarvation:itwouldmeanbeingbarredfromanyemployment.
