Атлант расправил плечи

           Iftheownersareafraid,sincesalesareillegal,paythemtwicethemoneyandproceedwiththework.ThereisnorailbetweenLaurel,Kansas,andJasper,Oklahoma—threemiles,norailbetweenElginandMidland,Utah—fiveandahalfmiles.Havetheraillaid.

           Haveconstructioncrewsstartatonce—recruiteverylocalmanavailable,paytwicethelegalwages,threetimes,anythingtheyask—putthreeshiftson—andhavethejobdoneovernight.Forrail,tearupthesidingsatWinston,Colorado,atSilverSprings,Colorado,atLeeds,Utah,atBenson,Nevada.IfanylocalstoogesoftheUnificationBoardcometostopthework—giveauthoritytoourlocalmen,theonesyoutrust,tobribethem.Don’tputthatthroughtheAccountingDepartment,chargeittome,I’llpayit.Iftheyfindsomecasewhereitdoesn’twork,havethemtellthestoogethatDirective10-289doesnotprovideforlocalinjunctions,thataninjunctionhastobebroughtagainstourheadquartersandthattheyhavetosueme,iftheywishtostopus."

           "Isthattrue?"

           "HowdoIknow?Howcananybodyknow?Butbythetimetheyuntangleitanddecidewhateveritistheypleasetodecide—ourtrackwillbebuilt."

           "Isee."

           "I’llgooverthelistsandgiveyouthenamesofourlocalmentoputincharge—ifthey’restillthere.Bythetimetonight’sCometTeachesKirby,Nebraska,thetrackwillbeready.