Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
JamesTaggartstoodatthelongtable,addressingtheBoardofDirectors.Hisvoicewaspreciseandmonotonous;itconnotedsafety.
"Iamgladtoreport,however,thatIforesawthepossibilityofsuchaturnofeventsandtookeveryprecautiontoprotecttheinterestsofTaggartTranscontinental.Somemonthsago,IinstructedourOperatingDepartmenttocutthescheduleontheSanSebastiánLinedowntoasingletrainaday,andtoremovefromitourbestmotivepowerandrollingstock,aswellaseverypieceofequipmentthatcouldbemoved.TheMexicangovernmentwasabletoseizenothingbutafewwoodencarsandonesuperannuatedlocomotive.Mydecisionhassavedthecompanymanymillionsofdollars—Ishallhavetheexactfigurescomputedandsubmitthemtoyou.Idofeel,however,thatourstockholderswillbejustifiedinexpectingthatthosewhoborethemajorresponsibilityforthisventureshouldnowbeartheconsequencesoftheirnegligence.Iwouldsuggest,therefore,thatwerequesttheresignationofMr.ClarenceEddington,oureconomicconsultant,whorecommendedtheconstructionoftheSanSebastiánLine,andofMr.JulesMott,ourrepresentativeinMexicoCity."
Themensataroundthelongtable,listening.Theydidnotthinkofwhattheywouldhavetodo,butofwhattheywouldhavetosaytothementheyrepresented.Taggart’sspeechgavethemwhattheyneeded.
OrrenBoylewaswaitingforhim,whenTaggartreturnedtohisoffice.Oncetheywerealone,Taggart’smannerchanged.
