Атлант расправил плечи

           "Wehavetodayandtomorrowtogetthingsstarted,"shesaid."I’llleaveforColoradotomorrownight."

           "Ifyouwanttofly,I’llhavetorentaplaneforyousomewhere.

           Yoursisstillintheshops,theycan’tgetthepartsforit."

           "No,I’llgobyrail.Ihavetoseetheline.I’lltaketomorrow’sComet."

           Itwastwohourslater,inabriefpausebetweenlong-distancephonecalls,thatsheaskedhimsuddenlythefirstquestionwhichdidnotpertaintotherailroad:"WhathavetheydonetoHankRearden?"

           Eddiecaughthimselfinthesmallevasionoflookingaway,forcedhisglancebacktomeethers,andanswered,"Hegavein.HesignedtheirGiftCertificate,atthelastmoment."

           "Oh."Thesoundconveyednoshockorcensure,itwasmerelyavocalpunctuationmark,denotingtheacceptanceofafact."HaveyouheardfromQuentinDaniels?"

           "No."

           "Hesentnoletterormessageforme?"

           "No."

           Heguessedthethingshefearedanditremindedhimofamatterhehadnotreported."Dagny,there’sanotherproblemthat’sbeengrowingalloverthesystemsinceyouleft.SinceMayfirst.It’sthefrozentrains."

           "Thewhat?"

           "We’vehadtrainsabandonedontheline,onsomepassingtrack,inthemiddleofnowhere,usuallyatnight—withtheentirecrewgone.