Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
Whileitwastruethatsuchareasofferedlittleeconomicincentiveatpresent,apublic-spiritedrailroad,itwassaid,wouldundertaketoprovidetransportationforthestrugglinginhabitants,sincetheprimepurposeofarailroadwaspublicservice,notprofit.
Thenitwassaidthatlarge,establishedrailroadsystemswereessentialtothepublicwelfare;andthatthecollapseofoneofthemwouldbeanationalcatastrophe;andthatifonesuchsystemhadhappenedtosustainacrushinglossinapublic-spiritedattempttocontributetointernationalgoodwill,itwasentitledtopublicsupporttohelpitsurvivetheblow.
Norailroadwasmentionedbyname.Butwhenthechairmanofthemeetingraisedhishand,asasolemnsignalthattheywereabouttovote,everybodylookedatDanConway,presidentofthePhoenix-Durango.
Therewereonlyfivedissenterswhovotedagainstit.Yetwhenthechairmanannouncedthatthemeasurehadpassed,therewasnocheering,nosoundsofapproval,nomovement,nothingbutaheavysilence.Tothelastminute,everyoneofthemhadhopedthatsomeonewouldsavethemfromit.
TheAnti-dog-eat-dogRulewasdescribedasameasureof"voluntaryself-regulation"intended"thebettertoenforce"thelawslongsincepassedbythecountry’sLegislature.
