Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
TheRuleprovidedthatthemembersoftheNationalAllianceofRailroadswereforbiddentoengageinpracticesdefinedas"destructivecompetition";thatinregionsdeclaredtoberestricted,nomorethanonerailroadwouldbepermittedtooperate;thatinsuchregions,senioritybelongedtotheoldestrailroadnowoperatingthere,andthatthenewcomers,whohadencroachedunfairlyuponitsterritory,wouldsuspendoperationswithinninemonthsafterbeingsoordered;thattheExecutiveBoardoftheNationalAllianceofRailroadswasempoweredtodecide,atitssolediscretion,whichregionsweretoberestricted.
Whenthemeetingadjourned,themenhastenedtoleave.Therewerenoprivatediscussions,nofriendlyloitering.Thegreathallbecamedesertedinanunusuallyshorttime.NobodyspoketoorlookedatDanConway.
Inthelobbyofthebuilding,JamesTaggartmetOrrenBoyle.Theyhadmadenoappointmenttomeet,butTaggartsawabulkyfigureoutlinedagainstamarblewallandknewwhoitwasbeforehesawtheface.Theyapproachedeachother,andBoylesaid,hissmilelesssoothingthanusual,"I’vedelivered.Yourturnnow,Jimmie.""Youdidn’thavetocomehere.Whydidyou?"saidTaggartsullenly."Oh,justforthefunofit,"saidBoyle.
DanConwaysataloneamongrowsofemptyseats.Hewasstilltherewhenthecharwomancametocleanthehall.Whenshehailedhim,heroseobedientlyandshuffledtothedoor.Passingherintheaisle,hefumbledinhispocketandhandedherafivedollarbill,silently,meekly,notlookingatherface.
