Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
DoyouremembertheAnti-dog-eat-dogproposaloftheRailroadAlliancethatItoldyouaboutmonthsago?Youdidn’tliketheidea.Youdidn’tlikeitatall."
"Iremember.Whataboutit?"
"Ithasbeenpassed."
"Whathasbeenpassed?"
"TheAnti-dog-eat-dogRule.Justafewminutesago.Atthemeeting.Ninemonthsfromnow,there’snotgoingtobeanyPhoenix-DurangoRailroadinColorado!"
Aglassashtraycrashedtotheflooroffthedesk,assheleapedtoherfeet.
"Yourottenbastards!"
Hestoodmotionless.Hewassmiling.
Sheknewthatshewasshaking,opentohim,withoutdefense,andthatthiswasthesightheenjoyed,butitdidnotmattertoher.Thenshesawhissmile—andsuddenlytheblindingangervanished.Shefeltnothing.Shestudiedthatsmilewithacold,impersonalcuriosity.
Theystoodfacingeachother.Helookedasif,forthefirsttime,hewasnotafraidofher.Hewasgloating.Theeventmeantsomethingtohimmuchbeyondthedestructionofacompetitor.ItwasnotavictoryoverDanConway,butoverher.Shedidnotknowwhyorinwhatmanner,butshefeltcertainthatheknew.
Fortheflashofoneinstant,shethoughtthathere,beforeher,inJamesTaggartandinthatwhichmadehimsmile,wasasecretshehadneversuspected,anditwascruciallyimportantthatshelearntounderstandit.Butthethoughtflashedandvanished.
Shewhirledtothedoorofaclosetandseizedhercoat.
"Whereareyougoing?"Taggart’svoicehaddropped;itsoundeddisappointedandfaintlyworried.
Shedidnotanswer.
