Атлант расправил плечи
The Theme
Ithadshockedemptyslopesofgroundintosuddenexistence,ithadbroughtnewtowns,newpowerplants,newfactoriestoaregionnobodyhadevernoticedonanymap. Newfactories,thoughtEddieWillers,atatimewhenthefreightrevenuesfromallthegreatoldindustriesweredroppingslowlyyearbyyear;arichnewoilfield,atatimewhenthepumpswerestoppinginonefamousfieldafteranother;anewindustrialstatewherenobodyhadexpectedanythingbutcattleandbeets. Onemanhaddoneit,andhehaddoneitineightyears;this,thoughtEddieWillers,waslikethestorieshehadreadinschoolbooksandneverquitebelieved,thestoriesofmenwhohadlivedinthedaysofthecountry’syouth. HewishedhecouldmeetEllisWyatt. Therewasagreatdealoftalkabouthim,butfewhadevermethim;heseldomcametoNewYork. Theysaidhewasthirty-threeyearsoldandhadaviolenttemper. Hehaddiscoveredsomewaytoreviveexhaustedoilwellsandhehadproceededtorevivethem.
"EllisWyattisagreedybastardwho’safternothingbutmoney,"saidJamesTaggart. "Itseemstomethattherearemoreimportantthingsinlifethanmakingmoney."
"Whatareyoutalkingabout,Jim?Whathasthatgottodowith—"
"Besides,he’sdouble-crossedus. WeservedtheWyattoilfieldsforyears,mostadequately.InthedaysofoldmanWyatt,weranatanktrainaweek."
"ThesearenotthedaysofoldmanWyatt,Jim. ThePhoenix-Durangorunstwotanktrainsadaydownthere—anditrunsthemonschedule.
