Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
Hehadthesquare,stolid,stubbornfaceofatoughfreightengineer,ratherthanacompanypresident;thefaceofafighter,withayoung,tannedskinandgrayinghair.HehadtakenoverashakylittlerailroadinArizona,aroadwhosenetrevenuewaslessthanthatofasuccessfulgrocerystore,andhehadbuiltitintothebestrailroadoftheSouthwest.Hespokelittle,seldomreadbooks,hadnevergonetocollege.Thewholesphereofhumanendeavors,withoneexception,lefthimblanklyindifferent;hehadnotouchofthatwhichpeoplecalledculture.Butheknewrailroads.
"Whydon’tyouwanttofight?"
"Becausetheyhadtherighttodoit."
"Dan,"sheasked,"haveyoulostyourmind?"
"I’venevergonebackonmywordinmylife,"hesaidtonelessly."Idon’tcarewhatthecourtsdecide.Ipromisedtoobeythemajority.Ihavetoobey."
"Didyouexpectthemajoritytodothistoyou?"
"No."Therewasakindoffaintconvulsioninthestolidface.Hespokesoftly,notlookingather,thehelplessastonishmentstillrawwithinhim."No,Ididn’texpectit.Iheardthemtalkingaboutitforoverayear,butIdidn’tbelieveit.Evenwhentheywerevoting,Ididn’tbelieveit."
"Whatdidyouexpect?"
"Ithought...Theysaidallofusweretostandforthecommongood.IthoughtwhatIhaddonedownthereinColoradowasgood.Goodforeverybody."
"Oh,youdamnfool!Don’tyouseethatthat’swhatyou’rebeingpunishedfor—becauseitwasgood?"
Heshookhishead."Idon’tunderstandit,"hesaid.
