Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
Hewasyoung,tall,andsomethingabouthimsuggestedviolence,thoughshecouldnotsaywhatitwas,becausethefirsttraitonegraspedabouthimwasaqualityofself-controlthatseemedalmostarrogant.Hehaddarkeyes,disheveledhair,andhisclotheswereexpensive,butwornasifhedidnotcareornoticewhathewore.
"EllisWyatt,"hesaidinself-introduction.
Sheleapedtoherfeet,involuntarily.Sheunderstoodwhynobodyhadorcouldhavestoppedhimintheouteroffice.
"Sitdown,Mr.Wyatt,"shesaid,smiling.
"Itwon’tbenecessary."Hedidnotsmile."Idon’tholdlongconferences."
Slowly,takinghertimebyconsciousintention,shesatdownandleanedback,lookingathim.
"Well?"sheasked.
"IcametoseeyoubecauseIunderstandyou’retheonlyonewho’sgotanybrainsinthisrottenoutfit."
"WhatcanIdoforyou?"
"Youcanlistentoanultimatum."Hespokedistinctly,givinganunusualclaritytoeverysyllable."IexpectTaggartTranscontinental,ninemonthsfromnow,toruntrainsinColoradoasmybusinessrequiresthemtoberun.IfthesnidestuntyoupeopleperpetratedonthePhoenix-Durangowasdoneforthepurposeofsavingyourselffromthenecessityofeffort,thisistogiveyounoticethatyouwillnotgetawaywithit.ImadenodemandsonyouwhenyoucouldnotgivemethekindofserviceIneeded.Ifoundsomeonewhocould.Nowyouwishtoforcemetodealwithyou.Youexpecttodictatetermsbyleavingmenochoice.Youexpectmetoholdmybusinessdowntothelevelofyourincompetence.
