Атлант расправил плечи
The Immovable Movers
Thisistotellyouthatyouhavemiscalculated."
Shesaidslowly,witheffort,"ShallItellyouwhatIintendtodoaboutourserviceinColorado?"
"No.Ihavenointerestindiscussionsandintentions.Iexpecttransportation.Whatyoudotofurnishitandhowyoudoit,isyourproblem,notmine.Iammerelygivingyouawarning.Thosewhowishtodealwithme,mustdosoonmytermsornotatall.Idonotmaketermswithincompetence.IfyouexpecttoearnmoneybycarryingtheoilIproduce,youmustbeasgoodatyourbusinessasIamatmine.Iwishthistobeunderstood."
Shesaidquietly,"Iunderstand."
"Ishan’twastetimeprovingtoyouwhyyou’dbettertakemyultimatumseriously.Ifyouhavetheintelligencetokeepthiscorruptorganizationfunctioningatall,youhavetheintelligencetojudgethisforyourself.WebothknowthatifTaggartTranscontinentalrunstrainsinColoradothewayitdidfiveyearsago,itwillruinme.Iknowthatthatiswhatyoupeopleintendtodo.Youexpecttofeedoffmewhileyoucanandtofindanothercarcasstopickdryafteryouhavefinishedmine.Thatisthepolicyofmostofmankindtoday.Sohereismyultimatum:itisnowinyourpowertodestroyme;Imayhavetogo;butifIgo,I’llmakesurethatItakealltherestofyoualongwithme."
Somewherewithinher,underthenumbnessthatheldherstilltoreceivethelashing,shefeltasmallpointofpain,hotlikethepainofscalding.
