Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "What?"

           "LawrenceHammond,ofHammondCars.ThebaconisfromthefarmofDwightSanders—ofSandersAircraft.TheeggsandthebutterfromJudgeNarragansett—oftheSuperiorCourtoftheStateofIllinois."

           Shelookedatherplate,bitterly,almostasifshewereafraidtotouchit."It’sthemostexpensivebreakfastI’llevereat,consideringthevalueofthecook’stimeandofallthoseothers."

           "Yes—fromoneaspect.Butfromanother,it’sthecheapestbreakfastyou’llevereat—becausenopartofithasgonetofeedthelooterswho’llmakeyoupayforitthroughyearafteryearandleaveyoutostarveintheend."

           Afteralongsilence,sheaskedsimply,almostwistfully,"Whatisitthatyou’realldoinghere?"

           "Living."

           Shehadneverheardthatwordsoundsoreal,"Whatisyourjob?"sheasked."MidasMulligansaidthatyouworkhere."

           "I’mthehandyman,Iguess."

           "Thewhat?"

           "I’moncallwheneveranythinggoeswrongwithanyoftheinstallations—withthepowersystem,forinstance."

           Shelookedathim—andsuddenlyshetoreforward,staringattheelectricstove,butfellbackonherchair,stoppedbypain.

           Hechuckled."Yes,that’strue—buttakeiteasyorDr.Hendrickswillorderyoubacktobed."

           "Thepowersystem...