Атлант расправил плечи

           "Goodday,MissTaggart!"hesaidhappily."I’mgladtoseethatyouweren’thurtbadly."

           Sheinclinedherheadinsilentgreeting—itwaslikeagreetingtothelossandthepainofthepast,toadesolateeveningandthedesperatefaceofEddieWillerstellingherthenewsofthisman’sdisappearance—hurtbadly?shethought—Iwas,butnotintheplanecrash—onthatevening,inanemptyoffice...Aloud,sheasked,"Whatareyoudoinghere?Whatwasitthatyoubetrayedmefor,attheworsttimepossible?"

           Hesmiled,pointingatthestonestructureanddownattherockydropwherethetubeofawatermainwentvanishingintotheunderbrush."I’mtheutilitiesman,"hesaid."Itakecareofthewaterlines,thepowerlinesandthetelephoneservice."

           "Alone?"

           "Usedto.Butwe’vegrownsomuchinthepastyearthatI’vehadtohirethreementohelpme."

           "Whatmen?Fromwhere?"

           "Well,oneofthemisaprofessorofeconomicswhocouldn’tgetajoboutside,becausehetaughtthatyoucan’tconsumemorethanyouhaveproduced—oneisaprofessorofhistorywhocouldn’tgetajobbecausehetaughtthattheinhabitantsofslumswerenotthemenwhomadethiscountry—andoneisaprofessorofpsychologywhocouldn’tgetajobbecausehetaughtthatmenarecapableofthinking.