Атлант расправил плечи
The Theme
"Ifhehadgivenustimetogrowalongwithhim—"
"Hehasnotimetowaste."
"Whatdoesheexpect?Thatwedropallourothershippers,sacrificetheinterestsofthewholecountryandgivehimallourtrains?"
"Why,no.Hedoesn’texpectanything.HejustdealswiththePhoenix-Durango."
"Ithinkhe’sadestructive,unscrupulousruffian. Ithinkhe’sanirresponsibleupstartwho’sbeengrosslyoverrated." ItwasastonishingtohearasuddenemotioninJamesTaggart’slifelessvoice. "I’mnotsosurethathisoilfieldsaresuchabeneficialachievement. Itseemstomethathe’sdislocatedtheeconomyofthewholecountry. NobodyexpectedColoradotobecomeanindustrialstate. Howcanwehaveanysecurityorplananythingifeverythingchangesallthetime?"
"GoodGod,Jim!He‘s—"
"Yes,Iknow,Iknow,he’smakingmoney. Butthatisnotthestandard,itseemstome,bywhichonegaugesaman’svaluetosociety. Andasforhisoil,he’dcomecrawlingtous,andhe’dwaithisturnalongwithalltheothershippers,andhewouldn’tdemandmorethanhisfairshareoftransportation—ifitweren’tforthePhoenix-Durango.Wecan’thelpitifwe’reupagainstdestructivecompetitionofthatkind.Nobodycanblameus."
