Атлант расправил плечи

           Sheclaspedthehand."Hello,"shesaidsoftly,notknowingwhethershewasgreetingthepastorthefuture.Thensheshookherheadandadded,"Howcomeyou’renotplantingpotatoesormakingshoesaroundhere?You’veactuallyremainedinyourownprofession."

           "Oh,CalvinAtwoodoftheAtwoodLightandPowerCompanyofNewYorkCityismakingtheshoes.Besides,myprofessionisoneoftheoldestandmostimmediatelyneededanywhere.Still,Ihadtofightforit.Ihadtoruinacompetitor,first."

           "What?"

           Hegrinnedandpointedtotheglassdoorofasun-floodedroom.

           "There’smyruinedcompetitor,"hesaid.

           Shesawayoungmanbentoveralongtable,workingonacomplexmodelforthemoldofadrillhead.Hehadtheslender,powerfulhandsofaconcertpianistandthegrimfaceofasurgeonconcentratingonhistask.

           "He’sasculptor,"saidStockton."WhenIcamehere,heandhispartnerhadasortofcombinationhand-forgeandrepairshop.Iopenedarealfoundry,andtookalltheircustomersawayfromthem.Theboycouldn’tdothekindofjobIdid,itwasonlyapart-timebusinessforhim,anyway—sculptureishisrealbusiness—sohecametoworkforme.He’smakingmoremoneynow,inshorterhours,thanheusedtomakeinhisownfoundry.