Атлант расправил плечи

           "Ineverexpectedtoseeyouagain."

           Danaggerwaswatchingherasifshewereapromisingchildhehadoncediscoveredandwasnowaffectionatelyamusedtowatch."Iknow,"hesaid."Butwhyareyousoshocked?"

           "I...oh,it’sjustthatit’spreposterous!"Shepointedathisclothes.

           "What’swrongwithit?"

           "Isthis,then,theendofyourroad?"

           "Hell,no!Thebeginning."

           "Whatareyouaimingat?"

           "Mining.Notcoal,though.Iron."

           "Where?"

           Hepointedtowardthemountains."Righthere.DidyoueverknowMidasMulligantomakeabadinvestment?You’dbesurprisedwhatonecanfindinthatstretchofrock,ifoneknowshowtolook.That’swhatI’vebeendoing—looking."

           "Andifyoudon’tfindanyironore?"

           Heshrugged."There’sotherthingstodo.I’vealwaysbeenshortontimeinmylife,neveronwhattouseitfor."

           SheglancedatStocktonwithcuriosity."Aren’tyoutrainingamanwhocouldbecomeyourmostdangerouscompetitor?"

           "That’stheonlysortofmenIliketohire.Dagny,haveyoulivedtoolongamongthelooters?Haveyoucometothinkthatoneman’sabilityisathreattoanother?"

           "Ohno!ButIthoughtIwasalmosttheonlyoneleftwhodidn’tthinkthat.