Атлант расправил плечи

           "IthinkI’mgoingtobreakyousomeday—inthatsense."

           "Why?"

           "I’vealwayswantedto."

           "Don’tyouhaveenoughcowardsaroundyou?"

           "That’swhyI’denjoytryingit—becauseyou’retheonlyexception.Soyouthinkit’srightthatIshouldsqueezeeverypennyofprofitIcan,outofyouremergency?"

           "Certainly.I’mnotafool.Idon’tthinkyou’reinbusinessformyconvenience."

           "Don’tyouwishIwere?"

           "I’mnotamoocher,Hank."

           "Aren’tyougoingtofindithardtopay?"

           "That’smyproblem,notyours.Iwantthatrail."

           "Attwentydollarsextraperton?"

           "Okay,Hank."

           "Fine.You’llgettherail.Imaygetmyexorbitantprofit—orTaggartTranscontinentalmaycrashbeforeIcollectit."

           Shesaid,withoutsmiling,"IfIdon’tgetthatlinebuiltinninemonths,TaggartTranscontinental

           will

           crash."

           "Itwon‘t,solongasyourunit."

           Whenhedidnotsmile,hisfacelookedinanimate,onlyhiseyesremainedalive,activewithacold,brilliantclarityofperception.Butwhathewasmadetofeelbythethingsheperceived,noonewouldbepermittedtoknow,shethought,perhapsnotevenhimself.

           "They’vedonetheirbesttomakeitharderforyou,haven’tthey?"hesaid.

           "Yes.IwascountingonColoradotosavetheTaggartsystem.Nowit’suptometosaveColorado.Ninemonthsfromnow,DanConwaywillclosehisroad.Ifmineisn’tready,itwon’tbeanyusefinishingit.