Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Whydon’tyousayit?Whydon’tyoutellmeallthethingsyouwantmetolearn?"

           Thegestureofhisarmpointedatthetown,attheroadbehindthem.

           "WhathaveIbeendoing?"heasked.

           Theydroveoninsilence.Afterawhile,sheasked,inthetoneofadrylystatisticalinquiry,"HowmuchofafortunehasMidasMulliganamassedinthisvalley?"

           Hepointedahead."Judgeforyourself."

           Theroadwaswindingthroughstretchesofunleveledsoiltowardthehomesofthevalley.Thehomeswerenotlinedalongastreet,theywerespreadatirregularintervalsovertherisesandhollowsoftheground,theyweresmallandsimple,builtoflocalmaterials,mostlyofgraniteandpine,withaprodigalingenuityofthoughtandatighteconomyofphysicaleffort.Everyhouselookedasifithadbeenputupbythelaborofoneman,notwohouseswerealike,andtheonlyqualitytheyhadincommonwasthestampofamindgraspingaproblemandsolvingit.Galtpointedoutahouse,onceinawhile,choosingthenamessheknew—anditsoundedtoherlikealistofquotationsfromthericheststockexchangeintheworld,orlikearollcallofhonor:"KenDanagger...TedNielsen...LawrenceHammond...RogerMarsh...EllisWyatt...OwenKellogg...Dr.Akston."

           ThehomeofDr.Akstonwasthelast,asmallcottagewithalargeterrace,liftedonthecrestofawaveagainsttherisingwallsofthemountains.