Атлант расправил плечи

           Youcan’tleavethosemenwithouttransportationforasingleday,letaloneaweekoramonth.Attheratethey’vebeengrowing,youcan’tstopthemdeadandthenexpectthemtocontinue.It’slikeslammingbrakesonanenginegoingtwohundredmilesanhour."

           "Iknow."

           "Icanrunagoodrailroad.Ican’trunitacrossacontinentofshare-cropperswho’renotgoodenoughtogrowturnipssuccessfully.I’vegottohavemenlikeEllisWyatttoproducesomethingtofillthetrainsIrun.SoI’vegottogivehimatrainandatrackninemonthsfromnow,ifIhavetoblastalltherestofusintohelltodoit!"

           Hesmiled,amused."Youfeelverystronglyaboutit,don’tyou?"

           "Don’t

           you?"

           Hewouldnotanswer,butmerelyheldthesmile.

           "Aren’tyouconcernedaboutit?"sheasked,almostangrily.

           "No."

           "Thenyoudon’trealizewhatitmeans?"

           "IrealizethatI’mgoingtogettherailrolledandyou’regoingtogetthetracklaidinninemonths."

           Shesmiled,relaxing,wearilyandalittleguiltily."Yes.Iknowwewill.Iknowit’suseless—gettingangryatpeoplelikeJimandhisfriends.Wehaven’tanytimeforit.First,Ihavetoundowhatthey’vedone.Thenafterwards"—shestopped,wondering,shookherheadandshrugged—"afterwards,theywon’tmatter."

           "That’sright.Theywon’t.WhenIheardaboutthatAnti-dog-eat-dogbusiness,itmademesick.Butdon’tworryaboutthegoddamnbastards."Thetwowordssoundedshockinglyviolent,becausehisfaceandvoiceremainedcalm.