Атлант расправил плечи

           Shesaid,asifgreetinganewphenomenonofnature:

           "ReardenMetal..."

           Henoticedthat,butsaidnothing.Heglancedather,thenturnedbacktothewindow.

           "Hank,thisisgreat."

           "Yes."

           Hesaiditsimply,openly.Therewasnoflatteredpleasureinhisvoice,andnomodesty.This,sheknew,wasatributetoher,therarestonepersoncouldpayanother:thetributeoffeelingfreetoacknowledgeone’sowngreatness,knowingthatitisunderstood.

           Shesaid,"WhenIthinkofwhatthatmetalcando,whatitwillmakepossible...Hank,thisisthemostimportantthinghappeningintheworldtoday,andnoneofthemknowit."

           "Weknowit."

           Theydidnotlookateachother.Theystoodwatchingthecrane.Onthefrontofthelocomotiveinthedistance,shecoulddistinguishthelettersTT.ShecoulddistinguishtherailsofthebusiestindustrialsidingoftheTaggartsystem.

           "AssoonasIcanfindaplantabletodoit,"shesaid,"I’mgoingtoorderDieselsmadeofReardenMetal."

           "You’llneedthem.HowfastdoyourunyourtrainsontheRioNortetrack?"

           "Now?We’reluckyifwemanagetomaketwentymilesanhour."

           Hepointedatthecars."Whenthatrailislaid,you’llbeabletoruntrainsattwohundredandfifty,ifyouwish."

           "Iwill,inafewyears,whenwe’llhavecarsofReardenMetal,whichwillbehalftheweightofsteelandtwiceassafe."

           "You’llhavetolookoutfortheairlines.We’reworkingonaplaneofReardenMetal.Itwillweighpracticallynothingandliftanything.