Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Thelistofthefactory’sneedykeptstretching,butthelistofitscustomersshrank.Therewaslessandlessincometodivideamongmoreandmorepeople.Intheolddays,itusedtobesaidthattheTwentiethCenturyMotortrademarkwasasgoodasthekaratmarkongold.Idon’tknowwhatitwasthattheStarnesheirsthought,iftheythoughtatall,butIsupposethatlikeallsocialplannersandlikesavages,theythoughtthatthistrademarkwasamagicstampwhichdidthetrickbysomesortofvoodoopowerandthatitwouldkeepthemrich,asithadkepttheirfather.Well,whenourcustomersbegantoseethatweneverdeliveredanorderontimeandneverputoutamotorthatdidn’thavesomethingwrongwithit—themagicstampbegantoworktheotherwayaround:peoplewouldn’ttakeamotorasagift,ifitwasmarkedTwentiethCentury,anditcametowhereouronlycustomersweremenwhoneverpaidandnevermeanttopaytheirbills.ButGeraldStarnes,dopedbyhisownpublicity,gothuffyandwentaround,withanairofmoralsuperiority,demandingthatbusinessmenplaceorderswithus,notbecauseourmotorsweregood,butbecauseweneededtheorderssobadly.
"Bythattime,avillagehalf-witcouldseewhatgenerationsofprofessorshadpretendednottonotice.
