Атлант расправил плечи
The Sign of the Dollar
Bysomespecialinstinctoftheirown,themenwhohadsatwaitingknewthatsomeonehadtakencharge,someonehadassumedtheresponsibilityanditwasnowsafetoshowsignsoflife.
Theyalllookedatherwithanairofinquiringexpectation,assheapproached.Theunnaturalpallorofthemoonlightseemedtodissolvethedifferencesoftheirfacesandtostressthequalitytheyallhadincommon:alookofcautiousappraisal,partfear,partplea,partimpertinenceheldinabeyance.
"Isthereanyoneherewhowishestobespokesmanforthepassengers?"sheasked.
Theylookedatoneanother.Therewasnoanswer.
"Verywell,"shesaid."Youdon’thavetospeak.I’mDagnyTaggart,theOperatingVice-Presidentofthisrailroad,and"—therewasarustleofresponsefromthegroup,half-movement,half-whisper,resemblingrelief—"andI’lldothespeaking.Weareonatrainthathasbeenabandonedbyitscrew.Therewasnophysicalaccident.Theengineisintact.Butthereisnoonetorunit.Thisiswhatthenewspaperscallafrozentrain.Youallknowwhatitmeans—andyouknowthereasons.Perhapsyouknewthereasonslongbeforetheywerediscoveredbythemenwhodesertedyoutonight.Thelawforbadethemtodesert.Butthiswillnothelpyounow."
Awomanshriekedsuddenly,withthedemandingpetulanceofhysteria,"Whatarewegoingtodo?"
Dagnypausedtolookather.
