Атлант расправил плечи

           Meigs,"sheasked,promptedbyatouchofbitterlyamusedcuriosity,"whatisyoureconomicplanfordayaftertomorrow?"

           Shesawhisblearybrowneyesfocusuponherwithoutexpression.

           "You’reimpractical,"hesaid.

           "It’sperfectlyuselesstotheorizeaboutthefuture,"snappedTaggart,"whenwehavetotakecareoftheemergencyofthemoment.Inthelongrun—"

           "Inthelongrun,we’llallbedead,"saidMeigs.

           Then,abruptly,heshottohisfeet."I’llrunalong,Jim,"hesaid."I’vegotnotimetowasteonconversations."Headded,"Youtalktoheraboutthatmatterofdoingsomethingtostopallthosetrainwrecks—ifshe’sthelittlegirlwho’ssuchawizardatrailroading."Itwassaidinoffensively;hewasamanwhowouldnotknowwhenhewasgivingoffenseortakingit.

           "I’llseeyoulater,Cuffy,"saidTaggart,asMeigswalkedoutwithnopartingglanceatanyofthem.

           Taggartlookedather,expectantlyandfearfully,asifdreadinghercomment,yetdesperatelyhopingtohearsomeword,anyword.

           "Well?"sheasked.

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "Haveyouanythingelsetodiscuss?"

           "Well,I..."Hesoundeddisappointed."Yes!"hecried,inthetoneofadesperateplunge.