Атлант расправил плечи
Anti-Life
IthadbeenfollowedbyafewcocktailsatthehomeofOrrenBoyle,withonlyoneunobtrusivegentlemanfromArgentinasittingsilentlyinacorner,whiletwoexecutivesfromWashingtonandafewfriendsofunspecifiedpositionshadtalkedaboutnationalresources,metallurgy,mineralogy,neighborlydutiesandthewelfareoftheglobe—andhadmentionedthataloanoffourbilliondollarswouldbegrantedwithinthreeweekstothePeople’sStateofArgentinaandthePeople’sStateofChile.
Ithadbeenfollowedbyasmallcocktailpartyinaprivateroomofthebarbuiltlikeacellarontheroofofaskyscraper,aninformalpartygivenbyhim,JamesTaggart,forthedirectorsofarecentlyformedcompany,TheInterneighborlyAmityandDevelopmentCorporation,ofwhichOrrenBoylewaspresidentandaslender,graceful,overactivemanfromChilewastreasurer,amanwhosenamewasSenorMarioMartinez,butwhomTaggartwastempted,bysomeresemblanceofspirit,tocallSenorCuffyMeigs.Heretheyhadtalkedaboutgolf,horseraces,boatraces,automobilesandwomen.Ithadnotbeennecessarytomention,sincetheyallknewit,thattheInterneighborlyAmityandDevelopmentCorporationhadanexclusivecontracttooperate,onatwenty-year"manageriallease,"alltheindustrialpropertiesofthePeople’sStatesoftheSouthernHemisphere.
ThelasteventofthedayhadbeenalargedinnerreceptionatthehomeofSenorRodrigoGonzales,adiplomaticrepresentativeofChile.
