Атлант расправил плечи

           Franciscocouldwinanygameinanylocalcontest.Heneverenteredcontests.Hecouldhaveruledthejuniorcountryclub.Henevercamewithinsightoftheirclubhouse,ignoringtheireagerattemptstoenrollthemostfamousheirintheworld.DagnyandEddiewerehisonlyfriends.Theycouldnottellwhethertheyownedhimorwereownedbyhimcompletely;itmadenodifference:eitherconceptmadethemhappy.

           Thethreeofthemsetouteverymorningonadventuresoftheirownkind.Once,anelderlyprofessorofliterature,Mrs.Taggart’sfriend,sawthemontopofapileinajunkyard,dismantlingthecarcassofanautomobile.Hestopped,shookhisheadandsaidtoFrancisco,"Ayoungmanofyourpositionoughttospendhistimeinlibraries,absorbingthecultureoftheworld.""WhatdoyouthinkI’mdoing?"askedFrancisco.

           Therewerenofactoriesintheneighborhood,butFranciscotaughtDagnyandEddietostealridesonTaggarttrainstodistanttowns,wheretheyclimbedfencesintomillyardsorhungonwindowsills,watchingmachineryasotherchildrenwatchedmovies."WhenIrunTaggartTranscontinental..."Dagnywouldsayattimes."WhenIrund‘AnconiaCopper..."saidFrancisco.Theyneverhadtoexplaintheresttoeachother;theykneweachother’sgoalandmotive.

           Railroadconductorscaughtthem,onceinawhile.ThenastationmasterahundredmilesawaywouldtelephoneMrs.Taggart:"We’vegotthreeyoungtrampsherewhosaythattheyare—""Yes,"Mrs.Taggartwouldsigh,"theyare.Pleasesendthemback."