Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Shereceivedthecallinherbrother’soffice,interruptinganemergencyconference.Theyoungroadmastertoldheronlythatthetelephonelinewasbrokenandthattherewasnowiretorepairit;hesaidnothingelseandhedidnotexplainwhyhehadfounditnecessarytocallherinperson.Shedidnotquestionhim;sheunderstood."Thankyou,"wasallthatsheanswered.
Anemergencyfileinherofficekeptarecordofallthecrucialmaterialsstillonhand,oneverydivisionofTaggartTranscontinental.
Likethefileofabankrupt,itkeptregisteringlosses,whiletherareadditionsofnewsuppliesseemedlikethemaliciouschucklesofsometormentorthrowingcrumbsatastarvingcontinent.Shelookedthroughthefile,closedit,sighedandsaid,"Montana,Eddie.PhonetheMontanaLinetoshiphalftheirstockofwiretoCalifornia.Montanamightbeabletolastwithoutit—foranotherweek."AndasEddieWillerswasabouttoprotest,sheadded,"Oil,Eddie.Californiaisoneofthelastproducersofoilleftinthecountry.Wedon’tdarelosethePacificLine."Thenshewentbacktotheconferenceinherbrother’soffice.
"Copperwire?"saidJamesTaggart,withanoddglancethatwentfromherfacetothecitybeyondthewindow."Inaveryshortwhile,wewon’thaveanytroubleaboutcopper."
"Why?"sheasked,buthedidnotanswer.
