Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Sheknewthatfactorieswereclosing,somewiththeirmachinerystilledforlackofsuppliesthathadnotbeenreceived,otherswiththeirwarehousesfullofgoodsthatcouldnotbedelivered.Sheknewthattheoldindustries—thegiantswhohadbuilttheirpowerbyapurposefulcourseprojectedoveraspanoftime—werelefttoexistatthewhimofthemoment,amomenttheycouldnotforeseeorcontrol.Sheknewthatthebestamongthem,thoseofthelongestrangeandmostcomplexfunction,hadlongsincegone—andthosestillstrugglingtoproduce,strugglingsavagelytopreservethecodeofanagewhenproductionhadbeenpossible,werenowinsertingintotheircontractsalineshamefultoadescendantofNatTaggart:"Transportationpermitting."
Andyetthereweremen—andsheknewit—whowereabletoobtaintransportationwhenevertheywished,asbyamysticsecret,asbythegraceofsomepowerwhichonewasnottoquestionorexplain.
TheywerethemenwhosedealingswithCuffyMeigswereregardedbypeopleasthatunknowableofmysticcreedswhichsmitestheobserverforthesinoflooking,sopeoplekepttheireyesclosed,dreading,notignorance,butknowledge.Sheknewthatdealsweremadewherebythosemensoldacommodityknownas"transportationpull"—atermwhichallunderstood,butnonewoulddaredefine.
