Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Thesewerethemenwhohoveredoverfactories,waitingforthelastbreathofafurnace,topounceupontheequipment—andoverdesolatesidings,topounceuponthefreightcarsofundeliveredgoods—thesewereanewbiologicalspecies,thehit-and-runbusinessmen,whodidnotstayinanylineofbusinesslongerthanthespanofonedeal,whohadnopayrollstomeet,nooverheadtocarry,norealestatetoown,noequipmenttobuild,whoseonlyassetandsoleinvestmentconsistedofanitemknownas"friendship."Thesewerethemenwhomofficialspeechesdescribedas"theprogressivebusinessmenofourdynamicage,"butwhompeoplecalled"thepullpeddlers"—thespeciesincludedmanybreeds,thoseof"transportationpull,"andof"steelpull"and"oilpull"and"wage-raisepull"and"suspendedsentencepull"—menwhoweredynamic,whokeptdartingalloverthecountrywhilenooneelsecouldmove,menwhowereactiveandmindless,active,notlikeanimals,butlikethatwhichbreeds,feedsandmovesuponthestillnessofacorpse.
Sheknewthattherewasmoneytobehadoutoftherailroadbusinessandsheknewwhowasnowobtainingit.CuffyMeigswassellingtrainsashewassellingthelastoftherailroad’ssupplies,wheneverhecouldrigasetupwhichwouldnotletitbediscoveredorproved—sellingrailtoroadsinGuatemalaortotrolleycompaniesinCanada,sellingwiretomanufacturersofjukeboxes,sellingcrosstiesforfuelinresorthotels.
