Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Forinstance,whatwasthatmatterofourlastallocationofnewrailvanishingfromthestorehouseinPittsburgh?"
"CuffyMeigsstoleitandsoldit."
"Canyouproveit?"hesnappeddefensively.
"Haveyourfriendsleftanymeans,methods,rulesoragenciesofproof?"
"Thendon’ttalkaboutit,don’tbetheoretical,we’vegottodealwithfacts!We’vegottodealwithfactsastheyaretoday...Imean,we’vegottoberealisticanddevisesomepracticalmeanstoprotectoursuppliesunderexistingconditions,notunderunprovableassumptions,which—"
Shechuckled.Therewastheformoftheformless,shethought,therewasthemethodofhisconsciousness:hewantedhertoprotecthimfromCuffyMeigswithoutacknowledgingMeigs’existence,tofightitwithoutadmittingitsreality,todefeatitwithoutdisturbingitsgame.
"Whatdoyoufindsodamnfunny?"hesnappedangrily.
"Youknowit."
"Idon’tknowwhat’sthematterwithyou!Idon’tknowwhat’shappenedtoyou...inthelasttwomonths...eversinceyoucameback...You’veneverbeensouncooperative!"
"Why,Jim,Ihaven’targuedwithyouinthelasttwomonths."
"That’swhatImean!"Hecaughthimselfhastily,butnotfastenoughtomisshersmile.
