Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Anastoundingnumberofthesemines,asreportspouringinseemtoindicate,hadcontinuedtoberun,eventhoughexhaustedyearsago.
"Amongthethousandsofd’Anconiaemployees,thepolicehavefoundnoonewithanyknowledgeofhowthismonstrousplothadbeenconceived,organizedandcarriedout.Butthecreamofthed’Anconiastaffarenothereanylonger.Themostefficientoftheexecutives,mineralogists,engineers,superintendentshavevanished—allthemenuponwhomthePeople’sStatehadbeencountingtocarryontheworkandcushiontheprocessofreadjustment.Themostable—correction:themostselfish—ofthemenaregone.Reportsfromthevariousbanksindicatethattherearenod’Anconiaaccountsleftanywhere;themoneyhasbeenspentdowntothelastpenny.
"Ladiesandgentlemen,thed’Anconiafortune—thegreatestfortuneonearth,thelegendaryfortuneofthecenturies—hasceasedtoexist.Inplaceofthegoldendawnofanewage,thePeople’sStatesofChileandArgentinaareleftwithapileofrubbleandhordesofunemployedontheirhands.
"NocluehasbeenfoundtothefateorthewhereaboutsofSenorFranciscod’Anconia.Hehasvanished,leavingnothingbehindhim,notevenamessageoffarewell."
Thankyou,mydarling—thankyouinthenameofthelastofus,evenifyouwillnothearitandwillnotcaretohear...
