Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Theminehadbeenworkingonthreeshifts,itsdaysandnightsblendingintoasinglestretchofstruggletolosenominute,nodropofcopperitcouldsqueezefromtheshelvesofamountainintothenation’sindustrialdesert.Thecranebrokedownatthetaskofloadingatrain;itstoppedabruptlyandhungstillagainsttheeveningsky,betweenastringofemptycarsandpilesofsuddenlyimmovableore.
Themenoftherailroadandoftheminestoppedindazedbewilderment:theyfoundthatinallthecomplexityoftheirequipment,amongthedrills,themotors,thederricks,thedelicategauges,theponderousfloodlightsbeatingdownintothepitsandridgesofamountain—therewasnowiretomendthecrane.Theystopped,likemenonanoceanlinerpropelledbyten-thousand-horsepowergenerators,butperishingforlackofasafetypin.
Thestationagent,ayoungmanwithaswiftbodyandabrusquevoice,strippedthewiringfromthestationbuildingandsetthecraneinmotionagain—andwhiletheorewentclatteringtofillthecars,thelightofcandlescametremblingthroughtheduskfromthewindowsofthestation.
"Minnesota,Eddie,"saidDagnygrimly,closingthedrawerofherspecialfile."TelltheMinnesotaDivisiontoshiphalftheirstockofwiretoMontana.""ButgoodGod,Dagny!—withthepeakoftheharvestrushapproaching—""They’llholdthroughit—Ithink.Wedon’tdareloseasinglesupplierofcopper.
