Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
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"ButIhave!"screamedJamesTaggart,whensheremindedhimoncemore."Ihaveobtainedforyouthetoppriorityoncopperwire,thefirstclaim,theuppermostrationlevel,I’vegivenyouallthecards,certificates,documentsandrequisitions—whatelsedoyouwant?""Thecopperwire.""I’vedoneallIcould!Nobodycanblameme!"
Shedidnotargue.Theafternoonnewspaperwaslyingonhisdesk—andshewasstaringatanitemonthebackpage:AnEmergencyStateTaxhadbeenpassedinCaliforniaforthereliefofthestate’sunemployed,intheamountoffiftypercentofanylocalcorporation’sgrossincomeaheadofothertaxes;theCaliforniaoilcompanieshadgoneoutofbusiness.
"Don’tworry,Mr.Rearden,"saidanunctuousvoiceoveralongdistancetelephonelinefromWashington,"Ijustwantedtoassureyouthatyouwillnothavetoworry.""Aboutwhat?"askedRearden,baffled."AboutthattemporarybitofconfusioninCalifornia.We’llstraightenitoutinnotime,itwasanactofillegalinsurrection,theirstategovernmenthadnorighttoimposelocaltaxesdetrimentaltonationaltaxes,we’llnegotiateanequitablearrangementimmediately—butinthemeantime,ifyouhavebeendisturbedbyanyunpatrioticrumorsabouttheCaliforniaoilcompanies,IjustwantedtotellyouthatReardenSteelhasbeenplacedinthetopcategoryofessentialneed,withfirstclaimuponanyoilavailableanywhereinthenation,verytopcategory,Mr.
