Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Atatimeofdesperatepublicneed,it’sourdutytosacrificeourluxurioustastesandeatourwaybacktoprosperitybyadaptingourselvestothesimple,wholesomefoodstuffonwhichthepeoplesoftheOrienthavesonoblysubsistedforcenturies.There’sagreatdealthatwecouldlearnfromthepeoplesoftheOrient."
"Coppertubing,MissTaggart,couldyougetsomecoppertubingforussomewhere?"thevoiceswerepleadingoverhertelephone."Railspikes,MissTaggart!""Screwdrivers,MissTaggart!""Lightbulbs,MissTaggart,there’snoelectriclightbulbstobehadanywherewithintwohundredmilesofus!"
ButfivemilliondollarswasbeingspentbytheofficeofMoraleConditioningonthePeople’sOperaCompany,whichtraveledthroughthecountry,givingfreeperformancestopeoplewho,ononemealaday,couldnotaffordtheenergytowalktotheoperahouse.Sevenmilliondollarshadbeengrantedtoapsychologistinchargeofaprojecttosolvetheworldcrisisbyresearchintothenatureofbrother-love.Tenmilliondollarshadbeengrantedtothemanufacturerofanewelectroniccigarettelighter—buttherewerenocigarettesintheshopsofthecountry.Therewereflashlightsonthemarket,butnobatteries;therewereradios,butnotubes;therewerecameras,butnofilm.Theproductionofairplaneshadbeendeclared"temporarilysuspended."Airtravelforprivatepurposeshadbeenforbidden,andreservedexclusivelyformissionsof"publicneed.
