Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Throughthehoursofthatnight—whileasmall,desperatecrewunderthecommandofEddieWillerskeptcallingeverydivisionpoint,everyyard,depot,station,spurandsidingofTaggartTranscontinentalforeveryfreightcarinsightorreach,orderingthemtounload,drop,dump,scuttleanythingandproceedtoMinnesotaatonce,whiletheykeptcallingtheyards,stationsandpresidentsofeveryrailroadstillhalfinexistenceanywhereacrossthemap,beggingforcarsforMinnesota—shewentthroughthetaskoftracingfromfacetocoward’sfacethedestinationofthefreightcarsthathadvanished.
ShewentfromrailroadexecutivestowealthyshipperstoWashingtonofficialsandbacktotherailroad—bycab,byphone,bywire—pursuingatrailofhalf-utteredhints.Thetrailapproacheditsendwhensheheardthepinch-lippedvoiceofapublicrelationswomaninaWashingtonoffice,sayingresentfullyoverthetelephonewire,"Well,afterall,itisamatterofopinionwhetherwheatisessentialtoanation’swelfare—therearethoseofmoreprogressiveviewswhofeelthatthesoybeanis,perhaps,offargreatervalue"—andthen,bynoon,shestoodinthemiddleofheroffice,knowingthatthefreightcarsintendedforthewheatofMinnesotahadbeensent,instead,tocarrythesoybeansfromtheLouisianaswampsofKip’sMa’sproject.
ThefirststoryoftheMinnesotadisasterappearedinthenewspapersthreedayslater.
