Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
ThenraincloudsburstovertheprairiesofMinnesota;therainwenteatingthewheatintorotatthewaitingrailroadstations;itwenthammeringthepilesspilledalongtheroads,washinggoldkernelsintothesoil.
ThemeninWashingtonwerelasttobereachedbythepanic.Theywatched,notthenewsfromMinnesota,buttheprecariousbalanceoftheirfriendshipsandcommitments;theyweighed,notthefateoftheharvest,buttheunknowableresultofunpredictableemotionsinunthinkingmenofunlimitedpower.Theywaited,theyevadedallpleas,theydeclared,"Oh,ridiculous,there’snothingtoworryabout!ThoseTaggartpeoplehavealwaysmovedthatwheatonschedule,they’llfindsomewaytomoveit!"
Then,whentheStateChiefExecutiveofMinnesotasentarequesttoWashingtonfortheassistanceoftheArmyagainsttheriotshewasunabletocontrol—threedirectivesburstforthwithintwohours,stoppingalltrainsinthecountry,commandeeringallcarstospeedtoMinnesota.
AnordersignedbyWesleyMouchdemandedtheimmediatereleaseofthefreightcarsheldintheserviceofKip’sMa.Butbythattime,itwastoolate.Ma’sfreightcarswereinCalifornia,wherethesoybeanshadbeensenttoaprogressiveconcernmadeupofsociologistspreachingthecultofOrientalausterity,andofbusinessmenformerlyinthenumbersracket.
