Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
InMinnesota,farmersweresettingfiretotheirownfarms,theyweredemolishinggrainelevatorsandthehomesofcountyofficials,theywerefightingalongthetrackoftherailroad,sometotearitup,sometodefenditwiththeirlives—and,withnogoaltoreachsaveviolence,theyweredyinginthestreetsofguttedtownsandinthesilentgulliesofaroadlessnight.
Thentherewasonlytheacridstenchofgrainrottinginhalf-smoulderingpiles—afewcolumnsofsmokerisingfromtheplains,standingstillintheairoverblackenedruins—and,inanofficeinPennsylvania,HankReardensittingathisdesk,lookingatalistofmenwhohadgonebankrupt:theywerethemanufacturersoffarmequipment,whocouldnotbepaidandwouldnotbeabletopayhim.
Theharvestofsoybeansdidnotreachthemarketsofthecountry:ithadbeenreapedprematurely,itwasmoldyandunfitforconsumption.
OnthenightofOctober15,acopperwirebrokeinNewYorkCity,inanundergroundcontroltoweroftheTaggartTerminal,extinguishingthelightsofthesignals.
Itwasonlythebreachofonewire,butitproducedashortcircuitintheinterlockingtrafficsystem,andthesignalsofmotionordangerdisappearedfromthepanelsofthecontroltowersandfromamongthestrandsofrail.Theredandgreenlensesremainedredandgreen,notwiththelivingradianceofsight,butwiththedeadstareofglasseyes.
