Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
Therailwaytrackandequipmentofonehastobedismantledtoprovidethematerialforthemaintenanceoftheother."
ShenoticedthatClemWeatherby,theirtechnicalexpertonrailroads,wasthemanofleastinfluenceamongthem,andCuffyMeigs—ofmost.
CuffyMeigssatsprawledinhischair,withalookofpatronizingtolerancefortheirgameofwastingtimeondiscussions.Hespokelittle,butwhenhedid,itwastosnapdecisively,withacontemptuousgrin,"Pipedown,Jimmy!"or,"Nuts,Wes,you’retalkingthroughyourhat!"ShenoticedthatneitherJimnorMouchresentedit.Theyseemedtowelcometheauthorityofhisassurance;theywereacceptinghimastheirmaster.
"Wehavetobepractical,"Dr.Ferriskeptsaying."Wehavetobescientific."
"Ineedtheeconomyofthecountryasawhole,"WesleyMouchkeptrepeating."Ineedtheproductionofanation."
"Isiteconomicsthatyou’retalkingabout?Isitproduction?"shesaid,wheneverhercold,measuredvoicewasabletoseizeabriefstretchoftheirtune."Ifitis,thengiveusleewaytosavetheEasternstates.That’sallthat’sleftofthecountry—andoftheworld.Ifyouletussavethat,we’llhaveachancetorebuildtherest.Ifnot,it’stheend.
LettheAtlanticSoutherntakecareofsuchtranscontinentaltrafficasstillexists.LetthelocalrailroadstakecareoftheNorthwest.
