Атлант расправил плечи
Their Brothers’ Keepers
"There’stroubleinCalifornia,"saidWesleyMouchsullenly."Theirstatelegislature’sbeenactingprettyhuffy.There’stalkofsecedingfromtheUnion."
"Oregonisoverrunbygangsofdeserters,"saidClemWeatherbycautiously."Theymurderedtwotaxcollectorswithinthelastthreemonths."
"Theimportanceofindustrytoacivilizationhasbeengrosslyoveremphasized,"saidDr.Ferrisdreamily."WhatisnowknownasthePeople’sStateofIndiahasexistedforcenturieswithoutanyindustrialdevelopmentwhatever."
"Peoplecoulddowithfewermaterialgadgetsandasternerdisciplineofprivations,"saidEugeneLawsoneagerly."Itwouldbegoodforthem."
"Ohhell,areyougoingtoletthatdametalkyouintolettingtherichestcountryonearthslipthroughyourfingers?"saidCuffyMeigs,leapingtohisfeet."It’safinetimetogiveupawholecontinent—andinexchangeforwhat?Foradinkylittlestatethat’smilkeddry,anyway!
IsayditchMinnesota,butholdontoyourtranscontinentaldragnet.
Withtroubleandriotseverywhere,youwon’tbeabletokeeppeopleinlineunlessyouhavetransportation—trooptransportation—unlessyouholdyoursoldierswithinafewdays’journeyofanypointonthecontinent.Thisisnotimetoretrench.Don’tgetyellow,listeningtoallthattalk.You’vegotthecountryinyourpocket.Justkeepitthere.
