Атлант расправил плечи

           Buttheodd,glowingwarmthinhismind,likethefeelofadistanthandshake,wasthethoughtthatinasecretsafeofhisbedroomtherelayabarofsolidgold,giventohimbyagold-hairedpirate.

           Nextday,onNovember1,hereceivedatelephonecallfromWashington,fromabureaucratwhosevoiceseemedtocomeslidingdownthewireonitskneesinprotestationsofapology."Amistake,Mr.Rearden!Itwasnothingbutanunfortunatemistake!Thatattachmentwasnotintendedforyou.Youknowhowitisnowadays,withtheinefficiencyofallofficehelpandwiththeamountofredtapewe’retangledin,somebunglingfoolmixedtherecordsandprocessedtheattachmentorderagainstyou—whenitwasn’tyourcaseatall,itwas,infact,thecaseofasoapmanufacturer!Pleaseacceptourapologies,Mr.Rearden,ourdeepestpersonalapologiesatthetoplevel."Thevoiceslidtoaslight,expectantpause."Mr.Rearden...?""I’mlistening.""Ican’ttellyouhowsorrywearetohavecausedyouanyembarrassmentorinconvenience.Andwithallthosedamnformalitiesthatwehavetogothrough—youknowhowitis,redtape!—itwilltakeafewdays,perhapsaweek,tode-processthatorderandtolifttheattachment.Mr.Rearden?""Iheardyou.""We’redesperatelysorryandreadytomakeanyamendswithinourpower.Youwill,ofcourse,beentitledtoclaimdamagesforanyinconveniencethismightcauseyou,andwearepreparedtopay.Wewon’tcontestit.