Атлант расправил плечи

           Rearden,"andgettingnoanswer,said,"Oh,there’salotofwrinklestobeironedout,but...butthat’sit."

           Whateverreactiontheyhadexpected,itwasnottheonetheysaw.

           Reardenleanedbackinhischair,hiseyesattentive,butfixedonspace,asiflookingatanottoodistantdistance,thenheasked,withanoddnoteofquietlyimpersonalamusement,"Willyoutellmejustonething,boys:whatisityou’recountingon?"

           Heknewthattheyunderstood.Hesaw,ontheirfaces,thatstubbornlyevasivelookwhichhehadoncethoughttobethelookofaliarcheatingavictim,butwhichhenowknewtobeworse:thelookofamancheatinghimselfofhisownconsciousness.Theydidnotanswer.Theyremainedsilent,asifstruggling,nottomakehimforgethisquestion,buttomakethemselvesforgetthattheyhadheardit.

           "It’sasound,practicalPlan!"snappedJamesTaggartunexpectedly,withanangryedgeofsuddenanimationinhisvoice."Itwillwork!

           Ithastowork!Wewantittowork!"

           Nooneansweredhim.

           "Mr.Rearden...?"saidHollowaytimidly.

           "Well,letmesee,"saidRearden."OrrenBoyle’sAssociatedSteelowns60open-hearthfurnaces,one-thirdofthemstandingidleandtherestproducinganaverageof300tonsofsteelperfurnaceperday.Iown20open-hearthfurnaces,workingatcapacity,producing750tonsofReardenMetalperfurnaceperday.