Атлант расправил плечи

           Shelaughedathimonce,boastingthatshewasanoldemployeeofTaggartTranscontinental,whilehehadnotstartedtoworkforaliving.Hesaid,"Myfatherrefusestoletmeworkford‘AnconiaCopperuntilIgraduate.""Whendidyoulearntobeobedient?""Imustrespecthiswishes.Heistheownerofd’AnconiaCopper....Heisnot,however,theownerofallthecoppercompaniesintheworld."Therewasahintofsecretamusementinhissmile.

           Shedidnotlearnthestoryuntilthenextfall,whenhehadgraduatedandreturnedtoNewYorkafteravisittohisfatherinBuenosAires.Thenhetoldherthathehadtakentwocoursesofeducationduringthelastfouryears:oneatthePatrickHenryUniversity,theotherinacopperfoundryontheoutskirtsofCleveland."Iliketolearnthingsformyself,"hesaid.Hehadstartedworkingatthefoundryasfurnaceboy,whenhewassixteen—andnow,attwenty,heownedit.Heacquiredhisfirsttitleofproperty,withtheaidofsomeinaccuracyabouthisage,onthedaywhenhereceivedhisuniversitydiploma,andhesentthembothtohisfather.

           Heshowedheraphotographofthefoundry.Itwasasmall,grimyplace,disreputablewithage,batteredbyyearsofalosingstruggle;aboveitsentrancegate,likeanewflagonthemastofaderelict,hungthesign:d‘AnconiaCopper.