Атлант расправил плечи
“This is John Galt speaking”
""Itisavicious,anti-socialliethatmanufacturersofsteelproductsarecollapsingunderthethreatofasteelshortage.Thereisnoreasontoexpectasteelshortage.""Itisaslanderous,unfoundedrumorthataSteelUnificationPlanhadbeeninthemakingandthatithadbeenfavoredbyMr.OrrenBoyle.Mr.Boyle’sattorneyhasissuedanemphaticdenialandhasassuredthepressthatMr.Boyleisnowvehementlyopposedtoanysuchplan.Mr.Boyle,atthemoment,issufferingfromanervousbreakdown."
ButsomenewscouldbewitnessedinthestreetsofNewYork,inthecold,danktwilightofautumnevenings:acrowdgatheredinfrontofahardwarestore,wheretheownerhadthrownthedoorsopen,invitingpeopletohelpthemselvestothelastofhismeagerstock,whilehelaughedinshriekingsobsandwentsmashinghisplate-glasswindows—acrowdgatheredatthedoorofarun-downapartmenthouse,whereapoliceambulancestoodwaiting,whilethebodiesofaman,hiswifeandtheirthreechildrenwerebeingremovedfromagas-filledroom;themanhadbeenasmallmanufacturerofsteelcastings.
IftheyseeHankRearden’svaluenow—shethought—whydidn’ttheyseeitsooner?Whyhadn’ttheyavertedtheirowndoomandsparedhimhisyearsofthanklesstorture?Shefoundnoanswer.
