Атлант расправил плечи
“This is John Galt speaking”
Thompsonwilltellyouthetruth!"saidplacardsinsubwaysandbuses—thenpostersonthewallsofbuildings—thenbillboardsondesertedhighways.
"Don’tdespair!ListentoMr.Thompson!"saidpennantsongovernmentcars,"Don’tgiveup!ListentoMr.Thompson!"saidbannersinofficesandshops."Havefaith!ListentoMr.Thompson!"saidvoicesinchurches."Mr.Thompsonwillgiveyoutheanswer!"wrotearmyairplanesacrossthesky,thelettersdissolvinginspace,andonlythelasttwowordsremainingbythetimethesentencewascompleted.
Publicloud-speakerswerebuiltinthesquaresofNewYorkforthedayofthespeech,andcametoraspinglifeonceanhour,intimewiththeringingofdistantclocks,tosendoverthewornrattleofthetraffic,overtheheadsoftheshabbycrowds,thesonorous,mechanicalcryofanalarm-tonedvoice:"ListentoMr.Thompson’sreportontheworldcrisis,November22!"—acryrollingthroughthefrostedairandvanishingamongthefoggyrooftops,undertheblankpageofacalendarthatborenodate.
OntheafternoonofNovember22,JamesTaggarttoldDagnythatMr.Thompsonwishedtomeetherforaconferencebeforethebroadcast.
"InWashington?"sheaskedincredulously,glancingatherwatch.
"Well,Imustsaythatyouhaven’tbeenreadingthenewspapersorkeepingtrackofimportantevents.Don’tyouknowthatMr.
