Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
"Whatareyoutryingto—"
Theblastthatstoppedhimwasamilitarymarchleapingsuddenlyforthfromtheradioreceiver—themilitarymarchinterruptedthreehoursago,playedbythefamiliarscreechesofastudiorecord.Ittookthemafewstunnedsecondstograspit,whilethecheerful,thumpingchordswentgoose-steppingthroughthesilence,soundinggrotesquelyirrelevant,likethemirthofahalf-wit.Thestation’sprogramdirectorwasblindlyobeyingtheabsolutethatnoradiotimewasevertobeleftblank.
"Tellthemtocutitoff!"screamedWesleyMouch,leapingtohisfeet."Itwillmakethepublicthinkthatweauthorizedthatspeech!"
"Youdamnfool!"criedMr.Thompson."Wouldyouratherhavethepublicthinkthatwedidn’t?"
MouchstoppedshortandhiseyesshottoMr.Thompsonwiththeappreciativeglanceofanamateuratamaster.
"Broadcastsasusual!"orderedMr.Thompson."Tellthemtogoonwithwhateverprogramsthey’dscheduledforthishour!Nospecialannouncements,noexplanations!Tellthemtogoonasifnothinghadhappened!"
HalfadozenofChickMorrison’smoraleconditionerswentscurryingofftowardtelephones.
