Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
"Aren’tyou?"
Shedidnotansweratonce;whenshedid,thesoundofdespairwaspresentinhervoiceonlyintheformoftootightamonotone:"Eddie,ifIquit,whatwouldhappentotheTaggarttrains?"
"TherewouldbenoTaggarttrainswithinaweek.Maybeless."
"Therewillbenolooters’governmentwithintendays.ThenmenlikeCuffyMeigswilldevourthelastofourrailsandengines.ShouldIlosethebattlebyfailingtowaitonemoremoment?HowcanIletitgo—TaggartTranscontinental,Eddie—goforever,whenonelasteffortcanstillkeepitinexistence?IfI’vestoodthingsthislong,Icanstandthemalittlelonger.Justalittlelonger.I’mnothelpingthelooters.
Nothingcanhelpthemnow."
"Whataretheygoingtodo?"
"Idon’tknow.Whatcantheydo?They’refinished."
"Isupposeso."
"Didn’tyouseethem?They’remiserable,panic-strickenrats,runningfortheirlives."
"Doesitmeananythingtothem?"
"What?"
"Theirlives."
"They’restillstruggling,aren’tthey?Butthey’rethroughandtheyknowit."
"Havetheyeveractedonwhattheyknow?"
"They’llhaveto.They’llgiveup.Itwon’tbelong.Andwe’llbeheretosavewhatever’sleft."
"Mr.
