Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
"Don’ttellthemthatwehaven’tgothim!"criedMr.Thompsontohisassistants,"ButforGod’ssaketellthemtofindhim!"SquadsofChickMorrison’sboyswereassignedtothetaskofmanufacturingrumors:halfofthemwentspreadingthestorythatJohnGaltwasinWashingtonandinconferencewithgovernmentofficials—whiletheotherhalfwentspreadingthestorythatthegovernmentwouldgivefivehundredthousanddollarsasrewardforinformationthatwouldhelptofindJohnGalt.
"No,notaclue,"saidWesleyMouchtoMr.Thompson,summingupthereportsofthespecialagentswhohadbeensenttocheckoneverymanbythenameofJohnGaltthroughoutthecountry."They’reashabbylot.There’saJohnGaltwho’saprofessorofornithology,eightyyearsold—there’saretiredgreengrocerwithawifeandninechildren—there’sanunskilledrailroadlaborerwho’sheldthesamejobfortwelveyears—andothersuchtrash."
"Don’tdespair!WewillgetJohnGalt!"saidofficialbroadcastsinthedaytime—butatnight,everyhouronthehour,byasecret,officialorder,anappealwassentfromshort-wavetransmittersintotheemptyreachesofspace:"CallingJohnGalt!...CallingJohnGalt!...
Areyoulistening,JohnGalt?...Wewishtonegotiate.Wewishtoconferwithyou.Giveuswordonwhereyoucanbereached...
Doyouhearus,JohnGalt?"Therewasnoanswer.
