Атлант расправил плечи

           Thelookofthefacesmatchedthesoundofhisvoice.

           "Itdoesn’tseemtowork,"hesaid,pointingtoapileofreportsfromhispublic-pulse-takers."AllthepressreleasesaboutourcollaboratingwithJohnGaltdon’tseemtomakeanydifference.Peopledon’tcare.Theydon’tbelieveawordofit.Someofthemsaythathe’llnevercollaboratewithus.Mostofthemdon’tevenbelievethatwe’vegothim.Idon’tknowwhat’shappenedtopeople.Theydon’tbelieveanythinganymore."Hesighed."ThreefactorieswentoutofbusinessinCleveland,daybeforeyesterday.FivefactoriesclosedinChicagoyesterday.InSanFrancisco—"

           "Iknow,Iknow,"snappedMr.Thompson,tighteningthemuffleraroundhisthroat:thebuilding’sfurnacehadgoneoutoforder.

           "There’snochoiceaboutit:he’sgottogiveinandtakeover.He’sgotto!"

           WesleyMouchglancedattheceiling."Don’taskmetotalktohimagain,"hesaid,andshuddered."I’vetried.Onecan’ttalktothatman."

           "I...Ican’t,Mr.Thompson!"criedChickMorrison,inanswertothestopofMr.Thompson’srovingglance."I’llresign,ifyouwantmeto!Ican’ttalktohimagain!Don’tmakeme!"

           "Nobodycantalktohim,"saidDr.FloydFerris."It’sawasteoftime.Hedoesn’thearawordyousay."

           FredKinnanchuckled.