Атлант расправил плечи

           Thesleetofthefollowingmorningfelldownonfront-pagestoriesannouncingthataconstructive,harmoniousconferencebetweenJohnGaltandthecountry’sleaders,onthepreviousafternoon,hadproduced"TheJohnGaltPlan,"soontobeannounced.Thesnowflakesoftheeveningfelldownuponthefurnitureofanapartmenthousewhosefrontwallhadcollapsed—anduponacrowdofmenwaitingsilentlyattheclosedcashier’swindowofaplantwhoseownerhadvanished.

           "ThefarmersofSouthDakota,"WesleyMouchreportedtoMr.Thompson,nextmorning,"aremarchingonthestatecapital,burningeverygovernmentbuildingontheirway,andeveryhomeworthmorethantenthousanddollars."

           "California’sblowntopieces,"hereportedintheevening."There’sacivilwargoingonthere—ifthat’swhatitis,whichnobodyseemstobesureof.They’vedeclaredthatthey’resecedingfromtheUnion,butnobodyknowswho’snowinpower.There’sarmedfightingalloverthestate,betweena‘People’sParty,’ledbyMaChalmersandhersoybeancultofOrient-admirers—andsomethingcalled‘BacktoGod,’ledbysomeformeroil-fieldowners."

           "MissTaggart!"moanedMr.Thompson,whensheenteredhishotelroomnextmorning,inanswertohissummons."Whatarewegoingtodo?"

           Hewonderedwhyhehadoncefeltthatshepossessedsomereassuringkindofenergy.