Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Okay,ifyouwish.Ifyousayso.Anythingyouwish.I’llhavehimheretomorrowmorning."

           Thatevening,diningwithWesleyMouchinhisownsuite,Mr.Thompsonglaredangrilyataglassoftomatojuiceplacedbeforehim."What?

           Nograpefruitjuice?"hesnapped;hisdoctorhadprescribedgrapefruitjuiceasprotectionagainstanepidemicofcolds.

           "Nograpefruitjuice,"saidthewaiter,withanoddkindofemphasis.

           "Factis,"saidMouchbleakly,"thatagangofraidersattackedatrainattheTaggartBridgeontheMississippi.Theyblewupthetrackanddamagedthebridge.Nothingserious.It’sbeingrepaired—butalltrafficisheldupandthetrainsfromArizonacan’tgetthrough."

           "That’sridiculous!Aren’tthereanyother—?"Mr.Thompsonstopped;heknewthattherewerenootherrailroadbridgesacrosstheMississippi.

           Afteramoment,hespokeupinastaccatovoice."Orderarmydetachmentstoguardthebridge.Dayandnight.Tellthemtopicktheirbestmenforit.Ifanythinghappenedtothatbridge—"

           Hedidnotfinish;hesathunched,staringdownatthecostlychinaplatesandthedelicatehorsd’oeuvresbeforehim.Theabsenceofsoprosaicacommodityasgrapefruitjuicehadsuddenlymaderealtohim,forthefirsttime,whatitwasthatwouldhappentothecityofNewYorkifanythinghappenedtotheTaggartBridge.