Атлант расправил плечи
The Egoist
"Dagny,"saidEddieWillers,thatevening,"thebridgeisnottheonlyproblem."Hesnappedonherdesklampwhich,inforcedconcentrationonherwork,shehadneglectedtoturnonattheapproachofdusk.
"NotranscontinentaltrainscanleaveSanFrancisco.Oneofthefightingfactionsoutthere—Idon’tknowwhichone—hasseizedourterminalandimposeda‘departuretax’ontrains.Meaningthatthey’reholdingtrainsforransom.Ourterminalmanagerhasquit.Nobodyknowswhattodotherenow."
"Ican’tleaveNewYork,"sheansweredstonily.
"Iknow,"hesaidsoftly."That’swhyit’sIwho’llgotheretostraightenthingsout.Atleast,tofindamantoputincharge."
"No!Idon’twantyouto.It’stoodangerous.Andwhatfor?Itdoesn’tmatternow.There’snothingtosave."
"It’sstillTaggartTranscontinental.I’llstandbyit,Dagny,whereveryougo,you’llalwaysbeabletobuildarailroad.Icouldn’t.Idon’tevenwanttomakeanewstart.Notanymore.NotafterwhatI’veseen.Youshould.Ican’t.LetmedowhatIcan."
"Eddie!Don’tyouwant—"Shestopped,knowingthatitwasuseless.
"Allright,Eddie.Ifyouwish."
"I’mflyingtoCaliforniatonight.I’vearrangedforspaceonanarmyplane...Iknowthatyouwillquitassoonas...assoonasyoucanleaveNewYork.
