Атлант расправил плечи

           Hewaspacingrestlessly,unsteadilyinfrontoftheXylophone,shoutingorderstomenwhokeptrushinginandoutoftheroom:"Sendcourierstoeverycountyseatwithinourreach!Tell’emthattheFriendsofthePeoplehavewon!Tell’emthey’renottotakeordersfromWashingtonanylonger!ThenewcapitalofthePeople’sCommonwealthisHarmonyCity,henceforthtobeknownasMeigsville!Tell’emthatI’llexpectfivehundredthousanddollarspereveryfivethousandheadsofpopulation,bytomorrowmorning—orelse!"

           IttooksometimebeforeCuffyMeigs’attentionandblearybrowneyescouldbedrawntofocusonthepersonofDr.Stadler."Well,whatisit?Whatisit?"hesnapped.

           "IamDr.RobertStadler."

           "Huh?—Oh,yeah!Yeah!You’rethebigguyfromouterspaces,aren’tyou?You’rethefellowwhocatchesatomsorsomething.Well,whatonearthareyoudoinghere?"

           "ItisIwhoshouldaskyouthatquestion."

           "Huh?Look,Professor,I’minnomoodforjokes."

           "Ihavecomeheretotakecontrol."

           "Control?Ofwhat?"

           "Ofthisequipment.Ofthisplace.Ofthecountrysidewithinitsradiusofoperation."

           Meigsstaredathimblanklyforamoment,thenaskedsoftly,"Howdidyougethere?"

           "Bycar."

           "Imean,whomdidyoubringwithyou?"

           "Nobody.