Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
ItwasRearden’sfacethatsavedhimfrombeingshotonsightwhenheentered:hisfacewastoowellknowntothemandtoounexpected.Hesaweightheadsstaringathimwithrecognitionandwithinabilitytobelievewhattheywererecognizing.
Hestoodatthedoor,hishandsinthepocketsofhistrousers,withthecasual,confidentmannerofabusinessexecutive.
"Whoisinchargehere?"heaskedinthepolitelyabruptvoiceofamanwhodoesnotwastetime.
"You...you’renot..."stammeredalanky,surlyindividualatthecardtable.
"I’mHankRearden.Areyouthechief?"
"Yeah!Butwhereinblazesdoyoucomefrom?"
"FromNewYork."
"Whatareyoudoinghere?"
"Then,Itakeit,youhavenotbeennotified."
"ShouldIhave...Imean,aboutwhat?"Theswift,touchy,resentfulsuspicionthathissuperiorshadslightedhisauthority,wasobviousinthechief’svoice.Hewasatall,emaciatedman,withjerkymovements,asallowfaceandtherestless,unfocusedeyesofadrugaddict.
"Aboutmybusinesshere."
"You...youcan’thaveanybusinesshere,"hesnapped,tornbetweenthefearofabluffandthefearofhavingbeenleftoutofsomeimportant,top-leveldecision."Aren’tyouatraitorandadeserteranda—"
"Iseethatyou’rebehindthetimes,mygoodman.
