Атлант расправил плечи
In the Name of the Best among us
"Thetrackphonemusthavebeenoutoforder."
"No,Mr.Willers.Itwasnotoutoforder.Thelinewasaliveallright.
TheDivisionHeadquarterswasn’t.Imean,therewasnoonetheretoanswer,orelsenoonewhocaredto."
"Butyouknowthatthat’simpossible!"
Thefiremanshrugged;mendidnotconsideranydisasterimpossiblethesedays.
EddieWillersleapedtohisfeet."Godownthelengthofthetrain,"heorderedtheconductor."Knockonallthedoors—theoccupiedones,thatis—andseewhetherthere’sanelectricalengineeraboard."
"Yes,sir."
Eddieknewthattheyfelt,ashefeltit,thattheywouldfindnosuchman;notamongthelethargic,extinguishedfacesofthepassengerstheyhadseen."Comeon,"heordered,turningtothefireman.
Theyclimbedtogetheraboardthelocomotive.Thegray-hairedengineerwassittinginhischair,staringoutatthecacti.Theengine’sheadlighthadstayedonanditstretchedoutintothenight,motionlessandstraight,reachingnothingbutthedissolvingblurofcrossties.
"Let’strytofindwhat’swrong,"saidEddie,removinghiscoat,hisvoicehalf-order,half-plea."Let’strysomemore."
"Yes,sir,"saidtheengineer,withoutresentmentorhope.
Theengineerhadexhaustedhismeagerstoreofknowledge;hehadcheckedeverysourceoftroublehecouldthinkof.
