Атлант расправил плечи
The Theme
Whenthetrainstopped,whenshegotoffandheardtheconcreteoftheplatformunderherheels,shefeltlight,lifted,impelledtoaction. Shestartedoff,walkingfast,asifthespeedofherstepscouldgiveformtothethingsshefelt. Itwasafewmomentsbeforesherealizedthatshewaswhistlingapieceofmusic—andthatitwasthethemeofHalley’sFifthConcerto.
Shefeltsomeonelookingatherandturned.Theyoungbrakemanstoodwatchinghertensely.
***
ShesatonthearmofthebigchairfacingJamesTaggart’sdesk,hercoatthrownopenoverawrinkledtravelingsuit. EddieWillerssatacrosstheroom,makingnotesonceinawhile. HistitlewasthatofSpecialAssistanttotheVice-PresidentinChargeofOperation,andhismaindutywastobeherbodyguardagainstanywasteoftime. Sheaskedhimtobepresentatinterviewsofthisnature,becausethensheneverhadtoexplainanythingtohimafterwards. JamesTaggartsatathisdesk,hisheaddrawnintohisshoulders.
"TheRioNorteLineisapileofjunkfromoneendtotheother,"shesaid. "It’smuchworsethanIthought. Butwe’regoingtosaveit."
"Ofcourse,"saidJamesTaggart.
"Someoftherailcanbesalvaged.Notmuchandnotforlong. We’llstartlayingnewrailinthemountainsections,Coloradofirst. We’llgetthenewrailintwomonths."
"Oh,didOrrenBoylesayhe‘ll—"
"I’veorderedtherailfromReardenSteel."
Theslight,chokedsoundfromEddieWillerswashissuppresseddesiretocheer.
JamesTaggartdidnotansweratonce.
