Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Shehadaskedherchiefengineertosubmitadesignandanestimateofthecost.
Thedesignhehadsubmittedwastheschemeofasteelbridgebadlyscaleddowntothegreaterstrengthofthenewmetal;thecostmadetheprojectimpossibletoconsider.
"Ibegyourpardon,MissTaggart,"hehadsaid,offended."Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanwhenyousaythatIhaven’tmadeuseofthemetal.Thisdesignisanadaptationofthebestbridgesonrecord.
Whatelsedidyouexpect?"
"Anewmethodofconstruction."
"Whatdoyoumean,anewmethod?"
"Imeanthatwhenmengotstructuralsteel,theydidnotuseittobuildsteelcopiesofwoodenbridges."Shehadaddedwearily,"Getmeanestimateonwhatwe’llneedtomakeouroldbridgelastforanotherfiveyears."
"Yes,MissTaggart,"hehadsaidcheerfully."Ifwereinforceitwithsteel—"
"We’llreinforceitwithReardenMetal."
"Yes,MissTaggart,"hehadsaidcoldly.
Shelookedatthesnow-coveredmountains.Herjobhadseemedhardattimes,inNewYork.
