Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Wewouldn’thavehadtheexpenseoftearingitupandcartingitoff,wecouldhaveuseditasis.Anditwouldhavebeenwonderfulpublicityforus—thatwe’regivinguptheReardenMetaltrackindeferencetopublicopinion.Itwouldhavebeenwortheverypennyofitingoodwill!Butthesonofabitchrefused.He’sactuallydeclaredthatnotafootofrailwouldbesoldtoTaggartTranscontinental.He’ssellingitpiecemealtoanystraycomer,toone-horserailroadsinArkansasorNorthDakota,sellingitataloss,wayunderwhatIofferedhim,thebastard!Doesn’tevenwanttotakeaprofit!Andyoushouldseethosevulturesflockingtohim!Theyknowthey’dneverhaveachancetogetrailanywhereelse!"
Shesat,herheadbowed.Shecouldnotbeartolookathim.
"Ithinkit’scontrarytotheintentoftheAnti-dog-cat-dogRule,"hesaidangrily."IthinkitwastheintentandpurposeoftheNationalAllianceofRailroadstoprotecttheessentialsystems,notthejerkwatersofNorthDakota.ButIcan’tgettheAlliancetovoteonitnow,becausethey’realldownthere,outbiddingoneanotherforthatrail!"
Shesaidslowly,asifshewisheditwerepossibletowearglovestohandlethewords,"IseewhyyouwantmetodefendReardenMetal."
"Idon’tknowwhatyou’re—"
"Shutup,Jim,"shesaidquietly.
Heremainedsilentforamoment.
