Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
IgottheNationalAllianceofRailroadstosuspendthedeadlineandpermitDanConwaytooperatehisroadforanotheryear—thatwouldhavegivenustime—buthe’srefusedtodoit!ItriedtogetEllisWyattandhisbunchoffriendsinColoradotodemandthatWashingtonorderConwaytocontinueoperations—butallofthem,Wyattandalltherestofthosebastards,refused!It’stheirskin,worsethanours,they’resuretogodownthedrain—butthey’verefused!"
Shesmiledbriefly,butmadenocomment.
"Nowthere’snothingleftforustodo!We’recaught.Wecan’tgiveupthatbranchandwecan’tcompleteit.Wecan’tstoporgoon.Wehavenomoney.Nobodywilltouchuswithaten-footpole!WhathavewegotleftwithouttheRioNorteLine?Butwecan’tfinishit.We’dbeboycotted.We’dbeblacklisted.Thatunionoftrackworkerswouldsueus.Theywould,there’salawaboutit.Wecan’tcompletethatLine!Christ!Whatarewegoingtodo?"
Shewaited."Through,Jim?"sheaskedcoldly."Ifyouare,I’lltellyouwhatwe’regoingtodo."
Hekeptsilent,lookingupatherfromunderhisheavyeyelids.
"Thisisnotaproposal,Jim.It’sanultimatum.Justlistenandaccept.IamgoingtocompletetheconstructionoftheRioNorteLine.Ipersonally,notTaggartTranscontinental.IwilltakealeaveofabsencefromthejobofVice-President.Iwillformacompanyinmyownname.
