Атлант расправил плечи
The Theme
Ithasbeengenerallyconcededthattheinterestsofsocietyasawholemustalwaysbeplacedfirstinanybusinessundertakingwhich—"
"Howlongdoyouintendtotalkinordertoevadetheissue,Jim?"
"Whatissue?"
"TheorderforReardenMetal."
Hedidnotanswer.Hesatstudyinghersilently. Herslenderbody,abouttoslumpfromexhaustion,washelderectbythestraightlineoftheshoulders,andtheshoulderswereheldbyaconsciouseffortofwill. Fewpeoplelikedherface:thefacewastoocold,theeyestoointense;nothingcouldeverlendherthecharmofasoftfocus. Thebeautifullegs,slantingdownfromthechair’sarminthecenterofhisvision,annoyedhim;theyspoiledtherestofhisestimate.
Sheremainedsilent;hewasforcedtoask, "Didyoudecidetoorderitjustlikethat,onthespurofthemoment,overatelephone?"
"Idecideditsixmonthsago.IwaswaitingforHankReardentogetreadytogointoproduction."
"Don’tcallhimHankRearden.It’svulgar."
"That’swhateverybodycallshim.Don’tchangethesubject."
"Whydidyouhavetotelephonehimlastnight?"
"Couldn’treachhimsooner."
"Whydidn’tyouwaituntilyougotbacktoNewYorkand—"
"BecauseIhadseentheRioNorteLine."
"Well,Ineedtimetoconsiderit,toplacethematterbeforetheBoard,toconsultthebest—"
"Thereisnotime."
"Youhaven’tgivenmeachancetoformanopinion."
"Idon’tgiveadamnaboutyouropinion.
