Атлант расправил плечи

           andundignified!"

           "Can’tI?"

           "ButforGod’ssake,why?"

           "Becauseit’sgoingtoshockalltherestofthemjustasitshockedyou."

           "I’veneverseenyouplayingforeffects."

           "Iam,thistime."

           "But..."Hisvoicedroppedtoanalmostsuperstitioussound:"Look,Dagny,youknow,it’s...it’sbadluck...Whatitstandsforis..."Hestopped.

           "Whatdoesitstandfor?"

           "Idon’tknow...Butthewaypeopleuseit,theyalwaysseemtosayitoutof—"

           "Fear?Despair?Futility?"

           "Yes...yes,that’swhatitis."

           "That’swhatIwanttothrowintheirfaces!"

           Thebright,sparklingangerinhereyes,herfirstlookofenjoyment,madehimunderstandthathehadtokeepstill.

           "DrawupallthepapersandalltheredtapeinthenameoftheJohnGaltLine,"shesaid.

           Hesighed."Well,it’syourLine."

           "Youbetitis!"

           Heglancedather,astonished.Shehaddroppedthemannersandstyleofavice-President;sheseemedtoberelaxinghappilytothelevelofyardcrewsandconstructiongangs.

           "Astothepapersandthelegalsideofit,"hesaid,"theremightbesomedifficulties.Wewouldhavetoapplyforthepermissionof—"

           Shewhirledtofacehim.