Атлант расправил плечи
The Exploiters and the Exploited
Hestudiedthefiguresforafewmoments,markingsomebriefcalculationsonthemarginofthesheet.Thenheraisedhishead.
"Allright,Mr.Ward,"hesaid."Youwillhaveyoursteelintendays."
WhenMr.Wardhadgone,Reardencameoutintotheanteroom.
HesaidtoMissIves,hisvoicenormal,"WireFleminginColorado.
He’llknowwhyIhavetocancelthatoption."Sheinclinedherhead,inthemannerofanodsignifyingobedience.Shedidnotlookathim.
Heturnedtohisnextcallerandsaid,withagestureofinvitationtowardhisoffice,"Howdoyoudo.Comein."
Hewouldthinkofitlater,hethought;onemovesstepbystepandonemustkeepmoving.Forthemoment,withanunnaturalclarity,withabrutalsimplificationthatmadeitalmosteasy,hisconsciousnesscontainednothingbutonethought:Itmustnotstopme.Thesentencehungalone,withnopastandnofuture.Hedidnotthinkofwhatitwasthatmustnotstophim,orwhythissentencewassuchacrucialabsolute.Itheldhimandheobeyed.Hewentstepbystep.Hecompletedhisscheduleofappointments,asscheduled.
Itwaslatewhenhislastcallerdepartedandhecameoutofhisoffice.Therestofhisstaffhadgonehome.MissIvessataloneatherdeskinanemptyroom.Shesatstraightandstiff,herhandsclaspedtightlytogetherinherlap.Herheadwasnotlowered,butheldrigidlylevel,andherfaceseemedfrozen.
