Атлант расправил плечи
The John Galt line
"ThefirsttrainwilldepartfromthestationofTaggartTranscontinentalinCheyenne,Wyoming,atfourP.M.onJulytwenty-second.
Itwillbeafreightspecial,consistingofeightycars.Itwillbedrivenbyaneight-thousand-horsepower,four-unitDiesellocomotive—whichI’mleasingfromTaggartTranscontinentalfortheoccasion.Itwillrunnon-stoptoWyattJunction,Colorado,travelingatanaveragespeedofonehundredmilesperhour.Ibegyourpardon?"sheasked,hearingthelong,lowsoundofawhistle.
"Whatdidyousay,MissTaggart?"
"Isaid,onehundredmilesperhour—grades,curvesandall."
"Butshouldn’tyoucutthespeedbelownormalratherthan...MissTaggart,don’tyouhaveanyconsiderationwhateverforpublicopinion?"
"ButIdo.Ifitweren’tforpublicopinion,anaveragespeedofsixty-fivemilesperhourwouldhavebeenquitesufficient."
"Who’sgoingtorunthattrain?"
"Ihadquiteabitoftroubleaboutthat.AlltheTaggartengineersvolunteeredtodoit.Sodidthefiremen,thebrakemenandtheconductors.Wehadtodrawlotsforeveryjobonthetrain’screw.TheengineerwillbePatLogan,oftheTaggartComet,thefireman—RayMcKim.
Ishallrideinthecaboftheenginewiththem."
"Notreally!"
"Pleasedoattendtheopening.It’sonJulytwenty-second.Thepressismosteagerlyinvited.
