Атлант расправил плечи
The Chain
Thebigneonsignonitsrooflightedtheinteriorsofthecoachesastheywentby.Itsaid:REARDENSTEEL.
Apassenger,whowasaprofessorofeconomics,remarkedtohiscompanion:"Ofwhatimportanceisanindividualinthetitaniccollectiveachievementsofourindustrialage?"Another,whowasajournalist,madeanoteforfutureuseinhiscolumn:"HankReardenisthekindofmanwhostickshisnameoneverythinghetouches.Youmay,fromthis,formyourownopinionaboutthecharacterofHankRearden."
Thetrainwasspeedingonintothedarknesswhenaredgaspshottotheskyfrombehindalongstructure.Thepassengerspaidnoattention;onemoreheatofsteelbeingpouredwasnotaneventtheyhadbeentaughttonotice.
ItwasthefirstheatforthefirstorderofReardenMetal.
Tothemenatthetap-holeofthefurnaceinsidethemills,thefirstbreakoftheliquidmetalintotheopencameasashockingsensationofmorning.Thenarrowstreakpouringthroughspacehadthepurewhitecolorofsunlight.Blackcoilsofsteamwereboilingupward,streakedwithviolentred.Fountainsofsparksshotinbeatingspasms,asfrombrokenarteries.Theairseemedtorntorags,reflectingaragingflamethatwasnotthere,redblotcheswhirlingandrunningthroughspace,asifnottobecontainedwithinaman-madestructure,asifabouttoconsumethecolumns,thegirders,thebridgesofcranesoverhead.Buttheliquidmetalhadnoaspectofviolence.Itwasalongwhitecurvewiththetextureofsatinandthefriendlyradianceofasmile.
