Атлант расправил плечи
The Sacred and the Profane
Therewasathingruelofmudonthepavements;hefeltaglueysuctionunderhisshoesolesandachillslippingdownpasthiscollar.Hedidnotwanttowalkortostop.Hehadnoplacetogo.
Leavinghisoffice,afterthemeetingoftheBoardofDirectors,hehadrealizedsuddenlythattherewerenootherappointments,thathehadalongeveningaheadandnoonetohelphimkillit.ThefrontpagesofthenewspaperswerescreamingofthetriumphoftheJohnGaltLine,astheradioshadscreamedityesterdayandallthroughthenight.ThenameofTaggartTranscontinentalwasstretchedinheadlinesacrossthecontinent,likeitstrack,andhehadsmiledinanswertothecongratulations.Hehadsmiled,seatedattheheadofthelongtable,attheBoardmeeting,whiletheDirectorsspokeaboutthesoaringriseoftheTaggartstockontheExchange,whiletheycautiouslyaskedtoseehiswrittenagreementwithhissister—justincase,theysaid—andcommentedthatitwasfine,itwasholeproof,therewasnodoubtbutthatshewouldhavetoturntheLineovertoTaggartTranscontinentalatonce,theyspokeabouttheirbrilliantfutureandthedebtofgratitudewhichthecompanyowedtoJamesTaggart.
Hehadsatthroughthemeeting,wishingitwereoverwith,sothathecouldgohome.Thenhehadsteppedoutintothestreetandrealizedthathomewastheoneplacewherehedarednotgotonight.Hecouldnotbealone,notinthenextfewhours,yettherewasnobodytocall.
