Атлант расправил плечи
The Sacred and the Profane
That’soneprofessionthatseemstobedying—ordead."
"Hank,doyouknowwhatthatmotorwouldhavemeant,ifbuilt?"
Hechuckledbriefly."I’dsay:abouttenyearsaddedtothelifeofeverypersoninthiscountry—ifyouconsiderhowmanythingsitwouldhavemadeeasierandcheapertoproduce,howmanyhoursofhumanlaboritwouldhavereleasedforotherwork,andhowmuchmoreanyone’sworkwouldhavebroughthim.Locomotives?Whataboutautomobilesandshipsandairplaneswithamotorofthiskind?Andtractors.
Andpowerplants.Allhookedtoanunlimitedsupplyofenergy,withnofueltopayfor,exceptafewpennies’worthtokeeptheconvertergoing.Thatmotorcouldhavesetthewholecountryinmotionandonfire.Itwouldhavebroughtanelectriclightbulbintoeveryhole,evenintothehomesofthosepeoplewesawdowninthevalley."
"Itwouldhave?Itwill.I’mgoingtofindthemanwhomadeit."
"We’lltry."
Heroseabruptly,butstoppedtoglancedownatthebrokenremnantandsaid,withachucklethatwasnotgay,"TherewasthemotorfortheJohnGaltLine."
Thenhespokeinthebrusquemannerofanexecutive."First,we’lltrytoseeifwecanfindtheirpersonnelofficehere.We’lllookfortheirrecords,ifthere’sanyleft.Wewantthenamesoftheirresearchstaffandtheirengineers.
