Атлант расправил плечи

           Noprincipleeverfilledanybody’smilkbottle.Theonlythingthatcountsinlifeissolid,materialassets.It’snotimefortheories,wheneverythingisfallingtopiecesaroundus.Well,me—Idon’taimtogounder.LetthemkeeptheirideasandI’lltakethefactory.Idon’twantideas,Ijustwantmythreesquaremealsaday."

           "Whydidyoubuythatfactory?"

           "Whydoesanybodybuyanybusiness?Tosqueezewhatevercanbesqueezedoutofit.IknowagoodchancewhenIseeit.Itwasabankruptcysaleandnobodymuchwho’dwanttobidontheoldmess.SoIgottheplaceforpeanuts.Didn’thavetoholditlong,either—Marktookitoffmyhandsintwo-threemonths.Sure,itwasasmartdeal,ifIsaysomyself.Nobigbusinesstycooncouldhavedoneanybetterwithit."

           "Wasthefactoryoperatingwhenyoutookitover?"

           "Naw.Itwasshutdown."

           "Didyouattempttoreopenit?"

           "Notme.I’mapracticalperson."

           "Canyourecallthenamesofanymenwhoworkedthere?"

           "No.Nevermet’em."

           "Didyoumoveanythingoutofthefactory?"

           "Well,I’lltellyou.Itookalookaround—andwhatIlikedwasoldJed’sdesk.OldJedStarnes.Hewasarealbigshotinhistime.Wonderfuldesk,solidmahogany.SoIcartedithome.