Атлант расправил плечи

           Thentherefollowedthedaysandnightsofsearchingacontinentbyphone,bywire,byplane—oflookingatabandonedminesandatminesreadytobeabandoned—oftense,rushedconferencesheldattablesintheunlightedcornersofdisreputablerestaurants.Lookingacrossthetable,Reardenhadtodecidehowmuchhecouldrisktoinvestuponthesoleevidenceofaman’sface,mannerandtoneofvoice,hatingthestateofhavingtohopeforhonestyasforafavor,butriskingit,pouringmoneyintounknownhandsinexchangeforunsupportedpromises,intounsigned,unrecordedloanstodummyownersoffailingmines—moneyhandedandtakenfurtively,asanexchangebetweencriminals,inanonymouscash;moneypouredintounenforceablecontracts—bothpartiesknowingthatincaseoffraud,thedefraudedwastobepunished,notthedefrauder—butpouredthatastreamoforemightcontinueflowingintofurnaces,thatthefurnacesmightcontinuetopourastreamofwhitemetal.

           "Mr.Rearden,"askedthepurchasingmanagerofhismills,"ifyoukeepthatup,wherewillbeyourprofit?"

           "We’llmakeitupontonnage,"saidReardenwearily."WehaveanunlimitedmarketforReardenMetal."

           Thepurchasingmanagerwasanelderlymanwithgrayinghair,alean,dryface,andaheartwhich,peoplesaid,wasgivenexclusivelytothetaskofsqueezingeverylastounceofvalueoutofapenny.