Атлант расправил плечи

           Iwasmuchmoredemocraticthanthat.It’stherealworkersthatinterestedme.Thecommonmen.Theyallknewmebysight.Iusedtocomeintotheshopsandtheywouldwaveandshout,‘Hello,Gene.’That’swhattheycalledme—Gene.ButI’msurethisisofnointeresttoyou.It’spasthistory.NowifyoureallycametoWashingtoninordertotalktomeaboutyourrailroad"—hestraightenedupbriskly,thebomber-planeposereturning—"Idon’tknowwhetherIcanpromiseyouanyspecialconsideration,inasmuchasImustholdthenationalwelfareaboveanyprivateprivilegesorinterestswhich—"

           "Ididn’tcometotalktoyouaboutmyrailroad,"shesaid,lookingathiminbewilderment."Ihavenodesiretotalktoyouaboutmyrailroad."

           "No?"Hesoundeddisappointed.

           "No.Icameforinformationaboutthemotorfactory.Couldyoupossiblyrecallthenamesofanyoftheengineerswhoworkedthere?"

           "Idon’tbelieveIeverinquiredabouttheirnames.Iwasn’tconcernedwiththeparasitesofofficeandlaboratory.Iwasconcernedwiththerealworkers—themenofcallousedhandswhokeepafactorygoing.Theyweremyfriends."

           "Canyougivemeafewoftheirnames?Anynames,ofanyonewhoworkedthere?"

           "MydearMissTaggart,itwassolongago,therewerethousandsofthem,howcanIremember?"

           "Can’tyourecallone,anyone?"

           "Icertainlycannot.