Атлант расправил плечи

           Apileofbreakfastdisheslayinthesink;apotofstewsimmeredonthestove,emittingsteamwiththegreasyodorofcheapmeat;adustytypewriterstoodamongthepapersonthetable.

           "TheTwentiethCenturyMotorCompany,"saidLeeHunsacker,"wasoneofthemostillustriousnamesinthehistoryofAmericanindustry.Iwasthepresidentofthatcompany.Iownedthatfactory.

           Buttheywouldn’tgivemeachance."

           "YouwerenotthepresidentoftheTwentiethCenturyMotorCompany,wereyou?IbelieveyouheadedacorporationcalledAmalgamatedService?"

           "Yes,yes,butit’sthesamething.Wetookovertheirfactory.Weweregoingtodojustaswellastheydid.Better.Wewerejustasimportant.WhothehellwasJedStarnesanyway?Nothingbutabackwoodsgaragemechanic—didyouknowthatthat’showhestarted?—withoutanybackgroundatall.MyfamilyoncebelongedtotheNewYorkFourHundred.Mygrandfatherwasamemberofthenationallegislature.It’snotmyfaultthatmyfathercouldn’taffordtogivemeacarofmyown,whenhesentmetoschool.Alltheotherboyshadcars.Myfamilynamewasjustasgoodasanyoftheirs.WhenIwenttocollege—"Hebrokeoffabruptly."Whatnewspaperdidyousayyou’refrom?"

           Shehadgivenhimhername;shedidnotknowwhyshenowfeltgladthathehadnotrecognizeditandwhyshepreferrednottoenlightenhim.