Атлант расправил плечи

           Sheknowsthatawriterneedspeaceandconcentration,butdoesshecareaboutthat?Doyouknowwhatshedidtoday?"Heleanedconfidentiallyacrossthetable,pointingatthedishesinthesink."Shewenttothemarketandleftallthebreakfastdishesthereandsaidshe’ddothemlater.Iknowwhatshewanted.Sheexpectedmetodothem.Well,I’llfoolher.I’llleavethemjustwheretheyare."

           "Wouldyouallowmetoaskyouafewquestionsaboutthemotorfactory?"

           "Don’timaginethatthatmotorfactorywastheonlythinginmylife.

           I’dheldmanyimportantpositionsbefore.Iwasprominentlyconnected,atvarioustimes,withenterprisesmanufacturingsurgicalappliances,papercontainers,men’shatsandvacuumcleaners.Ofcourse,thatsortofstuffdidn’tgivememuchscope.Butthemotorfactory—thatwasmybigchance.ThatwaswhatI’dbeenwaitingfor."

           "Howdidyouhappentoacquireit?"

           "Itwasmeantforme.Itwasmydreamcometrue.Thefactorywasshutdown—bankrupt.TheheirsofJedStarneshadrunitintothegroundprettyfast.Idon’tknowexactlywhatitwas,buttherehadbeensomethinggoofygoingonupthere,sothecompanywentbroke.Therailroadpeopleclosedtheirbranchline.Nobodywantedtheplace,nobodywouldbidonit.Butthereitwas,thisgreatfactory,withalltheequipment,allthemachinery,allthethingsthathadmademillionsforJedStarnes.