Атлант расправил плечи

           ThatwasthekindofsetupIwanted,thekindofopportunityIwasentitledto.SoIgotafewfriendstogetherandweformedtheAmalgamatedServiceCorporationandwescrapedupalittlemoney.Butwedidn’thaveenough,weneededaloantohelpusoutandgiveusastart.Itwasaperfectlysafebet,wewereyoungmenembarkingongreatcareers,fullofeagernessandhopeforthefuture.

           Butdoyouthinkanybodygaveusanyencouragement?Theydidnot.

           Notthosegreedy,entrenchedvulturesofprivilege!Howwerewetosucceedinlifeifnobodywouldgiveusafactory?Wecouldn’tcompeteagainstthelittlesnotswhoinheritwholechainsoffactories,couldwe?

           Weren’tweentitledtothesamebreak?Aw,don’tletmehearanythingaboutjustice!Iworkedlikeadog,tryingtogetsomebodytolendusthemoney.ButthatbastardMidasMulliganputmethroughthewringer."

           Shesatupstraight."MidasMulligan?"

           "Yeah—thebankerwholookedlikeatruckdriverandactedit,too!"

           "DidyouknowMidasMulligan?"

           "DidIknowhim?I’mtheonlymanwhoeverbeathim—notthatitdidmeanygood!"

           Atoddmoments,withasuddensenseofuneasiness,shehadwondered—asshewonderedaboutthestoriesofdesertedshipsfoundfloatingatseaorofsourcelesslightsflashinginthesky—aboutthedisappearanceofMidasMulligan.