Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"Doyoumeanthatthetemperaturewaslowenoughtocauseyoudiscomfort?"
"ImeanthatInearlyfrozetodeath."
"Butthatisunforgivable!Whydidn’ttheytellme?Pleaseacceptmypersonalapology,Dr.Stadler,andrestassuredthatyouwillneverbeinconveniencedagain.TheonlyexcuseIcanofferforourmaintenancedepartmentisthattheshortageoffuelwasnotduetotheirnegligence,itwas—oh,Irealizethatyouwouldnotknowaboutitandsuchmattersshouldnottakeupyourinvaluableattention—but,yousee,theoilshortagelastwinterwasanation-widecrisis."
"Why?Forheaven’ssake,don’ttellmethatthoseWyattfieldsweretheonlysourceofoilinthecountry!"
"No,no,butthesuddendisappearanceofamajorsupplywroughthavocintheentireoilmarket.Sothegovernmenthadtoassumecontrolandimposeoilrationingonthecountry,inordertoprotecttheessentialenterprises.IdidobtainanunusuallylargequotafortheInstitute—andonlybythespecialfavorofsomeveryspecialconnections—butIfeelabjectlyguiltyifthisprovedinsufficient.Restassuredthatitwillnothappenagain.Itisonlyatemporaryemergency.Bynextwinter,weshallhavetheWyattfieldsbackinproduction,andconditionswillreturntonormal.
