Атлант расправил плечи
The Man who belonged on Earth
"
Ittookeveryscrapofherenergytokeeptrainsrunningthroughthesectionswheretheywerestillneeded,intheareasthatwerestillproducing.ButonthebalancesheetsofTaggartTranscontinental,thechecksofJim’ssubsidiesforemptytrainsborelargerfiguresthantheprofitbroughtbythebestfreighttrainofthebusiestindustrialdivision.
JimboastedthatthishadbeenthemostprosperoussixmonthsinTaggarthistory.Listedasprofit,ontheglossypagesofhisreporttothestockholders,wasthemoneyhehadnotearned—thesubsidiesforemptytrains;andthemoneyhedidnotown—thesumsthatshouldhavegonetopaytheinterestandtheretirementofTaggartbonds,thedebtwhich,bythewillofWesleyMouch,hehadbeenpermittednottopay.HeboastedaboutthegreatervolumeoffreightcarriedbyTaggarttrainsinArizona—whereDanConwayhadclosedthelastofthePhoenix-Durangoandretired;andinMinnesota—wherePaulLarkinwasshippingironorebyrail,andthelastoftheoreboatsontheGreatLakeshadgoneoutofexistence.
"Youhavealwaysconsideredmoney-makingassuchanimportantvirtue,"Jimhadsaidtoherwithanoddhalf-smile."Well,itseemstomethatI’mbetteratitthanyouare."
Nobodyprofessedtounderstandthequestionofthefrozenrailroadbonds;perhaps,becauseeverybodyunderstoodittoowell.Atfirst,therehadbeensignsofapanicamongthebondholdersandofadangerousindignationamongthepublic.
