Атлант расправил плечи

           "Itseemstomethatthenationalpolicyoughttobeaimedattheobjectiveofgivingeverybodyachanceathisfairshareofironore,withaviewtowardthepreservationoftheindustryasawhole.Don’tyouthinkso?"

           "Ithinkso."

           Boylesighed.Thenhesaidcautiously,"ButIguesstherearen’tmanypeopleinWashingtoncapableofunderstandingaprogressivesocialpolicy."

           Taggartsaidslowly,"Thereare.No,notmanyandnoteasytoapproach,butthereare.Imightspeaktothem."

           Boylepickeduphisdrinkandswalloweditinonegulp,asifhehadheardallhehadwantedtohear.

           "Speakingofprogressivepolicies,Orren,"saidTaggart,"youmightaskyourselfwhetheratatimeoftransportationshortages,whensomanyrailroadsaregoingbankruptandlargeareasareleftwithoutrailservice,whetheritisinthepublicinteresttotoleratewastefulduplicationofservicesandthedestructive,dog-eat-dogcompetitionofnewcomersinterritorieswhereestablishedcompanieshavehistoricalpriority."

           "Well,now,"saidBoylepleasantly,"thatseemstobeaninterestingquestiontoconsider.ImightdiscussitwithafewfriendsintheNationalAllianceofRailroads."

           "Friendships,"saidTaggartinthetoneofanidleabstraction,"aremorevaluablethangold."Unexpectedly,heturnedtoLarkin."Don’tyouthinkso,Paul?"

           "Why...yes,"saidLarkin,astonished."Yes,ofcourse."

           "Iamcountingonyours."

           "Huh?"

           "Iamcountingonyourmanyfriendships."