Атлант расправил плечи
The Aristocracy of pull
Thisisthegreat,formal,nose-countingevent,wherethevictimscomeinordertoshowhowsafeitistodestroythem,andthedestroyersformpactsofeternalfriendship,whichlastsforthreemonths.Idon’tknowexactlywhichgroupIbelongto,butIhadtocomeandbecounted,didn’tI?"
"Whatinhelldoyouthinkyou’resaying?"Taggartcriedfuriously,seeingthetensiononthefacesaroundthem.
"Becareful,James.Ifyoutrytopretendthatyoudon’tunderstandme,I’mgoingtomakeitmuchclearer."
"Ifyouthinkit’spropertouttersuch—"
"Ithinkit’sfunny.Therewasatimewhenmenwereafraidthatsomebodywouldrevealsomesecretoftheirsthatwasunknowntotheirfellows.Nowadays,they’reafraidthatsomebodywillnamewhateverybodyknows.Haveyoupracticalpeopleeverthoughtthatthat’sallitwouldtaketoblastyourwhole,big,complexstructure,withallyourlawsandguns—justsomebodynamingtheexactnatureofwhatyou’redoing?"
"Ifyouthinkit’spropertocometoacelebrationsuchasawedding,inordertoinsultthehost—"
"Why,James,Icameheretothankyou."
"Tothankme?"
"Ofcourse.You’vedonemeagreatfavor—youandyourboysinWashingtonandtheboysinSantiago.OnlyIwonderwhynoneofyoutookthetroubletoinformmeaboutit.
