Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Atallbuildingstoodoutlinedagainstthesky,sharpandstraightlikearaisedsword.Inthedistancebeyondit,therehungthecalendar.
Taggartfumbledirritablywithhiscoatcollar,buttoningitagainstthechillofthestreets.Hehadnotintendedtogobacktotheofficetonight,buthehadtogoback.Hehadtoseehissister.
"...adifficultundertakingaheadofus,Jim,"Boylewassaying,"adifficultundertaking,withsomanydangersandcomplicationsandsomuchatstake..."
"Italldepends,"JamesTaggartansweredslowly,"onknowingthepeoplewhomakeitpossible....That’swhathastobeknown—whomakesitpossible."
DagnyTaggartwasnineyearsoldwhenshedecidedthatshewouldruntheTaggartTranscontinentalRailroadsomeday.Shestatedittoherselfwhenshestoodalonebetweentherails,lookingatthetwostraightlinesofsteelthatwentoffintothedistanceandmetinasinglepoint.Whatshefeltwasanarrogantpleasureatthewaythetrackcutthroughthewoods:itdidnotbelonginthemidstofancienttrees,amonggreenbranchesthathungdowntomeetgreenbrushandthelonelyspearsofwildnowers—butthereitwas.Thetwosteellineswerebrilliantinthesun,andtheblacktieswereliketherungsofaladderwhichshehadtoclimb.
Itwasnotasuddendecision,butonlythefinalsealofwordsuponsomethingshehadknownlongago.
