Атлант расправил плечи
White Blackmail
"
"Whatevent?"
"AneventofwhichyouhavefargreaterknowledgethanI—but,yousee,Idohaveknowledgeofit,eventhoughyouwouldmuchprefermetohavenone."
"Whatevent?"
"Sinceitisyoursecret,Mr.Rearden,whynotletitremainasecret?
Whodoesn’thavesecretsnowadays?Forinstance,ProjectXisasecret.
Yourealize,ofcourse,thatwecouldobtainyourMetalsimplybyhavingitpurchasedinsmallerquantitiesbyvariousgovernmentofficeswhowouldthentransferittous—andyouwouldnotbeabletopreventit.
Butthiswouldnecessitateourlettingalotoflousybureaucrats"—Dr.Ferrissmiledwithdisarmingfrankness—"ohyes,weareasunpopularwithoneanotheraswearewithyouprivatecitizens—itwouldnecessitateourlettingalotofotherbureaucratsinonthesecretofProjectX,whichwouldbehighlyundesirableatthistime.AndsowouldanynewspaperpublicityabouttheProject—ifweputyouontrialforrefusaltocomplywithagovernmentorder.Butifyouhadtostandtrialonanother,muchmoreseriouscharge,whereProjectXandtheStateScienceInstitutewerenotinvolved,andwhereyoucouldnotraiseanyissueofprincipleorarouseanypublicsympathy—why,thatwouldnotinconvenienceusatall,butitwouldcostyoumorethanyouwouldcaretocontemplate.
