Атлант расправил плечи

           Herfeelingfortherailroadwasthesame:worshipoftheskillthathadgonetomakeit,oftheingenuityofsomeone’sclean,reasoningmind,worshipwithasecretsmilethatsaidshewouldknowhowtomakeitbettersomeday.Shehungaroundthetracksandtheroundhouseslikeahumblestudent,butthehumilityhadatouchoffuturepride,apridetobeearned.

           "You’reunbearablyconceited,"wasoneofthetwosentencessheheardthroughoutherchildhood,eventhoughsheneverspokeofherownability.Theothersentencewas:"You’reselfish."Sheaskedwhatwasmeant,butneverreceivedananswer.Shelookedattheadults,wonderinghowtheycouldimaginethatshewouldfeelguiltfromanundefinedaccusation.

           ShewastwelveyearsoldwhenshetoldEddieWillersthatshewouldruntherailroadwhentheygrewup.Shewasfifteenwhenitoccurredtoherforthefirsttimethatwomendidnotrunrailroadsandthatpeoplemightobject.Tohellwiththat,shethought—andneverworriedaboutitagain.

           ShewenttoworkforTaggartTranscontinentalattheageofsixteen.Herfatherpermittedit:hewasamusedandalittlecurious.Shestartedasnightoperatoratasmallcountrystation.Shehadtoworknightsforthefirstfewyears,whileattendingacollegeofengineering.

           JamesTaggartbeganhiscareerontherailroadatthesametime;hewastwenty-one.HestartedintheDepartmentofPublicRelations.

           Dagny’sriseamongthemenwhooperatedTaggartTranscontinentalwasswiftanduncontested.