Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Shetookpositionsofresponsibilitybecausetherewasnooneelsetotakethem.Therewereafewraremenoftalentaroundher,buttheywerebecomingrarereveryyear.Hersuperiors,whoheldtheauthority,seemedafraidtoexerciseit,theyspenttheirtimeavoidingdecisions,soshetoldpeoplewhattodoandtheydidit.Ateverystepofherrise,shedidtheworklongbeforeshewasgrantedthetitle.Itwaslikeadvancingthroughemptyrooms.Nobodyopposedher,yetnobodyapprovedofherprogress.
Herfatherseemedastonishedandproudofher,buthesaidnothingandtherewassadnessinhiseyeswhenhelookedatherintheoffice.Shewastwenty-nineyearsoldwhenhedied."TherehasalwaysbeenaTaggarttoruntherailroad,"wasthelastthinghesaidtoher.Helookedatherwithanoddglance:ithadthequalityofasaluteandofcompassion,together.
ThecontrollingstockofTaggartTranscontinentalwaslefttoJamesTaggart.Hewasthirty-fourwhenhebecamePresidentoftherailroad.DagnyhadexpectedtheBoardofDirectorstoelecthim,butshehadneverbeenabletounderstandwhytheydiditsoeagerly.Theytalkedabouttradition,thepresidenthadalwaysbeentheeldestsonoftheTaggartfamily;theyelectedJamesTaggartinthesamemannerastheyrefusedtowalkunderaladder,topropitiatethesamekindoffear.Theytalkedabouthisgiftof"makingrailroadspopular,"his"goodpress,"his"Washingtonability."HeseemedunusuallyskillfulatobtainingfavorsfromtheLegislature.
