Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Dagnyknewnothingaboutthefieldof"Washingtonability"orwhatsuchanabilityimplied.Butitseemedtobenecessary,soshedismisseditwiththethoughtthatthereweremanykindsofworkwhichwereoffensive,yetnecessary,suchascleaningsewers;somebodyhadtodoit,andJimseemedtolikeit.
Shehadneveraspiredtothepresidency;theOperatingDepartmentwasheronlyconcern.Whenshewentoutontheline,oldrailroadmen,whohatedJim,said,"TherewillalwaysbeaTaggarttoruntherailroad,"lookingatherasherfatherhadlooked.ShewasarmedagainstJimbytheconvictionthathewasnotsmartenoughtoharmtherailroadtoomuchandthatshewouldalwaysbeabletocorrectwhateverdamagehecaused.
Atsixteen,sittingatheroperator’sdesk,watchingthelightedwindowsofTaggarttrainsrollpast,shehadthoughtthatshehadenteredherkindofworld.Intheyearssince,shelearnedthatshehadn’t.Theadversaryshefoundherselfforcedtofightwasnotworthmatchingorbeating;itwasnotasuperiorabilitywhichshewouldhavefoundhonorinchallenging;itwasineptitude—agrayspreadofcottonthat‘seemedsoftandshapeless,thatcouldoffernoresistancetoanythingoranybody,yetmanagedtobeabarrierinherway.Shestood,disarmed,beforetheriddleofwhatmadethispossible.Shecouldfindnoanswer.
Itwasonlyinthefirstfewyearsthatshefeltherselfscreamingsilently,attimes,foraglimpseofhumanability,asingleglimpseofclean,hard,radiantcompetence.
