Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Shehadfitsoftorturedlongingforafriendoranenemywithamindbetterthanherown.Butthelongingpassed.Shehadajobtodo.Shedidnothavetimetofeelpain;notoften.
ThefirststepofthepolicythatJamesTaggartbroughttotherailroadwastheconstructionoftheSanSebastiánLine.Manymenwereresponsibleforit;buttoDagny,onenamestoodwrittenacrossthatventure,anamethatwipedoutallotherswherevershesawit.Itstoodacrossfiveyearsofstruggle,acrossmilesofwastedtrack,acrosssheetsoffiguresthatrecordedthelossesofTaggartTranscontinentallikearedtricklefromawoundwhichwouldnotheal—asitstoodonthetickertapeofeverystockexchangeleftintheworld—asitstoodonsmokestacksintheredglareoffurnacesmeltingcopper—asitstoodinscandalousheadlines—asitstoodonparchmentpagesrecordingthenobilityofthecenturies—asitstoodoncardsattachedtoflowersintheboudoirsofwomerscatteredthroughthreecontinents.
ThenamewasFranciscod‘Anconia.
Attheageoftwenty-three,whenheinheritedhisfortune,Franciscod‘Anconiahadbeenfamousasthecopperkingoftheworld.Now,atthirty-six,hewasfamousastherichestmanandthemostspectacularlyworthlessplayboyonearth.HewasthelastdescendantofoneofthenoblestfamiliesofArgentina.Heownedcattleranches,coffeeplantationsandmostofthecopperminesofChile.HeownedhalfofSouthAmericaandsundryminesscatteredthroughtheUnitedStatesassmallchange.
