Атлант расправил плечи
The Sanction of the Victim
WrecksontheTaggartmainlinewerebecomingmorefrequent—thetrackwaswearingout—thetrackwhich,lessthaneighteenmonthsago,Dagnywasplanningtorebuild,promisinghimajourneyfromcoasttocoastonhisownMetal.
Shehadspentayear,pickingwornrailfromabandonedbranchestopatchtherailofthemainline.ShehadspentmonthsfightingthemenofJim’sBoardofDirectors,whosaidthatthenationalemergencywasonlytemporaryandatrackthathadlastedfortenyearscouldwelllastforanotherwinter,untilspring,whenconditionswouldimprove,asMr.WesleyMouchhadpromised.Threeweeksago,shehadmadethemauthorizethepurchaseofsixtythousandtonsofnewrail;itcoulddonomorethanmakeafewpatchesacrossthecontinentintheworstdivisions,butitwasallshehadbeenabletoobtainfromthem.
Shehadhadtowrenchthemoneyoutofmendeafwithpanic:thefreightrevenueswerefallingatsucharatethatthemenoftheBoardhadbeguntotremble,staringatJim’sideaofthemostprosperousyearinTaggarthistory.Shehadhadtoordersteelrail,therewasnohopeofobtainingan"emergencyneed"permissiontobuyReardenMetalandnotimetobegforit.
Reardenlookedawayfromtheheadlinestotheglowattheedgeofthesky,whichwasthecityofNewYorkfarahead;hishandstightenedonthewheelalittle.
Itwashalfpastninewhenhereachedthecity.Dagny’sapartmentwasdark,whenhelethimselfinwithhiskey.
