Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Getout...Getout.
Shelistened,aghast.ThethoughtofleavingTaggartTranscontinentaldidnotbelongamongthethingsshecouldholdasconceivable.Shefeltterror,notatthethought,butatthequestionofwhathadmadeherthinkit.Sheshookherheadangrily;shetoldherselfthatTaggartTranscontinentalwouldnowneedhermorethanever.
TwooftheDirectorsresigned;sodidtheVice-PresidentinChargeofOperation.HewasreplacedbyafriendofJamesTaggart.
SteelrailwaslaidacrosstheMexicandesert—whileorderswereissuedtoreducethespeedoftrainsontheRioNorteLine,becausethetrackwasshot.Adepotofreinforcedconcrete,withmarblecolumnsandmirrors,wasbuiltamidstthedustofanunpavedsquareinaMexicanvillage—whileatrainoftankcarscarryingoilwenthurtlingdownanembankmentandintoablazingjunkpile,becausearailhadsplitontheRioNorteLine.EllisWyattdidnotwaitforthecourttodecidewhethertheaccidentwasanactofGod,asJamesTaggartclaimed.HetransferredtheshippingofhisoiltothePhoenix-Durango,anobscurerailroadwhichwassmallandstruggling,butstrugglingwell.ThiswastherocketthatsentthePhoenix-Durangoonitsway.Fromthenon,itgrew,asWyattOilgrew,asfactoriesgrewinnearbyvalleys-asabandofrailsandtiesgrew,attherateoftwomilesamonth,acrossthescragglyfieldsofMexicancorn.
Dagnywasthirty-twoyearsold,whenshetoldJamesTaggartthatshewouldresign.
