Атлант расправил плечи
Account Overdrawn
Themenwhoattemptedtoclearthetrack,gaveupwithinthefirstfewhours:therotaryplowsbrokedown,oneafteranother.Theplowshadbeenkeptinprecariousrepairfortwoyearspastthespanoftheirusefulness.Thenewplowshadnotbeendelivered;themanufacturerhadquit,unabletoobtainthesteelheneededfromOrrenBoyle.
ThreewestboundtrainsweretrappedonthesidingsofWinstonStation,highintheRockies,wherethemainlineofTaggartTranscontinentalcutacrossthenorthwestcornerofColorado.Forfivedays,theyremainedbeyondthereachofhelp.Trainscouldnotapproachthemthroughthestorm.ThelastofthetrucksmadebyLawrenceHammondbrokedownonthefrozengradesofthemountainhighways.
ThebestoftheairplanesoncemadebyDwightSandersweresentout,butneverreachedWinstonStation;theywerewornpastthestageoffightingastorm.
Throughthedrivingmeshofsnow,thepassengerstrappedaboardthetrainslookedoutatthelightsofWinston’sshanties.Thelightsdiedinthenightofthesecondday.Bytheeveningofthethird,thelights,theheatandthefoodhadgivenoutaboardthetrains.Inthebrieflullsofthestorm,whenthewhitemeshvanishedandleftbehinditthestillnessofablackvoidmergingalightlessearthwithastarlesssky—thepassengerscouldsee,manymilesawaytothesouth,asmalltongueofflametwistinginthewind.ItwasWyatt’sTorch.
