Атлант расправил плечи
Account Overdrawn
Butayoungmanwithabrusquevoiceanddark,angryeyes,whocamefromastarvingsettlement,hadorganizedagangoftheunemployedandmadeadealwithReardentodeliverthecoal.
Theymineditatnight,theystoreditinhiddenculverts,theywerepaidincash,withnoquestionsaskedoranswered.Guiltyofafiercedesiretoremainalive,theyandReardentradedlikesavages,withoutrights,titles,contractsorprotection,withnothingbutmutualunderstandingandaruthlesslyabsoluteobservanceofone’sgivenword.Reardendidnotevenknowthenameoftheyoungleader.Watchinghimatthejobofloadingthetrucks,Reardenthoughtthatthisboy,ifbornagenerationearlier,wouldhavebecomeagreatindustrialist;now,hewouldprobablyendhisbrieflifeasaplaincriminalinafewmoreyears.
Dagny,thatevening,wasfacingameetingoftheTaggartBoardofDirectors.
TheysataboutapolishedtableinastatelyBoardroomwhichwasinadequatelyheated.Themenwho,throughthedecadesoftheircareers,hadreliedfortheirsecurityuponkeepingtheirfacesblank,theirwordsinconclusiveandtheirclothesimpeccable,werethrownoff-keybythesweatersstretchedovertheirstomachs,bythemufflerswoundabouttheirnecks,bythesoundofcoughingthatcutthroughthediscussiontoofrequently,liketherattleofamachinegun.
ShenotedthatJimhadlostthesmoothnessofhisusualperformance.
