Атлант расправил плечи
The Top and the Bottom
Ihavemovedeverythingthatcouldbemoved—switchengines,shoptools,eventypewritersandmirrors—outofMexico."
"Whyinblazes?"
"Sothatthelooterswon’thavetoomuchtolootwhentheynationalizetheline."
Heleapedtohisfeet."Youwon’tgetawaywiththat!Thisisonetimeyouwon’tgetawaywithit!Tohavethenervetopullsuchalow,unspeakable...justbecauseofsomeviciousrumors,whenwehaveacontractfortwohundredyearsand..."
"Jim,"shesaidslowly,"there’snotacar,engineortonofcoalthatwecanspareanywhereonthesystem."
"Iwon’tpermitit,Iabsolutelywon’tpermitsuchanoutrageouspolicytowardafriendlypeoplewhoneedourhelp.Materialgreedisn’teverything.Afterall,therearenon-materialconsiderations,eventhoughyouwouldn’tunderstandthem!"
Shepulledapadforwardandpickedupapencil."Allright,Jim.HowmanytrainsdoyouwishmetorunontheSanSebastiánLine?"
"Huh?"
"Whichrunsdoyouwishmetocutandonwhichofourlines—inordertogettheDieselsandthesteelcoaches?"
"Idon’twantyoutocutanyruns!"
"ThenwheredoIgettheequipmentforMexico?"
"That’sforyoutofigureout.It’s
your
job."
"Iamnotabletodoit.Youwillhavetodecide."
"That’syourusualrottentrick—switchingtheresponsibilitytome!"
"I’mwaitingfororders,Jim."
"I’mnotgoingtoletyoutrapmelikethat!"
Shedroppedthepencil."ThentheSanSebastiánschedulewillremainasitis.
