Атлант расправил плечи

           "

           "Butyouknowthatit’simpossible!"

           "Well,that’sfineforyou,thatsolvesyourproblem,ifyouclosethatLine—butwhatwillitdotous?LeavingawholestatelikeColoradopracticallywithouttransportation—whatsortofpublicsentimentwillitarouse?Now,ofcourse,ifyougaveWesleysomethinginreturn,tobalanceit,ifyougrantedtheunions’wageraises—"

           "Ican’t!IgavemywordtotheNationalAlliance!"

           "Yourword?Well,suityourself;wewouldn’twanttoforcetheAlliance.Wemuchprefertohavethingshappenvoluntarily.Butthesearedifficulttimesandit’shardtellingwhat’sliabletohappen.Witheverybodygoingbrokeandthetaxreceiptsfalling,wemight—factbeingthatweholdwelloverfiftypercentoftheTaggartbonds—wemightbecompelledtocallforthepaymentofrailroadbondswithinsixmonths."

           "What?!"screamedTaggart.

           "—orsooner."

           "Butyoucan’t!OhGod,youcan’t!Itwasunderstoodthatthemoratoriumwasforfiveyears!Itwasacontract,anobligation!Wewerecountingonit!"

           "Anobligation?Aren’tyouold-fashioned,Jim?Therearen’tanyobligations,exceptthenecessityofthemoment.Theoriginalownersofthosebondswerecountingontheirpayments,too."

           Dagnyburstoutlaughing.