"Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rand Ayn)

When the train stopped, when she got off and heard the concrete of the
platform under her heels, she felt light, lifted, impelled to action.
She started off, walking fast, as if the speed of her steps could give form
to the things she felt. It was a few moments before she realized that she was
whistling a piece of musicand that it was the theme of HalleyтАЩs Fifth
Concerto. She felt someone looking at her and turned. The young brakeman
stood watching her tensely.
She sat on the arm of the big chair facing James TaggartтАЩs desk, her coat
thrown open over a wrinkled traveling suit. Eddie Willers sat across the
room, making notes once in a while. His title was that of Special Assistant
to the Vice-President in Charge of Operation, and his main duty was to be her
bodyguard against any waste of time. She asked him to be present at
interviews of this nature, because then she never had to explain anything to
him afterwards. James Taggart sat at his desk, his head drawn into his
shoulders.
"The Rio Norte Line is a pile of junk from one end to the other," she said.
"ItтАЩs much worse than I thought. But weтАЩre going to save it."
"Of course," said James Taggart.
"Some of the rail can be salvaged. Not much and not for long. WeтАЩll start
laying new rail in the mountain sections, Colorado first. WeтАЩll get the new
rail in two months."
"Oh, did Orren Boyle say heтАЩll"
Ryn Rand - ATLAS SHRUGGED
CHAPTER ITHE THEME 15
"IтАЩve ordered the rail from Rearden Steel."
The slight, choked sound from Eddie Willers was his suppressed desire to
cheer.
James Taggart did not answer at once. "Dagny, why donтАЩt you sit in the chair
as one is supposed to?" he said at last; his voice was petulant.
"Nobody holds business conferences this way."
"I do."
She waited. He asked, his eyes avoiding hers, "Did you say that you have
ordered the rail from Rearden?"
"Yesterday evening. I phoned him from Cleveland."
"But the Board hasnтАЩt authorized it. I havenтАЩt authorized it. You havenтАЩt
consulted me."
She reached over, picked up the receiver of a telephone on his desk and
handed it to him.
"Call Rearden and cancel it," she said.
James Taggart moved back in his chair. "I havenтАЩt said that," he answered
angrily. "I havenтАЩt said that at all."
"Then it stands?"
"I havenтАЩt said that, either."
She turned. "Eddie, have them draw up the contract with Rearden Steel. Jim
will sign it." She took a crumpled piece of notepaper from her pocket and
tossed it to Eddie. "ThereтАЩs the figures and terms."
Taggart said, "But the Board hasnтАЩt"
"The Board hasnтАЩt anything to do with it. They authorized you to buy the rail
thirteen months ago. Where you buy it is up to you."
"I donтАЩt think itтАЩs proper to make such a decision without giving the Board a