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CONTENTS

PART I
NON-CONTRADICTION

I THE THEME
I I THE CHAI N
I I I THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM
I V THE I MMOVABLE MOVERS
V THE CLI MAX OF THE D' ANCONI AS
VI THE NON- COMMERCI AL
VI I THE EXPLOI TERS AND THE EXPLOI TED
VI I I THE J OHN GALT LI NE
I X THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE
X WYATT' S TORCH

PART II
EITHER-OR

I THE MAN WHO BELONGED ON EARTH
I I THE ARI STOCRACY OF PULL
I I I WHI TE BLACKMAI L
I V THE SANCTI ON OF THE VI CTI M
V ACCOUNT OVERDRAWN
VI MI RACLE METAL
VI I THE MORATORI UM ON BRAI NS
VI I I BY OUR LOVE
I X THE FACE WI THOUT PAI N OR FEAR OR GUI LT
X THE SI GN OF THE DOLLAR

PART III
A IS A

I ATLANTI S
I I THE UTOPI A OF GREED
I I I ANTI - GREED
I V ANTI - LI FE
V THEI R BROTHERS' KEEPERS
VI THE CONCERTO OF DELI VERANCE
VI I " THI S I S J OHN GALT SPEAKI NG"
VI I I THE EGOI ST
I X THE GENERATOR
X I N THE NAME OF THE BEST WI THI N US


PART I

NON-CONTRADICTION
CHAPTER I
THE THEME

" Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
The l i ght was ebbi ng, and Eddi e Wi l l er s coul d not di st i ngui sh t he bum' s
f ace. The bumhad sai d i t si mpl y, wi t hout expr essi on. But f r omt he sunset f ar
at t he end of t he st r eet , yel l ow gl i nt s caught hi s eyes, and t he eyes l ooked
st r ai ght at Eddi e Wi l l er s, mocki ng and st i l l as i f t he quest i on had been
addr essed t o t he causel ess uneasi ness wi t hi n hi m.
" Why di d you say t hat ?" asked Eddi e Wi l l er s, hi s voi ce t ense.
The buml eaned agai nst t he si de of t he door way; a wedge of br oken gl ass
behi nd hi mr ef l ect ed t he met al yel l ow of t he sky.
" Why does i t bot her you?" he asked.
" I t doesn' t , " snapped Eddi e Wi l l er s.
He r eached hast i l y i nt o hi s pocket . The bumhad st opped hi mand asked f or
a di me, t hen had gone on t al ki ng, as i f t o ki l l t hat moment and post pone t he
pr obl emof t he next . Pl eas f or di mes wer e so f r equent i n t he st r eet s t hese
days t hat i t was not necessar y t o l i st en t o expl anat i ons, and he had no
desi r e t o hear t he det ai l s of t hi s bum' s par t i cul ar despai r .
" Go get your cup of cof f ee, " he sai d, handi ng t he di me t o t he shadow t hat
had no f ace.
" Thank you, si r , " sai d t he voi ce, wi t hout i nt er est , and t he f ace l eaned
f or war d f or a moment . The f ace was wi nd- br owned, cut by l i nes of wear i ness
and cyni cal r esi gnat i on; t he eyes wer e i nt el l i gent . Eddi e Wi l l er s wal ked on,
wonder i ng why he al ways f el t i t at t hi s t i me of day, t hi s sense of dr ead
wi t hout r eason. No, he t hought , not dr ead, t her e' s not hi ng t o f ear : j ust an
i mmense, di f f used appr ehensi on, wi t h no sour ce or obj ect . He had become
accust omed t o t he f eel i ng, but he coul d f i nd no expl anat i on f or i t ; yet t he
bumhad spoken as i f he knew t hat Eddi e f el t i t , as i f he t hought t hat one
shoul d f eel i t , and mor e: as i f he knew t he r eason.
Eddi e Wi l l er s pul l ed hi s shoul der s st r ai ght , i n consci ent i ous sel f -
di sci pl i ne. He had t o st op t hi s, he t hought ; he was begi nni ng t o i magi ne
t hi ngs. Had he al ways f el t i t ? He was t hi r t y- t wo year s ol d. He t r i ed t o t hi nk
back. No, he hadn' t ; but he coul d not r emember when i t had st ar t ed. The
f eel i ng came t o hi mSuddenl y, at r andomi nt er val s, and now i t was comi ng mor e
of t en t han ever . I t ' s t he t wi l i ght , he t hought ; I hat e t he t wi l i ght .
The cl ouds and t he shaf t s of skyscr aper s agai nst t hemwer e t ur ni ng br own,
l i ke an ol d pai nt i ng i n oi l , t he col or of a f adi ng mast er pi ece. Long st r eaks
of gr i me r an f r omunder t he pi nnacl es down t he sl ender , soot - eat en wal l s.
Hi gh on t he si de of a t ower t her e was a cr ack i n t he shape of a mot i onl ess
l i ght ni ng, t he l engt h of t en st or i es. A j agged obj ect cut t he sky above t he
r oof s; i t was hal f a spi r e, st i l l hol di ng t he gl ow of t he sunset ; t he gol d
l eaf had l ong si nce peel ed of f t he ot her hal f . The gl ow was r ed and st i l l ,
l i ke t he r ef l ect i on of a f i r e: not an act i ve f i r e, but a dyi ng one whi ch i t
i s t oo l at e t o st op.
No, t hought Eddi e Wi l l er s, t her e was not hi ng di st ur bi ng i n t he si ght of
t he ci t y. I t l ooked as i t had al ways l ooked.
He wal ked on, r emi ndi ng hi msel f t hat he was l at e i n r et ur ni ng t o t he
of f i ce. He di d not l i ke t he t ask whi ch he had t o per f or mon hi s r et ur n, but
i t had t o be done. So he di d not at t empt t o del ay i t , but made hi msel f wal k
f ast er .
He t ur ned a cor ner . I n t he nar r ow space bet ween t he dar k si l houet t es of
t wo bui l di ngs, as i n t he cr ack of a door , he saw t he page of a gi gant i c
cal endar suspended i n t he sky.
I t was t he cal endar t hat t he mayor of New Yor k had er ect ed l ast year on
t he t op of a bui l di ng, so t hat ci t i zens mi ght t el l t he day of t he mont h as
t hey t ol d t he hour s of t he day, by gl anci ng up at a publ i c t ower . A whi t e
r ect angl e hung over t he ci t y, i mpar t i ng t he dat e t o t he men i n t he st r eet s
bel ow. I n t he r ust y l i ght of t hi s eveni ng' s sunset , t he r ect angl e sai d:
Sept ember 2.
Eddi e Wi l l er s l ooked away. He had never l i ked t he si ght of t hat cal endar .
I t di st ur bed hi m, i n a manner he coul d not expl ai n or def i ne. The f eel i ng
seemed t o bl end wi t h hi s sense of uneasi ness; i t had t he same qual i t y.
He t hought suddenl y t hat t her e was some phr ase, a ki nd of quot at i on, t hat
expr essed what t he cal endar seemed t o suggest . But he coul d not r ecal l i t . He
wal ked, gr opi ng f or a sent ence t hat hung i n hi s mi nd as an empt y shape. He
coul d nei t her f i l l i t nor di smi ss i t . He gl anced back. The whi t e r ect angl e
st ood above t he r oof s, sayi ng i n i mmovabl e f i nal i t y: Sept ember 2.
Eddi e Wi l l er s shi f t ed hi s gl ance down t o t he st r eet , t o a veget abl e
pushcar t at t he st oop of a br ownst one house. He saw a pi l e of br i ght gol d
car r ot s and t he f r esh gr een of oni ons. He saw a cl ean whi t e cur t ai n bl owi ng
at an open wi ndow. He saw a bus t ur ni ng a cor ner , exper t l y st eer ed. He
wonder ed why he f el t r eassur edand t hen, why he f el t t he sudden, i nexpl i cabl e
wi sh t hat t hese t hi ngs wer e not l ef t i n t he open, unpr ot ect ed agai nst t he
empt y space above.
When he came t o Fi f t h Avenue, he kept hi s eyes on t he wi ndows of t he
st or es he passed. Ther e was not hi ng he needed or wi shed t o buy; but he l i ked
t o see t he di spl ay of good?, any goods, obj ect s made by men, t o be used by
men. He enj oyed t he si ght of a pr osper ous st r eet ; not mor e t han ever y f our t h
one of t he st or es was out of busi ness, i t s wi ndows dar k and empt y.
He di d not know why he suddenl y t hought of t he oak t r ee. Not hi ng had
r ecal l ed i t . But he t hought of i t and of hi s chi l dhood summer s on t he Taggar t
est at e. He had spent most of hi s chi l dhood wi t h t he Taggar t chi l dr en, and now
he wor ked f or t hem, as hi s f at her and gr andf at her had wor ked f or t hei r f at her
and gr andf at her .
The gr eat oak t r ee had st ood on a hi l l over t he Hudson, i n a l onel y spot
of t he Taggar t est at e. Eddi e Wi l l er s, aged seven, l i ked t o come and l ook at
t hat t r ee. I t had st ood t her e f or hundr eds of year s, and he t hought i t woul d
al ways st and t her e. I t s r oot s cl ut ched t he hi l l l i ke a f i st wi t h f i nger s sunk
i nt o t he soi l , and he t hought t hat i f a gi ant wer e t o sei ze i t by t he t op, he
woul d not be abl e t o upr oot i t , but woul d swi ng t he hi l l and t he whol e of t he
ear t h wi t h i t , l i ke a bal l at t he end of a st r i ng. He f el t saf e i n t he oak
t r ee' s pr esence; i t was a t hi ng t hat not hi ng coul d change or t hr eat en; i t was
hi s gr eat est symbol of st r engt h.
One ni ght , l i ght ni ng st r uck t he oak t r ee. Eddi e saw i t t he next mor ni ng.
I t l ay br oken i n hal f , and he l ooked i nt o i t s t r unk as i nt o t he mout h of a
bl ack t unnel . The t r unk was onl y an empt y shel l ; i t s hear t had r ot t ed away
l ong ago; t her e was not hi ng i nsi dej ust a t hi n gr ay dust t hat was bei ng
di sper sed by t he whi mof t he f ai nt est wi nd. The l i vi ng power had gone, and
t he shape i t l ef t had not been abl e t o st and wi t hout i t .
Year s l at er , he hear d i t sai d t hat chi l dr en shoul d be pr ot ect ed f r om
shock, f r omt hei r f i r st knowl edge of deat h, pai n or f ear . But t hese had never
scar r ed hi m; hi s shock came when he st ood ver y qui et l y, l ooki ng i nt o t he
bl ack hol e of t he t r unk. I t was an i mmense bet r ayal t he mor e t er r i bl e because
he coul d not gr asp what i t was t hat had been bet r ayed. I t was not hi msel f , he
knew, nor hi s t r ust ; i t was somet hi ng el se. He st ood t her e f or a whi l e,
maki ng no sound, t hen he wal ked back t o t he house. He never spoke about i t t o
anyone, t hen or si nce.
Eddi e Wi l l er s shook hi s head, as t he scr eech of a - r ust y mechani sm
changi ng a t r af f i c l i ght st opped hi mon t he edge of a cur b. He f el t anger at
hi msel f . Ther e was no r eason t hat he had t o r emember t he oak t r ee t oni ght . I t
meant not hi ng t o hi many l onger , onl y a f ai nt t i nge of sadnessand somewher e
wi t hi n hi m, a dr op of pai n movi ng br i ef l y and vani shi ng, l i ke a r ai ndr op on
t he gl ass of a wi ndow, i t s cour se i n t he shape of a quest i on mar k.
He want ed no sadness at t ached t o hi s chi l dhood; he l oved i t s memor i es: any
day of i t he r emember ed now seemed f l ooded by a st i l l , br i l l i ant sunl i ght . I t
seemed t o hi mas i f a f ew r ays f r omi t r eached i nt o hi s pr esent : not r ays,
mor e l i ke pi npoi nt spot l i ght s t hat gave an occasi onal moment ' s gl i t t er t o hi s
j ob, t o hi s l onel y apar t ment , t o t he qui et , scr upul ous pr ogr essi on of hi s
exi st ence.
He t hought of a summer day when he was t en year s ol d. That day, i n a
cl ear i ng of t he woods, t he one pr eci ous compani on of hi s chi l dhood t ol d hi m
what t hey woul d do when t hey gr ew up. The wor ds wer e har sh and gl owi ng, l i ke
t he sunl i ght . He l i st ened i n admi r at i on and i n wonder . When he was asked what
he woul d want t o do, he answer ed at once, " What ever i s r i ght , " and added,
" You ought t o do somet hi ng gr eat . . . I mean, t he t wo of us t oget her . "
" What ?" she asked. He sai d, " I don' t know. That ' s what we ought t o f i nd out .
Not j ust what you sai d. Not j ust busi ness and ear ni ng a l i vi ng. Thi ngs l i ke
wi nni ng bat t l es, or savi ng peopl e out of f i r es, or cl i mbi ng mount ai ns. " " What
f or ?" she asked. He sai d, " The mi ni st er sai d l ast Sunday t hat we must al ways
r each f or t he best wi t hi n us. What do you suppose i s t he best wi t hi n us?" " I
don' t know. " " We' l l have t o f i nd out . " She di d not answer ; she was l ooki ng
away, up t he r ai l r oad t r ack.
Eddi e Wi l l er s smi l ed. He had sai d, " What ever i s r i ght , " t went y- t wo year s
ago. He had kept t hat st at ement unchal l enged ever si nce; t he ot her quest i ons
had f aded i n hi s mi nd; he had been t oo busy t o ask t hem. But he st i l l t hought
i t sel f - evi dent t hat one had t o do what was r i ght ; he had never l ear ned how
peopl e coul d want t o do ot her wi se; he had l ear ned onl y t hat t hey di d. I t
st i l l seemed si mpl e and i ncompr ehensi bl e t o hi m: si mpl e t hat t hi ngs shoul d be
r i ght , and i ncompr ehensi bl e t hat t hey wer en' t . He knew t hat t hey wer en' t . He
t hought of t hat , as he t ur ned a cor ner and came t o t he gr eat bui l di ng of
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
The bui l di ng st ood over t he st r eet as i t s t al l est and pr oudest st r uct ur e.
Eddi e Wi l l er s al ways smi l ed at hi s f i r st si ght of i t . I t s l ong bands of
wi ndows wer e unbr oken, i n cont r ast t o t hose of i t s nei ghbor s. I t s r i si ng
l i nes cut t he sky, wi t h no cr umbl i ng cor ner s or wor n edges. I t seemed t o
st and above t he year s, unt ouched. I t woul d al ways st and t her e, t hought Eddi e
Wi l l er s.
Whenever he ent er ed t he Taggar t Bui l di ng, he f el t r el i ef and a sense of
secur i t y. Thi s was a pl ace of compet ence and power . The f l oor s of i t s
hal l ways wer e mi r r or s made of mar bl e. The f r ost ed r ect angl es of i t s el ect r i c
f i xt ur es wer e chi ps of sol i d l i ght . Behi nd sheet s of gl ass, r ows of gi r l s sat
at t ypewr i t er s, t he cl i cki ng of t hei r keys l i ke t he sound of speedi ng t r ai n
wheel s. And l i ke an answer i ng echo, a f ai nt shudder went t hr ough t he wal l s at
t i mes, r i si ng f r omunder t he bui l di ng, f r omt he t unnel s of t he gr eat t er mi nal
wher e t r ai ns st ar t ed out t o cr oss a cont i nent and st opped af t er cr ossi ng i t
agai n, as t hey had st ar t ed and st opped f or gener at i on af t er gener at i on.
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , t hought Eddi e Wi l l er s, Fr omOcean t o Oceant he
pr oud sl ogan of hi s chi l dhood, so much mor e shi ni ng and hol y t han any
commandment of t he Bi bl e. Fr omOcean t o Ocean, f or ever t hought Eddi e Wi l l er s,
i n t he manner of a r ededi cat i on, as he wal ked t hr ough t he spot l ess hal l s i nt o
t he hear t of t he bui l di ng, i nt o t he of f i ce of J ames Taggar t , Pr esi dent of
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
J ames Taggar t sat at hi s desk. He l ooked l i ke a man appr oachi ng f i f t y, who
had cr ossed i nt o age f r omadol escence, wi t hout t he i nt er medi at e st age of
yout h. He had a smal l , pet ul ant mout h, and t hi n hai r cl i ngi ng t o a bal d
f or ehead. Hi s post ur e had a l i mp, decent r al i zed sl oppi ness, as i f i n def i ance
of hi s t al l , sl ender body, a body wi t h an el egance of l i ne i nt ended f or t he
conf i dent poi se of an ar i st ocr at , but t r ansf or med i nt o t he gawki ness of a
l out . The f l esh of hi s f ace was pal e and sof t . Hi s eyes wer e pal e and vei l ed,
wi t h a gl ance t hat moved sl owl y, never qui t e st oppi ng, gl i di ng of f and past
t hi ngs i n et er nal r esent ment of t hei r exi st ence. He l ooked obst i nat e and
dr ai ned. He was t hi r t y- ni ne year s ol d.
He l i f t ed hi s head wi t h i r r i t at i on, at t he sound of t he openi ng door .
" Don' t bot her me, don' t bot her me, don' t bot her me, " sai d J ames Taggar t .
Eddi e Wi l l er s wal ked t owar d t he- desk.
" I t ' s i mpor t ant , J i m, " he sai d, not r ai si ng hi s voi ce.
" Al l r i ght , al l r i ght , what i s i t ?"
Eddi e Wi l l er s l ooked at a map on t he wal l of t he of f i ce. The map' s col or s
had f aded under t he gl asshe wonder ed di ml y how many Taggar t pr esi dent s had
sat bef or e i t and f or how many year s. The Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al Rai l r oad,
t he net wor k of r ed l i nes sl ashi ng t he f aded body of t he count r y f r omNew Yor k
t o San Fr anci sco, l ooked l i ke a syst emof bl ood vessel s. I t l ooked as i f
once, l ong ago, t he bl ood had shot down t he mai n ar t er y and, under t he
pr essur e of i t s own over abundance, had br anched out at r andompoi nt s, r unni ng
al l over t he count r y. One r ed st r eak t wi st ed i t s way f r omCheyenne, Wyomi ng,
down t o El Paso, Texast he Ri o Nor t e Li ne of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . New
t r aci ng had been added r ecent l y and t he r ed st r eak had been ext ended sout h
beyond El Pasobut Eddi e Wi l l er s t ur ned away hast i l y when hi s eyes r eached
t hat poi nt .
He l ooked at J ames Taggar t and sai d, " I t ' s t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne. " He not i ced
Taggar t ' s gl ance movi ng down t o a cor ner of t he desk. " We' ve had anot her
wr eck. "
" Rai l r oad acci dent s happen ever y day. Di d you have t o bot her me about
t hat ?"
" You know what I ' msayi ng, J i m. The Ri o Nor t e i s done f or . That t r ack i s
shot . Down t he whol e l i ne. "
" We ar e get t i ng a new t r ack. "
Eddi e Wi l l er s cont i nued as i f t her e had been no answer : " That t r ack i s
shot . I t ' s no use t r yi ng t o r un t r ai ns down t her e. Peopl e ar e gi vi ng up
t r yi ng t o use t hem. "
" Ther e i s not a r ai l r oad i n t he count r y, i t seems t o me, t hat doesn' t have
a f ew br anches r unni ng at a def i ci t . We' r e not t he onl y ones. I t ' s a nat i onal
condi t i ona t empor ar y nat i onal condi t i on. "
Eddi e st ood l ooki ng at hi msi l ent l y. What Taggar t di sl i ked about Eddi e
Wi l l er s was t hi s habi t of l ooki ng st r ai ght i nt o peopl e' s eyes. Eddi e' s eyes
wer e bl ue, wi de and quest i oni ng; he had bl ond hai r and a squar e f ace,
unr emar kabl e except f or t hat l ook of scr upul ous at t ent i veness and open,
puzzl ed wonder .
" What do you want ?" snapped Taggar t .
" I j ust came t o t el l you somet hi ng you had t o know, because somebody had
t o t el l you. "
" That we' ve had anot her acci dent ?"
" That we can' t gi ve up t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne. "
J ames Taggar t sel domr ai sed hi s head; when he l ooked at peopl e, he di d so
by l i f t i ng hi s heavy eyel i ds and st ar i ng upwar d f r omunder t he expanse of hi s
bal d f or ehead.
" Who' s t hi nki ng of gi vi ng up t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne?" he asked.
" Ther e' s never been any quest i on of gi vi ng i t up. I r esent your sayi ng i t .
I r esent i t ver y much. "
" But we haven' t met a schedul e f or t he l ast si x mont hs. We haven' t
compl et ed a r un wi t hout some sor t of br eakdown, maj or or mi nor . We' r e l osi ng
al l our shi pper s, one af t er anot her . How l ong can we l ast ?"
" You' r e a pessi mi st , Eddi e. You l ack f ai t h. That ' s what under mi nes t he
mor al e of an or gani zat i on. "
" You mean t hat not hi ng' s goi ng t o be done about t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne?"
" I haven' t sai d t hat at al l . J ust as soon as we get t he new t r ack- "
" J i m, t her e i sn' t goi ng t o be any new t r ack. " He wat ched Taggar t ' s eyel i ds
move up sl owl y. " I ' ve j ust come back f r omt he of f i ce of Associ at ed St eel .
I ' ve spoken t o Or r en Boyl e. "
" What di d he say?"
" He spoke f or an hour and a hal f and di d not gi ve me a si ngl e st r ai ght
answer . "
" What di d you bot her hi mf or ? I bel i eve t he f i r st or der of r ai l wasn' t due
f or del i ver y unt i l next mont h. "
" And bef or e t hat , i t was due f or del i ver y t hr ee mont hs ago. "
" Unf or eseen ci r cumst ances. Absol ut el y beyond Or r en' s cont r ol . "
" And bef or e t hat , i t was due si x mont hs ear l i er . J i m, we have wai t ed f or
Associ at ed St eel t o del i ver t hat r ai l f or t hi r t een mont hs. "
" What do you want me t o do? I can' t r un Or r en Boyl e' s busi ness. "
" I want you t o under st and t hat we can' t wai t . "
Taggar t asked sl owl y, hi s voi ce hal f - mocki ng, hal f - caut i ous, " What di d my
si st er say?"
" She won' t be back unt i l t omor r ow. "
" Wel l , what do you want me t o do?"
" That ' s f or you t o deci de. "
" Wel l , what ever el se you say, t her e' s one t hi ng you' r e not goi ng t o
ment i on next and t hat ' s Rear den St eel . "
Eddi e di d not answer at once, t hen sai d qui et l y, " Al l r i ght , J i m. I won' t
ment i on i t . "
" Or r en i s my f r i end. " He hear d no answer . " I r esent your at t i t ude. Or r en
Boyl e wi l l del i ver t hat r ai l j ust as soon as i t ' s humanl y possi bl e. So l ong
as he can' t del i ver i t , nobody can bl ame us. "
" J i m! What ar e you t al ki ng about ? Don' t you under st and t hat t he Ri o Nor t e
Li ne i s br eaki ng upwhet her anybody bl ames us or not ?"
" Peopl e woul d put up wi t h i t t hey' d have t oi f i t wer en' t f or t he Phoeni x-
Dur ango. " He saw Eddi e' s f ace t i ght en. " Nobody ever compl ai ned about t he Ri o
Nor t e Li ne, unt i l t he Phoeni x- Dur ango came on t he scene. "
" The Phoeni x- Dur ango i s doi ng a br i l l i ant j ob. "
" I magi ne a t hi ng cal l ed t he Phoeni x- Dur ango compet i ng wi t h Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al ! I t was not hi ng but a l ocal mi l k l i ne t en year s ago. "
" I t ' s got most of t he f r ei ght t r af f i c of Ar i zona, New Mexi co and Col or ado
now. " Taggar t di d not answer . " J i m, we can' t l ose Col or ado. I t ' s our l ast
hope. I t ' s ever ybody' s l ast hope. I f we don' t pul l our sel ves t oget her , we' l l
l ose ever y bi g shi pper i n t he st at e t o t he Phoeni x- Dur ango. We' ve l ost t he
Wyat t oi l f i el ds. "
" I don' t see why ever ybody keeps t al ki ng about t he Wyat t oi l f i el ds. "
" Because El l i s Wyat t i s a pr odi gy who"
" Damn El l i s Wyat t ! "
Those oi l wel l s, Eddi e t hought suddenl y, di dn' t t hey have somet hi ng i n
common wi t h t he bl ood vessel s on t he map? Wasn' t t hat t he way t he r ed st r eam
of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al had shot acr oss t he count r y, year s ago, a f eat
t hat seemed i ncr edi bl e now? He t hought of t he oi l wel l s spout i ng a bl ack
st r eamt hat r an over a cont i nent al most f ast er t han t he t r ai ns of t he
Phoeni x- Dur ango coul d car r y i t . That oi l f i el d had been onl y a r ocky pat ch i n
t he mount ai ns of Col or ado, gi ven up as exhaust ed l ong ago. El l i s Wyat t ' s
f at her had managed t o squeeze an obscur e l i vi ng t o t he end of hi s days, out
of t he dyi ng oi l wel l s. Now i t was as i f somebody had gi ven a shot of
adr enal i n t o t he hear t of t he mount ai n, t he hear t had st ar t ed pumpi ng, t he
bl ack bl ood had bur st t hr ough t he r ocksof cour se i t ' s bl ood, t hought Eddi e
Wi l l er s, because bl ood i s supposed t o f eed, t o gi ve l i f e, and t hat i s what
Wyat t Oi l had done. I t had shocked empt y sl opes of gr ound i nt o sudden
exi st ence, i t had br ought new t owns, new power pl ant s, new f act or i es t o a
r egi on nobody had ever not i ced on any map. New f act or i es, t hought Eddi e
Wi l l er s, at a t i me when t he f r ei ght r evenues f r omal l t he gr eat ol d
i ndust r i es wer e dr oppi ng sl owl y year by year ; a r i ch new oi l f i el d, at a t i me
when t he pumps wer e st oppi ng i n one f amous f i el d af t er anot her ; a new
i ndust r i al st at e wher e nobody had expect ed anyt hi ng but cat t l e and beet s. One
man had done i t , and he had done i t i n ei ght year s; t hi s, t hought Eddi e
Wi l l er s, was l i ke t he st or i es he had r ead i n school books and never qui t e
bel i eved, t he st or i es of men who had l i ved i n t he days of t he count r y' s
yout h. He wi shed he coul d meet El l i s Wyat t . Ther e was a gr eat deal of t al k
about hi m, but f ew had ever met hi m; he sel domcame t o New Yor k. They sai d he
was t hi r t y- t hr ee year s ol d and had a vi ol ent t emper . He had di scover ed some
way t o r evi ve exhaust ed oi l wel l s and he had pr oceeded t o r evi ve t hem.
" El l i s Wyat t i s a gr eedy bast ar d who' s af t er not hi ng but money, " sai d
J ames Taggar t . " I t seems t o me t hat t her e ar e mor e i mpor t ant t hi ngs i n l i f e
t han maki ng money. "
" What ar e you t al ki ng about , J i m? What has t hat got t o do wi t h"
" Besi des, he' s doubl e- cr ossed us. We ser ved t he Wyat t oi l f i el ds f or
year s, most adequat el y. I n t he days of ol d man Wyat t , we r an a t ank t r ai n a
week. "
" These ar e not t he days of ol d man Wyat t , J i m. The Phoeni x- Dur ango r uns
t wo t ank t r ai ns a day down t her eand i t r uns t hemon schedul e. "
" I f he had gi ven us t i me t o gr ow al ong wi t h hi m"
" He has no t i me t o wast e. "
" What does he expect ? That we dr op al l our ot her shi pper s, sacr i f i ce t he
i nt er est s of t he whol e count r y and gi ve hi mal l our t r ai ns?"
" Why, no. He doesn' t expect anyt hi ng. He j ust deal s wi t h t he Phoeni x-
Dur ango. "
" I t hi nk he' s a dest r uct i ve, unscr upul ous r uf f i an. I t hi nk he' s an
i r r esponsi bl e upst ar t who' s been gr ossl y over r at ed. " I t was ast oni shi ng t o
hear a sudden emot i on i n J ames Taggar t ' s l i f el ess voi ce. " I ' mnot so sur e
t hat hi s oi l f i el ds ar e such a benef i ci al achi evement . I t seems t o me t hat
he' s di sl ocat ed t he economy of t he whol e count r y. Nobody expect ed Col or ado t o
become an i ndust r i al st at e. How can we have any secur i t y or pl an anyt hi ng i f
ever yt hi ng changes al l t he t i me?"
" Good God, J i m! He' s"
" Yes, I know, I know, he' s maki ng money. But t hat i s not t he st andar d, i t
seems t o me, by whi ch one gauges a man' s val ue t o soci et y. And as f or hi s
oi l , he' d come cr awl i ng t o us. and he' d wai t hi s t ur n al ong wi t h al l t he
ot her shi pper s, and he woul dn' t demand mor e t han hi s f ai r shar e of
t r anspor t at i oni f i t wer en' t f or t he Phoeni x- Dur ango. We can' t hel p i t i f
we' r e up agai nst dest r uct i ve compet i t i on of t hat ki nd. Nobody can bl ame us. "
The pr essur e i n hi s chest and t empl es, t hought Eddi e Wi l l er s, was t he
st r ai n of t he ef f or t he was maki ng; he had deci ded t o make t he i ssue cl ear
f or once, and t he i ssue was so cl ear , he t hought , t hat not hi ng coul d bar i t
f r omTaggar t ' s under st andi ng, unl ess i t was t he f ai l ur e of hi s own
pr esent at i on. So he had t r i ed har d, but he was f ai l i ng, j ust as he had al ways
f ai l ed i n al l of t hei r di scussi ons; no mat t er what he sai d, t hey never seemed
t o be t al ki ng about t he same subj ect .
" J i m, what ar e you sayi ng? Does i t mat t er t hat nobody bl ames uswhen t he
r oad i s f al l i ng apar t ?"
J ames Taggar t smi l ed; i t was a t hi n smi l e, amused and col d. " I t ' s
t ouchi ng, Eddi e, " he sai d. " I t ' s t ouchi ngyour devot i on t o Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al . I f you don t l ook out , you l l t ur n i nt o one of t hose r eal
f eudal ser f s. "
" That s what I am, J i m. "
" But may I ask whet her i t i s your j ob t o di scuss t hese mat t er s wi t h me?"
" No, i t i sn' t . "
" Then why don' t you l ear n t hat we have depar t ment s t o t ake car e of t hi ngs?
Why don' t you r epor t al l t hi s t o whoever ' s concer ned? Why don' t you cr y on my
dear si st er ' s shoul der ?"
" Look. J i m, I know i t ' s not my pl ace t o t al k t o you. But I can' t
under st and what ' s goi ng on. I don' t know what i t i s t hat your pr oper advi ser s
t el l you, or why t hey can' t make you under st and. So I t hought I ' d t r y t o t el l
you mysel f . "
" I appr eci at e our chi l dhood f r i endshi p, Eddi e, but do you t hi nk t hat t hat
shoul d ent i t l e you t o wal k i n her e unannounced whenever you wi sh? Consi der i ng
your own r ank, shoul dn' t you r emember t hat I ampr esi dent of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al ?"
Thi s was wast ed. Eddi e Wi l l er s l ooked at hi mas usual , not hur t , mer el y
puzzl ed, and asked, " Then you don' t i nt end t o do anyt hi ng about t he Ri o Nor t e
Li ne?"
" I haven' t sai d t hat . I haven' t sai d t hat at al l . " Taggar t was l ooki ng at
t he map, at t he r ed st r eak sout h of El Paso. " J ust as soon as t he San
Sebast i an Mi nes get goi ng and our Mexi can br anch begi ns t o pay of f "
" Don' t l et ' s t al k about t hat , J i m. " Taggar t t ur ned, st ar t l ed by t he
unpr ecedent ed phenomenon of an i mpl acabl e anger i n Eddi e' s voi ce. " What ' s t he
mat t er ?"
" You know what ' s t he mat t er . Your si st er sai d"
" Damn my si st er ! " sai d J ames Taggar t .
Eddi e Wi l l er s di d not move. He di d not answer . He st ood l ooki ng st r ai ght
ahead. But he di d not see J ames Taggar t or anyt hi ng i n t he of f i ce.
Af t er a moment , he bowed and wal ked out .
I n t he ant er oom, t he cl er ks of J ames Taggar t ' s per sonal st af f wer e
swi t chi ng of f t he l i ght s, get t i ng r eady t o l eave f or t he day. But Pop Har per ,
chi ef cl er k, st i l l sat at hi s desk, t wi st i ng t he l ever s of a hal f - di smember ed
t ypewr i t er . Ever ybody i n t he company had t he i mpr essi on t hat Pop Har per was
bor n i n t hat par t i cul ar cor ner at t hat par t i cul ar desk and never i nt ended t o
l eave i t . He had been chi ef cl er k f or J ames Taggar t ' s f at her .
Pop Har per gl anced up at Eddi e Wi l l er s as he came out of t he pr esi dent ' s
of f i ce. I t was a wi se, sl ow gl ance; i t seemed t o say t hat he knew t hat
Eddi e' s vi si t t o t hei r par t of t he bui l di ng meant t r oubl e on t he l i ne, knew
t hat not hi ng had come of t he vi si t , and was compl et el y i ndi f f er ent t o t he
knowl edge. I t was t he cyni cal i ndi f f er ence whi ch Eddi e Wi l l er s had seen i n
t he eyes of t he bumon t he st r eet cor ner .
" Say, Eddi e, know wher e I coul d get some wool en under shi r t s?" he asked,
" Tr i ed al l over t own, but nobody' s got ' em. "
" I don' t know, " sai d Eddi e, st oppi ng. " Why do you ask me?"
" I j ust ask ever ybody. Maybe somebody' ! ! t el l me. "
Eddi e l ooked uneasi l y at t he bl ank, emaci at ed f ace and whi t e hai r .
" I t ' s col d i n t hi s j oi nt , " sai d Pop Har per . " I t ' s goi ng t o be col der t hi s
wi nt er . "
" What ar e you doi ng?" Eddi e asked, poi nt i ng at t he pi eces of t ypewr i t er .
" The damn t hi ng' s bust ed agai n. No use sendi ng i t out , t ook t hemt hr ee
mont hs t o f i x i t t he l ast t i me. Thought I ' d pat ch i t up mysel f . Not f or l ong,
I guess. " He l et hi s f i st dr op down on t he keys. " You' r e r eady f or t he j unk
pi l e, ol d pal . Your days ar e number ed. "
Eddi e st ar t ed. That was t he sent ence he had t r i ed t o r emember : Your days
ar e number ed. But he had f or got t en i n what connect i on he had t r i ed t o
r emember i t .
" I t ' s no use, Eddi e, " sai d Pop Har per .
" What ' s no use?"
" Not hi ng. Anyt hi ng. "
" What ' s t he mat t er , Pop?"
" I ' mnot goi ng t o r equi si t i on a new t ypewr i t er . The new ones ar e made of
t i n. When t he ol d ones go, t hat wi l l be t he end of t ypewr i t i ng. Ther e was an
acci dent i n t he subway t hi s mor ni ng, t hei r br akes woul dn' t wor k. You ought t o
go home, Eddi e, t ur n on t he r adi o and l i st en t o a good dance band. For get i t ,
boy. Tr oubl e wi t h you i s you never had a hobby. Somebody st ol e t he el ect r i c
l i ght bul bs agai n, f r omof f t he st ai r case, down wher e I l i ve. I ' ve got a pai n
i n my chest . Coul dn' t get any cough dr ops t hi s mor ni ng, t he dr ugst or e on our
cor ner went bankr upt l ast week. The Texas- West er n Rai l r oad went bankr upt l ast
mont h. They cl osed t he Queensbor ough Br i dge yest er day f or t empor ar y r epai r s.
Oh wel l , what ' s t he use? Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"

* * *

She sat at t he wi ndow of t he t r ai n, her head t hr own back, one l eg
st r et ched acr oss t o t he empt y seat bef or e her . The wi ndow f r ame t r embl ed wi t h
t he speed of t he mot i on, t he pane hung over empt y dar kness, and dot s of l i ght
sl ashed acr oss t he gl ass as l umi nous st r eaks, once i n a whi l e.
Her l eg, scul pt ur ed by t he t i ght sheen of t he st ocki ng, i t s l ong l i ne
r unni ng st r ai ght , over an ar ched i nst ep, t o t he t i p of a f oot i n a hi gh-
heel ed pump, had a f emi ni ne el egance t hat seemed out of pl ace i n t he dust y
t r ai n car and oddl y i ncongr uous wi t h t he r est of her . She wor e a bat t er ed
camel ' s hai r coat t hat had been expensi ve, wr apped shapel essl y about her
sl ender , ner vous body. The coat col l ar was r ai sed t o t he sl ant i ng br i mof her
hat . A sweep of br own hai r f el l back, al most t ouchi ng t he l i ne of her
shoul der s. Her f ace was made of angul ar pl anes, t he shape of her mout h cl ear -
cut , a sensual mout h hel d cl osed wi t h i nf l exi bl e pr eci si on. She kept her
hands i n t he coat pocket s, her post ur e t aut , as i f she r esent ed i mmobi l i t y,
and unf emi ni ne, as i f she wer e unconsci ous of her own body and t hat i t was a
woman' s body. She sat l i st eni ng t o t he musi c. I t was a symphony of t r i umph.
The not es f l owed up, t hey spoke of r i si ng and t hey wer e t he r i si ng i t sel f ,
t hey wer e t he essence and t he f or mof upwar d mot i on, t hey seemed t o embody
ever y human act and t hought t hat had ascent as i t s mot i ve. I t was a sunbur st
of sound, br eaki ng out of hi di ng and spr eadi ng open. I t had t he f r eedomof
r el ease and t he t ensi on of pur pose. I t swept space cl ean, and l ef t not hi ng
but t he j oy of an unobst r uct ed ef f or t . Onl y a f ai nt echo wi t hi n t he sounds
spoke of t hat f r omwhi ch t he musi c had escaped, but spoke i n l aughi ng
ast oni shment at t he di scover y t hat t her e was no ugl i ness or pai n, and t her e
never had had t o be. I t was t he song of an i mmense del i ver ance.
She t hought : For j ust a f ew moment swhi l e t hi s l ast si t i s al l r i ght t o
sur r ender compl et el yt o f or get ever yt hi ng and j ust per mi t your sel f t o f eel .
She t hought : Let godr op t he cont r ol st hi s i s i t .
Somewher e on t he edge of her mi nd, under t he musi c, she hear d t he sound of
t r ai n wheel s. They knocked i n an even r hyt hm, ever y f our t h knock accent ed, as
i f st r essi ng a consci ous pur pose. She coul d r el ax, because she hear d t he
wheel s. She l i st ened t o t he symphony, t hi nki ng: Thi s i s why t he wheel s have
t o be kept goi ng, and t hi s i s wher e t hey' r e goi ng.
She had never hear d t hat symphony bef or e, but she knew t hat i t was wr i t t en
by Ri char d Hal l ey. She r ecogni zed t he vi ol ence and t he magni f i cent i nt ensi t y.
She r ecogni zed t he st yl e of t he t heme; i t was a cl ear , compl ex mel odyat a
t i me when no one wr ot e mel ody any l onger . . . . She sat l ooki ng up at t he
cei l i ng of t he car , but she di d not see i t and she had f or got t en wher e she
was. She di d not know whet her she was hear i ng a f ul l symphony or chest r a or
onl y t he t heme; per haps she was hear i ng t he or chest r at i on i n her own mi nd.
She t hought di ml y t hat t her e had been pr emoni t or y echoes of t hi s t heme i n
al l of Ri char d Hal l ey' s wor k, t hr ough al l t he year s of hi s l ong st r uggl e, t o
t he day, i n hi s mi ddl e- age, when f ame st r uck hi msuddenl y and knocked hi m
out . Thi sshe t hought , l i st eni ng t o t he symphonyhad been t he goal of hi s
st r uggl e. She r emember ed hal f - hi nt ed at t empt s i n hi s musi c, phr ases t hat
pr omi sed i t , br oken bi t s of mel ody t hat st ar t ed but never qui t e r eached i t ;
when Ri char d Hal l ey wr ot e t hi s, he . . . She sat up st r ai ght . When di d
Ri char d Hal l ey wr i t e t hi s?
I n t he same i nst ant , she r eal i zed wher e she was and wonder ed f or t he f i r st
t i me wher e t hat musi c came f r om.
A f ew st eps away, at t he end of t he car , a br akeman was adj ust i ng t he
cont r ol s of t he ai r - condi t i oner . He was bl ond and young. He was whi st l i ng t he
t heme of t he symphony. She r eal i zed t hat he had been whi st l i ng i t f or some
t i me and t hat t hi s was al l she had hear d.
She wat ched hi mi ncr edul ousl y f or a whi l e, bef or e she r ai sed her voi ce t o
ask, " Tel l me pl ease, what ar e you whi st l i ng?"
The boy t ur ned t o her . She met a di r ect gl ance and saw an open, eager
smi l e, as i f he wer e shar i ng a conf i dence wi t h a f r i end. She l i ked hi s f ace
i t s l i nes wer e t i ght and f i r m, i t di d not have t hat l ook of l oose muscl es
evadi ng t he r esponsi bi l i t y of a shape, whi ch she had l ear ned t o expect i n
peopl e' s f aces.
" I t ' s t he Hal l ey Concer t o, " he answer ed, smi l i ng.
" Whi ch one?"
" The Fi f t h. "
She l et a moment pass, bef or e she sai d sl owl y and ver y car ef ul l y, " Ri char d
Hal l ey wr ot e onl y f our concer t os. "
The boy' s smi l e vani shed. I t was as i f he wer e j ol t ed back t o r eal i t y,
j ust as she had been a f ew moment s ago. I t was as i f a shut t er wer e sl ammed
down, and what r emai ned was a f ace wi t hout expr essi on, i mper sonal ,
i ndi f f er ent and empt y.
" Yes, of cour se, " he sai d. " I ' mwr ong. I made a mi st ake. "
" Then what was i t ?"
" Somet hi ng I hear d somewher e. "
" What ?"
" I don' t know. "
" Wher e di d you hear i t ?"
" I don' t r emember . "
She paused hel pl essl y; he was t ur ni ng away f r omher wi t hout f ur t her
i nt er est .
" I t sounded l i ke a Hal l ey t heme, " she sai d. " But I know ever y not e he' s
ever wr i t t en and he never wr ot e t hat . "
Ther e was st i l l no expr essi on, onl y a f ai nt l ook of at t ent i veness on t he
boy' s f ace, as he t ur ned back t o her and asked, " You l i ke t he musi c of
Ri char d Hal l ey?"
" Yes, " she sai d, " I l i ke i t ver y much. "
He consi der ed her f or a moment , as i f hesi t at i ng, t hen he t ur ned away. She
wat ched t he exper t ef f i ci ency of hi s movement s as he went on wor ki ng. He
wor ked i n si l ence.
She had not sl ept f or t wo ni ght s, but she coul d not per mi t her sel f t o
sl eep; she had t oo many pr obl ems t o consi der and not much t i me: t he t r ai n was
due i n New Yor k ear l y i n t he mor ni ng. She needed t he t i me, yet she wi shed t he
t r ai n woul d go f ast er ; but i t was t he Taggar t Comet , t he f ast est t r ai n i n t he
count r y.
She t r i ed t o t hi nk; but t he musi c r emai ned on t he edge of her mi nd and she
kept hear i ng i t , i n f ul l chor ds, l i ke t he i mpl acabl e st eps of somet hi ng t hat
coul d not be st opped. . . . She shook her head angr i l y, j er ked her hat of f
and l i ght ed a ci gar et t e.
She woul d not sl eep, she t hought ; she coul d l ast unt i l t omor r ow ni ght . . .
. The t r ai n wheel s cl i cked i n accent ed r hyt hm. She was so used t o t hemt hat
she di d not hear t hemconsci ousl y, but t he sound became a sense of peace
wi t hi n her . . . . When she ext i ngui shed her ci gar et t e, she knew t hat she
needed anot her one, but t hought t hat she woul d gi ve her sel f a mi nut e, j ust a
f ew mi nut es, bef or e she woul d l i ght i t . . . .
She had f al l en asl eep and she awakened wi t h a j ol t , knowi ng t hat somet hi ng
was wr ong, bef or e she knew what i t was: t he wheel s had st opped. The car st ood
soundl ess and di mi n t he bl ue gl ow of t he ni ght l amps. She gl anced at her
wat ch: t her e was no r eason f or st oppi ng. She l ooked out t he wi ndow: t he t r ai n
st ood st i l l i n t he mi ddl e of empt y f i el ds.
She hear d someone movi ng i n a seat acr oss t he ai sl e, and asked, " How l ong
have we been st andi ng?"
A man' s voi ce answer ed i ndi f f er ent l y, " About an hour . " The man l ooked
af t er her , sl eepi l y ast oni shed, because she l eaped t o her f eet and r ushed t o
t he door . Ther e was a col d wi nd out si de, and an empt y st r et ch of l and under
an empt y sky. She hear d weeds r ust l i ng i n t he dar kness. Far ahead, she saw
t he f i gur es of men st andi ng by t he engi neand above t hem, hangi ng det ached i n
t he sky, t he r ed l i ght of a si gnal .
She wal ked r api dl y t owar d t hem, past t he mot i onl ess l i ne of wheel s. No one
pai d at t ent i on t o her when she appr oached. The t r ai n cr ew and a f ew
passenger s st ood cl ust er ed under t he r ed l i ght . They had st opped t al ki ng,
t hey seemed t o be wai t i ng i n pl aci d i ndi f f er ence.
" What ' s t he mat t er ?" she asked.
The engi neer t ur ned, ast oni shed. Her quest i on had sounded l i ke an or der ,
not l i ke t he amat eur cur i osi t y of a passenger . She st ood, hands i n pocket s,
coat col l ar r ai sed, t he wi nd beat i ng her hai r i n st r ands acr oss her f ace.
" Red l i ght , l ady, " he sai d, poi nt i ng up wi t h hi s t humb.
" How l ong has i t been on?"
" An hour . "
" We' r e of f t he mai n t r ack, ar en' t we?"
" That ' s r i ght . "
" Why?"
" I don' t know. "
The conduct or spoke up. " I don' t t hi nk we had any busi ness bei ng sent of f
on a si di ng, t hat swi t ch wasn' t wor ki ng r i ght , and t hi s t hi ng' s not wor ki ng
at al l . " He j er ked hi s head up at t he r ed l i ght . " I don' t t hi nk t he si gnal ' s
goi ng t o change. I t hi nk i t ' s bust ed. "
" Then what ar e you doi ng?"
" Wai t i ng f or i t t o change. "
I n her pause of st ar t l ed anger , t he f i r eman chuckl ed. " Last week, t he
cr ack speci al of t he At l ant i c Sout her n got l ef t on a si di ng f or t wo hour s
j ust somebody' s mi st ake. "
" Thi s i s t he Taggar t Comet , " she sai d. " The Comet has never been l at e. "
" She' s t he onl y one i n t he count r y t hat hasn' t , " sai d t he engi neer .
" Ther e' s al ways a f i r st t i me, " sai d t he f i r eman.
" You don' t know about r ai l r oads, l ady, " sai d a passenger .
" Ther e' s not a si gnal syst emor a di spat cher i n t he count r y t hat ' s wor t h a
damn. "
She di d not t ur n or not i ce hi m, but spoke t o t he engi neer .
" I f you know t hat t he si gnal i s br oken, what do you i nt end t o do?"
He di d not l i ke her t one of aut hor i t y, and he coul d not under st and why she
assumed i t so nat ur al l y. She l ooked l i ke a young gi r l ; onl y her mout h and
eyes showed t hat she was a woman i n her t hi r t i es. The dar k gr ay eyes wer e
di r ect and di st ur bi ng, as i f t hey cut t hr ough t hi ngs, t hr owi ng t he
i nconsequent i al out of t he way. The f ace seemed f ai nt l y f ami l i ar t o hi m, but
he coul d not r ecal l wher e he had seen i t .
" Lady, I don' t i nt end t o st i ck my neck out , " he sai d.
" He means, " sai d t he f i r eman, " t hat our j ob' s t o wai t f or or der s. "
" Your j ob i s t o r un t hi s t r ai n. "
" Not agai nst a r ed l i ght . I f t he l i ght says st op, we st op. "
" A r ed l i ght means danger , l ady, " sai d t he passenger .
" We' r e not t aki ng any chances, " sai d t he engi neer . " Whoever ' s r esponsi bl e
f or i t , he' l l swi t ch t he bl ame t o us i f we move. So we' r e not movi ng t i l l
somebody t el l s us t o. "
" And i f nobody does?"
" Somebody wi l l t ur n up sooner or l at er . "
" How l ong do you pr opose t o wai t ?"
The engi neer shr ugged. " Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
" He means, " sai d t he f i r eman, " don' t ask quest i ons nobody can answer . "
She l ooked at t he r ed l i ght and at t he r ai l t hat went of f i nt o t he bl ack,
unt ouched di st ance.
She sai d, " Pr oceed wi t h caut i on t o t he next si gnal . I f i t ' s i n or der ,
pr oceed t o t he mai n t r ack. Then st op at t he f i r st open of f i ce. "
" Yeah? Who says so?"
" I do. "
" Who ar e you?"
I t was onl y t he br i ef est pause, a moment of ast oni shment at a quest i on she
had not expect ed, but t he engi neer l ooked mor e cl osel y at her f ace, and i n
t i me wi t h her answer he gasped, " Good God! "
She answer ed, not of f ensi vel y, mer el y l i ke a per son who does not hear t he
quest i on of t en: " Dagny Taggar t . "
" Wel l , I ' l l be" sai d t he f i r eman, and t hen t hey al l r emai ned si l ent . She
went on, i n t he same t one of unst r essed aut hor i t y. " Pr oceed t o t he mai n t r ack
and hol d t he t r ai n f or me at t he f i r st open of f i ce. "
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" You' l l have t o make up t i me. You' ve got t he r est of t he ni ght t o do i t .
Get t he Comet i n on schedul e. "
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . "
She was t ur ni ng t o go, when t he engi neer asked, " I f t her e' s any t r oubl e,
ar e you t aki ng t he r esponsi bi l i t y f or i t , Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" I am. "
The conduct or f ol l owed her as she wal ked back t o her car . He was sayi ng,
bewi l der ed, " But . . . j ust a seat i n a day coach, Mi ss Taggar t ? But how
come? But why di dn' t you l et us know?"
She smi l ed easi l y. " Had no t i me t o be f or mal . Had my own car at t ached t o
Number 22 out of Chi cago, but got of f at Cl evel andand Number 22 was r unni ng
l at e, so I l et t he car go. The Comet came next and I t ook i t . Ther e was no
sl eepi ng- car space l ef t . "
The conduct or shook hi s head. " Your br ot her he woul dn' t have t aken a
coach. "
She l aughed. " No, he woul dn' t have. "
The men by t he engi ne wat ched her wal ki ng away. The young br akeman was
among t hem. He asked, poi nt i ng af t er her , " Who i s t hat ?"
" That's who r uns Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , " sai d t he engi neer ; t he r espect
i n hi s voi ce was genui ne. " That ' s t he Vi ce- pr esi dent i n Char ge of Oper at i on. "
When t he t r ai n j ol t ed f or war d, t he bl ast of i t s whi st l e dyi ng over t he
f i el ds, she sat by t he wi ndow, l i ght i ng anot her ci gar et t e. She t hought : I t ' s
cr acki ng t o pi eces, l i ke t hi s, al l over t he count r y, you can expect i t
anywher e, at any moment . But she f el t no anger or anxi et y; she had no t i me t o
f eel .
Thi s woul d be j ust one mor e i ssue, t o be set t l ed al ong wi t h t he ot her s.
She knew t hat t he super i nt endent of t he Ohi o Di vi si on was no good and t hat he
was a f r i end of J ames Taggar t . She had not i nsi st ed on t hr owi ng hi mout l ong
ago onl y because she had no bet t er man t o put i n hi s pl ace. Good men wer e so
st r angel y har d t o f i nd. But she woul d have t o get r i d of hi m, she t hought ,
and she woul d gi ve hi s post t o Owen Kel l ogg, t he young engi neer who was doi ng
a br i l l i ant j ob as one of t he assi st ant s t o t he manager of t he Taggar t
Ter mi nal i n New Yor k; i t was Owen Kel l ogg who r an t he Ter mi nal . She had
wat ched hi s wor k f or some t i me; she had al ways l ooked f or spar ks of
compet ence, l i ke a di amond pr ospect or i n an unpr omi si ng wast el and. Kel l ogg
was st i l l t oo young t o be made super i nt endent of a di vi si on; she had want ed
t o gi ve hi manot her year , but t her e was no t i me t o wai t . She woul d have t o
speak t o hi mas soon as she r et ur ned.
The st r i p of ear t h, f ai nt l y vi si bl e out si de t he wi ndow, was r unni ng f ast er
now, bl endi ng i nt o a gr ay st r eam. Thr ough t he dr y phr ases of cal cul at i ons i n
her mi nd, she not i ced t hat she di d have t i me t o f eel somet hi ng: i t was t he
har d, exhi l ar at i ng pl easur e of act i on.

* * *

Wi t h t he f i r st whi st l i ng r ush of ai r , as t he Comet pl unged i nt o t he
t unnel s of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal under t he ci t y of New Yor k, Dagny Taggar t sat
up st r ai ght . She al ways f el t i t when t he t r ai n went under gr oundt hi s sense of
eager ness, of hope and of secr et exci t ement . I t was as i f nor mal exi st ence
wer e a phot ogr aph of shapel ess t hi ngs i n badl y pr i nt ed col or s, but t hi s was a
sket ch done i n a f ew shar p st r okes t hat made t hi ngs seemcl ean, i mpor t ant and
wor t h doi ng.
She wat ched t he t unnel s as t hey f l owed past : bar e wal l s of concr et e, a net
of pi pes and wi r es, a web of r ai l s t hat went of f i nt o bl ack hol es wher e gr een
and r ed l i ght s hung as di st ant dr ops of col or . Ther e was not hi ng el se,
not hi ng t o di l ut e i t , so t hat one coul d admi r e naked pur pose and t he
i ngenui t y t hat had achi eved i t . She t hought of t he Taggar t Bui l di ng st andi ng
above her head at t hi s moment , gr owi ng st r ai ght t o t he sky, and she t hought :
These ar e t he r oot s of t he bui l di ng, hol l ow r oot s t wi st i ng under t he gr ound,
f eedi ng t he ci t y.
When t he t r ai n st opped, when she got of f and hear d t he concr et e of t he
pl at f or munder her heel s, she f el t l i ght , l i f t ed, i mpel l ed t o act i on.
She st ar t ed of f , wal ki ng f ast , as i f t he speed of her st eps coul d gi ve
f or mt o t he t hi ngs she f el t . I t was a f ew moment s bef or e she r eal i zed t hat
she was whi st l i ng a pi ece of musi cand t hat i t was t he t heme of Hal l ey' s
Fi f t h Concer t o. She f el t someone l ooki ng at her and t ur ned. The young
br akeman st ood wat chi ng her t ensel y.
She sat on t he ar mof t he bi g chai r f aci ng J ames Taggar t ' s desk, her coat
t hr own open over a wr i nkl ed t r avel i ng sui t . Eddi e Wi l l er s sat acr oss t he
r oom, maki ng not es once i n a whi l e. Hi s t i t l e was t hat of Speci al Assi st ant
t o t he Vi ce- Pr esi dent i n Char ge of Oper at i on, and hi s mai n dut y was t o be her
bodyguar d agai nst any wast e of t i me. She asked hi mt o be pr esent at
i nt er vi ews of t hi s nat ur e, because t hen she never had t o expl ai n anyt hi ng t o
hi maf t er war ds. J ames Taggar t sat at hi s desk, hi s head dr awn i nt o hi s
shoul der s.
" The Ri o Nor t e Li ne i s a pi l e of j unk f r omone end t o t he ot her , " she
sai d. " I t ' s much wor se t han I t hought . But we' r e goi ng t o save i t . "
" Of cour se, " sai d J ames Taggar t .
" Some of t he r ai l can be sal vaged. Not much and not f or l ong. We' l l st ar t
l ayi ng new r ai l i n t he mount ai n sect i ons, Col or ado f i r st . We' l l get t he new
r ai l i n t wo mont hs. "
" Oh, di d Or r en Boyl e say he' l l "
" I ' ve or der ed t he r ai l f r omRear den St eel . "
The sl i ght , choked sound f r omEddi e Wi l l er s was hi s suppr essed desi r e t o
cheer .
J ames Taggar t di d not answer at once. " Dagny, why don' t you si t i n t he
chai r as one i s supposed t o?" he sai d at l ast ; hi s voi ce was pet ul ant .
" Nobody hol ds busi ness conf er ences t hi s way. "
" I do. "
She wai t ed. He asked, hi s eyes avoi di ng her s, " Di d you say t hat you have
or der ed t he r ai l f r omRear den?"
" Yest er day eveni ng. I phoned hi mf r omCl evel and. "
" But t he Boar d hasn' t aut hor i zed i t . I haven' t aut hor i zed i t . You haven' t
consul t ed me. "
She r eached over , pi cked up t he r ecei ver of a t el ephone on hi s desk and
handed i t t o hi m.
" Cal l Rear den and cancel i t , " she sai d.
J ames Taggar t moved back i n hi s chai r . " I haven' t sai d t hat , " he answer ed
angr i l y. " I haven' t sai d t hat at al l . "
" Then i t st ands?"
" I haven' t sai d t hat , ei t her . "
She t ur ned. " Eddi e, have t hemdr aw up t he cont r act wi t h Rear den St eel . J i m
wi l l si gn i t . " She t ook a cr umpl ed pi ece of not epaper f r omher pocket and
t ossed i t t o Eddi e. " Ther e' s t he f i gur es and t er ms. "
Taggar t sai d, " But t he Boar d hasn' t "
" The Boar d hasn' t anyt hi ng t o do wi t h i t . They aut hor i zed you t o buy t he
r ai l t hi r t een mont hs ago. Wher e you buy i t i s up t o you. "
" I don' t t hi nk i t ' s pr oper t o make such a deci si on wi t hout gi vi ng t he
Boar d a chance t o expr ess an opi ni on. And I don' t see why I shoul d be made t o
t ake t he r esponsi bi l i t y. "
" I amt aki ng i t .
" What about t he expendi t ur e whi ch"
" Rear den i s char gi ng l ess t han Or r en Boyl e' s Associ at ed St eel . "
" Yes, and what about Or r en Boyl e?"
" I ' ve cancel l ed t he cont r act . We had t he r i ght t o cancel i t si x mont hs
ago. "
" When di d you do t hat ?"
" Yest er day. "
" But he hasn' t cal l ed t o have me conf i r mi t . "
" He won' t . "
Taggar t sat l ooki ng down at hi s desk. She wonder ed why he r esent ed t he
necessi t y of deal i ng wi t h Rear den, and why hi s r esent ment had such an odd,
evasi ve qual i t y. Rear den St eel had been t he chi ef suppl i er of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al f or t en year s, ever si nce t he f i r st Rear den f ur nace was
f i r ed, i n t he days when t hei r f at her was pr esi dent of t he r ai l r oad. For t en
year s, most of t hei r r ai l had come f r omRear den St eel . Ther e wer e not many
f i r ms i n t he count r y who del i ver ed what was or der ed, when and as or der ed.
Rear den St eel was one of t hem.
I f she wer e i nsane, t hought Dagny, she woul d concl ude t hat her br ot her
hat ed t o deal wi t h Rear den because Rear den di d hi s j ob wi t h super l at i ve
ef f i ci ency; but she woul d not concl ude i t , because she t hought t hat such a
f eel i ng was not wi t hi n t he humanl y possi bl e.
" I t i sn' t f ai r , " sai d J ames Taggar t .
" What i sn' t ?"
" That we al ways gi ve al l our busi ness t o Rear den. I t seems t o me we shoul d
gi ve somebody el se a chance, t oo. Rear den doesn' t need us; he' s pl ent y bi g
enough. We ought t o hel p t he smal l er f el l ows t o devel op. Ot her wi se, we' r e
j ust encour agi ng a monopol y. "
" Don' t t al k t r i pe, J i m, "
" Why do we al ways have t o get t hi ngs f r omRear den?"
" Because we al ways get t hem. "
" I don' t l i ke Henr y Rear den. "
" I do. But what does t hat mat t er , one way or t he ot her ? We need r ai l s and
he' s t he onl y one who can gi ve t hemt o us. "
" The human el ement i s ver y i mpor t ant . You have no sense of t he human
el ement at al l . "
" We' r e t al ki ng about savi ng a r ai l r oad, J i m. "
" Yes, of cour se, of cour se, but st i l l , you haven' t any sense of t he human
el ement . "
" No. I haven' t . "
" I f we gi ve Rear den such a l ar ge or der f or st eel r ai l s"
" They' r e not goi ng t o be st eel . They' r e Rear den Met al . "
She had al ways avoi ded per sonal r eact i ons, but she was f or ced t o br eak her
r ul e when she saw t he expr essi on on Taggar t ' s f ace. She bur st out l aughi ng.
Rear den Met al was a new al l oy, pr oduced by Rear den af t er t en year s of
exper i ment s. He had pl aced i t on t he mar ket r ecent l y. He had r ecei ved no
or der s and had f ound no cust omer s.
Taggar t coul d not under st and t he t r ansi t i on f r omt he l aught er t o t he
sudden t one of Dagny' s voi ce; t he voi ce was col d and har sh: " Dr op i t , J i m. I
know ever yt hi ng you' r e goi ng t o say. Nobody' s ever used i t bef or e. Nobody
appr oves of Rear den Met al . Nobody' s i nt er est ed i n i t . Nobody want s i t . St i l l ,
our r ai l s ar e goi ng t o be made of Rear den Met al . "
" But . . . " sai d Taggar t , " but . . . but nobody' s ever used i t bef or e! "
He obser ved, wi t h sat i sf act i on, t hat she was si l enced by anger . He l i ked
t o obser ve emot i ons; t hey wer e l i ke r ed l ant er ns st r ung al ong t he dar k
unknown of anot her ' s per sonal i t y, mar ki ng vul ner abl e poi nt s. But how one
coul d f eel a per sonal emot i on about a met al al l oy, and what such an emot i on
i ndi cat ed, was i ncompr ehensi bl e t o hi m; so he coul d make no use of hi s
di scover y.
" The consensus of t he best met al l ur gi cal aut hor i t i es, " he sai d, " seems t o
be hi ghl y skept i cal about Rear den Met al , cont endi ng"
" Dr op i t , J i m. "
" Wel l , whose opi ni on di d you t ake?"
" I don' t ask f or opi ni ons. "
" What do you go by?"
" J udgment . "
" Wel l , whose j udgment di d you t ake?"
" Mi ne. "
" But whomdi d you consul t about i t ?"
" Nobody. "
" Then what on ear t h do you know about Rear den Met al ?"
" That i t ' s t he gr eat est t hi ng ever put on t he mar ket . "
" Why?"
" Because i t ' s t ougher t han st eel , cheaper t han st eel and wi l l out l ast any
hunk of met al i n exi st ence. "
" But who says so?"
" J i m, I st udi ed engi neer i ng i n col l ege. When I see t hi ngs, I see t hem. "
" What di d you see?"
" Rear den' s f or mul a and t he t est s he showed me. "
" Wel l , i f i t wer e any good, somebody woul d have used i t , and nobody has. "
He saw t he f l ash of anger , and went on ner vousl y: " How can you know i t ' s
good? How can you be sur e? How can you deci de?"
" Somebody deci des such t hi ngs, J i m. Who?"
" Wel l , I don' t see why we have t o be t he f i r st ones. I don' t see i t at
al l . "
" Do you want t o save t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne or not ?" He di d not answer , " I f
t he r oad coul d af f or d i t , I woul d scr ap ever y pi ece of r ai l over t he whol e
syst emand r epl ace i t wi t h Rear den Met al . Al l of i t needs r epl aci ng. None of
i t wi l l l ast much l onger . But we can' t af f or d i t . We have t o get out of a bad
hol e, f i r st . Do you want us t o pul l t hr ough or not ?"
" We' r e st i l l t he best r ai l r oad i n t he count r y. The ot her s ar e doi ng much
wor se. "
" Then do you want us t o r emai n i n t he hol e?"
" I haven' t sai d t hat ! Why do you al ways over si mpl i f y t hi ngs t hat way? And
i f you' r e wor r i ed about money, I don' t see why you want t o wast e i t on t he
Ri o Nor t e Li ne, when t he Phoeni x- Dur ango has r obbed us of al l our busi ness
down t her e. Why spend money when we have no pr ot ect i on agai nst a compet i t or
who' l l dest r oy our i nvest ment ?"
" Because t he Phoeni x- Dur ango i s an excel l ent r ai l r oad, but I i nt end t o
make t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne bet t er t han t hat . Because I ' mgoi ng t o beat t he
Phoeni x- Dur ango, i f necessar yonl y i t won' t be necessar y, because t her e wi l l
be r oomf or t wo or t hr ee r ai l r oads t o make f or t unes i n Col or ado. Because I ' d
mor t gage t he syst emt o bui l d a br anch t o any di st r i ct ar ound El l i s Wyat t . "
" I ' msi ck of hear i ng about El l i s Wyat t . "
He di d not l i ke t he way her eyes moved t o l ook at hi mand r emai ned st i l l ,
l ooki ng, f or a moment .
" I don' t see any need f or i mmedi at e act i on, " he sai d; he sounded of f ended.
" J ust what do you consi der so al ar mi ng i n t he pr esent si t uat i on of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al ?"
" The consequences of your pol i ci es, J i m. "
" Whi ch pol i ci es?"
" That t hi r t een mont hs' exper i ment wi t h Associ at ed St eel , f or one. Your
Mexi can cat ast r ophe, f or anot her . "
" The Boar d appr oved t he Associ at ed St eel cont r act , " he sai d hast i l y.
" The Boar d vot ed t o bui l d t he San Sebast i an Li ne. Besi des, I don' t see why
you cal l i t a cat ast r ophe. "
" Because t he Mexi can gover nment i s goi ng t o nat i onal i ze your l i ne any day
now. "
" That ' s a l i e! " Hi s voi ce was al most a scr eam. " That ' s not hi ng but vi ci ous
r umor s! I have i t on ver y good i nsi de aut hor i t y t hat "
" Don' t show t hat you' r e scar ed, J i m, " she sai d cont empt uousl y. He di d not
answer . " I t ' s no use get t i ng pani cky about i t now, " she sai d. " Al l we can do
i s t r y t o cushi on t he bl ow. I t ' s goi ng t o be a bad bl ow. For t y mi l l i on
dol l ar s i s a l oss f r omwhi ch we won' t r ecover easi l y. But Taggar t
t r anscont i nent al has wi t hst ood many bad shocks i n t he past . I ' l l see t o i t
t hat i t wi t hst ands t hi s one. "
" I r ef use t o consi der , I absol ut el y r ef use t o consi der t he possi bi l i t y of
t he San Sebast i an Li ne bei ng nat i onal i zed! "
" Al l r i ght . Don' t consi der i t . "
She r emai ned si l ent . He sai d def ensi vel y, " I don' t see why you' r e so eager
t o gi ve a chance t o El l i s Wyat t , yet you t hi nk i t ' s wr ong t o t ake par t i n
devel opi ng an under pr i vi l eged count r y t hat never had a chance. "
" El l i s Wyat t i s not aski ng anybody t o gi ve hi ma chance. And I ' mnot i n
busi ness t o gi ve chances. I ' mr unni ng a r ai l r oad. "
" That ' s an ext r emel y nar r ow vi ew, i t seems t o me. I don' t see why we
shoul d want t o hel p one man i nst ead of a whol e nat i on. "
" I ' mnot i nt er est ed i n. hel pi ng anybody. I want t o make money. "
" That ' s an i mpr act i cal at t i t ude. Sel f i sh gr eed f or pr of i t i s a t hi ng of
t he past . I t has been gener al l y conceded t hat t he i nt er est s of soci et y as a
whol e must al ways be pl aced f i r st i n any busi ness under t aki ng whi ch"
" How l ong do you i nt end t o t al k i n or der t o evade t he i ssue, J i m?"
" What i ssue?"
" The or der f or Rear den Met al . "
He di d not answer . He sat st udyi ng her si l ent l y. Her sl ender body, about
t o sl ump f r omexhaust i on, was hel d er ect by t he st r ai ght l i ne of t he
shoul der s, and t he shoul der s wer e hel d by a consci ous ef f or t of wi l l . Few
peopl e l i ked her f ace: t he f ace was t oo col d, t he eyes t oo i nt ense; not hi ng
coul d ever l end her t he char mof a sof t f ocus. The beaut i f ul l egs, sl ant i ng
down f r omt he chai r ' s ar mi n t he cent er of hi s vi si on, annoyed hi m; t hey
spoi l ed t he r est of hi s est i mat e.
She r emai ned si l ent ; he was f or ced t o ask, " Di d you deci de t o or der i t
j ust l i ke t hat , on t he spur of t he moment , over a t el ephone?"
" I deci ded i t si x mont hs ago. I was wai t i ng f or Hank Rear den t o get r eady
t o go i nt o pr oduct i on. "
" Don' t cal l hi mHank Rear den. I t ' s vul gar . "
" That ' s what ever ybody cal l s hi m. Don' t change t he subj ect . "
" Why di d you have t o t el ephone hi ml ast ni ght ?"
" Coul dn' t r each hi msooner . "
" Why di dn' t you wai t unt i l you got back t o New Yor k and"
" Because I had seen t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne. "
" Wel l , I need t i me t o consi der i t , t o pl ace t he mat t er bef or e t he Boar d,
t o consul t t he best "
" Ther e i s no t i me. "
" You haven' t gi ven me a chance t o f or man opi ni on. "
" I don' t gi ve a damn about your opi ni on. I amnot goi ng t o ar gue wi t h you,
wi t h your Boar d or wi t h your pr of essor s. You have a choi ce t o make and you' r e
goi ng t o make i t now. J ust say yes or no. "
" That ' s a pr epost er ous, hi gh- handed, ar bi t r ar y way of - "
" Yes or no?"
" That ' s t he t r oubl e wi t h you. You al ways make i t ' Yes' or ' No. ' Thi ngs ar e
never absol ut e l i ke t hat . Not hi ng i s absol ut e. "
" Met al r ai l s ar e. Whet her we get t hemor not , i s. "
She wai t ed. He di d not answer . " Wel l ?" she asked.
" Ar e you t aki ng t he r esponsi bi l i t y f or i t ?"
" I am. "
" Go ahead, " he sai d, and added, " but at your own r i sk. I won' t cancel i t ,
but I won' t commi t mysel f as t o what I ' l l say t o t he Boar d. "
" Say anyt hi ng you wi sh. "
She r ose t o go. He l eaned f or war d acr oss t he desk, r el uct ant t o end t he
i nt er vi ew and t o end i t so deci si vel y.
" You r eal i ze, of cour se, t hat a l engt hy pr ocedur e wi l l be necessar y t o put
t hi s t hr ough, " he sai d; t he wor ds sounded al most hopef ul . " I t i sn' t as si mpl e
as t hat . "
" Oh sur e, " she sai d. " I ' l l send you a det ai l ed r epor t , whi ch Eddi e wi l l
pr epar e and whi ch you won' t r ead. Eddi e wi l l hel p you put i t t hr ough t he
wor ks. I ' mgoi ng t o Phi l adel phi a t oni ght t o see Rear den. He and I have a l ot
of wor k t o do. " She added, " I t ' s as si mpl e as t hat , J i m. "
She had t ur ned t o go, when he spoke agai nand what he sai d seemed
bewi l der i ngl y i r r el evant . " That ' s al l r i ght f or you, because you' r e l ucky.
Ot her s can' t do i t . "
" Do what ?"
" Ot her peopl e ar e human. They' r e sensi t i ve. They can' t devot e t hei r whol e
l i f e t o met al s and engi nes. You' r e l uckyyou' ve never had any f eel i ngs.
You' ve never f el t anyt hi ng at al l . "
As she l ooked at hi m, her dar k gr ay eyes went sl owl y f r omast oni shment t o
st i l l ness, t hen t o a st r ange expr essi on t hat r esembl ed a l ook of wear i ness,
except t hat i t seemed t o r ef l ect much mor e t han t he endur ance of t hi s one
moment .
" No, J i m, " she sai d qui et l y, " I guess I ' ve never f el t anyt hi ng at al l . "
Eddi e Wi l l er s f ol l owed her t o her of f i ce. Whenever she r et ur ned, he f el t as
i f t he wor l d became cl ear , si mpl e, easy t o f aceand he f or got hi s moment s of
shapel ess appr ehensi on. He was t he onl y per son who f ound i t compl et el y
nat ur al t hat she shoul d be t he Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent of a gr eat r ai l r oad,
even t hough she was a woman. She had t ol d hi m, when he was t en year s ol d,
t hat she woul d r un t he r ai l r oad some day. I t di d not ast oni sh hi mnow, j ust
as i t had not ast oni shed hi mt hat day i n a cl ear i ng of t he woods.
When t hey ent er ed her of f i ce, when he saw her si t down at t he desk and
gl ance at t he memos he had l ef t f or her he f el t as he di d i n hi s car when t he
mot or caught on and t he wheel s coul d move f or war d.
He was about t o l eave her of f i ce, when he r emember ed a mat t er he had not
r epor t ed. " Owen Kel l ogg of t he Ter mi nal Di vi si on has asked me f or an
appoi nt ment t o see you, " he sai d.
She l ooked up, ast oni shed. " That ' s f unny. I was goi ng t o send f or hi m.
Have hi mcome up. I want t o see hi m. . . . Eddi e, " she added suddenl y,
" bef or e I st ar t , t el l t hemt o get me Ayer s of t he Ayer s Musi c Publ i shi ng
Company on t he phone. "
" The Musi c Publ i shi ng Company?" he r epeat ed i ncr edul ousl y.
" Yes. Ther e' s somet hi ng I want t o ask hi m. "
When t he voi ce of Mr . Ayer s, cour t eousl y eager , i nqui r ed of what ser vi ce
he coul d be t o her , she asked, " Can you t el l me whet her Ri char d Hal l ey has
wr i t t en a new pi ano concer t o, t he Fi f t h?"
" A f i f t h concer t o, Mi ss Taggar t ? Why, no, of cour se he hasn' t . "
" Ar e you sur e?"
" Qui t e sur e, Mi ss Taggar t . He has not wr i t t en anyt hi ng f or ei ght year s. "
" I s he st i l l al i ve?"
" Why, yest hat i s, I can' t say f or cer t ai n, he has dr opped out of publ i c
l i f e ent i r el ybut I ' msur e we woul d have hear d of i t i f he had di ed. "
" I f he wr ot e anyt hi ng, woul d you know about i t ?"
" Of cour se. We woul d be t he f i r st t o know. We publ i sh al l of hi s wor k. But
he has st opped wr i t i ng. "
" I see. Thank you. "
When Owen Kel l ogg ent er ed her of f i ce, she l ooked at hi mwi t h sat i sf act i on.
She was gl ad t o see t hat she had been r i ght i n her vague r ecol l ect i on of hi s
appear ancehi s f ace had t he same qual i t y as t hat of t he young br akeman on t he
t r ai n, t he f ace of t he ki nd of man wi t h whomshe coul d deal .
" Si t down, Mr . Kel l ogg, " she sai d, but he r emai ned st andi ng i n f r ont of
her desk.
" You had asked me once t o l et you know i f I ever deci ded t o change my
empl oyment , Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d. " So I came t o t el l you t hat I am
qui t t i ng. "
She had expect ed anyt hi ng but t hat ; i t t ook her a moment bef or e she asked
qui et l y, " Why?"
" For a per sonal r eason. "
" Wer e you di ssat i sf i ed her e?"
" No. "
" Have you r ecei ved a bet t er of f er ?"
" No. "
" What r ai l r oad ar e you goi ng t o?"
" I ' mnot goi ng t o any r ai l r oad, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Then what j ob ar e you t aki ng?"
" I have not deci ded t hat yet . "
She st udi ed hi m, f eel i ng sl i ght l y uneasy. Ther e was no host i l i t y i n hi s
f ace; he l ooked st r ai ght at her , he answer ed si mpl y, di r ect l y; he spoke l i ke
one who has not hi ng t o hi de, or t o show; t he f ace was pol i t e and empt y.
" Then why shoul d you wi sh t o qui t ?"
" I t ' s a per sonal mat t er . "
" Ar e you i l l ? I s i t a quest i on of your heal t h?"
" No. "
" Ar e you l eavi ng t he ci t y?"
" No. "
" Have you i nher i t ed money t hat per mi t s you t o r et i r e?"
" No. "
" Do you i nt end t o cont i nue wor ki ng f or a l i vi ng?"
" Yes. "
" But you do not wi sh t o wor k f or Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ?"
" No. "
" I n t hat case, somet hi ng must have happened her e t o cause your deci si on.
What ?"
" Not hi ng, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" I wi sh you' d t el l me. I have a r eason f or want i ng t o know. "
" Woul d you t ake my wor d f or i t , Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" Yes. "
" No per son, mat t er or event connect ed wi t h my j ob her e had any bear i ng
upon my deci si on. "
" You have no speci f i c compl ai nt agai nst Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ?"
" None. "
" Then I t hi nk you mi ght r econsi der when you hear what I have t o of f er
you. "
" I ' msor r y, Mi ss Taggar t . I can' t . "
" May I t el l you what I have i n mi nd?"
" Yes, i f you wi sh. "
" Woul d you t ake my wor d f or i t t hat I deci ded t o of f er you t he post I ' m
goi ng t o of f er , bef or e you asked t o see me? I want you t o know t hat . "
" I wi l l al ways t ake your wor d, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" I t ' s t he post of Super i nt endent of t he Ohi o Di vi si on. I t ' s your s, i f you
want i t . "
Hi s f ace showed no r eact i on, as i f t he wor ds had no mor e si gni f i cance f or
hi mt han f or a savage who had never hear d of r ai l r oads.
" I don' t want i t , Mi ss Taggar t , " he answer ed.
Af t er a moment , she sai d, her voi ce t i ght , " Wr i t e your own t i cket ,
Kel l ogg. Name your pr i ce, I want you t o st ay. I can mat ch anyt hi ng any ot her
r ai l r oad of f er s you. "
" I amnot goi ng t o wor k f or any ot her r ai l r oad. "
" I t hought you l oved your wor k. "
Thi s was t he f i r st si gn of emot i on i n hi m, j ust a sl i ght wi deni ng of hi s
eyes and an oddl y qui et emphasi s i n hi s voi ce when he answer ed, " I do. "
" Then t el l me what i t i s t hat I shoul d say i n or der t o hol d you! " I t had
been i nvol unt ar y and so obvi ousl y f r ank t hat he l ooked at her as i f i t had
r eached hi m.
" Per haps I ambei ng unf ai r by comi ng her e t o t el l you t hat I ' mqui t t i ng,
Mi ss Taggar t . I know t hat you asked me t o t el l you because you want ed t o have
a chance t o make me a count er - of f er . So i f I came, i t l ooks as i f I ' mopen t o
a deal . But I ' mnot . I came onl y because I . . . I want ed t o keep my wor d t o
you. "
That one br eak i n hi s voi ce was l i ke a sudden f l ash t hat t ol d her how much
her i nt er est and her r equest had meant t o hi m; and t hat hi s deci si on had not
been an easy one t o make.
" Kel l ogg, i s t her e not hi ng I can of f er you?" she asked.
" Not hi ng, Mi ss Taggar t . Not hi ng on ear t h. "
He t ur ned t o go. For t he f i r st t i me i n her l i f e, she f el t hel pl ess and
beat en.
" Why?" she asked, not addr essi ng hi m.
He st opped. He shr ugged and smi l edhe was al i ve f or a moment and i t was
t he st r angest smi l e she had ever seen: i t hel d secr et amusement , and
hear t br eak, and an i nf i ni t e bi t t er ness. He answer ed: " Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"

CHAPTER II
THE CHAIN

I t began wi t h a f ew l i ght s. As a t r ai n of t he Taggar t l i ne r ol l ed t owar d
Phi l adel phi a, a f ew br i l l i ant , scat t er ed l i ght s appear ed i n t he dar kness;
t hey seemed pur posel ess i n t he empt y pl ai n, yet t oo power f ul t o have no
pur pose. The passenger s wat ched t hemi dl y, wi t hout i nt er est .
The bl ack shape of a st r uct ur e came next , bar el y vi si bl e agai nst t he sky,
t hen a bi g bui l di ng, cl ose t o t he t r acks; t he bui l di ng was dar k, and t he
r ef l ect i ons of t he t r ai n l i ght s st r eaked acr oss t he sol i d gl ass of i t s wal l s.
An oncomi ng f r ei ght t r ai n hi d t he vi ew, f i l l i ng t he wi ndows wi t h a r ushi ng
smear of noi se. I n a sudden br eak above t he f i at car s, t he passenger s saw
di st ant st r uct ur es under a f ai nt , r eddi sh gl ow i n t he sky; t he gl ow moved i n
i r r egul ar spasms, as i f t he st r uct ur es wer e br eat hi ng.
When t he f r ei ght t r ai n vani shed, t hey saw angul ar bui l di ngs wr apped i n
coi l s of st eam. The r ays of a f ew st r ong l i ght s cut st r ai ght sheaf s t hr ough
t he coi l s. The st eamwas r ed as t he sky.
The t hi ng t hat came next di d not l ook l i ke a bui l di ng, but l i ke a shel l of
checker ed gl ass encl osi ng gi r der s, cr anes and t r usses i n a sol i d, bl i ndi ng,
or ange spr ead of f l ame.
The passenger s coul d not gr asp t he compl exi t y of what seemed t o be a ci t y
st r et ched f or mi l es, act i ve wi t hout si gn of human pr esence. They saw t ower s
t hat l ooked l i ke cont or t ed skyscr aper s, br i dges hangi ng i n mi d- ai r , and
sudden wounds spur t i ng f i r e f r omout of sol i d wal l s. They saw a l i ne of
gl owi ng cyl i nder s movi ng t hr ough t he ni ght ; t he cyl i nder s wer e r ed- hot met al .
An of f i ce bui l di ng appear ed, cl ose t o t he t r acks. The bi g neon si gn on i t s
r oof l i ght ed t he i nt er i or s of t he coaches as t hey went by. I t sai d: REARDEN
STEEL.
A passenger , who was a pr of essor of economi cs, r emar ked t o hi s compani on:
" Of what i mpor t ance i s an i ndi vi dual i n t he t i t ani c col l ect i ve achi evement s
of our i ndust r i al age?" Anot her , who was a j our nal i st , made a not e f or f ut ur e
use i n hi s col umn: " Hank Rear den i s t he ki nd of man who st i cks hi s name on
ever yt hi ng he t ouches. You may, f r omt hi s, f or myour own opi ni on about t he
char act er of Hank Rear den. "
The t r ai n was speedi ng on i nt o t he dar kness when a r ed gasp shot t o t he
sky f r ombehi nd a l ong st r uct ur e. The passenger s pai d no at t ent i on; one mor e
heat of st eel bei ng pour ed was not an event t hey had been t aught t o not i ce.
I t was t he f i r st heat f or t he f i r st or der of Rear den Met al .
To t he men at t he t ap- hol e of t he f ur nace i nsi de t he mi l l s, t he f i r st
br eak of t he l i qui d met al i nt o t he open came as a shocki ng sensat i on of
mor ni ng. The nar r ow st r eak pour i ng t hr ough space had t he pur e whi t e col or of
sunl i ght . Bl ack coi l s of st eamwer e boi l i ng upwar d, st r eaked wi t h vi ol ent
r ed. Fount ai ns of spar ks shot i n beat i ng spasms, as f r ombr oken ar t er i es. The
ai r seemed t or n t o r ags, r ef l ect i ng a r agi ng f l ame t hat was not t her e, r ed
bl ot ches whi r l i ng and r unni ng t hr ough space, as i f not t o be cont ai ned wi t hi n
a man- made st r uct ur e, as i f about t o consume t he col umns, t he gi r der s, t he
br i dges of cr anes over head. But t he l i qui d met al had no aspect of vi ol ence.
I t was a l ong whi t e cur ve wi t h t he t ext ur e of sat i n and t he f r i endl y r adi ance
of a smi l e. I t f l owed obedi ent l y t hr ough a spout of cl ay, wi t h t wo br i t t l e
bor der s t o r est r ai n i t . I t f el l t hr ough t went y f eet of space, down i nt o a
l adl e t hat hel d t wo hundr ed t ons. A f l ow of st ar s hung above t he st r eam,
l eapi ng out of i t s pl aci d smoot hness, l ooki ng del i cat e as l ace and i nnocent
as chi l dr en' s spar kl er s.
Onl y at a cl oser gl ance coul d one not i ce t hat t he whi t e sat i n was boi l i ng.
Spl ashes f l ew out at t i mes and f el l t o t he gr ound bel ow: t hey wer e met al and,
cool i ng whi l e hi t t i ng t he soi l , t hey bur st i nt o f l ame.
Two hundr ed t ons of a met al whi ch was t o be har der t han st eel , r unni ng
l i qui d at a t emper at ur e of f our t housand degr ees, had t he power t o anni hi l at e
ever y wal l of t he st r uct ur e and ever y one of t he men who wor ked by t he
st r eam. But ever y i nch of i t s cour se, ever y pound of i t s pr essur e and t he
cont ent of ever y mol ecul e wi t hi n i t , wer e cont r ol l ed and made by a consci ous
i nt ent i on t hat had wor ked upon i t f or t en year s.
Swi ngi ng t hr ough t he dar kness of t he shed, t he r ed gl ar e kept st ashi ng t he
f ace of a man who st ood i n a di st ant cor ner ; he st ood l eani ng agai nst a
col umn, wat chi ng. The gl ar e cut a moment ' s wedge acr oss hi s eyes, whi ch had
t he col or and qual i t y of pal e bl ue i cet hen acr oss t he bl ack web of t he met al
col umn and t he ash- bl ond st r ands of hi s hai r t hen acr oss t he bel t of hi s
t r enchcoat and t he pocket s wher e he hel d hi s hands. Hi s body was t al l and
gaunt ; he had al ways been t oo t al l f or t hose ar ound hi m. Hi s f ace was cut by
pr omi nent cheekbones and by a f ew shar p l i nes; t hey wer e not t he l i nes of
age, he had al ways had t hem: t hi s had made hi ml ook ol d at t went y, and young
now, at f or t y- f i ve.
Ever si nce he coul d r emember , he had been t ol d t hat hi s f ace was ugl y,
because i t was unyi el di ng, and cr uel , because i t was expr essi onl ess. I t
r emai ned expr essi onl ess now, as he l ooked at t he met al . He was Hank Rear den.
The met al came r i si ng t o t he t op of t he l adl e and went r unni ng over wi t h
ar r ogant pr odi gal i t y. Then t he bl i ndi ng whi t e t r i ckl es t ur ned t o gl owi ng
br own, and i n one mor e i nst ant t hey wer e bl ack i ci cl es of met al , st ar t i ng t o
cr umbl e of f . The sl ag was cr ust i ng i n t hi ck, br own r i dges t hat l ooked l i ke
t he cr ust of t he ear t h. As t he cr ust gr ew t hi cker , a f ew cr at er s br oke open,
wi t h t he whi t e l i qui d st i l l boi l i ng wi t hi n.
A man came r i di ng t hr ough t he ai r , i n t he cab of a cr ane over head. He
pul l ed a l ever by t he casual movement of one hand: st eel hooks came down on a
chai n, sei zed t he handl es of t he l adl e, l i f t ed i t smoot hl y l i ke a bucket of
mi l kand t wo hundr ed t ons of met al went sai l i ng t hr ough space t owar d a r ow of
mol ds wai t i ng t o be f i l l ed.
Hank Rear den l eaned back, cl osi ng hi s eyes. He f el t t he col umn t r embl i ng
wi t h t he r umbl e of t he cr ane. The j ob was done, he t hought .
A wor ker saw hi mand gr i nned i n under st andi ng, l i ke a f el l ow accompl i ce i n
a gr eat cel ebr at i on, who knew why t hat t al l , bl ond f i gur e had t o be pr esent
her e t oni ght . Rear den smi l ed i n answer : i t was t he onl y sal ut e he had
r ecei ved. Then he st ar t ed back f or hi s of f i ce, once agai n a f i gur e wi t h an
expr essi onl ess f ace.
I t was l at e when Hank Rear den l ef t hi s of f i ce t hat ni ght t o wal k f r omhi s
mi l l s t o hi s house. I t was a wal k of some mi l es t hr ough empt y count r y, but he
had f el t l i ke doi ng i t , wi t hout consci ous r eason.
He wal ked, keepi ng one hand i n hi s pocket , hi s f i nger s cl osed about a
br acel et . I t was made of Rear den Met al , i n t he shape of a chai n. Hi s f i nger s
moved, f eel i ng i t s t ext ur e once i n a whi l e. I t had t aken t en year s t o make
t hat br acel et . Ten year s, he t hought , i s a l ong t i me. The r oad was dar k,
edged wi t h t r ees. Looki ng up, he coul d see a f ew l eaves agai nst t he st ar s;
t he l eaves wer e t wi st ed and dr y, r eady t o f al l .
Ther e wer e di st ant l i ght s i n t he wi ndows of houses scat t er ed t hr ough t he
count r ysi de; but t he l i ght s made t he r oad seeml onel i er .
He never f el t l onel i ness except when he was happy. He t ur ned, once i n a
whi l e, t o l ook back at t he r ed gl ow of t he sky over t he mi l l s. He di d not
t hi nk of t he t en year s. What r emai ned of t hemt oni ght was onl y a f eel i ng
whi ch he coul d not name, except t hat i t was qui et and sol emn. The f eel i ng was
a sum, and he di d not have t o count agai n t he par t s t hat had gone t o make i t .
But t he par t s, unr ecal l ed, wer e t her e, wi t hi n t he f eel i ng. They wer e t he
ni ght s spent at scor chi ng ovens i n t he r esear ch l abor at or y of t he mi l l s- t he
ni ght s spent i n t he wor kshop of hi s home, over sheet s of paper whi ch he
f i l l ed wi t h f or mul as, t hen t or e up i n angr y f ai l ur e- t he days when t he young
sci ent i st s of t he smal l st af f he had chosen t o assi st hi mwai t ed f or
i nst r uct i ons l i ke sol di er s r eady f or a hopel ess bat t l e, havi ng exhaust ed
t hei r i ngenui t y, st i l l wi l l i ng, but si l ent , wi t h t he unspoken sent ence
hangi ng i n t he ai r : " Mr . Rear den, i t can' t be done" t he meal s, i nt er r upt ed
and abandoned at t he sudden f l ash of a new t hought , a t hought t o be pur sued
at once, t o be t r i ed, t o be t est ed, t o be wor ked on f or mont hs, and t o be
di scar ded as anot her f ai l ur et he moment s snat ched f r omconf er ences, f r om
cont r act s, f r omt hedut i es of r unni ng t he best st eel mi l l s i n t he count r y,
snat ched al most gui l t i l y, as f or a secr et l ovet he one t hought hel d i mmovabl y
acr oss a span of t en year s, under ever yt hi ng he di d and ever yt hi ng he saw, t he
t hought hel d i n hi s mi ndwhen he l ooked at t he bui l di ngs of a ci t y, at t he
t r ack of a r ai l r oad, at t he l i ght i n t he wi ndows of a di st ant f ar mhouse, at
t he kni f e i n t he handsof a beaut i f ul woman cut t i ng a pi ece of f r ui t at a
banquet , t he t hought of a met al al l oy t hat woul d do mor e t han st eel had ever
done, a met al t hat woul d be t o st eel what st eel had been t o i r ont he act s of
sel f - r acki ng when he di scar ded a hope or a sampl e, not per mi t t i ng hi msel f t o
know t hat he was t i r ed, not gi vi ng hi msel f t i met o f eel , dr i vi ng hi msel f
t hr ough t he wr i ngi ng t or t ur e of : " not good enough . . . st i l l not good enough
. . . " and goi ng on wi t h no mot or save t he convi ct i on t hat i t coul d be done
t hen t he day when i t was done and i t s r esul t was cal l ed Rear den Met al
t hese wer e t he t hi ngs t hat had come t o whi t e heat , had mel t ed and f used
wi t hi n hi m, and t hei r al l oy was a st r ange, qui et f eel i ng t hat made hi msmi l e
at t he count r ysi de i n t he dar kness and wonder why happi ness coul d hur t .
Af t er a whi l e, he r eal i zed t hat he was t hi nki ng of hi s past , as i f cer t ai n
days of i t wer e spr ead bef or e hi m, demandi ng t o be seen agai n. He di d not
want t o l ook at t hem; he despi sed memor i es as a poi nt l ess i ndul gence. But
t hen he under st ood t hat he t hought of t hemt oni ght i n honor of t hat pi ece of
met al i n hi s pocket . Then he per mi t t ed hi msel f t o l ook.
He saw t he day when he st ood on a r ocky l edge and f el t a t hr ead of sweat
r unni ng f r omhi s t empl e down hi s neck. He was f our t een year s ol d and i t was
hi s f i r st day of wor k i n t he i r on mi nes of Mi nnesot a. He was t r yi ng t o l ear n
t o br eat he agai nst t he scal di ng pai n i n hi s chest . He st ood, cur si ng hi msel f ,
because he had made up hi s mi nd t hat he woul d not be t i r ed. Af t er a whi l e, he
went back t o hi s t ask; he deci ded t hat pai n was not a val i d r eason f or
st oppi ng, He saw t he day when he st ood at t he wi ndow of hi s of f i ce and l ooked
at t he mi nes; he owned t hemas of t hat mor ni ng. He was t hi r t y year s ol d. What
had gone on i n t he year s bet ween di d not mat t er , j ust as pai n had not
mat t er ed. He had wor ked i n mi nes, i n f oundr i es, i n t he st eel mi l l s of t he
nor t h, movi ng t owar d t he pur pose he had chosen. Al l he r emember ed of t hose
j obs was t hat t he men ar ound hi mhad never seemed t o know what t o do, whi l e
he had al ways known. He r emember ed wonder i ng why so many i r on mi nes wer e
cl osi ng, j ust as t hese had been about t o cl ose unt i l he t ook t hemover . He
l ooked at t he shel ves of r ock i n t he di st ance. Wor ker s wer e put t i ng up a new
si gn above a gat e at t he end of a r oad: Rear den Or e.
He saw an eveni ng when he sat sl umped acr oss hi s desk i n t hat of f i ce.
I t was l at e and hi s st af f had l ef t ; so he coul d l i e t her e al one,
unwi t nessed. He was t i r ed. I t was as i f he had r un a r ace agai nst hi s own
body, and al l t he exhaust i on of year s, whi ch he had r ef used t o acknowl edge,
had caught hi mat once and f l at t ened hi magai nst t he desk t op. He f el t
not hi ng, except t he desi r e not t o move. He di d not have t he st r engt h t o f eel
not even t o suf f er . He had bur ned ever yt hi ng t her e was t o bur n wi t hi n hi m; he
had scat t er ed so many spar ks t o st ar t so many t hi ngsand he wonder ed whet her
someone coul d gi ve hi mnow t he spar k he needed, now when he f el t unabl e ever
t o r i se agai n. He asked hi msel f who had st ar t ed hi mand kept hi mgoi ng. Then
he r ai sed hi s head.
Sl owl y, wi t h t he gr eat est ef f or t of hi s l i f e, he made hi s body r i se unt i l
he was abl e t o si t upr i ght wi t h onl y one hand pr essed t o t he desk and a
t r embl i ng ar mt o suppor t hi m.
He never asked t hat quest i on agai n. He saw t he day when he st ood on a hi l l
and l ooked at a gr i my wast el and of st r uct ur es t hat had been a st eel pl ant . I t
was cl osed and gi ven up. He had bought i t t he ni ght bef or e. Ther e was a
st r ong wi nd and a gr ay l i ght squeezed f r omamong t he cl ouds. I n t hat l i ght ,
he saw t he br own- r ed of r ust , l i ke dead bl ood, on t he st eel of t he gi ant
cr anesand br i ght , gr een, l i vi ng weeds, l i ke gor ged canni bal s, gr owi ng over
pi l es of br oken gl ass at t he f oot of wal l s made of empt y f r ames. At a gat e i n
t he di st ance, he saw t he bl ack si l houet t es of men. They wer e t he unempl oyed
f r omt he r ot t i ng hovel s of what had once been a pr osper ous t own.
They st ood si l ent l y, l ooki ng at t he gl i t t er i ng car he had l ef t at t he gat e
of t he mi l l s; t hey wonder ed whet her t he man on t he hi l l was t he Hank Rear den
t hat peopl e wer e t al ki ng about , and whet her i t was t r ue t hat t he mi l l s wer e
t o be r eopened. " The hi st or i cal cycl e of st eel - maki ng i n Pennsyl vani a i s
obvi ousl y r unni ng down, " a newspaper had sai d, " and exper t s agr ee t hat Henr y
Rear den' s vent ur e i nt o st eel i s hopel ess. You may soon wi t ness t he
sensat i onal end of t he sensat i onal Henr y Rear den. " That was t en year s ago.
Toni ght , t he col d wi nd on hi s f ace f el t l i ke t he wi nd of t hat day. He t ur ned
t o l ook back. The r ed gl ow of t he mi l l s br eat hed i n t he sky, a si ght as l i f e-
gi vi ng as a sunr i se. These had been hi s st ops, t he st at i ons whi ch an expr ess
had r eached and passed. He r emember ed not hi ng di st i nct of t he year s bet ween
t hem; t he year s wer e bl ur r ed, l i ke a st r eak of speed.
What ever i t was, he t hought , what ever t he st r ai n and t he agony, t hey wer e
wor t h i t , because t hey had made hi mr each t hi s dayt hi s day when t he f i r st
heat of t he f i r st or der of Rear den Met al had been pour ed, t o become r ai l s f or
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
He t ouched t he br acel et i n hi s pocket . He had had i t made f r omt hat f i r st
pour ed met al . I t was f or hi s wi f e. As he t ouched i t , he r eal i zed suddenl y
t hat he had t hought of an abst r act i on cal l ed " hi s wi f e" not of t he woman t o
whomhe was mar r i ed.
He f el t a st ab of r egr et , wi shi ng he had not made t he br acel et , t hen a
wave of sel f - r epr oach f or t he r egr et . He shook hi s head. Thi s was not t he
t i me f or hi s ol d doubt s. He f el t t hat he coul d f or gi ve anyt hi ng t o anyone,
because happi ness was t he gr eat est agent of pur i f i cat i on. He f el t cer t ai n
t hat ever y l i vi ng bei ng wi shed hi mwel l t oni ght . He want ed t o meet someone,
t o f ace t he f i r st st r anger , t o st and di sar med and open, and t o say, " Look at
me. " Peopl e, he t hought , wer e as hungr y f or a si ght of j oy as he had al ways
beenf or a moment ' s r el i ef f r omt hat gr ay l oad of suf f er i ng whi ch seemed so
i nexpl i cabl e and unnecessar y. He had never been abl e t o under st and why men
shoul d be unhappy.
The dar k r oad had r i sen i mper cept i bl y t o t he t op of a hi l l . He st opped and
t ur ned. The r ed gl ow was a nar r ow st r i p, f ar t o t he west . Above i t , smal l at
a di st ance of mi l es, t he wor ds of a neon si gn st ood wr i t t en on t he bl ackness
of t he sky: REARDEN STEEL. He st ood st r ai ght , as i f bef or e a bench of
j udgment . He t hought t hat i n t he dar kness of t hi s ni ght ot her si gns wer e
l i ght ed over t he count r y: Rear den Or eRear den Coal Rear den Li mest one. He
t hought of t he days behi nd hi m. He wi shed i t wer e possi bl e t o l i ght a neon
si gn above t hem, sayi ng: Rear den Li f e.
He t ur ned shar pl y and wal ked on. As t he r oad came cl oser t o hi s house, he
not i ced t hat hi s st eps wer e sl owi ng down and t hat somet hi ng was ebbi ng away
f r omhi s mood. He f el t a di mr el uct ance t o ent er hi s home, whi ch he di d not
want t o f eel . No, he t hought , not t oni ght ; t hey' l l under st and i t , t oni ght .
But he di d not know, he had never def i ned, what i t was t hat he want ed t hemt o
under st and.
He saw l i ght s i n t he wi ndows of t he l i vi ng r oom, when he appr oached hi s
house. The house st ood on a hi l l , r i si ng bef or e hi ml i ke a bi g whi t e bul k; i t
l ooked naked, wi t h a f ew semi - col oni al pi l l ar s f or r el uct ant or nament ; i t had
t he cheer l ess l ook of a nudi t y not wor t h r eveal i ng.
He was not cer t ai n whet her hi s wi f e not i ced hi mwhen he ent er ed t he l i vi ng
r oom. She sat by t he f i r epl ace, t al ki ng, t he cur ve of her ar mf l oat i ng i n
gr acef ul emphasi s of her wor ds. He hear d a smal l br eak i n her voi ce, and
t hought t hat she had seen hi m, but she di d not l ook up and her sent ence went
on smoot hl y; he coul d not be cer t ai n. " but i t ' s j ust t hat a man of cul t ur e
i s bor ed wi t h t he al l eged wonder s of pur el y mat er i al i ngenui t y, " she was
sayi ng. " He si mpl y r ef uses t o get exci t ed about pl umbi ng. "
Then she t ur ned her head, l ooked at Rear den i n t he shadows acr oss t he l ong
r oom, and her ar ms spr ead gr acef ul l y, l i ke t wo swan necks by her si des.
" Why, dar l i ng, " she sai d i n a br i ght t one of amusement , " i sn' t i t t oo
ear l y t o come home? Wasn' t t her e some sl ag t o sweep or t uyer es t o pol i sh?"
They al l t ur ned t o hi mhi s mot her , hi s br ot her Phi l i p and Paul Lar ki n,
t hei r ol d f r i end.
" I ' msor r y, " he answer ed. " I know I ' ml at e. "
" Don' t say you' r e sor r y, " sai d hi s mot her . " You coul d have t el ephoned. " He
l ooked at her , t r yi ng vaguel y t o r emember somet hi ng.
" You pr omi sed t o be her e f or di nner t oni ght . "
" Oh, t hat ' s r i ght , I di d. I ' msor r y. But t oday at t he mi l l s, we pour ed"
He st opped; he di d not know what made hi munabl e t o ut t er t he one t hi ng he
had come home t o say; he added onl y, " I t ' s j ust t hat I . . . f or got . "
" That ' s what Mot her means, " sai d Phi l i p.
" Oh, l et hi mget hi s bear i ngs, he' s not qui t e her e yet , he' s st i l l at t he
mi l l s, " hi s wi f e sai d gai l y. " Do t ake your coat of f , Henr y. "
Paul Lar ki n was l ooki ng at hi mwi t h t he devot ed eyes of an i nhi bi t ed dog.
" Hel l o, Paul , " sai d Rear den. " When di d you get i n?"
" Oh, I j ust hopped down on t he f i ve t hi r t y- f i ve f r omNew Yor k. " Lar ki n was
smi l i ng i n gr at i t ude f or t he at t ent i on.
" Tr oubl e?"
" Who hasn' t got t r oubl e t hese days?" Lar ki n' s smi l e became r esi gned, t o
i ndi cat e t hat t he r emar k was mer el y phi l osophi cal . " But no, no speci al
t r oubl e t hi s t i me. I j ust t hought I ' d dr op i n t o see you. "
Hi s wi f e l aughed. " You' ve di sappoi nt ed hi m, Paul . " She t ur ned t o Rear den.
" I s i t an i nf er i or i t y compl ex or a super i or i t y one, Henr y? Do you bel i eve
t hat nobody can want t o see you j ust f or your own sake, or do you bel i eve
t hat nobody can get al ong wi t hout your hel p?
He want ed t o ut t er an angr y deni al , but she was smi l i ng at hi mas i f t hi s
wer e mer el y a conver sat i onal j oke, and he had no capaci t y f or t he sor t of
conver sat i ons whi ch wer e not supposed t o be meant , so he di d not answer . He
st ood l ooki ng at her , wonder i ng about t he t hi ngs he had never been abl e t o
under st and.
Li l l i an Rear den was gener al l y r egar ded as a beaut i f ul woman. She had a
t al l , gr acef ul body, t he ki nd t hat l ooked wel l i n hi gh- wai st ed gowns of t he
Empi r e st yl e, whi ch she made i t a pr act i ce t o wear . Her exqui si t e pr of i l e
bel onged t o a cameo of t he same per i od: i t s pur e, pr oud l i nes and t he
l ust r ous, l i ght br own waves of her hai r , wor n wi t h cl assi cal si mpl i ci t y,
suggest ed an aust er e, i mper i al beaut y. But when she t ur ned f ul l - f ace, peopl e
exper i enced a smal l shock of di sappoi nt ment .
Her f ace was not beaut i f ul . The eyes wer e t he f l aw: t hey wer e vaguel y
pal e, nei t her qui t e gr ay nor br own, l i f el essl y empt y of expr essi on. Rear den
had al ways wonder ed, si nce she seemed amused so of t en, why t her e was no
gai et y i n her f ace.
" We have met bef or e, dear , " she sai d, i n answer t o hi s si l ent scr ut i ny,
" t hough you don' t seemt o be sur e of i t . "
" Have you had any di nner , Henr y?" hi s mot her asked; t her e was a
r epr oachf ul i mpat i ence i n her voi ce, as i f hi s hunger wer e a per sonal i nsul t
t o her .
" Yes . . . No . . . I wasn' t hungr y. "
" I ' d bet t er r i ng t o have t hem"
" No, Mot her , not now, i t doesn' t mat t er . "
" That ' s t he t r oubl e I ' ve al ways had wi t h you. " She was not l ooki ng at hi m,
but r eci t i ng wor ds i nt o space. " I t ' s no use t r yi ng t o do t hi ngs f or you, you
don' t appr eci at e i t . I coul d never make you eat pr oper l y. "
" Henr y, you wor k t oo har d, " sai d Phi l i p. " I t ' s not good f or you. "
Rear den l aughed. " I l i ke i t . "
" That ' s what you t el l your sel f . I t ' s a f or mof neur osi s, you know. When a
man dr owns hi msel f i n wor k, i t ' s because he' s t r yi ng t o escape f r om
somet hi ng. You ought t o have a hobby. "
" Oh, Phi l , f or Chr i st ' s sake! " he sai d, and r egr et t ed t he i r r i t at i on i n
hi s voi ce.
Phi l i p had al ways been i n pr ecar i ous heal t h, t hough doct or s had f ound no
speci f i c def ect i n hi s l oose, gangl i ng body. He was t hi r t y- ei ght , but hi s
chr oni c wear i ness made peopl e t hi nk at t i mes t hat he was ol der t han hi s
br ot her .
" You ought t o l ear n t o have some f un, " sai d Phi l i p. " Ot her wi se, you' l l
become dul l and nar r ow. Si ngl e- t r acked, you know. You ought t o get out of
your l i t t l e pr i vat e shel l and t ake a l ook at t he wor l d. You don' t want t o
mi ss l i f e, t he way you' r e doi ng. "
Fi ght i ng anger , Rear den t ol d hi msel f t hat t hi s was Phi l i p' s f or mof
sol i ci t ude. He t ol d hi msel f t hat i t woul d be unj ust t o f eel r esent ment : t hey
wer e al l t r yi ng t o show t hei r concer n f or hi mand he wi shed t hese wer e not
t he t hi ngs t hey had chosen f or concer n.
" I had a pr et t y good t i me t oday, Phi l , " he answer ed, smi l i ngand wonder ed
why Phi l i p di d not ask hi mwhat i t was.
He wi shed one of t hemwoul d ask hi m. He was f i ndi ng i t har d t o
concent r at e. The si ght of t he r unni ng met al was st i l l bur ned i nt o hi s mi nd,
f i l l i ng hi s consci ousness, l eavi ng no r oomf or anyt hi ng el se.
" You mi ght have apol ogi zed, onl y I ought t o know bet t er t han t o expect
i t . " I t was hi s mot her ' s voi ce; he t ur ned: she was l ooki ng at hi mwi t h t hat
i nj ur ed l ook whi ch pr ocl ai ms t he l ong- bear i ng pat i ence of t he def ensel ess.
" Mr s. Beechamwas her e f or di nner , " she sai d r epr oachf ul l y.
" What ?"
" Mr s. Beecham. My f r i end Mr s. Beecham. "
" Yes?"
" I t ol d you about her , I t ol d you many t i mes, but you never r emember
anyt hi ng I say. Mr s. Beechamwas so anxi ous t o meet you, but she had t o l eave
af t er di nner , she coul dn' t wai t , Mr s. Beechami s a ver y busy per son. She
want ed so much t o t el l you about t he wonder f ul wor k we' r e doi ng i n our par i sh
school , and about t he cl asses i n met al cr af t smanshi p, and about t he beaut i f ul
wr ought - i r on door knobs t hat t he l i t t l e sl umchi l dr en ar e maki ng al l by
t hemsel ves. "
I t t ook t he whol e of hi s sense of consi der at i on t o f or ce hi msel f t o answer
evenl y, " I ' msor r y i f I di sappoi nt ed you, Mot her . "
" You' r e not sor r y. You coul d' ve been her e i f you' d made t he ef f or t . But
when di d you ever make an ef f or t f or anybody but your sel f ? You' r e not
i nt er est ed i n any of us or i n anyt hi ng we do. You t hi nk t hat i f you pay t he
bi l l s, t hat ' s enough, don' t you? Money! That ' s al l you know. And al l you gi ve
us i s money. Have you ever gi ven us any t i me?"
I f t hi s meant t hat she mi ssed hi m, he t hought , t hen i t meant af f ect i on,
and i f i t meant af f ect i on, t hen he was unj ust t o exper i ence a heavy, mur ky
f eel i ng whi ch kept hi msi l ent l est hi s voi ce bet r ay t hat t he f eel i ng was
di sgust .
" You don' t car e, " her voi ce went hal f - spi t t i ng, hal f - beggi ng on. " Li l l i an
needed you t oday f or a ver y i mpor t ant pr obl em, but I t ol d her i t was no use
wai t i ng t o di scuss i t wi t h you. "
" Oh, Mot her , i t ' s not i mpor t ant ! " sai d Li l l i an. " Not t o Henr y. "
He t ur ned t o her . He st ood i n t he mi ddl e of t he r oom, wi t h hi s t r enchcoat
st i l l on, as i f he wer e t r apped i n an unr eal i t y t hat woul d not become r eal t o
hi m.
" I t ' s not i mpor t ant at al l , " sai d Li l l i an gai l y; he coul d not t el l whet her
her voi ce was apol oget i c or boast f ul . " I t ' s not busi ness. I t ' s pur el y non-
commer ci al . "
" What i s i t ?"
" J ust a par t y I ' mpl anni ng t o gi ve. "
" A par t y?"
" Oh, don' t l ook f r i ght ened, i t ' s not f or t omor r ow ni ght . I know t hat
you' r e so ver y busy, but i t ' s f or t hr ee mont hs f r omnow and I want i t t o be a
ver y bi g, ver y speci al af f ai r , so woul d you pr omi se me t o be her e t hat ni ght
and not i n Mi nnesot a or Col or ado or Cal i f or ni a?"
She was l ooki ng at hi mi n an odd manner , speaki ng t oo l i ght l y and t oo
pur posef ul l y at once, her smi l e over st r essi ng an ai r of i nnocence and
suggest i ng somet hi ng l i ke a hi dden t r ump car d.
" Thr ee mont hs f r omnow?" he sai d. " But you know t hat I can' t t el l what
ur gent busi ness mi ght come up t o cal l me out of t own. "
" Oh, I know! But coul dn' t I make a f or mal appoi nt ment wi t h you, way i n
advance, j ust l i ke any r ai l r oad execut i ve, aut omobi l e manuf act ur er or j unkI
mean, scr apdeal er ? They say you never mi ss an appoi nt ment . Of cour se, I ' d
l et you pi ck t he dat e t o sui t your conveni ence. " She was l ooki ng up at hi m,
her gl ance acqui r i ng some speci al qual i t y of f emi ni ne appeal by bei ng sent
f r omunder her l ower ed f or ehead up t owar d hi s f ul l hei ght ; she asked, a
l i t t l e t oo casual l y and t oo caut i ousl y, " The dat e I had i n mi nd was December
t ent h, but woul d you pr ef er t he ni nt h or t he el event h?"
" I t makes no di f f er ence t o me. "
She sai d gent l y, " December t ent h i s our weddi ng anni ver sar y, Henr y. "
They wer e al l wat chi ng hi s f ace; i f t hey expect ed a l ook of gui l t , what
t hey saw, i nst ead, was a f ai nt smi l e of amusement . She coul d not have
i nt ended t hi s as a t r ap, he t hought , because he coul d escape i t so easi l y, by
r ef usi ng t o accept any bl ame f or hi s f or get f ul ness and by l eavi ng her
spur ned; she knew t hat hi s f eel i ng f or her was her onl y weapon. Her mot i ve,
he t hought , was a pr oudl y i ndi r ect at t empt t o t est hi s f eel i ng and t o conf ess
her own. A par t y was not hi s f or mof cel ebr at i on, but i t was her s. I t meant
not hi ng i n hi s t er ms; i n her s, i t meant t he best t r i but e she coul d of f er t o
hi mand t o t hei r mar r i age. He had t o r espect her i nt ent i on, he t hought , even
i f he di d not shar e her st andar ds, even i f he di d not know whet her he st i l l
car ed f or any t r i but e f r omher . He had t o l et her wi n, he t hought , because
she had t hr own her sel f upon hi s mer cy. He smi l ed, an open, unr esent f ul smi l e
i n acknowl edgment of her vi ct or y. " Al l r i ght , Li l l i an, " he sai d qui et l y, " I
pr omi se t o be her e on t he ni ght of December t ent h. "
" Thank you, dear . " Her smi l e had a cl osed, myst er i ous qual i t y; he wonder ed
why he had a moment ' s i mpr essi on t hat hi s at t i t ude had di sappoi nt ed t hemal l .
I f she t r ust ed hi m, he t hought , i f her f eel i ng f or hi mwas st i l l al i ve,
t hen he woul d mat ch her t r ust . He had t o say i t ; wor ds wer e a l ens t o f ocus
one' s mi nd, and he coul d not use wor ds f or anyt hi ng el se t oni ght . " I ' msor r y
I ' ml at e, Li l l i an, but t oday at t he mi l l s we pour ed t he f i r st heat of Rear den
Met al . "
Ther e was a moment of si l ence. Then Phi l i p sai d, " Wel l , t hat ' s ni ce. "
The ot her s sai d not hi ng.
He put hi s hand i n hi s pocket . When he t ouched i t , t he r eal i t y of t he
br acel et swept out ever yt hi ng el se; he f el t as he had f el t when t he l i qui d
met al had pour ed t hr ough space bef or e hi m.
" I br ought you a pr esent , Li l l i an. "
He di d not know t hat he st ood st r ai ght and t hat t he gest ur e of hi s ar mwas
t hat of a r et ur ni ng cr usader of f er i ng hi s t r ophy t o hi s l ove, when he dr opped
a smal l chai n of met al i nt o her l ap.
Li l l i an Rear den pi cked i t up, hooked on t he t i ps of t wo st r ai ght f i nger s,
and r ai sed i t t o t he l i ght . The l i nks wer e heavy, cr udel y made, t he shi ni ng
met al had an odd t i nge, i t was gr eeni sh- bl ue.
" What ' s t hat ?" she asked.
" The f i r st t hi ng made f r omt he f i r st heat of t he f i r st or der of Rear den
Met al . "
" You mean, " she sai d, " i t ' s f ul l y as val uabl e as a pi ece of r ai l r oad
r ai l s?"
He l ooked at her bl ankl y.
She j i ngl ed t he br acel et , maki ng i t spar kl e under t he l i ght . " Henr y, i t ' s
per f ect l y wonder f ul ! What or i gi nal i t y! I shal l be t he sensat i on of New Yor k,
wear i ng j ewel r y made of t he same st uf f as br i dge gi r der s, t r uck mot or s,
ki t chen st oves, t ypewr i t er s, andwhat was i t you wer e sayi ng about i t t he
ot her day, dar l i ng?soup ket t l es?"
" God, Henr y, but you' r e concei t ed! " sai d Phi l i p.
Li l l i an l aughed. " He' s a sent i ment al i st . Al l men ar e. But , dar l i ng, I do
appr eci at e i t . I t i sn' t t he gi f t , i t ' s t he i nt ent i on, I know. "
" The i nt ent i on' s pl ai n sel f i shness, i f you ask me, " sai d Rear den' s mot her .
" Anot her man woul d br i ng a di amond br acel et , i f he want ed t o gi ve hi s wi f e a
pr esent , because i t ' s' her pl easur e he' d t hi nk of , not hi s own. But Henr y
t hi nks t hat j ust because he' s made a new ki nd of t i n, why, i t ' s got t o be
mor e pr eci ous t han di amonds t o ever ybody, j ust because i t ' s he t hat ' s made
i t . That ' s t he way he' s been si nce he was f i ve year s ol dt he most concei t ed
br at you ever sawand I knew he' d gr ow up t o be t he most sel f i sh cr eat ur e on
God' s ear t h. "
" No, i t ' s sweet , " sai d Li l l i an. " I t ' s char mi ng. " She dr opped t he br acel et
down on t he t abl e. She got up, put her hands on Rear den' s shoul der s, and
r ai si ng her sel f on t i pt oe, ki ssed hi mon t he cheek, sayi ng, " Thank you,
dear . "
He di d not move, di d not bend hi s head down t o her . Af t er a whi l e, he
t ur ned, t ook of f hi s coat and sat down by t he f i r e, apar t f r omt he ot her s. He
f el t not hi ng but an i mmense exhaust i on.
He di d not l i st en t o t hei r t al k. He hear d di ml y t hat Li l l i an was ar gui ng,
def endi ng hi magai nst hi s mot her .
" I know hi mbet t er t han you do, " hi s mot her was sayi ng. " Hank Rear den' s
not i nt er est ed i n man, beast or weed unl ess i t ' s t i ed i n some way t o hi msel f
and hi s wor k. That ' s al l he car es about . I ' ve t r i ed my best t o t each hi msome
humi l i t y, I ' ve t r i ed al l my l i f e, but I ' ve f ai l ed. "
He had of f er ed hi s mot her unl i mi t ed means t o l i ve as and wher e she
pl eased; he wonder ed why she had i nsi st ed t hat she want ed t o l i ve wi t h hi m.
Hi s success, he had t hought , meant somet hi ng t o her , and i f i t di d, t hen i t
was a bond bet ween t hem, t he onl y ki nd of bond he r ecogni zed; i f she want ed a
pl ace i n t he home of her successf ul son, he woul d not deny i t t o her .
" I t ' s no use hopi ng t o make a sai nt out of Henr y, Mot her , " sai d Phi l i p.
" He wasn' t meant t o be one. "
" Oh but , Phi l i p, you' r e wr ong! " sai d Li l l i an. " You' r e so wr ong! Henr y has
al l t he maki ngs of a sai nt . That ' s t he t r oubl e. " What di d t hey seek f r om
hi m?t hought Rear denwhat wer e t hey af t er ? He had never asked anyt hi ng of
t hem; i t was t hey who wi shed t o hol d hi m, t hey who pr essed a cl ai mon hi mand
t he cl ai mseemed t o have t he f or mof af f ect i on, but i t was a f or mwhi ch he
f ound har der t o endur e t han any sor t of hat r ed. He despi sed causel ess
af f ect i on, j ust as he despi sed unear ned weal t h. They pr of essed t o l ove hi m
f or some unknown r eason and t hey i gnor ed al l t he t hi ngs f or whi ch he coul d
wi sh t o be l oved. He wonder ed what r esponse t hey coul d hope t o obt ai n f r om
hi mi n such manner i f hi s r esponse was what t hey want ed.
And i t was, he t hought ; el se why t hose const ant compl ai nt s, t hose
unceasi ng accusat i ons about hi s i ndi f f er ence? Why t hat chr oni c ai r of
suspi ci on, as i f t hey wer e wai t i ng t o be hur t ? He had never had a desi r e t o
hur t t hem, but he had al ways f el t t hei r def ensi ve, r epr oachf ul expect at i on;
t hey seemed wounded by anyt hi ng he sai d, i t was not a mat t er of hi s wor ds or
act i ons, i t was al most . . . al most as i f t hey wer e Wounded by t he mer e f act
of hi s bei ng. Don' t st ar t i magi ni ng t he i nsane he t ol d hi msel f sever el y,
st r uggl i ng t o f ace t he r i ddl e wi t h t he st r i ct est of hi s r ut hl ess sense of
j ust i ce. He coul d not condemn t hemwi t hout under st andi ng; and he coul d not
under st and.
Di d he l i ke t hem? No, he t hought ; he had want ed t o l i ke t hem, whi ch was
not t he same. He had want ed i t i n t he name of some unst at ed pot ent i al i t y
whi ch he had once expect ed t o see i n any human bei ng. He f el t not hi ng f or
t hemnow, not hi ng but t he mer ci l ess zer o of i ndi f f er ence, not even t he r egr et
of a l oss. Di d he need any per son as par t of hi s l i f e? Di d he mi ss t he
f eel i ng he had want ed t o f eel ? No, he t hought . Had he ever mi ssed i t ? Yes, he
t hought , i n hi s yout h; not any l onger .
Hi s sense of exhaust i on was gr owi ng; he r eal i zed t hat i t was bor edom.
He owed t hemt he cour t esy of hi di ng i t , he t hought and sat mot i onl ess,
f i ght i ng a desi r e f or sl eep t hat was t ur ni ng i nt o physi cal pai n.
Hi s eyes wer e cl osi ng, when he f el t t wo sof t , moi st f i nger s t ouchi ng hi s
hand: Paul Lar ki n had pul l ed a chai r t o hi s si de and was l eani ng over f or a
pr i vat e conver sat i on.
" I don' t car e what t he i ndust r y says about i t , Hank, you' ve got a gr eat
pr oduct i n Rear den Met al , a gr eat pr oduct , i t wi l l make a f or t une, l i ke
ever yt hi ng you t ouch. "
" Yes, " sai d Rear den, " i t wi l l . "
" I j ust . . . I j ust hope you don' t r un i nt o t r oubl e. "
" What t r oubl e?"
" Oh, I don' t know . . . t he way t hi ngs ar e nowadays . . . t her e' s peopl e,
who . . . but how can we t el l ? . . . anyt hi ng can happen. . . . "
" What t r oubl e?"
Lar ki n sat hunched, l ooki ng up wi t h hi s gent l e, pl eadi ng eyes. Hi s shor t ,
pl umpi sh f i gur e al ways seemed unpr ot ect ed and i ncompl et e, as i f he needed a
shel l t o shr i nk i nt o at t he sl i ght est t ouch. Hi s wi st f ul eyes, hi s l ost ,
hel pl ess, appeal i ng smi l e ser ved as subst i t ut e f or t he shel l . The smi l e was
di sar mi ng, l i ke t hat of a boy who t hr ows hi msel f at t he mer cy of an
i ncompr ehensi bl e uni ver se. He was f i f t y- t hr ee year s ol d.
" Your publ i c r el at i ons ar en' t any t oo good, Hank, " he sai d. " You' ve al ways
had a bad pr ess. "
" So what ?"
" You' r e not popul ar , Hank. "
" I haven' t hear d any compl ai nt s f r ommy cust omer s. "
" That ' s not what I mean. You ought t o hi r e your sel f a good pr ess agent t o
sel l you t o t he publ i c, "
" What f or ? I t ' s st eel t hat I ' msel l i ng. "
" But you don' t want t o have t he publ i c agai nst you. Publ i c opi ni on, you
knowi t can mean a l ot . "
" I don' t t hi nk t he publ i c' s agai nst me. And I don' t t hi nk t hat i t means a
damn, one way or anot her , "
" The newspaper s ar e agai nst you. "
" They have t i me t o wast e. I haven' t . "
" I don' t l i ke i t , Hank. I t ' s not good. "
" What ?"
" What t hey wr i t e about you. "
" What do t hey wr i t e about me?"
" Wel l , you know t he st uf f . That you' r e i nt r act abl e. That you' r e r ut hl ess.
That you won' t al l ow anyone any voi ce i n t he r unni ng of your mi l l s.
That your onl y goal i s t o make st eel and t o make money. "
" But t hat i s my onl y goal . "
" But you shoul dn' t say i t . "
" Why not ? What i s i t I ' msupposed t o say?"
" Oh, I don' t know . . . But your mi l l s"
" They' r e my mi l l s, ar en' t t hey?"
" Yes, but but you shoul dn' t r emi nd peopl e of t hat t oo l oudl y. . . .
You know how i t i s nowadays. . . . They t hi nk t hat your at t i t ude i s ant i -
soci al . "
" I don' t gi ve a damn what t hey t hi nk, "
Paul Lar ki n si ghed.
" What ' s t he mat t er , Paul ? What ar e you dr i vi ng at ?"
" Not hi ng . . . not hi ng i n par t i cul ar . Onl y one never knows what can happen
i n t i mes l i ke t hese. . . . One has t o be so car ef ul . . . "
Rear den chuckl ed. " You' r e not t r yi ng t o wor r y about me, ar e you?"
" I t ' s j ust t hat I ' myour f r i end, Hank. I ' myour f r i end. You know how much
I admi r e you. "
Paul Lar ki n had al ways been unl ucky. Not hi ng he t ouched ever came of f
qui t e wel l , not hi ng ever qui t e f ai l ed or succeeded. He was a busi nessman, but
he coul d not manage t o r emai n f or l ong i n any one l i ne of busi ness. At t he
moment , he was st r uggl i ng wi t h a modest pl ant t hat manuf act ur ed mi ni ng
equi pment .
He had cl ung t o Rear den f or year s, i n awed admi r at i on. He came f or advi ce,
he asked f or l oans at t i mes, but not of t en; t he l oans wer e modest and wer e
al ways r epai d, t hough not al ways on t i me. Hi s mot i ve i n t he r el at i onshi p
seemed t o r esembl e t he need of an anemi c per son who r ecei ves a ki nd of l i vi ng
t r ansf usi on f r omt he mer e si ght of a savagel y over abundant vi t al i t y.
Wat chi ng Lar ki n' s ef f or t s, Rear den f el t what he di d when he wat ched an ant
st r uggl i ng under t he l oad of a mat chst i ck. I t ' s so har d f or hi m, t hought
Rear den, and so easy f or me. So he gave advi ce, at t ent i on and a t act f ul ,
pat i ent i nt er est , whenever he coul d.
" I ' myour f r i end, Hank. "
Rear den l ooked at hi mi nqui r i ngl y.
Lar ki n gl anced away, as i f debat i ng somet hi ng i n hi s mi nd. Af t er a whi l e,
he asked caut i ousl y, " How i s your man i n Washi ngt on?"
" Okay, I guess. "
" You ought t o be sur e of i t . I t ' s i mpor t ant . " He l ooked up at Rear den, and
r epeat ed wi t h a ki nd of st r essed i nsi st ence, as i f di schar gi ng a pai nf ul
mor al dut y, " Hank, i t ' s ver y i mpor t ant . "
" I suppose so. "
" I n f act , t hat ' s what I came her e t o t el l you. "
" For any speci al r eason?"
Lar ki n consi der ed i t and deci ded t hat t he dut y was di schar ged. " No, "
he sai d.
Rear den di sl i ked t he subj ect . He knew t hat i t was necessar y t o have a man
t o pr ot ect hi mf r omt he l egi sl at ur e; al l i ndust r i al i st s had t o empl oy such
men. But he had never gi ven much at t ent i on t o t hi s aspect of hi s busi ness; he
coul d not qui t e convi nce hi msel f t hat i t was necessar y.
An i nexpl i cabl e ki nd of di st ast e, par t f ast i di ousness, par t bor edom,
st opped hi mwhenever he t r i ed t o consi der i t .
" Tr oubl e i s, Paul , " he sai d, t hi nki ng al oud, " t hat t he men one has t o pi ck
f or t hat j ob ar e such a cr ummy l ot , "
Lar ki n l ooked away. " That ' s l i f e, " he sai d.
" Damned i f I see why. Can you t el l me t hat ? What ' s wr ong wi t h t he wor l d?"
Lar ki n shr ugged sadl y. " Why ask usel ess quest i ons? How deep i s t he ocean?
How hi gh i s t he sky? Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
Rear den sat up st r ai ght . " No, " he sai d shar pl y. " No. Ther e' s no r eason t o
f eel t hat way. "
He got up. Hi s exhaust i on had gone whi l e he t al ked about hi s busi ness. He
f el t a sudden spur t of r ebel l i on, a need t o r ecapt ur e and def i ant l y t o
r easser t hi s own vi ew of exi st ence, t hat sense of i t whi ch he had hel d whi l e
wal ki ng home t oni ght and whi ch now seemed t hr eat ened i n some namel ess manner .
He paced t he r oom, hi s ener gy r et ur ni ng. He l ooked at hi s f ami l y.
They wer e bewi l der ed, unhappy chi l dr enhe t hought al l of t hem, even hi s
mot her , and he was f ool i sh t o r esent t hei r i nept i t ude; i t came f r omt hei r
hel pl essness, not f r ommal i ce. I t was he who had t o make hi msel f l ear n t o
under st and t hem, si nce he had so much t o gi ve, si nce t hey coul d never shar e
hi s sense of j oyous, boundl ess power .
He gl anced at t hemf r omacr oss t he r oom. Hi s mot her and Phi l i p wer e
engaged i n some eager di scussi on; but he not ed t hat t hey wer e not r eal l y
eager , t hey wer e ner vous. Phi l i p sat i n a l ow chai r , hi s st omach f or war d, hi s
wei ght on hi s shoul der bl ades, as i f t he mi ser abl e di scomf or t of hi s posi t i on
wer e i nt ended t o puni sh t he onl ooker s.
" What ' s t he mat t er , Phi l ?" Rear den asked, appr oachi ng hi m. " You l ook done
i n. "
" I ' ve had a har d day, " sai d Phi l i p sul l enl y.
" You' r e not t he onl y one who wor ks har d, " sai d hi s mot her . " Ot her s have
pr obl ems, t ooeven i f t hey' r e not bi l l i on- dol l ar , t r ans- super - cont i nent al
pr obl ems l i ke your s. "
" Why, t hat ' s good. I al ways t hought t hat Phi l shoul d f i nd some i nt er est of
hi s own. "
" Good? You mean you l i ke t o see your br ot her sweat i ng hi s heal t h away? I t
amuses you, doesn' t i t ? I al ways t hought i t di d. "
" Why, no, Mot her . I ' d l i ke t o hel p. "
" You don' t have t o hel p. You don' t have t o f eel anyt hi ng f or any of us. "
Rear den had never known what hi s br ot her was doi ng or wi shed t o do. He had
sent Phi l i p t hr ough col l ege, but Phi l i p had not been abl e t o deci de on any
speci f i c ambi t i on. Ther e was somet hi ng wr ong, by Rear den' s st andar ds, wi t h a
man who di d not seek any gai nf ul empl oyment , but he woul d not i mpose hi s
st andar ds on Phi l i p; he coul d af f or d t o suppor t hi s br ot her and never not i ce
t he expense. Let hi mt ake i t easy, Rear den had t hought f or year s, l et hi m
have a chance t o choose hi s car eer wi t hout t he st r ai n of st r uggl i ng f or a
l i vel i hood.
" What wer e you doi ng t oday, Phi l ?" he asked pat i ent l y.
" I t woul dn' t i nt er est you. "
" I t does i nt er est me. That ' s why I ' maski ng. "
" I had t o see t went y di f f er ent peopl e al l over t he pl ace, f r omher e t o
Reddi ng t o Wi l mi ngt on. "
" What di d you have t o see t hemabout ?"
" I amt r yi ng t o r ai se money f or Fr i ends of Gl obal Pr ogr ess. "
Rear den had never been abl e t o keep t r ack of t he many or gani zat i ons t o
whi ch Phi l i p bel onged, nor t o get a cl ear i dea of t hei r act i vi t i es. He had
hear d Phi l i p t al ki ng vaguel y about t hi s one f or t he l ast si x mont hs.
I t seemed t o be devot ed t o some sor t of f r ee l ect ur es on psychol ogy, f ol k
musi c and co- oper at i ve f ar mi ng. Rear den f el t cont empt f or gr oups of t hat ki nd
and saw no r eason f or a cl oser i nqui r y i nt o t hei r nat ur e.
He r emai ned si l ent . Phi l i p added wi t hout bei ng pr ompt ed, " We need t en
t housand dol l ar s f or a vi t al pr ogr am, but i t ' s a mar t yr ' s t ask, t r yi ng t o
r ai se money. Ther e' s not a speck of soci al consci ence l ef t i n peopl e.
When I t hi nk of t he ki nd of bl oat ed money- bags I saw t odaywhy, t hey spend
mor e t han t hat on any whi m, but I coul dn' t squeeze j ust a hundr ed bucks a
pi ece out of t hem, whi ch was al l I asked. They have no sense of mor al dut y,
no . . . What ar e you l aughi ng at ?" he asked shar pl y. Rear den st ood bef or e
hi m, gr i nni ng.
I t was so chi l di shl y bl at ant , t hought Rear den, so hel pl essl y cr ude: t he
hi nt and t he i nsul t , of f er ed t oget her . I t woul d be so easy t o squash Phi l i p
by r et ur ni ng t he i nsul t , he t hought by r et ur ni ng an i nsul t whi ch woul d be
deadl y because i t woul d be t r uet hat he coul d not br i ng hi msel f t o ut t er i t .
Sur el y, he t hought , t he poor f ool knows he' s at my mer cy, knows he' s opened
hi msel f t o be hur t , so I don' t have t o do i t , and my not doi ng i t i s my best
answer , whi ch he won' t be abl e t o mi ss.
What sor t of mi ser y does he r eal l y l i ve i n, t o get hi msel f t wi st ed qui t e
so badl y?
And t hen Rear den t hought suddenl y t hat he coul d br eak t hr ough Phi l i p' s
chr oni c wr et chedness f or once, gi ve hi ma shock of pl easur e, t he unexpect ed
gr at i f i cat i on of a hopel ess desi r e. He t hought : What do I car e about t he
nat ur e of hi s desi r e?i t ' s hi s, j ust as Rear den Met al was mi nei t must mean
t o hi mwhat t hat meant t o mel et ' s see hi mhappy j ust once, i t mi ght t each
hi msomet hi ngdi dn' t I say t hat happi ness i s t he agent of pur i f i cat i on?I ' m
cel ebr at i ng t oni ght , so l et hi mshar e i n i t i t wi l l be so much f or hi m, and
so l i t t l e f or me.
" Phi l i p, " he sai d, smi l i ng, " cal l Mi ss I ves at my of f i ce t omor r ow.
She' l l have a check f or you f or t en t housand dol l ar s. "
Phi l i p st ar ed at hi mbl ankl y; i t was nei t her shock nor pl easur e; i t was
j ust t he empt y st ar e of eyes t hat l ooked gl assy.
" Oh, " sai d Phi l i p, t hen added, " We' l l appr eci at e i t ver y much. "
Ther e was no emot i on i n hi s voi ce, not even t he si mpl e one of gr eed.
Rear den coul d not under st and hi s own f eel i ng: i t was as i f somet hi ng
l eaden and empt y wer e col l apsi ng wi t hi n hi m, he f el t bot h t he wei ght and t he
empt i ness, t oget her . He knew i t was di sappoi nt ment , but he wonder ed why i t
was so gr ay and ugl y.
" I t ' s ver y ni ce of you, Henr y, " Phi l i p sai d dr yl y. " I ' msur pr i sed. I
di dn' t expect i t of you. "
" Don' t you under st and i t , Phi l ?" sai d Li l l i an, her voi ce pecul i ar l y cl ear
and l i l t i ng. " Henr y' s pour ed hi s met al t oday. " She t ur ned t o Rear den. " Shal l
we decl ar e i t a nat i onal hol i day, dar l i ng?"
" You' r e a good man, Henr y, " sai d hi s mot her , and added, " but not of t en
enough. "
Rear den st ood l ooki ng at Phi l i p, as i f wai t i ng.
Phi l i p l ooked away, t hen r ai sed hi s eyes and hel d Rear den' s gl ance, as i f
engaged i n a scr ut i ny of hi s own.
" You don' t r eal l y car e about hel pi ng t he under pr i vi l eged, do you?"
Phi l i p askedand Rear den hear d, unabl e t o bel i eve i t , t hat t he t one of hi s
voi ce was r epr oachf ul .
" No, Phi l , I don' t car e about i t at al l . I onl y want ed you t o be happy. "
" But t hat money i s not f or me. I amnot col l ect i ng i t f or any per sonal
mot i ve. I have no sel f i sh i nt er est i n t he mat t er what ever . " Hi s voi ce was
col d, wi t h a not e of sel f - consci ous vi r t ue.
Rear den t ur ned away. He f el t a sudden l oat hi ng: not because t he wor ds wer e
hypocr i sy, but because t hey wer e t r ue; Phi l i p meant t hem.
" By t he way, Henr y, " Phi l i p added, " do you mi nd i f I ask you t o have Mi ss
I ves gi ve me t he money i n cash?" Rear den t ur ned back t o hi m, puzzl ed. " You
see, Fr i ends of Gl obal Pr ogr ess ar e a ver y pr ogr essi ve gr oup and t hey have
al ways mai nt ai ned t hat you r epr esent t he bl ackest el ement of soci al
r et r ogr essi on ha t he count r y, so i t woul d embar r ass us, you know, t o have
your name on our l i st of cont r i but or s, because somebody mi ght accuse us of
bei ng i n t he pay of Hank Rear den. "
He want ed t o sl ap Phi l i p' s f ace. But an al most unendur abl e cont empt made
hi mcl ose hi s eyes, i nst ead.
" Al l r i ght , " he sai d qui et l y, " you can have i t i n cash. "
He wal ked away, t o t he f ar t hest wi ndow of t he r oom, and st ood l ooki ng at
t he gl ow of t he mi l l s i n t he di st ance.
He hear d Lar ki n' s voi ce cr yi ng af t er hi m, " Damn i t , Hank, you shoul dn' t
have gi ven i t t o hi m! "
Then Li l l i an' s voi ce came, col d and gay: " But you' r e wr ong, Paul , you' r e
so wr ong! What woul d happen t o Henr y' s vani t y i f he di dn' t have us t o t hr ow
al ms t o? What woul d become of hi s st r engt h i f he di dn' t have weaker peopl e t o
domi nat e? What woul d he do wi t h hi msel f i f he di dn' t keep us ar ound as
dependent s? I t ' s qui t e al l r i ght , r eal l y, I ' mnot cr i t i ci zi ng hi m, i t ' s j ust
a l aw of human nat ur e. "
She t ook t he met al br acel et and hel d i t up, l et t i ng i t gl i t t er i n t he
l ampl i ght .
" A chai n, " she sai d. " Appr opr i at e, i sn' t i t ? I t ' s t he chai n by whi ch he
hol ds us al l i n bondage. "

CHAPTER III
THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM

The cei l i ng was t hat of a cel l ar , so heavy and l ow t hat peopl e st ooped
when cr ossi ng t he r oom, as i f t he wei ght of t he vaul t i ng r est ed on t hei r
shoul der s. The ci r cul ar boot hs of dar k r ed l eat her wer e bui l t i nt o wal l s of
st one t hat l ooked eat en by age and dampness. Ther e wer e no wi ndows, onl y
pat ches of bl ue l i ght shoot i ng f r omdent s i n t he masonr y, t he dead bl ue l i ght
pr oper f or use i n bl ackout s. The pl ace was ent er ed by way of nar r ow st eps
t hat l ed down, as i f descendi ng deep under t he gr ound. Thi s was t he most
expensi ve bar r oomi n New Yor k and i t was bui l t on t he r oof of a skyscr aper .
Four men sat at a t abl e. Rai sed si xt y f l oor s above t he ci t y, t hey di d not
speak l oudl y as one speaks f r oma hei ght i n t he f r eedomof ai r and space;
t hey kept t hei r voi ces l ow, as bef i t t ed a cel l ar .
" Condi t i ons and ci r cumst ances, J i m, " sai d Or r en Boyl e. " Condi t i ons and
ci r cumst ances absol ut el y beyond human cont r ol . We had ever yt hi ng mapped t o
r ol l t hose r ai l s, but unf or eseen devel opment s set i n whi ch nobody coul d have
pr event ed. I f you' d onl y gi ven us a chance, J i m. "
" Di suni t y, " dr awl ed J ames Taggar t , " seems t o be t he basi c cause of al l
soci al pr obl ems. My si st er has a cer t ai n i nf l uence wi t h a cer t ai n el ement
among our st ockhol der s. Thei r di sr upt i ve t act i cs cannot al ways be def eat ed. "
" You sai d i t , J i m. Di suni t y, t hat ' s t he t r oubl e. I t ' s my absol ut e opi ni on
t hat i n our compl ex i ndust r i al soci et y, no busi ness ent er pr i se can succeed
wi t hout shar i ng t he bur den of t he pr obl ems of ot her ent er pr i ses. "
Taggar t t ook a si p of hi s dr i nk and put i t down agai n. " I wi sh t hey' d f i r e
t hat bar t ender , " he sai d.
" For i nst ance, consi der Associ at ed St eel . We' ve got t he most moder n pl ant
i n t he count r y and t he best or gani zat i on. That seems t o me t o be an
i ndi sput abl e f act , because we got t he I ndust r i al Ef f i ci ency Awar d of Gl obe
Magazi ne l ast year . So we can mai nt ai n t hat we' ve done our best and nobody
can bl ame us. But we cannot hel p i t i f t he i r on or e si t uat i on i s a nat i onal
pr obl em. We coul d not get t he or e, J i m. "
Taggar t sai d not hi ng. He sat wi t h hi s el bows spr ead wi de on t he t abl e t op.
The t abl e was uncomf or t abl y smal l , and t hi s made i t mor e uncomf or t abl e f or
hi s t hr ee compani ons, but t hey di d not seemt o quest i on hi s pr i vi l ege.
" Nobody can get or e any l onger , " sai d Boyl e. " Nat ur al exhaust i on of t he
mi nes, you know, and t he wear i ng out of equi pment , and shor t ages of
mat er i al s, and di f f i cul t i es of t r anspor t at i on, and ot her unavoi dabl e
condi t i ons. "
" The or e i ndust r y i s cr umbl i ng. That ' s what ' s ki l l i ng t he mi ni ng equi pment
busi ness, " sai d Paul Lar ki n.
" I t ' s been pr oved t hat ever y busi ness depends upon ever y ot her busi ness, "
sai d Or r en Boyl e. " So ever ybody ought t o shar e t he bur dens of ever ybody
el se. "
" That i s, I t hi nk, t r ue, sai d Wesl ey Mouch. But nobody ever pai d any
at t ent i on t o Wesl ey Mouch.
" My pur pose, " sai d Or r en Boyl e, " i s t he pr eser vat i on of a f r ee economy.
I t ' s gener al l y conceded t hat f r ee economy i s now on t r i al . Unl ess i t pr oves
i t s soci al val ue and assumes i t s soci al r esponsi bi l i t i es, t he peopl e won' t
st and f or i t . I f i t doesn' t devel op a publ i c spi r i t , i t ' s done f or , make no
mi st ake about t hat . "
Or r en Boyl e had appear ed f r omnowher e, f i ve year s ago, and had si nce made
t he cover of ever y nat i onal news magazi ne. He had st ar t ed out wi t h a hundr ed
t housand dol l ar s of hi s own and a t wo- hundr ed mi l l i on- dol l ar l oan f r omt he
gover nment . Now he headed an enor mous concer n whi ch had swal l owed many
smal l er compani es. Thi s pr oved, he l i ked t o say, t hat i ndi vi dual abi l i t y
st i l l had a chance t o succeed i n t he wor l d.
" The onl y j ust i f i cat i on of pr i vat e pr oper t y, " sai d Or r en Boyl e, " i s publ i c
ser vi ce. "
" That i s, I t hi nk, i ndubi t abl e, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch.
Or r en Boyl e made a noi se, swal l owi ng hi s l i quor . He was a l ar ge man wi t h
bi g, vi r i l e gest ur es; ever yt hi ng about hi s per son was l oudl y f ul l of l i f e,
except t he smal l bl ack sl i t s of hi s eyes.
" J i m, " he sai d, " Rear den Met al seems t o be a col ossal ki nd of swi ndl e. "
" Uh- huh, " sai d Taggar t .
" I hear t her e' s not a si ngl e exper t who' s gi ven a f avor abl e r epor t on i t . "
" No, not one. "
" We' ve been i mpr ovi ng st eel r ai l s f or gener at i ons, and i ncr easi ng t hei r
wei ght . Now, i s i t t r ue t hat t hese Rear den Met al r ai l s ar e t o be l i ght er t han
t he cheapest gr ade of st eel ?"
" That ' s r i ght , " sai d Taggar t . " Li ght er . "
" But i t ' s r i di cul ous, J i m. I t ' s physi cal l y i mpossi bl e. For your heavy-
dut y, hi gh- speed, mai n- l i ne t r ack?"
" That ' s r i ght . "
" But you' r e j ust i nvi t i ng di sast er . "
" My si st er i s. "
Taggar t made t he st emof hi s gl ass whi r l sl owl y bet ween t wo f i nger s.
Ther e was a moment of si l ence.
" The Nat i onal Counci l of Met al I ndust r i es, " sai d Or r en Boyl e, " passed a
r esol ut i on t o appoi nt a commi t t ee t o st udy t he quest i on of Rear den Met al ,
i nasmuch as i t s use may be an act ual publ i c hazar d. "
" That i s, i n my opi ni on, wi se, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch.
" When ever ybody agr ees, " Taggar t ' s voi ce suddenl y went shr i l l , " when
peopl e ar e unani mous, how does one man dar e t o di ssent ? By what r i ght ? That ' s
what I want t o knowby what r i ght ?"
Boyl e' s eyes dar t ed t o Taggar t ' s f ace, but t he di ml i ght of t he r oommade
i t i mpossi bl e t o see f aces cl ear l y: he saw onl y a pal e, bl ui sh smear .
" When we t hi nk of t he nat ur al r esour ces, at a t i me of cr i t i cal shor t age, "
Boyl e sai d sof t l y, " when we t hi nk of t he cr uci al r aw mat er i al s t hat ar e bei ng
wast ed on an i r r esponsi bl e pr i vat e exper i ment , when we t hi nk of t he or e . .
. "
He di d not f i ni sh. He gl anced at Taggar t agai n. But Taggar t seemed t o know
t hat Boyl e was wai t i ng and t o f i nd t he si l ence enj oyabl e.
" The publ i c has a vi t al st ake i n nat ur al r esour ces, J i m, such as i r on or e.
The publ i c can' t r emai n i ndi f f er ent t o r eckl ess, sel f i sh wast e by an ant i -
soci al i ndi vi dual . Af t er al l , pr i vat e pr oper t y i s a t r ust eeshi p hel d f or t he
benef i t of soci et y as a whol e. "
Taggar t gl anced at Boyl e and smi l ed; t he smi l e was poi nt ed, i t seemed t o
say t hat somet hi ng i n hi s wor ds was an answer t o somet hi ng i n t he wor ds of
Boyl e. " The l i quor t hey ser ve her e i s swi l l . I suppose t hat ' s t he pr i ce we
have t o pay f or not bei ng cr owded by al l ki nds of r abbl e. But I do wi sh
t hey' d r ecogni ze t hat t hey' r e deal i ng wi t h exper t s.
Si nce I hol d t he pur se st r i ngs, I expect t o get my money' s wor t h and at my
pl easur e. "
Boyl e di d not answer ; hi s f ace had become sul l en. " Li st en, J i m. . . "
he began heavi l y.
Taggar t smi l ed. " What ? I ' ml i st eni ng. "
" J i m, you wi l l agr ee, I ' msur e, t hat t her e' s not hi ng mor e dest r uct i ve t han
a monopol y. "
" Yes, " sai d Taggar t , " on t he one hand. On t he ot her , t her e' s t he bl i ght of
unbr i dl ed compet i t i on. "
" That ' s t r ue. That ' s ver y t r ue. The pr oper cour se i s al ways, i n my
opi ni on, i n t he mi ddl e. So i t i s, I t hi nk, t he dut y of soci et y t o sni p t he
ext r emes, now i sn' t i t ?"
" Yes, " sai d Taggar t , " i t i s. "
" Consi der t he pi ct ur e i n t he i r on- or e busi ness. The nat i onal out put seems
t o be f al l i ng at an ungodl y r at e. I t t hr eat ens t he exi st ence of t he whol e
st eel i ndust r y. St eel mi l l s ar e shut t i ng down al l over t he count r y.
Ther e' s onl y one mi ni ng company t hat ' s l ucky enough not t o be af f ect ed by
t he gener al condi t i ons. I t s out put seems t o be pl ent i f ul and al ways avai l abl e
on schedul e. But who get s t he benef i t of i t ? Nobody except i t s owner . Woul d
you say t hat t hat ' s f ai r ?"
" No, " sai d Taggar t , " i t i sn' t f ai r . "
" Most of us don' t own i r on mi nes. How can we compet e wi t h a man who' s got
a cor ner on God' s nat ur al r esour ces? I s i t any wonder t hat he can al ways
del i ver st eel , whi l e we have t o st r uggl e and wai t and l ose our cust omer s and
go out of busi ness? I s i t i n t he publ i c i nt er est t o l et one man dest r oy an
ent i r e i ndust r y?"
" No, " sai d Taggar t , " i t i sn' t . "
" I t seems t o me t hat t he nat i onal pol i cy ought t o be ai med at t he
obj ect i ve of gi vi ng ever ybody a chance at hi s f ai r shar e of i r on or e, wi t h a
vi ew t owar d t he pr eser vat i on of t he i ndust r y as a whol e. Don' t you t hi nk so?"
" I t hi nk so. "
Boyl e si ghed. Then he sai d caut i ousl y, " But I guess t her e ar en' t many
peopl e i n Washi ngt on capabl e of under st andi ng a pr ogr essi ve soci al pol i cy. "
Taggar t sai d sl owl y, " Ther e ar e. No, not many and not easy t o appr oach,
but t her e ar e. I mi ght speak t o t hem. "
Boyl e pi cked up hi s dr i nk and swal l owed i t i n one gul p, as i f he had hear d
al l he had want ed t o hear .
" Speaki ng of pr ogr essi ve pol i ci es, Or r en, " sai d Taggar t , " you mi ght ask
your sel f whet her at a t i me of t r anspor t at i on shor t ages, when so many
r ai l r oads ar e goi ng bankr upt and l ar ge ar eas ar e l ef t wi t hout r ai l ser vi ce,
whet her i t i s i n t he publ i c i nt er est t o t ol er at e wast ef ul dupl i cat i on of
ser vi ces and t he dest r uct i ve, dog- eat - dog compet i t i on of newcomer s i n
t er r i t or i es wher e est abl i shed compani es have hi st or i cal pr i or i t y. "
" Wel l , now, " sai d Boyl e pl easant l y, " t hat seems t o be an i nt er est i ng
quest i on t o consi der . I mi ght di scuss i t wi t h a f ew f r i ends i n t he Nat i onal
Al l i ance of Rai l r oads. "
" Fr i endshi ps, " sai d Taggar t i n t he t one of an i dl e abst r act i on, " ar e mor e
val uabl e t han gol d. " Unexpect edl y, he t ur ned t o Lar ki n. " Don' t you t hi nk so,
Paul ?"
" Why . . . yes, " sai d Lar ki n, ast oni shed. " Yes, of cour se. "
" I amcount i ng on your s. "
" Huh?"
" I amcount i ng on your many f r i endshi ps. "
They al l seemed t o know why Lar ki n di d not answer at once; hi s shoul der s
seemed t o shr i nk down, cl oser t o t he t abl e. " I f ever ybody coul d pul l f or a
common pur pose, t hen nobody woul d have t o be hur t ! "
he cr i ed suddenl y, i n a t one of i ncongr uous despai r ; he saw Taggar t
wat chi ng hi mand added, pl eadi ng, " I wi sh we di dn' t have t o hur t anybody. "
" That i s an ant i - soci al at t i t ude, " dr awl ed Taggar t . " Peopl e who ar e
af r ai d, t o sacr i f i ce somebody have no busi ness t al ki ng about a common
pur pose. "
" But I ' ma st udent of hi st or y, " sai d Lar ki n hast i l y. " I r ecogni ze
hi st or i cal necessi t y. "
" Good, " sai d Taggar t .
" I can' t be expect ed t o buck t he t r end of t he whol e wor l d, can I ?"
Lar ki n seemed t o pl ead, but t he pl ea was not addr essed t o anyone.
" Can I ?"
" You can' t , Mr . Lar ki n, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch. " You and I ar e not t o be
bl amed, i f we"
Lar ki n j er ked hi s head away; i t was al most a shudder ; he coul d not bear t o
l ook at Mouch.
" Di d you have a good t i me i n Mexi co, Or r en?" asked Taggar t , hi s voi ce
suddenl y l oud and casual . Al l of t hemseemed t o know t hat t he pur pose of
t hei r meet i ng was accompl i shed and what ever t hey had come her e t o under st and
was under st ood.
" Wonder f ul pl ace, Mexi co, " Boyl e answer ed cheer f ul l y. " Ver y st i mul at i ng
and t hought - pr ovoki ng. Thei r f ood r at i ons ar e somet hi ng awf ul , t hough. I got
si ck. But t hey' r e wor ki ng mi ght y har d t o put t hei r count r y on i t s f eet . "
" How ar e t hi ngs goi ng down t her e?"
" Pr et t y spl endi d, i t seems t o me, pr et t y spl endi d. Ri ght at t he moment ,
however , t hey' r e . . . But t hen, what t hey' r e ai mi ng at i s t he f ut ur e. The
Peopl e' s St at e of Mexi co has a gr eat f ut ur e. They' l l beat us al l i n a f ew
year s. "
" Di d you go down t o t he San Sebast i an Mi nes?"
The f our f i gur es at t he t abl e sat up st r ai ght er and t i ght er ; al l of t hem
had i nvest ed heavi l y i n t he st ock of t he San Sebast i an Mi nes.
Boyl e di d not answer at once, so t hat hi s voi ce seemed unexpect ed and
unnat ur al l y l oud when i t bur st f or t h: " Oh, sur e, cer t ai nl y, t hat ' s what I
want ed t o see most . "
" And?"
" And what ?"
" How ar e t hi ngs goi ng?"
" Gr eat . Gr eat . They must cer t ai nl y have t he bi ggest deposi t s of copper on
ear t h, down i nsi de t hat mount ai n! "
" Di d t hey seemt o be busy?"
" Never saw such a busy pl ace i n my l i f e. "
" What wer e t hey busy doi ng?"
" Wel l , you know, wi t h t he ki nd of Spi c super i nt endent t hey have down
t her e, I coul dn' t under st and hal f of what he was t al ki ng about , but t hey' r e
cer t ai nl y busy. "
" Any . . . t r oubl e of any ki nd?"
" Tr oubl e? Not at San Sebast i an. I t ' s pr i vat e pr oper t y, t he l ast pi ece of
i t l ef t i n Mexi co, and t hat does seemt o make a di f f er ence. "
" Or r en, " Taggar t asked caut i ousl y, " what about t hose r umor s t hat t hey' r e
pl anni ng t o nat i onal i ze t he San Sebast i an Mi nes?"
" Sl ander , " sai d Boyl e angr i l y, " pl ai n, vi ci ous sl ander . I know i t f or
cer t ai n. I had di nner wi t h t he Mi ni st er of Cul t ur e and l unches wi t h al l t he
r est of t he boys. "
" Ther e ought t o be a l aw agai nst i r r esponsi bl e gossi p, " sai d Taggar t
sul l enl y. " Let ' s have anot her dr i nk. "
He waved i r r i t abl y at a wai t er . Ther e was a smal l bar i n a dar k cor ner of
t he r oom, wher e an ol d, wi zened bar t ender st ood f or l ong st r et ches of t i me
wi t hout movi ng. When cal l ed upon, he moved wi t h cont empt uous sl owness. Hi s
j ob was t hat of ser vant t o men' s r el axat i on and pl easur e, but hi s manner was
t hat of an embi t t er ed quack mi ni st er i ng t o some gui l t y di sease.
The f our men sat i n si l ence unt i l t he wai t er r et ur ned wi t h t hei r dr i nks.
The gl asses he pl aced on t he t abl e wer e f our spot s of f ai nt bl ue gl i t t er i n
t he semi - dar kness, l i ke f our f eebl e j et s of gas f l ame. Taggar t r eached f or
hi s gl ass and smi l ed suddenl y.
" Let ' s dr i nk t o t he sacr i f i ces t o hi st or i cal necessi t y, " he sai d, l ooki ng
at Lar ki n.
Ther e was a moment ' s pause; i n a l i ght ed r oom, i t woul d have been t he
cont est of t wo men hol di ng each ot her ' s eyes; her e, t hey wer e mer el y l ooki ng
at each ot her ' s eye socket s. Then Lar ki n pi cked up hi s gl ass, " I t ' s my par t y,
boys, " sai d Taggar t , as t hey dr ank.
Nobody f ound anyt hi ng el se t o say. unt i l Boyl e spoke up wi t h i ndi f f er ent
cur i osi t y. " Say, J i m, I meant t o ask you, what i n hel l ' s t he mat t er wi t h your
t r ai n ser vi ce down on t he San Sebast i an Li ne?"
" Why, what do you mean? What i s t he mat t er wi t h i t ?"
" Wel l , I don' t know, but r unni ng j ust one passenger t r ai n a day i s"
" One t r ai n?"
" i s pr et t y measl y ser vi ce, i t seems t o me, and what a t r ai n! You must
have i nher i t ed t hose coaches f r omyour gr eat - gr andf at her , and he must have
used t hempr et t y har d. And wher e on ear t h di d you get t hat wood- bur ni ng
l ocomot i ve?"
" Wood- bur ni ng?'
" That ' s what I sai d, wood- bur ni ng. I never saw one bef or e, except i n
phot ogr aphs. What museumdi d you dr ag i t out of ? Now don' t act as i f you
di dn' t know i t , j ust t el l me what ' s t he gag?"
" Yes, of cour se I knew i t , " sai d Taggar t hast i l y. " I t was j ust . . .
You j ust happened t o choose t he one week when we had a l i t t l e t r oubl e wi t h
our mot i ve power our new engi nes ar e on or der , but t her e' s been a sl i ght
del ayyou know what a pr obl emwe' r e havi ng wi t h t he manuf act ur er s of
l ocomot i vesbut i t ' s onl y t empor ar y. "
" Of cour se, " sai d Boyl e. " Del ays can' t be hel ped. I t ' s t he st r angest t r ai n
I ever r ode on, t hough. Near l y shook my gut s out . "
Wi t hi n a f ew mi nut es, t hey not i ced t hat Taggar t had become si l ent .
He seemed pr eoccupi ed wi t h a pr obl emof hi s own. When he r ose abr upt l y,
wi t hout apol ogy, t hey r ose, t oo, accept i ng i t as a command.
Lar ki n mut t er ed, smi l i ng t oo st r enuousl y, " I t was a pl easur e, J i m.
A pl easur e. That ' s how gr eat pr oj ect s ar e bor nover a dr i nk wi t h f r i ends. "
" Soci al r ef or ms ar e sl ow, " sai d Taggar t col dl y. " I t i s advi sabl e t o be
pat i ent and caut i ous. " For t he f i r st t i me, he t ur ned t o Wesl ey Mouch.
" What I l i ke about you, Mouch, i s t hat you don' t t al k t oo much. "
Wesl ey Mouch was Rear den' s Washi ngt on man.
Ther e was st i l l a r emnant of sunset l i ght i n t he sky, when Taggar t and
Boyl e emer ged t oget her i nt o t he st r eet bel ow. The t r ansi t i on was f ai nt l y
shocki ng t o t hemt he encl osed bar r ooml ed one t o expect mi dni ght dar kness. A
t al l bui l di ng st ood out l i ned agai nst t he sky, shar p and st r ai ght l i ke a
r ai sed swor d. I n t he di st ance beyond i t , t her e hung t he cal endar .
Taggar t f umbl ed i r r i t abl y wi t h hi s coat col l ar , but t oni ng i t agai nst t he
chi l l of t he st r eet s. He had not i nt ended t o go back t o t he of f i ce t oni ght ,
but he had t o go back. He had t o see hi s si st er .
" . . . a di f f i cul t under t aki ng ahead of us, J i m, " Boyl e was sayi ng, " a
di f f i cul t under t aki ng, wi t h so many danger s and compl i cat i ons and so much at
st ake . . . "
" I t al l depends, " J ames Taggar t answer ed sl owl y, " on knowi ng t he peopl e
who make i t possi bl e. . . . That ' s what has t o be knownwho makes i t
possi bl e. "
Dagny Taggar t was ni ne year s ol d when she deci ded t hat she woul d r un t he
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al Rai l r oad some day. She st at ed i t t o her sel f when she
st ood al one bet ween t he r ai l s, l ooki ng at t he t wo st r ai ght l i nes of st eel
t hat went of f i nt o t he di st ance and met i n a si ngl e poi nt . What she f el t was
an ar r ogant pl easur e at t he way t he t r ack cut t hr ough t he woods: i t di d not
bel ong i n t he mi dst of anci ent t r ees, among gr een br anches t hat hung down t o
meet gr een br ush and t he l onel y spear s of wi l d f l ower sbut t her e i t was. The
t wo st eel l i nes wer e br i l l i ant i n t he sun, and t he bl ack t i es wer e l i ke t he
r ungs of a l adder whi ch she had t o cl i mb.
I t was not a sudden deci si on, but onl y t he f i nal seal of wor ds upon
somet hi ng she had known l ong ago. I n unspoken under st andi ng, as i f bound by a
vow i t had never been necessar y t o t ake, she and Eddi e Wi l l er s had gi ven
t hemsel ves t o t he r ai l r oad f r omt he f i r st consci ous days of t hei r chi l dhood.
She f el t a bor ed i ndi f f er ence t owar d t he i mmedi at e wor l d ar ound her ,
t owar d ot her chi l dr en and adul t s al i ke. She t ook i t as a r egr et t abl e
acci dent , t o be bor ne pat i ent l y f or a whi l e, t hat she happened t o be
i mpr i soned among peopl e who wer e dul l . She had caught a gl i mpse of anot her
wor l d and she knew t hat i t exi st ed somewher e, t he wor l d t hat had cr eat ed
t r ai ns, br i dges, t el egr aph wi r es and si gnal l i ght s wi nki ng i n t he ni ght . She
had t o wai t , she t hought , and gr ow up t o t hat wor l d.
She never t r i ed t o expl ai n why she l i ked t he r ai l r oad. What ever i t was
t hat ot her s f el t , she knew t hat t hi s was one emot i on f or whi ch t hey had no
equi val ent and no r esponse. She f el t t he same emot i on i n school , i n cl asses
of mat hemat i cs, t he onl y l essons she l i ked. She f el t t he exci t ement of
sol vi ng pr obl ems, t he i nsol ent del i ght of t aki ng up a chal l enge and di sposi ng
of i t wi t hout ef f or t , t he eager ness t o meet anot her , har der t est . She f el t ,
at t he same t i me, a gr owi ng r espect f or t he adver sar y, f or a sci ence t hat was
so cl ean, so st r i ct , so l umi nousl y r at i onal . St udyi ng mat hemat i cs, she f el t ,
qui t e si mpl y and at once: " How gr eat t hat men have done t hi s" and " How
wonder f ul t hat I ' mso good at i t . " I t was t he j oy of admi r at i on and of one' s
own abi l i t y, gr owi ng t oget her . Her f eel i ng f or t he r ai l r oad was t he same:
wor shi p of t he ski l l t hat had gone t o make i t , of t he i ngenui t y of someone' s
cl ean, r easoni ng mi nd, wor shi p wi t h a secr et smi l e t hat sai d she woul d know
how t o make i t bet t er some day. She hung ar ound t he t r acks and t he
r oundhouses l i ke a humbl e st udent , but t he humi l i t y had a t ouch of f ut ur e
pr i de, a pr i de t o be ear ned.
" You' r e unbear abl y concei t ed, " was one of t he t wo sent ences she hear d
t hr oughout her chi l dhood, even t hough she never spoke of her own abi l i t y. The
ot her sent ence was: " You' r e sel f i sh. " She asked what was meant , but never
r ecei ved an answer . She l ooked at t he adul t s, wonder i ng how t hey coul d
i magi ne t hat she woul d f eel gui l t f r oman undef i ned accusat i on.
She was t wel ve year s ol d when she t ol d Eddi e Wi l l er s t hat she woul d r un
t he r ai l r oad when t hey gr ew up. She was f i f t een when i t occur r ed t o her f or
t he f i r st t i me t hat women di d not r un r ai l r oads and t hat peopl e mi ght obj ect .
To hel l wi t h t hat , she t hought and never wor r i ed about i t agai n.
She went t o wor k f or Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al at t he age of si xt een.
Her f at her per mi t t ed i t : he was amused and a l i t t l e cur i ous. She st ar t ed
as ni ght oper at or at a smal l count r y st at i on. She had t o wor k ni ght s f or t he
f i r st f ew year s, whi l e at t endi ng a col l ege of engi neer i ng.
J ames Taggar t began hi s car eer on t he r ai l r oad at t he same t i me; he was
t went y- one. He st ar t ed i n t he Depar t ment of Publ i c Rel at i ons.
Dagny' s r i se among t he men who oper at ed Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al was swi f t
and uncont est ed. She t ook posi t i ons of r esponsi bi l i t y because t her e was no
one el se t o t ake t hem. Ther e wer e a f ew r ar e men of t al ent ar ound her , but
t hey wer e becomi ng r ar er ever y year . Her super i or s, who hel d t he aut hor i t y,
seemed af r ai d t o exer ci se i t , t hey spent t hei r t i me avoi di ng deci si ons, so
she t ol d peopl e what t o do and t hey di d i t .
At ever y st ep of her r i se, she di d t he wor k l ong bef or e she was gr ant ed
t he t i t l e. I t was l i ke advanci ng t hr ough empt y r ooms. Nobody opposed her , yet
nobody appr oved of her pr ogr ess.
Her f at her seemed ast oni shed and pr oud of her , but he sai d not hi ng and
t her e was sadness i n hi s eyes when he l ooked at her i n t he of f i ce She was
t went y- ni ne year s ol d when he di ed. " Ther e has al ways been a Taggar t t o r un
t he r ai l r oad, " was t he l ast t hi ng he sai d t o her . He l ooked at her wi t h an
odd gl ance: i t had t he qual i t y of a sal ut e and of compassi on, t oget her .
The cont r ol l i ng st ock of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al was l ef t t o J ames
Taggar t . He was t hi r t y- f our when he became Pr esi dent of t he r ai l r oad Dagny
had expect ed t he Boar d of Di r ect or s t o el ect hi m, but she had never been abl e
t o under st and why t hey di d i t so eager l y. They t al ked about t r adi t i on, t he
pr esi dent had al ways been t he el dest son of t he Taggar t f ami l y; t hey el ect ed
J ames Taggar t i n t he same manner as t hey r ef used t o wal k under a l adder , t o
pr opi t i at e t he same ki nd of f ear . They t al ked about hi s gi f t of " maki ng
r ai l r oads popul ar , " hi s " good pr ess, " hi s " Washi ngt on abi l i t y. " He seemed
unusual l y ski l l f ul at obt ai ni ng f avor s f r omt he Legi sl at ur e.
Dagny knew not hi ng about t he f i el d of " Washi ngt on abi l i t y" or what such an
abi l i t y i mpl i ed. But i t seemed t o be necessar y, so she di smi ssed i t wi t h t he
t hought t hat t her e wer e many ki nds of wor k whi ch wer e of f ensi ve, yet
necessar y, such as cl eani ng sewer s; somebody had t o do i t , and J i mseemed t o
l i ke i t .
She had never aspi r ed t o t he pr esi dency; t he Oper at i ng Depar t ment was her
onl y concer n. When she went out on t he l i ne, ol d r ai l r oad men, who hat ed J i m,
sai d, " Ther e wi l l al ways be a Taggar t t o r un t he r ai l r oad, " l ooki ng at her as
her f at her had l ooked. She was ar med agai nst J i mby t he convi ct i on t hat he
was not smar t enough t o har mt he r ai l r oad t oo much and t hat she woul d al ways
be abl e t o cor r ect what ever damage he caused.
At si xt een, si t t i ng at her oper at or ' s desk, wat chi ng t he l i ght ed wi ndows
of Taggar t t r ai ns r ol l past , she had t hought t hat she had ent er ed her ki nd of
wor l d. I n t he year s si nce, she l ear ned t hat she hadn' t . The adver sar y she
f ound her sel f f or ced t o f i ght was not wor t h mat chi ng or beat i ng; i t was not a
super i or abi l i t y whi ch she woul d have f ound honor i n chal l engi ng; i t was
i nept i t udea gr ay spr ead of cot t on t hat deemed sof t and shapel ess, t hat coul d
of f er no r esi st ance t o anyt hi ng or anybody, yet managed t o be a bar r i er i n
her way. She st ood, di sar med, bef or e t he r i ddl e of what made t hi s possi bl e.
She coul d f i nd no answer .
I t was onl y i n t he f i r st f ew year s t hat she f el t her sel f scr eami ng
si l ent l y, at t i mes, f or a gl i mpse of human abi l i t y, a si ngl e gl i mpse of
cl ean, har d, r adi ant compet ence. She had f i t s of t or t ur ed l ongi ng f or a
f r i end or an enemy wi t h a mi nd bet t er t han her own. But t he l ongi ng passed.
She had a j ob t o do. She di d not have t i me t o f eel pai n; not of t en.
The f i r st st ep of t he pol i cy t hat J ames Taggar t br ought t o t he r ai l r oad
was t he const r uct i on of t he San Sebast i an Li ne. Many men wer e r esponsi bl e f or
i t ; but t o Dagny, one name st ood wr i t t en acr oss t hat vent ur e, a name t hat
wi ped out al l ot her s wher ever she saw i t . I t st ood acr oss f i ve year s of
st r uggl e, acr oss mi l es of wast ed t r ack, acr oss sheet s of f i gur es t hat
r ecor ded t he l osses of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al l i ke a r ed t r i ckl e f r oma
wound whi ch woul d not heal as i t st ood on t he t i cker t ape of ever y st ock
exchange l ef t i n t he wor l das i t st ood on smokest acks i n t he r ed gl ar e of
f ur naces mel t i ng copper as i t st ood i n scandal ous headl i nesas i t st ood on
par chment pages r ecor di ng t he nobi l i t y of t he cent ur i esas i t st ood on car ds
at t ached t o f l ower s i n t he boudoi r s of women scat t er ed t hr ough t hr ee
cont i nent s.
The name was Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
At t he age of t went y- t hr ee, when he i nher i t ed hi s f or t une, Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a had been f amous as t he copper ki ng of t he wor l d. Now, at t hi r t y-
si x, he was f amous as t he r i chest man and t he most spect acul ar l y wor t hl ess
pl ayboy on ear t h. He was t he l ast descendant of one of t he nobl est f ami l i es
of Ar gent i na. He owned cat t l e r anches, cof f ee pl ant at i ons and most of t he
copper mi nes of Chi l e. He owned hal f of Sout h Amer i ca and sundr y mi nes
scat t er ed t hr ough t he Uni t ed St at es as smal l change.
When Fr anci sco d' Anconi a suddenl y bought mi l es of bar e mount ai ns i n
Mexi co, news l eaked out t hat he had di scover ed vast deposi t s of copper . He
made no ef f or t t o sel l st ock i n hi s vent ur e; t he st ock was begged out of hi s
hands, and he mer el y chose t hose whomhe wi shed t o f avor f r omamong t he
appl i cant s. Hi s f i nanci al t al ent was cal l ed phenomenal ; no one had ever
beat en hi mi n any t r ansact i onhe added t o hi s i ncr edi bl e f or t une wi t h ever y
deal he t ouched and ever y st ep he made, when he t ook t he t r oubl e t o make i t .
Those who censur ed hi mmost wer e f i r st t o sei ze t he chance of r i di ng on hi s
t al ent , t owar d a shar e of hi s new weal t h. J ames Taggar t , Or r en Boyl e and
t hei r f r i ends wer e among t he heavi est st ockhol der s of t he pr oj ect whi ch
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a had named t he San Sebast i an Mi nes.
Dagny was never abl e t o di scover what i nf l uences pr ompt ed J ames Taggar t t o
bui l d a r ai l r oad br anch f r omTexas i nt o t he wi l der ness of San Sebast i an. I t
seemed l i kel y t hat he di d not know i t hi msel f : l i ke a f i el d wi t hout a
wi ndbr eak, he seemed open t o any cur r ent , and t he f i nal sumwas made by
chance, A f ew among t he Di r ect or s of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al obj ect ed t o t he
pr oj ect . The company needed al l i t s r esour ces t o r ebui l d t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne;
i t coul d not do bot h. But J ames Taggar t was t he r oad' s new pr esi dent . I t was
t he f i r st year of hi s admi ni st r at i on. He won.
The Peopl e' s St at e of Mexi co was eager t o co- oper at e, and si gned a
cont r act guar ant eei ng f or t wo hundr ed year s t he pr oper t y r i ght of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al t o i t s r ai l r oad l i ne i n a count r y wher e no pr oper t y r i ght s
exi st ed. Fr anci sco d' Anconi a had obt ai ned t he same guar ant y f or hi s mi nes.
Dagny f ought agai nst t he bui l di ng of t he San Sebast i an Li ne. She f ought by
means of whoever woul d l i st en t o her ; but she was onl y an assi st ant i n t he
Oper at i ng Depar t ment , t oo young, wi t hout aut hor i t y, and nobody l i st ened.
She was unabl e, t hen or si nce, t o under st and t he mot i ves of t hose who
deci ded t o bui l d t he l i ne. Si t t i ng as a hel pl ess spect at or , a mi nor i t y
member , at one of t he Boar d meet i ngs, she f el t a st r ange evasi veness i n t he
ai r of t he r oom, i n ever y speech, i n ever y ar gument , as i f t he r eal r eason of
t hei r deci si on wer e never st at ed, but cl ear t o ever yone except her sel f .
They spoke about t he f ut ur e i mpor t ance of t he t r ade wi t h Mexi co, about a
r i ch st r eamof f r ei ght , about t he l ar ge r evenues assur ed t o t he excl usi ve
car r i er of an i nexhaust i bl e suppl y of copper . They pr oved i t by ci t i ng
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a' s past achi evement s. They di d not ment i on any
mi ner al ogi cal f act s about t he San Sebast i an Mi nes. Few f act s wer e avai l abl e;
t he i nf or mat i on whi ch d' Anconi a had r el eased was not ver y speci f i c; but t hey
di d not seemt o need f act s.
They spoke at gr eat l engt h about t he pover t y of t he Mexi cans and t hei r
desper at e need of r ai l r oads, " They' ve never had a chance. " " I t i s our dut y t o
hel p an under pr i vi l eged nat i on t o devel op. A count r y, i t seems t o me, i s i t s
nei ghbor s' keeper . "
She sat , l i st eni ng, and she t hought of t he many br anch l i nes whi ch Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al had had t o abandon; t he r evenues of t he gr eat r ai l r oad had
been f al l i ng sl owl y f or many year s. She t hought of t he omi nous need of
r epai r s, omi nousl y negl ect ed over t he ent i r e syst em.
Thei r pol i cy on t he pr obl emof mai nt enance was not a pol i cy but a game
t hey seemed t o be pl ayi ng wi t h a pi ece of r ubber t hat coul d be st r et ched a
l i t t l e, t hen a l i t t l e mor e.
" The Mexi cans, i t seems t o me, ar e a ver y di l i gent peopl e, cr ushed by
t hei r pr i mi t i ve economy. How can t hey become i ndust r i al i zed i f nobody l ends
t hema hand?" " When consi der i ng an i nvest ment , we shoul d, i n my opi ni on, t ake
a chance on human bei ngs, r at her t han on pur el y mat er i al f act or s. "
She t hought of an engi ne t hat l ay i n a di t ch besi de t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne,
because a spl i ce bar had cr acked. She t hought of t he f i ve days when al l
t r af f i c was st opped on t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne, because a r et ai ni ng wal l had
col l apsed, pour i ng t ons of r ock acr oss t he t r ack.
" Si nce a man must t hi nk of t he good of hi s br ot her s bef or e he t hi nks of
hi s own, i t seems t o me t hat a nat i on must t hi nk of i t s nei ghbor s bef or e i t
t hi nks of i t sel f . "
She t hought of a newcomer cal l ed El l i s Wyat t whompeopl e wer e begi nni ng t o
wat ch, because hi s act i vi t y was t he f i r st t r i ckl e of a t or r ent of goods about
t o bur st f r omt he dyi ng st r et ches of Col or ado. The Ri o Nor t e Li ne was bei ng
al l owed t o r un i t s way t o a f i nal col l apse, j ust when i t s f ul l est ef f i ci ency
was about t o be needed and used.
" Mat er i al gr eed i sn' t ever yt hi ng. Ther e ar e non- mat er i al i deal s t o
consi der . " " I conf ess t o a f eel i ng of shame when I t hi nk t hat we own a huge
net wor k of r ai l ways, whi l e t he Mexi can peopl e have not hi ng but one or t wo
i nadequat e l i nes. " " The ol d t heor y of economi c sel f - suf f i ci ency has been
expl oded l ong ago. I t i s i mpossi bl e f or one count r y t o pr osper i n t he mi dst
of a st ar vi ng wor l d. "
She t hought t hat t o make Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al what i t had been once,
l ong bef or e her t i me, ever y avai l abl e r ai l , spi ke and dol l ar was neededand
how desper at el y l i t t l e of i t was avai l abl e.
They spoke al so, at t he same sessi on, i n t he same speeches, about t he
ef f i ci ency of t he Mexi can gover nment t hat hel d compl et e cont r ol of
ever yt hi ng. Mexi co had a gr eat f ut ur e, t hey sai d, and woul d become a
danger ous compet i t or i n a f ew year s. " Mexi co' s got di sci pl i ne, " t he men of
t he Boar d kept sayi ng, wi t h a not e of envy i n t hei r voi ces.
J ames Taggar t l et i t be under st oodi n unf i ni shed sent ences and undef i ned
hi nt st hat hi s f r i ends i n Washi ngt on, whomhe never named, wi shed t o see a
r ai l r oad l i ne bui l t i n Mexi co, t hat such a l i ne woul d be of gr eat hel p i n
mat t er s of i nt er nat i onal di pl omacy, t hat t he good wi l l of t he publ i c opi ni on
of t he wor l d woul d mor e t han r epay Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al f or i t s
i nvest ment .
They vot ed t o bui l d t he San Sebast i an Li ne at a cost of t hi r t y mi l l i on
dol l ar s.
When Dagny l ef t t he Boar d r oomand wal ked t hr ough t he cl ean, col d ai r of
t he st r eet s, she hear d t wo wor ds r epeat ed cl ear l y, i nsi st ent l y i n t he numbed
empt i ness of her mi nd: Get out . . . Get out . . .
Get out .
She l i st ened, aghast . The t hought of l eavi ng Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al di d
not bel ong among t he t hi ngs she coul d hol d as concei vabl e. She f el t t er r or ,
not at t he t hought , but at t he quest i on of what had made her t hi nk i t . She
shook her head angr i l y; she t ol d her sel f t hat Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al woul d
now need her mor e t han ever .
Two of t he Di r ect or s r esi gned; so di d t he Vi ce- Pr esi dent i n Char ge of
Oper at i on. He was r epl aced by a f r i end of J ames Taggar t , St eel r ai l was l ai d
acr oss t he Mexi can deser t whi l e or der s wer e i ssued t o r educe t he speed of
t r ai ns on t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne, because t he t r ack was shot . A depot of
r ei nf or ced concr et e, wi t h mar bl e col umns and mi r r or s, was bui l t ami dst t he
dust of an unpaved squar e i n a Mexi can vi l l agewhi l e a t r ai n of t ank car s
car r yi ng oi l went hur t l i ng down an embankment and i nt o a bl azi ng j unk pi l e,
because a r ai l had spl i t on t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne. El l i s Wyat t di d not wai t f or
t he cour t t o deci de whet her t he acci dent was an act of God, as J ames Taggar t
cl ai med, He t r ansf er r ed t he shi ppi ng of hi s oi l t o t he Phoeni x- Dur ango, an
obscur e r ai l r oad whi ch was smal l and st r uggl i ng, but st r uggl i ng wel l .
Thi s was t he r ocket t hat sent t he Phoeni x- Dur ango on i t s way. Fr omt hen
on, i t gr ew, as Wyat t Oi l gr ew, as f act or i es gr ew i n near by val l eys as a
band of r ai l s and t i es gr ew, at t he r at e of t wo mi l es a mont h, acr oss t he
scr aggl y f i el ds of Mexi can cor n.
Dagny was t hi r t y- t wo year s ol d, when she t ol d J ames Taggar t t hat she woul d
r esi gn. She had r un t he Oper at i ng Depar t ment f or t he past t hr ee year s,
wi t hout t i t l e, cr edi t or aut hor i t y. She was def eat ed by l oat hi ng f or t he
hour s, t he days, t he ni ght s she had t o wast e ci r cumvent i ng t he i nt er f er ence
of J i m' s f r i end who bor e t he t i t l e of Vi ce- Pr esi dent i n Char ge of Oper at i on.
The man had no pol i cy, and any deci si on he made was al ways her s, but he made
i t onl y af t er he had made ever y ef f or t t o make i t i mpossi bl e. What she
del i ver ed t o her br ot her was an ul t i mat um. He gasped, " But , Dagny, you' r e a
woman! A woman as Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent ? I t ' s unhear d of ! The Boar d won' t
consi der i t ! " " Then I ' mt hr ough, " she answer ed.
She di d not t hi nk of what she woul d do wi t h t he r est of her l i f e. To f ace
l eavi ng Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al was l i ke wai t i ng t o have her l egs amput at ed;
she t hought she woul d l et i t happen, t hen t ake up t he l oad of what ever was
l ef t .
She never under st ood why t he Boar d of Di r ect or s vot ed unani mousl y t o make
her Vi ce- Pr esi dent i n Char ge of Oper at i on.
I t was she who f i nal l y gave t hemt hei r San Sebast i an Li ne. When she t ook
over , t he const r uct i on had been under way f or t hr ee year s; one t hi r d of i t s
t r ack was l ai d; t he cost t o dat e was beyond t he aut hor i zed t ot al . She f i r ed
J i m' s f r i ends and f ound a cont r act or who compl et ed t he j ob i n one year .
The San Sebast i an Li ne was now i n oper at i on. No sur ge of t r ade had come
acr oss t he bor der , nor any t r ai ns l oaded wi t h copper . A f ew car l oads came
cl at t er i ng down t he mount ai ns f r omSan Sebast i an, at l ong i nt er val s. The
mi nes, sai d Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, wer e st i l l i n t he pr ocess of devel opment .
The dr ai n on Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al had not st opped.
Now she sat at t he desk i n her of f i ce, as she had sat f or many eveni ngs,
t r yi ng t o wor k out t he pr obl emof what br anches coul d save t he syst emand i n
how many year s.
The Ri o Nor t e Li ne, when r ebui l t , woul d r edeemt he r est . As she l ooked at
t he sheet s of f i gur es announci ng l osses and mor e l osses, she di d not t hi nk of
t he l ong, sensel ess agony of t he Mexi can vent ur e. She t hought of a t el ephone
cal l . " Hank, can you save us? Can you gi ve us r ai l on t he shor t est not i ce and
t he l ongest cr edi t possi bl e?" A qui et , st eady voi ce had answer ed, " Sur e. "
The t hought was a poi nt of suppor t . She l eaned over t he sheet s of paper on
her desk, f i ndi ng i t suddenl y easi er t o concent r at e. Ther e was one t hi ng, at
l east , t hat coul d be count ed upon not t o cr umbl e when needed.
J ames Taggar t cr ossed t he ant er oomof Dagny' s of f i ce, st i l l hol di ng t he
ki nd of conf i dence he had f el t among hi s compani ons at t he bar r oomhal f an
hour ago. When he opened her door , t he conf i dence vani shed. He cr ossed t he
r oomt o her desk l i ke a chi l d bei ng dr agged t o puni shment , st or i ng t he
r esent ment f or al l hi s f ut ur e year s.
He saw a head bent over sheet s of paper , t he l i ght of t he desk l amp
gl i st eni ng on st r ands of di shevel ed hai r , a whi t e shi r t cl i ngi ng t o her
shoul der s, i t s l oose f ol ds suggest i ng t he t hi nness of her body.
" What i s i t , J i m?"
" What ar e you t r yi ng t o pul l on t he San Sebast i an Li ne?"
She r ai sed her head. " Pul l ? Why?"
" What sor t of schedul e ar e we r unni ng down t her e and what ki nd of t r ai ns?"
She l aughed; t he sound was gay and a l i t t l e wear y. " You r eal l y ought t o
r ead t he r epor t s sent t o t he pr esi dent ' s of f i ce, J i m, once i n a whi l e. "
" What do you mean?"
" We' ve been r unni ng t hat schedul e and t hose t r ai ns on t he San Sebast i an
f or t he l ast t hr ee mont hs. "
" One passenger t r ai n a day?"
" i n t he mor ni ng. And one f r ei ght t r ai n ever y ot her ni ght . "
" Good God! On an i mpor t ant br anch l i ke t hat ?"
" The i mpor t ant br anch can' t pay even f or t hose t wo t r ams. "
" But t he Mexi can peopl e expect r eal ser vi ce f r omus! "
" I ' msur e t hey do. "
" They need t r ai ns! "
" For what ?"
" For . . . To hel p t hemdevel op l ocal i ndust r i es. How do you expect t hem
t o devel op i f we don' t gi ve t hemt r anspor t at i on?"
" I don' t expect t hemt o devel op, "
" That ' s j ust your per sonal opi ni on. I don' t see what r i ght you had t o t ake
i t upon your sel f t o cut our schedul es. Why, t he copper t r af f i c al one wi l l pay
f or ever yt hi ng. "
" When?"
He l ooked at her ; hi s f ace assumed t he sat i sf act i on of a per son about t o
ut t er somet hi ng t hat has t he power t o hur t . " You don' t doubt t he success of
t hose copper mi nes, do you?when i t ' s Fr anci sco d' Anconi a who' s r unni ng
t hem?" He st r essed t he name, wat chi ng her .
She sai d, " He may be your f r i end, but "
" My f r i end? I t hought he was your s. "
She sai d st eadi l y, " Not f or t he l ast t en year s. "
" That ' s t oo bad, i sn' t i t ? St i l l , he' s one of t he smar t est oper at or s on
ear t h. He' s never f ai l ed i n a vent ur eI mean, a busi ness vent ur eand he' s
sunk mi l l i ons of hi s own money i nt o t hose mi nes, so we can r el y on hi s
j udgment . "
" When wi l l you r eal i ze t hat Fr anci sco d' Anconi a has t ur ned i nt o a
wor t hl ess bum?"
He chuckl ed. " I al ways t hought t hat t hat ' s what he wasas f ar as hi s
per sonal char act er i s concer ned. But you di dn' t shar e my opi ni on. Your s was
opposi t e. Oh my, how opposi t e! Sur el y you r emember our quar r el s on t he
subj ect ? Shal l I quot e some of t he t hi ngs you sai d about hi m? I can onl y
sur mi se as t o some of t he t hi ngs you di d. "
" Do you wi sh t o di scuss Fr anci sco d' Anconi a? I s t hat what you came her e
f or ?"
Hi s f ace showed t he anger of f ai l ur ebecause her s showed not hi ng.
" You know damn wel l what I came her e f or ! " he snapped. " I ' ve hear d some
i ncr edi bl e t hi ngs about our t r ai ns i n Mexi co. "
" What t hi ngs?"
" What sor t of r ol l i ng st ock ar e you usi ng down t her e?"
" The wor st I coul d f i nd. "
" You admi t t hat ?"
" I ' ve st at ed i t on paper i n t he r epor t s I sent you. "
" I s i t t r ue t hat you' r e usi ng wood- bur ni ng l ocomot i ves?"
" Eddi e f ound t hemf or me i n somebody' s abandoned r oundhouse down i n
Loui si ana. He coul dn' t even l ear n t he name of t he r ai l r oad. "
" And t hat ' s what you' r e r unni ng as Taggar t t r ai ns?"
" Yes. "
" What i n hel l ' s t he bi g i dea? What ' s goi ng on? I want t o know what ' s goi ng
on! "
She spoke evenl y, l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi m. " I f you want t o know, I have
l ef t not hi ng but j unk on t he San Sebast i an Li ne, and as l i t t l e of t hat as
possi bl e. I have moved ever yt hi ng t hat coul d be movedswi t ch engi nes, shop
t ool s, even t ypewr i t er s and mi r r or sout of Mexi co. "
" Why i n bl azes?"
" So t hat t he l oot er s won' t have t oo much t o l oot when t hey nat i onal i ze t he
l i ne. "
He l eaped t o hi s f eet . " You won' t get away wi t h t hat ! Thi s i s one t i me you
won' t get away wi t h i t ! To have t he ner ve t o pul l such a l ow, unspeakabl e . .
. j ust because of some vi ci ous r umor s, when we have a cont r act f or t wo
hundr ed year s and . . . "
" J i m, " she sai d sl owl y, " t her e' s not a car , engi ne or t on of coal t hat we
can spar e anywher e on t he syst em. "
" I won' t per mi t i t , I absol ut el y won' t per mi t such an out r ageous pol i cy
t owar d a f r i endl y peopl e who need our hel p. Mat er i al gr eed i sn' t ever yt hi ng.
Af t er al l , t her e ar e non- mat er i al consi der at i ons, even t hough you woul dn' t
under st and t hem! "
She pul l ed a pad f or war d and pi cked up a penci l . " Al l r i ght , J i m.
How many t r ai ns do you wi sh me t o r un on t he San Sebast i an Li ne?"
" Huh?"
" Whi ch r uns do you wi sh me t o cut and on whi ch of our l i nesi n or der t o
get t he Di esel s and t he st eel coaches?"
" I don' t want you t o cut any r uns! "
" Then wher e do I get t he equi pment f or Mexi co?"
" That ' s f or you t o f i gur e out . I t ' s your j ob. "
" I amnot abl e t o do i t . You wi l l have t o deci de. "
" That ' s your usual r ot t en t r i ckswi t chi ng t he r esponsi bi l i t y t o me! "
" I ' mwai t i ng f or or der s, J i m. "
' Tmnot goi ng t o l et you t r ap me l i ke t hat ! "
She dr opped t he penci l . " Then t he San Sebast i an schedul e wi l l r emai n as i t
i s. "
" J ust wai t t i l l t he Boar d meet i ng next mont h. I ' l l demand a deci si on, Once
and f or al l , on how f ar t he Oper at i ng Depar t ment i s t o be per mi t t ed t o exceed
i t s aut hor i t y. You' r e goi ng t o have t o answer f or t hi s. "
" I l l answer f or i t . "
She was back at her wor k bef or e t he door had cl osed on J ames Taggar t .
When she f i ni shed, pushed t he paper s asi de and gl anced up, t he sky was
bl ack beyond t he wi ndow, and t he ci t y had become a gl owi ng spr ead of l i ght ed
gl ass wi t hout masonr y. She r ose r el uct ant l y. She r esent ed t he smal l def eat of
bei ng t i r ed, but she knew t hat she was, t oni ght .
The out er of f i ce was dar k and empt y; her st af f had gone. Onl y Eddi e
Wi l l er s was st i l l t her e, at hi s desk i n hi s gl ass- par t i t i oned encl osur e t hat
l ooked l i ke a cube of l i ght i n a comer of t he l ar ge r oom. She waved t o hi mon
her way out .
She di d not t ake t he el evat or t o t he l obby of t he bui l di ng, but t o t he
concour se of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal . She l i ked t o wal k t hr ough i t on her way
home.
She had al ways f el t t hat t he concour se l ooked l i ke a t empl e. Gl anci ng up
at t he di st ant cei l i ng, she saw di mvaul t s suppor t ed by gi ant gr ani t e
col umns, and t he t ops of vast wi ndows gl azed by dar kness. The vaul t i ng hel d
t he sol emn peace of a cat hedr al , spr ead i n pr ot ect i on hi gh above t he r ushi ng
act i vi t y of men.
Domi nat i ng t he concour se, but i gnor ed by t he t r avel er s as a habi t ual
si ght , st ood a st at ue of Nat hani el Taggar t , t he f ounder of t he r ai l r oad.
Dagny was t he onl y one who r emai ned awar e of i t and had never been abl e t o
t ake i t f or gr ant ed. To l ook at t hat st at ue whenever she cr ossed t he
concour se, was t he onl y f or mof pr ayer she knew.
Nat hani el Taggar t had been a penni l ess advent ur er who had come f r om
somewher e i n New Engl and and bui l t a r ai l r oad acr oss a cont i nent , i n t he days
of t he f i r st st eel r ai l s. Hi s r ai l r oad st i l l st ood; hi s bat t l e t o bui l d i t
had di ssol ved i nt o a l egend, because peopl e pr ef er r ed not t o Under st and i t or
t o bel i eve i t possi bl e.
He was a man who had never accept ed t he cr eed t hat ot her s had t he r i ght t o
st op hi m. He set hi s goal and moved t owar d i t , hi s way as st r ai ght as one of
hi s r ai l s. He never sought any l oans, bonds, subsi di es, l and gr ant s or
l egi sl at i ve f avor s f r omt he gover nment . He obt ai ned money f r omt he men who
owned i t , goi ng f r omdoor t o door
f r omt he mahogany door s of banker s t o t he cl apboar d door s of l onel y
f ar mhouses. He never t al ked about t he publ i c good. He mer el y t ol d peopl e t hat
t hey woul d make bi g pr of i t s on hi s r ai l r oad, he t ol d t hemwhy he expect ed t he
pr of i t s and he gave hi s r easons. He had good r easons.
Thr ough al l t he gener at i ons t hat f ol l owed, Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al was
one of t he f ew r ai l r oads t hat never went bankr upt and t he onl y one whose
cont r ol l i ng st ock r emai ned i n t he hands of t he f ounder ' s descendant s.
I n hi s l i f et i me, t he name " Nat Taggar t " was not f amous, but not or i ous; i t
was r epeat ed, not i n homage, but i n r esent f ul cur i osi t y; and i f anyone
admi r ed hi m, i t was as one admi r es a successf ul bandi t . Yet no penny of hi s
weal t h had been obt ai ned by f or ce or f r aud; he was gui l t y of not hi ng, except
t hat he ear ned hi s own f or t une and never f or got t hat i t was hi s.
Many st or i es wer e whi sper ed about hi m. I t was sai d t hat i n t he wi l der ness
of t he Mi ddl e West , he mur der ed a st at e l egi sl at or who at t empt ed t o r evoke a
char t er gr ant ed t o hi m, t o r evoke i t when hi s r ai l was l ai d hal f way acr oss
t he st at e; some l egi sl at or s had pl anned t o make a f or t une on Taggar t st ockby
sel l i ng i t shor t . Nat Taggar t was i ndi ct ed f or t he mur der , but t he char ge
coul d never be pr oved. He had no t r oubl e wi t h l egi sl at or s f r omt hen on.
I t was sai d t hat Nat Taggar t had st aked hi s l i f e on hi s r ai l r oad many
t i mes; but once, he st aked mor e t han hi s l i f e. Desper at e f or f unds, wi t h t he
const r uct i on of hi s l i ne suspended, he t hr ew down t hr ee f l i ght s of st ai r s a
di st i ngui shed gent l eman who of f er ed hi ma l oan f r omt he gover nment . Then he
pl edged hi s wi f e as secur i t y f or a l oan f r oma mi l l i onai r e who hat ed hi mand
admi r ed her beaut y. He r epai d t he l oan on t i me and di d not have t o sur r ender
hi s pl edge. The deal had been made wi t h hi s wi f e' s consent . She was a gr eat
beaut y f r omt he nobl est f ami l y of a sout her n st at e, and she had been
di si nher i t ed by her f ami l y because she el oped wi t h Nat Taggar t when he was
onl y a r agged young advent ur er .
Dagny r egr et t ed at t i mes t hat Nat Taggar t was her ancest or . What she f el t
f or hi mdi d not bel ong i n t he cat egor y of unchosen f ami l y af f ect i ons. She di d
not want her f eel i ng t o be t he t hi ng one was supposed t o owe an uncl e or a
gr andf at her . She was i ncapabl e of l ove f or any obj ect not of her own choi ce
and she r esent ed anyone' s demand f or i t . But had i t been possi bl e t o choose
an ancest or , she woul d have chosen Nat Taggar t , i n vol unt ar y homage and wi t h
al l of her gr at i t ude.
Nat Taggar t ' s st at ue was copi ed f r oman ar t i st ' s sket ch of hi m, t he onl y
r ecor d ever made of hi s appear ance. He had l i ved f ar i nt o ol d age, but one
coul d never t hi nk of hi mexcept as he was on t hat sket ch as a young man. I n
her chi l dhood, hi s st at ue had been Dagny' s f i r st concept of t he exal t ed. When
she was sent t o chur ch or t o school , and hear d peopl e usi ng t hat wor d, she
t hought t hat she knew what t hey meant : she t hought of t he st at ue.
The st at ue was of a young man wi t h a t al l , gaunt body and an angul ar f ace.
He hel d hi s head as i f he f aced a chal l enge and f ound j oy i n hi s capaci t y t o
meet i t . Al l t hat Dagny want ed of l i f e was cont ai ned i n t he desi r e t o hol d
her head as he di d.
Toni ght , she l ooked at t he st at ue when she wal ked acr oss t he concour se. I t
was a moment ' s r est ; i t was as i f a bur den she coul d not name wer e l i ght ened
and as i f a f ai nt cur r ent of ai r wer e t ouchi ng her f or ehead.
I n a cor ner of t he concour se, by t he mai n ent r ance, t her e was a smal l
newsst and. The owner , a qui et , cour t eous ol d man wi t h an ai r of br eedi ng, had
st ood behi nd hi s count er f or t went y year s. He had owned a ci gar et t e f act or y
once, but i t had gone bankr upt , and he had r esi gned hi msel f t o t he l onel y
obscur i t y of hi s l i t t l e st and i n t he mi dst of an et er nal whi r l pool of
st r anger s. He had no f ami l y or f r i ends l ef t al i ve.
He had a hobby whi ch was hi s onl y pl easur e: he gat her ed ci gar et t es f r om
al l over t he wor l d f or hi s pr i vat e col l ect i on; he knew ever y br and made or
t hat had ever been made.
Dagny l i ked t o st op at hi s newsst and on her way out . He seemed t o be par t
of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal , l i ke an ol d wat chdog t oo f eebl e t o pr ot ect i t , but
r eassur i ng by t he l oyal t y of hi s pr esence. He l i ked t o see her comi ng,
because i t amused hi mt o t hi nk t hat he al one knew t he i mpor t ance of t he young
woman i n a spor t s coat and a sl ant i ng hat , who came hur r yi ng anonymousl y
t hr ough t he cr owd.
She st opped t oni ght , as usual , t o buy a package of ci gar et t es. " How i s t he
col l ect i on?" she asked hi m. " Any new speci mens?"
He smi l ed sadl y, shaki ng hi s head. " No, Mi ss Taggar t . Ther e ar en' t any new
br ands made anywher e i n t he wor l d. Even t he ol d ones ar e goi ng, one af t er
anot her . Ther e' s onl y f i ve or si x ki nds l ef t sel l i ng now.
Ther e used t o be dozens. Peopl e ar en' t maki ng anyt hi ng new any mor e. "
" They wi l l . That ' s onl y t empor ar y. "
He gl anced at her and di d not answer . Then he sai d, " I l i ke ci gar et t es,
Mi ss Taggar t . I l i ke t o t hi nk of f i r e hel d i n a man' s hand. Fi r e, a danger ous
f or ce, t amed at hi s f i nger t i ps. I of t en wonder about t he hour s when a man
si t s al one, wat chi ng t he smoke of a ci gar et t e, t hi nki ng. I wonder what gr eat
t hi ngs have come f r omsuch hour s. When a man t hi nks, t her e i s a spot of f i r e
al i ve i n hi s mi ndand i t i s pr oper t hat he shoul d have t he bur ni ng poi nt of a
ci gar et t e as hi s one expr essi on. "
" Do t hey ever t hi nk?" she asked i nvol unt ar i l y, and st opped; t he quest i on
was her one per sonal t or t ur e and she di d not want t o di scuss i t .
The ol d man l ooked as i f he had not i ced t he sudden st op and under st ood i t ;
but he di d not st ar t di scussi ng i t ; he sai d, i nst ead, " I don' t l i ke t he t hi ng
t hat ' s happeni ng t o peopl e, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" What ?"
" I don' t know. But I ' ve wat ched t hemher e f or t went y year s and I ' ve seen
t he change. They used t o r ush t hr ough her e, and i t was wonder f ul t o wat ch, i t
was t he hur r y of men who knew wher e t hey wer e goi ng and wer e eager t o get
t her e. Now t hey' r e hur r yi ng because t hey ar e af r ai d.
I t ' s not a pur pose t hat dr i ves t hem, i t ' s f ear . They' r e not goi ng
anywher e, t hey' r e escapi ng. And I don' t t hi nk t hey know what i t i s t hat t hey
want t o escape. They don' t l ook at one anot her . They j er k when br ushed
agai nst . They smi l e t oo much, but i t ' s an ugl y ki nd of smi l i ng: i t ' s not j oy,
i t ' s pl eadi ng. I don' t know what i t i s t hat ' s happeni ng t o t he wor l d. " He
shr ugged. " Oh wel l , who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
" He' s j ust a meani ngl ess phr ase! "
She was st ar t l ed by t he shar pness of her own voi ce, and she added i n
apol ogy, " I don' t l i ke t hat empt y pi ece of sl ang. What does i t mean?
Wher e di d i t come f r om?"
" Nobody knows, " he answer ed sl owl y.
" Why do peopl e keep sayi ng i t ? Nobody seems abl e t o expl ai n j ust what i t
st ands f or , yet t hey al l use i t as i f t hey knew t he meani ng. "
" Why does i t di st ur b you?" he asked.
" I don' t l i ke what t hey seemt o mean when t hey say i t . "
" I don' t , ei t her , Mi ss Taggar t . "
Eddi e Wi l l er s at e hi s di nner s i n t he empl oyees' caf et er i a of t he Taggar t
Ter mi nal . Ther e was a r est aur ant i n t he bui l di ng, pat r oni zed by Taggar t
execut i ves, but he di d not l i ke i t . The caf et er i a seemed par t of t he
r ai l r oad, and he f el t mor e at home.
The caf et er i a l ay under gr ound. I t was a l ar ge r oomwi t h wal l s of whi t e
t i l e t hat gl i t t er ed i n t he r ef l ect i ons of el ect r i c l i ght s and l ooked l i ke
si l ver br ocade. I t had a hi gh cei l i ng, spar kl i ng count er s of gl ass and
chr omi um, a sense of space and l i ght .
Ther e was a r ai l r oad wor ker whomEddi e Wi l l er s met at t i mes i n t he
caf et er i a. Eddi e l i ked hi s f ace. They had been dr awn i nt o a chance
conver sat i on once, and t hen i t became t hei r habi t t o di ne t oget her whenever
t hey happened t o meet .
Eddi e had f or got t en whet her he had ever asked t he wor ker ' s name or t he
nat ur e of hi s j ob; he supposed t hat t he j ob wasn' t much, because t he man' s
cl ot hes wer e r ough and gr ease- st ai ned. The man was not a per son t o hi m, but
onl y a si l ent pr esence wi t h an enor mous i nt ensi t y of i nt er est i n t he one
t hi ng whi ch was t he meani ng of hi s own l i f e: i n Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
Toni ght , comi ng down l at e, Eddi e saw t he wor ker at a t abl e i n a cor ner of
t he hal f - deser t ed r oom. Eddi e smi l ed happi l y, wavi ng t o hi m, and car r i ed hi s
t r ay of f ood t o t he wor ker ' s t abl e.
I n t he pr i vacy of t hei r cor ner , Eddi e f el t at ease, r el axi ng af t er t he
l ong st r ai n of t he day. He coul d t al k as he di d not t al k anywher e el se,
admi t t i ng t hi ngs he woul d not conf ess t o anyone, t hi nki ng al oud, l ooki ng i nt o
t he at t ent i ve eyes of t he wor ker acr oss t he t abl e.
" The Ri o Nor t e Li ne i s our l ast hope, " sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s. " But i t wi l l
save us. We' l l have at l east one br anch i n good condi t i on, wher e i t ' s needed
most , and t hat wi l l hel p t o save t he r est . . . . I t ' s f unny
i sn' t i t ?t o speak about a l ast hope f or Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . Do you
t ake i t ser i ousl y i f somebody t el l s you t hat a met eor i s goi ng t o dest r oy t he
ear t h? . . . I don' t , ei t her . . . . ' Fr omOcean t o Ocean, f or ever ' t hat ' s
what we hear d al l t hr ough our chi l dhood, she and I .
No, t hey di dn' t say ' f or ever , ' but t hat ' s what i t meant . . . . You know,
I ' mnot any ki nd of a gr eat man. I coul dn' t have bui l t t hat r ai l r oad. I f i t
goes, I won' t be abl e t o br i ng i t back. I ' l l have t o go wi t h i t . . . .
Don' t pay any at t ent i on t o me. I don' t know why I shoul d want t o say
t hi ngs l i ke t hat . Guess I ' mj ust a l i t t l e t i r ed t oni ght . . . . Yes, I wor ked
l at e. She di dn' t ask me t o st ay, but t her e was a l i ght under her door , l ong
af t er al l t he ot her s had gone . . . Yes, she' s gone home now. . . .
Tr oubl e? Oh, t her e' s al ways t r oubl e i n t he of f i ce. But she' s not wor r i ed.
She knows she can pul l us t hr ough. . . . Of cour se, i t ' s bad. We' r e havi ng
many mor e acci dent s t han you hear about . We l ost t wo Di esel s agai n, l ast
week. Onej ust f r omol d age, t he ot her i n a head- on col l i si on. . . . Yes, we
have Di esel s on or der , at t he Uni t ed Locomot i ve Wor ks, but we' ve wai t ed f or
t hemf or t wo year s. I don' t know whet her we' l l ever get t hemor not . . . .
God, do we need t hem! Mot i ve power you can' t i magi ne how i mpor t ant t hat i s.
That ' s t he hear t of ever yt hi ng. . . . What ar e you smi l i ng at ? . . . Wel l , as
I was sayi ng, i t ' s bad. But at l east t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne i s set . The f i r st
shi pment of r ai l wi l l get t o t he si t e i n a f ew weeks. I n a year , we' l l r un
t he f i r st t r ai n on t he new t r ack. Not hi ng' s goi ng t o st op us, t hi s t i me. . .
. Sur e, I know who' s goi ng t o l ay t he r ai l . McNamar a, of Cl evel and. He' s t he
cont r act or who f i ni shed t he San Sebast i an Li ne f or us. Ther e, at l east , i s
one man who knows hi s j ob. So we' r e saf e. We can count on hi m. Ther e ar en' t
many good cont r act or s l ef t . . . . We' r e r ushed as hel l , but I l i ke i t . I ' ve
been comi ng t o t he of f i ce an hour ear l i er t han usual , but she beat s me t o i t .
She' s al ways t her e f i r st . . . . What ? . . . I don' t know what she does at
ni ght . Not hi ng much, I guess. . . . No, she never goes out wi t h anyone. She
si t s at home, most l y, and l i st ens t o musi c. She pl ays r ecor ds. . . . What do
you car e, whi ch r ecor ds? Ri char d Hal l ey.
She l oves t he musi c of Ri char d Hal l ey. Out si de t he r ai l r oad, t hat ' s t he
onl y t hi ng she l oves. "

CHAPTER IV
THE IMMOVABLE MOVERS

Mot i ve power t hought Dagny, l ooki ng up at t he Taggar t Bui l di ng i n t he
t wi l i ght was i t s f i r st need; mot i ve power , t o keep t hat bui l di ng st andi ng;
movement , t o keep i t i mmovabl e. I t di d not r est on pi l es dr i ven i nt o gr ani t e;
i t r est ed on t he engi nes t hat r ol l ed acr oss a cont i nent .
She f el t a di mt ouch of anxi et y. She was back f r oma t r i p t o t he pl ant of
t he Uni t ed Locomot i ve Wor ks i n New J er sey, wher e she had gone t o see t he
pr esi dent of t he company i n per son. She had l ear ned not hi ng: nei t her t he
r eason f or t he del ays nor any i ndi cat i on of t he dat e when t he Di esel engi nes
woul d be pr oduced. The pr esi dent of t he company had t al ked t o her f or t wo
hour s. But none of hi s answer s had connect ed t o any of her quest i ons. Hi s
manner had conveyed a pecul i ar not e of condescendi ng r epr oach whenever she
at t empt ed t o make t he conver sat i on speci f i c, as i f she wer e gi vi ng pr oof of
i l l - br eedi ng by br eaki ng some unwr i t t en code known t o ever yone el se.
On her way t hr ough t he pl ant , she had seen an enor mous pi ece of machi ner y
l ef t abandoned i n a cor ner of t he yar d. I t had been a pr eci si on machi ne t ool
once, l ong ago, of a ki nd t hat coul d not be bought anywher e now. I t had not
been wor n out ; i t had been r ot t ed by negl ect , eat en by r ust and t he bl ack
dr i ppi ngs of a di r t y oi l . She had t ur ned her f ace away f r omi t . A si ght of
t hat nat ur e al ways bl i nded her f or an i nst ant by t he bur st of t oo vi ol ent an
anger . She di d not know why; she coul d not def i ne her own f eel i ng; she knew
onl y t hat t her e was, i n her f eel i ng, a scr eamof pr ot est agai nst i nj ust i ce,
and t hat i t was a r esponse t o somet hi ng much beyond an ol d pi ece of
machi ner y.
The r est of her st af f had gone, when she ent er ed t he ant er oomof her
of f i ce, but Eddi e Wi l l er s was st i l l t her e, wai t i ng f or her . She knew at once
t hat somet hi ng had happened, by t he way he l ooked and t he way he f ol l owed her
si l ent l y i nt o her of f i ce.
" What ' s t he mat t er , Eddi e?"
" McNamar a qui t . "
She l ooked at hi mbl ankl y. " What do you mean, qui t ?"
" Lef t . Ret i r ed. Went out of busi ness. "
" McNamar a, our cont r act or ?"
" Yes"
" But t hat ' s i mpossi bl e! "
" I know i t . "
" What happened? Why?"
" Nobody knows. "
Taki ng her t i me del i ber at el y, she unbut t oned her coat , sat down at her
desk, st ar t ed t o pul l of f her gl oves. Then she sai d, " Begi n at t he begi nni ng,
Eddi e. Si t down. "
He spoke qui et l y, but he r emai ned st andi ng. " I t al ked t o hi s chi ef
engi neer , l ong di st ance. The chi ef engi neer cal l ed f r omCl evel and, t o t el l
us. That ' s al l he sai d. He knew not hi ng el se. "
" What di d he say?"
" That McNamar a has cl osed hi s busi ness and gone. "
" Wher e?"
" He doesn' t know. Nobody knows. "
She not i ced t hat she was hol di ng wi t h one hand t wo empt y f i nger s of t he
gl ove of t he ot her , t he gl ove hal f - r emoved and f or got t en. She pul l ed i t of f
and dr opped i t on t he desk.
Eddi e sai d, " He' s wal ked out on a pi l e of cont r act s t hat ar e wor t h a
f or t une. He had a wai t i ng l i st of cl i ent s f or t he next t hr ee year s. . . . "
She sai d not hi ng. He added, hi s voi ce l ow, " I woul dn' t be f r i ght ened i f I
coul d under st and i t . . . . But a t hi ng t hat can' t have any possi bl e r eason .
. . " She r emai ned si l ent . " He was t he best cont r act or i n t he count r y. "
They l ooked at each ot her . What she want ed t o say was, " Oh God, Eddi e! "
I nst ead, her voi ce even, she sai d, " Don' t wor r y. We' l l f i nd anot her
cont r act or f or t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne, "
I t was l at e when she l ef t her of f i ce. Out si de, on t he si dewal k at t he door
of t he bui l di ng, she paused, l ooki ng at t he st r eet s. She f el t suddenl y empt y
of ener gy, of pur pose, of desi r e, as i f a mot or had cr ackl ed and st opped.
A f ai nt gl ow st r eamed f r ombehi nd t he bui l di ngs i nt o t he sky, t he
r ef l ect i on of t housands of unknown l i ght s, t he el ect r i c br eat h of t he ci t y.
She want ed t o r est . To r est , she t hought , and t o f i nd enj oyment somewher e.
Her wor k was al l she had or want ed. But t her e wer e t i mes, l i ke t oni ght ,
when she f el t t hat sudden, pecul i ar empt i ness, whi ch was not empt i ness, but
si l ence, not despai r , but i mmobi l i t y, as i f not hi ng wi t hi n her wer e
dest r oyed, but ever yt hi ng st ood st i l l . Then she f el t t he wi sh t o f i nd a
moment ' s j oy out si de, t he wi sh t o be hel d as a passi ve spect at or by some wor k
or si ght of gr eat ness. Not t o make i t , she t hought , but t o accept ; not t o
begi n, but t o r espond; not t o cr eat e, but t o admi r e. I need i t t o l et me go
on, she t hought , because j oy i s one' s f uel .
She had al ways beenshe cl osed her eyes wi t h a f ai nt smi l e of amusement
and pai nt he mot i ve power of her own happi ness. For once, she want ed t o f eel
her sel f car r i ed by t he power of someone el se' s achi evement . As men on a dar k
pr ai r i e l i ked t o see t he l i ght ed wi ndows of a t r ai n goi ng past , her
achi evement , t he si ght of power and pur pose t hat gave t hemr eassur ance i n t he
mi dst of empt y mi l es and ni ght so she want ed t o f eel i t f or a moment , a
br i ef gr eet i ng, a si ngl e gl i mpse, j ust t o wave her ar mand say: Someone i s
goi ng somewher e. . . .
She st ar t ed wal ki ng sl owl y, her hands i n t he pocket s of her coat , t he
shadow of her sl ant i ng hat br i macr oss her f ace. The bui l di ngs ar ound her
r ose t o such hei ght s t hat her gl ance coul d not f i nd t he sky. She t hought : I t
has t aken so much t o bui l d t hi s ci t y, i t shoul d have so much t o of f er .
Above t he door of a shop, t he bl ack hol e of a r adi o l oudspeaker was
hur l i ng sounds at t he st r eet s. They wer e t he sounds of a symphony concer t
bei ng gi ven somewher e i n t he ci t y. They wer e a l ong scr eech wi t hout shape, as
of cl ot h and f l esh bei ng t or n at r andom. They scat t er ed wi t h no mel ody, no
har mony, no r hyt hmt o hol d t hem. I f musi c was emot i on and emot i on came f r om
t hought , t hen t hi s was t he scr eamof chaos, of t he i r r at i onal , of t he
hel pl ess, of man' s sel f - abdi cat i on.
She wal ked on. She st opped at t he wi ndow of a bookst or e. The wi ndow
di spl ayed a pyr ami d of sl abs i n br owni sh- pur pl e j acket s, i nscr i bed: The
Vul t ur e I s Mol t i ng. " The novel of our cent ur y, " sai d a pl acar d.
" The penet r at i ng st udy of a busi nessman' s gr eed. A f ear l ess r evel at i on of
man' s depr avi t y. "
She wal ked past a movi e t heat er . I t s l i ght s wi ped out hal f a bl ock,
l eavi ng onl y a huge phot ogr aph and some l et t er s suspended i n bl azi ng mi d- ai r .
The phot ogr aph was of a smi l i ng young woman; l ooki ng at her f ace, one f el t
t he wear i ness of havi ng seen i t f or year s, even whi l e seei ng i t f or t he f i r st
t i me. The l et t er s sai d: " . . . i n a moment ous dr ama gi vi ng t he answer t o t he
gr eat pr obl em: Shoul d a woman t el l ?"
She wal ked past t he door of a ni ght cl ub. A coupl e came st agger i ng out t o
a t axi cab. The gi r l had bl ur r ed eyes, a per spi r i ng f ace, an er mi ne cape and a
beaut i f ul eveni ng gown t hat had sl i pped of f one shoul der l i ke a sl ovenl y
housewi f e' s bat hr obe, r eveal i ng t oo much of her br east , not i n a manner of
dar i ng, but i n t he manner of a dr udge' s i ndi f f er ence. Her escor t st eer ed her ,
gr i ppi ng her naked ar m; hi s f ace di d not have t he expr essi on of a man
ant i ci pat i ng a r omant i c advent ur e, but t he sl y l ook of a boy out t o wr i t e
obsceni t i es on f ences.
What had she hoped t o f i nd?she t hought , wal ki ng on. These wer e t he t hi ngs
men l i ved by, t he f or ms of t hei r spi r i t , of t hei r cul t ur e, of t hei r
enj oyment . She had seen not hi ng el se anywher e, not f or many year s.
At t he cor ner of t he st r eet wher e she l i ved, she bought a newspaper and
went home.
Her apar t ment was t wo r ooms on t he t op f l oor of a skyscr aper . The sheet s
of gl ass i n t he cor ner wi ndow of her l i vi ng r oommade i t l ook l i ke t he pr ow
of a shi p i n mot i on, and t he l i ght s of t he ci t y wer e l i ke phosphor escent
spar ks on t he bl ack waves of st eel and st one. When she t ur ned on a l amp, l ong
t r i angl es of shadow cut t he bar e wal l s, i n a geomet r i cal pat t er n of l i ght
r ays br oken by a f ew angul ar pi eces of f ur ni t ur e.
She st ood i n t he mi ddl e of t he r oom, al one bet ween sky and ci t y.
Ther e was onl y one t hi ng t hat coul d gi ve her t he f eel i ng she want ed t o
exper i ence t oni ght ; i t was t he onl y f or mof enj oyment she had f ound.
She t ur ned t o a phonogr aph and put on a r ecor d of t he musi c of Ri char d
Hal l ey.
I t was hi s Four t h Concer t o, t he l ast wor k he had wr i t t en. The cr ash of i t s
openi ng chor ds swept t he si ght s of t he st r eet s away f r omher mi nd.
The Concer t o was a gr eat cr y of r ebel l i on. I t was a " No" f l ung at some
vast pr ocess of t or t ur e, a deni al of suf f er i ng, a deni al t hat hel d t he agony
of t he st r uggl e t o br eak f r ee. The sounds wer e l i ke a voi ce sayi ng: Ther e i s
no necessi t y f or pai nwhy, t hen, i s t he wor st pai n r eser ved f or t hose who
wi l l not accept i t s necessi t y?we who hol d t he l ove and t he secr et of j oy, t o
what puni shment have we been sent enced f or i t , and by whom? . . . The sounds
of t or t ur e became def i ance, t he st at ement of agony became a hymn t o a di st ant
vi si on f or whose sake anyt hi ng was wor t h endur i ng, even t hi s. I t was t he song
of r ebel l i onand of a desper at e quest .
She sat st i l l , her eyes cl osed, l i st eni ng.
No one knew what had happened t o Ri char d Hal l ey, or why. The st or y of hi s
l i f e had been l i ke a summar y wr i t t en t o damn gr eat ness by showi ng t he pr i ce
one pays f or i t . I t had been a pr ocessi on of year s spent i n gar r et s and
basement s, year s t hat had t aken t he gr ay t i nge of t he wal l s i mpr i soni ng a man
whose musi c over f l owed wi t h vi ol ent col or .
I t had been t he gr ay of a st r uggl e agai nst l ong f l i ght s of unl i ght ed
t enement st ai r s, agai nst f r ozen pl umbi ng, agai nst t he pr i ce of a sandwi ch i n
an i l l - smel l i ng del i cat essen st or e, agai nst t he f aces of men who l i st ened t o
musi c, t hei r eyes empt y. I t had been a st r uggl e wi t hout t he r el i ef of
vi ol ence, wi t hout t he r ecogni t i on of f i ndi ng a consci ous enemy, wi t h onl y a
deaf wal l t o bat t er , a wal l of t he most ef f ect i ve soundpr oof i ng:
i ndi f f er ence, t hat swal l owed bl ows, chor ds and scr eamsa bat t l e of si l ence,
f or a man who coul d gi ve t o sounds a gr eat er el oquence t han t hey had ever
car r i edt he si l ence of obscur i t y, of l onel i ness, of t he ni ght s when some r ar e
or chest r a pl ayed one of hi s wor ks and he l ooked at t he dar kness, knowi ng t hat
hi s soul went i n t r embl i ng, wi deni ng ci r cl es f r oma r adi o t ower t hr ough t he
ai r of t he ci t y, but t her e wer e no r ecei ver s t uned t o hear i t .
" The musi c of Ri char d Hal l ey has a qual i t y of t he her oi c. Our age has
out gr own t hat st uf f , " sai d one cr i t i c. " The musi c of Ri char d Hal l ey i s out of
key wi t h our t i mes. I t has a t one of ecst asy. Who car es f or ecst asy
nowadays?" sai d anot her .
Hi s l i f e had been a summar y of t he l i ves of al l t he men whose r ewar d i s a
monument i n a publ i c par k a hundr ed year s af t er t he t i me when a r ewar d can
mat t er except t hat Ri char d Hal l ey di d not di e soon enough. He l i ved t o see
t he ni ght whi ch, by t he accept ed l aws of hi st or y, he was not supposed t o see.
He was f or t y- t hr ee year s ol d and i t was t he openi ng ni ght of Phaet hon, an
oper a he had wr i t t en at t he age of t went y- f our . He had changed t he anci ent
Gr eek myt h t o hi s own pur pose and meani ng: Phaet hon, t he young son of Hel i os,
who st ol e hi s f at her ' s char i ot and, i n ambi t i ous audaci t y, at t empt ed t o dr i ve
t he sun acr oss t he sky, di d not per i sh, as he per i shed i n t he myt h; i n
Hal l ey' s oper a, Phaet hon succeeded. The oper a had been per f or med t hen,
ni net een year s ago, and had cl osed af t er one per f or mance, t o t he sound of
booi ng and cat cal l s. That ni ght , Ri char d Hal l ey had wal ked t he st r eet s of t he
ci t y t i l l dawn, t r yi ng t o f i nd an answer t o a quest i on, whi ch he di d not
f i nd.
On t he ni ght when t he oper a was pr esent ed agai n, ni net een year s l at er , t he
l ast sounds of t he musi c cr ashed i nt o t he sounds of t he gr eat est ovat i on t he
oper a house had ever hear d. The anci ent wal l s coul d not cont ai n i t , t he
sounds of cheer i ng bur st t hr ough t o t he l obbi es, t o t he st ai r s, t o t he
st r eet s, t o t he boy who had wal ked t hose st r eet s ni net een year s ago.
Dagny was i n t he audi ence on t he ni ght of t he ovat i on. She was one of t he
f ew who had known t he musi c of Ri char d Hal l ey much ear l i er ; but she had never
seen hi m. She saw hi mbei ng pushed out on t he st age, saw hi mf aci ng t he
enor mous spr ead of wavi ng ar ms and cheer i ng heads. He st ood wi t hout movi ng, a
t al l , emaci at ed man wi t h gr ayi ng hai r . He di d not bow, di d not smi l e; he j ust
st ood t her e, l ooki ng at t he cr owd. Hi s f ace had t he qui et , ear nest l ook of a
man st ar i ng at a quest i on.
" The musi c of Ri char d Hal l ey, " wr ot e a cr i t i c next mor ni ng, " bel ongs t o
manki nd. I t i s t he pr oduct and t he expr essi on of t he gr eat ness of t he
peopl e. " " Ther e i s an i nspi r i ng l esson, " sai d a mi ni st er , " i n t he l i f e of
Ri char d Hal l ey. He has had a t er r i bl e st r uggl e, but what does t hat mat t er ? I t
i s pr oper , i t i s nobl e t hat he shoul d have endur ed suf f er i ng, i nj ust i ce,
abuse at t he hands of hi s br ot her si n or der t o enr i ch t hei r l i ves and t each
t hemt o appr eci at e t he beaut y of gr eat musi c. "
On t he day af t er t he openi ng, Ri char d Hal l ey r et i r ed.
He gave no expl anat i on. He mer el y t ol d hi s publ i sher s t hat hi s car eer was
over . He sol d t hemt he r i ght s t o hi s wor ks f or a modest sum, even t hough he
knew t hat hi s r oyal t i es woul d now br i ng hi ma f or t une. He went away, l eavi ng
no addr ess. I t was ei ght year s ago; no one had seen hi msi nce.
Dagny l i st ened t o t he Four t h Concer t o, her head t hr own back, her eyes
cl osed. She l ay hal f - st r et ched acr oss t he cor ner of a couch, her body r el axed
and st i l l ; but t ensi on st r essed t he shape of her mout h on her mot i onl ess
f ace, a sensual shape dr awn i n l i nes of l ongi ng.
Af t er a whi l e, she opened her eyes. She not i ced t he newspaper she had
t hr own down on t he couch. She r eached f or i t absent l y, t o t ur n t he vapi d
headl i nes out of si ght . The paper f el l open. She saw t he phot ogr aph of a f ace
she knew, and t he headi ng of a st or y. She sl ammed t he pages shut and f l ung
t hemasi de.
I t was t he f ace of Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. The headi ng sai d t hat he had
ar r i ved i n New Yor k. What of i t ?she t hought . She woul d not have t o see hi m.
She had not seen hi mf or year s.
She sat l ooki ng down at t he newspaper on t he f l oor . Don' t r ead i t , she
t hought ; don' t l ook at i t . But t he f ace, she t hought , had not changed.
How coul d a f ace r emai n t he same when ever yt hi ng el se was gone? She wi shed
t hey had not caught a pi ct ur e of hi mwhen he smi l ed. That ki nd of smi l e di d
not bel ong i n t he pages of a newspaper . I t was t he smi l e of a man who i s abl e
t o see, t o know and t o cr eat e t he gl or y of exi st ence. I t was t he mocki ng,
chal l engi ng smi l e of a br i l l i ant i nt el l i gence.
Don' t r ead i t , she t hought ; not nownot t o t hat musi coh, not t o t hat
musi c!
She r eached f or t he paper and opened i t .
The st or y sai d t hat Senor Fr anci sco d' Anconi a had gr ant ed an i nt er vi ew t o
t he pr ess i n hi s sui t e at t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el . He sai d t hat he had come
t o New Yor k f or t wo i mpor t ant r easons: a hat - check gi r l at t he Cub Cl ub, and
t he l i ver wur st at Moe' s Del i cat essen on Thi r d Avenue. He had not hi ng t o say
about t he comi ng di vor ce t r i al of Mr . and Mr s. Gi l ber t Vai l . Mr s. Vai l , a
l ady of nobl e br eedi ng and unusual l ovel i ness, had t aken a shot at her
di st i ngui shed young husband, some mont hs ago, publ i cl y decl ar i ng t hat she
wi shed t o get r i d of hi mf or t he sake of her l over , Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. She
had gi ven t o t he pr ess a det ai l ed account of her secr et r omance, i ncl udi ng a
descr i pt i on of t he ni ght of l ast New Year ' s Eve whi ch she had spent at
d' Anconi a' s vi l l a i n t he Andes. Her husband had sur vi ved t he shot and had
sued f or di vor ce.
She had count er ed wi t h a sui t f or hal f of her husband' s mi l l i ons, and wi t h
a r eci t al of hi s pr i vat e l i f e whi ch, she sai d, made her s l ook i nnocent .
Al l of t hat had been spl ashed over t he newspaper s f or weeks. But Senor
d' Anconi a had not hi ng t o say about i t , when t he r epor t er s quest i oned hi m.
Woul d he deny Mr s. Vai l ' s st or y, t hey asked. " I never deny anyt hi ng, " he
answer ed. The r epor t er s had been ast oni shed by hi s sudden ar r i val i n t own;
t hey had t hought t hat he woul d not wi sh t o be t her e j ust when t he wor st of
t he scandal was about t o expl ode on t he f r ont pages. But t hey had been wr ong.
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a added one mor e comment t o t he r easons f or hi s ar r i val . " I
want ed t o wi t ness t he f ar ce, "
he sai d.
Dagny l et t he paper sl i p t o t he f l oor . She sat , bent over , her head on her
ar ms. She di d not move, but t he st r ands of hai r , hangi ng down t o her knees,
t r embl ed i n sudden j ol t s once i n a whi l e.
The gr eat chor ds of Hal l ey' s musi c went on, f i l l i ng t he r oom, pi er ci ng t he
gl ass of t he wi ndows, st r eami ng out over t he ci t y. She was hear i ng t he musi c.
I t was her quest , her cr y.
J ames Taggar t gl anced about t he l i vi ng r oomof hi s apar t ment , wonder i ng
what t i me i t was; he di d not f eel l i ke movi ng t o f i nd hi s wat ch.
He sat i n an ar mchai r , dr essed i n wr i nkl ed paj amas, bar ef oot ed; i t was t oo
much t r oubl e t o l ook f or hi s sl i pper s. The l i ght of t he gr ay sky i n t he
wi ndows hur t hi s eyes, st i l l st i cky wi t h sl eep. He f el t , i nsi de hi s skul l ,
t he nast y heavi ness whi ch i s about t o become a headache. He wonder ed angr i l y
why he had st umbl ed out i nt o t he l i vi ng r oom. Oh yes, he r emember ed, t o l ook
f or t he t i me.
He sl umped si dewi se over t he ar mof t he chai r and caught si ght of a cl ock
on a di st ant bui l di ng: i t was t went y mi nut es past noon.
Thr ough t he open door of t he bedr oom, he hear d Bet t y Pope washi ng her
t eet h i n t he bat hr oombeyond. Her gi r dl e l ay on t he f l oor , by t he si de of a
chai r wi t h t he r est of her cl ot hes; t he gi r dl e was a f aded pi nk, wi t h br oken
st r ands of r ubber .
" Hur r y up, wi l l you?" he cal l ed i r r i t abl y. " I ' ve got t o dr ess, "
She di d not answer . She had l ef t t he door of t he bat hr oomopen; he coul d
hear t he sound of gar gl i ng.
Why do I do t hose t hi ngs?he t hought , r emember i ng l ast ni ght . But i t was
t oo much t r oubl e t o l ook f or an answer .
Bet t y Pope came i nt o t he l i vi ng r oom, dr aggi ng t he f ol ds of a sat i n
negl i gee har l equi n- checker ed i n or ange and pur pl e. She l ooked awf ul i n a
negl i gee, t hought Taggar t ; she was ever so much bet t er i n a r i di ng habi t , i n
t he phot ogr aphs on t he soci et y pages of t he newspaper s. She was a l anky gi r l ,
al l bones and l oose j oi nt s t hat di d not move smoot hl y.
She had a homel y f ace, a bad compl exi on and a l ook of i mper t i nent
condescensi on der i ved f r omt he f act t hat she bel onged t o one of t he ver y best
f ami l i es.
" Aw, hel l ! " she sai d at not hi ng i n par t i cul ar , st r et chi ng her sel f t o
l i mber up. " J i m, wher e ar e your nai l cl i pper s? I ' ve got t o t r i mmy t oenai l s. "
" I don' t know. I have a headache. Do i t at home. "
" You l ook unappet i zi ng i n t he mor ni ng. " she sai d i ndi f f er ent l y. " You l ook
l i ke a snai l . "
" Why don' t you shut up?"
She wander ed ai ml essl y about t he r oom. " I don' t want t o go home, "
she sai d wi t h no par t i cul ar f eel i ng. " I hat e mor ni ng. Her e' s anot her day
and not hi ng t o do. I ' ve got a t ea sessi on on f or t hi s af t er noon, at Li z
Bl ane' s. Oh wel l , i t mi ght be f un, because Li z i s a bi t ch. " She pi cked up a
gl ass and swal l owed t he st al e r emnant of a dr i nk. " Why don' t you have t hem
r epai r your ai r - condi t i oner ? Thi s pl ace smel l s. "
" Ar e you t hr ough i n t he bat hr oom?" he asked. " I have t o dr ess. I have an
i mpor t ant engagement t oday. "
" Go r i ght i n. I don' t mi nd. I ' l l shar e t he bat hr oomwi t h you. I hat e t o be
r ushed. "
Whi l e he shaved, he saw her dr essi ng i n f r ont of t he open bat hr oomdoor .
She t ook a l ong t i me t wi st i ng her sel f i nt o her gi r dl e, hooki ng gar t er s t o her
st ocki ngs, pul l i ng on an ungai nl y, expensi ve t weed sui t .
The har l equi n negl i gee, pi cked f r oman adver t i sement i n t he smar t est
f ashi on magazi ne, was l i ke a uni f or mwhi ch she knew t o be expect ed on cer t ai n
occasi ons, whi ch she had wor n dut i f ul l y f or a speci f i ed pur pose and t hen
di scar ded.
The nat ur e of t hei r r el at i onshi p had t he same qual i t y. Ther e was no
passi on i n i t , no desi r e, no act ual pl easur e, not even a sense of shame.
To t hem, t he act of sex was nei t her j oy nor si n. I t meant not hi ng. They
had hear d t hat men and women wer e supposed t o sl eep t oget her , so t hey di d.
" J i m, why don' t you t ake me t o t he Ar meni an r est aur ant t oni ght ?"
she asked. " I l ove shi sh- kebab. "
" I can' t , " he answer ed angr i l y t hr ough t he soap l at her on hi s f ace.
" I ' ve got a busy day ahead. "
" Why don' t you cancel i t ?"
" What ?"
" What ever i t i s. "
" I t i s ver y i mpor t ant , my dear . I t i s a meet i ng of our Boar d of
Di r ect or s. "
" Oh, don' t be st uf f y about your damn r ai l r oad. I t ' s bor i ng. I hat e
busi nessmen. They' r e dul l . "
He di d not answer .
She gl anced at hi msl yl y, and her voi ce acqui r ed a l i vel i er not e when she
dr awl ed, " J ock Benson sai d t hat you have a sof t snap on t hat r ai l r oad anyway,
because i t ' s your si st er who r uns t he whol e wor ks. "
" Oh, he di d, di d he?"
" I t hi nk t hat your si st er i s awf ul . I t hi nk i t ' s di sgust i nga woman act i ng
l i ke a gr ease- monkey and posi ng ar ound l i ke a bi g execut i ve. I t ' s so
unf emi ni ne. Who does she t hi nk she i s, anyway?"
Taggar t st epped out t o t he t hr eshol d. He l eaned agai nst t he door j amb,
st udyi ng Bet t y Pope. Ther e was a f ai nt smi l e on hi s f ace, sar cast i c and
conf i dent . They had, he t hought , a bond i n common.
" I t mi ght i nt er est you t o know, my dear , " he sai d, " t hat I ' mput t i ng t he
ski ds under my si st er t hi s af t er noon. "
" No?" she sai d, i nt er est ed. " Real l y?"
" And t hat i s why t hi s Boar d meet i ng i s so i mpor t ant . "
" Ar e you r eal l y goi ng t o ki ck her out ?"
" No. That ' s not necessar y or advi sabl e. I shal l mer el y put her i n her
pl ace. I t ' s t he chance I ' ve been wai t i ng f or . "
" You got somet hi ng on her ? Some scandal ?"
" No, no. You woul dn' t under st and. I t ' s mer el y t hat she' s gone t oo f ar , f or
once, and she' s goi ng t o get sl apped down. She' s pul l ed an i nexcusabl e sor t
of st unt , wi t hout consul t i ng anybody. I t ' s a ser i ous of f ense agai nst our
Mexi can nei ghbor s. When t he Boar d hear s about i t , t hey' l l pass a coupl e of
new r ul i ngs on t he Oper at i ng Depar t ment , whi ch wi l l make my si st er a l i t t l e
easi er t o manage. "
" You' r e smar t , J i m, " she sai d.
" I ' d bet t er get dr essed. " He sounded pl eased. He t ur ned back t o t he
washbowl , addi ng cheer f ul l y, " Maybe I wi l l t ake you out t oni ght and buy you
some shi sh- kebab. "
The t el ephone r ang.
He l i f t ed t he r ecei ver . The oper at or announced a l ong- di st ance cal l f r om
Mexi co Ci t y.
The hyst er i cal voi ce t hat came on t he wi r e was t hat of hi s pol i t i cal man
i n Mexi co.
" I coul dn' t hel p i t , J i m! " i t gul ped. " I coul dn' t hel p i t ! . . . We had no
war ni ng, I swear t o God, nobody suspect ed, nobody saw i t comi ng, I ' ve done my
best , you can' t bl ame me, J i m, i t was a bol t out of t he bl ue! The decr ee came
out t hi s mor ni ng, j ust f i ve mi nut es ago, t hey spr ang i t on us l i ke t hat ,
wi t hout any not i ce! The gover nment of t he Peopl e' s St at e of Mexi co has
nat i onal i zed t he San Sebast i an Mi nes and t he San Sebast i an Rai l r oad. "
" . . . and, t her ef or e, I can assur e t he gent l emen of t he Boar d t hat t her e
i s no occasi on f or pani c. The event of t hi s mor ni ng i s a r egr et t abl e
devel opment , but I have f ul l conf i dencebased on my knowl edge of t he i nner
pr ocesses shapi ng our f or ei gn pol i cy i n Washi ngt ont hat our gover nment wi l l
negot i at e an equi t abl e set t l ement wi t h t he gover nment of t he Peopl e' s St at e
of Mexi co, and t hat we wi l l r ecei ve f ul l and j ust compensat i on f or our
pr oper t y. "
J ames Taggar t st ood at t he l ong t abl e, addr essi ng t he Boar d of Di r ect or s.
Hi s voi ce was pr eci se and monot onous; i t connot ed saf et y.
" I amgl ad t o r epor t , however , t hat I f or esaw t he possi bi l i t y of such a
t ur n of event s and t ook ever y pr ecaut i on t o pr ot ect t he i nt er est s of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al . Some mont hs ago, I i nst r uct ed our Oper at i ng Depar t ment t o
cut t he schedul e on t he San Sebast i an Li ne down t o a si ngl e t r ai n a day, and
t o r emove f r omi t our best mot i ve power and r ol l i ng st ock, as wel l as ever y
pi ece of equi pment t hat coul d be moved.
The Mexi can gover nment was abl e t o sei ze not hi ng but a f ew wooden car s and
one super annuat ed l ocomot i ve. My deci si on has saved t he company many mi l l i ons
of dol l ar sI shal l have t he exact f i gur es comput ed and submi t t hemt o you. I
do f eel , however , t hat our st ockhol der s wi l l be j ust i f i ed i n expect i ng t hat
t hose who bor e t he maj or r esponsi bi l i t y f or t hi s vent ur e shoul d now bear t he
consequences of t hei r negl i gence. I woul d suggest , t her ef or e, t hat we r equest
t he r esi gnat i on of Mr . Cl ar ence Eddi ngt on, our economi c consul t ant , who
r ecommended t he const r uct i on of t he San Sebast i an Li ne, and of Mr . J ul es
Mot t , our r epr esent at i ve i n Mexi co Ci t y. "
The men sat ar ound t he l ong t abl e, l i st eni ng. They di d not t hi nk of what
t hey woul d have t o do, but of what t hey woul d have t o say t o t he men t hey
r epr esent ed. Taggar t ' s speech gave t hemwhat t hey needed.
Or r en Boyl e was wai t i ng f or hi m, when Taggar t r et ur ned t o hi s of f i ce. Once
t hey wer e al one, Taggar t ' s manner changed. He l eaned agai nst t he desk,
saggi ng, hi s f ace l oose and whi t e.
" Wel l ?" he asked.
Boyl e spr ead hi s hands out hel pl essl y. " I ' ve checked, J i m, " he sai d.
" I t ' s st r ai ght al l r i ght ; d' Anconi a' s l ost f i f t een mi l l i on dol l ar s of hi s
own money i n t hose mi nes. No, t her e wasn' t anyt hi ng phony about t hat , he
di dn' t pul l any sor t of t r i ck, he put up hi s own cash and now he' s l ost i t . "
" Wel l , what ' s he goi ng t o do about i t ?"
" That I don' t know. Nobody does. "
" He' s not goi ng t o l et hi msel f be r obbed, i s he? He' s t oo smar t f or t hat .
He must have somet hi ng up hi s sl eeve. "
" I sur e hope so. "
" He' s out wi t t ed some of t he sl i ckest combi nat i ons of money- gr ubber s on
ear t h. I s he goi ng t o be t aken by a bunch of Gr easer pol i t i ci ans wi t h a
decr ee? He must have somet hi ng on t hem, and he' l l get t he l ast wor d, and we
must be sur e t o be i n on i t , t oo! "
" That ' s up t o you, J i m. You' r e hi s f r i end. "
" Fr i end be damned! I hat e hi s gut s. "
He pr essed a but t on f or hi s secr et ar y. The secr et ar y ent er ed uncer t ai nl y,
l ooki ng unhappy; he was a young man, no l onger t oo young, wi t h a bl oodl ess
f ace and t he wel l - br ed manner of gent eel pover t y.
" Di d you get me an appoi nt ment wi t h Fr anci sco d' Anconi a?" snapped Taggar t .
" No, si r . "
" But , God damn i t , I t ol d you t o cal l t he"
" I wasn' t abl e t o, si r . I have t r i ed. "
" Wel l , t r y agai n. "
" I mean I wasn' t abl e t o obt ai n t he appoi nt ment , Mr . Taggar t . "
" Why not ?"
" He decl i ned i t . "
" You mean he r ef used t o see me?"
" Yes, si r , t hat i s what I mean. "
" He woul dn' t see me?"
" No, si r , he woul dn' t . "
" Di d you speak t o hi mi n per son?"
" No, si r , I spoke t o hi s secr et ar y. "
" What di d he t el l you? J ust what di d he say?" The young man hesi t at ed and
l ooked mor e unhappy. " What di d he say?"
" He sai d t hat Seni or d' Anconi a sai d t hat you bor e hi m, Mr . Taggar t . "
The pr oposal whi ch t hey passed was known as t he " Ant i - dog- eat - dog Rul e. "
When t hey vot ed f or i t , t he member s of t he Nat i onal Al l i ance of Rai l r oads sat
i n a l ar ge hal l i n t he deepeni ng t wi l i ght of a l at e aut umn eveni ng and di d
not l ook at one anot her .
The Nat i onal Al l i ance of Rai l r oads was an or gani zat i on f or med, i t was
cl ai med, t o pr ot ect t he wel f ar e of t he r ai l r oad i ndust r y. Thi s was t o be
achi eved by devel opi ng met hods of co- oper at i on f or a common pur pose; t hi s was
t o be achi eved by t he pl edge of ever y member t o subor di nat e hi s own i nt er est s
t o t hose of t he i ndust r y as a whol e; t he i nt er est s of t he i ndust r y as a whol e
wer e t o be det er mi ned by a maj or i t y vot e, and ever y member was commi t t ed t o
abi de by any deci si on t he maj or i t y chose t o make.
" Member s of t he same pr of essi on or of t he same i ndust r y shoul d st i ck
t oget her , " t he or gani zer s of t he Al l i ance had sai d. " We al l have t he same
pr obl ems, t he same i nt er est s, t he same enemi es. We wast e our ener gy f i ght i ng
one anot her , i nst ead of pr esent i ng a common f r ont t o t he wor l d.
We can al l gr ow and pr osper t oget her , i f we pool our ef f or t s. " " Agai nst
whomi s t hi s Al l i ance bei ng or gani zed?" a skept i c had asked. The answer had
been: " Why, i t ' s not ' agai nst ' anybody. But i f you want t o put i t t hat way,
why, i t ' s agai nst shi pper s or suppl y manuf act ur er s or anyone who mi ght t r y t o
t ake advant age of us. Agai nst whomi s any uni on or gani zed?" " That ' s what I
wonder about , " t he skept i c had sai d.
When t he Ant i - dog- eat - dog Rul e was of f er ed t o t he vot e of t he f ul l
member shi p of t he Nat i onal Al l i ance of Rai l r oads at i t s annual meet i ng, i t
was t he f i r st ment i on of t hi s Rul e i n publ i c. But al l t he member s had hear d
of i t ; i t had been di scussed pr i vat el y f or a l ong t une, and mor e i nsi st ent l y
i n t he l ast f ew mont hs. The men who sat i n t he l ar ge hal l of t he meet i ng wer e
t he pr esi dent s of t he r ai l r oads. They di d not l i ke t he Ant i - dog- eat - dog Rul e;
t hey had hoped i t woul d never be br ought up.
But when i t was br ought up, t hey vot ed f or i t .
No r ai l r oad was ment i oned by name i n t he speeches t hat pr eceded t he
vot i ng. The speeches deal t onl y wi t h t he publ i c wel f ar e. I t was sai d t hat
whi l e t he publ i c wel f ar e was t hr eat ened by shor t ages of t r anspor t at i on,
r ai l r oads wer e dest r oyi ng one anot her t hr ough vi ci ous compet i t i on, on " t he
br ut al pol i cy of dog- eat - dog. " Whi l e t her e exi st ed bl i ght ed ar eas wher e r ai l
ser vi ce had been di scont i nued, t her e exi st ed at t he same t i me l ar ge r egi ons
wher e t wo or mor e r ai l r oads wer e compet i ng f or a t r af f i c bar el y suf f i ci ent
f or one. I t was sai d t hat t her e wer e gr eat oppor t uni t i es f or younger
r ai l r oads i n t he bl i ght ed ar eas. Whi l e i t was t r ue t hat such ar eas of f er ed
l i t t l e economi c i ncent i ve at pr esent , a publ i c- spi r i t ed r ai l r oad, i t was
sai d, woul d under t ake t o pr ovi de t r anspor t at i on f or t he st r uggl i ng
i nhabi t ant s, si nce t he pr i me pur pose of a r ai l r oad was publ i c ser vi ce, not
pr of i t .
Then i t was sai d t hat l ar ge, est abl i shed r ai l r oad syst ems wer e essent i al
t o t he publ i c wel f ar e; and t hat t he col l apse of one of t hemwoul d be a
nat i onal cat ast r ophe; and t hat i f one such syst emhad happened t o sust ai n a
cr ushi ng l oss i n a publ i c- spi r i t ed at t empt t o cont r i but e t o i nt er nat i onal
good wi l l , i t was ent i t l ed t o publ i c suppor t t o hel p i t sur vi ve t he bl ow.
No r ai l r oad was ment i oned by name. But when t he chai r man of t he meet i ng
r ai sed hi s hand, as a sol emn si gnal t hat t hey wer e about t o vot e, ever ybody
l ooked at Dan Conway, pr esi dent of t he Phoeni x- Dur ango.
Ther e wer e onl y f i ve di ssent er s who vot ed agai nst i t . Yet when t he
chai r man announced t hat t he measur e had passed, t her e was no cheer i ng, no
sounds of appr oval , no movement , not hi ng but a heavy si l ence.
To t he l ast mi nut e, ever y one of t hemhad hoped t hat someone woul d save
t hemf r omi t .
The Ant i - dog- eat - dog Rul e was descr i bed as a measur e of " vol unt ar y sel f -
r egul at i on" i nt ended " t he bet t er t o enf or ce" t he l aws l ong si nce passed by
t he count r y' s Legi sl at ur e. The Rul e pr ovi ded t hat t he member s of t he Nat i onal
Al l i ance of Rai l r oads wer e f or bi dden t o engage i n pr act i ces def i ned as
" dest r uct i ve compet i t i on" ; t hat i n r egi ons decl ar ed t o be r est r i ct ed, no mor e
t han one r ai l r oad woul d be per mi t t ed t o oper at e; t hat i n such r egi ons,
seni or i t y bel onged t o t he ol dest r ai l r oad now oper at i ng t her e, and t hat t he
newcomer s, who had encr oached unf ai r l y upon i t s t er r i t or y, woul d suspend
oper at i ons wi t hi n ni ne mont hs af t er bei ng so or der ed; t hat t he Execut i ve
Boar d of t he Nat i onal Al l i ance of Rai l r oads was empower ed t o deci de, at i t s
sol e di scr et i on, whi ch r egi ons wer e t o be r est r i ct ed.
When t he meet i ng adj our ned, t he men hast ened t o l eave. Ther e wer e no
pr i vat e di scussi ons, no f r i endl y l oi t er i ng. The gr eat hal l became deser t ed i n
an unusual l y shor t t i me. Nobody spoke t o or l ooked at Dan Conway.
I n t he l obby of t he bui l di ng, J ames Taggar t met Or r en Boyl e. They had made
no appoi nt ment t o meet , but Taggar t saw a bul ky f i gur e out l i ned agai nst a
mar bl e wal l and knew who i t was bef or e he saw t he f ace. They appr oached each
ot her , and Boyl e sai d, hi s smi l e l ess soot hi ng t han usual , " I ' ve del i ver ed.
Your t ur n now, J i mmi e. " " You di dn' t have t o come her e. Why di d you?" sai d
Taggar t sul l enl y. " Oh, j ust f or t he f un of i t , " sai d Boyl e.
Dan Conway sat al one among r ows of empt y seat s. He was st i l l !
t her e when t he char woman came t o cl ean t he hal l . When she hai l ed hi m, he
r ose obedi ent l y and shuf f l ed t o t he door . Passi ng her i n t he ai sl e, he
f umbl ed i n hi s pocket and handed her a f i ve dol l ar bi l l , si l ent l y, meekl y,
not l ooki ng at her f ace. He di d not seemt o know what he was doi ng; he act ed
as i f he t hought t hat he was i n some pl ace wher e gener osi t y demanded t hat he
gi ve a t i p bef or e l eavi ng.
Dagny was st i l l at her desk when t he door of her of f i ce f l ew open and
J ames Taggar t r ushed i n. I t was t he f i r st t i me he had ever ent er ed i n such
manner . Hi s f ace l ooked f ever i sh.
She had not seen hi msi nce t he nat i onal i zat i on of t he San Sebast i an Li ne.
He had not sought t o di scuss i t wi t h her , and she had sai d not hi ng about i t .
She had been pr oved r i ght so el oquent l y, she had t hought , t hat comment s wer e
unnecessar y. A f eel i ng whi ch was par t cour t esy, par t mer cy had st opped her
f r omst at i ng t o hi mt he concl usi on t o be dr awn f r omt he event s. I n al l r eason
and j ust i ce, t her e was but one concl usi on he coul d dr aw. She had hear d about
hi s speech t o t he Boar d of Di r ect or s. She had shr ugged, cont empt uousl y
amused; i f i t ser ved hi s pur pose, what ever t hat was, t o appr opr i at e her
achi evement s, t hen, f or hi s own advant age, i f f or no ot her r eason, he woul d
l eave her f r ee t o achi eve, f r omnow on.
" So you t hi nk you' r e t he onl y one who' s doi ng anyt hi ng f or t hi s r ai l r oad?"
She l ooked at Mm, bewi l der ed. Hi s voi ce was shr i l l ; he st ood i n f r ont of
her desk, t ense wi t h exci t ement .
" So you t hi nk t hat I ' ve r ui ned t he company, don' t you?" he yel l ed.
" And now you' r e t he onl y one who can save us? Thi nk I have no way t o make
up f or t he Mexi can l oss?"
She asked sl owl y, " What do you want ?"
" I want t o t el l you some news. Do you r emember t he Ant i - dog- eat dog
pr oposal of t he Rai l r oad Al l i ance t hat I t ol d you about mont hs ago?
You di dn' t l i ke t he i dea. You di dn' t l i ke i t at al l . "
" I r emember . What about i t ?"
" I t has been passed. "
" What has been passed?"
" The Ant i - dog- eat - dog Rul e. J ust a f ew mi nut es ago. At t he meet i ng.
Ni ne mont hs f r omnow, t her e' s not goi ng t o be any Phoeni x- Dur ango Rai l r oad
i n Col or ado! "
A gl ass asht r ay cr ashed t o t he f l oor of f t he desk, as she l eaped t o her
f eet .
" You r ot t en bast ar ds! "
He st ood mot i onl ess. He was smi l i ng.
She knew t hat she was shaki ng, open t o hi m, wi t hout def ense, and t hat t hi s
was t he si ght he enj oyed, but i t di d not mat t er t o her . Then she saw hi s
smi l eand suddenl y t he bl i ndi ng anger vani shed. She f el t not hi ng. She st udi ed
t hat smi l e wi t h a col d, i mper sonal cur i osi t y.
They st ood f aci ng each ot her . He l ooked as i f , f or t he f i r st t i me, he was
not af r ai d of her . He was gl oat i ng. The event meant somet hi ng t o hi mmuch
beyond t he dest r uct i on of a compet i t or . I t was not a vi ct or y over Dan Conway,
but over her . She di d not know why or i n what manner , but she f el t cer t ai n
t hat he knew.
For t he f l ash of one i nst ant , she t hought t hat her e, bef or e her , i n J ames
Taggar t and i n t hat whi ch made hi msmi l e, was a secr et she had never
suspect ed, and i t was cr uci al l y i mpor t ant t hat she l ear n t o under st and i t .
But t he t hought f l ashed and vani shed.
She whi r l ed t o t he door of a cl oset and sei zed her coat .
" Wher e ar e you goi ng?" Taggar t ' s voi ce had dr opped; i t sounded
di sappoi nt ed and f ai nt l y wor r i ed.
She di d not answer . She r ushed out of t he of f i ce.
" Dan, you have t o f i ght t hem. I ' l l hel p you. I ' l l f i ght f or you wi t h
ever yt hi ng I ' ve got . "
Dan Conway shook hi s head.
He sat at hi s desk, t he empt y expanse of a f aded bl ot t er bef or e hi m, one
f eebl e l amp l i ght ed i n a cor ner of t he r oom. Dagny had r ushed st r ai ght t o t he
ci t y of f i ce of t he Phoeni x- Dur ango. Conway was t her e, and he st i l l sat as she
had f ound hi m. He had smi l ed at her ent r ance and sai d, " Funny, I t hought you
woul d come, " hi s voi ce gent l e, l i f el ess.
They di d not know each ot her wel l , but t hey had met a f ew t i mes i n
Col or ado.
" No, " he sai d, " i t ' s no use. "
" Do you mean because of t hat Al l i ance agr eement t hat you si gned?
I t won' t hol d. Thi s i s pl ai n expr opr i at i on. No cour t wi l l uphol d i t . And
i f J i mt r i es t o hi de behi nd t he usual l oot er s' sl ogan of ' publ i c wel f ar e, '
I l l go on t he st and and swear t hat Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al can' t handl e
t he whol e t r af f i c of Col or ado, And i f any cour t r ul es agai nst you, you can
appeal and keep on appeal i ng f or t he next t en year s. "
" Yes, " he sai d, " I coul d . . . I ' mnot sur e I ' d wi n, but I coul d t r y and I
coul d hang ont o t he r ai l r oad f or a f ew year s l onger , but . . . No, i t ' s not
t he l egal poi nt s t hat I ' mt hi nki ng about , one way or t he ot her . I t ' s not
t hat . "
" What , t hen?"
" I don' t want t o f i ght i t , Dagny. "
She l ooked at hi mi ncr edul ousl y. I t was t he one sent ence whi ch, she f el t
sur e, he had never ut t er ed bef or e; a man coul d not r ever se hi msel f so l at e i n
l i f e.
Dan Conway was appr oachi ng f i f t y. He had t he squar e, st ol i d, st ubbor n f ace
of a t ough f r ei ght engi neer , r at her t han a company pr esi dent ; t he f ace of a
f i ght er , wi t h a young, t anned ski n and gr ayi ng hai r . He had t aken over a
shaky l i t t l e r ai l r oad i n Ar i zona, a r oad whose net r evenue was " l ess t han
t hat of a successf ul gr ocer y st or e, and he had bui l t i t i nt o t he best
r ai l r oad of t he Sout hwest . He spoke l i t t l e, sel domr ead books, had never gone
t o col l ege. The whol e spher e of human endeavor s, wi t h one except i on, l ef t hi m
bl ankl y i ndi f f er ent ; he had no t ouch of t hat whi ch peopl e cal l ed cul t ur e. But
he knew r ai l r oads.
" Why don' t you want t o f i ght ?"
" Because t hey had t he r i ght t o do i t . "
" Dan, " she asked, " have you l ost your mi nd?"
" I ' ve never gone back on my wor d i n my l i f e, " he sai d t onel essl y. " I don' t
car e what t he cour t s deci de. I pr omi sed t o obey t he maj or i t y. I have t o
obey. "
" Di d you expect t he maj or i t y t o do t hi s t o you?"
" No. " Ther e was a ki nd of f ai nt convul si on i n t he st ol i d f ace. He spoke
sof t l y, not l ooki ng at her , t he hel pl ess ast oni shment st i l l r aw wi t hi n hi m.
" No, I di dn' t expect i t . I hear d t hemt al ki ng about i t f or over a year , but I
di dn' t bel i eve i t . Even when t hey wer e vot i ng, I di dn' t bel i eve i t . "
" What di d you expect ?"
" I t hought . . . They sai d al l of us wer e t o st and f or t he common good. I
t hought what I had done down t her e i n Col or ado was good.
Good f or ever ybody. "
" Oh, you damn f ool ! Don' t you see t hat t hat ' s what you' r e bei ng puni shed
f or because i t was good?"
He shook hi s head. " I don' t under st and i t , " he sai d. " But I see no way
out . "
" Di d you pr omi se t hemt o agr ee t o dest r oy your sel f ?"
" Ther e doesn' t seemt o be any choi ce f or any of us. "
" What do you mean?"
" Dagny, t he whol e wor l d' s i n a t er r i bl e st at e r i ght now. I don' t know
what ' s wr ong wi t h i t , but somet hi ng' s ver y wr ong. Men have t o get t oget her
and f i nd a way out . But who' s t o deci de whi ch way t o t ake, unl ess i t ' s t he
maj or i t y? I guess t hat ' s t he onl y f ai r met hod of deci di ng, I don' t see any
ot her . I suppose somebody' s got t o be sacr i f i ced. I f i t t ur ned out t o be me,
I have no r i ght t o compl ai n. The r i ght ' s on t hei r si de. Men have t o get
t oget her . "
She made an ef f or t t o speak cal ml y; she was t r embl i ng wi t h anger .
" I f t hat ' s t he pr i ce of get t i ng t oget her , t hen I ' l l be damned i f I want t o
l i ve on t he same ear t h wi t h any human bei ngs! I f t he r est of t hemcan sur vi ve
onl y by dest r oyi ng us, t hen why shoul d we wi sh t hemt o sur vi ve?
Not hi ng can make sel f - i mmol at i on pr oper . Not hi ng can gi ve t hemt he r i ght
t o t ur n men i nt o sacr i f i ci al ani mal s. Not hi ng can make i t mor al t o dest r oy
t he best . One can' t be puni shed f or bei ng good. One can' t be penal i zed f or
abi l i t y. I f t hat i s r i ght , t hen we' d bet t er st ar t sl aught er i ng one anot her ,
because t her e i sn' t any r i ght at al l i n t he wor l d! "
He di d not answer . He l ooked at her hel pl essl y.
" I f i t ' s t hat ki nd of wor l d, how can we l i ve i n i t ?" she asked.
" I don' t know . . . " he whi sper ed.
" Dan, do you r eal l y t hi nk i t ' s r i ght ? I n al l t r ut h, deep down, do you
t hi nk i t ' s r i ght ?"
He cl osed hi s eyes. " No, " he sai d. Then he l ooked at her and she saw a
l ook of t or t ur e f or t he f i r st t i me. " That ' s what I ' ve been si t t i ng her e
t r yi ng t o under st and. I know t hat I ought t o t hi nk i t ' s r i ght but I can' t .
I t ' s as i f my t ongue woul dn' t t ur n t o say i t . I keep seei ng ever y t i e of t he
t r ack down t her e, ever y si gnal l i ght , ever y br i dge, ever y ni ght t hat I spent
when . . . " Hi s head dr opped down on hi s ar ms. " Oh God, i t ' s so damn unj ust ! "
" Dan, " she sai d t hr ough her t eet h, " f i ght i t . "
He r ai sed hi s head. Hi s eyes wer e empt y. " No, " he sai d. " I t woul d be
wr ong- I ' mj ust sel f i sh. "
" Oh, damn t hat r ot t en t r i pe! You know bet t er t han t hat ! "
" I don' t know . . . " Hi s voi ce was ver y t i r ed. " I ' ve been si t t i ng her e,
t r yi ng t o t hi nk about i t . . . I don' t know what i s r i ght any mor e. . . . "
He added, " I don' t t hi nk I car e. "
She knew suddenl y t hat al l f ur t her wor ds wer e usel ess and t hat Dan Conway
woul d never be a man of act i on agai n. She di d not know what made her cer t ai n
of i t . She sai d, wonder i ng, " You' ve never gi ven up i n t he f ace of a bat t l e
bef or e. "
" No, I guess I haven' t . . . . " He spoke wi t h a qui et , i ndi f f er ent
ast oni shment . " I ' ve f ought st or ms and f l oods and r ock sl i des and r ai l
f i ssur e. . . . I knew how t o do i t , and I l i ked doi ng i t . . . . But t hi s ki nd
of bat t l ei t ' s one I can' t f i ght . "
" Why?"
" I don' t know. Who knows why t he wor l d i s what i t i f - ? Oh, who i s J ohn
Gal t ?"
She wi nced. " Then what ar e you goi ng t o do?"
" I don' t know . . . '
" I mean" She st opped.
He knew what she meant . " Oh, t her e' s al ways somet hi ng t o do. . . . "
He spoke wi t hout convi ct i on. " I guess i t ' s onl y Col or ado and New Mexi co
t hat t hey' r e goi ng t o decl ar e r est r i ct ed. I ' l l st i l l have t he l i ne i n Ar i zona
t o r un. " He added, " As i t was t went y year s ago . . .
Wel l , i t wi l l keep me busy. I ' mget t i ng t i r ed, Dagny. I di dn' t t ake t i me
t o not i ce i t , but I guess I am. "
She coul d say not hi ng.
" I ' mnot goi ng t o bui l d a l i ne t hr ough one of t hei r bl i ght ed ar eas, "
he sai d i n t he same i ndi f f er ent voi ce. " That ' s what t hey t r i ed t o hand me
f or a consol at i on pr i ze, but I t hi nk i t ' s j ust t al k. You can' t bui l d a
r ai l r oad wher e t her e' s not hi ng f or hundr eds of mi l es but a coupl e of f ar mer s
who' r e not gr owi ng enough t o f eed t hemsel ves. You can' t bui l d a r oad and make
i t pay. I f you don' t make i t pay, who' s goi ng t o? I t doesn' t make sense t o
me. They j ust di dn' t know what t hey wer e sayi ng. "
" Oh, t o hel l wi t h t hei r bl i ght ed ar eas! I t ' s you I ' mt hi nki ng about . "
She had t o name i t . " What wi l l you do wi t h your sel f ?"
" I don' t know . . . Wel l , t her e' s a l ot of t hi ngs I haven' t had t i me t o
do. Fi shi ng, f or i nst ance. I ' ve al ways l i ked f i shi ng. Maybe I ' l l st ar t
r eadi ng books, al ways meant t o. Guess I ' l l t ake i t easy now. Guess I ' l l go
f i shi ng. Ther e' s some ni ce pl aces down i n Ar i zona, wher e i t ' s peacef ul and
qui et and you don' t have t o see a human bei ng f or mi l es. . . . "
He gl anced up at her and added, " For get i t . Why shoul d you wor r y about
me?"
" I t ' s not about you, i t ' s . . . Dan, " she sai d suddenl y, " I hope you know
i t ' s not f or your sake t hat I want ed t o hel p you f i ght . "
He smi l ed; i t was a f ai nt , f r i endl y smi l e. " I know, " he sai d.
" I t ' s not out of pi t y or char i t y or any ugl y r eason l i ke t hat . Look, I
i nt ended t o gi ve you t he bat t l e of your l i f e, down t her e i n Col or ado.
I i nt ended t o cut i nt o your busi ness and squeeze you t o t he wal l and dr i ve
you out , i f necessar y, "
He chuckl ed f ai nt l y; i t was appr eci at i on. " You woul d have made a pr et t y
good t r y at i t , t oo, " he sai d.
" Onl y I di dn' t t hi nk i t woul d be necessar y. I t hought t her e was enough
r oomt her e f or bot h of us. "
" Yes, " he sai d. " Ther e was. "
" St i l l , i f I f ound t hat t her e wasn' t , I woul d have f ought you, and i f I
coul d make my r oad bet t er t han your s, I ' d have br oken you and not gi ven a
damn about what happened t o you. But t hi s . . . Dan, I don' t t hi nk I want t o
l ook at our Ri o Nor t e Li ne now. I . . . Oh God, Dan, I don' t want t o be a
l oot er ! "
He l ooked at her si l ent l y f or a moment . I t was an odd l ook, as i f f r oma
gr eat di st ance. He sai d sof t l y, " You shoul d have been bor n about a hundr ed
year s ear l i er , ki d. Then you woul d have had a chance. "
" To hel l wi t h t hat . I i nt end t o make my own chance. "
" That ' s what I i nt ended at your age. "
" You succeeded. "
" Have I ?"
She sat st i l l , suddenl y unabl e t o move.
He sat up st r ai ght and sai d shar pl y, al most as i f he wer e i ssui ng or der s,
" You' d bet t er l ook at t hat Ri o Nor t e Li ne of your s, and you' d bet t er do i t
f ast . Get i t r eady bef or e I move out , because i f you don' t , t hat wi l l be t he
end of El l i s Wyat t and al l t he r est of t hemdown t her e, and t hey' r e t he best
peopl e l ef t i n t he count r y. You can' t l et t hat happen. I t ' s al l on your
shoul der s now. I t woul d be no use t r yi ng t o expl ai n t o your br ot her t hat i t ' s
goi ng t o be much t ougher f or you down t her e wi t hout me t o compet e wi t h. But
you and I know i t . So go t o i t . What ever you do, you won' t be a l oot er . No
l oot er coul d r un a r ai l r oad i n t hat par t of t he count r y and l ast at i t .
What ever you make down t her e, you wi l l have ear ned i t . Li ce l i ke your br ot her
don' t count , anyway. I t ' s up t o you now. "
She sat l ooki ng at hi m, wonder i ng what i t was t hat had def eat ed a man of
t hi s ki nd; she knew t hat i t was not J ames Taggar t .
She saw hi ml ooki ng at her , as i f he wer e st r uggl i ng wi t h a quest i on mar k
of hi s own. Then he smi l ed, and she saw, i ncr edul ousl y, t hat t he smi l e hel d
sadness and pi t y.
" You' d bet t er not f eel sor r y f or me, " he sai d. " I t hi nk, of t he t wo of us,
i t ' s you who have t he har der t i me ahead. And I t hi nk you' r e goi ng t o get i t
wor se t han I di d. "
She had t el ephoned t he mi l l s and made an appoi nt ment t o see Hank Rear den
t hat af t er noon. She had j ust hung up t he r ecei ver and was bendi ng over t he
maps of t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne spr ead on her desk, when t he door opened. Dagny
l ooked up, st ar t l ed; she di d not expect t he door of her of f i ce t o open
wi t hout announcement .
The man who ent er ed was a st r anger . He was young, t al l , and somet hi ng
about hi msuggest ed vi ol ence, t hough she coul d not say what i t was, because
t he f i r st t r ai t one gr asped about hi mwas a qual i t y of sel f - cont r ol t hat
seemed al most ar r ogant . He had dar k eyes, di shevel ed hai r , and hi s cl ot hes
wer e expensi ve, but wor n as i f he di d not car e or not i ce what he wor e.
" El l i s Wyat t , " he sai d i n sel f - i nt r oduct i on.
She l eaped t o her f eet , i nvol unt ar i l y. She under st ood why nobody had or
coul d have st opped hi mi n t he out er of f i ce.
" Si t down, Mr . Wyat t , " she sai d, smi l i ng.
" I t won' t be necessar y. " He di d not smi l e. " I don' t hol d l ong
conf er ences. "
Sl owl y, t aki ng her t i me by consci ous i nt ent i on, she sat down and l eaned
back, l ooki ng at hi m.
" Wel l ?" she asked.
" I came t o see you because I under st and you' r e t he onl y one who' s got any
br ai ns i n t hi s r ot t en out f i t . "
" What can I do f or you?"
" You can l i st en t o an ul t i mat um. " He spoke di st i nct l y, gi vi ng an unusual
cl ar i t y t o ever y syl l abl e. " I expect Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , ni ne mont hs
f r omnow, t o r un t r ai ns i n Col or ado as my busi ness r equi r es t hemt o be r un.
I f t he sni de st unt you peopl e per pet r at ed on t he Phoeni x- Dur ango was done f or
t he pur pose of savi ng your sel f f r omt he necessi t y of ef f or t , t hi s i s t o gi ve
you not i ce t hat you wi l l not get away wi t h i t . I made no demands on you when
you coul d not gi ve me t he ki nd of ser vi ce I needed. I f ound someone who
coul d. Now you wi sh t o f or ce me t o deal wi t h you. You expect t o di ct at e t er ms
by l eavi ng me no choi ce. You expect me t o hol d my busi ness down t o t he l evel
of your i ncompet ence. Thi s i s t o t el l you t hat you have mi scal cul at ed. "
She sai d sl owl y, wi t h ef f or t , " Shal l I t el l you what I i nt end t o do about
our ser vi ce i n Col or ado?"
" No. I have no i nt er est i n di scussi ons and i nt ent i ons. I expect
t r anspor t at i on. What you do t o f ur ni sh i t and how you do i t , i s your pr obl em,
not mi ne. I ammer el y gi vi ng you a war ni ng. Those who wi sh t o deal wi t h me,
must do so on my t er ms or not at al l . I do not make t er ms wi t h i ncompet ence.
I f you expect t o ear n money by car r yi ng t he oi l I pr oduce, you must be as
good at your busi ness as I amat mi ne. I wi sh t hi s t o be under st ood. "
She sai d qui et l y, " I under st and. "
" I shan' t wast e t i me pr ovi ng t o you why you' d bet t er t ake my ul t i mat um
ser i ousl y. I f you have t he i nt el l i gence t o keep t hi s cor r upt or gani zat i on
f unct i oni ng at al l , you have t he i nt el l i gence t o j udge t hi s f or your sel f . We
bot h know t hat i f Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al r uns t r ai ns i n Col or ado t he way i t
di d f i ve year s ago, i t wi l l r ui n me. I know t hat t hat i s what you peopl e
i nt end t o do. You expect t o f eed of f me whi l e you can and t o f i nd anot her
car cass t o pi ck dr y af t er you have f i ni shed mi ne. That i s t he pol i cy of most
of manki nd t oday. So her e i s my ul t i mat um: i t i s now i n your power t o dest r oy
me; I may have t o go; but i f I go, I ' l l make sur e t hat I t ake al l t he r est of
you al ong wi t h me. "
Somewher e wi t hi n her , under t he numbness t hat hel d her st i l l t o r ecei ve
t he l ashi ng, she f el t a smal l poi nt of pai n, hot l i ke t he pai n of scal di ng.
She want ed t o t el l hi mof t he year s she had spent l ooki ng f or men such as he
t o wor k wi t h; she want ed t o t el l hi mt hat hi s enemi es wer e her s, t hat she was
f i ght i ng t he same bat t l e; she want ed t o cr y t o hi m: I ' mnot one of t hem! But
she knew t hat she coul d not do i t . She bor e t he r esponsi bi l i t y f or Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al and f or ever yt hi ng done i n i t s name; she had no r i ght t o
j ust i f y her sel f now.
Si t t i ng st r ai ght , her gl ance as st eady and open as hi s, she answer ed
evenl y, " You wi l l get t he t r anspor t at i on you need, Mr . Wyat t . "
She saw a f ai nt hi nt of ast oni shment i n hi s f ace; t hi s was not t he manner
or t he answer he had expect ed; per haps i t was what she had not sai d t hat
ast oni shed hi mmost : t hat she of f er ed no def ense, no excuses. He t ook a
moment t o st udy her si l ent l y. Then he sai d, hi s voi ce l ess shar p: " Al l r i ght .
Thank you. Good day. "
She i ncl i ned her head. He bowed and l ef t t he of f i ce.
" That ' s t he st or y, Hank. I had wor ked out an al most i mpossi bl e schedul e t o
compl et e t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne i n t wel ve mont hs. Now I ' l l have t o do i t i n ni ne.
You wer e t o gi ve us t he r ai l over a per i od of one year . Can you gi ve i t t o us
wi t hi n ni ne mont hs? I f t her e' s any human way t o do i t , do i t . I f not , I ' l l
have t o f i nd some ot her means t o f i ni sh i t . "
Rear den sat behi nd hi s desk. Hi s col d, bl ue eyes made t wo hor i zont al cut s
acr oss t he gaunt pl anes of hi s f ace; t hey r emai ned hor i zont al , i mpassi vel y
hal f - cl osed; he sai d evenl y, wi t hout emphasi s: ' I ' l l do i t . "
Dagny l eaned back i n her chai r . The shor t sent ence was a shock. I t was not
mer el y r el i ef : i t was t he sudden r eal i zat i on t hat not hi ng el se was necessar y
t o guar ant ee t hat i t woul d be done; she needed no pr oof s, no quest i ons, no
expl anat i ons; a compl ex pr obl emcoul d r est saf el y on t hr ee syl l abl es
pr onounced by a man who knew what he was sayi ng.
" Don' t show t hat you' r e r el i eved. " Hi s voi ce was mocki ng. " Not t oo
obvi ousl y. " Hi s nar r owed eyes wer e wat chi ng her wi t h an unr eveal i ng smi l e. " I
mi ght t hi nk t hat I hol d Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i n my power , "
" You know t hat , anyway. "
" I do. And I i nt end t o make you pay f or i t . "
" I expect t o. How much?"
" Twent y dol l ar s ext r a per t on on t he bal ance of t he or der del i ver ed af t er
t oday. "
" Pr et t y st eep, Hank. I s t hat t he best pr i ce you can gi ve me?"
" No. But t hat ' s t he one I ' mgoi ng t o get . I coul d ask t wi ce t hat and you' d
pay i t . "
" Yes. , I woul d. And you coul d. But you won' t . "
" Why won' t I ?"
" Because you need t o have t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne bui l t . I t ' s your f i r st
showcase f or Rear den Met al . "
He chuckl ed. " That ' s r i ght . I l i ke t o deal wi t h somebody who has no
i l l usi ons about get t i ng f avor s. "
" Do you know what made me f eel r el i eved, when you deci ded t o t ake
advant age of i t ?"
" What ?"
" That I was deal i ng, f or once, wi t h somebody who doesn' t pr et end t o gi ve
f avor s. "
Hi s smi l e had a di scer ni bl e qual i t y now: i t was enj oyment . " You al ways
pl ay i t open, don' t you?" he asked.
" I ' ve never not i ced you doi ng ot her wi se. "
" I t hought I was t he onl y one who coul d af f or d t o. "
" I ' mnot br oke, i n t hat sense, Hank. "
" I t hi nk I ' mgoi ng t o br eak you some dayi n t hat sense. "
" Why?"
" I ' ve al ways want ed t o. "
" Don' t you have enough cowar ds ar ound you?"
" That ' s why I ' d enj oy t r yi ng i t because you' r e t he onl y except i on.
So you t hi nk i t ' s r i ght t hat I shoul d squeeze ever y penny of pr of i t I can,
out of your emer gency?"
" Cer t ai nl y. I ' mnot a f ool . I don' t t hi nk you' r e i n busi ness f or my
conveni ence. "
" Don' t you wi sh I wer e?"
" I ' mnot a moocher , Hank. "
" Ar en' t you goi ng t o f i nd i t har d t o pay?"
" That ' s my pr obl em, not your s. I want t hat r ai l . "
" At t went y dol l ar s ext r a per t on?"
" Okay, Hank. "
" Fi ne. You' l l get t he r ai l . I may get my exor bi t ant pr of i t or Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al may cr ash bef or e I col l ect i t . "
She sai d, wi t hout smi l i ng, " I f I don' t get t hat l i ne bui l t i n ni ne mont hs,
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al wi l l cr ash. "
" I t won' t , so l ong as you r un i t , "
When he di d not smi l e, hi s f ace l ooked i nani mat e, onl y hi s eyes r emai ned
al i ve, act i ve wi t h a col d, br i l l i ant cl ar i t y of per cept i on. But what he was
made t o f eel by t he t hi ngs he per cei ved, no one woul d be per mi t t ed t o know,
she t hought , per haps not even hi msel f .
" They' ve done t hei r best t o make i t har der f or you, haven' t t hey?" he
sai d.
" Yes. I was count i ng on Col or ado t o save t he Taggar t syst em. Now i t ' s up
t o me t o save Col or ado. Ni ne mont hs f r omnow, Dan Conway wi l l cl ose hi s r oad.
I f mi ne i sn' t r eady, i t won' t be any use f i ni shi ng i t .
You can' t l eave t hose men wi t hout t r anspor t at i on f or a si ngl e day, l et
al one a week or a mont h. At t he r at e t hey' ve been gr owi ng, you can' t st op
t hemdead and t hen expect t hemt o cont i nue. I t ' s l i ke sl ammi ng br akes on an
engi ne goi ng t wo hundr ed mi l es an hour . "
" I know. "
" I can r un a good r ai l r oad. I can' t r un i t acr oss a cont i nent of
shar ecr opper s who' r e not good enough t o gr ow t ur ni ps successf ul l y. I ' ve got
t o have men l i ke El l i s Wyat t t o pr oduce somet hi ng t o f i l l t he t r ai ns I r un.
So I ' ve got t o gi ve hi ma t r ai n and a t r ack ni ne mont hs f r omnow, i f I have
t o bl ast al l t he r est of us i nt o hel l t o do i t ! "
He smi l ed, amused. " You f eel ver y st r ongl y about i t , don' t you?"
" Don' t you?"
He woul d not answer , but mer el y hel d t he smi l e.
" Ar en' t you concer ned about i t ?" she asked, al most angr i l y.
" No. "
" Then you don' t r eal i ze what i t means?"
" I r eal i ze t hat I ' mgoi ng t o get t he r ai l r ol l ed and you' r e goi ng t o get
t he t r ack l ai d i n ni ne mont hs. "
She smi l ed, r el axi ng, wear i l y and a l i t t l e gui l t i l y. " Yes. I know we wi l l .
I know i t ' s usel essget t i ng angr y at peopl e l i ke J i mand hi s f r i ends. We
haven' t any t i me f or i t . Fi r st , I have t o undo what t hey' ve done. Then
af t er war ds" she st opped, wonder i ng, shook her head and shr ugged" af t er war ds,
t hey won' t mat t er . "
" That ' s r i ght . They won' t . When I hear d about t hat Ant i - dog- eat - dog
busi ness, i t made me si ck. But don' t wor r y about t he goddamn bast ar ds. "
The t wo wor ds sounded shocki ngl y vi ol ent , because hi s f ace and voi ce
r emai ned cal m. " You and I wi l l al ways be t her e t o save t he count r y f r omt he
consequences of t hei r act i ons. " He got up; he sai d, paci ng t he of f i ce,
" Col or ado i sn' t goi ng t o be st opped. You' l l pul l i t t hr ough. Then Dan Conway
wi l l be back, and ot her s. Al l t hat l unacy i s t empor ar y. ] t can' t l ast . I t ' s
dement ed, so i t has t o def eat i t sel f . You and I wi l l j ust have t o wor k a
l i t t l e har der f or a whi l e, t hat ' s al l . "
She wat ched hi s t al l f i gur e movi ng acr oss t he of f i ce. The of f i ce sui t ed
hi m; i t cont ai ned not hi ng but t he f ew pi eces of f ur ni t ur e he needed, al l of
t hemhar shl y si mpl i f i ed down t o t hei r essent i al pur pose, al l of t hem
exor bi t ant l y expensi ve i n t he qual i t y of mat er i al s and t he ski l l of desi gn.
The r ooml ooked l i ke a mot or a mot or hel d wi t hi n t he gl ass case of br oad
wi ndows. But she not i ced one ast oni shi ng det ai l : a vase of j ade t hat st ood on
t op of a f i l i ng cabi net . The vase was a sol i d, dar k gr een st one car ved i nt o
pl ai n sur f aces; t he t ext ur e of i t s smoot h cur ves pr ovoked an i r r esi st i bl e
desi r e t o t ouch i t . I t seemed st ar t l i ng i n t hat of f i ce, i ncongr uous wi t h t he
st er nness of t he r est : i t was a t ouch of sensual i t y.
" Col or ado i s a gr eat pl ace, " he sai d. " I t ' s goi ng t o be t he gr eat est i n
t he count r y. You' r e not sur e t hat I ' mconcer ned about i t ? That st at e' s
becomi ng one of my best cust omer s, as you ought t o know i f you t ake t i me t o
r ead t he r epor t s on your f r ei ght t r af f i c. "
" I know. I r ead t hem. "
" I ' ve been t hi nki ng of bui l di ng a pl ant t her e i n a f ew year s. To save t hem
your t r anspor t at i on char ges. " He gl anced at her . " You' l l l ose an awf ul l ot of
st eel f r ei ght , i f I do. "
" Go ahead. I ' l l be sat i sf i ed wi t h car r yi ng your suppl i es, and t he
gr ocer i es f or your wor ker s, and t he f r ei ght of t he f act or i es t hat wi l l f ol l ow
you t her eand per haps I won' t have t i me t o not i ce t hat I ' ve l ost your st eel .
. . . What ar e you l aughi ng at ?"
" I t ' s wonder f ul . "
" What ?"
" The way you don' t r eact as ever ybody el se does nowadays.
" St i l l , I must admi t t hat f or t he t i me bei ng you' r e t he most i mpor t ant
si ngl e shi pper of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . "
" Don' t you suppose I know i t ?"
" So I can' t under st and why J i m" She st opped.
" t r i es hi s best t o har mmy busi ness? Because your br ot her J i mi s a f ool . "
" He i s. But i t ' s mor e t han t hat . Ther e' s somet hi ng wor se t han st upi di t y
about i t . "
" Don' t wast e t i me t r yi ng t o f i gur e hi mout . Let hi mspi t . He' s no danger
t o anyone. Peopl e l i ke J i mTaggar t j ust cl ut t er up t he wor l d. "
" I suppose so. "
" I nci dent al l y, what woul d you have done i f I ' d sai d I coul dn' t del i ver
your r ai l s sooner ?"
" I woul d have t or n up si di ngs or cl osed some br anch l i ne, any br anch l i ne,
and I woul d have used t he r ai l t o f i ni sh t he Ri o Nor t e t r ack on t i me. "
He chuckl ed. " That ' s why I ' mnot wor r i ed about Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
But you won' t have t o st ar t get t i ng r ai l out of ol d si di ngs. Not so l ong as
I ' mi n busi ness. "
She t hought suddenl y t hat she was wr ong about hi s l ack of emot i on: t he
hi dden under t one of hi s manner was enj oyment . She r eal i zed t hat she had
al ways f el t a sense of l i ght - hear t ed r el axat i on i n hi s pr esence and known
t hat he shar ed i t . He was t he onl y man she knew t o whomshe coul d speak
wi t hout st r ai n or ef f or t . Thi s, she t hought , was a mi nd she r espect ed, an
adver sar y wor t h mat chi ng. Yet t her e had al ways been an odd sense of di st ance
bet ween t hem, t he sense of a cl osed door ; t her e was an i mper sonal qual i t y i n
hi s manner , somet hi ng wi t hi n hi mt hat coul d not be r eached.
He had st opped at t he wi ndow. He st ood f or a moment , l ooki ng out . " Do you
know t hat t he f i r st l oad of r ai l i s bei ng del i ver ed t o you t oday?" he asked,
" Of cour se I know i t . "
" Come her e. "
She appr oached hi m. He poi nt ed si l ent l y. Far i n t he di st ance, beyond t he
mi l l st r uct ur es, she saw a st r i ng of gondol as wai t i ng on a si di ng.
The br i dge of an over head cr ane cut t he sky above t hem. The cr ane was
movi ng. I t s huge magnet hel d a l oad of r ai l s gl ued t o a di sk by t he sol e
power of cont act . Ther e was no t r ace of sun i n t he gr ay spr ead of cl ouds, yet
t he r ai l s gl i st ened, as i f t he met al caught l i ght out of space. The met al was
a gr eeni sh- bl ue. The gr eat chai n st opped over a car , descended, j er ked i n a
br i ef spasmand l ef t t he r ai l s i n t he car . The cr ane moved back i n maj est i c
i ndi f f er ence; i t l ooked l i ke t he gi ant dr awi ng of a geomet r i cal t heor em
movi ng above t he men and t he ear t h.
They st ood at t he wi ndow, wat chi ng si l ent l y, i nt ent l y. She di d not speak,
unt i l anot her l oad of gr een- bl ue met al came movi ng acr oss t he sky. Then t he
f i r st wor ds she sai d wer e not about r ai l , t r ack or an or der compl et ed on
t i me. She sai d, as i f gr eet i ng a new phenomenon of nat ur e: " Rear den Met al . .
. "
He not i ced t hat , but sai d not hi ng. He gl anced at her , t hen t ur ned back t o
t he wi ndow.
" Hank, t hi s i s gr eat . "
" Yes. "
He sai d i t si mpl y, openl y. Ther e was no f l at t er ed pl easur e i n hi s voi ce,
and no modest y. Thi s, she knew, was a t r i but e t o her , t he r ar est one per son
coul d pay anot her : t he t r i but e of f eel i ng f r ee t o acknowl edge one' s own
gr eat ness, knowi ng t hat i t i s under st ood.
She sai d, " When I t hi nk of what t hat met al can do, what i t wi l l make
possi bl e . . . Hank, t hi s i s t he most i mpor t ant t hi ng happeni ng i n t he wor l d
t oday, and none of t hemknow i t . "
" We know i t . "
They di d not l ook at each ot her . They st ood wat chi ng t he cr ane. On t he
f r ont of t he l ocomot i ve i n t he di st ance, she coul d di st i ngui sh t he l et t er s
TT. She coul d di st i ngui sh t he r ai l s of t he busi est i ndust r i al si di ng of t he
Taggar t syst em.
" As soon as I can f i nd a pl ant abl e t o do i t , " she sai d, " I ' mgoi ng t o
or der Di esel s made of Rear den Met al . "
" You' l l need t hem. How f ast do you r un your t r ai ns on t he Ri o Nor t e
t r ack?"
" Now? We' r e l ucky i f we manage t o make t went y mi l es an hour . "
He poi nt ed at t he car s. " When t hat r ai l i s l ai d, you' l l be abl e t o r un
t r ai ns at t wo hundr ed and f i f t y, i f you wi sh. "
" I wi l l , i n a f ew year s, when we' l l have car s of Rear den Met al , whi ch wi l l
be hal f t he wei ght of st eel and t wi ce as saf e. "
" You' l l have t o l ook out f or t he ai r l i nes. We' r e wor ki ng on a pl ane of
Rear den Met al . I t wi l l wei gh pr act i cal l y not hi ng and l i f t anyt hi ng.
You' l l see t he day of l ong- haul , heavy- f r ei ght ai r t r af f i c. "
" I ' ve been t hi nki ng of what t hat met al wi l l do f or mot or s, any mot or s, and
what sor t of t hi ng one can desi gn now. "
" Have you t hought of what i t wi l l do f or chi cken wi r e? J ust pl ai n chi cken-
wi r e f ences, made of Rear den Met al , t hat wi l l cost a f ew penni es a mi l e and
l ast t wo hundr ed year s. And ki t chenwar e t hat wi l l be bought at t he di me st or e
and passed on f r omgener at i on t o gener at i on. And ocean l i ner s t hat one won' t
be abl e t o dent wi t h a t or pedo. "
" Di d I t el l you t hat I ' mhavi ng t est s made of communi cat i ons wi r e of
Rear den Met al ?"
" I ' mmaki ng so many t est s t hat I ' l l never get t hr ough showi ng peopl e what
can be done wi t h i t and how t o do i t .
They spoke of t he met al and of t he possi bi l i t i es whi ch t hey coul d not
exhaust . I t was as i f t hey wer e st andi ng on a mount ai n t op, seei ng a
l i mi t l ess pl ai n bel ow and r oads open i n al l di r ect i ons. But t hey mer el y spoke
of mat hemat i cal f i gur es, of wei ght s, pr essur es, r esi st ances, cost s.
She had f or got t en her br ot her and hi s Nat i onal Al l i ance. She had f or got t en
ever y pr obl em, per son and event behi nd her ; t hey had al ways been cl ouded i n
her si ght , t o be hur r i ed past , t o be br ushed asi de, never f i nal , never qui t e
r eal . Thi s was r eal i t y, she t hought , t hi s sense of cl ear out l i nes, of
pur pose, of l i ght ness, of hope. Thi s was t he way she had expect ed t o l i veshe
had want ed t o spend no hour and t ake no act i on t hat woul d mean l ess t han
t hi s.
She l ooked at hi mi n t he exact moment when he t ur ned t o l ook at her . They
st ood ver y cl ose t o each ot her . She saw, i n hi s eyes, t hat he f el t as she
di d. I f j oy i s t he ai mand t he cor e of exi st ence, she t hought , and i f t hat
whi ch has t he power t o gi ve one j oy i s al ways guar ded as one' s deepest
secr et , t hen t hey had seen each ot her naked i n t hat moment .
He made a st ep back and sai d i n a st r ange t one of di spassi onat e wonder ,
" We' r e a coupl e of bl ackguar ds, ar en' t we?"
" Why?"
" We haven' t any spi r i t ual goal s or qual i t i es. Al l we' r e af t er i s mat er i al
t hi ngs. That ' s al l we car e f or , "
She l ooked at hi m, unabl e t o under st and. But he was l ooki ng past her ,
st r ai ght ahead, at t he cr ane i n t he di st ance. She wi shed he had not sai d i t .
The accusat i on di d not t r oubl e her , she never t hought of her sel f i n such
t er ms and she was compl et el y i ncapabl e of exper i enci ng a f eel i ng of
f undament al gui l t . But she f el t a vague appr ehensi on whi ch she coul d not
def i ne, t he suggest i on t hat t her e was somet hi ng of gr ave consequence i n
what ever had made hi msay i t , somet hi ng danger ous t o hi m. He had not sai d i t
casual l y. But t her e had been no f eel i ng i n hi s voi ce, nei t her pl ea nor shame.
He had sai d i t i ndi f f er ent l y, as a st at ement of f act .
Then, as she wat ched hi m, t he appr ehensi on vani shed. He was l ooki ng at hi s
mi l l s beyond t he wi ndow; t her e was no gui l t i n hi s f ace, no doubt , not hi ng
but t he cal mof an i nvi ol at e sel f - conf i dence.
" Dagny" he sai d, " what ever we ar e, i t ' s we who move t he wor l d and i t ' s we
who' l l pul l i t t hr ough. "

CHAPTER V
THE CLIMAX OF THE D'ANCONIAS

The newspaper was t he f i r st t hi ng she not i ced. I t was cl ut ched t i ght l y i n
Eddi e' s hand, as he ent er ed her of f i ce. She gl anced up at hi s f ace: i t was
t ense and bewi l der ed.
" Dagny, ar e you ver y busy?"
" Why?"
" I know t hat you don' t l i ke t o t al k about hi m. But t her e' s somet hi ng her e
I t hi nk you ought t o see. "
She ext ended her hand si l ent l y f or t he newspaper .
The st or y on t he f r ont page announced t hat upon t aki ng over t he San
Sebast i an Mi nes, t he gover nment of t he Peopl e' s St at e of Mexi co had
di scover ed t hat t hey wer e wor t hl essbl at ant l y, t ot al l y, hopel essl y wor t hl ess.
Ther e was not hi ng t o j ust i f y t he f i ve year s of wor k and t he mi l l i ons spent ;
not hi ng but empt y excavat i ons, l abor i ousl y cut . The f ew t r aces of copper wer e
not wor t h t he ef f or t of ext r act i ng t hem. No gr eat deposi t s of met al exi st ed
or coul d be expect ed t o exi st t her e, and t her e wer e no i ndi cat i ons t hat coul d
have per mi t t ed anyone t o be del uded. The gover nment of t he Peopl e' s St at e of
Mexi co was hol di ng emer gency sessi ons about t hei r di scover y, i n an upr oar of
i ndi gnat i on; t hey f el t t hat t hey had been cheat ed.
Wat chi ng her , Eddi e knew t hat Dagny sat l ooki ng at t he newspaper l ong
af t er she had f i ni shed r eadi ng. He knew t hat he had been r i ght t o f eel a hi nt
of f ear , even t hough he coul d not t el l what f r i ght ened hi mabout t hat st or y.
He wai t ed. She r ai sed her head. She di d not l ook at hi m. Her eyes wer e
f i xed, i nt ent i n concent r at i on, as i f t r yi ng t o di scer n somet hi ng at a gr eat
di st ance.
He sai d, hi s voi ce l ow, " Fr anci sco i s not a f ool . What ever el se he may be,
no mat t er what depr avi t y he' s sunk t oand I ' ve gi ven up t r yi ng t o f i gur e out
whyhe i s not a f ool . He coul dn' t have made a mi st ake of t hi s ki nd. I t i s not
possi bl e. I don' t under st and i t . "
" I ' mbegi nni ng t o. "
She sat up, j ol t ed upr i ght by a sudden movement t hat r an t hr ough her body
l i ke a shudder . She sai d: " Phone hi mat t he Wayne- Fal kl and and t el l t he
bast ar d t hat I want t o see hi m. "
" Dagny, " he sai d sadl y, r epr oachf ul l y, " i t ' s Fr i sco d' Anconi a. "
" I t was. "
She wal ked t hr ough t he ear l y t wi l i ght of t he ci t y st r eet s t o t he Wayne-
Fal kl and Hot el . " He says, any t i me you wi sh, " Eddi e had t ol d her . The f i r st
l i ght s appear ed i n a f ew wi ndows hi gh under t he cl ouds.
The skyscr aper s l ooked l i ke abandoned l i ght houses sendi ng f eebl e, dyi ng
si gnal s out i nt o an empt y sea wher e no shi ps moved any l onger .
A f ew snowf l akes came down, past t he dar k wi ndows of empt y st or es, t o mel t
i n t he mud of t he si dewal ks. A st r i ng of r ed l ant er ns cut t he st r eet , goi ng
of f i nt o t he mur ky di st ance.
She wonder ed why she f el t t hat she want ed t o r un, t hat she shoul d be
r unni ng; no, not down t hi s st r eet ; down a gr een hi l l si de i n t he bl azi ng sun
t o t he r oad on t he edge of t he Hudson, at t he f oot of t he Taggar t est at e.
That was t he way she al ways r an when Eddi e yel l ed, " I t ' s Fr i sco d' Anconi a! "
and t hey bot h f l ew down t he hi l l t o t he car appr oachi ng on t he r oad bel ow.
He was t he onl y guest whose ar r i val was an event i n t hei r chi l dhood, t hei r
bi ggest event . The r unni ng t o meet hi mhad become par t of a cont est among t he
t hr ee of t hem. Ther e was a bi r ch t r ee on t he hi l l si de, hal f way bet ween t he
r oad and t he house; Dagny and Eddi e t r i ed t o get past t he t r ee, bef or e
Fr anci sco coul d r ace up t he hi l l t o meet t hem. On al l t he many days of hi s
ar r i val s, i n al l t he many summer s, t hey never r eached t he bi r ch t r ee;
Fr anci sco r eached i t f i r st and st opped t hemwhen he was way past i t .
Fr anci sco al ways won, as he al ways won ever yt hi ng.
Hi s par ent s wer e ol d f r i ends of t he Taggar t f ami l y. He was an onl y son and
he was bei ng br ought up al l over t he wor l d; hi s f at her , i t was sai d, want ed'
hi mt o consi der t he wor l d as hi s f ut ur e domai n.
Dagny and Eddi e coul d never be cer t ai n of wher e he woul d spend hi s wi nt er ;
but once a year , ever y summer , a st er n Sout h Amer i can t ut or br ought hi mf or a
mont h t o t he Taggar t est at e.
Fr anci sco f ound i t nat ur al t hat t he Taggar t chi l dr en shoul d be chosen as
hi s compani ons: t hey wer e t he cr own hei r s of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , as he
was of d' Anconi a Copper . " We ar e t he onl y ar i st ocr acy l ef t i n t he wor l dt he
ar i st ocr acy of money, " he sai d t o Dagny once, when he was f our t een. " I t ' s t he
onl y r eal ar i st ocr acy, i f peopl e under st ood what i t means, whi ch t hey don' t . "
He had a cast e syst emof hi s own: t o hi m, t he Taggar t chi l dr en wer e not
J i mand Dagny, but Dagny and Eddi e. He sel domvol unt eer ed t o not i ce J i m' s
exi st ence. Eddi e asked hi monce, " Fr anci sco, you' r e some ki nd of ver y hi gh
nobi l i t y, ar en' t you?" He answer ed, " Not yet .
The r eason my f ami l y has l ast ed f or such a l ong l i me i s t hat none of us
has ever been per mi t t ed t o t hi nk he i s bor n a d' Anconi a. We ar e expect ed t o
become one. " He pr onounced hi s name as i f he wi shed hi s l i st ener s t o be
st r uck i n t he f ace and kni ght ed by t he sound of i t .
Sebast i an d' Anconi a, hi s ancest or , had l ef t Spai n many cent ur i es ago, at a
t i me when Spai n was t he most power f ul count r y on ear t h and hi s was one of
Spai n' s pr oudest f i gur es. He l ef t , because t he l or d of t he I nqui si t i on di d
not appr ove of hi s manner of t hi nki ng and suggest ed, at a cour t banquet , t hat
he change i t . Sebast i an d' Anconi a t hr ew t he cont ent s of hi s wi ne gl ass at t he
f ace of t he l or d of t he I nqui si t i on, and escaped bef or e he coul d be sei zed.
He l ef t behi nd hi mhi s f or t une, hi s est at e, hi s mar bl e pal ace and t he gi r l he
l ovedand he sai l ed t o a new wor l d.
Hi s f i r st est at e i n Ar gent i na was a wooden shack i n t he f oot hi l l s of t he
Andes. The sun bl azed l i ke a beacon on t he si l ver coat - of - ar ms of t he
d' Anconi as, nai l ed over t he door of t he shack, whi l e Sebast i an d' Anconi a dug
f or t he copper of hi s f i r st mi ne. He spent year s, pi ckax i n hand, br eaki ng
r ock f r omsunr i se t i l l dar kness, wi t h t he hel p of a f ew st r ay der el i ct s:
deser t er s f r omt he ar mi es of hi s count r ymen, escaped convi ct s, st ar vi ng
I ndi ans.
Fi f t een year s af t er he l ef t Spai n, Sebast i an d' Anconi a sent f or t he gi r l
he l oved; she had wai t ed f or hi m. When she ar r i ved, she f ound t he si l ver
coat - of - ar ms above t he ent r ance of a mar bl e pal ace, t he gar dens of a gr eat
est at e, and mount ai ns sl ashed by pi t s of r ed or e i n t he di st ance. He car r i ed
her i n hi s ar ms acr oss t he t hr eshol d of hi s home. He l ooked younger t han when
she had seen hi ml ast .
" My ancest or and your s, " Fr anci sco t ol d Dagny, " woul d have l i ked each
ot her . "
Thr ough t he year s of her chi l dhood, Dagny l i ved i n t he f ut ur ei n t he wor l d
she expect ed t o f i nd, wher e she woul d not have t o f eel cont empt or bor edom.
But f or one mont h each year , she was f r ee. For one mont h, she coul d l i ve i n
t he pr esent . When she r aced down t he hi l l t o meet Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, i t was
a r el ease f r ompr i son.
" Hi , Sl ug! "
" Hi , Fr i sco! "
They had bot h r esent ed t he ni cknames, at f i r st . She had asked hi mangr i l y,
" What do you t hi nk you mean?" He had answer ed, " I n case you don' t know i t ,
' Sl ug' means a gr eat f i r e i n a l ocomot i ve f i r ebox. "
" Wher e di d you pi ck t hat up?" " Fr omt he gent l emen al ong t he Taggar t i r on. "
He spoke f i ve l anguages, and he spoke Engl i sh wi t hout a t r ace of accent , a
pr eci se, cul t ur ed Engl i sh del i ber at el y mi xed wi t h sl ang. She had r et al i at ed
by cal l i ng hi mFr i sco. He had l aughed, amused and annoyed. " I f you bar bar i ans
had t o degr ade t he name of a gr eat ci t y of your s, you coul d at l east r ef r ai n
f r omdoi ng i t t o me. " But t hey had gr own t o l i ke t he ni cknames.
I t had st ar t ed i n t he days of t hei r second summer t oget her , when he was
t wel ve year s ol d and she was t en. That summer , Fr anci sco began vani shi ng
ever y mor ni ng f or some pur pose nobody coul d di scover . He went of f on hi s
bi cycl e bef or e dawn, and r et ur ned i n t i me t o appear at t he whi t e and cr yst al
t abl e set f or l unch on t he t er r ace, hi s manner cour t eousl y punct ual and a
l i t t l e t oo i nnocent . He l aughed, r ef usi ng t o answer , when Dagny and Eddi e
quest i oned hi m. They t r i ed t o f ol l ow hi monce, t hr ough t he col d, pr e- mor ni ng
dar kness, but t hey gave i t up; no one coul d t r ack hi mwhen he di d not want t o
be t r acked.
Af t er a whi l e, Mr s. Taggar t began, t o wor r y and deci ded t o i nvest i gat e.
She never l ear ned how he had managed t o by- pass al l t he chi l d- l abor l aws, but
she f ound Fr anci sco wor ki ngby an unof f i ci al deal wi t h t he di spat cher as a
cal l boy f or Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , at a di vi si on poi nt t en mi l es away.
The di spat cher was st upef i ed by her per sonal vi si t ; he had no i dea t hat hi s
cal l boy was a house guest of t he Taggar t s. The boy was known t o t he l ocal
r ai l r oad cr ews as Fr anki e, and Mr s. Taggar t pr ef er r ed not t o enl i ght en t hem
about hi s f ul l name.
She mer el y expl ai ned t hat he was wor ki ng wi t hout hi s par ent s' per mi ssi on
and had t o qui t at once. The di spat cher was sor r y t o l ose hi m; Fr anki e, he
sai d, was t he best cal l boy t hey had ever had. " I ' d sur e l i ke t o keep hi mon.
Maybe we coul d make a deal wi t h hi s par ent s? he suggest ed. " I ' maf r ai d not .
sai d Mr s. Taggar t f ai nt l y.
" Fr anci sco, " she asked, when she br ought hi mhome, " what woul d your f at her
say about t hi s, i f he knew?"
" My f at her woul d ask whet her I was good at t he j ob or not .
That ' s al l he' d want t o know. "
" Come now, I ' mser i ous. "
Fr anci sco was l ooki ng at her pol i t el y, hi s cour t eous manner suggest i ng
cent ur i es of br eedi ng and dr awi ng r ooms; but somet hi ng i n hi s eyes made her
f eel uncer t ai n about t he pol i t eness. " Last wi nt er , " he answer ed, " I shi pped
out as cabi n boy on a car go st eamer t hat car r i ed d' Anconi a copper . My f at her
l ooked f or me f or t hr ee mont hs, but t hat ' s al l he asked me when I came back. "
" So t hat ' s how you spend your wi nt er s?" sai d J i mTaggar t . J i m' s smi l e had
a t ouch of t r i umph, t he t r i umph of f i ndi ng cause t o f eel cont empt .
" That was l ast wi nt er , " Fr anci sco answer ed pl easant l y, wi t h no change i n
t he i nnocent , casual t one of hi s voi ce. " The wi nt er bef or e l ast I spent i n
Madr i d, at t he home of t he Duke of Al ba. "
" Why di d you want t o wor k on a r ai l r oad?" asked Dagny.
They st ood l ooki ng at each ot her : her s was a gl ance of admi r at i on, hi s of
mocker y; but i t was not t he mocker y of mal i cei t was t he l aught er of a
sal ut e.
" To l ear n what i t ' s l i ke, Sl ug, " he answer ed, " and t o t el l you t hat I ' ve
had a j ob wi t h Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al bef or e you di d. "
Dagny and Eddi e spent t hei r wi nt er s t r yi ng t o mast er some new ski l l , i n
or der t o ast oni sh Fr anci sco and beat hi m, f or once. They never succeeded.
When t hey showed hi mhow t o hi t a bal l wi t h a bat , a game he had never pl ayed
bef or e, he wat ched t hemf or a f ew mi nut es, t hen sai d, " I t hi nk I get t he
i dea. Let me t r y. " He t ook t he bat and sent t he bal l f l yi ng over a l i ne of
oak t r ees f ar at t he end of t he f i el d.
When J i mwas gi ven a mot or boat f or hi s bi r t hday, t hey al l st ood on t he
r i ver l andi ng, wat chi ng t he l esson, whi l e an i nst r uct or showed J i mhow t o r un
i t . None of t hemhad ever dr i ven a mot or boat bef or e. The spar kl i ng whi t e
cr af t , shaped l i ke a bul l et , kept st agger i ng cl umsi l y acr oss t he wat er , i t s
wake a l ong r ecor d of shi ver i ng, i t s mot or choki ng wi t h hi ccoughs, whi l e t he
i nst r uct or , seat ed besi de hi m, kept sei zi ng t he wheel out of J i m' s hands. For
no appar ent r eason, J i mr ai sed hi s head suddenl y and yel l ed at Fr anci sco, " Do
you t hi nk you can do i t any bet t er ?" " I can do i t . " " Tr y i t ! "
When t he boat came back and i t s t wo occupant s st epped out , Fr anci sco
sl i pped behi nd t he wheel . " Wai t a moment , " he sai d t o t he i nst r uct or , who
r emai ned on t he l andi ng. " Let me t ake a l ook at t hi s. "
Then, bef or e t he i nst r uct or had t i me t o move, t he boat shot out t o t he
mi ddl e of t he r i ver , as i f f i r ed f r oma gun. I t was st r eaki ng away bef or e
t hey gr asped what t hey wer e seei ng. As i t went shr i nki ng i nt o t he di st ance
and sunl i ght , Dagny' s pi ct ur e of i t was t hr ee st r ai ght l i nes: i t s wake, t he
l ong shr i ek of i t s mot or , and t he ai mof t he dr i ver at i t s wheel .
She not i ced t he st r ange expr essi on of her f at her ' s f ace as he l ooked at
t he vani shi ng speedboat . He sai d not hi ng; he j ust st ood l ooki ng. She
r emember ed t hat she had seen hi ml ook t hat way once bef or e. I t was when he
i nspect ed a compl ex syst emof pul l eys whi ch Fr anci sco, aged t wel ve, had
er ect ed t o make an el evat or t o t he t op of a r ock; he was t eachi ng Dagny and
Eddi e t o di ve f r omt he r ock i nt o t he Hudson. Fr anci sco' s not es of cal cul at i on
wer e st i l l scat t er ed about on t he gr ound; her f at her pi cked t hemup, l ooked
at t hem, t hen asked, " Fr anci sco, how many year s of al gebr a have you had?"
" Two year s. " " Who t aught you t o do t hi s?" " Oh, t hat ' s j ust somet hi ng I
f i gur ed out . " She di d not know t hat what her f at her hel d on t he cr umpl ed
sheet s of paper was t he cr ude ver si on of a di f f er ent i al equat i on.
The hei r s of Sebast i an d' Anconi a had been an unbr oken l i ne of f i r st sons,
who knew how t o bear hi s name. I t was a t r adi t i on of t he f ami l y t hat t he man
t o di sgr ace t hemwoul d be t he hei r who di ed, l eavi ng t he d' Anconi a f or t une no
gr eat er t han he had r ecei ved i t . Thr oughout t he gener at i ons, t hat di sgr ace
had not come. An Ar gent i ni an l egend sai d t hat t he hand of a d' Anconi a had t he
mi r acul ous power of t he sai nt s
onl y i t was not t he power t o heal , but t he power t o pr oduce.
The d' Anconi a hei r s had been men of unusual abi l i t y, but none of t hem
coul d mat ch what Fr anci sco d' Anconi a pr omi sed t o become. I t was as i f t he
cent ur i es had si f t ed t he f ami l y' s qual i t i es t hr ough a f i ne mesh, had
di scar ded t he i r r el evant , t he i nconsequent i al , t he weak, and had l et not hi ng
t hr ough except pur e t al ent ; as i f chance, f or once, had achi eved an ent i t y
devoi d of t he acci dent al .
Fr anci sco coul d do anyt hi ng he under t ook, he coul d do i t bet t er t han
anyone el se, and he di d i t wi t hout ef f or t . Ther e was no boast i ng i n hi s
manner and consci ousness, no t hought of compar i son. Hi s at t i t ude was not : " I
can do i t bet t er t han you, " but si mpl y: " I can do i t . " What he meant by doi ng
was doi ng super l at i vel y.
No mat t er what di sci pl i ne was r equi r ed of hi mby hi s f at her ' s exact i ng
pl an f or hi s educat i on, no mat t er what subj ect he was or der ed t o st udy,
Fr anci sco mast er ed i t wi t h ef f or t l ess amusement . Hi s f at her ador ed hi m, but
conceal ed i t car ef ul l y, as he conceal ed t he pr i de of knowi ng t hat he was
br i ngi ng up t he most br i l l i ant phenomenon of a br i l l i ant f ami l y l i ne.
Fr anci sco, i t was sai d, was t o be t he cl i max of t he d' Anconi as.
" I don' t know what sor t of mot t o t he d' Anconi as have on t hei r f ami l y
cr est , " Mr s. Taggar t sai d once, " but I ' msur e t hat Fr anci sco wi l l change i t
t o ' What f or ?' " I t was t he f i r st quest i on he asked about any act i vi t y
pr oposed t o hi mand not hi ng woul d make hi mact , i f he f ound no val i d answer .
He f l ew t hr ough t he days of hi s summer mont h l i ke a r ocket , but i f one
st opped hi mi n mi d- f l i ght , he coul d al ways name t he pur pose of hi s ever y
r andommoment . Two t hi ngs wer e i mpossi bl e t o hi m: t o st and st i l l or t o move
ai ml essl y.
" Let ' s f i nd out " was t he mot i ve he gave t o Dagny and Eddi e f or anyt hi ng he
under t ook, or " Let ' s make i t . " These wer e hi s onl y f or ms of enj oyment .
" I can do i t , " he sai d, when he was bui l di ng hi s el evat or , cl i ngi ng t o t he
si de of a cl i f f , dr i vi ng met al wedges i nt o r ock, hi s ar ms movi ng wi t h an
exper t ' s r hyt hm, dr ops of bl ood sl i ppi ng, unnot i ced, f r omunder a bandage on
hi s wr i st . " No, we can' t t ake t ur ns, Eddi e, you' r e not bi g enough yet t o
handl e a hammer . J ust car t t he weeds of f and keep t he way cl ear f or me, I ' l l
do t he r est . . . . What bl ood? Oh, t hat ' s not hi ng, j ust a cut I got
yest er day. Dagny, r un t o t he house and br i ng me a cl ean bandage. "
J i mwat ched t hem. They l ef t hi mal one, but t hey of t en saw hi mst andi ng i n
t he di st ance, wat chi ng Fr anci sco wi t h a pecul i ar ki nd of i nt ensi t y.
He sel domspoke i n Fr anci sco' s pr esence. But he woul d cor ner Dagny and he
woul d smi l e der i si vel y, sayi ng, " AH t hose ai r s you put on, pr et endi ng t hat
you' r e an i r on woman wi t h a mi nd of her own! You' r e a spi nel ess di shr ag,
t hat ' s al l you ar e. I t ' s di sgust i ng, t he way you l et t hat concei t ed punk
or der you about . He can t wi st you ar ound hi s l i t t l e f i nger . You haven' t any
pr i de at al l . The way you r un when he whi st l es and wai t on hi m! Why don' t you
shi ne hi s shoes?" " Because he hasn' t t ol d me t o, " she answer ed.
Fr anci sco coul d wi n any game i n any l ocal cont est . He never ent er ed
cont est s. He coul d have r ul ed t he j uni or count r y cl ub. He never came wi t hi n
si ght of t hei r cl ubhouse, i gnor i ng t hei r eager at t empt s t o enr ol l t he most
f amous hei r i n t he wor l d. Dagny and Eddi e wer e hi s onl y f r i ends. They coul d
not t el l whet her t hey owned hi mor wer e owned by hi mcompl et el y; i t made no
di f f er ence: ei t her concept made t hemhappy.
The t hr ee of t hemset out ever y mor ni ng on advent ur es of t hei r own ki nd.
Once, an el der l y pr of essor of l i t er at ur e, Mr s. Taggar t ' s f r i end, saw t hemon
t op of a pi l e i n a j unk yar d, di smant l i ng t he car cass of an aut omobi l e. He
st opped, shook hi s head and sai d t o Fr anci sco, " A young man of your posi t i on
ought t o spend hi s t i me i n l i br ar i es, absor bi ng t he cul t ur e of t he wor l d. "
" What do you t hi nk I ' mdoi ng?" asked Fr anci sco.
Ther e wer e no f act or i es i n t he nei ghbor hood, but Fr anci sco t aught Dagny
and Eddi e t o st eal r i des on Taggar t t r ai ns t o di st ant t owns, wher e t hey
cl i mbed f ences i nt o mi l l yar ds or hung on wi ndow si l l s, wat chi ng machi ner y as
ot her chi l dr en wat ched movi es. " When I r un Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . . . "
Dagny woul d say at t i mes. " When I r un d' Anconi a Copper . . . " sai d Fr anci sco.
They never had t o expl ai n t he r est t o each ot her ; t hey knew each ot her ' s goal
and mot i ve.
Rai l r oad conduct or s caught t hem, once i n a whi l e. Then a st at i onmast er a
hundr ed mi l es away woul d t el ephone Mr s. Taggar t : " We' ve got t hr ee young
t r amps her e who say t hat t hey ar e" " Yes, " Mr s. Taggar t woul d si gh, " t hey
ar e. Pl ease send t hemback. "
" Fr anci sco, " Eddi e asked hi monce, as t hey st ood by t he t r acks of t he
Taggar t st at i on, " you' ve been j ust about ever ywher e i n t he wor l d.
What ' s t he most i mpor t ant t hi ng on ear t h?" " Thi s, " answer ed Fr anci sco,
poi nt i ng t o t he embl emTT on t he f r ont of an engi ne. He added, " I wi sh I
coul d have met Nat Taggar t . "
He not i ced Dagny' s gl ance at hi m. He sai d not hi ng el se. But mi nut es l at er ,
when t hey went on t hr ough t he woods, down a nar r ow pat h of damp ear t h, f er ns
and sunl i ght , he sai d, " Dagny, I ' l l al ways bow t o a coat - of - ar ms. I ' l l al ways
wor shi p t he symbol s of nobi l i t y. AmI not supposed t o be an ar i st ocr at ? Onl y
I don' t gi ve a damn f or mot h- eat en t ur r et s and t ent h- hand uni cor ns. The
coat s- of - ar ms of our day ar e t o be f ound on bi l l boar ds and i n t he ads of
popul ar magazi nes. " " What do you mean?" asked Eddi e. " I ndust r i al t r ademar ks,
Eddi e, " he answer ed.
Fr anci sco was f i f t een year s ol d, t hat summer .
" When I r un d' Anconi a Copper . . . " " I ' mst udyi ng mi ni ng and mi ner al ogy,
because I must be r eady f or t he t i me when I r un d' Anconi a Copper . . . . " " I ' m
st udyi ng el ect r i cal engi neer i ng, because power compani es ar e t he best
cust omer s of d' Anconi a Copper . . . . " " I ' mgoi ng t o st udy phi l osophy, because
I ' l l need i t t o pr ot ect d' Anconi a Copper . . . . "
" Don' t you ever t hi nk of anyt hi ng but d' Anconi a Copper ?" J i masked hi m
once.
" No. "
" I t seems t o me t hat t her e ar e ot her t hi ngs i n t he wor l d. "
" Let ot her s t hi nk about t hem. "
" I sn' t t hat a ver y sel f i sh at t i t ude?"
" I t i s. "
" What ar e you af t er ?"
" Money. "
" Don' t you have enough?"
" I n hi s l i f et i me, ever y one of my ancest or s r ai sed t he pr oduct i on of
d' Anconi a Copper by about t en per cent . I i nt end t o r ai se i t by one hundr ed. "
" What f or ?" J i masked, i n sar cast i c i mi t at i on of Fr anci sco' s voi ce.
" When I di e, I hope t o go t o heavenwhat ever t he hel l t hat i s
and I want t o be abl e t o af f or d t he pr i ce of admi ssi on.
" Vi r t ue i s t he pr i ce of admi ssi on, " J i msai d haught i l y.
" That ' s what I mean, J ames. So I want t o be pr epar ed t o cl ai mt he gr eat est
vi r t ue of al l t hat I was a man who made money. "
" Any gr af t er can make money. "
" J ames, you ought t o di scover some day t hat wor ds have an exact meani ng. "
Fr anci sco smi l ed; i t was a smi l e of r adi ant mocker y. Wat chi ng t hem, Dagny
t hought suddenl y of t he di f f er ence bet ween Fr anci sco and her br ot her J i m.
Bot h of t hemsmi l ed der i si vel y. But Fr anci sco seemed t o l augh at t hi ngs
because he saw somet hi ng much gr eat er . J i ml aughed as i f he want ed t o l et
not hi ng r emai n gr eat .
She not i ced t he par t i cul ar qual i t y of Fr anci sco' s smi l e agai n, one ni ght ,
when she sat wi t h hi mand Eddi e at a bonf i r e t hey had bui l t i n t he woods. The
gl ow of t he f i r e encl osed t hemwi t hi n a f ence of br oken, movi ng st r i ps t hat
hel d pi eces of t r ee t r unks, br anches and di st ant st ar s.
She f el t as i f t her e wer e not hi ng beyond t hat f ence, not hi ng but bl ack
empt i ness, wi t h t he hi nt of some br eat h- st oppi ng, f r i ght eni ng pr omi se . . .
l i ke t he f ut ur e. But t he f ut ur e, she t hought , woul d be l i ke Fr anci sco' s
smi l e, t her e was t he key t o i t , t he advance war ni ng of i t s nat ur e i n hi s
f ace i n t he f i r el i ght under t he pi ne br anchesand suddenl y she f el t an
unbear abl e happi ness, unbear abl e because i t was t oo f ul l and she had no way
t o expr ess i t . She gl anced at Eddi e. He was l ooki ng at Fr anci sco. I n some
qui et way of hi s own, Eddi e f el t as she di d.
" Why do you l i ke Fr anci sco?" she asked hi mweeks l at er , when Fr anci sco was
gone.
Eddi e l ooked ast oni shed; i t had never occur r ed t o hi mt hat t he f eel i ng
coul d be quest i oned. He sai d, " He makes me f eel saf e. "
She sai d, " He makes me expect exci t ement and danger . "
Fr anci sco was si xt een, next summer , t he day when she st ood al one wi t h hi m
on t he summi t of a cl i f f by t he r i ver , t hei r shor t s and shi r t s t or n i n t hei r
cl i mb t o t he t op. They st ood l ooki ng down t he Hudson; t hey had hear d t hat on
cl ear days one coul d see New Yor k i n t he di st ance. But t hey saw onl y a haze
made of t hr ee di f f er ent ki nds of l i ght mer gi ng t oget her : t he r i ver , t he sky
and t he sun.
She knel t on a r ock, l eani ng f or war d, t r yi ng t o cat ch some hi nt of t he
ci t y, t he wi nd bl owi ng her hai r acr oss her eyes. She gl anced back over her
shoul der and saw t hat Fr anci sco was not l ooki ng at t he di st ance: he st ood
l ooki ng at her . I t was an odd gl ance, i nt ent and unsmi l i ng. She r emai ned
st i l l f or a moment , her hands spr ead f l at on t he r ock, her ar ms t ensed t o
suppor t t he wei ght of her body; i nexpl i cabl y, hi s gl ance made her awar e of
her pose, of her shoul der showi ng t hr ough t he t or n shi r t , of her l ong,
scr at ched, sunbur ned l egs sl ant i ng f r omt he r ock t o t he gr ound. She st ood up
angr i l y and backed away f r omhi m. And whi l e t hr owi ng her head up, r esent ment
i n her eyes t o meet t he st er nness i n hi s, whi l e f eel i ng cer t ai n t hat hi s was
a gl ance of condemnat i on and host i l i t y, she hear d her sel f aski ng hi m, a t one
of smi l i ng def i ance i n her voi ce: " What do you l i ke about me?"
He l aughed; she wonder ed, aghast , what had made her say i t . He answer ed,
" Ther e' s what I l i ke about you, " poi nt i ng t o t he gl i t t er i ng r ai l s of t he
Taggar t st at i on i n t he di st ance.
" I t ' s not mi ne, " she sai d, di sappoi nt ed.
" What I l i ke i s t hat i t ' s goi ng t o be. "
She smi l ed, concedi ng hi s vi ct or y by bei ng openl y del i ght ed. She di d not
know why he had l ooked at her so st r angel y; but she f el t t hat he had seen
some connect i on, whi ch she coul d not gr asp, bet ween her body and somet hi ng
wi t hi n her t hat woul d gi ve her t he st r engt h t o r ul e t hose r ai l s some day.
He sai d br usquel y, " Let ' s see i f we can see New Yor k, " and j er ked her by
t he ar mt o t he edge of t he cl i f f . She t hought t hat he di d not not i ce t hat he
t wi st ed her ar mi n a pecul i ar way, hol di ng i t down al ong t he l engt h of hi s
si de; i t made her st and pr essed agai nst hi m, and she f el t t he war mt h of t he
sun i n t he ski n of hi s l egs agai nst her s. They l ooked f ar out i nt o t he
di st ance, but t hey saw not hi ng ahead except a haze of l i ght .
When Fr anci sco l ef t , t hat summer , she t hought t hat hi s depar t ur e was; l i ke
t he cr ossi ng of a f r ont i er whi ch ended hi s chi l dhood: he was t o st ar t
col l ege, t hat f al l . Her t ur n woul d come next . She f el t an eager i mpat i ence
t ouched by t he exci t ement of f ear , as i f he had l eaped i nt o an unknown
danger . I t was l i ke t he moment , year s ago, when she had seen hi mdi ve f i r st
f r oma r ock i nt o t he Hudson, had seen hi mvani sh under t he bl ack wat er and
had st ood, knowi ng t hat he woul d r eappear i n an i nst ant and t hat i t woul d
t hen be her t ur n t o f ol l ow.
She di smi ssed t he f ear ; danger s, t o Fr anci sco, wer e mer el y oppor t uni t i es
f or anot her br i l l i ant per f or mance; t her e wer e no bat t l es he coul d l ose, no
enemi es t o beat hi m. And t hen she t hought of a r emar k she had hear d a f ew
year s ear l i er . I t was a st r ange r emar kand i t was st r ange t hat t he wor ds had
r emai ned i n her mi nd, even t hough she had t hought t hemsensel ess at t he t i me.
The man who sai d i t was an ol d pr of essor of mat hemat i cs, a f r i end of her
f at her , who came t o t hei r count r y house f or j ust t hat one vi si t . She l i ked
hi s f ace, and she coul d st i l l see t he pecul i ar sadness i n hi s eyes when he
sai d t o her f at her one eveni ng, si t t i ng on t he t er r ace i n t he f adi ng l i ght ,
poi nt i ng t o Fr anci sco' s f i gur e i n t he gar den, " That boy i s vul ner abl e. He has
t oo gr eat a capaci t y f or j oy.
What wi l l he do wi t h i t i n a wor l d wher e t her e' s so l i t t l e occasi on f or
i t ?"
Fr anci sco went t o a gr eat Amer i can school , whi ch hi s f at her had chosen f or
hi ml ong ago. I t was t he most di st i ngui shed i nst i t ut i on of l ear ni ng l ef t i n
t he wor l d, t he Pat r i ck Henr y Uni ver si t y of Cl evel and.
He di d not come t o vi si t her i n New Yor k, t hat wi nt er , even t hough he was
onl y a ni ght ' s j our ney away. They di d not wr i t e t o each ot her , t hey had never
done i t . But she knew t hat he woul d come back t o t he count r y f or one summer
mont h.
Ther e wer e a f ew t i mes, t hat wi nt er , when she f el t an undef i ned
appr ehensi on: t he pr of essor ' s wor ds kept r et ur ni ng t o her mi nd, as a war ni ng
whi ch she coul d not expl ai n. She di smi ssed t hem. When she t hought of
Fr anci sco, she f el t t he st eadyi ng assur ance t hat she woul d have anot her mont h
as an advance agai nst t he f ut ur e, as a pr oof t hat t he wor l d she saw ahead was
r eal , even t hough i t was not t he wor l d of t hose ar ound her .
" Hi , Sl ug! "
" Hi , Fr i sco! "
St andi ng on t he hi l l si de, i n t he f i r st moment of seei ng hi magai n, she
gr asped suddenl y t he nat ur e of t hat wor l d whi ch t hey, t oget her , hel d agai nst
al l ot her s. I t was onl y an i nst ant ' s pause, she f el t her cot t on ski r t beat i ng
i n t he wi nd agai nst her knees, f el t t he sun on her eyel i ds, and t he upwar d
t hr ust of such an i mmense r el i ef t hat she gr ound her f eet i nt o t he gr ass
under her sandal s, because she t hought she woul d r i se, wei ght l ess, t hr ough
t he wi nd.
I t was a sudden sense of f r eedomand saf et ybecause she r eal i zed t hat she
knew not hi ng about t he event s of hi s l i f e, had never known and woul d never
need t o know. The wor l d of chanceof f ami l i es, meal s, school s, peopl e, of
ai ml ess peopl e dr aggi ng t he l oad of some unknown gui l t was not t hei r s, coul d
not change hi m, coul d not mat t er . He and she had never spoken of t he t hi ngs
t hat happened t o t hem, but onl y of what t hey t hought and of what t hey woul d
do. . . . She l ooked at hi msi l ent l y, as i f a voi ce wi t hi n her wer e sayi ng:
Not t he t hi ngs t hat ar e, but t he t hi ngs we' l l make . . . We ar e not t o be
st opped, you and I . . .
For gi ve me t he f ear , i f I t hought I coul d l ose you t o t hemf or gi ve me t he
doubt , t hey' l l never r each youI l l never be af r ai d f or you agai n. . . .
He, t oo, st ood l ooki ng at her f or a moment and i t seemed t o her t hat i t
was not a l ook of gr eet i ng af t er an absence, but t he l ook of someone who had
t hought of her ever y day of t hat year . She coul d not be cer t ai n, i t was onl y
an i nst ant , so br i ef t hat j ust as she caught i t , he was t ur ni ng t o poi nt at
t he bi r ch t r ee behi nd hi mand sayi ng i n t he t one of t hei r chi l dhood game: " I
wi sh you' d l ear n t o r un f ast er . I ' l l al ways have t o wai t f or you. "
" Wi l l you wai t f or me?" she asked gai l y.
He answer ed, wi t hout smi l i ng, " Al ways. "
As t hey went up t he hi l l t o t he house, he spoke t o Eddi e, whi l e she wal ked
si l ent l y by hi s si de. She f el t t hat t her e was a new r et i cence bet ween t hem
whi ch, st r angel y, was a new ki nd of i nt i macy.
She di d not quest i on hi mabout t he uni ver si t y. Days l at er , she asked hi m
onl y whet her he l i ked i t .
" They' r e t eachi ng a l ot of dr i vel nowadays, " he answer ed, " but t her e ar e a
f ew cour ses I l i ke. "
" Have you made any f r i ends t her e?"
" Two. "
He t ol d her not hi ng el se.
J i mwas appr oachi ng hi s seni or year i n a col l ege i n New Yor k. Hi s st udi es
had gi ven hi ma manner of odd, quaver i ng bel l i ger ence, as i f he had f ound a
new weapon. He addr essed Fr anci sco once, wi t hout pr ovocat i on, st oppi ng hi mi n
t he mi ddl e of t he l awn t o say i n a t one of aggr essi ve sel f - r i ght eousness: " I
t hi nk t hat now t hat you' ve r eached col l ege age, you ought t o l ear n somet hi ng
about i deal s. I t ' s t i me t o f or get your sel f i sh gr eed and gi ve some t hought t o
your soci al r esponsi bi l i t i es, because I t hi nk t hat al l t hose mi l l i ons you' r e
goi ng t o i nher i t ar e not f or your per sonal pl easur e, t hey ar e a t r ust f or t he
benef i t of t he under pr i vi l eged and t he poor , because I t hi nk t hat t he per son
who doesn' t r eal i ze t hi s i s t he most depr aved t ype of human bei ng. "
Fr anci sco answer ed cour t eousl y, " I t i s not advi sabl e, l ames, t o vent ur e
unsol i ci t ed opi ni ons. You shoul d spar e your sel f t he embar r assi ng di scover y of
t hei r exact val ue t o your l i st ener . "
Dagny asked hi m, as t hey wal ked away, " Ar e t her e many men l i ke J i mi n t he
wor l d?"
Fr anci sco l aughed. " A gr eat many. "
" Don' t you mi nd i t ?"
" No. I don' t have t o deal wi t h t hem. Why do you ask t hat ?"
" Because I t hi nk t hey' r e danger ous i n some way . . . I don' t know how . .
. "
" Good God, Dagny! Do you expect me t o be af r ai d of an obj ect l i ke J ames?"
I t was days l at er , when t hey wer e al one, wal ki ng t hr ough t he woods on t he
shor e of t he r i ver , t hat she asked: " Fr anci sco, what ' s t he most depr aved t ype
of human bei ng?"
" The man wi t hout a pur pose. "
She was l ooki ng at t he st r ai ght shaf t s of t he t r ees t hat st ood agai nst t he
gr eat , sudden, shi ni ng spr ead of space beyond. The f or est was di mand cool ,
but t he out er br anches caught t he hot , si l ver sunr ays f r omt he wat er . She
wonder ed why she enj oyed t he si ght , when she had never t aken any not i ce of
t he count r y ar ound her , why she was so awar e of her enj oyment , of her
movement s, of her body i n t he pr ocess of wal ki ng.
She di d not want t o l ook at Fr anci sco. She f el t t hat hi s pr esence seemed
mor e i nt ensel y r eal when she kept her eyes away f r omhi m, al most as i f t he
st r essed awar eness of her sel f came f r omhi m, l i ke t he sunl i ght f r omt he
wat er .
" You t hi nk you' r e good, don' t you?" he asked.
" I al ways di d, " she answer ed def i ant l y, wi t hout t ur ni ng.
" Wel l , l et me sec you pr ove i t . Let me see how f ar you' l l r i se wi t h
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . No mat t er how good you ar e, I ' l l expect you t o
wr i ng ever yt hi ng you' ve got , t r yi ng t o be st i l l bet t er . And when you' ve wor n
your sel f out t o r each a goal , I ' l l expect you t o st ar t f or anot her . "
" Why do you t hi nk t hat I car e t o pr ove anyt hi ng t o you?" she asked.
" Want me t o answer ?"
" No, " she whi sper ed, her eyes f i xed upon t he ot her shor e of t he r i ver i n
t he di st ance.
She hear d hi mchuckl i ng, and af t er a whi l e he sai d, " Dagny, t her e' s
not hi ng of any i mpor t ance i n l i f eexcept how wel l you do your wor k.
Not hi ng. Onl y t hat . What ever el se you ar e, wi l l come f r omt hat . I t ' s t he
onl y measur e of human val ue. Al l t he codes of et hi cs t hey' l l t r y t o r amdown
your t hr oat ar e j ust so much paper money put out by swi ndl er s t o f l eece
peopl e of t hei r vi r t ues. The code of compet ence i s t he onl y syst emof
mor al i t y t hat ' s on a gol d st andar d. When you gr ow up, you' l l know what I
mean. "
" I know i t now. But . . . Fr anci sco, why ar e you and I t he onl y ones who
seemt o know i t ?"
" Why shoul d you car e about t he ot her s?"
" Because I l i ke t o under st and t hi ngs, and t her e' s somet hi ng about peopl e
t hat I can' t under st and. "
" What ?"
" Wel l , I ' ve al ways been unpopul ar i n school and i t di dn' t bot her me, but
now I ' ve di scover ed t he r eason. I t ' s an i mpossi bl e ki nd of r eason.
They di sl i ke me, not because I do t hi ngs badl y, but because I do t hem
wel l . They di sl i ke me because I ' ve al ways had t he best gr ades i n t he cl ass. I
don' t even have t o st udy. I al ways get A' s. Do you suppose I shoul d t r y t o
get D' s f or a change and become t he most popul ar gi r l i n school ?"
Fr anci sco st opped, l ooked at her and sl apped her f ace.
What she f el t was cont ai ned i n a si ngl e i nst ant , whi l e t he gr ound r ocked
under her f eet , i n a si ngl e bl ast of emot i on wi t hi n her . She knew t hat she
woul d have ki l l ed any ot her per son who st r uck her ; she f el t t he vi ol ent f ur y
whi ch woul d have gi ven her t he st r engt h f or i t and as vi ol ent a pl easur e t hat
Fr anci sco had done i t . She f el t pl easur e f r omt he dul l , hot pai n i n her cheek
and f r omt he t ast e of bl ood i n t he cor ner of her mout h. She f el t pl easur e i n
what she suddenl y gr asped about hi m, about her sel f and about hi s mot i ve.
She br aced her f eet t o st op t he di zzi ness, she hel d her head st r ai ght and
st ood f aci ng hi mi n t he consci ousness of a new power , f eel i ng her sel f hi s
equal f or t he f i r st t i me, l ooki ng at hi mwi t h a mocki ng smi l e of t r i umph.
" Di d I hur t you as much as t hat ?" she asked.
He l ooked ast oni shed; t he quest i on and t he smi l e wer e not t hose of a
chi l d. He answer ed, " Yesi f i t pl eases you. "
" I t does. "
" Don' t ever do t hat agai n. Don' t cr ack j okes of t hat ki nd. "
" Don' t be a f ool . What ever made you t hi nk t hat I car ed about bei ng
popul ar ?"
" When you gr ow up, you' l l under st and what sor t of unspeakabl e t hi ng you
sai d. "
" I under st and i t now. "
He t ur ned abr upt l y, t ook out hi s handker chi ef and di pped i t i n t he wat er
of t he r i ver . " Come her e, " he or der ed.
She l aughed, st eppi ng back, " Oh no. I want t o keep i t as i t i s. I hope i t
swel l s t er r i bl y. I l i ke i t . "
He l ooked at her f or a l ong moment . He sai d sl owl y, ver y ear nest l y,
" Dagny, you' r e wonder f ul . "
" I t hought t hat you al ways t hought so, " she answer ed, her voi ce i nsol ent l y
casual .
When she came home, she t ol d her mot her t hat she had cut her l i p by
f al l i ng agai nst a r ock. I t was t he onl y l i e she ever t ol d. She di d not do i t
t o pr ot ect Fr anci sco; she di d i t because she f el t , f or some r eason whi ch she
coul d not def i ne, t hat t he i nci dent was a secr et t oo pr eci ous t o shar e, Next
summer , when Fr anci sco came, she was si xt een. She st ar t ed r unni ng down t he
hi l l t o meet hi m, but st opped abr upt l y. He saw i t , st opped, and t hey st ood
f or a moment , l ooki ng at each ot her acr oss t he di st ance of a l ong, gr een
sl ope. I t was he who wal ked up t owar d her , wal ked ver y sl owl y, whi l e she
st ood wai t i ng.
When he appr oached, she smi l ed i nnocent l y, as i f unconsci ous of any
cont est i nt ended or won.
" You mi ght l i ke t o know, " she sai d, " t hat I have a j ob on t he r ai l r oad.
Ni ght oper at or at Rockdal e. "
He l aughed. " Al l r i ght , Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , now i t ' s a r ace.
Let ' s see who' l l do gr eat er honor , yout o Nat Taggar t , or I t o Sebast i an
d' Anconi a. "
That wi nt er , she st r i pped her l i f e down t o t he br i ght si mpl i ci t y of a
geomet r i cal dr awi ng: a f ew st r ai ght l i nest o and f r omt he engi neer i ng col l ege
i n t he ci t y each day, t o and f r omher j ob at Rockdal e St at i on each ni ght and
t he cl osed ci r cl e of her r oom, a r ooml i t t er ed wi t h di agr ams of mot or s,
bl uepr i nt s of st eel st r uct ur es, and r ai l r oad t i met abl es.
Mr s. Taggar t wat ched her daught er i n unhappy bewi l der ment . She coul d have
f or gi ven al l t he omi ssi ons, but one: Dagny showed no si gn of i nt er est i n men,
no r omant i c i ncl i nat i on what ever . Mr s. Taggar t di d not appr ove of ext r emes;
she had been pr epar ed t o cont end wi t h an ext r eme of t he opposi t e ki nd, i f
necessar y; she f ound her sel f t hi nki ng t hat t hi s was wor se. She f el t
embar r assed when she had t o admi t t hat her daught er , at sevent een, di d not
have a si ngl e admi r er .
" Dagny and Fr anci sco d' Anconi a?" she sai d, smi t i ng r uef ul l y, i n answer t o
t he cur i osi t y of her f r i ends. " Oh no, i t ' s not a r omance. I t ' s an
i nt er nat i onal i ndust r i al car t el of some ki nd. That ' s al l t hey seemt o car e
about . "
Mr s. Taggar t hear d J ames say one eveni ng, i n t he pr esence of guest s, a
pecul i ar t one of sat i sf act i on i n hi s voi ce, " Dagny, even t hough you wer e
named af t er her , you r eal l y l ook mor e l i ke Nat Taggar t t han l i ke t hat f i r st
Dagny Taggar t , t he f amous beaut y who was hi s wi f e. " Mr s. Taggar t di d not know
whi ch of f ended her most : t hat J ames sai d i t or t hat Dagny accept ed i t happi l y
as a compl i ment .
She woul d never have a chance, t hought Mr s. Taggar t , t o f or msome
concept i on of her own daught er . Dagny was onl y a f i gur e hur r yi ng i n and out
of t he apar t ment , a sl i mf i gur e i n a l eat her j acket , wi t h a r ai sed col l ar , a
shor t ski r t and l ong show- gi r l l egs. She wal ked, cut t i ng acr oss a r oom, wi t h
a mascul i ne, st r ai ght - l i ne abr upt ness, but she had a pecul i ar gr ace of mot i on
t hat was swi f t , t ense and oddl y, chal l engi ngl y f emi ni ne.
At t i mes, cat chi ng a gl i mpse of Dagny' s f ace, Mr s. Taggar t caught an
expr essi on whi ch she coul d not qui t e def i ne: i t was much mor e t han gai et y, i t
was t he l ook of such an unt ouched pur i t y of enj oyment t hat she f ound i t
abnor mal , t oo: no young gi r l coul d be so i nsensi t i ve as t o have di scover ed no
sadness i n l i f e. Her daught er , she concl uded, was i ncapabl e of emot i on.
" Dagny. , " she asked once, " don' t you ever want t o have a good t i me?" Dagny
l ooked at her i ncr edul ousl y and answer ed, " What do you t hi nk I ' mhavi ng?"
The deci si on t o gi ve her daught er a f or mal debut cost Mr s. Taggar t a gr eat
deal of anxi ous t hought . She di d not know whet her she was i nt r oduci ng t o New
Yor k soci et y Mi ss Dagny Taggar t of t he Soci al Regi st er or t he ni ght oper at or
of Rockdal e St at i on; she was i ncl i ned t o bel i eve i t was mor e t r ul y t hi s l ast ;
and she f el t cer t ai n t hat Dagny woul d r ej ect t he i dea of such an occasi on.
She was ast oni shed when Dagny accept ed i t wi t h i nexpl i cabl e eager ness, f or
once l i ke a chi l d.
She was ast oni shed agai n, when she saw Dagny dr essed f or t he par t y, I t was
t he f i r st f emi ni ne dr ess she had ever wor na gown of whi t e chi f f on wi t h a
huge ski r t t hat f l oat ed l i ke a cl oud. Mr s. Taggar t had expect ed her t o l ook
l i ke a pr epost er ous cont r ast . Dagny l ooked l i ke a beaut y. She seemed bot h
ol der and mor e r adi ant l y i nnocent t han usual ; st andi ng i n f r ont of a mi r r or ,
she hel d her head as Nat Taggar t ' s wi f e woul d have hel d i t .
" Dagny, " Mr s. Taggar t sai d gent l y, r epr oachf ul l y, " do you see how
beaut i f ul you can be when you want t o?"
" Yes, " sai d Dagny, wi t hout any ast oni shment .
The bal l r oomof t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el had been decor at ed under Mr s.
Taggar t ' s di r ect i on; she had an ar t i st ' s t ast e, and t he set t i ng of t hat
eveni ng was her mast er pi ece. " Dagny, t her e ar e t hi ngs I woul d l i ke you t o
l ear n t o not i ce, " she sai d, " l i ght s, col or s, f l ower s, musi c.
They ar e not as negl i gi bl e as you mi ght t hi nk. " " I ' ve never t hought
t hey' r e negl i gi bl e, " Dagny answer ed happi l y. For once, Mr s. Taggar t f el t a
bond bet ween t hem; Dagny was l ooki ng at her wi t h a chi l d' s gr at ef ul t r ust .
" They' r e t he t hi ngs t hat make l i f e beaut i f ul , " sai d Mr s.
Taggar t . " I want t hi s eveni ng t o be ver y beaut i f ul f or you, Dagny. The
f i r st bal l i s t he most r omant i c event of one' s l i f e. "
To Mr s. Taggar t , t he gr eat est sur pr i se was t he moment when she saw Dagny
st andi ng under t he l i ght s, l ooki ng at t he bal l r oom. Thi s was not a chi l d, not
a gi r l , but a woman of such conf i dent , danger ous power t hat Mr s. Taggar t
st ar ed at her wi t h shocked admi r at i on. I n an age of casual , cyni cal ,
i ndi f f er ent r out i ne, among peopl e who hel d t hemsel ves as i f t hey wer e not
f l esh, but meat Dagny' s bear i ng seemed al most i ndecent , because t hi s was t he
way a woman woul d have f aced a bal l r oomcent ur i es ago, when t he act of
di spl ayi ng one' s hal f - naked body f or t he admi r at i on of men was an act of
dar i ng, when i t had meani ng, and but one meani ng, acknowl edged by al l as a
hi gh advent ur e. And t hi st hought Mr s. Taggar t , smi l i ngwas t he gi r l she had
bel i eved t o be devoi d of sexual capaci t y. She f el t an i mmense r el i ef , and a
t ouch of amusement at t he t hought t hat a di scover y of t hi s ki nd shoul d make
her f eel r el i eved.
The r el i ef l ast ed onl y f or a f ew hour s. At t he end of t he eveni ng, she saw
Dagny i n a cor ner of t he bal l r oom, si t t i ng on a bal ust r ade as i f i t wer e a
f ence r ai l , her l egs dangl i ng under t he chi f f on ski r t as i f she wer e dr essed
i n sl acks. She was t al ki ng t o a coupl e of hel pl ess young men, her f ace
cont empt uousl y empt y.
Nei t her Dagny nor Mr s. Taggar t sai d a wor d when t hey r ode home t oget her .
But hour s l at er , on a sudden i mpul se, Mr s. Taggar t went t o her daught er ' s
r oom. Dagny st ood by t he wi ndow, st i l l wear i ng t he whi t e eveni ng gown; i t
l ooked l i ke a cl oud suppor t i ng a body t hat now seemed t oo t hi n f or i t , a
smal l body wi t h saggi ng shoul der s. Beyond t he wi ndow, t he cl ouds wer e gr ay i n
t he f i r st l i ght of mor ni ng.
When Dagny t ur ned, Mr s. Taggar t saw onl y puzzl ed hel pl essness i n her f ace;
t he f ace was cal m, but somet hi ng about i t made Mr s. Taggar t wi sh she had not
wi shed t hat her daught er shoul d di scover sadness.
" Mot her , do t hey t hi nk i t ' s exact l y i n r ever se?" she asked.
" What ?" asked Mr s. Taggar t , bewi l der ed.
" The t hi ngs you wer e t al ki ng about . The l i ght s and t he f l ower s. Do t hey
expect t hose t hi ngs t o make t hemr omant i c, not t he ot her way ar ound?"
" Dar l i ng, what do you mean?"
" Ther e wasn' t a per son t her e who enj oyed i t , " she sai d, her voi ce
l i f el ess, " or who t hought or f el t anyt hi ng at al l . They moved about , and t hey
sai d t he same dul l t hi ngs t hey say anywher e. I suppose t hey t hought t he
l i ght s woul d make i t br i l l i ant . "
" Dar l i ng, you t ake ever yt hi ng t oo ser i ousl y. One i s not supposed t o be
i nt el l ect ual at a bal l . One i s si mpl y supposed t o be gay. "
" How? By bei ng st upi d?"
" I mean, f or i nst ance, di dn' t you enj oy meet i ng t he young men?"
" What men? Ther e wasn' t a man t her e I coul dn' t squash t en of . "
Days l at er , si t t i ng at her desk at Rockdal e St at i on, f eel i ng
l i ght hear t edl y at home, Dagny t hought of t he par t y and shr ugged i n
cont empt uous r epr oach at her own di sappoi nt ment . She l ooked up: i t was spr i ng
and t her e wer e l eaves on t he t r ee br anches i n t he dar kness out si de; t he ai r
was st i l l and war m. She asked her sel f what she had expect ed f r omt hat par t y.
She di d not know. But she f el t i t agai n, her e, now, as she sat sl ouched over
a bat t er ed desk, l ooki ng out i nt o t he dar kness: a sense of expect at i on
wi t hout obj ect , r i si ng t hr ough her body, sl owl y, l i ke a war ml i qui d. She
sl umped f or war d acr oss t he desk, l azi l y, f eel i ng nei t her exhaust i on nor
desi r e t o wor k.
When Fr anci sco came, t hat summer , she t ol d hi mabout t he par t y and about
her di sappoi nt ment . He l i st ened si l ent l y, l ooki ng at her f or t he f i r st t i me
wi t h t hat gl ance of unmovi ng mocker y whi ch he r eser ved f or ot her s, a gl ance
t hat seemed t o see t oo much. She f el t as i f he hear d, i n her wor ds, mor e t han
she knew she t ol d hi m.
She saw t he same gl ance i n hi s eyes on t he eveni ng when she l ef t hi mt oo
ear l y. They wer e al one, si t t i ng on t he shor e of t he r i ver .
She had anot her hour bef or e she was due at Rockdal e. Ther e wer e l ong, t hi n
st r i ps of f i r e i n t he sky, and r ed spar ks f l oat i ng l azi l y on t he wat er . He
had been si l ent f or a l ong t i me, when she r ose abr upt l y and t ol d hi mt hat she
had t o go. He di d not t r y t o st op her ; he l eaned back, hi s el bows i n t he
gr ass, and l ooked at her wi t hout movi ng; hi s gl ance seemed t o say t hat he
knew her mot i ve. Hur r yi ng angr i l y up t he sl ope t o t he house, she wonder ed
what had made her l eave; she di d not know; i t had been a sudden r est l essness
t hat came f r oma f eel i ng she di d not i dent i f y t i l l now: a f eel i ng of
expect at i on.
Each ni ght , she dr ove t he f i ve mi l es f r omt he count r y house t o Rockdal e.
She came back at dawn, sl ept a f ew hour s and got up wi t h t he r est of t he
househol d. She f el t no desi r e t o sl eep. Undr essi ng f or bed i n t he f i r st r ays
of t he sun, she f el t a t ense, j oyous, causel ess i mpat i ence t o f ace t he day
t hat was st ar t i ng.
She saw Fr anci sco' s mocki ng gl ance agai n, acr oss t he net of a t enni s
cour t . She di d not r emember t he begi nni ng of t hat game; t hey had of t en pl ayed
t enni s t oget her and he had al ways won. She di d not know at what moment she
deci ded t hat she woul d wi n, t hi s t i me.
When she became awar e of i t , i t was no l onger a deci si on or a wi sh, but a
qui et f ur y r i si ng wi t hi n her . She di d not know why she had t o wi n; she di d
not know why i t seemed so cr uci al l y, ur gent l y necessar y; she knew onl y t hat
she had t o and t hat she woul d.
I t seemed easy t o pl ay; i t was as i f her wi l l had vani shed and someone' s
power wer e pl ayi ng f or her . She wat ched Fr anci sco' s f i gur e a t al l , swi f t
f i gur e, t he sunt an of hi s ar ms st r essed by hi s shor t whi t e shi r t sl eeves. She
f el t an ar r ogant pl easur e i n seei ng t he ski l l of hi s movement s, because t hi s
was t he t hi ng whi ch she woul d beat , so t hat hi s ever y exper t gest ur e became
her vi ct or y, and t he br i l l i ant compet ence of hi s body became t he t r i umph of
her s.
She f el t t he r i si ng pai n of exhaust i onnot knowi ng t hat i t was pai n,
f eel i ng i t onl y i n sudden st abs t hat made her awar e of some par t of her body
f or an i nst ant , t o be f or got t en i n t he next : her ar msocket
her shoul der bl adesher hi ps, wi t h t he whi t e shor t s st i cki ng t o her ski n
t he muscl es of her l egs, when she l eaped t o meet t he bal l , but di d not
r emember whet her she came down t o t ouch t he gr ound agai nher eyel i ds, when
t he sky went dar k r ed and t he bal l came at her t hr ough t he dar kness l i ke a
whi r l i ng whi t e f l amet he t hi n, hot wi r e t hat shot f r omher ankl e, up her
back, and went on shoot i ng st r ai ght acr oss t he ai r , dr i vi ng t he bal l at
Fr anci sco' s f i gur e. . . . She f el t an exul t ant pl easur ebecause ever y st ab of
pai n begun i n her body had t o end i n hi s, because he was bei ng exhaust ed as
she waswhat she di d t o her sel f , she was doi ng i t al so t o hi mt hi s was what
he f el t t hi s was what she dr ove hi mt oi t was not her pai n t hat she f el t or
her body, but hi s.
I n t he moment s when she saw hi s f ace, she saw t hat he was l aughi ng.
He was l ooki ng at her as i f he under st ood. He was pl ayi ng, not t o wi n, but
t o make i t har der f or her sendi ng hi s shot s wi l d t o make her r un l osi ng
poi nt s t o see her t wi st her body i n an agoni zi ng backhand
st andi ng st i l l , l et t i ng her t hi nk he woul d mi ss, onl y t o l et hi s ar mshoot
out casual l y at t he l ast moment and send t he bal l back wi t h such f or ce t hat
she knew she woul d mi ss i t . She f el t as i f she coul d not move agai n, not
ever and i t was st r ange t o f i nd her sel f l andi ng suddenl y at t he ot her si de of
t he cour t , smashi ng t he bal l i n t i me, smashi ng i t as i f she wi shed i t t o
bur st t o pi eces, as i f she wi shed i t wer e Fr anci sco' s f ace.
J ust once mor e, she t hought , even i f t he next one woul d cr ack t he bones of
her ar m. . . J ust once mor e, even i f t he ai r whi ch she f or ced down i n gasps
past her t i ght , swol l en t hr oat , woul d be st opped al t oget her . . . Then she
f el t not hi ng, no pai n, no muscl es, onl y t he t hought t hat she had t o beat hi m,
t o see hi mexhaust ed, t o see hi mcol l apse, and t hen she woul d be f r ee t o di e
i n t he next moment .
She won. Per haps i t was hi s l aughi ng t hat made hi ml ose, f or once.
He wal ked t o t he net , whi l e she st ood st i l l , and t hr ew hi s r acket acr oss,
at her f eet , as i f knowi ng t hat t hi s was what she want ed. He wal ked out of
t he cour t and f el l down on t he gr ass of t he l awn, col l apsi ng, hi s head on hi s
ar m.
She appr oached hi msl owl y. She st ood over hi m, l ooki ng down at hi s body
st r et ched at her f eet , l ooki ng at hi s sweat - dr enched shi r t and t he st r ands of
hi s hai r spi l l ed acr oss hi s ar m. He r ai sed hi s head. Hi s gl ance moved sl owl y
up t he l i ne of her l egs, t o her shor t s, t o her bl ouse, t o her eyes. I t was a
mocki ng gl ance t hat seemed t o see st r ai ght t hr ough her cl ot hes and t hr ough
her mi nd. And i t seemed t o say t hat he had won.
She sat at her desk at Rockdal e, t hat ni ght , al one i n t he ol d st at i on
bui l di ng, l ooki ng at t he sky i n t he wi ndow. I t was t he hour she l i ked best ,
when t he t op panes of t he wi ndow gr ew l i ght er , and t he r ai l s of t he t r ack
out si de became t hr eads of bl ur r ed si l ver acr oss t he l ower panes. She t ur ned
of f her l amp and wat ched t he vast , soundl ess mot i on of l i ght over a
mot i onl ess ear t h. Thi ngs st ood st i l l , not a l eaf t r embl ed on t he br anches,
whi l e t he sky sl owl y l ost i t s col or and became an expanse t hat l ooked l i ke a
spr ead of gl owi ng wat er .
Her t el ephone was si l ent at t hi s hour , al most as i f movement had st opped
ever ywher e al ong t he syst em. She hear d st eps appr oachi ng out si de, suddenl y,
cl ose t o t he door . Fr anci sco came i n. He had never come her e bef or e, but she
was not ast oni shed t o see hi m.
" What ar e you doi ng up at t hi s hour ?" she asked.
" I di dn' t f eel l i ke sl eepi ng. "
" How di d you get her e? I di dn' t hear your car . "
" I wal ked. "
Moment s passed bef or e she r eal i zed t hat she had not asked hi mwhy he came
and t hat she di d not want t o ask i t .
He wander ed t hr ough t he r oom, l ooki ng at t he cl ust er s of waybi l l s t hat
hung on t he wal l s, at t he cal endar wi t h a pi ct ur e of t he Taggar t Comet caught
i n a pr oud sur ge of mot i on t owar d t he onl ooker . He seemed casual l y at home,
as i f he f el t t hat t he pl ace bel onged t o t hem, as t hey al ways f el t wher ever
t hey went t oget her . But he di d not seemt o want t o t al k. He asked a f ew
quest i ons about her j ob, t hen kept si l ent .
As t he l i ght gr ew out si de, movement gr ew down on t he l i ne and t he
t el ephone st ar t ed r i ngi ng i n t he si l ence. She t ur ned t o her wor k. He sat i n a
cor ner , one l eg t hr own over t he ar mof hi s chai r , wai t i ng.
She wor ked swi f t l y, f eel i ng i nor di nat el y cl ear - headed. She f ound pl easur e
i n t he r api d pr eci si on of her hands. She concent r at ed on t he shar p, br i ght
sound of t he phone, on t he f i gur es of t r ai n number s, car number s, or der
number s. She was consci ous of not hi ng el se.
But when a t hi n sheet of paper f l ut t er ed down t o t he f l oor and she bent t o
pi ck i t up, she was suddenl y as i nt ent l y consci ous of t hat par t i cul ar moment ,
of her sel f and her own movement . She not i ced her gr ay l i nen ski r t , t he r ol l ed
sl eeve of her gr ay bl ouse and her naked ar mr eachi ng down f or t he paper . She
f el t her hear t st op causel essl y i n t he ki nd of gasp one f eel s i n moment s of
ant i ci pat i on. She pi cked up t he paper and t ur ned back t o her desk.
I t was al most f ul l dayl i ght . A t r ai n went past t he st at i on, wi t hout
st oppi ng. I n t he pur i t y of t he mor ni ng l i ght , t he l ong l i ne of car r oof s
mel t ed i nt o a si l ver st r i ng, and t he t r ai n seemed suspended above t he gr ound,
not qui t e t ouchi ng i t , goi ng past t hr ough t he ai r . The f l oor of t he st at i on
t r embl ed. , and gl ass r at t l ed i n t he wi ndows. She wat ched t he t r ai n' s f l i ght
wi t h a smi l e of exci t ement . She gl anced at Fr anci sco: he was l ooki ng at her ,
wi t h t he same smi l e.
When t he day oper at or ar r i ved, she t ur ned t he st at i on over t o hi m, and
t hey wal ked out i nt o t he mor ni ng ai r . The sun had not yet r i sen and t he ai r
seemed r adi ant i n i t s st ead. She f el t no exhaust i on. She f el t as i f she wer e
j ust get t i ng up.
She st ar t ed t owar d her car , but Fr anci sco sai d, " Let ' s wal k home.
We' l l come f or t he car l at er . "
" Al l r i ght . "
She was not ast oni shed and she di d not mi nd t he pr ospect of wal ki ng f i ve
mi l es. I t seemed nat ur al ; nat ur al t o t he moment ' s pecul i ar r eal i t y t hat was
shar pl y cl ear , but cut of f f r omever yt hi ng, i mmedi at e, but di sconnect ed, l i ke
a br i ght i sl and i n a wal l of f og, t he hei ght ened, unquest i oni ng r eal i t y one
f eel s when one i s dr unk.
The r oad l ed t hr ough t he woods. They l ef t t he hi ghway f or an ol d t r ai l
t hat went t wi st i ng among t he t r ees acr oss mi l es of unt ouched count r y. Ther e
wer e no t r aces of human exi st ence ar ound t hem. Ol d r ut s, over gr own wi t h
gr ass, made human pr esence seemmor e di st ant , addi ng t he di st ance of year s t o
t he di st ance of mi l es. A haze of t wi l i ght r emai ned over t he gr ound, but i n
t he br eaks bet ween t he t r ee t r unks t her e wer e l eaves t hat hung i n pat ches of
shi ni ng gr een and seemed t o l i ght t he f or est . The l eaves hung st i l l . They
wal ked, al one t o move t hr ough a mot i onl ess wor l d. She not i ced suddenl y t hat
t hey had not sai d a wor d f or a l ong t i me.
They came t o a cl ear i ng. I t was a smal l hol l ow at t he bot t omof a shaf t
made of st r ai ght r ock hi l l si des. A st r eamcut acr oss t he gr ass, and t r ee
br anches f l owed l ow t o t he gr ound, l i ke a cur t ai n of gr een f l ui d.
The sound of t he wat er st r essed t he si l ence. The di st ant cut of open sky
made t he pl ace seemmor e hi dden. Far above, on t he cr est of a hi l l , one t r ee
caught t he f i r st r ays of sunl i ght .
They st opped and l ooked at each ot her . She knew, onl y when he di d i t , t hat
she had known he woul d. He sei zed her , she f el t her l i ps i n hi s mout h, f el t
her ar ms gr aspi ng hi mi n vi ol ent answer , and knew f or t he f i r st t i me how much
she had want ed hi mt o do i t .
She f el t a moment ' s r ebel l i on and a hi nt of f ear . He hel d her , pr essi ng
t he l engt h of hi s body agai nst her s wi t h a t ense, pur posef ul i nsi st ence, hi s
hand movi ng over her br east s as i f he wer e l ear ni ng a pr opr i et or ' s i nt i macy
wi t h her body, a shocki ng i nt i macy t hat needed no consent f r omher , no
per mi ssi on. She t r i ed t o pul l her sel f away, but she onl y l eaned back agai nst
hi s ar ms l ong enough t o see hi s f ace and hi s smi l e, t he smi l e t hat t ol d her
she had gi ven hi mper mi ssi on l ong ago. She t hought t hat she must escape;
i nst ead, i t was she who pul l ed hi s head down t o f i nd hi s mout h agai n.
She knew t hat f ear was usel ess, t hat he woul d do what he wi shed, t hat t he
deci si on was hi s, t hat he l ef t not hi ng possi bl e t o her except t he t hi ng she
want ed most t o submi t . She had no consci ous r eal i zat i on of hi s pur pose, her
vague knowl edge of i t was wi ped out , she had no power t o bel i eve i t cl ear l y,
i n t hi s moment , t o bel i eve i t about her sel f , she knew onl y t hat she was
af r ai dyet what she f el t was as i f she wer e cr yi ng t o hi m: Don' t ask me f or
i t oh, don' t ask medo i t !
She br aced her f eet f or an i nst ant , t o r esi st , but hi s mout h was pr essed
t o her s and t hey went down t o t he gr ound t oget her , never br eaki ng t hei r l i ps
apar t . She l ay st i l l as t he mot i onl ess, t hen t he qui ver i ng obj ect of an act
whi ch he di d si mpl y, unhesi t at i ngl y, as of r i ght , t he r i ght of t he
unendur abl e pl easur e i t gave t hem.
He named what i t meant t o bot h of t hemi n t he f i r st wor ds he spoke
af t er war ds. He sai d, " We had t o l ear n i t f r omeach ot her . " She l ooked at hi s
l ong f i gur e st r et ched on t he gr ass besi de her , he wor e bl ack sl acks and a
bl ack shi r t , her eyes st opped on t he bel t pul l ed t i ght acr oss hi s sl ender
wai st l i ne, and she f el t t he st ab of an emot i on t hat was l i ke a gasp of pr i de,
pr i de i n her owner shi p of hi s body. She l ay on her back, l ooki ng up at t he
sky, f eel i ng no desi r e t o move or t hi nk or know t hat t her e was any t i me
beyond t hi s moment .
When she came home, when she l ay i n bed, naked because her body had become
an unf ami l i ar possessi on, t oo pr eci ous f or t he t ouch of a ni ght gown, because
i t gave her pl easur e t o f eel naked and t o f eel as i f t he whi t e sheet s of her
bed wer e t ouched by Fr anci sco' s bodywhen she t hought t hat she woul d not
sl eep, because she di d not want t o r est and l ose t he most wonder f ul
exhaust i on she had ever knownher l ast t hought was of t he t i mes when she had
want ed t o expr ess, but f ound no way t o do i t , an i nst ant ' s knowl edge of a
f eel i ng gr eat er t han happi ness, t he f eel i ng of one' s bl essi ng upon t he whol e
of t he ear t h, t he f eel i ng of bei ng i n l ove wi t h t he f act t hat one exi st s and
i n t hi s ki nd of wor l d; she t hought t hat t he act she had l ear ned was t he way
one expr essed i t . I f t hi s was a t hought of t he gr avest i mpor t ance, she di d
not know i t ; not hi ng coul d be gr ave i n a uni ver se f r omwhi ch t he concept of
pai n had been wi ped out ; she was not t her e t o wei gh her concl usi on; she was
asl eep, a f ai nt smi l e on her f ace, i n a si l ent , l umi nous r oomf i l l ed wi t h t he
l i ght of mor ni ng.
That summer , she met hi mi n t he woods, i n hi dden cor ner s by t he r i ver , on
t he f l oor of an abandoned shack, i n t he cel l ar of t he house.
These wer e t he onl y t i mes when she l ear ned t o f eel a sense of beaut y
by l ooki ng up at ol d wooden r af t er s or at t he st eel pl at e of an ai r
condi t i oni ng machi ne t hat whi r r ed t ensel y, r hyt hmi cal l y above t hei r heads.
She wor e sl acks or cot t on summer dr esses, yet she was never so f emi ni ne as
when she st ood besi de hi m, saggi ng i n hi s ar ms, abandoni ng her sel f t o
anyt hi ng he wi shed, i n open acknowl edgment of hi s power t o r educe her t o
hel pl essness by t he pl easur e he had t he power t o gi ve her . He t aught her
ever y manner of sensual i t y he coul d i nvent . " I sn' t i t wonder f ul t hat our
bodi es can gi ve us so much pl easur e?" he sai d t o her once, qui t e si mpl y. They
wer e happy and r adi ant l y i nnocent . They wer e bot h i ncapabl e of t he concept i on
t hat j oy i s si n.
They kept t hei r secr et f r omt he knowl edge of ot her s, not as a shamef ul
gui l t , but as a t hi ng t hat was i mmacul at el y t hei r s, beyond anyone' s r i ght of
debat e or appr ai sal . She knew t he gener al doct r i ne on sex, hel d by peopl e i n
one f or mor anot her , t he doct r i ne t hat sex was an ugl y weakness of man' s
l ower nat ur e, t o be condoned r egr et f ul l y. She exper i enced an emot i on of
chast i t y t hat made her shr i nk, not f r omt he desi r es of her body, but f r omany
cont act wi t h t he mi nds who hel d t hi s doct r i ne.
That wi nt er , Fr anci sco came t o see her i n New Yor k, at unpr edi ct abl e
i nt er val s. He woul d f l y down f r omCl evel and, wi t hout war ni ng, t wi ce a week,
or he woul d vani sh f or mont hs. She woul d si t on t he f l oor of her r oom,
sur r ounded by char t s and bl uepr i nt s, she woul d hear a knock at her door and
snap, " I ' mbusy! " t hen hear a mocki ng voi ce ask, " Ar e you?" and l eap t o her
f eet t o t hr ow t he door open, t o f i nd hi mst andi ng t her e. They woul d go t o an
apar t ment he had r ent ed i n t he ci t y, a smal l apar t ment i n a qui et
nei ghbor hood. " Fr anci sco, " she asked hi monce, i n sudden ast oni shment , " I ' m
your mi st r ess, amI not ?" He l aughed. " That ' s what you ar e. " She f el t t he
pr i de a woman i s supposed t o exper i ence at bei ng gr ant ed t he t i t l e of wi f e.
I n t he many mont hs of hi s absence, she never wonder ed whet her he was t r ue
t o her or not ; she knew he was. She knew, even t hough she was t oo young t o
know t he r eason, t hat i ndi scr i mi nat e desi r e and unsel ect i ve i ndul gence wer e
possi bl e onl y t o t hose who r egar ded sex and t hemsel ves as evi l .
She knew l i t t l e about Fr anci sco' s l i f e. I t was hi s l ast year i n col l ege;
he sel domspoke of i t , and she never quest i oned hi m. She suspect ed t hat he
was wor ki ng t oo har d, because she saw, at t i mes, t he unnat ur al l y br i ght l ook
of hi s f ace, t he l ook of exhi l ar at i on t hat comes f r omdr i vi ng one' s ener gy
beyond i t s l i mi t . She l aughed at hi monce, boast i ng t hat she was an ol d
empl oyee of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , whi l e he had not st ar t ed t o wor k f or a
l i vi ng. He sai d, " My f at her r ef uses t o l et me wor k f or d' Anconi a Copper unt i l
I gr aduat e. " " When di d you l ear n t o be obedi ent ?" " I must r espect hi s wi shes.
He i s t he owner of d' Anconi a Copper . . . . He i s not , however , t he owner of
al l t he copper compani es i n t he wor l d. " Ther e was a hi nt of secr et amusement
i n hi s smi l e.
She di d not l ear n t he st or y unt i l t he next f al l , when he had gr aduat ed and
r et ur ned t o New Yor k af t er a vi si t t o hi s f at her i n Buenos Ai r es.
Then he t ol d her t hat he had t aken t wo cour ses of educat i on dur i ng t he
l ast f our year s: one at t he Pat r i ck Henr y Uni ver si t y, t he ot her i n a copper
f oundr y on t he out ski r t s of Cl evel and. " I l i ke t o l ear n t hi ngs f or mysel f , "
he sai d. He had st ar t ed wor ki ng at t he f oundr y as f ur nace boy, when he was
si xt eenand now, at t went y, he owned i t . He acqui r ed hi s f i r st t i t l e of
pr oper t y, wi t h t he ai d of some i naccur acy about hi s age, on t he day when he
r ecei ved hi s uni ver si t y di pl oma, and he sent t hembot h t o hi s f at her .
He showed her a phot ogr aph of t he f oundr y. I t was a smal l , gr i my pl ace,
di sr eput abl e wi t h age, bat t er ed by year s of a l osi ng st r uggl e; above i t s
ent r ance gat e, l i ke a new f l ag on t he mast of a der el i ct , hung t he si gn:
d' Anconi a Copper .
The publ i c r el at i ons man of hi s f at her ' s of f i ce i n New Yor k had moaned,
out r aged, " But , Don Fr anci sco, you can' t do t hat ! What wi l l t he publ i c t hi nk?
That name on a dump of t hi s ki nd?" " I t ' s my name, "
Fr anci sco had answer ed.
When he ent er ed hi s f at her ' s of f i ce i n Buenos Ai r es, a l ar ge r oom, sever e
and moder n as a l abor at or y, wi t h phot ogr aphs of t he pr oper t i es of d' Anconi a
Copper as sol e or nament on i t s wal l sphot ogr aphs of t he gr eat est mi nes, or e
docks and f oundr i es i n t he wor l dhe saw, i n t he pl ace of honor , f aci ng hi s
f at her ' s desk, a phot ogr aph of t he Cl evel and f oundr y wi t h t he new si gn above
i t s gat e.
Hi s f at her ' s eyes moved f r omt he phot ogr aph t o Fr anci sco' s f ace as he
st ood i n f r ont of t he desk.
" I sn' t i t a l i t t l e t oo soon?" hi s f at her asked.
" I coul dn' t have st ood f our year s of not hi ng but l ect ur es. "
" Wher e di d you get t he money f or your f i r st payment on t hat pr oper t y?"
" By pl ayi ng t he New Yor k st ock mar ket , "
" What ? Who t aught you t o do t hat ?"
" I t i s not di f f i cul t t o j udge whi ch i ndust r i al vent ur es wi l l succeed and
whi ch won' t . "
" Wher e di d you get t he money t o pl ay wi t h?"
" Fr omt he al l owance you sent me, si r , and f r ommy wages. "
" When di d you have t i me t o wat ch t he st ock mar ket ?"
" Whi l e I was wr i t i ng a t hesi s on t he i nf l uenceupon subsequent
met aphysi cal syst emsof Ar i st ot l e' s t heor y of t he I mmovabl e Mover . "
Fr anci sco' s st ay i n New Yor k was br i ef , t hat f al l . Hi s f at her was sendi ng
hi mt o Mont ana as assi st ant super i nt endent of a d' Anconi a mi ne. " Oh wel l , " he
sai d t o Dagny, smi l i ng, " my f at her does not t hi nk i t advi sabl e t o l et me r i se
t oo f ast . I woul d not ask hi mt o t ake me on f ai t h. I f he want s a f act ual
demonst r at i on, I shal l compl y. " I n t he spr i ng, Fr anci sco came backas head of
t he New Yor k of f i ce of d' Anconi a Copper .
She di d not see hi mof t en i n t he next t wo year s. She never knew wher e he
was, i n what ci t y or on what cont i nent , t he day af t er she had seen hi m. He
al ways came t o her unexpect edl yand she l i ked i t , because i t made hi ma
cont i nuous pr esence i n her l i f e, l i ke t he r ay of a hi dden l i ght t hat coul d
hi t her at any moment .
Whenever she saw hi mi n hi s of f i ce, she t hought of hi s hands as she had
seen t hemon t he wheel of a mot or boat : he dr ove hi s busi ness HI wi t h t he same
smoot h, danger ous, conf i dent l y mast er ed speed. But one smal l i nci dent
r emai ned i n her mi nd as a shock: i t di d not f i t hi m.
She saw hi mst andi ng at t he wi ndow of hi s of f i ce, one eveni ng, l ooki ng at
t he br own wi nt er t wi l i ght of t he ci t y. He di d not move f or a l ong t i me. Hi s
f ace was har d and t i ght ; i t had t he l ook of an emot i on she had never bel i eved
possi bl e t o hi m: of bi t t er , hel pl ess anger . He sai d, " Ther e' s somet hi ng wr ong
i n t he wor l d. Ther e' s al ways been. Somet hi ng no one has ever named or
expl ai ned. " He woul d not t el l her what i t was.
When she saw hi magai n, no t r ace of t hat i nci dent r emai ned i n hi s manner .
I t was spr i ng and t hey st ood t oget her on t he r oof t er r ace of a r est aur ant ,
t he l i ght si l k of her eveni ng gown bl owi ng i n t he wi nd agai nst hi s t al l
f i gur e i n f or mal bl ack cl ot hes. They l ooked at t he ci t y.
I n t he di ni ng r oombehi nd t hem, t he sounds of t he musi c wer e a concer t
et ude by Ri char d Hal l ey; Hal l ey' s name was not known t o many, but t hey had
di scover ed i t and t hey l oved hi s musi c. Fr anci sco sai d, " We don' t have t o
l ook f or skyscr aper s i n t he di st ance, do we?
We' ve r eached t hem. " She smi l ed and sai d, " I t hi nk we' r e goi ng past t hem.
. . . I ' mal most af r ai d . . . we' r e on a speedi ng el evat or of some ki nd. "
" Sur e. Af r ai d of what ? Let i t speed. Why shoul d t her e be a l i mi t ?"
He was t went y- t hr ee when hi s f at her di ed and he went t o Buenos Ai r es t o
t ake over t he d' Anconi a est at e, now hi s. She di d not see hi mf or t hr ee year s.
He wr ot e t o her , at f i r st , at r andomi nt er val s. He wr ot e about d' Anconi a
Copper , about t he wor l d mar ket , about i ssues af f ect i ng t he i nt er est s of
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . Hi s l et t er s wer e br i ef , wr i t t en by hand, usual l y at
ni ght .
She was not unhappy i n hi s absence. She, t oo, was maki ng her f i r st st eps
t owar d t he cont r ol of a f ut ur e ki ngdom. Among t he l eader s of i ndust r y, her
f at her ' s f r i ends, she hear d i t sai d t hat one had bet t er wat ch t he young
d' Anconi a hei r ; i f t hat copper company had been gr eat bef or e, i t woul d sweep
t he wor l d now, under what hi s management pr omi sed t o become. She smi l ed,
wi t hout ast oni shment . Ther e wer e moment s when she f el t a sudden, vi ol ent
l ongi ng f or hi m, but i t was onl y i mpat i ence, not pai n. She di smi ssed i t , i n
t he conf i dent knowl edge t hat t hey wer e bot h wor ki ng t owar d a f ut ur e t hat
woul d br i ng t hemever yt hi ng t hey want ed, i ncl udi ng each ot her . Then hi s
l et t er s st opped.
She was t went y- f our on t hat day of spr i ng when t he t el ephone r ang on her
desk, i n an of f i ce of t he Taggar t Bui l di ng. " Dagny, " sai d a voi ce she
r ecogni zed at once, " I ' mat t he Wayne- Fal kl and. Come t o have di nner wi t h me
t oni ght . At seven. " He sai d i t wi t hout gr eet i ng, as i f t hey had par t ed t he
day bef or e. Because i t t ook her a moment t o r egai n t he ar t of br eat hi ng, she
r eal i zed f or t he f i r st t i me how much t hat voi ce meant t o her . " Al l r i ght . .
. Fr anci sco, " she answer ed. They needed t o say not hi ng el se. She t hought ,
r epl aci ng t he r ecei ver , t hat hi s r et ur n was nat ur al and as she had al ways
expect ed i t t o happen, except t hat she had not expect ed her sudden need t o
pr onounce hi s name or t he st ab of happi ness she f el t whi l e pr onounci ng i t .
When she ent er ed hi s hot el r oom, t hat eveni ng, she st opped shor t .
He st ood i n t he mi ddl e of t he r oom, l ooki ng at her and she saw a smi l e
t hat came sl owl y, i nvol unt ar i l y, as i f he had l ost t he abi l i t y t o smi l e and
wer e ast oni shed t hat he shoul d r egai n i t . He l ooked at her i ncr edul ousl y, not
qui t e bel i evi ng what she was or what he f el t . Hi s gl ance was l i ke a pl ea,
l i ke t he cr y f or hel p of a man who coul d never cr y. At her ent r ance, he had
st ar t ed t hei r ol d sal ut e, he had st ar t ed t o say, " Hi " but he di d not f i ni sh
i t . I nst ead, af t er a moment , he sai d, " You' r e beaut i f ul , Dagny. " He sai d i t
as i f i t hur t hi m.
" Fr anci sco, I "
He shook hi s head, not t o l et her pr onounce t he wor ds t hey had never sai d
t o each ot her even t hough t hey knew t hat bot h had sai d and hear d t hemi n t hat
moment .
He appr oached, he t ook her i n hi s ar ms, he ki ssed her mout h and hel d her
f or a l ong t i me. When she l ooked up at hi s f ace, he was smi l i ng down at her
conf i dent l y, der i si vel y. I t was a smi l e t hat t ol d her he was i n cont r ol of
hi msel f , of her , of ever yt hi ng, and or der ed her t o f or get what she had seen
i n t hat f i r st moment . " Hi , Sl ug, " he sai d.
Feel i ng cer t ai n of not hi ng except t hat she must not ask quest i ons, she
smi l ed and sai d, " Hi , Fr i sco. "
She coul d have under st ood any change, but not t he t hi ngs she saw.
Ther e was no spar kl e of l i f e i n hi s f ace, no hi nt of amusement ; t he f ace
had become i mpl acabl e. The pl ea of hi s f i r st smi l e had not been a pl ea of
weakness; he had acqui r ed an ai r of det er mi nat i on t hat seemed mer ci l ess. He
act ed l i ke a man who st ood st r ai ght , under t he wei ght of an unendur abl e
bur den. She saw what she coul d not have bel i eved possi bl e: t hat t her e wer e
l i nes of bi t t er ness i n hi s f ace and t hat he l ooked t or t ur ed.
" Dagny, don' t be ast oni shed by anyt hi ng I do, " he sai d, " or by anyt hi ng I
may ever do i n t he f ut ur e. "
That was t he onl y expl anat i on he gr ant ed her , t hen pr oceeded t o act as i f
t her e wer e not hi ng t o expl ai n.
She coul d f eel no mor e t han a f ai nt anxi et y; i t was i mpossi bl e t o f ee!
f ear f or hi s f at e or i n hi s pr esence. When he l aughed, she t hought t hey
wer e back i n t he woods by t he Hudson: he had not changed and never woul d.
The di nner was ser ved i n hi s r oom. She f ound i t amusi ng t o f ace hi macr oss
a t abl e l ai d out wi t h t he i cy f or mal i t y per t ai ni ng t o excessi ve cost , i n a
hot el r oomdesi gned as a Eur opean pal ace.
The Wayne- Fal kl and was t he most di st i ngui shed hot el l ef t on any cont i nent .
I t s st yl e of i ndol ent l uxur y, of vel vet dr apes, scul pt ur ed panel s and
candl el i ght , seemed a del i ber at e cont r ast t o i t s f unct i on: no one coul d
af f or d i t s hospi t al i t y except men who came t o New Yor k on busi ness, t o set t l e
t r ansact i ons i nvol vi ng t he wor l d. She not i ced t hat t he manner of t he wai t er s
who ser ved t hei r di nner suggest ed a speci al def er ence t o t hi s par t i cul ar
guest of t he hot el , and t hat Fr anci sco di d not not i ce i t . He was
i ndi f f er ent l y at home. He had l ong si nce become accust omed t o t he f act t hat
he was Senor d' Anconi a of d' Anconi a Copper .
But she t hought i t st r ange t hat he di d not speak about hi s wor k. She had
expect ed i t t o be hi s onl y i nt er est , t he f i r st t hi ng he woul d shar e wi t h her .
He di d not ment i on i t . He l ed her t o t al k, i nst ead, about her j ob, her
pr ogr ess, and what she f el t f or Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . She spoke of i t as
she had al ways spoken t o hi m, i n t he knowl edge t hat he was t he onl y one who
coul d under st and her passi onat e devot i on. He made no comment , but he l i st ened
i nt ent l y.
A wai t er had t ur ned on t he r adi o f or di nner musi c; t hey had pai d no
at t ent i on t o i t . But suddenl y, a cr ash of sound j ar r ed t he r oom, al most as i f
a subt er r anean bl ast had st r uck t he wal l s and made t hemt r embl e. The shock
came, not f r omt he l oudness, but f r omt he qual i t y of t he sounds. I t was
Hal l ey' s new Concer t o, r ecent l y wr i t t en, t he Four t h.
They sat i n si l ence, l i st eni ng t o t he st at ement of r ebel l i ont he ant hemof
t he t r i umph of t he gr eat vi ct i ms who woul d r ef use t o accept pai n. Fr anci sco
l i st ened, l ooki ng out at t he ci t y.
Wi t hout t r ansi t i on or war ni ng, he asked, hi s voi ce oddl y unst r essed,
" Dagny, what woul d you say i f I asked you t o l eave Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al
and l et i t go t o hel l , as i t wi l l when your br ot her t akes over ?"
" What woul d I say i f you asked me t o consi der t he i dea of commi t t i ng
sui ci de?" she answer ed angr i l y.
He r emai ned si l ent .
" Why di d you say t hat ?" she snapped. " I di dn' t t hi nk you' d j oke about i t .
I t ' s not l i ke you. "
Ther e was no t ouch of humor i n hi s f ace. He answer ed qui et l y, gr avel y,
" No. Of cour se. I shoul dn' t . "
She br ought her sel f t o quest i on hi mabout hi s wor k. He answer ed t he
quest i ons; he vol unt eer ed not hi ng. She r epeat ed t o hi mt he comment s of t he
i ndust r i al i st s about t he br i l l i ant pr ospect s of d' Anconi a Copper under hi s
management . " That ' s t r ue, " he sai d, hi s voi ce l i f el ess.
I n sudden anxi et y, not knowi ng what pr ompt ed her , she asked, " Fr anci sco,
why di d you come t o New Yor k?"
He answer ed sl owl y, " To see a f r i end who cal l ed f or me, "
" Busi ness?"
Looki ng past her , as i f answer i ng a t hought of hi s own, a f ai nt smi l e of
bi t t er amusement on hi s f ace, but hi s voi ce st r angel y sof t and sad, he
answer ed: " Yes. "
I t was l ong past mi dni ght when she awakened i n bed by hi s si de.
No sounds came f r omt he ci t y bel ow. The st i l l ness of t he r oommade l i f e
seemsuspended f or a whi l e. Rel axed i n happi ness and i n compl et e exhaust i on,
she t ur ned l azi l y t o gl ance at hi m. He l ay on hi s back, hal f pr opped by a
pi l l ow. She saw hi s pr of i l e agai nst t he f oggy gl ow of t he ni ght sky i n t he
wi ndow. He was awake, hi s eyes wer e open. He hel d hi s mout h cl osed l i ke a man
l yi ng i n r esi gnat i on i n unbear abl e pai n, bear i ng i t , maki ng no at t empt t o
hi de i t .
She was t oo f r i ght ened t o move. He f el t her gl ance and t ur ned t o her .
He shudder ed suddenl y, he t hr ew of f t he bl anket , he l ooked at her naked
body, t hen he f el l f or war d and bur i ed hi s f ace bet ween her br east s. He hel d
her shoul der s, hangi ng ont o her convul si vel y. She hear d t he wor ds, muf f l ed,
hi s mout h pr essed t o her ski n: " I can' t gi ve i t up! I can' t ! "
" What ?" she whi sper ed.
" You. "
" Why shoul d"
" And ever yt hi ng. "
" Why shoul d you gi ve i t up?"
" Dagny! Hel p me t o r emai n. To r ef use. Even t hough he' s r i ght ! "
She asked evenl y, ' To r ef use what , Fr anci sco?"
He di d not answer , onl y pr essed hi s f ace har der agai nst her .
She l ay ver y st i l l , consci ous of not hi ng but a supr eme need of caut i on.
Hi s head on her br east , her hand car essi ng hi s hai r gent l y, st eadi l y, she
l ay l ooki ng up at t he cei l i ng of t he r oom, at t he scul pt ur ed gar l ands f ai nt l y
vi si bl e i n t he dar kness, and she wai t ed, numb wi t h t er r or .
He moaned, " I t ' s r i ght , but i t ' s so har d t o do! Oh God, i t ' s so har d! "
Af t er a whi l e, he r ai sed hi s head. He sat up. He had st opped t r embl i ng.
" What i s i t , Fr anci sco?"
" I can' t t el l you. " Hi s voi ce was si mpl e, open, wi t hout at t empt t o
di sgui se suf f er i ng, but i t was a voi ce t hat obeyed hi mnow. " You' r e not r eady
t o hear i t . "
" I want t o hel p you. "
" You can' t . "
" You sai d, t o hel p you r ef use. "
" I can' t r ef use. "
" Then l et me shar e i t wi t h you. "
He shook hi s head.
He sat l ooki ng down at her , as i f wei ghi ng a quest i on. Then he shook hi s
head agai n, i n answer t o hi msel f .
" I f I ' mnot sur e I can st and i t , " he sai d, and t he st r ange new not e i n hi s
voi ce was t ender ness, " how coul d you?"
She sai d sl owl y, wi t h ef f or t , t r yi ng t o keep her sel f f r omscr eami ng,
" Fr anci sco, I have t o know. "
" Wi l l you f or gi ve me? I know you' r e f r i ght ened, and i t ' s cr uel . But wi l l
you do t hi s f or mewi l l you l et i t go, j ust l et i t go, and don' t ask me
anyt hi ng?"
I _"
" That ' s al l you can do f or me. Wi l l you?"
" Yes, Fr anci sco. "
" Don' t be af r ai d f or me. I t was j ust t hi s once. I t won' t happen t o me
agai n. I t wi l l become much easi er . . . l at er . "
" I f I coul d"
" No. Go t o sl eep, dear est , "
I t was t he f i r st t i me he had ever used t hat wor d.
I n t he mor ni ng, he f aced her openl y, not avoi di ng her anxi ous gl ance, but
sayi ng not hi ng about i t . She saw bot h ser eni t y and suf f er i ng i n t he cal mof
hi s f ace, an expr essi on l i ke a smi l e of pai n, t hough he was not smi l i ng.
St r angel y, i t made hi ml ook younger . He di d not l ook l i ke a man bear i ng
t or t ur e now, but l i ke a man who sees t hat whi ch makes t he t or t ur e wor t h
bear i ng.
She di d not quest i on hi m. Bef or e l eavi ng, she asked onl y, " When wi l l I see
you agai n?"
He answer ed, " I don' t know. Don' t wai t f or me, Dagny. Next t i me we meet ,
you wi l l not want t o see me. I wi l l have a r eason f or t he t hi ngs I ' l l do. But
I can' t t el l you t he r eason and you wi l l be r i ght t o damn me. I amnot
commi t t i ng t he cont empt i bl e act of aski ng you t o t ake me on f ai t h. You have
t o l i ve by your own knowl edge and j udgment . You wi l l damn me. You wi l l be
hur t . Tr y not t o l et i t hur t you t oo much. Remember t hat I t ol d you t hi s and
t hat i t was al l I coul d t el l you. "
She hear d not hi ng f r omhi mor about hi mf or a year . When she began t o hear
gossi p and t o r ead newspaper st or i es, she di d not bel i eve, at f i r st , t hat
t hey r ef er r ed t o Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. Af t er a whi l e, she had t o bel i eve i t .
She r ead t he st or y of t he par t y he gave on hi s yacht , i n t he har bor of
Val par ai so; t he guest s wor e bat hi ng sui t s, and an ar t i f i ci al r ai n of
champagne and f l ower pet al s kept f al l i ng upon t he decks t hr oughout t he ni ght .
She r ead t he st or y of t he par t y he gave at an Al ger i an deser t r esor t ; he
bui l t a pavi l i on of t hi n sheet s of i ce and pr esent ed ever y woman guest wi t h
an er mi ne wr ap, as a gi f t t o be wor n f or t he occasi on, on condi t i on t hat t hey
r emove t hei r wr aps, t hen t hei r eveni ng gowns, t hen al l t he r est , i n t empo
wi t h t he mel t i ng of t he wal l s.
She r ead t he account s of t he busi ness vent ur es he under t ook at l engt hy
i nt er val s; t he vent ur es wer e spect acul ar l y successf ul and r ui ned hi s
compet i t or s, but he i ndul ged i n t hemas i n an occasi onal spor t , st agi ng a
sudden r ai d, t hen vani shi ng f r omt he i ndust r i al scene f or a year or t wo,
l eavi ng d' Anconi a Copper t o t he management of hi s empl oyees.
She r ead t he i nt er vi ew wher e he sai d, " Why shoul d I wi sh t o make money? I
have enough t o per mi t t hr ee gener at i ons of descendant s t o have as good a t i me
as I ' mhavi ng. "
She saw hi monce, at a r ecept i on gi ven by an ambassador i n New Yor k. He
bowed t o her cour t eousl y, he smi l ed, and he l ooked at her wi t h a gl ance i n
whi ch no past exi st ed. She dr ew hi masi de. She sai d onl y, " Fr anci sco, why?"
" Whywhat ?" he asked. She t ur ned away. " I war ned you, " he sai d. She di d not
t r y t o see hi magai n.
She sur vi ved i t . She was abl e t o sur vi ve i t , because she di d not bel i eve
i n suf f er i ng. She f aced wi t h ast oni shed i ndi gnat i on t he ugl y f act of f eel i ng
pai n, and r ef used t o l et i t mat t er . Suf f er i ng was a sensel ess acci dent , i t
was not par t of l i f e as she saw i t . She woul d not al l ow pai n t o become
i mpor t ant . She had no name f or t he ki nd of r esi st ance she of f er ed, f or t he
emot i on f r omwhi ch t he r esi st ance came; but t he wor ds t hat st ood as i t s
equi val ent i n her mi nd wer e: I t does not count i t i s not t o be t aken
ser i ousl y. She knew t hese wer e t he wor ds, even i n t he moment s when t her e was
not hi ng l ef t wi t hi n her but scr eami ng and she wi shed she coul d l ose t he
f acul t y of consci ousness so t hat i t woul d not t el l her t hat what coul d not be
t r ue was t r ue. Not t o be t aken ser i ousl yan i mmovabl e cer t ai nt y wi t hi n her
kept r epeat i ng
pai n and ugl i ness ar e never t o be t aken ser i ousl y.
She f ought i t . She r ecover ed. Year s hel ped her t o r each t he day when she
coul d f ace her memor i es i ndi f f er ent l y, t hen t he day when she f el t no
necessi t y t o f ace t hem. I t was f i ni shed and of no concer n t o her any l onger .
Ther e had been no ot her men i n her l i f e. She di d not know whet her t hi s had
made her unhappy. She had had no t i me t o know. She f ound t he cl ean, br i l l i ant
sense of l i f e as she want ed i t i n her wor k. Once, Fr anci sco had gi ven her t he
same sense, a f eel i ng t hat bel onged wi t h her wor k and i n her wor l d. The men
she had met si nce wer e l i ke t he men she met at her f i r st bal l .
She had won t he bat t l e agai nst her memor i es. But one f or mof t or t ur e
r emai ned, unt ouched by t he year s, t he t or t ur e of t he wor d " why?"
What ever t he t r agedy he met , why had Fr anci sco t aken t he ugl i est way of
escape, as i gnobl e as t he way of some cheap al cohol i c? The boy she had known
coul d not have become a usel ess cowar d. An i ncompar abl e mi nd coul d not t ur n
i t s i ngenui t y t o t he i nvent i on of mel t i ng bal l r ooms. Yet he had and di d, and
t her e was no expl anat i on t o make i t concei vabl e and t o l et her f or get hi mi n
peace. She coul d not doubt t he f act of what he had been; she coul d not doubt
t he f act of what he had become; yet one made t he ot her i mpossi bl e. At t i mes,
she al most doubt ed her own r at i onal i t y or t he exi st ence of any r at i onal i t y
anywher e; but t hi s was a doubt whi ch she di d not per mi t t o anyone. Yet t her e
was no expl anat i on, no r eason, no cl ue t o any concei vabl e r eason and i n al l
t he days of t en year s she had f ound no hi nt of an answer .
No, she t hought as she wal ked t hr ough t he gr ay t wi l i ght , past t he'
wi ndows of abandoned shops, t o t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el no, t her e coul d be
no answer . She woul d not seek i t . I t di d not mat t er now.
The r emnant of vi ol ence, t he emot i on r i si ng as a t hi n t r embl i ng wi t hi n
her , was not f or t he man she was goi ng t o see; i t was a cr y of pr ot est
agai nst a sacr i l egeagai nst t he dest r uct i on of what had been gr eat ness.
I n a br eak bet ween bui l di ngs, she saw t he t ower s of t he Wayne Fal kl and.
She f el t a sl i ght j ol t , i n her l ungs and l egs, t hat st opped her f or an
i nst ant . Then she wal ked on evenl y.
By t he t i me she wal ked t hr ough t he mar bl e l obby, t o t he el evat or , t hen
down t he wi de, vel vet - car pet ed, soundl ess cor r i dor s of t he Wayne Fal kl and,
she f el t not hi ng but a col d anger t hat gr ew col der wi t h ever y st ep.
She was cer t ai n of t he anger when she knocked at hi s door . She hear d hi s
voi ce, answer i ng, " Come i n. " She j er ked t he door open and ent er ed.
Fr anci sco Domi ngo Car l os Andr es Sebast i an d' Anconi a sat on t he f l oor ,
pl ayi ng mar bl es.
Nobody ever wonder ed whet her Fr anci sco d' Anconi a was good- l ooki ng or not ;
i t seemed i r r el evant ; when he ent er ed a r oom, i t was i mpossi bl e t o l ook at
anyone el se. Hi s t al l , sl ender f i gur e had an ai r of di st i nct i on, t oo
aut hent i c t o be moder n, and he moved as i f he had a cape f l oat i ng behi nd hi m
i n t he wi nd. Peopl e expl ai ned hi mby sayi ng t hat he had t he vi t al i t y of a
heal t hy ani mal , but t hey knew di ml y t hat t hat was not cor r ect . He had t he
vi t al i t y of a heal t hy human bei ng, a t hi ng so r ar e t hat no one coul d i dent i f y
i t . He had t he power of cer t ai nt y.
Nobody descr i bed hi s appear ance as Lat i n, yet t he wor d appl i ed t o hi m, not
i n i t s pr esent , but i n i t s or i gi nal sense, not per t ai ni ng t o Spai n, but t o
anci ent Rome. Hi s body seemed desi gned as an exer ci se i n consi st ency of
st yl e, a st yl e made of gaunt ness, of t i ght f l esh, l ong l egs and swi f t
movement s. Hi s f eat ur es had t he f i ne pr eci si on of scul pt ur e. Hi s hai r was
bl ack and st r ai ght , swept back. The sunt an of hi s ski n i nt ensi f i ed t he
st ar t l i ng col or of hi s eyes: t hey wer e a pur e, cl ear bl ue. Hi s f ace was open,
i t s r api d changes of expr essi on r ef l ect i ng what ever he f el t , as i f he had
not hi ng t o hi de. The bl ue eyes wer e st i l l and changel ess, never gi vi ng a hi nt
of what he t hought .
He sat on t he f l oor of hi s dr awi ng r oom, dr essed i n sl eepi ng paj amas of
t hi n bl ack si l k. The mar bl es spr ead on t he car pet ar ound hi mwer e made of t he
semi - pr eci ous st ones of hi s nat i ve count r y: car nel i an and r ock cr yst al . He
di d not r i se when Dagny ent er ed. He sat l ooki ng up at her , and a cr yst al
mar bl e f el l l i ke a t ear dr op out of hi s hand. He smi l ed, t he unchanged,
i nsol ent , br i l l i ant smi l e of hi s chi l dhood.
" Hi , Sl ug! "
She hear d her sel f answer i ng, i r r esi st i bl y, hel pl essl y, happi l y: " Hi ,
Fr i sco! "
She was l ooki ng at hi s f ace; i t was t he f ace she had known. I t bor e no
mar k of t he ki nd of l i f e he had l ed, nor of what she had seen on t hei r l ast
ni ght t oget her . Ther e was no si gn of t r agedy, no bi t t er ness, no t ensi ononl y
t he r adi ant mocker y, mat ur ed and st r essed, t he l ook of danger ousl y
unpr edi ct abl e amusement , and t he gr eat , gui l t l ess ser eni t y of spi r i t . But
t hi s, she t hought , was i mpossi bl e; t hi s was mor e shocki ng t han al l t he r est .
Hi s eyes wer e st udyi ng her : t he bat t er ed coat t hr own open, hal f sl i ppi ng
of f her shoul der s, and t he sl ender body i n a gr ay sui t t hat l ooked l i ke an
of f i ce uni f or m.
" I f you came her e dr essed l i ke t hi s i n or der not t o l et me not i ce how
l ovel y you ar e, " he sai d, " you mi scal cul at ed. You' r e l ovel y. I wi sh I coul d
t el l you what a r el i ef i t i s t o see a f ace t hat ' s i nt el l i gent t hough a
woman' s. But you don' t want t o hear i t . That ' s not what you came her e f or . "
The wor ds wer e i mpr oper i n so many ways, yet wer e sai d so l i ght l y t hat
t hey br ought her back t o r eal i t y, t o anger and t o t he pur pose of her vi si t .
She r emai ned st andi ng, l ooki ng down at hi m, her f ace bl ank, r ef usi ng hi many
r ecogni t i on of t he per sonal , even of i t s power t o of f end her . She sai d, " I
came her e t o ask you a quest i on. "
" Go ahead. "
" When you t ol d t hose r epor t er s t hat you came t o New Yor k t o wi t ness t he
f ar ce, whi ch f ar ce di d you mean?"
He l aughed al oud, l i ke a man who sel domf i nds a chance t o enj oy t he
unexpect ed.
" That ' s what I l i ke about you, Dagny. Ther e ar e seven mi l l i on peopl e i n
t he ci t y of New Yor k, at pr esent . Out of seven mi l l i on peopl e, you ar e t he
onl y one t o whomi t coul d have occur r ed t hat I wasn' t t al ki ng about t he Vai l
di vor ce scandal . "
" What wer e you t al ki ng about ?"
" What al t er nat i ve occur r ed t o you?"
" The San Sebast i an di sast er . "
" That ' s much mor e amusi ng t han t he Vai l di vor ce scandal , i sn' t i t ?"
She sai d i n t he sol emn, mer ci l ess t one of a pr osecut or , " You di d i t
consci ousl y, col d- bl oodedl y and wi t h f ul l i nt ent i on. "
" Don' t you t hi nk i t woul d be bet t er i f you t ook your coat of f and sat
down?"
She knew she had made a mi st ake by bet r ayi ng t oo much i nt ensi t y.
She t ur ned col dl y, r emoved her coat and t hr ew i t asi de. He di d not r i se t o
hel p her . She sat down i n an ar mchai r . He r emai ned on t he f l oor , at some
di st ance, but i t seemed as i f he wer e si t t i ng at her f eet .
" What was i t I di d wi t h f ul l i nt ent i on?" he asked.
" The ent i r e San Sebast i an swi ndl e. "
" What was my f ul l i nt ent i on?"
" That i s what I want t o know. "
He chuckl ed, as i f she had asked hi mt o expl ai n i n conver sat i on a compl ex
sci ence r equi r i ng a l i f et i me of st udy.
" You knew t hat t he San Sebast i an mi nes wer e wor t hl ess, " she sai d.
" You knew i t bef or e you began t he whol e wr et ched busi ness. "
" Then why di d I begi n i t ?"
" Don' t st ar t t el l i ng me t hat you gai ned not hi ng. I know i t . I know you
l ost f i f t een mi l l i on dol l ar s of your own money. Yet i t was done on pur pose. "
" Can you t hi nk of a mot i ve t hat woul d pr ompt me t o do i t ?"
" No. I t ' s i nconcei vabl e. "
" I s i t ? You assume t hat I have a gr eat mi nd, a gr eat knowl edge and a gr eat
pr oduct i ve abi l i t y, so t hat anyt hi ng I under t ake must necessar i l y be
successf ul . And t hen you cl ai mt hat I had no desi r e t o put out my best ef f or t
f or t he Peopl e' s St at e of Mexi co. I nconcei vabl e, i sn' t i t ?"
" You knew, bef or e you bought t hat pr oper t y, t hat Mexi co was i n t he hands
of a l oot er s' gover nment . You di dn' t have t o st ar t a mi ni ng pr oj ect f or
t hem. "
" No, I di dn' t have t o. "
" You di dn' t gi ve a damn about t hat Mexi can gover nment , one way or anot her ,
because"
" You' r e wr ong about t hat . "
" because you knew t hey' d sei ze t hose mi nes sooner or l at er . What you wer e
af t er i s your Amer i can st ockhol der s. "
" That ' s t r ue. " He was l ooki ng st r ai ght at her , he was not smi l i ng, hi s
f ace was ear nest . He added, " That ' s par t of t he t r ut h. "
" What ' s t he r est ?"
" I t was not al l I was af t er . "
" What el se?"
" That ' s f or you t o f i gur e out . "
" I came her e because I want ed you t o know t hat I ambegi nni ng t o
under st and your pur pose. "
He smi l ed. " I f you di d, you woul dn' t have come her e. "
" That ' s t r ue. I don' t under st and and pr obabl y never shal l . I ammer el y
begi nni ng t o see par t of i t . "
" Whi ch par t ?"
" You had exhaust ed ever y ot her f or mof depr avi t y and sought a new t hr i l l
by swi ndl i ng peopl e l i ke J i mand hi s f r i ends, i n or der t o wat ch t hemsqui r m.
I don' t know what sor t of cor r upt i on coul d make anyone enj oy t hat , but t hat ' s
what you came t o New Yor k t o see, at t he r i ght t i me. "
" They cer t ai nl y pr ovi ded a spect acl e of squi r mi ng on t he gr and scal e. Your
br ot her J ames i n par t i cul ar . "
" They' r e r ot t en f ool s, but i n t hi s case t hei r onl y cr i me was t hat t hey
t r ust ed you. They t r ust ed your name and your honor . "
Agai n, she saw t he l ook of ear nest ness and agai n knew wi t h cer t ai nt y t hat
i t was genui ne, when he sai d, " Yes. They di d. I know i t . "
" And do you f i nd i t amusi ng?"
" No. I don' t f i nd i t amusi ng at al l . "
He had cont i nued pl ayi ng wi t h hi s mar bl es, absent l y, i ndi f f er ent l y, t aki ng
a shot once i n a whi l e. She not i ced suddenl y t he f aul t l ess accur acy of hi s
ai m, t he ski l l of hi s hands. He mer el y f l i cked hi s wr i st and sent a dr op of
st one shoot i ng acr oss t he car pet t o cl i ck shar pl y agai nst anot her dr op. She
t hought of hi s chi l dhood and of t he pr edi ct i ons t hat anyt hi ng he di d woul d be
done super l at i vel y.
" No, " he sai d, " I don' t f i nd i t amusi ng. Your br ot her J ames and hi s
f r i ends knew not hi ng about t he copper - mi ni ng i ndust r y. They knew not hi ng
about maki ng money. They di d not t hi nk i t necessar y t o l ear n. They consi der ed
knowl edge super f l uous and j udgment i nessent i al . They obser ved t hat t her e I
was i n t he wor l d and t hat I made i t my honor t o know. They t hought t hey coul d
t r ust my honor . One does not bet r ay a t r ust of t hi s ki nd, does one?
" Then you di d bet r ay i t i nt ent i onal l y?"
" That ' s f or you t o deci de. I t was you who spoke about t hei r t r ust and my
honor . I don' t t hi nk i n such t er ms any l onger . . . . " He shr ugged, addi ng, " I
don' t gi ve a damn about your br ot her J ames and hi s f r i ends. Thei r t heor y was
not new, i t has wor ked f or cent ur i es. But i t wasn' t f ool pr oof . Ther e i s j ust
one poi nt t hat t hey over l ooked. They t hought i t was saf e t o r i de on my br ai n,
because t hey assumed t hat t he goal of my j our ney was weal t h. Al l t hei r
cal cul at i ons r est ed on t he pr emi se t hat I want ed t o make money. What i f I
di dn' t ?"
" I f you di dn' t , what di d you want ?"
" They never asked me t hat . Not t o i nqui r e about my ai ms, mot i ves or
desi r es i s an essent i al par t of t hei r t heor y. "
" I f you di dn' t want t o make money, what possi bl e mot i ve coul d you have
had?"
" Any number of t hem. For i nst ance, t o spend i t . "
" To spend money on a cer t ai n, t ot al f ai l ur e?"
" How was I t o know t hat t hose mi nes wer e a cer t ai n, t ot al f ai l ur e?"
" How coul d you hel p knowi ng i t ?"
" Qui t e si mpl y. By gi vi ng i t no t hought . "
" You st ar t ed t hat pr oj ect wi t hout gi vi ng i t any t hought ?"
" No, not exact l y. But suppose I sl i pped up? I ' monl y human. I made a
mi st ake. I f ai l ed. I made a bad j ob of i t . " He f l i cked hi s wr i st ; a cr yst al
mar bl e shot , spar kl i ng, acr oss t he f l oor and cr acked vi ol ent l y agai nst a
br own one at t he ot her end of t he r oom.
" I don' t bel i eve i t , " she sai d.
" No? But haven' t I t he r i ght t o be what i s now accept ed as human?
Shoul d I pay f or ever ybody' s mi st akes and never be per mi t t ed one of my
own?"
" That ' s not l i ke you. "
" No?" He st r et ched hi msel f f ul l - l engt h on t he car pet , l azi l y, r el axi ng.
" Di d you i nt end me t o not i ce t hat i f you t hi nk I di d i t on pur pose, t hen
you st i l l gi ve me cr edi t f or havi ng a pur pose? You' r e st i l l unabl e t o accept
me as a bum?"
She cl osed her eyes. She hear d hi ml aughi ng; i t was t he gayest sound hi
t he wor l d. She opened her eyes hast i l y; but t her e was no hi nt of cr uel t y i n
hi s f ace, onl y pur e l aught er .
" My mot i ve, Dagny? You don' t t hi nk t hat i t ' s t he si mpl est one of al l
t he spur of t he moment ?"
No, she t hought , no, t hat ' s not t r ue; not i f he l aughed l i ke t hat , not i f
he l ooked as he di d. The capaci t y f or uncl ouded enj oyment , she t hought , does
not bel ong t o i r r esponsi bl e f ool s; an i nvi ol at e peace of spi r i t i s not t he
achi evement of a dr i f t er ; t o be abl e t o l augh l i ke t hat i s t he end r esul t of
t he most pr of ound, most sol emn t hi nki ng.
Al most di spassi onat el y, l ooki ng at hi s f i gur e st r et ched on t he car pet at
her f eet , she obser ved what memor y i t br ought back t o her : t he bl ack paj amas
st r essed t he l ong l i nes of hi s body, t he open col l ar showed a smoot h, young,
sunbur ned ski nand she t hought of t he f i gur e i n bl ack sl acks and shi r t
st r et ched besi de her on t he gr ass at sunr i se. She had f el t pr i de t hen, t he
pr i de of knowi ng t hat she owned hi s body; she st i l l f el t i t . She r emember ed
suddenl y, speci f i cal l y, t he excessi ve act s of t hei r i nt i macy; t he memor y
shoul d have been of f ensi ve t o her now, but wasn' t . I t was st i l l pr i de,
wi t hout r egr et or hope, an emot i on t hat had no power t o r each her and t hat
she had no power t o dest r oy.
Unaccount abl y, by an associ at i on of f eel i ng t hat ast oni shed her , she
r emember ed what had conveyed t o her r ecent l y t he same sense of consummat e j oy
as hi s.
" Fr anci sco, " she hear d her sel f sayi ng sof t l y, " we bot h l oved t he musi c of
Ri char d Hal l ey. . . . "
" I st i l l l ove i t . "
" Have you ever met hi m?"
" Yes. Why?"
" Do you happen t o know whet her he has wr i t t en a Fi f t h Concer t o?"
He r emai ned per f ect l y st i l l . She had t hought hi mi mper vi ous t o shock; he
wasn' t . But she coul d not at t empt t o guess why of al l t he t hi ngs she had
sai d, t hi s shoul d be t he f i r st t o r each hi m. I t was onl y an i nst ant ; t hen he
asked evenl y, " What makes you t hi nk he has?"
" Wel l , has he?"
" You know t hat t her e ar e onl y f our Hal l ey Concer t os. "
" Yes. But I wonder ed whet her he had wr i t t en anot her one. "
" He has st opped wr i t i ng. "
" I know. "
" Then what made you ask t hat ?"
" J ust an i dl e t hought . What i s he doi ng now? Wher e i s he?"
" I don' t know. I haven' t seen hi mf or a l ong t i me. What made you t hi nk
t hat t her e was a Fi f t h Concer t o?"
" I di dn' t say t her e was. I mer el y wonder ed about i t . "
" Why di d you t hi nk of Ri char d Hal l ey j ust now?"
" Because" she f el t her cont r ol cr acki ng a l i t t l e" because my mi nd can' t
make t he l eap f r omRi char d Hal l ey' s musi c t o . . . t o Mr s.
Gi l ber t Vai l . "
He l aughed, r el i eved. " Oh, t hat ? . . . I nci dent al l y, i f you' ve been
f ol l owi ng my publ i ci t y, have you not i ced a f unny l i t t l e di scr epancy i n t he
st or y of Mr s. Gi l ber t Vai l ?"
" I don' t r ead t he st uf f . "
" You shoul d. She gave such a beaut i f ul descr i pt i on of l ast New Year ' s Eve,
whi ch we spent t oget her i n my vi l l a i n t he Andes. The moonl i ght on t he
mount ai n peaks, and t he bl ood- r ed f l ower s hangi ng on vi nes i n t he open
wi ndows. See anyt hi ng wr ong i n t he pi ct ur e?"
She sai d qui et l y, " I t ' s I who shoul d ask you t hat , and I ' mnot goi ng t o. "
" Oh, I see not hi ng wr ongexcept t hat l ast New Year ' s Eve I was i n El Paso,
Texas, pr esi di ng at t he openi ng of t he San Sebast i an Li ne of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , as you shoul d r emember , even i f you di dn' t choose t o be
pr esent on t he occasi on. I had my pi ct ur e t aken wi t h my ar ms ar ound your
br ot her J ames and t he Senor Or r en Boyl e. "
She gasped, r emember i ng t hat t hi s was t r ue, r emember i ng al so t hat she had
seen Mr s. Vai l ' s st or y i n t he newspaper s.
" Fr anci sco, what . . . what does t hat mean?"
He chuckl ed. " Dr aw your own concl usi ons. . . . Dagny" hi s f ace was
ser i ous" why di d you t hi nk of Hal l ey wr i t i ng a Fi f t h Concer t o?
Why not a new symphony or oper a? Why speci f i cal l y a concer t o?"
" Why does t hat di st ur b you?"
" I t doesn' t . " He added sof t l y, " I st i l l l ove hi s musi c, Dagny. " Then he
spoke l i ght l y agai n. " But i t bel onged t o anot her age. Our age pr ovi des a
di f f er ent ki nd of ent er t ai nment . "
He r ol l ed over on hi s back and l ay wi t h hi s hands cr ossed under hi s head,
l ooki ng up as i f he wer e wat chi ng t he scenes of a movi e f ar ce unr ol l i ng on
t he cei l i ng.
" Dagny, di dn' t you enj oy t he spect acl e of t he behavi or of t he Peopl e' s
St at e of Mexi co i n r egar d t o t he San Sebast i an Mi nes? Di d you r ead t hei r
gover nment ' s speeches and t he edi t or i al s i n t hei r newspaper s?
They' r e sayi ng t hat I aman unscr upul ous cheat who has def r auded t hem.
They expect ed t o have a successf ul mi ni ng concer n t o sei ze. I had no r i ght t o
di sappoi nt t heml i ke t hat . Di d you r ead about t he scabby l i t t l e bur eaucr at
who want ed t hemt o sue me?"
He l aughed, l yi ng f l at on hi s back; hi s ar ms wer e t hr own wi de on t he
car pet , f or mi ng a cr oss wi t h hi s body; he seemed di sar med, r el axed and young.
" I t was wor t h what ever i t ' s cost me. I coul d af f or d t he pr i ce of t hat
show. I f I had st aged i t i nt ent i onal l y, I woul d have beat en t he r ecor d of t he
Emper or Ner o. What ' s bur ni ng a ci t ycompar ed t o t ear i ng t he l i d of f hel l and
l et t i ng men see i t ?"
He r ai sed hi msel f , pi cked up a f ew mar bl es and sat shaki ng t hemabsent l y
i n hi s hand; t hey cl i cked wi t h t he sof t , cl ear sound of good st one. She
r eal i zed suddenl y t hat pl ayi ng wi t h t hose mar bl es was not a del i ber at e
af f ect at i on on hi s par t ; i t was r est l essness; he coul d not r emai n i nact i ve
f or l ong.
" The gover nment of t he Peopl e' s St at e of Mexi co has i ssued a
pr ocl amat i on, " he sai d, " aski ng t he peopl e t o be pat i ent and put up wi t h
har dshi ps j ust a l i t t l e l onger . I t seems t hat t he copper f or t une of t he San
Sebast i an Mi nes was par t of t he pl ans of t he cent r al pl anni ng counci l .
I t was t o r ai se ever ybody' s st andar d of l i vi ng and pr ovi de a r oast of por k
ever y Sunday f or ever y man, woman, chi l d and abor t i on i n t he Peopl e' s St at e
of Mexi co. Now t he pl anner s ar e aski ng t hei r peopl e not t o bl ame t he
gover nment , but t o bl ame t he depr avi t y of t he r i ch, because I t ur ned out t o
be an i r r esponsi bl e pl ayboy, i nst ead of t he gr eedy capi t al i st I was expect ed
t o be. How wer e t hey t o know, t hey' r e aski ng, t hat I woul d l et t hemdown?
Wel l , t r ue enough. How wer e t hey t o know i t ?"
She not i ced t he way he f i nger ed t he mar bl es i n hi s hand. He was not
consci ous of i t , he was l ooki ng of f i nt o some gr i mdi st ance, but she f el t
cer t ai n t hat t he act i on was a r el i ef t o hi m, per haps as a cont r ast . Hi s
f i nger s wer e movi ng sl owl y, f eel i ng t he t ext ur e of t he st ones wi t h sensual
enj oyment . I nst ead of f i ndi ng i t cr ude, she f ound i t st r angel y at t r act i ve
as i f , she t hought suddenl y, as i f sensual i t y wer e not physi cal at al l ,
but came f r oma f i ne di scr i mi nat i on of t he spi r i t .
" And t hat ' s not al l t hey di dn' t know, " he sai d. " They' r e i n f or some mor e
knowl edge. Ther e' s t hat housi ng set t l ement f or t he wor ker s of San Sebast i an.
I t cost ei ght mi l l i on dol l ar s. St eel - f r ame houses, wi t h pl umbi ng, el ect r i ci t y
and r ef r i ger at i on. Al so a school , a chur ch, a hospi t al and a movi e t heat er . A
set t l ement bui l t f or peopl e who had l i ved i n hovel s made of dr i f t wood and
st r ay t i n cans. My r ewar d f or bui l di ng i t was t o be t he pr i vi l ege of escapi ng
wi t h my ski n, a speci al concessi on due t o t he acci dent of my not bei ng a
nat i ve of t he Peopl e' s St at e of Mexi co. That wor ker s' set t l ement was al so
par t of t hei r pl ans.
A model exampl e of pr ogr essi ve St at e housi ng. Wel l , t hose st eel - f r ame
houses ar c mai nl y car dboar d, wi t h a coat i ng of good i mi t at i on shel l ac, They
won' t st and anot her year . The pl umbi ng pi pesas wel l as most of our mi ni ng
equi pment wer e pur chased f r omt he deal er s whose mai n sour ce of suppl y ar e t he
ci t y dumps of Buenos Ai r es and Ri o de J anei r o. I ' d gi ve t hose pi pes anot her
f i ve mont hs, and t he el ect r i c syst emabout si x. The wonder f ul r oads we gr aded
up f our t housand f eet of r ock f or t he Peopl e' s St at e of Mexi co, wi l l not l ast
beyond a coupl e of wi nt er s: t hey' r e cheap cement wi t hout f oundat i on, and t he
br aci ng at t he bad t ur ns i s j ust pai nt ed cl apboar d. Wai t f or one good
mount ai n sl i de. The chur ch, I t hi nk, wi l l st and. They' l l need i t . "
" Fr anci sco, " she whi sper ed, " di d you do i t on pur pose?"
He r ai sed hi s head; she was st ar t l ed t o see t hat hi s f ace had a l ook of
i nf i ni t e wear i ness. " Whet her I di d i t on pur pose, " he sai d, " or t hr ough
negl ect , or t hr ough st upi di t y, don' t you under st and t hat t hat doesn' t make
any di f f er ence? The same el ement was mi ssi ng. "
She was t r embl i ng. Agai nst al l her deci si ons and cont r ol , she cr i ed,
" Fr anci sco! I f you see what ' s happeni ng i n t he wor l d, i f you under st and al l
t he t hi ngs you sai d, you can' t l augh about i t ! You, of al l men, you shoul d
f i ght t hem! "
" Whom?"
" The l oot er s, and t hose who make wor l d- l oot i ng possi bl e. The Mexi can
pl anner s and t hei r ki nd. "
Hi s smi l e had a danger ous edge. " No, my dear . I t ' s you t hat I have t o
f i ght . "
She l ooked at hi mbl ankl y. " What ar e you t r yi ng t o say?"
" I amsayi ng t hat t he wor ker s' set t l ement of San Sebast i an cost ei ght
mi l l i on dol l ar s, " he answer ed wi t h sl ow emphasi s, hi s voi ce har d. " The pr i ce
pai d f or t hose car dboar d houses was t he pr i ce t hat coul d have bought st eel
st r uct ur es. So was t he pr i ce pai d f or ever y ot her i t em. That money went t o
men who gr ow r i ch by such met hods. Such men do not r emai n r i ch f or l ong. The
money wi l l go i nt o channel s whi ch wi l l car r y i t , not t o t he most pr oduct i ve,
but t o t he most cor r upt . By t he st andar ds of our t i me, t he man who has t he
l east t o of f er i s t he man who wi ns. That money wi l l vani sh i n pr oj ect s such
as t he San Sebast i an Mi nes, "
She asked wi t h ef f or t , " I s t hat what you' r e af t er ?"
" Yes. "
" I s t hat what you f i nd amusi ng?"
" Yes. "
" I amt hi nki ng of your name, " she sai d, whi l e anot her par t of her mi nd was
cr yi ng t o her t hat r epr oaches wer e usel ess. " I t was a t r adi t i on of your
f ami l y t hat a d' Anconi a al ways l ef t a f or t une gr eat er t han t he one he
r ecei ved. "
" Oh yes, my ancest or s had a r emar kabl e abi l i t y f or doi ng t he r i ght t hi ng
at t he r i ght t i meand f or maki ng t he r i ght i nvest ment s. Of cour se,
' i nvest ment ' i s a r el at i ve t er m. I t depends on what you wi sh t o accompl i sh.
For i nst ance, l ook at San Sebast i an. I t cost me f i f t een mi l l i on dol l ar s, but
t hese f i f t een mi l l i on wi ped out f or t y mi l l i on bel ongi ng t o Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , t hi r t y- f i ve mi l l i on bel ongi ng t o st ockhol der s such as J ames
Taggar t and Or r en Boyl e, and hundr eds of mi l l i ons whi ch wi l l be l ost i n
secondar y consequences. That ' s not a bad r et ur n on an i nvest ment , i s i t ,
Dagny?"
She was si t t i ng st r ai ght . " Do you r eal i ze what you' r e sayi ng?"
" Oh, f ul l y! Shal l I beat you t o i t and name t he consequences you wer e
goi ng t o r epr oach me f or ? Fi r st , I don' t t hi nk t hat Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al
wi l l r ecover f r omi t s l oss on t hat pr epost er ous San Sebast i an Li ne. You t hi nk
i t wi l l , but i t won' t . Second, t he San Sebast i an hel ped your br ot her J ames t o
dest r oy t he Phoeni x- Dur ango, whi ch was about t he onl y good r ai l r oad l ef t
anywher e. "
" You r eal i ze al l t hat ?"
" And a gr eat deal mor e. "
" Do you" she di d not know why she had t o say i t , except t hat t he memor y of
t he f ace wi t h t he dar k, vi ol ent eyes seemed t o st ar e at her
" do you know El l i s Wyat t ?"
" Sur e. "
" Do you know what t hi s mi ght do t o hi m?"
" Yes. He' s t he one who' s goi ng t o be wi ped out next . "
" Do you . . . f i nd t hat . . . amusi ng?"
" Much mor e amusi ng t han t he r ui n of t he Mexi can pl anner s. "
She st ood up. She had cal l ed hi mcor r upt f or year s; she had f ear ed i t , she
had t hought about i t , she had t r i ed t o f or get i t and never t hi nk of i t agai n;
but she had never suspect ed how f ar t he cor r upt i on had gone.
She was not l ooki ng at hi m; she di d not know t hat she was sayi ng i t al oud,
quot i ng hi s wor ds of t he past : " . . . who' l l do gr eat er honor , yout o Nat
Taggar t , or I t o Sebast i an d' Anconi a . . . "
" But di dn' t you r eal i ze t hat I named t hose mi nes i n honor of my gr eat
ancest or ? I t hi nk i t was a t r i but e whi ch he woul d have l i ked. "
I t t ook her a moment t o r ecover her eyesi ght ; she had never known what was
meant by bl asphemy or what one f el t on encount er i ng i t ; she knew i t now.
He had r i sen and st ood cour t eousl y, smi l i ng down at her ; i t was a col d
smi l e, i mper sonal and unr eveal i ng.
She was t r embl i ng, but i t di d not mat t er . She di d not car e what he saw or
guessed or l aughed at .
" I came her e because I want ed t o know t he r eason f or what you' ve done wi t h
your l i f e, " she sai d t onel essl y, wi t hout anger .
" I have t ol d you t he r eason, " he answer ed gr avel y, " but you don' t want t o
bel i eve i t . "
" I kept seei ng you as you wer e. I coul dn' t f or get i t . And t hat you shoul d
have become what you ar et hat does not bel ong i n a r at i onal uni ver se. "
" No? And t he wor l d as you see i t ar ound you, does?"
" You wer e not t he ki nd of man who get s br oken by any ki nd of wor l d"
" Tr ue. "
" Thenwhy?"
He shr ugged. " Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
" Oh, don' t use gut t er l anguage! "
He gl anced at her . Hi s l i ps hel d t he hi nt of a smi l e, but hi s eyes wer e
st i l l , ear nest and, f or an i nst ant , di st ur bi ngl y per cept i ve.
" Why?" she r epeat ed.
He answer ed, as he had answer ed i n t he ni ght , i n t hi s hot el , t en year s
ago, " You' r e not r eady t o hear i t . "
He di d not f ol l ow her t o t he door . She had put her hand on t he door knob
when she t ur nedand st opped. He st ood acr oss t he r oom, l ooki ng at her ; i t was
a gl ance di r ect ed at her whol e per son; she knew i t s meani ng and i t hel d her
mot i onl ess, " I st i l l want t o sl eep wi t h you, " he sai d. " But I amnot a man
who i s happy enough t o do i t . "
" Not happy enough?" she r epeat ed i n compl et e bewi l der ment .
He l aughed. " I s i t pr oper t hat t hat shoul d be t he f i r st t hi ng you' d
answer ?" He wai t ed, but she r emai ned si l ent . " You want i t , t oo, don' t you?"
She was about t o answer " No, " but r eal i zed t hat t he t r ut h was wor se t han
t hat . " Yes, " she answer ed col dl y, " but i t doesn' t mat t er t o me t hat I want
i t . "
He smi l ed, i n open appr eci at i on, acknowl edgi ng t he st r engt h she had needed
t o say i t .
But he was not smi l i ng when he sai d, as she opened t he door t o l eave, " You
have a gr eat deal of cour age, Dagny. Some day, you' l l have enough of i t . "
" Of what ? Cour age?"
But he di d not answer .

CHAPTER VI
THE NON-COMMERCIAL

Rear den pr essed hi s f or ehead t o t he mi r r or and t r i ed not t o t hi nk. That
was t he onl y way he coul d go t hr ough wi t h i t , he t ol d hi msel f .
He concent r at ed on t he r el i ef of t he mi r r or ' s cool i ng t ouch, wonder i ng how
one went about f or ci ng one' s mi nd i nt o bl ankness, par t i cul ar l y af t er a
l i f et i me l i ved on t he axi omt hat t he const ant , cl ear est , most r ut hl ess
f unct i on of hi s r at i onal f acul t y was hi s f or emost dut y. He wonder ed why no
ef f or t had ever seemed beyond hi s capaci t y, yet now he coul d not scr ape up
t he st r engt h t o st i ck a f ew bl ack pear l st uds i nt o hi s st ar ched whi t e shi r t
f r ont .
Thi s was hi s weddi ng anni ver sar y and he had known f or t hr ee mont hs t hat
t he par t y woul d t ake pl ace t oni ght , as Li l l i an wi shed.
He had pr omi sed i t t o her , saf e i n t he knowl edge t hat t he par t y was a l ong
way of f and t hat he woul d at t end t o i t , when t he t i me came, as he at t ended t o
ever y dut y on hi s over l oaded schedul e. Then, dur i ng t hr ee mont hs of ei ght een-
hour wor kdays, he had f or got t en i t happi l yunt i l hal f an hour ago, when, l ong
past di nner t i me, hi s secr et ar y had ent er ed hi s of f i ce and sai d f i r ml y, " Your
par t y, Mr . Rear den. " He had cr i ed, " Good God! " l eapi ng t o hi s f eet ; he had
hur r i ed home, r ushed up t he st ai r s, st ar t ed t ear i ng hi s cl ot hes of f and gone
t hr ough t he r out i ne of dr essi ng, consci ous onl y of t he need t o hur r y, not of
t he pur pose.
When t he f ul l r eal i zat i on of t he pur pose st r uck hi ml i ke a sudden bl ow, he
st opped.
" You don' t car e f or anyt hi ng but busi ness. " He had hear d i t al l hi s l i f e,
pr onounced as a ver di ct of damnat i on. He had al ways known t hat busi ness was
r egar ded as some sor t of secr et , shamef ul cul t , whi ch one di d not i mpose on
i nnocent l aymen, t hat peopl e t hought of i t as of an ugl y necessi t y, t o be
per f or med but never ment i oned, t hat t o t al k shop was an of f ense agai nst
hi gher sensi bi l i t i es, t hat j ust as one washed machi ne gr ease of f one' s hands
bef or e comi ng home, so one was supposed t o wash t he st ai n of busi ness of f
one' s mi nd bef or e ent er i ng a dr awi ng r oom. He had never hel d t hat cr eed, but
he had accept ed i t as nat ur al t hat hi s f ami l y shoul d hol d i t . He t ook i t f or
gr ant edwor dl essl y, i n t he manner of a f eel i ng absor bed i n chi l dhood, l ef t
unquest i oned and unnamedt hat he had dedi cat ed hi msel f , l i ke t he mar t yr of
some dar k r el i gi on, t o t he ser vi ce of a f ai t h whi ch was hi s passi onat e l ove,
but whi ch made hi man out cast among men, whose sympat hy he was not t o expect .
He had accept ed t he t enet t hat i t was hi s dut y t o gi ve hi s wi f e some f or m
of exi st ence unr el at ed t o busi ness. But he had never f ound t he capaci t y t o do
i t or even t o exper i ence a sense of gui l t . He coul d nei t her f or ce hi msel f t o
change nor bl ame her i f she chose t o condemn hi m.
He had gi ven Li l l i an none of hi s t i me f or mont hs: no, he t hought , f or
year s; f or t he ei ght year s of t hei r mar r i age. He had no i nt er est t o spar e f or
her i nt er est s, not even enough t o l ear n j ust what t hey wer e.
She had a l ar ge ci r cl e of f r i ends, and he had hear d i t sai d t hat t hei r
names r epr esent ed t he hear t of t he count r y' s cul t ur e, but he had never had
t i me t o meet t hemor even t o acknowl edge t hei r f ame by knowi ng what
achi evement s had ear ned i t . He knew onl y t hat he of t en saw t hei r names on t he
magazi ne cover s on newsst ands. I f Li l l i an r esent ed hi s at t i t ude, he t hought ,
she was r i ght . I f her manner t owar d hi mwas obj ect i onabl e, he deser ved i t . I f
hi s f ami l y cal l ed hi mhear t l ess, i t was t r ue.
He had never spar ed hi msel f i n any i ssue. When a pr obl emcame up at t he
mi l l s, hi s f i r st concer n was t o di scover what er r or he had made; he di d not
sear ch f or anyone' s f aul t but hi s own; i t was of hi msel f t hat he demanded
per f ect i on. He woul d gr ant hi msel f no mer cy now; he t ook t he bl ame. But at
t he mi l l s, i t pr ompt ed hi mt o act i on i n an i mmedi at e i mpul se t o cor r ect t he
er r or ; now, i t had no ef f ect . . . . J ust a f ew mor e mi nut es, he t hought ,
st andi ng agai nst t he mi r r or , hi s eyes cl osed.
He coul d not st op t he t hi ng i n hi s mi nd t hat went on t hr owi ng wor ds at
hi m; i t was l i ke t r yi ng t o pl ug a br oken hydr ant wi t h hi s bar e hands.
St i ngi ng j et s, par t wor ds, par t pi ct ur es, kept shoot i ng at hi s br ai n. . .
.
Hour s of i t , he t hought , hour s t o spend wat chi ng t he eyes of t he guest s
get t i ng heavy wi t h bor edomi f t hey wer e sober or gl azi ng i nt o an i mbeci l e
st ar e i f t hey wer en' t , and pr et end t hat he not i ced nei t her , and st r ai n t o
t hi nk of somet hi ng t o say t o t hem, when he had not hi ng t o say whi l e he
needed hour s of i nqui r y t o f i nd a successor f or t he super i nt endent of hi s
r ol l i ng mi l l s who had r esi gned suddenl y, wi t hout expl anat i onhe had t o do i t
at oncemen of t hat sor t wer e so har d t o f i ndand i f anyt hi ng happened t o
br eak t he f l ow of t he r ol l i ng mi l l si t was t he Taggar t r ai l t hat was bei ng
r ol l ed. . . . He r emember ed t he si l ent r epr oach, t he l ook of accusat i on,
l ong- bear i ng pat i ence and scor n, whi ch he al ways saw i n t he eyes of hi s
f ami l y when t hey caught some evi dence of hi s passi on f or hi s busi nessand t he
f ut i l i t y of hi s si l ence, of hi s hope t hat t hey woul d not t hi nk Rear den St eel
meant as much t o hi mas i t di dl i ke a dr unkar d pr et endi ng i ndi f f er ence t o
l i quor , among peopl e who wat ch hi mwi t h t he scor nf ul amusement of t hei r f ul l
knowl edge of hi s shamef ul weakness. . . . " I hear d you l ast ni ght comi ng home
at t wo i n t he mor ni ng, wher e wer e you?" hi s mot her sayi ng t o hi mat t he
di nner t abl e, and Li l l i an answer i ng, " Why, at t he mi l l s, of cour se, " as
anot her wi f e woul d say, " At t he cor ner sal oon. " . . . Or Li l l i an aski ng hi m,
t he hi nt of a wi se hal f - smi l e on her f ace, " What wer e you doi ng i n New Yor k
yest er day?" " I t was a banquet wi t h t he boys. " " Busi ness?" " Yes. " " Of cour se"
and Li l l i an t ur ni ng away, not hi ng mor e, except t he shamef ul r eal i zat i on t hat
he had al most hoped she woul d t hi nk he had at t ended some sor t of obscene st ag
par t y. . . .
An or e car r i er had gone down i n a st or mon Lake Mi chi gan, wi t h t housands
of t ons of Rear den or et hose boat s wer e f al l i ng apar t i f he di dn' t t ake i t
upon hi msel f t o hel p t hemobt ai n t he r epl acement s t hey needed, t he owner s of
t he l i ne woul d go bankr upt , and t her e was no ot her l i ne l ef t i n oper at i on on
Lake Mi chi gan. . . . " That nook?"
sai d Li l l i an, poi nt i ng t o an ar r angement of set t ees and cof f ee t abl es i n
t hei r dr awi ng r oom. " Why, no, Henr y, i t ' s not new, but I suppose I shoul d
f eel f l at t er ed t hat t hr ee weeks i s al l i t t ook you t o not i ce i t . I t ' s my own
adapt at i on of t he mor ni ng r oomof a f amous Fr ench pal ace but t hi ngs l i ke
t hat can' t possi bl y i nt er est you, dar l i ng, t her e' s no st ock mar ket quot at i on
on t hem, none what ever . " . . . The or der f or copper , whi ch he had pl aced si x
mont hs ago, had not been del i ver ed, t he pr omi sed dat e had been post poned
t hr ee t unes" We can' t hel p i t , Mr . Rear den" he had t o f i nd anot her company t o
deal wi t h, t he suppl y of copper was becomi ng i ncr easi ngl y uncer t ai n. . . .
Phi l i p di d not smi l e, when he l ooked up i n t he mi dst of a speech he was
maki ng t o some f r i end of t hei r mot her ' s, about some or gani zat i on he had
j oi ned, but t her e was somet hi ng t hat suggest ed a smi l e of super i or i t y i n t he
l oose muscl es of hi s f ace when he sai d, " No, you woul dn' t car e f or t hi s, i t ' s
not busi ness, Henr y, not busi ness at al l , i t ' s a st r i ct l y non- commer ci al
endeavor . " . . . That cont r act or i n Det r oi t , wi t h t he j ob of r ebui l di ng a
l ar ge f act or y, was consi der i ng st r uct ur al shapes of Rear den Met al he shoul d
f l y t o Det r oi t and speak t o hi mi n per sonhe shoul d have done i t a week ago
he coul d have done i t t oni ght . . . . " You' r e not l i st eni ng, " sai d hi s mot her
at t he br eakf ast t abl e, when hi s mi nd wander ed t o t he cur r ent coal pr i ce
i ndex, whi l e she was t el l i ng hi mabout t he dr eamshe' d had l ast ni ght .
" You' ve never l i st ened t o a l i vi ng soul .
You' r e not i nt er est ed i n anyt hi ng but your sel f . You don' t gi ve a damn
about peopl e, not about a si ngl e human cr eat ur e on God' s ear t h. "
. . . The t yped pages l yi ng on t he desk i n hi s of f i ce wer e a r epor t on t he
t est s of an ai r pl ane mot or made of Rear den Met al per haps of al l t hi ngs on
ear t h, t he one he want ed most at t hi s moment was t o r ead i t
i t had l ai n on hi s desk, unt ouched, f or t hr ee days, he had had no t i me f or
i t why di dn' t he do i t now and
He shook hi s head vi ol ent l y, openi ng hi s eyes, st eppi ng back f r omt he
mi r r or .
He t r i ed t o r each f or t he shi r t st uds. He saw hi s hand r eachi ng, i nst ead,
f or t he pi l e of mai l on hi s dr esser . I t was mai l pi cked as ur gent , i t had t o
be r ead t oni ght , but he had had no t i me t o r ead i t i n t he of f i ce.
Hi s secr et ar y had st uf f ed i t i nt o hi s pocket on hi s way out . He had t hr own
i t t her e whi l e undr essi ng.
A newspaper cl i ppi ng f l ut t er ed down t o t he f l oor . I t was an edi t or i al
whi ch hi s secr et ar y had mar ked wi t h an angr y st ash i n r ed penci l . I t was
ent i t l ed " Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y. " He had t o r ead i t : t her e had been t oo
much t al k about t hi s i ssue i n t he l ast t hr ee mont hs, omi nousl y t oo much, He
r ead i t , wi t h t he sound of voi ces and f or ced l aught er comi ng f r omdownst ai r s,
r emi ndi ng hi mt hat t he guest s wer e ar r i vi ng, t hat t he par t y had st ar t ed and
t hat he woul d f ace t he bi t t er , r epr oachf ul gl ances of hi s f ami l y when he came
down.
The edi t or i al sai d t hat at a t i me of dwi ndl i ng pr oduct i on, shr i nki ng
mar ket s and vani shi ng oppor t uni t i es t o make a l i vi ng, i t was unf ai r t o l et
one man hoar d sever al busi ness ent er pr i ses, whi l e ot her s had none; i t was
dest r uct i ve t o l et a f ew cor ner al l t he r esour ces, l eavi ng ot her s no chance;
compet i t i on was essent i al t o soci et y, and i t was soci et y' s dut y t o see t hat
no compet i t or ever r ose beyond t he r ange of anybody who want ed t o compet e
wi t h hi m. The edi t or i al pr edi ct ed t he passage of a bi l l whi ch had been
pr oposed, a bi l l f or bi ddi ng any per son or cor por at i on t o own mor e t han one
busi ness concer n.
Wesl ey Mouch, hi s Washi ngt on man, had t ol d Rear den not t o wor r y; t he f i ght
woul d be st i f f , he had sai d, but t he bi l l woul d be def eat ed.
Rear den under st ood not hi ng about t hat ki nd of f i ght . He l ef t i t t o Mouch
and hi s st af f . He coul d bar el y f i nd t i me t o ski mt hr ough t he r epor t s f r om
Washi ngt on and t o si gn t he checks whi ch Mouch r equest ed f or t he bat t l e.
Rear den di d not bel i eve t hat t he bi l l woul d pass. He was i ncapabl e of
bel i evi ng i t . Havi ng deal t wi t h t he cl ean r eal i t y of met al s, t echnol ogy,
pr oduct i on al l hi s l i f e, he had acqui r ed t he convi ct i on t hat one had t o
concer n onesel f wi t h t he r at i onal , not t he i nsanet hat one had t o seek t hat
whi ch was r i ght , because t he r i ght answer al ways wont hat t he sensel ess, t he
wr ong, t he monst r ousl y unj ust coul d not wor k, coul d not succeed, coul d do
not hi ng but def eat i t sel f . A bat t l e agai nst a t hi ng such as t hat bi l l seemed
pr epost er ous and f ai nt l y embar r assi ng t o hi m, as i f he wer e suddenl y asked t o
compet e wi t h a man who cal cul at ed st eel mi xt ur es by t he f or mul as of
numer ol ogy.
He had t ol d hi msel f t hat t he i ssue was danger ous. But t he l oudest
scr eami ng of t he most hyst er i cal edi t or i al r oused no emot i on i n hi m
whi l e a var i at i on of a deci mal poi nt i n a l abor at or y r epor t on a t est of
Rear den Met al made hi ml eap t o hi s f eet i n eager ness or appr ehensi on.
He had no ener gy t o spar e f or anyt hi ng el se.
He cr umpl ed t he edi t or i al and t hr ew i t i nt o t he wast ebasket . He f el t t he
l eaden appr oach of t hat exhaust i on whi ch he never f el t at hi s j ob, t he
exhaust i on t hat seemed t o wai t f or hi mand cat ch hi mt he moment he t ur ned t o
ot her concer ns. He f el t as i f he wer e i ncapabl e of any desi r e except a
desper at e l ongi ng f or sl eep, He t ol d hi msel f t hat he had t o at t end t he par t y
t hat hi s f ami l y had t he r i ght t o demand i t of hi mt hat he had t o l ear n t o
l i ke t hei r ki nd of pl easur e, f or t hei r sake, not hi s own.
He wonder ed why t hi s was a mot i ve t hat had no power t o i mpel hi m.
Thr oughout hi s l i f e, whenever he became convi nced t hat a cour se of act i on was
r i ght , t he desi r e t o f ol l ow i t had come aut omat i cal l y. What was happeni ng t o
hi m?he wonder ed. The i mpossi bl e conf l i ct of f eel i ng r el uct ance t o do t hat
whi ch was r i ght wasn' t i t t he basi c f or mul a of mor al cor r upt i on? To r ecogni ze
one' s gui l t , yet f eel not hi ng but t he col dest , most pr of ound i ndi f f er ence
wasn' t i t a bet r ayal of t hat whi ch had been t he mot or of hi s l i f e- cour se and
of hi s pr i de?
He gave hi msel f no t i me t o seek an answer . He f i ni shed dr essi ng, qui ckl y,
pi t i l essl y.
Hol di ng hi msel f er ect , hi s t al l f i gur e movi ng wi t h t he unst r essed,
unhur r i ed conf i dence of habi t ual aut hor i t y, t he whi t e of a f i ne handker chi ef
i n t he br east pocket of hi s bl ack di nner j acket , he wal ked sl owl y down t he
st ai r s t o t he dr awi ng r oom, l ooki ngt o t he sat i sf act i on of t he dowager s who
wat ched hi ml i ke t he per f ect f i gur e of a gr eat i ndust r i al i st .
He saw Li l l i an at t he f oot of t he st ai r s. The pat r i ci an l i nes of a l emon-
yel l ow Empi r e eveni ng gown st r essed her gr acef ul body, and she st ood l i ke a
per son pr oudl y i n cont r ol of her pr oper backgr ound.
He smi l ed; he l i ked t o see her happy; i t gave some r easonabl e
j ust i f i cat i on t o t he par t y.
He appr oached her and st opped. She had al ways shown good t ast e i n her use
of j ewel r y, never wear i ng t oo much of i t . But t oni ght she wor e an
ost ent at i ous di spl ay: a di amond neckl ace, ear r i ngs, r i ngs and br ooches. Her
ar ms l ooked conspi cuousl y bar e by cont r ast . On her r i ght wr i st , as sol e
or nament , she wor e t he br acel et of Rear den Met al . The gl i t t er i ng gems made i t
l ook l i ke an ugl y pi ece of di me- st or e j ewel r y.
When he moved hi s gl ance f r omher wr i st t o her f ace, he f ound her l ooki ng
at hi m. Her eyes wer e nar r owed and he coul d not def i ne t hei r expr essi on; i t
was a l ook t hat seemed bot h vei l ed and pur posef ul , t he l ook of somet hi ng
hi dden t hat f l aunt ed i t s secur i t y f r omdet ect i on.
He want ed t o t ear t he br acel et of f her wr i st . I nst ead, i n obedi ence t o her
voi ce gai l y pr onounci ng an i nt r oduct i on, he bowed t o t he dowager who st ood
besi de her , hi s f ace expr essi onl ess.
" Man? What i s man? He' s j ust a col l ect i on of chemi cal s wi t h del usi ons of
gr andeur , " sai d Dr . Pr i t chet t t o a gr oup of guest s acr oss t he r oom.
Dr . Pr i t chet t pi cked a canape of f a cr yst al di sh, hel d i t spear ed bet ween
t wo st r ai ght f i nger s and deposi t ed i t whol e i nt o hi s mout h.
" Man' s met aphysi cal pr et ensi ons, " he sai d, " ar e pr epost er ous. A mi ser abl e
bi t of pr ot opl asm, f ul l of ugl y l i t t l e concept s and mean l i t t l e emot i onsand
i t i magi nes i t sel f i mpor t ant ! Real l y, you know, t hat i s t he r oot of al l t he
t r oubl es i n t he wor l d. "
" But whi ch concept s ar e not ugl y or mean, Pr of essor ?" asked an ear nest
mat r on whose husband owned an aut omobi l e f act or y.
" None, " sai d Dr . Pr i t chet t , " None wi t hi n t he r ange of man' s capaci t y. "
A young man asked hesi t ant l y, " But i f we haven' t any good concept s, how do
we know t hat t he ones we' ve got ar e ugl y? I mean, by what st andar d?"
" Ther e ar en' t any st andar ds. "
Thi s si l enced hi s audi ence.
" The phi l osopher s of t he past wer e super f i ci al , " Dr . Pr i t chet t went on.
" I t r emai ned f or our cent ur y t o r edef i ne t he pur pose of phi l osophy.
The pur pose of phi l osophy i s not t o hel p men f i nd t he meani ng of l i f e, but
t o pr ove t o t hemt hat t her e i sn' t any. "
An at t r act i ve young woman, whose f at her owned a coal mi ne, asked
i ndi gnant l y, " Who can t el l us t hat ?"
" I amt r yi ng t o, " sai d Dr . Pr i t chet t . For t he l ast t hr ee year s, he had
been head of t he Depar t ment of Phi l osophy at t he Pat r i ck Henr y Uni ver si t y.
Li l l i an Rear den appr oached, her j ewel s gl i t t er i ng under t he l i ght s.
The expr essi on on her f ace was hel d t o t he sof t hi nt of a smi l e, set and
f ai nt l y suggest ed, l i ke t he waves of her hai r .
" I t i s t hi s i nsi st ence of man upon meani ng t hat makes hi mso di f f i cul t , "
sai d Dr . Pr i t chet t . " Once he r eal i zes t hat he i s of no i mpor t ance what ever i n
t he vast scheme of t he uni ver se, t hat no possi bl e si gni f i cance can be
at t ached t o hi s act i vi t i es, t hat i t does not mat t er whet her he l i ves or di es,
he wi l l become much mor e . . . t r act abl e. "
He shr ugged and r eached f or anot her canape" , A busi nessman sai d uneasi l y,
" What I asked you about , Pr of essor , was what you t hought about t he
Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l . "
" Oh, t hat ?" sai d Dr . Pr i t chet t . " But I bel i eve I made i t cl ear t hat I am
i n f avor of i t , because I ami n f avor of a f r ee economy. A f r ee economy
cannot exi st wi t hout compet i t i on. Ther ef or e, men must be f or ced t o compet e.
Ther ef or e, we must cont r ol men i n or der t o f or ce t hemt o be f r ee. "
" But , l ook . . . i sn' t t hat sor t of a cont r adi ct i on?"
" Not i n t he hi gher phi l osophi cal sense. You must l ear n t o see beyond t he
st at i c def i ni t i ons of ol d- f ashi oned t hi nki ng. Not hi ng i s st at i c i n t he
uni ver se. Ever yt hi ng i s f l ui d. "
" But i t st ands t o r eason t hat i f "
" Reason, my dear f el l ow, i s t he most nai ve of al l super st i t i ons. That , at
l east , has been gener al l y conceded i n our age, "
" But I don' t qui t e under st and how we can"
" You suf f er f r omt he popul ar del usi on of bel i evi ng t hat t hi ngs can be
under st ood. You do not gr asp t he f act t hat t he uni ver se i s a sol i d
cont r adi ct i on. "
" A cont r adi ct i on of what ?" asked t he mat r on.
" Of i t sel f . "
" How . . . how' s t hat ?"
" My dear madam, t he dut y of t hi nker s i s not t o expl ai n, but t o demonst r at e
t hat not hi ng can be expl ai ned. "
" Yes, of cour se . . . onl y . , , "
" The pur pose of phi l osophy i s not t o seek knowl edge, but t o pr ove t hat
knowl edge i s i mpossi bl e t o man. "
" But when we pr ove i t , " asked t he young woman, " what ' s goi ng t o be l ef t ?"
" I nst i nct , " sai d Dr . Pr i t chet t r ever ent l y.
At t he ot her end of t he r oom, a gr oup was l i st eni ng t o Bal ph Eubank. He
sat upr i ght on t he edge of an ar mchai r , i n or der t o count er act t he appear ance
of hi s f ace and f i gur e, whi ch had a t endency t o spr ead i f r el axed.
" The l i t er at ur e of t he past , " sai d Bal ph Eubank, " was a shal l ow f r aud. I t
whi t ewashed l i f e i n or der t o pl ease t he money t ycoons whomi t ser ved.
Mor al i t y, f r ee wi l l , achi evement , happy endi ngs, and man as some sor t of
her oi c bei ngal l t hat st uf f i s l aughabl e t o us. Our age has gi ven dept h t o
l i t er at ur e f or t he f i r st t i me, by exposi ng t he r eal essence of l i f e, "
A ver y young gi r l i n a whi t e eveni ng gown asked t i mi dl y, " What i s t he r eal
essence of l i f e, Mr . Eubank?"
" Suf f er i ng, " sai d Bal ph Eubank. " Def eat and suf f er i ng. "
" But . . . but why? Peopl e ar e happy . . . somet i mes . . . ar en' t t hey?"
" That i s a del usi on of t hose whose emot i ons ar e super f i ci al . "
The gi r l bl ushed. A weal t hy woman who had i nher i t ed an oi l r ef i ner y, asked
gui l t i l y, " What shoul d we do t o r ai se t he peopl e' s l i t er ar y t ast e, Mr .
Eubank?"
" That i s a gr eat soci al pr obl em, " sai d Bal ph Eubank. He was descr i bed as
t he l i t er ar y l eader of t he age, but had never wr i t t en a book t hat sol d mor e
t han t hr ee t housand copi es. " Per sonal l y, I bel i eve t hat an Equal i zat i on of
Oppor t uni t y Bi l l appl yi ng t o l i t er at ur e woul d be t he sol ut i on. "
" Oh, do you appr ove of t hat Bi l l f or i ndust r y? I ' mnot sur e I know what t o
t hi nk of i t . "
" Cer t ai nl y, I appr ove of i t . Our cul t ur e has sunk i nt o a bog of
mat er i al i sm. Men have l ost al l spi r i t ual val ues i n t hei r pur sui t of mat er i al
pr oduct i on and t echnol ogi cal t r i cker y. They' r e t oo comf or t abl e. They wi l l
r et ur n t o a nobl er l i f e i f we t each t hemt o bear pr i vat i ons. So we ought t o
pl ace a l i mi t upon t hei r mat er i al gr eed. "
" I hadn' t t hought of i t t hat way, " sai d t he woman apol oget i cal l y.
" But how ar e you goi ng t o wor k an Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l f or
l i t er at ur e, Ral ph?" asked Mor t Li ddy. " That ' s a new one on me. "
" My name i s Bal ph, " sai d Eubank angr i l y. " And i t ' s a new one on you
because i t ' s my own i dea. "
" Okay, okay, I ' mnot quar r el i ng, amI ? I ' mj ust aski ng. " Mor t Li ddy
smi l ed. He spent most of hi s t i me smi l i ng ner vousl y. He was a composer who
wr ot e ol d- f ashi oned scor es f or mot i on pi ct ur es, and moder n symphoni es f or
spar se audi ences.
" I t woul d wor k ver y si mpl y, " sai d Bal ph Eubank. " Ther e shoul d be a l aw
l i mi t i ng t he sal e of any book t o t en t housand copi es. Thi s woul d t hr ow t he
l i t er ar y mar ket open t o new t al ent , f r esh i deas and non- commer ci al wr i t i ng.
I f peopl e wer e f or bi dden t o buy a mi l l i on copi es of t he same pi ece of t r ash,
t hey woul d be f or ced t o buy bet t er books. "
" You' ve got somet hi ng t her e, " sai d Mor t Li ddy. " But woul dn' t i t be ki nda
t ough on t he wr i t er s' bank account s?"
" So much t he bet t er . Onl y t hose whose mot i ve i s not money- maki ng shoul d be
al l owed t o wr i t e. "
" But , Mr . Eubank, " asked t he young gi r l i n t he whi t e dr ess, " what i f mor e
t han t en t housand peopl e want t o buy a cer t ai n book?"
" Ten t housand r eader s i s enough f or any book. "
" That ' s not what I mean. I mean, what i f t hey want i t ?"
" That i s i r r el evant . "
" But i f a book has a good st or y whi ch"
" Pl ot i s a pr i mi t i ve vul gar i t y i n l i t er at ur e, " sai d Bal ph Eubank
cont empt uousl y.
Dr . Pr i t chet t , on hi s way acr oss t he r oomt o t he bar , st opped t o say,
" Qui t e so. J ust as l ogi c i s a pr i mi t i ve vul gar i t y i n phi l osophy. "
" J ust as mel ody i s a pr i mi t i ve vul gar i t y i n musi c, " sai d Mor t Li ddy.
" What ' s al l t hi s noi se? asked Li l l i an Rear den, gl i t t er i ng t o a st op
besi de t hem.
" Li l l i an, my angel , " Bal ph Eubank dr awl ed, " di d I t el l you t hat I ' m
dedi cat i ng my new novel t o you?"
" Why. t hank you, dar l i ng. "
" What i s t he name of your new novel ?" asked t he weal t hy woman.
" The Hear t I s a Mi l kman. "
" What i s i t about ?"
" Fr ust r at i on. "
" But , Mr . Eubank, " asked t he young gi r l i n t he whi t e dr ess, bl ushi ng
desper at el y, " i f ever yt hi ng i s f r ust r at i on, what i s t her e t o l i ve f or ?"
" Br ot her - l ove, " sai d Bal ph Eubank gr i ml y.
Ber t r amScudder st ood sl ouched agai nst t he bar . Hi s l ong, t hi n f ace l ooked
as i f i t had shr unk i nwar d, wi t h t he except i on of hi s mout h and eyebal l s,
whi ch wer e l ef t t o pr ot r ude as t hr ee sof t gl obes. He was t he edi t or of a
magazi ne cal l ed The Fut ur e and he had wr i t t en an ar t i cl e on Hank Rear den,
ent i t l ed " The Oct opus. "
Ber t r amScudder pi cked up hi s empt y gl ass and shoved i t si l ent l y t owar d
t he bar t ender , t o be r ef i l l ed. He t ook a gul p f r omhi s f r esh dr i nk, not i ced
t he empt y gl ass i n f r ont of Phi l i p Rear den, who st ood besi de hi m, and j er ked
hi s t humb i n a si l ent command t o t he bar t ender . He i gnor ed t he empt y gl ass i n
f r ont of Bet t y Pope, who st ood at Phi l i p' s ot her si de.
" Look, bud, " sai d Ber t r amScudder , hi s eyebal l s f ocused appr oxi mat el y i n
t he di r ect i on of Phi l i p, " whet her you l i ke i t or not , t he Equal i zat i on of
Oppor t uni t y Bi l l r epr esent s a gr eat st ep f or war d. "
" What made you t hi nk t hat I di d not l i ke i t , Mr . Scudder ?" Phi l i p asked
humbl y.
" Wel l , i t ' s goi ng t o pi nch, i sn' t i t ? The l ong ar mof soci et y i s goi ng t o
t r i ma l i t t l e of f t he hor s d' oeuvr es bi l l ar ound her e. " He waved hi s hand at
t he bar .
" Why do you assume t hat I obj ect t o t hat ?"
" You don' t ?" Ber t r amScudder asked wi t hout cur i osi t y.
" I don' t ! " sai d Phi l i p hot l y. " I have al ways pl aced t he publ i c good above
any per sonal consi der at i on. I have cont r i but ed my t i me and money t o Fr i ends
of Gl obal Pr ogr ess i n t hei r cr usade f or t he Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l .
I t hi nk i t i s per f ect l y unf ai r t hat one man shoul d get al l t he br eaks and
l eave none t o ot her s. "
Ber t r amScudder consi der ed hi mspecul at i vel y, but wi t hout par t i cul ar
i nt er est . " Wel l , t hat ' s qui t e unusual l y ni ce of you, " he sai d.
" Some peopl e do t ake mor al i ssues ser i ousl y, Mr . Scudder , " sai d Phi l i p,
wi t h a gent l e st r ess of pr i de i n hi s voi ce.
" What ' s he t al ki ng about , Phi l i p?" asked Bet t y Pope. " We don' t know
anybody who owns mor e t han one busi ness, do we?"
" Oh, pi pe down! " sai d Ber t r amScudder , hi s voi ce bor ed.
" I don' t see why t her e' s so much f uss about t hat Equal i zat i on of
Oppor t uni t y Bi l l , " sai d Bet t y Pope aggr essi vel y, i n t he t one of an exper t on
economi cs. " I don' t see why busi nessmen obj ect t o i t . I t ' s t o t hei r own
advant age. I f ever ybody el se i s poor , t hey won' t have any mar ket f or t hei r
goods. But i f t hey st op bei ng sel f i sh and shar e t he goods t hey' ve hoar ded
t hey' l l have a chance t o wor k har d and pr oduce some mor e. "
" I do not see why i ndust r i al i st s shoul d be consi der ed at al l , " sai d
Scudder . " When t he masses ar e dest i t ut e and yet t her e ar e goods avai l abl e,
i t ' s i di ot i c t o expect peopl e t o be st opped by some scr ap of paper cal l ed a
pr oper t y deed. Pr oper t y r i ght s ar e a super st i t i on. One hol ds pr oper t y onl y by
t he cour t esy of t hose who do not sei ze i t . The peopl e can sei ze i t at any
moment . I f t hey can, why shoul dn' t t hey?"
" They shoul d, " sai d Cl aude Sl agenhop. " They need i t . Need i s t he onl y
consi der at i on. I f peopl e ar e i n need, we' ve got t o sei ze t hi ngs f i r st and
t al k about i t af t er war ds. "
Cl aude Sl agenhop had appr oached and managed t o squeeze hi msel f bet ween
Phi l i p and Scudder , shovi ng Scudder asi de i mper cept i bl y.
Sl agenhop was not t al l or heavy, but he had a squar e, compact bul k, and a
br oken nose. He was t he pr esi dent of Fr i ends of Gl obal Pr ogr ess.
" Hunger won' t wai t , " sai d Cl aude Sl agenhop. " I deas ar e j ust hot ai r .
An empt y bel l y i s a sol i d f act . I ' ve sai d i n al l my speeches t hat i t ' s not
necessar y t o t al k t oo much. Soci et y i s suf f er i ng f or l ack of busi ness
oppor t uni t i es at t he moment , so we' ve got t he r i ght t o sei ze such
oppor t uni t i es as exi st . Ri ght i s what ever ' s good f or soci et y. "
" He di dn' t di g t hat or e si ngl e- handed, di d he?" cr i ed Phi l i p suddenl y, hi s
voi ce shr i l l . " He had t o empl oy hundr eds of wor ker s. They di d i t .
Why does he t hi nk he' s so good?"
The t wo men l ooked at hi m, Scudder l i f t i ng an eyebr ow, Sl agenhop wi t hout
expr essi on.
" Oh, dear me! " sai d Bet t y Pope, r emember i ng.
Hank Rear den st ood at a wi ndow i n a di mr ecess at t he end of t he dr awi ng
r oom. He hoped no one woul d not i ce hi mf or a f ew mi nut es.
He had j ust escaped f r oma mi ddl e- aged woman who had been t el l i ng hi m
about her psychi c exper i ences. He st ood, l ooki ng out . Far i n t he di st ance,
t he r ed gl ow of Rear den St eel moved i n t he sky. He wat ched i t f or a moment ' s
r el i ef .
He t ur ned t o l ook at t he dr awi ng r oom. He had never l i ked hi s house; i t
had been Li l l i an' s choi ce. But t oni ght , t he shi f t i ng col or s of t he eveni ng
dr esses dr owned out t he appear ance of t he r oomand gave i t an ai r of
br i l l i ant gai et y. He l i ked t o see peopl e bei ng gay, even t hough he di d not
under st and t hi s par t i cul ar manner of enj oyment .
He l ooked at t he f l ower s, at t he spar ks of l i ght on t he cr yst al gl asses,
at t he naked ar ms and shoul der s of women. Ther e was a col d wi nd out si de,
sweepi ng empt y st r et ches of l and. He saw t he t hi n br anches of a t r ee bei ng
t wi st ed, l i ke ar ms wavi ng i n an appeal f or hel p.
The t r ee st ood agai nst t he gl ow of t he mi l l s.
He coul d not name hi s sudden emot i on. He had no wor ds t o st at e i t s cause,
i t s qual i t y, i t s meani ng. Some par t of i t was j oy, but i t was sol emn l i ke t he
act of bar i ng one' s headhe di d not know t o whom.
When he st epped back i nt o t he cr owd, he was smi l i ng. But t he smi l e
vani shed abr upt l y; he saw t he ent r ance of a new guest : i t was Dagny Taggar t .
Li l l i an moved f or war d t o meet her , st udyi ng her wi t h cur i osi t y. They had
met bef or e, on i nf r equent occasi ons, and she f ound i t st r ange t o see Dagny
Taggar t wear i ng an eveni ng gown. I t was a bl ack dr ess wi t h a bodi ce t hat f el l
as a cape over one ar mand shoul der , l eavi ng t he ot her bar e; t he naked
shoul der was t he gown' s onl y or nament . Seei ng her i n t he sui t s she wor e, one
never t hought of Dagny Taggar t ' s body. The bl ack dr ess seemed excessi vel y
r eveal i ngbecause i t was ast oni shi ng t o di scover t hat t he l i nes of her
shoul der wer e f r agi l e and beaut i f ul , and t hat t he di amond band on t he wr i st
of her naked ar mgave her t he most f emi ni ne of al l aspect s: t he l ook of bei ng
chai ned.
" Mi ss Taggar t , i t i s such a wonder f ul sur pr i se t o see you her e, " sai d
Li l l i an Rear den, t he muscl es of her f ace per f or mi ng t he mot i ons of a smi l e.
" I had not r eal l y dar ed t o hope t hat an i nvi t at i on' f r omme woul d t ake you
away f r omyour ever so much wei ght i er concer ns. Do per mi t me t o f eel
f l at t er ed. "
J ames Taggar t had ent er ed wi t h hi s si st er . Li l l i an smi l ed at hi m, i n t he
manner of a hast y post scr i pt , as i f not i ci ng hi mf or t he f i r st t i me.
" Hel l o, J ames. That ' s your penal t y f or bei ng popul ar one t ends t o l ose
si ght of you i n t he sur pr i se of seei ng your si st er . "
" No one can mat ch you i n popul ar i t y, Li l l i an, " he answer ed, smi l i ng
t hi nl y, " nor ever l ose si ght of you. "
" Me? Oh, but I amqui t e r esi gned t o t aki ng second pl ace i n t he shadow of
my husband. I amhumbl y awar e t hat t he wi f e of a gr eat man has t o be
cont ent ed wi t h r ef l ect ed gl or ydon' t you t hi nk so, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" No, " sai d Dagny, " I don' t . "
" I s t hi s a compl i ment or a r epr oach, Mi ss Taggar t ? But do f or gi ve me i f I
conf ess I ' mhel pl ess. Whommay I pr esent t o you? I ' maf r ai d I have not hi ng
but wr i t er s and ar t i st s t o of f er , and t hey woul dn' t i nt er est you, I ' msur e. "
" I ' d l i ke t o f i nd Hank and say hel l o t o hi m. "
" But of cour se. J ames, do you r emember you sai d you want ed t o meet Bal ph
Eubank?oh yes, he' s her eI l l t el l hi mt hat I hear d you r ave about hi s l ast
novel at Mr s. Whi t comb' s di nner ! "
Wal ki ng acr oss t he r oom, Dagny wonder ed why she had sai d t hat she want ed
t o f i nd Hank Rear den, what had pr event ed her f r omadmi t t i ng t hat she had seen
hi mt he moment she ent er ed.
Rear den st ood at t he ot her end of t he l ong r oom, l ooki ng at her .
He wat ched her as she appr oached, but he di d not st ep f or war d t o meet her .
" Hel l o, Hank. "
" Good eveni ng. "
He bowed, cour t eousl y, i mper sonal l y, t he movement of hi s body mat chi ng t he
di st i ngui shed f or mal i t y of hi s cl ot hes. He di d not smi l e.
" Thank you f or i nvi t i ng me t oni ght , " she sai d gai l y.
" I cannot cl ai mt hat I knew you wer e comi ng. "
" Oh? Then I ' mgl ad t hat Mr s. Rear den t hought of me. I want ed t o make an
except i on. "
" An except i on?"
" I don' t go t o par t i es ver y of t en. "
" I ampl eased t hat you chose t hi s occasi on as t he except i on. " He di d not
add " Mi ss Taggar t , " but i t sounded as i f he had.
The f or mal i t y of hi s manner was so unexpect ed t hat she was unabl e t o
adj ust t o i t . " I want ed t o cel ebr at e, " she sai d.
" To cel ebr at e my weddi ng anni ver sar y?"
" Oh, i s i t your weddi ng anni ver sar y? I di dn' t know. My congr at ul at i ons,
Hank. "
" What di d you wi sh t o cel ebr at e?"
" I t hought I ' d per mi t mysel f a r est . A cel ebr at i on of my owni n your honor
and mi ne. "
" For what r eason?"
She was t hi nki ng of t he new t r ack on t he r ocky gr ades of t he Col or ado
mount ai ns, gr owi ng sl owl y t owar d t he di st ant goal of t he Wyat t oi l f i el ds.
She was seei ng t he gr eeni sh- bl ue gl ow of t he r ai l s on t he f r ozen gr ound,
among t he dr i ed weeds, t he naked boul der s, t he r ot t i ng shant i es of hal f -
st ar ved set t l ement s.
" I n honor of t he f i r st si xt y mi l es of Rear den Met al t r ack, " she answer ed.
" I appr eci at e i t . " The t one of hi s voi ce was t he one t hat woul d have been
pr oper i f he had sai d, " I ' ve never hear d of i t . "
She f ound not hi ng el se t o say. She f el t as i f she wer e speaki ng t o a
st r anger .
" Why, Mi ss Taggar t ! " a cheer f ul voi ce br oke t hei r si l ence. " Now t hi s i s
what I mean when I say t hat Hank Rear den can achi eve any mi r acl e! "
A busi nessman whomt hey knew had appr oached, smi l i ng at her i n del i ght ed
ast oni shment . The t hr ee of t hemhad of t en hel d emer gency conf er ences about
f r ei ght r at es and st eel del i ver i es. Now he l ooked at her , hi s f ace an open
comment on t he change i n her appear ance, t he change, she t hought , whi ch
Rear den had not not i ced.
She l aughed, answer i ng t he man' s gr eet i ng, gi vi ng her sel f no t i me t o
r ecogni ze t he unexpect ed st ab of di sappoi nt ment , t he unadmi t t ed t hought t hat
she wi shed she had seen t hi s l ook on Rear den' s f ace, i nst ead. She exchanged a
f ew sent ences wi t h t he man. When she gl anced ar ound, Rear den was gone.
" So t hat i s your f amous si st er ?" sai d Bal ph Eubank t o J ames Taggar t ,
l ooki ng at Dagny acr oss t he r oom.
" I was not awar e t hat my si st er was f amous, " sai d Taggar t , a f ai nt bi t e i n
hi s voi ce.
" But , my good man, she' s an unusual phenomenon i n t he f i el d of economi cs,
so you must expect peopl e t o t al k about her . Your si st er i s a sympt omof t he
i l l ness of our cent ur y. A decadent pr oduct of t he machi ne age. Machi nes have
dest r oyed man' s humani t y, t aken hi maway f r omt he soi l , r obbed hi mof hi s
nat ur al ar t s, ki l l ed hi s soul and t ur ned hi mi nt o an i nsensi t i ve r obot .
Ther e' s an exampl e of i t a woman who r uns a r ai l r oad, i nst ead of pr act i ci ng
t he beaut i f ul cr af t of t he handl oomand bear i ng chi l dr en. "
Rear den moved among t he guest s, t r yi ng not t o be t r apped i nt o
conver sat i on. He l ooked at t he r oom; he saw no one he wi shed t o appr oach.
" Say, Hank Rear den, you' r e not such a bad f el l ow at al l when seen cl ose up
i n t he l i on' s own den. You ought t o gi ve us a pr ess conf er ence once i n a
whi l e, you' d wi n us over . "
Rear den t ur ned and l ooked at t he speaker i ncr edul ousl y. I t was a young
newspaper man of t he seedi er sor t , who wor ked on a r adi cal t abl oi d. The
of f ensi ve f ami l i ar i t y of hi s manner seemed t o i mpl y t hat he chose t o be r ude
t o Rear den because he knew t hat Rear den shoul d never have per mi t t ed hi msel f
t o associ at e wi t h a man of hi s ki nd.
Rear den woul d not have al l owed hi mi nsi de t he mi l l s; but t he man was
Li l l i an' s guest ; he cont r ol l ed hi msel f ; he asked dr yl y, " What do you want ?"
" You' r e not so bad. You' ve got t al ent . Technol ogi cal t al ent . But , of
cour se, I don' t agr ee wi t h you about Rear den Met al . "
" I haven' t asked you t o agr ee. "
" Wel l , Ber t r amScudder sai d t hat your pol i cy" t he man st ar t ed
bel l i ger ent l y, poi nt i ng t owar d t he bar , but st opped, as i f he had sl i d
f ar t her t han he i nt ended.
Rear den l ooked at t he unt i dy f i gur e sl ouched agai nst t he bar . Li l l i an had
i nt r oduced t hem, but he had pai d no at t ent i on t o t he name. He t ur ned shar pl y
and wal ked of f , i n a manner t hat f or bade t he young bumt o t ag hi m.
Li l l i an gl anced up at hi s f ace, when Rear den appr oached her i n t he mi dst
of a gr oup, and, wi t hout a wor d, st epped asi de wher e t hey coul d not be hear d.
" I s t hat Scudder of The Fut ur e?" he asked, poi nt i ng.
" Why, yes. "
He l ooked at her si l ent l y, unabl e t o begi n t o bel i eve i t , unabl e t o f i nd
t he l ead of a t hought wi t h whi ch t o begi n t o under st and. Her eyes wer e
wat chi ng hi m.
" How coul d you i nvi t e hi mher e?" he asked.
" Now, Henr y, don' t l et ' s be r i di cul ous. You don' t want t o be nar r ow
mi nded, do you? You must l ear n t o t ol er at e t he opi ni ons of ot her s and r espect
t hei r r i ght of f r ee speech. "
" I n my house?"
" Oh, don' t be st uf f y! "
He di d not speak, because hi s consci ousness was hel d, not by coher ent
st at ement s, but by t wo pi ct ur es t hat seemed t o gl ar e at hi mi nsi st ent l y.
He saw t he ar t i cl e, " The Oct opus, " by Ber t r amScudder , whi ch was not an
expr essi on of i deas, but a bucket of sl i me empt i ed i n publ i can ar t i cl e t hat
di d not cont ai n a si ngl e f act , not even an i nvent ed one, but pour ed a st r eam
of sneer s and adj ect i ves i n whi ch not hi ng was cl ear except t he f i l t hy mal i ce
of denounci ng wi t hout consi der i ng pr oof necessar y. And he saw t he l i nes of
Li l l i an' s pr of i l e, t he pr oud pur i t y whi ch he had sought i n mar r yi ng her .
When he not i ced her agai n, he r eal i zed t hat t he vi si on of her pr of i l e was
i n hi s own mi nd, because she was t ur ned t o hi mf ul l - f ace, wat chi ng hi m. I n
t he sudden i nst ant of r et ur ni ng t o r eal i t y, he t hought t hat what he saw i n
her eyes was enj oyment . But i n t he next i nst ant he r emi nded hi msel f t hat he
was sane and t hat t hi s was not possi bl e.
" I t ' s t he f i r st t i me you' ve i nvi t ed t hat . . . " he used an obscene wor d
wi t h unemot i onal pr eci si on, " t o my house. I t ' s t he l ast . "
" How dar e you use such"
" Don' t ar gue, Li l l i an. I f you do, I ' l l t hr ow hi mout r i ght now. "
He gave her a moment t o answer , t o obj ect , t o scr eamat hi mi f she wi shed.
She r emai ned si l ent , not l ooki ng at hi m, onl y her smoot h cheeks seemed
f ai nt l y dr awn i nwar d, as i f def l at ed.
Movi ng bl i ndl y away t hr ough t he coi l s of l i ght s, voi ces and per f ume, he
f el t a col d t ouch of dr ead. He knew t hat he shoul d t hi nk of Li l l i an and f i nd
t he answer t o t he r i ddl e of her char act er , because t hi s was a r evel at i on
whi ch he coul d not i gnor e; but he di d not t hi nk of her and he f el t t he dr ead
because he knew t hat t he answer had ceased t o mat t er t o hi ml ong ago.
The f l ood of wear i ness was st ar t i ng t o r i se agai n. He f el t as i f he coul d
al most see i t i n t hi ckeni ng waves; i t was not wi t hi n hi m, but out si de,
spr eadi ng t hr ough t he r oom. For an i nst ant , he f el t as i f he wer e al one, l ost
i n a gr ay deser t , needi ng hel p and knowi ng t hat no hel p woul d come, He
st opped shor t . I n t he l i ght ed door way, t he l engt h of t he r oombet ween t hem,
he saw t he t al l , ar r ogant f i gur e of a man who had paused f or a moment bef or e
ent er i ng. He had never met t he man, but of al l t he not or i ous f aces t hat
cl ut t er ed t he pages of newspaper s, t hi s was t he one he despi sed. I t was
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
Rear den had never gi ven much t hought t o men l i ke Ber t r amScudder .
But wi t h ever y hour of hi s l i f e, wi t h t he st r ai n and t he pr i de of ever y
moment when hi s muscl es or hi s mi nd had ached f r omef f or t , wi t h ever y st ep he
had t aken t o r i se out of t he mi nes of Mi nnesot a and t o t ur n hi s ef f or t i nt o
gol d, wi t h al l of hi s pr of ound r espect f or money and f or i t s meani ng, he
despi sed t he squander er who di d not know how t o deser ve t he gr eat gi f t of
i nher i t ed weal t h. Ther e, he t hought , was t he most cont empt i bl e r epr esent at i ve
of t he speci es.
He saw Fr anci sco d' Anconi a ent er , bow t o Li l l i an, t hen wal k i nt o t he cr owd
as i f he owned t he r oomwhi ch he had never ent er ed bef or e.
Heads t ur ned t o wat ch hi m, as i f he pul l ed t hemon st r i ngs i n hi s wake.
Appr oachi ng Li l l i an once mor e, Rear den sai d wi t hout anger , t he cont empt
becomi ng amusement i n hi s voi ce, " I di dn' t know you knew t hat one. "
" I ' ve met hi mat a f ew par t i es. "
" I s he one of your f r i ends, t oo?"
" Cer t ai nl y not ! " The shar p r esent ment was genui ne.
" Then why di d you i nvi t e hi m?"
" Wel l , you can' t gi ve a par t ynot a par t y t hat count swhi l e he' s i n t hi s
count r y, wi t hout i nvi t i ng hi m. I t ' s a nui sance i f he comes, and a soci al
bl ack mar k i f he doesn' t . "
Rear den l aughed. She was of f guar d; she di d not usual l y admi t t hi ngs of
t hi s ki nd. " Look, " he sai d wear i l y, " I don' t want t o spoi l your par t y. But
keep t hat man away f r omme. Don' t come ar ound wi t h i nt r oduct i ons. I don' t
want t o meet hi m. I don' t know how you' l l wor k t hat , but you' r e an exper t
host ess, so wor k i t . "
Dagny st ood st i l l when she saw Fr anci sco appr oachi ng. He bowed t o her as
he passed by. He di d not st op, but she knew t hat he had st opped t he moment i n
hi s mi nd. She saw hi msmi l e f ai nt l y i n del i ber at e emphasi s of what he
under st ood and di d not choose t o acknowl edge. She t ur ned away. She hoped t o
avoi d hi mf or t he r est of t he eveni ng.
Bal ph Eubank had j oi ned t he gr oup ar ound Dr . Pr i t chet t , and was sayi ng
sul l enl y, " . . . no, you cannot expect peopl e t o under st and t he hi gher
r eaches of phi l osophy. Cul t ur e shoul d be t aken out of t he hands of t he
dol l ar - chaser s. We need a nat i onal subsi dy f or l i t er at ur e. I t i s di sgr acef ul
t hat ar t i st s ar e t r eat ed l i ke peddl er s and t hat ar t wor ks have t o be sol d
l i ke soap. "
" You mean, your compl ai nt i s t hat t hey don' t sel l l i ke soap?" asked
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
They had not not i ced hi mappr oach; t he conver sat i on st opped, as i f sl ashed
of f ; most of t hemhad never met hi m, but t hey al l r ecogni zed hi mat once.
" I meant " Bal ph Eubank st ar t ed angr i l y and cl osed hi s mout h; he saw t he
eager i nt er est on t he f aces of hi s audi ence, but i t was not i nt er est i n
phi l osophy any l onger .
" Why, hel l o, Pr of essor ! " sai d Fr anci sco, bowi ng t o Dr . Pr i t chet t .
Ther e was no pl easur e i n Dr . Pr i t chet t ' s f ace when he answer ed t he
gr eet i ng and per f or med a f ew i nt r oduct i ons.
" We wer e j ust di scussi ng a most i nt er est i ng subj ect , " sai d t he ear nest
mat r on. " Dr . Pr i t chet t was t el l i ng us t hat not hi ng i s anyt hi ng. "
" He shoul d, undoubt edl y, know mor e t han anyone el se about t hat , "
Fr anci sco answer ed gr avel y.
" I woul dn' t have supposed t hat you knew Dr . Pr i t chet t so wel l , Senor
d' Anconi a, " she sai d, and wonder ed why t he pr of essor l ooked di spl eased by her
r emar k.
" I aman al umnus of t he gr eat school t hat empl oys Dr . Pr i t chet t at
pr esent , t he Pat r i ck Henr y Uni ver si t y. But I st udi ed under one of hi s
pr edecessor sHugh Akst on. "
" Hugh Akst on! " t he at t r act i ve young woman gasped. " But you coul dn' t have,
Senor d' Anconi a! You' r e not ol d enough. I t hought he was one of t hose gr eat
names of . . . of t he l ast cent ur y. "
" Per haps i n spi r i t , madame. Not i n f act . "
" But I t hought he di ed year s ago. "
" Why, no. He i s st i l l al i ve. "
" Then why don' t we ever hear about hi many mor e?"
" He r et i r ed, ni ne year s ago. "
" I sn' t i t odd? When a pol i t i ci an or a movi e st ar r et i r es, we r ead f r ont
page st or i es about i t . But when a phi l osopher r et i r es, peopl e do not even
not i ce i t . "
" They do, event ual l y. "
A young man sai d, ast oni shed, " I t hought Hugh Akst on was one of t hose
cl assi cs t hat nobody st udi ed any mor e, except i n hi st or i es of phi l osophy. I
r ead an ar t i cl e r ecent l y whi ch r ef er r ed t o hi mas t he l ast of t he gr eat
advocat es of r eason. "
" J ust what di d Hugh Akst on t each?" asked t he ear nest mat r on.
Fr anci sco answer ed, " He t aught t hat ever yt hi ng i s somet hi ng. "
" Your l oyal t y t o your t eacher i s l audabl e, Seni or d' Anconi a, " sai d Dr .
Pr i t chet t dr yl y. " May we t ake i t t hat you ar e an exampl e of t he pr act i cal
r esul t s of hi s t eachi ng?"
" I am. "
J ames Taggar t had appr oached t he gr oup and was wai t i ng t o be not i ced.
" Hel l o, Fr anci sco. "
" Good eveni ng, J ames. "
" What a wonder f ul coi nci dence, seei ng you her e! I ' ve been ver y anxi ous t o
speak t o you. "
" That ' s new. You haven' t al ways been. "
" Now you' r e j oki ng, j ust l i ke i n t he ol d days. " Taggar t was movi ng sl owl y,
as i f casual l y, away f r omt he gr oup, hopi ng t o dr aw Fr anci sco af t er hi m. " You
know t hat t her e' s not a per son i n t hi s r oomwho woul dn' t l ove t o t al k t o
you. "
" Real l y? I ' d be i ncl i ned t o suspect t he opposi t e. " Fr anci sco had f ol l owed
obedi ent l y, but st opped wi t hi n hear i ng di st ance of t he ot her s.
" I have t r i ed i n ever y possi bl e way t o get i n t ouch wi t h you, " sai d
Taggar t , " but . . . but ci r cumst ances di dn' t per mi t me t o succeed. "
" Ar e you t r yi ng t o hi de f r omme t he f act t hat I r ef used t o see you?"
" Wel l . . . t hat i s . , . I mean, why di d you r ef use?"
" I coul dn' t i magi ne what you want ed t o speak t o me about . "
" The San Sebast i an Mi nes, of cour se! " Taggar t ' s voi ce r ose a l i t t l e.
" Why, what about t hem?"
" But . . . Now, l ook, Fr anci sco, t hi s i s ser i ous. I t ' s a di sast er , an
unpr ecedent ed di sast er and nobody can make any sense out of i t . I don' t know
what t o t hi nk. I don' t under st and i t at al l . I have a r i ght t o know. "
" A r i ght ? Ar en' t you bei ng ol d- f ashi oned, J ames? But what i s i t you want
t o know?"
" Wel l , f i r st of al l , t hat nat i onal i zat i onwhat ar e you goi ng t o do about
i t ?"
" Not hi ng. "
" Not hi ng?! "
" But sur el y you don' t want me t o do anyt hi ng about i t . My mi nes and your
r ai l r oad wer e sei zed by t he wi l l of t he peopl e. You woul dn' t want me t o
oppose t he wi l l of t he peopl e, woul d you?"
" Fr anci sco, t hi s i s not a l aughi ng mat t er ! "
" I never t hought i t was. "
" I ' ment i t l ed t o an expl anat i on! You owe your st ockhol der s an account of
t he whol e di sgr acef ul af f ai r ! Why di d you pi ck a wor t hl ess mi ne? Why di d you
wast e al l t hose mi l l i ons? What sor t of r ot t en swi ndl e was I t ?"
Fr anci sco st ood l ooki ng at hi mi n pol i t e ast oni shment . " Why, J ames, "
he sai d, " I t hought you woul d appr ove of i t . "
" Appr ove?! "
" I t hought you woul d consi der t he San Sebast i an Mi nes as t he pr act i cal
r eal i zat i on of an i deal of t he hi ghest mor al or der . Remember i ng t hat you and
I have di sagr eed so of t en i n t he past , I t hought you woul d be gr at i f i ed t o
see me act i ng i n accor dance wi t h your pr i nci pl es. "
" What ar e you t al ki ng about ?"
Fr anci sco shook hi s head r egr et f ul l y. " I don' t know why you shoul d cal l my
behavi or r ot t en. I t hought you woul d r ecogni ze i t as an honest ef f or t t o
pr act i ce what t he whol e wor l d i s pr eachi ng. Doesn' t ever yone bel i eve t hat i t
i s evi l t o be sel f i sh? I was t ot al l y sel f l ess i n r egar d t o t he San Sebast i an
pr oj ect . I sn' t i t evi l t o pur sue a per sonal i nt er est ? I had no per sonal
i nt er est i n i t what ever . I sn' t i t evi l t o wor k f or pr of i t ? I di d not wor k f or
pr of i t I t ook a l oss. Doesn' t ever yone agr ee t hat t he pur pose and
j ust i f i cat i on of an i ndust r i al ent er pr i se ar e not pr oduct i on, but t he
l i vel i hood of i t s empl oyees? The San Sebast i an Mi nes wer e t he most emi nent l y
successf ul vent ur e i n i ndust r i al hi st or y: t hey pr oduced no copper , but t hey
pr ovi ded a l i vel i hood f or t housands of men who coul d not have achi eved, i n a
l i f et i me, t he equi val ent of what t hey got f or one day' s wor k, whi ch t hey
coul d not do. I sn' t i t gener al l y agr eed t hat an owner i s a par asi t e and an
expl oi t er , t hat i t i s t he empl oyees who do al l t he wor k and make t he pr oduct
possi bl e? I di d not expl oi t anyone. I di d not bur den t he San Sebast i an Mi nes
wi t h my usel ess pr esence; I l ef t t hemi n t he hands of t he men who count . I
di d not pass j udgment on t he val ue of t hat pr oper t y. I t ur ned i t over t o a
mi ni ng speci al i st . He was not a ver y good speci al i st , but he needed t he j ob
ver y badl y. I sn' t i t gener al l y conceded t hat when you hi r e a man f or a j ob,
i t i s hi s need t hat count s, not hi s abi l i t y? Doesn' t ever yone bel i eve t hat i n
or der t o get t he goods, al l you have t o do i s need t hem? I have car r i ed out
ever y mor al pr ecept of our age. I expect ed gr at i t ude and a ci t at i on of honor .
I do not under st and why I ambei ng damned. "
I n t he si l ence of t hose who had l i st ened, t he sol e comment was t he shr i l l ,
sudden gi ggl e of Bet t y Pope: she had under st ood not hi ng, but she saw t he l ook
of hel pl ess f ur y on J ames Taggar t ' s f ace.
Peopl e wer e l ooki ng at Taggar t , expect i ng an answer . They wer e i ndi f f er ent
t o t he i ssue, t hey wer e mer el y amused by t he spect acl e of someone' s
embar r assment . Taggar t achi eved a pat r oni zi ng smi l e.
" You don' t expect me t o t ake t hi s ser i ousl y?" he asked.
" Ther e was a t i me, " Fr anci sco answer ed, " when I di d not bel i eve t hat
anyone coul d t ake i t ser i ousl y. I was wr ong. "
" Thi s i s out r ageous! " Taggar t ' s voi ce st ar t ed t o r i se. " I t ' s per f ect l y
out r ageous t o t r eat your publ i c r esponsi bi l i t i es wi t h such t hought l ess
l evi t y! " He t ur ned t o hur r y away.
Fr anci sco shr ugged, spr eadi ng hi s hands. " You see? I di dn' t t hi nk you
want ed t o speak t o me. "
Rear den st ood al one, f ar at t he ot her end of t he r oom. Phi l i p not i ced hi m,
appr oached and waved t o Li l l i an, cal l i ng her over .
" Li l l i an, I don' t t hi nk t hat Henr y i s havi ng a good t i me, " he sai d,
smi l i ng; one coul d not t el l whet her t he mocker y of hi s smi l e was di r ect ed at
Li l l i an or at Rear den. " Can' t we do somet hi ng about i t ?"
" Oh, nonsense! " sai d Rear den.
" I wi sh I knew what t o do about i t , Phi l i p, " sai d Li l l i an. " I ' ve al ways
wi shed Henr y woul d l ear n t o r el ax. He' s so gr i ml y ser i ous about ever yt hi ng.
He' s such a r i gi d Pur i t an. I ' ve al ways want ed t o see hi mdr unk, j ust once.
But I ' ve gi ven up. What woul d you suggest ?"
" Oh, I don' t know! But he shoul dn' t be st andi ng ar ound al l by hi msel f . "
" Dr op i t , " sai d Rear den. Whi l e t hi nki ng di ml y t hat he di d not want t o hur t
t hei r f eel i ngs, he coul d not pr event hi msel f f r omaddi ng, " You don' t know how
har d I ' ve t r i ed t o be l ef t st andi ng al l by mysel f . "
" Ther eyou see?" Li l l i an smi l ed at Phi l i p. " To enj oy l i f e and peopl e i s
not so si mpl e as pour i ng a t on of st eel . I nt el l ect ual pur sui t s ar e not
l ear ned i n t he mar ket pl ace. "
Phi l i p chuckl ed. " I t ' s not i nt el l ect ual pur sui t s I ' mwor r i ed about .
How sur e ar e you about t hat Pur i t an st uf f , Li l l i an? I f I wer e you, I
woul dn' t l eave hi mf r ee t o l ook ar ound. Ther e ar e t oo many beaut i f ul women
her e t oni ght . "
" Henr y ent er t ai ni ng t hought s of i nf i del i t y? You f l at t er hi m, Phi l i p.
You over est i mat e hi s cour age. " She smi l ed at Rear den, col dl y, f or a br i ef ,
st r essed moment , t hen moved away.
Rear den l ooked at hi s br ot her . " What i n hel l do you t hi nk you' r e doi ng?"
" Oh, st op pl ayi ng t he Pur i t an! Can' t you t ake a j oke?"
Movi ng ai ml essl y t hr ough t he cr owd, Dagny wonder ed why she had accept ed
t he i nvi t at i on t o t hi s par t y. The answer ast oni shed her : i t was because she
had want ed t o see Hank Rear den. Wat chi ng hi mi n t he cr owd, she r eal i zed t he
cont r ast f or t he f i r st t i me. The f aces of t he ot her s l ooked l i ke aggr egat es
of i nt er changeabl e f eat ur es, ever y f ace oozi ng t o bl end i nt o t he anonymi t y of
r esembl i ng al l , and al l l ooki ng as i f t hey wer e mel t i ng. Rear den' s f ace, wi t h
t he shar p pl anes, t he pal e bl ue eyes, t he ash- bl ond hai r , had t he f i r mness of
i ce; t he uncompr omi si ng cl ar i t y of i t s l i nes made i t l ook, among t he ot her s,
as i f he wer e movi ng t hr ough a f og, hi t by a r ay of l i ght .
Her eyes kept r et ur ni ng t o hi mi nvol unt ar i l y. She never caught hi m
gl anci ng i n her di r ect i on. She coul d not bel i eve t hat he was avoi di ng her
i nt ent i onal l y; t her e coul d be no possi bl e r eason f or i t - yet she f el t cer t ai n
t hat he was. She want ed t o appr oach hi mand convi nce her sel f t hat she was
mi st aken. Somet hi ng st opped her ; she coul d not under st and her own r el uct ance.
Rear den bor e pat i ent l y a conver sat i on wi t h hi s mot her and t wo l adi es whom
she wi shed hi mt o ent er t ai n wi t h st or i es of hi s yout h and hi s st r uggl e. He
compl i ed, t el l i ng hi msel f t hat she was pr oud of hi mi n her own way. But he
f el t as i f somet hi ng i n her manner kept suggest i ng t hat she had nur sed hi m
t hr ough hi s st r uggl e and t hat she was t he sour ce of hi s success. He was gl ad
when she l et hi mgo. Then he escaped once mor e t o t he r ecess of t he wi ndow.
He st ood t her e f or a whi l e, l eani ng on a sense of pr i vacy as i f i t wer e a
physi cal suppor t .
" Mr . Rear den, " sai d a st r angel y qui et voi ce besi de hi m, " per mi t me t o
i nt r oduce mysel f . My name i s d' Anconi a. "
Rear den t ur ned, st ar t l ed; d' Anconi a' s manner and voi ce had a qual i t y he
had sel domencount er ed bef or e: a t one of aut hent i c r espect .
" How do you do, " he answer ed. Hi s voi ce was br usque and dr y; but he had
answer ed.
" I have obser ved t hat Mr s. Rear den has been t r yi ng t o avoi d t he necessi t y
of pr esent i ng me t o you, and I can guess t he r eason. Woul d you pr ef er t hat I
l eave your house?"
The act i on of nami ng an i ssue i nst ead of evadi ng i t , was so unl i ke t he
usual behavi or of al l t he men he knew, i t was such a sudden, st ar t l i ng
r el i ef , t hat Rear den r emai ned si l ent f or a moment , st udyi ng d' Anconi a' s f ace.
Fr anci sco had sai d i t ver y si mpl y, nei t her as a r epr oach nor a pl ea, but i n a
manner whi ch, st r angel y, acknowl edged Rear den' s di gni t y and hi s own.
" No, " sai d Rear den, " what ever el se you guessed, I di d not say t hat . "
" Thank you. I n t hat case, you wi l l al l ow me t o speak t o you. "
" Why shoul d you wi sh t o speak t o me?"
" My mot i ves cannot i nt er est you at pr esent . "
" Mi ne i s not t he sor t of conver sat i on t hat coul d i nt er est you at al l . "
" You ar e mi st aken about one of us, Mr . Rear den, or bot h. I came t o t hi s
par t y sol el y i n or der t o meet you. "
Ther e had been a f ai nt t one of amusement i n Rear den' s voi ce; now i t
har dened i nt o a hi nt of cont empt . " You st ar t ed by pl ayi ng i t st r ai ght .
St i ck t o i t . "
" I am. "
" What di d you want t o meet me f or ? I n or der t o make me l ose money?"
Fr anci sco l ooked st r ai ght at hi m. " Yesevent ual l y. "
" What i s i t , t hi s t i me? A gol d mi ne?"
Fr anci sco shook hi s head sl owl y; t he consci ous del i ber at i on of t he
movement gave i t an ai r t hat was al most sadness. " No, " he sai d, " I don' t want
t o sel l you anyt hi ng. As a mat t er of f act , I di d not at t empt t o sel l t he
copper mi ne t o J ames Taggar t , ei t her . He came t o me f or i t . You won' t . "
Rear den chuckl ed. " I f you under st and t hat much, we have at l east a
sensi bl e basi s f or conver sat i on. Pr oceed on t hat . I f you don' t have some
f ancy i nvest ment i n mi nd, what di d you want t o meet me f or ?"
" I n or der t o become acquai nt ed wi t h you, "
" That ' s not an answer . I t ' s j ust anot her way of sayi ng t he same t hi ng. "
" Not qui t e, Mr . Rear den. "
" Unl ess you meani n or der t o gai n my conf i dence?"
" No. I don' t l i ke peopl e who speak or t hi nk i n t er ms of gai ni ng anybody' s
conf i dence. I f one' s act i ons ar e honest , one does not need t he pr edat ed
conf i dence of ot her s, onl y t hei r r at i onal per cept i on. The per son who cr aves a
mor al bl ank check of t hat ki nd, has di shonest i nt ent i ons, whet her he admi t s
i t t o hi msel f or not . "
Rear den' s st ar t l ed gl ance at hi mwas l i ke t he i nvol unt ar y t hr ust of a hand
gr aspi ng f or suppor t i n a desper at e need. The gl ance bet r ayed how much he
want ed t o f i nd t he sor t of man he t hought he was seei ng. Then Rear den l ower ed
hi s eyes, al most cl osi ng t hem, sl owl y, shut t i ng out t he vi si on and t he need.
Hi s f ace was har d; i t had an expr essi on of sever i t y, an i nner sever i t y
di r ect ed at hi msel f ; i t l ooked aust er e and l onel y.
" Al l r i ght , " he sai d t onel essl y. " What do you want , i f i t ' s not my
conf i dence?"
" I want t o l ear n t o under st and you. "
" What f or ?"
" For a r eason of my own whi ch need not concer n you at pr esent . "
" What do you want t o under st and about me?"
Fr anci sco l ooked si l ent l y out at t he dar kness. The f i r e of t he mi l l s was
dyi ng down. Ther e was onl y a f ai nt t i nge of r ed l ef t on t he edge of t he
ear t h, j ust enough t o out l i ne t he scr aps of cl ouds r i pped by t he t or t ur ed
bat t l e of t he st or mi n t he sky. Di mshapes kept sweepi ng t hr ough space and
vani shi ng, shapes whi ch wer e br anches, but l ooked as i f t hey wer e t he f ur y of
t he wi nd made vi si bl e.
" I t ' s a t er r i bl e ni ght f or any ani mal caught unpr ot ect ed on t hat pl ai n, "
sai d Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. " Thi s i s when one shoul d appr eci at e t he meani ng
of bei ng a man. "
Rear den di d not answer f or a moment ; t hen he sai d, as i f i n answer t o
hi msel f , a t one of wonder i n hi s voi ce, " Funny . . . "
" What ?"
" You t ol d me what I was t hi nki ng j ust a whi l e ago . . .
" You wer e?"
" . . . onl y I di dn' t have t he wor ds f or i t , "
" Shal l I t el l you t he r est of t he wor ds?"
" Go ahead. "
" You st ood her e and wat ched t he st or m_wi t h t he gr eat est pr i de one can
ever f eel because you ar e abl e t o have summer f l ower s and hal f naked women i n
your house on a ni ght l i ke t hi s, i n demonst r at i on of your vi ct or y over t hat
st or m. And i f i t wer en' t f or you, most of t hose who ar e her e woul d be l ef t
hel pl ess at t he mer cy of t hat wi nd i n t he mi ddl e of some such pl ai n. "
" How di d you know t hat ?"
I n t une wi t h hi s quest i on. , Rear den r eal i zed t hat i t was not hi s t hought s
t hi s man had named, but hi s most hi dden, most per sona]
emot i on; and t hat he, who woul d never conf ess hi s emot i ons t o anyone, had
conf essed i t i n hi s quest i on. He saw t he f ai nt est f l i cker i n Fr anci sco' s
eyes, as of a smi l e or a check mar k.
" What woul d you know about a pr i de of t hat ki nd?" Rear den asked shar pl y,
as i f t he cont empt of t he second quest i on coul d er ase t he conf i dence of t he
f i r st .
" That i s what I f el t once, when I was young. "
Rear den l ooked at hi m. Ther e was nei t her mocker y nor sel f - pi t y i n
Fr anci sco' s f ace; t he f i ne, scul pt ur ed pl anes and t he cl ear , bl ue eyes hel d a
qui et composur e, t he f ace was open, of f er ed t o any bl ow, unf l i nchi ng.
" Why do you want t o t al k about i t ?" Rear den asked, pr ompt ed by a moment ' s
r el uct ant compassi on.
" Let us sayby way of gr at i t ude, Mr . Rear den. "
" Gr at i t ude t o me?"
" I f you wi l l accept i t . "
Rear den' s voi ce har dened. " I haven' t asked f or gr at i t ude. I don' t need
i t . "
" I have not sai d you needed i t . But of al l t hose whomyou ar e savi ng f r om
t he st or mt oni ght , I amt he onl y one who wi l l of f er i t . "
Af t er a moment ' s si l ence, Rear den asked, hi s voi ce l ow wi t h a sound whi ch
was al most a t hr eat , " What ar e you t r yi ng t o do?"
" I amcal l i ng your at t ent i on t o t he nat ur e of t hose f or whomyou ar e
wor ki ng. "
" I t woul d t ake a man who' s never done an honest day' s wor k i n hi s l i f e, t o
t hi nk or say t hat . " The cont empt i n Rear den' s voi ce had a not e of r el i ef ; he
had been di sar med by a doubt of hi s j udgment on t he char act er of hi s
adver sar y; now he f el t cer t ai n once mor e. " You woul dn' t under st and i t i f I
t ol d you t hat t he man who wor ks, wor ks f or hi msel f , even i f he does car r y t he
whol e wr et ched bunch of you al ong. Now I ' l l guess what you' r e t hi nki ng: go
ahead, say t hat i t ' s evi l , t hat I ' msel f i sh, concei t ed, hear t l ess, cr uel . I
am. I don' t want any par t of t hat t r i pe about wor ki ng f or ot her s. I ' mnot . "
For t he f i r st t i me, he saw t he l ook of a per sonal r eact i on i n Fr anci sco' s
eyes, t he l ook of somet hi ng eager and young. " The onl y t hi ng t hat ' s wr ong i n
what you sai d, " Fr anci sco answer ed, " i s t hat you per mi t anyone t o cal l i t
evi l . " I n Rear den' s pause of i ncr edul ous si l ence, he poi nt ed at t he cr owd i n
t he dr awi ng r oom. " Why ar e you wi l l i ng t o car r y t hem?"
" Because t hey' r e a bunch of mi ser abl e chi l dr en who st r uggl e t o r emai n
al i ve, desper at el y and ver y badl y, whi l e I I don' t even not i ce t he bur den, "
" Why don' t you t el l t hemt hat ?
" What ?"
" That you' r e wor ki ng f or your own sake, not t hei r s. "
" They know i t . "
" Oh yes, t hey know i t . Ever y si ngl e one of t hemher e knows i t . But t hey
don' t t hi nk you do. And t he ai mof al l t hei r ef f or t s i s t o keep you f r om
knowi ng i t . "
" Why shoul d I car e what t hey t hi nk?"
" Because i t ' s a bat t l e i n whi ch one must make one' s st and cl ear . "
" A bat t l e? What bat t l e? I hol d t he whi p hand. I don' t f i ght t he di sar med. "
" Ar e t hey? They have a weapon agai nst you. I t ' s t hei r onl y weapon, but
i t ' s a t er r i bl e one. Ask your sel f what i t i s, some t i me. "
" Wher e do you see any evi dence of i t ?"
" I n t he unf or gi vabl e f act t hat you' r e as unhappy as you ar e. "
Rear den coul d accept any f or mof r epr oach, abuse, damnat i on anyone chose
t o t hr ow at hi m; t he onl y human r eact i on whi ch he woul d not accept was pi t y.
The st ab of a col dl y r ebel l i ous anger br ought hi mback t o t he f ul l cont ext of
t he moment . He spoke, f i ght i ng not t o acknowl edge t he nat ur e of t he emot i on
r i si ng wi t hi n hi m, " What sor t of ef f r ont er y ar e you i ndul gi ng i n? What ' s your
mot i ve?"
" Let us sayt o gi ve you t he wor ds you need, f or t he t i me when you' l l need
t hem. "
" Why shoul d you want t o speak t o me on such a subj ect ?"
" I n t he hope t hat you wi l l r emember i t . "
What he f el t , t hought Rear den, was anger at t he i ncompr ehensi bl e f act t hat
he had al l owed hi msel f t o enj oy t hi s conver sat i on. He f el t a di msense of
bet r ayal , t he hi nt of an unknown danger . " Do you expect me t o f or get what you
ar e?" he asked, knowi ng t hat t hi s was what he had f or got t en.
" I do not expect you t o t hi nk of me at al l . "
Under hi s anger , t he emot i on whi ch Rear den woul d not acknowl edge r emai ned
unst at ed and unt hought ; he knew i t onl y as a hi nt of pai n.
Had he f aced i t , he woul d have known t hat he st i l l hear d Fr anci sco' s voi ce
sayi ng, " I amt he onl y one who wi l l of f er i t . . . i f you wi l l accept i t . . .
. " He hear d t he wor ds and t he st r angel y sol emn i nf l ect i on of t he qui et voi ce
and an i nexpl i cabl e answer of hi s own, somet hi ng wi t hi n hi mt hat want ed t o
cr y yes, t o accept , t o t el l t hi s man t hat he accept ed, t hat he needed i t
t hough t her e was no name f or what he needed, i t was not gr at i t ude, and he
knew t hat i t was not gr at i t ude t hi s man had meant .
Al oud, he sai d, " I di dn' t seek t o t al k t o you. But you' ve asked f or i t and
you' r e goi ng t o hear i t . To me, t her e' s onl y one f or mof human depr avi t yt he
man wi t hout a pur pose. "
" That i s t r ue. "
" I can f or gi ve al l t hose ot her s, t hey' r e not vi ci ous, t hey' r e mer el y
hel pl ess. But youyou' r e t he ki nd who can' t be f or gi ven. "
" I t i s agai nst t he si n of f or gi veness t hat I want ed t o war n you. "
" You had t he gr eat est chance i n l i f e. What have you done wi t h i t ?
I f you have t he mi nd t o under st and al l t he t hi ngs you sai d, how can you
speak t o me at al l ? How can you f ace anyone af t er t he sor t of i r r esponsi bl e
dest r uct i on you' ve per pet r at ed i n t hat Mexi can busi ness?"
" I t i s your r i ght t o condemn me f or i t , i f you wi sh. "
Dagny st ood by t he cor ner of t he wi ndow r ecess, l i st eni ng. They di d not
not i ce her . She had seen t hemt oget her and she had appr oached, dr awn by an
i mpul se she coul d not expl ai n or r esi st ; i t seemed cr uci al l y i mpor t ant t hat
she know what t hese t wo men sai d t o each ot her .
She had hear d t hei r l ast f ew sent ences. She had never t hought i t possi bl e
t hat she woul d see Fr anci sco t aki ng a beat i ng. He coul d smash any adver sar y
i n any f or mof encount er . Yet he st ood, of f er i ng no def ense.
She knew t hat i t was not i ndi f f er ence; she knew hi s f ace wel l enough t o
see t he ef f or t hi s cal mcost hi mshe saw t he f ai nt l i ne of a muscl e pul l ed
t i ght acr oss hi s cheek.
" Of al l t hose who l i ve by t he abi l i t y of ot her s, " sai d Rear den, " you' r e
t he one r eal par asi t e. "
" I have gi ven you gr ounds t o t hi nk so. "
" Then what r i ght have you t o t al k about t he meani ng of bei ng a man? You' r e
t he one who has bet r ayed i t . "
" I amsor r y i f I have of f ended you by what you may r i ght l y consi der as a
pr esumpt i on. "
Fr anci sco bowed and t ur ned t o go. Rear den sai d i nvol unt ar i l y, not knowi ng
t hat t he quest i on negat ed hi s anger , t hat i t was a pl ea t o st op t hi s man and
hol d hi m, " What di d you want t o l ear n t o under st and about me?"
Fr anci sco t ur ned. The expr essi on of hi s f ace had not changed; i t was st i l l
a l ook of gr avel y cour t eous r espect . " I have l ear ned i t , " he answer ed.
Rear den st ood wat chi ng hi mas he wal ked of f i nt o t he cr owd. The f i gur es of
a but l er , wi t h a cr yst al di sh, and of Dr . Pr i t chet t , st oopi ng t o choose
anot her canape, hi d Fr anci sco f r omsi ght . Rear den gl anced out at t he
dar kness; not hi ng coul d be seen t her e but t he wi nd.
Dagny st epped f or war d, when he came out of t he r ecess; she smi l ed, openl y
i nvi t i ng conver sat i on. He st opped. I t seemed t o her t hat he had st opped
r el uct ant l y. She spoke hast i l y, t o br eak t he si l ence.
" Hank, why do you have so many i nt el l ect ual s of t he l oot er per suasi on
her e? I woul dn' t have t hemi n my house. "
Thi s was not what she had want ed t o say t o hi m. But she di d not know what
she want ed t o say; never bef or e had she f el t her sel f l ef t wor dl ess i n hi s
pr esence.
She saw hi s eyes nar r owi ng, l i ke a door bei ng cl osed. " I see no r eason why
one shoul d not i nvi t e t hemt o a par t y, " he answer ed col dl y.
" Oh, I di dn' t mean t o cr i t i ci ze your choi ce of guest s. But . . . Wel l ,
I ' ve been t r yi ng not t o l ear n whi ch one of t hemi s Ber t r amScudder . I f I do,
I ' l l sl ap hi s f ace. " She t r i ed t o sound casual , " I don' t want t o cr eat e a
scene, but I ' mnot sur e I ' l l be abl e t o cont r ol mysel f . I coul dn' t bel i eve i t
when somebody t ol d me t hat Mr s. Rear den had i nvi t ed hi m. "
" I i nvi t ed hi m. "
" But . . . " Then her voi ce dr opped. " Why?"
" I don' t at t ach any i mpor t ance t o occasi ons of t hi s ki nd. "
" I ' msor r y, Hank. I di dn' t know you wer e so t ol er ant . I ' mnot . "
He sai d not hi ng.
" I know you don' t l i ke par t i es. Nei t her do I . But somet i mes I wonder . . .
per haps we' r e t he onl y ones who wer e meant t o be abl e t o enj oy t hem. "
" I amaf r ai d I have no t al ent f or i t . "
" Not f or t hi s. But do you t hi nk any of t hese peopl e ar e enj oyi ng i t ?
They' r e j ust st r ai ni ng t o be mor e sensel ess and ai ml ess t han usual . To be
l i ght and uni mpor t ant . . . You know, I t hi nk t hat onl y i f one f eel s
i mmensel y i mpor t ant can one f eel t r ul y l i ght . "
" I woul dn' t know. "
" I t ' s j ust a t hought t hat di st ur bs me once i n a whi l e. . . . I t hought i t
about my f i r st bal l . . . . I keep t hi nki ng t hat par t i es ar e i nt ended t o be
cel ebr at i ons, and cel ebr at i ons shoul d be onl y f or t hose who have somet hi ng t o
cel ebr at e. "
" I have never t hought of i t . "
She coul d not adapt her wor ds t o t he r i gi d f or mal i t y of hi s manner ; she
coul d not qui t e bel i eve i t . They had al ways been at ease t oget her , i n hi s
of f i ce. Now he was l i ke a man i n a st r ai t j acket .
" Hank, l ook at i t . I f you di dn' t know any of t hese peopl e, woul dn' t i t
seembeaut i f ul ? The l i ght s and t he cl ot hes and al l t he i magi nat i on t hat went
t o make i t possi bl e . . . " She was l ooki ng at t he r oom. She di d not not i ce
t hat he had not f ol l owed her gl ance. He was l ooki ng down at t he shadows on
her naked shoul der , t he sof t , bl ue shadows made by t he l i ght t hat f el l
t hr ough t he st r ands of her hai r . " Why have we l ef t i t al l t o f ool s? I t shoul d
have been our s. "
" I n what manner ?"
" I don' t know . . . I ' ve al ways expect ed par t i es t o be exci t i ng and
br i l l i ant , l i ke some r ar e dr i nk. " She l aughed; t her e was a not e of sadness i n
i t . " But I don' t dr i nk, ei t her . That ' s j ust anot her symbol t hat doesn' t mean
what i t was i nt ended t o mean, " He was si l ent . She added, " Per haps t her e' s
somet hi ng t hat we have mi ssed. "
" I amnot awar e of i t . "
I n a f l ash of sudden, desol at e empt i ness, she was gl ad t hat he had not
under st ood or r esponded, f eel i ng di ml y t hat she had r eveal ed t oo much, yet
not knowi ng what she had r eveal ed. She shr ugged, t he movement r unni ng t hr ough
t he cur ve of her shoul der l i ke a f ai nt convul si on.
" I t ' s j ust an ol d i l l usi on of mi ne, " she sai d i ndi f f er ent l y. " J ust a mood
t hat comes once ever y year or t wo. Let me see t he l at est st eel pr i ce i ndex
and I ' l l f or get al l about i t . "
She di d not know t hat hi s eyes wer e f ol l owi ng her , as she wal ked away f r om
hi m.
She moved sl owl y t hr ough t he r oom, l ooki ng at no one. She not i ced a smal l
gr oup huddl ed by t he unl i ght ed f i r epl ace. The r oomwas not col d, but t hey sat
as i f t hey dr ew comf or t f r omt he t hought of a non- exi st ent f i r e.
" I do not know why, but I amgr owi ng t o be af r ai d of t he dar k. No, not
now, onl y when I amal one. What f r i ght ens me i s ni ght . Ni ght as such. "
The speaker was an el der l y spi nst er wi t h an ai r of br eedi ng and
hopel essness. The t hr ee women and t wo men of t he gr oup wer e wel l dr essed, t he
ski n of t hei r f aces was smoot hl y wel l t ended, but t hey had a manner of
anxi ous caut i on t hat kept t hei r voi ces one t one l ower t han nor mal and bl ur r ed
t he di f f er ences of t hei r ages, gi vi ng t hemal l t he same gr ay l ook of bei ng
spent . I t was t he l ook one saw i n gr oups of r espect abl e peopl e ever ywher e.
Dagny st opped and l i st ened.
" But , my dear , " one of t hemasked, " why shoul d i t f r i ght en you?"
" I don' t know, " sai d t he spi nst er , " I amnot af r ai d of pr owl er s or
r obber i es or anyt hi ng of t he sor t . But I st ay awake al l ni ght . I f al l asl eep
onl y when I see t he sky t ur ni ng pal e. I t i s ver y odd. Ever y eveni ng, when i t
gr ows dar k, I get t he f eel i ng t hat t hi s t une i t i s f i nal , t hat dayl i ght wi l l
not r et ur n. "
" My cousi n who l i ves on t he coast of Mai ne wr ot e me t he same t hi ng, "
sai d one of t he women.
" Last ni ght , " sai d t he spi nst er , " I st ayed awake because of t he shoot i ng.
Ther e wer e guns goi ng of f al l ni ght , way out at sea. Ther e wer e no f l ashes.
Ther e was not hi ng. J ust t hose det onat i ons, at l ong i nt er val s, somewher e i n
t he f og over t he At l ant i c. "
" I r ead somet hi ng about i t i n t he paper t hi s mor ni ng. Coast Guar d t ar get
pr act i ce. "
" Why, no, " t he spi nst er sai d i ndi f f er ent l y. " Ever ybody down on t he shor e
knows what i t was. I t was Ragnar Danneskj ol d. I t was t he Coast Guar d t r yi ng
t o cat ch hi m. "
" Ragnar Danneskj ol d i n Del awar e Bay?" a woman gasped.
" Oh, yes. They say i t i s not t he f i r st t i me. "
" Di d t hey cat ch hi m?"
" No. "
" Nobody can cat ch hi m, " sai d one of t he men.
" The Peopl e' s St at e of Nor way has of f er ed a mi l l i on- dol l ar r ewar d f or hi s
head. "
" That ' s an awf ul l ot of money t o pay f or a pi r at e' s head. "
" But how ar e we goi ng t o have any or der or secur i t y or pl anni ng i n t he
wor l d, wi t h a pi r at e r unni ng l oose al l over t he seven seas?"
" Do you know what i t was t hat he sei zed l ast ni ght ?" sai d t he spi nst er .
" The bi g shi p wi t h t he r el i ef suppl i es we wer e sendi ng t o t he Peopl e' s
St at e of Fr ance. "
" How does he di spose of t he goods he sei zes?"
" Ah, t hat nobody knows. "
" I met a sai l or once, f r oma shi p he' d at t acked, who' d seen hi mi n per son.
He sai d t hat Ragnar Danneskj ol d has t he pur est gol d hai r and t he most
f r i ght eni ng f ace on ear t h, a f ace wi t h no si gn of any f eel i ng. I f t her e ever
was a man bor n wi t hout a hear t , he' s i t t he sai l or sai d. "
" A nephew of mi ne saw Ragnar Danneskj ol d' s shi p one ni ght , of f t he coast
of Scot l and. He wr ot e me t hat he coul dn' t bel i eve hi s eyes. I t was a bet t er
shi p t han any i n t he navy of t he Peopl e' s St at e of Engl and. "
" They say he hi des i n one of t hose Nor wegi an f j or ds wher e nei t her God nor
man wi l l ever f i nd hi m. That ' s wher e t he Vi ki ngs used t o hi de i n t he Mi ddl e
Ages. "
" Ther e' s a r ewar d on hi s head of f er ed by t he Peopl e' s St at e of Por t ugal ,
t oo. And by t he Peopl e' s St at e of Tur key. "
" They say i t ' s a nat i onal scandal i n Nor way. He comes f r omone of t hei r
best f ami l i es. The f ami l y l ost i t s money gener at i ons ago, but t he name i s of
t he nobl est . The r ui ns of t hei r cast l e ar e st i l l i n exi st ence.
Hi s f at her i s a bi shop. Hi s f at her has di sowned hi mand excommuni cat ed
hi m. But i t had no ef f ect . "
" Di d you know t hat Ragnar Danneskj ol d went t o school i n t hi s count r y?
Sur e. The Pat r i ck Henr y Uni ver si t y. "
" Not r eal l y?"
" Oh yes. You can l ook i t up. "
" What bot her s me i s . . . You know, I don' t l i ke i t . I don' t l i ke i t t hat
he' s now appear i ng r i ght her e, i n our own wat er s. I t hought t hi ngs l i ke t hat
coul d happen onl y i n t he wast el ands. Onl y i n Eur ope. But a bi g- scal e out l aw
of t hat ki nd oper at i ng i n Del awar e i n our day and age! "
" He' s been seen of f Nant ucket , t oo. And at Bar Har bor . The newspaper s have
been asked not t o wr i t e about i t . "
" Why?"
" They don' t want peopl e t o know t hat t he navy can' t cope wi t h hi m. "
" I don' t l i ke i t . I t f eel s f unny. I t ' s l i ke somet hi ng out of t he Dar k
Ages. "
Dagny gl anced up. She saw Fr anci sco d' Anconi a st andi ng a f ew st eps away.
He was l ooki ng at her wi t h a ki nd of st r essed cur i osi t y; hi s eyes wer e
mocki ng.
" I t ' s a st r ange wor l d we' r e l i vi ng i n, " sai d t he spi nst er , her voi ce l ow.
" I r ead an ar t i cl e, " sai d one of t he women t onel essl y. " I t sai d t hat t i mes
of t r oubl e ar e good f or us. I t i s good t hat peopl e ar e gr owi ng poor er . To
accept pr i vat i ons i s a mor al vi r t ue. "
" I suppose so, " sai d anot her , wi t hout convi ct i on.
" We must not wor r y. I hear d a speech t hat sai d i t i s usel ess t o wor r y or
t o bl ame anyone. Nobody can hel p what he does, t hat i s t he way t hi ngs made
hi m. Ther e i s not hi ng we can do about anyt hi ng. We must l ear n t o bear i t . "
" What ' s t he use anyway? What i s man' s f at e? Hasn' t i t al ways been t o hope,
but never t o achi eve? The wi se man i s t he one- who does not at t empt t o hope. "
" That i s t he r i ght at t i t ude t o t ake. "
" I don' t know . . . I don' t know what i s r i ght any mor e . . . How can we
ever know?"
" Oh wel l , who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
Dagny t ur ned br usquel y and st ar t ed away f r omt hem. One of t he women
f ol l owed her .
" But I do know i t , " sai d t he woman, i n t he sof t , myst er i ous t one of
shar i ng a secr et .
" You know what ?"
" I know who i s J ohn Gal t . "
" Who?" Dagny asked t ensel y, st oppi ng.
" I know a man who knew J ohn Gal t i n per son. Thi s man i s an ol d f r i end of a
gr eat - aunt of mi ne. He was t her e and he saw i t happen. Do you know t he l egend
of At l ant i s, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" What ?"
" At l ant i s. "
" Why . . . vaguel y. "
" The I sl es of t he Bl essed. That i s what t he Gr eeks cal l ed i t , t housands of
year s ago. They sai d At l ant i s was a pl ace wher e her o- spi r i t s l i ved i n a
happi ness unknown t o t he r est of t he ear t h. A pl ace whi ch onl y t he spi r i t s of
her oes coul d ent er , and t hey r eached i t wi t hout dyi ng, because t hey car r i ed
t he secr et of l i f e wi t hi n t hem. At l ant i s was l ost t o manki nd, even t hen. But
t he Gr eeks knew t hat i t had exi st ed. They t r i ed t o f i nd i t . Some of t hemsai d
i t was under gr ound, hi dden i n t he hear t of t he ear t h. But most of t hemsai d
i t was an i sl and. A r adi ant i sl and i n t he West er n Ocean. Per haps what t hey
wer e t hi nki ng of was Amer i ca. They never f ound i t . For cent ur i es af t er war d,
men sai d i t was onl y a l egend.
They di d not bel i eve i t , but t hey never st opped l ooki ng f or i t , because
t hey knew t hat t hat was what t hey had t o f i nd. "
" Wel l , what about J ohn Gal t ?"
" He f ound i t . "
Dagny' s i nt er est was gone. " Who was he?"
" J ohn Gal t was a mi l l i onai r e, a man of i nest i mabl e weal t h. He was sai l i ng
hi s yacht one ni ght , i n mi d- At l ant i c, f i ght i ng t he wor st st or mever wr eaked
upon t he wor l d, when he f ound i t . He saw i t i n t he dept h, wher e i t had sunk
t o escape t he r each of men. He saw t he t ower s of At l ant i s shi ni ng on t he
bot t omof t he ocean. I t was a si ght of such ki nd t hat when one had seen i t ,
one coul d no l onger wi sh t o l ook at t he r est of t he ear t h. J ohn Gal t sank hi s
shi p and went down wi t h hi s ent i r e cr ew. They al l chose t o do i t . My f r i end
was t he onl y one who sur vi ved. "
" How i nt er est i ng. "
" My f r i end saw i t wi t h hi s own eyes, " sai d t he woman, of f ended. " I t
happened many year s ago. But J ohn Gal t ' s f ami l y hushed up t he st or y. "
" And what happened t o hi s f or t une? [ don' t r ecal l ever hear i ng of a Gal t
f or t une. "
" I t went down wi t h hi m. " She added bel l i ger ent l y, " You don' t have t o
bel i eve i t . "
" Mi ss Taggar t doesn' t , " sai d Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. " I do. "
They t ur ned. He had f ol l owed t hemand he st ood l ooki ng at t hemwi t h t he
i nsol ence of exagger at ed ear nest ness.
" Have you ever had f ai t h i n anyt hi ng, Senor d' Anconi a?" t he woman asked
angr i l y.
" No, madame. "
He chuckl ed at her br usque depar t ur e. Dagny asked col dl y, " What ' s t he
j oke?"
" The j oke' s on t hat f ool woman. She doesn' t know t hat she was t el l i ng you
t he t r ut h. "
" Do you expect me t o bel i eve t hat ?"
" No. "
" Then what do you f i nd so amusi ng?"
" Oh, a gr eat many t hi ngs her e. Don' t you?"
" No. "
" Wel l , t hat ' s one of t he t hi ngs I f i nd amusi ng. "
" Fr anci sco, wi l l you l eave me al one?"
" But I have. Di dn' t you not i ce t hat you wer e f i r st t o speak t o me
t oni ght ?"
" Why do you keep wat chi ng me?"
" Cur i osi t y. "
" About what ?"
" Your r eact i on t o t he t hi ngs whi ch you don' t f i nd amusi ng. "
" Why shoul d you car e about my r eact i on t o anyt hi ng?"
" That i s my own way of havi ng a good t i me, whi ch, i nci dent al l y, you ar e
not havi ng, ar e you, Dagny? Besi des, you' r e t he onl y woman wor t h wat chi ng
her e. "
She st ood def i ant l y st i l l , because t he way he l ooked at her demanded an
angr y escape. She st ood as she al ways di d, st r ai ght and t aut , her head l i f t ed
i mpat i ent l y. I t was t he unf emi ni ne pose of an execut i ve. But her naked
shoul der bet r ayed t he f r agi l i t y of t he body under t he bl ack dr ess, and t he
pose made her most t r ul y a woman. The pr oud st r engt h became a chal l enge t o
someone' s super i or st r engt h, and t he f r agi l i t y a r emi nder t hat t he chal l enge
coul d be br oken. She was not consci ous of i t . She had met no one abl e t o see
i t .
He sai d, l ooki ng down at her body, " Dagny, what a magni f i cent wast e! "
She had t o t ur n and escape. She f el t her sel f bl ushi ng, f or t he f i r st t i me
i n year s: bl ushi ng because she knew suddenl y t hat t he sent ence named what she
had f el t al l eveni ng.
She r an, t r yi ng not t o t hi nk. The musi c st opped her . I t was a sudden bl ast
f r omt he r adi o. She not i ced Mor t Li ddy, who had t ur ned i t on, wavi ng hi s ar ms
t o a gr oup of f r i ends, yel l i ng, " That ' s i t ! That ' s i t ! I want you t o hear
i t ! "
The gr eat bur st of sound was t he openi ng chor ds of Hal l ey' s Four t h
Concer t o. I t r ose i n t or t ur ed t r i umph, speaki ng i t s deni al of pai n, i t s hymn
t o a di st ant vi si on. Then t he not es br oke. I t was as i f a handf ul of mud and
pebbl es had been f l ung at t he musi c, and what f ol l owed was t he sound of t he
r ol l i ng and t he dr i ppi ng. I t was Hal l ey' s Concer t o swung i nt o a popul ar t une.
I t was Hal l ey' s mel ody t or n apar t , i t s hol es st uf f ed wi t h hi ccoughs. The
gr eat st at ement of j oy had become t he gi ggl i ng of a bar r oom. Yet i t was st i l l
t he r emnant of Hal l ey s mel ody t hat gave i t f or m; i t was t he mel ody t hat
suppor t ed i t l i ke a spi nal cor d.
" Pr et t y good?" Mor t Li ddy was smi l i ng at hi s f r i ends, boast f ul l y and
ner vousl y. " Pr et t y good, eh? Best movi e scor e of t he year . Got me a pr i ze.
Got me a l ong- t er mcont r act . Yeah, t hi s was my scor e f or Heaven' s i n Your
Backyar d. "
Dagny st ood, st ar i ng at t he r oom, as i f one sense coul d r epl ace anot her ,
as i f si ght coul d wi pe out sound. She moved her head i n a sl ow ci r cl e, t r yi ng
t o f i nd an anchor somewher e. She saw Fr anci sco l eani ng agai nst a col umn, hi s
ar ms cr ossed; he was l ooki ng st r ai ght at her ; he was l aughi ng.
Don' t shake l i ke t hi s, she t hought . Get out of her e. Thi s was t he appr oach
of an anger she coul d not cont r ol . She t hought : Say not hi ng.
Wal k st eadi l y. Get out .
She had st ar t ed wal ki ng, caut i ousl y, ver y sl owl y. She hear d Li l l i an' s
wor ds and st opped. Li l l i an had sai d i t many t i mes t hi s eveni ng, i n answer t o
t he same quest i on, but i t was t he f i r st t i me t hat Dagny hear d i t .
" Thi s?" Li l l i an was sayi ng, ext endi ng her ar mwi t h t he met al br acel et f or
t he i nspect i on of t wo smar t l y gr oomed women. " Why, no, i t ' s not f r oma
har dwar e st or e, i t ' s a ver y speci al gi f t f r ommy husband.
Oh, yes, of cour se i t ' s hi deous. But don' t you sec? I t ' s supposed t o be
pr i cel ess. Of cour se, I ' d exchange i t f or a common di amond br acel et any t i me,
but somehow nobody wi l l of f er me one f or i t , even t hough i t i s so ver y, ver y
val uabl e. Why? My dear , i t ' s t he f i r st t hi ng ever made of Rear den Met al . "
Dagny di d not see t he r oom. She di d not hear t he musi c. She f el t t he
pr essur e of dead st i l l ness agai nst her ear dr ums. She di d not know t he moment
t hat pr eceded, or t he moment s t hat wer e t o f ol l ow. She di d not know t hose
i nvol ved, nei t her her sel f , nor Li l l i an, nor Rear den, nor t he meani ng of her
own act i on. I t was a si ngl e i nst ant , bl ast ed out of cont ext . She had hear d.
She was l ooki ng at t he br acel et of gr een- bl ue met al .
She f el t t he movement of somet hi ng bei ng t or n of f her wr i st , and she hear d
her own voi ce sayi ng i n t he gr eat st i l l ness, ver y cal ml y, a voi ce col d as a
skel et on, naked of emot i on, " I f you ar e not t he cowar d t hat I t hi nk you ar e,
you wi l l exchange i t . "
On t he pal mof her hand, she was ext endi ng her di amond br acel et t o
Li l l i an.
" You' r e not ser i ous, Mi ss Taggar t ?" sai d a woman' s voi ce.
I t was not Li l l i an' s voi ce. Li l l i an' s eyes wer e l ooki ng st r ai ght at her .
She saw t hem. Li l l i an knew t hat she was ser i ous.
" Gi ve me t hat br acel et , " sai d Dagny, l i f t i ng her pal mhi gher , t he di amond
band gl i t t er i ng acr oss i t .
" Thi s i s hor r i bl e! " cr i ed some woman. I t was st r ange t hat t he cr y st ood
out so shar pl y. Then Dagny r eal i zed t hat t her e wer e peopl e st andi ng ar ound
t hemand t hat t hey al l st ood i n si l ence. She was hear i ng sounds now, even t he
musi c; i t was Hal l ey' s mangl ed Concer t o, somewher e f ar away.
She saw Rear den' s f ace. I t l ooked as i f somet hi ng wi t hi n hi mwer e mangl ed,
l i ke t he musi c; she di d not know by what . He was wat chi ng t hem.
Li l l i an' s mout h moved i nt o an upt ur ned cr escent . I t r esembl ed a smi l e. She
snapped t he met al br acel et open, dr opped i t on Dagny' s pal mand t ook t he
di amond band.
" Thank you, Mi ss Taggar t , " she sai d.
Dagny' s f i nger s cl osed about t he met al . She f el t t hat ; she f el t not hi ng
el se.
Li l l i an t ur ned, because Rear den had appr oached her . He t ook t he di amond
br acel et f r omher hand. He cl asped i t on her wr i st , r ai sed her hand t o hi s
l i ps and ki ssed i t .
He di d not l ook at Dagny.
Li l l i an l aughed, gai l y, easi l y, at t r act i vel y, br i ngi ng t he r oomback t o
i t s nor mal mood.
" You may have i t back, Mi ss Taggar t , when you change your mi nd, "
she sai d.
Dagny had t ur ned away. She f el t cal mand f r ee. The pr essur e was gone. The
need t o get out had vani shed.
She cl asped t he met al br acel et on her wr i st . She l i ked t he f eel of i t s
wei ght agai nst her ski n. I nexpl i cabl y, she f el t a t ouch of f emi ni ne vani t y,
t he ki nd she had never exper i enced bef or e: t he desi r e t o be seen wear i ng t hi s
par t i cul ar or nament .
Fr oma di st ance, she hear d snat ches of i ndi gnant voi ces: " The most
of f ensi ve gest ur e I ' ve ever seen. . . . I t was vi ci ous. . . . I ' mgl ad
Li l l i an t ook her up on i t . . . . Ser ves her r i ght , i f she f eel s l i ke t hr owi ng
a f ew t housand dol l ar s away. . . . "
For t he r est of t he eveni ng, Rear den r emai ned by t he si de of hi s wi f e.
He shar ed her conver sat i ons, he l aughed wi t h her f r i ends, he was suddenl y
t he devot ed, at t ent i ve, admi r i ng husband.
He was cr ossi ng t he r oom, car r yi ng a t r ay wi t h dr i nks r equest ed by someone
i n Li l l i an' s gr oupan unbecomi ng act of i nf or mal i t y whi ch nobody had ever
seen hi mper f or mwhen Dagny appr oached hi m.
She st opped and l ooked up at hi m, as i f t hey wer e al one i n hi s of f i ce.
She st ood l i ke an execut i ve, her head l i f t ed. He l ooked down at her . I n
t he l i ne of hi s gl ance, f r omt he f i nger t i ps of her one hand t o her f ace, her
body was naked but f or hi s met al br acel et .
" I ' msor r y, Hank, " she sai d, " but I had t o do i t . "
Hi s eyes r emai ned expr essi onl ess. Yet she was suddenl y cer t ai n t hat she
knew what he f el t : he want ed t o sl ap her f ace.
" I t was not necessar y, " he answer ed col dl y, and wal ked on.
I t was ver y l at e when Rear den ent er ed hi s wi f e' s bedr oom. She was st i l l
awake. A l amp bur ned on her bedsi de t abl e.
She l ay i n bed, pr opped up on pi l l ows of pal e gr een l i nen. Her bed j acket
was pal e gr een sat i n, wor n wi t h t he unt ouched per f ect i on of a wi ndow model ;
i t s l ust r ous f ol ds l ooked as i f t he cr i nkl e of t i ssue paper st i l l l i nger ed
among t hem. The l i ght , shaded t o a t one of appl e bl ossoms, f el l on a t abl e
t hat hel d a book, a gl ass of f r ui t j ui ce, and t oi l et accessor i es of si l ver
gl i t t er i ng l i ke i nst r ument s i n a sur geon' s case. Her ar ms had a t i nge of
por cel ai n. Ther e was a t ouch of pal e pi nk l i pst i ck on her mout h. She showed
no si gn of exhaust i on af t er t he par t yno si gn of l i f e t o be exhaust ed. The
pl ace was a decor at or ' s di spl ay of a l ady gr oomed f or sl eep, not t o be
di st ur bed.
He st i l l wor e hi s dr ess cl ot hes; hi s t i e was l oose, and a st r and of hai r
hung over hi s f ace. She gl anced at hi mwi t hout ast oni shment , as i f she knew
what t he l ast hour i n hi s r oomhad done t o hi m.
He l ooked at her si l ent l y. He had not ent er ed her r oomf or a l ong t i me. He
st ood, wi shi ng he had not ent er ed i t now.
" I sn' t i t cust omar y t o t al k, Henr y?"
" I f you wi sh. "
" I wi sh you' d send one of your br i l l i ant exper t s f r omt he mi l l s t o t ake a
l ook at our f ur nace. Do you know t hat i t went out dur i ng t he par t y and Si mons
had a t er r i bl e t i me get t i ng i t st ar t ed agai n? . . . Mr s.
West on says t hat our best achi evement i s our cookshe l oved t he hor s
d' oeuvr es. . . . Bal ph Eubank sai d a ver y f unny t hi ng about you, he sai d
you' r e a cr usader wi t h a f act or y' s chi mney smoke f or a pl ume. . . .
I ' mgl ad you don' t l i ke Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. I can' t st and hi m. "
He di d not car e t o expl ai n hi s pr esence, or t o di sgui se def eat , or t o
admi t i t by l eavi ng. Suddenl y, i t di d not mat t er t o hi mwhat she guessed or
f el t . He wal ked t o t he wi ndow and st ood, l ooki ng out .
Why had she mar r i ed hi m?he t hought . I t was a quest i on he had not asked
hi msel f on t hei r weddi ng day, ei ght year s ago. Si nce t hen, i n t or t ur ed
l onel i ness, he had asked i t many t i mes. He had f ound no answer .
I t was not f or posi t i on, he t hought , or f or money. She came f r oman ol d
f ami l y t hat had bot h. Her f ami l y' s name was not among t he most di st i ngui shed
and t hei r f or t une was modest , but bot h wer e suf f i ci ent t o l et her be i ncl uded
i n t he t op ci r cl es of New Yor k' s soci et y, wher e he had met her . Ni ne year s
ago, he had appear ed i n New Yor k l i ke an expl osi on, i n t he gl ar e of t he
success of Rear den St eel , a success t hat had been t hought i mpossi bl e by t he
ci t y' s exper t s. I t was hi s i ndi f f er ence t hat made hi mspect acul ar . He di d not
know t hat he was expect ed t o at t empt t o buy hi s way i nt o soci et y and t hat
t hey ant i ci pat ed t he pl easur e of r ej ect i ng hi m. He had no t i me t o not i ce
t hei r di sappoi nt ment .
He at t ended, r el uct ant l y, a f ew soci al occasi ons t o whi ch he was i nvi t ed
by men who sought hi s f avor . He di d not know, but t hey knew, t hat hi s
cour t eous pol i t eness was condescensi on t owar d t he peopl e who had expect ed t o
snub hi m, t he peopl e who had sai d t hat t he age of achi evement was past .
I t was Li l l i an' s aust er i t y t hat at t r act ed hi mt he conf l i ct bet ween her
aust er i t y and her behavi or . He had never l i ked anyone or expect ed t o be
l i ked. He f ound hi msel f hel d by t he spect acl e of a woman who was obvi ousl y
pur sui ng hi mbut wi t h obvi ous r el uct ance, as i f agai nst her own wi l l , as i f
f i ght i ng a desi r e she r esent ed. I t was she who pl anned t hat t hey shoul d meet ,
t hen f aced hi mcol dl y, as i f not car i ng t hat he knew i t . She spoke l i t t l e;
she had an ai r of myst er y t hat seemed t o t el l hi mhe woul d never br eak
t hr ough her pr oud det achment , and an ai r of amusement , mocki ng her own desi r e
and hi s.
He had not known many women. He had moved t owar d hi s goal , sweepi ng asi de
ever yt hi ng t hat di d not per t ai n t o i t i n t he wor l d and i n hi msel f . Hi s
dedi cat i on t o hi s wor k was l i ke one of t he f i r es he deal t wi t h, a f i r e t hat
bur ned ever y l esser el ement , ever y i mpur i t y out of t he whi t e st r eamof a
si ngl e met al . He was i ncapabl e of hal f way concer ns.
But t her e wer e t i mes when he f el t a sudden access of desi r e, so vi ol ent
t hat i t coul d not be gi ven t o a casual encount er . He had sur r ender ed t o i t ,
on a f ew r ar e occasi ons t hr ough t he year s, wi t h women he had t hought he
l i ked. He had been l ef t f eel i ng an angr y empt i nessbecause he had sought an
act of t r i umph, t hough he had not known of what nat ur e, but t he r esponse he
r ecei ved was onl y a woman' s accept ance of a casual pl easur e, and he knew t oo
cl ear l y t hat what he had won had no meani ng. He was l ef t , not wi t h a sense of
at t ai nment , but wi t h a sense of hi s own degr adat i on. He gr ew t o hat e hi s
desi r e. He f ought i t . He came t o bel i eve t he doct r i ne t hat t hi s desi r e was
whol l y physi cal , a desi r e, not of consci ousness, but of mat t er , and he
r ebel l ed agai nst t he t hought t hat hi s f l esh coul d be f r ee t o choose and t hat
i t s choi ce was i mper vi ous t o t he wi l l of hi s mi nd. He had spent hi s l i f e i n
mi nes and mi l l s, shapi ng mat t er t o hi s wi shes by t he power of hi s br ai nand
he f ound i t i nt ol er abl e t hat he shoul d be unabl e t o cont r ol t he mat t er of hi s
own body. He f ought i t . He had won hi s ever y bat t l e agai nst i nani mat e nat ur e;
but t hi s was a bat t l e he l ost .
I t was t he di f f i cul t y of t he conquest t hat made hi mwant Li l l i an.
She seemed t o be a woman who expect ed and deser ved a pedest al ; t hi s made
hi mwant t o dr ag her down t o hi s bed. To dr ag her down, wer e t he wor ds i n hi s
mi nd; t hey gave hi ma dar k pl easur e, t he sense of a vi ct or y wor t h wi nni ng.
He coul d not under st and whyhe t hought i t was an obscene conf l i ct , t he
si gn of some secr et depr avi t y wi t hi n hi mwhy he f el t , at t he same t i me, a
pr of ound pr i de at t he t hought of gr ant i ng t o a woman t he t i t l e of hi s wi f e.
The f eel i ng was sol emn and shi ni ng; i t was al most as i f he f el t t hat he
wi shed t o honor a woman by t he act of possessi ng her .
Li l l i an seemed t o f i t t he i mage he had not known he hel d, had not known he
wi shed t o f i nd; he saw t he gr ace, t he pr i de, t he pur i t y; t he r est was i n
hi msel f ; he di d not know t hat he was l ooki ng at a r ef l ect i on.
He r emember ed t he day when Li l l i an came f r omNew Yor k t o hi s of f i ce, of
her own sudden choi ce, and asked hi mt o t ake her t hr ough hi s mi l l s. He hear d
a sof t , l ow, br eat hl ess t onet he t one of admi r at i on
gr owi ng i n her voi ce, as she quest i oned hi mabout hi s wor k and l ooked at
t he pl ace ar ound her . He l ooked at her gr acef ul f i gur e movi ng agai nst t he
bur st s of f ur nace f l ame, and at t he l i ght , swi f t st eps of her hi gh heel s
st umbl i ng t hr ough dr i f t s of sl ag, as she wal ked r esol ut el y by hi s si de.
The l ook i n her eyes, when she wat ched a heat of st eel bei ng pour ed, was
l i ke hi s own f eel i ng f or i t made vi si bl e t o hi m. When her eyes moved up t o
hi s f ace, he saw t he same l ook, but i nt ensi f i ed t o a degr ee t hat seemed t o
make her hel pl ess and si l ent . I t was at di nner , t hat eveni ng, t hat he asked
her t o mar r y hi m.
I t t ook hi msome t i me af t er hi s mar r i age bef or e he admi t t ed t o hi msel f
t hat t hi s was t or t ur e. He st i l l r emember ed t he ni ght when he admi t t ed i t ,
when he t ol d hi msel f t he vei ns of hi s wr i st s pul l ed t i ght as he st ood by t he
bed, l ooki ng down at Li l l i ant hat he deser ved t he t or t ur e and t hat he woul d
endur e i t . Li l l i an was not l ooki ng at hi m; she was adj ust i ng her hai r . " May I
go t o sl eep now?" she asked.
She had never obj ect ed; she had never r ef used hi manyt hi ng; she submi t t ed
whenever he wi shed. She submi t t ed i n t he manner of compl yi ng wi t h t he r ul e
t hat i t was, at t i mes, her dut y t o become an i nani mat e obj ect t ur ned over t o
her husband' s use.
She di d not censur e hi m. She made i t cl ear t hat she t ook i t f or gr ant ed
t hat men had degr adi ng i nst i nct s whi ch const i t ut ed t he secr et , ugl y par t of
mar r i age. She was condescendi ngl y t ol er ant . She smi l ed, i n amused di st ast e,
at t he i nt ensi t y of what he exper i enced. " I t ' s t he most undi gni f i ed past i me I
know of , " she sai d t o hi monce, " but I have never ent er t ai ned t he i l l usi on
t hat men ar e super i or t o ani mal s. "
Hi s desi r e f or her had di ed i n t he f i r st week of t hei r mar r i age. What
r emai ned was onl y a need whi ch he was unabl e t o dest r oy. He had never ent er ed
a whor ehouse; he t hought , at t i mes, t hat t he sel f - l oat hi ng he woul d
exper i ence t her e coul d be no wor se t han what he f el t when he was dr i ven t o
ent er hi s wi f e' s bedr oom.
He woul d of t en f i nd her r eadi ng a book. She woul d put i t asi de, wi t h a
whi t e r i bbon t o mar k t he pages. When l i e l ay exhaust ed, hi s eyes cl osed,
st i l l br eat hi ng i n gasps, she woul d t ur n on t he l i ght , pi ck up t he book and
cont i nue her r eadi ng.
He t ol d hi msel f t hat he deser ved t he t or t ur e, because he had wi shed never
t o t ouch her agai n and was unabl e t o mai nt ai n hi s deci si on. He despi sed
hi msel f f or t hat . He despi sed a need whi ch now hel d no shr ed of j oy or
meani ng, whi ch had become t he mer e need of a woman' s body, an anonymous body
t hat bel onged t o a woman whomhe had t o f or get whi l e he hel d i t . He became
convi nced t hat t he need was depr avi t y.
He di d not condemn Li l l i an. He f el t a dr ear y, i ndi f f er ent r espect f or her .
Hi s hat r ed of hi s own desi r e had made hi maccept t he doct r i ne t hat women wer e
pur e and t hat a pur e woman was one i ncapabl e of physi cal pl easur e.
Thr ough t he qui et agony of t he year s of hi s mar r i age, t her e had been one
t hought whi ch he woul d not per mi t hi msel f t o consi der ; t he t hought of
i nf i del i t y. He had gi ven hi s wor d. He i nt ended t o keep i t . I t was not l oyal t y
t o Li l l i an; i t was not t he per son of Li l l i an t hat he wi shed t o pr ot ect f r om
di shonor but t he per son of hi s wi f e.
He t hought of t hat now, st andi ng at t he wi ndow. He had not want ed t o ent er
her r oom. He had f ought agai nst i t . He had f ought , mor e f i er cel y, agai nst
knowi ng t he par t i cul ar r eason why he woul d not be abl e t o wi t hst and i t
t oni ght . Then, seei ng her , he had known suddenl y t hat he woul d not t ouch her .
The r eason whi ch had dr i ven hi mher e t oni ght was t he r eason whi ch made i t
i mpossi bl e f or hi m.
He st ood st i l l , f eel i ng f r ee of desi r e, f eel i ng t he bl eak r el i ef of
i ndi f f er ence t o hi s body, t o t hi s r oom, even t o hi s pr esence her e. He had
t ur ned away f r omher , not t o see her l acquer ed chast i t y. What he t hought he
shoul d f eel was r espect ; what he f el t was r evul si on.
" . . . but Dr . Pr i t chet t sai d t hat our cul t ur e i s dyi ng because our
uni ver si t i es have t o depend on t he al ms of t he meat packer s, t he st eel
puddl er s and t he pur veyor s of br eakf ast cer eal s. "
Why had she mar r i ed hi m?he t hought . That br i ght , cr i sp voi ce was not
t al ki ng at r andom. She knew why he had come her e. She knew what i t woul d do
t o hi mt o see her pi ck up a si l ver buf f er and go on t al ki ng gai l y, pol i shi ng
her f i nger nai l s. She was t al ki ng about t he par t y.
But she di d not ment i on Ber t r amScudder or Dagny Taggar t .
What had she sought i n mar r yi ng hi m? He f el t t he pr esence of some col d,
dr i vi ng pur pose wi t hi n her but f ound not hi ng t o condemn. She had never t r i ed
t o use hi m. She made no demands on hi m. She f ound no sat i sf act i on i n t he
pr est i ge of i ndust r i al power she spur ned i t she pr ef er r ed her own ci r cl e of
f r i ends. She was not af t er moneyshe spent l i t t l eshe was i ndi f f er ent t o t he
ki nd of ext r avagance he coul d have af f or ded. He had no r i ght t o accuse her ,
he t hought , or ever t o br eak t he bond. She was a woman of honor i n t hei r
mar r i age. She want ed not hi ng mat er i al f r omhi m.
He t ur ned and l ooked at her wear i l y.
" Next t i me you gi ve a par t y, " he sai d, " st i ck t o your own cr owd.
Don' t i nvi t e what you t hi nk ar e my f r i ends. I don' t car e t o meet t hem
soci al l y. "
She l aughed, st ar t l ed and pl eased. " I don' t bl ame you, dar l i ng, " she sai d.
He wal ked out , addi ng not hi ng el se.
What di d she want f r omhi m?he t hought . What was she af t er ? I n t he
uni ver se as he knew i t . Ther e was no answer .

CHAPTER VII
THE EXPLOITERS AND THE EXPLOITED

The r ai l s r ose t hr ough t he r ocks t o t he oi l der r i cks and t he oi l der r i cks
r ose t o t he sky. Dagny st ood on t he br i dge, l ooki ng up at t he cr est of t he
hi l l wher e t he sun hi t a spot of met al on t he t op of t he hi ghest r i ggi ng.
I t l ooked l i ke a whi t e t or ch l i ght ed over t he snow on t he r i dges of Wyat t
OI L By spr i ng, she t hought , t he t r ack woul d meet t he l i ne gr owi ng t owar d i t
f r omCheyenne. She l et her eyes f ol l ow t he gr een- bl ue r ai l s t hat st ar t ed f r om
t he der r i cks, came down, went acr oss t he br i dge and past her . She t ur ned her
head t o f ol l ow t hemt hr ough t he mi l es of cl ear ai r , as t hey went on i n gr eat
cur ves hung on t he si des of t he mount ai ns, f ar t o t he end of t he new t r ack,
wher e a l ocomot i ve cr ane, l i ke an ar mof naked bones and ner ves, moved
t ensel y agai nst t he sky.
A t r act or went past her , l oaded wi t h gr een- bl ue bol t s. The sound of dr i l l s
came as a st eady shudder f r omf ar bel ow, wher e men swung on met al cabl es,
cut t i ng t he st r ai ght st one dr op of t he canyon wal l t o r ei nf or ce t he abut ment s
of t he br i dge. Down t he t r ack, she coul d see men wor ki ng, t hei r ar ms st i f f
wi t h t he t ensi on of t hei r muscl es as t hey gr i pped t he handl es of el ect r i c t i e
t amper s.
" Muscl es, Mi ss Taggar t , " Ben Neal y, t he cont r act or , had sai d t o her ,
" muscl est hat ' s al l i t t akes t o bui l d anyt hi ng i n t he wor l d. "
No cont r act or equal t o McNamar a seemed t o exi st anywher e. She had t aken
t he best she coul d f i nd. No engi neer on t he Taggar t st af f coul d be t r ust ed t o
super vi se t he j ob; al l of t hemwer e skept i cal about t he new met al . " Fr ankl y,
Mi ss Taggar t , " her chi ef engi neer had sai d, " si nce i t i s an exper i ment t hat
nobody has ever at t empt ed bef or e, I do not t hi nk i t ' s f ai r t hat i t shoul d be
my r esponsi bi l i t y. " ' I t ' s mi ne, " she had answer ed. He was a man i n hi s
f or t i es, who st i l l pr eser ved t he br eezy manner of t he col l ege f r omwhi ch he
had gr aduat ed. Once, Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al had had a chi ef engi neer , a
si l ent , gr ay- hai r ed, sel f educat ed man, who coul d not be mat ched on any
r ai l r oad. He had r esi gned, f i ve year s ago.
She gl anced down over t he br i dge. She was st andi ng on a sl ender beamof
st eel above a gor ge t hat had cr acked t he mount ai ns t o a dept h of f i f t een
hundr ed f eet . Far at t he bot t om, she coul d di st i ngui sh t he di mout l i nes of a
dr y r i ver bed, of pi l ed boul der s, of t r ees cont or t ed by cent ur i es. She
wonder ed whet her boul der s, t r ee t r unks and muscl es coul d ever br i dge t hat
canyon. She wonder ed why she f ound her sel f t hi nki ng suddenl y t hat cave-
dwel l er s had l i ved naked on t he bot t omof t hat canyon f or ages.
She l ooked up at t he Wyat t oi l f i el ds. The t r ack br oke i nt o si di ngs among
t he wel l s. She saw t he smal l di sks of swi t ches dot t ed agai nst t he snow. They
wer e met al swi t ches, of t he ki nd t hat wer e scat t er ed i n t housands, unnot i ced,
t hr oughout t he count r ybut t hese wer e spar kl i ng i n t he sun and t he spar ks
wer e gr eeni sh- bl ue. What t hey meant t o her was hour upon hour of speaki ng
qui et l y, evenl y, pat i ent l y, t r yi ng t o hi t t he cent er l ess t ar get t hat was t he
per son of Mr . Mowen, pr esi dent of t he Amal gamat ed Swi t ch and Si gnal Company,
I nc. , of Connect i cut . " But , Mi ss Taggar t , my dear Mi ss Taggar t ! My company
has ser ved your company f or gener at i ons, why, your gr andf at her was t he f i r st
cust omer of my gr andf at her , so you cannot doubt our eager ness t o do anyt hi ng
you ask, but di d you say swi t ches made of Rear den Met al ?"
" Yes. "
" But , Mi ss Taggar t ! Consi der what i t woul d mean, havi ng t o wor k wi t h t hat
met al . Do you know t hat t he st uf f won' t mel t under l ess t han f our t housand
degr ees? . . . Gr eat ? Wel l , maybe t hat ' s gr eat f or mot or manuf act ur er s, but
what I ' mt hi nki ng of i s t hat i t means a new t ype of f ur nace, a new pr ocess
ent i r el y, men t o be t r ai ned, schedul es upset , wor k r ul es shot , ever yt hi ng
bal l ed up and t hen God onl y knows whet her i t wi l l come out r i ght or not ! . .
. How do you know, Mi ss Taggar t ? How can you know, when i t ' s never been done
bef or e? . . .
Wel l , I can' t say t hat t hat met al i s good and I can' t say t hat i t i sn' t .
. . . Wel l , no, I can' t t el l whet her i t ' s a pr oduct of geni us, as you say,
or j ust anot her f r aud as a gr eat many peopl e ar e sayi ng, Mi ss Taggar t , a
gr eat many. . . . Wel l , no, I can' t say t hat i t does mat t er one way or t he
ot her , because who amI t o t ake a chance on a j ob of t hi s ki nd?"
She had doubl ed t he pr i ce of her or der . Rear den had sent t wo met al l ur gi st s
t o t r ai n Mowen' s men, t o t each, t o show, t o expl ai n ever y st ep of t he
pr ocess, and had pai d t he sal ar i es of Mowen' s men whi l e t hey wer e bei ng
t r ai ned.
She l ooked at t he spi kes i n t he r ai l at her f eet . They meant t he ni ght
when she had hear d t hat Summi t Cast i ng of I l l i noi s, t he onl y company wi l l i ng
t o make spi kes of Rear den Met al , had gone bankr upt , wi t h hal f of her or der
undel i ver ed. She had f l own t o Chi cago, t hat ni ght , she had got t hr ee l awyer s,
a j udge and a st at e l egi sl at or out of bed, she had br i bed t wo of t hemand
t hr eat ened t he ot her s, she had obt ai ned a paper t hat was an emer gency per mi t
of a l egal i t y no one woul d ever be abl e t o unt angl e, she had had t he
padl ocked door s of t he Summi t Cast i ng pl ant unl ocked and a r andom, hal f -
dr essed cr ew wor ki ng at t he smel t er s bef or e t he wi ndows had t ur ned gr ay wi t h
dayl i ght . The cr ews had r emai ned at wor k, under a Taggar t engi neer and a
Rear den met al l ur gi st . The r ebui l di ng of t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne was not hel d up.
She l i st ened t o t he sound of t he dr i l l s. The wor k had been hel d up once,
when t he dr i l l i ng f or t he br i dge abut ment s was st epped. " I coul dn' t hel p i t ,
Mi ss Taggar t , " Ben Neal y had sai d, of f ended. " You know how f ast dr i l l heads
wear out . I had t hemon or der , but I ncor por at ed Tool r an i nt o a l i t t l e
t r oubl e, t hey coul dn' t hel p i t ei t her , Associ at ed St eel was del ayed i n
del i ver i ng t he st eel t o t hem, so t her e' s not hi ng we can do but wai t . I t ' s no
use get t i ng upset , Mi ss Taggar t , I ' mdoi ng my best . "
" I ' ve hi r ed you t o do a j ob, not t o do your best what ever t hat i s. "
" That ' s a f unny t hi ng t o say. That ' s an unpopul ar at t i t ude, Mi ss Taggar t ,
mi ght y unpopul ar . "
" For get I ncor por at ed Tool . For get t he st eel . Or der t he dol l heads made of
Rear den Met al . "
" Not me. I ' ve had enough t r oubl e wi t h t he damn st uf f i n t hat r ai l of
your s. I ' mnot goi ng t o mess up my own equi pment . "
" A dr i l l head of Rear den Met al wi l l out l ast t hr ee of st eel . "
" Maybe. "
" I sai d or der t hemmade. "
" Who' s goi ng t o pay f or i t ?"
" I am. "
" Who' s goi ng t o f i nd somebody t o make t hem?"
She had t el ephoned Rear den. He had f ound an abandoned t ool pl ant , l ong
si nce out of busi ness. Wi t hi n an hour , he had pur chased i t f r omt he r el at i ves
of i t s l ast owner . Wi t hi n a day, t he pl ant had been r eopened. Wi t hi n a week,
dr i l l heads of Rear den Met al l ad been del i ver ed t o t he br i dge i n Col or ado.
She l ooked at t he br i dge. I t r epr esent ed a pr obl embadl y sol ved, but she
had had t o accept i t . The br i dge, t wel ve hundr ed f eet of st eel acr oss t he
bl ack gap, was bui l t i n t he days of Nat Taggar t ' s son. I t was l ong past t he
st age of saf et y; i t had been pat ched wi t h st r i nger s of st eel , t hen of i r on,
t hen of wood; i t was bar el y wor t h t he pat chi ng.
She had t hought of a new br i dge of Rear den Met al . She had asked her chi ef
engi neer t o submi t a desi gn and an est i mat e of t he cost .
The desi gn he had submi t t ed was t he scheme of a st eel br i dge badl y scal ed
down t o t he gr eat er st r engt h of t he new met al ; t he cost made t he pr oj ect
i mpossi bl e t o consi der .
" I beg your par don, Mi ss Taggar t , " he had sai d, of f ended. " I don' t know
what you mean when you say t hat I haven' t made use of t he met al . Thi s desi gn
i s an adapt at i on of t he best br i dges on r ecor d.
What el se di d you expect ?
" A new met hod of const r uct i on. "
" What do you mean, a new met hod?"
" I mean t hat when men got st r uct ur al st eel , t hey di d not use i t t o bui l d
st eel copi es of wooden br i dges. " She had added wear i l y, " Get me an est i mat e
on what we' l l need t o make our ol d br i dge l ast f or anot her f i ve year s. "
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t , " he had sai d cheer f ul l y. " I f we r ei nf or ce i t wi t h
st eel "
" We' l l r ei nf or ce i t wi t h Rear den Met al . "
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t , " he had sai d col dl y.
She l ooked at t he snow- cover ed mount ai ns. Her j ob had seemed har d at
t i mes, i n New Yor k. She had st opped f or bl ank moment s i n t he mi ddl e of her
of f i ce, par al yzed by despai r at t he r i gi di t y of t i me whi ch she coul d not
st r et ch any f ur t her on a day when ur gent appoi nt ment s had succeeded one
anot her , when she had di scussed wor n Di esel s, r ot t i ng f r ei ght car s, f ai l i ng
si gnal syst ems, f al l i ng r evenues, whi l e t hi nki ng of t he l at est emer gency on
t he Ri o Nor t e const r uct i on; when she had t al ked, wi t h t he vi si on of t wo
st r eaks of gr een- bl ue met al cut t i ng acr oss her mi nd; when she had i nt er r upt ed
t he di scussi ons, r eal i zi ng suddenl y why a cer t ai n news i t emhad di st ur bed
her , and sei zed t he t el ephone r ecei ver t o cal l l ong- di st ance, t o cal l her
cont r act or , t o say, " Wher e do you get t he f ood f r om, f or your men?
. . . I t hought so. Wel l , Bar t on and J ones of Denver went bankr upt
yest er day. Bet t er f i nd anot her suppl i er at once, i f you don' t want t o have a
f ami ne on your hands. " She had been bui l di ng t he l i ne f r omher desk i n New
Yor k. I t had seemed har d. But now she was l ooki ng at t he t r ack. I t was
gr owi ng. I t woul d be done on t i me.
She hear d shar p, hur r i ed f oot st eps, and t ur ned. A man was comi ng up t he
t r ack. He was t al l and young, hi s head of bl ack hai r was hat l ess i n t he col d
wi nd, he wor e a wor kman' s l eat her j acket , but he di d not l ook l i ke a wor kman,
t her e was t oo i mper i ous an assur ance i n t he way he wal ked. She coul d not
r ecogni ze t he f ace unt i l he came cl oser . I t was El l i s Wyat t . She had not seen
hi msi nce t hat one i nt er vi ew i n her of f i ce.
He appr oached, st opped, l ooked at her and smi l ed.
" Hel l o, Dagny, " he sai d.
I n a si ngl e shock of emot i on, she knew ever yt hi ng t he t wo wor ds wer e
i nt ended t o t el l her . I t was f or gi veness, under st andi ng, acknowl edgment . I t
was a sal ut e.
She l aughed, l i ke a chi l d, i n happi ness t hat t hi ngs shoul d be as r i ght as
t hat .
" Hel l o, " she sai d, ext endi ng her hand.
Hi s hand hel d her s an i nst ant l onger t han a gr eet i ng r equi r ed. I t was
t hei r si gnat ur e under a scor e set t l ed and under st ood.
" Tel l Neal y t o put up new snow f ences f or a mi l e and a hal f on Gr anada
Pass, " he sai d. " The ol d ones ar e r ot t ed. They won' t st and t hr ough anot her
st or m. Send hi ma r ot ar y pl ow. What he' s got i s a pi ece of j unk t hat woul dn' t
sweep a back yar d. The bi g snows ar e comi ng any day now. "
She consi der ed hi mf or a moment . " How of t en have you been doi ng t hi s?" she
asked, " What ?"
" Comi ng t o wat ch t he wor k. "
" Ever y now and t hen. When I have t he t i me. Why?"
" Wer e you her e t he ni ght when t hey had t he r ock sl i de?"
" Yes. "
" I was sur pr i sed how qui ckl y and wel l t hey cl ear ed t he t r ack, when I got
t he r epor t s about i t . I t made me t hi nk t hat Neal y was a bet t er man t han I had
t hought "
" He i sn' t . "
" Was i t you who or gani zed t he syst emof movi ng hi s day' s suppl i es down t o
t he l i ne?"
" Sur e. Hi s men used t o spend hal f t hei r t i me hunt i ng f or t hi ngs.
Tel l hi mt o wat ch hi s wat er t anks. They' l l f r eeze on hi mone of t hese
ni ght s. See i f you can get hi ma new di t cher . I don' t l i ke t he l ooks of t he
one he' s got . Check on hi s wi r i ng syst em. "
She l ooked at hi mf or a moment . " Thanks, El l i s, " she sai d.
He smi l ed and wal ked on. She wat ched hi mas he wal ked acr oss t he br i dge,
as he st ar t ed up t he l ong r i se t owar d hi s der r i cks.
" He t hi nks he owns t he pl ace, doesn' t he?"
She t ur ned, st ar t l ed. Ben Neal y had appr oached her ; hi s t humb was poi nt i ng
at El l i s Wyat t .
" What pl ace?"
" The r ai l r oad, Mi ss Taggar t . Your r ai l r oad. Or t he whol e wor l d maybe.
That ' s what he t hi nks. "
Ben Neal y was a bul ky man wi t h a sof t , sul l en f ace. Hi s eyes wer e st ubbor n
and bl ank. I n di e bl ui sh l i ght of t he snow, hi s ski n had t he t i nge of but t er .
" What does he keep hangi ng ar ound her e f or ?" he sai d. " As i f nobody knew
t hei r busi ness but hi m. The snoot y show- of f . Who does he t hi nk he i s?"
" God damn you, " sai d Dagny evenl y, not r ai si ng her voi ce.
Neal y coul d never know what had made her say i t . But some par t of hi m, i n
some way of hi s own, knew i t : t he shocki ng t hi ng t o her was t hat he was not
shocked. He sai d not hi ng.
" Let ' s go t o your quar t er s, " she sai d wear i l y, poi nt i ng t o an ol d r ai l way
coach on a spur i n t he di st ance. " Have somebody t her e t o t ake not es. "
" Now about t hose cr osst i es, Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d hast i l y as t hey
st ar t ed. " Mr . Col eman of your of f i ce okayed t hem. He di dn' t say anyt hi ng
about t oo much bar k. I don' t see why you t hi nk t hey' r e"
" I sai d you' r e goi ng t o r epl ace t hem. "
When she came out of t he coach, exhaust ed by t wo hour s of ef f or t t o be
pat i ent , t o i nst r uct , t o expl ai nshe saw an aut omobi l e par ked on t he t or n
di r t r oad bel ow, a bl ack t wo- seat er , spar kl i ng and new. A new car was an
ast oni shi ng si ght anywher e; one di d not see t hemof t en.
She gl anced ar ound and gasped at t he si ght of t he t al l f i gur e st andi ng at
t he f oot of t he br i dge. I t was Hank Rear den; she had not expect ed t o f i nd hi m
i n Col or ado. He seemed absor bed i n cal cul at i ons, penci l and not ebook i n hand.
Hi s cl ot hes at t r act ed at t ent i on, l i ke hi s car and f or t he same r eason; he
wor e a si mpl e t r enchcoat and a hat wi t h a sl ant i ng br i m, but t hey wer e of
such good qual i t y, so f l agr ant l y expensi ve t hat t hey appear ed ost ent at i ous
among t he seedy gar ment s of t he cr owds ever ywher e, t he mor e ost ent at i ous
because wor n so nat ur al l y.
She not i ced suddenl y t hat she was r unni ng t owar d hi m; she had l ost al l
t r ace of exhaust i on. Then she r emember ed t hat she had not seen hi msi nce t he
par t y. She st opped.
He saw her , he waved t o her i n a gest ur e of pl eased, ast oni shed gr eet i ng,
and he wal ked f or war d t o meet her . He was smi l i ng.
" Hel l o, " he sai d. " Your f i r st t r i p t o t he j ob?"
" My f i f t h, i n t hr ee mont hs. "
" I di dn' t know you wer e her e. Nobody t ol d me. "
" I t hought you' d br eak down some day. "
" Br eak down?"
" Enough t o come and see t hi s. Ther e' s your Met al . How do you l i ke i t ?"
He gl anced ar ound. " I f you ever deci de t o qui t t he r ai l r oad busi ness, l et
me know. "
" You' d gi ve me a j ob?"
" Any t i me. "
She l ooked at hi mf or a moment . " You' r e onl y hal f - ki ddi ng, Hank.
I t hi nk you' d l i ke i t havi ng me ask you f or a j ob. Havi ng me f or an
empl oyee i nst ead of a cust omer . Gi vi ng me or der s t o obey. "
" Yes. I woul d. "
She sai d, her f ace har d, " Don' t qui t t he st eel busi ness, I won' t pr omi se
you a j ob on t he r ai l r oad. "
He l aughed. " Don' t t r y i t . "
" What ?"
" To wi n any bat t l e when I set t he t er ms. "
She di d not answer . She was st r uck by what t he wor ds made her f eel ; i t was
not an emot i on, but a physi cal sensat i on of pl easur e, whi ch she coul d not
name or under st and.
" i nci dent al l y, " he sai d, " t hi s i s not my f i r st t r i p. I was her e
yest er day. "
" You wer e? Why?"
" Oh, I came t o Col or ado on some busi ness of my own, so I t hought I ' d t ake
a l ook at t hi s. "
" What ar e you af t er ?"
" Why do you assume t hat I ' maf t er anyt hi ng?"
" You woul dn' t wast e t i me comi ng her e j ust t o l ook. Not t wi ce. "
He l aughed. " Tr ue. " He poi nt ed at t he br i dge. " I ' maf t er t hat . "
" What about i t ?"
" I t ' s r eady f or t he scr ap heap. "
" Do you suppose t hat I don' t know i t ?"
" I saw t he speci f i cat i ons of your or der f or Rear den Met al member s f or t hat
br i dge. You' r e wast i ng your money. The di f f er ence bet ween what you' r e
pl anni ng t o spend on a makeshi f t t hat wi l l l ast a coupl e of year s, and t he
cost of a new Rear den Met al br i dge, i s compar at i vel y so l i t t l e t hat I don' t
see why you want t o bot her pr eser vi ng t hi s museumpi ece. "
" I ' ve t hought of a new Rear den Met al br i dge, I ' ve had my engi neer s gi ve me
an est i mat e. "
" What di d t hey t el l you?"
" Two mi l l i on dol l ar s. "
" Good God! "
" What woul d you say?"
" Ei ght hundr ed t housand. "
She l ooked at hi m. She knew t hat he never spoke i dl y. She asked, t r yi ng t o
sound cal m, " How?"
" Li ke t hi s. "
He showed her hi s not ebook. She saw t he di sj oi ned not at i ons he had made, a
gr eat many f i gur es, a f ew r ough sket ches. She under st ood hi s scheme bef or e he
had f i ni shed expl ai ni ng i t . She di d not not i ce t hat t hey had sat down, t hat
t hey wer e si t t i ng on a pi l e of f r ozen l umber , t hat her l egs wer e pr essed t o
t he r ough pl anks and she coul d f eel t he col d t hr ough her t hi n st ocki ngs. They
wer e bent t oget her over a f ew scr aps of paper whi ch coul d make i t possi bl e
f or t housands of t ons of f r ei ght t o cr oss a cut of empt y space. Hi s voi ce
sounded shar p and cl ear , whi l e he expl ai ned t hr ust s, pul l s, l oads, wi nd
pr essur es. The br i dge was t o be a si ngl e t wel ve- hundr ed- f oot t r uss span. He
had devi sed a new t ype of t r uss. I t had never been made bef or e end coul d not
be made except wi t h member s t hat had t he st r engt h and t he l i ght ness of
Rear den Met al .
" Hank, " she asked, " di d you i nvent t hi s i n t wo days?"
" Hel l , no. I ' i nvent ed' i t l ong bef or e I had Rear den Met al . I f i gur ed i t
out whi l e maki ng st eel f or br i dges. I want ed a met al wi t h whi ch one woul d be
abl e t o do t hi s, among ot her t hi ngs. I came her e j ust t o see your par t i cul ar
pr obl emf or mysel f . "
He chuckl ed, when he saw t he sl ow movement of her hand acr oss her eyes and
t he l i ne of bi t t er ness i n t he set of her mout h, as i f she wer e t r yi ng t o wi pe
out t he t hi ngs agai nst whi ch she had f ought such an exhaust i ng, cheer l ess
bat t l e.
" Thi s i s onl y a r ough scheme, " he sai d, " but I bel i eve you see what can be
done?"
" I can' t t el l you al l t hat I see, Hank. "
" Don' t bot her . I know i t . "
" You' r e savi ng Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al f or t he second t i me. "
" You used t o be a bet t er psychol ogi st t han t hat . "
" What do you mean?"
" Why shoul d I gi ve a damn about savi ng Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ?
Don' t you know t hat I want t o have a br i dge of Rear den Met al t o show t he
count r y?"
" Yes, Hank. I know i t "
" Ther e ar e t oo many peopl e yel pi ng t hat r ai l s of Rear den Met al ar e unsaf e.
So I t hought I ' d gi ve t hemsomet hi ng r eal t o yel p about . Let t hemsee a
br i dge of Rear den Met al . "
She l ooked at hi mand l aughed al oud i n si mpl e del i ght .
" Now what ' s t hat ?" he asked.
" Hank, I don' t know anyone, not anyone i n t he wor l d, who' d t hi nk of such
an answer t o peopl e, i n such ci r cumst ancesexcept you. "
" What about you? Woul d you want t o make t he answer wi t h me and f ace t he
same scr eami ng?"
" You knew I woul d. "
" Yes. I knew i t . "
He gl anced at her , hi s eyes nar r owed; he di d not l augh as she had, but t he
gl ance was an equi val ent .
She r emember ed suddenl y t hei r l ast meet i ng, at t he par t y. The memor y
seemed i ncr edi bl e. Thei r ease wi t h each ot her t he st r ange, l i ght - headed
f eel i ng, whi ch i ncl uded t he knowl edge t hat i t was t he onl y sense of ease
ei t her of t hemf ound anywher emade t he t hought of host i l i t y i mpossi bl e. Yet
she knew t hat t he par t y had t aken pl ace; he act ed as i f i t had not .
They wal ked t o t he edge of t he canyon. Toget her , t hey l ooked at t he dar k
dr op, at t he r i se of r ock beyond i t , at t he sun hi gh on t he der r i cks of Wyat t
Oi l . She st ood, her f eet apar t on t he f r ozen st ones, br aced f i r ml y agai nst
t he wi nd. She coul d f eel , wi t hout t ouchi ng i t , t he l i ne of hi s chest behi nd
her shoul der . The wi nd beat her coat agai nst hi s l egs.
" Hank, do you t hi nk we can bui l d i t i n t i me? Ther e ar e onl y si x mont hs
l ef t . "
" Sur e. I t wi l l t ake l ess t i me and l abor t han any ot her t ype of br i dge.
Let me have my engi neer s wor k out t he basi c scheme and submi t i t t o you.
No obl i gat i on on your par t . J ust t ake a l ook at i t and see f or your sel f
whet her you' l l be abl e t o af f or d i t . You wi l l . Then you can l et your col l ege
boys wor k out t he det ai l s. "
" What about t he Met al ?"
" I ' l l get t he Met al r ol l ed i f I have t o t hr ow ever y ot her or der out of t he
mi l l s. "
" You' l l get i t r ol l ed on so shor t a not i ce?"
" Have I ever hel d you up on an or der ?"
" No. But t he way t hi ngs ar e goi ng nowadays, you mi ght not be abl e t o hel p
i t . "
" Who do you t hi nk you' r e t al ki ng t oOr r en Boyl e?"
She l aughed. " Al l r i ght . Let me have t he dr awi ngs as soon as possi bl e.
I ' l l t ake a l ook and l et you know wi t hi n f or t y- ei ght hour s. As t o my col l ege
boys, t hey" She st opped, f r owni ng. " Hank, why i s i t so har d t o f i nd good men
f or any j ob nowadays?"
" I don' t know . . . "
He l ooked at t he l i nes of t he mount ai ns cut acr oss t he sky. A t hi n j et of
smoke was r i si ng f r oma di st ant val l ey.
" Have you seen t he new t owns of Col or ado and t he f act or i es?" he asked.
" Yes. "
" I t ' s gr eat , i sn' t i t ?t o see t he ki nd of men t hey' ve gat her ed her e f r om
ever y cor ner of t he count r y. Al l of t hemyoung, al l of t hemst ar t i ng on a
shoest r i ng and movi ng mount ai ns. "
" What mount ai n have you deci ded t o move?"
" Why?"
" What ar e you doi ng i n Col or ado?"
He smi l ed. " Looki ng at a mi ni ng pr oper t y. "
" What sor t ?"
" Copper . "
" Good God, don' t you have enough t o do?"
" I know i t ' s a compl i cat ed j ob. But t he suppl y of copper i s becomi ng
compl et el y unr el i abl e. Ther e doesn' t seemt o be a si ngl e f i r st - r at e company
l ef t i n t he busi ness i n t hi s count r yand I don' t want t o deal wi t h d' Anconi a
Copper . I don' t t r ust t hat pl ayboy. "
" I don' t bl ame you, " she sai d, l ooki ng away.
" So i f t her e' s no compet ent per son l ef t t o do i t , I ' l l have t o mi ne my own
copper , as I mi ne my own i r on or e. I can' t t ake any chances on bei ng hel d up
by al l t hose f ai l ur es and shor t ages. I need a gr eat deal of copper f or
Rear den Met al . "
" Have you bought t he mi ne?"
" Not yet . Ther e ar e a f ew pr obl ems t o sol ve. Get t i ng t he men, t he
equi pment , t he t r anspor t at i on. "
" Oh . . . ! " She chuckl ed. " Goi ng t o speak t o me about bui l di ng a br anch
l i ne?"
" Mi ght . Ther e' s no l i mi t t o what ' s possi bl e i n t hi s st at e. Do you know
t hat t hey have ever y ki nd of nat ur al r esour ce her e, wai t i ng, unt ouched? And
t he way t hei r f act or i es ar e gr owi ng! I f eel t en year s younger when I come
her e. "
" I don' t . " She was l ooki ng east , past t he mount ai ns. " I t hi nk of t he
cont r ast , al l over t he r est of t he Taggar t syst em. Ther e' s l ess t o car r y,
l ess t onnage pr oduced each year . I t ' s as i f . . . Hank, what ' s wr ong wi t h t he
count r y?"
" I don' t know. "
" I keep t hi nki ng of what t hey t ol d us i n school about t he sun l osi ng
ener gy, gr owi ng col der each year . I r emember wonder i ng, t hen, what i t woul d
be l i ke i n t he l ast days of t he wor l d. I t hi nk i t woul d be . . .
l i ke t hi s. Gr owi ng col der and t hi ngs st oppi ng. "
" I never bel i eved t hat st or y. I t hought by t he t i me t he sun was exhaust ed,
men woul d f i nd a subst i t ut e. "
" You di d? Funny. I t hought t hat , t oo. "
He poi nt ed at t he col umn of smoke. " Ther e' s your new sunr i se. I t ' s goi ng
t o f eed t he r est . "
" I f i t ' s not st opped. "
" Do you t hi nk i t can be st opped?"
She l ooked at t he r ai l under her f eet . " No, " she sai d.
He smi l ed. He l ooked down at t he r ai l , t hen l et hi s eyes move al ong t he
t r ack, up t he si des of t he mount ai ns, t o t he di st ant cr ane. She saw t wo
t hi ngs, as i f , f or a moment , t he t wo st ood al one i n her f i el d of vi si on: t he
l i nes of hi s pr of i l e and t he gr een- bl ue cor d coi l i ng t hr ough space.
" We' ve done i t , haven' t we?" he sai d.
I n payment f or ever y ef f or t , f or ever y sl eepl ess ni ght , f or ever y si l ent
t hr ust agai nst despai r , t hi s moment was al l she want ed. " Yes. We have. "
She l ooked away, not i ced an ol d cr ane on a si di ng, and t hought t hat i t s
cabl es wer e wor n and woul d need r epl aci ng: Thi s was t he gr eat cl ar i t y of
bei ng beyond emot i on, af t er t he r ewar d of havi ng f el t ever yt hi ng one coul d
f eel . Thei r achi evement , she t hought , and one moment of acknowl edgi ng i t , of
possessi ng i t t oget her what gr eat er i nt i macy coul d one shar e? Now she was
f r ee f or t he si mpl est , most commonpl ace concer ns of t he moment , because
not hi ng coul d be meani ngl ess wi t hi n her si ght .
She wonder ed what made her cer t ai n t hat he f el t as she di d. He t ur ned
abr upt l y and st ar t ed t owar d hi s car . She f ol l owed. They di d not l ook at each
ot her .
" I ' mdue t o l eave f or t he East i n an hour , " he sai d.
She poi nt ed at t he car . " Wher e di d you get t hat ?"
" Her e. I t ' s a Hammond. Hammond of Col or adot hey' r e t he onl y peopl e who' r e
st i l l maki ng a good car . I j ust bought i t , on t hi s t r i p. "
" Wonder f ul j ob. "
" Yes, i sn' t i t ?"
" Goi ng t o dr i ve i t back t o New Yor k?"
" No. Tmhavi ng i t shi pped. I f l ew my pl ane down her e. "
" Oh, you di d? I dr ove down f r omCheyenneI had t o see t he l i ne but I ' m
anxi ous t o get home as f ast as possi bl e. Woul d you t ake me al ong? Can I f l y
back wi t h you?"
He di d not answer at once. She not i ced t he empt y moment of a pause. " I ' m
sor r y, " he sai d; she wonder ed whet her she i magi ned t he not e of abr upt ness i n
hi s voi ce. " I ' mnot f l yi ng back t o New Yor k. I ' mgoi ng t o Mi nnesot a. "
" Oh wel l , t hen I ' l l t r y t o get on an ai r l i ner , i f I can f i nd one t oday, "
She wat ched hi s car vani sh down t he wi ndi ng r oad. She dr ove t o t he ai r por t
an hour l at er . The pl ace was a smal l f i el d at t he bot t omof a br eak i n t he
desol at e chai n of mount ai ns. Ther e wer e pat ches of snow on t he har d, pi t t ed
ear t h. The pol e of a beacon st ood at one si de, t r ai l i ng wi r es t o t he gr ound;
t he ot her pol es had been knocked down by a st or m.
A l onel y at t endant came t o meet her . " No, Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d
r egr et f ul l y, " no pl anes t i l l day af t er t omor r ow. Ther e' s onl y one
t r anscont i nent al l i ner ever y t wo days, you know, and t he one t hat was due
t oday has been gr ounded, down i n Ar i zona. Engi ne t r oubl e, as usual . " He
added, " I t ' s a pi t y you di dn' t get her e a bi t sooner . Mr .
Rear den t ook of f f or New Yor k, i n hi s pr i vat e pl ane, j ust a l i t t l e whi l e
ago. "
" He wasn' t f l yi ng t o New Yor k, was be?"
" Why, yes. He sai d so. "
" Ar e you sur e?"
" He sai d he had an appoi nt ment t her e t oni ght . "
She l ooked at t he sky t o t he east , bl ankl y, wi t hout movi ng. She had no
cl ue t o any r eason, not hi ng t o gi ve her a f oot hol d, not hi ng wi t h whi ch t o
wei gh t hi s or f i ght i t or under st and.
" Damn t hese st r eet s! " sai d J ames Taggar t . " We' r e goi ng t o be l at e. "
Dagny gl anced ahead, past t he back of t he chauf f eur . Thr ough t he ci r cl e
made by a wi ndshi el d wi per on t he sl eet - st r eaked gl ass, she saw bl ack, wor n,
gl i st eni ng car t ops st r ung i n a mot i onl ess l i ne. Far ahead, t he smear of a
r ed l ant er n, l ow over t he gr ound, mar ked a st r eet excavat i on.
" Ther e' s somet hi ng wr ong on ever y ot her st r eet , " sai d Taggar t i r r i t abl y.
" Why doesn' t somebody f i x t hem?"
She l eaned back agai nst t he seat , t i ght eni ng t he col l ar of her wr ap.
She f el t exhaust ed at t he end of a day she had st ar t ed at her desk, i n her
of f i ce, at seven A. M. ; a day she had br oken of f , uncompl et ed, t o r ush home
and dr ess, because she had pr omi sed J i mt o speak at t he di nner of t he New
Yor k Busi ness Counci l " They want us t o gi ve t hema t al k about Rear den Met al , "
he had sai d. " You can do i t so much bet t er t han I . I t ' s ver y i mpor t ant t hat
we pr esent a good case. Ther e' s such a cont r over sy about Rear den Met al . "
Si t t i ng besi de hi mi n hi s car , she r egr et t ed t hat she had agr eed. She
l ooked at t he st r eet s of New Yor k and t hought of t he r ace bet ween met al and
t i me, bet ween t he r ai l s of t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne and t he passi ng days. She f el t
as i f her ner ves wer e bei ng pul l ed t i ght by t he st i l l ness of t he car , by t he
gui l t of wast i ng an eveni ng when she coul d not af f or d t o wast e an hour .
" Wi t h al l t hose at t acks on Rear den t hat one hear s ever ywher e, "
sai d Taggar t , " he mi ght need a f ew f r i ends. "
She gl anced at hi mi ncr edul ousl y. " You mean you want t o st and by hi m?"
He di d not answer at once; he asked, hi s voi ce bl eak, " That r epor t of t he
speci al commi t t ee of t he Nat i onal Counci l of Met al I ndust r i es
what do you t hi nk of i t ?"
" You know what I t hi nk of i t . "
" They sai d Rear den Met al i s a t hr eat t o publ i c saf et y. They sai d i t s
chemi cal composi t i on i s unsound, i t ' s br i t t l e, i t ' s decomposi ng mol ecul ar l y,
and i t wi l l cr ack suddenl y, wi t hout war ni ng . . . " He st opped, as i f beggi ng
f or an answer . She di d not answer . He asked anxi ousl y, " You haven' t changed
your mi nd about i t , have you?"
" About what ?"
" About t hat met al . "
" No, J i m, I have not changed my mi nd. "
" They' r e exper t s, t hough . . . t he men on t hat commi t t ee. . . .
Top exper t s . . . Chi ef met al l ur gi st s f or t he bi ggest cor por at i ons, wi t h a
st r i ng of degr ees f r omuni ver si t i es al l over t he count r y . . . " He sai d i t
unhappi l y, as i f he wer e beggi ng her t o make hi mdoubt t hese men and t hei r
ver di ct .
She wat ched hi m, puzzl ed; t hi s was not l i ke hi m.
The car j er ked f or war d. I t moved sl owl y t hr ough a gap i n a pl ank bar r i er ,
past t he hol e of a br oken wat er mai n. She saw t he new pi pe st acked by t he
excavat i on; t he pi pe bor e a t r ademar k: St ockt on Foundr y, Col or ado. She l ooked
away; she wi shed she wer e not r emi nded of Col or ado.
" I can' t under st and i t . . . " sai d Taggar t mi ser abl y. " The t op exper t s of
t he Nat i onal Counci l of Met al I ndust r i es . . . "
" Who' s t he pr esi dent of t he Nat i onal Counci l of Met al I ndust r i es, J i m?
Or r en Boyl e, i sn' t i t ?"
Taggar t di d not t ur n t o her , but hi s j aw snapped open. " I f t hat f at sl ob
t hi nks he can" he st ar t ed, but st opped and di d not f i ni sh.
She l ooked up at a st r eet l amp on t he cor ner . I t was a gl obe of gl ass
f i l l ed wi t h l i ght . I t hung, secur e f r omst or m, l i ght i ng boar ded wi ndows and
cr acked si dewal ks, as t hei r onl y guar di an. At t he end of t he st r eet , acr oss
t he r i ver , agai nst t he gl ow of a f act or y, she saw t he t hi n t r aci ng of a power
st at i on. A t r uck went by, hi di ng her vi ew. I t was t he ki nd of t r uck t hat f ed
t he power st at i ona t ank t r uck, i t s br i ght new pai nt i mper vi ous t o sl eet ,
gr een wi t h whi t e l et t er s: Wyat t Oi l , Col or ado.
" Dagny, have you hear d about t hat di scussi on at t he st r uct ur al st eel
wor ker s' uni on meet i ng i n Det r oi t ?"
" No. What di scussi on?"
" I t was i n al l t he newspaper s. They debat ed whet her t hei r member s shoul d
or shoul d not be per mi t t ed t o wor k wi t h Rear den Met al .
They di dn' t r each a deci si on, but t hat was enough f or t he cont r act or who
was goi ng t o t ake a chance on Rear den Met al . He cancel l ed hi s or der , but
f ast ! . . . What i f . . . what i f ever ybody deci des agai nst i t ?"
" Let t hem. "
A dot of l i ght was r i si ng i n a st r ai ght l i ne t o t he t op of an i nvi si bl e
t ower . I t was t he el evat or of a gr eat hot el . The car went past t he bui l di ng' s
al l ey. Men wer e movi ng a heavy, cr at ed pi ece of equi pment f r oma t r uck i nt o
t he basement . She saw t he name on t he cr at e: Ni el sen Mot or s, Col or ado.
" I don' t l i ke t hat r esol ut i on passed by t he convent i on of t he gr ade school
t eacher s of New Mexi co, " sai d Taggar t .
" What r esol ut i on?"
" They r esol ved t hat i t was t hei r opi ni on t hat chi l dr en shoul d not be
per mi t t ed t o r i de on t he new Ri o Nor t e Li ne of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al when
i t ' s compl et ed, because i t i s unsaf e. . . . They sai d i t speci f i cal l y, t he
new l i ne of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . I t was i n al l t he newspaper s. I t ' s
t er r i bl e publ i ci t y f or us. . . . Dagny, what do you t hi nk we shoul d do t o
answer t hem?"
" Run t he f i r st t r ai n on t he new Ri o Nor t e Li ne. "
He r emai ned si l ent f or a l ong t i me. He l ooked st r angel y dej ect ed.
She coul d not under st and i t : he di d not gl oat , he di d not use t he opi ni ons
of hi s f avor i t e aut hor i t i es agai nst her , he seemed t o be pl eadi ng f or
r eassur ance.
A car f l ashed past t hem; she had a moment ' s gl i mpse of power a smoot h,
conf i dent mot i on and a shi ni ng body. She knew t he make of t he car : Hammond,
Col or ado.
" Dagny, ar e we . . . ar e we goi ng t o have t hat l i ne bui l t . . . on t i me?"
I t was st r ange t o hear a not e of pl ai n emot i on i n hi s voi ce, t he
uncompl i cat ed sound of ani mal f ear .
" God hel p t hi s ci t y, i f we don' t ! " she answer ed.
The car t ur ned a cor ner . Above t he bl ack r oof s of t he ci t y, she saw t he
page of t he cal endar , hi t by t he whi t e gl ar e of a spot l i ght . I t sai d: J anuar y
29.
" Dan Conway i s a bast ar d! "
The wor ds br oke out suddenl y, as i f he coul d not hol d t hemany l onger .
She l ooked at hi m, bewi l der ed. " Why?"
" He r ef used t o sel l us t he Col or ado t r ack of t he Phoeni x- Dur ango. "
" You di dn' t " She had t o st op. She st ar t ed agai n, keepi ng her voi ce f l at
i n or der not t o scr eam. " You haven' t appr oached hi mabout i t ?"
" Of cour se I have! "
" You di dn' t expect hi m. . . t o sel l i t . . . t o you?"
" Why not ?" Hi s hyst er i cal l y bel l i ger ent manner was back, " I of f er ed hi m
mor e t han anybody el se di d. We woul dn' t have had t he expense of t ear i ng i t up
and car t i ng i t of f , we coul d have used i t as i s. And i t woul d have been
wonder f ul publ i ci t y f or ust hat we' r e gi vi ng up t he Rear den Met al t r ack i n
def er ence t o publ i c opi ni on. I t woul d have been wor t h ever y penny of i t i n
good wi l l ! But t he son of a bi t ch r ef used. He' s act ual l y decl ar ed t hat not a
f oot of r ai l woul d be sol d t o Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . He' s sel l i ng i t
pi ecemeal t o any st r ay comer , t o one- hor se r ai l r oads i n Ar kansas or Nor t h
Dakot a, sel l i ng i t at a l oss, way under what I of f er ed hi m, t he bast ar d!
Doesn' t even want t o t ake a pr of i t ! And you shoul d see t hose vul t ur es
f l ocki ng t o hi m! They know t hey' d never have a chance t o get r ai l anywher e
el se!
She sat , her head bowed. She coul d not bear t o l ook at hi m.
" I t hi nk i t ' s cont r ar y t o t he i nt ent of t he Ant i - dog- cat - dog Rul e, " he
sai d angr i l y. " I t hi nk i t was t he i nt ent and pur pose of t he Nat i onal Al l i ance
of Rai l r oads t o pr ot ect t he essent i al syst ems, not t he j er kwat er s of Nor t h
Dakot a. But I can' t get t he Al l i ance t o vot e on i t now, because t hey' r e al l
down t her e, out bi ddi ng one anot her f or t hat r ai l ! "
She sai d sl owl y, as i f she wi shed i t wer e possi bl e t o wear gl oves t o
handl e t he wor ds, " I see why you want me t o def end Rear den Met al . "
" I don' t know what you' r e"
" Shut up, J i m, " she sai d qui et l y.
He r emai ned si l ent f or a moment . Then he dr ew hi s head back and dr awl ed
def i ant l y, " You' d bet t er do a good j ob of def endi ng Rear den Met al , because
Ber t r amScudder can get pr et t y sar cast i c. "
" Ber t r amScudder ?"
" He' s goi ng t o be one of t he speaker s t oni ght . "
" One of t he . . . You di dn' t t el l me t her e wer e t o be ot her speaker s. "
" Wel l . . . I . . . What di f f er ence does t hat make? You' r e not af r ai d of
hi m, ar e you?"
" The New Yor k Busi ness Counci l . . . and you i nvi t e Ber t r amScudder ?"
" Why not ? Don' t you t hi nk i t ' s smar t ? He doesn' t have any har d f eel i ngs
t owar d busi nessmen, not r eal l y. He' s accept ed t he i nvi t at i on.
We want t o be br oad- mi nded and hear al l si des and maybe wi n hi mover . . .
. Wel l , what ar e you st ar i ng at ? You' l l be abl e t o beat hi m, won' t you?"
" . . . t o beat hi m?"
" On t he ai r . I t ' s goi ng t o be a r adi o br oadcast . You' r e goi ng t o debat e
wi t h hi mt he quest i on: ' I s Rear den Met al a l et hal pr oduct of gr eed?' "
She l eaned f or war d. She pul l ed open t he gl ass par t i t i on of t he f r ont seat ,
or der i ng, " St op t he car ! "
She di d not hear what Taggar t was sayi ng. She not i ced di ml y t hat hi s voi ce
r ose t o scr eams: " They' r e wai t i ng! . . . Fi ve hundr ed peopl e at t he di nner ,
and a nat i onal hook- up! . . . You can' t do t hi s t o me! "
He sei zed her ar m, scr eami ng, " But why?"
" You goddamn f ool , do you t hi nk I consi der t hei r quest i on debat abl e?"
The car st opped, she l eaped out and r an.
The f i r st t i l i ng she not i ced af t er a whi l e, was her sl i pper s. She was
wal ki ng sl owl y, nor mal l y, and i t was st r ange t o f eel i ced st one under t he
t hi n sol es of bl ack sat i n sandal s. She pushed her hai r back, of f her
f or ehead, and f el t dr ops of sl eet mel t i ng on her pal m.
She was qui et now; t he bl i ndi ng anger was gone; she f el t not hi ng but a
gr ay wear i ness. Her head ached a l i t t l e, she r eal i zed t hat she was hungr y and
r emember ed t hat she was t o have had di nner at t he Busi ness Counci l . She
wal ked on. She di d not want t o eat . She t hought she woul d get a cup of cof f ee
somewher e, t hen t ake a cab home.
She gl anced ar ound her . Ther e wer e no cabs i n si ght . She di d not know t he
nei ghbor hood. I t di d not seemt o be a good one. She saw an empt y st r et ch of
space acr oss t he st r eet , an abandoned par k enci r cl ed by a j agged l i ne t hat
began as di st ant skyscr aper s and came down t o f act or y chi mneys; she saw a f ew
l i ght s i n t he wi ndows of di l api dat ed houses, a f ew smal l , gr i my shops cl osed
f or t he ni ght , and t he f og of t he East Ri ver t wo bl ocks away.
She st ar t ed back t owar d t he cent er of t he ci t y. The bl ack shape of a r ui n
r ose bef or e her . I t had been an of f i ce bui l di ng, l ong ago; she saw t he sky
t hr ough t he naked st eel skel et on and t he angul ar r emnant s of t he br i cks t hat
had cr umbl ed. I n t he shadow of t he r ui n, l i ke a bl ade of gr ass f i ght i ng t o
l i ve at t he r oot s of a dead gi ant , t her e st ood a smal l di ner . I t s wi ndows
wer e a br i ght band of gl ass and l i ght . She went i n.
Ther e was a cl ean count er i nsi de, wi t h a shi ni ng st r i p of chr omi umat t he
edges. Ther e was a br i ght met al boi l er and t he odor of cof f ee. A f ew
der el i ct s sat at t he count er , a husky, el der l y man st ood behi nd i t , t he
sl eeves of hi s cl ean whi t e shi r t r ol l ed at t he el bows. The war mai r made her
r eal i ze, i n si mpl e gr at i t ude, t hat she had been col d. She pul l ed her bl ack
vel vet cape t i ght about her and sat down at t he count er .
" A cup of cof f ee, pl ease, " she sai d.
The men l ooked at her wi t hout cur i osi t y. They di d not seemast oni shed t o
see a woman i n eveni ng cl ot hes ent er a sl umdi ner ; not hi ng ast oni shed anyone,
t hese days. The owner t ur ned i mpassi vel y t o f i l l her or der ; t her e was, i n hi s
st ol i d i ndi f f er ence, t he ki nd of mer ci f ul ness t hat asks no quest i ons.
She coul d not t el l whet her t he f our at t he count er wer e beggar s or Wor ki ng
men; nei t her cl ot hes nor manner showed t he di f f er ence, t hese days. The owner
pl aced a mug of cof f ee bef or e her . She cl osed bot h hands about i t , f i ndi ng
enj oyment i n i t s war mt h.
She gl anced ar ound her and t hought , i n habi t ual pr of essi onal cal cul at i on,
how wonder f ul i t was t hat one coul d buy so much f or a di me.
Her eyes moved f r omt he st ai nl ess st eel cyl i nder of t he cof f ee boi l er t o
t he cast - i r on gr i ddl e, t o t he gl ass shel ves, t o t he enamel ed si nk, t o t he
chr omi umbl ades of a mi xer . The owner was maki ng t oast . She f ound pl easur e i n
wat chi ng t he i ngenui t y of an open bel t t hat moved sl owl y, car r yi ng sl i ces of
br ead past gl owi ng el ect r i c coi l s. Then she saw t he name st amped on t he
t oast er : Mar sh, Col or ado.
Her head f el l down on her ar mon t he count er .
" I t ' s no use, l ady, " sai d t he ol d bumbesi de her .
She had t o r ai se her head. She had t o smi l e i n amusement , at hi mand at
her sel f .
" I t i sn' t ?" she asked.
" No. For get i t . You' r e onl y f ool i ng your sel f . "
" About what ?"
" About anyt hi ng bei ng wor t h a damn. I t ' s dust , l ady, al l of i t , dust and
bl ood. Don' t bel i eve t he dr eams t hey pump you f ul l of , and you won' t get
hur t . "
" What dr eams?"
" The st or i es t hey t el l you when you' r e youngabout t he human spi r i t . Ther e
i sn' t any human spi r i t . Man i s j ust a l ow- gr ade ani mal , wi t hout i nt el l ect ,
wi t hout soul , wi t hout vi r t ues or mor al val ues. An ani mal wi t h onl y t wo
capaci t i es: t o eat and t o r epr oduce. "
Hi s gaunt f ace, wi t h st ar i ng eyes and shr unken f eat ur es t hat had been
del i cat e, st i l l r et ai ned a t r ace of di st i nct i on. He l ooked l i ke t he hul k of
an evangel i st or a pr of essor of est het i cs who had spent year s i n
cont empl at i on i n obscur e museums. She wonder ed what had dest r oyed hi m, what
er r or on t he way coul d br i ng a man t o t hi s.
" You go t hr ough l i f e l ooki ng f or beaut y, f or gr eat ness, f or some subl i me
achi evement , " he sai d. " And what do you f i nd? A l ot of t r i ck machi ner y f or
maki ng uphol st er ed car s or i nner - spr i ng mat t r esses. "
" What ' s wr ong wi t h i nner - spr i ng mat t r esses?" sai d a man who l ooked l i ke a
t r uck dr i ver . " Don' t mi nd hi m, l ady. He l i kes t o hear hi msel f t al k. He don' t
mean no har m. "
" Man' s onl y t al ent i s an i gnobl e cunni ng f or sat i sf yi ng t he needs of hi s
body, " sai d t he ol d bum. " No i nt el l i gence i s r equi r ed f or t hat .
Don' t bel i eve t he st or i es about man' s mi nd, hi s spi r i t , hi s i deal s, hi s
sense of unl i mi t ed ambi t i on. "
" I don' t , " sai d a young boy who sat at t he end of t he count er . He wor e a
coat r i pped acr oss one shoul der ; hi s squar e- shaped mout h seemed f or med by t he
bi t t er ness of a l i f et i me.
" Spi r i t ?" sai d t he ol d bum. " Ther e' s no spi r i t i nvol ved i n manuf act ur i ng
or i n sex. Yet t hese ar e man' s onl y concer ns. Mat t er t hat ' s al l men know or
car e about . As wi t ness our gr eat i ndust r i est he onl y accompl i shment of our
al l eged ci vi l i zat i onbui l t by vul gar mat er i al i st s wi t h t he ai ms, t he
i nt er est s and t he mor al sense of hogs. I t doesn' t t ake any mor al i t y t o t ur n
out a t en- t on t r uck on an assembl y l i ne. "
" What i s mor al i t y?" she asked.
" J udgment t o di st i ngui sh r i ght and wr ong, vi si on t o see t he t r ut h, cour age
t o act upon i t , dedi cat i on t o t hat whi ch i s good, i nt egr i t y t o st and by t he
good at any pr i ce. But wher e does one f i nd i t ?"
The young boy made a sound t hat was hal f - chuckl e, hal f - sneer : " Who i s J ohn
Gal t ?"
She dr ank t he cof f ee, concer ned wi t h not hi ng but t he pl easur e of f eel i ng
as i f t he hot l i qui d wer e r evi vi ng t he ar t er i es of her body.
" I can t el l you, " sai d a smal l , shr i vel ed t r amp who wor e a cap pul l ed l ow
over hi s eyes. " I know. "
Nobody hear d hi mor pai d any at t ent i on. The young boy was wat chi ng Dagny
wi t h a ki nd of f i er ce, pur posel ess i nt ensi t y.
" You' r e not af r ai d, " he sai d t o her suddenl y, wi t hout expl anat i on, a f i at
st at ement i n a br usque, l i f el ess voi ce t hat had a not e of wonder .
She l ooked at hi m. " No, " she sai d, " I ' mnot . "
" I know who i s J ohn Gal t , " sai d t he t r amp. " I t ' s a secr et , but I know i t . "
" Who?" she asked wi t hout i nt er est .
" An expl or er , " sai d t he t r amp. " The gr eat est expl or er t hat ever l i ved. The
man who f ound t he f ount ai n of yout h. "
" Gi ve me anot her cup. Bl ack, " sai d t he ol d bum, pushi ng hi s cup acr oss t he
count er .
" J ohn Gal t spent year s l ooki ng f or i t . He cr ossed oceans, and he cr ossed
deser t s, and he went down i nt o f or got t en mi nes, mi l es under t he ear t h. But he
f ound i t on t he t op of a mount ai n. I t t ook hi mt en year s t o cl i mb t hat
mount ai n. I t br oke ever y bone i n hi s body, i t t or e t he ski n of f hi s hands, i t
made hi ml ose hi s home, hi s name, hi s l ove.
But he cl i mbed i t . He f ound t he f ount ai n of yout h, whi ch he want ed t o
br i ng down t o men. Onl y he never came back. "
" Why di dn' t he?" she asked.
" Because he f ound t hat i t coul dn' t be br ought down. "
The man who sat i n f r ont of Rear den' s desk had vague f eat ur es and a manner
devoi d of al l emphasi s, so t hat one coul d f or mno speci f i c i mage of hi s f ace
nor det ect t he dr i vi ng mot i ve of hi s per son. Hi s onl y mar k of di st i nct i on
seemed t o be a bul bous nose, a bi t t oo l ar ge f or t he r est of hi m; hi s manner
was meek, but i t conveyed a pr epost er ous hi nt , t he hi nt of a t hr eat
del i ber at el y kept f ur t i ve, yet i nt ended t o be r ecogni zed. Rear den coul d not
under st and t he pur pose of hi s vi si t . He was Dr . Pot t er , who hel d some
undef i ned posi t i on wi t h t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e.
" What do you want ?" Rear den asked f or t he t hi r d t i me.
" I t i s t he soci al aspect t hat I amaski ng you t o consi der , Mr .
Rear den, " t he man sai d sof t l y, " I ur ge you t o t ake not e of t he age we' r e
l i vi ng i n. Our economy i s not r eady f or i t . "
" For what ?"
" Our economy i s i n a st at e of ext r emel y pr ecar i ous equi l i br i um. We al l
have t o pool our ef f or t s t o save i t f r omcol l apse. "
" Wel l , what i s i t you want me t o do?"
" These ar e t he consi der at i ons whi ch I was asked t o cal l t o your at t ent i on.
I amf r omt he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e, Mr . Rear den. "
" You' ve sai d so bef or e. But what di d you wi sh t o see me about ?"
" The St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e does not hol d a f avor abl e opi ni on of Rear den
Met al . "
" You' ve sai d t hat , t oo. "
" I sn' t t hat a f act or whi ch you must t ake i nt o consi der at i on?"
" No. "
The l i ght was gr owi ng di mi n t he br oad wi ndows of t he of f i ce. The days
wer e shor t . Rear den saw t he i r r egul ar shadow of t he nose on t he man' s cheek,
and t he pal e eyes wat chi ng hi m; t he gl ance was vague, but i t s di r ect i on
pur posef ul .
" The St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e r epr esent s t he best br ai ns of t he count r y,
Mr . Rear den. "
" So I ' mt ol d. "
" Sur el y you do not want t o pi t your own j udgment agai nst t hei r s?"
" I do. "
The man l ooked at Rear den as i f pl eadi ng f or hel p, as i f Rear den had
br oken an unwr i t t en code whi ch demanded t hat he shoul d have under st ood l ong
ago. Rear den of f er ed no hel p.
" I s t hi s al l you want ed t o know?" he asked.
" I t ' s onl y a quest i on of t i me, Mr . Rear den, " t he man sai d pl acat i ngl y.
" J ust a t empor ar y del ay. J ust t o gi ve our economy a chance t o get st abi l i zed.
I f you' d onl y wai t f or a coupl e of year s"
Rear den chuckl ed, gai l y, cont empt uousl y. " So t hat ' s what you' r e af t er ?
Want me t o t ake Rear den Met al of f t he mar ket ? Why?"
" Onl y f or a f ew year s, Mr . Rear den. Onl y unt i l "
" Look, " sai d Rear den. " Now I ' l l ask you a quest i on: di d your sci ent i st s
deci de t hat Rear den Met al i s not what I cl ai mi t i s?"
" We have not commi t t ed our sel ves as t o t hat . "
" Di d t hey deci de i t ' s no good?"
" I t i s t he soci al i mpact of a pr oduct t hat must be consi der ed. We ar e
t hi nki ng i n t er ms of t he count r y as a whol e, we ar e concer ned wi t h t he publ i c
wel f ar e and t he t er r i bl e cr i si s of t he pr esent moment , whi ch"
" I s Rear den Met al good or not ?"
" I f we vi ew t he pi ct ur e f r omt he angl e of t he al ar mi ng gr owt h of
unempl oyment , whi ch at pr esent "
" I s Rear den Met al good?"
" At a t i me of desper at e st eel shor t age, we cannot af f or d t o per mi t t he
expansi on of a st eel company whi ch pr oduces t oo much, because i t mi ght t hr ow
out of busi ness t he compani es whi ch pr oduce t oo l i t t l e, t hus cr eat i ng an
unbal anced economy whi ch"
" Ar e you goi ng t o answer my quest i on?"
The man shr ugged. " Quest i ons of val ue ar e r el at i ve. I f Rear den Met al i s
not good, i t ' s a physi cal danger t o t he publ i c. I f i t i s good
i t ' s a soci al danger . "
" I f you have anyt hi ng t o say t o me about t he physi cal danger of Rear den
Met al , say i t . Dr op t he r est of i t . Fast . I don' t speak t hat l anguage. "
" But sur el y quest i ons of soci al wel f ar e"
" Dr op i t . "
The man l ooked bewi l der ed and l ost , as i f t he gr ound had been cut f r om
under hi s f eet . I n a moment , he asked hel pl essl y, " But what , t hen, i s your
chi ef concer n?"
" The mar ket . "
" How do you mean?"
" Ther e' s a mar ket f or Rear den Met al and I i nt end t o t ake f ul l advant age of
i t . "
" I sn' t t he mar ket somewhat hypot het i cal ? The publ i c r esponse t o your met al
has not been encour agi ng. Except f or t he or der f r omTaggar t Tr anscont i nent al ,
you haven' t obt ai ned any maj or "
" Wel l , t hen, i f you t hi nk t he publ i c won' t go f or i t , what ar e you
wor r yi ng about ?"
" I f t he publ i c doesn' t go f or i t , you wi l l t ake a heavy l oss, Mr .
Rear den. "
" That ' s my wor r y, not your s. "
" Wher eas, i f you adopt a mor e co- oper at i ve at t i t ude and agr ee t o wai t f or
a f ew year s"
" Why shoul d I wai t ?"
" But I bel i eve I have made i t cl ear t hat t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e does
not appr ove of t he appear ance of Rear den Met al on t he met al l ur gi cal scene at
t he pr esent t i me. "
" Why shoul d I gi ve a damn about t hat ?"
The man si ghed. " You ar e a ver y di f f i cul t man, Mr . Rear den. "
The sky of t he l at e af t er noon was gr owi ng heavy, as i f t hi ckeni ng agai nst
t he gl ass of t he wi ndowpanes. The out l i nes of t he man' s f i gur e seemed t o
di ssol ve i nt o a bl ob among t he shar p, st r ai ght pl anes of t he f ur ni t ur e.
" I gave you t hi s appoi nt ment , " sai d Rear den, " because you t ol d me t hat you
wi shed t o di scuss somet hi ng of ext r eme i mpor t ance. I f t hi s i s al l you had t o
say, you wi l l pl ease excuse me now. I amver y busy. "
The man set t l ed back i n hi s chai r . " I bel i eve you have spent t en year s of
r esear ch on Rear den Met al , " he sai d. " How much has i t cost you?"
Rear den gl anced up: he coul d not under st and t he dr i f t of t he quest i on, yet
t her e was an undi sgui sed pur posef ul ness i n t he man' s voi ce; t he voi ce had
har dened.
" One and a hal f mi l l i on dol l ar s, " sai d Rear den.
" How much wi l l you t ake f or i t ?"
Rear den had t o l et a moment pass. He coul d not bel i eve i t . " For what ?" he
asked, hi s voi ce l ow.
" For al l r i ght s t o Rear den Met al . "
" I t hi nk you had bet t er get out of her e, " ' sai d Rear den.
" Ther e i s no cal l f or such an at t i t ude. You ar e a busi nessman. I am
of f er i ng you a busi ness pr oposi t i on. You may name your own pr i ce. "
" The r i ght s t o Rear den Met al ar e not f or sal e. "
" I ami n a posi t i on t o speak of l ar ge sums of money. Gover nment money. "
Rear den sat wi t hout movi ng, t he muscl es of hi s cheeks pul l ed t i ght ; but
hi s gl ance was i ndi f f er ent , f ocused onl y by t he f ai nt pul l of mor bi d
cur i osi t y.
" You ar e a busi nessman, Mr . Rear den. Thi s i s a pr oposi t i on whi ch you
cannot af f or d t o i gnor e. On t he one hand, you ar e gambl i ng agai nst gr eat
odds, you ar e bucki ng an unf avor abl e publ i c opi ni on, you r un a good chance of
l osi ng ever y penny you put i nt o Rear den Met al . On t he ot her hand, we can
r el i eve you of t he r i sk and t he r esponsi bi l i t y, at an i mpr essi ve pr of i t , an
i mmedi at e pr of i t , much l ar ger t han you coul d hope t o r eal i ze f r omt he sal e of
t he met al f or t he next t went y year s. "
" The St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e i s a sci ent i f i c est abl i shment , not a
commer ci al one, " sai d Rear den. " What i s i t t hat t hey' r e so af r ai d of ?"
" You ar e usi ng ugl y, unnecessar y wor ds, Mr . Rear den. I amendeavor i ng t o
suggest t hat we keep t he di scussi on on a f r i endl y pl ane. The mat t er i s
ser i ous. "
" I ambegi nni ng t o see t hat . "
" We ar e of f er i ng you a bl ank check on what i s, as you r eal i ze, an
unl i mi t ed account . What el se can you want ? Name your pr i ce. "
" The sal e of t he r i ght s t o Rear den Met al i s not open t o di scussi on.
I f you have anyt hi ng el se t o say, pl ease say i t and l eave. "
The man l eaned back, l ooked at Rear den i ncr edul ousl y and asked, " What ar e
you af t er ?"
" I ? What do you mean?"
" You' r e i n busi ness t o make money, ar en' t you?"
" I am. "
" You want t o make as bi g a pr of i t as possi bl e, don' t you?"
" I do. "
" Then why do you want t o st r uggl e f or year s, squeezi ng out your gai ns i n
t he f or mof penni es per t onr at her t han accept a f or t une f or Rear den Met al ?
Why?"
" Because i t ' s mi ne. Do you under st and t he wor d?"
The man si ghed and r ose t o hi s f eet . " I hope you wi l l not have cause t o
r egr et your deci si on, Mr . Rear den, " he sai d; t he t one of hi s voi ce was
suggest i ng t he opposi t e.
" Good day, " sai d Rear den.
" I t hi nk I must t el l you t hat t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e may i ssue an
of f i ci al st at ement condemni ng Rear den Met al . "
' That i s t hei r pr i vi l ege. "
" Such a st at ement woul d make t hi ngs mor e di f f i cul t f or you. "
" Undoubt edl y. "
" As t o f ur t her consequences . . . " The man shr ugged. " Thi s i s not t he day
f or peopl e who r ef use t o co- oper at e. I n t hi s age, one needs f r i ends. You ar e
not a popul ar man, Mr . Rear den. "
" What ar e you t r yi ng t o say?"
" Sur el y, you under st and. "
" I don' t . "
" Soci et y i s a compl ex st r uct ur e. Ther e ar e so many di f f er ent i ssues
awai t i ng deci si on, hangi ng by a t hi n t hr ead. We can never t el l when one such
i ssue may he deci ded and what may be t he deci si ve f act or i n a del i cat e
bal ance. Do I make mysel f cl ear ?"
" No. "
The r ed f l ame of pour ed st eel shot t hr ough t he t wi l i ght . An or ange gl ow,
t he col or of deep gol d, hi t t he wal l behi nd Rear den' s desk.
The gl ow moved gent l y acr oss hi s f or ehead. Hi s f ace had an unmovi ng
ser eni t y.
" The St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e i s a gover nment or gani zat i on, Mr .
Rear den. Ther e ar e cer t ai n bi l l s pendi ng i n t he Legi sl at ur e, whi ch may be
passed at any moment . Busi nessmen ar e pecul i ar l y vul ner abl e t hese days. I am
sur e you under st and me. "
Rear den r ose t o hi s f eet . He was smi l i ng. He l ooked as i f al l t ensi on had
l ef t hi m.
" No, Dr . Pot t er , " he sai d, " I don' t under st and. I f I di d, I ' d have t o ki l l
you. "
The man wal ked t o t he door , t hen st opped and l ooked at Rear den i n a way
whi ch, f or once, was si mpl e human cur i osi t y. Rear den st ood mot i onl ess agai nst
t he movi ng gl ow on t he wal l ; he st ood casual l y, hi s hands i n hi s pocket s.
" Woul d you t el l me, " t he man asked, " j ust bet ween us, i t ' s onl y my
per sonal cur i osi t ywhy ar e you doi ng t hi s?"
Rear den answer ed qui et l y, " I ' l l t el l you. You won' t under st and. You see,
i t ' s because Rear den Met al i s good. "
Dagny coul d not under st and Mr . Mowen' s mot i ve. The Amal gamat ed Swi t ch and
Si gnal Company had suddenl y gi ven not i ce t hat t hey woul d not compl et e her
or der . Not hi ng had happened, she coul d f i nd no cause f or i t and t hey woul d
gi ve no expl anat i on.
She had hur r i ed t o Connect i cut , t o see Mr . Mowen i n per son, but t he sol e
r esul t of t he i nt er vi ew was a heavi er , gr ayer wei ght of bewi l der ment i n her
mi nd. Mr . Mowen st at ed t hat he woul d not cont i nue t o make swi t ches of Rear den
Met al . For sol e expl anat i on, he sai d, avoi di ng her eyes, " Too many peopl e
don' t l i ke i t . "
" What ? Rear den Met al or your maki ng t he swi t ches?"
" Bot h, I guess . . . Peopl e don' t l i ke i t . . . I don' t want any t r oubl e. "
" What ki nd of t r oubl e?"
" Any ki nd. "
" Have you hear d a si ngl e t hi ng agai nst Rear den Met al t hat ' s t r ue?"
" Aw, who knows what ' s t r ue? . . . That r esol ut i on of t he Nat i onal Counci l
of Met al I ndust r i es sai d"
" Look, you' ve wor ked wi t h met al s al l your l i f e. For t he l ast f our mont hs,
you' ve wor ked wi t h Rear den Met al . Don' t you know t hat i t ' s t he gr eat est t hi ng
you' ve ever handl ed?" He di d not answer . " Don' t you know i t ?" He l ooked away.
" Don' t you know what ' s t r ue?"
" Hel l , Mi ss Taggar t , I ' mi n busi ness, I ' monl y a l i t t l e guy. I j ust want
t o make money. "
" How do you t hi nk one makes i t ?"
But she knew t hat i t was usel ess. Looki ng at Mr . Mowen' s f ace, at t he eyes
whi ch she coul d not cat ch, she f el t as she had f el t once on a l onel y sect i on
of t r ack, when a st or mbl ew down t he t el ephone wi r es: t hat communi cat i ons
wer e cut and t hat wor ds had become sounds whi ch t r ansmi t t ed not hi ng.
I t was usel ess t o ar gue, she t hought , and t o wonder about peopl e who woul d
nei t her r ef ut e an ar gument nor accept i t . Si t t i ng r est l essl y i n t he t r ai n, on
her way back t o New Yor k, she t ol d her sel f t hat Mr .
Mowen di d not mat t er , t hat not hi ng mat t er ed now, except f i ndi ng somebody
el se t o manuf act ur e t he swi t ches. She was wr est l i ng wi t h a l i st of names i n
her mi nd, wonder i ng who woul d be easi est t o convi nce, t o beg or t o br i be.
She knew, t he moment she ent er ed t he ant er oomof her of f i ce, t hat
somet hi ng had happened. She saw t he unnat ur al st i l l ness, wi t h t he f aces of
her st af f t ur ned t o her as i f her ent r ance wer e t he moment t hey had al l
wai t ed f or , hoped f or and dr eaded.
Eddi e Wi l l er s r ose t o hi s f eet and st ar t ed t owar d t he door of her of f i ce,
as i f knowi ng t hat she woul d under st and and f ol l ow. She had seen hi s f ace. No
mat t er what i t was, she t hought , she wi shed i t had not hur t hi mqui t e so
badl y.
" The St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e, " he sai d qui et l y, when t hey wer e al one i n
her of f i ce, " has i ssued a st at ement war ni ng peopl e agai nst t he use of Rear den
Met al . " He added, " I t was on t he r adi o. I t ' s i n t he af t er noon paper s. "
" What di d t hey say?"
" Dagny, t hey di dn' t say i t ! . . . They haven' t r eal l y sai d i t , yet i t ' s
t her eand i t i sn' t . That ' s what ' s monst r ous about i t . "
Hi s ef f or t was f ocused on keepi ng hi s voi ce qui et ; he coul d not cont r ol
hi s wor ds. The wor ds wer e f or ced out of hi mby t he unbel i evi ng.
bewi l der ed i ndi gnat i on of a chi l d scr eami ng i n deni al at hi s f i r st
encount er wi t h evi l .
" What di d t hey say, Eddi e?"
" They . . . You' d have t o r ead i t . " He poi nt ed t o t he newspaper he had
l ef t on her desk. " They haven' t sai d t hat Rear den Met al i s bad.
They haven' t sai d t hat i t ' s unsaf e. What t hey' ve done i s . . . " Hi s hands
spr ead and dr opped i n a gest ur e of f ut i l i t y.
She saw at a gl ance what t hey had done. She saw t he sent ences: " I t may be
possi bl e t hat af t er a per i od of heavy usage, a sudden f i ssur e may appear ,
t hough t he l engt h of t hi s per i od cannot be pr edi ct ed. . . . The possi bi l i t y
of a mol ecul ar r eact i on, at pr esent unknown, cannot be ent i r el y di scount ed. .
. . Al t hough t he t ensi l e st r engt h of t he met al i s obvi ousl y demonst r abl e,
cer t ai n quest i ons i n r egar d t o i t s behavi or under unusual st r ess ar e not t o
be r ul ed out .
. . . Al t hough t her e i s no evi dence t o suppor t t he cont ent i on t hat t he use
of t he met al shoul d be pr ohi bi t ed, a f ur t her st udy of i t s pr oper t i es woul d be
of val ue. "
" We can' t f i ght i t . I t can' t be answer ed, " Eddi e was sayi ng sl owl y.
" We can' t demand a r et r act i on. We can' t show t hemour t est s or pr ove
anyt hi ng. They' ve sai d not hi ng. They haven' t sai d a t hi ng t hat coul d be
r ef ut ed and embar r ass t hempr of essi onal l y. I t ' s t he j ob of a cowar d.
You' d expect i t f r omsome con- man or bl ackmai l er . But , Dagny! I t ' s t he
St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e! "
She nodded si l ent l y. She st ood, her eyes f i xed on some poi nt beyond t he
wi ndow. At t he end of a dar k st r eet , t he bul bs of an el ect r i c si gn kept goi ng
on and of f , as i f wi nki ng at her mal i ci ousl y.
Eddi e gat her ed hi s st r engt h and sai d i n t he t one of a mi l i t ar y r epor t ,
" Taggar t st ock has cr ashed. Ben Neal y qui t . The Nat i onal Br ot her hood of Road
and Tr ack Wor ker s has f or bi dden i t s member s t o wor k on t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne.
J i mhas l ef t t own. "
She t ook her hat and coat of f , wal ked acr oss t he r oomand sl owl y, ver y
del i ber at el y sat down at her desk.
She not i ced a l ar ge br own envel ope l yi ng bef or e her ; i t bor e t he
l et t er head of Rear den St eel .
" That came by speci al messenger , r i ght af t er you l ef t , " sai d Eddi e.
She put her hand on t he envel ope, but di d not open i t . She knew what i t
was: t he dr awi ngs of t he br i dge.
Af t er a whi l e, she asked, " Who i ssued t hat st at ement ?"
Eddi e gl anced at her and smi l ed br i ef l y, bi t t er l y, shaki ng hi s head.
" No, " he sai d. " I t hought of t hat , t oo. I cal l ed t he I nst i t ut e l ong
di st ance and asked t hem. No, i t was i ssued by t he of f i ce of Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s,
t hei r co- or di nat or . "
She sai d not hi ng.
" But st i l l ! Dr . St adl er i s t he head of t hat I nst i t ut e. He i s t he
I nst i t ut e. He must have known about i t . He per mi t t ed i t . I f i t ' s done, i t ' s
done i n hi s name . . . Dr . Rober t St adl er . . . Do you r emember . . . when we
wer e i n col l ege . . . how we used t o t al k about t he gr eat names i n t he wor l d
. . . t he men of pur e i nt el l ect . . . and we al ways chose hi s name as one of
t hem, and" He st opped. " I ' msor r y, Dagny. I know i t ' s no use sayi ng
anyt hi ng. Onl y"
She sat , her hand pr essed t o t he br own envel ope.
" Dagny, " he asked, hi s voi ce l ow, " what i s happeni ng t o peopl e?
Why di d t hat st at ement succeed? I t ' s such an obvi ous smear - j ob, so obvi ous
and so r ot t en. You' d t hi nk a decent per son woul d t hr ow i t i n t he gut t er . How
coul d" hi s voi ce was br eaki ng i n gent l e, desper at e, r ebel l i ous anger " how
coul d t hey accept i t ? Di dn' t t hey r ead i t ?
Di dn' t t hey see? Don' t t hey t hi nk? Dagny! What i s i t i n peopl e t hat l et s
t hemdo t hi sand how can we l i ve wi t h i t ?"
" Qui et , Eddi e, " she sai d, " qui et . Don' t be af r ai d. "
The bui l di ng of t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e st ood over a r i ver of New
Hampshi r e, on a l onel y hi l l si de, hal f way bet ween t he r i ver and t he sky. Fr om
a di st ance, i t l ooked l i ke a sol i t ar y monument i n a vi r gi n f or est . The t r ees
wer e car ef ul l y pl ant ed, t he r oads wer e l ai d out as a par k, t he r oof t ops of a
smal l t own coul d be seen i n a val l ey some mi l es away. But not hi ng had been
al l owed t o come t oo cl ose and det r act f r omt he bui l di ng' s aust er i t y.
The whi t e mar bl e of t he wal l s gave i t a cl assi cal gr andeur ; t he
composi t i on of i t s r ect angul ar masses gave i t t he cl eanl i ness and beaut y of a
moder n pl ant . I t was an i nspi r ed st r uct ur e. Fr omacr oss t he r i ver , peopl e
l ooked at i t wi t h r ever ence and t hought of i t as a monument t o a l i vi ng man
whose char act er had t he nobi l i t y of t he bui l di ng' s l i nes.
Over t he ent r ance, a dedi cat i on was cut i nt o t he mar bl e: " To t he f ear l ess
mi nd. To t he i nvi ol at e t r ut h. " I n a qui et ai sl e, i n a bar e cor r i dor , a smal l
br ass pl at e, such as dozens of ot her name pl at es on ot her door s, sai d: Dr .
Rober t St adl er .
At t he age of t went y- seven, Dr . Rober t St adl er had wr i t t en a t r eat i se on
cosmi c r ays, whi ch demol i shed most of t he t heor i es hel d by t he sci ent i st s who
pr eceded hi m. Those who f ol l owed, f ound hi s achi evement somewher e at t he base
of any l i ne of i nqui r y t hey under t ook.
At t he age of t hi r t y, he was r ecogni zed as t he gr eat est physi ci st of hi s
t i me. At t hi r t y- t wo, he became head of t he Depar t ment of Physi cs of t he
Pat r i ck Henr y Uni ver si t y, i n t he days when t he gr eat Uni ver si t y st i l l
deser ved i t s gl or y. I t was of Dr . Rober t St adl er t hat a wr i t er had sai d:
" Per haps, among t he phenomena of t he uni ver se whi ch he i s st udyi ng, none i s
so mi r acul ous as t he br ai n of Dr . Rober t St adl er hi msel f . " I t was Dr . Rober t
St adl er who had once cor r ect ed a st udent : " Fr ee sci ent i f i c i nqui r y? The f i r st
adj ect i ve i s r edundant . "
At t he age of f or t y, Dr . Rober t St adl er addr essed t he nat i on, endor si ng
t he est abl i shment of a St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e. " Set sci ence f r ee of t he r ul e
of t he dol l ar , " he pl eaded. The i ssue had hung i n t he bal ance; an obscur e
gr oup of sci ent i st s had qui et l y f or ced a bi l l t hr ough i t s l ong way t o t he
f l oor of t he Legi sl at ur e; t her e had been some publ i c hesi t at i on about t he
bi l l , some doubt , an uneasi ness no one coul d def i ne. The name of Dr . Rober t
St adl er act ed upon t he count r y l i ke t he cosmi c r ays he st udi ed: i t pi er ced
any bar r i er . The nat i on bui l t t he whi t e mar bl e edi f i ce as a per sonal pr esent
t o one of i t s gr eat est men.
Dr . St adl er ' s of f i ce at t he I nst i t ut e was a smal l r oomt hat l ooked l i ke
t he of f i ce of t he bookkeeper of an unsuccessf ul f i r m. Ther e was n cheap desk
of ugl y yel l ow oak, a f i l i ng cabi net , t wo chai r s, and a bl ackboar d chal ked
wi t h mat hemat i cal f or mul as. Si t t i ng on one of t he chai r s agai nst a bl ank
wal l , Dagny t hought t hat t he of f i ce had an ai r of ost ent at i on and el egance,
t oget her : ost ent at i on, because i t seemed i nt ended t o suggest t hat t he owner
was gr eat enough t o per mi t hi msel f such a set t i ng; el egance, because he t r ul y
needed not hi ng el se.
She had met Dr . St adl er on a f ew occasi ons, at banquet s gi ven by l eadi ng
busi nessmen or gr eat engi neer i ng soci et i es, i n honor of some sol emn cause or
anot her . She had at t ended t he occasi ons as r el uct ant l y as he di d, and had
f ound t hat he l i ked t o t al k t o her . " Mi ss Taggar t , "
he had sai d t o her once, " I never expect t o encount er i nt el l i gence.
That I shoul d f i nd i t her e i s such an ast oni shi ng r el i ef ! " She had come t o
hi s of f i ce, r emember i ng t hat sent ence. She sat , wat chi ng hi mi n t he manner of
a sci ent i st : assumi ng not hi ng, di scar di ng emot i on, seeki ng onl y t o obser ve
and t o under st and.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d gai l y, " I ' mcur i ous about you, I ' mcur i ous
whenever anyt hi ng upset s a pr ecedent . As a r ul e, vi si t or s ar e a pai nf ul dut y
t o me. I ' mf r ankl y ast oni shed t hat I shoul d f eel such a si mpl e pl easur e i n
seei ng you her e. Do you know what i t ' s l i ke t o f eel suddenl y t hat one can
t al k wi t hout t he st r ai n of t r yi ng t o f or ce some sor t of under st andi ng out of
a vacuum?"
He sat on t he edge of hi s desk, hi s manner gai l y i nf or mal . He was not
t al l , and hi s sl ender ness gave hi man ai r of yout hf ul ener gy, al most of
boyi sh zest . Hi s t hi n f ace was agel ess; i t was a homel y f ace, but t he gr eat
f or ehead and t he l ar ge gr ay eyes hel d such an ar r est i ng i nt el l i gence t hat one
coul d not i ce not hi ng el se. Ther e wer e wr i nkl es of humor i n t he cor ner s of t he
eyes, and f ai nt l i nes of bi t t er ness i n t he cor ner s of t he mout h. He di d not
l ook l i ke a man i n hi s ear l y f i f t i es; t he sl i ght l y gr ayi ng hai r was hi s onl y
si gn of age.
" Tel l me mor e about your sel f , " he sai d. " I al ways meant t o ask you what
you' r e doi ng i n such an unl i kel y car eer as heavy i ndust r y and how you can
st and t hose peopl e. "
" I cannot t ake t oo much of your t i me, Dr . St adl er . " She spoke wi t h pol i t e,
i mper sonal pr eci si on. " And t he mat t er I came t o di scuss i s ext r emel y
i mpor t ant . "
He l aughed. " Ther e' s a si gn of t he busi nessmanwant i ng t o come t o t he
poi nt at once. Wel l , by al l means. But don' t wor r y about my t i mei t ' s your s.
Now, what was i t you sai d you want ed t o di scuss?
Oh yes. Rear den Met al . Not exact l y one of t he subj ect s on whi ch I ' mbest
i nf or med, but i f t her e' s anyt hi ng I can do f or you" Hi s hand moved i n a
gest ur e of i nvi t at i on.
" Do you know t he st at ement i ssued by t hi s I nst i t ut e i n r egar d t o Rear den
Met al ?"
He f r owned sl i ght l y. " Yes, I ' ve hear d about i t . "
" Have you r ead i t ?"
" No. "
" I t was i nt ended t o pr event t he use of Rear den Met al . "
" Yes, yes, I gat her ed t hat much.
" Coul d you t el l me why?"
He spr ead hi s hands; t hey wer e at t r act i ve handsl ong and bony, beaut i f ul
i n t hei r suggest i on of ner vous ener gy and st r engt h. " I r eal l y woul dn' t know.
That i s t he pr ovi nce of Dr . Fer r i s. I ' msur e he had hi s r easons. Woul d you
l i ke t o speak t o Dr . Fer r i s?"
" No. Ar e you f ami l i ar wi t h t he met al l ur gi cal nat ur e of Rear den Met al , Dr .
St adl er ?"
" Why, yes, a l i t t l e. But t el l me, why ar e you concer ned about i t ?"
A f l i cker of ast oni shment r ose and di ed i n her eyes; she answer ed wi t hout
change i n t he i mper sonal t one of her voi ce, " I ambui l di ng a br anch l i ne wi t h
r ai l s of Rear den Met al , whi ch"
" Oh, but of cour se! I di d hear somet hi ng about i t . You must f or gi ve me, I
don' t r ead t he newspaper s as r egul ar l y as I shoul d. I t ' s your r ai l r oad t hat ' s
bui l di ng t hat new br anch, i sn' t i t ?"
" The exi st ence of my r ai l r oad depends upon t he compl et i on of t hat br anch
and, I t hi nk, " event ual l y, t he exi st ence of t hi s count r y wi l l depend on i t as
wel l . "
The wr i nkl es of amusement deepened about hi s eyes. " Can you make such a
st at ement wi t h posi t i ve assur ance, Mi ss Taggar t ? I coul dn' t . "
" I n t hi s case?"
" I n any case. Nobody can t el l what t he cour se of a count r y' s f ut ur e may
be. I t i s not a mat t er of cal cul abl e t r ends, but a chaos subj ect t o t he r ul e
of t he moment , i n whi ch anyt hi ng i s possi bl e. "
" Do you t hi nk t hat pr oduct i on i s necessar y t o t he exi st ence of a count r y,
Dr . St adl er ?"
" Why, yes, yes, of cour se. "
" The bui l di ng of our br anch l i ne has been st opped by t he st at ement of t hi s
I nst i t ut e. "
He di d not smi l e and he di d not answer .
" Does t hat st at ement r epr esent your concl usi on about t he nat ur e of Rear den
Met al ?" she asked.
" I have sai d t hat I have not r ead i t . " Ther e was an edge of shar pness i n
hi s voi ce.
She opened her bag, t ook out a newspaper cl i ppi ng and ext ended i t t o hi m.
" Woul d you r ead i t and t el l me whet her t hi s i s a l anguage whi ch sci ence may
pr oper l y speak?"
He gl anced t hr ough t he cl i ppi ng, smi l ed cont empt uousl y and t ossed i t asi de
wi t h a gest ur e of di st ast e. " Di sgust i ng, i sn' t i t ?" he sai d. " But what can
you do when you deal wi t h peopl e?"
She l ooked at hi m, not under st andi ng. " You do not appr ove of t hat
st at ement ?"
He shr ugged. " My appr oval or di sappr oval woul d be i r r el evant . "
" Have you f or med a concl usi on of your own about Rear den Met al ?"
" Wel l , met al l ur gy i s not exact l ywhat shal l we say?my speci al t y. "
" Have you exami ned any dat a on Rear den Met al ?"
" Mi ss Taggar t , I don' t see t he poi nt of your quest i ons. " Hi s voi ce sounded
f ai nt l y i mpat i ent .
" I woul d l i ke t o know your per sonal ver di ct on Rear den Met al , "
" For what pur pose?"
" So t hat I may gi ve i t t o t he pr ess. "
He got up. " That i s qui t e i mpossi bl e. "
She sai d, her voi ce st r ai ned wi t h t he ef f or t of t r yi ng t o f or ce
under st andi ng, " I wi l l submi t t o you al l t he i nf or mat i on necessar y t o f or ma
concl usi ve j udgment . "
" I cannot i ssue any publ i c st at ement s about i t . "
" Why not ?"
" The si t uat i on i s much t oo compl ex t o expl ai n i n a casual di scussi on. "
" But i f you shoul d f i nd t hat Rear den Met al i s, i n f act , an ext r emel y
val uabl e pr oduct whi ch"
" That i s besi de t he poi nt . "
" The val ue of Rear den Met al i s besi de t he poi nt ?"
" Ther e ar e ot her i ssues i nvol ved, besi des quest i ons of f act . "
She asked, not qui t e bel i evi ng t hat she had hear d hi mr i ght , " What ot her
i ssues i s sci ence concer ned wi t h, besi des quest i ons of f act ?"
The bi t t er l i nes of hi s mout h shar pened i nt o t he suggest i on of a smi l e.
" Mi ss Taggar t , you do not under st and t he pr obl ems of sci ent i st s. "
She sai d sl owl y, as i f she wer e seei ng i t suddenl y i n t i me wi t h her wor ds,
" I bel i eve t hat you do know what Rear den Met al r eal l y i s. "
He shr ugged. " Yes. I know. Fr omsuch i nf or mat i on as I ' ve seen, i t appear s
t o be a r emar kabl e t hi ng. Qui t e a br i l l i ant achi evement as f ar as t echnol ogy
i s concer ned. " He was paci ng i mpat i ent l y acr oss t he of f i ce. " I n f act , I
shoul d l i ke, some day, t o or der a speci al l abor at or y mot or t hat woul d st and
j ust such hi gh t emper at ur es as Rear den Met al can t ake. I t woul d be ver y
val uabl e i n connect i on wi t h cer t ai n phenomena I shoul d l i ke t o obser ve. I
have f ound t hat when par t i cl es ar e accel er at ed t o a speed appr oachi ng t he
speed of l i ght , t hey"
" Dr . St adl er , " she asked sl owl y, " you know t he t r ut h, yet you wi l l not
st at e i t publ i cl y?"
" Mi ss Taggar t , you ar e usi ng an abst r act t er m, when we ar e deal i ng wi t h a
mat t er of pr act i cal r eal i t y. "
" We ar e deal i ng wi t h a mat t er of sci ence. "
" Sci ence? Ar en' t you conf usi ng t he st andar ds i nvol ved? I t i s onl y i n t he
r eal mof pur e sci ence t hat t r ut h i s an absol ut e cr i t er i on. When we deal wi t h
appl i ed sci ence, wi t h t echnol ogywe deal wi t h peopl e.
And when we deal wi t h peopl e, consi der at i ons ot her t han t r ut h ent er t he
quest i on. "
" What consi der at i ons?"
" I amnot a t echnol ogi st , Mi ss Taggar t . I have no t al ent or t ast e f or
deal i ng wi t h peopl e. I cannot become i nvol ved i n so- cal l ed pr act i cal
mat t er s. "
" That st at ement was i ssued i n your name. "
" I had not hi ng t o do wi t h i t ! "
" The name of t hi s I nst i t ut e i s your r esponsi bi l i t y. "
" That ' s a per f ect l y unwar r ant ed assumpt i on. "
" Peopl e t hi nk t hat t he honor of your name i s t he guar ant ee behi nd any
act i on of t hi s I nst i t ut e. "
" I can' t hel p what peopl e t hi nki f t hey t hi nk at al l ! "
" They accept ed your st at ement . I t was a l i e. "
" How can one deal i n t r ut h when one deal s wi t h t he publ i c?"
" I don' t under st and you, " she sai d ver y qui et l y.
" Quest i ons of t r ut h do not ent er i nt o soci al i ssues. No pr i nci pl es have
ever had any ef f ect on soci et y. "
" What , t hen, di r ect s men' s act i ons?"
He shr ugged. " The expedi ency of t he moment , "
" Dr . St adl er , " she sai d, " I t hi nk I must t el l you t he meani ng and t he
consequences of t he f act t hat t he const r uct i on of my br anch l i ne i s bei ng
st opped. I amst opped, i n t he name of publ i c saf et y, because I amusi ng t he
best r ai l ever pr oduced. I n si x mont hs, i f I do not compl et e t hat l i ne, t he
best i ndust r i al sect i on of t he count r y wi l l be l ef t wi t hout t r anspor t at i on.
I t wi l l be dest r oyed, because i t was t he best and t her e wer e men who t hought
i t expedi ent t o sei ze a shar e of i t s weal t h. "
" Wel l , t hat may be vi ci ous, unj ust , cal ami t ousbut such i s l i f e i n
soci et y. Somebody i s al ways sacr i f i ced, as a r ul e unj ust l y; t her e i s no ot her
way t o l i ve among men. What can any one per son do?"
" You can st at e t he t r ut h about Rear den Met al . "
He di d not answer .
" I coul d beg you t o do i t i n or der t o save me. I coul d beg you t o do i t i n
or der t o aver t a nat i onal di sast er . But I won' t . These may not be val i d
r easons. Ther e i s onl y one r eason; you must say i t , because i t i s t r ue. "
" I was not consul t ed about t hat st at ement ! " The cr y br oke out
i nvol unt ar i l y. " I woul dn' t have al l owed i t ! I don' t l i ke i t any bet t er t han
you do! But I can' t i ssue a publ i c deni al ! "
" You wer e not consul t ed? Then shoul dn' t you want t o f i nd out t he r easons
behi nd t hat st at ement ?"
" I can' t dest r oy t he I nst i t ut e now! "
" Shoul dn' t you want t o f i nd out t he r easons?"
" I know t he r easons! They won' t t el l me, but I know. And I can' t say t hat
I bl ame t hem, ei t her . "
" Woul d you t el l me?"
" I ' l l t el l you, i f you wi sh. I t ' s t he t r ut h t hat you want , i sn' t i t ?
Dr . Fer r i s cannot hel p i t , i f t he mor ons who vot e t he f unds f or t hi s
I nst i t ut e i nsi st on what t hey cal l r esul t s. They ar e i ncapabl e of concei vi ng
of such a t hi ng as abst r act sci ence. They can j udge i t onl y i n t er ms of t he
l at est gadget i t has pr oduced f or t hem. I do not know how Dr . Fer r i s has
managed t o keep t hi s I nst i t ut e i n exi st ence, I can onl y mar vel at hi s
pr act i cal abi l i t y. I don' t bel i eve he ever was a f i r st - r at e sci ent i st but
what a pr i cel ess val et of sci ence! I know t hat he has been f aci ng a gr ave
pr obl eml at el y. He' s kept me out of i t , he spar es me al l t hat , but I do hear
r umor s. Peopl e have been cr i t i ci zi ng t he I nst i t ut e, because, t hey say, we
have not pr oduced enough. The publ i c has been demandi ng economy. I n t i mes
l i ke t hese, when t hei r f at l i t t l e comf or t s ar e t hr eat ened, you may be sur e
t hat sci ence i s t he f i r st t hi ng men wi l l sacr i f i ce. Thi s i s t he onl y
est abl i shment l ef t . Ther e ar e pr act i cal l y no pr i vat e r esear ch f oundat i ons any
l onger . Look at t he gr eedy r uf f i ans who r un our i ndust r i es. You cannot expect
t hemt o suppor t sci ence. "
" Who i s suppor t i ng you now?" she asked, her voi ce l ow.
He shr ugged. " Soci et y. "
She sai d, wi t h ef f or t , " You wer e goi ng t o t el l me t he r easons behi nd t hat
st at ement . "
" I woul dn' t t hi nk you' d f i nd t hemhar d t o deduce. I f you consi der t hat f or
t hi r t een year s t hi s I nst i t ut e has had a depar t ment of met al l ur gi cal r esear ch,
whi ch has cost over t went y mi l l i on dol l ar s and has pr oduced not hi ng but a new
si l ver pol i sh and a new ant i - cor r osi ve pr epar at i on, whi ch, I bel i eve, i s not
so good as t he ol d onesyou can i magi ne what t he publ i c r eact i on wi l l be i f
some pr i vat e i ndi vi dual comes out wi t h a pr oduct t hat r evol ut i oni zes t he
ent i r e sci ence of met al l ur gy and pr oves t o be sensat i onal l y successf ul ! "
Her head dr opped. She sai d not hi ng.
" I don' t bl ame our met al l ur gi cal depar t ment ! " he sai d angr i l y. " I know
t hat r esul t s of t hi s ki nd ar e not a mat t er of any pr edi ct abl e t i me.
But t he publ i c won' t under st and i t . What , t hen, shoul d we sacr i f i ce? An
excel l ent pi ece of smel t i ngor t he l ast cent er of sci ence l ef t on ear t h, and
t he whol e f ut ur e of human knowl edge? That i s t he al t er nat i ve. "
She sat , her head down. Af t er a whi l e, she sai d, " AH r i ght , Dr . St adl er . I
won' t ar gue. "
He saw her gr opi ng f or her bag, as i f she wer e t r yi ng t o r emember t he
aut omat i c mot i ons necessar y t o get up.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d qui et l y. I t was al most a pl ea. She l ooked up.
Her f ace was composed and empt y.
He came cl oser ; he l eaned wi t h one hand agai nst t he wal l above her head,
al most as i f he wi shed t o hol d her i n t he ci r cl e of hi s ar m.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d, a t one of gent l e, bi t t er per suasi veness i n hi s
voi ce, " I amol der t han you. Bel i eve me, t her e i s no ot her way t o l i ve on
ear t h, Men ar e not open t o t r ut h or r eason. They cannot be r eached by a
r at i onal ar gument . The mi nd i s power l ess agai nst t hem. Yet we have t o deal
wi t h t hem. I f we want t o accompl i sh anyt hi ng, we have t o decei ve t hemi nt o
l et t i ng us accompl i sh i t . Or f or ce t hem. They under st and not hi ng el se. We
cannot expect t hei r suppor t f or any endeavor of t he i nt el l ect , f or any goal
of t he spi r i t . They ar e not hi ng but vi ci ous ani mal s. They ar e gr eedy, sel f -
i ndul gent , pr edat or y dol l ar - chaser s who"
" I amone of t he dol l ar - chaser s, Dr . St adl er , " she sai d, her voi ce l ow.
" You ar e an unusual , br i l l i ant chi l d who has not seen enough of l i f e t o
gr asp t he f ul l measur e of human st upi di t y. I ' ve f ought i t al l my l i f e.
I ' mver y t i r ed. . . . " The si ncer i t y of hi s voi ce was genui ne. He wal ked
sl owl y away f r omher . " Ther e was a t i me when I l ooked at t he t r agi c mess
t hey' ve made of t hi s ear t h, and I want ed t o cr y out , t o beg t hemt o l i st enI
coul d t each t hemt o l i ve so much bet t er t han t hey di dbut t her e was nobody t o
hear me, t hey had not hi ng t o hear me wi t h. . . .
I nt el l i gence? I t i s such a r ar e, pr ecar i ous spar k t hat f l ashes f or a
moment somewher e among men, and vani shes. One cannot t el l i t s nat ur e, or i t s
f ut ur e . . . or i t s deat h. . . . "
She made a movement t o r i se.
" Don' t go, Mi ss Taggar t . I ' d l i ke you t o under st and. "
She r ai sed her f ace t o hi m, i n obedi ent i ndi f f er ence. Her f ace was not
pal e, but i t s pl anes st ood out wi t h st r angel y naked pr eci si on, as i f i t s ski n
had l ost t he shadi ngs of col or .
" You' r e young, " he sai d. " At your age, I had t he same f ai t h i n t he
unl i mi t ed power of r eason. The same br i l l i ant vi si on of man as a r at i onal
bei ng. I have seen so much, si nce. I have been di si l l usi oned so of t en. . . .
I ' d l i ke t o t el l you j ust one st or y. "
He st ood at t he wi ndow of hi s of f i ce. I t had gr own dar k out si de. The
dar kness seemed t o r i se f r omt he bl ack cut of t he r i ver , f ar bel ow. A f ew
l i ght s t r embl ed i n t he wat er , f r omamong t he hi l l s of t he ot her shor e. The
sky was st i l l t he i nt ense bl ue of eveni ng. A l onel y st ar , l ow over t he ear t h,
seemed unnat ur al l y l ar ge and made t he sky l ook dar ker .
" When I was at t he Pat r i ck Henr y Uni ver si t y, " he sai d, " I had t hr ee
pupi l s. I have had many br i ght st udent s i n t he past , but t hese t hr ee wer e-
t he ki nd of r ewar d a t eacher pr ays f or . I f ever you coul d wi sh t o r ecei ve t he
gi f t of t he human mi nd at i t s best , young and del i ver ed i nt o your hands f or
gui dance, t hey wer e t hi s gi f t . Thei r s was t he ki nd of i nt el l i gence one
expect s t o see, i n t he f ut ur e, changi ng t he cour se of t he wor l d. They came
f r omver y di f f er ent backgr ounds, but t hey wer e i nsepar abl e f r i ends. They made
a st r ange choi ce of st udi es. They maj or ed i n t wo subj ect smi ne and Hugh
Akst on' s. Physi cs and phi l osophy. I t i s not a combi nat i on of i nt er est s one
encount er s nowadays. Hugh Akst on was a di st i ngui shed man, a gr eat mi nd . . .
unl i ke t he i ncr edi bl e cr eat ur e whomt hat Uni ver si t y has now put i n hi s pl ace.
. . . Akst on and I wer e a l i t t l e j eal ous of each ot her over t hese t hr ee
st udent s. I t was a ki nd of cont est bet ween us, a f r i endl y cont est , because we
under st ood each ot her , I hear d Akst on sayi ng one day t hat he r egar ded t hemas
hi s sons. I r esent ed i t a l i t t l e . . . because I t hought of t hemas mi ne. . .
. "
He t ur ned and l ooked at her . The bi t t er l i nes of age wer e vi si bl e now,
cut t i ng acr oss hi s cheeks. He sai d, " When I endor sed t he est abl i shment of
t hi s I nst i t ut e, one of t hese t hr ee damned me. I have not seen hi msi nce. I t
used t o di st ur b me, i n t he f i r st f ew year s. I wonder ed, once i n a whi l e,
whet her he had been r i ght . . . . I t has ceased t o di st ur b me, l ong ago. "
He smi l ed. Ther e was not hi ng but bi t t er ness now, i n hi s smi l e and hi s
f ace.
' These t hr ee men, t hese t hr ee who hel d al l t he hope whi ch t he gi f t of
i nt el l i gence ever pr of f er ed, t hese t hr ee f r omwhomwe expect ed such a
magni f i cent f ut ur eone of t hemwas Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, who became a depr aved
pl ayboy. Anot her was Ragnar Danneskj ol d, who became a pl ai n bandi t . So much
f or t he pr omi se of t he human mi nd. "
" Who was t he t hi r d one?" she asked, He shr ugged. " The t hi r d one di d not
achi eve even t hat sor t of not or i ous di st i nct i on. He vani shed wi t hout a t r ace
i nt o t he gr eat unknown of medi ocr i t y. He i s pr obabl y a second assi st ant
bookkeeper somewher e. "
" I t ' s a l i e! I di dn' t r un away! " cr i ed J ames Taggar t . " I came her e because
I happened t o be si ck. Ask Dr . Wi l son. I t ' s a f or mof f l u.
He' l l pr ove i t . And how di d you know t hat I was her e?"
Dagny st ood i n t he mi ddl e of t he r oom; t her e wer e mel t i ng snowf l akes on
her coat col l ar , on t he br i mof her hat . She gl anced ar ound, f eel i ng an
emot i on t hat woul d have been sadness, had she had t i me t o acknowl edge i t .
I t was a r oomi n t he house of t he ol d Taggar t est at e on t he Hudson.
J i mhad i nher i t ed t he pl ace, but he sel domcame her e. I n t hei r chi l dhood,
t hi s had been t hei r f at her ' s st udy. Now i t had t he desol at e ai r of a r oom
whi ch i s used, yet uni nhabi t ed. Ther e wer e sl i pcover s on al l but t wo chai r s,
a col d f i r epl ace and t he di smal war mt h of an el ect r i c heat er wi t h a cor d
t wi st i ng acr oss t he f l oor , a desk, i t s gl ass sur f ace empt y.
J i ml ay on t he couch, wi t h a t owel wr apped f or a scar f ar ound hi s neck.
She saw a st al e, f i l l ed asht r ay on a chai r besi de hi m, a bot t l e of whi sky, a
wi l t ed paper cup, and t wo- day- ol d newspaper s scat t er ed about t he f l oor . A
por t r ai t of t hei r gr andf at her hung over t he f i r epl ace, f ul l f i gur e, wi t h a
r ai l r oad br i dge i n t he f adi ng backgr ound.
" I have no t i me f or ar gument s, J i m. "
" I t was your i dea! I hope you' l l admi t t o t he Boar d t hat i t was your i dea.
That ' s what your goddamn Rear den Met al has done t o us! I f we had wai t ed f or
Or r en Boyl e . . . " Hi s unshaved f ace was pul l ed by a t wi st ed scr ambl e of
emot i ons: pani c, hat r ed, a t ouch of t r i umph, t he r el i ef of scr eami ng at a
vi ct i mand t he f ai nt , caut i ous, beggi ng l ook t hat sees a hope of hel p.
He had st opped t ent at i vel y, but she di d not answer . She st ood wat chi ng
hi m, her hands i n t he pocket s of her coat .
" Ther e' s not hi ng we can do now! " he moaned. " I t r i ed t o cal l Washi ngt on,
t o get t hemt o sei ze t he Phoeni x- Dur ango and t ur n i t over t o us, on t he
gr ound of emer gency, but t hey won' t even di scuss i t ! Too many peopl e
obj ect i ng, t hey say, af r ai d of some f ool pr ecedent or anot her ! . . . I got
t he Nat i onal Al l i ance of Rai l r oads t o suspend t he deadl i ne and per mi t Dan
Conway t o oper at e hi s r oad f or anot her year t hat woul d have gi ven us t i me
but he' s r ef used t o do i t ! I t r i ed t o get El l i s Wyat t and hi s bunch of
f r i ends i n Col or ado t o demand t hat Washi ngt on or der Conway t o cont i nue
oper at i onsbut al l of t hem, Wyat t and al l t he r est of t hose bast ar ds,
r ef used! I t ' s t hei r ski n, wor se t han our s, t hey' r e sur e t o go down t he dr ai n
but t hey' ve r ef used! "
She smi l ed br i ef l y, but made no comment .
" Now t her e' s not hi ng l ef t f or us t o do! We' r e caught . We can' t gi ve up
t hat br anch and we can' t compl et e i t . We can' t st op or go on. We have no
money. Nobody wi l l t ouch us wi t h a t en- f oot pol e! What have we got l ef t
wi t hout t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne? But we can' t f i ni sh i t . We' d be boycot t ed. We' d
be bl ackl i st ed. That uni on of t r ack wor ker s woul d sue us. They woul d, t her e' s
a l aw about i t . We can' t compl et e t hat Li ne! Chr i st ! What ar e we goi ng t o
do?"
She wai t ed. " Thr ough, J i m?" she asked col dl y. " I f you ar e, I l l t el l you
what we' r e goi ng t o do. "
He kept si l ent , l ooki ng up at her f r omunder hi s heavy eyel i ds.
" Thi s i s not a pr oposal , J i m. I t ' s an ul t i mat um. J ust l i st en and accept . I
amgoi ng t o compl et e t he const r uct i on of t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne.
I per sonal l y, not Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . I wi l l t ake a l eave of absence
f r omt he j ob of Vi ce- Pr esi dent . I wi l l f or ma company i n my own name. Your
Boar d wi l l t ur n t he Ri o None Li ne over t o me. I wi l l act as my own
cont r act or . I wi l l get my own f i nanci ng. I wi l l t ake f ul l char ge and sol e
r esponsi bi l i t y. I wi l l compl et e t he Li ne on t i me. Af t er you have seen how t he
Rear den Met al r ai l s can t ake i t , I wi l l t r ansf er t he Li ne back t o Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al and I ' l l r et ur n t o my j ob. That i s al l , "
He was l ooki ng at her si l ent l y, dangl i ng a bedr oomsl i pper on t he t i p of
hi s f oot . She had never supposed t hat hope coul d l ook ugl y i n a man' s f ace,
but i t di d: i t was mi xed wi t h cunni ng. She t ur ned her eyes away f r omhi m,
wonder i ng how i t was possi bl e t hat a man' s f i r st t hought i n such a moment
coul d be a sear ch f or somet hi ng t o put over on her .
Then, pr epost er ousl y, t he f i r st t hi ng he sai d, hi s voi ce anxi ous, was,
" But who wi l l r un Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i n t he meant i me?"
She chuckl ed; t he sound ast oni shed her , i t seemed ol d i n i t s bi t t er ness.
She sai d, " Eddi e Wi l l er s. "
" Oh no! He coul dn' t ! "
She l aughed, i n t he same br usque, mi r t hl ess way. " I t hought you wer e
smar t er t han I about t hi ngs of t hi s ki nd. Eddi e wi l l assume t he t i t l e of
Act i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent . He wi l l occupy my of f i ce and si t at my desk.
But who do you suppose wi l l r un Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ?"
" But I don' t see how"
" I wi l l commut e by pl ane bet ween Eddi e' s of f i ce and Col or ado. Al so, t her e
ar e l ong- di st ance phones avai l abl e. I wi l l do j ust what I have been doi ng.
Not hi ng wi l l change, except t he ki nd of show you wi l l put on f or your f r i ends
. . . and t he f act t hat i t wi l l be a l i t t l e har der f or me. "
" What show?"
" You under st and me, J i m. I have no i dea what sor t of games you' r e t angl ed
i n, you and your Boar d of Di r ect or s. I don' t know how many ends you' r e al l
pl ayi ng agai nst t he mi ddl e and agai nst one anot her , or how many pr et enses you
have t o keep up i n how many opposi t e di r ect i ons. I don' t know or car e. You
can al l hi de behi nd me.
I f you' r e al l af r ai d, because you' ve made deal s wi t h f r i ends who' r e
t hr eat ened by Rear den Met al wel l , her e' s your chance t o go t hr ough t he
mot i ons of assur i ng t hemt hat you' r e not i nvol ved, t hat you' r e not doi ng
t hi sI am. You can hel p t hemt o cur se me and denounce me.
You can al l st ay home, t ake no r i sks and make no enemi es. J ust keep out of
my way. "
" Wel l . . . " he sai d sl owl y, " of cour se, t he pr obl ems i nvol ved i n t he
pol i cy of a gr eat r ai l r oad syst emar e compl ex . . . whi l e a smal l ,
i ndependent company, i n t he name of one per son, coul d af f or d t o"
" Yes, J i m, yes, I know al l t hat . The moment you announce t hat you' r e
t ur ni ng t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne over t o me, t he Taggar t st ock wi l l r i se. The
bedbugs wi l l st op cr awl i ng f r omout of unl i kel y cor ner s, si nce t hey won' t
have t he i ncent i ve of a bi g company t o bi t e. Bef or e t hey deci de what t o do
about me, I wi l l have t he Li ne f i ni shed. And as f or me, I don' t want t o have
you and your Boar d t o account t o, t o ar gue wi t h, t o beg per mi ssi ons f r om.
Ther e i sn' t any t i me f or t hat , i f I amt o do t he ki nd of j ob t hat has t o be
done. So I ' mgoi ng t o do i t al one. "
" And . . . i f you f ai l ?"
" I f I f ai l , I ' l l go down al one. "
" You under st and t hat i n such case Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al wi l t not be
abl e t o hel p you i n any way?"
I under st and.
" You wi l l not count on us?"
" No. "
" You wi l l cut al l of f i ci al connect i on wi t h us, so t hat your act i vi t i es
wi l l not r ef l ect upon our r eput at i on?"
" Yes. "
" I t hi nk we shoul d agr ee t hat i n case of f ai l ur e or publ i c scandal . . .
your l eave of absence wi l l become per manent . . . t hat i s, you wi l l not
expect t o r et ur n t o t he post of Vi ce- Pr esi dent . "
She cl osed her eyes f or a moment . " Al l r i ght , J i m. I n such case, I wi l l
not r et ur n. "
" Bef or e we t r ansf er t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne t o you, we must have a wr i t t en
agr eement t hat you wi l l t r ansf er i t back t o us, al ong wi t h your cont r ol l i ng
i nt er est at cost , i n case t he Li ne becomes successf ul . Ot her wi se you mi ght
t r y t o squeeze us f or a wi ndf al l pr of i t , si nce we need t hat Li ne. "
Ther e was onl y a br i ef st ab of shock i n her eyes, t hen she sai d
i ndi f f er ent l y, t he wor ds soundi ng as i f she wer e t ossi ng al ms, " By al l means,
J i m. Have t hat st at ed i n wr i t i ng. "
" Now as t o your t empor ar y successor . . . "
" Yes?"
" You don' t r eal l y want i t t o be Eddi e Wi l l er s, do you?"
" Yes. I do. "
" But he coul dn' t even act l i ke a vi ce- pr esi dent ! He doesn' t have t he
pr esence, t he manner , t he"
" He knows hi s wor k and mi ne. He knows what I want . I t r ust hi m.
I ' l l be abl e t o wor k wi t h hi m. "
" Don' t you t hi nk i t woul d be bet t er t o pi ck one of our mor e di st i ngui shed
young men, somebody f r oma good f ami l y, wi t h mor e soci al poi se and"
" I t ' s goi ng t o be Eddi e Wi l l er s, J i m. "
He si ghed. " Al l r i ght . Onl y . . . onl y we must be car ef ul about i t .
. . . We don' t want peopl e t o suspect t hat i t ' s you who' r e st i l l r unni ng
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . Nobody must know i t . "
" Ever ybody wi l l know i t , J i m. But si nce nobody wi l l admi t i t openl y,
ever ybody wi l l be sat i sf i ed. "
" But we must pr eser ve appear ances. "
" Oh, cer t ai nl y! You don' t have t o r ecogni ze me on t he st r eet , i f you don' t
want t o. You can say you' ve never seen me bef or e and I ' l l say I ' ve never
hear d of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . "
He r emai ned si l ent , t r yi ng t o t hi nk, st ar i ng down at t he f l oor .
She t ur ned t o l ook at t he gr ounds beyond t he wi ndow. The sky had t he even,
gr ay- whi t e pal l or of wi nt er . Far bel ow, on t he shor e of t he Hudson, she saw
t he r oad she used t o wat ch f or Fr anci sco' s car
she saw t he cl i f f over t he r i ver , wher e t hey cl i mbed t o l ook f or t he
t ower s of New Yor kand somewher e beyond t he woods wer e t he t r ai l s t hat l ed t o
Rockdal e St at i on. The ear t h was snow- cover ed now, and what r emai ned was l i ke
t he skel et on of t he count r ysi de she r emember eda t hi n desi gn of bar e br anches
r i si ng f r omt he snow t o t he sky.
I t was gr ay and whi t e, l i ke a phot ogr aph, a dead phot ogr aph whi ch one
keeps hopef ul l y f or r emembr ance, but whi ch has no power t o br i ng back
anyt hi ng.
" What ar e you goi ng t o cal l i t ?"
She t ur ned, st ar t l ed. " What ?"
" What ar e you goi ng t o cal l your company?"
" Oh . . . Why, t he Dagny Taggar t Li ne, I guess. "
" But . . . Do you t hi nk t hat ' s wi se? I t mi ght be mi sunder st ood.
The Taggar t mi ght be t aken as"
" Wel l , what do you want me t o cal l i t ?" she snapped, wor n down t o anger .
" The Mi ss Nobody? The MadamX? The J ohn Gal t ?" She st opped. She smi l ed
suddenl y, a col d, br i ght , danger ous smi l e. ' That ' s what I ' mgoi ng t o cal l i t :
t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. "
" Good God, no! "
" Yes. "
" But i t ' s . . . i f s j ust a cheap pi ece of sl ang! "
" You can' t make a j oke out of such a ser i ous pr oj ect ! . . . You can' t be
so vul gar and . . . and undi gni f i ed! "
" Can' t I ?"
" But f or God' s sake, why?
" Because i t ' s goi ng t o shock al l t he r est of t hemj ust as i t shocked you. "
" I ' ve never seen you pl ayi ng f or ef f ect s. "
" I am, t hi s t i me. "
" But . . . " Hi s voi ce dr opped t o an al most super st i t i ous sound: " Look,
Dagny, you know, i t ' s . . . i t ' s bad l uck. . . . What i t st ands f or i s . . . "
He st opped.
" What does i t st and f or ?"
" I don' t know . . . But t he way peopl e use i t , t hey al ways seemt o say i t
out of "
" Fear ? Despai r ? Fut i l i t y?"
" Yes . . . yes, t hat ' s what i t i s. "
" That ' s what I want t o t hr ow i n t hei r f aces! "
The br i ght , spar kl i ng anger i n her eyes, her f i r st l ook of enj oyment , made
hi munder st and t hat he had t o keep st i l l .
" Dr aw up al l t he paper s and al l t he r ed t ape i n t he name of t he J ohn Gal t
Li ne, " she sai d.
He si ghed. " Wel l , i t ' s your Li ne. "
" You bet i t i s! "
He gl anced at her , ast oni shed. She had dr opped t he manner s and st yl e of a
vi ce- pr esi dent ; she seemed t o be r el axi ng happi l y t o t he l evel of yar d cr ews
and const r uct i on gangs.
" As t o t he paper s and t he l egal si de of i t , " he sai d, " t her e mi ght be some
di f f i cul t i es. We woul d have t o appl y f or t he per mi ssi on of "
She whi r l ed t o f ace hi m. Somet hi ng of t he br i ght , vi ol ent l ook st i l l
r emai ned i n her f ace. But i t was not gay and she was not smi l i ng. The l ook
now had an odd, pr i mi t i ve qual i t y. When he saw i t , he hoped he woul d never
have t o see i t agai n.
" Li st en, J i m, " she sai d; he had never hear d t hat t one i n any human voi ce.
" Ther e i s one t hi ng you can do as your par t of t he deal and you' d bet t er do
i t : keep your Washi ngt on boys of f . See t o i t t hat t hey gi ve me al l t he
per mi ssi ons, aut hor i zat i ons, char t er s and ot her wast e paper t hat t hei r l aws
r equi r e. Don' t l et t hemt r y t o st op me. I f t hey t r y . . . J i m, peopl e say
t hat our ancest or , Nat Taggar t , ki l l ed a pol i t i ci an who t r i ed t o r ef use hi ma
per mi ssi on he shoul d never have had t o ask. I don' t know whet her Nat Taggar t
di d i t or not . But I ' l l t el l you t hi s: I know how he f el t , i f he di d. I f he
di dn' t I mi ght do t he j ob f or hi m, t o compl et e t he f ami l y l egend. I mean i t ,
J i m. "
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a sat i n f r ont of her desk. Hi s f ace was bl ank. I t had
r emai ned bl ank whi l e Dagny expl ai ned t o hi m, i n t he cl ear , i mper sonal t one of
a busi ness i nt er vi ew, t he f or mat i on and pur pose of her own r ai l r oad company.
He had l i st ened. He had not pr onounced a wor d.
She had never seen hi s f ace wear t hat l ook of dr ai ned passi vi t y.
Ther e was no mocker y, no amusement , no ant agoni sm; i t was as i f he di d not
bel ong i n t hese par t i cul ar moment s of exi st ence and coul d not be r eached. Yet
hi s eyes l ooked at her at t ent i vel y; t hey seemed t o see mor e t han she coul d
suspect ; t hey made her t hi nk of one- way gl ass: t hey l et al l l i ght r ays i n,
but none out .
" Fr anci sco, I asked you t o come her e, because I want ed you t o see me i n my
of f i ce. You' ve never seen i t . I t woul d have meant somet hi ng t o you, once. "
Hi s eyes moved sl owl y t o l ook at t he of f i ce. I t s wal l s wer e bar e, except
f or t hr ee t hi ngs: a map of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al t he or i gi nal dr awi ng of
Nat Taggar t , t hat had ser ved as model f or hi s st at ue and a l ar ge r ai l r oad
cal endar , i n cheer f ul l y cr ude col or s, t he ki nd t hat was di st r i but ed each
year , wi t h a change of i t s pi ct ur e, t o ever y st at i on al ong t he Taggar t t r ack,
t he ki nd t hat had hung once i n her f i r st wor k pl ace at Rockdal e.
He got up. He sai d qui et l y, " Dagny, f or your own sake, and" i t was a
bar el y per cept i bl e hesi t at i on" and i n t he name of any pi t y you mi ght f eel f or
me, don' t r equest what you' r e goi ng t o r equest .
Don' t . Let me go now. "
Thi s was not l i ke hi mand l i ke not hi ng she coul d ever have expect ed t o
hear f r omhi m. Af t er a moment , she asked, " Why?"
" I can' t answer you. I can' t answer any quest i ons. That i s one of t he
r easons why i t ' s best not t o di scuss i t . "
" You know what I amgoi ng t o r equest ?"
" Yes. " The way she l ooked at hi mwas such an el oquent , desper at e quest i on,
t hat he had t o add, " I know t hat I amgoi ng t o r ef use. "
" Why?"
He smi l ed mi r t hl essl y, spr eadi ng hi s hands out , as i f t o show her t hat
t hi s was what he had pr edi ct ed and had want ed t o avoi d.
She sai d qui et l y, " I have t o t r y, Fr anci sco. I have t o make t he r equest .
That ' s my par t . What you' l l do about i t i s your s. But I ' l l know t hat I ' ve
t r i ed ever yt hi ng. "
He r emai ned st andi ng, but he i ncl i ned hi s head a l i t t l e, i n assent , and
sai d, " I wi l l l i st en, i f t hat wi l l hel p you. "
" I need f i f t een mi l l i on dol l ar s t o compl et e t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne, I have
obt ai ned seven mi l l i on agai nst t he Taggar t st ock I own f r ee and cl ear . I can
r ai se not hi ng el se. I wi l l i ssue bonds i n t he name of my new company, i n t he
amount of ei ght mi l l i on dol l ar s. I cal l ed you her e t o ask you t o buy t hese
bonds. "
He di d not answer .
" I amsi mpl y a beggar , Fr anci sco, and I ambeggi ng you f or money.
I had al ways t hought t hat one di d not beg i n busi ness. I t hought t hat one
st ood on t he mer i t of what one had t o of f er , and gave val ue f or val ue. Thi s
i s not so any mor e, t hough I don' t under st and how we can act on any ot her
r ul e and cont i nue t o exi st . J udgi ng by ever y obj ect i ve f act , t he Ri o Nor t e
Li ne i s t o be t he best r ai l r oad i n t he count r y. J udgi ng by ever y known
st andar d, i t i s t he best i nvest ment possi bl e. And t hat i s what damns me. I
cannot r ai se money by of f er i ng peopl e a good busi ness vent ur e: t he f act t hat
i t ' s good, makes peopl e r ej ect i t . Ther e i s no bank t hat woul d buy t he bonds
of my company.
So I can' t pl ead mer i t . I can onl y pl ead. "
Her voi ce was pr onounci ng t he wor ds wi t h i mper sonal pr eci si on. She
st opped, wai t i ng f or hi s answer . He r emai ned si l ent .
" I know t hat I have not hi ng t o of f er you, " she sai d. " I can' t speak t o you
i n t er ms of i nvest ment . You don' t car e t o make money. I ndust r i al pr oj ect s
have ceased t o concer n you l ong ago. So I won' t pr et end t hat i t ' s a f ai r
exchange. I t ' s j ust beggi ng. " She dr ew her br eat h and sai d, " Gi ve me t hat
money as al ms, because i t means not hi ng t o you. "
" Don' t , " he sai d, hi s voi ce l ow. She coul d not t el l whet her t he st r ange
sound of i t was pai n or anger ; hi s eyes wer e l ower ed.
" Wi l l you do i t , Fr anci sco?"
" No. "
Af t er a moment , she sai d, " I cal l ed you, not because I t hought you woul d
agr ee, but because you wer e t he onl y one who coul d under st and what I am
sayi ng. So I had t o t r y i t . " Her voi ce was dr oppi ng l ower , as i f she hoped i t
woul d make emot i on har der t o det ect . " You see, I can' t bel i eve t hat you' r e
r eal l y gone . . . because I know t hat you' r e st i l l abl e t o hear me. The way
you l i ve i s depr aved. But t he way you act i s not . Even t he way you speak of
i t , i s not . . . . I had t o t r y . . .
But I can' t st r uggl e t o under st and you any l onger . "
" I ' l l gi ve you a hi nt . Cont r adi ct i ons do not exi st . Whenever you t hi nk
t hat you ar e f aci ng a cont r adi ct i on, check your pr emi ses. You wi l l f i nd t hat
one of t hemi s wr ong. "
" Fr anci sco, " she whi sper ed, " why don' t you t el l me what i t was t hat
happened t o you?"
" Because, at t hi s moment , t he answer woul d hur t you mor e t han t he doubt . "
" I s i t as t er r i bl e as t hat ?"
" I t i s an answer whi ch you must r each by your sel f . "
She shook her head. " I don' t know what t o of f er you. I don' t know what i s
of val ue t o you any l onger . Don' t you see t hat even a beggar has t o gi ve
val ue i n r et ur n, has t o of f er some r eason why you mi ght want t o hel p hi m? . .
. Wel l , I t hought . . . at one t i me, i t meant a gr eat deal t o yousuccess.
I ndust r i al success. Remember how we used t o t al k about i t ? You wer e ver y
sever e. You expect ed a l ot f r omme.
You t ol d me I ' d bet t er l i ve up t o i t . I have. You wonder ed how f ar I ' d
r i se wi t h Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . " She moved her hand, poi nt i ng at t he
of f i ce. " Thi s i s how f ar I ' ve r i sen. . . . So I t hought . . . i f t he memor y
of what had been your val ues st i l l has some meani ng f or you, i f onl y as
amusement , or a moment ' s sadness, or j ust l i ke . . . l i ke put t i ng f l ower s on
a gr ave . . . you mi ght want t o gi ve me t he money . . . i n t he name of t hat . "
" No. "
She sai d, wi t h ef f or t , " That money woul d mean not hi ng t o youyou' ve wast ed
t hat much on sensel ess par t i esyou' ve wast ed much mor e on t he San Sebast i an
Mi nes"
He gl anced up. He l ooked st r ai ght at her and she saw t he f i r st spar k of a
l i vi ng r esponse i n hi s eyes, a l ook t hat was br i ght , pi t i l ess and,
i ncr edi bl y, pr oud: as i f t hi s wer e an accusat i on t hat gave hi mst r engt h.
" Oh, yes, " she sai d sl owl y, as i f answer i ng hi s t hought , " I r eal i ze t hat .
I ' ve damned you f or t hose mi nes, I ' ve denounced you, I ' ve t hr own my cont empt
at you i n ever y way possi bl e, and now I come back t o youf or money. Li ke J i m,
l i ke any moocher you' ve ever met . I know i t ' s a t r i umph f or you, I know t hat
you can l augh at me and despi se me wi t h f ul l j ust i ce. Wel l per haps I can
of f er you t hat . I f i t ' s amusement t hat you want , i f you enj oyed seei ng J i m
and t he Mexi can pl anner s cr awl woul dn' t i t amuse you t o br eak me? Woul dn' t i t
gi ve you pl easur e? Don' t you want t o hear me acknowl edge t hat I ' mbeat en by
you? Don' t you want t o see me cr awl i ng bef or e you? Tel l me what f or mof i t
you' d l i ke and I ' l l submi t . "
He moved so swi f t l y t hat she coul d not not i ce how he st ar t ed; i t onl y
seemed t o her t hat hi s f i r st movement was a shudder . He came ar ound t he desk,
he t ook her hand and r ai sed i t t o hi s l i ps. I t began as a gest ur e of t he
gr avest r espect , as i f i t s pur pose wer e t o gi ve her st r engt h; but as he hel d
hi s l i ps, t hen hi s f ace, pr essed t o her hand, she knew t hat he was seeki ng
st r engt h f r omi t hi msel f .
He dr opped her hand, he l ooked down at her f ace, at t he f r i ght ened
st i l l ness of her eyes, he smi l ed, not t r yi ng t o hi de t hat hi s smi l e hel d
suf f er i ng, anger and t ender ness.
" Dagny, you want t o cr awl ? You don' t know what t he wor d means and never
wi l l . One doesn' t cr awl by acknowl edgi ng i t as honest l y as t hat . Don' t you
suppose I know t hat your beggi ng me was t he br avest t hi ng you coul d do? But .
. . Don' t ask me, Dagny. "
" I n t he name of anyt hi ng I ever meant t o you . . . " she whi sper ed,
" anyt hi ng l ef t wi t hi n you . . . "
I n t he moment when she t hought t hat she had seen t hi s l ook bef or e, t hat
t hi s was t he way he had l ooked agai nst t he ni ght gl ow of t he ci t y, when he
l ay i n bed by her si de f or t he l ast t i meshe hear d hi s cr y, t he ki nd of cr y
she had never t or n f r omhi mbef or e: " My l ove, I can' t ! "
Then, as t hey l ooked at each ot her , bot h shocked i nt o si l ence by
ast oni shment , she saw t he change i n hi s f ace. I t was as cr udel y abr upt as i f
he had t hr own a swi t ch. He l aughed, he moved away f r omher and sai d, hi s
voi ce j ar r i ngl y of f ensi ve by bei ng compl et el y casual : " Pl ease excuse t he
mi xt ur e i n st yl es of expr essi on. I ' ve been supposed t o say t hat t o so many
women, but on somewhat di f f er ent occasi ons. "
Her head dr opped, she sat huddl ed t i ght t oget her , not car i ng t hat he saw
i t .
When she r ai sed her head, she l ooked at hi mi ndi f f er ent l y. " Al l r i ght ,
Fr anci sco. I t was a good act . I di d bel i eve i t . I f t hat was your own way of
havi ng t he ki nd of f un I was of f er i ng you, you succeeded.
I won' t ask you f or anyt hi ng. "
" I war ned you. "
" I di dn' t know whi ch si de you bel onged on. I t di dn' t seempossi bl e but
i t ' s t he si de of Or r en Boyl e and Ber t r amScudder and your ol d t eacher . "
" My ol d t eacher ?" he asked shar pl y.
" Dr . Rober t St adl er . "
He chuckl ed, r el i eved. " Oh, t hat one? He' s t he l oot er who t hi nks t hat hi s
end j ust i f i es hi s sei zur e of my means. " He added, " You know, Dagny, I ' d l i ke
you t o r emember whi ch si de you sai d I ' mon. Some day, I ' l l r emi nd you of i t
and ask you whet her you' l l want t o r epeat i t . "
" You won' t have t o r emi nd me. "
He t ur ned t o go. He t ossed hi s hand i n a casual sal ut e and sai d, " I f i t
coul d be bui l t , I ' d wi sh good l uck t o t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne. "
" I t ' s goi ng t o be bui l t . And i t ' s goi ng t o be cal l ed t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. "
" What ?! "
I t was an act ual scr eam; she chuckl ed der i si vel y. " The J ohn Gal t Li ne. "
" Dagny, i n heaven' s name, why?"
" Don' t you l i ke i t ?"
" How di d you happen t o choose t hat ?"
" I t sounds bet t er t han Mr . Nemo or Mr . Zer o, doesn' t i t ?"
" Dagny, why t hat ?"
" Because i t f r i ght ens you. "
" What do you t hi nk i t st ands f or ?"
" The i mpossi bl e. The unat t ai nabl e. And you' r e al l af r ai d of my Li ne j ust
as you' r e af r ai d of t hat name. "
He st ar t ed l aughi ng. He l aughed, not l ooki ng at her , and she f el t
st r angel y cer t ai n t hat he had f or got t en her , t hat he was f ar away, t hat he
was l aughi ngi n f ur i ous gai et y and bi t t er nessat somet hi ng i n whi ch she had
no par t .
When he t ur ned t o her , he sai d ear nest l y, " Dagny, I woul dn' t , i f I wer e
you. "
She shr ugged. " J i mdi dn' t l i ke i t , ei t her . "
" What do you l i ke about i t ?"
" I hat e i t ! I hat e t he doomyou' r e al l wai t i ng f or , t he gi vi ng up, and
t hat sensel ess quest i on t hat al ways sounds l i ke a cr y f or hel p. I ' msi ck of
hear i ng pl eas f or J ohn Gal t . I ' mgoi ng t o f i ght hi m. "
He sai d qui et l y, " You ar e. "
" I ' mgoi ng t o bui l d a r ai l r oad l i ne f or hi m. Let hi mcome and cl ai mi t ! "
He smi l ed sadl y and nodded: " He wi l l . "
The gl ow of pour ed st eel st r eamed acr oss t he cei l i ng and br oke agai nst one
wal l . Rear den sat at hi s desk, i n t he l i ght of a si ngl e l amp. Beyond i t s
ci r cl e, t he dar kness of t he of f i ce bl ended wi t h t he dar kness out si de. He f el t
as i f i t wer e empt y space wher e t he r ays of t he f ur naces moved at wi l l ; as i f
t he desk wer e a r af t hangi ng i n mi d- ai r , hol di ng t wo per sons i mpr i soned i n
pr i vacy. Dagny sat i n f r ont of hi s desk.
She had t hr own her coat of f , and she sat out l i ned agai nst i t , a sl i m,
t ense body i n a gr ay sui t , l eani ng di agonal l y acr oss t he wi de ar mchai r .
Onl y her hand l ay i n t he l i ght , on t he edge of t he desk; beyond i t , he saw
t he pal e suggest i on of her f ace, t he whi t e of a bl ouse, t he t r i angl e of an
open col l ar .
" Al l r i ght , Hank, " she sai d, " we' r e goi ng ahead wi t h a new Rear den Met al
br i dge. Thi s i s t he of f i ci al or der of t he of f i ci al owner of t he J ohn Gal t
Li ne. "
He smi l ed, l ooki ng down at t he dr awi ngs of t he br i dge spr ead i n t he l i ght
on hi s desk. " Have you had a chance t o exami ne t he scheme we submi t t ed?"
" Yes. You don' t need my comment s or compl i ment s. The or der says i t . "
" Ver y wel l . Thank you. I ' l l st ar t r ol l i ng t he Met al "
" Don' t you want t o ask whet her t he J ohn Gal t Li ne i s i n a posi t i on t o
pl ace or der s or t o f unct i on?"
" I don' t need t o. Your comi ng her e says i t , "
She smi l ed. " Tr ue. I t ' s al l set , Hank. I came t o t el l you t hat and t o
di scuss t he det ai l s of t he br i dge i n per son. "
" Al l r i ght , I amcur i ous: who ar e t he bondhol der s of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne?"
" I don' t t hi nk any of t hemcoul d af f or d i t . Al l of t hemhave gr owi ng
ent er pr i ses. Al l of t hemneeded t hei r money f or t hei r own concer ns.
But t hey needed t he Li ne and t hey di d not ask anyone f or hel p. " She t ook a
paper out of her bag. " Her e' s J ohn Gal t , I nc. , " she sai d, handi ng i t acr oss
t he desk.
He knew most of t he names on t he l i st : " El l i s. . Wyat t , Wyat t Oi l ,
Col or ado. Ted Ni el sen, Ni el sen Mot or s, Col or ado. Lawr ence Hammond, Hammond
Car s, Col or ado. Andr ew St ockt on, St ockt on Foundr y, Col or ado. " Ther e wer e a
f ew f r omot her st at es; he not i ced t he name: " Kennet h Danagger , Danagger Coal ,
Pennsyl vani a. " The amount s of t hei r subscr i pt i ons var i ed, f r omsums i n f i ve
f i gur es t o si x.
He r eached f or hi s f ount ai n pen, wr ot e at t he bot t omof t he l i st " Henr y
Rear den, Rear den St eel , Pennsyl vani a$1, 000, 000" and t ossed t he l i st back t o
her .
" Hank, " she sai d qui et l y, " I di dn' t want you- i n on t hi s. You' ve i nvest ed
so much i n Rear den Met al t hat i t ' s wor se f or you t han f or any of us. You
can' t af f or d anot her r i sk. "
" I never accept f avor s, " he answer ed col dl y.
" What do you mean?"
" I don' t ask peopl e t o t ake gr eat er chances on my vent ur es t han I t ake
mysel f . I f i t ' s a gambl e, I ' l l mat ch anybody' s gambl i ng. Di dn' t you say t hat
t hat t r ack was my f i r st showcase?"
She i ncl i ned her head and sai d gr avel y, " Al l r i ght . Thank you. "
" I nci dent al l y, I don' t expect t o l ose t hi s money. I amawar e of t he
condi t i ons under whi ch t hese bonds can be conver t ed i nt o st ock at my opt i on.
I t her ef or e expect t o make an i nor di nat e pr of i t and you' r e goi ng t o ear n i t
f or me. "
She l aughed. " God, Hank, I ' ve spoken t o so many yel l ow f ool s t hat t hey' ve
al most i nf ect ed me i nt o t hi nki ng of t he Li ne as of a hopel ess l oss! Thanks
f or r emi ndi ng me. Yes, I t hi nk I ' l l ear n your i nor di nat e pr of i t f or you. "
" I f i t wer en' t f or t he yel l ow f ool s, t her e woul dn' t be any r i sk i n i t at
al l . But we have t o beat t hem. We wi l l . He r eached f or t wo t el egr ams f r om
among t he paper s on hi s desk. " Ther e ar e st i l l a f ew men i n exi st ence. " He
ext ended t he t el egr ams. " I t hi nk you' d l i ke t o see t hese.
One of t hemr ead: " I had i nt ended t o under t ake i t i n t wo year s, but t he
st at ement of t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e compel s me t o pr oceed at once.
Consi der t hi s a commi t ment f or t he const r uct i on of a 12i nch pi pe l i ne of
Rear den Met al , 600 mi l es, Col or ado t o Kansas Ci t y.
Det ai l s f ol l ow. El l i s Wyat t . "
The ot her r ead: " Re our di scussi on of my or der . Go ahead. Ken Danagger . "
He added, i n expl anat i on, " He wasn' t pr epar ed t o pr oceed at once, ei t her .
I t ' s ei ght t housand t ons of Rear den Met al . St r uct ur al met al .
For coal mi nes. "
They gl anced at each ot her and smi l ed. They needed no f ur t her comment .
He gl anced down, as she handed t he t el egr ams back t o hi m. The ski n of her
hand l ooked t r anspar ent i n t he l i ght , on t he edge of hi s desk, a young gi r l ' s
hand wi t h l ong, t hi n f i nger s, r el axed f or a moment , def ensel ess.
" The St ockt on Foundr y i n Col or ado, " she sai d, " i s goi ng t o f i ni sh t hat
or der f or met he one t hat t he Amal gamat ed Swi t ch and Si gnal Company r an out
on. They' r e goi ng t o get i n t ouch wi t h you about t he Met al . "
" They have al r eady. What have you done about t he const r uct i on cr ews?"
" Neal y' s engi neer s ar e st ayi ng on, t he best ones, t hose I need. And most
of t he f or emen, t oo. I t won' t be t oo har d t o keep t hemgoi ng.
Neal y wasn' t of much use, anyway. "
" What about l abor ?"
" Mor e appl i cant s t han I can hi r e. I don' t t hi nk t he uni on i s goi ng t o
i nt er f er e. Most of t he appl i cant s ar e gi vi ng phony names. They' r e uni on
member s. They need t he wor k desper at el y. I ' l l have a f ew guar ds on t he Li ne,
but I don' t expect any t r oubl e. "
" What about your br ot her J i m' s Boar d of Di r ect or s?"
" They' r e al l scr ambl i ng t o get st at ement s i nt o t he newspaper s t o t he
ef f ect t hat t hey have no connect i on what ever wi t h t he J ohn Gal t Li ne and how
r epr ehensi bl e an under t aki ng t hey t hi nk i t i s. They agr eed t o ever yt hi ng I
asked. "
The l i ne of her shoul der s l ooked t aut , yet t hr own back easi l y, as i f
poi sed f or f l i ght . Tensi on seemed nat ur al t o her , not a si gn of anxi et y, but
a si gn of enj oyment ; t he t ensi on of her whol e body, under t he gr ay sui t ,
hal f - vi si bl e i n t he dar kness, " Eddi e Wi l l er s has t aken over t he of f i ce of
Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent , "
she sai d. " I f you need anyt hi ng, get i n t ouch wi t h hi m. I ' ml eavi ng f or
Col or ado t oni ght . "
" Toni ght ?"
" Yes. We have t o make up t i me. We' ve l ost a week. "
" Fl yi ng your own pl ane?"
" Yes. I l l be back i n about t en days, I i nt end t o be i n New Yor k once or
t wi ce a mont h. "
" Wher e wi l l you l i ve out t her e?"
" On t he si t e. I n my own r ai l way car t hat i s, Eddi e' s car , whi ch I ' m
bor r owi ng. "
" Wi l l you be saf e?"
" Saf e f r omwhat ?" Then she l aughed, st ar t l ed. " Why, Hank, i t ' s t he f i r st
t i me you' ve ever t hought t hat I wasn' t a man. Of coar se I ' l l be saf e. "
He was not l ooki ng at her ; he was l ooki ng at a sheet of f i gur es on hi s
desk. " I ' ve had my engi neer s pr epar e a br eakdown of t he cost of t he br i dge, "
he sai d, " and an appr oxi mat e schedul e of t he const r uct i on t i me r equi r ed. That
i s what I want ed t o di scuss wi t h you. " He ext ended t he paper s. She set t l ed
back t o r ead t hem.
A wedge of l i ght f el l acr oss her f ace. He saw t he f i r m, sensual mout h i n
shar p out l i ne. Then she l eaned back a l i t t l e, and he saw onl y a suggest i on of
i t s shape and t he dar k l i nes of her l ower ed l ashes.
Haven' t I ?he t hought . Haven' t I t hought of i t si nce t he f i r st t i me I saw
you? Haven' t I t hought of not hi ng el se f or t wo year s? . . . He sat
mot i onl ess, l ooki ng at her . He hear d t he wor ds he had never al l owed hi msel f
t o f or m, t he wor ds he had f el t , known, yet had not f aced, had hoped t o
dest r oy by never l et t i ng t hembe sai d wi t hi n hi s own mi nd. Now i t was as
sudden and shocki ng as i f he wer e sayi ng i t t o her . . . . Si nce t he f i r st
t i me I saw you . . . Not hi ng but your body, t hat mout h of your s, and t he way
your eyes woul d l ook at me, i f . . . Thr ough ever y sent ence I ever sai d t o
you, t hr ough ever y conf er ence you t hought so saf e, t hr ough t he i mpor t ance of
al l t he i ssues we di scussed . . . You t r ust ed me, di dn' t you? To r ecogni ze
your gr eat ness? To t hi nk of you as you deser vedas i f you wer e a man?
. . . Don' t you suppose I know how much I ' ve bet r ayed? The onl y br i ght
encount er of my l i f et he onl y per son I r espect edt he best busi nessman I know
my al l ymy par t ner i n a desper at e bat t l e . . .
The l owest of al l desi r esas my answer t o t he hi ghest I ' ve met . . .
Do you know what I am? I t hought of i t , because i t shoul d have been
unt hi nkabl e. For t hat degr adi ng need, whi ch shoul d never t ouch you, I have
never want ed anyone but you . . . I hadn' t known what i t was l i ke, t o want
i t , unt i l I saw you f or t he f i r st t i me. I had t hought : Not I , I coul dn' t be
br oken by i t . . . Si nce t hen . . . f or t wo year s . . . wi t h not a moment ' s
r espi t e . . . Do you know what i t ' s l i ke, t o want i t ? Woul d you wi sh t o hear
what I t hought when I l ooked at you . . . when I l ay awake at ni ght . . .
when I hear d your voi ce over a t el ephone wi r e . . . when I wor ked, but coul d
not dr i ve i t away?
. . . To br i ng you down t o t hi ngs you can' t concei veand t o know t hat i t ' s
I who have done i t . To r educe you t o a body, t o t each you an ani mal ' s
pl easur e, t o see you need i t , t o see you aski ng me f or i t , t o see your
wonder f ul spi r i t dependent upon t he obsceni t y of your need. To wat ch you as
you ar e, as you f ace t he wor l d wi t h your cl ean, pr oud st r engt ht hen t o see
you, i n my bed, submi t t i ng t o any i nf amous whi mI may devi se, t o any act
whi ch I ' l l per f or mf or t he sol e pur pose of wat chi ng your di shonor and t o
whi ch you' l l submi t f or t he sake of an unspeakabl e sensat i on . . . I want
youand may I be damned f or i t ! . . .
She was r eadi ng t he paper s, l eani ng back i n t he dar knesshe saw t he
r ef l ect i on of t he f i r e t ouchi ng her hai r , movi ng t o her shoul der , down her
ar m, t o t he naked ski n of her wr i st .
. . . Do you know what I ' mt hi nki ng now, i n t hi s moment ? . . .
Your gr ay sui t and your open col l ar . . . you l ook so young, so aust er e,
so sur e of your sel f . . . What woul d you be l i ke i f I knocked your head back,
i f I t hr ew you down i n t hat f or mal sui t of your s, i f I r ai sed your ski r t
She gl anced up at hi m. He l ooked down at t he paper s on hi s desk.
I n a moment , he sai d, " The act ual cost of t he br i dge i s l ess t han our
or i gi nal est i mat e. You wi l l not e t hat t he st r engt h of t he br i dge al l ows f or
t he event ual addi t i on of a second t r ack, whi ch, I t hi nk, t hat sect i on of t he
count r y wi l l j ust i f y i n a ver y f ew year s. I f you spr ead t he cost over a
per i od of "
He spoke, and she l ooked at hi s f ace i n t he l ampl i ght , agai nst t he bl ack
empt i ness of t he of f i ce. The l amp was out si de her f i el d of vi si on, and she
f el t as i f i t wer e hi s f ace t hat i l l umi nat ed t he paper s on t he desk. Hi s
f ace, she t hought , and t he col d, r adi ant cl ar i t y of hi s voi ce, of hi s mi nd,
of Ms dr i ve t o a si ngl e pur pose. The f ace was l i ke hi s wor dsas i f t he l i ne
of a si ngl e t heme r an f r omt he st eady gl ance of t he eyes, t hr ough t he gaunt
muscl es of t he cheeks, t o t he f ai nt l y scor nf ul , downwar d cur ve of t he mout h
t he l i ne of a r ut hl ess ascet i ci sm.
The day began wi t h t he news of a di sast er : a f r ei ght t r ai n of t he At l ant i c
Sout her n had cr ashed head- on i nt o a passenger t r ai n, i n New Mexi co, on a
shar p cur ve i n t he mount ai ns, scat t er i ng f r ei ght car s al l over t he sl opes.
The car s car r i ed f i ve t housand t ons of copper , bound f r oma mi ne i n Ar i zona
t o t he Rear den mi l l s, Rear den t el ephoned t he gener al manager of t he At l ant i c
Sout her n, but t he answer he r ecei ved was: " Oh God, Mr . Rear den, how can we
t el l ? How can anybody t el l how l ong i t wi l l t ake t o cl ear t hat wr eck?
One of t he wor st we' ve ever had . . . I don' t know, Mr . Rear den.
Ther e ar e no ot her l i nes anywher e i n t hat sect i on. The t r ack i s t or n f or
t wel ve hundr ed f eet . Ther e' s been a r ocksl i de. Our wr ecki ng t r ai n can' t get
t hr ough. I don' t know how we' l l ever get t hose f r ei ght car s back on r ai l s, or
when. Can' t expect i t sooner t han t wo weeks . . .
Thr ee days? I mpossi bl e, Mr . Rear den! . . . But we can' t hel p i t !
. . . But sur el y you can t el l your cust omer s t hat i t ' s an act of God!
What i f you do hol d t hemup? Nobody can bl ame you i n a case of t hi s ki nd! "
I n t he next t wo hour s, wi t h t he assi st ance of hi s secr et ar y, t wo young
engi neer s f r omhi s shi ppi ng depar t ment , a r oad map, and t he l ong- di st ance
t el ephone, Rear den ar r anged f or a f l eet of t r ucks t o pr oceed t o t he scene of
t he wr eck, and f or a chai n of hopper car s t o meet t hemat t he near est st at i on
of t he At l ant i c Sout her n. The hopper car s had been bor r owed f r omTaggar t
Tr anscont i nent al . The t r ucks had been r ecr ui t ed f r omal l over New Mexi co,
Ar i zona and Col or ado. Rear den' s engi neer s had hunt ed by t el ephone f or pr i vat e
t r uck owner s and had of f er ed payment s t hat cut al l ar gument s shor t .
I t was t he t hi r d of t hr ee shi pment s of copper t hat Rear den. had expect ed;
t wo or der s had not been del i ver ed: one company had gone out of busi ness, t he
ot her was st i l l pl eadi ng del ays t hat i t coul d not hel p.
He had at t ended t o t he mat t er wi t hout br eaki ng hi s chai n of appoi nt ment s,
wi t hout r ai si ng hi s voi ce, wi t hout si gn of st r ai n, uncer t ai nt y or
appr ehensi on; he had act ed wi t h t he swi f t pr eci si on of a mi l i t ar y commander
under sudden f i r eand Gwen I ves, hi s secr et ar y, had act ed as hi s cal mest
l i eut enant . She was a gi r l i n her l at e t went i es, whose qui et l y har moni ous,
i mpenet r abl e f ace had a qual i t y mat chi ng t he best desi gned of f i ce equi pment ;
she was one of hi s most r ut hl essl y compet ent empl oyees; her manner of
per f or mi ng her dut i es suggest ed t he ki nd of r at i onal cl eanl i ness t hat woul d
consi der any el ement of emot i on, whi l e at wor k, as an unpar donabl e
i mmor al i t y.
When t he emer gency was over , her sol e comment was, " Mr . Rear den, I t hi nk
we shoul d ask al l our suppl i er s t o shi p vi a Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . " " I ' m
t hi nki ng t hat , t oo, " he answer ed; t hen added, " Wi r e Fl emi ng i n Col or ado. Tel l
hi mI ' mt aki ng an opt i on on t hat copper mi ne pr oper t y. "
He was back at hi s desk, speaki ng t o hi s super i nt endent on one phone and
t o hi s pur chasi ng manager on anot her , checki ng ever y dat e and t on of or e on
handhe coul d not l eave t o chance or t o anot her per son t he possi bi l i t y of a
si ngl e hour ' s del ay i n t he f l ow of a f ur nace: i t was t he l ast of t he r ai l f or
t he J ohn Gal t Li ne t hat was bei ng pour edwhen t he buzzer r ang and Mi ss I ves'
voi ce announced t hat hi s mot her was out si de, demandi ng t o see hi m.
He had asked hi s f ami l y never t o come t o t he mi l l s wi t hout appoi nt ment . He
had been gl ad t hat t hey hat ed t he pl ace and sel domappear ed i n hi s of f i ce.
What he now f el t was a vi ol ent i mpul se t o or der hi s mot her of f t he pr emi ses.
I nst ead, wi t h a gr eat er ef f or t t han t he pr obl emof t he t r ai n wr eck had
r equi r ed of hi m, he sai d qui et l y, " Al l r i ght . Ask her t o come i n. "
Hi s mot her came i n wi t h an ai r of bel l i ger ent def ensi veness. She l ooked at
hi s of f i ce as i f she knew what i t meant t o hi mand as i f she wer e decl ar i ng
her r esent ment agai nst anyt hi ng bei ng of gr eat er i mpor t ance t o hi mt han her
own per son. She t ook a l ong t i me set t l i ng down i n an ar mchai r , ar r angi ng and
r ear r angi ng her bag, her gl oves, t he f ol ds of her dr ess, whi l e dr oni ng, " I t ' s
a f i ne t hi ng when a mot her has t o wai t i n an ant er oomand ask per mi ssi on of a
st enogr apher bef or e she' s al l owed t o see her own son who"
" Mot her , i s i t anyt hi ng i mpor t ant ? I amver y r ushed t oday. "
" You' r e not t he onl y one who' s got pr obl ems. Of cour se, i t ' s i mpor t ant . Do
you t hi nk I ' d go t o t he t r oubl e of dr i vi ng way
out her e, i f i t wasn' t i mpor t ant ?"
" What i s i t ?"
" I t ' s about Phi l i p. "
" Yes?"
" Phi l i p i s unhappy. "
" Wel l ?"
" He f eel s i t ' s not r i ght t hat he shoul d have t o depend on your char i t y and
l i ve on handout s and never be abl e t o count on a si ngl e dol l ar of hi s own. "
" Wel l ! " he sai d wi t h a st ar t l ed smi l e. " I ' ve been wai t i ng f or hi mt o
r eal i ze t hat . "
" I t i sn' t r i ght f or a sensi t i ve man t o be i n such a posi t i on. "
" I t cer t ai nl y i sn' t . "
" I ' mgl ad you agr ee wi t h me. So what you have t o do i s gi ve hi ma j ob. "
" A . . . what ?"
" You must gi ve hi ma j ob, her e, at t he mi l l sbut a ni ce, cl ean j ob, of
cour se, wi t h a desk and an of f i ce and a decent sal ar y, wher e he woul dn' t have
t o be among your day l abor er s and your smel l y f ur naces. "
He knew t hat he was hear i ng i t ; he coul d not make hi msel f bel i eve i t .
" Mot her , you' r e not ser i ous. "
" I cer t ai nl y am. I happen t o know t hat t hat ' s what he want s, onl y ' s t oo
pr oud t o ask you f or i t But i f you of f er i t t o hi mand make i t l ook l i ke i t ' s
you who' r e aski ng hi ma f avor why, I know he' d be happy t o t ake i t . That ' s
why I had t o come her e t o t al k t o youso he woul dn' t guess t hat I put you up
t o i t . "
I t was not i n t he nat ur e of hi s consci ousness t o under st and t he nat ur e of
t he t hi ngs he was hear i ng. A si ngl e t hought cut t hr ough hi s mi nd l i ke a
spot l i ght , maki ng hi munabl e t o concei ve how any eyes coul d mi ss i t . The
t hought br oke out of hi mas a cr y of bewi l der ment : " But he knows not hi ng
about t he st eel busi ness! "
" What has t hat got t o do wi t h i t ? He needs a j ob. "
" But he coul dn' t do t he wor k. "
" He needs t o gai n sel f - conf i dence and t o f eel i mpor t ant . "
" But he woul dn' t be any good what ever . "
" He needs t o f eel t hat he' s want ed. "
" Her e? What coul d I want hi mf or ?"
" You hi r e pl ent y of st r anger s.
" I hi r e men who pr oduce. What has he got t o of f er ?"
" He' s your br ot her , i sn' t he?"
" What has t hat got t o do wi t h i t ?"
She st ar ed i ncr edul ousl y, i n t ur n, si l enced by shock. For a moment , t hey
sat l ooki ng at each ot her , as i f acr oss an i nt er pl anet ar y di st ance.
" He' s your br ot her , " she sai d, her voi ce l i ke a phonogr aph r ecor d
r epeat i ng a magi c f or mul a she coul d not per mi t her sel f t o doubt . " He needs a
posi t i on i n t he wor l d. He needs a sal ar y, so t hat he' d f eel t hat he' s got
money comi ng t o hi mas hi s due, not as al ms. "
" As hi s due? But he woul dn' t be wor t h a ni ckel t o me. "
" I s t hat what you t hi nk of f i r st ? Your pr of i t ? I ' maski ng you t o hel p your
br ot her , and you' r e f i gur i ng how t o make a ni ckel on hi m, and you won' t hel p
hi munl ess t her e' s money i n i t f or youi s t hat i t ?"
She saw t he expr essi on of hi s eyes, and she l ooked away, but spoke
hast i l y, her voi ce r i si ng. " Yes, sur e, you' r e hel pi ng hi ml i ke you' d hel p any
st r ay beggar . Mat er i al hel pt hat ' s al l you know or under st and. Have you
t hought about hi s spi r i t ual needs and what hi s posi t i on i s doi ng t o hi s sel f -
r espect ? He doesn' t want t o l i ve l i ke a beggar . He want s t o be i ndependent of
you. "
" By means of get t i ng f r omme a sal ar y he can' t ear n f or wor k he can' t do?"
" You' d never mi ss i t . You' ve got enough peopl e her e who' r e maki ng money
f or you. "
" Ar e you aski ng me t o hel p hi mst age a f r aud of t hat ki nd?"
" You don' t have t o put i t t hat way. "
" I s i t a f r audor i sn' t i t ?"
" That ' s why I can' t t al k t o youbecause you' r e not human. You have no
pi t y, no f eel i ng f or your br ot her , no compassi on f or hi s f eel i ngs. "
" I s i t a f r aud or not ?"
" You have no mer cy f or anybody. "
" Do you t hi nk t hat a f r aud of t hi s ki nd woul d be j ust ?"
" You' r e t he most i mmor al man l i vi ngyou t hi nk of not hi ng but j ust i ce! You
don' t f eel any l ove at al l ! "
He got up, hi s movement abr upt and st r essed, t he movement of endi ng an
i nt er vi ew and or der i ng a vi si t or out of hi s of f i ce. " Mot her , I ' mr unni ng a
st eel pl ant not a whor ehouse. "
" Henr y! " The gasp of i ndi gnat i on was at hi s choi ce of l anguage, not hi ng
mor e.
" Don' t ever speak t o me agai n about a j ob f or Phi l i p. I woul d not gi ve hi m
t he j ob of a ci nder sweeper . I woul d not al l ow hi mi nsi de my mi l l s. I want
you t o under st and t hat , once and f or al l . You may t r y t o hel p hi mi n any way
you wi sh, but don' t ever l et me see you t hi nki ng of my mi l l s as a means t o
t hat end. "
The wr i nkl es of her sof t chi n t r i ckl ed i nt o a shape r esembl i ng a sneer .
" What ar e t hey, your mi l l sa hol y t empl e of some ki nd?"
" Why . . . yes, " he sai d sof t l y, ast oni shed at t he t hought .
" Don' t you ever t hi nk of peopl e and of your mor al dut i es?"
" I don' t know what i t i s t hat you choose t o cal l mor al i t y. No, I don' t
t hi nk of peopl eexcept t hat i f I gave a j ob t o Phi l i p, I woul dn' t be abl e t o
f ace any compet ent man who needed wor k and deser ved i t . "
She got up. Her head was dr awn i nt o her shoul der s, and t he r i ght eous
bi t t er ness of her voi ce seemed t o push t he wor ds upwar d at hi s t al l , st r ai ght
f i gur e: " That ' s your cr uel t y, t hat ' s what ' s mean and sel f i sh about you. I f
you l oved your br ot her , you' d gi ve hi ma j ob he di dn' t deser ve, pr eci sel y
because he di dn' t deser ve i t t hat woul d be t r ue l ove and ki ndness and
br ot her hood. El se what ' s l ove f or ? I f a man deser ves a j ob, t her e' s no vi r t ue
i n gi vi ng i t t o hi m. Vi r t ue i s t he gi vi ng of t he undeser ved. "
He was l ooki ng at her l i ke a chi l d at an unf ami l i ar ni ght mar e, i ncr edul i t y
pr event i ng i t f r ombecomi ng hor r or . " Mot her , " he sai d sl owl y, " you don' t know
what you' r e sayi ng. I ' mnot abl e ever t o despi se you enough t o bel i eve t hat
you mean i t "
The l ook on her f ace ast oni shed hi mmor e t han al l t he r est : i t was a l ook
of def eat and yet of an odd, sl y, cyni cal cunni ng, as i f , f or a moment , she
hel d some wor l dl y wi sdomt hat mocked hi s i nnocence.
The memor y of t hat l ook r emai ned i n hi s mi nd, l i ke a war ni ng si gnal
t el l i ng hi mt hat he had gl i mpsed an i ssue whi ch he had t o under st and.
But he coul d not gr appl e wi t h i t , he coul d not f or ce hi s mi nd t o accept i t
as wor t hy of t hought , he coul d f i nd no cl ue except hi s di muneasi ness and hi s
r evul si onand he had no t i me t o gi ve i t , he coul d not t hi nk of i t now, he was
f aci ng hi s next cal l er seat ed i n f r ont of hi s deskhe was l i st eni ng t o a man
who pl eaded f or hi s l i f e.
The man di d not st at e i t i n such t er ms, but Rear den knew t hat t hat was t he
essence of t he case. What t he man put i nt o wor ds was onl y a a f or f i ve
hundr ed t ons of st eel .
He was Mr . War d, of t he War d Har vest er Company of Mi nnesot a.
I t was an unpr et ent i ous company wi t h an unbl emi shed r eput at i on, t he ki nd
of busi ness concer n t hat sel domgr ows l ar ge, but never f ai l s. Mr .
War d r epr esent ed t he f our t h gener at i on of a f ami l y t hat had owned t he
pl ant and had gi ven i t t he consci ent i ous best of such abi l i t y as t hey
possessed.
He was a man i n hi s f i f t i es, wi t h a squar e, st ol i d f ace. Looki ng at hi m,
one knew t hat he woul d consi der i t as i ndecent t o l et hi s f ace show suf f er i ng
as t o r emove hi s cl ot hes i n publ i c. He spoke i n a dr y, busi nessl i ke manner .
He expl ai ned t hat he had al ways deal t , as hi s f at her had, wi t h one of t he
smal l st eel compani es now t aken over by Or r en Boyl e' s Associ at ed St eel . He
had wai t ed f or hi s l ast or der of st eel f or a year . He had spent t he l ast
mont h st r uggl i ng t o obt ai n a per sonal i nt er vi ew wi t h Rear den.
" I know t hat your mi l l s ar e r unni ng at capaci t y, Mr . Rear den, " he sai d,
" and I know t hat you ar e not i n a posi t i on t o t ake car e of new or der s, what
wi t h your bi ggest , ol dest cust omer s havi ng t o wai t t hei r t ur n, you bei ng t he
onl y decent I mean, r el i abl est eel manuf act ur er l ef t i n t he count r y. I don' t
know what r eason t o of f er you as t o why you shoul d want t o make an except i on
i n my case. But t her e was not hi ng el se f or me t o do, except cl ose t he door s
of my pl ant f or good, and I "
t her e was a sl i ght br eak i n hi s voi ce" I can' t qui t e see my way t o cl osi ng
t he door s . . . as yet . . . so I t hought I ' d speak t o you, even i f I di dn' t
have much chance . . . st i l l , I had t o t r y ever yt hi ng possi bl e. "
Thi s was l anguage t hat Rear den coul d under st and, " I wi sh I coul d hel p you
out , " he sai d, " but t hi s i s t he wor st possi bl e t i me f or me, because of a ver y
l ar ge, ver y speci al or der t hat has t o t ake pr ecedence over ever yt hi ng. "
" I know. But woul d you j ust gi ve me a hear i ng, Mr . Rear den?"
" Sur e. "
" I f i t ' s a quest i on of money, I ' l l pay anyt hi ng you ask. I f I coul d make
i t wor t h your whi l e t hat way, why, char ge me any ext r a you pl ease, char ge me
doubl e t he r egul ar pr i ce, onl y l et me have t he st eel .
I woul dn' t car e i f I had t o sel l t he har vest er at a l oss t hi s year , j ust
so I coul d keep t he door s open. I ' ve got enough, per sonal l y, t o r un at a l oss
f or a coupl e of year s, i f necessar y, j ust t o hol d out because, I f i gur e,
t hi ngs can' t go on t hi s way much l onger , condi t i ons ar e bound t o i mpr ove,
t hey' ve got t o or el se we' l l " He di d not f i ni sh. He sai d f i r ml y, " They' ve
got t o. "
" They wi l l , " sai d Rear den.
The t hought of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne r an t hr ough hi s mi nd l i ke a har mony
under t he conf i dent sound of hi s wor ds. The J ohn Gal t Li ne was movi ng
f or war d. The at t acks on hi s Met al had ceased. He f el t as i f , mi l es apar t
acr oss t he count r y, he and Dagny Taggar t now st ood i n empt y space, t hei r way
cl ear ed, f r ee t o f i ni sh t he j ob. They' l l l eave us al one t o do i t , he t hought .
The wor ds wer e l i ke a bat t l e hymn i n hi s mi nd: They' l l l eave us al one.
" Our pl ant capaci t y i s one t housand har vest er s per year , " sai d Mr .
War d. " Last year , we put out t hr ee hundr ed. I scr aped t he st eel t oget her
f r ombankr upt cy sal es, and beggi ng a f ew t ons her e and t her e f r ombi g
compani es, and j ust goi ng ar ound l i ke a scavenger t o al l sor t s of unl i kel y
pl aceswel l , I won' t bor e you wi t h t hat , onl y I never t hought I ' d l i ve t o see
t he t i me when I ' d have t o do busi ness t hat way.
And al l t he whi l e Mr . Or r en Boyl e was swear i ng t o me t hat he was goi ng t o
del i ver t he st eel next week. But what ever he managed t o pour , i t went t o new
cust omer s of hi s, f or some r eason nobody woul d ment i on, onl y I hear d i t
whi sper ed t hat t hey wer e men wi t h some sor t of pol i t i cal pul l . And now I
can' t even get t o Mr . Boyl e at al l .
He' s i n Washi ngt on, been t her e f or over a mont h. And al l hi s of f i ce t el l s
me i s j ust t hat t hey can' t hel p i t , because t hey can' t get t he or e. "
" Don' t wast e your t i me on t hem, " sai d Rear den. " You' l l never get anyt hi ng
f r omt hat out f i t . "
" You know, Mr . Rear den, " he sai d i n t he t one of a di scover y whi ch he coul d
not qui t e br i ng hi msel f t o bel i eve, " I t hi nk t her e' s somet hi ng phony about
t he way Mr . Boyl e r uns hi s busi ness. I can' t under st and what he' s af t er .
They' ve got hal f t hei r f ur naces i dl e, but l ast mont h t her e wer e al l t hose bi g
st or i es about Associ at ed St eel i n al l t he newspaper s. About t hei r out put ?
Why, noabout t he wonder f ul housi ng pr oj ect t hat Mr . Boyl e' s j ust bui l t f or
hi s wor ker s. Last week, i t was col or ed movi es t hat Mr . Boyl e sent t o al l t he
hi gh school s, showi ng how st eel i s made and what gr eat ser vi ce i t per f or ms
f or ever ybody.
Now Mr . Boyl e' s got a r adi o pr ogr am, t hey gi ve t al ks about t he i mpor t ance
of t he st eel i ndust r y t o t he count r y and t hey keep sayi ng t hat we must
pr eser ve t he st eel i ndust r y as a whol e. I don' t under st and what he means by
i t as a whol e. "
" I do. For get i t . He won' t get away wi t h i t . "
" You know, Mr . Rear den, I don' t l i ke peopl e who t al k t oo much about how
ever yt hi ng t hey do i s j ust f or t he sake of ot her s. I t ' s not t r ue, and I don' t
t hi nk i t woul d be r i ght i f i t ever wer e t r ue. So I ' l l say t hat what I need
t he st eel f or i s t o save my own busi ness. Because i t ' s mi ne. Because i f I had
t o cl ose i t . . . oh wel l , nobody under st ands t hat nowadays. "
" I do. "
" Yes . . . Yes, I t hi nk you woul d. . . . So, you see, t hat ' s my f i r st
concer n. But st i l l , t her e ar e my cust omer s, t oo. They' ve deal t wi t h me f or
year s. They' r e count i ng on me. I t ' s j ust about i mpossi bl e t o get any sor t of
machi ner y anywher e. Do you know what i t ' s get t i ng t o be l i ke, out i n
Mi nnesot a, when t he f ar mer s can' t get t ool s, when machi ne br eak down i n t he
mi ddl e of t he har vest season and t her e ar e no par t s, no r epl acement s . . .
not hi ng but Mr . Or r en Boyl e' s col or ed movi es about . . . Oh wel l . . . And
t hen t her e ar e my wor ker s, t oo. Some of t hemhave been wi t h us si nce my
f at her ' s t i me. They' ve got no ot her pl ace t o go. Not now. "
I t was i mpossi bl e, t hought Rear den, t o squeeze mor e st eel out of mi l l s
wher e ever y f ur nace, ever y hour and ever y t on wer e schedul ed i n advance f or
ur gent or der s, f or t he next si x mont hs. But . . . The J ohn Gal t Li ne, he
t hought . I f he coul d do t hat , he coul d do anyt hi ng.
- . . He f el t as i f he wi shed t o under t ake t en new pr obl ems at once.
He f el t as i f t hi s wer e a wor l d wher e not hi ng was i mpossi bl e t o hi m.
" Look, " he sai d, r eachi ng f or t he t el ephone, " l et me check wi t h my
super i nt endent and see j ust what we' r e pour i ng i n t he next f ew weeks.
Maybe I ' l l f i nd a way t o bor r ow a f ew t ons f r omsome of t he or der s and"
Mr . War d l ooked qui ckl y away f r omhi m, but Rear den had caught a gl i mpse of
hi s f ace. I t ' s so much f or hi m, t hought Rear den, and so l i t t l e f or me!
He l i f t ed t he t el ephone r ecei ver , but he had t o dr op i t , because t he door
of hi s of f i ce f l ew open and Gwen I ves r ushed i n.
I t seemed i mpossi bl e t hat Mi ss I ves shoul d per mi t her sel f a br each of t hat
ki nd, or t hat t he cal mof her f ace shoul d l ook l i ke an unnat ur al di st or t i on,
or t hat her eyes shoul d seembl i nded, or t hat her st eps shoul d sound a shr ed
of di sci pl i ne away f r omst agger i ng. She sai d, " Excuse me f or i nt er r upt i ng,
Mr . Rear den, " but he knew t hat she di d not see t he of f i ce, di d not see Mr .
War d, saw not hi ng but hi m. " I t hought I must t el l you t hat t he Legi sl at ur e
has j ust passed t he Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l . "
I t was t he st ol i d Mr . War d who scr eamed, " Oh God, no! Oh, no! "
st ar i ng at Rear den.
Rear den had l eaped t o hi s f eet . He st ood unnat ur al l y bent , one shoul der
dr oopi ng f or war d. I t was onl y an i nst ant . Then he l ooked ar ound hi m, as i f
r egai ni ng eyesi ght , sai d, " Excuse me, " hi s gl ance i ncl udi ng bot h Mi ss I ves
and Mr . War d, and sat down agai n.
" We wer e not i nf or med t hat t he Bi l l had been br ought t o t he f l oor , wer e
we?" he asked, hi s voi ce cont r ol l ed and dr y.
" No, Mr . Rear den. Appar ent l y, i t was a sur pr i se move and i t t ook t hemj ust
f or t y- f i ve mi nut es. "
" Have you hear d f r omMouch?"
" No, Mr . Rear den. " She st r essed t he no. " I t was t he of f i ce boy f r omt he
f i f t h f l oor who came r unni ng i n t o t el l me t hat he' d j ust hear d i t on t he
r adi o. I cal l ed t he newspaper s t o ver i f y i t . I t r i ed t o r each Mr .
Mouch i n Washi ngt on. Hi s of f i ce does not answer . "
" When di d we hear f r omhi ml ast ?"
" Ten days ago, Mr . Rear den. "
" Al l r i ght . Thank you, Gwen. Keep t r yi ng t o get hi s of f i ce. "
" Yes, Mr . Rear den. "
She wal ked out . Mr . War d was on hi s f eet , hat i n hand. He mut t er ed, " I
guess I ' d bet t er "
" Si t down! " Rear den snapped f i er cel y.
Mr . War d obeyed, st ar i ng at hi m.
" We had busi ness t o t r ansact , di dn' t we?" sai d Rear den. Mr . War d coul d not
def i ne t he emot i on t hat cont or t ed Rear den' s mout h as he spoke. " Mr . War d,
what i s i t t hat t he f oul est bast ar ds on ear t h denounce us f or , among ot her
t hi ngs? Oh yes, f or our mot t o of ' Busi ness as usual . ' Wel l busi ness as usual ,
Mr . War d! "
He pi cked up t he t el ephone r ecei ver and asked f or hi s super i nt endent .
" Say, Pet e . . . What ? . . . Yes, I ' ve hear d. Can i t . We' l l t al k about t hat
l at er . What I want t o know i s, coul d you l et me have f i ve hundr ed t ons of
st eel , ext r a, above schedul e, i n t he next f ew weeks?
. . . Yes, I know . . . I know i t ' s t ough. . . . Gi ve me t he dat es and t he
f i gur es. " He l i st ened, r api dl y j ot t i ng not es down on a sheet of paper . Then
he sai d, " Ri ght . Thank you, " and hung up.
He st udi ed t he f i gur es f or a f ew moment s, mar ki ng some br i ef cal cul at i ons
on t he mar gi n of t he sheet . Then he r ai sed hi s head.
" Al l r i ght , Mr . War d, " he sai d. " You wi l l have your st eel i n t en days. "
When Mr . War d had gone, Rear den came out i nt o t he ant er oom.
He sai d t o Mi ss I ves, hi s voi ce nor mal , " Wi r e Fl emi ng i n Col or ado.
He' l l know why I have t o cancel t hat opt i on. " She i ncl i ned her head, i n
t he manner of a nod si gni f yi ng obedi ence. She di d not l ook at hi m.
He t ur ned t o hi s next cal l er and sai d, wi t h a gest ur e of i nvi t at i on t owar d
hi s of f i ce, " How do you do. Come i n. "
He woul d t hi nk of i t l at er , he t hought ; one moves st ep by st ep and one
must keep movi ng. For t he moment , wi t h an unnat ur al cl ar i t y, wi t h a br ut al
si mpl i f i cat i on t hat made i t al most easy, hi s consci ousness cont ai ned not hi ng
but one t hought : I t must not st op me. The sent ence hung al one, wi t h no past
and no f ut ur e. He di d not t hi nk of what i t was t hat must not st op hi m, or why
t hi s sent ence was such a cr uci al absol ut e. I t hel d hi mand he obeyed. He went
st ep by st ep. He compl et ed hi s schedul e of appoi nt ment s, as schedul ed.
I t was l at e when hi s l ast cal l er depar t ed and he came out of hi s of f i ce.
The r est of hi s st af f had gone home. Mi ss I ves sat al one at her desk i n an
empt y r oom. She sat st r ai ght and st i f f , her hands cl asped t i ght l y t oget her i n
her l ap. Her head was not l ower ed, but hel d r i gi dl y l evel , and her f ace
seemed f r ozen. Tear s wer e r unni ng down her cheeks, wi t h no sound, wi t h no
f aci al movement , agai nst her r esi st ance, beyond cont r ol .
She saw hi mand sai d dr yl y, gui l t i l y, i n apol ogy, " I ' msor r y, Mr .
Rear den, " not at t empt i ng t he f ut i l e pr et ense of hi di ng her f ace.
He appr oached her . " Thank you, " he sai d gent l y.
She l ooked up at hi m, ast oni shed.
He smi l ed. " But don' t you t hi nk you' r e under est i mat i ng me, Gwen?
I sn' t i t t oo soon t o cr y over me?"
" I coul d have t aken t he r est of i t , " she whi sper ed, " but t hey" she poi nt ed
at t he newspaper s on her desk" t hey' r e cal l i ng i t a vi ct or y f or ant i - gr eed. "
He l aughed al oud. " I can see wher e such a di st or t i on of t he Engl i sh
l anguage woul d make you f ur i ous, " he sai d. " But what el se?"
As she l ooked at hi m, her mout h r el axed a l i t t l e. The vi ct i mwhomshe
coul d not pr ot ect was her onl y poi nt of r eassur ance i n a wor l d di ssol vi ng
ar ound her .
He moved hi s hand gent l y acr oss her f or ehead; i t was an unusual br eak of
f or mal i t y f or hi m, and a si l ent acknowl edgment of t he t hi ngs at whi ch he had
not l aughed. " Go home, Gwen. I won' t need you t oni ght . I ' mgoi ng home mysel f
i n j ust a l i t t l e whi l e. No, I don' t want you t o wai t . "
I t was past mi dni ght , when, st i l l si t t i ng at hi s desk, bent over
bl uepr i nt s of t he br i dge f or t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, he st opped hi s wor k
abr upt l y, because emot i on r eached hi mi n a sudden st ab, not t o be escaped any
l onger , as i f a cur t ai n of anest hesi a had br oken, He sl umped down, hal f way,
st i l l hol di ng ont o some shr ed of r esi st ance, and sat , hi s chest pr essed t o
t he edge of t he desk t o st op hi m, hi s head hangi ng down, as i f t he onl y
achi evement st i l l possi bl e t o hi mwas not t o l et hi s head dr op down on t he
desk. He sat t hat way f or a f ew moment s, consci ous of not hi ng but pai n, a
scr eami ng pai n wi t hout cont ent or l i mi t he sat , not knowi ng whet her i t was i n
hi s mi nd or hi s body, r educed t o t he t er r i bl e ugl i ness of pai n t hat st opped
t hought .
I n a f ew moment s, i t was over . He r ai sed hi s head and sat up st r ai ght ,
qui et l y, l eani ng back agai nst hi s chai r . Now he saw t hat i n post poni ng t hi s
moment f or hour s, he had not been gui l t y of evasi on: he had not t hought of
i t , because t her e was not hi ng t o t hi nk.
Thought he t ol d hi msel f qui et l yi s a weapon one uses i n or der t o act . No
act i on was possi bl e. Thought i s t he t ool by whi ch one makes a choi ce. No
choi ce was l ef t t o hi m. Thought set s one' s pur pose and t he way t o r each i t .
I n t he mat t er of hi s l i f e bei ng t or n pi ece by pi ece out of hi m, he was t o
have no voi ce, no pur pose, no way, no def ense.
He t hought of t hi s i n ast oni shment . He saw f or t he f i r st t i me t hat he had
never known f ear because, agai nst any di sast er , he had hel d t he omni pot ent
cur e of bei ng abl e t o act . No, he t hought , not an assur ance of vi ct or ywho
can ever have t hat ?onl y t he chance t o act , whi ch i s al l one needs. Now he
was cont empl at i ng, i mper sonal l y and f or t he f i r st t i me, t he r eal hear t of
t er r or : bei ng del i ver ed t o dest r uct i on wi t h one' s hands t i ed behi nd one' s
back.
Wel l , t hen, go on wi t h your hands t i ed, he t hought . Go on i n chai ns.
Go on. I t must not st op you. . . . But anot her voi ce was t el l i ng hi m
t hi ngs he di d not want t o hear , whi l e he f ought back, cr yi ng t hr ough and
agai nst i t : Ther e' s no poi nt i n t hi nki ng of t hat . . . t her e' s no use . . .
what f or ? . . . l eave i t al one!
He coul d not choke i t of f . He sat st i l l , over t he dr awi ngs of t he br i dge
f or t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, and hear d t he t hi ngs r el eased by a voi ce t hat was
par t - sound, par t - si ght : They deci ded i t wi t hout hi m.
. . . They di d not cal l f or hi m, t hey di d not ask, t hey di d not l et hi m
speak. . . . They wer e not bound even by t he dut y t o l et hi mknow
t o l et hi mknow t hat t hey had sl ashed par t of hi s l i f e away and t hat he
had t o be r eady t o wal k on as a cr i ppl e. . . . Of ah" t hose concer ned,
whoever t hey wer e, f or whi chever r eason, f or what ever need, he was t he one
t hey had not had t o consi der .
The si gn at t he end of a l ong r oad sai d: Rear den Or e. I t hung over bl ack
t i er s of met al . . . and over year s and ni ght s . . . over a cl ock t i cki ng
dr ops of hi s bl ood away . . . t he bl ood he had gi ven gl adl y, exul t ant l y i n
payment f or a di st ant day and a si gn over a r oad . . pai d f or wi t h hi s
ef f or t , hi s st r engt h, hi s mi nd, hi s hope.
Dest r oyed at t he whi mof some men who sat and vot ed . . . Who knows by
what mi nds? . . . Who knows whose wi l l had pl aced t hemi n power ?
what mot i ve moved t hem?what was t hei r knowl edge?whi ch one of t hem,
unai ded, coul d br i ng a chunk of or e out of t he ear t h? . . . Dest r oyed at t he
whi mof men whomhe had never seen and who had never seen t hose t i er s of
met al . . . Dest r oyed, because t hey so deci ded. By what r i ght ?
He shook hi s head. Ther e ar e t hi ngs one must not cont empl at e, he t hought .
Ther e i s an obsceni t y of evi l whi ch cont ami nat es t he obser ver .
Ther e i s a l i mi t t o what i t i s pr oper f or a man t o see. He must not t hi nk
of t hi s, or l ook wi t hi n i t , or t r y t o l ear n t he nat ur e of i t s r oot s.
Feel i ng qui et and empt y, he t ol d hi msel f t hat he woul d be al l r i ght
t omor r ow. He woul d f or gi ve hi msel f t he weakness of t hi s ni ght , i t was l i ke
t he t ear s one i s per mi t t ed at a f uner al , and t hen one l ear ns how t o l i ve wi t h
an open wound or wi t h a cr i ppl ed f act or y.
He got up and wal ked t o t he wi ndow. The mi l l s seemed deser t ed and st i l l ;
he saw f eebl e snat ches of r ed above bl ack f unnel s, l ong coi l s of st eam, t he
webbed di agonal s of cr anes and br i dges.
He f el t a desol at e l onel i ness, of a ki nd he had never known bef or e.
He t hought t hat Gwen I ves and Mr . War d coul d l ook t o hi mf or hope, f or
r el i ef , f or r enewal of cour age. To whomcoul d he l ook f or i t ? He, t oo, needed
i t , f or once. He wi shed he had a f r i end who coul d be per mi t t ed t o see hi m
suf f er , wi t hout pr et ense or pr ot ect i on, on whomhe coul d l ean f or a moment ,
j ust t o say, " I ' mver y t i r ed, " and f i nd a moment ' s r est . Of al l t he men he
knew, was t her e one he wi shed he had besi de hi mnow? He hear d t he answer i n
hi s mi nd, i mmedi at e and shocki ng: Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
Hi s chuckl e of anger br ought hi mback. The absur di t y of t he l ongi ng j ol t ed
hi mi nt o cal m. That ' s what you get , he t hought , when you i ndul ge your sel f i n
weakness.
He st ood at t he wi ndow, t r yi ng not t o t hi nk. But he kept hear i ng wor ds i n
hi s mi nd: Rear den Or e . . . Rear den Coal . . . Rear den St eel . . . Rear den
Met al . . . What was t he use? Why had he done i t ? Why shoul d he ever want t o
do anyt hi ng agai n? . . .
Hi s f i r st day on t he l edges of t he or e mi nes . . . The day when he st ood
i n t he wi nd, l ooki ng down at t he r ui ns of a st eel pl ant . . . The day when he
st ood her e, i n t hi s of f i ce, at t hi s wi ndow, and t hought t hat a br i dge coul d
be made t o car r y i ncr edi bl e l oads on j ust a f ew bar s of met al , i f one
combi ned a t r uss wi t h an ar ch, i f one bui l t di agonal br aci ng wi t h t he t op
member s cur ved t o
He st opped and st ood st i l l . He had not t hought of combi ni ng a t r uss wi t h
an ar ch, t hat day.
I n t he next moment , he was at hi s desk, bendi ng over i t , wi t h one knee on
t he seat of t he chai r , wi t h no t i me t o t hi nk of si t t i ng down, he was dr awi ng
l i nes, cur ves, t r i angl es, col umns of cal cul at i ons, i ndi scr i mi nat el y on t he
bl uepr i nt s, on t he desk bl ot t er , on somebody' s l et t er s.
And an hour l at er , he was cal l i ng f or a l ong- di st ance l i ne, he was wai t i ng
f or a phone t o r i ng by a bed i n a r ai l way car on a si di ng, he was sayi ng,
" Dagny! That br i dge of our st hr ow i n t he ash can al l t he dr awi ngs I sent you,
because . . . What ? . . . Oh, t hat ? To hel l wi t h t hat ! Never mi nd t he l oot er s
and t hei r l aws! For get i t ! Dagny, what do we car e! Li st en, you know t he
cont r apt i on you cal l ed t he Rear den Tr uss, t hat you admi r ed so much? I t ' s not
wor t h a damn. I ' ve f i gur ed out a t r uss t hat wi l l beat anyt hi ng ever bui l t !
Your br i dge wi l l car r y f our t r ai ns at once, st and t hr ee hundr ed year s and
cost you l ess t han your cheapest cul ver t . I ' l l send you t he dr awi ngs i n t wo
days, but I want ed t o t el l you about i t r i ght now. You see, i t ' s a mat t er of
combi ni ng a t r uss wi t h an ar ch. I f we t ake di agonal br aci ng and . . .
What ? . . . I can' t hear you. Have you caught a col d? . . . What ar e you
t hanki ng me f or , as yet ? Wai t t i l l I expl ai n i t t o you. "

CHAPTER VIII
THE JOHN GALT LINE

The wor ker smi l ed, l ooki ng at Eddi e Wi l l er s acr oss t he t abl e.
" I f eel l i ke a f ugi t i ve, " sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s. ' I guess you know why I
haven' t been her e f or mont hs?" He poi nt ed at t he under gr ound caf et er i a.
" I ' msupposed t o be a vi ce- pr esi dent now. The Vi ce- Pr esi dent i n Char ge of
Oper at i on. For God' s sake, don' t t ake i t ser i ousl y. I st ood i t as l ong as I
coul d, and t hen I had t o escape, i f onl y f or one eveni ng. . . . The f i r st
t i me I came down her e f or di nner , af t er my al l eged pr omot i on, t hey al l st ar ed
at me so much, I di dn' t dar e come back. Wel l , l et t hemst ar e.
You don' t . I ' mgl ad t hat i t doesn' t make any di f f er ence t o you. . . .
No, I haven' t seen her f or t wo weeks. But I speak t o her on t he phone
ever y day, somet i mes t wi ce a day. . . . Yes, I know how she f eel s: she l oves
i t . What i s i t we hear over t he t el ephonesound vi br at i ons, i sn' t i t ? Wel l ,
her voi ce sounds as i f i t wer e t ur ni ng i nt o l i ght vi br at i onsi f you know what
I mean. She enj oys r unni ng t hat hor r i bl e bat t l e si ngl e handed and wi nni ng. .
. . Oh yes, she' s wi nni ng! Do you know why you haven' t r ead anyt hi ng about
t he J ohn Gal t Li ne i n t he newspaper s f or some t i me? Because i t ' s goi ng so
wel l . . . Onl y . . . t hat Rear den Met al r ai l wi l l be t he gr eat est t r ack ever
bui l t , but what wi l l be t he use, i f we don' t have any engi nes power f ul enough
t o t ake advant age of i t ?
Look at t he ki nd of pat ched coal - bur ner s we' ve got l ef t t hey can bar el y
manage t o dr ag t hemsel ves f ast enough f or ol d t r ol l ey- car r ai l s. . . .
St i l l , t her e' s hope. The Uni t ed Locomot i ve Wor ks went bankr upt . That ' s t he
best br eak we' ve had i n t he l ast f ew weeks, because t hei r pl ant has been
bought by Dwi ght Sander s. He' s a br i l l i ant young engi neer who' s got t he onl y
good ai r cr af t pl ant i n t he count r y. He had t o sel l t he ai r cr af t pl ant t o hi s
br ot her , i n or der t o t ake over Uni t ed Locomot i ve.
That ' s on account of t he Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l . Sur e, i t ' s j ust
a set up bet ween t hem, but can you bl ame hi m? Anyway, we' l l see Di esel s comi ng
out of t he Uni t ed Locomot i ve Wor ks now. Dwi ght Sander s wi l l st ar t t hi ngs
goi ng. . . . Yes, she' s count i ng on hi m. Why do you ask t hat ? . . . Yes, he' s
cr uci al l y i mpor t ant t o us r i ght now. We' ve j ust si gned a cont r act wi t h hi m,
f or t he f i r st t en Di esel engi nes he' l l bui l d. When I phoned her t hat t he
cont r act was si gned, she l aughed and sai d, " You see? I s t her e ever any r eason
t o be af r ai d?' . . . She sai d t hat , because she knowsI ' ve never t ol d her ,
but she knowst hat I ' maf r ai d. . . . Yes, I am. . . . I don' t know . . . I
woul dn' t be af r ai d i f I knew of what , I coul d do somet hi ng about i t . But t hi s
. . . Tel l me, don' t you r eal l y despi se me f or bei ng Oper at i ng Vi ce-
Pr esi dent ? . . .
But don' t you see t hat i t ' s vi ci ous? . . . What honor ? I don' t know what
i t i s t hat I r eal l y am: a cl own, a ghost , an under st udy or j ust a r ot t en
st ooge. When I si t i n her of f i ce, i n her chai r , at her desk, I f eel wor se
t han t hat : I f eel l i ke a mur der er . . . . Sur e, I know t hat I ' msupposed t o be
a st ooge f or her and t hat woul d be an honor but . . .
but I f eel as i f i n some hor r i bl e way whi ch I can' t qui t e gr asp, I ' ma
st ooge f or J i mTaggar t . Why shoul d i t be necessar y f or her t o have a st ooge?
Why does she have t o hi de? Why di d t hey t hr ow her out of t he bui l di ng? Do you
know t hat she had t o move out i nt o a di nky hol e i n t he back al l ey, acr oss
f r omour Expr ess and Baggage Ent r ance? You ought t o t ake a l ook at i t some
t i me, t hat ' s t he of f i ce of J ohn Gal t , I nc.
Yet ever ybody knows t hat i t ' s she who' s st i l l r unni ng Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al . Why does she have t o hi de t he magni f i cent j ob she' s doi ng?
Why ar e t hey gi vi ng her no cr edi t ? Why ar e t hey r obbi ng her of her
achi evement wi t h me as t he r ecei ver of st ol en goods? Why ar e t hey doi ng
ever yt hi ng i n t hei r power t o make i t i mpossi bl e f or her t o succeed, when
she' s al l t hey' ve got st andi ng bet ween t hemand dest r uct i on? Why ar e t hey
t or t ur i ng her i n r et ur n f or savi ng t hei r l i ves? . . . What ' s t he mat t er wi t h
you? Why do you l ook at me l i ke t hat ? . . . Yes, I guess you under st and. . .
. Ther e' s somet hi ng about i t al l t hat I can' t def i ne, and i t ' s somet hi ng
evi l . That ' s why I ' maf r ai d. . . . I don' t t hi nk one can get away wi t h i t . .
. . You know, i t ' s st r ange, but I t hi nk t hey know i t , t oo, J i mand hi s cr owd
and al l of t hemi n t he bui l di ng. Ther e' s somet hi ng gui l t y and sneaky about
t he whol e pl ace. Gui l t y and sneaky and dead. Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i s now
l i ke a man who' s l ost hi s soul . . . who' s bet r ayed hi s soul . . . . No, she
doesn' t car e. Last t i me she was i n New Yor k, she came i n unexpect edl yI was
i n my of f i ce, i n her of f i ceand suddenl y t he door opened and t her e she was.
She came i n, sayi ng, ' Mr . Wi l l er s, I ' ml ooki ng f or a j ob as a st at i on
oper at or , woul d you gi ve me a chance?' I want ed t o damn t hemal l , but I had
t o l augh, I was so gl ad t o see her and she was l aughi ng so happi l y. She had
come st r ai ght f r omt he ai r por t she wor e sl acks and a f l yi ng j acket she l ooked
wonder f ul she' d got wi ndbur ned, i t l ooked l i ke a sunt an, j ust as i f she' d
r et ur ned f r oma vacat i on. She made me r emai n wher e I was, i n her chai r , and
she sat on t he desk and t al ked about t he new br i dge of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. .
. . No. No, I never asked her why she chose t hat name. . . . I don' t know
what i t means t o her . A sor t of chal l enge, I guess . . . I don' t know t o whom
. . . Oh, i t doesn' t mat t er , i t doesn' t mean a t hi ng, t her e i sn' t any J ohn
Gal t , but I wi sh she hadn' t used i t . I don' t l i ke i t , do you? . . . You do?
You don' t sound ver y happy sayi ng i t . "
The wi ndows of t he of f i ces of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne f aced a dar k al l ey.
Looki ng up f r omher desk, Dagny coul d not see t he sky, onl y t he wal l of a
bui l di ng r i si ng past her r ange of vi si on. I t was t he si de wal l of t he gr eat
skyscr aper of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
Her new headquar t er s wer e t wo r ooms on t he gr ound f l oor of a hal f
col l apsed st r uct ur e. The st r uct ur e st i l l st ood, but i t s upper st or i es wer e
boar ded of f as unsaf e f or occupancy. Such t enant s as i t shel t er ed wer e hal f -
bankr upt , exi st i ng, as i t di d, on t he i ner t i a of t he moment umof t he past .
She l i ked her new pl ace: i t saved money. The r ooms cont ai ned no
super f l uous f ur ni t ur e or peopl e. The f ur ni t ur e had come f r omj unk shops. The
peopl e wer e t he choi ce best she coul d f i nd. On her r ar e vi si t s t o New Yor k,
she had no t i me t o not i ce t he r oomwher e she wor ked; she not i ced onl y t hat i t
ser ved i t s pur pose.
She di d not know what made her st op t oni ght and l ook at t he t hi n st r eaks
of r ai n on t he gl ass of t he wi ndow, at t he wal l of t he bui l di ng acr oss t he
al l ey.
I t was past mi dni ght . Her smal l st af f had gone. She was due at t he ai r por t
at t hr ee A. M. , t o f l y her pl ane back t o Col or ado. She had l i t t l e l ef t t o do,
onl y a f ew of Eddi e' s r epor t s t o r ead. Wi t h t he sudden br eak of t he t ensi on
of hur r yi ng, she st opped, unabl e t o go on. The r epor t s seemed t o r equi r e an
ef f or t beyond her power . I t was t oo l at e t o go home and sl eep, t oo ear l y t o
go t o t he ai r por t . She t hought : You' r e t i r edand wat ched her own mood wi t h
sever e, cont empt uous det achment , knowi ng t hat i t woul d pass.
She had f l own t o New Yor k unexpect edl y, at a moment ' s not i ce, l eapi ng t o
t he cont r ol s of her pl ane wi t hi n t went y mi nut es af t er hear i ng a br i ef i t emi n
a news br oadcast . The r adi o voi ce had sai d t hat Dwi ght Sander s had r et i r ed
f r ombusi ness, suddenl y, wi t hout r eason or expl anat i on. She had hur r i ed t o
New Yor k, hopi ng t o f i nd hi mand st op hi m.
But she had f el t , whi l e f l yi ng acr oss t he cont i nent , t hat t her e woul d be
no t r ace of hi mt o f i nd.
The spr i ng r ai n hung mot i onl ess i n t he ai r beyond t he wi ndow, l i ke a t hi n
mi st . She sat , l ooki ng acr oss at t he open caver n of t he Expr ess and Baggage
Ent r ance of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal . Ther e wer e naked l i ght s i nsi de, among t he
st eel gi r der s of t he cei l i ng, and a f ew pi l es of l uggage on t he wor n concr et e
of t he f l oor . The pl ace l ooked abandoned and dead.
She gl anced at a j agged cr ack on t he wal l of her of f i ce. She hear d no
sound. She knew she was al one i n t he r ui ns of a bui l di ng. I t seemed as i f she
wer e al one i n t he ci t y. She f el t an emot i on hel d back f or year s: a l onel i ness
much beyond t hi s moment , beyond t he si l ence of t he r oomand t he wet ,
gl i st eni ng empt i ness of t he st r eet ; t he l onel i ness of a gr ay wast el and wher e
not hi ng was wor t h r eachi ng; t he l onel i ness of her chi l dhood.
She r ose and wal ked t o t he wi ndow. By pr essi ng her f ace t o t he pane, she
coul d see t he whol e of t he Taggar t Bui l di ng, i t s l i nes conver gi ng abr upt l y t o
i t s di st ant pi nnacl e i n t he sky. She l ooked up at t he dar k wi ndow of t he r oom
t hat had been her of f i ce. She f el t as i f she wer e i n exi l e, never t o r et ur n,
as i f she wer e separ at ed f r omt he bui l di ng by much mor e t han a sheet of
gl ass, a cur t ai n of r ai n and t he span of a f ew mont hs.
She st ood, i n a r oomof cr umbl i ng pl ast er , pr essed t o t he wi ndowpane,
l ooki ng up at t he unat t ai nabl e f or mof ever yt hi ng she l oved. She di d not know
t he nat ur e of her l onel i ness. The onl y wor ds t hat named i t wer e: Thi s i s not
t he wor l d I expect ed.
Once, when she was si xt een, l ooki ng at a l ong st r et ch of Taggar t t r ack, at
t he r ai l s t hat conver gedl i ke t he l i nes of a skyscr aper t o a si ngl e poi nt i n
t he di st ance, she had t ol d Eddi e Wi l l er s t hat she had al ways f el t as i f t he
r ai l s wer e hel d i n t he hand of a man beyond t he hor i zonno, not her f at her or
any of t he men i n t he of f i ceand some day she woul d meet hi m.
She shook her head and t ur ned away f r omt he wi ndow.
She went back t o her desk. She t r i ed t o r each f or t he r epor t s. But
suddenl y she was sl umped acr oss t he desk, her head on her ar m. Don' t , she
t hought ; but she di d not move t o r i se, i t made no di f f er ence, t her e was no
one t o see her .
Thi s was a l ongi ng she had never per mi t t ed her sel f t o acknowl edge.
She f aced i t now. She t hought : I f emot i on i s one' s r esponse t o t he t hi ngs
t he wor l d has t o of f er , i f she l oved t he r ai l s, t he bui l di ng, and mor e: i f
she l oved her l ove f or t hemt her e was st i l l one r esponse, t he gr eat est , t hat
she had mi ssed. She t hought : To f i nd a f eel i ng t hat woul d hol d, as t hei r sum,
as t hei r f i nal expr essi on, t he pur pose of al l t he t hi ngs she l oved on ear t h .
. . To f i nd a consci ousness l i ke her own, who woul d be t he meani ng of her
wor l d, as she woul d be of hi s . . . No, not Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, not Hank
Rear den, not any man she had ever met or admi r ed . . . A man who exi st ed onl y
i n her knowl edge of her capaci t y f or an emot i on she had never f el t , but woul d
have gi ven her l i f e t o exper i ence . . . She t wi st ed her sel f i n a sl ow, f ai nt
movement , her br east s pr essed t o t he desk; she f el t t he l ongi ng i n her
muscl es, i n t he ner ves of her body.
I s t hat what you want ? I s i t as si mpl e as t hat ?she t hought , but knew t hat
i t was not si mpl e. Ther e was some unbr eakabl e l i nk bet ween her l ove f or her
wor k and t he desi r e of her body; as i f one gave her t he r i ght t o t he ot her ,
t he r i ght and t he meani ng; as i f one wer e t he compl et i on of t he ot her and t he
desi r e woul d never be sat i sf i ed, except by a bei ng of equal gr eat ness.
Her f ace pr essed t o her ar m, she moved her head, shaki ng i t sl owl y hi
negat i on. She woul d never f i nd i t . Her own t hought of what l i f e coul d be
l i ke, was al l she woul d ever have of t he wor l d she had want ed. Onl y t he
t hought of i t and a f ew r ar e moment s, l i ke a f ew l i ght s r ef l ect ed f r omi t on
her wayt o know, t o hol d, t o f ol l ow t o t he end . . .
She r ai sed her head.
On t he pavement of t he al l ey, out si de her wi ndow, she saw t he shadow of a
man who st ood at t he door of her of f i ce.
The door was some st eps away; she coul d not see hi m, or t he st r eet l i ght
beyond, onl y hi s shadow on t he st ones of t he pavement . He st ood per f ect l y
st i l l .
He was so cl ose t o t he door , l i ke a man about t o ent er , t hat she wai t ed t o
hear hi mknock. I nst ead, she saw t he shadow j er k abr upt l y, as i f he wer e
j ol t ed backwar d, t hen he t ur ned and wal ked away. Ther e was onl y t he out l i ne
of hi s hat br i mand shoul der s l ef t on t he gr ound, when he st opped. The shadow
l ay st i l l f or a moment , waver ed, and gr ew l onger agai n as he came back.
She f el t no f ear . She sat at her desk, mot i onl ess, wat chi ng i n bl ank
wonder . He st opped at t he door , t hen backed away f r omi t ; he st ood somewher e
i n t he mi ddl e of t he al l ey, t hen paced r est l essl y and st opped agai n. Hi s
shadow swung l i ke an i r r egul ar pendul umacr oss t he pavement , descr i bi ng t he
cour se of a soundl ess bat t l e: i t was a man f i ght i ng hi msel f t o ent er t hat
door or t o escape.
She l ooked on, wi t h pecul i ar det achment . She had no power t o r eact , onl y
t o obser ve. She wonder ed numbl y, di st ant l y: Who was he? Had he been wat chi ng
her f r omsomewher e i n t he dar kness? Had he seen her sl umped acr oss her desk,
i n t he l i ght ed, naked wi ndow? Had he wat ched her desol at e l onel i ness as she
was now wat chi ng hi s? She f el t not hi ng.
They wer e al one i n t he si l ence of a dead ci t yi t seemed t o her t hat he was
mi l es away, a r ef l ect i on of suf f er i ng wi t hout i dent i t y, a f el l ow sur vi vor
whose pr obl emwas as di st ant t o her as her s woul d be t o hi m.
He paced, movi ng out of her si ght , comi ng back agai n. She sat , wat chi ngon
t he gl i st eni ng pavement of a dar k al l eyt he shadow of an unknown t or ment .
The shadow moved away once mor e. She wai t ed. I t di d not r et ur n.
Then she l eaped t o her f eet . She had want ed t o see t he out come of t he
bat t l e; now t hat he had won i t or l ost she was st r uck by t he sudden, ur gent
need t o know hi s i dent i t y and mot i ve. She r an t hr ough t he dar k ant er oom, she
t hr ew t he door open and l ooked out .
The al l ey was empt y. The pavement went t aper i ng of f i nt o t he di st ance,
l i ke a band of wet mi r r or under a f ew spaced l i ght s. Ther e was no one i n
si ght . She saw t he dar k hol e of a br oken wi ndow i n an abandoned shop. Beyond
i t , t her e wer e t he door s of a f ew r oomi ng houses. Acr oss t he al l ey, st r eaks
of r ai n gl i t t er ed under a l i ght t hat hung over t he bl ack gap of an open door
l eadi ng down t o t he under gr ound t unnel s of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .

* * *

Rear den si gned t he paper s, pushed t hemacr oss t he desk and l ooked away,
t hi nki ng t hat he woul d never have t o t hi nk of t hemagai n, wi shi ng he wer e
car r i ed t o t he t i me when t hi s moment woul d be f ar behi nd hi m.
Paul Lar ki n r eached f or t he paper s hesi t ant l y; he l ooked i ngr at i at i ngl y
hel pl ess, " I t ' s onl y a l egal t echni cal i t y, Hank, " he sai d. " You know t hat
I ' l l al ways consi der t hese or e mi nes as your s. "
Rear den shook hi s head sl owl y; i t was j ust a movement of hi s neck muscl es;
hi s f ace l ooked i mmovabl e, as i f he wer e speaki ng t o a st r anger .
" No! " he sai d. " Ei t her I own a pr oper t y or I don' t . "
" But . . . but you know t hat you can t r ust me. You don' t have t o wor r y
about your suppl y of or e. We' ve made an agr eement . You know t hat you can
count on me. "
" I don' t know i t . I hope I can. "
" But I ' ve gi ven you my wor d. "
" I have never been at t he mer cy of anyone' s wor d bef or e. "
" Why . . . why do you say t hat ? We' r e f r i ends. I ' l l do anyt hi ng you wi sh.
You' l l get my ent i r e out put . The mi nes ar e st i l l your sj ust as good as your s.
You have not hi ng t o f ear . I ' l l . . . Hank, what ' s t he mat t er ?"
" Don' t t al k. "
" But . . . but what ' s t he mat t er ?"
" I don' t l i ke assur ances. I don' t want any pr et ense about how saf e I am.
I ' mnot . We have made an agr eement whi ch I can' t enf or ce. I want you t o know
t hat I under st and my posi t i on f ul l y. I f you i nt end t o keep your wor d, don' t
t al k about i t , j ust do i t . "
" Why do you l ook at me as i f i t wer e my f aul t ? You know how badl y I f eel
about i t . I bought t he mi nes onl y because I t hought i t woul d hel p you out I
mean, I t hought you' d r at her sel l t hemt o a f r i end t han t o some t ot al
st r anger . I t ' s not my f aul t . I don' t l i ke t hat mi ser abl e Equal i zat i on Bi l l , I
don' t know who' s behi nd i t , I never dr eamed t hey' d pass i t , i t was such a
shock t o me when t hey"
" Never mi nd. "
" But I onl y"
" Why do you i nsi st on t al ki ng about i t ?"
" I . . . " Lar ki n' s voi ce was pl eadi ng. " I gave you t he best pr i ce, Hank.
The l aw sai d ' r easonabl e compensat i on. ' My bi d was hi gher t han anyone
el se' s. "
Rear den l ooked at t he paper s st i l l l yi ng acr oss t he desk. He t hought of
t he payment t hese paper s gave hi mf or hi s or e mi nes. Two- t hi r ds of t he sum
was money whi ch Lar ki n had obt ai ned as a l oan f r omt he gover nment ; t he new
l aw made pr ovi si ons f or such l oans " i n or der t o gi ve a f ai r oppor t uni t y t o
t he new owner s who have never had a chance. "
Two- t hi r ds of t he r est was a l oan he hi msel f had gr ant ed t o Lar ki n, a
mor t gage he had accept ed on hi s own mi nes. . . . And t he gover nment money, he
t hought suddenl y, t he money now gi ven t o hi mas payment f or hi s pr oper t y,
wher e had t hat come f r om? Whose wor k had pr ovi ded i t ?
" ' You don' t have t o wor r y, Hank, " sai d Lar ki n, wi t h t hat i ncompr ehensi bl e,
i nsi st ent not e of pl eadi ng i n hi s voi ce. " I t ' s j ust a paper f or mal i t y. "
Rear den wonder ed di ml y what i t was t hat Lar ki n want ed f r omhi m.
He f el t t hat t he man was wai t i ng f or somet hi ng beyond t he physi cal f act of
t he sal e, some wor ds whi ch he, Rear den, was supposed t o pr onounce, some
act i on per t ai ni ng t o mer cy whi ch he was expect ed t o gr ant . Lar ki n' s eyes, i n
t hi s moment of hi s best f or t une, had t he si ckeni ng l ook of a beggar .
" Why shoul d you be angr y, Hank? I t ' s onl y a new f or mof l egal r ed t ape.
J ust a new hi st or i cal condi t i on. Nobody can hel p i t , i f i t ' s, a hi st or i cal
condi t i on. Nobody can be bl amed f or i t . But t her e' s al ways a way t o get
al ong. Look at al l t he ot her s. They don' t mi nd. They' r e"
" They' r e set t i ng up st ooges whomt hey cont r ol , t o r un t he pr oper t i es
ext or t ed f r omt hem. I "
" Now why do you want t o use such wor ds?"
" I mi ght as wel l t el l youand I t hi nk you know i t t hat I amnot good at
games of t hat ki nd. I have nei t her t he t i me nor t he st omach t o devi se some
f or mof bl ackmai l i n or der t o t i e you up and own my mi nes t hr ough you.
Owner shi p i s a t hi ng I don' t shar e. And I don' t wi sh t o hol d i t by t he gr ace
of your cowar di ceby means of a const ant st r uggl e t o out wi t you and keep some
t hr eat over your head. I don' t do busi ness t hat way and I don' t deal wi t h
cowar ds. The mi nes ar e your s. I f you wi sh t o gi ve me f i r st cal l on al l t he
or e pr oduced, you wi l l do so.
I f you wi sh t o doubl e- cr oss me, i t ' s i n your power . "
Lar ki n l ooked hur t . " That ' s ver y unf ai r of you, " he sai d; t her e was a dr y
l i t t l e not e of r i ght eous r epr oach i n hi s voi ce. " I have never gi ven you cause
t o di st r ust me. " He pi cked up t he paper s wi t h a hast y movement .
Rear den saw t he paper s di sappear i nt o Lar ki n' s i nsi de coat pocket .
He saw t he f l ar e of t he open coat , t he wr i nkl es of a vest pul l ed t i ght
over f l abby bul ges, and a st ai n of per spi r at i on i n t he ar mpi t of t he shi r t .
Unsummoned, t he pi ct ur e of a f ace seen t went y- seven year s ago r ose
suddenl y i n hi s mi nd. I t was t he f ace of a pr eacher on a st r eet cor ner he had
passed, i n a t own he coul d not r emember any l onger . Onl y t he dar k wal l s of
t he sl ums r emai ned i n hi s memor y, t he r ai n of an aut umn eveni ng, and t he
r i ght eous mal i ce of t he man' s mout h, a smal l mout h st r et ched t o yel l i nt o t he
dar kness: " . . . t he nobl est i deal t hat man l i ve f or t he sake of hi s
br ot her s, t hat t he st r ong wor k f or t he weak, t hat he who has abi l i t y ser ve
hi mwho hasn' t . . . "
Then he saw t he boy who had been Hank Rear den at ei ght een. He saw t he
t ensi on of t he f ace, t he speed of t he wal k, t he dr unken exhi l ar at i on of t he
body, dr unk on t he ener gy of sl eepl ess ni ght s, t he pr oud l i f t of t he head,
t he cl ear , st eady, r ut hl ess eyes, t he eyes of a man who dr ove hi msel f wi t hout
pi t y t owar d t hat whi ch he want ed. And he saw what Paul Lar ki n must have been
at t hat t i mea yout h wi t h an aged baby' s f ace, smi l i ng i ngr at i at i ngl y,
j oyl essl y, beggi ng t o be spar ed, pl eadi ng wi t h t he uni ver se t o gi ve hi ma
chance. I f someone had shown t hat yout h t o t he Hank Rear den of t hat t i me and
t ol d hi mt hat t hi s was t o be t he goal of hi s st eps, t he col l ect or of t he
ener gy of hi s achi ng t endons, what woul d he have
I t was not a t hought , i t was l i ke t he punch of a f i st i nsi de hi s skul l .
Then, when he coul d t hi nk agai n, Rear den knew what t he boy he had been
woul d have f el t : a desi r e t o st ep on t he obscene t hi ng whi ch was Lar ki n and
gr i nd ever y wet bi t of i t out of exi st ence.
He had never exper i enced an emot i on o[ t hi s ki nd. I t t ook hi ma f ew
moment s t o r eal i ze t hat t hi s was what men cal l ed hat r ed.
He not i ced t hat r i si ng t o l eave and mut t er i ng some sor t of good- byes,
Lar ki n had a wounded, r epr oachf ul , mout h- pi nched l ook, as i f he, Lar ki n, wer e
t he i nj ur ed par t y.
When he sol d hi s coal mi nes t o Ken Danagger , who owned t he l ar gest coal
company i n Pennsyl vani a, Rear den wonder ed why he f el t as i f i t wer e al most
pai nl ess. He f el t no hat r ed. Ken Danagger was a man i n hi s f i f t i es, wi t h a
har d, cl osed f ace; he had st ar t ed i n l i f e as a mi ner .
When Rear den handed t o hi mt he deed t o hi s new pr oper t y, Danagger sai d
i mpassi vel y, " I don' t bel i eve I ' ve ment i oned t hat any coal you buy f r omme,
you' l l get i t at cost . "
Rear den gl anced at hi m, ast oni shed. " I t ' s agai nst t he l aw, " he sai d.
" Who' s goi ng t o f i nd out what sor t of cash I band t o you i n your own
l i vi ng r oom?"
" You' r e t al ki ng about a r ebat e. "
" I am. "
" That ' s agai nst t wo dozen l aws. They' l l sock you wor se t han me, i f t hey
cat ch you at i t . "
" Sur e. That ' s your pr ot ect i onso you won' t be l ef t at t he mer cy of my good
wi l l . "
Rear den smi l ed; i t was a happy smi l e, but he cl osed hi s eyes as under a
bl ow. Then he shook hi s head. " Thanks, " he sai d. " But I ' mnot one of t hem. I
don' t expect anybody t o wor k f or me at cost . "
" I ' mnot one of t hem, ei t her , " sai d Danagger angr i l y. " Look her e, Rear den,
don' t you suppose I know what I ' mget t i ng, unear ned? The money doesn' t pay
you f or i t . Not nowadays. "
" You di dn' t vol unt eer t o bi d t o buy my pr oper t y. I asked you t o buy i t . I
wi sh t her e had been somebody l i ke you i n t he or e busi ness, t o t ake over my
mi nes. Ther e wasn' t . I f you want t o do me a f avor , don' t of f er me r ebat es.
Gi ve me a chance t o pay you hi gher pr i ces, hi gher t han anyone el se wi l l
of f er , sock me anyt hi ng you wi sh, j ust so I ' l l be f i r st t o get t he coal . I ' l l
manage my end of i t . Onl y l et me have t he coal . "
" You' l l have i t . "
Rear den wonder ed, f or a whi l e, why he hear d no wor d f r omWesl ey Mouch. Hi s
cal l s t o Washi ngt on r emai ned unanswer ed. Then he r ecei ved a l et t er consi st i ng
of a si ngl e sent ence whi ch i nf or med hi mt hat Mr . Mouch was r esi gni ng f r omhi s
empl oy. Two weeks l at er , he r ead i n t he newspaper s t hat Wesl ey Mouch had been
appoi nt ed Assi st ant Coor di nat or of t he Bur eau of Economi c Pl anni ng and
Nat i onal Resour ces.
Don' t dwel l on any of i t t hought Rear den, t hr ough t he si l ence of many
eveni ngs, f i ght i ng t he sudden access of t hat new emot i on whi ch he di d not
want t o f eel t her e i s an unspeakabl e evi l i n t he wor l d, you know i t , and i t ' s
no use dwel l i ng on t he det ai l s of i t . You must wor k a l i t t l e har der . J ust a
l i t t l e har der . Don' t l et i t wi n.
The beams and gi r der s of t he Rear den Met al br i dge wer e comi ng dai l y out of
t he r ol l i ng mi l l s, and wer e bei ng shi pped t o t he si t e of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne,
wher e t he f i r st shapes of gr een- bl ue met al , swung i nt o space t o span t he
canyon, gl i t t er ed i n t he f i r st r ays of t he spr i ng sun.
He had no t i me f or pai n, no ener gy f or anger . Wi t hi n a f ew weeks, i t was
over ; t he bl i ndi ng st abs of hat r ed ceased and di d not r et ur n.
He was back i n conf i dent sel f - cont r ol on t he eveni ng when he t el ephoned
Eddi e Wi l l er s, " Eddi e, I ' mi n New Yor k, at t he Wayne- Fal kl and. Come t o have
br eakf ast wi t h me t omor r ow mor ni ng. Ther e' s somet hi ng I ' d l i ke t o di scuss
wi t h you. "
Eddi e Wi l l er s went t o t he appoi nt ment wi t h a heavy f eel i ng of gui l t .
He had not r ecover ed f r omt he shock of t he Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y
Bi l l ; i t had l ef t a dul l ache wi t hi n hi m, l i ke t he bl ack- and- bl ue mar k of a
bl ow. He di sl i ked t he si ght of t he ci t y: i t now l ooked as i f i t hi d t he
t hr eat of some mal i ci ous unknown. He dr eaded f aci ng one of t he Bi l l ' s
vi ct i ms: he f el t al most as i f he, Eddi e Wi l l er s, shar ed t he r esponsi bi l i t y
f or i t i n some t er r i bl e way whi ch he coul d not def i ne.
When he saw Rear den, t he f eel i ng vani shed. Ther e was no hi nt suggest i ng a
vi ct i m, i n Rear den' s bear i ng. Beyond t he wi ndows of t he hot el r oom, t he
spr i ng sunl i ght of ear l y mor ni ng spar kl ed on t he wi ndows of t he ci t y, t he sky
was a ver y pal e bl ue t hat seemed young, t he of f i ces wer e st i l l cl osed, and
t he ci t y di d not l ook as i f i t hel d mal i ce, but as i f i t wer e j oyousl y,
hopef ul l y r eady t o swi ng i nt o act i oni n t he same manner as Rear den. He l ooked
r ef r eshed by an unt r oubl ed sl eep, he wor e a dr essi ng gown, he seemed
i mpat i ent of t he necessi t y t o dr ess, unwi l l i ng t o del ay t he exci t i ng game of
hi s busi ness dut i es.
" Good mor ni ng, Eddi e. Sor r y i f I got you out so ear l y. I t ' s t he onl y t i me
I had. Have t o go back t o Phi l adel phi a r i ght af t er br eakf ast . We can t al k
whi l e we' r e eat i ng. "
The dr essi ng gown he wor e was of dar k bl ue f l annel , wi t h t he whi t e
i ni t i al s " H R" on t he br east pocket . He l ooked young, r el axed, at home i n
t hi s r oomand i n t he wor l d.
Eddi e wat ched a wai t er wheel t he br eakf ast t abl e i nt o t he r oomwi t h a
swi f t ef f i ci ency t hat made hi mf eel br aced. He f ound hi msel f enj oyi ng t he
st i f f f r eshness of t he whi t e t abl ecl ot h and t he sunl i ght spar kl i ng on t he
si l ver , on t he t wo bowl s of cr ushed i ce hol di ng gl asses of or ange j ui ce; he
had not known t hat such t hi ngs coul d gi ve hi man i nvi gor at i ng pl easur e.
" I di dn' t want t o phone Dagny l ong di st ance about t hi s par t i cul ar mat t er , "
sai d Rear den. " She has enough t o do. We can set t l e i t i n a f ew mi nut es, you
and I . "
" I f I have t he aut hor i t y t o do i t , "
Rear den smi l ed. " You have. " He l eaned f or war d acr oss t he t abl e.
" Eddi e, what ' s t he f i nanci al st at e of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al at t he
moment ? Desper at e?"
" Wor se t han t hat , Mr . Rear den. "
" Ar e you abl e t o meet pay r ol l s?"
" Not qui t e. We' ve kept i t out of t he newspaper s, but I t hi nk ever ybody
knows i t . We' r e i n ar r ear s al l over t he syst emand J i mi s r unni ng out of
excuses. "
" Do you know t hat your f i r st payment f or t he Rear den Met al r ai l i s due
next week?"
" Yes, I know i t . "
" Wel l , l et ' s agr ee on a mor at or i um. I ' mgoi ng t o gi ve you an ext ensi onyou
won' t have t o pay me anyt hi ng unt i l si x mont hs af t er t he openi ng of t he J ohn
Gal t Li ne. "
Eddi e Wi l l er s put down hi s cup of cof f ee wi t h a shar p t hud. He coul d not
say a wor d.
Rear den chuckl ed. " What ' s t he mat t er ? You do have t he aut hor i t y t o accept ,
don' t you?"
" Mr . Rear den . . . I don' t know . . . what t o say t o you. "
" Why, j ust ' okay' i s al l t hat ' s necessar y, "
" Okay, Mr . Rear den. " Eddi e' s voi ce was bar el y audi bl e.
" I ' l l dr aw up t he paper s and send t hemt o you. You can t el l J i mabout i t
and have hi msi gn t hem. "
" Yes, Mr . Rear den. "
" I don' t l i ke t o deal wi t h J i m. He' d wast e t wo hour s t r yi ng t o make
hi msel f bel i eve t hat he' s made me bel i eve t hat he' s doi ng me a f avor by
accept i ng. "
Eddi e sat wi t hout movi ng, l ooki ng down at hi s pl at e.
" What ' s t he mat t er ?"
" Mr . Rear den, I ' d l i ke . . . t o say t hank you . . . but t her e i sn' t any
f or mof i t bi g enough t o"
" Look, Eddi e. You' ve got t he maki ngs of a good busi nessman, so you' d
bet t er get a f ew t hi ngs st r ai ght . Ther e ar en' t any t hank- you' s i n si t uat i ons
of t hi s ki nd. I ' mnot doi ng i t f or Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
I t ' s a si mpl e, pr act i cal , sel f i sh mat t er on my par t . Why shoul d I col l ect
my money f r omyou now, when i t mi ght pr ove t o be t he deat h bl ow t o your
company? I f your company wer e no good, I ' d col l ect , and f ast . I don' t engage
i n char i t y and I don' t gambl e on i ncompet ent s. But you' r e st i l l t he best
r ai l r oad i n t he count r y. When t he J ohn Gal t Li ne i s compl et ed, you' l l be t he
soundest one f i nanci al l y. So I have good r eason t o wai t . Besi des, you' r e i n
t r oubl e on account of my r ai l . I i nt end t o see you wi n, "
" I st i l l owe you t hanks, Mr . Rear den . . . f or somet hi ng much gr eat er t han
char i t y. "
" No. Don' t you see? I have j ust r ecei ved a gr eat deal of money . . .
whi ch I di dn' t want . I can' t i nvest i t . I t ' s of no use t o me what ever . . .
.
So, i n a way, i t pl eases me t hat I can t ur n t hat money agai nst t he same
peopl e i n t he same bat t l e. They made i t possi bl e f or me t o gi ve you an
ext ensi on t o hel p you f i ght t hem. "
He saw Eddi e wi nci ng, as i f he had hi t a wound. " That ' s what ' s hor r i bl e
about i t ! "
" What ?"
" What t hey' ve done t o youand what you' r e doi ng i n r et ur n. I mean" He
st opped. " For gi ve me, Mr . Rear den. I know t hi s i s no way t o t al k busi ness. "
Rear den smi l ed. " Thanks, Eddi e. I know what you mean. But f or get i t . To
hel l wi t h t hem. "
" Yes. Onl y . . . Mr . Rear den, may I say somet hi ng t o you? I know i t ' s
compl et el y i mpr oper and I ' mnot speaki ng as a vi ce- pr esi dent . "
" Go ahead. "
" I don' t have t o t el l you what your of f er means t o Dagny, t o me, t o ever y
decent per son on Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . You know i t . And you know you can
count on us. But . . . but I t hi nk i t ' s hor r i bl e t hat J i mTaggar t shoul d
benef i t , t oot hat you shoul d be t he one t o save hi mand peopl e l i ke hi m,
af t er t hey"
Rear den l aughed. " Eddi e, what do we car e about peopl e l i ke hi m?
We' r e dr i vi ng an expr ess, and t hey' r e r i di ng on t he r oof , maki ng a l ot of
noi se about bei ng l eader s. Why shoul d we car e? We have enough power t o car r y
t hemal onghaven' t we?"
" I t won' t st and. "
The summer sun made bl ot ches of f i r e on t he wi ndows of t he ci t y, and
gl i t t er i ng spar ks i n t he dust of t he st r eet s. Col umns of heat shi mmer ed
t hr ough t he ai r , r i si ng f r omt he r oof s t o t he whi t e page of t he cal endar . The
cal endar ' s mot or r an on, mar ki ng of f t he l ast days of J une.
" I t won' t st and, " peopl e sai d. " When t hey r un t he f i r st t r ai n on t he J ohn
Gal t Li ne, t he r ai l wi l l spl i t . They' l l never get t o t he br i dge. I f t hey do,
t he br i dge wi l l col l apse under t he engi ne. "
Fr omt he sl opes of Col or ado, f r ei ght t r ai ns r ol l ed down t he t r ack of t he
Phoeni x- Dur ango, nor t h t o Wyomi ng and t he mai n l i ne of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , sout h t o New Mexi co and t he mai n l i ne of t he At l ant i c
Sout her n. St r i ngs of t ank car s went r adi at i ng i n al l di r ect i ons f r omt he
Wyat t oi l f i el ds t o i ndust r i es i n di st ant st at es. No one spoke about t hem. To
t he knowl edge of t he publ i c, t he t ank t r ai ns moved as si l ent l y as r ays and,
as r ays, t hey wer e not i ced onl y when t hey became t he l i ght of el ect r i c l amps,
t he heat of f ur naces, t he movement of mot or s; but as such, t hey wer e not
not i ced, t hey wer e t aken f or gr ant ed.
The Phoeni x- Dur ango Rai l r oad was t o end oper at i ons on J ul y 25.
" Hank Rear den i s a gr eedy monst er , " peopl e sai d. " Look at t he f or t une he' s
made. Has he ever gi ven anyt hi ng i n r et ur n? Has he ever shown any si gn of
soci al consci ence? Money, t hat ' s al l he' s af t er . He' l l do anyt hi ng f or money.
What does he car e i f peopl e l ose t hei r l i ves when hi s br i dge col l apses?"
" The Taggar t s have been a band of vul t ur es f or gener at i ons, " peopl e sai d.
" I t ' s i n t hei r bl ood. J ust r emember t hat t he f ounder of t hat f ami l y was Nat
Taggar t , t he most not or i ousl y ant i - soci al scoundr el t hat ever l i ved, who bl ed
t he count r y whi t e t o squeeze a f or t une f or hi msel f . You can be sur e t hat a
Taggar t won' t hesi t at e t o r i sk peopl e' s l i ves i n or der t o make a pr of i t . They
bought i nf er i or r ai l , because i t ' s cheaper t han st eel what do t hey car e about
cat ast r ophes and mangl ed human bodi es, af t er t hey' ve col l ect ed t he f ar es?"
Peopl e sai d i t because ot her peopl e sai d i t . They di d not know why i t was
bei ng sai d and hear d ever ywher e. They di d not gi ve or ask f or r easons.
" Reason, " Dr . Pr i t chet t had t ol d t hem, " i s t he most nai ve of al l
super st i t i ons. "
" The sour ce of publ i c opi ni on?" sai d Cl aude Sl agenhop i n a r adi o speech.
' Ther e i s no sour ce of publ i c opi ni on. I t i s spont aneousl y gener al . I t i s a
r ef l ex of t he col l ect i ve i nst i nct of t he col l ect i ve mi nd. "
Or r en Boyl e gave an i nt er vi ew t o Gl obe, t he news magazi ne wi t h t he l ar gest
ci r cul at i on. The i nt er vi ew was devot ed t o t he subj ect of t he gr ave soci al
r esponsi bi l i t y of met al l ur gi st s, st r essi ng t he f act t hat met al per f or med so
many cr uci al t asks wher e human l i ves depended on i t s qual i t y. " One shoul d
not , i t seems t o me, use human bei ngs as gui nea pi gs i n t he l aunchi ng of a
new pr oduct , " he sai d. He ment i oned no names.
" Why, no, I don' t say t hat t hat br i dge wi l l col l apse, " sai d t he chi ef
met al l ur gi st of Associ at ed St eel , on a t el evi si on pr ogr am. " I don' t say i t at
al l . I j ust say t hat i f I had any chi l dr en, I woul dn' t l et t hemr i de on t he
f i r st t r ai n t hat ' s goi ng t o cr oss t hat br i dge. But i t ' s onl y a per sonal
pr ef er ence, not hi ng mor e, j ust because I ' mover l y f ond of chi l dr en. "
" I don' t cl ai mt hat t he Rear den- Taggar t cont r apt i on wi l l col l apse, "
wr ot e Ber t r amScudder i n The Fut ur e. " Maybe i t wi l l and maybe i t won' t .
That ' s not t he i mpor t ant i ssue. The i mpor t ant i ssue i s: what pr ot ect i on does
soci et y have agai nst t he ar r ogance, sel f i shness and gr eed of t wo unbr i dl ed
i ndi vi dual i st s, whose r ecor ds ar e conspi cuousl y devoi d of any publ i c- spi r i t ed
act i ons? These t wo, appar ent l y, ar e wi l l i ng t o st ake t he l i ves of t hei r
f el l ow men on t hei r own concei t ed not i ons about t hei r power s of j udgment ,
agai nst t he over whel mi ng maj or i t y opi ni on of r ecogni zed exper t s. Shoul d
soci et y per mi t i t ? I f t hat t hi ng does col l apse, won' t i t be t oo l at e t o t ake
pr ecaut i onar y measur es? Won' t i t be l i ke l ocki ng t he bar n af t er t he hor se has
escaped? I t has al ways been t he bel i ef of t hi s col umn t hat cer t ai n ki nds of
hor ses shoul d be kept br i dl ed and l ocked, on gener al soci al pr i nci pl es. "
A gr oup t hat cal l ed i t sel f " Commi t t ee of Di si nt er est ed Ci t i zens" col l ect ed
si gnat ur es on a pet i t i on demandi ng a year ' s st udy of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne by
gover nment exper t s bef or e t he f i r st t r ai n wer e al l owed t o r un. The pet i t i on
st at ed t hat i t s si gner s had no mot i ve ot her t han " a sense of ci vi c dut y. " The
f i r st si gnat ur es wer e t hose of Bal ph Eubank and Mor t Li ddy. The pet i t i on was
gi ven a gr eat deal of space and comment i n al l t he newspaper s. The
consi der at i on i t r ecei ved was r espect f ul , because i t came f r ompeopl e who
wer e di si nt er est ed.
No space was gi ven by t he newspaper s t o t he pr ogr ess of t he const r uct i on
of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. No r epor t er was sent t o l ook at t he scene. The gener al
pol i cy of t he pr ess had been st at ed by a f amous edi t or f i ve year s ago. " Ther e
ar e no obj ect i ve f act s, " he had sai d. " Ever y r epor t on f act s i s onl y
somebody' s opi ni on. I t i s, t her ef or e, usel ess t o wr i t e about f act s. "
A f ew busi nessmen t hought t hat one shoul d t hi nk about t he possi bi l i t y t hat
t her e mi ght be commer ci al val ue i n Rear den Met al . They under t ook a sur vey of
t he quest i on. They di d not hi r e met al l ur gi st s t o exami ne sampl es, nor
engi neer s t o vi si t t he si t e of const r uct i on. They t ook a publ i c pol l . Ten
t housand peopl e, guar ant eed t o r epr esent ever y exi st i ng ki n !
of br ai n, wer e asked t he quest i on: " Woul d you r i de on t he J ohn Gal t Li ne?"
The answer , over whel mi ngl y. , was: " No, si r - r eel "
No voi ces wer e hear d i n publ i c i n def ense of Rear den Met al . And nobody
at t ached si gni f i cance t o t he f act t hat t he st ock of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al
was r i si ng on t he mar ket , ver y sl owl y, al most f ur t i vel y.
Ther e wer e men who wat ched and pl ayed saf e. Mr . Mowen bought Taggar t st ock
i n t he name of hi s si st er . Ben Neal y bought i t i n t he name of a cousi n. Paul
Lar ki n bought i t under an al i as. " I don' t bel i eve i n r ai si ng cont r over si al
i ssues, " sai d one of t hese men.
" Oh yes, of cour se, t he const r uct i on i s movi ng on schedul e, " sai d J ames
Taggar t , shr uggi ng, t o hi s Boar d of Di r ect or s. " Oh yes, you may f eel f ul l
conf i dence. My dear si st er does not happen t o be a human bei ng, but j ust an
i nt er nal combust i on engi ne, so one must not wonder at her success. "
When J ames Taggar t hear d a r umor t hat some br i dge gi r der s had spl i t and
cr ashed, ki l l i ng t hr ee wor kmen, he l eaped t o hi s f eet and r an t o hi s
secr et ar y' s of f i ce, or der i ng hi mt o cal l Col or ado. He wai t ed, pr essed agai nst
t he secr et ar y' s desk, as i f seeki ng pr ot ect i on; hi s eyes had t he unf ocused
l ook of pani c. Yet hi s mout h moved suddenl y i nt o al most a smi l e and he sai d,
" I ' d gi ve anyt hi ng t o see Henr y Rear den s f ace r i ght now. " When he hear d t hat
t he r umor was f al se, he sai d, " Thank God! "
But hi s voi ce had a not e of di sappoi nt ment .
" Oh wel l ! " sai d Phi l i p Rear den t o hi s f r i ends, hear i ng t he same r umor .
" Maybe he can f ai l , t oo, once i n a whi l e. Maybe my gr eat br ot her i sn' t as
gr eat as he t hi nks. "
" Dar l i ng, " sai d Li l l i an Rear den t o her husband, " I f ought f or you
yest er day, at a t ea wher e t he women wer e sayi ng t hat Dagny Taggar t i s your
mi st r ess. . . . Oh, f or heaven' s sake, don' t l ook at me l i ke t hat !
I know i t ' s pr epost er ous and I gave t hemhel l f or i t . I t ' s j ust t hat t hose
si l l y bi t ches can' t i magi ne any ot her r eason why a woman woul d t ake such a
st and agai nst ever ybody f or t he sake of your Met al . Of cour se, I know bet t er
t han t hat . I know t hat t he Taggar t woman i s per f ect l y sexl ess and doesn' t
gi ve a damn about youand, dar l i ng, I know t hat i f you ever had t he cour age
f or anyt hi ng of t he sor t , whi ch you haven' t , you woul dn' t go f or an addi ng
machi ne i n t ai l or ed sui t s, you' d go f or some bl ond, f emi ni ne chor us gi r l who
oh, but Henr y, I ' monl y j oki ng!
don' t l ook at me l i ke t hat ! "
" Dagny, " J ames Taggar t sai d mi ser abl y, " what ' s goi ng t o happen t o us?
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al has become so unpopul ar ! "
Dagny l aughed, i n enj oyment of t he moment , any moment , as i f t he
under cur r ent of enj oyment was const ant wi t hi n her and l i t t l e was needed t o
t ap i t . She l aughed easi l y, her mout h r el axed and open. Her t eet h wer e ver y
whi t e agai nst her sun- scor ched f ace. Her eyes had t he l ook, acqui r ed i n open
count r y, of bei ng set f or gr eat di st ances. On her l ast f ew vi si t s t o New
Yor k, he had not i ced t hat she l ooked at hi mas i f she di d not see hi m.
" What ar e we goi ng t o do? The publ i c i s so over whel mi ngl y agai nst us! "
" J i m, do you r emember t he st or y t hey t el l about Nat Taggar t ? He sai d t hat
he envi ed onl y one of hi s compet i t or s, t he one who sai d The publ i c be
damned! ' He wi shed he had sai d i t . "
I n t he summer days and i n t he heavy st i l l ness of t he eveni ngs of t he ci t y,
t her e wer e moment s when a l onel y man or womanon a par k bench, on a st r eet
cor ner , at an open wi ndowwoul d see i n a newspaper a br i ef ment i on of t he
pr ogr ess of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, and woul d l ook at t he ci t y wi t h a sudden st ab
of hope. They wer e t he ver y young, who f el t t hat i t was t he ki nd of event
t hey l onged t o see happeni ng i n t he wor l dor t he ver y ol d, who had seen a
wor l d i n whi ch such event s di d happen. They di d not car e about r ai l r oads,
t hey knew not hi ng about busi ness, t hey knew onl y t hat someone was f i ght i ng
agai nst gr eat odds and wi nni ng. They di d not admi r e t he f i ght er s' pur pose,
t hey bel i eved t he voi ces of publ i c opi ni onand yet , when t hey r ead t hat t he
Li ne was gr owi ng, t hey f el t a moment ' s spar kl e and wonder ed why i t made t hei r
own pr obl ems seemeasi er .
Si l ent l y, unknown t o ever yone except t o t he f r ei ght yar d of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al i n Cheyenne and t he of f i ce of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne i n t he dar k
al l ey, f r ei ght was r ol l i ng i n and or der s f or car s wer e pi l i ng up
f or t he f i r st t r ai n t o r un on t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. Dagny Taggar t had
announced t hat t he f i r st t r ai n woul d be, not a passenger expr ess l oaded wi t h
cel ebr i t i es and pol i t i ci ans, as was t he cust om, but a f r ei ght speci al .
The f r ei ght came f r omf ar ms, f r oml umber yar ds, f r ommi nes al l over t he
count r y, f r omdi st ant pl aces whose l ast means of sur vi val wer e t he new
f act or i es of Col or ado. No one wr ot e about t hese shi pper s, because t hey wer e
men who wer e not di si nt er est ed.
The Phoeni x- Dur ango Rai l r oad was t o cl ose on J ul y 25. The f i r st t r ai n of
t he J ohn Gal t Li ne was t o r un on J ul y 22.
" Wel l , i t ' s l i ke t hi s, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d t he del egat e of t he Uni on of
Locomot i ve Engi neer s. " I don' t t hi nk we' r e goi ng t o al l ow you t o r un t hat
t r ai n. "
Dagny sat at her bat t er ed desk, agai nst t he bl ot ched wal l of her of f i ce.
She sai d, wi t hout movi ng, " Get out of her e. "
I t was a sent ence t he man had never hear d i n t he pol i shed of f i ces of
r ai l r oad execut i ves. He l ooked bewi l der ed. " I came t o t el l you"
" I f you have anyt hi ng t o say t o me, st ar t over agai n. "
" What ?"
" Don' t t el l me what you' r e goi ng t o al l ow me t o do. "
" Wel l , I meant we' r e not goi ng t o al l ow our men t o r un your t r ai n. "
" That ' s di f f er ent . "
" Wel l , t hat ' s what we' ve deci ded. "
" Who' s deci ded i t ?"
" The commi t t ee. What you' r e doi ng i s a vi ol at i on of human r i ght s.
You can' t f or ce men t o go out t o get ki l l edwhen t hat br i dge col l apses
j ust t o make money f or you. "
She r eached f or a sheet of bl ank paper and handed i t t o hi m. " Put i t down
i n wr i t i ng, " she sai d, " and we' l l si gn a cont r act t o t hat ef f ect . "
" What cont r act ?"
" That no member of your uni on wi l l ever be empl oyed t o r un an engi ne on
t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. "
" Why . . . wai t a mi nut e . . . I haven' t sai d"
" You don' t want t o si gn such a cont r act ?"
- No, I "
" Why not , si nce you know t hat t he br i dge i s goi ng t o col l apse?"
" I onl y want "
" I know what you want . You want a st r angl ehol d on your men by means of t he
j obs whi ch I gi ve t hemand on me, by means of your men. You want me t o
pr ovi de t he j obs, and you want t o make i t i mpossi bl e f or me t o have any j obs
t o pr ovi de. Now I ' l l gi ve you a choi ce.
That t r ai n i s goi ng t o be r un. You have no choi ce about t hat . But you can
choose whet her i t ' s goi ng t o be r un by one of your men or not . I f you choose
not t o l et t hem, t he t r ai n wi l l st i l l r un, i f I have t o dr i ve t he engi ne
mysel f . Then, i f t he br i dge col l apses, t her e won' t be any r ai l r oad l ef t i n
exi st ence, anyway. But i f i t doesn' t col l apse, no member of your uni on wi l l
ever get a j ob on t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. I f you t hi nk t hat I need your men mor e
t han t hey need me, choose accor di ngl y. I f you know t hat I can r un an engi ne,
but t hey can' t bui l d a r ai l r oad, choose accor di ng t o t hat . Now ar e you goi ng
t o f or bi d your men t o r un t hat t r ai n?"
" I di dn' t say we' d f or bi d i t . I haven' t sai d anyt hi ng about f or bi ddi ng.
But . . . but you can' t f or ce men t o r i sk t hei r l i ves on somet hi ng
nobody' s ever t r i ed bef or e. "
" I ' mnot goi ng t o f or ce anyone t o t ake t hat r un. "
" What ar e you goi ng t o do?"
" I ' mgoi ng t o ask f or a vol unt eer . "
" And i f none of t hemvol unt eer s?"
" Then i t wi l l be my pr obl em, not your s. "
" Wel l , l et me t el l you t hat I ' mgoi ng t o advi se t hemt o r ef use. "
" Go ahead. Advi se t hemanyt hi ng you wi sh. Tel l t hemwhat ever , you l i ke.
But l eave t he choi ce t o t hem. Don' t t r y t o f or bi d i t . "
The not i ce t hat appear ed i n ever y r oundhouse of t he Taggar t syst emwas
si gned " Edwi n Wi l l er s, Vi ce- Pr esi dent i n Char ge of Oper at i on. " I t asked
engi neer s, who wer e wi l l i ng t o dr i ve t he f i r st t r ai n on t he J ohn Gal t Li ne,
so t o i nf or mt he of f i ce of Mr . Wi l l er s. , not l at er t han el even A. M. of J ul y
15.
I t was a quar t er of el even, on t he mor ni ng of t he f i f t eent h, when t he
t el ephone r ang i n her of f i ce. I t was Eddi e, cal l i ng f r omhi gh up i n t he
Taggar t Bui l di ng out si de her wi ndow. " Dagny, I t hi nk you' d bet t er come over . "
Hi s voi ce sounded queer .
She hur r i ed acr oss t he st r eet , t hen down t he mar bl e- f l oor ed hal l s, t o t he
door t hat st i l l car r i ed t he name " Dagny Taggar t " on i t s gl ass panel .
She pul l ed t he door open.
The ant er oomof t he of f i ce was f ul l . Men st ood j ammed among t he desks,
agai nst t he wal l s. As she ent er ed, t hey t ook t hei r hat s of f i n sudden
si l ence. She saw t he gr ayi ng heads, t he muscul ar shoul der s, she saw t he
smi l i ng f aces of her st af f at t hei r desks and t he f ace of Eddi e Wi l l er s at
t he end of t he r oom. Ever ybody knew t hat not hi ng had t o be sai d.
Eddi e st ood by t he open door of her of f i ce. The cr owd par t ed t o l et her
appr oach hi m. He moved hi s hand, poi nt i ng at t he r oom, t hen at a pi l e of
l et t er s and t el egr ams.
" Dagny, ever y one of t hem, " he sai d. " Ever y engi neer on Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al . Those who coul d, came her e, some f r omas f ar as t he Chi cago
Di vi si on. " He poi nt ed at t he mai l . " Ther e' s t he r est of t hem.
To be exact , t her e' s onl y t hr ee I haven' t hear d f r om: one' s on a vacat i on
i n t he nor t h woods, one' s i n a hospi t al , and one' s i n j ai l f or r eckl ess
dr i vi ngof hi s aut omobi l e. "
She l ooked at t he men. She saw t he suppr essed gr i ns on t he sol emn f aces.
She i ncl i ned her head, i n acknowl edgment . She st ood f or a moment , head bowed,
as i f she wer e accept i ng a ver di ct , knowi ng t hat t he ver di ct appl i ed t o her ,
t o ever y man i n t he r oomand t o t he wor l d beyond t he wal l s of t he bui l di ng.
" Thank you, " she sai d.
Most of t he men had seen her many t i mes. Looki ng at her , as she r ai sed her
head, many of t hemt hought i n ast oni shment and f or t he f i r st t i met hat t he
f ace of t hei r Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent was t he f ace of a woman and t hat i t
was beaut i f ul .
Someone i n t he back of t he cr owd cr i ed suddenl y, cheer f ul l y, ' To hel l wi t h
J i mTaggar t ! "
An expl osi on answer ed hi m. The men l aughed, t hey cheer ed, t hey br oke i nt o
appl ause. The r esponse was out of al l pr opor t i on t o t he sent ence. But t he
sent ence had gi ven t hemt he excuse t hey needed. They seemed t o be appl audi ng
t he speaker , i n i nsol ent def i ance of aut hor i t y.
But ever yone i n t he r oomknew who i t was t hat t hey wer e cheer i ng.
She r ai sed her hand. " We' r e t oo ear l y, " she sai d, l aughi ng. " Wai t t i l l a
week f r omt oday. That ' s when we ought t o cel ebr at e. And bel i eve me, we wi l l ! "
They dr ew l ot s f or t he r un. She pi cked a f ol ded sl i p of paper f r omamong a
pi l e cont ai ni ng al l t hei r names. The wi nner was not i n t he r oom, but he was
one of t he best men on t he syst em, Pat Logan, engi neer of t he Taggar t Comet
on t he Nebr aska Di vi si on.
" Wi r e Pat and t el l hi mhe' s been demot ed t o a f r ei ght , " she sai d t o Eddi e.
She added casual l y, as i f i t wer e a l ast - moment deci si on, but i t f ool ed no
one, " Oh yes, t el l hi mt hat I ' mgoi ng t o r i de wi t h hi mi n t he cab of t he
engi ne on t hat r un. "
An ol d engi neer besi de her gr i nned and sai d, " I t hought you woul d, Mi ss
Taggar t . "
Rear den was i n New Yor k on t he day when Dagny t el ephoned hi mf r omher
of f i ce. " Hank, I ' mgoi ng t o have a pr ess conf er ence t omor r ow. "
He l aughed al oud. " No! "
" Yes. " Her voi ce sounded ear nest , but , danger ousl y, a bi t t oo ear nest .
" The newspaper s have suddenl y di scover ed me and ar e aski ng quest i ons.
I ' mgoi ng t o answer t hem. "
" Have a good t i me. "
" I wi l l . Ar e you goi ng t o be i n t own t omor r ow? I ' d l i ke t o have you i n on
i t . "
" Okay. I woul dn' t want t o mi ss i t . "
The r epor t er s who came t o t he pr ess conf er ence i n t he of f i ce of t he J ohn
Gal t Li ne wer e young men who had been t r ai ned t o t hi nk t hat t hei r j ob
consi st ed of conceal i ng f r omt he wor l d t he nat ur e of i t s event s. I t was t hei r
dai l y dut y t o ser ve as audi ence f or some publ i c- f i gur e who made ut t er ances
about t he publ i c good, i n phr ases car ef ul l y chosen t o convey no meani ng. I t
was t hei r dai l y j ob t o sl i ng wor ds t oget her i n any combi nat i on t hey pl eased,
so l ong as t he wor ds di d not f al l i nt o a sequence sayi ng somet hi ng speci f i c.
They coul d not under st and t he i nt er vi ew now bei ng gi ven t o t hem.
Dagny Taggar t sat behi nd her desk i n an of f i ce t hat l ooked l i ke a sl um
basement . She wor e a dar k bl ue sui t wi t h a whi t e bl ouse, beaut i f ul l y
t ai l or ed, suggest i ng an ai r of f or mal , al most mi l i t ar y el egance. She sat
st r ai ght , and her manner was sever el y di gni f i ed, j ust a shade t oo di gni f i ed.
Rear den sat i n a cor ner of t he r oom, spr awl ed acr oss a br oken ar mchai r ,
hi s l ong l egs t hr own over one of i t s ar ms, hi s body l eani ng agai nst t he
ot her . Hi s manner was pl easant l y i nf or mal , j ust a bi t t oo i nf or mal .
I n t he cl ear , monot onous voi ce of a mi l i t ar y r epor t , consul t i ng no paper s,
l ooki ng st r ai ght at t he men, Dagny r eci t ed t he t echnol ogi cal f act s about t he
J ohn Gal t Li ne, gi vi ng exact f i gur es on t he nat ur e of t he r ai l , t he capaci t y
of t he br i dge, t he met hod of const r uct i on, t he cost s. Then, i n t he dr y t one
of a banker , she expl ai ned t he f i nanci al pr ospect s of t he Li ne and named t he
l ar ge pr of i t s she expect ed t o make. ' That i s al l , "
she sai d.
" Al l ?" sai d one of t he r epor t er s. " Ar en' t you goi ng t o gi ve us a message
f or t he publ i c?"
" That was my message. "
" But hel l I mean, ar en' t you goi ng t o def end your sel f ?"
" Agai nst what ?"
" Don' t you want t o t el l us somet hi ng t o j ust i f y your Li ne?"
" I have. "
A man wi t h a mout h shaped as a per manent sneer asked, " Wel l , what I want
t o know, as Ber t r amScudder st at ed, i s what pr ot ect i on do we have agai nst
your Li ne bei ng no good?"
" Don' t r i de on i t . "
Anot her asked, " Ar en' t you goi ng t o t el l us your mot i ve f or bui l di ng t hat
Li ne?"
" I have t ol d you: t he pr of i t whi ch I expect t o make. "
" Oh, Mi ss Taggar t , don' t say t hat ! " cr i ed a young boy. He was new, he was
st i l l honest about hi s j ob, and he f el t t hat he l i ked Dagny Taggar t , wi t hout
knowi ng why. " That ' s t he wr ong t hi ng t o say. That ' s what t hey' r e al l sayi ng
about you. "
" Ar e t hey?"
" I ' msur e you di dn' t mean i t t he way i t sounds and . . . and I ' msur e
you' l l want t o cl ar i f y i t . "
" Why, yes, i f you wi sh me t o. The aver age pr of i t of r ai l r oads has been t wo
per cent of t he capi t al i nvest ed. An i ndust r y t hat does so much and keeps so
l i t t l e, shoul d consi der i t sel f i mmor al . As I have expl ai ned, t he cost of t he
J ohn Gal t Li ne i n r el at i on t o t he t r af f i c whi ch i t wi l l car r y makes me expect
a pr of i t of not l ess t han f i f t een per cent on our i nvest ment . Of cour se, any
i ndust r i al pr of i t above f our per cent i s consi der ed usur y nowadays. I shal l ,
never t hel ess, do my best t o make t he J ohn Gal t Li ne ear n a pr of i t of t went y
per cent f or me, i f possi bl e. That was my mot i ve f or bui l di ng t he Li ne. Have
I made mysel f cl ear now?
The boy was l ooki ng at her hel pl essl y. " You don' t mean, t o ear n a pr of i t
f or you, Mi ss Taggar t ? You mean, f or t he smal l st ockhol der s, of cour se?" he
pr ompt ed hopef ul l y.
" Why, no. I happen t o be one of t he l ar gest st ockhol der s of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , so my shar e of t he pr of i t s wi l l be one of t he l ar gest , Now,
Mr . Rear den i s i n a much mor e f or t unat e posi t i on, because he has no
st ockhol der s t o shar e wi t hor woul d you r at her make your own st at ement , Mr .
Rear den?"
" Yes, gl adl y, " sai d Rear den. " I nasmuch as t he f or mul a of Rear den Met al i s
my own per sonal secr et , and i n vi ew of t he f act t hat t he Met al cost s much
l ess t o pr oduce t han you boys can i magi ne, I expect t o ski n t he publ i c t o t he
t une of a pr of i t of t went y- f i ve per cent i n t he next f ew year s. "
" What do you mean, ski n t he publ i c, Mr . Rear den?" asked t he boy.
" I f i t ' s t r ue, as I ' ve r ead i n your ads, t hat your Met al wi l l l ast t hr ee
t i mes l onger t han any ot her and at hal f t he pr i ce, woul dn' t t he publ i c be
get t i ng a bar gai n?"
" Oh, have you not i ced t hat ?" sai d Rear den.
" Do t he t wo of you r eal i ze you' r e t al ki ng f or publ i cat i on?" asked t he man
wi t h t he sneer .
" But , Mr . Hopki ns, " sai d Dagny, i n pol i t e ast oni shment , " i s t her e any
r eason why we woul d t al k t o you, i f i t wer en' t f or publ i cat i on?"
" Do you want us t o quot e al l t he t hi ngs you sai d?"
" I hope I may t r ust you t o be sur e and quot e t hem. Woul d you obl i ge me by
t aki ng t hi s down ver bat i m?" She paused t o see t hei r penci l s r eady, t hen
di ct at ed: " Mi ss Taggar t saysquot eI expect t o make a pi l e of money on t he
J ohn Gal t Li ne. I wi l l have ear ned i t . Cl ose quot e. Thank you so much. "
" Any quest i ons, gent l emen?" asked Rear den.
Ther e wer e no quest i ons.
" Now I must t el l you about t he openi ng of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, " sai d Dagny.
" The f i r st t r ai n wi l l depar t f r omt he st at i on of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i n
Cheyenne, Wyomi ng, at f our P. M. on J ul y t went y- second.
I t wi l l be a f r ei ght speci al , consi st i ng of ei ght y car s. I t wi l l be dr i ven
by an ei ght - t housand- hor sepower , f our - uni t Di esel l ocomot i vewhi ch I ' m
l easi ng f r omTaggar t Tr anscont i nent al f or t he occasi on. I t wi l l r un non- st op
t o Wyat t J unct i on, Col or ado, t r avel i ng at an aver age speed of one hundr ed
mi l es per hour . I beg your par don?" she asked, hear i ng t he l ong, l ow sound of
a whi st l e.
" What di d you say, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" I sai d, one hundr ed mi l es per hour gr ades, cur ves and al l . "
" But shoul dn' t you cut t he speed bel ow nor mal r at her t han . . . Mi ss
Taggar t , don' t you have any consi der at i on what ever f or publ i c opi ni on?"
" But I do. I f i t wer en' t f or publ i c opi ni on, an aver age speed of si xt y-
f i ve mi l es per hour woul d have been qui t e suf f i ci ent . "
" Who' s goi ng t o r un t hat t r ai n?"
" I had qui t e a bi t of t r oubl e about t hat . Al l t he Taggar t engi neer s
vol unt eer ed t o do i t . So di d t he f i r emen, t he br akemen and t he conduct or s. We
had t o dr aw l ot s f or ever y j ob on t he t r ai n' s cr ew. The engi neer wi l l be Pat
Logan, of t he Taggar t Comet , t he f i r emanRay McKi m.
I shal l r i de i n t he cab of t he engi ne wi t h t hem. "
" Not r eal l y! "
" Pl ease do at t end t he openi ng. I t ' s on J ul y t went y- second. The pr ess i s
most eager l y i nvi t ed. Cont r ar y t o my usual pol i cy, I have become a publ i ci t y
hound. Real l y. I shoul d l i ke t o have spot l i ght s, r adi o mi cr ophones and
t el evi si on camer as. I suggest t hat you pl ant a f ew camer as ar ound t he br i dge.
The col l apse of t he br i dge woul d gi ve you some i nt er est i ng shot s. "
" Mi ss Taggar t , " asked Rear den, " why di dn' t you ment i on t hat I ' mgoi ng t o
r i de i n t hat engi ne, t oo?"
She l ooked at hi macr oss t he r oom, and f or a moment t hey wer e al one,
hol di ng each ot her ' s gl ance.
" Yes, of cour se, Mr . Rear den, " she answer ed.
She di d not see hi magai n unt i l t hey l ooked at each ot her acr oss t he
pl at f or mof t he Taggar t st at i on i n Cheyenne, on J ul y 22.
She di d not l ook f or anyone when she st epped out on t he pl at f or m: she f el t
as i f her senses had mer ged, so t hat she coul d not di st i ngui sh t he sky, t he
sun or t he sounds of an enor mous cr owd, but per cei ved onl y a sensat i on of
shock and l i ght .
Yet he was t he f i r st per son she saw, and she coul d not t el l f or how l ong a
t i me he was al so t he onl y one. He st ood by t he engi ne of t he J ohn Gal t t r ai n,
t al ki ng t o somebody out si de t he f i el d of her consci ousness.
He was dr essed i n gr ay sl acks and shi r t , he l ooked l i ke an exper t
mechani c, but he was st ar ed at by t he f aces ar ound hi m, because he was Hank
Rear den of Rear den St eel . Hi gh above hi m, she saw t he l et t er s TT on t he
si l ver f r ont of t he engi ne. The l i nes of t he engi ne sl ant ed back, ai med at
space.
Ther e was di st ance and a cr owd bet ween t hem, but hi s eyes moved t o her t he
moment she came out . They l ooked at each ot her and she knew t hat he f el t as
she di d. Thi s was not t o be a sol emn vent ur e upon whi ch t hei r f ut ur e
depended, but si mpl y t hei r day of enj oyment . Thei r wor k was done. For t he
moment , t her e was no f ut ur e. They had ear ned t he pr esent .
Onl y i f one f eel s i mmensel y i mpor t ant , she had t ol d hi m, can one f eel
t r ul y l i ght . What ever t he t r ai n' s r un woul d mean t o ot her s, f or t he t wo of
t hemt hei r own per sons wer e t hi s day' s sol e meani ng. What ever i t was t hat
ot her s sought i n l i f e, t hei r r i ght t o what t hey now f el t was al l t he t wo of
t hemwi shed t o f i nd. I t was as i f , acr oss t he pl at f or m, t hey sai d i t t o each
ot her .
Then she t ur ned away f r omhi m.
She not i ced t hat she, t oo, was bei ng st ar ed at , t hat t her e wer e peopl e
ar ound her , t hat she was l aughi ng and answer i ng quest i ons.
She had not expect ed such a l ar ge cr owd. They f i l l ed t he pl at f or m, t he
t r acks, t he squar e beyond t he st at i on; t hey wer e on t he r oof s of t he boxcar s
on t he si di ngs, at t he wi ndows of ever y house i n si ght . Somet hi ng had dr awn
t hemher e, somet hi ng i n t he ai r whi ch, at t he l ast moment , had made J ames
Taggar t want t o at t end t he openi ng of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. She had f or bi dden
i t . " I f you come, J i m, " she had sai d, " I ' l l have you t hr own out of your own
Taggar t st at i on. Thi s i s one event you' r e not goi ng t o see. " Then she had
chosen Eddi e Wi l l er s t o r epr esent Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al at t he openi ng.
She l ooked at t he cr owd and she f el t , si mul t aneousl y, ast oni shment t hat
t hey shoul d st ar e at her , when t hi s event was so per sonal l y her own t hat no
communi cat i on about i t was possi bl e, and a sense of f i t ness t hat t hey shoul d
be her e, t hat t hey shoul d want t o see i t , because t he si ght of an achi evement
was t he gr eat est gi f t a human bei ng coul d of f er t o ot her s.
She f el t no anger t owar d anyone on ear t h. The t hi ngs she had endur ed had
now r eceded i nt o some out er f og, l i ke pai n t hat st i l l exi st s, but has no
power t o hur t . Those t hi ngs coul d not st and i n t he f ace of t hi s moment ' s
r eal i t y, t he meani ng of t hi s day was as br i l l i ant l y, vi ol ent l y cl ear as t he
spl ashes of sun on t he si l ver of t he engi ne, al l men had t o per cei ve i t now,
no one coul d doubt i t and she had no one t o hat e.
Eddi e Wi l l er s was wat chi ng her . He st ood on t he pl at f or m, sur r ounded by
Taggar t execut i ves, di vi si on heads, ci vi c l eader s, and t he var i ous l ocal
of f i ci al s who had been out ar gued, br i bed or t hr eat ened, t o obt ai n per mi t s t o
r un a t r ai n t hr ough t own zones at a hundr ed mi l es an hour . For once, f or t hi s
day and event , hi s t i t l e of Vi ce- pr esi dent was r eal t o hi mand he car r i ed i t
wel l . But whi l e he spoke t o t hose ar ound hi m, hi s eyes kept f ol l owi ng Dagny
t hr ough t he cr owd. She was dr essed i n bl ue sl acks and shi r t , she was
unconsci ous of of f i ci al dut i es, she had l ef t t hemt o hi m, t he t r ai n was now
her sol e concer n, as i f she wer e onl y a member of i t s cr ew.
She saw hi m, she appr oached, and she shook hi s hand; her smi l e was l i ke a
summat i on of al l t he t hi ngs t hey di d not have t o say. " Wel l , Eddi e, you' r e
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al now. "
" Yes, " he sai d sol emnl y, hi s voi ce l ow.
Ther e wer e r epor t er s aski ng quest i ons, and t hey dr agged her away f r omhi m.
They wer e aski ng hi mquest i ons, t oo. " Mr . Wi l l er s, what i s t he pol i cy of
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i n r egar d t o t hi s l i ne?" " So Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al i s j ust a di si nt er est ed obser ver , i s i t , Mr . Wi l l er s?"
He answer ed as best he coul d. He was l ooki ng at t he sun on a Di esel
engi ne. But what he was seei ng was t he sun i n a cl ear i ng of t he woods and a
t wel ve- year - ol d gi r l t el l i ng hi mt hat he woul d hel p her r un t he r ai l r oad some
day.
He wat ched f r oma di st ance whi l e t he t r ai n' s cr ew was l i ned up i n f r ont of
t he engi ne, t o f ace a f i r i ng squad of camer as. Dagny and Rear den wer e
smi l i ng, as i f posi ng f or snapshot s of a summer vacat i on. Pat Logan, t he
engi neer , a shor t , si newy man wi t h gr ayi ng hai r and a cont empt uousl y
i nscr ut abl e f ace, posed i n a manner of amused i ndi f f er ence.
Ray McKi m, t he f i r eman, a husky young gi ant , gr i nned wi t h an ai r of
embar r assment and super i or i t y t oget her . The r est of t he cr ew l ooked as i f
t hey wer e about t o wi nk at t he camer as. A phot ogr apher sai d, l aughi ng, " Can' t
you peopl e l ook doomed, pl ease? I know t hat ' s what t he edi t or want s. "
Dagny and Rear den wer e answer i ng quest i ons f or t he pr ess. Ther e was no
mocker y i n t hei r answer s now, no bi t t er ness. They wer e enj oyi ng i t . They
spoke as i f t he quest i ons wer e asked i n good f ai t h. I r r esi st i bl y, at some
poi nt whi ch no one not i ced, t hi s became t r ue, " What do you expect t o happen
on t hi s r un?" a r epor t er asked one of t he br akemen. " Do you t hi nk you' l l get
t her e?"
" I t hi nk we' l l get t her e, " sai d t he br akeman, " and so do you, br ot her . "
" Mr . Logan, do you have any chi l dr en? Di d you t ake out any ext r a
i nsur ance? I ' mj ust t hi nki ng of t he br i dge, you know. "
" Don' t cr oss t hat br i dge t i l l I come t o i t , " Pat Logan answer ed
cont empt uousl y.
" Mr . Rear den, how do you know t hat your r ai l wi l l hol d?"
' The man who t aught peopl e t o make a pr i nt i ng pr ess, " sai d Rear den, " how
di d he know i t ?"
" Tel l me, Mi ss Taggar t , what ' s goi ng t o suppor t a seven- t housand- t on t r ai n
on a t hr ee- t housand- t on br i dge?"
" My j udgment , " she answer ed.
The men of t he pr ess, who despi sed t hei r own pr of essi on, di d not know why
t hey wer e enj oyi ng i t t oday. One of t hem, a young man wi t h year s of not or i ous
success behi nd hi mand a cyni cal l ook of t wi ce hi s age, sai d suddenl y, " I
know what I ' d l i ke t o be: I wi sh I coul d be a man who cover s news! "
The hands of t he cl ock on t he st at i on bui l di ng st ood at 3: 45. The cr ew
st ar t ed of f t owar d t he caboose at t he di st ant end of t he t r ai n. The movement
and noi se of t he cr owd wer e subsi di ng. Wi t hout consci ous i nt ent i on, peopl e
wer e begi nni ng t o st and st i l l .
The di spat cher had r ecei ved wor d f r omever y l ocal oper at or al ong t he l i ne
of r ai l t hat wound t hr ough t he mount ai ns t o t he Wyat t oi l f i el ds t hr ee
hundr ed mi l es away. He came out of t he st at i on bui l di ng and, l ooki ng at
Dagny, gave t he si gnal f or cl ear t r ack ahead. St andi ng by t he engi ne, Dagny
r ai sed her hand, r epeat i ng hi s gest ur e i n si gn of an or der r ecei ved and
under st ood.
The l ong l i ne of boxcar s st r et ched of f i nt o t he di st ance, i n spaced,
r ect angul ar l i nks, l i ke a spi nal cor d. When t he conduct or ' s ar mswept t hr ough
t he ai r , f ar at t he end, she moved her ar mi n answer i ng si gnal .
Rear den, Logan and McKi mst ood si l ent l y, as i f at at t ent i on, l et t i ng her
be f i r st t o get aboar d. As she st ar t ed up t he r ungs on t he si de of t he
engi ne, a r epor t er t hought of a quest i on he had not asked.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he cal l ed af t er her , " who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
She t ur ned, hangi ng ont o a met al bar wi t h one hand, suspended f or an
i nst ant above t he heads of t he cr owd.
" We ar e! " she answer ed.
Logan f ol l owed her i nt o t he cab, t hen McKi m; Rear den went l ast , t hen t he
door of t he engi ne was shut , wi t h t he t i ght f i nal i t y of seal ed met al .
The l i ght s, hangi ng on a si gnal br i dge agai nst t he sky, wer e gr een.
Ther e wer e gr een l i ght s bet ween t he t r acks, l ow over t he gr ound, dr oppi ng
of f i nt o t he di st ance wher e t he r ai l s t ur ned and a gr een l i ght st ood at t he
cur ve, agai nst l eaves of a summer gr een t hat l ooked as i f t hey, t oo, wer e
l i ght s.
Two men hel d a whi t e si l k r i bbon st r et ched acr oss t he t r ack i n f r ont of
t he engi ne. They wer e t he super i nt endent of t he Col or ado Di vi si on and Neal y' s
chi ef engi neer , who had r emai ned on t he j ob. Eddi e Wi l l er s was t o cut t he
r i bbon t hey hel d and t hus t o open t he new l i ne.
The phot ogr apher s posed hi mcar ef ul l y, sci ssor s i n hand, hi s back t o t he
engi ne. He woul d r epeat t he cer emony t wo or t hr ee t i mes, t hey expl ai ned, t o
gi ve t hema choi ce of shot s; t hey had a f r esh bol t of r i bbon r eady. He was
about t o compl y, t hen st opped. " No, " he sai d suddenl y.
" I t ' s not goi ng t o be a phony. "
I n a voi ce of qui et aut hor i t y, t he voi ce of a vi ce- pr esi dent , he or der ed,
poi nt i ng at t he camer as, " St and backway back. Take one shot when I cut i t ,
t hen get out of t he way, f ast . "
They obeyed, movi ng hast i l y f ar t her down t he t r ack. Ther e was onl y one
mi nut e l ef t . Eddi e t ur ned hi s back t o t he camer as and st ood bet ween t he
r ai l s, f aci ng t he engi ne. He hel d t he sci ssor s r eady over t he whi t e r i bbon.
He t ook hi s hat of f and t ossed i t asi de. He was l ooki ng up at t he engi ne. A
f ai nt wi nd st i r r ed hi s bl ond hai r . The engi ne was a gr eat si l ver shi el d
bear i ng t he embl emof Nat Taggar t .
Eddi e Wi l l er s r ai sed hi s hand as t he hand of t he st at i on cl ock r eached t he
i nst ant of f our .
" Open her up, Pat ! " he cal l ed.
I n t he moment when t he engi ne st ar t ed f or war d, he cut t he whi t e r i bbon and
l eaped out of t he way.
Fr omt he si de t r ack, he saw t he wi ndow of t he cab go by and Dagny wavi ng
t o hi mi n an answer i ng sal ut e. Then t he engi ne was gone, and he st ood l ooki ng
acr oss at t he cr owded pl at f or mt hat kept appear i ng and vani shi ng as t he
f r ei ght car s cl i cked past hi m.
The gr een- bl ue r ai l s r an t o meet t hem, l i ke t wo j et s shot out of a si ngl e
poi nt beyond t he cur ve of t he ear t h. The cr osst i es mel t ed, as t hey
appr oached, i nt o a smoot h st r eamr ol l i ng down under t he wheel s. A bl ur r ed
st r eak cl ung t o t he si de of t he engi ne, l ow over t he gr ound. Tr ees and
t el egr aph pol es spr ang i nt o si ght abr upt l y and went by as i f j er ked back. The
gr een pl ai ns st r et ched past , i n a l ei sur el y f l ow. At t he edge of t he sky, a
l ong wave of mount ai ns r ever sed t he movement and seemed t o f ol l ow t he t r ai n.
She f el t no wheel s under t he f l oor . The mot i on was a smoot h f l i ght on a
sust ai ned i mpul se, as i f t he engi ne hung above t he r ai l s, r i di ng a cur r ent .
She f el t no speed. I t seemed st r ange t hat t he gr een l i ght s of t he si gnal s
kept comi ng at t hemand past , ever y f ew seconds. She knew t hat t he si gnal
l i ght s wer e spaced t wo mi l es apar t .
The needl e on t he speedomet er i n f r ont of Pat Logan st ood at one hundr ed.
She sat i n t he f i r eman' s chai r and gl anced acr oss at Logan once i n a
whi l e. He sat sl umped f or war d a l i t t l e, r el axed, one hand r est i ng l i ght l y on
t he t hr ot t l e as i f by chance; but hi s eyes wer e f i xed on t he t r ack ahead. He
had t he ease of an exper t , so conf i dent t hat i t seemed casual , but i t was t he
ease of a t r emendous concent r at i on, t he concent r at i on on one' s t ask t hat has
t he r ut hl essness of an absol ut e. Ray McKi msat on a bench behi nd t hem.
Rear den st ood i n t he mi ddl e of t he cab.
He st ood, hands i n pocket s, f eet apar t , br aced agai nst t he mot i on, l ooki ng
ahead. Ther e was not hi ng he coul d now car e t o see by t he si de of t he t r ack:
he was l ooki ng at t he r ai l .
Owner shi pshe t hought , gl anci ng back at hi mwer en' t t her e t hose who knew
not hi ng of i t s nat ur e and doubt ed i t s r eal i t y? No, i t was not made of paper s,
seal s, gr ant s and per mi ssi ons. Ther e i t wasi n hi s eyes.
The sound f i l l i ng t he cab seemed par t of t he space t hey wer e cr ossi ng. I t
hel d t he l ow dr one of t he mot or st he shar per cl i cki ng of t he many par t s t hat
r ang i n var i ed cr i es of met al and t he hi gh, t hi n chi mes of t r embl i ng gl ass
panes.
Thi ngs st r eaked past a wat er t ank, a t r ee, a shant y, a gr ai n si l o.
They had a wi ndshi el d- wi per mot i on: t hey wer e r i si ng, descr i bi ng a cur ve
and dr oppi ng back. The t el egr aph wi r es r an a r ace wi t h t he t r ai n, r i si ng and
f al l i ng f r ompol e t o pol e, i n an even r hyt hm, l i ke t he car di ogr aph r ecor d of
a st eady hear t beat wr i t t en acr oss t he sky.
She l ooked ahead, at t he haze t hat mel t ed r ai l and di st ance, a haze t hat
coul d r i p apar t at any moment t o some shape of di sast er . She wonder ed why she
f el t saf er t han she had ever f el t i n a car behi nd t he engi ne, saf er her e,
wher e i t seemed as i f , shoul d an obst acl e r i se, her br east and t he gl ass
shi el d woul d be f i r st t o smash agai nst i t . She smi l ed, gr aspi ng t he answer :
i t was t he secur i t y of bei ng f i r st , wi t h f ul l si ght and f ul l knowl edge of
one' s cour senot t he bl i nd sense of bei ng pul l ed i nt o t he unknown by some
unknown power ahead. I t was t he gr eat est sensat i on of exi st ence: not t o
t r ust , but t o know.
The gl ass sheet s of t he cab' s wi ndows made t he spr ead of t he f i el ds seem
vast er : t he ear t h l ooked as open t o movement as i t was t o si ght .
Yet not hi ng was di st ant and not hi ng was out of r each. She had bar el y
gr asped t he spar kl e of a l ake aheadand i n t he next i nst ant she was besi de
i t , t hen past .
I t was a st r ange f or eshor t eni ng bet ween si ght and t ouch, she t hought ,
bet ween wi sh and f ul f i l l ment , bet weent he wor ds cl i cked shar pl y i n her mi nd
af t er a st ar t l ed st opbet ween spi r i t and body. Fi r st , t he vi si ont hen t he
physi cal shape t o expr ess i t . Fi r st , t he t hought t hen t he pur posef ul mot i on
down t he st r ai ght l i ne of a si ngl e t r ack t o a chosen goal . Coul d one have any
meani ng wi t hout t he ot her ? Wasn' t i t evi l t o wi sh wi t hout movi ngor t o move
wi t hout ai m? Whose mal evol ence was i t t hat cr ept t hr ough t he wor l d,
st r uggl i ng t o br eak t he t wo apar t and set t hemagai nst each ot her ?
She shook her head. She di d not want t o t hi nk or t o wonder why t he wor l d
behi nd her was as i t was. She di d not car e. She was f l yi ng away f r omi t , at
t he r at e of a hundr ed mi l es an hour . She l eaned t o t he open wi ndow by her
si de, and f el t t he wi nd of t he speed bl owi ng her hai r of f her f or ehead. She
l ay back, consci ous of not hi ng but t he pl easur e i t gave her .
Yet her mi nd kept r aci ng. Br oken bi t s of t hought f l ew past her at t ent i on,
l i ke t he t el egr aph pol es by t he t r ack. Physi cal pl easur e?she t hought . Thi s
i s a t r ai n made of st eel . . . r unni ng on r ai l s of Rear den Met al . . . moved
by t he ener gy of bur ni ng oi l and el ect r i c gener at or s . . . i t ' s a physi cal
sensat i on of physi cal movement t hr ough space . . . but i s t hat t he cause and
t he meani ng of what I now f eel ?
. . . Do t hey cal l i t a l ow, ani mal j oyt hi s f eel i ng t hat I woul d not car e
i f t he r ai l di d br eak t o bi t s under us nowi t won' t but I woul dn' t car e,
because I have exper i enced t hi s? A l ow, physi cal , mat er i al , degr adi ng
pl easur e of t he body?
She smi l ed, her eyes cl osed, t he wi nd st r eami ng t hr ough her hai r .
She opened her eyes and saw t hat Rear den st ood l ooki ng down at her . I t was
t he same gl ance wi t h whi ch he had l ooked at t he r ai l . She f el t her power of
vol i t i on knocked out by some si ngl e, dul l bl ow t hat made her unabl e t o move.
She hel d hi s eyes, l yi ng back i n her chai r , t he wi nd pr essi ng t he t hi n cl ot h
of her shi r t t o her body.
He l ooked away, and she t ur ned agai n t o t he si ght of t he ear t h t ear i ng
open bef or e t hem.
She di d not want t o t hi nk, but t he sound of t hought went on, l i ke t he
dr one of t he mot or s under t he sounds of t he engi ne. She l ooked at t he cab
ar ound her . The f i ne st eel mesh of t he cei l i ng, she t hought , and t he r ow of
r i vet s i n t he cor ner , hol di ng sheet s of st eel seal ed t oget her who made t hem?
The br ut e f or ce of men' s muscl es? Who made i t possi bl e f or f our di al s and
t hr ee l ever s i n f r ont of Pat Logan t o hol d t he i ncr edi bl e power of t he
si xt een mot or s behi nd t hemand del i ver i t t o t he ef f or t l ess cont r ol of one
man' s hand?
These t hi ngs and t he capaci t y f r omwhi ch t hey camewas t hi s t he pur sui t
men r egar ded as evi l ? Was t hi s what t hey cal l ed an i gnobl e concer n wi t h t he
physi cal wor l d? Was t hi s t he st at e of bei ng ensl aved by mat t er ? Was t hi s t he
sur r ender of man' s spi r i t t o hi s body?
She shook her head, as i f she wi shed she coul d t oss t he subj ect out of t he
wi ndow and l et i t get shat t er ed somewher e al ong t he t r ack. She l ooked at t he
sun on t he summer f i el ds. She di d not have t o t hi nk, because t hese quest i ons
wer e onl y det ai l s of a t r ut h she knew and had al ways known. Let t hemgo past
l i ke t he t el egr aph pol es. The t hi ng she knew was l i ke t he wi r es f l yi ng above
i n an unbr oken l i ne. The wor ds f or i t , and f or t hi s j our ney, and f or her
f eel i ng, and f or t he whol e of man' s ear t h, wer e: I t ' s so si mpl e and so r i ght !
She l ooked out at t he count r y. She had been awar e f or some t i me of t he
human f i gur es t hat f l ashed wi t h an odd r egul ar i t y at t he si de of t he t r ack.
But t hey went by so f ast t hat she coul d not gr asp t hei r meani ng unt i l , l i ke
t he squar es of a movi e f i l m, br i ef f l ashes bl ended i nt o a whol e and she
under st ood i t . She had had t he t r ack guar ded si nce i t s compl et i on, but she
had not hi r ed t he human chai n she saw st r ung out al ong t he r i ght - of - way. A
sol i t ar y f i gur e st ood at ever y mi l e post . Some wer e young school boys, ot her s
wer e so ol d t hat t he si l houet t es of t hei r bodi es l ooked bent agai nst t he sky.
Al l of t hemwer e ar med, wi t h anyt hi ng t hey had f ound, f r omcost l y r i f l es t o
anci ent musket s. Al l of t hemwor e r ai l r oad caps. They wer e t he sons of
Taggar t empl oyees, and ol d r ai l r oad men who had r et i r ed af t er a f ul l l i f et i me
of Taggar t ser vi ce. They had come, unsummoned, t o guar d t hi s t r ai n. As t he
engi ne went past hi m, ever y man i n hi s t ur n st ood er ect , at at t ent i on, and
r ai sed hi s gun i n a mi l i t ar y sal ut e.
When she gr asped i t , she bur st out l aughi ng, suddenl y, wi t h t he abr upt ness
of a cr y. She l aughed, shaki ng, l i ke a chi l d; i t sounded l i ke sobs of
del i ver ance. Pat Logan nodded t o her wi t h a f ai nt smi l e; he had not ed t he
guar d of honor l ong ago. She l eaned t o t he open wi ndow, and her ar mswept i n
wi de cur ves of t r i umph, wavi ng t o t he men by t he t r ack.
On t he cr est of a di st ant hi l l , she saw a cr owd of peopl e, t hei r ar ms
swi ngi ng agai nst t he sky. The gr ay houses of a vi l l age wer e scat t er ed t hr ough
a val l ey bel ow, as i f dr opped t her e once and f or got t en; t he r oof l i nes
sl ant ed, saggi ng, and t he year s had washed away t he col or of t he wal l s.
Per haps gener at i ons had l i ved t her e, wi t h not hi ng t o mar k t he passage of
t hei r days but t he movement of t he sun f r omeast t o west .
Now, t hese men had cl i mbed t he hi l l t o see a si l ver - headed comet cut
t hr ough t hei r pl ai ns l i ke t he sound of a bugl e t hr ough a l ong wei ght of
si l ence.
As houses began t o come mor e f r equent l y, cl oser t o t he t r ack, she saw
peopl e at t he wi ndows, on t he por ches, on di st ant r oof s. She saw cr owds
bl ocki ng t he r oads at gr ade cr ossi ngs. The r oads went sweepi ng past l i ke t he
spokes of a f an, and she coul d not di st i ngui sh human f i gur es, onl y t hei r ar ms
gr eet i ng t he t r ai n l i ke br anches wavi ng i n t he wi nd of i t s speed. They st ood
under t he swi ngi ng r ed l i ght s of war ni ng si gnal s, under t he si gns sayi ng;
" St op. Look. Li st en. "
The st at i on past whi ch t hey f l ew, as t hey went t hr ough a t own at a hundr ed
mi l es an hour , was a swayi ng scul pt ur e of peopl e f r ompl at f or mt o r oof . She
caught t he f l i cker of wavi ng ar ms, of hat s t ossed i n t he ai r , of somet hi ng
f l ung agai nst t he si de of t he engi ne, whi ch was a bunch of f l ower s.
As t he mi l es cl i cked past t hem, t he t owns went by, wi t h t he st at i ons at
whi ch t hey di d not st op, wi t h t he cr owds of peopl e who had come onl y t o see,
t o cheer and t o hope. She saw gar l ands of f l ower s under t he soot ed eaves of
ol d st at i on bui l di ngs, and bunt i ng of r ed- whi t e- and- bl ue on t he t i me- eat en
wal l s. I t was l i ke t he pi ct ur es she had seenand envi edi n school book
hi st or i es of r ai l r oads, f r omt he er a when peopl e gat her ed t o gr eet t he f i r st
r un of a t r ai n. I t was l i ke t he age when Nat Taggar t moved acr oss t he
count r y, and t he st ops al ong hi s way wer e mar ked by men eager f or t he si ght
of achi evement . That age, she had t hought , was gone; gener at i ons had passed,
wi t h no event t o gr eet anywher e, wi t h not hi ng t o see but t he cr acks
l engt heni ng year by year on t he wal l s bui l t by Nat Taggar t . Yet men came
agai n, as t hey had come i n hi s t i me, dr awn by t he same r esponse.
She gl anced at Rear den. He st ood agai nst t he wal l , unawar e of t he cr owds,
i ndi f f er ent t o admi r at i on. He was wat chi ng t he per f or mance of t r ack and t r ai n
wi t h an exper t ' s i nt ensi t y of pr of essi onal i nt er est ; hi s bear i ng suggest ed
t hat he woul d ki ck asi de, as i r r el evant , any t hought such as ' They l i ke i t , "
when t he t hought r i ngi ng i n hi s mi nd was " I t wor ks! "
Hi s t al l f i gur e i n t he si ngl e gr ay of sl acks and shi r t l ooked as i f hi s
body wer e st r i pped f or act i on. The sl acks st r essed t he l ong l i nes of hi s
l egs, t he l i ght , f i r mpost ur e of st andi ng wi t hout ef f or t or bei ng r eady t o
swi ng f or war d at an i nst ant ' s not i ce; t he shor t sl eeves st r essed t he gaunt
st r engt h of hi s ar ms; t he open shi r t bar ed t he t i ght ski n of hi s chest .
She t ur ned away, r eal i zi ng suddenl y t hat she had been gl anci ng back at hi m
t oo of t en. But t hi s day had no t i es t o past or f ut ur eher t hought s wer e cut
of f f r omi mpl i cat i onsshe saw no f ur t her meani ng, onl y t he i mmedi at e
i nt ensi t y of t he f eel i ng t hat she was i mpr i soned wi t h hi m, seal ed t oget her i n
t he same cube of ai r , t he cl oseness of hi s pr esence under scor i ng her
awar eness of t hi s day, as hi s r ai l s under scor ed t he f l i ght of t he t r ai n.
She t ur ned del i ber at el y and gl anced back. He was l ooki ng at her .
He di d not t ur n away, but hel d her gl ance, col dl y and wi t h f ul l i nt ent i on.
She smi l ed def i ant l y, not l et t i ng her sel f know t he f ul l meani ng of her
smi l e, knowi ng onl y t hat i t was t he shar pest bl ow she coul d st r i ke at hi s
i nf l exi bl e f ace. She f el t a sudden desi r e t o see hi mt r embl i ng, t o t ear a cr y
out of hi m. She t ur ned her head away, sl owl y, f eel i ng a r eckl ess amusement ,
wonder i ng why she f ound i t di f f i cul t t o br eat he.
She sat l eani ng back i n her chai r , l ooki ng ahead, knowi ng t hat he was as
awar e of her as she was of hi m. She f ound pl easur e i n t he speci al sel f -
consci ousness i t gave her . When she cr ossed her l egs, when she l eaned on her
ar magai nst t he wi ndow si l l , when she br ushed her hai r of f her f or eheadever y
movement of her body was under scor ed by a f eel i ng t he unadmi t t ed wor ds f or
whi ch wer e: I s he seei ng i t ?
The t owns had been l ef t behi nd. The t r ack was r i si ng t hr ough a count r y
gr owi ng mor e gr i ml y r el uct ant t o per mi t appr oach. The r ai l s kept vani shi ng
behi nd cur ves, and t he r i dges of hi l l s kept movi ng cl oser , as i f t he pl ai ns
wer e bei ng f ol ded i nt o pl eat s. The f l at st one shel ves of Col or ado wer e
advanci ng t o t he edge of t he t r ackand t he di st ant r eaches of t he sky wer e
shr i nki ng i nt o waves of bl ui sh mount ai ns.
Far ahead, t hey saw a mi st of smoke over f act or y chi mneyst hen t he web of
a power st at i on and t he l one needl e of a st eel st r uct ur e. They wer e
appr oachi ng Denver .
She gl anced at Pat Logan. He was l eani ng f or war d a l i t t l e f ar t her ; she saw
a sl i ght t i ght eni ng i n t he f i nger s of hi s hand and i n hi s eyes. He knew, as
she di d, t he danger of cr ossi ng a ci t y at t he speed t hey wer e t r avel i ng.
I t was a successi on of mi nut es, but i t hi t t hemas a si ngl e whol e. Fi r st ,
t hey saw t he l one shapes, whi ch wer e f act or i es, r ol l i ng acr oss t hei r
wi ndowpanest hen t he shapes f used i nt o t he bl ur of st r eet st hen a del t a of
r ai l s spr ead out bef or e t hem, l i ke t he mout h of a f unnel sucki ng t hemi nt o
t he Taggar t st at i on, wi t h not hi ng t o pr ot ect t hembut t he smal l gr een beads
of l i ght s scat t er ed over t he gr oundf r omt he hei ght of t he cab, t hey saw
boxcar s on si di ngs st r eak past as f l at r i bbons of r oof t ops t he bl ack hol e
of t he t r ai n- shed f l ew at t hei r f acest hey hur t l ed t hr ough an expl osi on of
sound, t he beat i ng of wheel s agai nst t he gl ass panes of a vaul t , and t he
scr eams of cheer i ng f r oma mass t hat swayed l i ke a l i qui d i n t he dar kness
among st eel col umnst hey f l ew t owar d a gl owi ng ar ch and t he gr een l i ght s
hangi ng i n t he open sky beyond, t he gr een l i ght s t hat wer e l i ke t he door knobs
of space, t hr owi ng door af t er door open bef or e t hem. Then, vani shi ng behi nd
t hem, went t he st r eet s cl ot t ed wi t h t r af f i c, t he open wi ndows bul gi ng wi t h
human f i gur es, t he scr eami ng si r ens, andf r omt he t op of a di st ant
skyscr aper a cl oud of paper snowf l akes shi mmer i ng on t he ai r , f l ung by
someone who saw t he passage of a si l ver bul l et acr oss a ci t y st opped st i l l t o
wat ch i t .
Then t hey wer e out agai n, on a r ocky gr adeand wi t h shocki ng suddenness,
t he mount ai ns wer e bef or e t hem, as i f t he ci t y had f l ung t hemst r ai ght at a
gr ani t e wal l , and a t hi n l edge had caught t hemi n t i me. They wer e cl i ngi ng t o
t he si de of a ver t i cal cl i f f , wi t h t he ear t h r ol l i ng down, dr oppi ng away, and
gi ant t i er s of t wi st ed boul der s st r eami ng up and shut t i ng out t he sun,
l eavi ng t hemt o speed t hr ough a bl ui sh t wi l i ght , wi t h no si ght of soi l or
sky.
The cur ves of r ai l became coi l i ng ci r cl es among wal l s t hat advanced t o
gr i nd t hemof f t hei r si des. But t he t r ack cut t hr ough at t i mes and t he
mount ai ns par t ed, f l ar i ng open l i ke t wo wi ngs at t he t i p of t he r ai l one wi ng
gr een, made of ver t i cal needl es, wi t h whol e pi nes ser vi ng as t he pi l e of a
sol i d car pet t he ot her r eddi sh- br own, made of naked r ock.
She l ooked down t hr ough t he open wi ndow and saw t he si l ver si de of t he
engi ne hangi ng over empt y space. Far bel ow, t he t hi n t hr ead of a st r eamwent
f al l i ng f r oml edge t o l edge, and t he f er ns t hat dr ooped t o t he wat er wer e t he
shi mmer i ng t ops of bi r ch t r ees. She saw t he engi ne' s t ai l of boxcar s wi ndi ng
al ong t he f ace of a gr ani t e dr opand mi l es of cont or t ed st one bel ow, she saw
t he coi l s of gr een- bl ue r ai l unwi ndi ng behi nd t he t r ai n.
A wal l of r ock shot upwar d i n t hei r pat h, f i l l i ng t he wi ndshi el d,
dar keni ng t he cab, so cl ose t hat i t seemed as i f t he r emnant of t i me coul d
not l et t hemescape i t . But she hear d t he scr eech of wheel s on cur ve, t he
l i ght came bur st i ng backand she saw an open st r et ch of r ai l on a nar r ow
shel f . The shel f ended i n space. The nose of t he engi ne was ai med st r ai ght at
t he sky. Ther e was not hi ng t o st op t hembut t wo st r i ps of gr een- bl ue met al
st r ung i n a cur ve al ong t he shel f .
To t ake t he poundi ng vi ol ence of si xt een mot or s, she t hought , t he t hr ust
of seven t housand t ons of st eel and f r ei ght , t o wi t hst and i t , gr i p i t and
swi ng i t ar ound a cur ve, was t he i mpossi bl e f eat per f or med by t wo st r i ps of
met al no wi der t han her ar m. What made i t possi bl e? What power had gi ven t o
an unseen ar r angement of mol ecul es t he power on whi ch t hei r l i ves depended
and t he l i ves of al l t he men who wai t ed f or t he ei ght y boxcar s? She saw a
man' s f ace and hands i n t he gl ow of a l abor at or y oven, over t he whi t e l i qui d
of a sampl e of met al .
She f el t t he sweep of an emot i on whi ch she coul d not cont ai n, as of
somet hi ng bur st i ng upwar d. She t ur ned t o t he door of t he mot or uni t s, she
t hr ew i t open t o a scr eami ng j et of sound and escaped i nt o t he poundi ng of
t he engi ne' s hear t .
For a moment , i t was as i f she wer e r educed t o a si ngl e sense, t he sense
of hear i ng, and what r emai ned of her hear i ng was onl y a l ong, r i si ng,
f al l i ng, r i si ng scr eam. She st ood i n a swayi ng, seal ed chamber of met al ,
l ooki ng at t he gi ant gener at or s. She had want ed t o see t hem, because t he
sense of t r i umph wi t hi n her was bound t o t hem, t o her l ove f or t hem, t o t he
r eason of t he l i f e- wor k she had chosen. I n t he abnor mal cl ar i t y of a vi ol ent
emot i on, she f el t as i f she wer e about t o gr asp somet hi ng she had never known
and had t o know. She l aughed al oud, but hear d no sound of i t ; not hi ng coul d
be hear d t hr ough t he cont i nuous expl osi on. " The J ohn Gal t Li ne! " she shout ed,
f or t he amusement of f eel i ng her voi ce swept away f r omher l i ps.
She moved sl owl y al ong t he l engt h of t he mot or uni t s, down a nar r ow
passage bet ween t he engi nes and t he wal l . She f el t t he i mmodest y of an
i nt r uder , as i f she had sl i pped i nsi de a l i vi ng cr eat ur e, under i t s si l ver
ski n, and wer e wat chi ng i t s l i f e beat i ng i n gr ay met al cyl i nder s, i n t wi st ed
coi l s, i n seal ed t ubes, i n t he convul si ve whi r l of bl ades i n wi r e cages. The
enor mous compl exi t y of t he shape above her was dr ai ned by i nvi si bl e channel s,
and t he vi ol ence r agi ng wi t hi n i t was l ed t o f r agi l e needl es on gl ass di al s,
t o gr een and r ed beads wi nki ng on panel s, t o t al l , t hi n cabi net s st enci l ed
" Hi gh Vol t age. "
Why had she al ways f el t t hat j oyous sense of conf i dence when l ooki ng at
machi nes?she t hought . I n t hese gi ant shapes, t wo aspect s per t ai ni ng t o t he
i nhuman wer e r adi ant l y absent : t he causel ess and t he pur posel ess. Ever y par t
of t he mot or s was an embodi ed answer t o " Why?"
and " What f or ?" l i ke t he st eps of a l i f e- cour se chosen by t he sor t of mi nd
she wor shi pped. The mot or s wer e a mor al code cast i n st eel .
They ar e al i ve, she t hought , because t hey ar e t he physi cal shape of t he
act i on of a l i vi ng power of t he mi nd t hat had been abl e t o gr asp t he whol e of
t hi s compl exi t y, t o set i t s pur pose, t o gi ve i t f or m. For an i nst ant , i t
seemed t o her t hat t he mot or s wer e t r anspar ent and she was seei ng t he net of
t hei r ner vous syst em. I t was a net of connect i ons, mor e i nt r i cat e, mor e
cr uci al t han al l of t hei r wi r es and ci r cui t s: t he r at i onal connect i ons made
by t hat human mi nd whi ch had f ashi oned any one par t of t hemf or t he f i r st
t i me.
They ar e al i ve, she t hought , but t hei r soul oper at es t hemby r emot e
cont r ol . Thei r soul i s i n ever y man who has t he capaci t y t o equal t hi s
achi evement . Shoul d t he soul vani sh f r omt he ear t h, t he mot or s woul d st op,
because t hat i s t he power whi ch keeps t hemgoi ngnot t he oi l under t he f l oor
under her f eet , t he oi l t hat woul d t hen become pr i meval ooze agai nnot t he
st eel cyl i nder s t hat woul d become st ai ns of r ust on t he wal l s of t he caves of
shi ver i ng savagest he power of a l i vi ng mi nd t he power of t hought and choi ce
and pur pose.
She was maki ng her way back t owar d t he cab, f eel i ng t hat she want ed t o
l augh, t o kneel or t o l i f t her ar ms, wi shi ng she wer e abl e t o r el ease t he
t hi ng she f el t , knowi ng t hat i t had no f or mof expr essi on.
She st opped She saw Rear den st andi ng by t he st eps of t he door t o t he cab.
He was l ooki ng at her as i f he knew why she had escaped and what she f el t .
They st ood st i l l , t hei r bodi es becomi ng a gl ance t hat met acr oss a nar r ow
passage. The beat i ng wi t hi n her was one wi t h t he beat i ng of t he mot or sand
she f el t as i f bot h came f r omhi m; t he poundi ng r hyt hmwi ped out her wi l l .
They went back t o t he cab, si l ent l y, knowi ng t hat t her e had been a moment
whi ch was not t o be ment i oned bet ween t hem.
The cl i f f s ahead wer e a br i ght , l i qui d gol d. St r i ps of shadow wer e
l engt heni ng i n t he val l eys bel ow. The sun was descendi ng t o t he peaks i n t he
west . They wer e goi ng west and up, t owar d t he sun.
The sky had deepened t o t he gr eeni sh- bl ue of t he r ai l s, when t hey saw
smokest acks i n a di st ant val l ey. I t was one of Col or ado' s new t owns, t he
t owns t hat had gr own l i ke a r adi at i on f r omt he Wyat t oi l f i el ds. She saw t he
angul ar l i nes of moder n houses, f l at r oof s, gr eat sheet s of wi ndows. I t was
t oo f ar t o di st i ngui sh peopl e. I n t he moment when she t hought t hat t hey woul d
not be wat chi ng t he t r ai n at t hat di st ance, a r ocket shot out f r omamong t he
bui l di ngs, r ose hi gh above t he t own and br oke as a f ount ai n of gol d st ar s
agai nst t he dar keni ng sky. Men whomshe coul d not see, wer e seei ng t he st r eak
of t he t r ai n on t he si de of t he mount ai n, and wer e sendi ng a sal ut e, a l onel y
pl ume of f i r e i n t he dusk, t he symbol of cel ebr at i on or of a cal l f or hel p.
Beyond t he next t ur n, i n a sudden vi ew of di st ance, she saw t wo dot s of
el ect r i c l i ght , whi t e and r ed, l ow i n t he sky. They wer e not ai r pl anes ' she
saw t he cones of met al gi r der s suppor t i ng t hemand i n t he moment when she
knew t hat t hey wer e t he der r i cks of Wyat t Oi l , she saw t hat t he t r ack was
sweepi ng downwar d, t hat t he ear t h f l ar ed open, as i f t he mount ai ns wer e f l ung
apar t and at t he bot t om, at t he f oot of t he Wyat t hi l l , acr oss t he dar k cr ack
of a canyon, she saw t he br i dge of Rear den Met al .
They wer e f l yi ng down, she f or got t he car ef ul gr adi ng, t he gr eat cur ves of
t he gr adual descent , she f el t as i f t he t r ai n wer e pl ungi ng downwar d, head
f i r st , she wat ched t he br i dge gr owi ng t o meet t hema smal l , squar e t unnel of
met al l ace wor k, a f ew beams cr i ss- cr ossed t hr ough t he ai r , gr een- bl ue and
gl owi ng, st r uck by a l ong r ay of sunset l i ght f r omsome cr ack i n t he bar r i er
of mount ai ns. Ther e wer e peopl e by t he br i dge, t he dar k spl ash of a cr owd,
but t hey r ol l ed of f t he edge of her consci ousness. She hear d t he r i si ng,
accel er at i ng sound of t he wheel sand some t heme of musi c, hear d t o t he r hyt hm
of wheel s, kept t uggi ng at her mi nd, gr owi ng l ouder i t bur st suddenl y wi t hi n
t he cab, but she knew t hat i t was onl y i n her mi nd; t he Fi f t h Concer t o by
Ri char d Hal l eyshe t hought : di d he wr i t e i t f or t hi s? had he known a f eel i ng
such as t hi s?
t hey wer e goi ng f ast er , t hey had l ef t t he gr ound, she t hought , f l ung of f
by t he mount ai ns as by a spr i ngboar d, t hey wer e now sai l i ng t hr ough space
i t ' s not a f ai r t est , she t hought , we' r e not goi ng t o t ouch t hat br i dgeshe
saw Rear den' s f ace above her , she hel d hi s eyes and her head l eaned back, so
t hat her f ace l ay st i l l on t he ai r under hi s f ace
t hey hear d a r i ngi ng bl ast of met al , t hey hear d a dr umr ol l under t hei r
f eet , t he di agonal s of t he br i dge went smear i ng acr oss t he wi ndows wi t h t he
sound of a met al r od bei ng r un al ong t he pi cket s of a f encet hen t he wi ndows
wer e t oo suddenl y cl ear , t he sweep of t hei r downwar d pl unge was car r yi ng t hem
up a hi l l , t he der r i cks of Wyat t Oi l wer e r eel i ng bef or e t hemPat Logan
t ur ned, gl anci ng up at Rear den wi t h t he hi nt of a smi l eand Rear den sai d,
" That ' s t hat . "
The si gn on t he edge of a r oof r ead: Wyat t J unct i on. She st ar ed, f eel i ng
t hat t her e was somet hi ng odd about i t , unt i l she gr asped what i t was: t he
si gn di d not move. The shar pest j ol t of t he j our ney was t he r eal i zat i on t hat
t he engi ne st ood st i l l .
She hear d voi ces somewher e, she l ooked down and saw t hat t her e wer e peopl e
on t he pl at f or m. Then t he door of t he cab was f l ung open, she knew t hat she
had t o be f i r st t o descend, and she st epped t o t he edge.
For t he f l ash of an i nst ant , she f el t t he sl ender ness of her own body, t he
l i ght ness of st andi ng f ul l - f i gur e i n a cur r ent of open ai r . She gr i pped t he
met al bar s and st ar t ed down t he l adder . She was hal f way down when she f el t
t he pal ms of a man' s hands sl amt i ght agai nst her r i bs and wai st l i ne, she was
t or n of f t he st eps, swung t hr ough t he ai r and deposi t ed on t he gr ound. She
coul d not bel i eve t hat t he young boy l aughi ng i n her f ace was El l i s Wyat t .
The t ense, scor nf ul f ace she r emember ed, now had t he pur i t y, t he eager ness,
t he j oyous benevol ence of a chi l d i n t he ki nd of wor l d f or whi ch he had been
i nt ended.
She was l eani ng agai nst hi s shoul der , f eel i ng unst eady on t he mot i onl ess
gr ound, wi t h hi s ar mabout her , she was l aughi ng, she was l i st eni ng t o t he
t hi ngs he sai d, she was answer i ng, " But di dn' t you know we woul d?"
I n a moment , she saw t he f aces ar ound t hem. They wer e t he bondhol der s of
t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, t he men who wer e Ni el sen Mot or s, Hammond Car s, St ockt on
Foundr y and al l t he ot her s. She shook t hei r hands, and t her e wer e no
speeches; she st ood agai nst El l i s Wyat t , saggi ng a l i t t l e, br ushi ng her hai r
away f r omher eyes, l eavi ng smudges of soot on her f or ehead. She shook t he
hands of t he men of t he t r ai n' s cr ew, wi t hout wor ds, wi t h t he seal of t he
gr i ns on t hei r f aces. Ther e wer e f l ash bul bs expl odi ng ar ound t hem, and men
wavi ng t o t hemf r omt he r i ggi ngs of t he oi l wel l s on t he sl opes of t he
mount ai ns. Above her head, above t he heads of t he cr owd, t he l et t er s TT on a
si l ver shi el d wer e hi t by t he l ast r ay of a si nki ng sun.
El l i s Wyat t had t aken char ge. He was l eadi ng her somewher e, t he sweep of
hi s ar mcut t i ng a pat h f or t hemt hr ough t he cr owd, when one of t he men wi t h
t he camer as br oke t hr ough t o her si de. " Mi ss Taggar t , "
he cal l ed, " wi l l you gi ve us a message f or t he publ i c?" El l i s Wyat t
poi nt ed at t he l ong st r i ng of f r ei ght car s. " She has. "
Then she was si t t i ng i n t he back seat of an open car , dr i vi ng up t he
cur ves of a mount ai n r oad. The man besi de her was Rear den, t he dr i ver was
El l i s Wyat t .
They st opped at a house t hat st ood on t he edge of a cl i f f , wi t h no ot her
habi t at i on anywher e i n si ght , wi t h t he whol e of t he oi l f i el ds spr ead on t he
sl opes bel ow.
" Why, of cour se you' r e st ayi ng at my house over ni ght , bot h of you, "
sai d El l i s Wyat t , as t hey went i n. " Wher e di d you expect t o st ay?"
She l aughed. " I don' t know, I hadn' t t hought of i t at al l . "
" The near est t own i s an hour ' s dr i ve away. That ' s wher e your cr ew has
gone: your boys at t he di vi si on poi nt ar e gi vi ng a par t y i n t hei r honor . So
i s t he whol e t own. But I t ol d Ted Ni el sen and t he ot her s t hat we' d have no
banquet s f or you and no or at or y. Unl ess you' d l i ke i t ?"
" God, no! " she sai d. " Thanks, El l i s. "
I t was dar k when t hey sat at t he di nner t abl e i n a r oomt hat had l ar ge
wi ndows and a f ew pi eces of cost l y f ur ni t ur e. The di nner was ser ved by a
si l ent f i gur e i n a whi t e j acket , t he onl y ot her i nhabi t ant of t he house, an
el der l y I ndi an wi t h a st ony f ace and a cour t eous manner . A f ew poi nt s of f i r e
wer e scat t er ed t hr ough t he r oom, r unni ng over and out beyond t he wi ndows: t he
candl es on t he t abl e, t he l i ght s on t he der r i cks, and t he st ar s.
" Do you t hi nk t hat you have your hands f ul l now?" El l i s Wyat t was sayi ng.
" J ust gi ve me a year and I ' l l gi ve you somet hi ng t o keep you busy. Two t ank
t r ai ns a day, Dagny? I t ' s goi ng t o be f our or si x or as many as you wi sh me
t o f i l l . " Hi s hand swept over t he l i ght s on t he mount ai ns. " Thi s? I t ' s
not hi ng, compar ed t o what I ' ve got comi ng. " He poi nt ed west . " The Buena
Esper anza Pass. Fi ve mi l es f r omher e. Ever ybody' s wonder i ng what I ' mdoi ng
wi t h i t . Oi l shal e. How many year s ago was i t t hat t hey gave up t r yi ng t o get
oi l f r omshal e, because i t was t oo expensi ve? Wel l , wai t t i l l you see t he
pr ocess I ' ve devel oped. I t wi l l be t he cheapest oi l ever t o spl ash i n t hei r
f aces, and an unl i mi t ed suppl y of i t , an unt apped suppl y t hat wi l l make t he
bi ggest oi l pool l ook l i ke a mud puddl e. Di d I or der a pi pe l i ne? Hank, you
and I wi l l have t o bui l d pi pe l i nes i n al l di r ect i ons t o . . . Oh, I beg your
par don. I don' t bel i eve I i nt r oduced mysel f when I spoke t o you at t he
st at i on. I haven' t even t ol d you my name. "
Rear den gr i nned. " I ' ve guessed i t by now. "
" I ' msor r y, I don' t l i ke t o be car el ess, but I was t oo exci t ed. "
" What wer e you exci t ed about ?" asked Dagny, her eyes nar r owed i n mocker y.
Wyat t hel d her gl ance f or a moment ; hi s answer had a t one of sol emn
i nt ensi t y st r angel y conveyed by a smi l i ng voi ce. " About t he most beaut i f ul
sl ap i n t he f ace I ever got and deser ved. "
" Do you mean, f or our f i r st meet i ng?"
" I mean, f or our f i r st meet i ng. "
" Don' t . You wer e r i ght . "
" I was. About ever yt hi ng but you. Dagny, t o f i nd an except i on af t er year s
of . . . Oh, t o hel l wi t h t hem! Do you want me t o t ur n on t he r adi o and hear
what t hey' r e sayi ng about t he t wo of you t oni ght ?"
" No. "
" Good. I don' t want t o hear t hem. Let t hemswal l ow t hei r own speeches.
They' r e al l cl i mbi ng on t he band wagon now. We' r e t he band. "
He gl anced at Rear den. " What ar e you smi l i ng at ?"
" I ' ve al ways been cur i ous t o see what you' r e l i ke. "
" I ' ve never had a chance t o be what I ' ml i keexcept t oni ght . "
" Do you l i ve her e al one, l i ke t hi s, mi l es away f r omever yt hi ng?"
Wyat t poi nt ed at t he wi ndow. " I ' ma coupl e of st eps away f r om
ever yt hi ng. "
" What about peopl e?"
" I have guest r ooms f or t he ki nd of peopl e who come t o see me on busi ness.
I want as many mi l es as possi bl e bet ween mysel f and al l t he ot her ki nds. " He
l eaned f or war d t o r ef i l l t hei r wi ne gl asses. " Hank, why don' t you move t o
Col or ado? To hel l wi t h New Yor k and t he East er n Seaboar d! Thi s i s t he capi t al
of t he Renai ssance. The Second Renai ssancenot of oi l pai nt i ngs and
cat hedr al sbut of oi l der r i cks, power pl ant s, and mot or s made of Rear den
Met al . They had t he St one Age and t he I r on Age and now t hey' r e goi ng t o cal l
i t t he Rear den Met al Agebecause t her e' s no l i mi t t o what your Met al has made
possi bl e. "
" I ' mgoi ng t o buy a f ew squar e mi l es of Pennsyl vani a, " sai d Rear den.
" The ones ar ound my mi l l s. I t woul d have been cheaper t o bui l d a br anch
her e, as I want ed, but you know why I can' t , and t o hel l wi t h t hem! I l l beat
t hemanyway. I ' mgoi ng t o expand t he mi l l sand i f she can gi ve me t hr ee- day
f r ei ght ser vi ce t o Col or ado, I ' l l gi ve you a r ace f or who' s goi ng t o be t he
capi t al of t he Renai ssance! "
" Gi ve me a year , " sai d Dagny, " of r unni ng t r ai ns on t he J ohn Gal t Li ne,
gi ve me t i me t o pul l t he Taggar t syst emt oget her and I ' l l gi ve you t hr ee- day
f r ei ght ser vi ce acr oss t he cont i nent , on a Rear den Met al t r ack f r omocean t o
ocean! "
" Who was i t t hat sai d he needed a f ul cr um?" sai d El l i s Wyat t . " Gi ve me an
unobst r uct ed r i ght - of - way and I ' l l show t hemhow t o move t he ear t h! "
She wonder ed what i t was t hat she l i ked about t he sound of Wyat t ' s
l aught er . Thei r voi ces, even her own, had a t one she had never hear d bef or e.
When t hey r ose f r omt he t abl e, she was ast oni shed t o not i ce t hat t he candl es
wer e t he onl y i l l umi nat i on of t he r oom: she had f el t as i f she wer e si t t i ng
i n a vi ol ent l i ght .
El l i s Wyat t pi cked up hi s gl ass, l ooked at t hei r f aces and sai d, " To t he
wor l d as i t seems t o be r i ght now! "
He empt i ed t he gl ass wi t h a si ngl e movement .
She hear d t he cr ash of t he gl ass agai nst t he wal l i n t he same i nst ant t hat
she saw a ci r cl i ng cur r ent f r omt he cur ve of hi s body t o t he sweep of hi s ar m
t o t he t er r i bl e vi ol ence of hi s hand t hat f l ung t he gl ass acr oss t he r oom. I t
was not t he convent i onal gest ur e meant as cel ebr at i on, i t was t he gest ur e of
a r ebel l i ous anger , t he vi ci ous gest ur e whi ch i s movement subst i t ut ed f or a
scr eamof pai n.
" El l i s, " she whi sper ed, " what ' s t he mat t er ?"
He t ur ned t o l ook at her . Wi t h t he same vi ol ent suddenness, hi s eyes wer e
cl ear , hi s f ace was cal m; what f r i ght ened her was seei ng hi msmi l e gent l y.
" I ' msor r y, " he sai d. " Never mi nd. We' l l t r y t o t hi nk t hat i t wi l l l ast . "
The ear t h bel ow was st r eaked wi t h moonl i ght , when Wyat t l ed t hemup an
out si de st ai r way t o t he second f l oor of t he house, t o t he open gal l er y at t he
door s of t he guest r ooms. He wi shed t hemgood ni ght and t hey hear d hi s st eps
descendi ng t he st ai r s. The moonl i ght seemed t o dr ai n sound as i t dr ai ned
col or . The st eps r ol l ed i nt o a di st ant past , and when t hey di ed, t he si l ence
had t he qual i t y of a sol i t ude t hat had l ast ed f or a l ong t i me, as i f no
per son wer e l ef t anywher e i n r each.
She di d not t ur n t o t he door of her r oom. He di d not move. At t he l evel of
t hei r f eet , t her e was not hi ng but a t hi n r ai l i ng and a spr ead of space.
Angul ar t i er s descended bel ow, wi t h shadows r epeat i ng t he st eel t r acer y of
der r i cks, cr i ss- cr ossi ng shar p, bl ack l i nes on pat ches of gl owi ng r ock. A f ew
l i ght s, whi t e and r ed, t r embl ed i n t he cl ear ai r , l i ke dr ops of r ai n caught
on t he edges of st eel gi r der s. Far i n t he di st ance, t hr ee smal l dr ops wer e
gr een, st r ung i n a l i ne al ong t he Taggar t t r ack.
Beyond t hem, at t he end of space, at t he f oot of a whi t e cur ve, hung a
webbed r ect angl e whi ch was t he br i dge.
She f el t a r hyt hmwi t hout sound or movement , a sense of beat i ng t ensi on,
as i f t he wheel s of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne wer e st i l l speedi ng on.
Sl owl y, i n answer and i n r esi st ance t o an unspoken summons, she t ur ned and
l ooked at hi m.
The l ook she saw on hi s f ace made her know f or t he f i r st t i me t hat she had
known t hi s woul d be t he end of t he j our ney. That l ook was not as men ar e
t aught t o r epr esent i t , i t was not a mat t er of l oose muscl es, hangi ng l i ps
and mi ndl ess hunger . The l i nes of hi s f ace wer e pul l ed t i ght , gi vi ng i t a
pecul i ar pur i t y, a shar p pr eci si on of f or m, maki ng i t cl ean and young. Hi s
mout h was t aut , t he l i ps f ai nt l y dr awn i nwar d, st r essi ng t he out l i ne of i t s
shape. Onl y hi s eyes wer e bl ur r ed, t hei r l ower l i ds swol l en and r ai sed, t hei r
gl ance i nt ent wi t h t hat whi ch r esembl ed hat r ed and pai n.
The shock became numbness spr eadi ng t hr ough her bodyshe f el t a t i ght
pr essur e i n her t hr oat and her st omachshe was consci ous of not hi ng but a
si l ent convul si on t hat made her unabl e t o br eat he. But what she f el t , wi t hout
wor ds f or i t , was: Yes, Hank, yesnowbecause i t i s par t of t he same bat t l e,
i n some way t hat I can' t name . . . because i t i s our bei ng, agai nst t hei r s .
. . our gr eat capaci t y, f or whi ch t hey t or t ur e us, t he capaci t y of happi ness
. . . Now, l i ke t hi s, wi t hout wor ds or quest i ons . . . because we want i t . .
. .
I t was l i ke an act of hat r ed, l i ke t he cut t i ng bl ow of a l ash enci r cl i ng
her body: she f el t hi s ar ms ar ound her , she f el t her l egs pul l ed f or war d
agai nst hi mand her chest bent back under t he pr essur e of hi s, hi s mout h on
her s.
Her hand moved f r omhi s shoul der s t o hi s wai st t o hi s l egs, r el easi ng t he
unconf essed desi r e of her ever y meet i ng wi t h hi m. When she t or e her mout h
away f r omhi m, she was l aughi ng soundl essl y, i n t r i umph, as i f sayi ng: Hank
Rear dent he aust er e, unappr oachabl e Hank Rear den of t he monk l i ke of f i ce, t he
busi ness conf er ences, t he har sh bar gai nsdo you r emember t hemnow?I ' m
t hi nki ng of i t , f or t he pl easur e of knowi ng t hat I ' ve br ought you t o t hi s. He
was not smi l i ng, hi s f ace was t i ght , i t was t he f ace of an enemy, he j er ked
her head and caught her mout h agai n, as i f he wer e i nf l i ct i ng a wound.
She f el t hi mt r embl i ng and she t hought t hat t hi s was t he ki nd of cr y she
had want ed t o t ear f r omhi mt hi s sur r ender t hr ough t he shr eds of hi s t or t ur ed
r esi st ance. Yet she knew, at t he same t i me, t hat t he t r i umph was hi s, t hat
her l aught er was her t r i but e t o hi m, t hat her def i ance was submi ssi on, t hat
t he pur pose of al l of her vi ol ent st r engt h was onl y t o make hi s vi ct or y t he
gr eat er he was hol di ng her body agai nst hi s, as i f st r essi ng hi s wi sh t o l et
her know t hat she was now onl y a t ool f or t he sat i sf act i on of hi s desi r eand
hi s vi ct or y, she knew, was her wi sh t o l et hi mr educe her t o t hat . What ever I
am, she t hought , what ever pr i de of per son I may hol d, t he pr i de of my
cour age, of my wor k, of my mi nd and my f r eedomt hat i s what I of f er you f or
t he pl easur e of your body, t hat i s what I want you t o use i n your ser vi ceand
t hat you want i t t o ser ve you i s t he gr eat est r ewar d I can have.
Ther e wer e l i ght s bur ni ng i n t he t wo r ooms behi nd t hem. He t ook her wr i st
and t hr ew her i nsi de hi s r oom, maki ng t he gest ur e t el l her t hat he needed no
si gn of consent or r esi st ance. He l ocked t he door , wat chi ng her f ace.
St andi ng st r ai ght , hol di ng hi s gl ance, she ext ended her ar mt o t he l amp on
t he t abl e and t ur ned out t he l i ght . He appr oached. He t ur ned t he l i ght on
agai n, wi t h a si ngl e, cont empt uous j er k of hi s wr i st .
She saw hi msmi l e f or t he f i r st t i me, a sl ow, mocki ng, sensual smi l e t hat
st r essed t he pur pose of hi s act i on.
He was hol di ng her hal f - st r et ched acr oss t he bed, he was t ear i ng her
cl ot hes of f . whi l e her f ace was pr essed agai nst hi m, her mout h, movi ng down
t he l i ne of hi s neck, down hi s shoul der . She knew t hat ever y gest ur e of her
desi r e f or hi mst r uck hi ml i ke a bl ow, t hat t her e was some shudder of
i ncr edul ous anger wi t hi n hi myet t hat no gest ur e woul d sat i sf y hi s gr eed f or
ever y evi dence of her desi r e.
He st ood l ooki ng down at her naked body, he l eaned over , she hear d hi s
voi cei t was mor e a st at ement of cont empt uous t r i umph t han a quest i on: " You
want i t ?" Her answer was mor e a gasp t han a wor d, her eyes cl osed, her mout h
open: " Yes. "
She knew t hat what she f el t wi t h t he ski n of her ar ms was t he cl ot h of hi s
shi r t , she knew t hat t he l i ps she f el t on her mout h wer e hi s, but i n t he r est
of her t her e was no di st i nct i on bet ween hi s bei ng and her own, as t her e was
no di vi si on bet ween body and spi r i t . Thr ough al l t he st eps of t he year s
behi nd t hem, t he st eps down a cour se chosen i n t he cour age of a si ngl e
l oyal t y: t hei r l ove of exi st encechosen i n t he knowl edge t hat not hi ng wi l l be
gi ven, t hat one must make one' s own desi r e and ever y shape of i t s
f ul f i l l ment t hr ough t he st eps of shapi ng met al , r ai l s and mot or st hey had
moved by t he power of t he t hought t hat one r emakes t he ear t h f or one' s
enj oyment , t hat man' s spi r i t gi ves meani ng t o i nsent i ent mat t er by mol di ng i t
t o ser ve one' s chosen goal . The cour se l ed t hemt o t he moment when, i n answer
t o t he hi ghest of one' s val ues, i n an admi r at i on not t o be expr essed by any
ot her f or mof t r i but e, one' s spi r i t makes one' s body become t he t r i but e,
r ecast i ng i t as pr oof , as sanct i on, as r ewar di nt o a si ngl e sensat i on of such
i nt ensi t y of j oy t hat no ot her sanct i on of one' s exi st ence i s necessar y. He
hear d t he moan of her br eat h, she f el t t he shudder of hi s body, i n t he same
i nst ant .
CHAPTER IX
THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE

She l ooked at t he gl owi ng bands on t he ski n of her ar m, spaced l i ke
br acel et s f r omher wr i st t o her shoul der . They wer e st r i ps of sunl i ght f r om
t he Venet i an bl i nds on t he wi ndow of an unf ami l i ar r oom. She saw a br ui se
above her el bow, wi t h dar k beads t hat had been bl ood. Her ar ml ay on t he
bl anket t hat cover ed her body. She was awar e of her l egs and hi ps, but t he
r est of her body was onl y a sense of l i ght ness, as i f i t wer e st r et ched
r est f ul l y acr oss t he ai r i n a pl ace t hat l ooked l i ke a cage made of sunr ays.
Tur ni ng t o l ook at hi m, she t hought : Fr omhi s al oof ness, f r omhi s manner
of gl ass- encl osed f or mal i t y, f r omhi s pr i de i n never bei ng made t o f eel
anyt hi ngt o t hi s, t o Hank Rear den i n bed besi de her , af t er hour s of a
vi ol ence whi ch t hey coul d not name now, not i n wor ds or i n dayl i ght but whi ch
was i n t hei r eyes, as t hey l ooked at each ot her , whi ch t hey want ed t o name,
t o st r ess, t o t hr ow at each ot her ' s f ace.
He saw t he f ace of a young gi r l , her l i ps suggest i ng a smi l e, as i f her
nat ur al st at e of r el axat i on wer e a st at e of r adi ance, a l ock of hai r f al l i ng
acr oss her cheek t o t he cur ve of a naked shoul der , her eyes l ooki ng at hi mas
i f she wer e r eady t o accept anyt hi ng he mi ght wi sh t o say, as she had been
r eady t o accept anyt hi ng he had wi shed t o do.
He r eached over and moved t he l ock of hai r f r omher cheek, caut i ousl y, as
i f i t wer e f r agi l e. He hel d i t back wi t h hi s f i nger t i ps and l ooked at her
f ace. Then hi s f i nger s cl osed suddenl y i n her hai r and he r ai sed t he l ock t o
hi s l i ps. The way he pr essed hi s mout h t o i t was t ender ness, but t he way hi s
f i nger s hel d i t was despai r .
He dr opped back on t he pi l l ow and l ay st i l l , hi s eyes cl osed. Hi s f ace
seemed young, at peace. Seei ng i t f or a moment wi t hout t he r ei ns of t ensi on,
she r eal i zed suddenl y t he ext ent of t he unhappi ness he had bor ne; but i t ' s
past now, she t hought , i t ' s over .
He got up, not l ooki ng at her . Hi s f ace was bl ank and cl osed agai n.
He pi cked up hi s cl ot hes f r omt he f l oor and pr oceeded t o dr ess, st andi ng
i n t he mi ddl e of t he r oom, hal f - t ur ned away f r omher . He act ed, not as i f she
wasn' t pr esent , but as i f i t di d not mat t er t hat she was. Hi s movement s, as
he but t oned hi s shi r t , as he buckl ed t he bel t of hi s sl acks, had t he r api d
pr eci si on of per f or mi ng a dut y.
She l ay back on t he pi l l ow, wat chi ng hi m, enj oyi ng t he si ght of hi s f i gur e
i n mot i on. She l i ked t he gr ay sl acks and shi r t t he exper t mechani c of t he
J ohn Gal t Li ne, she t hought , i n t he st r i pes of sunl i ght and shadow, l i ke a
convi ct behi nd bar s. But t hey wer e not bar s any l onger , t hey wer e t he cr acks
of a wal l whi ch t he J ohn Gal t Li ne had br oken, t he advance not i ce of what
awai t ed t hemout si de, beyond t he Venet i an bl i ndsshe t hought of t he t r i p
back, on t he new r ai l , wi t h t he f i r st t r ai n f r omWyat t J unct i ont he t r i p back
t o her of f i ce i n t he Taggar t Bui l di ng and t o al l t he t hi ngs now open f or her
t o wi nbut she was f r ee t o l et i t wai t , she di d not want t o t hi nk of i t , she
was t hi nki ng of t he f i r st t ouch of hi s mout h on her sshe was f r ee t o f eel i t ,
t o hol d a moment when not hi ng el se was of any concer nshe smi l ed def i ant l y at
t he st r i ps of sky beyond t he bl i nds.
" I want you t o know t hi s. "
He st ood by t he bed, dr essed, l ooki ng down at her . Hi s voi ce had
pr onounced i t evenl y, wi t h gr eat cl ar i t y and no i nf l ect i on. She l ooked up at
hi mobedi ent l y. He sai d: " What I f eel f or you i s cont empt . But i t ' s not hi ng,
compar ed t o t he cont empt I f eel f or mysel f . I don' t l ove you. I ' ve never
l oved anyone.
I want ed you f r omt he f i r st moment I saw you. I want ed you as one want s a
whor ef or t he same r eason and pur pose. I spent t wo year s damni ng mysel f ,
because I t hought you wer e above a desi r e of t hi s ki nd.
You' r e not . You' r e as vi l e an ani mal as I am. I shoul d l oat he my
di scover i ng i t . I don' t . Yest er day, I woul d have ki l l ed anyone who' d t el l me
t hat you wer e capabl e of doi ng what I ' ve had you do. Today, I woul d gi ve my
l i f e not t o l et i t be ot her wi se, not t o have you be anyt hi ng but t he bi t ch
you ar e. Al l t he gr eat ness t hat I saw i n youI woul d not t ake i t i n exchange
f or t he obsceni t y of your t al ent at an ani mal ' s sensat i on of pl easur e. We
wer e t wo gr eat bei ngs, you and I , pr oud of our st r engt h, wer en' t we? Wel l ,
t hi s i s al l t hat ' s l ef t of usand I want no sel f - decept i on about i t . "
He spoke sl owl y, as i f l ashi ng hi msel f wi t h hi s wor ds. Ther e was no sound
of emot i on i n hi s voi ce, onl y t he l i f el ess pul l of ef f or t ; i t was not t he
t one of a man' s wi l l i ngness t o speak, but t he ugl y, t or t ur ed sound of dut y.
" I hel d i t as my honor t hat I woul d never need anyone. I need you.
I t had been my pr i de t hat I had al ways act ed on my convi ct i ons. I ' ve gi ven
i n t o a desi r e whi ch I despi se. I t i s a desi r e t hat has r educed my mi nd, my
wi l l , my bei ng, my power t o exi st i nt o an abj ect dependence upon younot even
upon t he Dagny Taggar t whomI admi r edbut upon your body, your hands, your
mout h and t he f ew seconds of a convul si on of your muscl es. I had never br oken
my wor d. Now I ' ve br oken an oat h I gave f or l i f e. I had never commi t t ed an
act t hat had t o be hi dden. Now I amt o l i e, t o sneak, t o hi de. What ever I
want ed, I was f r ee t o pr ocl ai mi t al oud and achi eve i t i n t he si ght of t he
whol e wor l d.
Now my onl y desi r e i s one I l oat he t o name even t o mysel f . But i t i s my
onl y desi r e. I ' mgoi ng t o have youI ' d gi ve up ever yt hi ng I own f or i t , t he
mi l l s, t he Met al , t he achi evement of my whol e l i f e. I ' mgoi ng t o have you at
t he pr i ce of mor e t han mysel f : at t he pr i ce of my sel f est eemand I want you
t o know i t . I want no pr et ense, no evasi on, no si l ent i ndul gence, wi t h t he
nat ur e of our act i ons l ef t unnamed. I want no pr et ense about l ove, val ue,
l oyal t y or r espect . I want no shr ed of honor l ef t t o us, t o hi de behi nd. I ' ve
never begged f or mer cy. I ' ve chosen t o do t hi sand I ' l l t ake al l t he
consequences, i ncl udi ng t he f ul l r ecogni t i on of my choi ce. I t ' s depr avi t yand
I accept i t as suchand t her e i s no hei ght of vi r t ue t hat I woul dn' t gi ve up
f or i t . Now i f you wi sh t o sl ap my f ace, go ahead. I wi sh you woul d. "
She had l i st ened, si t t i ng up st r ai ght , hol di ng t he bl anket cl ut ched at her
t hr oat t o cover her body. At f i r st , he had seen her eyes gr owi ng dar k wi t h
i ncr edul ous shock. Then i t seemed t o hi mt hat she was l i st eni ng wi t h gr eat er
at t ent i veness, but seei ng mor e t han hi s f ace, even t hough her eyes wer e f i xed
on hi s. She l ooked as i f she wer e st udyi ng i nt ent l y some r evel at i on t hat had
never conf r ont ed her bef or e. He f el t as i f some r ay of l i ght wer e gr owi ng
st r onger on hi s f ace, because he saw i t s r ef l ect i on on her s, as she wat ched
hi mhe saw t he shock vani shi ng, t hen t he wonder he saw her f ace bei ng
smoot hed i nt o a st r ange ser eni t y t hat seemed qui et and gl i t t er i ng at once.
When he st opped, she bur st out l aughi ng.
The shock t o hi mwas t hat he hear d no anger i n her l aught er . She l aughed
si mpl y, easi l y, i n j oyous amusement , i n r el ease, not as one l aughs at t he
sol ut i on of a pr obl em, but at t he di scover y t hat no pr obl emhad ever exi st ed.
She t hr ew t he bl anket of f wi t h a st r essed, del i ber at e sweep of her ar m.
She st ood up. She saw her cl ot hes on t he f l oor and ki cked t hemasi de.
She st ood f aci ng hi m, naked. She sai d: " I want you, Hank. I ' mmuch mor e of
an ani mal t han you t hi nk. I want ed you f r omt he f i r st moment I saw youand
t he onl y t hi ng I ' mashamed of i s t hat I di d not know i t . I di d not know why,
f or t wo year s, t he br i ght est moment s I f ound wer e t he ones i n your of f i ce,
wher e I coul d l i f t my head t o l ook up at you. I di d not know t he nat ur e of
what I f el t i n your pr esence, nor t he r eason. I know i t now. That i s al l I
want , Hank. I want you i n my bedand you ar e f r ee of me f or al l t he r est of
your t i me. Ther e' s not hi ng you' l l have t o pr et enddon' t t hi nk of me, don' t
f eel , don' t car eI do not want your mi nd, your wi l l , your bei ng or your soul ,
so l ong as i t ' s t o me t hat you wi l l come f or t hat l owest one of your desi r es.
I aman ani mal who want s not hi ng but t hat sensat i on of pl easur e whi ch you
despi se- - but I want i t f r omyou. You' d gi ve up any hei ght of vi r t ue f or i t ,
whi l e I I haven' t any t o gi ve up. Ther e' s none I seek or wi sh t o r each. I am
so l ow t hat I woul d exchange t he gr eat est si ght of beaut y i n t he wor l d f or
t he si ght of your f i gur e i n t he cab of a r ai l r oad engi ne. And seei ng i t , I
woul d not be abl e t o see i t i ndi f f er ent l y. You don' t have t o f ear t hat you' r e
now dependent upon me. I t ' s I who wi l l depend on any whi mof your s. You l l
have me any t i me you wi sh, anywher e, on any. t er ms. Di d you cal l i t t he
obsceni t y of my t al ent ? I t ' s such t hat i t gi ves you a saf er hol d on me t han
on any ot her pr oper t y you own. You may di spose of me as you pl easeI ' mnot
af r ai d t o admi t i t L have not hi ng t o pr ot ect f r omyou and not hi ng t o r eser ve.
You t hi nk t hat t hi s i s a t hr eat t o your achi evement , but i t i s not t o mi ne. I
wi l l si t at my desk, and wor k, and when t he t hi ngs ar ound me get har d t o
bear , I wi l l t hi nk t hat f or my r ewar d I wi l l be i n your bed t hat ni ght . Di d
you cal l i t depr avi t y? I ammuch mor e depr aved t han you ar e: you hol d i t as
your gui l t , and I as my pr i de. I ' mmor e pr oud of i t t han of anyt hi ng I ' ve
done, mor e pr oud t han of bui l di ng t he Li ne.
I f I ' masked t o name my pr oudest at t ai nment , I wi l l say: I have sl ept wi t h
Hank Rear den. I had ear ned i t . ' 1
When he t hr ew her down on t he bed, t hei r bodi es met l i ke t he t wo sounds
t hat br oke agai nst each ot her i n t he ai r of t he r oom: t he sound of hi s
t or t ur ed moan and of her l aught er .
The r ai n was i nvi si bl e i n t he dar kness of t he st r eet s, but i t hung l i ke
t he spar kl i ng f r i nge of a l ampshade under t he cor ner l i ght . Fumbl i ng i n hi s
pocket s, J ames Taggar t di scover ed t hat he had l ost hi s handker chi ef .
He swor e hal f - al oud, wi t h r esent f ul mal i ce, as i f t he l oss, t he r ai n and
hi s head col d wer e someone' s per sonal conspi r acy agai nst hi m.
Ther e was a t hi n gr uel of mud on t he pavement s; he f el t a gl uey suct i on
under hi s shoe sol es and a chi l l sl i ppi ng down past hi s col l ar . He di d not
want t o wal k or t o st op. He had no pl ace t o go.
Leavi ng hi s of f i ce, af t er t he meet i ng of t he Boar d of Di r ect or s, he had
r eal i zed suddenl y t hat t her e wer e no ot her appoi nt ment s, t hat he had a l ong
eveni ng ahead and no one t o hel p hi mki l l i t . The f r ont pages of t he
newspaper s wer e scr eami ng of t he t r i umph of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, as t he r adi os
had scr eamed i t yest er day and al l t hr ough t he ni ght . The name of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al was st r et ched i n headl i nes acr oss t he cont i nent , l i ke i t s
t r ack, and he had smi l ed i n answer t o t he congr at ul at i ons. He had smi l ed,
seat ed at t he bead of t he l ong t abl e, at t he Boar d meet i ng, whi l e t he
Di r ect or s spoke about t he soar i ng r i se of t he Taggar t st ock on t he Exchange,
whi l e t hey caut i ousl y asked t o see hi s wr i t t en agr eement wi t h hi s si st er j ust
i n case, t hey sai dand comment ed t hat i t was f i ne, i t was hol e pr oof , t her e
was no doubt but t hat she woul d have t o t ur n t he Li ne over t o Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al at once, t hey spoke about t hei r br i l l i ant f ut ur e and t he
debt of gr at i t ude whi ch t he company owed t o J ames Taggar t .
He had sat t hr ough t he meet i ng, wi shi ng i t wer e over wi t h, so t hat he
coul d go home. Then he had st epped out i nt o t he st r eet and r eal i zed t hat home
was t he one pl ace wher e he dar ed not go t oni ght . He coul d not be al one, not
i n t he next f ew hour s, yet t her e was nobody t o cal l .
He di d not want t o see peopl e. He kept seei ng t he eyes of t he men of t he
Boar d when t hey spoke about hi s gr eat ness: a sl y, f i l my l ook t hat hel d
cont empt f or hi mand, mor e t er r i f yi ngl y, f or t hemsel ves.
He wal ked, head down, a needl e of r ai n pr i cki ng t he ski n of hi s neck once
i n a whi l e. He l ooked away whenever he passed a newsst and. The paper s seemed
t o shr i ek at hi mt he name of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, and anot her name whi ch he
di d not want t o hear : Ragnar Danneskj ol d. A shi p bound f or t he Peopl e' s St at e
of Nor way wi t h an Emer gency Gi f t car go of machi ne t ool s had been sei zed by
Ragnar Danneskj ol d l ast ni ght . That st or y di st ur bed hi mi n some per sonal
manner whi ch he coul d not expl ai n. The f eel i ng seemed t o have some qual i t y i n
common wi t h t he t hi ngs he f el t about t he J ohn Gal t Li ne.
I t ' s because he had a col d, he t hought ; he woul dn' t f eel t hi s way i f he
di dn' t have a col d; a man coul dn' t be expect ed t o be i n t op f or mwhen he had
a col dhe coul dn' t hel p i t what di d t hey expect hi mt o do t oni ght , si ng and
dance?he snapped t he quest i on angr i l y at t he unknown j udges of hi s
unwi t nessed mood. He f umbl ed f or hi s handker chi ef agai n, cur sed and deci ded
t hat he' d bet t er st op somewher e t o buy some paper t i ssues.
Acr oss t he squar e of what had once been a busy nei ghbor hood, he saw t he
l i ght ed wi ndows of a di me st or e, st i l l open hopef ul l y at t hi s l at e hour .
Ther e' s anot her one t hat wi l l go out of busi ness pr et t y soon, he t hought as
he cr ossed t he squar e; t he t hought gave hi mpl easur e.
Ther e wer e gl ar i ng l i ght s i nsi de, a f ew t i r ed sal esgi r l s among a spr ead of
deser t ed count er s, and t he scr eami ng of a phonogr aph r ecor d bei ng pl ayed f or
a l one, l i st l ess cust omer i n a cor ner . The musi c swal l owed t he shar p edges of
Taggar t ' s voi ce: he asked f or paper t i ssues i n a t one whi ch i mpl i ed t hat t he
sal esgi r l was r esponsi bl e f or hi s col d. The gi r l t ur ned t o t he count er behi nd
her , but t ur ned back once t o gl ance swi f t l y at hi s f ace. She t ook a packet ,
but st opped, hesi t at i ng, st udyi ng hi mwi t h pecul i ar cur i osi t y.
" Ar e you J ames Taggar t ?" she asked.
" Yes! " he snapped. " Why?"
" Oh! "
She gasped l i ke a chi l d at a bur st of f i r ecr acker s; she was l ooki ng at hi m
wi t h a gl ance whi ch he had t hought t o be r eser ved onl y f or movi e st ar s.
" I saw your pi ct ur e i n t he paper t hi s mor ni ng, Mr . Taggar t , " she sai d ver y
r api dl y, a f ai nt f l ush appear i ng on her f ace and vani shi ng. " I t sai d what a
gr eat achi evement i t was and how i t was r eal l y you who had done i t al l , onl y
you di dn' t want i t t o be known. "
" Oh, " sai d Taggar t . He was smi l i ng.
" You l ook j ust l i ke your pi ct ur e, " she sai d i n i mmense ast oni shment , and
added, " I magi ne you wal ki ng i n her e l i ke t hi s, i n per son! "
" Shoul dn' t I ?" Hi s t one was amused.
" I mean, ever ybody' s t al ki ng about i t , t he whol e count r y, and you' r e t he
man who di d i t and her e you ar e! I ' ve never seen an i mpor t ant per son bef or e.
I ' ve never been so cl ose t o anyt hi ng i mpor t ant , I mean t o any newspaper
news. "
He had never had t he exper i ence of seei ng hi s pr esence gi ve col or t o a
pl ace he ent er ed: t he gi r l l ooked as i f she was not t i r ed any l onger , as i f
t he di me st or e had become a scene of dr ama and wonder .
" Mr . Taggar t , i s i t t r ue, what t hey sai d about you i n t he paper ?"
" What di d t hey say?"
" About your secr et . "
" What secr et ?"
" Wel l , t hey sai d t hat when ever ybody was f i ght i ng about your br i dge,
whet her i t woul d st and or not , you di dn' t ar gue wi t h t hem, you j ust went
ahead, because you knew i t woul d st and, when nobody el se was sur e of i t so
t he Li ne was a Taggar t pr oj ect and you wer e t he gui di ng spi r i t behi nd t he
scenes, but you kept i t secr et , because you di dn' t car e whet her you got
cr edi t f or i t or not . "
He had seen t he mi meogr aphed r el ease of hi s Publ i c Rel at i ons Depar t ment .
" Yes, " he sai d, " i t ' s t r ue. " The way she l ooked at hi mmade hi mf eel as i f i t
wer e.
" I t was wonder f ul of you, Mr . Taggar t . "
" Do you al ways r emember what you r ead i n t he newspaper s, so wel l , i n such
det ai l ?"
" Why, yes, I guess soal l t he i nt er est i ng t hi ngs. The bi g t hi ngs. I l i ke
t o r ead about t hem. Not hi ng bi g ever happens t o me. "
She sai d i t gai l y, wi t hout sel f - pi t y. Ther e was a young, det er mi ned
br usqueness i n her voi ce and movement s. She had a head of r eddi sh br own
cur l s, wi de- set eyes, a f ew f r eckl es on t he br i dge of an upt ur ned nose. He
t hought t hat one woul d cal l her f ace at t r act i ve i f one ever not i ced i t , but
t her e was no par t i cul ar r eason t o not i ce i t . I t was a common l i t t l e f ace,
except f or a l ook of al er t ness, of eager i nt er est , a l ook t hat expect ed t he
wor l d t o cont ai n an exci t i ng secr et behi nd ever y cor ner .
" Mr . Taggar t , how does i t f eel t o be a gr eat man?"
" How does i t f eel t o be a l i t t l e gi r l ?"
She l aughed. " Why, wonder f ul . "
" Then you' r e bet t er of f t han I am. "
" Oh, how can you say such a"
" Maybe you' r e l ucky i f you don' t have anyt hi ng t o do wi t h t he bi g event s
i n t he newspaper s. Bi g. What do you cal l bi g, anyway?"
" Why . . . i mpor t ant . "
" What ' s i mpor t ant ?"
" You' r e t he one who ought t o t el l me t hat , Mr . Taggar t . "
" Not hi ng' s i mpor t ant . "
She l ooked at hi mi ncr edul ousl y. " You, of al l peopl e, sayi ng t hat t oni ght
of al l ni ght s! "
" 1 don' t f eel wonder f ul at al l , i f t hat ' s what you want t o know. I ' ve
never f el t l ess wonder f ul i n my l i f e. "
He was ast oni shed t o see her st udyi ng hi s f ace wi t h a l ook of concer n such
as no one had ever gr ant ed hi m. " You' r e wor n out , Mr . Taggar t , "
she sai d ear nest l y. " Tel l t hemt o go t o hel l . "
" Whom?"
" Whoever ' s get t i ng you down. I t i sn' t r i ght , "
" What i sn' t ?"
" That you shoul d f eel t hi s way. You' ve had a t ough t i me, but you' ve l i cked
t hemal l , so you ought t o enj oy your sel f now. You' ve ear ned i t . "
" And how do you pr opose t hat I enj oy mysel f ?"
" Oh, I don' t know. But I t hought you' d be havi ng a cel ebr at i on t oni ght , a
par t y wi t h al l t he bi g shot s, and champagne, and t hi ngs gi ven t o you, l i ke
keys t o ci t i es, a r eal swank par t y l i ke t hat i nst ead of wal ki ng ar ound al l by
your sel f , shoppi ng f or paper handker chi ef s, of al l f ool t hi ngs! "
" You gi ve me t hose handker chi ef s, bef or e you f or get t hemal t oget her , " he
sai d, handi ng her a di me. " And as t o t he swank par t y, di d i t occur t o you
t hat I mi ght not want t o see anybody t oni ght ?"
She consi der ed i t ear nest l y. " No, " she sai d, " I hadn' t t hought of i t .
But I can see why you woul dn' t . "
" Why?" I t was a quest i on t o whi ch he bad no answer .
" Nobody' s r eal l y good enough f or you, Mr . Taggar t , " she answer ed ver y
si mpl y, not as f l at t er y, but as a mat t er of f act .
" I s t hat what you t hi nk?"
" I don' t t hi nk I l i ke peopl e ver y much, Mr . Taggar t . Not most of t hem. "
" I don' t ei t her . Not any of t hem. "
" I t hought a man l i ke youyou woul dn' t know how mean t hey can be and how
t hey t r y t o st ep on you and r i de on your back, i f you l et t hem. I t hought t he
bi g men i n t he wor l d coul d get away f r omt hemand not have t o be f l ea- bai t
al l of t he t i me, but maybe I was wr ong. "
" What do you mean, f l ea- bai t ?"
" Oh, i t ' s j ust somet hi ng I t el l mysel f when t hi ngs get t ought hat I ' ve got
t o beat my way out t o wher e I won' t f eel l i ke I ' mf l ea- bi t t en al l t he t i me by
al l ki nds of l ousi nessbut maybe i t ' s t he same anywher e, onl y t he f l eas get
bi gger . "
" Much bi gger . "
She r emai ned si l ent , as i f consi der i ng somet hi ng. " I t ' s f unny, " she sai d
sadl y t o some t hought of her own.
" What ' s f unny?"
" I r ead a book once wher e i t sai d t hat gr eat men ar e al ways unhappy, and
t he gr eat er t he unhappi er . I t di dn' t make sense t o me. But maybe i t ' s t r ue. "
" I t ' s much t r uer t han you t hi nk. "
She l ooked away, her f ace di st ur bed.
" Why do you wor r y so much about t he gr eat men?" he asked. " What ar e you, a
her o wor shi pper of some ki nd?"
She t ur ned t o l ook at hi mand he saw t he l i ght of an i nner smi l e, whi l e
her f ace r emai ned sol emnl y gr ave; i t was t he most el oquent l y per sonal gl ance
he had ever seen di r ect ed at hi msel f , whi l e she answer ed i n a qui et ,
i mper sonal voi ce, " Mr . Taggar t , what el se i s t her e t o l ook up t o?"
A scr eechi ng sound, nei t her qui t e bel l nor buzzer , r ang out suddenl y and
went on r i ngi ng wi t h ner ve- gr at i ng i nsi st ence.
She j er ked her head, as i f awakeni ng at t he scr eamof an al ar mcl ock, t hen
si ghed. " That ' s cl osi ng t i me, Mr . Taggar t , " she sai d r egr et f ul l y.
" Go get your hat I ' l l wai t f or you out si de, " he sai d.
She st ar ed at hi m, as i f among al l of l i f e' s possi bi l i t i es t hi s was one
she had never hel d as concei vabl e.
" No ki ddi ng?" she whi sper ed.
" No ki ddi ng. "
She whi r l ed ar ound and r an l i ke a st r eak t o t he door of t he empl oyees1
quar t er s, f or get t i ng her count er , her dut i es and al l f emi ni ne concer n
about never showi ng eager ness i n accept i ng a man' s i nvi t at i on.
He st ood l ooki ng af t er her f or a moment , hi s eyes nar r owed. He di d not
name t o hi msel f t he nat ur e of hi s own f eel i ngnever t o i dent i f y hi s emot i ons
was t he onl y st eadf ast r ul e of hi s l i f e; he mer el y f el t i t and t hi s
par t i cul ar f eel i ng was pl easur abl e, whi ch was t he onl y i dent i f i cat i on he
car ed t o know. But t he f eel i ng was t he pr oduct of a t hought he woul d not
ut t er . He had of t en met gi r l s of t he l ower cl asses, who had put on a br ash
l i t t l e act , pr et endi ng t o l ook up t o hi m, spi l l i ng cr ude f l at t er y f or an
obvi ous pur pose; he had nei t her l i ked nor r esent ed t hem; he had f ound a bor ed
amusement i n t hei r company and he had gr ant ed t hemt he st at us of hi s equal s
i n a game he consi der ed nat ur al t o bot h pl ayer s i nvol ved. Thi s gi r l was
di f f er ent . The unut t er ed wor ds i n hi s mi nd wer e: The damn l i t t l e f ool means
i t .
That he wai t ed f or her i mpat i ent l y, when he st ood i n t he r ai n on t he
si dewal k, t hat she was t he one per son he needed t oni ght , di d not di st ur b hi m
or st r i ke hi mas a cont r adi ct i on. He di d not name t he nat ur e of hi s need. The
unnamed and t he unut t er ed coul d not cl ash i nt o a cont r adi ct i on.
When she came out , he not ed t he pecul i ar combi nat i on of her shyness and of
her head hel d hi gh. She wor e an ugl y r ai ncoat , made wor se by a gob of cheap
j ewel r y on t he l apel , and a smal l hat of pl ush f l ower s pl ant ed def i ant l y
among her cur l s. St r angel y, t he l i f t of her head made t he appar el seem
at t r act i ve; i t st r essed how wel l she wor e even t he t hi ngs she wor e.
" Want t o come t o my pl ace and have a dr i nk wi t h me?" he asked.
She nodded si l ent l y, sol emnl y, as i f not t r ust i ng her sel f t o f i nd t he
r i ght wor ds of accept ance. Then she sai d, not l ooki ng at hi m, as i f st at i ng
i t t o her sel f , " You di dn' t want t o see anybody t oni ght , but you want o see
me. . . " He had never hear d so sol emn a t one of pr i de i n anyone' s voi ce.
She was si l ent , when she sat besi de hi mi n t he t axi cab. She l ooked up at
t he skyscr aper s t hey passed. Af t er a whi l e, she sai d, " I hear d t hat t hi ngs
l i ke t hi s happened i n New Yor k, but I never t hought t hey' d happen t o me. "
" Wher e do you come f r om?"
" Buf f al o. "
" Got any f ami l y?"
She hesi t at ed. " I guess so. I n Buf f al o. "
" What do you mean, you guess so?"
" I wal ked out on t hem. "
" Why?"
" I t hought t hat i f I ever was t o amount t o anyt hi ng, I had t o get away
f r omt hem, cl ean away. "
" Why? What happened?"
" Not hi ng happened. And not hi ng was ever goi ng t o happen. That ' s what I
coul dn' t st and. "
" What do you mean?"
" Wel l , t hey . . . wel l , I guess I ought t o t el l you t he t r ut h, Mr .
Taggar t . My ol d man' s never been any good, and Ma di dn' t car e whet her he was
or not , and I got si ck of i t al ways t ur ni ng out t hat I was t he onl y one of
t he seven of us t hat kept a j ob, and t he r est of t hemal ways bei ng out of
l uck, one way or anot her . I t hought i f I di dn' t get out , i t woul d get meI ' d
r ot al l t he way t hr ough, l i ke t he r est of t hem. So I bought a r ai l r oad t i cket
one day and l ef t . Di dn' t say good- bye. They di dn' t even know I was goi ng. "
She gave a sof t , st ar t l ed l i t t l e l augh at a sudden t hought . " Mr . Taggar t , "
she sai d, " i t was a Taggar t t r ai n. "
" When di d you come her e?"
" Si x mont hs ago. "
" And you' r e al l al one?"
" Yes, " she sai d happi l y.
" What was i t you want ed t o do?"
" Wel l , you knowmake somet hi ng of mysel f , get somewher e. "
" Wher e?"
" Oh, I don' t know, but . . . but peopl e do t hi ngs i n t he wor l d. 1
saw pi ct ur es of New Yor k and I t hought " she poi nt ed at t he gi ant bui l di ngs
beyond t he st r eaks of r ai n on t he cab wi ndow" I t hought , somebody bui l t t hose
bui l di ngshe di dn' t j ust si t and whi ne t hat t he ki t chen was f i l t hy and t he
r oof l eaki ng and t he pl umbi ng cl ogged and i t ' s a goddamn wor l d and . . . Mr .
Taggar t " she j er ked her head i n a shudder and l ooked st r ai ght at hi m" we wer e
st i nki ng poor and not gi vi ng a damn about i t . That ' s what I coul dn' t t ake
t hat t hey di dn' t r eal l y gi ve a damn. Not enough t o l i f t a f i nger . Not enough
t o empt y t he gar bage pai l . And t he woman next door sayi ng i t was my dut y t o
hel p t hem, sayi ng i t made no di f f er ence what became of me or of her or of any
of us, because what coul d anybody do anyway! " Beyond t he br i ght l ook of her
eyes, he saw somet hi ng wi t hi n her t hat was hur t and har d.
" I don' t want t o t al k about t hem, " she sai d. " Not wi t h you. Thi smy
meet i ng you, I meant hat ' s what t hey coul dn' t have. That ' s what I ' mnot goi ng
t o shar e wi t h t hem. I t ' s mi ne, not t hei r s. "
" How ol d ar e you?" he asked.
" Ni net een. "
When he l ooked at her i n t he l i ght s of hi s l i vi ng r oom, he t hought t hat
she' d have a good f i gur e i f she' d eat a f ew meal s; she seemed t oo t hi n f or
t he hei ght and st r uct ur e of her bones. She wor e a t i ght , shabby l i t t l e bl ack
dr ess, whi ch she had t r i ed t o camouf l age by t he gaudy pl ast i c br acel et s
t i nkl i ng on her wr i st . She st ood l ooki ng at hi s r oomas i f i t wer e a museum
wher e she must t ouch not hi ng and r ever ent l y memor i ze ever yt hi ng.
" What ' s your name?" he asked.
" Cher r yl Br ooks. "
" Wel l , si t down. "
He mi xed t he dr i nks i n si l ence, whi l e she wai t ed obedi ent l y, si t t i ng on
t he edge of an ar mchai r . When he handed her a gl ass, she swal l owed dut i f ul l y
a f ew t i mes, t hen hel d t he gl ass cl ut ched i n her hand. He knew t hat she di d
not t ast e what she was dr i nki ng, di d not not i ce i t , had no t i me t o car e.
He t ook a gul p of hi s dr i nk and put t he gl ass down wi t h i r r i t at i on: he di d
not f eel l i ke dr i nki ng, ei t her . He paced t he r oomsul l enl y, knowi ng t hat her
eyes f ol l owed hi m, enj oyi ng t he knowl edge, enj oyi ng t he sense of t r emendous
si gni f i cance whi ch hi s movement s, hi s cuf f l i nks, hi s shoel aces, hi s
l ampshades and asht r ays acqui r ed i n t hat gent l e, unquest i oni ng gl ance.
" Mr . Taggar t , what i s i t t hat makes you so unhappy?"
" Why shoul d you car e whet her I amor not ?"
" Because . . . wel l , i f you haven' t t he r i ght t o be happy and pr oud, who
has?"
" That ' s what I want t o knowwho has?" He t ur ned t o her abr upt l y, t he wor ds
expl odi ng as i f a saf et y f use had bl own. " He di dn' t i nvent i r on or e and bl ast
f ur naces, di d he?"
" Who?"
" Rear den. He di dn' t i nvent smel t i ng and chemi st r y and ai r compr essi on. He
coul dn' t have i nvent ed hi s Met al but f or t housands and t housands of ot her
peopl e. Hi s Met al ! Why does he t hi nk i t ' s hi s? Why does he t hi nk i t ' s hi s
i nvent i on? Ever ybody uses t he wor k of ever ybody el se.
Nobody ever i nvent s anyt hi ng. "
She sai d, puzzl ed, " But t he i r on or e and al l t hose ot her t hi ngs wer e t her e
al l t he t i me. Why di dn' t anybody el se make t hat Met al , but Mr .
Rear den di d?"
" He di dn' t do i t f or any nobl e pur pose, he di d i t j ust f or hi s own pr of i t ,
he' s never done anyt hi ng f or any ot her r eason. "
" What ' s wr ong wi t h t hat , Mr . Taggar t ?" Then she l aughed sof t l y, as i f at
t he sudden sol ut i on of a r i ddl e. " That ' s nonsense, Mr . Taggar t . You don' t
mean i t . You know t hat Mr . Rear den has ear ned al l hi s pr of i t s, and so have
you. You' r e sayi ng t hose t hi ngs j ust t o be modest , when ever ybody knows what
a gr eat j ob you peopl e have doneyou and Mr . Rear den and your si st er , who
must be such a wonder f ul per son! "
" Yeah? That ' s what you t hi nk. She' s a har d, i nsensi t i ve woman who spends
her l i f e bui l di ng t r acks and br i dges, not f or any gr eat i deal , but onl y
because t hat ' s what she enj oys doi ng. I f she enj oys i t , what i s t her e t o
admi r e about her doi ng i t ? I ' mnot so sur e i t was gr eat bui l di ng t hat Li ne
f or al l t hose pr osper ous i ndust r i al i st s i n Col or ado, when t her e ar e so many
poor peopl e i n bl i ght ed ar eas who need t r anspor t at i on. "
" But , Mr . Taggar t , i t was you who f ought t o bui l d t hat Li ne. "
" Yes, because i t was my dut yt o t he company and t he st ockhol der s and our
empl oyees. But don' t expect me t o enj oy i t . I ' mnot so sur e i t was gr eat
i nvent i ng t hi s compl ex new Met al , when so many nat i ons ar e i n need of pl ai n
i r onwhy, do you know t hat t he Peopl e' s St at e of Chi na hasn' t even got enough
nai l s t o put wooden r oof s over peopl e' s heads?"
" But . . . but I don' t see t hat t hat ' s your f aul t . "
" Somebody shoul d at t end t o i t . Somebody wi t h t he vi si on t o see beyond hi s
own pocket book. No sensi t i ve per son t hese dayswhen t her e' s so much suf f er i ng
ar ound uswoul d devot e t en year s of hi s l i f e t o spl ashi ng about wi t h a l ot of
t r i ck met al s. You t hi nk i t ' s gr eat ? Wel l , i t ' s not any ki nd of super i or
abi l i t y, but j ust a hi de t hat you coul dn' t pi er ce i f you pour ed a t on of hi s
own st eel over hi s head! Ther e ar e many peopl e of much gr eat er abi l i t y i n t he
wor l d, but you don' t r ead about t hemi n t he headl i nes and you don' t r un t o
gape at t hemat gr ade cr ossi ngsbecause t hey can' t i nvent non- col l apsi bl e
br i dges at a t i me when t he suf f er i ng of manki nd wei ghs on t hei r spi r i t ! "
She was l ooki ng at hi msi l ent l y, r espect f ul l y, her j oyous eager ness t oned
down, her eyes subdued. He f el t bet t er .
He pi cked up hi s dr i nk, t ook a gul p, and chuckl ed abr upt l y at a sudden
r ecol l ect i on.
" I t was f unny, t hough, " he sai d, hi s t one easi er , l i vel i er , t he t one of a
conf i dence t o a pal . " You shoul d have seen Or r en Boyl e yest er day, when t he
f i r st f l ash came t hr ough on t he r adi o f r omWyat t J unct i on! He t ur ned gr een
but I mean, gr een, t he col or of a f i sh t hat ' s been l yi ng ar ound t oo l ong! Do
you know what he di d l ast ni ght , by way of t aki ng t he bad news? Hi r ed hi msel f
a sui t e at t he Val hal l a Hot el and you know what t hat i sand t he l ast I hear d,
he was st i l l t her e t oday, dr i nki ng hi msel f under t he t abl e and t he beds, wi t h
a f ew choi ce f r i ends of hi s and hal f t he f emal e popul at i on of upper Amst er dam
Avenue! "
" Who i s Mr . Boyl e?" she asked, st upef i ed.
" Oh, a f at sl ob t hat ' s i ncl i ned t o over r each hi msel f . A smar t guy who get s
t oo smar t at t i mes. You shoul d have seen hi s f ace yest er day! I got a ki ck out
of t hat . That and Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s. That smoot hy di dn' t l i ke i t a bi t , oh not
a bi t ! t he el egant Dr . Fer r i s of t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e, t he ser vant of
t he peopl e, wi t h t he pat ent - l eat her vocabul ar ybut he car r i ed i t of f pr et t y
wel l , I must say, onl y you coul d see hi msqui r mi ng i n ever y par agr aphI mean,
t hat i nt er vi ew he gave out t hi s mor ni ng, wher e he sai d, ' The count r y gave
Rear den t hat Met al , now we expect hi mt o gi ve t he count r y somet hi ng i n
r et ur n. ' That was pr et t y ni f t y, consi der i ng who' s been r i di ng on t he gr avy
t r ai n and . . . wel l , consi der i ng. That was bet t er t han Ber t r amScudder Mr .
Scudder coul dn' t t hi nk of anyt hi ng but ' No comment , ' when hi s f el l ow
gent l emen of t he pr ess asked hi mt o voi ce hi s sent i ment s. ' No comment ' f r om
Ber t r amScudder who' s never been known t o shut hi s t r ap f r omt he day he was
bor n, about anyt hi ng you ask hi mor don' t ask, Abyssi ni an poet r y or t he st at e
of t he l adi es' r est r ooms i n t he t ext i l e i ndust r y! And Dr . Pr i t chet t , t he ol d
f ool , i s goi ng ar ound sayi ng t hat he knows f or cer t ai n t hat Rear den di dn' t
i nvent t hat Met al because he was t ol d, by an unnamed r el i abl e sour ce, t hat
Rear den st ol e t he f or mul a f r oma penni l ess i nvent or whomhe mur der ed! "
He was chuckl i ng happi l y. She was l i st eni ng as t o a l ect ur e on hi gher
mat hemat i cs, gr aspi ng not hi ng, not even t he st yl e of t he l anguage, a st yl e
whi ch made t he myst er y gr eat er , because she was cer t ai n t hat i t di d not mean
comi ng f r omhi mwhat i t woul d have meant anywher e el se.
He r ef i l l ed hi s gl ass and dr ai ned i t , but hi s gai et y vani shed abr upt l y.
He sl umped i nt o an ar mchai r , f aci ng her , l ooki ng up at her f r omunder hi s
bal d f or ehead, hi s eyes bl ur r ed.
" She' s comi ng back t omor r ow, " he sai d, wi t h a sound l i ke a chuckl e devoi d
of amusement .
" Who?"
" My si st er . My dear si st er . Oh, she' l l t hi nk she' s gr eat , won' t she?"
" You di sl i ke your si st er , Mr . Taggar t ?" He made t he same sound; i t s
meani ng was so el oquent t hat she needed no ot her answer . " Why?" she asked.
" Because she t hi nks she' s so good. What r i ght has she t o t hi nk i t ?
What r i ght has anybody t o t hi nk he' s good? Nobody' s any good. "
" You don' t mean i t , Mr . Taggar t . "
" I mean, we' r e onl y human bei ngsand what ' s a human bei ng? A weak, ugl y,
si nf ul cr eat ur e, bor n t hat way, r ot t en i n hi s bonesso humi l i t y i s t he one
vi r t ue he ought t o pr act i ce. He ought t o spend hi s l i f e on hi s knees, beggi ng
t o be f or gi ven f or hi s di r t y exi st ence. When a man t hi nks he' s goodt hat ' s
when he' s r ot t en. Pr i de i s t he wor st of al l si ns, no mat t er what he' s done. "
" But i f a man knows t hat what he' s done i s good?"
" Then he ought t o apol ogi ze f or i t . "
" To whom?"
" To t hose who haven' t done i t . "
" I . . . I don' t under st and. "
" Of cour se you don' t . I t t akes year s and year s of st udy i n t he hi gher
r eaches of t he i nt el l ect . Have you ever hear d of The Met aphysi cal
Cont r adi ct i ons of t he Uni ver se, by Dr . Si mon Pr i t chet t ?" She shook her head,
f r i ght ened. " How do you know what ' s good, anyway? Who knows what ' s good? Who
can ever know? Ther e ar e no absol ut esas Dr .
Pr i t chet t has pr oved i r r ef ut abl y. Not hi ng i s absol ut e. Ever yt hi ng i s a
mat t er of opi ni on. How do you know t hat t hat br i dge hasn' t col l apsed?
You onl y t hi nk i t hasn' t . How do you know t hat t her e' s any br i dge at al l ?
You t hi nk t hat a syst emof phi l osophysuch as Dr . Pr i t chet t ' si s j ust
somet hi ng academi c, r emot e, i mpr act i cal ? But i t i sn' t . Oh, boy, how i t
i sn' t ! "
" But , Mr . Taggar t , t he Li ne you bui l t "
" Oh, what ' s t hat Li ne, anyway? I t ' s onl y a mat er i al achi evement , i s t hat
of any i mpor t ance? I s t her e any gr eat ness i n anyt hi ng mat er i al ?
Onl y a l ow ani mal can gape at t hat br i dgewhen t her e ar e so many hi gher
t hi ngs i n l i f e. But do t he hi gher t hi ngs ever get r ecogni t i on? Oh no! Look at
peopl e. Al l t hat hue and cr y and f r ont pages about some t r i ck ar r angement of
some scr aps of mat t er . Do t hey car e about any nobl er i ssue? Do t hey ever gi ve
f r ont pages t o a phenomenon of t he spi r i t ? Do t hey not i ce or appr eci at e a
per son of f i ner sensi bi l i t y? And you wonder whet her i t ' s t r ue t hat a gr eat
man i s doomed t o unhappi ness i n t hi s depr aved wor l d! " He l eaned f or war d,
st ar i ng at her i nt ent l y. " I ' l l t el l you . . . I ' l l t el l you somet hi ng . . .
unhappi ness i s t he hal l mar k of vi r t ue. I f a man i s unhappy, r eal l y, t r ul y
unhappy, i t means t hat he i s a super i or sor t of per son. "
He saw t he puzzl ed, anxi ous l ook of her f ace. " But , Mr . Taggar t , you got
ever yt hi ng you want ed. Now you have t he best r ai l r oad i n t he count r y, t he
newspaper s cal l you t he gr eat est busi ness execut i ve of t he age, t hey say t he
st ock of your company made a f or t une f or you over ni ght , you got ever yt hi ng
you coul d ask f or ar en' t you gl ad of i t ?"
I n t he br i ef space of hi s answer , she f el t f r i ght ened, sensi ng a sudden
f ear wi t hi n hi m. He answer ed, " No. "
She di dn' t know why her voi ce dr opped t o a whi sper . " You' d r at her t he
br i dge had col l apsed?"
" I haven' t sai d t hat ! " he snapped shar pl y. Then he shr ugged and waved hi s
hand i n a gest ur e of cont empt . " You don' t under st and. "
" I ' msor r y . . . Oh, I know t hat I have such an awf ul l ot t o l ear n! "
" I amt al ki ng about a hunger f or somet hi ng much beyond t hat br i dge.
A hunger t hat not hi ng mat er i al wi l l ever sat i sf y. "
" What , Mr . Taggar t ? What i s i t you want ?"
" Oh, t her e you go! The moment you ask, ' What i s i t ?' you' r e back i n t he
cr ude, mat er i al wor l d wher e ever yt hi ng' s got t o be t agged and measur ed. I ' m
speaki ng of t hi ngs t hat can' t be named i n mat er i al i st i c wor ds . . . t he
hi gher r eal ms of t he spi r i t , whi ch man can never r each. . . .
What ' s any human achi evement , anyway? The ear t h i s onl y an at omwhi r l i ng
i n t he uni ver seof what i mpor t ance i s t hat br i dge t o t he sol ar syst em?"
A sudden, happy l ook of under st andi ng cl ear ed her eyes. " I t ' s gr eat of
you, Mr . Taggar t , t o t hi nk t hat your own achi evement i sn' t good enough f or
you. I guess no mat t er how f ar you' ve gone, you want t o go st i l l f ar t her .
You' r e ambi t i ous. That ' s what I admi r e most : ambi t i on. I mean, doi ng t hi ngs,
not st oppi ng and gi vi ng up, but doi ng. I under st and, Mr . Taggar t . . . even
i f I don' t under st and al l t he bi g t hought s. "
" You' l l l ear n. "
" Oh, I ' l l wor k ver y har d t o l ear n! "
Her gl ance of admi r at i on had not changed. He wal ked acr oss t he r oom,
movi ng i n t hat gl ance as i n a gent l e spot l i ght . He went t o r ef i l l hi s gl ass.
A mi r r or hung i n t he ni che behi nd t he por t abl e bar . He caught a gl i mpse of
hi s own f i gur e: t he t al l body di st or t ed by a sl oppy, saggi ng post ur e, as i f
i n del i ber at e negat i on of human gr ace, t he t hi nni ng hai r , t he sof t , sul l en
mout h. I t st r uck hi msuddenl y t hat she di d not see hi mat al l : what she saw
was t he her oi c f i gur e of a bui l der , wi t h pr oudl y st r ai ght shoul der s and wi nd-
bl own hai r . He chuckl ed al oud, f eel i ng t hat t hi s was a good j oke on her ,
f eel i ng di ml y a sat i sf act i on t hat r esembl ed a sense of vi ct or y: t he
super i or i t y of havi ng put somet hi ng over on her .
Si ppi ng hi s dr i nk, he gl anced at t he door of hi s bedr oomand t hought of
t he usual endi ng f or an advent ur e of t hi s ki nd. He t hought t hat i t woul d be
easy: t he gi r l was t oo awed t o r esi st . He saw t he r eddi sh- br onze spar kl e of
her hai r as she sat , head bent , under a l i ght and a wedge of smoot h, gl owi ng
ski n on her shoul der . He l ooked away. Why bot her ?
he t hought .
The hi nt of desi r e t hat he f el t , was no mor e t han a sense of physi cal
di scomf or t . The shar pest i mpul se i n hi s mi nd, naggi ng hi mt o act i on, was not
t he t hought of t he gi r l , but of al l t he men who woul d not pass up an
oppor t uni t y of t hi s ki nd. He admi t t ed t o hi msel f t hat she was a much bet t er
per son t han Bet t y Pope, per haps t he best per son ever of f er ed t o hi m. The
admi ssi on l ef t hi mi ndi f f er ent . He f el t no mor e t han he had f el t f or Bet t y
Pope. He f el t not hi ng. The pr ospect of exper i enci ng pl easur e was not wor t h
t he ef f or t ; he had no desi r e t o exper i ence pl easur e.
" I t ' s get t i ng l at e, " he sai d. " Wher e do you l i ve? Let me gi ve you anot her
dr i nk and t hen I ' l l t ake you home. "
When he sai d good- bye t o her at t he door of a mi ser abl e r oomi ng house i n a
sl umnei ghbor hood, she hesi t at ed, f i ght i ng not t o ask a quest i on whi ch she
desper at el y wi shed t o ask hi m, " Wi l l I . . . " she began, and st opped.
" What ?"
" No, not hi ng, not hi ng! "
He knew t hat t he quest i on was: " Wi l l I see you agai n?" I t gave hi m
pl easur e not t o answer , even t hough he knew t hat she woul d.
She gl anced up at hi monce mor e, as i f i t wer e per haps f or t he l ast t i me,
t hen sai d ear nest l y, her voi ce l ow, " Mr . Taggar t , I ' mver y gr at ef ul t o you,
because you . . . I mean, any ot her man woul d have t r i ed t o . . . I mean,
t hat ' s al l he' d want , but you' r e so much bet t er t han t hat , oh, so much
bet t er ! "
He l eaned cl oser t o her wi t h a f ai nt , i nt er est ed smi l e. " Woul d you have?"
he asked.
She dr ew back f r omhi m, i n sudden t er r or at her own wor ds. " Oh, I di dn' t
mean i t t hat way! " she gasped. " Oh God, I wasn' t hi nt i ng or . . .
or . . . " She bl ushed f ur i ousl y, whi r l ed ar ound and r an, vani shi ng up t he
l ong, st eep st ai r s of t he r oomi ng house.
He st ood on t he si dewal k, f eel i ng an odd, heavy, f oggy sense of
sat i sf act i on: f eel i ng as i f he had commi t t ed an act of vi r t ueand as i f he
had t aken hi s r evenge upon ever y per son who had st ood cheer i ng al ong t he
t hr ee- hundr ed- mi l e t r ack of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne.
When t hei r t r ai n r eached Phi l adel phi a, Rear den l ef t her wi t hout a wor d, as
i f t he ni ght s of t hei r r et ur n j our ney deser ved no acknowl edgment i n t he
dayl i ght r eal i t y of cr owded st at i on pl at f or ms and movi ng engi nes, t he r eal i t y
he r espect ed. She went on t o New Yor k, al one. But l at e t hat eveni ng, t he
door bel l of her apar t ment r ang and Dagny knew t hat she had expect ed i t .
He sai d not hi ng when he ent er ed, he l ooked at her , maki ng hi s si l ent
pr esence mor e i nt i mat e a gr eet i ng t han wor ds. Ther e was t he f ai nt suggest i on
of a cont empt uous smi l e i n hi s f ace, at once admi t t i ng and mocki ng hi s
knowl edge of her hour s of i mpat i ence and hi s own. He st ood i n t he mi ddl e of
her l i vi ng r oom, l ooki ng sl owl y ar ound hi m; t hi s was her apar t ment , t he one
pl ace i n t he ci t y t hat had been t he f ocus of t wo year s of hi s t or ment , as t he
pl ace he coul d not t hi nk about and di d, t he pl ace he coul d not ent er and was
now ent er i ng wi t h t he casual , unannounced r i ght of an owner . He sat down i n
an ar mchai r , st r et chi ng hi s l egs f or war dand she st ood bef or e hi m, al most as
i f she needed hi s per mi ssi on t o si t down and i t gave her pl easur e t o wai t .
" Shal l I t el l you t hat you di d a magni f i cent j ob, bui l di ng t hat Li ne?"
he asked. She gl anced at hi mi n ast oni shment ; he had never pai d her open
compl i ment s of t hat ki nd; t he admi r at i on i n hi s voi ce was genui ne, but t he
hi nt of mocker y r emai ned i n hi s f ace, and she f el t as i f he wer e speaki ng t o
some pur pose whi ch she coul d not guess. " I ' ve spent al l day answer i ng
quest i ons about you- and about t he Li ne, t he Met al and t he f ut ur e. That , and
count i ng t he or der s f or t he Met al .
They' r e comi ng i n at t he r at e of t housands of t ons an hour . When was i t ,
ni ne mont hs ago?I coul dn' t get a si ngl e answer anywher e. Today, I had t o cut
of f my phone, not t o l i st en t o al l t he peopl e who want ed t o speak t o me
per sonal l y about t hei r ur gent need of Rear den Met al .
What di d you do t oday?"
" I don' t know. Tr i ed t o l i st en t o Eddi e' s r epor t st r i ed t o get away f r om
peopl et r i ed t o f i nd t he r ol l i ng st ock t o put mor e t r ai ns on t he J ohn Gal t
Li ne, because t he schedul e I ' d pl anned won' t be enough f or t he busi ness
t hat ' s pi l ed up i n j ust t hr ee days. "
" A gr eat many peopl e want ed t o see you t oday, di dn' t t hey?"
" Why. yes. "
" They' d have gi ven anyt hi ng j ust f or a wor d wi t h you, woul dn' t t hey?" '
" I . . . I suppose so. "
" The r epor t er s kept aski ng me what you wer e l i ke. A young boy f r oma l ocal
sheet kept sayi ng t hat you wer e a gr eat woman. He sai d he' d be af r ai d t o
speak t o you, i f he ever had t he chance. He' s r i ght . That f ut ur e t hat t hey' r e
al l t al ki ng and t r embl i ng about i t wi l l be as you made i t , because you had
t he cour age none of t hemcoul d concei ve of .
Al l t he r oads t o weal t h t hat t hey' r e scr ambl i ng f or now, i t ' s your
st r engt h t hat br oke t hemopen. The st r engt h t o st and agai nst ever yone.
The st r engt h t o r ecogni ze no wi l l but your own. "
She caught t he si nki ng gasp of her br eat h: she knew hi s pur pose. She st ood
st r ai ght , her ar ms at her si des, her f ace aust er e, as i f i n unf l i nchi ng
endur ance; she st ood under t he pr ai se as under a l ashi ng of i nsul t s.
" They kept aski ng you quest i ons, t oo, di dn' t t hey?" He spoke i nt ent l y,
l eani ng f or war d. " And t hey l ooked at you wi t h admi r at i on.
They l ooked, as i f you st ood on a mount ai n peak and t hey coul d onl y t ake
t hei r hat s of f t o you acr oss t he gr eat di st ance. Di dn' t t hey?"
" Yes, " she whi sper ed.
" They l ooked as i f t hey knew t hat one may not appr oach you or speak i n
your pr esence or t ouch a f ol d of your dr ess. They knew i t and i t ' s t r ue. They
l ooked at you wi t h r espect , di dn' t t hey? They l ooked up t o you?"
He sei zed her ar m, t hr ew her down on her knees, t wi st i ng her body agai nst
hi s l egs, and bent down t o ki ss her mout h. She l aughed soundl essl y, her
l aught er mocki ng, but her eyes hal f - cl osed, vei l ed wi t h pl easur e.
Hour s l at er , when t hey l ay i n bed t oget her , hi s hand movi ng over her body,
he asked suddenl y, t hr owi ng her back agai nst t he cur ve of hi s ar m, bendi ng
over her and she knew, by t he i nt ensi t y of hi s f ace, by t he sound of a gasp
somewher e i n t he qual i t y of hi s voi ce, even t hough hi s voi ce was l ow and
st eady, t hat t he quest i on br oke out of hi mas i f i t wer e wor n by t he hour s of
t or t ur e he had spent wi t h i t : " Who wer e t he ot her men t hat had you?"
He l ooked at her as i f t he quest i on wer e a si ght vi sual i zed i n ever y
det ai l , a si ght he l oat hed, but woul d not abandon; she hear d t he cont empt i n
hi s voi ce, t he hat r ed, t he suf f er i ngand an odd eager ness t hat di d not
per t ai n t o t or t ur e; he had asked t he quest i on, hol di ng her body t i ght agai nst
hi m.
She answer ed evenl y, but he saw a danger ous f l i cker i n her eyes, as of a
war ni ng t hat she under st ood hi mt oo wel l . " Ther e was onl y one ot her , Hank. "
" When?"
" When I was sevent een. ' 1
" Di d i t l ast ?"
" For some year s. "
" Who was he?"
She dr ew back, l yi ng agai nst hi s ar m; he l eaned cl oser , hi s f ace t aut ; she
hel d hi s eyes. " I won' t answer you.
" Di d you l ove hi m?"
" I won' t answer . "
" Di d you l i ke sl eepi ng wi t h hi m?"
" Yes! "
The l aught er i n her eyes made i t sound l i ke a sl ap acr oss hi s f ace, t he
l aught er of her knowl edge t hat t hi s was t he answer he dr eaded and want ed.
He t wi st ed her ar ms behi nd her , hol di ng her hel pl ess, her br east s pr essed
agai nst hi m; she f el t t he pai n r i ppi ng t hr ough her shoul der s, she hear d t he
anger i n hi s wor ds and t he huski ness of pl easur e i n hi s voi ce: " Who was he?"
She di d not answer , she l ooked at hi m, her eyes dar k and oddl y br i l l i ant ,
and he saw t hat t he shape of her mout h, di st or t ed by pai n, was t he shape of a
mocki ng smi l e.
He f el t i t change t o a shape of sur r ender , under t he t ouch of hi s l i ps.
He hel d her body as i f t he vi ol ence and t he despai r of t he way he t ook her
coul d wi pe hi s unknown r i val out of exi st ence, out of her past , and mor e: as
i f i t coul d t r ansf or many par t of her , even t he r i val , i nt o an i nst r ument of
hi s pl easur e. He knew, by t he eager ness of her movement as her ar ms sei zed
hi m, t hat t hi s was t he way she want ed t o be t aken.

* * *

The si l houet t e of a conveyor bel t moved agai nst t he st r i ps of f i r e i n t he
sky, r ai si ng coal t o t he t op of a di st ant t ower , as i f an i nexhaust i bl e
number of smal l bl ack bucket s r ode out of t he ear t h i n a di agonal l i ne acr oss
t he sunset . The har sh, di st ant cl at t er kept goi ng t hr ough t he r at t l e of t he
chai ns whi ch a young man i n bl ue over al l s was f ast eni ng over t he machi ner y,
secur i ng i t t o t he f l at car s l i ned on t he si di ng of t he Qui nn Bal l Bear i ng
Company of Connect i cut .
Mr . Mowen, of t he Amal gamat ed Swi t ch and Si gnal Company acr oss t he st r eet ,
st ood by, wat chi ng. He had st opped t o wat ch, on hi s way home f r omhi s own
pl ant . He wor e a l i ght over coat st r et ched over hi s shor t , paunchy f i gur e, and
a der by hat over hi s gr ayi ng, bl ondi sh head.
Ther e was a f i r st t ouch of Sept ember chi l l i n t he ai r . Al l t he gat es of
t he Qui nn pl ant bui l di ngs st ood wi de open, whi l e men and cr anes moved t he
machi ner y out ; l i ke t aki ng t he vi t al or gans and l eavi ng a car cass, t hought
Mr . Mowen.
" Anot her one?" asked Mr . Mowen, j er ki ng hi s t humb at t he pl ant , even
t hough he knew t he answer .
" Huh?" asked t he young man, who had not not i ced hi mst andi ng t her e.
" Anot her company movi ng t o Col or ado?"
" Uh- huh. "
" I t ' s t he t hi r d one f r omConnect i cut i n t he l ast t wo weeks, " sai d Mr .
Mowen. " And when you l ook at what ' s happeni ng i n New J er sey, Rhode I sl and,
Massachuset t s and al l al ong t he At l ant i c coast . . . "
The young man was not l ooki ng and di d not seemt o l i st en. " I t ' s l i ke a
l eaki ng f aucet , " sai d Mr . Mowen, " and al l t he wat er ' s r unni ng out t o
Col or ado. Al l t he money. " The young man f l ung t he chai n acr oss and f ol l owed
i t def t l y, cl i mbi ng over t he bi g shape cover ed wi t h canvas.
" You' d t hi nk peopl e woul d have some f eel i ng f or t hei r nat i ve st at e, some
l oyal t y . . . But t hey' r e r unni ng away. I don' t know what ' s happeni ng t o
peopl e. "
" I t ' s t he Bi l l , " sai d t he young man.
" What Bi l l ?"
" The Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l . "
" How do you mean?"
" I hear Mr . Qui nn was maki ng pl ans a year ago t o open a br anch i n
Col or ado. The Bi l l knocked t hat out col d. So now he' s made up hi s mi nd t o
move t her e, l ock, st ock and bar r el . "
" I don' t see wher e t hat makes i t r i ght . The Bi l l was necessar y. I t ' s a
r ot t en shameol d f i r ms t hat have been her e f or gener at i ons . . .
Ther e ought t o be a l aw . . . "
The young man wor ked swi f t l y, compet ent l y, as i f he enj oyed i t . Behi nd
hi m. t he conveyor bel t kept r i si ng and cl at t er i ng agai nst t he sky.
Four di st ant smokest acks st ood l i ke f l agpol es, wi t h coi l s of smoke weavi ng
sl owl y about t hem, l i ke l ong banner s at hal f - mast i n t he r eddi sh gl ow of t he
eveni ng.
Mr . Mowen had l i ved wi t h ever y smokest ack of t hat skyl i ne si nce t he days
of hi s f at her and gr andf at her . He had seen t he conveyor bel t f r omhi s of f i ce
wi ndow f or t hi r t y year s. That t he Qui nn Bal l Bear i ng Company shoul d vani sh
f r omacr oss t he st r eet had seemed i nconcei vabl e; he had known about Qui nn' s
deci si on and had not bel i eved i t ; or r at her , he had bel i eved i t as he
bel i eved any wor ds he hear d or spoke: as sounds t hat bor e no f i xed r el at i on
t o physi cal r eal i t y. Now he knew t hat i t was r eal . He st ood by t he f l at car s
on t he si di ng as i f he st i l l had a chance t o st op t hem.
" I t i sn' t r i ght , " he sai d; he was speaki ng t o t he skyl i ne at l ar ge, but
t he young man above was t he onl y par t of i t t hat coul d hear hi m.
" That ' s not t he way i t was i n my f at her ' s t i me. I ' mnot a bi g shot . I
don' t want t o f i ght anybody. What ' s t he mat t er wi t h t he wor l d?" Ther e was no
answer , " Now you, f or i nst ancear e t hey t aki ng you al ong t o Col or ado?"
" Me? No. I don' t wor k her e. I ' mj ust t r ansi ent l abor . J ust pi cked up t hi s
j ob hel pi ng t o l ug t he st uf f out . "
" Wel l , wher e ar e you goi ng t o go when t hey move away?"
" Haven' t any i dea. "
" What ar e you goi ng t o do, i f mor e of t hemmove out ?"
" Wai t and see. "
Mr . Mowen gl anced up dubi ousl y: he coul d not t el l whet her t he answer was
i nt ended t o appl y t o hi mor t o t he young man. But t he young man' s at t ent i on
was f i xed on hi s t ask; he was not l ooki ng down.
He moved on, t o t he shr ouded shapes on t he next f l at car , and Mr .
Mowen f ol l owed, l ooki ng up at hi m, pl eadi ng wi t h somet hi ng up i n space:
" I ' ve got r i ght s, haven' t I ? I was bor n her e. I expect ed t he ol d compani es t o
be her e when I gr ew up. I expect ed t o r un t he pl ant l i ke my f at her di d. A man
i s par t of hi s communi t y, he' s got a r i ght t o count on i t , hasn' t he? . . .
Somet hi ng ought t o be done about i t . "
" About what ?"
" Oh, I know, you t hi nk i t ' s gr eat , don' t you?t hat Taggar t boomand
Rear den Met al and t he gol d r ush t o Col or ado and t he dr unken spr ee out t her e,
wi t h Wyat t and hi s bunch expandi ng t hei r pr oduct i on l i ke ket t l es boi l i ng
over ! Ever ybody t hi nks i t ' s gr eat t hat ' s al l you hear anywher e you gopeopl e
ar e sl ap- happy, maki ng pl ans l i ke si x- year ol ds on a vacat i onyou' d t hi nk i t
was a nat i onal honeymoon of some ki nd or a per manent Four t h of J ul y! "
The young man sai d not hi ng.
" Wel l , I don' t t hi nk so, " sai d Mr . Mowen. He l ower ed hi s voi ce. ' The
newspaper s don' t say so, ei t her mi nd you t hat t he newspaper s ar en' t sayi ng
anyt hi ng. "
Mr . Mowen hear d no answer , onl y t he cl anki ng of t he chai ns.
" Why ar e t hey al l r unni ng t o Col or ado? he asked. " What have t hey got down
t her e t hat we haven' t got ?"
The young man gr i nned. " Maybe i t ' s somet hi ng you' ve got t hat t hey haven' t
got . "
" What ?" The young man di d not answer . " I don' t see i t . I t ' s a backwar d,
pr i mi t i ve, unenl i ght ened pl ace. They don' t even have a moder n gover nment .
I t ' s t he wor st gover nment i n any st at e. The l azi est . I t does not hi ngout si de
of keepi ng l aw cour t s and a pol i ce depar t ment .
I t doesn' t do anyt hi ng f or t he peopl e. I t doesn' t hel p anybody. I don' t
see why al l our best compani es want t o r un t her e. "
The young man gl anced down at hi m, but di d not answer .
Mr . Mowen si ghed. " Thi ngs ar en' t r i ght , " he sai d. " The Equal i zat i on of
Oppor t uni t y Bi l l was a sound i dea. Ther e' s got t o be a chance f or ever ybody.
I t ' s a r ot t en shame i f peopl e l i ke Qui nn t ake unf ai r
advant age of i t . Why di dn' t he l et somebody el se st ar t manuf act ur i ng bal l
bear i ngs i n Col or ado? . . . I wi sh t he Col or ado peopl e woul d l eave us al one.
That St ockt on Foundr y out t her e had no r i ght goi ng i nt o t he swi t ch and si gnal
busi ness. That ' s been my busi ness f or year s, I have t he r i ght of seni or i t y,
i t i sn' t f ai r , i t ' s dog- eat - dog compet i t i on, newcomer s shoul dn' t be al l owed
t o muscl e i n. Wher e amI goi ng t o sel l swi t ches and si gnal s? Ther e wer e t wo
bi g r ai l r oads out i n Col or ado.
Now t he Phoeni x- Dur ango' s gone, so t her e' s j ust Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al
l ef t . I t i sn' t f ai r t hei r f or ci ng Dan Conway out . Ther e' s got t o be r oomf or
compet i t i on. . . . And I ' ve been wai t i ng si x mont hs f or an or der of st eel
f r omOr r en Boyl eand now he says he can' t pr omi se me anyt hi ng, because
Rear den Met al has shot hi s mar ket t o hel l , t her e' s a r un on t hat Met al , Boyl e
has t o r et r ench. I t i sn' t f ai r Rear den bei ng al l owed t o r ui n ot her peopl e' s
mar ket s t hat way. . . . And I want t o get some Rear den Met al , t oo, I need i t
but t r y and get i t ! He has a wai t i ng l i ne t hat woul d st r et ch acr oss t hr ee
st at esnobody can get a scr ap of i t , except hi s ol d f r i ends, peopl e l i ke
Wyat t and Danagger and such. I t i sn' t f ai r . I t ' s di scr i mi nat i on. I ' mj ust as
good as t he next f el l ow. I ' ment i t l ed t o my shar e of t hat Met al . "
The young man l ooked up. " I was i n Pennsyl vani a l ast week, " he sai d. " I
saw t he Rear den mi l l s. Ther e' s a pl ace t hat ' s busy! They' r e bui l di ng f our new
open- hear t h f ur naces, and t hey' ve got si x mor e comi ng. . . . New f ur naces, "
he sai d, l ooki ng of f t o t he sout h. " Nobody' s bui l t a new f ur nace on t he
At l ant i c coast f or t he l ast f i ve year s. . . . " He st ood agai nst t he sky, on
t he t op of a shr ouded mot or , l ooki ng of f at t he dusk wi t h a f ai nt smi l e of
eager ness and l ongi ng, as one l ooks at t he di st ant vi si on of one' s l ove.
" They' r e busy. . . . " he sai d.
Then hi s smi l e vani shed abr upt l y; t he way he j er ked t he cr u- f i n was t he
f i r st br eak i n t he smoot h compet ence of hi s movement s: i t l ooked l i ke a j ol t
of anger .
Mr . Mowen l ooked at t he skyl i ne, at t he bel t s, t he wheel s, t he smoket he
smoke t hat set t l ed heavi l y, peacef ul l y acr oss t he eveni ng ai r , st r et chi ng i n
a l ong haze al l t he way t o t he ci t y of New Yor k somewher e beyond t he sunset
and he f el t r eassur ed by t he t hought of New Yor k i n i t s r i ng of sacr ed f i r es,
t he r i ng of smokest acks, gas t anks, cr anes and hi gh t ensi on l i nes. He f el t a
cur r ent of power f l owi ng t hr ough ever y gr i my st r uct ur e of hi s f ami l i ar
st r eet ; he l i ked t he f i gur e of t he young man above hi m, t her e was somet hi ng
r eassur i ng i n t he way he wor ked, somet hi ng t hat bl ended wi t h t he skyl i ne. . .
. Yet Mr . Mowen wonder ed why he f el t t hat a cr ack was gr owi ng somewher e,
eat i ng t hr ough t he sol i d, t he et er nal wal l s.
" Somet hi ng ought t o be done, " sai d Mr . Mowen. " A f r i end of mi ne went out
of busi ness l ast weekt he oi l busi nesshad a coupl e of wel l s down i n
Okl ahomacoul dn' t compet e wi t h El l i s Wyat t . I t i sn' t f ai r . They ought t o
l eave t he l i t t l e peopl e a chance. They ought t o pl ace a l i mi t on Wyat t ' s
out put . He shoul dn' t be al l owed t o pr oduce so much t hat he' l l swamp ever ybody
el se of f t he mar ket . . . . I got st uck i n New Yor k yest er day, had t o l eave my
car t her e and come home on a damn commut er s' 1 l ocal , coul dn' t get any gas f or
t he car , t hey sai d t her e' s a shor t age of oi l i n t he ci t y. . . . Thi ngs ar en' t
r i ght . Somet hi ng ought t o be done about i t . . . . "
Looki ng at t he skyl i ne, Mr . Mowen wonder ed what was t he namel ess t hr eat t o
i t and who was i t s dest r oyer .
What do you want t o do about i t ?" asked t he young man.
" Who, me?" sai d Mr . Mowen. " I woul dn' t know. I ' mnot a bi g shot .
I can' t sol ve nat i onal pr obl ems. I j ust want t o make a l i vi ng. Al l I know
i s, somebody ought t o do somet hi ng about i t . . . . Thi ngs ar en' t r i ght . . . .
Li st enwhat ' s your name?"
" Owen Kel l ogg. "
" Li st en, Kel l ogg, what do you t hi nk i s goi ng t o happen t o t he wor l d?"
" You woul dn' t car e t o know. "
A whi st l e bl ew on a di st ant t ower , t he ni ght - shi f t whi st l e, and Mr .
Mowen r eal i zed t hat i t was get t i ng l at e. He si ghed, but t oni ng hi s coat ,
t ur ni ng t o go.
" Wel l , t hi ngs ar e bei ng done, " he sai d. " St eps ar e bei ng t aken.
Const r uct i ve st eps. The Legi sl at ur e has passed a Bi l l gi vi ng wi der power s t o
t he Bur eau of Economi c Pl anni ng and Nat i onal Resour ces. They' ve appoi nt ed a
ver y abl e man as Top Co- or di nat or . Can' t say I ' ve hear d of hi mbef or e, but
t he newspaper s sai d he' s a man t o be wat ched. Hi s name i s Wesl ey Mouch. "
Dagny st ood at t he wi ndow of her l i vi ng r oom, l ooki ng at t he ci t y.
I t was l at e and t he l i ght s wer e l i ke t he l ast spar ks l ef t gl i t t er i ng on
t he bl ack r emnant s of a bonf i r e.
She f el t at peace, and she wi shed she coul d hol d her mi nd st i l l t o l et her
own emot i ons cat ch up wi t h her , t o l ook at ever y moment of t he mont h t hat had
r ushed past her . She had had no t i me t o f eel t hat she was back i n her own
of f i ce at Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ; t her e had been so much t o do t hat she
f or got i t was a r et ur n f r omexi l e. She had not not i ced what J i mhad sai d on
her r et ur n or whet her he had sai d anyt hi ng. Ther e had been onl y one per son
whose r eact i on she had want ed t o know; she had t el ephoned t he Wayne- Fal kl and
Hot el ; but Senor Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, she was t ol d, had gone back t o Buenos
Ai r es.
She r emember ed t he moment when she si gned her name at t he bot t omof a l ong
l egal page; i t was t he moment t hat ended t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. Now i t was t he
Ri o Nor t e Li ne of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al agai nexcept t hat t he men of t he
t r ai n cr ews r ef used t o gi ve up i t s name. She, t oo, f ound i t har d t o gi ve up;
she f or ced her sel f not t o cal l i t " t he J ohn Gal t , " and wonder ed why t hat
r equi r ed an ef f or t , and why she f el t a f ai nt wr ench of sadness.
One eveni ng, on a sudden i mpul se, she had t ur ned t he cor ner of t he Taggar t
Bui l di ng, f or a l ast l ook at t he of f i ce of J ohn Gal t , I nc. , i n t he al l ey; she
di d not know what she want edj ust t o see i t , she t hought .
A pl ank bar r i er had been r ai sed al ong t he si dewal k: t he ol d bui l di ng was
bei ng demol i shed; i t had gi ven up, at l ast . She had cl i mbed over t he pl anks
and, by t he l i ght of t he st r eet l amp t hat had once t hr own a st r anger ' s shadow
acr oss t he pavement , she had l ooked i n t hr ough t he wi ndow of her f or mer
of f i ce. Not hi ng was l ef t of t he gr ound f l oor ; t he par t i t i ons had been t or n
down, t her e wer e br oken pi pes hangi ng f r omt he cei l i ng and a pi l e of r ubbl e
on t he f l oor . Ther e was not hi ng t o see.
She had asked Rear den whet her he had come t her e one ni ght l ast spr i ng and
st ood out si de her wi ndow, f i ght i ng hi s desi r e t o ent er . But she had known,
even bef or e he answer ed, t hat he had not . She di d not t el l hi mwhy she asked
i t . She di d not know why t hat memor y st i l l di st ur bed her at t i mes.
Beyond t he wi ndow of her l i vi ng r oom, t he l i ght ed r ect angl e of t he
cal endar hung l i ke a smal l shi ppi ng t ag i n t he bl ack sky. I t r ead: Sept ember
2. She smi l ed def i ant l y, r emember i ng t he r ace she had r un agai nst i t s
changi ng pages; t her e wer e no deadl i nes now, she t hought , no bar r i er s, no
t hr eat s, no l i mi t s.
She hear d a key t ur ni ng i n t he door of her apar t ment ; t hi s was t he sound
she had wai t ed f or , had want ed t o hear t oni ght .
Rear den came i n, as he had come many t i mes, usi ng t he key she had gi ven
hi m, as sol e announcement . He t hr ew hi s hat and coat down on a chai r wi t h a
gest ur e t hat had become f ami l i ar ; he wor e t he f or mal bl ack of di nner cl ot hes.
" Hel l o, " she sai d.
" I ' mst i l l wai t i ng f or t he eveni ng when I won' t f i nd you i n, " he answer ed,
" Then you' l l have t o phone t he of f i ces of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . "
" Any eveni ng? Nowher e el se?"
" J eal ous, Hank?"
" No. Cur i ous what i t woul d f eel l i ke, t o be. "
He st ood l ooki ng at her acr oss t he r oom, r ef usi ng t o l et hi msel f appr oach
her , del i ber at el y pr ol ongi ng t he pl easur e of knowi ng t hat he coul d do i t
whenever he wi shed. She wor e t he t i ght gr ay ski r t of an of f i ce sui t and a
bl ouse of t r anspar ent whi t e cl ot h t ai l or ed l i ke a man' s shi r t ; t he bl ouse
f l ar ed out above her wai st l i ne, st r essi ng t he t r i mf l at ness of her hi ps;
agai nst t he gl ow of a l amp behi nd her , he coul d see t he sl ender si l houet t e of
her body wi t hi n t he f l ar i ng ci r cl e of t he bl ouse.
" How was t he banquet ?" she asked.
" Fi ne. I escaped as soon as I coul d. Why di dn' t you come? You wer e
i nvi t ed. "
" I di dn' t want t o see you i n publ i c. "
He gl anced at her , as i f st r essi ng t hat he not ed t he f ul l meani ng of her
answer ; t hen t he l i nes of hi s f ace moved t o t he hi nt of an amused smi l e. " You
mi ssed a l ot . The Nat i onal Counci l of Met al I ndust r i es won' t put i t sel f agai n
t hr ough t he or deal of havi ng me f or guest of honor .
Not i f t hey can hel p i t . "
" What happened?"
" Not hi ng. J ust a l ot of speeches. "
" Was i t an or deal f or you?"
" No . . . Yes, i n a way . . . I had r eal l y want ed t o enj oy i t . "
" Shal l I get you a dr i nk?"
" Yes, wi l l you?"
She t ur ned t o go. He st opped her , gr aspi ng her shoul der s f r ombehi nd; he
bent her head back and ki ssed her mout h. When he r ai sed hi s head, she pul l ed
i t down agai n wi t h a demandi ng gest ur e of owner shi p, as i f st r essi ng her
r i ght t o do i t . Then she st epped away f r omhi m.
" Never mi nd t he dr i nk, " he sai d, " I di dn' t r eal l y want i t except f or
seei ng you wai t on me. "
" Wel l , t hen, l et me wai t on you. "
" No. "
He smi l ed, st r et chi ng hi msel f out on t he couch, hi s hands cr ossed under
hi s head. He f el t at home; i t was t he f i r st home he had ever f ound.
" You know, t he wor st par t of t he banquet was t hat t he onl y wi sh of ever y
per son pr esent was t o get i t over wi t h, " he sai d. " What I can' t under st and i s
why t hey want ed t o do i t at al l . They di dn' t have t o. Cer t ai nl y not f or my
sake. "
She pi cked up a ci gar et t e box, ext ended i t t o hi m, t hen hel d t he f l ame of
a l i ght er t o t he t i p of hi s ci gar et t e, i n t he del i ber at e manner of wai t i ng on
hi m. She smi l ed i n answer t o hi s chuckl e, t hen sat down on t he ar mof a chai r
acr oss t he r oom.
" Why di d you accept t hei r i nvi t at i on, Hank?" she asked. " You' ve al ways
r ef used t o j oi n t hem. "
" I di dn' t want t o r ef use a peace of f er when I ' ve beat en t hemand t hey know
i t . I ' l l never j oi n t hem, but an i nvi t at i on t o appear as a guest of honor
wel l , I t hought t hey wer e good l oser s. I t hought i t was gener ous of t hem. "
" Of t hem?"
" Ar e you goi ng t o say: of me?"
" Hank! Af t er al l t he t hi ngs t hey' ve done t o st op you"
" I won, di dn' t I ? So I t hought . . . You know, I di dn' t hol d i t agai nst
t hemt hat t hey coul dn' t see t he val ue of t he Met al sooner so l ong as t hey saw
i t at l ast . Ever y man l ear ns i n hi s own way and t i me.
Sur e, I knew t her e was a l ot of cowar di ce t her e, and envy and hypocr i sy,
but I t hought t hat t hat was onl y t he sur f acenow, when I ' ve pr oved my case,
when I ' ve pr oved i t so l oudl y! I t hought t hei r r eal mot i ve f or i nvi t i ng me
was t hei r appr eci at i on of t he Met al , and"
She smi l ed i n t he br i ef space of hi s pause; she knew t he sent ence he had
st opped hi msel f f r omut t er i ng: " and f or t hat , I woul d f or gi ve anyone
anyt hi ng. "
" But i t wasn' t , " he sai d. " And I coul dn' t f i gur e out what t hei r mot i ve
was. Dagny, I don' t t hi nk t hey had any mot i ve at al l . They di dn' t gi ve t hat
banquet t o pl ease me, or t o gai n somet hi ng f r omme, or t o save f ace wi t h t he
publ i c. Ther e was no pur pose of any ki nd about i t , no meani ng. They di dn' t
r eal l y car e when t hey denounced t he Met al and t hey don' t car e now. They' r e
not r eal l y af r ai d t hat I ' l l dr i ve t hemal l of f t he mar ket t hey don' t car e
enough even about t hat . Do you know what t hat banquet was l i ke? I t ' s as i f
t hey' d hear d t hat t her e ar e val ues one i s supposed t o honor and t hi s i s what
one does t o honor t hemso t hey went t hr ough t he mot i ons, l i ke ghost s pul l ed
by some sor t of di st ant echoes f r oma bet t er age. I . . . I coul dn' t st and
i t . "
She sai d, her f ace t i ght , " And you don' t t hi nk you' r e gener ous! "
He gl anced up at her ; hi s eyes br i ght ened t o a l ook of amusement .
" Why do t hey make you so angr y?"
She sai d, her voi ce l ow t o hi de t he sound of t ender ness, " You want ed t o
enj oy i t . . . "
" I t pr obabl y ser ves me r i ght . I shoul dn' t have expect ed anyt hi ng. 1
don' t know what i t was t hat I want ed. "
" I do. "
" I ' ve never l i ked occasi ons of t hat sor t . I don' t see why I expect ed i t t o
be di f f er ent , t hi s t i me. . . . You know, I went t her e f eel i ng al most as i f
t he Met al had changed ever yt hi ng, even peopl e. "
" Oh yes, Hank, I know! "
" Wel l , i t was t he wr ong pl ace t o seek anyt hi ng. . . . Do you r emember ? You
sai d once t hat cel ebr at i ons shoul d be onl y f or t hose who have somet hi ng t o
cel ebr at e. "
The dot of her l i ght ed ci gar et t e st opped i n mi d- ai r ; she sat st i l l . She
had never spoken t o hi mof t hat par t y or of anyt hi ng r el at ed t o hi s home. I n
a moment . , she answer ed qui et l y, " I r emember . "
" 1 know what you meant . . . I knew i t t hen, t oo. "
He was l ooki ng st r ai ght at her . She l ower ed her eyes.
He r emai ned si l ent ; when he spoke agai n, hi s voi ce was gay. " The wor st
t hi ng about peopl e i s not t he i nsul t s t hey hand out , but t he compl i ment s. I
coul dn' t bear t he ki nd t hey spout ed t oni ght , par t i cul ar l y when t hey kept
sayi ng how much ever ybody needs met hey, t he ci t y, t he count r y and t he whol e
wor l d, I guess. Appar ent l y, t hei r i dea of t he hei ght of gl or y i s t o deal wi t h
peopl e who need t hem. I can' t st and peopl e who need me. " He gl anced at her .
" Do you need me?"
She answer ed, her voi ce ear nest , " Desper at el y. "
He l aughed. " No. Not t he way I meant . You di dn' t say i t t he way t hey do. "
" How di d I say i t ?"
" Li ke a t r ader who pays f or what he want s. They say i t l i ke beggar s who
use a t i n cup as a cl ai mcheck. "
" I . . . pay f or i t , Hank?"
" Don' t l ook i nnocent . You know exact l y what I mean. "
" Yes, " she whi sper ed; she was smi l i ng.
" Oh, t o hel l wi t h t hem! " he sai d happi l y, st r et chi ng hi s l egs, shi f t i ng
t he posi t i on of hi s body on t he couch, st r essi ng t he l uxur y of r el axat i on.
" I ' mno good as a publ i c f i gur e. Anyway, i t doesn' t mat t er now.
We don' t have t o car e what t hey see or don' t see. They' l l l eave us al one.
I t ' s cl ear t r ack ahead. What ' s t he next under t aki ng, Mr . Vi ce- Pr esi dent ?"
" A t r anscont i nent al t r ack of Rear den Met al . "
" How soon do you want i t ?"
" Tomor r ow mor ni ng. Thr ee year s f r omnow i s when I ' l l get i t . "
" Thi nk you can do i t i n t hr ee year s?"
" I f t he J ohn Gal t . . . i f t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne does as wel l as i t ' s doi ng
now. "
" I t ' s goi ng t o do bet t er . That ' s onl y t he begi nni ng. "
" I have an i nst al l ment pl an made out . As t he money comes i n, I ' mgoi ng t o
st ar t t ear i ng up t he mai n t r ack, one di vi si on at a t i me, and r epl aci ng i t
wi t h Rear den Met al r ai l . "
" Okay. Any t i me you wi sh t o st ar t . "
" I ' l l keep movi ng t he ol d r ai l t o t he br anch l i nest hey won' t l ast much
l onger , i f I don' t . I n t hr ee year s, you' l l r i de on your own Met al i nt o San
Fr anci sco, i f somebody want s t o gi ve you a banquet t her e. "
" I n t hr ee year s, I ' l l have mi l l s pour i ng Rear den Met al i n Col or ado, i n
Mi chi gan and i n I daho. That ' s my i nst al l ment pl an. "
" Your own mi l l s? Br anches?"
" Uh- huh. "
" What about t he Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l ?"
" You don' t t hi nk i t ' s goi ng t o exi st t hr ee year s f r omnow, do you?
We' ve gi ven t hemsuch a demonst r at i on t hat al l t hat r ot i s goi ng t o be
swept away. The whol e count r y i s wi t h us. Who' l l want t o st op t hi ngs now?
Who' l l l i st en t o t he bi l ge? Ther e' s a l obby of t he bet t er ki nd of men wor ki ng
I n Washi ngt on r i ght t hi s moment . They' r e goi ng t o get t he Equal i zat i on Bi l l
scr apped at t he next sessi on. "
" I . . . I hope so. "
" I ' ve had a t er r i bl e t i me, t hese l ast f ew weeks, get t i ng t he new f ur naces
st ar t ed, but i t ' s al l set now, t hey' r e bei ng bui l t , I can si t back and t ake
i t easy. I can si t at my desk, r ake i n t he money, l oaf l i ke a bum, wat ch t he
or der s f or t he Met al pour i ng i n and pl ay f avor i t es ai l over t he pl ace. . . .
Say, what ' s t he f i r st t r ai n you' ve got f or Phi l adel phi a t omor r ow mor ni ng?"
" Oh, I don' t know. "
" You don' t ? What ' s t he use of an Oper at i ng Vi ce- pr esi dent ? I have t o be at
t he mi l l s by seven t omor r ow. Got anyt hi ng r unni ng ar ound si x?"
" Fi ve- t hi r t y A. M. i s t he f i r st one, I t hi nk. "
" Wi l l you wake me up i n t i me t o make i t or woul d you r at her or der t he
t r ai n hel d f or me?"
" I ' l l wake you up. "
Ok" .
She sat , wat chi ng hi mas he r emai ned si l ent . He had l ooked t i r ed when he
came i n; t he l i nes of exhaust i on wer e gone f r omhi s f ace now.
" Dagny, " he asked suddenl y; hi s t one had changed, t her e was some hi dden,
ear nest not e i n hi s voi ce, " why di dn' t you want t o see me i n publ i c?"
" I don' t want t o be par t of your . . . of f i ci al l i f e. "
He di d not answer ; i n a moment , he asked casual l y, " When di d you t ake a
vacat i on l ast ?"
" I t hi nk i t was t wo . . . no, t hr ee year s ago. "
" What di d you do?"
" Went t o t he Adi r ondacks f or a mont h. Came back i n a week. "
" I di d t hat f i ve year s ago. Onl y i t was Or egon. " He l ay f l at on hi s back,
l ooki ng at t he cei l i ng. " Dagny, l et ' s t ake a vacat i on t oget her . Let ' s t ake my
car and dr i ve away f or a f ew weeks, anywher e, j ust dr i ve, down t he back
r oads, wher e no one knows us. We' l l l eave no addr ess, we won' t l ook at a
newspaper , we won' t t ouch a phonewe won' t have any of f i ci al l i f e at al l . "
She got up. She appr oached hi m, she st ood by t he si de of t he couch,
l ooki ng down at hi m, t he l i ght of t he l amp behi nd her ; she di d not want hi m
t o see her f ace and t he ef f or t she was maki ng not t o smi l e.
" You can t ake a f ew weeks of f . can' t you?" he sai d. " Thi ngs ar e set and
goi ng now. I t ' s saf e. We won' t have anot her chance i n t he next t hr ee year s. "
" Al l r i ght , Hank, " she sai d, f or ci ng her voi ce t o sound cal ml y t onel ess.
" Wi l l you?"
" When do you want t o st ar t ?"
" Monday mor ni ng. "
" Al l r i ght . "
She t ur ned t o st ep away. He sei zed her wr i st , pul l ed her down, swung her
body t o l i e st r et ched f ul l - l engt h on t op of hi m, he hel d her st i l l ,
uncomf or t abl y, as she had f al l en, hi s one hand i n her hai r , pr essi ng her
mout h t o hi s, hi s ot her hand movi ng f r omt he shoul der bl ades under her t hi n
bl ouse t o her wai st , t o her l egs. She whi sper ed, " And you say I don' t need
you . . . ! "
She pul l ed her sel f away f r omhi m, and st ood up, br ushi ng her hai r of f her
f ace. He l ay st i l l , l ooki ng up at her , hi s eyes nar r owed, t he br i ght f l i cker
of some par t i cul ar i nt er est i n hi s eyes, i nt ent and f ai nt l y mocki ng. She
gl anced down: a st r ap of her sl i p had br oken, t he sl i p hung di agonal l y f r om
her one shoul der t o her si de, and he was l ooki ng at her br east under t he
t r anspar ent f i l mof t he bl ouse. She r ai sed her hand t o adj ust t he st r ap. He
sl apped her hand down. She smi l ed, i n under st andi ng, i n answer i ng mocker y.
She wal ked sl owl y, del i ber at el y acr oss t he r oomand l eaned agai nst a t abl e,
f aci ng hi m, her hands hol di ng t he t abl e' s edge, her shoul der s t hr own back. I t
was t he cont r ast he l i kedt he sever i t y of her cl ot hes and t he hal f - naked
body, t he r ai l r oad execut i ve who was a woman he owned.
He sat up; he sat l eani ng comf or t abl y acr oss t he couch, hi s l egs cr ossed
and st r et ched f or war d, hi s hands i n hi s pocket s, l ooki ng at her wi t h t he
gl ance of a pr oper t y appr ai sal .
" Di d you say you want ed a t r anscont i nent al t r ack of Rear den Met al , Mr .
Vi ce- Pr esi dent ?" he asked. " What i f I don' t gi ve i t t o you? I can choose my
cust omer s now and demand any pr i ce I pl ease. I f t hi s wer e a year ago, I woul d
have demanded t hat you sl eep wi t h me i n exchange. "
" I wi sh you had. "
" Woul d you have done i t ?"
" Of cour se. "
" As a mat t er of busi ness? As a sal e?"
" I f you wer e t he buyer . You woul d have l i ked t hat , woul dn' t you?"
" Woul d you?"
" Yes . . . " she whi sper ed.
He appr oached her , he gr asped her shoul der s and pr essed hi s mout h t o her
br east t hr ough t he t hi n cl ot h.
Then, hol di ng her , he l ooked at her si l ent l y f or a l ong moment .
" What di d you do wi t h t hat br acel et ?" he asked.
They had never r ef er r ed t o i t ; she had t o l et a moment pass t o r egai n t he
st eadi ness of her voi ce. " I have i t , " she answer ed.
" I want you t o wear i t . "
" I f anyone guesses, i t wi l l be wor se f or you t han f or me. "
" Wear i t . "
She br ought out t he br acel et of Rear den Met al . She ext ended i t t o hi m
wi t hout a wor d, l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi m, t he gr een- bl ue chai n gl i t t er i ng
acr oss her pal m. Hol di ng her gl ance, he cl asped t he br acel et on her wr i st . I n
t he moment when t he cl asp cl i cked shut under hi s f i nger s, she bent her head
down t o t hemand ki ssed hi s hand.
The ear t h went f l owi ng under t he hood of t he car . Uncoi l i ng f r omamong t he
cur ves of Wi sconsi n' s hi l l s, t he hi ghway was t he onl y evi dence of human
l abor , a pr ecar i ous br i dge st r et ched acr oss a sea of br ush, weeds and t r ees.
The sea r ol l ed sof t l y, i n spr ays of yel l ow and or ange, wi t h a f ew r ed j et s
shoot i ng up on t he hi l l si des, wi t h pool s of r emnant gr een i n t he hol l ows,
under a pur e bl ue sky. Among t he col or s of a pi ct ur e post car d, t he car ' s
hood l ooked l i ke t he wor k of a j ewel er , wi t h t he sun spar kl i ng on i t s
chr omi umst eel , and i t s bl ack enamel r ef l ect i ng t he sky.
Dagny l eaned agai nst t he cor ner of t he si de wi ndow, her l egs st r et ched
f or war d; she l i ked t he wi de, comf or t abl e space of t he car ' s seat and t he
war mt h of t he sun on her shoul der s; she t hought t hat t he count r ysi de was
beaut i f ul .
" What I ' d l i ke t o see, " sai d Rear den, " i s a bi l l boar d,
She l aughed: he had answer ed her si l ent t hought . " Sel l i ng what and t o
whom? We haven' t seen a car or a house f or an hour . "
" That ' s what I don' t l i ke about i t . " He bent f or war d a l i t t l e, hi s hands
on t he wheel ; he was f r owni ng. " Look at t hat r oad. "
The l ong st r i p of concr et e was bl eached t o t he powder y gr ay of bones l ef t
on a deser t , as i f sun and snows had eat en away t he t r aces of t i r es, oi l and
car bon, t he l ust r ous pol i sh of mot i on. Gr een weeds r ose f r omt he angul ar
cr acks of t he concr et e. No one had used t he r oad or r epai r ed i t f or many
year s; but t he cr acks wer e f ew.
" I t ' s a good r oad, " sai d Rear den. " I t was bui l t t o l ast . The man who bui l t
i t must have had a good r eason f or expect i ng i t t o car r y a heavy t r af f i c i n
t he year s ahead. "
" Yes . . . "
" I don' t l i ke t he l ooks of t hi s. "
" I don' t ei t her . " Then she smi l ed. " But t hi nk how of t en we' ve hear d peopl e
compl ai n t hat bi l l boar ds r ui n t he appear ance of t he count r ysi de.
Wel l , t her e' s t he unr ui ned count r ysi de f or t hemt o admi r e. " She added,
" They' r e t he peopl e I hat e. "
She di d not want t o f eel t he uneasi ness whi ch she f el t l i ke a t hi n cr ack
under her enj oyment of t hi s day. She had f el t t hat uneasi ness at t i mes, i n
t he l ast t hr ee weeks, at t he si ght of t he count r y st r eami ng past t he wedge of
t he car ' s hood. She smi l ed: i t was t he hood t hat had been t he i mmovabl e poi nt
i n her f i el d of vi si on, whi l e t he ear t h had gone by, i t was t he hood t hat had
been t he cent er , t he f ocus, t he secur i t y i n a bl ur r ed, di ssol vi ng wor l d . . .
t he hood bef or e her and Rear den' s hands on t he wheel by her si de . . . she
smi l ed, t hi nki ng t hat she was sat i sf i ed t o l et t hi s be t he shape of her
wor l d.
Af t er t he f i r st week of t hei r wander i ng, when t hey had dr i ven at r andom,
at t he mer cy of unknown cr ossr oads, he had sai d t o her one mor ni ng as t hey
st ar t ed out , " Dagny, does r est i ng have t o be pur posel ess?" She had l aughed,
answer i ng, " No. What f act or y do you want t o see?" He had smi l edat t he gui l t
he di d not have t o assume, at t he expl anat i ons he di d not have t o gi veand he
had answer ed, " I t ' s an abandoned or e mi ne ar ound Sagi naw Bay, t hat I ' ve hear d
about . They say i t ' s exhaust ed. "
They had dr i ven acr oss Mi chi gan t o t he or e mi ne. They had wal ked t hr ough
t he l edges of an empt y pi t , wi t h t he r emnant s of a cr ane l i ke a skel et on
bendi ng above t hemagai nst t he sky, and someone' s r ust ed l unchbox cl at t er i ng
away f r omunder t hei r f eet . She had f el t a st ab of uneasi ness, shar per t han
sadnessbut Rear den had sai d cheer f ul l y, " Exhaust ed, hel l ! I ' l l show t hemhow
many t ons and dol l ar s I can dr aw out of t hi s pl ace! " On t hei r way back t o t he
car , he had sai d, " I f I coul d f i nd t he r i ght man, I ' d buy t hat mi ne f or hi m
t omor r ow mor ni ng and set hi mup t o wor k i t . "
The next day, when t hey wer e dr i vi ng west and sout h, t owar d t he pl ai ns of
I l l i noi s, he had sai d suddenl y, af t er a l ong si l ence, " No, I ' l l have t o wai t
t i l l t hey j unk t he Bi l l . The man who coul d wor k t hat mi ne, woul dn' t need me
t o t each hi m. The man who' d need me, woul dn' t be wor t h a damn. "
They coul d speak of t hei r wor k, as t hey al ways had, wi t h f ul l conf i dence
i n bei ng under st ood. But t hey never spoke of each ot her . He act ed as i f t hei r
passi onat e i nt i macy wer e a namel ess physi cal f act , not t o be i dent i f i ed i n
t he communi cat i on bet ween t wo mi nds. Each ni ght , i t was as i f she l ay i n t he
ar ms of a st r anger who l et her see ever y shudder of sensat i on t hat r an
t hr ough hi s body, but woul d never per mi t her t o know whet her t he shocks
r eached any answer i ng t r emor wi t hi n hi m. She l ay naked at hi s si de, but on
her wr i st t her e was t he br acel et of Rear den Met al .
She knew t hat he hat ed t he or deal of si gni ng t he " Mr . and Mr s.
Smi t h" on t he r egi st er s of squal i d r oadsi de hot el s. Ther e wer e eveni ngs
when she not i ced t he f ai nt cont r act i on of anger i n t he t i ght ness of hi s
mout h, as he si gned t he expect ed names of t he expect ed f r aud, anger at t hose
who made f r aud necessar y. She not i ced, i ndi f f er ent l y, t he ai r of knowi ng
sl yness i n t he manner of t he hot el cl er ks, whi ch seemed t o suggest t hat
guest s and cl er ks al i ke wer e accompl i ces i n a shamef ul gui l t : t he gui l t of
seeki ng pl easur e. But she knew t hat i t di d not mat t er t o hi mwhen t hey wer e
al one, when he hel d her agai nst hi mf or a moment and she saw hi s eyes l ook
al i ve and gui l t l ess.
They dr ove t hr ough smal l t owns, t hr ough obscur e si de r oads, t hr ough t he
ki nd of pl aces t hey had not seen f or year s. She f el t uneasi ness at t he si ght
of t he t owns. Days passed bef or e she r eal i zed what i t was t hat she mi ssed
most : a gl i mpse of f r esh pai nt . The houses st ood l i ke men i n unpr essed sui t s,
who had l ost t he desi r e t o st and st r ai ght : t he cor ni ces wer e l i ke saggi ng
shoul der s, t he cr ooked por ch st eps l i ke t or n heml i nes, t he br oken wi ndows
l i ke pat ches, mended wi t h cl apboar d. The peopl e i n t he st r eet s st ar ed at t he
new car , not as one st ar es at a r ar e si ght , but as i f t he gl i t t er i ng bl ack
shape wer e an i mpossi bl e vi si on f r omanot her wor l d. Ther e wer e f ew vehi cl es
i n t he st r eet s and t oo many of t hemwer e hor se- dr awn. She had f or got t en t he
l i t er al shape and usage of hor sepower ; she di d not l i ke t o see i t s r et ur n.
She di d not l augh, t hat day at t he gr ade cr ossi ng, when Rear den chuckl ed,
poi nt i ng, and she saw t he t r ai n of a smal l l ocal r ai l r oad come t ot t er i ng f r om
behi nd a hi l l , dr awn by an anci ent l ocomot i ve t hat coughed bl ack smoke
t hr ough a t al l st ack.
" Oh God, Hank, i t ' s not f unny! "
" I know, " he sai d.
They wer e sevent y mi l es and an hour away f r omi t , when she sai d, " Hank, do
you see t he Taggar t Comet bei ng pul l ed acr oss t he cont i nent by a coal - bur ner
of t hat ki nd?"
" What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you? Pul l your sel f t oget her . "
" I ' msor r y . . . I t ' s j ust t hat I keep t hi nki ng i t won' t be any use, al l
my new t r ack and al l your new f ur naces, i f we don' t f i nd someone abl e t o
pr oduce Di esel engi nes. I f we don' t f i nd hi mf ast , "
" Ted Ni el sen of Col or ado i s your man. "
" Yes, i f he f i nds a way t o open hi s new pl ant . He' s sunk mor e money t han
he shoul d i nt o t he bonds of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. "
" That ' s t ur ned out t o be a pr et t y pr of i t abl e i nvest ment , hasn' t i t ?"
" Yes, but i t ' s hel d hi mup. Now he' s r eady t o go ahead, but he can' t f i nd
t he t ool s. Ther e ar e no machi ne t ool s t o buy, not anywher e, not at any pr i ce.
He' s get t i ng not hi ng but pr omi ses and del ays. He' s combi ng t he count r y,
l ooki ng f or ol d j unk t o r ecl ai m, f r omcl osed f act or i es. I f he doesn' t st ar t
soon"
" He wi l l . Who' s goi ng t o st op hi mnow?"
" Hank, " she sai d suddenl y, " coul d we go t o a pl ace I ' d l i ke t o see?"
" Sur e, Anywher e. Whi ch pl ace?"
" I t ' s i n Wi sconsi n. Ther e used t o be a gr eat mot or company t her e, i n my
f at her ' s t i me. We had a br anch l i ne ser vi ng i t , but we cl osed t he l i neabout
seven year s agowhen t hey cl osed t he f act or y. I t hi nk i t ' s one of t hose
bl i ght ed ar eas now. Maybe t her e' s st i l l some machi ner y l ef t t her e t hat Ted
Ni el sen coul d use. I t mi ght have been over l ookedt he pl ace i s f or got t en and
t her e' s no t r anspor t at i on t o i t at al l . "
" I ' l l f i nd i t . What was t he name of t he f act or y?"
" The Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or Company. "
" Oh, of cour se! That was one of t he best mot or f i r ms i n my yout h, per haps
t he best . I seemt o r emember t hat t her e was somet hi ng odd about t he way i t
went out of busi ness . . . can' t r ecal l what i t was. ' 1
I t t ook t hemt hr ee days of i nqui r i es, but t hey f ound t he bl eached,
abandoned r oadand now t hey wer e dr i vi ng t hr ough t he yel l ow l eaves t hat
gl i t t er ed l i ke a sea of gol d coi ns, t o t he Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or Company.
" Hank, what i f anyt hi ng happens t o Ted Ni el sen?" she asked suddenl y, as
t hey dr ove i n si l ence.
" Why shoul d anyt hi ng happen t o hi m?"
" I don' t know, but . . . wel l , t her e was Dwi ght Sander s. He vani shed.
Uni t ed Locomot i ves i s done f or now. And t he ot her pl ant s ar e i n no condi t i on
t o pr oduce Di esel s. I ' ve st opped l i st eni ng t o pr omi ses. And . . . and of what
use i s a r ai l r oad wi t hout mot i ve power ?"
" Of what use i s anyt hi ng, f or t hat mat t er , wi t hout i t ?"
The l eaves spar kl ed, swayi ng i n t he wi nd. They spr ead f or mi l es, f r om
gr ass t o br ush t o t r ees, wi t h t he mot i on and al l t he col or s of f i r e; t hey
seemed t o cel ebr at e an accompl i shed pur pose, bur ni ng i n unchecked, unt ouched
abundance.
Rear den smi l ed. " Ther e' s somet hi ng t o be sai d f or t he wi l der ness.
I ' mbegi nni ng t o l i ke i t . New count r y t hat nobody' s di scover ed. " She
nodded gai l y. " I t ' s good soi l l ook at t he way t hi ngs gr ow. I ' d cl ear t hat
br ush and I ' d bui l d a"
And t hen t hey st opped smi l i ng. The cor pse t hey saw i n t he weeds by t he
r oadsi de was a r ust y cyl i nder wi t h bi t s of gl asst he r emnant of a gas- st at i on
pump.
I t was t he onl y t hi ng l ef t vi si bl e. The f ew char r ed post s, t he sl ab of
concr et e and t he spar kl e of gl ass dust whi ch had been a gas st at i on
wer e swal l owed i n t he br ush, not t o be not i ced except by a car ef ul gl ance,
not t o be seen at al l i n anot her year .
They l ooked away. They dr ove on, not want i ng t o know what el se l ay hi dden
under t he mi l es of weeds. They f el t t he same wonder l i ke a wei ght i n t he
si l ence bet ween t hem: wonder as t o how much t he weeds had swal l owed and how
f ast .
The r oad ended abr upt l y behi nd t he t ur n of a hi l l . What r emai ned was a f ew
chunks of concr et e st i cki ng out of a l ong, pi t t ed st r et ch of t ar and mud. The
concr et e had been smashed by someone and car t ed away; even weeds coul d not
gr ow i n t he st r i p of ear t h l ef t behi nd. On t he cr est of a di st ant hi l l , a
si ngl e t el egr aph pol e st ood sl ant ed agai nst t he sky, l i ke a cr oss over a vast
gr ave.
I t t ook t hemt hr ee hour s and a punct ur ed t i r e t o cr awl i n l ow gear t hr ough
t r ackl ess sof t , t hr ough gul l i es, t hen down r ut s l ef t by car t wheel st o r each
t he set t l ement t hat l ay i n t he val l ey beyond t he hi l l wi t h t he t el egr aph
pol e.
A f ew houses st i l l st ood wi t hi n t he skel et on of what had once been an
i ndust r i al t own. Ever yt hi ng t hat coul d move, had moved away; but some human
bei ngs had r emai ned. The empt y st r uct ur es wer e ver t i cal r ubbl e; t hey had been
eat en, not by t i me, but by men: boar ds t or n out at r andom, mi ssi ng pat ches of
r oof s, hol es l ef t i n gut t ed cel l ar s. I t l ooked as i f bl i nd hands had sei zed
what ever f i t t ed t he need of t he moment , wi t h no concept of r emai ni ng i n
exi st ence t he next mor ni ng.
The i nhabi t ed houses wer e scat t er ed at r andomamong t he r ui ns; t he smoke
of t hei r chi mneys was t he onl y movement vi si bl e i n t own. A shel l of concr et e,
whi ch had been a school house, st ood on t he out ski r t s; i t l ooked l i ke a skul l ,
wi t h t he empt y socket s of gl assl ess wi ndows, wi t h a f ew st r ands of hai r st i l l
cl i ngi ng t o i t , i n t he shape of br oken wi r es.
Beyond t he t own, on a di st ant hi l l , st ood t he f act or y of t he Twent i et h
Cent ur y Mot or Company. I t s wal l s, r oof l i nes and smokest acks l ooked t r i m,
i mpr egnabl e l i ke a f or t r ess. I t woul d have seemed i nt act but f or a si l ver
wat er t ank: t he wat er t ank was t i pped si dewi se.
They saw no t r ace of a r oad t o t he f act or y i n t he t angl ed mi l es of t r ees
and hi l l si des. They dr ove t o t he door of t he f i r st house i n si ght t hat showed
a f eebl e si gnal of r i si ng smoke. The door was open. An ol d woman came
shuf f l i ng out at t he sound of t he mot or . She was bent and swol l en,
bar ef oot ed, dr essed i n a gar ment of f l our sacki ng. She l ooked at t he car
wi t hout ast oni shment , wi t hout cur i osi t y; i t was t he bl ank st ar e of a bei ng
who had l ost t he capaci t y t o f eel anyt hi ng but exhaust i on.
" Can you t el l me t he way t o t he f act or y?" asked Rear den.
The woman di d not answer at once; she l ooked as i f she woul d be unabl e t o
speak Engl i sh. " What f act or y?" she asked.
Rear den poi nt ed. " That one. "
" I t ' s cl osed. "
" I know i t ' s cl osed. But i s t her e any way t o get t her e?"
" I don' t know. "
" I s t her e any sor t of r oad?"
" Ther e' s r oads i n t he woods. "
" Any f or a car t o dr i ve t hr ough?"
" Maybe. "
" Wel l , whi ch woul d be t he best r oad t o t ake?"
" I don' t know. "
Thr ough t he open door , t hey coul d see t he i nt er i or of her house.
Ther e was a usel ess gas st ove, i t s oven st uf f ed wi t h r ags, ser vi ng as a
chest of dr awer s. Ther e was a st ove bui l t of st ones i n a cor ner , wi t h a f ew
l ogs bur ni ng under an ol d ket t l e, and l ong st r eaks of soot r i si ng up t he
wal l . A whi t e obj ect l ay pr opped agai nst t he l egs of a t abl e: i t was a
por cel ai n washbowl , t or n f r omt he wal l of some bat hr oom, f i l l ed wi t h wi l t ed
cabbages. A t al l ow candl e st ood i n a bot t l e on t he t abl e. Ther e was no pai nt
l ef t on t he f l oor ; i t s boar ds wer e scr ubbed t o a soggy gr ay t hat l ooked l i ke
t he vi sual expr essi on of t he pai n i n t he bones of t he per son who had bent and
scr ubbed and l ost t he bat t l e agai nst t he gr i me now soaked i nt o t he gr ai n of
t he boar ds.
A br ood of r agged chi l dr en had gat her ed at t he door behi nd t he woman,
si l ent l y, one by one. They st ar ed at t he car , not wi t h t he br i ght cur i osi t y
of chi l dr en, but wi t h t he t ensi on of savages r eady t o vani sh at t he f i r st
si gn of danger .
" How many mi l es i s i t t o t he f act or y?" asked Rear den.
" Ten mi l es, " sai d t he woman, and added, " Maybe f i ve. "
" How f ar i s t he next t own?"
" Ther e ai n' t any next t own. "
" Ther e ar e ot her t owns somewher e. I mean, how f ar ?"
" Yeah. Somewher e. "
I n t he vacant space by t he si de of t he house, t hey saw f aded r ags hangi ng
on a cl ot hesl i ne, whi ch was a pi ece of t el egr aph wi r e. Thr ee chi ckens pecked
among t he beds of a scr aggl y veget abl e gar den; a f our t h sat r oost i ng on a bar
whi ch was a l engt h of pl umber ' s pi pe. Two pi gs waddl ed i n a st r et ch of mud
and r ef use; t he st eppi ng st ones l ai d acr oss t he muck wer e pi eces of t he
hi ghway' s concr et e.
They hear d a scr eechi ng sound i n t he di st ance and saw a man dr awi ng wat er
f r oma publ i c wel l by means of a r ope pul l ey. They wat ched hi mas he came
sl owl y down t he st r eet . He car r i ed t wo bucket s t hat seemed t oo heavy f or hi s
t hi n ar ms. One coul d not t el l hi s age.
He appr oached and st opped, l ooki ng at t he car . Hi s eyes dar t ed at t he
st r anger s, t hen away, suspi ci ous and f ur t i ve.
Rear den t ook out a t en- dol l ar bi l l and ext ended i t t o hi m, aski ng, " Woul d
you pl ease t el l us t he way t o t he f act or y?"
The man st ar ed at t he money wi t h sul l en i ndi f f er ence, not movi ng, not
l i f t i ng a hand f or i t , st i l l cl ut chi ng t he t wo bucket s. I f one wer e ever t o
see a man devoi d of gr eed, t hought Dagny, t her e he was.
" We don' t need no money ar ound her e, " he sai d.
" Don' t you wor k f or a l i vi ng?"
" Yeah. "
" Wel l , what do you use f or money?"
The man put t he bucket s down, as i f i t had j ust occur r ed t o hi mt hat he
di d not have t o st and st r ai ni ng under t hei r wei ght . " We don' t use no money, "
he sai d. " We j ust t r ade t hi ngs amongst us. "
" How do you t r ade wi t h peopl e f r omot her t owns?"
" We don' t go t o no ot her t owns. "
" You don' t seemt o have i t easy her e. "
" What ' s t hat t o you?"
" Not hi ng. J ust cur i osi t y. Why do you peopl e st ay her e?"
" My ol d man used t o have a gr ocer y st or e her e. Onl y t he f act or y cl osed. "
" Why di dn' t you move?"
" Wher e t o?"
" Anywher e. "
" What f or ?"
Dagny was st ar i ng at t he t wo bucket s: t hey wer e squar e t i ns wi t h r ope
handl es; t hey had been oi l cans.
" Li st en, " sai d Rear den, " can you t el l us whet her t her e' s a r oad t o t he
f act or y?"
" Ther e' s pl ent y of r oads. "
" I s t her e one t hat a car can t ake?"
" I guess so. "
" Whi ch one?"
The man wei ghed t he pr obl emear nest l y f or some moment s. " Wel l , now, i f you
t ur n t o t he l ef t by t he school house, " he sai d, " and go on t i l you come t o t he
cr ooked oak, t her e' s a r oad up t her e t hat ' s f i ne when i t don' t r ai n f or a
coupl e of weeks. "
" When di d i t r ai n l ast ?"
" Yest er day. "
" I s t her e anot her r oad?"
" Wel l , you coul d go t hr ough Hanson' s past ur e and acr oss t he woods and t hen
t her e' s a good, sol i d r oad t her e, al l t he way down t o t he cr eek. "
" I s t her e a br i dge acr oss t he cr eek?"
" No. "
" What ar e t he ot her r oads?"
" Wel l , i f i t ' s a car r oad t hat you want , t her e' s one t he ot her si de of
Mi l l er ' s pat ch, i t ' s paved, i t ' s t he best r oad f or a car , you j ust t ur n t o
t he r i ght by t he school house and"
" But t hat r oad doesn' t go t o t he f act or y, does i t ?"
" No, not t o t he f act or y. "
" Al l r i ght , " sai d Rear den. " Guess we' l l f i nd our own way. "
He had pr essed t he st ar t er , when a r ock came smashi ng i nt o t he wi ndshi el d.
The gl ass was shat t er pr oof , but a sunbur st of cr acks spr ead acr oss i t . They
saw a r agged l i t t l e hoodl umvani shi ng behi nd a cor ner wi t h a scr eamof
l aught er , and t hey hear d t he shr i l l l aught er of chi l dr en answer i ng hi mf r om
behi nd some wi ndows or cr evi ces.
Rear den suppr essed a swear wor d. The man l ooked vapi dl y acr oss t he st r eet ,
f r owni ng a l i t t l e. The ol d woman l ooked on, wi t hout r eact i on. She had st ood
t her e si l ent l y, wat chi ng, wi t hout i nt er est or pur pose, l i ke a chemi cal
compound on a phot ogr aphi c pl at e, absor bi ng vi sual shapes because t hey wer e
t her e t o be absor bed, but unabl e ever t o f or many est i mat e of t he obj ect s of
her vi si on.
Dagny had been st udyi ng her f or some mi nut es. The swol l en shapel essness of
t he woman' s body di d not l ook l i ke t he pr oduct of age and negl ect : i t l ooked
as i f she was pr egnant . Thi s seemed i mpossi bl e, but gl anci ng cl oser Dagny saw
t hat her dust - col or ed hai r was not gr ay and t hat t her e wer e f ew wr i nkl es on
her f ace; i t was onl y t he vacant eyes, t he st ooped shoul der s, t he shuf f l i ng
movement s t hat gave her t he st amp of seni l i t y.
Dagny l eaned out and asked, " How ol d ar e you?"
The woman l ooked at her , not i n r esent ment , but mer el y as one l ooks at a
poi nt l ess quest i on. " Thi r t y- seven, " she answer ed.
They had dr i ven f i ve f or mer bl ocks away, when Dagny spoke.
" Hank, " she sai d i n t er r or , " t hat woman i s onl y t wo year s ol der t han I ! "
" Yes. "
" God, how di d t hey ever come t o such a st at e?"
He shr ugged. " Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
The l ast t hi ng t hey saw, as t hey l ef t t he t own, was a bi l l boar d. A desi gn
was st i l l vi si bl e on i t s peel i ng st r i ps, i mpr i nt ed i n t he dead gr ay t hat had
once been col or . I t adver t i sed a washi ng machi ne.
I n a di st ant f i el d, beyond t he t own, t hey saw t he f i gur e of a man movi ng
sl owl y, cont or t ed by t he ugl i ness of a physi cal ef f or t beyond t he pr oper use
of a human body: he was pushi ng a pl ow by hand.
They r eached t he f act or y of t he Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or Company t wo mi l es
and t wo hour s l at er . They knew, as t hey cl i mbed t he hi l l , t hat t hei r quest
was usel ess. A r ust ed padl ock hung on t he door of t he mai n ent r ance, but t he
huge wi ndows wer e shat t er ed and t he pl ace was open t o anyone, t o t he
woodchucks, t he r abbi t s and t he dr i ed l eaves t hat l ay i n dr i f t s i nsi de.
The f act or y had been gut t ed l ong ago. The gr eat pi eces of machi ner y had
been moved out by some ci vi l i zed meanst he neat hol es of t hei r bases st i l l
r emai ned i n t he concr et e of t he f l oor . The r est had gone t o r andoml oot er s.
Ther e was not hi ng l ef t , except r ef use whi ch t he needi est t r amp had f ound
wor t hl ess, pi l es of t wi st ed, r ust ed scr aps, of boar ds, pl ast er and gl ass
spl i nt er sand t he st eel st ai r ways, bui l t t o l ast and l ast i ng, r i si ng i n t r i m
spi r al s t o t he r oof .
They st opped i n t he gr eat hal l wher e a r ay of l i ght f el l di agonal l y f r oma
gap i n t he cei l i ng, and t he echoes of t hei r st eps r ang ar ound t hem, dyi ng f ar
away i n r ows of empt y r ooms. A bi r d dar t ed f r omamong t he st eel r af t er s and
went i n a hi ssi ng st r eak of wi ngs out i nt o t he sky, " We' d bet t er l ook t hr ough
i t , j ust i n case, " sai d Dagny. " You t ake t he shops and I ' l l t ake t he annexes.
Let ' s do i t as f ast as possi bl e. "
" I don' t l i ke t o l et you wander ar ound al one. I don' t know how saf e t hey
ar e, any of t hose f l oor s or st ai r ways. "
" Oh, nonsense! I can f i nd my way ar ound a f act or yor i n a wr ecki ng cr ew.
Let ' s get i t over wi t h. I want t o get out of her e. "
When she wal ked t hr ough t he si l ent yar dswher e st eel br i dges st i l l hung
over head, t r aci ng l i nes of geomet r i cal per f ect i on acr oss t he sky her onl y
wi sh was not t o see any of i t , but she f or ced her sel f t o l ook.
I t was l i ke havi ng t o per f or man aut opsy on t he body of one' s l ove. She
moved her gl ance as an aut omat i c sear chl i ght , her t eet h cl amped t i ght
t oget her . She wal ked r api dl yt her e was no necessi t y t o pause anywher e.
I t was i n a r oomof what had been t he l abor at or y t hat she st opped. I t was
a coi l of wi r e t hat made her st op. The coi l pr ot r uded f r oma pi l e of j unk.
She had never seen t hat par t i cul ar ar r angement of wi r es, yet i t seemed
f ami l i ar , as i f i t t ouched t he hi nt of some memor y, f ai nt and ver y di st ant .
She r eached f or t he coi l , but coul d not move i t : i t seemed t o be par t of some
obj ect bur i ed i n t he pi l e.
The r ooml ooked as i f i t had been an exper i ment al l abor at or yi f she was
r i ght i n j udgi ng t he pur pose of t he t or n r emnant s she saw on t he wal l s: a
gr eat many el ect r i cal out l et s, bi t s of heavy cabl e, l ead condui t s, gl ass
t ubi ng, bui l t - i n cabi net s wi t hout shel ves or door s. Ther e was a gr eat deal of
gl ass, r ubber , pl ast i c and met al i n t he j unk pi l e, and dar k gr ay spl i nt er s of
sl at e t hat had been a bl ackboar d. Scr aps of paper r ust l ed dr yl y al l over t he
f l oor . Ther e wer e al so r emnant s of t hi ngs whi ch had not been br ought her e by
t he owner of t hat r oom: popcor n wr apper s, a whi skey bot t l e, a conf essi on
magazi ne.
She at t empt ed t o ext r i cat e t he coi l f r omt he scr ap pi l e. I t woul d not
move; i t was par t of some l ar ge obj ect . She knel t and began t o di g t hr ough
t he j unk.
She had cut her hands, she was cover ed wi t h dust by t he t i me she st ood up
t o l ook at t he obj ect she had cl ear ed. I t was t he br oken r emnant of t he model
of a mot or . Most of i t s par t s wer e mi ssi ng, but enough was l ef t t o convey
some i dea of i t s f or mer shape and pur pose.
She had never seen a mot or of t hi s ki nd or anyt hi ng r esembl i ng i t .
She coul d not under st and t he pecul i ar desi gn of i t s par t s or t he f unct i ons
t hey wer e i nt ended t o per f or m.
She exami ned t he t ar ni shed t ubes and odd- shaped connect i ons. She t r i ed t o
guess t hei r pur pose, her mi nd goi ng over ever y t ype of mot or she knew and
ever y possi bl e ki nd of wor k i t s par t s coul d per f or m.
None f i t t ed t he model . I t l ooked l i ke an el ect r i c mot or , but she coul d not
t el l what f uel i t was i nt ended t o bur n. I t was not desi gned f or st eam, or
oi l , or anyt hi ng she coul d name.
Her sudden gasp was not a sound, but a j ol t t hat t hr ew her at t he j unk
pi l e. She was on her hands and knees, cr awl i ng over t he wr eckage, sei zi ng
ever y pi ece of paper i n si ght , f l i ngi ng i t away, sear chi ng f ur t her . Her hands
wer e shaki ng.
She f ound par t of what she hoped had r emai ned i n exi st ence. I t was a t hi n
sheaf of t ypewr i t t en pages cl amped t oget her t he r emnant of a manuscr i pt . I t s
begi nni ng and end wer e gone; t he bi t s of paper l ef t under t he cl amp showed
t he t hi ck number of pages i t had once cont ai ned. The paper was yel l owed and
dr y. The manuscr i pt had been a descr i pt i on of t he mot or .
Fr omt he empt y encl osur e of t he pl ant ' s power house, Rear den hear d her
voi ce scr eami ng, " Hank! " I t sounded l i ke a scr eamof t er r or .
He r an i n t he di r ect i on of t he voi ce. He f ound her st andi ng i n t he mi ddl e
of a r oom, her hands bl eedi ng, her st ocki ngs t or n, her sui t smear ed wi t h
dust , a bunch of paper s cl ut ched i n her hand.
" Hank, what does t hi s l ook l i ke?" she asked, poi nt i ng at an odd pi ece of
wr eckage at her f eet ; her voi ce had t he i nt ense, obsessed t one of a per son
st unned by a shock, cut of f f r omr eal i t y. " What does i t l ook l i ke?"
" Ar e you hur t ? What happened?
" No! . . . Oh, never mi nd, don' t l ook at me! I ' mal l r i ght . Look at t hi s.
Do you know what t hat i s?"
" What di d you do t o your sel f ?"
" I had t o di g i t out of t her e. I ' mal l r i ght . "
" You' r e shaki ng. "
" You wi l l , t oo, i n a moment . Hank! Look at i t . J ust l ook and t el l me what
you t hi nk i t i s. "
He gl anced down, t hen l ooked at t ent i vel yt hen he was si t t i ng on t he f l oor ,
st udyi ng t he obj ect i nt ent l y. " I t ' s a queer way t o put a mot or t oget her , " he
sai d, f r owni ng.
" Read t hi s, " she sai d, ext endi ng t he pages.
He r ead, l ooked up and sai d, " Good God! "
She was si t t i ng on t he f l oor besi de hi m, and f or a moment t hey coul d say
not hi ng el se.
" I t was t he coi l , " she sai d. She f el t as i f her mi nd wer e r aci ng, she
coul d not keep up wi t h al l t he t hi ngs whi ch a sudden bl ast had opened t o her
vi si on, and her wor ds came hur t l i ng agai nst one anot her . " I t was t he coi l
t hat I not i ced f i r st because I had seen dr awi ngs l i ke i t , not qui t e, but
somet hi ng l i ke i t , year s ago, when I was i n school i t was i n an ol d book, i t
was gi ven up as i mpossi bl e l ong, l ong agobut I l i ked t o r ead ever yt hi ng I
coul d f i nd about r ai l r oad mot or s. That book sai d t hat t her e was a t i me when
men wer e t hi nki ng of i t t hey wor ked on i t , t hey spent year s on exper i ment s,
but t hey coul dn' t sol ve i t and t hey gave i t up. I t was f or got t en f or
gener at i ons. I di dn' t t hi nk t hat any l i vi ng sci ent i st ever t hought of i t now.
But someone di d.
Someone has sol ved i t , now, t oday! . . . Hank, do you under st and?
Those men, l ong ago, t r i ed t o i nvent a mot or t hat woul d dr aw st at i c
el ect r i ci t y f r omt he at mospher e, conver t i t and cr eat e i t s own power as i t
went al ong. They coul dn' t do i t . They gave i t up. " She poi nt ed at t he br oken
shape. " But t her e i t i s. "
He nodded. He was not smi l i ng. He sat l ooki ng at t he r emnant , i nt ent on
some t hought of hi s own; i t di d not seemt o be a happy t hought .
" Hank! Don' t you under st and what t hi s means? I t ' s t he gr eat est r evol ut i on
i n power mot or s si nce t he i nt er nal - combust i on engi ne
gr eat er t han t hat ! I t wi pes ever yt hi ng out and makes ever yt hi ng possi bl e.
To hel l wi t h Dwi ght Sander s and al l of t hem! Who' l l want t o l ook at a Di esel ?
Who' l l want t o wor r y about oi l , coal or r ef uel i ng st at i ons? Do you see what I
see? A br and- new l ocomot i ve hal f t he si ze of a si ngl e Di esel uni t , and wi t h
t en t i mes t he power . A sel f - gener at or , wor ki ng on a f ew dr ops of f uel , wi t h
no l i mi t s t o i t s ener gy. The cl eanest , swi f t est , cheapest means of mot i on
ever devi sed. Do you see what t hi s wi l l do t o our t r anspor t at i on syst ems and
t o t he count r yi n about one year ?"
Ther e was no spar k of exci t ement i n hi s f ace. He sai d sl owl y, " Who
desi gned i t ? Why was i t l ef t her e?"
" We' l l f i nd out . "
He wei ghed t he pages i n hi s hand r ef l ect i vel y. " Dagny, " he asked, " i f you
don' t f i nd t he man who made i t , wi l l you be abl e t o r econst r uct t hat mot or
f r omwhat i s l ef t ?"
She t ook a l ong moment , t hen t he wor d f el l wi t h a si nki ng sound: " No. "
" Nobody wi l l . He had i t al l r i ght . I t wor kedj udgi ng by what he wr i t es
her e. I t i s t he gr eat est t hi ng I ' ve ever l ai d eyes on. I t was. We can' t make
i t wor k agai n. To suppl y what ' s mi ssi ng woul d t ake a mi nd as gr eat as hi s. "
" I ' l l f i nd hi mi f I have t o dr op ever y ot her t hi ng I ' mdoi ng. "
" and i f he' s st i l l al i ve. "
She hear d t he unst at ed guess i n t he t one of hi s voi ce. " Why do you say i t
l i ke t hat ?"
" I don' t t hi nk he i s. I f he wer e, woul d he l eave an i nvent i on of t hi s ki nd
t o r ot on a j unk pi l e? Woul d he abandon an achi evement of t hi s si ze? I f he
wer e st i l l al i ve, you woul d have had t he l ocomot i ves wi t h t he sel f - gener at or s
year s ago. And you woul dn' t have had t o l ook f or hi m, because t he whol e wor l d
woul d know hi s name by now. "
" I don' t t hi nk t hi s model was made so ver y l ong ago. "
He l ooked at t he paper of t he manuscr i pt and at t he r ust y t ar ni sh of t he
mot or . " About t en year s ago, I ' d guess. Maybe a l i t t l e l onger . "
" We' ve got t o f i nd hi mor somebody who knew hi m. Thi s i s mor e i mpor t ant "
t han anyt hi ng owned or manuf act ur ed by anyone t oday. I don' t t hi nk we' l l
f i nd hi m. And i f we don' t , nobody wi l l be abl e t o r epeat hi s per f or mance.
Nobody wi l l r ebui l d hi s mot or . Ther e' s not enough of i t l ef t . I t ' s onl y a
l ead, an i nval uabl e l ead, but i t woul d t ake t he sor t of mi nd t hat ' s bor n once
i n a cent ur y, t o compl et e i t . Do you see our pr esent - day mot or desi gner s
at t empt i ng i t ?"
" No. "
" Ther e' s not a f i r st - r at e desi gner l ef t . Ther e hasn' t been a new i dea i n
mot or s f or year s. That ' s one pr of essi on t hat seems t o be dyi ngor dead. "
" Hank, do you know what t hat mot or woul d have meant , i f bui l t ?"
He chuckl ed br i ef l y. " I ' d say: about t en year s added t o t he l i f e of ever y
per son i n t hi s count r yi f you consi der how many t hi ngs i t woul d have made
easi er and cheaper t o pr oduce, how many hour s of human l abor i t woul d have
r el eased f or ot her wor k, and how much mor e anyone' s wor k woul d have br ought
hi m. Locomot i ves? What about aut omobi l es and shi ps and ai r pl anes wi t h a mot or
of t hi s ki nd? And t r act or s.
And power pl ant s. Al l hooked t o an unl i mi t ed suppl y of ener gy, wi t h no
f uel t o pay f or , except a f ew penni es' wor t h t o keep t he conver t er goi ng.
That mot or coul d have set t he whol e count r y i n mot i on and on f i r e. I t woul d
have br ought an el ect r i c l i ght bul b i nt o ever y hol e, even i nt o t he homes of
t hose peopl e we saw down i n t he val l ey. "
" I t woul d have? I t wi l l . I ' mgoi ng t o f i nd t he man who made i t . "
" We' l l t r y. "
He r ose abr upt l y, but st opped t o gl ance down at t he br oken r emnant and
sai d, wi t h a chuckl e t hat was not gay, Ther e was t he mot or f or t he J ohn Gal t
Li ne. "
Then he spoke i n t he br usque manner of an execut i ve. " Fi r st , we' l l t r y t o
see i f we can f i nd t hei r per sonnel of f i ce her e. We' l l l ook f or t hei r r ecor ds,
i f t her e' s any l ef t . We want t he names of t hei r r esear ch st af f and t hei r
engi neer s. I don' t know who owns t hi s pl ace now, and I suspect t hat t he
owner s wi l l be har d t o f i nd, or t hey woul dn' t have l et i t come t o t hi s. Then
we' l l go over ever y r oomi n t he l abor at or y.
Lat er , we' l l get a f ew engi neer s t o f l y her e and comb t he r est of t he
pl ace. "
They st ar t ed out , but she st opped f or a moment on t he t hr eshol d.
" Hank, t hat mot or was t he most val uabl e t hi ng i nsi de t hi s f act or y, "
she sai d, her voi ce l ow. " I t was mor e val uabl e t han t he whol e f act or y and
ever yt hi ng i t ever cont ai ned. Yet i t was passed up and l ef t i n t he r ef use. I t
was t he one t hi ng nobody f ound wor t h t he t r oubl e of t aki ng. "
" That ' s what f r i ght ens me about t hi s, " he answer ed.
The per sonnel of f i ce di d not t ake t heml ong. They f ound i t by t he si gn
whi ch was l ef t on t he door , but i t was t he onl y t hi ng l ef t . Ther e was no
f ur ni t ur e i nsi de, no paper s, not hi ng but t he spl i nt er s of smashed wi ndows.
They went back t o t he r oomof t he mot or . Cr awl i ng on hands and knees, t hey
exami ned ever y scr ap of t he j unk t hat l i t t er ed t he f l oor .
Ther e was l i t t l e t o f i nd. They put asi de t he paper s t hat seemed t o cont ai n
l abor at or y not es, but none r ef er r ed t o t he mot or , and t her e wer e no pages of
t he manuscr i pt among t hem. The popcor n wr apper s and t he whi skey bot t l e
t est i f i ed t o t he ki nd of i nvadi ng hor des t hat had r ol l ed t hr ough t he r oom,
l i ke waves washi ng t he r emnant s of dest r uct i on away t o unknown bot t oms.
They put asi de a f ew bi t s of met al t hat coul d have bel onged t o t he mot or ,
but t hese wer e t oo smal l t o be of val ue. The mot or l ooked as i f par t s of i t
had been r i pped of f , per haps by someone who t hought he coul d put t hemt o some
cust omar y use. What had r emai ned was t oo unf ami l i ar t o i nt er est anybody.
On achi ng knees, her pal ms spr ead f l at upon t he gr i t t y f l oor , she f el t t he
anger t r embl i ng wi t hi n her , t he hur t i ng, hel pl ess anger t hat answer s t he
si ght of desecr at i on. She wonder ed whet her someone' s di aper s hung on a
cl ot hesl i ne made of t he mot or ' s mi ssi ng wi r eswhet her i t s wheel s had become a
r ope pul l ey over a communal wel l whet her i t s cyl i nder was now a pot
cont ai ni ng ger ani ums on t he wi ndow si l l of t he sweet hear t of t he man wi t h t he
whi skey bot t l e.
Ther e was a r emnant of l i ght on t he hi l l , but a bl ue haze was movi ng i n
upon t he val l eys, and t he r ed and gol d of t he l eaves was spr eadi ng t o t he sky
i n st r i ps of sunset .
I t was dar k when t hey f i ni shed. She r ose and l eaned agai nst t he empt y
f r ame of t he wi ndow f or a t ouch of cool ai r on her f or ehead. The sky was dar k
bl ue. " I t coul d have set t he whol e count r y i n mot i on and on f i r e. " She l ooked
down at t he mot or . She l ooked out at t he count r y. She moaned suddenl y, hi t by
a si ngl e l ong shudder , and dr opped her head on her ar m, st andi ng pr essed t o
t he f r ame of t he wi ndow.
" What ' s t he mat t er ?" he asked.
She di d not answer .
He l ooked out . Far bel ow, i n t he val l ey, i n t he gat her i ng ni ght , t her e
t r embl ed a f ew pal e smear s whi ch wer e t he l i ght s of t al l ow candl es.

CHAPTER X
WYATT'S TORCH

" God have mer cy on us, ma' am! " sai d t he cl er k of t he Hal l of Recor ds.
" Nobody knows who owns t hat f act or y now. I guess nobody wi l l ever know i t , "
The cl er k sat at a desk i n a gr ound- f l oor of f i ce, wher e dust l ay
undi st ur bed on t he f i l es and f ew vi si t or s ever cal l ed. He l ooked at t he
shi ni ng aut omobi l e par ked out si de hi s wi ndow, i n t he muddy squar e t hat had
once been t he cent er of a pr osper ous count y seat ; he l ooked wi t h a f ai nt ,
wi st f ul wonder at hi s t wo unknown vi si t or s.
" Why?" asked Dagny.
He poi nt ed hel pl essl y at t he mass of paper s he had t aken out of t he f i l es.
" The cour t wi l l have t o deci de who owns i t , whi ch I don' t t hi nk any cour t can
do. I f a cour t ever get s t o i t . I don' t t hi nk i t wi l l . "
" Why? What happened?"
" Wel l , i t was sol d out t he Twent i et h Cent ur y, I mean. The Twent i et h
Cent ur y Mot or Company. I t was sol d t wi ce, at t he same t i me and t o t wo
di f f er ent set s of owner s. That was sor t of a bi g scandal at t he t i me, t wo
year s ago, and now i t ' s j ust " he poi nt ed" j ust a bunch of paper l yi ng ar ound,
wai t i ng f or a cour t hear i ng. I don' t see how any j udge wi l l be abl e t o
unt angl e any pr oper t y r i ght s out of i t or any r i ght at al l . "
" Woul d you t el l me pl ease j ust what happened?"
" Wel l , t he l ast l egal owner of t he f act or y was The Peopl e' s Mor t gage
Company, of Rome, Wi sconsi n. That ' s t he t own t he ot her si de of t he f act or y,
t hi r t y mi l es nor t h. That Mor t gage Company was a sor t of noi sy out f i t t hat di d
a l ot of adver t i si ng about easy cr edi t . Mar k Yont s was t he head of i t . Nobody
knew wher e he came f r omand nobody knows wher e he' s gone t o now, but what
t hey di scover ed, t he mor ni ng af t er The Peopl e' s Mor t gage Company col l apsed,
was t hat Mar k Yont s had sol d t he Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or f act or y t o a bunch
of sucker s f r omSout h Dakot a, and t hat he' d al so gi ven i t as col l at er al f or a
l oan f r oma bank i n I l l i noi s. And when t hey t ook a l ook at t he f act or y, t hey
di scover ed t hat he' d moved al l t he machi ner y out and sol d i t pi ecemeal , God
onl y knows wher e and t o whom. So i t seems l i ke ever ybody owns t he pl aceand
nobody. That ' s how i t st ands nowt he Sout h Dakot ans and t he bank and t he
at t or ney f or t he cr edi t or s of The Peopl e' s Mor t gage Company al l sui ng one
anot her , al l cl ai mi ng t hi s f act or y, and nobody havi ng t he r i ght t o move a
wheel i n i t , except t hat t her e' s no wheel s l ef t t o move. "
" Di d Mar k Yont s oper at e t he f act or y bef or e he sol d i t ?"
" Lor d, no, ma' am! He wasn' t t he ki nd t hat ever oper at es anyt hi ng.
He di dn' t want t o make money, onl y t o get i t . Guess he got i t , t oo
mor e t han anyone coul d have made out of t hat f act or y. "
He wonder ed why t he bl ond, har d- f aced man, who sat wi t h t he woman i n f r ont
of hi s desk, l ooked gr i ml y out t he wi ndow at t hei r car , at a l ar ge obj ect
wr apped i n canvas, r oped t i ght l y under t he r ai sed cover of t he car ' s l uggage
compar t ment .
" What happened t o t he f act or y r ecor ds?"
" Whi ch do you mean, ma' am?"
" Thei r pr oduct i on r ecor ds. Thei r wor k r ecor ds. Thei r . . . per sonnel
f i l es. "
" Oh, t her e' s not hi ng l ef t of t hat now. Ther e' s been a l ot of l oot i ng goi ng
on. Al l t he mi xed owner s gr abbed what f ur ni t ur e or t hi ngs t hey coul d haul out
of t her e, even i f t he sher i f f di d put a padl ock on t he door . The paper s and
st uf f l i ke t hat I guess i t was al l t aken by t he scavenger s f r omSt ar nesvi l l e,
t hat ' s t he pl ace down i n t he val l ey, wher e t hey' r e havi ng i t pr et t y t ough
t hese days. They bur ned t he st uf f f or ki ndl i ng, most l i kel y. "
" I s t her e anyone l ef t her e who used t o wor k i n t he f act or y?" asked
Rear den.
" No, si r . Not ar ound her e. They al l l i ved down i n St ar nesvi l l e. "
" Al l of t hem?" whi sper ed Dagny; she was t hi nki ng of t he r ui ns. " The . . .
engi neer s, t oo?"
" Yes, ma' am. That was t he f act or y t own. They' ve al l gone, l ong ago. "
" Do you happen t o r emember t he names of any men who wor ked t her e?"
" No, ma' am. "
" What owner was t he l ast t o oper at e t he f act or y?" asked Rear den.
" I coul dn' t say, si r . Ther e' s been so much t r oubl e up t her e and t he pl ace
has changed hands so many t i mes, si nce ol d J ed St ar nes di ed.
He' s t he man who bui l t t he f act or y. He made t hi s whol e par t of t he
count r y, I guess. He di ed t wel ve year s ago. "
" Can you gi ve us t he names of al l t he owner s si nce?"
" No, si r . We had a f i r e i n t he ol d cour t house, about t hr ee year s ago, and
al l t he ol d r ecor ds ar e gone. I don' t know wher e you coul d t r ace t hemnow. "
" You don' t know how t hi s Mar k Yont s happened t o acqui r e t he f act or y?"
" Yes, I know t hat . He bought i t f r omMayor Bascomof Rome. How Mayor
Bascomhappened t o own i t , I don' t know. "
" Wher e i s Mayor Bascomnow?
" St i l l t her e, i n Rome. "
" Thank you ver y much, " sai d Rear den, r i si ng. " We' l l cal l on hi m. "
They wer e at t he door when t he cl er k asked, " What i s i t you' r e l ooki ng
f or , si r ?"
" We' r e l ooki ng f or a f r i end of our s, " sai d Rear den. " A f r i end we' ve l ost ,
who used t o wor k i n t hat f act or y. "
Mayor Bascomof Rome, Wi sconsi n, l eaned back i n hi s chai r ; hi s chest and
st omach f or med a pear - shaped out l i ne under hi s soi l ed shi r t .
The ai r was a mi xt ur e of sun and dust , pr essi ng heavi l y upon t he por ch of
hi s house. He waved hi s ar m, t he r i ng on hi s f i nger f l ashi ng a l ar ge t opaz of
poor qual i t y.
" No use, no use, l ady, absol ut el y no use, " he sai d. " Woul d be j ust a wast e
of your t i me, t r yi ng t o quest i on t he f ol ks ar ound her e. Ther e' s no f act or y
peopl e l ef t , and nobody t hat woul d r emember much about t hem. So many f ami l i es
have moved away t hat what ' s l ef t her e i s pl ai n no good, i f I do say so
mysel f , pl ai n no good, j ust bei ng Mayor of a bunch of t r ash. "
He had of f er ed chai r s t o hi s t wo vi si t or s, but he di d not mi nd i t i f t he
l ady pr ef er r ed t o st and at t he por ch r ai l i ng. He l eaned back, st udyi ng her
l ong- l i ned f i gur e; hi gh- cl ass mer chandi se, he t hought ; but t hen, t he man wi t h
her was obvi ousl y r i ch.
Dagny st ood l ooki ng at t he st r eet s of Rome. Ther e wer e houses, si dewal ks,
l amppost s, even a si gn adver t i si ng sof t dr i nks; but t hey l ooked as i f i t wer e
now onl y a mat t er of i nches and hour s bef or e t he t own woul d r each t he st age
of St ar nesvi l l e.
" Naw, t her e' s no f act or y r ecor ds l ef t , " sai d Mayor Bascom. " I f t hat ' s what
you want t o f i nd, l ady, gi ve i t up. I t ' s l i ke chasi ng l eaves i n a st or mnow.
J ust l i ke l eaves i n a st or m. Who car es about paper s? At a t i me l i ke t hi s,
what peopl e save i s good, sol i d, mat er i al obj ect s. One' s got t o be
pr act i cal . "
Thr ough t he dust y wi ndowpanes, t hey coul d see t he l i vi ng r oomof hi s
house: t her e wer e Per si an r ugs on a buckl ed wooden f l oor , a por t abl e bar wi t h
chr omi umst r i ps agai nst a wal l st ai ned by t he seepage of l ast year ' s r ai ns,
an expensi ve r adi o wi t h an ol d ker osene l amp pl aced on t op of i t .
" Sur e, i t ' s me t hat sol d t he f act or y t o Mar k Yont s. Mar k was a ni ce
f el l ow, a ni ce, l i vel y, ener get i c f el l ow. Sur e, he di d t r i ma f ew cor ner s,
but who doesn' t ? Of cour se, he went a bi t t oo f ar . That , I di dn' t expect .
I t hought he was smar t enough t o st ay wi t hi n t he l awwhat ever ' s l ef t of i t
nowadays. "
Mayor Bascomsmi l ed, l ooki ng at t hemi n a manner of pl aci d f r ankness. Hi s
eyes wer e shr ewd wi t hout i nt el l i gence, hi s smi l e good- nat ur ed wi t hout
ki ndness.
" I don' t t hi nk you f ol ks ar e det ect i ves, " he sai d, " but even i f you wer e,
i t woul dn' t mat t er t o me. I di dn' t get any r ake- of f f r omMar k, he di dn' t l et
me i n on any of hi s deal s, I haven' t any i dea wher e he' s gone t o now. " He
si ghed. " I l i ked t hat f el l ow. Wi sh he' d st ayed ar ound. Never mi nd t he Sunday
ser mons. He had t o l i ve, di dn' t he? He was no wor se t han anybody, onl y
smar t er . Some get caught at i t and some don' t
t hat ' s t he onl y di f f er ence. . . . Nope, I di dn' t know what he was goi ng t o
do wi t h i t , when he bought t hat f act or y. Sur e, he pai d me qui t e a bi t mor e
t han t he ol d booby t r ap was wor t h. Sur e, he was doi ng me a f avor when he
bought i t . Nope, I di dn' t put any pr essur e on hi mt o make hi mbuy i t . Wasn' t
necessar y. I ' d done hi ma f ew f avor s bef or e. Ther e' s pl ent y of l aws t hat ' s
sor t of made of r ubber , and a mayor ' s i n a posi t i on t o st r et ch t hema bi t f or
a f r i end. Wel l , what t he hel l ? That ' s t he onl y way anybody ever get s r i ch i n
t hi s wor l d" he gl anced at t he l uxur i ous bl ack car " as you ought t o know. "
" You wer e t el l i ng us about t he f act or y, " sai d Rear den, t r yi ng t o cont r ol
hi msel f .
" What I can' t st and, " sai d Mayor Bascom, " i s peopl e who t al k about
pr i nci pl es. No pr i nci pl e ever f i l l ed anybody' s mi l k bot t l e. The onl y t hi ng
t hat count s i n l i f e i s sol i d, mat er i al asset s. I t ' s no t i me f or t heor i es,
when ever yt hi ng i s f al l i ng t o pi eces ar ound us. Wel l , meI don' t ai mt o go
under . Let t hemkeep t hei r i deas and I ' l l t ake t he f act or y. I don' t want
i deas, I j ust want my t hr ee squar e meal s a day. "
" Why di d you buy t hat f act or y?"
" Why does anybody buy any busi ness? To squeeze what ever can be squeezed
out of i t . I know a good chance when I see i t . I t was a bankr upt cy sal e and
nobody much who' d want t o bi d on t he ol d mess. So I got t he pl ace f or
peanut s. Di dn' t have t o hol d i t l ong, ei t her Mar k t ook i t of f my hands i n
t wo- t hr ee mont hs. Sur e, i t was a smar t deal , i f I say so mysel f . No bi g
busi ness t ycoon coul d have done any bet t er wi t h i t . "
" Was t he f act or y oper at i ng when you t ook i t over ?"
" Naw. I t was shut down. "
" Di d you at t empt t o r eopen i t ?"
" Not me. I ' ma pr act i cal per son. "
" Can you r ecal l t he names of any men who wor ked t her e?"
" No. Never met ' em. "
" Di d you move anyt hi ng out of t he f act or y?"
" Wel l , I ' l l t el l you. I t ook a l ook ar oundand what I l i ked was ol d J ed' s
desk. Ol d l ed St ar nes. He was a r eal bi g shot i n hi s t i me. Wonder f ul desk,
sol i d mahogany. So I car t ed i t home. And some execut i ve, don' t know who he
was, had a st al l shower i n hi s bat hr oom, t he l i ke of whi ch I never saw. A
gl ass door wi t h a mer mai d cut i n t he gl ass, r eal ar t wor k, and hot st uf f ,
t oo, hot t er t han any oi l pai nt i ng. So I had t hat shower l i f t ed and moved
her e. What t he hel l , I owned i t , di dn' t I ? I was ent i t l ed t o get somet hi ng
val uabl e out of t hat f act or y. "
" Whose bankr upt cy sal e was i t , when you bought t he f act or y?"
" Oh, t hat was t he bi g cr ash of t he Communi t y Nat i onal Bank i n Madi son.
Boy, was t hat a cr ash! I t j ust about f i ni shed t he whol e st at e of Wi sconsi n
sur e f i ni shed t hi s par t of i t . Some say i t was t hi s mot or f act or y t hat br oke
t he bank, but ot her s say i t was onl y t he l ast dr op i n a l eaki ng bucket ,
because t he Communi t y Nat i onal had bumi nvest ment s al l over t hr ee or f our
st at es. Eugene Lawson was t he head of i t . The banker wi t h a hear t , t hey
cal l ed hi m. He was qui t e f amous i n t hese par t s t wo- t hr ee year s ago. "
" Di d Lawson oper at e t he f act or y?"
" No. He mer el y l ent an awf ul l ot of money on i t , mor e t han he coul d ever
hope t o get back out of t he ol d dump. When t he f act or y bust ed, t hat was t he
l ast st r aw f or Gene Lawson. The bank bust ed t hr ee mont hs l at er . " He si ghed.
" I t hi t t he f ol ks pr et t y har d ar ound her e. They al l had t hei r l i f e savi ngs i n
t he Communi t y Nat i onal . "
Mayor Bascoml ooked r egr et f ul l y past hi s por ch r ai l i ng at hi s t own.
He j er ked hi s t humb at a f i gur e acr oss t he st r eet : i t was a whi t e- hai r ed
char woman, movi ng pai nf ul l y on her knees, scr ubbi ng t he st eps of a house.
" See t hat woman, f or i nst ance? They used t o be sol i d, r espect abl e f ol ks.
Her husband owned t he dr y- goods st or e. He wor ked al l hi s l i f e t o pr ovi de f or
her i n her ol d age, and he di d, t oo, by t he t i me he di ed
onl y t he money was i n t he Communi t y Nat i onal Bank. "
" Who oper at ed t he f act or y when i t f ai l ed?"
" Oh, t hat was some qui cky cor por at i on cal l ed Amal gamat ed Ser vi ce, I nc.
J ust a puf f - bal l . Came up out of not hi ng and went back t o i t . "
" Wher e ar e i t s member s?"
" Wher e ar e t he pi eces of a puf f - bal l when i t bur st s? Tr y and t r ace t hem
al l over t he Uni t ed St at es. Tr y i t . "
" Wher e i s Eugene Lawson?"
" Oh, hi m? He' s done al l r i ght . He' s got a j ob i n Washi ngt oni n t he Bur eau
of Economi c Pl anni ng and Nat i onal Resour ces. "
Rear den r ose t oo f ast , t hr own t o hi s f eet by a j ol t of anger , t hen sai d,
cont r ol l i ng hi msel f , " Thank you f or t he i nf or mat i on. "
" You' r e wel come, f r i end, you' r e wel come, " sai d Mayor Bascompl aci dl y. " I
don' t know what i t i s you' r e af t er , but t ake my wor d f or i t , gi ve i t up.
Ther e' s not hi ng mor e t o be had out of t hat f act or y. "
" I t ol d you t hat we ar e l ooki ng f or a f r i end of our s. "
" Wel l , have i t your way. Must be a pr et t y good f r i end, i f you' l l go t o so
much t r oubl e t o f i nd hi m, you and t he char mi ng l ady who i s not your Wi f e. "
Dagny saw Rear den' s f ace go whi t e, so t hat even hi s l i ps became a
scul pt ur ed f eat ur e, i ndi st i ngui shabl e agai nst hi s ski n. " Keep your di r t y "
he began, but she st epped bet ween t hem.
" Why do you t hi nk t hat I amnot hi s wi f e?" she asked cal ml y.
Mayor Bascoml ooked ast oni shed by Rear den' s r eact i on; he had made t he
r emar k wi t hout mal i ce, mer el y l i ke a f el l ow cheat di spl ayi ng hi s shr ewdness
t o hi s par t ner s i n gui l t .
" Lady, I ' ve seen a l ot i n my l i f et i me, " he sai d good- nat ur edl y. " Mar r i ed
peopl e don' t l ook as i f t hey have a bedr oomon t hei r mi nds when t hey l ook at
each ot her . I n t hi s wor l d, ei t her you' r e vi r t uous or you enj oy your sel f . Not
bot h, l ady, not bot h. "
" I ' ve asked hi ma quest i on, " she sai d t o Rear den i n t i me t o si l ence hi m.
" He' s gi ven me an i nst r uct i ve expl anat i on. "
" I f you want a t i p, l ady, " sai d Mayor Bascom, " get your sel f a weddi ng r i ng
f r omt he di me st or e and wear i t . I t ' s not sur e f i r e, but i t hel ps. "
" Thank you, " she sai d, " Good- bye. "
The st er n, st r essed cal mof her manner was a command t hat made Rear den
f ol l ow her back t o t hei r car i n si l ence.
They wer e mi l es beyond t he t own when he sai d, not l ooki ng at her , hi s
voi ce desper at e and l ow, " Dagny, Dagny, Dagny . . . I ' msor r y! "
" I ' mnot . "
Moment s l at er , when she saw t he l ook of cont r ol r et ur ni ng t o hi s f ace, she
sai d, " Don' t ever get angr y at a man f or st at i ng t he t r ut h. "
" That par t i cul ar t r ut h was none of hi s busi ness. "
" Hi s par t i cul ar est i mat e of i t was none of your concer n or mi ne. "
He sai d t hr ough hi s t eet h, not as an answer , but as i f t he si ngl e t hought
bat t er i ng hi s br ai n t ur ned i nt o sounds agai nst hi s wi l l , ' T
coul dn' t pr ot ect you f r omt hat unspeakabl e l i t t l e"
" I di dn' t need pr ot ect i on. "
He r emai ned si l ent , not l ooki ng at her .
" Hank, when you' r e abl e t o keep down t he anger , t omor r ow or next week,
gi ve some t hought t o t hat man' s expl anat i on and see i f you r ecogni ze any par t
of i t . "
He j er ked hi s head t o gl ance at her , but sai d not hi ng.
When he spoke, a l ong t i me l at er , i t was onl y t o say i n a t i r ed, even
voi ce, " We can' t cal l New Yor k and have our engi neer s come her e t o sear ch t he
f act or y. We can' t meet t hemher e. We can' t l et i t be known t hat we f ound t he
mot or t oget her . . . . I had f or got t en al l t hat . . .
up t her e . . . i n t he l abor at or y. "
" Let me cal l Eddi e, when we f i nd a t el ephone. I ' l l have hi msend t wo
engi neer s f r omt he Taggar t st af f . I ' mher e al one, on my vacat i on, f or al l
t hey' l l know or have t o know. "
They dr ove t wo hundr ed mi l es bef or e t hey f ound a l ong- di st ance t el ephone
l i ne. When she cal l ed Eddi e Wi l l er s, he gasped, hear i ng her voi ce.
" Dagny! For God' s sake, wher e ar e you?"
" I n Wi sconsi n. Why?"
" 1 di dn' t know wher e t o r each you. You' d bet t er come back at once.
As f ast as you can. "
" What happened?"
" Not hi ngyet . But t her e ar e t hi ngs goi ng on, whi ch . . . You' d bet t er st op
t hemnow, i f you can. I f anybody can. "
" What t hi ngs?"
" Haven' t you been r eadi ng t he newspaper s?"
" No. "
" I can' t t el l you over t he phone. I can' t gi ve you al l t he det ai l s.
Dagny, you' l l t hi nk I ' mi nsane, but I t hi nk t hey' r e pl anni ng t o ki l l
Col or ado. "
" I ' l l come back at once, " she sai d.
Cut i nt o t he gr ani t e of Manhat t an, under t he Taggar t Ter mi nal , t her e wer e
t unnel s whi ch had once been used as si di ngs, at a t i me when t r af f i c r an i n
cl i cki ng cur r ent s t hr ough ever y ar t er y of t he Ter mi nal ever y hour of t he day.
The need f or space had shr unk t hr ough t he year s, wi t h t he shr i nki ng of t he
t r af f i c, and t he si de t unnel s had been abandoned, l i ke dr y r i ver beds; a f ew
l i ght s r emai ned as bl ue pat ches on t he gr ani t e over r ai l s l ef t t o r ust on t he
gr ound.
Dagny pl aced t he r emnant of t he mot or i nt o a vaul t i n one of t he t unnel s;
t he vaul t had once cont ai ned an emer gency el ect r i c gener at or , whi ch had been
r emoved l ong ago. She di d not t r ust t he usel ess young men of t he Taggar t
r esear ch st af f ; t her e wer e onl y t wo engi neer s of t al ent among t hem, who coul d
appr eci at e her di scover y. She had shar ed her secr et wi t h t he t wo and sent
t hemt o sear ch t he f act or y i n Wi sconsi n. Then she had hi dden t he mot or wher e
no one el se woul d know of i t s exi st ence.
When her wor ker s car r i ed t he mot or down t o t he vaul t and depar t ed, she was
about t o f ol l ow t hemand l ock t he st eel door , but she st opped, key i n hand,
as i f t he si l ence and sol i t ude had suddenl y t hr own her at t he pr obl emshe had
been f aci ng f or days, as i f t hi s wer e t he moment t o make her deci si on.
Her of f i ce car was wai t i ng f or her at one of t he Ter mi nal pl at f or ms,
at t ached t o t he end of a t r ai n due t o l eave f or Washi ngt on i n a f ew mi nut es.
She had made an appoi nt ment t o see Eugene Lawson, but she had t ol d her sel f
t hat she woul d cancel i t and post pone her quest i f she coul d t hi nk of some
act i on t o t ake agai nst t he t hi ngs she had f ound on her r et ur n t o New Yor k,
t he t hi ngs Eddi e begged her t o f i ght .
She had t r i ed t o t hi nk, but she coul d see no way of f i ght i ng, no r ul es of
bat t l e, no weapons. Hel pl essness was a st r ange exper i ence, new t o her ; she
had never f ound i t har d t o f ace t hi ngs and make deci si ons; but she was not
deal i ng wi t h t hi ngst hi s was a f og wi t hout shapes or def i ni t i ons, i n whi ch
somet hi ng kept f or mi ng and shi f t i ng bef or e i t coul d be seen, l i ke semi - cl ot s
i n a not - qui t e- l i qui di t was as i f her eyes wer e r educed t o si de- vi si on and
she wer e sensi ng bl ur s of di sast er coi l i ng t owar d her , but she coul d not move
her gl ance, she had no gl ance t o move and f ocus.
The Uni on of Locomot i ve Engi neer s was demandi ng t hat t he maxi mumspeed of
al l t r ai ns on t he J ohn Gal t Li ne be r educed t o si xt y mi l es an hour . The Uni on
of Rai l way Conduct or s and Br akemen was demandi ng t hat t he l engt h of al l
f r ei ght t r ai ns on t he J ohn Gal t Li ne be r educed t o si xt y car s.
The st at es of Wyomi ng, New Mexi co, Ut ah and Ar i zona wer e demandi ng t hat
t he number of t r ai ns r un i n Col or ado not exceed t he number of t r ai ns r un i n
each of t hese nei ghbor i ng st at es.
A gr oup headed by Or r en Boyl e was demandi ng t he passage of a Pr eser vat i on
of Li vel i hood Law, whi ch woul d l i mi t t he pr oduct i on of Rear den Met al t o an
amount equal t o t he out put of any ot her st eel mi l l of equal pl ant capaci t y, A
gr oup headed by Mr . Mowen was demandi ng t he passage of a Fai r Shar e Law t o
gi ve ever y cust omer who want ed i t an equal suppl y of Rear den Met al .
A gr oup headed by Ber t r amScudder was demandi ng t he passage of a Publ i c
St abi l i t y Law, f or bi ddi ng East er n busi ness f i r ms t o move out of t hei r st at es.
Wesl ey Mouch, Top Co- or di nat or of t he Bur eau of Economi c Pl anni ng and
Nat i onal Resour ces, was i ssui ng a gr eat many st at ement s, t he cont ent and
pur pose of whi ch coul d not be denned, except t hat t he wor ds " emer gency
power s" and " unbal anced economy" kept appear i ng i n t he t ext ever y f ew l i nes.
" Dagny, by what r i ght ? Eddi e Wi l l er s had asked her , hi s voi ce qui et , but
t he wor ds soundi ng l i ke a cr y. " By what r i ght ar e t hey al l doi ng i t ?
By what r i ght ?"
She had conf r ont ed J ames Taggar t i n hi s of f i ce and sai d, " J i m, t hi s i s
your bat t l e. I ' ve f ought mi ne. You' r e supposed t o be an exper t at deal i ng
wi t h t he l oot er s. St op t hem. "
Taggar t had sai d, not l ooki ng at her , " You can' t expect t o r un t he
nat i onal economy t o sui t your own conveni ence. "
" I don' t want t o r un t he nat i onal economy! I want your nat i onal economy
r unner s t o l eave me al one! I have a r ai l r oad t o r unand I know what ' s goi ng
t o happen t o your nat i onal economy i f my r ai l r oad col l apses! "
" I see no necessi t y f or pani c. "
" J i m, do I have t o expl ai n t o you t hat t he i ncome f r omour Ri o Nor t e Li ne
i s al l we' ve got , t o save us f r omcol l apsi ng? That we need ever y penny of i t ,
ever y f ar e, ever y car l oad of f r ei ght as f ast as we can get i t ?" He had not
answer ed. " When we have t o use ever y bi t of power i n ever y one of our br oken-
down Di esel s, when we don' t have enough of t hemt o gi ve Col or ado t he ser vi ce
i t needswhat ' s goi ng t o happen i f we r educe t he speed and t he l engt h of
t r ai ns?"
" Wel l , t her e' s somet hi ng t o be sai d f or t he uni ons' vi ewpoi nt , t oo.
Wi t h so many r ai l r oads cl osi ng and so many r ai l r oad men out of wor k, t hey
f eel t hat t hose ext r a speeds you' ve est abl i shed on t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne ar e
unf ai r t hey f eel t hat t her e shoul d be mor e t r ai ns, i nst ead, so t hat t he wor k
woul d be di vi ded ar oundt hey f eel t hat i t ' s not f ai r f or us t o get al l t he
benef i t of t hat new r ai l , t hey want a shar e of i t , t oo. "
" Who want s a shar e of i t ? I n payment f or what ?" He had not answer ed.
" Who' l l bear t he cost of t wo t r ai ns doi ng t he wor k of one?" He had not
answer ed. " Wher e ar e you goi ng t o get t he car s and t he engi nes?" He had not
answer ed. " What ar e t hose men goi ng t o do af t er t hey' ve put Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al out of exi st ence?"
" I f ul l y i nt end t o pr ot ect t he i nt er est s of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . "
" How?" He had not answer ed. " Howi f you ki l l Col or ado?"
" I t seems t o me t hat bef or e we wor r y about gi vi ng some peopl e a chance t o
expand, we ought t o gi ve some consi der at i on t o t he peopl e who need a chance
of bar e sur vi val . "
" I f you ki l l Col or ado, what i s t her e goi ng t o be l ef t f or your damn
l oot er s t o sur vi ve on?"
" You have al ways been opposed t o ever y pr ogr essi ve soci al measur e. I seem
t o r emember t hat you pr edi ct ed di sast er when we passed t he Ant i - dog- eat - dog
Rul ebut t he di sast er has not come. "
" Because I saved you, you r ot t en f ool s! I won' t be abl e t o save you t hi s
t i me! " He had shr ugged, not l ooki ng at her . " And i f I don' t , who wi l l ?" He
had not answer ed.
I t di d not seemr eal t o her , her e, under t he gr ound. Thi nki ng of i t her e,
she knew she coul d have no par t i n J i m' s bat t l e. Ther e was no act i on she
coul d t ake agai nst t he men of undef i ned t hought , of unnamed mot i ves, of
unst at ed pur poses, of unspeci f i ed mor al i t y. Ther e was not hi ng she coul d say
t o t hemnot hi ng woul d be hear d or answer ed. What wer e t he weapons, she
t hought , i n a r eal mwher e r eason was not a weapon any l onger ? I t was a r eal m
she coul d not ent er . She had t o l eave i t t o J i mand count on hi s sel f -
i nt er est . Di ml y, she f el t t he chi l l of a t hought t el l i ng her t hat sel f -
i nt er est was not J i m' s mot i ve.
She l ooked at t he obj ect bef or e her , a gl ass case cont ai ni ng t he r emnant
of t he mot or . The man who made t he mot or she t hought suddenl y, t he t hought
comi ng l i ke a cr y of despai r . She f el t a moment ' s hel pl ess l ongi ng t o f i nd
hi m, t o l ean agai nst hi mand l et hi mt el l her what t o do. A mi nd l i ke hi s
woul d know t he way t o wi n t hi s bat t l e.
She l ooked ar ound her . I n t he cl ean, r at i onal wor l d of t he under gr ound
t unnel s, not hi ng was of so ur gent an i mpor t ance as t he t ask of f i ndi ng t he
man who made t he mot or . She t hought : Coul d she del ay i t i n or der t o ar gue
wi t h Or r en Boyl e?t o r eason wi t h Mr . Mowen?t o pl ead wi t h Ber t r amScudder ?
She saw t he mot or , compl et ed, bui l t i nt o an engi ne t hat pul l ed a t r ai n of t wo
hundr ed car s down a t r ack of Rear den Met al at t wo hundr ed mi l es an hour . When
t he vi si on was wi t hi n her r each, wi t hi n t he possi bl e, was she t o gi ve i t up
and spend her t i me bar gai ni ng about si xt y mi l es and si xt y car s? She coul d not
descend t o an exi st ence wher e her br ai n woul d expl ode under t he pr essur e of
f or ci ng i t sel f not t o out di st ance i ncompet ence. She coul d not f unct i on t o t he
r ul e of : Pi pe downkeep downsl ow downdon' t do your best , i t i s not want ed!
She t ur ned r esol ut el y and l ef t t he vaul t , t o t ake t he t r ai n f or
Washi ngt on.
I t seemed t o her , as she l ocked t he st eel door , t hat she hear d a f ai nt
echo of st eps. She gl anced up and down t he dar k cur ve of t he t unnel .
Ther e was no one i n si ght ; t her e was not hi ng but a st r i ng of bl ue l i ght s
gl i st eni ng on wal l s of damp gr ani t e.
Rear den coul d not f i ght t he gangs who demanded t he l aws. The choi ce was t o
f i ght t hemor t o keep hi s mi l l s open. He had l ost hi s suppl y of i r on or e. He
had t o f i ght one bat t l e or t he ot her . Ther e was no t i me f or bot h.
He had f ound, on hi s r et ur n, t hat a schedul ed shi pment of or e had not been
del i ver ed. No wor d or expl anat i on had been hear d f r omLar ki n. When summoned
t o Rear den' s of f i ce, Lar ki n appear ed t hr ee days l at er t han t he appoi nt ment
made, of f er i ng no apol ogy. He sai d, not l ooki ng at Rear den, hi s mout h dr awn
t i ght l y i nt o an expr essi on of r ancor ous di gni t y: " Af t er al l , you can' t or der
peopl e t o come r unni ng t o your of f i ce any t i me you pl ease. "
Rear den spoke sl owl y and car ef ul l y. " Why wasn' t t he or e del i ver ed?"
" I won' t t ake abuse, I si mpl y won' t t ake any abuse f or somet hi ng I
coul dn' t hel p. I can r un a mi ne j ust as wel l as you r an i t , ever y bi t as
wel l , I di d ever yt hi ng you di dI don' t know why somet hi ng keeps goi ng wr ong
unexpect edl y al l t he t i me. I can' t be bl amed f or t he unexpect ed. "
" To whomdi d you shi p your or e l ast mont h?"
" I i nt ended t o shi p you your shar e of i t , I f ul l y i nt ended i t , but I
coul dn' t hel p i t i f we l ost t en days of pr oduct i on l ast mont h on account of
t he r ai nst or mi n t he whol e of nor t h Mi nnesot aI i nt ended t o shi p you t he or e,
so you can' t bl ame me, because my i nt ent i on was compl et el y honest . "
" I f one of my bl ast f ur naces goes down, wi l l I be abl e t o keep i t goi ng by
f eedi ng your i nt ent i on i nt o i t ?"
" That ' s why nobody can deal wi t h you or t al k t o youbecause you' r e
i nhuman, "
" I have j ust l ear ned t hat f or t he l ast t hr ee mont hs, you have not been
shi ppi ng your or e by t he l ake boat s, you have been shi ppi ng i t by r ai l .
Why?"
" Wel l , af t er al l , I have a r i ght t o r un my busi ness as I see f i t . "
" Why ar e you wi l l i ng t o pay t he ext r a cost ?"
" What do you car e? I ' mnot char gi ng i t t o you. "
" What wi l l you do when you f i nd t hat you can' t af f or d t he r ai l r at es and
t hat you have dest r oyed t he l ake shi ppi ng?"
" I amsur e you woul dn' t under st and any consi der at i on ot her t han dol l ar s
and cent s, but some peopl e do consi der t hei r soci al and pat r i ot i c
r esponsi bi l i t i es. "
" What r esponsi bi l i t i es?"
" Wel l , I t hi nk t hat a r ai l r oad l i ke Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i s essent i al
t o t he nat i onal wel f ar e and i t i s one' s publ i c dut y t o suppor t J i m' s
Mi nnesot a br anch l i ne, whi ch i s r unni ng at a def i ci t . "
Rear den l eaned f or war d acr oss t he desk; he was begi nni ng t o see t he l i nks
of a sequence he had never under st ood. " To whomdi d you shi p your or e l ast
mont h?" he asked evenl y.
" Wel l , af t er al l , t hat i s my pr i vat e busi ness whi ch"
" To Or r en Boyl e, wasn' t i t ?"
" You can' t expect peopl e t o sacr i f i ce t he ent i r e st eel i ndust r y of t he
nat i on t o your sel f i sh i nt er est s and"
" Get out of her e, " sai d Rear den. He sai d i t cal ml y. The sequence was cl ear
t o hi mnow.
" Don' t mi sunder st and me, I di dn' t mean"
" Get out . "
Lar ki n got out .
Then t her e f ol l owed t he days and ni ght s of sear chi ng a cont i nent by phone,
by wi r e, by pl aneof l ooki ng at abandoned mi nes and at mi nes r eady t o be
abandonedof t ense, r ushed conf er ences hel d at t abl es hi t he unl i ght ed
cor ner s of di sr eput abl e r est aur ant s. Looki ng acr oss t he t abl e, Rear den had t o
deci de how much he coul d r i sk t o i nvest upon t he sol e evi dence of a man' s
f ace, manner and t one of voi ce, hat i ng t he st at e of havi ng t o hope f or
honest y as f or a f avor , but r i ski ng i t , pour i ng money i nt o unknown hands i n
exchange f or unsuppor t ed pr omi ses, i nt o unsi gned, unr ecor ded l oans t o dummy
owner s of f ai l i ng mi nes
money handed and t aken f ur t i vel y, as an exchange bet ween cr i mi nal s, i n
anonymous cash; money pour ed i nt o unenf or ceabl e cont r act sbot h par t i es
knowi ng t hat i n case of f r aud, t he def r auded was t o be puni shed, not t he
def r auder but pour ed t hat a st r eamof or e mi ght cont i nue f l owi ng i nt o
f ur naces, t hat t he f ur naces mi ght cont i nue t o pour a st r eamof whi t e met al .
" Mr . Rear den, " asked t he pur chasi ng manager of hi s mi l l s, " i f you keep
t hat up, wher e wi l l be your pr of i t ?"
" We' l l make i t up on t onnage, " sai d Rear den wear i l y. " We have an unl i mi t ed
mar ket f or Rear den Met al . "
The pur chasi ng manager was an el der l y man wi t h gr ayi ng hai r , a l ean, dr y
f ace, and a hear t whi ch, peopl e sai d, was gi ven excl usi vel y t o t he t ask of
squeezi ng ever y l ast ounce of val ue out of a penny. He st ood i n f r ont of
Rear den' s desk, sayi ng not hi ng el se, mer el y l ooki ng st r ai ght at Rear den, hi s
col d eyes nar r owed and gr i m. I t was a l ook of t he most pr of ound sympat hy t hat
Rear den had ever seen.
Ther e' s no ot her cour se open, t hought Rear den, as he had t hought t hr ough
days and ni ght s. He knew no weapons but t o pay f or what he want ed, t o gi ve
val ue f or val ue, t o ask not hi ng of nat ur e wi t hout t r adi ng hi s ef f or t i n
r et ur n, t o ask not hi ng of men wi t hout t r adi ng t he pr oduct of hi s ef f or t . What
wer e t he weapons, he t hought , i f val ues wer e not a weapon any l onger ?
" An unl i mi t ed mar ket , Mr . Rear den?" t he pur chasi ng manager asked dr yl y.
Rear den gl anced up at hi m. " I guess I ' mnot smar t enough t o make t he sor t
of deal s needed nowadays, " he sai d, i n answer t o t he unspoken t hought s t hat
hung acr oss hi s desk.
The pur chasi ng manager shook hi s head. " No, Mr . Rear den, i t ' s one or t he
ot her . The same ki nd of br ai n can' t do bot h. Ei t her you' r e good at r unni ng
t he mi l l s or you' r e good at r unni ng t o Washi ngt on. "
" Maybe I ought t o l ear n t hei r met hod. "
" You coul dn' t l ear n i t and i t woul dn' t do you any good. You woul dn' t wi n
i n any of t hose deal s. Don' t you under st and? You' r e t he one who' s got
somet hi ng t o be l oot ed. "
When he was l ef t al one, Rear den f el t a j ol t of bl i ndi ng anger , as i t had
come t o hi mbef or e, pai nf ul , si ngl e and sudden l i ke an el ect r i c shockt he
anger bur st i ng out of t he knowl edge t hat one cannot deal wi t h pur e evi l , wi t h
t he naked, f ul l - consci ous evi l t hat nei t her has nor seeks j ust i f i cat i on. But
when he f el t t he wi sh t o f i ght and ki l l i n t he r i ght f ul cause of sel f -
def ensehe saw t he f at , gr i nni ng f ace of Mayor Bascomand hear d t he dr awl i ng
voi ce sayi ng, " . . . you and t he char mi ng l ady who i s not your wi f e. "
Then no r i ght f ul cause was l ef t , and t he pai n of anger was t ur ni ng i nt o
t he shamef ul pai n of submi ssi on. He had no r i ght t o condemn anyonehe
t hought t o denounce anyt hi ng, t o f i ght and di e j oyousl y, cl ai mi ng t he
sanct i on of vi r t ue. The br oken pr omi ses, t he unconf essed desi r es, t he
bet r ayal , t he decei t , t he l i es, t he f r audhe was gui l t y of t hemal l . What
f or mof cor r upt i on coul d he scor n? Degr ees do not mat t er , he t hought ; one
does not bar gai n about i nches of evi l .
He di d not knowas he sat sl umped at hi s desk, t hi nki ng of t he honest y he
coul d cl ai mno l onger , of t he sense of j ust i ce he had l ost
t hat i t was hi s r i gi d honest y and r ut hl ess sense of j ust i ce t hat wer e now
knocki ng hi s onl y weapon out of hi s hands. He woul d f i ght t he l oot er s, but
t he wr at h and f i r e wer e gone. He woul d f i ght , but onl y as one gui l t y wr et ch
agai nst t he ot her s. He di d not pr onounce t he wor ds, but t he pai n was t hei r
equi val ent , t he ugl y pai n sayi ng: Who amI t o cast t he f i r st st one?
He l et hi s body f al l acr oss t he desk. . . . Dagny, he t hought , Dagny, i f
t hi s i s t he pr i ce I have t o pay, I ' l l pay i t . . . . He was st i l l t he t r ader
who knew no code except t hat of f ul l payment f or hi s desi r es.
I t was l at e when he came home and hur r i ed soundl essl y up t he st ai r s t o hi s
bedr oom. He hat ed hi msel f f or bei ng r educed t o sneaki ng, but he had done i t
on most of hi s eveni ngs f or mont hs. The si ght of hi s f ami l y had become
unbear abl e t o hi m; he coul d not t el l why. Don' t hat e t hemf or your own gui l t ,
he had t ol d hi msel f , but knew di ml y t hat t hi s was not t he r oot of hi s hat r ed.
He cl osed t he door of hi s bedr ooml i ke a f ugi t i ve wi nni ng a moment ' s
r epr i eve. He moved caut i ousl y, undr essi ng f or bed: he want ed no sound t o
bet r ay hi s pr esence t o hi s f ami l y, he want ed no cont act wi t h t hem, not even
i n t hei r own mi nds.
He had put on hi s paj amas and st opped t o l i ght a ci gar et t e, when t he door
of hi s bedr oomopened. The onl y per son who coul d pr oper l y ent er hi s r oom
wi t hout knocki ng had never vol unt eer ed t o ent er i t , so he st ar ed bl ankl y f or
a moment bef or e he was abl e t o bel i eve t hat i t was Li l l i an who came i n.
She wor e an Empi r e gar ment of pal e char t r euse, i t s pl eat ed ski r t st r eami ng
gr acef ul l y f r omi t s hi gh wai st l i ne; one coul d not t el l at f i r st gl ance
whet her i t was an eveni ng gown or a negl i gee; i t was a negl i gee.
She paused i n t he door way, t he l i nes of her body f l owi ng i nt o an
at t r act i ve si l houet t e agai nst t he l i ght .
" I know I shoul dn' t i nt r oduce mysel f t o a st r anger , " she sai d sof t l y, " but
I ' l l have t o: my name i s Mr s. Rear den. " He coul d not t el l whet her i t was
sar casmor a pl ea.
She ent er ed and t hr ew t he door cl osed wi t h a casual , i mper i ous gest ur e,
t he gest ur e of an owner .
" What i s i t , Li l l i an?" he asked qui et l y.
" My dear , you must n' t conf ess so much so bl unt l y" she moved i n a l ei sur el y
manner acr oss t he r oom, past hi s bed, and sat down i n an ar mchai r " and so
unf l at t er i ngl y. I t ' s an admi ssi on t hat I need t o show speci al cause f or
t aki ng your t i me. Shoul d I make an appoi nt ment t hr ough your secr et ar y?"
He st ood i n t he mi ddl e of t he r oom, hol di ng t he ci gar et t e at hi s l i ps,
l ooki ng at her . vol unt eer i ng no answer .
She l aughed. " My r eason i s so unusual t hat I know i t wi l l never occur t o
you: l onel i ness, dar l i ng. Do you mi nd t hr owi ng a f ew cr umbs of your expensi ve
at t ent i on t o a beggar ? Do you mi nd i f I st ay her e wi t hout any f or mal r eason
at al l ?"
" No, " he sai d qui et l y, " not i f you wi sh t o. "
" I have not hi ng wei ght y t o di scussno mi l l i on- dol l ar or der s, no
t r anscont i nent al deal s, no r ai l s, no br i dges. Not even t he pol i t i cal
si t uat i on. I j ust want t o chat t er l i ke a woman about per f ect l y uni mpor t ant
t hi ngs. "
" Go ahead. "
" Henr y, t her e' s no bet t er way t o st op me, i s t her e?" She had an ai r of
hel pl ess, appeal i ng si ncer i t y. " What can I say af t er t hat ? Suppose I want ed
t o t el l you about t he new novel whi ch Bal ph Eubank i s wr i t i nghe i s
dedi cat i ng i t t o mewoul d t hat i nt er est you?"
" I f i t ' s t he t r ut h t hat you want not i n t he l east . "
She l aughed. " And i f i t ' s not t he t r ut h t hat I want ?"
" Then I woul dn' t know what t o say, " he answer edand f el t a r ush of bl ood
t o hi s br ai n, t i ght as a sl ap, r eal i zi ng suddenl y t he doubl e i nf amy of a l i e
ut t er ed i n pr ot est at i on of honest y; he had sai d i t si ncer el y, but i t i mpl i ed
a boast t o whi ch he had no r i ght any l onger . " Why woul d you want i t , i f i t ' s
not t he t r ut h?" he asked. " What f or ?"
" Now you see, t hat ' s t he cr uel t y of consci ent i ous peopl e. You woul dn' t
under st and i t woul d you?i f I answer ed t hat r eal devot i on consi st s of bei ng
wi l l i ng t o l i e, cheat and f ake i n or der t o make anot her per son happyt o
cr eat e f or hi mt he r eal i t y he want s, i f he doesn' t l i ke t he one t hat exi st s. "
" No, " he sai d sl owl y, " I woul dn' t under st and i t . "
" I t ' s r eal l y ver y si mpl e. I f you t el l a beaut i f ul woman t hat she i s
beaut i f ul , what have you gi ven her ? I t ' s no mor e t han a f act and i t has cost
you not hi ng. But i f you t el l an ugl y woman t hat she i s beaut i f ul , you of f er
her t he gr eat homage of cor r upt i ng t he concept of beaut y. To l ove a woman f or
her vi r t ues i s meani ngl ess. She' s ear ned i t , i t ' s a payment , not a gi f t . But
t o l ove her f or her vi ces i s a r eal gi f t , unear ned and undeser ved. To l ove
her f or her vi ces i s t o def i l e al l vi r t ue f or her sakeand t hat i s a r eal
t r i but e of l ove, because you sacr i f i ce your consci ence, your r eason, your
i nt egr i t y and your i nval uabl e sel f - est eem.
He l ooked at her bl ankl y. I t sounded l i ke some sor t of monst r ous
cor r upt i on t hat pr ecl uded t he possi bi l i t y of wonder i ng whet her anyone coul d
mean i t ; he wonder ed onl y what was t he poi nt of ut t er i ng i t .
" What ' s l ove, dar l i ng, i f i t ' s not sel f - sacr i f i ce?" she went on l i ght l y,
i n t he t one of a dr awi ng- r oomdi scussi on. " What ' s sel f - sacr i f i ce, unl ess one
sacr i f i ces t hat whi ch i s one' s most pr eci ous and most i mpor t ant ? But I don' t
expect you t o under st and i t . Not a st ai nl ess- st eel Pur i t an l i ke you.
That ' s t he i mmense sel f i shness of t he Pur i t an. You' d l et t he whol e wor l d
per i sh r at her t han soi l t hat i mmacul at e sel f of your s wi t h a si ngl e spot of
whi ch you' d have t o be ashamed. "
He sai d sl owl y, hi s voi ce oddl y st r ai ned and sol emn, " I have never cl ai med
t o be i mmacul at e. "
She l aughed. " And what i s i t you' r e bei ng r i ght now? You' r e gi vi ng me an
honest answer , ar en' t you?" She shr ugged her naked shoul der s.
" Oh, dar l i ng, don' t t ake me ser i ousl y! I ' mj ust t al ki ng. "
He gr ound hi s ci gar et t e i nt o an asht r ay; he di d not answer .
" Dar l i ng, " she sai d, " I act ual l y came her e onl y because I kept t hi nki ng
t hat I had a husband and I want ed t o f i nd out what he l ooked l i ke. "
She st udi ed hi mas he st ood acr oss t he r oom, t he t al l , st r ai ght , t aut
l i nes of hi s body emphasi zed by t he si ngl e col or of t he dar k bl ue paj amas.
" You' r e ver y at t r act i ve, " she sai d. " You l ook so much bet t er t hese l ast
f ew mont hs. Younger . Shoul d I say happi er ? You l ook l ess t ense.
Oh, I know you' r e r ushed mor e t han ever and you act l i ke a commander i n an
ai r r ai d, but t hat ' s onl y t he sur f ace. You' r e l ess t ense
i nsi de. "
He l ooked at her , ast oni shed. I t was t r ue; he had not known i t , had not
admi t t ed i t t o hi msel f . He wonder ed at her power of obser vat i on.
She had seen l i t t l e of hi mi n t hese l ast f ew mont hs. He had not ent er ed
her bedr oomsi nce hi s r et ur n f r omCol or ado. He had t hought t hat she woul d
wel come t hei r i sol at i on f r omeach ot her . Now he wonder ed what mot i ve coul d
have made her so sensi t i ve t o a change i n hi munl ess i t was a f eel i ng much
gr eat er t han he had ever suspect ed her of exper i enci ng.
" I was not awar e of i t , he sai d.
" I t ' s qui t e becomi ng, dear and ast oni shi ng, si nce you' ve been havi ng such
a t er r i bl y di f f i cul t t i me. "
He wonder ed whet her t hi s was i nt ended as a quest i on. She paused, as i f
wai t i ng f or an answer , but she di d not pr ess i t and went on gai l y: " I know
you' r e havi ng al l sor t s of t r oubl e at t he mi l l sand t hen t he pol i t i cal
si t uat i on i s get t i ng t o be omi nous, i sn' t i t ? I f t hey pass t hose l aws t hey' r e
t al ki ng about , i t wi l l hi t you pr et t y har d, won' t i t ?"
" Yes. I t wi l l . But t hat i s a subj ect whi ch i s of no i nt er est t o you,
Li l l i an, i s i t ?"
" Oh, but i t i s! " She r ai sed her head and l ooked st r ai ght at hi m; her eyes
had t he bl ank, vei l ed l ook he had seen bef or e, a l ook of del i ber at e myst er y
and of conf i dence i n hi s i nabi l i t y t o sol ve i t . " I t i s of gr eat i nt er est t o
me . . . t hough not because of any possi bl e f i nanci al l osses,
she added sof t l y.
He wonder ed, f or t he f i r st t i me, whet her her spi t e, her sar casm, t he
cowar dl y manner of del i ver i ng i nsul t s under t he pr ot ect i on of a smi l e, wer e
not t he opposi t e of what he had al ways t aken t hemt o benot a met hod of
t or t ur e, but a t wi st ed f or mof despai r , not a desi r e t o make hi msuf f er , but
a conf essi on of her own pai n, a def ense f or t he pr i de of an unl oved wi f e, a
secr et pl easo t hat t he subt l e, t he hi nt ed, t he evasi ve i n her manner , t he
t hi ng beggi ng t o be under st ood, was not t he open mal i ce, but t he hi dden l ove.
He t hought of i t , aghast . I t made hi s gui l t gr eat er t han he had ever
cont empl at ed.
" I f we' r e t al ki ng pol i t i cs, Henr y, I had an amusi ng t hought . The si de you
r epr esent what i s t hat sl ogan you al l use so much, t he mot t o you' r e supposed
t o st and f or ? ' The sanct i t y of cont r act ' i s t hat i t ?"
She saw hi s swi f t gl ance, t he i nt ent ness of hi s eyes, t he f i r st r esponse
of somet hi ng she had st r uck, and she l aughed al oud.
" Go on, " he sai d; hi s voi ce was l ow; i t had t he sound of a t hr eat .
" Dar l i ng, what f or ?si nce you under st ood me qui t e wel l . "
" What was i t you i nt ended t o say?" Hi s voi ce was har shl y pr eci se and
wi t hout any col or of f eel i ng.
" Do you r eal l y wi sh t o br i ng me t o t he humi l i at i on of compl ai ni ng?
I t ' s so t r i t e and such a common compl ai nt al t hough I di d t hi nk I had a
husband who pr i des hi msel f on bei ng di f f er ent f r oml esser men. Do you want me
t o r emi nd you t hat you once swor e t o make my happi ness t he ai mof your l i f e?
And t hat you can' t r eal l y say i n al l honest y whet her I ' mhappy or unhappy,
because you haven' t even i nqui r ed whet her I exi st ?"
He f el t t hemas a physi cal pai nal l t he t hi ngs t hat came t ear i ng at hi m
i mpossi bl y t oget her . Her wor ds wer e a pl ea, he t hought and he f el t t he dar k,
hot f l ow of gui l t . He f el t pi t yt he col d ugl i ness of pi t y wi t hout af f ect i on.
He f el t a di manger , l i ke a voi ce he t r i ed t o choke, a voi ce cr yi ng i n
r evul si on: Why shoul d I deal wi t h her r ot t en, t wi st ed l yi ng?why shoul d I
accept t or t ur e f or t he sake of pi t y?why i s i t I who shoul d have t o t ake t he
hopel ess bur den of t r yi ng t o spar e a f eel i ng she won' t admi t , a f eel i ng I
can' t know or under st and or t r y t o guess?
i f she l oves me, why doesn' t t he damn cowar d say so and l et us bot h f ace
i t i n t he open? He hear d anot her , l ouder voi ce, sayi ng evenl y: Don' t swi t ch
t he bl ame t o her , t hat ' s t he ol dest t r i ck of al l cowar ds
you' r e gui l t yno mat t er what she does, i t ' s not hi ng compar ed t o your
gui l t she' s r i ght i t makes you si ck, doesn' t i t , t o know i t ' s she who' s
r i ght ?l et i t make you si ck, you damn adul t er er i t ' s she who' s r i ght !
" What woul d make you happy, Li l l i an?" he asked. Hi s voi ce was t onel ess.
She smi l ed, l eani ng back i n her chai r , r el axi ng; she had been wat chi ng hi s
f ace i nt ent l y.
" Oh, dear ! " she sai d, as i n bor ed amusement . " That ' s t he shyst er quest i on.
The l oophol e. The escape cl ause. "
She got up, l et t i ng her ar ms f al l wi t h a shr ug, st r et chi ng her body i n a
l i mp, gr acef ul gest ur e of hel pl essness.
" What woul d make me happy, Henr y? That i s what you ought t o t el l me. That
i s what you shoul d have di scover ed f or me. I don' t know. You wer e t o cr eat e
i t and of f er i t t o me. That was your t r ust , your obl i gat i on, your
r esponsi bi l i t y. But you won' t be t he f i r st man t o def aul t on t hat pr omi se.
I t ' s t he easi est of al l debt s t o r epudi at e. Oh, you' d never wel sh on a
payment f or a l oad of i r on or e del i ver ed t o you. Onl y on a l i f e. "
She was movi ng casual l y acr oss t he r oom, t he gr een- yel l ow f ol ds of her
ski r t coi l i ng i n l ong waves about her , " I know t hat cl ai ms of t hi s ki nd ar e
i mpr act i cal , " she sai d. " I have no mor t gage on you, no col l at er al , no guns,
no chai ns. I have no hol d on you at al l , Henr ynot hi ng but your honor . "
He st ood l ooki ng at her as i f i t t ook al l of hi s ef f or t t o keep hi s eyes
di r ect ed at her f ace, t o keep seei ng her , t o endur e t he si ght . " What do you
want ?" he asked.
" Dar l i ng, t her e ar e so many t hi ngs you coul d guess by your sel f , i f you
r eal l y wi shed t o know what I want . For i nst ance, i f you have been avoi di ng me
so bl at ant l y f or mont hs, woul dn' t I want t o know t he r eason?"
" I have been ver y busy. "
She shr ugged. " A wi f e expect s t o be t he f i r st concer n of her husband' s
exi st ence. I di dn' t know t hat when you swor e t o f or sake al l ot her s, i t di dn' t
i ncl ude bl ast f ur naces. "
She came cl oser and, wi t h an amused smi l e t hat seemed t o mock t hembot h,
she sl i pped her ar ms ar ound hi m.
I t was t he swi f t , i nst i nct i ve, f er oci ous gest ur e of a young br i degr oomat
t he unr equest ed cont act of a whor et he gest ur e wi t h whi ch he t or e her ar ms
of f hi s body and t hr ew her asi de.
He st ood, par al yzed, shocked by t he br ut al i t y of hi s own r eact i on.
She was st ar i ng at hi m, her f ace naked i n bewi l der ment , wi t h no myst er y,
no pr et ense or pr ot ect i on; what ever cal cul at i ons she had made, t hi s was a
t hi ng she had not expect ed.
" I ' msor r y, Li l l i an . . . " he sai d, hi s voi ce l ow, a voi ce of si ncer i t y
and of suf f er i ng.
She di d not answer .
" I ' msor r y . . . I t ' s j ust t hat I ' mver y t i r ed, " he added, hi s voi ce
l i f el ess; he was br oken by t he t r i pl e l i e, one par t of whi ch was a di sl oyal t y
he coul d not bear t o f ace; i t was not t he di sl oyal t y t o Li l l i an.
She gave a br i ef chuckl e. " Wel l , i f t hat ' s t he ef f ect your wor k has on
you, I may come t o appr ove of i t . Do f or gi ve me, I was mer el y t r yi ng t o do my
dut y. I t hought t hat you wer e a sensual i st who' d never r i se above t he
i nst i nct s of an ani mal i n t he gut t er . I ' mnot one of t hose bi t ches who bel ong
i n i t . " She was snappi ng t he wor ds dr yl y, absent l y, wi t hout t hi nki ng. Her
mi nd was on a quest i on mar k, r aci ng over ever y possi bl e answer .
I t was her l ast sent ence t hat made hi mf ace her suddenl y, f ace her si mpl y,
di r ect l y, not as one on t he def ensi ve any l onger . " Li l l i an, what pur pose do
you l i ve f or ?" he asked.
" What a cr ude quest i on! No enl i ght ened per son woul d ever ask i t . "
" Wel l , what i s i t t hat enl i ght ened peopl e do wi t h t hei r l i ves?"
" Per haps t hey do not at t empt t o do anyt hi ng. That i s t hei r enl i ght enment . "
" What do t hey do wi t h t hei r t i me?"
" They cer t ai nl y don' t spend i t on manuf act ur i ng pl umbi ng pi pes. "
" Tel l me, why do you keep maki ng t hose cr acks? I know t hat you f eel
cont empt f or t he pl umbi ng pi pes. You' ve made t hat cl ear l ong ago.
Your cont empt means not hi ng t o me. Why keep r epeat i ng i t ?"
He wonder ed why t hi s hi t her ; he di d not know i n what manner , but he knew
t hat i t di d. He wonder ed why he f el t wi t h absol ut e cer t ai nt y t hat t hat had
been t he r i ght t hi ng t o say.
She asked, her voi ce dr y, " What ' s t he pur pose of t he sudden
quest i onnai r e?"
He answer ed si mpl y, " I ' d l i ke t o know whet her t her e' s anyt hi ng t hat you
r eal l y want . I f t her e i s, I ' d l i ke t o gi ve i t t o you, i f I can. "
" You' d l i ke t o buy i t ? That ' s al l you knowpayi ng f or t hi ngs. You get of f
easi l y, don' t you? No, i t ' s not as si mpl e as t hat . What I want i s non-
mat er i al . "
" What i s i t ?"
" You. "
" How do you mean t hat , Li l l i an? You don' t mean i t i n t he gut t er sense. "
" No, not i n t he gut t er sense. "
" How, t hen?"
She was at t he door , she t ur ned, she r ai sed her head t o l ook at hi mand
smi l ed col dl y.
" You woul dn' t under st and i t , " she sai d and wal ked out .
The t or t ur e r emai ni ng t o hi mwas t he knowl edge t hat she woul d never want
t o l eave hi mand he woul d never have t he r i ght t o l eave
t he t hought t hat he owed her at l east t he f eebl e r ecogni t i on of sympat hy,
of r espect f or a f eel i ng he coul d nei t her under st and nor r et ur n
t he knowl edge t hat he coul d summon not hi ng f or her , except cont empt , a
st r ange, t ot al , unr easoni ng cont empt , i mper vi ous t o pi t y, t o r epr oach, t o hi s
own pl eas f or j ust i ceand, har dest t o bear , t he pr oud r evul si on agai nst hi s
own ver di ct , agai nst hi s demand t hat he consi der hi msel f l ower t han t hi s
woman he despi sed.
Then i t di d not mat t er t o hi many l onger , i t al l r eceded i nt o some out er
di st ance, l eavi ng onl y t he t hought t hat he was wi l l i ng t o bear anyt hi ng
l eavi ng hi mi n a st at e whi ch was bot h t ensi on and peacebecause he l ay i n
bed, hi s f ace pr essed t o t he pi l l ow, t hi nki ng of Dagny, of her sl ender ,
sensi t i ve body st r et ched besi de hi m, t r embl i ng under t he t ouch of hi s
f i nger s. He wi shed she wer e back i n New Yor k. I f she wer e, he woul d have gone
t her e, now, at once, i n t he mi ddl e of t he ni ght .
Eugene Lawson sat at hi s desk as i f i t wer e t he cont r ol panel of a bomber
pl ane commandi ng a cont i nent bel ow. But he f or got i t , at t i mes, and sl ouched
down, hi s muscl es goi ng sl ack i nsi de hi s sui t , as i f he wer e pout i ng at t he
wor l d. Hi s mout h was t he one par t of hi mwhi ch he coul d not pul l t i ght at any
t i me; i t was uncomf or t abl y pr omi nent i n hi s l ean f ace, at t r act i ng t he eyes of
any l i st ener : when he spoke, t he movement r an t hr ough hi s l ower l i p, t wi st i ng
i t s moi st f l esh i nt o ext r aneous cont or t i ons of i t s own.
" I amnot ashamed of i t , " sai d Eugene Lawson. " Mi ss Taggar t , I want you t o
know t hat I amnot ashamed of my past car eer as pr esi dent of t he Communi t y
Nat i onal Bank of Madi son. "
" I haven' t made any r ef er ence t o shame, " sai d Dagny col dl y.
" No mor al gui l t can be at t ached t o me, i nasmuch as I l ost ever yt hi ng I
possessed i n t he cr ash of t hat bank. I t seems t o me t hat I woul d have t he
r i ght t o f eel pr oud of such a sacr i f i ce. "
" I mer el y want ed t o ask you some quest i ons about t he Twent i et h Cent ur y
Mot or Company whi ch"
" I shal l be gl ad t o answer any quest i ons. I have not hi ng t o hi de. My
consci ence i s cl ear . I f you t hought t hat t he subj ect was embar r assi ng t o me,
you wer e mi st aken. ' 1
" I want ed t o i nqui r e about t he men who owned t he f act or y at t he t i me when
you made a l oan t o"
" They wer e per f ect l y good men. They wer e a per f ect l y sound r i sk
t hough, of cour se, I amspeaki ng i n human t er ms, not i n t he t er ms of col d
cash, whi ch you ar e accust omed t o expect f r ombanker s. I gr ant ed t hemt he
l oan f or t he pur chase of t hat f act or y, because t hey needed t he money. I f
peopl e needed money, t hat was enough f or me. Need was my st andar d, Mi ss
Taggar t . Need, not gr eed. My f at her and gr andf at her bui l t up t he Communi t y
Nat i onal Bank j ust t o amass a f or t une f or t hemsel ves. I pl aced t hei r f or t une
i n t he ser vi ce of a hi gher i deal . I di d not si t on pi l es of money and demand
col l at er al f r ompoor peopl e who needed l oans. The hear t was my col l at er al . Of
cour se, I do not expect anyone i n t hi s mat er i al i st i c count r y t o under st and
me. The r ewar ds I got wer e not of a ki nd t hat peopl e of your cl ass, Mi ss
Taggar t , woul d appr eci at e. The peopl e who used t o si t i n f r ont of my desk at
t he bank, di d not si t as you do, Mi ss Taggar t . They wer e humbl e, uncer t ai n,
wor n wi t h car e, af r ai d t o speak. My r ewar ds wer e t he t ear s of gr at i t ude i n
t hei r eyes, t he t r embl i ng voi ces, t he bl essi ngs, t he woman who ki ssed my hand
when I gr ant ed her a l oan she had begged f or i n vai n ever ywher e el se. "
" Wi l l you pl ease t el l me t he names of t he men who owned t he mot or
f act or y?"
" That f act or y was essent i al t o t he r egi on, absol ut el y essent i al . I was
per f ect l y j ust i f i ed i n gr ant i ng t hat l oan. I t pr ovi ded empl oyment f or
t housands of wor ker s who had no ot her means of l i vel i hood. "
" Di d you know any of t he peopl e who wor ked i n t he f act or y?"
" Cer t ai nl y. I knew t hemal l . I t was men t hat i nt er est ed me, not machi nes.
I was concer ned wi t h t he human si de of i ndust r y, not t he cash r egi st er si de. "
She l eaned eager l y acr oss t he desk. " Di d you know any of t he engi neer s who
wor ked t her e?"
" The engi neer s? No, no. I was much mor e democr at i c t han t hat . I t ' s t he
r eal wor ker s t hat i nt er est ed me. The common men. They al l knew me by si ght . I
used t o come i nt o t he shops and t hey woul d wave and shout , ' Hel l o, Gene. '
That ' s what t hey cal l ed meGene. But I ' msur e t hi s i s of no i nt er est t o you.
I t ' s past hi st or y. Now i f you r eal l y came t o Washi ngt on i n or der t o t al k t o
me about your r ai l r oad" he st r ai ght ened up br i skl y, t he bomber - pl ane pose
r et ur ni ng" I don' t know whet her I can pr omi se you any speci al consi der at i on,
i nasmuch as I must hol d t he nat i onal wel f ar e above any pr i vat e pr i vi l eges or
i nt er est s whi ch"
" 1 di dn' t come t o t al k t o you about my r ai l r oad, " she sai d, l ooki ng at hi m
i n bewi l der ment . " I have no desi r e t o t al k t o you about my r ai l r oad. "
" No?" He sounded di sappoi nt ed.
" No. I came f or i nf or mat i on about t he mot or f act or y. Coul d you possi bl y
r ecal l t he names of any of t he engi neer s who wor ked t her e?"
" I don' t bel i eve I ever i nqui r ed about t hei r names. I wasn' t concer ned
wi t h t he par asi t es of of f i ce and l abor at or y. I was concer ned wi t h t he r eal
wor ker st he men of cal l oused hands who keep a f act or y goi ng. They wer e my
f r i ends. "
" Can you gi ve me a f ew of t hei r names? Any names, of anyone who wor ked
t her e?"
" My dear Mi ss Taggar t , i t was so l ong ago, t her e wer e t housands of t hem,
how can I r emember ?"
" Can' t you r ecal l one, any one?
" I cer t ai nl y cannot . So many peopl e have al ways f i l l ed my l i f e t hat I
can' t be expect ed t o r ecal l i ndi vi dual dr ops i n t he ocean. "
" Wer e you f ami l i ar wi t h t he pr oduct i on of t hat f act or y? Wi t h t he ki nd of
wor k t hey wer e doi ngor pl anni ng?"
" Cer t ai nl y. I t ook a per sonal i nt er est i n al l my i nvest ment s. I went t o
i nspect t hat f act or y ver y of t en. They wer e doi ng exceedi ngl y wel l .
They wer e accompl i shi ng wonder s. The wor ker s' housi ng condi t i ons wer e t he
best i n t he count r y. I saw l ace cur t ai ns at ever y wi ndow and f l ower s on t he
wi ndow si l l s. Ever y home had a pl ot of gr ound f or a gar den. They had bui l t a
new school house f or t he chi l dr en. "
" Di d you know anyt hi ng about t he wor k of t he f act or y' s r esear ch
l abor at or y?"
" Yes, yes, t hey had a wonder f ul r esear ch l abor at or y, ver y advanced, ver y
dynami c, wi t h f or war d vi si on and gr eat pl ans. "
" Do you . . . r emember hear i ng anyt hi ng about . . . any pl ans t o pr oduce a
new t ype of mot or ?"
" Mot or ? What mot or , Mi ss Taggar t ? I had no t i me f or det ai l s. My obj ect i ve
was soci al pr ogr ess, uni ver sal pr osper i t y, human br ot her hood and l ove. Love,
Mi ss Taggar t . That i s t he key t o ever yt hi ng. I f men l ear ned t o l ove one
anot her , i t woul d sol ve al l t hei r pr obl ems. "
She t ur ned away, not t o see t he damp movement s of hi s mout h.
A chunk of st one wi t h Egypt i an hi er ogl yphs l ay on a pedest al i n a cor ner
of t he of f i cet he st at ue of a Hi ndu goddess wi t h si x spi der ar ms st ood i n a
ni cheand a huge gr aph of bewi l der i ng mat hemat i cal det ai l , l i ke t he sal es
char t of a mai l - or der house, hung on t he wal l .
" Ther ef or e, i f you' r e t hi nki ng of your r ai l r oad, Mi ss Taggar t as, of
cour se, you ar e, i n vi ew of cer t ai n possi bl e devel opment sI must poi nt out t o
you t hat al t hough t he wel f ar e of t he count r y i s my f i r st consi der at i on, t o
whi ch I woul d not hesi t at e t o sacr i f i ce anyone' s pr of i t s, st i l l , I have never
cl osed my ear s t o a pl ea f or mer cy and"
She l ooked at hi mand under st ood what i t was t hat he want ed f r omher , what
sor t of mot i ve kept hi mgoi ng.
" I don' t wi sh t o di scuss my r ai l r oad, " she sai d, f i ght i ng t o keep her
voi ce monot onousl y f l at , whi l e she want ed t o scr eami n r evul si on. " Anyt hi ng
you have t o say on t he subj ect , you wi l l pl ease say i t t o my br ot her , Mr .
J ames Taggar t . "
" I ' d t hi nk t hat at a t i me l i ke t hi s you woul dn' t want t o pass up a r ar e
oppor t uni t y t o pl ead your case bef or e"
" Have you pr eser ved any r ecor ds per t ai ni ng t o t he mot or f act or y?"
She sat st r ai ght , her hands cl asped t i ght t oget her .
" What r ecor ds? I bel i eve I t ol d you t hat I l ost ever yt hi ng I owned when
t he bank col l apsed. " Hi s body had gone sl ack once mor e, hi s i nt er est had
vani shed. " But I do not mi nd i t . What I l ost was mer e mat er i al weal t h. I am
not t he f i r st man i n hi st or y t o suf f er f or an i deal . I was def eat ed by t he
sel f i sh gr eed of t hose ar ound me. I coul dn' t est abl i sh a syst emof
br ot her hood and l ove i n j ust one smal l st at e, ami dst a nat i on of pr of i t -
seeker s and dol l ar - gr ubber s. I t was not my f aul t . But I won' t l et t hembeat
me. I amnot t o be st opped. I amf i ght i ngon a wi der scal ef or t he pr i vi l ege
of ser vi ng my f el l ow men. Recor ds, Mi ss Taggar t ? The r ecor d I l ef t , when I
depar t ed f r omMadi son, i s i nscr i bed i n t he hear t s of t he poor , who had never
had a chance bef or e. "
She di d not want t o ut t er a si ngl e unnecessar y wor d; but she coul d not
st op her sel f : she kept seei ng t he f i gur e of t he ol d char woman scr ubbi ng t he
st eps. " Have you seen t hat sect i on of t he count r y si nce?" she asked.
" I t ' s not my f aul t ! " he yel l ed. " I t ' s t he f aul t of t he r i ch who st i l l had
money, but woul dn' t sacr i f i ce i t t o save my bank and t he peopl e of Wi sconsi n!
You can' t bl ame me! I l ost ever yt hi ng! "
" Mr . Lawson, " she sai d wi t h ef f or t , " do you per haps r ecal l t he name of t he
man who headed t he cor por at i on t hat owned t he f act or y? The cor por at i on t o
whi ch you l ent t he money. I t was cal l ed Amal gamat ed Ser vi ce, wasn' t i t ? Who
was i t s pr esi dent ?"
" Oh, hi m? Yes, I r emember hi m. Hi s name was Lee Hunsacker . A ver y
wor t hwhi l e young man, who' s t aken a t er r i bl e beat i ng. "
" Wher e i s he now? Do you know hi s addr ess?"
" WhyI bel i eve he' s somewher e i n Or egon. Gr angevi l l e, Or egon.
My secr et ar y can gi ve you hi s addr ess. But I don' t see of what i nt er est .
. . Mi ss Taggar t , i f what you have i n mi nd i s t o t r y t o see Mr .
Wesl ey Mouch, l et me t el l you t hat Mr . Mouch at t aches a gr eat deal of
wei ght t o my opi ni on i n mat t er s af f ect i ng such i ssues as r ai l r oads and ot her
"
" I have no desi r e t o see Mr . Mouch, " she sai d, r i si ng.
" But t hen, I can' t under st and . . . What , r eal l y, was your pur pose i n
comi ng her e?"
" I amt r yi ng t o f i nd a cer t ai n man who used t o wor k f or t he Twent i et h
Cent ur y Mot or Company. "
" Why do you wi sh t o f i nd hi m?"
" I want hi mt o wor k f or my r ai l r oad. "
He spr ead hi s ar ms wi de, l ooki ng i ncr edul ous and sl i ght l y i ndi gnant .
" At such a moment , when cr uci al i ssues hang i n t he bal ance, you choose t o
wast e your t i me on l ooki ng f or some one empl oyee? Bel i eve me, t he f at e of
your r ai l r oad depends on Mr . Mouch much mor e t han on any empl oyee you ever
f i nd. "
" Good day, " she sai d.
She had t ur ned t o go, when he sai d, hi s voi ce j er ky and hi gh, " You haven' t
any r i ght t o despi se me. "
She st opped t o l ook at hi m. " I have expr essed no opi ni on. "
" I amper f ect l y i nnocent , si nce I l ost my money, si nce I l ost al l of my
own money f or a good cause. My mot i ves wer e pur e. I want ed not hi ng f or
mysel f . I ' ve never sought anyt hi ng f or mysel f . Mi ss Taggar t , I can pr oudl y
say t hat i n al l of my l i f e I have never made a pr of i t ! "
Her voi ce was qui et , st eady and sol emn: " Mr . Lawson, I t hi nk I shoul d l et
you know t hat of al l t he st at ement s a man can make, t hat i s t he one I
consi der most despi cabl e. "
" I never had a chance! " sai d Lee Hunsacker .
He sat i n t he mi ddl e of t he ki t chen, at a t abl e cl ut t er ed wi t h paper s.
He needed a shave; hi s shi r t needed l aunder i ng. I t was har d t o j udge hi s
age: t he swol l en f l esh of hi s f ace l ooked smoot h and bl ank, unt ouched by
exper i ence; t he gr ayi ng hai r and f i l my eyes l ooked wor n by exhaust i on; he was
f or t y- t wo.
" Nobody ever gave me a chance. I hope t hey' r e sat i sf i ed wi t h what t hey' ve
made of me. But don' t t hi nk t hat I don' t know i t . I know I was cheat ed out of
my bi r t hr i ght . Don' t l et t hemput on any ai r s about how ki nd t hey ar e.
They' r e a st i nki ng bunch of hypocr i t es. "
" Who?" asked Dagny.
" Ever ybody, " sai d Lee Hunsacker . " Peopl e ar e bast ar ds at hear t and i t ' s no
use pr et endi ng ot her wi se. J ust i ce? Huh! Look at i t ! " Hi s ar mswept ar ound
hi m. " A man l i ke me r educed t o t hi s! "
Beyond t he wi ndow, t he l i ght of noon l ooked l i ke gr ayi sh dusk among t he
bl eak r oof s and naked t r ees of a pl ace t hat was not count r y and coul d never
qui t e become a t own. Dusk and dampness seemed soaked i nt o t he wal l s of t he
ki t chen. A pi l e of br eakf ast di shes l ay i n t he si nk; a pot of st ew si mmer ed
on t he st ove, emi t t i ng st eamwi t h t he gr easy odor of cheap meat ; a dust y
t ypewr i t er st ood among t he paper s on t he t abl e.
" The Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or Company, " sai d Lee Hunsacker , " was one of t he
most i l l ust r i ous names i n t he hi st or y of Amer i can i ndust r y. I was t he
pr esi dent of t hat company. I owned t hat f act or y.
But t hey woul dn' t gi ve me a chance. "
" You wer e not t he pr esi dent of t he Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or Company, wer e
you? I bel i eve you headed a cor por at i on cal l ed Amal gamat ed Ser vi ce?"
" Yes, yes, but i t ' s t he same t hi ng. We t ook over t hei r f act or y. We wer e
goi ng t o do j ust as wel l as t hey di d. Bet t er . We wer e j ust as i mpor t ant . Who
t he hel l was J ed St ar nes anyway? Not hi ng but a backwoods gar age mechani cdi d
you know t hat t hat ' s how he st ar t ed?wi t hout any backgr ound at al l . My f ami l y
once bel onged t o t he New Yor k Four Hundr ed. My gr andf at her was a member of
t he nat i onal l egi sl at ur e. I t ' s not my f aul t t hat my f at her coul dn' t af f or d t o
gi ve me a car of my own, when he sent me t o school . Al l t he ot her boys had
car s. My f ami l y name was j ust as good as any of t hei r s. When I went t o
col l ege" He br oke of f abr upt l y. " What newspaper di d you say you' r e f r om?"
She had gi ven hi mher name; she di d not know why she now f el t gl ad t hat he
had not r ecogni zed i t and why she pr ef er r ed not t o enl i ght en hi m. " I di d not
say I was f r oma newspaper , " she answer ed, " j need some i nf or mat i on on t hat
mot or f act or y f or a pr i vat e pur pose of my own, not f or publ i cat i on. "
" Oh. " He l ooked di sappoi nt ed. He went on sul l enl y, as i f she wer e gui l t y
of a del i ber at e of f ense agai nst hi m. " I t hought maybe you came f or an advance
i nt er vi ew because I ' mwr i t i ng my aut obi ogr aphy. " He poi nt ed t o t he paper s on
t he t abl e. " And what I i nt end t o t el l i s pl ent y.
I i nt endOh, hel l ! " he sai d suddenl y, r emember i ng somet hi ng.
He r ushed t o t he st ove, l i f t ed t he l i d of f t he pot and went t hr ough t he
mot i ons of st i r r i ng t he st ew, hat ef ul l y, payi ng no at t ent i on t o hi s
per f or mance. He f l ung t he wet spoon down on t he st ove, l et t i ng t he gr ease
dr i p i nt o t he gas bur ner s, and came back t o t he t abl e.
" Yeah, I ' l l wr i t e my aut obi ogr aphy i f anybody ever gi ves me a chance, " he
sai d. " How can I concent r at e on ser i ous wor k when t hi s i s t he sor t of t hi ng I
have t o do?" He j er ked hi s head at t he st ove.
" Fr i ends, huh! Those peopl e t hi nk t hat j ust because t hey t ook me i n, t hey
can expl oi t me l i ke a Chi nese cool i e! J ust because I had no ot her pl ace t o
go. They have i t easy, t hose good ol d f r i ends of mi ne. He never l i f t s a
f i nger ar ound t he house, j ust si t s i n hi s st or e al l day; a l ousy l i t t l e t wo-
bi t st at i oner y st or ecan i t compar e i n i mpor t ance wi t h t he book I ' mwr i t i ng?
And she goes out shoppi ng and asks me t o wat ch her damn st ew f or her . She
knows t hat a wr i t er needs peace and concent r at i on, but does she car e about
t hat ? Do you know what she di d t oday?" He l eaned conf i dent i al l y acr oss t he
t abl e, poi nt i ng at t he di shes i n t he si nk. " She went t o t he mar ket and l ef t
al l t he br eakf ast di shes t her e and sai d she' d do t heml at er . I know what she
want ed. She expect ed me t o do t hem. Wel l , I ' l l f ool her . I ' l l l eave t hemj ust
wher e t hey ar e. "
" Woul d you al l ow me t o ask you a f ew quest i ons about t he mot or f act or y?"
" Don' t i magi ne t hat t hat mot or f act or y was t he onl y t hi ng i n my l i f e.
I ' d hel d many i mpor t ant posi t i ons bef or e. I was pr omi nent l y connect ed, at
var i ous t i mes, wi t h ent er pr i ses manuf act ur i ng sur gi cal appl i ances, paper
cont ai ner s, men' s hat s and vacuumcl eaner s. Of cour se, t hat sor t of st uf f
di dn' t gi ve me much scope. But t he mot or f act or yt hat was my bi g chance. That
was what I ' d been wai t i ng f or . "
" How di d you happen t o acqui r e i t ?"
" I t was meant f or me. I t was my dr eamcome t r ue. The f act or y was ' shut
downbankr upt . The hei r s of J ed St ar nes had r un i t i nt o t he gr ound pr et t y
f ast . I don' t know exact l y what i t was, but t her e had been somet hi ng goof y
goi ng on up t her e, so t he company went br oke. The r ai l r oad peopl e cl osed
t hei r br anch l i ne. Nobody want ed t he pl ace, nobody woul d bi d on i t . But t her e
i t was, t hi s gr eat f act or y, wi t h al l t he equi pment , al l t he machi ner y, al l
t he t hi ngs t hat had made mi l l i ons f or J ed St ar nes. That was t he ki nd of set up
I want ed, t he ki nd of oppor t uni t y I was ent i t l ed t o. So I got a f ew f r i ends
t oget her and we f or med t he Amal gamat ed Ser vi ce Cor por at i on and we scr aped up
a l i t t l e money. But we di dn' t have enough, we needed a l oan t o hel p us out
and gi ve us a st ar t . I t was a per f ect l y saf e bet , we wer e young men embar ki ng
on gr eat car eer s, f ul l of eager ness and hope f or t he f ut ur e.
But do you t hi nk anybody gave us any encour agement ? They di d not .
Not t hose gr eedy, ent r enched vul t ur es of pr i vi l ege! How wer e we t o succeed
i n l i f e i f nobody woul d gi ve us a f act or y? We coul dn' t compet e agai nst t he
l i t t l e snot s who i nher i t whol e chai ns of f act or i es, coul d we?
Wer en' t we ent i t l ed t o t he same br eak? Aw, don' t l et me hear anyt hi ng
about j ust i ce! I wor ked l i ke a dog, t r yi ng t o get somebody t o l end us t he
money. But t hat bast ar d Mi das Mul l i gan put me t hr ough t he wr i nger . "
She sat up st r ai ght . " Mi das Mul l i gan?"
" Yeaht he banker who l ooked l i ke a t r uck dr i ver and act ed i t , t oo! "
" Di d you know Mi das Mul l i gan?"
" Di d I know hi m? I ' mt he onl y man who ever beat hi mnot t hat i t di d me any
good! "
At odd moment s, wi t h a sudden sense of uneasi ness, she had wonder edas she
wonder ed about t he st or i es of deser t ed shi ps f ound f l oat i ng at sea or of
sour cel ess l i ght s f l ashi ng i n t he skyabout t he di sappear ance of Mi das
Mul l i gan. Ther e was no r eason why she f el t t hat she had t o sol ve t hese
r i ddl es, except t hat t hey wer e myst er i es whi ch had no busi ness bei ng
myst er i es: t hey coul d not be causel ess, yet no known cause coul d expl ai n
t hem.
Mi das Mul l i gan had once been t he r i chest and, consequent l y, t he most
denounced man i n t he count r y. He had never t aken a l oss on any i nvest ment he
made; ever yt hi ng he t ouched t ur ned i nt o gol d. " I t ' s because I know what t o
t ouch, " he sai d. Nobody coul d gr asp t he pat t er n of hi s i nvest ment s: he
r ej ect ed deal s t hat wer e consi der ed f l awl essl y saf e, and he put enor mous
amount s i nt o vent ur es t hat no ot her banker woul d handl e. Thr ough t he year s,
he had been t he t r i gger t hat had sent unexpect ed, spect acul ar bul l et s of
i ndust r i al success shoot i ng over t he count r y. I t was he who had i nvest ed i n
Rear den St eel at i t s st ar t , t hus hel pi ng Rear den t o compl et e t he pur chase of
t he abandoned st eel mi l l s i n Pennsyl vani a. When an economi st r ef er r ed t o hi m
once as an audaci ous gambl er , Mul l i gan sai d, " The r eason why you' l l never get
r i ch i s because you t hi nk t hat what I do i s gambl i ng. "
I t was r umor ed t hat one had t o obser ve a cer t ai n unwr i t t en r ul e when
deal i ng wi t h Mi das Mul l i gan: i f an appl i cant f or a l oan ever ment i oned hi s
per sonal need or any per sonal f eel i ng what ever , t he i nt er vi ew ended and he
was never gi ven anot her chance t o speak t o Mr . Mul l i gan.
" Why yes, I can, " sai d Mi das Mul l i gan, when he was asked whet her he coul d
name a per son mor e evi l t han t he man wi t h a hear t cl osed t o pi t y. " The man
who uses anot her ' s pi t y f or hi mas a weapon. "
I n hi s l ong car eer , he had i gnor ed al l t he publ i c at t acks on hi m, except
one. Hi s f i r st name had been Mi chael ; when a newspaper col umni st of t he
humani t ar i an cl i que ni cknamed hi mMi das Mul l i gan and t he t ag st uck t o hi mas
an i nsul t , Mul l i gan appear ed i n cour t and pet i t i oned f or a l egal change of
hi s f i r st name t o " Mi das. " The pet i t i on was gr ant ed.
I n t he eyes of hi s cont empor ar i es, he was a man who had commi t t ed t he one
unf or gi vabl e si n: he was pr oud of hi s weal t h.
These wer e t he t hi ngs Dagny had hear d about Mi das Mul l i gan; she had never
met hi m. Seven year s ago, Mi das Mul l i gan had vani shed.
He l ef t hi s home one mor ni ng and was never hear d f r omagai n. On t he next
day, t he deposi t or s of t he Mul l i gan Bank i n Chi cago r ecei ved not i ces
r equest i ng t hat t hey wi t hdr aw t hei r f unds, because t he bank was cl osi ng. I n
t he i nvest i gat i ons t hat f ol l owed, i t was l ear ned t hat Mul l i gan had pl anned
t he cl osi ng i n advance and i n mi nut e det ai l ; hi s empl oyees wer e mer el y
car r yi ng out hi s i nst r uct i ons. I t was t he most or der l y r un on a bank t hat t he
count r y ever wi t nessed. Ever y deposi t or r ecei ved hi s money down t o t he l ast
f r act i on of i nt er est due. Al l of t he bank' s asset s had been sol d pi ecemeal t o
var i ous f i nanci al i nst i t ut i ons. When t he books wer e bal anced, i t was f ound
t hat t hey bal anced per f ect l y, t o t he penny; not hi ng was l ef t over ; t he
Mul l i gan Bank had been wi ped out .
No cl ue was ever f ound t o Mul l i gan' s mot i ve, t o hi s per sonal f at e or t o
t he many mi l l i ons of hi s per sonal f or t une. The man and t he f or t une vani shed
as i f t hey had never exi st ed. No one had had any war ni ng about hi s deci si on,
and no event s coul d be t r aced t o expl ai n i t . I f he had wi shed t o r et i r e
peopl e wonder edwhy hadn' t he sol d hi s est abl i shment at a huge pr of i t , as he
coul d have done, i nst ead of dest r oyi ng i t ? Ther e was nobody t o gi ve an
answer . He had no f ami l y, no f r i ends.
Hi s ser vant s knew not hi ng: he had l ef t hi s home t hat mor ni ng as usual and
di d not come back; t hat was al l .
Ther e wasDagny had t hought uneasi l y f or year sa qual i t y of t he i mpossi bl e
about Mul l i gan' s di sappear ance; i t was as i f a New Yor k skyscr aper had
vani shed one ni ght , l eavi ng not hi ng behi nd but a vacant l ot on a st r eet
cor ner . A man l i ke Mul l i gan, and a f or t une such as he had t aken al ong wi t h
hi m, coul d not st ay hi dden anywher e; a skyscr aper coul d not get l ost , i t
woul d be seen r i si ng above any pl ai n or f or est chosen f or i t s hi di ng pl ace;
wer e i t dest r oyed, even i t s pi l e of r ubbl e coul d not r emai n unnot i ced. But
Mul l i gan had goneand i n t he seven year s si nce, i n t he mass of r umor s,
guesses, t heor i es, Sunday suppl ement st or i es, and eyewi t nesses who cl ai med t o
have seen hi mi n ever y par t of t he wor l d, no cl ue t o a pl ausi bl e expl anat i on
had ever been di scover ed.
Among t he st or i es, t her e was one so pr epost er ousl y out of char act er t hat
Dagny bel i eved i t t o be t r ue: not hi ng i n Mul l i gan' s nat ur e coul d have gi ven
anyone gr ound t o i nvent i t . I t was sai d t hat t he l ast per son t o see hi m, on
t he spr i ng mor ni ng of hi s di sappear ance, was an ol d woman who sol d f l ower s on
a Chi cago st r eet cor ner by t he Mul l i gan Bank. She r el at ed t hat he st opped and
bought a bunch of t he year ' s f i r st bl uebel l s. Hi s f ace was t he happi est f ace
she had ever seen; he had t he l ook of a yout h st ar t i ng out i nt o a gr eat ,
unobst r uct ed vi si on of l i f e l yi ng open bef or e hi m; t he mar ks of pai n and
t ensi on, t he sedi ment of year s upon a human f ace, had been wi ped of f , and
what r emai ned was onl y j oyous eager ness and peace. He pi cked up t he f l ower s
as i f on a sudden i mpul se, and he wi nked at t he ol d woman, as i f he had some
shi ni ng j oke t o shar e wi t h her . He sai d, " Do you know how much I ' ve al ways
l oved i t bei ng al i ve?" She st ar ed at hi m, bewi l der ed, and he wal ked away,
t ossi ng t he f l ower s l i ke a bal l i n hi s handa br oad, st r ai ght f i gur e i n a
sedat e, expensi ve, busi nessman' s over coat , goi ng of f i nt o t he di st ance
agai nst t he st r ai ght cl i f f s of of f i ce bui l di ngs wi t h t he spr i ng sun spar kl i ng
on t hei r wi ndows.
" Mi das Mul l i gan was a vi ci ous bast ar d wi t h a dol l ar si gn st amped on hi s
hear t , " sai d Lee Hunsacker , i n t he f umes of t he acr i d st ew. " My whol e f ut ur e
depended upon a mi ser abl e hal f - mi l l i on dol l ar s, whi ch was j ust smal l change
t o hi m, bat when I appl i ed f or a l oan, he t ur ned me down f l at f or no bet t er
r eason t han t hat I had no col l at er al t o of f er .
How coul d I have accumul at ed any col l at er al , when nobody had ever gi ven me
a chance at anyt hi ng bi g? Why di d he l end money t o ot her s, but not t o me? I t
was pl ai n di scr i mi nat i on. He di dn' t even car e about my f eel i ngshe sai d t hat
my past r ecor d of f ai l ur es di squal i f i ed me f or owner shi p of a veget abl e
pushcar t , l et al one a mot or f act or y. What f ai l ur es? I coul dn' t hel p i t i f a
l ot of i gnor ant gr ocer s r ef used t o co- oper at e wi t h me about t he paper
cont ai ner s. By what r i ght di d he pass j udgment on my abi l i t y? Why di d my
pl ans f or my own f ut ur e have t o depend upon t he ar bi t r ar y opi ni on of a
sel f i sh monopol i st ? I wasn' t goi ng t o st and f or t hat . I wasn' t goi ng t o t ake
i t l yi ng down. I br ought sui t agai nst hi m. "
" You di d what ?"
" Oh yes, " he sai d pr oudl y, " I br ought sui t . I ' msur e i t woul d seemst r ange
i n some of your hi debound East er n st at es, but t he st at e of I l l i noi s had a
ver y humane, ver y pr ogr essi ve l aw under whi ch I coul d sue hi m. I must say i t
was t he f i r st case of i t s ki nd, but I had a ver y smar t , l i ber al l awyer who
saw a way f or us t o do i t . I t was an economi c emer gency l aw whi ch sai d t hat
peopl e wer e f or bi dden t o di scr i mi nat e f or any r eason what ever agai nst any
per son i n any mat t er i nvol vi ng hi s l i vel i hood. I t was used t o pr ot ect day
l abor er s and such, but i t appl i ed t o me and my par t ner s as wel l , di dn' t i t ?
So we went t o cour t , and we t est i f i ed about t he bad br eaks we' d al l had i n
t he past , and I quot ed Mul l i gan sayi ng t hat I coul dn' t even own a veget abl e
pushcar t , and we pr oved t hat al l t he member s of t he Amal gamat ed Ser vi ce
cor por at i on had no pr est i ge, no cr edi t , no way t o make a l i vi ng and,
t her ef or e, t he pur chase of t he mot or f act or y was our onl y chance of
l i vel i hoodand, t her ef or e, Mi das Mul l i gan had no r i ght t o di scr i mi nat e
agai nst usand, t her ef or e, we wer e ent i t l ed t o demand a l oan f r omhi munder
t he l aw. Oh, we had a per f ect case al l r i ght , but t he man who pr esi ded at t he
t r i al was J udge Nar r aganset t , one of t hose ol d- f ashi oned monks of t he bench
who t hi nks l i ke a mat hemat i ci an and never f eel s t he human si de of anyt hi ng.
He j ust sat t her e al l t hr ough t he t r i al l i ke a mar bl e st at uel i ke one of
t hose bl i ndf ol ded mar bl e st at ues, At t he end, he i nst r uct ed t he j ur y t o br i ng
i n a ver di ct i n f avor of Mi das Mul l i ganand he sai d some ver y har sh t hi ngs
about me and my par t ner s. But we appeal ed t o a hi gher cour t and t he hi gher
cour t r ever sed t he ver di ct and or der ed Mul l i gan t o gi ve us t he l oan on our
t er ms. He had t hr ee mont hs i n whi ch t o compl y, but bef or e t he t hr ee mont hs
wer e up, somet hi ng happened t hat nobody can f i gur e out and he vani shed i nt o
t hi n ai r , he and hi s bank. Ther e wasn' t an ext r a penny l ef t of t hat bank, t o
col l ect our l awf ul cl ai m. We wast ed a l ot of money on det ect i ves, t r yi ng t o
f i nd hi mas who di dn' t ?but we gave i t up. "
Not hought Dagnyno, apar t f r omt he si ckeni ng f eel i ng i t gave her , t hi s
case was not much wor se t han any of t he ot her t hi ngs t hat Mi das Mul l i gan had
bor ne f or year s. He had t aken many l osses under l aws of a si mi l ar j ust i ce,
under r ul es and edi ct s t hat had cost hi mmuch l ar ger sums of money; he had
bor ne t hemand f ought and wor ked t he har der ; i t was not l i kel y t hat t hi s case
had br oken hi m.
" What happened t o J udge Nar r aganset t ?" she asked i nvol unt ar i l y, and
wonder ed what subconsci ous connect i on had made her ask i t . She knew l i t t l e
about J udge Nar r aganset t , but she had hear d and r emember ed hi s name, because
i t was a name t hat bel onged so excl usi vel y t o t he Nor t h Amer i can cont i nent .
Now she r eal i zed suddenl y t hat she had hear d not hi ng about hi mf or year s.
" Oh, he r et i r ed, " sai d Lee Hunsacker .
" He di d?" The quest i on was al most a gasp.
" Yeah. "
" When?"
" Oh, about si x mont hs l at er . "
" What di d he do af t er he r et i r ed?"
" I don' t know. I don' t t hi nk anybody' s hear d f r omhi msi nce. "
He wonder ed why she l ooked f r i ght ened. Par t of t he f ear she f el t , was t hat
she coul d not name i t s r eason, ei t her . " Pl ease t el l me about t he mot or
f act or y, " she sai d wi t h ef f or t .
" Wel l , Eugene Lawson of t he Communi t y Nat i onal Bank i n Madi son f i nal l y
gave us a l oan t o buy t he f act or ybut he was j ust a messy cheapskat e, he
di dn' t have enough money t o see us t hr ough, he coul dn' t hel p us when we went
bankr upt . I t was not our f aul t . We had ever yt hi ng agai nst us f r omt he st ar t .
How coul d we r un a f act or y when we had no r ai l r oad? Wer en' t we ent i t l ed t o a
r ai l r oad? I t r i ed t o get t hemt o r eopen t hei r br anch l i ne, but t hose damn
peopl e at Taggar t Tr ans"
He st opped. " Say, ar e you by any chance one of t hose Taggar t s?"
" I amt he Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . "
For a moment , he st ar ed at her i n bl ank st upor ; she saw t he st r uggl e of
f ear , obsequi ousness and hat r ed i n hi s f i l my eyes. The r esul t was a sudden
snar l : " I don' t need any of you bi g shot s! Don' t t hi nk I ' mgoi ng t o be af r ai d
of you. Don' t expect me t o beg f or a j ob. I ' mnot aski ng f avor s of anybody. I
bet you' r e not used t o hear peopl e t al k t o you t hi s way, ar e you?"
" Mr . Hunsacker , I wi l l appr eci at e i t ver y much i f you wi l l gi ve me t he
i nf or mat i on I need about t he f act or y. "
" You' r e a l i t t l e l at e get t i ng i nt er est ed. What ' s t he mat t er ? Your
consci ence bot her i ng you? You peopl e l et J ed St ar nes gr ow f i l t hy r i ch on t hat
f act or y, but you woul dn' t gi ve us a br eak. I t was t he same f act or y.
We di d ever yt hi ng he di d. We st ar t ed r i ght i n manuf act ur i ng t he par t i cul ar
t ype of mot or t hat had been hi s bi ggest money- maker f or year s. And t hen some
newcomer nobody ever hear d of opened a t wo bi t f act or y down i n Col or ado, by
t he name of Ni el sen Mot or s, and put out a new mot or of t he same cl ass as t he
St ar nes model , at hal f t he pr i ce! We coul dn' t hel p t hat , coul d we? I t was al l
r i ght f or J ed St ar nes, no dest r uct i ve compet i t or happened t o come up i n hi s
t i me, but what wer e we t o do? How coul d we f i ght t hi s Ni el sen, when nobody
had gi ven us a mot or t o compet e wi t h hi s?"
" Di d you t ake over t he St ar nes r esear ch l abor at or y?"
" Yes, yes, i t was t her e. Ever yt hi ng was t her e. "
" Hi s st af f , t oo?"
" Oh, some of t hem. A l ot of t hemhad gone whi l e t he f act or y was cl osed. "
" Hi s r esear ch st af f ?"
" They wer e gone. "
" Di d you hi r e any r esear ch men of your own?"
" Yes, yes, somebut l et me t el l you, I di dn' t have much money t o spend on
such t hi ngs as l abor at or i es, when I never had enough f unds t o gi ve me a
br eat hi ng spel l . I coul dn' t even pay t he bi l l s I owed f or t he absol ut el y
essent i al moder ni zi ng and r edecor at i ng whi ch I ' d had t o do t hat f act or y was
di sgr acef ul l y ol d- f ashi oned f r omt he st andpoi nt of human ef f i ci ency. The
execut i ve of f i ces had bar e pl ast er wal l s and a di nky l i t t l e washr oom. Any
moder n psychol ogi st wi l l t el l you t hat nobody coul d do hi s best i n such
depr essi ng sur r oundi ngs. I had t o have a br i ght er col or scheme i n my of f i ce,
and a decent moder n bat hr oomwi t h a st al l shower . Fur t her mor e, I spent a l ot
of money on a new caf et er i a and a pl ayr oomand r est r oomf or t he wor ker s. We
had t o have mor al e, di dn' t we? Any enl i ght ened per son knows t hat man i s made
by t he mat er i al f act or s of hi s backgr ound, and t hat a man' s mi nd i s shaped by
hi s t ool s of pr oduct i on. But peopl e woul dn' t wai t f or t he l aws of economi c
det er mi ni smt o oper at e upon us. We never had a mot or f act or y bef or e. We had
t o l et t he t ool s condi t i on our mi nds, di dn' t we? But nobody gave us t i me. "
" Can you t el l me about t he wor k of your r esear ch st af f ?"
" Oh, I had a gr oup of ver y pr omi si ng young men, al l of t hemguar ant eed by
di pl omas f r omt he best uni ver si t i es. But i t di dn' t do me any good. I don' t
know what t hey wer e doi ng. I t hi nk t hey wer e j ust si t t i ng ar ound, eat i ng up
t hei r sal ar i es. "
" Who was i n char ge of your l abor at or y?"
" Hel l , how can I r emember t hat now?"
" Do you r emember any of t he names of your r esear ch st af f ?"
" Do you t hi nk I had t i me t o meet ever y hi r el i ng i n per son?"
" Di d any of t hemever ment i on t o you any exper i ment s wi t h a . . .
wi t h an ent i r el y new ki nd of mot or ?"
" What mot or ? Let me t el l you t hat an execut i ve of my posi t i on does not
hang ar ound l abor at or i es. I spent most of my t i me i n New Yor k and Chi cago,
t r yi ng t o r ai se money t o keep us goi ng. "
" Who was t he gener al manager of t i e f act or y?"
" A ver y abl e f el l ow by t he name of Roy Cunni ngham. He di ed l ast year i n an
aut o acci dent . Dr unk dr i vi ng, t hey sai d. "
" Can you gi ve me t he names and addr esses of any of your associ at es? Anyone
you r emember ?"
" I don' t know what ' s become of t hem. I wasn' t i n a mood t o keep t r ack of
t hat . "
" Have you pr eser ved any of t he f act or y r ecor ds?"
" I cer t ai nl y have. "
She sat up eager l y. " Woul d you l et me see t hem?"
" You bet ! "
He seemed eager t o compl y; he r ose at once and hur r i ed out of t he r oom.
What he put down bef or e her , when he r et ur ned, was a t hi ck al bumof
cl i ppi ngs: i t cont ai ned hi s newspaper i nt er vi ews and hi s pr ess agent ' s
r el eases.
" I was one of t he bi g i ndust r i al i st s, t oo, " he sai d pr oudl y. " I was a
nat i onal f i gur e, as you can see. My l i f e wi l l make a book of deep, human
si gni f i cance. I ' d have wr i t t en i t l ong ago, i f I had t he pr oper t ool s of
pr oduct i on. " He banged angr i l y upon hi s t ypewr i t er . " I can' t wor k on t hi s
damn t hi ng. I t ski ps spaces. How can I get any i nspi r at i on and wr i t e a best
sel l er wi t h a t ypewr i t er t hat ski ps spaces?"
" Thank you, Mr . Hunsacker , " she sai d. " I bel i eve t hi s i s al l you can t el l
me. " She r ose. " You don' t happen t o know what became of t he St ar nes hei r s?"
" Oh, t hey r an f or cover af t er t hey' d wr ecked t he f act or y. Ther e wer e t hr ee
of t hem, t wo sons and a daught er . Last I hear d, t hey wer e hi di ng t hei r f aces
out i n Dur ance, Loui si ana. "
The l ast si ght she caught of Lee Hunsacker , as she t ur ned t o go, was hi s
sudden l eap t o t he st ove; he sei zed t he l i d of f t he pot and dr opped i t t o t he
f l oor , scor chi ng hi s f i nger s and cur si ng: t he st ew was bur ned.
Li t t l e was l ef t of t he St ar nes f or t une and l ess of t he St ar nes hei r s.
" You won' t l i ke havi ng t o see t hem, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d t he chi ef of
pol i ce of Dur ance, Loui si ana; he was an el der l y man wi t h a sl ow, f i r mmanner
and a l ook of bi t t er ness acqui r ed not i n bl i nd r esent ment . , but i n f i del i t y
t o cl ear - cut st andar ds. " Ther e' s al l sor t s of human bei ngs t o see i n t he
wor l d, t her e' s mur der er s and cr i mi nal mani acsbut , somehow, I t hi nk t hese
St ar nes per sons ar e what decent peopl e shoul dn' t have t o see. They' r e a bad
sor t , Mi ss Taggar t . Cl ammy and bad . . .
Yes, t hey' r e st i l l her e i n t ownt wo of t hem, t hat i s. The t hi r d one i s:
dead. Sui ci de. That was f our year s ago. I t ' s an ugl y st or y. He was t he
youngest of t he t hr ee, Er i c St ar nes. He was one of t hose chr oni c young men
who go ar ound whi ni ng about t hei r sensi t i ve f eel i ngs, when t hey' r e wel l past
f or t y. He needed l ove, was hi s l i ne. He was bei ng kept by ol der women, when
he coul d f i nd t hem. Then he st ar t ed r unni ng af t er a gi r l of si xt een, a ni ce
gi r l who woul dn' t have anyt hi ng t o do wi t h hi m.
She mar r i ed a boy she was engaged t o. Er i c St ar nes got i nt o t hei r house on
t he weddi ng day, and when t hey came back f r omchur ch af t er t he cer emony, t hey
f ound hi mi n t hei r bedr oom, dead, messy dead, hi s wr i st s sl ashed. . . . Now I
say t her e mi ght be f or gi veness f or a man who ki l l s hi msel f qui et l y. Who can
pass j udgment on anot her man' s suf f er i ng and on t he l i mi t of what he can
bear ? But t he man who ki l l s hi msel f , maki ng a show of hi s deat h i n or der t o
hur t somebody, t he man who gi ves hi s l i f e f or mal i cet her e' s no f or gi veness
f or hi m, no excuse, he' s r ot t en cl ear t hr ough, and what he deser ves i s t hat
peopl e spi t at hi s memor y, i nst ead of f eel i ng sor r y f or hi mand hur t , as he
want ed t hemt o be. . . . Wel l , t hat was Er i c St ar nes. I can t el l you wher e t o
f i nd t he ot her t wo, i f you wi sh. "
She f ound Ger al d St ar nes i n t he war d of a f l ophouse. He l ay hal f t wi st ed
on a cot . Hi s hai r was st i l l bl ack, but t he whi t e st ubbl e of hi s chi n was
l i ke a mi st of dead weeds over a vacant f ace. He was soggy dr unk. A poi nt l ess
chuckl e kept br eaki ng hi s voi ce when he spoke, t he sound of a st at i c,
unf ocused mal evol ence, " I t went bust , t he gr eat f act or y. That ' s what happened
t o i t . J ust went up and bust . Does t hat bot her you, madam? The f act or y was
r ot t en. Ever ybody i s r ot t en. I ' msupposed t o beg somebody' s par don, but I
won' t . I don' t gi ve a damn. Peopl e get f i t s t r yi ng t o keep up t he show, when
i t ' s al l r ot , bl ack r ot , t he aut omobi l es, t he bui l di ngs and t he soul s, and i t
doesn' t make any di f f er ence, one way or anot her . You shoul d' ve seen t he ki nd
of l i t er at i who t ur ned f l i p- f l ops when I whi st l ed, when I had t he dough. The
pr of essor s, t he poet s, t he i nt el l ect ual s, t he wor l d- saver s and t he br ot her -
l over s. Any way I whi st l ed. I had l ot s of f un. I want ed t o do good, but now I
don' t . Ther e i sn' t any good. Not any goddamn good i n t he whol e goddamn
uni ver se. I don' t pr opose t o t ake a bat h i f I don' t f eel l i ke i t , and t hat ' s
t hat . I f you want t o know anyt hi ng about t he f act or y, ask my si st er . My sweet
si st er who had a t r ust f und t hey coul dn' t t ouch, so she got out of i t saf e,
even i f she' s i n t he hambur ger cl ass now, not t he f i l et mi gnon a l a Sauce
Bear nai se, but woul d she gi ve a penny of i t t o her br ot her ? The nobl e pl an
t hat bust ed was her i dea as much as mi ne, but wi l l she gi ve me a penny?
Hah! Go t ake a l ook at t he duchess, t ake a l ook. What do I car e about t he
f act or y? I t was j ust a pi l e of gr easy machi ner y. I ' l l sel l you al l my r i ght s,
cl ai ms and t i t l e t o i t f or a dr i nk. I ' mt he l ast of t he St ar nes name. I t used
t o be a gr eat nameSt ar nes. I ' l l sel l i t t o you. You t hi nk I ' ma st i nki ng
bum, but t hat goes f or al l t he r est of t hemand f or r i ch l adi es l i ke you,
t oo. I want ed t o do good f or humani t y. Hah! I wi sh t hey' d al l boi l i n oi l . Be
l ot s of f un. I wi sh t hey' d choke. What does i t mat t er ? What does anyt hi ng
mat t er ?"
On t he next cot , a whi t e- hai r ed, shr i vel ed l i t t l e t r amp t ur ned i n hi s
sl eep, moani ng; a ni ckel cl at t er ed t o t he f l oor out of hi s r ags. Ger al d
St ar nes pi cked i t up and sl i pped i t i nt o hi s own pocket . He gl anced at Dagny.
The cr eases of hi s f ace wer e a mal i gnant smi l e.
" Want t o wake hi mup and st ar t t r oubl e?" he asked. " I f you do, I ' l l say
t hat you' r e l yi ng. "
The i l l - smel l i ng bungal ow, wher e she f ound I vy St ar nes, st ood on t he edge
of t own, by t he shor e of t he Mi ssi ssi ppi . Hangi ng st r ands of moss and cl ot s
of waxy f ol i age made t he t hi ck veget at i on l ook as i f i t wer e dr ool i ng; t he
t oo many dr aper i es, hangi ng i n t he st agnant ai r of a smal l r oom, had t he same
l ook. The smel l came f r omundust ed cor ner s and f r omi ncense bur ni ng i n si l ver
j ar s at t he f eet of cont or t ed Or i ent al dei t i es. I vy St ar nes sat on a pi l l ow
l i ke a baggy Buddha. Her mout h was a t i ght l i t t l e cr escent , t he pet ul ant
mout h of a chi l d demandi ng adul at i onon t he spr eadi ng, pal l i d f ace of a woman
past f i f t y. Her eyes wer e t wo l i f el ess puddl es of wat er . Her voi ce had t he
even, dr i ppi ng monot one of r ai n: " I can' t answer t he ki nd of quest i ons you' r e
aski ng, my gi r l . The r esear ch l abor at or y? The engi neer s? Why shoul d I
r emember anyt hi ng about t hem? I t was my f at her who was concer ned wi t h such
mat t er s, not I , My f at her was an evi l man who car ed f or not hi ng but busi ness.
He had no t i me f or l ove, onl y f or money. My br ot her s and I l i ved on a
di f f er ent pl ane. Our ai mwas not t o pr oduce gadget s, but t o do good.
We br ought a gr eat , new pl an i nt o t he f act or y. I t was el even year s ago.
We wer e def eat ed by t he gr eed, t he sel f i shness and t he base, ani mal nat ur e
of men. I t was t he et er nal conf l i ct bet ween spi r i t and mat t er , bet ween soul
and body. They woul d not r enounce t hei r bodi es, whi ch was al l we asked of
t hem. I do not r emember any of t hose men. I do not car e t o r emember . . . .
The engi neer s? I bel i eve i t was t hey who st ar t ed t he hemophi l i a. . . . Yes,
t hat i s what I sai d: t he hemophi l i a
t he sl ow l eakt he l oss of bl ood t hat cannot be st opped. They r an f i r st .
They deser t ed us, one af t er anot her . . . Our pl an? We put i nt o pr act i ce
t hat nobl e hi st or i cal pr ecept : Fr omeach accor di ng t o hi s abi l i t y, t o each
accor di ng t o hi s need. Ever ybody i n t he f act or y, f r omchar women t o pr esi dent ,
r ecei ved t he same sal ar yt he bar est mi ni mumnecessar y.
Twi ce a year , we al l gat her ed i n a mass meet i ng, wher e ever y per son
pr esent ed hi s cl ai mf or what he bel i eved t o be hi s needs. We vot ed on ever y
cl ai m, and t he wi l l of t he maj or i t y est abl i shed ever y per son' s need and ever y
per son' s abi l i t y. The i ncome of t he f act or y was di st r i but ed accor di ngl y.
Rewar ds wer e based on need, and penal t i es on abi l i t y. Those whose needs wer e
vot ed t o be t he gr eat est , r ecei ved t he most . Those who had not pr oduced as
much as t he vot e sai d t hey coul d, wer e f i ned and had t o pay t he f i nes by
wor ki ng over t i me wi t hout pay.
That was our pl an. I t was based on t he pr i nci pl e of sel f l essness. I t
r equi r ed men t o be mot i vat ed, not by per sonal gai n, but by l ove f or t hei r
br ot her s. "
Dagny hear d a col d, i mpl acabl e voi ce sayi ng somewher e wi t hi n her : Remember
i t r emember i t wel l i t i s not of t en t hat one can see pur e evi l l ook at i t
r emember and some day you' l l f i nd t he wor ds t o name i t s essence. . . . She
hear d i t t hr ough t he scr eami ng of ot her voi ces t hat cr i ed i n hel pl ess
vi ol ence: I t ' s not hi ngI ' ve hear d i t bef or e I ' mhear i ng i t ever ywher ei t ' s
not hi ng but t he same ol d t r i pe
why can' t I st and i t ?I can' t st and i t I can' t st and i t !
" What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you, my gi r l ? Why di d you j ump up l i ke t hat ? Why
ar e you shaki ng? . . . What ? Do speak l ouder , I can' t hear you. . . . How di d
t he pl an wor k out ? I do not car e t o di scuss i t .
Thi ngs became ver y ugl y i ndeed and went f oul er ever y year . I t has cost me
my f ai t h i n human nat ur e. I n f our year s, a pl an concei ved, not by t he col d
cal cul at i ons of t he mi nd, but by t he pur e l ove of t he hear t , was br ought t o
an end i n t he sor di d mess of pol i cemen, l awyer s and bankr upt cy pr oceedi ngs.
But I have seen my er r or and I amf r ee of i t , I amt hr ough wi t h t he wor l d of
machi nes, manuf act ur er s and money, t he wor l d ensl aved by mat t er . I am
l ear ni ng t he emanci pat i on of t he spi r i t , as r eveal ed i n t he gr eat secr et s of
I ndi a, t he r el ease f r ombondage t o f l esh, t he vi ct or y over physi cal nat ur e,
t he t r i umph of t he spi r i t over mat t er . "
Thr ough t he bl i ndi ng whi t e gl ar e of anger , Dagny was seei ng a l ong st r i p
of concr et e t hat had been a r oad, wi t h weeds r i si ng f r omi t s cr acks, and t he
f i gur e of a man cont or t ed by a hand pl ow.
" But , my gi r l , I sai d t hat I do not r emember . . . . But I do not know
t hei r names, I do not know any names, I do not know what sor t of advent ur er s
my f at her may have had i n t hat l abor at or y! . . .
Don' t you hear me? . . . I amnot accust omed t o bei ng quest i oned i n such
manner and . . . Don' t keep r epeat i ng i t . Don' t you know any wor ds but
' engi neer ' ? . . . Don' t you hear me at al l ? . . . What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you?
I I don' t l i ke your f ace, you' r e . . . Leave me al one. I don' t know who you
ar e, I ' ve never hur t you, I ' man ol d woman, don' t l ook at me l i ke t hat , I . .
. St and back! Don' t come near me or I ' l l cal l f or hel p! I ' l l . . . Oh, yes,
yes, I know t hat one!
The chi ef engi neer . Yes. He was t he head of t he l abor at or y. Yes.
Wi l l i amHast i ngs. That was hi s nameWi l l i amHast i ngs. I r emember .
He went of f t o Br andon, Wyomi ng. He qui t t he day af t er we i nt r oduced t he
pl an. He was t he second man t o qui t us. . . . No. No, I don' t r emember who
was t he f i r st . He wasn' t anybody i mpor t ant . "
The woman who opened t he door had gr ayi ng hai r and a poi sed, di st i ngui shed
l ook of gr oomi ng; i t t ook Dagny a f ew seconds t o r eal i ze t hat her gar ment was
onl y a si mpl e cot t on housedr ess, " May I see Mr . Wi l l i amHast i ngs?" asked
Dagny.
The woman l ooked at her f or t he br i ef est i nst ant of a pause; i t was an odd
gl ance, i nqui r i ng and gr ave. " May I ask your name?"
" I amDagny Taggar t , of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . "
" Oh. Pl ease come i n, Mi ss Taggar t . I amMr s. Wi l l i amHast i ngs. "
The measur ed t one of gr avi t y went t hr ough ever y syl l abl e of her voi ce,
l i ke a war ni ng. Her manner was cour t eous, but she di d not smi l e.
I t was a modest home i n t he subur bs of an i ndust r i al t own. Bar e t r ee
br anches cut acr oss t he br i ght , col d bl ue of t he sky, on t he t op of t he r i se
t hat l ed t o t he house. The wal l s of t he l i vi ng r oomwer e si l ver - gr ay;
sunl i ght hi t t he cr yst al st and of a l amp wi t h a whi t e shade; beyond an open
door , a br eakf ast nook was paper ed i n r ed- dot t ed whi t e.
" Wer e you acquai nt ed wi t h my husband i n busi ness, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" No. I have never met Mr . Hast i ngs. But I shoul d l i ke t o speak t o hi mon a
mat t er of busi ness of cr uci al i mpor t ance. "
" My husband di ed f i ve year s ago, Mi ss Taggar t . "
Dagny cl osed her eyes; t he dul l , si nki ng shock cont ai ned t he concl usi ons
she di d not have t o make i n wor ds: Thi s, t hen, had been t he man she was
seeki ng, and Rear den had been r i ght ; t hi s was why t he mot or had been l ef t
uncl ai med on a j unk pi l e.
" I ' msor r y, " she sai d, bot h t o Mr s. Hast i ngs and t o her sel f .
The suggest i on of a smi l e on Mr s. Hast i ngs' f ace hel d sadness, but t he
f ace had no i mpr i nt of t r agedy, onl y a gr ave l ook of f i r mness, accept ance and
qui et ser eni t y.
" Mr s. Hast i ngs, woul d you per mi t me t o ask you a f ew quest i ons?"
" Cer t ai nl y. Pl ease si t down. "
" Di d you have some knowl edge of your husband' s sci ent i f i c wor k?"
" Ver y l i t t l e. None, r eal l y. He never di scussed i t at home. "
" He was, at one t i me, chi ef engi neer of t he Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or
Company?"
" Yes. He had been empl oyed by t hemf or ei ght een year s. "
" I want ed t o ask Mr . Hast i ngs about hi s wor k t her e and t he r eason why he
gave i t up. I f you can t el l me, I woul d l i ke t o know what happened i n t hat
f act or y. "
The smi l e of sadness and humor appear ed f ul l y on Mr s. Hast i ngs'
f ace. " That i s what I woul d l i ke t o know mysel f , " she sai d. " But I ' m
af r ai d I shal l never l ear n i t now. I know why he l ef t t he f act or y. I t was
because of an out r ageous scheme whi ch t he hei r s of l ed St ar nes est abl i shed
t her e. He woul d not wor k on such t er ms or f or such peopl e.
But t her e was somet hi ng el se. I ' ve al ways f el t t hat somet hi ng happened at
Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or s, whi ch he woul d not t el l me. "
" I ' mext r emel y anxi ous t o know any cl ue you may car e t o gi ve me. "
" I have no cl ue t o i t . I ' ve t r i ed t o guess and gi ven up. I cannot
under st and or expl ai n i t . But I know t hat somet hi ng happened.
When my husband l ef t Twent i et h Cent ur y, we came her e and he t ook a j ob as
head of t he engi neer i ng depar t ment of Acme Mot or s. I t was a gr owi ng,
successf ul concer n at t he t i me. I t gave my husband t he ki nd of wor k he l i ked.
He was not a per son pr one t o i nner conf l i ct s, he had al ways been sur e of hi s
act i ons and at peace wi t h hi msel f . But f or a whol e year af t er we l ef t
Wi sconsi n, he act ed as i f he wer e t or t ur ed by somet hi ng, as i f he wer e
st r uggl i ng wi t h a per sonal pr obl emhe coul d not sol ve. At t he end of t hat
year , he came t o me one mor ni ng and t ol d me t hat he had r esi gned f r omAcme
Mot or s, t hat he was r et i r i ng and woul d not wor k anywher e el se. He l oved hi s
wor k; i t was hi s whol e l i f e. Yet he l ooked cal m, sel f - conf i dent and happy,
f or t he f i r st t i me si nce we' d come her e. He asked me not t o quest i on hi m
about t he r eason of hi s deci si on. I di dn' t quest i on hi mand I di dn' t obj ect .
We had t hi s house, we had our savi ngs, we had enough t o l i ve on modest l y f or
t he r est of our days. I never l ear ned hi s r eason. We went on l i vi ng her e,
qui et l y and ver y happi l y. He seemed t o f eel a pr of ound cont ent ment . He had an
odd ser eni t y of spi r i t t hat I had never seen i n hi mbef or e. Ther e was not hi ng
st r ange i n hi s behavi or or act i vi t yexcept t hat at t i mes, Ver y r ar el y, he
went out wi t hout t el l i ng me wher e he went or whomhe saw. I n t he l ast t wo
year s of hi s l i f e, he went away f or one mont h, each summer ; he di d not t el l
me wher e. Ot her wi se, he l i ved as he al ways had. He st udi ed a gr eat deal and
he spent hi s t i me on engi neer i ng r esear ch of hi s own, wor ki ng i n t he basement
of our house. I don' t know what he di d wi t h hi s not es and exper i ment al
model s. I f ound no t r ace of t hemi n t he basement , af t er hi s deat h.
He di ed f i ve year s ago, of a hear t ai l ment f r omwhi ch he had suf f er ed f or
some t i me. "
Dagny asked hopel essl y, " Di d you know t he nat ur e of hi s exper i ment s?"
" No. I know ver y l i t t l e about engi neer i ng. "
" Di d you know any of hi s pr of essi onal f r i ends or co- wor ker s, who mi ght
have been acquai nt ed wi t h hi s r esear ch?"
" No. When he was at Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or s, he wor ked such l ong hour s
t hat we had ver y l i t t l e t i me f or our sel ves and we spent i t t oget her . We had
no soci al l i f e at al l . He never br ought hi s associ at es t o t he house. "
" When he was at Twent i et h Cent ur y, di d he ever ment i on t o you a mot or he
had desi gned, an ent i r el y new t ype of mot or t hat coul d have changed t he
cour se of al l i ndust r y?"
" A mot or ? Yes. Yes, he spoke of i t sever al t i mes. He sai d i t was an
i nvent i on of i ncal cul abl e i mpor t ance. But i t was not he who had desi gned i t .
I t was t he i nvent i on of a young assi st ant of hi s. "
She saw t he expr essi on on Dagny' s f ace, and added sl owl y, qui zzi cal l y,
wi t hout r epr oach, mer el y i n sad amusement , " I see. "
" Oh, I ' msor r y! " sai d Dagny, r eal i zi ng t hat her emot i on had shot t o her
f ace and become a smi l e as obvi ous as a cr y of r el i ef .
" I t ' s qui t e al l r i ght . I under st and. I t ' s t he i nvent or of t hat mot or t hat
you' r e i nt er est ed i n. I don' t know whet her he i s st i l l al i ve, but at l east I
have no r eason t o t hi nk t hat he i sn' t . "
" I ' d gi ve hal f my l i f e t o know t hat he i sand t o f i nd hi m. I t ' s as
i mpor t ant as t hat , Mr s. Hast i ngs. Who i s he?"
" I don' t know. I don' t know hi s name or anyt hi ng about hi m. I never knew
any of t he men on my husband' s st af f . He t ol d me onl y t hat he had a young
engi neer who, some day, woul d up- t ur n t he wor l d.
My husband di d not car e f or anyt hi ng i n peopl e except abi l i t y. I t hi nk
t hi s was t he onl y man he ever l oved. He di dn' t say so, but I coul d t el l i t ,
j ust by t he way he spoke of t hi s young assi st ant . I r emember t he day he t ol d
me t hat t he mot or was compl et edhow hi s voi ce sounded when he sai d, ' And he' s
onl y t went y- si x! ' Thi s was about a mont h bef or e t he deat h of J ed St ar nes. He
never ment i oned t he mot or or t he young engi neer , af t er t hat . "
" You don' t know what became of t he young engi neer ?"
" No. "
" You can' t suggest any way t o f i nd hi m?"
" No. "
" You have no cl ue, no l ead t o hel p me l ear n hi s name?"
" None. Tel l me, was t hat mot or ext r emel y val uabl e?"
" Mor e val uabl e t han any est i mat e I coul d gi ve you. "
" I t ' s st r ange, because, you see, I t hought of i t once, some year s af t er
we' d l ef t Wi sconsi n, and I asked my husband what had become of t hat i nvent i on
he' d sai d was so gr eat , what woul d be done wi t h i t .
He l ooked at me ver y oddl y and answer ed, ' Not hi ng. ' "
" Why?"
" He woul dn' t t el l me. "
" Can you r emember anyone at al l who wor ked at Twent i et h Cent ur y? Anyone
who knew t hat young engi neer ? Any f r i end of hi s?"
" No, I . . . Wai t ! Wai t , I t hi nk I can gi ve you a l ead. I can t el l you
wher e t o f i nd one f r i end of hi s. I don' t even know t hat f r i end' s name,
ei t her , but I know hi s addr ess. I t ' s an odd st or y. I ' d bet t er expl ai n how i t
happened. One eveni ngabout t wo year s af t er we' d come her emy husband was
goi ng out and I needed our car t hat ni ght , so he asked me t o pi ck hi mup
af t er di nner at t he r est aur ant of t he r ai l r oad st at i on. He di d not t el l me
wi t h whomhe was havi ng di nner . When I dr ove up t o t he st at i on, I saw hi m
st andi ng out si de t he r est aur ant wi t h t wo men. One of t hemwas young and t al l .
The ot her was el der l y; he l ooked ver y di st i ngui shed. I woul d st i l l r ecogni ze
t hose men anywher e; t hey had t he ki nd of f aces one doesn' t f or get . My husband
saw me and l ef t t hem. They wal ked away t owar d t he st at i on pl at f or m; t her e was
a t r ai n comi ng. My husband poi nt ed af t er t he young man and sai d, ' Di d you see
hi m? That ' s t he boy I t ol d you about . 1 ' The one who' s t he gr eat maker of
mot or s?' The one who was. ' "
" And he t ol d you not hi ng el se?"
" Not hi ng el se. Thi s was ni ne year s ago. Last spr i ng, I went t o vi si t my
br ot her who l i ves i n Cheyenne. One af t er noon, he t ook t he f ami l y out f or a
l ong dr i ve. We went up i nt o pr et t y wi l d count r y, hi gh i n t he Rocki es, and we
st opped at a r oadsi de di ner . Ther e was a di st i ngui shed, gr ay- hai r ed man
behi nd t he count er . I kept st ar i ng at hi mwhi l e he f i xed our sandwi ches and
cof f ee, because I knew t hat I had seen hi s f ace bef or e, but coul d not
r emember wher e. We dr ove on, we wer e mi l es away f r omt he di ner , when I
r emember ed. You' d bet t er go t her e.
I t ' s on Rout e 86, i n t he mount ai ns, west of Cheyenne, near a smal l
i ndust r i al set t l ement by t he Lennox Copper Foundr y. I t seems st r ange, but I ' m
cer t ai n of i t : t he cook i n t hat di ner i s t he man I saw at t he r ai l r oad
st at i on wi t h my husband' s young i dol . "
The di ner st ood on t he summi t of a l ong, har d cl i mb. I t s gl ass wal l s
spr ead a coat of pol i sh over t he vi ew of r ocks and pi nes descendi ng i n br oken
l edges t o t he sunset . I t was dar k bel ow, but an even, gl owi ng l i ght st i l l
r emai ned i n t he di ner , as i n a smal l pool l ef t behi nd by a r ecedi ng t i de.
Dagny sat at t he end of t he count er , eat i ng a hambur ger sandwi ch.
I t was t he best - cooked f ood she had ever t ast ed, t he pr oduct of si mpl e
i ngr edi ent s and of an unusual ski l l . Two wor ker s wer e f i ni shi ng t hei r di nner ;
she was wai t i ng f or t hemt o depar t .
She st udi ed t he man behi nd t he count er . He was sl ender and t al l ; he had an
ai r of di st i nct i on t hat bel onged i n an anci ent cast l e or i n t he i nner of f i ce
of a bank; but hi s pecul i ar qual i t y came f r omt he f act t hat he made t he
di st i nct i on seemappr opr i at e her e, behi nd t he count er of a di ner . He wor e a
cook' s whi t e j acket as i f i t wer e a f ul l - dr ess sui t . Ther e was an exper t
compet ence i n hi s manner of wor ki ng; hi s movement s wer e easy, i nt el l i gent l y
economi cal . He had a l ean f ace and gr ay hai r t hat bl ended i n t one wi t h t he
col d bl ue of hi s eyes; somewher e beyond hi s l ook of cour t eous st er nness,
t her e was a not e of humor , so f ai nt t hat i t vani shed i f one t r i ed t o di scer n
i t .
The t wo wor ker s f i ni shed, pai d and depar t ed, each l eavi ng a di me f or a
t i p. She wat ched t he man as he r emoved t hei r di shes, put t he di mes i nt o t he
pocket of hi s whi t e j acket , wi ped t he count er , wor ki ng wi t h swi f t pr eci si on.
Then he t ur ned and l ooked at her . I t was an i mper sonal gl ance, not i nt ended
t o i nvi t e conver sat i on; but she f el t cer t ai n t hat he had l ong si nce not ed her
New Yor k sui t , her hi gh- heel ed pumps, her ai r of bei ng a woman who di d not
wast e her t i me; hi s col d, obser vant eyes seemed t o t el l her t hat he knew she
di d not bel ong her e and t hat he was wai t i ng t o di scover her pur pose.
" How i s busi ness?" she asked.
" Pr et t y bad. They' r e goi ng t o cl ose t he Lennox Foundr y next week, so I ' l l
have t o cl ose soon, t oo, and move on. " Hi s voi ce was cl ear , i mper sonal l y
cor di al .
" Wher e t o?"
" 1 haven' t deci ded. "
" What sor t of t hi ng do you have i n mi nd?"
" I don' t know. I ' mt hi nki ng of openi ng a gar age, i f I can f i nd t he r i ght
spot i n some t own. "
" Oh no! You' r e t oo good at your j ob t o change i t . You shoul dn' t want t o be
anyt hi ng but a cook. "
A st r ange, f i ne smi l e moved t he cur ve of hi s mout h. " No?" he asked
cour t eousl y.
" No! How woul d you l i ke a j ob i n New Yor k?" He l ooked at her , ast oni shed.
" I ' mser i ous. I can gi ve you a j ob on a bi g r ai l r oad, i n char ge of t he
di ni ng- car depar t ment . "
" May I ask why you shoul d want t o?"
She r ai sed t he hambur ger sandwi ch i n i t s whi t e paper napki n.
" Ther e' s one of t he r easons. "
" Thank you. What ar e t he ot her s?"
' T don' t suppose you' ve l i ved i n a bi g ci t y, or you' d know how mi ser abl y
di f f i cul t i t i s t o f i nd any compet ent men f or any j ob what ever . "
" I know a l i t t l e about t hat . "
" Wel l ? How about i t , t hen? Woul d you l i ke a j ob i n New Yor k at t en
t housand dol l ar s a year ?"
" No. "
She had been car r i ed away by t he j oy of di scover i ng and r ewar di ng abi l i t y.
She l ooked at hi msi l ent l y, shocked. " I don' t t hi nk you under st ood me, " she
sai d.
" I di d. "
" You' r e r ef usi ng an oppor t uni t y of t hi s ki nd?"
" Yes. "
" But why?"
" That i s a per sonal mat t er . "
" Why shoul d you wor k l i ke t hi s, when you can have a bet t er j ob?"
" I amnot l ooki ng f or a bet t er j ob. "
" You don' t want a chance t o r i se and make money?"
" No. Why do you i nsi st ?"
" Because I hat e t o see abi l i t y bei ng wast ed! "
He sai d sl owl y, i nt ent l y, " So do I . "
Somet hi ng i n t he way he sai d i t made her f eel t he bond of some pr of ound
emot i on whi ch t hey hel d i n common; i t br oke t he di sci pl i ne t hat f or bade her
ever t o cal l f or hel p. " I ' mso si ck of t hem! " Her voi ce st ar t l ed hen i t was
an i nvol unt ar y cr y. " I ' mso hungr y f or any si ght of anyone who' s abl e t o do
what ever i t i s he' s doi ng! "
She pr essed t he back of her hand t o her eyes, t r yi ng t o damt he out br eak
of a despai r she had not per mi t t ed her sel f t o acknowl edge; she had not known
t he ext ent of i t , nor how l i t t l e of her endur ance t he quest had l ef t her .
" I ' msor r y, " he sai d, hi s voi ce l ow. I t sounded, not as an apol ogy, but as
a st at ement of compassi on.
She gl anced up at hi m. He smi l ed, and she knew t hat t he smi l e was i nt ended
t o br eak t he bond whi ch he, t oo, had f el t : t he smi l e had a t r ace of cour t eous
mocker y. He sai d, " But I don' t bel i eve t hat you came al l t he way f r omNew
Yor k j ust t o hunt f or r ai l r oad cooks i n t he Rocki es. "
" No. I came f or somet hi ng el se. " She l eaned f or war d, bot h f or ear ms br aced
f i r ml y agai nst t he count er , f eel i ng cal mand i n t i ght cont r ol agai n, sensi ng
a danger ous adver sar y. " Di d you know, about t en year s ago, a young engi neer
who wor ked f or t he Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or Company?"
She count ed t he seconds of a pause; she coul d not def i ne t he nat ur e of t he
way he l ooked at her , except t hat i t was t he l ook of some speci al
at t ent i veness.
" Yes, I di d, " he answer ed.
" Coul d you gi ve me hi s name and addr ess?"
" What f or ?"
" I t ' s cr uci al l y i mpor t ant t hat I f i nd hi m. "
" That man? Of what i mpor t ance i s he?"
" He i s t he most i mpor t ant man i n t he wor l d. "
" Real l y? Why?"
" Di d you know anyt hi ng about hi s wor k?"
" Yes. "
" Di d you know t hat he hi t upon an i dea of t he most t r emendous
consequence?"
He l et a moment pass. " May I ask who you ar e?
" Dagny Taggar t . I ' mt he Vi ce- Pr es"
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . I know who you ar e. "
He sai d i t wi t h i mper sonal def er ence. But he l ooked as i f he had f ound t he
answer t o some speci al quest i on i n hi s mi nd and was not ast oni shed any
l onger .
" Then you know t hat my i nt er est i s not i dl e, " she sai d. " I ' mi n a posi t i on
t o gi ve hi mt he chance he needs and I ' mpr epar ed t o pay anyt hi ng he asks. "
" May I ask what has ar oused your i nt er est i n hi m?"
" Hi s mot or . "
" How di d you happen t o know about hi s mot or ?"
" I f ound a br oken r emnant of i t i n t he r ui ns of t he Twent i et h Cent ur y
f act or y. Not enough t o r econst r uct i t or t o l ear n how i t wor ked, But enough
t o know t hat i t di d wor k and t hat i t ' s an i nvent i on whi ch can save my
r ai l r oad, t he count r y and t he economy of t he whol e wor l d.
Don' t ask me t o t el l you now what t r ai l I ' ve f ol l owed, t r yi ng t o t r ace
t hat mot or and t o f i nd i t s i nvent or . That ' s not of any i mpor t ance, even my
l i f e and wor k ar e not of any i mpor t ance t o me r i ght now, not hi ng i s of any
i mpor t ance, except t hat I must f i nd hi m. Don' t ask me how I happened t o come
t o you. You' r e t he end of t he t r ai l . Tel l me hi s name. "
He had l i st ened wi t hout movi ng, l ooki ng st r ai ght at her ; t he at t ent i veness
of hi s eyes seemed t o t ake hol d of ever y wor d and st or e i t car ef ul l y away,
gi vi ng her no cl ue t o hi s pur pose. He di d not move f or a l ong t i me. Then he
sai d, " Gi ve i t up, Mi ss Taggar t . You won' t f i nd hi m. "
" What i s hi s name?"
" I can t el l you not hi ng about hi m. "
" I s he st i l l al i ve?"
" I can t el l you not hi ng. "
" What i s your name?"
" Hugh Akst on. "
Thr ough t he bl ank seconds of r ecapt ur i ng her mi nd, she kept t el l i ng
her sel f : You' r e hyst er i cal . . . don' t be pr epost er ous . . . i t ' s j ust a
coi nci dence of nameswhi l e she knew, i n cer t ai nt y and numb, i nexpl i cabl e
t er r or , t hat t hi s was t he Hugh Akst on.
" Hugh Akst on?" she st ammer ed. " The phi l osopher ? . . . The l ast of t he
advocat es of r eason?"
" Why, yes, " he answer ed pl easant l y. " Or t he f i r st of t hei r r et ur n. "
He di d not seemst ar t l ed by her shock, but he seemed t o f i nd i t
unnecessar y. Hi s manner was si mpl e, al most f r i endl y, as i f he f el t no need t o
hi de hi s i dent i t y and no r esent ment at i t s bei ng di scover ed.
" I di dn' t t hi nk t hat any young per son woul d r ecogni ze my name or at t ach
any si gni f i cance t o i t , nowadays, " he sai d.
" But . . . but what ar e you doi ng her e?" Her ar mswept at t he r oom. " Thi s
doesn' t make sense! "
" Ar e you sur e?"
" What i s i t ? A st unt ? An exper i ment ? A secr et mi ssi on? Ar e you st udyi ng
somet hi ng f or some speci al pur pose?"
" No, Mi ss Taggar t . I ' mear ni ng my l i vi ng. " The wor ds and t he voi ce had t he
genui ne si mpl i ci t y of t r ut h, " Dr . Akst on, I . . . i t ' s i nconcei vabl e, i t ' s .
. . You' r e . . . you' r e a phi l osopher . . . t he gr eat est phi l osopher l i vi ng .
. . an i mmor t al name . . . why woul d you do t hi s?"
" Because I ama phi l osopher , Mi ss Taggar t . "
She knew wi t h cer t ai nt yeven t hough she f el t as i f her capaci t y f or
cer t ai nt y and f or under st andi ng wer e gonet hat she woul d obt ai n no hel p f r om
hi m, t hat quest i ons wer e usel ess, t hat he woul d gi ve her no expl anat i on,
nei t her of t he i nvent or ' s f at e nor of hi s own.
" Gi ve i t up, Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d qui et l y, as i f gi vi ng pr oof t hat he
coul d guess her t hought s, as she had known he woul d. " I t i s a hopel ess quest ,
t he mor e hopel ess because you have no i nkl i ng of what an i mpossi bl e t ask you
have chosen t o under t ake. I woul d l i ke t o spar e you t he st r ai n of t r yi ng t o
devi se some ar gument , t r i ck or pl ea t hat woul d make me gi ve you t he
i nf or mat i on you ar e seeki ng. Take my wor d f or i t : i t can' t be done. You sai d
I ' mt he end of your t r ai l . I t ' s a bl i nd al l ey, Mi ss Taggar t , Do not at t empt
t o wast e your money and ef f or t on ot her , mor e convent i onal met hods of
i nqui r y: do not hi r e det ect i ves. They wi l l l ear n not hi ng. You may choose t o
i gnor e my war ni ng, but I t hi nk t hat you ar e a per son of hi gh i nt el l i gence,
abl e t o know t hat I know what I amsayi ng. Gi ve i t up. The secr et you ar e
t r yi ng t o sol ve i nvol ves somet hi ng gr eat er much gr eat er t han t he i nvent i on of
a mot or r un by at mospher i c el ect r i ci t y. Ther e i s onl y one hel pf ul suggest i on
t hat I can gi ve you: By t he essence and nat ur e of exi st ence, cont r adi ct i ons
cannot exi st . I f you f i nd i t i nconcei vabl e t hat an i nvent i on of geni us shoul d
be abandoned among r ui ns, and t hat a phi l osopher shoul d wi sh t o wor k as a
cook i n a di ner check your pr emi ses. You wi l l f i nd t hat one of t hemi s
wr ong. "
She st ar t ed: she r emember ed t hat she had hear d t hi s bef or e and t hat i t was
Fr anci sco who had sai d i t . And t hen she r emember ed t hat t hi s man had been one
of Fr anci sco' s t eacher s.
" As you wi sh, Dr . Akst on, " she sai d. " I won' t at t empt t o quest i on you
about i t . But woul d you per mi t me t o ask you a quest i on on an ent i r el y
di f f er ent subj ect ?"
" Cer t ai nl y. "
" Dr . Rober t St adl er once t ol d me t hat when you wer e at t he Pat r i ck Henr y
Uni ver si t y, you had t hr ee st udent s who wer e your f avor i t es and hi s, t hr ee
br i l l i ant mi nds f r omwhomyou expect ed a gr eat f ut ur e. One of t hemwas
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. "
" Yes. Anot her was Ragnar Danneskj ol d. "
" I nci dent al l yt hi s i s not my quest i onwho was t he t hi r d?"
" Hi s name woul d mean not hi ng t o you. He i s not f amous. "
" Dr . St adl er sai d t hat you and he wer e r i val s over t hese t hr ee st udent s,
because you bot h r egar ded t hemas your sons. "
" Ri val s? He l ost t hem. "
" Tel l me, ar e you pr oud of t he way t hese t hr ee have t ur ned out ?"
He l ooked of f , i nt o t he di st ance, at t he dyi ng f i r e of t he sunset on t he
f ar t hest r ocks; hi s f ace had t he l ook of a f at her who wat ches hi s sons
bl eedi ng on a bat t l ef i el d. He answer ed: " Mor e pr oud t han I had ever hoped t o
be, "
I t was al most dar k. He t ur ned shar pl y, t ook a package of ci gar et t es f r om
hi s pocket , pul l ed out one ci gar et t e, but st opped, r emember i ng her pr esence,
as i f he had f or got t en i t f or a moment , and ext ended t he package t o her . She
t ook a ci gar et t e and he st r uck t he br i ef f l ar e of a mat ch, t hen shook i t out ,
l eavi ng onl y t wo smal l poi nt s of f i r e i n t he dar kness of a gl ass r oomand of
mi l es of mount ai ns beyond i t .
She r ose, pai d her bi l l , and sai d, " Thank you, Dr . Akst on. I wi l l not
mol est you wi t h t r i cks or pl eas. I wi l l not hi r e det ect i ves. But I t hi nk I
shoul d t el l you t hat I wi l l not gi ve up, I must f i nd t he i nvent or of t hat
mot or . I wi l l f i nd hi m. "
" Not unt i l t he day when he chooses t o f i nd youas he wi l l . "
When she wal ked t o her car , he swi t ched on t he l i ght s i n t he di ner , she
saw t he mai l box by t he si de of t he r oad and not ed t he i ncr edi bl e f act t hat
t he name " Hugh Akst on" st ood wr i t t en openl y acr oss i t .
She had dr i ven f ar down t he wi ndi ng r oad, and t he l i ght s of t he di ner wer e
l ong si nce out of si ght , when she not i ced t hat she was enj oyi ng t he t ast e of
t he ci gar et t e he had gi ven her : i t was di f f er ent f r omany she had ever smoked
bef or e. She hel d t he smal l r emnant t o t he l i ght of t he dashboar d, l ooki ng f or
t he name of t he br and. Ther e was no name, onl y a t r ademar k. St amped i n gol d
on t he t hi n, whi t e paper t her e st ood t he si gn of t he dol l ar .
She exami ned i t cur i ousl y: she had never hear d of t hat br and bef or e.
Then she r emember ed t he ol d man at t he ci gar st and of t he Taggar t
Ter mi nal , and smi l ed, t hi nki ng t hat t hi s was a speci men f or hi s col l ect i on.
She st amped out t he f i r e and dr opped t he but t i nt o her handbag.
Tr ai n Number 57 was l i ned al ong t he t r ack, r eady t o l eave f or Wyat t
J unct i on, when she r eached Cheyenne, l ef t her car at t he gar age wher e she had
r ent ed i t , and wal ked out on t he pl at f or mof t he Taggar t st at i on. She had
hal f an hour t o wai t f or t he east bound mai n l i ner t o New Yor k. She wal ked t o
t he end of t he pl at f or mand l eaned wear i l y agai nst a l amppost ; she di d not
want t o be seen and r ecogni zed by t he st at i on empl oyees, she di d not want t o
t al k t o anyone, she needed r est . A f ew peopl e st ood i n cl ust er s on t he hal f -
deser t ed pl at f or m; ani mat ed conver sat i ons seemed t o be goi ng on, and
newspaper s wer e mor e pr omi nent l y i n evi dence t han usual .
She l ooked at t he l i ght ed wi ndows of Tr ai n Number 57f or a moment ' s r el i ef
i n t he si ght of a vi ct or i ous achi evement . Tr ai n Number 57 was about t o st ar t
down t he t r ack of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, t hr ough t he t owns, t hr ough t he cur ves
of t he mount ai ns, past t he gr een si gnal s wher e peopl e had st ood cheer i ng and
t he val l eys wher e r ocket s had r i sen t o t he summer sky. Twi st ed r emnant s of
l eaves now hung on t he br anches beyond t he t r ai n' s r oof l i ne, and t he
passenger s wor e f ur s and muf f l er s, as t hey cl i mbed aboar d. They moved wi t h
t he casual manner of a dai l y event , wi t h t he secur i t y of expect i ng a
per f or mance l ong si nce t aken f or gr ant ed. . . . We' ve done i t she t hought
t hi s much, at l east , i s done.
I t was t he chance conver sat i on of t wo men somewher e behi nd her t hat came
beat i ng suddenl y agai nst her cl osed at t ent i on.
" But l aws shoul dn' t be passed t hat way, so qui ckl y. "
" They' r e not l aws, t hey' r e di r ect i ves. "
" Then i t ' s i l l egal . "
" I t ' s not i l l egal , because t he Legi sl at ur e passed a l aw l ast mont h gi vi ng
hi mt he power t o i ssue di r ect i ves. "
" I don' t t hi nk di r ect i ves shoul d be spr ung on peopl e t hat way, out of t he
bl ue, l i ke a punch i n t he nose. "
" Wel l , t her e' s no t i me t o pal aver when i t ' s a nat i onal emer gency. "
" But I don' t t hi nk i t ' s r i ght and i t doesn' t j i be. How i s Rear den goi ng t o
do i t , when i t says her e"
" Why shoul d you wor r y about Rear den? He' s r i ch enough. He can f i nd a way
t o do anyt hi ng. "
Then she l eaped t o t he f i r st newsst and i n si ght and sei zed a copy of t he
eveni ng paper .
I t was on t he f r ont page. Wesl ey Mouch, Top Co- or di nat or of t he Bur eau of
Economi c Pl anni ng and Nat i onal Resour ces, " i n a sur pr i se move, " sai d t he
paper , " and i n t he name of t he nat i onal emer gency, "
had i ssued a set of di r ect i ves, whi ch wer e st r ung i n a col umn down t he
page: The r ai l r oads of t he count r y wer e or der ed t o r educe t he maxi mumspeed
of al l t r ai ns t o si xt y mi l es per hour t o r educe t he maxi muml engt h of al l
t r ai ns t o si xt y car sand t o r un t he same number of t r ai ns i n ever y st at e of a
zone composed of f i ve nei ghbor i ng st at es, t he count r y bei ng di vi ded i nt o such
zones f or t he pur pose.
The st eel mi l l s of t he count r y wer e or der ed t o l i mi t t he maxi mum
pr oduct i on of any met al al l oy t o an amount equal t o t he pr oduct i on of ot her
met al al l oys by ot her mi l l s pl aced i n t he same cl assi f i cat i on of pl ant
capaci t yand t o suppl y a f ai r shar e of any met al al l oy t o al l consumer s who
mi ght desi r e t o obt ai n i t .
Al l t he manuf act ur i ng est abl i shment s of t he count r y, of any si ze and
nat ur e, wer e f or bi dden t o move f r omt hei r pr esent l ocat i ons, except when
gr ant ed a speci al per mi ssi on t o do so by t he Bur eau of Economi c Pl anni ng and
Nat i onal Resour ces.
To compensat e t he r ai l r oads of t he count r y f or t he ext r a cost s i nvol ved
and " t o cushi on t he pr ocess of r eadj ust ment , " a mor at or i umon payment s of
i nt er est and pr i nci pal on al l r ai l r oad bondssecur ed and unsecur ed,
conver t i bl e and non- conver t i bl ewas decl ar ed f or a per i od of f i ve year s.
To pr ovi de t he f unds f or t he per sonnel t o enf or ce t hese di r ect i ves, a
speci al t ax was i mposed on t he st at e of Col or ado, " as t he st at e best abl e t o
assi st t he needi er st at es t o bear t he br unt of t he nat i onal emer gency, " such
t ax t o consi st of f i ve per cent of t he gr oss sal es of Col or ado' s i ndust r i al
concer ns.
The cr y she ut t er ed was one she had never per mi t t ed her sel f bef or e,
because she made i t her pr i de al ways t o answer i t her sel f but she saw a man
st andi ng a f ew st eps away, she di d not see t hat he was a r agged bum, and she
ut t er ed t he cr y because i t was t he pl ea of r eason and he was a human f i gur e:
" What ar e we goi ng t o do?"
The bumgr i nned mi r t hl essl y and shr ugged: " Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
I t was not Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al t hat st ood as t he f ocus of t er r or i n
her mi nd, i t was not t he t hought of Hank Rear den t i ed t o a r ack pul l ed i n
opposi t e di r ect i onsi t was El l i s Wyat t . Wi pi ng out t he r est , f i l l i ng her
consci ousness, l eavi ng no r oomf or wor ds, no t i me f or wonder , as a gl ar i ng
answer t o t he quest i ons she had not begun t o ask, st ood t wo pi ct ur es: El l i s
Wyat t ' s i mpl acabl e f i gur e i n f r ont of her desk, sayi ng, " I t i s now i n your
power t o dest r oy me; I may have t o go; but i f I go, I ' l l make sur e t hat I
t ake al l t he r est of you al ong wi t h me"
and t he ci r cl i ng vi ol ence of El l i s Wyat t ' s body when he f l ung a gl ass t o
shat t er agai nst t he wal l .
The onl y consci ousness t he pi ct ur es l ef t her was t he f eel i ng of t he
appr oach of some unt hi nkabl e di sast er , and t he f eel i ng t hat she had t o out r un
i t . She had t o r each El l i s Wyat t and st op hi m. She di d not know what i t was
t hat she had t o pr event . She knew onl y t hat she had t o st op hi m.
And because, wer e she l yi ng cr ushed under t he r ui ns of a bui l di ng, wer e
she t or n by t he bomb of an ai r r ai d, so l ong as she was st i l l i n exi st ence
she woul d know t hat act i on i s man' s f or emost obl i gat i on, r egar dl ess of
anyt hi ng he f eel sshe was abl e t o r un down t he pl at f or mand t o see t he f ace
of t he st at i onmast er when she f ound hi mshe was abl e t o or der : " Hol d Number
57 f or me! " t hen t o r un t o t he pr i vacy of a t el ephone boot h i n t he dar kness
beyond t he end of t he pl at f or m, and t o gi ve t he l ong- di st ance oper at or t he
number of El l i s Wyat t ' s house.
She st ood, pr opped up by t he wal l s of t he boot h, her eyes cl osed, and
l i st ened t o t he dead whi r l of met al whi ch was t he sound of a bel l r i ngi ng
somewher e. I t br ought no answer . The bel l kept comi ng i n sudden spasms, l i ke
a dr i l l goi ng t hr ough her ear , t hr ough her body.
She cl ut ched t he r ecei ver as i f , unheeded, i t wer e st i l l a f or mof
cont act .
She wi shed t he bel l wer e l ouder . She f or got t hat t he sound she hear d was
not t he one r i ngi ng i n hi s house. She di d not know t hat she was scr eami ng,
" El l i s, don' t ! Don' t ! Don' t I " unt i l she hear d t he col d, r epr ovi ng voi ce of
t he oper at or say, " Your par t y does not answer . "
She sat at t he wi ndow of a coach of Tr ai n Number 57, and l i st ened t o t he
cl i cki ng of t he wheel s on t he r ai l s of Rear den Met al , She sat , unr esi st i ng,
swayi ng wi t h t he mot i on of t he t r ai n. The bl ack l ust er of t he wi ndow hi d t he
count r ysi de she di d not want t o see. I t was her second r un on t he J ohn Gal t
Li ne, and she t r i ed not t o t hi nk of t he f i r st .
The bondhol der s, she t hought , t he bondhol der s of t he J ohn Gal t Li nei t was
t o her honor t hat t hey had ent r ust ed t hei r money, t he savi ng and achi evement
of year s, i t was on her abi l i t y t hat t hey had st aked i t , i t was on her wor k
t hat t hey had r el i ed and on t hei r own
and she had been made t o bet r ay t hemi nt o a l oot er s' t r ap: t her e woul d be
no t r ai ns and no l i f e- bl ood of f r ei ght , t he J ohn Gal t Li ne had been onl y a
dr ai npi pe t hat had per mi t t ed J i mTaggar t t o make a deal and t o dr ai n t hei r
weal t h, unear ned, i nt o hi s pocket , i n exchange f or l et t i ng ot her s dr ai n hi s
r ai l r oadt he bonds of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, whi ch, t hi s mor ni ng, had been t he
pr oud guar di ans of t hei r owner s' secur i t y and f ut ur e, had become i n t he space
of an hour , scr aps of paper t hat no one woul d buy, wi t h no val ue, no f ut ur e,
no power , save t he power t o cl ose t he door s and st op t he wheel s of t he l ast
hope of t he count r y
and Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al was not a l i vi ng pl ant , f ed by bl ood i t had
wor ked t o pr oduce, but a canni bal of t he moment , devour i ng t he unbor n
chi l dr en of gr eat ness.
The t ax on Col or ado, she t hought , t he t ax col l ect ed f r omEl l i s Wyat t t o
pay f or t he l i vel i hood of t hose whose j ob was t o t i e hi mand make hi munabl e
t o l i ve, t hose who woul d st and on guar d t o see t hat he got no t r ai ns, no t ank
car s, no pi pel i ne of Rear den Met al El l i s Wyat t , st r i pped of t he r i ght of
ser f - def ense, l ef t wi t hout voi ce, wi t hout weapons, and wor se: made t o be t he
t ool of hi s own dest r uct i on, t he suppor t er of hi s own dest r oyer s, t he
pr ovi der of t hei r f ood and of t hei r weaponsEl l i s Wyat t bei ng choked, wi t h
hi s own br i ght ener gy t ur ned agai nst hi mas t he nooseEl l i s Wyat t , who had
want ed t o t ap an unl i mi t ed sour ce of shal e oi l and who spoke of a Second
Renai ssance. . . .
She sat bent over , her head on her ar ms, sl umped at t he, l edge of t he
wi ndowwhi l e t he gr eat cur ves of t he gr een- bl ue r ai l , t he mount ai ns, t he
val l eys, t he new t owns of Col or ado went by i n t he dar kness, unseen.
The sudden j ol t of br akes on wheel s t hr ew her upr i ght . I t was an
unschedul ed st op, and t he pl at f or mof t he smal l st at i on was cr owded wi t h
peopl e, al l l ooki ng of f i n t he same di r ect i on. The passenger s ar ound her wer e
pr essi ng t o t he wi ndows, st ar i ng. She l eaped t o her f eet , she r an down t he
ai sl e, down t he st eps, i nt o t he col d wi nd sweepi ng t he pl at f or m.
I n t he i nst ant bef or e she saw i t and her scr eamcut t he voi ces of t he
cr owd, she knew t hat she had known t hat whi ch she was t o see. I n a br eak
bet ween mount ai ns, l i ght i ng t he sky, t hr owi ng a gl ow t hat swayed on t he r oof s
and wal l s of t he st at i on, t he hi l l of Wyat t Oi l was a sol i d sheet of f l ame.
Lat er , when t hey t ol d her t hat El l i s Wyat t had vani shed, l eavi ng not hi ng
behi nd but a boar d he had nai l ed t o a post at t he f oot of t he hi l l , when she
l ooked at hi s handwr i t i ng on t he boar d, she f el t as i f she had al most known
t hat t hese woul d be t he wor ds: " I aml eavi ng i t as I f ound i t . Take over .
I t ' s your s. "

PART II

EITHER-OR

CHAPTER I
THE MAN WHO BELONGED ON EARTH

Dr . Rober t St adl er paced hi s of f i ce, wi shi ng he woul d not f eel t he col d.
Spr i ng had been l at e i n comi ng. Beyond t he wi ndow, t he dead gr ay of t he hi l l s
l ooked l i ke t he smear ed t r ansi t i on f r omt he soi l ed whi t e of t he sky t o t he
l eaden bl ack of t he r i ver . Once i n a whi l e, a di st ant pat ch of hi l l si de
f l ar ed i nt o a si l ver - yel l ow t hat was al most gr een, t hen vani shed. The cl ouds
kept cr acki ng f or t he wi dt h of a si ngl e sunr ay, t hen oozi ng cl osed agai n. I t
was not col d i n t he of f i ce, t hought Dr . St adl er , i t was t hat vi ew t hat f r oze
t he pl ace.
I t was not col d t oday, t he chi l l was i n hi s boneshe t hought t he st or ed
accumul at i on of t he wi nt er mont hs, when he had had t o be di st r act ed f r omhi s
wor k by an awar eness of such a mat t er as i nadequat e heat i ng and peopl e had
t al ked about conser vi ng f uel . I t was pr epost er ous, he t hought , t hi s gr owi ng
i nt r usi on of t he acci dent s of nat ur e i nt o t he af f ai r s of men: i t had never
mat t er ed bef or e, i f a wi nt er happened t o be unusual l y sever e; i f a f l ood
washed out a sect i on of r ai l r oad t r ack, one di d not spend t wo weeks eat i ng
canned veget abl es; i f an el ect r i c st or mst r uck some power st at i on, an
est abl i shment such as t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e was not l ef t wi t hout
el ect r i ci t y f or f i ve days. Fi ve days of st i l l ness t hi s wi nt er , he t hought ,
wi t h t he gr eat l abor at or y mot or s st opped and i r r et r i evabl e hour s wi ped out ,
when hi s st af f had been wor ki ng on pr obl ems t hat i nvol ved t he hear t of t he
uni ver se. He t ur ned angr i l y away f r omt he wi ndowbut st opped and t ur ned back
t o i t agai n. He di d not want t o see t he book t hat l ay on hi s desk.
He wi shed Dr . Fer r i s woul d come. He gl anced at hi s wat ch: Dr .
Fer r i s was l at ean ast oni shi ng mat t er l at e f or an appoi nt ment wi t h hi mDr .
Fl oyd Fer r i s, t he val et of sci ence, who had al ways f aced hi mi n a manner t hat
suggest ed an apol ogy f or havi ng but one hat t o t ake of f .
Thi s was out r ageous weat her f or t he mont h of May, he t hought , l ooki ng down
at t he r i ver ; i t was cer t ai nl y t he weat her t hat made hi mf eel as he di d, not
t he book. He had pl aced t he book i n pl ai n vi ew on hi s desk, when he had not ed
t hat hi s r el uct ance t o see i t was mor e t han mer e r evul si on, t hat i t cont ai ned
t he el ement of an emot i on never t o be admi t t ed. He t ol d hi msel f t hat he had
r i sen f r omhi s desk, not because t he book l ay t her e, but mer el y because he
had want ed t o move, f eel i ng col d. He paced t he r oom, t r apped bet ween t he desk
and t he wi ndow. He woul d t hr ow t hat book i n t he ash can wher e i t bel onged, he
t hought , j ust as soon as he had spoken t o Dr . Fer r i s.
He wat ched t he pat ch of gr een and sunl i ght on t he di st ant hi l l , t he
pr omi se of spr i ng i n a wor l d t hat l ooked as i f no gr ass or bud woul d ever
f unct i on agai n. He smi l ed eager l yand when t he pat ch vani shed, he f el t a st ab
of humi l i at i on, at hi s own eager ness, at t he desper at e way he had want ed t o
hol d i t . I t r emi nded hi mof t hat i nt er vi ew wi t h t he emi nent novel i st , l ast
wi nt er . The novel i st had come f r omEur ope t o wr i t e an ar t i cl e about hi mand
he, who had once despi sed i nt er vi ews, had t al ked eager l y, l engt hi l y, t oo
l engt hi l y, seei ng a pr omi se of i nt el l i gence i n t he novel i st ' s f ace, f eel i ng a
causel ess, desper at e need t o be under st ood. The ar t i cl e had come out as a
col l ect i on of sent ences t hat gave hi mexor bi t ant pr ai se and gar bl ed ever y
t hought he had expr essed. Cl osi ng t he magazi ne, he had f el t what he was
f eel i ng now at t he deser t i on of a sunr ay.
Al l r i ght he t hought , t ur ni ng away f r omt he wi ndowhe woul d concede t hat
at t acks of l onel i ness had begun t o st r i ke hi mat t i mes; but i t was a
l onel i ness t o whi ch he was ent i t l ed, i t was hunger f or t he r esponse of some
l i vi ng, t hi nki ng mi nd. He was so t i r ed of al l t hose peopl e, he t hought i n
cont empt uous bi t t er ness; he deal t wi t h cosmi c r ays, whi l e t hey wer e unabl e t o
deal wi t h an el ect r i c st or m.
He f el t t he sudden cont r act i on of hi s mout h, l i ke a sl ap denyi ng hi mt he
r i ght t o pur sue t hi s cour se of t hought . He was l ooki ng at t he book on hi s
desk. I t s gl ossy j acket was gl ar i ng and new; i t had been publ i shed t wo weeks
ago. But I had not hi ng t o do wi t h i t ! he scr eamed t o hi msel f ; t he scr eam
seemed wast ed on a mer ci l ess si l ence; not hi ng answer ed i t , no echo of
f or gi veness. The t i t l e on t he book' s j acket was Why Do You Thi nk You Thi nk?
Ther e was no sound i n t hat cour t r oomsi l ence wi t hi n hi m, no pi t y, no voi ce
of def ensenot hi ng but t he par agr aphs whi ch hi s gr eat memor y had r epr i nt ed on
hi s br ai n: " Thought i s a pr i mi t i ve super st i t i on. Reason i s an i r r at i onal
i dea.
The chi l di sh not i on t hat we ar e abl e t o t hi nk has been manki nd' s cost l i est
er r or . "
" What you t hi nk you t hi nk i s an i l l usi on cr eat ed by your gl ands, your
emot i ons and, i n t he l ast anal ysi s, by t he cont ent of your st omach. "
" That gr ay mat t er you' r e so pr oud of i s l i ke a mi r r or i n an amusement par k
whi ch t r ansmi t s t o you not hi ng but di st or t ed si gnal s f r oma r eal i t y f or ever
beyond your gr asp. "
" The mor e cer t ai n you f eel of your r at i onal concl usi ons, t he mor e cer t ai n
you ar e t o be wr ong. Your br ai n bei ng an i nst r ument of di st or t i on, t he mor e
act i ve t he br ai n t he gr eat er t he di st or t i on. "
" The gi ant s of t he i nt el l ect , whomyou admi r e so much, once t aught you
t hat t he ear t h was f l at and t hat t he at omwas t he smal l est par t i cl e of
mat t er . The ent i r e hi st or y of sci ence i s a pr ogr essi on of expl oded f al l aci es,
not of achi evement s. "
" The mor e we know, t he mor e we l ear n t hat we know not hi ng. "
" Onl y t he cr assest i gnor amus can st i l l hol d t o t he ol d- f ashi oned not i on
t hat seei ng i s bel i evi ng. That whi ch you see i s t he f i r st t hi ng t o
di sbel i eve. "
" A sci ent i st knows t hat a st one i s not a st one at al l . I t i s, i n f act ,
i dent i cal wi t h a f eat her pi l l ow. Bot h ar e onl y a cl oud f or mat i on of t he same
i nvi si bl e, whi r l i ng par t i cl es. But , you say, you can' t use a st one f or a
pi l l ow? Wel l , t hat mer el y pr oves your hel pl essness i n t he f ace of act ual
r eal i t y. "
" The l at est sci ent i f i c di scover i essuch as t he t r emendous achi evement s of
Dr . Rober t St adl er have demonst r at ed concl usi vel y t hat our r eason i s
i ncapabl e of deal i ng wi t h t he nat ur e of t he uni ver se. These di scover i es have
l ed sci ent i st s t o cont r adi ct i ons whi ch ar e i mpossi bl e, accor di ng t o t he human
mi nd, but whi ch exi st i n r eal i t y nonet hel ess.
I f you have not yet hear d i t , my dear ol d- f ashi oned f r i ends, i t has now
been pr oved t hat t he r at i onal i s t he i nsane. "
" Do not expect consi st ency. Ever yt hi ng i s a cont r adi ct i on of ever yt hi ng
el se. Not hi ng exi st s but cont r adi ct i ons. "
" Do not l ook f or ' common sense. ' To demand ' sense' i s t he hal l mar k of
nonsense. Nat ur e does not make sense. Not hi ng makes sense. The onl y cr usader s
f or ' sense' ar e t he st udi ous t ype of adol escent ol d mai d who can' t f i nd a boy
f r i end, and t he ol d- f ashi oned shopkeeper who t hi nks t hat t he uni ver se i s as
si mpl e as hi s neat l i t t l e i nvent or y and bel oved cash r egi st er . "
" Let us br eak t he chai ns of t he pr ej udi ce cal l ed Logi c. Ar e we goi ng t o be
st opped by a syl l ogi sm?"
" So you t hi nk you' r e sur e of your opi ni ons? You cannot be sur e of
anyt hi ng. Ar e you goi ng t o endanger t he har mony of your communi t y, your
f el l owshi p wi t h your nei ghbor s, your st andi ng, r eput at i on, good name and
f i nanci al secur i t yf or t he sake of an i l l usi on? For t he sake of t he mi r age of
t hi nki ng t hat you t hi nk? Ar e you goi ng t o r un r i sks and cour t di sast er sat a
pr ecar i ous t i me l i ke our sby opposi ng t he exi st i ng soci al or der i n t he name
of t hose i magi nar y not i ons of your s whi ch you cal l your convi ct i ons? You say
t hat you' r e sur e you' r e r i ght ? Nobody i s r i ght , or ever can be. You f eel t hat
t he wor l d ar ound you i s wr ong? You have no means t o know i t . Ever yt hi ng i s
wr ong i n human eyesso why f i ght i t ? Don' t ar gue. Accept . Adj ust your sel f .
Obey. "
The book was wr i t t en by Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s and publ i shed by t he St at e
Sci ence I nst i t ut e.
" I had not hi ng t o do wi t h i t ! " sai d Dr . Rober t St adl er . He st ood st i l l by
t he si de of hi s desk, wi t h t he uncomf or t abl e f eel i ng of havi ng mi ssed some
beat of t i me, of not knowi ng how l ong t he pr ecedi ng moment had l ast ed. He had
pr onounced t he wor ds al oud, i n a t one of r ancor ous sar casmdi r ect ed at
whoever had made hi msay i t .
He shr ugged. Rest i ng on t he bel i ef t hat sel f - mocker y i s an act of vi r t ue,
t he shr ug was t he emot i onal equi val ent of t he sent ence: You' r e Rober t
St adl er , don' t act l i ke a hi gh- school neur ot i c. He sat down at hi s desk and
pushed t he book asi de wi t h t he back of hi s hand.
Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s ar r i ved hal f an hour l at e. " Sor r y, " he sai d, " but my car
br oke down agai n on t he way f r omWashi ngt on and I had a hel l of a t i me t r yi ng
t o f i nd somebody t o f i x i t t her e' s get t i ng t o be so damn f ew car s out on t he
r oad t hat hal f t he ser vi ce st at i ons ar e cl osed. "
Ther e was mor e annoyance t han apol ogy i n hi s voi ce. He sat down wi t hout
wai t i ng f or an i nvi t at i on t o do so.
- Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s woul d not have been not i ced as par t i cul ar l y handsome i n
any ot her pr of essi on, but i n t he one he had chosen he was al ways descr i bed as
" t hat good- l ooki ng sci ent i st . " He was si x f eet t al l and f or t y- f i ve year s ol d,
but he managed t o l ook t al l er and younger .
He had an ai r of i mmacul at e gr oomi ng and a bal l r oomgr ace of mot i on, but
hi s cl ot hes wer e sever e, hi s sui t s bei ng usual l y bl ack or mi dni ght bl ue. He
had a f i nel y t r aced must ache, and hi s smoot h bl ack hai r made t he I nst i t ut e
of f i ce boys say t hat he used t he same shoe pol i sh on bot h ends of hi m. He di d
not mi nd r epeat i ng, i n t he t one of a j oke on hi msel f , t hat a movi e pr oducer
once sai d he woul d cast hi mf or t he par t of a t i t l ed Eur opean gi gol o. He had
begun hi s car eer as a bi ol ogi st , but t hat was f or got t en l ong ago; he was
f amous as t he Top Co- or di nat or of t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e.
Dr . St adl er gl anced at hi mwi t h ast oni shment t he l ack of apol ogy was
unpr ecedent edand sai d dr yl y, " I t seems t o me t hat you ar e spendi ng a gr eat
deal of your t i me i n Washi ngt on. "
" But , Dr . St adl er , wasn' t i t you who once pai d me t he compl i ment of
cal l i ng me t he wat chdog of t hi s I nst i t ut e?" sai d Dr . Fer r i s pl easant l y.
" I sn' t t hat my most essent i al dut y?"
" A f ew of your dut i es seemt o be accumul at i ng r i ght ar ound t hi s pl ace.
Bef or e I f or get i t , woul d you mi nd t el l i ng me what ' s goi ng on her e about t hat
oi l shor t age mess?"
He coul d not under st and why Dr . Fer r i s' f ace t i ght ened i nt o an i nj ur ed
l ook, " You wi l l per mi t me t o say t hat t hi s i s unexpect ed and unwar r ant ed, "
sai d Dr . Fer r i s i n t hat t one of f or mal i t y whi ch conceal s pai n and r eveal s
mar t yr dom. " None of t he aut hor i t i es i nvol ved have f ound cause f or cr i t i ci sm.
We have j ust submi t t ed a det ai l ed r epor t on t he pr ogr ess of t he wor k t o dat e
t o t he Bur eau of Economi c Pl anni ng and Nat i onal Resour ces, and Mr . Wesl ey
Mouch has expr essed hi msel f as sat i sf i ed. We have done our best on t hat
pr oj ect . We have hear d no one el se descr i be i t as a mess. Consi der i ng t he
di f f i cul t i es of t he t er r ai n, t he hazar ds of t he f i r e and t he f act t hat i t has
been onl y si x mont hs si nce we"
" What ar e you t al ki ng about ?" asked Dr . St adl er .
' The Wyat t Recl amat i on Pr oj ect . I sn' t t hat what you asked me?"
" No, " sai d Dr . St adl er , " no, I . . . Wai t a moment . Let me get t hi s
st r ai ght . I seemt o r ecal l somet hi ng about t hi s I nst i t ut e t aki ng char ge of a
r ecl amat i on pr oj ect . What i s i t t hat you' r e r ecl ai mi ng?"
" Oi l , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " The Wyat t oi l f i el ds. "
" That was a f i r e, wasn' t i t ? I n Col or ado? That was . . . wai t a moment . .
. t hat was t he man who set f i r e t o hi s own oi l wel l s. "
" I ' mi ncl i ned t o bel i eve t hat t hat ' s a r umor cr eat ed by publ i c hyst er i a, "
sai d Dr . Fer r i s dr yl y. ' " A r umor wi t h some undesi r abl e, unpat r i ot i c
i mpl i cat i ons. I woul dn' t put t oo much f ai t h i n t hose newspaper st or i es.
Per sonal l y, I bel i eve t hat i t was an acci dent and t hat El l i s Wyat t per i shed
i n t he f i r e. "
" Wel l , who owns t hose f i el ds now?"
" Nobodyat t he moment . Ther e bei ng no wi l l or hei r s, t he gover nment has
t aken char ge of oper at i ng t he f i el dsas a measur e of publ i c necessi t yf or
seven year s. I f El l i s Wyat t does not r et ur n wi t hi n t hat t i me, he wi l l be
consi der ed of f i ci al l y dead. "
" Wel l , why di d t hey come t o yout o us, f or such an unl i kel y assi gnment as
oi l pumpi ng?"
" Because i t i s a pr obl emof gr eat t echnol ogi cal di f f i cul t y, r equi r i ng t he
ser vi ces of t he best sci ent i f i c t al ent avai l abl e. You see, i t i s a mat t er of
r econst r uct i ng t he speci al met hod of oi l ext r act i on t hat Wyat t had empl oyed.
Hi s equi pment i s st i l l t her e, t hough i n a dr eadf ul condi t i on; some of hi s
pr ocesses ar e known, but somehow t her e i s no f ul l r ecor d of t he compl et e
oper at i on or t he basi c pr i nci pl e i nvol ved. That i s what we have t o
r edi scover . "
" And how i s i t goi ng?"
" The pr ogr ess i s most gr at i f yi ng. We have j ust been gr ant ed a new and
l ar ger appr opr i at i on. Mr . Wesl ey Mouch i s pl eased wi t h our wor k.
So ar e Mr . Bal ch of t he Emer gency Commi ssi on, Mr . Ander son of Cr uci al
Suppl i es and Mr . Pet t i bone of Consumer s' Pr ot ect i on. I do not see what mor e
coul d be expect ed of us. The pr oj ect i s f ul l y successf ul . "
" Have you pr oduced any oi l ?"
" No, but we have succeeded i n f or ci ng a f l ow f r omone of t he wel l s, t o t he
ext ent of si x and a hal f gal l ons. Thi s, of cour se, i s mer el y of exper i ment al
si gni f i cance, but you must t ake i nt o consi der at i on t he f act t hat we had t o
spend t hr ee f ul l mont hs j ust t o put out t he f i r e, whi ch has now been t ot al l y
al most t ot al l yext i ngui shed. We have a much t ougher pr obl emt han Wyat t ever
had, because he st ar t ed f r omscr at ch whi l e we have t o deal wi t h t he
di sf i gur ed wr eckage of an act of vi ci ous, ant i - soci al sabot age whi ch . . . I
mean t o say, i t i s a di f f i cul t pr obl em, but t her e i s no doubt t hat we wi l l be
abl e t o sol ve i t . "
" Wel l , what I r eal l y asked you about was t he oi l shor t age her e, i n t he
I nst i t ut e. The l evel of t emper at ur e mai nt ai ned i n t hi s bui l di ng al l wi nt er
was out r ageous. They t ol d me t hat t hey had t o conser ve oi l .
Sur el y you coul d have seen t o i t t hat t he mat t er of keepi ng t hi s pl ace
adequat el y suppl i ed wi t h such t hi ngs as oi l was handl ed mor e ef f i ci ent l y. "
" Oh, i s t hat what you had i n mi nd, Dr . St adl er ? Oh, but I amso sor r y! "
The wor ds came wi t h a br i ght smi l e of r el i ef on Dr . Fer r i s'
f ace; hi s sol i ci t ous manner r et ur ned. " Do you mean t hat t he t emper at ur e
was l ow enough t o cause you di scomf or t ?"
" I mean t hat I near l y f r oze t o deat h. "
" But t hat i s unf or gi vabl e! Why di dn' t t hey t el l me? Pl ease accept my
per sonal apol ogy, Dr . St adl er , and r est assur ed t hat you wi l l never be
i nconveni enced agai n. The onl y excuse I can of f er f or our mai nt enance
depar t ment i s t hat t he shor t age of f uel was not due t o t hei r negl i gence, i t
wasoh, I r eal i ze t hat you woul d not know about i t and such mat t er s shoul d
not t ake up your i nval uabl e at t ent i onbut , you see, t he oi l shor t age l ast
wi nt er was a nat i on- wi de cr i si s. "
" Why? For heaven' s sake, don' t t el l me t hat t hose Wyat t f i el ds wer e t he
onl y sour ce of oi l i n t he count r y! "
" No, no, but t he sudden di sappear ance of a maj or suppl y wr ought havoc i n
t he ent i r e oi l mar ket . So t he gover nment had t o assume cont r ol and i mpose oi l
r at i oni ng on t he count r y, i n or der t o pr ot ect t he essent i al ent er pr i ses. I
di d obt ai n an unusual l y l ar ge quot a f or t he I nst i t ut e
and onl y by t he speci al f avor of some ver y speci al connect i onsbut I f eel
abj ect l y gui l t y i f t hi s pr oved i nsuf f i ci ent . Rest assur ed t hat i t wi l l not
happen agai n. I t i s onl y a t empor ar y emer gency. By next wi nt er , we shal l have
t he Wyat t f i el ds back i n pr oduct i on, and condi t i ons wi l l r et ur n t o nor mal .
Besi des, as f ar as t hi s I nst i t ut e i s concer ned, I made al l t he ar r angement s
t o conver t our f ur naces t o coal , and i t was t o be done next mont h, onl y t he
St ockt on Foundr y i n Col or ado cl osed down suddenl y, wi t hout not i cet hey wer e
cast i ng par t s f or our f ur naces, but Andr ew St ockt on r et i r ed, qui t e
unexpect edl y, and now we have t o wai t t i l l hi s nephew r eopens t he pl ant . "
" I see. Wel l , I t r ust t hat you wi l l t ake car e of i t among al l your ot her
act i vi t i es. " Dr . St adl er shr ugged wi t h annoyance. " I t i s becomi ng a l i t t l e
r i di cul oust he number of t echnol ogi cal vent ur es t hat an i nst i t ut i on of
sci ence has t o handl e f or t he gover nment . "
" But , Dr . St adl er "
I know, I know, i t can' t be avoi ded. By t he way, what i s Pr oj ect X?"
Dr . Fer r i s' eyes shot t o hi mswi f t l yan odd, br i ght gl ance of al er t ness,
t hat seemed st ar t l ed, but not f r i ght ened. " Wher e di d you hear about Pr oj ect
X, Dr . St adl er ?"
" Oh, I hear d a coupl e of your younger boys sayi ng somet hi ng about i t wi t h
an ai r of myst er y you' d expect f r omamat eur det ect i ves. They t ol d me i t was
somet hi ng ver y secr et . "
" That ' s r i ght , Dr . St adl er . I t i s an ext r emel y secr et r esear ch pr oj ect
whi ch t he gover nment has ent r ust ed t o us. And i t i s of ut most i mpor t ance t hat
t he newspaper s get no wor d about i t . "
" What ' s t he X?"
" Xyl ophone. Pr oj ect Xyl ophone. That i s a code name, of cour se.
The wor k has t o do wi t h sound. But I amsur e t hat i t woul d not i nt er est
you. I t i s a pur el y t echnol ogi cal under t aki ng. "
" Yes, do spar e me t he st or y. I have no t i me f or your t echnol ogi cal
under t aki ngs. "
" May I suggest t hat i t woul d be advi sabl e t o r ef r ai n f r omment i oni ng t he
wor ds ' Pr oj ect X' t o anyone, Dr . St adl er ?"
" Oh, al l r i ght , al l r i ght . I must say I do not enj oy di scussi ons of t hat
ki nd. "
" But of cour se! And I woul dn' t f or gi ve mysel f i f I al l owed your t i me t o be
t aken up by such concer ns. Pl ease f eel cer t ai n t hat you may saf el y l eave i t
t o me. " He made a movement t o r i se. " Now i f t hi s was t he r eason you want ed t o
see me, pl ease bel i eve t hat I "
" No, sai d Dr . St adl er sl owl y. " Thi s was not t he r eason I want ed t o see
you. "
Dr . Fer r i s vol unt eer ed no quest i ons, no eager of f er s of ser vi ce; he
r emai ned seat ed, mer el y wai t i ng.
Dr . St adl er r eached over and made t he book sl i de f r omt he cor ner t o t he
cent er of hi s desk, wi t h a cont empt uous f l i ck of one hand. " Wi l l you t el l me,
pl ease, " he asked, " what i s t hi s pi ece of i ndecency?"
Dr . Fer r i s di d not gl ance at t he book, but kept hi s eyes f i xed on
St adl er ' s f or an i nexpl i cabl e moment ; t hen he l eaned back and sai d wi t h an
odd smi l e, " I f eel honor ed t hat you chose t o make such an except i on f or my
sake as r eadi ng a popul ar book. Thi s l i t t l e pi ece has sol d t went y t housand
copi es i n t wo weeks. "
" I have r ead i t . "
" And?"
" I expect an expl anat i on. "
" Di d you f i nd t he t ext conf usi ng?"
Dr . St adl er l ooked at hi mi n bewi l der ment . " Do you r eal i ze what t heme you
chose t o t r eat and i n what manner ? The st yl e al one, t he st yl e, t he gut t er
ki nd of at t i t udef or a subj ect of t hi s nat ur e! "
" Do you t hi nk, t hen, t hat t he cont ent deser ved a mor e di gni f i ed f or mof
pr esent at i on?" The voi ce was so i nnocent l y smoot h t hat Dr .
St adl er coul d not deci de whet her t hi s was mocker y.
" Do you r eal i ze what you' r e pr eachi ng i n t hi s book?"
" Si nce you do not seemt o appr ove of i t , Dr . St adl er , I ' d r at her have you
t hi nk t hat I wr ot e i t i nnocent l y. "
Thi s was i t , t hought Dr . St adl er , t hi s was t he i ncompr ehensi bl e el ement i n
Fer r i s' manner : he had supposed t hat an i ndi cat i on of hi s di sappr oval woul d
be suf f i ci ent , but Fer r i s seemed t o r emai n unt ouched by i t " I f a dr unken l out
coul d f i nd t he power t o expr ess hi msel f on paper , "
sai d Dr . St adl er , " i f he coul d gi ve voi ce t o hi s essencet he et er nal
savage, l eer i ng hi s hat r ed of t he mi ndt hi s i s t he sor t of book I woul d
expect hi mt o wr i t e. But t o see i t come f r oma sci ent i st , under t he i mpr i nt
of t hi s I nst i t ut e! "
" But , Dr . St adl er , t hi s book was not i nt ended t o be r ead by sci ent i st s. I t
was wr i t t en f or t hat dr unken l out . "
" What do you mean?"
" For t he gener al publ i c. "
" But , good God! The f eebl est i mbeci l e shoul d be abl e t o see t he gl ar i ng
cont r adi ct i ons i n ever y one of your st at ement s. "
" Let us put i t t hi s way, Dr . St adl er : t he man who doesn' t see t hat ,
deser ves t o bel i eve al l my st at ement s. "
" But you' ve gi ven t he pr est i ge of sci ence t o t hat unspeakabl e st uf f !
I t was al l r i ght f or a di sr eput abl e medi ocr i t y l i ke Si mon Pr i t chet t t o
dr ool i t as some sor t of woozy myst i ci smnobody l i st ened t o hi m. But you' ve
made t hemt hi nk i t ' s sci ence. Sci ence! You' ve t aken t he achi evement s of t he
mi nd t o dest r oy t he mi nd. By what r i ght di d you use my wor k t o make an
unwar r ant ed, pr epost er ous swi t ch i nt o anot her f i el d, pul l an i nappl i cabl e
met aphor and dr aw a monst r ous gener al i zat i on out of what i s mer el y a
mat hemat i cal pr obl em? By what r i ght di d you make i t sound as i f I I!-gave my
sanct i on t o t hat book?"
Dr . Fer r i s di d not hi ng, he mer el y l ooked at Dr . St adl er cal ml y; but t he
cal mgave hi man ai r t hat was al most pat r oni zi ng. " Now, you see, Dr . St adl er ,
you' r e speaki ng as i f t hi s book wer e addr essed t o a t hi nki ng audi ence. I f i t
wer e, one woul d have t o be concer ned wi t h such mat t er s as accur acy, val i di t y,
l ogi c and t he pr est i ge of sci ence. But i t i sn' t . I t ' s addr essed t o t he
publ i c. And you have al ways been f i r st t o bel i eve t hat t he publ i c does not
t hi nk. " He paused, but Dr , St adl er sai d not hi ng.
" Thi s book may have no phi l osophi cal val ue what ever , but i t has a gr eat
psychol ogi cal val ue. "
" J ust what i s t hat ?"
" You see, Dr . St adl er , peopl e don' t want t o t hi nk. And t he deeper t hey get
i nt o t r oubl e, t he l ess t hey want t o t hi nk. But by some sor t of i nst i nct , t hey
f eel t hat t hey ought t o and i t makes t hemf eel gui l t y. So t hey' l l bl ess and
f ol l ow anyone who gi ves t hema j ust i f i cat i on f or not t hi nki ng. Anyone who
makes a vi r t uea hi ghl y i nt el l ect ual vi r t ue
out of what t hey know t o be t hei r si n, t hei r weakness and t hei r gui l t . "
" And you pr opose t o pander t o t hat ?"
" That i s t he r oad t o popul ar i t y. "
" Why shoul d you seek popul ar i t y?"
Dr . Fer r i s' eyes moved casual l y t o Dr . St adl er ' s f ace, as i f by pur e
acci dent . " We ar e a publ i c i nst i t ut i on, " he answer ed evenl y, " suppor t ed by
publ i c f unds. "
" So you t el l peopl e t hat sci ence i s a f ut i l e f r aud whi ch ought t o be
abol i shed! "
" That i s a concl usi on whi ch coul d be dr awn, i n l ogi c, f r ommy book.
But t hat i s not t he concl usi on t hey wi l l dr aw. "
" And what about t he di sgr ace t o t he I nst i t ut e i n t he eyes of t he men of
i nt el l i gence, wher ever such may be l ef t ?
" Why shoul d we wor r y about t hem?"
Dr . St adl er coul d have r egar ded t he sent ence as concei vabl e, had i t been
ut t er ed wi t h hat r ed, envy or mal i ce; but t he absence of any such emot i on, t he
casual ease of t he voi ce, an ease suggest i ng a chuckl e, hi t hi ml i ke a
moment ' s gl i mpse of a r eal mt hat coul d not be t aken as par t of r eal i t y; t he
t hi ng spr eadi ng down t o hi s st omach was col d t er r or .
" Di d you obser ve t he r eact i ons t o my book, Dr . St adl er ? I t was r ecei ved
wi t h consi der abl e f avor . "
" Yesand t hat i s what I f i nd i mpossi bl e t o bel i eve. " He had t o speak, he
had t o speak as i f t hi s wer e a ci vi l i zed di scussi on, he coul d not al l ow
hi msel f t i me t o know what i t was he had f el t f or a moment .
" I amunabl e t o under st and t he at t ent i on you r ecei ved i n al l t he r eput abl e
academi c magazi nes and how t hey coul d per mi t t hemsel ves t o di scuss your book
ser i ousl y. I f Hugh Akst on wer e ar ound, no academi c publ i cat i on woul d have
dar ed t o t r eat t hi s as a wor k admi ssi bl e i nt o t he r eal mof phi l osophy. "
" He i s not ar ound. "
Dr . St adl er f el t t hat t her e wer e wor ds whi ch he was now cal l ed upon t o
pr onounceand he wi shed he coul d end t hi s conver sat i on bef or e he di scover ed
what t hey wer e.
" On t he ot her hand, " sai d Dr , Fer r i s, " t he ads f or my bookoh, I ' msur e
you woul dn' t not i ce such t hi ngs as adsquot e a l et t er of hi gh pr ai se whi ch I
r ecei ved f r omMr . Wesl ey Mouch. "
" Who t he hel l i s Mr . Wesl ey Mouch?"
Dr . Fer r i s smi l ed. " I n anot her year , even you won' t ask t hat quest i on, Dr .
St adl er . Let us put i t t hi s way: Mr . Mouch i s t he man who i s r at i oni ng oi l
f or t he t i me bei ng. "
" Then I suggest t hat you st i ck t o your j ob. Deal wi t h Mr . Mouch and l eave
hi mt he r eal mof oi l f ur naces, but l eave t he r eal mof i deas t o me. "
" I t woul d be cur i ous t o t r y t o f or mul at e t he l i ne of demar cat i on,
sai d Dr . Fer r i s, i n t he t one of an i dl e academi c r emar k. " But i f we' r e
t al ki ng about my book, why, t hen we' r e t al ki ng about t he r eal mof publ i c
r el at i ons. " He t ur ned t o poi nt sol i ci t ousl y at t he mat hemat i cal f or mul as
chal ked on t he bl ackboar d. " Dr . St adl er , i t woul d be di sast r ous i f you
al l owed t he r eal mof publ i c r el at i ons t o di st r act you f r omt he wor k whi ch you
al one on ear t h ar e capabl e of doi ng. "
I t was sai d wi t h obsequi ous def er ence, and Dr . St adl er coul d not t el l what
made hi mhear i n i t t he sent ence: " St i ck t o your bl ackboar d! "
He f el t a bi t i ng i r r i t at i on and he swi t ched i t agai nst hi msel f , t hi nki ng
angr i l y t hat he had t o get r i d of t hese suspi ci ons.
" Publ i c r el at i ons?" he sai d cont empt uousl y. " I don' t see any pr act i cal
pur pose i n your book. I don' t see what i t ' s i nt ended t o accompl i sh. "
" Don' t you?" Dr . Fer r i s1 eyes f l i cker ed br i ef l y t o hi s f ace; t he spar kl e
of i nsol ence was t oo swi f t t o be i dent i f i ed wi t h cer t ai nt y.
" I cannot per mi t mysel f t o consi der cer t ai n t hi ngs as possi bl e i n a
ci vi l i zed soci et y, " Dr . St adl er sai d st er nl y.
" That i s admi r abl y exact , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s cheer f ul l y. " You cannot per mi t
your sel f . "
Dr . Fer r i s r ose, bei ng f i r st t o i ndi cat e t hat t he i nt er vi ew was ended.
" Pl ease cal l f or me whenever anyt hi ng occur s i n t hi s I nst i t ut e t o cause
you di scomf or t , Dr . St adl er , " he sai d. " I t i s my pr i vi l ege al ways t o be at
your ser vi ce. "
Knowi ng t hat he had t o asser t hi s aut hor i t y, smot her i ng t he shamef ul
r eal i zat i on of t he sor t of subst i t ut e he was choosi ng, Dr . St adl er sai d
i mper i ousl y, i n a t one of sar cast i c r udeness, " The next t i me I cal l f or you,
you' d bet t er do somet hi ng about t hat car of your s. "
" Yes, Dr . St adl er . I shal l make cer t ai n never t o be l at e agai n, and I beg
you t o f or gi ve me. " Dr . Fer r i s r esponded as i f pl ayi ng a par t on cue; as i f
he wer e pl eased t hat Dr . St adl er had l ear ned, at l ast , t he moder n met hod of
communi cat i on. " My car has been causi ng me a gr eat deal of t r oubl e, i t ' s
f al l i ng t o pi eces, and I had or der ed a new one somet i me ago, t he best one on
t he mar ket , a Hammond conver t i bl e
but Lawr ence Hammond went out of busi ness l ast week, wi t hout r eason or
war ni ng, so now I ' mst uck. Those bast ar ds seemt o be vani shi ng somewher e.
Somet hi ng wi l l have t o be done about i t . "
When Fer r i s had gone, Dr . St adl er sat at hi s desk, hi s shoul der s shr i nki ng
t oget her , consci ous onl y of a desper at e wi sh not t o be seen by anyone. I n t he
f og of t he pai n whi ch he woul d not def i ne, t her e was al so t he desper at e
f eel i ng t hat no oneno one of t hose he val ued
woul d ever wi sh t o see hi magai n.
He knew t he wor ds whi ch he had not ut t er ed. He had not sai d t hat he woul d
denounce t he book i n publ i c and r epudi at e i t i n t he name of t he I nst i t ut e. He
had not sai d i t , because he had been af r ai d t o di scover t hat t he t hr eat woul d
l eave Fer r i s unmoved, t hat Fer r i s was saf e, t hat t he wor d of Dr . Rober t
St adl er had no power any l onger . And whi l e he t ol d hi msel f t hat he woul d
consi der l at er t he quest i on of maki ng a publ i c pr ot est , he knew t hat he woul d
not make i t .
He pi cked up t he book and l et i t dr op i nt o t he wast ebasket .
A f ace came t o hi s mi nd, suddenl y and cl ear l y, as i f he wer e seei ng t he
pur i t y of i t s ever y l i ne, a young f ace he had not per mi t t ed hi msel f t o r ecal l
f or year s. He t hought : No, he has not r ead t hi s book, he won' t see i t , he' s
dead, he must have di ed l ong ago. . . . The shar p pai n was t he shock of
di scover i ng si mul t aneousl y t hat t hi s was t he man he l onged t o see mor e t han
any ot her bei ng i n t he wor l dand t hat he had t o hope t hat t hi s man was dead.
He di d not know whywhen t he t el ephone r ang and hi s secr et ar y t ol d hi m
t hat Mi ss Dagny Taggar t was on t he l i newhy he sei zed t he r ecei ver wi t h
eager ness and not i ced t hat hi s hand was t r embl i ng. She woul d never want t o
see hi magai n, he had t hought f or over a year . He hear d her cl ear , i mper sonal
voi ce aski ng f or an appoi nt ment t o see hi m.
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t , cer t ai nl y, yes, i ndeed. . . . Monday mor ni ng?
Yesl ook, Mi ss Taggar t , I have an engagement i n New Yor k t oday, I coul d
dr op i n at your of f i ce t hi s af t er noon, i f you wi sh. . . . No, no no t r oubl e
at al l , I ' l l be del i ght ed. . . . Thi s af t er noon, Mi ss Taggar t , about t woI
mean, about f our o' cl ock. "
He had no engagement i n New Yor k. He di d not gi ve hi msel f t i me t o know
what had pr ompt ed hi mt o do i t . He was smi l i ng eager l y, l ooki ng at a pat ch of
sunl i ght on a di st ant hi l l .
Dagny dr ew a bl ack l i ne acr oss Tr ai n Number 93 on t he schedul e, and f el t a
moment ' s desol at e sat i sf act i on i n not i ng t hat she di d i t cal ml y. I t was an
act i on whi ch she had had t o per f or mmany t i mes i n t he l ast si x mont hs. I t had
been har d, at f i r st ; i t was becomi ng easi er .
The day woul d come, she t hought , when she woul d be abl e t o del i ver t hat
deat h st r oke even wi t hout t he smal l sal ut e of an ef f or t . Tr ai n Number 93 was
a f r ei ght t hat had ear ned i t s l i vi ng by car r yi ng suppl i es t o Hammondsvi l l e,
Col or ado.
She knew what st eps woul d come next : f i r st , t he deat h of t he speci al
f r ei ght st hen t he shr i nki ng i n t he number of boxcar s f or Hammondsvi l l e,
at t ached, l i ke poor r el at i ves, t o t he r ear end of f r ei ght s bound f or ot her
t ownst hen t he gr adual cut t i ng of t he st ops at Hammondsvi l l e St at i on f r omt he
schedul es of t he passenger t r ai nst hen t he day when she woul d st r i ke
Hammondsvi l l e, Col or ado, of f t he map. That had been t he pr ogr essi on of Wyat t
J unct i on and of t he t own cal l ed St ockt on.
She knewonce wor d was r ecei ved t hat Lawr ence Hammond had r et i r edt hat i t
was usel ess t o wai t , t o hope and t o wonder whet her hi s cousi n, hi s l awyer or
a commi t t ee of l ocal ci t i zens woul d r eopen t he pl ant . She knew i t was t i me t o
st ar t cut t i ng t he schedul es.
I t had l ast ed l ess t han si x mont hs af t er El l i s Wyat t had gonet hat per i od
whi ch a col umni st had gl eef ul l y cal l ed " t he f i el d day of t he l i t t l e f el l ow. "
Ever y oi l oper at or i n t he count r y, who owned t hr ee wel l s and whi ned t hat
El l i s Wyat t l ef t hi mno chance of l i vel i hood, had r ushed t o f i l l t he hol e
whi ch Wyat t had l ef t wi de open. They f or med l eagues, cooper at i ves,
associ at i ons; t hey pool ed t hei r r esour ces and t hei r l et t er heads, " The l i t t l e
f el l ow' s day i n t he sun, " t he col umni st had sai d. Thei r sun had been t he
f l ames t hat t wi st ed t hr ough t he der r i cks of Wyat t Oi l . I n i t s gl ar e, t hey
made t he ki nd of f or t unes t hey had dr eamed about , f or t unes r equi r i ng no
compet ence or ef f or t . Then t hei r bi ggest cust omer s, such as power compani es,
who dr ank oi l by t he t r ai nf ul and woul d make no al l owances f or human f r ai l t y,
began t o conver t t o coal and t he smal l er cust omer s, who wer e mor e t ol er ant ,
began t o go out of busi nesst he boys i n Washi ngt on i mposed r at i oni ng on oi l
and an emer gency t ax on empl oyer s t o suppor t t he unempl oyed oi l f i el d
wor ker st hen a f ew of t he bi g oi l compani es cl osed downt hen t he l i t t l e
f el l ows i n t he sun di scover ed t hat a dr i l l i ng bi t whi ch had cost a hundr ed
dol l ar s, now cost t hemf i ve hundr ed, t her e bei ng no mar ket f or oi l f i el d
equi pment , and t he suppl i er s havi ng t o ear n on one dr i l l what t hey had ear ned
on f i ve, or per i sht hen t he pi pe l i nes began t o cl ose, t her e bei ng no one
abl e t o pay f or t hei r upkeept hen t he r ai l r oads wer e gr ant ed per mi ssi on t o
r ai se t hei r f r ei ght r at es, t her e bei ng l i t t l e oi l t o car r y and t he cost of
r unni ng t ank t r ai ns havi ng cr ushed t wo smal l l i nes out of exi st enceand when
t he sun went down, t hey saw t hat t he oper at i ng cost s, whi ch had once
per mi t t ed t hemt o exi st on t hei r si xt y- acr e f i el ds, had been made possi bl e by
t he mi l es of Wyat t ' s hi l l si de and had gone i n t he same coi l s of smoke. Not
unt i l t hei r f or t unes had vani shed and t hei r pumps had st opped, di d t he l i t t l e
f el l ows r eal i ze t hat no busi ness i n t he count r y coul d af f or d t o buy oi l at
t he pr i ce i t woul d now t ake t hemt o pr oduce i t . Then t he boys i n Washi ngt on
gr ant ed subsi di es t o t he oi l oper at or s, but not al l of t he oi l oper at or s had
f r i ends i n Washi ngt on, and t her e f ol l owed a si t uat i on whi ch no one car ed t o
exami ne t oo cl osel y or t o di scuss.
Andr ew St ockt on had been i n t he sor t of posi t i on whi ch most of t he
busi nessmen envi ed. The r ush t o conver t t o coal had descended upon hi s
shoul der s l i ke a wei ght of gol d: he had kept hi s pl ant wor ki ng ar ound t he
cl ock, r unni ng a r ace wi t h next wi nt er ' s bl i zzar ds, cast i ng par t s f or coal -
bur ni ng st oves and f ur naces. Ther e wer e not many dependabl e f oundr i es l ef t ;
he had become one of t he mai n pi l l ar s suppor t i ng t he cel l ar s and ki t chens of
t he count r y. The pi l l ar col l apsed wi t hout war ni ng. Andr ew St ockt on announced
t hat l i e was r et i r i ng, cl osed hi s pl ant and vani shed. He l ef t no wor d on what
he wi shed t o be done wi t h t he pl ant or whet her hi s r el at i ves had t he r i ght t o
r eopen i t .
Ther e st i l l wer e car s on t he r oads of t he count r y, but t hey moved l i ke
t r avel er s i n t he deser t , who r i de past t he war ni ng skel et ons of hor ses
bl eached by t he sun: t hey moved past t he skel et ons of car s t hat had col l apsed
on dut y and had been l ef t i n t he di t ches by t he si de of t he r oad. Peopl e wer e
not buyi ng car s any l onger , and t he aut omobi l e f act or i es wer e cl osi ng. But
t her e wer e men st i l l abl e t o get oi l , by means of f r i endshi ps t hat nobody
car ed t o quest i on. These men bought car s at any pr i ce demanded. Li ght s
f l ooded t he mount ai ns of Col or ado f r omt he gr eat wi ndows of t he pl ant , wher e
t he assembl y bel t s of Lawr ence Hammond pour ed t r ucks and car s t o t he si di ngs
of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . The wor d t hat Lawr ence Hammond had r et i r ed came
when l east expect ed, br i ef and sudden l i ke t he si ngl e st r oke of a bel l i n a
heavy st i l l ness. A commi t t ee of l ocal ci t i zens was now br oadcast i ng appeal s
on t he r adi o, beggi ng Lawr ence Hammond, wher ever he was, t o gi ve t hem
per mi ssi on t o r eopen hi s pl ant . Ther e was no answer .
She had scr eamed when El l i s Wyat t went ; she had gasped when Andr ew
St ockt on r et i r ed; when she hear d t hat Lawr ence Hammond had qui t , she asked
i mpassi vel y, " Who' s next ?"
" No, Mi ss Taggar t , I can' t expl ai n i t , " t he si st er of Andr ew St ockt on had
t ol d her on her l ast t r i p t o Col or ado, t wo mont hs ago. " He never sai d a wor d
t o me and I don' t even know whet her he' s dead or l i vi ng, same as El l i s Wyat t .
No, not hi ng speci al had happened t he day bef or e he qui t . I r emember onl y t hat
some man came t o see hi mon t hat l ast eveni ng. A st r anger I ' d never seen
bef or e. They t al ked l at e i nt o t he ni ght when I went t o sl eep, t he l i ght was
st i l l bur ni ng i n Andr ew' s st udy. "
Peopl e wer e si l ent i n t he t owns of Col or ado. Dagny had seen t he way t hey
wal ked i n t he st r eet s, past t hei r smal l dr ugst or es, har dwar e st or es and
gr ocer y mar ket s: as i f t hey hoped t hat t he mot i ons of t hei r j obs woul d save
t hemf r oml ooki ng ahead at t he f ut ur e. She, t oo, had wal ked t hr ough t hose
st r eet s, t r yi ng not t o l i f t her head, not t o see t he l edges of soot ed r ock
and t wi st ed st eel , whi ch had been t he Wyat t oi l f i el ds. They coul d be seen
f r ommany of t he t owns; when she had l ooked ahead, she had seen t hemi n t he
di st ance.
One wel l , on t he cr est of t he hi l l , was st i l l bur ni ng. Nobody had been
abl e t o ext i ngui sh i t . She had seen i t f r omt he st r eet s: a spur t of f i r e
t wi st i ng convul si vel y agai nst t he sky, as i f t r yi ng t o t ear l oose. She had
seen i t at ni ght , acr oss t he di st ance of a hundr ed cl ear , bl ack mi l es, f r om
t he wi ndow of a t r ai n: a smal l , vi ol ent f l ame, wavi ng i n t he wi nd.
Peopl e cal l ed i t Wyat t ' s Tor ch.
The l ongest t r ai n on t he J ohn Gal t Li ne had f or t y car s; t he f ast est r an at
f i f t y mi l es an hour . The engi nes had t o be spar ed: t hey wer e coal bur ni ng
engi nes, l ong past t hei r age of r et i r ement . J i mobt ai ned t he oi l f or t he
Di esel s t hat pul l ed t he Comet and a f ew of t hei r t r anscont i nent al f r ei ght s.
The onl y sour ce of f uel she coul d count on and deal wi t h was Ken Danagger of
Danagger Coal i n Pennsyl vani a.
Empt y t r ai ns cl at t er ed t hr ough t he f our st at es t hat wer e t i ed, as
nei ghbor s, t o t he t hr oat of Col or ado. They car r i ed a f ew car l oads of sheep,
some cor n, some mel ons and an occasi onal f ar mer wi t h an over dr essed f ami l y,
who had f r i ends i n Washi ngt on. J i mhad obt ai ned a subsi dy f r omWashi ngt on f or
ever y t r ai n t hat was r un, not as a pr of i t maki ng car r i er , but as a ser vi ce of
" publ i c equal i t y. "
I t t ook ever y scr ap of her ener gy t o keep t r ai ns r unni ng t hr ough t he
sect i ons wher e t hey wer e st i l l needed, i n t he ar eas t hat wer e st i l l
pr oduci ng. But on t he bal ance sheet s of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , t he checks
of J i m' s subsi di es f or empt y t r ai ns bor e l ar ger f i gur es t han t he pr of i t
br ought by t he best f r ei ght t r ai n of t he busi est i ndust r i al di vi si on.
J i mboast ed t hat t hi s had been t he most pr osper ous si x mont hs i n Taggar t
hi st or y. Li st ed as pr of i t , on t he gl ossy pages of hi s r epor t t o t he
st ockhol der s, was t he money he had not ear nedt he subsi di es f or empt y t r ai ns;
and t he money he di d not ownt he sums t hat shoul d have gone t o pay t he
i nt er est and t he r et i r ement of Taggar t bonds, t he debt whi ch, by t he wi l l of
Wesl ey Mouch, he had been per mi t t ed not t o pay. He boast ed about t he gr eat er
vol ume of f r ei ght car r i ed by Taggar t t r ai ns i n Ar i zonawher e Dan Conway had
cl osed t he l ast of t he Phoeni x- Dur ango and r et i r ed; and i n Mi nnesot awher e
Paul Lar ki n was shi ppi ng i r on or e by r ai l , and t he l ast of t he or e boat s on
t he Gr eat Lakes had gone out of exi st ence.
" You have al ways consi der ed money- maki ng as such an i mpor t ant vi r t ue, " J i m
had sai d t o her wi t h an odd hal f - smi l e. " Wel l , i t seems t o me t hat I ' mbet t er
at i t t han you ar e. "
Nobody pr of essed t o under st and t he quest i on of t he f r ozen r ai l r oad bonds;
per haps, because ever ybody under st ood i t t oo wel l . At f i r st , t her e had been
si gns of a pani c among t he bondhol der s and of a danger ous i ndi gnat i on among
t he publ i c. Then, Wesl ey Mouch had i ssued anot her di r ect i ve, whi ch r ul ed t hat
peopl e coul d get t hei r bonds " def r ozen" upon a pl ea of " essent i al need" : t he
gover nment woul d pur chase t he bonds, i f i t f ound t he pr oof of t he need
sat i sf act or y. Ther e wer e t hr ee quest i ons t hat no one answer ed or asked: " What
const i t ut ed pr oof ?" " What const i t ut ed need?" " Essent i al t o whom?"
Then i t became bad manner s t o di scuss why one man r ecei ved t he gr ant
def r eezi ng hi s money, whi l e anot her had been r ef used. Peopl e t ur ned away i n
mout h- pi nched si l ence, i f anybody asked a " why?" One was supposed t o
descr i be, not t o expl ai n, t o cat al ogue f act s, not t o eval uat e t hem: Mr . Smi t h
had been def r ozen, Mr . J ones had not ; t hat was al l . And when Mr . J ones
commi t t ed sui ci de, peopl e sai d, " Wel l , I don' t know, i f he' d r eal l y needed
hi s money, t he gover nment woul d have gi ven i t t o hi m, but some men ar c j ust
gr eedy. "
One was not supposed t o speak about t he men who, havi ng been r ef used, sol d
t hei r bonds f or one- t hi r d of t he val ue t o ot her men who possessed needs
whi ch, mi r acul ousl y, made t hi r t y- t hr ee f r ozen cent s mel t i nt o a whol e dol l ar ;
or about a new pr of essi on pr act i ced by br i ght young boys j ust out of col l ege,
who cal l ed t hemsel ves " def r eezer s" and of f er ed t hei r ser vi ces " t o hel p you
dr af t your appl i cat i on i n t he pr oper moder n t er ms. " The boys had f r i ends i n
Washi ngt on, Looki ng at t he Taggar t r ai l f r omt he pl at f or mof some count r y
st at i on, she had f ound her sel f f eel i ng, not t he br i l l i ant pr i de she had once
f el t , but a f oggy, gui l t y shame, as i f some f oul ki nd of r ust had gr own on
t he met al , and wor se: as i f t he r ust had a t i nge of bl ood. But t hen, i n t he
concour se of t he Ter mi nal , she l ooked at t he st at ue of Nat Taggar t and
t hought : I t was your r ai l , you made i t , you f ought f or i t , you wer e not
st opped by f ear or by l oat hi ngI won' t sur r ender i t t o t he men of bl ood and
r ust and I ' mt he onl y one l ef t t o guar d i t .
She had not gi ven up her quest f or t he man who i nvent ed t he mot or .
I t was t he onl y par t of her wor k t hat made her abl e t o bear t he r est .
I t was t he onl y goal i n si ght t hat gave meani ng t o her st r uggl e. Ther e
wer e t i mes when she wonder ed why she want ed t o r ebui l d t hat mot or .
What f or ?some voi ce seemed t o ask her . Because I ' mst i l l al i ve, she
answer ed. But her quest had r emai ned f ut i l e. Her t wo engi neer s had f ound
not hi ng i n Wi sconsi n. She had sent t hemt o sear ch t hr ough t he count r y f or men
who had wor ked f or Twent i et h Cent ur y, t o l ear n t he name of t he i nvent or . They
had l ear ned not hi ng. She had sent t hemt o sear ch t hr ough t he f i l es of t he
Pat ent Of f i ce; no pat ent f or t he mot or had ever been r egi st er ed.
The onl y r emnant of her per sonal quest was t he st ub of t he ci gar et t e wi t h
t he dol l ar si gn. She had f or got t en i t , unt i l a r ecent eveni ng, when she had
f ound i t i n a dr awer of her desk and gi ven i t t o her f r i end at t he ci gar
count er of t he concour se. The ol d man had been ver y ast oni shed, as he
exami ned t he st ub, hol di ng i t caut i ousl y bet ween t wo f i nger s; he had never
hear d of such a br and and wonder ed how he coul d have mi ssed i t . " Was i t of
good qual i t y, Mi ss Taggar t ?" " The best I ' ve ever smoked. " He had shaken hi s
head, puzzl ed. He had pr omi sed t o di scover wher e t hose ci gar et t es wer e made
and t o get her a car t on.
She had t r i ed t o f i nd a sci ent i st abl e t o at t empt t he r econst r uct i on of
t he mot or . She had i nt er vi ewed t he men r ecommended t o her as t he best i n
t hei r f i el d. The f i r st one, af t er st udyi ng t he r emnant s of t he mot or and of
t he manuscr i pt , had decl ar ed, i n t he t one of a dr i l l ser geant , t hat t he t hi ng
coul d not wor k, had never wor ked and he woul d pr ove t hat no.
such mot or coul d ever be made t o wor k. The second one had dr awl ed, , i n t he
t one of an answer t o a bor i ng i mposi t i on, t hat he di d not know whet her i t
coul d be done or not and di d not car e t o f i nd out . The t hi r d had sai d, hi s
voi ce bel l i ger ent l y i nsol ent , t hat he woul d at t empt t he t ask on a t en- year
cont r act at t went y- f i ve t housand dol l ar s a year " Af t er al l , Mi ss Taggar t , i f
you expect t o make huge pr of i t s on t hat mot or , i t ' s you who shoul d pay f or
t he gambl e of my t i me. " The f our t h, who was t he youngest , had l ooked at her
si l ent l y f or a moment and t he l i nes of hi s f ace had sl i t her ed f r ombl ankness
i nt o a suggest i on of cont empt .
" You know, Mi ss Taggar t , I don' t t hi nk t hat such a mot or shoul d ever be
made, even i f somebody di d l ear n how t o make i t . I t woul d be so super i or t o
anyt hi ng we' ve got t hat i t woul d be unf ai r t o l esser sci ent i st s, because i t
woul d l eave no f i el d f or t hei r achi evement s and abi l i t i es. I don' t t hi nk t hat
t he st r ong shoul d have t he r i ght t o wound t he sel f est eemof t he weak. " She
had or der ed hi mout of her of f i ce, and had sat i n i ncr edul ous hor r or bef or e
t he f act t hat t he most vi ci ous st at ement she had ever hear d had been ut t er ed
i n a t one of mor al r i ght eousness.
The deci si on t o speak t o Dr . Rober t St adl er had been her l ast r ecour se.
She had f or ced her sel f t o cal l hi m, agai nst t he r esi st ance of some
i mmovabl e poi nt wi t hi n her t hat f el t l i ke br akes sl ammed t i ght . She had
ar gued agai nst her sel f . She had t hought : I deal wi t h men l i ke J i mand Or r en
Boyl ehi s gui l t i s l ess t han t hei r swhy can' t I speak t o hi m?
She had f ound no answer , onl y a st ubbor n sense of r el uct ance, onl y t he
f eel i ng t hat of al l t he men on ear t h, Dr . Rober t St adl er was t he one she must
not cal l .
As she sat at her desk, over t he schedul es of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, wai t i ng
f or Dr . St adl er t o come, she wonder ed why no f i r st - r at e t al ent had r i sen i n
t he f i el d of sci ence f or year s. She was unabl e t o l ook f or an answer . She was
l ooki ng at t he bl ack l i ne whi ch was t he cor pse of Tr ai n Number 93 on t he
schedul e bef or e her .
A t r ai n has t he t wo gr eat at t r i but es of l i f e, she t hought , mot i on and
pur pose; t hi s had been l i ke a l i vi ng ent i t y, but now i t was onl y a number of
dead f r ei ght car s and engi nes. Don' t gi ve your sel f t i me t o f ee] , she t hought ,
di smember t he car cass as f ast as possi bl e, t he engi nes ar e needed al l over
t he syst em, Ken Danagger i n Pennsyl vani a needs t r ai ns, mor e t r ai ns, i f onl y
" Dr . Rober t St adl er , " sai d t he voi ce of t he i nt er of f i ce communi cat or on
her desk.
He came i n, smi l i ng; t he smi l e seemed t o under scor e hi s wor ds: " Mi ss
Taggar t , woul d you car e t o bel i eve how hel pl essl y gl ad I amt o see you
agai n?"
She di d not smi l e, she l ooked gr avel y cour t eous as she answer ed, " I t was
ver y ki nd of you t o come her e. " She bowed, her sl ender f i gur e st andi ng t aut l y
st r ai ght but f or t he sl ow, f or mal movement of her head.
" What i f I conf essed t hat al l I needed was some pl ausi bl e excuse i n or der
t o come? Woul d i t ast oni sh you?"
" I woul d t r y not t o over t ax your cour t esy. " She di d not smi l e. " Pl ease si t
down, Dr . St adl er , "
He l ooked br i ght l y ar ound hi m. " I ' ve never seen t he of f i ce of a r ai l r oad
execut i ve. I di dn' t know i t woul d be so . . . so sol emn a pl ace. I s t hat i n
t he nat ur e of t he j ob?"
" The mat t er on whi ch I ' d l i ke t o ask your advi ce i s f ar r emoved f r omt he
f i el d of your i nt er est s, Dr . St adl er . You may t hi nk i t odd t hat I shoul d cal l
on you. Pl ease al l ow me t o expl ai n my r eason. "
" The f act t hat you wi shed t o cal l on me i s a f ul l y suf f i ci ent r eason. I f I
can be of any ser vi ce t o you, any ser vi ce what ever , I don' t know what woul d
pl ease me mor e at t hi s moment . " Hi s smi l e had an at t r act i ve qual i t y, t he
smi l e of a man of t he wor l d who used i t , not t o cover hi s wor ds, but t o
st r ess t he audaci t y of expr essi ng a si ncer e emot i on.
" My pr obl emi s a mat t er of t echnol ogy, " she sai d, i n t he cl ear ,
expr essi onl ess t one of a young mechani c di scussi ng a di f f i cul t assi gnment .
" I f ul l y r eal i ze your cont empt f or t hat br anch of sci ence. I do not expect
you t o sol ve my pr obl emi t i s not t he ki nd of wor k whi ch you do or car e
about . I shoul d l i ke onl y t o submi t t he pr obl emt o you, and t hen I ' l l have
j ust t wo quest i ons t o ask you. I had t o cal l on you, because i t i s a mat t er
t hat i nvol ves someone' s mi nd, a ver y gr eat mi nd, and" she spoke i mper sonal l y,
i n t he manner of r ender i ng exact j ust i ce" and you ar e t he onl y gr eat mi nd
l ef t i n t hi s f i el d. "
She coul d not t el l why her wor ds bi t hi mas t hey di d. She saw t he
st i l l ness of hi s f ace, t he sudden ear nest ness of t he eyes, a st r ange
ear nest ness t hat seemed eager and al most pl eadi ng, t hen she hear d hi s voi ce
come gr avel y, as i f f r omunder t he pr essur e of some emot i on t hat made i t
sound si mpl e and humbl e: " What i s your pr obl em, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
She t ol d hi mabout t he mot or and t he pl ace wher e she had f ound i t ; she
t ol d hi mt hat i t had pr oved i mpossi bl e t o l ear n t he name of t he i nvent or ; she
di d not ment i on t he det ai l s of her quest . She handed hi mphot ogr aphs of t he
mot or and t he r emnant of t he manuscr i pt .
She wat ched hi mas he r ead. She saw t he pr of essi onal assur ance i n t he
swi f t , scanni ng mot i on of hi s eyes, at f i r st , t hen t he pause, t hen t he
gr owi ng i nt ent ness, t hen a movement of hi s l i ps whi ch, f r omanot her man,
woul d have been a whi st l e or a gasp. She saw hi mst op f or l ong mi nut es and
l ook of f , as i f hi s mi nd wer e r aci ng over count l ess sudden t r ai l s, t r yi ng t o
f ol l ow t hemal l she saw hi ml eaf back t hr ough t he pages, t hen st op, t hen
f or ce hi msel f t o r ead on, as i f he wer e t or n bet ween hi s eager ness t o
cont i nue and hi s eager ness t o sei ze al l t he possi bi l i t i es br eaki ng open
bef or e hi s vi si on. She saw hi s si l ent exci t ement , she knew t hat he had
f or got t en her of f i ce, her exi st ence, ever yt hi ng but t he si ght of an
achi evement and i n t r i but e t o hi s bei ng capabl e of such r eact i on, she wi shed
i t wer e possi bl e f or her t o l i ke Dr . Rober t St adl er .
They had been si l ent f or over an hour , when he f i ni shed and l ooked up at
her . " But t hi s i s ext r aor di nar y! " he sai d i n t he j oyous, ast oni shed t one of
announci ng some news she had not expect ed.
She wi shed she coul d smi l e i n answer and gr ant hi mt he comr adeshi p of a
j oy cel ebr at ed t oget her , but she mer el y nodded and sai d col dl y, " Yes. "
" But , Mi ss Taggar t , t hi s i s t r emendous! "
" Yes. "
" Di d you say i t ' s a mat t er of t echnol ogy? I t ' s mor e, much, much mor e t han
t hat . The pages wher e he wr i t es about hi s conver t er you can see what pr emi se
he' s speaki ng f r om. He ar r i ved at some new concept of ener gy. He di scar ded
al l our st andar d assumpt i ons, accor di ng t o whi ch hi s mot or woul d have been
i mpossi bl e. He f or mul at ed a new pr emi se of hi s own and he sol ved t he secr et
of conver t i ng st at i c ener gy i nt o ki net i c power . Do you know what t hat means?
Do you r eal i ze what a f eat of pur e, abst r act sci ence he had t o per f or mbef or e
he coul d make hi s mot or ?"
" Who?" she asked qui et l y.
" I beg your par don?"
" That was t he f i r st of t he t wo quest i ons I want ed t o ask you, Dr .
St adl er : can you t hi nk of any young sci ent i st you mi ght have known t en
year s ago, who woul d have been abl e t o do t hi s?"
He paused, ast oni shed; he had not had t i me t o wonder about t hat quest i on.
" No, " he sai d sl owl y, f r owni ng, " no, I can' t t hi nk of anyone.
. . . And t hat ' s odd . . . because an abi l i t y of t hi s ki nd coul dn' t have
passed unnot i ced anywher e . . . somebody woul d have cal l ed hi mt o my
at t ent i on . . . t hey al ways sent pr omi si ng young physi ci st s t o me.
. . . Di d you say you f ound t hi s i n t he r esear ch l abor at or y of a pl ai n,
commer ci al mot or f act or y?"
" Yes. "
" That ' s odd. What was he doi ng i n such a pl ace?"
" Desi gni ng a mot or . "
" That ' s what I mean. A man wi t h t he geni us of a gr eat sci ent i st , who chose
t o be a commer ci al i nvent or ? I f i nd i t out r ageous. He want ed a mot or , and he
qui et l y per f or med a maj or r evol ut i on i n t he sci ence of ener gy, j ust as a
means t o an end, and he di dn' t bot her t o publ i sh hi s f i ndi ngs, but went r i ght
on maki ng hi s mot or . Why di d he want t o wast e hi s mi nd on pr act i cal
appl i ances?"
" Per haps because he l i ked l i vi ng on t hi s ear t h, " she sai d i nvol unt ar i l y.
" I beg your par don?"
" No, I . . . I ' msor r y, Dr . St adl er . I di d not i nt end t o di scuss any . . .
i r r el evant subj ect . "
He was l ooki ng of f , pur sui ng hi s own cour se of t hought , " Why di dn' t he
come t o me? Why wasn' t he i n some gr eat sci ent i f i c est abl i shment wher e he
bel onged? I f he had t he br ai ns t o achi eve t hi s, sur el y he had t he br ai ns t o
know t he i mpor t ance of what he had done. Why di dn' t he publ i sh a paper on hi s
def i ni t i on of ener gy? I can see t he gener al di r ect i on he' d t aken, but God
damn hi m! t he most i mpor t ant pages ar e mi ssi ng, t he st at ement i sn' t her e!
Sur el y somebody ar ound hi mshoul d have known enough t o announce hi s wor k t o
t he whol e wor l d of sci ence. Why di dn' t t hey? How coul d t hey abandon, j ust
abandon, a t hi ng of t hi s ki nd?"
" These ar e t he quest i ons t o whi ch I f ound no answer s. "
" And besi des, f r omt he pur el y pr act i cal aspect , why was t hat mot or l ef t i n
a j unk pi l e? You' d t hi nk any gr eedy f ool of an i ndust r i al i st woul d have
gr abbed i t i n or der t o make a f or t une. No i nt el l i gence was needed t o see i t s
commer ci al val ue. "
She smi l ed f or t he f i r st t i mea smi l e ugl y wi t h bi t t er ness; she sai d
not hi ng.
" You f ound i t i mpossi bl e t o t r ace t he i nvent or ?" he asked.
" Compl et el y i mpossi bl eso f ar . "
" Do you t hi nk t hat he i s st i l l al i ve?"
" I have r eason t o t hi nk t hat he i s. But I can' t be sur e. "
" Suppose I t r i ed t o adver t i se f or hi m?"
" No. Don' t . "
" But i f I wer e t o pl ace ads i n sci ent i f i c publ i cat i ons and have Dr .
Fer r i s" he st opped; he saw her gl ance at hi mas swi f t l y as he gl anced at
her ; she sai d not hi ng, but she hel d hi s gl ance; he l ooked away and f i ni shed
t he sent ence col dl y and f i r ml y" and have Dr . Fer r i s br oadcast on t he r adi o
t hat I wi sh t o see hi m, woul d he r ef use t o come?"
" Yes, Dr . St adl er , I t hi nk he woul d r ef use. "
He was not l ooki ng at her . She saw t he f ai nt t i ght eni ng of hi s f aci al
muscl es and, si mul t aneousl y, t he l ook of somet hi ng goi ng sl ack i n t he l i nes
of hi s f ace; she coul d not t el l what sor t of l i ght was dyi ng wi t hi n hi mnor
what made her t hi nk of t he deat h of a l i ght .
He t ossed t he manuscr i pt down on t he desk wi t h a casual , cont empt uous
movement of hi s wr i st . ' Those men who do not mi nd bei ng pr act i cal enough t o
sel l t hei r br ai ns f or money, ought t o acqui r e a l i t t l e knowl edge of t he
condi t i ons of pr act i cal r eal i t y. "
He l ooked at her wi t h a t ouch of def i ance, as i f wai t i ng f or an angr y
answer . But her answer was wor se t han anger : her f ace r emai ned
expr essi onl ess, as i f t he t r ut h or f al sehood of hi s convi ct i ons wer e of no
concer n t o her any l onger . She sai d pol i t el y, " The second quest i on I want ed
t o ask you was whet her you woul d be ki nd enough t o t el l me t he name of any
physi ci st you know who, i n your j udgment , woul d possess t he abi l i t y t o
at t empt t he r econst r uct i on of t hi s mot or . "
He l ooked at her and chuckl ed; i t was a sound of pai n. " Have you been
t or t ur ed by i t , t oo, Mi ss Taggar t ? By t he i mpossi bi l i t y of f i ndi ng any sor t
of i nt el l i gence anywher e?"
" I have i nt er vi ewed some physi ci st s who wer e hi ghl y r ecommended t o me and
I have f ound t hemt o be hopel ess. "
He l eaned f or war d eager l y. " Mi ss Taggar t , " he asked, " di d you cal l on me
because you t r ust ed t he i nt egr i t y of my sci ent i f i c j udgment ?"
The quest i on was a naked pl ea.
" Yes, " she answer ed evenl y, " I t r ust ed t he i nt egr i t y of your sci ent i f i c
j udgment . "
He l eaned back; he l ooked as i f some hi dden smi l e wer e smoot hi ng t he
t ensi on away f r omhi s f ace. " I wi sh I coul d hel p you, " he sai d, as t o a
comr ade. " I most sel f i shl y wi sh I coul d hel p you, because, you see, t hi s has
been my har dest pr obl emt r yi ng t o f i nd men of t al ent f or my own st af f .
Tal ent , hel l ! I ' d be sat i sf i ed wi t h j ust a sembl ance of pr omi se but t he men
t hey send me coul dn' t be honest l y sai d t o possess t he pot ent i al i t y of
devel opi ng i nt o decent gar age mechani cs. I don' t know whet her I amget t i ng
ol der and mor e demandi ng, or whet her t he human r ace i s degener at i ng, but t he
wor l d di dn' t seemt o be so bar r en of i nt el l i gence i n my yout h. Today, i f you
saw t he ki nd of men I ' ve had t o i nt er vi ew, you' d"
He st opped abr upt l y, as i f at a sudden r ecol l ect i on. He r emai ned si l ent ;
he seemed t o be consi der i ng somet hi ng he knew, but di d not wi sh t o t el l her ;
she became cer t ai n of i t , when he concl uded br usquel y, i n t hat t one of
r esent ment whi ch conceal s an evasi on, " No, I don' t know anyone I ' d car e t o
r ecommend t o you. "
" Thi s was al l I want ed t o ask you, Dr . St adl er , " she sai d. " Thank you f or
gi vi ng me your t i me. "
He sat si l ent l y st i l l f or a moment , as i f he coul d not br i ng hi msel f t o
l eave.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he asked, " coul d you show me t he act ual mot or i t sel f ?"
She l ooked at hi m, ast oni shed. " Why, yes . . . i f you wi sh. But i t ' s i n an
under gr ound vaul t , down i n our Ter mi nal t unnel s. "
" I don' t mi nd, i f you woul dn' t mi nd t aki ng me down t her e. I have no
speci al mot i ve. I t ' s onl y my per sonal cur i osi t y. I woul d l i ke t o see i t
t hat ' s al l . "
When t hey st ood i n t he gr ani t e vaul t , over a gl ass case cont ai ni ng a shape
of br oken met al , he t ook of f hi s hat wi t h a sl ow, absent movement and she
coul d not t el l whet her i t was t he r out i ne gest ur e of r emember i ng t hat he was
i n a r oomwi t h a l ady, or t he gest ur e of bar i ng one' s head over a cof f i n.
They st ood i n si l ence, i n t he gl ar e of a si ngl e l i ght r ef r act ed f r omt he
gl ass sur f ace t o t hei r f aces. Tr ai n wheel s wer e cl i cki ng i n t he di st ance, and
i t seemed at t i mes as i f a sudden, shar per j ol t of vi br at i on wer e about t o
awaken an answer f r omt he cor pse i n t he gl ass case.
" I t ' s so wonder f ul , " sai d Dr . St adl er , hi s voi ce l ow. " I t ' s so wonder f ul
t o see a gr eat , new, cr uci al i dea whi ch i s not mi ne! "
She l ooked at hi m, wi shi ng she coul d bel i eve t hat she under st ood hi m
cor r ect l y. He spoke, i n passi onat e si ncer i t y, di scar di ng convent i on,
di scar di ng concer n f or whet her i t was pr oper t o l et her hear t he conf essi on
of hi s pai n, seei ng not hi ng but t he f ace of a woman who was abl e t o
under st and: Mi ss Taggar t , do you know t he hal l mar k of t he second- r at er ? I t ' s
r esent ment of anot her man' s achi evement . Those t ouchy medi ocr i t i es who si t
t r embl i ng l est someone' s wor k pr ove gr eat er t han t hei r ownt hey have no
i nkl i ng of t he l onel i ness t hat comes when you r each t he t op. The l onel i ness
f or an equal f or a mi nd t o r espect and an achi evement t o admi r e. They bar e
t hei r t eet h at you f r omout of t hei r r at hol es, t hi nki ng t hat you t ake
pl easur e i n l et t i ng your br i l l i ance di mt hemwhi l e you' d gi ve a year of your
l i f e t o see a f l i cker of t al ent anywher e among t hem. They envy achi evement ,
and t hei r dr eamof gr eat ness i s a wor l d wher e al l men have become t hei r
acknowl edged i nf er i or s. They don' t know t hat t hat dr eami s t he i nf al l i bl e
pr oof of medi ocr i t y. , because t hat sor t of wor l d i s what t he man of
achi evement woul d not be abl e t o bear . They have no way of knowi ng what he
f eel s when sur r ounded by i nf er i or shat r ed? no, not hat r ed, but bor edomt he
t er r i bl e, hopel ess, dr ai ni ng, par al yzi ng bor edom. Of what account ar e pr ai se
and adul at i on f r ommen whomyou don' t r espect ? Have you ever f el t t he l ongi ng
f or someone you coul d admi r e? For somet hi ng, not t o l ook down at , but up t o?"
" I ' ve f el t i t al l my l i f e, " she sai d. I t was an answer she coul d not
r ef use hi m.
" I know, " he sai dand t her e was beaut y i n t he i mper sonal gent l eness of hi s
voi ce. " I knew i t t he f i r st t i me I spoke t o you. That was why I came t oday"
He st opped f or t he br i ef est i nst ant , but she di d not answer t he appeal and he
f i ni shed wi t h t he same qui et gent l eness, " Wel l , t hat was why I want ed t o see
t he mot or . "
" I under st and, " she sai d sof t l y; t he t one of her voi ce was t he onl y f or m
of acknowl edgment she coul d gr ant hi m.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d, hi s eyes l ower ed, l ooki ng at t he gl ass case, " I
know a man who mi ght be abl e t o under t ake t he r econst r uct i on of t hat mot or .
He woul d not wor k f or meso he i s pr obabl y t he ki nd of man you want . "
But by t he t i me he r ai sed hi s headand bef or e he saw t he l ook of
admi r at i on i n her eyes, t he open l ook he had begged f or , t he l ook of
f or gi venesshe dest r oyed hi s si ngl e moment ' s at onement by addi ng i n a voi ce
of dr awi ng- r oomsar casm, " Appar ent l y, t he young man had no desi r e t o wor k f or
t he good of soci et y or t he wel f ar e of sci ence. He t ol d me t hat he woul d not
t ake a gover nment j ob. I pr esume he want ed t he bi gger sal ar y he coul d hope t o
obt ai n f r oma pr i vat e empl oyer . "
He t ur ned away, not t o see t he l ook t hat was f adi ng f r omher f ace, not t o
l et hi msel f know i t s meani ng. " Yes, " she sai d, her voi ce har d, " he i s
pr obabl y t he ki nd of man I want . "
" He' s a young physi ci st f r omt he Ut ah I nst i t ut e of Technol ogy, "
he sai d dr yl y. " Hi s name i s Quent i n Dani el s. A f r i end of mi ne sent hi mt o
me a f ew mont hs ago. He came t o see me, but he woul d not t ake t he j ob I
of f er ed. I want ed hi mon my st af f . He had t he mi nd of a sci ent i st . I don' t
know whet her he can succeed wi t h your mot or , but at l east he has t he abi l i t y
t o at t empt i t . I bel i eve you can st i l l r each hi mat t he Ut ah I nst i t ut e of
Technol ogy. I don' t know what he' s doi ng t her e nowt hey cl osed t he I nst i t ut e
a year ago. "
" Thank you, Dr . St adl er . I shal l get i n t ouch wi t h hi m. "
" I f . . . i f you want me t o, I ' l l be gl ad t o hel p hi mwi t h t he t heor et i cal
par t of i t . I ' mgoi ng t o do some wor k mysel f , st ar t i ng f r omt he l eads of t hat
manuscr i pt . I ' d l i ke t o f i nd t he car di nal secr et of ener gy t hat i t s aut hor
had f ound. I t ' s hi s basi c pr i nci pl e t hat we must di scover . I f we succeed, Mr .
Dani el s may f i ni sh t he j ob, as f ar as your mot or i s concer ned. "
" I wi l l appr eci at e any hel p you may car e t o gi ve me, Dr . St adl er . "
They wal ked si l ent l y - t hr ough t he dead t unnel s of t he Ter mi nal , down t he
t i es of a r ust ed t r ack under a st r i ng of bl ue l i ght s, t o t he di st ant gl ow of
t he pl at f or ms.
At t he mout h of t he t unnel , t hey saw a man kneel i ng on t he t r ack,
hammer i ng at a swi t ch wi t h t he unr hyt hmi cal exasper at i on of uncer t ai nt y.
Anot her man st ood wat chi ng hi mi mpat i ent l y.
" Wel l , what ' s t he mat t er wi t h t he damn t hi ng?" asked t he wat cher .
" Don' t know. "
" You' ve been at i t f or an hour . "
" Yeah. "
" How l ong i s i t goi ng t o t ake?"
" Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
Dr . St adl er wi nced. They had gone past t he men, when he sai d, " I don' t
l i ke t hat expr essi on. "
" I don' t , ei t her , " she answer ed.
" Wher e di d i t come f r om?"
" Nobody knows. "
They wer e si l ent , t hen he sai d, " I knew a J ohn Gal t once. Onl y he di ed
l ong ago. "
" Who was he?"
" I used t o t hi nk t hat he was st i l l al i ve. But now I ' mcer t ai n t hat he must
have di ed. He had such a mi nd t hat , had he l i ved, t he whol e wor l d woul d have
been t al ki ng of hi mby now. "
" But t he whol e wor l d i s t al ki ng of hi m. "
He st opped st i l l . " Yes . . . " he sai d sl owl y, st ar i ng at a t hought t hat
had never st r uck hi mbef or e, " yes . . . Why?" The wor d was heavy wi t h t he
sound of t er r or .
" Who was he, Dr . St adl er ?"
" Why ar e t hey t al ki ng of hi m?"
" Who was he?"
He shook hi s head wi t h a shudder and sai d shar pl y, " I t ' s j ust a
coi nci dence. The name i s not uncommon at al l . I t ' s a meani ngl ess coi nci dence.
I t has no connect i on wi t h t he man I knew. That man i s dead. "
He di d not per mi t hi msel f t o know t he f ul l meani ng of t he wor ds he added:
" He has t o be dead. "

* * *

The or der t hat l ay on hi s desk was mar ked " Conf i dent i al . . .
Emer gency . . . Pr i or i t y . . . Essent i al need cer t i f i ed by of f i ce of Top
Co- or di nat or . . . f or t he account of Pr oj ect X" and demanded t hat he sel l
t en t housand t ons of Rear den Met al t o t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e.
Rear den r ead i t and gl anced up at t he super i nt endent of hi s mi l l s who
st ood bef or e hi mwi t hout movi ng. The super i nt endent had come i n and put t he
or der down on hi s desk wi t hout a wor d.
" I t hought you' d want t o see i t , " he sai d, i n answer t o Rear den' s gl ance.
Rear den pr essed a but t on, summoni ng Mi ss I ves. He handed t he or der t o her
and sai d, " Send t hi s back t o wher ever i t came f r om. Tel l t hemt hat I wi l l not
sel l any Rear den Met al t o t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e. "
Gwen I ves and t he super i nt endent l ooked at hi m, at each ot her and back at
hi magai n; what he saw i n t hei r eyes was congr at ul at i on.
" Yes, Mr . Rear den, " Gwen I ves sai d f or mal l y, t aki ng t he sl i p as i f i t wer e
any ot her ki nd of busi ness paper . She bowed and l ef t t he r oom. The
super i nt endent f ol l owed.
Rear den smi l ed f ai nt l y, i n gr eet i ng t o what t hey f el t . He f el t not hi ng
about t hat paper or i t s possi bl e consequences.
By a sor t of i nner convul si onwhi ch had been l i ke t ear i ng a pl ug out t o
cut of f t he cur r ent of hi s emot i onshe had t ol d hi msel f si x mont hs ago: Act
f i r st , keep t he mi l l s goi ng, f eel l at er . I t had made hi mabl e t o wat ch
di spassi onat el y t he wor ki ng of t he Fai r Shar e Law.
Nobody had known how t hat l aw was t o be obser ved. Fi r st , he had been t ol d
t hat he coul d not pr oduce Rear den Met al i n an amount gr eat er t han t he t onnage
of t he best speci al al l oy, ot her t han st eel , pr oduced by Or r en Boyl e. But
Or r en Boyl e' s best speci al al l oy was some cr acki ng mi xt ur e t hat no one car ed
t o buy. Then he had been t ol d t hat he coul d pr oduce Rear den Met al i n t he
amount t hat Or r en Boyl e coul d have pr oduced, i f he coul d have pr oduced i t .
Nobody had known how t hi s was t o be det er mi ned. Somebody i n Washi ngt on had
announced a f i gur e, nami ng a number of t ons per year , gi vi ng no r easons.
Ever ybody had l et i t go at t hat .
He had not known how t o gi ve ever y consumer who demanded i t an equal shar e
of Rear den Met al . The wai t i ng l i st of or der s coul d not be f i l l ed i n t hr ee
year s, even had he been per mi t t ed t o wor k at f ul l capaci t y. New or der s wer e
comi ng i n dai l y. They wer e not or der s any l onger , i n t he ol d, honor abl e sense
of t r ade; t hey wer e demands. The l aw pr ovi ded t hat he coul d be sued by any
consumer who f ai l ed t o r ecei ve hi s f ai r shar e of Rear den Met al .
Nobody had known how t o det er mi ne what const i t ut ed a f ai r shar e of what
amount . Then a br i ght young boy j ust out of col l ege had been sent t o hi mf r om
Washi ngt on, as Deput y Di r ect or of Di st r i but i on. Af t er many t el ephone
conf er ences wi t h t he capi t al , t he boy announced t hat cust omer s woul d get f i ve
hundr ed t ons of t he Met al each, i n t he or der of t he dat es of t hei r
appl i cat i ons. Nobody had ar gued agai nst hi s f i gur e.
Ther e was no way t o f or man ar gument ; t he f i gur e coul d have been one pound
or one mi l l i on t ons, wi t h t he same val i di t y. The boy had est abl i shed an
of f i ce at t he Rear den mi l l s, wher e f our gi r l s t ook appl i cat i ons f or shar es of
Rear den Met al . At t he pr esent r at e of t he mi l l s'
pr oduct i on, t he appl i cat i ons ext ended wel l i nt o t he next cent ur y.
Fi ve hundr ed t ons of Rear den Met al coul d not pr ovi de t hr ee mi l es of r ai l
f or Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ; i t coul d not pr ovi de t he br aci ng f or one of Ken
Danagger ' s coal mi nes. The l ar gest i ndust r i es, Rear den' s best cust omer s, wer e
deni ed t he use of hi s Met al . But gol f cl ubs made of Rear den Met al wer e
suddenl y appear i ng on t he mar ket , as wel l as cof f ee pot s, gar den t ool s and
bat hr oomf aucet s. Ken Danagger , who had seen t he val ue of t he Met al and had
dar ed t o or der i t agai nst a f ur y of publ i c opi ni on, was not per mi t t ed t o
obt ai n i t ; hi s or der had been l ef t unf i l l ed, cut of f wi t hout war ni ng by t he
new l aws. Mr . Mowen, who had bet r ayed Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i n i t s most
danger ous hour , was now maki ng swi t ches of Rear den Met al and sel l i ng t hemt o
t he At l ant i c Sout her n. Rear den l ooked on, hi s emot i ons pl ugged out .
He t ur ned away, wi t hout a wor d, when anybody ment i oned t o hi mwhat
ever ybody knew: t he qui ck f or t unes t hat wer e bei ng made on Rear den Met al .
" Wel l , no, " peopl e sai d i n dr awi ng r ooms, " you must n t cal l i t a bl ack
mar ket , because i t i sn' t , r eal l y. Nobody i s sel l i ng t he Met al i l l egal l y.
They' r e j ust sel l i ng t hei r r i ght t o i t . Not sel l i ng r eal l y, j ust pool i ng
t hei r shar es. " He di d not want t o know t he i nsect i nt r i cacy of t he deal s
t hr ough whi ch t he " shar es" wer e sol d and pool ednor how a manuf act ur er i n
Vi r gi ni a had pr oduced, i n t wo mont hs, f i ve t housand t ons of cast i ngs made of
Rear den Met al nor what man i n Washi ngt on was t hat manuf act ur er ' s unl i st ed
par t ner .
He knew t hat t hei r pr of i t on a t on of Rear den Met al was f i ve t i mes l ar ger
t han hi s own. He sai d not hi ng. Ever ybody had a r i ght t o t he Met al , except
hi msel f .
The young boy f r omWashi ngt onwhomt he st eel wor ker s had ni cknamed t he Wet
Nur sehung ar ound Rear den wi t h a pr i mi t i ve, ast oni shed cur i osi t y whi ch,
i ncr edi bl y, was a f or mof admi r at i on. Rear den wat ched hi mwi t h di sgust ed
amusement . The boy had no i nkl i ng of any concept of mor al i t y; i t had been
br ed out of hi mby hi s col l ege; t hi s had l ef t hi man odd f r ankness, nai ve and
cyni cal at once, l i ke t he i nnocence of a savage.
" You despi se me, Mr . Rear den, " he had decl ar ed once, suddenl y and wi t hout
any r esent ment . " That ' s i mpr act i cal . "
" Why i s i t i mpr act i cal ?" Rear den had asked.
The boy had l ooked puzzl ed and had f ound no answer . He never had an answer
t o any " why?" He spoke i n f l at asser t i ons. He woul d say about peopl e, " He' s
ol d- f ashi oned, " " He' s unr econst r uct ed, " " He' s unadj ust ed, " wi t hout hesi t at i on
or expl anat i on; he woul d al so say, whi l e bei ng a gr aduat e i n met al l ur gy,
" I r on smel t i ng, I t hi nk, seems t o r equi r e a hi gh t emper at ur e. " He ut t er ed
not hi ng but uncer t ai n opi ni ons about physi cal nat ur eand not hi ng but
cat egor i cal i mper at i ves about men.
" Mr . Rear den, " he had sai d once, " i f you f eel you' d l i ke t o hand out mor e
of t he Met al t o f r i ends of your sI mean, i n bi gger haul si t coul d be
ar r anged, you know. Why don' t we appl y f or a speci al per mi ssi on on t he gr ound
of essent i al need? I ' ve got a f ew f r i ends i n Washi ngt on. Your f r i ends ar e
pr et t y i mpor t ant peopl e, bi g busi nessmen, so i t woul dn' t be di f f i cul t t o get
away wi t h t he essent i al need dodge. Of cour se, t her e woul d be a f ew expenses.
For t hi ngs i n Washi ngt on, You know how i t i s, t hi ngs al ways occasi on
expenses. "
" What t hi ngs?"
" You under st and what I mean. "
" No, " Rear den had sai d, " I don' t . Why don' t you expl ai n i t t o me?"
The boy had l ooked at hi muncer t ai nl y, wei ghed i t i n hi s mi nd, t hen come
out wi t h: " I t ' s bad psychol ogy. "
" What i s?"
" You know, Mr . Rear den, i t ' s not necessar y t o use such wor ds as t hat . "
" As what ?"
" Wor ds ar e r el at i ve. They' r e onl y symbol s. I f we don' t use ugl y symbol s,
we won' t have any ugl i ness. Why do you want me t o say t hi ngs one way, when
I ' ve al r eady sai d t hemanot her ?"
" Whi ch way do I want you t o say t hem?"
" Why do you want me t o?"
" For t he same r eason t hat you don' t . "
The boy had r emai ned si l ent f or a moment , t hen had sai d, " You know, Mr .
Rear den, t her e ar e no absol ut e st andar ds. We can' t go by r i gi d pr i nci pl es,
we' ve got t o be f l exi bl e, we' ve got t o adj ust t o t he r eal i t y of t he day and
act on t he expedi ency of t he moment . "
" Run al ong, punk. Go and t r y t o pour a t on of st eel wi t hout r i gi d
pr i nci pl es, on t he expedi ency of t he moment . "
A st r ange sense, whi ch was al most a sense of st yl e, made Rear den f eel
cont empt f or t he boy, but no r esent ment . The boy seemed t o f i t t he spi r i t of
t he event s ar ound t hem. I t was as i f t hey wer e bei ng car r i ed back acr oss a
l ong span of cent ur i es t o t he age wher e t he boy had bel onged, but he,
Rear den, had not . I nst ead of bui l di ng new f ur naces, t hought Rear den, he was
now r unni ng a l osi ng r ace t o keep t he ol d ones goi ng; i nst ead of st ar t i ng new
vent ur es, new r esear ch, new exper i ment s i n t he use of Rear den Met al , he was
spendi ng t he whol e of hi s ener gy on a quest f or sour ces of i r on or e: l i ke t he
men at t he dawn of t he I r on Agehe t hought but wi t h l ess hope.
He t r i ed t o avoi d t hese t hought s. He had t o st and on guar d agai nst hi s own
f eel i ngas i f some par t of hi mhad become a st r anger t hat had t o be kept
numb, and hi s wi l l had t o be i t s const ant , wat chf ul anest het i c. That par t was
an unknown of whi ch he knew onl y t hat he must never see i t s r oot and never
gi ve i t voi ce. He had l i ved t hr ough one danger ous moment whi ch he coul d not
al l ow t o r et ur n.
I t was t he moment whenal one i n hi s of f i ce, on a wi nt er eveni ng, hel d
par al yzed by a newspaper spr ead on hi s desk wi t h a l ong col umn of di r ect i ves
on t he f r ont pagehe had hear d on t he r adi o t he news of El l i s Wyat t ' s f l ami ng
oi l f i el ds. Then, hi s f i r st r eact i onbef or e any t hought of t he f ut ur e, any
sense of di sast er , any shock, t er r or or pr ot est had been t o bur st out
l aughi ng. He had l aughed i n t r i umph, i n del i ver ance, i n a spur t i ng, l i vi ng
exul t at i onand t he wor ds whi ch he had not pr onounced, but f el t , wer e: God
bl ess you, El l i s, what ever you' r e doi ng!
When he had gr asped t he i mpl i cat i ons of hi s l aught er , he had known t hat he
was now condemned t o const ant vi gi l ance agai nst hi msel f . Li ke t he sur vi vor of
a hear t at t ack, he knew t hat he had had a war ni ng and t hat he car r i ed wi t hi n
hi ma danger t hat coul d st r i ke hi mat any moment .
He had hel d i t of f , si nce t hen. He had kept an even, caut i ous, sever el y
cont r ol l ed pace i n hi s i nner st eps. But i t had come cl ose t o hi mf or a
moment , once agai n. When he had l ooked at t he or der of t he St at e Sci ence
I nst i t ut e on hi s desk, i t had seemed t o hi mt hat t he gl ow movi ng over t he
paper di d not come f r omt he f ur naces out si de, but f r omt he f l ames of a
bur ni ng oi l f i el d.
" Mr . Rear den, " sai d t he Wet Nur se, when he hear d about t he r ej ect ed or der ,
" you shoul dn' t have done t hat . "
" Why not ?"
" Ther e' s goi ng t o be t r oubl e. "
" What ki nd of t r oubl e?"
" I t ' s a gover nment or der . You can' t r ej ect a gover nment or der . "
" Why can' t I ?"
" I t ' s an Essent i al Need pr oj ect , and secr et , t oo. I t ' s ver y i mpor t ant . "
" What ki nd of a pr oj ect i s i t ?"
" I don' t know. I t ' s secr et . "
" Then how do you know i t ' s i mpor t ant ?"
" I t sai d so. "
" Who sai d so?"
" You can' t doubt such a t hi ng as t hat , Mr . Rear den! "
" Why can' t 1?"
" But you can' t . "
" I f I can' t , t hen t hat woul d make i t an absol ut e and you sai d t her e ar en' t
any absol ut es. "
" That ' s di f f er ent . "
" How i s i t di f f er ent ?"
" I t ' s t he gover nment . "
" You mean, t her e ar en' t any absol ut es except t he gover nment ?"
" I mean, i f t hey say i t ' s i mpor t ant , t hen i t i s. "
" Why?"
" I don' t want you t o get i n t r oubl e, Mr . Rear den, and you' r e goi ng t o,
sur e as hel l . You ask t oo many why' s. Now why do you do t hat ?"
Rear den gl anced at hi mand chuckl ed. The boy not i ced hi s own wor ds and
gr i nned sheepi shl y, but he l ooked unhappy.
The man who came t o see Rear den a week l at er was youngi sh and sl ender i sh,
but nei t her as young nor as sl ender as he t r i ed t o make hi msel f appear . He
wor e ci vi l i an cl ot hes and t he l eat her l eggi ngs of a t r af f i c cop. Rear den
coul d not qui t e get i t cl ear whet her he came f r omt he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e
or f r omWashi ngt on.
" I under st and t hat you r ef used t o sel l met al t o t he St at e Sci ence
I nst i t ut e, Mr . Rear den, " he sai d i n a sof t , conf i dent i al t one of voi ce.
" That ' s r i ght , " sai d Rear den.
" But woul dn' t t hat const i t ut e a wi l l f ul di sobedi ence of t he l aw?"
" I t ' s f or you t o i nt er pr et . "
" May I ask your r eason?"
" My r eason i s of no i nt er est t o you. "
" Oh, but of cour se i t i s! We ar e not your enemi es, Mr . Rear den. We want t o
be f ai r t o you. You must n' t be af r ai d of t he f act t hat you ar e a bi g
i ndust r i al i st . We won' t hol d i t agai nst you. We act ual l y want t o be as f ai r
t o you as t o t he l owest day l abor er . We woul d l i ke t o know your r eason. "
" Pr i nt my r ef usal i n t he newspaper s, and any r eader wi l l t el l you my
r eason. I t appear ed i n al l t he newspaper s a l i t t l e over a year ago. "
" Oh, no, no, no! Why t al k of newspaper s? Can' t we set t l e t hi s as a
f r i endl y, pr i vat e mat t er ?"
" That ' s up t o you. "
" We don' t want t hi s i n t he newspaper s. "
" No?"
" No. We woul dn' t want t o hur t you. "
Rear den gl anced at hi mand asked, " Why does t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e
need t en t housand t ons of met al ? What i s Pr oj ect X?"
" Oh, t hat ? I t ' s a ver y i mpor t ant pr oj ect of sci ent i f i c r esear ch, an
under t aki ng of gr eat soci al val ue t hat may pr ove of i nest i mabl e publ i c
benef i t , but , unf or t unat el y, t he r egul at i ons of t op pol i cy do not per mi t me
t o t el l you i t s nat ur e i n f ul l er det ai l . "
" You know, " sai d Rear den, " I coul d t el l youas my r easont hat I do not
wi sh t o sel l my Met al t o t hose whose pur pose i s kept secr et f r omme. I
cr eat ed t hat Met al . I t i s my mor al r esponsi bi l i t y t o know f or what pur pose I
per mi t i t t o be used. "
" Oh, but you don' t have t o wor r y about t hat , Mr . Rear den! We r el i eve you
of t he r esponsi bi l i t y. "
" Suppose I don' t wi sh t o be r el i eved of i t ?"
" But . . . but t hat i s an ol d- f ashi oned and . . . and pur el y t heor et i cal
at t i t ude. "
" I sai d I coul d name i t as my r eason. But I won' t because, i n t hi s case, I
have anot her , i ncl usi ve r eason. I woul d not sel l any Rear den Met al t o t he
St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e f or any pur pose what ever , good or bad, secr et or
open. "
" But why?"
" Li st en, " sai d Rear den sl owl y, " t her e mi ght be some sor t of j ust i f i cat i on
f or t he savage soci et i es i n whi ch a man had t o expect t hat enemi es coul d
mur der hi mat any moment and had t o def end hi msel f as best he coul d. But
t her e can be no j ust i f i cat i on f or a soci et y i n whi ch a man i s expect ed t o
manuf act ur e t he weapons f or hi s own mur der er s. "
" I don' t t hi nk i t ' s advi sabl e t o use such wor ds, Mr . Rear den. I don' t
t hi nk i t ' s pr act i cal t o t hi nk i n such t er ms. Af t er al l , t he gover nment
cannot i n t he pur sui t of wi de, nat i onal pol i ci est ake cogni zance of your
per sonal gr udge agai nst some one par t i cul ar i nst i t ut i on. "
" Then don' t t ake cogni zance of i t . "
" What do you mean?"
" Don' t come aski ng my r eason. "
" But , Mr . Rear den, we cannot l et a r ef usal t o obey t he l aw pass unnot i ced.
What do you expect us t o do?"
" What ever you wi sh. "
" But t hi s i s t ot al l y unpr ecedent ed. Nobody has ever r ef used t o sel l an
essent i al commodi t y t o t he gover nment . As a mat t er of f act , t he l aw does not
per mi t you t o r ef use t o sel l your Met al t o any consumer , l et al one t he
gover nment . "
" Wel l , why don' t you ar r est me, t hen?"
" Mr . Rear den, t hi s i s an ami cabl e di scussi on. Why speak of such t hi ngs as
ar r est s?"
" I sn' t t hat your ul t i mat e ar gument agai nst me?"
" Why br i ng i t up?"
" I sn' t i t i mpl i ed i n ever y sent ence of t hi s di scussi on?"
" Why name i t ?"
" Why not ?" Ther e was no answer . " Ar c you t r yi ng t o hi de f r omme t he f act
t hat i f i t wer en' t f or t hat t r ump car d of your s, I woul dn' t have al l owed you
t o ent er t hi s of f i ce?"
" But I ' mnot speaki ng of ar r est s. "
" I am. 11
" I don' t under st and you, Mr . Rear den. "
" I amnot hel pi ng you t o pr et end t hat t hi s i s any sor t of ami cabl e
di scussi on. I t i sn' t . Now do what you pl ease about i t . "
Ther e was a st r ange l ook on t he man' s f ace: bewi l der ment , as i f he had no
concept i on of t he i ssue conf r ont i ng hi m, and f ear , as i f he had al ways had
f ul l knowl edge of i t and had l i ved i n dr ead of exposur e.
Rear den f el t a st r ange exci t ement ; he f el t as i f he wer e about t o gr asp
somet hi ng he had never under st ood, as i f he wer e on t he t r ai l of some
di scover y st i l l t oo di st ant t o know, except t hat i t had t he most i mmense
i mpor t ance he had ever gl i mpsed.
" Mr . Rear den" sai d t he man, " t he gover nment needs your Met al .
You have t o sel l i t t o us, because sur el y you r eal i ze t hat t he
gover nment ' s pl ans cannot be hel d up by t he mat t er of your consent . "
" A sal e, " sai d Rear den sl owl y, " r equi r es t he sel l er ' s consent . " He got up
and wal ked t o t he wi ndow. " I ' l l t el l you what you can do.
He poi nt ed t o t he si di ng wher e i ngot s of Rear den Met al wer e bei ng l oaded
ont o f r ei ght car s. " Ther e' s Rear den Met al . Dr i ve down t her e wi t h your t r ucks
l i ke any ot her l oot er , but wi t hout hi s r i sk, because I won' t shoot you, as
you know I can' t t ake as much of t he Met al as you wi sh and go. Don' t t r y t o
send me payment . I won' t accept i t .
Don' t pr i nt out a check t o me. I t won' t be cashed. I f you want t hat Met al ,
you have t he guns t o sei ze i t . Go ahead. "
" Good God, Mr . Rear den, what woul d t he publ i c t hi nk! "
I t was an i nst i nct i ve, i nvol unt ar y cr y. The muscl es of Rear den' s f ace
moved br i ef l y i n a soundl ess l aught er . Bot h of t hemhad under st ood t he
i mpl i cat i ons of t hat cr y. Rear den sai d evenl y, i n t he gr ave, unst r ai ned t one
of f i nal i t y, " You need my hel p t o make i t l ook l i ke a sal el i ke a saf e, j ust ,
mor al t r ansact i on. I wi l l not hel p you. "
The man di d not ar gue. He r ose t o l eave. He sai d onl y, " You wi l l r egr et
t he st and you' ve t aken, Mr . Rear den. "
" I don' t t hi nk so, " sai d Rear den.
He knew t hat t he i nci dent was not ended. He knew al so t hat t he secr ecy of
Pr oj ect X was not t he mai n r eason why t hese peopl e f ear ed t o make t he i ssue
publ i c. He knew t hat he f el t an odd, j oyous, l i ght hear t ed sel f - conf i dence. He
knew t hat t hese wer e t he r i ght st eps down t he t r ai l he had gl i mpsed.
Dagny l ay st r et ched i n an ar mchai r of her l i vi ng r oom, her eyes cl osed.
Thi s day had been har d, but she knew t hat she woul d see Hank Rear den t oni ght .
The t hought of i t was l i ke a l ever l i f t i ng t he wei ght of hour s of sensel ess
ugl i ness away f r omher .
She l ay st i l l , cont ent t o r est wi t h t he si ngl e pur pose of wai t i ng qui et l y
f or t he sound of t he key i n t he l ock. He had not t el ephoned her , but she had
hear d t hat he was i n New Yor k t oday f or a conf er ence wi t h pr oducer s of
copper , and he never l ef t t he ci t y t i l l next mor ni ng, nor spent a ni ght i n
New Yor k t hat was not her s. She l i ked t o wai t f or hi m. She needed a span of
t i me as a br i dge bet ween her days and hi s ni ght s.
The hour s ahead, l i ke al l her ni ght s wi t h hi m, woul d be added, she
t hought , t o t hat savi ngs account of one' s l i f e wher e moment s of t i me ar e
st or ed i n t he pr i de of havi ng been l i ved. The onl y pr i de of her wor kday was
not t hat i t had been l i ved, but t hat i t had been sur vi ved.
I t was wr ong, she t hought , i t was vi ci ousl y wr ong t hat one shoul d ever be
f or ced t o say t hat about any hour of one' s l i f e. But she coul d not t hi nk of
i t now. She was t hi nki ng of hi m, of t he st r uggl e she had wat ched t hr ough t he
mont hs behi nd t hem, hi s st r uggl e f or del i ver ance; she had known t hat she
coul d hel p hi mwi n, but must hel p hi mi n ever y way except i n wor ds.
She t hought of t he eveni ng l ast wi nt er when he came i n, t ook a smal l
package f r omhi s pocket and hel d i t out t o her , sayi ng, " I want you t o have
i t . " She opened i t and st ar ed i n i ncr edul ous bewi l der ment at a pendant made
of a si ngl e pear - shaped r uby t hat spur t ed a vi ol ent f i r e on t he whi t e sat i n
of t he j ewel er ' s box. I t was a f amous st one, whi ch onl y a dozen men i n t he
wor l d coul d pr oper l y af f or d t o pur chase; he was not one of t hem.
" Hank . . . why?"
" No speci al r eason. I j ust want ed t o see you wear i t . "
" Oh, no, not a t hi ng of t hi s ki nd! Why wast e i t ? I go so r ar el y t o
occasi ons wher e one has t o dr ess. When woul d I ever wear i t ?"
He l ooked at her , hi s gl ance movi ng sl owl y f r omher l egs t o her f ace.
" I ' l l show you, " he sai d.
He l ed her t o t he bedr oom, he t ook of f her cl ot hes, wi t hout a wor d, i n t he
manner of an owner undr essi ng a per son whose consent i s not r equi r ed. He
cl asped t he pendant on her shoul der s. She st ood naked, t he st one bet ween her
br east s, l i ke a spar kl i ng dr op of bl ood.
" Do you t hi nk a man shoul d gi ve j ewel r y t o hi s mi st r ess f or any pur pose
but hi s own pl easur e?" he asked. " Thi s i s t he way I want you t o wear i t . Onl y
f or me. I l i ke t o l ook at i t . I t ' s beaut i f ul , "
She l aughed; i t was a sof t , l ow, br eat hl ess sound. She coul d not speak or
move, onl y nod si l ent l y i n accept ance and obedi ence; she nodded sever al
t i mes, her hai r swayi ng wi t h t he wi de, ci r cul ar movement of her head, t hen
hangi ng st i l l as she kept her head bowed t o hi m.
She dr opped down on t he bed. She l ay st r et ched l azi l y, her head t hr own
back, her ar ms at her si des, pal ms pr essed t o t he r ough t ext ur e of t he
bedspr ead, one l eg bent , t he l ong l i ne of t he ot her ext ended acr oss t he dar k
bl ue l i nen of t he spr ead, t he st one gl owi ng l i ke a wound i n t he semi -
dar kness, t hr owi ng a st ar of r ays agai nst her ski n.
Her eyes wer e hal f - cl osed i n t he mocki ng, consci ous t r i umph of bei ng
admi r ed, but her mout h was hal f - open i n hel pl ess, beggi ng expect at i on. He
st ood acr oss t he r oom, l ooki ng at her , at her f l at st omach dr awn i n, as her
br eat h was dr awn, at t he sensi t i ve body of a sensi t i ve consci ousness. He
sai d, hi s voi ce l ow, i nt ent and oddl y qui et : " Dagny, i f some ar t i st pai nt ed
you as you ar e now, men woul d come t o l ook at t he pai nt i ng t o exper i ence a
moment t hat not hi ng coul d gi ve t hemi n t hei r own l i ves. They woul d cal l i t
gr eat ar t . They woul d not know t he nat ur e of what t hey f el t , but t he pai nt i ng
woul d show t hemever yt hi ngeven t hat you' r e not some cl assi cal Venus, but t he
Vi ce- Pr esi dent of a r ai l r oad, because t hat ' s par t of i t even what I am,
because t hat ' s par t of i t , t oo. Dagny, t hey' d f eel i t and go away and sl eep
wi t h t he f i r st bar mai d i n si ght and t hey' d never t r y t o r each what t hey had
f el t . I woul dn' t want t o seek i t f r oma pai nt i ng.
I ' d want i t r eal . I ' d t ake no pr i de i n any hopel ess l ongi ng. I woul dn' t
hol d a st i l l bor n aspi r at i on. I ' d want t o have i t , t o make i t , t o l i ve i t .
Do you under st and?"
" Oh yes, Hank, 7 under st and! " she sai d. Do you, my dar l i ng?do you
under st and i t f ul l y?she t hought , but di d not say i t al oud.
On t he eveni ng of a bl i zzar d, she came home t o f i nd an enor mous spr ead of
t r opi cal f l ower s st andi ng i n her l i vi ng r oomagai nst t he dar k gl ass of
wi ndows bat t er ed by snowf l akes. They wer e st ems of Hawai i an Tor ch Gi nger ,
t hr ee f eet t al l ; t hei r l ar ge heads wer e cones of pet al s t hat had t he sensual
t ext ur e of sof t l eat her and t he col or of bl ood. " I saw t hemi n a f l or i st ' s
wi ndow, " he t ol d her when he came, t hat ni ght .
" I l i ked seei ng t hemt hr ough a bl i zzar d. But t her e' s not hi ng as wast ed as
an obj ect i n a publ i c wi ndow. "
She began t o f i nd f l ower s i n her apar t ment at unpr edi ct abl e t i mes, f l ower s
sent wi t hout a car d, but wi t h t he si gnat ur e of t he sender i n t hei r f ant ast i c
shapes, i n t he vi ol ent col or s, i n t he ext r avagant cost . He br ought her a gol d
neckl ace made of smal l hi nged squar es t hat f or med a spr ead of sol i d gol d t o
cover her neck and shoul der s, l i ke t he col l ar of a kni ght ' s ar mor " Wear i t
wi t h a bl ack dr ess, " he or der ed. He br ought her a set of gl asses t hat wer e
t al l , sl ender bl ocks of squar e- cut cr yst al , made by a f amous j ewel er . She
wat ched t he way he hel d one of t he gl asses when she ser ved hi ma dr i nkas i f
t he t ouch of t he t ext ur e under hi s f i nger s, t he t ast e of t he dr i nk and t he
si ght of her f ace wer e t he si ngl e f or mof an i ndi vi si bl e moment of enj oyment .
" I used t o see t hi ngs I l i ked, " he sai d, " but I never bought t hem. Ther e
di dn' t seemt o be much meani ng i n i t . Ther e i s, now. "
He t el ephoned her at t he of f i ce, one wi nt er mor ni ng, and sai d, not i n t he
t one of an i nvi t at i on, but i n t he t one of an execut i ve' s or der , " We' r e goi ng
t o have di nner t oget her t oni ght , T want you t o dr ess. Do you have any sor t of
bl ue eveni ng gown? Wear i t . "
The dr ess she wor e was a sl ender t uni c of dust y bl ue t hat gave her a l ook
of unpr ot ect ed si mpl i ci t y, t he l ook of a st at ue i n t he bl ue shadows of a
gar den under t he summer sun. What he br ought and put over her shoul der s was a
cape of bl ue f ox t hat swal l owed her f r omt he cur ve of her chi n t o t he t i ps of
her sandal s. " Hank, t hat ' s pr epost er ous" she l aughed" i t ' s not my ki nd of
t hi ng! " " No?" he asked, dr awi ng her t o a mi r r or .
The huge bl anket of f ur made her l ook l i ke a chi l d bundl ed f or a
snowst or m; t he l uxur i ous t ext ur e t r ansf or med t he i nnocence of t he awkwar d
bundl e i nt o t he el egance of a per ver sel y i nt ent i onal cont r ast : i nt o a l ook of
st r essed sensual i t y. The f ur was a sof t br own, di mmed by an aur a of bl ue t hat
coul d not be seen, onl y f el t l i ke an envel opi ng mi st , l i ke a suggest i on of
col or gr asped not by one' s eyes but by one' s hands, as i f one f el t , wi t hout
cont act , t he sensat i on of si nki ng one' s pal ms i nt o t he f ur ' s sof t ness. The
cape l ef t not hi ng t o be seen of her , except t he br own of her hai r , t he bl ue-
gr ay of her eyes, t he shape of her mout h.
She t ur ned t o hi m, her smi l e st ar t l ed and hel pl ess. " I . . . I di dn' t know
i t woul d l ook l i ke t hat . "
" I di d. "
She sat besi de hi mi n hi s car as he dr ove t hr ough t he dar k st r eet s of t he
ci t y. A spar kl i ng net of snow f l ashed i nt o si ght once i n a whi l e, when t hey
went past t he l i ght s on t he cor ner s. She di d not ask wher e t hey wer e goi ng.
She sat l ow i n t he scat , l eani ng back, l ooki ng up at t he snowf l akes. The f ur
cape was wr apped t i ght l y about her ; wi t hi n i t , her dr ess f el t as l i ght as a
ni ght gown and t he f eel of t he cape was l i ke an embr ace.
She l ooked at t he angul ar t i er s of l i ght s r i si ng t hr ough t he snowy
cur t ai n, andgl anci ng at hi m, at t he gr i p of hi s gl oved hands on t he wheel ,
at t he aust er e, f ast i di ous el egance of t he f i gur e i n bl ack over coat and whi t e
muf f l er she t hought t hat he bel onged i n a gr eat ci t y, among pol i shed
si dewal ks and scul pt ur ed st one.
The car went down i nt o a t unnel , st r eaked t hr ough an echoi ng t ube of t i l e
under t he r i ver and r ose t o t he coi l s of an el evat ed hi ghway under an open
bl ack sky. The l i ght s wer e bel ow t hemnow, spr ead i n f l at mi l es of bl ui sh
wi ndows, of smokest acks, sl ant i ng cr anes, r ed gust s of f i r e, and l ong, di m
r ays si l houet t i ng t he cont or t ed shapes of an i ndust r i al di st r i ct . She t hought
t hat she had seen hi monce, at hi s mi l l s, wi t h smudges of soot on hi s
f or ehead, dr essed i n aci d- eat en over al l s; he had wor n t hemas nat ur al l y wel l
as he wor e hi s f or mal cl ot hes. He bel onged her e, t ooshe t hought , l ooki ng
down at t he f l at s of New J er seyamong t he cr anes, t he f i r es and t he gr i ndi ng
cl at t er of gear s.
When t hey sped down a dar k r oad t hr ough an empt y count r ysi de, wi t h t he
st r ands of snow gl i t t er i ng acr oss t hei r headl i ght sshe r emember ed how he had
l ooked i n t he summer of t hei r vacat i on, dr essed i n sl acks, st r et ched on t he
gr ound of a l onel y r avi ne, wi t h t he gr ass under hi s body and t he sun on hi s
bar e ar ms. He bel onged i n t he count r ysi de, she t hought he bel onged
ever ywher ehe was a man who bel onged on ear t hand t hen she t hought of t he
wor ds whi ch wer e mor e exact : he was a man t o whomt he ear t h bel onged, t he man
at home on ear t h and i n cont r ol . Why, t henshe wonder edshoul d he have had t o
car r y a bur den of t r agedy whi ch, i n si l ent endur ance, he had accept ed so
compl et el y t hat he had bar el y known he car r i ed i t ? She knew par t of t he
answer ; she f el t as i f t he whol e answer wer e cl ose and she woul d gr asp i t on
some appr oachi ng day. But she di d not want t o t hi nk of i t now, because t hey
wer e movi ng away f r omt he bur dens, because wi t hi n t he space of a speedi ng car
t hey hel d t he st i l l ness of f ul l happi ness. She moved her head i mper cept i bl y
t o l et i t t ouch hi s shoul der f or a moment .
The car l ef t t he hi ghway and t ur ned t owar d t he l i ght ed squar es of di st ant
wi ndows, t hat hung above t he snow beyond a gr i l l wor k of bar e br anches. Then,
i n a sof t , di ml i ght , t hey sat at a t abl e by a wi ndow f aci ng dar kness and
t r ees. The i nn st ood on a knol l i n t he woods; i t had t he l uxur y of hi gh cost
and pr i vacy, and an ai r of beaut i f ul t ast e suggest i ng t hat i t had not been
di scover ed by t hose who sought hi gh cost and not i ce. She was bar el y awar e of
t he di ni ng r oom; i t bl ended away i nt o a sense of super l at i ve comf or t , and t he
onl y or nament t hat caught her at t ent i on was t he gl i t t er of i ced br anches
beyond t he gl ass of t he wi ndow.
She sat , l ooki ng out , t he bl ue f ur hal f - sl i ppi ng of f her naked ar ms and
shoul der s. He wat ched her t hr ough nar r owed eyes, wi t h t he sat i sf act i on of a
man st udyi ng hi s own wor kmanshi p.
" I l i ke gi vi ng t hi ngs t o you, " he sai d, " because you don' t need t hem. "
" No?"
" And i t ' s not t hat I want you t o have t hem. I want you t o have t hemf r om
me. "
" That i s t he way I do need t hem, Hank. Fr omyou. "
" Do you under st and t hat i t ' s not hi ng but vi ci ous sel f - i ndul gence on my
par t ? I ' mnot doi ng i t f or your pl easur e, but f or mi ne. "
" Hank! " The cr y was i nvol unt ar y; i t hel d amusement , despai r , i ndi gnat i on
and pi t y. " I f you' d gi ven me t hose t hi ngs j ust f or my pl easur e, not your s, I
woul d have t hr own t hemi n your f ace. "
" Yes . . . Yes, t hen you woul dand shoul d. "
" Di d you cal l i t your vi ci ous sel f - i ndul gence?"
" That ' s what t hey cal l i t . "
" Oh, yes! That ' s what t hey cal l i t . What do you cal l i t , Hank?"
" I don' t know, " he sai d i ndi f f er ent l y, and went on i nt ent l y. " I know onl y
t hat i f i t ' s vi ci ous, t hen l et me be damned f or i t but t hat ' s what I want t o
do mor e t han anyt hi ng el se on ear t h. "
She di d not answer ; she sat l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi mwi t h a f ai nt smi l e, as
i f aski ng hi mt o l i st en t o t he meani ng of hi s own wor ds.
" I ' ve al ways want ed t o enj oy my weal t h, " he sai d. " I di dn' t know how t o do
i t . I di dn' t even have t i me t o know how much T want ed t o.
But I knew t hat al l t he st eel I pour ed came back t o me as l i qui d gol d, and
t he gol d was meant t o har den i nt o any shape I wi shed, and i t was I who had t o
enj oy i t . Onl y I coul dn' t . I coul dn' t f i nd any pur pose f or i t . I ' ve f ound i t ,
now. I t ' s I who' ve pr oduced t hat weal t h and i t ' s I who amgoi ng t o l et i t buy
f or me ever y ki nd of pl easur e I want i ncl udi ng t he pl easur e of seei ng Row
much I ' mabl e t o pay f or i ncl udi ng t he pr epost er ous f eat of t ur ni ng you i nt o
a l uxur y obj ect . "
" But I ' ma l uxur y obj ect t hat you' ve pai d f or l ong ago, " she sai d; she was
not smi l i ng.
" How?"
" By means of t he same val ues wi t h whi ch you pai d f or your mi l l s. "
She di d not know whet her he under st ood i t wi t h t hat f ul l , l umi nous
f i nal i t y whi ch i s a t hought named i n wor ds; but she knew t hat what he f el t i n
t hat moment was under st andi ng. She saw t he r el axat i on of an i nvi si bl e smi l e
i n hi s eyes.
" I ' ve never despi sed l uxur y, " he sai d, " yet I ' ve al ways despi sed t hose who
enj oyed i t . I l ooked at what t hey cal l ed t hei r pl easur es and i t seemed so
mi ser abl y sensel ess t o meaf t er what I f el t at t he mi l l s. I used t o wat ch
st eel bei ng pour ed, t ons of l i qui d st eel r unni ng as I want ed i t t o, wher e I
want ed i t . And t hen I ' d go t o a banquet and I ' d see peopl e who sat t r embl i ng
i n awe bef or e t hei r own gol d di shes and l ace t abl ecl ot hs, as i f t hei r di ni ng
r oomwer e t he mast er and t hey wer e j ust obj ect s ser vi ng i t , obj ect s cr eat ed
by t hei r di amond shi r t st uds and neckl aces, not t he ot her way ar ound. Then
I ' d r un t o t he si ght of t he f i r st sl ag heap I coul d f i ndand t hey' d say t hat
I di dn' t know how t o enj oy l i f e, because I car ed f or not hi ng but busi ness. "
He l ooked at t he di m, scul pt ur ed beaut y of t he r oomand at t he peopl e who
sat at t he t abl es. They sat i n a manner of sel f - consci ous di spl ay, as i f t he
enor mous cost of t hei r cl ot hes and t he enor mous car e of t hei r gr oomi ng shoul d
have f used i nt o spl endor , but di dn' t . Thei r f aces had a l ook of r ancor ous
anxi et y.
" Dagny, l ook at t hose peopl e. They' r e supposed t o be t he pl ayboys of l i f e,
t he amusement - seeker s and l uxur y- l over s. They si t t her e, wai t i ng f or t hi s
pl ace t o gi ve t hemmeani ng, not t he ot her way ar ound.
But t hey' r e al ways shown t o us as t he enj oyer s of mat er i al pl easur es and
t hen we' r e t aught t hat enj oyment of mat er i al pl easur es i s evi l .
Enj oyment ? Ar e t hey enj oyi ng i t ? I sn' t t her e some sor t of per ver si on i n
what we' r e t aught , some er r or t hat ' s vi ci ous and ver y i mpor t ant ?"
" Yes, Hankver y vi ci ous and ver y, ver y i mpor t ant . "
" They ar e t he pl ayboys, whi l e we' r e j ust t r adesmen, you and I . Do you
r eal i ze t hat we' r e much mor e capabl e of enj oyi ng t hi s pl ace t han t hey can
ever hope t o be?"
" Yes. "
He sai d sl owl y, i n t he t one of a quot at i on, " Why have we l ef t i t al l t o
f ool s? I t shoul d have been our s. " She l ooked at hi m, st ar t l ed. He smi l ed. " I
r emember ever y wor d you sai d t o me at t hat par t y. I di dn' t answer you t hen,
because t he onl y answer I had, t he onl y t hi ng your wor ds meant t o me, was an
answer t hat you woul d hat e me f or , I t hought ; i t was t hat I want ed you. " He
l ooked at her . " Dagny, you di dn' t i nt end i t t hen, but what you wer e sayi ng
was t hat you want ed t o sl eep wi t h me, wasn' t i t ?"
" Yes, Hank. Of cour se. "
He hel d her eyes, t hen l ooked away. They wer e si l ent f or a l ong t i me. He
gl anced at t he sof t t wi l i ght ar ound t hem, t hen at t he spar kl e of t wo wi ne
gl asses on t hei r t abl e. " Dagny, i n my yout h, when I was wor ki ng i n t he or e
mi nes i n Mi nnesot a, I t hought t hat I want ed t o r each an eveni ng l i ke t hi s.
No, t hat was not what I was wor ki ng f or , and I di dn' t t hi nk of i t of t en. But
once i n a whi l e, on a wi nt er ni ght , when t he st ar s wer e out and i t was ver y
col d, when I was t i r ed, because I had wor ked t wo shi f t s, and want ed not hi ng
on ear t h except t o l i e down and f al l asl eep r i ght t her e, on t he mi ne l edgeI
t hought t hat some day I woul d si t i n a pl ace l i ke t hi s, wher e one dr i nk of
wi ne woul d cost mor e t han my day' s wages, and I woul d have ear ned t he pr i ce
of ever y mi nut e of i t and of ever y dr op and of ever y f l ower on t he t abl e, and
I woul d si t t her e f or no pur pose but my own amusement . "
She asked, smi l i ng, " Wi t h your mi st r ess?"
She saw t he shot of pai n i n hi s eyes and wi shed desper at el y t hat she had
not sai d i t .
" Wi t h . . . a woman, " he answer ed. She knew t he wor d he had not
pr onounced. He went on, hi s voi ce sof t and st eady: " When I became r i ch and
saw what t he r i ch di d f or t hei r amusement , I t hought t hat t he pl ace I had
i magi ned, di d not exi st . I had not even i magi ned i t t oo cl ear l y. I di d not
know what i t woul d be l i ke, onl y what I woul d f eel . I gave up expect i ng i t
year s ago. But I f eel i t t oni ght . "
He r ai sed hi s gl ass, l ooki ng at her .
" Hank, I . . . I ' d gi ve up anyt hi ng I ' ve ever had i n my l i f e, except my
bei ng a . . . a l uxur y obj ect of your amusement . "
He saw her hand t r embl i ng as she hel d her gl ass. He sai d evenl y, " I know
i t , dear est . "
She sat shocked and st i l l : he had never used t hat wor d bef or e. He t hr ew
hi s head back and smi l ed t he most br i l l i ant l y gay smi l e she had ever seen on
hi s f ace.
" Your f i r st moment of weakness, Dagny, " he sai d.
She l aughed and shook her head. He st r et ched hi s ar macr oss t he t abl e and
cl osed hi s hand over her naked shoul der , as i f gi vi ng her an i nst ant ' s
suppor t . Laughi ng sof t l y, and as i f by acci dent , she l et her mout h br ush
agai nst hi s f i nger s; i t kept her f ace down f or t he one moment when he coul d
have seen t hat t he br i l l i ance of her eyes was t ear s.
When she l ooked up at hi m, her smi l e mat ched hi sand t he r est of t he
eveni ng was t hei r cel ebr at i onf or al l hi s year s si nce t he ni ght s on t he mi ne
l edgesf or al l her year s si nce t he ni ght of her f i r st bal l when, i n desol at e
l ongi ng f or an uncapt ur ed vi si on of gai et y, she had wonder ed about t he peopl e
who expect ed t he l i ght s and t he f l ower s t o make t hembr i l l i ant .
" I sn' t t her e . . . i n what we' r e t aught . . . some er r or t hat ' s vi ci ous
and ver y i mpor t ant ?" she t hought of hi s wor ds, as she l ay i n an ar mchai r of
her l i vi ng r oom, on a di smal eveni ng of spr i ng, wai t i ng f or hi mt o come. . .
. J ust a l i t t l e f ar t her , my dar l i ngshe t hought
l ook a l i t t l e f ar t her and you' l l be f r ee of t hat er r or and of al l t he
wast ed pai n you never shoul d have had t o car r y. . . . But she f el t t hat she,
t oo, had not seen t he whol e of t he di st ance, and she wonder ed what wer e t he
st eps l ef t f or her t o di scover . . . .
Wal ki ng t hr ough t he dar kness of t he st r eet s, on hi s way t o her apar t ment ,
Rear den kept hi s hands i n hi s coat pocket s and hi s ar ms pr essed t o hi s si des,
because he f el t t hat he di d not want t o t ouch anyt hi ng or br ush agai nst
anyone. He had never exper i enced i t bef or e t hi s sense of r evul si on t hat was
not ar oused by any par t i cul ar obj ect , but seemed t o f l ood ever yt hi ng ar ound
hi m, maki ng t he ci t y seemsodden. He coul d under st and di sgust f or any one
t hi ng, and he coul d f i ght t hat t hi ng wi t h t he heal t hy i ndi gnat i on of knowi ng
t hat i t di d not bel ong i n t he wor l d; but t hi s was new t o hi mt hi s f eel i ng
t hat t he wor l d was a l oat hsome pl ace wher e he di d not want t o bel ong.
He had hel d a conf er ence wi t h t he pr oducer s of copper , who had j ust been
gar r ot ed by a set of di r ect i ves t hat woul d put t hemout of exi st ence i n
anot her year . He had had no advi ce t o gi ve t hem, no sol ut i on t o of f er ; hi s
i ngenui t y, whi ch had made hi mf amous as t he man who woul d al ways f i nd a way
t o keep pr oduct i on goi ng, had not been abl e t o di scover a way t o save t hem.
But t hey had al l known t hat t her e was no way; i ngenui t y was a vi r t ue of t he
mi ndand i n t he i ssue conf r ont i ng t hem, t he mi nd had been di scar ded as
i r r el evant l ong ago. " I t ' s a deal bet ween t he boys i n Washi ngt on and t he
i mpor t er s of copper , " one of t he men had sai d, " mai nl y d' Anconi a Copper . "
Thi s was onl y a smal l , ext r aneous st ab of pai n, he t hought , a f eel i ng of
di sappoi nt ment i n an expect at i on he had never had t he r i ght t o expect ; he
shoul d have known t hat t hi s was j ust what a man l i ke Fr anci sco d' Anconi a
woul d doand he wonder ed angr i l y why he f el t as i f a br i ght , br i ef f l ame had
di ed somewher e i n a l i ght l ess wor l d.
He di d not know whet her t he i mpossi bi l i t y of act i ng had gi ven hi mt hi s
sense of l oat hi ng, or whet her t he l oat hi ng had made hi ml ose t he desi r e t o
act . I t ' s bot h, he t hought ; a desi r e pr esupposes t he possi bi l i t y of act i on t o
achi eve i t ; act i on pr esupposes a goal whi ch i s wor t h achi evi ng. I f t he onl y
goal possi bl e was t o wheedl e a pr ecar i ous moment ' s f avor f r ommen who hel d
guns, t hen nei t her act i on nor desi r e coul d exi st any l onger .
Then coul d l i f e?he asked hi msel f i ndi f f er ent l y. Li f e, he t hought , had
been def i ned as mot i on; man' s l i f e was pur posef ul mot i on; what was t he st at e
of a bei ng t o whompur pose and mot i on wer e deni ed, a bei ng hel d i n chai ns but
l ef t t o br eat he and t o see al l t he magni f i cence of t he possi bi l i t i es he coul d
have r eached, l ef t t o scr eam" Why?" and t o be shown t he muzzl e of a gun as
sol e expl anat i on? He shr ugged, wal ki ng on; he di d not car e even t o f i nd an
answer .
He obser ved, i ndi f f er ent l y, t he devast at i on wr ought by hi s own
i ndi f f er ence. No mat t er how har d a st r uggl e he had l i ved t hr ough i n t he past ,
he had never r eached t he ul t i mat e ugl i ness of abandoni ng t he wi l l t o act . I n
moment s of suf f er i ng, he had never l et pai n wi n i t s one per manent vi ct or y: he
had never al l owed i t t o make hi ml ose t he desi r e f or j oy. He had never
doubt ed t he nat ur e of t he wor l d or man' s gr eat ness as i t s mot i ve power and
i t s cor e. Year s ago, he had wonder ed wi t h cont empt uous i ncr edul i t y about t he
f anat i cal sect s t hat appear ed among men i n t he dar k cor ner s of hi st or y, t he
sect s who bel i eved t hat man was t r apped i n a mal evol ent uni ver se r ul ed by
evi l f or t he sol e pur pose of hi s t or t ur e. Toni ght , he knew what t hei r vi si on
of t he wor l d and t hei r f eel of i t had been. I f what he now saw ar ound hi mwas
t he wor l d i n whi ch he l i ved, t hen he di d not want t o t ouch any par t of i t , he
di d not want t o f i ght i t , he was an out si der wi t h not hi ng at st ake and no
concer n f or r emai ni ng al i ve much l onger .
Dagny and hi s wi sh t o see her wer e t he onl y except i on l ef t t o hi m.
The wi sh r emai ned. But i n a sudden shock, he r eal i zed t hat he f el t no
desi r e t o sl eep wi t h her t oni ght . That desi r ewhi ch had never gi ven hi ma
moment ' s r est , whi ch had been gr owi ng, f eedi ng on i t s own sat i sf act i onwas
wi ped out . I t was an odd i mpot ence, nei t her of hi s mi nd nor of hi s body. He
f el t , as passi onat el y as he had ever f el t i t , t hat she was t he most desi r abl e
woman on ear t h; but what came f r omi t was onl y a desi r e t o desi r e her , a wi sh
t o f eel , not a f eel i ng. The sense of numbness seemed i mper sonal , as i f i t s
r oot wer e nei t her i n hi mnor i n her ; as i f i t wer e t he act of sex t hat now
bel onged t o a r eal mwhi ch he had l ef t .
" Don' t get upst ay t her ei t ' s so obvi ous t hat you' ve been wai t i ng f or me
t hat I want t o l ook at i t l onger . "
He sai d i t , f r omt he door way of her apar t ment , seei ng her st r et ched i n an
ar mchai r , seei ng t he eager l i t t l e j ol t t hat t hr ew her shoul der s f or war d as
she was about t o r i se; he was smi l i ng.
He not edas i f some par t of hi mwer e wat chi ng hi s r eact i ons wi t h det ached
cur i osi t yt hat hi s smi l e and hi s sudden sense of gai et y wer e r eal . He gr asped
a f eel i ng t hat he had al ways exper i enced, but never i dent i f i ed because i t had
al ways been absol ut e and i mmedi at e: a f eel i ng t hat f or bade hi mever t o f ace
her i n pai n. I t was much mor e t han t he pr i de of wi shi ng t o conceal hi s
suf f er i ng: i t was t he f eel i ng t hat suf f er i ng must not be gr ant ed r ecogni t i on
i n her pr esence, t hat no f or mof cl ai mbet ween t hemshoul d ever be mot i vat ed
by pai n and ai med at pi t y. I t was not pi t y t hat he br ought her e or came her e
t o f i nd.
" Do you st i l l need pr oof t hat I ' mal ways wai t i ng f or you?" she asked,
l eani ng obedi ent l y back i n her chai r ; her voi ce was nei t her t ender nor
pl eadi ng, but br i ght and mocki ng.
" Dagny, why i s i t t hat most women woul d never admi t t hat , but you do?"
" Because t hey' r e never sur e t hat t hey ought t o be want ed. I am. "
" I do admi r e sel f - conf i dence. "
" Sel f - conf i dence was onl y one par t of what I sai d, Hank. "
" What ' s t he whol e?"
" Conf i dence of my val ueand your s. " He gl anced at her as i f cat chi ng t he
spar k of a sudden t hought , and she l aughed, addi ng, " I woul dn' t be sur e of
hol di ng a man l i ke Or r en Boyl e, f or i nst ance. He woul dn' t want me at al l . You
woul d. "
" Ar e you sayi ng, " he asked sl owl y, " t hat I r ose i n your est i mat i on when
you f ound t hat I want ed you?"
" Of cour se. "
" That ' s not t he r eact i on of most peopl e t o bei ng want ed. "
" I t i sn' t . "
" Most peopl e f eel t hat t hey r i se i n t hei r own eyes, i f ot her s want t hem. " .
" I f eel t hat ot her s l i ve up t o me, i f t hey want me. And t hat i s t he way
you f eel , t oo, Hank, about your sel f whet her you admi t i t or not , "
That ' s not what I sai d t o you t hen, on t hat f i r st mor ni nghe t hought ,
l ooki ng down at her . She l ay st r et ched out l azi l y, her f ace bl ank, but her
eyes br i ght wi t h amusement . He knew t hat she was t hi nki ng of i t and t hat she
knew he was. He smi l ed, but sai d not hi ng el se.
As he sat hal f - st r et ched on t he couch, wat chi ng her acr oss t he r oom, he
f el t at peaceas i f some t empor ar y wal l had r i sen bet ween hi mand t he t hi ngs
he had f el t on hi s way her e. He t ol d her about hi s encount er wi t h t he man
f r omt he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e, because, even t hough he knew t hat t he event
hel d danger , an odd, gl owi ng sense of sat i sf act i on st i l l r emai ned f r omi t i n
hi s mi nd.
He chuckl ed at her l ook of i ndi gnat i on. " Don' t bot her bei ng angr y at
t hem, " he sai d. " I t ' s no wor se t han al l t he r est of what t hey' r e doi ng ever y
day. "
" Hank, do you want me t o speak t o Dr . St adl er about i t ?"
" Cer t ai nl y not ! "
" He ought t o st op i t . He coul d at l east do t hat much. "
" I ' d r at her go t o j ai l . Dr . St adl er ? You' r e not havi ng anyt hi ng t o do wi t h
hi m, ar e you?"
" 1 saw hi ma f ew days ago. "
" Why?"
" I n r egar d t o t he mot or . "
" The mot or . . . ?" He sai d i t sl owl y, i n a st r ange way, as i f t he t hought
of t he mot or had suddenl y br ought back t o hi ma r eal mhe had f or got t en.
" Dagny . . . t he man who i nvent ed t hat mot or . . .
he di d exi st , di dn' t he?"
" Why . . . of cour se. What do you mean?"
" I mean onl y t hat . . . t hat i t ' s a pl easant t hought , i sn' t i t ? Even i f
he' s dead now, he was al i ve once . . . so al i ve t hat he desi gned t hat mot or .
. . . "
" What ' s t he mat t er , Hank?"
" Not hi ng. Tel l me about t he mot or . "
She t ol d hi mabout her meet i ng wi t h Dr . St adl er . She got up and paced t he
r oom, whi l e speaki ng; she coul d not l i e st i l l , she al ways f el t a sur ge of
hope and of eager ness f or act i on when she deal t wi t h t he subj ect of t he
mot or .
The f i r st t hi ng he not i ced wer e t he l i ght s of t he ci t y beyond t he wi ndow:
he f el t as i f t hey wer e bei ng t ur ned on, one by one, f or mi ng t he gr eat
skyl i ne he l oved; he f el t i t , even t hough he knew t hat t he l i ght s had been
t her e al l t he t i me. Then he under st ood t hat t he t hi ng whi ch was r et ur ni ng was
wi t hi n hi m: t he shape comi ng back dr op by dr op was hi s l ove f or t he ci t y.
Then he knew t hat i t had come back because he was l ooki ng at t he ci t y past
t he t aut , sl ender f i gur e of a woman whose head was l i f t ed eager l y as at a
si ght of di st ance, whose st eps wer e a r est l ess subst i t ut e f or f l i ght . He was
l ooki ng at her as at a st r anger , he was bar el y awar e t hat she was a woman,
but t he si ght was f l owi ng i nt o a f eel i ng t he wor ds f or whi ch wer e: Thi s i s
t he wor l d and t he cor e of i t , t hi s i s what made t he ci t yt hey go t oget her ,
t he angul ar shapes of t he bui l di ngs and t he angul ar l i nes of a f ace st r i pped
of ever yt hi ng but pur poset he r i si ng st eps of st eel and t he st eps of a bei ng
i nt ent upon hi s goal t hi s i s what t hey had been, al l t he men who had l i ved t o
i nvent t he l i ght s, t he st eel , t he f ur naces, t he mot or s
t hey wer e t he wor l d, t hey, not t he men who cr ouched i n dar k cor ner s, hal f -
beggi ng, hal f - t hr eat eni ng, boast f ul l y di spl ayi ng t hei r open sor es as t hei r
onl y cl ai mon l i f e and vi r t ueso l ong as he knew t hat t her e exi st ed one man
wi t h t he br i ght cour age of a new t hought , coul d he gi ve up t he wor l d t o t hose
ot her s?so l ong as he coul d f i nd a si ngl e si ght t o gi ve hi ma l i f e- r est or i ng
shot of admi r at i on, coul d he bel i eve t hat t he wor l d bel onged t o t he sor es,
t he moans and t he guns?t he men who i nvent ed mot or s di d exi st , he woul d never
doubt t hei r r eal i t y, i t was hi s vi si on of t hemt hat had made t he cont r ast -
unbear abl e, so t hat even t he l oat hi ng was t he t r i but e of hi s l oyal t y t o t hem
and t o t hat wor l d whi ch was t hei r s and hi s.
" Dar l i ng . . . " he sai d, " dar l i ng . . . " l i ke a man awakeni ng suddenl y,
when he not i ced t hat she had st opped speaki ng.
" What ' s t he mat t er , Hank?" she asked sof t l y.
" Not hi ng . . . Except t hat you shoul dn' t have cal l ed St adl er . " Hi s f ace
was br i ght wi t h conf i dence, hi s voi ce sounded amused, pr ot ect i ve and gent l e;
she coul d di scover not hi ng el se, he l ooked as he had al ways l ooked, i t was
onl y t he not e of gent l eness t hat seemed st r ange and new.
" I kept f eel i ng t hat I shoul dn' t have, " she sai d, " but I di dn' t know why. "
" I ' l l t el l you why. " He l eaned f or war d. " What he want ed f r omyou was a
r ecogni t i on t hat he was st i l l t he Dr , Rober t St adl er he shoul d have been, but
wasn' t and knew he wasn' t . He want ed you t o gr ant hi myour r espect , i n spi t e
of and i n cont r adi ct i on t o hi s act i ons. He want ed you t o j uggl e r eal i t y f or
hi m, so t hat hi s gr eat ness woul d r emai n, but t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e
woul d be wi ped out , as i f i t had never exi st edand you' r e t he onl y one who
coul d do i t f or hi m. "
" Why I ?"
" Because you' r e t he vi ct i m. "
She l ooked at hi m, st ar t l ed. He spoke i nt ent l y; he f el t a sudden, vi ol ent
cl ar i t y of per cept i on, as i f a sur ge of ener gy wer e r ushi ng i nt o t he act i vi t y
of si ght , f usi ng t he hal f - seen and haf t - gr asped i nt o a si ngl e shape and
di r ect i on.
" Dagny, t hey' r e doi ng somet hi ng t hat we' ve never under st ood. They know
somet hi ng whi ch we don' t , but shoul d di scover . I can' t see i t f ul l y yet , but
I ' mbegi nni ng t o see par t s of i t . That l oot er f r omt he St at e Sci ence
I nst i t ut e was scar ed when I r ef used t o hel p hi mpr et end t hat he was j ust an
honest buyer of my Met al . He was scar ed way deep. Of what ? I don' t know
publ i c opi ni on was j ust hi s name f or i t , but i t ' s not t he f ul l name. Why
shoul d he have been scar ed? He has t he guns, t he j ai l s, t he l awshe coul d
have sei zed t he whol e of my mi l l s, i f he wi shed, and nobody woul d have r i sen
t o def end me, and he knew i t so why shoul d he have car ed what I t hought ? But
he di d.
I t was I who had t o t el l hi mt hat he wasn' t a l oot er , but my cust omer and
f r i end. That ' s what he needed f r omme. And t hat ' s what Dr . St adl er needed
f r omyoui t was you who had t o act as i f he wer e a gr eat man who had never
t r i ed t o dest r oy your r ai l and my Met al . I don' t know what i t i s t hat t hey
t hi nk t hey accompl i shbut t hey want us t o pr et end t hat we sec t he wor l d as
t hey pr et end t hey see i t . They need some sor t of sanct i on f r omus. I don' t
know t he nat ur e of t hat sanct i onbut . Dagny, I know t hat i f we val ue our
l i ves, we must not gi ve i t t o t hem. I f t hey put you on a t or t ur e r ack, don' t
gi ve i t t o t hem. Let t hemdest r oy your r ai l r oad and my mi l l s, but don' t gi ve
i t t o t hem. Because I know t hi s much: I know t hat t hat ' s our onl y chance. "
She had r emai ned st andi ng st i l l bef or e hi m, l ooki ng at t ent i vel y at t he
f ai nt out l i ne of some shape she, t oo, had t r i ed t o gr asp.
" Yes . . . " she sai d, " yes, I know what you' ve seen i n t hem. . . .
I ' ve f el t i t , t oobut i t ' s onl y l i ke somet hi ng br ushi ng past t hat ' s gone
bef or e I know I ' ve seen i t , l i ke a t ouch of col d ai r , and what ' s l ef t i s
al ways t he f eel i ng t hat I shoul d have st opped i t . . . . I know t hat you' r e
r i ght . I can' t under st and t hei r game, but t hi s much i s r i ght : We must not see
t he wor l d as t hey want us t o see i t . I t ' s some sor t of f r aud, ver y anci ent
and ver y vast and t he key t o br eak i t i s: t o check ever y pr emi se t hey t each
us, t o quest i on ever y pr ecept , t o"
She whi r l ed t o hi mat a sudden t hought , but she cut t he mot i on and t he
wor ds i n t he same i nst ant : t he next wor ds- woul d have been t he ones she di d
not want t o say t o hi m. She st ood l ooki ng at hi mwi t h a sl ow, br i ght smi l e of
cur i osi t y.
Somewher e wi t hi n hi m, he knew t he t hought she woul d not name, but he knew
i t onl y i n t hat pr enat al shape whi ch has t o f i nd i t s wor ds i n t he f ut ur e. He
di d not pause t o gr asp i t nowbecause i n t he f l oodi ng br i ght ness of what he
f el t , anot her t hought , whi ch was i t s pr edecessor , had become cl ear t o hi mand
had been hol di ng hi mf or many mi nut es past . He r ose, appr oached her and t ook
her i n hi s ar ms.
He hel d t he l engt h of her body pr essed t o hi s, as i f t hei r bodi es wer e t wo
cur r ent s r i si ng upwar d t oget her , each t o a si ngl e poi nt , each car r yi ng t he
whol e of t hei r consci ousness t o t he meet i ng of t hei r l i ps.
What she f el t i n t hat moment cont ai ned, as one namel ess par t of i t , t he
knowl edge of t he beaut y i n t he post ur e of hi s body as he hel d her , as t hey
st ood i n t he mi ddl e of a r oomhi gh above t he l i ght s of t he ci t y.
What he knew, what he had di scover ed t oni ght , was t hat hi s r ecapt ur ed l ove
of exi st ence had not been gi ven back t o hi mby t he r et ur n of hi s desi r e f or
her but t hat t he desi r e had r et ur ned af t er he had r egai ned hi s wor l d, t he
l ove, t he val ue and t he sense of hi s wor l d
and t hat t he desi r e was not an answer t o her body, but a cel ebr at i on of
hi msel f and of hi s wi l l t o l i ve.
He di d not know i t , he di d not t hi nk of i t , he was past t he need of wor ds,
but i n t he moment when he f el t t he r esponse of her body t o hi s, he f el t al so
t he unadmi t t ed knowl edge t hat t hat whi ch he had cal l ed her depr avi t y was her
hi ghest vi r t uet hi s capaci t y of her s t o f eel t he j oy of bei ng, as he f el t i t .

CHAPTER II
THE ARISTOCRACY OF PULL

The cal endar i n t he sky beyond t he wi ndow of her of f i ce sai d: Sept ember 2.
Dagny l eaned wear i l y acr oss her desk. The f i r st l i ght t o snap on at t he
appr oach of dusk was al ways t he r ay t hat hi t t he cal endar ; when t he whi t e-
gl owi ng page appear ed above t he r oof s, i t bl ur r ed t he ci t y, hast eni ng t he
dar kness.
She had l ooked at t hat di st ant page ever y eveni ng of t he mont hs behi nd
her . Your days ar e number ed, i t had seemed t o sayas i f i t wer e mar ki ng a
pr ogr essi on t owar d somet hi ng i t knew, but she di dn' t . Once, i t had cl ocked
her r ace t o bui l d t he J ohn Gal t Li ne; now i t was cl ocki ng her r ace agai nst an
unknown dest r oyer .
One by one, t he men who had bui l t new t owns i n Col or ado, had depar t ed i nt o
some si l ent unknown, f r omwhi ch no voi ce or per son had yet r et ur ned. The
t owns t hey had l ef t wer e dyi ng. Some of t he f act or i es t hey bui l t had r emai ned
owner l ess and l ocked; ot her s had been sei zed by t he l ocal aut hor i t i es; t he
machi nes i n bot h st ood st i l l .
She had f el t as i f a dar k map of Col or ado wer e spr ead bef or e her l i ke a
t r af f i c cont r ol panel , wi t h a f ew l i ght s scat t er ed t hr ough i t s mount ai ns. One
af t er anot her , t he l i ght s had gone out . One af t er anot her , t he men had
vani shed. Ther e had been a pat t er n about i t , whi ch she f el t , but coul d not
def i ne; she had become abl e t o pr edi ct , al most wi t h cer t ai nt y, who woul d go
next and when; she was unabl e t o gr asp t he " why?"
Of t he men who had once gr eet ed her descent f r omt he cab of an engi ne on
t he pl at f or mof Wyat t J unct i on, onl y Ted Ni el sen was l ef t , st i l l r unni ng t he
pl ant of Ni el sen Mot or s. " Ted, you won' t be t he next one t o go?" she had
asked hi m, on hi s r ecent vi si t t o New Yor k; she had asked i t , t r yi ng t o
smi l e. He had answer ed gr i ml y, " I hope not . "
" What do you mean, you hope?ar en' t you sur e?" He had sai d sl owl y,
heavi l y, " Dagny, I ' ve al ways t hought t hat I ' d r at her di e t han st op wor ki ng.
But so di d t he men who' r e gone. I t seems i mpossi bl e t o me t hat I coul d ever
want t o qui t . But a year ago, i t seemed i mpossi bl e t hat t hey ever coul d.
Those men wer e my f r i ends. They knew what t hei r goi ng woul d do t o us, t he
sur vi vor s. They woul d not have gone l i ke t hat , wi t hout a wor d, l eavi ng t o us
t he added t er r or of t he i nexpl i cabl eunl ess t hey had some r eason of supr eme
i mpor t ance. A mont h ago, Roger Mar sh, of Mar sh El ect r i c, t ol d me t hat he' d
have hi msel f chai ned t o hi s desk, so t hat he woul dn' t be abl e t o l eave i t , no
mat t er what ghast l y t empt at i on st r uck hi m. He was f ur i ous wi t h anger at t he
men who' d l ef t . He swor e t o me t hat he' d never do i t .
' And i f i t ' s somet hi ng t hat I can' t r esi st , ' he sai d, ' I swear t hat I ' l l
keep enough of my mi nd t o l eave you a l et t er and gi ve you some hi nt of what
i t i s, so t hat you won' t have t o r ack your br ai n i n t he ki nd of dr ead we' r e
bot h f eel i ng now. ' That ' s what he swor e. Two weeks ago, he went . He l ef t me
no l et t er . . . . Dagny, I can' t t el l what I ' l l do when I see i t what ever i t
was t hat t hey saw when t hey went . "
I t seemed t o her t hat some dest r oyer was movi ng soundl essl y t hr ough t he
count r y and t he l i ght s wer e dyi ng at hi s t ouchsomeone, she t hought bi t t er l y,
who had r ever sed t he pr i nci pl e of t he Twent i et h Cent ur y mot or and was now
t ur ni ng ki net i c ener gy i nt o st at i c.
That was t he enemyshe t hought , as she sat at her desk i n t he gat her i ng
t wi l i ght wi t h whomshe was r unni ng a r ace. The mont hl y r epor t f r omQuent i n
Dani el s l ay on her desk. She coul d not be cer t ai n, as yet , t hat Dani el s woul d
sol ve t he secr et of t he mot or ; but t he dest r oyer , she t hought , was movi ng
swi f t l y, sur el y, at an ever accel er at i ng t empo; she wonder ed whet her , by t he
t i me she r ebui l t t he mot or , t her e woul d be any wor l d l ef t t o use i t .
She had l i ked Quent i n Dani el s f r omt he moment he ent er ed her of f i ce on
t hei r f i r st i nt er vi ew. He was a l anky man i n hi s ear l y t hi r t i es, wi t h a
homel y, angul ar f ace and an at t r act i ve smi l e. A hi nt of t he smi l e r emai ned i n
hi s f eat ur es at al l t i mes, par t i cul ar l y when he l i st ened; i t was a l ook of
good- nat ur ed amusement , as i f he wer e swi f t l y and pat i ent l y di scar di ng t he
i r r el evant i n t he wor ds he hear d and goi ng st r ai ght t o t he poi nt a moment
ahead of t he speaker .
" Why di d you r ef use t o wor k f or Dr . St adl er ?" she asked.
The hi nt of hi s smi l e gr ew har der and mor e st r essed; t hi s was as near as
he came t o showi ng an emot i on; t he emot i on was anger . But he answer ed i n hi s
even, unhur r i ed dr awl , " You know, Dr . St adl er once sai d t hat t he f i r st wor d
of ' Fr ee, sci ent i f i c i nqui r y' was r edundant .
He seems t o have f or got t en i t . Wel l , I ' l l j ust say t hat ' Gover nment al
sci ent i f i c i nqui r y' i s a cont r adi ct i on i n t er ms. "
She asked hi mwhat posi t i on he hel d at t he Ut ah I nst i t ut e of Technol ogy.
" Ni ght wat chman, " he answer ed. " What ?" she gasped. " Ni ght wat chman, " he
r epeat ed pol i t el y, as i f she had not caught t he wor ds, as i f t her e wer e no
cause f or ast oni shment .
Under her quest i oni ng, he expl ai ned t hat he di d not l i ke any of t he
sci ent i f i c f oundat i ons l ef t i n exi st ence, t hat he woul d have l i ked a j ob i n
t he r esear ch l abor at or y of some bi g i ndust r i al concer n" But whi ch one of t hem
can af f or d t o under t ake any l ong- r ange wor k nowadays, and why shoul d t hey?"
so when t he Ut ah I nst i t ut e of Technol ogy was cl osed f or l ack of f unds, he had
r emai ned t her e as ni ght wat chman and sol e i nhabi t ant of t he pl ace; t he sal ar y
was suf f i ci ent t o pay f or hi s needsand t he I nst i t ut e' s l abor at or y was t her e,
i nt act , f or hi s own pr i vat e, undi st ur bed use.
" So you' r e doi ng r esear ch wor k of your own?"
" That ' s r i ght . "
" For what pur pose?"
" For my own pl easur e. "
" What do you i nt end t o do, i f you di scover somet hi ng of sci ent i f i c
i mpor t ance or commer ci al val ue? Do you i nt end t o put i t t o some publ i c use?"
" I don' t know. I don' t t hi nk so. "
" Haven' t you any desi r e t o be of ser vi ce t o humani t y?"
" I don' t t al k t hat ki nd of l anguage, Mi ss Taggar t . I don' t t hi nk you do,
ei t her . "
She l aughed. " I t hi nk we' l l get al ong t oget her , you and I . "
" We wi l l . "
When she had t ol d hi mt he st or y of t he mot or , when he had st udi ed t he
manuscr i pt , he made no comment , but mer el y sai d t hat he woul d t ake t he j ob on
any t er ms she named.
She asked hi mt o choose hi s own t er ms. She pr ot est ed, i n ast oni shment ,
agai nst t he l ow mont hl y sal ar y he quot ed. " Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d, " i f
t her e' s somet hi ng t hat I won' t t ake, i t ' s somet hi ng f or not hi ng.
I don' t know how l ong you mi ght have t o pay me, or whet her you' l l get
anyt hi ng at al l i n r et ur n. I ' l l gambl e on my own mi nd. I won' t l et anybody
el se do i t . I don' t col l ect f or an i nt ent i on. But I sur e do i nt end t o col l ect
f or goods del i ver ed. I f I succeed, t hat ' s when I ' l l ski n you al i ve, because
what I want t hen i s a per cent age, and i t ' s goi ng t o be hi gh, but i t ' s goi ng
t o be wor t h your whi l e. "
When he named t he per cent age he want ed, she l aughed. " That i s ski nni ng me
al i ve and i t wi l l be wor t h my whi l e. Okay. "
They agr eed t hat i t was t o be her pr i vat e pr oj ect and t hat he was t o be
her pr i vat e empl oyee; nei t her of t hemwant ed t o have t o deal wi t h t he
i nt er f er ence of t he Taggar t Resear ch Depar t ment . He asked t o r emai n i n Ut ah,
i n hi s post of wat chman, wher e he had al l t he l abor at or y equi pment and al l
t he pr i vacy he needed. The pr oj ect was t o r emai n conf i dent i al bet ween t hem,
unt i l and unl ess he succeeded.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d i n concl usi on, " I don' t know how many year s i t
wi l l t ake me t o sol ve t hi s, i f ever . But I know t hat i f I spend t he r est of
my l i f e on i t and succeed, I wi l l di e sat i sf i ed. " He added, " Ther e' s onl y one
t hi ng t hat I want mor e t han t o sol ve i t : i t ' s t o meet t he man who has. "
Once a mont h, si nce hi s r et ur n t o Ut ah, she had sent hi ma check and he
had sent her a r epor t on hi s wor k. I t was t oo ear l y t o hope, but hi s r epor t s
wer e t he onl y br i ght poi nt s i n t he st agnant f og of her days i n t he of f i ce.
She r ai sed her head, as she f i ni shed r eadi ng hi s pages. The cal endar i n
t he di st ance sai d: Sept ember 2. The l i ght s of t he ci t y had gr own beneat h i t ,
spr eadi ng and gl i t t er i ng. She t hought of Rear den. She wi shed he wer e i n t he
ci t y; she wi shed she woul d sec hi mt oni ght .
Then, not i ci ng t he dat e, she r emember ed suddenl y t hat she had t o r ush home
t o dr ess, because she had t o at t end J i m' s weddi ng t oni ght .
She had not seen J i m, out si de t he of f i ce, f or over a year . She had not met
hi s f i ancee, but she had r ead enough about t he engagement i n t he newspaper s.
She r ose f r omher desk i n wear i l y di st ast ef ul r esi gnat i on: i t seemed easi er
t o at t end t he weddi ng t han t o bot her expl ai ni ng her absence af t er war ds.
She was hur r yi ng acr oss t he concour se of t he Ter mi nal when she hear d a
voi ce cal l i ng, " Mi ss Taggar t ! " wi t h a st r ange not e of ur gency and r el uct ance,
t oget her . I t st opped her abr upt l y; she t ook a f ew seconds t o r eal i ze t hat i t
was t he ol d man at t he ci gar st and who had cal l ed.
" I ' ve been wai t i ng t o cat ch si ght of you f or days. Mi ss Taggar t . I ' ve been
ext r emel y anxi ous t o speak t o you. " Ther e was an odd expr essi on on hi s f ace,
t he l ook of an ef f or t not t o l ook f r i ght ened.
" I ' msor r y, " she sai d, smi l i ng, " I ' ve been r ushi ng i n and out of t he
bui l di ng al l week and di dn' t have t i me t o st op. "
He di d not smi l e. " Mi ss Taggar t , t hat ci gar et t e wi t h t he dol l ar si gn t hat
you gave me some mont hs agowher e di d you get i t ?"
She st ood st i l l f or a moment . " I ' maf r ai d t hat ' s a l ong, compl i cat ed
st or y, " she answer ed.
" Have you any way of get t i ng i n t ouch wi t h t he per son who gave i t t o you?"
" I suppose sot hough I ' mnot t oo sur e. Why?"
" Woul d he t el l you wher e he got i t ?"
" I don' t know. What makes you suspect t hat he woul dn' t ?"
He hesi t at ed, t hen asked, " Mi ss Taggar t , what do you do when you have t o
t el l someone somet hi ng whi ch you know t o be i mpossi bl e?"
She chuckl ed. ' The man who gave me t he ci gar et t e sai d t hat i n such a case
one must check one' s pr emi ses. "
" He di d? About t he ci gar et t e?"
" Wel l , no, not exact l y. But why? What i s i t you have t o t el l me?"
" Mi ss Taggar t , I have i nqui r ed al l over t he wor l d. I have checked ever y
sour ce of i nf or mat i on i n and about t he t obacco i ndust r y. I have had t hat
ci gar et t e st ub put t hr ough a chemi cal anal ysi s. Ther e i s no pl ant t hat
manuf act ur es t hat ki nd of paper . The f l avor i ng el ement s i n t hat t obacco have
never been used i n any smoki ng mi xt ur e I coul d f i nd. That ci gar et t e was
machi ne- made, but i t was not made i n any f act or y I knowand I know t hemal l .
Mi ss Taggar t , t o t he best of my knowl edge, t hat ci gar et t e was not made
anywher e on ear t h. "
Rear den st ood by, wat chi ng absent l y, whi l e t he wai t er wheel ed t he di nner
t abl e out of hi s hot el r oom. Ken Danagger had l ef t . The r oomwas hal f - dar k;
by an unspoken agr eement , t hey had kept t he l i ght s l ow dur i ng t hei r di nner ,
so t hat Danagger ' s f ace woul d not be not i ced and, per haps, r ecogni zed by t he
wai t er s.
They had had t o meet f ur t i vel y, l i ke cr i mi nal s who coul d not be seen
t oget her . They coul d not meet i n t hei r of f i ces or i n t hei r homes, onl y i n t he
cr owded anonymi t y of a ci t y, i n hi s sui t e at t he Wayne Fal kl and Hot el . Ther e
coul d be a f i ne of $10, 000 and t en year s of i mpr i sonment f or each of t hem, i f
i t became known t hat he had agr eed t o del i ver t o Danagger f our t housand t ons
of st r uct ur al shapes of Rear den Met al .
They had not di scussed t hat l aw, at t hei r di nner t oget her , or t hei r
mot i ves or t he r i sk t hey wer e t aki ng. They had mer el y t al ked busi ness.
Speaki ng cl ear l y and dr yl y, as he al ways spoke at any conf er ence, Danagger
had expl ai ned t hat hal f of hi s or i gi nal or der woul d be suf f i ci ent t o br ace
such t unnel s as woul d cave i n, i f he del ayed t he br aci ng much l onger , and t o
r econdi t i on t he mi nes of t he Conf eder at ed Coal Company, gone bankr upt , whi ch
he had pur chased t hr ee weeks ago
" I t ' s an excel l ent pr oper t y, bat i n r ot t en condi t i on; t hey had a nast y
acci dent t her e l ast mont h, cave- i n and gas expl osi on, f or t y men ki l l ed. "
He had added, i n t he monot one of r eci t i ng some i mper sonal , st at i st i cal
r epor t , " The newspaper s ar e yel l i ng t hat coal i s now t he most cr uci al
commodi t y i n t he count r y. They ar e al so yel l i ng t hat t he coal oper at or s ar e
pr of i t eer i ng on t he oi l shor t age. One gang i n Washi ngt on i s yel l i ng t hat I am
expandi ng t oo much and somet hi ng shoul d be done t o st op me, because I am
becomi ng a monopol y. Anot her gang i n Washi ngt on i s yel l i ng t hat I amnot
expandi ng enough and somet hi ng shoul d be done t o l et t he gover nment sei ze my
mi nes, because I amgr eedy f or pr of i t s and unwi l l i ng t o sat i sf y t he publ i c' s
need of f uel . At my pr esent r at e of pr of i t , t hi s Conf eder at ed Coal pr oper t y
wi l l br i ng back t he money I spent on i t i n f or t y- seven year s. I have no
chi l dr en. I bought i t , because t her e' s one cust omer I don' t dar e l eave
wi t hout coal and t hat ' s Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . I keep t hi nki ng of what
woul d happen i f t he r ai l r oads col l apsed. " He had st opped, t hen added, " T
don' t know why I st i l l car e about t hat , but I do. Those peopl e i n
Washi ngt on don' t seemt o have a cl ear pi ct ur e of what t hat woul d be l i ke. I
have. " Rear den had sai d, " I ' l l del i ver t he Met al . When you need t he ot her
hal f of your or der , l et me know. I ' l l del i ver t hat , t oo. "
At t he end of t he di nner , Danagger had sai d i n t he same pr eci se, i mpassi ve
t one, t he t one of a man who knows t he exact meani ng of hi s wor ds, " I f any
empl oyee of your s or mi ne di scover s t hi s and at t empt s pr i vat e bl ackmai l , I
wi l l pay i t , wi t hi n r eason. But I wi l l not pay, i f he has f r i ends i n
Washi ngt on. I f any of t hose come ar ound, t hen I go t o j ai l . " " Then we go
t oget her , " Rear den had sai d.
St andi ng al one i n hi s hal f - dar kened r oom, Rear den not ed t hat t he pr ospect
of goi ng t o j ai l l ef t hi mbl ankl y i ndi f f er ent . He r emember ed t he t i me when,
aged f our t een, f ai nt wi t h hunger , he woul d not st eal f r ui t f r oma si dewal k
st and. Now, t he possi bi l i t y of bei ng sent t o j ai l H t hi s di nner was a f el ony
meant no mor e t o hi mt han t he possi bi l i t y of bei ng r un over by a t r uck: an
ugl y physi cal acci dent wi t hout any mor al si gni f i cance.
He t hought t hat he had been made t o hi de, as a gui l t y secr et , t he onl y
busi ness t r ansact i on he had enj oyed i n a year ' s wor kand t hat he was hi di ng,
as a gui l t y secr et , hi s ni ght s wi t h Dagny, t he onl y hour s t hat kept hi m
al i ve. He f el t t hat t her e was some connect i on bet ween t he t wo secr et s, some
essent i al connect i on whi ch he had t o di scover . He coul d not gr asp i t , he
coul d not f i nd t he wor ds t o name i t , but he f el t t hat t he day when he woul d
f i nd t hem, he woul d answer ever y quest i on of hi s l i f e.
He st ood agai nst t he wal l , hi s head t hr own back, hi s eyes cl osed, and
t hought of Dagny, and t hen he f el t t hat no quest i ons coul d mat t er t o hi many
l onger . He t hought t hat he woul d see her t oni ght , al most hat i ng i t , because
t omor r ow mor ni ng seemed so cl ose and t hen he woul d have t o l eave her he
wonder ed whet her he coul d r emai n i n t own t omor r ow, or whet her he shoul d l eave
now, wi t hout seei ng her , so t hat he coul d wai t , so t hat he coul d al ways have
i t ahead of hi m: t he moment of cl osi ng hi s hands over her shoul der s and
l ooki ng down at her f ace. You' r e goi ng i nsane, he t hought but he knew t hat i f
she wer e besi de hi mt hr ough ever y hour of hi s days, i t woul d st i l l be t he
same, he woul d never have enough of i t , he woul d have t o i nvent some
sensel ess f or mof t or t ur e f or hi msel f i n or der t o bear i t he knew he woul d
see her t oni ght , and t he t hought of l eavi ng wi t hout i t made t he pl easur e
gr eat er , a moment ' s t or t ur e t o under scor e hi s cer t ai nt y of t he hour s ahead.
He woul d l eave t he l i ght on i n her l i vi ng r oom, he t hought , and hol d her
acr oss t he bed, and see not hi ng but t he cur ve of t he st r i p of l i ght r unni ng
f r omher wai st t o her ankl e, a si ngl e l i ne dr awi ng t he whol e shape of her
l ong, sl i mbody i n t he dar kness, t hen he woul d pul l her head i nt o t he l i ght ,
t o see her f ace, t o see i t f al l i ng back, unr esi st i ng, her hai r over hi s ar m.
her eyes cl osed, t he f ace dr awn as i n a l ook of pai n, her mout h open t o hi m.
He st ood at t he wal l , wai t i ng, t o l et al l t he event s of t he day dr op away
f r omhi m, t o f eel f r ee, t o know t hat t he next span of t i me was hi s.
When t he door of hi s r oomf l ew open wi t hout war ni ng, he di d not qui t e hear
or bel i eve i t , at f i r st . He saw t he si l houet t e of a woman, t hen of a bel l boy
who put down a sui t case and vani shed. The voi ce he hear d was Li l l i an' s: " Why,
Henr y! Al l al one and i n t he dar k?"
She pr essed a l i ght swi t ch by t he door . She st ood t her e, f ast i di ousl y
gr oomed, wear i ng a pal e bei ge t r avel i ng sui t t hat l ooked as i f she had
t r avel ed under gl ass; she was smi l i ng and pul l i ng her gl oves of f wi t h t he ai r
of havi ng r eached home.
" Ar e you i n f or t he eveni ng, dear ?" she asked. " Or wer e you goi ng out ?"
He di d not know how l ong a t i me passed bef or e he answer ed, " What ar e you
doi ng her e?"
" Why, don' t you r emember t hat J i mTaggar t i nvi t ed us t o hi s weddi ng? I t ' s
t oni ght . "
" I di dn' t i nt end t o go t o hi s weddi ng. "
" Oh, but I di d! "
" Why di dn' t you t el l me t hi s mor ni ng, bef or e I l ef t ?"
" To sur pr i se you, dar l i ng. " She l aughed gai l y. " I t ' s pr act i cal l y
i mpossi bl e t o dr ag you t o any soci al f unct i on, but I t hought you mi ght do i t
l i ke t hi s, on t he spur of t he moment , j ust t o go out and have a good t i me, as
mar r i ed coupl es ar e supposed t o. I t hought you woul dn' t mi nd i t you' ve been
st ayi ng over ni ght i n New Yor k so of t en! "
He saw t he casual gl ance t hr own at hi mf r omunder t he br i mof her
f ashi onabl y t i l t ed hat . He sai d not hi ng.
" Of cour se, I was r unni ng a r i sk, " she sai d. " You mi ght have been t aki ng
somebody out t o di nner . " He sai d not hi ng. " Or wer e you, per haps, i nt endi ng t o
r et ur n home t oni ght ?"
" No. "
" Di d you have an engagement f or t hi s eveni ng?"
" No. "
" Fi ne. " She poi nt ed at her sui t case. " I br ought my eveni ng cl ot hes.
Wi l l you bet me a cor sage of or chi ds t hat I can get dr essed f ast er t han
you can?"
He t hought t hat Dagny woul d be at her br ot her ' s weddi ng t oni ght ; t he
eveni ng di d not mat t er t o hi many l onger . " I ' l l t ake you out , i f you wi sh, "
he sai d, " but not t o t hat weddi ng. "
" Oh, but t hat ' s wher e I want t o go! I t ' s t he most pr epost er ous event of
t he season, and ever ybody' s been l ooki ng f or war d t o i t f or weeks, al l my
f r i ends. I woul dn' t mi ss i t f or t he wor l d. Ther e i sn' t any bet t er show i n
t ownnor bet t er publ i ci zed. I t ' s a per f ect l y r i di cul ous mar r i age, but j ust
about what you' d expect f r omJ i mTaggar t . "
She was movi ng casual l y t hr ough t he r oom, gl anci ng ar ound, as i f get t i ng
acquai nt ed wi t h an unf ami l i ar pl ace. " I haven' t been i n New Yor k f or year s, "
she sai d. " Not wi t h you, t hat i s. Not on any f or mal occasi on. "
He not i ced t he pause i n t he ai ml ess wander i ng of her eyes, a gl ance t hat
st opped br i ef l y on a f i l l ed asht r ay and moved on. He f el t a st ab of
r evul si on.
She saw i t i n hi s f ace and l aughed gai l y. " Oh but , dar l i ng, I ' mnot
r el i eved! I ' mdi sappoi nt ed. I di d hope I ' d f i nd a f ew ci gar et t e but t s smear ed
wi t h l i pst i ck. "
He gave her cr edi t f or t he admi ssi on of t he spyi ng, even i f under cover of
a j oke. But somet hi ng i n t he st r essed f r ankness of her manner made hi mwonder
whet her she was j oki ng; f or t he f l ash of an i nst ant , he f el t t hat she had
t ol d hi mt he t r ut h. He di smi ssed t he i mpr essi on, because he coul d not
concei ve of i t as possi bl e.
" I ' maf r ai d t hat you' l l never be human, " she sai d. " So I ' msur e t hat I
have no r i val . And i f I havewhi ch I doubt , dar l i ngI don' t t hi nk I ' l l wor r y
about i t , because i f i t ' s a per son who' s al ways avai l abl e on cal l , wi t hout
appoi nt ment wel l , ever ybody knows what sor t of a per son t hat i s. "
He t hought t hat he woul d have t o be car ef ul ; he had been about t o sl ap her
f ace. " Li l l i an, I t hi nk you know, " he sai d, " t hat humor of t hi s ki nd i s mor e
t han I can st and. "
" Oh, you' r e so ser i ous! " she l aughed. " I keep f or get t i ng i t . You' r e so
ser i ous about ever yt hi ngpar t i cul ar l y your sel f . "
Then she whi r l ed t o hi msuddenl y, her smi l e gone. She had t he st r ange,
pl eadi ng l ook whi ch he had seen i n her f ace at t i mes, a l ook t hat seemed made
of si ncer i t y and cour age: " You pr ef er t o be ser i ous, Henr y? Al l r i ght . How
l ong do you wi sh me t o exi st somewher e i n t he basement of your l i f e? How
l onel y do you want me t o become? I ' ve asked not hi ng of you. I ' ve l et you l i ve
your l i f e as you pl eased. Can' t you gi ve me one eveni ng? Oh, I know you hat e
par t i es and you' l l be bor ed. But i t means a gr eat deal t o me. Cal l i t empt y,
soci al vani t yI want t o appear , f or once, wi t h my husband. I suppose you
never t hi nk of i t i n such t er ms, but you' r e an i mpor t ant man, you' r e envi ed,
hat ed, r espect ed and f ear ed, you' r e a man whomany woman woul d be pr oud t o
show of f as her husband.
You may say i t ' s a l ow f or mof f emi ni ne ost ent at i on, but t hat ' s t he f or m
of any woman' s happi ness. You don' t l i ve by such st andar ds, but I do. Can' t
you gi ve me t hi s much, at t he pr i ce of a f ew hour s of bor edom? Can' t you be
st r ong enough t o f ul f i l l your obl i gat i on and t o per f or ma husband' s dut y?
Can' t you go t her e, not f or your own sake, but mi ne, not because you want t o
go, but onl y because I want i t ?"
Dagnyhe t hought desper at el yDagny, who had never sai d a wor d about hi s
l i f e at home, who had never made a cl ai m, ut t er ed a r epr oach or asked a
quest i onhe coul d not appear bef or e her wi t h hi s wi f e, he coul d not l et her
see hi mas t he husband bei ng pr oudl y shown of f he wi shed he coul d di e now, i n
t hi s moment , bef or e he commi t t ed t hi s act i onbecause he knew t hat he woul d
commi t i t .
Because he had accept ed hi s secr et as gui l t and pr omi sed hi msel f t o t ake
i t s consequencesbecause he had gr ant ed t hat t he r i ght was wi t h Li l l i an, and
he was abl e t o bear any f or mof damnat i on, but not abl e t o deny t he r i ght
when i t was cl ai med of hi mbecause he knew t hat t he r eason f or hi s r ef usal t o
go, was t he r eason t hat gave hi mno r i ght t o r ef usebecause he hear d t he
pl eadi ng cr y i n hi s mi nd: " Oh God, Li l l i an, anyt hi ng but t hat par t y! " and he
di d not al l ow hi msel f t o beg f or mer cy
he sai d evenl y, hi s voi ce l i f el ess and f i r m: " Al l r i ght , Li l l i an. I l l
go. "
The weddi ng vei l of r ose- poi nt l ace caught on t he spl i nt er ed f l oor of her
t enement bedr oom. Cher r yl Br ooks l i f t ed i t caut i ousl y, st eppi ng t o l ook at
her sel f i n a cr ooked mi r r or t hat hung on t he wal l . She had been phot ogr aphed
her e al l day, as she had been many t i mes i n t he past t wo mont hs. She st i l l
smi l ed wi t h i ncr edul ous gr at i t ude when newspaper peopl e want ed t o t ake her
pi ct ur e, but she wi shed t hey woul d not do i t so of t en.
An agi ng sob si st er , who had a dr i ppy l ove col umn i n pr i nt and t he bi t t er
wi sdomof a pol i cewoman i n per son, had t aken Cher r yl under her pr ot ect i on
weeks ago, when t he gi r l had f i r st been t hr own i nt o pr ess i nt er vi ews as i nt o
a meat gr i nder . Today, t he sob si st er had chased t he r epor t er s out , had
snapped, " Al l r i ght , al l r i ght , beat i t ! " at t he nei ghbor s, had sl ammed
Cher r yl ' s door i n t hei r f aces and had hel ped her t o dr ess. She was t o dr i ve
Cher r yl t o t he weddi ng; she had di scover ed t hat t her e was no one el se t o do
i t .
The weddi ng vei l , t he whi t e sat i n gown, t he del i cat e sl i pper s and t he
st r and of pear l s at her t hr oat , had cost f i ve hundr ed t i mes t he pr i ce of t he
ent i r e cont ent s of Cher r yl ' s r oom. A bed t ook most of t he r oom' s space, and
t he r est was t aken by a chest of dr awer s, one chai r , and her f ew dr esses
hangi ng behi nd a f aded cur t ai n. The huge hoop ski r t of t he weddi ng gown
br ushed agai nst t he wal l s when she moved, her sl ender f i gur e swayi ng above
t he ski r t i n t he dr amat i c cont r ast of a t i ght , sever e, l ong- sl eeved bodi ce;
t he gown had been made by t he best desi gner i n t he ci t y.
" You see, when I got t he j ob i n t he di me st or e, I coul d have moved t o a
bet t er r oom, " she sai d t o t he sob si st er , i n apol ogy, " but I don' t t hi nk i t
mat t er s much wher e you sl eep at ni ght , so I saved my money, because I l l need
i t f or somet hi ng i mpor t ant i n t he f ut ur e"
She st opped and smi l ed, shaki ng her head dazedl y. " I t hought I ' d need i t , "
she sai d.
" You l ook f i ne, " sai d t he sob si st er . " You can' t see much i n t hat al l eged
mi r r or , but you' r e okay. "
" The way al l t hi s happened, I . . . I haven' t had t i me t o cat ch up wi t h
mysel f . But you see, J i mi s wonder f ul . He doesn' t mi nd i t , t hat I ' monl y a
sal esgi r l f r oma di me st or e, l i vi ng i n a pl ace l i ke t hi s. He doesn' t hol d i t
agai nst me. "
" Uh- huh, " sai d t he sob si st er ; her f ace l ooked gr i m.
Cher r yl r emember ed t he wonder of t he f i r st t i me J i mTaggar t had come her e.
He had come one eveni ng, wi t hout war ni ng, a mont h af t er t hei r f i r st meet i ng,
when she had gi ven up hope of ever seei ng hi magai n. She had been mi ser abl y
embar r assed, she had f el t as i f she wer e t r yi ng t o hol d a sunr i se wi t hi n t he
space of a mud puddl ebut J i mhad smi l ed, si t t i ng on her onl y chai r , l ooki ng
at her f l ushed f ace and at her r oom. Then he had t ol d her t o put on her coat ,
and he had t aken her t o di nner at t he most expensi ve r est aur ant i n t he ci t y.
He had smi l ed at her uncer t ai nt y, at her awkwar dness, at her t er r or of
pi cki ng t he wr ong f or k, and at t he l ook of enchant ment i n her eyes.
She had not known what he t hought . But he had known t hat she was st unned,
not by t he pl ace, but by hi s br i ngi ng her t her e, t hat she bar el y t ouched t he
cost l y f ood, t hat she t ook t he di nner , not as boot y f r oma r i ch sucker as al l
t he gi r l s he knew woul d have t aken i t but as some shi ni ng awar d she had never
expect ed t o deser ve.
He had come back t o her t wo weeks l at er , and t hen t hei r dat es had gr own
pr ogr essi vel y mor e f r equent . He woul d dr i ve up t o t he di me st or e at t he
cl osi ng hour , and she woul d see her f el l ow sal esgi r l s gapi ng at her , at hi s
l i mousi ne, at t he uni f or med chauf f eur who opened t he door f or her . He woul d
t ake her t o t he best ni ght cl ubs, and when he i nt r oduced her t o hi s f r i ends,
he woul d say, " Mi ss Br ooks wor ks i n t he di me st or e i n Madi son Squar e. " She
woul d see t he st r ange expr essi ons on t hei r f aces and J i mwat chi ng t hemwi t h a
hi nt of mocker y i n hi s eyes. He want ed t o spar e her t he need of pr et ense or
embar r assment , she t hought wi t h gr at i t ude. He had t he st r engt h t o be honest
and not t o car e whet her ot her s appr oved of hi mor not , she t hought wi t h
admi r at i on. But she f el t an odd, bur ni ng pai n, new t o her , t he ni ght she
hear d some woman, who wor ked f or a hi ghbr ow pol i t i cal magazi ne, say t o her
compani on at t he next t abl e, " How gener ous of J i m! "
Had he wi shed, she woul d have gi ven hi mt he onl y ki nd of payment she coul d
of f er i n r et ur n. She was gr at ef ul t hat he di d not seek i t . But she f el t as i f
t hei r r el at i onshi p was an i mmense debt and she had not hi ng t o pay i t wi t h,
except her si l ent wor shi p. He di d not need her wor shi p, she t hought .
Ther e wer e eveni ngs when he came t o t ake her out , but r emai ned i n her
r oom, i nst ead, and t al ked t o her , whi l e she l i st ened i n si l ence. I t al ways
happened unexpect edl y, wi t h a ki nd of pecul i ar abr upt ness, as i f he had not
i nt ended doi ng i t , but somet hi ng bur st wi t hi n hi mand he had t o speak. Then
he sat sl umped on her bed, unawar e of hi s sur r oundi ngs and of her pr esence,
yet hi s eyes j er ked t o her f ace once i n a whi l e, as i f he had t o be cer t ai n
t hat a l i vi ng bei ng hear d hi m.
" . . . i t wasn' t f or mysel f , i t wasn' t f or mysel f at al l why won' t t hey
bel i eve me, t hose peopl e? I had t o gr ant t he uni ons' demands t o cut down t he
t r ai nsand t he mor at or i umon bonds was t he onl y way I coul d do i t , so t hat ' s
why Wesl ey gave i t t o me, f or t he wor ker s, not f or mysel f . AH t he newspaper s
sai d t hat I was a gr eat exampl e f or al l busi nessmen t o f ol l owa busi nessman
wi t h a sense of soci al r esponsi bi l i t y. That ' s what t hey sai d. I t ' s t r ue,
i sn' t i t ? . . . I sn' t i t ? . . .
What was wr ong about t hat mor at or i um? What i f we di d ski p a f ew
t echni cal i t i es? I t was f or a good pur pose. Ever yone agr ees t hat anyt hi ng you
do i s good, so l ong as i t ' s not f or your sel f . . . . But she won' t gi ve me
cr edi t f or a good pur pose. She doesn' t t hi nk anybody' s any good except
her sel f . My si st er i s a r ut hl ess, concei t ed bi t ch, who won' t t ake anyone' s
i deas but her own. . . . Why do t hey keep l ooki ng at me t hat wayshe and
Rear den and al l t hose peopl e? Why ar e t hey so sur e t hey' r e r i ght ? . . . I f I
acknowl edge t hei r super i or i t y i n t he mat er i al r eal m, why don' t t hey
acknowl edge mi ne i n t he spi r i t ual ?
They have t he br ai n, but I have t he hear t . They have t he capaci t y t o
pr oduce weal t h, but I have t he capaci t y t o l ove. I sn' t mi ne t he gr eat er
capaci t y? Hasn' t i t been r ecogni zed as t he gr eat est t hr ough al l t he cent ur i es
of human hi st or y? Why won' t t hey r ecogni ze i t ? . . . Why ar e t hey so sur e
t hey' r e gr eat ? . . . And i f t hey' r e gr eat and I ' mnot i sn' t t hat exact l y why
t hey shoul d bow t o me, because I ' mnot ?
Woul dn' t t hat be an act of t r ue humani t y? I t t akes no ki ndness t o r espect
a man who deser ves r espect i t ' s onl y a payment whi ch he' s ear ned. To gi ve an
unear ned r espect i s t he supr eme gest ur e of char i t y.
. . . But t hey' r e i ncapabl e of char i t y. They' r e not human. They f eel no
concer n f or anyone' s need . . . or weakness. No concer n . . . and no pi t y . .
. "
She coul d under st and l i t t l e of i t , but she under st ood t hat he was unhappy
and t hat somebody had hur t hi m. He saw t he pai n of t ender ness i n her f ace,
t he pai n of i ndi gnat i on agai nst hi s enemi es, and he saw t he gl ance i nt ended
f or her oesgi ven t o hi mby a per son abl e t o exper i ence t he emot i on behi nd
t hat gl ance.
She di d not know why she f el t cer t ai n t hat she was t he onl y one t o whomhe
coul d conf ess hi s t or t ur e. She t ook i t as a speci al honor , as one mor e gi f t .
The onl y way t o be wor t hy of hi m, she t hought , was never t o ask hi mf or
anyt hi ng. He of f er ed her money once, and she r ef used i t , wi t h such a br i ght ,
pai nf ul f l ar e of anger i n her eyes t hat he di d not at t empt i t agai n. The
anger was at her sel f : she wonder ed whet her she had done somet hi ng t o make hi m
t hi nk she was t hat ki nd of per son.
But she di d not want t o be ungr at ef ul f or hi s concer n, or t o embar r ass hi m
by her ugl y pover t y; she want ed t o show hi mher eager ness t o r i se and j ust i f y
hi s f avor ; so she t ol d hi mt hat he coul d hel p her , i f he wi shed, by hel pi ng
her t o f i nd a bet t er j ob. He di d not answer . I n t he weeks t hat f ol l owed, she
wai t ed, but he never ment i oned t he subj ect .
She bl amed her sel f : she t hought t hat she had of f ended hi m, t hat he had
t aken i t as an at t empt t o use hi m.
When he gave her an emer al d br acel et , she was t oo shocked t o under st and.
Tr yi ng desper at el y not t o hur t hi m, she pl eaded t hat she coul d not accept i t .
" Why not ?" he asked. " I t i sn' t as i f you wer e a bad woman payi ng t he usual
pr i ce f or i t . Ar e you af r ai d t hat I ' l l st ar t maki ng demands? Don' t you t r ust
me?" He l aughed al oud at her st ammer i ng embar r assment . He smi l ed, wi t h an odd
ki nd of enj oyment , al l t hr ough t he eveni ng when t hey went t o a ni ght cl ub and
she wor e t he br acel et wi t h her shabby bl ack dr ess.
He made her wear t hat br acel et agai n, on t he ni ght when he t ook her t o a
par t y, a gr eat r ecept i on gi ven by Mr s. Cor nel i as Pope. I f he consi der ed her
good enough t o br i ng i nt o t he home of hi s f r i ends, she t hought t he
i l l ust r i ous f r i ends whose names she had seen on t he i naccessi bl e mount ai n
peaks t hat wer e t he soci et y col umns of t he newspaper sshe coul d not embar r ass
hi mby wear i ng her ol d dr ess. She spent her year ' s savi ngs on an eveni ng gown
of br i ght gr een chi f f on wi t h a l ow neckl i ne, a bel t of yel l ow r oses and a
r hi nest one buckl e. When she ent er ed t he st er n r esi dence, wi t h t he col d,
br i l l i ant l i ght s and a t er r ace suspended over t he r oof s of skyscr aper s, she
knew t hat her dr ess was wr ong f or t he occasi on, t hough she coul d not t el l
why. But she kept her post ur e pr oudl y st r ai ght and she smi l ed wi t h t he
cour ageous t r ust of a ki t t en when i t sees a hand ext ended t o pl ay: peopl e
gat her ed t o have a good t i me woul d not hur t anyone, she t hought .
At t he end of an hour , her at t empt t o smi l e had become a hel pl ess,
bewi l der ed pl ea. Then t he smi l e went , as she wat ched t he peopl e ar ound her .
She saw t hat t he t r i m, conf i dent gi r l s had a nast y i nsol ence of manner when
t hey spoke t o J i m, as i f t hey di d not r espect hi mand never had. One of t hem
i n par t i cul ar , a Bet t y Pope, t he daught er of t he host ess, kept maki ng r emar ks
t o hi mwhi ch Cher r yl coul d not under st and, because she coul d not bel i eve t hat
she under st ood t hemcor r ect l y.
No one had pai d any at t ent i on t o her , at f i r st , except f or a f ew
ast oni shed gl ances at her gown. Af t er a whi l e, she saw t heml ooki ng at her .
She hear d an el der l y woman ask J i m, i n t he anxi ous t one of r ef er r i ng t o some
di st i ngui shed f ami l y she had mi ssed knowi ng, " Di d you say Mi ss Br ooks of
Madi son Squar e?" She saw an odd smi l e on J i m' s f ace, when he answer ed, maki ng
hi s voi ce sound pecul i ar l y cl ear , " Yes t he cosmet i cs count er of Ral ei gh' s
Fi ve and Ten. " Then she saw some peopl e becomi ng t oo pol i t e t o her , and
ot her s movi ng away i n a poi nt ed manner , and most of t hembei ng sensel essl y
awkwar d i n si mpl e bewi l der ment , and J i mwat chi ng si l ent l y wi t h t hat odd
smi l e.
She t r i ed t o get out of t he way, out of t hei r not i ce. As she sl i pped by,
al ong t he edge of t he r oom, she hear d some man say, wi t h a shr ug, " Wel l , J i m
Taggar t i s one of t he most power f ul men i n Washi ngt on at t he moment . " He di d
not say i t r espect f ul l y.
Out on t he t er r ace, wher e i t was dar ker , she hear d t wo men t al ki ng and
wonder ed why she f el t cer t ai n t hat t hey wer e t al ki ng about her .
One of t hemsai d, " Taggar t can af f or d t o do i t , i f he pl eases" and t he
ot her sai d somet hi ng about t he hor se of some Roman emper or named Cal i gul a.
She l ooked at t he l one st r ai ght shaf t of t he Taggar t Bui l di ng r i si ng i n
t he di st anceand t hen she t hought t hat she under st ood: t hese peopl e hat ed J i m
because t hey envi ed hi m. What ever t hey wer e, she t hought , what ever t hei r
names and t hei r money, none of t hemhad an achi evement compar abl e t o hi s,
none of t hemhad def i ed t he whol e count r y t o bui l d a r ai l r oad ever ybody
t hought i mpossi bl e. For t he f i r st t i me, she saw t hat she di d have somet hi ng
t o of f er J i m: t hese peopl e wer e as mean and smal l as t he peopl e f r omwhomshe
had escaped i n Buf f al o; he was as l onel y as she had al ways been, and t he
si ncer i t y of her f eel i ng was t he onl y r ecogni t i on he had f ound.
Then she wal ked back i nt o t he bal l r oom, cut t i ng st r ai ght t hr ough t he
cr owd, and t he onl y t hi ng l ef t of t he t ear s she had t r i ed t o hol d back i n t he
dar kness of t he t er r ace, was t he f i er cel y l umi nous spar kl e of her eyes. I f he
wi shed t o st and by her openl y, even t hough she was onl y a shop gi r l , i f he
wi shed t o f l aunt i t , i f he had br ought her her e t o f ace t he i ndi gnat i on of
hi s f r i endst hen i t was t he gest ur e of a cour ageous man def yi ng t hei r
opi ni on, and she was wi l l i ng t o mat ch hi s cour age by ser vi ng as t he scar ecr ow
of t he occasi on.
But she was gl ad when i t was over , when she sat besi de hi mi n hi s car ,
dr i vi ng home t hr ough t he dar kness. She f el t a bl eak ki nd of r el i ef , Her
bat t l i ng def i ance ebbed i nt o a st r ange, desol at e f eel i ng; she t r i ed not t o
gi ve way t o i t . J i msai d l i t t l e; he sat l ooki ng sul l enl y out t he car wi ndow;
she wonder ed whet her she had di sappoi nt ed hi mi n some manner .
On t he st oop of her r oomi ng house, she sai d t o hi mf or l or nl y, " I ' msor r y
i f I l et you down . . . "
He di d not answer f or a moment , and t hen he asked, " What woul d you say i f
I asked you t o mar r y me?"
She l ooked at hi m, she l ooked ar ound t hemt her e was a f i l t hy mat t r ess
hangi ng on somebody' s wi ndow si l l , a pawnshop acr oss t he st r eet , a gar bage
pai l at t he st oop besi de t hemone di d not ask such a quest i on i n such a
pl ace, she di d not know what i t meant , and she answer ed, " I guess I . . . I
haven' t any sense of humor . "
" Thi s i s a pr oposal , my dear . "
Then t hi s was t he way t hey r eached t hei r f i r st ki sswi t h t ear s r unni ng
down her f ace, t ear s unshed at t he par t y, t ear s of shock, of happi ness, of
t hi nki ng t hat t hi s shoul d be happi ness, and of a l ow, desol at e voi ce t el l i ng
her t hat t hi s was not t he way she woul d have want ed i t t o happen.
She had not t hought about t he newspaper s, unt i l t he day when J i mt ol d her
t o come t o hi s apar t ment and she f ound i t cr owded wi t h peopl e who had
not ebooks, camer as and f l ash bul bs. When she saw her pi ct ur e i n t he paper s
f or t he f i r st t i mea pi ct ur e of t hemt oget her , J i m' s ar mar ound her she
gi ggl ed wi t h del i ght and wonder ed pr oudl y whet her ever y per son i n t he ci t y
had seen i t . Af t er a whi l e, t he del i ght vani shed.
They kept phot ogr aphi ng her at t he di me- st or e count er , i n t he subway, on
t he st oop of t he t enement house, i n her mi ser abl e r oom. She woul d have t aken
money f r omJ i mnow and r un t o hi de i n some obscur e hot el f or t he weeks of
t hei r engagement but he di d not of f er i t .
He seemed t o want her t o r emai n wher e she was. They pr i nt ed pi ct ur es of
J i mat hi s desk, i n t he concour se of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal , by t he st eps of
hi s pr i vat e r ai l way car , at a f or mal banquet i n Washi ngt on.
The huge spr eads of f ul l newspaper pages, t he ar t i cl es i n magazi nes, t he
r adi o voi ces, t he newsr eel s, al l wer e a si ngl e, l ong, sust ai ned scr eamabout
t he " Ci nder el l a Gi r l " and t he " Democr at i c Busi nessman. "
She t ol d her sel f not t o be suspi ci ous, when she f el t uneasy; she t ol d
her sel f not t o be ungr at ef ul , when she f el t hur t . She f el t i t onl y i n a f ew
r ar e moment s, when she awakened i n t he mi ddl e of t he ni ght and l ay i n t he
si l ence of her r oom, unabl e t o sl eep. She knew t hat i t woul d t ake her year s
t o r ecover , t o bel i eve, t o under st and. She was r eel i ng t hr ough her days l i ke
a per son wi t h a sunst r oke, seei ng not hi ng but t he f i gur e of J i mTaggar t as
she had seen hi mf i r st on t he ni ght of hi s gr eat t r i umph.
" Li st en, ki d, " t he sob si st er sai d t o her , when she st ood i n her r oomf or
t he l ast t i me, t he l ace of t he weddi ng vei l st r eami ng l i ke cr yst al f oamf r om
her hai r t o t he bl ot ched pl anks of t he f l oor . " You t hi nk t hat i f one get s
hur t i n l i f e, i t ' s t hr ough one' s own si nsand t hat ' s t r ue, i n t he l ong r un.
But t her e ar e peopl e who' l l t r y t o hur t you t hr ough t he good t hey see i n you
knowi ng t hat i t ' s t he good, needi ng i t and puni shi ng you f or i t . Don' t l et i t
br eak you when you di scover t hat . "
" I don' t t hi nk I ' maf r ai d, " she sai d, l ooki ng i nt ent l y st r ai ght bef or e
her , t he r adi ance of her smi l e mel t i ng t he ear nest ness of her gl ance. " I have
no r i ght t o be af r ai d of anyt hi ng. I ' mt oo happy. You sec, I al ways t hought
t hat t her e wasn' t any sense i n peopl e sayi ng t hat al l you can do i n l i f e i s
suf f er . I wasn' t goi ng t o knuckl e down t o t hat and gi ve up.
I t hought t hat t hi ngs coul d happen whi ch wer e beaut i f ul and ver y gr eat .
I di dn' t expect i t t o happen t o menot so much and so soon. But I ' l l t r y
t o l i ve up t o i t . "
" Money i s t he r oot of al l evi l , " sai d J ames Taggar t . " Money can' t buy
happi ness. Love wi l l conquer any bar r i er and any soci al di st ance. That may be
a br omi de, boys, but t hat ' s how I f eel . "
He st ood under t he l i ght s of t he bal l r oomof t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el , i n
a ci r cl e of r epor t er s who had cl osed about hi mt he moment t he weddi ng
cer emony ended. He hear d t he cr owd of guest s beat i ng l i ke a t i de beyond t he
ci r cl e. Cher r yl st ood besi de hi m, her whi t e gl oved hand on t he bl ack of hi s
sl eeve. She was st i l l t r yi ng t o hear t he wor ds of t he cer emony, not qui t e
bel i evi ng t hat she had hear d t hem.
" How do you f eel , Mr s. Taggar t ?"
She hear d t he quest i on f r omsomewher e i n t he ci r cl e of r epor t er s. I t was
l i ke t he j ol t of r et ur ni ng t o consci ousness: t wo wor ds suddenl y made
ever yt hi ng r eal t o her . She smi l ed and whi sper ed, choki ng, " I . . .
I ' mver y happy . . . "
At opposi t e ends of t he bal l r oom, Or r en Boyl e, who seemed t oo st out f or
hi s f ul l - dr ess cl ot hes, and Ber t r amScudder , who seemed t oo meager f or hi s,
sur veyed t he cr owd of guest s wi t h t he same t hought , t hough nei t her of t hem
admi t t ed t hat he was t hi nki ng i t . Or r en Boyl e hal f - t ol d hi msel f t hat he was
l ooki ng f or t he f aces of f r i ends, and Ber t r amScudder suggest ed t o hi msel f
t hat he was gat her i ng mat er i al f or an ar t i cl e. But bot h, unknown t o each
ot her , wer e dr awi ng a ment al char t of t he f aces t hey saw, cl assi f yi ng t hem
under t wo headi ngs whi ch, i f named, woul d have r ead: " Favor " and " Fear . "
Ther e wer e men whose pr esence si gni f i ed a speci al pr ot ect i on ext ended t o
J ames Taggar t , and men whose pr esence conf essed a desi r e t o avoi d hi s
host i l i t yt hose who r epr esent ed a hand l ower ed t o pul l hi mup, and t hose who
r epr esent ed a back bent t o l et hi mcl i mb. By t he unwr i t t en code of t he day,
nobody r ecei ved or accept ed an i nvi t at i on f r oma man of publ i c pr omi nence
except i n t oken of one or t he ot her of t hese mot i ves.
Those i n t he f i r st gr oup wer e, f or t he most par t , yout hf ul ; t hey had come
f r omWashi ngt on. Those i n t he second gr oup wer e ol der ; t hey wer e busi nessmen.
Or r en Boyl e and Ber t r amScudder wer e men who used wor ds as a publ i c
i nst r ument , t o be avoi ded i n t he pr i vacy of one' s own mi nd.
Wor ds wer e a commi t ment , car r yi ng i mpl i cat i ons whi ch t hey di d not wi sh t o
f ace. They needed no wor ds f or t hei r char t ; t he cl assi f i cat i on was done by
physi cal means: a r espect f ul movement of t hei r eyebr ows, equi val ent t o t he
emot i on of t he wor d " So! " f or t he f i r st gr oupand a sar cast i c movement of
t hei r l i ps, equi val ent t o t he emot i on of " Wel l , wel l ! " f or t he second. One
f ace bl ew up t he smoot h wor ki ng of t hei r cal cul at i ng mechani sms f or a moment :
when t hey saw t he col d bl ue eyes and bl ond hai r of Hank Rear den, t hei r
muscl es t or e at t he r egi st er of t he second gr oup i n t he equi val ent of " Oh,
boy! " The sumof t he char t was an est i mat e of J ames Taggar t ' s power . I t added
up t o an i mpr essi ve t ot al .
They knew t hat J ames Taggar t was f ul l y awar e of i t , when t hey saw hi m
movi ng among hi s guest s. He wal ked br i skl y, i n a Mor se code pat t er n of shor t
dashes and br i ef st ops, wi t h a manner of f ai nt i r r i t at i on, as i f consci ous of
t he number of peopl e whomhi s di spl easur e mi ght wor r y. The hi nt of a smi l e on
hi s f ace had a f l avor of gl oat i ng
as i f he knew t hat t he act of comi ng t o honor hi mwas an act t hat
di sgr aced t he men who had come; as i f he knew and enj oyed i t .
A t ai l of f i gur es kept t r ai l i ng and shi f t i ng behi nd hi m, as i f t hei r
f unct i on wer e t o gi ve hi mt he pl easur e of i gnor i ng t hem. Mr . Mowen f l i cker ed
br i ef l y among t he t ai l , and Dr . Pr i t chet t , and Bal ph Eubank.
The most per si st ent one was Paul Lar ki n. He kept descr i bi ng ci r cl es ar ound
Taggar t , as i f t r yi ng t o acqui r e a sunt an by means of an occasi onal r ay, hi s
wi st f ul smi l e pl eadi ng t o be not i ced.
Taggar t ' s eyes swept over t he cr owd once i n a whi l e, swi f t l y and
f ur t i vel y, i n t he manner of a pr owl er ' s f l ashl i ght ; t hi s, i n t he muscul ar
shor t hand l egi bl e t o Or r en Boyl e, meant t hat Taggar t was l ooki ng f or someone
and di d not want anyone t o know i t . The sear ch ended when Eugene Lawson came
t o shake Taggar t ' s hand and t o say, hi s wet l ower l i p t wi st i ng l i ke a cushi on
t o sof t en t he bl ow, " Mr . Mouch coul dn' t come, J i m, Mr . Mouch i s so sor r y, he
had a speci al pl ane char t er ed, but at t he l ast mi nut e t hi ngs came up, cr uci al
nat i onal pr obl ems, you know. " Taggar t st ood st i l l , di d not answer and
f r owned.
Or r en Boyl e bur st out l aughi ng. Taggar t t ur ned t o hi mso shar pl y t hat t he
ot her s mel t ed away wi t hout wai t i ng f or a command t o vani sh.
" What do you t hi nk you' r e doi ng?" snapped Taggar t .
" Havi ng a good t i me, J i mmy, j ust havi ng a good t i me, " sai d Boyl e. " Wesl ey
i s your boy, wasn' t he?"
" I know somebody who' s my boy and he' d bet t er not f or get i t . "
" Who? Lar ki n? Wel l , no, I don' t t hi nk you' r e t al ki ng about Lar ki n.
And i f i t ' s not Lar ki n t hat you' r e t al ki ng about , why t hen I t hi nk you
ought t o be car ef ul i n your use of t he possessi ve pr onouns. I don' t mi nd t he
age cl assi f i cat i on, I know I l ook young f or my year s, but I ' mj ust al l er gi c
t o pr onouns. "
" That ' s ver y smar t , but you' r e goi ng t o get t oo smar t one of t hese days. "
" I f I do, you j ust go ahead and make t he most of i t , J i mmy. If. "
" The t r oubl e wi t h peopl e who over r each t hemsel ves i s t hat t hey have shor t
memor i es. You' d bet t er r emember who got Rear den Met al choked of f t he mar ket
f or you. "
" Why, I r emember who pr omi sed t o. That was t he par t y who t hen pul l ed ever y
st r i ng he coul d l ay hi s hands on t o t r y t o pr event t hat par t i cul ar di r ect i ve
f r ombei ng i ssued, because he f i gur ed he mi ght need r ai l of Rear den Met al i n
t he f ut ur e. "
" Because you spent t en t housand dol l ar s pour i ng l i quor i nt o peopl e you
hoped woul d pr event t he di r ect i ve about t he bond mor at or i um! "
" That ' s r i ght . So I di d. I had f r i ends who had r ai l r oad bonds. And
besi des, I have f r i ends i n Washi ngt on, t oo, J i mmy. Wel l , your f r i ends beat
mi ne on t hat mor at or i umbusi ness, but mi ne beat your s on Rear den Met al and
I ' mnot f or get t i ng i t . But what t he hel l ! i t ' s al l r i ght wi t h me, t hat ' s t he
way t o shar e t hi ngs ar ound, onl y don' t you t r y t o f ool me, J i mmy. Save t he
act f or t he sucker s. "
" I f you don' t bel i eve t hat I ' ve al ways t r i ed t o do my best f or you"
" Sur e, you have. The best t hat coul d be expect ed, al l t hi ngs consi der ed.
And you' l l cont i nue t o do i t , t oo, so l ong as I ' ve got somebody you needand
not a mi nut e l onger . So I j ust want ed t o r emi nd you t hat I ' ve got my own
f r i ends i n Washi ngt on. Fr i ends t hat money can' t buyj ust l i ke your s, J i mmy. "
" What do you t hi nk you mean?"
" J ust what you' r e t hi nki ng. The ones you buy ar en' t r eal l y wor t h a damn,
because somebody can al ways of f er t hemmor e, so t he f i el d' s wi de open t o
anybody and i t ' s j ust l i ke ol d- f ashi oned compet i t i on agai n.
But i f you get t he goods on a man, t hen you' ve got hi m, t hen t her e' s no
hi gher bi dder and you can count on hi s f r i endshi p. Wel l , you have f r i ends,
and so have I . You have f r i ends I can use, and vi ce ver sa.
That ' s al l r i ght wi t h mewhat t he hel l ! one' s got t o t r ade somet hi ng.
I f we don' t t r ade moneyand t he age of money i s past t hen we t r ade men. "
" What i s i t you' r e dr i vi ng at ?"
" Why, I ' mj ust t el l i ng you a f ew t hi ngs t hat you ought t o r emember .
Now t ake Wesl ey, f or i nst ance. You pr omi sed hi mt he assi st ant ' s j ob i n t he
Bur eau of Nat i onal Pl anni ngf or doubl e- cr ossi ng Rear den, at t he t i me of t he
Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l . You had t he connect i ons t o do i t , and
t hat ' s what I asked you t o doi n exchange f or t he Ant i - dog- eat - dog Rul e,
wher e I had t he connect i ons. So Wesl ey di d hi s par t , and you saw t o i t t hat
you got i t al l on paper oh sur e, I know t hat you' ve got wr i t t en pr oof of t he
ki nd of deal s he pul l ed t o hel p pass t hat bi l l , whi l e he was t aki ng Rear den' s
money t o def eat i t and keepi ng Rear den of f guar d. They wer e pr et t y ugl y
deal s. I t woul d be pr et t y messy f or Mr . Mouch, i f i t al l came out i n publ i c.
So you kept your pr omi se and you got t he j ob f or hi m, because you t hought you
had hi m. And so you di d. And he pai d of f pr et t y handsomel y, di dn' t he? But i t
wor ks onl y j ust so l ong. Af t er a whi l e, Mr . Wesl ey Mouch mi ght get t o be so
power f ul and t he scandal so ol d, t hat nobody wi l l car e how he got hi s st ar t
or whomhe doubl e- cr ossed. Not hi ng l ast s f or ever . Wesl ey was Rear den' s man,
and t hen he was your man, and he mi ght be somebody el se' s man t omor r ow "
" Ar e you gi vi ng me a hi nt ?"
" Why no, I ' mgi vi ng you a f r i endl y war ni ng. We' r e ol d f r i ends.
J i mmy, and I t hi nk t hat t hat ' s what we ought t o r emai n. I t hi nk we can be
ver y usef ul t o each ot her , you and I , i f you don' t st ar t get t i ng t he wr ong
i deas about f r i endshi p. MeI bel i eve i n a bal ance of power . "
" Di d you pr event Mouch f r omcomi ng her e t oni ght ?"
" Wel l , maybe I di d and maybe I di dn' t . I ' l l l et you wor r y about i t .
That ' s good f or me, i f I di dand st i l l bet t er , i f I di dn' t . "
Cher r yl ' s eyes f ol l owed J ames Taggar t t hr ough t he cr owd. The f aces t hat
kept shi f t i ng and gat her i ng ar ound her seemed so f r i endl y and t hei r voi ces
wer e so eager l y war mt hat she f el t cer t ai n t her e was no mal i ce anywher e i n
t he r oom. She wonder ed why some of t hemt al ked t o her about Washi ngt on, i n a
hopef ul , conf i dent i al manner of hal f sent ences, hal f - hi nt s, as i f t hey wer e
seeki ng her hel p f or somet hi ng secr et she was supposed t o under st and. She di d
not know what t o say, but she smi l ed and answer ed what ever she pl eased. She
coul d not di sgr ace t he per son of " Mr s. Taggar t " by any t ouch of f ear .
Then she saw t he enemy. I t was a t al l , sl ender f i gur e i n a gr ay eveni ng
gown, who was now her si st er - i n- l aw.
The pr essur e of anger i n Cher r yl ' s mi nd was t he st or ed accumul at i on of t he
sounds of J i m' s t or t ur ed voi ce. She f el t t he naggi ng pul l of a dut y l ef t
undone. Her eyes kept r et ur ni ng t o t he enemy and st udyi ng her i nt ent l y. The
pi ct ur es of Dagny Taggar t i n t he newspaper s had shown a f i gur e dr essed i n
sl acks, or a f ace wi t h a sl ant i ng hat br i mand a r ai sed coat col l ar . Now she
wor e a gr ay eveni ng gown t hat seemed i ndecent , because i t l ooked aust er el y
modest , so modest t hat i t vani shed f r omone' s awar eness and l ef t one t oo
awar e of t he sl ender body i t pr et ended t o cover . Ther e was a t one of bl ue i n
t he gr ay cl ot h t hat went wi t h t he gun- met al gr ay of her eyes. She wor e no
j ewel r y, onl y a br acel et on her wr i st , a chai n of heavy met al l i nks wi t h a
gr een bl ue cast .
Cher r yl wai t ed, unt i l she saw Dagny st andi ng al one, t hen t or e f or war d,
cut t i ng r esol ut el y acr oss t he r oom. She l ooked at cl ose r ange i nt o t he gun-
met al eyes t hat seemed col d and i nt ense at once, t he eyes t hat l ooked at her
di r ect l y wi t h a pol i t e, i mper sonal cur i osi t y.
" Ther e' s somet hi ng I want you t o know, " sai d Cher r yl , her voi ce t aut and
har sh, " so t hat t her e won' t be any pr et endi ng about i t . I ' mnot goi ng t o put
on t he sweet r el at i ve act . I know what you' ve done t o J i mand how you' ve made
hi mmi ser abl e al l hi s l i f e. I ' mgoi ng t o pr ot ect hi magai nst you. I ' l l put
you i n your pl ace. I ' mMr s. Taggar t . I ' mt he woman i n t hi s f ami l y now. "
" That ' s qui t e al l r i ght , " sai d Dagny. " I ' mt he man.
Cher r yl wat ched her wal k away, and i houg' r i t 1 t hat J i mhad been r i ght :
t hi s si st er of hi s was a cr eat ur e of col d evi l who had gi ven her no r esponse,
no acknowl edgment , no emot i on of any ki nd except a t ouch of somet hi ng t hat
l ooked l i ke an ast oni shed, i ndi f f er ent amusement .
Rear den st ood by Li l l i an' s si de and f ol l owed her when she moved.
She wi shed t o be seen wi t h her husband; he was compl yi ng. He di d not know
whet her anyone l ooked at hi mor not ; he was awar e of no one ar ound t hem,
except t he per son whomhe coul d not per mi t hi msel f t o see.
The i mage st i l l hol di ng hi s consci ousness was t he moment when he had
ent er ed t hi s r oomwi t h Li l l i an and had seen Dagny l ooki ng at t hem. He had
l ooked st r ai ght at her , pr epar ed t o accept any bl ow her eyes woul d choose t o
gi ve hi m. What ever t he consequences t o Li l l i an, he woul d have conf essed hi s
adul t er y publ i cl y, t her e and i n t hat moment , r at her t han commi t t he
unspeakabl e act of evadi ng Dagny' s eyes, of cl osi ng hi s f ace i nt o a cowar d' s
bl ankness, of pr et endi ng t o her t hat he di d not know t he nat ur e of hi s
act i on.
But t her e had been no bl ow. He knew ever y shade of sensat i on ever
r ef l ect ed i n Dagny' s f ace; he had known t hat she had f el t no shock; he had
seen not hi ng but an unt ouched ser eni t y. Her eyes had moved t o hi s, as i f
acknowl edgi ng t he f ul l meani ng of t hi s encount er , but l ooki ng at hi mas she
woul d have l ooked anywher e, as she l ooked at hi mi n hi s of f i ce or i n her
bedr oom. I t had seemed t o hi mt hat she had st ood bef or e t hembot h, at t he
di st ance of a f ew st eps, r eveal ed t o t hemas si mpl y and openl y as t he gr ay
dr ess r eveal ed her body.
She had bowed t o t hem, t he cour t eous movement of her head i ncl udi ng t hem
bot h. He had answer ed, he had seen Li l l i an' s br i ef nod, and t hen he had seen
Li l l i an movi ng away and r eal i zed t hat he had st ood wi t h hi s head bowed f or a
l ong moment .
He di d not know what Li l l i an' s f r i ends wer e sayi ng t o hi mor what he was
answer i ng. As a man goes st ep by st ep, t r yi ng not t o t hi nk of t he l engt h of a
hopel ess r oad, so he went moment by moment , keepi ng no i mpr i nt of anyt hi ng i n
hi s mi nd. He hear d snat ches of Li l l i an' s pl eased l aught er and a t one of
sat i sf act i on i n her voi ce.
Af t er a whi l e, he not i ced t he women ar ound hi m; t hey al l seemed t o
r esembl e Li l l i an, wi t h t he same l ook of st at i c gr oomi ng, wi t h t hi n eyebr ows
pl ucked t o a st at i c l i f t and eyes f r ozen i n st at i c amusement . He not i ced t hat
t hey wer e t r yi ng t o f l i r t wi t h hi m, and t hat Li l l i an wat ched i t as i f she
wer e enj oyi ng t he hopel essness of t hei r at t empt s. Thi s, t hen he t hought was
t he happi ness of f emi ni ne vani t y whi ch she had begged hi mt o gi ve her , t hese
wer e t he st andar ds whi ch he di d not l i ve by, but had t o consi der . He t ur ned
f or escape t o a gr oup of men.
He coul d not f i nd a si ngl e st r ai ght st at ement i n t he conver sat i on of t he
men; what ever subj ect t hey seemed t o be t al ki ng about never seemed t o be t he
subj ect t hey wer e act ual l y di scussi ng. He l i st ened l i ke a f or ei gner who
r ecogni zed some of t he wor ds, but coul d not connect t hemi nt o sent ences. A
young man, wi t h a l ook of al cohol i c i nsol ence, st agger ed past t he gr oup and
snapped, chuckl i ng, " Lear ned your l esson, Rear den?" He di d not know what t he
young r at had meant ; ever ybody el se seemed t o know i t ; t hey l ooked shocked
and secr et l y pl eased.
Li l l i an dr i f t ed away f r omhi m, as i f l et t i ng hi munder st and t hat she di d
not i nsi st upon hi s l i t er al at t endance. He r et r eat ed t o a cor ner of t he r oom
wher e no one woul d see hi mor not i ce t he di r ect i on of hi s eyes. Then he
per mi t t ed hi msel f t o l ook at Dagny.
He wat ched t he gr ay dr ess, t he shi f t i ng movement of t he sof t cl ot h when
she wal ked, t he moment ar y pauses scul pt ur ed by t he cl ot h, t he shadows and t he
l i ght . He saw i t as a bl ui sh- gr ay smoke hel d shaped f or an i nst ant i nt o a
l ong cur ve t hat sl ant ed f or war d t o her knee and back t o t he t i p of her
sandal . He knew ever y f acet t he l i ght woul d shape i f t he smoke wer e r i pped
away.
He f el t a mur ky, t wi st i ng pai n: i t was j eal ousy of ever y man who spoke t o
her . He had never f el t i t bef or e; but he f el t i t her e, wher e ever yone had t he
r i ght t o appr oach her , except hi msel f .
Then, as i f a si ngl e, sudden bl ow t o hi s br ai n bl ast ed a moment ' s shi f t of
per spect i ve, he f el t an i mmense ast oni shment at what he was doi ng her e and
why. He l ost , f or t hat moment , al l t he days and dogmas of hi s past ; hi s
concept s, hi s pr obl ems, hi s pai n wer e wi ped out ; he knew onl yas f r oma
gr eat , cl ear di st ancet hat man exi st s f or t he achi evement of hi s desi r es, and
he wonder ed why he st ood her e, he wonder ed who had t he r i ght t o demand t hat
he wast e a si ngl e i r r epl aceabl e hour of hi s l i f e, when hi s onl y desi r e was t o
sei ze t he sl ender f i gur e i n gr ay and hol d her t hr ough t he l engt h of what ever
t i me t her e was l ef t f or hi mt o exi st .
I n t he next moment , he f el t t he shudder of r ecapt ur i ng hi s mi nd. He f el t
t he t i ght , cont empt uous movement of hi s l i ps pr essed t oget her i n t oken of t he
wor ds he cr i ed t o hi msel f : You made a cont r act once, now st i ck t o i t . And
t hen he t hought suddenl y t hat i n busi ness t r ansact i ons t he cour t s of l aw di d
not r ecogni ze a cont r act wher ei n no val uabl e consi der at i on had been gi ven by
one par t y t o t he ot her . He wonder ed what made hi mt hi nk of i t . The t hought
seemed i r r el evant . He di d not pur sue i t .
J ames Taggar t saw Li l l i an Rear den dr i f t casual l y t owar d hi mat t he one
moment when he chanced t o be al one i n t he di mcor ner bet ween a pot t ed pal m
and a wi ndow. He st opped and wai t ed t o l et her appr oach.
He coul d not guess her pur pose, but t hi s was t he manner whi ch, i n t he code
he under st ood, meant t hat he had bet t er hear her .
" How do you l i ke my weddi ng gi f t , J i m?" she asked, and l aughed at hi s l ook
of embar r assment . " No, no, don' t t r y t o go over t he l i st of t hi ngs i n your
apar t ment , wonder i ng whi ch one t he hel l i t was. I t ' s not i n your apar t ment ,
i t ' s r i ght her e, and i t ' s a non- mat er i al gi f t , dar l i ng. "
He saw t he hal f - hi nt of a smi l e on her f ace, t he l ook under st ood among hi s
f r i ends as an i nvi t at i on t o shar e a secr et vi ct or y; i t was t he l ook, not of
havi ng out t hought , but of havi ng out smar t ed somebody.
He answer ed caut i ousl y, wi t h a saf el y pl easant smi l e, " Your pr esence i s
t he best gi f t you coul d gi ve me. "
" My pr esence, J i m?"
The l i nes of hi s f ace wer e shock- bound f or a moment . He knew what she
meant , but he had not expect ed her t o mean i t .
She smi l ed openl y. " We bot h know whose pr esence i s t he most val uabl e one
f or you t oni ght and t he unexpect ed one. Di dn' t you r eal l y t hi nk of gi vi ng me
cr edi t f or i t ? I ' msur pr i sed at you. I t hought you had a geni us f or
r ecogni zi ng pot ent i al f r i ends. "
He woul d not commi t hi msel f ; he kept hi s voi ce car ef ul l y neut r al .
" Have I f ai l ed t o appr eci at e your f r i endshi p, Li l l i an?"
" Now, now, dar l i ng, you know what I ' mt al ki ng about . You di dn' t expect hi m
t o come her e, you di dn' t r eal l y t hi nk t hat he i s af r ai d of you, di d you? But
t o have t he ot her s t hi nk he i st hat ' s qui t e an i nest i mabl e advant age, i sn' t
i t ?"
" I ' m. . . sur pr i sed, Li l l i an. "
" Shoul dn' t you say ' i mpr essed' ? Your guest s ar e qui t e i mpr essed. I can
pr act i cal l y hear t hemt hi nki ng al l over t he r oom. Most of t hemar e t hi nki ng:
' I f he has t o seek t er ms wi t h J i mTaggar t , we' d bet t er t oe t he l i ne. ' And a
f ew ar e t hi nki ng: ' I f he' s af r ai d, we' l l get away wi t h much mor e. ' Thi s i s as
you want i t , of cour seand I woul dn' t t hi nk of spoi l i ng your t r i umphbut you
and I ar e t he onl y ones who know t hat you di dn' t achi eve i t si ngl e- handed. "
He di d not smi l e; he asked, hi s f ace bl ank, hi s voi ce smoot h, but wi t h a
car ef ul l y measur ed hi nt of har shness, " What ' s your angl e?"
She l aughed. " Essent i al l yt he same as your s, J i m. But speaki ng
pr act i cal l ynone at al l . I t ' s j ust a f avor I ' ve done you, and I need no f avor
i n r et ur n. Don' t wor r y, I ' mnot l obbyi ng f or any speci al i nt er est s, I ' mnot
af t er squeezi ng some par t i cul ar di r ect i ve out of Mr . Mouch, I ' mnot even
af t er a di amond t i ar a f r omyou. Unl ess, of cour se, i t ' s a t i ar a of a non-
mat er i al or der , such as your appr eci at i on. "
He l ooked st r ai ght at her f or t he f i r st t i me, hi s eyes nar r owed, hi s f ace
r el axed t o t he same hal f - smi l e as her s, suggest i ng t he expr essi on whi ch, f or
bot h of t hem, meant t hat t hey f el t at home wi t h each ot her : an expr essi on of
cont empt . " You know t hat I have al ways admi r ed you, Li l l i an, as one of t he
t r ul y super i or women. "
" I ' mawar e of i t . " Ther e was t he f ai nt est coat i ng of mocker y spr ead, l i ke
shel l ac, over t he smoot h not es of her voi ce.
He was st udyi ng her i nsol ent l y. " You must f or gi ve me i f I t hi nk t hat some
cur i osi t y i s per mi ssi bl e bet ween f r i ends, " he sai d, wi t h no t one of apol ogy.
" I ' mwonder i ng f r omwhat angl e you cont empl at e t he possi bi l i t y of cer t ai n
f i nanci al bur densor l osseswhi ch af f ect your own per sonal i nt er est s. "
She shr ugged. " Fr omt he angl e of a hor sewoman, dar l i ng. I f you had t he
most power f ul hor se i n t he wor l d, you woul d keep i t br i dl ed down t o t he Gal t
r equi r ed t o car r y you i n comf or t , even t hough t hi s meant t he sacr i f i ce of i t s
f ul l capaci t y, even t hough i t s t op speed woul d never be seen and i t s gr eat
power woul d be wast ed. You woul d do i t
because i f you l et t he hor se go f ul l bl ast , i t woul d t hr ow you of f i n no
t i me. . . . However , f i nanci al aspect s ar e not my chi ef concer n nor your s,
J i m. "
" t di d under est i mat e you, " he sai d sl owl y.
" Oh, wel l , t hat ' s an er r or I ' mwi l l i ng t o hel p you cor r ect . I know t he
sor t of pr obl emhe pr esent s t o you. I know why you' r e af r ai d of hi m, as you
have good r eason t o be. But . . . wel l , you' r e i n busi ness and i n pol i t i cs,
so I ' l l t r y t o say i t i n your l anguage. A busi nessman says t hat he can
del i ver t he goods, and a war d heel er says t hat he can del i ver t he vot e, i s
t hat r i ght ? Wel l , what I want ed you t o know i s t hat I can del i ver hi m, any
t i me I choose. You may act accor di ngl y. "
I n t he code of hi s f r i ends, t o r eveal any par t of one' s sel f was t o gi ve a
weapon t o an enemybut he si gned her conf essi on and mat ched i t , when he sai d,
" I wi sh I wer e as smar t about my si st er . "
She l ooked at hi mwi t hout ast oni shment ; she di d not f i nd t he wor ds
i r r el evant . " Yes, t her e' s a t ough one, " she sai d. " No vul ner abl e poi nt ?
No weaknesses?"
" None. "
" No l ove af f ai r s?"
" God, no! "
She shr ugged, i n si gn of changi ng t he subj ect ; Dagny Taggar t was a per son
on whomshe di d not car e t o dwel l . " I t hi nk I ' l l l et you r un al ong, so t hat
you can chat a l i t t l e wi t h Bal ph Eubank, " she sai d. " He l ooks wor r i ed,
because you haven' t l ooked at hi mal l eveni ng and he' s wonder i ng whet her
l i t er at ur e wi l l be l ef t wi t hout a f r i end at cour t . "
" Li l l i an, you' r e wonder f ul ! " he sai d qui t e spont aneousl y.
She l aughed. " That , my dear , i s t he non- mat er i al t i ar a I want ed! "
The r emnant of a smi l e st ayed on her f ace as she moved t hr ough t he cr owd,
a f l ui d smi l e t hat r an sof t l y i nt o t he l ook of t ensi on and bor edomwor n by
al l t he f aces ar ound her . She moved at r andom, enj oyi ng t he sense of bei ng
seen, her eggshel l sat i n gown shi mmer i ng l i ke heavy cr eamwi t h t he mot i on of
her t al l f i gur e.
I t was t he gr een- bl ue spar k t hat caught her at t ent i on: i t f l ashed f or an
i nst ant under t he l i ght s, on t he wr i st of a t hi n, naked ar m. Then she saw t he
sl ender body, t he gr ay dr ess, t he f r agi l e, naked shoul der s. She st opped. She
l ooked at t he br acel et , f r owni ng.
Dagny t ur ned at her appr oach. Among t he many t hi ngs t hat Li l l i an r esent ed,
t he i mper sonal pol i t eness of Dagny' s f ace was t he one she r esent ed most .
" What do you t hi nk of your br ot her ' s mar r i age, Mi ss Taggar t ?" she asked
casual l y, smi l i ng.
" I have no opi ni on about i t . "
" Do you mean t o say t hat you don' t f i nd i t wor t hy of any t hought ?"
" I f you wi sh t o be exact yes, t hat ' s what I mean. "
" Oh, but don' t you see any human si gni f i cance i n i t ?"
" No. "
" Don' t you t hi nk t hat a per son such as your br ot her ' s br i de does deser ve
some i nt er est ?"
" Why, no. "
" I envy you, Mi ss Taggar t . I envy your Ol ympi an det achment . I t i s, I
t hi nk, t he secr et of why l esser mor t al s can never hope t o equal your success
i n t he f i el d of busi ness. They al l ow t hei r at t ent i on t o be di vi dedat l east
t o t he ext ent of acknowl edgi ng achi evement s i n ot her f i el ds. "
" What achi evement s ar e we t al ki ng about ?"
" Don' t you gr ant any r ecogni t i on at al l t o t he women who at t ai n unusual
hei ght s of conquest , not i n t he i ndust r i al , but i n t he human r eal m?"
" I don' t t hi nk t hat t her e i s such a wor d as ' conquest ' i n t he human
r eal m. "
" Oh, but consi der , f or i nst ance, how har d ot her women woul d have had t o
wor ki f wor k wer e t he onl y means avai l abl e t o t hemt o achi eve what t hi s gi r l
has achi eved t hr ough t he per son of your br ot her . "
" 1 don' t t hi nk she knows t he exact nat ur e of what she has achi eved. "
Rear den saw t hemt oget her . He appr oached. He f el t t hat he had t o hear i t ,
no mat t er what t he consequences. He st opped si l ent l y besi de t hem. He di d not
know whet her Li l l i an was awar e of hi s pr esence; he knew t hat Dagny was.
" Do show a l i t t l e gener osi t y t owar d her , Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Li l l i an.
" At l east , t he gener osi t y of at t ent i on. You must not despi se t he women who
do not possess your br i l l i ant t al ent , but who exer ci se t hei r own par t i cul ar
endowment s. Nat ur e al ways bal ances her gi f t s and of f er s compensat i onsdon' t
you t hi nk so?"
" I ' mnot sur e I under st and you. "
" Oh, I ' msur e you don' t want t o hear me become mor e expl i ci t ! "
" Why, yes, I do. "
Li l l i an shr ugged angr i l y; among t he women who wer e her f r i ends, she woul d
have been under st ood and st opped l ong ago; but t hi s was an adver sar y new t o
her a woman who r ef used t o be hur t . She di d not car e t o speak mor e cl ear l y,
but she saw Rear den l ooki ng at her .
She smi l ed and sai d, " Wel l , consi der your si st er - i n- l aw, Mi ss Taggar t .
What chance di d she have t o r i se i n t he wor l d? Noneby your exact i ng
st andar ds. She coul d not have made a successf ul car eer i n busi ness.
She does not possess your unusual mi nd. Besi des, men woul d have made i t
i mpossi bl e f or her . They woul d have f ound her t oo at t r act i ve.
So she t ook advant age of t he f act t hat men have st andar ds whi ch,
unf or t unat el y, ar e not as hi gh as your s. She r esor t ed t o t al ent s whi ch, I ' m
sur e, you despi se. You have never car ed t o compet e wi t h us l esser women i n
t he sol e f i el d of our ambi t i oni n t he achi evement of power over men. "
" I f you cal l i t power , Mr s. Rear dent hen, no, I haven' t . "
She t ur ned t o go, but Li l l i an' s voi ce st opped her : " I woul d l i ke t o
bel i eve t hat you' r e f ul l y consi st ent , Mi ss Taggar t , and f ul l y devoi d of human
f r ai l t i es. I woul d l i ke t o bel i eve t hat you' ve never f el t t he desi r e t o
f l at t er or t o of f endanyone. But I see t hat you expect ed bot h Henr y and me t o
be her e t oni ght . "
" Why, no, I can' t say t hat I di d, I had not seen my br ot her ' s guest l i st . "
" Then why ar e you wear i ng t hat br acel et ?"
Dagny' s eyes moved del i ber at el y st r ai ght t o her s. " I al ways wear i t . "
" Don' t you t hi nk t hat t hat ' s car r yi ng a j oke t oo f ar ?"
" I t was never a j oke, Mr s. Rear den. "
" Then you' l l under st and me i f I say t hat I ' d l i ke you t o gi ve t hat
br acel et back t o me. "
" I under st and you. But ( wi l l not gi ve i t back. "
Li l l i an l et a moment pass, as i f t o l et t hembot h acknowl edge t he meani ng
of t hei r si l ence. For once, she hel d Dagny' s gl ance wi t hout smi l i ng. " What do
you expect me t o t hi nk, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" Anyt hi ng you wi sh. "
" What i s your mot i ve?"
" You knew my mot i ve when you gave me t he br acel et . "
Li l l i an gl anced at Rear den. Hi s f ace was expr essi onl ess; she saw no
r eact i on, no hi nt of i nt ent i on t o hel p her or st op her , not hi ng but an
at t ent i veness t hat made her f eel as i f she wer e st andi ng i n a spot l i ght .
Her smi l e came back, as a pr ot ect i ve shi el d, an amused, pat r oni zi ng smi l e,
i nt ended t o conver t t he subj ect i nt o a dr awi ng- r oomi ssue agai n. " I ' msur e,
Mi ss Taggar t , t hat you r eal i ze how enor mousl y i mpr oper t hi s i s. "
" No. "
" But sur el y you know t hat you ar e t aki ng a danger ous and ugl y r i sk. "
" No. "
" You do not t ake i nt o consi der at i on t he possi bi l i t y of bei ng . . .
mi sunder st ood?"
" No. "
Li l l i an shook her head i n smi l i ng r epr oach. " Mi ss Taggar t , don' t you t hi nk
t hat t hi s i s a case wher e one cannot af f or d t o i ndul ge i n abst r act t heor y,
but must consi der pr act i cal r eal i t y?"
Dagny woul d not smi l e. " I have never under st ood what i s meant by a
st at ement of t hat ki nd. "
" I mean t hat your at t i t ude may be hi ghl y i deal i st i cas I amsur e i t i s
but , unf or t unat el y, most peopl e do not shar e your l of t y f r ame of mi nd and
wi l l mi si nt er pr et your act i on i n t he one manner whi ch woul d be most abhor r ent
t o you. "
" Then t he r esponsi bi l i t y and t he r i sk wi l l be t hei r s, not mi ne. "
" I admi r e your . . . no, I must not say ' i nnocence, ' but shal l I say
' pur i t y?' You have never t hought of i t , I ' msur e, but l i f e i s not as st r ai ght
and l ogi cal as . . . as a r ai l r oad t r ack. I t i s r egr et t abl e, but possi bl e,
t hat your hi gh i nt ent i ons may l ead peopl e t o suspect t hi ngs whi ch . . . wel l ,
whi ch I ' msur e you know t o be of a sor di d and scandal ous nat ur e. "
Dagny was l ooki ng st r ai ght at her . " I don' t . "
" But you cannot i gnor e t hat possi bi l i t y. "
" I do. " Dagny t ur ned t o go.
" Oh, but shoul d you wi sh t o evade a di scussi on i f you have not hi ng t o
hi de?" Dagny st opped. " And i f your br i l l i ant and r eckl ess cour age per mi t s you
t o gambl e wi t h your r eput at i on, shoul d you i gnor e t he danger t o Mr . Rear den?"
Dagny asked sl owl y, " What i s t he danger t o Mr . Rear den?"
' Tmsur e you under st and me. "
" I don' t . "
" Oh, but sur el y i t i sn' t necessar y t o be mor e expl i ci t . "
" I t i si f you wi sh t o cont i nue t hi s di scussi on. "
Li l l i an' s eyes went t o Rear den' s f ace, sear chi ng f or some si gn t o hel p her
deci de whet her t o cont i nue or t o st op. He woul d not hel p her .
" Mi ss Taggar t she sai d, " I amnot your equal i n phi l osophi cal al t i t ude. I
amonl y an aver age wi f e. Pl ease gi ve me t hat br acel et i f you do not wi sh me
t o t hi nk what I mi ght t hi nk and what you woul dn' t want me t o name. "
" Mr s. Rear den, i s t hi s t he manner and pl ace i n whi ch you choose t o suggest
t hat I amsl eepi ng wi t h your husband?"
" Cer t ai nl y not ! " The cr y was i mmedi at e; i t had a sound of pani c and t he
qual i t y of an aut omat i c r ef l ex, l i ke t he j er k of wi t hdr awal of a pi ckpocket ' s
hand caught i n act i on. She added, wi t h an angr y, ner vous chuckl e, i n a t one
of sar casmand si ncer i t y t hat conf essed a r el uct ant admi ssi on of her act ual
opi ni on, " That woul d be t he possi bi l i t y f ar t hest f r ommy mi nd. "
" Then you wi l l pl ease apol ogi ze t o Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Rear den.
Dagny caught her br eat h, cut t i ng of f al l but t he f ai nt echo of a gasp.
They bot h whi r l ed t o hi m. Li l l i an saw not hi ng i n " hi s f ace; Dagny saw
t or t ur e.
" I t i sn' t necessar y, Hank, " she sai d.
" I t i sf or me, " he answer ed col dl y, not l ooki ng at her ; he was l ooki ng at
Li l l i an i n t he manner of a command t hat coul d not be di sobeyed.
Li l l i an st udi ed hi s f ace wi t h mi l d ast oni shment , but wi t hout anxi et y or
anger , l i ke a per son conf r ont ed by a puzzl e of no si gni f i cance.
" But of cour se, she sai d compl ai sant l y, her voi ce smoot h and conf i dent
agai n. " Pl ease accept my apol ogy, Mi ss Taggar t , i f I gave you t he i mpr essi on
t hat I suspect ed t he exi st ence of a r el at i onshi p whi ch I woul d consi der
i mpr obabl e f or you andf r ommy knowl edge of hi s i ncl i nat i onsi mpossi bl e f or
my husband. "
She t ur ned and wal ked away i ndi f f er ent l y, l eavi ng t hemt oget her , as i f i n
del i ber at e pr oof of her wor ds.
Dagny st ood st i l l , her eyes cl osed; she was t hi nki ng of t he ni ght when
Li l l i an had gi ven her t he br acel et . He had t aken hi s wi f e' s si de, t hen; he
had t aken her s, now. Of t he t hr ee of t hem, she was t he onl y one who
under st ood f ul l y what t hi s meant .
" What ever i s t he wor st you may wi sh t o say t o me, you wi l l be r i ght . "
She hear d hi mand opened her eyes. He was l ooki ng at her col dl y, hi s f ace
har sh, al l owi ng no si gn of pai n or apol ogy t o suggest a hope of f or gi veness.
" Dear est , don' t t or t ur e your sel f l i ke t hat , " she sai d. " I knew t hat you' r e
mar r i ed. I ' ve never t r i ed t o evade t hat knowl edge. I ' mnot hur t by i t
t oni ght , "
Her f i r st wor d was t he most vi ol ent of t he sever al bl ows he f el t : she had
never used t hat wor d bef or e. She had never l et hi mhear t hat par t i cul ar t one
of t ender ness. She had never spoken of hi s mar r i age i n t he pr i vacy of t hei r
meet i ngsyet she spoke of i t her e wi t h ef f or t l ess si mpl i ci t y.
She saw t he anger i n hi s f acet he r ebel l i on agai nst pi t yt he l ook of
sayi ng t o her cont empt uousl y t hat he had bet r ayed no t or t ur e and needed no
hel pt hen t he l ook of t he r eal i zat i on t hat she knew hi s f ace as t hor oughl y as
he knew her she cl osed hi s eyes, he i ncl i ned hi s head a l i t t l e, and he sai d
ver y qui et l y, " Thank you. "
She smi l ed and t ur ned away f r omhi m.
J ames Taggar t hel d an empt y champagne gl ass i n hi s hand and not i ced t he
hast e wi t h whi ch Bal ph Eubank waved at a passi ng wai t er , as i f t he wai t er
wer e gui l t y of an unpar donabl e l apse. Then Eubank compl et ed hi s sent ence: "
but you, Mr . Taggar t , woul d know t hat a man who l i ves on a hi gher pl ane
cannot be under st ood or appr eci at ed. I t ' s a hopel ess st r uggl et r yi ng t o
obt ai n suppor t f or l i t er at ur e f r oma wor l d r ul ed by busi nessmen. They ar e
not hi ng but st uf f y, mi ddl e- cl ass vul gar i ans or el se pr edat or y savages l i ke
Rear den. "
" J i m, " sai d Ber t r amScudder , sl appi ng hi s shoul der , " t he best compl i ment I
can pay you i s t hat you' r e not a r eal busi nessman! "
" You' r e a man of cul t ur e, J i m, " sai d Dr . Pr i t chet t , " you' r e not an ex- or e-
di gger l i ke Rear den. I don' t have t o expl ai n t o you t he cr uci al need of
Washi ngt on assi st ance t o hi gher educat i on. "
" You r eal l y l i ked my l ast novel , Mr . Taggar t ?" Bal ph Eubank kept aski ng.
" You r eal l y l i ked i t ?"
Or r en Boyl e gl anced at t he gr oup, on hi s way acr oss t he r oom, but di d not
st op. The gl ance was suf f i ci ent t o gi ve hi man est i mat e of t he nat ur e of t he
gr oup' s concer ns. Fai r enough, he t hought , one' s got t o t r ade somet hi ng. He
knew, but di d not car e t o name j ust what was bei ng t r aded.
" We ar c at t he dawn of a new age, " sai d J ames Taggar t , f r omabove t he r i m
of hi s champagne gl ass. " We ar e br eaki ng up t he vi ci ous t yr anny of economi c
power . We wi l l set men f r ee of t he r ul e of t he dol l ar . We wi l l r el ease our
spi r i t ual ai ms f r omdependence on t he owner s of mat er i al means. We wi l l
l i ber at e our cul t ur e f r omt he st r angl ehol d of t he pr of i t - chaser s. We wi l l
bui l d a soci et y dedi cat ed t o hi gher i deal s, and we wi l l r epl ace t he
ar i st ocr acy of money by"
" t he ar i st ocr acy of pul l , " sai d a voi ce beyond t he gr oup.
They whi r l ed ar ound. The man who st ood f aci ng t hemwas Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a.
Hi s f ace l ooked t anned by a summer sun, and hi s eyes wer e t he exact col or
of t he sky on t he ki nd of day when he had acqui r ed hi s t an.
Hi s smi l e suggest ed a summer mor ni ng. The way he wor e hi s f or mal cl ot hes
made t he r est of t he cr owd l ook as i f t hey wer e masquer adi ng i n bor r owed
cost umes.
" What ' s t he mat t er ?" he asked i n t he mi dst of t hei r si l ence. " Di d I say
somet hi ng t hat somebody her e di dn' t know?"
" How di d you get her e?" was t he f i r st t hi ng J ames Taggar t f ound hi msel f
abl e t o ut t er .
" By pl ane t o Newar k, by t axi f r omt her e, t hen by el evat or f r ommy sui t e
f i f t y- t hr ee f l oor s above you. "
" I di dn' t mean . . . t hat i s, what I meant was"
" Don' t l ook so st ar t l ed, J ames. I f I l and i n New Yor k and hear t hat
t her e' s a par t y goi ng on, I woul dn' t mi ss i t , woul d I ? You' ve al ways sai d
t hat I ' mj ust a par t y hound. "
The gr oup was wat chi ng t hem.
" I ' mdel i ght ed t o see you, of cour se, " Taggar t sai d caut i ousl y, t hen added
bel l i ger ent l y, t o bal ance i t , " But i f you t hi nk you' r e goi ng t o"
Fr anci sco woul d not pi ck up t he t hr eat ; he l et Taggar t ' s sent ence sl i de
i nt o mi d- ai r and st op, t hen asked pol i t el y, " I f I t hi nk what ?"
" You under st and me ver y wel l . "
" Yes. I do. Shal l I t el l you what I t hi nk?"
" Thi s i s har dl y t he moment f or any"
" I t hi nk you shoul d pr esent me t o your br i de, J ames. Your manner s have
never been gl ued t o you t oo sol i dl yyou al ways l ose t hemi n an emer gency, and
t hat ' s t he t i me when one needs t hemmost . "
Tur ni ng t o escor t hi mt owar d Cher r yl , Taggar t caught t he f ai nt sound t hat
came f r omBer t r amScudder ; i t was an unbor n chuckl e. Taggar t knew t hat t he
men who had cr awl ed at hi s f eet a moment ago, whose hat r ed f or Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a was, per haps, gr eat er t han hi s own, wer e enj oyi ng t he spect acl e
none t he l ess. The i mpl i cat i ons of t hi s knowl edge wer e among t he t hi ngs he
di d not car e t o name.
Fr anci sco bowed t o Cher r yl and of f er ed hi s best wi shes, as i f she wer e t he
br i de of a r oyal hei r . Wat chi ng ner vousl y, Taggar t f el t r el i ef
and a t ouch of namel ess r esent ment , whi ch, i f named, woul d have t ol d hi m
he wi shed t he occasi on deser ved t he gr andeur t hat Fr anci sco' s manner gave i t
f or a moment .
He was af r ai d t o r emai n by Fr anci sco' s si de and af r ai d t o l et hi ml oose
among t he guest s, He backed a f ew t ent at i ve st eps away, but Fr anci sco
f ol l owed hi m, smi l i ng.
" You di dn' t t hi nk I ' d want t o mi ss your weddi ng, J ameswhen you' r e my
chi l dhood f r i end and best st ockhol der ?"
" What ?" gasped Taggar t , and r egr et t ed i t : t he sound was a conf essi on of
pani c.
Fr anci sco di d not seemt o t ake not e of i t ; he sai d, hi s voi ce gai l y
i nnocent , " Oh, but of cour se I know i t . I know t he st ooge behi nd t he st ooge
behi nd ever y name on t he l i st of t he st ockhol der s of d' Anconi a Copper . I t ' s
sur pr i si ng how many men by t he name of Smi t h and Gomez ar e r i ch enough t o own
bi g chunks of t he r i chest cor por at i on i n t he wor l dso you can' t bl ame me i f I
was cur i ous t o l ear n what di st i ngui shed per sons I act ual l y have among my
mi nor i t y st ockhol der s. I seemt o be popul ar wi t h an ast oni shi ng col l ect i on of
publ i c f i gur es f r omal l over t he wor l df r omPeopl e' s St at es wher e you
woul dn' t t hi nk t her e' s any money l ef t at al l . "
Taggar t sai d dr yl y, f r owni ng, " Ther e ar e many r easonsbusi ness r easonswhy
i t i s somet i mes advi sabl e not t o make one' s i nvest ment s di r ect l y. "
" One r eason i s t hat a man doesn' t want peopl e t o know he' s r i ch.
Anot her i s t hat he doesn' t want t hemt o l ear n how he got t hat way. "
" I don' t know what you mean or why you shoul d obj ect . "
" Oh, I don' t obj ect at al l . I appr eci at e i t . A gr eat many i nvest or s t he
ol d- f ashi oned sor t dr opped me af t er t he San Sebast i an Mi nes.
I t scar ed t hemaway. But t he moder n ones had mor e f ai t h i n me and act ed as
t hey al ways doon f ai t h. I can' t t el l you how t hor oughl y I appr eci at e i t . "
Taggar t wi shed Fr anci sco woul d not t al k so l oudl y; he wi shed peopl e woul d
not gat her ar ound t hem. " You have been doi ng ext r emel y wel l , " he sai d, i n t he
saf e t one of a busi ness compl i ment .
" Yes, haven' t I ? I t ' s wonder f ul how t he st ock of d' Anconi a Copper has
r i sen wi t hi n t he l ast year . But I don' t t hi nk I shoul d be t oo concei t ed about
i t t her e' s not much compet i t i on l ef t i n t he wor l d, t her e' s no pl ace t o i nvest
one' s money, i f one happens t o get r i ch qui ckl y, and her e' s d' Anconi a Copper ,
t he ol dest company on ear t h, t he one t hat ' s been t he saf est bet f or
cent ur i es. J ust t hi nk of what i t managed t o sur vi ve t hr ough t he ages. So i f
you peopl e have deci ded t hat i t ' s t he best pl ace f or your hi dden money, t hat
i t can' t be beat en, t hat i t woul d t ake a most unusual ki nd of man t o dest r oy
d' Anconi a Copper you wer e r i ght . "
" Wel l , I hear i t sai d t hat you' ve begun t o t ake your r esponsi bi l i t i es
ser i ousl y and t hat you' ve set t l ed down t o busi ness at l ast . They say you' ve
been wor ki ng ver y har d, "
" Oh, has anybody not i ced t hat ? I t was t he ol d- f ashi oned i nvest or s who made
i t a poi nt t o wat ch what t he pr esi dent of a company was doi ng. The moder n
i nvest or s don' t f i nd knowl edge necessar y. I don' t t hi nk t hey ever l ook i nt o
my act i vi t i es. "
Taggar t smi l ed. " They l ook at t he t i cker t ape of t he st ock exchange.
That t el l s t he whol e st or y, doesn' t i t ?"
" Yes. Yes, i t doesi n t he l ong r un. "
" I must say I ' mgl ad t hat you haven' t been much of a par t y hound t hi s past
year . The r esul t s show i n your wor k. "
" Do t hey? Wel l , no, not qui t e yet . "
" I suppose, " sai d Taggar t , i n t he caut i ous t one of an i ndi r ect quest i on,
" t hat I shoul d f eel f l at t er ed you chose t o come t o t hi s par t y. "
" Oh, but I had t o come. I t hought you wer e expect i ng me. "
" Why, no, I wasn' t . . . t hat i s, I mean"
" You shoul d have expect ed me, J ames. Thi s i s t he gr eat , f or mal , nose-
count i ng event , wher e t he vi ct i ms come i n or der t o show how saf e i t i s t o
dest r oy t hem, and t he dest r oyer s f or mpact s of et er nal f r i endshi p, whi ch
l ast s f or t hr ee mont hs. I don' t know exact l y whi ch gr oup I bel ong t o, but I
had t o come and be count ed, di dn' t I ?"
" What i n hel l do you t hi nk you' r e sayi ng?" Taggar t cr i ed f ur i ousl y, seei ng
t he t ensi on on t he f aces ar ound t hem.
" Be car ef ul , J ames. I f you t r y t o pr et end t hat you don' t under st and me,
I ' mgoi ng t o make i t much cl ear er . "
" I f you t hi nk i t ' s pr oper t o ut t er such"
" I t hi nk i t ' s f unny. Ther e was a t i me when men wer e af r ai d t hat somebody
woul d r eveal some secr et of t hei r s t hat was unknown t o t hei r f el l ows.
Nowadays, t hey' r e af r ai d t hat somebody wi l l name what ever ybody knows. Have
you pr act i cal peopl e ever t hought t hat t hat ' s al l i t woul d t ake t o bl ast your
whol e, bi g, compl ex st r uct ur e, wi t h al l your l aws and gunsj ust somebody
nami ng t he exact nat ur e of what you' r e doi ng?"
" I f you t hi nk i t ' s pr oper t o come t o a cel ebr at i on such as a weddi ng, i n
or der t o i nsul t t he host "
" Why, J ames, I came her e t o t hank you. "
" To t hank me?"
" Of cour se. You' ve done me a gr eat f avor you and your boys i n Washi ngt on
and t he boys i n Sant i ago. Onl y I wonder why none of you t ook t he t r oubl e t o
i nf or mme about i t . Those di r ect i ves t hat somebody i ssued her e a f ew mont hs
ago ar e choki ng of f t he ent i r e copper i ndust r y of t hi s count r y. And t he
r esul t i s t hat t hi s count r y suddenl y has t o i mpor t much l ar ger amount s of
copper . And wher e i n t he wor l d i s t her e any copper l ef t unl ess i t ' s d' Anconi a
copper ? So you see t hat I have good r eason t o be gr at ef ul . "
" 1 assur e you I had not hi ng t o do wi t h i t , " Taggar t sai d hast i l y, " and
besi des, t he vi t al economi c pol i ci es of t hi s count r y ar e not det er mi ned by
any consi der at i ons such as you' r e i nt i mat i ng or - "
" I know how t hey' r e det er mi ned, J ames. I know t hat t he deal st ar t ed wi t h
t he boys i n Sant i ago, because t hey' ve been on t he d' Anconi a pay r ol l f or
cent ur i eswel l , no, ' pay r ol l ' i s an honor abl e wor d, i t woul d be mor e exact
t o say t hat d' Anconi a Copper has been payi ng t hempr ot ect i on money f or
cent ur i esi sn' t t hat what your gangst er s cal l i t ?
Our boys i n Sant i ago cal l i t t axes. They' ve been get t i ng t hei r cut on
ever y t on of d' Anconi a copper sol d. So t hey have a vest ed i nt er est t o see me
sel l as many t ons as possi bl e. But wi t h t he wor l d t ur ni ng i nt o Peopl e' s
St at es, t hi s i s t he onl y count r y l ef t wher e men ar e not yet r educed t o
di ggi ng f or r oot s i n f or est s f or t hei r sust enanceso t hi s i s t he onl y mar ket
l ef t on ear t h. The boys i n Sant i ago want ed t o cor ner t hi s mar ket . I don' t
know what t hey of f er ed t o t he boys i n Washi ngt on, or who t r aded what and t o
whombut I know t hat you came i n on i t somewher e, because you do hol d a
si zabl e chunk of d' Anconi a Copper st ock. And i t sur el y di dn' t di spl ease you
t hat mor ni ng, f our mont hs L ago, t he day af t er t he di r ect i ves wer e i ssuedt o
see t he ki nd of soar i ng l eap t hat d' Anconi a Copper per f or med on t he St ock
Exchange. Why, i t pr act i cal l y l eaped of f t he t i cker t ape and i nt o your f ace. "
" Who gave you any gr ounds t o i nvent an out r ageous st or y of t hi s ki nd?"
" Nobody. I knew not hi ng about i t . I j ust saw t he l eap on t he t i cker t ape
t hat mor ni ng. That t ol d t he whol e st or y, di dn' t i t ? Besi des, t he boys i n
Sant i ago sl apped a new t ax on copper t he f ol l owi ng weekand t hey t ol d me t hat
I shoul dn' t mi nd i t , not wi t h t hat sudden r i se of my st ock. They wer e wor ki ng
f or my best i nt er est s, t hey sai d. They sai d, why shoul d I car et aki ng t he t wo
event s t oget her , I was r i cher t han I had been bef or e. Tr ue enough. I was. "
" Why do you wi sh t o t el l me t hi s?"
" Why don' t you wi sh t o t ake any cr edi t f or i t , J ames? That ' s out of
char act er and out of t he pol i cy at whi ch you' r e such an exper t . I n an age
when men exi st , not by r i ght , but by f avor , one does not r ej ect a gr at ef ul
per son, one t r i es t o t r ap i nt o gr at i t ude as many peopl e as possi bl e. Don' t
you want t o have me as one of your men under obl i gat i on?"
" I don' t know what you' r e t al ki ng about . "
" Thi nk what a f avor I r ecei ved wi t hout any ef f or t on my par t . I wasn' t
consul t ed, I wasn' t i nf or med, I wasn' t t hought about , ever yt hi ng was ar r anged
wi t hout meand al l I have t o do now i s pr oduce t he copper . That was a gr eat
f avor , J amesand you may be sur e t hat I wi l l r epay i t . "
Fr anci sco t ur ned abr upt l y, not wai t i ng f or an answer , and st ar t ed away.
Taggar t di d not f ol l ow; he st ood, f eel i ng t hat anyt hi ng was pr ef er abl e t o one
mor e mi nut e of t hei r conver sat i on.
Fr anci sco st opped when he came t o Dagny. He l ooked at her f or a si l ent
i nst ant , wi t hout gr eet i ng, hi s smi l e acknowl edgi ng t hat she had been t he
f i r st per son he saw and t he f i r st one t o see hi mat hi s ent r ance i nt o t he
bal l r oom.
Agai nst ever y doubt and war ni ng i n her mi nd, she f el t not hi ng but a j oyous
conf i dence; i nexpl i cabl y, she f el t as i f hi s f i gur e i n t hat cr owd was a poi nt
of i ndest r uct i bl e secur i t y. But i n t he moment when t he begi nni ng of a smi l e
t ol d hi mhow gl ad she was t o see hi m, he asked, " Don' t you want t o t el l me
what a br i l l i ant achi evement t he J ohn Gal t Li ne t ur ned out t o be?"
She f el t her l i ps t r embl i ng and t i ght eni ng at once, as she answer ed, ' Tm
sor r y i f I show t hat I ' mst i l l open t o be hur t . I t shoul dn' t shock me t hat
you' ve come t o t he st age wher e you despi se achi evement . "
" Yes; don' t T? I despi sed t hat Li ne so much t hat I di dn' t want t o see i t
r each t he ki nd of end i t has r eached. "
He saw her l ook of sudden at t ent i veness, t he l ook of t hought r ushi ng i nt o
a br each t or n open upon a new di r ect i on. He wat ched her f or a moment , as i f
he knew ever y st ep she woul d f i nd al ong t hat r oad, t hen chuckl ed and sai d,
" Don' t you want t o ask me now: Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
" Why shoul d I want t o, and why now?"
" Don' t you r emember t hat you dar ed hi mt o come and cl ai myour Li ne? Wel l ,
he has. "
He wal ked on, not wai t i ng t o sec t he l ook i n her eyesa l ook t hat hel d
anger , bewi l der ment and t he f i r st f ai nt gl eamof a quest i on mar k.
I t was t he muscl es of hi s own f ace t hat made Rear den r eal i ze t he nat ur e of
hi s r eact i on t o Fr anci sco' s ar r i val : he not i ced suddenl y t hat he was smi l i ng
and t hat hi s f ace had been r el axed i nt o t he di mwel l bei ng of a smi l e f or
some mi nut es past , as he wat ched Fr anci sco d' Anconi a i n t he cr owd.
He acknowl edged t o hi msel f , f or t he f i r st t i me, al l t he hal f - gr asped,
hal f - r ej ect ed moment s when he had t hought of Fr anci sco d' Anconi a and t hr ust
t he t hought asi de bef or e i t became t he knowl edge of how much he want ed t o see
hi magai n. I n moment s of sudden exhaust i on
at hi s desk, wi t h t he f i r es of t he f ur naces goi ng down i n t he t wi l i ght
i n t he dar kness of t he l onel y wal k t hr ough t he empt y count r ysi de t o hi s
housei n t he si l ence of sl eepl ess ni ght she had f ound hi msel f t hi nki ng of t he
onl y man who had once seemed t o be hi s spokesman.
He had pushed t he memor y asi de, t el l i ng hi msel f : But t hat one i s wor se
t han al l t he ot her s! whi l e f eel i ng cer t ai n t hat t hi s was not t r ue, yet bei ng
unabl e t o name t he r eason of hi s cer t ai nt y. He had caught hi msel f gl anci ng
t hr ough t he newspaper s t o see whet her Fr anci sco d' Anconi a had r et ur ned t o New
Yor kand he had t hr own t he newspaper s asi de, aski ng hi msel f angr i l y: What i f
he di d r et ur n?woul d you go chasi ng hi mt hr ough ni ght cl ubs and cockt ai l
par t i es?what i s i t t hat you want f r omhi m?
Thi s was what he had want edhe t hought , when he caught hi msel f smi l i ng at
t he si ght of Fr anci sco i n t he cr owdt hi s st r ange f eel i ng of expect at i on t hat
hel d cur i osi t y, amusement and hope.
Fr anci sco di d not seemt o have not i ced hi m. Rear den wai t ed, f i ght i ng a
desi r e t o appr oach; not af t er t he ki nd of conver sat i on we had, he t hought
what f or ?what woul d I say t o hi m? And t hen, wi t h t he same smi l i ng, l i ght -
hear t ed f eel i ng, t he f eel i ng of bei ng cer t ai n t hat i t was r i ght , he f ound
hi msel f wal ki ng acr oss t he bal l r oom, t owar d t he gr oup t hat sur r ounded
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
He wonder ed, l ooki ng at t hem, why t hese peopl e wer e dr awn t o Fr anci sco,
why t hey chose t o hol d hi mi mpr i soned i n a cl i ngi ng ci r cl e.
when t hei r r esent ment of hi mwas obvi ous under t hei r smi l es. Thei r f aces
had t he hi nt of a l ook pecul i ar , not t o f ear , but t o cowar di ce: a l ook of
gui l t y anger . Fr anci sco st ood cor ner ed agai nst t he si de edge of a mar bl e
st ai r way, hal f - l eani ng, hal f - si t t i ng on t he st eps; t he i nf or mal i t y of hi s
post ur e, combi ned wi t h t he st r i ct f or mal i t y of hi s cl ot hes, gave hi man ai r
of super l at i ve el egance. Hi s was t he onl y f ace t hat had t he car ef r ee l ook and
t he br i l l i ant smi l e pr oper t o t he enj oyment of a par t y; but hi s eyes seemed
i nt ent i onal l y expr essi onl ess, hol di ng no t r ace of gai et y, showi ngl i ke a
war ni ng si gnal not hi ng but t he act i vi t y of a hei ght ened per cept i veness.
St andi ng unnot i ced on t he edge of t he gr oup, Rear den hear d a woman, who
had l ar ge di amond ear r i ngs and a f l abby, ner vous f ace, ask t ensel y, " Seni or
d' Anconi a, what do you t hi nk i s goi ng t o happen t o t he wor l d?"
" J ust exact l y what i t deser ves, "
" Oh, how cr uel ! "
" Don' t you bel i eve i n t he oper at i on of t he mor al l aw, madame?"
Fr anci sco asked gr avel y. " I do. "
Rear den hear d Ber t r amScudder , out si de t he gr oup, say t o a gi r l who made
some sound of i ndi gnat i on, " Don' t l et hi mdi st ur b you. You know, money i s t he
r oot of al l evi l and he' s t he t ypi cal pr oduct of money. "
Rear den di d not t hi nk t hat Fr anci sco coul d have hear d i t , but he saw
Fr anci sco t ur ni ng t o t hemwi t h a gr avel y cour t eous smi l e.
" So you t hi nk t hat money i s t he r oot of al l evi l ?" sai d Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a. " Have you ever asked what i s t he r oot of money? Money i s a t ool of
exchange, whi ch can' t exi st unl ess t her e ar e goods pr oduced and men abl e t o
pr oduce t hem. Money i s t he mat er i al shape of t he pr i nci pl e t hat men who wi sh
t o deal wi t h one anot her must deal by t r ade and gi ve val ue f or val ue. Money
i s not t he t ool of t he moocher s, who cl ai myour pr oduct by t ear s, or of t he
l oot er s, who t ake i t f r omyou by f or ce. Money i s made possi bl e onl y by t he
men who pr oduce.
I s t hi s what you consi der evi l ?
" When you accept money i n payment f or your ef f or t , you do so onl y on t he
convi ct i on t hat you wi l l exchange i t f or t he pr oduct of t he ef f or t of ot her s.
I t i s not t he moocher s or t he l oot er s who gi ve val ue t o money. Not an ocean
of t ear s nor al l t he guns i n t he wor l d can t r ansf or mt hose pi eces of paper i n
your wal l et i nt o t he br ead you wi l l need t o sur vi ve t omor r ow. Those pi eces of
paper , whi ch shoul d have been gol d, ar e a t oken of honor your cl ai mupon t he
ener gy of t he men who pr oduce. Your wal l et i s your st at ement of hope t hat
somewher e i n t he wor l d ar ound you t her e ar e men who wi l l not def aul t on t hat
mor al pr i nci pl e whi ch i s t he r oot of money. I s t hi s what you consi der evi l ?
" Have you ever l ooked f or t he r oot of pr oduct i on? Take a l ook at an
el ect r i c gener at or and dar e t el l your sel f t hat i t was cr eat ed by t he muscul ar
ef f or t of unt hi nki ng br ut es. Tr y t o gr ow a seed of wheat wi t hout t he
knowl edge l ef t t o you by men who had t o di scover i t f or t he f i r st t i me. Tr y
t o obt ai n your f ood by means of not hi ng but physi cal mot i onsand you' l l l ear n
t hat man' s mi nd i s t he r oot of al l t he goods pr oduced and of al l t he weal t h
t hat has ever exi st ed on ear t h.
" But you say t hat money i s made by t he st r ong at t he expense of t he weak?
What st r engt h do you mean? I t i s not t he st r engt h of guns or muscl es. Weal t h
i s t he pr oduct of man' s capaci t y t o t hi nk. Then i s money made by t he man who
i nvent s a mot or at t he expense of t hose who di d not i nvent i t ? I s money made
by t he i nt el l i gent at t he expense of t he f ool s? By t he abl e at t he expense of
t he i ncompet ent ? By t he ambi t i ous at t he expense of t he l azy? Money i s made
bef or e i t can be l oot ed or moochedmade by t he ef f or t of ever y honest man,
each t o t he ext ent of hi s abi l i t y. An honest man i s one who knows t hat he
can' t consume mor e t han he has pr oduced.
" To t r ade by means of money i s t he code of t he men of good wi l l .
Money r est s on t he axi omt hat ever y man i s t he owner of hi s mi nd and hi s
ef f or t . Money al l ows no power t o pr escr i be t he val ue of your ef f or t except
t he vol unt ar y choi ce of t he man who i s wi l l i ng t o t r ade you hi s ef f or t i n
r et ur n. Money per mi t s you t o obt ai n f or your goods and your l abor t hat whi ch
t hey ar e wor t h t o t he men who buy t hem, but no mor e. Money per mi t s no deal s
except t hose t o mut ual benef i t by t he unf or ced j udgment of t he t r ader s. Money
demands of you t he r ecogni t i on t hat men must wor k f or t hei r own benef i t , not
f or t hei r own i nj ur y, f or t hei r gai n, not t hei r l osst he r ecogni t i on t hat
t hey ar e not beast s of bur den, bor n t o car r y t he wei ght of your mi ser yt hat
you must of f er t hemval ues, not woundst hat t he common bond among men i s not
t he exchange of suf f er i ng, but t he exchange of goods.
Money demands t hat you sel l , not your weakness t o men' s st upi di t y, but
your t al ent t o t hei r r eason; i t demands t hat you buy, not t he shoddi est t hey
of f er , but t he best t hat your money can f i nd. And when men l i ve by t r adewi t h
r eason, not f or ce, as t hei r f i nal ar bi t er i t i s t he best pr oduct t hat wi ns,
t he best per f or mance, t he man of best j udgment and hi ghest abi l i t yand t he
degr ee of a man' s pr oduct i veness i s t he degr ee of hi s r ewar d. Thi s i s t he
code of exi st ence whose t ool and symbol i s money. I s t hi s what you consi der
evi l ?
" But money i s onl y a t ool . I t wi l l t ake you wher ever you wi sh, but i t wi l l
not r epl ace you as t he dr i ver . I t wi l l gi ve you t he means f or t he
sat i sf act i on of your desi r es, but i t wi l l not pr ovi de you wi t h desi r es.
Money i s t he scour ge of t he men who at t empt t o r ever se t he l aw of
causal i t yt he men who seek t o r epl ace t he mi nd by sei zi ng t he pr oduct s of t he
mi nd.
" Money wi l l not pur chase happi ness f or t he man who has no concept of what
he want s: money wi l l not gi ve hi ma code of val ues, i f he' s evaded t he
knowl edge of what t o val ue, and i t wi l l not pr ovi de hi mwi t h a pur pose, i f
he' s evaded t he choke of what t o seek. Money wi l l not buy i nt el l i gence f or
t he f ool , or admi r at i on f or t he cowar d, or r espect f or t he i ncompet ent . The
man who at t empt s t o pur chase t he br ai ns of hi s super i or s t o ser ve hi m, wi t h
hi s money r epl aci ng hi s j udgment , ends up by becomi ng t he vi ct i mof hi s
i nf er i or s. The men of i nt el l i gence deser t hi m, but t he cheat s and t he f r auds
come f l ocki ng t o hi m, dr awn by a l aw whi ch he has not di scover ed: t hat no man
may be smal l er t han hi s money. I s t hi s t he r eason why you cal l i t evi l ?
" Onl y t he man who does not need i t , i s f i t t o i nher i t weal t ht he man who
woul d make hi s own f or t une no mat t er wher e he st ar t ed. I f an hei r i s equal t o
hi s money, i t ser ves hi m; i f not , i t dest r oys hi m.
But you l ook on and you cr y t hat money cor r upt ed hi m. Di d i t ? Or di d he
cor r upt hi s money? Do not envy a wor t hl ess hei r ; hi s weal t h i s not your s and
you woul d have done no bet t er wi t h i t . Do not t hi nk t hat i t shoul d have been
di st r i but ed among you; l oadi ng t he wor l d wi t h f i f t y par asi t es i nst ead of one,
woul d not br i ng back t he dead vi r t ue whi ch was t he f or t une. Money i s a l i vi ng
power t hat di es wi t hout i t s r oot . Money wi l l not ser ve t he mi nd t hat cannot
mat ch i t . I s t hi s t he r eason why you cal l i t evi l ?
" Money i s your means of sur vi val . The ver di ct you pr onounce upon t he
sour ce of your l i vel i hood i s t he ver di ct you pr onounce upon your l i f e. I f t he
sour ce i s cor r upt , you have damned your own exi st ence. Di d you get your money
by f r aud? By pander i ng t o men' s vi ces or men' s st upi di t y? By cat er i ng t o
f ool s, i n t he hope of get t i ng mor e t han your abi l i t y deser ves? By l ower i ng
your st andar ds? By doi ng wor k you despi se f or pur chaser s you scor n? I f so,
t hen your money wi l l not gi ve you a moment ' s or a penny' s wor t h of j oy. Then
al l t he t hi ngs you buy wi l l become, not a t r i but e t o you, but a r epr oach; not
an achi evement , but a r emi nder of shame. Then you' l l scr eamt hat money i s
evi l . Evi l , because i t woul d not pi nch- hi t f or your sel f - r espect ? Evi l ,
because i t woul d not l et you enj oy your depr avi t y? I s t hi s t he r oot of your
hat r ed of money?
" Money wi l l al ways r emai n an ef f ect and r ef use t o r epl ace you as t he
cause. Money i s t he pr oduct of vi r t ue, but i t wi l l not gi ve you vi r t ue and i t
wi l l not r edeemyour vi ces. Money wi l l not gi ve you t he unear ned, nei t her i n
mat t er nor i n spi r i t . I s t hi s t he r oot of your hat r ed of money?
" Or di d you say i t ' s t he l ove of money t hat ' s t he r oot of al l evi l ?
To l ove a t hi ng i s t o know and l ove i t s nat ur e. To l ove money i s t o know
and l ove t he f act t hat money i s t he cr eat i on of t he best power wi t hi n you,
and your passkey t o t r ade your ef f or t f or t he ef f or t of t he best among men.
I t ' s t he per son who woul d sel l hi s soul f or a ni ckel , who i s l oudest i n
pr ocl ai mi ng hi s hat r ed of moneyand he has good r eason t o hat e i t . The l over s
of money ar e wi l l i ng t o wor k f or i t .
They know t hey ar e abl e t o deser ve i t .
" Let me gi ve you a t i p on a cl ue t o men' s char act er s: t he man who damns
money has obt ai ned i t di shonor abl y; t he man who r espect s i t has ear ned i t .
" Run f or your l i f e f r omany man who t el l s you t hat money i s evi l .
That sent ence i s t he l eper ' s bel l of an appr oachi ng l oot er . So l ong as men
l i ve t oget her on ear t h and need means t o deal wi t h one anot her
t hei r onl y subst i t ut e, i f t hey abandon money, i s t he muzzl e of a gun.
" But money demands of you t he hi ghest vi r t ues, i f you wi sh t o make i t or
t o keep i t . Men who have no cour age, pr i de or sel f - est eem, men who have no
mor al sense of t hei r r i ght t o t hei r money and ar e not wi l l i ng t o def end i t as
t hey def end t hei r l i f e, men who apol ogi ze f or bei ng r i chwi l l not r emai n r i ch
f or l ong. They ar e t he nat ur al bai t f or t he swar ms of l oot er s t hat st ay under
r ocks f or cent ur i es, but come cr awl i ng out at t he f i r st smel l of a man who
begs t o be f or gi ven f or t he gui l t of owni ng weal t h. They wi l l hast en t o
r el i eve hi mof t he gui l t
and of hi s l i f e, as he deser ves.
" Then you wi l l see t he r i se of t he men of t he doubl e st andar dt he men who
l i ve by f or ce, yet count on t hose who l i ve by t r ade t o cr eat e t he val ue of
t hei r l oot ed moneyt he men who ar e t he hi t chhi ker s of vi r t ue. I n a mor al
soci et y, t hese ar e t he cr i mi nal s, and t he st at ut es ar e wr i t t en t o pr ot ect you
agai nst t hem. But when a soci et y est abl i shes cr i mi nal s- by- r i ght and l oot er s-
by- l awmen who use f or ce t o sei ze t he weal t h of di sar med vi ct i mst hen money
becomes i t s cr eat or s' avenger .
Such l oot er s bel i eve i t saf e t o r ob def ensel ess men, once t hey' ve passed a
l aw t o di sar mt hem. But t hei r l oot becomes t he magnet f or ot her l oot er s, who
get i t f r omt hemas t hey got i t . Then t he r ace goes, not t o t he abl est at
pr oduct i on, but t o t hose most r ut hl ess at br ut al i t y. When f or ce i s t he
st andar d, t he mur der er wi ns over t he pi ckpocket . And t hen t hat soci et y
vani shes, i n a spr ead of r ui ns and sl aught er .
" Do you wi sh t o know whet her t hat day i s comi ng? Wat ch money.
Money i s t he bar omet er of a soci et y' s vi r t ue. When you see t hat t r adi ng i s
done, not by consent , but by compul si onwhen you see t hat i n or der t o
pr oduce, you need t o obt ai n per mi ssi on f r ommen who pr oduce not hi ngwhen you
see t hat money i s f l owi ng t o t hose who deal , not i n goods, but i n f avor swhen
you see t hat men get r i cher by gr af t and by pul l t han by wor k, and your l aws
don' t pr ot ect you agai nst t hem, but pr ot ect t hemagai nst youwhen you see
cor r upt i on bei ng r ewar ded and honest y becomi ng a sel f - sacr i f i ceyou may know
t hat your soci et y i s doomed. Money i s so nobl e a medi umt hat i t does not
compet e wi t h guns and i t does not make t er ms wi t h br ut al i t y.
I t wi l l not per mi t a count r y t o sur vi ve as hal f - pr oper t y, hal f - l oot .
" Whenever dest r oyer s appear among men, t hey st ar t by dest r oyi ng money, f or
money i s men' s pr ot ect i on and t he base of a mor al exi st ence. Dest r oyer s sei ze
gol d and l eave t o i t s owner s a count er f ei t pi l e of paper . Thi s ki l l s al l
obj ect i ve st andar ds and del i ver s men i nt o t he ar bi t r ar y power of an ar bi t r ar y
set t er of val ues. Gol d was an obj ect i ve val ue, an equi val ent of weal t h
pr oduced. Paper i s a mor t gage on weal t h t hat does not exi st , backed by a gun
ai med at t hose who ar e expect ed t o " pr oduce i t . Paper i s a check dr awn by
l egal l oot er s upon an account whi ch i s not t hei r s: upon t he vi r t ue of t he
vi ct i ms. Wat ch f or t he day when i t bounces, mar ked: ' Account over dr awn. '
" When you have made evi l t he means of sur vi val , do not expect men t o
r emai n good. Do not expect t hemt o st ay mor al and l ose t hei r l i ves f or t he
pur pose of becomi ng t he f odder of t he i mmor al . Do not expect t hemt o pr oduce,
when pr oduct i on i s puni shed and l oot i ng r ewar ded. Do not ask, ' Who i s
dest r oyi ng t he wor l d?' You ar e.
" You st and i n t he mi dst of t he gr eat est achi evement s of t he gr eat est
pr oduct i ve ci vi l i zat i on and you wonder why i t ' s cr umbl i ng ar ound you, whi l e
you' r e damni ng i t s l i f e- bl ood- money. You l ook upon money as t he savages di d
bef or e you, and you wonder why t he j ungl e i s cr eepi ng back t o t he edge of
your ci t i es. Thr oughout men' s hi st or y, money was al ways sei zed by l oot er s of
one br and or anot her , whose names changed, but whose met hod r emai ned t he
same: t o sei ze weal t h by f or ce and t o keep t he pr oducer s bound, demeaned,
def amed, depr i ved of honor . That phr ase about t he evi l of money, whi ch you
mout h wi t h such r i ght eous r eckl essness, comes f r oma t i me when weal t h was
pr oduced by t he l abor of sl avessl aves who r epeat ed t he mot i ons once
di scover ed by somebody' s mi nd and l ef t uni mpr oved f or cent ur i es. So l ong as
pr oduct i on was r ul ed by f or ce, and weal t h was obt ai ned by conquest , t her e was
l i t t l e t o conquer . Yet t hr ough al l t he cent ur i es of st agnat i on and
st ar vat i on, men exal t ed t he l oot er s, as ar i st ocr at s of t he swor d, as
ar i st ocr at s of bi r t h, as ar i st ocr at s of t he bur eau, and despi sed t he
pr oducer s, as sl aves, as t r ader s, as shopkeeper sas i ndust r i al i st s.
" To t he gl or y of manki nd, t her e was, f or t he f i r st and onl y t i me i n
hi st or y, a count r y of moneyand I have no hi gher , mor e r ever ent t r i but e t o
pay t o Amer i ca, f or t hi s means: a count r y of r eason, j ust i ce, f r eedom,
pr oduct i on, achi evement . For t he f i r st t i me, man' s mi nd and money wer e set
f r ee, and t her e wer e no f or t unes- by- conquest , but onl y f or t unes- by- wor k, and
i nst ead of swor dsmen and sl aves, t her e appear ed t he r eal maker of weal t h, t he
gr eat est wor ker , t he hi ghest t ype of human bei ngt he sel f - made mant he
Amer i can i ndust r i al i st .
" I f you ask me t o name t he pr oudest di st i nct i on of Amer i cans, I woul d
choosebecause i t cont ai ns al l t he ot her st he f act t hat t hey wer e t he peopl e
who cr eat ed t he phr ase ' t o make money. No ot her l anguage or nat i on had ever
used t hese wor ds bef or e; men had al ways t hought of weal t h as a st at i c
quant i t yt o be sei zed, begged, i nher i t ed, shar ed, l oot ed or obt ai ned as a
f avor . Amer i cans wer e t he f i r st t o under st and t hat weal t h has t o be cr eat ed.
The wor ds ' t o make money' hol d t he essence of human mor al i t y.
" Yet t hese wer e t he wor ds f or whi ch Amer i cans wer e denounced by t he r ot t ed
cul t ur es of t he l oot er s' cont i nent s. Now t he l oot er s' cr edo has br ought you
t o r egar d your pr oudest achi evement s as a hal l mar k of shame, your pr osper i t y
as gui l t , your gr eat est men, t he i ndust r i al i st s, as bl ackguar ds, and your
magni f i cent f act or i es as t he pr oduct and pr oper t y of muscul ar l abor , t he
l abor of whi p- dr i ven sl aves, l i ke t he pyr ami ds of Egypt . The r ot t er who
si mper s t hat he sees no di f f er ence bet ween t he power of t he dol l ar and t he
power of t he whi p, ought t o l ear n t he di f f er ence on hi s own hi deas, I t hi nk,
he wi l l .
" Unt i l and unl ess you di scover t hat money i s t he r oot of al l good, you ask
f or your own dest r uct i on. When money ceases t o be t he t ool by whi ch men deal
wi t h one anot her , t hen men become t he t ool s of men. Bl ood, whi ps and gunsor
dol l ar s. Take your choi cet her e i s no ot her and your t i me i s r unni ng out . "
Fr anci sco had not gl anced at Rear den once whi l e speaki ng; but t he moment
he f i ni shed, hi s eyes went st r ai ght t o Rear den' s f ace. Rear den st ood
mot i onl ess, seei ng not hi ng but Fr anci sco d' Anconi a acr oss t he movi ng f i gur es
and angr y voi ces bet ween t hem.
Ther e wer e peopl e who had l i st ened, but now hur r i ed away, and peopl e who
sai d, " I t ' s hor r i bl e! " " I t ' s not t r ue! " " How vi ci ous and sel f i sh! " sayi ng i t
l oudl y and guar dedl y at once, as i f wi shi ng t hat t hei r nei ghbor s woul d hear
t hem, but hopi ng t hat Fr anci sco woul d not .
" Senor d' Anconi a, " decl ar ed t he woman wi t h t he ear r i ngs, " I don' t agr ee
wi t h you! "
" I f you can r ef ut e a si ngl e sent ence I ut t er ed, madame, I shal l hear i t
gr at ef ul l y. "
" Oh, I can' t answer you. I don' t have any answer s, my mi nd doesn' t wor k
t hat way, but I don' t f eel t hat you' r e r i ght , so I know t hat you' r e wr ong. "
" How do you know i t ?"
" I f eel i t . I don' t go by my head, but by my hear t . You mi ght be good at
l ogi c, but you' r e hear t l ess. "
" Madame, when we' l l see men dyi ng of st ar vat i on ar ound us, your hear t
won' t be of any ear t hl y use t o save t hem. And I ' mhear t l ess enough t o say
t hat when you' l l scr eam, ' But I di dn' t know i t ! ' you wi l l not be f or gi ven. "
The woman t ur ned away, a shudder r unni ng t hr ough t he f l esh of her cheeks
and t hr ough t he angr y t r emor of her voi ce: " Wel l , i t ' s cer t ai nl y a f unny way
t o t al k at a par t y! "
A por t l y man wi t h evasi ve eyes sai d l oudl y, hi s t one of f or ced
cheer f ul ness suggest i ng t hat hi s sol e concer n i n any i ssue was not t o l et i t
become unpl easant , " I f t hi s i s t he way you f eel about money, senor , I t hi nk
I ' mdar n gl ad t hat I ' ve got a goodl y pi ece of d' Anconi a Copper st ock. "
Fr anci sco sai d gr avel y, " I suggest t hat you t hi nk t wi ce, si r . "
Rear den st ar t ed t owar d hi mand Fr anci sco, who had not seemed t o l ook i n
hi s di r ect i on, moved t o meet hi mat once, as i f t he ot her s had never exi st ed.
" Hel l o, " sai d Rear den si mpl y, easi l y, as t o a chi l dhood f r i end; he was
smi l i ng.
He saw hi s own smi l e r ef l ect ed i n Fr anci sco' s f ace. " Hel l o. "
" I want t o speak t o you. "
" To whomdo you t hi nk I ' ve been speaki ng f or t he l ast quar t er of an hour ?"
Rear den chuckl ed, i n t he manner of acknowl edgi ng an opponent ' s r ound. " I
di dn' t t hi nk you had not i ced me. "
" I not i ced, when I came i n, t hat you wer e one of t he onl y t wo per sons i n
t hi s r oomwho wer e gl ad t o see me. "
" Ar en' t you bei ng pr esumpt uous?"
" Nogr at ef ul . "
" Who was t he ot her per son gl ad t o see you?"
Fr anci sco shr ugged and sai d l i ght l y, " A woman. "
Rear den not i ced t hat Fr anci sco had l ed hi masi de, away f r omt he gr oup, i n
so ski l l f ul l y nat ur al a manner t hat nei t her he nor t he ot her s had known i t
was bei ng done i nt ent i onal l y.
" I di dn' t expect t o f i nd you her e, " sai d Fr anci sco. " You shoul dn' t have
come t o t hi s par t y. "
" Why not ?"
" May I ask what made you come?"
" My wi f e was anxi ous t o accept t he i nvi t at i on. "
" For gi ve me i f I put i t i n such f or m, but i t woul d have been mor e pr oper
and l ess danger ous i f she had asked you t o t ake her on a t our of
whor ehouses. "
" What danger ar e you t al ki ng about ?"
" Mr . Rear den, you do not know t hese peopl e' s way of doi ng busi ness or how
t hey i nt er pr et your pr esence her e. I n your code, but not i n t hei r s, accept i ng
a man' s hospi t al i t y i s a t oken of good wi l l , a decl ar at i on t hat you and your
host st and on t er ms of a ci vi l i zed r el at i onshi p.
Don' t gi ve t hemt hat ki nd of sanct i on. "
" Then why di d you come her e?"
Fr anci sco shr ugged gai l y. " Oh, I i t doesn' t mat t er what I do. I ' monl y a
par t y hound. "
" What ar e you doi ng at t hi s par t y?"
" J ust l ooki ng f or conquest s. "
" Found any?"
Hi s f ace suddenl y ear nest , Fr anci sco answer ed gr avel y, al most sol emnl y,
" Yeswhat I t hi nk i s goi ng t o be my best and gr eat est . "
Rear den' s anger was i nvol unt ar y, t he cr y, not of r epr oach, but of despai r :
" How can you wast e your sel f t hat way?"
The f ai nt suggest i on of a smi l e, l i ke t he r i se of a di st ant l i ght , came
i nt o Fr anci sco' s eyes as he asked, " Do you car e t o admi t t hat you car e about
i t ?"
" You' r e goi ng t o hear a f ew mor e admi ssi ons, i f t hat ' s what you' r e af t er .
Bef or e I met you, I used t o wonder how you coul d wast e a f or t une such as
your s. Now i t ' s wor se, because I can' t despi se you as I di d, as I ' d l i ke t o,
yet t he quest i on i s much mor e t er r i bl e: How can you wast e a mi nd such as
your s?"
" I don' t t hi nk I ' mwast i ng i t r i ght now. "
" I don' t know whet her t her e' s ever been anyt hi ng t hat meant a damn t o you
but I ' mgoi ng t o t el l you what I ' ve never sai d t o anyone bef or e. When I met
you, do you r emember t hat you sai d you want ed t o of f er me your gr at i t ude?"
Ther e was no t r ace of amusement l ef t i n Fr anci sco' s eyes; Rear den had
never f aced so sol emn a l ook of r espect , " Yes, Mr . Rear den, " he answer ed
qui et l y.
" I t ol d you t hat I di dn' t need i t and I i nsul t ed you f or i t . Al l r i ght ,
you' ve won. That speech you made t oni ght t hat was what you wer e of f er i ng me,
wasn' t i t ?"
" Yes, Mr . Rear den.
" I t was mor e t han gr at i t ude, and I needed t he gr at i t ude; i t was mor e t han
admi r at i on, and I needed t hat , t oo; i t was much mor e t han any wor d I can
f i nd, i t wi l l t ake me days t o t hi nk of al l t hat i t ' s gi ven mebut one t hi ng I
do know: I needed i t . I ' ve never made an admi ssi on of t hi s ki nd, because I ' ve
never cr i ed f or anyone' s hel p. I f i t amused you t o guess t hat I was gl ad t o
see you, you have somet hi ng r eal t o l augh about now, i f you wi sh. "
" I t mi ght t ake me a f ew year s, but I wi l l pr ove t o you t hat t hese ar e t he
t hi ngs I do not l augh about . "
" Pr ove i t nowby answer i ng one quest i on: Why don' t you pr act i ce what you
pr each?"
" Ar e you sur e t hat I don' t ?"
" I f t he t hi ngs you sai d ar e t r ue, i f you have t he gr eat ness t o know i t ,
you shoul d have been t he l eadi ng i ndust r i al i st of t he wor l d by now. "
Fr anci sco sai d gr avel y, as he had sai d t o t he por t l y man, but wi t h an odd
not e of gent l eness i n hi s voi ce, " I suggest t hat you t hi nk t wi ce, Mr .
Rear den. "
" I ' ve t hought about you mor e t han I car e t o admi t . I have f ound no
answer . "
" Let me gi ve you a hi nt : I f t he t hi ngs I sai d ar e t r ue, who i s t he
gui l t i est man i n t hi s r oomt oni ght ?"
" I supposeJ ames Taggar t ?"
" No, Mr . Rear den, i t i s not J ames Taggar t . But you must def i ne t he gui l t
and choose t he man your sel f . "
" A f ew year s ago, I woul d have sai d t hat i t ' s you. I st i l l t hi nk t hat
t hat ' s what I ought t o say. But I ' mal most i n t he posi t i on of t hat f ool woman
who spoke t o you: ever y r eason I know t el l s me t hat you' r e gui l t yand yet I
can' t f eel i t . "
" You ar e maki ng t he same mi st ake as t hat woman, Mr . Rear den, t hough i n a
nobl er f or m. "
" What do you mean?"
" I mean much mor e t han j ust your j udgment of me. That woman and al l t hose
l i ke her keep evadi ng t he t hought s whi ch t hey know t o be good. You keep
pushi ng out of your mi nd t he t hought s whi ch you bel i eve t o be evi l . They do
i t , because t hey want t o avoi d ef f or t . You do i t , because you won' t per mi t
your sel f t o consi der anyt hi ng t hat woul d spar e y6u. They i ndul ge t hei r
emot i ons at any cost . You sacr i f i ce your emot i ons as t he f i r st cost of any
pr obl em. They ar e wi l l i ng t o bear not hi ng. You ar e wi l l i ng t o bear anyt hi ng.
They keep evadi ng r esponsi bi l i t y. You keep assumi ng i t . But don' t you see
t hat t he essent i al er r or i s t he same? Any r ef usal t o r ecogni ze r eal i t y, f or
any r eason what ever , has di sast r ous consequences. Ther e ar e no evi l t hought s
except one: t he r ef usal t o t hi nk. Don' t i gnor e your own desi r es, Mr .
Rear den. Don' t sacr i f i ce t hem. Exami ne t hei r cause. Ther e i s a l i mi t t o
how much you shoul d have t o bear . "
" How di d you know t hi s about me?"
" I made t he same mi st ake, once. But not f or l ong. "
" I wi sh" Rear den began and st opped abr upt l y.
Fr anci sco smi l ed. " Af r ai d t o wi sh, Mr . Rear den?"
" I wi sh I coul d per mi t mysel f t o l i ke you as much as I do. "
" I ' d gi ve" Fr anci sco st opped; i nexpl i cabl y, Rear den saw t he l ook of an
emot i on whi ch he coul d not def i ne, yet f el t cer t ai n t o be pai n; he saw
Fr anci sco' s f i r st moment of hesi t at i on. " Mr . Rear den, do you own any
d' Anconi a Copper st ock?"
Rear den l ooked at hi m, bewi l der ed. " No. "
" Some day, you' l l know what t r eason I ' mcommi t t i ng r i ght now, but . . .
Don' t ever buy any d' Anconi a Copper st ock. Don' t ever deal wi t h d' Anconi a
Copper i n any way. "
" Why?"
" When you' l l l ear n t he f ul l r eason, you' l l know whet her t her e' s ever been
anyt hi ngor anyonet hat meant a damn t o me, and . . . and how much he di d
mean. "
Rear den f r owned: he had r emember ed somet hi ng. " I woul dn' t deal wi t h your
company. Di dn' t you cal l t hemt he men of t he doubl e st andar d? Ar en' t you one
of t he l oot er s who i s gr owi ng r i ch r i ght now by means of di r ect i ves?"
I nexpl i cabl y, t he wor ds di d not hi t Fr anci sco as an i nsul t , but cl ear ed
hi s f ace back i nt o hi s l ook of assur ance. " Di d you t hi nk t hat i t was I who
wheedl ed t hose di r ect i ves out of t he r obber - pl anner s?"
" I f not , t hen who di d i t ?"
" My hi t chhi ker s. "
" Wi t hout your consent ?"
" Wi t hout my knowl edge. "
" I ' d hat e t o admi t how much I want t o bel i eve youbut t her e' s no way f or
you t o pr ove i t now. "
" No? I ' l l pr ove i t t o you wi t hi n t he next f i f t een mi nut es. "
" How? The f act r emai ns t hat you' ve pr of i t ed t he most f r omt hose
di r ect i ves. "
" That ' s t r ue. I ' ve pr of i t ed mor e t han Mr . Mouch and hi s gang coul d ever
i magi ne. Af t er my year s of wor k, t hey gave me j ust t he chance I needed. "
" Ar e you boast i ng?"
" You bet I am! Rear den saw i ncr edul ousl y t hat Fr anci sco' s eyes had a
har d, br i ght l ook, t he l ook, not of a par t y hound, but of a man of act i on.
" Mr . Rear den, do you know wher e most of t hose new ar i st ocr at s keep t hei r
hi dden money? Do you know wher e most of t he f ai r shar e vul t ur es have i nvest ed
t hei r pr of i t s f r omRear den Met al ?"
" No, but "
" I n d' Anconi a Copper st ock. Saf el y out of t he way and out of t he count r y.
D' Anconi a Copper an ol d, i nvul ner abl e company, so r i ch t hat i t woul d l ast f or
t hr ee mor e gener at i ons of l oot i ng. A company managed by a decadent pl ayboy
who doesn' t gi ve a damn, who' l l l et t hemuse hi s pr oper t y i n any way t hey
pl ease and j ust cont i nue t o make money f or t hemaut omat i cal l y, as di d hi s
ancest or s. Wasn' t t hat a per f ect set up f or t he l oot er s, Mr . Rear den? Onl y
what one si ngl e poi nt di d t hey mi ss?"
Rear den was st ar i ng at hi m. " What ar e you dr i vi ng at ?"
Fr anci sco l aughed suddenl y. " I t ' s t oo bad about t hose pr of i t eer s on
Rear den Met al . You woul dn' t want t hemt o l ose t he money you made f or t hem,
woul d you, Mr . Rear den? But acci dent s do happen i n t he wor l dyou know what
t hey say, man i s onl y a hel pl ess pl ayt hi ng at t he mer cy of nat ur e' s
di sast er s. For i nst ance, t her e was a f i r e at t he d' Anconi a or e docks i n
Val par ai so t omor r ow mor ni ng, a f i r e t hat r azed t hemt o t he gr ound al ong wi t h
hal f of t he por t st r uct ur es. What t i me i s i t , Mr . Rear den? Oh, di d I mi x my
t enses? Tomor r ow af t er noon, t her e wi l l be a r ock sl i de i n t he d' Anconi a mi nes
at Or anono l i ves l ost , no casual t i es, except t he mi nes t hemsel ves. I t wi l l
be f ound t hat t he mi nes ar e done f or , because t hey had been wor ked i n t he
wr ong pl aces f or mont hswhat can you expect f r oma pl ayboy' s management ? The
gr eat deposi t s of copper wi l l be bur i ed under t ons of mount ai n wher e a
Sebast i an d' Anconi a woul d not be abl e t o r ecl ai mt hemi n l ess t han t hr ee
year s, and a Peopl e' s St at e wi l l never r ecl ai mt hemat al l . When t he
st ockhol der s begi n t o l ook i nt o t hi ngs, t hey wi l l f i nd t hat t he mi nes at
Campos, at San Fel i x, at Las Her as have been wor ked i n exact l y t he same
manner and have been r unni ng at a l oss f or over a year , onl y t he pl ayboy
j uggl ed t he books and kept i t out of t he newspaper s.
Shal l I t el l you what t hey wi l l di scover about t he management of t he
d' Anconi a f oundr i es? Or of t he d' Anconi a or e f l eet ? But al l t hese di scover i es
won' t do t he st ockhol der s any good anyway, because t he st ock of d' Anconi a
Copper wi l l have cr ashed t omor r ow mor ni ng, cr ashed l i ke an el ect r i c bul b
agai nst concr et e, cr ashed l i ke an expr ess el evat or , spat t er i ng pi eces of
hi t chhi ker s al l over t he gut t er s! "
The t r i umphant r i se of Fr anci sco' s voi ce mer ged wi t h a mat chi ng sound:
Rear den bur st out l aughi ng.
Rear den di d not know how l ong t hat moment l ast ed or what he had f el t , i t
had been l i ke a bl ow hur l i ng hi mi nt o anot her ki nd of consci ousness, t hen a
second bl ow r et ur ni ng hi mt o hi s ownal l t hat was l ef t , as at t he awakeni ng
f r oma nar cot i c, was t he f eel i ng t hat he had known some i mmense ki nd of
f r eedom, never t o be mat ched i n r eal i t y. Thi s was l i ke t he Wyat t f i r e agai n,
he t hought , t hi s was hi s secr et danger .
He f ound hi msel f backi ng away f r omFr anci sco d' Anconi a, Fr anci sco st ood
wat chi ng hi mi nt ent l y, and l ooked as i f he had been wat chi ng hi mal l t hr ough
t hat unknown l engt h of t i me.
" Ther e ar e no evi l t hought s, Mr . Rear den, " Fr anci sco sai d sof t l y, " except
one: t he r ef usal t o t hi nk. "
" No, " sai d Rear den; i t was al most a whi sper , he had t o keep hi s voi ce
down, he was af r ai d t hat he woul d hear hi msel f scr eami t , " no . . . i f t hi s
i s t he key t o you, no, don' t expect me t o cheer you . . .
you di dn' t have t he st r engt h t o f i ght t hem. . . you chose t he easi est ,
most vi ci ous way . . . del i ber at e dest r uct i on . . . t he dest r uct i on of an
achi evement you hadn' t pr oduced and coul dn' t mat ch. . . . "
' That ' s not what you' l l r ead i n t he newspaper s t omor r ow. Ther e won' t be
any evi dence of del i ber at e dest r uct i on. Ever yt hi ng happened i n t he nor mal ,
expl i cabl e, j ust i f i abl e cour se of pl ai n i ncompet ence. I ncompet ence i sn' t
supposed t o be puni shed nowadays, i s i t ? The boys i n Buenos Ai r es and t he
boys i n Sant i ago wi l l pr obabl y want t o hand me a subsi dy, by way of
consol at i on and r ewar d. Ther e' s st i l l a gr eat par t of t he d' Anconi a Copper
Company l ef t , t hough a gr eat par t of i t i s gone f or good. Nobody wi l l say
t hat I ' ve done i t i nt ent i onal l y. You may t hi nk what you wi sh. "
" I t hi nk you' r e t he gui l t i est man i n t hi s r oom, " sai d Rear den qui et l y,
wear i l y; even t he f i r e of hi s anger was gone; he f el t not hi ng but t he
empt i ness l ef t by t he deat h of a gr eat hope. " I t hi nk you' r e wor se t han
anyt hi ng I had supposed. . . . "
Fr anci sco l ooked at hi mwi t h a st r ange hal f - smi l e of ser eni t y, t he
ser eni t y of a vi ct or y over pai n, and di d not answer .
I t was t hei r si l ence t hat l et t hemhear t he voi ces of t he t wo men who
st ood a f ew st eps away, and t hey t ur ned t o l ook at t he speaker s.
The st ocky, el der l y man was obvi ousl y a busi nessman of t he consci ent i ous,
unspect acul ar ki nd. Hi s f or mal dr ess sui t was of good qual i t y, but of a cut
f ashi onabl e t went y year s bef or e, wi t h t he f ai nt est t i nge of gr een at t he
seams; he had had f ew occasi ons t o wear i t . Hi s shi r t st uds wer e
ost ent at i ousl y t oo l ar ge, but i t was t he pat het i c ost ent at i on of an hei r l oom,
i nt r i cat e pi eces of ol d- f ashi oned wor kmanshi p, t hat had pr obabl y come t o hi m
t hr ough f our gener at i ons, l i ke hi s busi ness.
Hi s f ace had t he expr essi on whi ch, t hese days, was t he mar k of an honest
man: an expr essi on of bewi l der ment . He was l ooki ng at hi s compani on, t r yi ng
har dconsci ent i ousl y, hel pl essl y, hopel essl yt o under st and.
Hi s compani on was younger and shor t er , a smal l man wi t h l umpy f l esh, wi t h
a chest t hr ust f or war d and t he t hi n poi nt s of a must ache t hr ust up. He was
sayi ng, i n a t one of pat r oni zi ng bor edom, " Wel l , I don' t know. Al l of you ar e
cr yi ng about r i si ng cost s, i t seems t o be t he st ock compl ai nt nowadays, i t ' s
t he usual whi ne of peopl e whose pr of i t s ar e squeezed a l i t t l e. I don' t know,
we' l l have t o see, we' l l have t o deci de whet her we' l l per mi t you t o make any
pr of i t s or not . "
Rear den gl anced at Fr anci scoand saw a f ace t hat went beyond hi s
concept i on of what t he pur i t y of a si ngl e pur pose coul d do t o a human
count enance: i t was t he most mer ci l ess f ace one coul d ever be per mi t t ed t o
see. He had t hought of hi msel f as r ut hl ess, but he knew t hat he coul d not
mat ch t hi s l evel , naked, i mpl acabl e l ook, dead t o al l f eel i ng but j ust i ce.
What ever t he r est of hi mt hought Rear dent he man who coul d exper i ence t hi s
was a gi ant .
I t was onl y a moment . Fr anci sco t ur ned t o hi m, hi s f ace nor mal , and sai d
ver y qui et l y, " I ' ve changed my mi nd, Mr . Rear den. I ' mgl ad t hat you came t o
t hi s par t y. I want you t o see t hi s. "
Then, r ai si ng hi s voi ce, Fr anci sco sai d suddenl y, i n t he gay, l oose,
pi er ci ng t one of a man of compl et e i r r esponsi bi l i t y, " You won' t gr ant me t hat
l oan, Mr . Rear den? I t put s me on a t er r i bl e spot . I must get t he moneyI must
r ai se i t t oni ght I must r ai se i t bef or e t he St ock Exchange opens i n t he
mor ni ng, because ot her wi se"
He di d not have t o cont i nue, because t he l i t t l e man wi t h t he must ache was
cl ut chi ng at hi s ar m.
Rear den had never bel i eved t hat a human body coul d change di mensi ons
wi t hi n one' s si ght , but he saw t he man shr i nki ng i n wei ght , i n post ur e, i n
f or m, as i f t he ai r wer e l et out of hi s l umps, and what had been an ar r ogant
r ul er was suddenl y a pi ece of scr ap t hat coul d not be a t hr eat t o anyone.
" I s . . . i s t her e somet hi ng wr ong, Senor d' Anconi a? I mean, on . . . on
t he St ock Exchange?"
Fr anci sco j er ked hi s f i nger t o hi s l i ps, wi t h a f r i ght ened gl ance.
" Keep qui et , " he whi sper ed. " For God' s sake, keep qui et ! "
The man was shaki ng. " Somet hi ng' s . . . wr ong?"
" You don' t happen t o own any d' Anconi a Copper st ock, do you?"
The man nodded, unabl e t o speak. " Oh my, t hat ' s t oo bad! Wel l , l i st en,
I ' l l t el l you, i f you gi ve me your wor d of honor t hat you won' t r epeat i t t o
anyone, You don' t want t o st ar t a pani c. "
" Wor d of honor . . . " gasped t he man.
" What you' d bet t er do i s r un t o your st ockbr oker and sel l as f ast as you
canbecause t hi ngs haven' t been goi ng t oo wel l f or d' Anconi a Copper , I ' m
t r yi ng t o r ai se some money, but i f I don' t succeed, you' l l be l ucky i f you' l l
have t en cent s on your dol l ar t omor r ow mor ni ng
oh my! I f or got t hat you can' t r each your st ockbr oker bef or e t omor r ow
mor ni ngwel l , i t ' s t oo bad, but "
The man was r unni ng acr oss t he r oom, pushi ng peopl e out of hi s way, l i ke a
t or pedo shot i nt o t he cr owd.
" Wat ch, " sai d Fr anci sco aust er el y, t ur ni ng t o Rear den.
The man was l ost i n t he cr owd, t hey coul d not see hi m, t hey coul d not t el l
t o whomhe was sel l i ng hi s secr et or whet her he had enough of hi s cunni ng
l ef t t o make i t a t r ade wi t h t hose who hel d f avor sbut t hey saw t he wake of
hi s passage spr eadi ng t hr ough t he r oom, t he sudden cut s spl i t t i ng t he cr owd,
l i ke t he f i r st f ew cr acks, t hen l i ke t he accel er at i ng br anchi ng t hat r uns
t hr ough a wal l about t o cr umbl e, t he st r eaks of empt i ness sl ashed, not by a
human t ouch, but by t he i mper sonal br eat h of t er r or .
Ther e wer e t he voi ces abr upt l y choked of f , t he pool s of si l ence, t hen
sounds of a di f f er ent nat ur e; t he r i si ng, hyst er i cal i nf l ect i ons of usel essl y
r epeat ed quest i ons, t he unnat ur al whi sper s, a woman' s scr eam, t he f ew spaced,
f or ced gi ggl es of t hose st i l l t r yi ng t o pr et end t hat not hi ng was happeni ng.
Ther e wer e spot s of i mmobi l i t y i n t he mot i on of t he cr owd, l i ke spr eadi ng
bl ot ches of par al ysi s; t her e was a sudden st i l l ness, as i f a mot or had been
cut of f ; t hen came t he f r ant i c, j er ki ng, pur posel ess, r udder l ess movement of
obj ect s bumpi ng down a hi l l by t he bl i nd mer cy of gr avi t at i on and of ever y
r ock t hey hi t on t he way. Peopl e wer e r unni ng out , r unni ng t o t el ephones,
r unni ng t o one anot her , cl ut chi ng or pushi ng t he bodi es ar ound t hemat
r andom. These men, t he most power f ul men i n t he count r y, t hose who hel d,
unanswer abl e t o any power , t he power over ever y man' s f ood and ever y man' s
enj oyment of hi s span of year s on ear t ht hese men had become a pi l e of
r ubbl e, cl at t er i ng i n t he wi nd of pani c, t he r ubbl e l ef t of a st r uct ur e when
i t s key pi l l ar has been cut .
J ames Taggar t , hi s f ace i ndecent i n i t s exposur e of emot i ons whi ch
cent ur i es had t aught men t o keep hi dden, r ushed up t o Fr anci sco and scr eamed,
" I s i t t r ue?"
" Why, J ames, " sai d Fr anci sco, smi l i ng, " what ' s t he mat t er ? Why do you seem
t o be upset ? Money i s t he r oot of al l evi l so I j ust got t i r ed of bei ng
evi l . "
Taggar t r an t owar d t he mai n exi t , yel l i ng somet hi ng t o Or r en Boyl e on t he
way. Boyl e nodded and kept on noddi ng, wi t h t he eager ness and humi l i t y of an
i nef f i ci ent ser vant , t hen dar t ed of i n anot her di r ect i on. Cher r yl , her
weddi ng vei l coi l i ng l i ke a cr yst al cl oud upon t he ai r , as she r an af t er hi m,
caught Taggar t at t he door . " J i m, what ' s t he mat t er ?" He pushed her asi de and
she f el l agai nst t he st omach of Paul Lar ki n, as Taggar t r ushed out .
Thr ee per sons st ood i mmovabl y st i l l , l i ke t hr ee pi l l ar s spaced t hr ough t he
r oom, t he l i nes of t hei r si ght cut t i ng acr oss t he spr ead of t he wr eckage:
Dagny, l ooki ng at Fr anci scoFr anci sco and Rear den, l ooki ng at each ot her .

CHAPTER III
WHITE BLACKMAIL

" What t i me i s i t ?"
I t ' s r unni ng out , t hought Rear denbut he answer ed, " I don' t know, Not yet
mi dni ght , " and r emember i ng hi s wr i st wat ch, added, " Twent y of . "
" I ' mgoi ng t o t ake a t r ai n home, " sai d Li l l i an.
He hear d t he sent ence, but i t had t o wai t i t s t ur n t o ent er t he cr owded
passages t o hi s consci ousness. He st ood l ooki ng absent l y at t he l i vi ng r oom
of hi s sui t e, a f ew mi nut es' el evat or r i de away f r omt he par t y. I n a moment ,
he answer ed aut omat i cal l y, " At t hi s hour ?"
" I t ' s st i l l ear l y. Ther e ar e pl ent y of t r ai ns r unni ng. "
" You' r e wel come t o st ay her e, of cour se. "
" No, I t hi nk I pr ef er t o go home. " He di d not ar gue. " What about you,
Henr y? Do you i nt end goi ng home t oni ght ?"
" No. " He added, " I have busi ness appoi nt ment s her e t omor r ow. "
" As you wi sh. "
She shr ugged her eveni ng wr ap of f her shoul der s, caught i t on her ar mand
st ar t ed t owar d t he door of hi s bedr oom, but st opped.
" I hat e Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, " she sai d t ensel y. " Why di d he have t o come
t o t hat par t y? And di dn' t he know enough t o keep hi s mout h shut , at l east
t i l l t omor r ow mor ni ng?" He di d not answer . " I t ' s monst r ouswhat he' s al l owed
t o happen t o hi s company. Of cour se, he' s not hi ng but a r ot t en pl ayboyst i l l ,
a f or t une of t hat si ze i s a r esponsi bi l i t y, t her e' s a l i mi t t o t he negl i gence
a man can per mi t hi msel f ! " He gl anced at her f ace: i t was oddl y t ense, t he
f eat ur es shar pened, maki ng her l ook ol der . " He owed a cer t ai n dut y t o hi s
st ockhol der s, di dn' t he?
. . . Di dn' t he, Henr y?"
" Do you mi nd i f we don' t di scuss i t ?"
She made a t i ght eni ng, si dewi se movement wi t h her l i ps, t he equi val ent of
a shr ug, and wal ked i nt o t he bedr oom.
He st ood at t he wi ndow, l ooki ng down at t he st r eami ng r oof s of
aut omobi l es, l et t i ng hi s eyes r est on somet hi ng whi l e hi s f acul t y of si ght
was di sconnect ed. Hi s mi nd was st i l l f ocused on t he cr owd i n t he bal l r oom
downst ai r s and on t wo f i gur es i n t hat cr owd. But as hi s l i vi ng r oomr emai ned
on t he edge of hi s vi si on, so t he sense of some act i on he had t o per f or m
r emai ned on t he edge of hi s consci ousness. He gr asped i t f or a moment i t was
t he f act t hat he had t o r emove hi s eveni ng cl ot hes
but f ar t her beyond t he edge t her e was t he f eel i ng of r el uct ance t o undr ess
i n t he pr esence of a st r ange woman i n hi s bedr oom, and he f or got i t agai n i n
t he next moment .
Li l l i an came out , as t r i ml y gr oomed as she had ar r i ved, t he bei ge
t r avel i ng sui t out l i ni ng her f i gur e wi t h ef f i ci ent t i ght ness, t he hat t i l t ed
over hal f a head of hai r set i n waves. She car r i ed her sui t case, swi ngi ng i t
a l i t t l e, as i f i n demonst r at i on of her abi l i t y t o car r y i t .
He r eached over mechani cal l y and t ook t he sui t case out of her hand.
" What ar e you doi ng?" she asked.
" I ' mgoi ng t o t ake you t o t he st at i on. "
" Li ke t hi s? You haven' t changed your cl ot hes. "
" I t doesn' t mat t er . "
" You don' t have t o escor t me. I ' mqui t e abl e t o f i nd my own way. I f you
have busi ness appoi nt ment s t omor r ow, you' d bet t er go t o bed. "
He di d not answer , but wal ked t o t he door , hel d i t open f or her and
f ol l owed her t o t he el evat or .
They r emai ned si l ent when t hey r ode i n a t axi cab t o t he st at i on. At such
moment s as he r emember ed her pr esence, he not i ced t hat she sat ef f i ci ent l y
st r ai ght , al most f l aunt i ng t he per f ect i on of her poi se; she seemed al er t l y
awake and cont ent ed, as i f she wer e st ar t i ng out on a pur posef ul j our ney of
ear l y mor ni ng.
The cab st opped at t he ent r ance t o t he Taggar t Ter mi nal . The br i ght l i ght s
f l oodi ng t he gr eat gl ass door way t r ansf or med t he l at eness of t he hour i nt o a
sense of act i ve, t i mel ess secur i t y. Li l l i an j umped l i ght l y out of t he cab,
sayi ng, " No, no, you don' t have t o get out , dr i ve on back.
Wi l l you be home f or di nner t omor r owor next mont h?"
" I ' l l t el ephone you, " he sai d.
She waved her gl oved hand at hi mand di sappear ed i nt o t he l i ght s of t he
ent r ance. As t he cab st ar t ed f or war d, he gave t he dr i ver t he addr ess of
Dagny' s apar t ment .
The apar t ment was dar k when he ent er ed, but t he door t o her bedr oomwas
hal f - open and he hear d her voi ce sayi ng, " Hel l o, Hank. "
He wal ked i n, aski ng, " Wer e you asl eep?"
" No. "
He swi t ched on t he l i ght . She l ay i n bed, her head pr opped by t he pi l l ow,
her hai r f al l i ng smoot hl y t o her shoul der s, as i f she had not moved f or a
l ong t i me; but her f ace was unt r oubl ed. She l ooked l i ke a school gi r l , wi t h
t he t ai l or ed col l ar of a pal e bl ue ni ght gown l yi ng sever el y hi gh at t he base
of her t hr oat ; t he ni ght gown' s f r ont was a del i ber at e cont r ast t o t he
sever i t y, a spr ead of pal e bl ue embr oi der y t hat l ooked l uxur i ousl y adul t and
f emi ni ne.
He sat down on t he edge of t he bedand she smi l ed, not i ci ng t hat t he st er n
f or mal i t y of hi s f ul l dr ess cl ot hes made hi s act i on so si mpl y, nat ur al l y
i nt i mat e. He smi l ed i n answer . He had come, pr epar ed t o r ej ect t he
f or gi veness she had gr ant ed hi mat t he par t y, as one r ej ect s a f avor f r omt oo
gener ous an adver sar y. I nst ead, he r eached out suddenl y and moved hi s hand
over her f or ehead, down t he l i ne of her hai r , i n a gest ur e of pr ot ect i ve
t ender ness, i n t he sudden f eel i ng of how del i cat el y chi l dl i ke she was, t hi s
adver sar y who had bor ne t he const ant chal l enge of hi s st r engt h, but who
shoul d have had hi s pr ot ect i on.
" You' r e car r yi ng BO much, " he sai d, " and i t ' s I who make i t har der f or you
. . . "
" No, Hank, you don' t and you know i t . "
" I know t hat you have t he st r engt h not t o l et i t hur t you, but i t ' s a
st r engt h I have no r i ght t o cal l upon. Yet I do, and I have no sol ut i on, no
at onement t o of f er . I can onl y admi t t hat I know i t and t hat t her e' s no way I
can ask you t o f or gi ve me. "
" Ther e' s not hi ng t o f or gi ve. "
" I had no r i ght t o br i ng her i nt o your pr esence. "
" I t di d not hur t me. Onl y . . . "
" Yes?"
" . . . onl y seei ng t he way you suf f er ed . . . was har d t o see. "
" I don' t t hi nk t hat suf f er i ng makes up f or anyt hi ng, but what ever I f el t ,
I di dn' t suf f er enough, i f t her e' s one t hi ng I l oat he, i t ' s t o speak of my
own suf f er i ngt hat shoul d be no one' s concer n but mi ne. But i f you want t o
know, si nce you know i t al r eadyyes, i t was hel l f or me. And I wi sh i t wer e
wor se. At l east , I ' mnot l et t i ng mysel f get away wi t h i t . "
He sai d i t st er nl y, wi t hout emot i on, as an i mper sonal ver di ct upon
hi msel f . She smi l ed, i n amused sadness, she t ook hi s hand and pr essed i t t o
her l i ps, and shook her head i n r ej ect i on of t he ver di ct , hol di ng her f ace
hi dden agai nst hi s hand.
" What do you mean?" he asked sof t l y.
" Not hi ng . . . " Then she r ai sed her head and sai d f i r ml y, " Hank, I knew
you wer e mar r i ed. I knew what I was doi ng. I chose t o do i t .
Ther e' s not hi ng t hat you owe me, no dut y t hat you have t o consi der . "
He shook hi s head sl owl y, i n pr ot est .
" Hank, I want not hi ng f r omyou except what you wi sh t o gi ve me.
Do you r emember t hat you cal l ed me a t r ader once? I want you t o come t o me
seeki ng not hi ng but your own enj oyment . So l ong as you wi sh t o r emai n
mar r i ed, what ever your r eason, I have no r i ght t o r esent i t . My way of
t r adi ng i s t o know t hat t he j oy you gi ve me i s pai d f or by t he j oy you get
f r ommenot by your suf f er i ng or mi ne. I don' t accept sacr i f i ces and I don' t
make t hem. I f you asked me f or mor e t han you meant t o me, I woul d r ef use. I f
you asked me t o gi ve up t he r ai l r oad, I ' d l eave you. I f ever t he pl easur e of
one has t o be bought by t he pai n of t he ot her , t her e bet t er be no t r ade at
al l . A t r ade by whi ch one gai ns and t he ot her l oses i s a f r aud. You don' t do
i t i n busi ness, Hank.
Don' t do i t i n your own l i f e. "
Li ke a di msound t r ack under her wor ds, he was hear i ng t he wor ds sai d t o
hi mby Li l l i an; he was seei ng t he di st ance bet ween t he t wo, t he di f f er ence i n
what t hey sought f r omhi mand f r oml i f e.
" Dagny, what do you t hi nk of my mar r i age?"
" I have no r i ght t o t hi nk of i t . "
" You must have wonder ed about i t . "
" I di d . . . bef or e I came t o El l i s Wyat t ' s house. Not si nce. "
" You' ve never asked me a quest i on about i t . "
" And won' t . "
He was si l ent f or a moment , t hen sai d, l ooki ng st r ai ght at her ,
under scor i ng hi s f i r st r ej ect i on of t he pr i vacy she had al ways gr ant ed hi m,
" Ther e' s one t hi ng I want you t o know: I have not t ouched her si nce . . .
El l i s Wyat t ' s house. "
" I ' mgl ad. "
" Di d you t hi nk I coul d?"
" I ' ve never per mi t t ed mysel f t o wonder about t hat . "
" Dagny, do you mean t hat i f I had, you . . . you' d accept t hat , t oo?"
" Yes. "
" You woul dn' t hat e i t ?"
" I ' d hat e i t mor e t han I can t el l you. But i f t hat wer e your choi ce, I
woul d accept i t . I want you, Hank. "
He t ook her hand and r ai sed i t t o hi s l i ps, she f el t t he moment ' s st r uggl e
i n hi s body, i n t he sudden movement wi t h whi ch he came down, hal f - col l apsi ng,
and l et hi s mout h cl i ng t o her shoul der . Then he pul l ed her f or war d, he
pul l ed t he l engt h of her body i n t he pal e bl ue ni ght gown t o l i e st r et ched
acr oss hi s knees, he hel d i t wi t h an unsmi l i ng vi ol ence, as i f i n hat r ed f or
her wor ds and as i f t hey wer e t he wor ds he had most want ed t o hear .
He bent hi s f ace down t o her s and she hear d t he quest i on t hat had come
agai n and agai n i n t he ni ght s of t he year behi nd t hem, al ways t or n out of hi m
i nvol unt ar i l y, al ways as a sudden br eak t hat bet r ayed hi s const ant , secr et
t or t ur e: " Who was your f i r st man?"
She st r ai ned back, t r yi ng t o dr aw away f r omhi m, but he hel d her .
" No, Hank, " she sai d, her f ace har d.
The br i ef , t aut movement of hi s l i ps was a smi l e. " I know t hat you won' t
answer i t , but I won' t st op aski ngbecause t hat i s what I ' l l never accept . "
" Ask your sel f why you won' t accept i t . "
He answer ed, hi s hand movi ng sl owl y f r omher br east s t o her knees, as i f
st r essi ng hi s owner shi p and hat i ng i t , " Because . . . t he t hi ngs you' ve
per mi t t ed me t o do . . . I di dn' t t hi nk you coul d, not ever , not even f or me
. . . but t o f i nd t hat you di d, and mor e: t hat you had per mi t t ed anot her man,
had want ed hi mt o, had"
" Do you under st and what you' r e sayi ng? That you' ve never accept ed my
want i ng you, ei t her you' ve never accept ed t hat I shoul d want you, j ust as I
shoul d have want ed hi m, once. "
He sai d, hi s voi ce l ow, " That ' s t r ue. "
She t or e her sel f away f r omhi mwi t h a br usque, t wi st i ng movement , she
st ood up, but she st ood l ooki ng down at hi mwi t h a f ai nt smi l e, and she sai d
sof t l y, " Do you know your onl y r eal gui l t ? Wi t h t he gr eat est capaci t y f or i t ,
you' ve never l ear ned t o enj oy your sel f . You' ve al ways r ej ect ed your own
pl easur e t oo easi l y. You' ve been wi l l i ng t o bear t oo much. "
" He sai d t hat , t oo. "
" Who?"
" Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. "
He wonder ed why he had t he i mpr essi on t hat t he name shocked her and t hat
she answer ed an i nst ant t oo l at e, " He sai d t hat t o you?"
" We wer e t al ki ng about qui t e a di f f er ent subj ect . "
I n a moment , she sai d cal ml y, " I saw you t al ki ng t o hi m. Whi ch one of you
was i nsul t i ng t he ot her , t hi s t i me?"
" We wer en' t . Dagny, what do you t hi nk of hi m?"
" I t hi nk t hat he' s done i t i nt ent i onal l yt hat smash- up we' r e i n f or ,
t omor r ow. "
" I know he has. St i l l , what do you t hi nk of hi mas a per son?"
" I don' t know. I ought t o t hi nk t hat he' s t he most depr aved per son I ' ve
ever met . "
" You ought t o? But you don' t ?"
" No. I can' t qui t e make mysel f f eel cer t ai n of i t . "
He smi l ed. " That ' s what ' s st r ange about hi m. I know t hat he' s a l i ar , a
l oaf er , a cheap pl ayboy, t he most vi ci ousl y i r r esponsi bl e wast e of a human
bei ng I ever i magi ned possi bl e. Yet , when I l ook at hi m, I f eel t hat i f ever
t her e was a man t o whomI woul d ent r ust my l i f e, he' s t he one. "
She gasped. " Hank, ar e you sayi ng t hat you l i ke hi m?"
" I ' msayi ng t hat I di dn' t know what i t meant , t o l i ke a man, I di dn' t know
how much I mi ssed i t unt i l I met hi m, "
" Good God, Hank, you' ve f al l en f or hi m! "
" YesI t hi nk I have. " He smi l ed. " Why does i t f r i ght en you?"
" Because . . . because I t hi nk he' s goi ng t o hur t you i n some t er r i bl e way
. . . and t he mor e you see i n hi m, t he har der i t wi l l be t o bear . . . and i t
wi l l t ake you a l ong t i me t o get over i t , i f ever . . . .
I f eel t hat I ought t o war n you agai nst hi m, but I can' t because I ' m
cer t ai n of not hi ng about hi m, not even whet her he' s t he gr eat est or t he
l owest man on ear t h. "
" I ' mcer t ai n of not hi ng about hi mexcept t hat I l i ke hi m. "
" But t hi nk of what ' he' s done. I t ' s not J i mand Boyl e t hat he' s hur t , i t ' s
you and me and Ken Danagger and t he r est of us, because J i m' s gang wi l l
mer el y t ake i t out on usand i t ' s goi ng t o be anot her di sast er , l i ke t he
Wyat t f i r e. "
" Yes . . . yes, l i ke t he Wyat t f i r e. But , you know, I don' t t hi nk I car e
t oo much about t hat . What ' s one mor e di sast er ? Ever yt hi ng' s goi ng anyway,
i t ' s onl y a quest i on of a l i t t l e f ast er or a l i t t l e sl ower , al l t hat ' s l ef t
f or us ahead i s t o keep t he shi p af l oat as l ong as we can and t hen go down
wi t h i t . "
" I s t hat hi s excuse f or hi msel f ? I s t hat what he' s made you f eel ?"
" No. Oh no! That ' s t he f eel i ng I l ose when I speak t o hi m. The st r ange
t hi ng i s what he does make me f eel . "
" What ?"
" Hope. "
She nodded, i n hel pl ess wonder , knowi ng t hat she had f el t i t , t oo.
" I don' t know why, " he sai d. " But I l ook at peopl e and t hey seemt o be
made of not hi ng but pai n. He' s not . You' r e not . That t er r i bl e hopel essness
t hat ' s al l ar ound us, I l ose i t onl y i n hi s pr esence. And her e.
Nowher e el se. "
She came back t o hi mand sl i pped down t o si t at hi s f eet , pr essi ng her
f ace t o hi s knees. " Hank, we st i l l have so much ahead of us . . .
and so much r i ght now. . . . "
He l ooked at t he shape of pal e bl ue si l k huddl ed agai nst t he bl ack of hi s
cl ot heshe bent down t o her he sai d, hi s voi ce l ow, " Dagny . . .
t he t hi ngs I sai d t o you t hat mor ni ng i n El l i s Wyat t ' s house . . . I t hi nk
I was l yi ng t o mysel f . "
" I know i t . "
Thr ough a gr ay dr i zzl e of r ai n, t he cal endar above t he r oof s sai d:
Sept ember 3, and a cl ock on anot her t ower sai d: 10: 40, as Rear den r ode back
t o t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el . The cab' s r adi o was spi t t i ng out shr i l l y t he
sounds of a pani c- t i nged voi ce announci ng t he cr ash of d' Anconi a Copper .
Rear den l eaned wear i l y agai nst t he seat : t he di sast er seemed t o be no mor e
t han a st al e news st or y r ead l ong ago. He f el t not hi ng, except an
uncomf or t abl e sense of i mpr opr i et y at f i ndi ng hi msel f out i n t he mor ni ng
st r eet s, dr essed i n eveni ng cl ot hes. He f el t no desi r e t o r et ur n f r omt he
wor l d he had l ef t t o t he wor l d he saw dr i zzl i ng past t he wi ndows of t he t axi .
He t ur ned t he key i n t he door of hi s hot el sui t e, hopi ng t o get back t o a
desk as f ast as possi bl e and have t o see not hi ng ar ound hi m.
They hi t hi s consci ousness t oget her : t he br eakf ast t abl et he door t o hi s
bedr oom. , open upon t he si ght of a bed t hat had been sl ept i nand Li l l i an' s
voi ce sayi ng, " Good mor ni ng, Henr y. "
She sat i n an ar mchai r , wear i ng t he sui t she had wor n yest er day, wi t hout
t he j acket or hat ; her whi t e bl ouse l ooked smugl y cr i sp. Ther e wer e r emnant s
of a br eakf ast on t he t abl e. She was smoki ng a ci gar et t e, wi t h t he ai r and
pose of a l ong, pat i ent vi gi l .
As he st ood st i l l , she t ook t he t i me t o cr oss her l egs and set t l e down
mor e comf or t abl y, t hen asked, " Ar en' t you goi ng t o say anyt hi ng, Henr y?"
He st ood l i ke a man i n mi l i t ar y uni f or mat some of f i ci al pr oceedi ngs wher e
emot i ons coul d not be per mi t t ed t o exi st . " I t i s f or you t o speak. "
" Ar en' t you goi ng t o t r y t o j ust i f y your sel f ?"
" No. "
" Ar en' t you goi ng t o st ar t beggi ng my f or gi veness?"
" Ther e i s no r eason why you shoul d f or gi ve me. Ther e i s not hi ng f or me t o
add. You know t he t r ut h. Now i t i s up t o you. "
She chuckl ed, st r et chi ng, r ubbi ng her shoul der bl ades agai nst t he chai r ' s
back. " Di dn' t you expect t o be caught , sooner or l at er ?" she asked. " I f a man
l i ke you st ays pur e as a monk f or over a year , di dn' t you t hi nk t hat I mi ght
begi n t o suspect t he r eason? I t ' s f unny, t hough, t hat t hat f amous br ai n of
your s di dn' t pr event you f r omget t i ng caught as si mpl y as t hi s. " She waved at
t he r oom, at t he br eakf ast t abl e. " I f el t cer t ai n t hat you wer en' t goi ng t o
r et ur n her e, l ast ni ght . And i t wasn' t di f f i cul t or expensi ve at al l t o f i nd
out f r oma hot el empl oyee, t hi s mor ni ng, t hat you haven' t spent a ni ght i n
t hese r ooms i n t he past year . "
He sai d not hi ng.
" The man of st ai nl ess st eel ! " She l aughed. " The man of achi evement and
honor who' s so much bet t er t han t he r est of us! Does she dance i n t he chor us
or i s she a mani cur i st i n an excl usi ve bar ber shop pat r oni zed by
mi l l i onai r es?"
He r emai ned si l ent .
" Who i s she, Henr y?"
" I won' t answer t hat . "
" I want t o know. "
" You' r e not goi ng t o. "
" Don' t you t hi nk i t ' s r i di cul ous, your pl ayi ng t he par t of a gent l eman
who' s pr ot ect i ng t he l ady' s nameor of any sor t of gent l eman, f r omnow on?
Who i s she?"
" I sai d I won' t answer . "
She shr ugged. " I suppose i t makes no di f f er ence. Ther e' s onl y one st andar d
t ype f or t he one st andar d pur pose. I ' ve al ways known t hat under t hat ascet i c
l ook of your s you wer e a pl ai n, cr ude sensual i st who sought not hi ng f r oma
woman except an ani mal sat i sf act i on whi ch I pr i de mysel f on not havi ng gi ven
you. I knew t hat your vaunt ed sense of honor woul d col l apse some day and you
woul d be dr awn t o t he l owest , cheapest t ype of f emal e, j ust l i ke any ot her
cheat i ng husband. "
She chuckl ed. " That gr eat admi r er of your s, Mi ss Dagny Taggar t , was
f ur i ous at me f or t he mer e hi nt of a suggest i on t hat her her o wasn' t as pur e
as hi s st ai nl ess, non- cor r osi ve r ai l . And she was nai ve enough t o i magi ne
t hat I coul d suspect her of bei ng t he t ype men f i nd at t r act i ve f or a
r el at i onshi p i n whi ch what t hey seek i s most not or i ousl y not br ai ns. I knew
your r eal nat ur e and i ncl i nat i ons. Di dn' t I ?" He sai d not hi ng. " Do you know
what [ t hi nk of you now?"
" You have t he r i ght t o condemn me i n any way you wi sh. "
She l aughed. " The gr eat man who was so cont empt uousi n busi nessof
weakl i ngs who t r i mmed cor ner s or f el l by t he waysi de, because t hey coul dn' t
mat ch hi s st r engt h of char act er and st eadf ast ness of pur pose! How do you f eel
about i t now?"
" My f eel i ngs need not concer n you. You have t he r i ght t o deci de what you
wi sh me t o do. I wi l l agr ee t o any demand you make, except one: don' t ask me
t o gi ve i t up. "
" Oh, I woul dn' t ask you t o gi ve i t up! I woul dn' t expect you t o change
your nat ur e. Thi s i s your t r ue l evel under al l t hat sel f - made gr andeur of a
kni ght of i ndust r y who r ose by sheer geni us f r omt he or e mi ne gut t er s t o
f i nger bowl s and whi t e t i e! I t f i t s you wel t , t hat whi t e t i e, t o come home i n
at el even o' cl ock i n t he mor ni ng! You never r ose out of t he or e mi nes, t hat ' s
wher e you bel ongal l of you sel f - made pr i nces of t he cash r egi st er i n t he
cor ner sal oon on Sat ur day ni ght , wi t h t he t r avel i ng sal esmen and t he dance-
hal l gi r l s! "
" Do you wi sh t o di vor ce me?"
" Oh, woul dn' t you l i ke t hat ! Woul dn' t t hat be a smar t t r ade t o pul l !
Don' t you suppose I know t hat you' ve want ed t o di vor ce me si nce t he f i r st
mont h of our mar r i age?"
" I f t hat i s what you t hought , why di d you st ay wi t h me?"
She answer ed sever el y, " I t ' s a quest i on you have l ost t he r i ght t o ask. "
" That ' s t r ue, " he sai d, t hi nki ng t hat onl y one concei vabl e r eason, her
l ove f or hi m, coul d j ust i f y her answer .
" No, I ' mnot goi ng t o di vor ce you. Do you suppose t hat I wi l l al l ow your
r omance wi t h a f l oozi e t o depr i ve me of my home, my name, my soci al posi t i on?
I shal l pr eser ve such pi eces of my l i f e as I can, what ever does not r est on
so shoddy a f oundat i on as your f i del i t y. Make no mi st ake about i t : I shal l
never gi ve you a di vor ce. Whet her you l i ke i t or not , you' r e mar r i ed and
you' l l st ay mar r i ed. "
" I wi l l , i f t hat i s what you wi sh. "
" And f ur t her mor e, I wi l l not consi der i nci dent al l y, why don' t you si t
down?"
He r emai ned st andi ng. " Pl ease say what you have t o say. "
" I wi l l not consi der any unof f i ci al di vor ce, such as a separ at i on. You may
cont i nue your l ove i dyl l i n t he subways and basement s wher e i t bel ongs, but
i n t he eyes of t he wor l d I wi l l expect you t o r emember t hat I amMr s. Henr y
Rear den. You have al ways pr ocl ai med such an exagger at ed devot i on t o honest y
now l et me see you be condemned t o t he l i f e of t he hypocr i t e t hat you r eal l y
ar e. I wi l l expect you t o mai nt ai n your r esi dence at t he home whi ch i s
of f i ci al l y your s, but wi l l now be mi ne. "
" I f you wi sh. "
She l eaned back l oosel y, i n a manner of unt i dy r el axat i on, her l egs spr ead
apar t , her ar ms r est i ng i n t wo st r i ct par al l el s on t he ar ms of t he chai r l i ke
a j udge who coul d per mi t hi msel f t o be sl oppy.
" Di vor ce?" she sai d, chuckl i ng col dl y. " Di d you t hi nk you' d get of f as
easi l y as t hat ? Di d you t hi nk you' d get by at t he pr i ce of a f ew of your
mi l l i ons t ossed of f as al i mony? You' r e so used t o pur chasi ng what ever you
wi sh by t he si mpl e means of your dol l ar s, t hat you cannot concei ve of t hi ngs
t hat ar e non- commer ci al , non- negot i abl e, non- subj ect t o any ki nd of t r ade.
You' r e unabl e t o bel i eve t hat t her e may exi st a per son who f eel s no concer n
f or money. You cannot i magi ne what t hat means.
Wel l , I t hi nk you' r e goi ng t o l ear n. Oh yes, of cour se you' l l agr ee t o any
demand I make, f r omnow on. I want you t o si t i n t hat of f i ce of whi ch you' r e
so pr oud, i n t hose pr eci ous mi l l s of your s, and pl ay t he her o who wor ks
ei ght een hour s a day, t he gi ant of i ndust r y who keeps t he whol e count r y
goi ng, t he geni us who i s above t he common her d of whi ni ng, l yi ng, chi sel i ng
humani t y. Then I want you t o come home and f ace t he onl y per son who knows you
f or what you r eal l y ar e, who knows t he act ual val ue of your wor d, of your
honor , of your i nt egr i t y, of your vaunt ed sel f - est eem. I want you t o f ace, i n
your own home, t he one per son who despi ses you and has t he r i ght t o do so. I
want you t o l ook at me whenever you bui l d anot her f ur nace, or pour anot her
r ecor d br eaki ng l oad of st eel , or hear appl ause and admi r at i on, whenever you
f eel pr oud of your sel f , whenever you f eel cl ean, whenever you f eel dr unk on
t he sense of your own gr eat ness. I want you t o l ook at me whenever you hear
of some act of depr avi t y, or f eel anger at human cor r upt i on, or f eel cont empt
f or someone' s knaver y, or ar e t he vi ct i mof a new gover nment al ext or t i ont o
l ook and t o know t hat you' r e no bet t er , t hat you' r e super i or t o no one, t hat
t her e' s not hi ng you have t he r i ght t o condemn. I want you t o l ook at me and
t o l ear n t he f at e of t he man who t r i ed t o bui l d a t ower t o t he sky, or t he
man who want ed t o r each t he sun on wi ngs made of waxor you, t he man who
want ed t o hol d hi msel f as per f ect ! "
Somewher e out si de of hi mand apar t , as i f he wer e r eadi ng i t i n a br ai n
not hi s own, he obser ved t he t hought t hat t her e was some f l aw i n t he scheme
of t he puni shment she want ed hi mt o bear , somet hi ng wr ong by i t s own t er ms,
asi de f r omi t s pr opr i et y or j ust i ce, some pr act i cal mi scal cul at i on t hat woul d
demol i sh i t al l i f di scover ed. He di d not at t empt t o di scover i t . The t hought
went by as a moment ' s not at i on, made i n col d cur i osi t y, t o be br ought back i n
some di st ant f ut ur e. Ther e was not hi ng wi t hi n hi mnow wi t h whi ch t o f eel
i nt er est or t o r espond.
Hi s own br ai n was numb wi t h t he ef f or t t o hol d t he l ast of hi s sense of
j ust i ce agai nst so over whel mi ng a t i de of r evul si on t hat i t swamped Li l l i an
out of human f or m, past al l hi s pl eas t o hi msel f t hat he had no r i ght t o f eel
i t . I f she was l oat hsome, he t hought , i t was he who had br ought her t o i t ;
t hi s was her way of t aki ng pai nno one coul d pr escr i be t he f or mof a human
bei ng' s at t empt t o bear suf f er i ngno one coul d bl ameabove al l , not he, who
had caused i t . But he saw no evi dence of pai n i n her manner . Then per haps t he
ugl i ness was t he onl y means she coul d summon t o hi de i t , he t hought . Then he
t hought of not hi ng except of wi t hst andi ng t he r evul si on, f or t he l engt h of
t he next moment and of t he next .
When she st opped speaki ng, he asked, " Have you f i ni shed?"
" Yes, I bel i eve so. "
" Then you had bet t er t ake t he t r ai n home now. "
When he under t ook t he mot i ons necessar y t o r emove hi s eveni ng cl ot hes, he
di scover ed t hat hi s muscl es f el t as i f he wer e at t he end of a l ong day of
physi cal l abor . Hi s st ar ched shi r t was l i mp wi t h sweat .
Ther e was nei t her t hought nor f eel i ng l ef t i n hi m, not hi ng but a sense
t hat mer ged t he r emnant s of bot h, t he sense of congr at ul at i on upon t he
gr eat est vi ct or y he had ever demanded of hi msel f : t hat Li l l i an had wal ked out
of t he hot el sui t e al i ve.
Ent er i ng Rear den' s of f i ce, Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s wor e t he expr essi on of a man
so cer t ai n of t he success of hi s quest t hat he coul d af f or d a benevol ent
smi l e. He spoke wi t h a smoot h, cheer f ul assur ance; Rear den had t he i mpr essi on
t hat i t was t he assur ance of a car dshar p who has spent a pr odi gi ous ef f or t i n
memor i zi ng ever y possi bl e var i at i on of t he pat t er n, and i s now saf e i n t he
knowl edge t hat ever y car d i n t he deck i s mar ked.
" Wel l , Mr . Rear den, " he sai d, by way of gr eet i ng, " I di dn' t know t hat even
a har dened hound of publ i c f unct i ons and shaker of f amous hands, l i ke mysel f ,
coul d st i l l get a t hr i l l out of meet i ng an emi nent man, but t hat ' s what I
f eel r i ght now, bel i eve i t or not . "
" How do you do, " sai d Rear den.
Dr . Fer r i s sat down and made a f ew r emar ks about t he col or s of t he l eaves
i n t he mont h of Oct ober , as he had obser ved t hemby t he r oadsi de on hi s l ong
dr i ve f r omWashi ngt on, under t aken speci f i cal l y f or t he pur pose of meet i ng Mr .
Rear den i n per son. Rear den sai d not hi ng. Dr .
Fer r i s l ooked out t he wi ndow and comment ed on t he i nspi r i ng si ght of t he
Rear den mi l l s whi ch, he sai d, wer e one of t he most val uabl e pr oduct i ve
ent er pr i ses i n t he count r y.
" That i s not what you t hought of my pr oduct a year and a hal f ago, "
sai d Rear den.
Dr . Fer r i s gave a br i ef f r own, as i f a dot of t he pat t er n had sl i pped and
al most cost hi mt he game, t hen chuckl ed, as i f he had r ecapt ur ed i t . " That
was a year and a hal f ago, Mr . Rear den, " he sai d easi l y.
" Ti mes change, and peopl e change wi t h t he t i mest he wi se ones do.
Wi sdoml i es i n knowi ng when t o r emember and when t o f or get . Consi st ency i s
not a habi t of mi nd whi ch i t i s wi se t o pr act i ce or t o expect of t he human
r ace. "
He t hen pr oceeded t o di scour se upon t he f ool i shness of consi st ency i n a
wor l d wher e not hi ng was absol ut e except t he pr i nci pl e of compr omi se. He
t al ked ear nest l y, but i n a casual manner , as i f t hey bot h under st ood t hat
t hi s was not t he mai n subj ect of t hei r i nt er vi ew; yet , oddl y, he spoke not i n
t he t one of a f or ewor d, but i n t he t one of a post scr i pt , as i f t he mai n
subj ect had been set t l ed l ong ago.
Rear den wai t ed f or t he f i r st " Don' t you t hi nk so? and answer ed, " Pl ease
st at e t he ur gent mat t er f or whi ch you r equest ed t hi s appoi nt ment . "
Dr . Fer r i s l ooked ast oni shed and bl ank f or a moment , t hen sai d br i ght l y,
as i f r emember i ng an uni mpor t ant subj ect whi ch coul d be di sposed of wi t hout
ef f or t , " Oh, t hat ? That was i n r egar d t o t he dat es of del i ver y of Rear den
Met al t o t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e. We shoul d l i ke t o have f i ve t housand
t ons by t he f i r st of December , and t hen we' l l be qui t e agr eeabl e t o wai t i ng
f or t he bal ance of t he or der unt i l af t er t he f i r st of t he year . "
Rear den sat l ooki ng at hi msi l ent l y f or a l ong t i me; each passi ng moment
had t he ef f ect of maki ng t he gay i nt onat i ons of Dr . Fer r i s' voi ce, st i l l
hangi ng i n t he ai r of t he r oom, seemmor e f ool i sh. When Dr . Fer r i s had begun
t o dr ead t hat he woul d not answer at al l , Rear den answer ed, " Hasn' t t he
t r af f i c cop wi t h t he l eat her l eggi ngs, whomyou sent her e, gi ven you a r epor t
on hi s conver sat i on wi t h me?"
" Why, yes, Mr . Rear den, but "
" What el se do you want t o hear ?"
" But t hat was f i ve mont hs ago, Mr . Rear den. A cer t ai n event has t aken
pl ace si nce, whi ch makes me qui t e sur e t hat you have changed your mi nd and
t hat you wi l l make no t r oubl e f or us at al l , j ust as we wi l l make no t r oubl e
f or you. "
" What event ?"
" An event of whi ch you have f ar gr eat er knowl edge t han I but , you see, I
do have knowl edge of i t , even t hough you woul d much pr ef er me t o have none. "
" What event ?"
" Si nce i t i s your secr et , Mr . Rear den, why not l et i t r emai n a secr et ?
Who doesn' t have secr et s nowadays? For i nst ance, Pr oj ect X i s a secr et .
You r eal i ze, of cour se, t hat we coul d obt ai n your Met al si mpl y by havi ng
i t pur chased i n smal l er quant i t i es by var i ous gover nment of f i ces who woul d
t hen t r ansf er i t t o usand you woul d not be abl e t o pr event i t .
But t hi s woul d necessi t at e our l et t i ng a l ot of l ousy bur eaucr at s" Dr .
Fer r i s smi l ed wi t h di sar mi ng f r ankness" oh yes, we ar e as unpopul ar wi t h
one anot her as we ar e wi t h you pr i vat e ci t i zensi t woul d necessi t at e our
l et t i ng a l ot of ot her bur eaucr at s i n on t he secr et of Pr oj ect X, whi ch woul d
be hi ghl y undesi r abl e at t hi s t i me. And so woul d any newspaper publ i ci t y
about t he Pr oj ect i f we put you on t r i al f or r ef usal t o compl y wi t h a
gover nment or der . But i f you had t o st and t r i al on anot her , much mor e ser i ous
char ge, wher e Pr oj ect X and t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e wer e not i nvol ved,
and wher e you coul d not r ai se any i ssue of pr i nci pl e or ar ouse any publ i c
sympat hywhy, t hat woul d not i nconveni ence us at al l , but i t woul d cost you
mor e t han you woul d car e t o cont empl at e. Ther ef or e, t he onl y pr act i cal t hi ng
f or you t o do i s t o hel p us keep our secr et and get us t o hel p you keep
your sand, as I ' msur e you r eal i ze, we ar e f ul l y abl e t o keep any of t he
bur eaucr at s saf el y of f your t r ai l f or as l ong as we wi sh, "
" What event , what secr et and what t r ai l ?"
" Oh, come, Mr . Rear den, don' t be chi l di sh! The f our t housand t ons of
Rear den Met al whi ch you del i ver ed t o Ken Danagger , of cour se, "
sai d Dr . Fer r i s l i ght l y.
Rear den di d not answer .
" I ssues of . pr i nci pl e ar e such a nui sance, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, smi l i ng, " and
such a wast e of t i me f or al l concer ned. Now woul d you car e t o be a mar t yr f or
an i ssue of pr i nci pl e, onl y i n ci r cumst ances wher e nobody wi l l know t hat
t hat ' s what you ar enobody but you and mewher e you won' t get a chance t o
br eat he a wor d about t he i ssue or t he pr i nci pl ewher e you won' t be a her o,
t he cr eat or of a spect acul ar new met al , maki ng a st and agai nst enemi es whose
act i ons mi ght appear somewhat shabby i n t he eyes of t he publ i cwher e you
won' t be a her o, but a common cr i mi nal , a gr eedy i ndust r i al i st who' s cheat ed
t he l aw f or a pl ai n mot i ve of pr of i t , a r acket eer of t he bl ack mar ket who' s
br oken t he nat i onal r egul at i ons desi gned t o pr ot ect t he publ i c wel f ar ea her o
wi t hout gl or y and wi t hout publ i c, who' l l accompl i sh no mor e t han about hal f a
col umn of newspr i nt somewher e on page f i venow woul d you st i l l car e t o be
t hat ki nd of mar t yr ? Because t hat ' s j ust what t he i ssue amount s t o now:
ei t her you l et us have t he Met al or you go t o j ai l f or t en year s and t ake
your f r i end Danagger al ong, t oo. "
As a bi ol ogi st , Dr . Fer r i s had al ways been f asci nat ed by t he t heor y t hat
ani mal s had t he capaci t y t o smel l f ear ; he had t r i ed t o devel op a si mi l ar
capaci t y i n hi msel f . Wat chi ng Rear den, he concl uded t hat t he man had l ong
si nce deci ded t o gi ve i nbecause he caught no t r ace of any f ear .
" Who was your i nf or mer ?" asked Rear den.
" One of your f r i ends, Mr . Rear den. The owner of a copper mi ne i n Ar i zona,
who r epor t ed t o us t hat you had pur chased an ext r a amount of copper l ast
mont h, above t he r egul ar t onnage r equi r ed f or t he mont hl y quot a of Rear den
Met al whi ch t he l aw per mi t s you t o pr oduce. Copper i s one of t he i ngr edi ent s
of Rear den Met al , i sn' t i t ? That was al l t he i nf or mat i on we needed. The r est
was easy t o t r ace. You must n' t bl ame t hat mi ne owner t oo much. The copper
pr oducer s, as you know, ar e bei ng squeezed so badl y r i ght now t hat t he man
had t o of f er somet hi ng of val ue i n or der t o obt ai n a f avor , an ' emer gency
need' r ul i ng whi ch suspended a f ew of t he di r ect i ves i n hi s case and gave hi m
a l i t t l e br eat hi ng spel l . The per son t o whomhe t r aded hi s i nf or mat i on knew
wher e i t woul d have t he hi ghest val ue, so he t r aded i t t o me, i n r et ur n f or
cer t ai n f avor s he needed. So al l t he necessar y evi dence, as wel l as t he next
t en year s of your l i f e, ar e now i n my possessi onand I amof f er i ng you a
t r ade. I ' msur e you won' t obj ect , si nce t r ade i s your speci al t y. The f or mmay
be a l i t t l e di f f er ent f r omwhat i t was i n your yout hbut you' r e a smar t
t r ader , you' ve al ways known how t o t ake advant age of changi ng condi t i ons, and
t hese ar e t he condi t i ons of our day, so i t shoul d not be di f f i cul t f or you t o
see wher e your i nt er est s l i e and t o act accor di ngl y. "
Rear den sai d cal ml y, " I n my yout h, t hi s was cal l ed bl ackmai l . "
Dr . Fer r i s gr i nned. " That ' s what i t i s, Mr . Rear den. We' ve ent er ed a much
mor e r eal i st i c age. "
But t her e was a pecul i ar di f f er ence, t hought Rear den, bet ween t he manner
of a pl ai n bl ackmai l er and t hat of Dr . Fer r i s. A bl ackmai l er woul d show si gns
of gl oat i ng over hi s vi ct i m' s si n and of acknowl edgi ng i t s evi l , he woul d
suggest a t hr eat t o t he vi ct i mand a sense of danger t o t hembot h. Dr . Fer r i s
conveyed none of i t . Hi s manner was t hat of deal i ng wi t h t he nor mal and t he
nat ur al , i t suggest ed a sense of saf et y, i t hel d no t one of condemnat i on, but
a hi nt of comr adeshi p, a comr adeshi p basedf or bot h of t hemon sel f - cont empt .
The sudden f eel i ng t hat made Rear den l ean f or war d i n a post ur e of eager
at t ent i veness, was t he f eel i ng t hat he was about t o di scover anot her st ep
al ong hi s hal f gl i mpsed t r ai l .
Seei ng Rear den' s l ook of i nt er est , Dr . Fer r i s smi l ed and congr at ul at ed
hi msel f on havi ng caught t he r i ght key. The game was cl ear t o hi mnow, t he
mar ki ngs of t he pat t er n wer e f al l i ng i n t he r i ght or der ; some men, t hought
Dr . Fer r i s, woul d do anyt hi ng so l ong as i t was l ef t unnamed, but t hi s man
want ed f r ankness, t hi s was t he t ough r eal i st he had expect ed t o f i nd.
" You' r e a pr act i cal man, Mr . Rear den, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s ami abl y. " I can' t
under st and why you shoul d want t o st ay behi nd t he t i mes. Why don' t you adj ust
your sel f and pl ay i t r i ght ? You' r e smar t er t han most of t hem. You' r e a
val uabl e per son, we' ve want ed you f or a l ong t i me, and when I hear d t hat you
wer e t r yi ng t o st r i ng al ong wi t h J i mTaggar t , I knew you coul d be had. Don' t
bot her wi t h J i mTaggar t , he' s not hi ng, he' s j ust f l ea- bai t . Get i nt o t he bi g
game. We can use you and you can use us. Want us t o st ep on Or r en Boyl e f or
you? He' s gi ven you an awf ul beat i ng, want us t o t r i mhi mdown a l i t t l e? I t
can be done. Or want us t o keep Ken Danagger i n l i ne? Look how i mpr act i cal
you' ve been about t hat . I know why you sol d hi mt he Met al i t ' s because you
need hi mt o get coal f r om. So you t ake a chance on goi ng t o j ai l and payi ng
huge f i nes, j ust t o keep on t he good si de of Ken Danagger . Do you cal l t hat
good busi ness? Now, make a deal wi t h us and j ust l et Mr . Danagger under st and
t hat i f he doesn' t t oe t he l i ne, he' l l go t o j ai l , but you won' t , because
you' ve got f r i ends he hasn' t got and you' l l never have t o wor r y about your
coal suppl y f r omt hen on. Now t hat ' s t he moder n way of doi ng busi ness. Ask
your sel f whi ch way i s mor e pr act i cal . And what ever anyone' s sai d about you,
nobody' s ever deni ed t hat you' r e a gr eat busi nessman and a har d- headed
r eal i st . "
" That ' s what I am, " sai d Rear den.
" That ' s what I t hought , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " You r ose t o r i ches i n an age
when most men wer e goi ng bankr upt , you' ve al ways managed t o bl ast obst acl es,
t o keep your mi l l s goi ng and t o make moneyt hat ' s your r eput at i onso you
woul dn' t want t o be i mpr act i cal now, woul d you? What f or ? What do you car e,
so l ong as you make money? Leave t he t heor i es t o peopl e l i ke Ber t r amScudder
and t he i deal s t o peopl e l i ke Bal ph Eubankand be your sel f . Come down t o
ear t h. You' r e not t he man who' d l et sent i ment i nt er f er e wi t h busi ness. "
" No, " sai d Rear den sl owl y, " I woul dn' t . Not any ki nd of sent i ment . "
Dr . Fer r i s smi l ed. " Don' t you suppose we knew i t ?" he sai d, hi s t one
suggest i ng t hat he was l et t i ng hi s pat ent - l eat her hai r down t o i mpr ess a
f el l ow cr i mi nal by a di spl ay of super i or cunni ng. " We' ve wai t ed a l ong t i me
t o get somet hi ng on you. You honest men ar e such a pr obl emand such a
headache. But we knew you' d sl i p sooner or l at er and t hi s i s j ust what we
want ed. "
" You seemt o be pl eased about i t . "
" Don' t I have good r eason t o be?"
" But , af t er al l , I di d br eak one of your l aws. "
" Wel l , what do you t hi nk t hey' r e f or ?"
Dr . Fer r i s di d not not i ce t he sudden l ook on Rear den' s f ace, t he l ook of a
man hi t by t he f i r st vi si on of t hat whi ch he had sought t o see.
Dr . Fer r i s was past t he st age of seei ng; he was i nt ent upon del i ver i ng t he
l ast bl ows t o an ani mal caught i n a t r ap.
" Di d you r eal l y t hi nk t hat we want t hose l aws t o be obser ved?" sai d Dr .
Fer r i s. " We want t hembr oken. You' d bet t er get i t st r ai ght t hat i t ' s not a
bunch of boy scout s you' r e up agai nst t hen you' l l know t hat t hi s i s not t he
age f or beaut i f ul gest ur es. We' r e af t er power and we mean i t .
You f el l ows wer e pi ker s, but we know t he r eal t r i ck, and you' d bet t er get
wi se t o i t . Ther e' s no way t o r ul e i nnocent men. The onl y power any
gover nment has i s t he power t o cr ack down on cr i mi nal s. Wel l , when t her e
ar en' t enough cr i mi nal s, one makes t hem. One decl ar es so many t hi ngs t o be a
cr i me t hat i t becomes i mpossi bl e f or men t o l i ve wi t hout br eaki ng l aws. Who
want s a nat i on of l aw- abi di ng ci t i zens? What ' s t her e i n t hat f or anyone? But
j ust pass t he ki nd of l aws t hat can nei t her be obser ved nor enf or ced nor
obj ect i vel y i nt er pr et edand you cr eat e a nat i on of l aw- br eaker sand t hen you
cash i n on gui l t . Now t hat ' s t he syst em, Mr . Rear den, t hat ' s t he game, and
once you under st and i t , you' l l be much easi er t o deal wi t h. "
Wat chi ng Dr . Fer r i s wat ch hi m, Rear den saw t he sudden t wi t ch of anxi et y,
t he l ook t hat pr ecedes pani c, as i f a cl ean car d had f al l en on t he t abl e f r om
a deck Dr . Fer r i s had never seen bef or e.
What Dr . Fer r i s was seei ng i n Rear den' s f ace was t he l ook of l umi nous
ser eni t y t hat comes f r omt he sudden answer t o an ol d, dar k pr obl em, a l ook of
r el axat i on and eager ness t oget her ; t her e was a yout hf ul cl ar i t y i n Rear den' s
eyes and t he f ai nt est t ouch of cont empt i n t he l i ne of hi s mout h. What ever
t hi s meant and Dr . Fer r i s coul d not deci pher i t he was cer t ai n of one t hi ng:
t he f ace hel d no si gn of gui l t .
" Ther e' s a f l aw i n your syst em, Dr . Fer r i s, Rear den sai d qui et l y, al most
l i ght l y, " a pr act i cal f l aw whi ch you wi l l di scover when you put me on t r i al
f or sel l i ng f our t housand t ons of Rear den Met al t o Ken Danagger . "
I t t ook t went y secondsRear den coul d f eel t hemmovi ng past sl owl yat t he
end of whi ch Dr . Fer r i s became convi nced t hat he had hear d Rear den' s f i nal
deci si on.
" Do you t hi nk we' r e bl uf f i ng?" snapped Dr . Fer r i s; hi s voi ce suddenl y had
t he qual i t y of t he ani mal s he had spent so much t i me st udyi ng: i t sounded as
i f he wer e bar i ng hi s t eet h.
" I don' t know, " sai d Rear den. " I don' t car e, one way or t he ot her . "
" Ar e you goi ng t o be as i mpr act i cal as t hat ?"
" The eval uat i on of an act i on as ' pr act i cal , ' Dr . Fer r i s, depends on what
i t i s t hat one wi shes t o pr act i ce. "
" Haven' t you al ways pl aced your sel f - i nt er est above al l el se?"
" That i s what I amdoi ng r i ght now. "
" I f you t hi nk we' l l l et you get away wi t h a"
" You wi l l now pl ease get out of her e. "
" Whomdo you t hi nk you' r e f ool i ng?" Dr . Fer r i s' voi ce had r i sen cl ose t o
t he edge of a scr eam. " The day of t he bar ons of i ndust r y i s done! You' ve got
t he goods, but we' ve got t he goods on you, and you' r e goi ng t o pl ay i t our
way or you' l l "
Rear den had pr essed a but t on; Mi ss I ves ent er ed t he of f i ce.
" Dr . Fer r i s has become conf used and has l ost hi s way, Mi ss I ves, "
sai d Rear den. " Wi l l you escor t hi mout pl ease?" He t ur ned t o Fer r i s.
" Mi ss I ves i s a woman, she wei ghs about a hundr ed pounds, and she has no
pr act i cal qual i f i cat i ons at al l , onl y a super l at i ve i nt el l ect ual ef f i ci ency.
She woul d never do f or a bouncer i n a sal oon, onl y i n an i mpr act i cal pl ace,
such as a f act or y. "
Mi ss I ves l ooked as i f she was per f or mi ng a dut y of no gr eat er emot i onal
si gni f i cance t han t aki ng di ct at i on about a l i st of shi ppi ng i nvoi ces.
St andi ng st r ai ght i n a di sci pl i ned manner of i cy f or mal i t y, she hel d t he door
open, l et Dr . Fer r i s cr oss t he r oom, t hen wal ked out f i r st ; Dr . Fer r i s
f ol l owed.
She came back a f ew mi nut es l at er , l aughi ng i n uncont r ol l abl e exul t at i on.
" Mr . Rear den, " she asked, l aughi ng at her f ear f or hi m, at t hei r danger ,
at ever yt hi ng but t he t r i umph of t he moment , " what i s i t you' r e doi ng?"
He sat i n a pose he had never per mi t t ed hi msel f bef or e, a pose he had
r esent ed as t he most vul gar symbol of t he busi nessmanhe sat l eani ng back i n
hi s chai r , wi t h hi s f eet on hi s deskand i t seemed t o her t hat t he post ur e
had an ai r of pecul i ar nobi l i t y, t hat i t was not t he pose of a st uf f y
execut i ve, but of a young cr usader .
" I t hi nk I ' mdi scover i ng a new cont i nent , Owen, " he answer ed cheer f ul l y.
" A cont i nent t hat shoul d have been di scover ed al ong wi t h Amer i ca, but
wasn' t . "
" I have t o speak of i t t o you" sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s, l ooki ng at t he wor ker
acr oss t he t abl e. " I don' t know why i t hel ps me, but i t does
j ust t o know t hat you' r e hear i ng me. "
I t was l at e and t he l i ght s of t he under gr ound caf et er i a wer e l ow, but
Eddi e Wi l l er s coul d see t he wor ker ' s eyes l ooki ng at hi mi nt ent l y.
" I f eel as i f . . . as i f t her e' s no peopl e and no human l anguage l ef t , "
sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s. " I f eel t hat i f I wer e t o scr eami n t he mi ddl e of t he
st r eet s, t her e woul d be no one t o hear i t . . . . No, t hat ' s not qui t e what I
f eel , i t ' s t hi s: I f eel t hat someone i s scr eami ng i n t he mi ddl e of t he
st r eet s, but peopl e ar e passi ng by and no sound can r each t hemand i t ' s not
Hank Rear den or Ken Danagger or I who' s scr eami ng, and yet i t seems as i f
i t ' s al l t hr ee of us. . . . Don' t you see t hat somebody shoul d have r i sen t o
def end t hem, but nobody has or wi l l ?
Rear den and Danagger wer e i ndi ct ed t hi s mor ni ngf or an i l l egal sal e of
Rear den Met al . They' l l go on t r i al next mont h. I was t her e, i n t he cour t r oom
i n Phi l adel phi a, when t hey r ead t he i ndi ct ment . Rear den was ver y cal mI kept
f eel i ng t hat he was smi l i ng, but he wasn' t .
Danagger was wor se t han cal m. He di dn' t say a wor d, he j ust st ood t her e,
as i f t he r oomwer e empt y. . . . The newspaper s ar e sayi ng t hat bot h of t hem
shoul d be t hr own i n j ai l . . . . No . . . no, I ' mnot shaki ng, I ' mal l r i ght ,
I ' l l be al l r i ght i n a moment . . . . That ' s why I haven' t sai d a wor d t o her ,
I was af r ai d I ' d expl ode and I di dn' t want t o make i t har der f or her , I know
how she f eel s. . . . Oh yes, she spoke t o me about i t , and she di dn' t shake,
but i t was wor se
you know, t he ki nd of r i gi di t y when a per son act s as i f she di dn' t f eel
anyt hi ng at al l , and . . . Li st en, di d I ever t el l you t hat I l i ke you?
I l i ke you ver y muchf or t he way you l ook r i ght now. You hear us.
You under st and . . . What di d she say? I t was st r ange: i t ' s not Hank
Rear den t hat she' s af r ai d f or , i t ' s Ken Danagger . She sai d t hat Rear den wi l l
have t he st r engt h t o t ake i t , but Danagger won' t . Not t hat he' l l l ack t he
st r engt h, but he' l l r ef use t o t ake i t . She . . . she f eel s cer t ai n t hat Ken
Danagger wi l l be t he next one t o go. To go l i ke El l i s Wyat t and al l t hose
ot her s. To gi ve up and vani sh . . . Why?
Wel l , she t hi nks t hat t her e' s somet hi ng l i ke a shi f t of st r ess i nvol ved
economi c and per sonal st r ess. As soon as al l t he wei ght of t he moment
shi f t s t o t he shoul der s of some one manhe' s t he one who vani shes, l i ke a
pi l l ar sl ashed of f . A year ago, not hi ng wor se coul d have happened t o ' t he
count r y t han t o l ose El l i s Wyat t . He' s t he one we l ost .
Si nce t hen, she says, i t ' s been as i f t he cent er of gr avi t y wer e swi ngi ng
wi l dl yl i ke i n a si nki ng car go shi p out of cont r ol shi f t i ng f r omi ndust r y t o
i ndust r y, f r omman t o man. When we l ose one, anot her becomes t hat much mor e
desper at el y neededand he' s t he one we l ose next . Wel l , what coul d be a
gr eat er di sast er now t han t o have t he count r y' s coal suppl y l ef t i n t he hands
of men l i ke Boyl e or Lar ki n?
And t her e' s no one l ef t i n t he coal i ndust r y who amount s t o much, except
Ken Danagger . So she says t hat she f eel s al most as i f he' s a mar ked man, as
i f he' s hi t by a spot l i ght r i ght now, wai t i ng t o be cut down. . . . What ar e
you l aughi ng at ? I t mi ght sound pr epost er ous, but I t hi nk i t ' s t r ue. . . .
What ? . . . Oh yes, you bet she' s a smar t woman! . . . And t hen t her e' s
anot her t hi ng i nvol ved, she says. A man has t o come t o a cer t ai n ment al
st agenot anger or despai r , but somet hi ng much, much mor e t han bot hbef or e he
can be cut down.
She can' t t el l what i t i s, but she knew, l ong bef or e t he f i r e, t hat El l i s
Wyat t had r eached t hat st age and somet hi ng woul d happen t o hi m.
When she saw Ken Danagger i n t he cour t r oomt oday, she sai d t hat he was
r eady f or t he dest r oyer . . . . Yes, t hat ' s t he wor ds she used: he was r eady
f or t he dest r oyer . You see, she doesn' t t hi nk i t ' s happeni ng by chance or
acci dent . She t hi nks t her e' s a syst embehi nd i t , an i nt ent i on, a man. Ther e' s
a dest r oyer l oose i n t he count r y, who' s cut t i ng down t he but t r esses one af t er
anot her t o l et t he st r uct ur e col l apse upon our heads. Some r ut hl ess cr eat ur e
moved by some i nconcei vabl e pur pose . . . She says t hat she won' t l et hi mget
Ken Danagger . She keeps r epeat i ng t hat she must st op Danagger she want s t o
speak t o hi m, t o beg, t o pl ead, t o r evi ve what ever i t i s t hat he' s l osi ng, t o
ar mhi magai nst t he dest r oyer , bef or e t he dest r oyer comes. She' s desper at el y
anxi ous t o r each Danagger f i r st . He has r ef used t o see anyone. He' s gone back
t o Pi t t sbur gh, t o hi s mi nes. But she got hi mon t he phone, l at e t oday, and
she' s made an appoi nt ment t o see hi mt omor r ow af t er noon. . . . Yes, she' l l go
t o Pi t t sbur gh t omor r ow. . . . Yes, she' s af r ai d f or Danagger , t er r i bl y
af r ai d. . . . No. She knows not hi ng about t he dest r oyer . She has no cl ue t o
hi s i dent i t y, no evi dence of hi s exi st enceexcept t he t r ai l of dest r uct i on.
But she f eel s cer t ai n t hat he exi st s. . . . No, she cannot guess hi s pur pose.
She says t hat not hi ng on ear t h coul d j ust i f y hi m. Ther e ar e t i mes when she
f eel s t hat she' d l i ke t o f i nd hi mmor e t han any ot her man i n t he wor l d, mor e
t han t he i nvent or of t he mot or . She says t hat i f she f ound t he dest r oyer ,
she' d shoot hi mon si ght she' d be wi l l i ng t o gi ve her l i f e i f she coul d t ake
hi s f i r st and by her own hand . . . because he' s t he most evi l cr eat ur e
t hat ' s ever exi st ed, t he man who' s dr ai ni ng t he br ai ns of t he wor l d.
. . . I guess i t ' s get t i ng t o be t oo much f or her , at t i meseven f or her .
I don' t t hi nk she al l ows her sel f t o know how t i r ed she i s. The ot her mor ni ng,
I came t o wor k ver y ear l y and I f ound her asl eep on t he couch i n her of f i ce,
wi t h t he l i ght st i l l bur ni ng on her desk. She' d been t her e al l ni ght . I j ust
st ood and l ooked at her . I woul dn' t have awakened her i f t he whol e goddamn
r ai l r oad col l apsed. . . . When she was asl eep? Why, she l ooked l i ke a young
gi r l . She l ooked as i f she f el t cer t ai n t hat she woul d awaken i n a wor l d
wher e no one woul d har mher , as i f she had not hi ng t o hi de or t o f ear . That ' s
what was t er r i bl et hat gui l t l ess pur i t y of her f ace, wi t h her body t wi st ed by
exhaust i on, st i l l l yi ng t her e as she had col l apsed. She l ookedsay, why
shoul d you ask me what she l ooks l i ke when she' s asl eep? . . .
Yes, you' r e r i ght , why do I t al k about i t ? I shoul dn' t . I don' t know what
made me t hi nk of i t . . . . Don' t pay any at t ent i on t o me. I ' l l be al l r i ght
t omor r ow. I guess i t ' s j ust t hat I ' msor t of shel l - shocked by t hat cour t r oom.
I keep t hi nki ng: i f men l i ke Rear den and Danagger ar e t o be sent t o j ai l ,
t hen what ki nd of wor l d ar e we wor ki ng i n and what f or ? I sn' t t her e any
j ust i ce l ef t on ear t h? I was f ool i sh enough t o say t hat t o a r epor t er when we
wer e l eavi ng t he cour t r oomand he j ust l aughed and sai d, ' Who i s J ohn Gal t ?'
. . . Tel l me, what ' s happeni ng t o us? I sn' t t her e a si ngl e man of j ust i ce
l ef t ? I sn' t t her e anyone t o def end t hem? Oh, do you hear me? I sn' t t her e
anyone t o def end t hem?"
" Mr . Danagger wi l l be f r ee i n a moment , Mi ss Taggar t . He has a vi si t or i n
hi s of f i ce. Wi l l you excuse i t , pl ease?" sai d t he secr et ar y.
Thr ough t he t wo hour s of her f l i ght t o Pi t t sbur gh, Dagny had been t ensel y
unabl e t o j ust i f y her anxi et y or t o di smi ss i t ; t her e was no r eason t o count
mi nut es, yet she had f el t a bl i nd desi r e t o hur r y. The anxi et y vani shed when
she ent er ed t he ant er oomof Ken Danagger ' s of f i ce: she had r eached hi m,
not hi ng had happened t o pr event i t , she f el t saf et y, conf i dence and an
enor mous sense of r el i ef .
The wor ds of t he secr et ar y demol i shed i t . You' r e becomi ng a cowar dt hought
Dagny. , f eel i ng a causel ess j ol t of dr ead at t he wor ds, out of al l pr opor t i on
t o t hei r meani ng.
" I amso sor r y, Mi ss Taggar t . " She hear d t he secr et ar y' s r espect f ul ,
sol i ci t ous voi ce and r eal i zed t hat she had st ood t her e wi t hout answer i ng.
" Mr . Danagger wi l l be wi t h you i n j ust a moment . Won' t you si t down?" The
voi ce conveyed an anxi ous concer n over t he i mpr opr i et y of keepi ng her
wai t i ng.
Dagny smi l ed. " Oh, t hat ' s qui t e al l r i ght . "
She sat down i n a wooden ar mchai r , f aci ng t he secr et ar y' s r ai l i ng.
She r eached f or a ci gar et t e and st opped, wonder i ng whet her she woul d have
t i me t o f i ni sh i t , hopi ng t hat she woul d not , t hen l i ght ed i t br usquel y.
I t was an ol d- f ashi oned f r ame bui l di ng, t hi s headquar t er s of t he gr eat
Danagger Coal Company. Somewher e i n t he hi l l s beyond t he wi ndow wer e t he pi t s
wher e Ken Danagger had once wor ked as a mi ner . He had never moved hi s of f i ce
away f r omt he coal f i el ds.
She coul d see t he mi ne ent r ances cut i nt o t he hi l l si des, smal l f r ames of
met al gi r der s, t hat l ed t o an i mmense under gr ound ki ngdom. They seemed
pr ecar i ousl y modest , l ost i n t he vi ol ent or ange and r ed of t he hi l l s. . . .
Under a har sh bl ue sky, i n t he sunl i ght of l at e Oct ober , t he sea of l eaves
l ooked l i ke a sea of f i r e . . . l i ke waves r ol l i ng t o swal l ow t he f r agi l e
post s of t he mi ne door ways. She shudder ed and l ooked away: she t hought of t he
f l ami ng l eaves spr ead over t he hi l l s of Wi sconsi n, on t he r oad t o
St ar nesvi l l e.
She not i ced t hat t her e was onl y a st ub l ef t of t he ci gar et t e bet ween her
f i nger s. She l i ght ed anot her .
When she gl anced at t he cl ock on t he wal l of t he ant er oom, she caught t he
secr et ar y gl anci ng at i t at t he same t i me. Her appoi nt ment was f or t hr ee
o' cl ock; t he whi t e di al sai d: 3: 12.
" Pl ease f or gi ve i t , Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d t he secr et ar y, " Mr . Danagger wi l l
be t hr ough, any moment now, Mr . Danagger i s ext r emel y punct ual about Ms
appoi nt ment s. Pl ease bel i eve me t hat t hi s i s unpr ecedent ed. "
" I know i t . " She knew t hat Ken Danagger was as r i gi dl y exact about hi s
schedul e as a r ai l r oad t i met abl e and t hat he had been known t o cancel an
i nt er vi ew i f a cal l er per mi t t ed hi msel f t o ar r i ve f i ve mi nut es l at e.
The secr et ar y was an el der l y spi nst er wi t h a f or bi ddi ng manner : a manner
of even- t oned cour t esy i mper vi ous t o any shock, j ust as her spot l ess whi t e
bl ouse was i mper vi ous t o an at mospher e f i l l ed wi t h coal dust . Dagny t hought
i t st r ange t hat a har dened, wel l - t r ai ned woman of t hi s t ype shoul d appear t o
be ner vous: she vol unt eer ed no conver sat i on, she sat st i l l , bent over some
pages of paper on her desk. Hal f of Dagny' s ci gar et t e had gone i n smoke,
whi l e t he woman st i l l sat l ooki ng at t he same page.
When she r ai sed her head t o gl ance at t he cl ock, t he 4i al sai d: 3: 30.
" I know t hat t hi s i s i nexcusabl e, Mi ss Taggar t . " The not e of appr ehensi on
was obvi ous i n her voi ce now. " I amunabl e t o under st and i t . "
" Woul d you mi nd t el l i ng Mr . Danagger t hat I ' mher e?"
" I can' t ! " I t was al most a cr y; she saw Dagny' s ast oni shed gl ance and f el t
obl i ged t o expl ai n: " Mr . Danagger cal l ed me, on t he i nt er of f i ce communi cat or ,
and t ol d me t hat he was not t o be i nt er r upt ed under any ci r cumst ances or f or
any r eason what ever . "
" When di d he do t hat ?"
The moment ' s pause was l i ke a smal l ai r cushi on f or t he answer : " Two hour s
ago. "
Dagny l ooked at t he cl osed door of Danagger ' s of f i ce. She coul d hear t he
sound of a voi ce beyond t he door , but so f ai nt l y t hat she coul d not t el l
whet her i t was t he voi ce of one man or t he conver sat i on of t wo; she coul d not
di st i ngui sh t he wor ds or t he emot i onal qual i t y of t he t one: i t was onl y a
l ow, even pr ogr essi on of sounds t hat seemed nor mal and di d not convey t he
pi t ch of r ai sed voi ces.
" How l ong has Mr . Danagger been i n conf er ence?" she asked.
" Si nce one o' cl ock, " sai d t he secr et ar y gr i ml y, t hen added i n apol ogy, " I t
was an unschedul ed cal l er , or Mr . Danagger woul d never have per mi t t ed t hi s t o
happen. "
The door was not l ocked, t hought Dagny; she f el t an unr easoni ng desi r e t o
t ear i t open and wal k i ni t was onl y a f ew wooden boar ds wi t h a br ass knob,
i t woul d r equi r e onl y a smal l muscul ar cont r act i on of her ar mbut she l ooked
away, knowi ng t hat t he power of a ci vi l i zed or der and of Ken Danagger ' s r i ght
was mor e i mpr egnabl e a bar r i er t han any l ock.
She f ound her sel f st ar i ng at t he st ubs of her ci gar et t es i n t he asht r ay
st and besi de her , and wonder ed why i t gave her a shar per f eel i ng of
appr ehensi on. Then she r eal i zed t hat she was t hi nki ng of Hugh Akst on: she had
wr i t t en t o hi m, at hi s di ner i n Wyomi ng, aski ng hi mt o t el l her wher e he had
obt ai ned t he ci gar et t e wi t h t he dol l ar si gn; her l et t er had come back, wi t h a
post al i nscr i pt i on t o i nf or mher t hat he had moved away, l eavi ng no
f or war di ng addr ess.
She t ol d her sel f angr i l y t hat t hi s had no connect i on wi t h t he pr esent
moment and t hat she had t o cont r ol her ner ves. But her hand j er ked t o pr ess
t he but t on of t he asht r ay and make t he ci gar et t e st ubs vani sh i nsi de t he
st and.
As she l ooked up, her eyes met t he gl ance of t he secr et ar y wat chi ng her .
" I amsor r y, Mi ss Taggar t . I don' t know what t o do about i t . "
I t was an openl y desper at e pl ea. " I don' t dar e i nt er r upt . "
Dagny asked sl owl y, as a demand, i n def i ance of of f i ce et i quet t e, " Who i s
wi t h Mr . Danagger ?"
" I don' t know, Mi ss Taggar t . I have never seen t he gent l eman bef or e. " She
not i ced t he sudden, f i xed st i l l ness of Dagny' s eyes and added, " I t hi nk i t ' s
a chi l dhood f r i end of Mr . Danagger . "
" Oh! " sai d Dagny, r el i eved.
" He came i n unannounced and asked t o see Mr . Danagger and sai d t hat t hi s
was an appoi nt ment whi ch Mr . Danagger had made wi t h hi mf or t y year s ago, "
" How ol d i s Mr . Danagger ?"
" Fi f t y- t wo, " sai d t he secr et ar y. She added r ef l ect i vel y, i n t he t one of a
casual r emar k, " Mr . Danagger st ar t ed wor ki ng at t he age of t wel ve. "
Af t er anot her si l ence, she added, " The st r ange t hi ng i s t hat t he vi si t or
does not l ook as i f he' s even f or t y year s ol d. He seems t o be a man i n hi s
t hi r t i es. "
" Di d he gi ve hi s name?"
" No. "
" What does he l ook l i ke?"
The secr et ar y smi l ed wi t h sudden ani mat i on, as i f she wer e about t o ut t er
an ent husi ast i c compl i ment , but t he smi l e vani shed abr upt l y.
" I don' t know, " she answer ed uneasi l y. " He' s har d t o descr i be. He has a
st r ange f ace. "
They had been si l ent f or a l ong t i me, and t he hands of t he di al wer e
appr oachi ng 3: 50 when t he buzzer r ang on t he secr et ar y' s desk
t he bel l f r omDanagger ' s of f i ce, t he si gnal of per mi ssi on t o ent er .
They bot h l eaped t o t hei r f eet , and t he secr et ar y r ushed f or war d, smi l i ng
wi t h r el i ef , hast eni ng t o open t he door .
As she ent er ed Danagger ' s of f i ce, Dagny saw t he pr i vat e exi t door cl osi ng
af t er t he cal l er who had pr eceded her . She hear d t he knock of t he door
agai nst t he j amb and t he f ai nt t i nkl e of t he gl ass panel .
She saw t he man who had l ef t , by hi s r ef l ect i on on Ken Danagger ' s f ace. I t
was not t he f ace she had seen i n t he cour t r oom, i t was not t he f ace she had
known f or year s as a count enance of unchangi ng, unf eel i ng r i gi di t yi t was a
f ace whi ch a young man of t went y shoul d hope f or , but coul d not achi eve, a
f ace f r omwhi ch ever y si gn of st r ai n had been wi ped out , so t hat t he l i ned
cheeks, t he cr eased f or ehead, t he gr ayi ng hai r l i ke el ement s r ear r anged by a
new t hemewer e made t o f or ma composi t i on of hope, eager ness and gui l t l ess
ser eni t y: t he t heme was del i ver ance.
He di d not r i se when she ent er edhe l ooked as i f he had not qui t e r et ur ned
t o t he r eal i t y of t he moment and had f or got t en t he pr oper r out i nebut he
smi l ed at her wi t h such si mpl e benevol ence t hat she f ound her sel f smi l i ng i n
answer . She caught her sel f t hi nki ng t hat t hi s was t he way ever y human bei ng
shoul d gr eet anot her and she l ost her anxi et y, f eel i ng suddenl y cer t ai n t hat
al l was wel l and t hat not hi ng t o be f ear ed coul d exi st .
" How do you do, Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d. " For gi ve me, I t hi nk t hat I have
kept you wai t i ng. Pl ease si t down. " He poi nt ed t o t he chai r i n f r ont of hi s
desk.
" I di dn' t mi nd wai t i ng, " she sai d. " I ' mgr at ef ul t hat you gave me t hi s
appoi nt ment . I was ext r emel y anxi ous t o speak t o you on a mat t er of ur gent
i mpor t ance. "
He l eaned f or war d acr oss t he desk, wi t h a l ook of at t ent i ve concent r at i on,
as he al ways di d at t he ment i on of an i mpor t ant busi ness mat t er , but she was
not speaki ng t o t he man she knew, t hi s was a st r anger , and she st opped,
uncer t ai n about t he ar gument s she had been pr epar ed t o use.
He l ooked at her i n si l ence, and t hen he sai d, " Mi ss Taggar t , t hi s i s such
a beaut i f ul daypr obabl y t he l ast , t hi s year . Ther e' s a t hi ng I ' ve al ways
want ed t o do, but never had t i me f or i t . Let ' s go back t o New Yor k t oget her
and t ake one of t hose excur si on boat t r i ps ar ound t he i sl and of Manhat t an.
Let ' s t ake a l ast l ook at t he gr eat est ci t y i n t he wor l d. "
She sat st i l l , t r yi ng t o hol d her eyes f i xed i n or der t o st op t he of f i ce
f r omswayi ng. Thi s was t he Ken Danagger who had never had a per sonal f r i end,
had never mar r i ed, had never at t ended a pl ay or a movi e, had never per mi t t ed
anyone t he i mper t i nence of t aki ng hi s t i me f or any concer n but busi ness.
" Mr . Danagger , I came her e t o speak t o you about a mat t er of cr uci al
i mpor t ance t o t he f ut ur e of your busi ness and mi ne. I came t o speak t o you
about your i ndi ct ment . "
" Oh, t hat ? Don' t wor r y about t hat . I t doesn' t mat t er . I ' mgoi ng t o
r et i r e. "
She sat st i l l , f eel i ng not hi ng, wonder i ng numbl y whet her t hi s was how i t
f el t t o hear a deat h sent ence one had dr eaded, but had never qui t e bel i eved
possi bl e.
Her f i r st movement was a sudden j er k of her head t owar d t he exi t door ; she
asked, her voi ce l ow, her mout h di st or t ed by hat r ed, " Who was he?"
Danagger l aughed. " I f you' ve guessed t hat much, you shoul d have guessed
t hat i t ' s a quest i on I won' t answer . "
" Oh God, Ken Danagger ! " she moaned; hi s wor ds made her r eal i ze t hat t he
bar r i er of hopel essness, of si l ence, of unanswer ed quest i ons was al r eady
er ect ed bet ween t hem; t he hat r ed had been onl y a t hi n wi r e t hat had hel d her
f or a moment and she br oke wi t h i t s br eaki ng.
" Oh God! "
" You' r e wr ong, ki d, " he sai d gent l y. " I know how you f eel , but you' r e
wr ong, " t hen added mor e f or mal l y, as i f r emember i ng t he pr oper manner , as i f
st i l l t r yi ng t o bal ance hi msel f bet ween t wo ki nds of r eal i t y, " I ' msor r y,
Mi ss Taggar t , t hat you had t o come her e so soon af t er . "
" I came t oo l at e, " she sai d. " That ' s what I came her e t o pr event . I knew
i t woul d happen. "
" Why?"
" I f el t cer t ai n t hat he' d get you next , whoever he i s. "
" You di d? That ' s f unny. I di dn' t . "
" I want ed t o war n you, t o . . . t o ar myou agai nst hi m. "
He smi l ed. " Take my wor d f or i t , Mi ss Taggar t , so t hat you won' t t or t ur e
your sel f wi t h r egr et s about t he t i mi ng; t hat coul d not have been done. "
She f el t t hat wi t h ever y passi ng mi nut e he was movi ng away i nt o some gr eat
di st ance wher e she woul d not be abl e t o r each hi m, but t her e was st i l l some
t hi n br i dge l ef t bet ween t hemand she had t o hur r y.
She l eaned f or war d, she sai d ver y qui et l y, t he i nt ensi t y of emot i on t aki ng
f or mi n t he exagger at ed st eadi ness of her voi ce, " Do you r emember what you
t hought and f el t , what you wer e, t hr ee hour s ago? Do you r emember what your
mi nes meant t o you? Do you r emember Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al or Rear den
St eel ? I n t he name of t hat , wi l l you answer me? Wi l l you hel p me t o
under st and?"
" I wi l l answer what ever I may. "
" You have deci ded t o r et i r e? To gi ve up your busi ness?"
" Yes. "
" Does i t mean not hi ng t o you now?"
" I t means mor e t o me now t han i t ever di d bef or e. "
" But you' r e goi ng t o abandon i t ?"
" Yes. "
" Why?"
" That , I won' t answer ,
" You, who l oved your wor k, who r espect ed not hi ng but wor k, who despi sed
ever y ki nd of ai ml essness, passi vi t y and r enunci at i onhave you r enounced t he
ki nd of l i f e you l oved?"
" No. I have j ust di scover ed how much I do l ove i t . "
" But you i nt end t o exi st wi t hout wor k or pur pose?"
" What makes you t hi nk t hat ?"
" Ar e you goi ng i nt o t he coal - mi ni ng busi ness somewher e el se?"
" No, not i nt o t he coal - mi ni ng busi ness. "
" Then what ar e you goi ng t o do?"
" I haven' t deci ded t hat yet . "
" Wher e ar e you goi ng?"
" I won' t answer . "
She gave her sel f a moment ' s pause, t o gat her her st r engt h, t o t el l
her sel f ; Don' t f eel , don' t show hi mt hat you f eel anyt hi ng, don' t l et i t
cl oud and br eak t he br i dget hen she sai d, i n t he same qui et , even voi ce, " Do
you r eal i ze what your r et i r ement wi l l do t o Hank Rear den, t o me, t o al l t he
r est of us, whoever i s l ef t ?"
" Yes. I r eal i ze i t mor e f ul l y t han you do at pr esent . "
" And i t means not hi ng t o you?"
" I t means mor e t han you wi l l car e t o bel i eve. "
" Then why ar e you deser t i ng us?"
" You wi l l not bel i eve i t and I wi l l not expl ai n, but I amnot deser t i ng
you. "
" We' r e bei ng l ef t t o car r y a gr eat er bur den, and you' r e i ndi f f er ent t o t he
knowl edge t hat you' l l see us dest r oyed by t he l oot er s. "
" Don' t be t oo sur e of t hat . "
" Of whi ch? Your i ndi f f er ence or our dest r uct i on?"
" Of ei t her . "
" But you know, you knew i t t hi s mor ni ng, t hat i t ' s a bat t l e t o t he deat h,
and i t ' s weyou wer e one of usagai nst t he l oot er s. "
" I f I answer t hat 7 know i t , but you don' t you' l l t hi nk t hat I at t ach no
meani ng t o my wor ds. So t ake i t as you wi sh, but t hat i s my answer . "
" Wi l l you t el l me t he meani ng?"
" No. I t ' s f or you t o di scover . "
" You' r e wi l l i ng t o gi ve up t he wor l d t o t he l oot er s. We ar en' t . "
" Don' t be t oo sur e of ei t her . "
She r emai ned hel pl essl y si l ent . The st r angeness of hi s manner was i t s
si mpl i ci t y; he spoke as i f he wer e bei ng compl et el y nat ur al andi n t he mi dst
of unanswer ed quest i ons and of a t r agi c myst er yhe conveyed t he i mpr essi on
t hat t her e wer e no secr et s any l onger , and no myst er y need ever have exi st ed.
But as she wat ched hi m, she saw t he f i r st br eak i n hi s j oyous cal m: she
saw hi mst r uggl i ng agai nst some t hought ; he hesi t at ed, t hen sai d, wi t h
ef f or t , " About Hank Rear den . . . Wi l l you do me a f avor ?"
" Of cour se. "
" Wi l l you t el l hi mt hat I . . . You see, I ' ve never car ed f or peopl e, yet
he was al ways t he man I r espect ed, but I di dn' t know unt i l t oday t hat what I
f el t was, . . . t hat he was t he onl y man I ever l oved. . . .
J ust t el l hi mt hi s and t hat I wi sh I coul dno, I guess t hat ' s al l I can
t el l hi m. . . . He' l l pr obabl y damn me f or l eavi ng . . . st i l l , maybe he
won' t . "
" I ' l l t el l hi m. "
Hear i ng t he dul l ed, hi dden sound of pai n i n hi s voi ce, she f el t so cl ose
t o hi mt hat i t seemed i mpossi bl e he woul d del i ver t he bl ow he was del i ver i ng
and she made one l ast ef f or t .
" Mr . Danagger , i f I wer e t o pl ead on my knees, i f I wer e t o f i nd some sor t
of wor ds t hat I haven' t f oundwoul d t her e be . . . i s t her e a chance t o st op
you?"
" Ther e i sn' t . "
Af t er a moment , she asked t onel essl y, " When ar e you qui t t i ng?"
" Toni ght . "
" What wi l l you do wi t h" she poi nt ed at t he hi l l s beyond t he wi ndow" t he
Danagger Coal Company? To whomar e you l eavi ng i t ?"
" I don' t knowor car e. To nobody or ever ybody. To whoever want s t o t ake
i t . "
" You' r e not goi ng t o di spose of i t or appoi nt a successor ?"
" No. What f or ?"
" To l eave i t i n good hands. Coul dn' t you at l east name an hei r of your own
choi ce?"
" I haven' t any choi ce. I t doesn' t make any di f f er ence t o me. Want me t o
l eave i t al l t o you?" He r eached f or a sheet of paper . " I ' l l wr i t e a l et t er
nami ng you sol e hei r ess r i ght now, i f you want me t o. "
She shook her head i n an i nvol unt ar y r ecoi l of hor r or . " I ' mnot a l oot er ! "
He chuckl ed, pushi ng t he paper asi de. " You see? You gave t he r i ght answer ,
whet her you knew i t or not . Don' t wor r y about Danagger Coal . I t won' t make
any di f f er ence, whet her I appoi nt t he best successor i n t he wor l d, or t he
wor st , or none. No mat t er who t akes i t over now, whet her men or weeds, i t
won' t make any di f f er ence. "
" But t o wal k of f and abandon . . . j ust abandon . . . an i ndust r i al
ent er pr i se, as i f we wer e i n t he age of l andl ess nomads or of savages
wander i ng i n t he j ungl e! "
" Ar en' t we?" He was smi l i ng at her , hal f i n mocker y, hal f i n compassi on.
" Why shoul d I l eave a deed or a wi l l ? I don' t want t o hel p t he l oot er s t o
pr et end t hat pr i vat e pr oper t y st i l l exi st s. I amcompl yi ng wi t h t he syst em
whi ch t hey have est abl i shed. They do not need me, t hey say, t hey onl y need my
coal . Let t hemt ake i t . "
" Then you' r e accept i ng t hei r syst em?"
" AmI ?"
She moaned, l ooki ng at t he exi t door , " What has he done t o you?"
" He t ol d me t hat I had t he r i ght t o exi st . "
" I di dn' t bel i eve i t possi bl e t hat i n t hr ee hour s one coul d make a man
t ur n agai nst f i f t y- t wo year s of hi s l i f e! "
" I f t hat ' s what you t r unk he' s done, or i f you t hi nk t hat he' s t ol d me
some i nconcei vabl e r evel at i on, t hen I can see how bewi l der i ng i t woul d appear
t o you. But t hat ' s not what he' s done. He mer el y named what I had l i ved by,
what ever y man l i ves byat and t o t he ext ent of such t i me as he doesn' t spend
dest r oyi ng hi msel f . "
She knew t hat quest i ons wer e f ut i l e and t hat t her e was not hi ng she coul d
say t o hi m.
He l ooked at her bowed head and sai d gent l y, " You' r e a br ave per son, Mi ss
Taggar t . I know what you' r e doi ng r i ght now and what i t ' s cost i ng you. Don' t
t or t ur e your sel f . Let me go. "
She r ose t o her f eet . She was about t o speakbut suddenl y he saw her st ar e
down, l eap f or war d and sei ze t he asht r ay t hat st ood on t he edge of t he desk.
The asht r ay cont ai ned a ci gar et t e but t st amped wi t h t he si gn of t he
dol l ar .
" What ' s t he mat t er , Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" Di d he . . . di d he smoke t hi s?"
" Who?"
" Your cal l er di d he smoke t hi s ci gar et t e?"
" Why, I don' t know . . . I guess so . . . yes, I t hi nk I di d see hi m
smoki ng a ci gar et t e once . . . l et me see . . . no, t hat ' s not my br and, so
i t must be hi s. "
" Wer e t her e any ot her vi si t or s i n t hi s of f i ce t oday?"
" No. But why, Mi ss Taggar t ? What ' s t he mat t er ?"
" May I t ake t hi s?"
" What ? The ci gar et t e but t ?" He st ar ed at her i n bewi l der ment .
" Yes. "
" Why, sur ebut what f or ?"
She was l ooki ng down at t he but t i n t he pal mof her hand as i f i t wer e a
j ewel . " I don' t know . . . I don' t know what good i t wi l l do me, except t hat
i t ' s a cl ue t o" she smi l ed bi t t er l y" t o a secr et of my own. "
She st ood, r el uct ant t o l eave, l ooki ng at Ken Danagger i n t he manner of a
l ast l ook at one depar t i ng f or t he r eal mof no r et ur n.
He guessed i t , smi l ed and ext ended hi s hand. " I won' t say goodbye, " he
sai d, " because I ' l l see you agai n i n t he not t oo di st ant f ut ur e. "
" Oh, " she sai d eager l y, hol di ng hi s hand cl asped acr oss t he desk, " ar e you
goi ng t o r et ur n?"
" No. You' r e goi ng t o j oi n me. "
Ther e was onl y a f ai nt r ed br eat h above t he st r uct ur es i n t he dar kness, as
i f t he mi l l s wer e asl eep but al i ve, wi t h t he even br eat hi ng of t he f ur naces
and t he di st ant hear t beat s of t he conveyor bel t s t o show i t .
Rear den st ood at t he wi ndow of hi s of f i ce, hi s hand pr essed t o t he pane;
i n t he per spect i ve of di st ance, hi s hand cover ed hal f a mi l e of st r uct ur es,
as i f he wer e t r yi ng t o hol d t hem.
He was l ooki ng at a l ong wal l of ver t i cal st r i ps, whi ch was t he bat t er y of
coke ovens. A nar r ow door sl i d open wi t h a br i ef gasp of f l ame, and a sheet
of r ed- gl owi ng coke came sl i di ng out smoot hl y, l i ke a sl i ce of br ead f r omt he
si de of a gi ant t oast er . I t hel d st i l l f or an i nst ant , t hen an angul ar cr ack
shot t hr ough t he sl i ce and i t cr umbl ed i nt o a gondol a wai t i ng on t he r ai l s
bel ow.
Danagger coal , he t hought . These wer e t he onl y wor ds i n hi s mi nd.
The r est was a f eel i ng of l onel i ness, so vast t hat even i t s own pai n
seemed swal l owed i n an enor mous voi d.
Yest er day, Dagny had t ol d hi mt he st or y of her f ut i l e at t empt and gi ven
hi mDanagger ' s message. Thi s mor ni ng, he had hear d t he news t hat Danagger had
di sappear ed. Thr ough hi s sl eepl ess ni ght , t hen t hr ough t he t aut concent r at i on
on t he dut i es of t he day, hi s answer t o t he message had kept beat i ng i n hi s
mi nd, t he answer he woul d never have a chance t o ut t er .
" The onl y man I ever l oved. " I t came f r omKen Danagger , who had never
expr essed anyt hi ng mor e per sonal t han " Look her e, Rear den. "
He t hought : Why had we l et i t go? Why had we bot h been condemned i n t he
hour s away f r omour deskst o an exi l e among dr ear y st r anger s who had made us
gi ve up al l desi r e f or r est , f or f r i endshi p, f or t he sound of human voi ces?
Coul d I now r ecl ai ma si ngl e hour spent l i st eni ng t o my br ot her Phi l i p and
gi ve i t t o Ken Danagger ? Who made i t our dut y t o accept , as t he onl y r ewar d
f or our wor k, t he gr ay t or t ur e of pr et endi ng l ove f or t hose who r oused us t o
not hi ng but cont empt ?
We who wer e abl e t o mel t r ock and met al f or our pur pose, why had we never
sought t hat whi ch we want ed f r ommen?
He t r i ed t o choke t he wor ds i n hi s mi nd, knowi ng t hat i t was usel ess t o
t hi nk of t hemnow. But t he wor ds wer e t her e and t hey wer e l i ke wor ds
addr essed t o t he dead: No, I don' t damn you f or l eavi ngi f t hat i s t he
quest i on and t he pai n whi ch you t ook away wi t h you. Why di dn' t you gi ve me a
chance t o t el l you . . . what ? t hat I appr ove?
. . . no, but t hat I can nei t her bl ame you nor f ol l ow you.
Cl osi ng hi s eyes, he per mi t t ed hi msel f t o exper i ence f or a moment t he
i mmense r el i ef he woul d f eel i f he, t oo, wer e t o wal k of f , abandoni ng
ever yt hi ng. Under t he shock of hi s l oss, he f el t a t hi n t hr ead of envy. Why
di dn' t t hey come f or me, t oo, whoever t hey ar e, and gi ve me t hat i r r esi st i bl e
r eason whi ch woul d make me go? But i n t he next moment , hi s shudder of anger
t ol d hi mt hat he woul d mur der t he man who' d at t empt t o appr oach hi m, he woul d
mur der bef or e he coul d hear t he wor ds of t he secr et t hat woul d t ake hi maway
f r omhi s mi l l s.
I t was l at e, hi s st af f had gone, but he dr eaded t he r oad t o hi s house and
t he empt i ness of t he eveni ng ahead. He f el t as i f t he enemy who had wi ped out
Ken Danagger , wer e wai t i ng f or hi mi n t he dar kness beyond t he gl ow of t he
mi l l s. He was not i nvul ner abl e any l onger , but what ever i t was, he t hought ,
wher ever i t came f r om, he was saf e f r omi t her e, as i n a ci r cl e of f i r es
dr awn about hi mt o war d of f evi l .
He l ooked at t he gl i t t er i ng whi t e spl ashes on t he dar k wi ndows of a
st r uct ur e i n t he di st ance; t hey wer e l i ke mot i onl ess r i ppl es of sunl i ght on
wat er . I t was t he r ef l ect i on of t he neon si gn t hat bur ned on t he r oof of t he
bui l di ng above hi s head, sayi ng: Rear den St eel . He t hought of t he ni ght when
he had wi shed t o l i ght a si gn above hi s past , sayi ng: Rear den Li f e. Why had
he wi shed i t ? For whose eyes t o see?
He t hought i n bi t t er ast oni shment and f or t he f i r st t i met hat t he j oyous
pr i de he had once f el t , had come f r omhi s r espect f or men, f or t he val ue of
t hei r admi r at i on and t hei r j udgment . He di d not f eel i t any l onger . Ther e
wer e no men, he t hought , t o whose si ght he coul d wi sh t o of f er t hat si gn.
He t ur ned br usquel y away f r omt he wi ndow. He sei zed hi s over coat wi t h t he
har sh sweep of a gest ur e i nt ended t o j ol t hi mback i nt o t he di sci pl i ne of
act i on. He sl ammed t he t wo f ol ds of t he over coat about hi s body, he j er ked
t he bel t t i ght , t hen hast ened t o t ur n of f t he l i ght s wi t h r api d snaps of hi s
hand on hi s way out of t he of f i ce.
He t hr ew t he door openand st opped. A si ngl e l amp was bur ni ng i n a cor ner
of t he di mmed ant er oom. The man who sat on t he edge of a desk, i n a pose of
casual , pat i ent wai t i ng, was Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
Rear den st ood st i l l and caught a br i ef i nst ant when Fr anci sco, not movi ng,
l ooked at hi mwi t h t he hi nt of an amused smi l e t hat was l i ke a wi nk bet ween
conspi r at or s at a secr et t hey bot h under st ood, but woul d not acknowl edge. I t
was onl y an i nst ant , al most t oo br i ef t o gr asp, because i t seemed t o hi mt hat
Fr anci sco r ose at once at hi s ent r ance, wi t h a movement of cour t eous
def er ence. The movement suggest ed a st r i ct f or mal i t y, t he deni al of any
at t empt at pr esumpt i onbut i t st r essed t he i nt i macy of t he f act t hat he
ut t er ed no wor d of gr eet i ng or expl anat i on.
Rear den asked, hi s voi ce har d, " What ar e you doi ng her e?"
" I t hought t hat you woul d want t o see me t oni ght , Mr . Rear den. "
" Why?"
" For t he same r eason t hat has kept you so l at e i n your of f i ce. You wer e
not wor ki ng. "
" How l ong have you been si t t i ng her e?"
" An hour or t wo. "
" Why di dn' t you knock at my door ?"
" Woul d you have al l owed me t o come i n?"
" You' r e l at e i n aski ng t hat quest i on, "
" Shal l I l eave, Mr . Rear den?"
Rear den poi nt ed t o t he door of hi s of f i ce. " Come i n. "
Tur ni ng t he l i ght s on i n t he of f i ce, movi ng wi t h unhur r i ed cont r ol ,
Rear den t hought t hat he must not al l ow hi msel f t o f eel anyt hi ng, but f el t t he
col or of l i f e r et ur ni ng t o hi mi n t he t ensel y qui et eager ness of an emot i on
whi ch he woul d not i dent i f y. What he t ol d hi msel f consci ousl y was: Be
car ef ul .
He sat down on t he edge of hi s desk, cr ossed hi s ar ms, l ooked at
Fr anci sco, who r emai ned st andi ng r espect f ul l y bef or e hi m, and asked wi t h t he
col d hi nt of a smi l e, " Why di d you come her e?"
" You don' t want me t o answer , Mr . Rear den. You woul dn' t admi t t o me or t o
your sel f how desper at el y l onel y you ar e t oni ght . I f you don' t quest i on me,
you won' t f eel obl i ged t o deny i t . J ust accept what you do know, anyway: t hat
I know i t . "
Taut l i ke a st r i ng pul l ed by anger agai nst t he i mper t i nence at one end and
by admi r at i on f or t he f r ankness at t he ot her , Rear den answer ed, " I ' l l admi t
i t , i f you wi sh. What shoul d i t mat t er t o me, t hat you know i t ?"
" That I know and car e, Mr . Rear den. I ' mt he onl y man ar ound you who does. "
" Why shoul d you car e? And why shoul d I need your hel p t oni ght ?"
" Because i t ' s not easy t o have t o damn t he man who meant most t o you. "
" I woul dn' t damn you i f you' d onl y st ay away f r omme. "
Fr anci sco' s eyes wi dened a l i t t l e, t hen he gr i nned and sai d, " I was
speaki ng of Mr . Danagger . "
For an i nst ant , Rear den l ooked as i f he want ed t o sl ap hi s own f ace, t hen
he l aughed sof t l y and sai d, " Al l r i ght . Si t down. "
He wai t ed t o see what advant age Fr anci sco woul d t ake of i t now, but
Fr anci sco obeyed hi mi n si l ence, wi t h a smi l e t hat had an oddl y boyi sh
qual i t y: a l ook of t r i umph and gr at i t ude, t oget her .
" I don' t damn Ken Danagger , " sai d Rear den.
" You don' t ?" The t wo wor ds seemed t o f al l wi t h a si ngul ar emphasi s; t hey
wer e pr onounced ver y qui et l y, al most caut i ousl y, wi t h no r emnant of a smi l e
on Fr anci sco' s f ace.
" No. I don' t t r y t o pr escr i be how much a man shoul d have t o bear .
I f he br oke, i t ' s not f or me t o j udge hi m. "
" I f he br oke . . . ?"
" Wel l , di dn' t he?"
Fr anci sco l eaned back; hi s smi l e r et ur ned, but i t was not a happy smi l e.
" What wi l l hi s di sappear ance do t o you?"
" I wi l l j ust have t o wor k a l i t t l e har der . "
Fr anci sco l ooked at a st eel br i dge t r aced i n bl ack st r okes agai nst r ed
st eambeyond t he wi ndow, and sai d, poi nt i ng, " Ever y one of t hose gi r der s has
a l i mi t t o t he l oad i t can car r y. What ' s your s?"
Rear den l aughed. " I s t hat what you' r e af r ai d of ? I s t hat why you came
her e? Wer e you af r ai d I ' d br eak? Di d you want t o save me, as Dagny Taggar t
want ed t o save Ken Danagger ? She t r i ed t o r each hi mi n t i me, but coul dn' t . "
" She di d? I di dn' t know i t . Mi ss Taggar t and I di sagr ee about many
t hi ngs. "
" Don' t wor r y. I ' mnot goi ng t o vani sh. Let t hemal l gi ve up and st op
wor ki ng. I won' t . I don' t know my l i mi t and don' t car e. Al l I have t o know i s
t hat I can' t be st opped. "
" Any man can be st opped, Mr . Rear den. "
" How?"
" I t ' s onl y a mat t er of knowi ng man' s mot i ve power . "
" What i s i t ?"
" You ought t o know, Mr . Rear den. You' r e one of t he l ast mor al men l ef t t o
t he wor l d. "
Rear den chuckl ed i n bi t t er amusement . " I ' ve been cal l ed j ust about
ever yt hi ng but t hat . And you' r e wr ong. You have no i dea how wr ong. "
" Ar e you sur e?"
" I ought t o know. Mor al ? What on ear t h made you say i t ?"
Fr anci sco poi nt ed t o t he mi l l s beyond t he wi ndow. " Thi s. "
For a l ong moment , Rear den l ooked at hi mwi t hout movi ng, t hen asked onl y,
" What do you mean?"
" I f you want t o see an abst r act pr i nci pl e, such as mor al act i on, i n
mat er i al f or mt her e i t i s. Look at i t , Mr . Rear den. Ever y gi r der of i t , ever y
pi pe, wi r e and val ve was put t her e by a choi ce i n answer t o t he quest i on:
r i ght or wr ong? You had t o choose r i ght and you had t o choose t he best wi t hi n
your knowl edget he best f or your pur pose, whi ch was t o make st eel and t hen
move on and ext end t he knowl edge, and do bet t er , and st i l l bet t er , wi t h your
pur pose as your st andar d of val ue. You had t o act on your own j udgment , you
had t o have t he capaci t y t o j udge, t he cour age t o st and on t he ver di ct of
your mi nd, and t he pur est , t he most r ut hl ess consecr at i on t o t he r ul e of
doi ng r i ght , of doi ng t he best , t he ut most best possi bl e t o you. Not hi ng
coul d have made you act agai nst your j udgment , and you woul d have r ej ect ed as
wr ongas evi l any man who at t empt ed t o t el l you t hat t he best way t o heat a
f ur nace was t o f i l l i t wi t h i ce. Mi l l i ons of men, an ent i r e nat i on, wer e not
abl e t o det er you f r ompr oduci ng Rear den Met al because you had t he knowl edge
of i t s super l at i ve val ue and t he power whi ch such knowl edge gi ves. But what I
wonder about , Mr . Rear den, i s why you l i ve by one code of pr i nci pl es when you
deal wi t h nat ur e and by anot her when you deal wi t h men?"
Rear den' s eyes wer e f i xed on hi mso i nt ent l y t hat t he quest i on came
sl owl y, as i f t he ef f or t t o pr onounce i t wer e a di st r act i on: " What do you
mean?"
" Why don' t you hol d t o t he pur pose of your l i f e as cl ear l y and r i gi dl y as
you hol d t o t he pur pose of your mi l l s?"
" What do you mean?"
" You have j udged ever y br i ck wi t hi n t hi s pl ace by i t s val ue t o t he goal of
maki ng st eel . Have you been as st r i ct about t he goal whi ch your wor k and your
st eel ar e ser vi ng? What do you wi sh t o achi eve by gi vi ng your l i f e t o t he
maki ng of st eel ? By what st andar d of val ue do you j udge your days? For
i nst ance, why di d you spend t en year s of exact i ng ef f or t t o pr oduce Rear den
Met al ?"
Rear den l ooked away, t he sl i ght , sl umpi ng movement of hi s shoul der s l i ke a
si gh of r el ease and di sappoi nt ment . " I f you have t o ask t hat , t hen you
woul dn' t under st and. "
" I f I t ol d you t hat I under st and i t , but you don' t woul d you t hr ow me out
of her e?"
" T shoul d have t hr own you out of her e anywayso go ahead, t el l me what you
mean. "
" Ar e you pr oud of t he r ai l of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne?"
" Yes. "
" Why?"
" Because i t ' s t he best r ai l ever made. "
" Why di d you make i t ?"
" I n or der t o make money. "
" Ther e wer e many easi er ways t o make money. Why di d you choose t he
har dest ?"
" You sai d i t i n your speech at Taggar t ' s weddi ng: i n or der t o exchange my
best ef f or t f or t he best ef f or t of ot her s. "
" I f t hat was your pur pose, have you achi eved i t ?"
A beat of t i me vani shed i n a heavy dr op of si l ence. " No, " sai d Rear den.
" Have you made any money?"
" No. "
" When you st r ai n your ener gy t o i t s ut most i n or der t o pr oduce t he best ,
do you expect t o be r ewar ded f or i t or puni shed?" Rear den di d not answer . " By
ever y st andar d of decency, of honor , of j ust i ce known t o youar e you
convi nced t hat you shoul d have been r ewar ded f or i t ?"
" Yes, " sai d Rear den, hi s voi ce l ow.
" Then i f you wer e puni shed, i nst eadwhat sor t of code have you accept ed?"
Rear den di d not answer .
" I t i s gener al l y assumed, " sai d Fr anci sco, " t hat l i vi ng i n a human soci et y
makes one' s l i f e much easi er and saf er t han i f one wer e l ef t al one t o
st r uggl e agai nst nat ur e on a deser t i sl and. Now wher ever t her e i s a man who
needs or uses met al i n any way- Rear den Met al has made hi s l i f e easi er f or
hi m. Has i t made your s easi er f or you?"
" No, " sai d Rear den, hi s voi ce l ow.
" Has i t l ef t your l i f e as i t was bef or e you pr oduced t he Met al ?"
" No" sai d Rear den, t he wor d br eaki ng of f as i f he had cut shor t t he
t hought t hat f ol l owed.
Fr anci sco' s voi ce l ashed at hi msuddenl y, as a command: " Say i t ! "
" I t has made i t har der , " sai d Rear den t onel essl y.
" When you f el t pr oud of t he r ai l of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, " sai d Fr anci sco,
t he measur ed r hyt hmof hi s voi ce gi vi ng a r ut hl ess cl ar i t y t o hi s wor ds,
" what sor t of men di d you t hi nk of ? Di d you want t o see t hat Li ne used by
your equal sby gi ant s of pr oduct i ve ener gy, such as El l i s Wyat t , whomi t
woul d hel p t o r each hi gher and st i l l hi gher achi evement s of t hei r own?"
" Yes, " sai d Rear den eager l y.
" Di d you want t o see i t used by men who coul d not equal t he power of your
mi nd, but who woul d equal your mor al i nt egr i t ymen such as Eddi e Wi l l er swho
coul d never i nvent your Met al , but who woul d do t hei r best , wor k as har d as
you di d, l i ve by t hei r own ef f or t , andr i di ng on your r ai l gi ve a moment ' s
si l ent t hanks t o t he man who gave t hemmor e t han t hey coul d gi ve hi m?"
" Yes, " sai d Rear den gent l y.
" Di d you want t o see i t used by whi ni ng r ot t er s who never r ouse t hemsel ves
t o any ef f or t , who do not possess t he abi l i t y of a f i l i ng cl er k, but demand
t he i ncome of a company pr esi dent , who dr i f t f r omf ai l ur e t o f ai l ur e and
expect you t o pay t hei r bi l l s, who hol d t hei r wi shi ng as an equi val ent of
your wor k and t hei r need as a hi gher cl ai mt o r ewar d t han your ef f or t , who
demand t hat you ser ve t hem, who demand t hat i t be t he ai mof your l i f e t o
ser ve t hem, who demand t hat your st r engt h be t he voi cel ess, r i ght l ess,
unpai d, unr ewar ded sl ave of t hei r i mpot ence, who pr ocl ai mt hat you ar e bor n
t o ser f domby r eason of your geni us, whi l e t hey ar e bor n t o r ul e by t he gr ace
of i ncompet ence, t hat your s i s onl y t o gi ve, but t hei r s onl y t o t ake, t hat
your s i s t o pr oduce, but t hei r s t o consume, t hat you ar e not t o be pai d,
nei t her i n mat t er nor i n spi r i t , nei t her by weal t h nor by r ecogni t i on nor by
r espect nor by gr at i t udeso t hat t hey woul d r i de on your r ai l and sneer at
you and cur se you, si nce t hey owe you not hi ng, not even t he ef f or t of t aki ng
of f t hei r hat s whi ch you pai d f or ? Woul d t hi s be what you want ed? Woul d you
f eel pr oud of i t ?"
' I ' d bl ast t hat r ai l f i r st , " sai d Rear den, hi s l i ps whi t e.
' Then why don' t you do i t , Mr . Rear den? Of t he t hr ee ki nds of men I
descr i bedwhi ch men ar e bei ng dest r oyed and whi ch ar e usi ng your Li ne t oday?"
They hear d t he di st ant met al hear t beat s of t he mi l l s t hr ough t he l ong
t hr ead of si l ence.
" What I descr i bed l ast , " sai d Fr anci sco, " i s any man who pr ocl ai ms hi s
r i ght t o a si ngl e penny of anot her man' s ef f or t . "
Rear den di d not answer ; he was l ooki ng at t he r ef l ect i on of a neon si gn on
dar k wi ndows i n t he di st ance.
" You t ake pr i de i n set t i ng no l i mi t t o your endur ance, Mr . Rear den,
because you t hi nk t hat you ar e doi ng r i ght . What i f you ar en' t ? What i f
you' r e pl aci ng your vi r t ue i n t he ser vi ce of evi l and l et t i ng i t become a
t ool f or t he dest r uct i on of ever yt hi ng you l ove, r espect and admi r e?
Why don' t you uphol d your own code of val ues among men as you do among
i r on smel t er s? You who won' t al l ow one per cent of i mpur i t y i nt o an al l oy of
met al what have you al l owed i nt o your mor al code?"
Rear den sat ver y st i l l ; t he wor ds i n hi s mi nd wer e l i ke t he beat of st eps
down t he t r ai l he had been seeki ng; t he wor ds wer e: t he sanct i on of t he
vi ct i m.
" You, who woul d not submi t t o t he har dshi ps of nat ur e, but set out t o
conquer i t and pl aced i t i n t he ser vi ce of your j oy and your comf or t t o what
have you submi t t ed at t he hands of men? You, who know f r omyour wor k t hat one
bear s puni shment onl y f or bei ng wr ong what have you been wi l l i ng t o bear and
f or what r eason? Al l your l i f e, you have hear d your sel f denounced, not f or
your f aul t s, but f or your gr eat est vi r t ues. You have been hat ed, not f or your
mi st akes, but f or your achi evement s. You have been scor ned f or al l t hose
qual i t i es of char act er whi ch ar e your hi ghest pr i de. You have been cal l ed
sel f i sh f or t he cour age of act i ng on your own j udgment and bear i ng sol e
r esponsi bi l i t y f or your own l i f e. You have been cal l ed ar r ogant f or your
i ndependent mi nd. You have been cal l ed cr uel f or your unyi el di ng i nt egr i t y.
You have been cal l ed ant i - soci al f or t he vi si on t hat made you vent ur e upon
undi scover ed r oads. You have been cal l ed r ut hl ess f or t he st r engt h and sel f -
di sci pl i ne of your dr i ve t o your pur pose. You have been cal l ed gr eedy f or t he
magni f i cence of your power t o cr eat e weal t h. You, who' ve expended an
i nconcei vabl e f l ow of ener gy, have been cal l ed a par asi t e. You, who' ve
cr eat ed abundance wher e t her e had been not hi ng but wast el ands and hel pl ess,
st ar vi ng men bef or e you, have been cal l ed a r obber . You, who' ve kept t hemal l
al i ve, have been cal l ed an expl oi t er . You, t he pur est and most mor al man
among t hem, have been sneer ed at as a ' vul gar mat er i al i st . ' Have you st opped
t o ask t hem: by what r i ght ?by what code?by what st andar d? No, you have
bor ne i t al l and kept si l ent . You bowed t o t hei r code and you never uphel d
your own. You knew what exact i ng mor al i t y was needed t o pr oduce a si ngl e
met al nai l , but you l et t hembr and you as i mmor al .
You knew t hat man needs t he st r i ct est code of val ues t o deal wi t h nat ur e,
but you t hought t hat you needed no such code t o deal wi t h men. You l ef t t he
deadl i est weapon i n t he hands of your enemi es, a weapon you never suspect ed
or under st ood. Thei r mor al code i s t hei r weapon. Ask your sel f how deepl y and
i n how many t er r i bl e ways you have accept ed i t . Ask your sel f what i t i s t hat
a code of mor al val ues does t o a man' s l i f e, and why he can' t exi st wi t hout
i t , and what happens t o hi mi f he accept s t he wr ong st andar d, by whi ch t he
evi l i s t he good. Shal l I t el l you why you' r e dr awn t o me, even t hough you
t hi nk you ought t o damn me? I t ' s because I ' mt he f i r st man who has gi ven you
what t he whol e wor l d owes you and what you shoul d have demanded of al l men
bef or e you deal t wi t h t hem: a mor al sanct i on. "
Rear den whi r l ed t o hi m, t hen r emai ned st i l l , wi t h a st i l l ness l i ke a gasp.
Fr anci sco l eaned f or war d, as i f he wer e r eachi ng t he l andi ng of a danger ous
f l i ght , and hi s eyes wer e st eady, but t hei r gl ance seemed t o t r embl e wi t h
i nt ensi t y.
" You' r e gui l t y of a gr eat si n, Mr . Rear den, much gui l t i er t han t hey t el l
you, but not i n t he way t hey pr each. The wor st gui l t i s t o accept an
undeser ved gui l t and t hat i s what you have been doi ng al l your l i f e.
You have been payi ng bl ackmai l , not f or your vi ces, but f or your vi r t ues.
You have been wi l l i ng t o car r y t he l oad of an unear ned puni shment and t oi l et
i t gr ow t he heavi er t he gr eat er t he vi r t ues you pr act i ced. But your vi r t ues
wer e t hose whi ch keep men al i ve. Your own mor al codet he one you l i ved by,
but never st at ed, acknowl edged or def endedwas t he code t hat pr eser ves man' s
exi st ence. I f you wer e puni shed f or i t , what was t he nat ur e of t hose who
puni shed you?
Your s was t he code of l i f e. What , t hen, i s t hei r s? What st andar d of val ue
l i es at i t s r oot ? What i s i t s ul t i mat e pur pose? Do you t hi nk t hat what you' r e
f aci ng i s mer el y a conspi r acy t o sei ze your weal t h? You, who know t he sour ce
of weal t h, shoul d know i t ' s much mor e and much wor se t han t hat . Di d you ask
me t o name man' s mot i ve power ?
Man' s mot i ve power i s hi s mor al code. Ask your sel f wher e t hei r code i s
l eadi ng you and what i t of f er s you as your f i nal goal . A vi l er evi l t han t o
mur der a man, i s t o sel l hi msui ci de as an act of vi r t ue. A vi l er evi l t han
t o t hr ow a man i nt o a sacr i f i ci al f ur nace, i s t o demand t hat he l eap i n, of
hi s own wi l l , and t hat he bui l d t he f ur nace, besi des. By t hei r own st at ement ,
i t i s t hey who need you and have not hi ng t o of f er you i n r et ur n. By t hei r own
st at ement , you must suppor t t hembecause t hey cannot sur vi ve wi t hout you.
Consi der t he obsceni t y of of f er i ng t hei r i mpot ence and t hei r needt hei r need
of youas a j ust i f i cat i on f or your t or t ur e. Ar e you wi l l i ng t o accept i t ? Do
you car e t o pur chaseat t he pr i ce of your gr eat endur ance, at t he pr i ce of
your agonyt he sat i sf act i on of t he needs of your own dest r oyer s?"
" No! "
" Mr . Rear den, " sai d Fr anci sco, hi s voi ce sol emnl y cal m, " i f you saw At l as,
t he gi ant who hol ds t he wor l d on hi s shoul der s, i f you saw t hat he st ood,
bl ood r unni ng down hi s chest , hi s knees buckl i ng, hi s ar ms t r embl i ng but
st i l l t r yi ng t o hol d t he wor l d al of t wi t h t he l ast of hi s st r engt h, and t he
gr eat er hi s ef f or t t he heavi er t he wor l d bor e down upon hi s shoul der swhat
woul d you t el l hi mt o do?"
" I . . . don' t know. What . . . coul d he do? What woul d you t el l hi m?"
" To shr ug. "
The cl at t er of t he met al came i n a f l ow of i r r egul ar sounds wi t hout
di scer ni bl e r hyt hm, not l i ke t he act i on of a mechani sm, but as i f some
consci ous i mpul se wer e behi nd ever y sudden, t ear i ng r i se t hat went up and
cr ashed, scat t er i ng i nt o t he f ai nt moan of gear s. The gl ass of t he wi ndows
t i nkl ed once i n a whi l e.
Fr anci sco' s eyes wer e wat chi ng Rear den as i f he wer e exami ni ng t he cour se
of bul l et s on a bat t er ed t ar get . The cour se was har d t o t r ace: t he gaunt
f i gur e on t he edge of t he desk was er ect , t he col d bl ue eyes showed not hi ng
but t he i nt ensi t y of a gl ance f i xed upon a gr eat di st ance, onl y t he
i nf l exi bl e mout h bet r ayed a l i ne dr awn by pai n.
" Go on, " sai d Rear den wi t h ef f or t , " cont i nue. You haven' t f i ni shed, have
you?"
" I have bar el y begun. " Fr anci sco' s voi ce was har d.
" What . . . ar e you dr i vi ng at ?"
" You' l l know i t bef or e I ' mt hr ough. But f i r st , I want you t o answer a
quest i on: i f you under st and t he nat ur e of your bur den, how can you . . . "
The scr eamof an al ar msi r en shat t er ed t he space beyond t he wi ndow and
shot l i ke a r ocket i n a l ong, t hi n l i ne t o t he sky. I t hel d f or an i nst ant ,
t hen f el l , t hen went on i n r i si ng, f al l i ng spi r al s of sound, as i f f i ght i ng
f or br eat h agai nst t er r or t o scr eaml ouder . I t was t he shr i ek of agony, t he
cal l f or hel p, t he voi ce of t he mi l l s as of a wounded body cr yi ng t o hol d i t s
soul .
Rear den t hought t hat he l eaped f or t he door t he i nst ant t he scr eamhi t hi s
consci ousness, but he saw t hat he was an i nst ant l at e, because Fr anci sco had
pr eceded hi m. Fl ung by t he bl ast of t he same r esponse as hi s own, Fr anci sco
was f l yi ng down t he hal l , pr essi ng t he but t on of t he el evat or and, not
wai t i ng, r aci ng on down t he st ai r s. Rear den f ol l owed hi mand, wat chi ng t he
di al of t he el evat or on t he st ai r l andi ngs, t hey met i t hal f way down t he
hei ght of t he bui l di ng. Bef or e t he st eel cage had ceased t r embl i ng at t he
si l l of t he gr ound f l oor , Fr anci sco was out , r aci ng t o meet t he sound of t he
cal l f or hel p. Rear den had t hought hi msel f a good r unner , but he coul d not
keep up wi t h t he swi f t f i gur e st r eaki ng of f t hr ough st r et ches of r ed gl ar e
and dar kness, t he f i gur e of a usel ess pl ayboy he had hat ed hi msel f f or
admi r i ng.
The st r eam, gushi ng f r oma hol e l ow on t he si de of a bl ast f ur nace, di d
not have t he r ed gl ow of f i r e, but t he whi t e r adi ance of sunl i ght .
I t pour ed al ong t he gr ound, br anchi ng of f at r andomi n sudden st r eaks; i t
cut t hr ough a dank f og of st eamwi t h a br i ght suggest i on of mor ni ng.
I t was l i qui d i r on, and what t he scr eamof t he al ar mpr ocl ai med was a
br eak- out .
The char ge of t he f ur nace had been hung up and, br eaki ng, had bl own t he
t ap- hol e open. The f ur nace f or eman l ay knocked unconsci ous, t he whi t e f l ow
spur t ed, sl owl y t ear i ng t he hol e wi der , and men wer e st r uggl i ng wi t h sand,
hose and f i r e cl ay t o st op t he gl owi ng st r eaks t hat spr ead i n a heavy,
gl i di ng mot i on, eat i ng ever yt hi ng on t hei r way i nt o j et s of acr i d smoke.
I n t he f ew moment s whi ch Rear den needed t o gr asp t he si ght and nat ur e of
t he di sast er , he saw a man' s f i gur e r i si ng suddenl y at t he f oot of t he
f ur nace, a f i gur e out l i ned by t he r ed gl ar e al most as i f i t st ood i n t he pat h
of t he t or r ent , he saw t he swi ng of a whi t e shi r t sl eeved ar mt hat r ose and
f l ung a bl ack obj ect i nt o t he sour ce of t he spur t i ng met al . I t was Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a, and hi s act i on bel onged t o an ar t whi ch Rear den had not bel i eved
any man t o be t r ai ned t o per f or many l onger .
Year s bef or e, Rear den had wor ked i n an obscur e st eel pl ant i n Mi nnesot a,
wher e i t had been hi s j ob, af t er a bl ast f ur nace was t apped, t o cl ose t he
hol e by handby t hr owi ng bul l et s of f i r e cl ay t o damt he f l ow of t he met al .
I t was a danger ous j ob t hat had t aken many l i ves; i t had been abol i shed year s
ear l i er by t he i nvent i on of t he hydr aul i c gun; but t her e had been st r uggl i ng,
f ai l i ng mi l l s whi ch, on t hei r way down, had at t empt ed t o use t he out wor n
equi pment and met hods of a di st ant past . Rear den had done t he j ob; but i n t he
year s si nce, he had met no ot her man abl e t o do i t . I n t he mi dst of shoot i ng
j et s of l i ve st eam, i n t he f ace of a cr umbl i ng bl ast f ur nace, he was now
seei ng t he t al l , sl i mf i gur e of t he pl ayboy per f or mi ng t he t ask wi t h t he
ski l l of an exper t .
I t t ook an i nst ant f or Rear den t o t ear of f hi s coat , sei ze a pai r of
goggl es f r omt he f i r st man i n si ght and j oi n Fr anci sco at t he mout h of t he
f ur nace. Ther e was no t i me t o speak, t o f eel or t o wonder . Fr anci sco gl anced
at hi monceand what Rear den saw was a smudged f ace, bl ack goggl es and a wi de
gr i n.
They st ood on a sl i pper y bank of baked mud, at t he edge of t he whi t e
st r eam, wi t h t he r agi ng hol e under t hei r f eet , f l i ngi ng cl ay i nt o t he gl ar e
wher e t he t wi st i ng t ongues t hat l ooked l i ke gas wer e boi l i ng met al . Rear den' s
consci ousness became a pr ogr essi on of bendi ng, r ai si ng t he wei ght , ai mi ng and
sendi ng i t down and, bef or e i t had r eached i t s unseen dest i nat i on, bendi ng
f or t he next one agai n, a consci ousness dr awn t i ght upon wat chi ng t he ai mof
hi s ar m, t o save t he f ur nace, and t he pr ecar i ous post ur e of hi s f eet , t o save
hi msel f . He was awar e of not hi ng el seexcept t hat t he sumof i t was t he
exul t ant f eel i ng of act i on, of hi s own capaci t y, of hi s body' s pr eci si on, of
i t s r esponse t o hi s wi l l . And wi t h no t i me t o know i t , but knowi ng i t ,
sei zi ng i t wi t h hi s senses past t he censor shi p of hi s mi nd, he was seei ng a
bl ack si l houet t e wi t h r ed r ays shoot i ng f r ombehi nd i t s shoul der s, i t s
el bows, i t s angul ar cur ves, t he r ed r ays ci r cl i ng t hr ough st eaml i ke t he l ong
needl es of spot l i ght s, f ol l owi ng t he movement s of a swi f t , exper t , conf i dent
bei ng whomhe had never seen bef or e except i n eveni ng cl ot hes under t he
l i ght s of bal l r ooms.
Ther e was no t i me t o f or mwor ds, t o t hi nk, t o expl ai n, but he knew t hat
t hi s was t he r eal Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, t hi s was what he had seen f r omt he
f i r st and l ovedt he wor d di d not shock hi m, because t her e was no wor d i n hi s
mi nd, t her e was onl y a j oyous f eel i ng t hat seemed l i ke a f l ow of ener gy added
t o hi s own.
To t he r hyt hmof hi s body, wi t h t he scor chi ng heat on hi s f ace and t he
wi nt er ni ght on hi s shoul der bl ades, he was seei ng suddenl y t hat t hi s was t he
si mpl e essence of hi s uni ver se: t he i nst ant aneous r ef usal t o submi t t o
di sast er , t he i r r esi st i bl e dr i ve t o f i ght i t , t he t r i umphant f eel i ng of hi s
own abi l i t y t o wi n. He was cer t ai n t hat Fr anci sco f el t i t , t oo, t hat he had
been moved by t he same i mpul se, t hat i t was r i ght t o f eel i t , r i ght f or bot h
of t hemt o be what t hey wer ehe caught gl i mpses of a sweat - st r eaked f ace
i nt ent upon act i on, and i t was t he most j oyous f ace he had ever seen.
The f ur nace st ood above t hem, a bl ack bul k wr apped i n coi l s of t ubes and
st eam; she seemed t o pant , shoot i ng r ed gasps t hat hung on t he ai r above t he
mi l l sand t hey f ought not t o l et her bl eed t o deat h.
Spar ks hung about t hei r f eet and bur st i n sudden sheaf s out of t he met al ,
dyi ng unnot i ced agai nst t hei r cl ot hes, agai nst t he ski n of t hei r hands. The
st r eamwas comi ng sl ower , i n br oken spur t s t hr ough t he damr i si ng beyond
t hei r si ght .
I t happened so f ast t hat Rear den knew i t f ul l y onl y af t er i t was over .
He knew t hat t her e wer e t wo moment s: t he f i r st was when he saw t he vi ol ent
swi ng of Fr anci sco' s body i n a f or war d t hr ust t hat sent t he bul l et t o
cont i nue t he l i ne i n space, t hen he saw t he sudden, unr hyt hmi c j er k backwar d
t hat di d not succeed, t he convul si ve beat i ng agai nst a f or war d pul l , t he
ext ended ar ms of t he si l houet t e l osi ng i t s bal ance, he t hought t hat a l eap
acr oss t he di st ance bet ween t hemon t he sl i pper y, cr umbl i ng r i dge woul d mean
t he deat h of bot h of t hemand t he second moment was when he l anded at
Fr anci sco' s si de, hel d hi mi n hi s ar ms, hung swayi ng t oget her bet ween space
and r i dge, over t he whi t e pi t , t hen gai ned hi s f oot i ng and pul l ed hi mback,
and, f or an i nst ant , st i l l hel d t he l engt h of Fr anci sco' s body agai nst t he
l engt h of hi s own, as he woul d have hel d t he body of an onl y son. Hi s l ove,
hi s t er r or , hi s r el i ef wer e i n a si ngl e sent ence: " Be car ef ul , you goddamn
f ool ! "
Fr anci sco r eached f or a chunk of cl ay and went on.
When t he j ob was done and t he gap was cl osed, Rear den not i ced t hat t her e
was a t wi st i ng pai n i n t he muscl es of hi s ar ms and l egs, t hat hi s body had no
st r engt h l ef t t o moveyet t hat he f el t as i f he wer e ent er i ng hi s of f i ce i n
t he mor ni ng, eager f or t en new pr obl ems t o sol ve.
He l ooked at Fr anci sco and not i ced f or t he f i r st t i me t hat t hei r cl ot hes
had bl ade- r i nged hol es, t hat t hei r hands wer e bl eedi ng, t hat t her e was a
pat ch of ski n t or n on Fr anci sco' s t empl e and a r ed t hr ead wi ndi ng down hi s
cheekbone. Fr anci sco pushed t he goggl es back of f hi s eyes and gr i nned at hi m:
i t was a smi l e of mor ni ng.
A young man wi t h a l ook of chr oni c hur t and i mper t i nence t oget her , r ushed
up t o hi m, cr yi ng, " I coul dn' t hel p i t , Mr . Rear den! "
and l aunched i nt o a speech of expl anat i on. Rear den t ur ned hi s back on hi m
wi t hout a wor d. I t was t he assi st ant i n char ge of t he pr essur e gauge of t he
f ur nace, a young man out of col l ege.
Somewher e on t he out er edge of Rear den' s consci ousness, t her e was t he
t hought t hat acci dent s of t hi s nat ur e wer e happeni ng mor e f r equent l y now,
caused by t he ki nd of or e he was usi ng, but he had t o use what ever or e he
coul d f i nd. Ther e was t he t hought t hat hi s ol d wor ker s had al ways been abl e
t o aver t di sast er ; any of t hemwoul d have seen e i ndi cat i ons of a hang- up and
known how t o pr event i t ; but t her e wer e not many of t heml ef t , and he had t o
empl oy what ever men he coul d f i nd. Thr ough t he swi r l i ng coi l s of st eamar ound
hi m, he obser ved t hat i t was t he ol der men who had r ushed f r omal l over t he
mi l l s t o f i ght t he br eak- out and now st ood i n l i ne, bei ng gi ven f i r st ai d by
t he medi cal st af f . He wonder ed what was happeni ng t o t he young men of t he
count r y. But t he wonder was swal l owed by t he si ght of t he col l ege boy' s f ace,
whi ch he coul d not bear t o see, by a wave of cont empt , by t he wor dl ess
t hought t hat i f t hi s was t he enemy, t her e was not hi ng t o f ear . Al l t hese
t hi ngs came t o hi mand vani shed i n t he out er dar kness; t he si ght bl ot t i ng
t hemout was Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, He saw Fr anci sco gi vi ng or der s t o t he men
ar ound hi m. They di d not know who he was or wher e he came f r om, but t hey
l i st ened: t hey knew he was a man who knew hi s j ob. Fr anci sco br oke of f i n t he
mi ddl e of a sent ence, seei ng Rear den appr oach and l i st en, and sai d, l aughi ng,
" Oh, I beg your par don! " Rear den sai d, " Go r i ght ahead. I t ' s al l cor r ect , so
f ar . "
They sai d not hi ng t o each ot her when t hey wal ked t oget her t hr ough t he
dar kness, on t hei r way back t o t he of f i ce. Rear den f el t an exul t ant l aught er
swel l i ng wi t hi n hi m, he f el t t hat he want ed, i n hi s t ur n, t o wi nk at
Fr anci sco l i ke a f el l ow conspi r at or who had l ear ned a secr et Fr anci sco woul d
not acknowl edge. He gl anced at hi s f ace once i n a whi l e, but Fr anci sco woul d
not l ook at hi m.
Af t er a whi l e, Fr anci sco sai d, " You saved my Me. " The " t hank you"
was i n t he way he sai d i t .
Rear den chuckl ed. " You saved my f ur nace. "
They went on i n si l ence. Rear den f el t hi msel f gr owi ng l i ght er wi t h ever y
st ep. Rai si ng hi s f ace t o t he col d ai r , he saw t he peacef ul dar kness bf t he
sky and a si ngl e st ar above a smokest ack wi t h t he ver t i cal l et t er i ng: Rear den
St eel . He f el t how gl ad he was t o be al i ve.
He di d not expect t he change he saw i n Fr anci sco' s f ace when he l ooked at
i t i n t he l i ght of hi s of f i ce. The t hi ngs he had seen by t he gl ar e of t he
f ur nace wer e gone. He had expect ed a l ook of t r i umph, of mocker y at al l t he
i nsul t s Fr anci sco had hear d f r omhi m, a l ook demandi ng t he apol ogy he was
j oyousl y eager t o of f er . I nst ead, he saw a f ace made l i f el ess by an odd
dej ect i on.
" Ar e you hur t ?"
" No . . . no, not at al l . "
" Come her e, " or der ed Rear den, openi ng t he door of hi s bat hr oom.
. " Look at your sel f . "
" Never mi nd. You come her e. "
For t he f i r st t i me, Rear den f el t t hat he was t he ol der man; he f el t t he
pl easur e of t aki ng Fr anci sco i n char ge; he f el t a conf i dent , amused, pat er nal
pr ot ect i veness. He washed t he gr i me of f Fr anci sco' s f ace, he put
di si nf ect ant s and adhesi ve bandages on hi s t empl e, hi s hands, hi s scor ched
el bows. Fr anci sco obeyed hi mi n si l ence.
Rear den asked, i n t he t one of t he most el oquent sal ut e he coul d of f er ,
" Wher e di d you l ear n t o wor k l i ke t hat ?"
Fr anci sco shr ugged. " I was br ought up ar ound smel t er s of ever y ki nd, " he
answer ed i ndi f f er ent l y.
Rear den coul d not deci pher t he expr essi on of hi s f ace: i t was onl y a l ook
of pecul i ar st i l l ness, as i f hi s eyes wer e f i xed on some secr et vi si on of hi s
own t hat dr ew hi s mout h i nt o a l i ne of desol at e, bi t t er , hur t i ng sel f -
mocker y.
They di d not speak unt i l t hey wer e back i n t he of f i ce.
" You know, " sai d Rear den, " ever yt hi ng you sai d her e was t r ue. But t hat was
onl y par t of t he st or y. The ot her par t i s what we' ve done t oni ght . Don' t you
see? We' r e abl e t o act . They' r e not . So i t ' s we who' l l wi n i n t he l ong r un,
no mat t er what t hey do t o us. "
Fr anci sco di d not answer , " Li st en, " sai d Rear den, " I know what ' s been t he
t r oubl e wi t h you.
You' ve never car ed t o do a r eal day' s wor k i n your l i f e. I t hought you
wer e concei t ed enough, but I see t hat you have no i dea of what you' ve got i n
you. For get t hat f or t une of your s f or a whi l e and come t o wor k f or me. I ' l l
st ar t you as f ur nace f or eman any t i me. You don' t know what i t wi l l do f or
you. I n a f ew year s, you' l l be r eady t o appr eci at e and t o r un d' Anconi a
Copper . "
He expect ed a bur st of l aught er and he was pr epar ed t o ar gue; i nst ead, he
saw Fr anci sco shaki ng hi s head sl owl y, as i f he coul d not t r ust hi s voi ce, as
i f he f ear ed t hat wer e he t o speak, he woul d accept .
I n a moment , he sai d, " Mr . Rear den . . . I t hi nk I woul d gi ve t he r est of
my l i f e f or one year as your f ur nace f or eman. But I can' t . "
" Why not ?"
" Don' t ask me. I t ' s . . . a per sonal mat t er . "
The vi si on of Fr anci sco i n Rear den' s mi nd, whi ch he had r esent ed and f ound
i r r esi st i bl y at t r act i ve, had been t he f i gur e of a man r adi ant l y i ncapabl e of
suf f er i ng. What he saw now i n Fr anci sco' s eyes was t he l ook of a qui et ,
t i ght l y cont r ol l ed, pat i ent l y bor ne t or t ur e.
Fr anci sco r eached si l ent l y f or hi s over coat .
" You' r e not l eavi ng, ar e you?" asked Rear den, " Yes. "
" Ar en' t you goi ng t o f i ni sh what you had t o t el l me?"
" Not t oni ght . "
" You want ed me t o answer a quest i on. What was i t ?"
Fr anci sco shook hi s head.
" You st ar t ed aski ng me how can I . . . How can I what ?"
Fr anci sco' s smi l e was l i ke a moan of pai n, t he onl y moan he woul d per mi t
hi msel f . " I won' t ask i t , Mr . Rear den. I know i t . "

CHAPTER IV
THE SANCTION OF THE VICTIM

The r oast t ur key had cost $30. The champagne had cost $25. The l ace
t abl ecl ot h, a cobweb of gr apes and vi ne l eaves i r i descent i n t he candl el i ght ,
had cost $2, 000. The di nner ser vi ce, wi t h an ar t i st ' s desi gn bur ned i n bl ue
and gol d i nt o a t r ansl ucent whi t e chi na, had cost $2, 500.
The si l ver war e, whi ch bor e t he i ni t i al s LR i n Empi r e wr eat hs of l aur el s,
had cost $3, 000. But i t was hel d t o be unspi r i t ual t o t hi nk of money and of
what t hat money r epr esent ed.
A peasant ' s wooden shoe, gi l ded, st ood i n t he cent er of t he t abl e, f i l l ed
wi t h mar i gol ds, gr apes and car r ot s. The candl es wer e st uck i nt o pumpki ns t hat
wer e cut as open- mout hed f aces dr ool i ng r ai si ns, nut s and candy upon t he
t abl ecl ot h.
I t was Thanksgi vi ng di nner , and t he t hr ee who f aced Rear den about t he
t abl e wer e hi s wi f e, hi s mot her and hi s br ot her .
" Thi s i s t he ni ght t o t hank t he Lor d f or our bl essi ngs, " sai d Rear den' s
mot her . " God has been ki nd t o us. Ther e ar e peopl e al l over t he count r y who
haven' t got any f ood i n t he house t oni ght , and some t hat haven' t even got a
house, and mor e of t hemgoi ng j obl ess ever y day.
Gi ves me t he cr eeps t o l ook ar ound i n t he ci t y. Why, onl y l ast week, who
do you suppose I r an i nt o but Luci e J udsonHenr y, do you r emember Luci e
J udson? Used t o l i ve next door t o us. up i n Mi nnesot a, when you wer e t en-
t wel ve year s ol d. Had a boy about your age. I l ost t r ack of Luci e when t hey
moved t o New Yor k, must have been al l of t went y year s ago. Wel l , i t gave me
t he cr eeps t o see what she' s come t oj ust a t oot hl ess ol d hag, wr apped i n a
man' s over coat , panhandl i ng on a st r eet cor ner . And I t hought : That coul d' ve
been me, but f or t he gr ace of God. "
" Wel l , i f t hanks ar e i n or der , " sai d Li l l i an gai l y, " I t hi nk t hat we
shoul dn' t f or get Ger t r ude, t he new cook. She' s an ar t i st . "
" Me, I ' mj ust goi ng t o be ol d- f ashi oned, " sai d Phi l i p. " I ' mj ust goi ng t o
t hank t he sweet est mot her i n t he wor l d. "
" Wel l , f or t he mat t er of t hat , " sai d Rear den' s mot her , " we ought t o .
t hank Li l l i an f or t hi s di nner and f or al l t he t r oubl e she t ook t o make i t so
pr et t y. She spent hour s f i xi ng t he t abl e. I t ' s r eal quai nt and di f f er ent . "
" I t ' s t he wooden shoe t hat does i t , " sai d Phi l i p, bendi ng hi s head
si dewi se t o st udy i t i n a manner of cr i t i cal appr eci at i on. " That ' s t he r eal
t ouch. Anybody can have candl es, si l ver war e and j unk, t hat doesn' t t ake
anyt hi ng but moneybut t hi s shoe, t hat t ook t hought . "
Rear den sai d not hi ng. The candl el i ght moved over hi s mot i onl ess f ace as
over a por t r ai t ; t he por t r ai t bor e an expr essi on of i mper sonal cour t esy.
" You haven' t t ouched your wi ne, " sai d hi s mot her , l ooki ng at hi m.
" What I t hi nk i s you ought t o dr i nk a t oast i n gr at i t ude t o t he peopl e of
t hi s count r y who have gi ven you so much. "
" Henr y i s not i n t he mood f or i t , Mot her , " sai d Li l l i an. " I ' maf r ai d
Thanksgi vi ng i s a hol i day onl y f or t hose who have a cl ear consci ence. "
She r ai sed her wi ne gl ass, but st opped i t hal f way t o her l i ps and asked,
" You' r e not goi ng t o make some sor t of st and at your t r i al t omor r ow, ar e you,
Henr y?"
" I am. "
She put t he gl ass down. " What ar e you goi ng t o do?"
" You' l l see i t t omor r ow. "
" You don' t r eal l y i magi ne t hat you can get away wi t h i t ! "
" I don' t know what you have i n mi nd as t he obj ect I ' mt o get away wi t h. "
" Do you r eal i ze t hat t he char ge agai nst you i s ext r emel y ser i ous?"
" I do. "
" You' ve admi t t ed t hat you sol d t he Met al t o Ken Danagger . "
" I have. "
" They mi ght send you t o j ai l f or t en year s, "
" I don' t t hi nk t hey wi l l , but i t ' s possi bl e. "
" Have you been r eadi ng t he newspaper s, Henr y?" asked Phi l i p, wi t h an odd
ki nd of smi l e.
" No. "
" Oh, you shoul d! "
" Shoul d I ? Why?"
" You ought t o see t he names t hey cal l you! "
" That ' s i nt er est i ng, " sai d Rear den; he sai d i t about t he f act t hat
Phi l i p' s smi l e was one of pl easur e.
" I don' t under st and i t , " sai d hi s mot her . " J ai l ? Di d you say j ai l ,
Li l l i an? Henr y, ar e you goi ng t o be sent t o j ai l ?"
" I mi ght be. "
" But t hat ' s r i di cul ous' Do somet hi ng about i t . "
" What ?"
" I don' t know. I don' t under st and any of i t . Respect abl e peopl e don' t go
t o j ai l . Do somet hi ng. You' ve al ways known what t o do about busi ness. "
" Not t hi s ki nd of busi ness. "
" I don' t bel i eve i t . " Her voi ce had t he t one of a f r i ght ened, spoi l ed
chi l d. " You' r e sayi ng i t j ust t o be mean. "
" He' s pl ayi ng t he her o, Mot her , " sai d Li l l i an. She smi l ed col dl y, t ur ni ng
t o Rear den. " Don' t you t hi nk t hat your at t i t ude i s per f ect l y f ut i l e?"
" No. "
" You know t hat cases of t hi s ki nd ar e not . . . i nt ended ever t o come t o
t r i al . Ther e ar e ways t o avoi d i t , t o get t hi ngs set t l ed ami cabl y i f one
knows t he r i ght peopl e. "
" I don' t know t he r i ght peopl e. "
" Look at Or r en Boyl e. He' s done much mor e and much wor se t han your l i t t l e
f l i ng at t he bl ack mar ket , but he' s smar t enough t o keep hi msel f out of
cour t r ooms. "
" Then I ' mnot smar t enough. "
" Don' t you t hi nk i t ' s t i me you made an ef f or t t o adj ust your sel f t o t he
condi t i ons of our age?"
" No. "
" Wel l , t hen I don' t see how you can pr et end t hat you' r e some sor t of
vi ct i m. I f you go t o j ai l , i t wi l l be your own f aul t . "
" What pr et ense ar e you t al ki ng about , Li l l i an?"
" Oh, I know t hat you t hi nk you' r e f i ght i ng f or some sor t of pr i nci pl e but
act ual l y i t ' s onl y a mat t er of your i ncr edi bl e concei t . You' r e doi ng i t f or
no bet t er r eason t han because you t hi nk you' r e r i ght . "
" Do you t hi nk t hey' r e r i ght ?"
She shr ugged, " That ' s t he concei t I ' mt al ki ng about t he i dea t hat i t
mat t er s who' s r i ght or wr ong. I t ' s t he most i nsuf f er abl e f or mof vani t y, t hi s
i nsi st ence on al ways doi ng r i ght . How do you know what ' s r i ght ?
How can anyone ever know i t ? I t ' s not hi ng but a del usi on t o f l at t er your
own ego and t o hur t ot her peopl e by f l aunt i ng your super i or i t y over t hem. "
He was l ooki ng at her wi t h at t ent i ve i nt er est . " Why shoul d i t hur t ot her
peopl e, i f i t ' s not hi ng but a del usi on?"
" I s i t necessar y f or me t o poi nt out t hat i n your case i t ' s not hi ng but
hypocr i sy? That i s why I f i nd your at t i t ude pr epost er ous. Quest i ons of r i ght
have no bear i ng on human exi st ence. And you' r e cer t ai nl y not hi ng but human
ar en' t you, Henr y? You' r e no bet t er t han any of t he men you' r e goi ng t o f ace
t omor r ow. I t hi nk you shoul d r emember t hat i t ' s not f or you t o make a st and
on any sor t of pr i nci pl e. Maybe you' r e a vi ct i mi n t hi s par t i cul ar mess,
maybe t hey' r e pul l i ng a r ot t en t r i ck on you, but what of i t ? They' r e doi ng i t
because t hey' r e weak; t hey coul dn' t r esi st t he t empt at i on t o gr ab your Met al
and t o muscl e i n on your pr of i t s, because t hey had no ot her way of ever
get t i ng r i ch. Why shoul d you bl ame t hem? I t ' s onl y a quest i on of di f f er ent
st r ai ns, but i t s t he same shoddy human f abr i c t hat gi ves way j ust as
qui ckl y. You woul dn' t be t empt ed by money, because i t ' s so easy f or you t o
make i t .
But you woul dn' t wi t hst and ot her pr essur es and you' d f al l j ust as
i gnomi ni ousl y. Woul dn' t you? So you have no r i ght t o any r i ght eous
i ndi gnat i on agai nst t hem. You have no mor al super i or i t y t o asser t or t o
def end. And i f you haven' t , t hen what i s t he poi nt of f i ght i ng a bat t l e t hat
you can' t wi n? I suppose t hat one mi ght f i nd some sat i sf act i on i n bei ng a
mar t yr , i f one i s above r epr oach. But youwho ar e you t o cast t he f i r st
st one?"
She paused t o obser ve t he ef f ect . Ther e was none, except t hat hi s l ook of
at t ent i ve i nt er est seemed i nt ensi f i ed; he l i st ened as i f he wer e hel d by some
i mper sonal , sci ent i f i c cur i osi t y. I t was not t he r esponse she had expect ed.
" 1 bel i eve you under st and me, " she sai d.
" No, " he answer ed qui et l y, " I don' t . "
" I t hi nk you shoul d abandon t he i l l usi on of your own per f ect i on, whi ch you
know f ul l wel l t o be an i l l usi on. I t hi nk you shoul d l ear n t o get al ong wi t h
ot her peopl e. The day of t he her o i s past . Thi s i s t he day of humani t y, i n a
much deeper sense t han you i magi ne. Human bei ngs ar e no l onger expect ed t o be
sai nt s nor t o be puni shed f or t hei r si ns. Nobody i s r i ght or wr ong, we' r e al l
i n i t t oget her , we' r e al l humanand t he human i s t he i mper f ect . You' l l gai n
not hi ng t omor r ow by pr ovi ng t hat t hey' r e wr ong. You ought t o gi ve i n wi t h
good gr ace, si mpl y because i t ' s t he pr act i cal t hi ng t o do. You ought t o keep
si l ent , pr eci sel y because t hey' r e wr ong. They' l l appr eci at e i t . Make
concessi ons f or ot her s and t hey' l l make concessi ons f or you. Li ve and l et
l i ve. Gi ve and t ake. Gi ve i n and t ake i n. That ' s t he pol i cy of our ageand
i t ' s t i me you accept ed i t . Don' t t el l me you' r e t oo good f or i t . You know
t hat you' r e not . You know t hat I know i t . "
The l ook of hi s eyes, hel d r apt l y st i l l upon some poi nt i n space, was not
i n answer t o her wor ds; i t was i n answer t o a man' s voi ce sayi ng t o hi m, " Do
you t hi nk t hat what you' r e f aci ng i s mer el y a conspi r acy t o sei ze your
weal t h? You, who know t he sour ce of weal t h, shoul d know i t ' s much mor e and
much wor se t han t hat . "
He t ur ned t o l ook at Li l l i an. He was seei ng t he f ul l ext ent of her
f ai l ur ei n t he i mmensi t y of hi s own i ndi f f er ence. The dr oni ng st r eamof her
i nsul t s was l i ke t he sound of a di st ant r i vet i ng machi ne, a l ong, i mpot ent
pr essur e t hat r eached not hi ng wi t hi n hi m. He had hear d her st udi ed r emi nder s
of hi s gui l t on ever y eveni ng he had spent at home i n t he past t hr ee mont hs.
But gui l t had been t he one emot i on he had f ound hi msel f unabl e t o f eel . The
puni shment she had want ed t o i nf l i ct on hi mwas t he t or t ur e of shame; what
she had i nf l i ct ed was t he t or t ur e of bor edom.
He r emember ed hi s br i ef gl i mpseon t hat mor ni ng i n t he Wayne Fal kl and
Hot el of a f l aw i n her scheme of puni shment , whi ch he had not exami ned. Now
he st at ed i t t o hi msel f f or t he f i r st t i me. She want ed t o f or ce upon hi mt he
suf f er i ng of di shonor but hi s own sense of honor was her onl y weapon of
enf or cement . She want ed t o wr est f r omhi man acknowl edgment of hi s mor al
depr avi t ybut onl y hi s own mor al r ect i t ude coul d at t ach si gni f i cance t o such
a ver di ct . She want ed t o i nj ur e hi mby her cont empt but he coul d not be
i nj ur ed, unl ess he r espect ed her j udgment . She want ed t o puni sh hi mf or t he
pai n he had caused her and she hel d her pai n as a gun ai med at hi m, as i f she
wi shed t o ext or t hi s agony at t he poi nt of hi s pi t y. But her onl y t ool was
hi s own benevol ence, hi s concer n f or her , hi s compassi on. Her onl y power was
t he power of hi s own vi r t ues. What i f he chose t o wi t hdr aw i t ?
An i ssue of gui l t , he t hought , had t o r est on hi s own accept ance of t he
code of j ust i ce t hat pr onounced hi mgui l t y. He di d not accept i t ; he never
had. Hi s vi r t ues, al l t he vi r t ues she needed t o achi eve hi s puni shment , came
f r omanot her code and l i ved by anot her st andar d.
He f el t no gui l t , no shame, no r egr et , no di shonor . He f el t no concer n f or
any ver di ct she chose t o pass upon hi m: he had l ost r espect f or her j udgment
l ong ago. And t he sol e chai n st i l l hol di ng hi mwas onl y a l ast r emnant of
pi t y.
But what was t he code on whi ch she act ed? What sor t of code per mi t t ed t he
concept of a puni shment t hat r equi r ed t he vi ct i m' s own vi r t ue as t he f uel t o
make i t wor k? A codehe t hought whi ch woul d dest r oy onl y t hose who t r i ed t o
obser ve i t ; a puni shment , f r omwhi ch onl y t he honest woul d suf f er , whi l e t he
di shonest woul d escape unhur t . Coul d one concei ve of an i nf amy l ower t han t o
equat e vi r t ue wi t h pai n, t o make vi r t ue, not vi ce, t he sour ce and mot i ve
power of suf f er i ng? I f he wer e t he ki nd of r ot t er she was st r uggl i ng t o make
hi mbel i eve he was, t hen no i ssue of hi s honor and hi s mor al wor t h woul d
mat t er t o hi m. I f he wasn' t , t hen what was t he nat ur e of her at t empt ?
To count upon hi s vi r t ue and use i t as an i nst r ument of t or t ur e, t o
pr act i ce bl ackmai l wi t h t he vi ct i m' s gener osi t y as sol e means of ext or t i on,
t o accept t he gi f t of a man' s good wi l l and t ur n i t i nt o a t ool f or t he
gi ver ' s dest r uct i on . . . he sat ver y st i l l , cont empl at i ng t he f or mul a of so
monst r ous an evi l t hat he was abl e t o name i t , but not t o bel i eve i t
possi bl e.
He sat ver y st i l l , hel d by t he hammer i ng of a si ngl e quest i on: Di d Li l l i an
know t he exact nat ur e of her scheme?was i t a consci ous pol i cy, devi sed wi t h
f ul l awar eness of i t s meani ng? He shudder ed; he di d not hat e her enough t o
bel i eve i t .
He l ooked at her . She was absor bed, at t he moment , i n t he t ask of cut t i ng
a pl umpuddi ng t hat st ood as a mount of bl ue f l ame on a si l ver pl at t er bef or e
her , i t s gl ow danci ng over her f ace and her l aughi ng mout hshe was pl ungi ng a
si l ver kni f e i nt o t he f l ame, wi t h a pr act i ced, gr acef ul cur ve of her ar m. She
had met al l i c l eaves i n t he r ed, gol d and br own col or s of aut umn scat t er ed
over one shoul der of her bl ack vel vet gown; t hey gl i t t er ed i n t he
candl el i ght .
He coul d not get r i d of t he i mpr essi on, whi ch he had kept r ecei vi ng and
r ej ect i ng f or t hr ee mont hs, t hat her vengeance was not a f or mof despai r , as
he had supposedt he i mpr essi on, whi ch he r egar ded as i nconcei vabl e, t hat she
was enj oyi ng i t . He coul d f i nd no t r ace of pai n i n her manner . She had an ai r
of conf i dence new t o her . She seemed t o be at home i n her house f or t he f i r st
t i me. Even t hough ever yt hi ng wi t hi n t he house was of her own choi ce and
t ast e, she had al ways seemed t o act as t he br i ght , ef f i ci ent , r esent f ul
manager of a hi gh- cl ass hot el , who keeps smi l i ng i n bi t t er amusement at her
posi t i on of i nf er i or i t y t o t he owner s. The amusement r emai ned, but t he
bi t t er ness was gone. She had not gai ned wei ght , but her f eat ur es had l ost
t hei r del i cat e shar pness i n a bl ur r i ng, sof t eni ng l ook of sat i sf act i on; even
her voi ce sounded as i f i t had gr own pl ump.
He di d not hear what she was sayi ng; she was l aughi ng i n t he l ast f l i cker
of t he bl ue f l ames, whi l e he sat wei ghi ng t he quest i on: Di d she know? He f el t
cer t ai n t hat he had di scover ed a secr et much gr eat er t han t he pr obl emof hi s
mar r i age, t hat he had gr asped t he f or mul a of a pol i cy pr act i ced mor e wi del y
t hr oughout t he wor l d t han he dar ed t o cont empl at e at t he moment . But t o
convi ct a human bei ng of t hat pr act i ce was a ver di ct of i r r evocabl e
damnat i on, and he knew t hat he woul d not bel i eve i t of anyone, so l ong as t he
possi bi l i t y of a doubt r emai ned.
Nohe t hought , l ooki ng at Li l l i an, wi t h t he l ast ef f or t of hi s gener osi t y
he woul d not bel i eve i t of her . I n t he name of what ever gr ace and pr i de she
possessedi n t he name of such moment s when he had seen a smi l e of j oy on her
f ace, t he smi l e of a l i vi ng bei ngi n t he name of t he br i ef shadow of l ove he
had once f el t f or her he woul d not pr onounce upon her a ver di ct of t ot al
evi l .
The but t er sl i pped a pl at e of pl umpuddi ng i n f r ont of hi m, and he hear d
Li l l i an' s voi ce: " Wher e have you been f or t he l ast f i ve mi nut es, Henr yor i s
i t f or t he l ast cent ur y? You haven' t answer ed me. You haven' t hear d a wor d I
sai d. "
" I hear d i t , " he answer ed qui et l y. " I don' t know what you' r e t r yi ng t o
accompl i sh. "
" What a quest i on! " sai d hi s mot her . " I sn' t t hat j ust l i ke a man?
She' s t r yi ng t o save you f r omgoi ng t o j ai l t hat ' s what she' s t r yi ng t o
accompl i sh. "
That coul d be t r ue, he t hought ; per haps, by t he r easoni ng of some cr ude,
chi l di sh cowar di ce, t he mot i ve of t hei r mal i ce was a desi r e t o pr ot ect hi m,
t o br eak hi mdown i nt o t he saf et y of a compr omi se. I t ' s possi bl e, he t hought
but knew t hat he di d not bel i eve i t .
" You' ve al ways been unpopul ar , " sai d Li l l i an, " and i t ' s mor e t han a mat t er
of any one par t i cul ar i ssue. I t ' s t hat unyi el di ng, i nt r act abl e at t i t ude of
your s. The men who' r e goi ng t o t r y you, know what you' r e t hi nki ng. That ' s why
t hey' l l cr ack down on you, whi l e t hey' d l et anot her man of f . "
" Why, no. I don' t t hi nk t hey know what I ' mt hi nki ng. That ' s what I have t o
l et t hemknow t omor r ow. "
" Unl ess you show t hemt hat you' r e wi l l i ng t o gi ve i n and co- oper at e, you
won' t have a chance. You' ve been t oo har d t o deal wi t h. "
" No. I ' ve been t oo easy. "
" But i f t hey put you i n j ai l , " sai d hi s mot her , " what ' s goi ng t o happen t o
your f ami l y? Have you t hought of t hat ?"
" No. I haven' t . "
" Have you t hought of t he di sgr ace you' l l br i ng upon us?"
" Mot her , do you under st and t he i ssue i n t hi s case?"
" No, I don' t and I - don' t want t o under st and. I t ' s al l di r t y busi ness and
di r t y pol i t i cs. Al l busi ness i s j ust di r t y pol i t i cs and al l pol i t i cs i s j ust
di r t y busi ness. I never di d want t o under st and any of i t . I don' t car e who' s
r i ght or wr ong, but what I t hi nk a man ought t o t hi nk of f i r st i s hi s f ami l y.
Don' t you know what t hi s wi l l do t o us?"
" No, Mot her , I don' t know or car e. "
Hi s mot her l ooked at hi m, aghast .
" Wel l , I t hi nk you have a ver y pr ovi nci al at t i t ude, al l of you, " sai d
Phi l i p suddenl y. " Nobody her e seems t o be concer ned wi t h t he wi der , soci al
aspect s of t he case. I don' t agr ee wi t h you, Li l l i an. I don' t see why you say
t hat t hey' r e pul l i ng some sor t of r ot t en t r i ck on Henr y and t hat he' s i n t he
r i ght . I t hi nk he' s gui l t y as hel l . Mot her , I can expl ai n t he i ssue t o you
ver y si mpl y. Ther e' s not hi ng unusual about i t , t he cour t s ar e f ul l of cases
of t hi s ki nd. Busi nessmen ar e t aki ng advant age of t he nat i onal emer gency i n
or der t o make money. They br eak t he r egul at i ons whi ch pr ot ect t he common
wel f ar e of al l f or t he sake of t hei r own per sonal gai n. They' r e pr of i t eer s of
t he bl ack mar ket who gr ow r i ch by def r audi ng t he poor of t hei r r i ght f ul
shar e, at a t i me of desper at e shor t age. They pur sue a r ut hl ess, gr aspi ng,
gr abbi ng, ant i soci al pol i cy, based on not hi ng but pl ai n, sel f i sh gr eed. I t ' s
no use pr et endi ng about i t , we al l know i t and I t hi nk i t ' s cont empt i bl e. "
He spoke i n a car el ess, of f hand manner , as i f expl ai ni ng t he obvi ous t o a
gr oup of adol escent s; hi s t one conveyed t he assur ance of a man who knows t hat
t he mor al gr ound of hi s st and i s not open t o quest i on.
Rear den sat l ooki ng at hi m, as i f st udyi ng an obj ect seen f or t he f i r st
t i me. Somewher e deep i n Rear den' s mi nd, as a st eady, gent l e, i nexor abl e beat ,
was a man' s voi ce, sayi ng: By what r i ght ?by what code?
by what st andar d?
" Phi l i p, " he sai d, not r ai si ng hi s voi ce, " say any of t hat agai n and you
wi l l f i nd your sel f out i n t he st r eet , r i ght now, wi t h t he sui t you' ve got on
your back, wi t h what ever change you' ve got i n your pocket and wi t h not hi ng
el se. "
. He hear d no answer , no sound, no movement . He not ed t hat t he st i l l ness
of t he t hr ee bef or e hi mhad no el ement of ast oni shment . The l ook of shock on
t hei r f aces was not t he shock of peopl e at t he sudden expl osi on of a bomb,
but t he shock of peopl e who had known t hat t hey Wer e pl ayi ng wi t h a l i ght ed
f use. Ther e wer e no out cr i es, no pr ot est s, no quest i ons; t hey knew t hat he
meant i t and t hey knew ever yt hi ng i t meant . A di m, si ckeni ng f eel i ng t ol d hi m
t hat t hey had known i t l ong bef or e he di d.
" You . . . you woul dn' t t hr ow your own br ot her out on t he st r eet , woul d
you?" hi s mot her sai d at l ast ; i t was not a demand, but a pl ea.
" I woul d. "
" But he' s your br ot her . . . Doesn' t t hat mean anyt hi ng t o you?"
" No. "
" Maybe he goes a bi t t oo f ar at t i mes, but i t ' s j ust l oose t al k, i t ' s j ust
t hat moder n j abber , he doesn' t know what he' s sayi ng. "
" Then l et hi ml ear n. "
" Don' t be har d on hi m. . . he' s younger t han you and . . . and weaker . He
. . . Henr y, don' t l ook at me t hat way! I ' ve never seen you l ook l i ke t hat . .
. . You shoul dn' t f r i ght en hi m. You know t hat he needs you. "
" Does he know i t ?"
" You can' t be har d on a man who needs you, i t wi l l pr ey on your consci ence
f or t he r est of your l i f e. "
" I t won' t . "
" You' ve got t o be ki nd, Henr y. "
" I ' mnot . "
" You' ve got t o have some pi t y. "
" I haven' t . "
" A good man knows how t o f or gi ve. "
" I don' t . "
" You woul dn' t want me t o t hi nk t hat you' r e sel f i sh, "
" I am. "
Phi l i p' s eyes wer e dar t i ng f r omone t o t he ot her . He l ooked l i ke a man who
had f el t cer t ai n t hat he st ood on sol i d gr ani t e and had suddenl y di scover ed
t hat i t was t hi n i ce, now cr acki ng open al l ar ound hi m.
" But I . . . " he t r i ed, and st opped; hi s voi ce sounded l i ke st eps t est i ng
t he i ce. " But don' t I have any f r eedomof speech?"
" I n your own house. Not i n mi ne. "
" Don' t I have a r i ght t o my own i deas?"
" At your own expense. Not at mi ne. "
" Don' t you t ol er at e any di f f er ences of opi ni on?"
" Not when I ' mpayi ng t he bi l l s. "
" I sn' t t her e anyt hi ng i nvol ved but money?"
" Yes. The f act t hat i t ' s my money. "
" Don' t you want t o consi der any hi . . . " he was goi ng t o say " hi gher , "
but changed hi s mi nd" any ot her aspect s?"
" No. "
" But I ' mnot your sl ave. "
" AmI your s?"
" I don' t know what you" He st opped; he knew what was meant .
" No, " sai d Rear den, " you' r e not my sl ave. You' r e f r ee t o wal k out of her e
any t i me you choose. "
" I . . . I ' mnot speaki ng of t hat . "
" I am. "
" I don' t under st and i t . . . "
my pol i t i cal vi ews. You' ve never " Don' t you?"
" You' ve al ways known my .
obj ect ed bef or e. "
" That ' s t r ue, " sai d Rear den gr avel y. " Per haps I owe you an expl anat i on, i f
I have mi sl ed you. I ' ve t r i ed never t o r emi nd you t hat you' r e r i vi ng on my
char i t y. I t hought t hat i t was your pl ace t o r emember i t .
I t hought t hat any human bei ng who accept s t he hel p of anot her , knows t hat
good wi l l i s t he gi ver ' s onl y mot i ve and t hat good wi l l i s t he payment he
owes i n r et ur n. But I see t hat I was wr ong. You wer e get t i ng your f ood
unear ned and you concl uded t hat af f ect i on di d not have t o be ear ned, ei t her .
You concl uded t hat I was t he saf est per son i n t he wor l d f or you t o spi t on,
pr eci sel y because I hel d you by t he t hr oat . You concl uded t hat I woul dn' t
want t o r emi nd you of i t and t hat I woul d be t i ed by t he f ear of hur t i ng your
f eel i ngs. Al l r i ght , l et ' s get i t st r ai ght : you' r e an obj ect of char i t y who' s
exhaust ed hi s cr edi t l ong ago.
What ever af f ect i on I mi ght have f el t f or you once, i s gone. I haven' t t he
sl i ght est i nt er est i n you, your f at e or your f ut ur e. I haven' t any r eason
what ever f or wi shi ng t o f eed you. I f you l eave my house, i t won' t make any
di f f er ence t o me whet her you st ar ve or not . Now t hat i s your posi t i on her e
and I wi l l expect you t o r emember i t , i f you wi sh t o st ay. I f not , t hen get
out . "
But f or t he movement of dr awi ng hi s head a l i t t l e i nt o hi s shoul der s,
Phi l i p showed no r eact i on. " Don' t i magi ne t hat I enj oy l i vi ng her e, " he sai d;
hi s voi ce was l i f el ess and shr i l l . " I f you t hi nk I ' mhappy, you' r e mi st aken.
I ' d gi ve anyt hi ng t o get away. " The wor ds per t ai ned t o def i ance, but t he
voi ce had a cur i ousl y caut i ous qual i t y. " I f t hat i s how you f eel about i t , i t
woul d be best f or me t o l eave. " The wor ds wer e a st at ement , but t he voi ce put
a quest i on mar k at t he end of i t and wai t ed; t her e was no answer . " You
needn' t wor r y about my f ut ur e. I don' t have t o ask: f avor s of anybody. I can
t ake car e of mysel f al l r i ght . " The wor ds wer e addr essed t o Rear den, but t he
eyes wer e l ooki ng at hi s mot her ; she di d not speak; she was af r ai d t o move.
" I ' ve al ways want ed t o be on my own. I ' ve al ways want ed t o l i ve i n New Yor k,
near al l my f r i ends. " The voi ce sl owed down and added i n an i mper sonal ,
r ef l ect i ve manner , as i f t he wor ds wer e not addr essed t o anyone, " Of cour se,
I ' d have t he pr obl emof mai nt ai ni ng a cer t ai n soci al posi t i on . . . i t ' s not
my f aul t i f I ' l l be embar r assed by a f ami l y name associ at ed wi t h a
mi l l i onai r e. . . . I woul d need enough money f or a year or t wo . . . t o
est abl i sh mysel f i n a manner sui t abl e t o my"
" You won' t get i t f r omme. "
" I wasn' t aski ng you f or i t , was 1? Don' t i magi ne t hat I coul dn' t get i t
somewher e el se, i f I want ed t o! Don' t i magi ne t hat I coul dn' t l eave!
I ' d go i n a mi nut e, i f I had onl y mysel f t o t hi nk about . But Mot her needs
me, and i f I deser t ed her "
" Don' t expl ai n. "
" And besi des, you mi sunder st ood me, Henr y. I haven' t sai d anyt hi ng t o
i nsul t you. I wasn' t speaki ng i n any per sonal way. I was onl y di scussi ng t he
gener al pol i t i cal pi ct ur e f r oman abst r act soci ol ogi cal vi ewpoi nt whi ch"
" Don' t expl ai n, " sai d Rear den. He was l ooki ng at Phi l i p' s f ace. I t was
hal f - l ower ed, i t s eyes l ooki ng up at hi m. The eyes wer e l i f el ess, as i f t hey
had wi t nessed not hi ng; t hey hel d no spar k of exci t ement , no per sonal
sensat i on, nei t her of def i ance nor of r egr et , nei t her of shame nor of
suf f er i ng; t hey wer e f i l my oval s t hat hel d no r esponse t o r eal i t y, no at t empt
t o under st and i t , t o wei gh i t , t o r each some ver di ct of j ust i ce oval s t hat
hel d not hi ng but a dul l , st i l l , mi ndl ess hat r ed. " Don' t expl ai n. J ust keep
your mout h shut . "
The r evul si on t hat made Rear den t ur n hi s f ace away cont ai ned a spasmof
pi t y. Ther e was an i nst ant when he want ed t o sei ze hi s br ot her ' s shoul der s,
t o shake hi m, t o cr y: How coul d you do t hi s t o your sel f ? How di d you come t o
a st age wher e t hi s i s al l t hat ' s l ef t of you? Why di d you l et t he wonder f ul
f act of your own exi st ence go by?
. . . He l ooked away. He knew i t was usel ess.
He not ed, i n wear y cont empt , t hat t he t hr ee at t he t abl e r emai ned si l ent .
Thr ough al l t he year s past , hi s consi der at i on f or t hemhad br ought hi m
not hi ng but t hei r mal i ci ousl y r i ght eous r epr oaches. Wher e was t hei r
r i ght eousness now? Now was t he t i me t o st and on t hei r code of j ust i cei f
j ust i ce had been any par t of t hei r code. Why di dn' t t hey t hr ow at hi mal l
t hose accusat i ons of cr uel t y and sel f i shness, whi ch he had come t o accept as
t he et er nal chor us t o hi s l i f e? What had per mi t t ed t hemt o do i t f or year s?
He knew t hat t he wor ds he hear d i n hi s mi nd wer e t he key t o t he answer : The
sanct i on of t he vi ct i m.
" Don' t l et ' s quar r el , " sai d hi s mot her , her voi ce cheer l ess and vague.
" I t ' s Thanksgi vi ng Day. "
When he l ooked at Li l l i an, he caught a gl ance t hat made hi mcer t ai n she
had wat ched hi mf or a l ong t i me: i t s qual i t y was pani c.
He got up. " You wi l l pl ease excuse me now, " he sai d t o t he t abl e at l ar ge.
" Wher e ar e you goi ng?" asked Li l l i an shar pl y.
He st ood l ooki ng at her f or a del i ber at e moment , as i f t o conf i r mt he
meani ng she woul d r ead i n hi s answer : " To New Yor k. "
She j umped t o her f eet . " Toni ght ?"
" Now, "
" You can' t go t o New Yor k t oni ght ! " Her voi ce was not l oud, but i t had t he
i mper i ous hel pl essness of a shr i ek. " Thi s i s not t he t i me when you can af f or d
i t . When you can af f or d t o deser t your f ami l y, I mean.
You ought t o t hi nk about t he mat t er of cl ean hands. You' r e not i n a
posi t i on t o per mi t your sel f anyt hi ng whi ch you know t o be depr avi t y. "
By what code?t hought Rear denby what st andar d?
" Why do you wi sh t o go t o New Yor k t oni ght ?"
" I t hi nk, Li l l i an, f or t he same r eason t hat makes you wi sh t o st op me. "
" Tomor r ow i s your t r i al . "
" That i s what I mean. "
He made a movement t o t ur n, and she r ai sed her voi ce: " I don' t want you t o
go! " He smi l ed. I t was t he f i r st t i me he had smi l ed at her i n t he past t hr ee
mont hs; i t was not t he ki nd of smi l e she coul d car e t o see. " I f or bi d you t o
l eave us t oni ght ! "
He t ur ned and l ef t t he r oom.
Si t t i ng at t he wheel of hi s car , wi t h t he gl assy, f r ozen r oad f l yi ng at
hi s f ace and down under t he wheel s at si xt y mi l es an hour , he l et t he t hought
of hi s f ami l y dr op away f r omhi mand t he vi si on of t hei r f aces went r ol l i ng
back i nt o t he abyss of speed t hat swal l owed t he bar e Tr ees and l onel y
st r uct ur es of t he r oadsi de. Ther e was l i t t l e t r af f i c, and f ew l i ght s i n t he
di st ant cl ust er s of t he t owns he passed; t he empt i ness of i nact i vi t y was t he
onl y si gn of a hol i day. A hazy gl ow, r ust ed by f r ost , f l ashed above t he r oof
of a f act or y once i n a r ar e whi l e, and a col d wi nd shr i eked t hr ough t he
j oi nt s of hi s car , beat i ng t he canvas t op agai nst t he met al f r ame.
By some di msense of cont r ast , whi ch he di d not def i ne, t he t hought of hi s
f ami l y was r epl aced by t he t hought of hi s encount er wi t h t he Wet Nur se, t he
Washi ngt on boy of hi s mi l l s.
At t he t i me of hi s i ndi ct ment , he had di scover ed t hat t he boy had known
about hi s deal wi t h Danagger , yet had not r epor t ed i t t o anyone.
" Why di dn' t you i nf or myour f r i ends about me?" he had asked.
The boy had answer ed br usquel y, not l ooki ng at hi m, " Di dn' t want t o. "
" I t was par t of your j ob t o wat ch pr eci sel y f or t hi ngs of t hat ki nd,
wasn' t i t ?"
" Yeah. "
" Besi des, your f r i ends woul d have been del i ght ed t o hear i t . "
" I knew. "
" Di dn' t you know what a val uabl e pi ece of i nf or mat i on i t was and what a
st upendous t r ade you coul d have pul l ed wi t h t hose f r i ends of your s i n
Washi ngt on whomyou of f er ed t o me oncer emember ?t he f r i ends who al ways
' occasi on expenses' ?" The boy had not answer ed.
" I t coul d have made your car eer at t he ver y t op l evel . Don' t t el l me t hat
you di dn' t know i t . "
" I knew i t . "
" Then why di dn' t you make use of i t ?"
" I di dn' t want t o. "
" Why not ?"
" Don' t know. "
The boy had st ood, gl uml y avoi di ng Rear den' s eyes, as i f t r yi ng t o avoi d
somet hi ng i ncompr ehensi bl e wi t hi n hi msel f . Rear den had l aughed.
" Li st en, Non- Absol ut e, you' r e pl ayi ng wi t h f i r e. Bet t er go and mur der
somebody f ast , bef or e you l et i t get yout hat r eason t hat st opped you f r om
t ur ni ng i nf or mer or el se i t wi l l bl ast your car eer t o hel l . "
The boy had not answer ed.
Thi s mor ni ng, Rear den had gone t o hi s of f i ce as usual , even t hough t he
r est of t he of f i ce bui l di ng was cl osed. At l unch t i me, he had st opped at t he
r ol l i ng mi l l s and had been ast oni shed t o f i nd t he Wet Nur se st andi ng t her e,
al one i n a cor ner , i gnor ed by ever ybody, wat chi ng t he wor k wi t h an ai r of
chi l di sh enj oyment .
" What ar e you doi ng her e t oday?" Rear den had asked. " Don' t you know i t ' s a
hol i day?"
" Oh, I l et t he gi r l s of f , but I j ust came i n t o f i ni sh some busi ness. "
" What busi ness?"
" Oh, l et t er s and . . . Oh, hel l , I si gned t hr ee l et t er s and shar pened my
penci l s, I know I di dn' t have t o do i t t oday, but I had not hi ng t o do at home
and . . . I get l onesome away f r omt hi s pl ace. "
" Don' t you have any f ami l y?"
" No . . . not t o speak of . What about you, Mr . Rear den? Don' t you have
any?"
" I guessnot t o speak of . "
" I l i ke t hi s pl ace. I l i ke t o hang ar ound. . . . You know, Mr . Rear den,
what I st udi ed t o be was a met al l ur gi st . "
Wal ki ng away, Rear den had t ur ned t o gl ance back and had caught t he Wet
Nur se l ooki ng af t er hi mas a boy woul d l ook at t he her o of hi s chi l dhood' s
f avor i t e advent ur e st or y. God hel p t he poor l i t t l e bast ar d!
he had t hought .
God hel p t hemal l he t hought , dr i vi ng t hr ough t he dar k st r eet s of a smal l
t own, bor r owi ng, i n cont empt uous pi t y, t he wor ds of t hei r bel i ef whi ch he had
never shar ed. He saw newspaper s di spl ayed on met al st ands, wi t h t he bl ack
l et t er s of headl i nes scr eami ng t o empt y cor ner s: " Rai l r oad Di sast er . " He had
hear d t he news on t he r adi o, t hat af t er noon: t her e had been a wr eck on t he
mai n l i ne of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , near Rockl and, Wyomi ng; a spl i t r ai l
had sent a f r ei ght t r ai n cr ashi ng over t he edge of a canyon. Wr ecks on t he
Taggar t mai n l i ne wer e becomi ng mor e f r equent t he t r ack was wear i ng out t he
t r ack whi ch, l ess t han ei ght een mont hs ago, Dagny was pl anni ng t o r ebui l d,
pr omi si ng hi ma j our ney f r omcoast t o coast on hi s own Met al .
She had spent a year , pi cki ng wor n r ai l f r omabandoned br anches t o pat ch
t he r ai l of t he mai n l i ne. She had spent mont hs f i ght i ng t he men of J i m' s
Boar d of Di r ect or s, who sai d t hat t he nat i onal emer gency was onl y t empor ar y
and a t r ack t hat had l ast ed f or t en year s coul d wel l l ast f or anot her wi nt er ,
unt i l spr i ng, when condi t i ons woul d i mpr ove, as Mr . Wesl ey Mouch had
pr omi sed. Thr ee weeks ago, she had made t hemaut hor i ze t he pur chase of si xt y
t housand t ons of new r ai l ; i t coul d do no mor e t han make a f ew pat ches acr oss
t he cont i nent i n t he wor st di vi si ons, but i t was al l she had been abl e t o
obt ai n f r omt hem.
She had had t o wr ench t he money out of men deaf wi t h pani c: t he f r ei ght
r evenues wer e f al l i ng at such a r at e t hat t he men of t he Boar d had begun t o
t r embl e, st ar i ng at J i m' s i dea of t he most pr osper ous year i n Taggar t
hi st or y. She had had t o or der st eel r ai l , t her e was no hope of obt ai ni ng an
" emer gency need" per mi ssi on t o buy Rear den Met al and no t i me t o beg f or i t .
Rear den l ooked away f r omt he headl i nes t o t he gl ow at t he edge of t he sky,
whi ch was t he ci t y of New Yor k f ar ahead; hi s hands t i ght ened on t he wheel a
l i t t l e.
I t was hal f past ni ne when he r eached t he ci t y. Dagny' s apar t ment was
dar k, when he l et hi msel f i n wi t h hi s key. He pi cked up t he t el ephone and
cal l ed her of f i ce. Her own voi ce answer ed: " Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . "
" Don' t you know i t ' s a hol i day?" he asked.
" Hel l o, Hank. Rai l r oads have no hol i days. Wher e ar e you cal l i ng f r om?"
" Your pl ace. "
" I ' l l be t hr ough i n anot her hal f - hour . "
" I t ' s al l r i ght . St ay t her e. I ' l l come f or you. "
The ant er oomof her of f i ce was dar k, when he ent er ed, except f or t he
l i ght ed gl ass cubbyhol e of Eddi e Wi l l er s. Eddi e was cl osi ng hi s desk, get t i ng
r eady t o l eave. He l ooked at Rear den, i n puzzl ed ast oni shment .
" Good eveni ng, Eddi e. What i s i t t hat keeps you peopl e so busy
t he Rockl and wr eck?"
Eddi e si ghed. " Yes, Mr . Rear den. "
" That ' s what I want t o see Dagny about about your r ai l . "
" She' s st i l l her e. "
He st ar t ed t owar d her door , when Eddi e cal l ed af t er hi mhesi t ant l y, " Mr .
Rear den . . . "
He st opped. " Yes?"
" I want ed t o say . . . because t omor r ow i s your t r i al . . . and what ever
t hey do t o you i s supposed t o be i n t he name of al l t he peopl e . . . I j ust
want ed t o say t hat I . . . t hat i t won' t be i n my name . . .
even i f t her e' s not hi ng I can do about i t , except t o t el l you . . . even
i f I know t hat t hat doesn' t mean anyt hi ng. "
" I t means much mor e t han you suspect . Per haps mor e t han any of us suspect .
Thanks, Eddi e. "
Dagny gl anced up f r omher desk, when Rear den ent er ed her of f i ce; he saw
her wat chi ng hi mas he appr oached and he saw t he l ook of wear i ness
di sappear i ng f r omher eyes. He sat down on t he edge of t he desk. She l eaned
back, br ushi ng a st r and of hai r of f her f ace, her shoul der s r el axi ng under
her t hi n whi t e bl ouse.
" Dagny, t her e' s somet hi ng I want t o t el l you about t he r ai l t hat you
or der ed. I want you t o know t hi s t oni ght . "
She was wat chi ng hi mat t ent i vel y; t he expr essi on of hi s f ace pul l ed her s
i nt o t he same l ook of qui et l y sol emn t ensi on.
" I amsupposed t o del i ver t o Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , on Febr uar y
' f i f t eent h, si xt y t housand t ons of r ai l , whi ch i s t o gi ve you t hr ee hundr ed
mi l es of t r ack. You wi l l r ecei vef or t he same sumof moneyei ght y t housand
t ons of r ai l , whi ch wi l l gi ve you f i ve hundr ed mi l es of t r ack.
You know what mat er i al i s cheaper and l i ght er t han st eel . Your r ai l wi l l
not be st eel , i t wi l l be Rear den Met al . Don' t ar gue, obj ect or agr ee.
I amnot aski ng f or your consent . You ar e not supposed t o consent or t o
know anyt hi ng about i t . I amdoi ng t hi s and I al one wi l l be r esponsi bl e.
We wi l l wor k i t so t hat t hose on your st af f who' l l know t hat you' ve
or der ed st eel , won' t know t hat you' ve r ecei ved Rear den Met al , and t hose
who' l l know t hat you' ve r ecei ved Rear den Met al , won' t know t hat you had no
per mi t t o buy i t . We wi l l t angl e t he bookkeepi ng i n such a way t hat i f t he
t hi ng shoul d ever bl ow up, nobody wi l l be abl e t o pi n anyt hi ng on anybody,
except on me. They mi ght suspect t hat I br i bed someone on your st af f , or t hey
mi ght suspect t hat you wer e hi on i t , but t hey won' t be abl e t o pr ove i t . I
want you t o gi ve me your wor d t hat you wi l l never admi t i t , no mat t er what
happens. I t ' s my Met al , and i f t her e ar e any chances t o t ake, i t ' s I who' l l
t ake t hem. I have been pl anni ng t hi s f r omt he day I r ecei ved your or der . I
have or der ed t he copper f or i t , f r oma sour ce whi ch wi l l not bet r ay me. I di d
not i nt end t o t el l you about i t t i l l l at er , but I changed my mi nd. I want you
t o know i t t oni ght because I amgoi ng on t r i al t omor r ow f or t he same ki nd of
cr i me. "
She had l i st ened wi t hout movi ng. At hi s l ast sent ence, he saw a f ai nt
cont r act i on of her cheeks and l i ps; i t was not qui t e a smi l e, but i t gave hi m
her whol e answer : pai n, admi r at i on, under st andi ng.
Then he saw her eyes becomi ng sof t er , mor e pai nf ul l y, danger ousl y al i vehe
t ook her wr i st , as i f t he t i ght gr asp of hi s f i nger s and t he sever i t y of hi s
gl ance wer e t o gi ve her t he suppor t she neededand he sai d st er nl y, " Don' t
t hank met hi s i s not a f avor I amdoi ng i t i n or der t o be abl e t o bear my
wor k, or el se I ' l l br eak l i ke Ken Danagger . "
She whi sper ed, " AH r i ght , Hank, I won' t t hank you, " t he t one of her voi ce
and t he l ook of her eyes maki ng i t a l i e by t he t i me i t was ut t er ed.
He smi l ed. " Gi ve me t he wor d I asked. "
She i ncl i ned her head. " I gi ve you my wor d. " He r el eased her wr i st .
She added, not r ai si ng her head, " The onl y t hi ng I ' l l say i s t hat i f t hey
sent ence you t o j ai l t omor r ow, I ' l l qui t wi t hout wai t i ng f or any dest r oyer t o
pr ompt me. "
" You won' t . And I don' t t hi nk t hey' l l sent ence me t o j ai l . I t hi nk t hey' l l
l et me of f ver y l i ght l y. I have a hypot hesi s about i t I ' l l expl ai n i t t o you
af t er war ds, when I ' ve put i t t o t he t est . "
" What hypot hesi s?"
" Who i s J ohn Gal t ?" He smi l ed, and st ood up. " That ' s al l . We won' t t al k
any f ur t her about my t r i al , t oni ght . You don' t happen t o have anyt hi ng t o
dr i nk i n your of f i ce, have you?"
" No. But I t hi nk my t r af f i c manager has some sor t of a bar on one shel f of
hi s f i l i ng cl oset . "
" Do you t hi nk you coul d st eal a dr i nk f or me, i f he doesn' t have i t
l ocked?"
" I ' l l t r y. "
He st ood l ooki ng at t he por t r ai t of Nat Taggar t on t he wal l of her of f i ce
t he por t r ai t of a young man wi t h a l i f t ed headunt i l she r et ur ned, br i ngi ng a
bot t l e of br andy and t wo gl asses. He f i l l ed t he gl asses i n si l ence.
" You know, Dagny, Thanksgi vi ng was a hol i day est abl i shed by pr oduct i ve
peopl e t o cel ebr at e t he success of t hei r wor k. "
The movement of hi s ar m, as he r ai sed hi s gl ass, went f r omt he por t r ai t t o
her t o hi msel f t o t he bui l di ngs of t he ci t y beyond t he wi ndow.
For a mont h i n advance, t he peopl e who f i l l ed t he cour t r oomhad been t ol d
by t he pr ess t hat t hey woul d see t he man who was a gr eedy enemy of soci et y;
but t hey had come t o see t he man who had i nvent ed Rear den Met al .
He st ood up, when t he j udges cal l ed upon hi mt o do so. He wor e a gr ay
sui t , he had pal e bl ue eyes and bl ond hai r ; i t was not t he col or s t hat made
hi s f i gur e seemi ci l y i mpl acabl e, i t was t he f act t hat t he sui t had an
expensi ve si mpl i ci t y sel domf l aunt ed t hese days, t hat i t bel onged i n t he
st er nl y l uxur i ous of f i ce of a r i ch cor por at i on, t hat hi s bear i ng came f r oma
ci vi l i zed er a and cl ashed wi t h t he pl ace ar ound hi m.
The cr owd knew f r omt he newspaper s t hat he r epr esent ed t he evi l of
r ut hl ess weal t h; andas t hey pr ai sed t he vi r t ue of chast i t y, t hen r an t o see
any movi e t hat di spl ayed a hal f - naked f emal e on i t s post er sso t hey came t o
see hi m; evi l , at l east , di d not have t he st al e hopel essness of a br omi de
whi ch none bel i eved and none dar ed t o chal l enge. They l ooked at hi mwi t hout
admi r at i onadmi r at i on was a f eel i ng t hey had l ost t he capaci t y t o exper i ence,
l ong ago; t hey l ooked wi t h cur i osi t y and wi t h a di msense of def i ance agai nst
t hose who had t ol d t hemt hat i t was t hei r dut y t o hat e hi m.
A f ew year s ago, t hey woul d have j eer ed at hi s ai r of sel f - conf i dent
weal t h. But t oday, t her e was a sl at e- gr ay sky i n t he wi ndows of t he
cour t r oom, whi ch pr omi sed t he f i r st snowst or mof a l ong, har d wi nt er ; t he
l ast of t he count r y' s oi l was vani shi ng, and t he coal mi nes wer e not abl e t o
keep up wi t h t he hyst er i cal scr ambl e f or wi nt er suppl i es. The cr owd i n t he
cour t r oomr emember ed t hat t hi s was t he case whi ch had cost t hemt he ser vi ces
of Ken Danagger . Ther e wer e r umor s t hat t he out put of t he Danagger Coal
Company had f al l en per cept i bl y wi t hi n one mont h; t he newspaper s sai d t hat i t
was mer el y a mat t er of r eadj ust ment whi l e Danagger ' s cousi n was r eor gani zi ng
t he company he had t aken over . Last week, t he f r ont pages had car r i ed t he
st or y of a cat ast r ophe on t he si t e of a housi ng pr oj ect under const r uct i on:
def ect i ve st eel gi r der s had col l apsed, ki l l i ng f our wor kmen; t he newspaper s
had not ment i oned, but t he cr owd knew, t hat t he gi r der s had come f r omOr r en
Boyl e' s Associ at ed St eel .
They sat i n t he cour t r oomi n heavy si l ence and t hey l ooked at t he t al l ,
gr ay f i gur e, not wi t h hopet hey wer e l osi ng t he capaci t y t o hope but wi t h an
i mpassi ve neut r al i t y spi ked by a f ai nt quest i on mar k; t he quest i on mar k was
pl aced over al l t he pi ous sl ogans t hey had hear d f or year s.
The newspaper s had snar l ed t hat t he cause of t he count r y' s t r oubl es, as
t hi s case demonst r at ed, was t he sel f i sh gr eed of r i ch i ndust r i al i st s; t hat i t
was men l i ke Hank Rear den who wer e t o bl ame f or t he shr i nki ng di et , t he
f al l i ng t emper at ur e and t he cr acki ng r oof s i n t he homes of t he nat i on; t hat
i f i t had not been f or men who br oke r egul at i ons and hamper ed t he
gover nment ' s pl ans, pr osper i t y woul d have been achi eved l ong ago; and t hat a
man l i ke Hank Rear den was pr ompt ed by not hi ng but t he pr of i t mot i ve. Thi s
l ast was st at ed wi t hout expl anat i on or el abor at i on, as i f t he wor ds " pr of i t
mot i ve" wer e t he sel f - evi dent br and of ul t i mat e evi l .
The cr owd r emember ed t hat t hese same newspaper s, l ess t han t wo year s ago,
had scr eamed t hat t he pr oduct i on of Rear den Met al shoul d be f or bi dden,
because i t s pr oducer was endanger i ng peopl e' s l i ves f or t he sake of hi s
gr eed; t hey r emember ed t hat t he man i n gr ay had r i dden i n t he cab of t he
f i r st engi ne t o r un over a t r ack of hi s own Met al ; and t hat he was now on
t r i al f or t he gr eedy cr i me of wi t hhol di ng f r omt he publ i c a l oad of t he Met al
whi ch i t had been hi s gr eedy cr i me t o of f er i n t he publ i c mar ket .
Accor di ng t o t he pr ocedur e est abl i shed by di r ect i ves, cases of t hi s ki nd
wer e not t r i ed by a j ur y, but by a panel of t hr ee j udges appoi nt ed by t he
Bur eau of Economi c Pl anni ng and Nat i onal Resour ces; t he pr ocedur e, t he
di r ect i ves had st at ed, was t o be i nf or mal and democr at i c.
The j udge' s bench had been r emoved f r omt he ol d Phi l adel phi a cour t r oomf or
t hi s occasi on, and r epl aced by a t abl e on a wooden pl at f or m; i t gave t he r oom
an at mospher e suggest i ng t he ki nd of meet i ng wher e a pr esi di ng body put s
somet hi ng over on a ment al l y r et ar ded member shi p.
One of t he j udges, act i ng as pr osecut or , had r ead t he char ges. " You may
now of f er what ever pl ea you wi sh t o make i n your own def ense, "
he announced.
Faci ng t he pl at f or m, hi s voi ce i nf l ect i onl ess and pecul i ar l y cl ear , Hank
Rear den answer ed: " I have no def ense. "
" Do you" The j udge st umbl ed; he had not expect ed i t t o be t hat easy. " Do
you t hr ow your sel f upon t he mer cy of t hi s cour t ?"
" I do not r ecogni ze t hi s cour t ' s r i ght t o t r y me. "
" What ?"
" I do not r ecogni ze t hi s cour t ' s r i ght t o t r y me. "
" But , Mr . Rear den, t hi s i s t he l egal l y appoi nt ed cour t t o t r y t hi s
par t i cul ar cat egor y of cr i me. "
" I do not r ecogni ze my act i on as a cr i me, "
" But you have admi t t ed t hat you have br oken our r egul at i ons cont r ol l i ng
t he sal e of your Met al . "
" I do not r ecogni ze your r i ght t o cont r ol t he sal e of my Met al . "
" I s i t necessar y f or me t o poi nt out t hat your r ecogni t i on was not
r equi r ed?"
" No. I amf ul l y awar e of i t and I amact i ng accor di ngl y. "
He not ed t he st i l l ness of t he r oom. By t he r ul es of t he compl i cat ed
pr et ense whi ch al l t hose peopl e pl ayed f or one anot her ' s benef i t , t hey shoul d
have consi der ed hi s st and as i ncompr ehensi bl e f ol l y; t her e shoul d have been
r ust l es of ast oni shment and der i si on; t her e wer e none; t hey sat st i l l ; t hey
under st ood.
" Do you mean t hat you ar e r ef usi ng t o obey t he l aw?" asked t he j udge.
" No. I amcompl yi ng wi t h t he l awt o t he l et t er . Your l aw hol ds t hat my
l i f e, my wor k and my pr oper t y may be di sposed of wi t hout my consent . Ver y
wel l , you may now di spose of me wi t hout my par t i ci pat i on i n t he mat t er . I
wi l l not pl ay t he par t of def endi ng mysel f , wher e no def ense i s possi bl e, and
I wi l l not si mul at e t he i l l usi on of deal i ng wi t h a t r i bunal of j ust i ce. "
" But , Mr . Rear den, t he l aw pr ovi des speci f i cal l y t hat you ar e t o be gi ven
an oppor t uni t y t o pr esent your si de of t he case and t o def end your sel f . "
" A pr i soner br ought t o t r i al can def end hi msel f onl y i f t her e i s an
obj ect i ve pr i nci pl e of j ust i ce r ecogni zed by hi s j udges, a pr i nci pl e
uphol di ng hi s r i ght s, whi ch t hey may not vi ol at e and whi ch he can i nvoke.
The l aw, by whi ch you ar e t r yi ng me, hol ds t hat t her e ar e no pr i nci pl es,
t hat I have no r i ght s and t hat you may do wi t h me what ever you pl ease. Ver y
wel l . Do i t . "
" Mr . Rear den, t he l aw whi ch you ar e denounci ng i s based on t he hi ghest
pr i nci pl et he pr i nci pl e of t he publ i c good. "
" Who i s t he publ i c? What does i t hol d as i t s good? Ther e was a t i me when
men bel i eved t hat t he good' was a concept t o be def i ned by a code of mor al
val ues and t hat no man had t he r i ght t o seek hi s good t hr ough t he vi ol at i on
of t he r i ght s of anot her . I f i t i s now bel i eved t hat my f el l ow men may
sacr i f i ce me i n any manner t hey pl ease f or t he sake of what ever t hey deemt o
be t hei r own good, i f t hey bel i eve t hat t hey may sei ze my pr oper t y si mpl y
because t hey need i t wel l , so does any bur gl ar . Ther e i s onl y t hi s
di f f er ence: t he bur gl ar does not ask me t o sanct i on hi s act . "
A gr oup of seat s at t he si de of t he cour t r oomwas r eser ved f or t he
pr omi nent vi si t or s who had come f r omNew Yor k t o wi t ness t he t r i al . Dagny sat
mot i onl ess and her f ace showed not hi ng but a sol emn at t ent i on, t he at t ent i on
of l i st eni ng wi t h t he knowl edge t hat t he f l ow of hi s wor ds woul d det er mi ne
t he cour se of her l i f e. Eddi e Wi l l er s sat besi de her . J ames Taggar t had not
come. Paul Lar ki n sat hunched f or war d, hi s f ace t hr ust out , poi nt ed l i ke an
ani mal ' s muzzl e, shar pened by a l ook of f ear now t ur ni ng i nt o mal i ci ous
hat r ed. Mr . Mowen, who sat besi de hi m, was a man of gr eat er i nnocence and
smal l er under st andi ng; hi s f ear was of a si mpl er nat ur e; he l i st ened i n
bewi l der ed i ndi gnat i on and he whi sper ed t o Lar ki n, " Good God, now he' s done
i t ! Now he' l l convi nce t he whol e count r y t hat al l busi nessmen ar e enemi es of
t he publ i c good! "
" Ar e we t o under st and, " asked t he j udge, " t hat you hol d your own i nt er est s
above t he i nt er est s of t he publ i c?"
" I hol d t hat such a quest i on can never ar i se except i n a soci et y of
canni bal s.
" What . . . what do you mean?"
" I hol d t hat t her e i s no cl ash of i nt er est s among men who do not demand
t he unear ned and do not pr act i ce human sacr i f i ces. "
" Ar e we t o under st and t hat i f t he publ i c deems i t necessar y t o cur t ai l
your pr of i t s, you do not r ecogni ze i t s r i ght t o do so?"
" Why, yes, I do. The publ i c may cur t ai l my pr of i t s any t i me i t wi shesby
r ef usi ng t o buy my pr oduct . "
" We ar e speaki ng of . . . ot her met hods. "
" Any ot her met hod of cur t ai l i ng pr of i t s i s t he met hod of l oot er s and I
r ecogni ze i t as such. "
" Mr . Rear den, t hi s i s har dl y t he way t o def end your sel f . "
" I sai d t hat I woul d not def end mysel f . "
" But t hi s i s unhear d of ! Do you r eal i ze t he gr avi t y of t he char ge agai nst
you?"
" I do not car e t o consi der i t . "
" Do you r eal i ze t he possi bl e consequences of your st and?"
" Ful l y. "
" I t i s t he opi ni on of t hi s cour t t hat t he f act s pr esent ed by t he
pr osecut i on seemt o war r ant no l eni ency. The penal t y whi ch t hi s cour t has t he
power t o i mpose on you i s ext r emel y sever e. "
" Go ahead. "
" I beg your par don?"
" I mpose i t . "
The t hr ee j udges l ooked at one anot her . Then t hei r spokesman t ur ned back
t o Rear den. " Thi s i s unpr ecedent ed, " he sai d.
" I t i s compl et el y i r r egul ar , " sai d t he second j udge. " The l aw r equi r es you
t o submi t a pl ea i n your own def ense. Your onl y al t er nat i ve i s t o st at e f or
t he r ecor d t hat you t hr ow your sel f upon t he mer cy of t he cour t . "
" I do not . "
" But you have t o. "
" Do you mean t hat what you expect f r omme i s some sor t of vol unt ar y
act i on?"
" Yes. "
" I vol unt eer not hi ng. "
" But t he l aw demands t hat t he def endant ' s si de be r epr esent ed on t he
r ecor d. "
" Do you mean t hat you need my hel p t o make t hi s pr ocedur e l egal ?"
" Wel l , no . . . yes . . . t hat i s, t o compl et e t he f or m. "
" I wi l l not hel p you. "
The t hi r d and youngest j udge, who had act ed as pr osecut or , snapped
i mpat i ent l y, " Thi s i s r i di cul ous and unf ai r ! Do you want t o l et i t l ook as i f
a man of your pr omi nence had been r ai l r oaded wi t hout a" He cut hi msel f of f
shor t . Somebody at t he back of t he cour t r oomemi t t ed a l ong whi st l e.
" I want , " sai d Rear den gr avel y, " t o l et t he nat ur e of t hi s pr ocedur e
appear exact l y f or what i t i s. I f you need my hel p t o di sgui se i t I wi l l not
hel p you. "
" But we ar e gi vi ng you a chance t o def end your sel f and i t i s you who ar e
r ej ect i ng i t . "
" I wi l l not hel p you t o pr et end t hat I have a chance. I wi l l not hel p you
t o pr eser ve an appear ance of r i ght eousness wher e r i ght s ar e not r ecogni zed. I
wi l l not hel p you t o pr eser ve an appear ance of r at i onal i t y by ent er i ng a
debat e i n whi ch a gun i s t he f i nal ar gument . I wi l l not hel p you t o pr et end
t hat you ar e admi ni st er i ng j ust i ce. "
" But t he l aw compel s you t o vol unt eer a def ense! "
Ther e was l aught er at t he back of t he cour t r oom.
" That i s t he f l aw i n your t heor y, gent l emen, " sai d Rear den gr avel y, " and I
wi l l not hel p you out of i t . I f you choose t o deal wi t h men by means of
compul si on, do so. But you wi l l di scover t hat you need t he vol unt ar y co-
oper at i on of your vi ct i ms, i n many mor e ways t han you can see at pr esent . And
your vi ct i ms shoul d di scover t hat i t i s t hei r own vol i t i onwhi ch you cannot
f or cet hat makes you possi bl e. I choose t o be consi st ent and I wi l l obey you
i n t he manner you demand. What ever you wi sh me t o do, I wi l l do i t at t he
poi nt of a gun. I f you sent ence me t o j ai l , you wi l l have t o send ar med men
t o car r y me t her eI wi l l not vol unt eer t o move. I f you f i ne me, you wi l l have
t o sei ze my pr oper t y t o col l ect t he f i neI wi l l not vol unt eer t o pay i t . I f
you bel i eve t hat you have t he r i ght t o f or ce meuse your guns openl y. I wi l l
not hel p you t o di sgui se t he nat ur e of your act i on. "
The el dest j udge l eaned f or war d acr oss t he t abl e and hi s voi ce became
suavel y der i si ve: " You speak as i f you wer e f i ght i ng f or some sor t of
pr i nci pl e, Mr . Rear den, but what you' r e act ual l y f i ght i ng f or i s onl y your
pr oper t y, i sn' t i t ?"
" Yes, of cour se. I amf i ght i ng f or my pr oper t y. Do you know t he ki nd of
pr i nci pl e t hat r epr esent s?"
" You pose as a champi on of f r eedom, but i t ' s onl y t he f r eedomt o make
money t hat you' r e af t er . "
" Yes, of cour se. AH I want i s t he f r eedomt o make money. Do you know what
t hat f r eedomi mpl i es?"
" Sur el y, Mr . Rear den, you woul dn' t want your at t i t ude t o be mi sunder st ood.
You woul dn' t want t o gi ve suppor t t o t he wi despr ead i mpr essi on t hat you ar e a
man devoi d of soci al consci ence, who f eel s no concer n f or t he wel f ar e of hi s
f el l ows and wor ks f or not hi ng but hi s own pr of i t . "
" I wor k f or not hi ng but my own pr of i t . I ear n i t . "
Ther e was a gasp, not of i ndi gnat i on, but of ast oni shment , i n t he cr owd
behi nd hi mand si l ence f r omt he j udges he f aced. He went on cal ml y: " No, I do
not want my at t i t ude t o be mi sunder st ood. I shal l be gl ad t o st at e i t f or t he
r ecor d. I ami n f ul l agr eement wi t h t he f act s of ever yt hi ng sai d about me i n
t he newspaper swi t h t he f act s, but not wi t h t he eval uat i on. I wor k f or
not hi ng but my own pr of i t whi ch I make by sel l i ng a pr oduct t hey need t o men
who ar e wi l l i ng and abl e t o buy i t . I do not pr oduce i t f or t hei r benef i t at
t he expense of mi ne, and t hey do not buy i t f or my benef i t at t he expense of
t hei r s; I do not sacr i f i ce my i nt er est s t o t hemnor do t hey sacr i f i ce t hei r s
t o me; we deal as equal s by mut ual consent t o mut ual advant ageand I ampr oud
of ever y penny t hat I have ear ned i n t hi s manner . I amr i ch and I ampr oud of
ever y penny I own. I have made my money by my own ef f or t , i n f r ee exchange
and t hr ough t he vol unt ar y consent of ever y man I deal t wi t ht he vol unt ar y
consent of t hose who empl oyed me when I st ar t ed, t he vol unt ar y consent of
t hose who wor k f or me now, t he vol unt ar y consent of t hose who buy my pr oduct .
I shal l answer al l t he quest i ons you ar e af r ai d t o ask me openl y. Do I wi sh
t o pay my wor ker s mor e t han t hei r ser vi ces ar e wor t h t o me? I do not . Do I
wi sh t o sel l my pr oduct f or l ess t han my cust omer s ar e wi l l i ng t o pay me? I
do not . Do I wi sh t o sel l i t at a l oss or gi ve i t away? I do not . I f t hi s i s
evi l , do what ever you pl ease about me, accor di ng t o what ever st andar ds you
hol d. These ar e mi ne. I amear ni ng my own l i vi ng, as ever y honest man must . I
r ef use t o accept as gui l t t he f act of my own exi st ence and t he f act t hat I
must wor k i n or der t o suppor t i t . I r ef use t o accept as gui l t t he f act t hat I
amabl e t o do i t and t o do i t wel l . I r ef use t o accept as gui l t t he f act t hat
I amabl e t o do i t bet t er t han most peopl et he f act t hat my wor k i s of
gr eat er val ue t han t he wor k of my nei ghbor s and t hat mor e men ar e wi l l i ng t o
pay I r ef use t o apol ogi ze f or my abi l i t yI r ef use t o apol ogi ze f or my me.
successI r ef use t o apol ogi ze f or my money. I f t hi s i s evi l , make t he most
of i t . I f t hi s i s what t he publ i c f i nds har mf ul t o i t s i nt er est s, l et t he
publ i c dest r oy me. Thi s i s my codeand I wi l l accept no ot her .
I coul d say t o you t hat I have done mor e good f or my f el l ow men t han you
can ever hope t o accompl i shbut I wi l l not say i t , because I do not seek t he
good of ot her s as a sanct i on f or my r i ght t o exi st , nor do I r ecogni ze t he
good of ot her s as a j ust i f i cat i on f or t hei r sei zur e of my pr oper t y or t hei r
dest r uct i on of my l i f e. I wi l l not say t hat t he good of ot her s was t he
pur pose of my wor kmy own good was my pur pose, and I despi se t he man who
sur r ender s hi s. I coul d say t o you t hat you do not ser ve t he publ i c goodt hat
nobody' s good can be achi eved at t he pr i ce of human sacr i f i cest hat when you
vi ol at e t he r i ght s of one man, you have vi ol at ed t he r i ght s of al l , and a
publ i c of r i ght l ess cr eat ur es i s doomed t o dest r uct i on. I coul d say t o you
t hat you wi l l and can achi eve not hi ng but uni ver sal devast at i onas any l oot er
must , when he r uns out of vi ct i ms. I coul d say i t , but I won' t .
I t i s not your par t i cul ar pol i cy t hat I chal l enge, but your mor al pr emi se.
I f i t wer e t r ue t hat men coul d achi eve t hei r good by means of t ur ni ng some
men i nt o sacr i f i ci al ani mal s, and I wer e asked t o i mmol at e mysel f f or t he
sake of cr eat ur es who want ed t o sur vi ve at t he pr i ce of my bl ood, i f I wer e
asked t o ser ve t he i nt er est s of soci et y apar t f r om, above and agai nst my own
I woul d r ef use, I woul d r ej ect i t as t he most cont empt i bl e evi l , I woul d
f i ght i t wi t h ever y, power I possess, I woul d f i ght t he whol e of manki nd, i f
one mi nut e wer e al l I coul d l ast bef or e I wer e mur der ed, I woul d f i ght i n t he
f ul l conf i dence of t he j ust i ce of my bat t l e and of a l i vi ng bei ng' s r i ght t o
exi st . Let t her e be no mi sunder st andi ng about me. I f i t i s now t he bel i ef of
my f el l ow men, who cal l t hemsel ves t he publ i c, t hat t hei r good r equi r es
vi ct i ms, t hen I say: The publ i c good be damned, I wi l l have no par t of i t ! "
The cr owd bur st i nt o appl ause.
Rear den whi r l ed ar ound, mor e st ar t l ed t han hi s j udges. He saw f aces t hat
l aughed i n vi ol ent exci t ement , and f aces t hat pl eaded f or hel p; he saw t hei r
si l ent despai r br eaki ng out i nt o t he open; he saw t he same anger and
i ndi gnat i on as hi s own, f i ndi ng r el ease i n t he wi l d def i ance of t hei r
cheer i ng; he saw t he l ooks of admi r at i on and t he l ooks of hope. Ther e wer e
al so t he f aces of l oose- mout hed young men and mal i ci ousl y unkempt f emal es,
t he ki nd who l ed t he booi ng i n newsr eel t heat er s at any appear ance of a
busi nessman on t he scr een; t hey di d not at t empt a count er - demonst r at i on; t hey
wer e si l ent .
As he l ooked at t he cr owd, peopl e saw i n hi s f ace what t he t hr eat s of t he
j udges had not been abl e t o evoke: t he f i r st si gn of emot i on.
I t was a f ew moment s bef or e t hey hear d t he f ur i ous beat i ng of a gavel upon
t he t abl e and one of t he j udges yel l i ng: " or I shal l have t he cour t r oom
cl ear ed! "
_ As he t ur ned back t o t he t abl e, Rear den' s eyes moved over t he vi si t or s'
sect i on. Hi s gl ance paused on Dagny, a pause per cept i bl e onl y t o her , as i f
he wer e sayi ng: I t wor ks. She woul d have appear ed cal mexcept t hat her eyes
seemed t o have become t oo l ar ge f or her f ace.
Eddi e Wi l l er s was smi l i ng t he ki nd of smi l e t hat i s a man' s subst i t ut e f or
br eaki ng i nt o t ear s. Mr . Mowen l ooked st upef i ed. Paul Lar ki n was st ar i ng at
t he f l oor . Ther e was no expr essi on on Ber t r amScudder ' s f ace on Li l l i an' s.
She sat at t he end of a r ow, her l egs cr ossed, a mi nk st ol e sl ant i ng f r omher
r i ght shoul der t o her l ef t hi p; she l ooked at Rear den, not movi ng.
I n t he compl ex vi ol ence of al l t he t hi ngs he f el t , he had t i me t o
r ecogni ze a t ouch of r egr et and of l ongi ng: t her e was a f ace he had hoped t o
see, had l ooked f or f r omt he st ar t of t he sessi on, had want ed t o be pr esent
mor e t han any ot her f ace ar ound hi m. But Fr anci sco d' Anconi a had not come.
4LMr . Rear den, " sai d t he el dest j udge, smi l i ng af f abl y, r epr oachf ul l y and
spr eadi ng hi s ar ms, " i t i s r egr et t abl e t hat you shoul d have mi sunder st ood us
so compl et el y. That ' s t he t r oubl et hat busi nessmen r ef use t o appr oach us i n a
spi r i t of t r ust and f r i endshi p. They seemt o i magi ne t hat we ar e t hei r
enemi es. Why do you speak of human sacr i f i ces? What made you go t o such an
ext r eme? We have no i nt ent i on of sei zi ng your pr oper t y or dest r oyi ng your
l i f e. We do not seek t o har myour i nt er est s. We ar e f ul l y awar e of your
di st i ngui shed achi evement s. Our pur pose i s onl y t o bal ance soci al pr essur es
and do j ust i ce t o al l . Thi s hear i ng i s r eal l y i nt ended, not as a t r i al , but
as a f r i endl y di scussi on ai med at mut ual under st andi ng and co- oper at i on. "
" I do not co- oper at e at t he poi nt of a gun. "
" Why speak of guns? Thi s mat t er i s not ser i ous enough t o war r ant such
r ef er ences. We ar e f ul l y awar e t hat t he gui l t i n t hi s case l i es chi ef l y wi t h
Mr . Kennet h Danagger , who i nst i gat ed t hi s i nf r i ngement of t he l aw, who
exer t ed pr essur e upon you and who conf essed hi s gui l t by di sappear i ng i n
or der t o escape t r i al "
" No. We di d i t by equal , mut ual , vol unt ar y agr eement . "
" Mr . Rear den, " sai d t he second j udge, " you may not shar e some of our
i deas, but when al l i s sai d and done, we' r e al l wor ki ng f or t he same cause.
For t he good of t he peopl e. We r eal i ze t hat you wer e pr ompt ed t o di sr egar d
l egal t echni cal i t i es by t he cr i t i cal si t uat i on of t he coal mi nes and t he
cr uci al i mpor t ance of f uel t o t he publ i c wel f ar e. "
" No. I was pr ompt ed by my own pr of i t and my own i nt er est s.
What ef f ect i t had on t he coal mi nes and t he publ i c wel f ar e i s f or you t o
est i mat e. That was not my mot i ve. "
Mr . Mowen st ar ed dazedl y about hi mand whi sper ed t o Paul Lar ki n,
" Somet hi ng' s gone scr ewy her e. "
" Oh, shut up! " snapped Lar ki n.
" I amsur e, Mr . Rear den, " sai d t he el dest j udge, " t hat you do not r eal l y
bel i evenor docs t he publ i ct hat we wi sh t o t r eat you as a sacr i f i ci al
vi ct i m. I f anyone has been l abor i ng under such a mi sappr ehensi on, we ar e
anxi ous t o pr ove t hat i t i s not t r ue. "
The j udges r et i r ed t o consi der t hei r ver di ct . They di d not st ay out l ong.
They r et ur ned t o an omi nousl y si l ent cour t r oomand announced t hat a f i ne of
$5, 000 was i mposed on Henr y Rear den, but t hat t he sent ence was suspended.
St r eaks of j eer i ng l aught er r an t hr ough t he appl ause t hat swept t he
cour t r oom. The appl ause was ai med at Rear den, t he l aught er at t he j udges.
Rear den st ood mot i onl ess, not t ur ni ng t o t he cr owd, bar el y hear i ng t he
appl ause. He st ood l ooki ng at t he j udges. Ther e was no t r i umph i n hi s f ace,
no el at i on, onl y t he st i l l i nt ensi t y of cont empl at i ng a vi si on wi t h a bi t t er
wonder t hat was al most f ear . He was seei ng t he enor mi t y of t he smal l ness of
t he enemy who was dest r oyi ng t he wor l d. He f el t as i f , af t er a j our ney of
year s t hr ough a l andscape of devast at i on, past t he r ui ns of gr eat f act or i es,
t he wr ecks of power f ul engi nes, t he bodi es of i nvi nci bl e men, he had come
upon t he despoi l er , expect i ng t o f i nd a gi ant and had f ound a r at eager t o
scur r y f or cover at t he f i r st sound of a human st ep. I f t hi s i s what has
beat en us, he t hought , t he gui l t i s our s.
He was j ol t ed back i nt o t he cour t r oomby t he peopl e pr essi ng t o sur r ound
hi m. He smi l ed i n answer t o t hei r smi l es, t o t he f r ant i c, t r agi c eager ness of
t hei r f aces; t her e was a t ouch of sadness i n hi s smi l e.
" God bl ess you, Mr . Rear den! " sai d an ol d woman wi t h a r agged shawl over
her head. " Can' t you save us, Mr . Rear den? They' r e eat i ng us al i ve, and i t ' s
no use f ool i ng anybody about how i t ' s t he r i ch t hat t hey' r e af t er do you know
what ' s happeni ng t o us?"
" Li st en, Mr . Rear den, " sai d a man who l ooked l i ke a f act or y wor ker , " i t ' s
t he r i ch who' r e sel l i ng us down t he r i ver . Tel l t hose weal t hy bast ar ds,
who' r e so anxi ous t o gi ve ever yt hi ng away, t hat when t hey gi ve away t hei r
pal aces, t hey' r e gi vi ng away t he ski n of f our backs. "
" I know i t , " sai d Rear den.
The gui l t i s our s, he t hought . I f we who wer e t he mover s, t he pr ovi der s,
t he benef act or s of manki nd, wer e wi l l i ng t o l et t he br and of evi l be st amped
upon us and si l ent l y t o bear puni shment f or our vi r t ueswhat sor t of " good"
di d we expect t o t r i umph i n t he wor l d?
He l ooked at t he peopl e ar ound hi m. They had cheer ed hi mt oday; t hey had
cheer ed hi mby t he si de of t he t r ack of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne.
But t omor r ow t hey woul d cl amor f or a new di r ect i ve f r omWesl ey Mouch and a
f r ee housi ng pr oj ect f r omOr r en Boyl e, whi l e Boyl e' s gi r der s col l apsed upon
t hei r heads. They woul d do i t , because t hey woul d be t ol d t o f or get , as a
si n, t hat whi ch had made t hemcheer Hank Rear den.
Why wer e t hey r eady t o r enounce t hei r hi ghest moment s as a si n?
Why wer e t hey wi l l i ng t o bet r ay t he best wi t hi n t hem? What made t hem
bel i eve t hat t hi s ear t h was a r eal mof evi l wher e despai r was t hei r nat ur al
f at e? He coul d not name t he r eason, but he knew t hat i t had t o be named. He
f el t i t as a huge quest i on mar k wi t hi n t he cour t r oom, whi ch i t was now hi s
dut y t o answer .
Thi s was t he r eal sent ence i mposed upon hi m, he t hought t o di scover what
i dea, what si mpl e i dea avai l abl e t o t he si mpl est man, had made manki nd accept
t he doct r i nes t hat l ed i t t o sel f - dest r uct i on.
" Hank, I ' l l never t hi nk t hat i t ' s hopel ess, not ever agai n, " sai d Dagny
t hat eveni ng, af t er t he t r i al . " I ' l l never be t empt ed t o qui t . You' ve pr oved
t hat t he r i ght al ways wor ks and al ways wi ns" She st opped, t hen added, "
pr ovi ded one knows what i s t he r i ght . "
Li l l i an sai d t o hi mat di nner next day, " So you' ve won, have you?"
Her voi ce was noncommi t t al ; she sai d not hi ng el se; she was wat chi ng hi m,
as I f st udyi ng a r i ddl e.
The Wet Nur se asked hi mat t he mi l l s, " Mr . Rear den, what ' s a mor al
pr emi se?" " What you' r e goi ng t o have a l ot of t r oubl e wi t h. "
The boy f r owned, t hen shr ugged and sai d, l aughi ng, " God, t hat was a
wonder f ul show! What a beat i ng you gave t hem, Mr . Rear den! I sat by t he r adi o
and howl ed. " " How do you know i t was a beat i ng?" " Wel l , i t was, wasn' t i t ?"
" Ar e you sur e of i t ?" " Sur e I ' msur e. " " The t hi ng t hat makes you sur e i s a
mor al pr emi se. "
The newspaper s wer e si l ent . Af t er t he exagger at ed at t ent i on t hey had gi ven
t o t he case, t hey act ed as i f t he t r i al wer e not wor t hy of not i ce. They
pr i nt ed br i ef account s on unl i kel y pages, wor ded i n such gener al i t i es t hat no
r eader coul d di scover any hi nt of a cont r over si al i ssue.
The busi nessmen he met seemed t o wi sh t o evade t he subj ect of hi s t r i al .
Some made no comment at al l , but t ur ned away, t hei r f aces showi ng a pecul i ar
r esent ment under t he ef f or t t o appear noncommi t t al , as i f t hey f ear ed t hat
t he mer e act of l ooki ng at hi mwoul d be i nt er pr et ed as t aki ng a st and. Ot her s
vent ur ed t o comment : " I n my opi ni on, Rear den, i t was ext r emel y unwi se of you.
. . . I t seems t o me t hat t hi s i s har dl y t he t i me t o make enemi es. . . . We
can' t af f or d t o ar ouse r esent ment . "
" Whose r esent ment ?" he asked.
" I don' t t hi nk t he gover nment wi l l l i ke i t . "
" You saw t he consequences of t hat "
" Wel l , I don' t know . . . The publ i c won' t t ake i t , t her e' s bound t o be a
l ot of i ndi gnat i on. "
" You saw how t he publ i c t ook i t . "
" Wel l , I don' t know . . . We' ve been t r yi ng har d not t o gi ve any gr ounds
f or al l t hose accusat i ons about sel f i sh gr eedand you' ve gi ven ammuni t i on t o
t he enemy. "
" Woul d you r at her agr ee wi t h t he enemy t hat you have no r i ght t o your
pr of i t s and your pr oper t y?"
" Oh, no, no, cer t ai nl y not but why go t o ext r emes? Ther e' s al ways a mi ddl e
gr ound. "
" A mi ddl e gr ound bet ween you and your mur der er s?"
" Now why use such wor ds?
" What I sai d at t he t r i al , was i t t r ue or not ?"
" I t ' s goi ng t o be mi squot ed and mi sunder st ood. "
" Was i t t r ue or not ?"
" The publ i c i s t oo dumb t o gr appl e wi t h such i ssues. "
" Was i t t r ue or not ?"
" I t ' s no t i me t o boast about bei ng r i chwhen t he popul ace i s st ar vi ng.
I t ' s j ust goadi ng t hemon t o sei ze ever yt hi ng. "
" But t el l i ng t hemt hat you have no r i ght t o your weal t h, whi l e t hey have
i s what ' s goi ng t o r est r ai n t hem?"
" Wel l , I don' t know . . . "
" I don' t l i ke t he t hi ngs you sai d at your t r i al , " sai d anot her man.
" I n my opi ni on, I don' t agr ee wi t h you at al l . Per sonal l y, I ' mpr oud t o
bel i eve t hat I amwor ki ng f or t he publ i c good, not j ust f or my own pr of i t . I
l i ke t o t hi nk t hat I have some goal hi gher t han j ust ear ni ng my t hr ee meal s a
day and my Hammond l i mousi ne. "
" And I don' t l i ke t hat i dea about no di r ect i ves and no cont r ol s, "
sai d anot her . " I gr ant you t hey' r e r unni ng hog- wi l d and over doi ng i t .
But no cont r ol s at al l ? I don' t go al ong wi t h t hat . I t hi nk some cont r ol s
ar e necessar y. The ones whi ch ar e f or t he publ i c good. "
" I amsor r y, gent l emen, " sai d Rear den, " t hat I wi l l be obl i ged t o save
your goddamn necks al ong wi t h mi ne. "
A gr oup of busi nessmen headed by Mr . Mowen di d not i ssue any st at ement s
about t he t r i al . But a week l at er t hey announced, wi t h an i nor di nat e amount
of publ i ci t y, t hat t hey wer e endowi ng t he const r uct i on of a pl aygr ound f or
t he chi l dr en of t he unempl oyed.
Ber t r amScudder di d not ment i on t he t r i al i n hi s col umn. But t en days
l at er , he wr ot e, among i t ems of mi scel l aneous gossi p: " Some i dea of t he
publ i c val ue of Mr . Hank Rear den may be gat her ed f r omt he f act t hat of al l
soci al gr oups, he seems t o be most unpopul ar wi t h hi s own f el l ow busi nessmen.
Hi s ol d- f ashi oned br and of r ut hl essness seems t o be t oo much even f or t hose
pr edat or y bar ons of pr of i t . "
On an eveni ng i n December when t he st r eet beyond hi s wi ndow was l i ke a
congest ed t hr oat coughi ng wi t h t he hor ns of pr e- Chr i st mas t r af f i cRear den sat
i n hi s r oomat t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el , f i ght i ng an enemy mor e danger ous
t han wear i ness or f ear : r evul si on agai nst t he t hought of havi ng t o deal wi t h
human bei ngs.
He sat , unwi l l i ng t o vent ur e i nt o t he st r eet s of t he ci t y, unwi l l i ng t o
move, as i f he wer e chai ned t o hi s chai r and t o t hi s r oom. He had t r i ed f or
hour s t o i gnor e an emot i on t hat f el t l i ke t he pul l of homesi ckness: hi s
awar eness t hat t he onl y man whomhe l onged t o see, was her e, i n t hi s hot el ,
j ust a f ew f l oor s above hi m.
He had caught hi msel f , i n t he past f ew weeks, wast i ng t i me i n t he l obby
whenever he ent er ed t he hot el or l ef t i t , l oi t er i ng unnecessar i l y at t he mai l
count er or t he newsst and, wat chi ng t he hur r i ed cur r ent s of peopl e, hopi ng t o
see Fr anci sco d' Anconi a among t hem. He had caught hi msel f eat i ng sol i t ar y
di nner s i n t he r est aur ant of t he Wayne- Fal kl and, wi t h hi s eyes on t he
cur t ai ns of t he ent r ance door way, Now he caught hi msel f si t t i ng i n hi s r oom,
t hi nki ng t hat t he di st ance was onl y a f ew f l oor s.
He r ose t o hi s f eet , wi t h a chuckl e of amused i ndi gnat i on; he was act i ng,
he t hought , l i ke a woman who wai t s f or a t el ephone cal l and f i ght s agai nst
t he t empt at i on t o end t he t or t ur e by maki ng t he f i r st move. Ther e was no
r eason, he t hought , why he coul d not go t o Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, i f t hat was
what he want ed. Yet when he t ol d hi msel f t hat he woul d, he f el t some
danger ous el ement of sur r ender i n t he i nt ensi t y of hi s own r el i ef .
He made a st ep t owar d t he phone, t o cal l Fr anci sco' s sui t e, but st opped.
I t was not what he want ed; what he want ed was si mpl y t o wal k i n, unannounced,
as Fr anci sco had wal ked i nt o hi s of f i ce; i t was t hi s t hat seemed t o st at e
some unst at ed r i ght bet ween t hem.
On hi s way t o t he el evat or , he t hought : He won' t be i n or , i f he i s,
you' l l pr obabl y f i nd hi ment er t ai ni ng some f l oozi e, whi ch wi l l ser ve you
r i ght . But t he t hought seemed unr eal , he coul d not make i t appl y t o t he man
he had seen at t he mout h of t he f ur nacehe st ood conf i dent l y i n t he el evat or ,
l ooki ng uphe wal ked conf i dent l y down t he hal l , f eel i ng hi s bi t t er ness r el ax
i nt o gai et yhe knocked at t he door .
Fr anci sco' s voi ce snapped, " Come i n! " I t had a br usque, absent mi nded
sound.
Rear den opened t he door and st opped on t he t hr eshol d. One of t he hot el ' s
cost l i est sat i n- shaded l amps st ood i n t he mi ddl e of t he f l oor , t hr owi ng a
ci r cl e of l i ght on wi de sheet s of dr af t i ng paper . Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, i n
shi r t sl eeves, a st r and of hai r hangi ng down over hi s f ace, l ay st r et ched on
t he f l oor , on hi s st omach, pr opped up by hi s el bows, bi t i ng t he end of a
penci l i n concent r at i on upon some poi nt of t he i nt r i cat e t r aci ng bef or e hi m.
He di d not l ook up, he seemed t o have f or got t en t he knock. Rear den t r i ed t o
di st i ngui sh t he dr awi ng: i t l ooked l i ke t he sect i on of a smel t er . He st ood
wat chi ng i n st ar t l ed wonder ; had he had t he power t o br i ng i nt o r eal i t y hi s
own i mage of Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, t hi s was t he pi ct ur e he woul d have seen:
t he f i gur e of a pur posef ul young wor ker i nt ent upon a di f f i cul t t ask, I n a
moment , Fr anci sco r ai sed hi s head. I n t he next i nst ant , he f l ung hi s body
upwar d t o a kneel i ng post ur e, l ooki ng at Rear den wi t h a smi l e of i ncr edul ous
pl easur e. I n t he next , he sei zed t he dr awi ngs and t hr ew t hemasi de t oo
hast i l y, f ace down.
" What di d I i nt er r upt ?" asked Rear den.
" Not hi ng much. Come i n. " He was gr i nni ng happi l y. Rear den f el t suddenl y
cer t ai n t hat Fr anci sco had wai t ed, t oo, had wai t ed f or t hi s as f or a vi ct or y
whi ch he had not qui t e hoped t o achi eve.
" What wer e you doi ng?" asked Rear den.
" J ust amusi ng mysel f . "
" Let me see i t . "
" No. " He r ose and ki cked t he dr awi ngs asi de.
Rear den not ed t hat i f he had r esent ed as i mper t i nence Fr anci sco' s manner
of pr opr i et or shi p i n hi s of f i ce, he hi msel f was now gui l t y of t he same
at t i t udebecause he of f er ed no expl anat i on f or hi s vi si t , but cr ossed t he
r oomand sat down i n an ar mchai r , casual l y, as i f he wer e at home.
" Why di dn' t you come t o cont i nue what you had st ar t ed?" he asked.
" You have been cont i nui ng i t br i l l i ant l y wi t hout my hel p. "
" Do you mean, my t r i al ?"
" I mean, your t r i al . "
" How do you know? You wer en' t t her e. "
Fr anci sco smi l ed, because t he t one of t he voi ce conf essed an added
sent ence: I was l ooki ng f or you. " Don' t you suppose I hear d ever y wor d of i t
on t he r adi o?"
" You di d? Wel l , how di d you l i ke hear i ng your own l i nes come over t he ai r ,
wi t h me as your st ooge?"
" You wer en' t , Mr . Rear den. They wer en' t my l i nes. Wer en' t t hey t he t hi ngs
you had al ways l i ved by?"
" Yes. "
" I onl y hel ped you t o see t hat you shoul d have been pr oud t o l i ve by
t hem. "
" I amgl ad you hear d i t "
" I t was gr eat , Mr . Rear denand about t hr ee gener at i ons t oo l at e. "
" What do you mean?"
" I f one si ngl e busi nessman had had t he cour age, t hen, t o say t hat he
wor ked f or not hi ng but hi s own pr of i t and t o say i t pr oudl yhe woul d have
saved t he wor l d. "
" I haven' t gi ven up t he wor l d as l ost . "
" I t i sn' t . I t never can be. But oh God! what he woul d have spar ed us! "
" Wel l , I guess we have t o f i ght , no mat t er what er a we' r e caught i n. "
" Yes . . . You know, Mr . Rear den, I woul d suggest t hat you get a
t r anscr i pt of your t r i al and r ead what you sai d. Then see whet her you ar e
pr act i ci ng i t f ul l y and consi st ent l yor not . "
" You mean t hat I ' mnot ?"
" See f or your sel f . "
" I know t hat you had a gr eat deal t o t el l me, when we wer e i nt er r upt ed,
t hat ni ght at t he mi l l s. Why don' t you f i ni sh what you had t o say?"
" No. I t ' s t oo soon. "
Fr anci sco act ed as i f t her e wer e not hi ng unusual about t hi s vi si t , as i f
he t ook i t as a mat t er of nat ur al cour seas he had al ways act ed i n Rear den' s
pr esence. But Rear den not ed t hat he was not so cal mas he wi shed t o appear ;
he was paci ng t he r oom, i n a manner t hat seemed a r el ease f or an emot i on he
di d not want t o conf ess; he had f or got t en t he l amp and i t st i l l st ood on t he
f l oor as t he r oom' s sol e i l l umi nat i on.
" You' ve been t aki ng an awf ul beat i ng i n t he way of di scover i es, haven' t
you?" sai d Fr anci sco, " How di d you l i ke t he behavi or of your f el l ow
busi nessmen?"
" I suppose i t was t o be expect ed. "
Hi s voi ce t ense wi t h t he anger of compassi on, Fr anci sco sai d, " I t ' s been
t wel ve year s and yet I ' mst i l l unabl e t o see i t i ndi f f er ent l y! " The sent ence
sounded i nvol unt ar y, as i f , t r yi ng t o suppr ess t he sound of emot i on, he had
ut t er ed suppr essed wor ds.
" Twel ve year ssi nce what ?" asked Rear den.
Ther e was an i nst ant ' s pause, but Fr anci sco answer ed cal ml y, " Si nce I
under st ood what t hose men wer e doi ng, " He added, " I know what you' r e goi ng
t hr ough r i ght now . . . and what ' s st i l l ahead. "
" Thanks, " sai d Rear den.
" For what ?"
" For what you' r e t r yi ng so har d not t o show. But don' t wor r y about me. I ' m
st i l l abl e t o st and i t . . . . You know, I di dn' t come her e because I want ed
t o t al k about mysel f or even about t he t r i al . "
" I ' l l agr ee t o any subj ect you choosei n or der t o have you her e. "
He sai d i t i n t he t one of a cour t eous j oke; but t he t one coul d not
di sgui se i t ; he meant i t . " What di d you want t o t al k about ?"
" You. "
Fr anci sco st opped. He l ooked at Rear den f or a moment , t hen answer ed
qui et l y, " Al l r i ght .
I f t hat whi ch Rear den f el t coul d have gone di r ect l y i nt o wor ds, past t he
bar r i er of hi s wi l l , he woul d have cr i ed: Don' t l et me downI need youI am
f i ght i ng al l of t hem, I have f ought t o my l i mi t and amcondemned t o f i ght
beyond i t and, as sol e ammuni t i on possi bl e t o me, I need t he knowl edge of one
si ngl e man whomI can t r ust , r espect and admi r e.
I nst ead, he sai d cal ml y, ver y si mpl yand t he onl y not e of a per sonal bond
bet ween t hemwas t hat t one of si ncer i t y whi ch comes wi t h a di r ect ,
unqual i f i edl y r at i onal st at ement and i mpl i es t he same honest y of mi nd i n t he
l i st ener " You know, I t hi nk t hat t he onl y r eal mor al cr i me t hat one man can
commi t agai nst anot her i s t he at t empt t o cr eat e, by hi s wor ds or act i ons, an
i mpr essi on of t he cont r adi ct or y, t he i mpossi bl e, t he i r r at i onal , and t hus
shake t he concept of r at i onal i t y i n hi s vi ct i m. "
" That ' s t r ue. "
" I f I say t hat t hat i s t he di l emma you' ve put me i n, woul d you hel p me by
answer i ng a per sonal quest i on?"
" I wi l l t r y.
" I don' t have t o t el l youI t hi nk you know i t t hat you ar e t he man of t he
hi ghest mi nd I have ever met . I amcomi ng t o accept , not as r i ght , but at
l east as possi bl e, t he f act t hat you r ef use t o exer ci se your gr eat abi l i t y i n
t he wor l d of t oday. But what a man does out of despai r , i s not necessar i l y a
key t o hi s char act er . I have al ways t hought t hat t he r eal key i s i n t hat
whi ch he seeks f or hi s enj oyment .
And t hi s i s what I f i nd i nconcei vabl e: no mat t er what you' ve gi ven up, so
l ong as you chose t o r emai n al i ve, how can you f i nd any pl easur e i n spendi ng
a l i f e as val uabl e as your s on r unni ng af t er cheap women and on an i mbeci l e' s
i dea of di ver si ons?"
Fr anci sco l ooked at hi mwi t h a f i ne smi l e of amusement , as i f sayi ng: No?
You di dn' t want t o t al k about your sel f ? And what i s i t t hat you' r e conf essi ng
but t he desper at e l onel i ness whi ch makes t he quest i on of my char act er mor e
i mpor t ant t o you t han any ot her quest i on r i ght now?
The smi l e mer ged i nt o a sof t , good- nat ur ed chuckl e, as i f t he quest i on
i nvol ved no pr obl emf or hi m, no pai nf ul secr et t o r eveal . " Ther e' s a way t o
sol ve ever y di l emma of t hat ki nd, Mr . Rear den. Check your pr emi ses. " He sat
down on t he f l oor , set t l i ng hi msel f gai l y, i nf or mal l y, f or a conver sat i on he
woul d enj oy. " I s i t your own f i r st - hand concl usi on t hat I ama man of hi gh
mi nd?"
" Yes. "
" Do you know of your own f i r st - hand knowl edge t hat I spend my l i f e r unni ng
af t er women?"
" You' ve never deni ed i t . "
" Deni ed i t ? I ' ve gone t o a l ot of t r oubl e t o cr eat e t hat i mpr essi on. "
" Do you mean t o say t hat i t i sn' t t r ue?"
" Do I st r i ke you as a man wi t h a mi ser abl e i nf er i or i t y compl ex?"
" Good God, no! "
" Onl y t hat ki nd of man spends hi s l i f e r unni ng af t er women. "
" What do you mean?"
" Do you r emember what I sai d about money and about t he men who seek t o
r ever se t he l aw of cause and ef f ect ? The men who t r y t o r epl ace t he mi nd by
sei zi ng t he pr oduct s of t he mi nd? Wel l , t he mai l who despi ses hi msel f t r i es
t o gai n sel f - est eemf r omsexual advent ur es whi ch can' t be done, because sex
i s not t he cause, but an ef f ect and an expr essi on of a man' s sense of hi s own
val ue. "
" You' d bet t er expl ai n t hat . "
" Di d i t ever occur t o you t hat i t ' s t he same i ssue? The men who t hi nk t hat
weal t h comes f r ommat er i al r esour ces and has no i nt el l ect ual r oot or meani ng,
ar e t he men who t hi nkf or t he same r easont hat sex i s a physi cal capaci t y
whi ch f unct i ons i ndependent l y of one' s mi nd, choi ce or code of val ues. They
t hi nk t hat your body cr eat es a desi r e and makes a choi ce f or youj ust about
i n some such way as i f i r on or e t r ansf or med i t sel f i nt o r ai l r oad r ai l s of i t s
own vol i t i on. Love i s bl i nd, t hey say; sex i s i mper vi ous t o r eason and mocks
t he power of al l phi l osopher s. But , i n f act , a man' s sexual choi ce i s t he
r esul t and t he sumof hi s f undament al convi ct i ons. Tel l me what a man f i nds
sexual l y at t r act i ve and I wi l l t el l you hi s ent i r e phi l osophy of l i f e.
Show me t he woman he sl eeps wi t h and I wi l l t el l you hi s val uat i on of
hi msel f . No mat t er what cor r upt i on he' s t aught about t he vi r t ue of
sel f l essness, sex i s t he most pr of oundl y sel f i sh of al l act s, an act whi ch he
cannot per f or mf or any mot i ve but hi s own enj oyment j ust t r y t o t hi nk of
per f or mi ng i t i n a spi r i t of sel f l ess char i t y! an act whi ch i s not possi bl e
i n sel f - abasement , onl y i n sel f - exal t at i on, onl y i n t he conf i dence of bei ng
desi r ed and bei ng wor t hy of desi r e. I t i s an act t hat f or ces hi mt o st and
naked i n spi r i t , as wel l as i n body, and t o accept hi s r eal ego as. , hi s
st andar d of val ue. He wi l l al ways be at t r act ed t o t he woman who r ef l ect s hi s
deepest vi si on of hi msel f , t he woman whose sur r ender per mi t s hi mt o
exper i enceor t o f akea sense of sel f - est eem. The man who i s pr oudl y cer t ai n
of hi s own val ue, wi l l want t he hi ghest t ype of woman he can f i nd, t he woman
he admi r es, t he st r ongest , t he har dest t o conquer because onl y t he possessi on
of a her oi ne wi l l gi ve hi mt he sense of an achi evement , not t he possessi on of
a br ai nl ess sl ut . He does not seek t o . . . What ' s t he mat t er ?" he asked,
seei ng t he l ook on Rear den' s f ace, a l ook of i nt ensi t y much beyond mer e
i nt er est i n an abst r act di scussi on.
" Go on, " sai d Rear den t ensel y.
" He does not seek t o gai n hi s val ue, he seeks t o expr ess i t . Ther e i s no
conf l i ct bet ween t he st andar ds of hi s mi nd and t he desi r es of hi s body. But
t he man who i s convi nced of hi s own wor t hl essness wi l l be dr awn t o a woman he
despi sesbecause she wi l l r ef l ect hi s own secr et sel f , she wi l l r el ease hi m
f r omt hat obj ect i ve r eal i t y i n whi ch he i s a f r aud, she wi l l gi ve hi ma
moment ar y i l l usi on of hi s own val ue and a moment ar y escape f r omt he mor al
code t hat damns hi m. Obser ve t he ugl y mess whi ch most men make of t hei r sex
l i vesand obser ve t he mess of cont r adi ct i ons whi ch t hey hol d as t hei r mor al
phi l osophy. One pr oceeds f r omt he ot her . Love i s our r esponse t o our hi ghest
val ues
and can be not hi ng el se. Let a man cor r upt hi s val ues and hi s vi ew of
exi st ence, l et hi mpr of ess t hat l ove i s not sel f - enj oyment but sel f - deni al ,
t hat vi r t ue consi st s, not of pr i de, but of pi t y or pai n or weakness or
sacr i f i ce, t hat t he nobl est l ove i s bor n, not of admi r at i on, but of char i t y,
not i n r esponse t o val ues, but i n r esponse t o f l awsand he wi l l have cut
hi msel f i n t wo. Hi s body wi l l not obey hi m, i t wi l l not r espond, i t wi l l make
hi mi mpot ent t owar d t he woman he pr of esses t o l ove and dr aw hi mt o t he l owest
t ype of whor e he can f i nd. Hi s body wi l l al ways f ol l ow t he ul t i mat e l ogi c of
hi s deepest convi ct i ons; i f he bel i eves t hat f l aws ar e val ues, he has damned
exi st ence as evi l and onl y t he evi l wi l l at t r act hi m. He has damned hi msel f
and he wi l l f eel t hat depr avi t y i s al l he i s wor t hy of enj oyi ng. He has
equat ed vi r t ue wi t h pai n and he wi l l f eel t hat vi ce i s t he onl y r eal mof
pl easur e. Then he wi l l scr eamt hat hi s body has vi ci ous desi r es of i t s own
whi ch hi s mi nd cannot conquer , t hat sex i s si n, t hat t r ue l ove i s a pur e
emot i on of t he spi r i t . And t hen he wi l l wonder why l ove br i ngs hi mnot hi ng
but bor edom, and sexnot hi ng but shame. "
Rear den sai d sl owl y, l ooki ng of f , not r eal i zi ng t hat he was t hi nki ng
al oud, " At l east . . . I ' ve never accept ed t hat ot her t enet . . . I ' ve never
f el t gui l t y about maki ng money. "
Fr anci sco mi ssed t he si gni f i cance of t he f i r st t wo wor ds; he smi l ed and
sai d eager l y, " You do see t hat i t ' s t he same i ssue? No, you' d never accept
any par t of t hei r vi ci ous cr eed. You woul dn' t be abl e t o f or ce i t upon
your sel f . I f you t r i ed t o damn sex as evi l , you' d st i l l f i nd your sel f ,
agai nst your wi l l , act i ng on t he pr oper mor al pr emi se. You' d be at t r act ed t o
t he hi ghest woman you met . You' d al ways want a her oi ne. You' d be i ncapabl e of
sel f - cont empt . You' d be unabl e t o bel i eve t hat exi st ence i s evi l and t hat
you' r e a hel pl ess cr eat ur e caught i n an i mpossi bl e uni ver se. You' r e t he man
who' s spent hi s l i f e shapi ng mat t er t o t he pur pose of hi s mi nd. You' r e t he
man who woul d know t hat j ust as an i dea unexpr essed i n physi cal act i on i s
cont empt i bl e hypocr i sy, so i s pl at oni c l oveand j ust as physi cal act i on
ungui ded by an i dea i s a f ool ' s sel f - f r aud, so i s sex when cut of f f r omone' s
code of val ues. I t ' s t he same i ssue, and you woul d know i t . Your i nvi ol at e
sense of sel f - est eemwoul d know i t . You woul d be i ncapabl e of desi r e f or a
woman you despi sed. Onl y t he man who ext ol s t he pur i t y of a l ove devoi d of
desi r e, i s capabl e of t he depr avi t y of a desi r e devoi d of l ove. But obser ve
t hat most peopl e ar e cr eat ur es cut i n hal f who keep swi ngi ng desper at el y t o
one si de or t o t he ot her . One ki nd of hal f i s t he man who despi ses money,
f act or i es, skyscr aper s and hi s own body.
He hol ds undef i ned emot i ons about non- concei vabl e subj ect s as t he meani ng
of l i f e and as hi s cl ai mt o vi r t ue. And he cr i es wi t h despai r , because he can
f eel not hi ng f or t he women he r espect s, but f i nds hi msel f i n bondage t o an
i r r esi st i bl e passi on f or a sl ut f r omt he gut t er .
He i s t he man whompeopl e cal l an i deal i st . The ot her ki nd of hal f i s t he
man whompeopl e cal l pr act i cal , t he man who despi ses pr i nci pl es,
abst r act i ons, ar t , phi l osophy and hi s own mi nd. He r egar ds t he acqui si t i on of
mat er i al obj ect s as t he onl y goal of exi st enceand he l aughs at t he need t o
consi der t hei r pur pose or t hei r sour ce. He expect s t hemt o gi ve hi mpl easur e
and he wonder s why t he mor e he get s, t he l ess he f eel s. He i s t he man who
spends hi s t i me chasi ng women. Obser ve t he t r i pl e f r aud whi ch he per pet r at es
upon hi msel f . He wi l l not acknowl edge hi s need of sel f - est eem, si nce he
scof f s at such a concept as mor al val ues; yet he f eel s t he pr of ound sel f -
cont empt whi ch comes f r ombel i evi ng t hat he i s a pi ece of meat . He wi l l not
acknowl edge, but he knows t hat sex i s t he physi cal expr essi on of a t r i but e t o
per sonal val ues. So he t r i es, by goi ng t hr ough t he mot i ons of t he ef f ect , t o
acqui r e t hat whi ch shoul d have been t he cause. He t r i es t o gai n a sense of
hi s own val ue f r omt he women who sur r ender t o hi mand he f or get s t hat t he
women he pi cks have nei t her char act er nor j udgment nor st andar d of val ue. He
t el l s hi msel f t hat al l he' s af t er i s physi cal pl easur e
but obser ve t hat he t i r es of hi s women i n a week or a ni ght , t hat he
despi ses pr of essi onal whor es and t hat he l oves t o i magi ne he i s seduci ng
vi r t uous gi r l s who make a gr eat except i on f or hi s sake. I t i s t he f eel i ng, of
achi evement t hat he seeks and never f i nds. What gl or y can t her e be i n t he
conquest of a mi ndl ess body? Now t hat i s your woman- chaser . Does t he
descr i pt i on f i t me?"
" God, no! "
" Then you can j udge, wi t hout aski ng my wor d f or i t , how much chasi ng of
women I ' ve done i n my l i f e. "
" But what on ear t h have you been doi ng on t he f r ont pages of newspaper s
f or t he l ast i sn' t i t t wel veyear s?"
" I ' ve spent a l ot of money on t he most ost ent at i ousl y vul gar par t i es I
coul d t hi nk of , and a mi ser abl e amount of t i me on bei ng seen wi t h t he
appr opr i at e sor t of women. As f or t he r est " He st opped, t hen sai d, " I have
some f r i ends who know t hi s, but you ar e t he f i r st per son t o whomI am
conf i di ng i t agai nst my own r ul es: I have never sl ept wi t h any of t hose
women. I have never t ouched one of t hem. "
" What i s mor e i ncr edi bl e t han t hat , i s t hat I bel i eve you. "
The l amp on t he f l oor besi de hi mt hr ew br oken bi t s of l i ght acr oss
Fr anci sco' s f ace, as he l eaned f or war d; t he f ace had a l ook of gui l t l ess
amusement . " I f you car e t o gl ance over t hose f r ont pages, you' l l see t hat
I ' ve never sai d anyt hi ng. I t was t he women who wer e eager t o r ush i nt o pr i nt
wi t h st or i es i nsi nuat i ng t hat bei ng seen wi t h me at a r est aur ant was t he si gn
of a gr eat r omance. What do you suppose t hose women ar e af t er but t he same
t hi ng as t he chaser t he desi r e t o gai n t hei r own val ue f r omt he number and
f ame of t he men t hey conquer ? Onl y i t ' s one st ep phoni er , because t he val ue
t hey seek i s not even i n t he act ual f act , but i n t he i mpr essi on on and t he
envy of ot her women. Wel l , I gave t hose bi t ches what t hey want edbut what
t hey l i t er al l y want ed, wi t hout t he pr et ense t hat t hey expect ed, t he pr et ense
t hat hi des f r omThemt he nat ur e of t hei r wi sh. Do you t hi nk t hey want ed t o
sl eep wi t h me or wi t h any man? They woul dn' t be capabl e of so r eal and honest
a desi r e. They want ed f ood f or t hei r vani t yand I gave i t t o t hem. I gave
t hemt he chance t o boast t o t hei r f r i ends and t o see t hemsel ves i n t he
scandal sheet s i n t he r ol es of gr eat seduct r esses. But do you know t hat i t
wor ks i n exact l y t he same way as what you di d at your t r i al ? I f you want t o
def eat any ki nd of vi ci ous f r audcompl y wi t h i t l i t er al l y, addi ng not hi ng of
your own t o di sgui se i t s nat ur e. Those women under st ood. They saw whet her
t her e' s any sat i sf act i on i n bei ng envi ed by ot her s f or a f eat one has not
achi eved. I nst ead of sel f - est eem, t hei r publ i ci zed r omances wi t h me have
gi ven t hema deeper sense of i nf er i or i t y: each one of t hemknows t hat she' s
t r i ed and f ai l ed. I f dr aggi ng me i nt o bed i s supposed t o be her publ i c
st andar d of val ue, she knows t hat she coul dn' t l i ve up t o i t . I t hi nk t hose
women hat e me mor e t han any ot her man on.
ear t h. But my secr et i s saf ebecause each one of t hemt hi nks t hat she was
t he onl y one who f ai l ed, whi l e al l t he ot her s succeeded, so she' l l be t he
mor e vehement i n swear i ng t o our r omance and wi l l never admi t t he t r ut h t o
anybody. "
" But what have you done t o your own r eput at i on?"
Fr anci sco shr ugged. " Those whomI r espect , wi l l know t he t r ut h about me,
sooner or l at er . The ot her s" hi s f ace har dened" t he ot her s consi der t hat
whi ch I r eal l y amas evi l . Let t hemhave what t hey pr ef er what I appear t o be
on t he f r ont pages. "
" But what f or ? Why di d you do i t ? J ust t o t each t hema l esson?"
" Hel l , no! I want ed t o be known as a pl ayboy. "
" Why?"
" A pl ayboy i s a man who j ust can' t hel p l et t i ng money r un t hr ough hi s
f i nger s.
" Why di d you want t o assume such an ugl y sor t of r ol e?"
" Camouf l age. "
" For what ?"
" For a pur pose of my own. "
" What pur pose?"
Fr anci sco shook hi s head. " Don' t ask me t o t el l you t hat . I ' ve t ol d you
mor e t han I shoul d. You' l l come t o know t he r est of i t soon, anyway. "
" I f i t ' s mor e t han you shoul d, why di d you t el l me?"
" Because . . . you' ve made me become i mpat i ent f or t he f i r st t i me i n
year s. " The not e of a suppr essed emot i on came back i nt o hi s voi ce.
" Because I ' ve never want ed anyone t o know t he t r ut h about me as I want ed
you t o know i t . Because I knew t hat you' d despi se a pl ayboy mor e t han any
ot her sor t of manas I woul d, t oo. Pl ayboy? I ' ve never l oved but one woman i n
my l i f e and st i l l do and al ways wi l l ! " I t was an i nvol unt ar y br eak, and he
added, hi s voi ce l ow, " I ' ve never conf essed t hat t o anyone . . . not even t o
her . "
" Have you l ost her ?"
Fr anci sco sat l ooki ng of f i nt o space; i n a moment , he answer ed t onel essl y,
" I hope not . "
The l i ght of t he l amp hi t hi s f ace f r ombel ow, and Rear den coul d not see
hi s eyes, onl y hi s mout h dr awn i n l i nes of endur ance and oddl y sol emn
r esi gnat i on. Rear den knew t hat t hi s was a wound not t o be pr obed any f ur t her .
Wi t h one of hi s swi f t changes of mood, Fr anci sco sai d, " Oh wel l , i t ' s j ust
a l i t t l e l onger ! " and r ose t o hi s f eet , smi l i ng.
" Si nce you t r ust me, " sai d Rear den, " I want t o t el l you a secr et of mi ne
i n exchange. I want you t o, know how much I t r ust ed you bef or e I came her e.
And I mi ght need your hel p l at er . "
" You' r e t he onl y man l ef t whomI ' d l i ke t o hel p. "
" Ther e' s a gr eat deal t hat I don' t under st and about you, but I ' mcer t ai n
of one t hi ng: t hat you' r e not a f r i end of t he l oot er s. "
" I ' mnot . " Ther e was a hi nt of amusement i n Fr anci sco' s f ace, as at an
under st at ement .
" So I know t hat you won' t bet r ay me i f I t el l you t hat I ' mgoi ng t o
cont i nue sel l i ng Rear den Met al t o cust omer s of my own choi ce i n any amount I
wi sh, whenever I see a chance t o do i t . Ri ght now, I ' mget t i ng r eady t o pour
an or der t went y t i mes t he si ze of t he one t hey t r i ed me f or . "
Si t t i ng on t he ar mof a chai r , a f ew f eet away, Fr anci sco l eaned f or war d
t o l ook at hi msi l ent l y, f r owni ng, f or a l ong moment , " Do you t hi nk t hat
you' r e f i ght i ng t hemby doi ng i t ?" he asked.
" Wel l , what woul d you cal l i t ? Co- oper at i ng?"
" You wer e wi l l i ng t o wor k and pr oduce Rear den Met al f or t hemat t he pr i ce
of l osi ng your pr of i t s, l osi ng your f r i ends, enr i chi ng st r ay bast ar ds who had
t he pul l t o r ob you, and t aki ng t hei r abuse f or t he pr i vi l ege of keepi ng t hem
al i ve. Now you' r e wi l l i ng t o do i t at t he pr i ce of accept i ng t he posi t i on of
a cr i mi nal and t he r i sk of bei ng t hr own i n j ai l at any moment f or t he sake of
keepi ng i n exi st ence a syst emwhi ch can be kept goi ng onl y by i t s vi ct i ms,
onl y by t he br eaki ng of i t s own l aws. "
" I t ' s not f or t hei r syst em, but f or cust omer s whomI can' t abandon t o t he
mer cy of t hei r syst emI i nt end t o out l ast t hat syst emof t hei r s I don' t
i nt end t o l et t hemst op me, no mat t er how har d t hey make i t f or meand I
don' t i nt end t o gi ve up t he wor l d t o t hem, even i f I amt he l ast man l ef t .
Ri ght now, t hat i l l egal or der i s mor e i mpor t ant t o me t han t he whol e of my
mi l l s. "
Fr anci sco shook hi s head sl owl y and di d not answer ; t hen he asked, " To
whi ch one of your f r i ends i n t he copper i ndust r y ar e you goi ng t o gi ve t he
val uabl e pr i vi l ege of i nf or mi ng on you t hi s t i me?"
Rear den smi l ed. " Not t hi s t i me. Thi s t i me, I ' mdeal i ng wi t h a man I can
t r ust . "
" Real l y? Who i s i t ?"
" You. "
Fr anci sco sat up st r ai ght . " What ?" he asked, hi s voi ce so l ow t hat he
al most succeeded i n hi di ng t he sound of a gasp.
Rear den was smi l i ng. " You di dn' t know t hat I ' mone of your cust omer s now?
I t was done t hr ough a coupl e of st ooges and under a phony namebut I ' l l need
your hel p t o pr event anyone on your st af f f r ombecomi ng i nqui si t i ve about i t .
I need t hat copper , I need i t on t i meand I don' t car e i f t hey ar r est me
l at er , so l ong as I get t hi s t hr ough. I know t hat you' ve l ost al l concer n f or
your company, your weal t h, your wor k, because you don' t car e t o deal wi t h
l oot er s l i ke Taggar t and Boyl e. But i f you meant al l t he t hi ngs you t aught
me, i f I amt he l ast man l ef t whomyou r espect , you' l l hel p me t o sur vi ve and
t o beat t hem. I ' ve never asked f or anyone' s hel p. I ' maski ng f or your s.
I need you. I t r ust you. You' ve al ways pr of essed your admi r at i on f or me.
Wel l , t her e' s my l i f e i n your handsi f you want i t . An or der of d' Anconi a
copper i s bei ng shi pped t o me r i ght now. I t l ef t San J uan on December f i f t h. "
" What ?! "
I t was a scr eamof pl ai n shock. Fr anci sco had shot t o hi s f eet , past any
at t empt t o hi de anyt hi ng. " On December f i f t h?"
" Yes, " sai d Rear den, st upef i ed.
Fr anci sco l eaped t o t he t el ephone. " I t ol d you not t o deal wi t h d' Anconi a
Copper ! " I t was t he hal f - moani ng, hal f - f ur i ous cr y of despai r .
Hi s hand was r eachi ng f or t he t el ephone, but j er ked back. He gr asped t he
edge of t he t abl e, as i f t o st op hi msel f f r oml i f t i ng t he r ecei ver , and he
st ood, head down, f or how l ong a t i me nei t her he nor Rear den coul d t el l .
Rear den was hel d numb by t he f act of wat chi ng an agoni zed st r uggl e wi t h t he
mot i onl ess f i gur e of a man as i t s onl y evi dence. He coul d not guess t he
nat ur e of t he st r uggl e, he knew onl y t hat t her e was somet hi ng whi ch Fr anci sco
had t he power t o pr event i n t hat moment and t hat i t was a power whi ch he
woul d not use.
When Fr anci sco r ai sed hi s head, Rear den saw a f ace dr awn by so gr eat a
suf f er i ng t hat i t s l i nes wer e al most an audi bl e cr y of pai n, t he mor e
t er r i bl e because t he f ace had a l ook of f i r mness, as i f t he deci si on had been
made and t hi s was t he pr i ce of i t .
" Fr anci sco . . . what ' s t he mat t er ?"
" Hank, I . . . " He shook hi s head, st opped, t hen st ood up st r ai ght .
" Mr . Rear den, " he sai d, i n a voi ce t hat had t he st r engt h, t he despai r and
t he pecul i ar di gni t y of a pl ea he knew t o be hopel ess, " f or t he t i me when
you' r e goi ng t o damn me, when you' r e goi ng t o doubt ever y wor d I sai d . . . I
swear t o youby t he woman I l ovet hat I amyour f r i end. "
The memor y of Fr anci sco' s f ace as i t l ooked i n t hat moment , came back t o
Rear den t hr ee days l at er , t hr ough a bl i ndi ng shock of l oss and hat r edi t came
back, even t hough, st andi ng by t he r adi o i n hi s of f i ce, he t hought t hat he
must now keep away f r omt he Wayne- Fal kl and or he woul d ki l l Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a on si ght i t kept comi ng back t o hi m, t hr ough t he wor ds he was
hear i nghe was hear i ng t hat t hr ee shi ps of d' Anconi a copper , bound f r omSan
J uan t o New Yor k, had been at t acked by Ragnar Danneskj ol d and sent t o t he
bot t omof t he oceani t kept comi ng back, even t hough he knew t hat much mor e
t han t he copper had gone down f or hi mwi t h t hose shi ps.

CHAPTER V
ACCOUNT OVERDRAWN

I t was t he f i r st f ai l ur e i n t he hi st or y of Rear den St eel . For t he f i r st
t i me, an or der was not del i ver ed as pr omi sed. But by Febr uar y 15, when t he
Taggar t r ai l was due, i t made no di f f er ence t o anyone any l onger .
Wi nt er had come ear l y, i n t he l ast days of November . Peopl e sai d t hat i t
was t he har dest wi nt er on r ecor d and t hat no one coul d be bl amed f or t he
unusual sever i t y of t he snowst or ms. They di d not car e t o r emember t hat t her e
had been a t i me when snowst or ms di d not sweep, unr esi st ed, down unl i ght ed
r oads and upon t he r oof s of unheat ed houses, di d not st op t he movement of
t r ai ns, di d not l eave a wake of cor pses count ed by t he hundr eds.
The f i r st t i me t hat Danagger Coal was l at e i n del i ver i ng f uel t o Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , i n t he l ast week of December , Danagger ' s cousi n expl ai ned
t hat he coul d not hel p i t ; he had had t o cut t he wor kday down t o si x hour s,
he sai d, i n or der t o r ai se t he mor al e of t he men who di d not seemt o f unct i on
as t hey had i n t he days of hi s cousi n Kennet h; t he men had become l i st l ess
and sl oppy, he sai d, because t hey wer e exhaust ed by t he har sh di sci pl i ne of
t he f or mer management ; he coul d not hel p i t i f some of t he super i nt endent s
and f or emen had qui t hi mwi t hout r eason, men who had been wi t h t he company
f or t en t o t went y year s; he coul d not hel p i t i f t her e seemed t o be some
f r i ct i on bet ween hi s wor ker s and hi s new super vi sor y st af f , even t hough t he
new men wer e much mor e l i ber al t han t he ol d sl ave dr i ver s; i t was onl y a
mat t er of r eadj ust ment , he sai d. He coul d not hel p i t , he sai d, i f t he
t onnage i nt ended f or Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al had been t ur ned over , on t he
eve of i t s schedul ed del i ver y, t o t he Bur eau of Gl obal Rel i ef f or shi pment t o
t he Peopl e' s St at e of Engl and; i t was an emer gency, t he peopl e of Engl and
wer e st ar vi ng, wi t h al l of t hei r St at e f act or i es cl osi ng downand Mi ss
Taggar t was bei ng unr easonabl e, si nce i t was onl y a mat t er of one day' s
del ay.
I t was onl y one day' s del ay. I t caused a t hr ee days' del ay i n t he r un of
Fr ei ght Tr ai n Number 386, bound f r omCal i f or ni a t o New Yor k wi t h f i f t y- ni ne
car l oads of l et t uce and or anges. Fr ei ght Tr ai n Number 386 wai t ed on si di ngs,
at coal i ng st at i ons, f or t he f uel t hat had not ar r i ved. When t he t r ai n
r eached New Yor k, t he l et t uce and or anges had t o be dumped i nt o t he East
Ri ver : t hey had wai t ed t hei r t ur n t oo l ong i n t he f r ei ght houses of
Cal i f or ni a, wi t h t he t r ai n schedul es cut and t he engi nes f or bi dden, by
di r ect i ve, t o pul l a t r ai n of mor e t han si xt y car s.
Nobody but t hei r f r i ends and t r ade associ at es not i ced t hat t hr ee or ange
gr ower s i n Cal i f or ni a went out of busi ness, as wel l as t wo l et t uce f ar mer s i n
I mper i al Val l ey; nobody not i ced t he cl osi ng of a commi ssi on house i n New
Yor k, of a pl umbi ng company t o whi ch t he commi ssi on house owed money, of a
l ead- pi pe whol esal er who had suppl i ed t he pl umbi ng company. When peopl e wer e
st ar vi ng, sai d t he newspaper s, one di d not have t o f eel concer n over t he
f ai l ur es of busi ness ent er pr i ses whi ch wer e onl y pr i vat e vent ur es f or pr i vat e
pr of i t .
The coal shi pped acr oss t he At l ant i c by t he Bur eau of Gl obal Rel i ef di d
not r each t he Peopl e' s St at e of Engl and: i t was sei zed by Ragnar Danneskj ol d.
The second t i me t hat Danagger Coal was l at e i n del i ver i ng f uel t o Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , i n mi d- J anuar y, Danagger ' s cousi n snar l ed over t he
t el ephone t hat he coul d not hel p i t : hi s mi nes had been shut down f or t hr ee
days, due t o a shor t age of l ubr i cat i ng oi l f or t he machi ner y. The suppl y of
coal t o Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al was f our days l at e.
Mr . Qui nn, of t he Qui nn Bal l Bear i ng Company whi ch had once moved f r om
Connect i cut t o Col or ado, wai t ed a week f or t he f r ei ght t r ai n t hat car r i ed hi s
or der of Rear den st eel . When t he t r ai n ar r i ved, t he door s of t he Qui nn Bal l
Bear i ng Company' s pl ant wer e cl osed.
Nobody t r aced t he cl osi ng of a mot or company i n Mi chi gan, t hat had wai t ed
f or a shi pment of bal l bear i ngs, i t s machi ner y i dl e, i t s wor ker s on f ul l pay;
or t he cl osi ng of a sawmi l l i n Or egon, t hat had wai t ed f or a new mot or ; or
t he cl osi ng of a l umber yar d i n I owa, l ef t wi t hout suppl y; or t he bankr upt cy
of a bui l di ng cont r act or i n I l l i noi s who, f ai l i ng t o get hi s l umber on t i me,
f ound hi s cont r act s cancel l ed and t he pur chaser s of hi s homes sent wander i ng
of f down snowswept r oads i n sear ch of t hat whi ch di d not exi st anywher e any
l onger .
The snowst or mt hat came at t he end of J anuar y bl ocked t he passes t hr ough
t he Rocky Mount ai ns, r ai si ng whi t e wal l s t hi r t y f eet hi gh acr oss t he mai n-
l i ne t r ack of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . The men who at t empt ed t o cl ear t he
t r ack, gave up wi t hi n t he f i r st f ew hour s: t he r ot ar y pl ows br oke down, one
af t er anot her . The pl ows had been kept i n pr ecar i ous r epai r f or t wo year s
past t he span of t hei r usef ul ness. The new pl ows had not been del i ver ed; t he
manuf act ur er had qui t , unabl e t o obt ai n t he st eel he needed f r omOr r en Boyl e.
Thr ee west bound t r ai ns wer e t r apped on t he si di ngs of Wi nst on St at i on,
hi gh i n t he Rocki es, wher e t he mai n l i ne of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al cut
acr oss t he nor t hwest cor ner of Col or ado. For f i ve days, t hey r emai ned beyond
t he r each of hel p. Tr ai ns coul d not appr oach t hemt hr ough t he st or m. The l ast
of t he t r ucks made by Lawr ence Hammond br oke down on t he f r ozen gr ades of t he
mount ai n hi ghways.
The best of t he ai r pl anes once made by Dwi ght Sander s wer e sent out , but
never r eached Wi nst on St at i on; t hey wer e wor n past t he st age of f i ght i ng a
st or m.
Thr ough t he dr i vi ng mesh of snow, t he passenger s t r apped aboar d t he t r ai ns
l ooked out at t he l i ght s of Wi nst on' s shant i es. The l i ght s di ed i n t he ni ght
of t he second day. By t he eveni ng of t he t hi r d, t he l i ght s, t he heat and t he
f ood had gi ven out aboar d t he t r ai ns. I n t he br i ef l ul l s of t he st or m, when
t he whi t e mesh vani shed and l ef t behi nd i t t he st i l l ness of a bl ack voi d
mer gi ng a l i ght l ess ear t h wi t h a st ar l ess sky
t he passenger s coul d see, many mi l es away t o t he sout h, a smal l t ongue of
f l ame t wi st i ng i n t he wi nd. I t was Wyat t ' s Tor ch.
By t he mor ni ng of t he si xt h day, when t he t r ai ns wer e abl e t o move and
pr oceeded down t he sl opes of Ut ah, of Nevada, of Cal i f or ni a, t he t r ai nmen
obser ved t he smokel ess st acks and t he cl osed door s of smal l t r acksi de
f act or i es, whi ch had not been cl osed on t hei r l ast r un.
" St or ms ar e an act of God, " wr ot e Ber t r amScudder , " and nobody can be hel d
soci al l y r esponsi bl e f or t he weat her . "
The r at i ons of coal , est abl i shed by Wesl ey Mouch, per mi t t ed t he heat i ng of
homes f or t hr ee hour s a day. Ther e was no wood t o bur n, no met al t o make new
st oves, no t ool s t o pi er ce t he wal l s of t he houses f or new i nst al l at i ons. I n
makeshi f t cont r apt i ons of br i cks and oi l cans, pr of essor s wer e bur ni ng t he
books of t hei r l i br ar i es, and f r ui t gr ower s wer e bur ni ng t he t r ees of t hei r
or char ds. " Pr i vat i ons st r engt hen a peopl e' s spi r i t , " wr ot e Ber t r amScudder ,
" and f or ge t he f i ne st eel of soci al di sci pl i ne. Sacr i f i ce i s t he cement whi ch
uni t es human br i cks i nt o t he gr eat edi f i ce of soci et y. "
" The nat i on whi ch had once hel d t he cr eed t hat gr eat ness i s achi eved by
pr oduct i on, i s now t ol d t hat i t i s achi eved by squal or , " sai d Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a i n a pr ess i nt er vi ew. But t hi s was not pr i nt ed.
The onl y busi ness boom, t hat wi nt er , came t o t he amusement i ndust r y.
Peopl e wr enched t hei r penni es out of t he qui cksands of t hei r f ood and heat
budget s, and went wi t hout meal s i n or der t o cr owd i nt o movi e t heat er s, i n
or der t o escape f or a f ew hour s t he st at e of ani mal s r educed t o t he si ngl e
concer n of t er r or over t hei r cr udest needs. I n J anuar y, al l movi e t heat er s,
ni ght cl ubs and bowl i ng al l eys wer e cl osed by or der of Wesl ey Mouch, f or t he
pur pose of conser vi ng f uel . " Pl easur e i s not an essent i al of exi st ence, "
wr ot e Ber t r amScudder .
" You must l ear n t o t ake a phi l osophi cal at t i t ude, " sai d Dr . Si mon
Pr i t chet t t o a young gi r l st udent who br oke down i nt o sudden, hyst er i cal sobs
i n t he mi ddl e of a l ect ur e. She had j ust r et ur ned f r oma vol unt eer r el i ef
expedi t i on t o a set t l ement on Lake Super i or ; she had seen a mot her hol di ng
t he body of a gr own son who had di ed of hunger .
" Ther e ar e no absol ut es, " sai d Dr . Pr i t chet t . " Real i t y i s onl y an
i l l usi on.
How does t hat woman know t hat her son i s dead? How does she know t hat he
ever exi st ed?"
Peopl e wi t h pl eadi ng eyes and desper at e f aces cr owded i nt o t ent s wher e
evangel i st s cr i ed i n t r i umphant gl oat i ng t hat man was unabl e t o cope wi t h
nat ur e, t hat hi s sci ence was a f r aud, t hat hi s mi nd was a f ai l ur e, t hat he
was r eapi ng puni shment f or t he si n of pr i de, f or hi s conf i dence i n hi s own
i nt el l ect and t hat onl y f ai t h i n t he power of myst i c secr et s coul d pr ot ect
hi mf r omt he f i ssur e of a r ai l or f r omt he bl owout of t he l ast t i r e on hi s
l ast t r uck. Love was t he key t o t he myst i c secr et s, t hey cr i ed, l ove and
sel f l ess sacr i f i ce t o t he needs of ot her s.
Or r en Boyl e made a sel f l ess sacr i f i ce t o t he needs of ot her s. He sol d t o
t he Bur eau of Gl obal Rel i ef , f or shi pment t o t he Peopl e' s St at e of Ger many,
t en t housand t ons of st r uct ur al st eel shapes t hat had been i nt ended f or t he
At l ant i c Sout her n Rai l r oad. " I t was a di f f i cul t deci si on t o make, " he sai d,
wi t h a moi st , unf ocused l ook of r i ght eousness, t o t he pani c- st r i cken
pr esi dent of t he At l ant i c Sout her n, " but I wei ghed t he f act t hat you' r e a
r i ch cor por at i on, whi l e t he peopl e of Ger many ar e i n a st at e of unspeakabl e
mi ser y. So I act ed on t he pr i nci pl e t hat need comes f i r st . When i n doubt ,
i t ' s t he weak t hat must be consi der ed, not t he st r ong. " The pr esi dent of t he
At l ant i c Sout her n had hear d t hat Or r en Boyl e' s most val uabl e f r i end i n
Washi ngt on had a f r i end i n t he Mi ni st r y of Suppl y of t he Peopl e' s St at e of
Ger many. But whet her t hi s had been Boyl e' s mot i ve or whet her i t had been t he
pr i nci pl e of sacr i f i ce, no one coul d t el l and i t made no di f f er ence: i f Boyl e
had been a sai nt of t he cr eed of sel f l essness, he woul d have had t o do
pr eci sel y what he had done. Thi s si l enced t he pr esi dent of t he At l ant i c
Sout her n; he dar ed not admi t t hat he car ed f or hi s r ai l r oad mor e t han f or t he
peopl e of Ger many; he dar ed not ar gue agai nst t he pr i nci pl e of sacr i f i ce.
The wat er s of t he Mi ssi ssi ppi had been r i si ng al l t hr ough t he mont h of
J anuar y, swol l en by t he st or ms, dr i ven by t he wi nd i nt o a r est l ess gr i ndi ng
of cur r ent agai nst cur r ent and agai nst ever y obst r uct i on i n t hei r way. On a
ni ght of l ashi ng sl eet , i n t he f i r st week of Febr uar y, t he Mi ssi ssi ppi br i dge
of t he At l ant i c Sout her n col l apsed under a passenger t r ai n. The engi ne and
t he f i r st f i ve sl eeper s went down wi t h t he cr acki ng gi r der s i nt o t he t wi st i ng
bl ack spi r al s of wat er ei ght y f eet bel ow. The r est of t he t r ai n r emai ned on
t he f i r st t hr ee spans of t he br i dge, whi ch hel d.
" You can' t have your cake and l et your nei ghbor eat i t , t oo, " sai d
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. The f ur y of denunci at i ons whi ch t he hol der s of publ i c
voi ces unl eashed agai nst hi mwas gr eat er t han t hei r concer n over t he hor r or
at t he r i ver .
I t was whi sper ed t hat t he chi ef engi neer of t he At l ant i c Sout her n, i n
despai r over t he company' s f ai l ur e t o obt ai n t he st eel he needed t o r ei nf or ce
t he br i dge, had r esi gned si x mont hs ago, t el l i ng t he company t hat t he br i dge
was unsaf e. He had wr i t t en a l et t er t o t he l ar gest newspaper i n New Yor k,
war ni ng t he publ i c about i t ; t he l et t er had not been pr i nt ed. I t was
whi sper ed t hat t he f i r st t hr ee spans of t he br i dge had hel d because t hey had
been r ei nf or ced wi t h st r uct ur al shapes of Rear den Met al ; but f i ve hundr ed
t ons of t he Met al was al l t hat t he r ai l r oad had been abl e t o obt ai n under t he
Fai r Shar e Law.
As t he sol e r esul t of of f i ci al i nvest i gat i ons, t wo br i dges acr oss t he
Mi ssi ssi ppi , bel ongi ng t o smal l er r ai l r oads, wer e condemned. One of t he
r ai l r oads went out of busi ness; t he ot her cl osed a br anch l i ne, t or e up i t s
r ai l and l ai d a t r ack t o t he Mi ssi ssi ppi br i dge of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ;
so di d t he At l ant i c Sout her n.
The gr eat Taggar t Br i dge at Bedf or d, I l l i noi s, had been bui l t by Nat hani el
Taggar t . He had f ought t he gover nment f or year s, because t he cour t s had
r ul ed, on t he compl ai nt of r i ver shi pper s, t hat r ai l r oads wer e a dest r uct i ve
compet i t i on t o shi ppi ng and t hus a t hr eat t o t he publ i c wel f ar e, and t hat
r ai l r oad br i dges acr oss t he Mi ssi ssi ppi wer e t o be f or bi dden as a mat er i al
obst r uct i on; t he cour t s had or der ed Nat hani el Taggar t t o t ear down hi s br i dge
and t o car r y hi s passenger s acr oss t he r i ver by means of bar ges. He had won
t hat bat t l e by a maj or i t y of one voi ce on t he Supr eme Cour t . Hi s br i dge was
now t he onl y maj or l i nk l ef t t o hol d t he cont i nent t oget her . Hi s l ast
descendant had made i t her st r i ct est r ul e t hat what ever el se was negl ect ed,
t he Taggar t Br i dge woul d al ways be mai nt ai ned i n f l awl ess shape.
The st eel shi pped acr oss t he At l ant i c by t he Bur eau of Gl obal Rel i ef had
not r eached t he Peopl e' s St at e of Ger many. I t had been sei zed by Ragnar
Danneskj ol dbut nobody hear d of i t out si de t he Bur eau, because t he newspaper s
had l ong si nce st opped ment i oni ng t he act i vi t i es of Ragnar Danneskj ol d.
I t was not unt i l t he publ i c began t o not i ce t he gr owi ng shor t age, t hen t he
di sappear ance f r omt he mar ket of el ect r i c i r ons, t oast er s, washi ng machi nes
and al l el ect r i cal appl i ances, t hat peopl e began t o ask quest i ons and t o hear
whi sper s. They hear d t hat no shi p l oaded wi t h d' Anconi a copper was abl e t o
r each a por t of t he Uni t ed St at es; i t coul d not get past Ragnar Danneskj ol d.
I n t he f oggy wi nt er ni ght s, on t he wat er f r ont , sai l or s whi sper ed t he st or y
t hat Ragnar Danneskj ol d al ways sei zed t he car goes of r el i ef vessel s, but
never t ouched t he copper : he sank t he d' Anconi a shi ps wi t h t hei r l oads; he
l et t he cr ews escape i n l i f eboat s, but t he copper went t o t he bot t omof t he
ocean. They whi sper ed i t as a dar k l egend beyond men' s power t o expl ai n;
nobody coul d f i nd a r eason why Danneskj ol d di d not choose t o t ake t he copper .
I n t he second week of Febr uar y, f or t he pur pose of conser vi ng copper wi r e
and el ect r i c power , a di r ect i ve f or bade t he r unni ng of el evat or s above t he
t went y- f i f t h f l oor . The upper f l oor s of t he bui l di ngs had t o be vacat ed, and
par t i t i ons of unpai nt ed boar ds went up t o cut of f t he st ai r ways. By speci al
per mi t , except i ons wer e gr ant edon t he gr ounds of " essent i al need" t o a f ew
of t he l ar ger busi ness ent er pr i ses and t he mor e f ashi onabl e hot el s. The t ops
of t he ci t i es wer e cut down.
The i nhabi t ant s of New Yor k had never had t o be awar e of t he weat her .
St or ms had been onl y a nui sance t hat sl owed t he t r af f i c and made puddl es i n
t he door ways of br i ght l y l i ght ed shops. St eppi ng agai nst t he wi nd, dr essed i n
r ai ncoat s, f ur s and eveni ng sl i pper s, peopl e had f el t t hat a st or mwas an
i nt r uder wi t hi n t he ci t y. Now, f aci ng t he gust s of snow t hat came sweepi ng
down t he nar r ow st r eet s, peopl e f el t i n di mt er r or t hat t hey wer e t he
t empor ar y i nt r uder s and t hat t he wi nd had t he r i ght - of - way.
" I t won' t make any di f f er ence t o us now, f or get i t , Hank, i t doesn' t
mat t er , " sai d Dagny when Rear den t ol d her t hat he woul d not be abl e t o
del i ver t he r ai l ; he had not been abl e t o f i nd a suppl i er of copper .
" For get i t , Hank. " He di d not answer her . He coul d not f or get t he f i r st
f ai l ur e of Rear den St eel .
On t he eveni ng of Febr uar y 15, a pl at e cr acked on a r ai l j oi nt and sent an
engi ne of f t he t r ack, hal f a mi l e f r omWi nst on, Col or ado, on a di vi si on whi ch
was t o have been r el ai d wi t h t he new r ai l . The st at i on agent of Wi nst on
si ghed and sent f or a cr ew wi t h a cr ane; i t was onl y one of t he mi nor
acci dent s t hat wer e happeni ng i n hi s sect i on ever y ot her day or so, he was
get t i ng used t o i t .
Rear den, t hat eveni ng, hi s coat col l ar r ai sed, hi s hat sl ant ed l ow over
hi s eyes, t he snow dr i f t s r i si ng t o hi s knees, was t r ampi ng t hr ough an
abandoned open- pi t coal mi ne, i n a f or saken cor ner of Pennsyl vani a,
super vi si ng t he l oadi ng of pi r at ed coal upon t he t r ucks whi ch he had
pr ovi ded. Nobody owned t he mi ne, nobody coul d af f or d t he cost of wor ki ng i t .
But a young man wi t h a br usque voi ce and dar k, angr y eyes, who came f r oma
st ar vi ng set t l ement , had or gani zed a gang of t he unempl oyed and made a deal
wi t h Rear den t o del i ver t he coal .
They mi ned i t at ni ght , t hey st or ed i t i n hi dden cul ver t s, t hey wer e pai d
i n cash, wi t h no quest i ons asked or answer ed. Gui l t y of a f i er ce desi r e t o
r emai n al i ve, t hey and Rear den t r aded l i ke savages, wi t hout r i ght s, t i t l es,
cont r act s or pr ot ect i on, wi t h not hi ng but mut ual under st andi ng and a
r ut hl essl y absol ut e obser vance of one' s gi ven wor d. Rear den di d not even know
t he name of t he young l eader . Wat chi ng hi mat t he j ob of l oadi ng t he t r ucks,
Rear den t hought t hat t hi s boy, i f bor n a gener at i on ear l i er , woul d have
become a gr eat i ndust r i al i st ; now, he woul d pr obabl y end hi s br i ef l i f e as a
pl ai n cr i mi nal i n a f ew mor e year s.
Dagny, t hat eveni ng, was f aci ng a meet i ng of t he Taggar t Boar d of
Di r ect or s.
They sat about a pol i shed t abl e i n a st at el y Boar d r oomwhi ch was
i nadequat el y heat ed. The men who, t hr ough t he decades of t hei r car eer s, had
r el i ed f or t hei r secur i t y upon keepi ng t hei r f aces bl ank, t hei r wor ds
i nconcl usi ve and t hei r cl ot hes i mpeccabl e, wer e t hr own of f - key by t he
sweat er s st r et ched over t hei r st omachs, by t he muf f l er s wound about t hei r
necks, by t he sound of coughi ng t hat cut t hr ough t he di scussi on t oo
f r equent l y, l i ke t he r at t l e of a machi ne gun.
She not ed t hat J i mhad l ost t he smoot hness of hi s usual per f or mance.
He sat wi t h hi s head dr awn i nt o hi s shoul der s, and hi s eyes kept dar t i ng
t oo r api dl y f r omf ace t o f ace.
A man f r omWashi ngt on sat at t he t abl e among t hem. Nobody knew hi s exact
j ob or t i t l e, but i t was not necessar y: t hey knew t hat he was t he man f r om
Washi ngt on. Hi s name was Mr . Weat her by, he had gr ayi ng t empl es, a l ong,
nar r ow f ace and a mout h t hat l ooked as i f he had t o st r et ch hi s f aci al
muscl es i n or der t o keep i t cl osed; t hi s gave a suggest i on of pr i mness t o a
f ace t hat di spl ayed not hi ng el se. The Di r ect or s di d not know whet her he was
pr esent as t he guest , t he advi ser or t he r ul er of t he Boar d; t hey pr ef er r ed
not t o f i nd out .
" I t seems t o me, " sai d t he chai r man, " t hat t he t op pr obl emf or us t o
consi der i s t he f act t hat t he t r ack of our mai n l i ne appear s t o be i n a
depl or abl e, not t o say cr i t i cal , condi t i on" He paused, t hen added
caut i ousl y, " whi l e t he onl y good r ai l we own i s t hat of t he J ohn Gal t I
mean, t he Ri o Nor t eLi ne. "
I n t he same caut i ous t one of wai t i ng f or someone el se t o pi ck up t he
i nt ended pur pose of hi s wor ds, anot her man sai d, " I f we consi der our cr i t i cal
shor t age of equi pment , and i f we consi der t hat we ar e l et t i ng i t wear out i n
t he ser vi ce of a br anch l i ne r unni ng at a l oss" He st opped and di d not st at e
what woul d occur i f t hey consi der ed i t .
" I n my opi ni on, " sai d a t hi n, pal l i d man wi t h a neat must ache, " t he Ri o
Nor t e Li ne seems t o have become a f i nanci al bur den whi ch t he company mi ght
not be abl e t o car r yt hat i s, not unl ess cer t ai n r eadj ust ment s ar e made,
whi ch" He di d not f i ni sh, but gl anced at Mr .
Weat her by. Mr . Weat her by l ooked as i f he had not not i ced i t .
" J i m, " sai d t he chai r man, " I t hi nk you mi ght expl ai n t he pi ct ur e t o Mr .
Weat her by. "
Taggar t ' s voi ce st i l l r et ai ned a pr act i ced smoot hness, but i t was t he
smoot hness of a pi ece of cl ot h st r et ched t i ght over a br oken gl ass obj ect ,
and t he shar p edges showed t hr ough once i n a whi l e: " I t hi nk i t i s gener al l y
conceded t hat t he mai n f act or af f ect i ng ever y r ai l r oad i n t he count r y i s t he
unusual r at e of busi ness f ai l ur es. Whi l e we al l r eal i ze, of cour se, t hat t hi s
i s onl y t empor ar y, st i l l , f or t he moment , i t has made t he r ai l r oad si t uat i on
appr oach a st age t hat may wel l be descr i bed as desper at e. Speci f i cal l y, t he
number of f act or i es whi ch have cl osed t hr oughout t he t er r i t or y of t he Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al syst emi s so l ar ge t hat i t has wr ecked our ent i r e f i nanci al
st r uct ur e. Di st r i ct s and di vi si ons whi ch had al ways br ought us our st eadi est
r evenues, ar e now showi ng an act ual oper at i ng l oss. A t r ai n schedul e gear ed
t o a heavy vol ume of f r ei ght cannot be mai nt ai ned f or t hr ee shi pper s wher e
t her e had once been seven. We cannot gi ve t hemt he same ser vi ceat l east , not
at . . . our pr esent r at es. " He gl anced at Mr . Weat her by, but Mr .
Weat her by di d not seemt o not i ce. " I t seems t o me, " sai d Taggar t , t he
shar p edges becomi ng shar per i n hi s voi ce, " t hat t he st and t aken by our
shi pper s i s unf ai r . Most of t hemhave been compl ai ni ng about t hei r
compet i t or s and have passed var i ous l ocal measur es t o el i mi nat e compet i t i on
i n t hei r par t i cul ar f i el ds. Now most of t hemar e pr act i cal l y i n sol e
possessi on of t hei r mar ket s, yet t hey r ef use t o r eal i ze t hat a r ai l r oad
cannot gi ve t o one l one f act or y t he f r ei ght r at es whi ch had been made
possi bl e by t he pr oduct i on of a whol e r egi on. We ar e r unni ng our t r ai ns f or
t hemat a l oss, yet t hey have t aken a st and agai nst any . . . r ai se i n
r at es. "
" Agai nst any r ai se?" sai d Mr . Weat her by mi l dl y, wi t h a good i mi t at i on of
ast oni shment . " That i s not t he st and t hey have t aken. "
" I f cer t ai n r umor s, whi ch I r ef use t o cr edi t , ar e t r ue" sai d t he
chai r man, and st opped one syl l abl e af t er t he t one of pani c had become obvi ous
i n hi s voi ce.
" J i m, " sai d Mr . Weat her by pl easant l y, " I t hi nk i t woul d be best i f we j ust
di dn' t ment i on t he subj ect of r ai si ng t he r at es. "
" I wasn' t suggest i ng an act ual r ai se at t hi s t i me, " sai d Taggar t hast i l y.
" I mer el y r ef er r ed t o i t t o r ound out t he pi ct ur e. "
" But , J i m, " sai d an ol d man wi t h a quaver i ng voi ce, " I t hought t hat your
i nf l uenceI mean, your f r i endshi pwi t h Mr . Mouch woul d i nsur e . . . "
He st opped, because t he ot her s wer e l ooki ng at hi msever el y, i n r epr oof
f or t he br each of an unwr i t t en l aw: one di d not ment i on a f ai l ur e of t hi s
ki nd, one di d not di scuss t he myst er i ous ways of J i m' s power f ul f r i endshi ps
or why t hey had f ai l ed hi m.
" Fact i s, " sai d Mr . Weat her by easi l y, " t hat Mr . Mouch sent me her e t o
di scuss t he demand of t he r ai l way uni ons f or a r ai se i n wages and t he demand
of t he shi pper s f or a cut i n r at es. "
He sai d i t i n a t one of casual f i r mness; he knew t hat al l t hese men had
known i t , t hat t he demands had been di scussed i n t he newspaper s f or mont hs;
he knew t hat t he dr ead i n t hese men' s mi nds was not of t he f act , but of hi s
nami ng i t - as i f t he f act had not exi st ed, but hi s wor ds hel d t he power t o
make i t exi st ; he knew t hat t hey had wai t ed t o see whet her he woul d exer ci se
t hat power ; he was l et t i ng t hemknow t hat he woul d.
Thei r si t uat i on war r ant ed an out cr y of pr ot est ; t her e was none; nobody
answer ed hi m. Then J ames Taggar t sai d i n t hat bi t i ng, ner vous t one whi ch i s
i nt ended t o convey anger , but mer el y conf esses uncer t ai nt y, " I woul dn' t
exagger at e t he i mpor t ance of Buzzy Wat t s of t he Nat i onal Shi pper s Counci l .
He' s been maki ng a l ot of noi se and gi vi ng a l ot of expensi ve di nner s i n
Washi ngt on, but I woul dn' t advi se t aki ng i t t oo ser i ousl y. "
" Oh, I don' t know, " sai d Mr . Weat her by.
" Li st en, Cl em, I do know t hat Wesl ey r ef used t o see hi ml ast week. "
" That ' s t r ue. Wesl ey i s a pr et t y busy man. "
" And I know t hat when Gene Lawson gave t hat bi g par t y t en days ago,
pr act i cal l y ever ybody was t her e, but Buzzy Wat t s was not i nvi t ed. "
" That ' s so, " sai d Mr . Weat her by peaceabl y.
" So I woul dn' t bet on Mr . Buzzy Wat t s, Cl em. And I woul dn' t l et i t wor r y
me. "
" Wesl ey' s an i mpar t i al man, " sai d Mr . Weat her by. " A man devot ed t o publ i c
dut y. I t ' s t he i nt er est s of t he count r y as a whol e t hat he' s got t o consi der
above ever yt hi ng el se. " Taggar t sat up; of al l t he danger si gns he knew, t hi s
l i ne of t al k was t he wor st . " Nobody can deny i t , J i m, t hat Wesl ey f eel s a
hi gh r egar d f or you as an enl i ght ened busi nessman, a val uabl e advi ser and one
of hi s cl osest per sonal f r i ends. "
Taggar t ' s eyes shot t o hi mswi f t l y: t hi s was st i l l wor se. " But nobody can
say t hat Wesl ey woul d hesi t at e t o sacr i f i ce hi s per sonal f eel i ngs and
f r i endshi pswher e t he wel f ar e of t he publ i c i s concer ned. "
Taggar t ' s f ace r emai ned bl ank; hi s t er r or came f r omt hi ngs never al l owed
t o r each expr essi on i n wor ds or i n f aci al muscl es. The t er r or was hi s
st r uggl e agai nst an unadmi t t ed t hought : he hi msel f had been " t he publ i c" f or
so l ong and i n so many di f f er ent i ssues, t hat he knew what i t woul d mean i f
t hat magi c t i t l e, t hat sacr ed t i t l e no one dar ed t o oppose, wer e t r ansf er r ed,
al ong wi t h i t s " wel f ar e, " t o t he per son of Buzzy Wat t s.
But what he asked, and he asked i t hast i l y, was, " You' r e not i mpl yi ng t hat
I woul d pl ace my per sonal i nt er est s above t he publ i c wel f ar e, ar e you?"
" No, of cour se not , " sai d Mr . Weat her by, wi t h a l ook t hat was al most a
smi l e. " Cer t ai nl y not . Not you, J i m. Your publ i c- spi r i t ed at t i t udeand
under st andi ng- ar e t oo wel l known. That ' s why Wesl ey expect s you t o see ever y
si de of t he pi ct ur e. "
" Yes, of cour se, " sai d Taggar t , t r apped.
" Wel l , consi der t he uni ons' si de of i t . Maybe you can' t af f or d t o gi ve
t hema r ai se, but how can t hey af f or d t o exi st when t he cost of l i vi ng has
shot sky- hi gh? They' ve got t o eat , don' t t hey? That comes f i r st , r ai l r oad or
no r ai l r oad. " Mr . Weat her by' s t one had a ki nd of pl aci d r i ght eousness, as i f
he wer e r eci t i ng a f or mul a r equi r ed t o convey anot her meani ng, cl ear t o al l
of t hem; he was l ooki ng st r ai ght at Taggar t , i n speci al emphasi s of t he
unst at ed. " Ther e ar e al most a mi l l i on member s i n t he r ai l way uni ons. Wi t h
f ami l i es, dependent s and poor r el at i vesand who hasn' t got poor r el at i ves
t hese days?i t amount s t o about f i ve mi l l i on vot es. Per sons, I mean. Wesl ey
has t o bear t hat i n mi nd. He has t o t hi nk of t hei r psychol ogy. And t hen,
consi der t he publ i c. The r at es you' r e char gi ng wer e est abl i shed at a t i me
when ever ybody was maki ng money. But t he way t hi ngs ar e now, t he cost of
t r anspor t at i on has become a bur den nobody can af f or d. Peopl e ar c scr eami ng
about i t al l over t he count r y. " He l ooked st r ai ght at Taggar t ; he mer el y
l ooked, but hi s gl ance had t he qual i t y of a wi nk.
" Ther e' s an awf ul l ot of t hem, J i m. They' r e not ver y happy at t he moment
about an awf ul l ot of t hi ngs. A gover nment t hat woul d br i ng t he r ai l r oad
r at es down woul d make a l ot of f ol ks gr at ef ul . "
The si l ence t hat answer ed hi mwas l i ke a hol e so deep t hat no sound coul d
be hear d of t he t hi ngs cr ashi ng down t o i t s bot t om. Taggar t knew, as t hey al l
knew, t o what di si nt er est ed mot i ve Mr . Mouch woul d al ways be r eady t o
sacr i f i ce hi s per sonal f r i endshi ps.
I t was t he si l ence and t he f act t hat she di d not want t o say i t , had come
her e r esol ved not t o speak, but coul d not r esi st i t , t hat made Dagny' s voi ce
sound so vi br ant l y har sh: " Got what you' ve been aski ng f or , al l t hese year s,
gent l emen?"
The swi f t ness wi t h whi ch t hei r eyes moved t o her was an i nvol unt ar y answer
t o an unexpect ed sound, but t he swi f t ness wi t h whi ch t hey moved awayt o l ook
down at t he t abl e, at t he wal l s, anywher e but at her was t he consci ous answer
t o t he meani ng of t he sounds.
I n t he si l ence of t he next moment , she f el t t hei r r esent ment l i ke a st ar ch
t hi ckeni ng t he ai r of t he r oom, and she knew t hat i t was not r esent ment
agai nst Mr . Weat her by, but agai nst her . She coul d have bor ne i t , i f t hey had
mer el y l et her quest i on go unanswer ed; but what made her f eel a si ckeni ng
t i ght ness i n her st omach, was t hei r doubl e f r aud of pr et endi ng t o i gnor e her
and t hen answer i ng i n t hei r own ki nd of manner .
The chai r man sai d, not l ooki ng at her , hi s voi ce poi nt edl y noncommi t t al ,
yet vaguel y pur posef ul at t he same t i me, " I t woul d have been al l r i ght ,
ever yt hi ng woul d have wor ked out f i ne, i f i t wer en' t f or t he wr ong peopl e i n
posi t i ons of power , such as Buzzy Wat t s and Chi ck Mor r i son. "
" Oh, I woul dn' t wor r y about Chi ck Mor r i son, " sai d t he pal l i d man wi t h t he
must ache. " He hasn' t any t op- l evel connect i ons. Not r eal l y.
I t ' s Ti nky Hol l oway t hat ' s poi son. "
" I don' t see t he pi ct ur e as hopel ess, " sai d a por t l y man who wor e a gr een
muf f l er . " J oe Dunphy and Bud Hazl et on ar e ver y cl ose t o Wesl ey. I f t hei r
i nf l uence pr evai l s, we' l l be al l r i ght . However , Ki p Chal mer s and Ti nky
Hol l oway ar e danger ous. "
" I can t ake car e of Ki p Chal mer s, " sai d Taggar t .
Mr . Weat her by was t he onl y per son i n t he r oomwho di d not mi nd l ooki ng at
Dagny; but whenever hi s gl ance r est ed upon her , i t r egi st er ed not hi ng; she
was t he onl y per son i n t he r oomwhomhe di d not see.
" I amt hi nki ng, " sai d Mr . Weat her by casual l y, l ooki ng at Taggar t , " t hat
you mi ght do Wesl ey a f avor . "
" Wesl ey knows t hat he can al ways count on me. "
" Wel l , my t hought i s t hat i f you gr ant ed t he uni ons' wage r ai ses
we mi ght dr op t he quest i on of cut t i ng t he r at es, f or t he t i me bei ng. "
" I can' t do t hat ! " I t was al most a cr y. " The Nat i onal Al l i ance of
Rai l r oads has t aken a unani mous st and agai nst t he r ai ses and has commi t t ed
ever y member t o r ef use. "
" That ' s j ust what I mean, " sai d Mr . Weat her by sof t l y. " Wesl ey needs t o
dr i ve a wedge i nt o t hat Al l i ance st and. I f a r ai l r oad l i ke Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al wer e t o gi ve i n, t he r est woul d be easy. You woul d hel p
Wesl ey a gr eat deal . He woul d appr eci at e i t . "
" But , good God, Cl em! I ' d be open t o cour t act i on f or i t , by t he Al l i ance
r ul es! "
Mr . Weat her by smi l ed. " What cour t ? Let Wesl ey t ake car e of t hat . "
" But l i st en, Cl em, you knowyou know j ust as wel l as I dot hat we can' t
af f or d i t ! "
Mr . Weat her by shr ugged. " That ' s a pr obl emf or you t o wor k out . "
" How, f or Chr i st ' s sake?"
" I don' t know. That ' s your j ob, not our s. You woul dn' t want t he gover nment
t o st ar t t el l i ng you how t o r un your r ai l r oad, woul d you?"
" No, of cour se not ! But "
" Our j ob i s onl y t o see t hat t he peopl e get f ai r wages and decent
t r anspor t at i on. I t ' s up t o you t o del i ver . But , of cour se, i f you say t hat
you can' t do t he j ob, why t hen"
" I haven' t sai d i t ! " Taggar t cr i ed hast i l y, " I haven' t sai d i t at al l ! "
" Good, " sai d Mr . Weat her by pl easant l y. " We know t hat you have t he abi l i t y
t o f i nd some way t o do i t . "
He was l ooki ng at Taggar t ; Taggar t was l ooki ng at Dagny.
" Wel l , i t was j ust a t hought , " sai d Mr . Weat her by, l eani ng back i n hi s
chai r i n a manner of modest wi t hdr awal . " J ust a t hought f or you t o mul l over .
I ' monl y a guest her e. I don' t want t o i nt er f er e. The pur pose of t he meet i ng
was t o di scuss t he si t uat i on of t he . . . br anch l i nes, I bel i eve?"
" Yes, " sai d t he chai r man and si ghed. " Yes. Now i f anyone has a
const r uct i ve suggest i on t o of f er " He wai t ed; no one answer ed. " I bel i eve t he
pi ct ur e i s cl ear t o al l of us. " He wai t ed. " I t seems t o be est abl i shed t hat
we cannot cont i nue t o af f or d t he oper at i on of some of our br anch l i nes . . .
t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne i n par t i cul ar . . . and, t her ef or e, some f or mof act i on
seems t o be i ndi cat ed. . . . "
" I t hi nk, " sai d t he pal l i d man wi t h t he must ache, hi s voi ce unexpect edl y
conf i dent , " t hat we shoul d now hear f r omMi ss Taggar t . " He l eaned f or war d
wi t h a l ook of hopef ul cr af t i ness. As Dagny di d not answer , but mer el y t ur ned
t o hi m, he asked, " What do you have t o say, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" Not hi ng. "
" I beg your par don?"
" Al l I had t o say was cont ai ned i n t he r epor t whi ch J i mhas r ead t o you. "
She spoke qui et l y, her voi ce cl ear and f l at .
" But you di d not make any r ecommendat i ons. "
" I have none t o make. "
" But , af t er al l , as our Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent , you have a vi t al
i nt er est i n t he pol i ci es of t hi s r ai l r oad. "
" I have no aut hor i t y over t he pol i ci es of t hi s r ai l r oad. "
" Oh, but we ar e anxi ous t o consi der your opi ni on. "
" I have no opi ni ons. "
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d, i n t he smoot hl y f or mal t one of an or der , " you
cannot f ai l t o r eal i ze t hat our br anch l i nes ar e r unni ng at a di sast r ous
def i ci t and t hat we expect you t o make t hempay. "
" How?"
" I don' t know. That i s your j ob, not our s. "
" I have st at ed i n my r epor t t he r easons why t hat i s now i mpossi bl e.
I f t her e ar e f act s whi ch I have over l ooked, pl ease name t hem. "
" Oh, I woul dn' t know. We expect you t o f i nd some way t o make i t possi bl e.
Our j ob i s onl y t o see t hat t he st ockhol der s get a f ai r pr of i t .
I t ' s up t o you t o del i ver . You woul dn' t want us t o t hi nk t hat you' r e
unabl e t o do t he j ob and"
" I amunabl e t o do i t . "
The man opened hi s mout h, but f ound not hi ng el se t o say; he l ooked at her
i n bewi l der ment , wonder i ng why t he f or mul a had f ai l ed.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " asked t he man wi t h t he gr een muf f l er , " di d you i mpl y i n
your r epor t t hat t he si t uat i on of t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne was cr i t i cal ?"
" I st at ed t hat i t was hopel ess. "
" Then what act i on do you pr opose?"
" I pr opose- not hi ng. "
" Ar en' t you evadi ng a r esponsi bi l i t y?"
" What i s i t t hat you t hi nk you' r e doi ng?" She spoke evenl y, addr essi ng
t hemal l . " Ar e you count i ng on my not sayi ng t hat t he r esponsi bi l i t y- i s
your s, t hat i t was your goddamn pol i ci es t hat br ought us wher e we ar e? Wel l ,
I ' msayi ng i t . "
" Mi ss Taggar t , Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d t he chai r man i n a t one of pl eadi ng
r epr oach, " t her e shoul dn' t be any har d f eel i ngs among us. Does i t mat t er now
who was t o bl ame? We don' t want t o quar r el over past mi st akes. We must al l
pul l t oget her as a t eamt o car r y our r ai l r oad t hr ough t hi s desper at e
emer gency, "
A gr ay- hai r ed man of pat r i ci an bear i ng, who had r emai ned si l ent t hr oughout
t he sessi on, wi t h a l ook of t he qui et l y bi t t er knowl edge t hat t he ent i r e
per f or mance was f ut i l e, gl anced at Dagny i n a way whi ch woul d have been
sympat hy had he st i l l f el t a r emnant of hope. He sai d, r ai si ng hi s voi ce j ust
enough t o bet r ay a not e of cont r ol l ed i ndi gnat i on, " Mr . Chai r man, i f i t i s
pr act i cal sol ut i ons t hat we ar e consi der i ng, I shoul d l i ke t o suggest t hat we
di scuss t he l i mi t at i on pl aced upon t he l engt h and speed of our t r ai ns. Of any
si ngl e pr act i ce, t hat i s t he most di sast r ous one. I t s r epeal woul d not sol ve
al l of our pr obl ems, but i t woul d be an enor mous r el i ef . Wi t h t he desper at e
shor t age of mot i ve power and t he appal l i ng shor t age of f uel , i t i s cr i mi nal
i nsani t y t o send an engi ne out on t he r oad wi t h si xt y car s when i t coul d pul l
a hundr ed and t o t ake f our days on a r un whi ch coul d be made i n t hr ee. I
suggest t hat we comput e t he number of shi pper s we have r ui ned and t he
di st r i ct s we have dest r oyed t hr ough t he f ai l ur es, shor t ages and del ays of
t r anspor t at i on, and t hen we"
" Don' t t hi nk of i t , " Mr . Weat her by cut i n snappi l y. " Don' t t r y dr eami ng
about any r epeal s. We woul dn' t consi der i t . We woul dn' t even consi der
l i st eni ng t o any t al k on t he subj ect . "
" Mr . Chai r man, " t he gr ay- hai r ed man asked qui et l y, " shal l I cont i nue?"
The chai r man spr ead out hi s hands, wi t h a smoot h smi l e, i ndi cat i ng
hel pl essness. " I t woul d be i mpr act i cal , " he answer ed.
" I t hi nk we' d bet t er conf i ne t he di scussi on t o t he st at us of t he Ri o Nor t e
Li ne, " snapped J ames Taggar t .
Ther e was a l ong si l ence.
The man wi t h t he gr een muf f l er t ur ned t o Dagny. " Mi ss Taggar t , " he asked
sadl y and caut i ousl y, " woul d you say t hat i f t hi s i s j ust a hypot het i cal
quest i oni f t he equi pment now i n use on t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne wer e made
avai l abl e, i t woul d f i l l t he needs of our t r anscont i nent al mai n- l i ne
t r af f i c?"
" I t woul d hel p. "
" The r ai l of t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne, " sai d t he pal l i d man wi t h t he must ache,
" i s unmat ched anywher e i n t he count r y and coul d not now be pur chased at any
pr i ce. We have t hr ee hundr ed mi l es of t r ack, whi ch means wel l over f our
hundr ed mi l es of r ai l of pur e Rear den Met al i n t hat Li ne. Woul d you say, Mi ss
Taggar t , t hat we cannot af f or d t o wast e t hat super l at i ve r ai l on a br anch
t hat car r i es no maj or t r af f i c any l onger ?"
" That i s f or you t o j udge. "
" Let me put i t t hi s way: woul d i t be of val ue i f t hat r ai l wer e made
avai l abl e f or our mai n- l i ne t r ack, whi ch i s i n such ur gent need of r epai r ?"
" I t woul d hel p. "
" Mi ss Taggar t , " asked t he man wi t h t he quaver i ng voi ce, " woul d you say
t hat t her e ar e any shi pper s of consequence l ef t on t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne?"
" Ther e' s Ted Ni el sen of Ni el sen Mot or s. No one el se. "
" Woul d you say t hat t he oper at i ng cost s of t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne coul d be
used t o r el i eve t he f i nanci al st r ai n on t he r est of t he syst em?"
" I t woul d hel p. "
" Then, as our Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent . . . " He st opped; she wai t ed,
l ooki ng at hi m; he sai d, " Wel l ?"
" What was your quest i on?"
" I meant t o say . . . t hat i s, wel l , as our Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent ,
don' t you have cer t ai n concl usi ons t o dr aw?"
She st ood up. She l ooked at t he f aces ar ound t he t abl e. " Gent l emen, "
she sai d, " I do not know by what sor t of sel f - f r aud you expect t o f eel
t hat i f i t ' s I who name t he deci si on you i nt end t o make, i t wi l l be I who' l l
bear t he r esponsi bi l i t y f or i t . Per haps you bel i eve t hat i f my voi ce del i ver s
t he f i nal bl ow, i t wi l l make me t he mur der er i nvol vedsi nce you know t hat
t hi s i s t he l ast act of a l ong- dr awn- out mur der . I cannot concei ve what i t i s
you t hi nk you can accompl i sh by a pr et ense of t hi s ki nd, and I wi l l not hel p
you t o st age i t . The f i nal bl ow wi l l be del i ver ed by you, as wer e al l t he
ot her s. "
She t ur ned t o go. The chai r man hal f - r ose, aski ng hel pl essl y, " But , Mi ss
Taggar t "
" Pl ease r emai n seat ed. Pl ease cont i nue t he di scussi onand t ake t he vot e i n
whi ch I shal l have no voi ce. I shal l abst ai n f r omvot i ng. I l l st and by, i f
you wi sh me t o, but onl y as an empl oyee. I wi l l not pr et end t o be anyt hi ng
el se. "
She t ur ned away once mor e, but i t was t he voi ce of t he gr ay- hai r ed man
t hat st opped her . " Mi ss Taggar t , t hi s i s not an of f i ci al quest i on, i t i s onl y
my per sonal cur i osi t y, but woul d you t el l me your vi ew of t he f ut ur e of t he
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al syst em?"
She answer ed, l ooki ng at hi mi n under st andi ng, her voi ce gent l er , " I have
st opped t hi nki ng of a f ut ur e or of a r ai l r oad syst em. I i nt end t o cont i nue
r unni ng t r ai ns so l ong as i t i s st i l l possi bl e t o r un t hem. I don' t t hi nk
t hat i t wi l l be much l onger . "
She wal ked away f r omt he t abl e, t o t he wi ndow, t o st and asi de and l et t hem
cont i nue wi t hout her .
She l ooked at t he ci t y. J i mhad obt ai ned t he per mi t whi ch al l owed t hemt he
use of el ect r i c power t o t he t op of t he Taggar t Bui l di ng.
Fr omt he hei ght of t he r oom, t he ci t y l ooked l i ke a f l at t ened r emnant ,
wi t h but a f ew r ar e, l onel y st r eaks of l i ght ed gl ass st i l l r i si ng t hr ough t he
dar kness t o t he sky.
She di d not l i st en t o t he voi ces of t he men behi nd her . She di d not know
f or how l ong t he br oken snat ches of t hei r st r uggl e kept r ol l i ng past her t he
sounds t hat nudged and pr odded one anot her , t r yi ng t o edge back and l eave
someone pushed f or war da st r uggl e, not t o asser t one' s own wi l l , but t o
squeeze an asser t i on f r omsome unwi l l i ng vi ct i ma bat t l e i n whi ch t he
deci si on was t o be pr onounced, not by t he wi nner , but by t he l oser : " I t seems
t o me . . . I t i s, I t hi nk . . . I t must , i n my opi ni on . . .
I f we wer e t o suppose . . . I ammer el y suggest i ng . . . I amnot
i mpl yi ng, but . . . I f we consi der bot h si des . . . I t i s, i n my opi ni on,
i ndubi t abl e . . . I t seems t o me t o be an unmi st akabl e f act . . . "
She di d not know whose voi ce i t was, but she hear d i t when t he voi ce
pr onounced: " . . . and, t her ef or e, I move t hat t he J ohn Gal t Li ne be cl osed. "
Somet hi ng, she t hought , had made hi mcal l t he Li ne by i t s r i ght name.
You had t o bear i t , t oo, gener at i ons agoi t was j ust as har d f or you, j ust
as bad, but you di d not l et i t st op youwas i t r eal l y as bad as t hi s? as
ugl y?never mi nd, i t ' s di f f er ent f or ms, but i t ' s onl y pai n, and you wer e not
st opped by pai n, not by what ever ki nd i t was t hat you had t o bear you wer e
not st oppedyou di d not gi ve i n t o i t you f aced i t and t hi s i s t he ki nd I
have t o f aceyou f ought and I wi l l have t o you di d i t I wi l l t r y . . . She
hear d, i n her own mi nd, t he qui et i nt ensi t y of t he wor ds of dedi cat i onand i t
was some t i me bef or e she r eal i zed t hat she was speaki ng t o Nat Taggar t .
The next voi ce she hear d was Mr . Weat her by' s: " Wai t a mi nut e, boys.
Do you happen t o r emember t hat you need t o obt ai n per mi ssi on bef or e you
can cl ose a br anch l i ne?"
" Good God, Cl em! " Taggar t ' s cr y was open pani c. " Sur el y t her e' s not goi ng
t o be any t r oubl e about "
" I woul dn' t be t oo sur e of i t . Don' t f or get t hat you' r e a publ i c ser vi ce
and you' r e expect ed t o pr ovi de t r anspor t at i on, whet her you make money or
not . "
" But you know t hat i t ' s i mpossi bl e! "
" Wel l , t hat ' s f i ne f or you, t hat sol ves your pr obl em, i f you cl ose t hat
Li nebut what wi l l i t do t o us? Leavi ng a whol e st at e l i ke Col or ado
pr act i cal l y wi t hout t r anspor t at i onwhat sor t of publ i c sent i ment wi l l i t
ar ouse? Now, of cour se, i f you gave Wesl ey somet hi ng i n r et ur n, t o bal ance
i t , i f you gr ant ed t he uni ons' wage r ai ses"
" I can' t ! I gave my wor d t o t he Nat i onal Al l i ance! "
" Your wor d? Wel l , sui t your sel f ; We woul dn' t want t o f or ce t he Al l i ance.
We much pr ef er t o have t hi ngs happen vol unt ar i l y. But t hese ar e di f f i cul t
t i mes and i t ' s har d t el l i ng what ' s l i abl e t o happen. Wi t h ever ybody goi ng
br oke and t he t ax r ecei pt s f al l i ng, we mi ght f act bei ng t hat we hol d wel l
over f i f t y per cent of t he Taggar t bondswe mi ght be compel l ed t o cal l f or
t he payment of r ai l r oad bonds wi t hi n si x mont hs. "
" What ?! " scr eamed Taggar t .
" or sooner . "
" But you can' t ! Oh God, you can' t ! I t was under st ood t hat t he mor at or i um
was f or f i ve year s! I t was a cont r act , an obl i gat i on! We wer e count i ng on
i t ! "
" An obl i gat i on? Ar en' t you ol d- f ashi oned, J i m? Ther e ar en' t any
obl i gat i ons, except t he necessi t y of t he moment . The or i gi nal owner s of t hose
bonds wer e count i ng on t hei r payment s, t oo. "
Dagny bur st out l aughi ng.
She coul d not st op her sel f , she coul d not r esi st i t , she coul d not r ej ect
a moment ' s chance t o avenge El l i s Wyat t , Andr ew St ockt on, Lawr ence Hammond,
al l t he ot her s. She sai d, t or n by l aught er : " Thanks, Mr . Weat her by! "
Mr . Weat her by l ooked at her i n ast oni shment . " Yes?" he asked col dl y.
" I knew t hat we woul d have t o pay f or t hose bonds one way or anot her .
We' r e payi ng. "
" Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d t he chai r man sever el y, " don' t you t hi nk t hat I t ol d-
you- so' s ar e f ut i l e? To t al k of what woul d have happened i f we had act ed
di f f er ent l y i s not hi ng but pur el y t heor et i cal specul at i on. We cannot i ndul ge
i n t heor y, we have t o deal wi t h t he pr act i cal r eal i t y of t he moment . "
" Ri ght , " sai d Mr . Weat her by. " That ' s what you ought t o bepr act i cal . Now
we of f er you a t r ade. You do somet hi ng f or us and we' l l do somet hi ng f or you.
You gi ve t he uni ons t hei r wage r ai ses and we' l l gi ve you per mi ssi on t o cl ose
t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne. "
" Al l r i ght , " sai d J ames Taggar t , hi s voi ce choked.
St andi ng at t he wi ndow, she hear d t hemvot e on t hei r deci si on. She hear d
t hemdecl ar e t hat t he J ohn Gal t Li ne woul d end i n si x weeks, on Mar ch 31.
I t ' s onl y a mat t er of get t i ng t hr ough t he next f ew moment s, she t hought ;
t ake car e of t he next f ew moment s, and t hen t he next , a f ew at a t i me, and
af t er a whi l e i t wi l l be easi er ; you' l l get over i t , af t er a whi l e.
The assi gnment she gave her sel f f or t he next f ew moment s was t o put on her
coat and be f i r st t o l eave t he r oom.
Then t her e was t he assi gnment of r i di ng i n an el evat or down t he gr eat ,
si l ent l engt h of t he Taggar t Bui l di ng. Then t her e was t he assi gnment of
cr ossi ng t he dar k l obby.
Hal f way t hr ough t he l obby, she st opped. A man st ood l eani ng agai nst t he
wal l , i n a manner of pur posef ul wai t i ngand i t was she who was hi s pur pose,
because he was l ooki ng st r ai ght at her . She di d not r ecogni ze hi mat once,
because she f el t cer t ai n t hat t he f ace she saw coul d not possi bl y be t her e i n
t hat l obby at t hi s hour .
" Hi , Sl ug, " he sai d sof t l y.
She answer ed, gr opi ng f or some gr eat di st ance t hat had once been her s,
" Hi , Fr i sco. "
" Have t hey f i nal l y mur der ed J ohn Gal t ?"
She st r uggl ed t o pl ace t he moment i nt o some or der l y sequence of t i me. The
quest i on bel onged t o t he pr esent , but t he sol emn f ace came f r omt hose days on
t he hi l l by t he Hudson when he woul d have under st ood al l t hat t he quest i on
meant t o her .
" How di d you know t hat t hey' d do i t t oni ght ?" she asked.
" I t ' s been obvi ous f or mont hs t hat t hat woul d be t he next st ep at t hei r
next meet i ng. "
" Why di d you come her e?"
" To see how you' d t ake i t . "
" Want t o l augh about i t ?"
" No, Dagny, I don' t want t o l augh about i t . "
She saw no hi nt of amusement i n hi s f ace; she answer ed t r ust i ngl y, " I
don' t know how I ' mt aki ng i t . "
" I do. "
" I was expect i ng i t , I knew t hey' d have t o do i t , so now i t ' s onl y a
mat t er of get t i ng t hr ough" t oni ght , she want ed t o say, but sai d" al l t he wor k
and det ai l s. "
He t ook her ar m. " Let ' s go some pl ace wher e we can have a dr i nk t oget her . "
" Fr anci sco, why don' t you l augh at me? You' ve al ways l aughed about t hat
Li ne. "
" I wi l l t omor r ow, when I see you goi ng on wi t h al l t he wor k and det ai l s.
Not t oni ght . "
" Why not ?"
" Come on. You' r e i n no condi t i on t o t al k about i t . "
" I " She want ed t o pr ot est , but sai d, " No, I guess I ' mnot . "
He l ed her out t o t he st r eet , and she f ound her sel f wal ki ng si l ent l y i n
t i me wi t h t he st eady r hyt hmof hi s st eps, t he gr asp of hi s f i nger s on her ar m
unst r essed and f i r m. He si gnal ed a passi ng t axi cab and hel d t he door open f or
her . She obeyed hi mwi t hout quest i ons; she f el t r el i ef , l i ke a swi mmer who
st ops st r uggl i ng. The spect acl e of a man act i ng wi t h assur ance, was a l i f e
bel t t hr own t o her at a moment when she had f or got t en t he hope of i t s
exi st ence. The r el i ef was not i n t he sur r ender of r esponsi bi l i t y, but i n t he
si ght of a man abl e t o assume i t .
" Dagny, " he sai d, l ooki ng at t he ci t y as i t moved past t hei r t axi wi ndow,
" t hi nk of t he f i r st man who t hought of maki ng a st eel gi r der . He knew what he
saw, what he t hought and what he want ed. He di d not say, ' I t seems t o me, '
and he di d not t ake or der s f r omt hose who say, ' I n my opi ni on. ' "
She chuckl ed, wonder i ng at hi s accur acy: he had guessed t he nat ur e of t he
si ckeni ng sense t hat hel d her , t he sense of a swamp whi ch she had t o escape.
" Look ar ound you, " he sai d. " A ci t y i s t he f r ozen shape of human cour age
t he cour age of t hose men who t hought f or t he f i r st t i me of ever y bol t , r i vet
and power gener at or t hat went t o make i t . The cour age t o say, not ' I t seems
t o me, ' but ' I t i s' and t o st ake one' s l i f e on one' s j udgment . You' r e not
al one. Those men exi st . They have al ways exi st ed. Ther e was a t i me when human
bei ngs cr ouched i n caves, at t he mer cy of any pest i l ence and any st or m. Coul d
men such as t hose on your Boar d of Di r ect or s have br ought t hemout of t he
cave and up t o t hi s?" He poi nt ed at t he ci t y.
" God, no! "
" Then t her e' s your pr oof t hat anot her ki nd of men do exi st . "
" Yes, " she sai d avi dl y. " Yes. "
" Thi nk of t hemand f or get your Boar d of Di r ect or s. "
" Fr anci sco, wher e ar e t hey nowt he ot her ki nd of men?"
" Now t hey' r e not want ed. "
" I want t hem. Oh God, how I want t hem! "
" When you do, you' l l f i nd t hem. "
He di d not quest i on her about t he J ohn Gal t Li ne and she di d not speak of
i t , unt i l t hey sat at a t abl e i n a di ml y l i ght ed boot h and she saw t he st em
of a gl ass bet ween her f i nger s. She had bar el y not i ced how t hey had come
her e. I t was a qui et , cost l y pl ace t hat l ooked l i ke a secr et r et r eat ; she saw
a smal l , l ust r ous t abl e under her hand, t he l eat her of a ci r cul ar seat behi nd
her shoul der s, and a ni che of dar k bl ue mi r r or t hat cut t hemof f f r omt he
si ght of what ever enj oyment or pai n ot her s had come her e t o hi de. Fr anci sco
was l eani ng agai nst t he t abl e, wat chi ng her , and she f el t as i f she wer e
l eani ng agai nst t he st eady at t ent i veness of hi s eyes.
They di d not speak of t he Li ne, but she sai d suddenl y, l ooki ng down at t he
l i qui d i n her gl ass: " I ' mt hi nki ng of t he ni ght when Nat Taggar t was t ol d
t hat he had t o abandon t he br i dge he was bui l di ng. The br i dge acr oss t he
Mi ssi ssi ppi . He had been desper at el y shor t of moneybecause peopl e wer e
af r ai d of t he br i dge, t hey cal l ed i t an i mpr act i cal vent ur e. That mor ni ng, he
was t ol d t hat t he r i ver st eamboat concer ns had f i l ed sui t agai nst hi m,
demandi ng t hat hi s br i dge be dest r oyed as a t hr eat t o t he publ i c wel f ar e.
Ther e wer e t hr ee spans of t he br i dge bui l t , advanci ng acr oss t he r i ver . That
same day, a l ocal mob at t acked t he st r uct ur e and set f i r e t o t he wooden
scaf f ol di ng. Hi s wor ker s deser t ed hi m, some because t hey wer e scar ed, some
because t hey wer e br i bed by t he st eamboat peopl e, and most of t hembecause he
had had no money t o pay t hemf or weeks. Thr oughout t hat day, he kept
r ecei vi ng wor d t hat men who had subscr i bed t o buy t he st ock of t he Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al Rai l r oad wer e cancel l i ng t hei r subscr i pt i ons, one af t er
anot her . Towar d eveni ng, a commi t t ee, r epr esent i ng t wo banks t hat wer e hi s
l ast hope of suppor t , came t o see hi m. I t was r i ght t her e, on t he
const r uct i on si t e by t he r i ver , i n t he ol d r ai l way coach wher e he l i ved, wi t h
t he door open t o t he vi ew of t he bl ackened r ui n, wi t h t he wooden r emnant s
st i l l smoki ng over t he t wi st ed st eel . He had negot i at ed a l oan f r omt hose
banks, but t he cont r act had not been si gned. The commi t t ee t ol d hi mt hat he
woul d have t o gi ve up hi s br i dge, because he was cer t ai n t o l ose t he sui t ,
and t he br i dge woul d be or der ed t or n down by t he t i me he compl et ed i t . I f he
was wi l l i ng t o gi ve i t up, t hey sai d, and t o f er r y hi s passenger s acr oss t he
r i ver on bar ges, as ot her r ai l r oads wer e doi ng, t he cont r act woul d st and and
he woul d get t he money t o cont i nue hi s l i ne west on t he ot her shor e; i f not ,
t hen t he l oan was of f . What was hi s answer ?
t hey asked. He di d not say a wor d, he pi cked up t he cont r act , t or e i t
acr oss, handed i t t o t hemand wal ked out . He wal ked t o t he br i dge, al ong t he
spans, down t o t he l ast gi r der . He knel t , he pi cked up t he t ool s hi s men had
l ef t and he st ar t ed t o cl ear t he char r ed wr eckage away f r omt he st eel
st r uct ur e. Hi s chi ef engi neer saw hi mt her e, axe i n hand, al one over t he wi de
r i ver , wi t h t he sun set t i ng behi nd hi mi n t hat west wher e hi s l i ne was t o go.
He wor ked t her e al l ni ght . By mor ni ng, he had t hought out a pl an of what he
woul d do t o f i nd t he r i ght men, t he men of i ndependent j udgment t o f i nd t hem,
t o convi nce t hem, t o r ai se t he money, t o cont i nue t he br i dge. "
She spoke i n a l ow, f l at voi ce, l ooki ng down at t he spot of l i ght t hat
shi mmer ed i n t he l i qui d as her f i nger s t ur ned t he st emof her gl ass once i n a
whi l e. She showed no emot i on, but her voi ce had t he i nt ense monot one of a
pr ayer : " Fr anci sco . . . i f he coul d l i ve t hr ough t hat ni ght , what r i ght have
I t o compl ai n? What does i t mat t er , how I f eel j ust now? He bui l t t hat
br i dge, I have t o hol d i t f or hi m. I can' t l et i t go t he way of t he br i dge of
t he At l ant i c Sout her n. I f eel al most as i f he' d know i t , i f I l et t hat
happen, he' d know i t t hat ni ght when he was al one over t he r i ver . . . no,
t hat ' s nonsense, but her e' s what I f eel : any man who knows what Nat Taggar t
f el t t hat ni ght , any man l i vi ng now and capabl e of knowi ng i t i t ' s hi mt hat I
woul d bet r ay i f I l et i t happen . . . and I can' t . "
" Dagny, i f Nat Taggar t wer e l i vi ng now, what woul d he do?"
She answer ed i nvol unt ar i l y, wi t h a swi f t , bi t t er chuckl e, " He woul dn' t
l ast a mi nut e! " t hen cor r ect ed her sel f : " No, he woul d. He woul d f i nd a way t o
f i ght t hem. "
" How?"
" I don' t know. "
She not i ced some t ense, caut i ous qual i t y i n t he at t ent i ve way he wat ched
her as he l eaned f or war d and asked, " Dagny, t he men of your Boar d of
Di r ect or s ar e no mat ch f or Nat Taggar t , ar e t hey? Ther e' s no f or mof cont est
i n whi ch t hey coul d beat hi m, t her e' s not hi ng he' d have t o f ear f r omt hem,
t her e' s no mi nd, no wi l l , no power i n t he bunch of t hemt o equal one-
t housandt h of hi s. "
" No, of cour se not . "
" Then why i s i t t hat t hr oughout men' s hi st or y t he Nat Taggar t s, who make
t he wor l d, have al ways wonand al ways l ost i t t o t he men of t he Boar d?"
" I . . . don' t know. "
" How coul d men who' r e af r ai d t o hol d an unqual i f i ed opi ni on about t he
weat her , f i ght Nat Taggar t ? How coul d t hey sei ze hi s achi evement , i f he chose
t o def end i t ? Dagny, he f ought wi t h ever y weapon he possessed, except t he
most i mpor t ant one. They coul d not have won, i f we he and t he r est of ushad
not gi ven t he wor l d away t o t hem. "
" Yes, You gave i t away t o t hem. El l i s Wyat t di d. Ken Danagger di d, I
won' t . "
He smi l ed. " Who bui l t t he J ohn Gal t Li ne f or t hem?"
He saw onl y t he f ai nt est cont r act i on of her mout h, but he knew t hat t he
quest i on was l i ke a bl ow acr oss an open wound. Yet she answer ed qui et l y, " I
di d. "
" For t hi s ki nd of end?"
" For t he men who di d not hol d out , woul d not f i ght and gave up. "
" Don' t you see t hat no ot her end was possi bl e?"
" No. "
" How much i nj ust i ce ar e you wi l l i ng t o t ake?"
" As much as I ' mabl e t o f i ght . "
" What wi l l you do now? Tomor r ow?"
She sai d cal ml y, l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi mwi t h t he f ai nt l y pr oud l ook of
st r essi ng her cal m, " St ar t t o t ear i t up. "
" What ?"
" The J ohn Gal t Li ne. St ar t t o t ear i t up as good as wi t h my own handswi t h
my own mi nd, by my own i nst r uct i ons. Get i t r eady t o be cl osed, t hen t ear i t
up and use i t s pi eces t o r ei nf or ce t he t r anscont i nent al t r ack. Ther e' s a l ot
of wor k t o do. I t wi l l keep me busy. " The cal mcr acked a l i t t l e, i n t he
f ai nt est change of her voi ce: " You know, I ' ml ooki ng f or war d t o i t . I ' mgl ad
t hat I ' l l have t o do i t mysel f .
That ' s why Nat Taggar t wor ked al l t hat ni ght j ust t o keep goi ng. I t ' s not
so bad as l ong as t her e' s somet hi ng one can do. And I ' l l know, at l east , t hat
I ' msavi ng t he mai n l i ne. "
" Dagny, " he asked ver y qui et l yand she wonder ed what made her f eel t hat he
l ooked as i f hi s per sonal f at e hung on her answer , " what i f i t wer e t he mai n
l i ne t hat you had t o di smember ?"
She answer ed i r r esi st i bl y, " Then I ' d l et t he l ast engi ne r un over me! "
but added, " No. That ' s j ust sel f - pi t y. I woul dn' t . "
He sai d gent l y, " I know you woul dn' t . But you' d wi sh you coul d. "
" Yes. "
He smi l ed, not l ooki ng at her ; i t was a mocki ng smi l e, but i t was a smi l e
of pai n and t he mocker y was di r ect ed at hi msel f . She wonder ed what made her
cer t ai n of i t ; but she knew hi s f ace so wel l t hat she woul d al ways know what
he f el t , even t hough she coul d not guess hi s r easons any l onger . She knew hi s
f ace as wel l , she t hought , as she knew ever y l i ne of hi s body, as she coul d
st i l l see i t , as she was suddenl y awar e of i t under hi s cl ot hes, a f ew f eet
away, i n t he cr owdi ng i nt i macy of t he boot h. He t ur ned t o l ook at her and
some sudden change i n hi s eyes made her cer t ai n t hat he knew what she was
t hi nki ng. He l ooked away and pi cked up hi s gl ass.
" Wel l " he sai d, " t o Nat Taggar t . "
" And t o Sebast i an d' Anconi a?" she askedt hen r egr et t ed i t , because i t had
sounded l i ke mocker y, whi ch she had not i nt ended.
But she saw a l ook of odd, br i ght cl ar i t y i n hi s eyes and he answer ed
f i r ml y, wi t h t he f ai nt l y pr oud smi l e of st r essi ng hi s f i r mness, " Yesand t o
Sebast i an d' Anconi a, "
Her hand t r embl ed a l i t t l e and she spi l l ed a f ew dr ops on t he squar e of
paper l ace t hat l ay on t he dar k, shi ni ng pl ast i c of t he t abl e. She wat ched
hi mempt y hi s gl ass i n a si ngl e gest ur e; t he br usque, br i ef movement of hi s
hand made i t l ook l i ke t he gest ur e of some sol emn pl edge.
She t hought suddenl y t hat t hi s was t he f i r st t i me i n t wel ve year s t hat he
had come t o her of hi s own choi ce.
He had act ed as i f he wer e conf i dent l y i n cont r ol , as i f hi s conf i dence
wer e a t r ansf usi on t o l et her r ecapt ur e her s, he had gi ven her no t i me t o
wonder t hat t hey shoul d be her e t oget her . Now she f el t , unaccount abl y, t hat
t he r ei ns he had hel d wer e gone. I t was onl y t he si l ence of a f ew bl ank
moment s and t he mot i onl ess out l i ne of hi s f or ehead, cheekbone and mout h, as
he sat wi t h hi s f ace t ur ned away f r omher
but she f el t as i f i t wer e he who was now st r uggl i ng f or somet hi ng he had
t o r ecapt ur e.
She wonder ed what had been hi s pur pose t oni ght and not i ced t hat he had,
per haps, accompl i shed i t : he had car r i ed her over t he wor st moment , he had
gi ven her an i nval uabl e def ense agai nst despai r t he knowl edge t hat a l i vi ng
i nt el l i gence had hear d her and under st ood. But why had he want ed t o do i t ?
Why had he car ed about her hour of despai r af t er t he year s of agony he had
gi ven her ? Why had i t mat t er ed t o hi mhow she woul d t ake t he deat h of t he
J ohn Gal t Li ne? She not i ced t hat t hi s was t he quest i on she had not asked hi m
i n t he l obby of t he Taggar t Bui l di ng.
Thi s was t he bond bet ween t hem, she t hought : t hat she woul d never be
ast oni shed i f he came when she needed hi mmost , and t hat he woul d al ways know
when t o come. Thi s was t he danger : t hat she woul d t r ust hi meven whi l e
knowi ng t hat i t coul d be not hi ng but some new ki nd of t r ap, even whi l e
r emember i ng t hat he woul d al ways bet r ay t hose who t r ust ed hi m.
He sat , l eani ng f or war d wi t h hi s ar ms cr ossed on t he t abl e, l ooki ng
st r ai ght ahead. He sai d suddenl y, not t ur ni ng t o her : " 1 amt hi nki ng of t he
f i f t een year s t hat Sebast i an d' Anconi a had t o wai t f or t he woman he l oved. He
di d not know whet her he woul d ever f i nd her agai n, whet her she woul d sur vi ve
. . . whet her she woul d wai t f or hi m. But he knew t hat she coul d not l i ve
t hr ough hi s bat t l e and t hat he coul d not cal l her t o hi munt i l i t was won. So
he wai t ed, hol di ng hi s l ove i n t he pl ace of t he hope whi ch he had no r i ght t o
hol d.
But when he car r i ed her acr oss t he t hr eshol d of hi s house, as t he f i r st
Senor a d' Anconi a of a new wor l d, he knew t hat t he bat t l e was won, t hat t hey
wer e f r ee, t hat not hi ng t hr eat ened her and not hi ng woul d ever hur t her
agai n. "
I n t he days of t hei r passi onat e happi ness, he had never gi ven her a hi nt
t hat he woul d come t o t hi nk of her as Senor a d' Anconi a. For one moment , she
wonder ed whet her she had known what she had meant t o hi m. But t he moment
ended i n an i nvi si bl e shudder : she woul d not bel i eve t hat t he past t wel ve
year s coul d al l ow t he t hi ngs she was hear i ng t o be possi bl e. Thi s was t he new
t r ap, she t hought .
" Fr anci sco, " she asked, her voi ce har d, " what have you done t o Hank
Rear den?"
He l ooked st ar t l ed t hat she shoul d t hi nk of t hat name at t hat moment
" Why?" he asked.
" He t ol d me once t hat you wer e t he onl y man he' d ever l i ked. But l ast t i me
I saw hi m, he sai d t hat he woul d ki l l you on si ght . "
" He di d not t el l you why?"
" No. "
He t ol d you not hi ng about i t ?"
" No. " She saw hi msmi l i ng st r angel y, a smi l e of sadness, gr at i t ude and
l ongi ng. " I war ned hi mt hat you woul d hur t hi mwhen he t ol d me t hat you wer e
t he onl y man he l i ked. "
Hi s wor ds came l i ke a sudden expl osi on: " He was t he onl y man
wi t h one except i ont o whomI coul d have gi ven my l i f e! "
" Who i s t he except i on?"
" The man t o whomI have. "
" What do you mean?"
He shook hi s head, as i f he had sai d mor e t han he i nt ended, and di d not
answer .
" What di d you do t o Rear den?"
" I ' l l t el l you some t i me. Not now. "
" I s t hat what you al ways do t o t hose who . . . mean a gr eat deal t o you?"
He l ooked at her wi t h a smi l e t hat had t he l umi nous si ncer i t y of i nnocence
and pai n. " You know, " he sai d gent l y, " I coul d say t hat t hat i s what t hey
al ways do t o me. " He added, " But I won' t . The act i onsand t he knowl edgewer e
mi ne. "
He st ood up. " Shal l we go? I ' l l t ake you home. "
She r ose and he hel d her coat f or her ; i t was a wi de, l oose gar ment , and
hi s hands gui ded i t t o enf ol d her body. She f el t hi s ar mr emai n about her
shoul der s a moment l onger t han he i nt ended her t o not i ce.
She gl anced back at hi m. But he was st andi ng oddl y st i l l , st ar i ng i nt ent l y
down at t he t abl e. I n r i si ng, t hey had br ushed asi de t he mat s of paper l ace
and she saw an i nscr i pt i on cut i nt o t he pl ast i c of t he t abl e t op. At t empt s
had been made t o er ase i t , but t he i nscr i pt i on r emai ned, as t he gr aven voi ce
of some unknown dr unk' s despai r : " Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
Wi t h a br usque movement of anger , she f l i cked t he mat back t o cover t he
wor ds. He chuckl ed.
" I can answer i t , " he sai d. " I can t el l you who i s J ohn Gal t . "
" Real l y? Ever ybody seems t o know hi m, but t hey never t el l t he same st or y
t wi ce. "
" They' r e al l t r ue, t houghal l t he st or i es you' ve hear d about hi m. "
" Wel l , what ' s your s? Who i s he?"
" J ohn Gal t i s Pr omet heus who changed hi s mi nd. Af t er cent ur i es of bei ng
t or n by vul t ur es i n payment f or havi ng br ought t o men t he f i r e of t he gods,
he br oke hi s chai ns and he wi t hdr ew hi s f i r eunt i l t he day when men wi t hdr aw
t hei r vul t ur es. "
The band of cr osst i es swept i n wi de cur ves ar ound gr ani t e cor ner s,
cl i ngi ng t o t he mount ai nsi des of Col or ado. Dagny wal ked down t he t i es,
keepi ng her hands i n her coat pocket s, and her eyes on t he meani ngl ess
di st ance ahead; onl y t he f ami l i ar movement of st r ai ni ng her st eps t o t he
spaci ng of t he t i es gave her t he physi cal sense of an act i on per t ai ni ng t o a
r ai l r oad.
A gr ay cot t on, whi ch was nei t her qui t e f og nor cl ouds, hung i n sl oppy wads
bet ween sky and mount ai ns, maki ng t he sky l ook l i ke an ol d mat t r ess spi l l i ng
i t s st uf f i ng down t he si des of t he peaks. A cr ust ed snow cover ed t he gr ound,
bel ongi ng nei t her t o wi nt er nor t o spr i ng. A net of moi st ur e hung i n t he ai r ,
and she f el t an i cy pi n- pr i ck on her f ace once i n a whi l e, whi ch was nei t her
a r ai ndr op nor a snowf l ake.
The weat her seemed af r ai d t o t ake a st and and cl ung noncommi t t al l y t o some
sor t of r oad' s mi ddl e; Boar d of Di r ect or s' weat her , she t hought .
The l i ght seemed dr ai ned and she coul d not t el l whet her t hi s was t he
af t er noon or t he eveni ng of Mar ch 31. But she was ver y cer t ai n t hat i t was
Mar ch 31; t hat was a cer t ai nt y not t o be escaped.
She had come t o Col or ado wi t h Hank Rear den, t o buy what ever machi ner y
coul d st i l l be f ound i n t he cl osed f act or i es. I t had been l i ke a hur r i ed
sear ch t hr ough t he si nki ng hul k of a gr eat shi p bef or e i t was t o vani sh out
of r each. They coul d have gi ven t he t ask t o empl oyees, but t hey had come,
bot h pr ompt ed by t he same unconf essed mot i ve: t hey coul d not r esi st t he
desi r e t o at t end t he r un of t he l ast t r ai n, as one cannot r esi st t he desi r e
t o gi ve a l ast sal ut e by at t endi ng a f uner al , even whi l e knowi ng t hat i t i s
onl y an act of sel f - t or t ur e.
They had been buyi ng machi ner y f r omdoubt f ul owner s i n sal es of dubi ous
l egal i t y, si nce nobody coul d t el l who had t he r i ght t o di spose of t he gr eat ,
dead pr oper t i es, and nobody woul d come t o chal l enge t he t r ansact i ons. They
had bought ever yt hi ng t hat coul d be moved f r omt he gut t ed pl ant of Ni el sen
Mot or s. Ted Ni el sen had qui t and vani shed, a week af t er t he announcement t hat
t he Li ne was t o be cl osed.
She had f el t l i ke a scavenger , but t he act i vi t y of t he hunt had made her
abl e t o bear t hese past f ew days. When she had f ound t hat t hr ee empt y hour s
r emai ned bef or e t he depar t ur e of t he l ast t r ai n, she had gone t o wal k t hr ough
t he count r ysi de, t o escape t he st i l l ness of t he t own. She had wal ked at
r andomt hr ough t wi st i ng mount ai n t r ai l s, al one among r ocks and snow, t r yi ng
t o subst i t ut e mot i on f or t hought , knowi ng t hat she had t o get t hr ough t hi s
day wi t hout t hi nki ng of t he summer when she had r i dden t he engi ne of t he
f i r st t r ai n.
But she f ound her sel f wal ki ng back al ong t he r oadbed of t he J ohn Gal t
Li neand she knew t hat she had i nt ended i t , t hat she had gone out f or t hat
pur pose.
I t was a spur t r ack whi ch had al r eady been di smember ed. Ther e wer e no
si gnal l i ght s, no swi t ches, no t el ephone wi r es, not hi ng but a l ong band of
wooden st r i ps l ef t on t he gr ounda chai n of t i es wi t hout r ai l , l i ke t he
r emnant of a spi neand, as i t s l onel y guar di an, at an abandoned gr ade
cr ossi ng, a pol e wi t h sl ant ed ar ms sayi ng: " St op.
Look. Li st en. "
An ear l y dar kness mi xed wi t h f og was sl i ppi ng down t o f i l l t he val l eys,
when she came upon t he f act or y. Ther e was an i nscr i pt i on hi gh on t he l ust r ous
t i l e of i t s f r ont wal l : " Roger Mar sh. El ect r i cal Appl i ances. " The man who had
want ed t o chai n hi msel f t o hi s desk i n or der not t o l eave t hi s, she t hought .
The bui l di ng st ood i nt act , l i ke a cor pse i n t hat i nst ant when i t s eyes have
j ust cl osed and one st i l l wai t s t o see t hemopen agai n. She f el t t hat t he
l i ght s woul d f l ar e up at any moment behi nd t he gr eat sheet s of wi ndows, under
t he l ong, f l at r oof s. Then she saw one br oken pane, pi er ced by a st one f or
some young mor on' s enj oyment and she saw t he t al l , dr y st emof a si ngl e weed
r i si ng f r omt he st eps of t he mai n ent r ance. Hi t by a sudden, bl i ndi ng hat r ed,
i n r ebel l i on agai nst t he weed' s i mper t i nence, knowi ng of what enemy t hi s was
t he scout , she r an f or war d, she f el l on her knees and j er ked t he weed up by
i t s r oot s. Then, kneel i ng on t he st eps of a cl osed f act or y, l ooki ng at t he
vast si l ence of mount ai ns, br ush and dusk, she t hought : What do you t hi nk
you' r e doi ng?
I t was al most dar k when she r eached t he end of t he t i es t hat l ed her back
t o t he t own of Mar shvi l l e. Mar shvi l l e had been t he end of t he Li ne f or mont hs
past ; ser vi ce t o Wyat t J unct i on had been di scont i nued l ong ago; Dr . Fer r i s'
Recl amat i on Pr oj ect had been abandoned t hi s wi nt er .
The st r eet l i ght s wer e on, and t hey hung i n mi d- ai r at t he i nt er sect i ons,
i n a l ong, di mi ni shi ng l i ne of yel l ow gl obes over t he empt y st r eet s of
Mar shvi l l e. Al l t he bet t er homes wer e cl osedt he neat , st ur dy houses of
modest cost , wel l bui l t and wel l kept ; t her e wer e f aded " For Sal e" si gns on
t hei r l awns. But she saw l i ght s i n t he wi ndows of t he cheap, gar i sh
st r uct ur es t hat had acqui r ed, wi t hi n a f ew year s, t he sl ovenl y di l api dat i on
of sl umhovel s; t he homes of peopl e who had not moved, t he peopl e who never
l ooked beyond t he span of one week. She saw a l ar ge new t el evi si on set i n t he
l i ght ed r oomof a house wi t h a saggi ng r oof and cr acki ng wal l s. She wonder ed
how l ong t hey expect ed t he el ect r i c power compani es of Col or ado t o r emai n i n
exi st ence. Then she shook her head: t hose peopl e had never known t hat power
compani es exi st ed.
The mai n st r eet of Mar shvi l l e was l i ned by t he bl ack wi ndows of shops out
of busi ness. Al l t he l uxur y st or es ar e goneshe t hought , l ooki ng at t hei r
si gns; and t hen she shudder ed, r eal i zi ng what t hi ngs she now cal l ed l uxur y,
r eal i zi ng t o what ext ent and i n what manner t hose t hi ngs, once avai l abl e t o
t he poor est , had been l uxur i es: Dr y Cl eani ngEl ect r i cal Appl i ancesGas
St at i onDr ug St or eFi ve and Ten. The onl y ones l ef t open wer e gr ocer y st or es
and sal oons.
The pl at f or mof t he r ai l r oad st at i on was cr owded. The gl ar i ng ar c l i ght s
seemed t o pi ck i t out of t he mount ai ns, t o i sol at e and f ocus i t , l i ke a smal l
st age on whi ch ever y movement was naked t o t he si ght of t he unseen t i er s
r i si ng i n t he vast , enci r cl i ng ni ght . Peopl e wer e car t i ng l uggage, bundl i ng
t hei r chi l dr en, haggl i ng at t i cket wi ndows, t he st i f l ed pani c of t hei r manner
suggest i ng t hat what t hey r eal l y want ed t o do was t o f al l down on t he gr ound
and scr eamwi t h t er r or . Thei r t er r or had t he evasi ve qual i t y of gui l t : i t was
not t he f ear t hat comes f r omunder st andi ng, but f r omt he r ef usal t o
under st and.
The l ast t r ai n st ood at t he pl at f or m, i t s wi ndows a l ong, l one st r eak of
l i ght . The st eamof t he l ocomot i ve, gaspi ng t ensel y t hr ough t he wheel s, di d
not have i t s usual j oyous sound of ener gy r el eased f or a spr i nt ; i t had t he
sound of a pant i ng br eat h t hat one dr eads t o hear and dr eads mor e t o st op
hear i ng. Far at t he end of t he l i ght ed wi ndows, she saw t he smal l r ed dot of
a l ant er n at t ached t o her pr i vat e car . Beyond t he l ant er n, t her e was not hi ng
but a bl ack voi d.
The t r ai n was l oaded t o capaci t y, and t he shr i l l not es of hyst er i a i n t he
conf usi on of voi ces wer e t he pl eas f or space i n vest i bul es and ai sl es. Some
peopl e wer e not l eavi ng, but st ood i n vapi d cur i osi t y, wat chi ng t he show;
t hey had come, as i f knowi ng t hat t hi s was t he l ast event t hey woul d ever
wi t ness i n t hei r communi t y and, per haps, i n t hei r l i ves.
She wal ked hast i l y t hr ough t he cr owd, t r yi ng not t o l ook at anyone.
Some knew who she was, most of t hemdi d not . She saw an ol d woman wi t h a
r agged shawl on her shoul der s and t he gr aph of a l i f et i me' s st r uggl e on t he
cr acked ski n of her f ace; t he woman' s gl ance was a hopel ess appeal f or hel p.
An unshaved young man wi t h gol d- r i mmed gl asses st ood on a cr at e under an ar c
l i ght , yel l i ng t o t he f aces shi f t i ng past hi m, " What do t hey mean, no
busi ness! Look at t hat t r ai n! I t ' s f ul l of passenger s! Ther e' s pl ent y of
busi ness! I t ' s j ust t hat t her e' s no pr of i t s f or t hemt hat ' s why t hey' r e
l et t i ng you per i sh, t hose gr eedy par asi t es! " A di shevel ed woman r ushed up t o
Dagny, wavi ng t wo t i cket s and scr eami ng somet hi ng about t he wr ong dat e. Dagny
f ound her sel f pushi ng peopl e out of t he way, f i ght i ng t o r each t he end of t he
t r ai nbut an emaci at ed man, wi t h t he st ar i ng eyes of year s of mal i ci ous
f ut i l i t y, r ushed at her , shout i ng, " I t ' s al l r i ght f or you, you' ve got a good
over coat and a pr i vat e car , but you won' t gi ve us any t r ai ns, you and al l t he
sel f i sh"
He st opped abr upt l y, l ooki ng at someone behi nd her . She f el t a hand
gr aspi ng her el bow: i t was Hank Rear den. He hel d her ar mand l ed her t owar d
her car ; seei ng t he l ook on hi s f ace, she under st ood why peopl e got out of
t hei r way. At t he end of t he pl at f or m, a pal l i d, pl umpi sh man st ood sayi ng t o
a cr yi ng woman, " That ' s how i t ' s al ways been i n t hi s wor l d. Ther e wi l l be no
chance f or t he poor , unt i l t he r i ch ar e dest r oyed. " Hi gh above t he t own,
hangi ng i n bl ack space l i ke an uncool ed pl anet , t he f l ame of Wyat t ' s Tor ch
was t wi st i ng i n t he wi nd.
Rear den went i nsi de her car , but she r emai ned on t he st eps of t he
vest i bul e, del ayi ng t he f i nal i t y of t ur ni ng away. She hear d t he " Al l aboar d! "
She l ooked at t he peopl e who r emai ned on t he pl at f or mas one l ooks at t hose
who wat ch t he depar t ur e of t he l ast l i f eboat .
The conduct or st ood bel ow, at t he f oot of t he st eps, wi t h hi s l ant er n i n
one hand and hi s wat ch i n t he ot her . He gl anced at t he wat ch, t hen gl anced up
at her f ace. She answer ed by t he si l ent af f i r mat i on of cl osi ng her eyes and
i ncl i ni ng her head. She saw hi s l ant er n ci r cl i ng t hr ough t he ai r , as she
t ur ned awayand t he f i r st j ol t of t he wheel s, on t he r ai l s of Rear den Met al ,
was made easi er f or her by t he si ght of Rear den, as she pul l ed t he door open
and went i nt o her car .
When J ames Taggar t t el ephoned Li l l i an Rear den f r omNew Yor k and sai d,
" Why, nono speci al r eason, j ust wonder ed how you wer e and whet her you ever
came t o t he ci t yhaven' t seen you f or ages and j ust t hought we mi ght have
l unch t oget her next t i me you' r e i n New Yor k" she knew t hat he had some ver y
speci al r eason i n mi nd.
When she answer ed l azi l y, " Oh, l et me seewhat day i s t hi s? Apr i l second?
l et me l ook at my cal endar why, i t j ust so happens t hat I have some shoppi ng
t o do i n New Yor k t omor r ow, so I ' l l be del i ght ed t o l et you save me my l unch
money" he knew t hat she had no shoppi ng t o do and t hat t he l uncheon woul d be
t he onl y pur pose of her t r i p t o t he ci t y.
They met i n a di st i ngui shed, hi gh- pr i ced r est aur ant , much t oo
di st i ngui shed and hi gh- pr i ced ever t o be ment i oned i n t he gossi p col umns; not
t he ki nd of pl ace whi ch J ames Taggar t , al ways eager f or per sonal publ i ci t y,
was i n t he habi t of pat r oni zi ng; he di d not want t hemt o be seen t oget her ,
she concl uded.
The hal f - hi nt of hal f - secr et amusement r emai ned on her f ace whi l e she
l i st ened t o hi mt al ki ng about t hei r f r i ends, t he t heat er and t he weat her ,
car ef ul l y bui l di ng f or hi msel f t he pr ot ect i on of t he uni mpor t ant . She sat
gr acef ul l y not qui t e st r ai ght , as i f she wer e l eani ng back, enj oyi ng t he
f ut i l i t y of hi s per f or mance and t he f act t hat he had t o st age i t f or her
benef i t . She wai t ed wi t h pat i ent cur i osi t y t o di scover hi s pur pose.
" I do t hi nk t hat you deser ve a pat on t he back or a medal or somet hi ng,
J i m, " she sai d, " f or bei ng r emar kabl y cheer f ul i n spi t e of al l t he messy
t r oubl e you' r e havi ng. Di dn' t you j ust cl ose t he best br anch of your
r ai l r oad?"
" Oh, i t ' s onl y a sl i ght f i nanci al set back, not hi ng mor e. One has t o expect
r et r enchment s at a t i me l i ke t hi s. Consi der i ng t he gener al st at e of t he
count r y, we' r e doi ng qui t e wel l . Bet t er t han t he r est of t hem. " He added,
shr uggi ng, " Besi des, i t ' s a mat t er of opi ni on whet her t he Ri o Nor t e Li ne was
our best br anch. I t i s onl y my si st er who t hought so.
I t was her pet pr oj ect . "
She caught t he t one of pl easur e bl ur r i ng t he dr awl of hi s syl l abl es.
She smi l ed and sai d, " I see. "
Looki ng up at her f r omunder hi s l ower ed f or ehead, as i f st r essi ng t hat he
expect ed her t o under st and, Taggar t asked, " How i s he t aki ng i t ?"
" Who?" She under st ood qui t e wel l .
" Your husband.
" Taki ng what ?"
" The cl osi ng of t hat Li ne. "
She smi l ed gai l y. " Your guess i s as good as mi ne, J i mand mi ne i s ver y
good i ndeed, "
" What do you mean?"
" You know how he woul d t ake i t j ust as you know how your si st er i s t aki ng
i t . So your cl oud has a doubl e si l ver l i ni ng, hasn' t i t ?"
" What has he been sayi ng i n t he l ast f ew days?"
" He' s been away i n Col or ado f or over a week, so I " She st opped; she had
st ar t ed answer i ng l i ght l y, but she not i ced t hat Taggar t ' s quest i on had been
t oo speci f i c whi l e hi s t one had been t oo casual , and she r eal i zed t hat he had
st r uck t he f i r st not e l eadi ng t owar d t he pur pose of t he l uncheon; she paused
f or t he br i ef est i nst ant , t hen f i ni shed, st i l l mor e l i ght l y, " so I woul dn' t
know. But he' s comi ng back any day now. "
" Woul d you say t hat hi s at t i t ude i s st i l l what one mi ght cal l
r ecal ci t r ant ?"
" Why, J i m, t hat woul d be an under st at ement ! "
" I t was t o be hoped t hat event s had, per haps, t aught hi mt he wi sdomof a
mel l ower appr oach. "
I t amused her t o keep hi mi n doubt about her under st andi ng. " Oh yes, " she
sai d i nnocent l y, " i t woul d be wonder f ul i f anyt hi ng coul d ever make hi m
change. "
" He i s maki ng t hi ngs exceedi ngl y har d f or hi msel f . "
" He al ways has. "
" But event s have a way of beat i ng us al l i nt o a mor e . . . pl i abl e f r ame
of mi nd, sooner or l at er . "
" I ' ve hear d many char act er i st i cs ascr i bed t o hi m, but ' pl i abl e' has never
been one of t hem. "
" Wel l , t hi ngs change and peopl e change wi t h t hem. Af t er al l , i t i s a l aw
of nat ur e t hat ani mal s must adapt t hemsel ves t o t hei r backgr ound.
And I mi ght add t hat adapt abi l i t y i s t he one char act er i st i c most
st r i ngent l y r equi r ed at pr esent by l aws ot her t han t hose of nat ur e. We' r e i n
f or a ver y di f f i cul t t i me, and I woul d hat e t o see you suf f er t he
consequences of hi s i nt r ansi gent at t i t ude. I woul d hat eas your f r i endt o see
you i n t he ki nd of danger he' s headed f or , unl ess he l ear ns t o cooper at e. "
" How sweet of you, J i m, " she sai d sweet l y.
He was dol i ng hi s sent ences out wi t h caut i ous sl owness, bal anci ng hi msel f
bet ween wor d and i nt onat i on t o hi t t he r i ght degr ee of semi cl ar i t y. He
want ed her t o under st and, but he di d not want her t o under st and f ul l y,
expl i ci t l y, down t o t he r oot si nce t he essence of t hat moder n l anguage, whi ch
he had l ear ned t o speak exper t l y, was never t o l et onesel f or ot her s
under st and anyt hi ng down t o t he r oot .
He had not needed many wor ds t o under st and Mr . Weat her by. On hi s l ast t r i p
t o Washi ngt on, he had pl eaded wi t h Mr . Weat her by t hat a cut i n t he r at es of
t he r ai l r oads woul d be a deat hbl ow; t he wage r ai ses had been gr ant ed, but t he
demands f or t he cut i n r at es wer e st i l l hear d i n t he pr essand Taggar t had
known what i t meant , i f Mr . Mouch st i l l per mi t t ed t hemt o be hear d; he had
known t hat t he kni f e was st i l l poi sed at hi s t hr oat . Mr . Weat her by had not
answer ed hi s pl eas, but had sai d, i n a t one of i dl y i r r el evant specul at i on,
" Wesl ey has so many t ough pr obl ems. I f he i s t o gi ve ever ybody a br eat hi ng
spel l , f i nanci al l y speaki ng, he' s got t o put i nt o oper at i on a cer t ai n
emer gency pr ogr amof whi ch you have some i nkl i ng. But you know what hel l t he
unpr ogr essi ve el ement s of t he count r y woul d r ai se about i t . A man l i ke
Rear den, f or i nst ance. We don' t want any mor e st unt s of t he sor t he' s l i abl e
t o pul l . Wesl ey woul d gi ve a l ot f or somebody who coul d keep Rear den i n l i ne.
But I guess t hat ' s somet hi ng nobody can del i ver .
Though I may be wr ong. You may know bet t er , J i m, si nce Rear den i s a sor t
of f r i end of your s, who comes t o your par t i es and al l t hat . "
Looki ng at Li l l i an acr oss t he t abl e, Taggar t sai d, " Fr i endshi p, I f i nd, i s
t he most val uabl e t hi ng i n l i f eand I woul d be ami ss i f I di dn' t gi ve you
pr oof of mi ne. "
" But I ' ve never doubt ed i t . "
He l ower ed hi s voi ce t o t he t one of an omi nous war ni ng: " I t hi nk I shoul d
t el l you, as a f avor t o a f r i end, al t hough i t ' s conf i dent i al , t hat your
husband' s at t i t ude i s bei ng di scussed i n hi gh pl acesver y hi gh pl aces. I ' m
sur e you know what I mean. "
Thi s was why he hat ed Li l l i an Rear den, t hought Taggar t : she knew t he game,
but she pl ayed i t wi t h unexpect ed var i at i ons of her own. I t was agai nst al l
r ul es t o l ook at hi msuddenl y, t o l augh i n hi s f ace, and af t er al l t hose
r emar ks showi ng t hat she under st ood t oo l i t t l et o say bl unt l y, showi ng t hat
she under st ood t oo much, " Why, dar l i ng, of cour se I know what you mean. You
mean t hat t he pur pose of t hi s ver y excel l ent l uncheon was not a f avor you
want ed t o do me, but a f avor you want ed t o get f r omme. You mean t hat i t ' s
you who ar e i n danger and coul d use t hat f avor t o gr eat advant age f or a t r ade
i n hi gh pl aces.
And you mean t hat you ar e r emi ndi ng me of my pr omi se t o del i ver t he
goods. "
" The sor t of per f or mance he put on at hi s t r i al was har dl y what I ' d cal l
del i ver i ng t he goods, " he sai d angr i l y. " I t wasn' t what you had l ed me t o
expect . "
" Oh my, no, i t wasn' t , " she sai d pl aci dl y. " I t cer t ai nl y wasn' t . But ,
dar l i ng, di d you expect me not t o know t hat af t er t hat per f or mance of hi s he
woul dn' t be ver y popul ar i n hi gh pl aces? Di d you r eal l y t hi nk you had t o t el l
me t hat as a conf i dent i al f avor ?"
" But i t ' s t r ue. I hear d hi mdi scussed, so I t hought I ' d t el l you. "
" I ' msur e i t ' s t r ue. I know t hat t hey woul d be di scussi ng hi m. I know al so
t hat i f t her e wer e anyt hi ng t hey coul d do t o hi m, t hey woul d have done i t
r i ght af t er hi s t r i al . My, woul d t hey have been gl ad t o do i t ! So I know t hat
he' s t he onl y one among you who i s i n no danger what ever , at t he moment . I
know t hat i t ' s t hey who ar e af r ai d of hi m. Do you see how wel l I under st and
what you mean, dar l i ng?"
" Wel l , i f you t hi nk you do, I must say t hat f or my par t I don' t under st and
you at al l . I don' t know what i t i s you' r e doi ng. "
" Why, I ' mj ust set t i ng t hi ngs st r ai ght so t hat you' l l know t hat I know how
much you need me. And now t hat i t ' s st r ai ght , I ' l l t el l you t he t r ut h i n my
t ur n: I di dn' t doubl e- cr oss you, I mer el y f ai l ed. Hi s per f or mance at t he
t r i al I di dn' t expect i t any mor e t han you di d.
Less. I had good r eason not t o expect i t . But somet hi ng went wr ong.
I don' t know what i t was. I amt r yi ng t o f i nd out . When I do, I wi l l keep
my pr omi se. Then you' l l be f r ee t o t ake f ul l cr edi t f or i t and t o t el l your
f r i ends i n hi gh pl aces t hat i t ' s you who' ve di sar med hi m. "
" Li l l i an, " he sai d ner vousl y, " I meant i t when I sai d t hat I was anxi ous
t o gi ve you pr oof of my f r i endshi pso i f t her e' s anyt hi ng- 1 can do f or "
She l aughed. " Ther e i sn' t . I know you meant i t . But t her e' s not hi ng you
can do f or me. No f avor of any ki nd. No t r ade. I ' ma t r ul y noncommer ci al
per son, I want not hi ng i n r et ur n. Tough l uck, J i m. You' l l j ust have t o r emai n
at my mer cy. "
" But t hen why shoul d you want t o do i t at al l ? What ar e you get t i ng out of
i t ?"
She l eaned back, smi l i ng. " Thi s l unch. J ust seei ng you her e. J ust knowi ng
t hat you had t o come t o me. "
An angr y spar k f l ashed i n Taggar t ' s vei l ed eyes, t hen hi s eyel i ds nar r owed
sl owl y and he, t oo, l eaned back i n hi s chai r , hi s f ace r el axi ng t o a f ai nt
l ook of mocker y and sat i sf act i on. Even f r omwi t hi n t hat unst at ed, unnamed,
undef i ned muck whi ch r epr esent ed hi s code of val ues, he was abl e t o r eal i ze
whi ch one of t hemwas t he mor e dependent on t he ot her and t he mor e
cont empt i bl e.
When t hey par t ed at t he door of t he r est aur ant , she went t o Rear den' s
sui t e at t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el , wher e she st ayed occasi onal l y i n hi s
absence. She paced t he r oomf or about hal f an hour , i n a l ei sur el y manner of
r ef l ect i on. Then she pi cked up t he t el ephone, wi t h a smoot hl y casual gest ur e,
but wi t h t he pur posef ul ai r of a deci si on r eached. She cal l ed Rear den' s
of f i ce at t he mi l l s and asked Mi ss I ves when she expect ed hi mt o r et ur n.
" Mr . Rear den wi l l be i n New Yor k t omor r ow, ar r i vi ng on t he Comet , Mr s.
Rear den, " sai d Mi ss I ves' cl ear , cour t eous voi ce.
" Tomor r ow? That ' s wonder f ul . Mi ss I ves, woul d you do me a f avor ?
Woul d you cal l Ger t r ude at t he house and t el l her not t o expect me f or
di nner ? I ' mst ayi ng i n New Yor k over ni ght . "
She hung up, gl anced at her wat ch and cal l ed t he f l or i st of t he Wayne-
Fal kl and. " Thi s i s Mr s. Henr y Rear den, " she sai d. " I shoul d l i ke t o have t wo
dozen r oses del i ver ed t o Mr . Rear den' s dr awi ng r oomaboar d t he Comet . . . .
Yes, t oday, t hi s af t er noon, when t he Comet r eaches Chi cago. . . . No, wi t hout
any car dj ust t he f l ower s. . . .
Thank you ever so much. "
She t el ephoned J ames Taggar t . " J i m, wi l l you send me a pass t o your
passenger pl at f or ms? I want t o meet my husband at t he st at i on t omor r ow. "
She hesi t at ed bet ween Bal ph Eubank and Ber t r amScudder , chose Bal ph
Eubank, t el ephoned hi mand made a dat e f or t hi s eveni ng' s di nner and a
musi cal show. Then she went t o t ake a bat h1, and l ay r el axi ng i n a t ub of
war mwat er , r eadi ng a magazi ne devot ed t o pr obl ems of pol i t i cal economy.
I t was l at e af t er noon when t he f l or i st t el ephoned her . " Our Chi cago of f i ce
sent wor d t hat t hey wer e unabl e t o del i ver t he f l ower s, Mr s.
Rear den, " he sai d, " because Mr . Rear den i s not aboar d t he Comet . "
" Ar e you sur e?" she asked.
" Qui t e sur e, Mr s. Rear den. Our man f ound at t he st at i on i n Chi cago t hat
t her e was no compar t ment on t he t r ai n r eser ved i n Mr . Rear den' s name. We
checked wi t h t he New Yor k of f i ce of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , j ust t o make
cer t ai n, and wer e t ol d t hat Mr . Rear den' s name i s not on t he passenger l i st
of t he Comet . "
" I see. . . . Then cancel t he or der , pl ease. . . . Thank you. "
She sat by t he t el ephone f or a moment , f r owni ng, t hen cal l ed Mi ss I ves.
" Pl ease f or gi ve me f or bei ng sl i ght l y scat t er br ai ned, Mi ss I ves, but I was
r ushed and di d not wr i t e i t down, and now I ' mnot qui t e cer t ai n of what you
sai d. Di d you say t hat Mr . Rear den was comi ng back t omor r ow? On t he Comet ?"
" Yes, Mr s. Rear den. "
" You have not hear d of any del ay or change i n hi s pl ans?"
" Why, no. I n f act , I spoke t o Mr . Rear den about an hour ago. He t el ephoned
f r omt he st at i on i n Chi cago, and he ment i oned t hat he had t o hur r y back
aboar d, as t he Comet was about t o l eave. "
" I see. Thank you. "
She l eaped t o her f eet as soon as t he cl i ck of t he i nst r ument r est or ed her
t o pr i vacy. She st ar t ed paci ng t he r oom, her st eps now unr hyt hmi cal l y t ense.
Then she st opped, st r uck by a sudden t hought .
Ther e was onl y one r eason why a man woul d make a t r ai n r eser vat i on under
an assumed name: i f he was not t r avel i ng al one.
Her f aci al muscl es went f l owi ng sl owl y i nt o a smi l e of sat i sf act i on: t hi s
was an oppor t uni t y she had not expect ed.
St andi ng on t he Ter mi nal pl at f or m, at a poi nt hal f way down t he l engt h of
t he t r ai n, Li l l i an Rear den wat ched t he passenger s descendi ng f r omt he Comet .
Her mout h hel d t he hi nt of a smi l e; t her e was a spar k of ani mat i on i n her
l i f el ess eyes; she gl anced f r omone f ace t o anot her , j er ki ng her head wi t h
t he awkwar d eager ness of a school gi r l .
She was ant i ci pat i ng t he l ook on Rear den' s f ace when, wi t h hi s mi st r ess
besi de hi m, he woul d see her st andi ng t her e.
Her gl ance dar t ed hopef ul l y t o ever y f l ashy young f emal e st eppi ng of f t he
t r ai n. I t was har d t o wat ch: wi t hi n an i nst ant af t er t he f i r st f ew f i gur es,
t he t r ai n had seemed t o bur st at t he seams, f l oodi ng t he pl at f or mwi t h a
sol i d cur r ent t hat swept i n one di r ect i on, as i f pul l ed by a vacuum; she
coul d bar el y di st i ngui sh separ at e per sons. The l i ght s wer e mor e gl ar e t han
i l l umi nat i on, pi cki ng t hi s one st r i p out of a dust y, oi l y dar kness. She
needed an ef f or t t o st and st i l l agai nst t he i nvi si bl e pr essur e of mot i on.
Her f i r st si ght of Rear den i n t he cr owd came as a shock: she had not seen
hi mst ep out of a car , but t her e he was, wal ki ng i n her di r ect i on f r om
somewher e f ar down t he l engt h of t he t r ai n. He was al one. He was wal ki ng wi t h
hi s usual pur posef ul speed, hi s hands i n t he pocket s of hi s t r enchcoat . Ther e
was no woman besi de hi m, no compani on of any ki nd, except a por t er hur r yi ng
al ong wi t h a bag she r ecogni zed as hi s.
I n a f ur y of i ncr edul ous di sappoi nt ment , she l ooked f r ant i cal l y f or any
si ngl e f emi ni ne f i gur e he coul d, have l ef t behi nd. She f el t cer t ai n t hat she
woul d r ecogni ze hi s choi ce. She saw none t hat coul d be possi bl e. And t hen she
saw t hat t he l ast car of t he t r ai n was a pr i vat e car , and t hat t he f i gur e
st andi ng at i t s door , t al ki ng t o some st at i on of f i ci al
a f i gur e wear i ng, not mi nks and vei l s, but a r ough spor t s coat t hat
st r essed t he i ncompar abl e gr ace of a sl ender body i n t he conf i dent post ur e of
t hi s st at i on' s owner and cent er was Dagny Taggar t . Then Li l l i an Rear den
under st ood.
" Li l l i an! What ' s t he mat t er ?"
She hear d Rear den' s voi ce, she f el t hi s hand gr aspi ng her ar m, she saw hi m
l ooki ng at her as one l ooks at t he obj ect of a sudden emer gency. He was
l ooki ng at a bl ank f ace and an unf ocused gl ance of t er r or .
" What happened? What ar e you doi ng her e?"
" I . . . Hel l o, Henr y . . . I j ust came t o meet you . . . No speci al
r eason . . . I j ust want ed t o meet you. " The t er r or was gone f r omher f ace,
but she spoke i n a st r ange, f l at voi ce. " I want ed t o see you, i t was an
i mpul se, a sudden i mpul se and I coul dn' t r esi st i t , because"
" But you l ook . . . l ooked i l l . "
" No . . . No, maybe I f el t f ai nt , i t ' s st uf f y her e. . . . I coul dn' t
r esi st comi ng, because i t made me t hi nk of t he days when you woul d have been
gl ad t o see me . . . i t was a moment ' s i l l usi on t o r ecr eat e f or mysel f . . .
. " The wor ds sounded l i ke a memor i zed l esson.
She knew t hat she had t o speak, whi l e her mi nd was f i ght i ng t o gr asp t he
f ul l meani ng of her di scover y. The wor ds wer e par t of t he pl an she had
i nt ended t o use, i f she had met hi maf t er he had f ound t he r oses i n hi s
compar t ment .
He di d not answer , he st ood wat chi ng her , f r owni ng.
" I mi ssed you, Henr y, I know what I amconf essi ng. But I don' t expect i t
t o mean anyt hi ng t o you any l onger . " The wor ds di d not f i t t he t i ght f ace,
t he l i ps t hat moved wi t h ef f or t , t he eyes t hat kept gl anci ng away f r omhi m
down t he l engt h of t he pl at f or m. " I want ed . . . I mer el y want ed t o sur pr i se
you. " A l ook of shr ewdness and pur pose was r et ur ni ng t o her f ace.
He t ook her ar m, but she dr ew back, a l i t t l e t oo shar pl y.
" Ar en' t you goi ng t o say a wor d t o me, Henr y?"
" What do you wi sh me t o say?
" Do you hat e i t as much as t hat havi ng your wi f e come t o meet you at t he
st at i on?" She gl anced down t he pl at f or m: Dagny Taggar t was wal ki ng t owar d
t hem; he di d not see her .
" Let ' s go, " he sai d.
She woul d not move. " Do you?" she asked.
" What ?"
" Do you hat e i t ?"
" No, I don' t hat e i t . I mer el y don' t under st and i t . "
" Tel l me about your t r i p. I ' msur e you' ve had a ver y enj oyabl e t r i p. "
" Come on. We can t al k at home. "
" When do I ever have a chance t o t al k t o you at home?" She was dr awl i ng
her wor ds i mpassi vel y, as i f she wer e st r et chi ng t hemt o f i l l t i me, f or some
r eason whi ch he coul d not i magi ne. " I had hoped t o cat ch a f ew moment s of
your at t ent i onl i ke t hi sbet ween t r ai ns and busi ness appoi nt ment s and al l
t hose i mpor t ant mat t er s t hat hol d you day and ni ght , al l t hose gr eat
achi evement s of your s, such as . . .
Hel l o, Mi ss Taggar t ! " she sai d shar pl y, her voi ce l oud and br i ght .
Rear den whi r l ed ar ound. Dagny was wal ki ng past t hem, but she st opped.
" How do you do, " she sai d t o Li l l i an, bowi ng, her f ace expr essi onl ess.
" I amso sor r y, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Li l l i an, smi l i ng, " you must f or gi ve me
i f I don' t know t he appr opr i at e f or mul a of condol ences f or t he occasi on. " She
not ed t hat Dagny and Rear den had not gr eet ed each ot her . " You' r e r et ur ni ng
f r omwhat was, i n ef f ect , t he f uner al of your chi l d by my husband, ar en' t
you?"
Dagny' s mout h showed a f ai nt l i ne of ast oni shment and of cont empt .
She i ncl i ned her head, by way of l eave- t aki ng, and wal ked on.
Li l l i an gl anced shar pl y at Rear den' s f ace, as i f i n del i ber at e emphasi s.
He l ooked at her i ndi f f er ent l y, puzzl ed.
She sai d not hi ng. She f ol l owed hi mwi t hout a wor d when he t ur ned t o go.
She r emai ned si l ent i n t he t axi cab, her f ace hal f - t ur ned away f r omhi m, whi l e
t hey r ode t o t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el . He f el t cer t ai n, as he l ooked at t he
t aut l y t wi st ed set of her mout h, t hat some uncust omar y vi ol ence was r agi ng
wi t hi n her . He had never known her t o exper i ence a st r ong emot i on of any
ki nd.
She whi r l ed t o f ace hi m, t he moment t hey wer e al one i n hi s r oom.
" So t hat ' s who i t i s?" she asked.
He had not expect ed i t . He l ooked at her , not qui t e bel i evi ng t hat he had
under st ood i t cor r ect l y.
" I t ' s Dagny Taggar t who' s your mi st r ess, i sn' t she?"
He di d not answer .
" I happen t o know t hat you had no compar t ment on t hat t r ai n. So I know
wher e you' ve sl ept f or t he l ast f our ni ght s. Do you want t o admi t i t or do
you want me t o send det ect i ves t o quest i on her t r ai n cr ews and her house
ser vant s? I s i t Dagny Taggar t ?"
" Yes, " he answer ed cal ml y.
Her mout h t wi st ed i nt o an ugl y chuckl e; she was st ar i ng past hi m.
" I shoul d have known i t . I shoul d have guessed. That ' s why i t di dn' t
wor k! "
He asked, i n bl ank bewi l der ment , " What di dn' t wor k?"
She st epped back, as i f t o r emi nd her sel f of hi s pr esence. " Had you
when she was i n our house, at t he par t yhad you, t hen . . . ?"
" No. Si nce. "
" The gr eat busi nesswoman, " she sai d, " above r epr oach and f emi ni ne
weaknesses. The gr eat mi nd det ached f r omany concer n wi t h t he body . . . " She
chuckl ed, " The br acel et . . . " she sai d, wi t h t he st i l l l ook t hat made i t
sound as i f t he wor ds wer e dr opped acci dent al l y out of t he t or r ent i n her
mi nd. " That ' s what she meant t o you. That ' s t he weapon she gave you. "
" I f you r eal l y under st and what you' r e sayi ngyes. "
" Do you t hi nk I ' l l l et you get away wi t h i t ?"
" Get away . . . ?" He was l ooki ng at her i ncr edul ousl y, i n col d,
ast oni shed cur i osi t y.
" That ' s why, at your t r i al " She st opped.
" What about my t r i al ?"
She was t r embl i ng. " You know, of cour se, t hat I won' t al l ow t hi s t o
cont i nue. "
" What does i t have t o do wi t h my t r i al ?"
" I won' t per mi t you t o have her . Not her . Anyone but her . "
He l et a moment pass, t hen asked evenl y, " Why?"
" I won' t per mi t i t ! You' l l gi ve i t up! " He was l ooki ng at her wi t hout
expr essi on, but t he st eadi ness of hi s eyes hi t her as hi s most danger ous
answer . " You' l l gi ve i t up, you' l l l eave her , you' l l never see her agai n! "
" Li l l i an, i f you wi sh t o di scuss i t , t her e' s one t hi ng you' d bet t er
under st and; not hi ng on ear t h wi l l make me gi ve i t up. "
" But I demand i t ! "
" I t ol d you t hat you coul d demand anyt hi ng but t hat . "
He saw t he l ook of a pecul i ar pani c gr owi ng i n her eyes: i t was not t he
l ook of under st andi ng, but of a f er oci ous r ef usal t o under st andas i f she
want ed t o t ur n t he vi ol ence of her emot i on i nt o a f og scr een, as i f she
hoped, not t hat i t woul d bl i nd her t o r eal i t y, but t hat her bl i ndness woul d
make r eal i t y cease t o exi st .
" But I have t he r i ght t o demand i t ! I own your l i f e! I t ' s my pr oper t y.
My pr oper t yby your own oat h. You swor e t o ser ve my happi ness, Not your s
mi ne! What have you done f or me? You' ve gi ven me not hi ng, you' ve sacr i f i ced
not hi ng, you' ve never been concer ned wi t h anyt hi ng but your sel f your wor k,
your mi l l s, your t al ent , your mi st r ess!
What about me? I hol d f i r st cl ai m! I ' mpr esent i ng i t f or col l ect i on!
You' r e t he account I own! "
I t was t he l ook on hi s f ace t hat dr ove her up t he r i si ng st eps of her
voi ce, scr eamby scr eam, i nt o t er r or . She was seei ng, not anger or pai n or
gui l t , but t he one i nvi ol at e enemy: i ndi f f er ence.
" Have you t hought of me?" she scr eamed, her voi ce br eaki ng agai nst hi s
f ace. " Have you t hought of what you' r e doi ng t o me? You have no r i ght t o go
on, i f you know t hat you' r e put t i ng me t hr ough hel l ever y t i me you sl eep wi t h
t hat woman! I can' t st and i t , I can' t st and one moment of knowi ng i t ! Wi l l
you sacr i f i ce me t o your ani mal desi r e? Ar e you as vi ci ous and sel f i sh as
t hat ? Can you buy your pl easur e at t he pr i ce of my suf f er i ng? Can you have
i t , i f t hi s i s what i t does t o me?"
Feel i ng not hi ng but t he empt i ness of wonder , he obser ved t he t hi ng whi ch
he had gl i mpsed br i ef l y i n t he past and was now seei ng i n t he f ul l ugl i ness
of i t s f ut i l i t y: t he spect acl e of pl eas f or pi t y del i ver ed, i n snar l i ng
hat r ed, as t hr eat s and as demands.
" Li l l i an, " he sai d ver y qui et l y, " I woul d have i t , even i f i t t ook your
l i f e. "
She hear d i t . She hear d mor e t han he was r eady t o know and t o hear i n hi s
own wor ds. The shock, t o hi m, was t hat she di d not scr eami n answer , but t hat
he saw her , i nst ead, shr i nki ng down i nt o cal m. " You have no r i ght . . . " she
sai d dul l y. I t had t he embar r assi ng hel pl essness of t he wor ds of a per son who
knows her own wor ds t o be meani ngl ess.
" What ever cl ai myou may have on me, " he sai d, " no human bei ng can hol d on
anot her a cl ai mdemandi ng t hat he wi pe hi msel f out of exi st ence. "
" Does she mean as much as t hat t o you?"
" Much mor e t han t hat . "
The l ook of t hought was r et ur ni ng t o her f ace, but i n her f ace i t had t he
qual i t y of a l ook of cunni ng. She r emai ned si l ent .
" Li l l i an, I ' mgl ad t hat you know t he t r ut h. Now you can make a choi ce wi t h
f ul l under st andi ng. You may di vor ce meor you may ask t hat we cont i nue as we
ar e. That i s t he onl y choi ce you have. I t i s al l I can of f er you. I t hi nk you
know t hat I want you t o di vor ce me. But I don' t ask f or sacr i f i ces. I don' t
know what sor t of comf or t you can f i nd i n our mar r i age, but i f you do, I
won' t ask you t o gi ve i t up. I don' t know why you shoul d want t o hol d me now,
I don' t know what i t i s t hat I mean t o you, I don' t know what you' r e seeki ng,
what f or mof happi ness i s your s or what you wi l l obt ai n f r oma si t uat i on
whi ch I see as i nt ol er abl e f or bot h of us. By ever y st andar d of mi ne, you
shoul d have di vor ced me l ong ago. By ever y st andar d of mi ne, t o mai nt ai n our
mar r i age wi l l be a vi ci ous f r aud. But my st andar ds ar e not your s. I do not
under st and your s, I never have, but I wi l l accept t hem. I f t hi s i s t he manner
of your l ove f or me, i f bear i ng t he name of my wi f e wi l l gi ve you some f or m
of cont ent ment , I won' t t ake i t away f r omyou. I t ' s I who' ve br oken my wor d,
so I wi l l at one f or i t t o t he ext ent I can. You know, of cour se, t hat I coul d
buy one of t hose moder n j udges and obt ai n a di vor ce any t i me I wi shed. I
won' t do i t . I wi l l keep my wor d, i f you so desi r e, but t hi s i s t he onl y f or m
i n whi ch I can keep i t . Now make your choi cebut i f you choose t o hol d me,
you must never speak t o me about her , you must never show her t hat you know,
i f you meet her i n t he f ut ur e, you must never t ouch t hat par t of my l i f e. "
She st ood st i l l , l ooki ng up at hi m, t he post ur e of her body sl ouched and
l oose, as i f i t s sl oppi ness wer e a f or mof def i ance, as i f she di d not car e
t o r esume f or hi s sake t he di sci pl i ne of a gr acef ul bear i ng.
" Mi ss Dagny Taggar t . . . " she sai d, and chuckl ed. " The super woman whom
common, aver age wi ves wer e not supposed t o suspect .
The woman who car ed f or not hi ng but busi ness and deal t wi t h men as a man.
The woman of gr eat spi r i t who admi r ed you pl at oni cal l y, j ust f or your geni us,
your mi l l s and your Met al ! " She chuckl ed. " I shoul d have known t hat she was
j ust a bi t ch who want ed you i n t he same way as any bi t ch woul d want you
because you ar e f ul l y as exper t i n bed as you ar e at a desk, i f I ama j udge
of such mat t er s. But she woul d appr eci at e t hat bet t er t han I , si nce she
wor shi ps exper t ness of any ki nd and si nce she has pr obabl y been l ai d by ever y
sect i on hand on her r ai l r oad! "
She st opped, because she saw, f or t he f i r st t i me i n her l i f e, by what sor t
of l ook one l ear ns t hat a man i s capabl e of ki l l i ng. But he was not l ooki ng
at her . She was not sur e whet her he was seei ng her at al l or hear i ng her
voi ce.
He was hear i ng hi s own voi ce sayi ng her wor dssayi ng t hemt o Dagny i n t he
sun- st r i ped bedr oomof El l i s Wyat t ' s house. He was seei ng, i n t he ni ght s
behi nd hi m, Dagny' s f ace i n t hose moment s when, hi s body l eavi ng her s, she
l ay st i l l wi t h a l ook of r adi ance t hat was mor e t han a smi l e, a l ook of
yout h, of ear l y mor ni ng, of gr at i t ude t o t he f act of one' s own exi st ence. And
he was seei ng Li l l i an' s f ace, as he had seen i t i n bed besi de hi m, a l i f el ess
f ace wi t h evasi ve eyes, wi t h some f eebl e sneer on i t s l i ps and t he l ook of
shar i ng some smut t y gui l t . He saw who was t he accuser and who t he accusedhe
saw t he obsceni t y of l et t i ng i mpot ence hol d i t sel f as vi r t ue and damn t he
power of l i vi ng as a si n
he saw, wi t h t he cl ar i t y of di r ect per cept i on, i n t he shock of a si ngl e
i nst ant , t he t er r i bl e ugl i ness of t hat whi ch had once been hi s own bel i ef .
I t was onl y an i nst ant , a convi ct i on wi t hout wor ds, a knowl edge gr asped as
a f eel i ng, l ef t unseal ed by hi s mi nd. The shock br ought hi mback t o t he si ght
of Li l l i an and t o t he sound of her wor ds. She appear ed t o hi msuddenl y as
some i nconsequent i al pr esence t hat had t o be deal t wi t h at t he moment .
" Li l l i an, " he sai d, i n an unst r essed voi ce t hat di d not gr ant her even t he
honor of anger , " you ar e not t o speak of her t o me. I f you ever do i t agai n,
I wi l l answer you as I woul d answer a hoodl um: I wi l l beat you up. Nei t her
you nor anyone el se i s t o di scuss her . "
She gl anced at hi m. " Real l y?" she sai d. I t had an odd, casual sound as i f
t he wor d wer e t ossed away, l eavi ng some hook i mpl ant ed i n her mi nd. She
seemed t o be consi der i ng some sudden vi si on of her own.
He sai d qui et l y, i n wear y ast oni shment , " I t hought you woul d be gl ad t o
di scover t he t r ut h. I t hought you woul d pr ef er t o knowf or t he sake of
what ever l ove or r espect you f el t f or met hat i f I bet r ayed you, i t was not
cheapl y and casual l y, i t was not f or a chor us gi r l , but f or t he cl eanest and
most ser i ous f eel i ng of my l i f e. "
The f er oci ous spr i ng wi t h whi ch she whi r l ed t o hi mwas i nvol unt ar y, as was
t he naked t wi st of hat r ed i n her f ace. " Oh, you goddamn f ool ! "
He r emai ned si l ent .
Her composur e r et ur ned, wi t h t he f ai nt suggest i on of a smi l e of secr et
mocker y. " I bel i eve you' r e wai t i ng f or my answer ?" she sai d. " No, I won' t
di vor ce you. Don' t ever hope f or t hat . We shal l cont i nue as we ar ei f t hat i s
what you of f er ed and i f you t hi nk i t can cont i nue. See whet her you can f l out
al l mor al pr i nci pl es and get away wi t h i t ! "
He di d not l i st en t o her whi l e she r eached f or her coat , t el l i ng hi mt hat
she was goi ng back t o t hei r home. He bar el y not i ced i t when t he door cl osed
af t er her . He st ood mot i onl ess, hel d by a f eel i ng he had never exper i enced
bef or e. He knew t hat he woul d have t o t hi nk l at er , t o t hi nk and under st and,
but f or t he moment he want ed not hi ng but t o obser ve t he wonder of what he
f el t .
I t was a sense of f r eedom, as i f he st ood al one i n t he mi dst of an endl ess
sweep of cl ean ai r , wi t h onl y t he memor y of some wei ght t hat had been t or n
of f hi s shoul der s. I t was t he f eel i ng of an i mmense del i ver ance. I t was t he
knowl edge t hat i t di d not mat t er t o hi mwhat Li l l i an f el t , what she suf f er ed
or what became of her , and mor e: not onl y t hat i t di d not mat t er , but t he
shi ni ng, gui l t l ess knowl edge t hat i t di d not have t o mat t er .

CHAPTER VI
MIRACLE METAL

" But can we get away wi t h i t ?" asked Wesl ey Mouch. Hi s voi ce was hi gh wi t h
anger and t hi n wi t h f ear .
Nobody answer ed hi m. J ames Taggar t sat on t he edge of an ar mchai r , not
movi ng, l ooki ng up at hi mf r omunder hi s f or ehead, Or r en Boyl e gave a vi ci ous
t ap agai nst an asht r ay, shaki ng t he ash of f hi s ci gar . Dr .
Fl oyd Fer r i s smi l ed. Mr . Weat her by f ol ded hi s l i ps and hands. Fr ed Ki nnan,
head of t he Amal gamat ed Labor of Amer i ca, st opped paci ng t he of f i ce, sat down
on t he wi ndow si l l and cr ossed hi s ar ms. Eugene Lawson, who had sat hunched
downwar d, absent - mi ndedl y r ear r angi ng a di spl ay of f l ower s on a l ow gl ass
t abl e, r ai sed hi s t or so r esent f ul l y and gl anced up. Mouch sat at hi s desk,
wi t h hi s f i st on a sheet of paper .
I t was Eugene Lawson who answer ed. " That ' s not , i t seems t o me, t he way t o
put i t . We must not l et vul gar di f f i cul t i es obst r uct our f eel i ng t hat i t ' s a
nobl e pl an mot i vat ed sol el y by t he publ i c wel f ar e. I t ' s f or t he good of t he
peopl e. The peopl e need i t . Need comes f i r st , so we don' t have t o consi der
anyt hi ng el se. "
Nobody obj ect ed or pi cked i t up; t hey l ooked as i f Lawson had mer el y made
i t har der t o cont i nue t he di scussi on. But a smal l man who sat unobt r usi vel y
i n t he best ar mchai r of t he r oom, apar t f r omt he ot her s, cont ent t o be
i gnor ed and f ul l y awar e t hat none of t hemcoul d be unconsci ous of hi s
pr esence, gl anced at Lawson, t hen at Mouch, and sai d wi t h br i sk cheer f ul ness,
" That ' s t he l i ne, Wesl ey. Tone i t down and dr ess i t up and get your pr ess
boys t o chant i t and you won' t have t o wor r y. "
" Yes, Mr . Thompson, " sai d Mouch gl uml y.
Mr . Thompson, t he Head of t he St at e, was a man who possessed t he qual i t y
of never bei ng not i ced. I n any gr oup of t hr ee, hi s per son became
i ndi st i ngui shabl e, and when seen al one i t seemed t o evoke a gr oup of i t s own,
composed of t he count l ess per sons he r esembl ed.
The count r y had no cl ear i mage of what he l ooked l i ke: hi s phot ogr aphs had
appear ed on t he cover s of magazi nes as f r equent l y as t hose of hi s
pr edecessor s i n of f i ce, but peopl e coul d never be qui t e cer t ai n whi ch
phot ogr aphs wer e hi s and whi ch wer e pi ct ur es of " a mai l cl er k"
or " a whi t e- col l ar wor ker , " accompanyi ng ar t i cl es about t he dai l y l i f e of
t he undi f f er ent i at edexcept t hat Mr . Thompson' s col l ar s wer e usual l y wi l t ed.
He had br oad shoul der s and a sl i ght body. He had st r i ngy hai r , a wi de mout h
and an el ast i c age r ange t hat made hi ml ook l i ke a har assed f or t y or an
unusual l y vi gor ous si xt y. Hol di ng enor mous of f i ci al power s, he schemed
ceasel essl y t o expand t hem, because i t was expect ed of hi mby t hose who had
pushed hi mi nt o of f i ce. He had t he cunni ng of t he uni nt el l i gent and t he
f r ant i c ener gy of t he l azy. The sol e secr et of hi s r i se i n l i f e was t he f act
t hat he was a pr oduct of chance and knew i t and aspi r ed t o not hi ng el se.
" I t ' s obvi ous t hat measur es have t o be t aken. Dr ast i c measur es, "
sai d J ames Taggar t , speaki ng, not t o Mr . Thompson, but t o Wesl ey Mouch.
" We can' t l et t hi ngs go t he way t hey' r e goi ng much l onger . "
Hi s voi ce was bel l i ger ent and shaky.
" Take i t easy, J i m, " sai d Or r en Boyl e.
" Somet hi ng' s got t o be done and done f ast ! "
" Don' t l ook at me, " snapped Wesl ey Mouch. " I can' t hel p i t . I can' t hel p
i t i f peopl e r ef use t o co- oper at e. I ' mt i ed. I need wi der power s. "
Mouch had summoned t hemal l t o Washi ngt on, as hi s f r i ends and per sonal
advi ser s, f or a pr i vat e, unof f i ci al conf er ence on t he nat i onal cr i si s. But ,
wat chi ng hi m, t hey wer e unabl e t o deci de whet her hi s manner was over bear i ng
or whi ni ng, whet her he was t hr eat eni ng t hemor pl eadi ng f or t hei r hel p.
" Fact i s, " sai d Mr . Weat her by pr i ml y, i n a st at i st i cal t one of voi ce,
" t hat i n t he t wel ve- mont h per i od endi ng on t he f i r st of t hi s year , t he r at e
of busi ness f ai l ur es has doubl ed, as compar ed wi t h t he pr ecedi ng t wel ve- mont h
per i od. Si nce t he f i r st of t hi s year , i t has t r ebl ed. "
" Be sur e t hey t hi nk i t ' s t hei r own f aul t , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s casual l y.
" Huh?" sai d Wesl ey Mouch, hi s eyes dar t i ng t o Fer r i s.
" What ever you do, don' t apol ogi ze, " sai d Dr , Fer r i s. " Make t hemf eel
gui l t y. "
" I ' mnot apol ogi zi ng! " snapped Mouch. " I ' mnot t o bl ame. I need wi der
power s. "
" But i t i s t hei r own f aul t , " sai d Eugene Lawson, t ur ni ng aggr essi vel y t o
Dr . Fer r i s. " I t ' s t hei r l ack of soci al spi r i t . They r ef use t o r ecogni ze t hat
pr oduct i on i s not a pr i vat e choi ce, but a publ i c dut y. They have no r i ght t o
f ai l , no mat t er what condi t i ons happen t o come up. They' ve got t o go on
pr oduci ng. I t ' s a soci al i mper at i ve. A man' s wor k i s not a per sonal mat t er ,
i t ' s a soci al mat t er . Ther e' s no such t hi ng as a per sonal mat t er or a
per sonal l i f e. That ' s what we' ve got t o f or ce t hemt o l ear n. "
" Gene Lawson knows what I ' mt al ki ng about , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, wi t h a sl i ght
smi l e, " even t hough he hasn' t t he f ai nt est i dea t hat he does. "
" What do you t hi nk you mean?" asked Lawson, hi s voi ce r i si ng.
" Ski p i t , " or der ed Wesl ey Mouch.
" I don' t car e what you deci de t o do, Wesl ey, " sai d Mr . Thompson, " and I
don' t car e i f t he busi nessmen squawk about i t . J ust be sur e you' ve got t he
pr ess wi t h you. Be damn sur e about t hat . "
" I ' ve got ' em, " sai d Mouch.
" One edi t or who' d open hi s t r ap at t he wr ong t i me coul d do us mor e har m
t han t en di sgr unt l ed mi l l i onai r es. "
" That ' s t r ue, Mr . Thompson, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " But can you name one edi t or
who knows i t ?"
" Guess not , " sai d Mr . Thompson; he sounded pl eased.
" What ever t ype of men we' r e count i ng on and pl anni ng f or , " sai d Dr .
Fer r i s, " t her e' s a cer t ai n ol d- f ashi oned quot at i on whi ch we may saf el y
f or get : t he one about count i ng on t he wi se and t he honest . We don' t have t o
consi der t hem. They' r e out of dat e. "
J ames Taggar t gl anced at t he wi ndow. Ther e wer e pat ches of bl ue i n t he sky
above t he spaci ous st r eet s of Washi ngt on, t he f ai nt bl ue of mi d- Apr i l , and a
f ew beams br eaki ng t hr ough t he cl ouds, A monument st ood shi ni ng i n t he
di st ance, hi t by a r ay of sun: i t was a t al l , whi t e obel i sk, er ect ed t o t he
memor y of t he man Dr . Fer r i s was quot i ng, t he man i n whose honor t hi s ci t y
had been named. J ames Taggar t l ooked away.
" I don' t l i ke t he pr of essor ' s r emar ks, " sai d Lawson l oudl y and sul l enl y.
" Keep st i l l , " sai d Wesl ey Mouch. " Dr . Fer r i s i s not t al ki ng t heor y, but
pr act i ce. "
" Wel l , i f you want t o t al k pr act i ce, " sai d Fr ed Ki nnan, " t hen l et me t el l
you t hat we can' t wor r y about busi nessmen at a t i me l i ke t hi s.
What we' ve got t o t hi nk about i s j obs. Mor e j obs f or t he peopl e. I n my
uni ons, ever y man who' s wor ki ng i s f eedi ng f i ve who ar en' t , not count i ng hi s
own pack of st ar vi ng r el at i ves. I f you want my advi ce
oh, I know you won' t go f or i t , but i t ' s j ust a t hought i ssue a di r ect i ve
maki ng i t compul sor y t o add, say, one- t hi r d mor e men t o ever y payr ol l i n t he
count r y. "
" Good God! " yel l ed Taggar t . " Ar e you cr azy? We can bar el y meet our
payr ol l s as i t i s! Ther e' s not enough wor k f or t he men we' ve got now! One-
t hi r d mor e? We woul dn' t have any use f or t hemwhat ever ! "
" Who car es whet her you' d have any use f or t hem?" sai d Fr ed Ki nnan. " They
need j obs. That ' s what comes f i r st needdoesn' t i t ?
not your pr of i t s. "
" I t ' s not a quest i on of pr of i t s! " yel l ed Taggar t hast i l y. " I haven' t sai d
anyt hi ng about pr of i t s. I haven' t gi ven you any gr ounds t o i nsul t me.
I t ' s j ust a quest i on of wher e i n hel l we' d get t he money t o pay your men
when hal f our t r ai ns ar e r unni ng empt y and t her e' s not enough f r ei ght t o f i l l
a t r ol l ey car . " Hi s voi ce sl owed down suddenl y t o a t one of caut i ous
t hought f ul ness: " However , we do under st and t he pl i ght of t he wor ki ng men,
andi t ' s j ust a t hought we coul d, per haps, t ake on a cer t ai n ext r a number ,
i f we wer e per mi t t ed t o doubl e our f r ei ght r at es, whi ch"
" Have you l ost your mi nd?" yel l ed Or r en Boyl e. " I ' mgoi ng br oke on t he
r at es you' r e char gi ng now, I shudder ever y t i me a damn boxcar pul l s i n or out
of t he mi l l s, t hey' r e bl eedi ng me t o deat h, I can' t af f or d i t and you want t o
doubl e i t ?"
" I t i s not essent i al whet her you can af f or d i t or not , " sai d Taggar t
col dl y, " You have t o be pr epar ed t o make some sacr i f i ces. The publ i c needs
r ai l r oads. Need coni es f i r st above your pr of i t s. "
" What pr of i t s?" yel l ed Or r en Boyl e. " When di d I ever make any pr of i t s?
Nobody can accuse me of r unni ng a pr of i t - maki ng busi ness!
J ust l ook at my bal ance sheet and t hen l ook at t he books of a cer t ai n
compet i t or of mi ne, who' s got al l t he cust omer s, al l t he r aw mat er i al s, al l
t he t echni cal advant ages and a monopol y on secr et f or mul ast hen t el l me who' s
t he pr of i t eer ! . . . But , of cour se, t he publ i c does need r ai l r oads, and
per haps I coul d manage t o absor b a cer t ai n r ai se i n r at es, i f I wer e t o get
i t ' s j ust a t hought i f I wer e t o get a subsi dy t o car r y me over t he next year
or t wo, unt i l I cat ch my st r i de and"
" What ? Agai n?" yel l ed Mr . Weat her by, l osi ng hi s pr i mness. " How many l oans
have you got f r omus and how many ext ensi ons, suspensi ons and mor at or i ums?
You haven' t r epai d a pennyand wi t h al l of you boys goi ng br oke and t he t ax
r ecei pt s cr ashi ng, wher e do you expect us t o get t he money t o hand you a
subsi dy?"
" Ther e ar e peopl e who ar en' t br oke, " sai d Boyl e sl owl y. " You boys have no
excuse f or per mi t t i ng al l t hat need and mi ser y t o spr ead t hr ough t he count r y
so l ong as t her e ar e peopl e who ar en' t br oke. "
" I can' t hel p i t ! " yel l ed Wesl ey Mouch. " I can' t do anyt hi ng about i t !
I need wi der power s! "
They coul d not t el l what had pr ompt ed Mr . Thompson t o at t end t hi s
par t i cul ar conf er ence. He had sai d l i t t l e, but had l i st ened wi t h i nt er est . I t
seemed as i f t her e wer e somet hi ng whi ch he had want ed t o l ear n, and now he
l ooked as i f he had l ear ned i t . He st ood up and smi l ed cheer f ul l y.
" Go ahead, Wesl ey, " he sai d. " Go ahead wi t h Number 10- 289. You won' t have
any t r oubl e at al l , "
They had al l r i sen t o t hei r f eet , i n gl oomi l y r el uct ant def er ence. Wesl ey
Mouch gl anced down at hi s sheet of paper , t hen sai d i n a pet ul ant t one of
voi ce, " I f you want me t o go ahead, you' l l have t o decl ar e a st at e of t ot al
emer gency. "
" I ' l l decl ar e i t any t i me you' r e r eady. "
" Ther e ar e cer t ai n di f f i cul t i es, whi ch"
" I ' l l l eave i t up t o you. Wor k i t out any way you wi sh. I t ' s your j ob.
Let me see t he r ough dr af t , t omor r ow or next day, but don' t bot her me
about t he det ai l s. I ' ve got a speech t o make on t he r adi o i n hal f an hour . "
" The chi ef di f f i cul t y i s t hat I ' mnot sur e whet her t he l aw act ual l y gr ant s
us t he power t o put i nt o ef f ect cer t ai n pr ovi si ons of Di r ect i ve Number 10-
289. 1 f ear t hey mi ght be open t o chal l enge. "
Oh hel l , we' ve passed so many emer gency l aws t hat i f you hunt t hr ough
t hem, you' r e sur e t o di g up somet hi ng t hat wi l l cover i t . "
Mr . Thompson t ur ned t o t he ot her s wi t h a smi l e of good f el l owshi p.
" I ' l l l eave you boys t o i r on out t he wr i nkl es, " he sai d. " I appr eci at e
your comi ng t o Washi ngt on t o hel p us out . Gl ad t o have seen you. "
They wai t ed unt i l t he door cl osed af t er hi m, t hen r esumed t hei r seat s;
t hey di d not l ook at one anot her .
They had not hear d t he t ext of Di r ect i ve No. 10- 289, but t hey knew what i t
woul d cont ai n. They had known i t f or a l ong t i me, i n t hat speci al manner
whi ch consi st ed of keepi ng secr et s f r omonesel f and l eavi ng knowl edge
unt r ansl at ed i nt o wor ds. And, by t he same met hod, t hey now wi shed i t wer e
possi bl e f or t hemnot t o hear t he wor ds of t he di r ect i ve. I t was t o avoi d
moment s such as t hi s t hat al l t he compl ex t wi st i ngs of t hei r mi nds had been
devi sed, They wi shed t he di r ect i ve t o go i nt o ef f ect . They wi shed i t coul d be
put i nt o ef f ect wi t hout wor ds, so t hat t hey woul d not have t o know t hat what
t hey wer e doi ng was what i t was. Nobody had ever announced t hat Di r ect i ve No.
10- 289 was t he f i nal goal of hi s ef f or t s.
Yet , f or gener at i ons past , men had wor ked t o make i t possi bl e, and f or
mont hs past , ever y pr ovi si on of i t had been pr epar ed f or by count l ess
speeches, ar t i cl es, ser mons, edi t or i al sby pur posef ul voi ces t hat scr eamed
wi t h anger i f anyone named t hei r pur pose.
' The pi ct ur e now i s t hi s, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch. " The economi c condi t i on of
t he count r y was bet t er t he year bef or e l ast t han i t was l ast year , and l ast
year i t was bet t er t han i t i s at pr esent . I t ' s obvi ous t hat we woul d not be
abl e t o sur vi ve anot her year of t he same pr ogr essi on.
Ther ef or e, our sol e obj ect i ve must now be t o hol d t he l i ne. To st and st i l l
i n or der t o cat ch our st r i de. To achi eve t ot al st abi l i t y. Fr eedomhas been
gi ven a chance and has f ai l ed. Ther ef or e, mor e st r i ngent cont r ol s ar e
necessar y. Si nce men ar e unabl e and unwi l l i ng t o sol ve t hei r pr obl ems
vol unt ar i l y, t hey must be f or ced t o do i t . " He paused, pi cked up t he sheet of
paper , t hen added i n a l ess f or mal t one of voi ce, " Hel l , what i t comes down
t o i s t hat we can manage t o exi st as and wher e we ar e, but we can' t af f or d t o
move! So we' ve got t o st and st i l l . We' ve got t o st and st i l l . We' ve got t o
make t hose bast ar ds st and st i l l ! "
Hi s head dr awn i nt o hi s shoul der s, he was l ooki ng at t hemwi t h t he anger
of a man decl ar i ng t hat t he count r y' s t r oubl es wer e a per sonal af f r ont t o
hi m. So many men seeki ng f avor s had been af r ai d of hi mt hat he now act ed as
i f hi s anger wer e a sol ut i on t o ever yt hi ng, as i f hi s anger wer e omni pot ent ,
as i f al l he had t o do was t o get angr y.
Yet , f aci ng hi m, t he men who sat i n a si l ent semi ci r cl e bef or e hi s desk
wer e uncer t ai n whet her t he pr esence of f ear i n t he r oomwas t hei r own emot i on
or whet her t he hunched f i gur e behi nd t he desk gener at ed t he pani c of a
cor ner ed r at .
Wesl ey Mouch had a l ong, squar e f ace and a f l at - t opped skul l , made mor e so
by a br ush hai r cut . Hi s l ower l i p was a pet ul ant bul b and t he pal e, br owni sh
pupi l s of hi s eyes l ooked l i ke t he yol ks of eggs smear ed under t he not f ul l y
t r ansl ucent whi t es. Hi s f aci al muscl es moved abr upt l y, and t he movement
vani shed, havi ng conveyed no expr essi on.
No one had ever seen hi msmi l e.
Wesl ey Mouch came f r oma f ami l y t hat had known nei t her pover t y nor weal t h
nor di st i nct i on f or many gener at i ons; i t had cl ung, however , t o a t r adi t i on
of i t s own: t hat of bei ng col l ege- br ed and, t her ef or e, of despi si ng men who
wer e i n busi ness. The f ami l y' s di pl omas had al ways hung on t he wal l i n t he
manner of a r epr oach t o t he wor l d, because t he di pl omas had not aut omat i cal l y
pr oduced t he mat er i al equi val ent s of t hei r at t est ed spi r i t ual val ue. Among
t he f ami l y' s numer ous r el at i ves, t her e was one r i ch uncl e. He had mar r i ed hi s
money and, i n hi s wi dowed ol d age, he had pi cked Wesl ey as hi s f avor i t e f r om
among hi s many nephews and ni eces, because Wesl ey was t he l east di st i ngui shed
of t he l ot and t her ef or e, t hought Uncl e J ul i us, t he saf est . Uncl e J ul i us di d
not car e f or peopl e who wer e br i l l i ant . He di d not car e f or t he t r oubl e of
managi ng hi s money, ei t her ; so he t ur ned t he j ob over t o Wesl ey. By t he t i me
Wesl ey gr aduat ed f r omcol l ege, t her e was no money l ef t t o manage. Uncl e
J ul i us bl amed i t on Wesl ey' s cunni ng and cr i ed t hat Wesl ey was an
unscr upul ous schemer .
But t her e had been no scheme about i t ; Wesl ey coul d not have sai d j ust
wher e t he money had gone. I n hi gh school , Wesl ey Mouch had been one of t he
wor st st udent s and had passi onat el y envi ed t hose who wer e t he best . Col l ege
t aught hi mt hat he di d not have t o envy t hemat al l . Af t er gr aduat i on, he
t ook a j ob i n t he adver t i si ng depar t ment of a company t hat manuf act ur ed a
bogus cor n- cur e. The cur e sol d wel l and he r ose t o be t he head of hi s
depar t ment . He l ef t i t t o t ake char ge of t he adver t i si ng of a hai r - r est or er ,
t hen of a pat ent ed br assi er e, t hen of a new soap, t hen of a sof t dr i nkand
t hen he became adver t i si ng vi ce- pr esi dent of an aut omobi l e concer n. He t r i ed
t o sel l aut omobi l es as i f t hey wer e a bogus cor n- cur e. They di d not sel l .
He bl amed i t on t he i nsuf f i ci ency of hi s adver t i si ng budget . I t was t he
pr esi dent of t he aut omobi l e concer n who r ecommended hi mt o Rear den. I t was
Rear den who i nt r oduced hi mt o Washi ngt onRear den, who knew no st andar d by
whi ch t o j udge t he act i vi t i es of hi s Washi ngt on man. I t was J ames Taggar t who
gave hi ma st ar t i n t he Bur eau of Economi c Pl anni ng and Nat i onal Resour cesi n
exchange f or doubl e cr ossi ng Rear den i n or der t o hel p Or r en Boyl e i n exchange
f or dest r oyi ng Dan Conway. Fr omt hen on, peopl e hel ped Wesl ey Mouch t o
advance, f or t he same r eason as t hat whi ch had pr ompt ed Uncl e J ul i us: t hey
wer e peopl e who bel i eved t hat medi ocr i t y was saf e. The men who now sat i n
f r ont of hi s desk had been t aught t hat t he l aw of causal i t y was a
super st i t i on and t hat one had t o deal wi t h t he si t uat i on of t he moment
wi t hout consi der i ng i t s cause. By t he si t uat i on of t he moment , t hey had
concl uded t hat Wesl ey Mouch was a man of super l at i ve ski l l and cunni ng, si nce
mi l l i ons aspi r ed t o power , but he was t he one who had achi eved i t . I t was not
wi t hi n t hei r met hod of t hi nki ng t o know t hat Wesl ey Mouch was t he zer o at t he
meet i ng poi nt of f or ces unl eashed i n dest r uct i on agai nst one anot her .
" Thi s i s j ust a r ough dr af t of Di r ect i ve Number 10- 289, " sai d Wesl ey
Mouch, " whi ch Gene, Cl emand I have dashed of f j ust t o gi ve you t he gener al
i dea. We want t o hear your opi ni ons, suggest i ons and so f or t hyou bei ng t he
r epr esent at i ves of l abor , i ndust r y, t r anspor t at i on and t he pr of essi ons. "
Fr ed Ki nnan got of f t he wi ndow si l l and sat down on t he ar mof a chai r .
Or r en Boyl e spi t out t he but t of hi s ci gar . J ames Taggar t l ooked down at hi s
own hands. Dr . Fer r i s was t he onl y one who seemed t o be at ease.
" I n t he name of t he gener al wel f ar e, " r ead Wesl ey Mouch, " t o pr ot ect t he
peopl e' s secur i t y, t o achi eve f ul l equal i t y and t ot al st abi l i t y, i t i s
decr eed f or t he dur at i on of t he nat i onal emer gency t hat
" Poi nt One. Al l wor ker s, wage ear ner s and empl oyees of any ki nd what soever
shal l hencef or t h be at t ached t o t hei r j obs and shal l not l eave nor be
di smi ssed nor change empl oyment , under penal t y of a t er mi n j ai l . The penal t y
shal l be det er mi ned by t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d, such Boar d t o be appoi nt ed by
t he Bur eau of Economi c Pl anni ng and Nat i onal Resour ces. Al l per sons r eachi ng
t he age of t went y- one shal l r epor t t o t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d, whi ch shal l
assi gn t hemt o wher e, i n i t s opi ni on, t hei r ser vi ces wi l l best ser ve t he
i nt er est s of t he nat i on.
" Poi nt Two. Al l i ndust r i al , commer ci al , manuf act ur i ng and busi ness
est abl i shment s of any nat ur e what soever shal l hencef or t h r emai n i n oper at i on,
and t he owner s of such est abl i shment s shal l not qui t nor l eave nor r et i r e,
nor cl ose, sel l or t r ansf er t hei r busi ness, under penal t y of t he
nat i onal i zat i on of t hei r est abl i shment and of any and al l of t hei r pr oper t y.
" Poi nt Thr ee. Al l pat ent s and copyr i ght s, per t ai ni ng t o any devi ces,
i nvent i ons, f or mul as, pr ocesses and wor ks of any nat ur e what soever , shal l be
t ur ned over t o t he nat i on as a pat r i ot i c emer gency gi f t by means of Gi f t
Cer t i f i cat es t o be si gned vol unt ar i l y by t he owner s of al l such pat ent s and
copyr i ght s. The Uni f i cat i on Boar d shal l t hen l i cense t he use of such pat ent s
and copyr i ght s t o al l appl i cant s, equal l y and wi t hout di scr i mi nat i on, f or t he
pur pose of el i mi nat i ng monopol i st i c pr act i ces, di scar di ng obsol et e pr oduct s
and maki ng t he best avai l abl e t o t he whol e nat i on. No t r ademar ks, br and names
or copyr i ght ed t i t l es shal l be used. Ever y f or mer l y pat ent ed pr oduct shal l be
known by a new name and sol d by al l manuf act ur er s under t he same name, such
name t o be sel ect ed by t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d. Al l pr i vat e t r ademar ks and
br and names ar e her eby abol i shed.
" Poi nt Four . No new devi ces, i nvent i ons, pr oduct s, or goods of any nat ur e
what soever , not now on t he mar ket , shal l be pr oduced, i nvent ed, manuf act ur ed
or sol d af t er t he dat e of t hi s di r ect i ve. The Of f i ce of Pat ent s and
Copyr i ght s i s her eby suspended.
" Poi nt Fi ve. Ever y est abl i shment , concer n, cor por at i on or per son engaged
i n pr oduct i on of any nat ur e what soever shal l hencef or t h pr oduce t he same
amount of goods per year as i t , t hey or he pr oduced dur i ng t he Basi c Year , no
mor e and no l ess. The year t o be known as t he Basi c or Yar dst i ck Year i s t o
be t he year endi ng on t he dat e of t hi s di r ect i ve. Over or under pr oduct i on
shal l be f i ned, such f i nes t o be det er mi ned by t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d.
" Poi nt Si x. Ever y per son of any age, sex, cl ass or i ncome, shal l
hencef or t h spend t he same amount of money on t he pur chase of goods per year
as he or she spent dur i ng t he Basi c Year , no mor e and no l ess.
Over or under pur chasi ng shal l be f i ned, such f i nes t o be det er mi ned by
t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d.
" Poi nt Seven. Al l wages, pr i ces, sal ar i es, di vi dends, pr of i t s, i nt er est
r at es and f or ms of i ncome of any nat ur e what soever , shal l be f r ozen at t hei r
pr esent f i gur es, as of t he dat e of t hi s di r ect i ve.
" Poi nt Ei ght . Al l cases ar i si ng f r omand r ul es not speci f i cal l y pr ovi ded
f or i n t hi s di r ect i ve, shal l be set t l ed and det er mi ned by t he Uni f i cat i on
Boar d, whose deci si ons wi l l be f i nal . "
Ther e was, even wi t hi n t he f our men who had l i st ened, a r emnant of human
di gni t y, whi ch made t hemsi t st i l l and f eel si ck f or t he l engt h of one
mi nut e.
J ames Taggar t spoke f i r st . Hi s voi ce was l ow, but i t had t he t r embl i ng
i nt ensi t y of an i nvol unt ar y scr eam: " Wel l , why not ? Why shoul d t hey have i t ,
i f we don' t ? Why shoul d t hey st and above us? I f we ar e t o per i sh, l et ' s make
sur e t hat we al l per i sh t oget her . Let ' s make sur e t hat we l eave t hemno
chance t o sur vi ve! "
" That ' s a damn f unny t hi ng t o say about a ver y pr act i cal pl an t hat wi l l
benef i t ever ybody, " sai d Or r en Boyl e shr i l l y, l ooki ng at Taggar t i n
f r i ght ened ast oni shment .
Dr . Fer r i s chuckl ed.
Taggar t ' s eyes seemed t o f ocus, and he sai d, hi s voi ce l ouder , " Yes, of
cour se. I t ' s a ver y pr act i cal pl an. I t ' s necessar y, pr act i cal and j ust .
I t wi l l sol ve ever ybody' s pr obl ems. I t wi l l gi ve ever ybody a chance t o
f eel saf e. A chance t o r est . "
" I t wi l l gi ve secur i t y t o t he peopl e, " sai d Eugene Lawson, hi s mout h
sl i t her i ng i nt o a smi l e. " Secur i t yt hat ' s what t he peopl e want . I f t hey want
i t , why shoul dn' t t hey have i t ? J ust because a handf ul of r i ch wi l l obj ect ?"
" I t ' s not t he r i ch who' l l obj ect , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s l azi l y. " The r i ch dr ool
f or secur i t y mor e t han any ot her sor t of ani mal haven' t you di scover ed t hat
yet ?"
" Wel l , who' l l obj ect ?" snapped Lawson.
Dr . Fer r i s smi l ed poi nt edl y, and di d not answer .
Lawson l ooked away. " To hel l wi t h t hem! Why shoul d we wor r y about t hem?
We' ve got t o r un t he wor l d f or t he sake of t he l i t t l e peopl e. I t ' s
i nt el l i gence t hat ' s caused al l t he t r oubl es of humani t y. Man' s mi nd i s t he
r oot of al l evi l . Thi s i s t he day of t he hear t . I t ' s t he weak, t he meek, t he
si ck and t he humbl e t hat must be t he onl y obj ect s of our concer n, " Hi s l ower
Up was t wi st i ng i n sof t , l echer ous mot i ons.
" Those who' r e bi g ar e her e t o ser ve t hose who ar en' t . I f t hey r ef use t o do
t hei r mor al dut y, we' ve got t o f or ce t hem. Ther e once was an Age of Reason,
but we' ve pr ogr essed beyond i t . Thi s i s t he Age of Love. "
" Shut up! " scr eamed J ames Taggar t .
They al l st ar ed at hi m. " For Chr i st ' s sake, J i m, what ' s t he mat t er ?"
sai d Or r en Boyl e, shaki ng.
" Not hi ng, " sai d Taggar t , " not hi ng . . . Wesl ey, keep hi mst i l l , wi l l you?"
Mouch sai d uncomf or t abl y, " But I f ai l t o see"
" J ust keep hi mst i l l . We don' t have t o l i st en t o hi m, do we?"
" Why, no, but "
" Then l et ' s go on. "
" What i s t hi s?" demanded Lawson, " I r esent i t . I most emphat i cal l y" But
he saw no suppor t i n t he f aces ar ound hi mand st opped, hi s mout h saggi ng i nt o
an expr essi on of pout i ng hat r ed.
" Let ' s go on, " sai d Taggar t f ever i shl y.
" What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you?" asked Or r en Boyl e, t r yi ng not t o know what
was t he mat t er wi t h hi msel f and why he f el t f r i ght ened.
" Geni us i s a super st i t i on, J i m, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s sl owl y, wi t h an odd ki nd
of emphasi s, as i f knowi ng t hat he was nami ng t he unnamed i n al l t hei r mi nds.
" Ther e' s no such t hi ng as t he i nt el l ect . A man' s br ai n i s a soci al pr oduct . A
sumof i nf l uences t hat he' s pi cked up f r omt hose ar ound hi m. Nobody i nvent s
anyt hi ng, he mer el y r ef l ect s what ' s f l oat i ng i n t he soci al at mospher e. A
geni us i s an i nt el l ect ual scavenger and a gr eedy hoar der of t he i deas whi ch
r i ght f ul l y bel ong t o soci et y, f r omwhi ch he st ol e t hem. Al l t hought i s t hef t .
I f we do away wi t h pr i vat e f or t unes, we' l l have a f ai r er di st r i but i on of
weal t h. I f we do away wi t h t he geni us, we' l l have a f aker di st r i but i on of
i deas. "
" Ar e we her e t o t al k busi ness or ar e we her e t o ki d one anot her ?"
asked Fr ed Ki nnan.
They t ur ned t o hi m. He was a muscul ar man wi t h l ar ge f eat ur es, but hi s
f ace had t he ast oni shi ng pr oper t y of f i nel y dr awn l i nes t hat r ai sed t he
cor ner s of hi s mout h i nt o t he per manent hi nt of a wi se, sar doni c gr i n. He sat
on t he ar mof t he chai r , hands i n pocket s, l ooki ng at Mouch wi t h t he smi l i ng
gl ance of a har dened pol i ceman at a shopl i f t er .
" Al l I ' ve got t o say i s t hat you' d bet t er st af f t hat Uni f i cat i on Boar d
wi t h my men, " he sai d. " Bet t er make sur e of i t , br ot her or I ' l l bl ast your
Poi nt One t o hel l . "
" I i nt end, of cour se, t o have a r epr esent at i ve of l abor on t hat Boar d, "
sai d Mouch dr yl y, " as wel l as a r epr esent at i ve of i ndust r y, of t he
pr of essi ons and of ever y cr oss- sect i on of "
" No cr oss- sect i ons, " sai d Fr ed Ki nnan evenl y. " J ust r epr esent at i ves of
l abor . Per i od. "
" What t he hel l ! " yel l ed Or r en Boyl e. " That ' s st acki ng t he car ds, i sn' t
i t ?"
" Sur e, " sai d Fr ed Ki nnan.
" But t hat wi l l gi ve you a st r angl ehol d on ever y busi ness i n t he count r y! "
" What do you t hi nk I ' maf t er ?"
" That ' s unf ai r ! " yel l ed Boyl e. " I won' t st and f or i t ! You have no r i ght !
You"
" Ri ght ?" sai d Ki nnan i nnocent l y. " Ar e we t al ki ng about r i ght s?"
" But , I mean, af t er al l , t her e ar e cer t ai n f undament al pr oper t y r i ght s
whi ch"
" Li st en, pal , you want Poi nt Thr ee, don' t you?"
" Wel l , I "
" Then you' d bet t er keep your t r ap shut about pr oper t y r i ght s f r omnow on.
Keep i t shut t i ght . "
" Mr . Ki nnan, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, " you must not make t he ol d f ashi oned
mi st ake of dr awi ng wi de gener al i zat i ons. Our pol i cy has t o be f l exi bl e. Ther e
ar e no absol ut e pr i nci pl es whi ch"
" Save i t f or J i mTaggar t , Doc, " sai d Fr ed Ki nnan. " I know what I ' mt al ki ng
about . That ' s because I never went t o col l ege. "
" I obj ect , " sai d Boyl e, " t o your di ct at or i al met hod of "
Ki nnan t ur ned hi s back on hi mand sai d, " Li st en, Wesl ey, my boys won' t
l i ke Poi nt One. I f I get t o r un t hi ngs, I ' l l make t hemswal l ow i t . I f not ,
not . J ust make up your mi nd, "
" Wel l " sai d Mouch, and st opped.
" For Chr i st ' s sake, Wesl ey, what about us?" yel l ed Taggar t .
" You' l l come t o me, " sai d Ki nnan, " when you' l l need a deal t o f i x t he
Boar d. But I ' l l r un t hat Boar d. Me and Wesl ey. "
" Do you t hi nk t he count r y wi l l st and f or i t ?" yel l ed Taggar t .
" St op ki ddi ng your sel f , " sai d Ki nnan. " The count r y? I f t her e ar en' t any
pr i nci pl es any mor eand I guess t he doc i s r i ght , because t her e sur e ar en' t
i f t her e ar en' t any r ul es t o t hi s game and i t ' s onl y a quest i on of who r obs
whomt hen I ' ve got mor e vot es t han t he bunch of you, t her e ar e mor e wor ker s
t han empl oyer s, and don' t you f or get i t , boys! "
" That ' s a f unny at t i t ude t o t ake, " sai d Taggar t haught i l y, " about a
measur e whi ch, af t er al l , i s not desi gned f or t he sel f i sh benef i t of wor ker s
or empl oyer s, but f or t he gener al wel f ar e of t he publ i c. "
" Okay, " sai d Ki nnan ami abl y, " l et ' s t al k your l i ngo. Who i s t he publ i c? I f
you go by qual i t yt hen i t ai n' t you, J i m, and i t ai n' t Or r i e Boyl e. I f you go
by quant i t yt hen i t sur e i s me, because quant i t y i s what I ' ve got behi nd me. "
Hi s smi l e di sappear ed, and wi t h a sudden, bi t t er l ook of wear i ness he added,
" Onl y I ' mnot goi ng t o say t hat I ' mwor ki ng f or t he wel f ar e of my publ i c,
because I know I ' mnot . I know t hat I ' mdel i ver i ng t he poor bast ar ds i nt o
sl aver y, and t hat ' s al l t her e i s t o i t . And t hey know i t , t oo. But t hey know
t hat I ' l l have t o t hr ow t hema cr umb once i n a whi l e, i f I want t o keep my
r acket , whi l e wi t h t he r est of you t hey woul dn' t have a chance i n hel l . So
t hat ' s why, i f t hey' ve got t o be under a whi p, t hey' d r at her I hel d i t , not
youyou dr ool i ng, t ear - j er ki ng, meal y- mout hed bast ar ds of t he publ i c wel f ar e!
Do you t hi nk t hat out si de of your col l ege- br ed pansi es t her e' s one vi l l age
i di ot whomyou' r e f ool i ng? I ' ma r acket eer but I know i t and my boys know i t ,
and t hey know t hat I ' l l pay of f . Not out of t he ki ndness of my hear t , ei t her ,
and not a cent mor e t han I can get away wi t h, but at l east t hey can count on
t hat much. Sur e, i t makes me si ck somet i mes, i t makes me si ck r i ght now, but
i t ' s not me who' s bui l t t hi s ki nd of wor l dyou di dso I ' mpl ayi ng t he game as
you' ve set i t up and I ' mgoi ng t o pl ay i t f or as l ong as i t l ast swhi ch i sn' t
goi ng t o be l ong f or any of us! "
He st ood up. No one answer ed hi m. He l et hi s eyes move sl owl y f r omf ace t o
f ace and st op on Wesl ey Mouch.
" Do I get t he Boar d, Wesl ey?" he asked casual l y.
" The sel ect i on of t he speci f i c per sonnel i s onl y a t echni cal det ai l , "
sai d Mouch pl easant l y. " Suppose we di scuss i t l at er , you and I ?"
Ever ybody i n t he r oomknew t hat t hi s meant t he answer Yes.
" Okay, pal , " sai d Ki nnan. He went back t o t he wi ndow, sat down on t he si l l
and l i ght ed a ci gar et t e.
For some unadmi t t ed r eason, t he ot her s wer e l ooki ng at Dr . Fer r i s, as i f
seeki ng gui dance.
" Don' t be di st ur bed by or at or y, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s smoot hl y. " Mr .
Ki nnan i s a f i ne speaker , but he has no sense of pr act i cal r eal i t y. He i s
unabl e t o t hi nk di al ect i cal l y. "
Ther e was anot her si l ence, t hen J ames Taggar t spoke up suddenl y.
" I don' t car e. I t doesn' t mat t er . He' l l have t o hol d t hi ngs st i l l .
Ever yt hi ng wi l l have t o r emai n as i t i s. J ust as i t i s. Nobody wi l l be
per mi t t ed t o change anyt hi ng. Except " He t ur ned shar pl y t o Wesl ey Mouch.
" Wesl ey, under Poi nt Four , we' l l have t o cl ose al l r esear ch depar t ment s,
exper i ment al l abor at or i es, sci ent i f i c f oundat i ons and al l t he r est of t he
i nst i t ut i ons of t hat ki nd. They' l l have t o be f or bi dden. "
" Yes, t hat ' s r i ght , " sai d Mouch. " I hadn' t t hought of t hat . We' l l have t o
st i ck i n a coupl e of l i nes about t hat . " He hunt ed ar ound f or a penci l and
made a f ew scr awl s on t he mar gi n of hi s paper .
" I t wi l l end wast ef ul compet i t i on, " sai d J ames Taggar t . " We' l l st op
scr ambl i ng t o beat one anot her t o t he unt r i ed and t he unknown. We won' t have
t o wor r y about new i nvent i ons upset t i ng t he mar ket . We won' t have t o pour
money down t he dr ai n i n usel ess exper i ment s j ust t o keep up wi t h over
ambi t i ous compet i t or s. "
" Yes, " sai d Or r en Boyl e. " Nobody shoul d be al l owed t o wast e money on t he
new unt i l ever ybody has pl ent y of t he ol d. Cl ose al l t hose damn r esear ch
l abor at or i esand t he sooner , t he bet t er . "
" Yes, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch. " We' l l cl ose t hem. Al l of t hem. "
" The St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e, t oo?" asked Fr ed Ki nnan.
" Oh, no! " sai d Mouch. " That ' s di f f er ent . That ' s gover nment . Besi des, i t ' s
a non- pr of i t i nst i t ut i on. And i t wi l l be suf f i ci ent t o t ake car e of al l
sci ent i f i c pr ogr ess. "
" Qui t e suf f i ci ent , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s.
" And what wi l l become of al l t he engi neer s, pr of essor s and such, when you
cl ose al l t hose l abor at or i es?" asked Fr ed Ki nnan. " What ar e t hey goi ng t o do
f or a l i vi ng, wi t h al l t he ot her j obs and busi nesses f r ozen?"
" Oh, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch. He scr at ched hi s head. He t ur ned t o Mr .
Weat her by. " Do we put t hemon r el i ef , Cl em?"
" No, " sai d Mr . Weat her by. " What f or ? Ther e' s not enough of t hemt o r ai se a
squawk. Not enough t o mat t er . "
" I suppose, " sai d Mouch, t ur ni ng t o Dr . Fer r i s, " t hat you' l l be abl e t o
absor b some of t hem, Fl oyd?"
" Some, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s sl owl y, as i f r el i shi ng ever y syl l abl e of hi s
answer . " Those who pr ove co- oper at i ve. "
" What about t he r est ?" asked Fr ed Ki nnan.
" They' l l have t o wai t t i l l t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d f i nds some use f or t hem, "
sai d Wesl ey Mouch.
" What wi l l t hey eat whi l e t hey' r e wai t i ng?"
Mouch shr ugged. " Ther e' s got t o be some vi ct i ms i n t i mes of nat i onal
emer gency. I t can' t be hel ped. "
" We have t he r i ght t o do i t ! " cr i ed Taggar t suddenl y, i n def i ance t o t he
st i l l ness of t he r oom. " We need i t . We need i t , don' t we?" Ther e was no
answer . " We have t he r i ght t o pr ot ect our l i vel i hood! " Nobody opposed hi m,
but he went on wi t h a shr i l l , pl eadi ng i nsi st ence. " We' l l be saf e f or t he
f i r st t i me i n cent ur i es. Ever ybody wi l l know hi s pl ace and j ob, and ever ybody
el se' s pl ace and j oband we won' t be at t he mer cy of ever y st r ay cr ank wi t h a
new i dea. Nobody wi l l push us out of busi ness or st eal our mar ket s or
under sel l us or make us obsol et e.
Nobody wi l l come t o us of f er i ng some damn new gadget and put t i ng us on t he
spot t o deci de whet her we' l l l ose our shi r t i f we buy i t , or whet her we' l l
l ose our shi r t i f we don' t but somebody el se does! We won' t have t o deci de.
Nobody wi l l be per mi t t ed t o deci de anyt hi ng.
I t wi l l be deci ded once and f or al l . " Hi s gl ance moved pl eadi ngl y f r om
f ace t o f ace. " Ther e' s been enough i nvent ed al r eadyenough f or ever ybody' s
comf or t why shoul d t hey be al l owed t o go on i nvent i ng?
Why shoul d we per mi t t hemt o bl ast t he gr ound f r omunder our f eet ever y
f ew st eps? Why shoul d we be kept on t he go i n et er nal uncer t ai nt y? J ust
because of a f ew r est l ess, ambi t i ous advent ur er s? Shoul d we sacr i f i ce t he
cont ent ment of t he whol e of manki nd t o t he gr eed of a f ew non- conf or mi st s? We
don' t need t hem. We don' t need t hemat al l .
I wi sh we' d get r i d of t hat her o wor shi p! Her oes? They' ve done not hi ng but
har m, al l t hr ough hi st or y. They' ve kept manki nd r unni ng a wi l d r ace, wi t h no
br eat hi ng spel l , no r est , no ease, no secur i t y. Runni ng t o cat ch up wi t h t hem
. . . al ways, wi t hout end . . . J ust as - we cat ch up, t hey' r e year s ahead. .
. . They l eave us no chance . . . They' ve never l ef t us a chance. . . . " Hi s
eyes wer e movi ng r est l essl y; he gl anced at t he wi ndow, but l ooked hast i l y
away: he di d not want t o see t he whi t e obel i sk i n t he di st ance. " We' r e
t hr ough wi t h t hem. We' ve won. Thi s i s our age. Our wor l d. We' r e goi ng t o have
secur i t yf or t he f i r st t i me i n cent ur i esf or t he f i r st t i me si nce t he
begi nni ng of t he i ndust r i al r evol ut i on! "
" Wel l , t hi s, I guess, " sai d Fr ed Ki nnan, " i s t he ant i - i ndust r i al
r evol ut i on. "
" That ' s a damn f unny t hi ng f or you t o say! " snapped Wesl ey Mouch. " We
can' t be per mi t t ed t o say t hat t o t he publ i c. "
" Don' t wor r y, br ot her . I won' t say i t t o t he publ i c. "
" I t ' s a t ot al f al l acy, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " I t ' s a st at ement pr ompt ed by
i gnor ance. Ever y exper t has conceded l ong ago t hat a pl anned economy achi eves
t he maxi mumof pr oduct i ve ef f i ci ency and t hat cent r al i zat i on l eads t o super -
i ndust r i al i zat i on.
" Cent r al i zat i on dest r oys t he bl i ght of monopol y, " sai d Boyl e.
" How' s t hat agai n?" dr awl ed Ki nnan.
Boyl e di d not cat ch t he t one of mocker y, and answer ed ear nest l y, " I t
dest r oys t he bl i ght of monopol y. I t l eads t o t he democr at i zat i on of i ndust r y.
I t makes ever yt hi ng avai l abl e t o ever ybody. Now, f or i nst ance, at a t i me l i ke
t hi s, when t her e' s such a desper at e shor t age of i r on or e, i s t her e any sense
i n my wast i ng money, l abor and nat i onal r esour ces on maki ng ol d- f ashi oned
st eel , when t her e exi st s a much bet t er met al t hat I coul d be maki ng? A met al
t hat ever ybody want s, but nobody can get . Now i s t hat good economi cs or sound
soci al ef f i ci ency or democr at i c j ust i ce? Why shoul dn' t I be al l owed t o
manuf act ur e t hat met al and why shoul dn' t t he peopl e get i t when t hey need i t ?
J ust because of t he pr i vat e monopol y of one sel f i sh i ndi vi dual ? Shoul d we
sacr i f i ce our r i ght s t o hi s per sonal i nt er est s?"
" Ski p i t , br ot her , " sai d Fr ed Ki nnan. " I ' ve r ead i t al l i n t he same
newspaper s you di d. "
" I don' t l i ke your at t i t ude, " sai d Boyl e, i n a sudden t one of
r i ght eousness, wi t h a l ook whi ch, i n a bar r oom, woul d have si gni f i ed a
pr el ude t o a f i st f i ght . He sat up st r ai ght , but t r essed by t he col umns of
par agr aphs on yel l ow- t i nged paper , whi ch he was seei ng i n hi s mi nd: " At a
t i me of cr uci al publ i c need, ar e we t o wast e soci al ef f or t on t he manuf act ur e
of obsol et e pr oduct s? Ar e we t o l et t he many r emai n i n want whi l e t he f ew
wi t hhol d f r omus t he bet t er pr oduct s and met hods avai l abl e? Ar e we t o be
st opped by t he super st i t i on of pat ent r i ght s?"
" I s i t not obvi ous t hat pr i vat e i ndust r y i s unabl e t o cope wi t h t he
pr esent economi c cr i si s? How l ong, f or i nst ance, ar e we goi ng t o put up wi t h
t he di sgr acef ul shor t age of Rear den Met al ? Ther e i s a cr yi ng publ i c demand
f or i t , whi ch Rear den has f ai l ed t o suppl y. "
" When ar e we goi ng t o put an end t o economi c i nj ust i ce and speci al
pr i vi l eges? Why shoul d Rear den be t he onl y one per mi t t ed t o manuf act ur e
Rear den Met al ?"
" I don' t l i ke your at t i t ude, " sai d Or r en Boyl e. " So l ong as we r espect t he
r i ght s of t he wor ker s, we' l l want you t o r espect t he r i ght s of t he
i ndust r i al i st s. "
" Whi ch r i ght s of whi ch i ndust r i al i st s?" dr awl ed Ki nnan.
" I ' mi ncl i ned t o t hi nk, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s hast i l y, " t hat Poi nt Two,
per haps, i s t he most essent i al one of al l at pr esent . We must put an end t o
t hat pecul i ar busi ness of i ndust r i al i st s r et i r i ng and vani shi ng. We must st op
t hem. I t ' s pl ayi ng havoc wi t h our ent i r e economy. "
" Why ar e t hey doi ng i t ?" asked Taggar t ner vousl y. " Wher e ar e t hey al l
goi ng?"
" Nobody knows, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " We' ve been unabl e t o f i nd any
i nf or mat i on or expl anat i on. But i t must be st opped. I n t i mes of cr i si s,
economi c ser vi ce t o t he nat i on i s j ust as much of a dut y as mi l i t ar y ser vi ce.
Anyone who abandons i t shoul d be r egar ded as a deser t er . I have r ecommended
t hat we i nt r oduce t he deat h penal t y f or t hose men, but Wesl ey woul dn' t agr ee
t o i t . "
" Take i t easy, boy, " sai d Fr ed Ki nnan i n an odd, sl ow voi ce. He sat
suddenl y and per f ect l y st i l l , hi s ar ms cr ossed, l ooki ng at Fer r i s i n a manner
t hat made i t suddenl y r eal t o t he r oomt hat Fer r i s had pr oposed mur der .
" Don' t l et me hear you t al k about any deat h penal t i es i n i ndust r y. "
Dr . Fer r i s shr ugged.
" We don' t have t o go t o ext r emes, " sai d Mouch hast i l y. " We don' t want t o
f r i ght en peopl e. We want t o have t hemon our si de. Our t op pr obl emi s, wi l l
t hey . . . wi l l t hey accept i t at al l ?"
" They wi l l , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s.
" I ' ma l i t t l e wor r i ed, " sai d Eugene Lawson, " about Poi nt s Thr ee and Four .
Taki ng over t he pat ent s i s f i ne. Nobody' s goi ng t o def end i ndust r i al i st s. But
I ' mwor r i ed about t aki ng over t he copyr i ght s. That ' s goi ng t o ant agoni ze t he
i nt el l ect ual s. I t ' s danger ous. I t ' s a spi r i t ual i ssue. Doesn' t Poi nt Four
mean t hat no new books ar e t o be wr i t t en or publ i shed f r omnow on?"
" Yes, " sai d Mouch, " i t does. But we can' t make an except i on f or t he book-
publ i shi ng busi ness. I t ' s an i ndust r y l i ke any ot her . When we say ' no new
pr oduct s, ' i t ' s got t o mean ' no new pr oduct s. ' "
" But t hi s i s a mat t er of t he spi r i t , " sai d Lawson; hi s voi ce had a t one,
not of r at i onal r espect , but of super st i t i ous awe.
" We' r e not i nt er f er i ng wi t h anybody' s spi r i t . But when you pr i nt a book on
paper , i t becomes a mat er i al commodi t yand i f we gr ant an except i on t o one
commodi t y, we won' t be abl e t o hol d t he ot her s i n l i ne and we won' t be abl e
t o make anyt hi ng st i ck. "
" Yes, t hat ' s t r ue. But "
" Don' t be a chump, Gene, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " You don' t want some
r ecal ci t r ant hacks t o come out wi t h t r eat i ses t hat wi l l wr eck our ent i r e
pr ogr am, do you? I f you br eat he t he wor d ' censor shi p' now, t hey' l l al l scr eam
bl oody mur der . They' r e not r eady f or i t as yet . But i f you l eave t he spi r i t
al one and make i t a si mpl e mat er i al i ssuenot a mat t er of i deas, but j ust a
mat t er of paper , i nk and pr i nt i ng pr esses
you accompl i sh your pur pose much mor e smoot hl y. You' l l make sur e t hat
not hi ng danger ous get s pr i nt ed or hear dand nobody i s goi ng t o f i ght over a
mat er i al i ssue. "
" Yes, but . . . but I don' t t hi nk t he wr i t er s wi l l l i ke i t . "
" Ar e you sur e?" asked Wesl ey Mouch, wi t h a gl ance t hat was al most a smi l e,
" Don' t f or get t hat under Poi nt Fi ve, t he publ i sher s wi l l have t o publ i sh as
many books as t hey di d i n t he Basi c Year . Si nce t her e wi l l be no new ones,
t hey wi l l have t o r epr i nt and t he publ i c wi l l have t o buysome of t he ol d
ones. Ther e ar e many ver y wor t hy books t hat have never had a f ai r chance. "
" Oh, " sai d Lawson; he r emember ed t hat he had seen Mouch l unchi ng wi t h
Bal ph Eubank t wo weeks ago. Then he shook hi s head and f r owned. " St i l l , I ' m
wor r i ed. The i nt el l ect ual s ar e our f r i ends. We don' t want t o l ose t hem. They
can make an awf ul l ot of t r oubl e. "
" They won' t , " sai d Fr ed Ki nnan. " Your ki nd of i nt el l ect ual s ar e t he f i r st
t o scr eamwhen i t ' s saf eand t he f i r st t o shut t hei r t r aps at t he f i r st si gn
of danger . They spend year s spi t t i ng at t he man who f eeds t hemand t hey l i ck
t he hand of t he man who sl aps t hei r dr ool i ng f aces. Di dn' t t hey del i ver ever y
count r y of Eur ope, one af t er anot her , t o commi t t ees of goons, j ust l i ke t hi s
one her e? Di dn' t t hey scr eamt hei r heads of f t o shut out ever y bur gl ar al ar m
and t o br eak ever y padl ock open f or t he goons? Have you hear d a peep out of
t hemsi nce? Di dn' t t hey scr eamt hat t hey wer e t he f r i ends of l abor ? Do you
hear t hemr ai si ng t hei r voi ces about t he chai n gangs, t he sl ave camps, t he
f our t een- hour wor kday and t he mor t al i t y f r omscur vy i n t he Peopl e' s St at es of
Eur ope? No, but you do hear t hemt el l i ng t he whi p- beat en wr et ches t hat
st ar vat i on i s pr osper i t y, t hat sl aver y i s f r eedom, t hat t or t ur e chamber s ar c
br ot her - l ove and t hat i f t he wr et ches don' t under st and i t , t hen i t ' s t hei r
own f aul t t hat t hey suf f er , and i t ' s t he mangl ed cor pses i n t he j ai l cel l ar s
who' r e t o bl ame f or al l t hei r t r oubl es, not t he benevol ent l eader s!
I nt el l ect ual s? You mi ght have t o wor r y about any ot her br eed of men, but not
about t he moder n i nt el l ect ual s: t hey' l l swal l ow anyt hi ng. I don' t f eel so
saf e about t he l ousi est whar f r at i n t he l ongshor emen' s uni on: he' s l i abl e t o
r emember suddenl y t hat he i s a manand t hen I won' t be abl e t o keep hi mi n
l i ne. But t he i nt el l ect ual s? That ' s t he one t hi ng t hey' ve f or got t en l ong ago.
I guess i t ' s t he one t hi ng t hat al l t hei r educat i on was ai med t o make t hem
f or get . Do anyt hi ng you pl ease t o t he i nt el l ect ual s. They' l l t ake i t . "
" For once, " sai d Dr . Fer ns, " I agr ee wi t h Mr . Ki nnan. I agr ee wi t h hi s
f act s, i f not wi t h hi s f eel i ngs. You don' t have t o wor r y about t he
i nt el l ect ual s, Wesl ey. J ust put a- f ew of t hemon t he gover nment payr ol l and
send t hemout t o pr each pr eci sel y t he sor t of t hi ng Mr .
Ki nnan ment i oned: t hat t he bl ame r est s on t he vi ct i ms. Gi ve t hem
moder at el y comf or t abl e sal ar i es and ext r emel y l oud t i t l esand t hey' l l f or get
t hei r copyr i ght s and do a bet t er j ob f or you t han whol e squads of enf or cement
of f i cer s. "
" Yes, " sai d Mouch. " I know. "
" The danger t hat I ' mwor r i ed about wi l l come f r oma di f f er ent quar t er , "
sai d Dr . Fer r i s t hought f ul l y. " You mi ght r un i nt o qui t e a bi t of t r oubl e on
t hat ' vol unt ar y Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e1 busi ness, Wesl ey. "
" I know, " sai d Mouch gl uml y. " That ' s t he poi nt I want ed Thompson t o hel p
us out on. But I guess he can' t . We don' t act ual l y have t he l egal power t o
sei ze t he pat ent s. Oh, t her e' s pl ent y of cl auses i n dozens of l aws t hat can
be st r et ched t o cover i t al most , but not qui t e. Any t ycoon who' d want t o make
a t est case woul d have a ver y good chance t o beat us. And we have t o pr eser ve
a sembl ance of l egal i t yor t he popul ace won' t t ake i t . "
" Pr eci sel y, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " I t ' s ext r emel y i mpor t ant t o get t hose
pat ent s t ur ned over t o us vol unt ar i l y. Even i f we had a l aw per mi t t i ng
out r i ght nat i onal i zat i on, i t woul d be much bet t er t o get t hemas a gi f t , We
want t o l eave t o peopl e t he i l l usi on t hat t hey' r e st i l l pr eser vi ng t hei r
pr i vat e pr oper t y r i ght s. And most of t hemwi l l pl ay al ong. They' l l si gn t he
Gi f t Cer t i f i cat es. J ust r ai se a l ot of noi se about i t s bei ng a pat r i ot i c dut y
and t hat anyone who r ef uses i s a pr i nce of gr eed, and t hey' l l si gn. But " He
st opped.
" I know, " sai d Mouch; he was gr owi ng vi si bl y mor e ner vous. " Ther e wi l l be,
I t hi nk, a f ew ol d- f ashi oned bast ar ds her e and t her e who' l l r ef use t o si gn
but t hey won' t be pr omi nent enough t o make a noi se, nobody wi l l hear about
i t , t hei r own communi t i es and f r i ends wi l l t ur n agai nst t hemf or t hei r bei ng
sel f i sh, so i t won' t gi ve us any t r oubl e.
We' l l j ust t ake t he pat ent s over , anywayand t hose guys won' t have t he
ner ve or t he money t o st ar t a t est case. But " He st opped.
J ames Taggar t l eaned back i n hi s chai r , wat chi ng t hem; he was begi nni ng t o
enj oy t he conver sat i on.
" Yes, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, " I ' mt hi nki ng of i t , t oo. I ' mt hi nki ng of a
cer t ai n' t ycoon who i s i n a posi t i on t o bl ast us t o pi eces. Whet her we' l l
r ecover t he pi eces or not , i s har d t o t el l . God knows what i s l i abl e t o
happen at a hyst er i cal t i me l i ke t he pr esent and i n a si t uat i on as del i cat e
as t hi s. Anyt hi ng can t hr ow ever yt hi ng of f bal ance. Bl ow up t he whol e wor ks.
And i f t her e' s anyone who want s t o do i t , he does. He does and can. He knows
t he r eal i ssue, he knows t he t hi ngs whi ch must not be sai dand he i s not
af r ai d t o say t hem. He knows t he one danger ous, f at al l y danger ous weapon. He
i s our deadl i est adver sar y. "
" Who?" asked Lawson.
Dr . Fer r i s hesi t at ed, shr ugged and answer ed, " The gui l t l ess man. "
Lawson st ar ed bl ankl y. " What do you mean and whomar e you t al ki ng about ?"
J ames Taggar t smi l ed.
" I mean t hat t her e i s no way t o di sar many man, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, " except
t hr ough gui l t . Thr ough t hat whi ch he hi msel f has accept ed as gui l t . I f a man
has ever st ol en a di me, you can i mpose on hi mt he puni shment i nt ended f or a
bank r obber and he wi l l t ake i t . He' l l bear any f or mof mi ser y, he' l l f eel
t hat he deser ves no bet t er . I f t her e' s not enough gui l t i n t he wor l d, we must
cr eat e i t . I f we t each a man t hat i t ' s evi l t o l ook at spr i ng f l ower s and he
bel i eves us and t hen does i t we' l l be abl e t o do what ever we pl ease wi t h
hi m. He won' t def end hi msel f . He won' t f eel he' s wor t h i t . He won' t f i ght .
But save us f r omt he man who l i ves up t o hi s own- st andar ds. Save us f r omt he
man of cl ean consci ence. He' s t he man who' l l beat us. "
" Ar e you t al ki ng about Henr y Rear den?" asked Taggar t , hi s voi ce pecul i ar l y
cl ear .
The one name t hey had not want ed t o pr onounce st r uck t hemi nt o an
i nst ant ' s si l ence.
" What i f I wer e?" asked Dr . Fer r i s caut i ousl y.
" Oh, not hi ng, " sai d Taggar t . " Onl y, i f you wer e, I woul d t el l you t hat I
can del i ver Henr y Rear den. He' l l si gn. "
By t he r ul es of t hei r unspoken l anguage, t hey al l knewf r omt he t one of
hi s voi cet hat he was not bl uf f i ng.
" God, J i m! No! " gasped Wesl ey Mouch.
" Yes, " sai d Taggar t . " I was st unned, t oo, when I l ear nedwhat I l ear ned. I
di dn' t expect t hat . Anyt hi ng but t hat . "
" I amgl ad t o hear i t , " sai d Mouch caut i ousl y. " I t ' s a const r uct i ve pi ece
of i nf or mat i on. I t mi ght be ver y val uabl e i ndeed. "
" Val uabl eyes, " sai d Taggar t pl easant l y. " When do you pl an t o put t he
di r ect i ve i nt o ef f ect ?"
" Oh, we have t o move f ast . We don' t want any news of i t t o l eak out . I
expect you al l t o keep t hi s most st r i ct l y conf i dent i al . I ' d say t hat we' l l be
r eady t o spr i ng i t on t hemi n a coupl e of weeks. "
" Don' t you t hi nk t hat i t woul d be advi sabl ebef or e al l pr i ces ar e f r ozen
t o adj ust t he mat t er of t he r ai l r oad r at es? I was t hi nki ng of a r ai se. A
smal l but most essent i al l y needed r ai se. "
" We' l l di scuss i t , you and I , " sai d Mouch ami abl y. " I t mi ght be ar r anged. "
He t ur ned t o t he ot her s; Boyl e' s f ace was saggi ng. " Ther e ar e many det ai l s
st i l l t o be wor ked out , but I ' msur e t hat our pr ogr amwon' t encount er any
maj or di f f i cul t i es. " He was assumi ng t he t one and manner of a publ i c addr ess;
he sounded br i sk and al most cheer f ul . " Rough spot s ar e t o be expect ed. I f one
t hi ng doesn' t wor k, we' l l t r y anot her .
Tr i al - and- er r or i s t he onl y pr agmat i c r ul e of act i on. We' l l j ust keep on
t r yi ng. I f any har dshi ps come up, r emember t hat i t ' s onl y t empor ar y.
Onl y f or t he dur at i on of t he nat i onal emer gency. "
" Say, " asked Ki nnan, " how i s t he emer gency t o end i f ever yt hi ng i s t o
st and st i l l ?"
" Don' t be t heor et i cal , " sai d Mouch i mpat i ent l y. " We' ve got t o deal wi t h
t he si t uat i on of t he moment . Don' t bot her about mi nor det ai l s, so l ong as t he
br oad out l i nes of our pol i cy ar e cl ear . We' l l have t he power . We' l l be abl e
t o sol ve any pr obl emand answer any quest i on. "
Fr ed Ki nnan chuckl ed. " Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
" Don' t say t hat ! " cr i ed Taggar t .
" I have a quest i on t o ask about Poi nt Seven, " sai d Ki nnan. " I t says t hat
al ! wages, pr i ces, sal ar i es, di vi dends, pr of i t s and so f or t h wi l l be f r ozen
on t he dat e of t he di r ect i ve. Taxes, t oo?"
" Oh no! " cr i ed Mouch. " How can we t el l what f unds we' l l need i n t he
f ut ur e?" Ki nnan seemed t o be smi l i ng. " Wel l ?" snapped Mouch.
" What about i t ?"
" Not hi ng, " sai d Ki nnan. " I j ust asked. "
Mouch l eaned back i n hi s chai r . " I must say t o al l of you t hat I
appr eci at e your comi ng her e and gi vi ng us t he benef i t of your opi ni ons. I t
has been ver y hel pf ul . " He l eaned f or war d t o l ook at hi s desk cal endar and
sat over i t f or a moment , t oyi ng wi t h hi s penci l , Then t he penci l came down,
st r uck a dat e and dr ew a ci r cl e ar ound i t . " Di r ect i ve 10- 289 wi l l go i nt o
ef f ect on t he mor ni ng of May f i r st . "
Al l nodded appr oval . None l ooked at hi s nei ghbor .
J ames Taggar t r ose, wal ked t o t he wi ndow and pul l ed t he bl i nd down over
t he whi t e obel i sk.
I n t he f i r st moment of awakeni ng, Dagny was ast oni shed t o f i nd her sel f
l ooki ng at t he spi r es of unf ami l i ar bui l di ngs agai nst a gl owi ng, pal e bl ue
sky. Then she saw t he t wi st ed seamof t he t hi n st ocki ng on her own l eg, she
f el t a wr ench of di scomf or t i n t he muscl es of her wai st l i ne, and she r eal i zed
t hat she was l yi ng on t he couch i n her of f i ce, wi t h t he cl ock on her desk
sayi ng 6: 15 and t he f i r st r ays of t he sun gi vi ng si l ver edges t o t he
si l houet t es of t he skyscr aper s beyond t he wi ndow. The l ast t hi ng she
r emember ed was t hat she had dr opped down on t he couch, i nt endi ng t o r est f or
t en mi nut es, when t he wi ndow was bl ack and t he cl ock st ood at 3: 30.
She t wi st ed her sel f t o her f eet , f eel i ng an enor mous exhaust i on. The
l i ght ed l amp on t he desk l ooked f ut i l e i n t he gl ow of t he mor ni ng, over t he
pi l es of paper whi ch wer e her cheer l ess, unf i ni shed t ask. She t r i ed not t o
t hi nk of t he wor k f or a f ew mi nut es l onger , whi l e she dr agged her sel f past
t he desk t o her washr oomand l et handf ul s of col d wat er r un over her f ace.
The exhaust i on was gone by t he t i me she st epped back i nt o t he of f i ce. No
mat t er what ni ght pr eceded i t , she had never known a mor ni ng when she di d not
f eel t he r i se of a qui et exci t ement t hat became a t i ght eni ng ener gy i n her
body and a hunger f or act i on i n her mi nd
because t hi s was t he begi nni ng of day and i t was a day of her l i f e.
She l ooked down at t he ci t y. The st r eet s wer e st i l l empt y, i t made t hem
l ook wi der , and i n t he l umi nous cl eanl i ness of t he spr i ng ai r t hey seemed t o
be wai t i ng f or t he pr omi se of al l t he gr eat ness t hat woul d t ake f or mi n t he
act i vi t y about t o pour t hr ough t hem. The cal endar i n t he di st ance sai d: May
1.
She sat down at her desk, smi l i ng i n def i ance at t he di st ast ef ul ness of
her j ob. She hat ed t he r epor t s t hat she had t o f i ni sh r eadi ng, but i t was her
j ob, i t was her r ai l r oad, i t was mor ni ng. She l i ght ed a ci gar et t e, t hi nki ng
t hat she woul d f i ni sh t hi s t ask bef or e br eakf ast ; she t ur ned of f t he l amp and
pul l ed t he paper s f or war d.
Ther e wer e r epor t s f r omt he gener al manager s of t he f our Regi ons of t he
Taggar t syst em, t hei r pages a t ypewr i t t en cr y of despai r over t he br eakdowns
of equi pment . Ther e was a r epor t about a wr eck on t he mai n l i ne near Wi nst on,
Col or ado. Ther e was t he new budget of t he Oper at i ng Depar t ment , t he r evi sed
budget based on t he r ai se i n r at es whi ch J i mhad obt ai ned l ast week. She
t r i ed t o choke t he exasper at i on of hopel essness as she went sl owl y over t he
budget ' s f i gur es: al l t hose cal cul at i ons had been made on t he assumpt i on t hat
t he vol ume of f r ei ght woul d r emai n unchanged and t hat t he r ai se woul d br i ng
t hemadded r evenue by t he end of t he year ; she knew t hat t he f r ei ght t onnage
woul d go on shr i nki ng, t hat t he r ai se woul d make l i t t l e di f f er ence, t hat by
t he end of t hi s year t hei r l osses woul d be gr eat er t han ever .
When she l ooked up f r omt he pages, she saw wi t h a smal l j ol t of
ast oni shment t hat t he cl ock sai d 9: 25. She had been di ml y awar e of t he usual
sound of movement and voi ces i n t he ant er oomof her of f i ce, as her st af f had
ar r i ved t o begi n t hei r day; she wonder ed why nobody had ent er ed her of f i ce
and why her t el ephone had r emai ned si l ent ; as a dai l y r ul e, t her e shoul d have
been a r ush of busi ness by t hi s hour . She gl anced at her cal endar ; t her e was
a not e t hat t he McNei l Car Foundr y of Chi cago was t o phone her at ni ne A. M.
i n r egar d t o t he new f r ei ght car s whi ch Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al had been
expect i ng f or si x mont hs.
She f l i cked t he swi t ch of t he i nt er of f i ce communi cat or t o cal l her
secr et ar y. The gi r l ' s voi ce answer ed wi t h a st ar t l ed l i t t l e gasp: " Mi ss
Taggar t ! Ar e you her e, i n your of f i ce?"
" I sl ept her e l ast ni ght , agai n. Di dn' t i nt end t o, but di d. Was t her e a
cal l f or me f r omt he McNei l Car Foundr y?"
" No, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Put t hemt hr ough t o me i mmedi at el y, when t hey cal l , "
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . "
Swi t chi ng t he communi cat or of f , she wonder ed whet her she i magi ned i t or
whet her t her e had been somet hi ng st r ange i n t he gi r l ' s voi ce: i t had sounded
unnat ur al l y t ense.
She f el t t he f ai nt l i ght - headedness of hunger and t hought t hat she shoul d
go down t o get a cup of cof f ee, but t her e was st i l l t he r epor t of t he chi ef
engi neer t o f i ni sh, so she l i ght ed one mor e ci gar et t e.
The chi ef engi neer was out on t he r oad, super vi si ng t he r econst r uct i on of
t he mai n t r ack wi t h t he Rear den Met al r ai l t aken f r omt he cor pse of t he J ohn
Gal t Li ne; she had chosen t he sect i ons most ur gent l y i n need of r epai r .
Openi ng hi s r epor t , she r eadwi t h a shock of i ncr edul ous anger t hat he had
st opped wor k i n t he mount ai n sect i on of Wi nst on, Col or ado. He r ecommended a
change of pl ans: he suggest ed t hat t he r ai l i nt ended f or Wi nst on be used,
i nst ead, t o r epai r t he t r ack of t hei r Washi ngt on- t o- Mi ami br anch. He gave hi s
r easons: a der ai l ment had occur r ed on t hat br anch l ast week, and Mr . Ti nky
Hol l oway of Washi ngt on, t r avel i ng wi t h a par t y of f r i ends, had been del ayed
f or t hr ee hour s; i t had been r epor t ed t o t he chi ef engi neer t hat Mr . Hol l oway
had expr essed ext r eme di spl easur e. Al t hough, f r oma pur el y t echnol ogi cal
vi ewpoi nt sai d t he chi ef engi neer ' s r epor t t he r ai l of t he Mi ami br anch was
i n bet t er condi t i on t han t hat of t he Wi nst on sect i on, one had t o r emember ,
f r oma soci ol ogi cal vi ewpoi nt , t hat t he Mi ami br anch car r i ed a much mor e
i mpor t ant cl ass of passenger t r af f i c; t her ef or e, t he chi ef engi neer suggest ed
t hat Wi nst on coul d be kept wai t i ng a l i t t l e l onger , and r ecommended t he
sacr i f i ce of an obscur e sect i on of mount ai n t r ackage f or t he sake of a br anch
wher e " Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al coul d not af f or d t o cr eat e an unf avor abl e
i mpr essi on. "
She r ead, sl ashi ng f ur i ous penci l mar ks on t he mar gi ns of t he pages,
t hi nki ng t hat her f i r st dut y of t he day, ahead of any ot her , was t o st op t hi s
par t i cul ar pi ece of i nsani t y.
The t el ephone r ang.
" Yes?" she asked, snat chi ng t he r ecei ver . " McNei l Car Foundr y?"
" No, " sai d t he voi ce of her secr et ar y. " Senor Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. "
She l ooked at t he phone' s mout hpi ece f or t he i nst ant of a br i ef shock.
" Al l r i ght . Put hi mon. "
The next voi ce she hear d was Fr anci sco' s. " I see t hat you' r e i n your
of f i ce j ust t he same, " he sai d; hi s voi ce was mocki ng, har sh and t ense.
" Wher e di d you expect me t o be?"
" How do you l i ke t he new suspensi on?"
" What suspensi on?"
" The mor at or i umon br ai ns. "
" What ar e you t al ki ng about ?"
" Haven' t you seen t oday' s newspaper s?"
" No. "
Ther e was a pause; t hen hi s voi ce came sl owl y, changed and gr ave: " Bet t er
t ake a l ook at t hem, Dagny. "
" Al l r i ght . "
" I ' l l cal l you l at er . "
She hung up and pr essed t he swi t ch of t he communi cat or on her desk. " Get
me a newspaper , " she sai d t o her secr et ar y.
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t , " t he secr et ar y' s voi ce answer ed gr i ml y.
I t was Eddi e Wi l l er s who came i n and put t he newspaper down on her desk.
The meani ng of t he l ook on hi s f ace' was t he same as t he t one she had caught
i n Fr anci sco' s voi ce: t he advance not i ce of some i nconcei vabl e di sast er .
" None of us want ed t o be f i r st t o t el l you, " he sai d ver y qui et l y and
wal ked out .
When she r ose f r omher desk, a f ew moment s l at er , she f el t t hat she had
f ul l cont r ol of her body and t hat she was not awar e of her body' s exi st ence.
She f el t l i f t ed t o her f eet and i t seemed t o her t hat she st ood st r ai ght , not
t ouchi ng t he gr ound. Ther e was an abnor mal cl ar i t y about ever y obj ect i n t he
r oom, yet she was seei ng not hi ng ar ound her , but she knew t hat she woul d be
abl e t o see t he t hr ead of a cobweb i f her pur pose r equi r ed i t , j ust as she
woul d be abl e t o wal k wi t h a somnambul i st ' s assur ance al ong t he edge of a
r oof . She coul d not know t hat she was l ooki ng at t he r oomwi t h t he eyes of a
per son who had l ost t he capaci t y and t he concept of doubt , and what r emai ned
t o her was t he si mpl i ci t y of a si ngl e per cept i on and of a si ngl e goal . She
di d not know t hat t he t hi ng whi ch seemed so vi ol ent , yet f el t l i ke such a
st i l l , unf ami l i ar cal mwi t hi n her , was t he power of f ul l cer t ai nt yand t hat
t he anger shaki ng her body, t he anger whi ch made her r eady, wi t h t he same
passi onat e i ndi f f er ence, ei t her t o ki l l or t o di e, was her l ove of r ect i t ude,
t he onl y l ove t o whi ch al l t he year s of her l i f e had been gi ven.
Hol di ng t he newspaper i n her hand, she wal ked out of her of f i ce and on
t owar d t he hal l . She knew, cr ossi ng t he ant er oom, t hat t he f aces of her st af f
wer e t ur ned t o her , but t hey seemed t o be many year s away.
She wal ked down t he hal l , movi ng swi f t l y but wi t hout ef f or t , wi t h t he same
sensat i on of knowi ng t hat her f eet wer e pr obabl y t ouchi ng t he gr ound but t hat
she di d not f eel i t . She di d not know how many r ooms she cr ossed t o r each
J i m' s of f i ce, or whet her t her e had been any peopl e i n her way, she knew t he
di r ect i on t o t ake and t he door t o pul l open t o ent er unannounced and wal k
t owar d hi s desk.
The newspaper was t wi st ed i nt o a r ol l by t he t i me she st ood bef or e hi m.
She t hr ew i t at hi s f ace, i t st r uck hi s cheek and f el l down t o t he car pet .
" Ther e' s my r esi gnat i on, J i m, " she sai d. " I won' t wor k as a sl ave or as a
sl ave- dr i ver . "
She di d not hear t he sound of hi s gasp; i t came wi t h t he sound of t he door
cl osi ng af t er her .
She went back t o her of f i ce and, cr ossi ng t he ant er oom, si gnal ed Eddi e t o
f ol l ow her i nsi de.
She sai d, her voi ce cal mand cl ear , " I have r esi gned. "
He nodded si l ent l y.
" I don' t know as yet what I l l do i n t he f ut ur e. I ' mgoi ng away, t o t hi nk
i t over and t o deci de. I f you want t o f ol l ow me, I ' l l be at t he l odge i n
Woodst ock. " I t was an ol d hunt i ng cabi n i n a f or est of t he Ber kshi r e
Mount ai ns, whi ch she had i nher i t ed f r omher f at her and had not vi si t ed f or
year s.
" I want t o f ol l ow, " he whi sper ed, " I want t o qui t , and . . . and I can' t .
I can' t make mysel f do i t . "
" Then wi l l you do me a f avor ?"
" Of cour se. "
" Don' t communi cat e wi t h me about t he r ai l r oad. I don' t want t o hear i t .
Don' t t el l anyone wher e I am, except Hank Rear den. I f he asks, t el l hi mabout
t he cabi n and how t o get t her e. But no one el se. I don' t want t o see
anybody. "
" AU r i ght . "
" Pr omi se?"
" Of cour se. "
" When I deci de what ' s t o become of me, I ' l l l et you know. "
" I l l wai t . "
" That ' s al l , Eddi e. "
He knew t hat ever y wor d was measur ed and t hat not hi ng el se coul d be sai d
bet ween t hemat t hi s moment . He i ncl i ned hi s head, l et t i ng i t say t he r est ,
t hen wal ked out of t he of f i ce.
She saw t he chi ef engi neer ' s r epor t st i l l l yi ng open on her desk, and
t hought t hat she had t o or der hi mat once t o r esume t he wor k on t he Wi nst on
sect i on, t hen r emember ed t hat i t was not her pr obl emany l onger . She f el t no
pai n. She knew t hat t he pai n woul d come l at er and t hat i t woul d be a t ear i ng
agony of pai n, and t hat t he numbness of t hi s moment was a r est gr ant ed t o
her , not af t er , but bef or e, t o make her r eady t o bear i t . But i t di d not
mat t er . I f t hat i s r equi r ed of me, t hen I ' l l bear i t she t hought .
She sat down at her desk and t el ephoned Rear den at hi s mi l l s i n
Pennsyl vani a.
" Hel l o, dear est , " he sai d. He sai d i t si mpl y and cl ear l y, as i f he want ed
t o say i t because i t was r eal and r i ght , and he needed t o hol d on t o t he
concept s of r eal i t y and Ti ght ness.
" Hank, I ' ve qui t . "
" I see. " He sounded as i f he had expect ed i t .
" Nobody came t o get me, no dest r oyer , per haps t her e never was any
dest r oyer , af t er al l . I don' t know what I ' l l do next , but I have t o get away,
so t hat I won' t have t o see any of t hemf or a whi l e. Then I ' l l deci de. I know
t hat you can' t go wi t h me r i ght now. "
" No. I have t wo weeks i n whi ch t hey expect me t o si gn t hei r Gi f t
Cer t i f i cat e. I want t o be r i ght her e when t he t wo weeks expi r e. "
" Do you need mef or t he t wo weeks?"
" No. I t ' s wor se f or you t han f or me. You have no way t o f i ght t hem. I
have. I t hi nk I ' mgl ad t hey di d i t . I t ' s cl ear and f i nal . Don' t wor r y about
me. Rest . Rest f r omal l of i t , f i r st . "
" Yes. "
" Wher e ar e you goi ng?"
" To t he count r y. To a cabi n I own i n t he Ber kshi r es. I f you want t o see
me, Eddi e Wi l l er s wi l l t el l you t he way t o get t her e. I ' l l be back i n t wo
weeks. "
" Wi l l you do me a f avor ?"
" Yes. "
" Don' t come back unt i l I come f or you. "
" But I want t o be her e, when i t happens. "
" Leave t hat up t o me. "
" What ever t hey do t o you, I want i t done t o me al so. "
" Leave i t up t o me. Dear est , don' t you under st and? I t hi nk t hat what I
want most r i ght now i s what you want : not t o see any of t hem. But I have t o
st ay her e f or a whi l e. So i t wi l l hel p me i f I know t hat you, at l east , ar e
out of t hei r r each. I want t o keep one cl ean poi nt i n my mi nd, t o l ean
agai nst . I t wi l l be onl y a shor t whi l eand t hen I ' l l come f or you. Do you
under st and?"
" Yes, my dar l i ng. So l ong. "
I t was wei ght l essl y easy t o wal k out of her of f i ce and down t he st r et chi ng
hal l s of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . She wal ked, l ooki ng ahead, her st eps
advanci ng wi t h t he unbr oken, unhur r i ed r hyt hmof f i nal i t y.
Her f ace was hel d l evel and i t had a l ook of ast oni shment , of accept ance,
of r epose.
She wal ked acr oss t he concour se of t he Ter mi nal . She saw t he st at ue of
Nat hani el Taggar t . But she f el t no pai n f r omi t and no r epr oach, onl y t he
r i si ng f ul l ness of her l ove, onl y t he f eel i ng t hat she was goi ng t o j oi n hi m,
not i n deat h, but i n t hat whi ch had been hi s l i f e.
The f i r st man t o qui t at Rear den St eel was TomCol by, r ol l i ng mi l l
f or eman, head of t he Rear den St eel Wor ker s Uni on. For t en year s, he had hear d
hi msel f denounced t hr oughout t he count r y, because hi s was a " company uni on"
and because he had never engaged i n a vi ol ent conf l i ct wi t h t he management .
Thi s was t r ue: no conf l i ct had ever been necessar y; Rear den pai d a hi gher
wage scal e t han any uni on scal e i n t he count r y, f or whi ch he demandedand
got t he best l abor f or ce t o be f ound anywher e.
When TomCol by t ol d hi mt hat he was qui t t i ng, Rear den nodded, wi t hout
comment or quest i ons.
" I won' t wor k under t hese condi t i ons, mysel f , " Col by added qui et l y, " and I
won' t hel p, t o keep t he men wor ki ng. They t r ust me. I won' t be t he J udas goat
l eadi ng t hemt o t he st ockyar ds. "
" What ar e you goi ng t o do f or a l i vi ng?" asked Rear den.
" I ' ve saved enough t o l ast me f or about a year . "
" And af t er t hat ?"
Col by shr ugged.
Rear den t hought of t he boy wi t h t he angr y eyes, who mi ned coal at ni ght as
a cr i mi nal . He t hought of al l t he dar k r oads, t he al l eys, t he back yar ds of
t he count r y, wher e t he best of t he count r y' s men woul d now exchange t hei r
ser vi ces i n j ungl e bar t er , i n chance j obs, i n unr ecor ded t r ansact i ons. He
t hought of t he end of t hat r oad.
TomCol by seemed t o know what he was t hi nki ng. " You' r e on your way t o end
up r i ght al ongsi de of me, Mr . Rear den, " he sai d. " Ar e you goi ng t o si gn your
br ai ns over t o t hem?"
" No. "
" And af t er t hat ?"
Rear den shr ugged.
Col by' s eyes wat ched hi mf or a moment , pal e, shr ewd eyes i n a f ur nace-
t anned f ace wi t h soot - engr aved wr i nkl es. " They' ve been t el l i ng us f or year s
t hat i t ' s you agai nst me, Mr . Rear den. But i t i sn' t . I t ' s Or r en Boyl e and
Fr ed Ki nnan agai nst you and me. "
" I know i t . "
The Wet Nur se had never ent er ed Rear den' s of f i ce, as i f sensi ng t hat t hat
was a pl ace he had no r i ght t o ent er . He al ways wai t ed t o cat ch a gl i mpse of
Rear den out si de. The di r ect i ve had at t ached hi mt o hi s j ob, as t he mi l l s'
of f i ci al wat chdog of over - or - under - pr oduct i on. He st opped Rear den, a f ew days
l at er , i n an al l ey bet ween t he r ows of open- hear t h f ur naces. Ther e was an odd
l ook of f i er ceness on t he boy' s f ace.
" Mr . Rear den, " he sai d, " I want ed t o t el l you t hat i f you want t o pour t en
t i mes t he quot a of Rear den Met al or st eel or pi g i r on or anyt hi ng, and
boot l eg i t al l over t he pl ace t o anybody at any pr i ceI want ed t o t el l you t o
go ahead. I l l f i x i t up. I ' l l j uggl e t he books, I ' l l f ake t he r epor t s, I ' l l
get phony wi t nesses, I ' l l f or ge af f i davi t s, I ' l l commi t per j ur yso you don' t
have t o wor r y, t her e won' t be any t r oubl e! "
" Now why do you want t o do t hat ?" asked Rear den, smi l i ng, but hi s smi l e
vani shed when he hear d t he boy answer ear nest l y: " Because I want , f or once,
t o do somet hi ng mor al . "
" That ' s not t he way t o be mor al " Rear den st ar t ed, and st opped abr upt l y,
r eal i zi ng t hat - i t was t he way, t he onl y way l ef t , r eal i zi ng t hr ough how many
t wi st s of i nt el l ect ual cor r upt i on upon cor r upt i on t hi s boy had t o st r uggl e
t owar d hi s moment ous di scover y.
" I guess t hat ' s not t he wor d, " t he boy sai d sheepi shl y. " I know i t ' s a
st uf f y, ol d- f ashi oned wor d. That ' s not what I meant . I meant " I t was a
sudden, desper at e cr y of i ncr edul ous anger : " Mr . Rear den, t hey have no r i ght
t o do i t ! "
" What ?"
" Take Rear den Met al away f r omyou. "
Rear den smi l ed and, pr ompt ed by a desper at e pi t y, sai d, " For get i t , Non-
Absol ut e. Ther e ar e no r i ght s. "
" I know t her e ar en' t . But I mean . . . what I mean i s t hat t hey can' t do
i t . "
" Why not ?" He coul d not hel p smi l i ng.
" Mr . Rear den, don' t si gn t he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e! Don' t si gn i t , on
pr i nci pl e. "
" I won' t si gn i t . But t her e ar en' t any pr i nci pl es. "
" I know t her e ar en' t . " He was r eci t i ng i t i n f ul l ear nest ness, wi t h t he
honest y of a consci ent i ous st udent : " I know t hat ever yt hi ng i s r el at i ve and
t hat nobody can know anyt hi ng and t hat r eason i s an i l l usi on and t hat t her e
i sn' t any r eal i t y. But I ' mj ust t al ki ng about Rear den Met al .
Don' t si gn, Mr . Rear den. Mor al s or no mor al s, pr i nci pl es or no pr i nci pl es,
j ust don' t si gn i t because i t i sn' t r i ght ! "
No one el se ment i oned t he di r ect i ve i n Rear den' s pr esence. Si l ence was t he
new aspect about t he mi l l s. The men di d not speak t o hi mwhen he appear ed i n
t he wor kshops, and he not i ced t hat t hey di d not speak t o one anot her . The
per sonnel of f i ce r ecei ved no f or mal r esi gnat i ons. But ever y ot her mor ni ng,
one or t wo men f ai l ed t o appear and never appear ed agai n. I nqui r i es at t hei r
homes f ound t he homes abandoned and t he men gone. The per sonnel of f i ce di d
not r epor t t hese deser t i ons, as t he di r ect i ve r equi r ed; i nst ead, Rear den
began t o see unf ami l i ar f aces among t he wor ker s, t he dr awn, beat en f aces of
t he l ong unempl oyed, and hear d t hemaddr essed by t he names of t he men who had
qui t . He asked no quest i ons.
Ther e was si l ence t hr oughout t he count r y. He di d not know how many
i ndust r i al i st s had r et i r ed and vani shed on May I and 2, l eavi ng t hei r pl ant s
t o be sei zed. He count ed t en among hi s own cust omer s, i ncl udi ng McNei l of t he
McNei l Car Foundr y i n Chi cago. He had no way of l ear ni ng about t he ot her s; no
r epor t s appear ed i n t he newspaper s.
The f r ont pages of t he newspaper s wer e suddenl y f ul l of st or i es about
spr i ng f l oods, t r af f i c acci dent s, school pi cni cs and gol den- weddi ng
anni ver sar i es.
Ther e was si l ence i n hi s own home. Li l l i an had depar t ed on a vacat i on t r i p
t o Fl or i da, i n mi d- Apr i l ; i t had ast oni shed hi m, as an i nexpl i cabl e whi m; i t
was t he f i r st t r i p she had t aken al one si nce t hei r mar r i age. Phi l i p avoi ded
hi m, wi t h a l ook of pani c. Hi s mot her st ar ed at Rear den i n r epr oachf ul
bewi l der ment ; she sai d not hi ng, but she kept bur st i ng i nt o t ear s i n hi s
pr esence, her manner suggest i ng t hat her t ear s wer e t he most i mpor t ant aspect
t o consi der i n what ever di sast er i t was t hat she sensed appr oachi ng.
On t he mor ni ng of May 15, he sat at t he desk i n hi s of f i ce, above t he
spr ead of t he mi l l s, and wat ched t he col or s of t he smoke r i si ng t o t he cl ear ,
bl ue sky. Ther e wer e spur t s of t r anspar ent smoke, l i ke waves of heat ,
i nvi si bl e but f or t he st r uct ur es t hat shi ver ed behi nd t hem; t her e wer e
st r eaks of r ed smoke, and sl uggi sh col umns of yel l ow, and l i ght , f l oat i ng
spi r al s of bl ueand t he t hi ck, t i ght , swi f t l y pour i ng coi l s t hat l ooked l i ke
t wi st ed bol t s of sat i n t i nged a mot her - of - pear l pi nk by t he summer sun.
The buzzer r ang on hi s desk, and Mi ss I ves voi ce sai d, " Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s
t o see you, wi t hout appoi nt ment , Mr . Rear den. " I n spi t e of i t s r i gi d
f or mal i t y, her t one conveyed t he quest i on: Shal l I t hr ow hi mout ?
Ther e was a f ai nt movement of ast oni shment i n Rear den' s f ace, bar el y above
t he l i ne of i ndi f f er ence: he had not expect ed t hat par t i cul ar emi ssar y. He
answer ed evenl y, " Ask hi mt o come i n. "
Dr . Fer r i s di d not smi l e as he wal ked t owar d Rear den' s desk; he mer el y
wor e a l ook suggest i ng t hat Rear den knew f ul l wel l t hat he had good r eason t o
smi l e and so he woul d abst ai n f r omt he obvi ous.
He sat down i n f r ont of t he desk, not wai t i ng f or an i nvi t at i on; he
car r i ed a br i ef case, whi ch he pl aced acr oss hi s knees; he act ed as i f wor ds
wer e super f l uous, si nce hi s r eappear ance i n t hi s of f i ce had made ever yt hi ng
cl ear .
Rear den sat wat chi ng hi mi n pat i ent si l ence.
" Si nce t he deadl i ne f or t he si gni ng of t he nat i onal Gi f t Cer t i f i cat es
expi r es t oni ght at mi dni ght , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, i n t he t one of a sal esman
ext endi ng a speci al cour t esy t o a cust omer , " I have come t o obt ai n your
si gnat ur e, Mr . Rear den. "
He paused, wi t h an ai r of suggest i ng t hat t he f or mul a now cal l ed f or an
answer .
" Go on, " sai d Rear den. " I aml i st eni ng. "
" Yes, I suppose I shoul d expl ai n, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, " t hat we wi sh t o get
your si gnat ur e ear l y i n t he day i n or der t o announce t he f act on a nat i onal
news br oadcast . Al t hough t he gi f t pr ogr amhas gone t hr ough qui t e smoot hl y,
t her e ar e st i l l a f ew st ubbor n i ndi vi dual i st s l ef t , who have f ai l ed t o si gn
smal l f r y, r eal l y, whose pat ent s ar e of no cr uci al val ue, but we cannot l et
t hemr emai n unbound, as a mat t er of pr i nci pl e, you under st and. They ar e, we
bel i eve, wai t i ng t o f ol l ow your l ead. You have a gr eat popul ar f ol l owi ng, Mr .
Rear den, much gr eat er t han you suspect ed or knew how t o use. Ther ef or e, t he
announcement t hat you have si gned wi l l r emove t he l ast hopes of r esi st ance
and, by mi dni ght , wi l l br i ng i n t he l ast si gnat ur es, t hus compl et i ng t he
pr ogr amon schedul e. "
Rear den knew t hat of al l possi bl e speeches, t hi s was t he l ast Dr .
Fer r i s woul d make i f any doubt of hi s sur r ender r emai ned i n t he man' s
mi nd.
" Go on, " sai d Rear den evenl y. " You haven' t f i ni shed. "
" You knowas you have demonst r at ed at your t r i al how i mpor t ant i t i s, and
why, t hat we obt ai n al l t hat pr oper t y wi t h t he vol unt ar y consent of t he
vi ct i ms. " Dr . Fer r i s opened hi s br i ef case. " Her e i s t he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e, Mr .
Rear den. We have f i l l ed i t out and al l you have t o do i s t o si gn your name at
t he bot t om. "
The pi ece of paper , whi ch he pl aced i n f r ont of Rear den, l ooked l i ke a
smal l col l ege di pl oma, wi t h t he t ext pr i nt ed i n ol d- f ashi oned scr i pt and t he
par t i cul ar s i nser t ed by t ypewr i t er . The t hi ng st at ed t hat he, Henr y Rear den,
her eby t r ansf er r ed t o t he nat i on al l r i ght s t o t he met al al l oy now known as
" Rear den Met al , " whi ch woul d hencef or t h be manuf act ur ed by al l who so
desi r ed, and whi ch woul d bear t he name of " Mi r acl e Met al , " chosen by t he
r epr esent at i ves of t he peopl e.
Gl anci ng at t he paper , Rear den wonder ed whet her i t was a del i ber at e
mocker y of decency, or so l ow an est i mat e of t hei r vi ct i ms' i nt el l i gence,
t hat had made t he desi gner s of t hi s paper pr i nt t he t ext acr oss a f ai nt
dr awi ng of t he St at ue of Li ber t y.
Hi s eyes moved sl owl y t o Dr . Fer r i s' f ace. " You woul d not have come her e, "
he sai d, " unl ess you had some ext r aor di nar y ki nd of bl ackj ack t o use on me.
What i s i t ?"
" Of cour se, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " I woul d expect you t o under st and t hat . That
i s why no l engt hy expl anat i ons ar e necessar y. " He opened hi s br i ef case. " Do
you wi sh t o see my bl ackj ack? I have br ought a f ew sampl es. "
I n t he manner of a car dshar p whi ski ng out a l ong f an of car ds wi t h one
snap of t he hand, he spr ead bef or e Rear den a l i ne of gl ossy phot ogr aphi c
pr i nt s. They wer e phot ost at s of hot el and aut o cour t r egi st er s, bear i ng i n
Rear den' s handwr i t i ng t he names of Mr . and Mr s. J .
Smi t h.
" You know, of cour se, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s sof t l y, " but you mi ght wi sh t o see
whet her we know i t , t hat Mr s. J . Smi t h i s Mi ss Dagny Taggar t . "
He f ound not hi ng t o obser ve i n Rear den' s f ace. Rear den had not moved t o
bend over t he pr i nt s, but sat l ooki ng down at t hemwi t h gr ave at t ent i veness,
as i f , f r omt he per spect i ve of di st ance, he wer e di scover i ng somet hi ng about
t hemwhi ch he had not known.
" We have a gr eat deal of addi t i onal evi dence, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, and t ossed
down on t he desk a phot ost at of t he j ewel er ' s bi l l f or t he r uby pendant . " You
woul dn' t car e t o see t he swor n st at ement s of apar t ment house door men and
ni ght cl er kst hey cont ai n not hi ng t hat woul d be new t o you, except t he number
of wi t nesses who know wher e you spent your ni ght s i n New Yor k, f or about t he
l ast t wo year s. You must n' t bl ame t hose peopl e t oo much. I t ' s an i nt er est i ng
char act er i st i c of epochs such as our s t hat peopl e begi n t o be af r ai d of
sayi ng t he t hi ngs t hey want t o sayand af r ai d, when quest i oned, t o r emai n
si l ent about t hi ngs t hey' d pr ef er never t o ut t er . That i s t o be expect ed. But
you woul d be ast oni shed i f you knew who gave us t he or i gi nal t i p. "
" I know i t , " sai d Rear den; hi s voi ce conveyed no r eact i on. The t r i p t o
Fl or i da was not i nexpl i cabl e t o hi many l onger .
" Ther e i s not hi ng i n t hi s bl ackj ack of mi ne t hat can har myou per sonal l y, "
sai d Dr . Fer r i s, " We knew t hat no f or mof per sonal i nj ur y woul d ever make you
gi ve i n. Ther ef or e, I amt el l i ng you f r ankl y t hat t hi s wi l l not hur t you at
al l . I t wi l l onl y hur t Mi ss Taggar t "
Rear den was l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi mnow, but Dr . Fer r i s wonder ed why i t
seemed t o hi mt hat t he cal m, cl osed f ace was movi ng away i nt o a gr eat er and
gr eat er di st ance.
" I f t hi s af f ai r of your s i s spr ead f r omone end of t he count r y t o t he
ot her , " sai d Dr , Fer r i s, " by such exper t s i n t he ar t of smear i ng as Ber t r am
Scudder , i t wi l l do no act ual damage t o your r eput at i on.
Beyond a f ew gl ances of cur i osi t y and a f ew r ai sed eyebr ows i n a f ew of
t he st uf f i er dr awi ng r ooms, you wi l l get of f qui t e easi l y. Af f ai r s of t hi s
sor t ar e expect ed of a man. I n f act , i t wi l l enhance your r eput at i on.
I t wi l l gi ve you an aur a of r omant i c gl amour among t he women and, among
t he men, i t wi l l gi ve you a cer t ai n ki nd of pr est i ge, i n t he nat ur e of envy
f or an unusual conquest . But what i t wi l l do t o Mi ss Taggar t wi t h her
spot l ess name, her r eput at i on f or bei ng above scandal , her pecul i ar posi t i on
of a woman i n a st r i ct l y mascul i ne busi ness
what i t wi l l do t o her , what she wi l l see i n t he eyes of ever yone she
meet s, what she wi l l hear f r omever y man she deal s wi t hI wi l l l eave t hat up
t o your own mi nd t o i magi ne. And t o consi der . "
Rear den f el t not hi ng but a gr eat st i l l ness and a gr eat cl ar i t y. I t was as
i f some voi ce wer e t el l i ng hi mst er nl y: Thi s i s t he t i met he scene i s
l i ght ednow l ook. And st andi ng naked i n t he gr eat l i ght , he was l ooki ng
qui et l y, sol emnl y, st r i pped of f ear , of pai n, of hope, wi t h not hi ng l ef t t o
hi mbut t he desi r e t o know.
Dr . Fer r i s was ast oni shed t o hear hi msay sl owl y, i n t he di spassi onat e
t one of an abst r act st at ement t hat di d not seemt o be addr essed t o hi s
l i st ener , " But al l your cal cul at i ons r est on t he f act t hat Mi ss Taggar t i s a
vi r t uous woman, not t he sl ut you' r e goi ng t o cal l her . "
" Yes, of cour se, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s.
" And t hat t hi s means much mor e t o me t han a casual af f ai r . "
" Of cour se. "
" I f she and I wer e t he ki nd of scumyou' r e goi ng t o make us appear , your
bl ackj ack woul dn' t wor k. "
" No, i t woul dn' t .
" I f our r el at i onshi p wer e t he depr avi t y you' r e goi ng t o pr ocl ai mi t t o be,
you' d have no way t o har mus. "
" No. "
" We' d be out si de your power . "
" Act ual l yyes. "
I t was not t o Dr . Fer r i s t hat Rear den was speaki ng. He was seei ng a l ong
l i ne of men st r et ched t hr ough t he cent ur i es f r omPl at o onwar d, whose hei r and
f i nal pr oduct was an i ncompet ent l i t t l e pr of essor wi t h t he appear ance of a
gi gol o and t he soul of a t hug.
" I of f er ed you, once, a chance t o j oi n us, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " You r ef used.
Now you can see t he consequences. How a man of your i nt el l i gence t hought t hat
he coul d wi n by pl ayi ng i t st r ai ght , I can' t i magi ne. "
" But i f I had j oi ned you, " sai d Rear den wi t h t he same det achment , as i f he
wer e not speaki ng about hi msel f , " what woul d I have f ound wor t h l oot i ng f r om
Or r en Boyl e?"
" Oh hel l , t her e' s al ways enough sucker s t o expr opr i at e i n t he wor l d! "
" Such as Mi ss Taggar t ? As Ken Danagger ? As El l i s Wyat t ? As I ?"
" Such as any man who want s t o be i mpr act i cal . "
" You mean t hat i t i s not pr act i cal t o l i ve on ear t h, i s i t ?"
He di d not know whet her Dr . Fer r i s answer ed hi m. He was not l i st eni ng any
l onger . He was seei ng t he pendul ous f ace of Or r en Boyl e wi t h t he smal l sl i t s
of pi g' s eyes, t he doughy f ace of Mr . Mowen wi t h t he eyes t hat scur r i ed away
f r omany speaker and any f act he was seei ng t hemgo t hr ough t he j er ky mot i ons
of an ape per f or mi ng a r out i ne i t had l ear ned t o copy by muscul ar habi t ,
per f or mi ng i t i n or der t o manuf act ur e Rear den Met al , wi t h no knowl edge and no
capaci t y t o know what had t aken pl ace i n t he exper i ment al l abor at or y of
Rear den St eel t hr ough t en year s of passi onat e devot i on t o an excr uci at i ng
ef f or t . I t was pr oper t hat t hey shoul d now cal l i t " Mi r acl e Met al " . a mi r acl e
was t he onl y name t hey coul d gi ve t o t hose t en year s and t o t hat f acul t y f r om
whi ch Rear den Met al was bor na mi r acl e was al l t hat t he Met al coul d be i n
t hei r eyes, t he pr oduct of an unknown, unknowabl e cause, an obj ect i n nat ur e,
not t o be expl ai ned, but t o be sei zed, l i ke a st one or a weed, t hei r s f or t he
sei zi ng" ar e we t o l et t he many r emai n i n want whi l e t he f ew wi t hhol d f r omus
t he bet t er pr oduct s and met hods avai l abl e?"
I f I had not known t hat my l i f e depends on my mi nd and my ef f or t he was
sayi ng soundl essl y t o t he l i ne of men st r et ched t hr ough t he cent ur i esi f I
had not made i t my hi ghest mor al pur pose t o exer ci se t he best of my ef f or t
and t he f ul l est capaci t y of my mi nd i n or der t o suppor t and expand my l i f e,
you woul d have f ound not hi ng t o l oot f r omme, not hi ng t o suppor t your own
exi st ence. I t i s not my si ns t hat you' r e usi ng t o i nj ur e me, but my vi r t ues
my vi r t ues by your own acknowl edgment , si nce your own l i f e depends on t hem,
si nce you need t hem, si nce you do not seek t o dest r oy my achi evement but t o
sei ze i t .
He r emember ed t he voi ce of t he gi gol o of sci ence sayi ng t o hi m: " We' r e
af t er power and we mean i t . You f el l ows wer e pi ker s, but we know t he r eal
t r i ck. " We wer e not af t er power he sai d t o t he gi gol o' s ancest or s- i n- spi r i t
and we di d not l i ve by means of t hat whi ch we condemned. We r egar ded
pr oduct i ve abi l i t y as vi r t ueand we l et t he degr ee of hi s vi r t ue be t he
measur e of a man' s r ewar d. We dr ew no advant age f r omt he t hi ngs we r egar ded
as evi l we di d not r equi r e t he exi st ence of bank r obber s i n or der t o oper at e
our banks, or of bur gl ar s i n or der t o pr ovi de f or our homes, or of mur der er s
i n or der t o pr ot ect our l i ves. But you need t he pr oduct s of a man' s abi l i t y
yet you pr ocl ai mt hat pr oduct i ve abi l i t y i s a sel f i sh evi l and you t ur n t he
degr ee of a man' s pr oduct i veness i nt o t he measur e of hi s l oss. We l i ved by
t hat whi ch we hel d t o be good and puni shed t hat whi ch we hel d t o be evi l . You
l i ve by t hat whi ch you denounce as evi l and puni sh t hat whi ch you know t o be
good.
He r emember ed t he f or mul a of t he puni shment t hat Li l l i an had sought t o
i mpose on hi m, t he f or mul a he had consi der ed t oo monst r ous t o bel i eveand he
saw i t now i n i t s f ul l appl i cat i on, as a syst emof t hought , as a way of l i f e
and on a wor l d scal e. Ther e i t was: t he puni shment t hat r equi r ed t he vi ct i m' s
own vi r t ue as t he f uel t o make i t wor khi s i nvent i on of Rear den Met al bei ng
used as t he cause of hi s expr opr i at i onDagny' s honor and t he dept h of t hei r
f eel i ng f or each ot her bei ng used as a t ool of bl ackmai l , a bl ackmai l f r om
whi ch t he depr aved woul d be i mmuneand, i n t he Peopl e' s St at es of Eur ope,
mi l l i ons of men bei ng hel d i n bondage by means of t hei r desi r e t o l i ve, by
means of t hei r ener gy dr ai ned i n f or ced l abor , by means of t hei r abi l i t y t o
f eed t hei r mast er s, by means of t he host age syst em, of t hei r l ove f or t hei r
chi l dr en or wi ves or f r i endsby means of l ove, abi l i t y and pl easur e as t he
f odder f or t hr eat s and t he bai t f or ext or t i on, wi t h l ove t i ed t o f ear ,
abi l i t y t o puni shment , ambi t i on t o conf i scat i on, wi t h bl ackmai l as l aw, wi t h
escape f r ompai n, not quest f or pl easur e, as t he onl y i ncent i ve t o ef f or t and
t he onl y r ewar d of achi evement men hel d ensl aved by means of what ever l i vi ng
power t hey possessed and of what ever j oy t hey f ound i n l i f e. Such was t he
code t hat t he wor l d had accept ed and such was t he key t o t he code: t hat i t
hooked man' s l ove of exi st ence t o a ci r cui t of t or t ur e, so t hat onl y t he man
who had not hi ng t o of f er woul d have not hi ng t o f ear , so t hat t he vi r t ues
whi ch made l i f e possi bl e and t he val ues whi ch gave i t meani ng became t he
agent s of i t s dest r uct i on, so t hat one' s best became t he t ool of one' s agony,
and man' s l i f e on ear t h became i mpr act i cal .
Your s was t he code of l i f e, " sai d t he voi ce of a man whomhe coul d not
f or get . " What , t hen, i s t hei r s?"
Why had t he wor l d accept ed i t ?he t hought . How had t he vi ct i ms come t o
sanct i on a code t hat pr onounced t hemgui l t y of t he f act of exi st i ng? . . .
And t hen t he vi ol ence of an i nner bl ow became t he t ot al st i l l ness of hi s body
as he sat l ooki ng at a sudden vi si on: Hadn' t he done i t al so? Hadn' t he gi ven
hi s sanct i on t o t he code of sel f damnat i on? Dagnyhe t hought and t he dept h of
t hei r f eel i ng f or each ot her . . . t he bl ackmai l f r omwhi ch t he depr aved
woul d be i mmune . . . hadn' t he, t oo, once cal l ed i t depr avi t y? Hadn' t he
been f i r st t o t hr ow at her al l t he i nsul t s whi ch t he human scumwas now
t hr eat eni ng t o t hr ow at her i n publ i c? Hadn' t he accept ed as gui l t t he
hi ghest happi ness he had ever f ound?
" You who won' t al l ow one per cent of i mpur i t y i nt o an al l oy of met al , " t he
unf or got t en voi ce was sayi ng t o hi m, " what have you al l owed i nt o your mor al
code?"
" Wel l , Mr . Rear den?" sai d t he voi ce of Dr , Fer r i s. " Do you under st and me
now? Do we get t he Met al or do we make a publ i c showpl ace out of Mi ss
Taggar t ' s bedr oom?"
He was not seei ng Dr . Fer r i s. He was seei ngi n t he vi ol ent cl ar i t y t hat
was l i ke a spot l i ght t ear i ng ever y r i ddl e open t o hi mt he day he met Dagny
f or t he f i r st t i me.
I t was a f ew mont hs af t er she had become Vi ce- Pr esi dent of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al . He had been hear i ng skept i cal l y, f or some t i me, t he r umor s
t hat t he r ai l r oad was r un by J i mTaggar t ' s si st er . That summer , when he gr ew
exasper at ed at Taggar t ' s del ays and cont r adi ct i ons over an or der of r ai l f or
a new cut of f , an or der whi ch Taggar t kept pl aci ng, al t er i ng and wi t hdr awi ng,
somebody t ol d hi mt hat i f he wi shed t o get any sense or act i on out of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , he' d bet t er speak t o J i m' s si st er . He t el ephoned her of f i ce
t o make an appoi nt ment and i nsi st ed on havi ng i t t hat same af t er noon. Her
secr et ar y t ol d hi mt hat Mi ss Taggar t woul d be at t he const r uct i on si t e of t he
new cut of f , t hat af t er noon, at Mi l f or d St at i on bet ween New Yor k and
Phi l adel phi a, but woul d be gl ad t o see hi mt her e i f he wi shed. He went t o t he
appoi nt ment r esent f ul l y; he di d not l i ke such busi nesswomen as he had met ,
and he f el t t hat r ai l r oads wer e no busi ness f or a woman t o pl ay wi t h; he
expect ed a spoi l ed hei r ess who used her name and sex as subst i t ut e f or
abi l i t y, some eyebr ow- pl ucked, over gr oomed f emal e, l i ke t he l ady execut i ves
of depar t ment st or es.
He got of f t he l ast car of a l ong t r ai n, f ar beyond t he pl at f or mof
Mi l f or d St at i on. Ther e was a cl ut t er of si di ngs, f r ei ght car s, cr anes and
st eamshovel s ar ound hi m, descendi ng f r omt he mai n t r ack down t he sl ope of a
r avi ne wher e men wer e gr adi ng t he r oadbed of t he new cut of f . He st ar t ed
wal ki ng bet ween t he si di ngs t owar d t he st at i on bui l di ng. Then he st opped.
He saw a gi r l st andi ng on t op of a pi l e of machi ner y on a f l at car .
She was l ooki ng of f at t he r avi ne, her head l i f t ed, st r ands of di sor der ed
hai r st i r r i ng i n t he wi nd. Her pl ai n gr ay sui t was l i ke a t hi n coat i ng of
met al over a sl ender body agai nst t he spr ead of sun- f l ooded space and sky.
Her post ur e had t he l i ght ness and unsel f - consci ous pr eci si on of an ar r ogant l y
pur e sel f - conf i dence. She was wat chi ng t he wor k, her gl ance i nt ent and
pur posef ul , t he gl ance of compet ence enj oyi ng i t s own f unct i on. She l ooked as
i f t hi s wer e her pl ace, her moment and her wor l d, she l ooked as i f enj oyment
wer e her nat ur al st at e, her f ace was t he l i vi ng f or mof an act i ve, l i vi ng
i nt el l i gence. , a young gi r l ' s f ace wi t h a woman' s mout h, she seemed unawar e
of her body except as of a t aut i nst r ument r eady t o ser ve her pur pose i n any
manner she wi shed.
Had he asked hi msel f a moment ear l i er whet her he car r i ed i n hi s mi nd an
i mage of what he want ed a woman t o l ook l i ke, he woul d have answer ed t hat he
di d not ; yet , seei ng her , he knew t hat t hi s was t he i mage and t hat i t had
been f or year s. But he was not l ooki ng at her as at a woman. He had f or got t en
wher e he was and on what er r and, he was hel d by a chi l d' s sensat i on of j oy i n
t he i mmedi at e moment , by t he del i ght of t he unexpect ed and undi scover ed, he
was hel d by t he ast oni shment of r eal i zi ng how sel domhe came upon a si ght he
t r ul y l i ked, l i ked i n compl et e accept ance and f or i t s own sake, he was
l ooki ng up at her wi t h a f ai nt smi l e, as he woul d have l ooked at a st at ue or
a l andscape, and what he f el t was t he sheer pl easur e of t he si ght , t he pur est
est het i c pl easur e he had ever exper i enced.
He saw a swi t chman goi ng by and he asked, poi nt i ng, " Who i s t hat ?"
" Dagny Taggar t , " sai d t he man, wal ki ng on.
Rear den f el t as i f t he wor ds st r uck hi mi nsi de hi s t hr oat . He f el t t he
st ar t of a cur r ent t hat cut hi s br eat h f or a moment , t hen went sl owl y down
hi s body, car r yi ng i n i t s wake a sense of wei ght , a dr ai ned heavi ness t hat
l ef t hi mno capaci t y but one. He was awar ewi t h an abnor mal cl ar i t yof t he
pl ace, t he woman' s name, and ever yt hi ng i t i mpl i ed, but al l of i t had r eceded
i nt o some out er r i ng and had become a pr essur e t hat l ef t hi mal one i n t he
cent er , as t he r i ng' s meani ng and essenceand hi s onl y r eal i t y was t he desi r e
t o have t hi s woman, now, her e, on t op of t he f l at car i n t he open sunt o have
her bef or e a wor d was spoken bet ween t hem, as t he f i r st act of t hei r meet i ng,
because i t woul d say ever yt hi ng and because t hey had ear ned i t l ong ago.
She t ur ned her head. I n t he sl ow cur ve of t he movement , her eyes came t o
hi s and st opped. He f el t cer t ai n t hat she saw t he nat ur e of hi s gl ance, t hat
she was hel d by i t , yet di d not name i t t o her sel f .
Her eyes moved on and he saw her speak t o some man who st ood besi de t he
f l at car , t aki ng not es.
Two t hi ngs st r uck hi mt oget her : hi s r et ur n t o hi s nor mal r eal i t y, and t he
shat t er i ng i mpact of gui l t . He f el t a moment ' s appr oach t o t hat whi ch no man
may f eel f ul l y and sur vi ve: a sense of sel f - hat r edt he mor e t er r i bl e because
some par t of hi mr ef used t o accept i t and made hi mf eel gui l t i er . I t was not
a pr ogr essi on of wor ds, but t he i nst ant aneous ver di ct of an emot i on, a
ver di ct t hat t ol d hi m: Thi s, t hen, was hi s nat ur e, t hi s was hi s depr avi t y
t hat t he shamef ul desi r e he had never been abl e t o conquer , came t o hi mi n
r esponse t o t he onl y si ght of beaut y he had f ound, t hat i t came wi t h a
vi ol ence he had not known t o be possi bl e, and t hat t he onl y f r eedomnow l ef t
t o hi mwas t o hi de i t and t o despi se hi msel f , but never t o be r i d of i t so
l ong as he and t hi s woman wer e al i ve.
He di d not know how l ong he st ood t her e or what devast at i on t hat span of
t i me l ef t wi t hi n hi m. Al l t hat he coul d pr eser ve was t he wi l l t o deci de t hat
she must never know i t .
He wai t ed unt i l she had descended t o t he gr ound and t he man wi t h t he not es
had depar t ed; t hen he appr oached her and sai d col dl y: " Mi ss Taggar t ? I am
Henr y Rear den. "
" Oh! " I t was j ust a smal l br eak, t hen he hear d t he qui et l y nat ur al " How do
you do, Mr . Rear den. "
He knew, not admi t t i ng i t t o hi msel f , t hat t he br eak came f r omsome f ai nt
equi val ent of hi s own f eel i ng: she was gl ad t hat a f ace she had l i ked
bel onged t o a man she coul d admi r e. When he pr oceeded t o speak t o her about
busi ness, hi s manner was mor e har shl y abr upt t han i t had ever been wi t h any
of hi s mascul i ne cust omer s.
Now, l ooki ng f r omt he memor y of t he gi r l on t he f l at car t o t he Gi f t
Cer t i f i cat e l yi ng on hi s desk, he f el t as i f t he t wo met i n a si ngl e shock,
f usi ng al l t he days and doubt s he had l i ved bet ween t hem, and, by t he gl ar e
of t he expl osi on, i n a moment ' s vi si on of a f i nal sum, he saw t he answer t o
al l hi s quest i ons.
He t hought : Gui l t y?gui l t i er t han I had known, f ar gui l t i er t han I had
t hought , t hat daygui l t y of t he evi l of damni ng as gui l t t hat whi ch was my
best . I damned t he f act t hat my mi nd and body wer e a uni t , and t hat my body
r esponded t o t he val ues of my mi nd. I damned t he f act t hat j oy i s t he cor e of
exi st ence, t he mot i ve power of ever y l i vi ng bei ng, t hat i t i s t he need of
one' s body as i t i s t he goal of one' s spi r i t , t hat my body was not a wei ght
of i nani mat e muscl es, but an i nst r ument abl e t o gi ve me an exper i ence of
super l at i ve j oy t o uni t e my f l esh and my spi r i t . That capaci t y, whi ch I
damned as shamef ul , had l ef t me i ndi f f er ent t o sl ut s, but gave me my one
desi r e i n answer t o a woman' s gr eat ness. That desi r e, whi ch I damned as
obscene, di d not come f r omt he si ght of her body, but f r omt he knowl edge t hat
t he l ovel y f or mI saw, di d expr ess t he spi r i t I was seei ng
i t was not her body t hat I want ed, but her per soni t was not t he gi r l i n
gr ay t hat I had t o possess, but t he woman who r an a r ai l r oad.
But I damned my body' s capaci t y t o expr ess what I f el t , I damned, as an
af f r ont t o her , t he hi ghest t r i but e I coul d gi ve her j ust as t hey damn my
abi l i t y t o t r ansl at e t he wor k of my mi nd i nt o Rear den Met al , j ust as t hey
damn me f or t he power t o t r ansf or mmat t er t o ser ve my needs. I accept ed t hei r
code and bel i eved, as t hey t aught me, t hat t he val ues of one' s spi r i t must
r emai n as an i mpot ent l ongi ng, unexpr essed i n act i on, unt r ansl at ed i nt o
r eal i t y, whi l e t he l i f e of one' s body must be l i ved i n mi ser y, as a
sensel ess, degr adi ng per f or mance, and t hose who at t empt t o enj oy i t must be
br anded as i nf er i or ani mal s.
I br oke t hei r code, but I f el l i nt o t he t r ap t hey i nt ended, t he t r ap of a
code devi sed t o be br oken. I t ook no pr i de i n my r ebel l i on, I t ook i t as
gui l t , I di d not damn t hem, I damned mysel f , I di d not damn t hei r code, I
damned exi st enceand I hi d my happi ness as a shamef ul secr et . I shoul d have
l i ved i t openl y, as of our r i ght or made her my wi f e, as i n t r ut h she was.
But I br anded my happi ness as evi l and made her bear i t as a di sgr ace. What
t hey want t o do t o her now, I di d i t f i r st . I made i t possi bl e.
I di d i t i n t he name of pi t y f or t he most cont empt i bl e woman I know. That ,
t oo, was t hei r code, and I accept ed i t . I bel i eved t hat one per son owes a
dut y t o anot her wi t h no payment f or i t i n r et ur n. I bel i eved t hat i t was my
dut y t o l ove a woman who gave me not hi ng, who bet r ayed ever yt hi ng I l i ved
f or , who demanded her happi ness at t he pr i ce of mi ne. I bel i eved t hat l ove i s
some st at i c gi f t whi ch, once gr ant ed, need no l onger be deser vedj ust as t hey
bel i eve t hat weal t h i s a st at i c possessi on whi ch can be sei zed and hel d
wi t hout f ur t her ef f or t . I bel i eved t hat l ove i s a gr at ui t y, not a r ewar d t o
be ear ned
j ust as t hey bel i eve i t i s t hei r r i ght t o demand an unear ned weal t h.
And j ust as t hey bel i eve t hat t hei r need i s a cl ai mon my ener gy, so I
bel i eved t hat her unhappi ness was a cl ai mon my l i f e. For t he sake of pi t y,
not j ust i ce, T endur ed t en year s of sel f - t or t ur e. I pl aced pi t y above my own
consci ence, and t hi s i s t he cor e of my gui l t . My cr i me was commi t t ed when I
sai d t o her , " By ever y st andar d of mi ne, t o mai nt ai n our mar r i age wi l l be a
vi ci ous f r aud. But my st andar ds ar e not your s.
I do not under st and your s, I never have, but I wi l l accept t hem. "
Her e t hey ar e, l yi ng on my desk, t hose st andar ds I accept ed wi t hout
under st andi ng, her e i s t he manner of her l ove f or me, t hat l ove whi ch I never
bel i eved, but t r i ed t o spar e. Her e i s t he f i nal pr oduct of t he unear ned. I
t hought t hat i t was pr oper t o commi t i nj ust i ce, so l ong as I woul d be t he
onl y one t o suf f er . But not hi ng can j ust i f y i nj ust i ce.
And t hi s i s t he puni shment f or accept i ng as pr oper t hat hi deous evi l whi ch
i s sel f - i mmol at i on. I t hought t hat I woul d be t he onl y vi ct i m.
I nst ead, I ' ve sacr i f i ced t he nobl est woman t o t he vi l est . When one act s on
pi t y agai nst j ust i ce, i t i s t he good whomone puni shes f or t he sake of t he
evi l ; when one saves t he gui l t y f r omsuf f er i ng, i t i s t he i nnocent whomone
f or ces t o suf f er . Ther e i s no escape f r omj ust i ce, not hi ng can be unear ned
and unpai d f or i n t he uni ver se, nei t her i n mat t er nor i n spi r i t and i f t he
gui l t y do not pay, t hen t he i nnocent have t o pay i t .
I t was not t he cheap l i t t l e l oot er s of weal t h who have beat en me
i t was I . They di d not di sar mmeI t hr ew away my weapon. Thi s i s a bat t l e
t hat cannot be f ought except wi t h cl ean handsbecause t he enemy' s sol e power
i s i n t he sor es of one' s consci enceand I accept ed a code t hat made me r egar d
t he st r engt h of my hands as a si n and a st ai n.
" Do we get t he Met al , Mr . Rear den?"
He l ooked f r omt he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e on hi s desk t o t he memor y of t he gi r l
on t he f l at car . He asked hi msel f whet her he coul d del i ver t he r adi ant bei ng
he had seen i n t hat moment , t o t he l oot er s of t he mi nd and t he t hugs of t he
pr ess. Coul d he cont i nue t o l et t he i nnocent bear puni shment ? Coul d he l et
her t ake t he st and he shoul d have t aken?
Coul d he now def y t he enemy' s code, when t he di sgr ace woul d be her s, not
hi swhen t he muck woul d be t hr own at her , not at hi m
when she woul d have t o f i ght , whi l e he' d be spar ed? Coul d he l et her
exi st ence be t ur ned i nt o a hel l he woul d have no way of shar i ng?
He sat st i l l , l ooki ng up at her , I l ove you, he sai d t o t he gi r l on t he
f l at car , si l ent l y pr onounci ng t he wor ds t hat had been t he meani ng of t hat
moment f our year s ago, f eel i ng t he sol emn happi ness t hat bel onged wi t h t he
wor ds, even t hough t hi s was how he had t o say i t t o her f or t he f i r st t i me.
He l ooked down at t he. Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e. Dagny, he t hought , you woul d not
l et me do i t i f you knew, you wi l l hat e me f or i t i f you l ear nbut I cannot
l et you pay my debt s. The f aul t was mi ne and I wi l l not shi f t t o you t he
puni shment whi ch i s mi ne t o t ake. Even i f I have not hi ng el se now l ef t t o me,
I have t hi s much: t hat I see t he t r ut h, t hat I amf r ee of t hei r gui l t , t hat I
can now st and gui l t l ess i n my own eyes, t hat I know I amr i ght , r i ght f ul l y
and f or t he f i r st t i meand t hat I wi l l r emai n f ai t hf ul t o t he one commandment
of my code whi ch I have never br oken: t o be a man who pays hi s own way.
I l ove you, he sai d t o t he gi r l on t he f l at car , f eel i ng as i f t he l i ght of
t hat summer ' s sun wer e t ouchi ng hi s f or ehead, as i f he, t oo, wer e st andi ng
under an open sky over an unobst r uct ed ear t h, wi t h not hi ng l ef t t o hi mexcept
hi msel f .
" Wel l , Mr . Rear den? Ar e you goi ng t o si gn?' 1 asked Dr . Fer r i s.
Rear den' s eyes moved t o hi m. He had f or got t en t hat Fer r i s was t her e, he
di d not know whet her Fer r i s had been speaki ng, ar gui ng or wai t i ng i n si l ence.
" Oh, t hat ?" sai d Rear den.
He pi cked up a pen and wi t h no second gl ance, wi t h t he easy gest ur e of a
mi l l i onai r e si gni ng a check, he si gned hi s name at t he f oot of t he St at ue of
Li ber t y and pushed t he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e acr oss t he desk.

CHAPTER VII
THE MORATORIUM ON BRAINS

" Wher e have you been al l t hi s t i me?" Eddi e Wi l l er s asked t he wor ker i n t he
under gr ound caf et er i a, and added, wi t h a smi l e t hat was an appeal , an apol ogy
and a conf essi on of despai r , " Oh, I know i t ' s I who' ve st ayed away f r omher e
f or weeks. " The smi l e l ooked l i ke t he ef f or t of a cr i ppl ed chi l d gr opi ng f or
a gest ur e t hat he coul d not per f or many l onger . " I di d come her e once, about
t wo weeks ago, but you wer en' t her e t hat ni ght . I was af r ai d you' d gone . . .
so many peopl e ar e vani shi ng wi t hout not i ce. I hear t her e' s hundr eds of t hem
r ovi ng ar ound t he count r y. The pol i ce have been ar r est i ng t hemf or l eavi ng
t hei r j obst hey' r e cal l ed deser t er sbut t her e' s t oo many of t hemand no f ood
t o f eed t hemi n j ai l , so nobody gi ves a damn any mor e, one way or anot her . I
hear t he deser t er s ar e j ust wander i ng about , doi ng odd j obs or wor sewho' s
got any odd j obs t o of f er t hese days? . . . I t ' s our best men t hat we' r e
l osi ng, t he ki nd who' ve been wi t h t he company f or t went y year s or mor e. Why
di d t hey have t o chai n t hemt o t hei r j obs? Those men never i nt ended t o qui t
but now t hey' r e qui t t i ng at t he sl i ght est di sagr eement , j ust dr oppi ng t hei r
t ool s and wal ki ng of f , any hour of t he day or ni ght , l eavi ng us i n al l sor t s
of j amst he men who used t o l eap out of bed and come r unni ng i f t he r ai l r oad
needed t hem. . . . You shoul d see t he ki nd of human dr i f t wood we' r e get t i ng
t o f i l l t he vacanci es. Some of t hemmean wel l , but t hey' r e scar ed of t hei r
own shadows. Ot her s ar e t he ki nd of scumI di dn' t t hi nk exi st edt hey get t he
j obs and t hey know t hat we can' t t hr ow t hemout once t hey' r e i n, so t hey make
i t cl ear t hat t hey don' t i nt end t o wor k f or t hei r pay and never di d i nt end.
They' r e t he ki nd of men who l i ke i t who l i ke t he way t hi ngs ar e now. Can you
i magi ne t hat t her e ar e human bei ngs who l i ke i t ? Wel l , t her e ar e. . . . You
know, I don' t t hi nk t hat I r eal l y bel i eve i t al l t hat ' s happeni ng t o us t hese
days. I t ' s happeni ng al l r i ght , but I don' t bel i eve i t . I keep t hi nki ng t hat
i nsani t y i s a st at e wher e a per son can' t t el l what ' s r eal .
Wel l , what ' s r eal now i s i nsaneand i f I accept ed i t as r eal , I ' d have t o
l ose my mi nd, woul dn' t I ? . . . I go on wor ki ng and I keep t el l i ng mysel f
t hat t hi s i s Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . I keep wai t i ng f or her t o come back
f or di e door t o open at any moment andoh God, I ' mnot supposed t o say t hat !
. . . What ? You knew i t ? You knew t hat she' s gone? . . . They' r e keepi ng i t
secr et . But I guess ever ybody knows i t , onl y nobody i s supposed t o say i t .
They' r e t el l i ng peopl e t hat she' s away on a l eave of absence. She' s st i l l
l i st ed as our Vi ce- Pr esi dent i n Char ge of Oper at i on. I t hi nk J i mand I ar e
t he onl y ones who know t hat she has r esi gned f or good. J i mi s scar ed t o deat h
t hat hi s f r i ends i n Washi ngt on wi l l t ake i t out on hi m, i f i t becomes known
t hat she' s qui t . I t ' s supposed t o be di sast r ous f or publ i c mor al e, i f any
pr omi nent per son qui t s, and J i mdoesn' t want t hemt o know t hat he' s got a
deser t er r i ght i n hi s own f ami l y. . . . But t hat ' s not al l . J i mi s scar ed
t hat t he st ockhol der s, t he empl oyees and whoever we do busi ness wi t h, wi l l
l ose t he l ast of t hei r conf i dence i n Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i f t hey l ear n
t hat she' s gone. Conf i dence! You' d t hi nk t hat i t woul dn' t mat t er now, si nce
t her e' s not hi ng any of t hemcan do about i t . And yet , J i mknows t hat we have
t o pr eser ve some sembl ance of t he gr eat ness t hat Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al
once st ood f or . And he knows t hat t he l ast of i t went wi t h her . . . . No,
t hey don' t know wher e she i s. . . . Yes, I do, but I won' t t el l t hem. I ' mt he
onl y one who knows. . . . Oh yes, t hey' ve been t r yi ng t o f i nd out . They' ve
t r i ed t o pump me i n ever y way t hey coul d t hi nk of , but i t ' s no use.
I won' t t el l anyone. . . . You shoul d see t he t r ai ned seal t hat we now
have i n her pl aceour new Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent . Oh sur e, we have onet hat
i s, we have and we haven' t . I t ' s l i ke ever yt hi ng t hey do t odayi t i s and i t
ai n' t , at t he same t une. Hi s name i s Cl i f t on Locey
he' s f r omJ i m' s per sonal st af f a br i ght , pr ogr essi ve young man of
f or t yseven and a f r i end of J i m' s. He' s onl y supposed t o be pi nch- hi t t i ng f or
her , but he si t s i n her of f i ce and we al l know t hat t hat ' s t he new Oper at i ng
Vi ce- Pr esi dent . He gi ves t he or der st hat i s, he sees t o i t t hat he' s never
caught act ual l y gi vi ng an or der . He wor ks ver y har d at maki ng sur e t hat no
deci si on can ever be pi nned down on hi m, so t hat he won' t be bl amed f or
anyt hi ng. You see, hi s pur pose i s not t o oper at e a r ai l r oad, but t o hol d a
j ob. He doesn' t want t o r un t r ai ns
he want s t o pl ease J i m. He doesn' t gi ve a damn whet her t her e' s a si ngl e
t r ai n movi ng or not , so l ong as he can make a good i mpr essi on on J i mand on
t he boys i n Washi ngt on. So f ar , Mr . Cl i f t on Locey has managed t o f r ame up t wo
men: a young t hi r d assi st ant , f or not r el ayi ng an or der whi ch Mr . Locey had
never gi venand t he f r ei ght manager , f or i ssui ng an or der whi ch Mr . Locey di d
gi ve, onl y t he f r ei ght manager coul dn' t pr ove i t . Bot h men wer e f i r ed,
of f i ci al l y, by r ul i ng of t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d. . . . When t hi ngs go wel l
whi ch i s never l onger t han hal f an hour Mr . Locey makes i t a poi nt t o r emi nd
us t hat ' t hese ar e not t he days of Mi ss Taggar t . ' At t he f i r st si gn of
t r oubl e, he cal l s me i nt o hi s of f i ce and asks mecasual l y, i n t he mi dst of
t he most i r r el evant dr i vel what Mi ss Taggar t used t o do i n such an emer gency.
I t el l hi m, whenever I can. I t el l mysel f t hat i t ' s Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ,
and . . . and t her e' s t housands of l i ves on dozens of t r ai ns t hat hang on our
deci si ons. Bet ween emer genci es, Mr . Locey goes out of hi s way t o be r ude t o
met hat ' s so I woul dn' t t hi nk t hat he needs me. He' s made i t a poi nt t o
change ever yt hi ng she used t o do, i n ever y r espect t hat doesn' t mat t er , but
he' s damn caut i ous not t o change anyt hi ng t hat mat t er s. The onl y t r oubl e i s
t hat he can' t al ways t el l whi ch i s whi ch. . . . On hi s f i r st day i n her
of f i ce, he t ol d me t hat i t wasn' t a good i dea t o have a pi ct ur e of Nat
Taggar t on t he wal l
' Nat Taggar t , ' he sai d, ' bel ongs t o a dar k past , t o t he age of sel f i sh
gr eed, he i s not exact l y a symbol of our moder n, pr ogr essi ve pol i ci es, so i t
coul d make a bad i mpr essi on, peopl e coul d i dent i f y me wi t h hi m. ' ' No, t hey
coul dn' t , ' I sai dbut I t ook t he pi ct ur e of f hi s wal l . . . . What ?
. . . No, she doesn' t know any of i t . I haven' t communi cat ed wi t h her .
Not once. She t ol d me not t o. . . . Last week, I al most qui t . I t was over
Chi ck' s Speci al . Mr . Chi ck Mor r i son of Washi ngt on, whoever t he hel l he i s,
has gone on a speaki ng t our of t he whol e count r yt o speak about t he di r ect i ve
and bui l d up t he peopl e' s mor al e, as t hi ngs ar e get t i ng t o be pr et t y wi l d
ever ywher e. He demanded a speci al t r ai n, f or hi msel f and par t ya sl eeper , a
par l or car and a di ner wi t h bar r oomand l ounge. The Uni f i cat i on Boar d gave
hi mper mi ssi on t o t r avel at a hundr ed mi l es an hour by r eason, t he r ul i ng
sai d, of t hi s bei ng a non- pr of i t j our ney. Wel l , so i t i s. I t ' s j ust a j our ney
t o t al k peopl e i nt o cont i nui ng t o br eak t hei r backs at maki ng pr of i t s i n
or der t o suppor t men who ar e super i or by r eason of not maki ng any. Wel l , our
t r oubl e came when Mr . Chi ck Mor r i son demanded a Di esel engi ne f or hi s t r ai n.
We had none t o gi ve hi m. Ever y Di esel we own i s out on t he r oad, pul l i ng t he
Comet and t he t r anscont i nent al f r ei ght s, and t her e wasn' t a spar e one
anywher e on t he syst em, except wel l , t hat was an except i on I wasn' t goi ng t o
ment i on t o Mr . Cl i f t on Locey.
Mr . Locey r ai sed t he r oof , scr eami ng t hat come hel l or hi gh wat er we
coul dn' t r ef use a demand of Mr . Chi ck Mor r i son. I don' t know what damn f ool
f i nal l y t ol d hi mabout t he ext r a Di esel t hat was kept at Wi nst on, Col or ado,
at t he mout h of t he t unnel . You know t he way our Di esel s br eak down nowadays,
t hey' r e al l br eat hi ng t hei r l ast so you can under st and why t hat ext r a Di esel
had t o be kept at t he t unnel . I expl ai ned i t t o Mr . Locey, I t hr eat ened hi m,
I pl eaded, I t ol d hi mt hat she had made i t our st r i ct est r ul e t hat Wi nst on
St at i on was never t o be l ef t wi t hout an ext r a Di esel . He t ol d me t o r emember
t hat he was not Mi ss Taggar t as i f I coul d ever f or get i t ! and t hat t he r ul e
was nonsense, because not hi ng had happened al l t hese year s, so Wi nst on coul d
do wi t hout a Di esel f or a coupl e of mont hs, and he wasn' t goi ng t o wor r y
about some t heor et i cal di sast er i n t he f ut ur e when we wer e up agai nst t he
ver y r eal , pr act i cal , i mmedi at e di sast er of get t i ng Mr .
Chi ck Mor r i son angr y at us. Wel l , Chi ck' s Speci al got t he Di esel . The
super i nt endent of t he Col or ado Di vi si on qui t . Mr . Locey gave t hat j ob t o a
f r i end of hi s own. I want ed t o qui t . I had never want ed t o so badl y. But I
di dn' t . . . . No, I haven' t hear d f r omher . I haven' t hear d a wor d si nce she
l ef t . Why do you keep quest i oni ng me about her ? For get i t . She won' t be back,
. . . I don' t know what i t i s t hat I ' mhopi ng f or . Not hi ng, I guess. I j ust
go day by day, and I t r y not t o l ook ahead. At f i r st , I hoped t hat somebody
woul d save us. I t hought maybe i t woul d be Hank Rear den. But he gave i n. I
don' t know what t hey di d t o hi mt o make hi msi gn, but I know t hat i t must
have been somet hi ng t er r i bl e. Ever ybody t hi nks so. Ever ybody' s whi sper i ng
about i t , wonder i ng what sor t of pr essur e was used on hi m. . . . No, nobody
knows. He' s made no publ i c st at ement s and he' s r ef used t o see anyone, . . .
But , l i st en, I ' l l t el l you somet hi ng el se t hat ever ybody' s whi sper i ng about .
Lean cl oser , wi l l you?I don' t want t o speak t oo l oudl y. They say t hat Or r en
Boyl e seems t o have known about t hat di r ect i ve l ong ago, weeks or mont hs i n
advance, because he had st ar t ed, qui et l y and secr et l y, t o r econst r uct hi s
f ur naces f or t he pr oduct i on of Rear den Met al , i n one of hi s l esser st eel
pl ant s, an obscur e l i t t l e pl ace way out on t he coast of Mai ne, He was r eady
t o st ar t pour i ng t he Met al t he moment Rear den' s ext or t i on paper I mean, Gi f t
Cer t i f i cat ewas si gned. But l i st ent he ni ght bef or e t hey wer e t o st ar t ,
Boyl e' s men wer e heat i ng t he f ur naces i n t hat pl ace on t he coast , when t hey
hear d a voi ce, t hey di dn' t know whet her i t came f r oma pl ane or a r adi o or
some sor t of l oud- speaker , but i t was a man' s voi ce and i t sai d t hat he woul d
gi ve t hemt en mi nut es t o get out of t he pl ace.
They got out . They st ar t ed goi ng and t hey kept on goi ngbecause t he man' s
voi ce had sai d t hat he was Ragnar Danneskj ol d. I n t he next hal f - hour , Boyl e' s
mi l l s wer e r azed t o t he gr ound. Razed, wi ped out , not a br i ck of t heml ef t
st andi ng. They say i t was done by l ong- r ange naval guns, f r omsomewher e way
out on t he At l ant i c. Nobody saw Danneskj ol d' s shi p. . . . That ' s what peopl e
ar e whi sper i ng. The newspaper s haven' t pr i nt ed a wor d about i t . The boys i n
Washi ngt on say t hat i t ' s onl y a r umor spr ead by pani c- monger s. . . . I don' t
know whet her t he st or y i s t r ue. I t hi nk i t i s. I hope i t i s. . . . You know,
when I was f i f t een year s ol d, I used t o wonder how any man coul d become a
cr i mi nal , I coul dn' t under st and what woul d make i t possi bl e.
Nownow I ' mgl ad t hat Ragnar Danneskj ol d has bl own up t hose mi l l s. May God
bl ess hi mand never l et t hemf i nd hi m, what ever and wher ever he i s! . . .
Yes, t hat ' s what I ' ve come t o f eel . Wel l , how much do t hey t hi nk peopl e can
t ake? . . . I t ' s not so bad f or me i n t he dayt i me, because I can keep busy
and not t hi nk, but i t get s me at ni ght . I can' t sl eep any mor e, I l i e awake
f or hour s. . . . Yes! i f you want t o know i t yes, i t ' s because I ' mwor r i ed
about her ! I ' mscar ed t o deat h f or her . Woodst ock i s j ust a mi ser abl e l i t t l e
hol e of a pl ace, mi l es away f r omever yt hi ng, and t he Taggar t l odge i s t went y
mi l es f ar t her , t went y mi l es of a t wi st i ng t r ai l i n a godf or saken f or est . How
do I know what mi ght happen t o her t her e, al one, and wi t h t he ki nd of gangs
t hat ar e r ovi ng al l t hr ough t he count r y t hese ni ght sj ust t hr ough such
desol at e par t s of t he count r y as t he Ber kshi r es? . . . I know I shoul dn' t
t hi nk about i t . I know t hat she can t ake car e of her sel f . Onl y I wi sh she' d
dr op me a l i ne. I wi sh I coul d go t her e. But she t ol d me not t o.
I t ol d her I ' d wai t . . . . You know, I ' mgl ad you' r e her e t oni ght . I t
hel ps met al ki ng t o you and . . . j ust seei ng you her e. You won' t vani sh,
l i ke al l t he ot her s, wi l l you? . . . What ? Next week? . . . Oh, on your
vacat i on. For how l ong? . . . How do you r at e a whol e mont h' s vacat i on? . . .
I wi sh I coul d do t hat , t oot ake a mont h of f at my own expense. But t hey
woul dn' t l et me. . . . Real l y? I envy you. . . . I woul dn' t have envi ed you a
f ew year s ago. But nownow I ' d l i ke t o get away. Now I envy youi f you' ve
been abl e t o t ake a mont h of f ever y summer f or t wel ve year s. "
I t was a dar k r oad, but i t l ed i n a new di r ect i on. Rear den wal ked f r omhi s
mi l l s, not t owar d hi s house, but t owar d t he ci t y of Phi l adel phi a.
I t was a gr eat di st ance t o wal k, but he had want ed t o do i t t oni ght , as he
had done i t ever y eveni ng of t he past week. He f el t at peace i n t he empt y
dar kness of t he count r ysi de, wi t h not hi ng but t he bl ack shapes of t r ees
ar ound hi m, wi t h no mot i on but t hat of hi s own body and of br anches st i r r i ng
i n t he wi nd, wi t h no l i ght s but t he sl ow spar ks of t he f i r ef l i es f l i cker i ng
t hr ough t he hedges. The t wo hour s bet ween mi l l s and ci t y wer e hi s span of
r est .
He had moved out of hi s home t o an apar t ment i n Phi l adel phi a. He had gi ven
no expl anat i on t o hi s mot her and Phi l i p, he had sai d not hi ng except t hat t hey
coul d r emai n i n t he house i f t hey wi shed and t hat Mi ss I ves woul d t ake car e
of t hei r bi l l s. He had asked t hemt o t el l Li l l i an, when she r et ur ned, t hat
she was not t o at t empt t o see hi m.
They had st ar ed at hi mi n t er r i f i ed si l ence.
He had handed t o hi s at t or ney a si gned bl ank check and sai d, " Get me a
di vor ce. On any gr ounds and at any cost . I don' t car e what means you use, how
many of t hei r j udges you pur chase or whet her you f i nd i t necessar y t o st age a
f r ame- up of my wi f e. Do what ever you wi sh.
But t her e i s t o be no al i mony and no pr oper t y set t l ement . " The at t or ney
had l ooked at hi mwi t h t he hi nt of a wi se, sad smi l e, as i f t hi s wer e an
event he had expect ed t o happen l ong ago. He had answer ed, " Okay, Hank. I t
can be done. But i t wi l l t ake some t i me. " " Make i t as f ast as you can. "
No one had quest i oned hi mabout hi s si gnat ur e on t he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e. But
he had not i ced t hat t he men at t he mi l l s l ooked at hi mwi t h a ki nd of
sear chi ng cur i osi t y, al most as i f t hey expect ed t o f i nd t he scar s of some
physi cal t or t ur e on hi s body.
He f el t not hi ngnot hi ng but t he sense of an even, r est f ul t wi l i ght , l i ke a
spr ead of sl ag over a mol t en met al , when i t cr ust s and swal l ows t he l ast
br i l l i ant spur t of t he whi t e gl ow wi t hi n. He f el t not hi ng at t he t hought of
t he l oot er s who wer e now goi ng t o manuf act ur e Rear den Met al . Hi s desi r e t o
hol d hi s r i ght t o i t and pr oudl y t o be t he onl y one t o sel l i t , had been hi s
f or mof r espect f or hi s f el l ow men, hi s bel i ef t hat t o t r ade wi t h t hemwas an
act of honor . The bel i ef , t he r espect and t he desi r e wer e gone. He di d not
car e what men made, what t hey sol d, wher e t hey bought hi s Met al or whet her
any of t hemwoul d know t hat i t had been hi s. The human shapes movi ng past hi m
i n t he st r eet s of t he ci t y wer e physi cal obj ect s wi t hout any meani ng. The
count r ysi de wi t h t he dar kness washi ng away al l t r aces of human act i vi t y,
l eavi ng onl y an unt ouched ear t h whi ch he had once been abl e t o handl ewas
r eal .
He car r i ed a gun i n hi s pocket , as advi sed by t he pol i cemen of t he r adi o
car t hat pat r ol l ed t he r oads; t hey had war ned hi mt hat no r oad was saf e af t er
dar k, t hese days. He f el t , wi t h a t ouch of mi r t hl ess amusement , t hat t he gun
had been needed at t he mi l l s, not i n t he peacef ul saf et y of l onel i ness and
ni ght ; what coul d some st ar vi ng vagr ant t ake f r omhi m, compar ed t o what had
been t aken by men who cl ai med t o be hi s pr ot ect or s?
He wal ked wi t h an ef f or t l ess speed, f eel i ng r el axed by a f or mof act i vi t y
t hat was nat ur al t o hi m. Thi s was hi s per i od of t r ai ni ng f or sol i t ude, he
t hought ; he had t o l ear n t o l i ve wi t hout any awar eness of peopl e, t he
awar eness t hat now par al yzed hi mwi t h r evul si on. He had once bui l t hi s
f or t une, st ar t i ng out wi t h empt y hands; now he had t o r ebui l d hi s l i f e,
st ar t i ng out wi t h an empt y spi r i t .
He woul d gi ve hi msel f a shor t span of t i me f or t he t r ai ni ng, he t hought ,
and t hen he woul d cl ai mt he one i ncompar abl e val ue st i l l l ef t t o hi m, t he one
desi r e t hat had r emai ned pur e and whol e: he woul d go t o Dagny. Two
commandment s had gr own i n hi s mi nd; one was a dut y, t he ot her a passi onat e
wi sh. The f i r st was never t o l et her l ear n t he r eason of hi s sur r ender t o t he
l oot er s; t he second was t o say t o her t he wor ds whi ch he shoul d have known at
t hei r f i r st meet i ng and shoul d have sai d on t he gal l er y of El l i s Wyat t ' s
house.
Ther e was not hi ng but t he st r ong summer st ar l i ght t o gui de hi m, as he
wal ked, but he coul d di st i ngui sh t he hi ghway and t he r emnant of a st one f ence
ahead, at t he cor ner of a count r y cr ossr oad. The f ence had not hi ng t o pr ot ect
any l onger , onl y a spr ead of weeds, a wi l l ow t r ee bendi ng over t he r oad and,
f ar t her i n t he di st ance, t he r ui n of a f ar mhouse wi t h t he st ar l i ght showi ng
t hr ough i t s r oof .
He wal ked, t hi nki ng t hat even t hi s si ght st i l l r et ai ned t he power t o be of
val ue: i t gave hi mt he pr omi se of a l ong st r et ch of space undi st ur bed by
human i nt r usi on.
The man who st epped suddenl y out i nt o t he r oad must have come f r ombehi nd
t he wi l l ow t r ee, but so swi f t l y t hat i t seemed as i f he had spr ung up f r om
t he mi ddl e of t he hi ghway. Rear den' s hand went t o t he gun i n hi s pocket , but
st opped: he knewby t he pr oud post ur e of t he body st andi ng i n t he open, by
t he st r ai ght l i ne of t he shoul der s agai nst t he st ar l i t skyt hat t he man was
not a bandi t . When he hear d t he voi ce, he knew t hat t he man was not a beggar .
" I shoul d l i ke t o speak t o you, Mr . Rear den. "
The voi ce had t he f i r mness, t he cl ar i t y and t he speci al cour t esy pecul i ar
t o men who ar e accust omed t o gi vi ng or der s.
" Go ahead, " sai d Rear den, " pr ovi ded you don' t i nt end t o ask me f or hel p or
money. "
The man' s gar ment s wer e r ough, but ef f i ci ent l y t r i m. He wor e dar k t r ouser s
and a dar k bl ue wi ndbr eaker cl osed t i ght at hi s t hr oat , pr ol ongi ng t he l i nes
of hi s l ong, sl ender f i gur e. He wor e a dar k bl ue cap, and al l t hat coul d be
seen of hi mi n t he ni ght wer e hi s hands, hi s f ace and a pat ch of gol d- bl ond
hai r on hi s t empl e. The hands hel d no weapon, onl y a package wr apped i n
bur l ap, t he si ze of a car t on of ci gar et t es.
" No, Mr . Rear den, " he sai d, " I don' t i nt end t o ask you f or money, but t o
r et ur n i t t o you. "
" To r et ur n money?"
" Yes. "
" What money?"
" A smal l r ef und on a ver y l ar ge debt . "
" Owed by you?"
" No, not by me. I t i s onl y a t oken payment , but I want you t o accept i t as
pr oof t hat i f we l i ve l ong enough, you and I , ever y dol l ar of t hat debt wi l l
be r et ur ned t o you. "
" What debt ?"
" The money t hat was t aken f r omyou by f or ce. "
He ext ended t he package t o Rear den, f l i ppi ng t he bur l ap open.
Rear den saw t he st ar l i ght r un l i ke f i r e al ong a mi r r or - smoot h sur f ace.
He knew, by i t s wei ght and t ext ur e, t hat what he hel d was a bar of sol i d
gol d.
He l ooked f r omt he bar t o t he man' s f ace, but t he f ace seemed har der and
l ess r eveal i ng t han t he sur f ace of t he met al .
" Who ar e you?" asked Rear den.
" The f r i end of t he f r i endl ess. "
" Di d you come her e t o gi ve t hi s t o me?"
" Yes. "
" Do you mean t hat you had t o st al k me at ni ght , on a l onel y r oad, i n
or der , not t o r ob me, but t o hand me a bar of gol d?"
" Yes. "
" Why?"
" When r obber y i s done i n open dayl i ght by sanct i on of t he l aw, as i t i s
done t oday, t hen any act of honor or r est i t ut i on has t o be hi dden
under gr ound. "
" What made you t hi nk t hat I ' d accept a gi f t of t hi s ki nd?"
" I t i s not a gi f t , Mr . Rear den. I t i s your own money. But I have one f avor
t o ask of you. I t i s a r equest , not a condi t i on, because t her e can be no such
t hi ng as condi t i onal pr oper t y. The gol d i s your s, so you ar e f r ee t o use i t
as you pl ease. But I r i sked my l i f e t o br i ng i t t o you t oni ght , so I am
aski ng, as a f avor , t hat you save i t f or t he f ut ur e or spend i t on your sel f .
On not hi ng but your own comf or t and pl easur e. Do not gi ve i t away and, above
al l , do not put i t i nt o your busi ness. "
" Why?"
" Because I don' t want i t t o be of any benef i t t o anybody but you.
Ot her wi se, I wi l l have br oken an oat h t aken l ong agoas I ambr eaki ng
ever y r ul e I had set f or mysel f by speaki ng t o you t oni ght . "
" What do you mean?"
" I have been col l ect i ng t hi s money f or you f or a l ong t i me. But I di d not
i nt end t o see you or t el l you about i t or gi ve i t t o you unt i l much l at er . "
" Then why di d you?"
" Because I coul dn' t st and i t any l onger . "
" St and what ?"
" I t hought t hat I had seen ever yt hi ng one coul d see and t hat t her e was
not hi ng I coul d not st and seei ng. But when t hey t ook Rear den Met al away f r om
you, i t was t oo much, even f or me. I know t hat you don' t need t hi s gol d at
pr esent . What you need i s t he j ust i ce whi ch i t r epr esent s, and t he knowl edge
t hat t her e ar e men who car e f or j ust i ce. "
St r uggl i ng not t o gi ve i n t o an emot i on whi ch he f el t r i si ng t hr ough hi s
bewi l der ment , past al l hi s doubt s, Rear den t r i ed t o st udy t he man' s f ace,
sear chi ng f or some cl ue t o hel p hi munder st and. But t he f ace had no
expr essi on; i t had not changed once whi l e speaki ng; i t l ooked as i f t he man
had l ost t he capaci t y t o f eel l ong ago, and what r emai ned of hi mwer e onl y
f eat ur es t hat seemed i mpl acabl e and dead. Wi t h a shudder of ast oni shment ,
Rear den f ound hi msel f t hi nki ng t hat i t was not t he f ace of a man, but of an
avengi ng angel .
" Why di d you car e?" asked Rear den. " What do I mean t o you?"
" Much mor e t han you have r eason t o suspect . And I have a f r i end t o whom
you mean much mor e t han you wi l l ever l ear n. He woul d have gi ven anyt hi ng t o
st and by you t oday. But he can' t come t o you. So I came i n hi s pl ace. "
" What f r i end?"
" I pr ef er not t o name hi m. "
" Di d you say t hat you' ve spent a l ong t i me col l ect i ng t hi s money f or me?"
" I have col l ect ed much mor e t han t hi s. " He poi nt ed at t he gol d. " I am
hol di ng i t i n your name and I wi l l t ur n i t over t o you when t he t i me comes.
Thi s i s onl y a sampl e, as pr oof t hat i t does exi st . And i f you r each t he day
when you f i nd your sel f r obbed of t he l ast of your f or t une, I want you t o
r emember t hat you have a l ar ge bank account wai t i ng f or you. "
" What account ?"
" I f you t r y t o t hi nk of al l t he money t hat has been t aken f r omyou by
f or ce, you wi l l know t hat your account r epr esent s a consi der abl e sum. "
" How di d you col l ect i t ? Wher e di d t hi s gol d come f r om?"
" I t was t aken f r omt hose who r obbed you. "
" Taken by whom?"
" By me. "
" Who ar e you?"
" Ragnar Danneskj ol d. "
Rear den l ooked at hi mf or a l ong, st i l l moment , t hen l et t he gol d f al l out
of hi s hands.
Danneskj ol d' s eyes di d not f ol l ow i t t o t he gr ound, but r emai ned f i xed on
Rear den wi t h no change of expr essi on. " Woul d you r at her I wer e a l aw- abi di ng
ci t i zen, Mr . Rear den? I f so, whi ch l aw shoul d I abi de by? Di r ect i ve 10- 289?"
" Ragnar Danneskj ol d . . . " sai d Rear den, as i f he wer e seei ng t he whol e of
t he past decade, as i f he wer e l ooki ng at t he enor mi t y of a cr i me spr ead
t hr ough t en year s and hel d wi t hi n t wo wor ds.
" Look mor e car ef ul l y, Mr . Rear den. Ther e ar e onl y t wo modes of l i vi ng l ef t
t o us t oday: t o be a l oot er who r obs di sar med vi ct i ms or t o be a vi ct i mwho
wor ks f or t he benef i t of hi s own despoi l er s. I di d not choose t o be ei t her . "
" You chose t o l i ve by means of f or ce, l i ke t he r est of t hem, "
" Yesopenl y. Honest l y, i f you wi l l . I do not r ob men who ar e t i ed and
gagged, I do not demand t hat my vi ct i ms hel p me, I do not t el l t hemt hat I am
act i ng f or t hei r own good. I st ake my l i f e i n ever y encount er wi t h men, and
t hey have a chance t o mat ch t hei r guns and t hei r br ai ns agai nst mi ne i n f ai r
bat t l e. Fai r ? I t ' s I agai nst t he or gani zed st r engt h, t he guns, t he pl anes,
t he bat t l eshi ps of f i ve cont i nent s. I f i t ' s a mor al j udgment t hat you wi sh t o
pr onounce, Mr . Rear den, t hen who i s t he man of hi gher mor al i t y: I or Wesl ey
Mouch?"
" I have no answer t o gi ve you, " sai d Rear den, hi s voi ce l ow.
" Why shoul d you be shocked, Mr . Rear den? I ammer el y compl yi ng wi t h t he
syst emwhi ch my f el l ow men have est abl i shed. I f t hey bel i eve t hat f or ce i s
t he pr oper means t o deal wi t h one anot her , I amgi vi ng t hemwhat t hey ask
f or . I f t hey bel i eve t hat t he pur pose of my l i f e i s t o ser ve t hem, l et t hem
t r y t o enf or ce t hei r cr eed. I f t hey bel i eve t hat my mi nd i s t hei r pr oper t y
l et t hemcome and get i t . "
" But what sor t of l i f e have you chosen? To what pur pose ar e you gi vi ng
your mi nd?"
" To t he cause of my l ove. "
" Whi ch i s what ?"
" J ust i ce. "
" Ser ved by bei ng a pi r at e?"
" By wor ki ng f or t he day when I won' t have t o be a pi r at e any l onger . "
" Whi ch day i s t hat ?"
" The day when you' l l be f r ee t o make a pr of i t on Rear den Met al . "
" Oh God! " sai d Rear den, l aughi ng, hi s voi ce desper at e. " I s t hat your
ambi t i on?"
Danneskj ol d' s f ace di d not change. " I t i s. "
" Do you expect t o l i ve t o see t hat day?"
" Yes. Don' t you?"
" No. "
" Then what ar e you l ooki ng f or war d t o, Mr . Rear den?"
" Not hi ng. "
" What ar e you wor ki ng f or ?"
Rear den gl anced at hi m. " Why do you ask t hat ?"
" To make you under st and why I ' mnot . "
" Don' t expect me ever t o appr ove of a cr i mi nal . "
" I don' t expect i t . But t her e ar e a f ew t hi ngs I want t o hel p you t o see. "
" Even i f t hey' r e t r ue, t he t hi ngs you sai d, why di d you choose t o be a
bandi t ? Why di dn' t you si mpl y st ep out , l i ke" He st opped.
" Li ke El l i s Wyat t , Mr . Rear den? Li ke Andr ew St ockt on? Li ke your f r i end Ken
Danagger ?"
" Yes! "
" Woul d you appr ove of t hat ?"
" I " He st opped, shocked by hi s own wor ds.
The shock t hat came next was t o see Danneskj ol d smi l e: i t was l i ke seei ng
t he f i r st gr een of spr i ng on t he scul pt ur ed pl anes of an i ceber g. Rear den
r eal i zed suddenl y, f or t he f i r st t i me, t hat Danneskj ol d' s f ace was mor e t han
handsome, t hat i t had t he st ar t l i ng beaut y of physi cal per f ect i ont he har d,
pr oud f eat ur es, t he scor nf ul mout h of a Vi ki ng' s st at ueyet he had not been
awar e of i t , al most as i f t he dead st er nness of t he f ace had f or bi dden t he
i mper t i nence of an appr ai sal .
But t he smi l e was br i l l i ant l y al i ve.
" I do appr ove of i t , Mr . Rear den. But I ' ve chosen a speci al mi ssi on of my
own. I ' maf t er a man whomI want t o dest r oy. He di ed many cent ur i es ago, but
unt i l t he l ast t r ace of hi mi s wi ped out of men' s mi nds, we wi l l not have a
decent wor l d t o l i ve i n. "
" What man?"
" Robi n Hood. "
Rear den l ooked at hi mbl ankl y, not under st andi ng.
" He was t he man who r obbed t he r i ch and gave t o t he poor . Wel l , I ' mt he
man who r obs t he poor and gi ves t o t he r i chor , t o be exact , t he man who r obs
t he t hi evi ng poor and gi ves back t o t he pr oduct i ve r i ch. "
" What i n bl azes do you mean?"
" I f you r emember t he st or i es you' ve r ead about me i n t he newspaper s,
bef or e t hey st opped pr i nt i ng t hem, you know t hat I have never r obbed a
pr i vat e shi p and never t aken any pr i vat e pr oper t y. Nor have I ever r obbed a
mi l i t ar y vessel because t he pur pose of a mi l i t ar y f l eet i s t o pr ot ect f r om
vi ol ence t he ci t i zens who pai d f or i t , whi ch i s t he pr oper f unct i on of a
gover nment . But I have sei zed ever y l oot car r i er t hat came wi t hi n r ange of my
guns, ever y gover nment r el i ef shi p, subsi dy shi p, l oan shi p, gi f t shi p, ever y
vessel wi t h a car go of goods t aken by f or ce f r omsome men f or t he unpai d,
unear ned benef i t of ot her s. I sei zed t he boat s t hat sai l ed under t he f l ag of
t he i dea whi ch I amf i ght i ng: t he i dea t hat need i s a sacr ed i dol r equi r i ng
human sacr i f i cest hat t he need of some men i s t he kni f e of a gui l l ot i ne
hangi ng over ot her st hat al l of us must l i ve wi t h our wor k, our hopes, our
pl ans, our ef f or t s at t he mer cy of t he moment when t hat kni f e wi l l descend
upon usand t hat t he ext ent of our abi l i t y i s t he ext ent of our danger , so
t hat success wi l l br i ng our heads down on t he bl ock, whi l e f ai l ur e wi l l gi ve
us t he r i ght t o pul l t he cor d. Thi s i s t he hor r or whi ch Robi n Hood
i mmor t al i zed as an i deal of r i ght eousness. I t i s sai d t hat he f ought agai nst
t he l oot i ng r ul er s and r et ur ned t he l oot t o t hose who had been r obbed, but
t hat i s not t he meani ng of t he l egend whi ch has sur vi ved. He i s r emember ed,
not as a champi on of pr oper t y, but as a champi on of need, not as a def ender
of t he r obbed, but as a pr ovi der of t he poor . He i s hel d t o be t he f i r st man
who assumed a hal o of vi r t ue by pr act i ci ng char i t y wi t h weal t h whi ch he di d
not own, by gi vi ng away goods whi ch he had not pr oduced, by maki ng ot her s pay
f or t he l uxur y of hi s pi t y. He i s t he man who became t he symbol of t he i dea
t hat need, not achi evement , i s t he sour ce of r i ght s, t hat we don' t have t o
pr oduce, onl y t o want , t hat t he ear ned does not bel ong t o us, but t he
unear ned does. He became a j ust i f i cat i on f or ever y medi ocr i t y who, unabl e t o
make hi s own l i vi ng, has demanded t he power t o di spose of t he pr oper t y of hi s
bet t er s, by pr ocl ai mi ng hi s wi l l i ngness t o devot e hi s l i f e t o hi s i nf er i or s
at t he pr i ce of r obbi ng hi s super i or s. I t i s t hi s f oul est of cr eat ur est he
doubl e- par asi t e who l i ves on t he sor es, of t he poor and t he bl ood of t he
r i chwhommen have come t o r egar d as a mor al i deal . And t hi s has br ought us
t o a wor l d wher e t he mor e a man pr oduces, t he cl oser he comes t o t he l oss of
al l hi s r i ght s, unt i l , i f hi s abi l i t y i s gr eat enough, he becomes a r i ght l ess
cr eat ur e del i ver ed as pr ey t o any cl ai mant whi l e i n or der t o be pl aced above
r i ght s, above pr i nci pl es, above mor al i t y, pl aced wher e anyt hi ng i s per mi t t ed
t o hi m, even pl under and mur der , al l a man has t o do i s t o be i n need. Do you
wonder why t he wor l d i s col l apsi ng ar ound us? That i s what I amf i ght i ng, Mr .
Rear den. Unt i l men l ear n t hat of al l human symbol s, Robi n Hood i s t he most
i mmor al and t he most cont empt i bl e, t her e wi l l be no j ust i ce on ear t h and no
way f or manki nd t o sur vi ve. "
Rear den l i st ened, f eel i ng numb. But under t he numbness, l i ke t he f i r st
t hr ust of a seed br eaki ng t hr ough, he f el t an emot i on he coul d not i dent i f y
except t hat i t seemed f ami l i ar and ver y di st ant , l i ke somet hi ng exper i enced
and r enounced l ong ago.
" What I act ual l y am, Mr . Rear den, i s a pol i ceman. I t i s a pol i ceman' s dut y
t o pr ot ect men f r omcr i mi nal scr i mi nal s bei ng t hose who sei ze weal t h by
f or ce. I t i s a pol i ceman' s dut y t o r et r i eve st ol en pr oper t y and r et ur n i t t o
i t s owner s. But when r obber y becomes t he pur pose of t he l aw, and t he
pol i ceman' s dut y becomes, not t he pr ot ect i on, but t he pl under of pr oper t y
t hen i t i s an out l aw who has t o become a pol i ceman. I have been sel l i ng t he
car goes I r et r i eved t o some speci al cust omer s of mi ne i n t hi s count r y, who
pay me i n gol d. Al so, I have been sel l i ng my car goes t o t he smuggl er s and t he
bl ack- mar ket t r ader s of t he Peopl e' s St at es of Eur ope. Do you know t he
condi t i ons of exi st ence i n t hose Peopl e' s St at es? Si nce pr oduct i on and t r ade
not vi ol encewer e decr eed t o be cr i mes, t he best men of Eur ope had no choi ce
but t o become cr i mi nal s. The sl ave- dr i ver s of t hose St at es ar e kept i n power
by t he handout s f r omt hei r f el l ow l oot er s i n count r i es not yet f ul l y dr ai ned,
such as t hi s count r y. I do not l et t he handout s r each t hem. I sel l t he goods
t o Eur ope' s l aw- br eaker s, at t he hi ghest pr i ces I can get , and I make t hem
pay me i n gol d. Gol d i s t he obj ect i ve val ue, t he means of pr eser vi ng one' s
weal t h and one' s f ut ur e. Nobody i s per mi t t ed t o have gol d i n Eur ope, except
t he whi p- wi el di ng f r i ends of humani t y, who cl ai mt hat t hey spend i t f or t he
wel f ar e of t hei r vi ct i ms. That i s t he gol d whi ch my smuggl er - cust omer s obt ai n
t o pay me.
How? By t he same met hod I use t o obt ai n t he goods. And t hen I r et ur n t he
gol d t o t hose f r omwhomt he goods wer e st ol ent o you, Mr .
Rear den, and t o ot her men l i ke you. "
Rear den gr asped t he nat ur e of t he emot i on he had f or got t en. I t was t he
emot i on he had f el t when, at t he age of f our t een, he had l ooked at hi s f i r st
pay checkwhen, at t he age of t went y- f our , he had been made super i nt endent of
t he or e mi neswhen, as t he owner of t he mi nes, he had pl aced, i n hi s own
name, hi s f i r st or der f or new equi pment f r omt he best concer n of t he t i me,
Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or s
an emot i on of sol emn, j oyous exci t ement , t he sense of wi nni ng hi s pl ace i n
a wor l d he r espect ed and ear ni ng t he r ecogni t i on of men he admi r ed. For
al most t wo decades, t hat emot i on had been bur i ed under a mount of wr eckage,
as t he year s had added l ayer upon gr ay l ayer of cont empt , of i ndi gnat i on, of
hi s st r uggl e not t o l ook ar ound hi m, not t o see t hose he deal t wi t h, not t o
expect anyt hi ng f r ommen and t o keep, as a pr i vat e vi si on wi t hi n t he f our
wal l s of hi s of f i ce, t he sense of t hat wor l d i nt o whi ch he had hoped t o r i se.
Yet t her e i t was agai n, br eaki ng t hr ough f r omunder t he wr eckage, t hat
f eel i ng of qui ckened i nt er est , of l i st eni ng t o t he l umi nous voi ce of r eason,
wi t h whi ch one coul d communi cat e and deal and l i ve. But i t was t he voi ce of a
pi r at e speaki ng about act s of vi ol ence, of f er i ng hi mt hi s subst i t ut e f or hi s
wor l d of r eason and j ust i ce. He coul d not accept i t ; he coul d not l ose
what ever r emnant of hi s vi si on he st i l l r et ai ned. He l i st ened, wi shi ng he
coul d escape, yet knowi ng t hat he woul d not mi ss a wor d of i t .
" I deposi t t he gol d i n a banki n a gol d- st andar d bank, Mr . Rear den t o t he
account of men who ar e i t s r i ght f ul owner s. They ar e t he men of super l at i ve
abi l i t y who made t hei r f or t unes by per sonal ef f or t , i n f r ee t r ade, usi ng no
compul si on, no hel p f r omt he gover nment . They ar e t he gr eat vi ct i ms who have
cont r i but ed t he most and suf f er ed t he wor st i nj ust i ce i n r et ur n. Thei r names
ar e wr i t t en i n my book of r est i t ut i on. Ever y l oad of gol d whi ch I br i ng back
i s di vi ded among t hemand deposi t ed t o t hei r account s. "
" Who ar e t hey?"
" You' r e one of t hem, Mr . Rear den. I cannot comput e al l t he money t hat has
been ext or t ed f r omyoui n hi dden t axes, i n r egul at i ons, i n wast ed t i me, i n
l ost ef f or t , i n ener gy spent t o over come ar t i f i ci al obst acl es. I cannot
comput e t he sum, but i f you wi sh t o see i t s magni t ude l ook ar ound you. The
ext ent of t he mi ser y now spr eadi ng t hr ough t hi s once pr osper ous count r y i s
t he ext ent of t he i nj ust i ce whi ch you have suf f er ed. I f men r ef use t o pay t he
debt t hey owe you, t hi s i s t he manner i n whi ch t hey wi l l pay f or i t . But
t her e i s one par t of t he debt whi ch i s comput ed and on r ecor d. That i s t he
par t whi ch I have made i t my pur pose t o col l ect and r et ur n t o you. "
" What i s t hat ?"
" Your i ncome t ax, Mr . Rear den. "
" What ?"
" Your i ncome t ax f or t he l ast t wel ve year s. "
" You i nt end t o r ef und t hat ?"
" I n f ul l and i n gol d, Mr . Rear den. "
Rear den bur st out l aughi ng; he l aughed l i ke a young boy, i n si mpl e
amusement , i n enj oyment of t he i ncr edi bl e. " Good God! You' r e a pol i ceman and
a col l ect or of I nt er nal Revenue, t oo?"
" Yes, " sai d Danneskj ol d gr avel y.
" You' r e not ser i ous about t hi s, ar e you?"
" Do I l ook as i f I ' mj oki ng?"
" But t hi s i s pr epost er ous! "
" Any mor e pr epost er ous t han Di r ect i ve 10- 289?"
" I t ' s not r eal or possi bl e! "
" I s onl y evi l r eal and possi bl e?"
" But "
" Ar e you t hi nki ng t hat deat h and t axes ar e our onl y cer t ai nt y, Mr .
Rear den? Wel l , t her e' s not hi ng I can do about t he f i r st , but i f I l i f t t he
bur den of t he second, men mi ght l ear n t o see t he connect i on bet ween t he t wo
and what a l onger , happi er l i f e t hey have t he power t o achi eve. They mi ght
l ear n t o hol d, not deat h and t axes, but l i f e and pr oduct i on as t hei r t wo
absol ut es and as t he base of t hei r mor al code. "
Rear den l ooked at hi m, not smi l i ng. The t al l , sl i mf i gur e, wi t h t he
wi ndbr eaker st r essi ng i t s t r ai ned muscul ar agi l i t y, was t hat of a hi ghwayman;
t he st er n mar bl e f ace was t hat of a j udge; t he dr y, cl ear voi ce was t hat of
an ef f i ci ent bookkeeper .
" The l oot er s ar e not t he onl y ones who have kept r ecor ds on you, Mr .
Rear den. So have I . I have, i n my f i l es, copi es of al l your i ncome t ax
r et ur ns f or t he l ast t wel ve year s, as wel l as t he r et ur ns of al l my ot her
cl i ent s. I have f r i ends i n some ast oni shi ng pl aces, who obt ai n t he copi es I
need. I di vi de t he money among my cl i ent s i n pr opor t i on t o t he sums ext or t ed
f r omt hem. Most of my account s have now been pai d t o t hei r owner s. Your s i s
t he l ar gest one l ef t t o set t l e. On t he day when you wi l l be r eady t o cl ai m
i t t he day when I ' l l know t hat no penny of i t wi l l go back t o suppor t t he
l oot er sI wi l l t ur n your account over t o you. Unt i l t hen" He gl anced down at
t he gol d on t he gr ound. " Pi ck i t up, Mr . Rear den. I t ' s not st ol en. I t ' s
your s. "
Rear den woul d not move or answer or l ook down.
" Much mor e t han t hat l i es i n t he bank, i n your name. "
" What bank?"
" Do you r emember Mi das Mul l i gan of Chi cago?"
" Yes, of cour se. "
" Al l my account s ar e deposi t ed at t he Mul l i gan Bank. "
" Ther e i s no Mul l i gan Bank i n Chi cago. "
" I t i s not i n Chi cago. "
Rear den l et a moment pass. " Wher e i s i t ?"
" I t hi nk t hat you wi l l know i t bef or e l ong, Mr . Rear den. But I cannot t el l
you now. " He added, " I must t el l you, however , t hat I amt he onl y one
r esponsi bl e f or t hi s under t aki ng. I t i s my own per sonal mi ssi on. No one i s
i nvol ved i n i t but me and t he men of my shi p' s cr ew.
Even my banker has no par t i n i t , except f or keepi ng t he money I deposi t .
Many of my f r i ends do not appr ove of t he cour se I ' ve chosen.
But we al l choose di f f er ent ways t o f i ght t he same bat t l eand t hi s i s
mi ne. "
Rear den smi l ed cont empt uousl y, " Ar en' t you one of t hose damn al t r ui st s who
spends hi s t i me on a non- pr of i t vent ur e and r i sks hi s l i f e mer el y t o ser ve
ot her s?"
" No, Mr . Rear den. I ami nvest i ng my t i me i n my own f ut ur e.
When we ar e f r ee and have t o st ar t r ebui l di ng f r omout of t he r ui ns, I
want t o see t he wor l d r ebor n as f ast as possi bl e. I f t her e i s, t hen, some
wor ki ng capi t al i n t he r i ght handsi n t he hands of our best , our most
pr oduct i ve meni t wi l l save year s f or t he r est of us and, i nci dent al l y,
cent ur i es f or t he hi st or y of t he count r y. Di d you ask what you meant t o me?
Ever yt hi ng I admi r e, ever yt hi ng I want t o be on t he day when t he ear t h wi l l
have a pl ace f or such st at e of bei ng, ever yt hi ng I want t o deal wi t heven i f
t hi s i s t he onl y way I can deal wi t h you and be of use t o you at pr esent . "
" Why?" whi sper ed Rear den.
" Because my onl y l ove, t he onl y val ue I car e t o l i ve f or , i s t hat whi ch
has never been l oved by t he wor l d, has never won r ecogni t i on or f r i ends or
def ender s: human abi l i t y. That i s t he l ove I amser vi ngand i f I shoul d l ose
my l i f e, t o what bet t er pur pose coul d I gi ve i t ?"
The man who had l ost t he capaci t y t o f eel ?t hought Rear den, and knew t hat
t he aust er i t y of t he mar bl e f ace was t he f or mof a di sci pl i ned capaci t y t o
f eel t oo deepl y. The even voi ce was cont i nui ng di spassi onat el y: " I want ed you
t o know t hi s. I want ed you t o know i t now, when i t most seemt o you t hat
you' r e abandoned at t he bot t omof a pi t among subhuman cr eat ur es who ar e al l
t hat ' s l ef t of manki nd. I want ed you t o know, i n your most hopel ess hour ,
t hat t he day of del i ver ance i s much cl oser t han you t hi nk. And t her e was one
speci al r eason why I had t o speak t o you and t el l you my secr et ahead of t he
pr oper t i me.
Have you hear d of what happened t o Or r en Boyl e' s st eel mi l l s on t he coast
of Mai ne?"
" Yes, " sai d Rear denand was shocked t o hear t hat t he wor d came as a gasp
out of t he sudden j ol t of eager ness wi t hi n hi m. " I di dn' t know whet her i t was
t r ue. "
" I t ' s t r ue. I di d i t . Mr . Boyl e i s not goi ng t o manuf act ur e Rear den Met al
on t he coast of Mai ne. He i s not goi ng t o manuf act ur e i t anywher e. Nei t her i s
any ot her l oot i ng l ouse who t hi nks t hat a di r ect i ve can gi ve hi ma r i ght t o
your br ai n. Whoever at t empt s t o pr oduce t hat Met al , wi l l f i nd hi s f ur naces
bl own up, hi s machi ner y bl ast ed, hi s shi pment s wr ecked, hi s pl ant set on
f i r eso many t hi ngs wi l l happen t o any man who t r i es i t , t hat peopl e wi l l say
t her e' s a cur se on i t , and t her e wi l l soon be no wor ker i n t he count r y
wi l l i ng t o ent er t he pl ant of any new pr oducer of Rear den Met al . I f men l i ke
Boyl e t hi nk t hat f or ce i s al l t hey need t o r ob t hei r bet t er sl et t hemsee
what happens when one of t hei r bet t er s chooses t o r esor t t o f or ce. I want ed
you t o know, Mr . Rear den, t hat none of t hemwi l l pr oduce your Met al nor make
a penny on i t . "
Because he f el t an exul t ant desi r e t o l aughas he had l aughed at t he news
of Wyat t ' s f i r e, as he had l aughed at t he cr ash of d' Anconi a Copper and knew
t hat i f he di d, t he t hi ng he f ear ed woul d hol d hi m, woul d not r el ease hi m
t hi s t i me, and he woul d never see hi s mi l l s agai nRear den dr ew back and, f or
a moment , kept hi s l i ps cl osed t i ght t o ut t er no sound. When t he moment was
over , he sai d qui et l y, hi s voi ce f i r mand dead, " Take t hat gol d of your s and
get away f r omher e. I won' t accept t he hel p of a cr i mi nal . "
Danneskj ol d' s f ace showed no r eact i on. " I cannot f or ce you t o accept t he
gol d, Mr . Rear den. But I wi l l not t ake i t back. You may l eave i t l yi ng wher e
i t i s, i f you wi sh. "
" I don' t want your hel p and I don' t i nt end t o pr ot ect you. I f I wer e
wi t hi n r each of a phone, I woul d cal l t he pol i ce. I woul d and I wi l l , i f you
ever at t empt t o appr oach me agai n. I ' l l do i t i n sel f - pr ot ect i on. "
" I under st and exact l y what you mean. "
" You knowbecause I ' ve l i st ened t o you, because you' ve seen me eager t o
hear i t t hat I haven' t damned you as I shoul d. I can' t damn you or anyone
el se. Ther e ar e no st andar ds l ef t f or men t o l i ve by, so I don' t car e t o
j udge anyt hi ng t hey do t oday or i n what manner t hey at t empt t o endur e t he
unendur abl e. I f t hi s i s your manner , I wi l l l et you go t o hel l i n your own
way, but I want no par t of i t . Nei t her as your i nspi r at i on nor as your
accompl i ce. Don' t expect me ever t o accept your bank account , i f i t does
exi st . Spend i t on some ext r a ar mor pl at e f or your sel f because I ' mgoi ng t o
r epor t t hi s t o t he pol i ce and gi ve t hemever y cl ue I can t o set t hemon your
t r ai l . "
Danneskj ol d di d not move or answer . A f r ei ght t r ai n was r ol l i ng by,
somewher e i n t he di st ance and dar kness; t hey coul d not see i t , but t hey hear d
t he poundi ng beat of wheel s f i l l i ng t he si l ence, and i t seemed cl ose, as i f a
di sembodi ed t r ai n, r educed t o a l ong st r i ng of sound, wer e goi ng past t hemi n
t he ni ght .
" You want ed t o hel p me i n my most hopel ess hour ?" sai d Rear den.
" I f I ambr ought t o wher e my onl y def ender i s a pi r at e, t hen I don' t car e
t o be def ended any l onger . You speak some r emnant of a human l anguage, so i n
t he name of t hat , I ' l l t el l you t hat I have no hope l ef t , but I have t he
knowl edge t hat when t he end comes, I wi l l have l i ved by my own st andar ds,
even whi l e I was t he onl y one t o whomt hey r emai ned val i d. I wi l l have l i ved
i n t he wor l d i n whi ch I st ar t ed and J wi l l go down wi t h t he l ast of i t . I
don' t t hi nk you' l l want t o under st and me, but "
A beamof l i ght hi t t hemwi t h t he vi ol ence of a physi cal bl ow. The cl angor
of t he t r ai n had swal l owed t he noi se of t he mot or and t hey had not hear d t he
appr oach of t he car t hat swept out of t he si de r oad, f r ombehi nd t he
f ar mhouse. They wer e not i n t he car ' s pat h, yet t hey hear d t he scr eech of
br akes behi nd t he t wo headl i ght s, pul l i ng an i nvi si bl e shape t o a st op. I t
was Rear den who j umped back i nvol unt ar i l y and had t i me t o mar vel at hi s
compani on: t he swi f t ness of Danneskj ol d' s sel f - cont r ol was t hat he di d not
move.
I t was a pol i ce car and i t st opped besi de t hem.
The dr i ver l eaned out . " Oh, i t ' s you, Mr . Rear den! " he sai d, t ouchi ng hi s
f i nger s t o hi s cap. " Good eveni ng, si r . "
" Hel l o, " sai d Rear den, f i ght i ng t o cont r ol t he unnat ur al abr upt ness of hi s
voi ce.
Ther e wer e t wo pat r ol men i n t he f r ont seat of t he car and t hei r f aces had
a t i ght l ook of pur pose, not t he l ook of t hei r usual f r i endl y i nt ent i on t o
st op f or a chat .
" Mr . Rear den, di d you wal k f r omt he mi l l s by way of Edgewood Road, past
Bl acksmi t h Cove?"
" Yes. Why?"
" Di d you happen t o see a man anywher e ar ound t hese par t s, a st r anger
movi ng al ong i n a hur r y?"
" Wher e?"
" He' d be ei t her on f oot or i n a bat t er ed wr eck of a car t hat ' s got a
mi l l i on- dol l ar mot or . "
" What man?"
" A t al l man wi t h bl ond hai r . "
" Who i s he?"
" You woul dn' t bel i eve i t i f I t ol d you, Mr . Rear den. Di d you see hi m?"
Rear den was not awar e of hi s own quest i ons, onl y of t he ast oni shi ng f act
t hat he was abl e t o f or ce sounds past some beat i ng bar r i er i nsi de hi s t hr oat .
He was l ooki ng st r ai ght at t he pol i ceman, but he f el t as i f t he f ocus of hi s
eyes had swi t ched t o hi s si de vi si on, and what he saw most cl ear l y was
Danneskj ol d' s f ace wat chi ng hi mwi t h no expr essi on, wi t h no l i ne' s, no
muscl e' s wor t h of f eel i ng. He saw Danneskj ol d' s ar ms hangi ng i dl y by hi s
si des, t he hands r el axed, wi t h no si gn of i nt ent i on t o r each f or a weapon,
l eavi ng t he t al l , st r ai ght body def ensel ess and openopen as t o a f i r i ng
squad. He saw, i n t he l i ght , t hat t he f ace l ooked younger t han he had t hought
and t hat t he eyes wer e sky- bl ue.
He f el t t hat hi s one danger woul d be t o gl ance di r ect l y at Danneskj ol dand
he kept hi s eyes on t he pol i ceman, on t he br ass but t ons of a bl ue uni f or m,
but t he obj ect f i l l i ng hi s consci ousness, mor e f or cef ul l y t han a vi sual
per cept i on, was Danneskj ol d' s body, t he naked body under t he cl ot hes, t he
body t hat woul d be wi ped out of exi st ence. He di d not hear hi s own wor ds,
because he kept hear i ng a si ngl e sent ence i n hi s mi nd, wi t hout cont ext except
t he f eel i ng t hat i t was t he onl y t hi ng t hat mat t er ed t o hi mi n t he wor l d: " I f
I shoul d l ose my l i f e, t o what bet t er pur pose coul d I gi ve i t ?"
" Di d you see hi m, Mr . Rear den?"
" No, " sai d Rear den. " I di dn' t . "
The pol i ceman shr ugged r egr et f ul l y and cl osed hi s hands about t he st eer i ng
wheel . " You di dn' t see any man t hat l ooked suspi ci ous?"
" No. "
" Nor any st r ange car passi ng you on t he r oad?"
" No. "
The pol i ceman r eached f or t he st ar t er . " They got wor d t hat he was seen
ashor e i n t hese par t s t oni ght , and t hey' ve t hr own a dr agnet over f i ve
count i es. We' r e not supposed t o ment i on hi s name, not t o scar e t he f ol ks, but
he' s a man whose head i s wor t h t hr ee mi l l i on dol l ar s i n r ewar ds f r omal l over
t he wor l d.
He had pr essed t he st ar t er and t he mot or was chur ni ng t he ai r wi t h br i ght
cr acks of sound, when t he second pol i ceman l eaned f or war d.
He had been l ooki ng at t he bl ond hai r under Danneskj ol d' s cap.
" Who i s t hat , Mr . Rear den?" he asked.
" My new bodyguar d, sai d Rear den.
" Oh . . . ! A sensi bl e pr ecaut i on, Mr . Rear den, i n t i mes l i ke t hese.
Good ni ght , si r . "
The mot or j er ked f or war d. The r ed t ai l l i ght s of t he car went shr i nki ng
down t he r oad. Danneskj ol d wat ched i t go, t hen gl anced poi nt edl y at Rear den' s
r i ght hand. Rear den r eal i zed t hat he had st ood f aci ng t he pol i cemen wi t h hi s
hand cl ut chi ng t he gun i n hi s pocket and t hat he had been pr epar ed t o use i t .
He opened hi s f i nger s and dr ew hi s hand out hast i l y. Danneskj ol d smi l ed.
I t was a smi l e of r adi ant amusement , t he si l ent l aught er of a cl ear , young
spi r i t gr eet i ng a moment i t was gl ad t o have l i ved.
And al t hough t he t wo di d not r esembl e each ot her , t he smi l e made Rear den
t hi nk of Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
" You haven' t t ol d a l i e, " sai d Ragnar Danneskj ol d. " Your bodyguar dt hat ' s
what I amand what I ' l l deser ve t o be, i n many mor e ways t han you can know at
pr esent . Thanks, Mr . Rear den, and so l ongwe' l l meet agai n much sooner t han I
had hoped. "
He was gone bef or e Rear den coul d answer . He vani shed beyond t he st one
f ence, as abr upt l y and soundl essl y as he had come. When Rear den t ur ned t o
l ook t hr ough t he f ar mf i el d, t her e was no t r ace of hi mand no si gn of
movement anywher e i n t he dar kness.
Rear den st ood on t he edge of an empt y r oad i n a spr ead of l onel i ness
vast er t han i t had seemed bef or e. Then he saw, l yi ng at hi s f eet , an obj ect
wr apped i n bur l ap, wi t h one cor ner exposed and gl i st eni ng i n t he moonl i ght ,
t he col or of t he pi r at e' s hai r . He bent , pi cked i t up and wal ked on.
Ki p Chal mer s swor e as t he t r ai n l ur ched and spi l l ed hi s cockt ai l over t he
t abl e t op. He sl umped f or war d, hi s el bow i n t he puddl e, and sai d: " God damn
t hese r ai l r oads! What ' s t he mat t er wi t h t hei r t r ack?
You' d t hi nk wi t h al l t he money t hey' ve got t hey' d di sgor ge a l i t t l e, so we
woul dn' t have t o bump l i ke f ar mer s on a hay car t ! "
Hi s t hr ee compani ons di d not t ake t he t r oubl e t o answer . I t was l at e, and
t hey r emai ned i n t he l ounge mer el y because an ef f or t was needed t o r et i r e t o
t hei r compar t ment s. The l i ght s of t he l ounge l ooked l i ke f eebl e por t hol es i n
a f og of ci gar et t e smoke dank wi t h t he odor of al cohol . I t was a pr i vat e car ,
whi ch Chal mer s had demanded and obt ai ned f or hi s j our ney; i t was at t ached t o
t he end of t he Comet and i t swung l i ke t he t ai l of a ner vous ani mal as t he
Comet coi l ed t hr ough t he cur ves of t he mount ai ns.
" I ' mgoi ng t o campai gn f or t he nat i onal i zat i on of t he r ai l r oads, "
sai d Ki p Chal mer s, gl ar i ng def i ant l y at a smal l , gr ay man who l ooked at
hi mwi t hout i nt er est . ' That ' s goi ng t o be my pl at f or mpl ank. I ' ve got t o have
a pl at f or mpl ank. I don' t l i ke J i mTaggar t . He l ooks l i ke a sof t - boi l ed cl am.
To hel l wi t h t he r ai l r oads! I t ' s t i me we t ook t hemover . "
" Go t o bed, " sai d t he man, " i f you expect t o l ook l i ke anyt hi ng human at
t he bi g r al l y t omor r ow. "
" Do you t hi nk we' l l make i t ?"
" You' ve got t o make i t . "
" I know I ' ve got t o. But I don' t t hi nk we' l l get t her e on t i me. Thi s
goddamn snai l of a super - speci al i s hour s l at e. "
" You ve got t o get t her e, Ki p, " sai d t he man omi nousl y, i n t hat st ubbor n
monot one of t he unt hi nki ng whi ch asser t s an end wi t hout concer n f or t he
means.
" God damn you, don' t you suppose I know i t ?"
Ki p Chal mer s had cur l y bl ond hai r and a shapel ess mout h. He came f r oma
semi - weal t hy, semi - di st i ngui shed f ami l y, but he sneer ed at weal t h and
di st i nct i on i n a manner whi ch i mpl i ed t hat onl y a t op r ank ar i st ocr at coul d
per mi t hi msel f such a degr ee of cyni cal i ndi f f er ence. He had gr aduat ed f r oma
col l ege whi ch speci al i zed i n br eedi ng t hat ki nd of ar i st ocr acy. The col l ege
had t aught hi mt hat t he pur pose of i deas i s t o f ool t hose who ar e st upi d
enough t o t hi nk. He had made hi s way i n Washi ngt on wi t h t he gr ace of a cat -
bur gl ar , cl i mbi ng f r ombur eau t o bur eau as f r oml edge t o l edge of a cr umbl i ng
st r uct ur e. He was r anked as semi - power f ul , but hi s manner made l aymen mi st ake
hi mf or not hi ng l ess t han Wesl ey Mouch.
For r easons of hi s own par t i cul ar st r at egy, Ki p Chal mer s had deci ded t o
ent er popul ar pol i t i cs and t o r un f or el ect i on as Legi sl at or f r omCal i f or ni a,
t hough he knew not hi ng about t hat st at e except t he movi e i ndust r y and t he
beach cl ubs. Hi s campai gn manager had done t he pr el i mi nar y wor k, and Chal mer s
was now on hi s way t o f ace hi s f ut ur e const i t uent s f or t he f i r st t i me at an
over publ i ci zed r al l y i n San Fr anci sco t omor r ow ni ght . The manager had want ed
hi mt o st ar t a day ear l i er , but Char mer s had st ayed i n Washi ngt on t o at t end a
cockt ai l par t y and had t aken t he l ast t r ai n possi bl e. He had shown no concer n
about t he r al l y unt i l t hi s eveni ng, when he not i ced t hat t he Comet was
r unni ng si x hour s l at e.
Hi s t hr ee compani ons di d not mi nd hi s mood: t hey l i ked hi s l i quor , t est er
Tuck, hi s campai gn manager , was a smal l , agi ng man wi t h a f ace t hat l ooked as
i f i t had once been punched i n and had never r ebounded. He was an at t or ney
who, some gener at i ons ear l i er , woul d have r epr esent ed shopl i f t er s and peopl e
who st age acci dent s on t he pr emi ses of r i ch cor por at i ons; now he f ound t hat
he coul d do bet t er by r epr esent i ng men l i ke Ki p Chal mer s.
Laur a Br adf or d was Chal mer s' cur r ent mi st r ess; he l i ked her because hi s
pr edecessor had been Wesl ey Mouch. She was a movi e act r ess who had f or ced her
way f r omcompet ent f eat ur ed pl ayer t o i ncompet ent st ar , not by means of
sl eepi ng wi t h st udi o execut i ves, but by t aki ng t he l ong- di st ance shor t cut of
sl eepi ng wi t h bur eaucr at s. She t al ked economi cs, i nst ead of gl amor , f or pr ess
i nt er vi ews, i n t he bel l i ger ent l y r i ght eous st yl e of a t hi r d- r at e t abl oi d; her
economi cs consi st ed of t he asser t i on t hat " we' ve got t o hel p t he poor . "
Gi l ber t Kei t h- Wor t hi ng was Chal mer s' guest , f or no r eason t hat ei t her of
t hemcoul d di scover . He was a Br i t i sh novel i st of wor l d f ame, who had been
popul ar t hi r t y year s ago; si nce t hen, nobody bot her ed t o r ead what he wr ot e,
but ever ybody accept ed hi mas a wal ki ng cl assi c.
He had been consi der ed pr of ound f or ut t er i ng such t hi ngs as: " Fr eedom? Do
l et ' s st op t al ki ng about f r eedom. Fr eedomi s i mpossi bl e. Man can never be
f r ee of hunger , of col d, of di sease, of physi cal acci dent s.
He can never be f r ee of t he t yr anny of nat ur e. So why shoul d he obj ect t o
t he t yr anny of a pol i t i cal di ct at or shi p?" When al l of Eur ope put i nt o
pr act i ce t he i deas whi ch he bad pr eached, he came t o l i ve i n Amer i ca. Thr ough
t he year s, hi s st yl e of wr i t i ng and hi s body had gr own f l abby. At sevent y, he
was an obese ol d man wi t h r et ouched hai r and a manner of scor nf ul cyni ci sm
r et ouched by quot at i ons f r omt he yogi s about t he f ut i l i t y of al l human
endeavor . Ki p Chal mer s had i nvi t ed hi m, because i t seemed t o l ook
di st i ngui shed. Gi l ber t Kei t h Wor t hi ng had come al ong, because he had no
par t i cul ar pl ace t o go.
" God damn t hese r ai l r oad peopl e! " sai d Ki p Chal mer s. " They' r e doi ng i t on
pur pose. They want t o r ui n my campai gn. I can' t mi ss t hat r al l y! For Chr i st ' s
sake, Lest er , do somet hi ng! "
" I ' ve t r i ed, " sai d Lest er Tuck. At t he t r ai n' s l ast st op, he had t r i ed, by
l ong- di st ance t el ephone, t o f i nd ai r t r anspor t at i on t o compl et e t hei r
j our ney; but t her e wer e no commer ci al f l i ght s schedul ed f or t he next t wo
days.
" I f t hey don' t get me t her e on t i me, I ' l l have t hei r scal ps and t hei r
r ai l r oad! Can' t we t el l t hat damn conduct or t o hur r y?"
" You' ve t ol d hi mt hr ee t i mes, "
" I ' l l get hi mf i r ed. He' s gi ven me not hi ng but a l ot of al i bi s about al l
t hei r messy t echni cal t r oubl es. I expect t r anspor t at i on, not al i bi s. They
can' t t r eat me l i ke one of t hei r day- coach passenger s. I expect t hemt o get
me wher e I want t o go when I want i t . Don' t t hey know t hat I ' mon t hi s
t r ai n?"
" They know i t by now, " sai d Laur a Br adf or d. " Shut up, Ki p. You bor e me. "
Chal mer s r ef i l l ed hi s gl ass. The car was r ocki ng and t he gl asswar e t i nkl ed
f ai nt l y on t he shel ves of t he bar . The pat ches of st ar l i t sky i n t he wi ndows
kept swayi ng j er ki l y, and i t seemed as i f t he st ar s wer e t i nkl i ng agai nst one
anot her . They coul d see not hi ng beyond t he gl ass bay of t he obser vat i on
wi ndow at t he end of t he car , except t he smal l hal os of r ed and gr een
l ant er ns mar ki ng t he r ear of t he t r ai n, and a br i ef st r et ch of r ai l r unni ng
away f r omt hemi nt o t he dar kness. A wal l of r ock was r aci ng t he t r ai n, and
t he st ar s di pped occasi onal l y i nt o a sudden br eak t hat out l i ned, hi gh above
t hem, t he peaks of t he mount ai ns of Col or ado.
" Mount ai ns . . . " sai d Gi l ber t Kei t h- Wor t hi ng, wi t h sat i sf act i on.
" I t i s a spect acl e of t hi s ki nd t hat makes one f eel t he i nsi gni f i cance of
man. ' What i s t hi s pr esumpt uous l i t t l e bi t of r ai l , whi ch cr ude mat er i al i st s
ar e so pr oud of bui l di ngcompar ed t o t hat et er nal gr andeur ? No mor e t han t he
bast i ng t hr ead of a seamst r ess on t he hemof t he gar ment of nat ur e. I f a
si ngl e one of t hose gr ani t e gi ant s chose t o cr umbl e, i t woul d anni hi l at e t hi s
t r ai n. "
" Why shoul d i t choose t o cr umbl e?" asked Laur a Br adf or d, wi t hout any
par t i cul ar i nt er est .
" I t hi nk t hi s damn t r ai n i s goi ng sl ower , " sai d Ki p Chal mer s. " Those
bast ar ds ar e sl owi ng down, , i n spi t e of what I t ol d t hem! "
" Wel l . . . i t ' s t he mount ai ns, you know . . . " sai d Lest er Tuck.
" Mount ai ns be damned! Lest er , what day i s t hi s? Wi t h al l t hose damn
changes of t i me, I can' t t el l whi ch"
" I t ' s May t went y- sevent h, " si ghed Lest er Tuck.
" I t ' s May t went y- ei ght h, " sai d Gi l ber t Kei t h- Wor t hi ng, gl anci ng at hi s
wat ch. " I t i s now t wel ve mi nut es past mi dni ght .
" J esus! " cr i ed Chal mer s. " Then t he r al l y i s t oday?"
" Yep, " sai d Lest er Tuck.
" We won' t make i t ! We"
The t r ai n gave a shar per l ur ch, knocki ng t he gl ass out of hi s hand.
The t hi n sound of i t s cr ash agai nst t he f l oor mi xed wi t h t he scr eech of
t he wheel - f l anges t ear i ng agai nst t he r ai l of a shar p cur ve.
" I say, " asked Gi l ber t Kei t h- Wor t hi ng ner vousl y, " ar e your r ai l r oads
saf e?"
" Hel l , yes! " sai d Ki p Chal mer s. " We' ve got so many r ul es, r egul at i ons and
cont r ol s t hat t hose bast ar ds woul dn' t dar e not t o be saf e!
. . . Lest er , how f ar ar e we now? What ' s t he next st op?' 1
" Ther e won' t be any st op t i l l Sal t Lake Ci t y. "
" I mean, what ' s t he next st at i on?"
Lest er Tuck pr oduced a soi l ed map, whi ch he had been consul t i ng ever y f ew
mi nut es si nce ni ght f al l . " Wi nst on, " he sai d. " Wi nst on, Col or ado. "
Ki p Chal mer s r eached f or anot her gl ass.
" Ti nky Hol l oway sai d t hat Wesl ey sai d t hat i f you don' t wi n t hi s el ect i on,
you' r e t hr ough, " sai d Laur a Br adf or d. She sat spr awl ed i n her chai r , l ooki ng
past Chal mer s, st udyi ng her own f ace i n a mi r r or on t he wal l of t he l ounge;
she was bor ed and i t amused her t o needl e hi s i mpot ent anger .
" Oh, he di d, di d he?"
" Uh- huh. Wesl ey doesn' t want what ' s- hi s- namewhoever ' s r unni ng agai nst
yout o get i nt o t he Legi sl at ur e. I f you don' t wi n, Wesl ey wi l l be sor e as
hel l . Ti nky sai d"
" Damn t hat bast ar d! He' d bet t er wat ch hi s own neck! "
" Oh, I don' t know. Wesl ey l i kes hi mver y much. " She added, " Ti nky Hol l oway
woul dn' t al l ow some mi ser abl e t r ai n t o make hi mmi ss an i mpor t ant meet i ng.
They woul dn' t dar e t o hol d hi mup. "
Ki p Chal mer s sat st ar i ng at hi s gl ass. " I ' mgoi ng t o have t he gover nment
sei ze al l t he r ai l r oads, " he sai d, hi s voi ce l ow.
" Real l y, " sai d Gi l ber t Kei t h- Wor t hi ng, " I don' t see why you haven' t done
i t l ong ago. Thi s i s t he onl y count r y on ear t h backwar d enough t o per mi t
pr i vat e owner shi p of r ai l r oads. "
" Wel l , we' r e cat chi ng up wi t h you, " sai d Ki p Chal mer s.
" Your count r y i s so i ncr edi bl y nai ve. I t ' s such an anachr oni sm. Al l t hat
t al k about l i ber t y and human r i ght sI haven' t hear d i t si nce t he days of my
gr eat - gr andf at her . I t ' s not hi ng but a ver bal l uxur y of t he r i ch. Af t er al l ,
i t doesn' t make any di f f er ence t o t he poor whet her t hei r l i vel i hood i s at t he
mer cy of an i ndust r i al i st or of a bur eaucr at . "
5S8
" The day of t he i ndust r i al i st s i s over . Thi s i s t he day of "
The j ol t f el t as i f t he ai r wi t hi n t he car smashed t hemf or war d whi l e t he
f l oor st opped under t hei r f eet . Ki p Chal mer s was f l ung down t o t he car pet ,
Gi l ber t Kei t h- Wor t hi ng was t hr own acr oss t he t abl e t op, t he l i ght s wer e
bl ast ed out . Gl asses cr ashed of f t he shel ves, t he st eel of t he wal l s scr eamed
as i f about t o r i p open, whi l e a l ong, di st ant t hud went l i ke a convul si on
t hr ough t he wheel s of t he t r ai n.
When he r ai sed hi s head, Chal mer s saw t hat t he car st ood i nt act and st i l l ;
he hear d t he moans of hi s compani ons and t he f i r st shr i ek of Laur a Br adf or d' s
hyst er i cs. He cr awl ed al ong t he f l oor t o t he door way, wr enched i t open, and
t umbl ed down t he st eps. Far ahead, on t he si de of a cur ve, he saw movi ng
f l ashl i ght s and a r ed gl ow at a spot wher e t he engi ne had no pl ace t o be. He
st umbl ed t hr ough t he dar kness, bumpi ng i nt o hal f - cl ot hed f i gur es t hat waved
t he f ut i l e l i t t l e f l ar es of mat ches.
Somewher e al ong t he l i ne, he saw a man wi t h a f l ashl i ght and sei zed hi s
ar m. I t was t he conduct or .
" What happened?" gasped Chal mer s.
" Spl i t r ai l , t he conduct or answer ed i mpassi vel y. " The engi ne went of f t he
t r ack. "
" Of f . . . ?M
" On i t s si de. "
" Anybody . . . ki l l ed?"
" No. The engi neer ' s al l r i ght . The f i r eman i s hur t . "
" Spl i t r ai l ? What do you mean, spl i t r ai l ?"
The conduct or ' s f ace had an odd l ook: i t was gr i m, accusi ng and cl osed.
" Rai l wear s out , Mr . Chal mer s, " he answer ed wi t h a st r ange ki nd of emphasi s.
" Par t i cul ar l y on cur ves. "
" Di dn' t you know t hat i t was wor n out ?"
" We knew. "
" Wel l , why di dn' t you have i t r epl aced?"
" I t was goi ng t o be r epl aced. But Mr . Locey cancel l ed t hat . "
" Who i s Mr . Locey?"
" The man who i s not our Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent . "
Chal mer s wonder ed why t he conduct or seemed t o l ook at hi mas i f somet hi ng
about t he cat ast r ophe wer e hi s f aul t . " Wel l . . . wel l , ar en' t you goi ng t o
put t he engi ne back on t he t r ack?"
" That engi ne' s never goi ng t o be put back on any t r ack, f r omt he l ooks of
i t . "
" But . . . but i t ' s got t o move us! "
" I t can' t . "
Beyond t he f ew movi ng f l ar es and t he dul l ed sounds of scr eams, Chal mer s
sensed suddenl y, not want i ng t o l ook at i t , t he bl ack i mmensi t y of t he
mount ai ns, t he si l ence of hundr eds of uni nhabi t ed mi l es, and t he pr ecar i ous
st r i p of a l edge hangi ng bet ween a wal l of r ock and an abyss. He gr i pped t he
conduct or ' s ar mt i ght er .
" But . . . but what ar e we goi ng t o do?"
" The engi neer ' s gone t o cal l Wi nst on. "
" Cal l ? How?"
" Ther e' s a phone coupl e of mi l es down t he t r ack. "
" Wi l l t hey get us out of her e?"
" They wi l l . "
" But . . . " Then hi s mi nd made a connect i on wi t h t he past and t he f ut ur e,
and hi s voi ce r ose t o a scr eamf or t he f i r st t i me: " How l ong wi l l we have t o
wai t ?"
" I don' t know, " sai d t he conduct or . He t hr ew Chal mer s' hand of f hi s ar m,
and wal ked away.
The ni ght oper at or of Wi nst on St at i on l i st ened t o t he phone message,
dr opped t he r ecei ver and r aced up t he st ai r s t o shake t he st at i on agent out
of bed. The st at i on agent was a husky, sur l y dr i f t er who had been assi gned t o
t he j ob t en days ago, by or der of t he new di vi si on super i nt endent . He
st umbl ed dazedl y t o hi s f eet , but he was knocked awake when t he oper at or ' s
wor ds r eached hi s br ai n.
" What ?" he gasped. " J esus! The Comet ? . . . Wel l , don' t st and t her e
shaki ng! Cal l Si l ver Spr i ngs! "
The ni ght di spat cher of t he Di vi si on Headquar t er s at Si l ver Spr i ngs
l i st ened t o t he message, t hen t el ephoned Dave Mi t chum, t he new super i nt endent
of t he Col or ado Di vi si on.
" The Comet ?" gasped Mi t chum, hi s hand pr essi ng t he t el ephone r ecei ver t o
hi s ear , hi s f eet hi t t i ng t he f l oor and t hr owi ng hi mupr i ght , out of bed.
" The engi ne done f or ? The Di esel ?"
" Yes, si r . "
" Oh God! Oh, God Al mi ght y! What ar e we goi ng t o do?" Then, r emember i ng hi s
posi t i on, he added, " Wel l , send out t he wr ecki ng t r ai n. "
" I have. "
" Cal l t he oper at or at Sher wood t o hol d al l t r af f i c. "
" I have. "
" What have you got on t he sheet ?"
" The Ar my Fr ei ght Speci al , west bound. But i t ' s not due f or about f our
hour s. I t ' s r unni ng l at e. "
" I ' l l be r i ght down. . . . Wai t , l i st en, get Bi l l , Sandy and Cl ar ence down
by t he t i me I get t her e. Ther e' s goi ng t o be hel l t o pay! "
Dave Mi t chumhad al ways compl ai ned about i nj ust i ce, because, he sai d, he
had al ways had bad l uck. He expl ai ned i t by speaki ng dar kl y about t he
conspi r acy of t he bi g f el l ows, who woul d never gi ve hi ma chance, t hough he
di d not expl ai n j ust whomhe meant by " t he bi g f el l ows. " Seni or i t y of ser vi ce
was hi s f avor i t e t opi c of compl ai nt and sol e st andar d of val ue; he had been
i n t he r ai l r oad busi ness l onger t han many men who had advanced beyond hi m;
t hi s, he sai d, was pr oof of t he soci al syst em' s i nj ust i cet hough he never
expl ai ned j ust what he meant by " t he soci al syst em. " He had wor ked f or many
r ai l r oads, but had not st ayed l ong wi t h any one of t hem. Hi s empl oyer s had
had no speci f i c mi sdeeds t o char ge agai nst hi m, but had si mpl y eased hi mout ,
because he sai d, " Nobody t ol d me t o! t oo of t en. He di d not know t hat he owed
hi s pr esent j ob t o a deal bet ween J ames Taggar t and Wesl ey Mouch: when
Taggar t t r aded t o Mouch t he secr et of hi s si st er ' s pr i vat e l i f e, i n exchange
f or a r ai se i n r at es, Mouch made hi mt hr ow i n an ext r a f avor , by t hei r
cust omar y r ul es of bar gai ni ng, whi ch consi st ed of squeezi ng al l one coul d out
of any gi ven t r ade. The ext r a was a j ob f or Dave Mi t chum, who was t he
br ot her - i n- l aw of Cl aude Sl agenhop, who was t he pr esi dent of t he Fr i ends of
Gl obal Pr ogr ess, who wer e r egar ded by Mouch as a val uabl e i nf l uence on publ i c
opi ni on. J ames Taggar t pushed t he r esponsi bi l i t y of f i ndi ng a j ob f or Mi t chum
ont o Cl i f t on Locey. Locey pushed Mi t chumi nt o t he f i r st j ob t hat came up
super i nt endent of t he Col or ado Di vi si onwhen t he man hol di ng i t qui t wi t hout
not i ce. The man qui t when t he ext r a Di esel engi ne of Wi nst on St at i on was
gi ven t o Chi ck Mor r i son' s Speci al .
" What ar e we goi ng t o do?" cr i ed Dave Mi t chum, r ushi ng, hal f - dr essed and
gr oggy wi t h sl eep, i nt o hi s of f i ce, wher e t he chi ef di spat cher , t he
t r ai nmast er and t he r oad f or eman of engi nes wer e wai t i ng f or hi m.
The t hr ee men di d not answer . They wer e mi ddl e- aged men wi t h year s of
r ai l r oad ser vi ce behi nd t hem. A mont h ago, t hey woul d have vol unt eer ed t hei r
advi ce i n any emer gency; but t hey wer e begi nni ng t o l ear n t hat t hi ngs had
changed and t hat i t was danger ous t o speak.
" What i n hel l ar e we goi ng t o do?"
" One t hi ng i s cer t ai n, " sai d Bi l l Br ent , t he chi ef di spat cher . " We can' t
send a t r ai n i nt o t he t unnel wi t h a coal - bur ni ng engi ne. "
Dave Mi t chum' s eyes gr ew sul l en: he knew t hat t hi s was t he one t hought on
al l t hei r mi nds; he wi shed Br ent had not named i t .
" Wel l , wher e do we get a Di esel ?" he asked angr i l y.
" We don' t , " sai d t he r oad f or eman.
" But we can' t keep t he Comet wai t i ng on a si di ng al l ni ght ! "
" Looks l i ke we' l l have t o, " sai d t he t r ai nmast er . " What ' s t he use of
t al ki ng about i t , Dave? You know t hat t her e i s no Di esel anywher e on t he
di vi si on. "
" But Chr i st Al mi ght y, how do t hey expect us t o move t r ai ns wi t hout
engi nes?"
" Mi ss Taggar t di dn' t , " sai d t he r oad f or eman. " Mr . Locey does. "
" Bi l l , " asked Mi t chum, i n t he t one of pl eadi ng f or a f avor , " i sn' t t her e
anyt hi ng t r anscont i nent al t hat ' s due t oni ght , wi t h any sor t of a Di esel ?"
" The f i r st one t o come, " sai d Bi l l Br ent i mpl acabl y, " wi l l be Number 236,
t he f ast f r ei ght f r omSan Fr anci sco, whi ch i s due at Wi nst on at seven-
ei ght een A. M. " He added, " That ' s t he Di esel cl osest t o us at t hi s moment .
I ' ve checked, "
" What about t he Ar my Speci al ?"
" Bet t er not t hi nk about i t , Dave. That one has super i or i t y over ever yt hi ng
on t he l i ne, i ncl udi ng t he Comet , by or der of t he Ar my.
They' r e r unni ng l at e as i t i sj our nal boxes caught f i r e t wi ce. They' r e
car r yi ng muni t i ons f or t he West Coast ar senal s. Bet t er pr ay t hat not hi ng
st ops t hemon your di vi si on. I f you t hi nk we' l l cat ch hel l f or hol di ng t he
Comet , i t ' s not hi ng t o what we' l l cat ch i f we t r y t o st op t hat Speci al . "
They r emai ned si l ent . The wi ndows wer e open t o t he summer ni ght and t hey
coul d hear t he r i ngi ng of t he t el ephone i n t he di spat cher ' s of f i ce
downst ai r s. The si gnal l i ght s wi nked over t he deser t ed yar ds t hat had once
been a busy di vi si on poi nt .
Mi t chuml ooked t owar d t he r oundhouse, wher e t he bl ack si l houet t es of a f ew
st eamengi nes st ood out l i ned i n a di ml i ght .
" The t unnel " he sai d and st opped.
" i s ei ght mi l es l ong, " sai d t he t r ai nmast er , wi t h a har sh emphasi s.
" I was onl y t hi nki ng, " snapped Mi t chum.
" Bet t er not t hi nk of i t , " sai d Br ent sof t l y.
" I haven' t sai d anyt hi ng! "
" What was t hat t al k you had wi t h Di ck Hor t on bef or e he qui t ?" t he r oad
f or eman asked t oo i nnocent l y, as i f t he subj ect wer e i r r el evant .
" Wasn' t i t somet hi ng about t he vent i l at i on syst emof t he t unnel bei ng on
t he bum? Di dn' t he say t hat t hat t unnel was har dl y saf e nowadays even f or
Di esel engi nes?"
" Why do you br i ng t hat up?" snapped Mi t chum. " I haven' t sai d anyt hi ng! "
Di ck Hor t on, t he di vi si on chi ef engi neer , had qui t t hr ee days af t er Mi t chum' s
ar r i val .
" I t hought I ' d j ust ment i on i t , " t he r oad f or eman answer ed i nnocent l y.
" Look, Dave, " sai d Bi l l Br ent , knowi ng t hat Mi t chumwoul d st al l f or
anot her hour r at her t han f or mul at e a deci si on, " you know t hat t her e' s onl y
one t hi ng t o do: hol d t he Comet at Wi nst on t i l l mor ni ng, wai t f or Number 236,
have her Di esel t ake t he Comet t hr ough t he t unnel , t hen l et t he Comet f i ni sh
her r un wi t h t he best coal - bur ner we can gi ve her on t he ot her si de, "
" But how l at e wi l l t hat make her ?"
Br ent shr ugged. " Twel ve hour sei ght een hour swho knows?"
" Ei ght een hour sf or t he Comet ? Chr i st , t hat ' s never happened bef or e! "
" None of what ' s been happeni ng t o us has ever happened bef or e, "
sai d Br ent , wi t h an ast oni shi ng sound of wear i ness i n hi s br i sk, compet ent
voi ce.
" But t hey' l l bl ame us f or i t i n New Yor k! They' l l put al l t he bl ame on
us! "
Br ent shr ugged. A mont h ago, he woul d have consi der ed such an i nj ust i ce
i nconcei vabl e; t oday, he knew bet t er .
" I guess . . . " sai d Mi t chummi ser abl y, " I guess t her e' s not hi ng el se t hat
we can do. "
" Ther e i sn' t , Dave, "
" Oh God! Why di d t hi s have t o happen t o us?"
" Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
I t was hal f - past t wo when t he Comet , pul l ed by an ol d swi t ch engi ne,
j er ked t o a st op on a si di ng of Wi nst on St at i on. Ki p Chal mer s gl anced out
wi t h i ncr edul ous anger at t he f ew shant i es on a desol at e mount ai nsi de and at
t he anci ent hovel of a st at i on.
" Now what ? What i n hel l ar e t hey st oppi ng her e f or ?" he cr i ed, and r ang
f or t he conduct or .
Wi t h t he r et ur n of mot i on and saf et y, hi s t er r or had t ur ned i nt o r age. He
f el t al most as i f he had been cheat ed by havi ng been made t o exper i ence an
unnecessar y f ear . Hi s compani ons wer e st i l l cl i ngi ng t o t he t abl es of t he
l ounge; t hey f el t t oo shaken t o sl eep.
" How l ong?" t he conduct or sai d i mpassi vel y, i n answer t o hi s quest i on.
" Ti l l mor ni ng, Mr . Chal mer s. "
Chal mer s st ar ed at hi m, st upef i ed. " We' r e goi ng t o st and her e t i l l
mor ni ng?"
" Yes, Mr . Chal mer s. "
" Her e?"
" Yes. "
" But I have a r al l y i n San Fr anci sco i n t he eveni ng! "
The conduct or di d not answer .
" Why? Why do we have t o st and? Why i n hel l ? What happened?"
Sl owl y, pat i ent l y, wi t h cont empt uous pol i t eness, t he conduct or gave hi man
exact account of t he si t uat i on. But year s ago, i n gr ammar school , i n hi gh
school , i n col l ege, Ki p Chal mer s had been t aught t hat man does not and need
not l i ve by r eason.
" Damn your t unnel ! " he scr eamed. " Do you t hi nk I ' mgoi ng t o l et you hol d
me up because of some mi ser abl e t unnel ? Do you want t o wr eck vi t al nat i onal
pl ans on account of a t unnel ? Tel l your engi neer t hat I must be i n San
Fr anci sco by eveni ng and t hat he' s got t o get me t her e! "
" How?"
" That ' s your j ob, not mi ne! "
" Ther e i s no way t o do i t . "
" Then f i nd a way, God damn you! "
The conduct or di d not answer .
" Do you t hi nk I ' l l l et your mi ser abl e t echnol ogi cal pr obl ems i nt er f er e
wi t h cr uci al soci al i ssues? Do you know who I am? Tel l t hat engi neer t o st ar t
movi ng, i f he val ues hi s j ob! "
" The engi neer has hi s or der s. "
" Or der s be damned! I gi ve t he or der s t hese days! Tel l hi mt o st ar t at
once! "
" Per haps you' d bet t er speak t o t he st at i on agent , Mr . Chal mer s. I have no
aut hor i t y t o answer you as I ' d l i ke t o, " sai d t he conduct or , and wal ked out .
Chal mer s l eaped t o hi s f eet . " Say, Ki p . . . " sai d Lest er Tuck uneasi l y,
" maybe i t ' s t r ue . . . maybe t hey can' t do i t . "
" They can i f t hey have t o! " snapped Chal mer s, mar chi ng r esol ut el y t o t he
door .
Year s ago, i n col l ege, he had been t aught t hat t he onl y ef f ect i ve means t o
i mpel men t o act i on was f ear .
I n t he di l api dat ed of f i ce of Wi nst on St at i on, he conf r ont ed a sl eepy man
wi t h sl ack, wor n f eat ur es, and a f r i ght ened young boy who sat at t he
oper at or ' s desk. They l i st ened, i n si l ent st upor , t o a st r eamof pr of ani t y
such as t hey had never hear d f r omany sect i on gang.
" and i t ' s not my pr obl emhow you get t he t r ai n t hr ough t he t unnel , t hat ' s
f or you t o f i gur e out ! " Chal mer s concl uded. " But i f you don' t get me an
engi ne and don' t st ar t t hat t r ai n, you can ki ss good- bye t o your j obs, your
wor k per mi t s and t hi s whol e goddamn r ai l r oad! "
The st at i on agent had never hear d of Ki p Chal mer s and di d not know t he
nat ur e of hi s posi t i on. But he knew t hat t hi s was t he day when unknown men i n
undef i ned posi t i ons hel d unl i mi t ed power t he power of l i f e or deat h.
" I t ' s not up t o us, Mr . Chal mer s, " he sai d pl eadi ngl y. " We don' t i ssue t he
or der s out her e. The or der came f r omSi l ver Spr i ngs. Suppose you t el ephone
Mr . Mi t chumand"
" Who' s Mr . Mi t chum?"
" He' s t he di vi si on super i nt endent at Si l ver Spr i ngs. Suppose you send hi m
a message t o"
" I shoul d bot her wi t h a di vi si on super i nt endent ! I ' l l send a message t o
J i mTaggar t t hat ' s what I ' mgoi ng t o do! "
Bef or e t he st at i on agent had t i me t o r ecover , Chal mer s whi r l ed t o t he boy,
or der i ng, " Yout ake t hi s down and send i t at once! "
I t was a message whi ch, a mont h ago, t he st at i on agent woul d not have
accept ed f r omany passenger ; t he r ul es f or bade i t ; but he was not cer t ai n
about any r ul es any l onger : Mr . J ames Taggar t , New Yor k Ci t y. Amhel d up on
t he Comet at Wi nst on, Col or ado, by t he i ncompet ence of your men, who r ef use
t o gi ve me an engi ne. Have meet i ng i n San Fr anci sco i n t he eveni ng of t op-
l evel nat i onal i mpor t ance. I f you don' t move my t r ai n at once, I ' l l l et you
guess t he consequences. Ki p Chal mer s.
Af t er t he boy had t r ansmi t t ed t he wor ds ont o t he wi r es t hat st r et ched f r om
pol e t o pol e acr oss a cont i nent as guar di ans of t he Taggar t t r ackaf t er Ki p
Chal mer s had r et ur ned t o Ms car t o wai t f or an answer t he st at i on agent
t el ephoned Dave Mi t chum, who was hi s f r i end, and r ead t o hi mt he t ext of t he
message. He hear d Mi t chumgr oan i n answer .
" I t hought I ' d t el l you, Dave. I never hear d of t he guy bef or e, but maybe
he' s somebody i mpor t ant . "
" I don' t know! " moaned Mi t chum. " Ki p Chal mer s? You see hi s name i n t he
newspaper s al l t he t i me, r i ght i n wi t h al l t he t op- l evel boys, I don' t know
what he i s, but i f he' s f r omWashi ngt on, we can' t t ake any chances. Oh
Chr i st , what ar e we goi ng t o do?"
We can' t t ake any chancest hought t he Taggar t oper at or i n New Yor k, and
t r ansmi t t ed t he message by t el ephone t o J ames Taggar t ' s home. I t was cl ose t o
si x A. M. i n New Yor k, and J ames Taggar t was awakened out of t he f i t f ul sl eep
of a r est l ess ni ght . He l i st ened t o t he t el ephone, hi s f ace saggi ng. He f el t
t he same f ear as t he st at i on agent of Wi nst on, and f or t he same r eason.
He cal l ed t he home of Cl i f t on Locey. Al l t he r age whi ch he coul d not pour
upon Ki p Chal mer s, was pour ed over t he t el ephone wi r e upon Cl i f t on Locey. " Do
somet hi ng! " scr eamed Taggar t . " I don' t car e what you do, i t ' s your j ob, not
mi ne, but see t o i t t hat t hat t r ai n get s t hr ough! What i n hel l i s goi ng on? I
never hear d of t he Comet bei ng hel d up! I s t hat how you r un your depar t ment ?
I t ' s a f i ne t hi ng when i mpor t ant passenger s have t o st ar t sendi ng messages t o
me! At l east , when my si st er r an t he pl ace, I wasn' t awakened i n t he mi ddl e
of t he ni ght over ever y spi ke t hat br oke i n I owaCol or ado, I mean! "
" I ' mso sor r y, J i m, " sai d Cl i f t on Locey smoot hl y, i n a t one t hat bal anced
apol ogy, r eassur ance and t he r i ght degr ee of pat r oni zi ng conf i dence. " I t ' s
j ust a mi sunder st andi ng. I t ' s somebody' s st upi d mi st ake.
Don' t wor r y, 111 t ake car e of i t . I was, as a mat t er of f act , i n bed, but
I ' l l at t end t o i t at once. "
Cl i f t on Locey was not i n bed; he had j ust r et ur ned f r oma r ound of ni ght
cl ubs, i n t he company of a young l ady. He asked her t o wai t and hur r i ed t o
t he of f i ces of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . None of t he ni ght st af f who saw hi m
t her e coul d say why he chose t o appear i n per son, but nei t her coul d t hey say
t hat i t had been unnecessar y. He r ushed i n and out of sever al of f i ces, was
seen by many peopl e and gave an i mpr essi on of gr eat act i vi t y. The onl y
physi cal r esul t of i t was an or der t hat went over t he wi r es t o Dave Mi t chum,
super i nt endent of t he Col or ado Di vi si on: " Gi ve an engi ne t o Mr . Chal mer s at
once. Send t he Comet t hr ough saf el y and wi t hout unnecessar y del ay. I f you ar e
unabl e t o per f or myour dut i es, I shal l hol d you r esponsi bl e bef or e t he
Uni f i cat i on Boar d, Cl i f t on Locey, "
Then, cal l i ng hi s gi r l f r i end t o j oi n hi m, Cl i f t on Locey dr ove t o a
count r y r oadhouset o make cer t ai n t hat no one woul d be abl e t o f i nd hi mi n
t he next f ew hour s.
The di spat cher at Si l ver Spr i ngs was baf f l ed by t he or der t hat he handed
t o Dave Mi t chum, but Dave Mi t chumunder st ood. He knew t hat no r ai l r oad or der
woul d ever speak i n such t er ms as gi vi ng an engi ne t o a passenger ; he knew
t hat t he t hi ng was a show pi ece, he guessed what sor t of show was bei ng
st aged, and he f el t a col d sweat at t he r eal i zat i on of who was bei ng f r amed
as t he goat of t he show.
" What ' s t he mat t er , Dave?" asked t he t r ai nmast er .
Mi t chumdi d not answer . He sei zed t he t el ephone, hi s hands shaki ng as he
begged f or a connect i on t o t he Taggar t oper at or i n New Yor k, He l ooked l i ke
an ani mal i n a t r ap.
He begged t he New Yor k oper at or t o get hi mMr . Cl i f t on Locey' s home. The
oper at or t r i ed. Ther e was no answer . He begged t he oper at or t o keep on t r yi ng
and t o t r y ever y number he coul d t hi nk of , wher e Mr . Locey mi ght be f ound.
The oper at or pr omi sed and Mi t chumhung up, but knew t hat i t was usel ess t o
wai t or t o speak t o anyone i n Mr . Locey' s depar t ment .
" What ' s t he mat t er , Dave?"
Mi t chumhanded hi mt he or der and saw by t he l ook on t he t r ai nmast er ' s f ace
t hat t he t r ap was as bad as he had suspect ed.
He cal l ed t he Regi on Headquar t er s of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al at Omaha,
Nebr aska, and begged t o speak t o t he gener al manager of t he r egi on. Ther e was
a br i ef si l ence on t he wi r e, t hen t he voi ce of t he Omaha oper at or t ol d hi m
t hat t he gener al manager had r esi gned and vani shed t hr ee days ago" over a
l i t t l e t r oubl e wi t h Mr . Locey, " t he voi ce added.
He asked t o speak t o t he assi st ant gener al manager i n char ge of hi s
par t i cul ar di st r i ct ; but t he assi st ant was out of t own f or t he week end and
coul d not be r eached.
" Get me somebody el se! " Mi t chumscr eamed. " Anybody, of any di st r i ct ! For
Chr i st ' s sake, get me somebody who' l l t el l me what t o do! "
The man who came on t he wi r e was t he assi st ant gener al manager of t he
I owa- Mi nnesot a Di st r i ct .
" What ?" he i nt er r upt ed at Mi t chum' s f i r st wor ds. " At Wi nst on, Col or ado?
Why i n hel l ar e you cal l i ng me? . . . No, don' t t el l me what happened, I
don' t want t o know i t ! . . . No, I sai d! No! You' r e not goi ng t o f r ame me
i nt o havi ng t o expl ai n af t er war ds why I di d or di dn' t do anyt hi ng about
what ever i t i s. I t ' s not my pr obl em! . . . Speak t o some r egi on execut i ve,
don' t pi ck on me, what do I have t o do wi t h Col or ado? . . . Oh hel l , I don' t
know, get t he chi ef engi neer , speak t o hi m! "
The chi ef engi neer of t he Cent r al Regi on answer ed i mpat i ent l y, " Yes? What ?
What i s i t ?" and Mi t chumr ushed desper at el y t o expl ai n. When t he chi ef
engi neer hear d t hat t her e was no Di esel , he snapped, " Then hol d t he t r ai n, of
cour se! " When he hear d about Mr .
Chal mer s, he sai d, hi s voi ce suddenl y subdued, " Hm. . . Ki p Chal mer s? Of
Washi ngt on? . . . Wel l , I don' t know. That woul d be a mat t er f or Mr . Locey t o
deci de. " When Mi t chumsai d, " Mr . Locey or der ed me t o ar r ange i t , but " t he
chi ef engi neer snapped i n gr eat r el i ef , " Then do exact l y as Mr . Locey says! "
and hung up.
Dave Mi t chumr epl aced t he t el ephone r ecei ver caut i ousl y. He di d not scr eam
any l onger . I nst ead, he- t i pt oed t o a chai r , al most as i f he wer e sneaki ng. He
sat l ooki ng at Mr . Locey' s or der f or a l ong t i me.
Then he snat ched a gl ance about t he r oom. The di spat cher was busy at hi s
t el ephone. The t r ai nmast er and t he r oad f or eman wer e t her e, but t hey
pr et ended t hat t hey wer e not wai t i ng. He wi shed Bi l l Br ent , t he chi ef
di spat cher , woul d go home; Bi l l Br ent st ood i n a cor ner , wat chi ng hi m.
Br ent was a shor t , t hi n man wi t h br oad shoul der s; he was f or t y, but l ooked
younger ; he had t he pal e f ace of an of f i ce wor ker and t he har d, l ean f eat ur es
of a cowboy. He was t he best di spat cher on t he syst em.
Mi t chumr ose abr upt l y and wal ked upst ai r s t o hi s of f i ce, cl ut chi ng Locey' s
or der i n hi s hand.
Dave Mi t chumwas not good at under st andi ng pr obl ems of engi neer i ng and
t r anspor t at i on, but he under st ood men l i ke Cl i f t on Locey. He under st ood t he
ki nd of game t he New Yor k execut i ves wer e pl ayi ng and what t hey wer e now
doi ng t o hi m. The or der di d not t el l hi mt o gi ve Mr . Chal mer s a coal - bur ni ng
engi nej ust " an engi ne. " I f t he t i me came t o answer quest i ons, woul dn' t Mr .
Locey gasp i n shocked i ndi gnat i on t hat he had expect ed a di vi si on
super i nt endent t o know t hat onl y a Di esel engi ne coul d be meant i n t hat
or der ? The or der st at ed t hat he was t o send t he Comet t hr ough " saf el y" wasn' t
a di vi si on super i nt endent expect ed t o know what was saf e?" and wi t hout
unnecessar y del ay. " What was an unnecessar y del ay? I f t he possi bi l i t y of a
maj or di sast er was i nvol ved, woul dn' t a del ay of a week or a mont h be
consi der ed necessar y?
The New Yor k execut i ves di d not car e, t hought Mi t chum; t hey di d not car e
whet her Mr . Chal mer s r eached hi s meet i ng on t i me, or whet her an unpr ecedent ed
cat ast r ophe st r uck t hei r r ai l s; t hey car ed onl y about maki ng sur e t hat t hey
woul d not be bl amed f or ei t her . I f he hel d t he t r ai n, t hey woul d make hi mt he
scapegoat t o appease t he anger of Mr . Chal mer s; i f he sent t he t r ai n t hr ough
and i t di d not r each t he west er n por t al of t he t unnel , t hey woul d put t he
bl ame on hi s i ncompet ence; t hey woul d cl ai mt hat he had act ed agai nst t hei r
or der s, i n ei t her case. What woul d he be abl e t o pr ove? To whom? One coul d
pr ove not hi ng t o a t r i bunal t hat had no st at ed pol i cy, no def i ned pr ocedur e,
no r ul es of evi dence, no bi ndi ng pr i nci pl esa t r i bunal , such as t he
Uni f i cat i on Boar d, t hat pr onounced men gui l t y or i nnocent as i t saw f i t , wi t h
no st andar d of gui l t or i nnocence.
Dave Mi t chumknew not hi ng about t he phi l osophy of l aw; but he knew t hat
when a cour t i s not bound by any r ul es, i t i s not bound by any f act s, and
t hen a hear i ng i s not an i ssue of j ust i ce, but an i ssue of men, and your f at e
depends not on what you have or have not done, but on whomyou do or do not
know. He asked hi msel f what chance he woul d have at such a hear i ng agai nst
Mr . J ames Taggar t , Mr . Cl i f t on Locey, Mr . Ki p Chal mer s and t hei r power f ul
f r i ends.
Dave Mi t chumhad spent hi s l i f e sl i ppi ng ar ound t he necessi t y of ever
maki ng a deci si on; he had done i t by wai t i ng t o be t ol d and never bei ng
cer t ai n of anyt hi ng. Al l t hat he now al l owed i nt o hi s br ai n was a l ong,
i ndi gnant whi ne agai nst i nj ust i ce. Fat e, he t hought , had si ngl ed hi mout f or
an unf ai r amount of bad l uck: he was bei ng f r amed by hi s super i or s on t he
onl y good j ob he had ever hel d. He had never been t aught t o under st and t hat
t he manner i n whi ch he obt ai ned t hi s j ob, and t he f r ame- up, wer e i next r i cabl e
par t s of a si ngl e whol e.
As he l ooked at Locey' s or der , he t hought t hat he coul d hol d t he Comet ,
at t ach Mr . Chal mer s1 car t o an engi ne and send i t i nt o t he t unnel , al one. But
he shook hi s head bef or e t he t hought was f ul l y f or med: he knew t hat t hi s
woul d f or ce Mr . Chal mer s t o r ecogni ze t he nat ur e of t he r i sk; Mr . Chal mer s
woul d r ef use; he woul d cont i nue t o demand a saf e and non- exi st ent engi ne. And
mor e: t hi s woul d mean t hat he, Mi t chum, woul d have t o assume r esponsi bi l i t y,
admi t f ul l knowl edge of t he danger , st and i n t he open and i dent i f y t he exact
nat ur e of t he si t uat i ont he one act whi ch t he pol i cy of hi s super i or s was
based on evadi ng, t he one key t o t hei r game.
Dave Mi t chumwas not t he man t o r ebel agai nst hi s backgr ound or t o
quest i on t he mor al code of t hose i n char ge. The choi ce he made was not t o
chal l enge, but t o f ol l ow t he pol i cy of hi s super i or s. Bi l l Br ent coul d have-
beat en hi mi n any cont est of t echnol ogy, but her e was an endeavor at whi ch he
coul d beat Bi l l Br ent wi t hout ef f or t . Ther e had once been a soci et y wher e men
needed t he par t i cul ar t al ent s of Bi l l Br ent , i f t hey wi shed t o sur vi ve; what
t hey needed now was t he t al ent of Dave Mi t chum.
Dave Mi t chumsat down at hi s secr et ar y' s t ypewr i t er and, by means of t wo
f i nger s, car ef ul l y t yped out an or der t o t he t r ai nmast er and anot her t o t he
r oad f or eman. The f i r st i nst r uct ed t he t r ai nmast er t o summon a l ocomot i ve
cr ew at once, f or a pur pose descr i bed onl y as " an emer gency" ; t he second
i nst r uct ed t he r oad f or eman t o " send t he best engi ne avai l abl e t o Wi nst on, t o
st and by f or emer gency assi st ance. "
He put car bon copi es of t he or der s i nt o hi s own pocket , t hen opened t he
door , yel l ed f or t he ni ght di spat cher t o come up and handed hi mt he t wo
or der s f or t he t wo men downst ai r s. The ni ght di spat cher was a consci ent i ous
young boy who t r ust ed hi s super i or s and knew t hat di sci pl i ne was t he f i r st
r ul e of t he r ai l r oad busi ness. He was ast oni shed t hat Mi t chumshoul d wi sh t o
send wr i t t en or der s down one f l i ght of st ai r s, but he asked no quest i ons,
Mi t chumwai t ed ner vousl y. Af t er a whi l e, he saw t he f i gur e of t he r oad
f or eman wal ki ng acr oss t he yar ds t owar d t he r oundhouse. He f el t r el i eved: t he
t wo men had not come up t o conf r ont hi mi n per son; t hey had under st ood and
t hey woul d pl ay t he game as he was pl ayi ng i t .
The r oad f or eman wal ked acr oss t he yar ds, l ooki ng down at t he gr ound. He
was t hi nki ng of hi s wi f e, hi s t wo chi l dr en and t he house whi ch he had spent a
l i f et i me t o own. He knew what hi s super i or s wer e doi ng and he wonder ed
whet her he shoul d r ef use t o obey t hem. He had never been af r ai d of l osi ng hi s
j ob; wi t h t he conf i dence of a compet ent man, he had known t hat i f he
quar r el ed wi t h one empl oyer , he woul d al ways be abl e t o f i nd anot her . Now, he
was af r ai d; he had no r i ght t o qui t or t o seek a j ob; i f he def i ed an
empl oyer , he woul d be del i ver ed i nt o t he unanswer abl e power of a si ngl e
Boar d, and i f t he Boar d r ul ed agai nst hi m, i t woul d mean bei ng sent enced t o
t he sl ow deat h of st ar vat i on: i t woul d mean bei ng bar r ed f r omany empl oyment .
He knew t hat t he Boar d woul d r ul e agai nst hi m; he knew t hat t he key t o t he
dar k, capr i ci ous myst er y of t he Boar d' s cont r adi ct or y deci si ons was t he
secr et power of pul l . What chance woul d he have agai nst Mr . Chal mer s? Ther e
had been a t i me when t he sel f - i nt er est of hi s empl oyer s had demanded t hat he
exer ci se hi s ut most abi l i t y.
Now, abi l i t y was not want ed any l onger . Ther e had been a t i me when he had
been r equi r ed t o do hi s best and r ewar ded accor di ngl y. Now, he coul d expect
not hi ng but puni shment , i f he t r i ed t o f ol l ow hi s consci ence. Ther e had been
a t i me when he had been expect ed t o t hi nk.
Now, t hey di d not want hi mt o t hi nk, onl y t o obey. They di d not want hi m
t o have a consci ence any l onger . Then why shoul d he r ai se hi s voi ce? For
whose sake? He t hought of t he passenger st he t hr ee hundr ed passenger s aboar d
t he Comet . He t hought of hi s chi l dr en. He had a son i n hi gh school and a
daught er , ni net een, of whomhe was f i er cel y, pai nf ul l y pr oud, because she was
r ecogni zed as t he most beaut i f ul gi r l i n t own. He asked hi msel f whet her he
coul d del i ver hi s chi l dr en t o t he f at e of t he chi l dr en of t he unempl oyed, as
he had seen t hemi n t he bl i ght ed ar eas, i n t he set t l ement s ar ound cl osed
f act or i es and al ong t he t r acks of di scont i nued r ai l r oads. He saw, i n
ast oni shed hor r or , t hat t he choi ce whi ch he now had t o make was bet ween t he
l i ves of hi s chi l dr en and t he l i ves of t he passenger s on t he Comet . A
conf l i ct of t hi s ki nd had never been possi bl e bef or e. I t was by pr ot ect i ng
t he saf et y of t he passenger s t hat he had ear ned t he secur i t y of hi s chi l dr en;
he had ser ved one by ser vi ng t he ot her ; t her e had been no cl ash of i nt er est s,
no cal l f or vi ct i ms. Now, i f he want ed t o save t he passenger s, he had t o do
i t at t he pr i ce of hi s chi l dr en.
He r emember ed di ml y t he ser mons he had hear d about t he beaut y of sel f -
i mmol at i on, about t he vi r t ue of sacr i f i ci ng t o ot her s t hat whi ch was one' s
dear est . He knew not hi ng about t he phi l osophy of et hi cs; but he knew
suddenl ynot i n wor ds, but i n t he f or mof a dar k, angr y, savage pai nt hat i f
t hi s was vi r t ue, t hen he want ed no par t of i t .
He wal ked i nt o t he r oundhouse and or der ed a l ar ge, anci ent coal bur ni ng
l ocomot i ve t o be made r eady f or t he r un t o Wi nst on.
The t r ai nmast er r eached f or t he t el ephone i n t he di spat cher ' s of f i ce, t o
summon an engi ne cr ew, as or der ed. But hi s hand st opped, hol di ng t he
r ecei ver . I t st r uck hi msuddenl y t hat he was summoni ng men t o t hei r deat h,
and t hat of t he t went y l i ves l i st ed on t he sheet bef or e hi m, t wo woul d be
ended by hi s choi ce. He f el t a physi cal sensat i on of col d, not hi ng mor e; he
f el t no concer n, onl y a puzzl ed, i ndi f f er ent ast oni shment . I t had never been
hi s j ob t o cal l men out t o di e; hi s j ob had been t o cal l t hemout t o ear n
t hei r l i vi ng. I t was st r ange, he t hought ; and i t was st r ange t hat hi s hand
had st opped; what made i t st op was l i ke somet hi ng he woul d have f el t t went y
year s agono, he t hought , st r ange, onl y one mont h ago, not l onger .
He was f or t y- ei ght year s ol d. He had no f ami l y, no f r i ends, no t i es t o any
l i vi ng bei ng i n t he wor l d. What ever capaci t y f or devot i on he had possessed,
t he capaci t y whi ch ot her s scat t er among many r andomconcer ns, he had gi ven i t
whol e t o t he per son of hi s young br ot her t he br ot her , hi s j uni or by t went y-
f i ve year s, whomhe had br ought up. He had sent hi mt hr ough a t echnol ogi cal
col l ege, and he had known, as had al l t he t eacher s, t hat t he boy had t he mar k
of geni us on t he f or ehead of hi s gr i m, young f ace. Wi t h t he same si ngl e-
t r acked devot i on as hi s br ot her ' s, t he boy had car ed f or not hi ng but hi s
st udi es, not f or spor t s or par t i es or gi r l s, onl y f or t he vi si on of t he
t hi ngs he was goi ng t o cr eat e as an i nvent or . He had gr aduat ed f r omcol l ege
and had gone, on a sal ar y unusual f or hi s age, i nt o t he r esear ch l abor at or y
of a gr eat el ect r i cal concer n i n Massachuset t s.
Thi s was now May 28, t hought t he t r ai nmast er . I t was on May 1
t hat Di r ect i ve 10- 289 had been i ssued. I t was on t he eveni ng of May I t hat
he had been i nf or med t hat hi s br ot her had commi t t ed sui ci de.
The t r ai nmast er had hear d i t sai d t hat t he di r ect i ve was necessar y t o save
t he count r y. He coul d not know whet her t hi s was t r ue or not ; he had no way of
knowi ng what was necessar y t o save a count r y. But dr i ven by some f eel i ng
whi ch he coul d not expr ess, he had wal ked i nt o t he of f i ce of t he edi t or of
t he l ocal newspaper and demanded t hat t hey publ i sh t he st or y of hi s br ot her ' s
deat h. " Peopl e have t o know i t , " had been al l he coul d gi ve as hi s r eason. He
had been unabl e t o expl ai n t hat t he br ui sed connect i ons of hi s mi nd had
f or med t he wor dl ess concl usi on t hat i f t hi s was done by t he wi l l of t he
peopl e, t hen t he peopl e had t o know i t ; he coul d not bel i eve t hat t hey woul d
do i t , i f t hey knew. The edi t or had r ef used; he had st at ed t hat i t woul d be
bad f or t he count r y' s mor al e.
The t r ai nmast er knew not hi ng about pol i t i cal phi l osophy; but he knew t hat
t hat had been t he moment when he l ost al l concer n f or t he l i f e or deat h of
any human bei ng or of t he count r y.
He t hought , hol di ng t he t el ephone r ecei ver , t hat maybe he shoul d war n t he
men whomhe was about t o cal l . They t r ust ed hi m; i t woul d never occur t o t hem
t hat he coul d knowi ngl y send t hemt o t hei r deat h.
But he shook hi s head: t hi s was onl y an ol d t hought , l ast year ' s t hought ,
a r emnant of t he t i me when he had t r ust ed t hem, t oo. I t di d not mat t er now.
Hi s br ai n wor ked sl owl y, as i f he wer e dr aggi ng hi s t hought s t hr ough a vacuum
wher e no emot i on r esponded t o spur t hemon; he t hought t hat t her e woul d be
t r oubl e i f he war ned anyone, t her e woul d be some sor t of f i ght and i t was he
who had t o make some gr eat ef f or t t o st ar t i t . He had f or got t en what i t was
t hat one st ar t ed t hi s sor t of f i ght f or . Tr ut h? J ust i ce? Br ot her - l ove? He di d
not want t o make an ef f or t . He was ver y t i r ed. I f he war ned al l t he men on
hi s l i st , he t hought , t her e woul d be no one t o r un t hat engi ne, so he woul d
save t wo l i ves and al so t hr ee hundr ed l i ves aboar d t he Comet .
But not hi ng r esponded t o t he f i gur es i n hi s mi nd; " l i ves" was j ust a wor d,
i t had no meani ng.
He r ai sed t he t el ephone r ecei ver t o hi s ear , he cal l ed t wo number s, he
summoned an engi neer and a f i r eman t o r epor t f or dut y at once.
Engi ne Number 306 had l ef t f or Wi nst on, when Dave Mi t chumcame downst ai r s.
" Get a t r ack mot or car r eady f or me, " he or der ed, " I ' mgoi ng t o r un up t o
Fai r mount . " Fai r mount was a smal l st at i on, t went y mi l es east on t he l i ne. The
men nodded, aski ng no quest i ons. Bi l l Br ent was not among t hem. Mi t chum
wal ked i nt o Br ent ' s of f i ce. Br ent was t her e, si t t i ng si l ent l y at hi s desk; he
seemed t o be wai t i ng.
" I ' mgoi ng t o Fai r mount , " sai d Mi t chum; hi s voi ce was aggr essi vel y t oo
casual , as i f i mpl yi ng t hat no answer was necessar y. " They had a Di esel t her e
coupl e of weeks ago . . . you know, emer gency r epai r s or somet hi ng. . . . I ' m
goi ng down t o see i f we coul d use i t . "
He paused, but Br ent sai d not hi ng.
" The way t hi ngs st ack up, " sai d Mi t chum, not l ooki ng at hi m, " we can' t
hol d t hat t r ai n t i l l mor ni ng. We' ve got t o t ake a chance, one way or anot her .
Now I t hi nk maybe t hi s Di esel wi l l do i t , but t hat ' s t he l ast one we can t r y
f or . So i f you don' t hear f r omme i n hal f an hour , si gn t he or der and send
t he Comet t hr ough wi t h Number 306 t o pul l her . "
What ever Br ent had t hought , he coul d not bel i eve i t when he hear d i t . He
di d not answer at once; t hen he sai d, ver y qui et l y, " No. "
" What do you mean, no?"
" I won' t do i t . "
" What do you mean, you won' t ? I t ' s an or der !
" I won' t do i t . " Br ent ' s voi ce had t he f i r mness of cer t ai nt y uncl ouded by
any emot i on.
" Ar e you r ef usi ng t o obey an or der ?"
" I am. "
" But you have no r i ght t o r ef use! And I ' mnot goi ng t o ar gue about i t ,
ei t her . I t ' s what I ' ve deci ded, i t ' s my r esponsi bi l i t y and I ' mnot aski ng f or
your opi ni on. Your j ob i s t o t ake my or der s. "
" Wi l l you gi ve me t hat or der i n wr i t i ng?"
" Why, God damn you, ar e you hi nt i ng t hat you don' t t r ust me? Ar e you . . .
?"
" Why do you have t o go t o Fai r mount , Dave? Why can' t you t el ephone t hem
about t hat Di esel , i f you t hi nk t hat t hey have one?"
" You' r e not goi ng t o t el l me how t o do my j ob! You' r e not goi ng t o si t
t her e and quest i on me! You' r e goi ng t o keep your t r ap shut and do as you' r e
t ol d or I ' l l gi ve you a chance t o t al kt o t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d! "
I t was har d t o deci pher emot i ons on Br ent ' s cowboy f ace, but Mi t chumsaw
somet hi ng t hat r esembl ed a l ook of i ncr edul ous hor r or ; onl y i t was hor r or at
some si ght of hi s own, not at t he wor ds, and i t had no qual i t y of f ear , not
t he ki nd of f ear Mi t chumhad hoped f or .
Br ent knew t hat t omor r ow mor ni ng t he i ssue woul d be hi s wor d agai nst
Mi t chum' s; Mi t chumwoul d deny havi ng gi ven t he or der ; Mi t chumwoul d show
wr i t t en pr oof t hat Engi ne Number 306 had been sent t o Wi nst on onl y " t o st and
by, " and woul d pr oduce wi t nesses t hat he had gone t o Fai r mount i n sear ch of a
Di esel ; Mi t chumwoul d cl ai mt hat t he f at al or der had been i ssued by and on
t he sol e r esponsi bi l i t y of Bi l l Br ent , t he chi ef di spat cher , i t woul d not be
much of a case, not a case t hat coul d bear cl ose st udy, but i t woul d be
enough f or t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d, whose pol i cy was consi st ent onl y i n not
per mi t t i ng anyt hi ng t o be st udi ed cl osel y. Br ent knew t hat he coul d pl ay t he
same game and pass t he f r ame- up on t o anot her vi ct i m, he knew t hat he had t he
br ai ns t o wor k i t out except t hat he woul d r at her be dead t han do i t .
I t was not t he si ght of Mi t chumt hat made hi msi t st i l l i n hor r or .
I t was t he r eal i zat i on t hat t her e was no one whomhe coul d cal l t o expose
t hi s t hi ng and st op i t no super i or anywher e on t he l i ne, f r omCol or ado t o
Omaha t o New Yor k. They wer e i n on i t , al l of t hem, t hey wer e doi ng t he same,
t hey had gi ven Mi t chumt he l ead and t he met hod. I t was Dave Mi t chumwho now
bel onged on t hi s r ai l r oad and he, Bi l l Br ent , who di d not .
As Bi l l Br ent had l ear ned t o see, by a si ngl e gl ance at a f ew number s on a
sheet of paper , t he ent i r e t r ackage of a di vi si onso he was now abl e t o see
t he whol e of hi s own l i f e and t he f ul l pr i ce of t he deci si on he was maki ng.
He had not f al l en i n l ove unt i l he was past hi s yout h; he had been t hi r t y- si x
when he had f ound t he woman he want ed. He had been engaged t o her f or t he
l ast f our year s; he had had t o wai t , because he had a mot her t o suppor t and a
wi dowed si st er wi t h t hr ee chi l dr en. He had never been af r ai d of bur dens,
because he had known hi s abi l i t y t o car r y t hem, and he had never assumed an
obl i gat i on unl ess he was cer t ai n t hat he coul d f ul f i l l i t . He had wai t ed, he
had saved hi s money, and now he had r eached t he t i me when he f el t hi msel f
f r ee t o be happy. He was t o be mar r i ed i n a f ew weeks, t hi s comi ng J une. He
t hought of i t , as he sat at hi s desk, l ooki ng at Dave Mi t chum, but t he
t hought ar oused no hesi t at i on, onl y r egr et and a di st ant sadnessdi st ant ,
because he knew t hat he coul d not l et i t be par t of t hi s moment .
Bi l l Br ent knew not hi ng about epi st emol ogy; but he knew t hat man must l i ve
by hi s own r at i onal per cept i on of r eal i t y, t hat he cannot act agai nst i t or
escape i t or f i nd a subst i t ut e f or i t and t hat t her e i s no ot her way f or hi m
t o l i ve.
He r ose t o hi s f eet . " I t ' s t r ue t hat so l ong as I hol d t hi s j ob, I cannot
r ef use t o obey you, " he sai d. " But I can, i f I qui t . So I ' mqui t t i ng. "
" You' r e what ?"
" I ' mqui t t i ng, as of t hi s moment . "
" But you have no r i ght t o qui t , you goddamn bast ar d! Don' t you know t hat ?
Don' t you know t hat I ' l l have you t hr own i n j ai l f or i t ?"
" I f you want t o send t he sher i f f f or me i n t he mor ni ng, I ' l l be at home. I
won' t t r y t o escape. Ther e' s no pl ace t o go. "
Dave Mi t chumwas si x- f oot - t wo and had t he bui l d of a br ui ser , but he st ood
shaki ng wi t h f ur y and t er r or over t he del i cat e f i gur e of Bi l l Br ent . " You
can' t qui t ! Ther e' s a l aw agai nst i t ! I ' ve got a l aw! You can' t wal k out on
me! I won' t l et you out ! I won' t l et you l eave t hi s bui l di ng t oni ght ! "
Br ent wal ked t o t he door . " Wi l l you r epeat t hat or der you gave me, i n
f r ont of t he ot her s? No? Then I wi l l ! "
As he pul l ed t he door open, Mi t chum' s f i st shot out , smashed i nt o hi s f ace
and knocked hi mdown.
The t r ai nmast er and t he r oad f or eman st ood i n t he open door way.
" He qui t ! " scr eamed Mi t chum. " The yel l ow bast ar d qui t at a t i me l i ke t hi s!
He' s a l aw- br eaker and a cowar d! "
I n t he sl ow ef f or t of r i si ng f r omt he f l oor , t hr ough t he haze of bl ood
r unni ng i nt o hi s eyes, Bi l l Br ent l ooked up at t he t wo men. He saw t hat t hey
under st ood, but he saw t he cl osed f aces of men who di d not want t o
under st and, di d not want t o i nt er f er e and hat ed hi mf or put t i ng t hemon t he
spot i n t he name of j ust i ce. He sai d not hi ng, r ose t o hi s f eet and wal ked out
of t he bui l di ng.
Mi t chumavoi ded l ooki ng at t he ot her s. " Hey, you, " he cal l ed, j er ki ng hi s
head at t he ni ght di spat cher acr oss t he r oom. " Come her e.
You' ve got t o t ake over at once. "
Wi t h t he door cl osed, he r epeat ed t o t he boy t he st or y of t he Di esel at
Fai r mount , as he had gi ven i t t o Br ent , and t he or der t o send t he Comet
t hr ough wi t h Engi ne Number 306, i f t he boy di d not hear f r omhi mi n hal f an
hour . The boy was i n no condi t i on t o t hi nk, t o speak or t o under st and
anyt hi ng: he kept seei ng t he bl ood on t he f ace of Bi l l Br ent , who had been
hi s i dol . " Yes, si r , " he answer ed numbl y Dave Mi t chumdepar t ed f or Fai r mount ,
announci ng t o ever y yar dman, swi t chman and wi per i n si ght , as he boar ded t he
t r ack mot or car t hat he was goi ng i n sear ch of a Di esel f or t he Comet .
The ni ght di spat cher sat at hi s desk, wat chi ng t he cl ock and t he
t el ephone, pr ayi ng t hat t he t el ephone woul d r i ng and l et hi mhear f r omMr .
Mi t chum. But t he hal f - hour went by i n si l ence, and whet t her e wer e onl y t hr ee
mi nut es l ef t , t he boy f el t a t er r or he coul d not expl ai n, except t hat he di d
not want t o send t hat or der , He t ur ned t o t he t r ai nmast er and t he r oad
f or eman, aski ng hesi t ant l y, " Mr . Mi t chumgave me an or der bef or e he l ef t , but
I wonder whet her I ought t o send i t , because I . . . I don' t t hi nk i t ' s
r i ght . He sai d"
The t r ai nmast er t ur ned away; he f el t no pi t y: t he boy was about t he same
age as hi s br ot her had been.
The r oad f or eman snapped, " Do j ust as Mr . Mi t chumt ol d you.
You' r e not supposed t o t hi nk, " and wal ked out of t he r oom.
The r esponsi bi l i t y t hat J ames Taggar t and Cl i f t on Locey had evaded now
r est ed on t he shoul der s of a t r embl i ng, bewi l der ed boy. He hesi t at ed, t hen he
but t r essed hi s cour age wi t h t he t hought t hat one di d not doubt t he good f ai t h
and t he compet ence of r ai l r oad execut i ves. He di d not know t hat hi s vi si on of
a r ai l r oad and i t s execut i ves was t hat of a cent ur y ago.
Wi t h t he consci ent i ous pr eci si on of a r ai l r oad man, i n t he moment when t he
hand of t he cl ock ended t he hal f - hour , he si gned hi s name t o t he or der
i nst r uct i ng t he Comet t o pr oceed wi t h Engi ne Number 306, and t r ansmi t t ed t he
or der t o Wi nst on St at i on.
The st at i on agent at Wi nst on shudder ed when he l ooked at t he or der , but he
was not t he man t o def y aut hor i t y. He t ol d hi msel f t hat t he t unnel was not ,
per haps, as danger ous as he t hought . He t ol d hi msel f t hat t he best pol i cy,
t hese days, was not t o t hi nk.
When he handed t hei r copi es of t he or der t o t he conduct or and t he engi neer
of t he Comet , t he conduct or gl anced sl owl y about t he r oom, f r omf ace t o f ace,
f ol ded t he sl i p of paper , put i t i nt o hi s pocket and wal ked out wi t hout a
wor d.
The engi neer st ood l ooki ng at t he paper f or a moment , t hen t hr ew i t down
and sai d, " I ' mnot goi ng t o do i t . And i f i t ' s come t o wher e t hi s r ai l r oad
hands out or der s l i ke t hi s one, I ' mnot goi ng t o wor k f or i t , ei t her . J ust
l i st me as havi ng qui t . "
" But you can' t qui t ! " cr i ed t he st at i on agent , " They' l l ar r est you f or
i t ! "
" I f t hey f i nd me, " sai d t he engi neer , and wal ked out of t he st at i on i nt o
t he vast dar kness of t he mount ai n ni ght .
The engi neer f r omSi l ver Spr i ngs, who had br ought i n Number 306, was
si t t i ng i n a cor ner of t he r oom. He chuckl ed and sai d, " He' s yel l ow. "
The st at i on agent t ur ned t o hi m. " Wi l l you do i t , J oe? Wi l l you t ake t he
Comet ?"
J oe Scot t was dr unk. Ther e had been a t i me when a r ai l r oad man, r epor t i ng
f or dut y wi t h any si gn of i nt oxi cat i on, woul d have been r egar ded as a doct or
ar r i vi ng f or wor k wi t h sor es of smal l pox on hi s f ace.
But J oe Scot t was a pr i vi l eged per son. Thr ee mont hs ago, he had been f i r ed
f or an i nf r act i on of saf et y r ul es, whi ch had caused a maj or wr eck; t wo weeks
ago, he had been r ei nst at ed i n hi s j ob by or der of t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d. He
was a f r i end of Fr ed Ki nnan; he pr ot ect ed Ki nnan' s i nt er est s i n hi s uni on,
not agai nst t he empl oyer s, but agai nst t he member shi p.
" Sur e, " sai d J oe Scot t . " I ' l l t ake t he Comet . I ' l l get her t hr ough, i f I
go f ast enough. "
The f i r eman of Number 306 had r emai ned i n t he cab of hi s engi ne.
He l ooked up uneasi l y, when t hey came t o swi t ch hi s engi ne t o t he head end
of t he Comet ; he l ooked up at t he r ed and gr een l i ght s of t he t unnel , hangi ng
i n t he di st ance above t went y mi l es of cur ves. But he was a pl aci d, ami cabl e
f el l ow, who made a good f i r eman wi t h no hope of ever r i si ng t o engi neer ; hi s
husky muscl es wer e hi s onl y asset .
He f el t cer t ai n t hat hi s super i or s knew what t hey wer e doi ng, so he di d
not vent ur e any quest i ons.
The conduct or st ood by t he r ear end of t he Comet . He l ooked at t he l i ght s
of t he t unnel , t hen at t he l ong chai n of t he Comet ' s wi ndows. A f ew wi ndows
wer e l i ght ed, but most of t hemshowed onl y t he f eebl e bl ue gl ow of ni ght
l amps edgi ng t he l ower ed bl i nds. He t hought t hat he shoul d r ouse t he
passenger s and war n t hem. Ther e had been a t i me when he had pl aced t he saf et y
of t he passenger s above hi s own, not by r eason of l ove f or hi s f el l ow men,
but because t hat r esponsi bi l i t y was par t of hi s j ob, whi ch he accept ed and
f el t pr i de i n f ul f i l l i ng. Now, he f el t a cont empt uous i ndi f f er ence and no
desi r e t o save t hem. They had asked f or and accept ed Di r ect i ve 10- 289, he
t hought , t hey went on l i vi ng and dai l y t ur ni ng away i n evasi on f r omt he ki nd
of ver di ct s t hat t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d was passi ng on def ensel ess vi ct i mswhy
shoul dn' t he now t ur n away f r omt hem? I f he saved t hei r l i ves, not one of
t hemwoul d come f or war d t o def end hi mwhen t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d woul d
convi ct hi mf or di sobeyi ng or der s, f or cr eat i ng a pani c, f or del ayi ng Mr .
Chal mer s. He had no desi r e t o be a mar t yr f or t he sake of al l owi ng peopl e
saf el y t o i ndul ge i n t hei r own i r r esponsi bl e evi l .
When t he moment came, he r ai sed hi s l ant er n and si gnal ed t he engi neer t o
st ar t .
" See?" sai d Ki p Chal mer s t r i umphant l y t o Lest er Tuck, as t he wheel s under
t hei r f eet shudder ed f or war d. " Fear i s t he onl y pr act i cal means t o deal wi t h
peopl e. "
The conduct or st epped ont o t he vest i bul e of t he l ast car . No one saw hi m
as he went down t he st eps of t he ot her si de, sl i pped of f t he t r ai n and
vani shed i nt o t he dar kness of t he mount ai ns.
A swi t chman st ood r eady t o t hr ow t he swi t ch t hat woul d send t he Comet f r om
t he si di ng ont o t he mai n t r ack. He l ooked at t he Comet as i t came sl owl y
t owar d hi m. I t was onl y a bl azi ng whi t e gl obe wi t h a beamst r et chi ng hi gh
above hi s head, and a j er ky t hunder t r embl i ng t hr ough t he r ai l under hi s
f eet . He knew t hat t he swi t ch shoul d not be t hr own. He t hought of t he ni ght ,
t en year s ago, when he had r i sked hi s l i f e i n a f l ood t o save a t r ai n f r oma
washout . But he knew t hat t i mes had changed. I n t he moment when he t hr ew t he
swi t ch and saw t he headl i ght j er k si dewi se, he knew t hat he woul d now hat e
hi s j ob f or t he r est of hi s l i f e.
The Comet uncoi l ed f r omt he si di ng i nt o a t hi n, st r ai ght l i ne, and went on
i nt o t he mount ai ns, wi t h t he beamof t he headl i ght l i ke an ext ended ar m
poi nt i ng t he way, and t he l i ght ed gl ass cur ve of t he obser vat i on l ounge
endi ng i t of f .
Some of t he passenger s aboar d t he Comet wer e awake. As t he t r ai n st ar t ed
i t s coi l i ng ascent , t hey saw t he smal l cl ust er of Wi nst on' s l i ght s at t he
bot t omof t he dar kness beyond t hei r wi ndows, t hen t he same dar kness, but wi t h
r ed and gr een l i ght s by t he hol e of a t unnel on t he upper edge of t he
wi ndowpanes. The l i ght s of Wi nst on kept gr owi ng smal l er , each t i me t hey
appear ed; t he bl ack hol e of t he t unnel kept gr owi ng l ar ger . A bl ack vei l went
st r eaki ng past t he wi ndows at t i mes, di mmi ng t he l i ght s: i t was t he heavy
smoke f r omt he coal - bur ni ng engi ne.
As t he t unnel came cl oser , t hey saw, on t he edge of t he sky f ar t o t he
sout h, i n a voi d of space and r ock, a spot of l i vi ng f i r e t wi st i ng i n t he
wi nd. They di d not know what i t was and di d not car e t o l ear n.
I t i s sai d t hat cat ast r ophes ar e a mat t er of pur e chance, and t her e wer e
t hose who woul d have sai d t hat t he passenger s of t he Comet wer e not gui l t y or
r esponsi bl e f or t he t hi ng t hat happened t o t hem.
The man i n Bedr oomA, Car No. 1, was a pr of essor of soci ol ogy who t aught
t hat i ndi vi dual abi l i t y i s of no consequence, t hat i ndi vi dual ef f or t i s
f ut i l e, t hat an i ndi vi dual consci ence i s a usel ess l uxur y, t hat t her e i s no
i ndi vi dual mi nd or char act er or achi evement , t hat ever yt hi ng i s achi eved
col l ect i vel y, and t hat i t ' s masses t hat count , not men.
The man i n Roomet t e 7, Car No. 2, was a j our nal i st who wr ot e t hat i t i s
pr oper and mor al t o use compul si on " f or a good cause, " who bel i eved t hat he
had t he r i ght t o unl eash physi cal f or ce upon ot her s
t o wr eck l i ves, t hr ot t l e ambi t i ons, st r angl e desi r es, vi ol at e convi ct i ons,
t o i mpr i son, t o despoi l , t o mur der f or t he sake of what ever he chose t o
consi der as hi s own i dea of " a good cause, " whi ch di d not even have t o be an
i dea, si nce he had never def i ned what he r egar ded as t he good, but had mer el y
st at ed t hat he went by " a f eel i ng" a f eel i ng unr est r ai ned by any knowl edge,
si nce he consi der ed emot i on super i or t o knowl edge and r el i ed sol el y on hi s
own " good i nt ent i ons" and on t he power of a gun.
The woman i n Roomet t e 10, Car No. 3, was an el der l y school t eacher who had
spent her l i f e t ur ni ng cl ass af t er cl ass of hel pl ess chi l dr en i nt o mi ser abl e
cowar ds, by t eachi ng t hemt hat t he wi l l of t he maj or i t y i s t he onl y st andar d
of good and evi l , t hat a maj or i t y may do anyt hi ng i t pl eases, t hat t hey must
not asser t t hei r own per sonal i t i es, but must do as ot her s wer e doi ng.
The man i n Dr awi ng RoomB, Car No, 4, was a newspaper publ i sher who
bel i eved t hat men ar e evi l by nat ur e and unf i t f or f r eedom, t hat t hei r basi c
i nst i nct s, i f l ef t unchecked, ar e t o l i e, t o r ob and t o mur der one anot her
and, t her ef or e, men must be r ul ed by means of l i es, r obber y and mur der , whi ch
must be made t he excl usi ve pr i vi l ege of t he r ul er s, f or t he pur pose of
f or ci ng men t o wor k, t eachi ng t hemt o be mor al and keepi ng t hemwi t hi n t he
bounds of or der and j ust i ce.
The man i n Bedr oomH, Car No. 5, was a busi nessman who had acqui r ed hi s
busi ness, an or e mi ne, wi t h t he hel p of a gover nment l oan, under t he
Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l .
The man i n Dr awi ng RoomA, Car No. 6, was a f i nanci er who had made a
f or t une by buyi ng " f r ozen" r ai l r oad bonds and get t i ng hi s f r i ends i n
Washi ngt on t o " def r eeze" t hem.
The man i n Seat 5, Car No, 7, was a wor ker who bel i eved t hat he had " a
r i ght " t o a j ob, whet her hi s empl oyer want ed hi mor not .
The woman i n Roomet t e 6, Car No. 8, was a l ect ur er who bel i eved t hat , as a
consumer , she had " a r i ght " t o t r anspor t at i on, whet her t he r ai l r oad peopl e
wi shed t o pr ovi de i t or not .
The man i n Roomet t e 2, Car No. 9, was a pr of essor of economi cs who
advocat ed t he abol i t i on of pr i vat e pr oper t y, expl ai ni ng t hat i nt el l i gence
pl ays no par t i n i ndust r i al pr oduct i on, t hat man' s mi nd i s condi t i oned by
mat er i al t ool s, t hat anybody can r un a f act or y or a r ai l r oad and i t ' s onl y a
mat t er of sei zi ng t he machi ner y.
The woman i n Bedr oomD, Car No. 10, was a mot her who had put her t wo
chi l dr en t o sl eep i n t he ber t h above her , car ef ul l y t ucki ng t hemi n,
pr ot ect i ng t hemf r omdr af t s and j ol t s; a mot her whose husband hel d a
gover nment j ob enf or ci ng di r ect i ves, whi ch she def ended by sayi ng, " I don' t
car e, i t ' s onl y t he r i ch t hat t hey hur t . Af t er al l , I must t hi nk of my
chi l dr en. "
The man i n Roomet t e 3, Car No. 11, was a sni vel i ng l i t t l e neur ot i c who
wr ot e cheap l i t t l e pl ays i nt o whi ch, as a soci al message, he i nser t ed
cowar dl y l i t t l e obsceni t i es t o t he ef f ect t hat al l busi nessmen wer e
scoundr el s.
The woman i n Roomet t e 9, Car No. 12, was a housewi f e who bel i eved t hat she
had t he r i ght t o el ect pol i t i ci ans, of whomshe knew not hi ng, t o cont r ol
gi ant i ndust r i es, of whi ch she had no knowl edge.
The man i n Bedr oomF, Car No. 13, was a l awyer who had sai d, " Me? I ' l l
f i nd a way t o get al ong under any pol i t i cal syst em. "
The man i n Bedr oomA, Car No. 14, was a pr of essor of phi l osophy who t aught
t hat t her e i s no mi ndhow do you know t hat t he t unnel i s danger ous?- no
r eal i t yhow can you pr ove t hat t he t unnel exi st s?
no l ogi cwhy do you cl ai mt hat t r ai ns cannot move wi t hout mot i ve power ?no
pr i nci pl eswhy shoul d you be bound by t he l aw of cause and- ef f ect ?no r i ght s
why shoul dn' t you at t ach men t o t hei r j obs by f or ce?no mor al i t ywhat ' s mor al
about r unni ng a r ai l r oad?no absol ut eswhat di f f er ence does i t make t o you
whet her you l i ve or di e, anyway? He t aught t hat we know not hi ngwhy oppose
t he or der s of your super i or s?t hat we can never be cer t ai n of anyt hi nghow do
you know you' r e r i ght ?t hat we must act on t he expedi ency of t he moment you
don' t want t o r i sk your j ob, do you?
The man i n Dr awi ng RoomB, Car No. 15, was an hei r who had i nher i t ed hi s
f or t une, and who had kept r epeat i ng, " Why shoul d Rear den be t he onl y one
per mi t t ed t o manuf act ur e Rear den Met al ?"
The man i n Bedr oomA, Car No. 16, was a humani t ar i an who had sai d, " The
men of abi l i t y? I do not car e what or i f t hey ar e made t o suf f er . They must
be penal i zed i n or der t o suppor t t he i ncompet ent .
Fr ankl y, I do not car e whet her t hi s i s j ust or not . I t ake pr i de i n not
car i ng t o gr ant any j ust i ce t o t he abl e, wher e mer cy t o t he needy i s
concer ned. "
These passenger s wer e awake; t her e was not a man aboar d t he t r ai n who di d
not shar e one or mor e of t hei r i deas. As t he t r ai n went i nt o t he t unnel , t he
f l ame of Wyat t ' s Tor ch was t he l ast t hi ng t hey saw on ear t h.

CHAPTER VIII
BY OUR LOVE

The sun t ouched t he t r ee t ops on t he sl ope of t he hi l l , and t hey l ooked a
bl ui sh- si l ver , cat chi ng t he col or of t he sky. Dagny st ood at t he door of t he
cabi n, wi t h t he f i r st sunr ays on her f or ehead and mi l es of f or est spr ead
under her f eet . The l eaves went down f r omsi l ver t o gr een t o t he smoky bl ue
of t he shadows on t he r oad bel ow. The l i ght t r i ckl ed down t hr ough t he
br anches and shot upwar d i n sudden spur t s when i t hi t a cl ump of f er ns t hat
became a f ount ai n of gr een r ays. I t gave her pl easur e t o wat ch t he mot i on of
t he l i ght over a st i l l ness wher e not hi ng el se coul d move.
She had mar ked t he dat e, as she di d each mor ni ng, on t he sheet of paper
she had t acked t o t he wal l of her r oom. The pr ogr essi on of t he dat es on t hat
paper was t he onl y movement i n t he st i l l ness of her days, l i ke t he r ecor d
kept by a pr i soner on a deser t i sl and. Thi s mor ni ng' s dat e was May 28.
She had i nt ended t he dat es t o l ead t o a pur pose, but she coul d not say
whet her she had r eached i t or not . She had come her e wi t h t hr ee assi gnment s
gi ven, as or der s, t o her sel f : r est l ear n t o l i ve wi t hout t he r ai l r oadget t he
pai n out of t he way. Get i t out of t he way, wer e t he wor ds she used. She f el t
as i f she wer e t i ed t o some wounded st r anger who coul d be st r i cken at any
moment by an at t ack t hat woul d dr own her i n hi s scr eams. She f el t no pi t y f or
t he st r anger , onl y a cont empt uous i mpat i ence; she had t o f i ght hi mand
dest r oy hi m, t hen her way woul d be cl ear t o deci de what she wi shed t o do; but
t he st r anger was not easy t o f i ght .
The assi gnment t o r est had been easi er . She f ound t hat she l i ked t he
sol i t ude; she awakened i n t he mor ni ng wi t h a f eel i ng of conf i dent
benevol ence, t he sense t hat she coul d vent ur e f or t h and be wi l l i ng t o deal
wi t h what ever she f ound. I n t he ci t y, she had l i ved i n chr oni c t ensi on t o
wi t hst and t he shock of anger , i ndi gnat i on, di sgust , cont empt .
The onl y danger t o t hr eat en her her e was t he si mpl e pai n of some physi cal
acci dent ; i t seemed i nnocent and easy by compar i son, The cabi n was f ar f r om
any t r avel ed r oad; i t had r emai ned as her f at her had l ef t i t . She cooked her
meal s on a wood- bur ni ng st ove and gat her ed t he wood on t he hi l l si des. She
cl ear ed t he br ush f r omunder her wal l s, she r eshi ngl ed t he r oof , she
r epai nt ed t he door and t he f r ames of t he wi ndows. Rai ns, weeds and br ush had
swal l owed t he st eps of what had once been a t er r aced pat h r i si ng up t he hi l l
f r omt he r oad t o t he cabi n. She r ebui l t i t , cl ear i ng t he t er r aces, r e- l ayi ng
t he st ones, br aci ng t he banks of sof t ear t h wi t h wal l s of boul der s. I t gave
her pl easur e t o devi se compl ex syst ems of l ever s and pul l eys out of ol d
scr aps of i r on and r ope, t hen t o move wei ght s of r ock t hat wer e much beyond
her physi cal power . She pl ant ed a f ew seeds of nast ur t i ums and mor ni ng
gl or i es, t o see one spr eadi ng sl owl y over t he gr ound and t he ot her cl i mbi ng
up t he t r ee t r unks, t o see t hemgr ow, t o see pr ogr essi on and movement .
The wor k gave her t he cal mshe needed; she had not not i ced how she began
i t or why; she had st ar t ed wi t hout consci ous i nt ent i on, but she saw i t
gr owi ng under her hands, pul l i ng her f or war d, gi vi ng her a heal i ng sense of
peace. Then she under st ood t hat what she needed was t he mot i on t o a pur pose,
no mat t er how smal l or i n what f or m, t he sense of an act i vi t y goi ng st ep by
st ep t o some chosen end acr oss a span of t i me. The wor k of cooki ng a meal was
l i ke a cl osed ci r cl e, compl et ed and gone, l eadi ng nowher e. But t he wor k of
bui l di ng a pat h was a l i vi ng sum, so t hat no day was l ef t t o di e behi nd her ,
but each day cont ai ned al l t hose t hat pr eceded i t , each day acqui r ed i t s
i mmor t al i t y on ever y succeedi ng t omor r ow. A ci r cl e, she t hought , i s t he
movement pr oper t o physi cal nat ur e, t hey say t hat t her e' s not hi ng but
ci r cul ar mot i on i n t he i nani mat e uni ver se ar ound us, but t he st r ai ght l i ne i s
t he badge of man, t he st r ai ght l i ne of a geomet r i cal abst r act i on t hat makes
r oads, r ai l s and br i dges, t he st r ai ght l i ne t hat cut s t he cur vi ng ai ml essness
of nat ur e by a pur posef ul mot i on f r oma st ar t t o an end.
The cooki ng of meal s, she t hought , i s l i ke t he f eedi ng of coal t o an
engi ne f or t he sake of a gr eat r un, but what woul d be t he i mbeci l e t or t ur e of
coal i ng an engi ne t hat had no r un t o make? I t i s not pr oper f or man' s l i f e t o
be a ci r cl e, she t hought , or a st r i ng of ci r cl es dr oppi ng of f l i ke zer os
behi nd hi mman' s l i f e must be a st r ai ght l i ne of mot i on f r omgoal t o f ar t her
goal , each l eadi ng t o t he next and t o a si ngl e gr owi ng sum, l i ke a j our ney
down t he t r ack of a r ai l r oad, f r omst at i on t o st at i on t ooh, st op i t !
St op i t she t ol d her sel f i n qui et sever i t y, when t he scr eamof t he wounded
st r anger was choked of f don' t t hi nk of t hat , don' t l ook t oo f ar , you l i ke
bui l di ng t hi s pat h, bui l d i t , don' t l ook beyond t he f oot of t he hi l l .
She had dr i ven a f ew t i mes t o t he st or e i n Woodst ock, t went y mi l es away,
t o buy suppl i es and f ood. Woodst ock was a smal l huddl e of dyi ng st r uct ur es,
bui l t gener at i ons ago f or some r eason and hope l ong si nce f or got t en. Ther e
was no r ai l r oad t o f eed i t , no el ect r i c power , not hi ng but a count y hi ghway
gr owi ng empt i er year by year .
The onl y st or e was a wooden hovel , wi t h spi der - eat en cor ner s and a r ot t ed
pat ch i n t he mi ddl e of t he f l oor , eat en by t he r ai ns t hat came t hr ough t he
l eaki ng r oof . The st or ekeeper was a f at , pal l i d woman who moved wi t h ef f or t ,
but seemed i ndi f f er ent t o her own di scomf or t . The st ock of f ood consi st ed of
dust y cans wi t h f aded l abel s, some gr ai n, and a f ew veget abl es r ot t i ng i n
anci ent bi ns out si de t he door . " Why don' t you move t hose veget abl es out of
t he sun?" Dagny asked once. The woman l ooked at her bl ankl y, as i f unabl e t o
under st and t he possi bi l i t y of such a quest i on. " They' ve al ways been t her e, "
she answer ed i ndi f f er ent l y.
Dr i vi ng back t o t he cabi n, Dagny l ooked up at a mount ai n st r eamt hat f el l
wi t h f er oci ous f or ce down a sheer gr ani t e wal l , i t s spr ay hangi ng l i ke a mi st
of r ai nbows i n t he sun. She t hought t hat one coul d bui l d a hydr oel ect r i c
pl ant , j ust l ar ge enough t o suppl y t he power f or her cabi n and f or t he t own
of Woodst ockWoodst ock coul d be made t o be pr oduct i vet hose wi l d appl e t r ees
she saw i n such unusual number s among t he dense gr owt h on t he hi l l si des, wer e
t he r emnant s of or char dssuppose one wer e t o r ecl ai mt hem, t hen bui l d a smal l
spur t o t he near est r ai l r oadoh, st op i t !
" No ker osene t oday, " t he st or ekeeper t ol d her on her next t r i p t o
Woodst ock. " I t r ai ned Thur sday ni ght , and when i t r ai ns, t he t r ucks can' t get
t hr ough Fai r f i el d gor ge, t he r oad' s f l ooded, and t he ker osene t r uck won' t be
back t hi s way t i l l next mont h. " " I f you know t hat t he r oad get s f l ooded ever y
t i me i t r ai ns, why don' t you peopl e r epai r i t ?"
The woman answer ed, " The r oad' s al ways been t hat way. "
Dr i vi ng back, Dagny st opped on t he cr est of a hi l l and l ooked down at t he
mi l es of count r ysi de bel ow. She l ooked at Fai r f i el d gor ge wher e t he count y
r oad, t wi st i ng t hr ough mar shy soi l bel ow t he l evel of a r i ver , got t r apped i n
a cr ack bet ween t wo hi l l s. I t woul d be si mpl e t o bypass t hose hi l l s, she
t hought , t o bui l d a r oad on t he ot her si de of t he r i ver t he peopl e of
Woodst ock had not hi ng t o do, she coul d t each t hemcut a r oad st r ai ght t o t he
sout hwest , save mi l es, connect wi t h t he st at e hi ghway at t he f r ei ght depot
of oh, st op i t !
She put her ker osene l amp asi de and sat i n her cabi n af t er dar k by t he
l i ght of a candl e, l i st eni ng t o t he musi c of a smal l por t abl e r adi o.
She hunt ed f or symphony concer t s and t wi st ed t he di al r api dl y past
whenever she caught t he r aucous syl l abl es of a news br oadcast ; she di d not
want any news f r omt he ci t y.
Don' t t hi nk of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al she had t ol d her sel f on her f i r st
ni ght i n t he cabi ndon' t t hi nk of i t unt i l you' r e abl e t o hear t he wor ds as
i f t hey wer e " At l ant i c Sout her n" or " Associ at ed St eel , " But t he weeks passed
and no scar woul d gr ow over t he wound.
I t seemed t o her as i f she wer e f i ght i ng t he unpr edi ct abl e cr uel t y of her
own mi nd. She woul d l i e i n bed, dr i f t i ng of f t o sl eept hen f i nd her sel f
suddenl y t hi nki ng t hat t he conveyor bel t was wor n at t he coal i ng st at i on at
Wi l l ow Bend, I ndi ana, she had seen i t f r omt he wi ndow of her car on her l ast
t r i p, she must t el l t hemt o r epl ace i t or t hey
and t hen she woul d be si t t i ng up i n bed, cr yi ng, St op i t ! and st oppi ng i t ,
but r emai ni ng awake f or t he r est of t hat ni ght .
She woul d si t at t he door of t he cabi n at sunset and wat ch t he mot i on of
t he l eaves gr owi ng st i l l i n t he t wi l i ght t hen she woul d see t he spar ks of t he
f i r ef l i es r i si ng f r omt he gr ass, f l ashi ng on and of f i n ever y dar keni ng
cor ner , f l ashi ng sl owl y, as i f hol di ng one moment ' s war ni ngt hey wer e l i ke
t he l i ght s of si gnal s wi nki ng at ni ght over t he t r ack of aSt op i t !
I t was t he t i mes when she coul d not st op i t t hat she dr eaded, t he t i mes
when, unabl e t o st and upas i n physi cal pai n, wi t h no l i mi t t o di vi de i t f r om
t he pai n of her mi ndshe woul d f al l down on t he f l oor of t he cabi n or on t he
ear t h of t he woods and si t st i l l , wi t h her f ace pr essed t o a chai r or a r ock,
and f i ght not t o l et her sel f scr eamal oud, whi l e t hey wer e suddenl y as cl ose
t o her and as r eal as t he body of a l over : t he t wo l i nes of r ai l goi ng of f t o
a si ngl e poi nt i n t he di st ancet he f r ont of an engi ne cut t i ng space apar t by
means of t he l et t er s TTt he sound of t he wheel s cl i cki ng i n accent ed r hyt hm
under t he f l oor of her car t he st at ue of Nat Taggar t i n t he concour se of t he
Ter mi nal . Fi ght i ng not t o know t hem, not t o f eel t hem, her body r i gi d but f or
t he gr i ndi ng mot i on of her f ace agai nst her ar m, she woul d dr aw what ever
power over her consci ousness st i l l r emai ned t o her i nt o t he soundl ess,
t onel ess r epet i t i on of t he wor ds: Get i t over wi t h, Ther e wer e l ong st r et ches
of cal m, when she was abl e t o f ace her pr obl emwi t h t he di spassi onat e cl ar i t y
of wei ghi ng a pr obl emi n engi neer i ng. But she coul d f i nd no answer . She knew
t hat her desper at e l ongi ng f or t he r ai l r oad woul d vani sh, wer e she t o
convi nce her sel f t hat i t was i mpossi bl e or i mpr oper . But t he l ongi ng came
f r omt he cer t ai nt y t hat t he t r ut h and t he r i ght wer e her st hat t he enemy was
t he i r r at i onal and t he unr eal t hat she coul d not set her sel f anot her goal or
summon t he l ove t o achi eve i t , whi l e her r i ght f ul achi evement had been l ost ,
not t o some super i or power , but t o a l oat hsome evi l t hat conquer ed by means
of i mpot ence.
She coul d r enounce t he r ai l r oad, she t hought ; she coul d f i nd cont ent ment
her e, i n t hi s f or est ; but she woul d bui l d t he pat h, t hen r each t he r oad
bel ow, t hen r ebui l d t he r oadand t hen she woul d r each t he st or ekeeper of
Woodst ock and t hat woul d be t he end, and t he empt y whi t e f ace st ar i ng at t he
uni ver se i n st agnant apat hy woul d be t he l i mi t pl aced on her ef f or t . Why?she
hear d her sel f scr eami ng al oud, Ther e was no answer .
Then st ay her e unt i l you answer i t , she t hought . You have no pl ace t o go,
you can' t move, you can' t st ar t gr adi ng a r i ght - of - way unt i l . . .
unt i l you know enough t o choose a t er mi nal .
Ther e wer e l ong, si l ent eveni ngs when t he emot i on t hat made her si t st i l l
and l ook at t he unat t ai nabl e di st ance beyond t he f adi ng l i ght t o t he sout h,
was l onel i ness f or Hank Rear den. She want ed t he si ght of hi s unyi el di ng f ace,
t he conf i dent f ace l ooki ng at her wi t h t he hi nt of a smi l e. But she knew t hat
she coul d not see hi munt i l her bat t l e was won. Hi s smi l e had t o be deser ved,
i t was i nt ended f or an adver sar y who t r aded her st r engt h agai nst hi s, not f or
a pai n- beat en wr et ch who woul d seek r el i ef i n t hat smi l e and t hus dest r oy i t s
meani ng. He coul d hel p her t o l i ve; he coul d not hel p her t o deci de f or what
pur pose she wi shed t o go on l i vi ng.
She had f el t a f ai nt t ouch of anxi et y si nce t he mor ni ng when she mar ked
" May 15" on her cal endar . She had f or ced her sel f t o l i st en t o news
br oadcast s, once i n a whi l e; she had hear d no ment i on of hi s name. Her f ear
f or hi mwas her l ast l i nk t o t he ci t y; i t kept dr awi ng her eyes t o t he
hor i zon at t he sout h and down t o t he r oad at t he f oot of t he hi l l . She f ound
her sel f wai t i ng f or hi mt o come. She f ound her sel f l i st eni ng f or t he sound of
a mot or . But t he onl y sound t o gi ve her a f ut i l e st ar t of hope at t i mes, was
t he sudden cr ackl e of some l ar ge bi r d' s wi ngs hur t l i ng t hr ough t he br anches
i nt o t he sky.
Ther e was anot her l i nk t o t he past , t hat st i l l r emai ned as an unsol ved
quest i on: Quent i n Dani el s and t he mot or t hat he was t r yi ng t o r ebui l d.
By J une 1, she woul d owe hi mhi s mont hl y check. Shoul d she t el l hi mt hat
she had qui t , t hat she woul d never need t hat mot or and nei t her woul d t he
wor l d? Shoul d she t el l hi mt o st op and t o l et t he r emnant of t he mot or vani sh
i n r ust on some such j unk pi l e as t he one wher e she had f ound i t ? She coul d
not f or ce her sel f t o do i t . I t seemed har der t han l eavi ng t he r ai l r oad. That
mot or , she t hought , was not a l i nk t o t he past : i t was her l ast l i nk t o t he
f ut ur e. To ki l l i t seemed l i ke an act , not of mur der , but of sui ci de: her
or der t o st op i t woul d be her si gnat ur e under t he cer t ai nt y t hat t her e was no
t er mi nal f or her t o seek ahead.
But i t i s not t r ueshe t hought , as she st ood at t he door of her cabi n, on
t hi s mor ni ng of May 28i t i s not t r ue t hat t her e i s no pl ace i n t he f ut ur e
f or a super l at i ve achi evement of man' s mi nd; i t can never be t r ue. No mat t er
what her pr obl em, t hi s woul d al ways r emai n t o her t hi s i mmovabl e convi ct i on
t hat evi l was unnat ur al and t empor ar y. She f el t i t mor e cl ear l y t han ever
t hi s mor ni ng: t he cer t ai nt y t hat t he ugl i ness of t he men i n t he ci t y and t he
ugl i ness of her suf f er i ng wer e t r ansi ent acci dent swhi l e t he smi l i ng sense of
hope wi t hi n her at t he si ght of a sun- f l ooded f or est , t he sense of an
unl i mi t ed pr omi se, was t he per manent and t he r eal .
She st ood at t he door , smoki ng a ci gar et t e. I n t he r oombehi nd her , t he
sounds of a symphony of her gr andf at her ' s t i me wer e comi ng f r omt he r adi o.
She bar el y l i st ened, she was consci ous onl y of t he f l ow of chor ds t hat seemed
t o pl ay an under scor i ng har mony f or t he f l ow of t he smoke cur vi ng sl owl y f r om
her ci gar et t e, f or t he cur vi ng mot i on of her ar mmovi ng t he ci gar et t e t o her
l i ps once i n a whi l e. She cl osed her eyes and st ood st i l l , f eel i ng t he r ays
of t he sun on her body. Thi s was t he achi evement , she t hought t o enj oy t hi s
moment , t o l et no memor y of pai n bl unt her capaci t y t o f eel as she f el t r i ght
now; so l ong as she coul d pr eser ve t hi s f eel i ng, she woul d have t he f uel t o
go on.
She was bar el y awar e of a f ai nt noi se t hat came t hr ough t he musi c, l i ke
t he scr at chi ng of an ol d r ecor d. The f i r st t hi ng t o r each her consci ousness
was t he sudden j er k of her own hand f l i ngi ng t he ci gar et t e asi de. I t came i n
t he same i nst ant as t he r eal i zat i on t hat t he noi se was gr owi ng l oader and
t hat i t was t he sound of a mot or . Then she knew t hat she had not admi t t ed t o
her sel f how much she had want ed t o hear t hat sound, how desper at el y she had
wai t ed f or Hank Rear den.
She hear d her own chuckl ei t was humbl y, caut i ousl y l ow, as i f not t o
di st ur b t he dr one of r evol vi ng met al whi ch was now t he unmi st akabl e sound of
a car r i si ng up t he mount ai n r oad.
She coul d not see t he r oadt he smal l st r et ch under t he ar ch of br anches at
t he f oot of t he hi l l was her onl y vi ew of i t but she wat ched t he car ' s ascent
by t he gr owi ng, i mper i ous st r ai n of t he mot or agai nst t he gr ades and t he
scr eech of t he t i r es on cur ves.
The car st opped under t he ar ch of br anches. She di d not r ecogni ze i t i t
was not t he bl ack Hammond, but a l ong, gr ay conver t i bl e. She saw t he dr i ver
st ep out : i t was a man whose pr esence her e coul d not be possi bl e. I t was
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
The shock she f el t was not di sappoi nt ment , i t was mor e l i ke t he sensat i on
t hat di sappoi nt ment woul d now be i r r el evant . I t was eager ness and an odd,
sol emn st i l l ness, t he sudden cer t ai nt y t hat she was f aci ng t he appr oach of
somet hi ng unknown and of t he gr avest i mpor t ance.
The swi f t ness of Fr anci sco' s movement s was car r yi ng hi mt owar d t he hi l l
whi l e he was r ai si ng hi s head t o gl ance up. He saw her above, at t he door of
t he cabi n, and st opped. She coul d not di st i ngui sh t he expr essi on on hi s f ace.
He st ood st i l l f or a l ong moment , hi s f ace r ai sed t o her . Then he st ar t ed up
t he hi l l .
She f el t al most as i f she had expect ed i t t hat t hi s was a scene f r omt hei r
chi l dhood. He was comi ng t owar d her , not r unni ng, but movi ng upwar d wi t h a
ki nd of t r i umphant , conf i dent eager ness. No, she t hought , t hi s was not t hei r
chi l dhoodi t was t he f ut ur e as she woul d have seen i t t hen, i n t he days when
she wai t ed f or hi mas f or her r el ease f r ompr i son. I t was a moment ' s vi ew of
a mor ni ng t hey woul d have r eached, i f her vi si on of l i f e had been f ul f i l l ed,
i f t hey had bot h gone t he way she had t hen been so cer t ai n of goi ng. Hel d
mot i onl ess by wonder , she st ood l ooki ng at hi m, t aki ng t hi s moment , not i n
t he name of t he pr esent , but as a sal ut e t o t hei r past .
When he was cl ose enough and she coul d di st i ngui sh hi s f ace, she saw t he
l ook of t hat l umi nous gai et y whi ch t r anscends t he sol emn by pr ocl ai mi ng t he
gr eat i nnocence of a man who has ear ned t he r i ght t o be l i ght - hear t ed. He was
smi l i ng and whi st l i ng some pi ece of musi c t hat seemed t o f l ow l i ke t he l ong,
smoot h, r i si ng f l i ght of hi s st eps.
The mel ody seemed di st ant l y f ami l i ar t o her , she f el t t hat i t bel onged
wi t h t hi s moment , yet she f el t al so t hat t her e was somet hi ng odd about i t ,
somet hi ng i mpor t ant t o gr asp, onl y she coul d not t hi nk of i t now.
" Hi , Sl ug! "
" Hi , Fr i sco! "
She knewby t he way he l ooked at her , by an i nst ant ' s dr op of hi s eyel i ds
cl osi ng hi s eyes, by t he br i ef pul l of hi s head st r i vi ng t o l ean back and
r esi st , by t he f ai nt , hal f - smi l i ng, hal f - hel pl ess r el axat i on of hi s l i ps,
t hen by t he sudden har shness of hi s ar ms as he sei zed her
t hat i t was i nvol unt ar y, t hat he had not i nt ended i t , and t hat i t was
i r r esi st i bl y r i ght f or bot h of t hem.
The desper at e vi ol ence of t he way he hel d her , t he hur t i ng pr essur e of hi s
mout h on her s, t he exul t ant sur r ender of hi s body t o t he t ouch of her s, wer e
not t he f or mof a moment ' s pl easur eshe knew t hat no physi cal hunger coul d
br i ng a man t o t hi sshe knew t hat i t was t he st at ement she had never hear d
f r omhi m, t he gr eat est conf essi on of l ove a man coul d make. No mat t er what he
had done t o wr eck hi s l i f e, t hi s was st i l l t he Fr anci sco d' Anconi a i n whose
bed she had been so pr oud of bel ongi ngno mat t er what bet r ayal s she had met
f r omt he wor l d, her vi si on of l i f e had been t r ue and some i ndest r uct i bl e par t
of i t had r emai ned wi t hi n hi mand i n answer t o i t , her body r esponded t o hi s,
her ar ms and mout h hel d hi m, conf essi ng her desi r e, conf essi ng an
acknowl edgment she had al ways gi ven hi mand al ways woul d.
Then t he r est of hi s year s came back t o her , wi t h a st ab of t he pai n of
knowi ng t hat t he gr eat er hi s per son, t he mor e t er r i bl e hi s gui l t hi
dest r oyi ng i t . She pul l ed her sel f away f r omhi m, she shook her head, she
sai d, i n answer t o bot h of t hem, " No. "
He st ood l ooki ng at her , di sar med and smi l i ng. " Not yet . You have a gr eat
deal t o f or gi ve me, f i r st . But I can t el l you ever yt hi ng now. "
She had never hear d t hat l ow, br eat hl ess qual i t y of hel pl essness i n hi s
voi ce. He was f i ght i ng t o r egai n cont r ol , t her e was al most a t ouch of apol ogy
i n hi s smi l e, t he apol ogy of a chi l d pl eadi ng f or i ndul gence, but t her e was
al so an adul t ' s amusement , t he l aughi ng decl ar at i on t hat he di d not have t o
hi de hi s st r uggl e, si nce i t was happi ness t hat he was wr est l i ng wi t h, not
pai n.
She backed away f r omhi m; she f el t as i f emot i on had f l ung her ahead of
her own consci ousness, and quest i ons wer e now cat chi ng up wi t h her , gr opi ng
t owar d t he f or mof wor ds. '
" Dagny, t hat t or t ur e you' ve been goi ng t hr ough, her e, f or t he l ast mont h .
. . answer me as honest l y as you can . . . do you t hi nk you coul d have bor ne
i t t wel ve year s ago?"
" No, " she answer ed; he smi l ed. " Why do you ask t hat ?"
" To r edeemt wel ve year s of my l i f e, whi ch I won' t have t o r egr et . "
" What do you mean? And" her quest i ons had caught up wi t h her " and what do
you know about my t or t ur e her e?"
" Dagny, ar en' t you begi nni ng t o see t hat I woul d know ever yt hi ng about
i t ?"
" How di d you . . . Fr anci sco! What wer e you whi st l i ng when you wer e comi ng
up t he hi l l ?"
" Why, was I ? I don' t know. "
" I t was t he Fi f t h Concer t o by Ri char d Hal l ey, wasn' t i t ?"
" Oh . . . ] He l ooked st ar t l ed, t hen smi l ed i n amusement at hi msel f , t hen
answer ed gr avel y, " I ' l l t el l you t hat l at er . "
" How di d you f i nd out wher e I was?"
" I ' l l t el l you t hat , t oo. "
" You f or ced i t out of Eddi e. "
" I haven' t seen Eddi e f or over a year . "
" He was t he onl y one who knew i t . "
" I t wasn' t Eddi e who t ol d me. "
" I di dn' t want anybody t o f i nd me. "
He gl anced sl owl y about hi m, she saw hi s eyes st op on t he pat h she had
bui l t , on t he pl ant ed f l ower s, on t he f r esh- shi ngl ed r oof . He chuckl ed, as i f
he under st ood and as i f i t hur t hi m. " You shoul dn' t have been l ef t her e f or a
mont h, " he sai d. " God, you shoul dn' t have! I t ' s my f i r st f ai l ur e, at t he one
t i me when I di dn' t want t o f ai l . But I di dn' t t hi nk you wer e r eady t o qui t .
Had I known i t , I woul d have wat ched you day and ni ght . "
" Real l y? What f or ?"
" To spar e you" he poi nt ed at her wor k" al l t hi s. "
" Fr anci sco, " she sai d, her voi ce l ow, " i f you' r e concer ned about my
t or t ur e, don' t you know t hat I don' t want t o hear you speak of i t , because"
She st opped; she had never compl ai ned t o hi m, not i n al l t hose year s; her
voi ce f l at , she ' sai d onl y, " t hat I don' t want t o hear i t ?"
" Because I ' mt he one man who has no r i ght t o speak of i t ? Dagny, i f you
t hi nk t hat I don' t know how much I ' ve hur t you, I ' l l t el l you about t he year s
when I . . . But i t ' s over . Oh, dar l i ng, i t ' s over ! "
" I s i t ?"
" For gi ve me, I must n' t say t hat . Not unt i l you say i t , " He was t r yi ng t o
cont r ol hi s voi ce, but t he l ook of happi ness was beyond hi s power of cont r ol .
" Ar e you happy because I ' ve l ost ever yt hi ng I l i ved f or ? Al l r i ght , I ' l l
say i t , i f t hi s i s what you' ve come t o hear : you wer e t he f i r st t hi ng I l ost
does i t amuse you now t o see t hat I ' ve l ost t he r est ?"
He gl anced st r ai ght at her , hi s eyes dr awn nar r ow by such an i nt ensi t y of
ear nest ness t hat t he gl ance was al most a t hr eat , and she knew t hat what ever
t he year s had meant t o hi m, " amusement " was t he one wor d she had no r i ght t o
ut t er .
" Do you r eal l y t hi nk t hat ?" he asked.
She whi sper ed, " No . . . "
" Dagny, we can never l ose t he t hi ngs we l i ve f or . We may have t o change
t hei r f or mat t i mes, i f we' ve made an er r or , but t he pur pose r emai ns t he same
and t he f or ms ar e our s t o make. "
" ' That i s what I ' ve been t el l i ng mysel f f or a mont h. But t her e' s no way
l ef t open t owar d any pur pose what ever . "
He di d not answer . He sat down on a boul der by t he door of t he cabi n,
wat chi ng her as i f he di d not want t o mi ss a si ngl e shadow of r eact i on on her
f ace. " What do you t hi nk now of t he men who qui t and vani shed?" he asked.
She shr ugged, wi t h a f ai nt smi l e of hel pl ess sadness, and sat down on t he
gr ound besi de hi m. " You know, " she sai d, " I used t o t hi nk t hat t her e was some
dest r oyer who came af t er t hemand made t hemqui t .
But I guess t her e wasn' t . Ther e have been t i mes, t hi s past mont h, when
I ' ve al most wi shed he woul d come f or me, t oo. But nobody came. "
" No?"
" No. I used t o t hi nk t hat he gave t hemsome i nconcei vabl e r eason t o make
t hembet r ay ever yt hi ng t hey l oved. But t hat wasn' t necessar y.
I know how t hey f el t . I can' t bl ame t hemany l onger . What I don' t know i s
how t hey l ear ned t o exi st af t er war di f any of t hemst i l l exi st . "
" Do you f eel t hat you' ve bet r ayed Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ?"
" No. I . . . I f eel t hat I woul d have bet r ayed i t by r emai ni ng at wor k. "
" You woul d have. "
" I f I had agr eed t o ser ve t he l oot er s, i t ' s . . . i t ' s Nat Taggar t t hat I
woul d have del i ver ed t o t hem. I coul dn' t . I coul dn' t l et hi s achi evement , and
mi ne, end up wi t h t he l oot er s as our f i nal goal . "
" No, you coul dn' t . Do you cal l t hi s i ndi f f er ence? Do you t hi nk t hat you
l ove t he r ai l r oad l ess t han you di d a mont h ago?"
" I t hi nk t hat I woul d gi ve my l i f e f or j ust one mor e year on t he r ai l r oad
. . . But I can' t go back t o i t . "
" Then you know what t hey f el t , al l t he men who qui t , and what i t was t hat
t hey l oved when t hey gave up. "
" Fr anci sco, " she asked, not l ooki ng at hi m, her head bent , " why di d you
ask me whet her I coul d have gi ven i t up t wel ve year s ago?"
" Don' t you know what ni ght I amt hi nki ng of , j ust as you ar e?"
" Yes . . . " she whi sper ed.
" That was t he ni ght I gave up d' Anconi a Copper . "
Sl owl y, wi t h a l ong ef f or t , she moved her head t o gl ance up at hi m.
Hi s f ace had t he expr essi on she had seen t hen, on t hat next mor ni ng,
t wel ve year s ago: t he l ook of a smi l e, t hough he was not smi l i ng, t he qui et
l ook of vi ct or y over pai n, t he l ook of a man' s pr i de i n t he pr i ce he pai d and
i n t hat whi ch made i t wor t h payi ng.
" But you di dn' t gi ve i t up, " she sai d. " You di dn' t qui t . You' r e st i l l t he
Pr esi dent of d' Anconi a Copper , onl y i t means not hi ng t o you now. "
" I t means as much t o me now as i t di d t hat ni ght . "
" Then how can you l et i t go t o pi eces?"
" Dagny, you' r e mor e f or t unat e t han I . Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i s a
del i cat e pi ece of pr eci si on machi ner y. I t wi l l not l ast l ong wi t hout you. I t
cannot be r un by sl ave l abor . They wi l l mer ci f ul l y dest r oy i t f or you and you
won' t have t o see i t ser vi ng t he l oot er s. But copper mi ni ng i s a si mpl er j ob.
D' Anconi a Copper coul d have l ast ed f or gener at i ons of l oot er s and sl aves.
Cr udel y, mi ser abl y, i nept l ybut i t coul d have l ast ed and hel ped t hemt o l ast .
I had t o dest r oy i t mysel f . "
- Youwhat ?"
" I amdest r oyi ng d' Anconi a Copper , consci ousl y, del i ber at el y, by pl an and
by my own hand. I have t o pl an i t as car ef ul l y and wor k as har d as i f I wer e
pr oduci ng a f or t unei n or der not t o l et t hemnot i ce i t and st op me, i n or der
not t o l et t hemsei ze t he mi nes unt i l i t i s t oo l at e. AH t he ef f or t and
ener gy I had hoped t o spend on d' Anconi a Copper , I ' mspendi ng t hem, onl y . .
. onl y i t ' s not t o make i t gr ow. I shal l dest r oy ever y l ast bi t of i t and
ever y l ast penny of my f or t une and ever y ounce of copper t hat coul d f eed t he
l oot er s. I shal l not l eave i t as I f ound i t I shal l l eave i t as Sebast i an
d' Anconi a f ound i t t hen l et t hemt r y t o exi st wi t hout hi mor me! "
" Fr anci sco! " she scr eamed. " How coul d you make your sel f do i t ?"
" By t he gr ace of t he same l ove as your s, " he answer ed qui et l y, " my l ove
f or d' Anconi a Copper , f or t he spi r i t of whi ch i t was t he shape.
Wasand, some day, wi l l be agai n. "
She sat st i l l , t r yi ng t o gr asp al l t he i mpl i cat i ons of what she now
gr asped onl y as t he numbness of shock. I n t he si l ence, t he musi c of t he r adi o
symphony went on, and t he r hyt hmof t he chor ds r eached her l i ke t he sl ow,
sol emn poundi ng of st eps, whi l e she st r uggl ed t o see at once t he whol e
pr ogr essi on of t wel ve year s: t he t or t ur ed boy who cal l ed f or hel p on her
br east st he man who sat on t he f l oor of a dr awi ng r oom, pl ayi ng mar bl es and
l aughi ng at t he dest r uct i on of gr eat i ndust r i est he man who cr i ed, " My l ove,
I can' t ! " whi l e r ef usi ng t o hel p her t he man who dr ank a t oast , i n t he di m
boot h of a bar r oom, t o t he year s whi ch Sebast i an d' Anconi a had had t o wai t . .
. .
" Fr anci sco . . . of al l t he guesses I t r i ed t o make about you . . . I
never t hought of i t . . . I never t hought t hat you wer e one of t hose men who
had qui t . . . "
" I was one of t he f i r st of t hem. "
" I t hought t hat t hey al ways vani shed . . . "
" Wel l , hadn' t I ? Wasn' t i t t he wor st of what I di d t o yout hat I l ef t you
l ooki ng at a cheap pl ayboy who was not t he Fr anci sco d' Anconi a you had
known?"
" Yes . . . " she whi sper ed, " onl y t he wor st was t hat I coul dn' t bel i eve i t
. . . I never di d . . . I t was Fr anci sco d' Anconi a t hat I kept seei ng ever y
t i me I saw you. . . . "
" I know. And I know what i t di d t o you. I t r i ed t o hel p you under st and,
but i t was t oo soon t o t el l you. Dagny, i f I had t ol d you
t hat ni ght or t he day when you came t o damn me f or t he San Sebast i an
Mi nest hat I was not an ai ml ess l oaf er , t hat I was out t o speed up t he
dest r uct i on of ever yt hi ng we had hel d sacr ed t oget her , t he dest r uct i on of
d' Anconi a Copper , of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , of Wyat t Oi l , of Rear den
St eel woul d you have f ound i t easi er t o t ake?"
" Har der , " she whi sper ed. " I ' mnot sur e T can t ake i t , even now.
Nei t her your ki nd of r enunci at i on nor my own . . . But , Fr anci sco"
she t hr ew her head back suddenl y t o l ook up at hi m" i f t hi s was your
secr et , t hen of al l t he hel l you had t o t ake, I was"
" Oh yes, my dar l i ng, yes, you wer e t he wor st of i t ! " I t was a desper at e
cr y, i t s sound of l aught er and of r el ease conf essi ng al l t he agony he want ed
t o sweep away. He sei zed her hand, he pr essed hi s mout h t o i t , t hen hi s f ace,
not t o l et her see t he r ef l ect i on of what hi s year s had been l i ke. " I f i t ' s
any ki nd of at onement , whi ch i t i sn' t . . .
what ever I made you suf f er , t hat ' s how I pai d f or i t . . . by knowi ng what
I was doi ng t o you and havi ng t o do i t . . . and wai t i ng, wai t i ng t o . . .
But i t ' s over . "
He r ai sed hi s head, smi l i ng, he l ooked down at her and she saw a l ook of
pr ot ect i ve t ender ness come i nt o hi s f ace, whi ch t ol d her of t he despai r he
saw i n her s.
" Dagny, don' t t hi nk of t hat . I won' t cl ai many suf f er i ng of mi ne as my
excuse. What ever my r eason, I knew what I was doi ng and I ' ve hur t you
t er r i bl y. I ' l l need year s t o make up f or i t . For get what " she knew t hat he
meant : what hi s embr ace had conf essed" what I haven' t sai d. Of al l t he t hi ngs
I have t o t el l you, t hat i s t he one I ' l l say l ast . " But hi s eyes, hi s smi l e,
t he gr asp of hi s f i nger s on her wr i st wer e sayi ng i t agai nst hi s wi l l .
" You' ve bor ne t oo much, and t her e' s a gr eat deal t hat you have t o l ear n t o
under st and i n or der t o l ose ever y scar of t he t or t ur e you never shoul d have
had t o bear . Al l t hat mat t er s now i s t hat you' r e f r ee t o r ecover . We' r e f r ee,
bot h of us, we' r e f r ee of t he l oot er s, we' r e out of t hei r r each. "
She sai d, her voi ce qui et l y desol at e, " That ' s what I came her e f or
t o t r y t o under st and. But I can' t . I t seems monst r ousl y wr ong t o sur r ender
t he wor l d t o t he l oot er s, and monst r ousl y wr ong t o l i ve under t hei r r ul e. I
can nei t her gi ve up nor go back. I can nei t her exi st wi t hout wor k nor wor k as
a ser f . I had al ways t hought t hat any sor t of bat t l e was pr oper , anyt hi ng,
except r enunci at i on. I ' mnot sur e we' r e r i ght t o qui t , you and f , when we
shoul d have f ought t hem. But t her e i s no way t o f i ght . I t ' s sur r ender , i f we
l eaveand sur r ender , i f we r emai n. I don' t know what i s r i ght any l onger . "
" Check your pr emi ses, Dagny. Cont r adi ct i ons don' t exi st . "
" But I can' t f i nd any answer . I can' t condemn you f or what you' r e doi ng,
yet i t ' s hor r or t hat I f eel admi r at i on and hor r or , at t he same t i me. You, t he
hei r of t he d' Anconi as, who coul d have sur passed al l hi s ancest or s of t he
mi r acul ous hand t hat pr oduced, you' r e t ur ni ng your mat chl ess abi l i t y t o t he
j ob of dest r uct i on. And I I ' mpl ayi ng wi t h cobbl est ones and shi ngl i ng a r oof ,
whi l e a t r anscont i nent al r ai l r oad syst emi s col l apsi ng i n t he hands of
congeni t al war d heel er s. Yet you and I wer e t he ki nd who det er mi ne t he f at e
of t he wor l d. I f t hi s i s what we l et i t come t o, t hen i t must have been our
own gui l t . But I can' t see t he nat ur e of our er r or . "
" Yes, Dagny, i t was our own gui l t . "
" Because we di dn' t wor k har d enough?"
" Because we wor ked t oo har dand char ged t oo l i t t l e. "
" What do you mean?"
" We never demanded t he one payment t hat t he wor l d owed usand we l et our
best r ewar d go t o t he wor st of men. The er r or was made cent ur i es ago, i t was
made by Sebast i an d' Anconi a, by Nat Taggar t , by ever y man who f ed t he wor l d
and r ecei ved no t hanks i n r et ur n.
You don' t know what i s r i ght any l onger ? Dagny, t hi s i s not a bat t l e over
mat er i al goods. I t ' s a mor al cr i si s, t he gr eat est t he wor l d has ever f aced
and t he l ast . Our age i s t he cl i max of cent ur i es of evi l . We must put an end
t o i t , once and f or al l , or per i shwe, t he men of t he mi nd. I t was our own
gui l t . We pr oduced t he weal t h of t he wor l d
but we l et our enemi es wr i t e i t s mor al code. "
" But we never accept ed t hei r code. We l i ved by our own st andar ds. "
" Yesand pai d r ansoms f or i t ! Ransoms i n mat t er and i n spi r i t i n money,
whi ch our enemi es r ecei ved, but di d not deser ve, and i n honor , whi ch we
deser ved, but di d not r ecei ve. That was our gui l t
t hat we wer e wi l l i ng t o pay. We kept manki nd al i ve, yet we al l owed men t o
despi se us and t o wor shi p our dest r oyer s. We al l owed t hemt o wor shi p
i ncompet ence and br ut al i t y, t he r eci pi ent s and t he di spenser s of t he
unear ned. By accept i ng puni shment , not f or any si ns, but f or our vi r t ues, we
bet r ayed our code and made t hei r s possi bl e. Dagny, t hei r s i s t he mor al i t y of
ki dnapper s. They use your l ove of vi r t ue as a host age. They know t hat you' l l
bear anyt hi ng i n or der t o wor k and pr oduce, because you know t hat achi evement
i s man' s hi ghest mor al pur pose, t hat he can' t exi st wi t hout i t , and your l ove
of vi r t ue i s your l ove of l i f e. They count on you t o assume any bur den. They
count on you t o f eel t hat no ef f or t i s t oo gr eat i n t he ser vi ce of your l ove.
Dagny, your enemi es ar e dest r oyi ng you by means of your own power . Your
gener osi t y and your endur ance ar e t hei r onl y t ool s. Your unr equi t ed r ect i t ude
i s t he onl y hol d t hey have upon you. They know i t .
You don' t . The day when you' l l di scover i t i s t he onl y t hi ng t hey dr ead.
You must l ear n t o under st and t hem. You won' t be f r ee of t hem, unt i l you
do. But when you do, you' l l r each such a st age of r i ght f ul anger t hat you' l l
bl ast ever y r ai l of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , r at her t han l et i t ser ve t hem! "
" But t o l eave i t t o t hem! " she moaned. " To abandon i t . . . To abandon
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . . . when i t ' s . . . i t ' s al most l i ke a l i vi ng
per son . . . "
" I t was. I t i sn' t any l onger . Leave i t t o t hem. I t won' t do t hemany good.
Let i t go. We don' t need i t . We can r ebui l d i t . They can' t . We' l l sur vi ve
wi t hout i t . They won' t . "
" But we, br ought down t o r enounci ng and gi vi ng up! "
" Dagny, we who' ve been cal l ed ' mat er i al i st s' by t he ki l l er s of t he human
spi r i t , we' r e t he onl y ones who know how l i t t l e val ue or meani ng t her e i s i n
mat er i al obj ect s as such, because we' r e t he ones who cr eat e t hei r val ue and
meani ng. We can af f or d t o gi ve t hemup, f or a shor t whi l e, i n or der t o r edeem
somet hi ng much mor e pr eci ous. We ar e t he soul , of whi ch r ai l r oads, copper
mi nes, st eel mi l l s and oi l wel l s ar e t he bodyand t hey ar e l i vi ng ent i t i es
t hat beat day and ni ght , l i ke our hear t s, i n t he sacr ed f unct i on of
suppor t i ng human l i f e, but onl y so l ong as t hey r emai n our body, onl y so l ong
as t hey r emai n t he expr essi on, t he r ewar d and t he pr oper t y of achi evement .
Wi t hout us, t hey ar e cor pses and t hei r sol e pr oduct i s poi son, not weal t h or
f ood, t he poi son of di si nt egr at i on t hat t ur ns men i nt o hor des of scavenger s.
Dagny, l ear n t o under st and t he nat ur e of your own power and you' l l
under st and t he par adox you now see ar ound you. You do not have t o depend on
any mat er i al possessi ons, t hey depend on you, you cr eat e t hem, you own t he
one and onl y t ool of pr oduct i on. Wher ever you ar e, you wi l l al ways be abl e t o
pr oduce. But t he l oot er sby t hei r own st at ed t heor yar e i n desper at e,
per manent , congeni t al need and at t he bl i nd mer cy of mat t er . Why don' t you
t ake t hemat t hei r wor d? They need r ai l r oads, f act or i es, mi nes, mot or s, whi ch
t hey cannot make or r un. Of what use wi l l your r ai l r oad be t o t hemwi t hout
you? Who hel d i t t oget her ? Who kept i t al i ve? Who saved i t , t i me and t i me
agai n?
Was i t your br ot her J ames? Who f ed hi m? Who f ed t he l oot er s? Who pr oduced
t hei r weapons? Who gave t hemt he means t o ensl ave you?
The i mpossi bl e spect acl e of shabby l i t t l e i ncompet ent s hol di ng cont r ol
over t he pr oduct s of geni uswho made i t possi bl e? Who suppor t ed your enemi es,
who f or ged your chai ns, who dest r oyed your achi evement ?"
The mot i on t hat t hr ew her upr i ght was l i ke a si l ent cr y. He shot t o hi s
f eet wi t h t he st or ed abr upt ness of a spr i ng uncoi l i ng, hi s voi ce dr i vi ng on
i n mer ci l ess t r i umph: " You' r e begi nni ng t o see, ar en' t you? Dagny! Leave t hem
t he car cass of t hat r ai l r oad, l eave t hemal l t he r ust ed r ai l s and r ot t ed t i es
and gut t ed engi nesbut don' t l eave t hemyour mi nd! Don' t l eave t hemyour
mi nd! The f at e of t he wor l d r est s on t hat deci si on! "
" Ladi es and gent l emen, " sai d t he pani c- pr egnant voi ce of a r adi o
announcer , br eaki ng of f t he chor ds of t he symphony, " we i nt er r upt t hi s
br oadcast t o br i ng you a speci al news bul l et i n. The gr eat est di sast er i n
r ai l r oad hi st or y occur r ed i n t he ear l y hour s of t he mor ni ng on t he mai n l i ne
of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , at Wi nst on, Col or ado, demol i shi ng t he f amous
Taggar t Tunnel ! "
Her scr eamsounded l i ke t he scr eams t hat had r ung out i n t he one l ast
moment i n t he dar kness of t he t unnel . I t s sound r emai ned wi t h hi mt hr ough t he
r est of t he br oadcast as t hey bot h r an t o t he r adi o i n t he cabi n and st ood,
i n equal t er r or , her eyes st ar i ng at t he r adi o, hi s eyes wat chi ng her f ace.
" The det ai l s of t he st or y wer e obt ai ned f r omLuke Beal , f i r eman of t he
Taggar t l uxur y mai n l i ner , t he Comet , who was f ound unconsci ous at t he
west er n por t al of t he t unnel t hi s mor ni ng, and who appear s t o be t he sol e
sur vi vor of t he cat ast r ophe. Thr ough some ast oundi ng i nf r act i on of saf et y
r ul esi n ci r cumst ances not yet f ul l y est abl i shedt he Comet , west bound f or San
Fr anci sco, was sent i nt o t he t unnel wi t h a coal - bur ni ng st eaml ocomot i ve. The
Taggar t Tunnel , an ei ght - mi l e bor e, cut t hr ough t he summi t of t he Rocky
Mount ai ns and r egar ded as an engi neer i ng achi evement not t o be equal ed i n our
t i me, was bui l t by t he gr andson of Nat hani el Taggar t , i n t he gr eat age of t he
cl ean, smokel ess Di esel - el ect r i c engi ne. The t unnel ' s vent i l at i on syst emwas
not desi gned t o pr ovi de f or t he heavy smoke and f umes of coal - bur ni ng
l ocomot i vesand i t was known t o ever y r ai l r oad empl oyee i n t he di st r i ct t hat
t o send a t r ai n i nt o t he t unnel wi t h such a l ocomot i ve woul d mean deat h by
suf f ocat i on f or ever yone aboar d. The Comet , none t he l ess, was so or der ed t o
pr oceed. Accor di ng t o Fi r eman Beal , t he ef f ect s of t he f umes began t o be f el t
when t he t r ai n was about t hr ee mi l es i nsi de t he t unnel . Engi neer J oseph Scot t
t hr ew t he t hr ot t l e wi de open, i n a desper at e at t empt t o gai n speed, but t he
ol d, wor n engi ne was i nadequat e f or t he wei ght of t he l ong t r ai n and t he
r i si ng gr ade of t he t r ack. St r uggl i ng t hr ough t he t hi ckeni ng f umes, engi neer
and f i r eman had bar el y managed t o f or ce t he l eaki ng st eamboi l er s up t o a
speed of f or t y mi l es per hour when some passenger , pr ompt ed undoubt edl y by
t he pani c of choki ng, pul l ed t he emer gency br ake cor d. The sudden j ol t of t he
st op appar ent l y br oke t he engi ne' s ai r hose, f or t he t r ai n coul d not be
st ar t ed agai n. Ther e wer e scr eams comi ng f r omt he car s. Passenger s wer e
br eaki ng wi ndows. Engi neer Scot t st r uggl ed f r ant i cal l y t o make t he engi ne
st ar t , but col l apsed at t he t hr ot t l e, over come by t he f umes.
Fi r eman Beal l eaped f r omt he engi ne and r an. He was wi t hi n si ght of t he
west er n por t al , when he hear d t he bl ast of t he expl osi on, whi ch i s t he l ast
t hi ng he r emember s. The r est of t he st or y was gat her ed f r omr ai l r oad
empl oyees at Wi nst on St at i on. I t appear s t hat an Ar my Fr ei ght Speci al ,
west bound, car r yi ng a heavy l oad of expl osi ves, had been gi ven no war ni ng
about t he pr esence of t he Comet on t he t r ack j ust ahead. Bot h t r ai ns had
encount er ed del ays and wer e r unni ng of f t hei r schedul es. I t appear s t hat t he
Fr ei ght Speci al had been or der ed t o pr oceed r egar dl ess of si gnal s, because
t he t unnel ' s si gnal syst emwas out of or der . I t i s sai d t hat i n spi t e of
speed r egul at i ons and i n vi ew of t he f r equent br eakdowns of t he vent i l at i ng
syst em, i t was t he t aci t cust omof al l engi neer s t o go f ul l speed whi l e i n
t he t unnel . I t appear s, as f ar as can be est abl i shed at pr esent , t hat t he
Comet was st al l ed j ust beyond t he poi nt wher e t he t unnel makes a shar p cur ve.
I t i s bel i eved t hat ever yone aboar d was dead by t hat t i me. I t i s doubt ed t hat
t he engi neer of t he Fr ei ght Speci al , t ur ni ng a cur ve at ei ght y mi l es an hour ,
woul d have been abl e t o see, i n t i me, t he obser vat i on wi ndow of t he Comet ' s
l ast car , whi ch was br i ght l y l i ght ed when i t l ef t Wi nst on St at i on. What i s
known i s t hat t he Fr ei ght Speci al cr ashed i nt o t he r ear of t he Comet . The
expl osi on of t he Speci al ' s car go br oke wi ndows i n a f ar mhouse f i ve mi l es away
and br ought down such a wei ght of r ock upon t he t unnel t hat r escue par t i es
have not yet been abl e t o come wi t hi n t hr ee mi l es of wher e ei t her t r ai n had
been. I t i s not expect ed t hat any sur vi vor s wi l l be f oundand i t i s not
bel i eved t hat t he Taggar t Tunnel can ever be r ebui l t . "
She st ood st i l l . She l ooked as i f she wer e seei ng, not t he r oomar ound
her , but t he scene i n Col or ado. Her sudden movement had t he abr upt ness of a
convul si on. Wi t h t he si ngl e- t r acked r at i onal i t y of a somnambul i st , , she
whi r l ed t o f i nd her handbag, as i f i t wer e t he onl y obj ect i n exi st ence, she
sei zed i t , she whi r l ed t o t he door and r an.
" Dagny! " he scr eamed. " Don' t go back! "
The scr eamhad no mor e power t o r each her t han i f he wer e cal l i ng t o her
acr oss t he mi l es bet ween hi mand t he mount ai ns of Col or ado.
He r an af t er her , he caught her , sei zi ng her by bot h el bows, and he cr i ed,
" Don' t go back! Dagny! I n t he name of anyt hi ng sacr ed t o you, don' t go back! "
She l ooked as i f she di d not know who he was. I n a cont est of physi cal
st r engt h, he coul d have br oken t he bones of her ar ms wi t hout ef f or t .
But wi t h t he f or ce of a l i vi ng cr eat ur e f i ght i ng f or l i f e, she t or e
her sel f l oose so vi ol ent l y t hat she t hr ew hi mof f bal ance f or a moment . When
he r egai ned hi s f oot i ng, she was r unni ng down t he hi l l r unni ng as he had r un
at t he sound of t he al ar msi r en i n Rear den' s mi l l sr unni ng t o her car on t he
r oad bel ow.
Hi s l et t er of r esi gnat i on l ay on t he desk bef or e hi mand J ames Taggar t sat
st ar i ng at i t , hunched by hat r ed. He f el t as i f hi s enemy wer e t hi s pi ece of
paper , not t he wor ds on i t , but t he sheet and t he i nk t hat had gi ven t he
wor ds a mat er i al f i nal i t y. He had al ways r egar ded t hought s and wor ds as
i nconcl usi ve, but a mat er i al shape was t hat whi ch he had spent hi s l i f e
escapi ng: a commi t ment .
He had not deci ded t o r esi gnnot r eal l y, he t hought ; he had di ct at ed t he
l et t er f or a mot i ve whi ch he i dent i f i ed t o hi msel f onl y as " j ust i n case. "
The l et t er , he f el t , was a f or mof pr ot ect i on; but he had not si gned i t yet ,
and t hat was hi s pr ot ect i on agai nst t he pr ot ect i on. The hat r ed was di r ect ed
at what ever had br ought hi mt o f eel t hat he woul d not be abl e t o cont i nue
ext endi ng t hi s pr ocess much l onger .
He had r ecei ved wor d of t he cat ast r ophe at ei ght o' cl ock t hi s mor ni ng; by
noon, he had ar r i ved at hi s of f i ce. An i nst i nct t hat came f r omr easons whi ch
he knew, but spent hi s whol e ef f or t on not knowi ng, had t ol d hi mt hat he had
t o be t her e, t hi s t i me.
The men who had been hi s mar ked car dsi n a game he knew how t o pl aywer e
gone. Cl i f t on Locey was bar r i caded behi nd t he st at ement of a doct or who had
announced t hat Mr . Locey was suf f er i ng f r oma hear t condi t i on whi ch made i t
i mpossi bl e t o di st ur b hi mat pr esent . One of Taggar t ' s execut i ve assi st ant s
was sai d t o have l ef t f or Bost on l ast ni ght , and t he ot her was sai d t o have
been cal l ed unexpect edl y t o an unnamed hospi t al , t o t he bedsi de of a f at her
nobody had ever suspect ed hi mof havi ng. Ther e was no answer at t he home of
t he chi ef engi neer . The vi ce- pr esi dent i n char ge of publ i c r el at i ons coul d
not be f ound.
Dr i vi ng t hr ough t he st r eet s t o hi s of f i ce, Taggar t had seen t he bl ack
l et t er s of t he headl i nes. Wal ki ng down t he cor r i dor s of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , he had hear d t he voi ce of a speaker pour i ng f r oma r adi o i n
someone' s of f i ce, t he ki nd of voi ce one expect s t o hear on unl i ght ed st r eet
cor ner s: i t was scr eami ng demands f or t he nat i onal i zat i on of t he r ai l r oads.
He had wal ked t hr ough t he cor r i dor s, hi s st eps noi sy, i n or der t o be seen,
and hast y, i n or der not t o be st opped f or quest i ons. He had l ocked t he door
of hi s of f i ce, or der i ng hi s secr et ar y not t o admi t any per son or phone cal l
and t o t el l al l comer s t hat Mr . Taggar t was busy.
Then he sat at hi s desk, al one wi t h bl ank t er r or . He f el t as i f he wer e
t r apped i n a subt er r anean vaul t and t he l ock coul d never be br oken agai nand
as i f he wer e hel d on di spl ay i n t he si ght of t he whol e ci t y bel ow, hopi ng
t hat t he l ock woul d hol d out f or et er ni t y. He had t o be her e, i n t hi s of f i ce,
i t was r equi r ed of hi m, he had t o si t i dl y and wai t wai t f or t he unknown t o
descend upon hi mand t o det er mi ne hi s act i onsand t he t er r or was bot h of who
woul d come f or hi mand of t he f act t hat nobody came, nobody t o t el l hi mwhat
t o do.
The r i ngi ng of t he t el ephones i n t he out er of f i ce sounded l i ke scr eams f or
hel p. He l ooked at t he door wi t h a sensat i on of mal evol ent t r i umph at t he
t hought of al l t hose voi ces bei ng def eat ed by t he i nnocuous f i gur e of hi s
secr et ar y, a young man exper t at not hi ng but t he ar t of evasi on, whi ch he
pr act i ced wi t h t he gr ay, r ubber l i mpness of t he amor al . The voi ces, t hought
Taggar t , wer e comi ng f r omCol or ado, f r omever y cent er of t he Taggar t syst em,
f r omever y of f i ce of t he bui l di ng ar ound hi m. He was saf e so l ong as he di d
not have t o hear t hem.
Hi s emot i ons had cl ogged i nt o a st i l l , sol i d, opaque bal l wi t hi n hi m,
whi ch t he t hought of t he men who oper at ed t he Taggar t syst emcoul d not
pi er ce; t hose men wer e mer el y enemi es t o be out wi t t ed. The shar per bi t es of
f ear came f r omt he t hought of t he men on t he Boar d of Di r ect or s; but hi s
l et t er of r esi gnat i on was hi s f i r e escape, whi ch woul d l eave t hemst uck wi t h
t he f i r e. The shar pest f ear came f r omt he t hought of t he men i n Washi ngt on.
I f t hey cal l ed, he woul d have t o answer ; hi s r ubber secr et ar y woul d know
whose voi ces super seded hi s or der s. But Washi ngt on di d not cal l .
The f ear went t hr ough hi mi n spasms, once i n a whi l e, l eavi ng hi s mout h
dr y. He di d not know what he dr eaded. He knew t hat i t was not t he t hr eat of
t he r adi o speaker . What he had exper i enced at t he sound of t he snar l i ng voi ce
had been mor e l i ke a t er r or whi ch he f el t because he was expect ed t o f eel i t ,
a dut y- t er r or , somet hi ng t hat went wi t h hi s posi t i on, l i ke wel l - t ai l or ed
sui t s and l uncheon speeches. But under i t , he had f el t a sneaki ng l i t t l e
hope, swi f t and f ur t i ve l i ke t he cour se of a cockr oach: i f t hat t hr eat t ook
f or m, i t woul d sol ve ever yt hi ng, save hi mf r omdeci si on, save hi mf r om
si gni ng t he l et t er . . . he woul d not be Pr esi dent of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al any l onger , but nei t her woul d anyone el se . . . nei t her
woul d anyone el se. . . .
He sat , l ooki ng down at hi s desk, keepi ng hi s eyes and hi s mi nd out of
f ocus. I t was as i f he wer e i mmer sed i n a pool of f og, st r uggl i ng not t o l et
i t r each t he f i nal i t y of any f or m. That whi ch exi st s possesses i dent i t y; he
coul d keep i t out of exi st ence by r ef usi ng t o i dent i f y i t .
He di d not exami ne t he event s i n Col or ado, he di d not at t empt t o gr asp
t hei r cause, he di d not consi der t hei r consequences. He di d not t hi nk. The
cl ogged bal l of emot i on was l i ke a physi cal wei ght i n hi s chest , f i l l i ng hi s
consci ousness, r el easi ng hi mf r omt he r esponsi bi l i t y of t hought . The bah1 was
hat r edhat r ed as hi s onl y answer , hat r ed as t he sol e r eal i t y, hat r ed wi t hout
obj ect , cause, begi nni ng or end, hat r ed as hi s cl ai magai nst t he uni ver se, as
a j ust i f i cat i on, as a r i ght , as an absol ut e.
The scr eami ng of t he t el ephones went on t hr ough t he si l ence. He knew t hat
t hose pl eas f or hel p wer e not addr essed t o hi m, but t o an ent i t y whose shape
he had st ol en. I t was t hi s shape t hat t he scr eams wer e now t ear i ng away f r om
hi m; he f el t as i f t he r i ngi ng ceased t o be sounds and became a successi on of
sl ashes hi t t i ng hi s skul l . The obj ect of t he hat r ed began t o t ake f or m, as i f
summoned by t he bel l s. The sol i d bal l expl oded wi t hi n hi mand f l ung hi m
bl i ndl y i nt o act i on.
Rushi ng out of t he r oom, i n def i ance of al l t he f aces ar ound hi m, he went
r unni ng down t he hal l s t o t he Oper at i ng Depar t ment and i nt o t he ant er oomof
t he Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent ' s of f i ce.
The door t o t he of f i ce was open: he saw t he sky i n t he gr eat wi ndows
beyond an empt y desk. Then he saw t he st af f i n t he ant er oomar ound hi m, and
t he bl ond head of Eddi e Wi l l er s i n t he gl ass cubbyhol e. He wal ked
pur posef ul l y st r ai ght t owar d Eddi e Wi l l er s, he f l ung t he gl ass door open and,
f r omt he t hr eshol d, i n t he si ght and hear i ng of t he r oom, he scr eamed: " Wher e
i s she?"
Eddi e Wi l l er s r ose sl owl y t o hi s f eet and st ood l ooki ng at Taggar t wi t h an
odd ki nd of dut i f ul cur i osi t y, as i f t hi s wer e one mor e phenomenon t o obser ve
among al l t he unpr ecedent ed t hi ngs he had obser ved. He di d not answer .
" Wher e i s she?"
" I cannot t el l you. "
" Li st en, you st ubbor n l i t t l e punk, t hi s i s no t i me f or cer emony! I f you' r e
t r yi ng t o make me bel i eve t hat you don' t know wher e she i s, I don' t bel i eve
you! You know i t and you' r e goi ng t o t el l me, or I ' l l r epor t you t o t he
Uni f i cat i on Boar d! I ' l l swear t o t hemt hat you know i t t hen t r y and pr ove
t hat you don' t ! "
Ther e was a f ai nt t one of ast oni shment i n Eddi e' s voi ce as he answer ed,
" I ' ve never at t empt ed t o i mpl y t hat I don' t know wher e she i s, J i m, I know
i t . But I won' t t el l you. "
Taggar t ' s scr eamr ose t o t he shr i l l , i mpot ent sound t hat conf esses a
mi scal cul at i on: " Do you r eal i ze what you' r e sayi ng?"
" Why, yes, of cour se. "
" Wi l l you r epeat i t " he waved at t he r oom" f or t hese wi t nesses?"
Eddi e r ai sed hi s voi ce a l i t t l e, mor e i n pr eci si on and cl ar i t y t han i n
vol ume: " I know wher e she i s. But I wi l l not t el l you. "
" You' r e conf essi ng t hat you' r e an accompl i ce who' s ai di ng and abet t i ng a
deser t er ?"
" I f t hat ' s what you wi sh t o cal l i t . "
" But i t ' s a cr i me! I t ' s a cr i me agai nst t he nat i on. Don' t you know t hat ?"
" No. "
" I t ' s agai nst t he l aw! "
" Yes. "
" Thi s i s a nat i onal emer gency! You have no r i ght t o any pr i vat e secr et s!
You' r e wi t hhol di ng vi t al i nf or mat i on! I ' mt he Pr esi dent of t hi s r ai l r oad! I ' m
or der i ng you t o t el l me! You can' t r ef use t o obey an or der !
I t ' s a peni t ent i ar y of f ense! Do you under st and?"
" Yes. "
" Do you r ef use?"
" I do. "
Year s of t r ai ni ng had made Taggar t abl e t o wat ch any audi ence ar ound hi m,
wi t hout appear i ng t o do so. He saw t he t i ght , cl osed f aces of t he st af f ,
f aces t hat wer e not hi s al l i es. Al l had a l ook of despai r , except t he f ace of
Eddi e Wi l l er s. The " f eudal ser f " of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al was t he onl y one
who seemed unt ouched by t he di sast er . He l ooked at Taggar t wi t h t he
l i f el essl y consci ent i ous gl ance of a schol ar conf r ont ed by a f i el d of
knowl edge he had never want ed t o st udy.
" Do you r eal i ze t hat you' r e a t r ai t or ?" yel l ed Taggar t .
Eddi e asked qui et l y, ' To whom?"
" To t he peopl e! I t ' s t r eason t o shi el d a deser t er ! I t ' s economi c t r eason!
Your dut y t o f eed t he peopl e comes f i r st , above anyt hi ng el se what ever ! Ever y
publ i c aut hor i t y has sai d so! Don' t you know i t ?
Don' t you know what t hey' l l do t o you?"
" Don' t you see t hat I don' t gi ve a damn about t hat ?"
" Oh, you don' t ? I ' l l quot e t hat t o t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d! I have al l t hese
wi t nesses t o pr ove t hat you sai d"
" Don' t bot her about wi t nesses, J i m. Don' t put t hemon t he spot . I ' l l wr i t e
down ever yt hi ng I sai d, I ' l l si gn i t , and you can t ake i t t o t he Boar d. "
The sudden expl osi on of Taggar t ' s voi ce sounded as i f he had been sl apped:
" Who ar e you t o st and agai nst t he gover nment ? Who ar e you, you mi ser abl e
l i t t l e of f i ce r at , t o j udge nat i onal pol i ci es and hol d opi ni ons of your own?
Do you t hi nk t he count r y has t i me t o bot her about your opi ni ons, your wi shes
or your pr eci ous l i t t l e consci ence?
You' r e goi ng t o l ear n a l essonal l of you! al l of you spoi l ed, sel f -
i ndul gent , undi sci pl i ned l i t t l e t wo- bi t cl er ks, who st r ut as i f t hat cr ap
about your r i ght s was ser i ous! You' r e goi ng t o l ear n t hat t hese ar e not t he
days of Nat Taggar t ! "
Eddi e sai d not hi ng. For an i nst ant , t hey st ood l ooki ng at each ot her
acr oss t he desk. Taggar t ' s f ace was di st or t ed by t er r or , Eddi e' s r emai ned
st er nl y ser ene. J ames Taggar t bel i eved t he exi st ence of an Eddi e Wi l l er s t oo
wel l ; Eddi e Wi l l er s coul d not bel i eve t he exi st ence of a J ames Taggar t .
" Do you t hi nk t he nat i on wi l l bot her about your wi shes or her s?"
scr eamed Taggar t . " I t ' s her dut y t o come back! I t ' s her dut y t o wor k!
What do we car e whet her she want s t o wor k or not ? We need her ! "
" Do you, J i m?"
An i mpul se per t ai ni ng t o sel f - pr eser vat i on made Taggar t back a st ep away
f r omt he sound of t hat par t i cul ar t one, a ver y qui et t one, i n t he voi ce of
Eddi e Wi l l er s. But Eddi e made no move t o f ol l ow. He r emai ned st andi ng behi nd
hi s desk, i n a manner suggest i ng t he ci vi l i zed t r adi t i on of a busi ness
of f i ce.
" You won' t f i nd her , " he sai d, " She won' t be back. I ' mgl ad she won' t . You
can st ar ve, you can cl ose t he r ai l r oad, you can t hr ow me i n j ai l , you can
have me shot what does i t mat t er ? I won' t t el l you wher e she i s. I f I see t he
whol e count r y cr ashi ng, I won' t t el l you. You won' t f i nd her . You"
They whi r l ed at t he sound of t he ent r ance door f l ung open. They saw Dagny
st andi ng on t he t hr eshol d.
She wor e a wr i nkl ed cot t on dr ess, and her hai r was di shevel ed by hour s of
dr i vi ng. She st opped f or t he dur at i on of a gl ance ar ound her , as i f t o
r ecapt ur e t he pl ace, but t her e was no r ecogni t i on of per sons i n her eyes, t he
gl ance mer el y swept t hr ough t he r oom, as i f maki ng a swi f t i nvent or y of
physi cal obj ect s. Her f ace was not t he f ace t hey r emember ed; i t had aged, not
by means of l i nes, but by means of a st i l l , naked l ook st r i pped of any
qual i t y save r ut hl essness.
Yet t hei r f i r st r esponse, ahead of shock or wonder , was a si ngl e emot i on
t hat went t hr ough t he r ooml i ke a gasp of r el i ef . I t was i n al l t hei r f aces
but one: Eddi e Wi l l er s, who al one had been cal ma moment ago, col l apsed wi t h
hi s f ace down on hi s desk; he made no sound, but t he movement s of hi s
shoul der s wer e sobs.
Her f ace gave no si gn of acknowl edgment t o anyone, no gr eet i ng, as i f her
pr esence her e wer e i nevi t abl e and no wor ds wer e necessar y. She went st r ai ght
t o t he door of her of f i ce; passi ng t he desk of her secr et ar y, she sai d, her
voi ce l i ke t he sound of a busi ness machi ne, nei t her r ude nor gent l e, " Ask
Eddi e t o come i n. "
J ames Taggar t was t he f i r st one t o move, as i f dr eadi ng t o l et her out of
hi s si ght . He r ushed i n af t er her , he cr i ed, " I coul dn' t hel p i t ! " and t hen,
l i f e r et ur ni ng t o hi m, hi s own, hi s nor mal ki nd of l i f e, he scr eamed, " I t was
your f aul t ! You di d i t ! You' r e t o bl ame f or i t ! Because you l ef t ! "
He wonder ed whet her hi s scr eamhad been an i l l usi on i nsi de hi s own ear s.
Her f ace r emai ned bl ank; yet she had t ur ned t o hi m; she l ooked as i f sounds
had r eached her , but not wor ds, not t he communi cat i on of a mi nd. What he f el t
f or a moment was hi s cl osest appr oach t o a sense of hi s own non- exi st ence.
Then he saw t he f ai nt est change i n her f ace, mer el y t he i ndi cat i on of
per cei vi ng a human pr esence, but she was l ooki ng past hi mand he t ur ned and
saw t hat Eddi e Wi l l er s had ent er ed t he of f i ce.
Ther e wer e t r aces of t ear s i n Eddi e' s eyes, but he made no at t empt t o hi de
t hem, he st ood st r ai ght , as i f t he t ear s or any embar r assment or any apol ogy
f or t hemwer e as i r r el evant t o hi mas t o her .
She sai d, " Get Ryan on t he t el ephone, t el l hi mI ' mher e, t hen l et me speak
t o hi m. " Ryan had been t he gener al manager of t he r ai l r oad' s Cent r al Regi on.
Eddi e gave her a war ni ng by not answer i ng at once, t hen sai d, hi s voi ce as
even as her s, " Ryan' s gone, Dagny. He qui t l ast week. "
They di d not not i ce Taggar t , as t hey di d not not i ce t he f ur ni t ur e ar ound
t hem. She had not gr ant ed hi meven t he r ecogni t i on of or der i ng hi mout of her
of f i ce. Li ke a par al yt i c, uncer t ai n of hi s muscl es'
obedi ence, he gat her ed hi s st r engt h and sl i pped out . But he was cer t ai n of
t he f i r st t hi ng he had t o do: he hur r i ed t o hi s of f i ce t o dest r oy hi s l et t er
of r esi gnat i on.
She di d not not i ce hi s exi t ; she was l ooki ng at Eddi e. " I s Knowl and her e?"
she asked.
" No. He' s gone. "
" Andr ews?"
" Gone. "
" McGui r e?"
" Gone. "
He went on qui et l y t o r eci t e t he l i st of t hose he knew she woul d ask f or ,
t hose most needed i n t hi s hour , who had r esi gned and vani shed wi t hi n t he past
mont h. She l i st ened wi t hout ast oni shment or emot i on, as one l i st ens t o t he
casual t y l i st of a bat t l e wher e al l ar e doomed and i t makes no di f f er ence
whose names f al l f i r st .
When he f i ni shed, she made no comment , but asked, " What has been done
si nce t hi s mor ni ng?"
" Not hi ng. "
" Not hi ng?"
" Dagny, any of f i ce boy coul d have i ssued or der s her e si nce t hi s mor ni ng
and ever ybody woul d have obeyed hi m, But even t he of f i ce boys know t hat
whoever makes t he f i r st move t oday wi l l be hel d r esponsi bl e f or t he f ut ur e,
t he pr esent and t he past when t he buck passi ng begi ns. He woul d not save t he
syst em, he woul d mer el y l ose hi s j ob by t he t i me he saved one di vi si on.
Not hi ng has been done. I t ' s st opped st i l l . What ever i s movi ng, i s movi ng on
anyone' s bl i nd guess
out on t he l i ne wher e t hey don' t know whet her t hey' r e t o move or t o st op.
Some t r ai ns ar e hel d at st at i ons, ot her s ar e goi ng on, wai t i ng t o be st opped
bef or e t hey r each Col or ado. I t ' s what ever t he l ocal di spat cher s deci de. The
Ter mi nal manager downst ai r s has cancel l ed al l t r anscont i nent al t r af f i c f or
t oday, i ncl udi ng t oni ght ' s Comet . I don' t know what t he manager i n San
Fr anci sco i s doi ng. Onl y t he wr ecki ng cr ews ar e wor ki ng. At t he t unnel . They
haven' t come anywher e near t he wr eck as yet . I don' t t hi nk t hey wi l l . "
" Phone t he Ter mi nal manager downst ai r s and t el l hi mt o put al l
t r anscont i nent al t r ai ns back on t he schedul e at once, i ncl udi ng t oni ght ' s
Comet . Then come back her e. "
When he came back, she was bendi ng over t he maps she had spr ead on a
t abl e, and she spoke whi l e he made r api d not es: " Rout e al l west bound t r ai ns
sout h f r omKi r by, Nebr aska, down t he spur t r ack t o Hast i ngs, down t he t r ack
of t he Kansas West er n t o Laur el , Kansas, t hen t o t he t r ack of t he At l ant i c
Sout her n at J asper , Okl ahoma.
West on t he At l ant i c Sout her n t o Fl agst af f , Ar i zona, nor t h on t he t r ack of
t he Fl agst af f - Homedal e t o El gi n, Ut ah, nor t h t o Mi dl and, nor t hwest on t he
t r ack of t he Wasat ch Rai l way t o Sal t Lake Ci t y. The Wasat ch Rai l way i s an
abandoned nar r ow- gauge. Buy i t . Have t he gauge spr ead t o st andar d. I f t he
owner s ar e af r ai d, si nce sal es ar e i l l egal , pay t hemt wi ce t he money and
pr oceed wi t h t he wor k. Ther e i s no r ai l bet ween Laur el , Kansas, and J asper ,
Okl ahomat hr ee mi l es, no r ai l bet ween El gi n and Mi dl and, Ut ahf i ve and a hal f
mi l es. Have t he r ai l l ai d.
Have const r uct i on cr ews st ar t at oncer ecr ui t ever y l ocal man avai l abl e,
pay t wi ce t he l egal wages, t hr ee t i mes, anyt hi ng t hey askput t hr ee shi f t s
onand have t he j ob done over ni ght . For r ai l , t ear up t he si di ngs at Wi nst on,
Col or ado, at Si l ver Spr i ngs, Col or ado, at Leeds, Ut ah, at Benson, Nevada. I f
any l ocal st ooges of t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d come t o st op t he wor kgi ve
aut hor i t y t o our l ocal men, t he ones you t r ust , t o br i be t hem. Don' t put t hat
t hr ough t he Account i ng Depar t ment , char ge i t t o me, I ' l l pay i t . I f t hey f i nd
some case wher e i t doesn' t wor k, have t hemt el l t he st ooge t hat Di r ect i ve 10-
289 does not pr ovi de f or l ocal i nj unct i ons, t hat an i nj unct i on has t o be
br ought agai nst our headquar t er s and t hat t hey have t o sue me, i f t hey wi sh
t o st op us. "
" I s t hat t r ue?"
" How do I know? How can anybody know? But by t he t i me t hey unt angl e i t and
deci de what ever i t i s t hey pl ease t o deci deour t r ack wi l l be bui l t . "
" I see. "
" I ' l l go over t he l i st s and gi ve you t he names of our l ocal men t o put i n
char gei f t hey' r e st i l l t her e. By t he t i me t oni ght ' s Comet Teaches Ki r by,
Nebr aska, t he t r ack wi l l be r eady. I t wi l l add about t hi r t y- si x hour s t o t he
t r anscont i nent al schedul ebut t her e wi l l be a t r anscont i nent al schedul e. Then
have t hemget f or me out of t he f i l es t he ol d maps of our r oad as i t was
bef or e Nat Taggar t ' s gr andson bui l t t he t unnel . "
" The . . . what ?" He di d not r ai se hi s voi ce, but t he cat ch of hi s br eat h
was t he br eak of emot i on he had want ed t o avoi d.
Her f ace di d not change, but a f aul t not e i n her voi ce acknowl edged hi m, a
not e of gent l eness, not r epr oof : " The ol d maps of t he days bef or e t he t unnel .
We' r e goi ng back, Eddi e. Let ' s hope we can. No, we won' t r ebui l d t he t unnel .
Ther e' s no way t o do i t now. But t he ol d gr ade t hat cr ossed t he Rocki es i s
st i l l t her e. I t can be r ecl ai med. Onl y i t wi l l be har d t o get t he r ai l f or i t
and t he men t o do i t . Par t i cul ar l y t he men. "
He knew, as he had known f r omt he f i r st , t hat she had seen hi s t ear s and
t hat she had not wal ked past i n i ndi f f er ence, even t hough her cl ear , t onel ess
voi ce and unmovi ng f ace gave hi mno si gn of f eel i ng.
Ther e was some qual i t y i n her manner , whi ch he sensed but coul d not
t r ansl at e. Yet t he f eel i ng i t gave hi m, t r ansl at ed, was as i f she wer e sayi ng
t o hi m: I know, I under st and, I woul d f eel compassi on and gr at i t ude, i f we
wer e al i ve and f r ee t o f eel , but we' r e not , ar e we, Eddi e?we' r e on a dead
pl anet , l i ke t he moon, wher e we must move, but dar e not st op f or a br eat h of
f eel i ng or we' l l di scover t hat t her e i s no ai r t o br eat he.
" We have t oday and t omor r ow t o get t hi ngs st ar t ed, " she sai d. " I ' l l l eave
f or Col or ado t omor r ow ni ght . "
" I f you want t o f l y, I ' l l have t o r ent a pl ane f or you somewher e.
Your s i s st i l l i n t he shops, t hey can' t get t he par t s f or i t . "
" No, I ' l l go by r ai l . I have t o see t he l i ne. I ' l l t ake t omor r ow' s Comet . "
I t was t wo hour s l at er , i n a br i ef pause bet ween l ong- di st ance phone
cal l s, t hat she asked hi msuddenl y t he f i r st quest i on whi ch di d not per t ai n
t o t he r ai l r oad: " What have t hey done t o Hank Rear den?"
Eddi e caught hi msel f i n t he smal l evasi on of l ooki ng away, f or ced hi s
gl ance back t o meet her s, and answer ed, " He gave i n. He si gned t hei r Gi f t
Cer t i f i cat e, at t he l ast moment . "
" Oh. " The sound conveyed no shock or censur e, i t was mer el y a vocal
punct uat i on mar k, denot i ng t he accept ance of a f act . " Have you hear d f r om
Quent i n Dani el s?"
" No. "
" He sent no l et t er or message f or me?"
" No. "
He guessed t he t hi ng she f ear ed and i t r emi nded hi mof a mat t er he had not
r epor t ed. " Dagny, t her e' s anot her pr obl emt hat ' s been gr owi ng al l over t he
syst emsi nce you l ef t . Si nce May f i r st . I t ' s t he f r ozen t r ai ns, "
" The what ?"
" We' ve had t r ai ns abandoned on t he l i ne, on some passi ng t r ack, i n t he
mi ddl e of nowher e, usual l y at ni ght wi t h t he ent i r e cr ew gone.
They j ust l eave t he t r ai n and vani sh. Ther e' s never any war ni ng gi ven or
any speci al r eason, i t ' s mor e l i ke an epi demi c, i t hi t s t he men suddenl y and
t hey go. I t ' s been happeni ng on ot her r ai l r oads, t oo. Nobody can expl ai n i t .
But I t hi nk t hat ever ybody under st ands. I t ' s t he di r ect i ve t hat ' s doi ng i t .
I t ' s our men' s f or mof pr ot est . They t r y t o go on and t hen t hey suddenl y
r each a moment when t hey can' t t ake i t any l onger .
What can we do about i t ?" He shr ugged. " Oh wel l , who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
She nodded t hought f ul l y; she di d not l ook ast oni shed.
The t el ephone r ang and t he voi ce of her secr et ar y sai d, " Mr . Wesl ey Mouch
cal l i ng f r omWashi ngt on, Mi ss Taggar t . "
Her l i ps st i f f ened a l i t t l e, as at t he unexpect ed t ouch of an i nsect . " I t
must be f or my br ot her , " she sai d.
" No, Mi ss Taggar t . For you. "
" Al l r i ght . Put hi mon. "
" Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d t he voi ce of Wesl ey Mouch i n t he t one of a cockt ai l -
par t y host , " I was so gl ad t o hear you' ve r egai ned your heal t h t hat I want ed
t o wel come you back i n per son. I know t hat your heal t h r equi r ed a l ong r est
and I appr eci at e t he pat r i ot i smt hat made you cut your l eave of absence shor t
i n t hi s t er r i bl e emer gency. I want ed t o assur e you t hat you can count on our
co- oper at i on i n any st ep you now f i nd i t necessar y t o t ake. Our f ul l est co-
oper at i on, assi st ance and suppor t . I f t her e ar e any . . . speci al except i ons
you mi ght r equi r e, pl ease f eel cer t ai n t hat t hey can be gr ant ed. "
She l et hi mspeak, even t hough he had made sever al smal l pauses i nvi t i ng
an answer . When hi s pause became l ong enough, she sai d, " I woul d be much
obl i ged i f you woul d l et me speak t o Mr . Weat her by. "
" Why, of cour se, Mi ss Taggar t , any t i me you wi sh . . . why . . .
t hat i s . . . do you mean, now?"
" Yes. Ri ght now. "
He under st ood. But he sai d, " Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . "
When Mr . Weat her by' s voi ce came on t he wi r e, i t sounded caut i ous: " Yes,
Mi ss Taggar t ? Of what ser vi ce can I be t o you?"
" You can t el l your boss t hat i f he doesn' t want me t o qui t agai n, as he
knows I di d, he i s never t o cal l me or speak t o me. Anyt hi ng your gang has t o
t el l me, l et t hemsend you t o t el l i t . I ' l l speak t o you, but not t o hi m. You
may t el l hi mt hat my r eason i s what he di d t o Hank Rear den when he was on
Rear den' s payr ol l . I f ever ybody el se has f or got t en i t , I haven' t . "
" I t i s my dut y t o assi st t he nat i on' s r ai l r oads at any t i me, Mi ss
Taggar t . " Mr . Weat her by sounded as i f he wer e t r yi ng t o avoi d t he commi t ment
of havi ng hear d what he had hear d; but a sudden not e of i nt er est cr ept i nt o
hi s voi ce as he asked sl owl y, t hought f ul l y, wi t h guar ded shr ewdness, " AmI t o
under st and, Mi ss Taggar t , t hat i t i s your wi sh t o deal excl usi vel y wi t h me i n
al l of f i ci al mat t er s? May I t ake t hi s as your pol i cy?"
She gave a br i ef , har sh chuckl e. " Go ahead, " she sai d. " You may l i st me as
your excl usi ve pr oper t y, use me as a speci al i t emof pul l , and t r ade me al l
over Washi ngt on. But I don' t know what good t hat wi l l do you, because I ' mnot
goi ng t o pl ay t he game, I ' mnot goi ng t o t r ade f avor s, I ' msi mpl y goi ng t o
st ar t br eaki ng your l aws r i ght nowand you can ar r est me when you f eel t hat
you can af f or d t o. "
" I bel i eve t hat you have an ol d- f ashi oned i dea about l aw, Mi ss Taggar t .
Why speak of r i gi d, unbr eakabl e l aws? Our moder n l aws ar e el ast i c and open t o
i nt er pr et at i on accor di ng t o . . . ci r cumst ances. "
" Then st ar t bei ng el ast i c r i ght now, because I ' mnot and nei t her ar e
r ai l r oad cat ast r ophes. "
She hung up, and sai d t o Eddi e, i n t he t one of an est i mat e passed on
physi cal obj ect s, " They' l l l eave us al one f or a whi l e. "
She di d not seemt o not i ce t he changes i n her of f i ce: t he absence of Nat
Taggar t ' s por t r ai t , t he new gl ass cof f ee t abl e wher e Mr . Locey had spr ead,
f or t he benef i t of vi si t or s, a di spl ay of t he l oudest humani t ar i an magazi nes
wi t h t i t l es of ar t i cl es headl i ned on t hei r cover s.
She hear dwi t h t he at t ent i ve l ook of a machi ne equi pped t o r ecor d, not t o
r eact Eddi e' s account of what one mont h had done t o t he r ai l r oad. She hear d
hi s r epor t on what he guessed about t he causes of t he cat ast r ophe. She f aced,
wi t h t he same l ook of det achment , a successi on of men who went i n and out of
her of f i ce wi t h over hur r i ed st eps and hands f umbl i ng i n super f l uous
gest ur es. He t hought t hat she had become i mper vi ous t o anyt hi ng. But
suddenl ywhi l e paci ng t he of f i ce, di ct at i ng t o hi ma l i st of t r ack- l ayi ng
mat er i al s and wher e t o obt ai n t hemi l l egal l yshe st opped and l ooked down at
t he magazi nes on t he cof f ee t abl e. Thei r headl i nes sai d: " The New Soci al
Consci ence, " " Our Dut y t o t he Under pr i vi l eged, " " Need ver sus Gr eed. " Wi t h a
si ngl e movement of her ar m, t he abr upt , expl osi ve movement of sheer physi cal
br ut al i t y, such as he had never seen f r omher bef or e, she swept t he magazi nes
of f t he t abl e and went on, her voi ce r eci t i ng a l i st of f i gur es wi t hout a
br eak, as i f t her e wer e no connect i on bet ween her mi nd and t he vi ol ence of
her body.
Lat e i n t he af t er noon, f i ndi ng a moment al one i n her of f i ce, she
t el ephoned Hank Rear den.
She gave her name t o hi s secr et ar yand she hear d, i n t he way he sai d i t ,
t he hast e wi t h whi ch he had sei zed t he r ecei ver : " Dagny?"
" Hel l o, Hank. I ' mback. "
" Wher e?"
" I n my of f i ce. "
She hear d t he t hi ngs he di d not say, i n t he moment ' s si l ence on t he wi r e,
t hen he sai d, " 1 suppose I ' d bet t er st ar t br i bi ng peopl e at once t o get t he
or e t o st ar t pour i ng r ai l f or you. "
" Yes. As much of i t as you can. I t doesn' t have t o be Rear den Met al . I t
can be" The br eak i n her voi ce was al most t oo br i ef t o not i ce, but what i t
hel d was t he t hought : Rear den Met al r ai l f or goi ng back t o t he t i me bef or e
heavy st eel ?per haps back t o t he t i me of wooden r ai l s wi t h st r i ps of i r on?
" I t can be st eel , any wei ght , anyt hi ng you can gi ve me. "
" Al l r i ght . Dagny, do you know t hat I ' ve sur r ender ed Rear den Met al t o
t hem? I ' ve si gned t he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e. "
" Yes, I know. "
" I ' ve gi ven i n. "
" Who amI t o bl ame you? Haven' t I ?" He di d not answer , and she sai d,
" Hank, I don' t t hi nk t hey car e whet her t her e' s a t r ai n or a bl ast f ur nace
l ef t on ear t h. We do. They' r e hol di ng us by our l ove of i t , and we' l l go on
payi ng so l ong as t her e' s st i l l one chance l ef t t o keep one si ngl e wheel
al i ve and movi ng i n t oken of human i nt el l i gence. We' l l go on hol di ng i t
af l oat , l i ke our dr owni ng chi l d, and when t he f l ood swal l ows i t , we' l l go
down wi t h t he l ast wheel and t he l ast syl l ogi sm. I know what we' r e payi ng,
but pr i ce i s no obj ect any l onger . "
" I know. "
" Don' t be af r ai d f or me, Hank, I ' l l be al l r i ght by t omor r ow mor ni ng. "
" I ' l l never be af r ai d f or you, dar l i ng. I ' l l see you t oni ght . "

CHAPTER IX
THE FACE WITHOUT PAIN OR FEAR OR GUILT

The si l ence of her apar t ment and t he mot i onl ess per f ect i on of obj ect s t hat
had r emai ned j ust as she had l ef t t hema mont h bef or e, st r uck her wi t h a
sense of r el i ef and desol at i on t oget her , when she ent er ed her l i vi ng r oom.
The si l ence gave her an i l l usi on of pr i vacy and owner shi p; t he si ght of t he
obj ect s r emi nded her t hat t hey wer e pr eser vi ng a moment she coul d not
r ecapt ur e, as she coul d not undo t he event s t hat had happened si nce.
Ther e was st i l l a r emnant of dayl i ght beyond t he wi ndows. She had l ef t t he
of f i ce ear l i er t han, she i nt ended, unabl e t o summon t he ef f or t f or any t ask
t hat coul d be post poned t i l l mor ni ng. Thi s was new t o her and i t was new
t hat she shoul d now f eel mor e at home i n her apar t ment t han i n her of f i ce.
She t ook a shower , and st ood f or l ong, bl ank mi nut es, l et t i ng t he wat er
r un over her body, but st epped out hast i l y when she r eal i zed t hat what she
want ed t o wash of f was not t he dust of t he dr i ve f r omt he count r y, but t he
f eel of t he of f i ce.
She dr essed, l i ght ed a ci gar et t e and wal ked i nt o t he l i vi ng r oom, t o st and
at t he wi ndow, l ooki ng at t he ci t y, as she had st ood l ooki ng at t he
count r ysi de at t he st ar t of t hi s day.
She had sai d she woul d gi ve her l i f e f or one mor e year on t he
r ai l r oad. She was back; but t hi s was not t he j oy of wor ki ng; i t
was onl y t he cl ear , col d peace of a deci si on r eachedand t he
st i l l ness of unadmi t t ed pai n.
Cl ouds had wr apped t he sky and had descended as f og t o wr ap t he st r eet s
bel ow, as i f t he sky wer e engul f i ng t he ci t y. She coul d see t he whol e of
Manhat t an I sl and, a l ong, t r i angul ar shape cut t i ng i nt o an i nvi si bl e ocean.
I t l ooked l i ke t he pr ow of a si nki ng shi p; a f ew t al l bui l di ngs st i l l r ose
above i t , l i ke f unnel s, but t he r est was di sappear i ng under gr ay- bl ue coi l s,
goi ng down sl owl y i nt o vapor and space.
Thi s was how t hey had goneshe t hought At l ant i s, t he ci t y t hat sank i nt o
t he ocean, and al l t he ot her ki ngdoms t hat vani shed, l eavi ng t he same l egend
i n al l t he l anguages of men, and t he same l ongi ng.
She f el t - as she had f el t i t one spr i ng ni ght , sl umped acr oss her desk i n
t he cr umbl i ng of f i ce of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, by a wi ndow f aci ng a dar k al l ey
t he sense and vi si on of her own wor l d, whi ch she woul d never r each. , , .
Youshe t hought whoever you ar e, whom, 1
have al ways l oved and never f ound, you whomI expect ed t o see at t he end
of t he r ai l s beyond t he hor i zon, you whose pr esence I had al ways f el t i n t he
st r eet s of t he ci t y and whose wor l d I had want ed t o bui l d, i t i s my l ove f or
you t hat had kept me movi ng, my l ove and my hope t o r each you and my wi sh t o
be wor t hy of you on t he day when I woul d st and bef or e you f ace t o f ace. Now I
know t hat I shal l never f i nd you
t hat i t i s not t o be r eached or l i vedbut what i s l ef t of my l i f e i s st i l l
your s, and I wi l l go on i n your name, even t hough i t i s a name I ' l l never
l ear n, I wi l l go on ser vi ng you, even t hough I ' mnever t o wi n, I wi l l go on,
t o be wor t hy of you on t he day when I woul d have met you, even t hough I
won' t . . . . She had never accept ed hopel essness, but she st ood at t he wi ndow
and, addr essed t o t he shape of a f ogbound ci t y, i t was her sel f - dedi cat i on t o
unr equi t ed l ove.
The door bel l r ang.
She t ur ned wi t h i ndi f f er ent ast oni shment t o open, t he door but she knew
t hat she shoul d have expect ed hi m, when she saw t hat i t was Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a. She f el t no shock and no r ebel l i on, onl y t he cheer l ess ser eni t y of
her assur anceand she r ai sed her head t o f ace hi m, wi t h a sl ow, del i ber at e
movement , as i f t el l i ng hi mt hat she had chosen her st and and t hat she st ood
i n t he open.
Hi s f ace was gr ave and cal m; t he l ook of happi ness was gone, but t he
amusement of t he pl ayboy had not r et ur ned. He l ooked as i f al l masks wer e
down, he l ooked di r ect , t i ght l y di sci pl i ned, i nt ent upon a pur pose, he l ooked
l i ke a man abl e t o know t he ear nest ness of act i on, as she had once expect ed
hi mt o l ookhe had never seemed so at t r act i ve as he di d i n t hi s moment and
she not ed, i n ast oni shment , her sudden f eel i ng t hat he was not a man who had
deser t ed her , but a man whomshe had deser t ed.
" Dagny, ar e you abl e t o t al k about i t now?"
" Yesi f you wi sh. Come i n. "
He gl anced br i ef l y at her l i vi ng r oom, her home whi ch he had never
ent er ed, t hen hi s eyes came back t o her . He was wat chi ng her at t ent i vel y. He
seemed t o know t hat t he qui et si mpl i ci t y of her manner was t he wor st of al l
si gns f or hi s pur pose, t hat i t was l i ke a spr ead of ashes wher e no f l i cker of
pai n coul d be r evi ved, t hat even pai n woul d have been a f or mof f i r e.
" Si t down, Fr anci sco. "
She r emai ned st andi ng bef or e hi m, as i f consci ousl y l et t i ng hi msee t hat
she had not hi ng t o hi de, not even t he wear i ness of her post ur e, t he pr i ce she
had pai d f or t hi s day and her car el essness of pr i ce.
" I don' t t hi nk I can st op you now, " he sai d, " i f you' ve made your choi ce.
But i f t her e' s one chance l ef t t o st op you, i t ' s a chance I have t o t ake. "
She shook her head sl owl y. " Ther e i sn' t . Andwhat f or , Fr anci sco?
You' ve gi ven up. What di f f er ence does i t make t o you whet her I per i sh wi t h
t he r ai l r oad or away f r omi t ?"
" I haven' t gi ven up t he f ut ur e, "
" What f ut ur e?"
" The day when t he l oot er s wi l l per i sh, but we won' t . "
" I f Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i s t o per i sh wi t h t he l oot er s, t hen so amI . "
He di d not t ake hi s eyes of f her f ace and he di d not answer .
She added di spassi onat el y, " I t hought I coul d l i ve wi t hout i t . I can' t .
I ' l l never t r y i t agai n. Fr anci sco, do you r emember ?we bot h bel i eved,
when we st ar t ed, t hat t he onl y si n on ear t h was t o do t hi ngs badl y, I st i l l
bel i eve i t . " The f i r st not e of l i f e shudder ed i n her voi ce. " I can' t st and by
and wat ch what t hey di d at t hat t unnel . I can' t accept what t hey' r e al l
accept i ngFr anci sco, i t ' s t he t hi ng we t hought so monst r ous, you and I ! t he
bel i ef t hat di sast er s ar e one' s nat ur al f at e, t o be bor ne, not f ought . I
can' t accept submi ssi on. I can' t accept hel pl essness. I can' t accept
r enunci at i on. So l ong as t her e' s a r ai l r oad l ef t t o r un, I ' l l r un i t . "
" I n or der t o mai nt ai n t he l oot er s' wor l d?"
" I n or der t o mai nt ai n t he l ast st r i p of mi ne. "
" Dagny, " he sai d sl owl y, " I know why one l oves one' s wor k. I know what i t
means t o you, t he j ob of r unni ng t r ai ns. But you woul d not r un t hemi f t hey
wer e empt y. Dagny, what i s i t you see when you t hi nk of a movi ng t r ai n?"
She gl anced at t he ci t y. " The l i f e of a man of abi l i t y who mi ght have
per i shed i n t hat cat ast r ophe, but wi l l escape t he next one, whi ch I ' l l
pr event a man who has an i nt r ansi gent mi nd and an unl i mi t ed ambi t i on, and i s
i n l ove wi t h hi s own l i f e . . . t he ki nd of man who i s what we wer e when we
st ar t ed, you and I . You gave hi mup. I can' t . "
He cl osed hi s eyes f or an i nst ant , and t he t i ght eni ng movement of hi s
mout h was a smi l e, a smi l e subst i t ut i ng f or a moan of under st andi ng,
amusement and pai n. He asked, hi s voi ce gr avel y gent l e, " Do you t hi nk t hat
you can st i l l ser ve hi mt hat ki nd of manby r unni ng t he r ai l r oad?"
" Yes. "
" Al l r i ght , Dagny. I won' t t r y t o st op you. So l ong as you st i l l t hi nk
t hat , not hi ng can st op you, or shoul d. You wi l l st op on t he day when you' l l
di scover t hat your wor k has been pl aced i n t he ser vi ce, not of t hat man' s
l i f e, but of hi s dest r uct i on. "
" Fr anci sco! " I t was a cr y of ast oni shment and despai r . " You do under st and
i t , you know what I mean by t hat ki nd of man, you see hi m, t oo! "
" Oh yes, " he sai d si mpl y, casual l y, l ooki ng at some poi nt i n space wi t hi n
t he r oom, al most as i f he wer e seei ng a r eal per son. He added, " Why shoul d
you be ast oni shed? You sai d t hat we wer e of hi s ki nd once, you and I . We
st i l l ar e. But one of us has bet r ayed hi m. "
" Yes, " she sai d st er nl y, " one of us has. We cannot ser ve hi mby
r enunci at i on. "
" We cannot ser ve hi mby maki ng t er ms wi t h hi s dest r oyer s. "
" I ' mnot maki ng t er ms wi t h t hem. They need me. They know i t .
I t ' s my t er ms t hat I ' l l make t hemaccept . "
" By pl ayi ng a game i n whi ch t hey gai n benef i t s i n exchange f or har mi ng
you?"
" I f I can keep Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al i n exi st ence, i t ' s t he onl y
benef i t I want . What do I car e i f t hey make me pay r ansoms? Let t hemhave
what t hey want . I ' l l have t he r ai l r oad. "
He smi l ed. " Do you t hi nk so? Do you t hi nk t hat t hei r need of you i s your
pr ot ect i on? Do you t hi nk t hat you can gi ve t hemwhat t hey want ? No, you won' t
qui t unt i l you see, of your own si ght and j udgment , what i t i s t hat t hey
r eal l y want . You know, Dagny, we wer e t aught t hat some t hi ngs bel ong t o God
and ot her s t o Caesar . Per haps t hei r God woul d per mi t i t . But t he man you say
we' r e ser vi nghe docs not per mi t i t . He per mi t s no di vi ded al l egi ance, no war
bet ween your mi nd and your body, no gul f bet ween your val ues and your
act i ons, no t r i but es t o Caesar . He per mi t s no Caesar s. "
" For t wel ve year s, " she sai d sof t l y, " I woul d have t hought i t
i nconcei vabl e t hat t her e mi ght come a day when I woul d have t o beg your
f or gi veness on my knees. Now I t hi nk i t ' s possi bl e. I f I come t o see t hat
you' r e r i ght , I wi l l . But not unt i l t hen. "
" You wi l l . But not on your knees. "
He was l ooki ng at her , as i f he wer e seei ng her body as she st ood bef or e
hi m, even t hough hi s eyes wer e di r ect ed at her f ace, and hi s gl ance t ol d her
what f or mof at onement and sur r ender he was seei ng i n t he f ut ur e. She saw t he
ef f or t he made t o l ook away, hi s hope t hat she had not seen hi s gl ance or
under st ood i t , hi s si l ent st r uggl e, bet r ayed by t he t ensi on of a f ew muscl es
under t he ski n of hi s f acet he f ace she knew so wel l , " Unt i l t hen, Dagny,
r emember t hat we' r e enemi es. I di dn' t want t o t el l you t hi s, but you' r e t he
f i r st per son who al most st epped i nt o heaven and came back t o ear t h. You' ve
gl i mpsed t oo much, so you have t o know t hi s cl ear l y. I t ' s you t hat I ' m
f i ght i ng, not your br ot her J ames or Wesl ey Mouch. I t ' s you t hat I have t o
def eat . I amout t o end al l t he t hi ngs t hat ar e most pr eci ous t o you r i ght
now. Whi l e you' l l st r uggl e t o save Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , I wi l l be
wor ki ng t o dest r oy i t . Don' t ever ask me f or hel p or money. You know my
r easons. Now you may hat e meas, f r omyour st and, you shoul d. "
She r ai sed her head a l i t t l e, t her e was no per cept i bl e change i n her
post ur e, i t was no mor e t han her awar eness of her own body and of i t s meani ng
t o hi m, but f or t he l engt h of one sent ence she st ood as a woman, t he
suggest i on of def i ance comi ng onl y f r omt he f ai nt l y st r essed spaci ng of her
wor ds: " And what wi l l i t do t o you?"
He l ooked at her , i n f ul l under st andi ng, but nei t her admi t t i ng nor denyi ng
t he conf essi on she want ed t o t ear f r omhi m. " That i s no one' s concer n but
mi ne, " he answer ed.
I t was she who weakened, but r eal i zed, whi l e sayi ng i t , t hat t hi s was
st i l l mor e cr uel : " I don' t hat e you. I ' ve t r i ed t o, f or year s, but I never
wi l l , no mat t er what we do, ei t her one of us. "
" I know i t , " he sai d, hi s voi ce l ow, so t hat she di d not hear t he pai n,
but f el t i t wi t hi n her sel f as i f by di r ect r ef l ect i on f r omhi m.
" Fr anci sco! " she cr i ed, i n desper at e def ense of hi magai nst her sel f .
" How can you do what you' r e doi ng?"
" By t he gr ace of my l ove" f or you, sai d hi s eyes" f or t he man, "
sai d hi s voi ce, " who di d not per i sh i n your cat ast r ophe and who wi l l never
per i sh, "
She st ood si l ent l y st i l l f or a moment , as i f i n r espect f ul acknowl edgment .
" I wi sh I coul d spar e you what you' r e goi ng t o go t hr ough, " he sai d, t he
gent l eness of hi s voi ce sayi ng: I t ' s not me t hat you shoul d pi t y.
" But I can' t . Ever y one of us has t o t r avel t hat r oad by hi s own st eps.
But i t ' s t he same r oad. "
" Wher e does i t l ead?"
He smi l ed, as i f sof t l y cl osi ng a door on t he quest i ons t hat he woul d not
answer . " To At l ant i s, " he sai d.
" What ?" she asked, st ar t l ed.
" Don' t you r emember ?t he l ost ci t y t hat onl y t he spi r i t s of her oes can
ent er . "
The connect i on t hat st r uck her suddenl y had been st r uggl i ng i n her mi nd
si nce mor ni ng, l i ke a di manxi et y she had had no t i me t o i dent i f y.
She had known i t , but she had t hought onl y of hi s own f at e and hi s
per sonal deci si on, she had t hought of hi mas act i ng al one. Now she r emember ed
a wi der danger and sensed t he vast , undef i ned shape of t he enemy she was
f aci ng.
" You' r e one of t hem, " she sai d sl owl y, " ar en' t you?"
" Of whom?"
" Was i t you i n Ken Danagger ' s of f i ce?"
He smi l ed. " No. " But she not ed t hat he di d not ask what she meant .
" I s t her eyou woul d know i t i s t her e act ual l y a dest r oyer l oose i n t he
wor l d?"
" Of cour se. "
" Who i s i t ?"
" You. "
She shr ugged; her f ace was gr owi ng har d. " The men who' ve qui t , ar e t hey
st i l l al i ve or dead?"
" They' r e deadas f ar as you' r e concer ned. But t her e' s t o be a Second
Renai ssance i n t he wor l d. I ' l l wai t f or i t . "
" No! " The sudden vi ol ence of her voi ce was i n per sonal answer t o hi m, t o
one of t he t wo t hi ngs he had want ed her t o hear i n hi s wor ds.
" No, don' t wai t f or me! "
" I ' l l al ways wai t f or you, no mat t er what we do, ei t her one of us. "
The sound t hey hear d was t he t ur ni ng of a key i n t he l ock of t he ent r ance
door . The door opened and Hank Rear den came i n.
He st opped br i ef l y on t he t hr eshol d, t hen wal ked sl owl y i nt o t he l i vi ng
r oom, hi s hand sl i ppi ng t he key i nt o hi s pocket .
She knew t hat he had seen Fr anci sco' s f ace bef or e he had seen her s.
He gl anced at her , but hi s eyes came back t o Fr anci sco, as i f t hi s wer e
t he onl y f ace he was now abl e t o see.
I t was at Fr anci sco' s f ace t hat she was af r ai d t o l ook. The ef f or t she
made t o pul l her gl ance al ong t he cur ve of a f ew st eps f el t as i f she wer e
pul l i ng a wei ght beyond her power . Fr anci sco had r i sen t o hi s f eet , as i f i n
t he unhur r i ed, aut omat i c manner of a d' Anconi a t r ai ned t o t he code of
cour t esy. Ther e was not hi ng t hat Rear den coul d see i n hi s f ace. But what she
saw i n i t was wor se t han she had f ear ed.
" What ar e you doi ng her e?" asked Rear den, i n t he t one one woul d use t o
addr ess a meni al caught i n a dr awi ng r oom.
" I see t hat I have no r i ght t o ask you t he same quest i on, " sai d Fr anci sco.
She knew what ef f or t was r equi r ed t o achi eve t he cl ear , t onel ess qual i t y of
hi s voi ce. Hi s eyes kept r et ur ni ng t o Rear den' s r i ght hand, as i f he wer e
st i l l seei ng t he key bet ween, hi s f i nger s.
" Then answer i t , " sai d Rear den.
" Hank, any quest i ons you wi sh t o ask shoul d be asked of me, " she sai d.
Rear den di d not seemt o see or hear her . " Answer i t , " he r epeat ed.
" Ther e i s onl y one answer whi ch you woul d have t he r i ght t o demand, " sai d
Fr anci sco, " so I wi l l answer you t hat t hat i s not t he r eason of my pr esence
her e. "
" Ther e i s onl y one r eason f or your pr esence i n t he house of any woman, "
sai d Rear den. " And I mean, any womanas f ar as you' r e concer ned. Do you t hi nk
t hat I bel i eve i t now, t hat conf essi on of your s or anyt hi ng you ever sai d t o
me?"
" I have gi ven you gr ounds not t o t r ust me, but none t o i ncl ude Mi ss
Taggar t . "
" Don' t t el l me t hat you have no chance her e, never had and never wi l l . I
know i t . But t hat I shoul d f i nd you her e on t he f i r st "
" Hank, i f you wi sh t o accuse me" she began, but Rear den whi r l ed t o her .
" God, no, Dagny, I don' t ! But you shoul dn' t be seen speaki ng t o hi m. You
shoul dn' t deal wi t h hi mi n any way. You don' t know hi m. I do. " He t ur ned t o
Fr anci sco. " What ar e you af t er ? Ar e you hopi ng t o i ncl ude her among your ki nd
of conquest s or "
" No! " I t was an i nvol unt ar y cr y and i t sounded f ut i l e, wi t h i t s passi onat e
si ncer i t y of f er edt o be r ej ect edas i t s onl y pr oof .
" No? Then ar e you her e on a mat t er of busi ness? Ar e you set t i ng a t r ap, as
you - di d f or me? What sor t of doubl e- cr oss ar e you pr epar i ng f or her ?"
" My pur pose . . . was not . . . a mat t er of busi ness. "
" Then what was i t ?"
" I f you st i l l car e t o bel i eve me, I can t el l you onl y t hat i t i nvol ved no
. . . bet r ayal of any ki nd. "
" Do you t hi nk t hat you may st i l l di scuss bet r ayal , i n my pr esence?
" I wi l l answer you some day. I cannot answer you now. "
" You don' t l i ke t o be r emi nded of i t , do you? You' ve st ayed away f r omme
si nce, haven' t you? You di dn' t expect t o see me her e? You di dn' t want t o f ace
me?" But he knew t hat Fr anci sco was f aci ng hi mas no one el se di d t hese days
he saw t he eyes hel d st r ai ght t o meet hi s, t he f eat ur es composed, wi t hout
emot i on, wi t hout def ense or appeal , set t o endur e what ever was comi nghe saw
t he open, unpr ot ect ed l ook of cour aget hi s was t he f ace of t he man he had
l oved, t he man who had set hi mf r ee of gui l t and he f ound hi msel f f i ght i ng
agai nst t he knowl edge t hat t hi s f ace st i l l hel d hi m, above al l el se, above
hi s mont h of i mpat i ence f or t he si ght of Dagny. " Why don' t you def end
your sel f , i f you have not hi ng t o hi de? Why ar e you her e? Why wer e you st unned
t o see me ent er ?"
" Hank, st op i t ! " Dagny' s voi ce was a cr y, and she dr ew back, knowi ng t hat
vi ol ence was t he most danger ous el ement t o i nt r oduce i nt o t hi s moment .
Bot h men t ur ned t o her . " Pl ease l et me be t he one t o answer , " Fr anci sco
sai d qui et l y.
" I t ol d you t hat I hoped I ' d never see hi magai n, " sai d Rear den.
' Tmsor r y i f i t has t o be her e. I t doesn' t concer n you, but t her e' s
somet hi ng he must be pai d f or . "
" I f t hat i s . . . your pur pose, " Fr anci sco sai d wi t h ef f or t , " haven' t you
. . . achi eved i t al r eady?"
" What ' s t he mat t er ?" Rear den' s f ace was f r ozen, hi s l i ps bar el y movi ng,
but hi s voi ce had t he sound of a chuckl e. " I s t hi s your way of aski ng f or
mer cy?"
The i nst ant of si l ence was Fr anci sco' s st r ai n t o a gr eat er ef f or t .
" Yes . . . i f you wi sh, " he answer ed.
" Di d you gr ant i t when you hel d my f ut ur e i n your hands?"
" You ar e j ust i f i ed i n anyt hi ng you wi sh t o t hi nk of me. But si nce i t
doesn' t concer n Mi ss Taggar t . . . woul d you now per mi t me t o l eave?"
" No! Do you want t o evade i t , l i ke al l t hose ot her cowar ds? Do you want t o
escape?"
" I wi l l come anywher e you r equi r e any t i me you wi sh. But I woul d r at her i t
wer e not i n Mi ss Taggar t ' s pr esence. "
" Why not ? I want i t t o be i n her pr esence, si nce t hi s i s t he one pl ace you
had no r i ght t o come. I have not hi ng l ef t t o pr ot ect f r omyou, you' ve t aken
mor e t han t he l oot er s can ever t ake, you' ve dest r oyed ever yt hi ng you' ve
t ouched, but her e i s one t hi ng you' r e not - goi ng t o t ouch. " He knew t hat t he
r i gi d absence of emot i on i n Fr anci sco' s f ace was t he st r ongest evi dence of
emot i on, t he evi dence of some abnor mal ef f or t at cont r ol he knew t hat t hi s
was t or t ur e and t hat he, Rear den, was dr i ven bl i ndl y by a f eel i ng whi ch
r esembl ed a t or t ur er ' s enj oyment , except t hat he was now unabl e t o t el l
whet her he was t or t ur i ng Fr anci sco or hi msel f . " You' r e wor se t han t he
l oot er s, because you bet r ay wi t h f ul l under st andi ng of t hat whi ch you' r e
bet r ayi ng. I don' t know what f or mof cor r upt i on i s your mot i vebut I want you
t o l ear n t hat t her e ar e t hi ngs beyond your r each, beyond your aspi r at i on or
your mal i ce. "
" You have not hi ng . . . t o f ear f r omme . . . now. "
" I want you t o l ear n t hat you ar e not t o t hi nk of her , not t o l ook at her ,
not t o appr oach her . Of al l men, i t ' s you who' r e not t o appear i n her
pr esence. " He knew t hat he was dr i ven by a desper at e anger at hi s own f eel i ng
f or t hi s man, t hat t he f eel i ng st i l l l i ved, t hat i t was t hi s f eel i ng whi ch he
had t o out r age and dest r oy. " What ever your mot i ve, i t ' s f r omany cont act wi t h
you t hat she has t o be pr ot ect ed. "
" I E I gave you my wor d" He st opped.
Rear den chuckl ed. " I know what t hey mean, your wor ds, your convi ct i ons,
your f r i endshi p and your oat h by t he onl y woman you ever "
He st opped. They al l knew what t hi s meant , i n t he same i nst ant t hat
Rear den knew i t .
He made a st ep t owar d Fr anci sco; he asked, poi nt i ng at Dagny, hi s voi ce
l ow and st r angel y unl i ke hi s own voi ce, as i f i t nei t her came f r omnor wer e
addr essed t o a l i vi ng per son, " I s t hi s t he woman you l ove?"
Fr anci sco cl osed hi s eyes.
" Don' t ask hi mt hat ! " The cr y was Dagny' s.
" I s t hi s t he woman you l ove?"
Fr anci sco answer ed, l ooki ng at her , " Yes. "
Rear den' s hand r ose, swept down and sl apped Fr anci sco' s f ace.
The scr eamcame f r omDagny. When she coul d see agai naf t er an i nst ant t hat
f el t as i f t he bl ow had st r uck her own cheekFr anci sco' s hands wer e t he f i r st
t hi ng she saw. The hei r of t he d' Anconi as st ood t hr own back agai nst a t abl e,
cl aspi ng t he edge behi nd hi m, not t o suppor t hi msel f , but t o st op hi s own
hands. She saw t he r i gi d st i l l ness of hi s body, , a body t hat was pul l ed t oo
st r ai ght but seemed br oken, wi t h t he sl i ght , unnat ur al angl es of hi s
wai st l i ne and shoul der s, wi t h hi s ar ms hel d st i f f but sl ant ed backhe st ood
as i f t he ef f or t not t o move wer e t ur ni ng t he f or ce of hi s vi ol ence agai nst
hi msel f , as i f t he mot i on he r esi st ed wer e r unni ng t hr ough hi s muscl es as a
t ear i ng pai n. She saw hi s convul sed f i nger s st r uggl i ng t o gr ow f ast t o t he
t abl e' s edge, she wonder ed whi ch woul d br eak f i r st , t he wood of t he t abl e or
t he bones of t he man, and she knew t hat Rear den' s l i f e hung i n t he bal ance.
When her eyes moved up t o Fr anci sco' s f ace, she saw no si gn of st r uggl e,
onl y t he ski n of hi s t empl es pul l ed t i ght and t he pl anes of hi s cheeks dr awn
i nwar d, seemi ng f ai nt l y mor e hol l ow t han usual . I t made hi s f ace l ook naked,
pur e and young. She f el t t er r or because she was seei ng i n hi s eyes t he t ear s
whi ch wer e not t her e. Hi s eyes wer e br i l l i ant and dr y. He was l ooki ng at
Rear den, but i t was not Rear den t hat he was seei ng. He l ooked as i f he wer e
f aci ng anot her pr esence i n t he r oomand as i f hi s gl ance wer e sayi ng: I f t hi s
i s what you demand of me, t hen even t hi s i s your s, your s t o accept and mi ne
t o endur e, t her e i s no mor e t han t hi s i n me t o of f er you, but l et me be pr oud
t o know t hat I can of f er so much. She sawwi t h a si ngl e ar t er y beat i ng under
t he ski n of hi s t hr oat , wi t h a f r ot h of pi nk i n t he cor ner of hi s mout h
t he l ook of an enr apt ur ed dedi cat i on whi ch was al most a smi l e, and she
knew t hat she was wi t nessi ng Fr anci sco d' Anconi a' s gr eat est achi evement .
When she f el t her sel f shaki ng and hear d her own voi ce, i t seemed t o meet
t he l ast echo of her scr eami n t he ai r of t he r oomand she r eal i zed how br i ef
a moment had passed bet ween. Her voi ce had t he savage sound of r i si ng t o
del i ver a bl ow and i t was cr yi ng t o Rear den: " t o pr ot ect me f r omhi m? Long
bef or e you ever "
" Don' t ! " Fr anci sco' s head j er ked t o her , t he br i ef snap of hi s voi ce hel d
al l of hi s unr el eased vi ol ence, and she knew i t was an or der t hat had t o be
obeyed.
Mot i onl ess but f or t he sl ow cur ve of hi s head, Fr anci sco t ur ned t o
Rear den. She saw hi s hands l eave t he edge of t he t abl e and hang r el axed by
hi s si des. I t was Rear den t hat he was now seei ng, and t her e was not hi ng i n
Fr anci sco' s f ace except t he exhaust i on of ef f or t , but Rear den knew suddenl y
how much t hi s man had l oved hi m.
" Wi t hi n t he ext ent of your knowl edge, " Fr anci sco sai d qui et l y, " you ar e
r i ght . "
Nei t her expect i ng nor per mi t t i ng an answer , he t ur ned t o l eave. He bowed
t o Dagny, i ncl i ni ng hi s head i n a manner t hat appear ed as a si mpl e gest ur e of
l eave- t aki ng t o Rear den, as a gest ur e of accept ance t o her . Then he l ef t .
Rear den st ood l ooki ng af t er hi m, knowi ngwi t hout cont ext and wi t h absol ut e
cer t ai nt yt hat he woul d gi ve hi s l i f e f or t he power not t o have commi t t ed t he
act i on he had commi t t ed.
When he t ur ned t o Dagny, hi s f ace l ooked dr ai ned, open and f ai nt l y
at t ent i ve, as i f he wer e not quest i oni ng her about t he wor ds she had cut of f ,
but wer e wai t i ng f or t hemt o come.
A shudder of pi t y r an t hr ough her body and ended i n t he movement of
shaki ng her head: she di d not know f or whi ch of t he t wo men t he pi t y was
i nt ended, but i t made her unabl e t o speak and she shook her head over and
over agai n, as i f t r yi ng desper at el y t o negat e some vast , i mper sonal
suf f er i ng t hat had made t hemal l i t s vi ct i ms.
" I f t her e' s somet hi ng t hat must be sai d, say i t . " Hi s voi ce was t onel ess.
The sound she made was hal f - chuckl e, hal f - moani t was not a desi r e f or
vengeance, but a desper at e sense of j ust i ce t hat dr ove t he cut t i ng bi t t er ness
of her voi ce, as she cr i ed, consci ousl y t hr owi ng t he wor ds at hi s f ace, " You
want ed t o know t he name of t hat ot her man?
The man. I sl ept wi t h? The man who had me f i r st ? I t was Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a! "
She saw t he f or ce of t he bl ow by seei ng hi s f ace swept bl ank. She knew
t hat i f j ust i ce was her pur pose, she had achi eved i t because t hi s sl ap was
wor se t han t he one he had deal t .
She f el t suddenl y cal m, knowi ng t hat her wor ds had had t o be sai d f or t he
sake of al l t hr ee of t hem. The despai r of a hel pl ess vi ct i ml ef t her , she was
not a vi ct i many l onger , she was one of t he cont est ant s, wi l l i ng t o bear t he
r esponsi bi l i t y of act i on. She st ood f aci ng hi m, wai t i ng f or any answer he
woul d choose t o gi ve her , f eel i ng al most as i f i t wer e her t ur n t o be
subj ect ed t o vi ol ence.
She di d not know what f or mof t or t ur e he was endur i ng, or what he saw
bei ng wr ecked wi t hi n hi mand kept hi msel f t he onl y one t o see.
Ther e was no si gn of pai n t o gi ve her any war ni ng; he l ooked as i f he wer e
j ust a man who st ood st i l l i n t he mi ddl e of a r oom, maki ng hi s consci ousness
absor b a f act t hat i t r ef used t o absor b. Then she not i ced t hat he di d not
change hi s post ur e, t hat even hi s hands hung by hi s si des wi t h t he f i nger s
hal f - bent as t hey had been f or a l ong t i me, i t seemed t o her t hat she coul d
f eel t he heavy numbness of t he bl ood st oppi ng i n hi s f i nger sand t hi s was t he
onl y cl ue t o hi s suf f er i ng she was abl e t o f i nd, but i t t ol d her t hat t hat
whi ch he f el t l ef t hi mno power t o f eel anyt hi ng el se, not even t he exi st ence
of hi s own body.
She wai t ed, her pi t y vani shi ng and becomi ng r espect .
Then she saw hi s eyes move sl owl y f r omher f ace down t he l engt h of her
body, and she knew t he sor t of t or t ur e he was now choosi ng t o exper i ence,
because i t was a gl ance of a nat ur e he coul d not hi de f r omher . She knew t hat
he was seei ng her as she had been at sevent een, he was seei ng her wi t h t he
r i val he hat ed, he was seei ng t hemt oget her as t hey woul d be now, a si ght he
coul d nei t her endur e nor r esi st . She saw t he pr ot ect i on of cont r ol dr oppi ng
f r omhi s f ace, but he di d not car e whet her he l et her see hi s f ace al i ve and
naked, because t her e now was not hi ng t o r ead i n i t except an unr eveal i ng
vi ol ence, some par t of whi ch r esembl ed hat r ed.
He sei zed her shoul der s, and she f el t pr epar ed t o accept t hat he woul d now
ki l l her or beat her i nt o unconsci ousness, and i n t he moment when she f el t
cer t ai n t hat he had t hought of i t , she f el t her body t hr own agai nst hi mand
hi s mout h f al l i ng on her s, mor e br ut al l y t han t he act of a beat i ng woul d have
per mi t t ed.
She f ound her sel f , i n t er r or , t wi st i ng her body t o r esi st , and, i n
exul t at i on, t wi st i ng her ar ms ar ound hi m, hol di ng hi m, l et t i ng her l i ps br i ng
bl ood t o hi s, knowi ng t hat she had never want ed hi mas she di d i n t hi s
moment .
When he t hr ew her down on t he couch, she knew, t o t he r hyt hmof t he beat
of hi s body, t hat i t was t he act of hi s vi ct or y over hi s r i val and of hi s
sur r ender t o hi m, t he act of owner shi p br ought t o unendur abl e vi ol ence by t he
t hought of t he man whomi t was def yi ng, t he act of t r ansf or mi ng hi s hat r ed
f or t he pl easur e t hat man had known i nt o t he i nt ensi t y of hi s own pl easur e,
hi s conquest of t hat man by means of her bodyshe f el t Fr anci sco' s pr esence
t hr ough Rear den' s mi nd, she f el t as i f she wer e sur r ender i ng t o bot h men, t o
t hat whi ch she had wor shi pped i n bot h of t hem, t hat whi ch t hey hel d i n
common, t hat essence of char act er whi ch had made of her l ove f or each an act
of l oyal t y t o bot h. She knew al so t hat t hi s was hi s r ebel l i on agai nst t he
wor l d ar ound t hem, agai nst i t s wor shi p of degr adat i on, agai nst t he l ong
t or ment of hi s wast ed days and l i ght l ess st r uggl et hi s was what he wi shed t o
asser t and, al one wi t h her i n t he hal f - dar kness hi gh i n space above a ci t y of
r ui ns, t o hol d as t he l ast of hi s pr oper t y.
Af t er war ds, t hey l ay st i l l , hi s f ace on her shoul der . The r ef l ect i on of a
di st ant el ect r i c si gn kept beat i ng i n f ai nt f l ashes on t he cei l i ng above her
head.
He r eached f or her hand and sl i pped her f i nger s under hi s f ace t o l et hi s
mout h r est agai nst her pal mf or a moment , so gent l y t hat she f el t hi s mot i ve
mor e t han hi s t ouch.
Af t er a whi l e, she got up, she r eached f or a ci gar et t e, l i ght ed i t , t hen
hel d i t out t o hi mwi t h a sl i ght , quest i oni ng l i f t of her hand; he nodded,
st i l l si t t i ng hal f - st r et ched on t he couch; she pl aced t he ci gar et t e bet ween
hi s l i ps and l i ght ed anot her f or her sel f . She f el t a gr eat sense of peace
bet ween t hem, and t he i nt i macy of t he uni mpor t ant gest ur es under scor ed t he
i mpor t ance of t he t hi ngs t hey wer e not sayi ng t o each ot her . Ever yt hi ng was
sai d, she t hought but knew t hat i t wai t ed t o be acknowl edged.
She saw hi s eyes move t o t he ent r ance door once i n a whi l e and r emai n on
i t f or l ong moment s, as i f he wer e st i l l seei ng t he man who had l ef t .
He sai d qui et l y, " He coul d have beat en me by l et t i ng me have t he t r ut h,
any t i me he wi shed. Why di dn' t he?"
She shr ugged, spr eadi ng her hands i n a gest ur e of hel pl ess sadness,
because t hey bot h knew t he answer . She asked, " He di d mean a gr eat deal t o
you, di dn' t he?"
" He does. "
The t wo dot s of f i r e at t he t i ps of t hei r ci gar et t es had moved sl owl y t o
t he t i ps of t hei r f i nger s, wi t h t he smal l gl ow of an occasi onal f l ar e and t he
sof t cr umbl i ng of ashes as sol e movement i n t he si l ence, when t he door bel l
r ang. They knew t hat i t was not t he man t hey wi shed but coul d not hope t o see
r et ur n, and she f r owned wi t h sudden anger as she went t o open t he door . I t
t ook her a moment t o r emember t hat t he i nnocuousl y cour t eous f i gur e she saw
bowi ng t o her wi t h a st andar d smi l e of wel come was t he assi st ant manager of
t he apar t ment house.
" Good eveni ng, Mi ss Taggar t . We' r e so gl ad t o see you back. I j ust came on
dut y and hear d t hat you had r et ur ned and want ed t o gr eet you i n per son. "
" Thank you. " She st ood at t he door , not movi ng t o admi t hi m.
" I have a l et t er t hat came f or you about a week ago, Mi ss Taggar t , "
he sai d, r eachi ng i nt o hi s pocket . " I t l ooked as i f i t mi ght be i mpor t ant ,
but bei ng mar ked ' per sonal , ' i t was obvi ousl y not i nt ended t o be sent t o your
of f i ce and, besi des, t hey di d not know your addr ess, ei t her so not knowi ng
wher e t o f or war d i t , I kept i t i n our saf e and I t hought I ' d del i ver i t t o
you i n per son. "
The envel ope he handed t o her was mar ked: Regi st er edAi r Mai l Speci al
Del i ver yPer sonal . The r et ur n addr ess sai d: Quent i n Dani el s, Ut ah I nst i t ut e
of Technol ogy; . Af t on, Ut ah.
" Oh . . . Thank you. "
The assi st ant manager not ed t hat her voi ce went dr oppi ng t owar d a whi sper ,
t he pol i t e di sgui se f or a gasp, he not ed t hat she st ood l ooki ng down at t he
sender ' s name much l onger t han was necessar y, so he r epeat ed hi s good wi shes
and depar t ed.
She was t ear i ng t he envel ope open as she wal ked t owar d Rear den, and she
st opped i n t he mi ddl e of t he r oomt o r ead t he l et t er . I t was t ypewr i t t en on
t hi n paper he coul d see t he bl ack r ect angl es of t he par agr aphs t hr ough t he
t r anspar ent sheet sand he coul d see her f ace as she r ead t hem.
He expect ed i t , by t he t i me he saw her come t o t he end: she l eaped t o t he
t el ephone, he hear d t he vi ol ent whi r l of t he di al and her voi ce sayi ng wi t h
t r embl i ng ur gency, " Long- di st ance, pl ease . . . Oper at or , get me t he Ut ah
I nst i t ut e of Technol ogy at Af t on, Ut ah! "
He asked, appr oachi ng, " What i s i t ?"
She ext ended t he l et t er , not l ooki ng at hi m, her eyes f i xed on t he
t el ephone, as i f she coul d f or ce i t t o answer .
The l et t er sai d: Dear Mi ss Taggar t : I have f ought i t out f or t hr ee weeks,
I di d not want t o do i t , I know how t hi s wi l l hi t you and I know ever y
ar gument you coul d of f er me, because I have used t hemal l agai nst mysel f but
t hi s i s t o t el l you t hat I amqui t t i ng.
I cannot wor k under t he t er ms of Di r ect i ve 10- 289t hough not f or t he
r eason i t s per pet r at or s i nt ended. I know t hat t hei r abol i t i on of al l
sci ent i f i c r esear ch does not mean a damn t o you or me, and t hat you woul d
want me t o cont i nue. But I have t o qui t , because I do not wi sh t o succeed any
l onger .
I do not wi sh t o wor k i n a wor l d t hat r egar ds me as a sl ave. I do not wi sh
t o be of any val ue t o peopl e. I f I succeeded i n r ebui l di ng t he mot or , I woul d
not l et you pl ace i t i n t hei r ser vi ce. I woul d not t ake i t upon my consci ence
t hat anyt hi ng pr oduced by my mi nd shoul d be used t o br i ng t hemcomf or t .
I know t hat i f we succeed, t hey wi l l be onl y t oo eager t o expr opr i at e t he
mot or . And f or t he sake of t hat pr ospect , we have t o accept t he posi t i on of
cr i mi nal s, you and I , and l i ve under t he t hr eat of bei ng ar r est ed at any
moment at t hei r whi m. And t hi s i s t he t hi ng t hat I cannot t ake, even wer e I
abl e t o t ake al l t he r est : t hat i n or der t o gi ve t heman i nest i mabl e benef i t ,
we shoul d be made mar t yr s t o t he men who, but f or us, coul d not have
concei ved of i t . I mi ght have f or gi ven t he r est , but when I t hi nk of t hi s, I
say: May t hey be damned, I wi l l see t hemal l di e of st ar vat i on, mysel f
i ncl uded, r at her t han f or gi ve t hemf or t hi s or per mi t i t !
To t el l you t he f ul l t r ut h, I want t o succeed, t o sol ve t he secr et of t he
mot or , as much as ever . So I shal l cont i nue t o wor k on i t f or my own sol e
pl easur e and f or as l ong as I l ast . But i f I sol ve i t , i t wi l l r emai n my
pr i vat e secr et . I wi l l not r el ease i t f or any commer ci al use. Ther ef or e, I
cannot t ake your money any l onger .
Commer ci al i smi s supposed t o be despi cabl e, so al l t hose peopl e shoul d
t r ul y appr ove of my deci si on, and I I ' mt i r ed of hel pi ng t hose who despi se
me.
I don' t know how l ong I wi l l l ast or what I wi l l do i n t he f ut ur e.
For t he moment , I i nt end t o r emai n i n my j ob at t hi s I nst i t ut e.
But i f any of i t s t r ust ees or r ecei ver s shoul d r emi nd me t hat I amnow
l egal l y f or bi dden t o cease bei ng a j ani t or , I wi l l ' qui t .
You had gi ven me my gr eat est chance and i f I amnow gi vi ng you a pai nf ul
bl ow, per haps T shoul d ask you t o f or gi ve me, I t hi nk t hat you l ove your wor k
as much as I l oved mi ne, so you wi l l know t hat my deci si on was not easy t o
make, but t hat I had t o make i t .
I t i s a st r ange f eel i ngwr i t i ng t hi s l et t er . I do not i nt end t o di e, but I
amgi vi ng up t he wor l d and t hi s f eel s l i ke t he l et t er of a sui ci de. So I want
t o say t hat of al l t he peopl e I have known, you ar e t he onl y per son I r egr et
l eavi ng behi nd.
Si ncer el y your s, Quent i n Dani el s When he l ooked up f r omt he l et t er , he
hear d her sayi ng, as he had hear d her t hr ough t he wor ds of t he t ypewr i t t en
l i nes, her voi ce r i si ng cl oser t o despai r each t i me: " Keep r i ngi ng, Oper at or !
. . . Pl ease keep r i ngi ng! "
" What can you t el l hi m?" he asked. " Ther e ar e no ar gument s t o of f er . "
" I won' t have a chance t o t el l hi m! He' s gone by now. I t was a week ago.
I ' msur e he' s gone. They' ve got hi m. "
" Who got hi m?"
" Yes, Oper at or , I ' l l hol d t he l i ne, keep t r yi ng! "
" What woul d you t el l hi mi f he answer ed?"
" I ' d beg hi mt o go on t aki ng my money, wi t h no st r i ngs at t ached, no
condi t i ons, j ust so he' l l have t he means t o cont i nue! I ' l l pr omi se hi mt hat
i f we' r e st i l l i n a l oot er s' wor l d when and i f he succeeds, I won' t ask hi m
t o gi ve me t he mot or or even t o t el l me i t s secr et . But i f , by t hat t i me,
we' r e f r ee" She st opped.
" I f we' r e f r ee . . . "
" Al l I want f r omhi mnow i s t hat he doesn' t gi ve up and vani sh, l i ke . . .
l i ke al l t hose ot her s. I don' t want t o l et t hemget hi m. I f i t ' s not t oo
l at eoh God, I don' t want t hemt o get hi m! . . . Yes, Oper at or , keep
r i ngi ng! "
" What good wi l l i t do us, even i f he cont i nues t o wor k?"
" That ' s al l I ' l l beg hi mt o doj ust t o cont i nue. Maybe we' l l never get a
chance t o use t he mot or i n t he f ut ur e. But I want t o know t hat somewher e i n
t he wor l d t her e' s st i l l a gr eat br ai n at wor k on a gr eat at t empt and t hat we
st i l l have a chance at a f ut ur e. , , . I f t hat mot or i s abandoned agai n, t hen
t her e' s not hi ng but St ar nesvi l l e ahead of us. "
" Yes. I know. "
She hel d t he r ecei ver pr essed t o her ear , her ar mst i f f wi t h t he ef f or t
not t o t r embl e. She wai t ed, and he hear d, i n t he si l ence, t he f ut i l e cl i cki ng
of t he unanswer ed cal l .
" He' s gone, " she sai d. ' They got hi m. A week i s much l onger t han t hey
need. I don' t know how t hey l ear n when t he t i me i s r i ght , but t hi s"
she poi nt ed at t he l et t er " t hi s was t hei r t i me and t hey woul dn' t have
mi ssed i t . "
" Who?"
" The dest r oyer ' s agent s, "
" Ar e you begi nni ng t o t hi nk t hat t hey r eal l y exi st ?"
" Yes. "
" Ar e you ser i ous?"
" I am. I ' ve met one of t hem. "
" Who?"
" I ' l l t el l you l at er . I don' t know who t hei r l eader i s, but I ' mgoi ng t o
f i nd out , one of t hese days. I ' mgoi ng t o f i nd out . I ' l l be damned i f I l et
t hem"
She br oke of f on a gasp; he saw t he change i n her f ace t he moment bef or e
he hear d t he cl i ck of a di st ant r ecei ver bei ng l i f t ed and t he sound of a
man' s voi ce sayi ng, acr oss t he wi r e, " Hel l o?"
" Dani el s! I s t hat you? You' r e al i ve? You' r e st i l l t her e?"
" Why, yes. I s t hi s you, Mi ss Taggar t ? What ' s t he mat t er ?"
" I . . . I t hought you wer e gone. "
" Oh, I ' msor r y, I j ust hear d t he phone r i ngi ng, I was out i n t he back l ot ,
gat her i ng car r ot s. "
' " Car r ot s?" She was l aughi ng wi t h hyst er i cal r el i ef .
" I have my own veget abl e pat ch out t her e. Used t o be t he I nst i t ut e' s
par ki ng l ot . Ar e you cal l i ng f r omNew Yor k, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" Yes. I j ust r ecei ved your l et t er . J ust now. I . . . I had been away. "
" Oh. " Ther e was a pause, t hen he sai d qui et l y, " Ther e' s r eal l y not hi ng
mor e t o be sai d about i t , Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Tel l me, ar e you goi ng away?"
" No. "
" You' r e not pl anni ng t o go?"
" No. Wher e?"
" Do you i nt end t o r emai n at t he I nst i t ut e?"
" Yes. "
" For how l ong? I ndef i ni t el y?"
" Yesas f ar as I know. "
" Has anyone appr oached you?"
" About what ?"
" About l eavi ng. "
" No. Who?"
" Li st en, Dani el s, I won' t t r y t o di scuss your l et t er over t he phone.
But I must speak t o you. I ' mcomi ng t o see you. I ' l l get t her e as f ast as
I can. "
" I don' t want you t o do t hat , Mi ss Taggar t . I don' t want you t o go t o such
an ef f or t , when i t ' s usel ess. "
" Gi ve me a chance, won' t you? You don' t have t o pr omi se t o change your
mi nd, you don' t have t o commi t your sel f t o anyt hi ngonl y t o gi ve me a
hear i ng. I f I want t o come, i t ' s my r i sk, I ' mt aki ng i t . Ther e ar e t hi ngs I
want t o say t o you, I ' maski ng you onl y- f or t he chance t o say t hem. "
" You know t hat I wi l l al ways gi ve you t hat chance, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" I ' ml eavi ng f or Ut ah at once. Toni ght . But t her e' s one t hi ng I want you
t o pr omi se me. Wi l l you pr omi se t o wai t f or me? Wi l l you pr omi se t o be t her e
when I ar r i ve?"
" Why . . . of cour se, Mi ss Taggar t . Unl ess I di e or somet hi ng happens
out si de my power but I don' t expect i t t o happen. "
" Unl ess you di e, wi l l you wai t f or me no mat t er what happens?"
" Of cour se. "
" Do you gi ve me your wor d t hat you' l l wai t ?"
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Thank you. Good ni ght . "
" Good ni ght , Mi ss Taggar t . "
She pr essed t he r ecei ver down and pi cked i t up agai n i n t he same sweep of
her hand and r api dl y di al ed a number .
" Eddi e? . . . Have t hemhol d t he Comet f or me. . . . Yes, t oni ght ' s Comet .
Gi ve or der s t o have my car at t ached, t hen come her e, t o my pl ace, at once, "
She gl anced at her wat ch. " I t ' s ei ght - t wel ve. I have an hour t o make i t . I
don' t t hi nk I ' l l hol d t hemup t oo l ong. I ' l l t al k t o you whi l e I pack. "
She hung up and t ur ned t o Rear den.
" Toni ght ?" he sai d.
" I have t o. "
" I guess so. Don' t you have t o go t o Col or ado, anyway?"
" Yes. I i nt ended t o l eave t omor r ow ni ght . But I t hi nk Eddi e can manage t o
t ake car e of my of f i ce, and I ' d bet t er st ar t now. I t t akes t hr ee days" she
r emember ed" i t wi l l now t ake f i ve days t o r each Ut ah.
I have t o go by t r ai n, t her e ar e peopl e I have t o see on t he l i net hi s
can' t be del ayed, ei t her . "
" How l ong wi l l you st ay i n Col or ado?"
" Har d t o t el l . "
" Wi r e me when you get t her e, wi l l you? I f i t l ooks as i f i t ' s goi ng t o be
l ong, I ' l l j oi n you t her e. "
Thi s was t he onl y expr essi on he coul d gi ve t o t he wor ds he had desper at el y
wi shed t o say t o her , had wai t ed f or , had come her e t o say, and now wi shed t o
pr onounce mor e t han ever , but knew t hat i t must not be sai d t oni ght .
She knew, by a f ai nt , sol emn st r ess i n t he t one of hi s voi ce, t hat t hi s
was hi s accept ance of her conf essi on, hi s sur r ender , hi s f or gi veness. She
asked, " Can you l eave t he mi l l s?"
" I t wi l l t ake me a f ew days t o ar r ange, but I can. "
He knew what her wor ds wer e admi t t i ng, acknowl edgi ng and f or gi vi ng hi m,
when she sai d, " Hank, why don' t you meet me i n Col or ado i n a week? I f you f l y
your pl ane, we' l l bot h get t her e at t he same t i me. And t hen we' l l come back
t oget her . "
" Al l r i ght . . . dear est . "
She di ct at ed a l i st of i nst r uct i ons, whi l e paci ng her bedr oom, gat her i ng
her cl ot hes, hast i l y packi ng a sui t case. Rear den had l ef t ; Eddi e Wi l l er s sat
at her dr essi ng t abl e, maki ng not es. He seemed t o wor k i n hi s usual manner of
unquest i oni ng ef f i ci ency, as i f he wer e not awar e of t he per f ume bot t l es and
powder boxes, as i f t he dr essi ng t abl e wer e a desk and t he r oomwer e onl y an
of f i ce.
' I ' l l phone you f r omChi cago, Omaha, Fl agst af f and Af t on, " she sai d,
t ossi ng under wear i nt o t he sui t case. " I f you need me i n bet ween, cal l any
oper at or al ong t he l i ne, wi t h or der s t o f l ag t he t r ai n. "
" The Comet ?" he asked mi l dl y.
" Hel l , yes! t he Comet .
" Okay. "
" Don' t hesi t at e t o cal l , i f you have t o. "
" Okay. But I don' t t hi nk I ' l l have t o. "
" We' l l manage. We' l l wor k by l ong- di st ance phone, j ust as we di d when we"
She st opped.
" when we wer e bui l di ng t he J ohn Gal t Li ne?" he asked qui et l y.
They gl anced at each ot her , but sai d not hi ng el se.
" What ' s t he l at est r epor t on t he const r uct i on cr ews?" she asked.
" Ever yt hi ng' s under way. I got wor d, j ust af t er you l ef t t he of f i ce, t hat
t he gr adi ng gangs have st ar t edout of Laur el , Kansas, and out of J asper ,
Okl ahoma. The r ai l i s on i t s way t o t hemf r omSi l ver Spr i ngs.
I t wi l l be al l r i ght . The har dest t hi ng t o f i nd wasM
" The men?"
" Yes. The men t o put i n char ge. We had t r oubl e out West , over t he El gi n t o
Mi dl and st r et ch. Al l t he men we wer e count i ng on ar e gone. I coul dn' t f i nd
anyone abl e t o assume r esponsi bi l i t y, nei t her on our l i ne nor el sewher e. I
even t r i ed t o get Dan Conway, but "
" Dan Conway?" she asked, st oppi ng.
" Yes. I di d. I t r i ed. Do you r emember how he used t o have r ai l l ai d at t he
r at e of f i ve mi l es a day, r i ght i n t hat par t of t he count r y? Oh, I know he' d
have r eason t o hat e our gut s, but what does i t mat t er now?
I f ound hi mhe' s l i vi ng on a r anch out i n Ar i zona. I phoned hi mmysel f and
I begged hi mt o save us. J ust t o t ake char ge, f or one ni ght , of bui l di ng f i ve
and a hal f mi l es of t r ack. Fi ve and a hal f mi l es, Dagny, t hat we' r e st uck
wi t hand he' s t he gr eat est r ai l r oad bui l der l i vi ng! I t ol d hi mt hat I was
aski ng hi mt o do i t as a gest ur e of char i t y t o us, i f he woul d. You know, I
t hi nk he under st ood me. He wasn' t angr y. He sounded sad. But he woul dn' t do
i t . He sai d one must not t r y t o br i ng peopl e back out of t he gr ave. . . . He
wi shed me l uck. I t hi nk he meant i t . . . . You know, I don' t t hi nk he' s one
of t hose t hat t he dest r oyer knocked out . I t hi nk he j ust br oke by hi msel f . "
" Yes. I know he di d. "
Eddi e saw t he expr essi on on her f ace and pul l ed hi msel f up hast i l y.
" Oh, we f i nal l y f ound a man t o put i n char ge at El gi n, " he sai d, f or ci ng
hi s voi ce t o sound conf i dent . " Don' t wor r y, t he t r ack wi l l be bui l t l ong
bef or e you get t her e. "
She gl anced at hi mwi t h t he f ai nt suggest i on of a smi l e, t hi nki ng of how
of t en she had sai d t hese wor ds t o hi mand of t he desper at e br aver y wi t h whi ch
he was now t r yi ng t o t el l her : Don' t wor r y. He caught her gl ance, he
under st ood, and t he answer i ng hi nt of hi s smi l e had a t ouch of embar r assed
apol ogy.
He t ur ned back t o hi s not e pad, f eel i ng anger at hi msel f , sensi ng t hat he
had br oken hi s own unst at ed commandment : Don' t make i t har der f or her . He
shoul d not have t ol d her about Dan Conway, he t hought ; he shoul d not have
sai d anyt hi ng t o r emi nd t hembot h of t he despai r t hey woul d f eel , i f t hey
f el t . He wonder ed what was t he mat t er wi t h hi m: he t hought i t i nexcusabl e
t hat he shoul d f i nd hi s di sci pl i ne sl i ppi ng j ust because t hi s was a r oom, not
an of f i ce.
She went on speaki ngand he l i st ened, l ooki ng down at hi s pad, maki ng a
br i ef not at i on once i n a whi l e. He di d not per mi t hi msel f t o l ook at her
agai n.
She t hr ew t he door of her cl oset open, j er ked a sui t of f a hanger and
f ol ded i t r api dl y, whi l e her voi ce went on wi t h unhur r i ed pr eci si on.
He di d not l ook up, he was awar e of her onl y by means of sound: t he sound
of t he swi f t movement s and of t he measur ed voi ce. He knew what was wr ong wi t h
hi m, he t hought ; he di d not want her t o l eave, he di d not want t o l ose her
agai n, af t er so br i ef a moment of r euni on. But t o i ndul ge any per sonal
l onel i ness, at a t i me when he knew how desper at el y t he r ai l r oad needed her i n
Col or ado, was an act of di sl oyal t y he had never commi t t ed bef or eand he f el t
a vague, desol at e sense of gui l t .
( ' Send out or der s t hat t he Comet i s t o st op at ever y di vi si on poi nt , "
she sai d, " and t hat al l di vi si on super i nt endent s ar e t o pr epar e f or me a
r epor t on"
He gl anced upt hen hi s gl ance st opped and he di d not hear t he r est of t he
wor ds. He saw a man' s dr essi ng gown hangi ng on t he back of t he open cl oset
door , a dar k bl ue gown wi t h t he whi t e i ni t i al s HR on i t s br east pocket .
He r emember ed wher e he had seen t hat gown bef or e, he r emember ed t he man
f aci ng hi macr oss a br eakf ast t abl e i n t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el , he
r emember ed t hat man comi ng, unannounced, t o her of f i ce l at e on a Thanksgi vi ng
ni ght and t he r eal i zat i on t hat he shoul d have known i t , came t o hi mas t wo
subt er r anean j ol t s of a si ngl e ear t hquake: i t came wi t h a f eel i ng t hat
scr eamed " No! " so savagel y t hat t he scr eam, not t he si ght , br ought down ever y
gi r der wi t hi n hi m. I t was not t he shock of t he di scover y, but t he mor e
t er r i bl e shock of what i t made hi mdi scover about hi msel f .
He hung on t o a si ngl e t hought ; t hat he must not l et her see what he had
not i ced or what i t had done t o hi m. He f el t a sensat i on of embar r assment
magni f i ed t o t he poi nt of physi cal t or t ur e; i t was t he dr ead of vi ol at i ng her
pr i vacy t wi ce: by l ear ni ng her secr et and by r eveal i ng hi s own. He bent l ower
over t he not e pad and concent r at ed on an i mmedi at e pur pose: t o st op hi s
penci l f r omshaki ng.
" . . . f i f t y mi l es of mount ai n t r ackage t o bui l d, and we can count on
not hi ng but what ever mat er i al we own. "
" I beg your par don, " he sai d, hi s voi ce bar el y audi bl e, " I di dn' t hear
what you sai d.
" I sai d I want a r epor t f r omal l super i nt endent s on ever y f oot of r ai l and
ever y pi ece of equi pment avai l abl e on t hei r di vi si ons. "
" Okay. "
" I wi l l conf er wi t h each one of t hemi n t ur n. Have t hemmeet me i n my car
aboar d t he Comet . "
" Okay. "
" Send wor d out unof f i ci al l yt hat t he engi neer s ar e t o make up t i me f or t he
st ops by goi ng sevent y, ei ght y, a hundr ed mi l es an hour , anyt hi ng t hey wi sh
as and when t hey need t o, and t hat I wi l l . . .
Eddi e?"
" Yes. Okay. "
" Eddi e, what ' s t he mat t er ?"
He had t o l ook up, t o f ace her and, desper at el y, t o l i e f or t he f i r st t i me
i n hi s l i f e. " I ' m. . . I ' maf r ai d of t he t r oubl e we' l l get i nt o wi t h t he
l aw, " he sai d.
" For get i t . Don' t you see t hat t her e i sn' t any l aw l ef t ? Anyt hi ng goes
now, f or whoever can get away wi t h i t and, f or t he moment , i t ' s we who' r e
set t i ng t he t er ms. "
When she was r eady, he car r i ed her sui t case t o a t axi cab, t hen down t he
pl at f or mof t he Taggar t Ter mi nal t o her of f i ce car , t he l ast at t he end of
t he Comet . He st ood on t he pl at f or m, saw t he t r ai n j er k f or war d and wat ched
t he r ed mar ker s on t he back of her car sl i ppi ng sl owl y away f r omhi mi nt o t he
l ong dar kness of t he exi t t unnel . When t hey wer e gone, he f el t what one f eel s
at t he l oss of a dr eamone had not known t i l l af t er i t was l ost .
Ther e wer e f ew peopl e on t he pl at f or mar ound hi mand t hey seemed t o move
wi t h sel f - consci ous st r ai n, as i f a sense of di sast er cl ung t o t he r ai l s and
t o t he gi r der s above t hei r heads. He t hought i ndi f f er ent l y t hat af t er a
cent ur y of saf et y, men wer e once mor e r egar di ng t he depar t ur e of a t r ai n as
an event i nvol vi ng a gambl e wi t h deat h.
He r emember ed t hat he had had no di nner , and he f el t no desi r e t o eat , but
t he under gr ound caf et er i a of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal was mor e t r ul y hi s home
t han t he empt y cube of space he now t hought of as hi s apar t ment so he wal ked
t o t he caf et er i a, because he had no ot her pl ace t o go.
The caf et er i a was al most deser t edbut t he f i r st t hi ng he saw, as he
ent er ed, was a t hi n col umn of smoke r i si ng f r omt he ci gar et t e of t he wor ker ,
who sat al one at a t abl e i n a dar k cor ner .
Not not i ci ng what he put on hi s t r ay, Eddi e car r i ed i t t o t he wor ker ' s
t abl e, sai d, " Hel l o, " sat down and sai d not hi ng el se. He l ooked at t he
si l ver war e spr ead bef or e hi m, wonder ed about i t s pur pose, r emember ed t he use
of a f or k and at t empt ed t o per f or mt he mot i ons of eat i ng, but f ound t hat i t
was beyond hi s power . Af t er a whi l e, he l ooked up and saw t hat t he wor ker ' s
eyes wer e st udyi ng hi mat t ent i vel y.
" No, " sai d Eddi e, " no, t her e' s not hi ng t he mat t er wi t h me. . . .
Oh yes, a l ot has happened, but what di f f er ence does i t make now?
. . . Yes, she' s back. . . . What el se do you want me t o say about i t ? . .
. How di d you know she' s back? Oh wel l , I suppose t he whol e company knew i t
wi t hi n t he f i r st t en mi nut es. . . . No, I don' t know whet her I ' mgl ad t hat
she' s back. . . . Sur e, she' l l save t he r ai l r oad
f or anot her year or mont h. . . . What do you want me t o say? . . .
No, she di dn' t . She di dn' t t el l me what she' s count i ng on. She di dn' t t el l
me what she t hought or f el t . . . . Wel l , how do you suppose she' d f eel ? I t ' s
hel l f or her al l r i ght , f or me, t oo! Onl y my ki nd of hel l i s my own f aul t . .
. . No. Not hi ng. I can' t t al k about i t t al k?I must n' t even t hi nk about i t ,
I ' ve got t o st op i t , st op t hi nki ng of her andof her , I mean. "
He r emai ned si l ent and he wonder ed why t he wor ker ' s eyest he eyes t hat
al ways seemed t o see ever yt hi ng wi t hi n hi mmade hi mf eel uneasy t oni ght . He
gl anced down at t he t abl e, and he not i ced t he but t s of many ci gar et t es among
t he r emnant s of f ood on t he wor ker ' s pl at e.
" Ar e you i n t r oubl e, t oo?" asked Eddi e. " Oh, j ust t hat you' ve sat her e f or
a l ong t i me t oni ght , haven' t you? . . . For me? Why shoul d you have want ed t o
wai t f or me? . . . You know, I never t hought you car ed whet her you saw me or
not , me or anybody, you seemed so compl et e i n your sel f , and t hat ' s why I
l i ked t o t al k t o you, because I f el t t hat you al ways under st ood, but not hi ng
coul d hur t youyou l ooked as i f not hi ng had ever hur t youand i t made me f eel
f r ee, as i f . . . as i f t her e wer e no pai n i n t he wor l d. . . . Do you know
what ' s st r ange about your f ace? You l ook as i f you' ve never known pai n or
f ear or gui l t . . . . I ' msor r y I ' mso l at e t oni ght . I had t o see her of f she
has j ust l ef t , on t he Comet . . . . Yes, t oni ght , j ust now.
. . . Yes, she' s gone. . . . Yes, i t was a sudden deci si onwi t hi n t he past
hour . She i nt ended t o l eave t omor r ow ni ght , but somet hi ng unexpect ed happened
and she had t o go at once. . . . Yes, she' s goi ng t o Col or adoaf t er war ds. . .
. To Ut ahf i r st . . . . Because she got a l et t er f r omQuent i n Dani el s t hat
he' s qui t t i ngand t he one t hi ng she won' t gi ve up, coul dn' t st and t o gi ve up,
i s t he mot or . You r emember , t he mot or I t ol d you about , t he r emnant t hat she
f ound. . . . Dani el s?
He' s a physi ci st who' s been wor ki ng f or t he past year , at t he Ut ah
I nst i t ut e of Technol ogy, t r yi ng t o sol ve t he secr et of t he mot or and t o
r ebui l d i t . . . . Why do you l ook at me l i ke t hat ? . . . No, I haven' t t ol d
you about hi mbef or e, because i t was a secr et . I t was a pr i vat e, secr et
pr oj ect of her ownand of what i nt er est woul d i t have been t o you, anyway? .
. . I guess I can t al k about i t now, because he' s qui t . . . . Yes, he t ol d
her hi s r easons. He sai d t hat he won' t gi ve anyt hi ng pr oduced by hi s mi nd t o
a wor l d t hat r egar ds hi mas a sl ave.
He sai d t hat he won' t be made a mar t yr t o peopl e i n exchange f or gi vi ng
t heman i nest i mabl e benef i t . . . . What what ar e you l aughi ng at ? . . . St op
i t , wi l l you? Why do you l augh l i ke t hat ? . . . The whol e secr et ? What do you
mean, t he whol e secr et ? He hasn' t f ound t he whol e secr et of t he mot or , i f
t hat ' s what you meant , but he seemed t o be doi ng wel l , he had a good chance.
Now i t ' s l ost . She' s r ushi ng t o hi m, she want s t o pl ead, t o hol d hi m, t o make
hi mgo onbut I t hi nk i t ' s usel ess. Once t hey st op, t hey don' t come back
agai n. Not one of t hemhas. . . . No, I don' t car e, not any mor e, we' ve t aken
so many l osses t hat I ' mget t i ng used t o i t . . . . Oh no! I t ' s not Dani el s
t hat I can' t t ake, i t ' sno, dr op i t . Don' t quest i on me about i t . The whol e
wor l d i s goi ng t o pi eces, she' s st i l l f i ght i ng t o save i t , and I I si t her e
damni ng her f or somet hi ng I had no r i ght t o know. . . . No! She' s done
not hi ng t o be damned, not hi ngand, besi des, i t doesn' t concer n t he r ai l r oad.
. . . Don' t pay any at t ent i on t o me, i t ' s not t r ue, i t ' s not her t hat I ' m
damni ng, i t ' s mysel f . . . . Li st en, I ' ve al ways known t hat you l oved Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al as I l oved i t , t hat i t meant somet hi ng speci al t o you,
somet hi ng per sonal , and t hat was why you l i ked t o hear me t al k about i t . But
t hi st he t hi ng I l ear ned t odayt hi s has not hi ng t o do wi t h t he r ai l r oad. I t
woul d be of no i mpor t ance t o you.
For get i t . . . . I t ' s somet hi ng t hat I di dn' t know about her , t hat ' s al l .
. . . I gr ew up wi t h her . I t hought I knew her . I di dn' t . . . . I don' t
know what i t was t hat I expect ed. I suppose I j ust t hought t hat she had no
pr i vat e l i f e of any ki nd. To me, she was not a per son and not . . . not a
woman. She was t he r ai l r oad. And I di dn' t t hi nk t hat anyone woul d ever have
t he audaci t y t o l ook at her i n any ot her way.
. . . Wel l , i t ser ves me r i ght . For get i t . . . . For get i t , I sai d! Why do
you quest i on me l i ke t hi s? I t ' s onl y her pr i vat e l i f e. What can i t mat t er t o
you? . . . Dr op i t , f or God' s sake! Don' t you see t hat I can' t t al k about i t ?
. . . Not hi ng happened, not hi ng' s wr ong wi t h me, I j ust oh, why amI l yi ng?
I can' t l i e t o you, you al ways seemt o see ever yt hi ng, i t ' s wor se t han t r yi ng
t o l i e t o mysel f ! . . . I have l i ed t o mysel f . I di dn' t know what I f el t f or
her . The r ai l r oad? I ' ma r ot t en hypocr i t e. I f t he r ai l r oad was al l she meant
t o me, i t woul dn' t have hi t me l i ke t hi s. I woul dn' t have f el t t hat I want ed
t o ki l l hi m! . . .
What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you t oni ght ? Why do you l ook at me l i ke t hat ?
. . . Oh, what ' s t he mat t er wi t h al l of us? Why i s t her e not hi ng but
mi ser y l ef t f or anyone? Why do we suf f er so much? We wer en' t meant t o. I
al ways t hought t hat we wer e t o be happy, al l of us, as our nat ur al f at e. What
ar e we doi ng? What have we l ost ? A year ago, I woul dn' t have damned her f or
f i ndi ng somet hi ng she want ed. But I know t hat t hey' r e doomed, bot h of t hem,
and so amI , and so i s ever ybody, and she was al l I had l ef t . . . . I t was so
gr eat , t o be al i ve, i t was such a wonder f ul chance, I di dn' t know t hat I
l oved i t and t hat t hat was our l ove, her s and mi ne and your sbut t he wor l d i s
per i shi ng and we cannot st op i t . Why ar e we dest r oyi ng our sel ves? Who wi l l
t el l us t he t r ut h? Who wi l l save us? Oh, who i s J ohn Gal t ?! . . . No, i t ' s no
use.
I t doesn' t mat t er now. Why shoul d I f eel anyt hi ng? We won' t l ast much
l onger . Why shoul d I car e what she does? Why shoul d I car e t hat she' s
sl eepi ng wi t h Hank Rear den? . . . Oh God! what ' s t he mat t er wi t h you? Don' t
go! Wher e ar e you goi ng?"

CHAPTER X
THE SIGN OF THE DOLLAR

She sat at t he wi ndow of t he t r ai n, her head t hr own back, not movi ng,
wi shi ng she woul d never have t o move agai n.
The t el egr aph pol es went r aci ng past t he wi ndow, but t he t r ai n seemed l ost
i n a voi d, bet ween a br own st r et ch of pr ai r i e and a sol i d spr ead of r ust y,
gr ayi ng cl ouds. The t wi l i ght was dr ai ni ng t he sky wi t hout t he wound of a
sunset ; i t l ooked mor e l i ke t he f adi ng of an anemi c body i n t he pr ocess of
exhaust i ng i t s l ast dr ops of bl ood and l i ght . The t r ai n was goi ng west , as i f
i t , t oo, wer e pul l ed t o f ol l ow t he si nki ng r ays and qui et l y t o vani sh f r om
t he ear t h. She sat st i l l , f eel i ng no desi r e t o r esi st i t .
She wi shed she woul d not hear t he sound of t he wheel s. They knocked i n an
even r hyt hm, ever y f our t h knock accent edand i t seemed t o her t hat t hr ough
t he r api d, r unni ng cl at t er of some f ut i l e st ampede t o escape, t he beat of t he
accent ed knocks was l i ke t he st eps of an enemy movi ng t owar d some i nexor abl e
pur pose.
She had never exper i enced i t bef or e, t hi s sense of appr ehensi on at t he
si ght of a pr ai r i e, t hi s f eel i ng t hat t he r ai l was onl y a f r agi l e t hr ead
st r et ched acr oss an enor mous empt i ness, l i ke a wor n ner ve r eady t o br eak. She
had never expect ed t hat she, who had f el t as i f she wer e t he mot i ve power
aboar d a t r ai n, woul d now si t wi shi ng, l i ke a chi l d or a savage, t hat t hi s
t r ai n woul d move, t hat i t woul d not st op, t hat i t woul d get her t her e on
t i mewi shi ng i t , not l i ke an act of wi l l , but l i ke a pl ea t o a dar k unknown.
She t hought of what a di f f er ence one mont h had made. She had seen i t i n
t he f aces of t he men at t he st at i ons. The t r ack wor ker s, t he swi t chmen, t he
yar dmen, who had al ways gr eet ed her , anywher e al ong t he l i ne, t hei r cheer f ul
gr i ns boast i ng t hat t hey knew who she washad now l ooked at her st oni l y,
t ur ni ng away, t hei r f aces war y and cl osed.
She had want ed t o cr y t o t hemi n apol ogy, " I t ' s not I who' ve done i t t o
you! " t hen had r emember ed t hat she had accept ed i t and t hat t hey now had t he
r i ght t o hat e her , t hat she was bot h a sl ave and a dr i ver of sl aves, and so
was ever y human bei ng i n t he count r y, and hat r ed was t he onl y t hi ng t hat men
coul d now f eel f or one anot her .
She had f ound r eassur ance, f or t wo days, i n t he si ght of t he ci t i es movi ng
past her wi ndowt he f act or i es, t he br i dges, t he el ect r i c si gns, t he
bi l l boar ds pr essi ng down upon t he r oof s of homest he cr owded, gr i my, act i ve,
l i vi ng conf l ux of t he i ndust r i al East .
But t he ci t i es had been l ef t behi nd. The t r ai n was now di vi ng i nt o t he
pr ai r i es of Nebr aska, t he r at t l e of i t s coupl er s soundi ng as i f i t wer e
shi ver i ng wi t h col d. She saw l onel y shapes t hat had been f ar mhouses i n t he
vacant st r et ches t hat had been f i el ds. But t he gr eat bur st of ener gy, i n t he
East , gener at i ons ago, had spl at t er ed br i ght t r i ckl es t o r un t hr ough t he
empt i ness; some wer e gone, but some st i l l l i ved.
She was st ar t l ed when t he l i ght s of a smal l t own swept acr oss her car and,
vani shi ng, l ef t i t dar ker t han i t had been bef or e. She woul d not move t o t ur n
on t he l i ght . She sat st i l l , wat chi ng t he r ar e t owns. Whenever an el ect r i c
beamwent f l ashi ng br i ef l y at her f ace, i t was l i ke a moment ' s gr eet i ng.
She saw t hemas t hey went by, wr i t t en on t he wal l s of modest st r uct ur es,
over soot ed r oof s, down sl ender smokest acks, on t he cur ves of t anks: Reynol ds
Har vest er sMacey Cement Qui nl an & J ones Pr essed Al f al f aHome of t he Cr awf or d
Mat t r essBenj ami n Wyl i e Gr ai n and Feedwor ds r ai sed l i ke f l ags t o t he empt y
dar kness of t he sky, t he mot i onl ess f or ms of movement , of ef f or t , of cour age,
of hope, t he monument s t o how much had been achi eved on t he edge of nat ur e' s
voi d by men who had once been f r ee t o achi eveshe saw t he homes bui l t i n
scat t er ed pr i vacy, t he smal l shops, t he wi de st r eet s wi t h el ect r i c l i ght i ng,
l i ke a f ew l umi nous st r okes cr i ss- cr ossed on t he bl ack sheet of t he
wast el andsshe saw t he ghost s bet ween, t he r emnant s of t owns, t he skel et ons
of f act or i es wi t h cr umbl i ng smokest acks, t he cor pses of shops wi t h br oken
panes, t he sl ant i ng pol es wi t h shr eds of wi r eshe saw a sudden bl aze, t he
r ar e si ght of a gas st at i on, a gl i t t er i ng whi t e i sl and of gl ass and met al
under t he huge bl ack wei ght of space and sky she saw an i ce- cr eamcone made
of r adi ant t ubi ng, hangi ng above t he cor ner of a st r eet , and a bat t er ed car
bei ng par ked bel ow, wi t h a young boy at t he wheel and a gi r l st eppi ng out ,
her whi t e dr ess bl owi ng i n t he summer wi ndshe shudder ed f or t he t wo of t hem,
t hi nki ng: I can' t l ook at you, I who know what i t has t aken t o gi ve you your
yout h, t o gi ve you t hi s eveni ng, t hi s car and t he i ce- cr eamcone you' r e goi ng
t o buy f or a quar t er she saw, on t he edge beyond a t own, a bui l di ng gl owi ng
wi t h t i er s of pal e bl ue l i ght , t he i ndust r i al l i ght she l oved, wi t h t he
si l houet t es of machi nes i n i t s wi ndows and a bi l l boar d i n t he dar kness above
i t s r oof and suddenl y her head f el l on her ar m, and she sat shaki ng, cr yi ng
soundl essl y t o t he ni ght , t o her sel f , t o what ever was human i n any l i vi ng
bei ng: Don' t l et i t go! . . . Don' t l et i t go! . . .
She j umped t o her f eet and snapped on t he l i ght . She st ood st i l l , f i ght i ng
t o r egai n cont r ol , knowi ng t hat such moment s wer e her gr eat est danger . The
l i ght s of t he t own wer e past , her wi ndow was now an empt y r ect angl e, and she
hear d, i n t he si l ence, t he pr ogr essi on of t he f our t h knocks, t he st eps of t he
enemy movi ng on, not t o be hast ened or st opped.
I n desper at e need of t he si ght of some l i vi ng act i vi t y, she deci ded she
woul d not or der di nner i n her car , but woul d go t o t he di ner . As i f st r essi ng
and mocki ng her l onel i ness, a voi ce came back t o her mi nd: " But you woul d not
r un t r ai ns i f t hey wer e empt y. " For get i t ! she t ol d her sel f angr i l y, wal ki ng
hast i l y t o t he door of her car .
She was ast oni shed, appr oachi ng her vest i bul e, t o hear t he sound of voi ces
cl ose by. As she pul l ed t he door open, she hear d a shout : " Get of f , God damn
you! "
An agi ng t r amp had t aken r ef uge i n t he cor ner of her vest i bul e.
He sat on t he f l oor , hi s post ur e suggest i ng t hat he had no st r engt h l ef t
t o st and up or t o car e about bei ng caught . He was l ooki ng at t he conduct or ,
hi s eyes obser vant , f ul l y consci ous, but devoi d of any r eact i on. The t r ai n
was sl owi ng down f or a bad st r et ch of t r ack, t he conduct or had opened t he
door t o a col d gust of wi nd, and was wavi ng at t he speedi ng bl ack voi d,
or der i ng, " Get goi ng! Get of f as you got on or I ' l l ki ck you of f head f i r st ! "
Ther e was no ast oni shment i n t he t r amp' s f ace, no pr ot est , no anger , no
hope; he l ooked as i f he had l ong si nce abandoned any j udgment of any human
act i on. He moved obedi ent l y t o r i se, hi s hand gr opi ng upwar d al ong t he r i vet s
of t he car ' s wal l . She saw hi mgl ance at her and gl ance away, as i f she wer e
mer el y anot her i nani mat e f i xt ur e of t he t r ai n. He di d not seemt o be awar e of
her per son, any mor e t han of hi s own, he was i ndi f f er ent l y r eady t o compl y
wi t h an or der whi ch, i n hi s condi t i on, meant cer t ai n deat h.
She gl anced at t he conduct or . She saw not hi ng i n hi s f ace except t he bl i nd
mal evol ence of pai n, of some l ong- r epr essed anger t hat br oke out upon t he
f i r st obj ect avai l abl e, al most wi t hout consci ousness of t he obj ect ' s
i dent i t y. The t wo men wer e not human bei ngs t o each ot her any l onger .
The t r amp' s sui t was a mass of car ef ul pat ches on a cl ot h so st i f f and
shi ny wi t h wear t hat one expect ed i t t o cr ack l i ke gl ass i f bent ; but she
not i ced t he col l ar of hi s shi r t : i t was bone- whi t e f r omr epeat ed l aunder i ng
and i t st i l l pr eser ved a sembl ance of shape. He had pul l ed hi msel f up t o hi s
f eet , he was l ooki ng i ndi f f er ent l y at t he bl ack hol e open upon mi l es of
uni nhabi t ed wi l der ness wher e no one woul d see t he body or hear t he voi ce of a
mangl ed man, but t he onl y gest ur e of concer n he made was t o t i ght en hi s gr i p
on a smal l , di r t y bundl e, as i f t o make sur e he woul d not l ose i t i n l eapi ng
of f t he t r ai n.
I t was t he l aunder ed col l ar and t hi s gest ur e f or t he l ast of hi s
possessi onst he gest ur e of a sense of pr oper t yt hat made her f eel an emot i on
l i ke a sudden, bur ni ng t wi st wi t hi n her . " Wai t , " she sai d.
The t wo men t ur ned t o her .
" Let hi mbe my guest , " she sai d t o t he conduct or , and hel d her door open
f or t he t r amp, or der i ng, " Come i n. "
The t r amp f ol l owed her , obeyi ng as bl ankl y as he had been about t o obey
t he conduct or .
He st ood i n t he mi ddl e of her car , hol di ng hi s bundl e, l ooki ng ar ound hi m
wi t h t he same obser vant , unr eact i ng gl ance.
" Si t down, " she sai d.
He obeyedand l ooked at her , as i f wai t i ng f or f ur t her or der s.
Ther e was a ki nd of di gni t y i n hi s manner , t he honest y of t he open
admi ssi on t hat he had no cl ai mt o make, no pl ea t o of f er , no quest i ons t o
ask, t hat he now had t o accept what ever was done t o hi mand was r eady t o
accept i t .
He seemed t o be i n hi s ear l y f i f t i es; t he st r uct ur e of hi s bones and t he
l ooseness of hi s sui t suggest ed t hat he had once been muscul ar .
The l i f el ess i ndi f f er ence of hi s eyes di d not f ul l y hi de t hat t hey had
been i nt el l i gent ; t he wr i nkl es cut t i ng hi s f ace wi t h t he r ecor d of some
i ncr edi bl e bi t t er ness, had not f ul l y er ased t he f act t hat t he f ace had once
possessed t he ki ndl i ness pecul i ar t o honest y.
" When di d you eat l ast ?" she asked.
" Yest er day, " he sai d, and added, " I t hi nk. "
She r ang f or t he por t er and or der ed di nner f or t wo, t o be br ought t o her
car f r omt he di ner .
The t r amp had wat ched her si l ent l y, but when t he por t er depar t ed, he
of f er ed t he onl y payment i t was i n hi s power t o of f er : " I don' t want t o get
you i n t r oubl e, ma' am, " he sai d.
She smi l ed. " What t r oubl e?"
" You' r e t r avel i ng wi t h one of t hose r ai l r oad t ycoons, ar en' t you?"
" No, al one. "
" Then you' r e t he wi f e of one of t hem?"
" No. "
" Oh. " She saw hi s ef f or t at a l ook of somet hi ng l i ke r espect , as i f t o
make up f or havi ng f or ced an i mpr oper conf essi on, and she l aughed.
" No, not t hat , ei t her . I guess I ' mone of t he t ycoons mysel f . My name i s
Dagny Taggar t and I wor k f or t hi s r ai l r oad. "
" Oh . . . I t hi nk I ' ve hear d of you, ma' ami n t he ol d days. " I t was har d
t o t el l what " t he ol d days" meant t o hi m, whet her i t was a mont h or a year or
what ever per i od of t i me had passed si nce he had gi ven up. He was l ooki ng at
her wi t h a sor t of i nt er est i n t he past t ense, as i f he wer e t hi nki ng t hat
t her e had been a t i me when he woul d have consi der ed her a per sonage wor t h
seei ng. " You wer e t he l ady who r an a r ai l r oad, " he sai d.
" Yes, " she sai d. " I was. "
He showed no si gn of ast oni shment at t he f act t hat she had chosen t o hel p
hi m. He l ooked as i f so much br ut al i t y had conf r ont ed hi mt hat he had gi ven
up t he at t empt t o under st and, t o t r ust or t o expect anyt hi ng.
" When di d you get aboar d t he t r ai n?" she asked.
" Back at t he di vi si on poi nt , ma' am. Your door wasn' t l ocked. " He added, " I
f i gur ed maybe nobody woul d not i ce me t i l l mor ni ng on account of i t bei ng a
pr i vat e car . "
" Wher e ar e you goi ng?"
" I don' t know. " Then, al most as i f he sensed t hat t hi s coul d sound t oo
much l i ke an appeal f or pi t y, he added, " I guess I j ust want ed t o keep movi ng
t i l l I saw some pl ace t hat l ooked l i ke t her e mi ght be a chance t o f i nd wor k
t her e. " Thi s was hi s at t empt t o assume t he r esponsi bi l i t y of a pur pose,
r at her t han t o t hr ow t he bur den of hi s ai ml essness upon her mer cyan at t empt
of t he same or der as hi s shi r t col l ar .
" What ki nd of wor k ar e you l ooki ng f or ?"
" Peopl e don' t l ook f or ki nds of wor k any mor e, ma' am, " he answer ed
i mpassi vel y. " They j ust l ook f or wor k. "
" What sor t of pl ace di d you hope t o f i nd?"
" Oh . . . wel l . . . wher e t her e' s f act or i es, I guess.
" Ar en' t you goi ng i n t he wr ong di r ect i on f or t hat ? The f act or i es ar e i n
t he East . "
" No. " He sai d i t wi t h t he f i r mness of knowl edge. " Ther e ar e t oo many
peopl e i n t he East . The f act or i es ar e t oo wel l wat ched. I f i gur ed t her e mi ght
be a bet t er chance some pl ace wher e t her e' s f ewer peopl e and l ess l aw. "
" Oh, r unni ng away? A f ugi t i ve f r omt he l aw, ar e you?"
" Not as you' d mean i t i n t he ol d days, ma' am. But as t hi ngs ar e now, I
guess I am. I want t o wor k. "
" What do you mean?"
" Ther e ar en' t any j obs back East . And a man coul dn' t gi ve you a j ob, i f he
had one t o gi vehe' d go t o j ai l f or i t . He' s wat ched. You can' t get wor k
except t hr ough t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d. The Uni f i cat i on Boar d has a gang of i t s
own f r i ends wai t i ng i n l i ne f or t he j obs, mor e f r i ends t han a mi l l i onai r e' s
got r el at i ves. Wel l , meI haven' t got ei t her . "
" Wher e di d you wor k l ast ?"
" I ' ve been bummi ng ar ound t he count r y f or si x mont hsno, l onger , I guessI
guess i t ' s cl oser t o about a year I can' t t el l any mor e
most l y day wor k i t was. Most l y on f ar ms. But i t ' s get t i ng t o be no use
now. I know how t he f ar mer s l ook at yout hey don' t l i ke t o see a man
st ar vi ng, but t hey' r e onl y one j ump ahead of st ar vat i on t hemsel ves, t hey
haven' t any wor k t o gi ve you, t hey haven' t any f ood, and what ever t hey save,
i f t he t ax col l ect or s don' t get i t , t hen t he r ai der s doyou know, t he gangs
t hat r ove al l t hr ough t he count r y
deser t er s, t hey cal l t hem. "
" Do you t hi nk t hat i t ' s any bet t er i n t he West ?"
" No. I don' t . "
" Then why ar e you goi ng t her e?"
" Because I haven' t t r i ed i t bef or e. That ' s al l t her e i s l ef t t o t r y. I t ' s
somewher e t o go. J ust t o keep movi ng . . . You know, " he added suddenl y, " I
don' t t hi nk i t wi l l be any use. But t her e' s not hi ng t o do i n t he East except
si t under some hedge and wai t t o di e. I don' t t hi nk I ' d mi nd i t much now, t he
dyi ng. I know i t woul d be a l ot easi er . Onl y I t hi nk t hat i t ' s a si n t o si t
down and l et your l i f e go, wi t hout maki ng a t r y f or i t . "
She t hought suddenl y of t hose moder n col l ege- i nf ect ed par asi t es who
assumed a si ckeni ng ai r of mor al sel f - r i ght eousness whenever t hey ut t er ed t he
st andar d br omi des about t hei r concer n f or t he wel f ar e of ot her s. The t r amp' s
l ast sent ence was one of t he most pr of oundl y mor al st at ement s she had ever
hear d; but t he man di d not know i t ; he had sai d i t i n hi s i mpassi ve,
ext i ngui shed voi ce, si mpl y, dr yl y, as a mat t er of f act .
" What par t of t he count r y do you come f r om?" she asked.
" Wi sconsi n, " he answer ed.
The wai t er came i n, br i ngi ng t hei r di nner . He set a t abl e and cour t eousl y
moved t wo chai r s, showi ng no ast oni shment at t he nat ur e of t he occasi on.
She l ooked at t he t abl e; she t hought t hat t he magni f i cence of a wor l d
wher e men coul d af f or d t he t i me and t he ef f or t l ess concer n f or such t hi ngs as
st ar ched napki ns and t i nkl i ng i ce cubes, of f er ed t o t r avel er s al ong wi t h
t hei r meal s f or t he pr i ce of a f ew dol l ar s, was a r emnant of t he age when t he
sust enance of one' s l i f e had not been made a cr i me and a meal had not been a
mat t er of r unni ng a r ace wi t h deat ha r emnant whi ch was soon t o vani sh, l i ke
t he whi t e f i l l i ng st at i on on t he edge of t he weeds of t he j ungl e.
She not i ced t hat t he t r amp, who had l ost t he st r engt h t o st and up, had not
l ost t he r espect f or t he meani ng of t he t hi ngs spr ead bef or e hi m. He di d not
pounce upon t he f ood; he f ought t o keep hi s movement s sl ow, t o unf ol d hi s
napki n, t o pi ck up hi s f or k i n t empo wi t h her s, hi s hand shaki ngas i f he
st i l l knew t hat t hi s, no mat t er what i ndi gni t y was ever f or ced upon t hem, was
t he manner pr oper t o men.
" What was your l i ne of wor ki n t he ol d days?" she asked, when t he wai t er
l ef t . " Fact or i es, wasn' t i t ?"
" Yes, ma' am. "
" What t r ade?"
" Ski l l ed l at he- oper at or . "
" Wher e di d you wor k at i t l ast ?"
" I n Col or ado, ma' am. For t he Hammond Car Company. "
" Oh . . . ! "
" Ma' am?"
" No, not hi ng. Wor ked t her e l ong?"
" No, ma' am. J ust t wo weeks. "
" How come?"
" Wel l , I ' d wai t ed a year f or i t , hangi ng ar ound Col or ado j ust t o get t hat
j ob. They had a wai t i ng l i st t oo, t he Hammond Car Company, onl y t hey di dn' t
go by f r i endshi ps and t hey di dn' t go by seni or i t y, t hey went by a man' s
r ecor d. I had a good r ecor d. But i t was j ust t wo weeks af t er I got t he j ob
t hat Lawr ence Hammond qui t . He qui t and di sappear ed. They cl osed t he pl ant .
Af t er war ds, t her e was a ci t i zens'
commi t t ee t hat r eopened i t . I got cal l ed back. But f i ve days was al l i t
l ast ed. They st ar t ed l ayof f s j ust about at once. By seni or i t y. So I had t o
go. I hear d t hey l ast ed f or about t hr ee mont hs, t he ci t i zens'
commi t t ee. Then t hey had t o cl ose t he pl ant f or good. "
" Wher e di d you wor k bef or e t hat ?"
" J ust about i n ever y East er n st at e, ma' am. But i t was never mor e t han a
mont h or t wo. The pl ant s kept cl osi ng. "
" Di d t hat happen on ever y j ob you' ve hel d?"
He gl anced at her , as i f he under st ood her quest i on. " No, ma' am, " he
answer ed and, f or t he f i r st t i me, she caught a f ai nt echo of pr i de i n hi s
voi ce. " The f i r st j ob I had, I hel d i t f or t went y year s. Not t he same j ob,
but t he same pl ace, I meanI got t o be shop f or eman. That was t wel ve year s
ago. Then t he owner of t he pl ant di ed, and t he hei r s who t ook i t over , r an i t
i nt o t he gr ound. Ti mes wer e bad t hen, but i t was si nce t hen t hat t hi ngs
st ar t ed goi ng t o pi eces ever ywher e f ast er and f ast er . Si nce t hen, i t seems
l i ke anywher e I t ur nedt he pl ace cr acked and went . At f i r st , we t hought i t
was onl y one st at e or anot her . A l ot of us t hought t hat Col or ado woul d l ast .
But i t went , t oo.
Anyt hi ng you t r i ed, anyt hi ng you t ouchedi t f el l . Anywher e you l ooked,
wor k was st oppi ngt he f act or i es wer e st oppi ngt he machi nes wer e st oppi ng" he
added sl owl y, i n a whi sper , as i f seei ng some secr et t er r or of hi s own, " t he
mot or s . . . wer e . . . st oppi ng. " Hi s voi ce r ose: " Oh God, who i s" and
br oke of f .
" J ohn Gal t ?" she asked.
" Yes, " he sai d, and shook hi s head as i f t o di spel some vi si on, " onl y I
don' t l i ke t o say t hat . "
" I don' t , ei t her . I wi sh I knew why peopl e ar e sayi ng i t and who st ar t ed
i t . "
" That ' s i t , ma' am. That ' s what I ' maf r ai d of . I t mi ght have been me who
st ar t ed i t . "
" What ?"
" Me or about si x t housand ot her s. We mi ght have. I t hi nk we di d.
I hope we' r e wr ong. "
" What do you mean?"
" Wel l , t her e was somet hi ng t hat happened at t hat pl ant wher e I wor ked f or
t went y year s. I t was when t he ol d man di ed and hi s hei r s t ook over . Ther e
wer e t hr ee of t hem, t wo sons and a daught er , and t hey br ought a new pl an t o
r un t he f act or y. They l et us vot e on i t , t oo, and ever ybodyal most ever ybody
vot ed f or i t . We di dn' t know. We t hought i t was good. No, t hat ' s not t r ue,
ei t her . We t hought t hat we wer e supposed t o t hi nk i t was good. The pl an was
t hat ever ybody i n t he f act or y woul d wor k accor di ng t o hi s abi l i t y, but woul d
be pai d accor di ng t o hi s need. Wewhat ' s t he mat t er , ma' am? Why do you l ook
l i ke t hat ?"
" What was t he name of t he f act or y?" she asked, her voi ce bar el y audi bl e.
" The Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or Company, ma' am, of St ar nesvi l l e, Wi sconsi n. "
" Go on. "
" We vot ed f or t hat pl an at a bi g meet i ng, wi t h al l of us pr esent , si x
t housand of us, ever ybody t hat wor ked i n t he f act or y. The St ar nes hei r s made
l ong speeches about i t , and i t wasn' t t oo cl ear , but nobody asked any
quest i ons. None of us knew j ust how t he pl an woul d wor k, but ever y one of us
t hought t hat t he next f el l ow knew i t . And i f anybody had doubt s, he f el t
gui l t y and kept hi s mout h shut because t hey made i t sound l i ke anyone who' d
oppose t he pl an was a chi l d ki l l er at hear t and l ess t han a human bei ng. They
t ol d us t hat t hi s pl an woul d achi eve a nobl e i deal . Wel l , how wer e we t o know
ot her wi se? Hadn' t we hear d i t al l our l i vesf r omour par ent s and our
school t eacher s and our mi ni st er s, and i n ever y newspaper we ever r ead and
ever y movi e and ever y publ i c speech? Hadn' t we al ways been t ol d t hat t hi s was
r i ght eous and j ust ? Wel l , maybe t her e' s some excuse f or what we di d at t hat
meet i ng. St i l l , we vot ed f or t he pl anand what we got , we had i t comi ng t o
us. You know, ma' am, we ar e mar ked men, i n a way, t hose of us who l i ved
t hr ough t he f our year s of t hat pl an i n t he Twent i et h Cent ur y f act or y. What i s
i t t hat hel l i s supposed t o be?
Evi l pl ai n, naked, smi r ki ng evi l , i sn' t i t ? Wel l , t hat ' s what we saw and
hel ped t o makeand I t hi nk we' r e damned, ever y one of us, and maybe we' l l
never be f or gi ven. . . .
" Do you know how i t wor ked, t hat pl an, and what i t di d t o peopl e?
Tr y pour i ng wat er i nt o a t ank wher e t her e' s a pi pe at t he bot t omdr ai ni ng
i t out f ast er t han you pour i t , and each bucket you br i ng br eaks t hat pi pe an
i nch wi der , and t he har der you wor k t he mor e i s demanded of you, and you
st and sl i ngi ng bucket s f or t y hour s a week, t hen f or t y- ei ght , t hen f i f t y- si x
f or your nei ghbor ' s supper f or hi s wi f e' s oper at i onf or hi s chi l d' s measl es
f or hi s mot her ' s wheel chai r f or hi s uncl e' s shi r t f or hi s nephew' s
school i ngf or t he baby next door f or t he baby t o be bor nf or anyone anywher e
ar ound you
i t ' s t hei r s t o r ecei ve, f r omdi aper s t o dent ur esand your s t o wor k, f r om
sunup t o sundown, mont h af t er mont h, year af t er year , wi t h not hi ng t o show
f or i t but your sweat , wi t h not hi ng i n si ght f or you but t hei r pl easur e, f or
t he whol e of your l i f e, wi t hout r est , wi t hout hope, wi t hout end. . . . Fr om
each accor di ng t o hi s abi l i t y, t o each accor di ng t o hi s need. . . .
" We' r e al l one bi g f ami l y, t hey t ol d us, we' r e al l i n t hi s t oget her .
But you don' t al l st and wor ki ng an acet yl ene t or ch t en hour s a day
t oget her , and you don' t al l get a bel l yachet oget her . What ' s whose abi l i t y
and whi ch of whose needs comes f i r st ? When i t ' s al l one pot , you can' t l et
any man deci de what hi s own needs ar e, can you? I f you di d, he mi ght cl ai m
t hat he needs a yacht and i f hi s f eel i ngs i s al l you have t o go by, he mi ght
pr ove i t , t oo. Why not ? I f i t ' s not r i ght f or me t o own a car unt i l I ' ve
wor ked mysel f i nt o a hospi t al war d, ear ni ng a car f or ever y l oaf er and ever y
naked savage on ear t hwhy can' t he demand a yacht f r omme, t oo, i f I st i l l
have t he abi l i t y not t o have col l apsed? No? He can' t ? Then why can he demand
t hat I go wi t hout cr eamf or my cof f ee unt i l he' s r epl ast er ed hi s l i vi ng r oom?
. . . Oh wel l . . . Wel l , anyway, i t was deci ded t hat nobody had t he r i ght t o
j udge hi s own need or abi l i t y. We vot ed on i t . Yes, ma' am, we vot ed on i t i n
a publ i c meet i ng t wi ce a year . How el se coul d i t be done? Do you car e t o
t hi nk what woul d happen at such a meet i ng? I t t ook us j ust one meet i ng t o
di scover t hat we had become beggar sr ot t en, whi ni ng, sni vel i ng beggar s, al l
of us, because no man coul d cl ai mhi s pay as hi s r i ght f ul ear ni ng, he had no
r i ght s and no ear ni ngs, hi s wor k di dn' t bel ong t o hi m, i t bel onged t o ' t he
f ami l y, ' and t hey owed hi mnot hi ng i n r et ur n, and t he onl y cl ai mhe had on
t hemwas hi s ' need'
so he had t o beg i n publ i c f or r el i ef f r omhi s needs, l i ke any l ousy
moocher , l i st i ng al l hi s t r oubl es and mi ser i es, down t o hi s pat ched dr awer s
and hi s wi f e' s head col ds, hopi ng t hat ' t he f ami l y' woul d t hr ow hi mt he al ms.
He had t o cl ai mmi ser i es, because i t ' s mi ser i es, not wor k, t hat had become
t he coi n of t he r eal mso i t t ur ned i nt o a cont est among si x t housand
panhandl er s, each cl ai mi ng t hat hi s need was wor se t han hi s br ot her ' s. How
el se coul d i t be done? Do you car e t o guess what happened, what sor t of men
kept qui et , f eel i ng shame, and what sor t got away wi t h t he j ackpot ?
" But t hat wasn' t al l . Ther e was somet hi ng el se t hat we di scover ed at t he
same meet i ng. The f act or y' s pr oduct i on had f al l en by f or t y per cent , i n t hat
f i r st hal f - year , so i t was deci ded t hat somebody hadn' t del i ver ed ' accor di ng
t o hi s abi l i t y Who? How woul d you t el l i t ? ' The f ami l y' vot ed on t hat , t oo.
They vot ed whi ch men wer e t he best , and t hese men wer e sent enced t o wor k
over t i me each ni ght f or t he next si x mont hs. Over t i me wi t hout paybecause you
wer en' t pai d by t une and you wer en' t pai d by wor k, onl y by need.
" Do I have t o t el l you what happened af t er t hat and i nt o what sor t of
cr eat ur es we al l st ar t ed t ur ni ng, we who had once been human?
We began t o hi de what ever abi l i t y we had, t o sl ow down and wat ch l i ke
hawks t hat we never wor ked any f ast er or bet t er t han t he next f el l ow. What
el se coul d we do, when we knew t hat i f we di d our best f or ' t he f ami l y, ' i t ' s
not t hanks or r ewar ds t hat we' d get , but puni shment ? We knew t hat f or ever y
st i nker who' d r ui n a bat ch of mot or s and cost t he company moneyei t her
t hr ough hi s sl oppi ness, because he di dn' t have t o car e, or t hr ough pl ai n
i ncompet encei t ' s we who' d have t o pay wi t h our ni ght s and our Sundays. So we
di d our best t o be no good.
" Ther e was one young boy who st ar t ed out , f ul l of f i r e f or t he nobl e
i deal , a br i ght ki d wi t hout any school i ng, but wi t h a wonder f ul head on hi s
shoul der s. The f i r st year , he f i gur ed out a wor k pr ocess t hat saved us
t housands of man- hour s. He gave i t t o ' t he f ami l y, '
di dn' t ask anyt hi ng f or i t , ei t her , coul dn' t ask, but t hat was al l r i ght
wi t h hi m. I t was f or t he i deal , he sai d. But when he f ound hi msel f vot ed as
one of our abl est and sent enced t o ni ght wor k, because we hadn' t got t en
enough f r omhi m, he shut hi s mout h and hi s br ai n. You can bet he di dn' t come
up wi t h any i deas, t he second year .
" What was i t t hey' d al ways t ol d us about t he vi ci ous compet i t i on of t he
pr of i t syst em, wher e men had t o compet e f or who' d do a bet t er j ob t han hi s
f el l ows? Vi ci ous, wasn' t i t ? Wel l , t hey shoul d have seen what i t was l i ke
when we al l had t o compet e wi t h one anot her f or who' d do t he wor st j ob
possi bl e. Ther e' s no sur er way t o dest r oy a man t han t o f or ce hi mi nt o a spot
wher e he has t o ai mat not doi ng hi s best , wher e he has t o st r uggl e t o do a
bad j ob, day af t er day. That wi l l f i ni sh hi mqui cker t han dr i nk or i dl eness
or pul l i ng st i ck- ups f or a l i vi ng. But t her e was not hi ng el se f or us t o do
except t o f ake unf i t ness.
The one accusat i on we f ear ed was t o be suspect ed of abi l i t y. Abi l i t y was
l i ke a mor t gage on you t hat you coul d never pay of f . And what was t her e t o
wor k f or ? You knew t hat your basi c pi t t ance woul d be gi ven t o you anyway,
whet her you wor ked or not your ' housi ng and f eedi ng al l owance, ' i t was
cal l edand above t hat pi t t ance, you had no chance t o get anyt hi ng, no mat t er
how har d you t r i ed. You coul dn' t count on buyi ng a new sui t of cl ot hes next
year t hey mi ght gi ve you a ' cl ot hi ng al l owance' or t hey mi ght not , accor di ng
t o whet her nobody br oke a l eg, needed an oper at i on or gave bi r t h t o mor e
babi es. And i f t her e wasn' t enough money f or new sui t s f or ever ybody, t hen
you coul dn' t get your s, ei t her .
" Ther e was one man who' d wor ked har d al l hi s l i f e, because he' d al ways
want ed t o send hi s son t hr ough col l ege. Wel l , t he boy gr aduat ed f r omhi gh
school i n t he second year of t he pl anbut ' t he f ami l y'
woul dn' t gi ve t he f at her any ' al l owance f or t he col l ege. They sai d hi s
son coul dn' t go t o col l ege, unt i l we had enough t o send ever ybody' s sons t o
col l egeand t hat we f i r st had t o send ever ybody' s chi l dr en t hr ough hi gh
school , and we di dn' t even have enough f or t hat . The f at her di ed t he
f ol l owi ng year , i n a kni f e f i ght wi t h somebody i n a sal oon, a f i ght over
not hi ng i n par t i cul ar such f i ght s wer e begi nni ng t o happen among us al l t he
t i me.
" Then t her e was an ol d guy, a wi dower wi t h no f ami l y, who had one hobby:
phonogr aph r ecor ds. I guess t hat was al l he ever got out of l i f e. I n t he ol d
days, he used t o ski p meal s j ust t o buy hi msel f some new r ecor di ng of
cl assi cal musi c. Wel l , t hey di dn' t gi ve hi many ' al l owance' f or r ecor ds
' per sonal l uxur y, ' t hey cal l ed i t . But at t hat same meet i ng, Mi l l i e Bush,
somebody' s daught er , a mean, ugl y l i t t l e ei ght - year - ol d, was vot ed a pai r of
gol d br aces f or her buck t eet h
t hi s was ' medi cal need, ' because t he st af f psychol ogi st had sai d t hat t he
poor gi r l woul d get an i nf er i or i t y compl ex i f her t eet h wer en' t st r ai ght ened
out . The ol d guy' who l oved musi c, t ur ned t o dr i nk, i nst ead. He got so you
never saw hi mf ul l y consci ous any mor e. But i t seems l i ke t her e was one
t i l i ng he coul dn' t f or get . One ni ght , he came st agger i ng down t he st r eet , saw
Mi l l i e Bush, swung hi s f i st and knocked al l her t eet h out . Ever y one of t hem.
" Dr i nk, of cour se, was what we al l t ur ned t o, some mor e, some l ess.
Don' t ask how we got t he money f or i t . When al l t he decent pl easur es ar e
f or bi dden, t her e' s al ways ways t o get t he r ot t en ones. You don' t br eak i nt o
gr ocer y st or es af t er dar k and you don' t pi ck your f el l ow' s pocket s t o buy
cl assi cal symphoni es or f i shi ng t ackl e, but i f i t ' s t o get st i nki ng dr unk and
f or get you do. Fi shi ng t ackl e? Hunt i ng guns?
Snapshot camer as? Hobbi es? Ther e wasn' t any ' amusement al l owance'
f or anybody. ' Amusement ' was t he f i r st t hi ng t hey dr opped. Ar en' t you
al ways supposed t o be ashamed t o obj ect when anybody asks you t o gi ve up
anyt hi ng, i f i t ' s somet hi ng t hat gave you pl easur e? Even our ' t obacco
al l owance' was cut t o wher e we got t wo packs of ci gar et t es a mont hand t hi s,
t hey t ol d us, was because t he money had t o go i nt o t he babi es' mi l k f und.
Babi es was t he onl y i t emof pr oduct i on t hat di dn' t f al l , but r ose and kept on
r i si ngbecause peopl e had not hi ng el se t o do, I guess, and because t hey
di dn' t have t o car e, t he baby wasn' t t hei r bur den, i t was ' t he f ami l y' s. ' I n
f act , t he best chance you had of get t i ng a r ai se and br eat hi ng easi er f or a
whi l e was a ' baby al l owance. ' Ei t her t hat , or a maj or di sease.
" I t di dn' t t ake us l ong t o see how i t al l wor ked out . Any man who t r i ed t o
pl ay st r ai ght , had t o r ef use hi msel f ever yt hi ng. He l ost hi s t ast e f or any
pl easur e, he hat ed t o smoke a ni ckel ' s wor t h of t obacco or chew a st i ck of
gum, wor r yi ng whet her somebody had mor e need f or t hat ni ckel . He f el t ashamed
of ever y mout hf ul of f ood he swal l owed, wonder i ng whose wear y ni ght s of
over t i me had pai d f or i t , knowi ng t hat hi s f ood was not hi s by r i ght ,
mi ser abl y wi shi ng t o be cheat ed r at her t han t o cheat , t o be a sucker , but not
a bl ood- sucker .
He woul dn' t mar r y, he woul dn' t hel p hi s f ol ks back home, he woul dn' t put
an ext r a bur den on ' t he f ami l y. ' Besi des, i f he st i l l had some sor t of sense
of r esponsi bi l i t y, he coul dn' t mar r y or br i ng chi l dr en i nt o t he wor l d, when
he coul d pl an not hi ng, pr omi se not hi ng, count on not hi ng.
But t he shi f t l ess and t he i r r esponsi bl e had a f i el d day of i t . They br ed
babi es, t hey got gi r l s i nt o t r oubl e, t hey dr agged i n ever y wor t hl ess r el at i ve
t hey had f r omal l over t he count r y, ever y unmar r i ed pr egnant si st er , f or an
ext r a ' di sabi l i t y al l owance, ' t hey got mor e si cknesses t han any doct or coul d
di spr ove, t hey r ui ned t hei r cl ot hi ng, t hei r f ur ni t ur e, t hei r homeswhat t he
hel l , ' t he f ami l y' was payi ng f or i t ! They f ound mor e ways of get t i ng i n
' need' t han t he r est of us coul d ever i magi ne t hey devel oped a speci al ski l l
f or i t , whi ch was t he onl y abi l i t y t hey showed.
" God hel p us, ma' am! Do you see what we saw? We saw t hat we' d been gi ven a
l aw t o l i ve by, a mor al l aw, t hey cal l ed i t , whi ch puni shed t hose who
obser ved i t f or obser vi ng i t . The mor e you t r i ed t o l i ve up t o i t , t he mor e
you suf f er ed; t he mor e you cheat ed i t , t he bi gger r ewar d you got . Your
honest y was l i ke a t ool l ef t at t he mer cy of t he next man' s di shonest y. The
honest ones pai d, t he di shonest col l ect ed.
The honest l ost , t he di shonest won. How l ong coul d men st ay good under
t hi s sor t of a l aw of goodness? We wer e a pr et t y decent bunch of f el l ows when
we st ar t ed. Ther e wer en' t many chi sel er s among us.
We knew our j obs and we wer e pr oud of i t and we wor ked f or t he best
f act or y i n t he count r y, wher e ol d man St ar nes hi r ed not hi ng but t he pi ck of
t he count r y' s l abor . Wi t hi n one year under t he new pl an, t her e wasn' t an
honest man l ef t among us. That was t he evi l , t he sor t of hel l - hor r or evi l
t hat pr eacher s used t o scar e you wi t h, but you never t hought t o see al i ve.
Not t hat t he pl an encour aged a f ew bast ar ds, but t hat i t t ur ned decent peopl e
i nt o bast ar ds, and t her e was not hi ng el se t hat i t coul d doand i t was cal l ed
a mor al i deal !
" What was i t we wer e supposed t o want t o wor k f or ? For t he l ove of our
br ot her s? What br ot her s? For t he bums, t he l oaf er s, t he moocher s we saw al l
ar ound us? And whet her t hey wer e cheat i ng or pl ai n i ncompet ent , whet her t hey
wer e unwi l l i ng or unabl ewhat di f f er ence di d t hat make t o us? I f we wer e t i ed
f or l i f e t o t he l evel of t hei r unf i t ness, f aked or r eal , how l ong coul d we
car e t o go on? We had no way of knowi ng t hei r abi l i t y, we had no way of
cont r ol l i ng t hei r needsal l we knew was t hat we wer e beast s of bur den
st r uggl i ng bl i ndl y i n some sor t of pl ace t hat was hal f - hospi t al , hal f -
st ockyar dsa pl ace gear ed t o not hi ng but di sabi l i t y, di sast er , di seasebeast s
put t her e f or t he r el i ef of what ever whoever chose t o say was whi chever ' s
need.
" Love of our br ot her s? That ' s when we l ear ned t o hat e our br ot her s f or t he
f i r st t i me i n our l i ves. We began t o hat e t hemf or ever y meal t hey swal l owed,
f or ever y smal l pl easur e t hey enj oyed, f or one man' s new shi r t , f or anot her ' s
wi f e' s hat , f or an out i ng wi t h t hei r f ami l y, f or a pai nt j ob on t hei r house
i t was t aken f r omus, i t was pai d f or by our pr i vat i ons, our deni al s, our
hunger . We began t o spy on one anot her , each hopi ng t o cat ch t he ot her s l yi ng
about t hei r needs, so as t o cut t hei r ' al l owance' at t he next meet i ng. We
began t o have st ool pi geons who i nf or med on peopl e, who r epor t ed t hat
somebody had boot l egged a t ur key t o hi s f ami l y on some Sundaywhi ch he' d pai d
f or by gambl i ng, most l i kel y. We began t o meddl e i nt o one anot her ' s l i ves. We
pr ovoked f ami l y quar r el s, t o get somebody' s r el at i ves t hr own out . Any t i me we
saw a man st ar t i ng t o go st eady wi t h a gi r l , we made l i f e mi ser abl e f or hi m.
We br oke up many engagement s.
We di dn' t want anyone t o mar r y, we di dn' t want any mor e dependent s t o
f eed.
" I n t he ol d days, we used t o cel ebr at e i f somebody had a baby, we used t o
chi p i n and hel p hi mout wi t h t he hospi t al bi l l s, i f he happened t o be har d-
pr essed f or t he moment . Now, i f a baby was bor n, we di dn' t speak t o t he
par ent s f or weeks. Babi es, t o us, had become what l ocust s wer e t o f ar mer s. I n
t he ol d days, we used t o hel p a man i f he had a bad i l l ness i n t he f ami l y.
Nowwel l , I l l t el l you about j ust one case. I t was t he mot her of a man who
had been wi t h us f or f i f t een year s. She was a ki ndl y ol d l ady, cheer f ul and
wi se, she knew us al l by our f i r st names and we al l l i ked her we used t o l i ke
her . One day, she sl i pped on t he cel l ar st ai r s and f el l and br oke her hi p. We
knew what t hat meant at her age. The st af f doct or sai d t hat she' d have t o be
sent t o a hospi t al i n t own, f or expensi ve t r eat ment s t hat woul d t ake a l ong
t i me. The ol d l ady di ed t he ni ght bef or e she was t o l eave f or t own. They
never est abl i shed t he cause of deat h. No, I don' t know whet her she was
mur der ed. Nobody sai d t hat . Nobody woul d t al k about i t at al l . Al l I know i s
t hat I and t hat ' s what I can' t f or get ! I , t oo, had caught mysel f wi shi ng t hat
she woul d di e. Thi smay God f or gi ve us! was t he br ot her hood, t he secur i t y,
t he abundance t hat t he pl an was supposed t o achi eve f or us!
" Was t her e any r eason why t hi s sor t of hor r or woul d ever be pr eached by
anybody? Was t her e anybody who got any pr of i t f r omi t ? Ther e was. The St ar nes
hei r s. I hope you' r e not goi ng t o r emi nd me t hat t hey' d sacr i f i ced a f or t une
and t ur ned t he f act or y over t o us as a gi f t . We wer e f ool ed by t hat one, t oo.
Yes, t hey gave up t he f act or y. But pr of i t , ma' am, depends on what i t i s
you' r e af t er . And what t he St ar nes hei r s wer e af t er , no money on ear t h coul d
buy.
Money i s t oo cl ean and i nnocent f or t hat .
" Er i c St ar nes, t he youngest he was a j el l yf i sh t hat di dn' t have t he gut s
t o be af t er anyt hi ng i n par t i cul ar . He got hi msel f vot ed as Di r ect or of our
Publ i c Rel at i ons Depar t ment , whi ch di dn' t do anyt hi ng, except t hat he had a
st af f f or t he not doi ng of anyt hi ng, so he di dn' t have t o bot her st i cki ng
ar ound t he of f i ce. The pay he got wel l , I shoul dn' t cal l i t ' pay, ' none of us
was ' pai d' t he al ms vot ed t o hi mwas f ai r l y modest , about t en t i mes what I
got , but t hat wasn' t r i ches.
Er i c di dn' t car e f or moneyhe woul dn' t have known what t o do wi t h i t . He
spent hi s t i me hangi ng ar ound among us, showi ng how chummy he was and
democr at i c. He want ed t o be l oved, i t seems. The way he went about i t was t o
keep r emi ndi ng us t hat he had gi ven us t he f act or y. We coul dn' t st and hi m.
" Ger al d St ar nes was our Di r ect or of Pr oduct i on. We never l ear ned j ust what
t he si ze of hi s r ake- of f hi s al mshad been. I t woul d have t aken a st af f of
account ant s t o f i gur e t hat out , and a st af f of engi neer s t o t r ace t he way i t
was pi ped, di r ect l y or i ndi r ect l y, i nt o hi s of f i ce.
None of i t was supposed t o be f or hi mi t was al l f or company expenses.
Ger al d had t hr ee car s, f our secr et ar i es, f i ve t el ephones, and he used t o
t hr ow champagne and cavi ar par t i es t hat no t ax- payi ng t ycoon i n t he count r y
coul d have af f or ded. He spent mor e money i n one year t han hi s f at her had
ear ned i n pr of i t s i n t he l ast t wo year s of hi s l i f e. We saw a hundr ed- pound
st acka hundr ed pounds, we wei ghed t hemof magazi nes i n Ger al d' s of f i ce, f ul l
of st or i es about our f act or y and our nobl e pl an, wi t h bi g pi ct ur es of Ger al d
St ar nes, cal l i ng hi ma gr eat soci al cr usader . Ger al d l i ked t o come i nt o t he
shops at ni ght , dr essed i n hi s f or mal cl ot hes, f l ashi ng di amond cuf f l i nks
t he si ze of a ni ckel and shaki ng ci gar ashes al l over . Any cheap show- of f
who' s got not hi ng t o par ade but hi s cash, i s bad enoughexcept t hat he makes
no bones about t he cash bei ng hi s, and you' r e f r ee t o gape at hi mor not , as
you wi sh, and most l y you don' t . But when a bast ar d l i ke Ger al d St ar nes put s
on an act and keeps spout i ng t hat he doesn' t car e f or mat er i al weal t h, t hat
he' s onl y ser vi ng ' t he f ami l y, ' t hat al l t he l ushness i s not f or hi msel f , but
f or our sake and f or t he common good, because i t ' s necessar y t o keep up t he
pr est i ge of t he company and of t he nobl e pl an i n t he eyes of t he publ i ct hen
t hat ' s when you l ear n t o hat e t he cr eat ur e as you' ve never hat ed anyt hi ng
human.
" But hi s si st er I vy was wor se. She r eal l y di d not car e f or mat er i al
weal t h. The al ms she got was no bi gger t han our s, and she went about i n
scuf f ed, f l at - heel ed shoes and shi r t wai st sj ust t o show how sel f l ess she was.
She was our Di r ect or of Di st r i but i on. She was t he l ady i n char ge of our
needs. She was t he one who hel d us by t he t hr oat . Of cour se, di st r i but i on was
supposed t o be deci ded by vot i ngby t he voi ce of t he peopl e. But when t he
peopl e ar e si x t housand howl i ng voi ces, t r yi ng t o deci de wi t hout yar dst i ck,
r hyme or r eason, when t her e ar e no r ul es t o t he game and each can demand
anyt hi ng, but has a r i ght t o not hi ng, when ever ybody hol ds power over
ever ybody' s l i f e except hi s ownt hen i t t ur ns out , as i t di d, t hat t he voi ce
of t he peopl e i s I vy St ar nes. By t he end of t he second year , we dr opped t he
pr et ense of t he ' f ami l y meet i ngs' i n t he name of ' pr oduct i on ef f i ci ency and
t i me economy, ' one meet i ng used t o t ake t en daysand al l t he pet i t i ons of
need wer e si mpl y sent t o Mi ss St ar nes' of f i ce. No, not sent . They had t o be
r eci t ed t o her i n per son by ever y pet i t i oner .
Then she made up a di st r i but i on l i st , whi ch she r ead t o us f or our vot e of
appr oval at a meet i ng t hat l ast ed t hr ee- quar t er s of an hour .
We vot ed appr oval . Ther e was a t en- mi nut e per i od on t he agenda f or
di scussi on and obj ect i ons. We made no obj ect i ons. We knew bet t er by t hat
t i me. Nobody can di vi de a f act or y' s i ncome among t housands of peopl e, wi t hout
some sor t of a gauge t o measur e peopl e' s val ue. Her gauge was boot l i cki ng.
Sel f l ess? I n her f at her ' s t i me, al l of hi s money woul dn' t have gi ven hi ma
chance t o speak t o hi s l ousi est wi per and get away wi t h i t , as she spoke t o
our best ski l l ed wor ker s and t hei r wi ves. She had pal e eyes t hat l ooked
f i shy, col d and dead. And i f you ever want t o see pur e evi l , you shoul d have
seen t he way her eyes gl i nt ed when she wat ched some man who' d t al ked back t o
her once and who' d j ust hear d hi s name on t he l i st of t hose get t i ng not hi ng
above basi c pi t t ance. And when you saw i t , you saw t he r eal mot i ve of any
per son who' s ever pr eached t he sl ogan: ' Fr omeach accor di ng t o hi s abi l i t y,
t o each accor di ng t o hi s need, '
" Thi s was t he whol e secr et of i t . At f i r st , I kept wonder i ng how i t coul d
be possi bl e t hat t he educat ed, t he cul t ur ed, t he f amous men of t he wor l d
coul d make a mi st ake of t hi s si ze and pr each, as r i ght eousness, t hi s sor t of
abomi nat i onwhen f i ve mi nut es of t hought shoul d have t ol d t hemwhat woul d
happen i f somebody t r i ed t o pr act i ce what t hey pr eached. Now I know t hat t hey
di dn' t do i t by any ki nd of mi st ake. Mi st akes of t hi s si ze ar e never made
i nnocent l y.
I f men f al l f or some vi ci ous pi ece of i nsani t y, when t hey have no way t o
make i t wor k and no possi bl e r eason t o expl ai n t hei r choi cei t ' s because t hey
have a r eason t hat t hey do not wi sh t o t el l . And we wer en' t so i nnocent
ei t her , when we vot ed f or t hat pl an at t he f i r st meet i ng. We di dn' t do i t
j ust because we bel i eved t hat t he dr i ppy ol d guf f t hey spewed was good. We
had anot her r eason, but t he guf f hel ped us t o hi de i t f r omour nei ghbor s and
f r omour sel ves. The guf f gave us a chance t o pass of f as vi r t ue somet hi ng
t hat we' d be ashamed t o admi t ot her wi se. Ther e wasn' t a man vot i ng f or i t who
di dn' t t hi nk t hat under a set up of t hi s ki nd he' d muscl e i n on t he pr of i t s of
t he men abl er t han hi msel f . Ther e wasn' t a man r i ch and smar t enough but t hat
he di dn' t t hi nk t hat somebody was r i cher and smar t er , and t hi s pl an woul d
gi ve hi ma shar e of hi s bet t er ' s weal t h and br ai n. But whi l e he was t hi nki ng
t hat he' d get unear ned benef i t s f r omt he men above, he f or got about t he men
bel ow who' d get unear ned benef i t s, t oo. He f or got about al l hi s i nf er i or s
who' d r ush t o dr ai n hi mj ust as he hoped t o dr ai n hi s super i or s. The wor ker
who l i ked t he i dea t hat hi s need ent i t l ed hi mt o a l i mousi ne l i ke hi s boss' s,
f or got t hat ever y bumand beggar on ear t h woul d come howl i ng t hat t hei r need
ent i t l ed t hemt o an i cebox l i ke hi s own. That was our r eal mot i ve when we
vot ed
t hat was t he t r ut h of i t but we di dn' t l i ke t o t hi nk i t , so t he l ess we
l i ked i t , t he l ouder we yel l ed about our l ove f or t he common good.
" Wel l , we got what we asked f or . By t he t i me we saw what i t was t hat we' d
asked f or , i t was t oo l at e. We wer e t r apped, wi t h no pl ace t o go. The best
men among us l ef t t he f act or y i n t he f i r st week of t he pl an. We l ost our best
engi neer s, super i nt endent s, f or emen and hi ghest ski l l ed wor ker s. A man of
sel f - r espect doesn' t t ur n i nt o a mi l ch cow f or anybody. Some abl e f el l ows
t r i ed t o st i ck i t out , but t hey coul dn' t t ake i t f or l ong. We kept l osi ng our
men, t hey kept escapi ng f r omt he f act or y l i ke f r oma pest hol et i l l we had
not hi ng l ef t except t he men of need, but none of t he men of abi l i t y.
" And t he f ew of us who wer e st i l l any good, but st ayed on, wer e onl y t hose
who had been t her e t oo l ong. I n t he ol d days, nobody ever qui t t he Twent i et h
Cent ur yand, somehow, we coul dn' t make our sel ves bel i eve t hat i t was gone.
Af t er a whi l e, we coul dn' t qui t , because no ot her empl oyer woul d have usf or
whi ch I can' t bl ame hi m.
Nobody woul d deal wi t h us i n any way, no r espect abl e per son or f i r m.
Al l t he smal l shops, wher e we t r aded, st ar t ed movi ng out of St ar nesvi l l e
f ast t i l l we had not hi ng l ef t but sal oons, gambl i ng j oi nt s and cr ooks who
sol d us t r ash at gougi ng pr i ces. The al ms we got kept f al l i ng, but t he cost
of our l i vi ng went up. The l i st of t he f act or y' s needy kept st r et chi ng, but
t he l i st of i t s cust omer s shr ank. Ther e was l ess and l ess i ncome t o di vi de
among mor e and mor e peopl e. I n t he ol d days, i t used t o be sai d t hat t he
Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or t r ademar k was as good as t he kar at mar k on gol d. I
don' t know what i t was t hat t he St ar nes hei r s t hought , i f t hey t hought at
al l , but I suppose t hat l i ke al l soci al pl anner s and l i ke savages, t hey
t hought t hat t hi s t r ademar k was a magi c st amp whi ch di d t he t r i ck by some
sor t of voodoo power and t hat i t woul d keep t hemr i ch, as i t had kept t hei r
f at her . Wel l , when our cust omer s began t o see t hat we never del i ver ed an
or der on t i me and never put out a mot or t hat di dn' t have somet hi ng wr ong wi t h
i t t he magi c st amp began t o wor k t he ot her way ar ound: peopl e woul dn' t t ake a
mot or as a gi f t , i f i t was mar ked Twent i et h Cent ur y, And i t came t o wher e our
onl y cust omer s wer e men who never pai d and never meant t o pay t hei r bi l l s.
But Ger al d St ar nes, doped by hi s own publ i ci t y, got huf f y and went ar ound,
wi t h an ai r of mor al super i or i t y, demandi ng t hat busi nessmen pl ace or der s
wi t h us, not because our mot or s wer e good, but because we needed t he or der s
so badl y.
" By t hat t i me, a vi l l age hal f - wi t coul d see what gener at i ons of pr of essor s
had pr et ended not t o not i ce. What good woul d our need do t o a power pl ant
when i t s gener at or s st opped because of our def ect i ve engi nes? What good woul d
i t do t o a man caught on an oper at i ng t abl e when t he el ect r i c l i ght went out ?
What good woul d i t do t o t he passenger s of a pl ane when i t s mot or f ai l ed i n
mi d- ai r ?
And i f t hey bought our pr oduct , not because of i t s mer i t , but because of
our need, woul d t hat be t he good, t he r i ght , t he mor al t hi ng t o do f or t he
owner of t hat power pl ant , t he sur geon i n t hat hospi t al , t he maker of t hat
pl ane?
" Yet t hi s was t he mor al l aw t hat t he pr of essor s and l eader s and t hi nker s
had want ed t o est abl i sh al l over t he ear t h. I f t hi s i s what i t di d i n a
si ngl e smal l t own wher e we al l knew one anot her , do you car e t o t hi nk what i t
woul d do on a wor l d scal e? Do you car e t o i magi ne what i t woul d be l i ke, i f
you had t o l i ve and t o wor k, when you' r e t i ed t o al l t he di sast er s and al l
t he mal i nger i ng of t he gl obe? To wor k and whenever any men f ai l ed anywher e,
i t ' s you who woul d have t o make up f or i t . To wor kwi t h no chance t o r i se,
wi t h your meal s and your cl ot hes and your home and your pl easur e dependi ng on
any swi ndl e, any f ami ne, any pest i l ence anywher e on ear t h. To wor k
wi t h no chance f or an ext r a r at i on, t i l l t he Cambodi ans have been f ed and
t he Pat agoni ans have been sent t hr ough col l ege. To wor kon a bl ank check hel d
by ever y cr eat ur e bor n, by men whomyou' l l never see, whose needs you' l l
never know, whose abi l i t y or l azi ness or sl oppi ness or f r aud you have no way
t o l ear n and no r i ght t o quest i on j ust t o wor k and wor k and wor kand l eave
i t up t o t he I vys and t he Ger al ds of t he wor l d t o deci de whose st omach wi l l
consume t he ef f or t , t he dr eams and t he days of your l i f e. And t hi s i s t he
mor al l aw t o accept ? Thi sa mor al i deal ?
" Wel l , we t r i ed i t and we l ear ned. Our agony t ook f our year s, f r omour
f i r st meet i ng t o our l ast , and i t ended t he onl y way i t coul d end: i n
bankr upt cy. At our l ast meet i ng, I vy St ar nes was t he one who t r i ed t o br azen
i t out . She made a shor t , nast y, sni ppy l i t t l e speech i n whi ch she sai d t hat
t he pl an had f ai l ed because t he r est of t he count r y had not accept ed i t , t hat
a si ngl e communi t y coul d not succeed i n t he mi dst of a sel f i sh, gr eedy wor l d
and t hat t he pl an was a nobl e i deal , but human nat ur e was not good enough f or
i t . A young boyt he one who had been puni shed f or gi vi ng us a usef ul i dea i n
our f i r st year got up, as we al l sat si l ent , and wal ked st r ai ght t o I vy
St ar nes on t he pl at f or m. He sai d not hi ng. He spat i n her f ace. That was t he
end of t he nobl e pl an and of t he Twent i et h Cent ur y. "
The man had spoken as i f t he bur den of hi s year s of si l ence had sl i pped
suddenl y out of hi s gr asp. She knew t hat t hi s was hi s t r i but e t o her : he had
shown no r eact i on t o her ki ndness, he had seemed numbed t o human val ue or
human hope, but somet hi ng wi t hi n hi mhad been r eached and hi s r esponse was
t hi s conf essi on, t hi s l ong, desper at e cr y of r ebel l i on agai nst i nj ust i ce,
hel d back f or year s, but br eaki ng out i n r ecogni t i on of t he f i r st per son he
had met i n whose hear i ng an appeal f or j ust i ce woul d not be hopel ess. I t was
as i f t he l i f e he had been about t o r enounce wer e gi ven back t o hi mby t he
t wo essent i al s he needed: by hi s f ood and by t he pr esence of a r at i onal
bei ng.
" But what about J ohn Gal t ?" she asked.
" Oh . . . " he sai d, r emember i ng. " Oh, yes . . . "
" You wer e goi ng t o t el l me why peopl e st ar t ed aski ng t hat quest i on. "
" Yes . . . " He was l ooki ng of f , as i f at some si ght whi ch he had st udi ed
f or year s, but whi ch r emai ned unchanged and unsol ved; hi s f ace had an odd,
quest i oni ng l ook of t er r or .
" You wer e goi ng t o t el l me who was t he J ohn Gal t t hey meani f t her e ever
was such a per son. "
" I hope t her e wasn' t , ma' am. I mean, I hope t hat i t ' s j ust a coi nci dence,
j ust a sent ence t hat hasn' t any meani ng. "
" You had somet hi ng i n mi nd. What ?"
" I t was . . . i t was somet hi ng t hat happened at t hat f i r st meet i ng at t he
Twent i et h Cent ur y f act or y. Maybe t hat was t he st ar t of i t , maybe not . I don' t
know . . . The meet i ng was hel d on a spr i ng ni ght , t wel ve year s ago. The si x
t housand of us wer e cr owded on bl eacher s bui l t way up t o t he r af t er s of t he
pl ant ' s l ar gest hangar . We had j ust vot ed f or t he new pl an and we wer e i n an
edgy sor t of mood, maki ng t oo much noi se, cheer i ng t he peopl e' s vi ct or y,
t hr eat eni ng some ki nd of unknown enemi es and spoi l i ng f or a f i ght , l i ke
bul l i es wi t h an uneasy consci ence. Ther e wer e whi t e ar cl i ght s beat i ng down on
us and we f el t ki nd of t ouchy and r aw, and we wer e an ugl y, danger ous mob i n
t hat moment . Ger al d St ar nes, who was chai r man, kept hammer i ng hi s gavel f or
or der , and we qui et ed down some, but not much, and you coul d see t he whol e
pl ace movi ng r est l essl y f r omsi de t o si de, l i ke wat er i n a pan t hat ' s bei ng
r ocked. ' Thi s i s a cr uci al moment i n t he hi st or y of manki nd! ' Ger al d St ar nes
yel l ed t hr ough t he noi se. ' Remember t hat none of us may now l eave t hi s pl ace,
f or each of us bel ongs t o al l t he ot her s by t he mor al l aw whi ch we al l
accept ! ' ' I don' t , "
sai d one man and st ood up. He was one of t he young engi neer s. Nobody knew
much about hi m. He' d al ways kept most l y by hi msel f . When he st ood up, we
suddenl y t ur ned dead- st i l l . I t was t he way he hel d hi s head. He was t al l and
sl i mand I r emember t hi nki ng t hat any t wo of us coul d have br oken hi s neck
wi t hout t r oubl ebut what we al l f el t was f ear . He st ood l i ke a man who knew
t hat he was r i ght . ' I wi l l put an end t o t hi s, once and f or al l , ' he sai d.
Hi s voi ce was cl ear and wi t hout any f eel i ng. That was al l he sai d and st ar t ed
t o wal k out . He wal ked down t he l engt h of t he pl ace, i n t he whi t e l i ght , not
hur r yi ng and not not i ci ng any of us. Nobody moved t o st op hi m. Ger al d St ar nes
cr i ed suddenl y af t er hi m, ' How?' He t ur ned and answer ed, ' I wi l l st op t he
mot or of t he wor l d. Then he wal ked out . We never saw hi magai n.
We never hear d what became of hi m. But year s l at er , when we saw t he l i ght s
goi ng out , one af t er anot her , i n t he gr eat f act or i es t hat had st ood sol i d
l i ke mount ai ns f or gener at i ons, when we saw t he gat es cl osi ng and t he
conveyor bel t s t ur ni ng st i l l , when we saw t he r oads gr owi ng empt y and t he
st r eamof car s dr ai ni ng of f , when i t began t o l ook as i f some si l ent power
wer e st oppi ng t he gener at or s of t he wor l d and t he wor l d was cr umbl i ng
qui et l y, l i ke a body when i t s spi r i t i s gonet hen we began t o wonder and t o
ask quest i ons about hi m. We began t o ask i t of one anot her , t hose of us who
had hear d hi msay i t .
We began t o t hi nk t hat he had kept hi s wor d, t hat he, who had seen and
known t he t r ut h we r ef used t o know, was t he r et r i but i on we had cal l ed upon
our heads, t he avenger , t he man of t hat j ust i ce whi ch we had def i ed. We began
t o t hi nk t hat he had damned us and t her e was no escape f r omhi s ver di ct and
we woul d never be abl e t o get away f r omhi mand t hi s was t he mor e t er r i bl e
because he was not pur sui ng us, i t was we who wer e suddenl y l ooki ng f or hi m
and he had mer el y gone wi t hout a t r ace. We f ound no answer about hi m
anywher e. We wonder ed by what sor t of i mpossi bl e power he coul d have done
what he had pr omi sed t o do. Ther e was no answer t o t hat . We began t o t hi nk of
hi mwhenever we saw anot her col l apse i n t he wor l d, whi ch nobody coul d
expl ai n, whenever we t ook anot her bl ow, whenever we l ost anot her hope,
whenever we f el t caught i n t hi s dead, gr ay f og t hat ' s descendi ng al l over t he
ear t h. Per haps peopl e hear d us cr yi ng t hat quest i on and t hey di d not know
what we meant , but t hey knew t oo wel l t he f eel i ng t hat made us cr y i t . They,
t oo, f el t t hat somet hi ng had gone f r omt he wor l d. Per haps t hi s was why t hey
began t o say i t , whenever t hey f el t t hat t her e was no hope. I ' d l i ke t o t hi nk
t hat I amwr ong, t hat t hose wor ds mean not hi ng, t hat t her e' s no consci ous
i nt ent i on and no avenger behi nd t he endi ng of t he human r ace. But when I hear
t hemr epeat i ng t hat quest i on, I f eel af r ai d. I t hi nk of t he man who sai d t hat
he woul d st op t he mot or of t he wor l d. You see, hi s name was J ohn Gal t . "
She awakened, because t he sound of t he wheel s had changed. I t was an
i r r egul ar beat , wi t h sudden scr eeches and shor t , shar p cr acks, a sound l i ke
t he br oken l aught er of hyst er i a, wi t h t he f i t f ul j er ki ng of t he car t o mat ch
i t . She knew, bef or e she gl anced at her wat ch, t hat t hi s was t he t r ack of t he
Kansas West er n and t hat t he t r ai n had st ar t ed on i t s l ong det our sout h f r om
Ki r by, Nebr aska.
The t r ai n was hal f - empt y; f ew peopl e had vent ur ed acr oss t he cont i nent on
t he f i r st Comet si nce t he t unnel di sast er . She had gi ven a bedr oomt o t he
t r amp, and t hen had r emai ned al one wi t h hi s st or y.
She had want ed t o t hi nk of i t , of al l t he quest i ons she i nt ended t o ask
hi mt omor r owbut she had f ound her mi nd f r ozen and st i l l , l i ke a spect at or
st ar i ng at t he st or y, unabl e t o f unct i on, onl y t o st ar e. She had f el t as i f
she knew t he meani ng of t hat spect acl e, knew i t wi t h no f ur t her quest i ons and
had t o escape i t . To movehad been t he wor ds beat i ng i n her mi nd wi t h
pecul i ar ur gencyt o moveas i f movement had become an end i n i t sel f , cr uci al ,
absol ut e and doomed.
Thr ough a t hi n l ayer of sl eep, t he sound of t he wheel s had kept r unni ng a
r ace wi t h t he gr owt h of her t ensi on. She had kept awakeni ng, as i n a
causel ess st ar t of pani c, f i ndi ng her sel f upr i ght i n t he dar kness, t hi nki ng
bl ankl y: What was i t ?t hen t el l i ng her sel f i n r eassur ance: We' r e movi ng . . .
we' r e st i l l movi ng. . . .
The t r ack of t he Kansas West er n was wor se t han she had expect ed
she t hought , l i st eni ng t o t he wheel s. The t r ai n was now car r yi ng her
hundr eds of mi l es away f r omUt ah. She had f el t a desper at e desi r e t o get of f
t he t r ai n on t he mai n l i ne, abandon al l t he pr obl ems of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , f i nd an ai r pl ane and f l y st r ai ght t o Quent i n Dani el s.
I t had t aken a cheer l ess ef f or t of wi l l t o r emai n i n her car .
She l ay i n t he dar kness, l i st eni ng t o t he wheel s, t hi nki ng t hat onl y
Dani el s and hi s mot or st i l l r emai ned l i ke a poi nt of f i r e ahead, pul l i ng her
f or war d. Of what use woul d t he mot or now be t o her ? She had no answer . Why
di d she f eel so cer t ai n of t he desper at e need t o hur r y?
She had no answer . To r each hi mi n t i me, was t he onl y ul t i mat uml ef t i n
her mi nd. She hel d ont o i t , aski ng no quest i ons. Wor dl essl y, she knew t he
r eal answer : t he mot or was needed, not t o move t r ai ns, but t o keep her
movi ng.
She coul d not hear t he beat of t he f our t h knocks any l onger i n t he j umbl ed
scr eechi ng of met al , she coul d not hear t he st eps of t he enemy she was
r aci ng, onl y t he hopel ess st ampede of pani c. . . .
I ' l l get t her e i n t i me, she t hought , I ' l l get t her e f i r st , I ' l l save t he
mot or .
Ther e' s one mot or he' s not goi ng t o st op, she t hought . . . he' s not goi ng
t o st op . . . he' s not goi ng t o st op . . . He' s not goi ng t o st op, she
t hought awakeni ng wi t h a j ol t , j er ki ng her head of f t he pi l l ow. The wheel s
had st opped.
For a moment , she r emai ned st i l l , t r yi ng t o gr asp t he pecul i ar st i l l ness
ar ound her . I t f el t l i ke t he i mpossi bl e at t empt t o cr eat e a sensor y i mage of
non- exi st ence. Ther e wer e no at t r i but es of r eal i t y t o per cei ve, not hi ng but
t hei r absence: no sound, as i f she wer e al one on t he t r ai nno mot i on, as i f
t hi s wer e not a t r ai n, but a r oomi n a bui l di ngno l i ght , as i f t hi s wer e
nei t her t r ai n nor r oom, but space wi t hout obj ect sno si gn of vi ol ence or
physi cal di sast er , as i f t hi s wer e t he st at e wher e di sast er i s no l onger
possi bl e.
I n t he moment when she gr asped t he nat ur e of t he st i l l ness, her body
spr ang upr i ght wi t h a si ngl e cur ve of mot i on, i mmedi at e and vi ol ent l i ke a
cr y of r ebel l i on. The l oud scr eech of t he wi ndow shade went l i ke a kni f e- cut
t hr ough t he si l ence, as she t hr ew t he shade upwar d. Ther e was not hi ng out si de
but anonymous st r et ches of pr ai r i e; a st r ong wi nd was br eaki ng t he cl ouds,
and a shaf t of moonl i ght f el l t hr ough, but i t f el l upon pl ai ns t hat seemed as
dead as t hose f r omwhi ch i t came.
The sweep of her hand pr essed t he l i ght swi t ch and t he bel l t o summon t he
por t er . The el ect r i c l i ght came on and br ought her back t o a r at i onal wor l d.
She gl anced at her wat ch: i t was a f ew mi nut es past mi dni ght . She l ooked out
of t he r ear wi ndow: t he t r ack went of f i n a st r ai ght l i ne and, at t he
pr escr i bed di st ance, she saw t he r ed l ant er ns l ef t on t he gr ound, pl aced
consci ent i ousl y t o pr ot ect t he r ear of t he t r ai n. The si ght seemed
r eassur i ng.
She pr essed t he por t er ' s bel l once mor e. She wai t ed. She went t o t he
vest i bul e, unl ocked t he door and l eaned out t o l ook down t he l i ne of t he
t r ai n. A f ew wi ndows wer e l i ght ed i n t he l ong, t aper i ng band of st eel , but
she saw no f i gur es, no si gn of human act i vi t y. She sl ammed t he door , came
back and st ar t ed t o dr ess, her movement s suddenl y cal mand swi f t .
No one came t o answer her bel l . When she hast ened acr oss t o t he next car ,
she f el t no f ear , no uncer t ai nt y, no despai r , not hi ng but t he ur gency of
act i on.
Ther e was no por t er i n t he cubbyhol e of t he next car , no por t er i n t he car
beyond. She hur r i ed down t he nar r ow passageways, meet i ng no one. But a f ew
compar t ment door s wer e open. The passenger s sat i nsi de, dr essed or hal f -
dr essed, si l ent l y, as i f wai t i ng. They wat ched her r ush by wi t h oddl y f ur t i ve
gl ances, as i f t hey knew what she was af t er , as i f t hey had expect ed someone
t o come and t o f ace what t hey had not f aced. She went on, r unni ng down t he
spi nal cor d of a dead t r ai n, not i ng t he pecul i ar combi nat i on of l i ght ed
compar t ment s, open door s and empt y passages: no one had vent ur ed t o st ep out .
No one had want ed t o ask t he f i r st quest i on.
She r an t hr ough t he t r ai n' s onl y coach, wher e some passenger s sl ept i n
cont or t ed poses of exhaust i on, whi l e ot her s, awake and st i l l , sat hunched,
l i ke ani mal s wai t i ng f or a bl ow, maki ng no move t o aver t i t I n t he vest i bul e
of t he coach, she st opped. She saw a man, who had unl ocked t he door and was
l eani ng out , l ooki ng i nqui r i ngl y ahead t hr ough t he dar kness, r eady t o st ep
of f . He t ur ned at t he sound of her appr oach. She r ecogni zed hi s f ace: i t was
Owen Kel l ogg, t he man who had r ej ect ed t he f ut ur e she had once of f er ed hi m.
" Kel l ogg! " she gasped, t he sound of l aught er i n her voi ce l i ke a cr y of
r el i ef at t he sudden si ght of a man i n a deser t .
" Hel l o, Mi ss Taggar t , " he answer ed, wi t h an ast oni shed smi l e t hat hel d a
t ouch of i ncr edul ous pl easur eand of wi st f ul ness. " I di dn' t know you wer e
aboar d. "
" Come on, " she or der ed, as i f he wer e st i l l an empl oyee of t he r ai l r oad.
" I t hi nk we' r e on a f r ozen t r ai n. "
" We ar e, " he sai d, and f ol l owed her wi t h pr ompt , di sci pl i ned obedi ence.
No expl anat i ons wer e necessar y. I t was as i f , i n unspoken under st andi ng,
t hey wer e answer i ng a cal l t o dut yand i t seemed nat ur al t hat of t he hundr eds
aboar d, i t was t he t wo of t hemwho shoul d be par t ner s- i n- danger .
" Any i dea how l ong we' ve been st andi ng?" she asked, as t hey hur r i ed on
t hr ough t he next car .
" No, " he sai d. " We wer e st andi ng when I woke up. "
They went t he l engt h of t he t r ai n, f i ndi ng no por t er s, no wai t er s i n t he
di ner , no br akemen, no conduct or . They gl anced at each ot her once i n a whi l e,
but kept si l ent . They knew t he st or i es of abandoned t r ai ns, of t he cr ews t hat
vani shed i n sudden bur st s of r ebel l i on agai nst ser f dom.
They got of f at t he head end of t he t r ai n, wi t h no mot i on ar ound t hemsave
t he wi nd on t hei r f aces, and t hey cl i mbed swi f t l y aboar d t he engi ne. The
engi ne' s headl i ght was on, st r et chi ng l i ke an accusi ng ar mi nt o t he voi d of
t he ni ght . The engi ne' s cab was empt y.
Her cr y of desper at e t r i umph br oke out i n answer t o t he shock of t he
si ght : " Good f or t hem! They' r e human bei ngs! "
She st opped, aghast , as at t he cr y of a st r anger . She not i ced t hat Kel l ogg
st ood wat chi ng her cur i ousl y, wi t h t he f ai nt hi nt of a smi l e.
I t was an ol d st eamengi ne, t he best t hat t he r ai l r oad had been abl e t o
pr ovi de f or t he Comet . The f i r e was banked i n t he gr at es, t he st eamgauge was
l ow, and i n t he gr eat wi ndshi el d bef or e t hemt he headl i ght f el l upon a band
of t i es t hat shoul d have been r unni ng t o meet t hem, but l ay st i l l i nst ead,
l i ke a l adder ' s st eps, count ed, number ed and ended.
She r eached f or t he l ogbook and l ooked at t he names of t he t r ai n' s l ast
cr ew. The engi neer had been Pat Logan.
Her head dr opped sl owl y, and she cl osed her eyes. She t hought of t he f i r st
r un on a gr een- bl ue t r ack, t hat must have been i n Pat Logan' s mi ndas i t was
now i n her st hr ough t he si l ent hour s of hi s l ast r un on any r ai l .
" Mi ss Taggar t ?" sai d Owen Kel l ogg sof t l y.
She j er ked her head up. " Yes, " she sai d, " yes . . . Wel l " her voi ce had no
col or except t he met al l i c t i nge of deci si on" we' l l have t o get t o a phone and
cal l f or anot her cr ew. " She gl anced at her wat ch. " At t he r at e we wer e
r unni ng, I t hi nk we must be about ei ght y mi l es f r omt he Okl ahoma st at e l i ne.
I bel i eve Br adshaw i s t hi s r oad' s near est di vi si on poi nt t o cal l . We' r e
somewher e wi t hi n t hi r t y mi l es of i t . "
" Ar e t her e any Taggar t t r ai ns f ol l owi ng us?"
" The next one i s Number 253, t he t r anscont i nent al f r ei ght , but i t won' t
get her e t i l l about seven A. M. , i f i t ' s r unni ng on t i me, whi ch 1 doubt . "
" Onl y one f r ei ght i n seven hour s?" He sai d i t i nvol unt ar i l y, wi t h a not e
of out r aged l oyal t y t o t he gr eat r ai l r oad he had once been pr oud t o ser ve.
Her mout h moved i n t he br i ef snap of a smi l e. " Our t r anscont i nent al
t r af f i c i s not what i t was i n your day. "
He nodded sl owl y. " I don' t suppose t her e ar e any Kansas West er n t r ai ns
comi ng t oni ght , ei t her ?"
" I can' t r emember of f hand, but I t hi nk not . "
He gl anced at t he pol es by t he si de of t he t r ack. " I hope t hat t he Kansas
West er n peopl e have kept t hei r phones i n or der . "
" You mean t hat t he chances ar e t hey haven' t , i f we j udge by t he st at e of
t hei r t r ack. But we' l l have t o t r y i t , "
" Yes. "
She t ur ned t o go, but st opped. She knew i t was usel ess t o comment , but t he
wor ds came i nvol unt ar i l y. " You know, " she sai d, " i t ' s t hose l ant er ns our men
put behi nd t he t r ai n t o pr ot ect us t hat ' s t he har dest t hi ng t o t ake. They . .
. t hey f el t mor e concer n f or human l i ves t han t hei r count r y had shown f or
t hei r s. "
Hi s swi f t gl ance at her was l i ke a shot of del i ber at e emphasi s, t hen he
answer ed gr avel y, " Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . "
Cl i mbi ng down t he l adder on t he si de of t he engi ne, t hey saw a cl ust er of
passenger s gat her ed by t he t r ack and mor e f i gur es emer gi ng f r omt he t r ai n t o
j oi n t hem. By some speci al i nst i nct of t hei r own, t he men who had sat wai t i ng
knew t hat someone had t aken char ge, someone had assumed t he r esponsi bi l i t y
and i t was now saf e t o show si gns of l i f e.
They al l l ooked at her wi t h an ai r of i nqui r i ng expect at i on, as she
appr oached. The unnat ur al pal l or of t he moonl i ght seemed t o di ssol ve t he
di f f er ences of t hei r f aces and t o st r ess t he qual i t y t hey al l had i n common:
a l ook of caut i ous appr ai sal , par t f ear , par t pl ea, par t i mper t i nence hel d i n
abeyance.
" I s t her e anyone her e who wi shes t o be spokesman f or t he passenger s?" she
asked.
They l ooked at one anot her . Ther e was no answer .
" Ver y wel l , " she sai d. " You don' t have t o speak. I ' mDagny Taggar t , t he
Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent of t hi s r ai l r oad, and" t her e was a r ust l e of
r esponse f r omt he gr oup, hal f - movement , hal f - whi sper , r esembl i ng r el i ef " and
I ' l l do t he speaki ng. We ar e on a t r ai n t hat has been abandoned by i t s cr ew.
Ther e was no physi cal acci dent . The engi ne i s i nt act . But t her e i s no one t o
r un i t . Thi s i s what t he newspaper s cal l a f r ozen t r ai n. You al l know what i t
meansand you know t he r easons. Per haps you knew t he r easons l ong bef or e t hey
wer e di scover ed by t he men who deser t ed you t oni ght . The l aw f or bade t hemt o
deser t . But t hi s wi l l not hel p you now. "
A woman shr i eked suddenl y, wi t h t he demandi ng pet ul ance of hyst er i a, " What
ar e we goi ng t o do?"
Dagny paused t o l ook at her . The woman was pushi ng f or war d, t o squeeze
her sel f i nt o t he gr oup, t o pl ace some human bodi es bet ween her sel f and t he
si ght of t he gr eat vacuumt he pl ai n st r et chi ng of f and di ssol vi ng i nt o
moonl i ght , t he dead phosphor escence of i mpot ent , bor r owed ener gy. The woman
had a coat t hr own over a ni ght gown; t he coat was sl i ppi ng open and her
st omach pr ot r uded under t he gown' s t hi n cl ot h, wi t h t hat l oose obsceni t y of
manner whi ch assumes al l human sel f - r evel at i on t o be ugl i ness and makes no
ef f or t t o conceal i t . For a moment , Dagny r egr et t ed t he necessi t y t o
cont i nue.
" I shal l go down t he t r ack t o a t el ephone, " she cont i nued, her voi ce cl ear
and as col d as t he moonl i ght . " Ther e ar e emer gency t el ephones at i nt er val s of
f i ve mi l es al ong t he r i ght - of - way. I shal l cal l f or anot her cr ew t o be sent
her e. Thi s wi l l t ake some t i me. You wi l l pl ease st ay aboar d and mai nt ai n such
or der as you ar e capabl e of mai nt ai ni ng. "
" What about t he gangs of r ai der s?" asked anot her woman' s ner vous voi ce.
" That ' s t r ue, " sai d Dagny. " I ' d bet t er have someone t o accompany me. Who
wi shes t o go?"
She had mi sunder st ood t he woman' s mot i ve. Ther e was no answer .
Ther e wer e no gl ances di r ect ed at her or at one anot her . Ther e wer e no
eyesonl y moi st oval s gl i st eni ng i n t he moonl i ght . Ther e t hey wer e, she
t hought , t he men of t he new age, t he demander s and r eci pi ent s of sel f -
sacr i f i ce. She was st r uck by a qual i t y of anger i n t hei r si l ence
an anger sayi ng t hat she was supposed t o spar e t hemmoment s such as t hi s
and, wi t h a f eel i ng of cr uel t y new t o her , she r emai ned si l ent by consci ous
i nt ent i on.
She not i ced t hat Owen Kel l ogg, t oo, was wai t i ng; but he was not wat chi ng
t he passenger s, he was wat chi ng her f ace. When he became cer t ai n t hat t her e
woul d be no answer f r omt he cr owd, he sai d qui et l y, " I ' l l go wi t h you, of
cour se, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Thank you. "
" What about us?" snapped t he ner vous woman.
Dagny t ur ned t o her , answer i ng i n t he f or mal , i nf l ect i onl ess monot one of a
busi ness execut i ve, " Ther e have been no cases of r ai der gang at t acks upon
f r ozen t r ai nsunf or t unat el y. "
" J ust wher e ar e we?" asked a bul ky man wi t h t oo expensi ve an over coat and
t oo f l abby a f ace; hi s voi ce had a t one i nt ended f or ser vant s by a man unf i t
t o empl oy t hem. " I n what par t of what st at e?"
" I don' t know, " she answer ed.
" How l ong wi l l we be kept her e?" asked anot her , i n t he t one of a cr edi t or
who i s i mposed upon by a debt or .
" 1 don' t know. "
" When wi l l we get t o San Fr anci sco?" asked a t hi r d, i n t he manner of a
sher i f f addr essi ng a suspect .
" I don' t know. "
The demandi ng r esent ment was br eaki ng l oose, i n smal l , cr ackl i ng puf f s,
l i ke chest nut s poppi ng open i n t he dar k oven of t he mi nds who now f el t
cer t ai n t hat t hey wer e t aken car e of and saf e.
" Thi s i s per f ect l y out r ageous! " yel l ed a woman, spr i ngi ng f or war d,
t hr owi ng her wor ds at Dagny' s f ace. " You have no r i ght t o l et t hi s happen! I
don' t i nt end t o be kept wai t i ng i n t he mi ddl e of nowher e!
I expect t r anspor t at i on! "
" Keep your mout h shut , " sai d Dagny, " or I ' l l l ock t he t r ai n door s and
l eave you wher e you ar e. "
" You can' t do t hat ! You' r e a common car r i er ! You have no r i ght t o
di scr i mi nat e agai nst me! I ' l l r epor t i t t o t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d! "
" i f I gi ve you a t r ai n t o get you wi t hi n si ght or hear i ng of your Boar d, "
sai d Dagny, t ur ni ng away.
She saw Kel l ogg l ooki ng at her , hi s gl ance l i ke a l i ne dr awn under her
wor ds, under scor i ng t hemf or her own at t ent i on.
" Get a f l ashl i ght somewher e, " she sai d, " whi l e I go t o get my handbag,
t hen we' l l st ar t . "
When t hey st ar t ed out on t hei r way t o t he t r ack phone, wal ki ng past t he
si l ent l i ne of car s, t hey saw anot her f i gur e descendi ng f r omt he t r ai n and
hur r yi ng t o meet t hem. She r ecogni zed t he t r amp.
" Tr oubl e, ma' am?" he asked, st oppi ng.
" The cr ew has deser t ed. "
" Oh. What ' s t o be done?"
" I ' mgoi ng t o a phone t o cal l t he di vi si on poi nt . "
" You can' t go al one, ma' am. Not t hese days. I ' d bet t er go wi t h you. "
She smi l ed. " Thanks. But I ' l l be al l r i ght . Mr . Kel l ogg her e i s goi ng wi t h
me. Saywhat ' s your name?"
" J ef f Al i en, ma' am. "
" Li st en, Al i en, have you ever wor ked f or a r ai l r oad?"
" No, ma' am. "
" Wel l , you' r e wor ki ng f or one now. You' r e deput y- conduct or and pr oxy- vi ce-
pr esi dent - i n- char ge- of - oper at i on. Your j ob i s t o t ake char ge of t hi s t r ai n i n
my absence, t o pr eser ve or der and t o keep t he cat t l e f r omst ampedi ng. Tel l
t hemt hat I appoi nt ed you. You don' t need any pr oof . They' l l obey anybody who
expect s obedi ence. "
" Yes, ma' am, " he answer ed f i r ml y, wi t h a l ook of under st andi ng.
She r emember ed t hat money i nsi de a man' s pocket had t he power t o t ur n i nt o
conf i dence i nsi de hi s mi nd; she t ook a hundr ed- dol l ar bi l l f r omher bag and
sl i pped i t i nt o hi s hand. " As advance on wages, "
she sai d.
" Yes, ma' am. "
She had st ar t ed of f , when he cal l ed af t er her , " Mi ss Taggar t ! "
She t ur ned. " Yes?"
" Thank you, " he sai d.
She smi l ed, hal f - r ai si ng her hand i n a par t i ng sal ut e, and wal ked on.
" Who i s t hat ?" asked Kel l ogg.
" A t r amp who was caught st eal i ng a r i de. "
" He' l l do t he j ob, I t hi nk. "
" He wi l l . "
They wal ked si l ent l y past t he engi ne and on i n t he di r ect i on of i t s
headl i ght . At f i r st , st eppi ng f r omt i e t o t i e, wi t h t he vi ol ent l i ght beat i ng
agai nst t hemf r ombehi nd, t hey st i l l f el t as i f t hey wer e at home i n t he
nor mal r eal mof a r ai l r oad. Then she f ound her sel f wat chi ng t he l i ght on t he
t i es under her f eet , wat chi ng i t ebb sl owl y, t r yi ng t o hol d i t , t o keep
seei ng i t s f adi ng gl ow, unt i l she knew t hat t he hi nt of a gl ow on t he wood
was no l onger anyt hi ng but moonl i ght . She coul d not pr event t he shudder t hat
made her t ur n t o l ook back. The headl i ght st i l l hung behi nd t hem, l i ke t he
l i qui d si l ver gl obe of a pl anet , decept i vel y cl ose, but bel ongi ng t o anot her
or bi t and anot her syst em.
Owen Kel l ogg wal ked si l ent l y besi de her , and she f el t cer t ai n t hat t hey
knew each ot her ' s t hought s.
" He coul dn' t have. Oh God, he coul dn' t ! " she sai d suddenl y, not r eal i zi ng
t hat she had swi t ched t o wor ds.
" Who?"
" Nat hani el Taggar t . He coul dn' t have wor ked wi t h peopl e l i ke t hose
passenger s. He coul dn' t have r un t r ai ns f or t hem. He coul dn' t have empl oyed
t hem. He coul dn' t have used t hemat al l , nei t her as cust omer s nor as
wor ker s. "
Kel l ogg smi l ed. " You mean t hat he coul dn' t have gr own r i ch by expl oi t i ng
t hem, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
She nodded. " They . . . " she sai d, and he hear d t he f ai nt t r embl i ng of her
voi ce, whi ch was l ove and pai n and i ndi gnat i on, " t hey' ve sai d f or year s t hat
he r ose by t hwar t i ng t he abi l i t y of ot her s, by l eavi ng t hemno chance, and
t hat . . . t hat human i ncompet ence was t o hi s sel f i sh i nt er est . . . . But he
. . . i t wasn' t obedi ence t hat he r equi r ed of peopl e. "
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d, wi t h an odd not e of st er nness i n hi s voi ce, " j ust
r emember t hat he r epr esent ed a code of exi st ence whi chf or a br i ef span i n
al l human hi st or ydr ove sl aver y out of t he ci vi l i zed wor l d. Remember i t , when
you f eel baf f l ed by t he nat ur e of hi s enemi es, "
" Have you ever hear d of a woman named I vy St ar nes?"
" Oh yes. "
" I keep t hi nki ng t hat t hi s was what she woul d have enj oyedt he spect acl e
of t hose passenger s t oni ght . Thi s was what she' s af t er . But wewe can' t l i ve
wi t h i t , you and I , can we? No one can l i ve wi t h i t .
I t ' s not possi bl e t o l i ve wi t h i t . "
" What makes you t hi nk t hat I vy St ar nes' s pur pose i s l i f e?"
Somewher e on t he edge of her mi ndl i ke t he wi sps she saw f l oat i ng on t he
edges of t he pr ai r i e, nei t her qui t e r ays nor f og nor cl oud
she f el t some shape whi ch she coul d not gr asp, hal f - suggest ed and
demandi ng t o be gr asped.
She di d not speak, andl i ke t he l i nks of a chai n unr ol l i ng t hr ough t hei r
si l encet he r hyt hmof t hei r st eps went on, spaced t o t he t i es, scor ed by t he
dr y, swi f t beat of heel s on wood.
She had not had t i me t o be awar e of hi m, except as of a pr ovi dent i al
comr ade- i n- compet ence; now she gl anced at hi mwi t h consci ous at t ent i on. Hi s
f ace had t he cl ear , har d l ook she r emember ed havi ng l i ked i n t he past . But
t he f ace had gr own cal mer , as i f mor e ser enel y at peace. Hi s cl ot hes wer e
t hr eadbar e. He wor e an ol d l eat her j acket , and even i n t he dar kness she coul d
di st i ngui sh t he scuf f ed bl ot ches st r eaki ng acr oss t he l eat her .
" What have you been doi ng si nce you l ef t Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ?" she
asked.
" Oh, many t hi ngs. "
" Wher e ar e you wor ki ng now?"
" On speci al assi gnment s, mor e or l ess. "
" Of what ki nd?"
" Of ever y ki nd. "
" You' r e not wor ki ng f or a r ai l r oad?"
" No. "
The shar p br evi t y of t he sound seemed t o expand i t i nt o an el oquent
st at ement . She knew t hat he knew her mot i ve. " Kel l ogg, i f I t ol d you t hat I
don' t have a si ngl e f i r st - r at e man l ef t on t he Taggar t syst em, i f I of f er ed
you any j ob, any t er ms, any money you car ed t o namewoul d you come back t o
us?"
" No. "
" You wer e shocked by our l oss of t r af f i c. I don' t t hi nk you have any i dea
of what our l oss of men has done t o us. I can' t t el l you t he sor t of agony I
went t hr ough t hr ee days ago, t r yi ng t o f i nd somebody abl e t o bui l d f i ve mi l es
of t empor ar y t r ack. I have f i f t y mi l es t o bui l d t hr ough t he Rocki es. I see no
way t o do i t . But i t has t o be done. I ' ve combed t he count r y f or men. Ther e
ar en' t any. And t hen t o r un i nt o you suddenl y, t o f i nd you her e, i n a day
coach, when I ' d gi ve hal f t he syst emf or one empl oyee l i ke youdo you
under st and why I can' t l et you go? Choose anyt hi ng you wi sh. Want t o be
gener al manager of a r egi on? Or assi st ant oper at i ng vi ce- pr esi dent ?"
" No. "
" You' r e st i l l wor ki ng f or a l i vi ng, ar en' t you?"
" Yes. "
" You don' t seemt o be maki ng ver y much. "
" I ' mmaki ng enough f or my needsand f or nobody el se' s. "
" Why ar e you wi l l i ng t o wor k f or anyone but Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ?"
" Because you woul dn' t gi ve me t he ki nd of j ob I ' d want . "
" I ?" She st opped st i l l . " Good God, Kel l ogg! haven' t you under st ood? I ' d
gi ve you any j ob you name! "
" Al l r i ght . Tr ack wal ker . "
" What ?"
" Sect i on hand. Engi ne wi per . " He smi l ed at t he l ook on her f ace.
" No? You see, I sai d you woul dn' t . "
" Do you mean t hat you' d t ake a day l abor er ' s j ob?"
" Any t i me you of f er ed i t . "
" But not hi ng bet t er ?"
" That ' s r i ght , not hi ng bet t er . "
" Don' t you under st and t hat I have t oo many men who' r e abl e t o do t hose
j obs, but not hi ng bet t er ?"
" I under st and i t , Mi ss Taggar t . Do you?"
" What I need i s your "
" mi nd, Mi ss Taggar t ? My mi nd i s not on t he mar ket any l onger . "
She st ood l ooki ng at hi m, her f ace gr owi ng har der . " You' r e one of t hem,
ar en' t you?" she sai d at l ast .
" Of whom?"
She di d not answer , shr ugged and went on, " Mi ss Taggar t , " he asked, " how
l ong wi l l you r emai n wi l l i ng t o be a common car r i er ?"
" I won' t sur r ender t he wor l d t o t he cr eat ur e you' r e quot i ng. "
" The answer you gave her was much mor e r eal i st i c. "
The chai n of t hei r st eps had st r et ched t hr ough many si l ent mi nut es bef or e
she asked, " Why di d you st and by me t oni ght ? Why wer e you wi l l i ng t o hel p
me?"
He answer ed easi l y, al most gai l y, " Because t her e i sn' t a passenger on t hat
t r ai n who needs t o get wher e he' s goi ng mor e ur gent l y t han I do. I f t he t r ai n
can be st ar t ed, none wi l l pr of i t mor e t han I . But when I need somet hi ng, I
don' t si t and expect t r anspor t at i on, l i ke t hat cr eat ur e of your s. "
" You don' t ? And what i f al l t r ai ns st opped r unni ng?"
" Then I woul dn' t count on maki ng a cr uci al j our ney by t r ai n. "
" Wher e ar e you goi ng?"
" West . "
" On a ' speci al assi gnment ' ?"
" No. For a mont h' s vacat i on wi t h some f r i ends. "
" A vacat i on? And i t ' s t hat i mpor t ant t o you?"
" Mor e i mpor t ant t han anyt hi ng on ear t h. "
They had wal ked t wo mi l es when t hey came t o t he smal l gr ay box on a post
by t he t r acksi de, whi ch was t he emer gency t el ephone.
The box hung si dewi se, beat en by st or ms. She j er ked i t open. The t el ephone
was t her e, a f ami l i ar , r eassur i ng obj ect , gl i nt i ng i n t he beamof Kel l ogg' s
f l ashl i ght . But she knew, t he moment she pr essed t he r ecei ver t o her ear , and
he knew, when he saw her f i nger t appi ng shar pl y agai nst t he hook, t hat t he
t el ephone was dead.
She handed t he r ecei ver t o hi mwi t hout a wor d. She hel d t he f l ashl i ght ,
whi l e he went swi f t l y over t he i nst r ument , t hen t or e i t of f t he wal l and
st udi ed t he wi r es.
" The wi r e' s okay, " he sai d. " The cur r ent ' s on. I t ' s t hi s par t i cul ar
i nst r ument t hat ' s out of or der . Ther e' s a chance t hat t he next one mi ght be
wor ki ng. " He added, " The next one i s f i ve mi l es away. "
" Let ' s go, " she sai d.
Far behi nd t hem, t he engi ne' s headl i ght was st i l l vi si bl e, not a pl anet
any l onger , but a smal l st ar wi nki ng, t hr ough mi st s of di st ance.
Ahead of t hem, t he r ai l went of f i nt o bl ui sh space, wi t h not hi ng t o mar k
i t s end.
She r eal i zed how of t en she had gl anced back at t hat headl i ght ; so l ong as
i t r emai ned i n si ght , she had f el t as i f a l i f e- l i ne wer e hol di ng t hem
anchor ed saf el y; now t hey had t o br eak i t and di ve i nt o . . .
and di ve of f t hi s pl anet , she t hought . She not i ced t hat Kel l ogg, t oo,
st ood l ooki ng back at t he headl i ght .
They gl anced at each ot her , but sai d not hi ng. The cr unch of a pebbl e under
her shoe sol e bur st l i ke a f i r ecr acker i n t he si l ence.
Wi t h a col dl y i nt ent i onal movement , he ki cked t he t el ephone i nst r ument and
sent i t r ol l i ng i nt o a di t ch: t he vi ol ence of t he noi se shat t er ed t he vacuum.
" God damn hi m, " he sai d evenl y, not r ai si ng hi s voi ce, wi t h a l oat hi ng
past any di spl ay of emot i on. " He pr obabl y di dn' t f eel l i ke at t endi ng t o hi s
j ob, and si nce he needed hi s pay check, nobody had t he r i ght t o ask t hat he
keep t he phones i n or der . "
" Come on, " she sai d.
" We can r est , i f you f eel t i r ed, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" I ' mal l r i ght . We have no t i me t o f eel t i r ed. "
" That ' s our gr eat er r or , Mi ss Taggar t . We ought t o t ake t he t i me, some
day. "
She gave a br i ef chuckl e, she st epped ont o a t i e of t he t r ack, st r essi ng
t he st ep as her answer , and t hey went on.
I t was har d, wal ki ng on t i es, but when t hey t r i ed t o wal k al ong t he
t r acksi de, t hey f ound t hat i t was har der . The soi l , hal f - sand, hal f - dust ,
sank under t hei r heel s, l i ke t he sof t , unr esi st i ng spr ead of some subst ance
t hat was nei t her l i qui d nor sol i d. They went back t o wal ki ng f r omt i e t o t i e;
i t was al most l i ke st eppi ng f r oml og t o l og i n t he mi dst of a r i ver .
She t hought of what an enor mous di st ance f i ve mi l es had suddenl y become,
and t hat a di vi si on poi nt t hi r t y mi l es away was now unat t ai nabl eaf t er an er a
of r ai l r oads bui l t by men who t hought i n t housands of t r anscont i nent al mi l es.
That net of r ai l s and l i ght s, spr eadi ng f r omocean t o ocean, hung on t he snap
of a wi r e, on a br oken connect i on i nsi de a r ust y phoneno, she t hought , on
somet hi ng much mor e power f ul and much mor e del i cat e. I t hung on t he
connect i ons i n t he mi nds of t he men who knew t hat t he exi st ence of a wi r e, of
a t r ai n, of a j ob, of t hemsel ves and t hei r act i ons was an absol ut e not t o be
escaped. When such mi nds wer e gone, a t wo t housand- t on t r ai n was l ef t at t he
mer cy of t he muscl es of her l egs.
Ti r ed?she t hought ; even t he st r ai n of wal ki ng was a val ue, a smal l pi ece
of r eal i t y i n t he st i l l ness ar ound t hem. The sensat i on of ef f or t was a
speci f i c exper i ence, i t was pai n and coul d be not hi ng el sei n t he mi dst of a
space whi ch was nei t her l i ght nor dar k, a soi l whi ch nei t her gave nor
r esi st ed, a f og whi ch nei t her moved nor hung st i l l . Thei r st r ai n was t he onl y
evi dence of t hei r mot i on: not hi ng changed i n t he empt i ness ar ound t hem,
not hi ng t ook f or mt o mar k t hei r pr ogr ess. She had al ways wonder ed, i n
i ncr edul ous cont empt , about t he sect s t hat pr eached t he anni hi l at i on of t he
uni ver se as t he i deal t o be at t ai ned. Ther e, she t hought , was t hei r wor l d and
t he cont ent of t hei r mi nds made r eal .
When t he gr een l i ght of a si gnal appear ed by t he t r ack, i t gave t hema
poi nt t o r each and pass, but i ncongr uous i n t he mi dst of t he f l oat i ng
di ssol ut i oni t br ought t hemno sense of r el i ef . I t seemed t o come f r oma l ong
si nce ext i ngui shed wor l d, l i ke t hose st ar s whose l i ght r emai ns af t er t hey ar e
gone. The gr een ci r cl e gl owed i n space, announci ng a cl ear t r ack, i nvi t i ng
mot i on wher e t her e was not hi ng t o move. Who was t hat phi l osopher , she
t hought , who pr eached t hat mot i on exi st s wi t hout any movi ng ent i t i es? Thi s
was hi s wor l d, t oo.
T!
She f ound her sel f pushi ng f or war d wi t h i ncr easi ng ef f or t , as i f agai nst
some r esi st ance t hat was, not pr essur e, but suct i on. Gl anci ng at Kel l ogg, she
saw t hat he, t oo, was wal ki ng l i ke a man br aced agai nst a st or m. She f el t as
i f t he t wo of t hemwer e t he sol e sur vi vor s of . . . of r eal i t y, she t hought
t wo l onel y f i gur es f i ght i ng, not t hr ough a st or m, but wor se: t hr ough non-
exi st ence.
I t was Kel l ogg who gl anced back, af t er a whi l e, and she f ol l owed hi s
gl ance: t her e was no headl i ght behi nd t hem.
They di d not st op. Looki ng st r ai ght ahead, he r eached absent l y i nt o hi s
pocket ; she f el t cer t ai n t hat t he movement was i nvol unt ar y; he pr oduced a
package of ci gar et t es and ext ended i t t o her .
She was about t o t ake a ci gar et t et hen, suddenl y, she sei zed hi s wr i st and
t or e t he package out of hi s hand. I t was a pl ai n whi t e package t hat bor e, as
si ngl e i mpr i nt , t he si gn of t he dol l ar .
" Gi ve me t he f l ashl i ght ! " she or der ed, st oppi ng.
He st opped obedi ent l y and sent t he beamof t he f l ashl i ght at t he package
i n her hands. She caught a gl i mpse of hi s f ace: he l ooked a l i t t l e ast oni shed
and ver y amused.
Ther e was no pr i nt i ng on t he package, no t r ade name, no addr ess, onl y t he
dol l ar si gn st amped i n gol d. The ci gar et t es bor e t he same si gn.
" Wher e di d you get t hi s?" she asked.
He was smi l i ng. " I f you know enough t o ask t hat , Mi ss Taggar t , you shoul d
know t hat I won' t answer . "
" I know t hat t hi s st ands f or somet hi ng. "
" The dol l ar si gn? For a gr eat deal . I t st ands on t he vest of ever y f at ,
pi g l i ke f i gur e i n ever y car t oon, f or t he pur pose of denot i ng a cr ook, a
gr af t er , a scoundr el as t he one sur e- f i r e br and of evi l . I t st andsas t he
money of a f r ee count r yf or achi evement , f or success, f or abi l i t y, f or man' s
cr eat i ve power and, pr eci sel y f or t hese r easons, i t i s used as a br and of
i nf amy. I t st ands st amped on t he f or ehead of a man l i ke Hank Rear den, as a
mar k of damnat i on. I nci dent al l y, do you know wher e t hat si gn comes f r om? I t
st ands f or t he i ni t i al s of t he Uni t ed St at es. "
He snapped t he f l ashl i ght of f , but he di d not move t o go; she coul d
di st i ngui sh t he hi nt of hi s bi t t er smi l e.
" Do you know t hat t he Uni t ed St at es i s t he onl y count r y i n hi st or y t hat
has ever used i t s own monogr amas a symbol of depr avi t y? Ask your sel f why.
Ask your sel f how l ong a count r y t hat di d t hat coul d hope t o exi st , and whose
mor al st andar ds have dest r oyed i t . I t was t he onl y count r y i n hi st or y wher e
weal t h was not acqui r ed by l oot i ng, but by pr oduct i on, not by f or ce, but by
t r ade, t he onl y count r y whose money was t he symbol of man' s r i ght t o hi s own
mi nd, t o hi s wor k, t o hi s l i f e, t o hi s happi ness, t o hi msel f . I f t hi s i s
evi l , by t he pr esent st andar ds of t he wor l d, i f t hi s i s t he r eason f or
damni ng us, t hen we we, t he dol l ar chaser s and maker saccept i t and choose
t o be damned by t hat wor l d. We choose t o wear t he si gn of t he dol l ar on our
f or eheads, pr oudl y, as our badge of nobi l i t yt he badge we ar e wi l l i ng t o l i ve
f or and, i f need be, t o di e. "
He ext ended hi s hand f or t he package. She hel d i t as i f her f i nger s woul d
not l et i t go, but gave up and pl aced i t on hi s pal m. Wi t h del i ber at e
sl owness, as i f t o under scor e t he meani ng of hi s gest ur e, he of f er ed her a
ci gar et t e. She t ook i t and pl aced i t bet ween her l i ps.
He t ook one f or hi msel f , st r uck a mat ch, l i ght ed bot h, and t hey wal ked on.
They wal ked, over r ot t i ng l ogs t hat sank wi t hout r esi st ance i nt o t he
shi f t i ng gr ound, t hr ough a vast , uncongeal ed gl obe of moonl i ght and coi l i ng
mi st wi t h t wo spot s of l i vi ng f i r e i n t hei r hands and t he gl ow of t wo smal l
ci r cl es t o l i ght t hei r f aces.
" Fi r e, a danger ous f or ce, t amed at hi s f i nger t i ps . . . " she r emember ed
t he ol d man sayi ng t o her , t he ol d man who had sai d t hat t hese ci gar et t es
wer e not made anywher e on ear t h. " When a man t hi nks, t her e i s a spot of f i r e
al i ve i n hi s mi ndand i t ' s pr oper t hat he shoul d have t he bur ni ng poi nt of a
ci gar et t e as hi s one expr essi on. "
" I wi sh you' d t el l me who makes t hem, " she sai d, i n t he t one of a hopel ess
pl ea.
He chuckl ed good- nat ur edl y. " I can t el l you t hi s much: t hey' r e made by a
f r i end of mi ne, f or sal e, but not bei ng a common car r i er he sel l s t hemonl y
t o hi s f r i ends. "
" Sel l me t hat package, wi l l you?"
" I don' t t hi nk you' l l be abl e t o af f or d i t , Mi ss Taggar t , but al l r i ght ,
i f you wi sh. "
" How much i s i t ?"
" Fi ve cent s. "
" Fi ve cent s?" she r epeat ed, bewi l der ed.
" Fi ve cent s" he sai d, and added, " i n gol d. "
She st opped, st ar i ng at hi m. " I n gol d?"
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Wel l , what ' s your r at e of exchange? How much i s i t i n our nor mal money?"
" Ther e i s no r at e of exchange, Mi ss Taggar t . No amount of physi cal or
spi r i t ual cur r ency, whose sol e st andar d of val ue i s t he decr ee of Mr . Wesl ey
Mouch, wi l l buy t hese ci gar et t es. "
" I see. "
He r eached i nt o hi s pocket , t ook out t he package and handed i t t o her .
" I ' l l gi ve t hemt o you, Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d, " because you' ve ear ned t hem
many t i mes over and because you need t hemf or t he same pur pose we do. "
" What pur pose?"
" To r emi nd usi n moment s of di scour agement , i n t he l onel i ness of exi l eof
our t r ue homel and, whi ch has al ways been your s, t oo, Mi ss Taggar t . "
' Thank you, " she sai d. She put t he ci gar et t es i n her pocket ; he saw t hat
her hand was t r embl i ng.
When t hey r eached t he f our t h of t he f i ve mi l epost s, t hey had been si l ent
f or a l ong t i me, wi t h no st r engt h l ef t f or anyt hi ng but t he ef f or t of movi ng
t hei r f eet . Far ahead, t hey saw a dot of l i ght , t oo l ow on t he hor i zon and
t oo har shl y cl ear t o be a st ar . They kept wat chi ng i t , as t hey wal ked, and
sai d not hi ng unt i l t hey became cer t ai n t hat i t was a power f ul el ect r i c beacon
bl azi ng i n t he mi dst of t he empt y pr ai r i e.
" What i s t hat ?" she asked.
" I don' t know, " he sai d. " I t l ooks l i ke"
" No, " she br oke i n hast i l y, " i t coul dn' t be. Not ar ound her e. "
She di d not want t o hear hi mname t he hope whi ch she had f el t f or many
mi nut es past . She coul d not per mi t her sel f t o t hi nk of i t or t o know t hat t he
t hought was hope.
They f ound t he t el ephone box at t he f i f t h mi l epost . The beacon hung l i ke a
vi ol ent spot of col d f i r e, l ess t han hal f a mi l e f ar t her sout h.
The t el ephone was wor ki ng. She hear d t he buzz of t he wi r e, l i ke t he br eat h
of a l i vi ng cr eat ur e, when she l i f t ed t he r ecei ver . Then a dr awl i ng voi ce
answer ed, " J essup, at Br adshaw. " The voi ce sounded sl eepy.
" Thi s i s Dagny Taggar t , speaki ng f r om"
" Who?"
" Dagny Taggar t , of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , speaki ng"
" Oh . . . Oh yes . . . I see . . . Yes?"
" speaki ng f r omyour t r ack phone Number 83. The Comet i s st al l ed seven
mi l es nor t h of her e. I t ' s been abandoned. The cr ew has deser t ed. "
Ther e was a pause. " Wel l , what do you want me t o do about i t ?"
She had t o pause i n t ur n, i n or der t o bel i eve i t . " Ar e you t he ni ght
di spat cher ?
" Yeah. "
" Then send anot her cr ew out t o us at once. "
" A f ul l passenger t r ai n cr ew?"
" Of cour se. "
" Now?"
" Yes. "
Ther e was a pause. " The r ul es don' t say anyt hi ng about t hat . "
" Get me t he chi ef di spat cher , " she sai d, choki ng.
" He' s away on hi s vacat i on. "
" Get t he di vi si on super i nt endent . "
" He' s gone down t o Laur el f or a coupl e of days. "
" Get me somebody who' s i n char ge. "
" I ' mi n char ge. "
" Li st en, " she sai d sl owl y, f i ght i ng f or pat i ence, " do you under st and t hat
t her e' s a t r ai n, a passenger l i mi t ed, abandoned i n t he mi ddl e of t he
pr ai r i e?"
" Yeah, but how amI t o know what I ' msupposed t o do about i t ?
The r ul es don' t pr ovi de f or i t . Now i f you had an acci dent , we' d send out
t he wr ecker , but i f t her e was no acci dent . . . you don' t need t he wr ecker ,
do you?"
" No. We don' t need t he wr ecker . We need men. Do you under st and? Li vi ng men
t o r un an engi ne. "
" The r ul es don' t say anyt hi ng about a t r ai n wi t hout men. Or about men
wi t hout a t r ai n. Ther e' s no r ul e f or cal l i ng out a f ul l cr ew i n t he mi ddl e of
t he ni ght and sendi ng t hemt o hunt f or a t r ai n somewher e.
I ' ve never hear d of i t bef or e, "
" You' r e hear i ng i t now. Don' t you know what you have t o do?"
" Who amI t o know?"
" Do you know t hat your j ob i s t o keep t r ai ns movi ng?"
" My j ob i s t o obey t he r ul es. I f I send out a cr ew when I ' mnot supposed
t o, God onl y knows what ' s goi ng t o happen! What wi t h t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d
and al l t he r egul at i ons t hey' ve got nowadays, who amI t o t ake i t upon
mysel f ?"
" And what ' s goi ng t o happen i f you l eave a t r ai n st al l ed on t he l i ne?"
" That ' s not my f aul t . I had not hi ng t o do wi t h i t . They can' t bl ame me. I
coul dn' t hel p i t . "
" You' r e t o hel p i t now. "
" Nobody t ol d me t o. "
" I ' mt el l i ng you t o! "
" How do I know whet her you' r e supposed t o t el l me or not ? We' r e not
supposed t o f ur ni sh any Taggar t cr ews. You peopl e wer e t o r un wi t h your own
cr ews. That ' s what we wer e t ol d. "
" But t hi s i s an emer gency! "
" Nobody t ol d me anyt hi ng about an emer gency. "
She had t o t ake a f ew seconds t o cont r ol her sel f . She saw Kel l ogg wat chi ng
her wi t h a bi t t er smi l e of amusement .
" Li st en, " she sai d i nt o t he phone, " do you know t hat t he Comet was due at
Br adshaw over t hr ee hour s ago?"
" Oh, sur e. But nobody' s goi ng t o make any t r oubl e about t hat . No t r ai n' s
ever on schedul e t hese days, "
" Then do you i nt end t o l eave us bl ocki ng your t r ack f or ever ?"
" We' ve got not hi ng due t i l l Number 4, t he nor t hbound passenger out of
Laur el , at ei ght t hi r t y- seven A. M. You can wai t t i l l t hen. The day- t r i ck
di spat cher wi l l be on t hen. You can speak t o hi m, "
" You bl ast ed i di ot ! Thi s i s t he Comet ! "
" What ' s t hat t o me? Thi s i sn' t Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . You peopl e expect
a l ot f or your money. You' ve been not hi ng but a headache t o us7 wi t h al l t he
ext r a wor k at no ext r a pay f or t he l i t t l e f el l ows. "
Hi s voi ce was sl i ppi ng i nt o whi ni ng i nsol ence. " You can' t t al k t o me t hat
way. The t i me' s past when you coul d t al k t o peopl e t hat way. "
She had never bel i eved t hat t her e wer e men wi t h whoma cer t ai n met hod,
whi ch she had never used, woul d wor k; such men wer e not hi r ed by Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al and she had never been f or ced t o deal wi t h t hembef or e.
" Do you know who I am?" she asked, i n t he col d, over bear i ng t one of a
per sonal t hr eat .
I t wor ked. " I . . . I guess so, " he answer ed.
" Then l et me t el l you t hat i f you don' t send a cr ew t o me at once, you' l l
be out of a j ob wi t hi n one hour af t er I r each Br adshaw, whi ch I ' l l r each
sooner or l at er . You' d bet t er make i t sooner . "
" Yes, ma' am, " he sai d.
" Cal l out a f ul l passenger t r ai n cr ew and gi ve t hemor der s t o r un us t o
Laur el , wher e we have our own men. "
" Yes, ma' am. He added, " Wi l l you t el l headquar t er s t hat i t was you who
t ol d me t o do i t ?"
" I wi l l . "
" And t hat i t ' s you who' r e r esponsi bl e f or i t ?"
" I am. "
Ther e was a pause, t hen he asked hel pl essl y, " Now how amI goi ng t o cal l
t he men? Most of t hemhaven' t got any phones. "
" Do you have a cal l boy?"
" Yes, but he won' t get her e t i l l mor ni ng. "
" I s t her e anybody i n t he yar ds r i ght now?"
" Ther e' s t he wi per i n t he r oundhouse. "
" Send hi mout t o cal l t he men. "
" Yes, ma' am. Hol d t he l i ne. "
She l eaned agai nst t he si de of t he phone box, t o wai t . Kel l ogg was
smi l i ng.
" And you pr opose t o r un a r ai l r oada t r anscont i nent al r ai l r oad
wi t h t hat ?" he asked.
She shr ugged.
She coul d not keep her eyes of f t he beacon. I t seemed so cl ose, so easi l y
wi t hi n her r each. She f el t as i f t he unconf essed t hought wer e st r uggl i ng
f ur i ousl y agai nst her , spl at t er i ng bi t s of t he st r uggl e al l over her mi nd: A
man abl e t o har ness an unt apped sour ce of ener gy, a man wor ki ng on a mot or t o
make al l ot her mot or s usel ess . . . she coul d be t al ki ng t o hi m, t o hi s ki nd
of br ai n, i n a f ew hour s . . . i n j ust a f ew hour s. . . . What i f t her e was
no need t o hur r y t o hi m? I t was what she want ed t o do. I t was al l she want ed.
. . . Her wor k?
What was her wor k: t o move on t o t he f ul l est , most exact i ng use of her
mi ndor t o spend t he r est of her l i f e doi ng hi s t hi nki ng f or a man unf i t t o
be a ni ght di spat cher ? Why had she chosen t o wor k?
Was i t i n or der t o r emai n wher e she had st ar t edni ght oper at or of Rockdal e
St at i onno, l ower t han t hat she had been bet t er t han t hat di spat cher , even at
Rockdal ewas t hi s t o be t he f i nal sum: an end l ower t han her begi nni ng? . . .
Ther e was no r eason t o hur r y? She was t he r eason. . . . They needed t he
t r ai ns, but t hey di d not need t he mot or ? She needed t he mot or . . . . Her
dut y? To whom?
The di spat cher was gone f or a l ong t i me; when he came back, hi s voi ce
sounded sul ky: " Wel l , t he wi per says he can get t he men al l r i ght , but i t ' s
no use, because how amI goi ng t o send t hemout t o you? We have no engi ne. "
" No engi ne?"
" No. The super i nt endent t ook one t o r un down t o Laur el , and t he ot her ' s i n
t he shops, been t her e f or weeks, and t he swi t ch engi ne j umped a r ai l t hi s
mor ni ng, t hey' l l be wor ki ng on her t i l l t omor r ow af t er noon. "
" What about t he wr ecker ' s engi ne t hat you wer e of f er i ng t o send us?"
" Oh, she' s up nor t h. They had a wr eck t her e yest er day. She hasn' t come
back yet . "
" Have you a Di esel car ?"
" Never had any such t hi ng. Not ar ound her e. "
" Have you a t r ack mot or car ?"
" Yes. We have t hat . "
" Send t hemout on t he t r ack mot or car . "
" Oh . . . Yes, ma' am. "
" Tel l your men t o st op her e, at t r ack phone Number 83, t o pi ck up Mr .
Kel l ogg and mysel f . " She was l ooki ng at t he beacon, " Yes, ma' am. "
" Cal l t he Taggar t t r ai nmast er at Laur el , r epor t t he Comet ' s del ay and
expl ai n t o hi mwhat happened. " She put her hand i nt o her pocket and suddenl y
cl ut ched her f i nger s: she f el t t he package of ci gar et t es. " Say" she asked,
" what ' s t hat beacon, about hal f a mi l e f r omher e?"
" Fr omwher e you ar e? Oh, t hat must be t he emer gency l andi ng f i el d of t he
Fl agshi p Ai r l i nes. "
" I see . . . Wel l , t hat ' s al l . Get your men st ar t ed at once. Tel l t hemt o
pi ck up Mr . Kel l ogg by t r ack phone Number 83. "
" Yes, ma' am. "
She hung up. Kel l ogg was gr i nni ng.
" An ai r f i el d, i sn' t i t ?" he asked.
" Yes. " She st ood l ooki ng at t he beacon, her hand st i l l cl ut chi ng t he
ci gar et t es i n her pocket .
" So t hey' r e goi ng t o pi ck up Mr . Kel l ogg, ar e t hey?"
She whi r l ed t o hi m, r eal i zi ng what deci si on her mi nd had been r eachi ng
wi t hout her consci ous knowl edge. " No, " she sai d, " no, I di dn' t mean t o
abandon you her e. I t ' s onl y t hat I , t oo, have a cr uci al pur pose out West ,
wher e I ought t o hur r y, so I was t hi nki ng of t r yi ng t o cat ch a pl ane, but I
can' t do i t and i t ' s not necessar y. "
" Come on, " he sai d, st ar t i ng i n t he di r ect i on of t he ai r f i el d.
" But I "
" I f t her e' s anyt hi ng you want t o do mor e ur gent l y t han t o nur se t hose
mor onsgo r i ght ahead. "
" Mor e ur gent l y t han anyt hi ng i n t he wor l d, " she whi sper ed.
" I ' l l under t ake t o r emai n i n char ge f or you and t o del i ver t he Comet t o
your man at Laur el . "
" Thank you . . . But i f you' r e hopi ng . . . I ' mnot deser t i ng, you know. "
" I know. "
" Then why ar e you so eager t o hel p me?"
" I j ust want you t o see what i t ' s l i ke t o do somet hi ng you want , f or
once. "
" Ther e' s not much chance t hat t hey' l l have a pl ane at t hat f i el d. "
" Ther e' s a good chance t hat t hey wi l l . "
Ther e wer e t wo pl anes on t he edge of t he ai r f i el d: one, t he hal f char r ed
r emnant of a wr eck, not wor t h sal vagi ng f or scr apt he ot her , a Dwi ght Sander s
monopl ane, br and- new, t he ki nd of shi p t hat men wer e pl eadi ng f or , i n vai n,
al l over t he count r y.
Ther e was one sl eepy at t endant at t he ai r f i el d, young, pudgy and, but f or
a f ai nt smel l of col l ege about hi s vocabul ar y, a br ai n br ot her of t he ni ght
di spat cher of Br adshaw. He knew not hi ng about t he t wo pl anes: t hey had been
t her e when he f i r st t ook t hi s j ob a year ago. He had never i nqui r ed about
t hemand nei t her had anybody el se. I n what ever si l ent cr umbl i ng had gone on
at t he di st ant headquar t er s, i n t he sl ow di ssol ut i on of a gr eat ai r l i ne
company, t he Sander s monopl ane had been f or got t enas asset s of t hi s nat ur e
wer e bei ng f or got t en ever ywher e . . . as t he model of t he mot or had been
f or got t en on a j unk pi l e and, l ef t i n pl ai n si ght , had conveyed not hi ng t o
t he i nher i t or s and t he t aker s- over . . . .
Ther e wer e no r ul es t o t el l t he young at t endant whet her he was expect ed t o
keep t he Sander s pl ane or not . The deci si on was made f or hi mby t he br usque,
conf i dent manner of t he t wo st r anger sby t he cr edent i al s of Mi ss Dagny
Taggar t , Vi ce- Pr esi dent of a r ai l r oad
by br i ef hi nt s about a secr et , emer gency mi ssi on, whi ch sounded l i ke
Washi ngt on t o hi mby t he ment i on of an agr eement wi t h t he ai r l i ne' s t op
of f i ci al s i n New Yor k, whose names he had never hear d bef or eby a check f or
f i f t een t housand dol l ar s, wr i t t en by Mi ss Taggar t , as deposi t agai nst t he
r et ur n of t he Sander s pl aneand by anot her check, f or t wo hundr ed bucks, f or
hi s own, per sonal cour t esy.
He f uel ed t he pl ane, he checked i t as best he coul d, he f ound a map of t he
count r y' s ai r por t sand she saw t hat a l andi ng f i el d on t he out ski r t s of
Af t on, Ut ah, was mar ked as st i l l i n exi st ence. She had been t oo t ensel y,
swi f t l y act i ve t o f eel anyt hi ng, but at t he l ast moment , when t he at t endant
swi t ched on t he f l oodl i ght s, when she was about t o cl i mb aboar d, she paused
t o gl ance at t he empt i ness of t he sky, t hen at Owen Kel l ogg. He st ood, al one
i n t he whi t e gl ar e, hi s f eet pl ant ed f i r ml y apar t , on an i sl and of cement i n
a r i ng of bl i ndi ng l i ght s, wi t h not hi ng beyond t he r i ng but an i r r edeemabl e
ni ght and she wonder ed whi ch one of t hemwas t aki ng t he gr eat er chance and
f aci ng t he mor e desol at e empt i ness, " I n case anyt hi ng happens t o me, " she
sai d, " wi l l you t el l Eddi e Wi l l er s i n my of f i ce t o gi ve J ef f Al i en a j ob, as
I pr omi sed?"
" I wi l l . . . . I s t hi s al l you wi sh t o be done . . . i n case anyt hi ng
happens?"
She consi der ed i t and smi l ed sadl y, i n ast oni shment at t he r eal i zat i on.
" Yes, I guess t hat ' s al l . . . Except , t el l Hank Rear den what happened and
t hat I asked you t o t el l hi m. "
" I wi l l . "
She l i f t ed her head and sai d f i r ml y, " I don' t expect i t t o happen,
however . When you r each Laur el , cal l Wi nst on, Col or ado, and t el l t hemt hat I
wi l l be t her e t omor r ow by noon. "
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . "
She want ed t o ext end her hand i n par t i ng, but i t seemed i nadequat e, and
t hen she r emember ed what he had sai d about t i mes of l onel i ness. She t ook out
t he package and si l ent l y of f er ed hi mone of hi s own ci gar et t es. Hi s smi l e was
a f ul l st at ement of under st andi ng, and t he smal l f l ame of hi s mat ch l i ght i ng
t hei r t wo ci gar et t es was t hei r most endur i ng handshake.
Then she cl i mbed aboar dand t he next span of her consci ousness was not
separ at e moment s and movement s, but t he sweep of a si ngl e mot i on and a si ngl e
uni t of t i me, a pr ogr essi on f or mi ng one ent i t y, l i ke t he not es of a pi ece of
musi c: f r omt he t ouch of her hand on t he st ar t er t o t he bl ast of t he mot or ' s
sound t hat br oke of f , l i ke a mount ai n r ocksl i de, al l cont act wi t h t he t i me
behi nd her t o t he ci r cl i ng f al l of a bl ade t hat vani shed i n a f r agi l e spar kl e
of whi r l i ng ai r t hat cut t he space aheadt o t he st ar t f or t he r unwayt o t he
br i ef pauset hen t o t he f or war d t hr ust t o t he l ong, per i l ous r un, t he r un not
t o be obst r uct ed, t he st r ai ght l i ne r an t hat gat her s power by spendi ng i t on
a har der and har der and ever - accel er at i ng ef f or t , t he st r ai ght l i ne t o a
pur poset o t he moment , unnot i ced. , when t he ear t h dr ops of f and t he l i ne,
unbr oken, goes on i nt o space i n t he si mpl e, nat ur al act of r i si ng.
She saw t he t el egr aph wi r es of t he t r acksi de sl i ppi ng past at t he t i p of
her t oes. The ear t h was f al l i ng downwar d, and she f el t as i f i t s wei ght wer e
dr oppi ng of f her ankl es, as i f t he gl obe woul d go shr i nki ng t o t he si ze of a
bal l , a convi ct ' s bal l she had dr agged and l ost .
Her body swayed, dr unk wi t h t he shock of a di scover y, and her cr af t r ocked
wi t h her body, and i t was t he ear t h bel ow t hat r eel ed wi t h t he r ocki ng of her
cr af t t he di scover y t hat her l i f e was now i n her own hands, t hat t her e was no
necessi t y t o ar gue, t o expl ai n, t o t each, t o pl ead, t o f i ght not hi ng but t o
see and t hi nk and act . Then t he ear t h st eadi ed i nt o a wi de bl ack sheet t hat
gr ew wi der and wi der as she ci r cl ed, r i si ng. When she gl anced down f or t he
l ast t i me, t he l i ght s of t he f i el d wer e ext i ngui shed, t her e was onl y t he
si ngl e beacon l ef t and i t l ooked l i ke t he t i p of Kel l ogg' s ci gar et t e, gl owi ng
as a l ast sal ut e i n t he dar kness.
Then she was l ef t wi t h t he l i ght s on her i nst r ument panel and t he spr ead
of st ar s beyond her f i l mof gl ass. Ther e was not hi ng t o suppor t her but t he
beat of t he engi ne and t he mi nds of t he men who had made t he pl ane. But what
el se suppor t s one anywher e?she t hought .
The l i ne of her cour se went nor t hwest , t o cut a di agonal acr oss t he st at e
of Col or ado. She knew she had chosen t he most danger ous r out e, over t oo l ong
a st r et ch of t he wor st mount ai n bar r i er but i t was t he shor t est l i ne, and
saf et y l ay i n al t i t ude, and no mount ai ns seemed danger ous compar ed t o t he
di spat cher of Br adshaw.
The st ar s wer e l i ke f oamand t he sky seemed f ul l of f l owi ng mot i on, t he
mot i on of bubbl es set t l i ng and f or mi ng, t he f l oat i ng of ci r cul ar waves
wi t hout pr ogr essi on. A spar k of l i ght f l ar ed up on ear t h once i n a whi l e, and
i t seemed br i ght er t han al l t he st at i c bl ue above. But i t hung al one, bet ween
t he bl ack of ashes and t he bl ue of a cr ypt , i t seemed t o f i ght f or i t s
f r agi l e f oot hol d, i t gr eet ed her and went .
The pal e st r eak of a r i ver came r i si ng sl owl y f r omt he voi d, and f or a
l ong st r et ch of t i me i t r emai ned i n si ght , gl i di ng i mper cept i bl y t o meet her .
I t l ooked l i ke a phosphor escent vei n showi ng t hr ough t he ski n of t he ear t h, a
del i cat e vei n wi t hout bl ood.
When she saw t he l i ght s of a t own, l i ke a handf ul of gol d coi ns f l ung upon
t he pr ai r i e, t he br i ght l y vi ol ent l i ght s f ed by an el ect r i c cur r ent , t hey
seemed as di st ant as t he st ar s and now as unat t ai nabl e. The ener gy t hat had
l i ght ed t hemwas gone, t he power t hat cr eat ed power st at i ons i n empt y
pr ai r i es had vani shed, and she knew of no j our ney t o r ecapt ur e i t . Yet t hese
had been her st ar sshe t hought , l ooki ng downt hese had been her goal , her
beacon, t he aspi r at i on dr awi ng her upon her upwar d cour se. That whi ch ot her s
cl ai med t o f eel at t he si ght of t he st ar sst ar s saf el y di st ant by mi l l i ons of
year s and t hus i mposi ng no obl i gat i on t o act , but ser vi ng as t he t i nsel of
f ut i l i t yshe had f el t at t he si ght of el ect r i c bul bs l i ght i ng t he st r eet s of
a t own. I t was t hi s ear t h bel ow t hat had been t he hei ght she had want ed t o
r each, and she wonder ed how she had come t o l ose i t , who had made of i t a
convi ct ' s bal l t o dr ag t hr ough muck, who had t ur ned i t s pr omi se of gr eat ness
i nt o a vi si on never t o be r eached. But t he t own was past , and she had t o l ook
ahead, t o t he mount ai ns of Col or ado r i si ng i n her way.
The smal l gl ass di al on her panel showed t hat she was now cl i mbi ng.
The sound of t he engi ne, beat i ng t hr ough t he met al shel l ar ound her ,
t r embl i ng i n t he wheel agai nst her pal ms, l i ke t he poundi ng of a hear t
st r ai ned t o a sol emn ef f or t , t ol d her of t he power car r yi ng her above t he
peaks. The ear t h was now a cr umpl ed scul pt ur e t hat swayed f r omsi de t o si de,
t he shape of an expl osi on st i l l shoot i ng sudden spur t s t o r each t he pl ane.
She saw t hemas dent ed bl ack cut s r i ppi ng t hr ough t he mi l ky spr ead of st ar s,
st r ai ght i n her pat h and t ear i ng wi der . Her mi nd one wi t h her body and her
body one wi t h t he pl ane, she f ought t he i nvi si bl e suct i on dr awi ng her
downwar d, she f ought t he sudden gust s t hat t i pped t he ear t h as i f she wer e
about t o r ol l of f i nt o t he sky, wi t h hal f of t he mount ai ns r ol l i ng af t er . I t
was l i ke f i ght i ng a f r ozen ocean wher e t he t ouch of a si ngl e spr ay woul d be
f at al .
Ther e wer e st r et ches of r est when t he mount ai ns shr ank down, over val l eys
f i l l ed wi t h f og. Then t he f og r ose hi gher t o swal l ow t he ear t h and she was
l ef t suspended i n space, l ef t mot i onl ess but f or t he sound of t he engi ne.
But she di d not need t o see t he ear t h. The i nst r ument panel was now her
power of si ght ' i t was t he condensed si ght of t he best mi nds abl e t o gui de
her on her way. Thei r condensed si ght , she t hought , of f er ed t o her s and
r equi r i ng onl y t hat she be abl e t o r ead i t . How had t hey been pai d f or i t ,
t hey, t he si ght - gi ver s? Fr omcondensed mi l k t o condensed musi c t o t he
condensed si ght of pr eci si on i nst r ument swhat weal t h had t hey not gi ven t o
t he wor l d and what had t hey r ecei ved i n r et ur n?
Wher e wer e t hey now? Wher e was Dwi ght Sander s? Wher e was t he i nvent or of
her mot or ?
The f og was l i f t i ngand i n a sudden cl ear i ng, she saw a dr op of f i r e on a
spr ead of r ock. I t was not an el ect r i c l i ght , i t was a l onel y f l ame i n t he
dar kness of t he ear t h. She knew wher e she was and she knew t hat f l ame: i t was
Wyat t ' s Tor ch.
She was comi ng cl ose t o her goal . Somewher e behi nd her , i n t he nor t heast ,
st ood t he summi t s pi er ced by t he Taggar t Tunnel . The mount ai ns wer e sl i di ng
i n a l ong descent i nt o t he st eadi er soi l of Ut ah. She l et her pl ane sl i p
cl oser t o t he ear t h.
The st ar s wer e vani shi ng, t he sky was gr owi ng dar ker , but i n t he bank of
cl ouds t o t he east t hi n cr acks wer e begi nni ng t o appear f i r st as t hr eads,
t hen f ai nt spot s of r ef l ect i on, t hen st r ai ght bands t hat wer e not yet pi nk,
but no l onger bl ue, t he col or of a f ut ur e l i ght , t he f i r st hi nt s of t he
comi ng sunr i se. They kept appear i ng and vani shi ng, sl owl y gr owi ng cl ear er ,
l eavi ng t he sky dar ker , t hen br eaki ng i t wi der apar t , l i ke a pr omi se
st r uggl i ng t o be f ul f i l l ed. She hear d a pi ece of musi c beat i ng i n her mi nd,
one she sel doml i ked t o r ecal l : not Hal l ey' s Fi f t h Concer t o, but hi s Four t h,
t he cr y of a t or t ur ed st r uggl e, wi t h t he chor ds of i t s t heme br eaki ng
t hr ough, l i ke a di st ant vi si on t o be r eached.
She saw t he Af t on ai r por t f r omacr oss a span of mi l es, f i r st as a squar e
of spar ks, t hen as a sunbur st of whi t e r ays. I t was l i ght ed f or a pl ane about
t o t ake of f , and she had t o wai t f or her l andi ng. Ci r cl i ng i n t he out er
dar kness above t he f i el d, she saw t he si l ver body of a pl ane r i si ng l i ke a
phoeni x out of t he whi t e f i r e andi n a st r ai ght l i ne, al most l eavi ng an
i nst ant ' s t r ai l of l i ght t o hang i n space behi nd i t goi ng of f t owar d t he
east .
Then she swept down i n i t s st ead, t o di ve i nt o t he l umi nous f unnel of
beamsshe saw a st r i p of cement f l yi ng at her f ace, she f el t t he j ol t of t he
wheel s st oppi ng i t i n t i me, t hen t he st r eak of her mot i on ebbi ng out and t he
pl ane bei ng t amed t o t he saf et y of a car , as i t t axi ed smoot hl y of f t he
r unway.
I t was a smal l pr i vat e ai r f i el d, ser vi ng t he meager t r af f i c of a f ew
i ndust r i al concer ns st i l l r emai ni ng i n Af t on, She saw a l one at t endant
hur r yi ng t o meet her . She l eaped down t o t he gr ound t he moment t he pl ane
st ood st i l l , t he hour s of t he f l i ght swept f r omher mi nd by t he i mpat i ence
over t he st r et ch of a f ew mor e mi nut es.
" Can I get a car somewher e t o dr i ve me t o t he I nst i t ut e of Technol ogy at
once?" she asked.
The at t endant l ooked at her , puzzl ed. " Why, yes, I guess so, ma' am.
But . . . but what f or ? Ther e' s nobody t her e. "
" Mr . Quent i n Dani el s i s t her e. "
The at t endant shook hi s head sl owl yt hen j er ked hi s t humb, poi nt i ng east
t o t he shr i nki ng t ai l l i ght s of t he pl ane. " Ther e' s Mr . Dani el s goi ng now. "
" What ?"
" He j ust l ef t . "
" Lef t ? Why?"
" He went wi t h t he man who f l ew i n f or hi mt wo- t hr ee hour s ago. "
" What man?"
" Don' t know, never saw hi mbef or e, but , boy! he' s got a beaut y of a shi p! "
She was back at t he wheel , she was speedi ng down t he r unway, she was
r i si ng i nt o t he ai r , her pl ane l i ke a bul l et ai med at t wo spar ks of r ed and
gr een l i ght t hat wer e t wi nkl i ng away i nt o t he east er n skywhi l e she was st i l l
r epeat i ng, " Oh no, t hey don' t ! They don' t ! They don' t !
They don' t ! "
Once and f or al l she t hought , cl ut chi ng t he wheel as i f i t wer e t he enemy
not t o be r el i nqui shed, her wor ds l i ke separ at e expl osi ons wi t h a t r ai l of
f i r e i n her mi nd t o l i nk t hemonce and f or al l . . . t o meet t he dest r oyer
f ace t o f ace . . . t o l ear n who he i s and wher e he goes t o vani sh . . . not
t he mot or . . . he i s not t o car r y t he mot or away i nt o t he dar kness of hi s
monst r ousl y cl osed unknown . . . he i s not t o escape, t hi s t i me. . . .
A band of l i ght was r i si ng i n t he east and i t seemed t o come f r omt he
ear t h, as a br eat h l ong- hel d and r el eased. I n t he deep bl ue above i t , t he
st r anger ' s pl ane was a si ngl e spar k changi ng col or and f l ashi ng f r omsi de t o
si de, l i ke t he t i p of a pendul umswi ngi ng i n t he dar kness, beat i ng t i me.
The cur ve of di st ance made t he spar k dr op cl oser t o t he ear t h, and she
pushed her t hr ot t l e wi de open, not t o l et t he spar k out of her si ght , not t o
l et i t t ouch t he hor i zon and vani sh. The l i ght was f l owi ng i nt o t he sky, as
i f dr awn f r omt he ear t h by t he st r anger ' s pl ane. The pl ane was headed
sout heast , and she was f ol l owi ng i t i nt o t he comi ng sunr i se.
Fr omt he t r anspar ent gr een of i ce, t he sky mel t ed i nt o pal e gol d, and t he
gol d spr ead i nt o a l ake under a f r agi l e f i l mof pi nk gl ass, t he col or of t hat
f or got t en mor ni ng whi ch was t he f i r st she had seen on ear t h. The cl ouds wer e
dr oppi ng away i n l ong shr eds of smoky bl ue. She kept her eyes on t he
st r anger ' s pl ane, as i f her gl ance wer e a t owl i ne pul l i ng her shi p. The
st r anger ' s pl ane was now a smal l bl ack cr oss, l i ke a shr i nki ng check mar k on
t he gl owi ng sky.
Then she not i ced t hat t he cl ouds wer e not dr oppi ng, t hat t hey st ood
congeal ed on t he edge of t he ear t hand she r eal i zed t hat t he pl ane was headed
t owar d t he mount ai ns of Col or ado, t hat t he st r uggl e agai nst t he i nvi si bl e
st or ml ay ahead f or her once mor e. She not ed i t wi t hout emot i on; she di d not
wonder whet her her shi p or her body had t he power t o at t empt i t agai n. So
l ong as she was abl e t o move, she woul d move t o f ol l ow t he speck t hat was
f l eei ng away wi t h t he l ast of her wor l d. She f el t not hi ng but t he empt i ness
l ef t by a f i r e t hat had been hat r ed and anger and t he desper at e i mpul se of a
f i ght t o t he ki l l ; t hese had f used i nt o a si ngl e i cy st r eak, t he si ngl e
r esol ve t o f ol l ow t he st r anger , whoever he was, wher ever he t ook her , t o
f ol l ow and . . . she added not hi ng i n her mi nd, but , unst at ed, what l ay at
t he bot t omof t he empt i ness was: and gi ve her l i f e, i f she coul d t ake hi s
f i r st .
Li ke an i nst r ument set t o aut omat i c cont r ol , her body was per f or mi ng t he
mot i ons of dr i vi ng t he pl anewi t h t he mount ai ns r eel i ng i n a bl ui sh f og bel ow
and t he dent ed peaks r i si ng i n her pat h as smoky f or mat i ons of a deadl i er
bl ue. She not i ced t hat t he di st ance t o t he st r anger ' s pl ane had shr unk: he
had checked hi s speed f or t he danger ous cr ossi ng, whi l e she had gone on,
unconsci ous of t he danger , wi t h onl y t he muscl es of her ar ms and l egs
f i ght i ng t o keep her pl ane al of t . A br i ef , t i ght movement of her l i ps was as
cl ose as she coul d come t o a smi l e: i t was he who was f l yi ng her pl ane f or
her , she t hought ; he had gi ven her t he power t o f ol l ow hi mwi t h a
somnambul i st ' s uner r i ng ski l l .
As i f r espondi ng of i t sel f t o hi s cont r ol , t he needl e of her al t i met er was
sl owl y movi ng upwar d. She was r i si ng and she went on r i si ng and she wonder ed
when her br eat h and her pr opel l er woul d f ai l .
He was goi ng sout heast , t owar d t he hi ghest mount ai ns t hat obst r uct ed t he
pat h of t he sun.
I t was hi s pl ane t hat was st r uck by t he f i r st sunr ay. I t f l ashed f or an
i nst ant , l i ke a bur st of whi t e f i r e, sendi ng r ays t o shoot f r omi t s wi ngs.
The peaks of t he mount ai ns came next : she saw t he sunl i ght r eachi ng t he
snow i n t he cr evi ces, t hen t r i ckl i ng down t he gr ani t e si des; i t cut vi ol ent
shadows on t he l edges and br ought t he mount ai ns i nt o t he J i vi ng f i nal i t y of a
f or m.
They wer e f l yi ng over t he wi l dest st r et ch of Col or ado, uni nhabi t ed,
uni nhabi t abl e, i naccessi bl e t o men on f oot or pl ane. No l andi ng was possi bl e
wi t hi n a r adi us of a hundr ed mi l es; she gl anced at her f uel gauge: she had
one hal f - hour l ef t . The st r anger was headi ng st r ai ght t owar d anot her , hi gher
r ange. She wonder ed why he chose a cour se no ai r r out e di d or ever woul d
t r avel . She wi shed t hi s r ange wer e behi nd her ; i t was t he l ast ef f or t she
coul d hope t o make.
The st r anger ' s pl ane was suddenl y sl acki ng i t s speed. He was l osi ng
al t i t ude j ust when she had expect ed hi mt o cl i mb. The gr ani t e bar r i er was
r i si ng I n hi s pat h, movi ng t o meet hi m, r eachi ng f or hi s wi ngsbut t he l ong,
smoot h l i ne of hi s mot i on was sl i di ng down. She coul d det ect no br eak, no
j ol t , no si gn of mechani cal f ai l ur e; i t l ooked l i ke t he even movement of a
cont r ol l ed i nt ent i on. Wi t h a sudden f l ash of sunl i ght on i t s wi ngs, t he pl ane
banked i nt o a l ong cur ve, r ays dr i ppi ng l i ke wat er f r omi t s bodyt hen went
i nt o t he br oad, smoot h ci r cl es of a spi r al , as i f ci r cl i ng f or a l andi ng
wher e no l andi ng was concei vabl e.
She wat ched, not t r yi ng t o expl ai n i t , not bel i evi ng what she saw, wai t i ng
f or t he upwar d t hr ust t hat woul d t hr ow hi mback on hi s cour se. But t he easy,
gl i di ng ci r cl es went on dr oppi ng, t owar d a gr ound she coul d not see and dar ed
not t hi nk of . . . Li ke r emnant s of br oken j aws, st r i ngs of gr ani t e dent ur es
st ood bet ween her shi p and hi s; she coul d not t el l what l ay at t he bot t omof
hi s spi r al mot i on.
She knew onl y t hat i t di d not l ook l i ke, but was cer t ai n t o be, t he mot i on
of a sui ci de.
She saw t he sunl i ght gl i t t er on hi s wi ngs f or an i nst ant . Then, l i ke t he
body of a man di vi ng chest - f i r st and ar ms out st r et ched, ser enel y abandoned t o
t he sweep of t he f al l , t he pl ane went down and vani shed behi nd t he r i dges of
r ock.
She f l ew on, al most wai t i ng f or i t t o r eappear , unabl e t o bel i eve t hat she
had wi t nessed a hor r i bl e cat ast r ophe t aki ng pl ace so si mpl y and qui et l y. She
f l ew on t o wher e t he pl ane had dr opped. I t seemed t o be a val l ey i n a r i ng of
gr ani t e wal l s.
She r eached t he val l ey and l ooked down. Ther e was no possi bl e pl ace f or a
l andi ng. Ther e was no si gn of a pl ane.
The bot t omof t he val l ey l ooked l i ke a st r et ch of t he ear t h' s cr ust
mangl ed i n t he days when t he ear t h was cool i ng, l ef t i r r et r i evabl e ever
si nce. I t was a st r et ch of r ocks gr ound agai nst one anot her , wi t h boul der s
hangi ng i n pr ecar i ous f or mat i ons, wi t h l ong, dar k cr evi ces and a f ew
cont or t ed pi ne t r ees gr owi ng hal f - hor i zont al l y i nt o t he ai r .
Ther e was no l evel pi ece of soi l t he si ze of a handker chi ef . Ther e was no
pl ace f or a pl ane t o hi de. Ther e was no r emnant of a pl ane' s wr eck.
She banked shar pl y, ci r cl i ng above t he val l ey, dr oppi ng down a l i t t l e. By
some t r i ck of l i ght , whi ch she coul d not expl ai n, t he f l oor of t he val l ey
seemed mor e cl ear l y vi si bl e t han t he r est of t he ear t h.
She coul d di st i ngui sh i t wel l enough t o, know t hat t he pl ane was not
t her e; yet t hi s was not possi bl e.
She ci r cl ed, dr oppi ng down f ar t her . She gl anced ar ound her and f or one
f r i ght eni ng moment , she t hought t hat i t was a qui et summer mor ni ng, t hat she
was al one, l ost i n a r egi on of t he Rocky Mount ai ns whi ch no pl ane shoul d ever
vent ur e t o appr oach, and, wi t h t he l ast of her f uel bur ni ng away, she was
l ooki ng f or a pl ane t hat had never exi st ed, i n quest of a dest r oyer who had
vani shed as he al ways vani shed; per haps i t was onl y hi s vi si on t hat had l ed
her her e t o be dest r oyed. I n t he next moment , she shook her head, pr essed her
mout h t i ght er and dr opped f ar t her .
She t hought t hat she coul d not abandon an i ncal cul abl e weal t h such as t he
br ai n of Quent i n Dani el s on one of t hose r ocks bel ow, i f he was st i l l al i ve
and wi t hi n her r each t o hel p. She had dr opped i nsi de t he ci r cl e of t he
val l ey' s wal l s. I t was a danger ous j ob of f l yi ng, t he space was much t oo
t i ght , but she went on ci r cl i ng and dr oppi ng l ower , her l i f e hangi ng on her
eyesi ght , and her eyesi ght f l ashi ng bet ween t wo t asks: sear chi ng t he f l oor of
t he val l ey and wat chi ng t he gr ani t e wal l s t hat seemed about t o r i p her wi ngs.
She knew t he danger onl y as par t of t he j ob. I t had no per sonal meani ng
any l onger . The savage t hi ng she f el t was al most enj oyment . I t was t he l ast
r age of a l ost bat t l e. No! she was cr yi ng i n her mi nd, cr yi ng i t t o t he
dest r oyer , t o t he wor l d she had l ef t , t o t he year s behi nd her , t o t he l ong
pr ogr essi on of def eat No! . . . No!
. . . No! . . .
Her eyes swept past t he i nst r ument panel and t hen she sat st i l l but f or
t he sound of a gasp. Her al t i met er had st ood at 11, 000 f eet t he l ast t i me she
r emember ed seei ng i t . Now i t st ood at 10, 000. But t he f l oor of t he val l ey had
not changed. I t had come no cl oser . I t r emai ned as di st ant as at her f i r st
gl ance down.
She knew t hat t he f i gur e 8, 000 meant t he l evel of t he gr ound i n t hi s par t
of Col or ado. She had not not i ced t he l engt h of her descent .
She had not not i ced t hat t he gr ound, whi ch had seemed t oo cl ear and t oo
cl ose f r omt he hei ght , was now t oo di mand t oo f ar . She was l ooki ng at t he
same r ocks f r omt he same per spect i ve, t hey had gr own no l ar ger , t hei r shadows
had not moved, and t he oddl y unnat ur al l i ght st i l l hung over t he bot t omof
t he val l ey.
She t hought t hat her al t i met er was of f , and she went on ci r cl i ng downwar d.
She saw t he needl e of her di al movi ng down; , she saw t he wal l s of gr ani t e
movi ng up, she saw t he r i ng of mount ai ns gr owi ng hi gher , i t s peaks comi ng
cl oser t oget her i n t he skybut t he f l oor of t he val l ey r emai ned unchanged, as
i f she wer e dr oppi ng down a wel l wi t h a bot t omnever t o be r eached. The
needl e moved t o 9, 500
t o 9, 300t o 9, 000t o 8, 700.
The f l ash of l i ght t hat hi t her had no sour ce. I t was as i f t he ai r wi t hi n
and beyond t he pl ane became an expl osi on of bl i ndi ng col d f i r e, sudden and
soundl ess. The shock t hr ew her back, her hands of f t he wheel and over her
eyes. I n t he br eak of an i nst ant , when she sei zed t he wheel agai n, t he l i ght
was gone, but her shi p was spi nni ng.
her ear s wer e bur st i ng wi t h si l ence and her pr opel l er st ood st i f f l y
st r ai ght bef or e her : her mot or was dead.
She t r i ed t o pul l f or a r i se, but t he shi p was goi ng downand what she saw
f l yi ng at her f ace was not t he spr ead of mangl ed boul der s, but t he gr een
gr ass of a f i el d wher e no f i el d had been bef or e.
Ther e was no t i me t o see t he r est . Ther e was no t i me t o t hi nk of
expl anat i ons. Ther e was no t i me t o come out of t he spi n. The ear t h was a
gr een cei l i ng comi ng down upon her , a f ew hundr ed swi f t l y shr i nki ng f eet
away.
Fl ung f r omsi de t o si de, l i ke a bat t er ed pendul um, cl i ngi ng t o t he wheel ,
hal f i n her seat , hal f on her knees, she f ought t o pul l t he shi p i nt o a
gl i de, f or an at t empt t o make a bel l y- l andi ng, whi l e t he gr een gr ound was
whi r l i ng about her , sweepi ng above her , t hen bel ow, i t s spi r al coi l s comi ng
cl oser . Her ar ms pul l i ng at t he wheel , wi t h no chance t o know whet her she
coul d succeed, wi t h her space and t i me r unni ng out she f el t , i n a f l ash of
i t s f ul l , vi ol ent pur i t y, t hat speci al sense of exi st ence whi ch had al ways
been her s. I n a moment ' s consecr at i on t o her l ovet o her r ebel l i ous deni al of
di sast er , t o her l ove of l i f e and of t he mat chl ess val ue t hat was her sel f she
f el t t he f i er cel y pr oud cer t ai nt y t hat she woul d sur vi ve.
And i n answer t o t he ear t h t hat f l ew t o meet her , she hear d i n her mi nd,
as her mocker y at f at e, as her cr y of def i ance, t he wor ds of t he sent ence she
hat edt he wor ds of def eat , of despai r and of a pl ea f or hel p: " Oh hel l ! Who
i s J ohn Gal t ?"

PART III

A is A

CHAPTER I
ATLANTIS

When she opened her eyes, she saw sunl i ght , gr een l eaves and a man' s f ace.
She t hought : I know what t hi s i s. Thi s was t he wor l d as she had expect ed t o
see i t at si xt eenand now she had r eached i t and i t seemed so si mpl e, so
unast oni shi ng, t hat t he t hi ng she f el t was l i ke a bl essi ng pr onounced upon
t he uni ver se by means of t hr ee wor ds: But of cour se.
She was l ooki ng up at t he f ace of a man who knel t by her si de, and she
knew t hat i n al l t he year s behi nd her , t hi s was what she woul d have gi ven her
l i f e t o see: a f ace t hat bor e no mar k of pai n or f ear or gui l t . The shape of
hi s mout h was pr i de, and mor e: i t was as i f he t ook pr i de i n bei ng pr oud. The
angul ar pl anes of hi s cheeks made her t hi nk of ar r ogance, of t ensi on, of
scor nyet t he f ace had none of t hese qual i t i es, i t had t hei r f i nal sum: a
l ook of ser ene det er mi nat i on and of cer t ai nt y, and t he l ook of a r ut hl ess
i nnocence whi ch woul d not seek f or gi veness or gr ant i t . I t was a f ace t hat
had not hi ng t o hi de or t o escape, a f ace wi t h no f ear of bei ng seen, or of
seei ng, so t hat t he f i r st t hi ng she gr asped about hi mwas t he i nt ense
per cept i veness of hi s eyeshe l ooked as i f hi s f acul t y of si ght wer e hi s
best - l oved t ool and i t s exer ci se wer e a l i mi t l ess, j oyous advent ur e, as i f
hi s eyes i mpar t ed a super l at i ve val ue t o hi msel f and t o t he wor l dt o hi msel f
f or hi s abi l i t y t o see, t o t he wor l d f or bei ng a pl ace so eager l y wor t h
seei ng. I t seemed t o her f or a moment t hat she was i n t he pr esence of a bei ng
who was pur e consci ousnessyet she had never been so awar e of a man' s body.
The l i ght cl ot h of hi s shi r t seemed t o st r ess, r at her t han hi de, t he
st r uct ur e of hi s f i gur e, hi s ski n was sunt anned, hi s body had t he har dness,
t he gaunt , t ensi l e st r engt h, t he cl ean pr eci si on of a f oundr y cast i ng, he
l ooked as i f he wer e pour ed out of met al , but some di mmed, sof t - l ust er ed
met al , l i ke an al umi num- copper al l oy, t he col or of hi s ski n bl endi ng wi t h t he
chest nut - br own of hi s hai r , t he l oose st r ands of t he hai r shadi ng f r ombr own
t o gol d i n t he sun, and hi s eyes compl et i ng t he col or s, as t he one par t of
t he cast i ng l ef t undi mmed and har shl y l ust r ous: hi s eyes wer e t he deep, dar k
gr een of l i ght gl i nt i ng on met al .
He was l ooki ng down at her wi t h t he f ai nt t r ace of a smi l e, i t was not a
l ook of di scover y, but of f ami l i ar cont empl at i onas i f he, t oo, wer e seei ng
t he l ong- expect ed and t he never - doubt ed.
Thi s was her wor l d, she t hought , t hi s was t he way men wer e meant t o be and
t o f ace t hei r exi st enceand al l t he r est of i t , al l t he year s of ugl i ness and
st r uggl e wer e onl y someone' s sensel ess j oke. She smi l ed at hi m, as at a
f el l ow conspi r at or , i n r el i ef , i n del i ver ance, i n r adi ant mocker y of al l t he
t hi ngs she woul d never have t o consi der i mpor t ant agai n. He smi l ed i n answer ,
i t was t he same smi l e as her own, as i f he f el t what she f el t and knew what
she meant .
" We never had t o t ake any of i t ser i ousl y, di d we?" she whi sper ed.
" No, we never had t o. "
And t hen, her consci ousness r et ur ni ng f ul l y, she r eal i zed t hat t hi s man
was a t ot al st r anger .
She t r i ed t o dr aw away f r omhi m, but i t was onl y a f ai nt movement of her
head on t he gr ass she f el t under her hai r . She t r i ed t o r i se.
A shot of pai n acr oss her back t hr ew her down agai n.
" Don' t move, Mi ss Taggar t . You' r e hur t . "
" You know me?" Her voi ce was i mper sonal and har d.
" I ' ve known you f or many year s. "
" Have I known you?"
" Yes, I t hi nk so. "
" What i s your name?"
" J ohn Gal t . "
She l ooked at hi m, not movi ng.
" Why ar e you f r i ght ened?" he asked.
" Because I bel i eve i t . "
He smi l ed, as i f gr aspi ng a f ul l conf essi on of t he meani ng she at t ached t o
hi s name; t he smi l e hel d an adver sar y' s accept ance of a chal l engeand an
adul t ' s amusement at t he sel f - decept i on of a chi l d.
She f el t as i f she wer e r et ur ni ng t o consci ousness af t er a cr ash t hat had
shat t er ed mor e t han an ai r pl ane. She coul d not r eassembl e t he pi eces now, she
coul d not r ecal l t he t hi ngs she had known about hi s name, she knew onl y t hat
i t st ood f or a dar k vacuumwhi ch she woul d sl owl y have t o f i l l . She coul d not
do i t now, t hi s man was t oo bl i ndi ng a pr esence, l i ke a spot l i ght t hat woul d
not l et her see t he shapes st r ewn hi t he out er dar kness.
" Was i t you t hat I was f ol l owi ng?" she asked.
" Yes. "
She gl anced sl owl y ar ound her . She was l yi ng i n t he gr ass of a f i el d at
t he f oot of a gr ani t e dr op t hat came down f r omt housands of f eet away i n t he
bl ue sky. On t he ot her edge of t he f i el d, some cr ags and pi nes and t he
gl i t t er i ng l eaves of bi r ch t r ees hi d t he space t hat st r et ched t o a di st ant
wal l of enci r cl i ng mount ai ns. Her pl ane was not shat t er ed
i t was t her e, a f ew f eet away, f l at on i t s bel l y i n t he gr ass. Ther e was
no ot her pl ane i n si ght , no st r uct ur es, no si gn of human habi t at i on.
" What i s t hi s val l ey?" she asked.
He smi l ed, " The Taggar t Ter mi nal . "
" What do you mean?"
" You' l l f i nd out . "
A di mi mpul se, l i ke t he r ecoi l of an ant agoni st , made her want t o check on
what st r engt h was l ef t t o her . She coul d move her ar ms and l egs; she coul d
l i f t her head; she f el t a st abbi ng pai n when she br eat hed deepl y; she saw a
t hi n t hr ead of bl ood r unni ng down her st ocki ng.
" Can one get out of t hi s pl ace?" she asked.
Hi s voi ce seemed ear nest , but t he gl i nt of t he met al - gr een eyes was a
smi l e: " Act ual l yno. Tempor ar i l yyes. "
She made a movement t o r i se. He bent t o l i f t her , but she gat her ed her
st r engt h i n a swi f t , sudden j ol t and sl i pped out of hi s gr asp, st r uggl i ng t o
st and up. " I t hi nk I can" she st ar t ed sayi ng, and col l apsed agai nst hi mt he
i nst ant her f eet r est ed on t he gr ound, a st ab of pai n shoot i ng up f r oman
ankl e t hat woul d not hol d her .
He l i f t ed her i n hi s ar ms and smi l ed. " No, you can' t , Mi ss Taggar t , "
he sai d, and st ar t ed of f acr oss t he f i el d.
She l ay st i l l , her ar ms about hi m, her head on hi s shoul der , and she
t hought : For j ust a f ew moment swhi l e t hi s l ast si t i s al l r i ght t o sur r ender
compl et el yt o f or get ever yt hi ng and j ust per mi t your sel f t o f eel . . . . When
had she exper i enced i t bef or e?she wonder ed; t her e had been a moment when
t hese had been t he wor ds i n her mi nd, but she coul d not r emember i t now. She
had known i t , oncet hi s f eel i ng of cer t ai nt y, of t he f i nal , t he r eached, t he
not - t o- be- quest i oned. But i t was new t o f eel pr ot ect ed, and t o f eel t hat i t
was r i ght t o accept t he pr ot ect i on, t o sur r ender r i ght , because t hi s pecul i ar
sense of saf et y was not pr ot ect i on agai nst t he f ut ur e, but agai nst t he past ,
not t he pr ot ect i on of bei ng spar ed f r ombat t l e, but of havi ng won i t , not a
pr ot ect i on gr ant ed t o her weakness, but t o her st r engt h. . . . Awar e wi t h
abnor mal i nt ensi t y of t he pr essur e of hi s hands agai nst her body, of t he gol d
and copper t hr eads of hi s hai r , t he shadows of hi s l ashes on t he ski n of hi s
f ace a f ew i nches away f r omher s, she wonder ed di ml y: Pr ot ect ed, f r omwhat ? .
. . i t ' s he who was t he enemy . . . was he?
. . . why? . . . She di d not know, she coul d not t hi nk of i t now. I t t ook
an ef f or t t o r emember t hat she had had a goal and a mot i ve a f ew hour s ago.
She f or ced her sel f t o r ecapt ur e i t .
" Di d you know t hat I was f ol l owi ng you?" she asked.
" No. "
" Wher e i s your pl ane?"
" At t he l andi ng f i el d. "
" Wher e i s t he l andi ng f i el d?"
" On t he ot her si de of t he val l ey. "
" Ther e was no l andi ng f i el d i n t hi s val l ey, when I l ooked down, Ther e was
no meadow, ei t her . How di d i t get her e?"
He gl anced at t he sky. " Look car ef ul l y. Do you see anyt hi ng up t her e?"
She dr opped her head back, l ooki ng st r ai ght i nt o t he sky, seei ng not hi ng
but t he peacef ul bl ue of mor ni ng. Af t er a whi l e she di st i ngui shed a f ew f ai nt
st r i ps of shi mmer i ng ai r .
" Heat waves, " she sai d.
" Ref r act or r ays, " he answer ed. " The val l ey bot t omt hat you saw i s a
mount ai n t op ei ght t housand f eet hi gh, f i ve mi l es away f r omher e. "
" A . . . what ?"
" A mount ai n t op t hat no f l yer woul d ever choose f or a l andi ng.
What you saw was i t s r ef l ect i on pr oj ect ed over t hi s val l ey. "
" How?"
" By t he same met hod as a mi r age on a deser t : an i mage r ef r act ed f r oma
l ayer of heat ed ai r . "
" How?"
" By a scr een of r ays cal cul at ed agai nst ever yt hi ngexcept a cour age such
as your s. "
" What do you mean?"
" I never t hought t hat any pl ane woul d at t empt t o dr op wi t hi n seven hundr ed
f eet of t he gr ound. You hi t t he r ay scr een. Some of t he r ays ar e t he ki nd
t hat ki l l magnet i c mot or s. Wel l , t hat ' s t he second t i me you beat me: I ' ve
never been f ol l owed, ei t her , "
" Why do you keep t hat scr een?"
" Because t hi s pl ace i s pr i vat e pr oper t y i nt ended t o r emai n as such. "
" What i s t hi s pl ace?"
" I ' l l show i t t o you, now t hat you' r e her e, Mi ss Taggar t . I ' l l answer
quest i ons af t er you' ve seen i t . "
She r emai ned si l ent . She not i ced t hat she had asked quest i ons about ever y
subj ect , but not about hi m. I t was as i f he wer e a si ngl e whol e, gr asped by
her f i r st gl ance at hi m, l i ke some i r r educi bl e absol ut e, l i ke an axi omnot t o
be expl ai ned any f ur t her , as i f she knew ever yt hi ng about hi mby di r ect
per cept i on, and what awai t ed her now was onl y t he pr ocess of i dent i f yi ng her
knowl edge.
He was car r yi ng her down a nar r ow t r ai l t hat went wi ndi ng t o t he bot t omof
t he val l ey. On t he sl opes ar ound t hem, t he t al l , dar k pyr ami ds of f i r s st ood
i mmovabl y st r ai ght , i n mascul i ne si mpl i ci t y, l i ke scul pt ur e r educed t o an
essent i al f or m, and t hey cl ashed wi t h t he compl ex, f emi ni ne, over det ai l ed
l ace- wor k of t he bi r ch l eaves t r embl i ng i n t he sun.
The l eaves l et t he sunr ays f al l t hr ough t o sweep acr oss hi s hai r , acr oss
bot h t hei r f aces. She coul d not see what l ay bel ow, beyond t he t ur ns of t he
t r ai l .
Her eyes kept comi ng back t o hi s f ace. He gl anced down at her once i n a
whi l e. At f i r st , she l ooked away, as i f she had been caught .
Then, as i f l ear ni ng i t f r omhi m, she hel d hi s gl ance whenever he chose t o
l ook downknowi ng t hat he knew what she f el t and t hat he di d not hi de f r om
her t he meani ng of hi s gl ance.
She knew t hat hi s si l ence was t he same conf essi on as her own. He di d not
hol d her i n t he i mper sonal manner of a man car r yi ng a wounded woman. I t was
an embr ace, even t hough she f el t no suggest i on of i t i n hi s bear i ng; she f el t
i t onl y by means of her cer t ai nt y t hat hi s whol e body was awar e of hol di ng
her s.
She hear d t he sound of t he wat er f al l bef or e she saw t he f r agi l e t hr ead
t hat f el l i n br oken st r i ps of gl i t t er down t he l edges. The sound came t hr ough
some di mbeat i n her mi nd, some f ai nt r hyt hmt hat seemed no l ouder t han a
st r uggl i ng memor ybut t hey went past and t he beat r emai ned; she l i st ened t o
t he sound of t he wat er , but anot her sound seemed t o gr ow cl ear er , r i si ng, not
i n her mi nd, but f r omsomewher e among t he l eaves. The t r ai l t ur ned, and i n a
sudden cl ear i ng she saw a smal l house on a l edge bel ow, wi t h a f l ash of sun
on t he pane of an open wi ndow. I n t he moment when she knew what exper i ence
had once made her want t o sur r ender t o t he i mmedi at e pr esent i t had been t he
ni ght i n a dust y coach of t he Comet , when she had hear d t he. t heme of
Hal l ey' s Fi f t h Concer t o f or t he f i r st t i meshe knew t hat she was hear i ng i t
now, hear i ng i t r i se f r omt he keyboar d of a pi ano, i n t he cl ear , shar p chor ds
of someone' s power f ul , conf i dent t ouch.
She snapped t he quest i on at hi s f ace, as i f hopi ng t o cat ch hi m
unpr epar ed: " That ' s t he Fi f t h Concer t o by Ri char d Hal l ey, i sn' t i t ?"
" Yes. "
" When di d he wr i t e i t ?"
" Why don' t you ask hi mt hat i n per son?"
" I s he her e?"
" I t ' s he who' s pl ayi ng i t . That ' s hi s house. "
" Oh . . . ! "
" You' l l meet hi m, l at er . He' l l be gl ad t o speak t o you. He knows t hat hi s
wor ks ar e t he onl y r ecor ds you l i ke t o pl ay, i n t he eveni ng, when you ar e
al one. "
" How does he know t hat ?"
" I t ol d hi m. "
The l ook on her f ace was l i ke a quest i on t hat woul d have begun wi t h " How
i n hel l . . . ?" but she saw t he l ook of hi s eyes, and she l aughed, her
l aught er gi vi ng sound t o t he meani ng of hi s gl ance.
She coul d not quest i on anyt hi ng, she t hought , she coul d not doubt , not
nownot wi t h t he sound of t hat musi c r i si ng t r i umphant l y t hr ough t he sun-
dr enched l eaves, t he musi c of r el ease, of del i ver ance, pl ayed as i t was
i nt ended t o be pl ayed, as her mi nd had st r uggl ed t o hear i t i n a r ocki ng
coach t hr ough t he beat of wounded wheel si t was t hi s t hat her mi nd had seen
i n t he sounds, t hat ni ght t hi s val l ey and t he mor ni ng sun and
And t hen she gasped, because t he t r ai l had t ur ned and f r omt he hei ght of
an open l edge she saw t he t own on t he f l oor of t he val l ey.
I t was not a t own, onl y a cl ust er of houses scat t er ed at r andomf r omt he
bot t omt o t he r i si ng st eps of t he mount ai ns t hat went on r i si ng above t hei r
r oof s, encl osi ng t hemwi t hi n an abr upt , i mpassabl e ci r cl e.
They wer e homes, smal l and new, wi t h naked, angul ar shapes and t he gl i t t er
of br oad wi ndows. Far i n t he di st ance, some st r uct ur es seemed t al l er , and t he
f ai nt coi l s of smoke above t hemsuggest ed an i ndust r i al di st r i ct . But cl ose
bef or e her , r i si ng on a sl ender gr ani t e col umn f r oma l edge bel ow t o t he
l evel of her eyes, bl i ndi ng her by i t s gl ar e, di mmi ng t he r est , st ood a
dol l ar si gn t hr ee f eet t al l , made of sol i d gol d. I t hung i n space above t he
t own, as i t s coat - of - ar ms, i t s t r ademar k, i t s beacon
and i t caught t he sunr ays, l i ke some t r ansmi t t er of ener gy t hat sent t hem
i n shi ni ng bl essi ng t o st r et ch hor i zont al l y t hr ough t he ai r above t he r oof s,
" What ' s t hat ?" she gasped, poi nt i ng at t he si gn.
" Oh, t hat ' s Fr anci sco' s pr i vat e j oke. "
" Fr anci scowho?" she whi sper ed, knowi ng t he answer .
" Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. "
" I s he her e, t oo?"
" He wi l l be, any day now. "
" What do you mean, hi s j oke?"
" He gave t hat si gn as an anni ver sar y pr esent t o t he owner of t hi s pl ace.
And t hen we al l adopt ed i t as our par t i cul ar embl em. We l i ked t he i dea. "
" Ar en' t you t he owner of t hi s pl ace?"
" I ? No. " He gl anced down at t he f oot of t he l edge and added, poi nt i ng,
" Ther e' s t he owner of t hi s pl ace, comi ng now. "
A car had st opped at t he end of a di r t r oad bel ow, and t wo men wer e
hur r yi ng up t he t r ai l . She coul d not di st i ngui sh t hei r f aces; one of t hemwas
sl ender and t al l , t he ot her shor t er , mor e muscul ar . She l ost si ght of t hem
behi nd t he t wi st s of t he t r ai l , as he went on car r yi ng her down t o meet t hem.
She met t hemwhen t hey emer ged suddenl y f r ombehi nd a r ocky cor ner a f ew
f eet away. The si ght of t hei r f aces hi t her wi t h t he abr upt ness of a
col l i si on.
" Wel l , I ' l l be goddamned! " sai d t he muscul ar man, whomshe di d not know,
st ar i ng at her .
She was st ar i ng at t he t al l , di st i ngui shed f i gur e of hi s compani on: i t was
Hugh Akst on.
I t was Hugh Akst on who spoke f i r st , bowi ng t o her wi t h a cour t eous smi l e
of wel come. " Mi ss Taggar t , t hi s i s t he f i r st t i me anyone has ever pr oved me
wr ong, I di dn' t knowwhen I t ol d you you' d never f i nd hi mt hat t he next t i me
I saw you, you woul d be i n hi s ar ms. "
" I n whose ar ms?"
" Why, t he i nvent or of t he mot or . "
She gasped, cl osi ng her eyes; t hi s was one connect i on she knew she shoul d
have made. When she opened her eyes, she was l ooki ng at Gal t , He was smi l i ng,
f ami l y, der i si vel y, as i f he knew f ul l y what t hi s meant t o her .
" I t woul d have ser ved you r i ght i f you' d br oken your neck! " t he muscul ar
man snapped at her , wi t h t he anger of concer n, al most of af f ect i on. " What a
st unt t o pul l f or a per son who' d have been admi t t ed her e so eager l y, i f she' d
chosen t o come t hr ough t he f r ont door ! "
" Mi ss Taggar t , may I pr esent Mi das Mul l i gan?" sai d Gal t .
" Oh, " she sai d weakl y, and l aughed; she had no capaci t y f or ast oni shment
any l onger . " Do you suppose I was ki l l ed i n t hat cr ashand t hi s i s some ot her
ki nd of exi st ence?"
" I t i s anot her ki nd of exi st ence, " sai d Gal t . " But as f or bei ng ki l l ed,
doesn' t i t seemmor e l i ke t he ot her way ar ound?"
" Oh yes, " she whi sper ed, " yes . . . " She smi l ed at Mul l i gan. " Wher e i s t he
f r ont door ?"
" Her e, " he sai d, poi nt i ng t o hi s f or ehead.
" I ' ve l ost t he key, " she sai d si mpl y, wi t hout r esent ment . " I ' ve l ost al l
keys, r i ght now. "
" You' l l f i nd t hem. But what i n bl azes wer e you doi ng i n t hat pl ane?"
" Fol l owi ng. "
" Hi m?" He poi nt ed at Gal t .
" Yes. "
" You' r e l ucky t o be al i ve! Ar e you badl y hur t ?"
" I don' t t hi nk so. "
" You' l l have a f ew quest i ons t o answer , af t er t hey pat ch you up. " He
t ur ned br usquel y, l eadi ng t he way down t o t he car , t hen gl anced at Gal t .
" Wel l , what do we do now? Ther e' s somet hi ng we hadn' t pr ovi ded f or : t he f i r st
scab. "
" The f i r st . . . what ?" she asked.
" Ski p i t , " sai d Mul l i gan, and l ooked at Gal t . " What do we do?"
" I t wi l l be my char ge, " sai d Gal t . " I wi l l be r esponsi bl e. You t ake
Quent i n Dani el s. "
" Oh, he' s no pr obl emat al l . He needs not hi ng but t o get acquai nt ed wi t h
t he pl ace. He seems t o know al l t he r est , "
" Yes. He had pr act i cal l y gone t he whol e way by hi msel f . " He saw her
wat chi ng hi mi n bewi l der ment , and sai d, " Ther e' s one t hi ng I must t hank you
f or , Mi ss Taggar t : you di d pay me a compl i ment when you chose Quent i n Dani el s
as my under st udy. He was a pl ausi bl e one. "
" Wher e i s he?" she asked. " Wi l l you t el l me what happened?"
" Why, Mi das met us at t he l andi ng f i el d, dr ove me t o my house and t ook
Dani el s wi t h hi m. I was goi ng t o j oi n t hemf or br eakf ast , but I saw your
pl ane spi nni ng and pl ungi ng f or t hat past ur e. I was t he cl osest one t o t he
scene. "
" We got her e as f ast as we coul d, " sai d Mul l i gan. " I t hought he deser ved
t o get hi msel f ki l l edwhoever was i n t hat pl ane. I never dr eamed t hat i t was
one of t he onl y t wo per sons i n t he whol e wor l d whomI ' d exempt . "
" Who i s t he ot her one?" she asked.
" Hank Rear den. "
She wi nced; i t was l i ke a sudden bl ow f r omanot her gr eat di st ance.
She wonder ed why i t seemed t o her t hat Gal t was wat chi ng her f ace i nt ent l y
and t hat she saw an i nst ant ' s change i n hi s, t oo br i ef t o def i ne.
They had come t o t he car . I t was a Hammond conver t i bl e, i t s t op down, one
of t he cost l i est model s, some year s ol d, but kept i n t he shi ni ng t r i mof
ef f i ci ent handl i ng. Gal t pl aced her caut i ousl y i n t he back seat and hel d her
i n t he ci r cl e of hi s ar m. She f el t a st abbi ng pai n once i n a whi l e, but she
had no at t ent i on t o spar e f or i t . She wat ched t he di st ant houses of t he t own,
as Mul l i gan pr essed t he st ar t er and t he car moved f or war d, as t hey went past
t he si gn of t he dol l ar and a gol den r ay hi t her eyes, sweepi ng over her
f or ehead.
" Who i s t he owner of t hi s pl ace?" she asked.
" I am, " sai d Mul l i gan.
" What i s he?" She poi nt ed t o Gal t .
Mul l i gan chuckl ed. " He j ust wor ks her e. "
" And you, Dr . Akst on?" she asked.
He gl anced at Gal t , " I ' mone of hi s t wo f at her s, Mi ss Taggar t . The one who
di dn' t bet r ay hi m. "
" Oh! " she sai d, as anot her connect i on f el l i nt o pl ace. " Your t hi r d pupi l ?"
" That ' s r i ght . "
" The second assi st ant bookkeeper ! " she moaned suddenl y, at one mor e
memor y.
" What ' s t hat ?"
" That ' s what Dr . St adl er cal l ed hi m. That ' s what Dr . St adl er t ol d me he
t hought hi s t hi r d pupi l had become. "
" He over est i mat ed, " sai d Gal t . " I ' mmuch l ower t han t hat by t he scal e of
hi s st andar ds and of hi s wor l d. "
The car had swer ved i nt o a l ane r i si ng t owar d a l onel y house t hat st ood on
a r i dge above t he val l ey. She saw a man wal ki ng down a pat h, ahead of t hem,
hast eni ng i n t he di r ect i on of t he t own. He wor e bl ue deni mover al l s and
car r i ed a l unchbox. Ther e was somet hi ng f ai nt l y f ami l i ar i n t he swi f t
abr upt ness of hi s Gal t . As t he car went past hi m, she caught a gl i mpse of hi s
f aceand she j er ked backwar d, her voi ce r i si ng t o a scr eamf r omt he pai n of
t he movement and f r omt he shock of t he si ght : " Oh, st op! St op! Don' t l et hi m
go! " I t was El l i s Wyat t .
The t hr ee men l aughed, but Mul l i gan st opped t he car . " Oh . . . "
she sai d weakl y, i n apol ogy, r eal i zi ng she had f or got t en t hat t hi s was t he
pl ace f r omwhi ch Wyat t woul d not vani sh.
Wyat t was r unni ng t owar d t hem: he had r ecogni zed her , t oo. When he sei zed
t he edge of t he car , t o br ake hi s speed, she saw t he f ace and t he young,
t r i umphant smi l e t hat she had seen but once bef or e: on t he pl at f or mof Wyat t
J unct i on.
" Dagny! You, t oo, at l ast ? One of us?"
" No, " sai d Gal t . " Mi ss Taggar t i s a cast away. "
" What ?"
" Mi ss Taggar t ' s pl ane cr ashed. Di dn' t you see i t ?"
" Cr ashedher e?"
" Yes. "
" I hear d a pl ane, but I . . . " Hi s l ook of bewi l der ment changed t o a
smi l e, r egr et f ul , amused and f r i endl y. " I see. Oh, hel l , Dagny, i t ' s
pr epost er ous! "
She was st ar i ng at hi mhel pl essl y, unabl e t o r econnect t he past t o t he
pr esent . And hel pl essl yas one woul d say t o a dead f r i end, i n a dr eam, t he
wor ds one r egr et s havi ng mi ssed t he chance t o say i n l i f e
she sai d, wi t h t he memor y of a t el ephone r i ngi ng, unanswer ed, al most t wo
year s ago, t he wor ds she had hoped t o say i f she ever caught si ght of hi m
agai n, " I . . . I t r i ed t o r each you. "
He smi l ed gent l y. " We' ve been t r yi ng t o r each you ever si nce, Dagny.
. . . I ' l l see you t oni ght . Don' t wor r y, I won' t vani shand I don' t t hi nk
you wi l l , ei t her . "
He waved t o t he ot her s and went of f , swi ngi ng hi s l unchbox. She gl anced
up, as Mul l i gan st ar t ed t he car , and saw Gal t ' s eyes wat chi ng her
at t ent i vel y. Her f ace har dened, as i f i n open admi ssi on of pai n and i n
def i ance of t he sat i sf act i on i t mi ght gi ve hi m. " Al l r i ght , " she sai d. " I see
what sor t of show you want t o put me t hr ough t he shock of wi t nessi ng. "
But t her e was nei t her cr uel t y nor pi t y i n hi s f ace, onl y t he l evel l ook of
j ust i ce. " Our f i r st r ul e her e, Mi ss Taggar t , " he answer ed, " i s t hat one must
al ways see f or onesel f . "
The car st opped i n f r ont of t he l onel y house. I t was bui l t of r ough
gr ani t e bl ocks, wi t h a sheet of gl ass f or most of i t s f r ont wal l . " I ' l l send
t he doct or over , " sai d Mul l i gan, dr i vi ng of f , whi l e Gal t car r i ed her up t he
pat h.
" Your house?" she asked.
" Mi ne, " he answer ed, ki cki ng t he door open.
He car r i ed her acr oss t he t hr eshol d i nt o t he gl i st eni ng space of hi s
l i vi ng r oom, wher e shaf t s of sunl i ght hi t wal l s of pol i shed pi ne. She saw a
f ew pi eces of f ur ni t ur e made by hand, a cei l i ng of bar e r af t er s, an ar chway
open upon a smal l ki t chen wi t h r ough shel ves, a bar e wooden t abl e and t he
ast oni shi ng si ght of chr omi umgl i t t er i ng on an el ect r i c st ove; t he pl ace had
t he pr i mi t i ve si mpl i ci t y of a f r ont i er sman' s cabi n, r educed t o essent i al
necessi t i es, but r educed wi t h a super - moder n ski l l .
He car r i ed her acr oss t he sunr ays i nt o a smal l guest r oomand pl aced her
down on a bed. She not i ced a wi ndow open upon a l ong sl ant of r ocky st eps and
pi nes goi ng of f i nt o t he sky. She not i ced smal l st r eaks t hat l ooked l i ke
i nscr i pt i ons cut i nt o t he wood of t he wal l s, a f ew scat t er ed l i nes t hat
seemed made by di f f er ent handwr i t i ngs; she coul d not di st i ngui sh t he wor ds.
She not i ced anot her door , l ef t hal f - open; i t l ed t o hi s bedr oom.
" AmI a guest her e or a pr i soner ?" she asked.
" The choi ce wi l l be your s, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" I can make no choi ce when I ' mdeal i ng wi t h a st r anger . "
" But you' r e not Di dn' t you name a r ai l r oad l i ne af t er me?"
" Oh! . . . Yes . . . " I t was t he smal l j ol t of anot her connect i on f al l i ng
i nt o pl ace. " Yes, I " She was l ooki ng at t he t al l f i gur e wi t h t he sun-
st r eaked hai r , wi t h t he suppr essed smi l e i n t he mer ci l essl y per cept i ve eyes
she was seei ng t he st r uggl e t o bui l d her Li ne and t he summer day of t he f i r st
t r ai n' s r unshe was t hi nki ng t hat i f a human f i gur e coul d be f ashi oned as an
embl emof t hat Li ne, t hi s was t he f i gur e.
" Yes . . . I di d . . . " Then, r emember i ng t he r est , she added, " But I
named i t af t er an enemy. "
He smi l ed. " That ' s t he cont r adi ct i on you had t o r esol ve sooner or l at er ,
Mi ss Taggar t . "
" I t was you . . . wasn' t i t ? . . . who dest r oyed my Li ne. . . . "
" Why, no. I t was t he cont r adi ct i on. "
She cl osed her eyes; i n a moment , she asked, " Al l t hose st or i es I hear d
about youwhi ch of t hemwer e t r ue?"
" Al l of t hem. "
" Was i t you who spr ead t hem?"
" No. What f or ? I never had any wi sh t o be t al ked about . "
" But you do know t hat you' ve become a l egend?"
" Yes. "
" The young i nvent or of t he Twent i et h Cent ur y Mot or Company i s t he one r eal
ver si on of t he l egend, i sn' t i t ?"
" The one t hat ' s concr et el y r eal yes. "
She coul d not say i t i ndi f f er ent l y; t her e was st i l l a br eat hl ess t one and
t he dr op of her voi ce t owar d a whi sper , when she asked, " The mot or . . . t he
mot or I f ound . . . i t was you who made i t ?"
" Yes. "
She coul d not pr event t he j ol t of eager ness t hat t hr ew her head up.
" The secr et of t r ansf or mi ng ener gy" she began, and st opped, " I coul d t el l
i t t o you i n f i f t een mi nut es, " he sai d, i n answer t o t he desper at e pl ea she
had not ut t er ed, " but t her e' s no power on ear t h t hat can f or ce me t o t el l i t .
I f you under st and t hi s, you' l l under st and ever yt hi ng t hat ' s baf f l i ng you. "
" That ni ght . . . t wel ve year s ago . . . a spr i ng ni ght when you wal ked
out of a meet i ng of si x t housand mur der er st hat st or y i s t r ue, i sn' t i t ?"
" Yes. "
" You t ol d t hemt hat you woul d st op t he mot or of t he wor l d. "
" I have. "
" What have you done?"
" I ' ve done not hi ng, Mi ss Taggar t . And t hat ' s t he whol e of my secr et . "
She l ooked at hi msi l ent l y f or a l ong moment . He st ood wai t i ng, as i f he
coul d r ead her t hought s. " The dest r oyer " she sai d i n a t one of wonder and
hel pl essness.
" t he most evi l cr eat ur e t hat ' s ever exi st ed, " he sai d i n t he t one of a
quot at i on, and she r ecogni zed her own wor ds, " t he man who' s dr ai ni ng t he
br ai ns of t he wor l d. "
" How t hor oughl y have you been wat chi ng me, " she asked, " and f or how l ong?"
I t was onl y an i nst ant ' s pause, hi s eyes di d not move, but i t seemed t o
her t hat hi s gl ance was st r essed, as i f i n speci al awar eness of seei ng her ,
and she caught t he sound of some par t i cul ar i nt ensi t y i n hi s voi ce as he
answer ed qui et l y, " For year s. "
She cl osed her eyes, r el axi ng and gi vi ng up. She f el t an odd, l i ght hear t ed
i ndi f f er ence, as i f she suddenl y want ed not hi ng but t he comf or t of
sur r ender i ng t o hel pl essness.
The doct or who ar r i ved was a gr ay- hai r ed man wi t h a mi l d, t hought f ul f ace
and a f i r ml y, unobt r usi vel y conf i dent manner .
" Mi ss Taggar t , may I pr esent Dr . Hendr i cks?" sai d Gal t .
" Not Dr , Thomas Hendr i cks?" she gasped, wi t h t he i nvol unt ar y r udeness of a
chi l d; t he name bel onged t o a gr eat sur geon, who had r et i r ed and vani shed si x
year s ago.
" Yes, of cour se, " sai d Gal t .
Dr . Hendr i cks smi l ed at her , i n answer . " Mi das t ol d me t hat Mi ss Taggar t
has t o be t r eat ed f or shock, " he sai d, " not f or t he one sust ai ned, but f or
t he ones t o come. "
" I ' l l l eave you t o do i t , " sai d Gal t , " whi l e I go t o t he mar ket t o get
suppl i es f or br eakf ast . "
She wat ched t he r api d ef f i ci ency of Dr . Hendr i cks' wor k, as he exami ned
her i nj ur i es. He had br ought an obj ect she had never seen bef or e: a por t abl e
X- r ay machi ne. She l ear ned t hat she had t or n t he car t i l age of t wo r i bs, t hat
she had spr ai ned an ankl e, r i pped pat ches of ski n of f one knee and one el bow,
and acqui r ed a f ew br ui ses spr ead i n pur pl e bl ot ches over her body. By t he
t i me Dr . Hendr i cks' swi f t , compet ent hands had wound t he bandages and t he
t i ght l aci ngs of t ape, she f el t as i f her body wer e an engi ne checked by an
exper t mechani c, and no f ur t her car e was necessar y, " I woul d advi se you t o
r emai n i n bed, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Oh no! I f I ' mcar ef ul and move sl owl y, I ' l l be al l r i ght . "
" You ought t o r est . "
" Do you t hi nk I can?"
He smi l ed. " I guess not . "
She was dr essed by t he t i me Gal t came back. Dr . Hendr i cks gave hi man
account of her condi t i on, addi ng, " I ' l l be back t o check up, t omor r ow. "
" Thanks, " sai d Gal t . " Send t he bi l l t o me. "
" Cer t ai nl y not ! " she sai d i ndi gnant l y. " I wi l l pay i t mysel f . "
The t wo men gl anced at each ot her , i n amusement , as at t he boast of a
beggar .
" We' l l di scuss t hat l at er , " sai d Gal t .
Dr . Hendr i cks l ef t , and she t r i ed t o st and up, l i mpi ng, cat chi ng at t he
f ur ni t ur e f or suppor t . Gal t l i f t ed her i n hi s ar ms, car r i ed her t o t he
ki t chen al cove and pl aced her on a chai r by t he t abl e set f or t wo.
She not i ced t hat she was hungr y, at t he si ght of t he cof f ee pot boi l i ng on
t he st ove, t he t wo gl asses of or ange j ui ce, t he heavy whi t e pot t er y di shes
spar kl i ng i n t he sun on t he pol i shed t abl e t op.
" When di d you sl eep or eat l ast ?" he asked.
" I don' t know . . . I had di nner on t he t r ai n, wi t h" She shook her head
i n hel pl essl y bi t t er amusement : wi t h t he t r amp, she t hought , wi t h a desper at e
voi ce pl eadi ng f or escape f r oman avenger who woul d not pur sue or be f ound
t he avenger who sat f aci ng her acr oss t he t abl e, dr i nki ng a gl ass of or ange
j ui ce. " I don' t know . . . i t seems cent ur i es and cont i nent s away. "
" How di d you happen t o be f ol l owi ng me?"
" I l anded at t he Al t on ai r por t j ust as you wer e t aki ng of f . The man t her e
t ol d me t hat Quent i n Dani el s had gone wi t h you. "
" I r emember your pl ane ci r cl i ng t o l and. But t hat was t he one and onl y
t i me when I di dn' t t hi nk of you. I t hought you wer e comi ng by t r ai n. "
She asked, l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi m, " How do you want me t o under st and
t hat ?"
" What ?"
" The one and onl y t i me when you di dn' t t hi nk of me. "
He hel d her gl ance; she saw t he f ai nt movement she had not ed as t ypi cal of
hi m: t he movement of hi s pr oudl y i nt r act abl e mout h cur vi ng i nt o t he hi nt of a
smi l e. " I n any way you wi sh, " he answer ed.
She l et a moment pass t o under scor e her choi ce by t he sever i t y of her
f ace, t hen asked col dl y, i n t he t one of an enemy' s accusat i on, " You knew t hat
I was comi ng f or Quent i n Dani el s?"
" Yes. "
" You got hi mf i r st and f ast , i n or der not t o l et me r each hi m? I n or der t o
beat meknowi ng f ul l y what sor t of beat i ng t hat woul d mean f or me?"
" Sur e. "
I t was she who l ooked away and r emai ned si l ent . He r ose t o cook t he r est
of t hei r br eakf ast . She wat ched hi mas he st ood at t he st ove, t oast i ng br ead,
f r yi ng eggs and bacon. Ther e was an easy, r el axed ski l l about t he way he
wor ked, but i t was a ski l l t hat bel onged t o anot her pr of essi on; hi s hands
moved wi t h t he r api d pr eci si on of an engi neer pul l i ng t he l ever s of a cont r ol
boar d. She r emember ed suddenl y wher e she had seen as exper t and pr epost er ous
a per f or mance.
" I s t hat what you l ear ned f r omDr . Akst on?" she asked, poi nt i ng at t he
st ove.
" That , among ot her t hi ngs. "
" Di d he t each you t o spend your t i meyour t i me! " she coul d not keep t he
shudder of i ndi gnat i on out of her voi ce" on t hi s sor t of wor k?"
" I ' ve spent t i me on wor k of much l esser i mpor t ance. "
When he put her pl at e bef or e her , she asked, " Wher e di d you get t hat f ood?
Do t hey have a gr ocer y st or e her e?"
" The best one i n t he wor l d. I t ' s r un by Lawr ence Hammond. "
" What ?"
" Lawr ence Hammond, of Hammond Car s. The bacon i s f r omt he f ar mof Dwi ght
Sander sof Sander s Ai r cr af t . The eggs and t he but t er f r omJ udge Nar r aganset t
of t he Super i or Cour t of t he St at e of I l l i noi s. "
She l ooked at her pl at e, bi t t er l y, al most as i f she wer e af r ai d t o t ouch
i t . " I t ' s t he most expensi ve br eakf ast I ' l l ever eat , consi der i ng t he val ue
of t he cook' s t i me and of al l t hose ot her s. "
" Yesf r omone aspect . But f r omanot her , i t ' s t he cheapest br eakf ast you' l l
ever eat because no par t of i t has gone t o f eed t he l oot er s who' l l make you
pay f or i t t hr ough year af t er year and l eave you t o st ar ve i n t he end. "
Af t er a l ong si l ence, she asked si mpl y, al most wi st f ul l y, " What i s i t t hat
you' r e al l doi ng her e?"
" Li vi ng. "
She had never hear d t hat wor d sound so r eal , " What i s your j ob?" she
asked. " Mi das Mul l i gan sai d t hat you wor k her e. "
" I ' mt he handy man, I guess. "
" The what ?"
" I ' mon cal l whenever anyt hi ng goes wr ong wi t h any of t he i nst al l at i ons
wi t h t he power syst em, f or i nst ance. "
She l ooked at hi mand suddenl y she t or e f or war d, st ar i ng at t he el ect r i c
st ove, but f el l back on her chai r , st opped by pai n.
He chuckl ed. " Yes, t hat ' s t r uebut t ake i t easy or Dr . Hendr i cks wi l l
or der you back t o bed. "
" The power syst em. . . " she sai d, choki ng, " t he power syst emher e . . .
i t ' s r un by means of your mot or ?"
" Yes. "
" I t ' s bui l t ? I t ' s wor ki ng? I t ' s f unct i oni ng?"
" I t has cooked your br eakf ast . "
" I want t o see i t ! "
" Don' t bot her cr i ppl i ng your sel f t o l ook at t hat st ove. I t ' s j ust a pl ai n
el ect r i c st ove l i ke any ot her , onl y about a hundr ed t i mes cheaper t o r un.
And t hat ' s al l you' l l have a chance t o see, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" You pr omi sed t o show me t hi s val l ey. "
" I ' l l show i t t o you. But not t he power gener at or . "
" Wi l l you t ake me t o see t he pl ace now, as soon as we f i ni sh?"
" I f you wi shand i f you' r e abl e t o move. "
" I am. "
He got up, went t o t he t el ephone and di al ed a number . " Hel l o, Mi das? . . .
Yes. . . . He di d? Yes, she' s al l r i ght . . . . Wi l l you r ent me your car f or
t he day? . . . Thanks. At t he usual r at e
t went y- f i ve cent s, . . . . Can you send i t over ? . . . Do you happen t o
have some sor t of cane? She' l l need i t . . . . Toni ght ? Yes, I t hi nk so.
We wi l l . Thanks. "
He hung up. She was st ar i ng at hi mi ncr edul ousl y.
" Di d I under st and you t o say t hat Mr . Mul l i ganwho' s wor t h about t wo
hundr ed mi l l i on dol l ar s, I bel i evei s goi ng t o char ge you
t went y- f i ve cent s f or t he use of hi s car ?"
" That ' s r i ght . "
" Good heavens, coul dn' t he gi ve i t t o you as a cour t esy?"
He sat l ooki ng at her f or a moment , st udyi ng her f ace, as i f del i ber at el y
l et t i ng her see t he amusement i n hi s. " Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d, " we have no
l aws i n t hi s val l ey, no r ul es, no f or mal or gani zat i on of any ki nd. We come
her e because we want t o r est . But we have cer t ai n cust oms, whi ch we al l
obser ve, because t hey per t ai n t o t he t hi ngs we need t o r est f r om. So I ' l l
war n you now t hat t her e i s one wor d whi ch i s f or bi dden i n t hi s val l ey: t he
wor d ' gi ve, ' "
" I ' msor r y, " she sai d. " You' r e r i ght . "
He r ef i l l ed her cup of cof f ee and ext ended a package of ci gar et t es.
She smi l ed, as she t ook a ci gar et t e: i t bor e t he si gn of t he dol l ar .
" I f you' r e not t oo t i r ed by eveni ng, " he sai d, " Mul l i gan has i nvi t ed us
f or di nner . He' l l have some guest s t her e whom, I t hi nk, you' l l want t o meet . "
" Oh, of cour se! I won' t be t oo t i r ed. I don' t t hi nk I l l ever f eel t i r ed
agai n. "
They wer e f i ni shi ng br eakf ast when she saw Mul l i gan' s car st oppi ng i n
f r ont of t he house. The dr i ver l eaped out , r aced up t he pat h and r ushed i nt o
t he r oom, not pausi ng t o r i ng or knock. I t t ook her a moment t o r eal i ze t hat
t he eager , br eat hl ess, di shevel ed young man was Quent i n Dani el s.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " he gasped, " I ' msor r y! " The desper at e gui l t i n hi s voi ce
cl ashed wi t h t he j oyous exci t ement i n hi s f ace, " I ' ve never br oken my wor d
bef or e! Ther e' s no excuse f or i t , I can' t ask you t o f or gi ve me, and I know
t hat you won' t bel i eve i t , but t he t r ut h i s t hat I
I f or got ! "
She gl anced at Gal t , " I bel i eve you. "
" I f or got t hat I pr omi sed t o wai t , I f or got ever yt hi ngunt i l a f ew mi nut es
ago, when Mr . Mul l i gan t ol d me t hat you' d cr ashed her e i n a pl ane, and t hen I
knew i t was my f aul t , and i f anyt hi ng had happened t o youoh God, ar e you al l
r i ght ?"
" Yes. Don' t wor r y. Si t down. "
" I don' t know how one can f or get one' s wor d of honor . I don' t know what
happened t o me. "
" I do. "
" Mi ss Taggar t , I had been wor ki ng on i t f or mont hs, on t hat one par t i cul ar
hypot hesi s, and t he mor e I wor ked, t he mor e hopel ess i t seemed t o become. I ' d
been i n my l abor at or y f or t he l ast t wo days, t r yi ng t o sol ve a mat hemat i cal
equat i on t hat l ooked i mpossi bl e. I f el t I ' d di e at t hat bl ackboar d, but
woul dn' t gi ve up. I t was l at e at ni ght when he came i n. I don' t t hi nk I even
not i ced hi m, not r eal l y. He sai d he want ed t o speak t o me and I asked hi mt o
wai t and went r i ght on.
I t hi nk I f or got hi s pr esence. I don' t know how l ong he st ood t her e,
wat chi ng me, but what I r emember i s t hat suddenl y hi s hand r eached over ,
swept al l my f i gur es of f t he bl ackboar d and wr ot e one br i ef equat i on. And
t hen I not i ced hi m! Then I scr eamedbecause i t wasn' t t he f ul l answer t o t he
mot or , but i t was t he way t o i t , a way I hadn' t seen, hadn' t suspect ed, but I
knew wher e i t l ed! I r emember I cr i ed, ' How coul d you know i t ?' and he
answer ed, poi nt i ng at a phot ogr aph of your mot or , ' I ' mt he man who made i t i n
t he f i r st pl ace. ' And t hat ' s t he l ast I r emember , Mi ss Taggar t I mean, t he
l ast I r emember of my own exi st ence, because af t er t hat we t al ked about
st at i c el ect r i ci t y and t he conver si on of ener gy and t he mot or . "
" We t al ked physi cs al l t he way down her e, " sai d Gal t .
" Oh, I r emember when you asked me whet her I ' d go wi t h you, " sai d Dani el s,
" whet her I ' d be wi l l i ng t o go and never come back and gi ve up ever yt hi ng . .
. Ever yt hi ng? Gi ve up a dead I nst i t ut e t hat ' s cr umbl i ng back i nt o t he j ungl e,
gi ve up my f ut ur e as a j ani t or - sl ave- by- l aw, gi ve up Wesl ey Mouch and
Di r ect i ve 10- 289 and sub- ani mal cr eat ur es who cr awl on t hei r bel l i es,
gr unt i ng t hat t her e i s no mi nd! . . . Mi ss Taggar t " he l aughed exul t ant l y" he
was aski ng me whet her I ' d gi ve t hat up t o go wi t h hi m! He had t o ask i t
t wi ce, I coul dn' t bel i eve i t at f i r st , I coul dn' t bel i eve t hat any human
bei ng woul d need t o be asked or woul d t hi nk of i t as a choi ce. To go? I woul d
have l eaped of f a skyscr aper j ust t o f ol l ow hi mand t o hear hi s f or mul a
bef or e we hi t t he pavement ! "
" I don' t bl ame you, " she sai d; she l ooked at hi mwi t h a t i nge of
wi st f ul ness t hat was al most envy. " Besi des, you' ve f ul f i l l ed your cont r act .
You' ve l ed me t o t he secr et of t he mot or . "
" I ' mgoi ng t o be a j ani t or her e, t oo, " sai d Dani el s, gr i nni ng happi l y.
" Mr . Mul l i gan sai d he' d gi ve me t he j ob of j ani t or at t he power pl ant .
And when I l ear n, I ' l l r i se t o el ect r i ci an. I sn' t he gr eat Mi das Mul l i gan?
That ' s what I want t o be when I r each hi s age. I want t o make money. I want
t o make mi l l i ons. I want t o make as much as he di d! "
" Dani el s! " She l aughed, r emember i ng t he qui et sel f - cont r ol , t he st r i ct
pr eci si on, t he st er n l ogi c of t he young sci ent i st she had known. " What ' s t he
mat t er wi t h you? Wher e ar e you? Do you know what you' r e sayi ng?"
" I ' mher e, Mi ss Taggar t and t her e' s no l i mi t t o what ' s possi bl e her e!
I ' mgoi ng t o be t he gr eat est el ect r i ci an i n t he wor l d and t he r i chest ! I ' m
goi ng t o"
" You' r e goi ng t o go back t o Mul l i gan' s house, " sai d Gal t , " and sl eep f or
t went y- f our hour sor I won' t l et you near t he power pl ant . "
" Yes, si r , " sai d Dani el s meekl y.
The sun had t r i ckl ed down t he peaks and dr awn a ci r cl e of shi ni ng gr ani t e
and gl i t t er i ng snow t o encl ose t he val l eywhen t hey st epped out of t he house.
She f el t suddenl y as i f not hi ng exi st ed beyond t hat ci r cl e, and she wonder ed
at t he j oyous, pr oud comf or t t o be f ound i n a sense of t he f i ni t e, i n t he
knowl edge t hat t he f i el d of one' s concer n l ay wi t hi n t he r eal mof one' s
si ght . She want ed t o st r et ch out her ar ms over t he r oof s of t he t own bel ow,
f eel i ng t hat her f i nger t i ps woul d t ouch t he peaks acr oss. But she coul d not
r ai se her ar ms; l eani ng on a cane wi t h one hand and on Gal t ' s ar mwi t h t he
ot her , movi ng her f eet by a sl ow, consci ent i ous ef f or t , she wal ked down t o
t he car l i ke a chi l d l ear ni ng t o wal k f or t he f i r st t i me.
She sat by Gal t ' s si de as he dr ove, ski r t i ng t he t own, t o Mi das Mul l i gan' s
house. I t st ood on a r i dge, t he l ar gest house of t he val l ey, t he onl y one
bui l t t wo st or i es hi gh, an odd combi nat i on of f or t r ess and pl easur e r esor t ,
wi t h st out gr ani t e wal l s and br oad, open t er r aces. He st opped t o l et Dani el s
of f , t hen dr ove on up a wi ndi ng r oad r i si ng sl owl y i nt o t he mount ai ns.
I t was t he t hought of Mul l i gan' s weal t h, t he l uxur i ous car and t he si ght
of Gal t ' s hands on t he wheel t hat made her wonder f or t he f i r st t i me whet her
Gal t , t oo, was weal t hy. She gl anced at hi s cl ot hes: t he gr ay sl acks and whi t e
shi r t seemed of a qual i t y i nt ended f or l ong wear ; t he l eat her of t he nar r ow
bel t about hi s wai st l i ne was cr acked; t he wat ch on hi s wr i st was a pr eci si on
i nst r ument , but made of pl ai n st ai nl ess st eel . The sol e suggest i on of l uxur y
was t he col or of hi s hai r t he st r ands st i r r i ng i n t he wi nd l i ke l i qui d gol d
and copper .
Abr upt l y, behi nd a t ur n of t he r oad, she saw t he gr een acr es of past ur es
st r et chi ng t o a di st ant f ar mhouse. Ther e wer e her ds of sheep, some hor ses,
t he f enced squar es of pi gpens under t he spr awl i ng shapes of wooden bar ns and,
f ar t her away, a met al hangar of a t ype t hat di d not bel ong on a f ar m, A man
i n a br i ght cowboy shi r t was hur r yi ng t owar d t hem. Gal t st opped t he car and
waved t o hi m, but sai d not hi ng i n answer t o her quest i oni ng gl ance. He l et
her di scover f or her sel f , when t he man came cl oser , t hat i t was Dwi ght
Sander s, " Hel l o, Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d, smi l i ng.
She l ooked si l ent l y at hi s r ol l ed shi r t sl eeves, at hi s heavy boot s, at
t he her ds of cat t l e. " So t hat ' s al l t hat ' s l ef t of Sander s Ai r cr af t , " she
sai d.
" Why, no. Ther e' s t hat excel l ent monopl ane, my best model , whi ch you
f l at t ened up i n t he f oot hi l l s. "
" Oh, you know about t hat ? Yes, i t was one of your s. I t was a wonder f ul
shi p. But I ' maf r ai d I ' ve damaged i t pr et t y badl y. "
" You ought t o have i t f i xed. "
" I t hi nk I ' ve r i pped t he bot t om. Nobody can f i x i t . "
" I can. "
These wer e t he wor ds and t he t one of conf i dence t hat she had not hear d f or
year s, t hi s was t he manner she had gi ven up expect i ngbut t he st ar t of her
smi l e ended i n a bi t t er chuckl e. " How?" she asked. " On a hog f ar m?"
" Why, no. At Sander s Ai r cr af t . "
" Wher e i s i t ?"
" Wher e di d you t hi nk i t was? I n t hat bui l di ng i n New J er sey, whi ch Ti nky
Hol l oway' s cousi n bought f r ommy bankr upt successor s by means of a gover nment
l oan and a t ax suspensi on? I n t hat bui l di ng wher e he pr oduced si x pl anes t hat
never l ef t t he gr ound and ei ght t hat di d, but cr ashed wi t h f or t y passenger s
each?"
" Wher e i s i t , t hen?"
" Wher ever I am. "
He poi nt ed acr oss t he r oad. Gl anci ng down t hr ough t he t ops of t he pi ne
t r ees, she saw t he concr et e r ect angl e of an ai r f i el d on t he bot t omof t he
val l ey.
" We have a f ew pl anes her e and i t ' s my j ob t o t ake car e of t hem, "
he sai d. " I ' mt he hog f ar mer and t he ai r f i el d at t endant . I ' mdoi ng qui t e
wel l at pr oduci ng hamand bacon, wi t hout t he men f r omwhomI used t o buy i t .
But t hose men cannot pr oduce ai r pl anes wi t hout meand, wi t hout me, t hey
cannot even pr oduce t hei r hamand bacon, "
" But youyou have not been desi gni ng ai r pl anes, ei t her . "
" No, I haven' t . And I haven' t been manuf act ur i ng t he Di esel engi nes I once
pr omi sed you. Si nce t he t i me I saw you l ast , I have desi gned and manuf act ur ed
j ust one new t r act or . I mean, oneI t ool ed i t by handno mass pr oduct i on was
necessar y. But t hat t r act or has cut an ei ght - hour wor kday down t o f our hour s
on" t he st r ai ght l i ne of hi s ar m, ext ended t o poi nt acr oss t he val l ey, moved
l i ke a r oyal scept er ; her eyes f ol l owed i t and she saw t he t er r aced gr een of
hangi ng gar dens on a di st ant mount ai nsi de" t he chi cken and dai r y f ar mof
J udge Nar r aganset t " hi s ar mmoved sl owl y t o a l ong, f l at st r et ch of gr eeni sh
gol d at t he f oot of a canyon, t hen t o a band of vi ol ent gr een" i n t he wheat
f i el ds and t obacco pat ch of Mi das Mul l i gan" hi s ar mr ose t o a gr ani t e f l ank
st r i ped by gl i st eni ng t i er s of l eaves" i n t he or char ds of Ri char d Hal l ey. "
Her eyes went sl owl y over t he cur ve hi s ar mhad t r avel ed, over and over
agai n, l ong af t er t he ar mhad dr opped; but she sai d onl y, " I see. "
" Now do you bel i eve t hat I can f i x your pl ane?" he asked.
" Yes. But have you seen i t ?"
" Sur e. Mi das cal l ed t wo doct or s i mmedi at el yHendr i cks f or you, and me f or
your pl ane. I t can be f i xed. But i t wi l l be an expensi ve j ob. "
" How much?"
" Two hundr ed dol l ar s. "
" Two hundr ed dol l ar s?" she r epeat ed i ncr edul ousl y; t he pr i ce seemed much
t oo l ow.
" I n gol d, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Oh . . . ! Wel l , wher e can I buy t he gol d?"
" You can' t , " sai d Gal t .
She j er ked her head t o f ace hi mdef i ant l y. " No?"
" No. Not wher e you come f r om. Your l aws f or bi d i t . "
" Your s don' t ?"
" No. "
" Then sel l i t t o me. Choose your own r at e of exchange. Name any sumyou
want i n my money. "
" What money? You' r e penni l ess, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" What ?" I t was a wor d t hat a Taggar t hei r ess coul d not ever expect t o
hear .
" You' r e penni l ess i n t hi s val l ey. You own mi l l i ons of dol l ar s i n Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al st ockbut i t wi l l not buy one pound of bacon f r omt he
Sander s hog f ar m. "
" 1 see. "
Gal t smi l ed and t ur ned t o Sander s. " Go ahead and f i x t hat pl ane.
Mi ss Taggar t wi l l pay f or i t event ual l y. "
He pr essed t he st ar t er and dr ove on, whi l e she sat st i f f l y st r ai ght ,
aski ng no quest i ons.
A st r et ch of vi ol ent t ur quoi se bl ue spl i t t he cl i f f s ahead, endi ng t he
r oad; i t t ook her a second t o r eal i ze t hat i t was a l ake. The mot i onl ess
wat er seemed t o condense t he bl ue of t he sky and t he gr een of t he pi ne-
cover ed mount ai ns i nt o so br i l l i ant l y pur e a col or t hat i t made t he sky l ook
a di mmed pal e gr ay. A st r eak of boi l i ng f oamcame f r omamong t he pi nes and
went cr ashi ng down t he r ocky st eps t o vani sh i n t he pl aci d wat er . A smal l
gr ani t e st r uct ur e st ood by t he st r eam.
Gal t st opped t he car j ust as a husky man i n over al l s st epped out t o t he
t hr eshol d of t he open door way. I t was Di ck McNamar a, who had once been her
best cont r act or .
" Good day, Mi ss Taggar t ! " he sai d happi l y. " I ' mgl ad t o see t hat you
wer en' t hur t badl y.
She i ncl i ned her head i n si l ent gr eet i ngi t was l i ke a gr eet i ng t o t he
l oss and t he pai n of t he past , t o a desol at e eveni ng and t he desper at e f ace
of Eddi e Wi l l er s t el l i ng her t he news of t hi s man' s di sappear ance
hur t badl y? she t hought I was, but not i n t he pl ane cr ashon t hat eveni ng,
i n an empt y of f i ce. . . . Al oud, she asked, " What ar e you doi ng her e? What
was i t t hat you bet r ayed me f or , at t he wor st t i me possi bl e?"
He smi l ed, poi nt i ng at t he st one st r uct ur e and down at t he r ocky dr op
wher e t he t ube of a wat er mai n went vani shi ng i nt o t he under br ush. " I ' mt he
ut i l i t i es man, " he sai d. " I t ake car e of t he wat er l i nes, t he power l i nes and
t he t el ephone ser vi ce. "
" Al one?"
" Used t o. But we' ve gr own so much i n t he past year t hat I ' ve had t o hi r e
t hr ee men t o hel p me. "
" What men? Fr omwher e?"
" Wel l , one of t hemi s a pr of essor of economi cs who coul dn' t get a j ob
out si de, because he t aught t hat you can' t consume mor e t han you have
pr oducedone i s a pr of essor of hi st or y who coul dn' t get a j ob because he
t aught t hat t he i nhabi t ant s of sl ums wer e not t he men who made t hi s count r y
and one i s a pr of essor of psychol ogy who coul dn' t get a j ob because he t aught
t hat men ar e capabl e of t hi nki ng. "
" They wor k f or you as pl umber s and l i nesmen?"
" You' d be sur pr i sed how good t hey ar e at i t . "
" And t o whomhave t hey abandoned our col l eges?"
" To t hose who' r e want ed t her e. " He chuckl ed, " How l ong ago was i t t hat I
bet r ayed you, Mi ss Taggar t ? Not qui t e t hr ee year s ago, wasn' t i t ? i t ' s t he
J ohn Gal t Li ne t hat I r ef used t o bui l d f or you. Wher e i s your Li ne now? But
my l i nes have gr own, i n t hat t i me, f r omt he coupl e of mi l es t hat Mul l i gan had
bui l t when I t ook over , t o hundr eds of mi l es of pi pe and wi r e, al l wi t hi n t he
space of t hi s val l ey. "
He saw t he swi f t , i nvol unt ar y l ook of eager ness on her f ace, t he l ook of a
compet ent per son' s appr eci at i on; he smi l ed, gl anced at her compani on and sai d
sof t l y, " You know, Mi ss Taggar t , when i t comes t o t he J ohn Gal t Li nemaybe
i t ' s I who' ve f ol l owed i t and you who' r e bet r ayi ng i t . "
She gl anced at Gal t . He was wat chi ng her f ace, but she coul d r ead not hi ng
i n hi s.
As t hey dr ove on al ong t he edge of t he l ake, she asked, " You' ve mapped
t hi s r out e del i ber at el y, haven' t you? You' r e showi ng me al l t he men whom" she
st opped, f eel i ng i nexpl i cabl y r el uct ant t o say i t , and sai d, i nst ead" whomI
have l ost ?"
" I ' mshowi ng you al l t he men whomI have t aken away f r omyou, "
he answer ed f i r ml y.
Thi s was t he r oot , she t hought , of t he gui l t l essness of hi s f ace: he had
guessed and named t he wor ds she had want ed t o spar e hi m, he had r ej ect ed a
good wi l l t hat was not based on hi s val uesand i n pr oud cer t ai nt y of bei ng
r i ght , he had made a boast of t hat whi ch she had i nt ended as an accusat i on.
Ahead of t hem, she saw a wooden pi er pr oj ect i ng i nt o t he wat er of t he
l ake. A young woman l ay st r et ched on t he sun- f l ooded pl anks, wat chi ng a
bat t er y of f i shi ng r ods. She gl anced up at t he sound of t he car , t hen l eaped
t o her f eet i n a si ngl e swi f t movement , a shade t oo swi f t , and r an t o t he
r oad. She wor e sl acks, r ol l ed above t he knees of her bar e l egs, she had dar k,
di shevel ed hai r and l ar ge eyes. Gal t waved t o her .
" Hel l o, J ohn! When di d you get i n?" she cal l ed.
" Thi s mor ni ng, " he answer ed, smi l i ng and dr i vi ng on.
Dagny j er ked her head t o l ook back and saw t he gl ance wi t h whi ch t he young
woman st ood l ooki ng af t er Gal t . And even t hough hopel essness, ser enel y
accept ed, was par t of t he wor shi p i n t hat gl ance, she exper i enced a f eel i ng
she had never known bef or e: a st ab of j eal ousy.
" Who i s t hat ?" she asked.
" Our best f i shwi f e. She pr ovi des t he f i sh f or Hammond' s gr ocer y mar ket . "
" What el se i s she?"
" You' ve not i ced t hat t her e' s a ' what el se' f or ever y one of us her e?
She' s a wr i t er . The ki nd of wr i t er who woul dn' t be publ i shed out si de.
She bel i eves t hat when one deal s wi t h wor ds, one deal s wi t h t he mi nd. "
The car t ur ned i nt o a nar r ow pat h, cl i mbi ng st eepl y i nt o a wi l der ness of
br ush and pi ne t r ees. She knew what t o expect when she saw a handmade si gn
nai l ed t o a t r ee, wi t h an ar r ow poi nt i ng t he way: The Buena Esper anza Pass.
I t was not a pass, i t was a wal l of l ami nat ed r ock wi t h a compl ex chai n of
pi pes, pumps and val ves cl i mbi ng l i ke a vi ne up i t s nar r ow l edges, but i t
bor e, on i t s cr est , a huge wooden si gnand t he pr oud vi ol ence of t he l et t er s
announci ng t hei r message t o an i mpassabl e t angl e of f er ns and pi ne br anches,
was mor e char act er i st i c, mor e f ami l i ar t han t he wor ds: Wyat t Oi l .
I t was oi l t hat r an i n a gl i t t er i ng cur ve f r omt he mout h of a pi pe i nt o a
t ank at t he f oot of t he wal l , as t he onl y conf essi on of t he t r emendous secr et
st r uggl e i nsi de t he st one, as t he unobt r usi ve pur pose of al l t he i nt r i cat e
machi ner ybut t he machi ner y di d not r esembl e t he i nst al l at i ons of an oi l
der r i ck, and she knew t hat she was l ooki ng at t he unbor n secr et of t he Buena
Esper anza Pass, she knew t hat t hi s was oi l dr awn out of shal e by some met hod
men had consi der ed i mpossi bl e.
El l i s Wyat t st ood on a r i dge, wat chi ng t he gl ass di al of a gauge i mbedded
i n t he r ock. He saw t he car st oppi ng bel ow, and cal l ed, " Hi , Dagny! Be wi t h
you i n a mi nut e! "
Ther e wer e t wo ot her men wor ki ng wi t h hi m: a bi g, muscul ar r oughneck, at a
pump hal f way up t he wal l , and a young boy, by t he t ank on t he gr ound. The
young boy had bl ond hai r and a f ace wi t h an unusual pur i t y of f or m. She f el t
cer t ai n t hat she knew t hi s f ace, but she coul d not r ecal l wher e she had seen
i t . The boy caught her puzzl ed gl ance, gr i nned and, as i f t o hel p her ,
whi st l ed sof t l y, al most i naudi bl y t he f i r st not es of Hal l ey' s Fi f t h Concer t o.
I t was t he young br akeman of t he Comet .
She l aughed. " I t was t he Fi f t h Concer t o by Ri char d Hal l ey, wasn' t i t ?"
" Sur e, " he answer ed. " But do you t hi nk I ' d t el l t hat t o a scab?"
" A what ?"
" What amI payi ng you f or ?" asked El l i s Wyat t , appr oachi ng; t he boy
chuckl ed, dar t i ng back t o sei ze t he l ever he had abandoned f or a moment .
" I t ' s Mi ss Taggar t who coul dn' t f i r e you, i f you l oaf ed on t he j ob. l ean. "
" That ' s one of t he r easons why I qui t t he r ai l r oad, Mi ss Taggar t , "
sai d t he boy.
" Di d you know t hat I st ol e hi mf r omyou?" sai d Wyat t . " He used t o be your
best br akeman and now he' s my best gr ease- monkey, but nei t her one of us i s
goi ng t o hol d hi mper manent l y. "
" Who i s?"
" Ri char d Hal l ey. Musi c. He' s Hal l ey' s best pupi l . "
She smi l ed, " I know, t hi s i s a pl ace wher e one empl oys not hi ng but
ar i st ocr at s f or t he l ousi est ki nds of j obs. "
" They' r e al l ar i st ocr at s, t hat ' s t r ue, " sai d Wyat t , " because t hey know
t hat t her e' s no such t hi ng as a l ousy j obonl y l ousy men who don' t car e t o do
i t . "
The r oughneck was wat chi ng t hemf r omabove, l i st eni ng wi t h cur i osi t y. She
gl anced up at hi m, he l ooked l i ke a t r uck dr i ver , so she asked, " What wer e
you out si de? A pr of essor of compar at i ve phi l ol ogy, I suppose?"
" No, ma' am, " he answer ed. " I was a t r uck dr i ver . " He added, " But t hat ' s
not what I want ed t o r emai n. "
El l i s Wyat t was l ooki ng at t he pl ace ar ound t hemwi t h a ki nd of yout hf ul
pr i de eager f or acknowl edgment : i t was t he pr i de of a host at a f or mal
r ecept i on i n a dr awi ng r oom, and t he eager ness of an ar t i st at t he openi ng of
hi s show i n a gal l er y. She smi l ed and asked, poi nt i ng at t he machi ner y,
" Shal e oi l ?"
" Uh- huh. "
" That ' s t he pr ocess whi ch you wer e wor ki ng t o devel op whi l e you wer e on
ear t h?" She sai d i t i nvol unt ar i l y and she gasped a l i t t l e at her own wor ds.
He l aughed. " Whi l e I was i n hel l yes. I ' mon ear t h now. "
" How much do you pr oduce?"
" Two hundr ed bar r el s a day. "
A not e of sadness came back i nt o her voi ce: " I t ' s t he pr ocess by whi ch you
once i nt ended t o f i l l f i ve t ank- t r ai ns a day. "
" Dagny, " he sai d ear nest l y, poi nt i ng at hi s t ank, " one gal l on of i t i s
wor t h mor e t han a t r ai nf ul back t her e i n hel l because t hi s i s mi ne, al l of
i t , ever y si ngl e dr op of i t , t o be spent on not hi ng but mysel f . " He r ai sed
hi s smudged hand, di spl ayi ng t he gr easy st ai ns as a t r easur e, and a bl ack
dr op on t he t i p of hi s f i nger f l ashed l i ke a gemi n t he sun.
" Mi ne, " he sai d. " Have you l et t hembeat you i nt o f or get t i ng what t hat
wor d means, what i t f eel s l i ke? You shoul d gi ve your sel f a chance t o r el ear n
i t . "
" You' r e hi dden i n a hol e i n t he wi l der ness, " she sai d bl eakl y, " and you' r e
pr oduci ng t wo hundr ed bar r el s of oi l , when you coul d have f l ooded t he wor l d
wi t h i t . "
" What f or ? To f eed t he l oot er s?"
" No! To ear n t he f or t une you deser ve. "
" But I ' mr i cher now t han I was i n t he wor l d. What ' s weal t h but t he means
of expandi ng one' s l i f e? Ther e' s t wo ways one can do i t : ei t her by pr oduci ng
mor e or by pr oduci ng i t f ast er . And t hat ' s what I ' mdoi ng: I ' mmanuf act ur i ng
t i me. "
" What do you mean?"
" I ' mpr oduci ng ever yt hi ng I need, I ' mwor ki ng t o i mpr ove my met hods, and
ever y hour I save i s an hour added t o my l i f e. I t used t o t ake me f i ve hour s
t o f i l l t hat t ank. I t now t akes t hr ee. The t wo I saved ar e mi neas
pr i cel essl y mi ne as i f I moved my gr ave t wo f ur t her hour s away f or ever y f i ve
I ' ve got . I t ' s t wo hour s r el eased f r omone t ask, t o be i nvest ed i n anot her
t wo mor e hour s i n whi ch t o wor k, t o gr ow, t o move f or war d. That ' s t he savi ngs
account I ' m- hoar di ng. I s t her e any sor t of saf et y vaul t t hat coul d pr ot ect
t hi s account i n t he out si de wor l d?"
" But what space do you have f or movi ng f or war d? Wher e' s your mar ket ?"
He chuckl ed. " Mar ket ? I now wor k f or use, not f or pr of i t my use, not t he
l oot er s' pr of i t . Onl y t hose who add t o my l i f e, not t hose who devour i t , ar e
my mar ket . Onl y t hose who pr oduce, not t hose who consume, can ever be
anybody' s mar ket . I deal wi t h t he l i f e- gi ver s, not wi t h t he canni bal s. I f my
oi l t akes l ess ef f or t t o pr oduce, I ask l ess of t he men t o whomI t r ade i t
f or t he t hi ngs I need. I add an ext r a span of t i me t o t hei r l i ves wi t h ever y
gal l on of my oi l t hat t hey bur n. And si nce t hey' r e men l i ke me, t hey keep
i nvent i ng f ast er ways t o make t he t hi ngs t hey makeso ever y one of t hem
gr ant s me an added mi nut e, hour or day wi t h t he br ead I buy f r omt hem, wi t h
t he cl ot hes, t he l umber , t he met al " he gl anced at Gal t " an added year wi t h
ever y mont h of el ect r i ci t y I pur chase. That ' s our mar ket and t hat ' s how i t
wor ks f or usbut t hat was not t he way i t wor ked i n t he out er wor l d. Down what
dr ai n wer e t hey pour ed out t her e, our days, our l i ves and our ener gy?
I nt o what bot t oml ess, f ut ur el ess sewer of t he unpai d- f or ? Her e, we t r ade
achi evement s, not f ai l ur esval ues, not needs. We' r e f r ee of one anot her , yet
we al l gr ow t oget her . Weal t h, Dagny? What gr eat er weal t h i s t her e t han t o own
your Me and t o spend i t on gr owi ng?
Ever y l i vi ng t hi ng must gr ow. I t can' t st and st i l l . I t must gr ow or
per i sh.
Look" He poi nt ed at a pl ant f i ght i ng upwar d f r omunder t he wei ght of a
r ocka l ong, gnar l ed st em, cont or t ed by an unnat ur al st r uggl e, wi t h dr oopi ng,
yel l ow r emnant s of unf or med l eaves and a si ngl e gr een shoot t hr ust upwar d t o
t he sun wi t h t he desper at i on of a l ast , spent , i nadequat e ef f or t . " That ' s
what t hey' r e doi ng t o us back t her e i n hel l .
Do you see me submi t t i ng t o i t ?"
" No, " she whi sper ed.
" Do you see hi msubmi t t i ng?" He poi nt ed at Gal t .
" God, no! "
" Then don' t be ast oni shed by anyt hi ng you see i n t hi s val l ey. "
She r emai ned si l ent when t hey dr ove on. Gal t sai d not hi ng.
On a di st ant mount ai nsi de, i n t he dense gr een of a f or est , she saw a.
pi ne t r ee sl ant i ng down suddenl y, t r aci ng a cur ve, l i ke t he hand of a
cl ock, t hen cr ashi ng abr upt l y out of si ght . She knew t hat i t was a manmade
mot i on.
" Who' s t he l umber j ack ar ound her e?" she asked.
" Ted Ni el sen. "
The r oad was r el axi ng i nt o wi der cur ves and gent l er gr ades, among t he
sof t er shapes of hi l l si des. She saw a r ust - br own sl ope pat ched by t wo squar es
of unmat chi ng gr een: t he dar k, dust y gr een of pot at o pl ant s, and t he pal e,
gr eeni sh- si l ver of cabbages, A man i n a r ed shi r t was r i di ng a smal l t r act or ,
cut t i ng weeds, " Who' s t he cabbage t ycoon?" she asked.
" Roger Mar sh. "
She cl osed her eyes. She t hought of t he weeds t hat wer e cl i mbi ng up t he
st eps of a cl osed f act or y, over i t s l ust r ous t i l e f r ont , a f ew hundr ed mi l es
away, beyond t he mount ai ns.
The r oad was descendi ng t o t he bot t omof t he val l ey. She saw t he r oof s of
t he t own st r ai ght bel ow, and t he smal l , shi ni ng spot of t he dol l ar si gn i n
t he di st ance at t he ot her end. Gal t st opped t he car i n f r ont of t he f i r st
st r uct ur e on a l edge above t he r oof s, a br i ck bui l di ng wi t h a f ai nt t i nge of
r ed t r embl i ng over i t s smokest ack. I t al most shocked her t o see so l ogi cal a
si gn as " St ockt on Foundr y" above i t s door .
When she wal ked, l eani ng on her cane, out of t he sunl i ght i nt o t he dank
gl oomof t he bui l di ng, t he shock she f el t was par t sense of anachr oni sm, par t
homesi ckness. Thi s was t he i ndust r i al East whi ch, i n t he l ast f ew hour s, had
seemed t o be cent ur i es behi nd her . Thi s was t he ol d, t he f ami l i ar , t he l oved
si ght of r eddi sh bi l l ows r i si ng t o st eel r af t er s, of spar ks shoot i ng i n
sunbur st s f r omi nvi si bl e sour ces, of sudden f l ames st r eaki ng t hr ough a bl ack
f og, of sand mol ds gl owi ng wi t h whi t e met al . The f og hi d t he wal l s of t he
st r uct ur e, di ssol vi ng i t s si ze
and f or a moment , t hi s was t he gr eat , dead f oundr y at St ockt on, Col or ado,
i t was Ni el sen Mot or s . . . i t was Rear den St eel .
" Hi , Dagny! "
The smi l i ng f ace t hat appr oached her out of t he f og was Andr ew St ockt on' s,
and she saw a gr i my hand ext ended t o her wi t h a gest ur e of conf i dent pr i de,
as i f i t hel d al l of her moment ' s vi si on on i t s pal m.
She cl asped t he hand. " Hel l o, " she sai d sof t l y, not knowi ng whet her she
was gr eet i ng t he past or t he f ut ur e. Then she shook her head and added, " How
come you' r e not pl ant i ng pot at oes or maki ng shoes ar ound her e? You' ve
act ual l y r emai ned i n your own pr of essi on. "
" Oh, Cal vi n At wood of t he At wood Li ght and Power Company of New Yor k Ci t y
i s maki ng t he shoes. Besi des, my pr of essi on i s one of t he ol dest and most
i mmedi at el y needed anywher e. St i l l , I had t o f i ght f or i t . I had t o r ui n a
compet i t or , f i r st . "
" What ?"
He gr i nned and poi nt ed t o t he gl ass door of a sun- f l ooded r oom.
" Ther e' s my r ui ned compet i t or , " he sai d.
She saw a young man bent over a l ong t abl e, wor ki ng on a compl ex model f or
t he mol d of a dr i l l head. He had t he sl ender , power f ul hands of a concer t
pi ani st and t he gr i mf ace of a sur geon concent r at i ng on hi s t ask.
" He' s a scul pt or , " sai d St ockt on. " When I came her e, he and hi s par t ner
had a sor t of combi nat i on hand- f or ge and r epai r shop. I opened a r eal
f oundr y, and t ook al l t hei r cust omer s away f r omt hem. The boy coul dn' t do t he
ki nd of j ob I di d, i t was onl y a par t - t i me busi ness f or hi m, anywayscul pt ur e
i s hi s r eal busi nessso he came t o wor k f or me. He' s maki ng mor e money now,
i n shor t er hour s, t han he used t o make i n hi s own f oundr y. Hi s par t ner was a
chemi st , so he went i nt o agr i cul t ur e and he' s pr oduced a chemi cal f er t i l i zer
t hat ' s doubl ed some of t he cr ops ar ound her edi d you ment i on pot at oes?
pot at oes, i n par t i cul ar . "
" Then somebody coul d put you out of busi ness, t oo?"
" Sur e. Any t i me. I know one man who coul d and pr obabl y wi l l , when he get s
her e. But , boy! I ' d wor k f or hi mas a ci nder sweeper . He' d bl ast t hr ough t hi s
val l ey l i ke a r ocket . He' d t r i pl e ever ybody' s pr oduct i on. "
" Who' s t hat ?"
" Hank Rear den. "
" Yes . . . " she whi sper ed, " Oh yes! "
She wonder ed what had made her say i t wi t h such i mmedi at e cer t ai nt y. She
f el t , si mul t aneousl y, t hat Hank Rear den' s pr esence i n t hi s val l ey was
i mpossi bl eand t hat t hi s was hi s pl ace, pecul i ar l y hi s, t hi s was t he pl ace of
hi s yout h, of hi s st ar t , and, t oget her , t he pl ace he had been seeki ng al l hi s
l i f e, t he l and he had st r uggl ed t o r each, t he goal of hi s t or t ur ed bat t l e. .
. . I t seemed t o her t hat t he spi r al s of f l ame t i nged f og wer e dr awi ng t i me
i nt o an odd ci r cl eand whi l e a di mt hought went f l oat i ng t hr ough her mi nd
l i ke t he st r eamer of an unf ol l owed sent ence: To hol d an unchangi ng yout h i s
t o r each, at t he end, t he vi si on wi t h whi ch one st ar t edshe hear d t he voi ce
of a t r amp i n a di ner , sayi ng, " J ohn Gal t f ound t he f ount ai n of yout h whi ch
he want ed t o br i ng down t o men. Onl y he never came back . . . because he
f ound t hat i t coul dn' t be br ought down. "
A sheaf of spar ks went up i n t he dept h of t he f ogand she saw t he br oad
back of a f or eman whose ar mmade t he sweepi ng gest ur e of a si gnal , di r ect i ng
some i nvi si bl e t ask. He j er ked hi s head t o snap an or der she caught a gl i mpse
of hi s pr of i l eand she caught her br eat h.
St ockt on saw i t , chuckl ed and cal l ed i nt o t he f og: " Hey, Ken! Come her e!
Her e' s an ol d f r i end of your s! "
She l ooked at Ken Danagger as he appr oached t hem. The gr eat i ndust r i al i st ,
whomshe had t r i ed so desper at el y t o hol d t o hi s desk, was now dr essed i n
smudged over al l s.
" Hel l o, Mi ss Taggar t . I t ol d you we' d soon meet agai n. "
Her head dr opped, as i f i n assent and i n gr eet i ng, but her hand bor e down
heavi l y upon her cane, f or a moment , whi l e she st ood r el i vi ng t hei r l ast
encount er : t he t or t ur ed hour of wai t i ng, t hen t he gent l y di st ant f ace at t he
desk and t he t i nkl i ng of a gl ass- panel ed door cl osi ng upon a st r anger .
I t was so br i ef a moment t hat t wo of t he men bef or e her coul d t ake i t onl y
as a gr eet i ngbut i t was at Gal t t hat she l ooked when she r ai sed her head,
and she saw hi ml ooki ng at her as i f he knew what she f el t she saw hi mseei ng
i n her f ace t he r eal i zat i on t hat i t was he who had wal ked out of Danagger ' s
of f i ce, t hat day. Hi s f ace gave her not hi ng i n answer : i t had t hat l ook of
r espect f ul sever i t y wi t h whi ch a man st ands bef or e t he f act t hat t he t r ut h i s
t he t r ut h.
" I di dn' t expect i t , " she sai d sof t l y, t o Danagger . " I never expect ed t o
see you agai n. "
Danagger was wat chi ng her as i f she wer e a pr omi si ng chi l d he had once
di scover ed and was now af f ect i onat el y amused t o wat ch. " I know, " he sai d.
" But why ar e you so shocked?"
" I . . . oh, i t ' s j ust t hat i t ' s pr epost er ous! " She poi nt ed at hi s
cl ot hes.
" What ' s wr ong wi t h i t ?"
" I s t hi s, t hen, t he end of your r oad?"
" Hel l , no! The begi nni ng. "
" What ar e you ai mi ng at ?"
" Mi ni ng. Not coal , t hough. I r on. "
" Wher e?"
He poi nt ed t owar d t he mount ai ns. " Ri ght her e. Di d you ever know Mi das
Mul l i gan t o make a bad i nvest ment ? You' d be sur pr i sed what one can f i nd i n
t hat st r et ch of r ock, i f one knows how t o l ook. That ' s what I ' ve been doi ng
l ooki ng. "
" And i f you don' t f i nd any i r on or e?"
He shr ugged. " Ther e' s ot her t hi ngs t o do. I ' ve al ways been shor t on t i me
i n my l i f e, never on what t o use i t f or . "
She gl anced at St ockt on wi t h cur i osi t y. " Ar en' t you t r ai ni ng a man who
coul d become your most danger ous compet i t or ?"
" That ' s t he onl y sor t of men I l i ke t o hi r e. Dagny, have you l i ved t oo
l ong among t he l oot er s? Have you come t o t hi nk t hat one man' s abi l i t y i s a
t hr eat t o anot her ?"
" Oh no! But I t hought I was al most t he onl y one l ef t who di dn' t t hi nk
t hat . "
" Any man who' s af r ai d of hi r i ng t he best abi l i t y he can f i nd, i s a cheat
who' s i n a busi ness wher e he doesn' t bel ong. To met he f oul est man on ear t h,
mor e cont empt i bl e t han a cr i mi nal , i s t he empl oyer who r ej ect s men f or bei ng
t oo good. That ' s what I ' ve al ways t hought and
say, what ar e you l aughi ng at ?"
She was l i st eni ng t o hi mwi t h an eager , i ncr edul ous smi l e. " I t ' s so
st ar t l i ng t o hear , " she sai d, " because i t ' s so r i ght ! "
" What el se can one t hi nk?"
She chuckl ed sof t l y. " You know, when I was a chi l d, I expect ed ever y
busi nessman t o t hi nk i t . "
" And si nce t hen?"
" Si nce t hen, I ' ve l ear ned not t o expect i t . "
" But i t ' s r i ght , i sn' t i t ?"
" I ' ve l ear ned not t o expect t he r i ght . "
" But i t st ands t o r eason, doesn' t i t ?"
" I ' ve gi ven up expect i ng r eason. "
" That ' s what one must never gi ve up, " sai d Ken Danagger .
They had r et ur ned t o t he car and had st ar t ed down t he l ast , descendi ng
cur ves of t he r oad, when she gl anced at Gal t and he t ur ned t o her at once, as
i f he had expect ed i t .
" I t was you i n Danagger ' s of f i ce t hat day, wasn' t i t ?" she asked.
" Yes. "
" Di d you know, t hen, t hat I was wai t i ng out si de?"
" Yes. "
" Di d you know what i t was l i ke, t o wai t behi nd t hat cl osed door ?"
She coul d not name t he nat ur e of t he gl ance wi t h whi ch he l ooked at her .
I t was not pi t y, because she di d not seemt o be i t s obj ect ; i t was t he ki nd
of gl ance wi t h whi ch one l ooks at suf f er i ng, but i t was not her suf f er i ng
t hat he seemed t o be seei ng.
" Oh yes, " he answer ed qui et l y, al most l i ght l y.
The f i r st shop t o r i se by t he si de of t he val l ey' s si ngl e st r eet was l i ke
t he sudden si ght of an open t heat er : a f r ame box wi t hout f r ont wal l , i t s
st age set i n t he br i ght col or s of a musi cal comedywi t h r ed cubes, gr een
ci r cl es, gol d t r i angl es, whi ch wer e bi ns of t omat oes, bar r el s of l et t uce,
pyr ami ds of or anges, and a spangl ed backdr op wher e t he sun hi t shel ves of
met al cont ai ner s. The name on t he mar quee sai d; Hammond Gr ocer y Mar ket . A
di st i ngui shed man i n shi r t sl eeves, wi t h a st er n pr of i l e and gr ay t empl es,
was wei ghi ng a chunk of but t er f or an at t r act i ve young woman who st ood at t he
count er , her post ur e l i ght as a show gi r l ' s, t he ski r t of her cot t on dr ess
swel l i ng f ai nt l y i n t he wi nd, l i ke a dance cost ume. Dagny smi l ed
i nvol unt ar i l y, even t hough t he man was Lawr ence Hammond.
The shops wer e smal l one- st or y st r uct ur es, and as t hey moved past her , she
caught f ami l i ar names on t hei r si gns, l i ke headi ngs on t he pages of a book
r i f f l ed by t he car ' s mot i on: Mul l i gan Gener al St or eAt wood Leat her Goods
Ni el sen Lumber t hen t he si gn of t he dol l ar above t he door of a smal l br i ck
f act or y wi t h t he i nscr i pt i on: Mul l i gan Tobacco Company. " Who' s t he Company,
besi des Mi das Mul l i gan?" she asked. " Dr . Akst on, " he answer ed.
Ther e wer e f ew passer s- by, some men, f ewer women, and t hey wal ked wi t h
pur posef ul swi f t ness, as i f bound on speci f i c er r ands. One af t er anot her ,
t hey st opped at t he si ght of t he car , t hey waved t o Gal t and t hey l ooked at
her wi t h t he unast oni shed cur i osi t y of r ecogni t i on.
" Have I been expect ed her e f or a l ong t i me?" she asked, " You st i l l ar e, "
he answer ed.
On t he edge of t he r oad, she saw a st r uct ur e made of gl ass sheet s hel d
t oget her by a wooden f r amewor k, but f or one i nst ant i t seemed t o her t hat i t
was onl y a f r ame f or t he pai nt i ng of a womana t al l , f r agi l e woman wi t h pal e
bl ond hai r and a f ace of such beaut y t hat i t seemed vei l ed by di st ance, as i f
t he ar t i st had been mer el y abl e t o suggest i t , not t o make i t qui t e r eal . I n
t he next i nst ant t he woman moved her headand Dagny r eal i zed t hat t her e wer e
peopl e at t he t abl es i nsi de t he st r uct ur e, t hat i t was a caf et er i a, t hat t he
woman st ood behi nd t he count er , and t hat she was Kay Ludl ow, t he movi e st ar
who, once seen, coul d never be f or got t en; t he st ar who had r et i r ed and
vani shed f i ve year s ago, t o be r epl aced by gi r l s of i ndi st i ngui shabl e names
and i nt er changeabl e f aces. But at t he shock of t he r eal i zat i on, Dagny t hought
of t he sor t of movi es t hat wer e now bei ng madeand t hen she f el t t hat t he
gl ass caf et er i a was a cl eaner use f or Kay Ludl ow' s beaut y t han a r ol e i n a
pi ct ur e gl or i f yi ng t he commonpl ace f or possessi ng no gl or y.
The bui l di ng t hat came next was a smal l , squat bl ock of r ough gr ani t e,
st ur dy, sol i d, neat l y bui l t , t he l i nes of i t s r ect angul ar bul k as sever el y
pr eci se as t he cr eases of a f or mal gar ment but she saw, l i ke an i nst ant ' s
ghost , t he l ong st r eak of a skyscr aper r i si ng i nt o t he coi l s of Chi cago' s
f og, t he skyscr aper t hat had once bor ne t he si gn she now saw wr i t t en i n gol d
l et t er s above a modest pi ne- wood door : Mul l i gan Bank.
Gal t sl owed t he car whi l e movi ng past t he bank, as i f pl aci ng t he mot i on
i n some speci al i t al i cs.
A smal l br i ck st r uct ur e came next , bear i ng t he si gn: Mul l i gan Mi nt .
" A mi nt ?" she asked. " What ' s Mul l i gan doi ng wi t h a mi nt ?" Gal t r eached
i nt o hi s pocket and dr opped t wo smal l coi ns i nt o t he pal mof her hand. They
wer e mi ni at ur e di sks of shi ni ng gol d, smal l er t han penni es, t he ki nd t hat had
not been i n ci r cul at i on si nce t he days of Nat Taggar t ; t hey bor e t he head of
t he St at ue of Li ber t y on one si de, t he wor ds " Uni t ed St at es of Amer i caOne
Dol l ar " on t he ot her , but t he dat es st amped upon t hemwer e of t he past t wo
year s.
" That ' s t he money we use her e, " he sai d. " I t ' s mi nt ed by Mi das Mul l i gan. "
" But . . . on whose aut hor i t y?"
" That ' s st at ed on t he coi non bot h si des of i t . "
" What do you use f or smal l change?"
" Mul l i gan mi nt s t hat , t oo, i n si l ver . We don' t accept any ot her cur r ency
i n t hi s val l ey. We accept not hi ng but obj ect i ve val ues. "
She was st udyi ng t he coi ns. " Thi s l ooks l i ke . . . l i ke somet hi ng f r omt he
f i r st mor ni ng i n t he age of my ancest or s. "
He poi nt ed at t he val l ey, " Yes, doesn' t i t ?"
She sat l ooki ng at t he t wo t hi n, del i cat e, al most wei ght l ess dr ops of gol d
i n t he pal mof her hand, knowi ng t hat t he whol e of t he Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al syst emhad r est ed upon t hem, t hat t hi s had been t he keyst one
suppor t i ng al l t he keyst ones, al l t he ar ches, al l t he gi r der s of t he Taggar t
t r ack, t he Taggar t Br i dge, t he Taggar t Bui l di ng. . . . She shook her head and
sl i pped t he coi ns back i nt o hi s hand.
" You' r e not maki ng i t easi er f or me, " she sai d, her voi ce l ow.
" I ' mmaki ng i t as har d as possi bl e. "
" Why don' t you say i t ? Why don' t you t el l me al l t he t hi ngs you want me t o
l ear n?"
The gest ur e of hi s ar mpoi nt ed at t he t own, at t he r oad behi nd t hem.
" What have I been doi ng?" he asked.
They dr ove on i n si l ence. Af t er a whi l e, she asked, i n t he t one of a dr yl y
st at i st i cal i nqui r y, " How much of a f or t une has Mi das Mul l i gan amassed i n
t hi s val l ey?"
He poi nt ed ahead. " J udge f or your sel f . "
The r oad was wi ndi ng t hr ough st r et ches of unl evel ed soi l t owar d t he homes
of t he val l ey. The homes wer e not l i ned al ong a st r eet , t hey wer e spr ead at
i r r egul ar i nt er val s over t he r i ses and hol l ows of t he gr ound, t hey wer e smal l
and si mpl e, bui l t of l ocal mat er i al s, most l y of gr ani t e and pi ne, wi t h a
pr odi gal i ngenui t y of t hought and a t i ght economy of physi cal ef f or t . Ever y
house l ooked as i f i t had been put up by t he l abor of one man, no t wo houses
wer e al i ke, and t he onl y qual i t y t hey had i n common was t he st amp of a mi nd
gr aspi ng a pr obl emand sol vi ng i t . Gal t poi nt ed out a house, once i n a whi l e,
choosi ng t he names she knewand i t sounded t o her l i ke a l i st of quot at i ons
f r omt he r i chest st ock exchange i n t he wor l d, or l i ke a r ol l cal l of honor :
" Ken Danagger . . . Ted Ni el sen . . . Lawr ence Hammond . . . Roger Mar sh . .
. El l i s Wyat t . . . Owen Kel l ogg . . . Dr . Akst on. "
The home of Dr . Akst on was t he l ast , a smal l cot t age wi t h a l ar ge t er r ace,
l i f t ed on t he cr est of a wave agai nst t he r i si ng wal l s of t he mount ai ns. The
r oad went past i t and cl i mbed on i nt o t he coi l s of an ascendi ng gr ade. The
pavement shr ank t o a nar r ow pat h bet ween t wo wal l s of anci ent pi nes, t hei r
t al l , st r ai ght t r unks pr essi ng agai nst i t l i ke a gr i mcol onnade, t hei r
br anches meet i ng above, swal l owi ng t he pat h i nt o sudden si l ence and t wi l i ght .
Ther e wer e no mar ks of wheel s on t he t hi n st r i p of ear t h, i t l ooked unused
and f or got t en, a f ew mi nut es and a f ew t ur ns seemed t o t ake t he car mi l es
away f r omhuman habi t at i on
and t hen t her e was not hi ng t o br eak t he pr essur e of t he st i l l ness but a
r ar e wedge of sunl i ght cut t i ng acr oss t he t r unks i n t he dept h of t he f or est
once i n a whi l e.
The sudden si ght of a house on t he edge of t he pat h st r uck her l i ke t he
shock of an unexpect ed sound: bui l t i n l onel i ness, cut of f f r omal l t i es t o
human exi st ence, i t l ooked l i ke t he secr et r et r eat of some gr eat def i ance or
sor r ow. I t was t he humbl est home of t he val l ey, a l og cabi n beat en i n dar k
st r eaks by t he t ear s of many r ai ns, onl y i t s gr eat wi ndows wi t hst andi ng t he
st or ms wi t h t he smoot h, shi ni ng, unt ouched ser eni t y of gl ass.
" Whose house i s . . . Oh! " she caught her br eat h and j er ked her head away.
Above t he door , hi t by a r ay of sun, i t s desi gn bl ur r ed and wor n, bat t er ed
smoot h by t he wi nds of cent ur i es, hung t he si l ver coat of - ar ms of Sebast i an
d' Anconi a.
As i f i n del i ber at e answer t o her i nvol unt ar y movement of escape, Gal t
st opped t he car i n f r ont of t he house. For a moment , t hey hel d each ot her ' s
eyes: her gl ance was a quest i on, hi s a command, her f ace had a def i ant
f r ankness, hi s an unr eveal i ng sever i t y; she under st ood hi s pur pose, but not
hi s mot i ve. She obeyed. Leani ng on her cane, she st epped out of t he car , t hen
st ood er ect , f aci ng t he house.
She l ooked at t he si l ver cr est t hat had come f r oma mar bl e pal ace i n Spai n
t o a shack i n t he Andes t o a l og cabi n i n Col or adot he cr est of t he men who
woul d not submi t . The door of t he cabi n was l ocked, t he sun di d not r each
i nt o t he gl azed dar kness beyond t he wi ndows, and pi ne br anches hung
out st r et ched above t he r oof l i ke ar ms spr ead i n pr ot ect i on, i n compassi on, i n
sol emn bl essi ng. Wi t h no sound but t he snap of a t wi g or t he r i ng of a dr op
f al l i ng somewher e i n t he f or est t hr ough l ong st r et ches of moment s, t he
si l ence seemed t o hol d al l t he pai n t hat had been hi dden her e, but never
gi ven voi ce. She st ood, l i st eni ng wi t h a gent l e, r esi gned, unl ament i ng
r espect : Let ' s see who' l l do gr eat er honor , yout o Nat Taggar t , or I t o
Sebast i an d' Anconi a. . . .
Dagny! Hel p me t o r emai n. To r ef use. Even t hough he' s r i ght ! . . .
She t ur ned t o l ook at Gal t , knowi ng t hat he was t he man agai nst whomshe
had had no hel p t o of f er . He sat at t he wheel of t he car , he had not f ol l owed
her or moved t o assi st her , as i f he had want ed her t o acknowl edge t he past
and had r espect ed t he pr i vacy of her l onel y sal ut e. She not i ced t hat he st i l l
sat as she had l ef t hi m, hi s f or ear ml eani ng agai nst t he wheel at t he same
angl e, t he f i nger s of hi s hand hangi ng down i n t he same scul pt ur ed posi t i on.
Hi s eyes wer e wat chi ng her , but t hat was al l she coul d r ead i n hi s f ace: t hat
he had wat ched her i nt ent l y, wi t hout movi ng.
When she was seat ed besi de hi monce mor e, he sai d, " That was t he f i r st man
I t ook away f r omyou. "
She asked, her f ace st er n, open and qui et l y def i ant , " How much do you know
about t hat ?"
" Not hi ng t hat he t ol d me i n wor ds. Ever yt hi ng t hat t he t one of hi s voi ce
t ol d me whenever he spoke of you. "
She i ncl i ned her head. She had caught t he sound of suf f er i ng i n t he
f ai nt est exagger at i on of evenness i n hi s voi ce.
He pr essed t he st ar t er , t he mot or ' s expl osi on bl ast ed t he st or y cont ai ned
i n t he si l ence, and t hey dr ove on. , The pat h wi dened a l i t t l e, st r eami ng
t owar d a pool of sunl i ght ahead.
She saw a br i ef gl i t t er of wi r es among t he br anches, as t hey dr ove out
i nt o a cl ear i ng. An unobt r usi ve l i t t l e st r uct ur e st ood agai nst a hi l l si de, on
a r i si ng sl ant of r ocky gr ound. I t was a si mpl e cube of gr ani t e, t he si ze of
a t ool shed, i t had no wi ndows, no aper t ur es of any ki nd, onl y a door of
pol i shed st eel and a compl ex set of wi r e ant ennae br anchi ng out f r omt he
r oof . Gal t was dr i vi ng past , l eavi ng i t unnot i ced, when she asked wi t h a
sudden st ar t , " What ' s t hat ?"
She saw t he f ai nt br eak of hi s smi l e. " The power house. "
" Oh, st op, pl ease! "
He obeyed, backi ng t he car t o t he f oot of t he hi l l si de. I t was her f i r st
f ew st eps up t he r ocky i ncl i ne t hat st opped her , as i f t her e wer e no need t o
move f or war d, no f ur t her pl ace t o r i seand she st ood as i n t he moment when
she had opened her eyes on t he ear t h of t he val l ey, a moment uni t i ng her
begi nni ng t o her goal .
She st ood l ooki ng up at t he st r uct ur e, her consci ousness sur r ender ed t o a
si ngl e si ght and a si ngl e, wor dl ess emot i onbut she had al ways known t hat an
emot i on was a sumt ot al ed by an addi ng machi ne of t he mi nd, and what she now
f el t was t he i nst ant aneous t ot al of t he t hought s she di d not have t o name,
t he f i nal sumof a l ong pr ogr essi on, l i ke a voi ce t el l i ng her by means of a
f eel i ng: I f she had hel d ont o Ouent i n Dani el s, wi t h no hope of a chance t o
use t he mot or , f or t he sol e sake of knowi ng t hat achi evement had not di ed on
ear t hi f , l i ke a wei ght ed di ver si nki ng i n an ocean of medi ocr i t y, under t he
pr essur e of men wi t h gel at i n eyes, r ubber voi ces, spi r al - shaped convi ct i ons,
noncommi t t al soul s and non- commi t t i ng hands, she had hel d, as her l i f e l i ne
and oxygen t ube, t he t hought of a super l at i ve achi evement of t he human mi nd
i f , at t he si ght of t he mot or ' s r emnant , i n a sudden gasp of suf f ocat i on, as
a l ast pr ot est f r omhi s cor r upt i on- eat en l ungs, Dr .
St adl er had cr i ed f or somet hi ng, not t o l ook down at , but up t o, and t hi s
had been t he cr y, t he l ongi ng and t he f uel of her l i f ei f she had moved,
dr awn by t he hunger of her yout h f or a si ght of cl ean, har d, r adi ant
compet encet hen her e i t was bef or e her , r eached and done, t he power of an
i ncompar abl e mi nd gi ven shape i n a net of wi r es spar kl i ng peacef ul l y under a
summer sky, dr awi ng an i ncal cul abl e power out of space i nt o t he secr et
i nt er i or of a smal l st one hovel .
She t hought of t hi s st r uct ur e, hal f t he si ze of a boxcar , r epl aci ng t he
power pl ant s of t he count r y, t he enor mous congl omer at i ons of st eel , f uel and
ef f or t she t hought of t he cur r ent f l owi ng f r omt hi s st r uct ur e, l i f t i ng
ounces, pounds, t ons of st r ai n f r omt he shoul der s of t hose who woul d make i t
or use i t , addi ng hour s, days and year s of l i ber at ed t i me t o t hei r l i ves, be
i t an ext r a moment t o l i f t one' s head f r omone' s t ask and gl ance at t he
sunl i ght , or an ext r a pack of ci gar et t es bought wi t h t he money saved f r om
one' s el ect r i c bi l l , or an hour cut f r omt he wor kday of ever y f act or y usi ng
power , or a mont h' s j our ney t hr ough t he whol e, open wi dt h of t he wor l d, on a
t i cket pai d f or by one day of one' s l abor , on a t r ai n pul l ed by t he power of
t hi s mot or wi t h al l t he ener gy of t hat wei ght , t hat st r ai n, t hat t i me
r epl aced and pai d f or by t he ener gy of a si ngl e mi nd who had known how t o
make connect i ons of wi r e f ol l ow t he connect i ons of hi s t hought . But she knew
t hat t her e was no meani ng i n mot or s or f act or i es or t r ai ns, t hat t hei r onl y
meani ng was i n man' s enj oyment of hi s l i f e, whi ch t hey ser vedand t hat her
swel l i ng admi r at i on at t he si ght of an achi evement was f or t he man f r omwhom
i t came, f or t he power and t he r adi ant vi si on wi t hi n hi mwhi ch had seen t he
ear t h as a pl ace of enj oyment and had known t hat t he wor k of achi evi ng one' s
happi ness was t he pur pose, t he sanct i on and t he meani ng of l i f e.
The door of t he st r uct ur e was a st r ai ght , smoot h sheet of st ai nl ess st eel ,
sof t l y l ust r ous and bl ui sh i n t he sun. Above i t , cut i n t he gr ani t e, as t he
onl y f eat ur e of t he bui l di ng' s r ect angul ar aust er i t y, t her e st ood an
i nscr i pt i on: I SWEAR BY MY LI FE AND MY LOVE OF I T THAT I WI LL NEVER LI VE FOR
THE SAKE OF ANOTHER
MAN, NOR ASK ANOTHER MAN TO LI VE FOR MI NE.
She t ur ned t o Gal t . He st ood besi de her ; he had f ol l owed her , he had known
t hat t hi s sal ut e was hi s. She was l ooki ng at t he i nvent or of t he mot or , but
what she saw was t he easy, casual f i gur e of a wor kman i n hi s nat ur al set t i ng
and f unct i onshe not ed t he uncommon l i ght ness of hi s post ur e, a wei ght l ess
way of st andi ng t hat showed an exper t cont r ol of t he use of hi s bodya t al l
body i n si mpl e gar ment s: a t hi n shi r t , l i ght sl acks, a bel t about a sl ender
wai st l i neand l oose hai r made t o gl i t t er l i ke met al by t he cur r ent of a
sl uggi sh wi nd. She l ooked at hi mas she had l ooked at hi s st r uct ur e.
Then she knew t hat t he f i r st t wo sent ences t hey had sai d t o each ot her
st i l l hung bet ween t hem, f i l l i ng t he si l encet hat ever yt hi ng sai d si nce, had
been sai d over t he sound of t hose wor ds, t hat he had known i t , had hel d i t ,
had not l et her f or get i t . She was suddenl y awar e t hat t hey wer e al one; i t
was an awar eness t hat st r essed t he f act , per mi t t i ng no f ur t her i mpl i cat i on,
yet hol di ng t he f ul l meani ng of t he unnamed i n t hat speci al st r ess. They wer e
al one i n a si l ent f or est , at t he f oot of a st r uct ur e t hat l ooked l i ke an
anci ent t empl eand she knew what r i t e was t he pr oper f or mof wor shi p t o be
of f er ed on an al t ar of t hat ki nd.
She f el t a sudden pr essur e at t he base of her t hr oat , her head l eaned back
a l i t t l e, no mor e t han t o f eel t he f ai nt shi f t of a cur r ent agai nst her hai r ,
but i t was as i f she wer e l yi ng back i n space, agai nst t he wi nd, consci ous of
not hi ng but hi s l egs and t he shape of hi s mout h. He st ood wat chi ng her , hi s
f ace st i l l but f or t he f ai nt movement of hi s eyel i ds dr awi ng nar r ow as i f
agai nst t oo st r ong a l i ght . I t was l i ke t he beat of t hr ee i nst ant st hi s was
t he f i r st and i n t he next , she f el t a st ab of f er oci ous t r i umph at t he
knowl edge t hat hi s ef f or t and hi s st r uggl e wer e har der t o endur e t han her s
and, t hen he moved hi s eyes and r ai sed hi s head t o l ook at t he i nscr i pt i on on
t he t empl e.
She l et hi ml ook at i t f or a moment , al most as an act of condescendi ng
mer cy t o an adver sar y st r uggl i ng t o r ef uel hi s st r engt h, t hen she asked, wi t h
a not e of i mper i ous pr i de i n her voi ce, poi nt i ng at t he i nscr i pt i on, " What ' s
t hat ?"
" I t ' s t he oat h t hat was t aken by ever y per son i n t hi s val l ey, but you. "
She sai d, l ooki ng at t he wor ds, " Thi s has al ways been my own r ul e of
l i vi ng. "
" I know i t . "
" But I don' t t hi nk t hat your s i s t he way t o pr act i ce i t . "
" Then you' l l have t o l ear n whi ch one of us i s wr ong. "
She wal ked up t o t he st eel door of t he st r uct ur e, wi t h a sudden conf i dence
f ai nt l y st r essed i n t he movement s of her body, a mer e hi nt of st r ess, no mor e
t han her awar eness of t he power she hel d by means of hi s pai nand she t r i ed,
aski ng no per mi ssi on, t o t ur n t he knob of t he door . But t he door was l ocked,
and she f el t no t r emor under t he pr essur e of her hand, as i f t he l ock wer e
pour ed and seal ed t o t he st one wi t h t he sol i d st eel of t he sheet .
" Don' t t r y t o open t hat door , Mi ss Taggar t "
He appr oached her , hi s st eps a shade t oo sl ow, as i f st r essi ng hi s
knowl edge of her awar eness of ever y st ep. " No amount of physi cal f or ce wi l l
do i t , " he sai d. " Onl y a t hought can open t hat door . I f you t r i ed t o br eak i t
down by means of t he best expl osi ves i n t he wor l d, t he machi ner y i nsi de woul d
col l apse i nt o r ubbl e l ong bef or e t he door woul d gi ve way. But r each t he
t hought whi ch i t r equi r esand t he secr et of t he mot or wi l l be your s, as wel l
as" i t was t he f i r st br eak she had hear d i n hi s voi ce" as wel l as any ot her
secr et you mi ght wi sh t o know. "
He f aced her f or a moment , as i f l eavi ng hi msel f open t o her f ul l
under st andi ng, t hen smi l ed oddl y, qui et l y at some t hought of hi s own, and
added, " I ' l l show you how i t ' s done. "
He st epped back. Then, st andi ng st i l l , hi s f ace r ai sed t o t he wor ds car ved
i n t he st one, he r epeat ed t hemsl owl y, evenl y, as i f t aki ng t hat oat h once
mor e. Ther e was no emot i on i n hi s voi ce, not hi ng but t he spaced cl ar i t y of
t he sounds he pr onounced wi t h f ul l knowl edge of t hei r meani ngbut she knew
t hat she was wi t nessi ng t he most sol emn moment i t woul d ever be gi ven her t o
wi t ness, she was seei ng a man' s naked soul and t he cost i t had pai d t o ut t er
t hese wor ds, she was hear i ng an echo of t he day when he had pr onounced t hat
oat h f or t he f i r st t i me and wi t h f ul l knowl edge of t he year s aheadshe knew
what manner of man had st ood up t o f ace si x t housand ot her s on a dar k spr i ng
ni ght and why t hey had been af r ai d of hi m, she knew t hat t hi s was t he bi r t h
and t he cor e of al l t he t hi ngs t hat had happened t o t he wor l d i n t he t wel ve
year s si nce, she knew t hat t hi s was of f ar gr eat er i mpor t t han t he mot or
hi dden i nsi de t he st r uct ur eshe knew i t , t o t he sound of a man' s voi ce
pr onounci ng i n sel f - r emi nder and r ededi cat i on: " I swear by my l i f e . . . and
my l ove of i t . . . t hat I wi l l never l i ve f or t he sake of anot her man . . .
nor ask anot her man . . . t o l i ve . . . f or mi ne. "
I t di d not st ar t l e her , i t seemed unast oni shi ng and al most uni mpor t ant ,
t hat at t he end of t he l ast sound, she saw t he door openi ng sl owl y, wi t hout
human t ouch, movi ng i nwar d upon a gr owi ng st r i p of dar kness.
I n t he moment when an el ect r i c l i ght went on i nsi de t he st r uct ur e, he
sei zed t he knob and pul l ed t he door shut , i t s l ock cl i cki ng seal ed once mor e.
" I t ' s a sound l ock, " he sai d; hi s f ace was ser ene. " That sent ence i s t he
combi nat i on of sounds needed t o open i t . I don' t mi nd t el l i ng you t hi s
secr et because I know t hat you won' t pr onounce t hose wor ds unt i l you mean
t hemt he way I i nt ended t hemt o be meant . "
She i ncl i ned her head. " I won' t . "
She f ol l owed hi mdown t o t he car , sl owl y, f eel i ng suddenl y t oo exhaust ed
t o move. She f el l back agai nst t he seat , cl osi ng her eyes, bar el y hear i ng t he
sound of t he st ar t er . The accumul at ed st r ai n and shock of her sl eepl ess hour s
hi t her at once, br eaki ng t hr ough t he bar r i er of t he t ensi on her ner ves had
hel d t o del ay i t . She l ay st i l l , unabl e t o t hi nk, t o r eact or t o st r uggl e,
dr ai ned of al l emot i ons but one.
She di d not speak. She di d not open her eyes unt i l t he car st opped i n
f r ont of hi s house.
" You' d bet t er r est , " he sai d, " and go t o sl eep r i ght now, i f you want t o
at t end Mul l i gan' s di nner t oni ght . "
She nodded obedi ent l y. She st agger ed t o t he house, avoi di ng hi s hel p. She
made an ef f or t t o t el l hi m, " I ' l l be al l r i ght , " t hen t o escape t o t he saf et y
of her r oomand l ast l ong enough t o cl ose t he door .
She col l apsed, f ace down, on t he bed. I t was not t he mer e f act of physi cal
exhaust i on. I t was t he sudden monomani a of a sensat i on t oo compl et e t o
endur e. Whi l e t he st r engt h of her body was gone, whi l e her mi nd had l ost t he
f acul t y of consci ousness, a si ngl e emot i on dr ew on her r emnant s of ener gy, of
under st andi ng, of j udgment , of cont r ol , l eavi ng her not hi ng t o r esi st i t wi t h
or t o di r ect i t , maki ng her unabl e t o desi r e, onl y t o f eel , r educi ng her t o a
mer e sensat i ona st at i c sensat i on wi t hout st ar t or goal . She kept seei ng hi s
f i gur e i n her mi ndhi s f i gur e as he had st ood at t he door of t he st r uct ur e
she f el t not hi ng el se, no wi sh, no hope, no est i mat e of her f eel i ng, no name
f or i t , no r el at i on t o her sel f t her e was no ent i t y such as her sel f , she was
not a per son, onl y a f unct i on, t he f unct i on of seei ng hi m, and t he si ght was
i t s own meani ng and pur pose, wi t h no f ur t her end t o r each.
Her f ace bur i ed i n t he pi l l ow, she r ecal l ed di ml y, as a f ai nt sensat i on,
t he moment of her t ake- of f f r omt he f l oodl i ght ed st r i p of t he Kansas
ai r f i el d. She f el t t he beat of t he engi ne, t he st r eak of accel er at i ng mot i on
gat her i ng power i n a st r ai ght - l i ne r un t o a si ngl e goal and i n t he moment
when t he wheel s l ef t t he gr ound, she was asl eep.
The f l oor of t he val l ey was l i ke a pool st i l l r ef l ect i ng t he gl ow of t he
sky, but t he l i ght was t hi ckeni ng f r omgol d t o copper , t he shor es wer e f adi ng
and t he peaks wer e smoke- bl uewhen t hey dr ove t o Mul l i gan' s house.
Ther e was no t r ace of exhaust i on l ef t i n her bear i ng and no r emnant of
vi ol ence. She had awakened at sundown; st eppi ng out of her r oom, she had
f ound Gal t wai t i ng, si t t i ng i dl y mot i onl ess i n t he l i ght of a l amp. He had
gl anced up at her ; she had st ood i n t he door way, her f ace composed, her hai r
smoot h, her post ur e r el axed and conf i dent she had l ooked as she woul d have
l ooked on t he t hr eshol d of her of f i ce i n t he Taggar t Bui l di ng, but f or t he
sl i ght angl e of her body l eani ng on a cane. He had sat l ooki ng at her f or a
moment , and she had wonder ed why she had f el t cer t ai n t hat t hi s was t he i mage
he was seei nghe was seei ng t he door way of her of f i ce, as i f i t wer e a si ght
l ong- i magi ned and l ong- f or bi dden.
She sat besi de hi mi n t he car , f eel i ng no desi r e t o speak, knowi ng t hat
nei t her of t hemcoul d conceal t he meani ng of t hei r si l ence. She wat ched a f ew
l i ght s come up i n t he di st ant homes of t he val l ey, t hen t he l i ght ed wi ndows
of Mul l i gan' s house on t he l edge ahead. She asked, " Who wi l l be t her e?"
" Some of your l ast f r i ends, " he answer ed, " and some of my f i r st . "
Mi das Mul l i gan met t hemat t he door . She not i ced t hat hi s gr i m, squar e
f ace was not as har shl y expr essi onl ess as she had t hought : he had a l ook of
sat i sf act i on, but sat i sf act i on coul d not sof t en hi s f eat ur es, i t mer el y
st r uck t heml i ke f l i nt and sent spar ks of humor t o gl i t t er f ai nt l y i n t he
cor ner s of hi s eyes, a humor t hat was shr ewder , mor e demandi ng, yet war mer
t han a smi l e.
He opened t he door of hi s house, movi ng hi s ar ma shade mor e sl owl y t han
nor mal , gi vi ng an i mper cept i bl y sol emn emphasi s t o hi s gest ur e.
Wal ki ng i nt o t he l i vi ng r oom, she f aced seven men who r ose t o t hei r f eet
at her ent r ance.
" Gent l emenTaggar t Tr anscont i nent al , " sai d Mi das Mul l i gan.
He sai d i t smi l i ng, but onl y hal f - j est i ng; some qual i t y i n hi s voi ce made
t he name of t he r ai l r oad sound as i t woul d have sounded i n t he days of Nat
Taggar t , as a sonor ous t i t l e of honor .
She i ncl i ned her head, sl owl y, i n acknowl edgment t o t he men bef or e her ,
knowi ng t hat t hese wer e t he men whose st andar ds of val ue and honor wer e t he
same as her own, t he men who r ecogni zed t he gl or y of t hat t i t l e as she
r ecogni zed i t , knowi ng wi t h a sudden st ab of wi st f ul ness how much she had
l onged f or t hat r ecogni t i on t hr ough al l her year s.
Her eyes moved sl owl y, i n gr eet i ng, f r omf ace t o f ace: El l i s Wyat t
Ken Danagger Hugh Akst onDr . Hendr i cksQuent i n Dani el s
Mul l i gan' s voi ce pr onounced t he names of t he t wo ot her s: " Ri char d Hal l ey
J udge Nar r aganset t . "
The f ai nt smi l e on Ri char d Hal l ey' s f ace seemed t o t el l her t hat t hey had
known each ot her f or year sas, i n her l onel y eveni ngs by t he si de of her
phonogr aph, t hey had. The aust er i t y of J udge Nar r aganset t ' s whi t e- hai r ed
f i gur e r emi nded her t hat she had once hear d hi mdescr i bed as a mar bl e st at ue
a bl i ndf ol ded mar bl e st at ue; i t was t he ki nd of f i gur e t hat had vani shed f r om
t he cour t r ooms of t he count r y when t he gol d coi ns had vani shed f r omt he
count r y' s hands.
" You have bel onged her e f or a l ong t i me, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Mi das
Mul l i gan. " Thi s was not t he way we expect ed you t o come, but wel come home. "
No! she want ed t o answer , but hear d her sel f answer i ng sof t l y, " Thank you. "
" Dagny, how many year s i s i t goi ng t o t ake you t o l ear n t o be your sel f ?
I t was El l i s Wyat t , gr aspi ng her el bow, l eadi ng her t o a chai r , gr i nni ng at
her l ook of hel pl essness, at t he st r uggl e bet ween a smi l e and a t i ght eni ng
r esi st ance i n her f ace. " Don' t pr et end t hat you don' t under st and us. You do. "
" We never make asser t i ons, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Hugh Akst on. " That i s t he
mor al cr i me pecul i ar t o our enemi es. We do not t el l we show.
We do not cl ai mwe pr ove. I t i s not your obedi ence t hat we seek t o wi n,
but your r at i onal convi ct i on. You have seen al l t he el ement s of our secr et .
The concl usi on i s now your s t o dr awwe can hel p you t o name i t , but not t o
accept i t t he si ght , t he knowl edge and t he accept ance must be your s. "
" I f eel as i f I know i t , " she answer ed si mpl y, " and mor e: I f eel as i f
I ' ve al ways known i t , but never f ound i t , and now I ' maf r ai d, not af r ai d t o
hear i t , j ust af r ai d t hat i t ' s comi ng so cl ose. "
Akst on smi l ed. " What does t hi s l ook l i ke t o you, Mi ss Taggar t ?" He poi nt ed
ar ound t he r oom.
" Thi s?" She l aughed suddenl y, l ooki ng at t he f aces of t he men agai nst t he
gol den sunbur st of r ays f i l l i ng t he gr eat wi ndows. " Thi s l ooks l i ke . . . You
know, I never hoped t o see any of you agai n, I wonder ed at t i mes how much I ' d
gi ve f or j ust one mor e gl i mpse or one mor e wor dand nownow t hi s i s l i ke t hat
dr eamyou i magi ne i n chi l dhood, when you t hi nk t hat some day, i n heaven, you
wi l l see t hose gr eat depar t ed whomyou had not seen on ear t h, and you choose,
f r omal l t he past cent ur i es, t he gr eat men you woul d l i ke t o meet . "
" Wel l , t hat ' s one cl ue t o t he nat ur e of our secr et , " sai d Akst on.
" Ask your sel f whet her t he dr eamof heaven and gr eat ness shoul d be l ef t
wai t i ng f or us i n our gr avesor whet her i t shoul d be our s her e and now and on
t hi s ear t h. "
" I know, " she whi sper ed.
" And i f you met t hose gr eat men i n heaven, " asked Ken Danagger , " what
woul d you want t o say t o t hem?"
" J ust . . . j ust ' hel l o, ' I guess. "
" That ' s not al l , " sai d Danagger . " Ther e' s somet hi ng you' d want t o hear
f r omt hem. I di dn' t know i t , ei t her , unt i l I saw hi mf or t he f i r st t i me" he
poi nt ed t o Gal t " and he sai d i t t o me, and t hen I knew what i t was t hat I had
mi ssed al l my l i f e. Mi ss Taggar t , you' d want t hemt o l ook at you and t o say,
' Wel l done " She dr opped her head and nodded si l ent l y, head down, not t o l et
hi msee t he sudden spur t of t ear s t o her eyes. " Al l r i ght , t hen: Wel l done,
Dagny! wel l donet oo wel l and now i t ' s t i me f or you t o r est f r omt hat bur den
whi ch none of us shoul d ever have had t o car r y. "
" Shut up, " sai d Mi das Mul l i gan, l ooki ng at her bowed head wi t h anxi ous
concer n.
But she r ai sed her head, smi l i ng. " Thank you, " she sai d t o Danagger .
" I f you t al k about r est i ng, t hen l et her r est , sai d Mul l i gan. " She' s had
t oo much f or one day. "
" No. " She smi l ed. " Go ahead, say i t what ever i t i s. "
" Lat er , " sai d Mul l i gan.
I t was Mul l i gan and Akst on who ser ved di nner , wi t h Quent i n Dani el s t o hel p
t hem. They ser ved i t on smal l si l ver t r ays, t o be pl aced on t he ar ms of t he
chai r sand t hey al l sat about t he r oom, wi t h t he f i r e of t he sky f adi ng i n
t he wi ndows and spar ks of el ect r i c l i ght gl i t t er i ng i n t he wi ne gl asses.
Ther e was an ai r of l uxur y about t he r oom, but i t was t he l uxur y of exper t
si mpl i ci t y; she not ed t he cost l y f ur ni t ur e, car ef ul l y chosen f or comf or t ,
bought somewher e at a t i me when l uxur y had st i l l been an ar t . Ther e wer e no
super f l uous obj ect s, but she not i ced a smal l canvas by a gr eat mast er of t he
Renai ssance, wor t h a f or t une, she not i ced an Or i ent al r ug of a t ext ur e and
col or t hat bel onged under gl ass i n a museum. Thi s was Mul l i gan' s concept of
weal t h, she t hought t he weal t h of sel ect i on, not of accumul at i on.
Quent i n Dani el s sat on t he f l oor , wi t h hi s t r ay on hi s l ap; he seemed
compl et el y at home, and he gl anced up at her once i n a whi l e, gr i nni ng l i ke
an i mpudent ki d br ot her who had beat en her t o a secr et she had not
di scover ed. He had pr eceded her i nt o t he val l ey by some t en mi nut es, she
t hought , but he was one of t hem, whi l e she was st i l l a st r anger .
Gal t sat asi de, beyond t he ci r cl e of l ampl i ght , on t he ar mof Dr .
Akst on' s chai r . He had not sai d a wor d, he had st epped back and t ur ned her
over t o t he ot her s, and he sat wat chi ng i t as a spect acl e i n whi ch he had no
f ur t her par t t o pl ay. But her eyes kept comi ng back t o hi m, dr awn by t he
cer t ai nt y t hat t he spect acl e was of hi s choi ce and st agi ng, t hat he had set
i t i n mot i on l ong ago, and t hat al l t he ot her s knew i t as she knew i t .
She not i ced anot her per son who was i nt ensel y awar e of Gal t ' s pr esence:
Hugh Akst on gl anced up at hi monce i n a whi l e, i nvol unt ar i l y, al most
sur r ept i t i ousl y, as i f st r uggl i ng not t o conf ess t he l onel i ness of a l ong
separ at i on. Akst on di d not speak t o hi m, as i f t aki ng hi s pr esence f or
gr ant ed. But once, when Gal t bent f or war d and a st r and of hai r f el l down
acr oss hi s f ace, Akst on r eached over and br ushed i t back, hi s hand l i nger i ng
f or an i mper cept i bl e i nst ant on hi s pupi l ' s f or ehead: i t was t he onl y br eak
of emot i on he per mi t t ed hi msel f , t he onl y gr eet i ng; i t was t he gest ur e of a
f at her .
She f ound her sel f t al ki ng t o t he men ar ound her , r el axi ng i n l i ght hear t ed
comf or t . No, she t hought , what she f el t was not st r ai n, i t was a di m
ast oni shment at t he st r ai n whi ch she shoul d, but di d not , f eel ; t he
abnor mal i t y of i t was t hat i t seemed so nor mal and si mpl e.
She was bar el y awar e of her quest i ons, as she spoke t o one man af t er
anot her , but t hei r answer s wer e pr i nt i ng a r ecor d i n her mi nd, movi ng
sent ence by sent ence t o a goal .
" The Fi f t h Concer t o?" sai d Ri char d Hal l ey, i n answer t o her quest i on. " I
wr ot e i t t en year s ago. We cal l i t t he Concer t o of Del i ver ance.
Thank you f or r ecogni zi ng i t f r oma f ew not es whi st l ed i n t he ni ght .
. . . Yes, I know about t hat . . . . Yes, si nce you knew my wor k, you woul d
know, when you hear d i t , t hat t hi s Concer t o sai d ever yt hi ng I had been
st r uggl i ng t o say and r each. I t ' s dedi cat ed t o hi m. " He poi nt ed t o Gal t .
" Why, no, Mi ss Taggar t , I haven' t gi ven up musi c, What makes you t hi nk so?
I ' ve wr i t t en mor e i n t he l ast t en year s t han i n any ot her per i od of my l i f e.
I wi l l pl ay i t f or you, any of i t , when you come t o my house. . . . No, Mi ss
Taggar t , i t wi l l not be publ i shed out si de. Not a not e of i t wi l l be hear d
beyond t hese mount ai ns. "
" No, Mi ss Taggar t , I have not gi ven up medi ci ne, " sai d Dr . Hendr i cks, i n
answer t o her quest i on. " I have spent t he l ast si x year s on r esear ch. I have
di scover ed a met hod t o pr ot ect t he bl ood vessel s of t he br ai n f r omt hat f at al
r upt ur e whi ch i s known as a br ai n st r oke. I t wi l l r emove f r omhuman exi st ence
t he t er r i bl e t hr eat of sudden par al ysi s.
. . . No, not a wor d of my met hod wi l l be hear d out si de.
" The l aw, Mi ss Taggar t ?" sai d J udge Nar r aganset t . " What l aw? I di d not
gi ve i t upi t has ceased t o exi st . But I amst i l l wor ki ng i n t he pr of essi on I
had chosen, whi ch was t hat of ser vi ng t he cause of j ust i ce.
. . . No, j ust i ce has not ceased t o exi st . How coul d i t ? I t i s possi bl e
f or men t o abandon t hei r si ght of i t , and t hen i t i s j ust i ce t hat dest r oys
t hem. But i t i s not possi bl e f or j ust i ce t o go out of exi st ence, because one
i s an at t r i but e of t he ot her , because j ust i ce i s t he act of acknowl edgi ng
t hat whi ch exi st s. . . . Yes, I amcont i nui ng i n my pr of essi on. I amwr i t i ng
a t r eat i se on t he phi l osophy of l aw, I shal l demonst r at e t hat humani t y' s
dar kest evi l , t he most dest r uct i ve hor r or machi ne among al l t he devi ces of
men, i s non- obj ect i ve l aw. . . . No, Mi ss Taggar t , my t r eat i se wi l l not be
publ i shed out si de. "
" My busi ness, Mi ss Taggar t ?" sai d Mi das Mul l i gan. " My busi ness i s bl ood
t r ansf usi onand I ' mst i l l doi ng i t . My j ob i s t o f eed a l i f e- f uel i nt o t he
pl ant s t hat ar e capabl e of gr owi ng. But ask Dr . Hendr i cks whet her any amount
of bl ood wi l l save a body t hat r ef uses t o f unct i on, a r ot t en hul k t hat
expect s t o exi st wi t hout ef f or t . My bl ood bank i s gol d. Gol d i s a f uel t hat
wi l l per f or mwonder s, but no f uel can wor k wher e t her e i s no mot or . . . . No,
I haven' t gi ven up. I mer el y got f ed up wi t h t he j ob of r unni ng a sl aught er
house, wher e one dr ai ns bl ood out of heal t hy l i vi ng bei ngs and pumps i t i nt o
gut l ess hal f - cor pses. "
" Gi ven up?" sai d Hugh Akst on. " Check your pr emi ses, Mi ss Taggar t .
None of us has gi ven up. I t i s t he wor l d t hat has. . . . What i s wr ong
wi t h a phi l osopher r unni ng a r oadsi de di ner ? Or a ci gar et t e f act or y, as I am
doi ng now? Al l wor k i s an act of phi l osophy. And when men wi l l l ear n t o
consi der pr oduct i ve wor kand t hat whi ch i s i t s sour ceas t he st andar d of
t hei r mor al val ues, t hey wi l l r each t hat st at e of per f ect i on whi ch i s t he
bi r t hr i ght t hey l ost . . . . The sour ce of wor k? Man' s mi nd, Mi ss Taggar t ,
man' s r easoni ng mi nd. I amwr i t i ng a book on t hi s subj ect , def i ni ng a mor al
phi l osophy t hat I l ear ned f r ommy own pupi l . . . . Yes, i t coul d save t he
wor l d. . . . No, i t wi l l not be publ i shed out si de. "
" Why?" she cr i ed. " Why? What ar e you doi ng, al l of you?"
" We ar e on st r i ke, " sai d J ohn Gal t .
They al l t ur ned t o hi m, as i f t hey had been wai t i ng f or hi s voi ce and f or
t hat wor d. She hear d t he empt y beat of t i me wi t hi n her , whi ch was t he sudden
si l ence of t he r oom, as she l ooked at hi macr oss a span of l ampl i ght . He sat
sl ouched casual l y on t he ar mof a chai r , l eani ng f or war d, hi s f or ear macr oss
hi s knees, hi s hand hangi ng down i dl y
and i t was t he f ai nt smi l e on hi s f ace t hat gave t o hi s wor ds t he deadl y
sound of t he i r r evocabl e: " Why shoul d t hi s seemso st ar t l i ng? Ther e i s onl y
one ki nd of men who have never been on st r i ke i n human hi st or y. Ever y ot her
ki nd and cl ass have st opped, when t hey so wi shed, and have pr esent ed demands
t o t he wor l d, cl ai mi ng t o be i ndi spensabl eexcept t he men who have car r i ed
t he wor l d on t hei r shoul der s, have kept i t al i ve, have endur ed t or t ur e as
sol e payment , but have never wal ked out on t he human r ace.
Wel l , t hei r t ur n has come. Let t he wor l d di scover who t hey ar e, what t hey
do and what happens when t hey r ef use t o f unct i on. Thi s i s t he st r i ke of t he
men of t he mi nd, Mi ss Taggar t . Thi s i s t he mi nd on st r i ke. "
She di d not move, except f or t he f i nger s of one hand t hat moved sl owl y up
her cheek t o her t empl e.
" Thr ough al l t he ages, " he sai d, " t he mi nd has been r egar ded as evi l , and
ever y f or mof i nsul t : f r omher et i c t o mat er i al i st t o expl oi t er
ever y f or mof i ni qui t y: f r omexi l e t o di sf r anchi sement t o expr opr i at i on
ever y f or mof t or t ur e: f r omsneer s t o r ack t o f i r i ng squad
have been br ought down upon t hose who assumed t he r esponsi bi l i t y of
l ooki ng at t he wor l d t hr ough t he eyes of a l i vi ng consci ousness and
per f or mi ng t he cr uci al act of a r at i onal connect i on. Yet onl y t o t he ext ent
t o whi chi n chai ns, i n dungeons, i n hi dden cor ner s, i n t he cel l s of
phi l osopher s, i n t he shops of t r ader ssome men cont i nued t o t hi nk, onl y t o
t hat ext ent was humani t y abl e t o sur vi ve. Thr ough al l t he cent ur i es of t he
wor shi p of t he mi ndl ess, what ever st agnat i on humani t y chose t o endur e,
what ever br ut al i t y t o pr act i cei t was onl y by t he gr ace of t he men who
per cei ved t hat wheat must have wat er i n or der t o gr ow, t hat st ones l ai d i n a
cur ve wi l l f or man ar ch, t hat t wo and t wo make f our , t hat l ove i s not ser ved
by t or t ur e and l i f e i s not f ed by dest r uct i ononl y by t he gr ace of t hose men
di d t he r est of t heml ear n t o exper i ence moment s when t hey caught t he spar k
of bei ng human, and onl y t he sumof such moment s per mi t t ed t hemt o cont i nue
t o exi st . I t was t he man of t he mi nd who t aught t hemt o bake t hei r br ead, t o
heal t hei r wounds, t o f or ge t hei r weapons and t o bui l d t he j ai l s i nt o whi ch
t hey t hr ew hi m. He was t he man of ext r avagant ener gyand r eckl ess gener osi t y
who knew t hat st agnat i on i s not man' s f at e, t hat i mpot ence i s not hi s nat ur e,
t hat t he i ngenui t y of hi s mi nd i s hi s nobl est and most j oyous power and i n
ser vi ce t o t hat l ove of exi st ence he was al one t o f eel , he went on wor ki ng,
wor ki ng at any pr i ce, wor ki ng f or hi s despoi l er s, f or hi s j ai l er s, f or hi s
t or t ur er s, payi ng wi t h hi s l i f e f or t he pr i vi l ege of savi ng t hei r s. Thi s was
hi s gl or y and hi s gui l t t hat he l et t hemt each hi mt o f eel gui l t y of hi s
gl or y, t o accept t he par t of a sacr i f i ci al ani mal and, i n puni shment f or t he
si n of i nt el l i gence, t o per i sh on t he al t ar s of t he br ut es. The t r agi c j oke
of human hi st or y i s t hat on any of t he al t ar s men er ect ed, i t was al ways man
whomt hey i mmol at ed and t he ani mal whomt hey enshr i ned. I t was al ways t he
ani mal ' s at t r i but es, not man' s, t hat humani t y wor shi pped: t he i dol of
i nst i nct and t he i dol of f or cet he myst i cs and t he ki ngst he myst i cs, who
l onged f or an i r r esponsi bl e consci ousness and r ul ed by means of t he cl ai m
t hat t hei r dar k emot i ons wer e super i or t o r eason, t hat knowl edge came i n
bl i nd, causel ess f i t s, bl i ndl y t o be f ol l owed, not doubt edand t he ki ngs, who
r ul ed by means of cl aws and muscl es, wi t h conquest as t hei r met hod and
l oot i ng as t hei r ai m, wi t h a cl ub or a gun as sol e sanct i on of t hei r power .
The def ender s of man' s soul wer e concer ned wi t h hi s f eel i ngs, and t he
def ender s of man' s body wer e concer ned wi t h hi s st omachbut bot h wer e uni t ed
agai nst hi s mi nd. Yet no one, not t he l owest of humans, i s ever abl e f ul l y t o
r enounce hi s br ai n. No one has ever bel i eved i n t he i r r at i onal ; what t hey do
bel i eve i n i s t he unj ust .
Whenever a man denounces t he mi nd, i t i s because hi s goal i s of a nat ur e
t he mi nd woul d not per mi t hi mt o conf ess. When he pr eaches cont r adi ct i ons, he
does so i n t he knowl edge t hat someone wi l l accept t he bur den of t he
i mpossi bl e, someone wi l l make i t wor k f or hi mat t he pr i ce of hi s own
suf f er i ng or l i f e; dest r uct i on i s t he pr i ce of any cont r adi ct i on. I t i s t he
vi ct i ms who made i nj ust i ce possi bl e. I t i s t he men of r eason who made i t
possi bl e f or t he r ul e of t he br ut e t o wor k. The despoi l i ng of r eason has been
t he mot i ve of ever y ant i - r eason cr eed on ear t h. The despoi l i ng of abi l i t y has
been t he pur pose of ever y cr eed t hat pr eached sel f - sacr i f i ce. The despoi l er s
have al ways known i t . We haven' t . The t i me has come f or us t o see. What we
ar e now asked t o wor shi p, what had once been dr essed as God or ki ng, i s t he
naked, t wi st ed, mi ndl ess f i gur e of t he human I ncompet ent . Thi s i s t he new
i deal , t he goal t o ai mat , t he pur pose t o l i ve f or , and al l men ar e t o be
r ewar ded accor di ng t o how cl ose t hey appr oach i t . Thi s i s t he age of t he
common man, t hey t el l usa t i t l e whi ch any man may cl ai mt o t he ext ent of
such di st i nct i on as he has managed not t o achi eve. He wi l l r i se t o a r ank of
nobi l i t y by means of t he ef f or t he has f ai l ed t o make, he wi l l be honor ed f or
such vi r t ue as he has not di spl ayed, and he wi l l be pai d f or t he goods whi ch
he di d not pr oduce. But wewe, who must at one f or t he gui l t of abi l i t ywe
wi l l wor k t o suppor t hi mas he or der s, wi t h hi s pl easur e as our onl y r ewar d.
Si nce we have t he most t o cont r i but e, we wi l l have t he l east t o say. Si nce we
have t he bet t er capaci t y t o t hi nk, we wi l l not be per mi t t ed a t hought of our
own. Si nce we have t he j udgment t o act , we wi l l not be per mi t t ed an act i on of
our choi ce. We wi l l wor k under di r ect i ves and cont r ol s, i ssued by t hose who
ar e i ncapabl e of wor ki ng. They wi l l di spose of our ener gy, because t hey have
none t o of f er , and of our pr oduct , because t hey can' t pr oduce. Do you say
t hat t hi s i s i mpossi bl e, t hat i t cannot be made t o wor k? They know i t , but i t
i s you who don' t and t hey ar e count i ng on you not t o know i t . They ar e
count i ng on you t o go on, t o wor k t o t he l i mi t of t he i nhuman and t o f eed
t hemwhi l e you l ast and when you col l apse, t her e wi l l be anot her vi ct i m
st ar t i ng out and f eedi ng t hem, whi l e st r uggl i ng t o sur vi veand t he span of
each succeedi ng vi ct i mwi l l be shor t er , and whi l e you' l l di e t o l eave t hema
r ai l r oad, your l ast descendant - i n- spi r i t wi l l di e t o l eave t hema l oaf of
br ead.
Thi s does not wor r y t he l oot er s of t he moment . Thei r pl anl i ke al l t he
pl ans of al l t he r oyal l oot er s of t he past i s onl y t hat t he l oot shal l l ast
t hei r l i f et i me. I t has al ways l ast ed bef or e, because i n one gener at i on t hey
coul d not r un out of vi ct i ms. But t hi s t i mei t wi l l not l ast . The vi ct i ms ar e
on st r i ke. We ar e on st r i ke agai nst mar t yr domand agai nst t he mor al code t hat
demands i t . We ar e on st r i ke agai nst t hose who bel i eve t hat one man must
exi st f or t he sake of anot her . We ar e on st r i ke agai nst t he mor al i t y of
canni bal s, be i t pr act i ced i n body or i n spi r i t . We wi l l not deal wi t h men on
any t er ms but our sand our t er ms ar e a mor al code whi ch hol ds t hat man i s an
end i n hi msel f and not t he means t o any end of ot her s. We do not seek t o
f or ce our code upon t hem. They ar e f r ee t o bel i eve what t hey pl ease. But , f or
once, t hey wi l l have t o bel i eve i t and t o exi st wi t hout our hel p. And, once
and f or al l , t hey wi l l l ear n t he meani ng of t hei r cr eed. That cr eed has
l ast ed f or cent ur i es sol el y by t he sanct i on of t he vi ct i msby means of t he
vi ct i ms' accept ance of puni shment f or br eaki ng a code i mpossi bl e t o pr act i ce.
But t hat code was i nt ended t o be br oken. I t i s a code t hat t hr i ves not on
t hose who obser ve i t , but on t hose who don' t , a mor al i t y kept i n exi st ence
not by vi r t ue of i t s sai nt s, but by t he gr ace of i t s shi ner s. We have deci ded
not t o be si nner s any l onger . We have ceased br eaki ng t hat mor al code. We
shal l bl ast i t out of exi st ence f or ever by t he one met hod t hat i t can' t
wi t hst and: by obeyi ng i t . We ar e obeyi ng i t . We ar e compl yi ng. I n deal i ng
wi t h our f el l ow men, we ar e obser vi ng t hei r code of val ues t o t he l et t er and
spar i ng t hemal l t he evi l s t hey denounce. The mi nd i s evi l ? We have wi t hdr awn
t he wor ks of our mi nds f r omsoci et y, and not a si ngl e i dea of our s i s t o be
known or used by men. Abi l i t y i s a sel f i sh evi l t hat l eaves no chance t o
t hose who ar e l ess abl e? We have wi t hdr awn f r omt he compet i t i on and l ef t al l
chances open t o i ncompet ent s. The pur sui t of weal t h i s gr eed, t he r oot of al l
evi l ? We do not seek t o make f or t unes any l onger . I t i s evi l t o ear n mor e
t han one' s bar e sust enance? We t ake not hi ng but t he l owl i est j obs and we
pr oduce, by t he ef f or t of our muscl es, no mor e t han we consume f or our
i mmedi at e needswi t h not a penny nor an i nvent i ve t hought l ef t over t o har m
t he wor l d. I t i s evi l t o succeed, si nce success i s made by t he st r ong at t he
expense of t he weak? We have ceased bur deni ng t he weak wi t h our ambi t i on and
have l ef t t hemf r ee t o pr osper wi t hout us. I t i s evi l t o be an empl oyer ? We
have no empl oyment t o of f er . I t i s evi l t o own pr oper t y? We own not hi ng. I t
i s evi l t o enj oy one' s exi st ence i n t hi s wor l d? Ther e i s no f or mof enj oyment
t hat we seek f r omt hei r wor l d, andt hi s was har dest f or us t o at t ai nwhat we
now f eel f or t hei r wor l d i s t hat emot i on whi ch t hey pr each as an i deal :
i ndi f f er encet he bl ankt he zer ot he mar k of deat h. . . .
We ar e gi vi ng men ever yt hi ng t hey' ve pr of essed t o want and t o seek as
vi r t ue f or cent ur i es. Now l et t hemsee whet her t hey want i t . "
" I t was you who st ar t ed t hi s st r i ke?" she asked.
" I di d. "
He got up, he st ood, hands i n pocket s, hi s f ace i n t he l i ght and she saw
hi msmi l e wi t h t he easy, ef f or t l ess, i mpl acabl e amusement of cer t ai nt y.
" We' ve hear d so much about st r i kes, " he sai d, " and about t he dependence of
t he uncommon man upon t he common. We' ve hear d i t shout ed t hat t he
i ndust r i al i st i s a par asi t e, t hat hi s wor ker s suppor t hi m, cr eat e hi s weal t h,
make hi s l uxur y possi bl eand what woul d happen t o hi mi f t hey wal ked out ?
Ver y wel l . I pr opose t o show t o t he wor l d who depends on whom, who suppor t s
whom, who i s t he sour ce of weal t h, who makes whose l i vel i hood possi bl e and
what happens t o whomwhen who wal ks out . "
The wi ndows wer e now sheet s of dar kness, r ef l ect i ng t he dot s of l i ght ed
ci gar et t es. He pi cked a ci gar et t e f r oma t abl e besi de hi m, and i n t he f l ar e
of a mat ch she saw t he br i ef spar kl e of gol d, t he dol l ar si gn, bet ween hi s
f i nger s.
" I qui t and j oi ned hi mand went on st r i ke, " sai d Hugh Akst on, " because I
coul d not shar e my pr of essi on wi t h men who cl ai mt hat t he qual i f i cat i on of an
i nt el l ect ual consi st s of denyi ng t he exi st ence of t he i nt el l ect . Peopl e woul d
not empl oy a pl umber who' d at t empt t o pr ove hi s pr of essi onal excel l ence by
asser t i ng t hat t her e' s no such t hi ng as pl umbi ngbut , appar ent l y, t he same
st andar ds of caut i on ar e not consi der ed necessar y i n r egar d t o phi l osopher s.
I l ear ned f r ommy own pupi l , however , t hat i t was I who made t hi s possi bl e.
When t hi nker s accept t hose who deny t he exi st ence of t hi nki ng, as f el l ow
t hi nker s of a di f f er ent school of t hought i t i s t hey who achi eve t he
dest r uct i on of t he mi nd. They gr ant t he enemy' s basi c pr emi se, t hus gr ant i ng
t he sanct i on of r eason t o f or mal dement i a, A basi c pr emi se i s an absol ut e
t hat per mi t s no co- oper at i on wi t h i t s ant i t hesi s and t ol er at es no t ol er ance.
I n t he same manner and f or t he same r eason as a banker may not accept and
pass count er f ei t money, gr ant i ng i t t he sanct i on, honor and pr est i ge of hi s
bank, j ust as he may not gr ant t he count er f ei t er ' s demand f or t ol er ance of a
mer e di f f er ence of opi ni onso I may not gr ant t he t i t l e of phi l osopher t o Dr .
Si mon Pr i t chet t or compet e wi t h hi mf or t he mi nds of men. Dr . Pr i t chet t has
not hi ng t o deposi t t o t he account of phi l osophy, except hi s decl ar ed
i nt ent i on t o dest r oy i t . He seeks t o cash i nby means of denyi ng i t on t he
power of r eason among men. He seeks t o st amp t he mi nt - mar k of r eason upon t he
pl ans of hi s l oot i ng mast er s. He seeks t o use t he pr est i ge of phi l osophy t o
pur chase t he ensl avement of t hought . But t hat pr est i ge i s an account whi ch
can exi st onl y so l ong as I amt her e t o si gn t he checks.
Let hi mdo i t wi t hout me. Let hi mand t hose who ent r ust t o hi mt hei r
chi l dr en' s mi ndshave exact l y t hat whi ch t hey demand: a wor l d of
i nt el l ect ual s wi t hout i nt el l ect and of t hi nker s who pr ocl ai mt hat t hey cannot
t hi nk. I amconcedi ng i t . I amcompl yi ng. And when t hey see t he absol ut e
r eal i t y of t hei r non- absol ut e wor l d, I wi l l not be t her e and i t wi l l not be I
who wi l l pay t he pr i ce of t hei r cont r adi ct i ons. "
" Dr . Akst on qui t on t he pr i nci pl e of sound banki ng, " sai d Mi das Mul l i gan.
" I qui t on t he pr i nci pl e of l ove. Love i s t he ul t i mat e f or mof r ecogni t i on
one gr ant s t o super l at i ve val ues. I t was t he Hunsacker case t hat made me
qui t t hat case when a cour t of l aw or der ed t hat I honor , as f i r st r i ght t o my
deposi t or s' f unds, t he demand of t hose who woul d of f er pr oof t hat t hey had no
r i ght t o demand i t . I was or der ed t o hand out money ear ned by men, t o a
wor t hl ess r ot t er whose onl y cl ai mconsi st ed of hi s i nabi l i t y t o ear n i t . I
was bor n on a f ar m. I knew t he meani ng of money. I had deal t wi t h many men i n
my l i f e. I had wat ched t hemgr ow. I had made my f or t une by bei ng abl e t o spot
a cer t ai n ki nd of man. The ki nd who never asked you f or f ai t h, hope and
char i t y, but of f er ed you f act s, pr oof and pr of i t . Di d you know t hat I
i nvest ed i n Hank Rear den' s busi ness at t he t i me when he was r i si ng, when he
had j ust beat en hi s way out of Mi nnesot a t o buy t he st eel mi l l s i n
Pennsyl vani a? Wel l , when I l ooked at t hat cour t or der on my desk, I had a
vi si on. I saw a pi ct ur e, and I saw i t so cl ear l y t hat i t changed t he l ooks of
ever yt hi ng f or me. I saw t he br i ght f ace and t he eyes of young Rear den, as
he' d been when I ' d met hi mf i r st . I saw hi ml yi ng at t he f oot of an al t ar ,
wi t h hi s bl ood r unni ng down i nt o t he ear t hand what st ood on t hat al t ar was
Lee Hunsacker , wi t h t he mucus- f i l l ed eyes, whi ni ng t hat he' d never had a
chance. . . . I t ' s st r ange how si mpl e t hi ngs become, once you see t hem
cl ear l y. I t wasn' t har d f or me t o cl ose t he bank and go: I kept seei ng, f or
t he f i r st t i me i n my l i f e, what i t was t hat I had l i ved f or and l oved. "
She l ooked at J udge Nar r aganset t . " You qui t over t he same case, di dn' t
you?"
" Yes, " sai d J udge Nar r aganset t . " I qui t when t he cour t of appeal s r ever sed
my r ul i ng. The pur pose f or whi ch I had chosen my wor k, was my r esol ve t o be a
guar di an of j ust i ce. But t he l aws t hey asked me t o enf or ce made me t he
execut or of t he vi l est i nj ust i ce concei vabl e. I was asked t o use f or ce t o
vi ol at e t he r i ght s of di sar med men, who came bef or e me t o seek my pr ot ect i on
f or t hei r r i ght s. Li t i gant s obey t he ver di ct of a t r i bunal sol el y on t he
pr emi se t hat t her e i s an obj ect i ve r ul e of conduct , whi ch t hey bot h accept .
Now I saw t hat one man was t o be bound by i t , but t he ot her was not , one was
t o obey a r ul e, t he ot her was t o asser t an ar bi t r ar y wi shhi s needand t he
l aw was t o st and on t he si de of t he wi sh. J ust i ce was t o consi st of uphol di ng
t he unj ust i f i abl e. I qui t because I coul d not have bor ne t o hear t he wor ds
' Your Honor ' addr essed t o me by an honest man. "
Her eyes moved sl owl y t o Ri char d Hal l ey, as i f she wer e bot h pl eadi ng and
af r ai d t o hear hi s st or y. He smi l ed.
" I woul d have f or gi ven men f or my st r uggl e, " sai d Ri char d Hal l ey.
" I t was t hei r vi ew of my success t hat I coul d not f or gi ve. I had f el t no
hat r ed i n al l t he year s when t hey r ej ect ed me. I f my wor k was new, I had t o
gi ve t hemt i me t o l ear n, i f I t ook pr i de i n bei ng f i r st t o br eak a t r ai l t o a
hei ght of my own, I had no r i ght t o compl ai n i f ot her s wer e sl ow t o f ol l ow.
That was what I had t ol d mysel f t hr ough al l t hose year s except on some
ni ght s, when I coul d nei t her wai t nor bel i eve any l onger , when I cr i ed ' why?'
but f ound no answer . Then, on t he ni ght when t hey chose t o cheer me, I st ood
bef or e t hemon t he st age of a t heat er , t hi nki ng t hat t hi s was t he moment I
had st r uggl ed t o r each, wi shi ng t o f eel i t , but f eel i ng not hi ng. I was seei ng
al l t he ot her ni ght s behi nd me, hear i ng t he ' why?' whi ch st i l l had no answer
and t hei r cheer s seemed as empt y as t hei r snubs. I f t hey had sai d, ' Sor r y t o
be so l at e, t hank you f or wai t i ngI woul d have asked f or not hi ng el se and
t hey coul d have had anyt hi ng I had t o gi ve t hem. But what I saw i n t hei r
f aces, and i n t he way t hey spoke when t hey cr owded t o pr ai se me, was t he
t hi ng I had hear d bei ng pr eached t o ar t i st sonl y I had never bel i eved t hat
anyone human coul d mean i t . They seemed t o say t hat t hey owed me not hi ng,
t hat t hei r deaf ness had pr ovi ded me wi t h a mor al goal , t hat i t had been my
dut y t o st r uggl e, t o suf f er , t o bear f or t hei r sakewhat ever sneer s,
cont empt , i nj ust i ce, t or t ur e t hey chose t o i nf l i ct upon me, t o bear i t i n
or der t o t each t hemt o enj oy my wor k, t hat t hi s was t hei r r i ght f ul due and my
pr oper pur pose. And t hen I under st ood t he nat ur e of t he l oot er - i n- spi r i t , a
t hi ng I had never been abl e t o concei ve. I saw t hemr eachi ng i nt o my soul ,
j ust as t hey r each i nt o Mul l i gan' s pocket , r eachi ng t o expr opr i at e t he val ue
of my per son, j ust as t hey r each t o expr opr i at e hi s weal t hI saw t he
i mper t i nent mal i ce of medi ocr i t y boast f ul l y hol di ng up i t s own empt i ness as
an abyss t o be f i l l ed by t he bodi es of i t s bet t er sI saw t hemseeki ng, j ust
as t hey seek t o f eed on Mul l i gan' s money, t o f eed on t hose hour s when I wr ot e
my musi c and on t hat whi ch made me wr i t e i t , seeki ng t o gnaw t hei r way t o
sel f - est eemby ext or t i ng f r omme t he admi ssi on t hat t hey wer e t he goal of my
musi c, so t hat pr eci sel y by r eason of my achi evement , i t woul d not be t hey
who' d acknowl edge my val ue, but I who woul d bow t o t hei r s. . . . I t was t hat
ni ght t hat I t ook t he oat h never t o l et t hemhear anot her not e of mi ne. The
st r eet s wer e empt y when I l ef t t hat t heat er , I was t he l ast one t o l eaveand
I saw a man whomI had never seen bef or e, wai t i ng f or me i n t he l i ght of a
l amppost . He di d not have t o t el l me much. But t he concer t o I dedi cat ed t o
hi mi s cal l ed t he Concer t o of Del i ver ance. "
She l ooked at t he ot her s. " Pl ease t el l me your r easons, " she sai d, wi t h a
f ai nt st r ess of f i r mness i n her voi ce, as i f she wer e t aki ng a beat i ng, but
wi shed t o t ake i t t o t he end.
" I qui t when medi ci ne was pl aced under St at e cont r ol , some year s ago, "
sai d Dr . Hendr i cks. " Do you know what i t t akes t o per f or ma br ai n oper at i on?
Do you know t he ki nd of ski l l i t demands, and t he year s of passi onat e,
mer ci l ess, excr uci at i ng devot i on t hat go t o acqui r e t hat ski l l ? That was what
I woul d not pl ace at t he di sposal of men whose sol e qual i f i cat i on t o r ul e me
was t hei r capaci t y t o spout t he f r audul ent gener al i t i es t hat got t hemel ect ed
t o t he pr i vi l ege of enf or ci ng t hei r wi shes at t he poi nt of a gun. I woul d not
l et t hemdi ct at e t he pur pose f or whi ch my year s of st udy had been spent , or
t he condi t i ons of my wor k, or my choi ce of pat i ent s, or t he amount of my
r ewar d. I obser ved t hat i n al l t he di scussi ons t hat pr eceded t he ensl avement
of medi ci ne, men di scussed ever yt hi ngexcept t he desi r es of t he doct or s. Men
consi der ed onl y t he ' wel f ar e' of t he pat i ent s, wi t h no t hought f or t hose who
wer e t o pr ovi de i t . That a doct or shoul d have any r i ght , desi r e or choi ce i n
t he mat t er , was r egar ded as i r r el evant sel f i shness; hi s i s not t o choose,
t hey sai d, onl y ' t o ser ve. ' That a man who' s wi l l i ng t o wor k under compul si on
i s t oo danger ous a br ut e t o ent r ust wi t h a j ob i n t he st ockyar dsnever
occur r ed t o t hose who pr oposed t o hel p t he si ck by maki ng l i f e i mpossi bl e f or
t he heal t hy. I have of t en wonder ed at t he smugness wi t h whi ch peopl e asser t
t hei r r i ght t o ensl ave me, t o cont r ol my wor k, t o f or ce my wi l l , t o vi ol at e
my consci ence, t o st i f l e my mi ndyet what i s i t t hat t hey expect t o depend
on, when t hey l i e on an oper at i ng t abl e under my hands? Thei r mor al code has
t aught t hemt o bel i eve t hat i t i s saf e t o r el y on t he vi r t ue of t hei r
vi ct i ms. Wel l , t hat i s t he vi r t ue I have wi t hdr awn. Let t hemdi scover t he
ki nd of doct or s t hat t hei r syst emwi l l now pr oduce. Let t hemdi scover , i n
t hei r oper at i ng r ooms and hospi t al war ds, t hat i t i s not saf e t o pl ace t hei r
l i ves i n t he hands of a man whose l i f e t hey have t hr ot t l ed. I t i s not saf e,
i f he i s t he sor t of man who r esent s i t and st i l l l ess saf e, i f he i s t he
sor t who doesn' t . "
" I qui t , " sai d El l i s Wyat t , " because I di dn' t wi sh t o ser ve as t he
canni bal s' meal and t o do t he cooki ng, besi des, "
" I di scover ed, " sai d Ken Danagger , " t hat t he men I was f i ght i ng wer e
i mpot ent . The shi f t l ess, t he pur posel ess, t he i r r esponsi bl e, t he i r r at i onal
i t was not I who needed t hem, i t was not t hei r s t o di ct at e t er ms t o me, i t
was not mi ne t o obey demands. I qui t , t o l et t hemdi scover i t , t oo. "
" I qui t , " sai d Quent i n Dani el s, " because, i f t her e ar e degr ees of
damnat i on, t he sci ent i st who pl aces hi s mi nd i n t he ser vi ce of br ut e f or ce i s
t he l ongest - r ange mur der er on ear t h. "
They wer e si l ent . She t ur ned t o Gal t . " And you?" she asked. " You wer e
f i r st . What made you come t o i t ?"
He chuckl ed, " My r ef usal t o be bor n wi t h any or i gi nal si n. "
" What do you mean?"
" I have never f el t gui l t y of my abi l i t y. I have never f el t gui l t y of my
mi nd. I have never f el t gui l t y of bei ng a man. I accept ed no unear ned gui l t ,
and t hus was f r ee t o ear n and t o know my own val ue. Ever si nce I can
r emember , I had f el t t hat I woul d ki l l t he man who' d cl ai mt hat I exi st f or
t he sake of hi s needand I had known t hat t hi s was t he hi ghest mor al f eel i ng.
That ni ght , at t he Twent i et h Cent ur y meet i ng, when I hear d an unspeakabl e
evi l bei ng spoken i n a t one of mor al r i ght eousness, I saw t he r oot of t he
wor l d' s t r agedy, t he key t o i t and t he sol ut i on. I saw what had t o be done. I
went out t o do i t . "
" And t he mot or ?" she asked. " Why di d you abandon i t ? Why di d you l eave i t
t o t he St ar nes hei r s?"
" I t was t hen- f at her ' s pr oper t y. He pai d me f or i t . I t was made on hi s
t i me. But I knew t hat i t woul d be of no benef i t t o t hemand t hat no one woul d
ever hear of i t agai n. I t was my f i r st exper i ment al model .
Nobody but me or my equi val ent coul d have been abl e t o compl et e i t or even
t o gr asp what i t was. And I knew t hat no equi val ent of mi ne woul d come near
t hat f act or y f r omt hen on. "
" You knew t he ki nd of achi evement your mot or r epr esent ed?"
" Yes. "
" And you knew you wer e l eavi ng i t t o per i sh?"
" Yes. " He l ooked of f i nt o t he dar kness beyond t he wi ndows and chuckl ed
sof t l y, but i t was not a sound of amusement . " I l ooked at my mot or f or t he
l ast t une, bef or e I l ef t . I t hought of t he men who cl ai mt hat weal t h i s a
mat t er of nat ur al r esour cesand of t he men who cl ai mt hat weal t h i s a mat t er
of sei zi ng t he f act or i esand of t he men who cl ai mt hat machi nes condi t i on
t hei r br ai ns. Wel l , t her e was t he mot or t o condi t i on t hem, and t her e i t
r emai ned as j ust exact l y what i t i s wi t hout man' s mi ndas a pi l e of met al
scr aps and wi r es, goi ng t o r ust . You have been t hi nki ng of t he gr eat ser vi ce
whi ch t hat mot or coul d have r ender ed t o manki nd, i f i t had been put i nt o
pr oduct i on. I t hi nk t hat on t he day when men under st and t he meani ng of i t s
f at e i n t hat f act or y' s j unk heapi t wi l l have r ender ed a gr eat er one. "
" Di d you expect t o see t hat day, when you l ef t i t ?"
" No. "
" Di d you expect a chance t o r ebui l d i t el sewher e?
" No. "
" And you wer e wi l l i ng t o l et i t r emai n i n a j unk heap?"
" For t he sake of what t hat mot or meant t o me, " he sai d sl owl y, " I had t o
be wi l l i ng t o l et i t cr umbl e and vani sh f or ever " he l ooked st r ai ght at her
and she hear d t he st eady, unhesi t ant , uni nf l ect ed r ut hl essness of hi s voi ce
" j ust as you wi l l have t o be wi l l i ng t o l et t he r ai l of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al cr umbl e and vani sh. "
She hel d hi s eyes, her head was l i f t ed, and she sai d sof t l y, i n t he t one
of a pr oudl y open pl ea, " Don' t make me answer you now. "
" I won' t . We' l l t el l you what ever you wi sh t o know. We won' t ur ge you t o
make a deci si on. " He added, and she was shocked by t he sudden gent l eness of
hi s voi ce, " I sai d t hat t hat ki nd of i ndi f f er ence t owar d a wor l d whi ch shoul d
have been our s was t he har dest t hi ng t o at t ai n. I know. We' ve al l gone
t hr ough i t . "
She l ooked at t he qui et , i mpr egnabl e r oom, and at t he l i ght t he l i ght t hat
came f r omhi s mot or on t he f aces of men who wer e t he most ser ene and
conf i dent gat her i ng she had ever at t ended.
" What di d you do, when you wal ked out of t he Twent i et h Cent ur y?"
she asked.
" I went out t o become a f l ame- spot t er . I made i t my j ob t o wat ch f or t hose
br i ght f l ar es i n t he gr owi ng ni ght of savager y, whi ch wer e t he men of
abi l i t y, t he men of t he mi ndt o wat ch t hei r cour se, t hei r st r uggl e and t hei r
agonyand t o pul l t hemout , when I knew t hat t hey had seen enough. "
" What di d you t el l t hemt o make t hemabandon ever yt hi ng?"
" I t ol d t hemt hat t hey wer e r i ght . "
I n answer t o t he si l ent quest i on of her gl ance, he added, " I gave t hemt he
pr i de t hey di d not know t hey had. I gave t hemt he wor ds t o i dent i f y i t . I
gave t hemt hat pr i cel ess possessi on whi ch t hey had mi ssed, had l onged f or ,
yet had not known t hey needed: a mor al sanct i on. Di d you cal l me t he
dest r oyer and t he hunt er of men? I was t he wal ki ng del egat e of t hi s st r i ke,
t he l eader of t he vi ct i ms' r ebel l i on, t he def ender of t he oppr essed, t he
di si nher i t ed, t he expl oi t edand when I use t hese wor ds, t hey have, f or once,
a l i t er al meani ng. "
" Who wer e t he f i r st t o f ol l ow you?"
He l et a moment pass, i n del i ber at e emphasi s, t hen answer ed, " My t wo best
f r i ends. You know one of t hem. You know, per haps bet t er t han anyone el se,
what pr i ce he pai d f or i t . Our own t eacher , Dr .
Akst on, was next . He j oi ned us wi t hi n one eveni ng' s conver sat i on. Wi l l i am
Hast i ngs, who had been my boss i n t he r esear ch l abor at or y of Twent i et h
Cent ur y Mot or s, had a har d t i me, f i ght i ng i t out wi t h hi msel f . I t t ook hi ma
year . But he j oi ned. Then Ri char d Hal l ey. Then Mi das Mul l i gan. "
" who t ook f i f t een mi nut es, " sai d Mul l i gan.
She t ur ned t o hi m. " I t was you who est abl i shed t hi s val l ey?"
" Yes, " sai d Mul l i gan. " I t was j ust my own pr i vat e r et r eat , at f i r st . I
bought i t year s ago, I bought mi l es of t hese mount ai ns, sect i on by sect i on,
f r omr ancher s and cat t l emen who di dn' t know what t hey owned. The val l ey i s
not l i st ed on any map. I bui l t t hi s house, when I deci ded t o qui t . I cut of f
al l possi bl e avenues of appr oach, except one r oadand i t ' s camouf l aged beyond
anyone' s power t o di scover and I st ocked t hi s pl ace t o be sel f - suppor t i ng, so
t hat I coul d l i ve her e f or t he r est of my l i f e and never have t o see t he f ace
of a l oot er . When I hear d t hat J ohn had got J udge Nar r aganset t , t oo, I
i nvi t ed t he J udge t o come her e. Then we asked Ri char d Hal l ey t o j oi n us. The
ot her s r emai ned out si de, at f i r st . "
" We had no r ul es of any ki nd, sai d Gal t , " except one. When a man t ook our
oat h, i t meant a si ngl e commi t ment : not t o wor k i n hi s own pr of essi on, not t o
gi ve t o t he wor l d t he benef i t of hi s mi nd. Each of us car r i ed i t out i n any
manner he chose. Those who had money, r et i r ed t o l i ve on t hei r savi ngs. Those
who had t o wor k, t ook t he l owest j obs t hey coul d f i nd. Some of us had been
f amous; ot her sl i ke t hat young br akeman of your s, whomHal l ey di scover edwer e
st opped by us bef or e t hey had set out t o get t or t ur ed. But we di d not gi ve up
our mi nds or t he wor k we l oved. Each of us cont i nued i n hi s r eal pr of essi on,
i n what ever manner and spar e t i me he coul d managebut he di d i t secr et l y, f or
hi s own sol e benef i t , gi vi ng not hi ng t o men, shar i ng not hi ng. We wer e
scat t er ed al l over t he count r y, as t he out cast s we had al ways been, onl y now
we accept ed our par t s wi t h consci ous i nt ent i on.
Our sol e r el i ef wer e t he r ar e occasi ons when we coul d see one anot her .
We f ound t hat we l i ked t o meet i n or der t o be r emi nded t hat human bei ngs
st i l l exi st ed. So we came t o set asi de one mont h a year t o spend i n t hi s
val l eyt o r est , t o l i ve i n a r at i onal wor l d, t o br i ng our r eal wor k out of
hi di ng, t o t r ade our achi evement sher e, wher e achi evement s meant payment , not
expr opr i at i on. Each of us bui l t hi s own house her e, at hi s own expensef or
one mont h of l i f e out of t wel ve.
I t made t he el even easi er t o bear . "
" You see, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Hugh Akst on, " man i s a soci al bei ng, but not
i n t he way t he l oot er s pr each. "
" I t ' s t he dest r uct i on of Col or ado t hat st ar t ed t he gr owt h of t hi s val l ey, "
sai d Mi das Mul l i gan. " El l i s Wyat t and t he ot her s came t o l i ve her e
per manent l y, because t hey had t o hi de. What ever par t of t hei r weal t h t hey
coul d sal vage, t hey conver t ed i nt o gol d or machi nes, as I had, and t hey
br ought i t her e. Ther e wer e enough of us t o devel op t he pl ace and t o cr eat e
j obs f or t hose who had had t o ear n t hei r l i vi ng out si de. We have now r eached
t he st age wher e most of us can l i ve her e f ul l t i me. The val l ey i s al most
sel f - suppor t i ngand as t o t he goods t hat we can' t yet pr oduce, I pur chase
t hemf r omt he out si de t hr ough a pi pe l i ne of my own. I t ' s a speci al agent , a
man who does not l et my money r each t he l oot er s. We ar e not a st at e her e, not
a soci et y of any ki nd
we' r e j ust a vol unt ar y associ at i on of men hel d t oget her by not hi ng but
ever y man' s sel f - i nt er est . I own t he val l ey and I sel l t he l and t o t he
ot her s, when t hey want i t . J udge Nar r aganset t i s t o act as our ar bi t er , hi
case of di sagr eement s. He hasn' t had t o be cal l ed upon, as yet . They say t hat
i t ' s har d f or men t o agr ee. You' d be sur pr i sed how easy i t i s
when bot h par t i es hol d as t hei r mor al absol ut e t hat nei t her exi st s f or t he
sake of t he ot her and t hat r eason i s t hei r onl y means of t r ade. The t i me i s
appr oachi ng when al l of us wi l l have t o be cal l ed t o l i ve her e
because t he wor l d i s f al l i ng apar t so f ast t hat i t wi l l soon be st ar vi ng.
But we wi l l be abl e t o suppor t our sel ves i n t hi s val l ey. "
" The wor l d i s cr ashi ng f ast er t han we expect ed, " sai d Hugh Akst on.
" Men ar e st oppi ng and gi vi ng up. Your f r ozen t r ai ns, t he gangs of r ai der s,
t he deser t er s, t hey' r e men who' ve never hear d of us, and t hey' r e not par t of
our st r i ke, t hey ar e act i ng on t hei r owni t ' s t he nat ur al r esponse of
what ever r at i onal i t y i s st i l l l ef t i n t hemi t ' s t he same ki nd of pr ot est as
our s. "
" We st ar t ed wi t h no t i me l i mi t i n vi ew, " sai d Gal t . " We di d not know
whet her we' d l i ve t o see t he l i ber at i on of t he wor l d or whet her we' d have t o
l eave our bat t l e and our secr et t o t he next gener at i ons.
We knew onl y t hat t hi s was t he onl y way we car ed t o l i ve. But now we t hi nk
t hat we wi l l see, and soon, t he day of our vi ct or y and of our r et ur n. "
" When?" she whi sper ed.
" When t he code of t he l oot er s has col l apsed. "
He saw her l ooki ng at hi m, her gl ance hal f - quest i on, hal f - hope, and he
added, " When t he cr eed of sel f - i mmol at i on has r un, f or once, i t s undi sgui sed
cour sewhen men f i nd no vi ct i ms r eady t o obst r uct t he pat h of j ust i ce and t o
def l ect t he f al l of r et r i but i on on t hemsel ves
when t he pr eacher s of sel f - sacr i f i ce di scover t hat t hose who ar e wi l l i ng
t o pr act i ce i t , have not hi ng t o sacr i f i ce, and t hose who have, ar e not
wi l l i ng any l onger when men see t hat nei t her t hei r hear t s nor t hei r muscl es
can save t hem, but t he mi nd t hey damned i s not t her e t o answer t hen: scr eams
f or hel pwhen t hey col l apse as t hey must , as men wi t hout mi ndwhen t hey have
no pr et ense of aut hor i t y l ef t , no r emnant of l aw, no t r ace of mor al i t y, no
hope, no f ood and no way t o obt ai n i t when t hey col l apse and t he r oad i s
cl ear t hen we' l l come back t o r ebui l d t he wor l d. "
The Taggar t Ter mi nal , she t hought ; she hear d t he wor ds beat i ng t hr ough t he
numbness of her mi nd, as t he sumof a bur den she had not had t i me t o wei gh.
Thi s was t he Taggar t Ter mi nal , she t hought , t hi s r oom, not t he gi ant
concour se i n New Yor kt hi s was her goal , t he end of t r ack, t he poi nt beyond
t he cur ve of t he ear t h wher e t he t wo st r ai ght l i nes of r ai l met and vani shed,
dr awi ng her f or war das t hey had dr awn Nat hani el Taggar t t hi s was t he goal
Nat hani el Taggar t had seen i n t he di st ance and t hi s was t he poi nt st i l l
hol di ng t he st r ai ght - l i ne gl ance of hi s l i f t ed head above t he spi r al mot i on
of men i n t he gr ani t e concour se. I t was f or t he sake of t hi s t hat she had
dedi cat ed her sel f t o t he r ai l of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , as t o t he body of
a spi r i t yet t o be f ound. She had f ound i t , ever yt hi ng she had ever want ed,
i t was her e i n t hi s r oom, r eached and her sbut t he pr i ce was t hat net of r ai l
behi nd her , t he r ai l t hat woul d vani sh, t he br i dges t hat woul d cr umbl e, t he
si gnal l i ght s t hat woul d go out . . . . And yet . . . Ever yt hi ng I had ever
want ed, she t hought l ooki ng away f r omt he f i gur e of a man wi t h sun- col or ed
hai r and i mpl acabl e eyes.
" You don' t have t o answer us now. "
She r ai sed her head; he was wat chi ng her as i f he had f ol l owed t he st eps
i n her mi nd.
" We never demand agr eement , " he sai d. " We never t el l anyone mor e t han he
i s r eady t o hear You ar e t he f i r st per son who has l ear ned our secr et ahead of
t i me. But you' r e her e and you had t o know. Now you know t he exact nat ur e of
t he choi ce you' l l have t o make. I f i t seems har d, i t ' s because you st i l l
t hi nk t hat i t does not have t o be one or t he ot her . You wi l l l ear n t hat i t
does. "
" Wi l l you gi ve me t i me?"
" Your t i me i s not our s t o gi ve. Take your t i me. You al one can deci de what
you' l l choose t o do, and when. We know t he cost of t hat deci si on. We' ve pai d
i t . That you' ve come her e mi ght now make i t easi er f or youor har der . "
" Har der , " she whi sper ed.
" I know. "
He sai d i t , hi s voi ce as l ow as her s, wi t h t he same sound of bei ng f or ced
past one' s br eat h, and she mi ssed an i nst ant of t i me, as i n t he st i l l ness
af t er a bl ow, because she f el t t hat t hi snot t he moment s when he had car r i ed
her i n hi s ar ms down t he mount ai nsi de, but t hi s meet i ng of t hei r voi ceshad
been t he cl osest physi cal cont act bet ween t hem.
A f ul l moon st ood i n t he sky above t he val l ey, when t hey dr ove back t o hi s
house; i t st ood l i ke a f l at , r ound l ant er n wi t hout r ays, wi t h a haze of l i ght
hangi ng i n space, not r eachi ng t he gr ound, and t he i l l umi nat i on seemed t o
come f r omt he abnor mal whi t e br i ght ness of t he soi l . I n t he unnat ur al
st i l l ness of si ght wi t hout col or , t he ear t h seemed vei l ed by a f i l mof
di st ance, i t s shapes di d not mer ge i nt o a l andscape, but went sl owl y f l owi ng
past , l i ke t he pr i nt of a phot ogr aph on a cl oud.
She not i ced suddenl y t hat she was smi l i ng. She was l ooki ng down at t he
houses of t he val l ey. Thei r l i ght ed wi ndows wer e di mmed by a bl ui sh cast , t he
out l i nes of t hei r wal l s wer e di ssol vi ng, l ong bands of mi st wer e coi l i ng
among t hemi n t or pi d, unhur r i ed waves. I t l ooked l i ke a ci t y si nki ng under
wat er .
" What do t hey cal l t hi s pl ace?" she asked.
" I cal l i t Mul l i gan' s Val l ey, " he sai d. " The ot her s cal l i t Gal t ' s Gul ch. "
" I ' d cal l i t " but she di d not f i ni sh.
He gl anced at her . She knew what he saw i n her f ace. He t ur ned away.
She saw a f ai nt movement of hi s l i ps, l i ke t he r el ease of a br eat h t hat he
was f or ci ng t o f unct i on. She dr opped her gl ance, her ar mf al l i ng agai nst t he
si de of t he car , as i f her hand wer e suddenl y t oo heavy f or t he weakness i n
t he cr ook of her el bow.
The r oad gr ew dar ker , as i t went hi gher , and pi ne br anches met over t hei r
heads. Above a sl ant of r ock movi ng t o meet t hem, she saw t he moonl i ght on
t he wi ndows of hi s house. Her head f el l back agai nst t he seat and she l ay
st i l l , l osi ng awar eness of t he car , f eel i ng onl y t he mot i on t hat car r i ed her
f or war d, wat chi ng t he gl i t t er i ng dr ops of wat er i n t he pi ne br anches, whi ch
wer e t he st ar s.
When t he car st opped, she di d not per mi t her sel f t o know why she di d not
l ook at hi mas she st epped, out . She di d not know t hat she st ood st i l l f or an
i nst ant , l ooki ng up at t he dar k wi ndows. She di d not hear hi mappr oach; but
she f el t t he i mpact of hi s hands wi t h shocki ng i nt ensi t y, as i f i t wer e t he
onl y awar eness she coul d now exper i ence.
He l i f t ed her i n hi s ar ms and st ar t ed sl owl y up t he pat h t o t he house.
He wal ked, not l ooki ng at her , hol di ng her t i ght , as i f t r yi ng t o hol d a
pr ogr essi on of t i me, as i f hi s ar ms wer e st i l l l ocked over t he moment when he
had l i f t ed her agai nst hi s chest . She f el t hi s st eps as i f t hey wer e a si ngl e
span of mot i on t o a goal and as i f each st ep wer e a separ at e moment i n whi ch
she dar ed not t hi nk of t he next .
Her head was cl ose t o hi s, hi s hai r br ushi ng her cheek, and she knew t hat
nei t her of t hemwoul d move hi s f ace t hat one br eat h cl oser . I t was a sudden,
st unned st at e of qui et dr unkenness, compl et e i n i t sel f , t hei r hai r mi ngl ed
l i ke t he r ays of t wo bodi es i n space t hat had achi eved t hei r meet i ng, she saw
t hat he wal ked wi t h hi s eyes cl osed, as i f even si ght woul d now be an
i nt r usi on.
He ent er ed t he house, and as he moved acr oss t he l i vi ng r oom, he di d not
l ook t o hi s l ef t and nei t her di d she, but she knew t hat bot h of t hemwer e
seei ng t he door on hi s l ef t t hat l ed t o hi s bedr oom. He wal ked t he l engt h of
t he dar kness t o t he wedge of moonl i ght t hat f el l acr oss t he guest - r oombed,
he pl aced her down upon i t , she f el t an i nst ant ' s pause of hi s hands st i l l
hol di ng her shoul der and wai st l i ne, and when hi s hands l ef t her body, she
knew t hat t he moment was over .
He st epped back and pr essed a swi t ch, sur r ender i ng t he r oomt o t he har shl y
publ i c gl ar e of l i ght . He st ood st i l l , as i f demandi ng t hat she l ook at hi m,
hi s f ace expect ant and st er n.
" Have you f or got t en t hat you want ed t o shoot me on si ght ?" he asked.
I t was t he unpr ot ect ed st i l l ness of hi s f i gur e t hat made i t r eal . The
shudder t hat t hr ew her upr i ght was l i ke a cr y of t er r or and deni al ; but she
hel d hi s gl ance and answer ed evenl y, " That ' s t r ue. I di d. "
" Then st and by i t . "
Her voi ce was l ow, i t s i nt ensi t y was bot h a sur r ender and a scor nf ul
r epr oach: " You know bet t er t han t hat , don' t you?"
He shook hi s head. " No. I want you t o r emember t hat t hat had been your
wi sh. You wer e r i ght , i n t he past . So l ong as you wer e par t of t he out er
wor l d, you had t o seek t o dest r oy me. And of t he t wo cour ses now open t o you,
one wi l l l ead you t o t he day when you wi l l f i nd your sel f f or ced t o do i t . "
She di d not answer , she sat l ooki ng down, he saw t he st r ands of her hai r
swi ng j er ki l y as she shook her head i n desper at e pr ot est . " You ar e my onl y
danger . You ar e t he onl y per son who coul d del i ver me t o my enemi es. I f you
r emai n wi t h t hem, you wi l l . Choose t hat , i f you wi sh, but choose i t wi t h f ul l
knowl edge.
Don' t answer me now. But unt i l you do" t he st r ess of sever i t y i n hi s voi ce
was t he sound of ef f or t di r ect ed agai nst hi msel f " r emember t hat I know t he
meani ng of ei t her answer . "
" As f ul l y as I do?" she whi sper ed.
" As f ul l y. "
He t ur ned t o go, when her eyes f el l suddenl y upon t he i nscr i pt i ons she had
not i ced, and f or got t en, on t he wal l s of t he r oom.
They wer e cut i nt o t he pol i sh of t he wood, st i l l showi ng t he f or ce of t he
penci l ' s pr essur e i n t he hands t hat had made t hem, each i n hi s own vi ol ent
wr i t i ng: " You' l l get over i t El l i s Wyat t " " I t wi l l be al l r i ght by mor ni ng
Ken Danagger " " I t ' s wor t h i t Roger Mar sh. "
Ther e wer e ot her s, " What i s t hat ?" she asked.
He smi l ed. " Thi s i s t he r oomwher e t hey spent t hei r f i r st ni ght i n t he
val l ey. The f i r st ni ght i s t he har dest . I t ' s t he l ast pul l of t he br eak wi t h
one' s memor i es, and t he wor st . I l et t hemst ay her e, so t hey can cal l f or me,
i f t hey want me. I speak t o t hem, i f t hey can' t sl eep.
Most of t hemcan' t . But t hey' r e f r ee of i t by mor ni ng. . . . They' ve al l
gone t hr ough t hi s r oom. Now t hey cal l i t t he t or t ur e chamber or t he ant er oom
because ever yone has t o ent er t he val l ey t hr ough my house.
He t ur ned t o go, he st opped on t he t hr eshol d and added: " Thi s i s t he r oom
I never i nt ended you t o occupy. Good ni ght , Mi ss Taggar t . "

CHAPTER II
THE UTOPIA OF GREED

" Good mor ni ng. "
She l ooked at hi macr oss t he l i vi ng r oomf r omt he t hr eshol d of her door .
I n t he wi ndows behi nd hi m, t he mount ai ns had t hat t i nge of si l ver - pi nk whi ch
seems br i ght er t han dayl i ght , wi t h t he pr omi se of a l i ght t o come. The sun.
had r i sen somewher e over t he ear t h, but i t had not r eached t he t op of t he
bar r i er , and t he sky was gl owi ng i n i t s st ead, announci ng i t s mot i on. She had
hear d t he j oyous gr eet i ng t o t he sunr i se, whi ch was not t he song of bi r ds,
but t he r i ngi ng of t he t el ephone a moment ago; she saw t he st ar t of day, not
i n t he shi ni ng gr een of t he br anches out si de, but i n t he gl i t t er of chr omi um
on t he st ove, t he spar kl e of a gl ass asht r ay on a t abl e, and t he cr i sp
whi t eness of hi s shi r t sl eeves. I r r esi st i bl y, she hear d t he sound of a smi l e
i n her own voi ce, mat chi ng hi s, as she answer ed: " Good mor ni ng. "
He was gat her i ng not es of penci l ed cal cul at i ons f r omhi s desk and st uf f i ng
t hemi nt o hi s pocket . " I have t o go down t o t he power house, "
he sai d. " They' ve j ust phoned me t hat t hey' r e havi ng t r oubl e wi t h t he r ay
scr een. Your pl ane seems t o have knocked i t of f key. I ' l l be back i n hal f an
hour and t hen I ' l l cook our br eakf ast "
I t was t he casual si mpl i ci t y of hi s voi ce, t he manner of t aki ng her
pr esence and t hei r domest i c r out i ne f or gr ant ed, as i f i t wer e of no
si gni f i cance t o t hem, t hat gave her t he sense of an under scor ed si gni f i cance
and t he f eel i ng t hat he knew i t .
She answer ed as casual l y, " I f you' l l br i ng me t he cane I l ef t i n t he car ,
I ' l l have br eakf ast r eady f or you by t he t i me you come back. "
He gl anced at her wi t h a sl i ght ast oni shment ; hi s eyes moved f r omher
bandaged ankl e t o t he shor t sl eeves of t he bl ouse t hat l ef t her ar ms bar e t o
di spl ay t he heavy bandage on her el bow. But t he t r anspar ent bl ouse, t he open
col l ar , t he hai r f al l i ng down t o t he shoul der s t hat seemed i nnocent l y naked
under a t hi n f i l mof cl ot h, made her l ook l i ke a school gi r l , not an i nval i d,
and her post ur e made t he bandages l ook i r r el evant .
He smi l ed, not qui t e at her , but as i f i n amusement at some sudden memor y
of hi s own. " I f you wi sh, " he sai d.
I t was st r ange t o be l ef t al one i n hi s house. Par t of i t was an emot i on
she had never exper i enced bef or e: an awed r espect t hat made her hesi t ant l y
consci ous of her hands, as i f t o t ouch any obj ect ar ound her woul d be t oo
gr eat an i nt i macy. The ot her par t was a r eckl ess sense of ease, a sense of
bei ng at home i n t hi s pl ace, as i f she owned i t s owner .
I t was st r ange t o f eel so pur e a j oy i n t he si mpl e t ask of pr epar i ng a
br eakf ast . The wor k seemed an end i n i t sel f , as i f t he mot i ons of f i l l i ng a
cof f ee pot , squeezi ng or anges, sl i ci ng br ead wer e per f or med f or t hei r own
sake, f or t he sor t of pl easur e one expect s, but sel domf i nds, i n t he mot i ons
of danci ng. I t st ar t l ed her t o r eal i ze t hat she had not exper i enced t hi s ki nd
of pl easur e i n her wor k si nce her days at t he oper at or ' s desk i n Rockdal e
St at i on.
She was set t i ng t he t abl e, when she saw t he f i gur e of a man hur r yi ng up
t he pat h t o t he house, a swi f t , agi l e f i gur e t hat l eaped over boul der s wi t h
t he casual ease of a f l i ght . He t hr ew t he door open, cal l i ng, " Hey, J ohn! "
and st opped shor t as he saw her . He wor e a dar k bl ue sweat er and sl acks, he
had gol d hai r and a f ace of such shocki ng per f ect i on of beaut y t hat she st ood
st i l l , st ar i ng at hi m, not i n admi r at i on, at f i r st , but i n si mpl e di sbel i ef .
He l ooked at her as i f he had not expect ed t o f i nd a woman i n t hi s house.
Then she saw a l ook of r ecogni t i on mel t i ng i nt o a di f f er ent ki nd of
ast oni shment , par t amusement , par t t r i umph mel t i ng i nt o a chuckl e.
" Oh, have you j oi ned us?" he asked.
" No, " she answer ed dr yl y, " I haven' t . I ' ma scab. "
He l aughed, l i ke an adul t at a chi l d who uses t echnol ogi cal wor ds beyond
i t s under st andi ng. " I f you know what you' r e sayi ng, you know t hat i t ' s not
possi bl e, " he sai d. " Not her e. "
" I cr ashed t he gat e. Li t er al l y. "
He l ooked at her bandages, wei ghi ng t he quest i on, hi s gl ance al most
i nsol ent i n i t s open cur i osi t y. " When?"
" Yest er day. "
" How?"
" I n a pl ane. "
" What wer e you doi ng i n a pl ane i n t hi s par t of t he count r y?"
He had t he di r ect , i mper i ous manner of an ar i st ocr at or a r oughneck; he
l ooked l i ke one and was dr essed l i ke t he ot her . She consi der ed hi mf or a
moment , del i ber at el y l et t i ng hi mwai t . " I was t r yi ng t o l and on a
pr ehi st or i cal mi r age, " she answer ed. " And I have. "
" You ar e a scab, " he sai d, and chuckl ed, as i f gr aspi ng al l t he
i mpl i cat i ons of t he pr obl em. " Wher e' s J ohn?"
" Mr . Gal t i s at t he power house. He shoul d be back any moment . "
He sat down i n an ar mchai r , aski ng no per mi ssi on, as i f he wer e at home.
She t ur ned si l ent l y t o her wor k. He sat wat chi ng her movement s wi t h an open
gr i n, as i f t he si ght of her l ayi ng out cut l er y on a ki t chen t abl e wer e t he
spect acl e of some speci al par adox.
" What di d Fr anci sco say when he saw you her e?" he asked.
She t ur ned t o hi mwi t h a sl i ght j ol t , but answer ed evenl y, " He i s not her e
yet . "
" Not yet ?" He seemed st ar t l ed. " Ar e you sur e?"
" So I was t ol d. "
He l i ght ed a ci gar et t e. She wonder ed, wat chi ng hi m, what pr of essi on he had
chosen, l oved and abandoned i n or der t o j oi n t hi s val l ey. She coul d make no
guess; none seemed t o f i t ; she caught her sel f i n t he pr epost er ous f eel i ng of
wi shi ng t hat he had no pr of essi on at al l , because any wor k seemed t oo
danger ous f or hi s i ncr edi bl e ki nd of beaut y. I t was an i mper sonal f eel i ng,
she di d not l ook at hi mas at a man, but as at an ani mat ed wor k of ar t and i t
seemed t o be a st r essed i ndi gni t y of t he out er wor l d t hat a per f ect i on such
as hi s shoul d be subj ect ed t o t he shocks, t he st r ai ns, t he scar s r eser ved f or
any man who l oved hi s wor k.
But t he f eel i ng seemed t he mor e pr epost er ous, because t he l i nes of hi s
f ace had t he sor t of har dness f or whi ch no danger on ear t h was a mat ch, " No,
Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d suddenl y, cat chi ng her gl ance, " you' ve never seen me
bef or e. "
She was shocked t o r eal i ze t hat she had been st udyi ng hi mopenl y.
" How do you happen t o know who I am?" she asked.
" Fi r st , I ' ve seen your pi ct ur es i n t he paper s many t i mes. Second, you' r e
t he onl y woman l ef t i n t he out er wor l d, t o t he best of our knowl edge, who' d
be al l owed t o ent er Gal t ' s Gul ch, Thi r d, you' r e t he onl y woman who' d have t he
cour ageand pr odi gal i t yst i l l t o r emai n a scab. "
" What made you cer t ai n t hat I was a scab?"
" I f you wer en' t , you' d know t hat i t ' s not t hi s val l ey, but t he vi ew of
l i f e hel d by men i n t he out er wor l d t hat i s a pr ehi st or i cal mi r age. "
They hear d t he sound of t he mot or and saw t he car st oppi ng bel ow, i n f r ont
of t he house. She not i ced t he swi f t ness wi t h whi ch he r ose t o hi s f eet at t he
si ght of Gal t i n t he car ; i f i t wer e not f or t he obvi ous per sonal eager ness,
i t woul d have l ooked l i ke an i nst i nct i ve gest ur e of mi l i t ar y r espect .
She not i ced t he way Gal t st opped, when he ent er ed and saw hi s vi si t or . She
not i ced t hat Gal t smi l ed, but t hat hi s voi ce was oddl y l ow, al most sol emn, as
i f wei ght ed wi t h unconf essed r el i ef , , when he sai d ver y qui et l y, " Hel l o. "
" Hi , J ohn, " sai d t he vi si t or gai l y.
She not i ced t hat t hei r handshake came an i nst ant t oo l at e and l ast ed an
i nst ant t oo l ong, l i ke t he handshake of men who had not been cer t ai n t hat
t hei r pr evi ous meet i ng woul d not be t hei r l ast .
Gal t t ur ned t o her . " Have you met ?" he asked, addr essi ng t hembot h.
" Not exact l y, " sai d t he vi si t or .
" Mi ss Taggar t , may I pr esent Ragnar Danneskj ol d?"
She knew what her f ace had l ooked l i ke, when she hear d Danneskj ol d' s voi ce
as f r oma gr eat di st ance: " You don' t have t o be f r i ght ened, Mi ss Taggar t I ' m
not danger ous t o anyone i n Gal t ' s Gul ch. "
She coul d onl y shake her head, bef or e she r ecapt ur ed her voi ce t o say,
" I t ' s not what you' r e doi ng t o anyone . . . i t ' s what t hey' r e doi ng t o you. .
. . "
Hi s l aught er swept her out of her moment ' s st upor , " Be car ef ul , Mi ss
Taggar t . I f t hat ' s how you' r e begi nni ng t o f eel , you won' t r emai n a scab f or
l ong. " He added, " But you ought t o st ar t by adopt i ng t he r i ght t hi ngs f r om
t he peopl e i n Gal t ' s Gul ch, not t hei r mi st akes: t hey' ve spent t wel ve year s
wor r yi ng about meneedl essl y. " He gl anced at Gal t .
" When di d you get i n?" asked Gal t .
" Lat e l ast ni ght . "
" Si t down. You' r e goi ng t o have br eakf ast wi t h us. "
" But wher e' s Fr anci sco? Why i sn' t he her e yet ?"
" I don' t know, " sai d Gal t , f r owni ng sl i ght l y. " I asked at t he ai r por t ,
j ust now. Nobody' s hear d f r omhi m. "
As she t ur ned t o t he ki t chen, Gal t moved t o f ol l ow. " No, " she sai d, " i t ' s
my j ob t oday. "
" Let me hel p you. "
" Thi s i s t he pl ace wher e one doesn' t ask f or hel p, i sn' t i t ?"
He smi l ed. " That ' s r i ght . "
She had never exper i enced t he pl easur e of mot i on, of wal ki ng as i f her
f eet had no wei ght t o car r y, as i f t he suppor t of t he cane i n her hand wer e
mer el y a super f l uous t ouch of el egance, t he pl easur e of f eel i ng her st eps
t r ace swi f t , st r ai ght l i nes, of sensi ng t he f aul t l ess, spont aneous pr eci si on
of her gest ur esas she exper i enced i t whi l e pl aci ng t hei r f ood on t he t abl e
i n f r ont of t he t wo men. Her bear i ng t ol d t hemt hat she knew t hey wer e
wat chi ng her she hel d her head l i ke an act r ess on a st age, l i ke a woman i n a
bal l r oom, l i ke t he wi nner of a si l ent cont est .
" Fr anci sco wi l l be gl ad t o know t hat i t ' s you who wer e hi s st and- i n
t oday, " sai d Danneskj ol d, when she j oi ned t hemat t he t abl e.
" Hi s what ?"
" You see, t oday i s J une f i r st , and t he t hr ee of usJ ohn, Fr anci sco and I
have had br eakf ast t oget her on ever y J une f i r st f or t wel ve year s. "
" Her e?"
" Not when we st ar t ed. But her e, ever si nce t hi s house was bui l t ei ght
year s ago. " He shr ugged, smi l i ng. " For a man who has mor e cent ur i es of
t r adi t i on behi nd hi mt han I have, i t ' s odd t hat Fr anci sco shoul d be t he f i r st
t o br eak our own t r adi t i on. "
" And Mr . Gal t ?" she asked. " How many cent ur i es does he have behi nd hi m?"
" J ohn? None at al l . None behi nd hi mbut al l of t hose ahead. "
" Never mi nd t he cent ur i es, " sai d Gal t . " Tel l me what sor t of year you' ve
had behi nd you. Lost any men?"
" No. "
" Lost any of your t i me?"
" You mean, was I wounded? No. I haven' t had a scr at ch si nce t hat one t i me,
t en year s ago, when I was st i l l an amat eur , whi ch you ought t o f or get by now.
I wasn' t i n any danger what ever , t hi s year i n f act , I was much mor e saf e t han
i f I wer e r unni ng a smal l - t own dr ugst or e under Di r ect i ve 10- 289. "
" Lost any bat t l es?"
" No. The l osses wer e al l on t he ot her si de, t hi s year . The l oot er s l ost
most of t hei r shi ps t o meand most of t hei r men t o you. You' ve had a good
year , t oo, haven' t you? I know, I ' ve kept t r ack of i t . Si nce our l ast
br eakf ast t oget her , you got ever yone you want ed f r omt he st at e of Col or ado,
and a f ew ot her s besi des, such as Ken Danagger , who was a gr eat pr i ze t o get .
But l et me t el l you about a st i l l gr eat er one, who i s al most your s. You' r e
goi ng t o get hi msoon, because he' s hangi ng by a t hi n t hr ead and i s j ust
about r eady t o f al l at your f eet . He' s a man who saved my l i f eso you can see
how f ar he' s gone. "
Gal t l eaned back, hi s eyes nar r owi ng. " So you wer en' t i n any danger
what ever , wer e you?"
Danneskj ol d l aughed. " Oh, I t ook a sl i ght r i sk. I t was wor t h i t . I t was
t he most enj oyabl e encount er I ' ve ever had. I ' ve been wai t i ng t o t el l you
about i t i n per son. I t ' s a st or y you' l l want t o hear . Do you know who t he man
was? Hank Rear den. I "
" No! "
I t was Gal t ' s voi ce; i t was a command; t he br i ef snap of sound had a t i nge
of vi ol ence nei t her of t hemhad ever hear d f r omhi mbef or e.
" What ?" asked Danneskj ol d sof t l y, i ncr edul ousl y.
" Don' t t el l me about i t now. "
" But you' ve al ways sai d t hat Hank Rear den was t he one man you want ed t o
see her e most . "
" I st i l l do. But you' l l t el l me l at er . "
She st udi ed Gal t ' s f ace i nt ent l y, but she coul d f i nd no cl ue, onl y a
cl osed, i mper sonal l ook, ei t her of det er mi nat i on or of cont r ol , t hat
t i ght ened t he ski n of hi s cheekbones and t he l i ne of hi s mout h. No mat t er
what he knew about her , she t hought , t he onl y knowl edge t hat coul d expl ai n
t hi s, was a knowl edge he had had no way of acqui r i ng.
" You' ve met Hank Rear den?" she asked, t ur ni ng t o Danneskj ol d.
" And he saved your l i f e?"
" Yes. "
" I want t o hear about i t . "
" I don' t , " sai d Gal t .
" Why not ?"
" You' r e not one of us, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" I see. " She smi l ed, wi t h a f ai nt t ouch of def i ance. " Wer e you t hi nki ng
t hat I mi ght pr event you f r omget t i ng Hank Rear den?"
" No, t hat was not what I was t hi nki ng, "
She not i ced t hat Danneskj ol d was st udyi ng Gal t ' s f ace, as i f he, t oo,
f ound t he i nci dent i nexpl i cabl e. Gal t hel d hi s gl ance, del i ber at el y and
openl y, as i f chal l engi ng hi mt o f i nd t he expl anat i on and pr omi si ng t hat he
woul d f ai l . She knew t hat Danneskj ol d had f ai l ed, when she saw a f ai nt cr ease
of humor sof t eni ng Gal t ' s eyel i ds.
" What el se, " asked Gal t , " have you accompl i shed t hi s year ?"
" I ' ve def i ed t he l aw of gr avi t at i on. "
" You' ve al ways done t hat . I n what par t i cul ar f or mnow?"
" I n t he f or mof a f l i ght f r ommi d- At l ant i c t o Col or ado i n a pl ane l oaded
wi t h gol d beyond t he saf et y poi nt of i t s capaci t y. Wai t t i l l Mi das sees t he
amount I have t o deposi t . My cust omer s, t hi s year , wi l l become r i cher by
Say, have you t ol d Mi ss Taggar t t hat she' s one of my cust omer s?"
" No, not yet You may t el l her , i f you wi sh. "
" I ' mWhat di d you say I am?" she asked.
" Don' t be shocked, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Danneskj ol d. " And don' t obj ect . I ' m
used t o obj ect i ons. I ' ma sor t of f r eak her e, anyway. None of t hemappr ove of
my par t i cul ar met hod of f i ght i ng our bat t l e. J ohn doesn' t , Dr . Akst on
doesn' t . They t hi nk t hat my l i f e i s t oo val uabl e f or i t . But , you see, my
f at her was a bi shopand of al l hi s t eachi ngs t her e was onl y one sent ence t hat
I accept ed: ' Al l t hey t hat t ake t he swor d shal l per i sh wi t h t he swor d. ' "
" What do you mean?"
" That vi ol ence i s not pr act i cal . I f my f el l ow men bel i eve t hat t he f or ce
of t he combi ned t onnage of t hei r muscl es i s a pr act i cal means t o r ul e mel et
t heml ear n t he out come of a cont est i n whi ch t her e' s not hi ng but br ut e f or ce
on one si de, and f or ce r ul ed by a mi nd, on t he ot her . Even J ohn gr ant s me
t hat i n our age I had t he mor al r i ght t o choose t he cour se I ' ve chosen. I am
doi ng j ust what he i s doi ng
onl y i n my own way. He i s wi t hdr awi ng man' s spi r i t f r omt he l oot er s, I ' m
wi t hdr awi ng t he pr oduct s of man' s spi r i t . He i s depr i vi ng t hemof r eason, I ' m
depr i vi ng t hemof weal t h. He i s dr ai ni ng t he soul of t he wor l d, I ' mdr ai ni ng
i t s body. Hi s i s t he l esson t hey have t o l ear n, onl y I ' mi mpat i ent and I ' m
hast eni ng t hei r schol ast i c pr ogr ess. But , l i ke J ohn, I ' msi mpl y compl yi ng
wi t h t hei r mor al code and r ef usi ng t o gr ant t hema doubl e st andar d at my
expense. Or at Rear den' s expense. Or at your s. "
" What ar e you t al ki ng about ?"
" About a met hod of t axi ng t he i ncome t axer s. Al l met hods of t axat i on ar e
compl ex, but t hi s one i s ver y si mpl e, because i t ' s t he naked essence of al l
t he ot her s. Let me expl ai n i t t o you. "
She l i st ened. She hear d a spar kl i ng voi ce r eci t i ng, i n t he t one of a dr yl y
met i cul ous bookkeeper , a r epor t about f i nanci al t r ansf er s, bank account s,
i ncome- t ax r et ur ns, as i f he wer e r eadi ng t he dust y pages of a l edger a
l edger wher e ever y ent r y was made by means of of f er i ng hi s own bl ood as t he
col l at er al t o be dr ai ned at any moment , at any sl i p of hi s bookkeepi ng pen.
As she l i st ened, she kept seei ng t he per f ect i on of hi s f aceand she kept
t hi nki ng t hat t hi s was t he head on whi ch t he wor l d had pl aced a pr i ce of
mi l l i ons f or t he pur pose of del i ver i ng i t t o t he r ot of deat h. . . . The f ace
she had t hought t oo beaut i f ul f or t he scar s of a pr oduct i ve car eer she kept
t hi nki ng numbl y, mi ssi ng hal f hi s wor dst he f ace t oo beaut i f ul t o r i sk. . . .
Then i t st r uck her t hat hi s physi cal per f ect i on was onl y a si mpl e
i l l ust r at i on, a chi l di sh l esson gi ven t o her i n cr udel y obvi ous t er ms on t he
nat ur e of t he out er wor l d and on t he f at e of any human val ue i n a subhuman
age. What ever t he j ust i ce or t he evi l of hi s cour se, she t hought , how coul d
t hey . . . no!
she t hought , hi s cour se was j ust , and t hi s was t he hor r or of i t , t hat
t her e was no ot her cour se f or j ust i ce t o sel ect , t hat she coul d not condemn
hi m, t hat she coul d nei t her appr ove nor ut t er a wor d of r epr oach.
" . . . and t he names of my cust omer s, Mi ss Taggar t , wer e chosen sl owl y,
one by one. I had t o be cer t ai n of t he nat ur e of t hei r char act er and car eer .
On my l i st of r est i t ut i on, your name was one of t he f i r st . "
She f or ced her sel f t o keep her f ace expr essi onl essl y t i ght , and she
answer ed onl y, " I see. "
" Your account i s one of t he l ast l ef t unpai d. I t i s her e, at t he Mul l i gan
Bank, t o be cl ai med by you on t he day when you j oi n us. "
" I see. "
" Your account , however , i s not as l ar ge as some of t he ot her s, even t hough
huge sums wer e ext or t ed f r omyou by f or ce i n t he past t wel ve year s. You wi l l
f i ndas i t i s mar ked on t he copi es o your i ncome- t ax r et ur ns whi ch Mul l i gan
wi l l hand over t o yout hat I have r ef unded onl y t hose t axes whi ch you pai d on
t he sal ar y you ear ned as Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent , but not t he t axes you pai d
on your i ncome f r omyour Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al st ock. You deser ved ever y
penny of t hat st ock, and i n t he days of your f at her I woul d have r ef unded
ever y penny of your pr of i t but under your br ot her ' s management , Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al has t aken i t s shar e of t he l oot i ng, i t has made pr of i t s by
f or ce, by means of gover nment f avor s, subsi di es, mor at or i ums, di r ect i ves. You
wer e not r esponsi bl e f or i t , you wer e, i n f act , t he gr eat est vi ct i mof t hat
pol i cybut I r ef und onl y t he money whi ch was made by pur e pr oduct i ve abi l i t y,
not t he money any par t of whi ch was l oot t aken by f or ce. "
" I see. "
They had f i ni shed t hei r br eakf ast . Danneskj ol d l i ght ed a ci gar et t e and
wat ched her f or an i nst ant t hr ough t he f i r st j et of smoke, as i f he knew t he
vi ol ence of t he conf l i ct i n her mi ndt hen he gr i nned at Gal t and r ose t o hi s
f eet .
" I ' l l r un al ong, " he sai d. " My wi f e i s wai t i ng f or me. "
" What ?" she gasped.
" My wi f e, " he r epeat ed gai l y, as i f he had not under st ood t he r eason of
her shock.
" Who i s your wi f e?"
" Kay Ludl ow. "
The i mpl i cat i ons t hat st r uck her wer e mor e t han she coul d bear t o
consi der . " When . . . when wer e you mar r i ed?"
" Four year s ago. "
" How coul d you show your sel f anywher e l ong enough t o go t hr ough a weddi ng
cer emony?"
" We wer e mar r i ed her e, by J udge Nar r aganset t . "
" How can" she t r i ed t o st op, but t he wor ds bur st i nvol unt ar i l y, i n
hel pl essl y i ndi gnant pr ot est , whet her agai nst hi m, f at e or t he out er wor l d,
she coul d not t el l " how can she l i ve t hr ough el even mont hs of t hi nki ng t hat
you, at any moment , mi ght be . . . ?" She di d not f i ni sh.
He was smi l i ng, but she saw t he enor mous sol emni t y of t hat whi ch he and
hi s wi f e had needed t o ear n t hei r r i ght t o t hi s ki nd of smi l e. " She can l i ve
t hr ough i t , Mi ss Taggar t , because we do not hol d t he bel i ef t hat t hi s ear t h
i s a r eal mof mi ser y wher e man i s doomed t o dest r uct i on.
We do not t hi nk t hat t r agedy i s our nat ur al f at e and we do not l i ve i n
chr oni c dr ead of di sast er . We do not expect di sast er unt i l we have speci f i c
r eason t o expect i t and when we encount er i t , we ar e f r ee t o f i ght i t . I t i s
not happi ness, but suf f er i ng t hat we consi der unnat ur al . I t i s not success,
but cal ami t y t hat we r egar d as t he abnor mal except i on i n human l i f e. "
Gal t accompani ed hi mt o t he door , t hen came back, sat down at t he t abl e
and i n a l ei sur el y manner r eached f or anot her cup of cof f ee.
She shot t o her f eet , as i f f l ung by a j et of pr essur e br eaki ng a saf et y
val ve. " Do you t hi nk t hat I ' l l ever accept hi s money?"
He wai t ed unt i l t he cur vi ng st r eak of cof f ee had f i l l ed hi s cup, t hen
gl anced up at her and answer ed, " Yes, I t hi nk so. "
" Wel l , I won' t ! I won' t l et hi mr i sk hi s l i f e f or i t ! "
" You have no choi ce about t hat . "
" I have t he choi ce never t o cl ai mi t ! "
" Yes, you have. "
" Then i t wi l l l i e i n t hat bank t i l l doomsday! "
" No, i t won' t . I f you don' t cl ai mi t , some par t of i t a ver y smal l par t
wi l l be t ur ned over t o me i n your name. "
" I n my name? Why?"
" To pay f or your r oomand boar d. "
She st ar ed at hi m, her l ook of anger swi t chi ng t o bewi l der ment , t hen
dr opped sl owl y back on her chai r .
He smi l ed. " How l ong di d you t hi nk you wer e goi ng t o st ay her e, Mi ss
Taggar t ?" He saw her st ar t l ed l ook of hel pl essness. " You haven' t t hought of
i t ? I have. You' r e goi ng t o st ay her e f or a mont h. For t he one mont h of our
vacat i on, l i ke t he r est of us. I amnot aski ng f or your consent you di d not
ask f or our s when you came her e. You br oke our r ul es, so you' l l have t o t ake
t he consequences. Nobody l eaves t he val l ey dur i ng t hi s mont h. I coul d l et you
go, of cour se, but I won' t .
Ther e' s no r ul e demandi ng t hat I hol d you, but by f or ci ng your way her e,
you' ve gi ven me t he r i ght t o any choi ce I makeand I ' mgoi ng t o hol d you
si mpl y because I want you her e. I f , at t he end of a mont h, you deci de t hat
you wi sh t o go back, you wi l l be f r ee t o do so. Not unt i l t hen. "
She sat st r ai ght , t he pl anes of her f ace r el axed, t he shape of her mout h
sof t ened by t he f ai nt , pur posef ul suggest i on of a smi l e; i t was t he danger ous
smi l e of an adver sar y, but her eyes wer e col dl y br i l l i ant and vei l ed at once,
l i ke t he eyes of an adver sar y who f ul l y i nt ends t o f i ght , but hopes t o l ose.
" Ver y wel l , " she sai d, " I shal l char ge you f or your r oomand boar di t i s
agai nst our r ul es t o pr ovi de t he unear ned sust enance of anot her human bei ng.
Some of us have wi ves and chi l dr en, but t her e i s a mut ual t r ade i nvol ved
i n t hat , and a mut ual payment " he gl anced at her " of a ki nd I amnot ent i t l ed
t o col l ect . So I shal l char ge you f i f t y cent s a day and you wi l l pay me when
you accept t he account t hat l i es i n your name at t he Mul l i gan Bank. I f you
don' t accept t he account , Mul l i gan wi l l char ge your debt agai nst i t and he
wi l l gi ve me t he money when I ask f or i t . "
" I shal l compl y wi t h your t er ms, " she answer ed; her voi ce had t he shr ewd,
conf i dent , del i ber at i ng sl owness of a t r ader . " But I shal l not per mi t t he use
of t hat money f or my debt s. "
" How el se do you pr opose t o compl y?"
" I pr opose t o ear n my r oomand boar d. "
" By what means?"
" By wor ki ng. "
" I n what capaci t y?"
" I n t he capaci t y of your cook and housemai d. "
For t he f i r st t i me, she saw hi mt ake t he shock of t he unexpect ed, i n a
manner and wi t h a vi ol ence she had not f or eseen. I t was onl y an expl osi on of
l aught er on hi s par t but he l aughed as i f he wer e hi t beyond hi s def enses,
much beyond t he i mmedi at e meani ng of her wor ds; she f el t t hat she had st r uck
hi s past , t ear i ng l oose some memor y and meani ng of hi s own whi ch she coul d
not know. He l aughed as i f he wer e seei ng some di st ant i mage, as i f he wer e
l aughi ng i n i t s f ace, as i f t hi s wer e hi s vi ct or yand her s.
" I f you wi l l hi r e me, " she sai d, her f ace sever el y pol i t e, her t one
har shl y cl ear , i mper sonal and busi nessl i ke, " I shal l cook your meal s, cl ean
your house, do your l aundr y and per f or msuch ot her dut i es as ar e r equi r ed of
a ser vant i n exchange f or my r oom, boar d and such money as I wi l l need f or
some i t ems of cl ot hi ng. I may be sl i ght l y handi capped by my i nj ur i es f or t he
next f ew days, but t hat wi l l not l ast and I wi l l be abl e t o do t he j ob
f ul l y. "
" I s t hat what you want t o do?" he asked.
" That i s what I want t o do" she answer ed, and st opped bef or e she ut t er ed
t he r est of t he answer i n her mi nd: mor e t han anyt hi ng el se i n t he wor l d.
He was st i l l smi l i ng, i t was a smi l e of amusement , but i t was as i f
amusement coul d be t r ansmut ed i nt o some shi ni ng gl or y. " Al l r i ght , Mi ss
Taggar t , " he sai d, " I ' l l hi r e you. "
She i ncl i ned her head i n a dr yl y f or mal acknowl edgment . " Thank you, "
" I wi l l pay you t en dol l ar s a mont h, i n addi t i on t o your r oomand boar d. "
" Ver y wel l , "
" I shal l be t he f i r st man i n t hi s val l ey t o hi r e a ser vant . " He got up,
r eached i nt o hi s pocket and t hr ew a f i ve- dol l ar gol d pi ece down on t he t abl e.
" As advance on your wages, " he sai d.
She was st ar t l ed t o di scover , as her hand r eached f or t he gol d pi ece, t hat
she f el t t he eager , desper at e, t r emul ous hope of a young gi r l on her f i r st
j ob: t he hope t hat she woul d be abl e t o deser ve i t .
" Yes, si r , " she sai d, her eyes l ower ed.
Owen Kel l ogg ar r i ved on t he af t er noon of her t hi r d day i n t he val l ey.
She di d not know whi ch shocked hi mmost : t he si ght of her st andi ng on t he
edge of t he ai r f i el d as he descended f r omt he pl anet he si ght of her cl ot hes:
her del i cat e, t r anspar ent bl ouse, t ai l or ed by t he most expensi ve shop i n New
Yor k, and t he wi de, cot t on- pr i nt ski r t she had bought i n t he val l ey f or si xt y
cent sher cane, her bandages or t he basket of gr ocer i es on her ar m.
He descended among a gr oup of men, he saw her , he st opped, t hen r an t o her
as i f f l ung f or war d by some emot i on so st r ong t hat , what ever i t s nat ur e, i t
l ooked l i ke t er r or .
" Mi ss Taggar t . . . " he whi sper edand sai d not hi ng el se, whi l e she
l aughed, t r yi ng t o expl ai n how she had come t o beat hi mt o hi s dest i nat i on.
He l i st ened, as i f i t wer e i r r el evant , and t hen he ut t er ed t he t hi ng f r om
whi ch he had t o r ecover , " But we t hought you wer e dead. "
" Who t hought i t ?"
" Al l of us . . . I mean, ever ybody i n t he out si de wor l d. "
Then she suddenl y st opped smi l i ng, whi l e hi s voi ce began t o r ecapt ur e hi s
st or y and hi s f i r st sound of j oy.
" Mi ss Taggar t , don' t you r emember ? You t ol d me t o phone Wi nst on, Col or ado,
and t o t el l t hemt hat you' d be t her e by noon of t he next day. That was t o be
t he day bef or e yest er day, May t hi r t y- f i r st . But you di d not r each Wi nst onand
by l at e af t er noon, t he news was on al l t he r adi os t hat you wer e l ost i n a
pl ane cr ash somewher e i n t he Rocky Mount ai ns. "
She nodded sl owl y, gr aspi ng t he event s she had not t hought of consi der i ng.
" I hear d i t aboar d t he Comet , " he sai d. " At a smal l st at i on i n t he mi ddl e
of New Mexi co, The conduct or hel d us t her e f or an hour , whi l e I hel ped hi mt o
check t he st or y on l ong- di st ance phones. He was hi t by t he news j ust as I
was. They al l wer et he t r ai n cr ew, t he st at i on agent , t he swi t chmen. They
huddl ed ar ound me whi l e I cal l ed t he ci t y r ooms of newspaper s i n Denver and
New Yor k. We di dn' t l ear n much.
Onl y t hat you had l ef t t he Af t on ai r f i el d j ust bef or e dawn on May t hi r t y-
f i r st , t hat you seemed t o be f ol l owi ng some st r anger ' s pl ane, t hat t he
at t endant had seen you go of f sout heast and t hat nobody had seen you si nce .
. . And t hat sear chi ng par t i es wer e combi ng t he Rocki es f or t he wr eckage of
your pl ane. "
She asked i nvol unt ar i l y, " Di d t he Comet r each San Fr anci sco?"
" I don' t know. She was cr awl i ng nor t h t hr ough Ar i zona, when I gave up.
Ther e wer e t oo many del ays, t oo many t hi ngs goi ng wr ong, and a t ot al
conf usi on of or der s. I got of f and spent t he ni ght hi t chhi ki ng my way t o
Col or ado, bummi ng r i des on t r ucks, on buggi es, on hor se car t s, t o get t her e
on t i met o get t o our meet i ng pl ace, I mean, wher e we gat her f or Mi das' f er r y
pl ane t o pi ck us up and br i ng us her e. "
She st ar t ed wal ki ng sl owl y up t he pat h t owar d t he car she had l ef t i n
f r ont of Hammond' s Gr ocer y Mar ket . Kel l ogg f ol l owed, and when he spoke agai n,
hi s voi ce dr opped a l i t t l e, sl owi ng down wi t h t hei r st eps, as i f t her e wer e
somet hi ng t hey bot h wi shed t o del ay.
" I got a j ob f or J ef f Al i en, " he sai d; hi s voi ce had t he pecul i ar l y sol emn
t one pr oper f or sayi ng: I have car r i ed out your l ast wi l l . " Your agent at
Laur el gr abbed hi mand put hi mt o wor k t he moment we got t her e. The agent
needed ever y abl e- bodi edno, abl e- mi ndedman he coul d f i nd. "
They had r eached t he car , but she di d not get i n.
" Mi ss Taggar t , you wer en' t hur t badl y, wer e you? Di d you say you cr ashed,
but i t wasn' t ser i ous?"
" No, not ser i ous at al l . I ' l l be abl e t o get al ong wi t hout Mr . Mul l i gan' s
car by t omor r owand i n a day or t wo I won' t need t hi s t hi ng, ei t her . " She
swung her cane and t ossed i t cont empt uousl y i nt o t he car .
They st ood i n si l ence; she was wai t i ng.
" The l ast l ong- di st ance cal l I made f r omt hat st at i on i n New Mexi co, " he
sai d sl owl y, " was t o Pennsyl vani a. I spoke t o Hank Rear den.
I t ol d hi mever yt hi ng I knew. He l i st ened, and t hen t her e was a pause, and
t hen he sai d, ' Thank you f or cal l i ng me. ' " Kel l ogg' s eyes wer e l ower ed; he
added, I never want t o hear t hat ki nd of pause agai n as l ong as I l i ve. "
He r ai sed hi s eyes t o her s; t her e was no r epr oach i n hi s gl ance, onl y t he
knowl edge of t hat whi ch he had not suspect ed when he hear d her r equest , but
had guessed si nce.
" Thank you, " she sai d, and t hr ew t he door of t he car open. " Can I gi ve you
a l i f t ? I have t o get back and get di nner r eady bef or e my empl oyer comes
home. "
I t was i n t he f i r st moment of r et ur ni ng t o Gal t ' s house, of st andi ng al one
i n t he si l ent , sun- f i l l ed r oom, t hat she f aced t he f ul l meani ng of what she
f el t . She l ooked at t he wi ndow, at t he mount ai ns bar r i ng t he sky i n t he east .
She t hought of Hank Rear den as he sat at hi s desk, now, t wo t housand mi l es
away, hi s f ace t i ght ened i nt o a r et ai ni ng wal l agai nst agony, as i t had been
t i ght ened under al l t he bl ows of al l hi s year sand she f el t a desper at e wi sh
t o f i ght hi s bat t l e, t o f i ght f or hi m, f or hi s past , f or t hat t ensi on of hi s
f ace and t he cour age t hat f ed i t
as she want ed t o f i ght f or t he Comet t hat cr awl ed by a l ast ef f or t acr oss
a deser t on a cr umbl i ng t r ack. She shudder ed, cl osi ng her eyes, f eel i ng as i f
she wer e gui l t y of doubl e t r eason, f eel i ng as i f she wer e suspended i n space
bet ween t hi s val l ey and t he r est of t he ear t h, wi t h no r i ght t o ei t her .
The f eel i ng vani shed when she sat f aci ng Gal t acr oss t he di nner t abl e. He
was wat chi ng her , openl y and wi t h an unt r oubl ed l ook, as i f her pr esence wer e
nor mal and as i f t he si ght of her wer e al l he wi shed t o al l ow i nt o hi s
consci ousness.
She l eaned back a l i t t l e, as i f compl yi ng wi t h t he meani ng of hi s gl ance,
and sai d dr yl y, ef f i ci ent l y, i n del i ber at e deni al , " I have checked your
shi r t s and f ound one wi t h t wo but t ons mi ssi ng, and anot her wi t h t he l ef t
el bow wor n t hr ough. Do you wi sh me t o mend t hem?"
" Why, yesi f you can do i t .
" I can do i t . "
I t di d not seemt o al t er t he nat ur e of hi s gl ance; i t mer el y seemed t o
st r ess i t s sat i sf act i on, as i f t hi s wer e what he had wi shed her t o say
except t hat she was not cer t ai n whet her sat i sf act i on was t he name f or t he
t hi ng she saw i n hi s eyes and f ul l y cer t ai n t hat he had not wi shed her t o say
anyt hi ng.
Beyond t he wi ndow, at t he edge of t he t abl e, st or mcl ouds had wi ped out
t he l ast r emnant s of l i ght i n t he east er n sky. She wonder ed why she f el t a
sudden r el uct ance t o l ook out , why she f el t as i f she want ed t o cl i ng t o t he
gol den pat ches of l i ght on t he wood of t he t abl e, on t he but t er ed cr ust of
t he r ol l s, on t he copper cof f ee pot , on Gal t ' s hai r t o cl i ng as t o a smal l
i sl and on t he edge of a voi d.
Then she hear d her own voi ce aski ng suddenl y, i nvol unt ar i l y, and she knew
t hat t hi s was t he t r eason she had want ed t o escape, " Do you per mi t any
communi cat i on wi t h t he out si de wor l d?"
" No. "
" Not any? Not even a not e wi t hout r et ur n addr ess?"
" No. "
" Not even a message, i f no secr et of your s wer e gi ven away?"
" Not f r omher e. Not dur i ng t hi s mont h. Not t o out si der s at any t i me, "
She not i ced t hat she was avoi di ng hi s eyes, and she f or ced her sel f t o l i f t
her head and f ace hi m. Hi s gl ance had changed; i t was wat chf ul , unmovi ng,
i mpl acabl y per cept i ve. He asked, l ooki ng at her as i f he knew t he r eason of
her quer y, " Do you wi sh t o ask f or a speci al except i on?"
" No, " she answer ed, hol di ng hi s gl ance.
Next mor ni ng, af t er br eakf ast , when she sat i n her r oom, car ef ul l y pl aci ng
a pat ch on t he sl eeve of Gal t ' s shi r t , wi t h her door cl osed, not t o l et hi m
see her f umbl i ng ef f or t at an unf ami l i ar t ask, she hear d t he sound of a car
st oppi ng i n f r ont of t he house.
She hear d Gal t ' s st eps hur r yi ng acr oss t he l i vi ng r oom, she hear d hi mj er k
t he ent r ance door open and cal l out wi t h t he j oyous anger of r el i ef : " I t ' s
about t i me! "
She r ose t o her f eet , but st opped: she hear d hi s voi ce, i t s t one abr upt l y
changed and gr ave, as i f i n answer t o t he shock of some si ght conf r ont i ng
hi m: " What ' s t he mat t er ?"
" Hel l o, J ohn, " sai d a cl ear , qui et voi ce t hat sounded st eady, but wei ght ed
wi t h exhaust i on.
She sat down on her bed, f eel i ng suddenl y dr ai ned of st r engt h: t he voi ce
was Fr anci sco' s.
She hear d Gal t aski ng, hi s t one sever e wi t h concer n, " What i s i t ?"
" I ' l l t el l you af t er war ds. "
" Why ar e you so l at e?"
" I have t o l eave agai n i n an hour . "
" To l eave?"
" J ohn, I j ust came t o t el l you t hat I won' t be abl e t o st ay her e t hi s
year . "
Ther e was a pause, t hen Gal t asked gr avel y, hi s voi ce l ow, " I s i t as bad
as t hat what ever i t i s?"
" Yes. I . . . I mi ght be back bef or e t he mont h i s over . I don' t know. " He
added, wi t h t he sound of a desper at e ef f or t , " I don' t know whet her t o hope t o
be done wi t h i t qui ckl y or . . . or not , "
" Fr anci sco, coul d you st and a shock r i ght now?"
" I ? Not hi ng coul d shock me now. "
" Ther e' s a per son, her e, i n my guest r oom, whomyou have t o see.
I t wi l l be a shock t o you, so I t hi nk I ' d bet t er war n you i n advance t hat
t hi s per son i s st i l l a scab. "
" What ? A scab? I n your house?"
" Let me t el l you how"
" That ' s somet hi ng I want t o see f or mysel f ! "
She hear d Fr anci sco' s cont empt uous chuckl e and t he r ush of hi s st eps, she
saw her door f l ung open, and she not i ced di ml y t hat i t was Gal t who cl osed
i t , l eavi ng t hemal one.
She di d not know how l ong Fr anci sco st ood l ooki ng at her , because t he
f i r st moment t hat she gr asped f ul l y was when she saw hi mon hi s knees,
hol di ng ont o her , hi s f ace pr essed t o her l egs, t he moment when she f el t as
i f t he shudder t hat r an t hr ough hi s body and l ef t hi mst i l l , had r un i nt o
her s and made her abl e t o move.
She saw, i n ast oni shment , t hat her hand was movi ng gent l y over hi s hai r ,
whi l e she was t hi nki ng t hat she had no r i ght t o do i t and f eel i ng as i f a
cur r ent of ser eni t y wer e f l owi ng f r omher hand, envel opi ng t hembot h,
smoot hi ng t he past . He di d not move, he made no sound, as i f t he act of
hol di ng her sai d ever yt hi ng he had t o say.
When he r ai sed hi s head, he l ooked as she had f el t when she had opened her
eyes i n t he val l ey: he l ooked as i f no pai n had ever exi st ed i n t he wor l d. He
was l aughi ng.
" Dagny, Dagny, Dagny" hi s voi ce sounded, not as i f a conf essi on r esi st ed
f or year s wer e br eaki ng out , but as i f he wer e r epeat i ng t he l ong si nce
known, l aughi ng at t he pr et ense t hat i t had ever been unsai d " of cour se I
l ove you. Wer e you af r ai d when he made me say i t ?
I ' l l say i t as of t en as you wi shI l ove you, dar l i ng, I l ove you, I al ways
wi l l don' t be af r ai d f or me, I don' t car e i f I ' l l never have you agai n, what
does t hat mat t er ?you' r e al i ve and you' r e her e and you know ever yt hi ng now.
And i t ' s so si mpl e, i sn' t i t ? Do you see what i t was and why I had t o deser t
you?" Hi s ar mswept out t o poi nt at t he val l ey. " Ther e i t i si t ' s your ear t h,
your ki ngdom, your ki nd of wor l dDagny, I ' ve al ways l oved you and t hat I
deser t ed you, t hat was my l ove. "
He t ook her hands and pr essed t hemt o hi s l i ps and hel d t hem, not movi ng,
not as a ki ss, but as a l ong moment of r est as i f t he ef f or t of speech wer e a
di st r act i on f r omt he f act of her pr esence, and as i f he wer e t or n by t oo many
t hi ngs t o say, by t he pr essur e of al l t he wor ds st or ed i n t he si l ence of
year s.
" The women I chasedyou di dn' t bel i eve t hat , di d you? I ' ve never t ouched
one of t hembut I t hi nk you knew i t , I t hi nk you' ve known i t al l al ong. The
pl ayboyi t was a par t t hat I had t o pl ay i n or der not t o l et t he l oot er s
suspect me whi l e I was dest r oyi ng d' Anconi a Copper i n pl ai n si ght of t he
whol e wor l d. That ' s t he j oker i n t hei r syst em, t hey' r e out t o f i ght any man
of honor and ambi t i on, but l et t hemsee a wor t hl ess r ot t er and t hey t hi nk
he' s a f r i end, t hey t hi nk he' s saf esafe! t hat ' s t hei r vi ew of l i f e, but ar e
t hey l ear ni ng! ar e t hey l ear ni ng whet her evi l i s saf e and i ncompet ence
pr act i cal ! . . .
Dagny, i t was t he ni ght when I knew, f or t he f i r st t i me, t hat I l oved you
i t was t hen t hat I knew I had t o go. I t was when you ent er ed my hot el r oom,
t hat ni ght , when I saw what you l ooked l i ke, what you wer e, what you meant t o
meand what awai t ed you i n t he f ut ur e. Had you been l ess, you mi ght have
st opped me f or a whi l e. But i t was you, you who wer e t he f i nal ar gument t hat
made me l eave you. I asked f or your hel p, t hat ni ght agai nst J ohn Gal t . But I
knew t hat you wer e hi s best weapon agai nst me, t hough nei t her you nor he
coul d know i t .
You wer e ever yt hi ng t hat he was seeki ng, ever yt hi ng he t ol d us t o l i ve f or
or di e, i f necessar y. . . . I was r eady f or hi m, when he cal l ed me suddenl y
t o come t o New Yor k, t hat spr i ng. I had not hear d f r omhi mf or some t i me. He
was f i ght i ng t he same pr obl emI was. He sol ved i t .
. . . Do you r emember ? I t was t he t i me when you di d not hear f r omme f or
t hr ee year s. Dagny, when I t ook over my f at her ' s busi ness, when I began t o
deal wi t h t he whol e i ndust r i al syst emof t he wor l d, i t was t hen t hat I began
t o see t he nat ur e of t he evi l I had suspect ed, but t hought t oo monst r ous t o
bel i eve. I saw t he t ax- col l ect i ng ver mi n t hat had gr own f or cent ur i es l i ke
mi l dew on d' Anconi a Copper , dr ai ni ng us by no r i ght t hat anyone coul d nameI
saw t he gover nment r egul at i ons passed t o cr i ppl e me, because I was
successf ul , and t o hel p my compet i t or s, because t hey wer e l oaf i ng f ai l ur esI
saw t he l abor uni ons who won ever y cl ai magai nst me, by r eason of my abi l i t y
t o make t hei r l i vel i hood possi bl eI saw t hat any man' s desi r e f or money he
coul d not ear n was r egar ded as a r i ght eous wi sh, but i f he ear ned i t , i t was
damned as gr eedI saw t he pol i t i ci ans who wi nked at me, t el l i ng me not t o
wor r y, because I coul d j ust wor k a l i t t l e har der and out smar t t hemal l . I
l ooked past t he pr of i t s of t he moment , and I saw t hat t he har der I wor ked,
t he mor e I t i ght ened t he noose ar ound my t hr oat , I saw t hat my ener gy was
bei ng pour ed down a sewer , t hat t he par asi t es who f ed on me wer e bei ng f ed
upon i n t hei r t ur n, t hat t hey wer e caught i n t hei r own t r apand t hat t her e
was no r eason f or i t , no answer known t o anyone, t hat t he sewer pi pes of t he
wor l d, dr ai ni ng i t s pr oduct i ve bl ood, l ed i nt o some dank f og nobody had dar ed
t o pi er ce, whi l e peopl e mer el y shr ugged and sai d t hat l i f e on ear t h coul d be
not hi ng but evi l . And t hen I saw t hat t he whol e i ndust r i al est abl i shment of
t he wor l d, wi t h al l of i t s magni f i cent machi ner y, i t s t housand- t on f ur naces,
i t s t r ansat l ant i c cabl es, i t s mahogany of f i ces, i t s st ock exchanges, i t s
bl azi ng el ect r i c si gns, i t s power , i t s weal t hal l of i t was r un, not by
banker s and boar ds of di r ect or s, but by any unshaved humani t ar i an i n any
basement beer j oi nt , by any f ace pudgy wi t h mal i ce, who pr eached t hat vi r t ue
must be penal i zed f or bei ng vi r t ue, t hat t he pur pose of abi l i t y i s t o ser ve
i ncompet ence, t hat man has no r i ght t o exi st except f or t he sake of ot her s. .
. . I knew i t . I saw no way t o f i ght i t . J ohn f ound t he way. Ther e wer e j ust
t he t wo of us wi t h hi m, t he ni ght when we came t o New Yor k i n answer t o hi s
cal l , Ragnar and I . He t ol d us what we had t o do and what sor t of men we had
t o r each. He had qui t t he Twent i et h Cent ur y. He was l i vi ng i n a gar r et i n a
sl umnei ghbor hood. He st epped t o t he wi ndow and poi nt ed at t he skyscr aper s of
t he ci t y. He sai d t hat we had t o ext i ngui sh t he l i ght s of t he wor l d, and when
we woul d see t he l i ght s of New Yor k go out , we woul d know t hat our j ob was
done. He di d not ask us t o j oi n hi mat once. He t ol d us t o t hi nk i t over and
t o wei gh ever yt hi ng i t woul d do t o our l i ves. I gave hi mmy answer on t he
mor ni ng of t he second day, and Ragnar a f ew hour s l at er , i n t he af t er noon. .
. . Dagny, t hat was t he mor ni ng af t er our l ast ni ght t oget her . I had seen, i n
a manner of vi si on t hat I coul dn' t escape, what i t was t hat I had t o f i ght
f or .
I t was f or t he way you l ooked t hat ni ght , f or t he way you t al ked about
your r ai l r oadf or t he way you had l ooked when we t r i ed t o see t he skyl i ne of
New Yor k f r omt he t op of a r ock over t he HudsonI had t o save you, t o cl ear
t he way f or you, t o l et you f i nd your ci t ynot t o l et you st umbl e t he year s
of your l i f e away, st r uggl i ng on t hr ough a poi soned f og, wi t h your eyes st i l l
hel d st r ai ght ahead, st i l l l ooki ng as t hey had l ooked i n t he sunl i ght ,
st r uggl i ng on t o f i nd, at t he end of your r oad, not t he t ower s of a ci t y, but
a f at , soggy, mi ndl ess cr i ppl e per f or mi ng hi s enj oyment of l i f e by means of
swal l owi ng t he gi n your l i f e had gone t o pay f or ! You, t o know no j oy i n
or der t hat he may know i t ? Yout o ser ve as f odder f or t he pl easur e of ot her s?
Youas t he means f or t he subhuman as t he end? Dagny, t hat was what I saw and
t hat was what I coul dn' t l et t hemdo t o you! Not t o you, not t o any chi l d who
had your ki nd of l ook when- he f aced t he f ut ur e, not t o any man who had your
spi r i t and was abl e t o exper i ence a moment of bei ng pr oudl y, gui l t l essl y,
conf i dent l y, j oyousl y al i ve. That was my l ove, t hat st at e of t he human
spi r i t , and I l ef t you t o f i ght f or i t , and I knew t hat i f I wer e t o l ose
you, i t was st i l l you t hat I woul d be wi nni ng wi t h ever y year of t he bat t l e.
But you see i t now, don' t you? You' ve seen t hi s val l ey. I t ' s t he pl ace we set
out t o r each when we wer e chi l dr en, you and I . We' ve r eached i t . What el se
can I ask f or now? J ust t o see you her edi d J ohn say you' r e st i l l a scab?oh
wel l , i t ' s onl y a mat t er of t une, but you' l l be one of us, because you' ve
al ways been, i f you don' t see i t f ul l y, we' l l wai t , I don' t car e
so l ong as you' r e al i ve, so l ong as I don' t have t o go on f l yi ng over t he
Rocki es, l ooki ng f or t he wr eckage of your pl ane! "
She gasped a l i t t l e, r eal i zi ng why he had not come t o t he val l ey on t i me.
He l aughed. " Don' t l ook l i ke t hat . Don' t l ook at me as i f I wer e a wound
t hat you' r e af r ai d t o t ouch. "
" Fr anci sco, I ' ve hur t you i n so many di f f er ent ways"
" No! No, you haven' t hur t meand he hasn' t ei t her , don' t say anyt hi ng
about i t , i t ' s he who' s hur t , but we' l l save hi mand he' l l come her e, t oo,
wher e he bel ongs, and he' l l know, and t hen he, t oo, wi l l be abl e t o l augh
about i t . Dagny, I di dn' t expect you t o wai t , I di dn' t hope, I knew t he
chance I ' d t aken, and i f i t had t o be anyone, I ' mgl ad i t ' s he. "
She cl osed her eyes, pr essi ng her l i ps t oget her not t o moan.
" Dar l i ng, don' t ! Don' t you see t hat I ' ve accept ed i t ?"
But i t i sn' t she t hought i t i sn' t he, and I can' t t el l you t he t r ut h,
because i t ' s a man who mi ght never hear i t f r omme and whomI mi ght never
have.
" Fr anci sco, I di d l ove you" she sai d, and caught her br eat h, shocked,
r eal i zi ng t hat she had not i nt ended t o say i t and, si mul t aneousl y, t hat t hi s
was not t he t ense she had want ed t o use.
" But you do, " he sai d cal ml y, smi l i ng. " You st i l l l ove meeven i f t her e' s
one expr essi on of i t t hat you' l l al ways f eel and want , but wi l l not gi ve me
any l onger . I ' mst i l l what I was, and you' l l al ways see i t , and you' l l al ways
gr ant me t he same r esponse, even i f t her e' s a gr eat er one t hat you gr ant t o
anot her man. No mat t er what you f eel f or hi m, i t wi l l not change what you
f eel f or me, and i t won' t be t r eason t o ei t her , because i t comes f r omt he
same r oot , i t ' s t he same payment i n answer t o t he same val ues. No mat t er what
happens i n t he f ut ur e, we' l l al ways be what we wer e t o each ot her , you and I ,
because you' l l al ways l ove me. "
" Fr anci sco, " she whi sper ed, " do you know t hat ?"
" Of cour se. Don' t you under st and i t now? Dagny, ever y f or mof happi ness i s
one, ever y desi r e i s dr i ven by t he same mot or by our l ove f or a si ngl e val ue,
f or t he hi ghest pot ent i al i t y of our own exi st enceand ever y achi evement i s an
expr essi on of i t . Look ar ound you. Do you see how much i s open t o us her e, on
an unobst r uct ed ear t h? Do you see how much I amf r ee t o do, t o exper i ence, t o
achi eve? Do you see t hat al l of i t i s par t of what you ar e t o meas I ampar t
of i t f or you? And i f I ' l l see you smi l e wi t h admi r at i on at a new copper
smel t er t hat I bui l t , i t wi l l be anot her f or mof what I f el t when I l ay i n
bed besi de you. Wi l l I want t o sl eep wi t h you? Desper at el y. Wi l l I envy t he
man who does? Sur e. But what does t hat mat t er ? I t ' s so muchj ust t o have you
her e, t o l ove you and t o be al i ve. "
Her eyes l ower ed, her f ace st er n, hol di ng her head bowed as i n an act of
r ever ence, she sai d sl owl y, as i f f ul f i l l i ng a sol emn pr omi se, " Wi l l you
f or gi ve me?"
He l ooked ast oni shed, t hen chuckl ed gai l y, r emember i ng, and answer ed, " Not
yet . Ther e' s not hi ng t o f or gi ve, but I ' l l f or gi ve i t when you j oi n us. "
He r ose, he dr ew her t o her f eet and when hi s ar ms cl osed about her , t hei r
ki ss was t he summat i on of t hei r past , i t s end and t hei r seal of accept ance.
Gal t t ur ned t o t hemf r omacr oss t he l i vi ng r oom, when t hey came out . He
had been st andi ng at a wi ndow, l ooki ng at t he val l eyand she f el t cer t ai n
t hat he had st ood t her e al l t hat t i me. She saw hi s eyes st udyi ng t hei r f aces,
hi s gl ance movi ng sl owl y f r omone t o t he ot her .
Hi s f ace r el axed a l i t t l e at t he si ght of t he change i n Fr anci sco' s.
Fr anci sco smi l ed, aski ng hi m, " Why do you st ar e at me?"
" Do you know what you l ooked l i ke when you came i n?"
" Oh, di d I ? That ' s because I hadn' t sl ept f or t hr ee ni ght s. J ohn, wi l l you
i nvi t e me t o di nner ? I want t o know how t hi s scab of your s got her e, but I
t hi nk t hat I mi ght col l apse sound asl eep i n t he mi ddl e of a sent enceeven
t hough r i ght now I f eel as i f I ' l l never need any sl eep at al l so I t hi nk I ' d
bet t er go home and st ay t her e t i l l eveni ng. "
Gal t was wat chi ng hi mwi t h a f ai nt smi l e. " But ar en' t you goi ng t o l eave
t he val l ey i n an hour ?"
" What ? No . . . " he sai d mi l dl y, i n moment ar y ast oni shment . " No! "
he l aughed exul t ant l y. " I don' t have t o! That ' s r i ght , I haven' t t ol d you
what i t was, have I ? I was sear chi ng f or Dagny. For . . . f or t he wr eck of
her pl ane. She' d been r epor t ed l ost i n a cr ash i n t he Rocki es. "
" I see, " sai d Gal t qui et l y.
" I coul d have t hought of anyt hi ng, except t hat she woul d choose t o cr ash
i n Gal t ' s Gul ch, " Fr anci sco sai d happi l y; he had t he t one of t hat j oyous
r el i ef whi ch al most r el i shes t he hor r or of t he past , def yi ng i t by means of
t he pr esent . " I kept f l yi ng over t he di st r i ct bet ween Af t on, Ut ah, and
Wi nst on, Col or ado, over ever y peak and cr evi ce of i t , over ever y r emnant of a
car i n any gul l y bel ow, and whenever I saw one, I " He st opped; i t l ooked
l i ke a shudder . " Then at ni ght , we went out on f oot t he sear chi ng par t i es of
r ai l r oad men f r omWi nst on
we went cl i mbi ng at r andom, wi t h no cl ues, no pl an, on and on, unt i l i t
was dayl i ght agai n, and" He shr ugged, t r yi ng t o di smi ss i t and t o smi l e. " I
woul dn' t wi sh i t on my wor st "
He st opped shor t ; hi s smi l e vani shed and a di mr ef l ect i on of t he l ook he
had wor n f or t hr ee days came back t o hi s f ace, as i f at t he sudden pr esence
of an i mage he had f or got t en.
Af t er a l ong moment , he t ur ned t o Gal t . " J ohn, " hi s voi ce sounded
pecul i ar l y sol emn, " coul d we not i f y t hose out si de t hat Dagny i s al i ve . . .
i n case t her e' s somebody who . . . who' d f eel as I di d?"
Gal t was l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi m. " Do you wi sh t o gi ve any out si der any
r el i ef f r omt he consequences of r emai ni ng out si de?"
Fr anci sco dr opped hi s eyes, but answer ed f i r ml y, " No. "
" Pi t y, Fr anci sco?"
" Yes. For get i t . You' r e r i ght . "
Gal t t ur ned away wi t h a movement t hat seemed oddl y out of char act er : i t
had t he unr hyt hmi cal abr upt ness of t he i nvol unt ar y.
He di d not t ur n back; Fr anci sco wat ched hi mi n ast oni shment , t hen asked
sof t l y, " What ' s t he mat t er ?"
Gal t t ur ned and l ooked at hi mf or a moment , not answer i ng. She coul d not
i dent i f y t he emot i on t hat sof t ened t he l i nes of Gal t ' s f ace: i t had t he
qual i t y of a smi l e, of gent l eness, of pai n, and of somet hi ng gr eat er t hat
seemed t o make t hese concept s super f l uous.
" What ever any of us has pai d f or t hi s bat t l e, " sai d Gal t , " you' r e t he one
who' s t aken t he har dest beat i ng, ar en' t you?"
" Who? I ?" Fr anci sco gr i nned wi t h shocked, i ncr edul ous amusement .
" Cer t ai nl y not ! What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you?" He chuckl ed and added, " Pi t y,
J ohn?"
" No, " sai d Gal t f i r ml y.
She saw Fr anci sco wat chi ng hi mwi t h a f ai nt , puzzl ed f r ownbecause Gal t
had sai d i t , l ooki ng, not at hi m, but at her .
The emot i onal sumt hat st r uck her as an i mmedi at e i mpr essi on of
Fr anci sco' s house, when she ent er ed i t f or t he f i r st t i me, was not t he sum
she had once dr awn f r omt he si ght of i t s si l ent , l ocked ext er i or . She f el t ,
not a sense of t r agi c l onel i ness, but of i nvi gor at i ng br i ght ness. The r ooms
wer e bar e and cr udel y si mpl e, t he house seemed bui l t wi t h t he ski l l , t he
deci si veness and t he i mpat i ence t ypi cal of Fr anci sco; i t l ooked l i ke a
f r ont i er sman' s shant y t hr own t oget her t o ser ve as a mer e spr i ngboar d f or a
l ong f l i ght i nt o t he f ut ur ea f ut ur e wher e so gr eat a f i el d of act i vi t y l ay
wai t i ng t hat no t i me coul d be wast ed on t he comf or t of i t s st ar t . The pl ace
had t he br i ght ness, not of a home, but of a f r esh wooden scaf f ol di ng er ect ed
t o shel t er t he bi r t h of a skyscr aper .
Fr anci sco, i n shi r t sl eeves, st ood i n t he mi ddl e of hi s t wel ve- f oot squar e
l i vi ng r oom, wi t h t he l ook of a host i n a pal ace. Of al l t he pl aces wher e she
had ever seen hi m, t hi s was t he backgr ound t hat seemed most pr oper l y hi s.
J ust as t he si mpl i ci t y of hi s cl ot hes, added t o hi s bear i ng, gave hi mt he ai r
of a super l at i ve ar i st ocr at , so t he cr udeness of t he r oomgave i t t he
appear ance of t he most pat r i ci an r et r eat ; a si ngl e r oyal t ouch was added t o
t he cr udeness: t wo anci ent si l ver gobl et s st ood i n a smal l ni che cut i n a
wal l of bar e l ogs; t hei r or nat e desi gn had r equi r ed t he l uxur y of some
cr af t sman' s l ong and cost l y l abor , mor e l abor t han had gone t o bui l d t he
shant y, a desi gn di mmed by t he pol i sh of mor e cent ur i es t han had gone t o gr ow
t he l og wal l ' s pi nes. I n t he mi dst of t hat r oom, Fr anci sco' s easy, nat ur al
manner had a t ouch of qui et pr i de, as i f hi s smi l e wer e si l ent l y sayi ng t o
her : Thi s i s what I amand what I have been al l t hese year s.
She l ooked up at t he si l ver gobl et s.
" Yes, " he sai d, i n answer t o her si l ent guess, " t hey bel onged t o Sebast i an
d' Anconi a and hi s wi f e. That ' s t he onl y t hi ng I br ought her e f r ommy pal ace
i n Buenos Ai r es. That , and t he cr est over t he door .
I t ' s al l I want ed t o save. Ever yt hi ng el se wi l l go, i n a ver y f ew mont hs
now. " He chuckl ed. " They' l l sei ze i t , al l of i t , t he l ast dr egs of d' Anconi a
Copper , but t hey' l l be sur pr i sed. They won' t f i nd much f or t hei r t r oubl e. And
as t o t hat pal ace, t hey won' t be abl e t o af f or d even i t s heat i ng bi l l . "
" And t hen?" she asked. " Wher e wi l l you go f r omt her e?"
" I ? I wi l l go t o wor k f or d' Anconi a Copper . "
" What do you mean?"
" Do you r emember t hat ol d sl ogan: " The ki ng i s dead, l ong l i ve t he ki ng' ?
When t he car cass of my ancest or s' pr oper t y i s out of t he way, t hen my mi ne
wi l l become t he young new body of d' Anconi a Copper , t he ki nd of pr oper t y my
ancest or s had want ed, had wor ked f or , had deser ved, but had never owned. "
" Your mi ne? What mi ne? Wher e?"
" Her e, " he sai d, poi nt i ng t owar d t he mount ai n peaks. " Di dn' t you know i t ?"
" No. "
" I own a copper mi ne t hat t he l oot er s won' t r each. I t ' s her e, i n t hese
mount ai ns. I di d t he pr ospect i ng, I di scover ed i t , I br oke t he f i r st
excavat i on. I t was over ei ght year s ago. I was t he f i r st man t o whomMi das
sol d l and i n t hi s val l ey. I bought t hat mi ne. I st ar t ed i t wi t h my own hands,
as Sebast i an d' Anconi a had st ar t ed. I have a super i nt endent 77!
i n char ge of i t now, who used t o be my best met al l ur gi st i n Chi l e.
The mi ne pr oduces al l t he copper we r equi r e. My pr of i t s ar e deposi t ed at
t he Mul l i gan Bank. That wi l l be al l I ' l l have, a f ew mont hs f r omnow. That
wi l l be al l I ' l l need. "
t o conquer t he wor l d, was t he way hi s voi ce sounded on hi s l ast sent ence
and she mar vel ed at t he di f f er ence bet ween t hat sound and t he shamef ul ,
mawki sh t one, hal f - whi ne, hal f - t hr eat , t he t one of beggar and t hug combi ned,
whi ch t he men of t hei r cent ur y had gi ven t o t he wor d " need. "
" Dagny, " he was sayi ng, st andi ng at t he wi ndow, as i f l ooki ng out at t he
peaks, not of mount ai ns, but of t i me, " t he r ebi r t h of d' Anconi a Copper and of
t he wor l dhas t o st ar t her e, i n t he Uni t ed St at es. Thi s count r y was t he onl y
count r y i n hi st or y bor n, not of chance and bl i nd t r i bal war f ar e, but as a
r at i onal pr oduct of man' s mi nd. Thi s count r y was bui l t on t he supr emacy of
r easonand, f or one magni f i cent cent ur y, i t r edeemed t he wor l d. I t wi l l have
t o do so agai n. The f i r st st ep of d' Anconi a Copper , as of any ot her human
val ue, has t o come f r omher ebecause t he r est of t he ear t h has r eached t he
consummat i on of t he bel i ef s i t has hel d t hr ough t he ages: myst i c f ai t h, t he
supr emacy of t he i r r at i onal , whi ch has but t wo monument s at t he end of i t s
cour se: t he l unat i c asyl umand t he gr aveyar d. . . . Sebast i an d' Anconi a
commi t t ed one er r or : he accept ed a syst emwhi ch decl ar ed t hat t he pr oper t y he
had ear ned by r i ght , was t o be hi s, not by r i ght , but by per mi ssi on. Hi s
descendant s pai d f or t hat er r or . I have made t he l ast payment . . . . I t hi nk
t hat I wi l l see t he day when, gr owi ng out f r omt hei r r oot i n t hi s soi l , t he
mi nes, t he smel t er s, t he or e docks of d' Anconi a Copper wi l l spr ead agai n
t hr ough t he wor l d and down t o my nat i ve count r y, and I wi l l be t he f i r st t o
st ar t my count r y' s r ebui l di ng.
I may see i t , but I cannot be cer t ai n. No man can pr edi ct t he t i me when
ot her s wi l l choose t o r et ur n t o r eason. I t may be t hat at t he end of my l i f e,
I shal l have est abl i shed not hi ng but t hi s si ngl e mi ne
d' Anconi a Copper No. 1, Gal t ' s Gul ch, Col or ado, U. S. A. But , Dagny, do you
r emember t hat my ambi t i on was t o doubl e my f at her ' s pr oduct i on of copper ?
Dagny, i f at t he end of my l i f e, I pr oduce but one pound of copper a year , I
wi l l be r i cher t han my f at her , r i cher t han al l my ancest or s wi t h al l t hei r
t housands of t onsbecause t hat one pound wi l l be mi ne by r i ght and wi l l be
used t o mai nt ai n a wor l d t hat knows i t ! "
Thi s was t he Fr anci sco of t hei r chi l dhood, i n bear i ng, i n manner , i n t he
uncl ouded br i l l i ance of hi s eyesand she f ound her sel f quest i oni ng hi mabout
hi s copper mi ne, as she had quest i oned hi mabout hi s i ndust r i al pr oj ect s on
t hei r wal ks on t he shor e of t he Hudson, r ecapt ur i ng t he sense of an
unobst r uct ed f ut ur e.
" I ' l l t ake you t o see t he mi ne, " he sai d, " as soon as your ankl e r ecover s
compl et el y. We have t o cl i mb a st eep t r ai l t o get t her e, j ust a mul e t r ai l ,
t her e' s no t r uck r oad as yet . Let me show you t he new smel t er I ' mdesi gni ng.
I ' ve been wor ki ng on i t f or some t i me, i t ' s t oo compl ex f or our pr esent
vol ume of pr oduct i on, but when t he mi ne' s out put gr ows t o j ust i f y i t j ust
t ake a l ook at t he t i me, l abor and money t hat i t wi l l save! "
They wer e si t t i ng t oget her on t he f l oor , bendi ng over t he sheet s of paper
he spr ead bef or e her , st udyi ng t he i nt r i cat e sect i ons of t he smel t er wi t h t he
same j oyous ear nest ness t hey had once br ought t o t he st udy of scr aps i n a
j unk yar d.
She l eaned f or war d j ust as he moved t o r each f or anot her sheet , and she
f ound her sel f l eani ng agai nst hi s shoul der . - I nvol unt ar i l y, she hel d st i l l f or
one i nst ant , no l onger t han f or a smal l br eak i n t he f l ow of a si ngl e mot i on,
whi l e her eyes r ose t o hi s. He was l ooki ng down at her , nei t her hi di ng what
he f el t nor i mpl yi ng any f ur t her demand. She dr ew back, knowi ng t hat she had
f el t t he same desi r e as hi s.
Then, st i l l hol di ng t he r ecapt ur ed sensat i on of what she had f el t f or hi m
i n t he past , she gr asped a qual i t y t hat had al ways been par t of i t , now
suddenl y cl ear t o her f or t he f i r st t i me: i f t hat desi r e was a cel ebr at i on of
one' s l i f e, t hen what she had f el t f or Fr anci sco had al ways been a
cel ebr at i on of her f ut ur e, l i ke a moment of spl endor gai ned i n par t payment
of an unknown, t ot al , af f i r mi ng some pr omi se t o come. I n t he i nst ant when she
gr asped i t , she knew al so t he onl y desi r e she had ever exper i enced not i n
t oken of t he f ut ur e but of t he f ul l and f i nal pr esent She knew i t by means of
an i maget he i mage of a man' s f i gur e st andi ng at t he door of a smal l gr ani t e
st r uct ur e. The f i nal f or mof t he pr omi se t hat had kept her movi ng, she
t hought , was t he man who woul d, per haps, r emai n a pr omi se never t o be
r eached.
But t hi sshe t hought i n const er nat i onwas t hat vi ew of human dest i ny whi ch
she had most passi onat el y hat ed and r ej ect ed: t he vi ew t hat man was ever t o
be dr awn by some vi si on of t he unat t ai nabl e shi ni ng ahead, doomed ever t o
aspi r e, but not t o achi eve. Her l i f e and her val ues coul d not br i ng her t o
t hat , she t hought ; she had never f ound beaut y i n l ongi ng f or t he i mpossi bl e
and had never f ound t he possi bl e t o be beyond her r each. But she had come t o
i t and she coul d f i nd no answer .
She coul d not gi ve hi mup or gi ve up t he wor l dshe t hought , l ooki ng at
Gal t , t hat eveni ng. The answer seemed har der t o f i nd i n hi s pr esence. She
f el t t hat no pr obl emexi st ed, t hat not hi ng coul d st and besi de t he f act of
seei ng hi mand not hi ng woul d ever have t he power t o make her l eaveand,
si mul t aneousl y, t hat she woul d have no r i ght t o l ook at hi mi f she wer e t o
r enounce her r ai l r oad. She f el t t hat she owned hi m, t hat t he unnamed had been
under st ood bet ween t hemf r omt he st ar t and, si mul t aneousl y, t hat he was abl e
t o vani sh f r omher Me and, on some f ut ur e st r eet of t he out si de wor l d, t o
pass her by i n unwei ght ed i ndi f f er ence.
She not ed t hat he di d not quest i on her about Fr anci sco. When she spoke of
her vi si t , she coul d f i nd no r eact i on i n hi s f ace, nei t her of appr oval nor of
r esent ment . I t seemed t o her t hat she caught an i mper cept i bl e shadi ng i n hi s
gr avel y at t ent i ve expr essi on: he l ooked as i f t hi s wer e a mat t er about whi ch
he di d not choose t o f eel .
Her f ai nt appr ehensi on gr ew i nt o a quest i on mar k, and t he quest i on mar k
t ur ned i nt o a dr i l l , cut t i ng deeper and deeper i nt o her mi nd t hr ough t he
eveni ngs t hat f ol l owedwhen Gal t l ef t t he house and she r emai ned al one. He
went out ever y ot her ni ght , af t er di nner , not t el l i ng her wher e he went ,
r et ur ni ng at mi dni ght or l at er . She t r i ed not t o al l ow her sel f f ul l y t o
di scover wi t h what t ensi on and. r est l essness she wai t ed f or hi s r et ur n. She
di d not ask hi mwher e he spent hi s eveni ngs. The r el uct ance t hat st opped her
was her t oo ur gent desi r e t o know; she kept si l ent i n some di ml y i nt ent i onal
f or mof def i ance, hal f i n def i ance of hi m, hal f of her own anxi et y.
She woul d not acknowl edge t he t hi ngs she f ear ed or gi ve t hemt he sol i d
shape of wor ds, she knew t hemonl y by t he ugl y, naggi ng pul l of an unadmi t t ed
emot i on. Par t of i t was a savage r esent ment , of a ki nd she had never
exper i enced bef or e, whi ch was her answer t o t he dr ead t hat t her e mi ght be a
woman i n hi s l i f e; yet t he r esent ment was sof t ened by some qual i t y of heal t h
i n t he t hi ng she f ear ed, as i f t he t hr eat coul d be f ought and even, i f need
be, accept ed. But t her e was anot her , ugl i er dr ead: t he sor di d shape of sel f -
sacr i f i ce, t he suspi ci on, not t o be ut t er ed about hi m, t hat he wi shed t o
r emove hi msel f f r omher pat h and l et i t s empt i ness f or ce her back t o t he man
who was hi s best - l oved f r i end.
Days passed bef or e she spoke of i t . Then, at di nner , on an eveni ng when he
was t o l eave, she became suddenl y awar e of t he pecul i ar pl easur e she
exper i enced whi l e wat chi ng hi meat t he f ood she had pr epar edand suddenl y,
i nvol unt ar i l y, as i f t hat pl easur e gave her a r i ght she dar ed not i dent i f y,
as i f enj oyment , not pai n, br oke her r esi st ance, she hear d her sel f aski ng
hi m, " What i s i t you' r e doi ng ever y ot her eveni ng?"
He answer ed si mpl y, as i f he had t aken f or gr ant ed t hat she knew i t ,
" Lect ur i ng. "
" What ?"
" Gi vi ng a cour se of l ect ur es on physi cs, as I do ever y year dur i ng t hi s
mont h. I t ' s my . . . What ar e you l aughi ng at ?" he asked, seei ng t he l ook of
r el i ef , of si l ent l aught er t hat di d not seemt o be di r ect ed at hi s wor dsand
t hen, bef or e she answer ed, he smi l ed suddenl y, as i f he had guessed t he
answer , she saw some par t i cul ar , i nt ensel y per sonal qual i t y i n hi s smi l e,
whi ch was al most a qual i t y of i nsol ent i nt i macyi n cont r ast t o t he cal ml y
i mper sonal , casual manner wi t h whi ch he went on. " You know t hat t hi s i s t he
mont h when we al l t r ade t he achi evement s of our r eal pr of essi ons. Ri char d
Hal l ey i s t o gi ve concer t s, Kay Ludl ow i s t o appear i n t wo pl ays wr i t t en by
aut hor s who do not wr i t e f or t he out si de wor l dand I gi ve l ect ur es, r epor t i ng
on t he wor k I ' ve done dur i ng t he year . "
" Fr ee l ect ur es?"
" Cer t ai nl y not . I t ' s t en dol l ar s per per son f or t he cour se. "
" I want t o hear you. "
He shook hi s head. " No. You' l l be al l owed t o at t end t he concer t s, t he
pl ays or any f or mof pr esent at i on f or your own enj oyment , but not my l ect ur es
or any ot her sal e of i deas whi ch you mi ght car r y out of t hi s val l ey. Besi des,
my cust omer s, or st udent s, ar e onl y t hose who have a pr act i cal pur pose i n
t aki ng my cour se: Dwi ght Sander s, Lawr ence Hammond, Di ck McNamar a, Owen
Kel l ogg, a f ew ot her s. I ' ve added one begi nner t hi s year : Quent i n Dani el s. "
" Real l y?" she sai d, al most wi t h a t ouch of j eal ousy. " How can he af f or d
anyt hi ng t hat expensi ve?"
" On cr edi t . I ' ve gi ven hi ma t i me- payment pl an. He' s wor t h i t . "
" Wher e do you l ect ur e?"
" I n t he hangar , on Dwi ght Sander s' f ar m. "
" And wher e do you wor k dur i ng t he year ?"
" I n my l abor at or y. "
She asked caut i ousl y, " Wher e i s your l abor at or y? Her e, i n t he val l ey?"
He hel d her eyes f or a moment , l et t i ng her see t hat hi s gl ance was amused
and t hat he knew her pur pose, t hen answer ed, " No. "
" You' ve l i ved i n t he out si de wor l d f or al l of t hese t wel ve year s?"
" Yes. "
" Do you" t he t hought seemed unbear abl e" do you hol d some such j ob as t he
ot her s?"
" Oh yes. " The amusement i n hi s eyes seemed st r essed by some speci al
meani ng.
" Don' t t el l me t hat you' r e a second assi st ant bookkeeper ! "
" No, I ' mnot . "
" Then what do you do?"
" I hol d t he ki nd of j ob t hat t he wor l d wi shes me t o hol d. "
" Wher e?"
He shook hi s head. " No, Mi ss Taggar t . I f you deci de t o l eave t he val l ey,
t hi s i s one of t he t hi ngs t hat you ar e not t o know. "
He smi l ed agai n wi t h t hat i nsol ent l y per sonal qual i t y whi ch now seemed t o
say t hat he knew t he t hr eat cont ai ned i n hi s answer and what i t meant t o her ,
t hen he r ose f r omt he t abl e.
When he had gone, she f el t as i f t he mot i on of t i me wer e an oppr essi ve
wei ght i n t he st i l l ness of t he house, l i ke a st at i onar y, hal f - sol i d mass
sl i t her i ng sl owl y i nt o some f ai nt el ongat i on by a t empo t hat l ef t her no
measur e t o know whet her mi nut es had passed or hour s. She l ay hal f - st r et ched
i n an ar mchai r of t he l i vi ng r oom, cr umpl ed by t hat heavy, i ndi f f er ent
l assi t ude whi ch i s not t he wi l l t o l azi ness, but t he f r ust r at i on of t he wi l l
t o a secr et vi ol ence t hat no l esser act i on can sat i sf y.
That speci al pl easur e she had f el t i n wat chi ng hi meat t he f ood she had
pr epar edshe t hought , l yi ng st i l l , her eyes cl osed, her mi nd movi ng, l i ke
t i me, t hr ough some r eal mof vei l ed sl ownessi t had been t he pl easur e of
knowi ng t hat she had pr ovi ded hi mwi t h a sensual enj oyment , t hat one f or mof
hi s body' s sat i sf act i on had come f r omher .
. . . Ther e i s r eason, she t hought , why a woman woul d wi sh t o cook f or a
man . . . oh, not as a dut y, not as a chr oni c car eer , onl y as a r ar e and
speci al r i t e i n symbol of . . . but what have t hey made of i t , t he pr eacher s
of woman' s dut y? . . . The cast r at ed per f or mance of a si ckeni ng dr udger y was
hel d t o be a woman' s pr oper vi r t uewhi l e t hat whi ch gave i t meani ng and
sanct i on was hel d as a shamef ul si n . . . t he wor k of deal i ng wi t h gr ease,
st eamand sl i my peel i ngs i n a r eeki ng ki t chen was hel d t o be a spi r i t ual
mat t er , an act of compl i ance wi t h her mor al dut ywhi l e t he meet i ng of t wo
bodi es i n a bedr oomwas hel d t o be a physi cal i ndul gence, an act of sur r ender
t o an ani mal i nst i nct , wi t h no gl or y, meani ng or pr i de of spi r i t t o be
cl ai med by t he ani mal s i nvol ved.
She l eaped abr upt l y t o her f eet . She di d not want t o t hi nk of t he out er
wor l d or of i t s mor al code. But she knew t hat t hat was not t he subj ect of her
t hought s. And she di d not want t o t hi nk of t he subj ect her mi nd was i nt ent on
pur sui ng, t he subj ect t o whi ch i t kept r et ur ni ng agai nst her wi l l , by some
wi l l of i t s own. . . .
She paced t he r oom, hat i ng t he ugl y, j er ky, uncont r ol l ed l ooseness of her
movement st or n bet ween t he need t o l et her mot i on br eak t he st i l l ness, and
t he knowl edge t hat t hi s was not t he f or mof br eak she want ed. She l i ght ed
ci gar et t es, f or an i nst ant ' s i l l usi on of pur posef ul act i onand di scar ded t hem
wi t hi n anot her i nst ant , f eel i ng t he wear y di st ast e of a subst i t ut e pur pose.
She l ooked at t he r ooml i ke a r est l ess beggar , pl eadi ng wi t h physi cal obj ect s
t o gi ve her a mot i ve, wi shi ng she coul d f i nd somet hi ng t o cl ean, t o mend, t o
pol i shwhi l e knowi ng t hat no t ask was wor t h t he ef f or t . When not hi ng seems
wor t h t he ef f or t
sai d some st er n voi ce i n her mi ndi t ' s a scr een t o hi de a wi sh t hat ' s
wor t h t oo much; what do you want ? . . . She snapped a mat ch, vi ci ousl y
j er ki ng t he f l ame t o t he t i p of a ci gar et t e she not i ced hangi ng, unl i ght ed,
i n t he cor ner of her mout h. . . . What do you want ?r epeat ed t he voi ce t hat
sounded sever e as a j udge. I want hi mt o come back! she answer ed, t hr owi ng
t he wor ds, as a soundl ess cr y, at some accuser wi t hi n her , al most as one
woul d t hr ow a bone t o a pur sui ng beast , i n t he hope of di st r act i ng i t f r om
pounci ng upon t he r est .
I want hi mbackshe sai d sof t l y, i n answer t o t he accusat i on t hat t her e
was no r eason f or so gr eat an i mpat i ence. . . . I want hi mback she sai d
pl eadi ngl y, i n answer t o t he col d r emi nder t hat her answer di d not bal ance
t he j udge' s scal e. . . . I want hi mback! she cr i ed def i ant l y, f i ght i ng not
t o dr op' t he one super f l uous, pr ot ect i ve wor d i n t hat sent ence.
She f el t her head dr oopi ng wi t h exhaust i on, as af t er a pr ol onged beat i ng.
The ci gar et t e she saw bet ween her f i nger s had bur ned t he mer e l engt h of hal f
an i nch. She gr ound i t out and f el l i nt o t he ar mchai r agai n.
I ' mnot evadi ng i t she t hought I ' mnot evadi ng i t , i t ' s j ust t hat I can
see no way t o any answer . . . . That whi ch you want sai d t he voi ce, whi l e she
st umbl ed t hr ough a t hi ckeni ng f ogi s your s f or t he t aki ng, but anyt hi ng l ess
t han your f ul l accept ance, anyt hi ng l ess t han your f ul l convi ct i on, i s a
bet r ayal of ever yt hi ng he i s. . . . Then l et hi mdamn meshe t hought , as i f
t he voi ce wer e now l ost i n t he f og and woul d not hear her l et hi mdamn me
t omor r ow. . . . I want hi m. . . back. . . . She hear d no answer , because her
head had f al l en sof t l y agai nst t he chai r ; she was asl eep.
When she opened her eyes, she saw hi mst andi ng t hr ee f eet away, l ooki ng
down at her , as i f he had been wat chi ng her f or some t i me.
She saw hi s f ace and, wi t h t he cl ar i t y of undi vi ded per cept i on, she saw
t he meani ng of t he expr essi on on hi s f ace: i t was t he meani ng she had f ought
f or hour s. She saw i t wi t hout ast oni shment , because she had not yet r egai ned
her awar eness of any r eason why i t shoul d ast oni sh her .
" Thi s i s t he way you l ook, " he sai d sof t l y, " when you f al l asl eep i n your
of f i ce, " and she knew t hat he, t oo, was not f ul l y awar e of l et t i ng her hear
i t : t he way he sai d i t t ol d her how of t en he had t hought of i t and f or what
r eason. " You l ook as i f you woul d awaken i n a wor l d wher e you had not hi ng t o
hi de or t o f ear , " and she knew t hat t he f i r st movement of her f ace had been a
smi l e, she knew i t i n t he moment when i t vani shed, when she gr asped t hat t hey
wer e bot h awake. He added qui et l y, wi t h f ul l awar eness, " But her e, i t ' s
t r ue. "
Her f i r st emot i on of t he r eal mof r eal i t y was a sense of power . She sat up
wi t h a f l owi ng, l ei sur el y movement of conf i dence, f eel i ng t he f l ow of t he
mot i on f r ommuscl e t o muscl e t hr ough her body. She asked, and i t was t he
sl owness, t he sound of casual cur i osi t y, t he t one of t aki ng t he i mpl i cat i ons
f or gr ant ed, t hat gave t o her voi ce t he f ai nt est sound of di sdai n, " How di d
you know what I l ook l i ke i n . . . my of f i ce?"
" I t ol d you t hat I ' ve wat ched you f or year s. "
" How wer e you abl e t o wat ch me t hat t hor oughl y? Fr omwher e?"
" I wi l l not answer you now, " he sai d, si mpl y, wi t hout def i ance.
The sl i ght movement of her shoul der l eani ng back, t he pause, t hen t he
l ower , huski er t one of her voi ce, l ef t a hi nt of smi l i ng t r i umph t o t r ai l
behi nd her wor ds: " When di d you see me f or t he f i r st t i me?"
" Ten year s ago, " he answer ed, l ooki ng st r ai ght at her , l et t i ng her see
t hat he was answer i ng t he f ul l , unnamed meani ng of her quest i on.
" Wher e?" The wor d was al most a command.
He hesi t at ed, t hen she saw a f ai nt smi l e t hat t ouched onl y hi s l i ps, not
hi s eyes, t he ki nd of smi l e wi t h whi ch one cont empl at eswi t h l ongi ng,
bi t t er ness and pr i dea possessi on pur chased at an excr uci at i ng cost ; hi s eyes
seemed di r ect ed, not at her , but at t he gi r l of t hat t i me.
" Under gr ound, i n t he Taggar t Ter mi nal , " he answer ed.
She became suddenl y consci ous of her post ur e: she had l et her shoul der
bl ades sl i de down agai nst t he chai r , car el essl y, hal f - l yi ng, one l eg
st r et ched f or war dand wi t h her st er nl y t ai l or ed, t r anspar ent bl ouse, her wi de
peasant ski r t hand- pr i nt ed i n vi ol ent col or s, her t hi n st ocki ng and hi gh-
heel ed pump, she di d not l ook l i ke a r ai l r oad execut i vet he consci ousness of
i t st r uck her i n answer t o hi s eyes t hat seemed t o be seei ng t he
unat t ai nabl eshe l ooked l i ke t hat whi ch she was: hi s ser vant gi r l . She knew
t he moment when some f ai nt est st r ess of t he br i l l i ance i n hi s dar k gr een eyes
r emoved t he vei l of di st ance, r epl aci ng t he vi si on of t he past by t he act of
seei ng her i mmedi at e per son.
She met hi s eyes wi t h t hat i nsol ent gl ance whi ch i s a smi l e wi t hout
movement of f aci al muscl es.
He t ur ned away, but as he moved acr oss t he r oomhi s st eps wer e as el oquent
as t he sound of a voi ce. She knew t hat he want ed t o l eave t he r oom, as he
al ways l ef t i t , he had never st ayed f or l onger t han a br i ef good ni ght when
he came home. She wat ched t he cour se of hi s st r uggl e, whet her by means of hi s
st eps, begun i n one di r ect i on and swer vi ng i n anot her , or by means of her
cer t ai nt y t hat her body had become an i nst r ument f or t he di r ect per cept i on of
hi s, l i ke a scr een r ef l ect i ng bot h movement s and mot i vesshe coul d not t el l .
She knew onl y t hat he who had never st ar t ed or l ost a bat t l e agai nst hi msel f ,
now had no power t o l eave t hi s r oom.
Hi s manner seemed t o show no si gn of st r ai n. He t ook of f hi s coat ,
t hr owi ng i t asi de, r emai ni ng i n shi r t sl eeves, and sat down, f aci ng her , at
t he wi ndow acr oss t he r oom. But he sat down on t he ar mof a chai r , as i f he
wer e nei t her l eavi ng nor st ayi ng.
She f el t t he l i ght - headed, t he easy, t he al most f r i vol ous sensat i on of
t r i umph i n t he knowl edge t hat she was hol di ng hi mas sur el y as by a physi cal
t ouch; f or t he l engt h of a moment , br i ef and danger ous t o endur e, i t was a
mor e sat i sf yi ng f or mof cont act .
Then she f el t a sudden, bl i ndi ng shock, whi ch was hal f - bl ow, hal f scr eam
wi t hi n her , and she gr oped, st unned, f or i t s causeonl y t o r eal i ze t hat he
had l eaned a l i t t l e t o one si de and i t had been no mor e t han t he si ght of an
acci dent al post ur e, of t he l ong l i ne r unni ng f r omhi s shoul der t o t he angl e
of hi s wai st , t o hi s hi ps, down hi s l egs. She l ooked away, not t o l et hi msee
t hat she was t r embl i ngand she dr opped al l t hought s of t r i umph and of whose
was t he power .
" I ' ve seen you many t i mes si nce, " he sai d, qui et l y, st eadi l y, but a l i t t l e
mor e sl owl y t han usual , as i f he coul d cont r ol ever yt hi ng except hi s need t o
speak.
" Wher e have you seen me?"
" Many pl aces. "
" But you made cer t ai n t o r emai n unseen?" She knew t hat hi s was a f ace she
coul d not have f ai l ed t o not i ce.
" Yes. "
" Why? Wer e you af r ai d?"
" Yes. "
He sai d i t si mpl y, and i t t ook her a moment t o r eal i ze t hat he was
admi t t i ng he knew what t he si ght of hi s per son woul d have meant t o her . " Di d
you know who I was, when you saw me f or t he f i r st t i me?"
" Oh yes. My wor st enemy but one. "
" What ?" She had not expect ed i t ; she added, mor e qui et l y, " Who' s t he wor st
one?"
" Dr . Rober t St adl er . "
" Di d you have me cl assi f i ed wi t h hi m?"
" No. He' s my consci ous enemy. He' s t he man who sol d hi s soul . We don' t
i nt end t o r ecl ai mhi m. Youyou wer e one of us. I knew i t , l ong bef or e I saw
you. I knew al so t hat you woul d be t he l ast t o j oi n us and t he har dest one t o
def eat . "
" Who t ol d you t hat ?"
" Fr anci sco. "
She l et a moment pass, t hen asked, " What di d he say?"
" He sai d t hat of al l t he names on our l i st , you' d be t he one most
di f f i cul t t o wi n. That was when I hear d of you f or t he f i r st t i me. I t was
Fr anci sco who put your name on our l i st . He t ol d me t hat you wer e t he sol e
hope and f ut ur e of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , t hat you' d st and agai nst us f or
a l ong t i me, t hat you' d f i ght a desper at e bat t l e f or your r ai l r oadbecause
you had t oo much endur ance, cour age and consecr at i on t o your wor k. " He
gl anced at her . " He t ol d me not hi ng el se.
He spoke of you as i f he wer e mer el y di scussi ng one of our f ut ur e
st r i ker s. I knew t hat you and he had been chi l dhood f r i ends, t hat was al l . "
" When di d you see me?"
" Two year s l at er . "
" How?"
" By chance. I t was l at e at ni ght . . . on a passenger pl at f or mof t he
Taggar t Ter mi nal . " She knew t hat t hi s was a f or mof sur r ender , he di d not
want t o say i t , yet he had t o speak, she hear d bot h t he mut ed i nt ensi t y and
t he pul l of r esi st ance i n hi s voi cehe had t o speak, because he had t o gi ve
hi msel f and her t hi s one f or mof cont act . " You wor e an eveni ng gown. You had
a cape hal f - sl i ppi ng of f your bodyI saw, at f i r st , onl y your bar e shoul der s,
your back and your pr of i l ei t l ooked f or a moment as i f t he cape woul d sl i p
f ur t her and you woul d st and t her e naked. Then I saw t hat you wor e a l ong
gown, t he col or of i ce, l i ke t he t uni c of a Gr eci an goddess, but had t he
shor t hai r and t he i mper i ous pr of i l e of an Amer i can woman. You l ooked
pr epost er ousl y out of pl ace on a r ai l r oad pl at f or mand i t was not on a
r ai l r oad pl at f or mt hat I was seei ng you, I was seei ng a set t i ng t hat had
never haunt ed me bef or ebut t hen, suddenl y, I knew t hat you di d bel ong among
t he r ai l s, t he soot and t he gi r der s, t hat t hat was t he pr oper set t i ng f or a
f l owi ng gown and naked shoul der s and a f ace as al i ve as your sa r ai l r oad
pl at f or m, not a cur t ai ned apar t ment you l ooked l i ke a symbol of l uxur y and
you bel onged i n t he pl ace t hat was i t s sour ceyou seemed t o br i ng weal t h,
gr ace, ext r avagance and t he enj oyment of l i f e back t o t hei r r i ght f ul owner s,
t o t he men who cr eat ed r ai l r oads and f act or i esyou had a l ook of ener gy and
of i t s r ewar d, t oget her , a l ook of compet ence and l uxur y combi nedand I was
t he f i r st man who had ever st at ed i n what manner t hese t wo wer e i nsepar abl e
and I t hought t hat i f our age gave f or mt o i t s pr oper gods and er ect ed a
st at ue t o t he meani ng of an Amer i can r ai l r oad, your s woul d be t hat st at ue. .
. . Then I saw what you wer e doi ngand I knew who you wer e. You wer e gi vi ng
or der s t o t hr ee Ter mi nal of f i ci al s, I coul d not hear your wor ds, but your
voi ce sounded swi f t , cl ear - cut and conf i dent . I knew t hat you wer e Dagny
Taggar t . I came cl oser , cl ose enough t o hear t wo sent ences. ' Who sai d so?'
asked one of t he men. ' I di d, ' you answer ed. That was al l I hear d. That was
enough. "
" And t hen?"
He r ai sed hi s eyes sl owl y t o hol d her s acr oss t he r oom, and t he submer ged
i nt ensi t y t hat pul l ed hi s voi ce down, bl ur r i ng i t s t one t o sof t ness, gave i t
a sound of sel f - mocker y t hat was desper at e and al most gent l e: " Then I knew
t hat abandoni ng my mot or was not t he har dest pr i ce I woul d have t o pay f or
t hi s st r i ke. "
She wonder ed whi ch anonymous shadowamong t he passenger s who had hur r i ed
past her , as i nsubst ant i al as t he st eamof t he engi nes and as i gnor edwhi ch
shadow and f ace had been hi s; she wonder ed how cl ose she had come t o hi mf or
t he l engt h of t hat unknown moment . " Oh, why di dn' t you speak t o me, t hen or
l at er ?"
" Do you happen t o r emember what you wer e doi ng i n t he Ter mi nal t hat
ni ght ?"
" I r emember vaguel y a ni ght when t hey cal l ed me f r omsome par t y I was
at t endi ng. My f at her was out of t own and t he new Ter mi nal manager had made
some sor t of er r or t hat t i ed up al l t r af f i c i n t he t unnel s. The ol d manager
had qui t unexpect edl y t he week bef or e, "
" I t was I who made hi mqui t . "
" I see . . . "
Her voi ce t r ai l ed of f , as i f abandoni ng sound, as her eyel i ds dr opped,
abandoni ng si ght . I f he had not wi t hst ood i t t henshe t hought i f he had come
t o cl ai mher , t hen or l at er , what ( sor t of t r agedy woul d t hey have had t o
r each? . . . She r emember ed what she had f el t when she had cr i ed t hat she
woul d shoot t he dest r oyer on si ght . . . .
I woul d havet he t hought was not i n wor ds, she knew i t onl y as a t r embl i ng
pr essur e i n her st omachI woul d have shot hi m, af t er war d, i f I di scover ed hi s
r ol e . . . and I woul d have had t o di scover i t . . .
and yet she shudder ed, because she knew she st i l l wi shed he had come t o
her , because t he t hought not t o be admi t t ed i nt o her mi nd.
but f l owi ng as a dar k war mt h t hr ough her body, was: I woul d have shot hi m,
but not bef or e
She r ai sed her eyel i dsand she knew t hat t hat t hought was as naked t o hi m
i n her eyes, as i t was t o her i n hi s. She saw hi s vei l ed gl ance and t he
t aut ness of hi s mout h, she saw hi mr educed t o agony, she f el t her sel f dr owned
by t he exul t ant wi sh t o cause hi mpai n, t o see i t , t o wat ch i t , t o wat ch i t
beyond her own endur ance and hi s, t hen t o r educe hi mt o t he hel pl essness of
pl easur e.
He got up, he l ooked away, and she coul d not t el l whet her i t was t he
sl i ght l i f t of hi s head or t he t ensi on of hi s f eat ur es t hat made hi s f ace
l ook oddl y cal mand cl ear , as i f i t wer e st r i pped of emot i on down t o t he
naked pur i t y of i t s st r uct ur e.
" Ever y man t hat your r ai l r oad needed and l ost i n t he past t en year s, "
he sai d, " i t was I who made you l ose hi m. " Hi s voi ce had t he si ngl e t oned
f l at ness and t he l umi nous si mpl i ci t y of an account ant who r emi nds a r eckl ess
pur chaser t hat cost i s an absol ut e whi ch cannot be escaped, " I have pul l ed
ever y gi r der f r omunder Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al and, i f you choose t o go
back, I wi l l see i t col l apse upon your head. "
He t ur ned t o l eave t he r oom. She st opped hi m. I t was her voi ce, mor e t han
her wor ds, t hat made hi mst op: her voi ce was l ow, i t had no qual i t y of
emot i on, onl y of a si nki ng wei ght , and i t s sol e col or was some dr aggi ng
under t one, l i ke an i nner echo, r esembl i ng a t hr eat ; i t was t he voi ce of t he
pl ea of a per son who st i l l r et ai ns a concept of honor , but i s l ong past
car i ng f or i t : " You want t o hol d me her e, don' t you?"
" Mor e t han anyt hi ng el se i n t he wor l d. "
" You coul d hol d me. "
" I know i t "
Hi s voi ce had sai d i t wi t h t he same sound as her s. He wai t ed, t o r egai n
hi s br eat h. When he spoke, hi s voi ce was l ow and cl ear , wi t h some st r essed
qual i t y of awar eness, whi ch was al most t he qual i t y of a smi l e of
under st andi ng: " I t ' s your accept ance of t hi s pl ace t hat I want . What good
woul d i t do me, t o have your physi cal pr esence wi t hout any meani ng? That ' s
t he ki nd of f aked r eal i t y by whi ch most peopl e cheat t hemsel ves of t hei r
l i ves. I ' mnot capabl e of i t . " He t ur ned t o go. " And nei t her ar e you. Good
ni ght , Mi ss Taggar t . "
He wal ked out , i nt o hi s bedr oom, cl osi ng t he door .
She was past t he r eal mof t hought as she l ay i n bed i n t he dar kness of her
r oom, unabl e t o t hi nk or t o sl eepand t he moani ng vi ol ence t hat f i l l ed her
mi nd seemed onl y a sensat i on of her muscl es, but i t s t one and i t s t wi st i ng
shades wer e l i ke a pl eadi ng cr y, whi ch she knew, not as wor ds, but as pai n:
Let hi mcome her e, l et hi mbr eak l et i t be damned, al l of i t , my r ai l r oad
and hi s st r i ke and ever yt hi ng we' ve l i ved by! l et i t be damned, ever yt hi ng
we' ve been and ar e!
he woul d, i f t omor r ow I wer e t o di et hen l et me di e, but t omor r ow l et hi m
come her e, be i t any pr i ce he names, I have not hi ng l ef t t hat ' s not f or sal e
t o hi many l onger i s t hi s what i t means t o be an ani mal ?i t does and I am. .
. . She l ay on her back, her pal ms pr essed t o t he sheet at her si des, t o st op
her sel f f r omr i si ng and wal ki ng i nt o hi s r oom, knowi ng t hat she was capabl e
even of t hat . . . .
I t ' s not I , i t ' s a body I can nei t her endur e nor cont r ol . . . . But
somewher e wi t hi n her , not as wor ds, but as a r adi ant poi nt of st i l l ness,
t her e was t he pr esence of t he j udge who seemed t o obser ve her , not i n st er n
condemnat i on any l onger , but i n appr oval and amusement , as i f sayi ng: Your
body?i f he wer e not what you know hi mt o be, woul d your body br i ng you t o
t hi s?why i s i t hi s body t hat you want , and no ot her ?do you t hi nk t hat you
ar e damni ng t hem, t he t hi ngs you bot h have l i ved by?ar e you damni ng t hat
whi ch you ar e honor i ng i n t hi s ver y moment , by your ver y desi r e? . . . She
di d not have t o hear t he wor ds, she knew t hem, she had al ways known t hem.
. . . Af t er a whi l e, she l ost t he gl ow of t hat knowl edge, and t her e was
not hi ng l ef t but pai n and t he pal ms t hat wer e pr essed t o t he sheet and t he
al most i ndi f f er ent wonder whet her he, t oo, was awake and f i ght i ng t he same
t or t ur e.
She hear d no sound i n t he house and saw no l i ght f r omhi s wi ndow on t he
t r ee t r unks out si de. Af t er a l ong whi l e she hear d, f r omt he dar kness of hi s
r oom, t wo sounds t hat gave her a f ul l answer ; she knew t hat he was awake and
t hat he woul d not come; i t was t he sound of a st ep and t he cl i ck of a
ci gar et t e l i ght er .
Ri char d Hal l ey st opped pl ayi ng, t ur ned away f r omt he pi ano and gl anced at
Dagny, He saw her dr op her f ace wi t h t he i nvol unt ar y movement of hi di ng t oo
st r ong an emot i on, he r ose, smi l ed and sai d sof t l y, " Thank you. "
" Oh no . . . " she whi sper ed, knowi ng t hat t he gr at i t ude was her s and t hat
i t was f ut i l e t o expr ess i t . She was t hi nki ng of t he year s when t he wor ks he
had j ust pl ayed f or her wer e bei ng wr i t t en, her e, i n hi s smal l cot t age on a
l edge of t he val l ey, when al l t hi s pr odi gal magni f i cence of sound was bei ng
shaped by hi mas a f l owi ng monument t o a concept whi ch equat es t he sense of
l i f e wi t h t he sense of beaut ywhi l e she had wal ked t hr ough t he st r eet s of New
Yor k i n a hopel ess quest f or some f or mof enj oyment , wi t h t he scr eeches of a
moder n symphony r unni ng af t er her , as i f spi t by t he i nf ect ed t hr oat of a
l oud- speaker coughi ng i t s mal i ci ous hat r ed of exi st ence.
" But I mean i t , " sai d Ri char d Hal l ey, smi l i ng. " I ' ma busi nessman and I
never do anyt hi ng wi t hout payment . You' ve pai d me. Do you see why I want ed t o
pl ay f or you t oni ght ?"
She r ai sed her head. He st ood i n t he mi ddl e of hi s l i vi ng r oom, t hey wer e
al one, wi t h t he wi ndow open t o t he summer ni ght , t o t he dar k t r ees on a l ong
sweep of l edges descendi ng t owar d t he gl i t t er of t he val l ey' s di st ant l i ght s.
" Mi ss Taggar t , how many peopl e ar e t her e t o whommy wor k means as much as
i t does t o you?"
" Not many, " she answer ed si mpl y, nei t her as boast nor f l at t er y, but as an
i mper sonal t r i but e t o t he exact i ng val ues i nvol ved.
" That i s t he payment I demand. Not many can af f or d i t . I don' t mean your
enj oyment , I don' t mean your emot i onemot i ons be damned! I mean your
under st andi ng and t he f act t hat your enj oyment was of t he same nat ur e as
mi ne, t hat i t came f r omt he same sour ce: f r omyour i nt el l i gence, f r omt he
consci ous j udgment of a mi nd abl e t o j udge my wor k by t he st andar d of t he
same val ues t hat went t o wr i t e i t I mean, not t he f act t hat you f el t , but
t hat you f el t what I wi shed you t o f eel , not t he f act t hat you admi r e my
wor k, but t hat you admi r e i t f or t he t hi ngs I wi shed t o be admi r ed. " He
chuckl ed.
" Ther e' s onl y one passi on i n most ar t i st s mor e vi ol ent t han t hei r desi r e
f or admi r at i on: t hei r f ear of i dent i f yi ng t he nat ur e of such admi r at i on as
t hey do r ecei ve. But i t ' s a f ear I ' ve never shar ed. I do not f ool mysel f
about my wor k or t he r esponse I seekI val ue bot h t oo hi ghl y.
I do not car e t o be admi r ed causel essl y, emot i onal l y, i nt ui t i vel y,
i nst i nct i vel yor bl i ndl y, I do not car e f or bl i ndness i n any f or m, I have t oo
much t o showor f or deaf ness, I have t oo much t o say. I do not car e t o be
admi r ed by anyone' s hear t onl y by someone' s head. And when I f i nd a cust omer
wi t h t hat i nval uabl e capaci t y, t hen my per f or mance i s a mut ual t r ade t o
mut ual pr of i t . An ar t i st i s a t r ader , Mi ss Taggar t , t he har dest and most
exact i ng of al l t r ader s. Now do you under st and me?"
" Yes, " she sai d i ncr edul ousl y, " I do, " i ncr edul ousl y because she was
hear i ng her own symbol of mor al pr i de, chosen by a man she had l east expect ed
t o choose i t .
" I f you do, why di d you l ook qui t e so t r agi c j ust a moment ago?
What i s i t t hat you r egr et ?"
" The year s when your wor k has r emai ned unhear d. "
" But i t hasn' t . I ' ve gi ven t wo or t hr ee concer t s ever y year . Her e, i n
Gal t ' s Gul ch. I amgi vi ng one next week. I hope you' l l come. The pr i ce of
admi ssi on i s t went y- f i ve cent s. "
She coul d not hel p l aughi ng. He smi l ed, t hen hi s f ace sl i pped sl owl y i nt o
ear nest ness, as under t he t i de of some unspoken cont empl at i on of hi s own. He
l ooked at t he dar kness beyond t he wi ndow, at a spot wher e, i n a cl ear i ng of
t he br anches, wi t h t he moonl i ght dr ai ni ng i t s col or , l eavi ng onl y i t s
met al l i c l ust er , t he si gn of t he dol l ar hung l i ke a cur ve of shi ni ng st eel
engr aved on t he sky.
" Mi ss Taggar t , do you see why I ' d gi ve t hr ee dozen moder n ar t i st s f or one
r eal busi nessman? Why I have much mor e i n common wi t h El l i s Wyat t or Ken
Danagger who happens t o be t one deaf t han wi t h men l i ke Mor t Li ddy and Bal ph
Eubank? Whet her i t ' s a symphony or a coal mi ne, al l wor k i s an act of
cr eat i ng and comes f r omt he same sour ce: f r oman i nvi ol at e capaci t y t o see
t hr ough one' s own eyeswhi ch means: t he capaci t y t o per f or ma r at i onal
i dent i f i cat i on - whi ch means: t he capaci t y t o sew, t o connect and t o make
what had not been seen, connect ed and made bef or e. That shi ni ng vi si on whi ch
t hey t al k about as bel ongi ng t o t he aut hor s of symphoni es and novel swhat do
t hey t hi nk i s t he dr i vi ng f acul t y of men who di scover how t o use oi l , how t o
r un a mi ne, how t o bui l d an el ect r i c mot or ? That sacr ed f i r e whi ch i s sai d t o
bur n wi t hi n musi ci ans and poet swhat do t hey suppose moves an i ndust r i al i st
t o def y t he whol e wor l d f or t he sake of hi s new met al , as t he i nvent or s of
t he ai r pl ane, t he bui l der s of t he r ai l r oads, t he di scover er s of new ger ms or
new cont i nent s have done t hr ough al l t he ages? . . . An i nt r ansi gent devot i on
t o t he pur sui t of t r ut h, Mi ss Taggar t ? Have you hear d t he mor al i st s and t he
ar t l over s of t he cent ur i es t al k about t he ar t i st ' s i nt r ansi gent devot i on t o
t he pur sui t of t r ut h? Name me a gr eat er exampl e of such devot i on t han t he act
of a man who says t hat t he ear t h does t ur n, or t he act of a man who says t hat
an al l oy of st eel and copper has cer t ai n pr oper t i es whi ch enabl e i t t o do
cer t ai n t hi ngs, t hat i t i s and doesand l et t he wor l d r ack hi mor r ui n hi m,
he wi l l not bear f al se wi t ness t o t he evi dence of hi s mi nd! Thi s, Mi ss
Taggar t , t hi s sor t of spi r i t , cour age and l ove f or t r ut has agai nst a sl oppy
bumwho goes ar ound pr oudl y assur i ng you t hat he has al most r eached t he
per f ect i on of a l unat i c, because he' s an ar t i st who hasn' t t he f ai nt est i dea
what hi s ar t wor k i s or means, he' s not r est r ai ned by such cr ude concept s as
' bei ng' or ' meani ng he' s t he vehi cl e of hi gher myst er i es, he doesn' t know
how he cr eat ed hi s wor k or why, i t j ust came out of hi mspont aneousl y, l i ke
vomi t out of a dr unkar d, he di d not t hi nk, he woul dn' t st oop t o t hi nki ng, he
j ust f el t i t , al l he has t o do i s f eel
he f eel s, t he f l abby, l oose- mout hed, shi f t y- eyed, dr ool i ng, shi ver i ng,
uncongeal ed bast ar d! I , who know what di sci pl i ne, what ef f or t , what t ensi on
of mi nd, what unr el ent i ng st r ai n upon one' s power of cl ar i t y ar e needed t o
pr oduce a wor k of ar t I , who know t hat i t r equi r es a l abor whi ch makes a
chai n gang l ook l i ke r est and a sever i t y no ar my dr i l l i ng sadi st coul d
i mposeI ' l l t ake t he oper at or of a coal mi ne over any wal ki ng vehi cl e of
hi gher myst er i es. The oper at or knows t hat i t ' s not hi s f eel i ngs t hat keep t he
coal car t s movi ng under t he ear t hand he knows what does keep t hemmovi ng.
Feel i ngs? Oh yes, we do f eel , he, you and I we ar e, i n f act , t he onl y peopl e
capabl e of f eel i ng
and we know wher e our f eel i ngs come f r om. But what we di d not know and
have del ayed l ear ni ng f or t oo l ong i s t he nat ur e of t hose who cl ai mt hat t hey
cannot account f or t hei r f eel i ngs. We di d not know what i t i s t hat t hey f eel .
We ar e l ear ni ng i t now. I t was a cost l y er r or . And t hose most gui l t y of i t ,
wi l l pay t he har dest pr i ceas, i n j ust i ce, t hey must . Those most gui l t y of i t
wer e t he r eal ar t i st s, who wi l l now see t hat t hey ar e f i r st t o be
ext er mi nat ed and t hat t hey had pr epar ed t he t r i umph of t hei r own
ext er mi nat or s by hel pi ng t o dest r oy t hei r onl y pr ot ect or s. For i f t her e i s
mor e t r agi c a f ool t han t he busi nessman who doesn' t know t hat he' s an
exponent of man' s hi ghest cr eat i ve spi r i t i t ' s t he ar t i st who t hi nks t hat t he
busi nessman i s hi s enemy. "
I t was t r ueshe t hought , when she wal ked t hr ough t he st r eet s of t he
val l ey, l ooki ng wi t h a chi l d' s exci t ement at t he shop wi ndows spar kl i ng i n
t he sunt hat t he busi nesses her e had t he pur posef ul sel ect i veness of ar t and
t hat t he ar t she t hought , when she sat i n t he dar kness of a cl apboar d concer t
hal l , l i st eni ng t o t he cont r ol l ed vi ol ence and t he mat hemat i cal pr eci si on of
Hal l ey' s musi chad t he st er n di sci pl i ne of busi ness.
Bot h had t he r adi ance of engi neer i ngshe t hought , when she sat among r ows
of benches under t he open sky, wat chi ng Kay Ludl ow on t he st age. I t was an
exper i ence she had not known si nce chi l dhood t he exper i ence of bei ng hel d
f or t hr ee hour s by a pl ay t hat t ol d a st or y she had not seen bef or e, i n l i nes
she had not hear d, ut t er i ng a t heme t hat had not been pi cked f r omt he hand-
me- downs of t he cent ur i es. I t was t he f or got t en del i ght of bei ng hel d i n r apt
at t ent i on by t he r ei ns of t he i ngeni ous, t he unexpect ed, t he l ogi cal , t he
pur posef ul , t he newand of seei ng i t embodi ed i n a per f or mance of super l at i ve
ar t i st r y by a woman pl ayi ng a char act er whose beaut y of spi r i t mat ched her
own physi cal per f ect i on.
" That ' s why I ' mher e, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Kay Ludl ow, smi l i ng i n answer t o
her comment , af t er t he per f or mance. " What ever qual i t y of human gr eat ness I
have t he t al ent t o por t r ayt hat was t he qual i t y t he out er wor l d sought t o
degr ade. They l et me pl ay not hi ng but symbol s of depr avi t y, not hi ng but
har l ot s, di ssi pat i on- chaser s and home- wr ecker s, al ways t o be beat en at t he
end by t he l i t t l e gi r l next door , per soni f yi ng t he vi r t ue of medi ocr i t y. They
used my t al ent f or t he def amat i on of i t sel f . That was why I qui t . "
Not si nce chi l dhood, t hought Dagny, had she f el t t hat sense of
exhi l ar at i on af t er wi t nessi ng t he per f or mance of a pl ayt he sense t hat l i f e
hel d t hi ngs wor t h r eachi ng, not t he sense of havi ng st udi ed some aspect of a
sewer t her e had been no r eason t o see. As t he audi ence f i l ed away i nt o t he
dar kness f r omt he l i ght ed r ows of benches, she not i ced El l i s Wyat t , J udge
Nar r aganset t , Ken Danagger , men who had once been sai d t o despi se al l f or ms
of ar t .
The l ast i mage she caught , t hat eveni ng, was t he si ght of t wo t al l ,
st r ai ght , sl ender f i gur es wal ki ng away t oget her down a t r ai l among t he r ocks,
wi t h t he beamof a spot l i ght f l ashi ng once on t he gol d of t hei r hai r . They
wer e Kay Ludl ow and Ragnar Danneskj ol dand she wonder ed whet her she coul d
bear t o r et ur n t o a wor l d wher e t hese wer e t he t wo doomed t o dest r uct i on.
The r ecapt ur ed sense of her own chi l dhood kept comi ng back t o her whenever
she met t he t wo sons of t he young woman who owned t he baker y shop. She of t en
saw t hemwander i ng down t he t r ai l s of t he val l eyt wo f ear l ess bei ngs, aged
seven and f our . They seemed t o f ace l i f e as she had f aced i t . They di d not
have t he l ook she had seen i n t he chi l dr en of t he out er wor l da l ook of f ear ,
hal f - secr et i ve, hal f sneer i ng, t he l ook of a chi l d' s def ense agai nst an
adul t , t he l ook of a bei ng i n t he pr ocess of di scover i ng t hat he i s hear i ng
l i es and of l ear ni ng t o f eel hat r ed. The t wo boys had t he open, j oyous,
f r i endl y conf i dence of ki t t ens who do not expect t o get hur t , t hey had an
i nnocent l y nat ur al , non- boast f ul sense of t hei r own val ue and as i nnocent a
t r ust i n any st r anger ' s abi l i t y t o r ecogni ze i t , t hey had t he eager cur i osi t y
t hat woul d vent ur e anywher e wi t h t he cer t ai nt y t hat l i f e hel d not hi ng
unwor t hy of or cl osed t o di scover y, and t hey l ooked as i f , shoul d t hey
encount er mal evol ence, t hey woul d r ej ect i t cont empt uousl y, not as danger ous,
but as st upi d, t hey woul d not accept i t i n br ui sed r esi gnat i on as t he l aw of
exi st ence, " They r epr esent my par t i cul ar car eer , Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d t he
young mot her i n answer t o her comment , wr appi ng a l oaf of f r esh br ead and
smi l i ng at her acr oss t he count er . " They' r e t he pr of essi on I ' ve chosen t o
pr act i ce, whi ch, i n spi t e of al l t he guf f about mot her hood, one can' t
pr act i ce successf ul l y i n t he out er wor l d. I bel i eve you' ve met my husband,
he' s t he t eacher of economi cs who wor ks as l i nesman f or Di ck McNamar a. You
know, of cour se, t hat t her e can be no col l ect i ve commi t ment s i n t hi s val l ey
and t hat f ami l i es or r el at i ves ar e not al l owed t o come her e, unl ess each
per son t akes t he st r i ker ' s oat h by hi s own i ndependent convi ct i on. I came
her e, not mer el y f or t he sake of my husband' s pr of essi on, but f or t he sake of
my own. I came her e i n or der t o br i ng up my sons as human bei ngs. I woul d not
sur r ender t hemt o t he educat i onal syst ems devi sed t o st unt a chi l d' s br ai n,
t o convi nce hi mt hat r eason i s i mpot ent , t hat exi st ence i s an i r r at i onal
chaos wi t h whi ch he' s unabl e t o deal , and t hus r educe hi mt o a st at e of
chr oni c t er r or . You mar vel at t he di f f er ence bet ween my chi l dr en and t hose
out si de, Mi ss Taggar t ? Yet t he cause i s so si mpl e. The cause i s t hat her e, i n
Gal t ' s Gul ch, t her e' s no per son who woul d not consi der i t monst r ous ever t o
conf r ont a chi l d wi t h t he sl i ght est suggest i on of t he i r r at i onal . "
She t hought of t he t eacher s whomt he school s of t he wor l d had l ost when
she l ooked at t he t hr ee pupi l s of Dr . Akst on, on t he eveni ng of t hei r year l y
r euni on.
The onl y ot her guest he had i nvi t ed was Kay Ludl ow. The si x of t hemsat i n
t he back yar d of hi s house, wi t h t he l i ght of t he sunset on t hei r f aces, and
t he f l oor of t he val l ey condensi ng i nt o a sof t bl ue vapor f ar bel ow.
She l ooked at hi s pupi l s, at t he t hr ee pl i ant , agi l e f i gur es hal f
st r et ched on canvas chai r s i n poses of r el axed cont ent ment , dr essed i n
sl acks, wi ndbr eaker s and open- col l ar ed shi r t s: J ohn Gal t , Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a, Ragnar Danneskj ol d.
" Don' t be ast oni shed, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Dr . Akst on, smi l i ng, " and don' t
make t he mi st ake of t hi nki ng t hat t hese t hr ee pupi l s of mi ne ar e some sor t of
super human cr eat ur es. They' r e somet hi ng much gr eat er and mor e ast oundi ng t han
t hat : t hey' r e nor mal mena t hi ng t he wor l d has never seenand t hei r f eat i s
t hat t hey managed t o sur vi ve as such. I t does t ake an except i onal mi nd and a
st i l l mor e except i onal i nt egr i t y t o r emai n unt ouched by t he br ai n- dest r oyi ng
i nf l uences of t he wor l d' s doct r i nes, t he accumul at ed evi l of cent ur i est o
r emai n human, si nce t he human i s t he r at i onal . "
She f el t some new qual i t y i n Dr . Akst on' s at t i t ude, some change i n t he
st er nness of hi s usual r eser ve; he seemed t o i ncl ude her i n t hei r ci r cl e, as
i f she wer e mor e t han a guest . Fr anci sco act ed as i f her pr esence at t hei r
r euni on wer e nat ur al and t o be t aken gai l y f or gr ant ed. Gal t ' s f ace gave no
hi nt of any r eact i on; hi s manner was t hat of a cour t eous escor t who had
br ought her her e at Dr . Akst on' s r equest .
She not i ced t hat Dr . Akst on' s eyes kept comi ng back t o her , as i f wi t h t he
qui et pr i de of di spl ayi ng hi s st udent s t o an appr eci at i ve obser ver . Hi s
conver sat i on kept r et ur ni ng t o a si ngl e t heme, i n t he manner of a f at her who
has f ound a l i st ener i nt er est ed i n hi s most cher i shed subj ect : " You shoul d
have seen t hem, when t hey wer e i n col l ege, Mi ss Taggar t . You coul dn' t have
f ound t hr ee boys ' condi t i oned' t o such di f f er ent backgr ounds, but
condi t i oner s be damned! t hey must have pi cked one anot her at f i r st si ght ,
among t he t housands on t hat campus.
Fr anci sco, t he r i chest hen- i n t he wor l dRagnar , t he Eur opean ar i st ocr at
and J ohn, t he sel f - made man, sel f - made i n ever y sense, out of nowher e,
penni l ess, par ent l ess, t i e- l ess. Act ual l y, he was t he son of a gas- st at i on
mechani c at some f or saken cr ossr oads i n Ohi o, and he had l ef t home at t he age
of t wel ve t o make hi s own waybut I ' ve al ways t hought of hi mas i f he had
come i nt o t he wor l d l i ke Mi ner va, t he goddess of wi sdom, who spr ang f or t h
f r omJ upi t er ' s head, f ul l y gr own and f ul l y ar med. . . . I r emember t he day
when I saw t he t hr ee of t hemf or t he f i r st t i me. They wer e si t t i ng at t he
back of t he cl assr oomI was gi vi ng a speci al cour se f or post gr aduat e
st udent s, so di f f i cul t a cour se t hat f ew out si der s ever vent ur ed t o at t end
t hese par t i cul ar l ect ur es. Those t hr ee l ooked t oo young even f or f r eshmen
t hey wer e si xt een at t he t i me, as I l ear ned l at er . At t he end of t hat
l ect ur e, J ohn got up t o ask me a quest i on. I t was a quest i on whi ch, as a
t eacher , I woul d have been pr oud t o hear f r oma st udent who' d t aken si x year s
of phi l osophy. I t was a quest i on per t ai ni ng t o Pl at o' s met aphysi cs, whi ch
Pl at o hadn' t had t he sense t o ask of hi msel f . I answer edand I asked J ohn t o
come t o my of f i ce af t er t he l ect ur e.
He cameal l t hr ee of t hemcameI saw t he t wo ot her s i n my ant er oomand l et
t hemi n. I t al ked t o t hemf or an hour t hen I cancel l ed al l my appoi nt ment s
and t al ked t o t hemf or t he r est of t he day. Af t er whi ch, I ar r anged t o l et
t hemt ake t hat cour se and r ecei ve t hei r cr edi t s f or i t . They t ook t he cour se.
They got t he hi ghest gr ades i n t he cl ass.
. . . They wer e maj or i ng i n t wo subj ect s: physi cs and phi l osophy.
Thei r choi ce amazed ever ybody but me: moder n t hi nker s consi der ed i t
unnecessar y t o per cei ve r eal i t y, and moder n physi ci st s consi der ed i t
unnecessar y t o t hi nk. I knew bet t er ; what amazed me was t hat t hese chi l dr en
knew i t , t oo. . . . Rober t St adl er was head of t he Depar t ment of Physi cs, as
I was head of t he Depar t ment of Phi l osophy. He and I suspended al l r ul es and
r est r i ct i ons f or t hese t hr ee st udent s, we spar ed t hemal l t he r out i ne,
unessent i al cour ses, we l oaded t hemwi t h not hi ng but t he har dest t asks, and
we cl ear ed t hei r way t o maj or i n our t wo subj ect s wi t hi n t hei r f our year s.
They wor ked f or i t . And, dur i ng t hose f our year s, t hey wor ked f or t hei r
l i vi ng, besi des. Fr anci sco and Ragnar wer e r ecei vi ng al l owances f r omt hei r
par ent s, J ohn had not hi ng, but al l t hr ee of t hemhel d par t - t i me j obs t o ear n
t hei r own exper i ence and money. Fr anci sco wor ked i n a copper f oundr y, J ohn
wor ked i n a r ai l r oad r oundhouse, and Ragnar no, Mi ss Taggar t , Ragnar was not
t he l east , but t he most st udi ousl y sedat e of t he t hr ee
he wor ked as cl er k i n t he uni ver si t y l i br ar y. They had t i me f or ever yt hi ng
t hey want ed, but no t i me f or peopl e or f or any communal campus act i vi t i es.
They . . . Ragnar ! " he i nt er r upt ed hi msel f suddenl y, shar pl y. " Don' t si t on
t he gr ound! "
Danneskj ol d had sl i pped down and was now si t t i ng on t he gr ass, wi t h hi s
head l eani ng agai nst Kay Ludl ow' s knees. He r ose obedi ent l y, chuckl i ng. Dr .
Akst on smi l ed wi t h a t ouch of apol ogy.
" I t ' s an ol d habi t of mi ne, " he expl ai ned t o Dagny. " A ' condi t i oned'
r ef l ex, I guess. I used t o t el l hi mt hat i n t hose col l ege year s, when I ' d
cat ch hi msi t t i ng on t he gr ound i n my back yar d, on col d, f oggy eveni ngshe
was r eckl ess t hat way, he made me wor r y, he shoul d have known i t was
danger ous and"
He st opped abr upt l y; he r ead i n Dagny' s st ar t l ed eyes t he same t hought as
hi s own: t he t hought of t he ki nd of danger s t he adul t Ragnar had chosen t o
f ace. Dr . Akst on shr ugged, spr eadi ng hi s hands i n a gest ur e of hel pl ess sel f -
mocker y. Kay Ludl ow smi l ed at hi mi n under st andi ng.
" My house st ood j ust out si de t he campus, " he cont i nued, si ghi ng, " on a
t al l bl uf f over Lake Er i e. We spent many eveni ngs t oget her , t he f our of us.
We woul d si t j ust l i ke t hi s, i n my back yar d, on t he ni ght s of ear l y f al l or
i n t he spr i ng, onl y i nst ead of t hi s gr ani t e mount ai nsi de, we had t he spr ead
of t he l ake bef or e us, st r et chi ng of f i nt o a peacef ul l y unl i mi t ed di st ance. I
had t o wor k har der on t hose ni ght s t han i n any cl assr oom, answer i ng al l t he
quest i ons t hey' d ask me, di scussi ng t he ki nd of i ssues t hey' d r ai se. About
mi dni ght , I woul d f i x some hot chocol at e and f or ce t hemt o dr i nk i t t he one
t hi ng I suspect ed was t hat t hey never t ook t i me t o eat pr oper l yand t hen we' d
go on t al ki ng, whi l e t he l ake vani shed i nt o sol i d dar kness and t he sky seemed
l i ght er t han t he ear t h. Ther e wer e a f ew t unes when we st ayed t her e t i l l I
not i ced suddenl y t hat t he sky was t ur ni ng dar ker and t he l ake was gr owi ng
pal e and we wer e wi t hi n a f ew sent ences of dayl i ght . I shoul d have known
bet t er , I knew t hat t hey wer en' t get t i ng enough sl eep as i t was, but I f or got
i t occasi onal l y, I l ost my sense of t i me
you see, when t hey wer e t her e, I al ways f el t as f t i t wer e ear l y mor ni ng
and a l ong, i nexhaust i bl e day wer e st r et chi ng ahead bef or e us. They never
spoke of what t hey wi shed t hey mi ght do i n t he f ut ur e, t hey never wonder ed
whet her some myst er i ous omni pot ence had f avor ed t hemwi t h some unknowabl e
t al ent t o achi eve t he t hi ngs t hey want ed
t hey spoke of what t hey woul d do. Does af f ect i on t end t o make one a
cowar d? I know t hat t he onl y t i mes I f el t f ear wer e occasi onal moment s when I
l i st ened t o t hemand t hought of what t he wor l d was becomi ng and what t hey
woul d have t o encount er i n t he f ut ur e. Fear ?
Yesbut i t was mor e t han f ear . I t was t he ki nd of emot i on t hat makes men
capabl e of ki l l i ngwhen I t hought t hat t he pur pose of t he wor l d' s t r end was
t o dest r oy t hese chi l dr en, t hat t hese t hr ee sons of mi ne wer e mar ked f or
i mmol at i on. Oh yes, I woul d have ki l l ed
but whomwas t her e t o ki l l ? I t was ever yone and no one, t her e was no
si ngl e enemy, no cent er and no vi l l ai n, i t was not t he si mper i ng soci al
wor ker i ncapabl e of ear ni ng a penny or t he t hi evi ng bur eaucr at scar ed of hi s
own shadow, i t was t he whol e of t he ear t h r ol l i ng i nt o an obsceni t y of
hor r or , pushed by t he hand of ever y woul d- be decent man who bel i eved t hat
need i s hol i er t han abi l i t y, and pi t y i s hol i er t han j ust i ce. But t hese wer e
onl y occasi onal moment s. I t was not my const ant f eel i ng. I l i st ened t o my
chi l dr en and I knew t hat not hi ng woul d def eat t hem. I l ooked at t hem, as t hey
sat i n my back yar d, and beyond my house t her e wer e t he t al l , dar k bui l di ngs
of what was st i l l a monument t o unensl aved t hought t he Pat r i ck Henr y
Uni ver si t y
and f ar t her i n t he di st ance t her e wer e t he l i ght s of Cl evel and, t he or ange
gl ow of st eel mi l l s behi nd bat t er i es of smokest acks, t he t wi nkl i ng r ed dot s
of r adi o t ower s, t he l ong whi t e r ays of ai r por t s on t he bl ack edge of t he
skyand I t hought t hat i n t he name of any gr eat ness t hat had ever exi st ed and
moved t hi s wor l d, t he gr eat ness of whi ch t hey wer e t he l ast descendant s, t hey
woul d wi n, . . . I r emember one ni ght when I not i ced t hat J ohn had been
si l ent f or a l ong t i me and I saw t hat he had f al l en asl eep, st r et ched t her e
on t he gr ound.
The t wo ot her s conf essed t hat he had not sl ept f or t hr ee days. I sent t he
t wo of t hemhome at once, but I di dn' t have t he hear t t o di st ur b hi m. I t was
a war mspr i ng ni ght , I br ought a bl anket t o cover hi m, and I l et hi msl eep
wher e he was. I sat t her e besi de hi mt i l l mor ni ngand as I wat ched hi s f ace
i n t he st ar l i ght , t hen t he f i r st r ay of t he sun on hi s unt r oubl ed f or ehead
and cl osed eyel i ds, what I exper i enced was not a pr ayer , I do not pr ay, but
t hat st at e of spi r i t at whi ch a pr ayer i s a mi sgui ded at t empt : a f ul l ,
conf i dent , af f i r mi ng sel f - dedi cat i on t o my l ove of t he r i ght , t o t he
cer t ai nt y t hat t he r i ght woul d wi n and t hat t hi s boy woul d have t he ki nd of
f ut ur e he deser ved. " He moved hi s ar m, poi nt i ng t o t he val l ey. " I di d not
expect i t t o be as gr eat as t hi sor as har d. "
I t had gr own dar k and t he mount ai ns had bl ended wi t h t he sky.
Hangi ng det ached i n space, t her e wer e t he l i ght s of t he val l ey bel ow t hem,
t he r ed br eat h of St ockt on' s f oundr y above, and t he l i ght ed st r i ng of wi ndows
of Mul l i gan' s house, l i ke a r ai l r oad car i mbedded i n t he sky.
" I di d have a r i val , " sai d Dr . Akst on sl owl y. " I t was Rober t St adl er .
. . . Don' t f r own, J ohni t ' s past . . . . J ohn- di d l ove hi m, once.
Wel l , so di d I no, not qui t e, but what one f el t f or a mi nd l i ke St adl er ' s
was pai nf ul l y cl ose t o l ove, i t was t hat r ar est of pl easur es: admi r at i on. No,
I di d not l ove hi m, but he and I had al ways f el t as i f we wer e f el l ow
sur vi vor s f r omsome vani shi ng age or l and, i n t he gi bber i ng swamp of
medi ocr i t y ar ound us. The mor t al si n of Rober t St adl er was t hat he never
i dent i f i ed hi s pr oper homel and. . . . He hat ed st upi di t y. I t was t he onl y
emot i on I had ever seen hi mdi spl ay t owar d peopl ea bi t i ng, bi t t er , wear y
hat r ed f or any i nept i t ude t hat dar ed t o oppose hi m. He want ed hi s own way, he
want ed t o be l ef t al one t o pur sue i t , he want ed t o br ush peopl e out of hi s
pat h
and he never i dent i f i ed t he means t o i t or t he nat ur e of hi s pat h and of
hi s enemi es. He t ook a shor t cut . Ar e you smi l i ng, Mi ss Taggar t ?
You hat e hi m, don' t you? Yes, you know t he ki nd of shor t cut he t ook. . .
. He t ol d you t hat we wer e r i val s f or t hese t hr ee st udent s.
That was t r ueor r at her , t hat was not t he way I t hought of i t , but I knew
t hat he di d. Wel l , i f we wer e r i val s, I had one advant age: I knew why t hey
needed bot h our pr of essi ons; he never under st ood t hei r i nt er est i n mi ne. He
never under st ood i t s i mpor t ance t o hi msel f
whi ch, i nci dent al l y, i s what dest r oyed hi m. But i n t hose year s he was
st i l l al i ve enough t o gr asp at t hese t hr ee st udent s. ' Gr asp' was t he wor d f or
i t . I nt el l i gence bei ng t he onl y val ue he wor shi pped, he cl ut ched t hemas i f
t hey wer e a pr i vat e t r easur e of hi s own. He had al ways been a ver y l onel y
man. I t hi nk t hat i n t he whol e of hi s l i f e, Fr anci sco and Ragnar wer e hi s
onl y l ove, and J ohn was hi s onl y passi on. I t was J ohn whomhe r egar ded as hi s
par t i cul ar hei r , as hi s f ut ur e, as hi s own i mmor t al i t y. J ohn i nt ended t o be
an i nvent or , whi ch meant t hat he was t o be a physi ci st ; he was t o t ake hi s
post gr aduat e cour se under Rober t St adl er . Fr anci sco i nt ended t o l eave af t er
gr aduat i on and go t o wor k; he was t o be t he per f ect bl end of bot h of us, hi s
t wo i nt el l ect ual f at her s: an i ndust r i al i st . And Ragnar you di dn' t know what
pr of essi on Ragnar had chosen, Mi ss Taggar t ? No, i t wasn' t st unt pi l ot , or
j ungl e expl or er , or deep- sea di ver . I t was somet hi ng much mor e cour ageous
t han t hese. Ragnar i nt ended t o be a phi l osopher . An abst r act , t heor et i cal ,
academi c, cl oi st er ed, i vor y- t ower phi l osopher . . . .
Yes, Rober t St adl er l oved t hem. And yet I have sai d t hat I woul d have
ki l l ed t o pr ot ect t hem, onl y t her e was no one t o ki l l . I f t hat wer e t he
sol ut i onwhi ch, of cour se, i t i sn' t t he man t o ki l l was Rober t St adl er . Of
any one per son, of any si ngl e gui l t f or t he evi l whi ch i s now dest r oyi ng t he
wor l dhi s was t he heavi est gui l t . He had t he mi nd t o know bet t er . Hi s was t he
onl y name of honor and achi evement , used t o sanct i on t he r ul e of t he l oot er s.
He was t he man who del i ver ed sci ence i nt o t he power of t he l oot er s' guns.
J ohn di d not expect i t . Nei t her di d I . . . . J ohn came back f or hi s
post gr aduat e cour se i n physi cs. But he di d not f i ni sh i t . He l ef t , on t he day
when Rober t St adl er endor sed t he est abl i shment of a St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e.
I met St adl er by chance i n a cor r i dor of t he uni ver si t y, as he came out of
hi s of f i ce af t er hi s l ast conver sat i on wi t h J ohn. He l ooked changed.
I hope t hat I shal l never have t o see agai n a change of t hat ki nd i n a
man' s f ace. He saw me appr oachi ngand he di d not know, but I knew, what made
hi mwhi r l upon me and cr y, Ti n so si ck of al l of you I mpr act i cal i deal i st s! 1
I t ur ned away. I knew t hat I had hear d a man pr onounce a deat h sent ence upon
hi msel f . . . . Mi ss Taggar t , do you r emember t he quest i on you asked me about
my t hr ee pupi l s?"
" Yes, " she whi sper ed.
" I coul d gat her , f r omyour quest i on, t he nat ur e of what Rober t St adl er had
sai d t o you about t hem. Tel l me, why di d he speak of t hemat al l ?"
He saw t he f ai nt movement of her bi t t er smi l e. " He t ol d me t hei r st or y as
a j ust i f i cat i on f or hi s bel i ef i n t he f ut i l i t y of human i nt el l i gence. He t ol d
i t t o me as an exampl e of hi s di si l l usi oned hope.
Thei r s was t he ki nd of abi l i t y, ' he sai d, ' one expect s t o see, i n t he
f ut ur e, changi ng t he cour se of t he wor l d' . "
" Wel l , haven' t t hey done so?"
She nodded, sl owl y, hol di ng her head i ncl i ned f or a l ong moment hi
acqui escence and i n homage.
" What I want you t o under st and, Mi ss Taggar t , i s t he f ul l evi l of t hose
who cl ai mt o have become convi nced t hat t hi s ear t h, by i t s nat ur e, i s a r eal m
of mal evol ence wher e t he good has no chance t o wi n. Let t hemcheck t hei r
pr emi ses. Let t hemcheck t hei r st andar ds of val ue. Let t hemcheckbef or e t hey
gr ant t hemsel ves t he unspeakabl e l i cense of evi l - as- necessi t ywhet her t hey
know what i s t he good and what ar e t he condi t i ons i t r equi r es. Rober t St adl er
now bel i eves t hat i nt el l i gence i s f ut i l e and t hat human l i f e can be not hi ng
but i r r at i onal . Di d he expect J ohn Gal t t o become a gr eat sci ent i st , wi l l i ng
t o wor k under t he or der s of Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s? Di d he expect Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a t o become a gr eat i ndust r i al i st , wi l l i ng t o pr oduce under t he
or der s and f or t he benef i t of Wesl ey Mouch? Di d he expect Ragnar Danneskj ol d
t o become a gr eat phi l osopher , wi l l i ng t o pr each, under t he or der s of Dr .
Si mon Pr i t chet t , t hat t her e i s no mi nd and t hat mi ght i s r i ght ? Woul d t hat
have been a f ut ur e whi ch Rober t St adl er woul d have consi der ed r at i onal ? I
want you t o obser ve, Mi ss Taggar t , t hat t hose who cr y t he l oudest about t hei r
di si l l usi onment , about t he f ai l ur e of vi r t ue, t he f ut i l i t y of r eason, t he
i mpot ence of l ogi c
ar e t hose who have achi eved t he f ul l , exact , l ogi cal r esul t of t he i deas
t hey pr eached, so mer ci l essl y l ogi cal t hat t hey dar e not i dent i f y i t . I n a
wor l d t hat pr ocl ai ms t he non- exi st ence of t he mi nd, t he mor al r i ght eousness
of r ul e by br ut e f or ce, t he penal i zi ng of t he compet ent i n f avor of t he
i ncompet ent , t he sacr i f i ce of t he best t o t he wor st i n such a wor l d, t he
best have t o t ur n agai nst soci et y and have t o become i t s deadl i est enemi es.
I n such a wor l d J ohn Gal t , t he man of i ncal cul abl e i nt el l ect ual power , wi l l
r emai n an unski l l ed l abor er
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a, t he mi r acul ous pr oducer of weal t h, wi l l become a
wast r el and Ragnar Danneskj ol d, t he man of enl i ght enment , wi l l become t he man
of vi ol ence. Soci et yand Dr . Rober t St adl er have achi eved ever yt hi ng t hey
advocat ed. What compl ai nt do t hey now have t o make? That t he uni ver se i s
i r r at i onal ? I s i t ?"
He smi l ed; hi s smi l e had t he pi t i l ess gent l eness of cer t ai nt y.
" Ever y man bui l ds hi s wor l d i n hi s own i mage, " he sai d. " He has t he power
t o choose, but no power t o escape t he necessi t y of choi ce.
I f he abdi cat es hi s power , he abdi cat es t he st at us of man, and t he
gr i ndi ng chaos of t he i r r at i onal i s what he achi eves as hi s spher e of
exi st enceby hi s own choi ce. Whoever pr eser ves a si ngl e t hought uncor r upt ed
by any concessi on t o t he wi l l of ot her s, whoever br i ngs i nt o r eal i t y a
mat chst i ck or a pat ch of gar den made i n t he i mage of hi s t hought he, and t o
t hat ext ent , i s a man, and t hat ext ent i s t he sol e measur e of hi s vi r t ue.
They" he poi nt ed at hi s pupi l s
" made no concessi ons. Thi s" he poi nt ed at t he val l ey" i s t he measur e of
what t hey pr eser ved and of what t hey ar e. . . . Now I can r epeat my answer t o
t he quest i on you asked me, knowi ng t hat you wi l l under st and i t f ul l y. You
asked me whet her I was pr oud of t he way my t hr ee sons had t ur ned out . I am
mor e pr oud t han I had ever hoped t o be. I ampr oud of t hei r ever y act i on, of
t hei r ever y goal
and of ever y val ue t hey' ve chosen. And t hi s, Dagny, i s my f ul l answer . "
The sudden sound of her f i r st name was pr onounced i n t he t one of a f at her ;
he spoke hi s l ast t wo sent ences, l ooki ng, not at her , but at Gal t .
She saw Gal t answer i ng hi mby an open gl ance hel d st eady f or an i nst ant ,
l i ke a si gnal of af f i r mat i on. Then Gal t ' s eyes moved t o her s.
She saw hi ml ooki ng at her as i f she bor e t he unspoken t i t l e t hat hung i n
t he si l ence bet ween t hem, t he t i t l e Dr . Akst on had gr ant ed her , but had not
pr onounced and none of t he ot her s had caught
she saw, i n Gal t ' s eyes, a gl ance of amusement at her shock, of suppor t
and, i ncr edi bl y, of t ender ness.
D' Anconi a Copper No. I was a smal l cut on t he f ace of t he mount ai n, t hat
l ooked as i f a kni f e had made a f ew angul ar sl ashes, l eavi ng shel ves of r ock,
r ed as a wound, on t he r eddi sh- br own f l ank.
The sun beat down upon i t . Dagny st ood at t he edge of a pat h, hol di ng on
t o Gal t ' s ar mon one si de and t o Fr anci sco' s on t he ot her , t he wi nd bl owi ng
agai nst t hei r f aces and out over t he val l ey, t wo t housand f eet bel ow.
Thi sshe t hought , l ooki ng at t he mi newas t he st or y of human weal t h
wr i t t en acr oss t he mount ai ns: a f ew pi ne t r ees hung over t he cut , cont or t ed
by t he st or ms t hat had r aged t hr ough t he wi l der ness f or cent ur i es, si x men
wor ked on t he shel ves, and an i nor di nat e amount of compl ex machi ner y t r aced
del i cat e l i nes agai nst t he sky; t he machi ner y di d most of t he wor k.
She not i ced t hat Fr anci sco was di spl ayi ng hi s domai n t o Gal t as much as t o
her , as much or mor e. " You haven' t seen i t si nce l ast year , J ohn. . . . J ohn,
wai t t i l l you see i t a year f r omnow. I ' l l be t hr ough, out si de, i n j ust a f ew
mont hsand t hen t hi s wi l l be my f ul l - t i me j ob. "
" Hel l , no, J ohn! " he sai d, l aughi ng, i n answer t o a quest i onbut she
caught suddenl y t he par t i cul ar qual i t y of hi s gl ance whenever i t r est ed on
Gal t : i t was t he qual i t y she had seen i n hi s eyes when he had st ood i n her
r oom, cl ut chi ng t he edge of a t abl e t o out l i ve an unl i vabl e moment ; he had
l ooked as i f he wer e seei ng someone bef or e hi m; i t was Gal t , she t hought ; i t
was Gal t ' s i mage t hat had car r i ed hi mt hr ough.
Some par t of her f el t a di mdr ead: t he ef f or t whi ch Fr anci sco had made i n
t hat moment t o accept her l oss and hi s r i val , as t he payment demanded of hi m
f or hi s bat t l e, had cost hi mso much t hat he was now unabl e t o suspect t he
t r ut h Dr . Akst on had guessed. What wi l l i t do t o hi mwhen he l ear ns?she
wonder ed, and f el t a bi t t er voi ce r emi ndi ng her t hat t her e woul d, per haps,
never be any t r ut h of t hi s ki nd t o l ear n.
Some par t of her f el t a di mt ensi on as she wat ched t he way Gal t l ooked at
Fr anci sco: i t was an open, si mpl e, unr eser ved gl ance of sur r ender t o an
unr eser ved f eel i ng. She f el t t he anxi ous wonder she had never f ul l y named or
di smi ssed: wonder whet her t hi s f eel i ng woul d br i ng hi mdown t o t he ugl i ness
of r enunci at i on.
But most of her mi nd seemed swept by some enor mous sense of r el ease, as i f
she wer e l aughi ng at al l doubt s. Her gl ance kept goi ng back over t he pat h
t hey had t r avel ed t o get her e, over t he t wo exhaust i ng mi l es of a t wi st ed
t r ai l t hat r an, l i ke a pr ecar i ous cor kscr ew, f r omt he t i p of her f eet down t o
t he f l oor of t he val l ey. Her eyes kept st udyi ng i t , her mi nd r aci ng wi t h some
pur pose of i t s own.
Br ush, pi nes and a cl i ngi ng car pet of moss went cl i mbi ng f r omt he gr een
sl opes f ar bel ow, up t he gr ani t e l edges. The moss and t he br ush vani shed
gr adual l y, but t he pi nes went on, st r uggl i ng upwar d i n t hi nni ng st r ands, t i l l
onl y a f ew dot s of si ngl e t r ees wer e l ef t , r i si ng up t he naked r ock t owar d
t he whi t e sunbur st s of snow i n t he cr evi ces at t he peaks. She l ooked at t he
spect acl e of t he most i ngeni ous mi ni ng machi ner y she had ever seen, t hen at
t he t r ai l wher e t he pl oddi ng hoof s and swayi ng shapes of mul es pr ovi ded t he
most anci ent f or mof t r anspor t at i on.
" Fr anci sco, " she asked, poi nt i ng, " who desi gned t he machi nes?"
" They' r e j ust adapt at i ons of st andar d equi pment . "
" Who desi gned t hem?"
" I di d. We don' t have many men t o spar e. We had t o make up f or i t . "
" You' r e wast i ng an unconsci onabl e amount of manpower and t i me, car t i ng
your or e on mul eback. You ought t o bui l d a r ai l r oad down t o t he val l ey. "
She was l ooki ng down and di d not not i ce t he sudden, eager shot of hi s
gl ance t o her f ace or t he sound of caut i on i n hi s voi ce: " I know i t , but i t ' s
such a di f f i cul t j ob t hat t he mi ne' s out put won' t j ust i f y i t at pr esent . "
" Nonsense! I t ' s much si mpl er t han i t l ooks. Ther e' s a pass t o t he east
wher e t her e' s an easi er gr ade and sof t er st one, I wat ched i t on t he way up,
i t woul dn' t t ake so many cur ves, t hr ee mi l es of r ai l or l ess woul d do i t . "
She was poi nt i ng east , she di d not not i ce t he i nt ensi t y wi t h whi ch t he t wo
men wer e wat chi ng her f ace.
" J ust a nar r ow- gauge t r ack i s al l you l l need . . . l i ke t he f i r st
r ai l r oads . . . t hat ' s wher e t he f i r st r ai l r oads st ar t edat mi nes, onl y t hey
wer e coal mi nes. . . . Look, do you see t hat r i dge? Ther e' s pl ent y of
cl ear ance f or a t hr ee- f oot gauge, you woul dn' t need t o do any bl ast i ng or
wi deni ng. Do you see wher e t her e' s a sl ow r i se f or a st r et ch of al most hal f a
mi l e? That woul d be no wor se t han a f our per cent gr ade, any engi ne coul d
manage i t . " She was speaki ng wi t h a swi f t , br i ght cer t ai nt y, consci ous of
not hi ng but t he j oy of per f or mi ng her nat ur al f unct i on i n her nat ur al wor l d
wher e not hi ng coul d t ake pr ecedence over t he act of of f er i ng a sol ut i on t o a
pr obl em. " The r oad wi l l pay f or i t sel f wi t hi n t hr ee year s. I t hi nk, at a
r ough gl ance, t hat t he cost l i est par t of t he j ob wi l l be a coupl e of st eel
t r est l esand t her e' s one spot wher e I mi ght have t o bl ast a t unnel , but i t ' s
onl y f or a hundr ed f eet or l ess. I ' l l need a st eel t r est l e t o t hr ow t he t r ack
acr oss t hat gor ge and br i ng i t her e, but i t ' s not as har d as i t l ooksl et me
show you, have you got a pi ece of paper ?"
She di d not not i ce wi t h what speed Gal t pr oduced a not ebook and a penci l
and t hr ust t hemi nt o her handsshe sei zed t hem, as i f she expect ed t hemt o be
t her e, as i f she wer e gi vi ng or der s on a const r uct i on si t e wher e det ai l s of
t hi s ki nd wer e not t o del ay her .
" Let me gi ve you a r ough i dea of what I mean. I f we dr i ve di agonal pi l es
i nt o t he r ock" she was sket chi ng r api dl y" t he act ual st eel span woul d be onl y
si x hundr ed f eet l ongi t woul d cut of f t hi s l ast hal f mi l e of your cor kscr ew
t ur nsI coul d have t he r ai l l ai d i n t hr ee mont hs and"
She st opped. When she l ooked up at t hei r f aces, t he f i r e had gone out of
her s. She cr umpl ed her sket ch and f l ung i t asi de i nt o t he r ed dust of t he
gr avel . " Oh, what f or ?" she cr i ed, t he despai r br eaki ng out f or t he f i r st
t i me. " To bui l d t hr ee mi l es of r ai l r oad and abandon a t r anscont i nent al
syst em! "
The t wo men wer e l ooki ng at her , she saw no r epr oach i n t hei r f aces, onl y
a l ook of under st andi ng whi ch was al most compassi on.
" I ' msor r y, " she sai d qui et l y, dr oppi ng her eyes.
" I f you change your mi nd, " sai d Fr anci sco, " I ' l l hi r e you on t he spot - or
Mi das wi l l gi ve you a l oan i n f i ve mi nut es t o f i nance t hat r ai l r oad, i f you
want t o own i t your sel f . "
She shook her head. " I can' t . . . " she whi sper ed, " not yet . . . "
She r ai sed her eyes, knowi ng t hat t hey knew t he nat ur e of her despai r and
t hat i t was usel ess t o hi de her st r uggl e. " I ' ve t r i ed i t once, "
she sai d. " I ' ve t r i ed t o gi ve i t up . . . I know what i t wi l l mean . . .
I ' l l t hi nk of i t wi t h ever y cr osst i e I ' l l see l ai d her e, wi t h ever y spi ke
dr i ven . . . I ' l l t hi nk of t hat ot her t unnel and . . . and of Nat Taggar t ' s
br i dge. . . . Oh, i f onl y I di dn' t have t o hear about i t ! I f onl y I coul d
st ay her e and never know what t hey' r e doi ng t o t he r ai l r oad, and never l ear n
when i t goes! "
" You' l l have t o hear about i t , " sai d Gal t ; i t was t hat r ut hl ess t one,
pecul i ar l y hi s, whi ch sounded i mpl acabl e by bei ng si mpl e, devoi d of any
emot i onal val ue, save t he qual i t y of r espect f or f act s. " You' l l hear t he
whol e cour se of t he l ast agony of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
You' l l hear about ever y wr eck. You' l l hear about ever y di scont i nued t r ai n.
You' l l hear about ever y abandoned l i ne. You' l l hear about t he col l apse of t he
Taggar t Br i dge. Nobody st ays i n t hi s val l ey except by a f ul l , consci ous
choi ce based on a f ul l , consci ous knowl edge of ever y f act i nvol ved i n hi s
deci si on. Nobody st ays her e by f aki ng r eal i t y i n any manner what ever . "
She l ooked at hi m, her head l i f t ed, knowi ng what chance he was r ej ect i ng.
She t hought t hat no man of t he out er wor l d woul d have sai d t hi s t o her at
t hi s moment she t hought of t he wor l d' s code t hat wor shi pped whi t e l i es as an
act of mer cyshe f el t a st ab of r evul si on agai nst t hat code, suddenl y seei ng
i t s f ul l ugl i ness f or t he f i r st t i me
she f el t an enor mous pr i de f or t he t i ght , cl ean f ace of t he man bef or e
her he saw t he shape of her mout h dr awn f i r mi n sel f - cont r ol , yet sof t ened by
some t r emul ous emot i on, whi l e she answer ed qui et l y, " Thank you. You' r e
r i ght . "
" You don' t have t o answer me now, " he sai d. " You' l l t el l me when you' ve
deci ded. Ther e' s st i l l a week l ef t . "
" Yes, " she sai d cal ml y, " j ust one mor e week. "
He t ur ned, pi cked up her cr umpl ed sket ch, f ol ded i t neat l y and sl i pped i t
i nt o hi s pocket .
" Dagny, " sai d Fr anci sco, " when you wei gh your deci si on, consi der t he f i r st
t i me you qui t , i f you wi sh, but consi der ever yt hi ng about i t .
I n t hi s val l ey, you won' t have t o t or t ur e your sel f by shi ngl i ng r oof s and
bui l di ng pat hs t hat l ead nowher e. "
" Tel l me, " she asked suddenl y, " how di d you f i nd out wher e I was, t hat
t i me?' 1
He smi l ed. " I t was J ohn who t ol d me. The dest r oyer , r emember ?
You wonder ed why t he dest r oyer had not sent anyone af t er you. But he had.
I t was he who sent me t her e. "
" He sent you?"
" Yes. "
" What di d he say t o you?"
" Not hi ng much. Why?"
" What di d he say? Do you r emember t he exact wor ds?"
" Yes, I do r emember . He sai d, ' I f you want your chance, t ake i t .
You ve ear ned i t . ' I r emember , because" He t ur ned t o Gal t wi t h t he
unt r oubl ed f r own of a sl i ght , casual puzzl e. " J ohn, I never qui t e under st ood
why you sai d i t . Why t hat ? Whymy chance?"
" Do you mi nd i f I don' t answer you now?"
" No, but "
Someone hai l ed hi mf r omt he l edges of t he mi ne, and he went of f swi f t l y,
as i f t he subj ect r equi r ed no f ur t her at t ent i on.
She was consci ous of t he l ong span of moment s she t ook whi l e t ur ni ng her
head t o Gal t . She knew t hat she woul d f i nd hi ml ooki ng at her . She coul d r ead
not hi ng i n hi s eyes, except a hi nt of der i si on, as i f he knew what answer she
was seeki ng and t hat she woul d not f i nd i t i n hi s f ace.
" You gave hi ma chance t hat you want ed?"
" I coul d have no chance t i l l he' d had ever y chance possi bl e t o hi m. "
" How di d you know what he had ear ned?"
" I had been quest i oni ng hi mabout you f or t en year s, ever y t i me I coul d,
i n ever y way, f r omever y angl e. No, he di d not t el l mei t was t he way he
spoke of you t hat di d. He di dn' t want t o speak, but he spoke t oo eager l y,
eager l y and r el uct ant l y t oget her and t hen I knew t hat i t had not been j ust a
chi l dhood f r i endshi p. I knew how much he had gi ven up f or t he st r i ke and how
desper at el y he hadn' t gi ven i t up f or ever . I ? I was mer el y quest i oni ng hi m
about one of our most i mpor t ant f ut ur e st r i ker sas I quest i oned hi mabout
many ot her s, "
The hi nt of der i si on r emai ned i n hi s eyes; he knew t hat she had want ed t o
hear t hi s, but t hat t hi s was not t he answer t o t he one quest i on she f ear ed.
She l ooked f r omhi s f ace t o Fr anci sco' s appr oachi ng f i gur e, not hi di ng
f r omher sel f any l onger t hat her sudden, heavy, desol at e anxi et y was t he f ear
t hat Gal t mi ght t hr ow t he t hr ee of t hemi nt o t he hopel ess wast e of sel f -
sacr i f i ce.
Fr anci sco appr oached, l ooki ng at her t hought f ul l y, as i f wei ghi ng some
quest i on of hi s own, but some quest i on t hat gave a spar kl e of r eckl ess gai et y
t o hi s eyes.
" Dagny, t her e' s onl y one week l ef t , " he sai d. " I f you deci de t o go back,
i t wi l l be t he l ast , f or a l ong t i me, " Ther e was no r epr oach and no sadness
i n hi s voi ce, onl y some sof t ened qual i t y as sol e evi dence of emot i on. " I f you
l eave nowoh yes, you' l l st i l l come back but i t won' t be soon. And I i n a
f ew mont hs, I ' l l come t o l i ve her e per manent l y, so i f you go, I won' t see you
agai n, per haps f or year s.
I ' d l i ke you t o spend t hi s l ast week wi t h me. I ' d l i ke you t o move t o my
house. As my guest , not hi ng el se, f or no r eason, except t hat I ' d l i ke you
t o. "
He sai d i t si mpl y, as i f not hi ng wer e or coul d be hi dden among t he t hr ee
of t hem. She saw no si gn of ast oni shment i n Gal t ' s f ace. She f el t some swi f t
t i ght eni ng i n her chest , somet hi ng har d, r eckl ess and al most vi ci ous t hat had
t he qual i t y of a dar k exci t ement dr i vi ng her bl i ndl y i nt o act i on.
" But I ' man empl oyee, " she sai d, wi t h an odd smi l e, l ooki ng at Gal t , " I
have a j ob t o f i ni sh. "
" I won' t hol d you t o i t , " sai d Gal t , and she f el t anger at t he t one of hi s
voi ce, a t one t hat gr ant ed her no hi dden si gni f i cance and answer ed not hi ng
but t he l i t er al meani ng of her wor ds. " You can qui t t he j ob any t i me you
wi sh. I t ' s up t o you. "
" No, i t i sn' t . I ' ma pr i soner her e. Don' t you r emember ? I ' mt o t ake
or der s. I have no pr ef er ences t o f ol l ow, no wi shes t o expr ess, no deci si ons
t o make. I want t he deci si on t o be your s. "
" You want i t t o be mi ne?"
" Yes! "
" You' ve expr essed a wi sh. "
The mocker y of hi s voi ce was i n i t s ser i ousnessand she t hr ew at hi m
def i ant l y, not smi l i ng, as i f dar i ng hi mt o cont i nue pr et endi ng t hat he di d
not under st and: " Al l r i ght . That ' s what I wi sh! "
He smi l ed, as at a chi l d' s compl ex schemi ng whi ch he had l ong si nce seen
t hr ough. " Ver y wel l . " But he di d not smi l e, as he sai d, t ur ni ng t o Fr anci sco,
" Thenno. "
The def i ance t owar d an adver sar y who was t he st er nest of t eacher s, was al l
t hat Fr anci sco had r ead i n her f ace. He shr ugged, r egr et f ul l y, but gai l y.
" You' r e pr obabl y r i ght . I f you can' t pr event her f r omgoi ng backnobody can. "
She was not hear i ng Fr anci sco' s wor ds. She was st unned by t he magni t ude of
t he r el i ef t hat hi t her at t he sound of Gal t ' s answer , a r el i ef t hat t ol d her
t he magni t ude of t he f ear i t swept away. She knew, onl y af t er i t was over ,
what had hung f or her on hi s deci si on; she knew t hat had hi s answer been
di f f er ent , i t woul d have dest r oyed t he val l ey i n her eyes.
She want ed t o l augh, she want ed t o embr ace t hembot h and l augh wi t h t hem
i n cel ebr at i on. , i t di d not seemt o mat t er whet her she woul d st ay her e or
r et ur n t o t he wor l d, a week was l i ke an endl ess span of t i me, ei t her cour se
seemed f l ooded by an unchangi ng sunl i ght and no st r uggl e was har d, she
t hought , i f t hi s was t he nat ur e of exi st ence. The r el i ef di d not come f r om
t he knowl edge t hat he woul d not r enounce her , nor f r omar t y assur ance t hat
she woul d wi nt he r el i ef came f r omt he cer t ai nt y t hat he woul d al ways r emai n
what he was.
" I don' t know whet her I ' l l go back t o t he wor l d or not , " she sai d sober l y,
but her voi ce was t r embl i ng wi t h a subdued vi ol ence, whi ch was pur e gai et y.
" I ' msor r y t hat I ' mst i l l unabl e t o make a deci si on.
I ' mcer t ai n of onl y one t hi ng: t hat I won' t be af r ai d t o deci de. "
Fr anci sco t ook t he sudden br i ght ness of her f ace as pr oof t hat t he
i nci dent had been of no si gni f i cance. But Gal t under st ood; he gl anced at her
and t he gl ance was par t amusement , par t cont empt uous r epr oach.
He sai d not hi ng, unt i l t hey wer e al one, wal ki ng down t he t r ai l t o t he
val l ey. Then he gl anced at her agai n, t he amusement shar per i n hi s eyes, and
sai d, " You had t o put me t o a t est i n or der t o l ear n whet her I ' d f al l t o t he
l owest possi bl e st age of al t r ui sm?"
She di d not answer , but l ooked at hi mi n open, undef ensi ve admi ssi on.
He chuckl ed and l ooked away, and a f ew st eps l at er sai d sl owl y, i n t he
t one of a quot at i on, " Nobody st ays her e by f aki ng r eal i t y i n any manner
what ever . "
Par t of t he i nt ensi t y of her r el i ef she t hought , as she wal ked si l ent l y by
hi s si dewas t he shock of a cont r ast : she had seen, wi t h t he sudden,
i mmedi at e vi vi dness of sensor y per cept i on, an exact pi ct ur e of what t he code
of sel f - sacr i f i ce woul d have meant , i f enact ed by t he t hr ee of t hem. Gal t ,
gi vi ng up t he woman he want ed, f or t he sake of hi s f r i end, f aki ng hi s
gr eat est f eel i ng out of exi st ence and hi msel f out of her l i f e, no mat t er what
t he cost t o hi mand t o her , t hen dr aggi ng t he r est of hi s year s t hr ough t he
wast e of t he unr eached and unf ul f i l l ed she, t ur ni ng f or consol at i on t o a
second choi ce, f aki ng a l ove she di d not f eel , bei ng wi l l i ng t o f ake, si nce
her wi l l t o sel f - decei t was t he essent i al r equi r ed f or Gal t ' s sel f - sacr i f i ce,
t hen l i vi ng out her year s i n hopel ess l ongi ng, accept i ng, as r el i ef f or an
unheal i ng wound, some moment s of wear y af f ect i on, pl us t he t enet t hat l ove i s
f ut i l e and happi ness i s not t o be f ound on ear t hFr anci sco, st r uggl i ng i n t he
el usi ve f og of a count er f ei t r eal i t y, hi s l i f e a f r aud st aged by t he t wo who
wer e dear est t o hi mand most t r ust ed, st r uggl i ng t o gr asp what was mi ssi ng
f r omhi s happi ness, st r uggl i ng down t he br i t t l e scaf f ol d of a l i e over t he
abyss of t he di scover y t hat he was not t he man she l oved, but onl y a r esent ed
subst i t ut e, hal f - char i t y- pat i ent , hal f - cr ut ch, hi s per cept i veness becomi ng
hi s danger and onl y hi s sur r ender t o l et har gi c st upi di t y pr ot ect i ng t he
shoddy st r uct ur e of hi s j oy, st r uggl i ng and gi vi ng up and set t l i ng i nt o t he
dr ear y r out i ne of t he convi ct i on t hat f ul f i l l ment i s i mpossi bl e t o mant he
t hr ee of t hem, who had had al l t he gi f t s of exi st ence spr ead out bef or e t hem,
endi ng up as embi t t er ed hul ks, who cr y i n despai r t hat l i f e i s f r ust r at i on
t he f r ust r at i on of not bei ng abl e t o make unr eal i t y r eal .
But t hi sshe t hought was men' s mor al code i n t he out er wor l d, a code t hat
t ol d t hemt o act on t he pr emi se of one anot her ' s weakness, decei t and
st upi di t y, and t hi s was t he pat t er n of t hei r l i ves, t hi s st r uggl e t hr ough a
f og of t he pr et ended and unacknowl edged, t hi s bel i ef t hat f act s ar e not sol i d
or f i nal , t hi s st at e wher e, denyi ng any f or mt o r eal i t y, men st umbl e t hr ough
l i f e, unr eal and unf or med, and di e havi ng never been bor n. Her eshe t hought ,
l ooki ng down t hr ough gr een br anches at t he gl i t t er i ng r oof s of t he val l eyone
deal t wi t h men as cl ear and f i r mas sun and r ocks, and t he i mmense l i ght -
hear t edness of her r el i ef came f r omt he knowl edge t hat no bat t l e was har d, no
deci si on was danger ous wher e t her e was no soggy uncer t ai nt y, no shapel ess
evasi on t o encount er .
" Di d i t ever occur t o you, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Gal t , i n t he casual t one of
an abst r act di scussi on, but as i f he had known her t hought s, " t hat t her e i s
no conf l i ct of i nt er est s among men, nei t her i n busi ness nor i n t r ade nor i n
t hei r most per sonal desi r esi f t hey omi t t he i r r at i onal f r omt hei r vi ew of
t he possi bl e and dest r uct i on f r omt hei r vi ew of t he pr act i cal ? Ther e i s no
conf l i ct , and no cal l f or sacr i f i ce, and no man i s a t hr eat t o t he ai ms of
anot her i f men under st and t hat r eal i t y i s an absol ut e not t o be f aked, t hat
l i es do not wor k, t hat t he unear ned cannot be had, t hat t he undeser ved cannot
be gi ven, t hat t he dest r uct i on of a val ue whi ch i s, wi l l not br i ng val ue t o
t hat whi ch i sn' t . The busi nessman who wi shes t o gai n a mar ket by t hr ot t l i ng a
super i or compet i t or , t he wor ker who want s a shar e of hi s empl oyer ' s weal t h,
t he ar t i st who envi es a r i val ' s hi gher t al ent t hey' r e al l wi shi ng f act s out
of exi st ence, and dest r uct i on i s t he onl y means of t hei r wi sh. I f t hey pur sue
i t , t hey wi l l not achi eve a mar ket , a f or t une or an i mmor t al f ame
t hey wi l l mer el y dest r oy pr oduct i on, empl oyment and ar t . A wi sh f or t he
i r r at i onal i s not t o be achi eved, whet her t he sacr i f i ci al vi ct i ms ar e wi l l i ng
or not . But men wi l l not cease t o desi r e t he i mpossi bl e and wi l l not l ose
t hei r l ongi ng t o dest r oyso l ong as sel f - dest r uct i on and sel f - sacr i f i ce ar e
pr eached t o t hemas t he pr act i cal means of achi evi ng t he happi ness of t he
r eci pi ent s. "
He gl anced at her and added sl owl y, a sl i ght emphasi s as sol e change i n
t he i mper sonal t one of hi s voi ce, " No one' s happi ness but my own i s i n my
power t o achi eve or t o dest r oy. You shoul d have had mor e r espect f or hi mand
f or me t han t o f ear what you had f ear ed. "
She di d not answer , she f el t as i f a wor d woul d over f i l l t he f ul l ness of
t hi s moment , she mer el y t ur ned t o hi mwi t h a l ook of acqui escence t hat was
di sar med, chi l di shl y humbl e and woul d have been an apol ogy but f or i t s
shi ni ng j oy, He smi l edi n amusement , i n under st andi ng, al most i n comr adeshi p
of t he t hi ngs t hey shar ed and i n sanct i on of t he t hi ngs she f el t .
They went on i n si l ence, and i t seemed t o her t hat t hi s was a summer day
out of a car ef r ee yout h she had never l i ved, i t was j ust a wal k t hr ough t he
count r y by t wo peopl e who wer e f r ee f or t he pl easur e of mot i on and sunl i ght ,
wi t h no unsol ved bur dens l ef t t o car r y. Her sense of l i ght ness bl ended wi t h
t he wei ght l ess sense of wal ki ng downhi l l , as i f she needed no ef f or t t o wal k,
onl y t o r est r ai n her sel f f r omf l yi ng, and she wal ked, f i ght i ng t he speed of
t he downwar d pul l , her body l eani ng back, t he wi nd bl owi ng her ski r t l i ke a
sai l t o br ake her mot i on.
They par t ed at t he bot t omof t he t r ai l ; he went t o keep an appoi nt ment
wi t h Mi das Mul l i gan, whi l e she went t o Hammond' s Mar ket wi t h a l i st of i t ems
f or t he eveni ng' s di nner as t he sol e concer n of her wor l d.
Hi s wi f eshe t hought , l et t i ng her sel f hear consci ousl y t he wor d Dr . Akst on
had not pr onounced, t he wor d she had l ong si nce f el t , but never namedf or
t hr ee weeks she had been hi s wi f e i n ever y sense but one, and t hat f i nal one
was st i l l t o be ear ned, but t hi s much was r eal and t oday she coul d per mi t
her sel f t o know i t , t o f eel i t , t o l i ve wi t h t hat one t hought f or t hi s one
day.
The gr ocer i es, whi ch Lawr ence Hammond was l i ni ng up at her or der on t he
pol i shed count er of hi s st or e, had never appear ed t o her as such shi ni ng
obj ect sand, i nt ent upon t hem, she was onl y hal f - consci ous of some di st ur bi ng
el ement , of somet hi ng t hat was wr ong but t hat her mi nd was t oo f ul l t o
not i ce. She not i ced i t onl y when she saw Hammond pause, f r own and st ar e
upwar d, at t he sky beyond hi s open st or e f r ont .
I n t i me wi t h hi s wor ds: " I t hi nk somebody' s t r yi ng t o r epeat your st unt ,
Mi ss Taggar t , " she r eal i zed t hat i t was t he sound of an ai r pl ane over head and
t hat i t had been t her e f or some t i me, a sound whi ch was not t o be hear d i n
t he val l ey af t er t he f i r st of t hi s mont h.
They r ushed out t o t he st r eet . The smal l si l ver cr oss of a pl ane was
ci r cl i ng above t he r i ng of mount ai ns, l i ke a spar kl i ng dr agonf l y about t o
br ush t he peaks wi t h i t s wi ngs.
" What does he t hi nk he' s doi ng?" sai d Lawr ence Hammond.
Ther e wer e peopl e at t he door s of t he shops and st andi ng st i l l al l down
t he st r eet , l ooki ng up.
" I s . . . i s anyone expect ed?" she asked and was ast oni shed by t he anxi et y
of her own voi ce.
" No, " sai d Hammond. " Ever yone who' s got any busi ness her e i s her e. " He di d
not sound di st ur bed, but gr i ml y cur i ous.
The pl ane was now a smal l dash, l i ke a si l ver ci gar et t e, st r eaki ng agai nst
t he f l anks of t he mount ai ns: i t had dr opped l ower .
" Looks l i ke a pr i vat e monopl ane, " sai d Hammond, squi nt i ng agai nst t he sun.
" Not an ar my model . "
" Wi l l t he r ay scr een hol d out ?" she asked t ensel y, i n a t one of def ensi ve
r esent ment agai nst t he appr oach of an enemy.
He chuckl ed. " Hol d out ?"
" Wi l l he see us?"
" That scr een i s saf er t han an under gr ound vaul t , Mi ss Taggar t . As you
ought t o know. "
The pl ane r ose, and f or a moment i t was onl y a br i ght speck, l i ke a bi t of
paper bl own by t he wi ndi t hover ed uncer t ai nl y. , t hen dr opped down agai n i nt o
anot her ci r cl i ng spi r al .
" What i n hel l i s he af t er ?" sai d Hammond.
Her eyes shot suddenl y t o hi s f ace.
" He' s l ooki ng f or somet hi ng, " sai d Hammond. " What ?"
" I s t her e a t el escope somewher e?"
" Whyyes, at t he ai r f i el d, but " He was about t o ask what was t he mat t er
wi t h her voi cebut she was r unni ng acr oss t he r oad, down t he pat h t o t he
ai r f i el d, not knowi ng t hat she was r unni ng, dr i ven by a r eason she had no
t i me and no cour age t o name.
She f ound Dwi ght Sander s at t he smal l t el escope of t he cont r ol t ower ; he
was wat chi ng t he pl ane at t ent i vel y, wi t h a puzzl ed f r own.
" Let me see i t ! " she snapped.
She cl ut ched t he met al t ube, she pr essed her eye t o t he l ens, her hand
gui di ng t he t ube sl owl y t o f ol l ow t he pl anet hen he saw t hat her hand had
st opped, but her f i nger s di d not open and her f ace r emai ned bent over t he
t el escope, pr essed t o t he l ens, unt i l he l ooked cl oser and saw t hat t he l ens
was pr essed t o her f or ehead.
" What ' s t he mat t er , Mi ss Taggar t ?"
She r ai sed her head sl owl y.
" I s i t anyone you know, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
She di d not answer . She hur r i ed away, her st eps r ushi ng wi t h t he
zi gzaggi ng ai ml essness of uncer t ai nt yshe dar ed not r un, but she had t o
escape, she had t o hi de, she di d not know whet her she was af r ai d t o be seen
by t he men ar ound her or by t he pl ane abovet he pl ane whose si l ver wi ngs bor e
t he number t hat bel onged t o Hank Rear den.
She st opped when she st umbl ed over a r ock and f el l and not i ced t hat she
had been r unni ng. She was on a smal l l edge i n t he cl i f f s above t he ai r f i el d,
hi dden f r omt he si ght of t he t own, open t o t he vi ew of t he sky. She r ose, her
hands gr opi ng f or suppor t al ong a gr ani t e wal l , f eel i ng t he war mt h of t he sun
on t he r ock under her pal msshe st ood, her back pr essed t o t he wal l , unabl e
t o move or t o t ake her eyes of f t he pl ane.
The pl ane was ci r cl i ng sl owl y, di ppi ng down, t hen r i si ng agai n,
st r uggl i ngshe t hought as she had st r uggl ed, t o di st i ngui sh t he si ght of a
wr eck i n a hopel ess spr ead of cr evi ces and boul der s, an el usi ve spr ead
nei t her cl ear enough t o abandon nor t o sur vey. He was sear chi ng f or t he wr eck
of her pl ane, he had not gi ven up, and what ever t he t hr ee weeks of i t had
cost hi m, what ever he f el t , t he onl y evi dence he woul d gi ve t o t he wor l d and
hi s onl y answer was t hi s st eady, i nsi st ent , monot onous dr one of a mot or
car r yi ng a f r agi l e cr af t over ever y deadl y f oot of an i naccessi bl e chai n of
mount ai ns.
Thr ough t he br i l l i ant pur i t y of t he summer ai r , t he pl ane seemed
i nt i mat el y cl ose, she coul d see i t r ock on pr ecar i ous cur r ent s and bank under
t he t hr ust s of wi nd. She coul d see, and i t seemed i mpossi bl e t hat so cl ear a
si ght was cl osed t o hi s eyes. The whol e of t he val l ey l ay bel ow hi m, f l ooded
by sunl i ght , f l ami ng wi t h gl ass panes and gr een l awns, scr eami ng t o be seen
t he end of hi s t or t ur ed quest , t he f ul f i l l ment of mor e t han hi s wi shes, not
t he wr eck of her pl ane and her body, but her l i vi ng pr esence and hi s f r eedom
al l t hat he was seeki ng or had ever sought was now spr ead open bef or e hi m,
open and wai t i ng, hi s t o be r eached by a st r ai ght - l i ne di ve t hr ough t he pur e,
cl ear ai r
hi s and aski ng not hi ng of hi mbut t he capaci t y t o see. " Hank! " she
scr eamed, wavi ng her ar ms i n desper at e si gnal . " Hank! "
She f el l back agai nst t he r ock, knowi ng t hat she had no way t o r each hi m,
t hat she had no power t o gi ve hi msi ght , t hat no power on ear t h coul d pi er ce
t hat scr een except hi s own mi nd and vi si on.
Suddenl y and f or t he f i r st t i me, she f el t t he scr een, not as t he most
i nt angi bl e, but as t he most gr i ml y absol ut e bar r i er i n t he wor l d.
Sl umped agai nst t he r ock, she wat ched, i n si l ent r esi gnat i on, t he hopel ess
ci r cl es of t he pl ane' s st r uggl e and i t s mot or ' s uncompl ai ni ng cr y f or hel p, a
cr y she had no way t o answer . The pl ane swooped down abr upt l y, but i t was
onl y t he st ar t of i t s f i nal r i se, i t cut a swi f t di agonal acr oss t he
mount ai ns and shot i nt o t he open sky. Then, as i f caught i n t he spr ead of a
l ake wi t h no shor es and no exi t , i t went si nki ng sl owl y and dr owni ng out of
si ght .
She t hought , i n bi t t er compassi on, of how much he had f ai l ed t o see.
And I ?she t hought . I f she l ef t t he val l ey, t he scr een woul d cl ose f or her
as t i ght l y, At l ant i s woul d descend under a vaul t of r ays mor e i mpr egnabl e
t han t he bot t omof t he ocean, and she, t oo, woul d be l ef t t o st r uggl e f or t he
t hi ngs she had not known how t o see, she, t oo, woul d be l ef t t o f i ght a
mi r age of pr i mor di al savager y, whi l e t he r eal i t y of al l t hat she desi r ed
woul d never come agai n wi t hi n her r each, But t he pul l of t he out er wor l d, t he
pul l t hat dr ew her t o f ol l ow t he pl ane, was not t he i mage of Hank Rear denshe
knew t hat she coul d not r et ur n t o hi m, even i f she r et ur ned t o t he wor l dt he
pul l was t he vi si on of Hank Rear den' s cour age and t he cour age of al l t hose
st i l l f i ght i ng t o st ay al i ve. He woul d not gi ve up t he sear ch f or her pl ane,
when al l ot her s had l ong si nce despai r ed, as he woul d not gi ve up hi s mi l l s,
as he woul d not gi ve up any goal he had chosen i f a si ngl e chance was l ef t .
Was she cer t ai n t hat no chance r emai ned f or t he wor l d of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al ? Was she cer t ai n t hat t he t er ms of t he bat t l e wer e such t hat
she coul d not car e t o wi n? They wer e r i ght , t he men of At l ant i s, t hey wer e
r i ght t o vani sh i f t hey knew t hat t hey l ef t no val ue behi nd t hembut unt i l
and unl ess she saw t hat no chance was unt aken and no bat t l e unf ought , she had
no r i ght t o r emai n among t hem. Thi s was t he quest i on t hat had l ashed her f or
weeks, but had not dr i ven her t o a gl i mpse of t he answer .
She l ay awake, t hr ough t he hour s of t hat ni ght , qui et l y mot i onl ess,
f ol l owi ngl i ke an engi neer and l i ke Hank Rear dena pr ocess of di spassi onat e,
pr eci se, al most mat hemat i cal consi der at i on, wi t h no r egar d f or cost or
f eel i ng. The agony whi ch he l i ved i n hi s pl ane, she l i ved i t i n a soundl ess
cube of dar kness, sear chi ng, but f i ndi ng no answer . She l ooked at t he
i nscr i pt i ons on t he wal l s of her r oom, f ai nt l y vi si bl e i n pat ches of
st ar l i ght , but t he hel p t hose men had cal l ed i n t hei r dar kest hour was not
her s t o cal l .
" Yes or no, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
She l ooked at t he f aces of t he f our men i n t he sof t t wi l i ght of Mul l i gan' s
l i vi ng r oom: Gal t , whose f ace had t he ser ene, i mper sonal at t ent i veness of a
sci ent i st Fr anci sco, whose f ace was made expr essi onl ess by t he hi nt of a
smi l e, t he ki nd of smi l e t hat woul d f i t ei t her answer
Hugh Akst on who l ooked compassi onat el y gent l eMi das Mul l i gan, who had
asked t he quest i on wi t h no t ouch of r ancor i n hi s voi ce. Somewher e t wo
t housand mi l es away, at t hi s sunset hour , t he page of a cal endar was
spr i ngi ng i nt o l i ght over t he r oof s of New Yor k, sayi ng: J une 28and i t
seemed t o her suddenl y t hat she was seei ng i t , as i f i t wer e hangi ng over t he
heads of t hese men.
" I have one mor e day, " she sai d st eadi l y. " Wi l l you l et me have i t ? I
t hi nk I ' ve r eached my deci si on, but I amnot f ul l y cer t ai n of i t and I ' l l
need al l t he cer t ai nt y possi bl e t o me. "
" Of cour se, " sai d Mul l i gan. " You have, i n f act , unt i l mor ni ng of t he day
af t er t omor r ow. We' l l wai t . "
" We' l l wai t af t er t hat as wel l , " sai d Hugh Akst on, " t hough i n your
absence, i f t hat be necessar y. "
She st ood by t he wi ndow, f aci ng t hem, and she f el t a moment ' s sat i sf act i on
i n t he knowl edge t hat she st ood st r ai ght , t hat her hands di d not t r embl e,
t hat her voi ce sounded as cont r ol l ed, uncompl ai ni ng and unpi t yi ng as t hei r s;
i t gave her a moment ' s f eel i ng of a bond t o t hem.
" I f any par t of your uncer t ai nt y, sai d Gal t , " i s a conf l i ct bet ween your
hear t and your mi ndf ol l ow your mi nd. "
" Consi der t he r easons whi ch make us cer t ai n t hat we ar e r i ght , " sai d Hugh
Akst on, " but not t he f act t hat we ar e cer t ai n. I f you ar e not convi nced,
i gnor e our cer t ai nt y. Don' t be t empt ed t o subst i t ut e our j udgment f or your
own, "
" Don' t r el y on our knowl edge of what ' s best f or your f ut ur e, " sai d
Mul l i gan. " We do know, but i t can' t be best unt i l you know i t . "
" Don' t consi der our i nt er est s or desi r es, " sai d Fr anci sco. " You have no
dut y t o anyone but your sel f . "
She smi l ed, nei t her sadl y nor gai l y, t hi nki ng t hat none of i t was t he sor t
of advi ce she woul d have been gi ven i n t he out er wor l d. And knowi ng how
desper at el y t hey wi shed t o hel p her wher e no hel p was possi bl e, she f el t i t
was her par t t o gi ve t hemr eassur ance.
" I f or ced my way her e, " she sai d qui et l y, " and I was t o bear
r esponsi bi l i t y f or t he consequences. I ' mbear i ng i t . "
Her r ewar d was t o see Gal t smi l e; t he smi l e was l i ke a mi l i t ar y decor at i on
best owed upon her .
Looki ng away, she r emember ed suddenl y J ef f Al i en, t he t r amp aboar d t he
Comet , i n t he moment when she had admi r ed hi mf or at t empt i ng t o t el l her t hat
he knew wher e he was goi ng, t o spar e her t he bur den of hi s ai ml essness. She
smi l ed f ai nt l y, t hi nki ng t hat she had now exper i enced i t i n bot h r ol es and
knew t hat no act i on coul d be l ower or mor e f ut i l e t han f or one per son t o
t hr ow upon anot her t he bur den of hi s abdi cat i on of choi ce. She f el t an odd
cal m, al most a conf i dent r epose; she knew t hat i t was t ensi on, but t he
t ensi on of a gr eat cl ar i t y. She caught her sel f t hi nki ng: She' s f unct i oni ng
wel l i n an emer gency, I ' l l be al l r i ght wi t h her and r eal i zed t hat she was
t hi nki ng of her sel f .
" Let i t go t i l l day af t er t omor r ow, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Mi das Mul l i gan.
" Toni ght you' r e st i l l her e. "
" Thank you, " she sai d.
She r emai ned by t he wi ndow, whi l e t hey went on di scussi ng t he val l ey' s
busi ness; i t was t hei r cl osi ng conf er ence of t he mont h. They had j ust
f i ni shed di nner and she t hought of her f i r st di nner i n t hi s house a mont h
ago; she was wear i ng, as she had t hen wor n, t he gr ay sui t t hat bel onged i n
her of f i ce, not t he peasant ski r t t hat had been so easy t o wear hi t he sun.
I ' mst i l l her e t oni ght , she t hought , her hand pr essed possessi vel y t o t he
wi ndow si l l .
The sun had not yet vani shed beyond t he mount ai ns, but t he sky was an
even, deep, decept i vel y cl ear bl ue t hat bl ended wi t h t he bl ue of i nvi si bl e
cl ouds i nt o a si ngl e spr ead, hi di ng t he sun; onl y t he edges of t he cl ouds
wer e out l i ned by a t hi n t hr ead of f l ame, and i t l ooked l i ke a gl owi ng,
t wi st ed net of neon t ubi ng, she t hought . . . l i ke a char t of wi ndi ng r i ver s
. . . l i ke . . . l i ke t he map of a r ai l r oad t r aced i n whi t e f i r e on t he sky.
She hear d Mul l i gan gi vi ng Gal t t he names of t hose who wer e not r et ur ni ng
t o t he out er wor l d. " We have j obs f or al l of t hem, " sai d Mul l i gan. " I n f act ,
t her e' s onl y t en or t wel ve men who' r e goi ng back t hi s year most l y t o f i ni sh
of f , conver t what ever t hey own and come her e per manent l y. I t hi nk t hi s was
our l ast vacat i on mont h, because bef or e anot her year i s over we' l l al l be
l i vi ng i n t hi s val l ey. "
" Good, " sai d Gal t .
" We' l l have t o, f r omt he way t hi ngs ar e goi ng out si de. "
" Yes. "
" Fr anci sco, " sai d Mul l i gan, " you' l l come back i n a f ew mont hs?"
" I n November at t he l at est , " sai d Fr anci sco. " I ' l l send you wor d by shor t
wave, when I ' mr eady t o come backwi l l you t ur n t he f ur nace on i n my house?"
" I wi l l , " sai d Hugh Akst on. " And I ' l l have your supper r eady f or you when
you ar r i ve. "
" J ohn, I t ake i t f or gr ant ed, " sai d Mul l i gan, " t hat you' r e not r et ur ni ng
t o New Yor k t hi s t i me. "
Gal t t ook a moment t o gl ance at hi m, t hen answer ed evenl y, " I have not
deci ded i t yet . "
She not i ced t he shocked swi f t ness wi t h whi ch Fr anci sco and Mul l i gan bent
f or war d t o st ar e at hi mand t he sl owness wi t h whi ch Hugh Akst on' s gl ance
moved t o hi s f ace; Akst on di d not seemt o be ast oni shed.
" You' r e not t hi nki ng of goi ng back t o t hat hel l f or anot her year , ar e
you?" sai d Mul l i gan.
" I am. "
" But good God, J ohn! what f or ?"
" I ' l l t el l you, when I ' ve deci ded. "
" But t her e' s not hi ng l ef t t her e f or you t o do. We got ever ybody we knew of
or can hope t o know of . Our l i st i s compl et ed, except f or Hank Rear denand
we' l l get hi mbef or e t he year i s over and Mi ss Taggar t , i f she so chooses.
That ' s al l . Your j ob i s done. Ther e' s not hi ng t o l ook f or , out t her eexcept
t he f i nal cr ash, when t he r oof comes down on t hei r heads. "
" I know i t . "
" J ohn, your s i s t he one head I don' t want t o be t her e when i t happens. "
" You' ve never had t o wor r y about me. "
" But don' t you r eal i ze what st age t hey' r e comi ng t o? They' r e onl y one st ep
away f r omopen vi ol encehel l , t hey' ve t aken t he st ep and seal ed and decl ar ed
i t l ong ago! but i n one mor e moment t hey' l l see t he f ul l r eal i t y of what
t hey' ve t aken, expl odi ng i n t hei r damned f acespl ai n, open, bl i nd, ar bi t r ar y,
bl ood sheddi ng vi ol ence, r unni ng amuck, hi t t i ng anyt hi ng and anyone at
r andom. That ' s what I don' t want t o see you i n t he mi dst of . "
" I can t ake car e of mysel f . "
" J ohn, t her e' s no r eason f or you t o t ake t he r i sk, " sai d Fr anci sco.
" What r i sk?"
" The l oot er s ar e. wor r i ed about t he men who' ve di sappear ed. They' r e
suspect i ng somet hi ng. You, of al l peopl e, shoul dn' t st ay t her e any l onger .
Ther e' s al ways a chance t hat t hey mi ght di scover j ust who and what you ar e. "
" Ther e' s some chance. Not much. "
" But t her e' s no r eason what ever t o t ake i t . Ther e' s not hi ng l ef t t hat
Ragnar and I can' t f i ni sh. "
Hugh Akst on was wat chi ng t hemsi l ent l y, l eani ng back i n hi s chai r ; hi s
f ace had t hat l ook of i nt ensi t y, nei t her qui t e bi t t er ness nor qui t e a SOS
smi l e, wi t h whi ch a man wat ches a pr ogr essi on t hat i nt er est s hi m, but t hat
l ags a f ew st eps behi nd hi s vi si on.
" I f I go back, " sai d Gal t , " i t won' t be f or our wor k. I t wi l l be t o wi n
t he onl y t hi ng I want f r omt he wor l d f or mysel f , now t hat t he wor k i s done.
I ' ve t aken not hi ng f r omt he wor l d and I ' ve want ed not hi ng. But t her e' s one
t hi ng whi ch i t ' s st i l l hol di ng and whi ch i s mi ne and whi ch I won' t l et i t
have. No, I don' t i nt end t o br eak my oat h, I won' t deal wi t h t he l oot er s, I
won' t be of any val ue or hel p t o anyone out t her e, nei t her t o l oot er s nor
neut r al snor scabs. I f I go, i t won' t be f or anyone' s sake but mi neand I
don' t t hi nk I ' mr i ski ng my l i f e, but i f I amwel l , I ' mnow f r ee t o r i sk i t . "
He was not l ooki ng at her , but she had t o t ur n away and st and pr essed
agai nst t he wi ndow f r ame, because her hands wer e t r embl i ng.
" But , J ohn! " cr i ed Mul l i gan, wavi ng hi s ar mat t he val l ey, " i f anyt hi ng
happens t o you, what woul d we" He st opped abr upt l y and gui l t i l y.
Gal t chuckl ed. " What wer e you about t o say?" Mul l i gan waved hi s hand
sheepi shl y, i n a gest ur e of di smi ssal . " Wer e you about t o say t hat i f
anyt hi ng happens t o me, I ' l l di e as t he wor st f ai l ur e i n t he wor l d?"
" Al l r i ght , " sai d Mul l i gan gui l t i l y, " I won' t say i t . I won' t say t hat we
coul dn' t get al ong wi t hout youwe can, I won' t beg you t o st ay her e f or our
sakeI di dn' t t hi nk I ' d ever r ever t t o t hat r ot t en ol d pl ea, but , boy!
what a t empt at i on i t was, I can al most see why peopl e do i t . I know t hat
what ever i t i s you want , i f you wi sh t o r i sk your l i f e, t hat ' s al l t her e i s
t o i t but I ' mt hi nki ng onl y t hat i t ' s . . . oh God, J ohn, i t ' s such a
val uabl e l i f e! "
Gal t smi l ed. " I know i t . That ' s why I don' t t hi nk I ' mr i ski ng i t I t hi nk
I ' l l wi n. "
Fr anci sco was now si l ent , he was wat chi ng Gal t i nt ent l y, wi t h a f r own of
wonder , not as i f he had f ound an answer , but as i f he had suddenl y gl i mpsed
a quest i on.
" Look, J ohn, " sai d Mul l i gan, " si nce you haven' t deci ded whet her you' l l go
you haven' t deci ded i t yet , have you?"
" No, not yet . "
" Si nce you haven' t , woul d you l et me r emi nd you of a f ew t hi ngs, j ust f or
you t o consi der ?"
" Go ahead. "
" I t ' s t he chance danger s t hat I ' maf r ai d of t he sensel ess, unpr edi ct abl e
danger s of a wor l d f al l i ng apar t . Consi der t he physi cal r i sks of compl ex
machi ner y i n t he hands of bl i nd f ool s and f ear - cr azed cowar ds.
J ust t hi nk of t hei r r ai l r oadsyou' d be t aki ng a chance on some such hor r or
as t hat Wi nst on t unnel i nci dent ever y t i me you st epped aboar d a t r ai nand
t her e wi l l be mor e i nci dent s of t hat ki nd, comi ng f ast er and f ast er . They' l l
r each t he st age wher e no day wi l l pass wi t hout a maj or wr eck. "
" I know i t . "
" And t he same wi l l be happeni ng i n ever y ot her i ndust r y, wher ever machi nes
ar e usedt he machi nes whi ch t hey t hought coul d r epl ace our mi nds. Pl ane
cr ashes, oi l t ank expl osi ons, bl ast - f ur nace br eak- out s, hi gh- t ensi on wi r e
el ect r ocut i ons, subway cave- i ns and t r est l e col l apses t hey' l l see t hemal l .
The ver y machi nes t hat had made t hei r l i f e so saf e, wi l l now make i t a
cont i nuous per i l . "
" I know i t . "
" I know t hat you know i t , but have you consi der ed i t i n ever y speci f i c
det ai l ? Have you al l owed your sel f t o vi sual i ze i t ? I want you t o see t he
exact pi ct ur e of what i t i s t hat you pr opose t o ent er bef or e you deci de
whet her anyt hi ng can j ust i f y your ent er i ng i t . You know t hat t he ci t i es wi l l
be hi t wor st of al l . The ci t i es wer e made by t he r ai l r oads and wi l l go wi t h
t hem. "
" That ' s r i ght . "
" When t he r ai l s ar e cut , t he ci t y of New Yor k wi l l st ar ve i n t wo days.
That ' s al l t he suppl y of f ood i t ' s got . I t ' s f ed by a cont i nent t hr ee
t housand mi l es l ong. How wi l l t hey car r y f ood t o New Yor k? By di r ect i ve and
oxcar t ? But f i r st , bef or e i t happens, t hey' l l go t hr ough t he whol e of t he
agonyt hr ough t he shr i nki ng, t he shor t ages, t he hunger r i ot s, t he st ampedi ng
vi ol ence i n t he mi dst of t he gr owi ng st i l l ness. "
" They wi l l . "
" They' l l l ose t hei r ai r pl anes f i r st , t hen t hei r aut omobi l es, t hen t hei r
t r ucks, t hen t hei r hor se car t s. "
" They wi l l . "
" Thei r f act or i es wi l l st op, t hen t hei r f ur naces and t hei r r adi os. Then
t hei r el ect r i c l i ght syst emwi l l go. "
" I t wi l l . "
" Ther e' s onl y a wor n t hr ead hol di ng t hat cont i nent t oget her . Ther e wi l l be
one t r ai n a day, t hen one t r ai n a weekt hen t he Taggar t Br i dge wi l l col l apse
and"
" No, i t won' t ! "
I t was her voi ce and t hey whi r l ed t o her . Her f ace was whi t e, but cal mer
t han i t had been when she had answer ed t heml ast .
Sl owl y, Gal t r ose t o hi s f eet and i ncl i ned hi s head, as i n accept ance of a
ver di ct . " You' ve made your deci si on, " he sai d.
" I have. "
" Dagny, " sai d Hugh Akst on, " I ' msor r y. " He spoke sof t l y, wi t h ef f or t , as
i f hi s wor ds wer e st r uggl i ng and f ai l i ng t o f i l l t he si l ence of t he r oom. " I
wi sh i t wer e possi bl e not t o see t hi s happen, I woul d have pr ef er r ed
anyt hi ngexcept t o see you st ay her e by def aul t of t he cour age of your
convi ct i ons. "
She spr ead her hands, pal ms out , her ar ms at her si des, i n a gest ur e of
si mpl e f r ankness, and sai d, addr essi ng t hemal l , her manner so cal mt hat she
coul d af f or d t o show emot i on, " I want you t o know t hi s: I have wi shed i t wer e
possi bl e f or me t o di e i n one mor e mont h, so t hat I coul d spend i t i n t hi s
val l ey. Thi s i s how much I ' ve want ed t o r emai n. But so l ong as I choose t o go
on l i vi ng, I can' t deser t a bat t l e whi ch I t hi nk i s mi ne t o f i ght "
" Of cour se, " sai d Mul l i gan r espect f ul l y, " i f you st i l l t hi nk i t . "
" I f you want t o know t he one r eason t hat ' s t aki ng me back, 111 t el l you; I
cannot br i ng mysel f t o abandon t o dest r uct i on al l t he gr eat ness of t he wor l d,
al l t hat whi ch was mi ne and your s, whi ch was made by us and i s st i l l our s by
r i ght because I cannot bel i eve t hat men can r ef use t o see, t hat t hey can
r emai n bl i nd and deaf t o us f or ever , when t he t r ut h i s our s and t hei r l i ves
depend on accept i ng i t . They st i l l l ove t hei r l i vesand t hat i s t he
uncor r upt ed r emnant of t hei r mi nds. So l ong as men desi r e t o l i ve, I cannot
l ose my bat t l e. "
" Do t hey?" sai d Hugh Akst on sof t l y. " Do t hey desi r e i t ? No, don' t answer
me now. I know t hat t he answer was t he har dest t hi ng f or any of us t o gr asp
and t o accept . J ust t ake t hat quest i on back wi t h you, as t he l ast pr emi se
l ef t f or you t o check. "
" You' r e l eavi ng as our f r i end, " sai d Mi das Mul l i gan, " and we' l l be
f i ght i ng ever yt hi ng you' l l do, because we know you' r e wr ong, but i t ' s not you
t hat we' l l be damni ng. "
" You' l l come back, " sai d Hugh Akst on, " because your s i s an er r or of
knowl edge, not a mor al f ai l ur e, not an act of sur r ender t o evi l , but onl y t he
l ast act of bei ng vi ct i mt o your own vi r t ue. We' l l wai t f or youand, Dagny,
when you come back, you wi l l have di scover ed t hat t her e need never be any
conf l i ct among your desi r es, nor so t r agi c a cl ash of val ues as t he one
you' ve bor ne so wel l . "
" Thank you, " she sai d, cl osi ng her eyes.
" We must di scuss t he condi t i ons of your depar t ur e, " sai d Gal t ; he spoke i n
t he di spassi onat e manner of an execut i ve. " Fi r st , you must gi ve us your wor d
t hat you wi l l not di scl ose our secr et or any par t of i t
nei t her our cause nor our exi st ence nor t hi s val l ey nor your wher eabout s
f or t he past mont ht o anyone i n t he out er wor l d, not at any t i me or f or any
pur pose what soever . "
" I gi ve you my wor d. "
" Second, you must never at t empt t o f i nd t hi s val l ey agai n. You ar e not t o
come her e uni nvi t ed. Shoul d you br eak t he f i r st condi t i on, i t wi l l not pl ace
us i n ser i ous danger . Shoul d you br eak t he secondi t wi l l . I t i s not our
pol i cy ever t o be at t he ar bi t r ar y mer cy of t he good f ai t h of anot her per son,
or at t he mer cy of a pr omi se t hat cannot be enf or ced. Nor can we expect you
t o pl ace our i nt er est s above your own. Si nce you bel i eve t hat your cour se i s
r i ght , t he day may come when you may f i nd i t necessar y t o l ead our enemi es t o
t hi s val l ey. We shal l , t her ef or e, l eave you no means t o do i t . You wi l l be
t aken out of t he val l ey by pl ane, bl i ndf ol ded, and you wi l l be f l own a
di st ance suf f i ci ent t o make i t i mpossi bl e f or you ever t o r et r ace t he
cour se. "
She i ncl i ned her head. " You ar e r i ght . "
" Your pl ane has been r epai r ed. Do you wi sh t o r ecl ai mi t by si gni ng a
dr af t on your account at t he Mul l i gan Bank?"
" No. "
" Then we shal l hol d i t , unt i l such t i me as you choose t o pay f or i t .
Day af t er t omor r ow, I wi l l t ake you i n my pl ane t o a poi nt out si de t he
val l ey and l eave you wi t hi n r each of f ur t her t r anspor t at i on. "
She i ncl i ned her head. " Ver y wel l . "
I t had gr own dar k, when t hey l ef t Mi das Mul l i gan' s. The t r ai l back t o
Gal t ' s house l ed acr oss t he val l ey, past Fr anci sco' s cabi n, and t he t hr ee of
t hemwal ked home t oget her . A f ew squar es of l i ght ed wi ndows hung scat t er ed
t hr ough t he dar kness, and t he f i r st st r eams of mi st wer e weavi ng sl owl y
acr oss t he panes, l i ke shadows cast by a di st ant sea.
They wal ked i n si l ence, but t he sound of t hei r st eps, bl endi ng i nt o a
si ngl e, st eady beat , was l i ke a speech t o be gr asped and not t o be ut t er ed i n
any ot her f or m.
Af t er a whi l e, Fr anci sco sai d, " I t changes not hi ng, i t onl y makes t he span
a l i t t l e l onger , and t he l ast st r et ch i s al ways t he har dest but i t ' s t he
l ast . "
" I wi l l hope so, " she sai d. I n a moment , she r epeat ed qui et l y, " The l ast
i s t he har dest . " She t ur ned t o Gal t . " May I make one r equest ?"
" Yes. "
" Wi l l you l et me go t omor r ow?"
" I f you wi sh. "
When Fr anci sco spoke agai n, moment s l at er , i t was as i f he wer e addr essi ng
t he unnamed wonder i n her mi nd; hi s voi ce had t he t one of answer i ng, a
quest i on: " Dagny, al l t hr ee of us ar e i n l ove" she j er ked her head t o hi m
" wi t h t he same t hi ng, no mat t er what i t s f or ms. Don' t wonder why you f eel no
br each among us. You' l l be one of us, so l ong as you' l l r emai n i n l ove wi t h
your r ai l s and your engi nesand t hey' l l l ead you back t o us, no mat t er how
many t i mes you l ose your way. The onl y man never t o be r edeemed i s t he man
wi t hout passi on. "
" Thank you, " she sai d sof t l y.
" For what ?"
" For . . . f or t he way you sound. "
" How do I sound? Name i t , Dagny. "
" You sound . . . as i f you' r e happy. "
" I ami n exact l y t he same way you ar e. Don' t t el l me what you f eel . I know
i t . But , you see, t he measur e of t he hel l you' r e abl e t o endur e i s t he
measur e of your l ove. The hel l I coul dn' t bear t o wi t ness woul d be t o see you
bei ng i ndi f f er ent . "
She nodded si l ent l y, unabl e t o name as j oy any par t of t he t hi ngs she
f el t , yet f eel i ng t hat he was r i ght .
Cl ot s of mi st wer e dr i f t i ng, l i ke smoke, acr oss t he moon, and i n t he
di f f used gl ow she coul d not di st i ngui sh t he expr essi ons of t hei r f aces, as
she wal ked bet ween t hem: t he onl y expr essi ons t o per cei ve wer e t he st r ai ght
si l houet t es of t hei r bodi es, t he unbr oken sound of t hen- st eps and her own
f eel i ng t hat she wi shed t o wal k on and on, a f eel i ng she coul d not def i ne,
except t hat i t was nei t her doubt nor pai n, When t hey appr oached hi s cabi n,
Fr anci sco st opped, t he gest ur e of hi s hand embr aci ng t hembot h as he poi nt ed
t o hi s door . " Wi l l you come i n si nce i t ' s t o be our l ast ni ght t oget her f or
some t i me? Let ' s have a dr i nk t o t hat f ut ur e of whi ch al l t hr ee of us ar e
cer t ai n. "
" Ar e we?" she asked.
" Yes, " sai d Gal t , " we ar e. "
She l ooked at t hei r f aces when Fr anci sco swi t ched on t he l i ght i n hi s
house. She coul d not def i ne t hei r expr essi ons, i t was not happi ness or any
emot i on per t ai ni ng t o j oy, t hei r f aces wer e t aut and sol emn, but i t was a
gl owi ng sol emni t yshe t hought i f t hi s wer e possi bl e, and t he odd gl ow she
f el t wi t hi n her , t ol d her t hat her own f ace had t he same l ook.
Fr anci sco r eached f or t hr ee gl asses f r oma cupboar d, but st opped, as at a
sudden t hought . He pl aced one gl ass on t he t abl e, t hen r eached f or t he t wo
si l ver gobl et s of Sebast i an d' Anconi a and pl aced t hembesi de i t .
" Ar e you goi ng st r ai ght t o New Yor k, Dagny?" he asked, i n t he cal m,
unst r ai ned t one of a host , br i ngi ng out a bot t l e of ol d wi ne, " Yes, " she
answer ed as cal ml y.
" I ' mf l yi ng t o Buenos Ai r es day af t er t omor r ow, " he sai d, uncor ki ng t he
bot t l e. " I ' mnot sur e whet her I ' l l be back i n New Yor k l at er , but i f I am, i t
wi l l be danger ous f or you t o see me. "
" I won' t car e about t hat , " she sai d, " unl ess you f eel t hat I ' mnot
ent i t l ed t o see you any l onger . "
" Tr ue, Dagny. You' r e not . Not i n New Yor k. "
He was pour i ng t he wi ne and he gl anced up at Gal t . " J ohn, when wi l l you
deci de whet her you' r e goi ng back or st ayi ng her e?"
Gal t l ooked st r ai ght at hi m, t hen sai d sl owl y, i n t he t one of a man who
knows al l t he consequences of hi s wor ds, " I have deci ded, Fr anci sco. I ' m
goi ng back. "
Fr anci sco' s hand st opped. For a l ong moment , he was seei ng not hi ng but
Gal t ' s f ace. Then hi s eyes moved t o her s. He put t he bot t l e down and he di d
not st ep back, but i t was as i f hi s gl ance dr ew back t o a wi de r ange, t o
i ncl ude t hembot h, " But of cour se, " he sai d.
He l ooked as i f he had moved st i l l f ar t her and wer e now seei ng t he whol e
spr ead of t hei r year s; hi s voi ce had an even, uni nf l ect ed sound, qual i t y t hat
mat ched t he si ze of t he vi si on.
" I knew i t t wel ve year s ago, " he sai d. " I knew i t bef or e you coul d have
known, and i t ' s I who shoul d have seen t hat you woul d see. That ni ght , when
you cal l ed us t o New Yor k, I t hought of i t t hen as" he was speaki ng t o Gal t ,
but hi s eyes moved t o Dagny" as ever yt hi ng t hat you wer e seeki ng . . .
ever yt hi ng you t ol d us t o l i ve f or or di e, i f
necessar y. I shoul d have seen t hat you woul d t hi nk i t , t oo. I t coul d not
have been ot her wi se. I t i s as i t hadand ought t o be. I t was set t hen, t wel ve
year s ago. " He l ooked at Gal t and chuckl ed sof t l y. " And you say t hat i t ' s I
who' ve t aken t he har dest beat i ng?"
He t ur ned wi t h t oo swi f t a movement t hen, t oo sl owl y, as i f i n del i ber at e
emphasi s, he compl et ed t he t ask of pour i ng t he wi ne, f i l l i ng t he t hr ee
vessel s on t he t abl e. He pi cked up t he t wo si l ver gobl et s, l ooked down at
t hemf or t he pause of an i nst ant , t hen ext ended one t o Dagny, t he ot her t o
Gal t .
" Take i t , " he sai d. " You' ve ear ned i t and i t wasn' t chance. "
Gal t t ook t he gobl et f r omhi s hand, but i t was as i f t he accept ance was
done by t hei r eyes as t hey l ooked at each ot her .
" I woul d have gi ven anyt hi ng t o l et i t be ot her wi se, " sai d Gal t , " except
t hat whi ch i s beyond gi vi ng. "
She hel d her gobl et , she l ooked at Fr anci sco and she l et hi msee her eyes
gl ance at Gal t . " Yes, she sai d i n t he t one of an answer , " But I have not
ear ned i t and what you' ve pai d, I ' mpayi ng i t now, and I don' t know whet her
I ' l l ever ear n enough t o hol d cl ear t i t l e, but i f hel l i s t he pr i ceand t he
measur et hen l et me be t he gr eedi est of t he t hr ee of us. "
As t hey dr ank, as she st ood, her eyes cl osed, f eel i ng t he l i qui d mot i on of
t he wi ne i nsi de her t hr oat , she knew t hat f or al l t hr ee of t hemt hi s was t he
most t or t ur edand t he most exul t ant moment t hey had ever r eached.
She di d not speak t o Gal t , as t hey wal ked down t he l ast st r et ch of t he
t r ai l t o hi s house. She di d not t ur n her head t o hi m, f eel i ng t hat even a
gl ance woul d be t oo danger ous. She f el t , i n t hei r si l ence, bot h t he cal mof a
t ot al under st andi ng and t he t ensi on of t he knowl edge t hat t hey wer e not t o
name t he t hi ngs t hey under st ood.
But she f aced hi m, when t hey wer e i n hi s l i vi ng r oom, wi t h f ul l conf i dence
and as i f i n sudden cer t ai nt y of a r i ght t he cer t ai nt y t hat she woul d not
br eak and t hat i t was now saf e t o speak. She sai d evenl y, nei t her as pl ea nor
as t r i umph, mer el y as t he st at ement of a f act , " You ar e goi ng back t o t he
out er wor l d because I wi l l be t her e. "
" Yes. "
" I do not want you t o go. "
" You have no choi ce about i t . "
" You ar e goi ng f or my sake. "
" No, f or mi ne. "
" Wi l l you al l ow me t o see you t her e?"
" No. "
" I amnot t o see you?"
" No. "
" I amnot t o know wher e you ar e or what you do?"
" You' r e not . "
" Wi l l you be wat chi ng me, as you di d bef or e?"
" Mor e so. "
" I s your pur pose t o pr ot ect me?"
" No. "
" What i s i t , t hen?"
" To be t her e on t he day when you deci de t o j oi n us. "
She l ooked at hi mat t ent i vel y, per mi t t i ng her sel f no ot her r eact i on, but
as i f gr opi ng f or an answer t o t he f i r st poi nt she had not f ul l y under st ood.
" Al l t he r est of us wi l l be gone, " he expl ai ned. " I t wi l l become t oo
danger ous t o r emai n. I wi l l r emai n as your l ast key, bef or e t he door of t hi s
val l ey cl oses al t oget her . "
" Oh! " She choked i t of f bef or e i t became a moan. Then, r egai ni ng t he
manner of i mper sonal det achment , she asked, " Suppose I wer e t o t el l you t hat
my deci si on i s f i nal and t hat I amnever t o j oi n you?"
" I t woul d be a l i e. "
" Suppose I wer e now t o deci de t hat I wi sh t o make i t f i nal and t o st and by
i t , no mat t er what t he f ut ur e?"
" No mat t er what f ut ur e evi dence you obser ve and what convi ct i ons you
f or m?"
" Yes. "
" That woul d be wor se t han a l i e.
" You ar e cer t ai n t hat I have made t he wr ong deci si on?
" I am. "
" Do you bel i eve t hat one must be r esponsi bl e f or one' s own er r or s?"
" I do. "
" Then why ar en' t you l et t i ng me bear t he consequences of mi ne?"
" I amand you wi l l . "
" I f I f i nd, when i t i s t oo l at e, t hat I want t o r et ur n t o t hi s val l ey why
shoul d you have t o bear t he r i sk of keepi ng t hat door open t o me?"
" I don' t have t o. I woul dn' t do i t i f I had no sel f i sh end t o gai n. "
" What sel f i sh end?"
" I want you her e. "
She cl osed her eyes and i ncl i ned her head i n open admi ssi on of def eat
def eat i n t he ar gument and i n her at t empt t o f ace cal ml y t he f ul l meani ng of
t hat whi ch she was l eavi ng.
Then she r ai sed her head and, as i f she had absor bed hi s ki nd of
f r ankness, she l ooked at hi m, hi di ng nei t her her suf f er i ng nor her l ongi ng
nor her cal m, knowi ng t hat al l t hr ee wer e i n her gl ance.
Hi s f ace was as i t had been i n t he sunl i ght of t he moment when she had
seen i t f or t he f i r st t i me: a f ace of mer ci l ess ser eni t y and unf l i nchi ng
per cept i veness, wi t hout pai n or f ear or gui l t . She t hought t hat wer e i t
possi bl e f or her t o st and l ooki ng at hi m, at t he st r ai ght l i nes of hi s
eyebr ows over t he dar k gr een eyes, at t he cur ve of t he shadow under scor i ng
t he shape of hi s mout h, at t he pour ed- met al pl anes of hi s ski n i n t he open
col l ar of hi s shi r t and t he casual l y i mmovabl e post ur e of hi s l egsshe woul d
wi sh t o spend t he r est of her l i f e on t hi s spot and i n t hi s manner . And i n
t he next i nst ant she knew t hat i f her wi sh wer e gr ant ed, t he cont empl at i on
woul d l ose al l meani ng, because she woul d have bet r ayed al l t he t hi ngs t hat
gave i t val ue.
Then, not as memor y, but as an exper i ence of t he pr esent , she f el t her sel f
r el i vi ng t he moment when she had st ood at t he wi ndow of her r oomi n New Yor k,
l ooki ng at a f ogbound ci t y, at t he unat t ai nabl e shape of At l ant i s si nki ng out
of r eachand she knew t hat she was now seei ng t he answer t o t hat moment . She
f el t , not t he wor ds she had t hen addr essed t o t he ci t y, but t hat unt r ansl at ed
sensat i on f r omwhi ch t he wor ds had come: You, whomI have al ways l oved and
never f ound, you whomI expect ed t o see at t he end of t he r ai l s beyond t he
hor i zon
Al oud, she sai d, " I want you t o know t hi s. I st ar t ed my l i f e wi t h a si ngl e
absol ut e: t hat t he wor l d was mi ne t o shape i n t he i mage of my hi ghest val ues
and never t o be gi ven up t o a l esser st andar d, no mat t er how l ong or har d t he
st r uggl e" you whose pr esence I had al ways f el t i n t he st r eet s of t he ci t y,
t he wor dl ess voi ce wi t hi n her was sayi ng, and whose wor l d I had want ed t o
bui l d" Now I know t hat I was f i ght i ng f or t hi s val l ey" i t i s my l ove f or you
t hat had kept me movi ng" I t was t hi s val l ey t hat I saw as possi bl e and woul d
exchange f or not hi ng l ess and woul d not gi ve up t o a mi ndl ess evi l " my l ove
and my hope t o r each you and my wi sh t o be wor t hy of you on t he day when I
woul d st and bef or e you f ace t o f ace" I amgoi ng back t o f i ght f or t hi s
val l eyt o r el ease i t f r omi t s under gr ound, t o r egai n f or i t i t s f ul l and
r i ght f ul r eal m, t o l et t he ear t h bel ong t o you i n f act , as i t does i n spi r i t
and t o meet you agai n on t he day when I ' mabl e t o del i ver t o you t he whol e of
t he wor l dor , i f I f ai l , t o r emai n i n exi l e f r omt hi s val l ey t o t he end of my
l i f e" but what i s l ef t of my l i f e wi l l st i l l be your s, and I wi l l go on i n
your name, even t hough i t i s a name I ' mnever t o pr onounce, I wi l l go on
ser vi ng you, even t hough I ' mnever t o wi n, I wi l l go on, t o be wor t hy of you
on t he day when I woul d have met you, even t hough I won' t " I wi l l f i ght f or
i t , even i f I have t o f i ght agai nst you, even i f you damn me as a t r ai t or . .
. even i f I amnever t o see you agai n. "
He had st ood wi t hout movi ng, he had l i st ened wi t h no change i n hi s f ace,
onl y hi s eyes had l ooked at her as i f he wer e hear i ng ever y wor d, even t he
wor ds she had not pr onounced. He answer ed, wi t h t he same l ook, as i f t he l ook
wer e hol di ng some ci r cui t not yet t o be br oken, hi s voi ce cat chi ng some t one
of her s, as i f i n si gnal of t he same code, a voi ce wi t h no si gn of emot i on
except i n t he spaci ng of t he wor ds: " I f you f ai l , as men have f ai l ed i n t hei r
quest f or a vi si on t hat shoul d have been possi bl e, yet has r emai ned f or ever
beyond t hei r r eachi f , l i ke t hem, you come t o t hi nk t hat one' s hi ghest val ues
ar e not t o be at t ai ned and one' s gr eat est vi si on i s not t o be made r eal
don' t damn t hi s ear t h, as t hey di d. don' t damn exi st ence. You have seen
t he At l ant i s t hey wer e seeki ng, i t i s her e, i t exi st sbut one must ent er i t
naked and al one, wi t h no r ags f r omt he f al sehoods of cent ur i es, wi t h t he
pur est cl ar i t y of mi ndnot an i nnocent hear t , but t hat whi ch i s much r ar er :
an i nt r ansi gent mi ndas one' s onl y possessi on and key. You wi l l not ent er i t
unt i l you l ear n t hat you do not need t o convi nce or t o conquer t he wor l d.
When you l ear n i t , you wi l l see t hat t hr ough al l t he year s of your st r uggl e,
not hi ng had bar r ed you f r omAt l ant i s and t her e wer e no chai ns t o hol d you,
except t he chai ns you wer e wi l l i ng t o wear . Thr ough al l t hose year s, t hat
whi ch you most wi shed t o wi n was wai t i ng f or you" he l ooked at her as i f he
wer e speaki ng t o t he unspoken wor ds i n her mi nd" wai t i ng as unr emi t t i ngl y as
you wer e f i ght i ng, as passi onat el y, as desper at el ybut wi t h a gr eat er
cer t ai nt y t han your s. Go out t o cont i nue your st r uggl e. Go on car r yi ng
unchosen bur dens, t aki ng undeser ved puni shment and bel i evi ng t hat j ust i ce can
be ser ved by t he of f er of your own spi r i t t o t he most unj ust of t or t ur es. But
i n your wor st and dar kest moment s, r emember t hat you have seen anot her ki nd
of wor l d. Remember t hat you can r each i t whenever you choose t o see. Remember
t hat i t wi l l be wai t i ng and t hat i t ' s r eal , i t ' s possi bl ei t ' s your s. "
Then, t ur ni ng hi s head a l i t t l e, hi s voi ce as cl ear , but hi s eyes br eaki ng
t he ci r cui t , he asked, " What t i me do you wi sh t o l eave t omor r ow?"
" Oh . . . ! As ear l y as i t wi l l be conveni ent f or you. "
" Then have br eakf ast r eady at seven and we' l l t ake of f at ei ght . "
" I wi l l . "
He r eached i nt o hi s pocket and ext ended t o her a smal l , shi ni ng di sk whi ch
she coul d not di st i ngui sh at f i r st . He dr opped i t on t he pal mof her hand: i t
was a f i ve- dol l ar gol d pi ece.
" The l ast of your wages f or t he mont h, " he sai d.
Her f i nger s snapped cl osed over t he coi n t oo t i ght l y, but she answer ed
cal ml y and t onel essl y, " Thank you. "
" Good ni ght , Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Good ni ght . "
She di d not sl eep i n t he hour s t hat wer e st i l l l ef t t o her . She sat on t he
f l oor of her r oom, her f ace pr essed t o t he bed, f eel i ng not hi ng but t he sense
of hi s pr esence beyond t he wal l . At t i mes, she f el t as i f he wer e bef or e her ,
as i f she wer e si t t i ng at hi s f eet . She spent her l ast ni ght wi t h hi mi n t hi s
manner .
She l ef t t he val l ey as she had come, car r yi ng away not hi ng t hat bel onged
t o i t . She l ef t t he f ew possessi ons she had acqui r edher peasant ski r t , a
bl ouse, an apr on, a f ew pi eces of under wear f ol ded neat l y i n a dr awer of t he
chest i n her r oom. She l ooked at t hemf or a moment , bef or e she cl osed t he
dr awer , t hi nki ng t hat i f she came back, she woul d, per haps, st i l l f i nd t hem
t her e. She t ook not hi ng wi t h her but t he f i ve- dol l ar gol d pi ece and t he band
of t ape st i l l wound about her r i bs.
The sun t ouched t he peaks of t he mount ai ns, dr awi ng a shi ni ng ci r cl e as a
f r ont i er of t he val l eywhen she cl i mbed aboar d t he pl ane.
She l eaned back i n t he seat besi de hi mand l ooked at Gal t ' s f ace bent over
her , as i t had been bent when she had opened her eyes on t he f i r st mor ni ng.
Then she cl osed her eyes and f el t hi s hands t yi ng t he bl i ndf ol d acr oss her
f ace.
She hear d t he bl ast of t he mot or , not as sound, but as t he shudder of an
expl osi on i nsi de her body; onl y i t f el t l i ke a di st ant shudder , as i f t he
per son f eel i ng i t woul d have been hur t i f she wer e not so f ar away.
She di d not know when t he wheel s l ef t t he gr ound or when t he pl ane cr ossed
t he ci r cl e of t he peaks. She l ay st i l l , wi t h t he poundi ng beat of t he mot or
as her onl y per cept i on of space, as i f she wer e car r i ed i nsi de a cur r ent of
sound t hat r ocked once i n a whi l e. The sound came f r omhi s engi ne, f r omt he
cont r ol of hi s hands on t he wheel ; she hel d ont o t hat ; t he r est was t o be
endur ed, not r esi st ed.
She l ay st i l l , her l egs st r et ched f or war d, her hands on t he ar ms of t he
seat , wi t h no sense of mot i on, not even her own, t o gi ve her a sense of t i me,
wi t h no space, no si ght , no f ut ur e, wi t h t he ni ght of cl osed eyel i ds under
t he pr essur e of t he cl ot hand wi t h t he knowl edge of hi s pr esence besi de her
as her si ngl e, unchangi ng r eal i t y, They di d not speak. Once, she sai d
suddenl y, " Mr . Gal t . "
" Yes?"
" No. Not hi ng. I j ust want ed t o know whet her you wer e st i l l t her e. "
" I wi l l al ways be t her e. "
She di d not know f or how many mi l es t he memor y of t he sound of wor ds
seemed l i ke a smal l l andmar k r ol l i ng away i nt o t he di st ance, t hen vani shi ng.
Then t her e was not hi ng but t he st i l l ness of an i ndi vi si bl e pr esent .
She di d not know whet her a day had passed or an hour , when she f el t t he
downwar d, pl ungi ng mot i on whi ch meant t hat t hey wer e about t o l and or t o
cr ash; t he t wo possi bi l i t i es seemed equal t o her mi nd.
She f el t t he j ol t of t he wheel s agai nst t he gr ound as an oddl y del ayed
sensat i on: as i f some f r act i on of t i me had gone t o make her bel i eve i t .
She f el t t he r unni ng st r eak of j er ky mot i on, t hen t he j ar of t he st op and
of si l ence, t hen t he t ouch of hi s hands on her hai r , r emovi ng t he bl i ndf ol d.
She saw a gl ar i ng sunl i ght , a st r et ch of scor ched weeds goi ng of f i nt o t he
sky, wi t h no mount ai ns t o st op i t , a deser t ed hi ghway and t he hazy out l i ne of
a t own about a mi l e away. She gl anced at her wat ch: f or t y seven mi nut es ago,
she had st i l l been i n t he val l ey.
" You' l l f i nd a Taggar t st at i on t her e, " he sai d, poi nt i ng at t he t own, " and
you' l l be abl e t o t ake a t r ai n. "
She nodded, as i f she under st ood.
He di d not f ol l ow her as she descended t o t he gr ound. He l eaned acr oss t he
wheel t owar d t he open door of t he pl ane, and t hey l ooked at each ot her . She
st ood, her f ace r ai sed t o hi m, a f ai nt wi nd st i r r i ng her hai r , t he st r ai ght
l i ne of her shoul der s scul pt ur ed by t he t r i msui t of a busi ness execut i ve
ami dst t he f l at i mmensi t y of an empt y pr ai r i e.
The movement of hi s hand poi nt ed east , t owar d some i nvi si bl e ci t i es.
" Don' t l ook f or me out t her e, " he sai d. " You wi l l not f i nd meunt i l you
want me f or what I am. And when you' l l want me, I ' l l be t he easi est man t o
f i nd. "
She hear d t he sound of t he door f al l i ng cl osed upon hi m; i t seemed l ouder
t han t he bl ast of t he pr opel l er t hat f ol l owed. She wat ched t he r un of t he
pl ane' s wheel s and t he t r ai l of weeds l ef t f l at t ened behi nd t hem.
Then she saw a st r i p of sky bet ween wheel s and weeds.
She l ooked ar ound her . A r eddi sh haze of heat hung over t he shapes of t he
t own i n t he di st ance, and t he shapes seemed t o sag under a r ust y t i nge; above
t hei r r oof s, she saw t he r emnant of a cr umbl ed smokest ack. She saw a dr y,
yel l ow scr ap r ust l i ng f ai nt l y i n t he weeds besi de her : i t was a pi ece of
newspaper . She l ooked at t hese obj ect s bl ankl y, unabl e t o make t hemr eal .
She r ai sed her eyes t o t he pl ane. She wat ched t he spr ead of i t s wi ngs gr ow
smal l er i n t he sky, dr ai ni ng away i n i t s wake t he sound of i t s mot or . I t kept
r i si ng, wi ngs f i r st , l i ke a l ong si l ver cr oss; t hen t he cur ve of i t s mot i on
went f ol l owi ng t he sky, dr oppi ng sl owl y cl oser t o t he ear t h; t hen i t seemed
not t o move any l onger , but onl y t o shr i nk. She wat ched i t l i ke a st ar i n t he
pr ocess of ext i nct i on, whi l e i t shr ank f r omcr oss t o dot t o a bur ni ng spar k
whi ch she was no l onger cer t ai n of seei ng. When she saw t hat t he spr ead of
t he sky was st r ewn wi t h such spar ks al l over , she knew t hat t he pl ane was
gone.

CHAPTER III
ANTI-GREED

" What amI doi ng her e?" asked Dr . Rober t St adl er . " Why was I asked t o come
her e? I demand an expl anat i on. I ' mnot accust omed t o bei ng dr agged hal f way
acr oss a cont i nent wi t hout r hyme, r eason or not i ce. "
Dr , Fl oyd Fer r i s smi l ed. " Whi ch makes me appr eci at e i t al l t he mor e t hat
you di d come, Dr . St adl er . " I t was i mpossi bl e t o t el l whet her hi s voi ce had a
t one of gr at i t udeor of gl oat i ng.
The sun was beat i ng down upon t hemand Dr . St adl er f el t a st r eak of
per spi r at i on oozi ng al ong hi s t empl e. He coul d not hol d an angr i l y,
embar r assi ngl y pr i vat e di scussi on i n t he mi ddl e of a cr owd st r eami ng t o f i l l
t he benches of t he gr andst and ar ound t hemt he di scussi on whi ch he had t r i ed
and f ai l ed t o obt ai n f or t he l ast t hr ee days. I t occur r ed t o hi mt hat t hat
was pr eci sel y t he r eason why hi s meet i ng wi t h Dr . Fer r i s had been del ayed t o
t hi s moment ; but he br ushed t he t hought asi de, j ust as he br ushed some i nsect
buzzi ng t o r each hi s wet t empl e.
" Why was I unabl e t o get i n t ouch wi t h you?" he asked. The f r audul ent
weapon of sar casmnow seemed t o sound l ess ef f ect i ve t han ever , but i t was
Dr . St adl er ' s onl y weapon: " Why di d you f i nd i t necessar y t o send me messages
on of f i ci al st at i oner y wor ded i n a st yl e pr oper , I ' msur e, f or Ar my" or der s,
he was about t o say, but di dn' t " communi cat i ons, but cer t ai nl y not f or
sci ent i f i c cor r espondence?"
" I t i s a gover nment mat t er , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s gent l y.
" Do you r eal i ze t hat I was much t oo busy and t hat t hi s meant an
i nt er r upt i on of my wor k?"
" Oh yes, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s noncommi t t al l y.
" Do you r eal i ze t hat I coul d have r ef used t o come?"
" But you di dn' t , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s sof t l y.
" Why was I gi ven no expl anat i on? Why di dn' t you come f or me i n per son,
i nst ead of sendi ng t hose i ncr edi bl e young hool i gans wi t h t hei r myst er i ous
gi bber i sh t hat sounded hal f - sci ence, hal f - pul p- magazi ne?"
" I was t oo busy, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s bl andl y.
" Then woul d you mi nd t el l i ng me what you' r e doi ng i n t he mi ddl e of a pl ai n
i n I owaand what I ' mdoi ng her e, f or t hat mat t er ?" He waved cont empt uousl y at
t he dust y hor i zon of an empt y pr ai r i e and at t he t hr ee wooden gr andst ands.
The st ands wer e newl y er ect ed, and t he wood, t oo, seemed t o per spi r e; he
coul d see dr ops of r esi n spar kl i ng i n t he sun.
" We ar e about t o wi t ness an hi st or i cal event , Dr . St adl er . An occasi on
whi ch wi l l become a mi l est one on t he r oad of sci ence, ci vi l i zat i on, soci al
wel f ar e and pol i t i cal adapt abi l i t y. " Dr . Fer r i s' voi ce had t he t one of a
publ i c r el at i ons man' s memor i zed handout . " The t ur ni ng poi nt of a new er a. "
" What event ? What new er a?"
" As you wi l l obser ve, onl y t he most di st i ngui shed ci t i zens, t he cr eamof
our i nt el l ect ual el i t e, have been chosen f or t he speci al pr i vi l ege of
wi t nessi ng t hi s occasi on. We coul d not omi t your name, coul d we?and we f eel
cer t ai n, of cour se, t hat we can count on your l oyal t y and cooper at i on. "
He coul d not cat ch Dr . Fer r i s' eyes. The gr andst ands wer e r api dl y f i l l i ng
wi t h peopl e, and Dr . Fer r i s kept i nt er r upt i ng hi msel f const ant l y t o wave t o
nondescr i pt newcomer s, whomDr . St adl er had never seen bef or e, but who wer e
per sonages, as he coul d t el l by t he par t i cul ar shade of gai l y i nf or mal
def er ence i n Fer ns' wavi ng. They al l seemed t o know Dr . Fer r i s and t o seek
hi mout , as i f he wer e t he mast er of cer emoni es or t he st ar of t he occasi on.
" I f you woul d ki ndl y be speci f i c f or a moment , " sai d Dr . St adl er , " and
t el l me what "
" Hi , Spud! " cal l ed Dr . Fer r i s, wavi ng t o a por t l y, whi t e- hai r ed man who
f i l l ed t he f ul l - dr ess uni f or mof a gener al .
Dr . St adl er r ai sed hi s voi ce: " I sai d, i f you woul d ki ndl y concent r at e
l ong enough t o expl ai n t o me what i n hel l i s goi ng on"
" But i t ' s ver y si mpl e. I t ' s t he f i nal t r i umph of . . . You' l l have t o
excuse me a mi nut e, Dr . St adl er , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s hast i l y, t ear i ng f or war d,
l i ke an over t r ai ned l ackey at t he sound of a bel l , i n t he di r ect i on of what
l ooked l i ke a gr oup of agi ng r owdi es; he t ur ned back l ong enough t o add t wo
wor ds whi ch he seemed r ever ent l y t o consi der as a f ul l expl anat i on: " The
pr ess! "
Dr . St adl er sat down on t he wooden bench, f eel i ng unaccount abl y r el uct ant
t o br ush agai nst anyt hi ng ar ound hi m. The t hr ee gr andst ands wer e spaced at
i nt er val s i n a semi - cur ve, l i ke t he t i er s of a smal l , pr i vat e ci r cus, wi t h
r oomf or some t hr ee hundr ed peopl e; t hey seemed bui l t f or t he vi ewi ng of some
spect acl ebut t hey f aced t he empt i ness of a f l at pr ai r i e st r et chi ng of f t o
t he hor i zon, wi t h not hi ng i n si ght but t he dar k bl ot ch of a f ar mhouse mi l es
away.
Ther e wer e r adi o mi cr ophones i n f r ont of one st and, whi ch seemed r eser ved
f or t he pr ess. Ther e was a cont r apt i on r esembl i ng a por t abl e swi t chboar d i n
f r ont of t he st and r eser ved f or of f i ci al s; a f ew l ever s of pol i shed met al
spar kl ed i n t he sun on t he f ace of t he swi t chboar d. I n an i mpr ovi sed par ki ng
l ot behi nd t he st ands, t he gl i t t er of l uxur i ous new car s seemed a br i ght l y
r eassur i ng si ght . But i t was t he bui l di ng t hat st ood on a knol l some t housand
f eet away t hat gave Dr . St adl er a vague sense of uneasi ness. I t was a smal l ,
squat st r uct ur e of unknown pur pose, wi t h massi ve st one wal l s, no wi ndows
except a f ew sl i t s pr ot ect ed by st out i r on bar s, and a l ar ge dome,
gr ot esquel y t oo heavy f or t he r est , t hat seemed t o pr ess t he st r uct ur e down
i nt o t he soi l . A f ew out l et s pr ot r uded f r omt he base of t he dome, i n l oose,
i r r egul ar shapes, r esembl i ng badl y pour ed cl ay f unnel s; t hey di d not seemt o
bel ong t o an i ndust r i al age or t o any known usage. The bui l di ng had an ai r of
si l ent mal evol ence, l i ke a puf f ed, venomous mushr oom; i t was obvi ousl y
moder n, but i t s sl oppy, r ounded, i nept l y unspeci f i c l i nes made i t l ook l i ke a
pr i mi t i ve st r uct ur e unear t hed i n t he hear t of t he j ungl e, devot ed t o some
secr et r i t es of savager y.
Dr . St adl er si ghed wi t h i r r i t at i on; he was t i r ed of secr et s.
" Conf i dent i al " and " Top Conf i dent i al " had been t he wor ds st amped on t he
i nvi t at i on whi ch had demanded t hat he t r avel t o I owa on a t wo- day not i ce and
f or an unspeci f i ed pur pose. Two young men, who cal l ed t hemsel ves physi ci st s,
had appear ed at t he I nst i t ut e t o escor t hi m; hi s cal l s t o Fer r i s' of f i ce i n
Washi ngt on had r emai ned unanswer ed. The young men had t al kedt hr ough an
exhaust i ng t r i p by gover nment pl ane, t hen a cl ammy r i de i n a gover nment car
about sci ence, emer genci es, soci al equi l i br i ums and t he need of secr ecy, t i l l
he knew l ess t han he had known at t he st ar t ; he not i ced onl y t hat t wo wor ds
kept r ecur r i ng i n t hei r j abber , whi ch had al so appear ed i n t he t ext of t he
i nvi t at i on, t wo wor ds t hat had an omi nous sound when i nvol vi ng an unknown
i ssue: t he demands f or hi s " l oyal t y" and " co- oper at i on. "
The young men had deposi t ed hi mon a bench i n t he f r ont r ow of t he
gr andst and and had vani shed, l i ke t he f ol di ng gear of a mechani sm, l eavi ng
hi mt o t he sudden pr esence of Dr . Fer r i s i n per son. Now, wat chi ng t he scene
ar ound hi m, wat chi ng Dr . Fer r i s' vague, exci t ed, l oosel y casual gest ur es i n
t he mi dst of a gr oup of newsmen, he had an i mpr essi on of bewi l der i ng
conf usi on, of sensel ess, chaot i c i nef f i ci encyand of a smoot h machi ne wor ki ng
t o pr oduce t he exact degr ee of t hat i mpr essi on needed at t he exact moment .
He f el t a si ngl e, sudden f l ash of pani c, i n whi ch, as i n a f l ash of
l i ght ni ng, he per mi t t ed hi msel f t o know t hat he f el t a desper at e desi r e t o
escape. But he sl ammed hi s mi nd shut agai nst i t . He knew t hat t he dar kest
secr et of t he occasi onmor e cr uci al , mor e unt ouchabl e, mor e deadl y t han
what ever was hi dden i n t he mushr oombui l di ngwas t hat whi ch had made hi m
agr ee t o come.
He woul d never have t o l ear n hi s own mot i ve, he t hought ; he t hought i t ,
not by means of wor ds, but by means of t he br i ef , vi ci ous spasmof an emot i on
t hat r esembl ed i r r i t at i on and f el t l i ke aci d. The wor ds t hat st ood i n hi s
mi nd, as t hey had st ood when he had agr eed t o come, wer e l i ke a voodoo
f or mul a whi ch one r eci t es when i t i s needed and beyond whi ch one must not
l ook: What can you do when you have t o deal wi t h peopl e?
He not i ced t hat t he st and r eser ved f or t hose whomFer r i s had cal l ed t he
i nt el l ect ual el i t e was l ar ger t han t he st and pr epar ed f or gover nment
of f i ci al s. He caught hi msel f f eel i ng a swi f t l i t t l e sneak of pl easur e at t he
t hought t hat he had been pl aced i n t he f r ont r ow. He t ur ned t o gl ance at t he
t i er s behi nd hi m. The sensat i on he exper i enced was l i ke a smal l , gr ay shock:
t hat r andom, f aded, shopwor n assembl y was not hi s concept i on of an
i nt el l ect ual el i t e. He saw def ensi vel y bel l i ger ent men and t ast el essl y
dr essed womenhe saw mean, r ancor ous, suspi ci ous f aces t hat bor e t he one mar k
i ncompat i bl e wi t h a st andar d bear er of t he i nt el l ect : t he mar k of
uncer t ai nt y. He coul d f i nd no f ace he knew, no f ace t o r ecogni ze as f amous
and none l i kel y ever t o achi eve such r ecogni t i on.
He wonder ed by what st andar d t hese peopl e had been sel ect ed.
Then he not i ced a gangl i ng f i gur e i n t he second r ow, t he f i gur e of an
el der l y man wi t h a l ong, sl ack f ace t hat seemed f ai nt l y f ami l i ar t o hi m,
t hough he coul d r ecal l not hi ng about i t , except a vague' memor y, as of a
phot ogr aph seen i n some unsavor y publ i cat i on. He l eaned t owar d a woman and
asked, poi nt i ng, " Coul d you t el l me. t he name of t hat gent l eman?" The woman
answer ed i n a whi sper of awed r espect , " That i s Dr . Si mon Pr i t chet t ! " Dr .
St adl er t ur ned away, wi shi ng no one woul d see hi m, wi shi ng no one woul d ever
l ear n t hat he had been a member of t hat gr oup.
He r ai sed hi s eyes and saw t hat Fer r i s was l eadi ng t he whol e pr ess gang
t owar d hi m. He saw Fer r i s sweepi ng hi s ar mat hi m, i n t he manner of a t our i st
gui de, and decl ar i ng, when t hey wer e cl ose enough t o be hear d, " But why
shoul d you wast e your t i me on me, when t her e i s t he sour ce of t oday' s
achi evement , t he man who made i t al l possi bl e
Dr . Rober t St adl er ! "
I t seemed t o hi mf or an i nst ant t hat he saw an i ncongr uous l ook on t he
wor n, cyni cal f aces of t he newsmen, a l ook t hat was not qui t e r espect ,
expect at i on or hope, but mor e l i ke an echo of t hese, l i ke a f ai nt r ef l ect i on
of t he l ook t hey mi ght have wor n i n t hei r yout h on hear i ng t he name of Rober t
St adl er . I n t hat i nst ant , he f el t an i mpul se whi ch he woul d not acknowl edge:
t he i mpul se t o t el l t hemt hat he knew not hi ng about t oday' s event , t hat hi s
power count ed f or l ess t han t hei r s, t hat he had been br ought her e as a pawn
i n some conf i dence game, al most as . . . as a pr i soner .
I nst ead, he hear d hi msel f answer i ng t hei r quest i ons i n t he smug,
condescendi ng t one of a man who shar es al l t he secr et s of t he hi ghest
aut hor i t i es: " Yes, t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e i s pr oud of i t s r ecor d of
publ i c ser vi ce. . . . The St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e i s not t he t ool of any
pr i vat e i nt er est s or per sonal gr eed, i t i s devot ed t o t he wel f ar e of manki nd,
t o t he good of humani t y as a whol e" spout i ng, l i ke a di ct aphone, t he
si ckeni ng gener al i t i es he had hear d f r omDr . Fer ns.
He woul d not per mi t hi msel f t o know t hat what he f el t was sel f l oat hi ng;
he i dent i f i ed t he emot i on, but not i t s obj ect ; i t was l oat hi ng f or t he men
ar ound hi m, he t hought ; i t was t hey who wer e f or ci ng hi mt o go t hr ough t hi s
shamef ul per f or mance. What can you dohe t hought
when you have t o deal wi t h peopl e?
The newsmen wer e maki ng br i ef not es of hi s answer s. Thei r f aces now had
t he l ook of aut omat ons act i ng out t he r out i ne of pr et endi ng t hat t hey wer e
hear i ng news i n t he empt y ut t er ances of anot her aut omat on.
" Dr . St adl er , " asked one of t hem, poi nt i ng at t he bui l di ng on t he knol l ,
" i s i t t r ue t hat you consi der Pr oj ect X t he gr eat est achi evement of t he St at e
Sci ence I nst i t ut e?"
Ther e was a dead dr op of si l ence.
" Pr oj ect . . . X . . . ?" sai d Dr . St adl er .
He knew t hat somet hi ng was omi nousl y wr ong i n t he t one of hi s voi ce,
because he saw t he heads of t he newsmen go up, as at t he sound of an al ar m;
he saw t hemwai t i ng, t hei r penci l s poi sed.
For one i nst ant , whi l e he f el t t he muscl es of hi s f ace cr acki ng i nt o t he
f r aud of a smi l e, he f el t a f or ml ess, an al most super nat ur al t er r or , as i f he
sensed agai n t he si l ent wor ki ng of some smoot h machi ne, as i f he wer e caught
i n i t , par t of i t and doi ng i t s i r r evocabl e wi l l . " Pr oj ect X?" he sai d
sof t l y, i n t he myst er i ous t one of a conspi r at or . " Wel l , gent l emen, t he val ue
and t he mot i veof any achi evement of t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e ar e not t o
be doubt ed, si nce i t i s a non- pr of i t vent ur eneed I say mor e?"
He r ai sed hi s head and not i ced t hat Dr . Fer r i s had st ood on t he edge of
t he gr oup t hr ough t he whol e of t he i nt er vi ew. He wonder ed whet her he i magi ned
t hat t he l ook on Dr . Fer r i s' f ace now seemed l ess t enseand mor e i mper t i nent .
Two r espl endent car s came shoot i ng at f ul l speed i nt o t he par ki ng l ot and
st opped wi t h a f l our i sh of scr eechi ng br akes. The newsmen deser t ed hi mi n t he
mi ddl e of a sent ence and went r unni ng t o meet t he gr oup al i ght i ng f r omt he
car s.
Dr . St adl er t ur ned t o Fer r i s. " What i s Pr oj ect X?" he asked st er nl y.
Dr . Fer r i s smi l ed i n a manner of i nnocence and i nsol ence t oget her .
" A non- pr of i t vent ur e, " he answer edand went r unni ng of f t o meet t he
newcomer s.
Fr omt he r espect f ul whi sper s of t he cr owd, Dr . St adl er l ear ned t hat t he
l i t t l e man i n a wi l t ed l i nen sui t , who l ooked l i ke a shyst er , st r i di ng
br i skl y i n t he cent er of t he new gr oup, was Mr . Thompson, t he Head of t he
St at e. Mr . Thompson was smi l i ng, f r owni ng and bar ki ng answer s t o t he newsmen.
Dr . Fer r i s was weavi ng t hr ough t he gr oup, wi t h t he gr ace of a cat r ubbi ng
agai nst sundr y l egs.
The gr oup came cl oser and he saw Fer r i s st eer i ng t hemi n hi s di r ect i on.
" Mr . Thompson, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s sonor ousl y, as t hey appr oached, " may I
pr esent Dr . Rober t St adl er ?"
Dr . St adl er saw t he l i t t l e shyst er ' s eyes st udyi ng hi mf or t he f r act i on of
a second: t he eyes had a t ouch of super st i t i ous awe, as at t he si ght of a
phenomenon f r oma myst i cal r eal mf or ever i ncompr ehensi bl e t o Mr . Thompsonand
t hey had t he pi er ci ng, cal cul at i ng shr ewdness of a war d heel er who f eel s
cer t ai n t hat not hi ng i s i mmune f r omhi s st andar ds, a gl ance l i ke t he vi sual
equi val ent of t he wor ds: What ' s your angl e?
" I t ' s an honor , Doct or , an honor , I ' msur e, " sai d Mr . Thompson br i skl y,
shaki ng hi s hand.
He l ear ned t hat t he t al l , st oop- shoul der ed man wi t h a cr ew hai r cut was Mr .
Wesl ey Mouch. He di d not cat ch t he names of t he ot her s, whose hands he shook.
As t he gr oup pr oceeded t owar d t he of f i ci al s'
gr andst and, he was l ef t wi t h t he bur ni ng sensat i on of a di scover y he dar ed
not f ace: t he di scover y t hat he had f el t anxi ousl y pl eased by t he l i t t l e
shyst er ' s nod of appr oval .
A par t y of young at t endant s, who l ooked l i ke movi e t heat er usher s,
appear ed- f r om, somewher e wi t h handcar t s of gl i t t er i ng obj ect s, whi ch t hey
pr oceeded t o di st r i but e t o t he assembl y. The obj ect s wer e f i el d gl asses. Dr .
Fer ns t ook hi s pl ace at t he mi cr ophone of a publ i c- addr ess syst emby t he
of f i ci al s' st and. At a si gnal f r omWesl ey Mouch, hi s voi ce boomed suddenl y
over t he pr ai r i e, an unct uous, f r audul ent l y sol emn voi ce magni f i ed by t he
mi cr ophone i nvent or ' s i ngenui t y i nt o t he sound and power of a gi ant : " Ladi es
and gent l emen . . . ! "
The cr owd was st r uck i nt o si l ence, al l heads j er ki ng unani mousl y t owar d
t he gr acef ul f i gur e of Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s.
" Ladi es and gent l emen, you have been choseni n r ecogni t i on of your
di st i ngui shed publ i c ser vi ce and soci al l oyal t yt o wi t ness t he unvei l i ng of a
sci ent i f i c achi evement of such t r emendous i mpor t ance, such st agger i ng scope,
such epoch- maki ng possi bi l i t i es t hat up t o t hi s moment i t has been known onl y
t o a ver y f ew and onl y as Pr oj ect X. "
Dr . St adl er f ocused hi s f i el d gl asses on t he onl y t hi ng i n si ght on t he
bl ot ch of t he di st ant f ar m.
He saw t hat i t was t he deser t ed r ui n of a f ar mhouse, whi ch had obvi ousl y
been abandoned year s ago. The l i ght of t he sky showed t hr ough t he naked r i bs
of t he r oof , and j agged bi t s of gl ass f r amed t he dar kness of empt y wi ndows.
He saw a saggi ng bar n, t he r ust ed t ower of a wat er wheel , and t he r emnant of
a t r act or l yi ng upt ur ned wi t h i t s t r eads i n t he ai r .
Dr . Fer r i s was t al ki ng about t he cr usader s of sci ence and about t he year s
of sel f l ess devot i on, unr emi t t i ng t oi l and per sever i ng r esear ch t hat had gone
i nt o Pr oj ect X.
I t was oddt hought Dr . St adl er , st udyi ng t he r ui ns of t he f ar m
t hat t her e shoul d be a her d of goat s i n t he mi dst of such desol at i on.
Ther e wer e si x or seven of t hem, some dr owsi ng, some munchi ng
l et har gi cal l y at what ever gr ass t hey coul d f i nd among t he sun- scor ched weeds.
" Pr oj ect X, " Dr . Fer r i s was sayi ng, " was devot ed t o some speci al r esear ch
i n t he f i el d of sound. The sci ence of sound has ast oni shi ng aspect s, whi ch
l aymen woul d scar cel y suspect . . . . "
Some f i f t y f eet away f r omt he f ar mhouse, Dr . St adl er saw a st r uct ur e,
obvi ousl y new and of no possi bl e pur pose what ever : i t l ooked l i ke a f ew spans
of a st eel t r est l e, r i si ng i nt o empt y space, suppor t i ng not hi ng, l eadi ng
nowher e.
Dr . Fer r i s was now t al ki ng about t he nat ur e of sound vi br at i ons.
Dr . St adl er ai med hi s f i el d gl asses at t he hor i zon beyond t he f ar m, but
t her e was not hi ng el se t o be seen f or dozens of mi l es. The sudden, st r ai ni ng
mot i on of one of t he goat s br ought hi s eyes back t o t he her d.
He not i ced t hat t he goat s wer e chai ned t o st akes dr i ven at i nt er val s i nt o
t he gr ound.
" . . . And i t was di scover ed, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, " t hat t her e ar e cer t ai n
f r equenci es of sound vi br at i on whi ch no st r uct ur e, or gani c or i nor gani c, can
wi t hst and. . . . "
Dr . St adl er not i ced a si l ver y spot bounci ng over t he weeds among t he her d.
I t was a ki d t hat had not been chai ned; i t kept l eapi ng and weavi ng about i t s
mot her .
" . . . The sound r ay i s cont r ol l ed by a panel i nsi de t he gi ant under gr ound
l abor at or y, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, poi nt i ng at t he bui l di ng on t he knol l . " That
panel i s known t o us af f ect i onat el y as t he ' Xyl ophone'
because one must be dar n car ef ul t o st r i ke t he r i ght keys, or , r at her , t o
pul l t he r i ght l ever s. For t hi s speci al occasi on, an ext ensi on Xyl ophone,
connect ed t o t he one i nsi de, has been er ect ed her e" he poi nt ed t o t he
swi t chboar d i n f r ont of t he of f i ci al s1 st and" so t hat you may wi t ness t he
ent i r e oper at i on and see t he si mpl i ci t y of t he whol e pr ocedur e. . . . "
Dr . St adl er f ound pl easur e i n wat chi ng t he ki d, a soot hi ng, r eassur i ng
ki nd of pl easur e. The l i t t l e cr eat ur e seemed bar el y a week ol d, i t l ooked
l i ke a bal l of whi t e f ur wi t h gr acef ul l ong l egs, i t kept boundi ng i n a
manner of del i ber at e, gai l y f er oci ous awkwar dness, al l f our of i t s l egs hel d
st i f f and st r ai ght . I t seemed t o be l eapi ng at t he sunr ays, at t he summer
ai r , at t he j oy of di scover i ng i t s own exi st ence.
" . . . The sound r ay i s i nvi si bl e, i naudi bl e and f ul l y cont r ol l abl e i n
r espect t o t ar get , di r ect i on and r ange. I t s f i r st publ i c t est , whi ch you ar e
about t o wi t ness, has been set t o cover a smal l sect or , a mer e t wo mi l es, i n
per f ect saf et y, wi t h al l space cl ear ed f or t went y mi l es beyond. The pr esent
gener at i ng equi pment i n our l abor at or y i s capabl e of pr oduci ng r ays t o cover
t hr ough t he out l et s whi ch you may obser ve under t he domet he ent i r e
count r ysi de wi t hi n a r adi us of a hundr ed mi l es, a ci r cl e wi t h a per i pher y
ext endi ng f r omt he shor e of t he Mi ssi ssi ppi , r oughl y f r omt he br i dge of t he
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al Rai l r oad, t o Des Moi nes and For t Dodge, I owa, t o
Aust i n, Mi nnesot a, t o Woodman, Wi sconsi n, t o Rock I sl and, I l l i noi s. Thi s i s
onl y a modest begi nni ng. We possess t he t echni cal knowl edge t o bui l d
gener at or s wi t h a r ange of t wo and t hr ee hundr ed mi l esbut due t o t he f act
t hat we wer e unabl e t o obt ai n i n t i me a suf f i ci ent quant i t y of a hi ghl y heat
r esi st ant met al , such as Rear den Met al , we had t o be sat i sf i ed wi t h our
pr esent equi pment and r adi us of cont r ol . I n honor of our gr eat execut i ve, Mr .
Thompson, under whose f ar - si ght ed admi ni st r at i on t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e
was gr ant ed t he f unds wi t hout whi ch Pr oj ect X woul d not have been possi bl e,
t hi s gr eat i nvent i on wi l l hencef or t h be known as t he Thompson Har moni zer ! "
The cr owd appl auded. Mr . Thompson sat mot i onl ess, wi t h hi s f ace hel d sel f -
consci ousl y st i f f . Dr . St adl er f el t cer t ai n t hat t hi s smal l - t i me shyst er had
had as l i t t l e t o do wi t h t he Pr oj ect as any of t he movi e usher at t endant s,
t hat he possessed nei t her t he mi nd nor t he i ni t i at i ve nor even t he suf f i ci ent
degr ee of mal i ce t o cause a new gopher t r ap t o be br ought i nt o t he wor l d,
t hat he, t oo, was onl y t he pawn of a si l ent machi nea machi ne t hat had no
cent er , no l eader , no di r ect i on, a machi ne t hat had not been set i n mot i on by
Dr . Fer r i s or Wesl ey Mouch, or any of t he cowed cr eat ur es i n t he gr andst ands,
or any of t he cr eat ur es behi nd t he scenesan i mper sonal , unt hi nki ng,
unembodi ed machi ne, of whi ch none was t he dr i ver and al l wer e t he pawns, each
t o t he degr ee of hi s evi l . Dr . St adl er gr i pped t he edge of t he bench: he f el t
a desi r e t o l eap t o hi s f eet and r un.
" . . . As t o t he f unct i on and t he pur pose of t he sound r ay, I shal l say
not hi ng. I shal l l et i t speak f or i t sel f . You wi l l now see i t wor k.
When Dr . Bl odget t pul l s t he l ever s of t he Xyl ophone, I suggest t hat you
keep your eyes on t he t ar get whi ch i s t hat f ar mhouse t wo mi l es away. Ther e
wi l l be not hi ng el se t o see. The r ay i t sel f i s i nvi si bl e. I t has l ong been
conceded by al l pr ogr essi ve t hi nker s t hat t her e ar e no ent i t i es, onl y
act i onsand no val ues, onl y consequences. Now, l adi es and gent l emen, you wi l l
see t he act i on and t he consequences of t he Thompson Har moni zer . "
Dr . Fer r i s bowed, wal ked sl owl y away f r omt he mi cr ophone and came t o t ake
hi s seat on t he bench besi de Dr . St adl er .
A youngi sh, f at t i sh ki nd of man t ook hi s st and by t he swi t chboar d
and r ai sed hi s eyes expect ant l y t owar d Mr . Thompson. Mr . Thompson l ooked
bl ankl y bewi l der ed f or an i nst ant , as i f somet hi ng had sl i pped hi s mi nd,
unt i l Wesl ey Mouch l eaned over and whi sper ed some wor d i nt o hi s ear .
" Cont act ! " sai d Mr . Thompson l oudl y.
Dr . St adl er coul d not bear t o wat ch t he gr acef ul , undul at i ng, ef f emi nat e
mot i on of Dr . Bl odget t ' s hand as i t pul l ed t he f i r st l ever of t he
swi t chboar d, t hen t he next . He r ai sed hi s f i el d gl asses and l ooked at t he
f ar mhouse.
I n t he i nst ant when he f ocused hi s l ens, a goat was pul l i ng at i t s chai n,
r eachi ng pl aci dl y f or a t al l , dr y t hi st l e. I n t he next i nst ant , t he goat r ose
i nt o t he ai r , upt ur ned, i t s l egs st r et ched upwar d and j er ki ng, t hen f el l i nt o
a gr ay pi l e made of seven goat s i n convul si ons. By t he t i me Dr . St adl er
bel i eved i t , t he pi l e was mot i onl ess, except f or one beast ' s l eg st i cki ng out
of t he mass, st i f f as a r od and shaki ng as i n a st r ong wi nd. The f ar mhouse
t or e i nt o st r i ps of cl apboar d and went down, f ol l owed by a geyser of t he
br i cks of i t s chi mney. The t r act or vani shed i nt o a pancake. The wat er t ower
cr acked and i t s shr eds hi t t he gr ound whi t e i t s wheel was st i l l descr i bi ng a
l ong cur ve t hr ough t he ai r , as i f of i t s own l ei sur el y vol i t i on. The st eel
beams and gi r der s of t he sol i d new t r est l e col l apsed l i ke a st r uct ur e of
mat chst i cks under t he br eat h of a si gh. I t was so swi f t , so uncont est ed, so
si mpl e, t hat Dr .
St adl er f el t no hor r or , he f el t not hi ng, i t was not t he r eal i t y he had
known, i t was t he r eal mof a chi l d' s ni ght mar e wher e mat er i al obj ect s coul d
be di ssol ved by means of a si ngl e mal evol ent wi sh.
He moved t he f i el d gl asses f r omhi s eyes. He was l ooki ng at an empt y
pr ai r i e. Ther e was no f ar m, t her e was not hi ng i n t he di st ance except a
dar ki sh st r i p t hat l ooked l i ke t he shadow of a cl oud.
A si ngl e, hi gh, t hi n scr eamr ose f r omt he t i er s behi nd hi m, as some woman
f ai nt ed. He wonder ed why she shoul d scr eamso l ong af t er t he f act - and t hen he
r eal i zed t hat t he t i me el apsed si nce t he t ouch of t he f i r st l ever was not a
f ul l mi nut e.
He r ai sed hi s f i el d gl asses agai n, al most as i f he wer e suddenl y hopi ng
t hat t he cl oud shadow woul d be al l he woul d see. But t he mat er i al obj ect s
wer e st i l l t her e; t hey wer e a mount of r ef use. He moved hi s gl asses over t he
wr eckage; i n a moment , he r eal i zed t hat he was l ooki ng f or t he ki d. He coul d
not f i nd i t ; t her e was not hi ng but a pi l e of gr ay f ur .
When he l ower ed t he gl asses and t ur ned, he f ound Dr . Fer ns l ooki ng at hi m.
He f el t cer t ai n t hat t hr ough t he whol e of t he t est , i t was not t he t ar get , i t
was hi s f ace t hat Fer r i s had wat ched, as i f t o see whet her he, Rober t
St adl er , coul d wi t hst and t he r ay.
" That ' s al l t her e i s t o i t , " t he f at t i sh Dr . Bl odget t announced t hr ough
t he mi cr ophone, i n t he i ngr at i at i ng sal es t one of a depar t ment - st or e
f l oor wal ker . " Ther e i s no nai l or r i vet r emai ni ng i n t he f r ame of t he
st r uct ur es and t her e i s no bl ood vessel l ef t unbr oken i n t he bodi es of t he
ani mal s. "
The cr owd was r ust l i ng wi t h j er ky movement s and hi gh- pi t ched whi sper s.
Peopl e wer e l ooki ng at one anot her , r i si ng uncer t ai nl y and dr oppi ng down
agai n, r est l essl y demandi ng anyt hi ng but t hi s pause. Ther e was a sound of
submer ged hyst er i a i n t he whi sper s. They seemed t o be wai t i ng t o be t ol d what
t o t hi nk.
Dr . St adl er saw a woman bei ng escor t ed down t he st eps f r omt he back r ow,
her head bent , a handker chi ef pr essed t o her mout h: she was si ck at her
st omach.
He t ur ned away and saw t hat Dr . Fer r i s was st i l l wat chi ng hi m. Dr .
St adl er l eaned back a l i t t l e, hi s f ace aust er e and scor nf ul , t he f ace of
t he nat i on' s gr eat est sci ent i st , and asked, " Who i nvent ed t hat ghast l y
t hi ng?"
" You di d. "
Dr . St adl er l ooked at hi m, not movi ng.
" I t i s mer el y a pr act i cal appl i ance, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s pl easant l y, " based
upon your t heor et i cal di scover i es. I t was der i ved f r omyour i nval uabl e
r esear ch i nt o t he nat ur e of cosmi c r ays and of t he spat i al t r ansmi ssi on of
ener gy. "
" Who wor ked on t he Pr oj ect ?"
" A f ew t hi r d- r at er s, as you woul d cal l t hem. Real l y, t her e was ver y l i t t l e
di f f i cul t y. None of t hemcoul d have begun t o concei ve of t he f i r st st ep
t owar d t he concept of your ener gy- t r ansmi ssi on f or mul a, but gi ven t hat t he
r est was easy. "
" What i s t he pr act i cal pur pose of t hi s i nvent i on? What ar e t he ' epoch-
maki ng possi bi l i t i es' ?"
" Oh, but don' t you see? I t i s an i nval uabl e i nst r ument of publ i c secur i t y.
No enemy woul d at t ack t he possessor of such a weapon. I t wi l l set t he count r y
f r ee f r omt he f ear of aggr essi on and per mi t i t t o pl an i t s f ut ur e i n
undi st ur bed saf et y. " Hi s voi ce had an odd car el essness, a t one of of f hand
i mpr ovi sat i on, as i f he wer e nei t her expect i ng nor at t empt i ng t o be bel i eved.
" I t wi l l r el i eve soci al f r i ct i ons. I t wi l l pr omot e peace, st abi l i t y andas we
have i ndi cat edhar mony. I t wi l l el i mi nat e al l danger of war . "
" What war ? What aggr essi on? Wi t h t he whol e wor l d st ar vi ng and al l t hose
Peopl e' s St at es bar el y subsi st i ng on handout s f r omt hi s count r ywher e do you
see any danger of war ? Do you expect t hose r agged savages t o at t ack you?"
Dr . Fer r i s l ooked st r ai ght i nt o hi s eyes. " I nt er nal enemi es can be as
gr eat a danger t o t he peopl e as ext er nal ones, " he answer ed. " Per haps
gr eat er . " Thi s t i me hi s voi ce sounded as i f he expect ed and was cer t ai n t o be
under st ood. " Soci al syst ems ar e so pr ecar i ous. But t hi nk of what st abi l i t y
coul d be achi eved by a f ew sci ent i f i c i nst al l at i ons at st r at egi c key poi nt s.
I t woul d guar ant ee a st at e of per manent peacedon' t you t hi nk so?"
Dr . St adl er di d not move or answer ; as t he seconds cl i cked past and hi s
f ace st i l l hel d an unchanged expr essi on, i t began t o l ook par al yzed.
Hi s eyes had t he st ar e of a man who suddenl y sees t hat whi ch he had known,
had known f r omt he f i r st , had spent year s t r yi ng not t o see, and who i s now
engaged i n a cont est bet ween t he si ght and hi s power t o deny i t s exi st ence.
" I don' t know what you' r e t al ki ng about ! " he snapped at l ast .
Dr . Fer r i s smi l ed. " No pr i vat e busi nessman or gr eedy i ndust r i al i st woul d
have f i nanced Pr oj ect X, " he sai d sof t l y, i n t he t one of an i dl e, i nf or mal
di scussi on. " He coul dn' t have af f or ded i t . I t ' s an enor mous i nvest ment , wi t h
no pr ospect of mat er i al gai n. What pr of i t coul d he expect f r omi t ? Ther e ar e
no pr of i t s hencef or t h t o be der i ved f r omt hat f ar m. " He poi nt ed at t he dar k
st r i p i n t he di st ance. " But , as you have so wel l obser ved, Pr oj ect X had t o
be a non- pr of i t vent ur e. Cont r ar y t o a busi ness f i r m, t he St at e Sci ence
I nst i t ut e had no t r oubl e i n obt ai ni ng f unds f or t he Pr oj ect . You have not
hear d of t he I nst i t ut e havi ng any f i nanci al di f f i cul t i es i n t he past t wo
year s, have you? And i t used t o be such a pr obl emget t i ng t hemt o vot e t he
f unds necessar y f or t he advancement of sci ence. They al ways demanded gadget s
f or t hei r cash, as you used t o say. Wel l , her e was a gadget whi ch some peopl e
i n power coul d f ul l y appr eci at e. They got t he ot her s t o vot e f or i t . I t
wasn' t di f f i cul t . I n f act , a gr eat many of t hose ot her s f el t saf e i n vot i ng
money f or a pr oj ect t hat was secr et t hey f el t cer t ai n i t was i mpor t ant , si nce
t hey wer e not consi der ed i mpor t ant enough t o be l et i n on i t .
Ther e wer e, of cour se, a f ew skept i cs and doubt er s. But t hey gave i n when
t hey wer e r emi nded t hat t he head of t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e was Dr .
Rober t St adl er whose j udgment and i nt egr i t y t hey coul d not doubt . "
Dr . St adl er was l ooki ng down at hi s f i nger nai l s.
The sudden scr eech of t he mi cr ophone j er ked t he cr owd i nt o an
i nst ant aneous at t ent i veness; peopl e seemed t o be a second' s wor t h of sel f -
cont r ol away f r ompani c. An announcer , wi t h a voi ce l i ke a machi ne gun
spi t t i ng smi l es, bar ked cheer i l y t hat t hey wer e now t o wi t ness t he r adi o
br oadcast t hat woul d br eak t he news of t he gr eat di scover y t o t he whol e
nat i on. Then, wi t h a gl ance at hi s wat ch, hi s scr i pt and t he si gnal i ng ar mof
Wesl ey Mouch, he yel l ed i nt o t he spar kl i ng snake- head of t he mi cr ophonei nt o
t he l i vi ng r ooms, t he of f i ces, t he st udi es, t he nur ser i es of t he count r y:
" Ladi es and gent l emen! Pr oj ect X! "
Dr . Fer r i s l eaned t owar d Dr . St adl er t hr ough t he st accat o hoof beat s of
t he announcer ' s voi ce gal l opi ng acr oss t he cont i nent wi t h a descr i pt i on of
t he new i nvent i onand sai d i n t he t one of a casual r emar k, " I t i s vi t al l y
i mpor t ant t hat t her e be no cr i t i ci smof t he Pr oj ect i n t he count r y at t hi s
pr ecar i ous t i me, " t hen added semi - acci dent al l y, as a semi - j oke, " t hat t her e
be no cr i t i ci smof anyt hi ng at any t i me. "
" and t he nat i on' s pol i t i cal , cul t ur al , i nt el l ect ual and mor al l eader s, "
t he announcer was yel l i ng i nt o t he mi cr ophone, " who have wi t nessed t hi s gr eat
event , as your r epr esent at i ves and i n your name, wi l l now t el l you t hei r
vi ews of i t i n per son! "
Mr . Thompson was t he f i r st t o mount t he wooden st eps t o t he pl at f or mof
t he mi cr ophone. He snapped hi s way t hr ough a br i ef speech, hai l i ng a new er a
and decl ar i ngi n t he bel l i ger ent t one of a chal l enge t o uni dent i f i ed enemi es
t hat sci ence bel onged t o t he peopl e and t hat ever y man on t he f ace of t he
gl obe had a r i ght t o a shar e of t he advant ages cr eat ed by t echnol ogi cal
pr ogr ess.
Wesl ey Mouch came next . He spoke about soci al pl anni ng and t he necessi t y
of unani mous r al l yi ng i n suppor t of t he pl anner s. He spoke about di sci pl i ne,
uni t y, aust er i t y and t he pat r i ot i c dut y of bear i ng t empor ar y har dshi ps. " We
have mobi l i zed t he best br ai ns of t he count r y t o wor k f or your wel f ar e. Thi s
gr eat i nvent i on was t he pr oduct of t he geni us of a man whose devot i on t o t he
cause of humani t y i s not t o be quest i oned, a man acknowl edged by al l as t he
gr eat est mi nd of t he cent ur yDr . Rober t St adl er ! "
" What ?" gasped Dr . St adl er , whi r l i ng t owar d Fer r i s.
Dr . Fer r i s l ooked at hi mwi t h a gl ance of pat i ent mi l dness.
" He di dn' t ask my per mi ssi on t o say t hat ! " Dr . St adl er hal f - snapped, hal f -
whi sper ed.
Dr . Fer r i s spr ead out hi s hands i n a gest ur e of r epr oachf ul hel pl essness.
" Now you see, Dr . St adl er , how unf or t unat e i t i s i f you al l ow your sel f t o be
di st ur bed by pol i t i cal mat t er s, whi ch you have al ways consi der ed unwor t hy of
your at t ent i on and knowl edge. You see, i t i s not Mr . Mouch' s f unct i on t o ask
per mi ssi ons. "
The f i gur e now sl ouchi ng agai nst t he sky on t he speaker s pl at f or m, coi l i ng
i t sel f about t he mi cr ophone, t al ki ng i n t he bor ed, cont empt uous t one of an
of f - col or st or y, was Dr . Si mon Pr i t chet t . He was decl ar i ng t hat t he new
i nvent i on was an i nst r ument of soci al wel f ar e, whi ch guar ant eed gener al
pr osper i t y, and t hat anyone who doubt ed t hi s sel f evi dent f act was an enemy
of soci et y, t o be t r eat ed accor di ngl y.
" Thi s i nvent i on, t he pr oduct of Dr . Rober t St adl er , t he pr e- emi nent l over
of f r eedom"
Dr . Fer r i s opened a br i ef case, pr oduced some pages of neat l y t yped copy
and t ur ned t o Dr . St adl er . " You ar e t o be t he cl i max of t he br oadcast , " he
sai d. " You wi l l speak l ast , at t he end of t he hour . " He ext ended t he pages.
" Her e' s t he speech you' l l make, " Hi s eyes sai d t he r est : t hey sai d t hat hi s
choi ce of wor ds had not been acci dent al .
Dr . St adl er t ook t he pages, but hel d t hembet ween t he t i ps of t wo st r ai ght
f i nger s, as one mi ght hol d a scr ap of wast e paper about t o be t ossed asi de.
" I haven' t asked you t o appoi nt your sel f as my ghost wr i t er , " he sai d. The
sar casmof t he voi ce gave Fer r i s hi s cl ue: t hi s was not a moment f or sar casm.
" I coul dn' t have al l owed your i nval uabl e t i me t o be t aken up by t he
wr i t i ng of r adi o speeches, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " I f el t cer t ai n t hat you woul d
appr eci at e i t . " He sai d i t i n a t one of spur i ous pol i t eness i nt ended t o be
r ecogni zed as spur i ous, t he t one of t ossi ng t o a beggar t he al ms of f ace-
savi ng.
Dr . St adl er ' s answer di st ur bed hi m: Dr . St adl er di d not choose t o answer
or t o gl ance down at t he manuscr i pt .
" Lack of f ai t h, " a beef y speaker was snar l i ng on t he pl at f or m, i n t he t one
of a st r eet br awl , " l ack of f ai t h i s t he onl y t hi ng we got t o f ear ! I f we
4i ave f ai t h i n t he pl ans of our l eader s, why, t he pl ans wi l l wor k and we' l l
al l have pr osper i t y and ease and pl ent y. I t ' s t he f el l ows who go ar ound
doubt i ng and dest r oyi ng our mor al e, i t ' s t hey who' r e keepi ng us i n shor t ages
and mi ser y. But we' r e not goi ng t o l et t hemdo i t much l onger , we' r e her e t o
pr ot ect t he peopl eand i f any of t hose doubt i ng smar t i es come ar ound, bel i eve
you me, we' l l t ake car e of t hem! "
" I t woul d be unf or t unat e, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s i n a sof t voi ce, " t o ar ouse
popul ar r esent ment agai nst t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e at an expl osi ve t i me
l i ke t he pr esent . Ther e' s a gr eat deal of di ssat i sf act i on and unr est i n t he
count r yand i f peopl e shoul d mi sunder st and t he nat ur e of t he new i nvent i on,
t hey' r e l i abl e t o vent t hei r r age on al l sci ent i st s. Sci ent i st s have never
been popul ar wi t h t he masses. "
" Peace, " a t al l , wi l l owy woman was si gni ng i nt o t he mi cr ophone, " t hi s
i nvent i on i s a gr eat , new i nst r ument of peace. I t wi l l pr ot ect us f r omt he
aggr essi ve desi gns of sel f i sh enemi es, i t wi l l al l ow us t o br eat he f r eel y and
t o l ear n t o l ove our f el l ow men. " She had a bony f ace wi t h a mout h embi t t er ed
at cockt ai l par t i es, and wor e a f l owi ng pal e bl ue gown, suggest i ng t he
concer t gar ment of a har pi st . " I t may wel l be consi der ed as t hat mi r acl e
whi ch was t hought i mpossi bl e i n hi st or yt he dr eamof t he agest he f i nal
synt hesi s of sci ence and l ove! "
Dr . St adl er l ooked at t he f aces i n t he gr andst ands. They wer e si t t i ng
qui et l y now, t hey wer e l i st eni ng, but t hei r eyes had an ebbi ng l ook of
t wi l i ght , a l ook of f ear i n t he pr ocess of bei ng accept ed as per manent , t he
l ook of r aw wounds bei ng di mmed by t he vei l of i nf ect i on. They knew, as he
knew i t , t hat t hey wer e t he t ar get s of t he shapel ess f unnel s pr ot r udi ng f r om
t he mushr oombui l di ng' s domeand he wonder ed i n what manner t hey wer e now
ext i ngui shi ng t hei r mi nds and escapi ng t hat knowl edge; he knew t hat t he wor ds
t hey wer e eager t o absor b and bel i eve wer e t he chai ns sl i ppi ng i n t o hol d
t hem, l i ke t he goat s, secur el y wi t hi n t he r ange of t hose f unnel s. They wer e
eager t o bel i eve; he saw t he t i ght eni ng l i nes of t hei r l i ps, he saw t he
occasi onal gl ances of suspi ci on t hey t hr ew at t hei r nei ghbor sas i f t he
hor r or t hat t hr eat ened t hemwas not t he sound r ay, but t he men who woul d make
t hemacknowl edge i t as hor r or . Thei r eyes wer e vei l i ng over , but t he r emnant
l ook of a wound was a cr y f or hel p.
" Why do you t hi nk t hey t hi nk?" sai d Dr . Fer r i s sof t l y. " Reason i s t he
sci ent i st ' s onl y weaponand r eason has no power over men, has i t ? At a t i me
l i ke our s, wi t h t he count r y f al l i ng apar t , wi t h t he mob dr i ven by bl i nd
desper at i on t o t he edge of open r i ot s and vi ol ence
or der must be mai nt ai ned by any means avai l abl e. What can we do when we
have t o deal wi t h peopl e?"
Dr . St adl er di d not answer .
A f at , j el l i ed woman, wi t h an i nadequat e br assi er e under a dar k,
per spi r at i on- st ai ned dr ess, was sayi ng i nt o t he mi cr ophoneDr . St adl er coul d
not bel i eve i t at f i r st t hat t he new i nvent i on was t o be gr eet ed wi t h
par t i cul ar gr at i t ude by t he mot her s of t he count r y.
Dr . St adl er t ur ned away; wat chi ng hi m, Fer r i s coul d see not hi ng but t he
nobl e l i ne of t he hi gh f or ehead and t he deep cut of bi t t er ness at t he cor ner
of t he mout h.
Suddenl y, wi t hout cont ext or war ni ng, Rober t St adl er whi r l ed t o f ace hi m.
I t was l i ke a spur t of bl ood f r oma sudden cr ack i n a wound t hat had al most
cl osed: St adl er ' s f ace was open, open i n pai n, i n hor r or , i n si ncer i t y, as
i f , f or t hat moment , bot h he and Fer r i s wer e human bei ngs, whi l e he moaned
wi t h i ncr edul ous despai r : " I n a ci vi l i zed cent ur y, Fer r i s, i n a ci vi l i zed
cent ur y! "
Dr . Fer r i s t ook hi s t i me t o pr oduce and pr ol ong a sof t chuckl e. " I don' t
know what you' r e t al ki ng about , " he answer ed i n t he t one of a quot at i on.
Dr . St adl er l ower ed hi s eyes.
When Fer r i s spoke agai n, hi s voi ce had t he f ai nt est edge of a t one whi ch
St adl er coul d not def i ne, except t hat i t di d not bel ong i n any ci vi l i zed
di scussi on: " I t woul d be unf or t unat e i f anyt hi ng wer e t o happen t o j eopar di ze
t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e. I t woul d be most unf or t unat e i f t he I nst i t ut e
wer e t o be cl osedor i f any one of us wer e t o be f or ced t o l eave i t . Wher e
woul d we go? Sci ent i st s ar e an i nor di nat e l uxur y t hese daysand t her e ar en' t
many peopl e or est abl i shment s l ef t who' r e abl e t o af f or d necessi t i es, l et
al one l uxur i es. Ther e ar e no door s l ef t open t o us. We woul dn' t be wel come i n
t he r esear ch depar t ment of an i ndust r i al concer n, such asl et us sayRear den
St eel . Besi des, i f we shoul d happen t o make enemi es, t he same enemi es woul d
be f ear ed by any per son t empt ed t o empl oy our t al ent s. A man l i ke Rear den
woul d have f ought f or us. Woul d a man l i ke Or r en Boyl e? But t hi s i s pur el y
t heor et i cal specul at i on, because, as a mat t er of pr act i cal f act , al l pr i vat e
est abl i shment s of sci ent i f i c r esear ch have been cl osed by l awby Di r ect i ve
10- 289, i ssued, as you mi ght not r eal i ze, by Mr . Wesl ey Mouch. Ar e you
t hi nki ng, per haps, of uni ver si t i es? They ar e i n t he same posi t i on. They can' t
af f or d t o make enemi es. Who woul d speak up f or us? I bel i eve t hat some such
man as Hugh Akst on woul d have come t o our def ensebut t o t hi nk of t hat i s t o
be gui l t y of an anachr oni sm. He bel onged t o a di f f er ent age. The condi t i ons
set up i n our soci al and economi c r eal i t y have l ong si nce made hi s cont i nued
exi st ence i mpossi bl e. And I don' t t hi nk t hat Dr . Si mon Pr i t chet t , or t he
gener at i on r ear ed under hi s gui dance, woul d be abl e or wi l l i ng t o def end us.
I have never bel i eved i n t he ef f i cacy of i deal i st shave you?
and t hi s i s no age f or i mpr act i cal i deal i sm. I f anyone wi shed t o oppose a
gover nment pol i cy, how woul d he make hi msel f hear d? Thr ough t hese gent l emen
of t he pr ess, Dr . St adl er ? Thr ough t hi s mi cr ophone? I s t her e an i ndependent
newspaper l ef t i n t he count r y? An uncont r ol l ed r adi o st at i on? A pr i vat e pi ece
of pr oper t y, f or t hat mat t er or a per sonal opi ni on?" The t one of t he voi ce
was obvi ous now: i t was t he t one of a t hug. " A per sonal opi ni on i s t he one
l uxur y t hat nobody can af f or d t oday. "
Dr . St adl er ' s l i ps moved st i f f l y, as st i f f l y as t he muscl es of t he goat s,
" You ar e speaki ng t o Rober t St adl er . "
" I have not f or got t en t hat . I t i s pr eci sel y because I have not f or got t en
i t t hat I amspeaki ng, ' Rober t St adl er ' i s an i l l ust r i ous name, whi ch I woul d
hat e t o see dest r oyed. But what i s an i l l ust r i ous name nowadays? I n whose
eyes?" Hi s ar mswept over t he gr andst ands. " I n t he eyes of peopl e such as you
see ar ound you? I f t hey wi l l bel i eve, when so t ol d, t hat an i nst r ument of
deat h i s a t ool of pr osper i t ywoul d t hey not bel i eve i t i f t hey wer e t ol d
t hat Rober t St adl er i s a t r ai t or and an enemy of t he St at e? Woul d you t hen
r el y on t he f act t hat t hi s i s not t r ue? Ar e you t hi nki ng of t r ut h, Dr .
St adl er ? Quest i ons of t r ut h do not ent er i nt o soci al i ssues. Pr i nci pl es have
no i nf l uence on publ i c af f ai r s.
Reason has no power over human bei ngs. Logi c i s i mpot ent . Mor al i t y i s
super f l uous. Do not answer me now, Dr . St adl er . You wi l l answer me over t he
mi cr ophone. You' r e t he next speaker . "
Looki ng of f at t he dar k st r i p of t he f ar mi n t he di st ance, Dr . St adl er
knew t hat what he f el t was t er r or , but he woul d not per mi t hi msel f t o know
i t s nat ur e. He, who had been abl e t o st udy t he par t i cl es and sub par t i cl es of
cosmi c space, woul d not per mi t hi msel f t o exami ne hi s f eel i ng and t o know
t hat i t was made of t hr ee par t s: one par t was t er r or of a vi si on t hat seemed
t o st and bef or e hi s eyes, t he vi si on of t he i nscr i pt i on cut , i n hi s honor ,
over t he door of t he I nst i t ut e: " To t he f ear l ess mi nd, t o t he i nvi ol at e
t r ut h" anot her par t was a pl ai n, br ut e, ani mal f ear of physi cal dest r uct i on,
a humi l i at i ng f ear whi ch, i n t he ci vi l i zed wor l d of hi s yout h, he had not
expect ed ever t o exper i ence
and t he t hi r d was t he t er r or of t he knowl edge t hat by bet r ayi ng t he f i r st ,
one del i ver s onesel f i nt o t he r eal mof t he second.
He wal ked t owar d t he speaker ' s scaf f ol d, hi s st eps f i r mand sl ow, hi s head
l i f t ed, t he manuscr i pt of t he speech hel d cr umpl ed i n hi s f i nger s.
I t l ooked l i ke a wal k t o mount ei t her a pedest al or a gui l l ot i ne. As t he
whol e of a man' s l i f e f l ashes bef or e hi mi n hi s dyi ng moment , so he wal ked t o
t he sound of t he announcer ' s voi ce r eadi ng t o t he count r y t he l i st of Rober t
St adl er ' s achi evement s and car eer . A f ai nt convul si on r an over Rober t
St adl er ' s f ace at t he wor ds: " f or mer head of t he Depar t ment of Physi cs of
t he Pat r i ck Henr y Uni ver si t y. " He knew, di st ant l y, not as i f t he knowl edge
wer e wi t hi n hi m, but as i f i t wer e wi t hi n some per son he was l eavi ng behi nd,
t hat t he cr owd was about t o wi t ness an act of dest r uct i on mor e t er r i bl e t han
t he dest r uct i on of . t he f ar m.
He had mount ed t he f i r st t hr ee st eps of t he scaf f ol d, when a young newsman
t or e f or war d, r an t o hi mand, f r ombel ow, sei zed t he r ai l i ng t o st op hi m.
" Dr . St adl er ! " he cr i ed i n a desper at e whi sper . " Tel l t hemt he t r ut h! Tel l
t hemt hat you had not hi ng t o do wi t h i t ! Tel l t hemwhat sor t of i nf er nal
machi ne i t i s and f or what pur pose i t ' s i nt ended t o be used! Tel l t he count r y
what sor t of peopl e ar e t r yi ng t o r ul e i t ! Nobody can doubt your wor d! Tel l
t hemt he t r ut h! Save us! You' r e t he onl y one who can! "
Dr . St adl er l ooked down at hi m. He was young; hi s movement s and voi ce had
t hat swi f t , shar p cl ar i t y whi ch bel ongs t o compet ence; among hi s aged,
cor r upt , f avor - r i dden and pul l - cr eat ed col l eagues, he had managed t o achi eve
t he r ank of el i t e of t he pol i t i cal pr ess, by means and i n t he r ol e of a l ast ,
i r r esi st i bl e spar k of abi l i t y. Hi s eyes had t he l ook of an eager ,
unf r i ght ened i nt el l i gence; t hey wer e t he ki nd of eyes Dr .
St adl er had seen l ooki ng up at hi mf r omt he benches of cl assr ooms.
He not i ced t hat t hi s boy' s eyes wer e hazel ; t hey had a t i nge of gr een.
Dr . St adl er t ur ned hi s head and saw t hat Fer r i s had come r ushi ng t o hi s
si de, l i ke a ser vant or a j ai l er . " I do not expect t o be i nsul t ed by di sl oyal
young punks wi t h t r easonabl e mot i ves, " sai d Dr . St adl er l oudl y.
Dr . Fer r i s whi r l ed upon t he young man and snapped, hi s f ace out of
cont r ol , di st or t ed by r age at t he unexpect ed and unpl anned, " Gi ve me your
pr ess car d and your wor k per mi t ! "
" I ampr oud, " Dr . Rober t St adl er r ead- i nt o t he mi cr ophone and i nt o t he
at t ent i ve si l ence of a nat i on, " t hat my year s of wor k i n t he ser vi ce of
sci ence have br ought me t he honor of pl aci ng i nt o t he hands of our gr eat
l eader , Mr . Thompson, a new i nst r ument wi t h an i ncal cul abl e pot ent i al f or a
ci vi l i zi ng and l i ber at i ng i nf l uence upon t he mi nd of man. . . . "
The sky had t he st agnant br eat h of a f ur nace and t he st r eet s of New Yor k
wer e l i ke pi pes r unni ng, not wi t h ai r and l i ght , but wi t h mel t ed dust . Dagny
st ood on a st r eet cor ner , wher e t he ai r por t bus had l ef t her , l ooki ng at t he
ci t y i n passi ve ast oni shment . The bui l di ngs seemed wor n by weeks of summer
heat , but t he peopl e seemed wor n by cent ur i es of angui sh. She st ood wat chi ng
t hem, di sar med by an enor mous sense of unr eal i t y.
That sense of unr eal i t y had been her onl y f eel i ng si nce t he ear l y hour s of
t he mor ni ngsi nce t he moment when, at t he end of an empt y hi ghway, she had
wal ked i nt o an unknown t own and st opped t he f i r st passer - by t o ask wher e she
was.
" Wat sonvi l l e, " he answer ed. " What st at e, pl ease?" she asked. The man
gl anced at her , sai d, " Nebr aska, " and wal ked hast i l y away. She smi l ed
mi r t hl essl y, knowi ng t hat he wonder ed wher e she had come f r omand t hat no
expl anat i on he coul d i magi ne woul d be as f ant ast i c as t he t r ut h. Yet i t was
Wat sonvi l l e t hat seemed f ant ast i c t o her , as she wal ked t hr ough i t s st r eet s
t o t he r ai l r oad st at i on. She had l ost t he habi t of obser vi ng despai r as t he
nor mal and domi nant aspect of human exi st ence, so nor mal as t o become
unnot i cedand t he si ght of i t st r uck her i n al l of i t s sensel ess f ut i l i t y.
She was seei ng t he br and of pai n and f ear on t he f aces of peopl e, and t he
l ook of evasi on t hat r ef uses t o know i t t hey seemed t o be goi ng t hr ough t he
mot i ons of some enor mous pr et ense, act i ng out a r i t ual t o war d of f r eal i t y,
l et t i ng t he ear t h r emai n unseen and t hei r l i ves unl i ved, i n dr ead of
somet hi ng namel essl y f or bi dden
yet t he f or bi dden was t he si mpl e act of l ooki ng at t he nat ur e of t hei r
pai n and quest i oni ng t hei r dut y t o bear i t . She was seei ng i t so cl ear l y t hat
she kept want i ng t o appr oach st r anger s, t o shake t hem, t o l augh i n t hei r
f aces and t o cr y, " Snap out of i t ! "
Ther e was no r eason f or peopl e t o be as unhappy as t hat , she t hought , no
r eason what ever . . . and t hen she r emember ed t hat r eason was t he one power
t hey had bani shed f r omt hei r exi st ence.
She boar ded a Taggar t t r ai n f or t he near est ai r f i el d; she di d not i dent i f y
her sel f t o anyone: i t seemed i r r el evant . She sat at t he wi ndow of a coach,
l i ke a st r anger who has t o l ear n t he i ncompr ehensi bl e l anguage of t hose
ar ound her . She pi cked up a di scar ded newspaper ; she managed, wi t h ef f or t , t o
under st and what was wr i t t en, but not why i t shoul d ever have been wr i t t en: i t
al l seemed so chi l di shl y sensel ess.
She st ar ed i n ast oni shment at a par agr aph i n a syndi cat ed col umn f r omNew
Yor k, whi ch st at ed over emphat i cal l y t hat Mr . J ames Taggar t wi shed i t t o be
known t hat hi s si st er had di ed i n an ai r pl ane cr ash, any unpat r i ot i c r umor s
t o t he cont r ar y not wi t hst andi ng. Sl owl y, she r emember ed Di r ect i ve 10- 289 and
r eal i zed t hat J i mwas embar r assed by t he publ i c suspi ci on t hat she had
vani shed as a deser t er .
The wor di ng of t he par agr aph suggest ed t hat her di sappear ance had been a
pr omi nent publ i c i ssue, not yet dr opped. Ther e wer e ot her suggest i ons of i t :
a ment i on of Mi ss Taggar t ' s t r agi c deat h, i n a st or y about t he gr owi ng number
of pl ane cr ashesand, on t he back page, an ad, of f er i ng a $100, 000 r ewar d t o
t he per son who woul d f i nd t he wr eckage of her pl ane, si gned by Henr y Rear den.
The l ast gave her a st ab of ur gency; t he r est seemed meani ngl ess.
Then, sl owl y, she r eal i zed t hat her r et ur n was a publ i c event whi ch woul d
be t aken as bi g news. She f el t a l et har gi c wear i ness at t he pr ospect of a
dr amat i c homecomi ng, of f aci ng J i mand t he pr ess, of wi t nessi ng t he
exci t ement . She wi shed t hey woul d get i t over wi t h i n her absence.
At t he ai r f i el d, she saw a smal l - t own r epor t er i nt er vi ewi ng some depar t i ng
of f i ci al s. She wai t ed t i l l he had f i ni shed, t hen she appr oached hi m, ext ended
her cr edent i al s and sai d qui et l y, t o t he gapi ng st ar e of hi s eyes, " I ' mDagny
Taggar t . Woul d you make i t known, pl ease, t hat I ' mal i ve and t hat I ' l l be i n
New Yor k t hi s af t er noon?" The pl ane was about t o t ake of f and she escaped t he
necessi t y of answer i ng quest i ons.
She wat ched t he pr ai r i es, t he r i ver s, t he t owns sl i ppi ng past at an
unt ouchabl e di st ance bel owand she not ed t hat t he sense of det achment one
f eel s when l ooki ng at t he ear t h f r oma pl ane was t he same sense she f el t when
l ooki ng at peopl e: onl y her di st ance f r ompeopl e seemed l onger , The
passenger s wer e l i st eni ng t o some r adi o br oadcast , whi ch appear ed t o be
i mpor t ant , j udgi ng by t hei r ear nest at t ent i veness. She caught br i ef snat ches
of f r audul ent voi ces t al ki ng about some sor t of new i nvent i on t hat was t o
br i ng some undef i ned benef i t s t o some undef i ned publ i c' s wel f ar e. The wor ds
wer e obvi ousl y chosen t o convey no speci f i c meani ng what ever ; she wonder ed
how one coul d pr et end t hat one was hear i ng a speech; yet t hat was what t he
passenger s wer e doi ng.
They wer e goi ng t hr ough t he per f or mance of a chi l d who, not yet abl e t o
r ead, hol ds a book open and spel l s out anyt hi ng he wi shes t o spel l ,
pr et endi ng t hat i t i s cont ai ned i n t he i ncompr ehensi bl e bl ack l i nes. But t he
chi l d, she t hought , knows t hat he i s pl ayi ng a game; t hese peopl e pr et end t o
t hemsel ves t hat t hey ar e not pr et endi ng; t hey know no ot her st at e of
exi st ence.
The sense of unr eal i t y r emai ned as her onl y f eel i ng, when she l anded, when
she escaped a cr owd of r epor t er s wi t hout bei ng seen
by avoi di ng t he t axi st ands and l eapi ng i nt o t he ai r por t buswhen she r ode
on t he bus, t hen st ood on a st r eet cor ner , l ooki ng et New Yor k, She f el t as
i f she wer e seei ng an abandoned ci t y.
She f el t no sense of homecomi ng, when she ent er ed her apar t ment ; t he pl ace
seemed t o be a conveni ent machi ne t hat she coul d use f or some pur pose of no
si gni f i cance what ever .
But she f el t a qui ckened t ouch of ener gy, l i ke t he f i r st br eak i n a f og a
t ouch of meani ngwhen she pi cked up t he t el ephone r ecei ver and cal l ed
Rear den' s of f i ce i n Pennsyl vani a. " Oh, Mi ss Taggar t . . . Mi ss Taggar t ! "
sai d, i n a j oyous moan, t he voi ce of t he sever e, unemot i onal Mi ss I ves.
" Hel l o, Mi ss I ves. I haven' t st ar t l ed you, have I ? You knew t hat I was
al i ve?"
" Oh yes! I hear d i t on t he r adi o t hi s mor ni ng. "
" I s Mr . Rear den i n hi s of f i ce?"
" No, Mi ss Taggar t . He . . . he' s i n t he Rocky Mount ai ns, sear chi ng f or . .
. t hat i s . . . "
" Yes, I know. Do you know wher e we can r each hi m?"
" I expect t o hear f r omhi mat any moment . He' s st oppi ng i n Los Gat os,
Col or ado, r i ght now. I phoned hi m, t he moment I hear d t he news, but he was
out and I l ef t a message f or hi mt o cal l me. You see, he' s out f l yi ng, most
of t he day . . . but he' l l cal l me when he comes back t o t he hot el . "
" What hot el i s i t ?"
" The El dor ado Hot el , i n Los Gat os. "
" Thank you, Mi ss I ves. " She was about t o hang up.
" Oh, Mi ss Taggar t ! "
" Yes?"
" What was i t t hat happened t o you? Wher e wer e you?"
" I . . . I ' l l t el l you when I see you. I ' mi n New Yor k now. When Mr .
Rear den cal l s, t el l hi mpl ease t hat I ' l l be i n my of f i ce. "
" Yes, Mi ss Taggar t . "
She hung up, but her hand r emai ned on t he r ecei ver , cl i ngi ng t o her f i r st
cont act wi t h a mat t er t hat had i mpor t ance. She l ooked at her apar t ment and at
t he ci t y i n t he wi ndow, f eel i ng r el uct ant t o si nk agai n i nt o t he dead f og of
t he meani ngl ess.
She r ai sed t he r ecei ver and cal l ed Los Gat os.
" El dor ado Hot el , " sai d a woman' s dr owsi l y r esent f ul voi ce.
" Woul d you t ake a message f or Mr . Henr y Rear den? Ash hi m, when he comes
i n, t o"
" J ust a mi nut e, pl ease, " dr awl ed t he voi ce, i n t he i mpat i ent t one t hat
r esent s any ef f or t as an i mposi t i on.
She hear d t he cl i cki ng of swi t ches, some buzzi ng, some br eaks of si l ence
and t hen a man' s cl ear , f i r mvoi ce answer i ng: " Hel l o?" I t was Hank Rear den.
She st ar ed at t he r ecei ver as at t he muzzl e of a gun, f eel i ng t r apped,
unabl e t o br eat he.
" Hel l o?" he r epeat ed.
" Hank, i s t hat you?"
She hear d a l ow sound, mor e a si gh t han a gasp, and t hen t he l ong, empt y
cr ackl i ng of t he wi r e.
" Hank' " Ther e was no answer . " Hank! " she scr eamed i n t er r or .
She t hought she hear d t he ef f or t of a br eat ht hen she hear d a whi sper ,
whi ch was not a quest i on, but a st at ement sayi ng ever yt hi ng: " Dagny. "
" Hank, I ' msor r yoh, dar l i ng, I ' msor r y! di dn' t you know?"
" Wher e ar e you, Dagny?"
" Ar e you al l r i ght ?"
" Of cour se. "
" Di dn' t you know t hat I was back and . . . and al i ve?"
" No . . . I di dn' t know i t . "
" Oh God, I ' msor r y I cal l ed, I "
" What ar e you t al ki ng about ? Dagny, wher e ar e you?"
" I n New Yor k. Di dn' t you hear about i t on t he r adi o?"
" No. I ' ve j ust come i n. "
" Di dn' t t hey gi ve you a message t o cal l Mi ss I ves?"
" No. "
" Ar e you al l r i ght ?"
" Now?" She hear d hi s sof t , l ow chuckl e. She was hear i ng t he sound of
unr el eased l aught er , t he sound of yout h, gr owi ng i n hi s voi ce wi t h ever y
wor d. " When di d you come back?"
" Thi s mor ni ng. "
" Dagny, wher e wer e you?"
She di d not answer at once. " My pl ane cr ashed, " she sai d. " I n t he Rocki es.
I was pi cked up by some peopl e who hel ped me, but I coul d not send wor d t o
anyone. "
The l aught er went out of hi s voi ce. " As bad as t hat ?"
" Oh . . . oh, t he cr ash? No, i t wasn' t bad. I wasn' t hur t . Not ser i ousl y. "
" Then why coul dn' t you send wor d?"
" Ther e wer e no . . . no means of communi cat i on. "
" Why di d i t t ake you so l ong t o get back?"
I . . . can' t answer t hat now, "
" Dagny, wer e you i n danger ?"
The hal f - smi l i ng, hal f - bi t t er t one of her voi ce was al most r egr et , as she
answer ed, " No. "
" Wer e you hel d pr i soner ?"
" Nonot r eal l y. "
" Then you coul d have r et ur ned sooner , but di dn' t ?"
" That ' s t r uebut t hat ' s al l I can t el l you, "
" Wher e wer e you, Dagny?"
" Do you mi nd i f we don' t t al k about i t now? Let ' s wai t unt i l I see you. "
" Of cour se. I won' t ask any quest i ons. J ust t el l me: ar e you saf e now?"
" Saf e? Yes. "
" I mean, have you suf f er ed any per manent i nj ur i es or consequences?"
She answer ed, wi t h t he same sound of a cheer l ess smi l e, " I nj ur i es
no, Hank. I don' t know, as t o t he per manent consequences. "
" Wi l l you st i l l be i n New Yor k t oni ght ?"
" Why, yes. I ' m. . . I ' mback f or good. "
" Ar e you?"
" Why do you ask t hat ?"
" I don' t know. I guess I ' mt oo used t o what i t ' s l i ke when . . . when I
can' t f i nd you. "
" I ' mback. "
" Yes. I ' l l see you i n a f ew hour s. " Hi s voi ce br oke of f , as i f t he
sent ence wer e t oo enor mous t o bel i eve. " I n a f ew hour s, " he r epeat ed f i r ml y.
" I ' l l be her e. "
" Dagny"
" Yes?"
He chuckl ed sof t l y. " No, not hi ng. J ust want ed t o hear your voi ce awhi l e
l onger . For gi ve me. I mean, not now. I mean, I don' t want t o say anyt hi ng
now. "
" Hank, I "
" When I see you, my dar l i ng. So l ong. "
She st ood l ooki ng at t he si l ent r ecei ver . For t he f i r st t i me si nce her
r et ur n, she f el t pai n, a vi ol ent pai n, but i t made her al i ve, because i t was
wor t h f eel i ng.
She t el ephoned her secr et ar y at Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , t o say br i ef l y
t hat she woul d be i n t he of f i ce i n hal f an hour .
The st at ue of Nat hani el Taggar t was r eal when she st ood f aci ng i t i n t he
concour se of t he Ter mi nal . I t seemed t o her t hat t hey wer e al one i n a vast ,
echoi ng t empl e, wi t h f og coi l s of f or ml ess ghost s weavi ng and vani shi ng
ar ound t hem. She st ood st i l l , l ooki ng up at t he st at ue, as f or a br i ef moment
of dedi cat i on. I ' mbackwer e t he onl y wor ds she had t o of f er .
" Dagny Taggar t " was st i l l t he i nscr i pt i on on t he f r ost ed gl ass panel of
t he door t o her of f i ce. The l ook on t he f aces of her st af f , as she ent er ed
t he ant er oom, was t he l ook of dr owni ng per sons at t he si ght of a l i f el i ne.
She saw Eddi e Wi l l er s st andi ng at hi s desk i n hi s gl ass encl osur e, wi t h some
man bef or e hi m. Eddi e made a move i n her di r ect i on, but st opped; he l ooked
i mpr i soned. She l et her gl ance gr eet ever y f ace i n t ur n, smi l i ng at t hem
gent l y as at doomed chi l dr en, t hen wal ked t owar d Eddi e' s desk.
Eddi e was wat chi ng her appr oach as i f he wer e seei ng not hi ng el se i n t he
wor l d, but hi s r i gi d post ur e seemed desi gned t o pr et end t hat he was l i st eni ng
t o t he man bef or e hi m.
" Mot i ve power ?" t he man was sayi ng i n a voi ce t hat had a br usque, st accat o
snap and a sl ur r ed, nasal dr awl , t oget her . " Ther e' s no pr obl emabout mot i ve
power . You j ust t ake"
" Hel l o, " sai d Eddi e sof t l y, wi t h a mut ed smi l e, as t o a di st ant vi si on.
The man t ur ned t o gl ance at her . He had a yel l ow compl exi on, cur l y hai r , a
har d f ace made of sof t muscl es, and t he r evol t i ng handsomeness bel ongi ng t o
t he est het i c st andar ds of bar r oomcor ner s; hi s bl ur r ed br own eyes had t he
empt y f l at ness of gl ass.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Eddi e, i n a r esonant t one of sever i t y, t he t one of
sl appi ng t he man i nt o t he manner s of a dr awi ng r oomhe had never ent er ed,
" may I pr esent Mr . Mei gs?"
" How d' do, " sai d t he man wi t hout i nt er est , t hen t ur ned t o Eddi e and
pr oceeded, as i f she wer e not pr esent : " You j ust t ake t he Comet of f t he
schedul e f or t omor r ow and Tuesday, and shoot t he engi nes t o Ar i zona f or t he
gr apef r ui t speci al , wi t h t he r ol l i ng st ock f r omt he Scr ant on coal r un I
ment i oned. Send t he or der s out at once. "
" You' l l do not hi ng of t he ki nd! " she gasped, t oo i ncr edul ous t o be angr y.
Eddi e di d not answer .
Mei gs gl anced at her wi t h what woul d have been ast oni shment i f hi s eyes
wer e capabl e of r egi st er i ng a r eact i on. " Send t he or der s, " he sai d t o Eddi e,
wi t h no emphasi s, and wal ked out .
Eddi e was j ot t i ng not at i ons on a pi ece of paper .
" Ar e you cr azy?" she asked.
He r ai sed hi s eyes t o her , as t hough exhaust ed by hour s of beat i ng.
" We' l l have t o, Dagny he sai d, hi s voi ce dead.
" What i s t hat ?" she asked, poi nt i ng at t he out er door t hat had cl osed on
Mr . Mei gs.
" The Di r ect or of Uni f i cat i on. "
" What ?"
" The Washi ngt on r epr esent at i ve, i n char ge of t he Rai l r oad Uni f i cat i on
Pl an. "
" What ' s t hat ?"
" I t ' s . . . Oh, wai t , Dagny, ar e you al l r i ght ? Wer e you hur t ? Was i t a
pl ane cr ash?"
She had never i magi ned what t he f ace of Eddi e Wi l l er s woul d l ook l i ke i n
t he pr ocess of agi ng, but she was seei ng i t nowagi ng at t hi r t y- f i ve and
wi t hi n t he span of one mont h. I t was not a mat t er of t ext ur e or wr i nkl es, i t
was t he same f ace wi t h t he same muscl es, but sat ur at ed by t he wi t her i ng l ook
of r esi gnat i on t o a pai n accept ed as hopel ess.
She smi l ed, gent l y and conf i dent l y, i n under st andi ng, i n di smi ssal of al l
pr obl ems, and sai d, ext endi ng her hand, " Al l r i ght , Eddi e. Hel l o. "
He t ook her hand and pr essed i t t o hi s l i ps, a t hi ng he had never done
bef or e, hi s manner nei t her dar i ng nor apol oget i c, but si mpl y and openl y
per sonal .
" I t was a pl ane cr ash, " she sai d, " and, Eddi e, so t hat you won' t wor r y,
111 t el l you t he t r ut h: I wasn' t hur t , not ser i ousl y. But t hat ' s not t he
st or y I ' mgoi ng t o gi ve t o t he pr ess and t o al l t he ot her s. So you' r e never
t o ment i on i t . "
" Of cour se. "
" I had no way t o communi cat e wi t h anyone, but not because I was hur t . I t ' s
al l I can t el l you, Eddi e. Don' t ask me wher e I was or why i t t ook me so l ong
t o r et ur n. "
" I won' t . "
" Now t el l me, what i s t he Rai l r oad Uni f i cat i on Pl an?"
" I t ' s . . . Oh, do you mi nd?l et J i mt el l you. He wi l l , soon enough. I
j ust don' t have t he st omachunl ess you want me t o, " he added, wi t h a
consci ent i ous ef f or t at di sci pl i ne, " No, you don' t have t o. J ust t el l me
whet her I under st ood t hat Uni f i cat or cor r ect l y: he want s you t o cancel t he
Comet f or t wo days i n or der t o gi ve her engi nes t o a gr apef r ui t speci al i n
Ar i zona?"
" That ' s r i ght . "
" And he' s cancel l ed a coal t r ai n i n or der t o get car s t o l ug gr apef r ui t ?"
" Yes. "
" Gr apef r ui t ?"
" That ' s r i ght . "
" Why?"
" Dagny, ' why' i s a wor d nobody uses any l onger . "
Af t er a moment , she asked, " Have you any guess about t he r eason?"
" Guess? I don' t have t o guess. I know. "
" Al l r i ght , what i s i t ?"
" The gr apef r ui t speci al i s f or t he Smat her br ot her s. The Smat her br ot her s
bought a f r ui t r anch i n Ar i zona a year ago, f r oma man who went bankr upt
under t he Equal i zat i on of Oppor t uni t y Bi l l . He had owned t he r anch f or t hi r t y
year s. The Smat her br ot her s wer e i n t he punchboar d busi ness t he year bef or e.
They bought t he r anch by means of a l oan f r omWashi ngt on under a pr oj ect f or
t he r ecl amat i on of di st r essed ar eas, such as Ar i zona. The Smat her br ot her s
have f r i ends i n.
Washi ngt on. "
" Wel l ?"
" Dagny, ever ybody knows i t . Ever ybody knows how t r ai n schedul es have been
r un i n t he past t hr ee weeks, and why some di st r i ct s and some shi pper s get
t r anspor t at i on, whi l e ot her s don' t . What we' r e not supposed t o do i s say t hat
we know i t . We' r e supposed t o pr et end t o bel i eve t hat ' publ i c wel f ar e i s t he
onl y r eason f or any deci si onand t hat t he publ i c wel f ar e of t he ci t y of New
Yor k r equi r es t he i mmedi at e del i ver y of a l ar ge quant i t y of gr apef r ui t . " He
paused, t hen added, " The Di r ect or of Uni f i cat i on i s sol e j udge of t he publ i c
wel f ar e and has sol e aut hor i t y over t he al l ocat i on of any mot i ve power and
r ol l i ng st ock on any r ai l r oad anywher e i n t he Uni t ed St at es. "
Ther e was a moment of si l ence. " I see, " she sai d. I n anot her moment , she
asked, " What has been done about t he Wi nst on t unnel ?"
" Oh, t hat was abandoned t hr ee weeks ago. They never unear t hed t he t r ai ns.
The equi pment gave out . "
" What has been done about r ebui l di ng t he ol d l i ne ar ound t he t unnel ?"
" That was shel ved. "
" Then ar e we r unni ng any t r anscont i nent al t r af f i c?"
He gave her an odd gl ance. " Oh yes, " he sai d bi t t er l y.
" Thr ough t he det our of t he Kansas West er n?"
" No. "
" Eddi e, what has been happeni ng her e i n t he past mont h?"
He smi l ed as i f hi s wor ds wer e an ugl y conf essi on. " We' ve been maki ng
money i n t he past mont h, " he answer ed.
She saw t he out er door open and J ames Taggar t come i n, accompani ed by Mr .
Mei gs. " Eddi e, do you want t o be pr esent at t he conf er ence?"
she asked. " Or woul d you r at her mi ss t hi s one?"
" No. I want t o be pr esent . "
J i m' s f ace l ooked l i ke a cr umpl ed pi ece of paper , t hough i t s sof t , puf f ed
f l esh had acqui r ed no addi t i onal l i nes.
" Dagny, t her e' s a l ot of t hi ngs t o di scuss, a l ot of i mpor t ant changes
whi ch" he sai d shr i l l y, hi s voi ce r ushi ng i n ahead of hi s per son. " Oh, I ' m
gl ad t o see you back, I ' mhappy t hat you' r e al i ve, " he added i mpat i ent l y,
r emember i ng. " Now t her e ar e some ur gent "
" Let ' s go t o my of f i ce, " she sai d.
Her of f i ce was l i ke a hi st or i cal r econst r uct i on, r est or ed and mai nt ai ned
by Eddi e Wi l l er s. Her map, her cal endar , t he pi ct ur e of Nat Taggar t wer e on
t he wal l s, and no t r ace was l ef t of t he Cl i f t on Locey er a, " I under st and t hat
I amst i l l t he Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent of t hi s r ai l r oad?" she asked, si t t i ng
down at her desk.
" You ar e, " sai d Taggar t hast i l y, accusi ngl y, al most def i ant l y. " You
cer t ai nl y ar eand don' t you f or get i t you haven' t qui t , you' r e st i l l have
you?"
" No, I haven' t qui t . "
" Now t he most ur gent t hi ng t o do i s t o t el l t hat t o t he pr ess, t el l t hem
t hat you' r e back on t he j ob and wher e you wer e andand, by t he way, wher e
wer e you?"
" Eddi e, " she sai d, " wi l l you make a not e on t hi s and send i t t o t he pr ess?
My pl ane devel oped engi ne t r oubl e whi l e I was f l yi ng over t he Rocky Mount ai ns
t o t he Taggar t Tunnel . I l ost my way, l ooki ng f or an emer gency l andi ng, and
cr ashed i n an uni nhabi t ed mount ai n sect i on
of Wyomi ng. I was f ound by an ol d sheepher der and hi s wi f e, who t ook me t o
t hei r cabi n, deep i n t he wi l der ness, f i f t y mi l es away f r omt he near est
set t l ement . I was badl y i nj ur ed and r emai ned unconsci ous f or most of t wo
weeks. The ol d coupl e had no t el ephone, no r adi o, no means of communi cat i on
or t r anspor t at i on, except an ol d t r uck t hat br oke down when t hey at t empt ed t o
use i t . I had t o r emai n wi t h t hemunt i l I r ecover ed suf f i ci ent st r engt h t o
wal k. I wal ked t he f i f t y mi l es t o t he f oot hi l l s, t hen hi t chhi ked my way t o a
Taggar t st at i on i n Nebr aska. "
" I see, " sai d Taggar t . " Wel l , t hat ' s f i ne. Now when you gi ve t he pr ess
i nt er vi ew"
" I ' mnot goi ng t o gi ve any pr ess i nt er vi ews. "
" What ? But t hey' ve been cal l i ng me al l day! They' r e wai t i ng! I t ' s
essent i al ! " He had an ai r of pani c. " I t ' s most cr uci al l y essent i al ! "
" Who' s been cal l i ng you al l day?"
" Peopl e i n Washi ngt on and . . . and ot her s . . . They' r e wai t i ng f or your
st at ement . "
She poi nt ed at Eddi e' s not es. " Ther e' s my st at ement . "
" But t hat ' s not enough! You must say t hat you haven' t qui t . "
" That ' s obvi ous, i sn' t i t ? I ' mback. "
" You must say somet hi ng about i t . "
" Such as what ?"
" Somet hi ng per sonal . "
" To whom?"
" To t he count r y. Peopl e wer e wor r i ed about you. You must r eassur e t hem. "
" The st or y wi l l r eassur e t hem, i f anyone was wor r i ed about me. "
" That ' s not what I mean! "
" Wel l , what do you mean?"
" I mean" He st opped, hi s eyes avoi di ng her s. " I mean" He sat , sear chi ng
f or wor ds, cr acki ng hi s knuckl es.
J i mwas goi ng t o pi eces, she t hought ; t he j er ky i mpat i ence, t he
shr i l l ness, t he aur a of pani c wer e new; cr ude out br eaks of a t one of
i nef f ect ual menace had r epl aced hi s pose of caut i ous smoot hness.
" I mean" He was sear chi ng f or wor ds t o name hi s meani ng wi t hout nami ng
i t , she t hought , t o make her under st and t hat whi ch he di d not want t o be
under st ood, " I mean, t he publ i c"
" I know what you mean, " she sai d. " No, J i m, I ' mnot goi ng t o r eassur e t he
publ i c about t he st at e of our i ndust r y. "
" Now you' r e"
" The publ i c had bet t er be as unr eassur ed as i t has t he wi t s t o be.
Now pr oceed t o busi ness. "
" I - "
" Pr oceed t o busi ness, J i m. "
He gl anced at Mr . Mei gs. Mr . Mei gs sat si l ent l y, hi s l egs cr ossed, smoki ng
a ci gar et t e. He wor e a j acket whi ch was not , but l ooked l i ke, a mi l i t ar y
uni f or m. The f l esh of hi s neck bul ged over t he col l ar , and t he f l esh of hi s
body st r ai ned agai nst t he nar r ow wai st l i ne i nt ended t o di sgui se i t . He wor e a
r i ng wi t h a l ar ge yel l ow di amond t hat f l ashed when he moved hi s st ubby
f i nger s.
" You' ve met Mr . Mei gs, " sai d Taggar t . " I ' m. so gl ad t hat t he t wo of you
wi l l get al ong wel l t oget her . " He made an expect ant hal f - pause, but r ecei ved
no answer f r omei t her . " Mr . Mei gs i s t he r epr esent at i ve of t he Rai l r oad
Uni f i cat i on Pl an. You' l l have many oppor t uni t i es t o cooper at e wi t h hi m. "
" What i s t he Rai l r oad Uni f i cat i on Pl an?"
" I t i s a . . . a new nat i onal set up t hat went i nt o ef f ect t hr ee weeks ago,
whi ch you wi l l appr eci at e and appr ove of and f i nd ext r emel y pr act i cal . " She
mar vel ed at t he f ut i l i t y of hi s met hod: he was act i ng as i f , by nami ng her
opi ni on i n advance, he woul d make her unabl e t o al t er i t . " I t i s an emer gency
set up whi ch has saved t he count r y' s t r anspor t at i on syst em. "
" What i s t he pl an?"
" You r eal i ze, of cour se, t he i nsur mount abl e di f f i cul t i es of any sor t of
const r uct i on j ob dur i ng t hi s per i od of emer gency. I t i st empor ar i l y
i mpossi bl e t o l ay new t r ack. Ther ef or e, t he count r y' s t op pr obl emi s t o
pr eser ve t he t r anspor t at i on i ndust r y as a whol e, t o pr eser ve i t s exi st i ng
pl ant and al l of i t s exi st i ng f aci l i t i es. The nat i onal sur vi val r equi r es"
" What i s t he pl an?"
" As a pol i cy of nat i onal sur vi val , t he r ai l r oads of t he count r y have been
uni f i ed i nt o a si ngl e t eam, pool i ng t hei r r esour ces. Al l of t hei r gr oss
r evenue i s t ur ned over t o t he Rai l r oad Pool Boar d i n Washi ngt on, whi ch act s
as t r ust ee f or t he i ndust r y as a whol e, and di vi des t he t ot al i ncome among
t he var i ous r ai l r oads, accor di ng t o a . . . a mor e moder n pr i nci pl e of
di st r i but i on. "
" What pr i nci pl e?"
" Now don' t wor r y, pr oper t y r i ght s have been f ul l y pr eser ved and pr ot ect ed,
t hey' ve mer el y been gi ven a new f or m. Ever y r ai l r oad r et ai ns i ndependent
r esponsi bi l i t y f or i t s own oper at i ons, i t s t r ai n schedul es and t he
mai nt enance of i t s t r ack and equi pment . As i t s cont r i but i on t o t he nat i onal
pool , ever y r ai l r oad per mi t s any ot her , when condi t i ons so r equi r e, t o use
i t s t r ack and f aci l i t i es wi t hout char ge. At t he end of t he year , t he Pool
Boar d di st r i but es t he t ot al gr oss i ncome, and ever y i ndi vi dual r ai l r oad i s
pai d, not on t he haphazar d, ol d- f ashi oned basi s of t he number of t r ai ns r un
or t he t onnage of f r ei ght car r i ed, but on t he basi s of i t s needt hat i s, t he
pr eser vat i on of i t s t r ack bei ng i t s mai n need, ever y i ndi vi dual r ai l r oad i s
pai d accor di ng t o t he mi l eage of t he t r ack whi ch i t owns and mai nt ai ns. "
She hear d t he wor ds; she under st ood t he meani ng; she was unabl e t o make i t
r eal t o gr ant t he r espect of anger , concer n, opposi t i on t o a ni ght mar e pi ece
of i nsani t y t hat r est ed on not hi ng but peopl e' s wi l l i ngness t o pr et end t o
bel i eve t hat i t was sane. She f el t a numbed empt i ness and t he sense of bei ng
t hr own f ar bel ow t he r eal mwher e mor al i ndi gnat i on i s per t i nent .
" Whose t r ack ar e we usi ng f or our t r anscont i nent al t r af f i c?" she asked,
her voi ce f l at and dr y.
" Why, our own, of cour se, " sai d Taggar t hast i l y, " t hat i s, f r omNew Yor k
t o Bedf or d, I l l i noi s. We r un our t r ai ns out of Bedf or d on t he t r ack of t he
At l ant i c Sout her n. "
" To San Fr anci sco?"
" Wel l , i t ' s much f ast er t han t hat l ong det our you t r i ed t o est abl i sh. "
" We r un our t r ai ns wi t hout char ge f or t he use of t he t r ack?"
" Besi des, your det our coul dn' t have l ast ed, t he Kansas West er n r ai l was
shot , and besi des"
" Wi t hout char ge f or t he use of t he At l ant i c Sout her n t r ack?"
" Wel l , we' r e not char gi ng t hemf or t he use of our Mi ssi ssi ppi br i dge,
ei t her . "
Af t er a moment , she asked, " Have you l ooked at a map?"
" Sur e, " sai d Mei gs unexpect edl y. " You own t he l ar gest t r ack mi l eage of any
r ai l r oad i n t he count r y. So you' ve got not hi ng t o wor r y about . "
Eddi e Wi l l er s bur st out l aughi ng.
Mei gs gl anced at hi mbl ankl y, " What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you?" he asked.
" Not hi ng, " sai d Eddi e wear i l y, " not hi ng. "
" Mr . Mei gs, " she sai d, " i f you l ook at a map, you wi l l see t hat t wo t hi r ds
of t he cost of mai nt ai ni ng a t r ack f or our t r anscont i nent al t r af f i c i s gi ven
t o us f r ee and i s pai d by our compet i t or . "
" Why, sur e, " he sai d, but hi s eyes nar r owed, wat chi ng her suspi ci ousl y, as
i f he wer e wonder i ng what mot i ve pr ompt ed her t o so expl i ci t a st at ement .
" Whi l e we' r e pai d f or owni ng mi l es of usel ess t r ack whi ch car r i es no
t r af f i c, " she sai d.
Mei gs under st oodand l eaned back as i f he had l ost al l f ur t her i nt er est i n
t he di scussi on.
" That ' s not t r ue! " snapped Taggar t . " We' r e r unni ng a gr eat number of l ocal
t r ai ns t o ser ve t he r egi on of our f or mer t r anscont i nent al l i ne
t hr ough I owa, Nebr aska and Col or adoand, on t he ot her si de of t he t unnel ,
t hr ough Cal i f or ni a, Nevada and Ut ah. "
" We' r e r unni ng t wo l ocal s a day, " sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s, i n t he dr y, bl ankl y
i nnocent t one of a busi ness r epor t . " Fewer , some pl aces. "
" What det er mi nes t he number of t r ai ns whi ch any gi ven r ai l r oad i s
obl i gat ed t o r un?" she asked.
" The publ i c wel f ar e, " sai d Taggar t " The Pool Boar d, " sai d Eddi e.
" How many t r ai ns have been di scont i nued i n t he count r y i n t he past t hr ee
weeks?"
" As a mat t er of f act , " sai d Taggar t eager l y, " t he pl an has hel ped t o
har moni ze t he i ndust r y and t o el i mi nat e cut t hr oat compet i t i on. "
" I t has el i mi nat ed t hi r t y per cent of t he t r ai ns r un i n- t he count r y, "
sai d Eddi e. " The onl y compet i t i on l ef t i s i n t he appl i cat i ons t o t he Boar d
f or per mi ssi on t o cancel t r ai ns. The r ai l r oad t o sur vi ve wi l l be t he one t hat
manages t o r un no t r ai ns at al l . "
" Has anybody cal cul at ed how l ong t he At l ant i c Sout her n i s expect ed t o be
abl e t o r emai n i n busi ness?"
" That ' s no ski n of f your " st ar t ed Mei gs.
" Pl ease, Cuf f y! " cr i ed Taggar t .
" The pr esi dent of t he At l ant i c Sout her n, " sai d Eddi e i mpassi vel y, " has
commi t t ed sui ci de. "
" That had not hi ng t o do wi t h t hi s! " yel l ed Taggar t . " I t was over a
per sonal mat t er ! "
She r emai ned si l ent . She sat , l ooki ng at t hei r f aces. Ther e was st i l l an
el ement of wonder i n t he numbed i ndi f f er ence of her mi nd: J i mhad al ways
managed t o swi t ch t he wei ght of hi s f ai l ur es upon t he st r ongest pl ant s ar ound
hi mand t o sur vi ve by dest r oyi ng t hemt o pay f or hi s er r or s, as he had done
wi t h Dan Conway, as he had done wi t h t he i ndust r i es of Col or ado; but t hi s di d
not have even t he r at i onal i t y of a l oot er t hi s pounci ng upon t he dr ai ned
car cass of a weaker , a hal f bankr upt compet i t or f or a moment ' s del ay, wi t h
not hi ng but a cr acki ng bone bet ween t he pouncer and t he abyss.
The i mpul se of t he habi t of r eason al most pushed her t o speak, t o ar gue,
t o demonst r at e t he sel f - evi dent but she l ooked at t hei r f aces and she saw
t hat t hey knew i t . I n some t er ms di f f er ent f r omher s, i n some i nconcei vabl e
manner of consci ousness, t hey knew al l t hat she coul d t el l t hem, i t was
usel ess t o pr ove t o t hemt he i r r at i onal hor r or of t hei r cour se and of i t s
consequences, bot h Mei gs and Taggar t knew i t
and t he secr et of t hei r consci ousness was t he means by whi ch t hey escaped
t he f i nal i t y of t hei r knowl edge, " I see, " she sai d qui et l y.
" Wel l , what woul d you r at her have had me do?" scr eamed Taggar t .
" Gi ve up our t r anscont i nent al t r af f i c? Go bankr upt ? Tur n t he r ai l r oad i nt o
a mi ser abl e East Coast l ocal ?" Her t wo wor ds seemed t o have hi t hi mwor se
t han any i ndi gnant obj ect i on; he seemed t o be shaki ng wi t h t er r or at t hat
whi ch t he qui et " I see had acknowl edged seei ng. " I coul dn' t hel p i t ! We had
t o have a t r anscont i nent al t r ack! Ther e was no way t o get ar ound t he t unnel !
We had no money t o pay f or any ext r a cost s! Somet hi ng had t o be done! We had
t o have a t r ack! "
Mei gs was l ooki ng at hi mwi t h a gl ance of par t - ast oni shment , par t di sgust ,
" I amnot ar gui ng, J i m, " she sai d dr yl y.
" We coul dn' t per mi t a r ai l r oad l i ke Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al t o cr ash! I t
woul d have been a nat i onal cat ast r ophe! We had t o t hi nk of al l t he ci t i es and
i ndust r i es and shi pper s and passenger s and empl oyees and st ockhol der s whose
l i ves depend on us! I t wasn' t j ust f or our sel ves, i t was f or t he publ i c
wel f ar e! Ever ybody agr ees t hat t he Rai l r oad Uni f i cat i on Pl an i s pr act i cal !
The best - i nf or med"
" J i m, " she sai d, " i f you have any f ur t her busi ness t o di scuss wi t h me
di scuss i t . "
" You' ve never consi der ed t he soci al angl e of anyt hi ng, " he sai d, i n a
sul l en, r et r eat i ng voi ce.
She not i ced t hat t hi s f or mof pr et ense was as unr eal t o Mr . Mei gs as i t
was t o her , t hough f or an ant i podal r eason. He was l ooki ng at J i mwi t h bor ed
cont empt . J i mappear ed t o her suddenl y as a man who had t r i ed t o f i nd a
mi ddl e cour se bet ween t wo pol esMei gs and her sel f and who was now seei ng
t hat hi s cour se was nar r owi ng and t hat he was t o be gr ound bet ween t wo
st r ai ght wal l s.
" Mr . Mei gs, " she asked, pr ompt ed by a t ouch of bi t t er l y amused cur i osi t y,
" what i s your economi c pl an f or day af t er t omor r ow?"
She saw hi s bl ear y br own eyes f ocus upon her wi t hout expr essi on.
" You' r e i mpr act i cal , " he sai d.
" I t ' s per f ect l y usel ess t o t heor i ze about t he f ut ur e, " snapped Taggar t ,
" when we have t o t ake car e of t he emer gency of t he moment . I n t he l ong r un"
" I n t he l ong r un, we' l l al l be dead, " sai d Mei gs.
Then, abr upt l y, he shot t o hi s f eet . " I ' l l r un al ong, J i m, " he sai d. " I ' ve
got no t i me t o wast e on conver sat i ons. " He added, " You t al k t o her about t hat
mat t er of doi ng somet hi ng t o st op al l t hose t r ai n wr ecksi f she' s t he l i t t l e
gi r l who' s such a wi zar d at r ai l r oadi ng. " I t was sai d i nof f ensi vel y; he was a
man who woul d not know when he was gi vi ng of f ense or t aki ng i t .
" I ' l l see you l at er , Cuf f y, " sai d Taggar t , as Mei gs wal ked out wi t h no
par t i ng gl ance at any of t hem.
Taggar t l ooked at her , expect ant l y and f ear f ul l y, as i f dr eadi ng her
comment , yet desper at el y hopi ng t o hear some wor d, any wor d.
" Wel l ?" she asked.
" What do you mean?"
" Have you anyt hi ng el se t o di scuss?"
" Wel l , I . . . " He sounded di sappoi nt ed. " Yes! " he cr i ed, i n t he t one of
a desper at e pl unge. " I have anot her mat t er t o di scuss, t he most i mpor t ant one
of al l , t he"
" Your gr owi ng number of t r ai n wr ecks?"
" No! Not t hat . "
" What , t hen?"
" I t ' s . . . t hat you' r e goi ng t o appear on Ber t r amScudder ' s r adi o pr ogr am
t oni ght . "
She l eaned back. " AmI ?"
" Dagny, i t ' s i mper at i ve, i t ' s cr uci al , t her e' s not hi ng t o be done about
i t , t o r ef use i s out of t he quest i on, i n t i mes l i ke t hese one has no choi ce,
and"
She gl anced at her wat ch. " I ' l l gi ve you t hr ee mi nut es t o expl ai n
i f you want t o be hear d at al l . And you' d bet t er speak st r ai ght . "
" Al l r i ght ! " he sai d desper at el y. " I t ' s consi der ed most i mpor t ant
on t he hi ghest l evel s, I mean Chi ck Mor r i son and Wesl ey Mouch and Mr .
Thompson, as hi gh as t hat t hat you shoul d make a speech t o t he nat i on, a
mor al e- bui l di ng speech, you know, sayi ng t hat you haven' t qui t . "
" Why?"
" Because ever ybody t hought you had! . . . You don' t know what ' s been goi ng
on l at el y, but . . . but i t ' s sor t of uncanny. The count r y i s f ul l of r umor s,
al l sor t s of r umor s, about ever yt hi ng, al l of t hemdanger ous. Di sr upt i ve, I
mean. Peopl e seemt o do not hi ng but whi sper . They don' t bel i eve t he
newspaper s, t hey don' t bel i eve t he best speaker s, t hey bel i eve ever y vi ci ous,
scar e- monger i ng pi ece of gossi p t hat comes f l oat i ng ar ound. Ther e' s no
conf i dence l ef t , no f ai t h, no or der , no . . . no r espect f or aut hor i t y.
Peopl e . . . peopl e seemt o be on t he ver ge of pani c. "
" Wel l ?"
" Wel l , f or one t hi ng, i t ' s t hat damnabl e busi ness of al l t hose bi g
i ndust r i al i st s who' ve vani shed i nt o t hi n ai r ! Nobody' s been abl e t o expl ai n
i t and i t ' s gi vi ng t hemt he j i t t er s. Ther e' s al l sor t s of hyst er i cal st uf f
bei ng whi sper ed about i t , but what t hey whi sper most l y i s t hat ' no decent man
wi l l wor k f or t hose peopl e. ' They mean t he peopl e i n Washi ngt on. Now do you
see? You woul dn' t suspect t hat you wer e so f amous, but you ar e, or you' ve
become, ever si nce your pl ane cr ash. Nobody bel i eved t he pl ane cr ash. They
al l t hought you had br oken t he l aw, t hat i s, Di r ect i ve 10- 289, and deser t ed.
Ther e' s a l ot of popul ar . . . mi sunder st andi ng of Di r ect i ve 10- 289, a l ot of
. . . wel l , unr est .
Now you see how i mpor t ant i t i s t hat you go on t he ai r and t el l peopl e
t hat i t i sn' t t r ue t hat Di r ect i ve 10- 289 i s dest r oyi ng i ndust r y, t hat i t ' s a
sound pi ece of l egi sl at i on devi sed f or ever ybody' s good, and t hat i f t hey' l l
j ust be pat i ent a l i t t l e l onger , t hi ngs wi l l i mpr ove and pr osper i t y wi l l
r et ur n. They don' t bel i eve any publ i c of f i ci al any mor e. You . . .
you' r e an i ndust r i al i st , one of t he f ew l ef t of t he ol d school , and t he
onl y one who' s ever come back af t er t hey t hought you' d gone. You' r e known as
. . . as a r eact i onar y who' s opposed t o Washi ngt on pol i ci es. So t he peopl e
wi l l bel i eve you. I t woul d have a gr eat i nf l uence on t hem, i t woul d but t r ess
t hei r conf i dence, i t woul d hel p t hei r mor al e. Now do you see?"
He had r ushed on, encour aged by t he odd l ook of her f ace, a l ook of
cont empl at i on t hat was al most a f ai nt hal f - smi l e.
She had l i st ened, hear i ng, t hr ough hi s wor ds, t he sound of Rear den' s voi ce
sayi ng t o her on a spr i ng eveni ng over a year ago: " They need some sor t of
sanct i on f r omus. I don' t know t he nat ur e of t hat sanct i on - but , Dagny, I
know t hat i f we val ue our l i ves, we must not gi ve i t t o t hem. I f t hey put you
on a t or t ur e r ack, don' t gi ve i t t o t hem. Let t hemdest r oy your r ai l r oad and
my mi l l s, but don' t gi ve i t t o t hem. "
" Now do you see?"
" Oh yes, J i m, I see! "
He coul d not i nt er pr et t he sound of her voi ce, i t was l ow, i t was par t -
moan, par t - chuckl e, par t - t r i umphbut i t was t he f i r st sound of emot i on t o
come f r omher , and he pl unged on, wi t h no choi ce but t o hope. " I pr omi sed
t hemi n Washi ngt on t hat you' d speak! We can' t f ai l t hemnot i n an i ssue of
t hi s ki nd! We can' t af f or d t o be suspect ed of di sl oyal t y. I t ' s al t ar r anged.
You' l l be t he guest speaker on Ber t r amScudder ' s pr ogr am, t oni ght , at t en-
t hi r t y. He' s got a r adi o pr ogr amwher e he i nt er vi ews pr omi nent publ i c
f i gur es, i t ' s a nat i onal hookup, he has a l ar ge f ol l owi ng, he r eaches over
t went y mi l l i on peopl e. The of f i ce of t he Mor al e Condi t i oner has"
" The what ?"
" The Mor al e Condi t i oner t hat ' s Chi ck Mor r i sonhas cal l ed me t hr ee t i mes,
t o make sur e t hat not hi ng woul d go wr ong. They' ve i ssued or der s t o al l t he
news br oadcast er s, who' ve been announci ng i t al l day, al l over t he count r y,
t el l i ng peopl e t o l i st en t o you t oni ght on Ber t r amScudder ' s hour . "
He l ooked at her as i f he wer e demandi ng bot h an answer and t he
r ecogni t i on t hat her answer was t he el ement of l east i mpor t ance i n t hese
ci r cumst ances. She sai d, " You know what I t hi nk of t he Washi ngt on pol i ci es
and of Di r ect i ve 10- 289. "
" At a t i me l i ke t hi s, we can' t af f or d t he l uxur y of t hi nki ng! "
She l aughed al oud.
" But don' t you see t hat you can' t r ef use t hemnow?" he yel l ed. " I f you
don' t appear af t er al l t hose announcement s, i t wi l l suppor t t he r umor s, i t
wi l l amount t o an open decl ar at i on of di sl oyal t y! "
" The t r ap won' t wor k, J i m. "
" What t r ap?"
" The one you' r e al ways set t i ng up. "
" I don' t know what you mean! "
" Yes, you do. You knewal l of you knew i t t hat I woul d r ef use.
So you pushed me i nt o a publ i c t r ap, wher e my r ef usal woul d become an
embar r assi ng scandal f or you, mor e embar r assi ng t han you t hought I ' d dar e t o
cause. You wer e count i ng on me t o save your f aces and t he necks you st uck
out . I won' t save t hem. "
" But I pr omi sed i t ! "
" I di dn' t . "
" But we can' t r ef use t hem! Don' t you see t hat t hey' ve got us hogt i ed?
That t hey' r e hol di ng us by t he t hr oat ? Don' t you know what t hey can do t o
us t hr ough t hi s Rai l r oad Pool , or t hr ough t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d, or t hr ough
t he mor at or i umon our bonds?"
" I knew t hat t wo year s ago. "
He was shaki ng; t her e was some f or ml ess, desper at e, al most super st i t i ous
qual i t y i n hi s t er r or , out of pr opor t i on t o t he danger s he named.
She f el t suddenl y cer t ai n t hat i t came f r omsomet hi ng deeper t han hi s f ear
of bur eaucr at i c r epr i sal , t hat t he r epr i sal was t he onl y i dent i f i cat i on of i t
whi ch he woul d per mi t hi msel f t o know, a r eassur i ng i dent i f i cat i on whi ch had
a sembl ance of r at i onal i t y and hi d hi s t r ue mot i ve. She f el t cer t ai n t hat i t
was not t he count r y' s pani c he want ed t o st ave of f , but hi s ownt hat he, and
Chi ck Mor r i son and Wesl ey Mouch and al l t he r est of t he l oot i ng cr ew needed
her sanct i on, not t o r eassur e t hei r vi ct i ms, but t o r eassur e t hemsel ves,
t hough t he al l egedl y cr af t y, t he al l egedl y pr act i cal i dea of del udi ng t hei r
vi ct i ms was t he onl y i dent i f i cat i on t hey gave t o t hei r own mot i ve and t hei r
hyst er i cal i nsi st ence. Wi t h an awed cont empt awed by t he enor mi t y of t he
si ght she wonder ed what i nner degr adat i on t hose men had t o r each i n or der t o
ar r i ve at a l evel of sel f - decept i on wher e t hey woul d seek t he ext or t ed
appr oval of an unwi l l i ng vi ct i mas t he mor al sanct i on t hey needed, t hey who
t hought t hat t hey wer e mer el y decei vi ng t he wor l d.
" We have no choi ce! " he cr i ed. " Nobody has any choi ce! "
" Get out of her e, " she sai d, her voi ce ver y qui et and l ow.
Some t onal qual i t y i n t he sound of her voi ce st r uck t he not e of t he
unconf essed wi t hi n hi m, as f t , never al l owi ng i t i nt o wor ds, he knew f r om
what knowl edge t hat sound had come. He got out .
She gl anced at Eddi e; he l ooked l i ke a man wor n by f i ght i ng one mor e of
t he at t acks of di sgust whi ch he was l ear ni ng t o endur e as a chr oni c
condi t i on.
Af t er a moment , he asked, " Dagny, what became of Quent i n Dani el s?
You wer e f l yi ng af t er hi m, wer en' t you?"
" Yes, " she sai d. " He' s gone. "
' To t he dest r oyer ?"
The wor d hi t her l i ke a physi cal bl ow. I t was t he f i r st t ouch of t he out er
wor l d upon t hat r adi ant pr esence whi ch she had kept wi t hi n her al l day, as a
si l ent , changel ess vi si on, a pr i vat e vi si on, not t o be af f ect ed by any of t he
t hi ngs ar ound her , not t o be t hought about , onl y t o be f el t as t he sour ce of
her st r engt h. The dest r oyer , she r eal i zed, was t he name of t hat vi si on, her e,
i n t hei r wor l d.
" Yes, " she sai d dul l y, wi t h ef f or t , " t o t he dest r oyer . "
Then she cl osed her hands over t he edge of t he desk, t o st eady her pur pose
and her post ur e, and sai d, wi t h t he bi t t er hi nt of a smi l e, " Wel l , Eddi e,
l et ' s see what t wo i mpr act i cal per sons, l i ke you and me, can do about
pr event i ng t he t r amwr ecks. "
I t was t wo hour s l at er when she was al one at her desk, bent over sheet s of
paper t hat bor e not hi ng but f i gur es, yet wer e l i ke a mot i on pi ct ur e f i l m
unr ol l i ng t o t el l her t he whol e st or y of t he r ai l r oad i n t he past f our weeks
t hat t he buzzer r ang and her secr et ar y' s
voi ce sai d, " Mr s. Rear den t o see you, Mi ss Taggar t . "
" Mr . Rear den?" she asked i ncr edul ousl y, unabl e t o bel i eve ei t her .
" No. Mr s. Rear den. "
She l et a moment pass, t hen sai d, " Pl ease ask her t o come i n. "
Ther e was some pecul i ar t ouch of emphasi s i n Li l l i an Rear den' s bear i ng
when she ent er ed and wal ked t owar d t he desk. She wor e a t ai l or ed sui t , wi t h a
l oose, br i ght bow hangi ng casual l y si dewi se f or a not e of el egant
i ncongr ui t y, and a smal l hat t i l t ed at an angl e consi der ed smar t by vi r t ue of
bei ng consi der ed amusi ng; her f ace was a shade t oo smoot h, her st eps a shade
t oo sl ow, and she wal ked al most as i f she wer e swi ngi ng her hi ps.
" How do you do, Mi ss Taggar t , " she sai d i n a l azi l y gr aci ous voi ce, a
dr awi ng- r oomvoi ce whi ch seemed t o st r i ke, i n t hat of f i ce, t he same st yl e of
i ncongr ui t y as her sui t and her bow.
Dagny i ncl i ned her head gr avel y.
Li l l i an gl anced about t he of f i ce; her gl ance had t he same st yl e of
amusement as her hat : an amusement pur por t i ng t o expr ess mat ur i t y by t he
convi ct i on t hat l i f e coul d be not hi ng but r i di cul ous.
" Pl ease si t down, " sai d Dagny.
Li l l i an sat down, r el axi ng I nt o a conf i dent , gr acef ul l y casual post ur e.
When she t ur ned her f ace t o Dagny, t he amusement was st i l l t her e, but i t s
shadi ng was now di f f er ent : i t seemed t o suggest t hat t hey shar ed a secr et ,
whi ch woul d make her pr esence her e seempr epost er ous t o t he wor l d, but sel f -
evi dent l y l ogi cal t o t he t wo of t hem. She st r essed i t by r emai ni ng si l ent .
" What can I do f or you?"
" I came t o t el l you, " sai d Li l l i an pl easant l y, " t hat you wi l l appear on
Ber t r amScudder ' s br oadcast t oni ght . "
She det ect ed no ast oni shment i n Dagny' s f ace, no shock, onl y t he gl ance of
an engi neer st udyi ng a mot or t hat makes an i r r egul ar sound.
" I assume, " sai d Dagny, " t hat you ar e f ul l y awar e of t he f or mof your
sent ence. "
" Oh yes! " sai d Li l l i an.
" Then pr oceed t o suppor t i t . "
" I beg your par don?"
" Pr oceed t o t el l me. "
Li l l i an gave a br i ef l i t t l e l augh, i t s f or ced br evi t y bet r ayi ng t hat t hi s
was not qui t e t he at t i t ude she had expect ed. " I amsur e t hat no l engt hy
expl anat i ons wi l l be necessar y, " she sai d. " You know why your appear ance on
t hat br oadcast i s i mpor t ant t o t hose i n power . I know why you have r ef used t o
appear . I know your convi ct i ons on t he subj ect .
You may have at t ached no i mpor t ance t o i t , but you do know t hat my
sympat hy has al ways been on t he si de of t he syst emnow i n power .
Ther ef or e, you wi l l under st and my i nt er est i n t he i ssue and my pl ace i n
i t . When your br ot her t ol d me t hat you had r ef used, I deci ded t o t ake a hand
i n t he mat t er because, you see, I amone of t he ver y f ew who know t hat you
ar e not i n a posi t i on t o r ef use. "
" I amnot one of t hose f ew, as yet , " sai d Dagny.
Li l l i an smi l ed. " Wel l , yes, I must expl ai n a l i t t l e f ur t her . You r eal i ze
t hat your r adi o appear ance wi l l have t he same val ue f or t hose i n power asas
t he act i on of my husband when he si gned t he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e t hat t ur ned
Rear den Met al over t o t hem. You know how f r equent l y and how usef ul l y t hey
have been ment i oni ng i t i n al l of t hei r pr opaganda. "
" I di dn' t know t hat , " sai d Dagny shar pl y.
" Oh, of cour se, you have been away f or most of t he l ast t wo mont hs, so you
mi ght have mi ssed t he const ant r emi nder si n t he pr ess, on t he r adi o, i n
publ i c speechest hat even Hank Rear den appr oves of and suppor t s Di r ect i ve 10-
289, si nce he has vol unt ar i l y si gned hi s Met al over t o t he nat i on. Even Hank
Rear den. That di scour ages a gr eat many r ecal ci t r ant s and hel ps t o keep t hem
i n l i ne. " She l eaned back and asked i n t he t one of a casual asi de, " Have you
ever asked hi mwhy he si gned?"
Dagny di d not answer ; she di d not seemt o hear t hat i t was a quest i on; she
sat st i l l and her f ace was expr essi onl ess, but her eyes seemed t oo l ar ge and
t hey wer e f i xed on Li l l i an' s, as i f she wer e now i nt ent upon not hi ng but
hear i ng Li l l i an t o t he end.
" No, I di dn' t t hi nk you knew i t . I di dn' t t hi nk t hat he woul d ever t el l
you, " sai d Li l l i an, her voi ce smoot her , as i f r ecogni zi ng t he si gnpost s and
sl i di ng comf or t abl y down t he ant i ci pat ed cour se. " Yet you must l ear n t he
r eason t hat made hi msi gnbecause i t i s t he same r eason t hat wi l l make you
appear on Ber t r amScudder ' s br oadcast t oni ght . "
She paused, wi shi ng t o be ur ged; Dagny wai t ed.
" I t i s a r eason, " sai d Li l l i an, " whi ch shoul d pl ease youas f ar as my
husband' s act i on i s concer ned. Consi der what t hat si gnat ur e meant t o hi m.
Rear den Met al was hi s gr eat est achi evement , t he summat i on of t he best i n hi s
l i f e, t he f i nal symbol of hi s pr i deand my husband, as you have r eason t o
know, i s an ext r emel y passi onat e man, hi s pr i de i n hi msel f bei ng, per haps,
hi s gr eat est passi on. Rear den Met al was mor e t han an achi evement t o hi m, i t
was t he symbol of hi s abi l i t y t o achi eve, of hi s i ndependence, of hi s
st r uggl e, of hi s r i se. I t was hi s pr oper t y, hi s by r i ght and you know what
r i ght s mean t o a man as st r i ct as he, and what pr oper t y means t o a man as
possessi ve. He woul d have gl adl y di ed t o def end i t , r at her t han sur r ender i t
t o t he men he despi sed. Thi s i s what i t meant t o hi mand t hi s i s what he gave
up. You wi l l be gl ad t o know t hat he gave i t up f or your sake, Mi ss Taggar t .
For t he sake of your r eput at i on and your honor . He si gned t he Gi f t
Cer t i f i cat e sur r ender i ng Rear den Met al under t he t hr eat t hat t he adul t er y he
was car r yi ng on wi t h you woul d be exposed t o t he eyes of t he wor l d. Oh yes,
we had f ul l pr oof of i t , i n ever y i nt i mat e det ai l . I bel i eve t hat you hol d a
phi l osophy whi ch di sappr oves of sacr i f i cebut i n t hi s case, you ar e most
cer t ai nl y a woman, so I ' msur e t hat you wi l l f eel gr at i f i cat i on at t he
magni t ude of t he sacr i f i ce a man has made f or t he pr i vi l ege of usi ng your
body. You have undoubt edl y t aken gr eat pl easur e i n t he ni ght s whi ch he spent
i n your bed. You may now t ake pl easur e i n t he knowl edge of what t hose ni ght s
have cost hi m. And si nceyou l i ke bl unt ness, don' t you, Mi ss Taggar t ?si nce
your chosen st at us i s t hat of a whor e, I t ake my hat of f t o you i n r egar d t o
t he pr i ce you exact ed, whi ch none of your si st er s coul d ever have hoped t o
mat ch. "
Li l l i an' s voi ce had kept gr owi ng r el uct ant l y shar per , l i ke a dr i l l head
t hat kept br eaki ng by bei ng unabl e t o f i nd t he l i ne of t he f aul t i n t he
st one. Dagny was st i l l l ooki ng at her , but t he i nt ensi t y had vani shed f r om
Dagny' s eyes and post ur e. Li l l i an wonder ed why she f el t as i f Dagny' s f ace
wer e hi t by a spot l i ght . She coul d det ect no par t i cul ar expr essi on, i t was
si mpl y a f ace i n nat ur al r eposeand t he cl ar i t y seemed t o come f r omi t s
st r uct ur e, f r omt he pr eci si on of i t s shar p pl anes, t he f i r mness of t he mout h,
t he st eadi ness of t he eyes. She coul d not deci pher t he expr essi on of t he
eyes, i t seemed i ncongr uous, i t r esembl ed t he cal m, not of a woman, but of a
schol ar , i t had t hat pecul i ar , l umi nous qual i t y whi ch i s t he f ear l essness of
sat i sf i ed knowl edge.
" I t was I , " sai d Li l l i an sof t l y, " who i nf or med t he bur eaucr at s about my
husband' s adul t er y. "
Dagny not i ced t he f i r st f l i cker of f eel i ng i n Li l l i an' s l i f el ess eyes: i t
r esembl ed pl easur e, but so di st ant l y t hat i t l ooked l i ke sunl i ght r ef l ect ed
f r omt he dead sur f ace of t he moon t o t he st agnant wat er of a swamp; i t
f l i cker ed f or an i nst ant and went .
" I t was I , " sai d Li l l i an, " who t ook Rear den Met al away f r omhi m. "
I t sounded al most l i ke a pl ea.
I t was not wi t hi n t he power of Dagny' s consci ousness ever t o under st and
t hat pl ea or t o know what r esponse Li l l i an had hoped t o f i nd; she knew onl y
t hat she had not f ound i t , when she hear d t he sudden shr i l l ness of Li l l i an' s
voi ce: " Have you under st ood me?"
" Yes. "
" Then you know what I demand and why you' l l obey me. You t hought you wer e
i nvi nci bl e, you and he, di dn' t you?" The voi ce was at t empt i ng smoot hness, but
i t was j er ki ng unevenl y. " You have al ways act ed on no wi l l but your owna
l uxur y I have not been abl e t o af f or d. For once and i n compensat i on, I wi l l
see you act i ng on mi ne.
You can' t f i ght me. You can' t buy your way out of i t , wi t h t hose dol l ar s
whi ch you' r e abl e t o make and I ' mnot . Ther e' s no pr of i t you can of f er meI ' m
devoi d of gr eed. I ' mnot pai d by t he bur eaucr at s f or doi ng t hi sI amdoi ng i t
wi t hout gai n. Wi t hout gai n. Do you under st and me?"
" Yes. "
" Then no f ur t her expl anat i ons ar e necessar y, onl y t he r emi nder t hat al l
t he f act ual evi dencehot el r egi st er s, j ewel r y bi l l s and st uf f l i ke t hat i s
st i l l i n t he possessi on of t he r i ght per sons and wi l l be br oadcast on ever y
r adi o pr ogr amt omor r ow, unl ess you appear on one r adi o pr ogr amt oni ght . I s
t hi s cl ear ?"
" Yes. "
" Now what i s your answer ?" She saw t he l umi nous schol ar - eyes l ooki ng at
her , and suddenl y she f el t as i f t oo much of her wer e seen and as i f she wer e
not seen at al l .
" I amgl ad t hat you have t ol d me, " sai d Dagny. " I wi l l appear on Ber t r am
Scudder ' s br oadcast t oni ght . "
Ther e was a beamof whi t e l i ght beat i ng down upon t he gl i t t er i ng met al of
a mi cr ophonei n t he cent er of a gl ass cage i mpr i soni ng her wi t h Ber t r am
Scudder . The spar k of gl i t t er wer e gr eeni sh- bl ue; t he mi cr ophone was made of
Rear den Met al .
Above t hem, beyond a sheet of gl ass, she coul d di st i ngui sh a boot h wi t h
t wo r ows of f aces l ooki ng down at her : t he l ax, anxi ous f ace of J ames
Taggar t , wi t h Li l l i an Rear den besi de hi m, her hand r est i ng r eassur i ngl y on
hi s ar ma man who had ar r i ved by pl ane f r omWashi ngt on and had been
i nt r oduced t o her as Chi ck Mor r i sonand a gr oup of young men f r omhi s st af f ,
who t al ked about per cent age cur ves of i nt el l ect ual i nf l uence and act ed l i ke
mot or cycl e cops.
Ber t r amScudder seemed t o be af r ai d of her . He cl ung t o t he mi cr ophone,
spi t t i ng wor ds i nt o i t s del i cat e mesh, i nt o t he ear s of t he count r y,
i nt r oduci ng t he subj ect of hi s pr ogr am. He was l abor i ng t o sound cyni cal ,
skept i cal , super i or and hyst er i cal t oget her , t o sound l i ke a man who sneer s
at t he vani t y of al l human bel i ef s and t her eby demands an i nst ant aneous
bel i ef f r omhi s l i st ener s. A smal l pat ch of moi st ur e gl i st ened on t he back of
hi s neck. He was descr i bi ng i n over col or ed det ai l her mont h of conval escence
i n t he l onel y cabi n of a sheepher der , t hen her her oi c t r udgi ng down f i f t y
mi l es of mount ai n t r ai l s f or t he sake of r esumi ng her dut i es t o t he peopl e i n
t hi s gr ave hour of nat i onal emer gency.
" . . . And i f any of you have been decei ved by vi ci ous r umor s ai med t o
under mi ne your f ai t h i n t he gr eat soci al pr ogr amof our l eader s
you may t r ust t he wor d of Mi ss Taggar t , who"
She st ood, l ooki ng up at t he whi t e beam. Specks of dust wer e whi r l i ng i n
t he beamand she not i ced t hat one of t hemwas al i ve: i t was a gnat wi t h a
t i ny spar kl e i n pl ace of i t s beat i ng wi ngs, i t was st r uggl i ng f or some
f r ant i c pur pose of i t s own, and she wat ched i t , f eel i ng as di st ant f r omi t s
pur pose as f r omt hat of t he wor l d.
" . . . Mi ss Taggar t i s an i mpar t i al obser ver , a br i l l i ant busi nesswoman
who has of t en been cr i t i cal of t he gover nment i n t he past and who may be sai d
t o r epr esent t he ext r eme, conser vat i ve vi ewpoi nt hel d by such gi ant s of
i ndust r y as Hank Rear den. Yet even she"
She wonder ed at how easy i t f el t , when one di d not have t o f eel ; she
seemed t o be st andi ng naked on publ i c di spl ay, and a beamof l i ght was enough
t o suppor t her , because t her e was no wei ght of pai n i n her , no hope, no
r egr et , no concer n, no f ut ur e.
" . . . And now, l adi es and gent l emen, I wi l l pr esent t o you t he her oi ne of
t hi s ni ght , our most uncommon guest , t he"
Pai n came back t o her i n a sudden, pi er ci ng st ab, l i ke a l ong spl i nt er
f r omt he gl ass of a pr ot ect i ve wal l shat t er ed by t he knowl edge t hat t he next
wor ds woul d be her s; i t came back f or t he br i ef l engt h of a name i n her mi nd,
t he name of t he man she had cal l ed t he dest r oyer : she di d not want hi mt o
hear what she woul d now have t o say. I f you hear i t t he pai n was l i ke a voi ce
cr yi ng i t t o hi myou won' t bel i eve t he t hi ngs I have sai d t o youno, wor se,
t he t hi ngs whi ch I have not sai d, but whi ch you knew and bel i eved and
accept ed you wi l l t hi nk t hat I was not f r ee t o of f er t hemand t hat my days
wi t h you wer e a l i et hi s wi l l dest r oy my one mont h and t en of your year s
t hi s was not t he way I want ed you t o l ear n i t , not l i ke t hi s, not t oni ght
but you wi l l , you who' ve wat ched and known my ever y movement , you who' r e
wat chi ng me now, wher ever you ar eyou wi l l hear i t but i t has t o be sai d.
" t he l ast descendant of an i l l ust r i ous name i n our i ndust r i al hi st or y,
t he woman execut i ve possi bl e onl y i n Amer i ca, t he Oper at i ng Vi ce- Pr esi dent of
a gr eat r ai l r oadMi ss Dagny Taggar t ! "
Then she f el t t he t ouch of Rear den Met al , as her hand cl osed over t he st em
of t he mi cr ophone, and i t was suddenl y easy, not wi t h t he dr ugged ease of
i ndi f f er ence, but wi t h t he br i ght , cl ear , l i vi ng ease of act i on.
" I came her e t o t el l you about t he soci al pr ogr am, t he pol i t i cal syst em
and t he mor al phi l osophy under whi ch you ar e now l i vi ng. "
Ther e was so cal m, so nat ur al , so t ot al a cer t ai nt y i n t he sound of her
voi ce t hat t he mer e sound seemed t o car r y an i mmense per suasi veness.
" You have hear d i t sai d t hat I bel i eve t hat t hi s syst emhas depr avi t y as
i t s mot i ve, pl under as i t s goal , l i es, f r aud and f or ce as i t s met hod, and
dest r uct i on as i t s onl y r esul t . You have al so hear d i t sai d t hat , l i ke Hank
Rear den, I ama l oyal suppor t er of t hi s syst emand t hat I gi ve my vol unt ar y
co- oper at i on t o pr esent pol i ci es, such as Di r ect i ve 10- 289. 1 have come her e
t o t el l you t he t r ut h about i t .
" I t i s t r ue t hat I shar e t he st and of Hank Rear den. Hi s pol i t i cal
convi ct i ons ar e mi ne. You have hear d hi mdenounced i n t he past as a
r eact i onar y who opposed ever y st ep, measur e, sl ogan and pr emi se of t he
pr esent syst em. Now you hear hi mpr ai sed as our gr eat est i ndust r i al i st , whose
j udgment on t he val ue of economi c pol i ci es may saf el y be t r ust ed. I t i s t r ue.
You may t r ust hi s j udgment . I f you ar e now begi nni ng t o f ear t hat you ar e i n
t he power of an i r r esponsi bl e evi l , t hat t he count r y i s col l apsi ng and t hat
you wi l l soon be l ef t t o st ar veconsi der t he vi ews of our abl est
i ndust r i al i st , who knows what condi t i ons ar e necessar y t o make pr oduct i on
possi bl e and t o per mi t a count r y t o sur vi ve.
Consi der al l t hat you know about hi s vi ews. At such t i mes as he was abl e
t o speak, you have hear d hi mt el l you t hat t hi s gover nment ' s pol i ci es wer e
l eadi ng you t o ensl avement and dest r uct i on. Yet he di d not denounce t he f i nal
cl i max of t hese pol i ci esDi r ect i ve 10- 289. You have hear d hi mf i ght i ng f or
hi s r i ght shi s and your sf or hi s i ndependence, f or hi s pr oper t y. Yet he di d
not f i ght Di r ect i ve 10- 289. He si gned vol unt ar i l y, so you have been t ol d, t he
Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e t hat sur r ender ed Rear den Met al t o hi s enemi es. He si gned t he
one paper whi ch, by al l of hi s pr evi ous r ecor d, you had expect ed hi mt o f i ght
t o t he deat h. What coul d t hi s meanyou have const ant l y been t ol d
unl ess i t meant t hat even he r ecogni zed t he necessi t y of Di r ect i ve 10289
and sacr i f i ced hi s per sonal i nt er est s f or t he sake of t he count r y?
J udge hi s vi ews by t he mot i ve of t hat act i on, you have const ant l y been
t ol d. And wi t h t hi s I agr ee unr eser vedl y: j udge hi s vi ews by t he mot i ve of
t hat act i on. Andf or what ever val ue you at t ach t o my opi ni on and t o any
war ni ng I may gi ve youj udge my vi ews al so by t he mot i ve of t hat act i on,
because hi s convi ct i ons ar e mi ne.
" For t wo year s, I had been Hank Rear den' s mi st r ess. Let t her e be no
mi sunder st andi ng about i t : I amsayi ng t hi s, not as a shamef ul conf essi on,
but wi t h t he hi ghest sense of pr i de. I had been hi s mi st r ess. I had sl ept
wi t h hi m, i n hi s bed, i n hi s ar ms. Ther e i s not hi ng anyone mi ght now say t o
you about me, whi ch I wi l l not t el l you f i r st . I t wi l l be usel ess t o def ame
meI know t he nat ur e of t he accusat i ons and I wi l l st at e t hemt o you mysel f .
Di d I f eel a physi cal desi r e f or hi m? I di d. Was I moved by a passi on of my
body? I was. Have I exper i enced t he most vi ol ent f or mof sensual pl easur e? I
have. I f t hi s now makes me a di sgr aced woman i n your eyesl et your est i mat e
be your own concer n. I wi l l st and on mi ne. "
Ber t r amScudder was st ar i ng at her ; t hi s was not t he speech he had
expect ed and he f el t , i n di mpani c, t hat i t was not pr oper t o l et i t
cont i nue, but she was t he speci al guest whomt he Washi ngt on r ul er s had
or der ed hi mt o t r eat caut i ousl y; he coul d not be cer t ai n whet her he was now
supposed t o i nt er r upt her or not ; besi des, he enj oyed hear i ng t hi s sor t of
st or y. I n t he audi ence boot h, J ames Taggar t and Li l l i an Rear den sat f r ozen,
l i ke ani mal s par al yzed by t he headl i ght of a t r ai n r ushi ng down upon t hem;
t hey wer e t he onl y ones pr esent who knew t he connect i on bet ween t he wor ds
t hey wer e hear i ng and t he t heme of t he br oadcast ; i t was t oo l at e f or t hemt o
move; t hey dar ed not assume t he r esponsi bi l i t y of a movement or of what ever
was t o f ol l ow.
I n t he cont r ol r oom, a young i nt el l ect ual of Chi ck Mor r i son' s st af f st ood
r eady t o cut t he br oadcast of f t he ai r i n case of t r oubl e, but he saw no
pol i t i cal si gni f i cance i n t he speech he was hear i ng, no el ement he coul d
const r ue as danger ous t o hi s mast er s. He was accust omed t o hear i ng speeches
ext or t ed by unknown pr essur e f r omunwi l l i ng vi ct i ms, and he concl uded t hat
t hi s was t he case of a r eact i onar y f or ced t o conf ess a scandal and t hat ,
t her ef or e, t he speech had, per haps, some pol i t i cal val ue; besi des, he was
cur i ous t o hear i t " I ampr oud t hat he had chosen me t o gi ve hi mpl easur e and
t hat i t was he who had been my choi ce. I t was not as i t i s f or most of you
an act of casual i ndul gence and mut ual cont empt . I t was t he ul t i mat e f or m
of our admi r at i on f or each ot her , wi t h f ul l knowl edge of t he val ues by whi ch
we made our choi ce. We ar e t hose who do not di sconnect t he val ues of t hei r
mi nds f r omt he act i ons of t hei r bodi es, t hose who do not l eave t hei r val ues
t o empt y dr eams, but br i ng t hemi nt o exi st ence, t hose who gi ve mat er i al f or m
t o t hought s, and r eal i t y t o val uest hose who make st eel , r ai l r oads and
happi ness. And t o such among you who hat e t he t hought of human j oy, who wi sh
t o see men' s l i f e as chr oni c suf f er i ng and f ai l ur e, who wi sh men t o apol ogi ze
f or happi nessor f or success, or abi l i t y, or achi evement , or weal t h
t o such among you, I amnow sayi ng: I want ed hi m, I had hi m, I was happy,
I had known j oy, a pur e, f ul l , gui l t l ess j oy, t he j oy you dr ead t o hear
conf essed by any human bei ng, t he j oy of whi ch your onl y knowl edge i s i n your
hat r ed f or t hose who ar e wor t hy of r eachi ng i t . Wel l , hat e me, t henbecause I
r eached i t ! "
" Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Ber t r amScudder ner vousl y, " ar en' t we depar t i ng f r om
t he subj ect of . . . Af t er al l , your per sonal r el at i onshi p wi t h Mr .
Rear den has no pol i t i cal si gni f i cance whi ch"
" [ di dn' t t hi nk i t had, ei t her . And, of cour se, I came her e t o t el l you
about t he pol i t i cal and mor al syst emunder whi ch you ar e now l i vi ng. Wel l , I
t hought t hat I knew ever yt hi ng about Hank Rear den, but t her e was one t hi ng
whi ch I di d not l ear n unt i l t oday. I t was t he bl ackmai l t hr eat t hat our
r el at i onshi p woul d be made publ i c t hat f or ced Hank Rear den t o si gn t he Gi f t
Cer t i f i cat e sur r ender i ng Rear den Met al . I t was bl ackmai l bl ackmai l by your
gover nment of f i ci al s, by your r ul er s, by your "
I n t he i nst ant when Scudder ' s hand swept out t o knock t he mi cr ophone over ,
a f ai nt cl i ck came f r omi t s t hr oat as i t cr ashed t o t he f l oor , si gni f yi ng
t hat t he i nt el l ect ual cop had cut t he br oadcast of f t he ai r .
She l aughedbut t her e was no one t o see her and t o hear t he nat ur e of her
l aught er . The f i gur es r ushi ng i nt o t he gl ass encl osur e wer e scr eami ng at one
anot her . Chi ck Mor r i son was yel l i ng unpr i nt abl e cur ses at Ber t r amScudder
Ber t r amScudder was shout i ng t hat he had been opposed t o t he whol e i dea, but
had been or der ed t o do i t J ames Taggar t l ooked l i ke an ani mal bar i ng i t s
t eet h, whi l e he snar l ed at t wo of Mor r i son' s youngest assi st ant s and avoi ded
t he snar l s of an ol der t hi r d. The muscl es of Li l l i an Rear den' s f ace had an
odd sl ackness, l i ke t he l i mbs of an ani mal l yi ng i n t he r oad, i nt act but
dead. The mor al e condi t i oner s wer e shr i eki ng what t hey guessed t hey t hought
Mr .
Mouch woul d t hi nk. " What amI t o say t o t hem?" t he pr ogr amannouncer was
cr yi ng, poi nt i ng at t he mi cr ophone. " Mr . Mor r i son, t her e' s an audi ence
wai t i ng, what amI t o say?" Nobody answer ed hi m. They wer e not f i ght i ng over
what t o do, but over whomt o bl ame.
Nobody sai d a wor d t o Dagny or gl anced i n her di r ect i on. Nobody st opped
her , when she wal ked out .
She st epped i nt o t he f i r st t axi cab i n si ght , gi vi ng t he addr ess of her
apar t ment . As t he cab st ar t ed, she not i ced t hat t he di al of t he r adi o on t he
dr i ver ' s panel was l i ght ed and si l ent , cr ackl i ng wi t h t he br i ef , t ense coughs
of st at i c: i t was t uned t o Ber t r amScudder ' s pr ogr am.
She l ay back agai nst t he seat , f eel i ng not hi ng but t he desol at i on of t he
knowl edge t hat t he sweep of her act i on had, per haps, swept away t he man who
mi ght never wi sh t o see her agai n. She f el t , f or t he f i r st t i me, t he
i mmensi t y of t he hopel essness of f i ndi ng hi mi f he di d not choose t o be
f oundi n t he st r eet s of t he ci t y, i n t he t owns of a cont i nent , i n t he canyons
of t he Rocky Mount ai ns wher e t he goal was cl osed by a scr een of r ays. But one
t hi ng r emai ned t o her , l i ke a l og f l oat i ng on a voi d, t he l og t o whi ch she
had cl ung t hr ough t he br oadcast and she knew t hat t hi s was t he t hi ng she
coul d not abandon, even wer e she t o l ose al l t he r est ; i t was t he sound of
hi s voi ce sayi ng t o her : " Nobody st ays her e by f aki ng r eal i t y i n any manner
what ever . "
" Ladi es and gent l emen, ' 1 t he voi ce of Ber t r amScudder ' s announcer cr ackl ed
suddenl y out of t he st at i c, " due t o t echni cal di f f i cul t i es over whi ch we have
no cont r ol , t hi s st at i on wi l l r emai n of f t he ai r , pendi ng t he necessar y
r eadj ust ment s. " The t axi dr i ver gave a br i ef , cont empt uous chuckl eand
snapped t he r adi o of f .
When she st epped out and handed hi ma bi l l , he ext ended t he change t o her
and, suddenl y, l eaned f or war d f or a cl oser l ook at her f ace.
She f el t cer t ai n t hat he r ecogni zed her and she hel d hi s gl ance aust er el y
f or an i nst ant . Hi s bi t t er f ace and hi s over pat ched shi r t wer e wor n out by a
hopel ess, l osi ng st r uggl e. As she handed hi m. a t i p, he sai d qui et l y, wi t h
t oo ear nest , t oo sol emn an emphasi s f or a mer e acknowl edgment of t he cor ns,
" Thank you, ma' am, "
She t ur ned swi f t l y and hur r i ed i nt o t he bui l di ng, not t o l et hi msee t he
emot i on whi ch was suddenl y mor e t han she coul d bear .
Her head was dr oopi ng, as she unl ocked t he door of her apar t ment , and t he
l i ght st r uck her f r ombel ow, f r omt he car pet , bef or e she j er ked her head up
i n ast oni shment at f i ndi ng t he apar t ment l i ght ed. She t ook a st ep f or war dand
saw Hank Rear den st andi ng acr oss t he r oom.
She was hel d st i l l by t wo shocks: one was t he si ght of hi s pr esence, she
had not expect ed hi mt o be back so soon; t he ot her was t he si ght of hi s f ace.
Hi s f ace had so f i r m, so conf i dent , so mat ur e a l ook of cal m, i n t he f ai nt
hal f - smi l e, i n t he cl ar i t y of t he eyes, t hat she f el t as i f he had aged
decades wi t hi n one mont h, but aged i n t he pr oper sense of human gr owt h, aged
i n vi si on, i n st at ur e, i n power . She f el t t hat he who had l i ved t hr ough a
mont h of agony, he whomshe had hur t so deepl y and was about t o hur t mor e
deepl y st i l l , he woul d now be t he one t o gi ve her suppor t and consol at i on,
hi s woul d be t he st r engt h t o pr ot ect t hembot h. She st ood mot i onl ess f or onl y
an i nst ant , but she saw hi s smi l e deepeni ng as i f he wer e r eadi ng her
t hought s and t el l i ng her t hat she had not hi ng t o f ear . She hear d a sl i ght ,
cr ackl i ng sound and saw, on a t abl e besi de hi m, t he l i ght ed di al of a si l ent
r adi o. Her eyes moved t o hi s as a quest i on and he answer ed by t he f ai nt est
nod, bar el y mor e t han a l ower i ng of hi s eyel i ds; he had hear d her br oadcast .
They moved t owar d each ot her i n t he same moment . He sei zed her shoul der s
t o suppor t her , her f ace was r ai sed t o hi s, but he di d not t ouch her l i ps, he
t ook her hand and ki ssed her wr i st , her f i nger s, her pal m, as t he sol e f or m
of t he gr eet i ng whi ch so much of hi s suf f er i ng had gone t o awai t . And
suddenl y, br oken by t he whol e of t hi s day and of t hat mont h, she was sobbi ng
i n hi s ar ms, sl umped agai nst hi m, sobbi ng as she had never done i n her l i f e,
as a woman, i n sur r ender t o pai n and i n a l ast , f ut i l e pr ot est agai nst i t .
Hol di ng her so t hat she st ood and moved onl y by means of hi s body, not
her s, he l ed her t o t he couch and t r i ed t o make her si t down besi de hi m, but
she sl i pped t o t he f l oor , t o si t at hi s f eet and bur y her f ace i n hi s knees
and sob wi t hout def ense or di sgui se.
He di d not l i f t her , he l et her cr y, wi t h hi s ar mt i ght about her . She
f el t hi s hand on her head, on. her shoul der , she f el t t he pr ot ect i on of hi s
f i r mness, a f i r mness whi ch seemed t o t el l her t hat as her t ear s wer e f or bot h
of t hem, so was hi s knowl edge, t hat he knew her pai n and f el t i t and
under st ood, yet was abl e t o wi t ness i t cal ml yand hi s cal mseemed t o l i f t her
bur den, by gr ant i ng her t he r i ght t o br eak, her e, at hi s f eet , by t el l i ng her
t hat he was abl e t o car r y what she coul d not car r y any l onger . She knew di ml y
t hat t hi s was t he r eal Hank Rear den, and no mat t er what f or mof i nsul t i ng
cr uel t y he had once gi ven t o t hei r f i r st ni ght s t oget her , no mat t er how of t en
she had seemed as t he st r onger of t he t wo, t hi s had al ways been wi t hi n hi m
and at t he r oot of t hei r bondt hi s st r engt h of hi s whi ch woul d pr ot ect her i f
ever her s wer e gone.
When she r ai sed her head, he was smi l i ng down at her .
" Hank . . . " she whi sper ed gui l t i l y, i n desper at e ast oni shment at her own
br eak.
" Qui et , dar l i ng. "
She l et her f ace dr op back on hi s knees; she l ay st i l l , f i ght i ng f or r est ,
f i ght i ng agai nst t he pr essur e of a wor dl ess t hought : he had been abl e t o bear
and t o accept her br oadcast onl y as a conf essi on of her l ove; i t made t he
t r ut h she now had t o t el l hi mmor e i nhuman a bl ow t han anyone had t he r i ght
t o del i ver . She f el t t er r or at t he t hought t hat she woul d not have t he
st r engt h t o do i t , and t er r or at t he t hought t hat she woul d.
When she l ooked up at hi magai n, he r an hi s hand over her f or ehead,
br ushi ng t he hai r o2 her f ace.
" I t ' s over , dar l i ng, " he sai d. " The wor st of i t i s over , f or bot h of us. "
" No, Hank, i t i sn' t . "
He smi l ed.
He dr ew her t o si t besi de hi m, wi t h her head on hi s shoul der . " Don' t say
anyt hi ng now, he sai d. " You know t hat we bot h under st and al l t hat has t o be
sai d, and we' l l speak of i t , but not unt i l i t has ceased t o hur t you qui t e so
much. "
Hi s hand moved down t he l i ne of her sl eeve, down a f ol d of her ski r t , wi t h
so l i ght a pr essur e t hat i t seemed as i f t he hand di d not f eel t he body
i nsi de t he cl ot hes, as i f he wer e r egai ni ng possessi on, not of her body, but
onl y of i t s vi si on.
" You' ve t aken t oo much, " he sai d. " So have I . Let t hembat t er us.
Ther e' s no r eason why we shoul d add t o i t . No mat t er what we have t o f ace,
t her e can be no suf f er i ng bet ween t he t wo of us. No added pai n.
Let t hat come f r omt hei r wor l d. I t won' t come f r omus. Don' t be af r ai d.
We won' t hur t each ot her . Not now. "
She r ai sed her head, shaki ng i t wi t h a bi t t er smi l et her e was a desper at e
vi ol ence i n her movement , but t he smi l e was a si gn of r ecover y: of t he
det er mi nat i on t o f ace t he despai r .
" Hank, t he ki nd of hel l I l et you go t hr ough i n t he l ast mont h"
Her voi ce was t r embl i ng.
" I t ' s not hi ng, compar ed t o t he ki nd of hel l I l et you go t hr ough i n t he
l ast hour . " Hi s voi ce was st eady.
She got up, t o pace t he r oom, t o pr ove her st r engt hher st eps l i ke wor ds
t el l i ng hi mt hat she was not t o be spar ed any l onger . When she st opped and
t ur ned t o f ace hi m, he r ose, as i f he under st ood her mot i ve.
" I know t hat I ' ve made i t wor se f or you, " she sai d, poi nt i ng at t he r adi o.
He shook hi s head. " No. "
" Hank, t her e' s somet hi ng I have t o t el l you. "
" So have I . Wi l l you l et me speak f i r st ? You see, i t ' s somet hi ng I shoul d
have sai d t o you l ong ago. Wi l l you l et me speak and not answer me unt i l I
f i ni sh?"
She nodded.
He t ook a moment t o l ook at her as she st ood bef or e hi m, as i f t o hol d t he
f ul l si ght of her f i gur e, of t hi s moment and of ever yt hi ng t hat had l ed t hem
t o i t .
" I l ove you, Dagny, " he sai d qui et l y, wi t h t he si mpl i ci t y of an uncl ouded,
yet unsmi l i ng happi ness.
She was about t o speak, but knew t hat she coul dn' t , even i f he had
per mi t t ed i t , she caught her unut t er ed wor ds, t he movement of her l i ps was
her onl y answer , t hen she i ncl i ned her head i n accept ance.
" I l ove you. As t he same val ue, as t he same expr essi on, wi t h t he same
pr i de and t he same meani ng as I l ove my wor k, my mi l l s, my Met al , my hour s at
a desk, at a f ur nace, i n a l abor at or y, i n an or e mi ne, as I l ove my abi l i t y
t o wor k, as I l ove t he act of si ght and knowl edge, as I l ove t he act i on of my
mi nd when i t sol ves a chemi cal equat i on or gr asps a sunr i se, as I l ove t he
t hi ngs I ' ve made and t he t hi ngs I ' ve f el t , as my pr oduct , as my choi ce, as a
shape of my wor l d, as my best mi r r or , as t he wi f e I ' ve never had, as t hat
whi ch makes al l t he r est of i t possi bl e: as my power t o l i ve. "
She di d not dr op her f ace, but kept i t l evel and open, t o hear and accept ,
as he want ed her t o and as he deser ved.
" I l oved you f r omt he f i r st day I saw you, on a f l at car on a si di ng of
Mi l f or d St at i on. I l oved you when we r ode i n t he cab of t he f i r st engi ne on
t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. I l oved you on t he gal l er y of El l i s Wyat t ' s house. I
l oved you on t hat next mor ni ng. You knew i t . But i t ' s I who must say i t t o
you, as I ' msayi ng i t nowi f I amt o r edeemal l t hose days and t o l et t hembe
f ul l y what t hey wer e f or bot h of us, I l oved you. You knew i t . I di dn' t . And
because I di dn' t , I had t o l ear n i t when I sat at my desk and l ooked at t he
Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e f or Rear den Met al . "
She cl osed her eyes. But t her e was no suf f er i ng i n hi s f ace, not hi ng but
t he i mmense and qui et happi ness of cl ar i t y.
" ' We ar e t hose who do not di sconnect t he val ues of t hei r mi nds f r omt he
act i ons of t hei r bodi es. ' You sai d i t i n your br oadcast t oni ght .
But you knew i t , t hen, on t hat mor ni ng i n El l i s Wyat t ' s house. You knew
t hat al l t hose i nsul t s I was t hr owi ng at you wer e t he f ul l est conf essi on of
l ove a man coul d make. You knew t hat t he physi cal desi r e I was damni ng as our
mut ual shame, i s nei t her physi cal nor an expr essi on of one' s body, but t he
expr essi on of one' s mi nd' s deepest val ues, whet her one has t he cour age t o
know i t or not . That was why you l aughed at me as you di d, wasn' t i t ?"
" Yes, " she whi sper ed.
" You sai d, ' I do not want your mi nd, your wi l l , your bei ng or your soul so
l ong as i t ' s t o me t hat you wi l l come f or t hat l owest one of your desi r es. '
You knew, when you sai d i t , t hat i t was my mi nd, my wi l l , my bei ng and my
soul t hat I was gi vi ng you by means of t hat desi r e. And I want t o say i t now,
t o l et t hat mor ni ng mean what i t meant : my mi nd, my wi l l , my bei ng and my
soul , Dagnyyour s, f or as l ong as I shal l l i ve. "
He was l ooki ng st r ai ght at her and she saw a br i ef spar kl e i n hi s eyes,
whi ch was not a smi l e, but al most as i f he had hear d t he cr y she had not
ut t er ed.
" Let me f i ni sh, dear est . I want you t o know how f ul l y I know what I am
sayi ng. I , who t hought t hat I was f i ght i ng t hem, I had accept ed t he wor st of
our enemi es' cr eedand t hat i s what I ' ve pai d f or ever si nce, as I ampayi ng
now and as I must . I had accept ed t he one t enet by whi ch t hey dest r oy a man
bef or e he' s st ar t ed, t he ki l l er - t enet : t he br each bet ween hi s mi nd and body.
I had accept ed i t , l i ke most of t hei r vi ct i ms, not knowi ng i t , not knowi ng
even t hat t he i ssue exi st ed. I r ebel l ed agai nst t hei r cr eed of human
i mpot ence and I t ook pr i de i n my abi l i t y t o t hi nk, t o act , t o wor k f or t he
sat i sf act i on of my desi r es.
But I di d not know t hat t hi s was vi r t ue, I never i dent i f i ed i t as a mor al
val ue, as t he hi ghest of mor al val ues, t o be def ended above one' s l i f e,
because i t ' s t hat whi ch makes l i f e possi bl e. And I accept ed puni shment f or
i t , puni shment f or vi r t ue at t he hands of an ar r ogant evi l , made ar r ogant
sol el y by my i gnor ance and my submi ssi on.
" 1 accept ed t hei r i nsul t s, t hei r f r auds, t hei r ext or t i ons. I t hought I
coul d af f or d t o i gnor e t hemal l t hose i mpot ent myst i cs who pr at t l e about
t hei r soul s and ar e unabl e t o bui l d a r oof over t hei r heads. I t hought t hat
t he wor l d was mi ne, and t hat t hose j abber i ng i ncompet ent s wer e no t hr eat t o
my st r engt h. I coul d not under st and why I kept l osi ng ever y bat t l e. I di d not
know t hat t he f or ce unl eashed agai nst me was my own. Whi l e I was busy
conquer i ng mat t er , I had sur r ender ed t o t hemt he r eal mof t he mi nd, of
t hought , of pr i nci pl e, of l aw, of val ues, of mor al i t y. I had accept ed,
unwi t t i ngl y and by def aul t , t he t enet t hat i deas wer e of no consequence t o
one' s exi st ence, t o one' s wor k, t o r eal i t y, t o t hi s ear t has i f i deas wer e
not t he pr ovi nce of r eason, but of t hat myst i c f ai t h whi ch I despi sed. Thi s
was al l t hey want ed me t o concede. I t was enough. I had sur r ender ed t hat
whi ch al l of t hei r cl apt r ap i s desi gned t o subver t and t o dest r oy: man' s
r eason.
No, t hey wer e not abl e t o deal wi t h mat t er , t o pr oduce abundance, t o
cont r ol t hi s ear t h. They di d not have t o. They cont r ol l ed me.
" I , who knew t hat weal t h i s onl y a means t o an end, cr eat ed t he means and
l et t hempr escr i be my ends. I , who t ook pr i de i n my abi l i t y t o achi eve t he
sat i sf act i on of my desi r es, l et t hempr escr i be t he code of val ues by whi ch I
j udged my desi r es. I , who shaped mat t er t o ser ve my pur pose, was l ef t wi t h a
pi l e of st eel and gol d, but wi t h my ever y pur pose def eat ed, my ever y desi r e
bet r ayed, my ever y at t empt at happi ness f r ust r at ed.
" 1 had cut mysel f i n t wo, as t he myst i cs pr eached, and I r an my busi ness
by one code of r ul es, but my own l i f e by anot her . I r ebel l ed agai nst t he
l oot er s' at t empt t o set t he pr i ce and val ue of my st eel but I l et t hemset
t he mor al val ues of my l i f e. I r ebel l ed agai nst demands f or an unear ned
weal t hbut I t hought i t was my dut y t o gr ant an unear ned l ove t o a wi f e I
despi sed, an unear ned r espect t o a mot her who hat ed me, an unear ned suppor t
t o a br ot her who pl ot t ed f or my dest r uct i on. I r ebel l ed agai nst undeser ved
f i nanci al i nj ur ybut I accept ed a l i f e of undeser ved pai n. I r ebel l ed agai nst
t he doct r i ne t hat my pr oduct i ve abi l i t y was gui l t but I accept ed, as gui l t ,
my capaci t y f or happi ness. I r ebel l ed agai nst t he cr eed t hat vi r t ue i s some
di sembodi ed unknowabl e of t he spi r i t but I damned you, you, my dear est one,
f or t he desi r e of your body and mi ne. But i f t he body i s evi l ; t hen so ar e
t hose who pr ovi de t he means of i t s sur vi val , so i s mat er i al weal t h and t hose
who pr oduce i t and i f mor al val ues ar e set i n cont r adi ct i on t o our physi cal
exi st ence, t hen i t ' s r i ght t hat r ewar ds shoul d be unear ned, t hat vi r t ue
shoul d consi st of t he undone, t hat t her e shoul d be no t i e bet ween achi evement
and pr of i t , t hat t he i nf er i or ani mal s who' r e abl e t o pr oduce shoul d ser ve
t hose super i or bei ngs whose super i or i t y i n spi r i t consi st s of i ncompet ence i n
t he f l esh.
" I f some man l i ke Hugh Akst on had t ol d me, when I st ar t ed, t hat by
accept i ng t he myst i cs' t heor y of sex I was accept i ng t he l oot er s' t heor y of
economi cs, I woul d have l aughed i n hi s f ace. I woul d not l augh at hi mnow.
Now I see Rear den St eel bei ng r ul ed by human scumI see t he achi evement of my
l i f e ser vi ng t o enr i ch t he wor st of my enemi esand as t o t he onl y t wo per sons
I ever l oved, I ' ve br ought a deadl y i nsul t t o one and publ i c di sgr ace t o t he
ot her . I sl apped t he f ace of t he man who was my f r i end, my def ender , my
t eacher , t he man who set me f r ee by hel pi ng me t o l ear n what I ' ve l ear ned, I
l oved hi m, Dagny, he was t he br ot her , t he son, t he comr ade I never hadbut I
knocked hi mout of my l i f e, because he woul d not hel p me t o pr oduce f or t he
l oot er s. I ' d gi ve anyt hi ng now t o have hi mback, but I own not hi ng t o of f er
i n such r epayment , and I ' l l never see hi magai n, because i t ' s I who' l l know
t hat t her e i s no way t o deser ve even t he r i ght t o ask f or gi veness.
" But what I ' ve done t o you, my dear est , i s st i l l wor se. Your speech and
t hat you had t o make i t t hat ' s what I ' ve br ought upon t he onl y woman I l oved,
i n payment f or t he onl y happi ness I ' ve known. Don' t t el l me t hat i t was your
choi ce f r omt he f i r st and t hat you accept ed al l consequences, i ncl udi ng
t oni ght i t does not r edeemt he f act t hat i t was I who had no bet t er choi ce t o
of f er you. And t hat t he l oot er s f or ced you t o speak, t hat you spoke t o avenge
me and set me f r ee
does not r edeemt he f act t hat i t was I who made t hei r t act i cs possi bl e.
I t was not t hen own convi ct i ons of si n and di shonor t hat t hey coul d use t o
di sgr ace youi t was mi ne. They mer el y car r i ed out t he t hi ngs I bel i eved and
sai d i n El l i s Wyat t ' s house. I t was I who kept our l ove bi dden as a gui l t y
secr et t hey mer el y t r eat ed i t f or what i t was by my own appr ai sal . I t was I
who was wi l l i ng t o count er f ei t r eal i t y f or t he sake of appear ance i n t hei r
eyest hey mer el y cashed i n on t he r i ght I had gi ven t hem.
" Peopl e t hi nk t hat a l i ar gai ns a vi ct or y over hi s vi ct i m. What I ' ve
l ear ned i s t hat a l i e i s an act of sel f - abdi cat i on, because one sur r ender s
one' s r eal i t y t o t he per son t o whomone l i es, maki ng t hat per son one' s
mast er , condemni ng onesel f f r omt hen on t o f aki ng t he sor t of r eal i t y t hat
per son' s vi ew r equi r es t o be f aked. And i f one gai ns t he i mmedi at e pur pose of
t he l i et he pr i ce one pays i s t he dest r uct i on of t hat whi ch t he gai n was
i nt ended t o ser ve. The man who l i es t o t he wor l d, i s t he wor l d' s sl ave f r om
t hen on- When I chose t o hi de my l ove f or you, t o di savow i t i n publ i c and
l i ve i t as a l i e, I made i t publ i c pr oper t yand t he publ i c has cl ai med i t i n
a f i t t i ng sor t of manner . I had no way t o aver t i t and no power t o save you.
When I gave i n t o t he l oot er s, when I si gned t hei r Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e, t o
pr ot ect youI was st i l l f aki ng r eal i t y, t her e was not hi ng el se l ef t open t o
meand, Dagny, I ' d r at her have seen us bot h dead t han per mi t t hemt o do what
t hey t hr eat ened. But t her e ar e no whi t e l i es, t her e i s onl y t he bl ackness of
dest r uct i on, and a whi t e l i e i s t he bl ackest of al l . I was st i l l f aki ng
r eal i t y, and i t had t he i nexor abl e r esul t : i nst ead of pr ot ect i on, i t br ought
you a mor e t er r i bl e ki nd of or deal , i nst ead of savi ng your name, i t f or ced
you t o of f er your sel f f or a publ i c st oni ng and t o t hr ow t he st ones by your
own hand. I know t hat you wer e pr oud of t he t hi ngs you sai d, and I was pr oud
t o hear youbut t hat was t he pr i de we shoul d have cl ai med t wo year s ago.
" No, you di d not make i t wor se f or me, you set me f r ee, you saved us bot h,
you r edeemed our past . I can' t ask you t o f or gi ve me, we' r e f ar beyond such
t er msand t he onl y at onement I can of f er you i s t he f act t hat I amhappy.
That I amhappy, my dar l i ng, not t hat I suf f er . I amhappy t hat I have seen
t he t r ut heven i f my power of si ght i s al l t hat ' s l ef t t o me now. Wer e I t o
sur r ender t o pai n and gi ve up i n f ut i l e r egr et t hat my own er r or has wr ecked
my past t hat woul d be t he act of f i nal t r eason, t he ul t i mat e f ai l ur e t owar d
t hat t r ut h I r egr et havi ng f ai l ed. But i f my l ove of t r ut h i s l ef t as my onl y
possessi on, t hen t he gr eat er t he l oss behi nd me, t he gr eat er t he pr i de I may
t ake i n t he pr i ce I have pai d f or t hat l ove. Then t he wr eckage wi l l not
become a f uner eal mount above me, but wi l l ser ve as a hei ght I have cl i mbed
t o at t ai n a wi der f i el d of vi si on. My pr i de and my power of vi si on wer e al l
t hat I owned when I st ar t edand what ever I achi eved, was achi eved by means of
t hem. Bot h ar e gr eat er now, Now I have t he knowl edge of t he super l at i ve val ue
I had mi ssed: of my r i ght t o be pr oud of my vi si on. The r est i s mi ne t o
r each.
" And, Dagny, t he one t hi ng I want ed, as t he f i r st st ep of my f ut ur e, was
t o say t hat I l ove youas I ' msayi ng i t now. I l ove you, my dear est , wi t h
t hat bl i ndest passi on of my body whi ch comes f r omt he cl ear est per cept i on of
my mi ndand my l ove f or you i s t he onl y at t ai nment of my past t hat wi l l be
l ef t t o me, unchanged, t hr ough al l t he year s ahead. I want ed t o say i t t o you
whi l e I st i l l had t he r i ght t o say i t . And because I had not sai d i t at our
begi nni ng, t hi s i s t he way I have t o say i t at t he end. Now I ' l l t el l you
what i t was t hat you want ed t o t el l mebecause, you see, I know i t and I
accept : somewher e wi t hi n t he past mont h, you have met t he man you l ove, and
i f l ove means one' s f i nal , i r r epl aceabl e choi ce, t hen he i s t he onl y man
you' ve ever l oved. "
" Yes! " Her voi ce was hal f - gasp, hal f - scr eam, as under a physi cal bl ow,
wi t h shock as her onl y awar eness. " Hank! how di d you know i t ?"
He smi l ed and poi nt ed at t he r adi o. " My dar l i ng, you used not hi ng but t he
past t ense. "
" Oh . . . ! Her voi ce was now hal f - gasp, hal f - moan, and she cl osed her
eyes.
" You never pr onounced t he one wor d you woul d have r i ght f ul l y t hr own at
t hem, wer e i t ot her wi se. You sai d, ' I want ed hi m, ' not , ' I l ove hi m. ' You
t ol d me on t he phone t oday t hat you coul d have r et ur ned sooner . No ot her
r eason woul d have made you l eave me as you di d. Onl y t hat one r eason was
val i d and r i ght . "
She was l eani ng back a l i t t l e, as i f f i ght i ng f or bal ance t o st and, yet
she was l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi m, wi t h a smi l e t hat di d not par t her l i ps, but
sof t ened her eyes t o a gl ance of admi r at i on and her mout h t o a shape of pai n.
" I t ' s t r ue. I ' ve met t he man I l ove and wi l l al ways l ove, I ' ve seen hi m,
I ' ve spoken t o hi mbut he' s a man whomI can' t have, whomI may never have
and, per haps, may never see agai n. "
" I t hi nk I ' ve al ways known t hat you woul d f i nd hi m. I knew what you f el t
f or me, I knew how much i t was, but I knew t hat I was not your f i nal choi ce.
What you' l l gi ve hi mi s not t aken away f r omme, i t ' s what I ' ve never had. I
can' t r ebel agai nst i t . What I ' ve had means t oo much t o meand t hat I ' ve had
i t , can never be changed. "
" Do you want me t o say i t , Hank? Wi l l you under st and i t , i f I say t hat
I ' l l al ways l ove you?"
" I t hi nk I ' ve under st ood i t bef or e you di d. "
" I ' ve al ways seen you as you ar e now. That gr eat ness of your s whi ch you
ar e j ust begi nni ng t o al l ow your sel f t o knowI ' ve al ways known i t and I ' ve
wat ched your st r uggl e t o di scover i t . Don' t speak of at onement , you have not
hur t me, your mi st akes came f r omyour magni f i cent i nt egr i t y under t he t or t ur e
of an i mpossi bl e codeand your f i ght agai nst i t di d not br i ng me suf f er i ng,
i t br ought me t he f eel i ng I ' ve f ound t oo sel dom: admi r at i on. I f you wi l l
accept i t , i t wi l l al ways be your s. What you meant t o me can never be
changed. But t he man I met he i s t he l ove I had want ed t o r each l ong bef or e I
knew t hat he exi st ed, and I t hi nk he wi l l r emai n beyond my r each, but t hat I
l ove hi mwi l l be enough t o keep me l i vi ng. "
He t ook her hand and pr essed i t t o hi s l i ps. " Then you know what I f eel , "
he sai d, " and why I amst i l l happy. "
Looki ng up at hi s f ace, she r eal i zed t hat f or t he f i r st t i me he was what
she had al ways t hought hi mi nt ended t o be: a man wi t h an i mmense capaci t y f or
t he enj oyment of exi st ence. The t aut l ook of endur ance, of f i er cel y
unadmi t t ed pai n, was gone; now, i n t he mi dst of t he wr eckage and of hi s
har dest hour , hi s f ace had t he ser eni t y of pur e st r engt h; i t had t he l ook she
had seen i n t he f aces of t he men i n t he val l ey.
" Hank, " she whi sper ed, " I don' t t hi nk I can expl ai n i t , but I f eel t hat I
have commi t t ed no t r eason, ei t her t o you or t o hi m. "
" You haven' t . "
Her eyes seemed abnor mal l y al i ve i n a f ace dr ai ned of col or , as i f her
consci ousness r emai ned unt ouched i n a body br oken by exhaust i on. He made her
si t down and sl i pped hi s ar mal ong t he back of t he couch, not t ouchi ng her ,
yet hol di ng her i n a pr ot ect i ve embr ace.
" Now t el l me, " he asked, " wher e wer e you?"
" I can' t t el l you t hat . I ' ve gi ven my wor d never t o r eveal anyt hi ng about
i t . I can say onl y t hat i t ' s a pl ace I f ound by acci dent , when I cr ashed, and
I l ef t i t bl i ndf ol dedand I woul dn' t be abl e t o f i nd i t agai n. "
" Coul dn' t you t r ace your way back t o i t ?"
" I won' t t r y. "
" And t he man?"
" I won' t l ook f or hi m. "
" He r emai ned t her e?"
" I don' t know. "
" Why di d you l eave hi m?"
" I can' t t el l you. "
" Who i s he?"
Her chuckl e of desper at e amusement was i nvol unt ar y. " Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
He gl anced at her , ast oni shedbut r eal i zed t hat she was not j oki ng.
" So t her e i s a J ohn Gal t ?" he asked sl owl y, " Yes. "
" That sl ang phr ase r ef er s t o hi m?"
" Yes. "
" And i t has some speci al meani ng?"
" Oh yes! . . . Ther e' s one t hi ng I can t el l you about hi m, because I
di scover ed i t ear l i er , wi t hout pr omi se of secr ecy: he i s t he man who i nvent ed
t he mot or we f ound. "
" Oh! " He smi l ed, as i f he shoul d have known i t . Then he sai d sof t l y, wi t h
a gl ance t hat was al most compassi on, " He' s t he dest r oyer , i sn' t he?" He saw
her l ook of shock, and added, " No, don' t answer me, i f you can' t . I t hi nk I
know wher e you wer e. I t was Quent i n Dani el s t hat you want ed t o save f r omt he
dest r oyer , and you wer e f ol l owi ng Dani el s when you cr ashed, wer en' t you?"
" Yes. "
" Good God, Dagny! does such a pl ace r eal l y exi st ? Ar e t hey al l al i ve? I s
t her e . . . ? I ' msor r y. Don' t answer . "
She smi l ed. " I t does exi st . "
He r emai ned si l ent f or a l ong t i me.
" Hank, coul d you gi ve up Rear den St eel ?"
" No! " The answer was f i er cel y i mmedi at e, but he added, wi t h t he f i r st
sound of hopel essness i n hi s voi ce, " Not yet . "
Then he l ooked at her , as i f , i n t he t r ansi t i on of hi s t hr ee wor ds, he had
l i ved t he cour se of her agony of t he past mont h. " I see, " he sai d. He r an hi s
hand over her f or ehead, wi t h a gest ur e of under st andi ng, of compassi on, of an
al most i ncr edul ous wonder . " What hel l you' ve now under t aken t o endur e! " he
sai d, hi s voi ce l ow.
She nodded.
She sl i pped down, t o l i e st r et ched, her f ace on hi s knees. He st r oked her
hai r ; he sai d, " We' l l f i ght t he l oot er s as l ong as we can. I don' t know what
f ut ur e i s possi bl e t o us, but we' l l wi n or we' l l l ear n t hat i t ' s hopel ess.
Unt i l we do, we' l l f i ght f or our wor l d. We' r e al l t hat ' s l ef t of i t . "
She f el l asl eep, l yi ng t her e, her hand cl aspi ng hi s. Her l ast awar eness,
bef or e she sur r ender ed t he r esponsi bi l i t y of consci ousness, was t he sense of
an enor mous voi d, t he voi d of a ci t y and of a cont i nent wher e she woul d never
be abl e t o f i nd t he man whomshe had no r i ght t o seek.

CHAPTER IV
ANTI-LIFE

J ames Taggar t r eached i nt o t he pocket of hi s di nner j acket , pul l ed out t he
f i r st wad of paper he f ound, whi ch was a hundr ed- dol l ar bi l l , and dr opped i t
i nt o t he beggar ' s hand.
He not i ced t hat t he beggar pocket ed t he money i n a manner as i ndi f f er ent
as hi s own. " Thanks, bud. " sai d t he beggar cont empt uousl y, and wal ked away.
J ames Taggar t r emai ned st i l l i n t he mi ddl e of t he si dewal k, wonder i ng what
gave hi ma sense of shock and dr ead. I t was not t he man' s i nsol encehe had
not sought any gr at i t ude, he had not been moved by pi t y, hi s gest ur e had been
aut omat i c and meani ngl ess. I t was t hat t he beggar act ed as i f he woul d have
been i ndi f f er ent had he r ecei ved a hundr ed dol l ar s or a di me or , f ai l i ng t o
f i nd any hel p what ever , had seen hi msel f dyi ng of st ar vat i on wi t hi n t hi s
ni ght . Taggar t shudder ed and wal ked br usquel y on, t he shudder ser vi ng t o cut
of f t he r eal i zat i on t hat t he beggar ' s mood mat ched hi s own.
The wal l s of t he st r eet ar ound hi mhad t he st r essed, unnat ur al cl ar i t y of
a summer t wi l i ght , whi l e an or ange haze f i l l ed t he channel s of i nt er sect i ons
and vei l ed t he t i er s of r oof s, l eavi ng hi mon a shr i nki ng r emnant of gr ound.
The cal endar i n t he sky seemed t o st and i nsi st ent l y out of t he haze, yel l ow
l i ke a page of ol d par chment , sayi ng: August 5, Nohe t hought , i n answer t o
t hi ngs he had not namedi t was not t r ue, he f el t f i ne, t hat ' s why he want ed
t o do somet hi ng t oni ght . He coul d not admi t t o hi msel f t hat hi s pecul i ar
r est l essness came f r oma desi r e t o exper i ence pl easur e; he coul d not admi t
t hat t he par t i cul ar pl easur e he want ed was t hat of cel ebr at i on, because he
coul d not admi t what i t was t hat he want ed t o cel ebr at e.
Thi s had been a day of i nt ense act i vi t y, spent on wor ds f l oat i ng as
vaguel y as cot t on, yet achi evi ng a pur pose as pr eci sel y as an addi ng machi ne,
summi ng up t o hi s f ul l sat i sf act i on. But hi s pur pose and t he nat ur e of hi s
sat i sf act i on had t o be kept as car ef ul l y hi dden f r omhi msel f as t hey had been
f r omot her s; and hi s sudden cr avi ng f or pl easur e was a danger ous br each.
The day had st ar t ed wi t h a smal l l uncheon i n t he hot el sui t e of a vi si t i ng
Ar gent i ni an l egi sl at or , wher e a f ew peopl e of var i ous nat i onal i t i es had
t al ked at l ei sur el y l engt h about t he cl i mat e of Ar gent i na, i t s soi l , i t s
r esour ces, t he needs of i t s peopl e, t he val ue of a dynami c, pr ogr essi ve
at t i t ude t owar d t he f ut ur eand had ment i oned, as t he br i ef est t opi c of
conver sat i on, t hat Ar gent i na woul d be decl ar ed a Peopl e' s St at e wi t hi n t wo
weeks.
I t had been f ol l owed by a f ew cockt ai l s at t he home of Or r en Boyl e, wi t h
onl y one unobt r usi ve gent l eman f r omAr gent i na si t t i ng si l ent l y i n a cor ner ,
whi l e t wo execut i ves f r omWashi ngt on and a f ew f r i ends of unspeci f i ed
posi t i ons had t al ked about nat i onal r esour ces, met al l ur gy, mi ner al ogy,
nei ghbor l y dut i es and t he wel f ar e of t he gl obeand had ment i oned t hat a l oan
of f our bi l l i on dol l ar s woul d be gr ant ed wi t hi n t hr ee weeks t o t he Peopl e' s
St at e of Ar gent i na and t he Peopl e' s St at e of Chi l e.
I t had been f ol l owed by a smal l cockt ai l par t y i n a pr i vat e r oomof t he
bar bui l t l i ke a cel l ar on t he r oof of a skyscr aper , an i nf or mal par t y gi ven
by hi m, J ames Taggar t , f or t he di r ect or s of a r ecent l y f or med company, The
I nt er nei ghbor l y Ami t y and Devel opment Cor por at i on, of whi ch Or r en Boyl e was
pr esi dent and a sl ender , gr acef ul , over act i ve man f r omChi l e was t r easur er , a
man whose name was Senor Mar i o Mar t i nez, but whomTaggar t was t empt ed, by
some r esembl ance of spi r i t , t o cal l Senor Cuf f y Mei gs. Her e t hey had t al ked
about gol f , hor se r aces, boat r aces, aut omobi l es and women. I t had not been
necessar y t o ment i on, si nce t hey al l knew i t , t hat t he I nt er nei ghbor l y Ami t y
and Devel opment Cor por at i on had an excl usi ve cont r act t o oper at e, on a
t went y- year " manager i al l ease, " al l t he i ndust r i al pr oper t i es of t he Peopl e' s
St at es of t he Sout her n Hemi spher e.
The l ast event of t he day had been a l ar ge di nner r ecept i on at t he home of
Senor Rodr i go Gonzal es, a di pl omat i c r epr esent at i ve of Chi l e.
No one had hear d of Senor Gonzal es a year ago, but he had become f amous
f or t he par t i es he had gi ven i n t he past si x mont hs, ever si nce hi s ar r i val
i n New Yor k. Hi s guest s descr i bed hi mas a pr ogr essi ve busi nessman. He had
l ost hi s pr oper t yi t was sai dwhen Chi l e, becomi ng a Peopl e' s St at e, had
nat i onal i zed al l pr oper t i es, except t hose bel ongi ng t o ci t i zens of backwar d,
non- Peopl e' s count r i es, such as Ar gent i na; but he had adopt ed an enl i ght ened
at t i t ude and had j oi ned t he new r egi me, pl aci ng hi msel f i n t he ser vi ce of hi s
count r y. Hi s home i n New Yor k occupi ed an ent i r e f l oor of an excl usi ve
r esi dent i al hot el .
He had a f at , bl ank f ace and t he eyes of a ki l l er . Wat chi ng hi mat
t oni ght ' s r ecept i on, Taggar t had concl uded t hat t he man was i mper vi ous t o any
sor t of f eel i ng, he l ooked as i f a kni f e coul d sl ash, unnot i ced, t hr ough hi s
pendul ous l ayer s of f l eshexcept t hat t her e was a l ewd, al most sexual r el i sh
i n t he way he r ubbed hi s f eet agai nst t he r i ch pi l e of hi s Per si an r ugs, or
pat t ed t he pol i shed ar mof hi s chai r , or f ol ded hi s l i ps about a ci gar . Hi s
wi f e, t he Senor a Gonzal es, was a smal l , at t r act i ve woman, not as beaut i f ul as
she assumed, but enj oyi ng t he r eput at i on of a beaut y by means of a vi ol ent
ner vous ener gy and an odd manner of l oose, war m, cyni cal sel f - asser t i veness
t hat seemed t o pr omi se anyt hi ng and t o absol ve anyone. I t was known t hat her
par t i cul ar br and of t r adi ng was her husband' s chi ef asset , i n an age when one
t r aded, not goods, but f avor sand, wat chi ng her among t he guest s, Taggar t had
f ound amusement i n wonder i ng what deal s had been made, what di r ect i ves
i ssued, what i ndust r i es dest r oyed i n exchange f or a f ew chance ni ght s, whi ch
most of t hose men had had no r eason t o seek and, per haps, coul d no l onger
r emember . The par t y had bor ed hi m, t her e had been onl y hal f a dozen per sons
f or whose sake he had put i n an appear ance, and i t had not been necessar y t o
speak t o t hat hal f - dozen, mer el y t o be seen and t o exchange a f ew gl ances.
Di nner had been about t o be ser ved, when he had hear d what he had come t o
hear : Senor Gonzal es had ment i onedt he smoke of hi s ci gar weavi ng over t he
hal f - dozen men who had dr i f t ed t owar d hi s ar mchai r t hat by agr eement wi t h t he
f ut ur e Peopl e' s St at e of Ar gent i na, t he pr oper t i es of d' Anconi a Copper woul d
be nat i onal i zed by t he Peopl e' s St at e of Chi l e, i n l ess t han a mont h, on
Sept ember 2.
I t had al l gone as Taggar t had expect ed; t he unexpect ed had come when, on
hear i ng t hose wor ds, he had f el t an i r r esi st i bl e ur ge t o escape.
He had f el t i ncapabl e of endur i ng t he bor edomof t he di nner , as i f some
ot her f or mof act i vi t y wer e needed t o gr eet t he achi evement of t hi s ni ght . He
had wal ked out i nt o t he summer t wi l i ght of t he st r eet s, f eel i ng as i f he wer e
bot h pur sui ng and pur sued: pur sui ng a pl easur e whi ch not hi ng coul d gi ve hi m,
i n cel ebr at i on of a f eel i ng whi ch he dar ed not namepur sued by t he dr ead of
di scover i ng what mot i ve had moved hi mt hr ough t he pl anni ng of t oni ght ' s
achi evement and what aspect of i t now gave hi mt hi s f ever i sh sense of
gr at i f i cat i on.
He r emi nded hi msel f t hat he woul d sel l hi s d' Anconi a Copper st ock, whi ch
had never r al l i ed f ul l y af t er i t s cr ash of l ast year , and he woul d pur chase
shar es of t he I nt er - nei ghbor l y Ami t y and Devel opment Cor por at i on, as agr eed
wi t h hi s f r i ends, whi ch woul d br i ng hi ma f or t une. But t he t hought br ought
hi mnot hi ng but bor edom; t hi s was not t he t hi ng he want ed t o cel ebr at e.
He t r i ed t o f or ce hi msel f t o enj oy i t : money, he t hought , had been hi s
mot i ve, money, not hi ng wor se. Wasn' t t hat a nor mal mot i ve? A val i d one?
Wasn' t t hat what t hey al l wer e af t er , t he Wyat t s, t he Rear dens, t he
d' Anconi as? . . . He j er ked hi s head t o st op i t : he f el t as i f hi s t hought s
wer e sl i ppi ng down a danger ous bl i nd al l ey, t he end of whi ch he must never
per mi t hi msel f t o see.
Nohe t hought bl eakl y, i n r el uct ant admi ssi onmoney meant not hi ng t o hi m
any l onger . He had t hr own dol l ar s about by t he hundr eds
at t hat par t y he had gi ven t odayf or unf i ni shed dr i nks, f or uneat en
del i caci es, f or unpr ovoked t i ps and unexpect ed whi ms, f or a l ong di st ance
phone cal l t o Ar gent i na because one of t he guest s had want ed t o check t he
exact ver si on of a smut t y st or y he had st ar t ed t el l i ng, f or t he spur of any
moment , f or t he cl ammy st upor of knowi ng t hat i t was easi er t o pay t han t o
t hi nk.
" You' ve got not hi ng t o wor r y about , under t hat Rai l r oad Uni f i cat i on Pl an, "
Or r en Boyl e had gi ggl ed t o hi mdr unkenl y. Under t he Rai l r oad Uni f i cat i on
Pl an, a l ocal r ai l r oad had gone bankr upt i n Nor t h Dakot a, abandoni ng t he
r egi on t o t he f at e of a bl i ght ed ar ea, t he l ocal banker had commi t t ed
sui ci de, f i r st ki l l i ng hi s wi f e and chi l dr ena f r ei ght t r ai n had been t aken
oi l t he schedul e i n Tennessee, l eavi ng a l ocal f act or y wi t hout t r anspor t at i on
at a day' s not i ce, t he f act or y owner ' s son had qui t col l ege and was now i n
j ai l , awai t i ng execut i on f or a mur der commi t t ed wi t h a gang of r ai der sa way
st at i on had been cl osed i n Kansas, and t he st at i on agent , who had want ed t o
be a sci ent i st , had gi ven up hi s st udi es and become a di shwasher t hat he,
J ames Taggar t , mi ght si t i n a pr i vat e bar r oomand pay f or t he al cohol pour i ng
down Or r en Boyl e' s t hr oat , f or t he wai t er who sponged Boyl e' s gar ment s when
he spi l l ed hi s dr i nk over hi s chest , f or t he car pet bur ned by t he ci gar et t es
of an ex- pi mp f r omChi l e who di d not want t o t ake t he t r oubl e of r eachi ng f or
an asht r ay acr oss a di st ance of t hr ee f eet .
I t was not t he knowl edge of hi s i ndi f f er ence t o money t hat now gave hi ma
shudder of dr ead. I t was t he knowl edge t hat he woul d be equal l y i ndi f f er ent ,
wer e he r educed t o t he st at e of t he beggar . Ther e had been a t i me when he had
f el t some measur e of gui l t i n no cl ear er a f or mt han a t ouch of i r r i t at i onat
t he t hought t hat he shar ed t he si n of gr eed, whi ch he spent hi s t i me
denounci ng. Now he was hi t by t he chi l l r eal i zat i on t hat , i n f act , he had
never been a hypocr i t e: i n f ul l t r ut h, he had never car ed f or money. Thi s
l ef t anot her hol e gapi ng open bef or e hi m, l eadi ng i nt o anot her bl i nd al l ey
whi ch he coul d not r i sk seei ng.
I j ust want t o do somet hi ng t oni ght ! he cr i ed soundl essl y t o someone at
l ar ge, i n pr ot est and i n demandi ng anger i n pr ot est agai nst what ever i t was
t hat kept f or ci ng t hese t hought s i nt o hi s mi ndi n anger at a uni ver se wher e
some mal evol ent power woul d not per mi t hi mt o f i nd enj oyment wi t hout t he need
t o know what he want ed or why.
What do you want ?some enemy voi ce kept aski ng, and he wal ked f ast er ,
t r yi ng t o escape i t . I t seemed t o hi mt hat hi s br ai n was a maze wher e a bl i nd
al l ey opened at ever y t ur n, l eadi ng i nt o a f og t hat hi d an abyss. I t seemed
t o hi mt hat he was r unni ng, whi l e t he smal l i sl and of saf et y was shr i nki ng
and not hi ng but t hose al l eys woul d soon be l ef t . I t was l i ke t he r emnant of
cl ar i t y i n t he st r eet ar ound hi m, wi t h t he haze r ol l i ng i n t o f i l l al l exi t s.
Why di d i t have t o shr i nk?he t hought i n pani c. Thi s was t he way he had l i ved
al l hi s l i f ekeepi ng hi s eyes st ubbor nl y, saf el y on t he i mmedi at e pavement
bef or e hi m, cr af t i l y avoi di ng t he si ght of hi s r oad, of cor ner s, of
di st ances, of pi nnacl es. He had never i nt ended goi ng anywher e, he had want ed
t o be f r ee of pr ogr essi on, f r ee of t he yoke of a st r ai ght l i ne, he had never
want ed hi s year s t o add up t o any sumwhat had summed t hemup?why had he
r eached some unchosen dest i nat i on wher e one coul d no l onger st and st i l l or
r et r eat ? " Look wher e you' r e goi ng, br ot her ! " snar l ed some voi ce, whi l e an
el bow pushed hi mbackand he r eal i zed t hat he had col l i ded wi t h some l ar ge,
i l l - smel l i ng f i gur e and t hat he had been r unni ng.
He sl owed hi s st eps and admi t t ed i nt o hi s mi nd a r ecogni t i on of t he
st r eet s he had chosen i n hi s r andomescape. He had not want ed t o know t hat he
was goi ng home t o hi s wi f e. That , t oo, was a f ogbound al l ey, but t her e was no
ot her l ef t t o hi m.
He knewt he moment he saw Cher r yl ' s si l ent , poi sed f i gur e as she r ose at
hi s ent r ance i nt o her r oomt hat t hi s was mor e danger ous t han he had al l owed
hi msel f t o know and t hat he woul d not f i nd what he want ed. But danger , t o
hi m, was a si gnal t o shut of f hi s si ght , suspend hi s j udgment and pur sue an
unal t er ed cour se, on t he unst at ed pr emi se t hat t he danger woul d r emai n unr eal
by t he sover ei gn power of hi s wi sh not t o see i t l i ke a f oghor n wi t hi n hi m,
bl owi ng, not t o sound a war ni ng, but t o summon t he f og.
" Why, yes, I di d have an i mpor t ant busi ness banquet t o at t end, but I
changed my mi nd, I f el t l i ke havi ng di nner wi t h you t oni ght , " he sai d i n t he
t one of a compl i ment but a qui et " I see" was t he onl y answer he obt ai ned.
He f el t i r r i t at i on at her unast oni shed manner and her pal e, unr eveal i ng
f ace. He f el t i r r i t at i on at t he smoot h ef f i ci ency wi t h whi ch she gave
i nst r uct i ons t o t he ser vant s, t hen at f i ndi ng hi msel f i n t he candl el i ght of
t he di ni ng r oom, f aci ng her acr oss a per f ect l y appoi nt ed t abl e, wi t h t wo
cr yst al cups of f r ui t i n si l ver bowl s of i ce bet ween t hem.
I t was her poi se t hat i r r i t at ed hi mmost ; she was no l onger an i ncongr uous
l i t t l e f r eak, dwar f ed by t he l uxur y of t he r esi dence whi ch a f amous ar t i st
had desi gned; she mat ched i t . She sat at t he t abl e as i f she wer e t he ki nd of
host ess t hat r oomhad t he r i ght t o demand. She wor e a t ai l or ed housecoat of
r usset - col or ed br ocade t hat bl ended wi t h t he br onze of her hai r , t he sever e
si mpl i ci t y of i t s l i nes ser vi ng as her onl y or nament . He woul d have pr ef er r ed
t he j i ngl i ng br acel et s and r hi nest one buckl es of her past . Her eyes di st ur bed
hi m, as t hey had f or mont hs: t hey wer e nei t her f r i endl y nor host i l e, but
wat chf ul and quest i oni ng.
" I cl osed a bi g deal t oday, " he sai d, hi s t one par t boast f ul , par t
pl eadi ng. " A deal i nvol vi ng t hi s whol e cont i nent and hal f a dozen
gover nment s. "
He r eal i zed t hat t he awe, t he admi r at i on, t he eager cur i osi t y he had
expect ed, bel onged t o t he f ace of t he l i t t l e shop gi r l who had ceased t o
exi st . He saw none of i t i n t he f ace of hi s wi f e; even anger or hat r ed woul d
have been pr ef er abl e t o her l evel , at t ent i ve gl ance; t he gl ance was wor se
t han accusi ng, i t was i nqui r i ng.
" What deal , J i m?"
" What do you mean, what deal ? Why ar e you suspi ci ous? Why do you have t o
st ar t pr yi ng at once?"
" I ' msor r y. I di dn' t know i t was conf i dent i al . You don' t have t o answer
me. "
" I t ' s not conf i dent i al . " He wai t ed, but she r emai ned si l ent . " Wel l ?
Ar en' t you goi ng t o say anyt hi ng?"
" Why, no. " She sai d i t si mpl y, as i f t o pl ease hi m.
" So you' r e not i nt er est ed at al l ?"
" But I t hought you di dn' t want t o di scuss i t . "
" Oh, don' t be so t r i cky! " he snapped. " I t ' s a bi g busi ness deal . That ' s
what you admi r e, i sn' t i t , bi g busi ness? Wel l , i t ' s bi gger t han anyt hi ng
t hose boys ever dr eamed of . They spend t hei r l i ves gr ubbi ng f or t hei r
f or t unes penny by penny, whi l e I can do i t l i ke t hat " he snapped hi s f i nger s
" j ust l i ke t hat . I t ' s t he bi ggest si ngl e st unt ever pul l ed. "
" St unt , J i m?"
" Deal ! "
" And you di d i t ? Your sel f ?"
" You bet I di d i t ! That f at f ool , Or r en Boyl e, coul dn' t have swung i t i n a
mi l l i on year s. Thi s t ook knowl edge and ski l l and t i mi ng" he saw a spar k of
i nt er est i n her eyes" and psychol ogy. " The spar k vani shed, but he went
r ushi ng heedl essl y on. " One had t o know how t o appr oach Wesl ey, and how t o
keep t he wr ong i nf l uences away f r omhi m, and how t o get Mr . Thompson
i nt er est ed wi t hout l et t i ng hi mknow t oo much, and how t o cut Chi ck Mor r i son
i n on i t , but keep Ti nky Hol l oway out , and how t o get t he r i ght peopl e t o
gi ve a f ew par t i es f or Wesl ey at t he r i ght t i me, and . . . Say, Cher r yl , i s
t her e any champagne i n t hi s house?"
" Champagne?"
" Can' t we do somet hi ng speci al t oni ght ? Can' t we have a sor t of
cel ebr at i on t oget her ?"
" We can have champagne, yes, J i m, of cour se. "
She r ang t he bel l and gave t he or der s, i n her odd, l i f el ess, uncr i t i cal
manner , a manner of met i cul ous compl i ance wi t h hi s wi shes whi l e vol unt eer i ng
none of her own.
" You don' t seemt o be ver y i mpr essed, " he sai d. " But what woul d you know
about busi ness, anyway? You woul dn' t be abl e t o under st and anyt hi ng on so
l ar ge a scal e. Wai t t i l l Sept ember second. Wai t t i l l t hey hear about i t . "
" They? Who?"
He gl anced at her , as i f he had l et a danger ous wor d sl i p out
i nvol unt ar i l y, " We' ve or gani zed a set up wher e weme, Or r en and a f ew f r i ends
ar e goi ng t o cont r ol ever y i ndust r i al pr oper t y sout h of t he bor der . "
" Whose pr oper t y?"
" Why . . . t he peopl e' s. Thi s i s not an ol d- f ashi oned gr ab f or pr i vat e
pr of i t . I t ' s a deal wi t h a mi ssi ona wor t hy, publ i c- spi r i t ed mi ssi ont o
manage t he nat i onal i zed pr oper t i es of t he var i ous Peopl e' s St at es of Sout h
Amer i ca, t o t each t hei r wor ker s our moder n t echni ques of pr oduct i on, t o hel p
t he under pr i vi l eged who' ve never had a chance, t o" He br oke of f abr upt l y,
t hough she had mer el y sat l ooki ng at hi mwi t hout shi f t i ng her gl ance. " You
know, " he sai d suddenl y, wi t h a col d l i t t l e chuckl e, " i f you' r e so damn
anxi ous t o hi de t hat you came f r omt he sl ums, you ought t o be l ess
i ndi f f er ent t o t he phi l osophy of soci al wel f ar e. I t ' s al ways t he poor who
l ack humani t ar i an i nst i nct s. One has t o be bor n t o weal t h i n or der t o know
t he f i ner f eel i ngs of al t r ui sm. "
" I ' ve never t r i ed t o hi de t hat I came f r omt he sl ums, " she sai d i n t he
si mpl e, i mper sonal t one of a f act ual cor r ect i on. " And I haven' t any sympat hy
f or t hat wel f ar e phi l osophy. I ' ve seen enough of t hemt o know what makes t he
ki nd of poor who want somet hi ng f or not hi ng. "
He di d not answer , and she added suddenl y, her voi ce ast oni shed, but f i r m,
as i f i n f i nal conf i r mat i on of a l ong- st andi ng doubt , " J i m, you don' t car e
about i t , ei t her . You don' t car e about any of t hat wel f ar e hogwash. "
" Wel l , i f money i s al l t hat you' r e i nt er est ed i n, " he snapped, " l et me
t el l you t hat t hat deal wi l l br i ng me a f or t une. That ' s what you' ve al ways
admi r ed, i sn' t i t , weal t h?"
" I t depends. "
" I t hi nk I ' l l end up as one of t he r i chest men i n t he wor l d, " he sai d; he
di d not ask what her admi r at i on depended upon. " Ther e' s not hi ng I won' t be
abl e t o af f or d. Not hi ng. J ust name i t . I can gi ve you anyt hi ng you want . Go
on, name i t . "
" I don' t want anyt hi ng, J i m. "
" But I ' d l i ke t o gi ve you a pr esent ! To cel ebr at e t he occasi on, see?
Anyt hi ng you t ake i t i nt o your head t o ask. Anyt hi ng. I can do i t . I want
t o show you t hat I can do i t . Any f ancy you car e t o name. "
" I haven' t any f anci es. "
" Oh, come on! Want a yacht ?"
" No. "
" Want me t o buy you t he whol e nei ghbor hood wher e you l i ved i n Buf f al o?"
" No. "
" Want t he cr own j ewel s of t he Peopl e' s St at e of Engl and? They can be had,
you know. That Peopl e' s St at e has been hi nt i ng about i t on t he bl ack mar ket
f or a l ong t i me. But t her e ar en' t any ol d- f ashi oned t ycoons l ef t who' r e abl e
t o af f or d i t . I ' mabl e t o af f or d i t or wi l l be, af t er Sept ember second. Want
i t ?"
" No. "
" Then what do you want ?"
" I don' t want anyt hi ng, J i m. "
" But you' ve got t o! You' ve got t o want somet hi ng, damn you! "
She l ooked at hi m, f ai nt l y st ar t l ed, but ot her wi se i ndi f f er ent .
" Oh, al l r i ght , I ' msor r y, " he sai d; he seemed ast oni shed by hi s own 87!
out br eak. " I j ust want ed t o pl ease you, " he added sul l enl y, " but I guess
you can' t under st and i t at al l . You don' t know how i mpor t ant i t i s.
You don' t know how bi g a man you' r e mar r i ed t o. "
" I ' mt r yi ng t o f i nd out , " she sai d sl owl y, " Do you st i l l t hi nk, as you
used t o, t hat Hank Rear den i s a gr eat man?"
" Yes, J i m, I do. "
" Wel l , I ' ve got hi mbeat en. I ' mgr eat er t han any of t hem, gr eat er t han
Rear den and gr eat er t han t hat ot her l over of my si st er ' s, who"
He st opped, as i f he had sl i d t oo f ar .
" J i m, " she asked evenl y, " what i s goi ng t o happen on Sept ember second?"
He gl anced up at her , f r omunder hi s f or eheada col d gl ance, whi l e hi s
muscl es cr eased i nt o a semi - smi l e, as i f i n cyni cal br each of some hal l owed
r est r ai nt . " They' r e goi ng t o nat i onal i ze d' Anconi a Copper , " he sai d.
He hear d t he l ong, har sh r ol l of a mot or , as a pl ane went by somewher e i n
t he dar kness above t he r oof , t hen a t hi n t i nkl e, as a pi ece of i ce set t l ed,
mel t i ng, i n t he si l ver bowl of hi s f r ui t cupbef or e she answer ed. She sai d,
" He was your f r i end, wasn' t he?"
" Oh, shut up! "
He r emai ned si l ent , not l ooki ng at her . When hi s eyes came back t o her
f ace, she was st i l l wat chi ng hi mand she spoke f i r st , her voi ce oddl y st er n:
" What your si st er di d i n her r adi o br oadcast was gr eat . "
" Yes, I know, I know, you' ve been sayi ng t hat f or a mont h. "
" You' ve never answer ed me. "
" What i s t her e t o ans . . . ?"
" J ust as your f r i ends i n Washi ngt on have never answer ed her . " He r emai ned
si l ent . " J i m, I ' mnot dr oppi ng t he subj ect . " He di d not answer .
" Your f r i ends i n Washi ngt on never ut t er ed a wor d about i t . They di d not
deny t he t hi ngs she sai d, t hey di d not expl ai n, t hey di d not t r y t o j ust i f y
t hemsel ves. They act ed as i f she had never spoken. I t hi nk t hey' r e hopi ng
t hat peopl e wi l l f or get i t . Some peopl e wi l l . But t he r est of us know what
she sai d and t hat your f r i ends wer e af r ai d t o f i ght her . "
" That ' s not t r ue! The pr oper act i on was t aken and t he i nci dent i s cl osed
and I don' t see why you keep br i ngi ng i t up. "
" What act i on?"
" Ber t r amScudder was t aken of f t he ai r , as a pr ogr amnot i n t he publ i c
i nt er est at t he pr esent t i me. "
" Does t hat answer her ?"
" I t cl oses t he i ssue and t her e' s not hi ng mor e t o be sai d about i t . "
" About a gover nment t hat wor ks by bl ackmai l and ext or t i on?"
" You can' t say t hat not hi ng was done. I t ' s been publ i cl y announced t hat
Scudder ' s pr ogr ams wer e di sr upt i ve, dest r uct i ve and unt r ust wor t hy. "
" J i m, I want t o under st and t hi s. Scudder wasn' t on her si dehe was on
your s. He di dn' t even ar r ange t hat br oadcast . He was act i ng on or der s f r om
Washi ngt on, wasn' t he?"
" I t hought you di dn' t l i ke Ber t r amScudder . "
" I di dn' t and I don' t , but "
" Then what do you car e?"
" But he was i nnocent , as f ar as your f r i ends wer e concer ned, wasn' t he?"
" I wi sh you woul dn' t bot her wi t h pol i t i cs. You t al k l i ke a f ool . "
" He was i nnocent , wasn' t he?"
" So what ?"
She l ooked at hi m, her eyes i ncr edul ousl y wi de. " Then t hey j ust made hi m
t he scapegoat , di dn' t t hey?"
" Oh, don' t si t t her e l ooki ng l i ke Eddi e Wi l l er s! "
" Do I ? I l i ke Eddi e Wi l l er s. He' s honest . "
" He' s a damn hal f - wi t who doesn' t have t he f ai nt est i dea of how t o deal
wi t h pr act i cal r eal i t y! "
" But you do, don' t you, J i m?"
" You bet I do! "
" Then coul dn' t you have hel ped Scudder ?"
" I ?" He bur st i nt o hel pl ess, angr y l aught er . " Oh, why don' t you gr ow up? I
di d my best t o get Scudder t hr own t o t he l i ons! Somebody had t o be. Don' t you
know t hat i t was my neck, i f some ot her hadn' t been f ound?"
" Your neck? Why not Dagny' s, i f she was wr ong? Because she wasn' t ?"
" Dagny i s i n an ent i r el y di f f er ent cat egor y! I t had t o be Scudder or me. "
" Why?"
" And i t ' s much bet t er f or nat i onal pol i cy t o l et i t be Scudder . Thi s way,
i t ' s not necessar y t o ar gue about what she sai dand i f anybody br i ngs i t up,
we st ar t howl i ng t hat i t was sai d on Scudder ' s pr ogr amand t hat Scudder ' s
pr ogr ams have been di scr edi t ed and t hat Scudder i s a pr oven f r aud and l i ar ,
et c. , et c. and do you t hi nk t he publ i c wi l l be abl e t o unscr ambl e i t ?
Nobody' s ever t r ust ed Ber t r amScudder , anyway.
Oh, don' t st ar e at me l i ke t hat ! Woul d you r at her t hey' d pi cked me t o
di scr edi t ?"
" Why not Dagny? Because her speech coul d not be di scr edi t ed?"
" I f you' r e so damn sor r y f or Ber t r amScudder , you shoul d have seen hi mt r y
hi s damndest t o make t hembr eak my neck! He' s been doi ng t hat f or year show
do you t hi nk he got t o wher e he was, except by cl i mbi ng on car casses? He
t hought he was pr et t y power f ul , t ooyou shoul d have seen how t he bi g busi ness
t ycoons used t o be af r ai d of hi m! But he got hi msel f out maneuver ed, t hi s
t i me. Thi s t i me, he bel onged t o t he wr ong f act i on. "
Di ml y, t hr ough t he pl easant st upor of r el axi ng, of spr awl i ng back i n hi s
chai r and smi l i ng, he knew t hat t hi s was t he enj oyment he want ed: t o be
hi msel f . To be hi msel f he t hought , i n t he dr ugged, pr ecar i ous st at e of
f l oat i ng past t he deadl i est of hi s bl i nd al l eys, t he one t hat l ed t o t he
quest i on of what was hi msel f .
" You see, he bel onged t o t he Ti nky Hol l oway f act i on. I t was pr et t y much of
a seesaw f or a whi l e, bet ween t he Ti nky Hol l oway f act i on and t he Chi ck
Mor r i son f act i on. But we won. Ti nky made a deal and agr eed t o scut t l e hi s pal
Ber t r ami n exchange f or a f ew t hi ngs he needed f r omus. You shoul d have hear d
Ber t r amhowl ! But he was a dead duck and he knew i t . "
He st ar t ed on a r ol l i ng chuckl e, but choked i t of f , as t he haze cl ear ed
and he saw hi s wi f e' s f ace. " J i m, " she whi sper ed, " i s t hat t he sor t of . . .
vi ct or i es you' r e wi nni ng?"
" Oh, f or Chr i st ' s sake! " he scr eamed, smashi ng hi s f i st down on t he t abl e.
" Wher e have you been al l t hese year s? What sor t of wor l d do you t hi nk you' r e
l i vi ng i n?" Hi s bl ow had upset hi s wat er gl ass and t he wat er went spr eadi ng
i n dar k st ai ns over t he l ace of t he t abl ecl ot h.
" I ' mt r yi ng t o f i nd out , " she whi sper ed. Her shoul der s wer e saggi ng and
her f ace l ooked suddenl y wor n, an odd, aged l ook t hat seemed haggar d and
l ost .
" I coul dn' t hel p i t ! " he bur st out i n t he si l ence. " I ' mnot t o bl ame! I
have t o t ake t hi ngs as I f i nd t hem! I t ' s not I who' ve made t hi s wor l d! "
He was shocked t o see t hat she smi l eda smi l e of so f i er cel y bi t t er a
cont empt t hat i t seemed i ncr edi bl e on her gent l y pat i ent f ace; she was not
l ooki ng at hi m, but at some i mage of her own. " That ' s what my f at her used t o
say when he got dr unk at t he cor ner sal oon i nst ead of l ooki ng f or wor k. "
" How dar e you t r y compar i ng me t o" he st ar t ed, but di d not f i ni sh,
because she was not l i st eni ng.
Her wor ds, when she l ooked at hi magai n, ast oni shed hi mas compl et el y
i r r el evant . " The dat e of t hat nat i onal i zat i on, Sept ember second, "
she asked, her voi ce wi st f ul , " was i t you who pi cked i t ?"
" No. I had not hi ng t o do wi t h i t . I t ' s t he dat e of some speci al sessi on of
t hei r l egi sl at ur e. Why?"
" I t ' s t he dat e of our f i r st weddi ng anni ver sar y. "
" Oh? Oh, t hat ' s r i ght ! " He smi l ed, r el i eved at t he change t o a saf e
subj ect . " We' l l have been mar r i ed a year . My, i t doesn' t seemt hat l ong! "
" I t seems much l onger , " she sai d t onel essl y.
She was l ooki ng of f agai n, and he f el t i n sudden uneasi ness t hat t he
subj ect was not saf e at al l ; he wi shed she woul d not l ook as i f she wer e
seei ng t he whol e cour se of t hat year and of t hei r mar r i age.
. . . not t o get scar ed, but t o l ear nshe t hought t he t hi ng t o do i s not
t o get scar ed, but t o l ear n . . . The wor ds came f r oma sent ence she had
r epeat ed t o her sel f so of t en t hat i t f el t l i ke a pi l l ar pol i shed smoot h by
t he hel pl ess wei ght of her body, t he pi l l ar t hat had suppor t ed her t hr ough
t he past year . She t r i ed t o r epeat i t , but she f el t as i f her hands wer e
sl i ppi ng on t he pol i sh, as i f t he sent ence woul d not st ave of f t er r or any
l onger because she was begi nni ng t o under st and.
I f you don' t know, t he t hi ng t o do i s not t o get scar ed, but t o l ear n.
. . . I t was i n t he bewi l der ed l onel i ness of t he f i r st weeks of her
mar r i age t hat she sai d i t t o her sel f f or t he f i r st t i me. She coul d not
under st and J i m' s behavi or , or hi s sul l en anger , whi ch l ooked l i ke weakness,
or hi s evasi ve, i ncompr ehensi bl e answer s t o her quest i ons, whi ch sounded l i ke
cowar di ce; such t r ai t s wer e not possi bl e i n t he J ames Taggar t whomshe had
mar r i ed. She t ol d her sel f t hat she coul d not condemn wi t hout under st andi ng,
t hat she knew not hi ng about hi s wor l d, t hat t he ext ent of her i gnor ance was
t he ext ent t o whi ch she mi si nt er pr et ed hi s act i ons. She t ook t he bl ame, she
t ook t he beat i ng of sel f r epr oachagai nst some bl eakl y st ubbor n cer t ai nt y
whi ch t ol d her t hat somet hi ng was wr ong and t hat t he t hi ng she f el t was f ear .
" I must l ear n ever yt hi ng t hat Mr s. J ames Taggar t i s expect ed t o know and
t o be. " was t he way she expl ai ned her pur pose t o a t eacher of et i quet t e. She
set out t o l ear n wi t h t he devot i on, t he di sci pl i ne, t he dr i ve of a mi l i t ar y
cadet or a r el i gi ous novi ce. I t was t he onl y way, she t hought , of ear ni ng t he
hei ght whi ch her husband had gr ant ed her on t r ust , of l i vi ng up t o hi s vi si on
of her , whi ch i t was now her dut y t o achi eve. And, not wi shi ng t o conf ess i t
t o her sel f , she f el t al so t hat at t he end of t he l ong t ask she woul d
r ecapt ur e her vi si on of hi m, t hat knowl edge woul d br i ng back t o her t he man
she had seen on t he ni ght of hi s r ai l r oad' s t r i umph.
She coul d not under st and J i m' s at t i t ude when she t ol d hi mabout her
l essons. He bur st out l aughi ng; she was unabl e t o bel i eve t hat t he l aught er
had a sound of mal i ci ous cont empt . " Why, J i m? Why? What ar e you l aughi ng at ?"
He woul d not expl ai nal most as i f t he f act of hi s cont empt wer e suf f i ci ent
and r equi r ed no r easons.
She coul d not suspect hi mof mal i ce: he was t oo pat i ent l y gener ous about
her mi st akes. He seemed eager t o di spl ay her i n t he best dr awi ng r ooms of t he
ci t y, and he never ut t er ed a wor d of r epr oach f or her i gnor ance, f or her
awkwar dness, f or t hose t er r i bl e moment s when a si l ent exchange of gl ances
among t he guest s and a bur st of bl ood t o her cheekbones t ol d her t hat she had
sai d t he wr ong t hi ng agai n. He showed no embar r assment , he mer el y wat ched her
wi t h a f ai nt smi l e.
When t hey came home af t er one of t hose eveni ngs, hi s mood seemed
af f ect i onat el y cheer f ul . He was t r yi ng t o make i t easi er f or her , she
t hought and gr at i t ude dr ove her t o st udy t he har der .
She expect ed her r ewar d on t he eveni ng when, by some i mper cept i bl e
t r ansi t i on, she f ound her sel f enj oyi ng a par t y f or t he f i r st t i me. She f el t
f r ee t o act , not by r ul es, but at her own pl easur e, wi t h sudden conf i dence
t hat t he r ul es had f used i nt o a nat ur al habi t she knew t hat she was
at t r act i ng at t ent i on, but now, f or t he f i r st t i me, i t was not t he at t ent i on
of r i di cul e, but of admi r at i onshe was sought af t er , on her own mer i t , she
was Mr s. Taggar t , she had ceased bei ng an obj ect of char i t y wei ghi ng J i m
down, pai nf ul l y t ol er at ed f or hi s sakeshe was l aughi ng gai l y and seei ng t he
smi l es of r esponse, of appr eci at i on on t he f aces ar ound her and she kept
gl anci ng at hi macr oss t he r oom, r adi ant l y, l i ke a chi l d handi ng hi ma r epor t
car d wi t h a per f ect scor e, beggi ng hi mt o be pr oud of her . J i msat al one i n a
cor ner , wat chi ng her wi t h an undeci pher abl e gl ance.
He woul d not speak t o her on t hei r way home. " I don' t know why I keep
dr aggi ng mysel f t o t hose par t i es, " he snapped suddenl y, t ear i ng of f hi s dr ess
t i e i n t he mi ddl e of t hei r l i vi ng r oom, " I ' ve never sat t hr ough such a
vul gar , bor i ng wast e of t i me! " " Why, J i m, " she sai d, st unned, " I t hought i t
was wonder f ul . " " You woul d! You seemed t o be qui t e at homequi t e as i f i t
wer e Coney I sl and. I wi sh you' d l ear n t o keep your pl ace and not t o embar r ass
me i n publ i c. " " [ embar r assed you? Toni ght ?" " You di d! " " How?" " I f you don' t
under st and i t , I can' t expl ai n, " he sai d i n t he t one of a myst i c who i mpl i es
t hat a l ack of under st andi ng i s t he conf essi on of a shamef ul i nf er i or i t y. " I
don' t under st and i t , " she sai d f i r ml y. He wal ked out of t he r oom, sl ammi ng
t he door .
She f el t t hat t he i nexpl i cabl e was not a mer e bl ank, t hi s t i me: i t had a
t i nge of evi l . Fr omt hat ni ght on, a smal l , har d poi nt of f ear r emai ned
wi t hi n her , l i ke t he spot of a di st ant headl i ght advanci ng upon her down an
i nvi si bl e t r ack.
Knowl edge di d not seemt o br i ng her a cl ear er vi si on of J i m' s wor l d, but
t o make t he myst er y gr eat er . She coul d not bel i eve t hat she was supposed t o
f eel r espect f or t he dr ear y sensel essness of t he ar t shows whi ch hi s f r i ends
at t ended, of t he novel s t hey r ead, of t he pol i t i cal magazi nes t hey di scussed
t he ar t shows, wher e she saw t he ki nd of dr awi ngs she had seen chal ked on any
pavement of her chi l dhood' s sl umst he novel s, t hat pur por t ed t o pr ove t he
f ut i l i t y of sci ence, i ndust r y, ci vi l i zat i on and l ove, usi ng l anguage t hat her
f at her woul d not have used i n hi s dr unkenest moment st he magazi nes, t hat
pr opounded cowar dl y gener al i t i es, l ess cl ear and mor e st al e t han t he ser mons
f or whi ch she had condemned t he pr eacher of t he sl ummi ssi on as a meal y-
mout hed ol d f r aud.
She coul d not bel i eve t hat t hese t hi ngs wer e t he cul t ur e she had so
r ever ent l y l ooked up t o and so eager l y wai t ed t o di scover . She f el t as i f she
had cl i mbed a mount ai n t owar d a j agged shape t hat had l ooked l i ke a cast l e
and had f ound i t t o be t he cr umbl i ng r ui n of a gut t ed war ehouse.
" J i m, " she sai d once, af t er an eveni ng spent among t he men who wer e cal l ed
t he i nt el l ect ual l eader s of t he count r y, " Dr . Si mon Pr i t chet t i s a phonya
mean, scar ed ol d phony. " " Now, r eal l y, " he answer ed, " do you t hi nk you' r e
qual i f i ed t o pass j udgment on phi l osopher s?"
" I ' mqual i f i ed t o pass j udgment on con men. I ' ve seen enough of t hemt o
know one when I see hi m. " " Now t hi s i s why I say t hat you' l l never out gr ow
your backgr ound. I f you had, you woul d have l ear ned t o appr eci at e Dr .
Pr i t chet t ' s phi l osophy. " " What phi l osophy?" " I f you don' t under st and i t , I
can' t expl ai n. " She woul d not l et hi mend t he conver sat i on on t hat f avor i t e
f or mul a of hi s. " J i m, " she sai d, " he' s a phony, he and Bal ph Eubank and t hat
whol e gang of t hei r sand I t hi nk you' ve been t aken i n by t hem. " I nst ead of
t he anger she expect ed, she saw a br i ef f l ash of amusement i n t he l i f t of hi s
eyel i ds. " That ' s what you t hi nk, " he answer ed.
She f el t an i nst ant of t er r or at t he f i r st t ouch of a concept she had not
known t o be possi bl e: What i f J i mwas not t aken i n by t hem? She coul d
under st and t he phoni ness of Dr . Pr i t chet t , she t hought i t was a r acket t hat
gave hi man undeser ved i ncome; she coul d even admi t t he possi bi l i t y, by now,
t hat J i mmi ght be a phony i n hi s own busi ness; what she coul d not hol d i nsi de
her mi nd was t he concept of J i mas a phony i n a r acket f r omwhi ch he gai ned
not hi ng, an unpai d phony, an unvenal phony; t he phoni ness of a car dshar p or a
con man seemed i nnocent l y whol esome by compar i son. She coul d not concei ve of
hi s mot i ve; she f el t onl y t hat t he headl i ght movi ng upon her had gr own
l ar ger .
She coul d not r emember by what st eps, what accumul at i on of pai n, f i r st as
smal l scr at ches of uneasi ness, t hen as st abs of bewi l der ment , t hen as t he
chr oni c, naggi ng pul l of f ear , she had begun t o doubt J i m' s posi t i on on t he
r ai l r oad. I t was hi s sudden, angr y " so you don' t t r ust me?" snapped i n answer
t o her f i r st , i nnocent quest i ons t hat made her r eal i ze t hat she di d not when
t he doubt had not yet f or med i n her mi nd and she had f ul l y expect ed t hat hi s
answer s woul d r eassur e her . She had l ear ned, i n t he sl ums of her chi l dhood,
t hat honest peopl e wer e never t ouchy about t he mat t er of bei ng t r ust ed, " I
don' t car e t o t al k shop, " was hi s answer whenever she ment i oned t he r ai l r oad.
She t r i ed t o pl ead wi t h hi monce. " J i m, you know what I t hi nk of your wor k
and how much I admi r e you f or i t . " " Oh, r eal l y?
What i s i t you mar r i ed, a man or a r ai l r oad pr esi dent ?" " I . . . I never
t hought of separ at i ng t he t wo. " " Wel l , i t i s not ver y f l at t er i ng t o me. " She
l ooked at hi m, baf f l ed: she had t hought i t was. " I ' d l i ke t o bel i eve, " he
sai d, " t hat you l ove me f or mysel f , and not f or my r ai l r oad. " " Oh God, J i m, "
she gasped, " you di dn' t t hi nk t hat I ! " " No, "
he sai d, wi t h a sadl y gener ous smi l e, " I di dn' t t hi nk t hat you mar r i ed me
f or my money or my posi t i on. I have never doubt ed you. " Real i zi ng, i n st unned
conf usi on and i n t or t ur ed f ai r ness, t hat she mi ght have gi ven hi mgr ound t o
mi si nt er pr et her f eel i ng, t hat she had f or got t en how many bi t t er
di sappoi nt ment s he must have suf f er ed at t he hands of f or t une- hunt i ng women,
she coul d do not hi ng but shake her head and moan, " Oh, J i m, t hat ' s not what I
meant ! " He chuckl ed sof t l y, as at a chi l d, and sl i pped hi s ar mar ound her .
" Do you l ove me?" he asked. " Yes, " she whi sper ed. " Then you must have f ai t h
i n me. Love i s f ai t h, you know. Don' t you see t hat I need i t ? I don' t t r ust
anyone ar ound me, I have not hi ng but enemi es, I amver y l onel y. Don' t you
know t hat I need you?"
The t hi ng t hat made her pace her r oomhour s l at er , i n t or t ur ed
r est l essnesswas t hat she wi shed desper at el y t o bel i eve hi mand di d not
bel i eve a wor d of i t , yet knew t hat i t was t r ue.
I t was t r ue, but not i n t he manner he i mpl i ed, not i n any manner or
meani ng she coul d ever hope t o gr asp. I t was t r ue t hat he needed her , but t he
nat ur e of hi s need kept sl i ppi ng past her ever y ef f or t t o def i ne i t . She di d
not know what he want ed of her . I t was not f l at t er y t hat he want ed, she had
seen hi ml i st eni ng t o t he obsequi ous compl i ment s of l i ar s, l i st eni ng wi t h a
l ook of r esent f ul i ner t nessal most t he l ook of a dr ug addi ct at a dose
i nadequat e t o r ouse hi m. But she had seen hi ml ook at her as i f he wer e
wai t i ng f or some r evi vi ng shot and, at t i mes, as i f he wer e beggi ng. She had
seen a f l i cker of l i f e i n hi s eyes whenever she gr ant ed hi msome si gn of
admi r at i onyet a bur st of anger was hi s answer , whenever she named a r eason
f or admi r i ng hi m.
He seemed t o want her t o consi der hi mgr eat , but never dar e ascr i be any
speci f i c cont ent t o hi s gr eat ness.
She di d not under st and t he ni ght , i n mi d- Apr i l , when he r et ur ned f r oma
t r i p t o Washi ngt on. " Hi , ki d! " he sai d l oudl y, dr oppi ng a sheaf of l i l ac i nt o
her ar ms. " Happy days ar e her e agai n! J ust saw t hose f l ower s and t hought of
you. Spr i ng i s comi ng, baby! "
He pour ed hi msel f a dr i nk and paced t he r oom, t al ki ng wi t h t oo l i ght , t oo
br ash a manner of gai et y. Ther e was a f ever i sh spar kl e i n hi s eyes, and hi s
voi ce seemed shr edded by some unnat ur al exci t ement . She began t o wonder
whet her he was el at ed or cr ushed.
" I know what i t i s t hat t hey' r e pl anni ng! " he sai d suddenl y, wi t hout
t r ansi t i on, and she gl anced up at hi mswi f t l y: she knew t he sound of one of
hi s i nner expl osi ons. " Ther e' s not a dozen peopl e i n t he whol e count r y who
know i t , but I do! The t op boys ar e keepi ng i t secr et t i l l t hey' r e r eady t o
spr i ng i t on t he nat i on. Wi l l i t sur pr i se a l ot of peopl e!
Wi l l i t knock t hemf l at ! A l ot of peopl e? Hel l , ever y si ngl e per son i n
t hi s count r y! I t wi l l af f ect ever y si ngl e per son. That ' s how i mpor t ant i t
i s. "
" Af f ect how, J i m?"
" I t wi l l af f ect t hem! And t hey don' t know what ' s comi ng, but I do.
Ther e t hey si t t oni ght " he waved at t he l i ght ed wi ndows of t he ci t y
" maki ng pl ans, count i ng t hei r money, huggi ng t hei r chi l dr en or t hei r
dr eams, and t hey don' t know, but I do, t hat al l of i t wi l l be st r uck,
st opped, changed! "
" Changedf or t he wor se or t he bet t er ?"
" For t he bet t er , of cour se, " he answer ed i mpat i ent l y, as i f i t wer e
i r r el evant ; hi s voi ce seemed t o l ose i t s f i r e and t o sl i p i nt o t he f r audul ent
sound of dut y. " I t ' s a pl an t o save t he count r y, t o st op our economi c
decl i ne, t o hol d t hi ngs st i l l , t o achi eve st abi l i t y and secur i t y. "
" What pl an?"
" I can' t t el l you. I t ' s secr et . Top secr et . You have no i dea how many
peopl e woul d l i ke t o know i t . Ther e' s no i ndust r i al i st who woul dn' t gi ve a
dozen of hi s best f ur naces f or j ust one hi nt of war ni ng, whi ch he' s not goi ng
t o get ! Li ke Hank Rear den, f or i nst ance, whomyou admi r e so much. " He
chuckl ed, l ooki ng of f i nt o t he f ut ur e.
" J i m, " she asked, t he sound of f ear i n her voi ce t el l i ng hi mwhat t he
sound of hi s chuckl e had been l i ke, " why do you hat e Hank Rear den?"
" I don' t hat e hi m! " He whi r l ed t o her , and hi s f ace, i ncr edi bl y, l ooked
anxi ous, al most f r i ght ened. " I never sai d I hat ed hi m. Don' t wor r y, he' l l
appr ove of t he pl an. Ever ybody wi l l . I t ' s f or ever ybody' s good. " He sounded
as i f he wer e pl eadi ng. She f el t t he di zzyi ng cer t ai nt y t hat he was l yi ng,
yet t hat t he pl ea was si ncer eas i f he had a desper at e need t o r eassur e her ,
but not about t he t hi ngs he sai d.
She f or ced her sel f t o smi l e. " Yes, J i m, of cour se, " she answer ed,
wonder i ng what i nst i nct i n what i mpossi bl e ki nd of chaos had made her say i t
as i f i t wer e her par t t o r eassur e hi m.
The l ook she saw on hi s f ace was al most a smi l e and al most of gr at i t ude.
" 1 had t o t el l you about i t t oni ght . I had t o t el l you. I want ed you t o know
what t r emendous i ssues I deal wi t h. You al ways t al k about my wor k, but you
don' t under st and i t at al l , i t ' s so much wi der t han you i magi ne. You t hi nk
t hat r unni ng a r ai l r oad i s a mat t er of t r ack l ayi ng and f ancy met al s and
get t i ng t r ai ns t her e on t i me. But i t ' s not .
Any under l i ng can do t hat . The r eal hear t of a r ai l r oad i s i n Washi ngt on.
My j ob i s pol i t i cs. Pol i t i cs. Deci si ons made on a nat i onal scal e, af f ect i ng
ever yt hi ng, cont r ol l i ng ever ybody. A f ew wor ds on paper , a di r ect i vechangi ng
t he l i f e of ever y per son i n ever y nook, cr anny and pent house of t hi s
count r y! "
" Yes, J i m, " she sai d, wi shi ng t o bel i eve t hat he was, per haps, a man of
st at ur e i n t he myst er i ous r eal mof Washi ngt on.
" You' l l see, " he sai d, paci ng t he r oom. " You t hi nk t hey' r e power f ul t hose
gi ant s of i ndust r y who' r e so cl ever wi t h mot or s and f ur naces?
They' l l be st opped! They' l l be st r i pped! They' l l be br ought down! They' l l
be" He not i ced t he way she was st ar i ng at hi m. " I t ' s not f or our sel ves, " he
snapped hast i l y, " i t ' s f or t he peopl e. That ' s t he di f f er ence bet ween busi ness
and pol i t i cswe have no sel f i sh ends i n vi ew, no pr i vat e mot i ves, we' r e not
af t er pr of i t , we don' t spend our l i ves scr ambl i ng f or money, we don' t have
t o! That ' s why we' r e sl ander ed and mi sunder st ood by al l t he gr eedy pr of i t -
chaser s who can' t concei ve of a spi r i t ual mot i ve or a mor al i deal or . . . We
coul dn' t hel p i t ! " he cr i ed suddenl y, whi r l i ng t o her . " We had t o have t hat
pl an! Wi t h ever yt hi ng f al l i ng t o pi eces and st oppi ng, somet hi ng had t o be
done! We had t o st op t hemf r omst oppi ng! We coul dn' t hel p i t ! "
Hi s eyes wer e desper at e; she di d not know whet her he was boast i ng or
beggi ng f or f or gi veness; she di d not know whet her t hi s was t r i umph or t er r or .
" J i m, don' t you f eel wel l ? Maybe you' ve wor ked t oo har d and you' r e wor n out
and"
" I ' ve never f el t bet t er i n my l i f e! " he snapped, r esumi ng hi s paci ng.
" You bet I ' ve wor ked har d. My wor k i s bi gger t han any j ob you can hope t o
i magi ne. I t ' s above anyt hi ng t hat gr ubbi ng mechani cs l i ke Rear den and my
si st er , ar e doi ng. What ever t hey do, I can undo i t . Let t hembui l d a t r ackI
can come and br eak i t , j ust l i ke t hat ! "
He snapped hi s f i nger s. " J ust l i ke br eaki ng a spi ne' "
" You want t o br eak spi nes?" she whi sper ed, t r embl i ng.
" I haven' t sai d t hat ! " he scr eamed. " What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you? I haven' t
sai d i t ! "
" I ' msor r y, J i m! " she gasped, shocked by her own wor ds and by t he t er r or
i n hi s eyes. " I t ' s j ust t hat I don' t under st and, but . . . but I know I
shoul dn' t bot her you wi t h quest i ons when you' r e so t i r ed"
she was st r uggl i ng desper at el y t o convi nce her sel f " when you have so many
t hi ngs on your mi nd . . . such . . . such gr eat t hi ngs . . .
t hi ngs I can' t even begi n t o t hi nk of . . . "
Hi s shoul der s sagged, r el axi ng. He appr oached her and dr opped wear i l y down
on hi s knees, sl i ppi ng hi s ar ms ar ound her . " You poor l i t t l e f ool , " he sai d
af f ect i onat el y.
She hel d ont o hi m, moved by somet hi ng t hat f el t l i ke t ender ness and al most
l i ke pi t y. But he r ai sed hi s head t o gl ance up at her f ace, and i t seemed t o
her t hat t he l ook she saw i n hi s eyes was par t - gr at i f i cat i on, par t - cont empt
al most as i f , by some unknown ki nd of sanct i on, she had absol ved hi mand
damned her sel f .
I t was usel essshe f ound i n t he days t hat f ol l owedt o t el l her sel f t hat
t hese t hi ngs wer e beyond her under st andi ng, t hat i t was her dut y t o bel i eve
i n hi m, t hat l ove was f ai t h. Her doubt kept gr owi ngdoubt of hi s
i ncompr ehensi bl e wor k and of hi s r el at i on t o t he r ai l r oad. She wonder ed why
i t kept gr owi ng i n di r ect pr opor t i on t o her sel f - admoni t i ons t hat f ai t h was
t he dut y she owed hi m. Then, one sl eepl ess ni ght , she r eal i zed t hat her
ef f or t t o f ul f i l l t hat dut y consi st ed of t ur ni ng away whenever peopl e
di scussed hi s j ob, of r ef usi ng t o l ook at newspaper ment i ons of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , of sl ammi ng her mi nd shut agai nst any evi dence and ever y
cont r adi ct i on. She st opped, aghast , st r uck by t he quest i on: What i s i t , t hen
f ai t h ver sus t r ut h? And r eal i zi ng t hat par t of her zeal t o bel i eve was her
f ear t o know, she set out t o l ear n t he t r ut h, wi t h a cl eaner , cal mer sense of
Ti ght ness t han t he ef f or t at dut i f ul sel f - f r aud had ever gi ven her .
I t di d not t ake her l ong t o l ear n. The evasi veness of t he Taggar t
execut i ves, when she asked a f ew casual quest i ons, t he st al e gener al i t i es of
t hei r answer s, t he st r ai n of t hei r manner at t he ment i on of t hei r boss, and
t hei r obvi ous r el uct ance t o di scuss hi mt ol d her not hi ng concr et e, but gave
her a f eel i ng equi val ent t o knowi ng t he wor st . The r ai l r oad wor ker s wer e mor e
speci f i ct he swi t chmen, t he gat emen, t he t i cket sel l er s whomshe dr ew i nt o
chance conver sat i ons i n t he Taggar t Ter mi nal and who di d not know her . " J i m
Taggar t ? That whi ni ng, sni vel i ng, speech- maki ng deadhead! " " J i mmy t he
Pr esi dent ? Wel l , I ' l l t el l you: he' s t he hobo on t he gr avy t r ai n. " " The boss?
Mr . Taggar t ? You mean Mi ss Taggar t , don' t you?"
I t was Eddi e Wi l l er s who t ol d her t he whol e t r ut h. She hear d t hat he had
known J i msi nce chi l dhood, and she asked hi mt o l unch wi t h her .
When she f aced hi mat t he t abl e, when she saw t he ear nest , quest i oni ng
di r ect ness of hi s eyes and t he sever el y l i t er al si mpl i ci t y of hi s wor ds, she
dr opped al l at t empt s at casual pr oddi ng, she t ol d hi mwhat she want ed t o know
and why, br i ef l y, i mper sonal l y, not appeal i ng f or hel p or f or pi t y, onl y f or
t r ut h. He answer ed her i n t he same manner . He t ol d her t he whol e st or y,
qui et l y, i mper sonal l y, pr onounci ng no ver di ct , expr essi ng no opi ni on, never
encr oachi ng on her emot i ons by any si gn of concer n f or t hem, speaki ng wi t h
t he shi ni ng aust er i t y and t he awesome power of f act s. He t ol d her who r an
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
He t ol d her t he st or y of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. She l i st ened, and what she
f el t was not shock, but wor se: t he l ack of shock, as i f she had al ways known
i t . " Thank you, Mr . Wi l l er s, " was al l t hat she sai d when he f i ni shed.
She wai t ed f or J i mt o come home, t hat eveni ng, and t he t hi ng t hat er oded
any pai n or i ndi gnat i on, was a f eel i ng of her own det achment , as i f i t di d
not mat t er t o her any l onger , as i f some act i on wer e r equi r ed of her , but i t
made no di f f er ence what t he act i on woul d be or t he consequences.
I t was not anger t hat she f el t when she saw J i ment er t he r oom, but a
mur ky ast oni shment , al most as i f she wonder ed who he was and why i t shoul d
now be necessar y t o speak t o hi m. She t ol d hi mwhat she knew, br i ef l y, i n a
t i r ed, ext i ngui shed voi ce. I t seemed t o her t hat he under st ood i t f r omher
f i r st f ew sent ences, as i f he had expect ed t hi s t o come sooner or l at er .
" Why di dn' t you t el l me t he t r ut h?" she asked.
" So t hat ' s your i dea of gr at i t ude?" he scr eamed. " So t hat ' s how you f eel
af t er ever yt hi ng I ' ve done f or you? Ever ybody t ol d me t hat cr udeness and
sel f i shness was al l I coul d expect f or l i f t i ng a cheap l i t t l e al l ey cat by
t he scr uf f of her neck! "
She l ooked at hi mas i f he wer e maki ng i nar t i cul at e sounds t hat connect ed
t o not hi ng i nsi de her mi nd. " Why di dn' t you t el l me t he t r ut h?"
" I s t hat al l t he l ove you f el t f or me, you sneaky l i t t l e hypocr i t e? I s.
t hat al l I get i n r et ur n f or my f ai t h i n you?"
" Why di d you l i e? Why di d you l et me t hi nk what I t hought ?"
" You shoul d be ashamed of your sel f , you shoul d be ashamed t o f ace me or
speak t o me! "
" 1?" The i nar t i cul at e sounds had connect ed, but she coul d not bel i eve t he
sumt hey made. " What ar e you t r yi ng t o do, J i m?" she asked, her voi ce
i ncr edul ous and di st ant .
" Have you t hought of my f eel i ngs? Have you t hought of what t hi s.
woul d do t o my f eel i ngs? You shoul d have consi der ed my f eel i ngs f i r st !
That ' s t he f i r st obl i gat i on of any wi f eand of a woman i n your posi t i on i n
par t i cul ar ! Ther e' s not hi ng l ower and ugl i er t han i ngr at i t ude! "
For t he f l ash of one i nst ant , she gr asped t he unt hi nkabl e f act of a man
who was gui l t y and knew i t and was t r yi ng t o escape by i nduci ng an emot i on of
gui l t i n hi s vi ct i m. But she coul d not hol d t he f act i nsi de her br ai n. She
f el t a st ab of hor r or , t he convul si on of a mi nd r ej ect i ng a si ght t hat woul d
dest r oy i t a st ab l i ke a swi f t r ecoi l f r omt he edge of i nsani t y. By t he t i me
she dr opped her head, cl osi ng her eyes, she knew onl y t hat she f el t di sgust ,
a si ckeni ng di sgust f or a namel ess r eason.
When she r ai sed her head, i t seemed t o her - t hat she caught a gl i mpse of
hi mwat chi ng her wi t h t he uncer t ai n, r et r eat i ng, cal cul at i ng l ook of a man
whose t r i ck has not wor ked. But bef or e she had t i me t o bel i eve i t , hi s f ace
was hi dden agai n under an expr essi on of i nj ur y and anger .
She sai d, as i f she wer e nami ng her t hought s f or t he benef i t of t he
r at i onal bei ng who was not pr esent , but whose pr esence she had t o assume,
si nce no ot her coul d be addr essed, " That ni ght . . . t hose headl i nes . . .
t hat gl or y . . . i t was not you at al l . . . i t was Dagny. "
" Shut up, you r ot t en l i t t l e bi t ch! "
She l ooked at hi mbl ankl y, wi t hout r eact i on. She l ooked as i f not hi ng
coul d r each her , because her dyi ng wor ds had been ut t er ed.
He made t he sound of a sob. " Cher r yl , I ' msor r y, I di dn' t mean i t , I t ake
i t back, I di dn' t mean i t . . . "
She r emai ned st andi ng, l eani ng agai nst t he wal l , as she had st ood f r omt he
f i r st .
He dr opped down on t he edge of a couch, i n a post ur e of hel pl ess
dej ect i on. " How coul d I have expl ai ned i t t o you?" he sai d i n t he t one of
abandoni ng hope. " I t ' s al l so bi g and so compl ex. How coul d I have t ol d you
anyt hi ng about a t r anscont i nent al r ai l r oad, unl ess you knew al l t he det ai l s
and r ami f i cat i ons? How coul d I have expl ai ned t o you my year s of wor k, my . .
. Oh, what ' s t he use? I ' ve al ways been mi sunder st ood and I shoul d have been
accust omed t o i t by now, onl y I t hought t hat you wer e di f f er ent and t hat I
had a chance. "
" J i m, why di d you mar r y me?"
He chuckl ed sadl y. " That ' s what ever ybody kept aski ng me. I di dn' t t hi nk
you' d ever ask i t . Why? Because I l ove you. "
She wonder ed at how st r ange i t was t hat t hi s wor dwhi ch was supposed t o be
t he si mpl est i n t he human l anguage, t he wor d under st ood by al l , t he uni ver sal
bond among menconveyed t o her no meani ng what ever . She di d not know what i t
was t hat i t named i n hi s mi nd.
" Nobody' s ever l oved me, " he sai d. " Ther e i sn' t any l ove i n t he wor l d.
Peopl e don' t f eel . I f eel t hi ngs. Who car es about t hat ? Al l t hey car e f or i s
t i me schedul es and f r ei ght l oads and money. I can' t l i ve among t hose peopl e.
I ' mver y l onel y. I ' ve al ways l onged t o f i nd under st andi ng. Maybe I ' mj ust a
hopel ess i deal i st , l ooki ng f or t he i mpossi bl e.
Nobody wi l l ever under st and me. "
" J i m, " she sai d, wi t h an odd l i t t l e not e of sever i t y i n her voi ce, " what
I ' ve st r uggl ed f or al l t hi s t i me i s t o under st and you. "
He dr opped hi s hand i n a mot i on of br ushi ng her wor ds asi de, not
of f ensi vel y, but sadl y. " I t hought you coul d. You' r e al l I have. But maybe
under st andi ng i s j ust not possi bl e bet ween human bei ngs. "
" Why shoul d i t be i mpossi bl e? Why don' t you t el l me what i t i s t hat you
want ? Why don' t you hel p me t o under st and you?"
He si ghed. " That ' s i t . That ' s t he t r oubl eyour aski ng al l t hose why' s.
Your const ant aski ng of a why f or ever yt hi ng. What I ' mt al ki ng about can' t be
put i nt o wor ds. I t can' t be named. I t has t o be f el t .
Ei t her you f eel i t or you don' t . I t ' s not a t hi ng of t he mi nd, but of t he
hear t . Don' t you ever f eel ? J ust f eel , wi t hout aski ng al l t hose quest i ons?
Can' t you under st and me as a human bei ng, not as i f I wer e a sci ent i f i c
obj ect i n a l abor at or y? The gr eat under st andi ng t hat t r anscends our shabby
wor ds and hel pl ess mi nds . . . No, I guess I shoul dn' t l ook f or i t . But I ' l l
al ways seek and hope. You' r e my l ast hope. You' r e al l I have. "
She st ood at t he wal l , wi t hout movi ng.
" I need you, " he wai l ed sof t l y. " Fmal l al one. You' r e not l i ke t he ot her s.
I bel i eve i n you. I t r ust you. What has al l t hat money and f ame and busi ness
and st r uggl e gi ven me? You' r e al l I have . . . "
She st ood wi t hout movi ng and t he di r ect i on of her gl ance, l ower ed t o l ook
down at hi m, was t he onl y f or mof r ecogni t i on she gave hi m.
The t hi ngs he sai d about hi s suf f er i ng wer e l i es, she t hought ; but t he
suf f er i ng was r eal ; he was a man t or n by some cont i nual angui sh, whi ch he
seemed unabl e t o t el l her , but whi ch, per haps, she coul d l ear n t o under st and.
She st i l l owed hi mt hi s muchshe t hought , wi t h t he gr ayness of a sense of
dut yi n payment f or t he posi t i on he had gi ven her , whi ch, per haps, was al l he
had t o gi ve, she owed hi man ef f or t t o under st and hi m.
I t was st r ange t o f eel , i n t he days t hat f ol l owed, t hat she had become a
st r anger t o her sel f , a st r anger who had not hi ng t o want or t o seek. I n pl ace
of a l ove made by t he br i l l i ant f i r e of her o wor shi p, she was l ef t wi t h t he
gnawi ng dr abness of pi t y. I n pl ace of t he men she had st r uggl ed t o f i nd, men
who f ought f or t hei r goal s and r ef used t o suf f er she was l ef t wi t h a man
whose suf f er i ng was hi s onl y cl ai mt o val ue and hi s onl y of f er i n exchange
f or her l i f e. But i t made no di f f er ence t o her any l onger . The one who was
she, had l ooked wi t h eager ness at t he t ur n of ever y cor ner ahead; t he passi ve
st r anger who had t aken her pl ace, was l i ke al l t he over gr oomed peopl e ar ound
her , t he peopl e who sai d t hat t hey wer e adul t because t hey di d not t r y t o
t hi nk or t o desi r e.
But t he st r anger was st i l l haunt ed by a ghost who was her sel f , and t he
ghost had a mi ssi on t o accompl i sh. She had t o l ear n t o under st and t he t hi ngs
t hat had dest r oyed her . She had t o know, and she l i ved wi t h a sense of
ceasel ess wai t i ng. She had t o know, even t hough she f el t t hat t he headl i ght
was cl oser and i n t he moment of knowl edge she woul d be st r uck by t he wheel s.
What do you want of me?was t he quest i on t hat kept beat i ng i n her mi nd as
a cl ue. What do you want of me?she kept cr yi ng soundl essl y, at di nner
t abl es, i n dr awi ng r ooms, on sl eepl ess ni ght scr yi ng i t t o J i mand t hose who
seemed t o shar e hi s secr et , t o Bal ph Eubank, t o Dr . Si mon Pr i t chet t what do
you want of me? She di d not ask i t al oud; she knew t hat t hey woul d not
answer . What do you want of me?
she asked, f eel i ng as i f she wer e r unni ng, but no way wer e open t o
escape. What do you want of me?she asked, l ooki ng at t he whol e l ong t or t ur e
of her mar r i age t hat had not l ast ed t he f ul l span of one year .
" What do you want of me?" she asked al oudand saw t hat she was si t t i ng at
t he t abl e i n her di ni ng r oom, l ooki ng at J i m, at hi s f ever i sh f ace, and at a
dr yi ng st ai n of wat er on t he t abl e.
She di d not know how l ong a span of si l ence had st r et ched bet ween t hem,
she was st ar t l ed by her own voi ce and by t he- - quest i on she had not i nt ended
t o ut t er . She di d not expect hi mt o under st and i t , he had never seemed t o
under st and much si mpl er quer i esand she shook her head, st r uggl i ng t o
r ecapt ur e t he r eal i t y of t he pr esent .
She was st ar t l ed t o see hi ml ooki ng at her wi t h a t ouch of der i si on, as i f
he wer e mocki ng her est i mat e of hi s under st andi ng.
" Love, " he answer ed.
She f el t her sel f saggi ng wi t h hopel essness, i n t he f ace of t hat answer
whi ch was at once so si mpl e and so meani ngl ess.
" You don' t l ove me, " he sai d accusi ngl y. She di d not answer . " You don' t
l ove me or you woul dn' t ask such a quest i on. "
" I di d l ove you once, " she sai d dul l y, " but i t wasn' t what you want ed. I
l oved you f or your cour age, your ambi t i on, your abi l i t y. But i t wasn' t r eal ,
any of i t . "
Hi s l ower l i p swel l ed a l i t t l e i n a f ai nt , cont empt uous t hr ust . " What a
shabby i dea of l ove! " he sai d.
" J i m, what i s i t t hat you want t o be l oved f or ?"
" What a cheap shopkeeper ' s at t i t ude! "
She di d not speak; she l ooked at hi m, her eyes st r et ched by a si l ent
quest i on.
" To be l oved for!" he sai d, hi s voi ce gr at i ng wi t h mocker y and
r i ght eousness. " So you t hi nk t hat l ove i s a mat t er of mat hemat i cs, of
exchange, of wei ghi ng and measur i ng, l i ke a pound of but t er on a gr ocer y
count er ? I don' t want t o be l oved f or anyt hi ng. I want t o be l oved f or
mysel f not f or anyt hi ng I do or have or say or t hi nk. For mysel f not f or my
body or mi nd or wor ds or wor ks or act i ons. "
" But t hen . . . what i s your sel f ?"
" I f you l oved me, you woul dn' t ask i t . " Hi s voi ce had a shr i l l not e of
ner vousness, as i f he wer e swayi ng danger ousl y bet ween caut i on and some
bl i ndl y heedl ess i mpul se. " You woul dn' t ask. You' d know. You' d f eel i t . Why
do you al ways t r y t o t ag and l abel ever yt hi ng? Can' t you r i se above t hose
pet t y mat er i al i st i c def i ni t i ons? Don' t you ever f eel
j ust f eel ?"
" Yes. J i m, I do, " she sai d, her voi ce l ow. " But I amt r yi ng not t o,
because . . . because what T f eel i s f ear . "
" Of me?" he asked hopef ul l y.
" No, not exact l y. Not f ear of what you can do t o me, but of what you ar e. "
He dr opped hi s eyel i ds wi t h t he swi f t ness of sl ammi ng a door but she
caught a f l ash of hi s eyes and t he f l ash, i ncr edi bl y, was t er r or .
" You' r e not capabl e of l ove, you cheap l i t t l e gol d- di gger ! " he cr i ed
suddenl y, i n a t one st r i pped of al l col or but t he desi r e " t o hur t . " Yes, I
sai d gol d- di gger . Ther e ar e many f or ms of i t , ot her t han gr eed f or money,
ot her and wor se. You' r e a gol d- di gger of t he spi r i t . You di dn' t mar r y me f or
my cashbut you mar r i ed me f or my abi l i t y or cour age or what ever val ue i t was
t hat you set as t he pr i ce of your l ove! "
" Do you want . . . l ove . . . t o be . . . causel ess?"
" Love i s i t s own cause! Love i s above causes and r easons. Love i s bl i nd.
But you woul dn' t be capabl e of i t . You have t he mean, schemi ng, cal cul at i ng
l i t t l e soul of a shopkeeper who t r ades' , but never gi ves!
Love i s a gi f t a gr eat , f r ee, uncondi t i onal gi f t t hat t r anscends and
f or gi ves ever yt hi ng. What ' s t he gener osi t y of l ovi ng a man f or hi s vi r t ues?
What do you gi ve hi m? Not hi ng. I t ' s no mor e t han col d j ust i ce. No mor e
t han he' s ear ned. "
Her eyes wer e dar k wi t h t he danger ous i nt ensi t y of gl i mpsi ng her goal .
" You want i t t o be unear ned, " she sai d, not i n t he t one of a quest i on, but of
a ver di ct .
" Oh, you don' t under st and! "
" Yes, J i m, I do. That ' s what you want t hat ' s what al l of you r eal l y want
not money, not mat er i al benef i t s, not economi c secur i t y, not any of t he
handout s you keep demandi ng. " She spoke i n a f l at monot one, as i f r eci t i ng
her t hought s t o her sel f , i nt ent upon gi vi ng t he sol i d i dent i t y of wor ds t o
t he t or t ur ous shr eds of chaos t wi st i ng i n her mi nd.
" Al l of you wel f ar e pr eacher si t ' s not unear ned money t hat you' r e af t er .
You want handout s, but of a di f f er ent ki nd. I ' ma gol d- di gger of t he spi r i t ,
you sai d, because I l ook f or val ue. Then you, t he wel f ar e pr eacher s . . .
i t ' s t he spi r i t t hat you want t o l oot . I never t hought and nobody ever t ol d
us how i t coul d be t hought of and what i t woul d meant he unear ned i n spi r i t .
But t hat i s what you want . You want unear ned l ove. You want unear ned
admi r at i on. You want unear ned gr eat ness. You want t o be a man l i ke Hank
Rear den wi t hout t he necessi t y of bei ng what he i s. Wi t hout t he necessi t y of
bei ng anyt hi ng.
Wi t hout . . . t he necessi t y . . . of bei ng. "
" Shut up! " he scr eamed.
They l ooked at each ot her , bot h i n t er r or , bot h f eel i ng as i f t hey wer e
swayi ng on an edge whi ch she coul d not and he woul d not name, bot h knowi ng
t hat one mor e st ep woul d be f at al .
" What do you t hi nk you' r e sayi ng?" he asked i n a t one of pet t y anger ,
whi ch sounded al most benevol ent by br i ngi ng t hemback i nt o t he r eal mof t he
nor mal , i nt o t he near - whol esomeness of not hi ng wor se t han a f ami l y quar r el .
" What sor t of met aphysi cal subj ect ar e you t r yi ng t o deal wi t h?"
" I don' t know . . . " she sai d wear i l y, dr oppi ng her head, as i f some shape
she had t r i ed t o capt ur e had sl i pped once mor e out of her gr asp. " I don' t
know . . . I t doesn' t seempossi bl e . . . "
" You' d bet t er not t r y t o wade i n way over your head or " But he had t o
st op, because t he but l er ent er ed, br i ngi ng t he gl i t t er i ng i ce bucket wi t h t he
champagne or der ed f or cel ebr at i on.
They r emai ned si l ent , l et t i ng t he r oombe f i l l ed by t he sounds whi ch
cent ur i es of men and of st r uggl e had est abl i shed as t he symbol of j oyous
at t ai nment : t he bl ast of t he cor k, t he l aughi ng t i nkl e of a pal e gol d l i qui d
r unni ng i nt o t wo br oad cups f i l l ed wi t h t he weavi ng r ef l ect i ons of candl es,
t he whi sper of bubbl es r i si ng t hr ough t wo cr yst al st ems, al most demandi ng
t hat ever yt hi ng i n si ght r i se, t oo, i n t he same aspi r at i on.
They r emai ned si l ent , t i l l t he but l er had gone. Taggar t sat l ooki ng down
at t he bubbl es, hol di ng t he st emof hi s gl ass bet ween t wo l i mpl y casual
f i nger s. Then hi s hand cl osed suddenl y about t he st emi nt o an awkwar dl y
convul sed f i st and he r ai sed i t , not as one l i f t s a gl ass of champagne, but
as one woul d l i f t a but cher kni f e.
" To Fr anci sco d' Anconi a! " he sai d.
She put her gl ass down. " No, " she answer ed.
" Dr i nk i t ! " he scr eamed.
" No, " she answer ed, her voi ce l i ke a dr op of l ead.
They hel d each ot her ' s gl ances f or a moment , t he l i ght pl ayi ng on t he
gol den l i qui d, not r eachi ng t hei r f aces or eyes.
" Oh, go t o hel l ! " he cr i ed, l eapi ng t o hi s f eet , f l i ngi ng hi s gl ass t o
smash on t he f l oor and r ushi ng out of t he r oom.
She sat at t he t abl e, not movi ng, f or a l ong t i me, t hen r ose sl owl y and
pr essed t he bel l .
She wal ked t o her r oom, her st eps unnat ur al l y even, she opened t he door of
a cl oset , she r eached f or a sui t and a pai r of shoes, she t ook of f t he
housecoat , movi ng wi t h caut i ous pr eci si on, as i f her l i f e depended on not
j ar r i ng anyt hi ng about or wi t hi n her . She hel d ont o a si ngl e t hought : t hat
she had t o get out of t hi s housej ust get out of i t f or a whi l e, i f onl y f or
t he next hour and t hen, l at er , she woul d be abl e t o f ace al l t hat had t o be
f aced.
The l i nes wer e bl ur r i ng on t he paper bef or e her and, r ai si ng her head,
Dagny r eal i zed t hat i t had l ong si nce gr own dar k.
She pushed t he paper s asi de, unwi l l i ng t o t ur n on t he l amp, per mi t t i ng
her sel f t he l uxur y of i dl eness and dar kness. I t cut her of f f r omt he ci t y
beyond t he wi ndows of her l i vi ng r oom. The cal endar i n t he di st ance sai d:
August 5.
The mont h behi nd her had gone, l eavi ng not hi ng but t he bl ank of dead t i me.
I t had gone i nt o t he pl anl ess, t hankl ess wor k of r aci ng f r omemer gency t o
emer gency, of del ayi ng t he col l apse of a r ai l r oada mont h l i ke a wast e pi l e
of di sconnect ed days, each gi ven t o aver t i ng t he di sast er of t he moment . I t
had not been a sumof achi evement s br ought i nt o exi st ence, but onl y a sumof
zer os, of t hat whi ch had not happened, a sumof pr event ed cat ast r ophesnot a
t ask i n t he ser vi ce of l i f e, but onl y a r ace agai nst deat h.
Ther e had been t i mes when an unsummoned vi si ona si ght of t he val l eyhad
seemed t o r i se bef or e her , not as a sudden appear ance, but as a const ant ,
hi dden pr esence t hat suddenl y chose t o assume an i nsi st ent r eal i t y. She had
f aced i t , t hr ough moment s of bl i nded st i l l ness, i n a cont est bet ween an
unmovi ng deci si on and an unyi el di ng pai n, a pai n t o be f ought by
acknowl edgment , by sayi ng: Al l r i ght , even t hi s.
Ther e had been mor ni ngs when, awakeni ng wi t h r ays of sunl i ght on her f ace,
she had t hought t hat she must hur r y t o Hammond' s Mar ket t o get f r esh eggs f or
br eakf ast ; t hen, r ecapt ur i ng f ul l consci ousness, seei ng t he haze of New Yor k
beyond t he wi ndow of her bedr oom, she had f el t a t ear i ng st ab, l i ke a t ouch
of deat h, t he t ouch of r ej ect i ng r eal i t y. You knew i t she had t ol d her sel f
sever el yyou knew what i t woul d be l i ke when you made your choi ce. And
dr aggi ng her body, l i ke an unwi l l i ng wei ght , out of bed t o f ace an unwel come
day, she woul d whi sper : Al l r i ght , even t hi s.
The wor st of t he t or t ur e had been t he moment s when, wal ki ng down t he
st r eet , she had caught a sudden gl i mpse of chest nut - gol d, a gl owi ng st r eak of
hai r among t he heads of st r anger s, and had f el t as i f t he ci t y had vani shed,
as i f not hi ng but t he vi ol ent st i l l ness wi t hi n her wer e del ayi ng t he moment
when she woul d r ush t o hi mand sei ze hi m; but t hat next moment had come as
t he si ght of some meani ngl ess f aceand she had st ood, not wi shi ng t o l i ve
t hr ough t he f ol l owi ng st ep, not wi shi ng t o gener at e t he ener gy of l i vi ng. She
had t r i ed t o avoi d such moment s; she had t r i ed t o f or bi d her sel f t o l ook; she
had wal ked, keepi ng her eyes on t he pavement s. She had f ai l ed: by some wi l l
of t hei r own, her eyes had kept l eapi ng t o ever y st r eak of gol d.
She had kept t he bl i nds r ai sed on t he wi ndows of her of f i ce, r emember i ng
hi s pr omi se, t hi nki ng onl y: I f you ar e wat chi ng me, wher ever you ar e . . .
Ther e wer e no bui l di ngs cl ose t o t he hei ght of her of f i ce, but she had l ooked
at t he di st ant t ower s, wonder i ng whi ch wi ndow was hi s obser vat i on post ,
wonder i ng whet her some i nvent i on of hi s own, some devi ce of r ays and l enses,
per mi t t ed hi mt o obser ve her ever y movement f r omsome skyscr aper a bl ock or a
mi l e away. She had sat at her desk, at her uncur t ai ned wi ndows, t hi nki ng:
J ust t o know t hat you' r e seei ng me, even i f I ' mnever t o see you agai n.
And r emember i ng i t , now, i n t he dar kness of her r oom, she l eaped t o her
f eet and snapped on t he l i ght .
Then she dr opped her head f or an i nst ant , smi l i ng i n mi r t hl ess amusement
at her sel f . She wonder ed whet her her l i ght ed wi ndows, i n t he bl ack i mmensi t y
of t he ci t y, wer e a f l ar e of di st r ess, cal l i ng f or hi s hel por a l i ght house
st i l l pr ot ect i ng t he r est of t he wor l d.
The door bel l r ang.
When she opened t he door , she saw t he si l houet t e of a gi r l wi t h a f ai nt l y
f ami l i ar f aceand i t t ook her a moment of st ar t l ed ast oni shment t o r eal i ze
t hat i t was Cher r yl Taggar t . Except f or a f or mal exchange of gr eet i ngs on a
f ew chance encount er s i n t he hal l s of t he Taggar t Bui l di ng, t hey had not seen
each ot her si nce t he weddi ng.
Cher r yl ' s f ace was composed and unsmi l i ng. " Woul d you per mi t me t o speak
t o you" she hesi t at ed and ended on" Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" Of cour se, " sai d Dagny gr avel y. " Come i n. "
She sensed some desper at e emer gency i n t he unnat ur al cal mof Cher r yl ' s
manner ; she became cer t ai n of i t when she l ooked at t he gi r l ' s f ace i n t he
l i ght of t he l i vi ng r oom. " Si t down, " she sai d, but Cher r yl r emai ned
st andi ng.
" I came t o pay a debt , " sai d Cher r yl , her voi ce sol emn wi t h t he ef f or t t o
per mi t her sel f no sound of emot i on. " I want t o apol ogi ze f or t he t hi ngs I
sai d t o you at my weddi ng. Ther e' s no r eason why you shoul d f or gi ve me, but
i t ' s my pl ace t o t el l you t hat I know I was i nsul t i ng ever yt hi ng I admi r e and
def endi ng ever yt hi ng I despi se. I know t hat admi t t i ng i t now, doesn' t make up
f or i t , and even comi ng her e i s onl y anot her pr esumpt i on, t her e' s no r eason
why you shoul d want t o hear i t , so I can' t even cancel t he debt , I can onl y
ask f or a f avor
t hat you l et me say t he t hi ngs I want t o say t o you. "
Dagny' s shock of emot i on, i ncr edul ous, war mand pai nf ul , was t he wor dl ess
equi val ent of t he sent ence: What a di st ance t o t r avel i n l ess t han a year . .
. ! She answer ed, t he unsmi l i ng ear nest ness of her voi ce l i ke a hand ext ended
i n suppor t , knowi ng t hat a smi l e woul d upset some pr ecar i ous bal ance, " But i t
does make up f or i t , and I do want t o hear i t . "
" I know t hat i t was you who r an Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . I t was you who
bui l t t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. I t was you who had t he mi nd and t he cour age t hat
kept al l of i t al i ve. I suppose you t hought t hat I mar r i ed J i mf or hi s money
as what shop gi r l woul dn' t have? But , you see, I mar r i ed J i mbecause I . . .
I t hought t hat he was you. I t hought t hat he was Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
Now I know t hat he' s"
she hesi t at ed, t hen went on f i r ml y, as i f not t o spar e her sel f anyt hi ng
" he' s some sor t of vi ci ous moocher , t hough I can' t under st and of what ki nd
or why. When I spoke t o you at my weddi ng, I t hought t hat I was def endi ng
gr eat ness and at t acki ng i t s enemy . . . but i t was i n r ever se . . . i t was i n
such hor r i bl e, unbel i evabl e r ever se! . . . So I want ed t o t el l you t hat I
know t he t r ut h . . . not so much f or your sake, I have no r i ght t o pr esume
t hat you' d car e, but . . . but f or t he sake of t he t hi ngs I l oved. "
Dagny sai d sl owl y, " Of cour se I f or gi ve i t . "
" Thank you, " she whi sper ed, and t ur ned t o go.
" Si t down. "
She shook her head. " That . . . t hat was al l , Mi ss Taggar t . "
Dagny al l owed her sel f t he f i r st t ouch of a smi l e, no mor e t han i n t he l ook
of her eyes, as she sai d, " Cher r yl , my name i s Dagny. "
Cher r yl ' s answer was no mor e t han a f ai nt , t r emul ous cr ease of her mout h,
as i f , t oget her , t hey had compl et ed a si ngl e smi l e. " I . . .
I di dn' t know whet her I shoul d"
" We' r e si st er s, ar en' t we?"
" No! Not t hr ough J i m! " I t was an i nvol unt ar y cr y.
" No, t hr ough our own choi ce. Si t down, Cher r yl . " The gi r l obeyed,
st r uggl i ng not t o show t he eager ness of her accept ance, not t o gr asp f or
suppor t , not t o br eak. " You' ve had a t er r i bl e t i me, haven' t you?"
" Yes . . . but t hat doesn' t mat t er . . . t hat ' s my own pr obl em. . . and
my own f aul t . "
" I don' t t hi nk i t was your own f aul t . "
Cher r yl di d not answer , t hen sai d suddenl y, desper at el y, " Look . . .
what I don' t want i s char i t y. "
" J i mmust have t ol d youand i t ' s t r uet hat I never engage i n char i t y. "
" Yes, he di d . . . But what I mean i s"
" I know what you mean. "
" But t her e' s no r eason why you shoul d have t o f eel concer n f or me . . . I
di dn' t come her e t o compl ai n and . . . and l oad anot her bur den on your
shoul der s . . . That I happen t o suf f er , doesn' t gi ve me a cl ai mon you. "
" No, i t doesn' t . But t hat you val ue al l t he t hi ngs I val ue, does. "
" You mean . . . i f you want t o t al k t o me, i t ' s not al ms? Not j ust because
you f eel sor r y f or me?"
" I f eel t er r i bl y sor r y f or you, Cher r yl , and I ' d l i ke t o hel p you
not because you suf f er , but because you haven' t deser ved t o suf f er . "
" You mean, you woul dn' t be ki nd t o anyt hi ng weak or whi ni ng or r ot t en
about me? Onl y t o what ever you see i n me t hat ' s good?"
" Of cour se. "
Cher r yl di d not move her head, but she l ooked as i f i t wer e l i f t ed
as i f some br aci ng cur r ent wer e r el axi ng her f eat ur es i nt o t hat r ar e l ook
whi ch combi nes pai n and di gni t y.
" I t ' s not al ms, Cher r yl . Don' t be af r ai d t o speak t o me. "
" I t ' s st r ange . . . You' r e t he f i r st per son I can t al k t o . . . and i t
f eel s so easy . . . yet I . . . I was af r ai d t o speak t o you. I want ed t o ask
your f or gi veness l ong ago . . . ever si nce I l ear ned t he t r ut h, I went as f ar
as t he door of your of f i ce, but I st opped and st ood t her e i n t he hal l and
di dn' t have t he cour age t o go i n. . . . I di dn' t i nt end t o come her e t oni ght .
I went out onl y t o . . . t o t hi nk somet hi ng over , and t hen, suddenl y, I knew
t hat I want ed t o see you, t hat i n t he whol e of t he ci t y t hi s was t he onl y
pl ace f or me t o go and t he onl y t hi ng st i l l l ef t f or me t o do. "
" I ' mgl ad you di d. "
" You know, Mi ss TagDagny, " she sai d sof t l y, i n wonder , " you' r e not as I
expect ed you t o be at al l . . . . They, J i mand hi s f r i ends, t hey sai d you
wer e har d and col d and unf eel i ng. "
" But i t ' s t r ue, Cher r yl . I am, i n t he sense t hey meanonl y have t hey ever
t ol d you i n j ust what sense t hey mean i t ?"
" No. They never do. They onl y sneer at me when I ask t hemwhat t hey mean
by anyt hi ng . . . about anyt hi ng. What di d t hey mean about you?"
" Whenever anyone accuses some per son of bei ng ' unf eel i ng, ' he means t hat
t hat per son i s j ust . He means t hat t hat per son has no causel ess emot i ons and
wi l l not gr ant hi ma f eel i ng whi ch he does not deser ve. He means t hat ' t o
f eel ' i s t o go agai nst r eason, agai nst mor al val ues, agai nst r eal i t y. He
means . . . What ' s t he mat t er ?" she asked, seei ng t he abnor mal i nt ensi t y of
t he gi r l ' s f ace.
" I t ' s . . . i t ' s somet hi ng I ' ve t r i ed so har d t o under st and . . . f or such
a l ong t i me. . . . "
" Wel l , obser ve t hat you never hear t hat accusat i on i n def ense of
i nnocence, but al ways i n def ense of gui l t . You never hear i t sai d by a good
per son about t hose who f ai l t o do hi mj ust i ce. But you al ways hear i t sai d by
a r ot t er about t hose who t r eat hi mas a r ot t er , t hose who don' t f eel any
sympat hy f or t he evi l he' s commi t t ed or f or t he pai n he suf f er s as a
consequence. Wel l , i t ' s t r uet hat i s what I do not f eel . But t hose who f eel
i t , f eel not hi ng f or any qual i t y of human gr eat ness, f or any per son or act i on
t hat deser ves admi r at i on, appr oval , est eem. These ar e t he t hi ngs 7 f eel .
You' l l f i nd t hat i t ' s one or t he ot her . Those who gr ant sympat hy t o gui l t ,
gr ant none t o i nnocence.
Ask your sel f whi ch, of t he t wo, ar e t he unf eel i ng per sons. And t hen you' l l
see what mot i ve i s t he opposi t e of char i t y. "
" What ?" she whi sper ed.
" J ust i ce, Cher r yl . "
Cher r yl shudder ed suddenl y and dr opped her head. " Oh God! " she moaned. " I f
you knew what hel l J i mhas been gi vi ng me because I bel i eved j ust what you
sai d! " She r ai sed her f ace i n t he sweep of anot her shudder , as i f t he t hi ngs
she had t r i ed t o cont r ol had br oken t hr ough; t he l ook i n her eyes was t er r or .
" Dagny, " she whi sper ed, " Dagny, I ' maf r ai d of t hem. . . of J i mand al l t he
ot her s . . . not af r ai d of somet hi ng t hey' l l do . . . i f i t wer e t hat , I
coul d escape . . .
but af r ai d, as i f t her e' s no way out . . . af r ai d of what t hey ar e and . .
. and t hat t hey exi st . "
Dagny came f or war d swi f t l y t o si t on t he ar mof her chai r and sei ze her
shoul der i n a st eadyi ng gr asp. " Qui et , ki d, " she sai d. " You' r e wr ong. You
must never f eel af r ai d of peopl e i n t hat way. You must never t hi nk t hat t hei r
exi st ence i s a r ef l ect i on on your syet t hat ' s what you' r e t hi nki ng. "
" Yes . . . Yes, I f eel t hat t her e' s no chance f or me t o exi st , i f t hey do
. . . no chance, no r oom, no wor l d I can cope wi t h. . . . I don' t want t o
f eel i t , I keep pushi ng i t back, but i t ' s comi ng cl oser and 1
know I have no pl ace t o r un. . . . I can' t expl ai n what i t f eel s l i ke, I
can' t cat ch hol d of i t and t hat ' s par t of t he t er r or , t hat you can' t cat ch
hol d of anyt hi ngi t ' s as i f t he whol e wor l d wer e suddenl y dest r oyed, but not
by an expl osi onan expl osi on i s somet hi ng har d and sol i dbut dest r oyed by . .
. by some hor r i bl e ki nd of sof t eni ng . . .
as i f not hi ng wer e sol i d, not hi ng hel d any shape at al l , and you coul d
poke your f i nger t hr ough st one wal l s and t he st one woul d gi ve, l i ke j el l y,
and mount ai ns woul d sl i t her , and bui l di ngs woul d swi t ch t hei r shapes l i ke
cl oudsand t hat woul d be t he end of t he wor l d, not f i r e and br i mst one, but
goo. "
" Cher r yl . . . Cher r yl , you poor ki d, t her e have been cent ur i es of
phi l osopher s pl ot t i ng t o t ur n t he wor l d i nt o j ust t hat t o dest r oy peopl e' s
mi nds by maki ng t hembel i eve t hat t hat ' s what t hey' r e seei ng.
But you don' t have t o accept i t . You don' t have t o see t hr ough t he eyes of
ot her s, hol d ont o your s, st and on your own j udgment , you know t hat what i s,
i ssay i t al oud, l i ke t he hol i est of pr ayer s, and don' t l et anyone t el l you
ot her wi se. "
" But . . . but not hi ng i s, any mor e. J i mand hi s f r i endst hey' r e not . I
don' t know what I ' ml ooki ng at , when I ' mamong t hem, I don' t know what I ' m
hear i ng when t hey speak . . . i t ' s not r eal , any of i t , i t ' s some ghast l y
sor t of act t hat t hey' r e al l goi ng t hr ough . . . and I don' t know what
t hey' r e af t er . . . . Dagny! We' ve al ways been t ol d t hat human bei ngs have
such a gr eat power of knowl edge, so much gr eat er t han ani mal s, but I I f eel
bl i nder t han any ani mal r i ght now, bl i nder and mor e hel pl ess. An ani mal knows
who ar e i t s f r i ends and who ar e i t s enemi es, and when t o def end i t sel f . I t
doesn' t expect a f r i end t o st ep on i t or t o cut i t s t hr oat . I t doesn' t expect
t o be t ol d t hat l ove i s bl i nd, t hat pl under i s achi evement , t hat gangst er s
ar e st at esmen and t hat i t ' s gr eat t o br eak t he spi ne of Hank Rear den! oh God,
what amI sayi ng?"
" I know what you' r e sayi ng. "
" I mean, how amI t o deal wi t h peopl e? I mean, i f not hi ng hel d f i r mf or
t he l engt h of one hour we coul dn' t go on, coul d we? Wel l , I know t hat t hi ngs
ar e sol i dbut peopl e? Dagny! They' r e not hi ng and anyt hi ng, t hey' r e not
bei ngs, t hey' r e onl y swi t ches, j ust const ant swi t ches wi t hout any shape. But
I have t o l i ve among t hem. How amI t o do i t ?"
" Cher r yl , what you' ve been st r uggl i ng wi t h i s t he gr eat est pr obl emi n
hi st or y, t he one t hat has caused ai l of human suf f er i ng. You' ve under st ood
much mor e t han most peopl e, who suf f er and di e, never knowi ng what ki l l ed
t hem. I ' l l hel p you t o under st and. I t ' s a bi g subj ect and a har d bat t l ebut
f i r st , above al l , don' t be af r ai d. "
The l ook on Cher r yl ' s f ace was an odd, wi st f ul l ongi ng, as i f , seei ng
Dagny f r oma gr eat di st ance, she wer e st r ai ni ng and f ai l i ng t o come cl oser ,
" I wi sh I coul d wi sh t o f i ght , " she sai d sof t l y, " but I don' t . I don' t even
want t o wi n any l onger . Ther e' s one change t hat I don' t seemt o have t he
st r engt h t o make. You see, I had never expect ed anyt hi ng l i ke my mar r i age t o
J i m, Then when i t happened, I t hought t hat l i f e was much mor e wonder f ul t han
I had expect ed. And now t o get used t o t he i dea t hat l i f e and peopl e ar e much
mor e hor r i bl e t han anyt hi ng I had i magi ned and t hat my mar r i age was not a
gl or i ous mi r acl e, but some unspeakabl e ki nd of evi l whi ch I ' mst i l l af r ai d t o
l ear n f ul l yt hat i s what I can' t f or ce mysel f t o t ake. I can' t get past i t . "
She gl anced up suddenl y. " Dagny, how di d you do i t ? How di d you manage t o
r emai n unmangl ed?"
" By hol di ng t o j ust one r ul e. "
" Whi ch?"
" To pl ace not hi ngnot hi ngabove t he ver di ct of my own mi nd. "
" You' ve t aken some t er r i bl e beat i ngs . . . maybe wor se t han I di d . . .
wor se t han any of us. . . . What hel d you t hr ough i t ?"
" The knowl edge t hat my l i f e i s t he hi ghest of val ues, t oo hi gh t o gi ve up
wi t hout a f i ght . "
She saw a l ook of ast oni shment , of i ncr edul ous r ecogni t i on on Cher r yl ' s
f ace, as i f t he gi r l wer e st r uggl i ng t o r ecapt ur e some sensat i on acr oss a
span of year s. " Dagny" her voi ce was a whi sper " t hat ' s . . . t hat ' s what I
f el t when I was a chi l d . . . t hat ' s what I seemt o r emember most about
mysel f . . . t hat ki nd of f eel i ng . . . and I never l ost i t , i t ' s t her e, i t ' s
al ways been t her e, but as I gr ew up, I t hought i t was somet hi ng t hat I must
hi de. . . . I never had any name f or i t , but j ust now, when you sai d i t , i t
st r uck me t hat t hat ' s what i t was. . . . Dagny, t o f eel t hat way about your
own l i f ei s t hat good?"
" Cher r yl , l i st en t o me car ef ul l y: t hat f eel i ngwi t h ever yt hi ng whi ch i t
r equi r es and i mpl i esi s t he hi ghest , nobl est and onl y good on ear t h. "
" The r eason I ask i s because I . . . I woul dn' t have dar ed t o t hi nk t hat .
Somehow, peopl e al ways made me f eel as i f t hey t hought i t was a si n . . . as
i f t hat wer e t he t hi ng i n me whi ch t hey r esent ed and . . . and want ed t o
dest r oy. "
" I t ' s t r ue. Some peopl e do want t o dest r oy i t . And when you l ear n t o
under st and t hei r mot i ve, you' l l know t he dar kest , ugl i est and onl y evi l i n
t he wor l d, but you' l l be saf el y out of i t s r each. "
Cher r yl ' s smi l e was l i ke a f eebl e f l i cker st r uggl i ng t o r et ai n i t s hol d
upon a f ew dr ops of f uel , t o cat ch t hem, t o f l ar e up. " I t ' s t he f i r st t i me i n
mont hs, " she whi sper ed, " t hat I ' ve f el t as i f . . . as i f t her e' s st i l l a
chance. " She saw Dagny' s eyes wat chi ng her wi t h at t ent i ve concer n, and she
added, " I ' l l be al l r i ght . . . Let me get used t o i t t o you, t o al l t he
t hi ngs you sai d. I t hi nk I ' l l come t o bel i eve i t . . . t o bel i eve t hat i t ' s
r eal . . . and t hat J i mdoesn' t mat t er . " She r ose t o her f eet , as i f t r yi ng
t o r et ai n t he moment of assur ance.
Pr ompt ed by a sudden, causel ess cer t ai nt y, Dagny sai d shar pl y, " Cher r yl , I
don' t want you t o go home t oni ght . "
" Oh no! I ' mal l r i ght . I ' mnot af r ai d, t hat way. Not of goi ng home. "
" Di dn' t somet hi ng happen t her e t oni ght ?"
" No . . . not r eal l y . . . not hi ng wor se t han usual . I t was j ust t hat I
began t o see t hi ngs a l i t t l e mor e cl ear l y, t hat was al l . . . I ' mal l r i ght .
I have t o t hi nk, t hi nk har der t han I ever di d bef or e . . . and t hen I ' l l
deci de what I must do. May I " She hesi t at ed.
" Yes?' 1
" May I come back t o t al k t o you agai n?"
" Of cour se. "
" Thank you, I . . . I ' mver y gr at ef ul t o you. "
" Wi l l you pr omi se me t hat you' l l come back?"
" I pr omi se. "
Dagny saw her wal ki ng of f down t he hal l t owar d t he el evat or , saw t he sl ump
of her shoul der s, t hen t he ef f or t t hat l i f t ed t hem, saw t he sl ender f i gur e
t hat seemed t o sway t hen mar shal al l of i t s st r engt h t o r emai n er ect . She
l ooked l i ke a pl ant wi t h a br oken st em, st i l l hel d t oget her by a si ngl e
f i ber , st r uggl i ng t o heal t he br each, whi ch one mor e gust of wi nd woul d
f i ni sh.
Thr ough t he open door of hi s st udy, J ames Taggar t had seen Cher r yl cr oss
t he ant er oomand wal k out of t he apar t ment . He had sl ammed hi s door and
sl umped down on t he davenpor t , wi t h pat ches of spi l l ed champagne st i l l
soaki ng t he cl ot h of hi s t r ouser s, as i f hi s own di scomf or t wer e a r evenge
upon hi s wi f e and upon a uni ver se t hat woul d not pr ovi de hi mwi t h t he
cel ebr at i on he had want ed.
Af t er a whi l e, he l eaped t o hi s f eet , t or e of f hi s coat and t hr ew i t
acr oss t he r oom. He r eached f or a ci gar et t e, but snapped i t i n hal f and f l ung
i t at a pai nt i ng over t he f i r epl ace.
He not i ced a vase of Venet i an gl assa museumpi ece, cent ur i es ol d, wi t h an
i nt r i cat e syst emof bl ue and gol d ar t er i es t wi st i ng t hr ough i t s t r anspar ent
body. He sei zed i t and f l ung i t at t he wal l ; i t bur st i nt o a r ai n of gl ass as
t hi n as a shat t er ed l i ght bul b.
He had bought t hat vase f or t he sat i sf act i on of t hi nki ng of al l t he
connoi sseur s who coul d not af f or d i t . Now he exper i enced t he sat i sf act i on of
a r evenge upon t he cent ur i es whi ch had pr i zed i t and t he sat i sf act i on of
t hi nki ng t hat t her e wer e mi l l i ons of desper at e f ami l i es, any one of whom
coul d have l i ved f or a year on t he pr i ce of t hat vase.
He ki cked of f hi s shoes, and f el l back on t he davenpor t , l et t i ng hi s
st ocki ng f eet dangl e i n mi d- ai r .
The sound of t he door bel l st ar t l ed hi m: i t seemed t o mat ch hi s mood.
I t was t he ki nd of br usque, demandi ng, i mpat i ent snap of sound he woul d
have pr oduced i f he wer e now j abbi ng hi s f i nger at someone' s door bel l .
He l i st ened t o t he but l er ' s st eps, pr omi si ng hi msel f t he pl easur e of
r ef usi ng admi t t ance t o whoever was seeki ng i t . I n a moment , he hear d t he
knock at hi s door and t he but l er ent er ed t o announce, " Mr s.
Rear den t o see you, si r . "
" What ? . . . Oh . . . Wel l ! Have her come i n! "
He swung hi s f eet down t o t he f l oor , but made no ot her concessi on, and
wai t ed wi t h hal f a smi l e of al er t ed cur i osi t y, choosi ng not t o r i se unt i l a
moment af t er Li l l i an had ent er ed t he r oom.
She wor e a wi ne- col or ed di nner gown, an i mi t at i on of an Empi r e t r avel i ng
sui t , wi t h a mi ni at ur e doubl e- br east ed j acket gr i ppi ng her hi gh wai st l i ne
over t he l ong sweep of t he ski r t , and a smal l hat cl i ngi ng t o one ear , wi t h a
f eat her sweepi ng down t o cur l under her chi n. She ent er ed wi t h a br usque,
unr hyt hmi cal mot i on, t he t r ai n of her dr ess and t he f eat her of her hat
swi r l i ng, t hen f l appi ng agai nst her l egs and t hr oat , l i ke pennant s si gnal i ng
ner vousness.
" Li l l i an, my dear , amI t o be f l at t er ed, del i ght ed or j ust pl ai n
f l abber gast ed?"
" Oh, don' t make a f uss about i t ! I had t o see you, and i t had t o be
i mmedi at el y, t hat ' s al l . "
The i mpat i ent t one, t he per empt or y movement wi t h whi ch she sat down wer e a
conf essi on of weakness: by t he r ul es of t hei r unwr i t t en l anguage, one di d not
assume a demandi ng manner unl ess one wer e seeki ng a f avor and had no val ueno
t hr eat t o bar t er .
" Why di dn' t you st ay at t he Gonzal es r ecept i on?" she asked, her casual
smi l e f ai l i ng t o hi de t he t one of i r r i t at i on. " I dr opped i n on t hemaf t er
di nner , j ust t o cat ch hol d of youbut t hey sai d you hadn' t been f eel i ng wel l
and had gone home. "
He cr ossed t he r oomand pi cked up a ci gar et t e, f or t he pl easur e of paddi ng
i n hi s st ocki ng f eet past t he f or mal el egance of her cost ume.
" I was bor ed, " he answer ed.
" I can' t st and t hem, " she sai d, wi t h a l i t t l e shudder ; he gl anced at her
i n ast oni shment : t he wor ds sounded i nvol unt ar y and si ncer e. " I can' t st and
Senor Gonzal es and t hat whor e he' s got hi msel f f or a wi f e.
I t ' s di sgust i ng t hat t hey' ve become so f ashi onabl e, t hey and t hei r
par t i es. I don' t f eel l i ke goi ng anywher e any l onger . I t ' s not t he same
st yl e any mor e, not t he same spi r i t . I haven' t r un i nt o Bal ph Eubank f or
mont hs, or Dr . Pr i t chet t , or any of t he boys. And al l t hose new f aces t hat
l ook l i ke but cher ' s assi st ant s! Af t er al l , our cr owd wer e gent l emen. "
" Yeah, " he sai d r ef l ect i vel y. " Yeah, t her e' s some f unny ki nd of
di f f er ence. I t ' s l i ke on t he r ai l r oad, t oo: I coul d get al ong wi t h Gem
Weat her by, he was ci vi l i zed, but Cuf f y Mei gst hat ' s somet hi ng el se agai n,
t hat ' s . . . " He st opped abr upt l y.
" I t ' s per f ect l y pr epost er ous, " she sai d, i n t he t one of a chal l enge t o t he
space at l ar ge. " They can' t get away wi t h i t . "
She di d not expl ai n " who" or " wi t h what . " He knew what she meant . Thr ough
a moment of si l ence, t hey l ooked as i f t hey wer e cl i ngi ng t o each ot her f or
r eassur ance.
I n t he next moment , he was t hi nki ng wi t h pl easur abl e amusement t hat
Li l l i an was begi nni ng t o show her age. The deep bur gundy col or of her gown
was unbecomi ng, i t seemed t o dr aw a pur pl i sh t i nge out of her ski n, a t i nge
t hat gat her ed, l i ke t wi l i ght , i n t he smal l gul l i es of her f ace, sof t eni ng her
f l esh t o a t ext ur e of t i r ed sl ackness, changi ng her l ook of br i ght mocker y
i nt o a l ook of st al e mal i ce.
He saw her st udyi ng hi m, smi l i ng and sayi ng cr i spl y, wi t h t he smi l e as
l i cense f or i nsul t , " You ar e unwel l , ar en' t you, J i m? You l ook l i ke a
di sor gani zed st abl e boy. "
He chuckl ed. " I can af f or d i t . "
" I know i t , dar l i ng. You' r e one of t he most power f ul men i n New Yor k
Ci t y. " She added, " I t ' s a good j oke on New Yor k Ci t y. "
" I t i s. "
" I concede t hat you' r e i n a posi t i on t o do anyt hi ng. That ' s why I had t o
see you. " She added a smal l , gr unt l i ke sound of amusement , t o di l ut e her
st at ement ' s f r ankness.
" Good, " he sai d, hi s voi ce comf or t abl e and noncommi t t al .
" I had t o come her e, because I t hought i t best , i n t hi s par t i cul ar mat t er ,
not t o be seen t oget her i n publ i c. "
" That i s al ways wi se. "
" I seemt o r emember havi ng been usef ul t o you i n t he past . "
" I n t he past yes. "
" I amsur e t hat I can count on you. "
" Of cour seonl y i sn' t t hat an ol d- f ashi oned, unphi l osophi cal r emar k? How
can we ever be sur e of anyt hi ng?"
" J i m, " she snapped suddenl y, " you' ve got t o hel p me! "
" My dear , I ' mat your di sposal , I ' d do anyt hi ng t o hel p you, " he answer ed,
t he r ul es of t hei r l anguage r equi r i ng t hat any open st at ement be answer ed by
a bl at ant l i e. Li l l i an was sl i ppi ng, he t hought and he exper i enced t he
pl easur e of deal i ng wi t h an i nadequat e adver sar y.
She was negl ect i ng, he not ed, even t he per f ect i on of her par t i cul ar
t r ademar k: her gr oomi ng. A f ew st r ands wer e escapi ng f r omt he dr i l l ed waves
of her hai r her nai l s, mat chi ng her gown, wer e t he deep shade of coagul at ed
bl ood, whi ch made i t easy t o not i ce t he chi pped pol i sh at t hei r t i psand
agai nst t he br oad, smoot h, cr eamy expanse of her ski n i n t he l ow, squar e cut
of her gown, he obser ved t he t i ny gl i t t er of a saf et y pi n hol di ng t he st r ap
of her sl i p.
" You' ve got t o pr event i t ! " she sai d, i n t he bel l i ger ent t one of a pl ea
di sgui sed as a command. " You' ve got t o st op i t ! "
" Real l y? What ?"
" My di vor ce. "
" Oh . . . ! " Hi s f eat ur es dr opped i nt o sudden ear nest ness.
" You know t hat he' s goi ng t o di vor ce me, don' t you?"
" I ' ve hear d some r umor s about i t . "
" I t ' s set f or next mont h. And when I say set , t hat ' s j ust what I mean.
Oh, i t ' s cost hi mpl ent ybut he' s bought t he j udge, t he cl er ks, t he
bai l i f f s, t hei r backer s, t hei r backer s1 backer s, a f ew l egi sl at or s, hal f a
dozen admi ni st r at or she' s bought t he whol e l egal pr ocess, l i ke a pr i vat e
t hor oughf ar e, and t her e' s no si ngl e cr ossr oad l ef t f or me t o squeeze t hr ough
t o st op i t ! "
" I see. "
" You know, of cour se, what made hi mst ar t di vor ce pr oceedi ngs?"
" I can guess. "
" And I di d i t as a f avor t o you! " Her voi ce was gr owi ng anxi ousl y shr i l l .
" I t ol d you about your si st er i n or der t o l et you get t hat Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e
f or your f r i ends, whi ch"
" I swear I don' t know who l et i t out ! " he cr i ed hast i l y. " Onl y a ver y f ew
at t he t op knew t hat you' d been our i nf or mer , and I ' msur e nobody woul d dar e
ment i on"
" Oh, I ' msur e nobody di d. He' d have t he br ai ns t o guess i t , woul dn' t he?"
" Yes, I suppose so. Wel l , t hen you knew t hat you wer e t aki ng a chance. "
" I di dn' t t hi nk he' d go t hat f ar . I di dn' t t hi nk he' d ever di vor ce me.
I di dn' t "
He chuckl ed suddenl y, wi t h a gl ance of ast oni shi ng per cept i veness.
" You di dn' t t hi nk t hat gui l t i s a r ope t hat wear s t hi n, di d you, Li l l i an?"
She l ooked at hi m, st ar t l ed, t hen answer ed st oni l y, " I don' t t hi nk i t
does. "
" I t does, my dear f or men such as your husband. "
" I don' t want hi mt o di vor ce me! " I t was a sudden scr eam. " I don' t want t o
l et hi mgo f r ee! I won' t per mi t i t ! I won' t l et t he whol e of my l i f e be a
t ot al f ai l ur e! " She st opped abr upt l y, as i f she had admi t t ed t oo much.
He was chuckl i ng sof t l y, noddi ng hi s head wi t h a sl ow movement t hat had an
ai r of i nt el l i gence, al most of di gni t y, by si gni f yi ng a compl et e
under st andi ng.
" I mean . . . af t er al l , he' s my husband, " she sai d def ensi vel y.
" Yes, Li l l i an, yes, I know. "
" Do you know what he' s pl anni ng? He' s goi ng t o get t he decr ee and he' s
goi ng t o cut me of f wi t hout a pennyno set t l ement , no al i mony, not hi ng! He' s
goi ng t o have t he l ast wor d. Don' t you see? I f he get s away wi t h i t , t hen . .
. t hen t he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e was no vi ct or y f or me at al l ! "
" Yes, my dear , I see. "
" And besi des . . . I t ' s pr epost er ous t hat I shoul d have t o t hi nk of i t ,
but what amI goi ng t o l i ve on? The l i t t l e money I had of my own i s wor t h
not hi ng nowadays. I t ' s mai nl y st ock i n f act or i es of my f at her ' s t i me, t hat
have cl osed l ong ago. What amI goi ng t o do?"
" But , Li l l i an, " he sai d sof t l y, " I t hought you had no concer n f or money or
f or any mat er i al r ewar ds. "
" You don' t under st and! I ' mnot t al ki ng about moneyI ' mt al ki ng about
pover t y! Real , st i nki ng, hal l - bedr oompover t y! That ' s out of bounds f or any
ci vi l i zed per son! I I t o have t o wor r y about f ood and r ent ?"
He was wat chi ng her wi t h a f ai nt smi l e; f or once, hi s sof t , agi ng f ace
seemed t i ght ened i nt o a l ook of wi sdom; he was di scover i ng t he pl easur e of
f ul l per cept i oni n a r eal i t y whi ch he coul d per mi t hi msel f t o per cei ve.
" J i m, you' ve got t o hel p me! My l awyer i s power l ess. I ' ve spent t he l i t t l e
I had, on hi mand on hi s i nvest i gat or s, f r i ends and f i xer sbut al l t hey coul d
do f or me was f i nd out t hat t hey can do not hi ng. My l awyer gave me hi s f i nal
r epor t t hi s af t er noon. He t ol d me bl unt l y t hat I haven' t a chance. I don' t
seemt o know anyone who can hel p agai nst a set up of t hi s ki nd. I had count ed
on Ber t r amScudder , but . . .
wel l , you know what happened t o Ber t r am. And t hat , t oo, was because I had
t r i ed t o hel p you. You pul l ed your sel f out of t hat one. J i m, you' r e t he onl y
per son who can pul l me out now. You' ve got your gopher - hol e pi pe l i ne
st r ai ght up t o t he t op. You can r each t he bi g boys. Sl i p a wor d t o your
f r i ends t o sl i p a wor d t o t hei r f r i ends. One wor d f r omWesl ey woul d do i t .
Have t hemor der t hat di vor ce decr ee t o be r ef used. J ust have i t be r ef used. "
He shook hi s head sl owl y, al most compassi onat el y, l i ke a t i r ed
pr of essi onal at an over zeal ous amat eur . " I t can' t be done, Li l l i an, " he sai d
f i r ml y. " I ' d l i ke t o do i t f or t he same r easons as your sand I t hi nk you know
i t . But what ever power I have i s not enough i n t hi s case. "
She was l ooki ng at hi m, her eyes dar k wi t h an odd, l i f el ess st i l l ness;
when she spoke, t he mot i on of her l i ps was t wi st ed by so evi l a cont empt t hat
he di d not dar e i dent i f y i t beyond knowi ng t hat i t embr aced t hembot h; she
sai d, " I know t hat you' d l i ke t o do i t . "
He f el t no desi r e t o pr et end; oddl y, f or t he f i r st t i me, f or t hi s one
chance, t r ut h seemed much mor e pl easur abl et r ut h, f or once, ser vi ng hi s
par t i cul ar ki nd of enj oyment . " I t hi nk you know t hat i t can' t be done, " he
sai d. " Nobody does f avor s nowadays, i f t her e' s not hi ng t o gai n i n r et ur n. And
t he st akes ar e get t i ng hi gher and hi gher . The gopher hol es, as you cal l ed
t hem, ar e so compl ex, so t wi st ed and i nt er t wi st ed t hat ever ybody has
somet hi ng on ever ybody el se, and nobody dar es move because he can' t t el l
who' l l cr ack whi ch way or when. So he' l l move onl y when he has t o, when t he
st akes ar e l i f e or deat hand t hat ' s pr act i cal l y t he onl y ki nd of st akes we' r e
pl ayi ng f or now. Wel l , what ' s your pr i vat e l i f e t o any of t hose boys? That
you' d l i ke t o hol d your husbandwhat ' s i n i t f or t hem, one way or anot her ?
And my per sonal st ock- i n- t r adewel l , t her e' s not hi ng I coul d of f er t hemat
t he moment i n exchange f or t r yi ng t o bl ast a whol e cour t cl i que out of a
hi ghl y pr of i t abl e deal . Besi des, r i ght now, t he t op boys woul dn' t do i t at
any pr i ce. They have t o be mi ght y car ef ul of your husbandhe' s t he man who' s
saf e f r omt hemr i ght nowever si nce t hat r adi o br oadcast of my si st er ' s. "
" You asked me t o f or ce her t o speak on t hat br oadcast ! "
" I know, Li l l i an. We l ost , bot h of us, t hat t i me. And we l ose, bot h of us,
now. "
" Yes, " she sai d, wi t h t he same dar kness of cont empt i n her eyes, " bot h of
us. "
I t was t he cont empt t hat pl eased hi m; i t was t he st r ange, heedl ess,
unf ami l i ar pl easur e of knowi ng t hat t hi s woman saw hi mas he was, yet
r emai ned hel d by hi s pr esence, r emai ned and l eaned back i n her chai r , as i f
decl ar i ng her bondage.
" You' r e a wonder f ul per son, J i m, " she sai d. I t had t he sound of damnat i on.
Yet i t was a t r i but e, and she meant i t as such, and hi s pl easur e came f r om
t he knowl edge t hat t hey wer e i n a r eal mwher e damnat i on was val ue.
" You know, " he sai d suddenl y, " you' r e wr ong about t hose but cher ' s
assi st ant s, l i ke Gonzal es. They have t hei r uses. Have you ever l i ked
Fr anci sco d' Anconi a?"
" I can' t st and hi m. "
" Wel l , do you know t he r eal pur pose of t hat cockt ai l - swi l l i ng occasi on
st aged by Senor Gonzal es t oni ght ? I t was t o cel ebr at e t he agr eement t o
nat i onal i ze d' Anconi a Copper i n about a mont h. "
She l ooked at hi mf or a moment , t he cor ner s of her l i ps l i f t i ng sl owl y
i nt o a smi l e. " He was your f r i end, wasn' t he?"
Her voi ce had a t one he had never ear ned bef or e, t he t one of an emot i on
whi ch he had dr awn f r ompeopl e onl y by f r aud, but whi ch now, f or t he f i r st
t i me, was gr ant ed wi t h f ul l awar eness t o t he r eal , t he act ual nat ur e of hi s
deed: a t one of admi r at i on.
Suddenl y, he knew t hat t hi s was t he goal of hi s r est l ess hour s, t hi s was
t he pl easur e he had despai r ed of f i ndi ng, t hi s was t he cel ebr at i on he had
want ed.
" Let ' s have a dr i nk, Li l . " he sai d.
Pour i ng t he l i quor , he gl anced at her acr oss t he r oom, as she l ay
st r et ched l i mpl y i n her chai r . " Let hi mget hi s di vor ce, " he sai d, " He won' t
have t he l ast wor d. They wi l l . The but cher ' s assi st ant s. Senor Gonzal es and
Cuf f y Mei gs. "
She di d not answer . When he appr oached, she t ook t he gl ass f r omhi mwi t h a
sl oppi l y i ndi f f er ent sweep of her hand. She dr ank, not i n t he manner of a
soci al gest ur e, but l i ke a l onel y dr i nker i n a sal oonf or t he physi cal sake
of t he l i quor .
He sat down on t he ar mof t he davenpor t , i mpr oper l y cl ose t o her , and
si pped hi s dr i nk, wat chi ng her f ace. Af t er a whi l e, he asked, " What does he
t hi nk of me?"
The quest i on di d not seemt o ast oni sh her . " He t hi nks you' r e a f ool , " she
answer ed. " He t hi nks l i f e' s t oo shor t t o have t o not i ce your exi st ence. "
" He' d not i ce i t , i f " He st opped.
" i f you bashed hi mover t he head wi t h a cl ub? I ' mnot t oo sur e.
He' d mer el y bl ame hi msel f f or not havi ng moved out of t he cl ub' s r each.
St i l l , t hat woul d be your onl y chance. "
She shi f t ed her body, sl i di ng l ower i n t he ar mchai r , st omach f or war d, as
i f r el axat i on wer e ugl i ness, as i f she wer e gr ant i ng hi mt he ki nd of i nt i macy
t hat r equi r ed no poi se and no r espect .
" That was t he f i r st t hi ng I not i ced about hi m, " she sai d, " when I met hi m
f or t he f i r st t i me: t hat he was not af r ai d. He l ooked as i f he f el t cer t ai n
t hat t her e was not hi ng any of us coul d do t o hi mso cer t ai n t hat he di dn' t
even know t he i ssue or t he nat ur e of what he f el t . "
" How l ong si nce you saw hi ml ast ?"
" Thr ee mont hs. I haven' t seen hi msi nce . . . si nce t he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e .
. . "
" I saw hi mat an i ndust r i al meet i ng t wo weeks ago. He st i l l l ooks t hat
wayonl y mor e so. Now, he l ooks as i f he knows i t . " He added, " You have
f ai l ed, Li l l i an. "
She di d not answer . She pushed her hat of f wi t h t he back of her hand; i t
r ol l ed down t o t he car pet , i t s f eat her cur l i ng l i ke a quest i on mar k. " I
r emember t he f i r st t i me I saw hi s mi l l s, " she sai d. " Hi s mi l l s!
You can' t i magi ne what he f el t about t hem. You woul dn' t know t he ki nd of
i nt el l ect ual ar r ogance i t t akes t o f eel as i f anyt hi ng per t ai ni ng t o hi m,
anyt hi ng he t ouched, wer e made sacr ed by t he t ouch. Hi s mi l l s, hi s Met al , hi s
money, hi s bed, hi s wi f e! " She gl anced up at hi m, a smal l f l i cker pi er ci ng
t he l et har gi c empt i ness of her eyes. " He never not i ced your exi st ence. He di d
not i ce mi ne. I ' mst i l l Mr s. Rear denat l east f or anot her mont h. "
" Yes . . . " he sai d, l ooki ng down at her wi t h a sudden, new i nt er est .
" Mr s. Rear den! " she chuckl ed. " You woul dn' t know what t hat meant t o hi m.
No f eudal l or d ever f el t or demanded such r ever ence f or t he t i t l e of hi s
wi f eor hel d i t as such a symbol of honor . Of hi s unbendi ng, unt ouchabl e,
i nvi ol at e, st ai nl ess honor ! " She waved her hand i n a vague mot i on, i ndi cat i ng
t he l engt h of her spr awl ed body. " Caesar ' s wi f e! " she chuckl ed. " Do you
r emember what she was supposed t o be?
No, you woul dn' t . She was supposed t o be above r epr oach, "
He was st ar i ng down at her wi t h t he heavy, bl i nd st ar e of i mpot ent hat r ed
a hat r ed of whi ch she was t he sudden symbol , not t he obj ect .
" He di dn' t l i ke i t when hi s Met al was t hr own i nt o common, publ i c use, f or
any chance passer - by t o make . . . di d he?"
" No, he di dn' t . "
Hi s wor ds wer e bl ur r i ng a l i t t l e, as i f wei ght ed wi t h dr ops of t he l i quor
he had swal l owed: " Don' t t el l me t hat you hel ped us t o get t hat Gi f t
Cer t i f i cat e as a f avor t o me and t hat you gai ned not hi ng. . . . I know why
you di d i t . "
" You knew i t at t he t i me. "
" Sur e. That ' s why I l i ke you, Li l l i an. "
Hi s eyes kept comi ng back t o t he l ow cut of her gown. I t was not t he
smoot h ski n t hat at t r act ed hi s gl ance, not t he exposed r i se of her br east s,
but t he f r aud of t he saf et y pi n beyond t he edge.
" I ' d l i ke t o see hi mbeat en, " he sai d. " I ' d l i ke t o hear hi mscr eamwi t h
pai n, j ust once. "
" You won' t , J i mmy. "
" Why does he t hi nk he' s bet t er t han t he r est of ushe and t hat si st er of
mi ne?"
She chuckl ed, He r ose as i f she had sl apped hi m. He went t o t he bar and
pour ed hi msel f anot her dr i nk, not of f er i ng t o r ef i l l her gl ass.
She was speaki ng i nt o space, st ar i ng past hi m. " He di d not i ce my
exi st enceeven t hough I can' t l ay r ai l r oad t r acks f or hi mand er ect br i dges
t o t he gl or y of hi s Met al . I can' t bui l d hi s mi l l sbut I can dest r oy t hem. I
can' t pr oduce hi s Met al but I can t ake i t away f r omhi m. I can' t br i ng men
down t o t hei r knees i n admi r at i onbut I can br i ng t hemdown t o t hei r knees. "
" Shut up! " he scr eamed i n t er r or , as i f she wer e comi ng t oo cl ose t o t hat
f ogbound al l ey whi ch had t o r emai n unseen.
She gl anced up at hi s f ace. " You' r e such a cowar d, J i m. "
" Why don' t you get dr unk?" he snapped, st i cki ng hi s unf i ni shed dr i nk at
her mout h, as i f he want ed t o st r i ke her .
Her f i nger s hal f - cl osed l i mpl y about t he gl ass, and she dr ank, spi l l i ng
t he l i quor down her chi n, her br east and her gown.
" Oh hel l , Li l l i an, you' r e a mess! " he sai d and, not t r oubl i ng t o r each f or
hi s handker chi ef , he st r et ched out hi s hand t o wi pe t he l i quor wi t h t he f l at
of hi s pal m. Hi s f i nger s sl i pped under t he gown' s neckl i ne, cl osi ng over her
br east , hi s br eat h cat chi ng i n a sudden gul p, l i ke a hi ccough. Hi s eyel i ds
wer e dr awi ng cl osed, but he caught a gl i mpse of her f ace l eani ng back
unr esi st i ngl y, her mout h swol l en wi t h r evul si on.
When he r eached f or her mout h, her ar ms embr aced hi mobedi ent l y and her
mout h r esponded, but t he r esponse was j ust a pr essur e, not a ki ss.
He r ai sed hi s head t o gl ance at her f ace. Her t eet h wer e bar ed i n a smi l e,
but she was st ar i ng past hi m, as i f mocki ng some i nvi si bl e pr esence, her
smi l e l i f el ess, yet l oud wi t h mal i ce, l i ke t he gr i n of a f l eshl ess skul l .
He j er ked her cl oser , t o st i f l e t he si ght and hi s own shudder . Hi s hands
wer e goi ng t hr ough t he aut omat i c mot i ons of i nt i macyand she compl i ed, but i n
a manner t hat made hi mf eel as i f t he beat s of her ar t er i es under hi s t ouch
wer e sni cker i ng gi ggl es. They wer e bot h per f or mi ng an expect ed r out i ne, a
r out i ne i nvent ed by someone and i mposed upon t hem, per f or mi ng i t i n mocker y,
i n hat r ed, i n def i l i ng par ody on i t s i nvent or s.
He f el t a si ght l ess, heedl ess f ur y, par t - hor r or , par t - pl easur et he hor r or
of commi t t i ng an act he woul d never dar e conf ess t o anyone
t he pl easur e of commi t t i ng i t i n bl asphemous def i ance of t hose t o whomhe
woul d not dar e conf ess i t . He was hi msel f ! t he onl y consci ous par t of hi s
r age seemed t o be scr eami ng t o hi mhe was, at l ast , hi msel f !
They di d not speak. They knew each ot her ' s mot i ve. Onl y t wo wor ds wer e
pr onounced bet ween t hem. " Mr s. Rear den, " he sai d.
They di d not l ook at each ot her when he pushed her i nt o hi s bedr oomand
ont o hi s bed, f al l i ng agai nst her body, as agai nst a sof t .
st uf f ed obj ect . Thei r f aces had a l ook of secr ecy, t he l ook of par t ner s i n
gui l t , t he f ur t i ve, smut t y l ook of chi l dr en def i l i ng someone' s cl ean f ence by
chal ki ng sneaky scr at ches i nt ended as symbol s of obsceni t y.
Af t er war d, i t di d not di sappoi nt hi mt hat what he had possessed was an
i nani mat e body wi t hout r esi st ance or r esponse. I t was not a woman t hat he had
want ed t o possess. I t was not an act i n cel ebr at i on of l i f e t hat he had
want ed t o per f or mbut an act i n cel ebr at i on of t he t r i umph of i mpot ence.
Cher r yl unl ocked t he door and sl i pped i n qui et l y, al most sur r ept i t i ousl y,
as i f hopi ng not t o be seen or t o see t he pl ace whi ch was her home. The sense
of Dagny' s pr esenceof Dagny' s wor l dhad suppor t ed her on her way back, but
when she ent er ed her own apar t ment t he wal l s seemed t o swal l ow her agai n i nt o
t he suf f ocat i on of a t r ap.
The apar t ment was si l ent ; a wedge of l i ght cut acr oss t he ant er oomf r oma
door l ef t hal f - open. She dr agged her sel f mechani cal l y i n t he di r ect i on of her
r oom. Then she st opped.
The open band of l i ght was t he door of J i m' s st udy, and on t he i l l umi nat ed
st r i p of i t s car pet she saw a woman' s hat wi t h a f eat her st i r r i ng f ai nt l y i n
a dr af t .
She t ook a st ep f or war d. The r oomwas empt y, she saw t wo gl asses, one on a
t abl e, t he ot her on t he f l oor , and a woman' s pur se l yi ng on t he seat of an
ar mchai r . She st ood, i n unexact i ng st upor , unt i l she hear d t he muf f l ed dr awl
of t wo voi ces behi nd t he door of J i m' s bedr oom; she coul d not di st i ngui sh t he
wor ds, onl y t he qual i t y of t he sounds: J i m' s voi ce had a t one of i r r i t at i on,
t he woman' sof cont empt .
Then she f ound her sel f i n her own r oom, f umbl i ng f r ant i cal l y t o l ock her
door . She had been f l ung her e by t he bl i nd pani c of escape, as i f i t wer e she
who had t o hi de, she who had t o r un f r omt he ugl i ness of bei ng seen i n t he
act of seei ng t hema pani c made of r evul si on, of pi t y, of embar r assment , of
t hat ment al chast i t y whi ch r ecoi l s f r omconf r ont i ng a man wi t h t he
unanswer abl e pr oof of hi s evi l .
She st ood i n t he mi ddl e of her r oom, unabl e t o gr asp what act i on was now
possi bl e t o her . Then her knees gave way, f ol di ng gent l y, she f ound her sel f
si t t i ng on t he f l oor and she st ayed t her e, st ar i ng at t he car pet , shaki ng.
I t was nei t her anger nor j eal ousy nor i ndi gnat i on, but t he bl ank hor r or of
deal i ng wi t h t he gr ot esquel y sensel ess. I t was t he knowl edge t hat nei t her
t hei r mar r i age nor hi s l ove f or her nor hi s i nsi st ence on hol di ng her nor hi s
l ove f or t hat ot her woman nor t hi s gr at ui t ous adul t er y had any meani ng
what ever , t hat t her e was no shr ed of sense i n any of i t and no use t o gr ope
f or expl anat i ons. She had al ways t hought of evi l as pur posef ul , as a means t o
some end; what she was seei ng now was evi l f or evi l ' s sake.
She di d not know how l ong she had sat t her e, when she hear d t hei r st eps
and voi ces, t hen t he sound of t he f r ont door cl osi ng. She got up, wi t h no
pur pose i n mi nd, but i mpel l ed by some i nst i nct f r omt he past , as i f act i ng i n
a vacuumwher e honest y was not r el evant any l onger , but knowi ng no ot her way
t o act .
She met J i mi n t he ant er oom. For a moment , t hey l ooked at each ot her as i f
nei t her coul d bel i eve t he ot her ' s r eal i t y.
" When di d you come back?" he snapped. " How l ong have you been home?"
" I don' t know . . . "
He was l ooki ng at her f ace. " What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you?"
" J i m, I " She st r uggl ed, gave up and waved her hand t owar d hi s bedr oom.
" J i m, I know. "
" What do you know?"
" You wer e t her e . . . wi t h a woman. "
Hi s f i r st act i on was t o push her i nt o hi s st udy and sl amt he door , as i f
t o hi de t hembot h, he coul d no l onger say f r omwhom. An unadmi t t ed r age was
boi l i ng i n hi s mi nd, st r uggl i ng bet ween escape and expl osi on, and i t bl ew up
i nt o t he sensat i on t hat t hi s negl i gi bl e l i t t l e wi f e of hi s was depr i vi ng hi m
of hi s t r i umph, t hat he woul d not sur r ender t o her hi s new enj oyment .
" Sur e! " he scr eamed. " So what ? What ar e you goi ng t o do about i t ?"
She st ar ed at hi mbl ankl y.
" Sur e! I was t her e wi t h a woman! That ' s what I di d, because t hat ' s what I
f el t l i ke doi ng! Do you t hi nk you' r e goi ng t o scar e me wi t h your gasps, your
st ar es, your whi mper i ng vi r t ue?" He snapped hi s f i nger s.
" That f or your opi ni on! I don' t gi ve a hoot i n hel l about your opi ni on!
Take i t and l i ke i t ! " I t was her whi t e, def ensel ess f ace t hat dr ove hi m
on, l ashi ng hi mi nt o a st at e of pl easur e, t he pl easur e of f eel i ng as i f hi s
wor ds wer e bl ows di sf i gur i ng a human f ace. " Do you t hi nk you' r e goi ng t o make
me hi de? I ' msi ck of havi ng t o put on an act f or your r i ght eous sat i sf act i on!
Who t he hel l ar e you, you cheap l i t t l e nobody?
I ' l l do as I pl ease, and you' l l keep your mout h shut and go t hr ough t he
r i ght t r i cks i n publ i c, l i ke ever ybody el se, and st op demandi ng t hat I act i n
my own home! nobody i s vi r t uous i n hi s own home, t he show i s onl y f or
company! but i f you expect me t o mean i t t o mean i t , you damn l i t t l e f ool !
you' d bet t er gr ow up i n a hur r y! "
I t was not her f ace t hat he was seei ng, i t was t he f ace of t he man at whom
he want ed and woul d never be abl e t o t hr ow hi s deed of t hi s ni ght but she had
al ways st ood as t he wor shi pper , t he def ender , t he agent of t hat man i n hi s
eyes, he had mar r i ed her f or i t , so she coul d ser ve hi s pur pose now, and he
scr eamed, " Do you know who she was, t he woman I l ai d? I t was"
" No! " she cr i ed. " J i m! I don' t have t o know i t ! "
" I t was Mr s. Rear den! Mr s. Hank Rear den! "
She st epped back. He f el t a br i ef f l ash of t er r or because she was l ooki ng
at hi mas i f she wer e seei ng t hat whi ch had t o r emai n unadmi t t ed t o hi msel f .
She asked, i n a dead voi ce t hat had t he i ncongr uous sound of common sense, " I
suppose you wi l l now want us t o get di vor ced?"
He bur st out l aughi ng. " You goddamn f ool ! You st i l l mean i t ! You st i l l
want i t bi g and pur e' I woul dn' t t hi nk of di vor ci ng youand don' t go
i magi ni ng t hat I ' l l l et you di vor ce me! You t hi nk i t ' s as i mpor t ant as t hat ?
Li st en, you f ool , t her e i sn' t a husband who doesn' t sl eep wi t h ot her women
and t her e i sn' t a wi f e who doesn' t know i t , but t hey don' t t al k about i t !
I ' l l l ay anybody I pl ease, and you go and do t he same, l i ke al l t hose
bi t ches, and keep your mout h shut ! "
He saw t he sudden, st ar t l i ng si ght of a l ook of har d, uncl ouded,
unf eel i ng, al most i nhuman i nt el l i gence i n her eyes. " J i m, i f I wer e t he ki nd
who di d or woul d, you woul dn' t have mar r i ed me. "
" No. I woul dn' t have. "
" Why di d you mar r y me?"
He f el t hi msel f dr awn as by a whi r l pool , par t i n r el i ef t hat t he moment of
danger was past , par t i n i r r esi st i bl e def i ance of t he same danger . " Because
you wer e a cheap, hel pl ess, pr epost er ous l i t t l e gut t er sni pe, who' d never have
a chance at anyt hi ng t o equal me! Because I t hought you' d l ove me! I t hought
you' d know t hat you had t o l ove me! "
" As you ar e?"
" Wi t hout dar i ng t o ask what I am! Wi t hout r easons! Wi t hout put t i ng me on
t he spot al ways t o l i ve up t o r eason af t er r eason af t er r eason, l i ke bei ng on
some goddamn dr ess par ade t o t he end of my days! "
" You l oved me . . . because I was wor t hl ess?"
" Wel l , what di d you t hi nk you wer e?"
" You l oved me f or bei ng r ot t en?"
" What el se di d you have t o of f er ? But you di dn' t have t he humi l i t y t o
appr eci at e i t . I want ed t o be gener ous, I want ed t o gi ve you secur i t ywhat
secur i t y i s t her e i n bei ng l oved f or one' s vi r t ues? The compet i t i on' s wi de
open, l i ke a j ungl e mar ket pl ace, a bet t er per son wi l l al ways come al ong t o
beat you! But I I was wi l l i ng t o l ove you f or your f l aws, f or your f aul t s and
weaknesses, f or your i gnor ance, your cr udeness, your vul gar i t yand t hat ' s
saf e, you' d have not hi ng t o f ear , not hi ng t o hi de, you coul d be your sel f ,
your r eal , st i nki ng, si nf ul , ugl y sel f ever ybody' s sel f i s a gut t er but you
coul d hol d my l ove, wi t h not hi ng demanded of you! "
" You want ed me t o . . . accept your l ove . . . as al ms' " '
" Di d you i magi ne t hat you coul d ear n i t ? Di d you i magi ne t hat you coul d
deser ve t o mar r y me, you poor l i t t l e t r amp? I used t o buy t he l i kes of you
f or t he pr i ce of a meal ! I want ed you t o know, wi t h ever y st ep you t ook, wi t h
ever y mout hf ul of cavi ar you swal l owed, t hat you owed i t al l t o me, t hat you
had not hi ng and wer e not hi ng and coul d never hope t o equal , deser ve or
r epay! "
" I . . . t r i ed . . . t o deser ve i t . "
" Of what use woul d you be t o me, i f you had?"
" You di dn' t want me t o?"
" Oh, you goddamn f ool ! "
" You di dn' t want me t o i mpr ove? You di dn' t want me t o r i se? You t hought me
r ot t en and you want ed me t o st ay r ot t en?"
" Of what use woul d you be t o me, i f you ear ned i t al l , and I had t o wor k
t o hol d you, and you coul d t r ade el sewher e i f you chose?"
" You want ed i t t o be al ms . . . f or bot h of us and f r ombot h?
You want ed us t o be t wo beggar s chai ned t o each ot her ?"
" Yes, you goddamn evangel i st ! Yes, you goddamn her o wor shi pper !
Yes! "
" You chose me because I was wor t hl ess?"
" Yes! "
" You' r e l yi ng, J i m. "
Hi s answer was onl y a st ar t l ed gl ance of ast oni shment .
" Those gi r l s t hat you used t o buy f or t he pr i ce of a meal , t hey woul d have
been gl ad t o l et t hei r r eal sel ves become a gut t er , t hey woul d have t aken
your al ms and never t r i ed t o r i se, but you woul d not mar r y one of t hem. You
mar r i ed me, because you knew t hat I di d not accept t he gut t er , i nsi de or out ,
t hat I was st r uggl i ng t o r i se and woul d go on st r uggl i ngdi dn' t you?"
" Yes! " he cr i ed.
Then t he headl i ght she had f el t r ushi ng upon her , hi t i t s goal and she
scr eamed i n t he br i ght expl osi on of t he i mpact she scr eamed i n physi cal
t er r or , backi ng away f r omhi m.
" What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you?" he cr i ed, shaki ng, not dar i ng t o see i n her
eyes t he t hi ng she had seen.
She moved her hands i n gr opi ng gest ur es, hal f - wavi ng i t away, hal f t r yi ng
t o gr asp i t ; when she answer ed, her wor ds di d not qui t e name i t , but t hey
wer e t he onl y wor ds she coul d f i nd: " You . . . you' r e a ki l l er . . . f or t he
sake of ki l l i ng . . . "
I t was t oo cl ose t o t he unnamed; shaki ng wi t h t er r or , he swung out bl i ndl y
and st r uck her i n t he f ace.
She f el l agai nst t he si de of an ar mchai r , her head st r i ki ng t he f l oor , but
she r ai sed her head i n a moment and l ooked up at hi mbl ankl y, wi t hout
ast oni shment , as i f physi cal r eal i t y wer e mer el y t aki ng t he f or mshe had
expect ed. A si ngl e pear - shaped dr op of bl ood went sl i t her i ng sl owl y f r omt he
cor ner of her mout h.
He st ood mot i onl essand f or a moment t hey l ooked at each ot her , as i f
nei t her dar ed t o move.
She moved f i r st . She spr ang t o her f eet and r an. She r an out of t he r oom,
out of t he apar t ment he hear d her r unni ng down t he hal l , t ear i ng open t he
i r on door of t he emer gency st ai r way, not wai t i ng t o r i ng f or t he el evat or .
She r an down t he st ai r s, openi ng door s on r andoml andi ngs, r unni ng t hr ough
t he t wi st i ng hal l ways of t he bui l di ng, t hen down t he st ai r s agai n, unt i l she
f ound her sel f i n t he l obby and r an t o t he st r eet .
Af t er a whi l e, she saw t hat she was wal ki ng down a l i t t er ed si dewal k i n a
dar k nei ghbor hood, wi t h an el ect r i c bul b gl ar i ng i n t he cave of a subway
ent r ance and a l i ght ed bi l l boar d adver t i si ng soda cr acker s on t he bl ack r oof
of a l aundr y. She di d not r emember how she had come her e. Her mi nd seemed t o
wor k i n br oken spur t s, wi t hout connect i ons.
She knew onl y t hat she had t o escape and t hat escape was i mpossi bl e.
She had t o escape f r omJ i m, she t hought . Wher e?she asked, l ooki ng ar ound
her wi t h a gl ance l i ke a cr y of pr ayer . She woul d have sei zed upon a j ob i n a
f i ve- and- t en, or i n t hat l aundr y, or i n any of t he di smal shops she passed.
But she woul d wor k, she t hought , and t he har der she wor ked, t he mor e
mal evol ence she woul d dr aw f r omt he peopl e ar ound her , and she woul d not know
when t r ut h woul d be expect ed of her and when a l i e, but t he st r i ct er her
honest y, t he gr eat er t he f r aud she woul d be asked t o suf f er at t hei r hands.
She had seen i t bef or e and had bor ne i t , i n t he home of her f ami l y, i n t he
shops of t he sl ums, but she had t hought t hat t hese wer e vi ci ous except i ons,
chance evi l s, t o escape and f or get . Now she knew t hat t hey wer e not
except i ons, t hat t hei r s was t he code accept ed by t he wor l d, t hat i t was a
cr eed of l i vi ng, known by al l , but kept unnamed, l eer i ng at her f r ompeopl e' s
eyes i n t hat sl y, gui l t y l ook she had never been abl e t o under st andand at
t he r oot of t he cr eed, hi dden by si l ence, l yi ng i n wai t f or her i n t he
cel l ar s of t he ci t y and i n t he cel l ar s of t hei r soul s, t her e was a t hi ng wi t h
whi ch one coul d not l i ve.
Why ar e you doi ng i t t o me?she cr i ed soundl essl y t o t he dar kness ar ound
her . Because you' r e goodsome enor mous l aught er seemed t o be answer i ng f r om
t he r oof t ops and f r omt he sewer s. Then I won' t want t o be good any l onger
But you wi l l I don' t have t oYou wi l l
I can' t bear i t You wi l l .
She shudder ed and wal ked f ast er but ahead of her , i n t he f oggy di st ance,
she saw t he cal endar above t he r oof s of t he ci t yi t was l ong past mi dni ght
and t he cal endar sai d: August 6, but i t seemed t o her suddenl y t hat she saw
Sept ember 2 wr i t t en above t he ci t y i n l et t er s of bl oodand she t hought : I f
she wor ked, i f she st r uggl ed, i f she r ose. , she woul d t ake a har der beat i ng
wi t h each st ep of her cl i mb, unt i l , at t he end, what ever she r eached, be i t a
copper company or an unmor t gaged cot t age, she woul d see i t sei zed by J i mon
some Sept ember 2
and she woul d see i t vani sh t o pay f or t he par t i es wher e J i mmade hi s
deal s wi t h hi s f r i ends.
Then I won' t ! she scr eamed and whi r l ed ar ound and went r unni ng back al ong
t he st r eet but i t seemed t o her t hat i n t he bl ack sky.
gr i nni ng at her f r omt he st eamof t he l aundr y, t her e weaved an enor mous
f i gur e t hat woul d hol d no shape, but i t s gr i n r emai ned t he same on i t s
changi ng f aces, and i t s f ace was J i m' s and her chi l dhood pr eacher ' s and t he
woman soci al wor ker ' s f r omt he per sonnel depar t ment of t he f i ve- and- t enand
t he gr i n seemed t o say t o her : Peopl e l i ke you wi l l al ways st ay honest ,
peopl e l i ke you wi l l al ways st r uggl e t o r i se, peopl e l i ke you wi l l al ways
wor k, so we' r e saf e and you have no choi ce.
She r an. When she l ooked ar ound her once mor e, she was wal ki ng down a
qui et st r eet , past t he gl ass door ways wher e l i ght s wer e bur ni ng i n t he
car pet ed l obbi es of l uxur i ous bui l di ngs. She not i ced t hat she was l i mpi ng,
and saw t hat t he heel of her pump was l oose; she had br oken i t somewher e i n
her bl ank span of r unni ng.
Fr omt he sudden space of a br oad i nt er sect i on, she l ooked at t he gr eat
skyscr aper s i n t he di st ance. They wer e vani shi ng qui et l y i nt o a vei l of f og,
wi t h t he f ai nt br eat h of a gl ow behi nd t hem, wi t h a f ew l i ght s l i ke a smi l e
of f ar ewel l . Once, t hey had been a pr omi se, and f r omt he mi dst of t he
st agnant sl ot h ar ound her she had l ooked t o t hemf or pr oof t hat anot her ki nd
of men exi st ed. Now she knew t hat t hey wer e t ombst ones, sl ender obel i sks
soar i ng i n memor y of t he men who had been dest r oyed f or havi ng cr eat ed t hem,
t hey wer e t he f r ozen shape of t he si l ent cr y t hat t he r ewar d of achi evement
was mar t yr dom.
Somewher e i n one of t hose vani shi ng t ower s, she t hought , t her e was Dagny
but Dagny was a l onel y vi ct i m, f i ght i ng a l osi ng bat t l e, t o be dest r oyed and
t o si nk i nt o f og l i ke t he ot her s.
Ther e i s no pl ace t o go, she t hought and st umbl ed onT can' t st and st i l l ,
nor move much l onger I can nei t her wor k nor r est I can nei t her sur r ender nor
f i ght but t hi s . . . t hi s i s what t hey want of me, t hi s i s wher e t hey want
menei t her l i vi ng nor dead, nei t her t hi nki ng nor i nsane, but j ust a chunk of
pul p t hat scr eams wi t h f ear , t o be shaped by t hemas t hey pl ease, t hey who
have no shape of t hei r own.
She pl unged i nt o t he dar kness behi nd a cor ner , shr i nki ng i n dr ead f r omany
human f i gur e. No, she t hought , t hey' r e not evi l , not al l peopl e . . . t hey' r e
onl y t hei r own f i r st vi ct i ms, but t hey al l bel i eve i n J i m' s cr eed, and I
can' t deal wi t h t hem, once I know i t . . . and i f I spoke t o t hem, t hey woul d
t r y t o gr ant me t hei r good wi l l , but I ' d know what i t i s t hat t hey hol d as
t he good and I woul d see deat h st ar i ng out of t hei r eyes.
The si dewal k had shr unk t o a br oken st r i p, and spl ashes of gar bage r an
over f r omt he cans at t he st oops of cr umbl i ng houses. Beyond t he dust y gl ow
of a sal oon, she saw a l i ght ed si gn " Young Women' s Rest Cl ub" above a l ocked
door .
She knew t he i nst i t ut i ons of t hat ki nd and t he women who r an t hem, t he
women who sai d t hat t hei r s was t he j ob of hel pi ng suf f er er s.
I f she went i nshe t hought , st umbl i ng past i f she f aced t hemand begged
t hemf or hel p, " What i s your gui l t ?" t hey woul d ask her .
" Dr i nk? Dope? Pr egnancy? Shopl i f t i ng?" She woul d answer , " I have no gui l t ,
I ami nnocent , but I ' m" " Sor r y. We have no concer n f or t he pai n of t he
i nnocent . "
She r an. She st opped, r egai ni ng her eyesi ght , on t he cor ner of a l ong,
wi de st r eet . The bui l di ngs and pavement s mer ged wi t h t he skyand t wo l i nes of
gr een l i ght s hung i n open space, goi ng of f i nt o an endl ess di st ance, as i f
st r et chi ng i nt o ot her t owns and oceans and f or ei gn l ands, t o enci r cl e t he
ear t h. The gr een gl ow had a l ook of ser eni t y, l i ke an i nvi t i ng, unl i mi t ed
pat h open t o conf i dent t r avel . Then t he l i ght s swi t ched t o r ed, dr oppi ng
heavi l y l ower , t ur ni ng f r omshar p ci r cl es i nt o f oggy smear s, i nt o a war ni ng
of unl i mi t ed danger . She st ood and wat ched a gi ant t r uck- go by, i t s enor mous
wheel s cr ushi ng one mor e l ayer of shi ny pol i sh i nt o t he f l at t ened cobbl es of
t he st r eet .
The l i ght s went back t o t he gr een of saf et ybut she st ood t r embl i ng,
unabl e t o move. That ' s how i t wor ks f or t he t r avel of one' s body, she
t hought , but what have t hey done t o t he t r af f i c of t he soul ? They have set
t he si gnal s i n r ever seand t he r oad i s saf e when t he l i ght s ar e t he r ed of
evi l but when t he l i ght s ar e t he gr een of vi r t ue, pr omi si ng t hat your s i s t he
r i ght - of - way, you vent ur e f or t h and ar e gr ound by t he wheel s. Al l over t he
wor l d, she t hought t hose i nver t ed l i ght s go r eachi ng i nt o ever y l and, t hey go
on, enci r cl i ng t he ear t h. And t he ear t h i s l i t t er ed wi t h mangl ed cr i ppl es,
who don' t know what has hi t t hemor why, who cr awl as best t hey can on t hei r
cr ushed l i mbs t hr ough t hei r l i ght l ess days, wi t h no answer save t hat pai n i s
t he cor e of exi st ence
and t he t r af f i c cops of mor al i t y chor t l e and t el l t hemt hat man, by hi s
nat ur e, i s unabl e t o wal k.
These wer e not wor ds i n her mi nd, t hese wer e t he wor ds whi ch woul d have
named, had she had t he power t o f i nd t hem, what she knew onl y as a sudden
f ur y t hat made her beat her f i st s i n f ut i l e hor r or agai nst t he i r on post of
t he t r af f i c l i ght besi de her , agai nst t he hol l ow t ube wher e t he hoar se, r ust y
chuckl e of a r el ent l ess mechani smwent gr at i ng on and on.
She coul d not smash i t wi t h her f i st s, she coul d not bat t er one by one al l
t he post s of t he st r eet st r et chi ng of f beyond eyesi ght as she coul d not smash
t hat cr eed f r omt he soul s of t he men she woul d encount er , one by one. She
coul d not deal wi t h peopl e any l onger , she coul d not t ake t he pat hs t hey
t ookbut what coul d she say t o t hem, she who had no wor ds t o name t he t hi ng
she knew and no voi ce t hat peopl e woul d hear ? What coul d she t el l t hem? How
coul d she r each t hemal l ?
Wher e wer e t he men who coul d have spoken?
These wer e not wor ds i n her mi nd, t hese wer e onl y t he bl ows of : her f i st s
agai nst met al t hen she saw her sel f suddenl y, bat t er i ng her knuckl es t o bl ood
agai nst an i mmovabl e post , and t he si ght made her shudder and she st umbl ed
away. She went on, seei ng not hi ng ar ound her , f eel i ng t r apped i n a maze wi t h
no exi t .
No exi t her shr eds of awar eness wer e sayi ng, beat i ng i t i nt o t he pavement s
i n t he sound of her st epsno exi t . . . no r ef uge . . . no si gnal s . . . no
way t o t el l dest r uct i on f r omsaf et y, or enemy f r omf r i end. . . . Li ke t hat
dog she had hear d about , she t hought . . .
somebody' s dog i n somebody' s l abor at or y . . . t he dog who got hi s si gnal s
swi t ched on hi m, and saw no way t o t el l sat i sf act i on f r omt or t ur e, saw f ood
changed t o beat i ngs and beat i ngs t o f ood, saw hi s eyes and ear s decei vi ng hi m
and hi s j udgment f ut i l e and hi s consci ousness i mpot ent i n a shi f t i ng,
swi mmi ng, shapel ess wor l dand gave up, r ef usi ng t o eat at t hat pr i ce or t o
l i ve i n a wor l d of t hat ki nd. . . . No!
was t he onl y consci ous wor d i n her br ai nno! no! no! not your way, not
your wor l deven i f t hi s " no" i s al l t hat ' s t o be l ef t of mi ne!
I t was i n t he dar kest hour of t he ni ght , i n an al l ey among whar f s and
war ehouses t hat t he soci al wor ker saw her . The soci al wor ker was a woman
whose gr ay f ace and gr ay coat bl ended wi t h t he wal l s of t he di st r i ct . She saw
a young gi r l wear i ng a sui t t oo smar t and expensi ve f or t he nei ghbor hood,
wi t h no hat , no pur se, wi t h a br oken heel , di shevel ed hai r and a br ui se at
t he cor ner of her mout h, a gi r l st agger i ng bl i ndl y, not knowi ng si dewal ks
f r ompavement s. The st r eet was onl y a nar r ow cr ack bet ween t he sheer , bl ank
wal l s of st or age st r uct ur es, but a r ay of l i ght f el l t hr ough a f og dank wi t h
t he odor of r ot t i ng wat er ; a st one par apet ended t he st r eet on t he edge of a
vast bl ack hol e mer gi ng r i ver and sky.
The soci al wor ker appr oached her and asked sever el y, " Ar e you i n
t r oubl e?" and saw one war y eye, t he ot her hi dden by a l ock of hai r , and t he
f ace of a wi l d cr eat ur e who has f or got t en t he sound of human voi ces, but
l i st ens as t o a di st ant echo, wi t h suspi ci on, yet al most wi t h hope.
The soci al wor ker sei zed her ar m. " I t ' s a di sgr ace t o come t o such a st at e
. . . i f you soci et y gi r l s had somet hi ng t o do besi des i ndul gi ng your desi r es
and chasi ng pl easur es, you woul dn' t be wander i ng, dr unk as a t r amp, at t hi s
hour of t he ni ght . . . i f you st opped l i vi ng f or your own enj oyment , st opped
t hi nki ng of your sel f and f ound some hi gher "
Then t he gi r l scr eamedand t he scr eamwent beat i ng agai nst t he bl ank wal l s
of t he st r eet as i n a chamber of t or t ur e, an ani mal scr eamof t er r or . She
t or e her ar ml oose and spr ang back, t hen scr eamed i n ar t i cul at e sounds: " No!
No! Not your ki nd of wor l d! "
Then she r an, r an by t he sudden pr opul si on of a bur st of power , t he power
of a cr eat ur e r unni ng f or i t s l i f e, she r an st r ai ght down t he st r eet t hat
ended at t he r i ver and i n a si ngl e st r eak of speed, wi t h no br eak, no moment
of doubt , wi t h f ul l consci ousness of act i ng i n sel f - pr eser vat i on, she kept
r unni ng t i l l t he par apet bar r ed her way and, not st oppi ng, went over i nt o
space.

CHAPTER V
THEIR BROTHERS' KEEPERS

On t he mor ni ng of Sept ember 2, a copper wi r e br oke i n Cal i f or ni a, bet ween
t wo t el ephone pol es by t he t r ack of t he Paci f i c br anch l i ne of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al .
A sl ow, t hi n r ai n had been f al l i ng si nce mi dni ght , and t her e had been no
sunr i se, onl y a gr ay l i ght seepi ng t hr ough a soggy skyand t he br i l l i ant
r ai ndr ops hangi ng on t he t el ephone wi r es had been t he onl y spar ks gl i t t er i ng
agai nst t he chal k of t he cl ouds, t he l ead of t he ocean and t he st eel of t he
oi l der r i cks descendi ng as l one br i st l es down a desol at e hi l l si de. The wi r es
had been wor n by mor e r ai ns and year s t han t hey had been i nt ended t o car r y;
one of t hemhad kept saggi ng, t hr ough t he hour s of t hat mor ni ng, under t he
f r agi l e l oad of r ai ndr ops; t hen i t s one l ast dr op had gr own on t he wi r e' s
cur ve and had hung l i ke a cr yst al bead, gat her i ng t he wei ght of many seconds;
t he bead and t he wi r e had gi ven up t oget her and, as soundl ess as t he f al l of
t ear s, t he wi r e had br oken and f al l en wi t h t he f al l of t he bead.
The men at t he Di vi si on Headquar t er s of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al avoi ded
l ooki ng at one anot her , when t he br eak of t he t el ephone l i ne was di scover ed
and r epor t ed. They made st at ement s pai nf ul l y mi scal cul at ed t o seemt o r ef er
t o t he pr obl em, yet t o st at e not hi ng, none f ool i ng t he ot her s. They knew t hat
copper wi r e was a vani shi ng commodi t y, mor e pr eci ous t han gol d or honor ; t hey
knew t hat t he di vi si on st or ekeeper had sol d t hei r st ock of wi r e weeks ago, t o
unknown deal er s who came by ni ght and wer e not busi nessmen i n t he dayt i me,
but onl y men who had f r i ends i n Sacr ament o and i n Washi ngt onj ust as t he
st or ekeeper , r ecent l y appoi nt ed t o t he di vi si on, had a f r i end i n New Yor k,
named Cuf f y Mei gs, about whomone asked no quest i ons. They knew t hat t he man
who woul d now assume t he r esponsi bi l i t y of or der i ng r epai r s and i ni t i at i ng
t he act i on whi ch woul d l ead t o t he di scover y t hat t he r epai r s coul d not be
made, woul d i ncur r et al i at i on f r omunknown enemi es, t hat hi s f el l ow wor ker s
woul d become myst er i ousl y si l ent and woul d not t est i f y t o hel p hi m, t hat he
woul d pr ove not hi ng, and i f he at t empt ed t o do hi s j ob, i t woul d not be hi s
any l onger . They di d not know what was saf e or danger ous t hese days, when t he
gui l t y wer e not puni shed, but t he accuser s wer e; and, l i ke ani mal s, t hey knew
t hat i mmobi l i t y was t he onl y pr ot ect i on when i n doubt and i n danger . They
r emai ned i mmobi l e; t hey spoke about t he appr opr i at e pr ocedur e of sendi ng
r epor t s t o t he appr opr i at e aut hor i t i es on t he appr opr i at e dat es.
A young r oadmast er wal ked out of t he r oomand out of t he headquar t er s
bui l di ng t o t he saf et y of a t el ephone boot h i n a dr ugst or e and, at hi s own
expense, i gnor i ng t he cont i nent and t he t i er s of appr opr i at e execut i ves
bet ween, he t el ephoned Dagny Taggar t i n New Yor k.
She r ecei ved t he cal l i n her br ot her ' s of f i ce, i nt er r upt i ng an emer gency
conf er ence. The young r oadmast er t ol d her onl y t hat t he t el ephone l i ne was
br oken and t hat t her e was no wi r e t o r epai r i t ; he sai d not hi ng el se and he
di d not expl ai n why he had f ound i t necessar y t o cal l her i n per son. She di d
not quest i on hi m; she under st ood. " Thank you, " was al l t hat she answer ed.
An emer gency f i l e i n her of f i ce kept a r ecor d of al l t he cr uci al mat er i al s
st i l l on hand, on ever y di vi si on of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al .
Li ke t he f i l e of a bankr upt , i t kept r egi st er i ng l osses, whi l e t he r ar e
addi t i ons of new suppl i es seemed l i ke t he mal i ci ous chuckl es of some
t or ment or t hr owi ng cr umbs at a st ar vi ng cont i nent . She l ooked t hr ough t he
f i l e, cl osed i t , si ghed and sai d, " Mont ana, Eddi e. Phone t he Mont ana Li ne t o
shi p hal f t hei r st ock of wi r e t o Cal i f or ni a. Mont ana mi ght be abl e t o l ast
wi t hout i t f or anot her week. " And as Eddi e Wi l l er s was about t o pr ot est , she
added, " Oi l , Eddi e. Cal i f or ni a i s one of t he l ast pr oducer s of oi l l ef t i n
t he count r y. We don' t dar e l ose t he Paci f i c Li ne. " Then she went back t o t he
conf er ence i n her br ot her ' s of f i ce.
" Copper wi r e?" sai d J ames Taggar t , wi t h an odd gl ance t hat went f r omher
f ace t o t he ci t y beyond t he wi ndow. " I n a ver y shor t whi l e, we won' t have any
t r oubl e about copper . "
" Why?" she asked, but he di d not answer . Ther e was not hi ng speci al t o see
beyond t he wi ndow, onl y t he cl ear sky of a sunny day, t he qui et l i ght of
ear l y af t er noon on t he r oof s of t he ci t y and, above t hem, t he page of t he
cal endar , sayi ng: Sept ember 2.
She di d not know why he had i nsi st ed on hol di ng t hi s conf er ence i n hi s own
of f i ce, why he had i nsi st ed on speaki ng t o her al one, whi ch he had al ways
t r i ed t o avoi d, or why he kept gl anci ng at hi s wr i st wat ch.
" Thi ngs ar e, i t seems t o me, goi ng wr ong, " he sai d. " Somet hi ng has t o be
done. Ther e appear s t o exi st a st at e of di sl ocat i on and conf usi on t endi ng
t owar d an uncoor di nat ed, unbal anced pol i cy. What I mean i s, t her e' s a
t r emendous nat i onal demand f or t r anspor t at i on, yet we' r e l osi ng money. I t
seems t o me"
She sat l ooki ng at t he ancest r al map of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al on t he
wal l of hi s of f i ce, at t he r ed ar t er i es wi ndi ng acr oss a yel l owed cont i nent .
Ther e had been a t i me when t he r ai l r oad was cal l ed t he bl ood syst emof t he
nat i on, and t he st r eamof t r ai ns had been l i ke a l i vi ng ci r cui t of bl ood,
br i ngi ng gr owt h and weal t h t o ever y pat ch of wi l der ness i t t ouched. Now. i t
was st i l l l i ke a st r eamof bl ood, but l i ke t he one- way st r eamt hat r uns f r om
a wound, dr ai ni ng t he l ast of a body' s sust enance and l i f e. One- way t r af f i c
she t hought i ndi f f er ent l yconsumer s' t r af f i c.
Ther e was Tr ai n Number 193, she t hought . Si x weeks ago, Tr ai n Number 193
had been sent wi t h a l oad of st eel , not t o Faul kt on, Nebr aska, wher e t he
Spencer Machi ne Tool Company, t he best machi ne t ool concer n st i l l i n
exi st ence, had been i dl e f or t wo weeks, wai t i ng f or t he shi pment but t o Sand
Cr eek, I l l i noi s, wher e Conf eder at ed Machi nes had been wal l owi ng i n debt f or
over a year , pr oduci ng unr el i abl e goods at unpr edi ct abl e t i mes. The st eel had
been al l ocat ed by a di r ect i ve whi ch expl ai ned t hat t he Spencer Machi ne Tool
Company was a r i ch concer n, abl e t o wai t , whi l e Conf eder at ed Machi nes was
bankr upt and coul d not be al l owed t o col l apse, bei ng t he sol e sour ce of
l i vel i hood of t he communi t y of Sand Cr eek, I l l i noi s. The Spencer Machi ne Tool
Company had cl osed a mont h ago. Conf eder at ed Machi nes had cl osed t wo weeks
l at er .
The peopl e of Sand Cr eek, I l l i noi s, had been pl aced on nat i onal r el i ef ,
but no f ood coul d be f ound f or t hemi n t he empt y gr anar i es of t he nat i on at
t he f r ant i c cal l of t he moment so t he seed gr ai n of t he f ar mer s of Nebr aska
had been sei zed by or der of t he Uni f i cat i on Boar dand Tr ai n Number 194 had
car r i ed t he unpl ant ed har vest and t he f ut ur e of t he peopl e of Nebr aska t o be
consumed by t he peopl e of I l l i noi s. " I n t hi s enl i ght ened age, " Eugene Lawson
had sai d i n a r adi o br oadcast , " we have come, at l ast , t o r eal i ze t hat each
one of us i s hi s br ot her ' s keeper . "
" I n a pr ecar i ous per i od of emer gency, l i ke t he pr esent , " J ames Taggar t was
sayi ng, whi l e she l ooked at t he map, " i t i s danger ous t o f i nd our sel ves
f or ced t o mi ss pay days and accumul at e wage ar r ear s on some of our di vi si ons,
a t empor ar y condi t i on, of cour se, but "
She chuckl ed. " The Rai l r oad Uni f i cat i on Pl an i sn' t wor ki ng, i s i t , J i m?"
" I beg your par don?"
" You' r e t o r ecei ve a bi g cut of t he At l ant i c Sout her n' s gr oss i ncome, out
of t he common pool at t he end of t he year onl y t her e won' t be any gr oss
i ncome l ef t f or t he pool t o sei ze, wi l l t her e?"
" That ' s not t r ue! I t ' s j ust t hat t he banker s ar e sabot agi ng t he Pl an.
Those bast ar dswho used t o gi ve us l oans i n t he ol d days, wi t h no secur i t y
at al l except our own r ai l r oadnow r ef use t o l et me have a f ew measl y
hundr ed- t housands, on shor t t er m, j ust t o t ake car e of a f ew payr ol l s, when I
have t he ent i r e pl ant of al l t he r ai l r oads of t he count r y t o of f er t hemas
secur i t y f or my l oan! "
She chuckl ed.
" We coul dn' t hel p i t ! " he cr i ed. " I t ' s not t he f aul t of t he Pl an t hat some
peopl e r ef use t o car r y t hei r f ai r shar e of our bur dens! "
" J i m, was t hi s al l you want ed t o t el l me? I f i t i s, I ' l l go. I have wor k
t o do. "
Hi s eyes shot t o hi s wr i st wat ch. " No, no, t hat ' s not al l ! I t ' s most
ur gent t hat we di scuss t he si t uat i on and ar r i ve at some deci si on, whi ch"
She l i st ened bl ankl y t o t he next st r eamof gener al i t i es, wonder i ng about
hi s mot i ve. He was mar ki ng t i me, yet he wasn' t , not f ul l y; she f el t cer t ai n
t hat he was hol di ng her her e f or some speci f i c pur pose and, si mul t aneousl y,
t hat he was hol di ng her f or t he mer e sake of her pr esence.
I t was some new t r ai t i n hi m, whi ch she had begun t o not i ce ever si nce
Cher r yl ' s deat h. He had come r unni ng t o her , r ushi ng, unannounced, i nt o her
apar t ment on t he eveni ng of t he day when Cher r yl ' s body had been f ound and
t he st or y of her sui ci de had f i l l ed t he newspaper s, gi ven by some soci al
wor ker who had wi t nessed i t ; " an. i nexpl i cabl e sui ci de, " t he newspaper s had
cal l ed i t , unabl e t o di scover any mot i ve. " I t wasn' t my f aul t ! " he had
scr eamed t o her , as i f she wer e t he onl y j udge whomhe had t o pl acat e. " I ' m
not t o bl ame f or i t ! I ' mnot t o bl ame! " He had been shaki ng wi t h t er r or yet
she had caught a f ew gl ances t hr own shr ewdl y at her f ace, whi ch had seemed,
i nconcei vabl y, t o convey a t ouch of t r i umph. " Get out of her e, J i m, " was al l
she had sai d t o hi m.
He had never spoken t o her agai n about Cher r y] , but he had st ar t ed comi ng
t o her of f i ce mor e of t en t han usual , he had st opped her i n t he hal l s f or
snat ches of poi nt l ess di scussi onsand such moment s had gr own i nt o a sumt hat
gave her an i ncompr ehensi bl e sensat i on: as i f , whi l e cl i ngi ng t o her f or
suppor t and pr ot ect i on agai nst some namel ess t er r or , hi s ar ms wer e sl i di ng t o
embr ace her and t o pl unge a kni f e i nt o her back.
" I ameager t o know your vi ews, " he was sayi ng i nsi st ent l y, as she l ooked
away. " I t i s most ur gent t hat we di scuss t he si t uat i on and . . .
and you haven' t sai d anyt hi ng. " She di d not t ur n. " I t ' s not as i f t her e
wer e no money t o be had out of t he r ai l r oad busi ness, but "
She gl anced at hi mshar pl y; hi s eyes scur r i ed away.
" What I mean i s, some const r uct i ve pol i cy has t o be devi sed, " he dr oned on
hast i l y. " Somet hi ng has t o be done . . . by somebody. I n t i mes of emer gency"
She knew what t hought he had scur r i ed t o avoi d, what hi nt he had gi ven
her , yet di d not want her t o acknowl edge or di scuss. She knew t hat no t r ai n
schedul es coul d be mai nt ai ned any l onger , no pr omi ses kept , no cont r act s
obser ved, t hat r egul ar t r ai ns wer e cancel l ed at a moment ' s not i ce and
t r ansf or med i nt o emer gency speci al s sent by unexpl ai ned or der s t o unexpect ed
dest i nat i onsand t hat t he or der s came f r omCuf f y Mei gs, sol e j udge of
emer genci es and of t he publ i c wel f ar e.
She knew t hat f act or i es wer e cl osi ng, some wi t h t hei r machi ner y st i l l ed
f or l ack of suppl i es t hat had not been r ecei ved, ot her s wi t h t hei r war ehouses
f ul l of goods t hat coul d not be del i ver ed. She knew t hat t he ol d i ndust r i es
t he gi ant s who had bui l t t hei r power by a pur posef ul cour se pr oj ect ed over a
span of t i mewer e l ef t t o exi st at t he whi mof t he moment , a moment t hey
coul d not f or esee or cont r ol . She knew t hat t he best among t hem, t hose of t he
l ongest r ange and most compl ex f unct i on, had l ong si nce goneand t hose st i l l
st r uggl i ng t o pr oduce, st r uggl i ng savagel y t o pr eser ve t he code of an age
when pr oduct i on had been possi bl e, wer e now i nser t i ng i nt o t hei r cont r act s a
l i ne shamef ul t o a descendant of Nat Taggar t : " Tr anspor t at i on per mi t t i ng. "
And yet t her e wer e menand she knew i t who wer e abl e t o obt ai n
t r anspor t at i on whenever t hey wi shed, as by a myst i c secr et , as by t he gr ace
of some power whi ch one was not t o quest i on or expl ai n.
They wer e t he men whose deal i ngs wi t h Cuf f y Mei gs wer e r egar ded by peopl e
as t hat unknowabl e of myst i c cr eeds whi ch smi t es t he obser ver f or t he si n of
l ooki ng, so peopl e kept t hei r eyes cl osed, dr eadi ng, not i gnor ance, but
knowl edge. She knew t hat deal s wer e made wher eby t hose men sol d a commodi t y
known as " t r anspor t at i on pul l " a t er mwhi ch al l under st ood, but none woul d
dar e def i ne. She knew t hat t hese wer e t he men of t he emer gency speci al s, t he
men who coul d cancel her schedul ed t r ai ns and send t hemt o any r andomspot of
t he cont i nent whi ch t hey chose t o st r i ke wi t h t hei r voodoo st amp, t he st amp
super sedi ng cont r act , pr oper t y, j ust i ce, r eason and l i ves, t he st amp st at i ng
t hat " t he publ i c wel f ar e" r equi r ed t he i mmedi at e sal vat i on of t hat spot .
These wer e t he men who sent t r ai ns t o t he r el i ef of t he Smat her Br ot her s and
t hei r gr apef r ui t i n Ar i zonat o t he r el i ef of a f act or y i n Fl or i da engaged i n
t he pr oduct i on of pi n- bal l machi nes
t o t he r el i ef of a hor se f ar mi n Kent uckyt o t he r el i ef of Or r en Boyl e' s
Associ at ed St eel .
These wer e t he men who made deal s wi t h desper at e i ndust r i al i st s t o pr ovi de
t r anspor t at i on f or t he goods st al l ed i n t hei r war ehousesor , f ai l i ng t o
obt ai n t he per cent age demanded, made deal s t o pur chase t he goods, when t he
f act or y cl osed, at t he bankr upt cy sal e, at t en cent s on t he dol l ar , and t o
speed t he goods away i n f r ei ght car s suddenl y avai l abl e, away t o mar ket s
wher e deal er s of t he same ki nd wer e r eady f or t he ki l l . These wer e t he men
who hover ed over f act or i es, wai t i ng f or t he l ast br eat h of a f ur nace, t o
pounce upon t he equi pment and over desol at e si di ngs, t o pounce upon t he
f r ei ght car s of undel i ver ed goods
t hese wer e a new bi ol ogi cal speci es, t he hi t - and- r un busi nessmen, who di d
not st ay i n any l i ne of busi ness l onger t han t he span of one deal , who had no
payr ol l s t o meet , no over head t o car r y, no r eal est at e t o own, no equi pment
t o bui l d, whose onl y asset and sol e i nvest ment consi st ed of an i t emknown as
" f r i endshi p. " These wer e t he men whomof f i ci al speeches descr i bed as " t he
pr ogr essi ve busi nessmen of our dynami c age, " but whompeopl e cal l ed " t he pul l
peddl er s" t he speci es i ncl uded many br eeds, t hose of " t r anspor t at i on pul l , "
and of " st eel pul l " and " oi l pul l ' 1 and " wage- r ai se pul l " and " suspended
sent ence pul l " men who wer e dynami c, who kept dar t i ng al l over t he count r y
whi l e no one el se coul d move, men who wer e act i ve and mi ndl ess, act i ve, not
l i ke ani mal s, but l i ke t hat whi ch br eeds, f eeds and moves upon t he st i l l ness
of a cor pse.
She knew t hat t her e was money t o be had out of t he r ai l r oad busi ness and
she knew who was now obt ai ni ng i t Cuf f y Mei gs was sel l i ng t r ai ns as he was
sel l i ng t he l ast of t he r ai l r oad' s suppl i es, whenever he coul d r i g a set up
whi ch woul d not l et i t be di scover ed or pr oved
sel l i ng r ai l t o r oads i n Guat emal a or t o t r ol l ey compani es i n Canada,
sel l i ng wi r e t o manuf act ur er s of j uke boxes, sel l i ng cr osst i es f or f uel i n
r esor t hot el s.
Di d i t mat t er she t hought , l ooki ng at t he mapwhi ch par t of t he cor pse had
been consumed by whi ch t ype of maggot , by t hose who gor ged t hemsel ves or by
t hose who gave t he f ood t o ot her maggot s? So l ong as l i vi ng f l esh was pr ey t o
be devour ed, di d i t mat t er whose st omachs i t had gone t o f i l l ? Ther e was no
way t o t el l whi ch devast at i on had been accompl i shed by t he humani t ar i ans and
whi ch by undi sgui sed gangst er s. Ther e was no way t o t el l whi ch act s of
pl under had been pr ompt ed by t he char i t y- l ust of t he Lawsons and whi ch by t he
gl ut t ony of Cuf f y Mei gsno way t o t el l whi ch communi t i es had been i mmol at ed
t o f eed anot her communi t y one week cl oser t o st ar vat i on and whi ch t o pr ovi de
yacht s f or t he pul l - peddl er s. Di d i t mat t er ? Bot h wer e al i ke i n f act as t hey
wer e al i ke i n spi r i t , bot h wer e i n need and need was r egar ded as sol e t i t l e
t o pr oper t y, bot h wer e act i ng i n st r i ct est accor dance wi t h t he same code of
mor al i t y. Bot h hel d t he i mmol at i on of men as pr oper and bot h wer e achi evi ng
i t . Ther e wasn' t even any way t o t el l who wer e t he canni bal s and who t he
vi ct i mst he communi t i es t hat accept ed as t hei r r i ght f ul due t he conf i scat ed
cl ot hi ng or f uel of a t own t o t he east of t hem, f ound, next week, t hei r
gr anar i es conf i scat ed t o f eed a t own t o t he west men had achi eved t he i deal
of t he cent ur i es, t hey wer e pr act i ci ng i t i n unobst r uct ed per f ect i on, t hey
wer e ser vi ng need as t hei r hi ghest r ul er , need as f i r st cl ai mupon t hem, need
as t hei r st andar d of val ue, as t he coi n of t hei r r eal m, as mor e sacr ed t han
r i ght and l i f e. Men had been pushed i nt o a pi t wher e, shout i ng t hat man i s
hi s br ot her ' s keeper , each was devour i ng hi s nei ghbor and was bei ng devour ed
by hi s nei ghbor ' s br ot her , each was pr ocl ai mi ng t he r i ght eousness of t he
unear ned and wonder i ng who was st r i ppi ng t he ski n of f hi s back, each was
devour i ng hi msel f , whi l e scr eami ng i n t er r or t hat some unknowabl e evi l was
dest r oyi ng t he ear t h.
" What compl ai nt do t hey now have t o make?" she hear d Hugh Akst on' s voi ce
i n her mi nd. " That t he uni ver se i s i r r at i onal ? I s i t ?"
She sat l ooki ng at t he map, her gl ance di spassi onat el y sol emn, as i f no
emot i on save r espect wer e per mi ssi bl e when obser vi ng t he awesome power of
l ogi c. She was seei ngi n t he chaos of a per i shi ng cont i nent t he pr eci se,
mat hemat i cal execut i on of al l t he i deas men had hel d.
They had not want ed t o know t hat t hi s was what t hey want ed, t hey had not
want ed t o see t hat t hey had t he power t o wi sh, but not t he power t o f akeand
t hey had achi eved t hei r wi sh t o t he l et t er , t o t he l ast bl oodst ai ned comma of
i t .
What wer e t hey t hi nki ng now, t he champi ons of need and t he l echer s of
pi t y?she wonder ed. What wer e t hey count i ng on? Those who had once si mper ed:
" I don' t want t o dest r oy t he r i ch, I onl y want t o sei ze a l i t t l e of t hei r
sur pl us t o hel p t he poor , j ust a l i t t l e, t hey' l l never mi ss i t ! " t hen, l at er ,
had snapped: " The t ycoons can st and bei ng squeezed, t hey' ve amassed enough t o
l ast t hemf or t hr ee gener at i ons"
t hen, l at er , had yel l ed: " Why shoul d t he peopl e suf f er whi l e busi nessmen
have r eser ves t o l ast a year ?" now wer e scr eami ng: " Why shoul d we st ar ve
whi l e some peopl e have r eser ves t o l ast a week?" What wer e t hey count i ng on?
she wonder ed.
" You must do somet hi ng! " cr i ed J ames Taggar t .
She whi r l ed t o f ace hi m. " I ?"
" I t ' s your j ob, i t ' s your pr ovi nce, i t ' s your dut y! "
" What i s?"
" To act . To do. "
" To dowhat ?"
" How shoul d I know? I t ' s your speci al t al ent . You' r e t he doer . "
She gl anced at hi m: t he st at ement was so oddl y per cept i ve and so
i ncongr uousl y i r r el evant . She r ose t o her f eet .
" I s t hi s al l , J i m?"
" No! No! I want a di scussi on! "
" Go ahead. "
" But you haven' t sai d anyt hi ng! "
" You haven' t , ei t her . "
" But . . . What I mean i s, t her e ar e pr act i cal pr obl ems t o sol ve, whi ch .
. . For i nst ance, what was t hat mat t er of our l ast al l ocat i on of new r ai l
vani shi ng f r omt he st or ehouse i n Pi t t sbur gh?"
" Cuf f y Mei gs st ol e i t and sol d i t . "
" Can you pr ove i t ?" he snapped def ensi vel y.
" Have your f r i ends l ef t any means, met hods, r ul es or agenci es of pr oof ?"
" Then don' t t al k about i t , don' t be t heor et i cal , we' ve got t o deal wi t h
f act s! We' ve got t o deal wi t h f act s as t hey ar e t oday . . . I mean, we' ve got
t o be r eal i st i c and devi se some pr act i cal means t o pr ot ect our suppl i es under
exi st i ng condi t i ons, not under unpr ovabl e assumpt i ons, whi ch"
She chuckl ed. Ther e was t he f or mof t he f or ml ess, she t hought , t her e was
t he met hod of hi s consci ousness: he want ed her t o pr ot ect hi mf r omCuf f y
Mei gs wi t hout acknowl edgi ng Mei gs' exi st ence, t o f i ght i t wi t hout admi t t i ng
i t s r eal i t y, t o def eat i t wi t hout di st ur bi ng i t s game.
" What do you f i nd so damn f unny?" he snapped angr i l y.
" You know i t "
" I don' t know what ' s t he mat t er wi t h you! I don' t know what ' s happened t o
you . . . i n t he l ast t wo mont hs . . . ever si nce you came back. . . . You' ve
never been so uncooper at i ve! "
" Why, J i m, I haven' t ar gued wi t h you i n t he l ast t wo mont hs. "
" That ' s what I mean! " He caught hi msel f hast i l y, but not f ast enough t o
mi ss her smi l e. " I mean, I want ed t o have a conf er ence, I want ed t o know your
vi ew of t he si t uat i on"
" You know i t . "
" But you haven' t sai d a wor d! "
" I sai d ever yt hi ng I had t o say, t hr ee year s ago. I t ol d you wher e your
cour se woul d t ake you. I t has. "
" Now t her e you go agai n! What ' s t he use of t heor i zi ng? We' r e her e, we' r e
not back t hr ee year s ago. We' ve got t o deal wi t h t he pr esent , not t he past .
Maybe t hi ngs woul d have been di f f er ent , i f we had f ol l owed your opi ni on,
maybe, but t he f act i s t hat we di dn' t and we' ve got t o deal wi t h f act s. We' ve
got t o t ake r eal i t y as i t i s now, t oday! "
" Wel l , t ake i t . "
" I beg your par don?"
" Take your r eal i t y. I ' l l mer el y t ake your or der s. "
" That ' s unf ai r ! I ' maski ng f or your opi ni on"
" You' r e aski ng f or r eassur ance, J i m. You' r e not goi ng t o get i t . "
" I beg your par don?"
" I ' mnot goi ng t o hel p you pr et endby ar gui ng wi t h yout hat t he r eal i t y
you' r e t al ki ng about i s not what i t i s, t hat t her e' s st i l l a way t o make i t
wor k and t o save your neck. Ther e i sn' t . "
" Wel l . . . " Ther e was no expl osi on, no anger onl y t he f eebl y uncer t ai n
voi ce of a man on t he ver ge of abdi cat i on. " Wel l . . . what woul d you want me
t o do?"
" Gi ve up. " He l ooked at her bl ankl y. " Gi ve upal l of you, you and your
Washi ngt on f r i ends and your l oot i ng pl anner s and t he whol e of your canni bal
phi l osophy. Gi ve up and get out of t he way and l et t hose of us who can, st ar t
f r omscr at ch out of t he r ui ns. "
" No! " The expl osi on came, oddl y, now; i t was t he scr eamof a man who woul d
di e r at her t han bet r ay hi s i dea, and i t came f r oma man who had spent hi s
l i f e evadi ng t he exi st ence of i deas, act i ng wi t h t he expedi ency of a
cr i mi nal . She wonder ed whet her she had ever under st ood t he essence of
cr i mi nal s. She wonder ed about t he nat ur e of t he l oyal t y t o t he i dea of
denyi ng i deas.
" No! " he cr i ed, hi s voi ce l ower , hoar ser and mor e nor mal , si nki ng f r omt he
t one of a zeal ot t o t he t one of an over bear i ng execut i ve.
" That ' s i mpossi bl e! That ' s out of t he quest i on! "
" Who sai d so?"
" Never mi nd! I t ' s so! Why do you al ways t hi nk of t he i mpr act i cal ?
Why don' t you accept r eal i t y as i t i s and do somet hi ng about i t ?
You' r e t he r eal i st , you' r e t he doer , t he mover , t he pr oducer , t he Nat
Taggar t , you' r e t he per son who' s abl e t o achi eve any goal she chooses!
You coul d save us now, you coul d f i nd a way t o make t hi ngs wor ki f you
want ed t o! "
She bur st out l aughi ng.
Ther e, she t hought , was t he ul t i mat e goal of al l t hat l oose academi c
pr at t l e whi ch busi nessmen had i gnor ed f or year s, t he goal of al l t he sl i pshod
def i ni t i ons, t he sl oppy gener al i t i es, t he soupy abst r act i ons, al l cl ai mi ng
t hat obedi ence t o obj ect i ve r eal i t y i s t he same as obedi ence t o t he St at e,
t hat t her e i s no di f f er ence bet ween a l aw of nat ur e and a bur eaucr at ' s
di r ect i ve, t hat a hungr y man i s not f r ee, t hat man must be r el eased f r omt he
t yr anny of f ood, shel t er and cl ot hi ngal l of i t , f or year s, t hat t he day
mi ght come when Nat Taggar t , t he r eal i st , woul d be asked t o consi der t he wi l l
of Cuf f y Mei gs as a f act of nat ur e, i r r evocabl e and absol ut e l i ke st eel ,
r ai l s and gr avi t at i on, t o accept t he Mei gs made wor l d as an obj ect i ve,
unchangeabl e r eal i t yt hen t o cont i nue pr oduci ng abundance i n t hat wor l d.
Ther e was t he goal of al l t hose con men of l i br ar y and cl assr oom, who sol d
t hei r r evel at i ons as r eason, t hei r " i nst i nct s" as sci ence, t hei r cr avi ngs as
knowl edge, t he goal of al l t he savages of t he non- obj ect i ve, t he non-
absol ut e, t he r el at i ve, t he t ent at i ve, t he pr obabl et he savages who, seei ng a
f ar mer gat her a har vest , can consi der i t onl y as a myst i c phenomenon unbound
by t he l aw of causal i t y and cr eat ed by t he f ar mer ' s omni pot ent whi m, who t hen
pr oceed t o sei ze t he f ar mer , t o chai n hi m, t o depr i ve hi mof t ool s, of seeds,
of wat er , of soi l , t o push hi mout on a bar r en r ock and t o command: " Now gr ow
a har vest and f eed us! "
Noshe t hought , expect i ng J i mt o ask i t i t woul d be usel ess t o t r y t o
expl ai n what she was l aughi ng at , he woul d not be abl e t o under st and i t .
But he di d not ask i t . I nst ead, she saw hi msl umpi ng and hear d hi msay
t er r i f yi ngl y, because hi s wor ds wer e so i r r el evant , i f he di d not under st and,
and so monst r ous, i f he di d, " Dagny, I ' myour br ot her . . . "
She dr ew her sel f up, her muscl es gr owi ng r i gi d, as i f she wer e about t o
f ace a ki l l er ' s gun.
" Dagny" hi s voi ce was t he sof t , nasal , monot onous whi ne of a beggar " I
want t o be pr esi dent of a r ai l r oad. I want i t . Why can' t I have my wi sh as
you al ways have your s? Why shoul dn' t I be gi ven t he f ul f i l l ment of my desi r es
as you al ways f ul f i l l any desi r e of your own? Why shoul d you be happy whi l e I
suf f er ? Oh yes, t he wor l d i s your s, you' r e t he one who has t he br ai ns t o r un
i t . Then why do you per mi t suf f er i ng i n your wor l d? You pr ocl ai mt he pur sui t
of happi ness, but you doomme t o f r ust r at i on. Don' t I have t he r i ght t o
demand any f or mof happi ness I choose? I sn' t t hat a debt whi ch you owe me? Am
I not your br ot her ?"
Hi s gl ance was l i ke a pr owl er ' s f l ashl i ght sear chi ng her f ace f or a shr ed
of pi t y. I t f ound not hi ng but a l ook of r evul si on.
" I t ' s your si n i f I suf f er ! I t ' s your mor al f ai l ur e! I ' myour br ot her ,
t her ef or e I ' myour r esponsi bi l i t y, but you' ve f ai l ed t o suppl y my want s,
t her ef or e you' r e gui l t y! Al l of manki nd' s mor al l eader s have sai d so f or
cent ur i eswho ar e you t o say ot her wi se? You' r e so pr oud of your sel f , you
t hi nk t hat you' r e pur e and goodbut you can' t be good, so l ong as I ' m
wr et ched. My mi ser y i s t he measur e of your si n. My cont ent ment i s t he measur e
of your vi r t ue. I want t hi s ki nd of wor l d, t oday' s wor l d, i t gi ves me my
shar e of aut hor i t y, i t al l ows me t o f eel i mpor t ant - make i t wor k f or me! do
somet hi ng! how do I know what ?i t ' s your pr obl emand your dut y! You have t he
pr i vi l ege of st r engt h, but I I have t he r i ght of weakness! That ' s a mor al
absol ut e!
Don' t you know i t ? Don' t you? Don' t you?"
Hi s gl ance was now l i ke t he hands of a man hangi ng over an abyss, gr opi ng
f r ant i cal l y f or t he sl i ght est f i ssur e of doubt , but sl i ppi ng on t he cl ean,
pol i shed r ock of her f ace.
" You bast ar d, " she sai d evenl y, wi t hout emot i on, si nce t he wor ds wer e not
addr essed t o anyt hi ng human.
I t seemed t o her t hat she saw hi mf al l i nt o t he abysseven t hough t her e
was not hi ng t o see i n hi s f ace except t he l ook of a con man whose t r i ck has
not wor ked.
Ther e was no r eason t o f eel mor e r evul si on t han usual , she t hought ; he had
mer el y ut t er ed t he t hi ngs whi ch wer e pr eached, hear d and accept ed ever ywher e;
but t hi s cr eed was usual l y expounded i n t he t hi r d per son, and J i mhad had t he
open ef f r ont er y t o expound i t i n t he f i r st .
She wonder ed whet her peopl e accept ed t he doct r i ne of sacr i f i ce pr ovi ded
i t s r eci pi ent s di d not i dent i f y t he nat ur e of t hei r own cl ai ms and act i ons.
She t ur ned t o l eave.
" No! No! Wai t ! " he cr i ed, l eapi ng t o hi s f eet , wi t h a gl ance at hi s wr i st
wat ch. " I t ' s t i me now! Ther e' s a par t i cul ar news br oadcast t hat I want you t o
hear ! "
She st opped, hel d by cur i osi t y.
He pr essed t he swi t ch of t he r adi o, wat chi ng her f ace openl y, i nt ent l y,
al most i nsol ent l y. Hi s eyes had a l ook of f ear and of oddl y l echer ous
ant i ci pat i on.
" Ladi es and gent l emen! " t he voi ce of t he r adi o speaker l eaped f or t h
abr upt l y; i t had a t one of pani c. " News of a shocki ng devel opment has j ust
r eached us f r omSant i ago, Chi l e! "
She saw t he j er k of Taggar t ' s head and a sudden anxi et y i n hi s bewi l der ed
f r own, as i f somet hi ng about t he wor ds and voi ce wer e not what he had
expect ed.
" A speci al sessi on of t he l egi sl at ur e of t he Peopl e' s St at e of Chi l e had
been cal l ed f or t en o' cl ock t hi s mor ni ng, t o pass an act of ut most i mpor t ance
t o t he peopl e of Chi l e, Ar gent i na and ot her Sout h Amer i can Peopl e' s St at es.
I n l i ne wi t h t he enl i ght ened pol i cy of Seni or Rami r ez, t he new Head of t he
Chi l ean St at ewho came t o power on t he mor al sl ogan t hat man i s hi s br ot her ' s
keeper t he l egi sl at ur e was t o nat i onal i ze t he Chi l ean pr oper t i es of d' Anconi a
Copper , t hus openi ng t he way f or t he Peopl e' s St at e of Ar gent i na t o
nat i onal i ze t he r est of t he d' Anconi a pr oper t i es t he wor l d over . Thi s,
however , was known onl y t o a ver y f ew of t he t op- l evel l eader s of bot h
nat i ons. The measur e had been kept secr et i n or der t o avoi d debat e and
r eact i onar y opposi t i on.
The sei zur e of t he mul t i - bi l l i on dol l ar d' Anconi a Copper was t o come as a
muni f i cent sur pr i se t o t he count r y.
" On t he st r oke of t en, i n t he exact moment when t he chai r man' s gavel
st r uck t he r ost r um, openi ng t he sessi onal most as i f t he gavel ' s bl ow had set
i t of f t he sound of a t r emendous expl osi on r ocked t he hal l , shat t er i ng t he
gl ass of i t s wi ndows. I t came f r omt he har bor , a f ew st r eet s awayand when
t he l egi sl at or s r ushed t o t he wi ndows, t hey saw a l ong col umn of f l ame wher e
once t her e had r i sen t he f ami l i ar si l houet t es of t he or e docks of d' Anconi a
Copper . The or e docks had been bl own t o bi t s.
" The chai r man aver t ed pani c and cal l ed t he sessi on t o or der . The act of
nat i onal i zat i on was r ead t o t he assembl y, t o t he sound of f i r e al ar msi r ens
and di st ant cr i es. I t was a gr ay mor ni ng, dar k wi t h r ai n cl ouds, t he
expl osi on had br oken an el ect r i c t r ansmi t t er so t hat t he assembl y vot ed on
t he measur e by t he l i ght of candl es, whi l e t he r ed gl ow of t he f i r e kept
sweepi ng over t he gr eat vaul t ed cei l i ng above t hei r heads.
" But mor e t er r i bl e a shock came l at er , when t he l egi sl at or s cal l ed a hast y
r ecess t o announce t o t he nat i on t he good news t hat t he peopl e now owned
d' Anconi a Copper . Whi l e t hey wer e vot i ng, wor d had come f r omt he cl osest and
f ar t hest poi nt s of t he gl obe t hat t her e was no d' Anconi a Copper l ef t on
ear t h. Ladi es and gent l emen, not anywher e.
I n t hat same i nst ant , on t he st r oke of t en, by an i nf er nal mar vel of
synchr oni zat i on, ever y pr oper t y of d' Anconi a Copper on t he f ace of t he gl obe,
f r omChi l e t o Si amt o Spai n t o Pot t svi l l e, Mont ana, had been bl own up and
swept away.
" The d' Anconi a wor ker s ever ywher e had been handed t hei r l ast pay checks,
i n cash, at ni ne A. M. , and by ni ne- t hi r t y had been moved of f t he pr emi ses.
The or e docks, t he smel t er s, t he l abor at or i es, t he of f i ce bui l di ngs wer e
demol i shed. Not hi ng was l ef t of t he d' Anconi a or e shi ps whi ch had been i n
por t and onl y l i f eboat s car r yi ng t he cr ews wer e l ef t of t hose shi ps whi ch had
been at sea. As t o t he d' Anconi a mi nes, some wer e bur i ed under t ons of
bl ast ed r ock, whi l e ot her s wer e f ound not t o be wor t h t he pr i ce of bl ast i ng.
An ast oundi ng number of t hese mi nes, as r epor t s pour i ng i n seemt o i ndi cat e,
had cont i nued t o be r un, even t hough exhaust ed year s ago.
" Among t he t housands of d' Anconi a empl oyees, t he pol i ce have f ound no one
wi t h any knowl edge of how t hi s monst r ous pl ot had been concei ved, or gani zed
and car r i ed out . But t he cr eamof t he d' Anconi a st af f ar e not her e any
l onger . The most ef f i ci ent of t he execut i ves, mi ner al ogi st s, engi neer s,
super i nt endent s have vani shedal l t he men upon whomt he Peopl e' s St at e had
been count i ng t o car r y on t he wor k and cushi on t he pr ocess of r eadj ust ment .
The most abl ecor r ect i on: t he most sel f i shof t he men ar e gone. Repor t s f r om
t he var i ous banks i ndi cat e t hat t her e ar e no d' Anconi a account s l ef t
anywher e; t he money has been spent down t o t he l ast penny, " Ladi es and
gent l emen, t he d' Anconi a f or t unet he gr eat est f or t une on ear t h, t he l egendar y
f or t une of t he cent ur i eshas ceased t o exi st .
I n pl ace of t he gol den dawn of a new age, t he Peopl e' s St at es of Chi l e and
Ar gent i na ar e l ef t wi t h a pi l e of r ubbl e and hor des of unempl oyed on t hei r
hands.
" No cl ue has been f ound t o t he f at e or t he wher eabout s of Senor Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a. He has vani shed, l eavi ng not hi ng behi nd hi m, not even a message of
f ar ewel l . "
Thank you, my dar l i ngt hank you i n t he name of t he l ast of us, even i f you
wi l l not hear i t and wi l l not car e t o hear . . . . I t was not a sent ence, but
t he si l ent emot i on of a pr ayer i n her mi nd, addr essed t o t he l aughi ng f ace of
a boy she had known at si xt een.
Then she not i ced t hat she was cl i ngi ng t o t he r adi o, as i f t he f ai nt
el ect r i c beat wi t hi n i t st i l l hel d a t i e t o t he onl y l i vi ng f or ce on ear t h,
whi ch i t had t r ansmi t t ed f or a f ew br i ef moment s and whi ch now f i l l ed t he
r oomwher e al l el se was dead.
As di st ant r emnant s of t he expl osi on' s wr eckage, she not i ced a sound t hat
came f r omJ i m, par t - moan, par t - scr eam, par t - gr owl t hen t he si ght of J i m' s
shoul der s shaki ng over a t el ephone and hi s di st or t ed voi ce scr eami ng, " But ,
Rodr i go, you sai d i t was saf e! Rodr i gooh God! do you know how much I ' d sunk
i nt o i t ?" t hen t he shr i ek of anot her phone on hi s desk, and hi s voi ce
snar l i ng i nt o anot her r ecei ver , hi s hand st i l l cl ut chi ng t he f i r st , " Shut
your t r ap, Or r en! What ar e you t o do? What do I car e, God damn you! "
Ther e wer e peopl e r ushi ng i nt o t he of f i ce, t he t el ephones wer e scr eami ng
and, al t er nat i ng bet ween pl eas and cur ses, J i mkept yel l i ng i nt o one
r ecei ver , " Get me Sant i ago! . . . Get Washi ngt on t o get me Sant i ago! "
Di st ant l y, as on t he mar gi n of her mi nd, she coul d see what sor t of game
t he men behi nd t he shr i eki ng phones had pl ayed and l ost . They seemed f ar
away, l i ke t i ny commas squi r mi ng on t he whi t e f i el d under t he l ens of a
mi cr oscope. She wonder ed how t hey coul d ever expect t o be t aken ser i ousl y
when a Fr anci sco d' Anconi a was possi bl e on ear t h.
She saw t he gl ar e of t he expl osi on i n ever y f ace she met t hr ough t he r est
of t he dayand i n ever y f ace she passed i n t he dar kness of t he st r eet s, t hat
eveni ng. I f Fr anci sco had want ed a wor t hy f uner al pyr e f or d' Anconi a Copper ,
she t hought , he - had succeeded. Ther e i t was, i n t he st r eet s of New Yor k
Ci t y, t he onl y ci t y on ear t h st i l l abl e t o under st and i t i n t he f aces of
peopl e, i n t hei r whi sper s, t he whi sper s cr ackl i ng t ensel y l i ke smal l t ongues
of f i r e, t he f aces l i ght ed by a l ook t hat was bot h sol emn and f r ant i c, t he
shadi ngs of expr essi ons appear i ng t o sway and weave, as i f cast by a di st ant
f l ame, some f r i ght ened, some angr y, most of t hemuneasy, uncer t ai n,
expect ant , but al l of t hemacknowl edgi ng a f act much beyond an i ndust r i al
cat ast r ophe, al l of t hemknowi ng what i t meant , t hough none woul d name Us
meani ng, al l of t hemcar r yi ng a t ouch of l aught er , a l aught er of amusement
and def i ance, t he bi t t er l aught er of per i shi ng vi ct i ms who f eel t hat t hey ar e
avenged.
She saw i t i n t he f ace of Hank Rear den, when she met hi mf or di nner t hat
eveni ng. As hi s t al l , conf i dent f i gur e wal ked t owar d her
t he onl y f i gur e t hat seemed at home i n t he cost l y set t i ng of a
di st i ngui shed r est aur ant she saw t he l ook of eager ness f i ght i ng t he st er nness
of hi s f eat ur es, t he l ook of a young boy st i l l open t o t he enchant ment of t he
unexpect ed. He di d not speak of t hi s day' s event , but she knew t hat i t was
t he onl y i mage i n hi s mi nd.
They had been meet i ng whenever he came t o t he ci t y, spendi ng a br i ef , r ar e
eveni ng t oget her wi t h t hei r past st i l l al i ve i n t hei r si l ent acknowl edgment
wi t h no f ut ur e i n t hei r wor k and i n t hei r common st r uggl e, but wi t h t he
knowl edge t hat t hey wer e al l i es gai ni ng suppor t f r omt he f act of each ot her ' s
exi st ence.
He di d not want t o ment i on t oday' s event , he di d not want t o speak of
Fr anci sco, but she not i ced, as t hey sat at t he t abl e, t hat t he st r ai n of a
r esi st ed smi l e kept pul l i ng at t he hol l ows of hi s cheeks. She knew whomhe
meant , when he sai d suddenl y, hi s voi ce sof t and l ow wi t h t he wei ght of
admi r at i on, " He di d keep hi s oat h, di dn' t he?"
" Hi s oat h?" she asked, st ar t l ed, t hi nki ng of t he i nscr i pt i on on t he t empl e
of At l ant i s.
" He sai d t o me, ' I swear by t he woman I l ovet hat I amyour f r i end, ' He
was. "
" He i s. "
He shook hi s head. " I have no r i ght t o t hi nk of hi m. I have no r i ght t o
accept what he' s done as an act i n my def ense. And yet . . . "
He st opped.
" But i t was, Hank. I n def ense of al l of usand of you, most of al l . "
He l ooked away, out at t he ci t y. They sat at t he si de of t he r oom, wi t h a
sheet of gl ass as an i nvi si bl e pr ot ect i on agai nst t he sweep of space and
st r eet s si xt y f l oor s bel ow. The ci t y seemed abnor mal l y di st ant : i t l ay
f l at t ened down t o t he pool of i t s l owest st or i es. A f ew bl ocks away, i t s
t ower mer gi ng i nt o dar kness, t he cal endar hung at t he l evel of t hei r f aces,
not as a smal l , di st ur bi ng r ect angl e, but as an enor mous scr een, eer i l y cl ose
and l ar ge, f l ooded by t he dead, whi t e gl ow of l i ght pr oj ect ed t hr ough an
empt y f i l m, empt y but f or t he l et t er s: Sept ember 2.
" Rear den St eel i s now wor ki ng at capaci t y, " he was sayi ng i ndi f f er ent l y.
" They' ve l i f t ed t he pr oduct i on quot as of f my mi l l sf or t he next f i ve mi nut es,
I guess. I don' t know how many of t hei r own r egul at i ons t hey' ve suspended, I
don' t t hi nk t hey know i t , ei t her , t hey don' t bot her keepi ng t r ack of l egal i t y
any l onger , I ' msur e I ' ma l aw- br eaker on f i ve or si x count s, whi ch nobody
coul d pr ove or di spr oveal l I know i s t hat t he gangst er of t he moment t ol d me
t o go f ul l st eamahead. " He shr ugged. " When anot her gangst er ki cks hi mout
t omor r ow, I ' l l pr obabl y be shut down, as penal t y f or i l l egal oper at i on. But
accor di ng t o t he pl an of t he pr esent spl i t - second, t hey' ve begged me t o keep
pour i ng my Met al , i n any amount and by any means I choose. "
She not i ced t he occasi onal , sur r ept i t i ous gl ances t hat peopl e wer e
t hr owi ng i n t hei r di r ect i on. She had not i ced i t bef or e, ever si nce her
br oadcast , ever si nce t he t wo of t hemhad begun t o appear i n publ i c t oget her .
I nst ead of t he di sgr ace he had dr eaded, t her e was an ai r of awed uncer t ai nt y
i n peopl e' s manner uncer t ai nt y of t hei r own mor al pr ecept s, awe i n t he
pr esence of t wo per sons who dar ed t o be cer t ai n of bei ng r i ght . Peopl e wer e
l ooki ng at t hemwi t h anxi ous cur i osi t y, wi t h envy, wi t h r espect , wi t h t he
f ear of of f endi ng an unknown, pr oudl y r i gor ous st andar d, some al most wi t h an
ai r of apol ogy t hat seemed t o say: " Pl ease f or gi ve us f or bei ng mar r i ed. "
Ther e wer e some who had a l ook of angr y mal i ce, and a f ew who had a l ook of
admi r at i on.
" Dagny, " he asked suddenl y, " do you suppose he' s i n New Yor k?"
" No. I ' ve cal l ed t he Wayne- Fal kl and. They t ol d me t hat t he l ease on hi s
sui t e had expi r ed a mont h ago and he di d not r enew i t . "
" They' r e l ooki ng f or hi mal l over t he wor l d, " he sai d, smi l i ng.
" They' l l never f i nd hi m. " The smi l e vani shed. " Nei t her wi l l I . " Hi s voi ce
sl i pped back t o t he f l at , gr ay t one of dut y: " Wel l , t he mi l l s ar e wor ki ng,
but I ' mnot . I ' mdoi ng not hi ng but r unni ng ar ound t he count r y l i ke a
scavenger , sear chi ng f or i l l egal ways t o pur chase r aw mat er i al s.
Hi di ng, sneaki ng, l yi ngj ust t o get a f ew t ons of or e or coal or copper .
They haven' t l i f t ed t hei r r egul at i ons of f my r aw mat er i al s. They know t hat
I ' mpour i ng mor e Met al t han t he quot as t hey gi ve me coul d pr oduce. They don' t
car e. " He added, " They t hi nk I do. "
" Ti r ed, Hank?"
" Bor ed t o deat h. "
Ther e was a t i me, she t hought , when hi s mi nd, hi s ener gy, hi s
i nexhaust i bl e r esour cef ul ness had been gi ven t o t he t ask of a pr oducer
devi si ng bet t er ways t o deal wi t h nat ur e; now, t hey wer e swi t ched t o t he t ask
of a cr i mi nal out wi t t i ng men. She wonder ed how l ong a man coul d endur e a
change of t hat ki nd.
" I t ' s becomi ng al most i mpossi bl e t o get i r on or e, " he sai d i ndi f f er ent l y,
t hen added, hi s voi ce suddenl y al i ve, " Now i t ' s goi ng t o be compl et el y
i mpossi bl e t o get copper . " He was gr i nni ng.
She wonder ed how l ong a man coul d cont i nue t o wor k agai nst hi msel f , t o
wor k when hi s deepest desi r e was not t o succeed, but t o f ai l .
She under st ood t he connect i on of hi s t hought s when he sai d, " I ' ve never
t ol d you, but I ' ve met Ragnar Danneskj ol d. "
" He t ol d me. "
" What ? Wher e di d you ever " He st opped. " Of cour se, " he sai d, hi s voi ce
t ense and l ow. " He woul d be one of t hem. You woul d have met hi m. Dagny, what
ar e t hey l i ke, t hose men who . . . No. Don' t answer me. " I n a moment he
added, " So I ' ve met one of t hei r agent s. "
" You' ve met t wo of t hem. "
Hi s r esponse was a span of t ot al st i l l ness. " Of cour se, " he sai d dul l y.
" I knew i t . . . I j ust woul dn' t admi t t o mysel f t hat I knew . . . He was
t hei r r ecr ui t i ng agent , wasn' t he?"
" One of t hei r ear l i est and best . "
He chuckl ed; i t was a sound of bi t t er ness and l ongi ng. ' That ni ght . . .
when t hey got Ken Danagger . . . I t hought t hat t hey had not sent anyone
af t er me. . . . "
The ef f or t by whi ch he made hi s f ace gr ow r i gi d, was al most l i ke t he sl ow,
r esi st ed t ur n of a key l ocki ng a sunl i t r oomhe coul d not per mi t hi msel f t o
exami ne. Af t er a whi l e, he sai d i mpassi vel y, " Dagny, t hat new r ai l we
di scussed l ast mont hI don' t t hi nk I ' l l be abl e t o del i ver i t . They haven' t
l i f t ed t hei r r egul at i ons of f my out put , t hey' r e st i l l cont r ol l i ng my sal es
and di sposi ng of my Met al as t hey pl ease. But t he bookkeepi ng i s i n such a
snar l t hat I ' msmuggl i ng a f ew t housand t ons i nt o t he bl ack mar ket ever y
week. I t hi nk t hey know i t . They' r e pr et endi ng not t o. They don' t want t o
ant agoni ze me, r i ght now. But , you see, I ' ve been shi ppi ng ever y t on I coul d
snat ch, t o some emer gency cust omer s of mi ne. Dagny, I was i n Mi nnesot a l ast
mont h. I ' ve seen what ' s goi ng on t her e. The count r y wi l l st ar ve, not next
year , but t hi s wi nt er , unl ess a f ew of us act and act f ast . Ther e ar e no
gr ai n r eser ves l ef t anywher e. Wi t h Nebr aska gone, Okl ahoma wr ecked, Nor t h
Dakot a abandoned, Kansas bar el y subsi st i ngt her e i sn' t goi ng t o be any wheat
t hi s wi nt er , not f or t he ci t y of New Yor k nor f or any East er n ci t y.
Mi nnesot a i s our l ast gr anar y. They' ve had t wo bad year s i n successi on,
but t hey have a bumper cr op t hi s f al l and t hey have t o be abl e t o har vest i t .
Have you had a chance t o t ake a l ook at t he condi t i on of t he f ar m- equi pment
i ndust r y? They' r e not bi g enough, any of t hem, t o keep a st af f of ef f i ci ent
gangst er s i n Washi ngt on or t o pay per cent ages t o pul l - peddl er s. So t hey
haven' t been get t i ng many al l ocat i ons of mat er i al s. Two- t hi r ds of t hemhave
shut down and t he r est ar e about t o.
And f ar ms ar e per i shi ng al l over t he count r yf or l ack of t ool s. You shoul d
have seen t hose f ar mer s i n Mi nnesot a. They' ve been spendi ng mor e t i me f i xi ng
ol d t r act or s t hat can' t be f i xed t han pl owi ng t hei r f i el ds.
I don' t know how t hey managed t o sur vi ve t i l l l ast spr i ng. I don' t know
how t hey managed t o pl ant t hei r wheat . But t hey di d. They di d. " Ther e was a
l ook of i nt ensi t y on hi s f ace, as i f he wer e cont empl at i ng a r ar e, f or got t en
si ght : a vi si on of menand she knew what mot i ve was st i l l hol di ng hi mt o hi s
j ob. " Dagny, t hey had t o have t ool s f or t hei r har vest . I ' ve been sel l i ng al l
t he Met al I coul d st eal out of my own mi l l s t o t he manuf act ur er s of f ar m
equi pment . On cr edi t . They' ve been sendi ng t he equi pment t o Mi nnesot a as f ast
as t hey coul d put i t out .
Sel l i ng i t i n t he same wayi l l egal l y and on cr edi t . But t hey wi l l be pai d,
t hi s f al l , and so wi l l I . Char i t y, hel l ! We' r e hel pi ng pr oducer s
and what t enaci ous pr oducer s! not l ousy, moochi ng ' consumer s. 1
We' r e gi vi ng l oans, not al ms. We' r e suppor t i ng abi l i t y, not need. I ' l l be
damned i f I ' l l st and by and l et t hose men be dest r oyed whi l e t he pul l
peddl er s gr ow r i ch! "
He was l ooki ng at t he i mage of a si ght he had seen i n Mi nnesot a: t he
si l houet t e of an abandoned f act or y, wi t h t he l i ght of t he sunset st r eami ng,
unopposed, t hr ough t he hol es of i t s wi ndows and t he cr acks of i t s r oof , wi t h
t he r emnant of a si gn: War d Har vest er Company.
" Oh, I know, " he sai d. " We' l l save t hemt hi s wi nt er , but t he l oot er s wi l l
devour t hemnext year . St i l l , we' l l save t hemt hi s wi nt er . . . .
Wel l , t hat ' s why I won' t be abl e t o smuggl e any r ai l f or you. Not i n t he
i mmedi at e f ut ur eand t her e' s not hi ng l ef t t o us but t he i mmedi at e f ut ur e. I
don' t know what i s t he use of f eedi ng a count r y, i f i t l oses i t s r ai l r oads
but what i s t he use of r ai l r oads wher e t her e i s no f ood?
What i s t he use, anyway?"
" I t ' s al l r i ght , Hank, We' l l l ast wi t h such r ai l as we have, f or "
She st opped.
" For a mont h?"
" For t he wi nt er I hope. "
Cut t i ng acr oss t hei r si l ence, a shr i l l voi ce r eached t hemf r omanot her
t abl e, and t hey t ur ned t o l ook at a man who had t he j i t t er y manner of a
cor ner ed gangst er about t o r each f or hi s gun. " An act of ant i - soci al
dest r uct i on, " he was snar l i ng t o a sul l en compani on, " at a t i me when t her e' s
such a desper at e shor t age of copper ! . . . We can' t per mi t i t !
We can' t per mi t i t t o be t r ue! "
Rear den t ur ned abr upt l y t o l ook of f , at t he ci t y. " I ' d gi ve anyt hi ng t o
know wher e he i s, " he sai d, hi s voi ce l ow. " J ust t o know wher e he i s, r i ght
now, at t hi s moment . "
" What woul d you do, i f you knew i t ?"
He dr opped hi s hand i n a gest ur e of f ut i l i t y. " [ woul dn' t appr oach hi m.
The onl y homage I can st i l l pay hi mi s not t o cr y f or f or gi veness wher e no
f or gi veness i s possi bl e. "
They r emai ned si l ent . They l i st ened t o t he voi ces ar ound t hem, t o t he
spl i nt er s of pani c t r i ckl i ng t hr ough t he l uxur i ous r oom.
She had not been awar e t hat t he same pr esence seemed t o be an i nvi si bl e
guest at ever y t abl e, t hat t he same subj ect kept br eaki ng t hr ough t he
at t empt s at any ot her conver sat i on. Peopl e sat i n a manner , not qui t e of
cr i ngi ng, but as i f t hey f ound t he r oomt oo l ar ge and t oo exposeda r oomof
gl ass, bl ue vel vet , al umi numand gent l e l i ght i ng. They l ooked as i f t hey had
come t o t hi s r oomat t he pr i ce of count l ess evasi ons, t o l et i t hel p t hem
pr et end t hat t hei r s was st i l l a ci vi l i zed exi st encebut an act o pr i meval
vi ol ence had bl ast ed t he nat ur e of t hei r wor l d i nt o t he open and t hey wer e no
l onger abl e not t o see.
" How coul d he? How coul d he?" a woman was demandi ng wi t h pet ul ant t er r or .
" He had no r i ght t o do i t ! "
" I t was an acci dent , " sai d a young man wi t h a st accat o voi ce and an odor
of publ i c payr ol l . " I t was a chai n of coi nci dences, as any st at i st i cal cur ve
of pr obabi l i t i es can easi l y pr ove. I t i s unpat r i ot i c t o spr ead r umor s
exagger at i ng t he power of t he peopl e' s enemi es. "
" Ri ght and wr ong i s al l ver y wel l f or academi c conver sat i ons, " sai d a
woman wi t h a school r oomvoi ce and a bar r oommout h, " but how can anybody t ake
hi s own i deas ser i ousl y enough t o dest r oy a f or t une when peopl e need i t ?"
" f don' t under st and i t , " an ol d man was sayi ng wi t h quaver i ng bi t t er ness.
" Af t er cent ur i es of ef f or t s t o cur b man' s i nnat e br ut al i t y, af t er cent ur i es
of t eachi ng, t r ai ni ng and i ndoct r i nat i on wi t h t he gent l e and t he humane! "
A woman' s bewi l der ed voi ce r ose uncer t ai nl y and t r ai l ed of f : " I t hought we
wer e l i vi ng i n an age of br ot her hood . . . "
" I ' mscar ed, " a young gi r l was r epeat i ng, " I ' mscar ed . . . oh, I don' t
know! . . . I ' mj ust scar ed . . . "
" He coul dn' t have done i t ! " . . . " He di d! " . . . " But why?" . . .
" I r ef use t o bel i eve i t ! " . . . " I t ' s not human! " . . . " But why?" . . .
" J ust a wor t hl ess pl ayboy! " . . . " But why?"
The muf f l ed scr eamof a woman acr oss t he r oomand some hal f gr asped si gnal
on t he edge of Dagny' s vi si on, came si mul t aneousl y and made her whi r l t o l ook
at t he ci t y.
The cal endar was r un by a mechani sml ocked i n a r oombehi nd t he scr een,
unr ol l i ng t he same f i l myear af t er year , pr oj ect i ng t he dat es i n st eady
r ot at i on, i n changel ess r hyt hm, never movi ng but on t he st r oke of mi dni ght .
The speed of Dagny' s t ur n gave her t i me t o see a phenomenon as unexpect ed as
i f a pl anet had r ever sed i t s or bi t i n t he sky: she saw t he wor ds " Sept ember
2" movi ng upwar d and vani shi ng past t he edge of t he scr een.
Then, wr i t t en acr oss t he enor mous page, st oppi ng t i me, as a l ast message
t o t he wor l d and t o t he wor l d' s mot or whi ch was New Yor k, she saw t he l i nes
of a shar p, i nt r ansi gent handwr i t i ng: Br ot her , you asked f or i t !
Fr anci sco Domi ngo Car l os Andr es Sebast i an d' Anconi a She di d not know whi ch
shock was gr eat er : t he si ght of t he message or t he sound of Rear den' s
l aught er Rear den, st andi ng on hi s f eet , i n f ul l si ght and hear i ng of t he r oom
behi nd hi m, l aughi ng above t hei r moans of pani c, l aughi ng i n gr eet i ng, i n
sal ut e, i n accept ance of t he gi f t he had t r i ed t o r ej ect , i n r el ease, i n
t r i umph, i n sur r ender .
On t he eveni ng of Sept ember 7, a copper wi r e br oke i n Mont ana, st oppi ng
t he mot or of a l oadi ng cr ane on a spur t r ack of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , at
t he r i mof t he St anf or d Copper Mi ne.
The mi ne had been wor ki ng on t hr ee shi f t s, i t s days and ni ght s bl endi ng
i nt o a si ngl e st r et ch of st r uggl e t o l ose no mi nut e, no dr op of copper i t
coul d squeeze f r omt he shel ves of a mount ai n i nt o t he nat i on' s i ndust r i al
deser t . The cr ane br oke down at t he t ask of l oadi ng a t r ai n; i t st opped
abr upt l y and hung st i l l agai nst t he eveni ng sky, bet ween a st r i ng of empt y
car s and pi l es of suddenl y i mmovabl e or e.
The men of t he r ai l r oad and of t he mi ne st opped i n dazed bewi l der ment :
t hey f ound t hat i n al l t he compl exi t y of t hei r equi pment , among t he dr i l l s,
t he mot or s, t he der r i cks, t he del i cat e gauges, t he ponder ous f l oodl i ght s
beat i ng down i nt o t he pi t s and r i dges of a mount ai nt her e was no wi r e t o mend
t he cr ane. They st opped, l i ke men on an ocean l i ner pr opel l ed by t en-
t housand- hor sepower gener at or s, but per i shi ng f or l ack of a saf et y pi n.
The st at i on agent , a young man wi t h a swi f t body and a br usque voi ce,
st r i pped t he wi r i ng f r omt he st at i on bui l di ng and set t he cr ane i n mot i on
agai nand whi l e t he or e went cl at t er i ng t o f i l l t he car s, t he l i ght of
candl es came t r embl i ng t hr ough t he dusk f r omt he wi ndows of t he st at i on.
" Mi nnesot a, Eddi e, " sai d Dagny gr i ml y, cl osi ng t he dr awer of her speci al
f i l e. " Tel l t he Mi nnesot a Di vi si on t o shi p hal f t hei r st ock of wi r e t o
Mont ana. " " But good God, Dagny! wi t h t he peak of t he har vest r ush
appr oachi ng" " They' l l hol d t hr ough i t I t hi nk. We don' t dar e l ose a si ngl e
suppl i er of copper . "
" But I have! " scr eamed J ames Taggar t , when she r emi nded hi monce mor e. " I
have obt ai ned f or you t he t op pr i or i t y on copper wi r e, t he f i r st cl ai m, t he
upper most r at i on l evel , I ' ve gi ven you al l t he car ds, cer t i f i cat es, document s
and r equi si t i onswhat el se do you want ?" " The copper wi r e. " " I ' ve done al l I
coul d! Nobody can bl ame me! "
She di d not ar gue. The af t er noon newspaper was l yi ng on hi s desk
and she was st ar i ng at an i t emon t he back page: An Emer gency St at e Tax
had been passed i n Cal i f or ni a f or t he r el i ef of t he st at e' s unempl oyed, i n
t he amount of f i f t y per cent of any l ocal cor por at i on' s gr oss i ncome ahead of
ot her t axes; t he Cal i f or ni a oi l compani es had gone out of busi ness.
" Don' t wor r y, Mr . Rear den, " sai d an unct uous voi ce over a l ong di st ance
t el ephone l i ne f r omWashi ngt on, " I j ust want ed t o assur e you t hat you wi l l
not have t o wor r y. " " About what ?" asked Rear den, baf f l ed. " About t hat
t empor ar y bi t of conf usi on i n Cal i f or ni a. We' l l st r ai ght en i t out i n no t i me,
i t was an act of i l l egal i nsur r ect i on, t hei r st at e gover nment had no r i ght t o
i mpose l ocal t axes det r i ment al t o nat i onal t axes, we' l l negot i at e an
equi t abl e ar r angement i mmedi at el y
but i n t he meant i me, i f you have been di st ur bed by any unpat r i ot i c r umor s
about t he Cal i f or ni a oi l compani es, I j ust want ed t o t el l you t hat Rear den
St eel has been pl aced i n t he t op cat egor y of essent i al need, wi t h f i r st cl ai m
upon any oi l avai l abl e anywher e i n t he nat i on, ver y t op cat egor y, Mr .
Rear denso I j ust want ed you t o know t hat you won' t have t o wor r y about t he
pr obl emof f uel t hi s wi nt er ! "
Rear den hung up t he t el ephone r ecei ver , wi t h a f r own of wor r y, not about
t he pr obl emof f uel and t he end of t he Cal i f or ni a oi l f i el ds
di sast er s of t hi s ki nd had become habi t ual but about t he f act t hat t he
Washi ngt on pl anner s f ound i t necessar y t o pl acat e hi m. Thi s was new; he
wonder ed what i t meant . Thr ough t he year s of hi s st r uggl e, he had l ear ned
t hat an appar ent l y causel ess ant agoni smwas not har d t o deal wi t h, but an
appar ent l y causel ess sol i ci t ude was an ugl y danger . The same wonder st r uck
hi magai n, when, wal ki ng down an al l ey bet ween t he mi l l st r uct ur es, he caught
si ght of a sl ouchi ng f i gur e whose post ur e combi ned an ai r of i nsol ence wi t h
an ai r of expect i ng t o be swat t ed: i t was hi s br ot her Phi l i p.
Ever si nce he had moved t o Phi l adel phi a, Rear den had not vi si t ed hi s
f or mer home and had not hear d a wor d f r omhi s f ami l y, whose bi l l s he went on
payi ng. Then, i nexpl i cabl y, t wi ce i n t he l ast f ew weeks, he had caught Phi l i p
wander i ng t hr ough t he mi l l s f or no appar ent r eason.
He had been unabl e t o t el l whet her Phi l i p was sneaki ng t o avoi d hi mor
wai t i ng t o cat ch hi s at t ent i on; i t had l ooked l i ke bot h. He had been unabl e
t o di scover any cl ue t o Phi l i p' s pur pose, onl y some i ncompr ehensi bl e
sol i ci t ude, of a ki nd Phi l i p had never di spl ayed bef or e.
The f i r st t i me, i n answer t o hi s st ar t l ed " What ar e you doi ng her e?"
Phi l i p had sai d vaguel y, Wel l , I know t hat you don' t l i ke me t o come t o
your of f i ce. " " What do you want ?" " Oh, not hi ng . . . but . . . wel l , Mot her
i s wor r i ed about you. " " Mot her can cal l me any t i me she wi shes. " Phi l i p had
not answer ed, but had pr oceeded t o quest i on hi m, i n an unconvi nci ngl y casual
manner , about hi s wor k, hi s heal t h, hi s busi ness; t he quest i ons had kept
hi t t i ng oddl y besi de t he poi nt , not quest i ons about busi ness, but mor e about
hi s, Rear den' s, f eel i ngs t owar d busi ness. Rear den had cut hi mshor t and waved
hi maway, but had been l ef t wi t h t he smal l , naggi ng sense of an i nci dent t hat
r emai ned i nexpl i cabl e.
The second t i me, Phi l i p had sai d, as sol e expl anat i on, " We j ust want t o
know how you f eel . " " Who' s we?" " Why . . . Mot her and I . These ar e di f f i cul t
t i mes and . . . wel l , Mot her want s t o know how you f eel about i t al l . " " Tel l
her t hat I don' t . " The wor ds had seemed t o hi t Phi l i p i n some pecul i ar
manner , al most as i f t hi s wer e t he one answer he dr eaded. " Get out of her e, "
Rear den had or der ed wear i l y, " and t he next t i me you want t o see me, make an
appoi nt ment and come t o my of f i ce. But don' t come unl ess you have somet hi ng
t o say. Thi s i s not a pl ace wher e one di scusses f eel i ngs, mi ne or anybody
el se' s. "
Phi l i p had not cal l ed f or an appoi nt ment but now t her e he was agai n,
sl ouchi ng among t he gi ant shapes of t he f ur naces, wi t h an ai r of gui l t and
snobbi shness t oget her , as i f he wer e bot h snoopi ng and sl ummi ng.
" But I do have somet hi ng t o say! I do! " he cr i ed hast i l y, i n answer t o t he
angr y f r own on Rear den' s f ace.
" Why di dn' t you come t o my of f i ce?"
" You don' t want me i n your of f i ce. "
" I don' t want you her e, ei t her . "
" But I ' monl y . . . I ' monl y t r yi ng t o be consi der at e and not t o t ake your
t i me when you' r e so busy and . . . you ar e ver y busy, ar en' t you?"
" And?"
" And . . . wel l , I j ust want ed t o cat ch you i n a spar e moment . . .
t o t al k t o you. "
" About what ?"
" I . . . Wel l , I need a j ob. "
He sai d i t bel l i ger ent l y and dr ew back a l i t t l e. Rear den st ood l ooki ng at
hi mbl ankl y.
" Henr y, I want a j ob. I mean, her e, at t he mi l l s. I want you t o gi ve me
somet hi ng t o do. I need a j ob, I need t o ear n my l i vi ng.
I ' mt i r ed of al ms. " He was gr opi ng f or somet hi ng t o say, hi s voi ce bot h
of f ended and pl eadi ng, as i f t he necessi t y t o j ust i f y t he pl ea wer e an unf ai r
i mposi t i on upon hi m. " I want a l i vel i hood of my own, I ' mnot aski ng you f or
char i t y, I ' maski ng you t o gi ve me a chance! "
" Thi s i s a f act or y, Phi l i p, not a gambl i ng j oi nt , "
" Uh?"
" We don' t t ake chances or gi ve t hem. "
' I maski ng you t o gi ve me a j ob! "
" Why shoul d I ?"
" Because I need i t ! "
Rear den poi nt ed t o t he r ed spur t s of f l ame shoot i ng f r omt he bl ack shape
of a f ur nace, shoot i ng saf el y i nt o space f our hundr ed f eet of st eel - cl ay- and-
st eam- embodi ed t hought above t hem. " I needed t hat f ur nace, Phi l i p. " I t wasn' t
my need t hat gave i t t o me. "
Phi l i p' s f ace assumed a l ook of not havi ng hear d. " You' r e not of f i ci al l y
supposed t o hi r e anybody, bat t hat ' s j ust a t echni cal i t y, i f you' l l put me
on, my f r i ends wi l l okay i t wi t hout any t r oubl e and" Somet hi ng about
Rear den' s eyes made hi mst op abr upt l y, t hen ask i n an angr i l y i mpat i ent
voi ce, " Wel l , what ' s t he mat t er ? What have I sai d t hat ' s wr ong?"
" What you haven' t sai d. "
" I beg your par don?"
" What you' r e squi r mi ng t o l eave unment i oned. "
" What ?"
" That you' d be of no use t o me what ever . "
" I s t hat what you" Phi l i p st ar t ed wi t h aut omat i c r i ght eousness, but
st opped and di d not f i ni sh.
" Yes, " sai d Rear den, smi l i ng, " t hat ' s what I t hi nk of f i r st . "
Phi l i p' s eyes oozed away; when he spoke, hi s voi ce sounded as i f i t wer e
dar t i ng about at r andom, pi cki ng st r ay sent ences: " Ever ybody i s ent i t l ed t o a
l i vel i hood . . . How amI goi ng t o get i t , i f nobody gi ves me my chance?"
" How di d I get mi ne?"
" I wasn' t bor n owni ng a st eel pl ant . "
" Was I ?"
" I can do anyt hi ng you cani f you' l l t each me. "
" Who t aught me?"
" Why do you keep sayi ng t hat ? I ' mnot t al ki ng about you! "
" I am. "
I n a moment , Phi l i p mut t er ed, " What do you have t o wor r y about ?
I t ' s not your l i vel i hood t hat ' s i n quest i on! "
Rear den poi nt ed t o t he f i gur es of men i n t he st eami ng r ays of t he f ur nace.
" Can you do what t hey' r e doi ng?"
" I don' t see what you' r e"
" What wi l l happen i f I put you t her e and you r ui n a heat of st eel f or me?"
" What ' s mor e i mpor t ant , t hat your damn st eel get s pour ed or t hat I eat ?"
" How do you pr opose t o eat i f t he st eel doesn' t get pour ed?"
Phi l i p' s f ace assumed a l ook of r epr oach. " I ' mnot i n a posi t i on t o ar gue
wi t h you r i ght now, si nce you hol d t he upper hand. "
" Then don' t ar gue. "
" Uh?"
" Keep your mout h shut and get out of her e. "
" But I meant " He st opped.
Rear den chuckl ed. " You meant t hat i t ' s I who shoul d keep my mout h shut ,
because I hol d t he upper hand, and shoul d gi ve i n t o you, because you hol d no
hand at al l ?"
" That ' s a pecul i ar l y cr ude way of st at i ng a mor al pr i nci pl e. "
" But t hat ' s what your mor al pr i nci pl e amount s t o, doesn' t i t ?"
" You can' t di scuss mor al i t y i n mat er i al i st i c t er ms. "
" We' r e di scussi ng a j ob i n a st eel pl ant and, boy! i s t hat a mat er i al i st i c
pl ace! "
Phi l i p' s ' body dr ew a shade t i ght er t oget her and hi s eyes became a shade
mor e gl azed, as i f i n f ear of t he pl ace ar ound hi m, i n r esent ment of i t s
si ght , i n an ef f or t not t o concede i t s r eal i t y. He sai d, i n t he sof t ,
st ubbor n whi ne of a voodoo i ncant at i on, " I t ' s a mor al i mper at i ve, uni ver sal l y
conceded i n our day and age, t hat ever y man i s ent i t l ed t o a j ob. " Hi s voi ce
r ose: " I ' ment i t l ed t o i t ! "
" You ar e? Go on, t hen, col l ect your cl ai m. "
" Uh?"
" Col l ect your j ob. Pi ck i t of f t he bush wher e you t hi nk i t gr ows. "
" I mean"
" You mean t hat i t doesn' t ? You mean t hat you need i t , but can' t cr eat e i t ?
You mean t hat you' r e ent i t l ed t o a j ob whi ch I must cr eat e f or you?"
" Yes! "
" And i f I don' t ?"
The si l ence went st r et chi ng t hr ough second af t er second. " I don' t
under st and you, " sai d Phi l i p; hi s voi ce had t he angr y bewi l der ment of a man
who r eci t es t he f or mul as of a wel l - t est ed r ol e, but keeps get t i ng t he wr ong
cues i n answer . " I don' t under st and why one can' t t al k t o you any mor e. I
don' t under st and what sor t of t heor y you' r e pr opoundi ng and"
" Oh yes, you do. "
As i f r ef usi ng t o bel i eve t hat t he f or mul as coul d f ai l , Phi l i p bur st out
wi t h: " Si nce when di d you t ake t o abst r act phi l osophy? You' r e onl y a
busi nessman, you' r e not qual i f i ed t o deal wi t h quest i ons of pr i nci pl e, you
ought t o l eave i t t o t he exper t s who have conceded f or cent ur i es"
" Cut i t , Phi l i p. What ' s t he gi mmi ck?"
Gi mmi ck?"
" Why t he sudden ambi t i on?"
" Wel l , at a t i me l i ke t hi s . . . "
" Li ke what ?"
" Wel l , ever y man has t he r i ght t o have some means of suppor t and . . . and
not be l ef t t o be t ossed asi de . . . When t hi ngs ar e so uncer t ai n, a man' s
got t o have some secur i t y . . . some f oot hol d . . . I mean, at a t i me l i ke
t hi s, i f anyt hi ng happened t o you, I ' d have no"
" What do you expect t o happen t o me?"
" Oh, I don' t ! I don' t ! " The cr y was oddl y, i ncompr ehensi bl y genui ne.
" I don' t expect anyt hi ng t o happen] . . . Do you?"
" Such as what ?"
" How do I know? . . . But I ' ve got not hi ng except t he pi t t ance you gi ve me
and . . . and you mi ght change your mi nd any t i me. "
" I mi ght . "
" And I haven' t any hol d on you at al l . "
" Why di d i t t ake you t hat many year s t o r eal i ze i t and st ar t wor r yi ng?
Why now?"
" Because . . . because you' ve changed. You . . . you used t o have a sense
of dut y and mor al r esponsi bi l i t y, but . . . you' r e l osi ng i t .
You' r e l osi ng i t , ar en' t you?"
Rear den st ood st udyi ng hi msi l ent l y; t her e was somet hi ng pecul i ar i n
Phi l i p' s manner of sl i di ng t owar d quest i ons, as i f hi s wor ds wer e acci dent al ,
but t he t oo casual , t he f ai nt l y I nsi st ent quest i ons wer e t he key t o hi s
pur pose.
" Wel l , I ' l l be gl ad t o t ake t he bur den of f your shoul der s, i f I ' ma bur den
t o you! " Phi l i p snapped suddenl y. " J ust gi ve me a j ob, and your consci ence
won' t have t o bot her you about me any l onger ! "
" I t doesn' t . "
" That ' s what I mean! You don' t car e. You don' t car e what becomes of any of
us, do you?"
" Of whom?"
" Why . . . Mot her and me and . . . and manki nd i n gener al . But I ' mnot
goi ng t o appeal t o your bet t er sel f . I know t hat you' r e r eady t o di t ch me at
a moment ' s not i ce, so"
" You' r e l yi ng, Phi l i p. That ' s not what you' r e wor r i ed about . I f i t wer e,
you' d be angl i ng f or a chunk of cash, not f or a j ob, not "
" No! I want a j ob! " The cr y was i mmedi at e and al most f r ant i c. " Don' t t r y
t o buy me of f wi t h cash! I want a j ob! "
" Pul l your sel f t oget her , you poor l ouse. Do you hear what you' r e sayi ng?"
Phi l i p spi t out hi s answer wi t h i mpot ent hat r ed: " You can' t t al k t o me
t hat way! "
" Can you?"
" I onl y"
" To buy you of f ? Why shoul d I t r y t o buy you of f i nst ead of ki cki ng you
out , as I shoul d have, year s ago?"
" Wel l , af t er al l , I ' myour br ot her !
" What i s t hat supposed t o mean?"
" One' s supposed t o have some sor t of f eel i ng f or one' s br ot her . "
" Do you?"
Phi l i p' s mout h swel l ed pet ul ant l y; he di d not answer ; he wai t ed; Rear den
l et hi mwai t . Phi l i p mut t er ed, " You' r e supposed . . . at l east . . . t o have
some consi der at i on f or my f eel i ngs . . . but you haven' t . "
" Have you f or mi ne?"
" Your s? Your f eel i ngs?" I t was not mal i ce i n Phi l i p' s voi ce, but wor se: i t
was a genui ne, i ndi gnant ast oni shment . " You haven' t any f eel i ngs. You' ve
never f el t anyt hi ng at al l . You' ve never suf f er ed! "
I t was as i f a sumof year s hi t Rear den i n t he f ace, by means of a
sensat i on and a si ght : t he exact sensat i on of what he had f el t i n t he cab of
t he f i r st t r ai n' s engi ne on t he J ohn Gal t Li neand t he si ght of Phi l i p' s
eyes, t he pal e, hal f - l i qui d eyes pr esent i ng t he ut t er most of human
degr adat i on: an uncont est ed pai n, and, wi t h t he obscene i nsol ence of a
skel et on t owar d a l i vi ng bei ng, demandi ng t hat t hi s pai n be hel d as t he
hi ghest of val ues. You' ve never suf f er ed, t he eyes wer e sayi ng t o hi m
accusi ngl ywhi l e he was seei ng t he ni ght i n hi s of f i ce when hi s or e mi nes
wer e t aken away f r omhi mt he moment when he had si gned t he Gi f t Cer t i f i cat e
sur r ender i ng Rear den Met al t he mont h of days i nsi de a pl ane t hat sear ched f or
t he r emai ns of Dagny' s body. You' ve never suf f er ed, t he eyes wer e sayi ng wi t h
sel f - r i ght eous scor nwhi l e he r emember ed t he sensat i on of pr oud chast i t y wi t h
whi ch he had f ought t hr ough t hose moment s, r ef usi ng t o sur r ender t o pai n, a
sensat i on made of hi s l ove, of hi s l oyal t y, of hi s knowl edge t hat j oy i s t he
goal of exi st ence, and j oy i s not t o be st umbl ed upon, but t o be achi eved,
and t he act of t r eason i s t o l et i t s vi si on dr own i n t he swamp of t he
moment ' s t or t ur e. You' ve never suf f er ed, t he dead st ar e of t he eyes was
sayi ng, you' ve never f el t anyt hi ng, because onl y t o suf f er i s t o f eel t her e' s
no such t hi ng as j oy, t her e' s onl y pai n and t he absence of pai n, onl y pai n
and t he zer o, when one f eel s not hi ngI suf f er , I ' mt wi st ed by suf f er i ng, I ' m
made of undi l ut ed suf f er i ng, t hat ' s my pur i t y, t hat ' s my vi r t ueand your s,
you t he unt wi st ed one, you t he uncompl ai ni ng, your s i s t o r el i eve me of my
pai ncut your unsuf f er i ng body t o pat ch up mi ne, cut your unf eel i ng soul t o
st op mi ne f r omf eel i ngand we' l l achi eve t he ul t i mat e i deal , t he t r i umph over
l i f e, t he zer o! He was seei ng t he nat ur e of t hose who, f or cent ur i es, had not
r ecoi l ed f r omt he pr eacher s of anni hi l at i onhe was seei ng t he nat ur e of t he
enemi es he had been f i ght i ng al l hi s l i f e.
" Phi l i p, " he sai d, " get out of her e. " Hi s voi ce was l i ke a r ay of sunl i ght
i n a mor gue, i t was t he pl ai n, dr y, dai l y voi ce of a busi nessman, t he sound
of heal t h, addr essed t o an enemy one coul d not honor by anger , nor even by
hor r or . " And don' t ever t r y t o ent er t hese mi l l s agai n, because t her e wi l l be
or der s at ever y gat e t o t hr ow you out , i f you t r y i t . ' 1
" Wel l , af t er al l , " sai d Phi l i p, i n t he angr y and caut i ous t one of a
t ent at i ve t hr eat , " I coul d have my f r i ends assi gn me t o a j ob her e and compel
you t o accept i t ! "
Rear den had st ar t ed t o go, but he st opped and t ur ned t o l ook at hi s
br ot her .
Phi l i p' s moment of gr aspi ng a sudden r evel at i on was not accompl i shed by
means of t hought , but by means of t hat dar k sensat i on whi ch was hi s onl y mode
of consci ousness: he f el t a sensat i on of t er r or , squeezi ng hi s t hr oat ,
shi ver i ng down i nt o hi s st omachhe was seei ng t he spr ead of t he mi l l s, wi t h
t he r ovi ng st r eamer s of f l ame, wi t h t he l adl es of mol t en met al sai l i ng
t hr ough space on del i cat e cabl es, wi t h open pi t s t he col or of gl owi ng coal ,
wi t h cr anes comi ng at hi s head, poundi ng past , hol di ng t ons of st eel by t he
i nvi si bl e power of magnet sand he knew t hat he was af r ai d of t hi s pl ace,
af r ai d t o t he deat h, t hat he dar ed not move wi t hout t he pr ot ect i on and
gui dance of t he man bef or e hi m
t hen he l ooked at t he t al l , st r ai ght f i gur e st andi ng casual l y st i l l , t he
f i gur e wi t h t he unf l i nchi ng eyes whose si ght had cut t hr ough r ock and f l ame
t o bui l d t hi s pl aceand t hen he knew how easi l y t he man he was pr oposi ng t o
compel coul d l et a si ngl e bucket of met al t i l t over a second ahead of i t s
t i me or l et a si ngl e cr ane dr op i t s l oad a f oot shor t of i t s goal , and t her e
woul d be not hi ng l ef t of hi m, of Phi l i p t he cl ai mant
and hi s onl y pr ot ect i on l ay i n t he f act t hat hi s mi nd woul d t hi nk of such
act i ons, but t he mi nd of Hank Rear den woul d not .
" But we' d bet t er keep i t on a f r i endl y basi s, " sai d Phi l i p.
" You' d bet t er , " sai d Rear den and wal ked away.
Men who wor shi p pai nt hought Rear den, st ar i ng at t he i mage of t he enemi es
he had never been abl e t o under st andt hey' r e men who wor shi p pai n. I t seemed
monst r ous, yet pecul i ar l y devoi d of i mpor t ance.
He f el t not hi ng. I t was l i ke t r yi ng t o summon emot i on t owar d i nani mat e
obj ect s, t owar d r ef use sl i di ng down a mount ai nsi de t o cr ush hi m. One coul d
f l ee f r omt he sl i de or bui l d r et ai ni ng wal l s agai nst i t or be cr ushed but
one coul d not gr ant any anger , i ndi gnat i on or mor al concer n t o t he sensel ess
mot i ons of t he un- l i vi ng; no, wor se, he t hought t he ant i l i vi ng.
The same sense of det ached unconcer n r emai ned wi t h hi mwhi l e he sat i n a
Phi l adel phi a cour t r oomand wat ched men per f or mt he mot i ons whi ch wer e t o
gr ant hi mhi s di vor ce. He wat ched t hemut t er mechani cal gener al i t i es, r eci t e
vague phr ases of f r audul ent evi dence, pl ay an i nt r i cat e game of st r et chi ng
wor ds t o convey no f act s and no meani ng. He had pai d t hemt o do i t he whom
t he l aw per mi t t ed no ot her way t o gai n hi s f r eedom, no r i ght t o st at e t he
f act s and pl ead t he t r ut ht he l aw whi ch del i ver ed hi s f at e, not t o obj ect i ve
r ul es obj ect i vel y def i ned, but t o t he ar bi t r ar y mer cy of a j udge wi t h a
wi zened f ace and a l ook of empt y cunni ng.
Li l l i an was not pr esent i n t he cour t r oom; her at t or ney made gest ur es once
i n a whi l e, wi t h t he ener gy of l et t i ng wat er r un t hr ough hi s f i nger s. They
al l knew t he ver di ct i n advance and t hey knew i t s r eason; no ot her r eason had
exi st ed f or year s, wher e no st andar ds, save whi m, had exi st ed. They seemed t o
r egar d i t as t hei r r i ght f ul pr er ogat i ve; t hey act ed as i f t he pur pose of t he
pr ocedur e wer e not t o t r y a case, but t o gi ve t hemj obs, as i f t hei r j obs
wer e t o r eci t e t he appr opr i at e f or mul as wi t h no r esponsi bi l i t y t o know what
t he f or mul as accompl i shed, as i f a cour t r oomwer e t he one pl ace wher e
quest i ons of r i ght and wr ong wer e i r r el evant and t hey, t he men i n char ge of
di spensi ng j ust i ce, wer e saf el y wi se enough t o know t hat no j ust i ce exi st ed.
They act ed l i ke savages per f or mi ng a r i t ual devi sed t o set t hemf r ee of
obj ect i ve r eal i t y.
But t he t en year s of hi s mar r i age had been r eal , he t hought and t hese wer e
t he men who assumed t he power t o di spose of i t , t o deci de whet her he woul d
have a chance of cont ent ment on ear t h or be condemned t o t or t ur e f or t he r est
of hi s l i f et i me. He r emember ed t he aust er el y pi t i l ess r espect he had f el t f or
hi s cont r act of mar r i age, f or al l hi s cont r act s and al l hi s l egal
obl i gat i onsand he saw what sor t of l egal i t y hi s scr upul ous obser vance was
expect ed t o ser ve.
He not i ced t hat t he puppet s of t he cour t r oomhad st ar t ed by gl anci ng at
hi mi n t he sl y, wi se manner of f el l ow conspi r at or s shar i ng a common gui l t ,
mut ual l y saf e f r ommor al condemnat i on. Then, when t hey obser ved t hat he was
t he onl y man i n t he r oomwho l ooked st eadi l y st r ai ght at anyone' s f ace, he
saw r esent ment gr owi ng i n t hei r eyes. I ncr edul ousl y, he r eal i zed what i t was
t hat had been expect ed of hi m: he, t he vi ct i m, chai ned, bound, gagged and
l ef t wi t h no r ecour se save t o br i ber y, had been expect ed t o bel i eve t hat t he
f ar ce he had pur chased was a pr ocess of l aw, t hat t he edi ct s ensl avi ng hi m
had mor al val i di t y, t hat he was gui l t y of cor r upt i ng t he i nt egr i t y of t he
guar di ans of j ust i ce, and t hat t he bl ame was hi s, not t hei r s. I t was l i ke
bl ami ng t he vi ct i mof a hol dup f or cor r upt i ng t he i nt egr i t y of t he t hug. And
yet he t hought t hr ough al l t he gener at i ons of pol i t i cal ext or t i on, i t was
not t he l oot i ng bur eaucr at s who had t aken t he bl ame, but t he chai ned
i ndust r i al i st s, not t he men who peddl ed l egal f avor s, but t he men who wer e
f or ced t o buy t hem; and t hr ough al l t hose gener at i ons of cr usades agai nst
cor r upt i on, t he r emedy had al ways been, not t he l i ber at i ng of t he vi ct i ms,
but t he gr ant i ng of wi der power s f or ext or t i on t o t he ext or t i oni st s. The onl y
gui l t of t he vi ct i ms, he t hought , had been t hat t hey accept ed i t as gui l t .
When he wal ked out of t he cour t r oomi nt o t he chi l l y dr i zzl e of a gr ay
af t er noon, he f el t as i f he had been di vor ced, not onl y f r omLi l l i an, but
f r omt he whol e of t he human soci et y t hat suppor t ed t he pr ocedur e he had
wi t nessed.
The f ace of hi s at t or ney, an el der l y man of t he ol d- f ashi oned school , wor e
an expr essi on t hat made i t l ook as i f he l onged t o t ake a bat h.
" Say, Hank, he asked as sol e comment , " i s t her e somet hi ng t he l oot er s ar e
anxi ous t o get f r omyou r i ght now?" " Not t hat I know of . Why?"
" The t hi ng went t oo smoot hl y. Ther e wer e a f ew poi nt s at whi ch I expect ed
pr essur e and hi nt s f or some ext r as, but t he boys sai l ed past and t ook no
advant age of i t . Looks t o me as i f or der s had come f r omon hi gh t o t r eat you
gent l y and l et you have your way. Ar e t hey pl anni ng somet hi ng new agai nst
your mi l l s?" " Not t hat I know of , " sai d Rear den and was ast oni shed t o hear
i n hi s mi nd: Not t hat I car e.
I t was on t he same af t er noon, at t he mi l l s, t hat he saw t he Wet Nur se
hur r yi ng t owar d hi ma gangl i ng, col t i sh f i gur e wi t h a pecul i ar mi xt ur e of
br usqueness, awkwar dness and deci si veness.
" Mr . Rear den, I woul d l i ke t o speak t o you. " Hi s voi ce was di f f i dent , yet
oddl y f i r m.
" Go ahead. "
" Ther e' s somet hi ng I want t o ask you. " The boy' s f ace was sol emn and t aut .
" I want you t o know t hat I know you shoul d r ef use me, but I want t o ask i t
j ust t he same . . . and . . . and i f i t ' s pr esumpt uous, t hen j ust t el l me t o
go t o hel l . "
" Okay. Tr y i t . "
" Mr . Rear den, woul d you gi ve me a j ob?" I t was t he ef f or t t o sound nor mal
t hat bet r ayed t he days of st r uggl e behi nd t he quest i on. " I want t o qui t what
I ' mdoi ng and go t o wor k. I mean, r eal wor ki n st eel maki ng, l i ke I t hought
I ' d st ar t ed t o, once. I want t o ear n my keep. I ' mt i r ed of bei ng a bedbug. "
Rear den coul d not r esi st smi l i ng and r emi ndi ng hi m, i n t he t one of a
quot at i on, " Now why use such wor ds, Non- Absol ut e? I f we don' t use ugl y wor ds,
we won' t have any ugl i ness and" But he saw t he desper at e ear nest ness of t he
boy' s f ace and st opped, hi s smi l e vani shi ng.
" I mean i t , Mr . Rear den. And I know what t he wor d means and i t ' s t he r i ght
wor d. I ' mt i r ed of bei ng pai d, wi t h your money, t o do not hi ng except make i t
i mpossi bl e f or you t o make any money at al l . I know t hat anyone who wor ks
t oday i s onl y a sucker f or bast ar ds l i ke me, but . . .
wel l , God damn i t , I ' d r at her be a sucker , i f t hat ' s al l t her e' s l ef t t o
be! "
Hi s voi ce had r i sen t o a cr y. " I beg your par don, Mr . Rear den, " he sai d
st i f f l y, l ooki ng away. I n a moment , he went on i n hi s woodenl y unemot i onal
t one. " I want t o get out of t he Deput y- Di r ect or - of - Di st r i but i on r acket . I
don' t know t hat I ' d be of much use t o you, I ' ve got a col l ege di pl oma i n
met al l ur gy, but t hat ' s not wor t h t he paper i t ' s pr i nt ed on. But I t hi nk I ' ve
l ear ned a l i t t l e about t he wor k i n t he t wo year s I ' ve been her eand i f you
coul d use me at al l , as sweeper or scr ap man or what ever you' d t r ust me wi t h,
I ' d t el l t hemwher e t o put t he deput y di r ect or shi p and I ' d go t o wor k f or you
t omor r ow, next week, t hi s mi nut e or whenever you say. " He avoi ded l ooki ng at
Rear den, not i n a manner of evasi on, but as i f he had no r i ght t o do i t .
" Why wer e you af r ai d t o ask me?" sai d Rear den gent l y.
The boy gl anced at hi mwi t h i ndi gnant ast oni shment , as i f t he answer wer e
sel f - evi dent . " Because af t er t he way I st ar t ed her e and t he way I act ed and
what I ' mdeput y of , i f I come aski ng you f or f avor s, you ought t o ki ck me i n
t he t eet h! "
" You have l ear ned a gr eat deal i n t he t wo year s you' ve been her e. "
" No, I " He gl anced at Rear den, under st ood, l ooked away and sai d woodenl y,
" Yeah . . . i f t hat ' s what you mean. "
" Li st en, ki d, I ' d gi ve you a j ob t hi s mi nut e and I ' d t r ust you wi t h mor e
t han a sweeper ' s j ob, i f i t wer e up t o me. But have you f or got t en t he
Uni f i cat i on Boar d? I ' mnot al l owed t o hi r e you and you' r e not al l owed t o
qui t . Sur e, men ar e qui t t i ng al l t he t i me, and we' r e hi r i ng ot her s under
phony names and f ancy paper s pr ovi ng t hat t hey' ve wor ked her e f or year s. You
know i t , and t hanks f or keepi ng your mout h shut . But do you t hi nk t hat i f I
hi r ed you t hat way, your f r i ends i n Washi ngt on woul d mi ss i t ?"
The boy shook hi s head sl owl y.
" Do you t hi nk t hat i f you qui t t hei r ser vi ce t o become a sweeper , t hey
woul dn' t under st and your r eason?"
The boy nodded.
" Woul d t hey l et you go?"
The boy shook hi s head. Af t er a moment , he sai d i n a t one of f or l or n
ast oni shment , " I hadn' t t hought of t hat at al l , Mr . Rear den. I f or got t hem. I
kept t hi nki ng of whet her you' d want me or not and t hat t he onl y t hi ng t hat
count ed was your deci si on.
" I know. "
" And . . . i t i s t he onl y t hi ng t hat count s, i n f act . "
" Yes, Non- Absol ut e, i n f act . "
The boy' s mout h j er ked suddenl y i nt o t he br i ef , mi r t hl ess t wi st of a
smi l e. " I guess I ' mt i ed wor se t han any sucker . . . "
" Yes. Ther e' s not hi ng you can do now, except appl y t o t he Uni f i cat i on
Boar d f or per mi ssi on t o change your j ob. I ' l l suppor t your appl i cat i on, i f
you want t o t r yonl y I don' t t hi nk t hey' l l gr ant i t . I don' t t hi nk t hey' l l
l et you wor k f or me. "
" No. They won' t . "
" I f you maneuver enough and l i e enough, t hey mi ght per mi t you t o t r ansf er
t o a pr i vat e j obwi t h some ot her st eel company. "
" No! I don' t want t o go anywher e el se! I don' t want t o l eave t hi s pl ace!
He st ood l ooki ng of f at t he i nvi si bl e vapor of r ai n over t he f l ame of t he
f ur naces. Af t er a whi l e, he sai d qui et l y, " I ' d bet t er st ay put , I guess. I ' d
bet t er go on bei ng a deput y l oot er . Besi des, i f I l ef t , God onl y knows what
sor t of bast ar d t hey' d saddl e you wi t h i n my pl ace! "
He t ur ned. " They' r e up t o somet hi ng, Mr . Rear den. I don' t know what i t i s,
but t hey' r e get t i ng r eady t o spr i ng somet hi ng on you. "
" What ?"
" I don' t know. But t hey' ve been wat chi ng ever y openi ng her e, i n t he l ast
f ew weeks, ever y deser t i on, and sl i ppi ng t hei r own gang i n. A queer sor t of
gang, t oor eal goons, some of t hem, t hat I ' d swear never st epped i nsi de a
st eel pl ant bef or e. I ' ve had or der s t o get as many of ' our boys' i n as
possi bl e. They woul dn' t t el l me why. I don' t know what i t i s t hey' r e
pl anni ng. I ' ve t r i ed t o pump t hem, but t hey' r e act i ng pr et t y cagey about i t .
I don' t t hi nk t hey t r ust me any mor e. I ' ml osi ng t he r i ght t ouch, I guess.
Al l I know i s t hey' r e get t i ng set t o pul l somet hi ng her e. "
" Thanks f or war ni ng me. "
" I ' l l t r y t o get t he dope on i t . I ' l l t r y my damndest t o get i t i n t i me. "
He t ur ned br usquel y and st ar t ed of f , but st opped. " Mr . Rear den, i f i t wer e up
t o you, you woul d have hi r ed me?"
" I woul d have, gl adl y and at once. "
" Thank you, Mr . Rear den, " he sai d, hi s voi ce sol emn and l ow, t hen wal ked
away.
Rear den st ood l ooki ng af t er hi m, seei ng, wi t h a t ear i ng smi l e of pi t y,
what i t was t hat t he ex- r el at i vi st , t he ex- pr agmat i st , t he ex- amor al i st was
car r yi ng away wi t h hi mf or consol at i on.
On t he af t er noon of Sept ember 11, a copper wi r e br oke i n Mi nnesot a,
st oppi ng t he bel t s of a gr ai n el evat or at a smal l count r y st at i on of Taggar t
Tr anscont i nent al .
A f l ood of wheat was movi ng down t he hi ghways, t he r oads, t he abandoned
t r ai l s of t he count r ysi de, empt yi ng t housands of acr es of f ar ml and upon t he
f r agi l e dams of t he r ai l r oad' s st at i ons. I t was movi ng day and ni ght , t he
f i r st t r i ckl es gr owi ng i nt o st r eams, t hen r i ver s, t hen t or r ent smovi ng on
pal si ed t r ucks wi t h coughi ng, t uber cul ar mot or son wagons pul l ed by t he r ust y
skel et ons of st ar vi ng hor seson car t s pul l ed by oxenon t he ner ves and l ast
ener gy of men who had l i ved t hr ough t wo year s of di sast er f or t he t r i umphant
r ewar d of t hi s aut umn' s gi ant har vest , men who had pat ched t hei r t r ucks and
car t s wi t h wi r e, bl anket s, r opes and sl eepl ess ni ght s, t o make t hemhol d
t oget her f or t hi s one mor e j our ney, t o car r y t he gr ai n and col l apse at
dest i nat i on, but t o gi ve t hei r owner s a chance at sur vi val .
Ever y year , at t hi s season, anot her movement had gone cl i cki ng acr oss t he
count r y, dr awi ng f r ei ght car s f r omal l cor ner s of t he cont i nent t o t he
Mi nnesot a Di vi si on of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , t he beat of t r ai n wheel s
pr ecedi ng t he cr eak of t he wagons, l i ke an advance echo r i gor ousl y pl anned,
or der ed and t i med t o meet t he f l ood. The Mi nnesot a Di vi si on dr owsed t hr ough
t he year , t o come t o vi ol ent l i f e f or t he weeks of t he har vest ; f our t een
t housand f r ei ght car s had j ammed i t s yar ds each year ; f i f t een t housand wer e
expect ed t hi s t i me. The f i r st of t he wheat t r ai ns had st ar t ed t o channel t he
f l ood i nt o t he hungr y f l our mi l l s, t hen baker i es, t hen st omachs of t he
nat i onbut ever y t r ai n, car and st or age el evat or count ed, and t her e was no
mi nut e or i nch of space t o spar e.
Eddi e Wi l l er s wat ched Dagny' s f ace as she went t hr ough t he car ds of her
emer gency f i l e; he coul d t el l t he cont ent of t he car ds by her expr essi on.
" The Ter mi nal , " she sai d qui et l y, cl osi ng t he f i l e. " Phone t he Ter mi nal
downst ai r s and have t hemshi p hal f t hei r st ock of wi r e t o Mi nnesot a. " Eddi e
sai d not hi ng and obeyed.
He sai d not hi ng, t he mor ni ng when he put on her desk a t el egr amf r omt he
Taggar t of f i ce i n Washi ngt on, i nf or mi ng t hemof t he di r ect i ve whi ch, due t o
t he cr i t i cal shor t age of copper , or der ed gover nment agent s t o sei ze al l
copper mi nes and oper at e t hemas a publ i c ut i l i t y.
" Wel l , " she sai d, dr oppi ng t he t el egr ami nt o t he wast ebasket , " t hat ' s t he
end of Mont ana. "
She sai d not hi ng when J ames Taggar t announced t o her t hat he was i ssui ng
an or der t o di scont i nue al l di ni ng car s on Taggar t t r ai ns. " We can' t af f or d
i t any l onger , " he expl ai ned, " we' ve al ways l ost money on t hose goddamn
di ner s, and when t her e' s no f ood t o get , when r est aur ant s ar e cl osi ng because
t hey can' t gr ab hol d of a pound of hor se meat anywher e, how can r ai l r oads be
expect ed t o do i t ? Why i n hel l shoul d we have t o f eed t he passenger s, anyway?
They' r e l ucky i f we gi ve t hemt r anspor t at i on, t hey' d t r avel i n cat t l e car s i f
necessar y, l et ' empack t hei r own box l unches, what do we car e?t hey' ve got
no ot her t r ai ns t o t ake! "
The t el ephone on her desk had become, not a voi ce of busi ness, but an
al ar msi r en f or t he desper at e appeal s of di sast er . " Mi ss Taggar t .
we have no copper wi r e! " " Nai l s, Mi ss Taggar t , pl ai n nai l s, coul d you t el l
somebody t o send us a keg of nai l s?" " Can you f i nd any pai nt .
Mi ss Taggar t , any sor t of wat er pr oof pai nt anywher e?"
But t hi r t y mi l l i on dol l ar s of subsi dy money f r omWashi ngt on had been
pl owed i nt o Pr oj ect Soybeanan enor mous acr eage i n Loui si ana, wher e a har vest
of soybeans was r i peni ng, as advocat ed and or gani zed by Emma Chal mer s, f or
t he pur pose of r econdi t i oni ng t he di et ar y habi t s of t he nat i on. Emma
Chal mer s, bet t er known as Ki p' s Ma, was an ol d soci ol ogi st who had hung about
Washi ngt on f or year s, as ot her women of her age and t ype hang about bar r ooms.
For some r eason whi ch nobody coul d def i ne, t he deat h of her son i n t he t unnel
cat ast r ophe had gi ven her i n Washi ngt on an aur a of mar t yr dom, hei ght ened by
her r ecent conver si on t o Buddhi sm. " The soybean i s a much mor e st ur dy,
nut r i t i ous and economi cal pl ant t han al l t he ext r avagant f oods whi ch our
wast ef ul , sel f - i ndul gent di et has condi t i oned us t o expect , " Ki p' s Ma had
sai d over t he r adi o; her voi ce al ways sounded as i f i t wer e f al l i ng i n dr ops,
not of wat er , but of mayonnai se.
" Soybeans make an excel l ent subst i t ut e f or br ead, meat , cer eal s and
cof f eeand i f al l of us wer e compel l ed t o adopt soybeans as our st apl e di et ,
i t woul d sol ve t he nat i onal f ood cr i si s and make i t possi bl e t o f eed mor e
peopl e. The gr eat est f ood f or t he gr eat est number t hat ' s my sl ogan. At a t i me
of desper at e publ i c need, i t ' s our dut y t o sacr i f i ce our l uxur i ous t ast es and
eat our way back t o pr osper i t y by adapt i ng our sel ves t o t he si mpl e, whol esome
f oodst uf f on whi ch t he peopl es of t he Or i ent have so nobl y subsi st ed f or
cent ur i es. Ther e' s a gr eat deal t hat we coul d l ear n f r omt he peopl es of t he
Or i ent . "
" Copper t ubi ng, Mi ss Taggar t , coul d you get some copper t ubi ng f or us
somewher e?" t he voi ces wer e pl eadi ng over her t el ephone. " Rai l spi kes, Mi ss
Taggar t ! " " Scr ewdr i ver s, Mi ss Taggar t ! " " Li ght bul bs, Mi ss Taggar t , t her e' s
no el ect r i c l i ght bul bs t o be had anywher e wi t hi n t wo hundr ed mi l es of us! "
But f i ve mi l l i on dol l ar s was bei ng spent by t he of f i ce of Mor al e
Condi t i oni ng on t he Peopl e' s Oper a Company, whi ch t r avel ed t hr ough t he
count r y, gi vi ng f r ee per f or mances t o peopl e who, on one meal a day, coul d not
af f or d t he ener gy t o wal k t o t he oper a house. Seven mi l l i on dol l ar s had been
gr ant ed t o a psychol ogi st i n char ge of a pr oj ect t o sol ve t he wor l d cr i si s by
r esear ch i nt o t he nat ur e of br ot her - l ove. Ten mi l l i on dol l ar s had been
gr ant ed t o t he manuf act ur er of a new el ect r oni c ci gar et t e l i ght er but t her e
wer e no ci gar et t es i n t he shops of t he count r y. Ther e wer e f l ashl i ght s on t he
mar ket , but no bat t er i es; t her e wer e r adi os, but no t ubes; t her e wer e
camer as, but no f i l m. The pr oduct i on of ai r pl anes had been decl ar ed
" t empor ar i l y suspended. " Ai r t r avel f or pr i vat e pur poses had been f or bi dden,
and r eser ved excl usi vel y f or mi ssi ons of " publ i c need. " An i ndust r i al i st
t r avel i ng t o save hi s f act or y was not consi der ed as publ i cl y needed and coul d
not get aboar d a pl ane; an of f i ci al t r avel i ng t o col l ect t axes was and coul d.
" Peopl e ar e st eal i ng nut s and bol t s out of r ai l pl at es, Mi ss Taggar t ,
st eal i ng t hemat ni ght , and our st ock i s r unni ng out , t he di vi si on st or ehouse
i s bar e, what ar e we t o do, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
But a super - col or - f our - f oot - scr een t el evi si on set was bei ng er ect ed f or
t our i st s i n a Peopl e' s Par k i n Washi ngt onand a super - cycl ot r on f or t he st udy
of cosmi c r ays was bei ng er ect ed at t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e, t o be
compl et ed i n t en year s.
" The t r oubl e wi t h our moder n wor l d, " Dr . Rober t St adl er sai d over t he
r adi o, at t he cer emoni es l aunchi ng t he const r uct i on of t he cycl ot r on, " i s
t hat t oo many peopl e t hi nk t oo much. I t i s t he cause of al l our cur r ent f ear s
and doubt s. An enl i ght ened ci t i zenr y shoul d abandon t he super st i t i ous wor shi p
of l ogi c and t he out moded r el i ance on r eason.
J ust as l aymen l eave medi ci ne t o doct or s and el ect r oni cs t o engi neer s, so
peopl e who ar e not qual i f i ed t o t hi nk shoul d l eave al l t hi nki ng t o t he
exper t s and have f ai t h i n t he exper t s' hi gher aut hor i t y. Onl y exper t s ar e
abl e t o under st and t he di scover i es of moder n sci ence, whi ch have pr oved t hat
t hought i s an i l l usi on and t hat t he mi nd i s a myt h. "
" Thi s age of mi ser y i s God' s puni shment t o man f or t he si n of r el yi ng on
hi s mi nd! " snar l ed t he t r i umphant voi ces of myst i cs of ever y sect and sor t ,
on st r eet cor ner s, i n r ai n- soaked t ent s, i n cr umbl i ng t empl es. " Thi s wor l d
or deal i s t he r esul t of man' s at t empt t o l i ve by r eason! Thi s i s wher e
t hi nki ng, l ogi c and sci ence have br ought you! And t her e' s t o be no sal vat i on
unt i l men r eal i ze t hat t hei r mor t al mi nd i s i mpot ent t o sol ve t hei r pr obl ems
and go back t o f ai t h, f ai t h i n God, f ai t h i n a hi gher aut hor i t y! "
And conf r ont i ng her dai l y t her e was t he f i nal pr oduct of i t al l , t he hei r
and col l ect or Cuf f y Mei gs, t he man i mper vi ous t o t hought .
Cuf f y Mei gs st r ode t hr ough t he of f i ces of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al ,
wear i ng a semi - mi l i t ar y t uni c and sl appi ng a shi ny l eat her br i ef case agai nst
hi s shi ny l eat her l eggi ngs. He car r i ed an aut omat i c pi st ol i n one pocket and
a r abbi t ' s f oot i n t he ot her .
Cuf f y Mei gs t r i ed t o avoi d her ; hi s manner was par t scor n, as i f he
consi der ed her an i mpr act i cal i deal i st , par t super st i t i ous awe, as i f she
possessed some i ncompr ehensi bl e power wi t h whi ch he pr ef er r ed not t o t angl e.
He act ed as i f her pr esence di d not bel ong t o hi s vi ew of a r ai l r oad, yet as
i f her s wer e t he one pr esence he dar ed not chal l enge.
Ther e was a t ouch of i mpat i ent r esent ment i n hi s manner t owar d J i m, as i f
i t wer e J i m' s dut y t o deal wi t h her and t o pr ot ect hi m; j ust as he expect ed
J i mt o keep t he r ai l r oad i n r unni ng or der and l eave hi mf r ee f or act i vi t i es
of mor e pr act i cal a nat ur e, so he expect ed J i mt o keep her i n l i ne, as par t
of t he equi pment .
Beyond t he wi ndow of her of f i ce, l i ke a pat ch of adhesi ve pl ast er st uck
over a wound on t he sky, t he page of t he cal endar hung bl ank i n t he di st ance.
The cal endar had never been r epai r ed si nce t he ni ght of Fr anci sco' s f ar ewel l .
The of f i ci al s who had r ushed t o t he t ower , t hat ni ght , had knocked t he
cal endar ' s mot or t o a st op, whi l e t ear i ng t he f i l mout of t he pr oj ect or . They
had f ound t he smal l squar e of Fr anci sco' s message, past ed i nt o t he st r i p of
number ed days, but who had past ed i t t her e, who had ent er ed t he l ocked r oom
and when and how, was never di scover ed by t he t hr ee commi ssi ons st i l l
i nvest i gat i ng t he case. Pendi ng t he out come of t hei r ef f or t s, t he page hung
bl ank and st i l l above t he ci t y.
I t was bl ank on t he af t er noon of Sept ember 14, when t he t el ephone r ang i n
her of f i ce. " A man f r omMi nnesot a, " sai d t he voi ce of her secr et ar y.
She had t ol d her secr et ar y t hat she woul d accept al l cal l s of t hi s ki nd.
They wer e t he appeal s f or hel p and her onl y sour ce of i nf or mat i on. At a t i me
when t he voi ces of r ai l r oad of f i ci al s ut t er ed not hi ng but sounds desi gned t o
avoi d communi cat i on, t he voi ces of namel ess men wer e her l ast l i nk t o t he
syst em, t he l ast spar ks of r eason and t or t ur ed honest y f l ashi ng br i ef l y
t hr ough t he mi l es of Taggar t t r ack.
" Mi ss Taggar t , i t i s not my pl ace t o cal l you, but nobody el se wi l l , "
sai d t he voi ce t hat came on t he wi r e, t hi s t i me; t he voi ce sounded young
and t oo cal m. " I n anot her day or t wo, a di sast er ' s goi ng t o happen her e t he
l i ke of whi ch t hey' ve never seen, and t hey won' t be abl e t o hi de i t any
l onger , onl y i t wi l l be t oo l at e by t hen, and maybe i t ' s t oo l at e al r eady. "
" What i s i t ? Who ar e you?"
" One of your empl oyees of t he Mi nnesot a Di vi si on, Mi ss Taggar t .
I n anot her day or t wo, t he t r ai ns wi l l st op r unni ng out of her eand you
know what t hat means, at t he hei ght of t he har vest . At t he hei ght of t he
bi ggest har vest we' ve ever had. They' l l st op, because we have no car s. The
har vest f r ei ght car s have not been sent t o us t hi s year . "
" What di d you say?" She f el t as i f mi nut es went by bet ween t he wor ds of
t he unnat ur al voi ce t hat di d not sound l i ke her own.
" The car s have not been sent . Fi f t een t housand shoul d have been her e by
now. As f ar as I coul d l ear n, about ei ght t housand car s i s al l we got . I ' ve
been cal l i ng Di vi si on Headquar t er s f or a week. They' ve been t el l i ng me not t o
wor r y. Last t i me, t hey t ol d me t o mi nd my own damn busi ness. Ever y shed,
si l o, el evat or , war ehouse, gar age and dance hal l al ong t he t r ack i s f i l l ed
wi t h wheat . At t he Sher man el evat or s, t her e' s a l i ne of f ar mer s' t r ucks and
wagons t wo mi l es l ong, wai t i ng on t he r oad. At Lakewood St at i on, t he squar e
i s packed sol i d and has been f or t hr ee ni ght s. They keep t el l i ng us i t ' s onl y
t empor ar y, t he car s ar e comi ng and we' l l cat ch up. We won' t . Ther e ar en' t any
car s comi ng.
I ' ve cal l ed ever yone I coul d. I know, by t he way t hey answer . They know,
and not one of t hemwant s t o admi t i t . They' r e scar ed, scar ed t o move or
speak or ask or answer . Al l t hey' r e t hi nki ng of i s who wi l l be bl amed when
t hat har vest r ot s her e ar ound t he st at i onsand not of who' s goi ng t o move i t .
Maybe nobody can, now. Maybe t her e' s not hi ng you can do about i t , ei t her . But
I t hought you' r e t he onl y per son l ef t who' d want t o know and t hat somebody
had t o t el l you. "
" I . . . " She made an ef f or t t o br eat he. " I see . . . Who ar e you?"
" The name woul dn' t mat t er . When I hang up, I wi l l have become a deser t er .
I don' t want t o st ay her e t o see i t when i t happens. I don' t want any par t of
i t any mor e. Good l uck t o you, Mi ss Taggar t . "
She hear d t he cl i ck. " Thank you, " she sai d over a dead wi r e.
The next t i me she not i ced t he of f i ce ar ound her and per mi t t ed her sel f t o
f eel , i t was noon of t he f ol l owi ng day. She st ood i n t he mi ddl e of t he
of f i ce, r unni ng st i f f , spr ead f i nger s t hr ough a st r and of hai r , br ushi ng i t
back of f her f aceand f or an i nst ant , she wonder ed wher e she was and what was
t he unbel i evabl e t hi ng t hat had happened i n t he l ast t went y hour s. What she
f el t was hor r or , and she knew t hat she had f el t i t f r omt he f i r st wor ds of
t he man on t he wi r e, onl y t her e had been no t i me t o know i t .
Ther e was not much t hat r emai ned i n her mi nd of t he l ast t went y hour s,
onl y di sconnect ed bi t s, hel d t oget her by t he si ngl e const ant t hat had made
t hempossi bl eby t he sof t , l oose f aces of men who f ought t o hi de f r om
t hemsel ves t hat t hey knew t he answer s t o t he quest i ons she asked.
Fr omt he moment when she was t ol d t hat t he manager of t he Car Ser vi ce
Depar t ment had been out of t own f or a week and had l ef t no addr ess wher e one
coul d r each hi mshe knew t hat t he r epor t of t he man f r omMi nnesot a was t r ue.
Then came t he f aces of t he assi st ant s i n t he Car Ser vi ce Depar t ment , who
woul d nei t her conf i r mt he r epor t nor deny i t , but kept showi ng her paper s,
or der s, f or ms, f i l e car ds t hat bor e wor ds i n t he Engl i sh l anguage, but no
connect i on t o i nt el l i gi bl e f act s. " Wer e t he f r ei ght car s sent t o Mi nnesot a?"
" For m357Wi s f i l l ed out i n ever y par t i cul ar , as r equi r ed by t he of f i ce of
t he Co- or di nat or i n conf or mance wi t h t he i nst r uct i ons of t he compt r ol l er and
by Di r ect i ve 11- 493. "
" Wer e t he f r ei ght car s sent t o Mi nnesot a?" " The ent r i es f or t he mont hs of
August and Sept ember have been pr ocessed by" " Wer e t he f r ei ght car s sent t o
Mi nnesot a?" " My f i l es i ndi cat e t he l ocat i ons of f r ei ght car s by st at e, dat e,
cl assi f i cat i on and" " Do you know whet her t he car s wer e sent t o Mi nnesot a?"
" As t o t he i nt er st at e mot i on of f r ei ght car s, I woul d have t o r ef er you t o
t he f i l es of Mr . Benson and of "
Ther e was not hi ng t o l ear n f r omt he f i l es. Ther e wer e car ef ul ent r i es,
each conveyi ng f our possi bl e meani ngs, wi t h r ef er ences whi ch l ed t o
r ef er ences whi ch l ed t o a f i nal r ef er ence whi ch was mi ssi ng f r omt he f i l es.
I t di d not t ake her l ong t o di scover t hat t he car s had not been sent t o
Mi nnesot a and t hat t he or der had come f r omCuf f y Mei gs
but who had car r i ed i t out , who had t angl ed t he t r ai l , what st eps had been
t aken by what compl i ant men t o pr eser ve t he appear ance of a saf el y nor mal
oper at i on, wi t hout a si ngl e cr y of pr ot est t o ar ouse some br aver man' s
at t ent i on, who had f al si f i ed t he r epor t s, and wher e t he car s had goneseemed,
at f i r st , i mpossi bl e t o l ear n.
Thr ough t he hour s of t hat ni ght whi l e a smal l , desper at e cr ew under t he
command of Eddi e Wi l l er s kept cal l i ng ever y di vi si on poi nt , ever y yar d,
depot , st at i on, spur and si di ng of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al f or ever y f r ei ght
car i n si ght or r each, or der i ng t hemt o unl oad, dr op, dump, scut t l e anyt hi ng
and pr oceed t o Mi nnesot a at once, whi l e t hey kept cal l i ng t he yar ds, st at i ons
and pr esi dent s of ever y r ai l r oad st i l l hal f i n exi st ence anywher e acr oss t he
map, beggi ng f or car s f or Mi nnesot ashe went t hr ough t he t ask of t r aci ng f r om
f ace t o cowar d' s f ace t he dest i nat i on of t he f r ei ght car s t hat had vani shed.
She went f r omr ai l r oad execut i ves t o weal t hy shi pper s t o Washi ngt on
of f i ci al s and back t o t he r ai l r oadby cab, by phone, by wi r epur sui ng a t r ai l
of hal f - ut t er ed hi nt s. The t r ai l appr oached i t s end when she hear d t he pi nch-
l i pped voi ce of a publ i c r el at i ons, woman i n a Washi ngt on of f i ce, sayi ng
r esent f ul l y over t he t el ephone wi r e, " Wel l , af t er al l , i t i s a mat t er of
opi ni on whet her wheat i s essent i al t o a nat i on' s wel f ar e
t her e ar e t hose of mor e pr ogr essi ve vi ews who f eel t hat t he soybean i s,
per haps, of f ar gr eat er val ue" and t hen, by noon, she st ood i n t he mi ddl e of
her of f i ce, knowi ng t hat t he f r ei ght car s i nt ended f or t he wheat of Mi nnesot a
had been sent , i nst ead, t o car r y t he soybeans f r omt he Loui si ana swamps of
Ki p' s Ma' s pr oj ect .
The f i r st st or y of t he Mi nnesot a di sast er appear ed i n t he newspaper s t hr ee
days l at er . I t r epor t ed t hat t he f ar mer s who had wai t ed i n. t he st r eet s of
Lakewood f or si x days, wi t h no pl ace t o st or e t hei r wheat and no t r ai ns t o
car r y i t , had demol i shed t he l ocal cour t house, t he mayor ' s home and t he
r ai l r oad st at i on. Then t he st or i es vani shed abr upt l y and t he newspaper s kept
si l ent , t hen began t o pr i nt admoni t i ons ur gi ng peopl e not t o bel i eve
unpat r i ot i c r umor s.
Whi l e t he f l our mi l l s and gr ai n mar ket s of t he count r y wer e scr eami ng over
t he phones and t he t el egr aph wi r es, sendi ng pl eas t o New Yor k and del egat i ons
t o Washi ngt on, whi l e st r i ngs of f r ei ght car s f r omr andomcor ner s of t he
cont i nent wer e cr awl i ng l i ke r ust y cat er pi l l ar s acr oss t he map i n t he
di r ect i on of Mi nnesot at he wheat and hope of t he count r y wer e wai t i ng t o
per i sh al ong an empt y t r ack, under t he unchangi ng gr een l i ght s of si gnal s
t hat cal l ed f or mot i on t o t r ai ns t hat wer e not t her e.
At t he communi cat i on desks of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , a smal l cr ew kept
cal l i ng f or f r ei ght car s, r epeat i ng, l i ke t he cr ew of a si nki ng shi p, an
S. O. S, t hat r emai ned unhear d. Ther e wer e f r ei ght car s hel d l oaded f or mont hs
i n t he yar ds of t he compani es owned by t he f r i ends of pul l - peddl er s, who
i gnor ed t he f r ant i c demands t o unl oad t he car s and r el ease t hem. " You can
t el l t hat r ai l r oad t o" f ol l owed by unt r ansmi ssi bl e wor ds, was t he message of
t he Smat her Br ot her s of Ar i zona i n answer t o t he S. O. S. of New Yor k.
I n Mi nnesot a, t hey wer e sei zi ng car s f r omever y si di ng, f r omt he Mesabi
Range, f r omt he or e mi nes of Paul Lar ki n wher e t he car s had st ood wai t i ng f or
a dr i bbl e of i r on. They wer e pour i ng wheat i nt o or e car s, i nt o coal car s,
i nt o boar ded st ock car s t hat went spi l l i ng t hi n gol d t r i ckl es al ong t he t r ack
as t hey cl at t er ed of f . They wer e pour i ng wheat i nt o passenger coaches, over
seat s, r acks and f i xt ur es, t o send i t of f , t o get i t movi ng, even i f i t went
movi ng i nt o t r ack- si de di t ches i n t he sudden cr ash of br eaki ng spr i ngs, i n
t he expl osi ons set of f by bur ni ng j our nal boxes.
They f ought f or movement , f or movement wi t h no t hought of dest i nat i on, f or
movement as such, l i ke a par al yt i c under a st r oke, st r uggl i ng i n wi l d, st i f f ,
i ncr edul ous j er ks agai nst t he r eal i zat i on t hat movement was suddenl y
i mpossi bl e. Ther e wer e no ot her r ai l r oads: J ames Taggar t had ki l l ed t hem;
t her e wer e no boat s on t he Lakes: Paul Lar ki n had dest r oyed t hem. Ther e was
onl y t he si ngl e l i ne of r ai l and a net of negl ect ed hi ghways.
The t r ucks and wagons of wai t i ng f ar mer s st ar t ed t r i ckl i ng bl i ndl y down
t he r oads, wi t h no maps, no gas, no f eed f or hor sesmovi ng sout h, sout h
t owar d t he vi si on of f l our mi l l s awai t i ng t hemsomewher e, wi t h no knowl edge
of t he di st ances ahead, but wi t h t he knowl edge of deat h behi nd t hemmovi ng,
t o col l apse on t he r oads, i n t he gul l i es, i n t he br eaks of r ot t ed br i dges.
One f ar mer was f ound, hal f a mi l e sout h of t he wr eck of hi s t r uck, l yi ng dead
i n a di t ch, f ace down, st i l l cl ut chi ng a sack of wheat on hi s shoul der s. Then
r ai n cl ouds bur st over t he pr ai r i es of Mi nnesot a; t he r ai n went eat i ng t he
wheat i nt o r ot at t he wai t i ng r ai l r oad st at i ons; i t went hammer i ng t he pi l es
spi l l ed al ong t he r oads, washi ng gol d ker nel s i nt o t he soi l .
The men i n Washi ngt on wer e l ast t o be r eached by t he pani c. They wat ched,
not t he news f r omMi nnesot a, but t he pr ecar i ous bal ance of t hei r f r i endshi ps
and commi t ment s; t hey wei ghed, not t he f at e of t he har vest , but t he
unknowabl e r esul t of unpr edi ct abl e emot i ons i n
unt hi nki ng men of unl i mi t ed power . They wai t ed, t hey evaded al l pl eas,
t hey decl ar ed, " Oh, r i di cul ous, t her e' s not hi ng t o wor r y about ! Those Taggar t
peopl e have al ways moved t hat wheat on schedul e, t hey' l l f i nd some way t o
move i t ! "
Then, when t he St at e Chi ef Execut i ve of Mi nnesot a sent a r equest t o
Washi ngt on f or t he assi st ance of t he Ar my agai nst t he r i ot s he was unabl e t o
cont r ol t hr ee di r ect i ves bur st f or t h wi t hi n t wo hour s, st oppi ng al l t r ai ns i n
t he count r y, commandeer i ng al l car s t o speed t o Mi nnesot a.
An or der si gned by Wesl ey Mouch demanded t he i mmedi at e r el ease of t he
f r ei ght car s hel d i n t he ser vi ce of Ki p' s Ma. But by t hat t i me, i t was t oo
l at e. Ma' s f r ei ght car s wer e i n Cal i f or ni a, wher e t he soybeans had been sent
t o a pr ogr essi ve concer n made up of soci ol ogi st s pr eachi ng t he cul t of
Or i ent al aust er i t y, and of busi nessmen f or mer l y i n t he number s r acket .
I n Mi nnesot a, f ar mer s wer e set t i ng f i r e t o t hei r own f ar ms, t hey wer e
demol i shi ng gr ai n el evat or s and t he homes of count y of f i ci al s, t hey wer e
f i ght i ng al ong t he t r ack of t he r ai l r oad, some t o t ear i t up, some t o def end
i t wi t h t hei r l i vesand, wi t h no goal t o r each save vi ol ence, t hey wer e dyi ng
i n t he st r eet s of gut t ed t owns and i n t he si l ent gul l i es of a r oadl ess ni ght .
Then t her e was onl y t he acr i d st ench of gr ai n r ot t i ng i n hal f - smoul der i ng
pi l esa f ew col umns of smoke r i si ng f r omt he pl ai ns, st andi ng st i l l i n t he
ai r over bl ackened r ui nsand, i n an of f i ce i n Pennsyl vani a, Hank Rear den
si t t i ng at hi s desk, l ooki ng at a l i st of men who had gone bankr upt : t hey
wer e t he manuf act ur er s of f ar mequi pment , who coul d not be pai d and woul d not
be abl e t o pay hi m.
The har vest of soybeans di d not r each t he mar ket s of t he count r y: i t had
been r eaped pr emat ur el y, i t was mol dy and unf i t f or consumpt i on.
On t he ni ght of Oct ober 15, a copper wi r e br oke i n New Yor k Ci t y, i n an
under gr ound cont r ol t ower of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal , ext i ngui shi ng t he l i ght s
of t he si gnal s.
I t was onl y t he br each of one wi r e, but i t pr oduced a shor t ci r cui t i n t he
i nt er l ocki ng t r af f i c syst em, and t he si gnal s of mot i on or danger di sappear ed
f r omt he panel s of t he cont r ol t ower s and f r omamong t he st r ands of r ai l . The
r ed and gr een l enses r emai ned r ed and gr een, not wi t h t he l i vi ng r adi ance of
si ght , but wi t h t he dead st ar e of gl ass eyes. On t he edge of t he ci t y, a
cl ust er of t r ai ns gat her ed at t he ent r ance t o t he Ter mi nal t unnel s and gr ew
t hr ough t he mi nut es of st i l l ness, l i ke bl ood dammed by a cl ot i nsi de a vei n,
unabl e t o r ush i nt o t he chamber s of t he hear t .
Dagny, t hat ni ght , was si t t i ng at a t abl e i n a pr i vat e di ni ng r oomof t he
Wayne- Fal kl and. The wax of candl es was dr i ppi ng down on t he whi t e camel l i as
and l aur el l eaves at t he base of t he si l ver candl est i cks, ar i t hmet i cal
cal cul at i ons wer e penci l ed on t he damask l i nen t abl ecl ot h, and a ci gar but t
was swi mmi ng i n a f i nger bowl . The si x men i n f or mal di nner j acket s, f aci ng
her about t he t abl e, wer e Wesl ey Mouch, Eugene Lawson, Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s, Cl em
Weat her by, J ames Taggar t and Cuf f y Mei gs.
" Why?" she had asked, when J i mhad t ol d her t hat she had t o at t end t hat
di nner . " Wel l . . . because our Boar d of Di r ect or s i s t o meet next week. "
" And?" " You' r e i nt er est ed i n what ' s goi ng t o be deci ded about our Mi nnesot a
Li ne, ar en' t you?" " I s t hat goi ng t o be deci ded at t he Boar d meet i ng?' 1
" Wel l , not exact l y. " " I s i t goi ng t o be deci ded at t hi s di nner ?" " Not
exact l y, but . . . oh, why do you al ways have t o be so def i ni t e? Not hi ng' s
ever def i ni t e. Besi des, t hey i nsi st ed t hat t hey want ed you t o come. " " Why?"
" I sn' t t hat suf f i ci ent ?"
She di d not ask why t hose men chose t o make al l t hei r cr uci al deci si ons at
par t i es of t hi s ki nd; she knew t hat t hey di d. She knew t hat behi nd t he
cl at t er i ng, l umber i ng pr et ense of t hei r counci l sessi ons, commi t t ee meet i ngs
and mass debat es, t he deci si ons wer e made i n advance, i n f ur t i ve i nf or mal i t y,
at l uncheons, di nner s and bar s, t he gr aver t he i ssue, t he mor e casual t he
met hod of set t l i ng i t . I t was t he f i r st t i me t hat t hey had asked her , t he
out si der , t he enemy, t o one of t hose secr et sessi ons; i t was, she t hought , an
acknowl edgment of t he f act t hat t hey needed her and, per haps, t he f i r st st ep
of t hei r sur r ender ; i t was a chance she coul d not l eave unt aken.
But as she sat i n t he candl el i ght of t he di ni ng r oom, she f el t cer t ai n
t hat she had no chance; she f el t r est l essl y unabl e t o accept t hat cer t ai nt y,
si nce she coul d not gr asp i t s r eason, yet l et har gi cal l y r el uct ant t o pur sue
any i nqui r y.
" As, I t hi nk, you wi l l concede, Mi ss Taggar t , t her e now seems t o be no
economi c j ust i f i cat i on f or t he cont i nued exi st ence of a r ai l r oad l i ne i n
Mi nnesot a, whi ch . . . " " And even Mi ss Taggar t wi l l , I ' msur e, agr ee t hat
cer t ai n t empor ar y r et r enchment s seemt o be i ndi cat ed, unt i l . . . " " Nobody,
not even Mi ss Taggar t , wi l l deny t hat t her e ar e t i mes when i t i s necessar y t o
sacr i f i ce t he par t s f or t he sake of t he whol e . . . " As she l i st ened t o t he
ment i ons of her name t ossed i nt o t he conver sat i on at hal f - hour i nt er val s,
t ossed per f unct or i l y, wi t h t he speaker ' s eyes never gl anci ng i n her
di r ect i on, she wonder ed what mot i ve had made t hemwant her t o be pr esent . I t
was not an at t empt t o del ude her i nt o bel i evi ng t hat t hey wer e consul t i ng
her , but wor se: an at t empt t o del ude t hemsel ves i nt o bel i evi ng t hat she had
agr eed. They asked her quest i ons at t i mes and i nt er r upt ed her bef or e she had
compl et ed t he f i r st sent ence of t he answer . They seemed t o want her appr oval ,
wi t hout havi ng t o know whet her she appr oved or not .
Some cr udel y chi l di sh f or mof sel f - decept i on had made t hemchoose t o gi ve
t o t hi s occasi on t he decor ous set t i ng of a f or mal di nner . They act ed as i f
t hey hoped t o gai n, f r omt he obj ect s of gr aci ous l uxur y, t he power and t he
honor of whi ch t hose obj ect s had once been t he pr oduct and symbol t hey act ed,
she t hought , l i ke t hose savages who devour t he cor pse of an adver sar y i n t he
hope of acqui r i ng hi s st r engt h and hi s vi r t ue.
She r egr et t ed t hat she was dr essed as she was. " I t ' s f or mal , " J i mhad t ol d
her , " but don' t over do i t . . . what I mean i s, don' t l ook t oo r i ch . . .
busi ness peopl e shoul d avoi d any appear ance of ar r ogance t hese days . . . not
t hat you shoul d l ook shabby, but i f you coul d j ust seemt o suggest . . .
wel l , humi l i t y . . . i t woul d pl ease t hem, you know, i t woul d make t hemf eel
bi g. " " Real l y?" she had sai d, t ur ni ng away.
She wor e a bl ack dr ess t hat l ooked as i f i t wer e no mor e t han a pi ece of
cl ot h cr ossed over her br east s and f al l i ng t o her f eet i n t he sof t f ol ds of a
Gr eci an t uni c; i t was made of sat i n, a sat i n so l i ght and t hi n t hat i t coul d
have ser ved as t he st uf f of a ni ght gown. The l ust er of t he cl ot h, st r eami ng
and shi f t i ng wi t h her movement s, made i t l ook as i f t he l i ght of t he r oomshe
ent er ed wer e her per sonal pr oper t y, sensi t i vel y obedi ent t o- t he mot i ons of
her body, wr appi ng her i n a sheet of r adi ance mor e l uxur i ous t han t he t ext ur e
of br ocade, under scor i ng t he pl i ant f r agi l i t y of her f i gur e, gi vi ng her an
ai r of so nat ur al an el egance t hat i t coul d af f or d t o be scor nf ul l y casual .
She wor e a si ngl e pi ece of j ewel r y, a di amond cl i p at t he edge of t he bl ack
neckl i ne, t hat kept f l ashi ng wi t h t he i mper cept i bl e mot i on of her br eat h,
l i ke a t r ansf or mer conver t i ng a f l i cker i nt o f i r e, maki ng one consci ous, not
of t he gems, but of t he l i vi ng beat behi nd t hem; i t f l ashed l i ke a mi l i t ar y
decor at i on, l i ke weal t h wor n as a badge of honor . She wor e no ot her or nament ,
onl y t he sweep of a bl ack vel vet cape, mor e ar r ogant l y, ost ent at i ousl y
pat r i ci an t han any spr ead of sabl es.
She r egr et t ed i t now, as she l ooked at t he men bef or e her ; she f el t t he
embar r assi ng gui l t of poi nt l essness, as i f she had t r i ed t o def y t he f i gur es
i n a waxwor ks. She saw a mi ndl ess r esent ment i n t hei r eyes and a sneaki ng
t r ace of t he l i f el ess, sexl ess, smut t y l eer wi t h whi ch men l ook at a post er
adver t i si ng bur l esque.
" I t ' s a gr eat r esponsi bi l i t y, " sai d Eugene Lawson, " t o hol d t he deci si on
of l i f e or deat h over t housands of peopl e and t o sacr i f i ce t hemwhen
necessar y, but we mast have t he cour age t o do i t . " Hi s sof t l i ps seemed t o
t wi st i nt o a smi l e.
" The onl y f act or s t o consi der ar e l and acr eage and popul at i on f i gur es, "
sai d Dr . Fer r i s i n a st at i st i cal voi ce, bl owi ng smoke r i ngs at t he cei l i ng.
" Si nce i t i s no l onger possi bl e t o mai nt ai n bot h t he Mi nnesot a Li ne and t he
t r anscont i nent al t r af f i c of t hi s r ai l r oad, t he choi ce i s bet ween Mi nnesot a
and t hose st at es west of t he Rocki es whi ch wer e cut of f by t he f ai l ur e of t he
Taggar t Tunnel , as wel l as t he nei ghbor i ng st at es of Mont ana, I daho, Or egon,
whi ch means, pr act i cal l y speaki ng, t he whol e of t he Nor t hwest . When you
comput e t he acr eage and t he number of heads i n bot h ar eas, i t ' s obvi ous t hat
we shoul d scut t l e Mi nnesot a r at her t han gi ve up our l i nes of communi cat i on
over a t hi r d of a cont i nent . "
" 1 won' t gi ve up t he cont i nent , " sai d Wesl ey Mouch, st ar i ng down at hi s
di sh of i ce cr eam, hi s voi ce hur t and st ubbor n.
She was t hi nki ng of t he Mesabi Range, t he l ast of t he maj or sour ces of
i r on or e, she was t hi nki ng of t he Mi nnesot a f ar mer s, such as wer e l ef t of
t hem, t he best pr oducer s of wheat i n t he count r yshe was t hi nki ng t hat t he
end of Mi nnesot a woul d end Wi sconsi n, t hen Mi chi gan, t hen I l l i noi sshe was
seei ng t he r ed br eat h of t he f act or i es dyi ng out over t he i ndust r i al East as
agai nst t he empt y mi l es of west er n sands, of scr aggl y past ur es and abandoned
r anches.
" The f i gur es i ndi cat e, " sai d Mr . Weat her by pr i ml y, " t hat t he cont i nued
mai nt enance of bot h ar eas seems t o be i mpossi bl e. The r ai l way t r ack and
equi pment of one has t o be di smant l ed t o pr ovi de t he mat er i al f or t he
mai nt enance of t he ot her . "
She not i ced t hat Cl emWeat her by, t hei r t echni cal exper t on r ai l r oads, was
t he man of l east i nf l uence among t hem, and Cuf f y Mei gsof most .
Cuf f y Mei gs sat spr awl ed i n hi s chai r , wi t h a l ook of pat r oni zi ng
t ol er ance f or t hei r game of wast i ng t i me on di scussi ons. He spoke l i t t l e, but
when he di d, i t was t o snap deci si vel y, wi t h a cont empt uous gr i n, " Pi pe down,
J i mmy! " or , " Nut s, Wes, you' r e t al ki ng t hr ough your hat ! " She not i ced t hat
nei t her J i mnor Mouch r esent ed i t . They seemed t o wel come t he aut hor i t y of
hi s assur ance; t hey wer e accept i ng hi mas t hei r mast er .
" We have t o be pr act i cal , " Dr . Fer r i s kept sayi ng. " We have t o. be
sci ent i f i c. "
" I need t he economy of t he count r y as a whol e, " Wesl ey Mouch kept
r epeat i ng. " I need t he pr oduct i on of a nat i on. "
" I s i t economi cs t hat you' r e t al ki ng about ? I s i t pr oduct i on?" she sai d,
whenever her col d, measur ed voi ce was abl e t o sei ze a br i ef st r et ch of t hei r
t une. " I f i t i s, t hen gi ve us l eeway t o save t he East er n st at es. That ' s al l
t hat ' s l ef t of t he count r yand of t he wor l d. I f you l et us save t hat , we' l l
have a chance t o r ebui l d t he r est . I f not , i t ' s t he end.
Let t he At l ant i c Sout her n t ake car e of such t r anscont i nent al t r af f i c as
st i l l exi st s. Let t he l ocal r ai l r oads t ake car e of t he Nor t hwest . But l et
Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al dr op ever yt hi ng el seyes, ever yt hi ngand devot e al l
our r esour ces, equi pment and r ai l t o t he t r af f i c of t he East er n st at es. Let
us shr i nk back t o t he st ar t of t hi s count r y, but l et us hol d t hat st ar t .
We' l l r un no t r ai ns west of t he Mi ssour i . We' l l become a l ocal r ai l r oadt he
l ocal of t he i ndust r i al East . Let us save our i ndust r i es.
Ther e' s not hi ng l ef t t o save i n t he West . You can r un agr i cul t ur e f or
cent ur i es by manual l abor and oxcar t s. But dest r oy t he l ast of t hi s count r y' s
i ndust r i al pl ant and cent ur i es of ef f or t won' t be abl e t o r ebui l d i t or t o
gat her t he economi c st r engt h t o make a st ar t . How do you expect our
i ndust r i esor r ai l r oadst o sur vi ve wi t hout st eel ? How do you expect any st eel
t o be pr oduced i f you cut of f t he suppl y of i r on or e? Save Mi nnesot a,
what ever ' s l ef t of i t . The count r y? You have no count r y t o save, i f i t s
i ndust r i es per i sh. You can sacr i f i ce a l eg or an ar m. You can' t save a body
by sacr i f i ci ng i t s hear t and br ai n. Save our i ndust r i es. Save Mi nnesot a. Save
t he East er n Seaboar d. "
I t was no use. She sai d i t as many t i mes, wi t h as many det ai l s,
st at i st i cs, f i gur es, pr oof s, as she coul d f or ce out of her wear y mi nd i nt o
t hei r evasi ve hear i ng. I t was no use. They nei t her r ef ut ed nor agr eed; t hey
mer el y l ooked as i f her ar gument s wer e besi de t he poi nt . Ther e was a sound of
hi dden emphasi s i n t hei r answer s, as i f t hey wer e gi vi ng her an expl anat i on,
but i n a code t o whi ch she had no key.
" Ther e' s t r oubl e i n Cal i f or ni a, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch sul l enl y. " Thei r st at e
l egi sl at ur e' s been act i ng pr et t y huf f y. Ther e' s t al k of secedi ng f r omt he
Uni on. "
" Or egon i s over r un by gangs of deser t er s, " sai d Cl emWeat her by caut i ousl y.
" They mur der ed t wo t ax col l ect or s wi t hi n t he l ast t hr ee mont hs. "
" The i mpor t ance of i ndust r y t o a ci vi l i zat i on has been gr ossl y
over emphasi zed, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s dr eami l y. " What i s now known as t he Peopl e' s
St at e of I ndi a has exi st ed f or cent ur i es wi t hout any i ndust r i al devel opment
what ever . "
" Peopl e coul d do wi t h f ewer mat er i al gadget s and a st er ner di sci pl i ne of
pr i vat i ons, " sai d Eugene Lawson eager l y. " I t woul d be good f or t hem. "
" Oh hel l , ar e you goi ng t o l et t hat dame t al k you i nt o l et t i ng t he r i chest
count r y on ear t h sl i p t hr ough your f i nger s?" sai d Cuf f y Mei gs, l eapi ng t o hi s
f eet . " I t ' s a f i ne t i me t o gi ve up a whol e cont i nent and i n exchange f or
what ? For a di nky l i t t l e st at e t hat ' s mi l ked dr y, anyway!
I say di t ch Mi nnesot a, but hol d ont o your t r anscont i nent al dr agnet .
Wi t h t r oubl e and r i ot s ever ywher e, you won' t be abl e t o keep peopl e i n
l i ne unl ess you have t r anspor t at i ont r oop t r anspor t at i onunl ess you hol d your
sol di er s wi t hi n a f ew days' j our ney of any poi nt on t he cont i nent . Thi s i s no
t i me t o r et r ench. Don' t get yel l ow, l i st eni ng t o al l t hat t al k. You' ve got
t he count r y i n your pocket . J ust keep i t t her e. "
" I n t he l ong r un" Mouch st ar t ed uncer t ai nl y.
" I n t he l ong r un, we' l l al l be dead, " snapped Cuf f y Mei gs. He was paci ng
r est l essl y. " Ret r enchi ng, hel l ! Ther e' s pl ent y of pi cki ngs l ef t i n Cal i f or ni a
and Or egon and al l t hose pl aces. What I ' ve been t hi nki ng i s, we ought t o
t hi nk of expandi ngt he way t hi ngs ar e, t her e' s nobody t o st op us, i t ' s t her e
f or t he t aki ngMexi co, and Canada maybei t ought t o be a ci nch. "
Then she saw t he answer ; she saw t he secr et pr emi se behi nd t hei r wor ds.
Wi t h al l of t hei r noi sy devot i on t o t he age of sci ence, t hei r hyst er i cal l y
t echnol ogi cal j ar gon, t hei r cycl ot r ons, t hei r sound r ays, t hese men wer e
moved f or war d, not by t he i mage of an i ndust r i al skyl i ne, but by t he vi si on
of t hat f or mof exi st ence whi ch t he i ndust r i al i st s had swept awayt he vi si on
of a f at , unhygi eni c r aj ah of I ndi a, wi t h vacant eyes st ar i ng i n i ndol ent
st upor out of st agnant l ayer s of f l esh, wi t h not hi ng t o do but r un pr eci ous
gems t hr ough hi s f i nger s and, once i n a whi l e, st i ck a kni f e i nt o t he body of
a st ar ved, t oi l - dazed, ger meat en cr eat ur e, as a cl ai mt o a f ew gr ai ns of t he
cr eat ur e' s r i ce, t hen cl ai mi t f r omhundr eds of mi l l i ons of such cr eat ur es
and t hus l et t he r i ce gr ai ns gat her i nt o gems.
She had t hought t hat i ndust r i al pr oduct i on was a val ue not t o be
quest i oned by anyone; she had t hought t hat t hese men' s ur ge t o expr opr i at e
t he f act or i es of ot her s was t hei r acknowl edgment of t he f act or i es val ue. She,
bor n of t he i ndust r i al r evol ut i on, had not hel d as concei vabl e, had f or got t en
al ong wi t h t he t al es of ast r ol ogy and al chemy, what t hese men knew i n t hei r
secr et , f ur t i ve soul s, knew not by means of t hought , but by means of t hat
namel ess muck whi ch t hey cal l ed t hei r i nst i nct s and emot i ons: t hat so l ong as
men st r uggl e t o st ay al i ve, t hey' l l never pr oduce so l i t t l e but t hat t he man
wi t h t he cl ub won' t be abl e t o sei ze i t and l eave t hemst i l l l ess, pr ovi ded
mi l l i ons of t hemar e wi l l i ng t o submi t t hat t he har der t hei r wor k and t he
l ess t hei r gai n, t he mor e submi ssi ve t he f i ber of t hei r spi r i t t hat men who
l i ve by pul l i ng l ever s at an el ect r i c swi t chboar d, ar e not easi l y r ul ed, but
men who l i ve by di ggi ng t he soi l wi t h t hei r naked f i nger s, ar et hat t he
f eudal bar on di d not need el ect r oni c f act or i es i n or der t o dr i nk hi s br ai ns
away out of j ewel ed gobl et s, and nei t her di d t he r aj ahs of t he Peopl e' s St at e
of I ndi a.
She saw what t hey want ed and t o what goal t hei r " i nst i nct s, " whi ch t hey
cal l ed unaccount abl e, wer e l eadi ng t hem. She saw t hat Eugene Lawson, t he
humani t ar i an, t ook pl easur e at t he pr ospect of human st ar vat i onand Dr .
Fer r i s, t he sci ent i st , was dr eami ng of t he day when men woul d r et ur n t o t he
hand- pl ow.
I ncr edul i t y and i ndi f f er ence wer e her onl y r eact i on: i ncr edul i t y, because
she coul d not concei ve of what woul d br i ng human bei ngs t o such a st at e
i ndi f f er ence, because she coul d not r egar d t hose who r eached i t , as human any
l onger . They went on t al ki ng, but she was unabl e t o speak or t o l i st en. She
caught her sel f f eel i ng t hat her onl y desi r e was now t o get home and f al l
asl eep.
" Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d a pol i t el y r at i onal , f ai nt l y anxi ous voi ceand
j er ki ng her head up, she saw t he cour t eous f i gur e of a wai t er , " t he assi st ant
manager of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal i s on t he t el ephone, r equest i ng per mi ssi on t o
speak t o you at once. He says i t ' s an emer gency.
I t was a r el i ef t o l eap t o her f eet and get out of t hat r oom, even i f i n
answer t o t he cal l of some new di sast er . I t was a r el i ef t o hear t he
assi st ant manager ' s voi ce, even t hough i t was sayi ng, " The i nt er l ocker syst em
i s out , Mi ss Taggar t . The si gnal s ar e dead. Ther e ar e ei ght i ncomi ng t r ai ns
hel d up and si x out goi ng. We can' t move t hemi n or out of t he t unnel s, we
can' t f i nd t he chi ef engi neer , we can' t l ocat e t he br each of t he ci r cui t , we
have no copper wi r e f or r epai r s, we don' t know what t o do, we" " 111 be r i ght
down, " she sai d, dr oppi ng t he r ecei ver .
Hur r yi ng t o t he el evat or , t hen hal f - r unni ng t hr ough t he st at el y l obby of
t he Wayne- Fal kl and, she f el t her sel f r et ur ni ng t o l i f e at t he summons of t he
possi bi l i t y of act i on.
Taxi cabs wer e r ar e, t hese days, and none came i n answer t o t he door man' s
whi st l e. She st ar t ed r api dl y down t he st r eet , f or get t i ng what she wor e,
wonder i ng why t he t ouch of t he wi nd seemed t oo col d and t oo ul t i mat el y cl ose.
Her mi nd on t he Ter mi nal ahead, she was st ar t l ed by t he l ovel i ness of a
sudden si ght : she saw t he sl ender f i gur e of a woman hur r yi ng t owar d her , t he
r ay of a l amppost sweepi ng over l ust r ous hai r , naked ar ms, t he swi r l of a
bl ack cape and t he f l ame of a di amond on her br east , wi t h t he l ong, empt y
cor r i dor of a ci t y st r eet behi nd her and skyscr aper s dr awn by l onel y dot s of
l i ght . The knowl edge t hat she was seei ng her own r ef l ect i on i n t he si de
mi r r or of a f l or i st ' s wi ndow, came an i nst ant t oo l at e: she had f el t t he
enchant ment of t he f ul l cont ext t o whi ch t hat i mage and ci t y bel onged. Then
she f el t a st ab of desol at e l onel i ness, much wi der a l onel i ness t han t he span
of an empt y st r eet
and a st ab of anger at her sel f , at t he pr epost er ous cont r ast bet ween her
appear ance and t he cont ext of t hi s ni ght and age.
She saw a t axi t ur n a cor ner , she waved t o i t and l eaped i n, sl ammi ng t he
door agai nst a f eel i ng whi ch she hoped t o l eave behi nd her , on t he empt y
pavement by a f l or i st ' s wi ndow. But she knewi n sel f mocker y, i n bi t t er ness,
i n l ongi ngt hat t hi s f eel i ng was t he sense of expect at i on she had f el t at her
f i r st bal l and at t hose r ar e t i mes when she had want ed t he out war d beaut y of
exi st ence t o mat ch i t s i nner spl endor . What a t i me t o t hi nk of i t ! she t ol d
her sel f i n mocker ynot now! she cr i ed t o her sel f i n anger but a desol at e
voi ce kept aski ng her qui et l y t o t he r at t l e of t he t axi ' s wheel s: You who
bel i eved you must l i ve f or your happi ness, what do you now have l ef t of i t ?
what ar e you gai ni ng f r omyour st r uggl e?yes! say i t honest l y: what ' s i n i t
f or you?or ar e you becomi ng one of t hose abj ect al t r ui st s who has no answer
t o t hat quest i on any l onger ? . . . Not now! she or der ed, as t he gl owi ng
ent r ance t o t he Taggar t Ter mi nal f l ar ed up i n t he r ect angl e of t he t axi ' s
wi ndshi el d.
The men i n t he Ter mi nal manager ' s of f i ce wer e l i ke ext i ngui shed si gnal s,
as i f her e, t oo, a ci r cui t wer e br oken and t her e wer e no l i vi ng cur r ent t o
make t hemmove. They l ooked at her wi t h a ki nd of i nani mat e passi vi t y, as i f
i t made no di f f er ence whet her she l et t hemst ay st i l l or t hr ew a swi t ch t o
set t hemi n mot i on.
The Ter mi nal manager was absent . The chi ef engi neer coul d not be f ound; he
had been seen at t he Ter mi nal t wo hour s ago, not si nce. The assi st ant manager
had exhaust ed hi s power of i ni t i at i ve by vol unt eer i ng t o cal l her . The ot her s
vol unt eer ed not hi ng. The si gnal engi neer was a col l ege- boyi sh man i n hi s
t hi r t i es, who kept sayi ng aggr essi vel y, " But t hi s has never happened bef or e,
Mi ss Taggar t ! The i nt er l ocker has never f ai l ed. I t ' s not supposed t o f ai l . We
know our j obs, we can t ake car e of i t as wel l as anybody canbut not i f i t
br eaks down when i t ' s not supposed t o! " She coul d not t el l whet her t he
di spat cher , an el der l y man wi t h year s of r ai l r oad wor k behi nd hi m, st i l l
r et ai ned hi s i nt el l i gence but chose t o hi de i t , or whet her mont hs of
suppr essi ng i t had choked i t f or good, gr ant i ng hi mt he saf et y of st agnat i on,
" We don' t know what t o do, Mi ss Taggar t . " " We don' t know whomt o cal l f or
what sor t of per mi ssi on. " " Ther e ar e no r ul es t o cover an emer gency of t hi s
ki nd. " " Ther e ar en' t even any r ul es about who' s t o l ay down t he r ul es f or
i t ! "
She l i st ened, she r eached f or t he t el ephone wi t hout a wor d of expl anat i on,
she or der ed t he oper at or t o get her t he oper at i ng vi ce- pr esi dent of t he
At l ant i c Sout her n i n Chi cago, t o get hi mat hi s home and out of bed, i f
necessar y.
" Geor ge? Dagny Taggar t , " she sai d, when t he voi ce of her compet i t or came
on t he wi r e. " Wi l l you l end me t he si gnal engi neer of your Chi cago t er mi nal ,
Char l es Mur r ay, f or t went y- f our hour s? . . .
Yes. . . . Ri ght . . . . Put hi maboar d a pl ane and get hi mher e as f ast as
you can. Tel l hi mwe' l l pay t hr ee t housand dol l ar s. . . . Yes, f or t he one
day. . . . Yes, as bad as t hat . . . . Yes, I ' l l pay hi mi n cash, out of my
own pocket , i f necessar y. I ' l l pay what ever i t t akes t o br i be hi s way aboar d
a pl ane, but get hi mon t he f i r st pl ane out of Chi cago. . . . No, Geor ge, not
onenot a si ngl e mi nd l ef t on Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . . . . Yes, I ' l l get
al l t he paper s, exempt i ons, except i ons and emer gency per mi ssi ons. . . .
Thanks, Geor ge. So l ong. "
She hung up and spoke r api dl y t o t he men bef or e her , not t o hear t he
st i l l ness of t he r oomand of t he Ter mi nal , wher e no sound of wheel s was
beat i ng any l onger , not t o hear t he bi t t er wor ds whi ch t he st i l l ness seemed
t o r epeat : Not a si ngl e mi nd l ef t on Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . . . .
" Get a wr ecki ng t r ai n and cr ew r eady at once, ' 1 she sai d. " Send t hemout
on t he Hudson Li ne, wi t h or der s t o t ear down ever y f oot of copper wi r e, any
copper wi r e, l i ght s, si gnal s, t el ephone, ever yt hi ng t hat ' s company pr oper t y.
Have i t her e by mor ni ng. " " But , Mi ss Taggar t ! Our ser vi ce on t he Hudson Li ne
i s onl y t empor ar i l y suspended and t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d has r ef used us
per mi ssi on t o di smant l e t he l i ne! " " I ' l l be r esponsi bl e. " " But how ar e we
goi ng t o get t he wr ecki ng t r ai n out of her e, when t her e ar en' t any si gnal s?"
" Ther e wi l l be si gnal s i n hal f an hour . " " How?" " Come on, " she sai d, r i si ng
t o her f eet .
They f ol l owed her as she hur r i ed down t he passenger pl at f or ms, past t he
huddl i ng, shi f t i ng gr oups of t r avel er s by t he mot i onl ess t r ai ns. She hur r i ed
down a nar r ow cat wal k, t hr ough a maze of r ai l , past bl i nded si gnal s and
f r ozen swi t ches, wi t h not hi ng but t he beat of her sat i n sandal s t o f i l l t he
gr eat vaul t s of t he under gr ound t unnel s of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al , wi t h t he
hol l ow cr eaki ng of pl anks under t he sl ower st eps of men t r ai l i ng her l i ke a
r el uct ant echoshe hur r i ed t o t he l i ght ed gl ass cube of Tower A, t hat hung i n
t he dar kness l i ke a cr own wi t hout a body, t he cr own of a deposed r ul er above
a r eal mof empt y t r acks.
The t ower di r ect or was t oo exper t a man at t oo exact i ng a j ob t o be abl e
whol l y t o conceal t he danger ous bur den of i nt el l i gence. He under st ood what
she want ed hi mt o do f r omher f i r st f ew wor ds and answer ed onl y wi t h an
abr upt " Yes, ma' am, " but he was bent over hi s char t s by t he t i me t he ot her s
came f ol l owi ng her up t he i r on st ai r way, he was gr i ml y at wor k on t he most
humi l i at i ng j ob of cal cul at i on he had ever had t o per f or mi n hi s l ong car eer .
She knew how f ul l y he under st ood i t , f r oma si ngl e gl ance he t hr ew at her , a
gl ance of i ndi gnat i on and endur ance t hat mat ched some emot i on he had caught
i n her f ace, " We' l l do i t f i r st and f eel about i t af t er war ds, " she sai d, even
t hough he had made no comment . " Yes, ma' am, " he answer ed woodenl y.
Hi s r oom, on t he t op of an under gr ound t ower , was l i ke a gl ass ver andah
over l ooki ng what had once been t he swi f t est , r i chest and most or der l y st r eam
i n t he wor l d. He had been t r ai ned t o char t t he cour se of over ni net y t r ai ns
an hour and t o wat ch t hemr ol l saf el y t hr ough a maze of t r acks and swi t ches
i n and out of t he Ter mi nal , under hi s gl ass wal l s and hi s f i nger t i ps. Now,
f or t he f i r st t i me, he was l ooki ng out at t he empt y dar kness of a dr i ed
channel .
Thr ough t he open door of t he r el ay r oom, she saw t he t ower men st andi ng
gr i ml y i dl et he men whose j obs had never per mi t t ed a moment ' s r el axat i on
st andi ng by t he l ong r ows t hat l ooked l i ke ver t i cal copper pl eat s, l i ke
shel ves of books and as much of a monument t o human i nt el l i gence. The pul l of
one of t he smal l l ever s, whi ch pr ot r uded l i ke bookmar ks f r omt he shel ves,
t hr ew t housands of el ect r i c ci r cui t s i nt o mot i on, made t housands of cont act s
and br oke as many ot her s, set dozens of swi t ches t o cl ear a chosen cour se and
dozens of si gnal s t o l i ght i t , wi t h no er r or l ef t possi bl e, no chance, no
cont r adi ct i on an enor mous compl exi t y of t hought condensed i nt o one movement
of a human hand t o set and i nsur e t he cour se of a t r ai n, t hat hundr eds of
t r ai ns mi ght saf el y r ush by, t hat t housands of t ons of met al and l i ves mi ght
pass i n speedi ng st r eaks a br eat h away f r omone anot her , pr ot ect ed by not hi ng
but a t hought , t he t hought of t he man who devi sed t he l ever s. But t heyshe
l ooked at t he f ace of her si gnal engi neer t hey bel i eved t hat t hat muscul ar
cont r act i on of a hand was t he onl y t hi ng r equi r ed t o move t he t r af f i cand now
t he t ower men st ood i dl e
and on t he gr eat panel s i n f r ont of t he t ower di r ect or , t he r ed and gr een
l i ght s, whi ch had f l ashed announci ng t he pr ogr ess of t r ai ns at a di st ance of
mi l es, wer e now so many gl ass beadsl i ke t he gl ass beads f or whi ch anot her
br eed of savages had once sol d t he I sl and of Manhat t an.
" Cal f al l of your unski l l ed l abor er s, " she sai d t o t he assi st ant manager ,
" t he sect i on hands, t r ackwal ker s, engi ne wi per s, whoever ' s i n t he Ter mi nal
r i ght now, and have t hemcome her e at once. "
" Her e?"
" Her e, " she sai d, poi nt i ng at t he t r acks out si de t he t ower . " Cal l al l your
swi t chmen, t oo. Phone your st or ehouse and have t hembr i ng her e ever y l ant er n
t hey can l ay t hei r hands on, any sor t of l ant er n, conduct or s' l ant er ns, st or m
l ant er ns, anyt hi ng. "
" Lant er ns, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" Get goi ng. "
" Yes, ma' am. "
" What i s i t we' r e doi ng, Mi ss Taggar t ?" asked t he di spat cher .
" We' r e goi ng t o move t r ai ns and we' r e goi ng " t o move t hemmanual l y. "
" Manual l y?" sai d t he si gnal engi neer .
" Yes, br ot her ! Now why shoul d you be shocked?" She coul d not r esi st i t .
" Man i s onl y muscl es, i sn' t he? We' r e goi ng backback t o wher e t her e wer e no
i nt er l ocki ng syst ems, no semaphor es, no el ect r i ci t y back t o t he t i me when
t r ai n si gnal s wer e not st eel and wi r e, but men hol di ng l ant er ns. Physi cal
men, ser vi ng as l amppost s. You' ve advocat ed i t l ong enoughyou got what you
want ed. Oh, you t hought t hat your t ool s woul d det er mi ne your i deas? But i t
happens t o be t he ot her way ar oundand now you' r e goi ng t o see t he ki nd of
t ool s your i deas have det er mi ned! "
But even t o go back t ook an act of i nt el l i genceshe t hought , f eel i ng t he
par adox of her own posi t i on, as she l ooked at t he l et har gy of t he f aces
ar ound her .
" How wi l l we wor k t he swi t ches, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" By hand. "
" And t he si gnal s?"
" By hand. "
" How?"
" By pl aci ng a man wi t h a l ant er n at ever y si gnal post . "
" How? Ther e' s not enough cl ear ance. "
" We' l l use al t er nat e t r acks. "
" How wi l l t he men know whi ch way t o t hr ow t he swi t ches?"
" By wr i t t en or der s. "
" Uh?"
" By wr i t t en or der sj ust as i n t he ol d days. " She poi nt ed t o t he t ower
di r ect or . " He' s wor ki ng out a schedul e of how t o move t he t r ai ns and whi ch
t r acks t o use. He' l l wr i t e out an. or der f or ever y si gnal and swi t ch, he' l l
pi ck some men as r unner s and t hey' l l keep del i ver i ng t he or der s t o ever y
post and i t wi l l t ake hour s t o do what used t o t ake mi nut es, but we' l l get
t hose wai t i ng t r ai ns i nt o t he Ter mi nal and out on t he r oad- "
" We' r e t o wor k i t t hat way al l ni ght ?"
" And al l day t omor r owunt i l t he engi neer who' s got t he br ai ns f or i t ,
shows you how t o r epai r t he i nt er l ocker . "
" Ther e' s not hi ng i n t he uni on cont r act s about men st andi ng wi t h l ant er ns.
Ther e' s goi ng t o be t r oubl e. The uni on wi l l obj ect . "
" Let t hemcome t o me. "
" The Uni f i cat i on Boar d wi l l obj ect . "
" I ' l l be r esponsi bl e. "
" Wel l , I woul dn' t want t o be hel d f or gi vi ng t he or der s"
" I ' l l gi ve t he or der s. "
She st epped out on t he l andi ng of t he i r on st ai r way t hat hung on t he si de
of t he t ower ; she was f i ght i ng f or sel f - cont r ol . I t seemed t o her f or a
moment as i f she, t oo, wer e a pr eci si on i nst r ument of hi gh t echnol ogy, l ef t
wi t hout el ect r i c cur r ent , t r yi ng t o r un a t r anscont i nent al r ai l r oad by means
of her t wo hands. She l ooked out at t he gr eat , si l ent dar kness of t he Taggar t
under gr oundand she f el t a st ab of bur ni ng humi l i at i on t hat she shoul d now
see i t br ought down t o t he l evel wher e human l amppost s woul d st and i n i t s
t unnel s as i t s l ast memor i al st at ues.
She coul d bar el y di st i ngui sh t he f aces of t he men when t hey gat her ed at
t he f oot of t he t ower . They came st r eami ng si l ent l y t hr ough t he dar kness and
st ood wi t hout movi ng i n t he bl ui sh mur k, wi t h bl ue bul bs on t he wal l s behi nd
t hemand pat ches of l i ght f al l i ng on t hei r shoul der s f r omt he t ower ' s
wi ndows. She coul d see t he gr easy gar ment s, t he sl ack, muscul ar bodi es, t he
l i mpl y hangi ng ar ms of men dr ai ned by t he unr ewar di ng exhaust i on of a l abor
t hat r equi r ed no t hought . These wer e t he dr egs of t he r ai l r oad, t he younger
men who coul d now seek no chance t o r i se and t he ol der men who had never
want ed t o seek i t .
They st ood i n si l ence, not wi t h t he appr ehensi ve cur i osi t y of wor kmen, but
wi t h t he heavy i ndi f f er ence of convi ct s.
" The or der s whi ch you ar e about t o r ecei ve have come f r omme, "
she sai d, st andi ng above t hemon t he i r on st ai r s, speaki ng wi t h r esonant
cl ar i t y. " The men who' l l i ssue t hemar e act i ng under my i nst r uct i ons.
The i nt er l ocki ng cont r ol syst emhas br oken down. I t wi l l now be r epl aced
by human l abor . Tr ai n ser vi ce wi l l be r esumed at once. "
She not i ced some f aces i n t he cr owd st ar i ng at her wi t h a pecul i ar l ook:
wi t h a vei l ed r esent ment and t he ki nd of i nsol ent cur i osi t y t hat made her
suddenl y consci ous of bei ng a woman. Then she r emember ed what she wor e, and
t hought t hat i t di d l ook pr epost er ousand t hen, at t he sudden st ab of some
vi ol ent i mpul se t hat f el t l i ke def i ance and l i ke l oyal t y t o t he f ul l , r eal
meani ng of t he moment , she t hr ew her cape back and st ood i n t he r aw gl ar e of
l i ght , under t he soot ed col umns, l i ke a f i gur e at a f or mal r ecept i on, st er nl y
er ect , f l aunt i ng t he l uxur y of naked ar ms, of gl owi ng bl ack sat i n, of a
di amond f l ashi ng l i ke a mi l i t ar y cr oss.
" The t ower di r ect or wi l l assi gn swi t chmen t o t hei r post s. He wi l l sel ect
men f or t he j ob of si gnal i ng t r ai ns by means of l ant er ns and f or t he t ask of
t r ansmi t t i ng hi s or der s. Tr ai ns wi l l "
She was f i ght i ng t o dr own a bi t t er voi ce t hat seemed t o be sayi ng: That ' s
al l t hey' r e f i t f or , t hese men, i f even t hat . . . t her e' s not a si ngl e mi nd
l ef t anywher e on Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . . . .
" Tr ai ns wi l l cont i nue t o be moved i n and out of t he Ter mi nal . You wi l l
r emai n at your post s unt i l "
Then she st opped. I t was hi s eyes and hai r t hat she saw f i r st t he
r ut hl essl y per cept i ve eyes, t he st r eaks of hai r shaded f r omgol d t o copper
t hat seemed t o r ef l ect t he gl ow of sunl i ght i n t he mur k of t he under gr ound
she saw J ohn Gal t among t he chai n gang of t he mi ndl ess, J ohn Gal t i n gr easy
over al l s and r ol l ed shi r t sl eeves, she saw hi s wei ght l ess way of st andi ng,
hi s f ace hel d l i f t ed, hi s eyes l ooki ng at her as i f he had seen t hi s moment
many moment s ago.
" What ' s t he mat t er , Mi ss Taggar t ?"
I t was t he sof t voi ce of t he t ower di r ect or , who st ood by her si de, wi t h
some sor t of paper i n hi s handand she t hought i t was st r ange t o emer ge f r om
a span of unconsci ousness whi ch had been t he span of t he shar pest awar eness
she had ever exper i enced, onl y she di d not know how l ong i t had l ast ed or
wher e she was or why. She had been awar e of Gal t ' s f ace, she had been seei ng,
i n t he shape of hi s mout h, i n t he pl anes of hi s cheeks, t he cr ackup of t hat
i mpl acabl e ser eni t y whi ch had al ways been hi s, but he st i l l r et ai ned i t i n
hi s l ook of acknowl edgi ng t he br each, of admi t t i ng t hat t hi s moment was t oo
much even f or hi m.
She knew t hat she went on speaki ng, because t hose ar ound her l ooked as i f
t hey wer e l i st eni ng, t hough she coul d not hear a sound, she went on speaki ng
as i f car r yi ng out a hypnot i c or der gi ven t o her sel f some endl ess t i me ago,
knowi ng onl y t hat t he compl et i on of t hat or der was a f or mof def i ance agai nst
hi m, nei t her knowi ng nor hear i ng her own wor ds.
She f el t as i f she wer e st andi ng i n a r adi ant si l ence wher e si ght was her
onl y capaci t y and hi s f ace was i t s onl y obj ect , and t he si ght of hi s f ace was
l i ke a speech i n t he f or mof a pr essur e at t he base of her t hr oat . I t seemed
so nat ur al t hat he shoul d be her e, i t seemed so unendur abl y si mpl eshe f el t
as i f t he shock wer e not hi s pr esence, but t he pr esence of ot her s on t he
t r acks of her r ai l r oad, wher e he bel onged and t hey di d not . She was seei ng
t hose moment s aboar d a t r ai n when, at i t s pl unge i nt o t he t unnel s, she had
f el t a sudden, sol emn t ensi on, as i f t hi s pl ace wer e showi ng her i n naked
si mpl i ci t y t he essence of her r ai l r oad and of her l i f e, t he uni on of
consci ousness and mat t er , t he f r ozen f or mof a mi nd' s i ngenui t y gi vi ng
physi cal exi st ence t o i t s pur pose; she had f el t a sense of sudden hope, as i f
t hi s pl ace hel d t he meani ng of al l of her val ues, and a sense of secr et
exci t ement , as i f a namel ess pr omi se wer e awai t i ng her under t he gr oundi t
was r i ght t hat she shoul d now meet hi mher e, he had been t he meani ng and t he
pr omi seshe was not seei ng hi s cl ot hi ng any l onger , nor t o what l evel her
r ai l r oad had r educed hi mshe was seei ng onl y t he vani shi ng t or t ur e of t he
mont hs when he had been out si de her r eachshe was seei ng i n hi s f ace t he
conf essi on of what t hose mont hs had cost hi mt he onl y speech she hear d was
as i f she wer e sayi ng t o hi m: Thi s i s t he r ewar d f or al l my daysand as i f he
wer e answer i ng: For al l of mi ne.
She knew t hat she had f i ni shed speaki ng t o t he st r anger s when she saw t hat
t he t ower di r ect or had st epped f or war d and was sayi ng somet hi ng t o t hem,
gl anci ng at a l i st i n hi s hand. Then, dr awn by a sense of i r r esi st i bl e
cer t ai nt y, she f ound her sel f descendi ng t he st ai r s, sl i ppi ng away f r omt he
cr owd, not t owar d t he pl at f or ms and t he exi t , but i nt o t he dar kness of t he
abandoned t unnel s. You wi l l f ol l ow me, she t hought and f el t as i f t he
t hought wer e not i n wor ds, but i n t he t ensi on of her muscl es, t he t ensi on of
her wi l l t o accompl i sh a t hi ng she knew t o be out si de her power , yet she knew
wi t h cer t ai nt y t hat i t woul d be accompl i shed and by her wi sh . . . no, she
t hought , not by her wi sh, but by i t s t ot al Ti ght ness. You wi l l f ol l ow mei t
was nei t her pl ea nor pr ayer nor demand. , but t he qui et st at ement of a f act ,
i t cont ai ned t he whol e of her power of knowl edge and t he whol e of t he
knowl edge she had ear ned t hr ough t he year s. You wi l l f ol l ow me, i f we ar e
what we ar e, you and I , i f we l i ve, i f t he wor l d exi st s, i f you know t he
meani ng of t hi s moment and can' t l et i t sl i p by, as ot her s l et i t sl i p, i nt o
t he sensel essness of t he unwi l l ed and unr eached. You wi l l f ol l ow meshe f el t
an exul t ant assur ance, whi ch was nei t her hope nor f ai t h, but an act of
wor shi p f or t he l ogi c of exi st ence.
She was hur r yi ng down t he r emnant s of abandoned r ai l s, down t he l ong, dar k
cor r i dor s t wi st i ng t hr ough gr ani t e. She l ost t he sound of t he di r ect or ' s
voi ce behi nd her . Then she f el t t he beat of her ar t er i es and hear d, i n
answer i ng r hyt hm, t he beat of t he ci t y above her head, but she f el t as i f she
hear d t he mot i on of her bl ood as a sound f i l l i ng t he si l ence, and t he mot i on
of t he ci t y as t he beat i nsi de her bodyand, f ar behi nd her , she hear d t he
sound of st eps. She di d not gl ance back.
She went f ast er .
She went past t he l ocked i r on door wher e t he r emnant of hi s mot or was
st i l l hi dden, she di d not st op, but a f ai nt shudder was her answer t o t he
sudden gl i mpse of t he uni t y and l ogi c i n t he event s of t he l ast t wo year s. A
st r i ng of bl ue l i ght s went on i nt o t he dar kness, over pat ches of gl i st eni ng
gr ani t e, over br oken sandbags spi l l i ng dr i f t s on t he r ai l s, over r ust y pi l es
of scr ap met al . When she hear d t he st eps comi ng cl oser , she st opped and
t ur ned t o l ook back.
She saw a sweep of bl ue l i ght f l ash br i ef l y on t he shi ni ng st r ands of
Gal t ' s hai r , she caught t he pal e out l i ne of hi s f ace and t he dar k hol l ows of
hi s eyes. The f ace di sappear ed, but t he sound of hi s st eps ser ved as t he l i nk
t o t he next bl ue l i ght t hat swept acr oss t he l i ne of hi s eyes, t he eyes t hat
r emai ned hel d l evel , di r ect ed aheadand she f el t cer t ai n t hat she had st ayed
i n hi s si ght f r omt he moment he had seen her at t he t ower .
She hear d t he beat of t he ci t y above t hemt hese t unnel s, she had once
t hought , wer e t he r oot s of t he ci t y and of al l t he mot i on r eachi ng t o t he
skybut t hey, she t hought , J ohn Gal t and she, wer e t he l i vi ng power wi t hi n
t hese r oot s, t hey wer e t he st ar t and ai mand meani nghe, t oo, she t hought ,
hear d t he beat of t he ci t y as t he beat of hi s body.
She t hr ew her cape back, she st ood def i ant l y st r ai ght , as he had seen her
st and on t he st eps of t he t ower as he had seen her f or t he f i r st t i me, t en
year s ago, her e, under t he gr oundshe was hear i ng t he wor ds of hi s
conf essi on, not as wor ds, but by means of t hat beat i ng whi ch made i t so
di f f i cul t t o br eat he: You l ooked l i ke a symbol of l uxur y and you bel onged i n
t he pl ace t hat was i t s sour ce . . . you seemed t o br i ng t he enj oyment of l i f e
back t o i t s r i ght f ul owner s . . .
you had a l ook of ener gy and of i t s r ewar d, t oget her . . . and I was t he
f i r st man who had ever st at ed i n what manner t hese t wo wer e i nsepar abl e. . .
.
The next span of moment s was l i ke f l ashes of l i ght i n st r et ches of bl i nded
unconsci ousnesst he moment when she saw hi s f ace, as he st opped besi de her ,
when she saw t he unast oni shed cal m, t he l eashed i nt ensi t y, t he l aught er of
under st andi ng i n t he dar k gr een eyest he moment when she knew what he saw i n
her f ace, by t he t i ght , dr awn har shness of hi s l i pst he moment when she f el t
hi s mout h on her s, when she f el t t he shape of hi s mout h bot h as an absol ut e
shape and as a l i qui d f i l l i ng her bodyt hen t he mot i on of hi s l i ps down t he
l i ne of her t hr oat , a dr i nki ng mot i on t hat l ef t a t r ai l of br ui sest hen t he
spar kl e of her di amond cl i p agai nst t he t r embl i ng copper of hi s hai r .
Then she was consci ous of not hi ng but t he sensat i ons of her body, because
her body acqui r ed t he sudden power t o l et her know her most compl ex val ues by
di r ect per cept i on. J ust as her eyes had t he power t o t r ansl at e wave l engt hs
of ener gy i nt o si ght , j ust as her ear s had t he power t o t r ansl at e vi br at i ons
i nt o sound, so her body now had t he power t o t r ansl at e t he ener gy t hat had
moved al l t he choi ces of her l i f e, i nt o i mmedi at e sensor y per cept i on. I t was
not t he pr essur e of a hand t hat made her t r embl e, but t he i nst ant aneous sum
of i t s meani ng, t he knowl edge t hat i t was hi s hand, t hat i t moved as i f her
f l esh wer e hi s possessi on, t hat i t s movement was hi s si gnat ur e of accept ance
under t he whol e of t hat achi evement whi ch was her sel f i t was onl y a sensat i on
of physi cal pl easur e, but i t cont ai ned her wor shi p of hi m, of ever yt hi ng t hat
was hi s per son and hi s l i f ef r omt he ni ght of t he mass meet i ng i n a f act or y
i n Wi sconsi n, t o t he At l ant i s of a val l ey hi dden i n t he Rocky Mount ai ns, t o
t he t r i umphant mocker y of t he gr een eyes of t he super l at i ve i nt el l i gence
above a wor ker ' s f i gur e at t he f oot of t he t ower i t cont ai ned her pr i de i n
her sel f and t hat i t shoul d be she whomhe had chosen as hi s mi r r or , t hat i t
shoul d be her body whi ch was now gi vi ng hi mt he sumof hi s exi st ence, as hi s
body was gi vi ng her t he sumof her s. These wer e t he t hi ngs i t cont ai nedbut
what she knew was onl y t he sensat i on of t he movement of hi s hand on her
br east s.
He t or e of f her cape and she f el t t he sl ender ness of her own body by means
of t he ci r cl e of hi s ar ms, as i f hi s per son wer e onl y a t ool f or her
t r i umphant awar eness of her sel f , but t hat sel f wer e onl y a t ool f or her
awar eness of hi m. I t was as i f she wer e r eachi ng t he l i mi t of her capaci t y t o
f eel , yet what she f el t was l i ke a cr y of i mpat i ent demand, whi ch she was now
i ncapabl e of nami ng, except t hat i t had t he same qual i t y of ambi t i on as t he
cour se of her l i f e, t he same i nexhaust i bl e qual i t y of r adi ant gr eed.
He pul l ed her head back f or a moment , t o l ook st r ai ght i nt o her eyes, t o
l et her see hi s, t o l et her know t he f ul l meani ng of t hei r act i ons, as i f
t hr owi ng t he spot l i ght of consci ousness upon t hemf or t he meet i ng of t hei r
eyes i n a moment of i nt i macy gr eat er t han t he one t o come.
Then she f el t t he mesh of bur l ap st r i ki ng t he ski n of her shoul der s, she
f ound her sel f l yi ng on t he br oken sandbags, she saw t he l ong, t i ght gl eamof
her st ocki ngs, she f el t hi s mout h pr essed t o her ankl e, t hen r i si ng i n a
t or t ur ed mot i on up t he l i ne of her l eg, as i f he wi shed t o own i t s shape by
means of hi s l i ps, t hen she f el t her t eet h si nki ng i nt o t he f l esh of hi s ar m,
she f el t t he sweep of hi s el bow knocki ng her head asi de and hi s mout h sei zi ng
her l i ps wi t h a pr essur e mor e vi ci ousl y pai nf ul t han her st hen she f el t , when
i t hi t her t hr oat , t hat whi ch she knew onl y as an upwar d st r eak of mot i on
t hat r el eased and uni t ed her body i nt o a si ngl e shock of pl easur et hen she
knew not hi ng but t he mot i on of hi s body and t he dr i vi ng gr eed t hat went
r eachi ng on and on, as i f she wer e not a per son any l onger , onl y a sensat i on
of endl ess r eachi ng f or t he i mpossi bl et hen she knew t hat i t was possi bl e,
and she gasped and l ay st i l l , knowi ng t hat not hi ng mor e coul d be desi r ed,
ever .
He l ay besi de her , on hi s back, l ooki ng up at t he dar kness of t he gr ani t e
vaul t above t hem, she saw hi mst r et ched on t he j agged sl ant of sandbags as i f
hi s body wer e f l ui d i n r el axat i on, she saw t he bl ack wedge of her cape f l ung
acr oss t he r ai l s at t hei r f eet , t her e wer e beads of moi st ur e t wi nkl i ng on t he
vaul t , shi f t i ng sl owl y, r unni ng i nt o i nvi si bl e cr acks, l i ke t he l i ght s of a
di st ant t r af f i c. When he spoke, hi s voi ce sounded as i f he wer e qui et l y
cont i nui ng a sent ence i n answer t o t he quest i ons i n her mi nd, as i f he had
not hi ng t o hi de f r omher any l onger and what he owed her now was onl y t he act
of undr essi ng hi s soul , as si mpl y as he woul d have undr essed hi s body: " . . .
t hi s i s how I ' ve wat ched you f or t en year s . . . f r omher e, f r omunder t he
gr ound under your f eet . . . knowi ng ever y move you made i n your of f i ce at
t he t op of t he bui l di ng, but never seei ng you, never enough . . . t en year s
of ni ght s, spent wai t i ng t o cat ch a gl i mpse of you, her e, on t he pl at f or ms,
when you boar ded a t r ai n. . . .
Whenever t he or der came down t o coupl e your car , I ' d know of i t and wai t
and see you come down t he r amp, and wi sh you di dn' t wal k so f ast . . . i t was
so much l i ke you, t hat wal k, I ' d know i t anywher e . . .
your wal k and t hose l egs of your s . . . i t was al ways your l egs t hat I ' d
see f i r st , hur r yi ng down t he r amp, goi ng past me as I l ooked up at you f r oma
dar k si de t r ack bel ow. . . . I t hi nk I coul d have mol ded a scul pt ur e of your
l egs, I knew t hem, not wi t h my eyes, but wi t h t he pal ms of my hands when I
wat ched you go by . . . when I t ur ned back t o my wor k . . . when I went home
j ust bef or e sunr i se f or t he t hr ee hour s of sl eep whi ch I di dn' t get . . . "
" I l ove you, " she sai d, her voi ce qui et and al most t onel ess except f or a
f r agi l e sound of yout h.
He cl osed hi s eyes, as i f l et t i ng t he sound t r avel t hr ough t he year s
behi nd t hem. " Ten year s, Dagny . . . , except t hat once t her e wer e a f ew weeks
when I had you bef or e me, i n pl ai n si ght , wi t hi n r each, not hur r yi ng away,
but hel d st i l l , as on a l i ght ed st age, a pr i vat e st age f or me t o wat ch . . .
and I wat ched you f or hour s t hr ough many eveni ngs . . . i n t he l i ght ed wi ndow
of an of f i ce t hat was cal l ed t he J ohn Gal t Li ne. . . . And one ni ght "
Her br eat h was a f ai nt gasp. " Was i t you, t hat ni ght ?"
" Di d you see me?"
" I saw your shadow . . . on t he pavement . . . paci ng back and f or t h . . .
i t l ooked l i ke a st r uggl e . . . i t l ooked l i ke" She st opped; she di d not
want t o say " t or t ur e. "
" I t was, " he sai d qui et l y. " That ni ght , I want ed t o wal k i n, t o f ace you,
t o speak, t o . . . That was t he ni ght I came cl osest t o br eaki ng my oat h,
when I saw you sl umped acr oss your desk, when I saw you br oken by t he bur den
you wer e car r yi ng"
" J ohn, t hat ni ght , i t was you t hat I was t hi nki ng of . . . onl y I di dn' t
know i t . . . "
" But , you see, 7 knew i t , "
" . . . i t was you, al l my l i f e, t hr ough ever yt hi ng I di d and ever yt hi ng I
want ed . . . "
" I know i t . "
" J ohn, t he har dest was not when I l ef t you i n t he val l ey . . . i t was"
" Your r adi o speech, t he day you r et ur ned?"
" Yes! Wer e you l i st eni ng?"
" Of cour se. I ' mgl ad you di d i t . I t was a magni f i cent t hi ng t o do. And I I
knew i t , anyway. "
" You knew . . . about Hank Rear den?"
" Bef or e I saw you i n t he val l ey. "
" Was i t . . . when you l ear ned about hi m, had you expect ed i t ?"
" No. "
" Was i t . . . ?" she st opped.
" Har d? Yes. But onl y f or t he f i r st f ew days. That next ni ght . . . Do you
want me t o t el l you what I di d t he ni ght af t er I l ear ned i t ?"
" Yes. "
" I had never seen Hank Rear den, onl y pi ct ur es of hi mi n t he newspaper s.
I knew t hat he was i n New Yor k, t hat ni ght , at some conf er ence of bi g
i ndust r i al i st s. I want ed t o have j ust one l ook at hi m. I went t o wai t at t he
ent r ance of t he hot el wher e t hat conf er ence was hel d. Ther e wer e br i ght
l i ght s under t he mar quee of t he ent r ance, but i t was dar k beyond, on t he
pavement , so I coul d see wi t hout bei ng seen, t her e wer e a f ew l oaf er s and
vagr ant s hangi ng ar ound, t her e was a dr i zzl e of r ai n and we cl ung t o t he
wal l s of t he bui l di ng. One coul d t el l t he member s of t he conf er ence when t hey
began f i l i ng out , by t hei r cl ot hes and t hei r manner ost ent at i ousl y pr osper ous
cl ot hes and a manner of over bear i ng t i mi di t y, as i f t hey wer e gui l t i l y t r yi ng
t o pr et end t hat t hey wer e what t hey appear ed t o be f or t hat moment . Ther e
wer e chauf f eur s dr i vi ng up t hei r car s, t her e wer e a f ew r epor t er s del ayi ng
t hemf or quest i ons and hanger s- on t r yi ng t o cat ch a wor d f r omt hem. They wer e
wor n men, t hose i ndust r i al i st s, agi ng, f l abby, f r ant i c wi t h t he ef f or t t o
di sgui se uncer t ai nt y. And t hen I saw hi m. He wor e an expensi ve t r enchcoat and
a hat sl ant i ng acr oss hi s eyes. He wal ked swi f t l y, wi t h t he ki nd of assur ance
t hat has t o be ear ned, as he' d ear ned i t . Some of hi s f el l ow i ndust r i al i st s
pounced on hi mwi t h quest i ons, and t hose t ycoons wer e act i ng l i ke hanger s- on
ar ound hi m. I caught a gl i mpse of hi mas he st ood wi t h hi s hand on t he door
of hi s car , hi s head l i f t ed, I saw t he br i ef f l ar e of a smi l e under t he
sl ant i ng br i m, a conf i dent smi l e, i mpat i ent and a l i t t l e amused. And t hen,
f or one i nst ant , I di d what I had never done bef or e, what most men wr eck
t hei r l i ves on doi ngI saw t hat moment out of cont ext , I saw t he wor l d as he
made i t l ook, as i f i t mat ched hi m, as i f he wer e i t s symbol I saw a wor l d of
achi evement , of unensl aved ener gy, of unobst r uct ed dr i ve t hr ough pur posef ul
year s t o t he enj oyment of one' s r ewar dI saw, as I st ood i n t he r ai n i n a
cr owd of vagr ant s, what my year s woul d have br ought me, i f t hat wor l d had
exi st ed, and I f el t a desper at e l ongi nghe was t he i mage of ever yt hi ng I
shoul d have been . . . and he had ever yt hi ng t hat shoul d have been mi ne. . .
. But i t was onl y a moment . Then I saw t he scene i n f ul l cont ext agai n and i n
al l of i t s act ual meani ngI saw what pr i ce he was payi ng f or hi s br i l l i ant
abi l i t y, what t or t ur e he was endur i ng i n si l ent bewi l der ment , st r uggl i ng t o
under st and what I had under st oodI saw t hat t he wor l d he suggest ed, di d not
exi st and was yet t o be made, I saw hi magai n f or what he was, t he symbol of
my bat t l e, t he unr ewar ded her o whomI was t o avenge and t o r el easeand t hen .
. . t hen I accept ed what I had l ear ned about you and hi m. I saw t hat i t
changed not hi ng, t hat I shoul d have expect ed i t t hat i t was r i ght . "
He hear d t he f ai nt sound of her moan and he chuckl ed sof t l y.
" Dagny, i t ' s not t hat I don' t suf f er , i t ' s t hat I know t he uni mpor t ance of
suf f er i ng, I know t hat pai n i s t o be f ought and t hr own asi de, not t o be
accept ed as par t of one' s soul and as a per manent scar acr oss one' s vi ew of
exi st ence. Don' t f eel sor r y f or me. I t was gone r i ght t hen. "
She t ur ned her head t o l ook at hi mi n si l ence, and he smi l ed, l i f t i ng
hi msel f on an el bow t o l ook down at her f ace as she l ay hel pl essl y st i l l .
She whi sper ed, " You' ve been a t r ack l abor er , her eher e! f or t wel ve year s .
. .
" Yes. "
" Ever si nce"
" Ever si nce I qui t t he Twent i et h Cent ur y. "
" The ni ght when you saw me f or t he f i r st t i me . . . you wer e wor ki ng her e,
t hen?"
" Yes. And t he mor ni ng when you of f er ed t o wor k f or me as my cook, I was
onl y your t r ack l abor er on l eave of absence. Do you see why I l aughed as I
di d?"
She was l ooki ng up at hi s f ace; her s was a smi l e of pai n, hi sof pur e
gai et y, " J ohn . . . "
" Say i t . But say i t al l . "
" You wer e her e . . . al l t hose year s . . . "
" Yes. "
" . . . al l t hose year s . . . whi l e t he r ai l r oad was per i shi ng . . .
whi l e I was sear chi ng f or men of i nt el l i gence . . . whi l e I was st r uggl i ng
t o hol d ont o any scr ap of i t I coul d f i nd . . . "
" . . . whi l e you wer e combi ng t he count r y f or t he i nvent or of my mot or ,
whi l e you wer e f eedi ng J ames Taggar t and Wesl ey Mouch, whi l e you wer e nami ng
your best achi evement af t er t he enemy whomyou want ed t o dest r oy.
She cl osed her eyes.
" I was her e al l t hose year s, " he sai d, " wi t hi n your r each, i nsi de your own
r eal m, wat chi ng your st r uggl e, your l onel i ness, your l ongi ng, wat chi ng you i n
a bat t l e you t hought you wer e f i ght i ng f or me, a bat t l e i n whi ch you wer e
suppor t i ng my enemi es and t aki ng an endl ess def eat I was her e, hi dden by
not hi ng but an er r or of your si ght , as At l ant i s i s hi dden f r ommen by not hi ng
but an opt i cal i l l usi onI was her e, wai t i ng f or t he day when you woul d see,
when you woul d know t hat by t he code of t he wor l d you wer e suppor t i ng, i t ' s
t o t he dar kest bot t omof t he under gr ound t hat al l t he t hi ngs you val ued woul d
have t o be consi gned and t hat i t ' s t her e t hat you woul d have t o l ook. I was
her e. I was wai t i ng f or you. I l ove you, Dagny. I l ove you mor e t han my l i f e,
I who have t aught men how l i f e i s t o be l oved. I ' ve t aught t hemal so never t o
expect t he unpai d f or and what I di d t oni ght , I di d i t wi t h f ul l knowl edge
t hat I woul d pay f or i t and t hat my l i f e mi ght have t o be t he pr i ce, "
" No! "
He smi l ed, noddi ng. " Oh yes. You know t hat you' ve br oken me f or once, t hat
I br oke t he deci si on I had set f or mysel f but I di d i t consci ousl y, knowi ng
what i t meant , I di d i t , not i n bl i nd sur r ender t o t he moment , but wi t h f ul l
si ght of t he consequences and f ul l wi l l i ngness t o bear t hem. I coul d not l et
t hi s ki nd of moment pass us by, i t was our s, my l ove, we had ear ned i t . But
you' r e not r eady t o qui t and j oi n me
you don' t have t o t el l me, I knowand si nce I chose t o t ake what I want ed
bef or e i t was f ul l y mi ne, I ' l l have t o pay f or i t , I have no way of knowi ng
how or when, I know onl y t hat i f I gi ve i n t o an enemy, I ' l l t ake t he
consequences. " He smi l ed i n answer t o t he l ook on her f ace.
" No, Dagny, you' r e not my enemy i n mi ndand t hat i s what br ought me t o
t hi sbut you ar e i n f act , i n t he cour se you' r e pur sui ng, t hough you don' t see
i t yet , but I do. My act ual enemi es ar e of no danger t o me.
You ar e. You' r e t he onl y one who can l ead t hemt o f i nd me. They woul d
never have t he capaci t y t o know what I am, but wi t h your hel p t hey wi l l . "
" No! "
" No, not by your i nt ent i on. And you' r e f r ee t o change your cour se, but so
l ong as you f ol l ow i t , you' r e not f r ee t o escape i t s l ogi c. Don' t f r own, t he
choi ce was mi ne and i t ' s a danger I chose t o accept . I ama t r ader , Dagny, i n
al l t hi ngs. I want ed you, I had no power t o change your deci si on, I had onl y
t he power t o consi der t he pr i ce and deci de whet her I coul d af f or d i t . I
coul d. My l i f e i s mi ne t o spend or t o i nvest and you, you' r e" as i f hi s
gest ur e wer e cont i nui ng hi s sent ence, he r ai sed her acr oss hi s ar mand ki ssed
her mout h, whi l e her body hung l i mpl y i n sur r ender , her hai r st r eami ng down,
her head f al l i ng back, hel d onl y by t he pr essur e of hi s l i ps" you' r e t he one
r ewar d I had t o have and chose t o buy. I want ed you, and i f my l i f e i s t he
pr i ce, I ' l l gi ve i t . My l i f ebut not my mi nd. "
Ther e was a sudden gl i nt of har dness i n hi s eyes, as he sat up and smi l ed
and asked, " Woul d you want me t o j oi n you and go t o wor k?
Woul d you l i ke me t o r epai r t hat i nt er l ocki ng si gnal syst emof your s
wi t hi n an hour ?"
" No! " The cr y was i mmedi at ei n answer t o t he f l ash of a sudden i mage, t he
i mage of t he men i n t he pr i vat e di ni ng r oomof t he Wayne Fal kl and.
He l aughed. " Why not ?"
" I don' t want t o see you wor ki ng as t hei r ser f ! "
" And your sel f ?"
" I t hi nk t hat t hey' r e cr umbl i ng and t hat I ' l l wi n. I can st and i t j ust a
l i t t l e l onger . "
" Tr ue, i t ' s j ust a l i t t l e l onger not t i l l you wi n, but t i l l you l ear n. "
" I can' t l et i t go! " I t was a cr y of despai r .
" Not yet , " he sai d qui et l y.
He got up, and she r ose obedi ent l y, unabl e t o speak.
" I wi l l r emai n her e, on my j ob, " he sai d. " But don' t t r y t o see me.
You' l l have t o endur e what I ' ve endur ed and want ed t o spar e you
you' l l have t o go on, knowi ng wher e I am, want i ng me as I ' l l want you, but
never per mi t t i ng your sel f t o appr oach me. Don' t seek me her e.
Don' t come t o my home. Don' t ever l et t hemsee us t oget her . And when you
r each t he end, when you' r e r eady t o qui t , don' t t el l t hem, j ust chal k a
dol l ar si gn on t he pedest al of Nat Taggar t ' s st at uewher e i t bel ongs t hen go
home and wai t . I ' l l come f or you i n t went y- f our hour s. "
She i ncl i ned her head i n si l ent pr omi se.
But when he t ur ned t o go, a sudden shudder r an t hr ough her body, l i ke a
f i r st j ol t of awakeni ng or a l ast convul si on of l i f e, and i t ended i n an
i nvol unt ar y cr y: " Wher e ar e you goi ng?"
" To be a l amppost and st and hol di ng a l ant er n t i l l dawnwhi ch i s t he onl y
wor k your wor l d r el egat es me t o and t he onl y wor k i t ' s goi ng t o get . "
She sei zed hi s ar m, t o hol d hi m, t o f ol l ow, t o f ol l ow hi mbl i ndl y,
abandoni ng ever yt hi ng but t he si ght of hi s f ace. " J ohn! "
He gr i pped her wr i st , t wi st ed her hand and t hr ew i t of f . " No, " he sai d.
Then he t ook her hand and r ai sed i t t o hi s l i ps and t he pr essur e of hi s
mout h was mor e passi onat e a st at ement t han any he had chosen t o conf ess. Then
he wal ked away, down t he vani shi ng l i ne of r ai l , and i t seemed t o her t hat
bot h t he r ai l and t he f i gur e wer e abandoni ng her at t he same t i me.
When she st agger ed out i nt o t he concour se of t he Ter mi nal , t he f i r st bl ast
of r ol l i ng wheel s went shudder i ng t hr ough t he wal l s of t he bui l di ng, l i ke t he
sudden beat of a hear t t hat had st opped. The t empl e of Nat hani el Taggar t was
si l ent and empt y, i t s changel ess l i ght beat i ng down on a deser t ed st r et ch of
mar bl e. Some shabby f i gur es shuf f l ed acr oss i t , as i f l ost i n i t s shi ni ng
expanse. On t he st eps of t he pedest al , under t he st at ue of t he aust er e,
exul t ant f i gur e, a r agged bumsat sl umped i n passi ve r esi gnat i on, l i ke a
wi ng- pl ucked bi r d wi t h no pl ace t o go, r est i ng on any chance cor ni ce.
She f el l down on t he st eps of t he pedest al , l i ke anot her der el i ct , her
dust - smear ed cape wr apped t i ght l y about her , she sat st i l l , her head on her
ar m, past cr yi ng or r eel i ng or movi ng.
I t seemed t o her onl y t hat she kept seei ng a f i gur e wi t h a r ai sed ar m
hol di ng a l i ght , and i t l ooked at t i mes l i ke t he St at ue of Li ber t y and t hen
i t l ooked l i ke a man wi t h sun- st r eaked hai r , hol di ng a l ant er n agai nst a
mi dni ght sky, a r ed l ant er n t hat st opped t he movement of t he wor l d.
" Don' t t ake i t t o hear t , l ady, what ever i t i s, " sai d t he bum, i n a t one of
exhaust ed compassi on. " Not hi ng' s t o be done about i t , anyway. . . .
What ' s t he use, l ady? Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"

CHAPTER VI
THE CONCERTO OF DELIVERANCE

On Oct ober 20, t he st eel wor ker s' uni on of Rear den St eel demanded a r ai se
i n wages.
Hank Rear den l ear ned i t f r omt he newspaper ; no demand had been pr esent ed
t o hi mand i t had not been consi der ed necessar y t o i nf or mhi m. The demand was
made t o t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d; i t was not expl ai ned why no ot her st eel
company was pr esent ed wi t h a si mi l ar cl ai m.
He was unabl e t o t el l whet her t he demander s di d or di d not r epr esent hi s
wor ker s, t he Boar d' s r ul es on uni on el ect i ons havi ng made i t a mat t er
i mpossi bl e t o def i ne. He l ear ned onl y t hat t he gr oup consi st ed of t hose
newcomer s whomt he Boar d had sl i pped i nt o hi s mi l l s i n t he past f ew mont hs.
On Oct ober 23, t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d r ej ect ed t he uni on' s pet i t i on,
r ef usi ng t o gr ant t he r ai se. I f any hear i ngs had been hel d on t he mat t er ,
Rear den had not known about i t . He had not been consul t ed, i nf or med or
not i f i ed. He had wai t ed, vol unt eer i ng no quest i ons.
On Oct ober 25, t he newspaper s of t he count r y, cont r ol l ed by t he same men
who cont r ol l ed t he Boar d, began a campai gn of commi ser at i on wi t h t he wor ker s
of Rear den St eel . They pr i nt ed st or i es about t he r ef usal of t he wage r ai se,
omi t t i ng any ment i on of who had r ef used i t or who hel d t he excl usi ve l egal
power t o r ef use, as i f count i ng on t he publ i c t o f or get l egal t echni cal i t i es
under a bar r age of st or i es i mpl yi ng t hat an empl oyer was t he nat ur al cause of
al l mi ser i es suf f er ed by empl oyees. They pr i nt ed a st or y descr i bi ng t he
har dshi ps of t he wor ker s of Rear den St eel under t he pr esent r i se i n t he cost
of t hei r l i vi ngnext t o a st or y descr i bi ng Hank Rear den' s pr of i t s, of f i ve
year s ago. They pr i nt ed a st or y on t he pl i ght of a Rear den wor ker ' s wi f e
t r udgi ng f r omst or e t o st or e i n a hopel ess quest f or f oodnext t o a st or y
about a champagne bot t l e br oken over somebody' s head at a dr unken par t y gi ven
by an unnamed st eel t ycoon at a f ashi onabl e hot el ; t he st eel t ycoon had been
Or r en Boyl e, but t he st or y ment i oned no names. " I nequal i t i es st i l l exi st
among us, " t he newspaper s wer e sayi ng, " and cheat us of t he benef i t s of our
enl i ght ened age. " " Pr i vat i ons have wor n t he ner ves and t emper of t he peopl e.
The si t uat i on i s r eachi ng t he danger poi nt . We f ear an out br eak of vi ol ence. "
" We f ear an out br eak of vi ol ence, " t he newspaper s kept r epeat i ng, On Oct ober
28, a gr oup of t he new wor ker s at Rear den St eel at t acked a f or eman and
knocked t he t uyer es of f a bl ast f ur nace. Two days l at er , a si mi l ar gr oup
br oke t he gr ound- f l oor wi ndows of t he admi ni st r at i on bui l di ng. A new wor ker
smashed t he gear s of a cr ane, upset t i ng a l adl e of mol t en met al wi t hi n a yar d
of f i ve byst ander s. " Guess I went nut s, wor r yi ng about my hungr y ki ds, " he
sai d, when ar r est ed. " Thi s i s no t i me t o t heor i ze about who' s r i ght or
wr ong, " t he newspaper s comment ed. " Our sol e concer n i s t he f act t hat an
i nf l ammat or y si t uat i on i s endanger i ng t he st eel out put of t he count r y. "
Rear den wat ched, aski ng no quest i ons. He wai t ed, as i f some f i nal
knowl edge wer e i n t he pr ocess of unr avel i ng bef or e hi m, a pr ocess not t o be
hast ened or st opped. Nohe t hought t hr ough t he ear l y dusk of aut umn eveni ngs,
l ooki ng out t he wi ndow of hi s of f i ceno, he was not i ndi f f er ent t o hi s
mi l l s; 4but t he f eel i ng whi ch had once been passi on f or a l i vi ng ent i t y was
now l i ke t he wi st f ul t ender ness one f eel s f or t he memor y of t he l oved and
dead. The speci al qual i t y of what one f eel s f or t he dead, he t hought , i s t hat
no act i on i s possi bl e any l onger .
On t he mor ni ng of Oct ober 31, he r ecei ved a not i ce i nf or mi ng hi mt hat al l
of hi s pr oper t y, i ncl udi ng hi s bank account s and saf et y deposi t boxes, had
been at t ached t o sat i sf y a del i nquent j udgment obt ai ned agai nst hi mi n a
t r i al i nvol vi ng a def i ci ency i n hi s per sonal i ncome t ax of t hr ee year s ago.
I t was a f or mal not i ce, compl yi ng wi t h ever y r equi r ement of t he l awexcept
t hat no such def i ci ency had ever exi st ed and no such t r i al had ever t aken
pl ace.
" No, " he sai d t o hi s i ndi gnat i on- choked at t or ney, " don' t quest i on t hem,
don' t answer , don' t obj ect . " " But t hi s i s f ant ast i c! " " Any mor e f ant ast i c
t han t he r est ?" " Hank, do you want me t o do not hi ng? To t ake i t l yi ng down?"
" No, st andi ng up. And I mean, st andi ng. Don' t move. Don' t act . " " But t hey' ve
l ef t you hel pl ess. " " Have t hey?" he asked sof t l y, smi l i ng.
He had a f ew hundr ed dol l ar s i n cash, l ef t i n hi s wal l et , not hi ng el se.
But t he odd, gl owi ng war mt h i n hi s mi nd, l i ke t he f eel of a di st ant
handshake, was t he t hought t hat i n a secr et saf e of hi s bedr oomt her e l ay a
bar of sol i d gol d, gi ven t o hi mby a gol d- hai r ed pi r at e.
Next day, on November 1, he r ecei ved a t el ephone cal l f r omWashi ngt on,
f r oma bur eaucr at whose voi ce seemed t o come sl i di ng down t he wi r e on i t s
knees i n pr ot est at i ons of apol ogy. " A mi st ake, Mr . Rear den! I t was not hi ng
but an unf or t unat e mi st ake! That at t achment was not i nt ended f or you. You
know how i t i s nowadays, wi t h t he i nef f i ci ency of al l of f i ce hel p and wi t h
t he amount of r ed t ape we' r e t angl ed i n, some bungl i ng f ool mi xed t he r ecor ds
and pr ocessed t he at t achment or der agai nst youwhen i t wasn' t your case at
al l , i t was, i n f act , t he case of a soap manuf act ur er ! Pl ease accept our
apol ogi es, Mr . Rear den, our deepest per sonal apol ogi es at t he t op l evel . " The
voi ce sl i d t o a sl i ght , expect ant pause. " Mr . Rear den . . . ?" " I ' m
l i st eni ng. " " I can' t t el l you how sor r y we ar e t o have caused you any
embar r assment or i nconveni ence. And wi t h al l t hose damn f or mal i t i es t hat we
have t o go t hr oughyou know how i t i s, r ed t ape! i t wi l l t ake a f ew days,
per haps a week, t o de- pr ocess t hat or der and t o l i f t t he at t achment .
. . . Mr . Rear den?" " I hear d you. " " We' r e desper at el y sor r y and r eady t o
make any amends wi t hi n our power . You wi l l , of cour se, be ent i t l ed t o cl ai m
damages f or any i nconveni ence t hi s mi ght cause you, and we ar e pr epar ed t o
pay. We won' t cont est i t . You wi l l , of cour se, f i l e such a cl ai mand" " I
have not sai d t hat . " " Uh? No, you haven' t . . . t hat
i s . . . wel l , what have you sai d, Mr . Rear den?" " I have sai d not hi ng. "
Lat e on t he next af t er noon, anot her voi ce came pl eadi ng f r omWashi ngt on.
Thi s one di d not seemt o sl i de, but t o bounce on t he t el ephone wi r e wi t h t he
gay vi r t uosi t y of a t i ght - r ope wal ker . I t i nt r oduced i t sel f as Ti nky Hol l oway
and pl eaded t hat Rear den at t end a conf er ence, " an i nf or mal l i t t l e conf er ence,
j ust a f ew of us, t he t op- l evel f ew, " t o be hel d i n New Yor k, at t he Wayne-
Fal kl and Hot el , day af t er next .
" Ther e have been so many mi sunder st andi ngs i n t he past f ew weeks! " sai d
Ti nky Hol l oway. " Such unf or t unat e mi sunder st andi ngs
and so unnecessar y! We coul d st r ai ght en ever yt hi ng out i n a j i f f y, Mr .
Rear den, i f we had a chance t o have a l i t t l e t al k wi t h you. We' r e
ext r emel y anxi ous t o see you. "
" You can i ssue a subpoena f or me any t i me you wi sh. "
" Oh, no! no! no! " The voi ce sounded f r i ght ened. " No, Mr . Rear den why
t hi nk of such t hi ngs? You don' t under st and us, we' r e anxi ous t o meet you on a
f r i endl y basi s, we' r e seeki ng not hi ng but your vol unt ar y co- oper at i on. "
Hol l oway paused t ensel y, wonder i ng whet her he had hear d t he f ai nt sound of a
di st ant chuckl e; he wai t ed, but hear d not hi ng el se.
" Mr . Rear den?"
" Yes?"
" Sur el y, Mr . Rear den, at a t i me l i ke t hi s, a conf er ence wi t h us coul d be
t o your gr eat advant age. "
" A conf er enceabout what ?"
" You' ve encount er ed so many di f f i cul t i esand we' r e anxi ous t o hel p you i n
any way we can. "
" I have not asked f or hel p. "
" These ar e pr ecar i ous t i mes, Mr . Rear den, t he publ i c mood i s so uncer t ai n
and i nf l ammat or y, so . . . so danger ous . . . and we want t o be abl e t o
pr ot ect you. "
" I have not asked f or pr ot ect i on. "
" But sur el y you r eal i ze t hat we' r e i n a posi t i on t o be of val ue t o you.
and i f t her e' s anyt hi ng you want f r omus, any . . . "
" Ther e i sn' t . "
" But you must have pr obl ems you' d l i ke t o di scuss wi t h us. "
" I haven' t . "
" Then . . . wel l , t hen" gi vi ng up t he at t empt at t he pl ay of gr ant i ng a
f avor , Hol l oway swi t ched t o an open pl ea" t hen won' t you j ust gi ve us a
hear i ng?"
" I f you have anyt hi ng t o say t o me, "
" We have, Mr . Rear den, we cer t ai nl y have! That ' s al l we' r e aski ng f or a
hear i ng. J ust gi ve us a chance. J ust come t o t hi s conf er ence.
You woul dn' t be commi t t i ng your sel f t o anyt hi ng" He sai d i t
i nvol unt ar i l y, and st opped, hear i ng a br i ght , mocki ng st ab of l i f e i n
Rear den' s voi ce, an unpr omi si ng- sound, as Rear den answer ed: " I know i t . "
" Wel l , I mean . . . t hat i s . . . wel l , t hen, wi l l you come?"
" Al l Ti ght , " sai d Rear den. " I ' l l come. "
He di d not l i st en t o Hol l oway' s assur ances of gr at i t ude, he not ed onl y
t hat Hol l oway kept r epeat i ng, " At seven P. M. , November f our t h, Mr . Rear den .
. . November f our t h . . . " as i f t he dat e had some speci al si gni f i cance.
Rear den dr opped t he r ecei ver and l ay back i n hi s chai r , l ooki ng at t he
gl ow of f ur nace f l ames on t he cei l i ng of hi s of f i ce. He knew t hat t he
conf er ence was a t r ap; he knew al so t hat he was wal ki ng i nt o i t wi t h not hi ng
f or any t r apper s t o gai n.
Ti nky Hol l oway dr opped t he r ecei ver , i n hi s Washi ngt on of f i ce, and sat up
t ensel y, f r owni ng. Cl aude Sl agenhop, pr esi dent of Fr i ends of Gl obal Pr ogr ess,
who had sat i n an ar mchai r , ner vousl y chewi ng a mat chst i ck, gl anced up at hi m
and asked, " Not so good?"
Hol l oway shook hi s head. " He' l l come, but . . . no, not so good. "
He added, " I don' t t hi nk he' l l t ake i t . "
" That ' s what my punk t ol d me. "
" I know. "
" The punk sai d we' d bet t er not t r y i t . "
" God damn your punk! We' ve got t o! We' l l have t o r i sk i t ! "
The punk was Phi l i p Rear den who, weeks ago, had r epor t ed t o Cl aude
Sl agenhop: " No, he won' t l et me i n, he won' t gi ve me a j ob, I ' ve t r i ed, as
you want ed me t o, I ' ve t r i ed my best , but i t ' s no use, he won' t l et me set
f oot i nsi de hi s mi l l s. And as t o hi s f r ame of mi nd
l i st en, i t ' s bad. I t ' s wor se t han anyt hi ng I expect ed. I know hi mand I
can t el l you t hat you won' t have a chance. He' s pr et t y much at t he end of hi s
r ope. One mor e squeeze wi l l snap i t . You sai d t he bi g boys want ed t o know.
Tel l t hemnot t o do i t . Tel l t hemhe . . . Cl aude, God hel p us, i f t hey do
i t , t hey' l l l ose hi m! " " Wel l , you' r e not of much hel p, "
Sl agenhop had sai d dr yl y, t ur ni ng away. Phi l i p had sei zed hi s sl eeve and
asked, hi s voi ce shr i nki ng suddenl y i nt o open anxi et y, " Say, Cl aude - . .
accor di ng t o . . . t o Di r ect i ve 10- 289 . . . i f he goes, t her e' s . . .
t her e' s t o be no hei r s?" " That ' s r i ght . " " They' d sei ze t he mi l l s and . . .
and ever yt hi ng?" ' That ' s t he l aw. " " But . . . Cl aude, t hey woul dn' t do t hat
t o me, woul d t hey?" " They don' t want hi mt o go. You know t hat . Hol d hi m, i f
you can. " " But I can' t ! You know I can' t ! Because of my pol i t i cal i deas and .
. . and ever yt hi ng I ' ve done f or you, you know what he t hi nks of me! I have
no hol d on hi mat al l ! " " Wel l , t hat ' s your t ough l uck. " " Cl aude! " Phi l i p had
cr i ed i n pani c. " Cl aude, t hey won' t l eave me out i n t he col d, wi l l t hey? I
bel ong, don' t I ?
They' ve al ways sai d I bel onged, t hey' ve al ways sai d t hey needed me . . .
t hey sai d t hey needed men l i ke me, not l i ke hi m, men wi t h my . . . my sor t of
spi r i t , r emember ? And af t er al l I ' ve done f or t hem, af t er al l my f ai t h and
ser vi ce and l oyal t y t o t he cause" " You damn f ool , " Sl agenhop had snapped,
" of what use ar e you t o us wi t hout hi m?"
On t he mor ni ng of November 4, Hank Rear den was awakened by t he r i ngi ng of
t he t el ephone. He opened hi s eyes t o t he si ght of a cl ear , pal e sky, t he sky
of ear l y dawn, i n t he wi ndow of hi s bedr oom, a sky t he del i cat e col or of
aquamar i ne, wi t h t he f i r st r ays of an i nvi si bl e sun gi vi ng a shade of
por cel ai n pi nk t o Phi l adel phi a' s anci ent r oof t ops.
For a moment , whi l e hi s consci ousness had a pur i t y t o equal t he sky' s,
whi l e he was awar e of not hi ng but hi msel f and had not yet r ehar nessed hi s
soul t o t he bur den of al i en memor i es, he l ay st i l l , hel d by t he si ght and by
t he enchant ment of a wor l d t o mat ch i t , a wor l d wher e t he st yl e of exi st ence
woul d be a cont i nuous mor ni ng.
The t el ephone t hr ew hi mback i nt o exi l e: i t was scr eami ng at spaced
i nt er val s, l i ke a naggi ng, chr oni c cr y f or hel p, t he ki nd of cr y t hat di d not
bel ong i n hi s wor l d. He l i f t ed t he r ecei ver , f r owni ng. " Hel l o?"
" Good mor ni ng, Henr y, " sai d a quaver i ng voi ce; i t was hi s mot her .
" Mot her at t hi s hour ?" he asked dr yl y.
" Oh, you' r e al ways up at dawn, and I want ed t o cat ch you bef or e you went
t o t he of f i ce. "
" Yes? What i s i t ?"
" I ' ve got t o see you, Henr y. I ' ve got t o speak t o you. Today. Somet i me
t oday. I t ' s i mpor t ant . "
" Has anyt hi ng happened?"
" No . . . yes . . . t hat i s . . . I ' ve got t o have a t al k wi t h you i n
per son. Wi l l you come?"
" I ' msor r y, I can' t . I have an appoi nt ment i n New Yor k t oni ght . I f you
want me t o come t omor r ow"
" No! No, not t omor r ow. I t ' s got t o be t oday. I t ' s got t o. " Ther e was a di m
t one of pani c i n her voi ce, but i t was t he st al e pani c of chr oni c
hel pl essness, not t he sound of an emer gencyexcept f or an odd echo of f ear i n
her mechani cal i nsi st ence.
" What i s i t , Mot her ?"
" I can' t t al k about i t over t he t el ephone, I ' ve got t o see you. "
" Then i f you wi sh t o come t o t he of f i ce"
" No! Not at t he of f i ce! I ' ve got t o sec you al one, wher e we can t al k.
Can' t you come her e t oday, as a f avor ? I t ' s your mot her who' s aski ng you a
f avor . You' ve never come t o see us at al l . And maybe you' r e not t he one t o
bl ame f or i t , ei t her . But can' t you do i t f or me t hi s once, i f I beg you t o?"
" Al l r i ght , Mot her . I ' l l be t her e at f our o' cl ock t hi s af t er noon. "
" That wi l l be f i ne, Henr y. Thank you, Henr y. That wi l l be f i ne.
I t seemed t o hi mt hat t her e was a t ouch of t ensi on i n t he ai r of t he
mi l l s, t hat day. I t was a t ouch t oo sl i ght t o def i nebut t he mi l l s, t o hi m,
wer e l i ke t he f ace of a l oved wi f e wher e he coul d cat ch shades of f eel i ng
al most ahead of expr essi on. He not i ced smal l cl ust er s of t he new wor ker s,
j ust t hr ee or f our of t hemhuddl i ng t oget her i n conver sat i on once or t wi ce
t oo of t en. He not i ced t hei r manner , a manner suggest i ng a pool r oomcor ner ,
not a f act or y. He not i ced a f ew gl ances t hr own at hi mas he went by, gl ances
a shade t oo poi nt ed and l i nger i ng. He di smi ssed i t ; i t was not qui t e enough
t o wonder about and he had no t i me t o wonder .
When he dr ove up t o hi s f or mer home, t hat af t er noon, he st opped hi s car
abr upt l y at t he f oot of t he hi l l . He had not seen t he house si nce t hat May
15, si x mont hs ago, when he had wal ked out of i t
and t he si ght br ought back t o hi mt he sumof al l he had f el t i n t en year s
of dai l y home- comi ng: t he st r ai n, t he bewi l der ment , t he gr ay wei ght of
unconf essed unhappi ness, t he st er n endur ance t hat f or bade hi mt o conf ess i t ,
t he desper at e i nnocence of t he ef f or t t o under st and hi s f ami l y . . . t he
ef f or t t o be j ust .
He wal ked sl owl y up t he pat h t owar d t he door . He f el t no emot i on, onl y t he
sense of a gr eat , sol emn cl ar i t y. He knew t hat t hi s house was a monument of
gui l t of hi s gui l t t owar d hi msel f .
He had expect ed t o see hi s mot her and Phi l i p; he had not expect ed t he
t hi r d per son who r ose, as t hey di d, at hi s ent r ance i nt o t he l i vi ng r oom: i t
was Li l l i an.
He st opped on t he t hr eshol d. They st ood l ooki ng at hi s f ace and at t he
open door behi nd hi m. Thei r f aces had a l ook of f ear and cunni ng, t he l ook of
t hat bl ackmai l - t hr ough- vi r t ue whi ch he had l ear ned t o under st and, as i f t hey
hoped t o get away wi t h i t by means of not hi ng but hi s pi t y, t o hol d hi m
t r apped, when a si ngl e st ep back coul d t ake hi mout of t hei r r each.
They had count ed on hi s pi t y and dr eaded hi s anger ; t hey had not dar ed
consi der t he t hi r d al t er nat i ve; hi s i ndi f f er ence.
" What i s she doi ng her e?" he asked, t ur ni ng t o hi s mot her , hi s voi ce
di spassi onat el y f l at .
" Li l l i an' s been l i vi ng her e ever si nce your di vor ce, " she answer ed
def ensi vel y. " I coul dn' t l et her st ar ve on t he ci t y pavement s, coul d I ?"
The l ook i n hi s mot her ' s eyes was hal f - pl ea, as i f she wer e beggi ng hi m
not t o sl ap her f ace, hal f - t r i umph, as i f she had sl apped hi s. He knew her
mot i ve: i t was not compassi on, t her e had never been much l ove bet ween Li l l i an
and her , i t was t hei r common r evenge agai nst hi m, i t was t he secr et
sat i sf act i on of spendi ng hi s money on t he ex- wi f e he had r ef used t o suppor t .
Li l l i an' s head was poi sed t o bow i n gr eet i ng, wi t h t he t ent at i ve hi nt of a
smi l e on her l i ps, hal f - t i mi d, hal f - br ash. He di d not pr et end t o i gnor e her ;
he l ooked at her , as i f he wer e seei ng her f ul l y, yet as i f no pr esence wer e
bei ng r egi st er ed i n hi s mi nd. He sai d not hi ng, cl osed t he door and st epped
i nt o t he r oom.
Hi s mot her gave a smal l si gh of uneasy r el i ef and dr opped hast i l y i nt o t he
near est chai r , wat chi ng hi m, ner vousl y uncer t ai n of whet her he woul d f ol l ow
her exampl e.
" What was i t you want ed?" he asked, si t t i ng down.
Hi s mot her sat er ect and oddl y hunched, her shoul der s r ai sed, her head
hal f - l ower ed. " Mer cy, Henr y, " she whi sper ed.
" What do you mean?"
" Don' t you under st and me?"
" No. "
" Wel l " she spr ead her hands i n an unt i di l y f l ut t er i ng gest ur e of
hel pl essness" wel l . . . " Her eyes dar t ed about , st r uggl i ng t o escape hi s
at t ent i ve gl ance. " Wel l , t her e ar e so many t hi ngs t o say and . . .
and I don' t know how t o say t hem, but . . . wel l , t her e' s one pr act i cal
mat t er , but i t ' s not i mpor t ant by i t sel f . . . i t ' s not why I cal l ed you her e
. . . "
" What i s i t ?"
" The pr act i cal mat t er ? Our al l owance checksPhi l i p' s and mi ne. I t ' s t he
f i r st of t he mont h, but on account of t hat at t achment or der , t he checks
coul dn' t come t hr ough. You know t hat , don' t you?"
" I know i t . "
" Wel l , what ar e we goi ng t o do?"
" I don' t know. "
" I mean, what ar e you goi ng t o do about i t ?"
" Not hi ng, "
Hi s mot her sat st ar i ng at hi m, as i f count i ng t he seconds of si l ence.
" Not hi ng, Henr y?"
" I have no power t o do anyt hi ng. "
They wer e wat chi ng hi s f ace wi t h a ki nd of sear chi ng i nt ensi t y; he f el t
cer t ai n t hat hi s mot her had t ol d hi mt he t r ut h, t hat i mmedi at e f i nanci al
wor r y was not t hei r pur pose, t hat i t was onl y t he symbol of a much wi der
i ssue.
" But , Henr y, we' r e caught shor t . "
" So was I . "
" But can' t you send us some cash or somet hi ng?"
" They gave me no war ni ng, no t i me t o get any cash. "
" Then . . . Look, Henr y, t he t hi ng was so unexpect ed, i t scar ed peopl e, I
guesst he gr ocer y st or e r ef uses t o gi ve us cr edi t , unl ess you ask f or i t . I
t hi nk t hey want you t o si gn a cr edi t car d or somet hi ng. So wi l l you speak t o
t hemand ar r ange i t ?"
" I wi l l not . "
" You won' t ?" She choked on a smal l gasp. " Why?"
" I wi l l not assume obl i gat i ons t hat I can' t f ul f i l l . "
" What do you mean?"
" I wi l l not assume debt s I have no way of r epayi ng. "
" What do you mean, no way? That at t achment i s onl y some sor t of
t echni cal i t y, i t ' s onl y t empor ar y, ever ybody knows t hat ! "
" Do t hey? I don' t . "
" But , Henr ya gr ocer y bi l l ! You' r e not sur e you' l l be abl e t o pay a
gr ocer y bi l l , you, wi t h al l t he mi l l i ons you own?"
" I ' mnot goi ng t o def r aud t he gr ocer by pr et endi ng t hat I own t hose
mi l l i ons. "
" What ar e you t al ki ng about ? Who owns t hem?"
" Nobody. "
" What do you mean?"
" Mot her , I t hi nk you under st and me f ul l y. I t hi nk you under st ood i t bef or e
I di d. Ther e i sn' t any owner shi p l ef t i n exi st ence or any pr oper t y. I t ' s what
you' ve appr oved of and bel i eved i n f or year s. You want ed me t i ed. I ' mt i ed.
Now i t ' s t oo l at e t o pl ay any games about i t . "
" Ar e you goi ng t o l et some pol i t i cal i deas of your s" She saw t he l ook on
hi s f ace and st opped abr upt l y.
Li l l i an sat l ooki ng down at t he f l oor , as i f af r ai d t o gl ance up at t hi s
moment . Phi l i p sat cr acki ng hi s knuckl es.
Hi s mot her dr agged her eyes i nt o f ocus agai n and whi sper ed, " Don' t abandon
us, Henr y. " Some f ai nt st ab of l i f e i n her voi ce t ol d hi mt hat t he l i d of her
r eal pur pose was cr acki ng open. " These ar e t er r i bl e t i mes, and we' r e scar ed.
That ' s t he t r ut h of i t , Henr y, we' r e scar ed, because you' r e t ur ni ng away f r om
us. Oh, I don' t mean j ust t hat gr ocer y bi l l , but t hat ' s a si gna year ago you
woul dn' t have l et t hat happen t o us. Now . . . now you don' t car e. " She made
an expect ant pause.
" Do you?"
" No. "
" Wel l . . . wel l , I guess t he bl ame i s our s. That ' s what I want ed t o t el l
yout hat we know we' r e t o bl ame. We haven' t t r eat ed you r i ght , al l t hese
year s. We' ve been unf ai r t o you, we' ve made you suf f er , we' ve used you and
gi ven you no t hanks i n r et ur n. We' r e gui l t y, Henr y, we' ve si nned agai nst you,
and we conf ess i t . What mor e can we say t o you now? Wi l l you f i nd i t i n your
hear t t o f or gi ve us?"
" What i s i t you want me t o do?" he asked, i n t he cl ear , f l at t one of a
busi ness conf er ence.
" I don' t know! Who amI t o know? But t hat ' s not what I ' mt al ki ng of r i ght
now. Not of doi ng, onl y of f eel i ng. I t ' s your f eel i ng t hat I ' mbeggi ng you
f or , Henr yj ust your f eel i ngeven i f we don' t deser ve i t . You' r e gener ous and
st r ong. Wi l l you cancel t he past , Henr y? Wi l l you f or gi ve us?"
The l ook of t er r or i n her eyes was r eal . A year ago, he woul d have t ol d
hi msel f t hat t hi s was her way of maki ng amends; he woul d have choked hi s
r evul si on agai nst her wor ds, wor ds whi ch conveyed not hi ng t o hi mbut t he f og
of t he meani ngl ess; he woul d have vi ol at ed hi s mi nd t o gi ve t hemmeani ng,
even i f he di d not under st and; he woul d have ascr i bed t o her t he vi r t ue of
si ncer i t y i n her own t er ms, even i f t hey wer e not hi s. But he was t hr ough
wi t h gr ant i ng r espect t o any t er ms ot her t han hi s own.
" Wi l l you f or gi ve us?"
" Mot her , i t woul d be best not t o speak of t hat . Don' t pr ess me t o t el l you
why. I t hi nk you know i t as wel l as I do. I f t her e' s anyt hi ng you want done,
t el l me what i t i s. Ther e' s not hi ng el se t o di scuss.
" But I don' t under st and you! I don' t ! That ' s what I cal l ed you her e f or t o
ask your f or gi veness! Ar e you goi ng t o r ef use t o answer me?"
" Ver y wel l . What woul d i t mean, my f or gi veness?"
" Uh?"
" I sai d, what woul d i t mean?"
. She spr ead her hands out i n an ast oni shed gest ur e t o i ndi cat e t he sel f -
evi dent . " Why, i t . . . i t woul d make us f eel bet t er . "
" Wi l l i t change t he past ?"
" I t woul d make us f eel bet t er t o know t hat you' ve f or gi ven i t . "
" Do you wi sh me t o pr et end t hat t he past has not exi st ed?"
" Oh God, Henr y, can' t you see? Al l we want i s onl y t o know t hat you . . .
t hat you f eel some concer n f or us. "
" I don' t f eel i t . Do you wi sh me t o f ake i t ?"
" But t hat ' s what I ' mbeggi ng you f or t o f eel i t ! "
" On what gr ound?"
" Gr ound?"
" I n exchange f or what ?"
" Henr y, Henr y, i t ' s not busi ness we' r e t al ki ng about , not st eel t onnages
and bank bal ances, i t ' s f eel i ngsand you t al k l i ke a t r ader ! "
" I amone. "
What he saw i n her eyes was t er r or not t he hel pl ess t er r or of st r uggl i ng
and f ai l i ng t o under st and, but t he t er r or of bei ng pushed t owar d t he edge
wher e t o avoi d under st andi ng woul d no l onger be possi bl e.
" Look, Henr y, " sai d Phi l i p hast i l y, " Mot her can' t under st and t hose t hi ngs.
We don' t know how t o appr oach you. We can' t speak your l anguage. "
" I don' t speak your s. "
" What she' s t r yi ng t o say i s t hat we' r e sor r y. We' r e t er r i bl y sor r y t hat
we' ve hur t you. You t hi nk we' r e not payi ng f or i t , but we ar e.
We' r e suf f er i ng r emor se. "
The pai n i n Phi l i p' s f ace was r eal . A year ago, Rear den woul d have f el t
pi t y. Now, he knew t hat t hey had hel d hi mt hr ough not hi ng but hi s r el uct ance
t o hur t t hem, hi s f ear of t hei r pai n. He was not af r ai d of i t any l onger ,
" We' r e sor r y, Henr y. We know we' ve har med you. We wi sh we coul d at one f or i t .
But what can we do? The past i s past . We can' t undo i t . "
" Nei t her can I . "
" You can accept our r epent ance, " sai d Li l l i an, i n a voi ce gl assy wi t h
caut i on. " I have not hi ng t o gai n f r omyou now. I onl y want you t o know t hat
what ever I ' ve done, I ' ve done i t because I l oved you. "
He t ur ned away, wi t hout answer i ng.
" Henr y! " cr i ed hi s mot her . " What ' s happened t o you? What ' s changed you
l i ke t hat ? You don' t seemt o be human any mor e! You keep pr essi ng us f or
answer s, when we haven' t any answer s t o gi ve. You keep beat i ng us wi t h l ogi c
what ' s l ogi c at a t i me l i ke t hi s?what ' s l ogi c when peopl e ar e suf f er i ng?"
" We can' t hel p i t ! " cr i ed Phi l i p.
" We' r e at your mer cy, " sai d Li l l i an.
They wer e t hr owi ng t hei r pl eas at a f ace t hat coul d not be r eached.
They di d not knowand t hei r pani c was t he l ast of t hei r st r uggl e t o escape
t he knowl edget hat hi s mer ci l ess sense of j ust i ce, whi ch had been t hei r onl y
hol d on hi m, whi ch had made hi mt ake any puni shment and gi ve t hemt he benef i t
of ever y doubt , was now t ur ned agai nst t hemt hat t he same f or ce t hat had made
hi mt ol er ant , was now t he f or ce t hat made hi mr ut hl esst hat t he j ust i ce whi ch
woul d f or gi ve mi l es of i nnocent er r or s of knowl edge, woul d not f or gi ve a
si ngl e st ep t aken i n consci ous evi l .
" Henr y, don' t you under st and us?" hi s mot her was pl eadi ng.
" I do, " he sai d qui et l y.
She l ooked away, avoi di ng t he cl ar i t y of hi s eyes. " Don' t you car e what
becomes of us?"
" I don' t . "
" Ar en' t you human?" Her voi ce gr ew shr i l l wi t h anger . " Ar en' t you capabl e
of any l ove at al l ? I t ' s your hear t I ' mt r yi ng t o r each, not your mi nd! Love
i s not somet hi ng t o ar gue and r eason and bar gai n about !
I t ' s somet hi ng t o gi ve! To f eel ! Oh God, Henr y, can' t you f eel wi t hout
t hi nki ng?"
" I never have. "
I n a moment , her voi ce came back, l ow and dr oni ng: " We' r e not as smar t as
you ar e, not as st r ong. I f we' ve si nned and bl under ed, i t ' s because we' r e
hel pl ess. We need you, you' r e al l we' ve got and we' r e l osi ng youand we' r e
af r ai d. These ar e t er r i bl e t i mes, and get t i ng wor se, peopl e ar e scar ed t o
deat h, scar ed and bl i nd and not knowi ng what t o do. How ar e we t o cope wi t h
i t , i f you l eave us? We' r e smal l and weak and we' l l be swept l i ke dr i f t wood
i n t hat t er r or t hat ' s r unni ng l oose i n t he wor l d. Maybe we had our shar e of
gui l t f or i t , maybe we hel ped t o br i ng i t about , not knowi ng any bet t er , but
what ' s done i s doneand we can' t st op i t now. I f you abandon us, we' r e l ost .
I f you gi ve up and vani sh, l i ke al l t hose men who"
I t was not a sound t hat st opped her , i t was onl y a movement of hi s
eyebr ows, t he br i ef , swi f t movement of a check mar k. Then t hey saw hi msmi l e;
t he nat ur e of t he smi l e was t he most t er r i f yi ng of answer s.
" So t hat ' s what you' r e af r ai d of , " he sai d sl owl y.
" You can' t qui t ! " hi s mot her scr eamed i n bl i nd pani c. " You can' t qui t now!
You coul d have, l ast year , but not now! Not t oday! You can' t t ur n deser t er ,
because now t hey t ake i t out on your f ami l y! They' l l l eave us penni l ess,
t hey' l l sei ze ever yt hi ng, t hey' l l l eave us t o st ar ve, t hey' l l "
" Keep st i l l ! " cr i ed Li l l i an, mor e adept t han t he ot her s at r eadi ng danger
si gns i n Rear den' s f ace.
Hi s f ace hel d t he r emnant of a smi l e, and t hey knew t hat he was not seei ng
t hemany l onger , but i t was not i n t hei r power t o know why hi s smi l e now
seemed t o hol d pai n and an al most wi st f ul l ongi ng, or why he was l ooki ng
acr oss t he r oom, at t he ni che of t he f ar t hest wi ndow.
He was seei ng a f i nel y scul pt ur ed f ace hel d composed under t he l ashi ng of
hi s i nsul t s, he was hear i ng a voi ce t hat had sai d t o hi mqui et l y, her e, i n
t hi s r oom: " I t i s agai nst t he si n of f or gi veness t hat I want ed t o war n you. "
You who had known i t t hen, he t hought . . . but he di d not f i ni sh t he
sent ence i n hi s mi nd, he l et i t end i n t he bi t t er t wi st of hi s smi l e, because
he knew what he had been about t o t hi nk: You who had known i t t henf or gi ve
me.
Ther e i t washe t hought , l ooki ng at hi s f ami l yt he nat ur e of t hei r pl eas
f or mer cy, t he l ogi c of t hose f eel i ngs t hey so r i ght eousl y pr ocl ai med as non-
l ogi cal t her e was t he si mpl e, br ut al essence of al l men who speak of bei ng
abl e t o f eel wi t hout t hought and of pl aci ng mer cy over j ust i ce.
They had known what t o f ear ; t hey had gr asped and named, bef or e he had,
t he onl y way of del i ver ance l ef t open t o hi m; t hey had under st ood t he
hopel essness of hi s i ndust r i al posi t i on, t he f ut i l i t y of hi s st r uggl e, t he
i mpossi bl e bur dens descendi ng t o cr ush hi m; t hey had known t hat i n r eason, i n
j ust i ce, i n sel f - pr eser vat i on, hi s onl y cour se was t o dr op i t al l and r unyet
t hey want ed t o hol d hi m, t o keep hi mi n t he sacr i f i ci al f ur nace, t o make hi m
l et t hemdevour t he l ast of hi mi n t he name of mer cy, f or gi veness and
br ot her - canni bal l ove.
" I f you st i l l want me t o expl ai n i t , Mot her , " he sai d ver y qui et l y, " i f
you' r e st i l l hopi ng t hat I won' t be cr uel enough t o name what you' r e
pr et endi ng not t o know, t hen her e' s what ' s wr ong wi t h your i dea of
f or gi veness: You r egr et t hat you' ve hur t me and, as your at onement f or i t ,
you ask t hat I of f er mysel f t o t ot al i mmol at i on. "
" Logi c! " she scr eamed. " Ther e you go agai n wi t h your damn l ogi c!
I t ' s pi t y t hat we need, pi t y, not l ogi c! "
He r ose t o hi s f eet .
" Wai t ! Don' t go! Henr y, don' t abandon us! Don' t sent ence us t o per i sh!
What ever we ar e, we' r e human! We want t o l i ve! "
" Why, no" he st ar t ed i n qui et ast oni shment and ended i n qui et hor r or , as
t he t hought st r uck hi mf ul l y, " I don' t t hi nk you do. I f you di d, you woul d
have known how t o val ue me. "
As i f i n si l ent pr oof and answer , Phi l i p' s f ace went sl owl y i nt o an
expr essi on i nt ended as a smi l e of amusement , yet hol di ng not hi ng but f ear and
mal i ce. " You won' t be abl e t o qui t and r un away, " sai d Phi l i p. " You can' t r un
away wi t hout money. "
I t seemed t o st r i ke i t s goal ; Rear den st opped shor t , t hen chuckl ed,
" Thanks, Phi l i p, " he sai d.
" Uh?" Phi l i p gave a ner vous j er k of bewi l der ment .
" So t hat ' s t he pur pose of t he at t achment or der . That ' s what your f r i ends
ar e af r ai d of . I knew t hey wer e get t i ng set t o spr i ng somet hi ng on me t oday.
I di dn' t know t hat t he at t achment was t hei r i dea of cut t i ng of f escape. " He
t ur ned i ncr edul ousl y t o l ook at hi s mot her . " And t hat ' s why you had t o see me
t oday, bef or e t he conf er ence i n New Yor k. "
" Mot her di dn' t know i t ! " cr i ed Phi l i p, t hen caught hi msel f and cr i ed
l ouder , " I don' t know what you' r e t al ki ng about ! I haven' t sai d anyt hi ng! I
haven' t sai d i t ! " Hi s f ear now seemed t o have some much l ess myst i c and much
mor e pr act i cal qual i t y.
" Don' t wor r y, you poor l i t t l e l ouse, I won' t t el l t hemt hat you' ve t ol d me
anyt hi ng. And i f you wer e t r yi ng"
He di d not f i ni sh; he l ooked at t he t hr ee f aces bef or e hi m, and a sudden
smi l e ended hi s sent ence, a smi l e of wear i ness, of pi t y, of i ncr edul ous
r evul si on. He was seei ng t he f i nal cont r adi ct i on, t he gr ot esque absur di t y at
t he end of t he i r r at i onal i st s' game: t he men i n Washi ngt on had hoped t o hol d
hi mby pr ompt i ng t hese t hr ee t o t r y f or t he r ol e of host ages.
" You t hi nk you' r e so good, don' t you?" I t was a sudden cr y and i t came
f r omLi l l i an; she had l eaped t o her f eet t o bar hi s exi t ; her f ace was
di st or t ed, as he had seen i t once bef or e, on t hat mor ni ng when she had
l ear ned t he name of hi s mi st r ess. " You' r e so good! You' r e so pr oud of
your sel f ! Wel l , I have somet hi ng t o t el l you! "
She l ooked as i f she had not bel i eved unt i l t hi s moment t hat her game was
l ost . The si ght of her f ace st r uck hi ml i ke a l ast shr ed compl et i ng a
ci r cui t , and i n sudden cl ar i t y he knew what her game had been and why she had
mar r i ed hi m.
I f t o choose a per son as t he const ant cent er of one' s concer n, as t he
f ocus of one' s vi ew of l i f e, was t o l ovehe t hought t hen i t was t r ue t hat she
l oved hi m; but i f , t o hi m, l ove was a cel ebr at i on of one' s sel f and of
exi st encet hen, t o t he sel f - hat er s and l i f e- hat er s, t he pur sui t of
dest r uct i on was t he onl y f or mand equi val ent of l ove. I t was f or t he best of
hi s vi r t ues t hat Li l l i an had chosen hi m, f or hi s st r engt h, hi s conf i dence,
hi s pr i deshe had chosen hi mas one chooses an obj ect of l ove, as t he symbol
of man' s l i vi ng power , but t he dest r uct i on of t hat power had been her goal .
He saw t hemas t hey had been at t hei r f i r st meet i ng: he, t he man of
vi ol ent ener gy and passi onat e ambi t i on, t he man of achi evement , l i ght ed by
t he f l ame of hi s success and f l ung i nt o t he mi dst of t hose pr et ent i ous ashes
who cal l ed t hemsel ves an i nt el l ect ual el i t e, t he bur ned out r emnant s of
undi gest ed cul t ur e, f eedi ng on t he af t er gl ow of t he mi nds of ot her s, of f er i ng
t hei r deni al of t he mi nd as t hei r onl y cl ai mt o di st i nct i on, and a cr avi ng t o
cont r ol t he wor l d as t hei r onl y l ust she, t he woman hanger - on of t hat el i t e,
wear i ng t hei r shopwor n sneer as her answer t o t he uni ver se, hol di ng i mpot ence
as super i or i t y and empt i ness as vi r t uehe, unawar e of t hei r hat r ed,
i nnocent l y scor nf ul of t hei r post ur i ng f r audshe, seei ng hi mas t he danger t o
t hei r wor l d, as a t hr eat , as a chal l enge, as a r epr oach.
The l ust t hat dr i ves ot her s t o ensl ave an empi r e, had become, i n her
l i mi t s, a passi on f or power over hi m. She had set out t o br eak hi m, as i f ,
unabl e t o equal hi s val ue, she coul d sur pass i t by dest r oyi ng i t , as i f t he
measur e of hi s gr eat ness woul d t hus become t he measur e of her s, as i f he
t hought wi t h a shudder as i f t he vandal who smashed a st at ue wer e gr eat er
t han t he ar t i st who had made i t , as i f t he mur der er who ki l l ed a chi l d wer e
gr eat er t han t he mot her who had gi ven i t bi r t h.
He r emember ed her hammer i ng der i si on of hi s wor k, hi s mi l l s, hi s Met al ,
hi s success, he r emember ed her desi r e t o see hi mdr unk, j ust once, her
at t empt s t o push hi mi nt o i nf i del i t y, her pl easur e at t he t hought t hat he had
f al l en t o t he l evel of some sor di d r omance, her t er r or on di scover i ng t hat
t hat r omance had been an at t ai nment , not a degr adat i on. Her l i ne of at t ack,
whi ch he had f ound so baf f l i ng, had been const ant and cl ear i t was hi s sel f -
est eemshe had sought t o dest r oy, knowi ng t hat a man who sur r ender s hi s val ue
i s at t he mer cy of anyone' s wi l l ; i t was hi s mor al pur i t y she had st r uggl ed
t o br each, i t was hi s conf i dent r ect i t ude she had want ed t o shat t er by means
of t he poi son of gui l t as i f , wer e he t o col l apse, hi s depr avi t y woul d gi ve
her a r i ght t o her s.
For t he same pur pose and mot i ve, f or t he same sat i sf act i on, as ot her s
weave compl ex syst ems of phi l osophy t o dest r oy gener at i ons, of est abl i sh
di ct at or shi ps t o dest r oy a count r y, so she, possessi ng no weapons except
f emi ni ni t y, had made i t her goal t o dest r oy one man.
Your s was t he code of l i f ehe r emember ed t he voi ce of hi s l ost young
t eacher what , t hen, i s t hei r s?
" I have somet hi ng t o t el l you! " cr i ed Li l l i an, wi t h t he sound of t hat
i mpot ent r age whi ch wi shes t hat wor ds wer e br ass knuckl es. " You' r e so pr oud
of your sel f , ar en' t you? You' r e so pr oud of your name!
Rear den St eel , Rear den Met al , Rear den Wi f e! That ' s what I was, wasn' t I ?
Mr s. Rear den! Mr s. Henr y Rear den! " The sounds she was maki ng wer e now a
st r i ng of cackl i ng gasps, an unr ecogni zabl e cor r upt i on of l aught er . " Wel l , I
t hi nk you' d l i ke t o know t hat your wi f e' s been l ai d by anot her man! I ' ve been
unf ai t hf ul t o you, do you hear me? I ' ve been unf ai t hf ul , not wi t h some gr eat ,
nobl e l over , but wi t h t he scummi est l ouse, wi t h J i mTaggar t ! Thr ee mont hs
ago! Bef or e your di vor ce!
Whi l e I was your wi f e! Whi l e I was st i l l your wi f e! "
He st ood l i st eni ng l i ke a sci ent i st st udyi ng a subj ect of no per sonal
r el evance what ever . Ther e, he t hought , was t he f i nal abor t i on of t he cr eed of
col l ect i ve i nt er dependence, t he cr eed of non- i dent i t y, nonpr oper t y, non- f act :
t he bel i ef t hat t he mor al st at ur e of one i s at t he mer cy of t he act i on of
anot her .
" I ' ve been unf ai t hf ul t o you! Don' t you hear me, you st ai nl ess Pur i t an?
I ' ve sl ept wi t h J i mTaggar t , you i ncor r upt i bl e her o! Don' t you hear me? . . .
Don' t you hear me? . . . Don' t you . . . ?"
He was l ooki ng at her as he woul d have l ooked i f a st r ange woman had
appr oached hi mon t he st r eet wi t h a per sonal conf essi ona l ook l i ke t he
equi val ent of t he wor ds: Why t el l i t t o me?
Her voi ce t r ai l ed of f . He had not known what t he dest r uct i on of a per son
woul d be l i ke; but he knew t hat he was seei ng t he dest r uct i on of Li l l i an. He
saw i t i n t he col l apse of her f ace, i n t he sudden sl ackeni ng of f eat ur es, as
i f t her e wer e not hi ng t o hol d t hemt oget her , i n t he eyes, bl i nd, yet st ar i ng,
st ar i ng i nwar d, f i l l ed wi t h t hat t er r or whi ch no out er t hr eat can equal . I t
was not t he l ook of a per son l osi ng her mi nd, but t he l ook of a mi nd seei ng
t ot al def eat and, i n t he same i nst ant , seei ng, her own nat ur e f or t he f i r st
t i met he l ook of a per son seei ng t hat af t er year s of pr eachi ng non- exi st ence,
she had achi eved i t .
He t ur ned t o go. Hi s mot her st opped hi mat t he door , sei zi ng hi s ar m. Wi t h
a l ook of st ubbor n bewi l der ment , wi t h t he l ast of her ef f or t at sel f - decei t ,
she moaned i n a voi ce of t ear f ul l y pet ul ant r epr oach, " Ar e you r eal l y
i ncapabl e of f or gi veness?"
" No, Mot her , " he answer ed, " I ' mnot . I woul d have f or gi ven t he past i f ,
t oday, you had ur ged me t o qui t and di sappear . "
Ther e was a col d wi nd out si de, t i ght eni ng hi s over coat about hi ml i ke an
embr ace, t her e was t he gr eat , f r esh sweep of count r y st r et chi ng at t he f oot
of t he hi l l , and t he cl ear , r ecedi ng sky of t wi l i ght . Li ke t wo sunset s endi ng
t he day, t he r ed gl ow of t he sun was a st r ai ght , st i l l band i n t he west , and
t he br eat hi ng r ed band i n t he east was t he gl ow of hi s mi l l s.
The f eel of t he st eer i ng wheel under hi s hands and of t he smoot h hi ghway
st r eami ng past , as he sped t o New Yor k, had an oddl y br aci ng qual i t y. I t was
a sense of ext r eme pr eci si on and of r el axat i on, t oget her , a sense of act i on
wi t hout st r ai n, whi ch seemed i nexpl i cabl y yout hf ul unt i l he r eal i zed t hat
t hi s was t he way he had act ed and had expect ed al ways t o act , i n hi s yout h
and what he now f el t was l i ke t he si mpl e, ast oni shed quest i on: Why shoul d one
ever have t o act i n any ot her manner ?
I t seemed t o hi mt hat t he skyl i ne of New Yor k, when i t r ose bef or e hi m,
had a st r angel y l umi nous cl ar i t y, t hough i t s shapes wer e vei l ed by di st ance,
a cl ar i t y t hat di d not seemt o r est i n t he obj ect , but f el t as i f t he
i l l umi nat i on came f r omhi m. He l ooked at t he gr eat ci t y, wi t h no t i e t o any
vi ew or usage ot her s had made of i t , i t was not a ci t y of gangst er s or
panhandl er s or der el i ct s or whor es, i t was t he gr eat est i ndust r i al
achi evement i n t he hi st or y of man, i t s onl y meani ng was t hat whi ch i t meant
t o hi m, t her e was a per sonal qual i t y i n hi s si ght of i t , a qual i t y of
possessi veness and of unhesi t ant per cept i on, as i f he wer e seei ng i t f or t he
f i r st t i meor t he l ast .
He paused i n t he si l ent cor r i dor of t he Wayne- Fal kl and, at t he door of t he
sui t e he was t o ent er ; i t t ook hi ma l ong moment ' s ef f or t t o l i f t hi s hand
and knock; i t was t he sui t e t hat had bel onged t o Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
Ther e wer e coi l s of ci gar et t e smoke weavi ng t hr ough t he ai r of t he dr awi ng
r oom, among t he vel vet dr apes and bar e, pol i shed t abl es.
Wi t h i t s cost l y f ur ni t ur e and t he absence of al l per sonal bel ongi ngs, t he
r oomhad t hat ai r of dr ear y l uxur y whi ch per t ai ns t o t r ansi ent occupancy, as
di smal as t he ai r of a f l ophouse. Fi ve f i gur es r ose i n. t he f og at hi s
ent r ance: Wesl ey Mouch, Eugene Lawson, J ames Taggar t , Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s and a
sl i m, sl ouchi ng man who l ooked l i ke a r at - f aced t enni s pl ayer and was
i nt r oduced t o hi mas Ti nky Hol l oway.
" Al l r i ght , " sai d Rear den, cut t i ng of f t he gr eet i ngs, t he smi l es, t he
of f er s of dr i nks and t he comment s on t he nat i onal emer gency, " what di d you
want ?"
" We' r e her e as your f r i ends, Mr . Rear den, " sai d Ti nky Hol l oway, " pur el y as
your f r i ends, f or an i nf or mal conver sat i on wi t h a vi ew t o cl oser mut ual
t eamwor k. "
" We' r e anxi ous t o avai l our sel ves of your out st andi ng abi l i t y, " sai d
Lawson, " and your exper t advi ce on t he count r y' s i ndust r i al pr obl ems. "
" I t ' s men l i ke you t hat we need i n Washi ngt on, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s.
" Ther e' s no r eason why you shoul d have r emai ned an out si der f or so l ong,
when your voi ce i s needed at t he t op l evel of nat i onal l eader shi p.
The si ckeni ng t hi ng about i t , t hought Rear den, was t hat t he speeches wer e
onl y hal f - l i es; t he ot her hal f , i n t hei r t one of hyst er i cal ur gency, was t he
unst at ed wi sh t o have i t somehow be t r ue. " What di d you want ?" he asked.
" Why . . . t o l i st en t o you, Mr . Rear den, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch, t he j er k of
hi s f eat ur es i mi t at i ng a f r i ght ened smi l e; t he smi l e was f aked, t he f ear was
r eal . " We . . . we want t he benef i t of your opi ni on on t he nat i on' s
i ndust r i al cr i si s. "
" I have not hi ng t o say. "
" But , Mr . Rear den, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, " al l we want i s a chance t o co-
oper at e wi t h you. "
" I ' ve t ol d you once, publ i cl y, t hat I don' t co- oper at e at t he poi nt of a
gun. "
" Can' t we bur y t he hat chet at a t i me l i ke t hi s?" sai d Lawson beseechi ngl y.
" The gun? Go ahead. "
" Uh?"
" I t ' s you who' r e hol di ng i t . Bur y i t , i f you t hi nk you can. "
" That . . . t hat was j ust a f i gur e of speech, " Lawson expl ai ned, bl i nki ng,
" I was speaki ng met aphor i cal l y. "
>78
" I wasn' t . "
" Can' t we al l st and t oget her f or t he sake of t he count r y i n t hi s hour of
emer gency?" sai d Dr . Fer r i s. " Can' t we di sr egar d our di f f er ences of opi ni on?
We' r e wi l l i ng t o meet you hal f way. I f t her e' s any aspect of our pol i cy whi ch
you oppose, j ust t el l us and we' l l i ssue a di r ect i ve t o"
" Cut i t , boys. I di dn' t come her e t o hel p you pr et end t hat I ' mnot i n t he
posi t i on I ' mi n and t hat any hal f way i s possi bl e bet ween us.
Now come t o t he poi nt . You' ve pr epar ed some new gi mmi ck t o spr i ng on t he
st eel i ndust r y. What i s i t ?"
" As a mat t er of f act , " sai d Mouch, " we do have a vi t al quest i on t o di scuss
i n r egar d t o t he st eel i ndust r y, but . . . but your l anguage, Mr . Rear den! "
" We don' t want t o spr i ng anyt hi ng on you, " sai d Hol l oway. " We asked you
her e t o di scuss i t wi t h you. "
" I came her e t o t ake or der s. Gi ve t hem. "
" But , Mr . Rear den, we don' t want t o l ook at i t t hat way. We don' t want t o
gi ve you or der s. We want your vol unt ar y consent . "
Rear den smi l ed. " I know i t . "
" You do?" Hol l oway st ar t ed eager l y, but somet hi ng about Rear den' s smi l e
made hi msl i de i nt o uncer t ai nt y. " Wel l , t hen"
" And you, br ot her , " sai d Rear den, " know t hat t hat i s t he f l aw i n your
game, t he f at al f l aw t hat wi l l bl ast i t sky- hi gh. Now do you t el l me what
cl out on my head you' r e wor ki ng so har d not t o l et me not i ceor do I go
home?"
" Oh no, Mr . Rear den! " cr i ed Lawson, wi t h a sudden dar t of hi s eyes t o hi s
wr i st wat ch. " You can' t go now! That i s, I mean, you woul dn' t want t o go
wi t hout hear i ng what we have t o say. "
" Then l et me hear i t . "
He saw t hemgl anci ng at one anot her . Wesl ey Mouch seemed af r ai d t o addr ess
hi m; Mouch' s f ace assumed an expr essi on of pet ul ant st ubbor nness, l i ke a
si gnal of command pushi ng t he ot her s f or war d; what ever t hei r qual i f i cat i ons
t o di spose of t he f at e of t he st eel i ndust r y, t hey had been br ought her e t o
act as Mouch' s conver sat i onal bodyguar ds.
Rear den wonder ed about t he r eason f or t he pr esence of J ames Taggar t ;
Taggar t sat i n gl oomy si l ence, sul l enl y si ppi ng a dr i nk, never gl anci ng i n
hi s di r ect i on.
" We have wor ked out a pl an, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s t oo cheer f ul l y, " whi ch wi l l
sol ve t he pr obl ems of t he st eel i ndust r y and whi ch wi l l meet wi t h your f ul l
appr oval , as a measur e pr ovi di ng f or t he gener al wel f ar e, whi l e pr ot ect i ng
your i nt er est s and i nsur i ng your saf et y i n a"
" Don' t t r y t o t el l me what I ' mgoi ng t o t hi nk. Gi ve me t he f act s. "
" I t i s a pl an whi ch i s f ai r , sound, equi t abl e and"
" Don' t t el l me your eval uat i on. Gi ve me t he f act s. "
" I t i s a pl an whi ch" Dr . Fer r i s st opped; he had l ost t he habi t of nami ng
f act s.
" Under t hi s pl an, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch, " we wi l l gr ant t he i ndust r y a f i ve
per cent i ncr ease i n t he pr i ce of st eel . " He paused t r i umphant l y.
Rear den sai d not hi ng.
" Of cour se, some mi nor adj ust ment s wi l l be necessar y, " sai d Hol l oway
ai r i l y, l eapi ng i nt o t he si l ence as ont o a vacant t enni s cour t . " A cer t ai n
i ncr ease i n pr i ces wi l l have t o be gr ant ed t o t he pr oducer s of i r on or eoh,
t hr ee per cent at most i n vi ew of t he added har dshi ps whi ch some of t hem, Mr .
Lar ki n of Mi nnesot a, f or i nst ance, wi l l now encount er , i nasmuch as t hey' l l
have t o shi p t hei r or e by t he cost l y means of t r ucks, si nce Mr . J ames Taggar t
has had t o sacr i f i ce hi s Mi nnesot a br anch l i ne t o t he publ i c wel f ar e. And, of
cour se, an i ncr ease i n f r ei ght r at es wi l l have t o be gr ant ed t o t he count r y' s
r ai l r oadsl et ' s say, seven per cent , r oughl y speaki ngi n vi ew of t he
absol ut el y essent i al need f or "
Hol l oway st opped, l i ke a pl ayer emer gi ng f r oma whi r l wi nd act i vi t y t o
not i ce suddenl y t hat no opponent was answer i ng hi s shot s.
" But t her e wi l l be no i ncr ease i n wages, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s hast i l y. " An
essent i al poi nt of t he pl an i s t hat we wi l l gr ant no i ncr ease i n wages t o t he
st eel wor ker s, i n spi t e of t hei r i nsi st ent demands. We do wi sh t o be f ai r t o
you, Mr . Rear den, and t o pr ot ect your i nt er est seven at t he r i sk of popul ar
r esent ment and i ndi gnat i on. "
" Of cour se, i f we expect l abor t o make a sacr i f i ce, " sai d Lawson, " we must
show t hemt hat management , t oo, i s maki ng cer t ai n sacr i f i ces f or t he sake of
t he count r y. The mood of l abor i n t he st eel i ndust r y i s ext r emel y t ense at
pr esent , Mr . Rear den, i t i s danger ousl y expl osi ve and . . . and i n or der t o
pr ot ect you f r om. . . f r om. . . " He st opped.
" Yes?" sai d Rear den. " Fr om?"
" Fr ompossi bl e . . . vi ol ence, cer t ai n measur es ar e necessar y, whi ch . . .
Look, J i m" he t ur ned suddenl y t o J ames Taggar t " why don' t you expl ai n i t t o
Mr . Rear den, as a f el l ow i ndust r i al i st ?"
" Wel l , somebody' s got t o suppor t t he r ai l r oads, " sai d Taggar t sul l enl y,
not l ooki ng at hi m. " The count r y needs r ai l r oads and somebody' s got t o hel p
us car r y t he l oad, and i f we don' t get an i ncr ease i n f r ei ght r at es"
" No, no, no! " snapped Wesl ey Mouch. " Tel l Mr . Rear den about t he wor ki ng of
t he Rai l r oad Uni f i cat i on Pl an. "
" Wel l , t he Pl an i s a f ul l success, " sai d Taggar t l et har gi cal l y, " except
f or t he not f ul l y cont r ol l abl e el ement of t i me. I t i s onl y a quest i on of t i me
bef or e our uni f i ed t eamwor k put s ever y r ai l r oad i n t he count r y back on i t s
f eet . The Pl an, I ' mi n a posi t i on t o assur e you, woul d wor k as successf ul l y
f or any ot her i ndust r y. "
" No doubt about t hat , " sai d Rear den, and t ur ned t o Mouch. " Why do you ask
t he st ooge t o wast e my t i me? What has t he Rai l r oad Uni f i cat i on Pl an t o do
wi t h me?"
" But , Mr . Rear den, " cr i ed Mouch wi t h desper at e cheer f ul ness, " t hat ' s t he
pat t er n we' r e t o f ol l ow! That ' s what we cal l ed you her e t o di scuss! "
" What ?"
" The St eel Uni f i cat i on Pl an! "
Ther e was an i nst ant of si l ence, as of br eat hs dr awn af t er a pl unge.
Rear den sat l ooki ng at t hemwi t h a gl ance t hat seemed t o be a gl ance of
i nt er est .
" I n vi ew of t he cr i t i cal pl i ght of t he st eel i ndust r y, " sai d Mouch wi t h a
sudden r ush, as i f not t o gi ve hi msel f t i me t o know what made hi muneasy
about t he nat ur e of Rear den' s gl ance, " and si nce st eel i s t he most vi t al l y,
cr uci al l y basi c commodi t y, t he f oundat i on of our ent i r e i ndust r i al st r uct ur e,
dr ast i c measur es must be t aken t o pr eser ve t he count r y' s st eel - maki ng
f aci l i t i es, equi pment and pl ant . " The t one and i mpet us of publ i c speaki ng
car r i ed hi mt hat f ar and no f ar t her . " Wi t h t hi s obj ect i ve i n vi ew, our Pl an
i s . . . our Pl an i s . . . "
" Our Pl an I s r eal l y ver y si mpl e, " sai d Ti nky Hol l oway, st r i vi ng t o pr ove
i t by t he gai l y bounci ng si mpl i ci t y of hi s voi ce. " We' l l l i f t al l
r est r i ct i ons f r omt he pr oduct i on of st eel and ever y company wi l l pr oduce al l
i t can, accor di ng t o i t s abi l i t y. But t o avoi d t he wast e and danger of dog-
eat - dog compet i t i on, al l t he compani es wi l l deposi t t hei r gr oss ear ni ngs i nt o
a common pool , t o be known as t he St eel Uni f i cat i on Pool , i n char ge of a
speci al Boar d. At t he end of t he year , t he Boar d wi l l di st r i but e t hese
ear ni ngs by t ot al i ng t he nat i on' s st eel out put and di vi di ng i t by t he number
of open- hear t h f ur naces i n exi st ence, t hus ar r i vi ng at an aver age whi ch wi l l
be f ai r t o al l and ever y company wi l l be pai d accor di ng t o i t s need. The
pr eser vat i on of i t s f ur naces bei ng i t s basi c need, ever y company wi l l be pai d
accor di ng t o t he number of f ur naces i t owns. "
He st opped, wai t ed, t hen added, " That ' s i t , Mr . Rear den, " and get t i ng no
answer , sai d, " Oh, t her e' s a l ot of wr i nkl es t o be i r oned out , but . . . but
t hat ' s i t . "
What ever r eact i on t hey had expect ed, i t was not t he one t hey saw.
Rear den l eaned back i n hi s chai r , hi s eyes at t ent i ve, but f i xed on space,
as i f l ooki ng at a not t oo di st ant di st ance, t hen he asked, wi t h an odd not e
of qui et l y i mper sonal amusement , " Wi l l you t el l me j ust one t hi ng, boys: what
i s i t you' r e count i ng on?"
He knew t hat t hey under st ood. He saw, on t hei r f aces, t hat st ubbor nl y
evasi ve l ook whi ch he had once t hought t o be t he l ook of a l i ar cheat i ng a
vi ct i m, but whi ch he now knew t o be wor se: t he l ook of a man cheat i ng hi msel f
of hi s own consci ousness. They di d not answer . They r emai ned si l ent , as i f
st r uggl i ng, not t o make hi mf or get hi s quest i on, but t o make t hemsel ves
f or get t hat t hey had hear d i t .
" I t ' s a sound, pr act i cal Pl an! " snapped J ames Taggar t unexpect edl y, wi t h
an angr y edge of sudden ani mat i on i n hi s voi ce. " I t wi l l wor k!
I t has t o wor k! We want i t t o wor k! "
No one answer ed hi m.
" Mr . Rear den . . . ?" sai d Hol l oway t i mi dl y.
" Wel l , l et me see, " sai d Rear den. " Or r en Boyl e' s Associ at ed St eel owns 60
open- hear t h f ur naces, one- t hi r d of t hemst andi ng i dl e and t he r est pr oduci ng
an aver age of 300 t ons of st eel per f ur nace per day.
I own 20 open- hear t h f ur naces, wor ki ng at capaci t y, pr oduci ng t ons of
Rear den Met al per f ur nace per day. So we own SO ' pool ed'
f ur naces wi t h a ' pool ed' out put of 27, 000 t ons, whi ch makes an aver age of
337. 5 t ons per f ur nace. Each day of t he year , I , pr oduci ng 15, 000 t ons, wi l l
be pai d f or 6, 750 t ons. Boyl e, pr oduci ng 12, 000 t ons, wi l l be pai d f or 20, 250
t ons. Never mi nd t he ot her member s of t he pool , t hey won' t change t he scal e,
except t o br i ng t he aver age st i l l l ower , most of t hemdoi ng wor se t han Boyl e,
none of t hempr oduci ng as much as I . Now how l ong do you expect me t o l ast
under your Pl an?"
Ther e was no answer , t hen Lawson cr i ed suddenl y, bl i ndl y, r i ght eousl y, " I n
t i me of nat i onal per i l , i t i s your dut y t o ser ve, suf f er and wor k f or t he
sal vat i on of t he count r y! "
" I don' t see why pumpi ng my ear ni ngs i nt o Or r en Boyl e' s pocket i s goi ng t o
save t he count r y. "
" You have t o make cer t ai n sacr i f i ces t o t he publ i c wel f ar e! "
" I don' t see why Or r en Boyl e i s mor e ' t he publ i c' t han I am. "
" Oh, i t ' s not a quest i on of Mr . Boyl e at al l ! I t ' s much wi der t han any one
per son. I t ' s a mat t er of pr eser vi ng t he count r y' s nat ur al r esour cessuch as
f act or i esand savi ng t he whol e of t he nat i on' s i ndust r i al pl ant . We cannot
per mi t t he r ui n of an est abl i shment as vast as Mr . Boyl e' s. The count r y needs
i t . "
" I t hi nk, " sai d Rear den sl owl y, " t hat t he count r y needs me much mor e t han
i t needs Or r en Boyl e. "
" But of cour se! " cr i ed Lawson wi t h st ar t l ed ent husi asm. " The count r y needs
you, Mr . Rear den! You do r eal i ze t hat , don' t you?"
But Lawson' s avi d pl easur e at t he f ami l i ar f or mul a of sel f - i mmol at i on,
vani shed abr upt l y at t he sound of Rear den' s voi ce, a col d, t r ader ' s voi ce
answer i ng: " I do. "
" I t ' s not Boyl e al one who' s i nvol ved, " sai d Hol l oway pl eadi ngl y.
" The count r y' s economy woul d not be abl e t o st and a maj or di sl ocat i on at
t he pr esent moment . Ther e ar e t housands of Boyl e' s wor ker s, suppl i er s and
cust omer s. What woul d happen t o t hemi f Associ at ed St eel went bankr upt ?"
" What wi l l happen t o t he t housands of my wor ker s, suppl i er s and cust omer s
when I go bankr upt ?"
" You, Mr . Rear den?" sai d Hol l oway i ncr edul ousl y. " But you' r e t he r i chest ,
saf est and st r ongest i ndust r i al i st i n t he count r y at t hi s moment ! "
" What about t he moment af t er next ?"
" Uh?"
" How l ong do you expect me t o be abl e t o pr oduce at a l oss?"
" Oh, Mr . Rear den, I have compl et e f ai t h i n you! "
" To hel l wi t h your f ai t h! How do you expect me t o do i t ?"
" You' l l manage! "
" How?"
Ther e was no answer .
" We can' t t heor i ze about t he f ut ur e, " cr i ed Wesl ey Mouch, " when her e' s an
i mmedi at e nat i onal col l apse t o avoi d! We' ve got t o save t he count r y' s
economy! We' ve got t o do somet hi ng! " Rear den' s i mper t ur bi bl e gl ance of
cur i osi t y dr ove hi mt o heedl essness. " I f you don' t l i ke i t , do you have a
bet t er sol ut i on t o of f er ?"
" Sur e, " sai d Rear den easi l y. " I f i t ' s pr oduct i on t hat you want , t hen get
out of t he way, j unk al l of your damn r egul at i ons, l et Or r en Boyl e go br oke,
l et me buy t he pl ant of Associ at ed St eel and i t wi l l be pour i ng a t housand
t ons a day f r omever y one of i t s si xt y f ur naces. "
" Oh, but . . . but we coul dn' t ! " gasped Mouch. " That woul d be monopol y! "
Rear den chuckl ed. " Okay, " he sai d i ndi f f er ent l y, " t hen l et my mi l l s
super i nt endent buy i t . Hel l do a bet t er j ob t han Boyl e. "
" Oh, but t hat woul d be l et t i ng t he st r ong have an advant age over t he weak!
We coul dn' t do t hat ! "
" Then don' t t al k about savi ng t he count r y' s economy. "
" Al l we want i s" He st opped.
" Al l you want i s pr oduct i on wi t hout men who' r e abl e t o pr oduce, i sn' t i t ?"
" That . . . t hat ' s t heor y. That ' s j ust a t heor et i cal ext r eme. Al l we want
i s a t empor ar y adj ust ment . "
" You' ve been maki ng t hose t empor ar y adj ust ment s f or year s. Don' t you see
t hat you' ve r un out of t i me?"
" That ' s j ust t heo . . . " Hi s voi ce t r ai l ed of f and st opped.
" Wel l , now, l ook her e, " sai d Hol l oway caut i ousl y, " i t ' s not as i f Mr .
Boyl e wer e act ual l y . . . weak. Mr . Boyl e i s an ext r emel y abl e man.
I t ' s j ust t hat he' s suf f er ed some unf or t unat e r ever ses, qui t e beyond hi s
cont r ol . He had i nvest ed l ar ge sums i n a publ i c- spi r i t ed pr oj ect t o assi st
t he undevel oped peopl es of Sout h Amer i ca, and t hat copper cr ash of t hei r s has
deal t hi ma sever e f i nanci al bl ow. So i t ' s onl y a mat t er of gi vi ng hi ma
chance t o r ecover , a hel pi ng hand t o br i dge t he gap, a bi t of t empor ar y
assi st ance, not hi ng mor e. Al l we have t o do i s j ust equal i ze t he sacr i f i ce
t hen ever ybody wi l l r ecover and pr osper . "
" You' ve been equal i zi ng sacr i f i ce f or over a hundr ed" he st opped " f or
t housands of year s, " sai d Rear den sl owl y. " Don' t you see t hat you' r e at t he
end of t he r oad?"
" That ' s j ust t heor y! " snapped Wesl ey Mouch.
Rear den smi l ed. " I know your pr act i ce, " he sai d sof t l y. " I t ' s your t heor y
t hat I ' mt r yi ng t o under st and. "
He knew t hat t he speci f i c r eason behi nd t he Pl an was Or r en Boyl e; he knew
t hat t he wor ki ng of an i nt r i cat e mechani sm, oper at ed by pul l , t hr eat ,
pr essur e, bl ackmai l a mechani sml i ke an i r r at i onal addi ng machi ne r un amuck
and t hr owi ng up any chance sumat t he whi mof any moment had happened t o add
up t o Boyl e' s pr essur e upon t hese men t o ext or t f or hi mt hi s l ast pi ece of
pl under . He knew al so t hat Boyl e was not t he cause of i t or t he essent i al t o
consi der , t hat Boyl e was onl y a chance r i der , not t he bui l der , of t he
i nf er nal machi ne t hat had dest r oyed t he wor l d, t hat i t was not Boyl e who had
made i t possi bl e, nor any of t he men i n t hi s r oom. They, t oo, wer e onl y
r i der s on a machi ne wi t hout a dr i ver , t hey wer e t r embl i ng hi t chhi ker s who
knew t hat t hei r vehi cl e was about t o cr ash i nt o i t s f i nal abyssand i t was
not l ove or f ear of Boyl e t hat made t hemcl i ng t o t hei r cour se and pr ess on
t owar d t hei r end, i t was somet hi ng el se, i t was some one namel ess el ement
whi ch t hey knew and evaded knowi ng, somet hi ng whi ch was nei t her t hought nor
hope, somet hi ng he i dent i f i ed onl y as a cer t ai n l ook i n t hei r f aces, a
f ur t i ve l ook sayi ng: I can get away wi t h i t . Why?
he t hought . Why do t hey t hi nk t hey can?
" We can' t af f or d any t heor i es! " cr i ed Wesl ey Mouch. " We' ve got t o act ! "
" Wel l , t hen, I ' l l of f er you anot her sol ut i on. Why don' t you t ake over my
mi l l s and be done wi t h i t ?"
The j ol t t hat shook t hemwas genui ne t er r or .
" Oh no! " gasped Mouch.
" We woul dn' t t hi nk of i t ! " cr i ed Hol l oway.
" We st and f or f r ee ent er pr i se! " cr i ed Dr . Fer r i s.
" We don' t want t o har myou! " cr i ed Lawson. " We' r e your f r i ends, Mr .
Rear den. Can' t we al l wor k t oget her ? We' r e your f r i ends. "
Ther e, acr oss t he r oom, st ood a t abl e wi t h a t el ephone, t he same t abl e,
most l i kel y, and t he same i nst r ument and suddenl y Rear den f el t as i f he wer e
seei ng t he convul sed f i gur e of a man bent over t hat t el ephone, a man who had
t hen known what he, Rear den, was now begi nni ng t o l ear n, a man f i ght i ng t o
r ef use hi mt he same r equest whi ch he was now r ef usi ng t o t he pr esent t enant s
of t hi s r oomhe saw t he f i ni sh of t hat f i ght , a man' s t or t ur ed f ace l i f t ed t o
conf r ont hi mand a desper at e voi ce sayi ng st eadi l y: " Mr . Rear den, I swear t o
you . . . by t he woman I l ove . . . t hat I amyour f r i end. "
Thi s was t he act he had t hen cal l ed t r eason, and t hi s was t he man he had
r ej ect ed i n or der t o go on ser vi ng t he men conf r ont i ng hi mnow.
Who, t hen, had been t he t r ai t or ?he t hought ; he t hought i t al most wi t hout
f eel i ng, wi t hout r i ght t o f eel , consci ous of not hi ng but a sol emnl y r ever ent
cl ar i t y. Who had chosen t o gi ve i t s pr esent t enant s t he means t o acqui r e t hi s
r oom? Whomhad he sacr i f i ced and t o whose pr of i t ?
" Mr . Rear den! " moaned Lawson. " What ' s t he mat t er ?"
He t ur ned hi s head, saw Lawson' s eyes wat chi ng hi mf ear f ul l y and guessed
what l ook Lawson had caught i n hi s f ace.
" We don' t want t o sei ze your mi l l s! " cr i ed Mouch.
" We don' t want t o depr i ve you of your pr oper t y! " cr i ed Dr . Fer r i s.
" You don' t under st and us! "
" I ' mbegi nni ng t o. "
A year ago, he t hought , t hey woul d have shot hi m; t wo year s ago, t hey
woul d have conf i scat ed hi s pr oper t y; gener at i ons ago, men of t hei r ki nd had
been abl e t o af f or d t he l uxur y of mur der and expr opr i at i on, t he saf et y of
pr et endi ng t o t hemsel ves and t hei r vi ct i ms t hat mat er i al l oot was t hei r onl y
obj ect i ve. But t hei r t i me was r unni ng out and hi s f el l ow vi ct i ms had gone,
gone sooner t han any hi st or i cal schedul e had pr omi sed, and t hey, t he l oot er s,
wer e now l ef t t o f ace t he undi sgui sed r eal i t y of t hei r own goal .
" Look, boys, " he sai d wear i l y. " I know what you want . You want t o eat my
mi l l s and have t hem, t oo. And al l I want t o know i s t hi s: what makes you
t hi nk i t ' s possi bl e?"
" I don' t know what you mean, " sai d Mouch i n an i nj ur ed t one of voi ce. " We
sai d we di dn' t want your mi l l s. "
" Al l r i ght , I ' l l say i t mor e pr eci sel y: You want t o eat me and have me,
t oo. How do you pr opose t o do i t ?"
" I don' t know how you can say t hat , af t er we' ve gi ven you ever y assur ance
t hat we consi der you of i nval uabl e i mpor t ance t o t he count r y, t o t he st eel
i ndust r y, t o"
" I bel i eve you. That ' s what makes t he r i ddl e Har der . You consi der me of
i nval uabl e i mpor t ance t o t he count r y? Hel l , you consi der me of i nval uabl e
i mpor t ance even t o your own necks. You si t t her e t r embl i ng, because you know
t hat I ' mt he l ast one l ef t t o save your l i vesand you know t hat t i me i s as
shor t as t hat . Yet you pr opose a pl an t o dest r oy me, a pl an whi ch demands,
wi t h an i di ot ' s cr udeness, wi t hout l oophol es, det our s or escape, t hat I wor k
at a l osst hat I wor k, wi t h ever y t on I pour cost i ng me mor e t han I ' l l get
f or i t t hat I f eed t he l ast of my weal t h away unt i l we al l st ar ve t oget her .
That much i r r at i onal i t y i s not possi bl e t o any man or any l oot er . For your
own sakenever mi nd t he count r y' s or mi neyou must be count i ng on somet hi ng.
What ?"
He saw t he get t i ng- away- wi t h- i t l ook on t hei r f aces, a pecul i ar l ook t hat
seemed secr et i ve, yet r esent f ul , as i f , i ncr edi bl y, i t wer e he who was hi di ng
some secr et f r omt hem.
" I don' t see why you shoul d choose t o t ake such a def eat i st vi ew of t he
si t uat i on, " sai d Mouch sul l enl y.
" Def eat i st ? Do you r eal l y expect me t o be abl e t o r emai n i n busi ness under
your Pl an?"
" But i t ' s onl y t empor ar y! "
" Ther e' s no such t hi ng as a t empor ar y sui ci de. "
" But i t ' s onl y f or t he dur at i on of t he emer gency! Onl y unt i l t he count r y
r ecover s! "
" How do you expect i t t o r ecover ?"
Ther e was no answer .
" How do you expect me t o pr oduce af t er I go bankr upt ?"
" You won' t go bankr upt . You' l l al ways pr oduce, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s
i ndi f f er ent l y, nei t her i n pr ai se nor i n bl ame, mer el y i n t he t one of st at i ng
a f act of nat ur e, as he woul d have sai d t o anot her man: You' l l al ways be a
bum, " You can' t hel p i t . I t ' s i n your bl ood. Or , t o be mor e sci ent i f i c:
you' r e condi t i oned t hat way. "
Rear den sat up: i t was as i f he had been st r uggl i ng t o f i nd t he secr et
combi nat i on of a l ock and f el t , at t hose wor ds, a f ai nt cl i ck wi t hi n, as of
t he f i r st t umbr el f al l i ng i nt o pl ace.
" I t ' s onl y a mat t er of weat her i ng t hi s cr i si s, " sai d Mouch, " of gi vi ng
peopl e a r epr i eve, a chance t o cat ch up. "
" And t hen?"
" Then t hi ngs wi l l i mpr ove. "
" How?"
Ther e was no answer .
" What wi l l i mpr ove t hem?"
Ther e was no answer .
" Who wi l l i mpr ove t hem?"
" Chr i st , Mr . Rear den, peopl e don' t j ust st and st i l l ! " cr i ed Hol l oway,
" They do t hi ngs, t hey gr ow, t hey move f or war d! "
" What peopl e?"
Hol l oway waved hi s hand vaguel y. " Peopl e, " he sai d.
" What peopl e? The peopl e t o whomyou' r e goi ng t o f eed t he l ast of Rear den
St eel , wi t hout get t i ng anyt hi ng i n r et ur n? The peopl e who' l l go on consumi ng
mor e t han t hey pr oduce?"
" Condi t i ons wi l l change. "
" Who' l l change t hem?"
Ther e was no answer .
" Have you anyt hi ng l ef t t o l oot ? I f you di dn' t see t he nat ur e of your
pol i cy bef or ei t ' s not possi bl e t hat you don' t see i t now. Look ar ound you.
Al l t hose damned Peopl e' s St at es al l over t he ear t h have been exi st i ng onl y
on t he handout s whi ch you squeezed f or t hemout of t hi s count r y. But youyou
have no pl ace l ef t t o sponge on or mooch f r om. No count r y on t he f ace of t he
gl obe. Thi s was t he gr eat est and l ast . You' ve dr ai ned i t . You' ve mi l ked i t
dr y. Of al l t hat i r r et r i evabl e spl endor , I ' monl y one r emnant , t he l ast , What
wi l l you do, you and your Peopl e' s Gl obe, af t er you' ve f i ni shed me? What ar e
you hopi ng f or ? What do you see aheadexcept pl ai n, st ar k, ani mal
st ar vat i on?"
They di d not answer . They di d not l ook at hi m. Thei r f aces wor e
expr essi ons of st ubbor n r esent ment , as i f hi s wer e t he pl ea of a l i ar .
Then Lawson sai d sof t l y, hal f i n r epr oach, hal f i n scor n, " Wel l , af t er
al l , you busi nessmen have kept pr edi ct i ng di sast er s f or year s, you' ve cr i ed
cat ast r ophe at ever y pr ogr essi ve measur e and t ol d us t hat we' l l per i shbut we
haven' t . " He st ar t ed a smi l e, but dr ew back f r omt he sudden i nt ensi t y of
Rear den s eyes.
Rear den had f el t anot her cl i ck i n hi s mi nd, t he shar per cl i ck of t he
second t umbr el connect i ng t he ci r cui t s of t he l ock. He l eaned f or war d.
" What ar e you count i ng on?" he asked; hi s t one had changed, i t was l ow, i t
had t he st eady, pr essi ng, dr oni ng sound of a dr i l l .
" I t ' s onl y a mat t er of gai ni ng t i me! " cr i ed Mouch.
" Ther e i sn' t any t i me l ef t t o gai n. "
" Al l we need i s a chance! " cr i ed Lawson.
" Ther e ar e no chances l ef t . "
" I t ' s onl y unt i l we r ecover ! " cr i ed Hol l oway.
" Ther e i s no way t o r ecover . "
" Onl y unt i l our pol i ci es begi n t o wor k! " cr i ed Dr . Fer r i s.
" Ther e' s no way t o make t he i r r at i onal wor k. ' 1 Ther e was no answer .
" What can save you now?"
" Oh, you' l l do somet hi ng! " cr i ed J ames Taggar t .
Theneven t hough i t was onl y a sent ence he had hear d al l hi s l i f ehe f el t
a deaf eni ng cr ash wi t hi n hi m, as of a st eel door dr oppi ng open at t he t ouch
of t he f i nal t umbr el , t he one smal l number compl et i ng t he sumand r el easi ng
t he i nt r i cat e l ock, t he answer uni t i ng al l t he pi eces, t he quest i ons and t he
unsol ved wounds of hi s l i f e.
I n t he moment of si l ence af t er t he cr ash, i t seemed t o hi mt hat he hear d
Fr anci sco' s voi ce, aski ng hi mqui et l y i n t he bal l r oomof t hi s bui l di ng, yet
aski ng i t al so her e and now: " Who i s t he gui l t i est man i n t hi s r oom?" He
hear d hi s own answer of t he past : " I suppose
J ames Taggar t ?" and Fr anci sco' s voi ce sayi ng wi t hout r epr oach: " No, Mr .
Rear den, i t ' s not J ames Taggar t , " but her e, i n t hi s r oomand t hi s moment , hi s
mi nd answer ed: " I am. "
He had cur sed t hese l oot er s f or t hei r st ubbor n bl i ndness? I t was he who
had made i t possi bl e. Fr omt he f i r st ext or t i on he had accept ed, f r omt he
f i r st di r ect i ve he had obeyed, he had gi ven t hemcause t o bel i eve t hat
r eal i t y was a t hi ng t o be cheat ed, t hat one coul d demand t he i r r at i onal and
someone somehow woul d pr ovi de i t . I f he had accept ed t he Equal i zat i on of
Oppor t uni t y Bi l l , i f he had accept ed Di r ect i ve 10- 289, i f he had accept ed t he
l aw t hat t hose who coul d not equal hi s abi l i t y had t he r i ght t o di spose of
i t , t hat t hose who had not ear ned wer e t o pr of i t , but he who had was t o l ose,
t hat t hose who coul d not t hi nk wer e t o command, but he who coul d was t o obey
t hemt hen wer e t hey i l l ogi cal i n bel i evi ng t hat t hey exi st ed i n an i r r at i onal
uni ver se? He had made i t f or t hem, he had pr ovi ded i t .
Wer e t hey i l l ogi cal i n bel i evi ng t hat t hei r s was onl y t o wi sh, t o wi sh
wi t h no concer n f or t he possi bl eand t hat hi s was t o f ul f i l l t hei r wi shes, by
means t hey di d not have t o know or name? They, t he i mpot ent myst i cs,
st r uggl i ng t o escape t he r esponsi bi l i t y of r eason, had known t hat he, t he
r at i onal i st , had under t aken t o ser ve t hei r whi ms.
They had known t hat he had gi ven t hema bl ank check on r eal i t y
hi s was not t o ask why?t hei r s was not t o ask how?l et t hemdemand t hat he
gi ve t hema shar e of hi s weal t h, t hen al l t hat he owns, t hen mor e t han he
ownsi mpossi bl e?no, he' l l do somet hi ng!
He di d not know t hat he had l eaped t o hi s f eet , t hat he st ood st ar i ng down
at J ames Taggar t , seei ng i n t he unbr i dl ed shapel essness of Taggar t ' s f eat ur es
t he answer t o al l t he devast at i on he had wi t nessed t hr ough t he year s of hi s
l i f e.
" What ' s t he mat t er , Mr . Rear den? What have I sai d?" Taggar t was aski ng
wi t h r i si ng anxi et ybut he was out of t he r each of Taggar t ' s voi ce.
He was seei ng t he pr ogr essi on of t he year s, t he monst r ous ext or t i ons, t he
i mpossi bl e demands, t he i nexpl i cabl e vi ct or i es of evi l , t he pr epost er ous
pl ans and uni nt el l i gi bl e goal s pr ocl ai med i n vol umes of muddy phi l osophy, t he
desper at e wonder of t he vi ct i ms who t hought t hat some compl ex, mal evol ent
wi sdomwas movi ng t he power s dest r oyi ng t he wor l dand al l of i t had r est ed on
one t enet behi nd t he shi f t y eyes of t he vi ct or s: he' l l do somet hi ng! . . .
We' l l get away wi t h i t he' l l l et ushe' l l do somet hi ng! . . .
You busi nessmen kept pr edi ct i ng t hat we' d per i sh, but we haven' t .
. . . I t was t r ue, he t hought . They had not been bl i nd t o r eal i t y, he had
bl i nd t o t he r eal i t y he hi msel f had cr eat ed. No, t hey had not per i shed, but
who had? Who had per i shed t o pay f or t hei r manner of sur vi val ? El l i s Wyat t .
. . Ken Danagger . . . Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
He was r eachi ng f or hi s hat and coat , when he not i ced t hat t he men i n t he
r oomwer e t r yi ng t o st op hi m, t hat t hei r f aces had a l ook of pani c and t hei r
voi ces wer e cr yi ng i n bewi l der ment : " What ' s t he mat t er , Mr .
Rear den? . . . Why? . . . But why? . . . What have we sai d? . . .
You' r e not goi ng! . . . You can' t go! . . . I t ' s t oo ear l y! . . . Not yet !
Oh, not yet ! "
He f el t as i f he wer e seei ng t hemf r omt he r ear wi ndow of a speedi ng
expr ess, as i f t hey st ood on t he t r ack behi nd hi m, wavi ng t hei r ar ms i n
f ut i l e gest ur es and scr eami ng i ndi st i ngui shabl e sounds, t hei r f i gur es gr owi ng
smal l er i n t he di st ance, t hei r voi ces f adi ng.
One of t hemt r i ed t o st op hi mas he t ur ned t o t he door . He pushed hi mout
of hi s way, not r oughl y, but wi t h a si mpl e, smoot h sweep of hi s ar m, as one
br ushes asi de an obst r uct i ng cur t ai n, t hen wal ked out .
Si l ence was hi s onl y sensat i on, as he sat at t he wheel of hi s car ,
speedi ng back down t he r oad t o Phi l adel phi a. I t was t he si l ence of i mmobi l i t y
wi t hi n hi m, as i f , possessi ng knowl edge, he coul d now af f or d t o r est , wi t h no
f ur t her act i vi t y of soul . He f el t not hi ng, nei t her angui sh nor el at i on. I t
was as i f , by an ef f or t of year s, he had cl i mbed a mount ai n t o gai n a di st ant
vi ew and, havi ng r eached t he t op, had f al l en t o l i e st i l l , t o r est bef or e he
l ooked, f r ee t o spar e hi msel f f or t he f i r st t i me.
He was awar e of t he l ong, empt y r oad st r eami ng, t hen cur vi ng, t hen
st r eami ng st r ai ght bef or e hi m, of t he ef f or t l ess pr essur e of hi s hands on t he
wheel and t he scr eech of t he t i r es on t he cur ves. But he f el t as i f he wer e
speedi ng down a skyway suspended and coi l i ng i n empt y space.
The passer s- by at t he f act or i es, t he br i dges, t he power pl ant s al ong hi s
r oad saw a si ght t hat had once been nat ur al among t hem: a t r i m, expensi vel y
power f ul car dr i ven by a conf i dent man, wi t h t he concept of success
pr ocl ai med mor e l oudl y t han by any el ect r i c si gn, pr ocl ai med by t he dr i ver ' s
gar ment s, by hi s exper t st eer i ng, by hi s pur posef ul speed.
They wat ched hi mgo past and vani sh i nt o t he haze equat i ng ear t h wi t h
ni ght .
He saw hi s mi l l s r i si ng i n t he dar kness, as a bl ack si l houet t e agai nst a
br eat hi ng gl ow. The gl ow was t he col or of bur ni ng gol d, and " Rear den St eel "
st ood wr i t t en acr oss t he sky i n t he cool , whi t e f i r e of cr yst al .
He l ooked at t he l ong si l houet t e, t he cur ves of bl ast f ur naces st andi ng
l i ke t r i umphal ar ches, t he smokest acks r i si ng l i ke a sol emn col onnade al ong
an avenue of honor i n an i mper i al ci t y, t he br i dges hangi ng l i ke gar l ands,
t he cr anes sal ut i ng l i ke l ances, t he smoke wavi ng sl owl y l i ke f l ags. The
si ght br oke t he st i l l ness wi t hi n hi mand he smi l ed i n gr eet i ng. I t was a
smi l e of happi ness, of l ove, of dedi cat i on. He had never l oved hi s mi l l s as
he di d i n t hat moment , f or seei ng t hemby an act of hi s own vi si on, cl ear ed
of al l but hi s own code of val ues, i n a l umi nous r eal i t y t hat hel d no
cont r adi ct i onshe was seei ng t he r eason of hi s l ove: t he mi l l s wer e an
achi evement of hi s mi nd, devot ed t o hi s enj oyment of exi st ence, er ect ed i n a
r at i onal wor l d t o deal wi t h r at i onal men. I f t hose men had vani shed, i f t hat
wor l d was gone, i f hi s mi l l s had ceased t o ser ve hi s val uest hen t he mi l l s
wer e onl y a pi l e of dead scr ap, t o be l ef t t o cr umbl e, t he sooner t he bet t er
t o be l ef t , not as an act of t r eason, but as an act of l oyal t y t o t hei r
act ual meani ng.
The mi l l s wer e st i l l a mi l e ahead when a smal l spur t of f l ame caught hi s
sudden at t ent i on. Among al l t he shades of f i r e i n t he vast spr ead of
st r uct ur es, he coul d t el l t he abnor mal and t he out - of - pl ace: t hi s one was t oo
r aw a shade of yel l ow and i t was dar t i ng f r oma spot wher e no f i r e had r eason
t o be, f r oma st r uct ur e by t he gat e of t he mai n ent r ance.
I n t he next i nst ant , he hear d t he dr y cr ack of a gunshot , t hen t hr ee
answer i ng cr acks i n swi f t successi on, l i ke an angr y hand sl appi ng a sudden
assai l ant .
Then t he bl ack mass bar r i ng t he r oad i n t he di st ance t ook shape, i t was
not mer e dar kness and i t di d not r ecede as he came cl oser i t was a mob
squi r mi ng at t he mai n gat e, t r yi ng t o st or mt he mi l l s.
He had t i me t o di st i ngui sh wavi ng ar ms, some wi t h cl ubs, some wi t h
cr owbar s, some wi t h r i f l est he yel l ow f l ames of bur ni ng wood gushi ng f r omt he
wi ndow of t he gat ekeeper ' s of f i cet he bl ue cr acks of gunf i r e dar t i ng out of
t he mob and t he answer s spi t t i ng f r omt he r oof s of t he st r uct ur eshe had t i me
t o see a human f i gur e t wi st i ng backwar d and f al l i ng f r omt he t op of a car
t hen he sent hi s wheel s i nt o a shr i eki ng cur ve, t ur ni ng i nt o t he dar kness of
a si de r oad.
He was goi ng at t he r at e of si xt y mi l es an hour down t he r ut s of an
unpaved soi l , t owar d t he east er n gat e of t he mi l l sand t he gat e was i n si ght
when t he i mpact of t i r es on a gul l y t hr ew t he car of f t he r oad, t o t he edge
of a r avi ne wher e an anci ent sl ag heap l ay at t he bot t om. Wi t h t he wei ght of
hi s chest and el bow on t he wheel , pi t t ed agai nst t wo t ons of speedi ng met al ,
t he cur ve of hi s body f or ced t he cur ve of t he car t o compl et e i t s scr eami ng
hal f - ci r cl e, sweepi ng i t back ont o t he r oad and i nt o t he cont r ol of hi s
hands. I t had t aken one i nst ant , but i n t he next hi s f oot went down on t he
br ake, t ear i ng t he engi ne t o a st op: f or i n t he moment when hi s headl i ght s
had swept t he r avi ne, he had gl i mpsed an obl ong shape, dar ker t han t he gr ay
of t he weeds on t he sl ope, and i t had seemed t o hi mt hat a br i ef whi t e bl ur
had been a human hand wavi ng f or hel p.
Thr owi ng of f hi s over coat , he went hur r yi ng down t he si de of t he r avi ne,
l umps of ear t h gi vi ng way under hi s f eet , he went cat chi ng at t he dr i ed coi l s
of br ush, hal f - r unni ng, hal f - sl i di ng t owar d t he l ong bl ack f or mwhi ch he
coul d now di st i ngui sh t o be a human body. A scumof cot t on was swi mmi ng
agai nst t he moon, he coul d see t he whi t e of a hand and t he shape of an ar m
l yi ng st r et ched i n t he weeds, but t he body l ay st i l l , wi t h no si gn of mot i on.
" Mr . Rear den . . . "
I t was a whi sper st r uggl i ng t o be a cr y, i t was t he t er r i bl e sound of
eager ness f i ght i ng agai nst a voi ce t hat coul d be not hi ng but a moan of pai n.
He di d not know whi ch came f i r st , i t f el t l i ke a si ngl e shock: hi s t hought
t hat t he voi ce was f ami l i ar , a r ay of moonl i ght br eaki ng t hr ough t he cot t on,
t he movement of f al l i ng down on hi s knees by t he whi t e oval of a f ace, and
t he r ecogni t i on. I t was t he Wet Nur se.
He f el t t he boy' s hand cl ut chi ng hi s wi t h t he abnor mal st r engt h of agony,
whi l e he was not i ci ng t he t or t ur ed l i nes of t he f ace, t he dr ai ned l i ps, t he
gl azi ng eyes and t he t hi n, dar k t r i ckl e f r oma smal l , bl ack hol e i n t oo
wr ong, t oo cl ose a spot on t he l ef t si de of t he boy' s chest .
" Mr . Rear den . . . I want ed t o st op t hem. . . I want ed t o save you . . . "
" What happened t o you, ki d?"
" They shot me, so I woul dn' t t al k . . . I want ed t o pr event " hi s hand
f umbl ed t owar d t he r ed gl ar e i n t he sky" what t hey' r e doi ng . . .
I was t oo l at e, but I ' ve t r i ed t o . . . I ' ve t r i ed . . . And . . . and I ' m
st i l l abl e . . . t o t al k . . . Li st en, t hey"
" You need hel p. Let ' s get you t o a hospi t al and"
" No! Wai t ! I . . . I don' t t hi nk I have much t i me l ef t t o me and . . . and
I ' ve got t o t el l you . . . Li st en, t hat r i ot . . . i t ' s st aged . . . on
or der s f r omWashi ngt on . . . I t ' s not wor ker s . . . not your wor ker s . . .
i t ' s t hose new boys of t hei r s and . . . and a l ot of goons hi r ed on t he
out si de . . . Don' t bel i eve a wor d t hey' l l t el l you about i t . . . I t ' s a
f r ame- up . . . i t ' s t hei r r ot t en ki nd of f r ame- up . . . "
Ther e was a desper at e i nt ensi t y i n t he boy' s f ace, t he i nt ensi t y of a
cr usader ' s bat t l e, hi s voi ce seemed t o gai n a sound of l i f e f r omsome f uel
bur ni ng i n br oken spur t s wi t hi n hi m- and Rear den knew t hat t he gr eat est
assi st ance he coul d now r ender was t o l i st en.
" They . . . t hey' ve got a St eel Uni f i cat i on Pl an r eady . . . and t hey need
an excuse f or i t . . . because t hey know t hat t he count r y won' t t ake i t . . .
and you won' t st and f or i t . . . They' r e af r ai d t hi s one' s goi ng t o be t oo
much f or ever ybody . . . i t ' s j ust a pl an t o ski n you al i ve, t hat ' s al l . . .
So t hey want t o make i t l ook l i ke you' r e st ar vi ng your wor ker s . . . and t he
wor ker s ar e r unni ng amuck and you' r e unabl e t o cont r ol t hem. . . and t he
gover nment ' s got t o st ep i n f or your own pr ot ect i on and f or publ i c saf et y . .
. That ' s goi ng t o be t hei r pi t ch, Mr . Rear den . . . "
Rear den was not i ci ng t he t or n f l esh of t he boy' s hands, t he dr yi ng mud of
bl ood and dust on hi s pal ms and hi s cl ot hi ng, gr ay pat ches of dust on knees
and st omach, scr ambl ed wi t h t he needl es of bur s. I n t he i nt er mi t t ent f i t s of
moonl i ght , he coul d see t he t r ai l of f l at t ened weeds and gl i st eni ng smear s
goi ng of f i nt o t he dar kness bel ow. He dr eaded t o t hi nk how f ar t he boy had
cr awl ed and f or how l ong.
" They di dn' t want you t o be her e t oni ght , Mr . Rear den . . . They di dn' t
want you t o see t hei r ' Peopl e' s r ebel l i on' . . . Af t er war ds . . .
you know how t hey scr ew up t he evi dence . . . t her e won' t be a st r ai ght
st or y t o get anywher e . . . and t hey hope t o f ool t he count r y . . . and you .
. . t hat t hey' r e act i ng t o pr ot ect you f r omvi ol ence . . .
Don' t l et t hemget away wi t h i t , Mr . Rear den! . . . Tel l t he count r y . . .
t el l t he peopl e . . . t el l t he newspaper s . . . Tel l t hemt hat I t ol d you . .
. i t ' s under oat h . . . I swear i t . . . t hat makes i t l egal , doesn' t i t ? . .
. doesn' t i t ? . . . t hat gi ves you a chance?"
Rear den pr essed t he boy' s hand i n hi s. " Thank you, ki d. "
" I . . . I ' msor r y I ' ml at e, Mr . Rear den, but . . . but t hey di dn' t l et me
i n on i t t i l l t he l ast mi nut e . . . t i l l j ust bef or e i t st ar t ed . . .
They cal l ed me i n on a . . . a st r at egy conf er ence . . . t her e was a man
t her e by t he name of Pet er s . . . f r omt he Uni f i cat i on Boar d . . . he' s a
st ooge of Ti nky Hol l oway . . . who' s a st ooge of Or r en Boyl e . . . What t hey
want ed f r omme was . . . t hey want ed me t o si gn a l ot of passes . . . t o l et
some of t he goons i n . . . so t hey' d st ar t t r oubl e f r omt he i nsi de and t he
out si de t oget her . . . t o make i t l ook l i ke t hey r eal l y wer e your wor ker s . .
. I r ef used t o si gn t he passes. "
" You di d? Af t er t hey' d l et you i n on t hei r game?"
" But . . . but , of cour se, Mr . Rear den . . . Di d you t hi nk I ' d pl ay t hat
ki nd of game?"
" No, ki d, no, I guess not . Onl y"
" What ?"
" Onl y t hat ' s when you st uck your neck out . "
" But I had t o! . . . I coul dn' t hel p t hemwr eck t he mi l l s, coul d I ?
. . . How l ong was I t o keep f r omst i cki ng my neck out ? Ti l l t hey br oke
your s? . . . And what woul d I do wi t h my neck, i f t hat ' s how I had t o keep
i t ? . . . You . . . you under st and i t , don' t you, Mr .
Rear den?"
" Yes. I do. "
" I r ef used t hem. . . I r an out of t he of f i ce . . . I r an t o l ook f or t he
super i nt endent . . . t o t el l hi mever yt hi ng . . . but I coul dn' t f i nd hi m. .
. and t hen I hear d shot s at t he mai n gat e and I knew i t had st ar t ed . . . I
t r i ed t o phone your home . . . t he phone wi r es wer e cut . . . I r an t o get my
car , I want ed t o r each you or a pol i ceman or a newspaper or somebody . . .
but t hey must have been f ol l owi ng me . . . t hat ' s when t hey shot me . . . i n
t he par ki ng l ot . . .
f r ombehi nd . . . al l I r emember i s f al l i ng and . . . and t hen, when I
opened my eyes, t hey had dumped me her e . . . on t he sl ag heap . . . "
" On t he sl ag heap?" sai d Rear den sl owl y, knowi ng t hat t he heap was a
hundr ed f eet bel ow.
The boy nodded, poi nt i ng vaguel y down i nt o t he dar kness. " Yeah . . . down
t her e . . . And t hen I . . . I st ar t ed cr awl i ng . . .
cr awl i ng up . . . I want ed . . . I want ed t o l ast t i l l I t ol d somebody
who' d t el l you. " The pai n- t wi st ed l i nes of hi s f ace smoot hed suddenl y i nt o a
smi l e; hi s voi ce had t he sound of a l i f et i me' s t r i umph as he added, " I have. "
Then he j er ked hi s head up and asked, i n t he t one of a chi l d' s ast oni shment
at a sudden di scover y, " Mr . Rear den, i s t hi s how i t f eel s t o . . . t o want
somet hi ng ver y much . . . ver y desper at el y much . . . and t o make i t ?"
" Yes, ki d, t hat ' s how i t f eel s. " The boy' s head dr opped back agai nst
Rear den' s ar m, t he eyes cl osi ng, t he mout h r el axi ng, as i f t o hol d a moment ' s
pr of ound cont ent ment . " But you can' t st op t her e. You' r e not t hr ough. You' ve
got t o hang on t i l l I get you t o a doct or and" He was l i f t i ng t he boy
caut i ousl y, but a convul si on of pai n r an t hr ough t he boy' s f ace, hi s mout h
t wi st i ng t o st op a cr yand Rear den had t o l ower hi mgent l y back t o t he
gr ound.
The boy shook hi s head wi t h a gl ance t hat was al most apol ogy. " I won' t
make i t , Mr . Rear den . . . No use f ool i ng mysel f . . . I know I ' mt hr ough. "
Then, as i f by some di mr ecoi l agai nst sel f - pi t y, he added, r eci t i ng a
memor i zed l esson, hi s voi ce a desper at e at t empt at hi s ol d, cyni cal ,
i nt el l ect ual t one, " What does i t mat t er , Mr . Rear den? . . . Man i s onl y a
col l ect i on of . . . condi t i oned chemi cal s . . . and a man' s dyi ng doesn' t
make . . . any mor e di f f er ence t han an ani mal ' s. "
" You know bet t er t han t hat . "
" Yes, " he whi sper ed. " Yes, I guess I do. "
Hi s eyes wander ed over t he vast dar kness, t hen r ose t o Rear den' s f ace; t he
eyes wer e hel pl ess, l ongi ng, chi l di shl y bewi l der ed. " I know . . . i t ' s cr ap,
al l t hose t hi ngs t hey t aught us . . . al l of i t , ever yt hi ng t hey sai d . . .
about l i vi ng or . . . or dyi ng . . . Dyi ng . . . i t woul dn' t make any
di f f er ence t o chemi cal s, but " he st opped, and al l of hi s desper at e pr ot est
was onl y i n t he i nt ensi t y of hi s voi ce dr oppi ng l ower t o say, " but i t does,
t o me . . . And . . . and, I guess, i t makes a di f f er ence t o an ani mal , t oo .
. . But t hey sai d t her e ar e no val ues . . . onl y soci al cust oms . . . No
val ues! " Hi s hand cl ut ched bl i ndl y at t he hol e i n hi s chest , as i f t r yi ng t o
hol d t hat whi ch he was l osi ng. " No . . . val ues . . .
Then hi s eyes opened wi der , wi t h t he sudden cal mof f ul l f r ankness.
" I ' d l i ke t o l i ve, Mr . Rear den. God, how I ' d l i ke t o! " Hi s voi ce was
passi onat el y qui et . " Not because I ' mdyi ng . . . but because I ' ve j ust
di scover ed i t t oni ght , what i t means, r eal l y t o be al i ve . . . And . . . i t ' s
f unny . . . do you know when [ di scover ed i t ? . . . I n t he of f i ce . . .
when I st uck my neck out . . . when I t ol d t he bast ar ds t o go t o hel l . .
. Ther e' s . . . t her e' s so many t hi ngs I wi sh I ' d known sooner . . . But . .
. wel l , i t ' s no use cr yi ng over spi l l ed mi l k. " He saw Rear den' s i nvol unt ar y
gl ance at t he f l at t ened t r ai l bel ow and added, " Over spi l l ed anyt hi ng, Mr .
Rear den. "
" Li st en, ki d, " sai d Rear den st er nl y, " I want you t o do me a f avor . "
" Now, Mr . Rear den?"
" Yes. Now. "
" Why, of cour se, Mr . Rear den . . . i f I can. "
" You' ve done me a bi g f avor t oni ght , but I want you t o do a st i l l bi gger
one. You' ve done a gr eat j ob, cl i mbi ng out of t hat sl ag heap.
Now wi l l you t r y f or somet hi ng st i l l har der ? You wer e wi l l i ng t o di e t o
save my mi l l s. Wi l l you t r y t o l i ve f or me?"
" For you, Mr . Rear den?"
" For me. Because I ' maski ng you t o. Because I want you t o. Because we
st i l l have a gr eat di st ance t o cl i mb t oget her , you and I . "
" Does i t . . . does i t make a di f f er ence t o you, Mr . Rear den?"
" I t does. Wi l l you make up your mi nd t hat you want t o l i vej ust as you di d
down t her e on t he sl ag heap? That you want t o l ast and l i ve? Wi l l you f i ght
f or i t ? You want ed t o f i ght my bat t l e. Wi l l you f i ght t hi s one wi t h me, as
our f i r st ?"
He f el t t he cl ut chi ng of t he boy' s hand; i t conveyed t he vi ol ent eager ness
of t he answer ; t he voi ce was onl y a whi sper : " I ' l l t r y, Mr .
Rear den. "
" Now hel p me t o get you t o a doct or . J ust r el ax, t ake i t easy and l et me
l i f t you. "
" Yes, Mr . Rear den. " Wi t h t he j er k of a sudden ef f or t , t he boy pul l ed
hi msel f up t o l ean on an el bow.
" Take i t easy, Tony. "
He saw a sudden f l i cker i n t he boy' s f ace, an at t empt at hi s ol d, br i ght ,
i mpudent gr i n. " Not ' Non- Absol ut e' any mor e?"
" No, not any mor e. You' r e a f ul l absol ut e now, and you know i t . "
" Yes. I know sever al of t hem, now. Ther e' s one" he poi nt ed at t he wound i n
hi s chest " t hat ' s an absol ut e, i sn' t i t ? And" he went on speaki ng whi l e
Rear den was l i f t i ng hi mf r omt he gr ound by i mper cept i bl e seconds and i nches,
speaki ng as i f t he t r embl i ng i nt ensi t y of hi s wor ds wer e ser vi ng as an
anest het i c agai nst t he pai n" and men can' t l i ve . . . i f r ot t en bast ar ds . .
. l i ke t he ones i n Washi ngt on . . . get away wi t h t hi ngs l i ke . . . l i ke t he
one t hey' r e doi ng t oni ght . . . i f ever yt hi ng becomes a st i nki ng f ake . . .
and not hi ng i s r eal . . . and nobody i s anybody . . . men can' t l i ve t hat way
. . .
t hat ' s an absol ut e, i sn' t i t ?"
" Yes, Tony, t hat ' s an absol ut e. "
Rear den r ose t o hi s f eet by a l ong, caut i ous ef f or t ; he saw t he t or t ur ed
spasmof t he boy' s f eat ur es, as he set t l ed hi msl owl y agai nst hi s chest , l i ke
a baby hel d t i ght i n hi s ar msbut t he spasmt wi st ed i nt o anot her echo of t he
i mpudent gr i n, and t he boy asked, " Who' s t he Wet Nur se now?"
" I guess I am. "
He t ook t he f i r st st eps up t he sl ant of cr umbl i ng soi l , hi s body t ensed t o
t he t ask of shock absor ber f or hi s f r agi l e bur den, t o t he t ask of mai nt ai ni ng
a st eady pr ogr essi on wher e t her e was no f oot hol d t o f i nd.
The boy' s head dr opped on Rear den' s shoul der , hesi t ant l y, al most as i f
t hi s wer e a pr esumpt i on. Rear den bent down and pr essed hi s l i ps t o t he dust -
st r eaked f or ehead.
The boy j er ked back, r ai si ng hi s head wi t h a shock of i ncr edul ous,
i ndi gnant ast oni shment . " Do you know what you di d?" he whi sper ed, as i f
unabl e t o bel i eve t hat i t was meant f or hi m.
" Put your head down, " sai d Rear den, " and I ' l l do i t agai n. "
The boy' s head dr opped and Rear den ki ssed hi s f or ehead; i t was l i ke a
f at her ' s r ecogni t i on gr ant ed t o a son' s bat t l e.
The boy l ay st i l l , hi s f ace hi dden, hi s hands cl ut chi ng Rear den' s
shoul der s. Then, wi t h no hi nt of sound, wi t h onl y t he sudden beat of f ai nt ,
spaced, r hyt hmi c shudder s t o show i t , Rear den knew t hat t he boy was cr yi ng
cr yi ng i n sur r ender , i n admi ssi on of al l t he t hi ngs whi ch he coul d not put
i nt o t he wor ds he had never f ound.
Rear den went on movi ng sl owl y upwar d, st ep by gr opi ng st ep, f i ght i ng f or
f i r mness of mot i on agai nst t he weeds, t he dr i f t s of dust , t he chunks of scr ap
met al , t he r ef use of a di st ant age. He went on, t owar d t he l i ne wher e t he r ed
gl ow of hi s mi l l s mar ked t he edge of t he pi t above hi m, hi s movement a f i er ce
st r uggl e t hat had t o t ake t he f or mof a gent l e, unhur r i ed f l ow.
He hear d no sobs, but he f el t t he r hyt hmi c shudder s, and, t hr ough t he
cl ot h of hi s shi r t , i n pl ace of t ear s, he f el t t he smal l , war m, l i qui d spur t s
f l ung f r omt he wound by t he shudder s. He knew t hat t he t i ght pr essur e of hi s
ar ms was t he onl y answer whi ch t he boy was now abl e t o hear and under st and
and he hel d t he t r embl i ng body as i f t he st r engt h of hi s ar ms coul d t r ansf use
some par t of hi s l i vi ng power i nt o t he ar t er i es beat i ng ever f ai nt er agai nst
hi m.
Then t he sobbi ng st opped and t he boy r ai sed hi s head. Hi s f ace seemed
t hi nner and pal er , but t he eyes wer e l ust r ous, and he l ooked up at Rear den,
st r ai ni ng f or t he st r engt h t o speak.
" Mr . Rear den . . . I . . . I l i ked you ver y much. "
" I know i t . "
The boy' s f eat ur es had no power t o f or ma smi l e, but i t was a smi l e t hat
spoke i n hi s gl ance, as he l ooked at Rear den' s f aceas he l ooked at t hat
whi ch he had not known he had been seeki ng t hr ough t he br i ef span of hi s
l i f e, seeki ng as t he i mage of t hat whi ch he had not known t o be hi s val ues.
Then hi s head f el l back, and t her e was no convul si on i n hi s f ace, onl y hi s
mout h r el axi ng t o a shape of ser eni t ybut t her e was a br i ef st ab of
convul si on i n hi s body, l i ke a l ast cr y of pr ot est and Rear den went on
sl owl y, not al t er i ng hi s pace, even t hough he knew t hat no caut i on was
necessar y any l onger because what he was car r yi ng i n hi s ar ms was now t hat
whi ch had been t he boy' s t eacher s' i dea of man
a col l ect i on of chemi cal s.
He wal ked, as i f t hi s wer e hi s f or mof l ast t r i but e and f uner al pr ocessi on
f or t he young l i f e t hat had ended i n hi s ar ms. He f el t an anger t oo i nt ense
t o i dent i f y except as a pr essur e wi t hi n hi m: i t was a desi r e t o ki l l .
The desi r e was not di r ect ed at t he unknown t hug who had sent a bul l et
t hr ough t he boy' s body, or at t he l oot i ng bur eaucr at s who had hi r ed t he t hug
t o do i t , but at t he boy' s t eacher s who had del i ver ed hi m, di sar med, t o t he
t hug' s gunat t he sof t , saf e assassi ns of col l ege cl assr ooms who, i ncompet ent
t o answer t he quer i es of a quest f or r eason, t ook pl easur e i n cr i ppl i ng t he
young mi nds ent r ust ed t o t hei r car e.
Somewher e, he t hought , t her e was t hi s boy' s mot her , who had t r embl ed wi t h
pr ot ect i ve concer n over hi s gr opi ng st eps, whi l e t eachi ng hi mt o wal k, who
had measur ed hi s baby f or mul as wi t h a j ewel er ' s caut i on, who had obeyed wi t h
a zeal ot ' s f er vor t he l at est wor ds of sci ence on hi s di et and hygi ene,
pr ot ect i ng hi s unhar dened body f r omger mst hen had sent hi mt o be t ur ned i nt o
a t or t ur ed neur ot i c by t he men who t aught hi mt hat he had no mi nd and must
never at t empt t o t hi nk. Had she f ed hi mt ai nt ed r ef use, he t hought , had she
mi xed poi son i nt o hi s f ood, i t woul d have been mor e ki nd and l ess f at al .
He t hought of al l t he l i vi ng speci es t hat t r ai n t hei r young i n t he ar t of
sur vi val , t he cat s who t each t hei r ki t t ens t o hunt , t he bi r ds who spend such
st r i dent ef f or t on t eachi ng t hei r f l edgl i ngs t o f l yyet man, whose t ool of
sur vi val i s t he mi nd, does not mer el y f ai l t o t each <a chi l d t o t hi nk, but
devot es t he chi l d' s educat i on t o t he pur pose of dest r oyi ng hi s br ai n, of
convi nci ng hi mt hat t hought i s f ut i l e and evi l , bef or e he has st ar t ed t o
t hi nk.
Fr omt he f i r st cat ch- phr ases f l ung at a chi l d t o t he l ast , i t i s l i ke a
ser i es of shocks t o f r eeze hi s mot or , t o under cut t he power of hi s
consci ousness. " Don' t ask so many quest i ons, chi l dr en shoul d be seen and not
hear d! " " Who ar e you t o t hi nk? I t ' s so, because I say so! " " Don' t ar gue,
obey! " " Don' t t r y t o under st and, bel i eve! " - " Don' t r ebel , adj ust ! " " Don' t
st and out , bel ong! " " Don' t st r uggl e, compr omi se! "
" Your hear t i s mor e i mpor t ant t han your mi nd! " " Who ar e you t o know? Your
par ent s know best ! " " Who ar e you t o know? Soci et y knows best ! " " Who ar e you
t o know? The bur eaucr at s know best ! "
" Who ar e you t o obj ect ? Al l val ues ar e r el at i ve! " " Who ar e you t o want t o
escape a t hug' s bul l et ? That ' s onl y a per sonal pr ej udi ce! "
Men woul d shudder , he t hought , i f t hey saw a mot her bi r d pl ucki ng t he
f eat her s f r omt he wi ngs of her young, t hen pushi ng hi mout of t he nest t o
st r uggl e f or sur vi val yet t hat was what t hey di d t o t hei r chi l dr en.
Ar med wi t h not hi ng but meani ngl ess phr ases, t hi s boy had been t hr own t o
f i ght f or exi st ence, he had hobbl ed and gr oped t hr ough a br i ef , doomed
ef f or t , he had scr eamed hi s i ndi gnant , bewi l der ed pr ot est and had per i shed
i n hi s f i r st at t empt t o soar on hi s mangl ed wi ngs.
But a di f f er ent br eed of t eacher s had once exi st ed, he t hought , and had
r ear ed t he men who cr eat ed t hi s count r y; he t hought t hat mot her s shoul d set
out on t hei r knees t o l ook f or men l i ke Hugh Akst on, t o f i nd t hemand beg
t hemt o r et ur n.
He went t hr ough t he gat e of t he mi l l s, bar el y not i ci ng t he guar ds who l et
hi ment er , who st ar ed at hi s f ace and hi s bur den; he di d not pause t o l i st en
t o t hei r wor ds, as t hey poi nt ed t o t he f i ght i ng i n t he di st ance; he went on
wal ki ng sl owl y t owar d t he wedge of l i ght whi ch was t he open door of t he
hospi t al bui l di ng.
He st epped i nt o a l i ght ed r oomf ul l of men, bl oody bandages and t he odor
of ant i sept i cs; he deposi t ed hi s bur den on a bench, wi t h no wor d of
expl anat i on t o anyone, and wal ked out , not gl anci ng behi nd hi m.
He wal ked i n t he di r ect i on of t he f r ont gat e, t owar d t he gl ar e of f i r e and
t he bur st s of guns. He saw, once i n a whi l e, a f ew f i gur es r unni ng t hr ough
t he cr acks bet ween st r uct ur es or dar t i ng behi nd bl ack cor ner s, pur sued by
gr oups of guar ds and wor ker s; he was ast oni shed t o not i ce t hat hi s wor ker s
wer e wel l ar med. They seemed t o have subdued t he hoodl ums i nsi de t he mi l l s,
and onl y t he si ege at t he f r ont gat e r emai ned t o be beat en. He saw a l out
scur r yi ng acr oss a pat ch of l ampl i ght , swi ngi ng a l engt h of pi pe at a wal l of
gl ass panes, bat t er i ng t hemdown wi t h an ani mal r el i sh, danci ng l i ke a
gor i l l a t o t he sound of cr ashi ng gl ass, unt i l t hr ee husky human f i gur es
descended upon hi m, car r yi ng hi mwr i t hi ng t o t he gr ound.
The si ege of t he gat e appear ed t o be ebbi ng, as i f t he spi ne of t he mob
had been br oken. He hear d t he di st ant scr eeches of t hei r cr i es
but t he shot s f r omt he r oad wer e gr owi ng r ar er , t he f i r e set t o t he
gat ekeeper ' s of f i ce was put out , t her e wer e ar med men on t he l edges and at
wi ndows, post ed i n wel l - pl anned def ense.
On t he r oof of a st r uct ur e above t he gat e, he saw, as he came cl oser , t he
sl i msi l houet t e of a man who hel d a gun i n each hand and, f r ombehi nd t he
pr ot ect i on of a chi mney, kept f i r i ng at i nt er val s down i nt o t he mob, f i r i ng
swi f t l y and, i t seemed, i n t wo di r ect i ons at once, l i ke a sent i nel pr ot ect i ng
t he appr oaches t o t he gat e. The conf i dent ski l l of hi s movement s, hi s manner
of f i r i ng, wi t h no t i me wast ed t o t ake ai m, but wi t h t he ki nd of casual
abr upt ness t hat never mi sses a t ar get , made hi ml ook l i ke a her o of West er n
l egendand Rear den wat ched hi mwi t h det ached, i mper sonal pl easur e, as i f t he
bat t l e of t he mi l l s wer e not hi s any l onger , but he coul d st i l l enj oy t he
si ght of t he compet ence and cer t ai nt y wi t h whi ch men of t hat di st ant age had
once combat t ed evi l .
The beamof a r ovi ng sear chl i ght st r uck Rear den' s f ace, and when t he l i ght
swept past he saw t he man on t he r oof l eani ng down, as i f peer i ng i n hi s
di r ect i on. The man waved t o someone t o r epl ace hi m, t hen vani shed abr upt l y
f r omhi s post .
Rear den hur r i ed on t hr ough t he shor t st r et ch of dar kness ahead but t hen,
f r omt he si de, f r omt he cr ack of an al l ey, he hear d a dr unken voi ce yel l ,
" Ther e he i s! " and whi r l ed t o see t wo beef y f i gur es advanci ng upon hi m. He
saw a l eer i ng, mi ndl ess f ace wi t h a mout h hung l oose i n a j oyl ess chuckl e,
and a cl ub i n a r i si ng f i st he hear d t he sound of r unni ng st eps appr oachi ng
f r omanot her di r ect i on, he at t empt ed t o t ur n hi s head, t hen t he cl ub cr ashed
down on hi s skul l f r ombehi ndand i n t he moment of spl i t t i ng dar kness, when
he waver ed, r ef usi ng t o bel i eve i t , t hen f el t hi msel f goi ng down, he f el t a
st r ong, pr ot ect i ve ar msei zi ng hi mand br eaki ng hi s f al l , he hear d a gun
expl odi ng an i nch above hi s ear , t hen anot her expl osi on f r omt he same gun i n
t he same second, but i t seemed f ai nt and di st ant , as i f he had f al l en down a
shaf t .
Hi s f i r st awar eness, when he opened hi s eyes, was a sense of pr of ound
ser eni t y. Then he saw t hat he was l yi ng on a couch i n a moder n, st er nl y
gr aci ous r oomt hen, he r eal i zed t hat i t was hi s of f i ce and t hat t he t wo men
st andi ng besi de hi mwer e t he mi l l s' doct or and t he super i nt endent . He f el t a
di st ant pai n i n hi s head, whi ch woul d have been vi ol ent had he car ed t o
not i ce i t , and he f el t a st r i p of t ape acr oss hi s hai r , on t he si de of hi s
head. The sense of ser eni t y was t he knowl edge t hat he was f r ee.
The meani ng of hi s bandage and t he meani ng of hi s of f i ce wer e not t o be
accept ed or t o exi st , t oget her i t was not a combi nat i on f or men t o l i ve wi t h
t hi s was not hi s bat t l e any l onger , nor hi s j ob, nor hi s busi ness.
" I t hi nk I ' l l be al l r i ght , Doct or , " he sai d, r ai si ng hi s head.
" Yes, Mr . Rear den, f or t unat el y. " The doct or was l ooki ng at hi mas i f st i l l
unabl e t o bel i eve t hat t hi s had happened t o Hank Rear den i nsi de hi s own
mi l l s; t he doct or ' s voi ce was t ense wi t h angr y l oyal t y and i ndi gnat i on.
" Not hi ng ser i ous, j ust a scal p wound and a sl i ght concussi on.
But you must t ake i t easy and al l ow your sel f t o r est . "
" I wi l l , " sai d Rear den f i r ml y.
" I t ' s al l over , " sai d t he super i nt endent , wavi ng at t he mi l l s beyond t he
wi ndow. " We' ve got t he bast ar ds beat en and on t he r un. You don' t have t o
wor r y, Mr . Rear den. I t ' s al l over . "
" I t i s, " sai d Rear den. " Ther e must be a l ot of wor k l ef t f or you t o do,
Doct or . "
" Oh yes! I never t hought I d l i ve t o see t he day when"
" I know. Go ahead, t ake car e of i t . I ' l l be al l r i ght . "
" Yes, Mr . Rear den. "
" I ' l l t ake car e of t he pl ace, " sai d t he super i nt endent , as t he doct or
hur r i ed out . " Ever yt hi ng' s under cont r ol , Mr . Rear den. But i t was t he
di r t i est "
" I know, " sai d Rear den. " Who was i t t hat saved my l i f e? Somebody gr abbed
me as I f el l , and f i r ed at t he t hugs. "
" Di d he! St r ai ght at t hei r f aces. Bl ew t hei r heads of f . That was t hat new
f ur nace f or eman of our s. Been her e t wo mont hs. Best man I ' ve ever had. He' s
t he one who got wi se t o what t he gr avy boys wer e pl anni ng and war ned me, t hi s
af t er noon. Tol d me t o ar mour men, as many as we coul d. We got no hel p f r om
t he pol i ce or t he st at e t r ooper s, t hey dodged al l over t he pl ace wi t h t he
f anci est del ays and excuses I ever hear d of , i t was al l f i xed i n advance, t he
goons wer en' t expect i ng any ar med r esi st ance. I t was t hat f ur nace f or eman
Fr ank Adams i s hi s namewho or gani zed our def ense, r an t he whol e bat t l e, and
st ood on a r oof , pi cki ng of f t he scumt hat came t oo cl ose t o t he gat e. Boy,
what a mar ksman! I shudder t o t hi nk how many of our l i ves he saved t oni ght .
Those bast ar ds wer e out f or bl ood, Mr . Rear den. "
" I ' d l i ke t o see hi m. "
" He' s wai t i ng somewher e out si de. I t ' s he who br ought you her e, and he
asked per mi ssi on t o speak t o you, when possi bl e. "
" Send hi mi n. Then go back out t her e, t ake char ge, f i ni sh t he j ob. "
" I s t her e anyt hi ng el se I can do f or you, Mr . Rear den?"
" No, not hi ng el se. "
He l ay st i l l , al one i n t he si l ence of hi s of f i ce. He knew t hat t he meani ng
of hi s mi l l s had ceased t o exi st , and t he f ul l ness of t he knowl edge l ef t no
r oomf or t he pai n of r egr et t i ng an i l l usi on. He had seen, i n a f i nal i mage,
t he soul and essence of hi s enemi es: t he mi ndl ess f ace of t he t hug wi t h t he
cl ub. I t was not t he f ace i t sel f t hat made hi mdr aw back i n hor r or , but t he
pr of essor s, t he phi l osopher s, t he mor al i st s, t he myst i cs who had r el eased
t hat f ace upon t he wor l d.
He f el t a pecul i ar cl eanl i ness. I t was made of pr i de and of l ove f or t hi s
ear t h, t hi s ear t h whi ch was hi s, not t hei r s. I t was t he f eel i ng whi ch had
moved hi mt hr ough hi s l i f e, t he f eel i ng whi ch some among men know i n t hei r
yout h, t hen bet r ay, but whi ch he had never bet r ayed and had car r i ed wi t hi n
hi mas a bat t er ed, at t acked, uni dent i f i ed, but l i vi ng mot or t he f eel i ng whi ch
he coul d now exper i ence i n i t s f ul l , uncont est ed pur i t y: t he sense of hi s own
super l at i ve val ue and t he super l at i ve val ue of hi s l i f e. I t was t he f i nal
cer t ai nt y t hat hi s l i f e was hi s, t o be l i ved wi t h no bondage t o evi l , and
t hat t hat bondage had never been necessar y. I t was t he r adi ant ser eni t y of
knowi ng t hat he was f r ee of f ear , of pai n, of gui l t .
I f i t ' s t r ue, he t hought , t hat t her e ar e avenger s who ar e wor ki ng f or t he
del i ver ance of men l i ke me, l et t hemsee me now, l et t hemt el l me t hei r
secr et , l et t hemcl ai mme, l et t hem" Come i n! " he sai d al oud, i n answer t o
t he knock on hi s door .
The door opened and he l ay st i l l . The man st andi ng on t he t hr eshol d, wi t h
di shevel ed hai r , a soot - st r eaked f ace and f ur nace- smudged ar ms, dr essed i n
scor ched over al l s and bl oodst ai ned shi r t , st andi ng as i f he wor e a cape
wavi ng behi nd hi mi n t he wi nd, was Fr anci sco d' Anconi a.
I t seemed t o Rear den t hat hi s consci ousness shot f or war d ahead of hi s
body, i t was hi s body t hat r ef used t o move, st unned by shock, whi l e hi s mi nd
was l aughi ng, t el l i ng hi mt hat t hi s was t he most nat ur al , t he most - t o- have-
been- expect ed event i n t he wor l d.
Fr anci sco smi l ed, a smi l e of gr eet i ng t o a chi l dhood f r i end on a summer
mor ni ng, as i f not hi ng el se had ever been possi bl e bet ween t hem
and Rear den f ound hi msel f smi l i ng i n answer , some par t of hi mf eel i ng an
i ncr edul ous wonder , yet knowi ng t hat i t was i r r esi st i bl y r i ght .
" You' ve been t or t ur i ng your sel f f or mont hs, " sai d Fr anci sco, appr oachi ng
hi m, " wonder i ng what wor ds you' d use t o ask my f or gi veness and whet her you
had t he r i ght t o ask i t , i f you ever saw me agai n but now you see t hat i t
i sn' t necessar y, t hat t her e' s not hi ng t o ask or t o f or gi ve. "
" Yes, " sai d Rear den, t he wor d comi ng as an ast oni shed whi sper , but by t he
t i me he f i ni shed hi s sent ence he knew t hat t hi s was t he gr eat est t r i but e he
coul d of f er , " yes, I know i t . "
Fr anci sco sat down on t he couch besi de hi m, and sl owl y moved hi s hand over
Rear den' s f or ehead. I t was l i ke a heal i ng t ouch t hat cl osed t he past .
" Ther e' s onl y one t hi ng I want t o t el l you, " sai d Rear den. " I want you t o
hear i t f r omme: you kept your oat h, you wer e my f r i end. "
" I knew t hat you knew i t . You knew i t f r omt he f i r st . You knew i t , no
mat t er what you t hought of my act i ons. You sl apped me because you coul d not
f or ce your sel f t o doubt i t . "
" That . . . " whi sper ed Rear den, st ar i ng at hi m, " t hat was t he t hi ng I had
no r i ght t o t el l you . . . no r i ght t o cl ai mas my excuse . . . "
" Di dn' t you suppose I ' d under st and i t ?"
" I want ed t o f i nd you . . . I had no r i ght t o l ook f or you . . . And al l
t hat t i me, you wer e" He poi nt ed at Fr anci sco' s cl ot hes, t hen hi s hand
dr opped hel pl essl y and he cl osed hi s eyes.
" I was your f ur nace f or eman, " sai d Fr anci sco, gr i nni ng. " I di dn' t t hi nk
you' d mi nd t hat . You of f er ed me t he j ob your sel f . "
" You' ve been her e, as my bodyguar d, f or t wo mont hs?"
" Yes. "
" You' ve been her e, ever si nce" He st opped.
" That ' s r i ght . On t he mor ni ng of t he day when you wer e r eadi ng my f ar ewel l
message over t he r oof s of New Yor k, I was r epor t i ng her e f or my f i r st shi f t
as your f ur nace f or eman. "
" Tel l me, " sai d Rear den sl owl y, " t hat ni ght , at J ames Taggar t ' s weddi ng,
when you sai d t hat you wer e af t er your gr eat est conquest . . .
you meant me, di dn' t you?"
" Of cour se. "
Fr anci sco dr ew hi msel f up a l i t t l e, as i f f or a sol emn t ask, hi s f ace
ear nest , t he smi l e r emai ni ng onl y i n hi s eyes. " I have a gr eat deal t o t el l
you, " he sai d, " But f i r st , wi l l you r epeat a wor d you once of f er ed me and I .
. . I had t o r ej ect , because I knew t hat I was not f r ee t o accept i t ?"
Rear den smi l ed. " What wor d, Fr anci sco?"
Fr anci sco i ncl i ned hi s head i n accept ance, and answer ed, " Thank you,
Hank. " Then he r ai sed hi s head. " Now I ' l l t el l you t he t hi ngs I had come t o
say, but di d not f i ni sh, t hat ni ght when I came her e f or t he f i r st t i me. I
t hi nk you' r e r eady t o hear i t , "
" I am. "
The gl ar e of st eel bei ng pour ed f r oma f ur nace shot t o t he sky beyond t he
wi ndow. A r ed gl ow went sweepi ng sl owl y over t he wal l s of t he of f i ce, over
t he empt y desk, over Rear den' s f ace, as i f i n sal ut e and f ar ewel l .

CHAPTER VII
"THIS IS JOHN GALT SPEAKING"

The door bel l was r i ngi ng l i ke an al ar m, I n a l ong, demandi ng scr eam,
br oken by t he i mpat i ent st abs of someone' s f r ant i c f i nger .
Leapi ng out of bed, Dagny not i ced t he col d, pal e sunl i ght of l at e mor ni ng
and a cl ock on a di st ant spi r e mar ki ng t he hour of t en. She had wor ked at t he
of f i ce t i l l f our A. M. and had l ef t wor d not t o expect her t i l l noon.
The whi t e f ace ungr oomed by pani c, t hat conf r ont ed her when she t hr ew t he
door open, was J ames Taggar t .
He' s gone! " he cr i ed.
" Who?"
" Hank Rear den! He' s gone, qui t , vani shed, di sappear ed! "
She st ood st i l l f or a moment , hol di ng t he bel t of t he dr essi ng gown she
had been t yi ng; t hen, as t he f ul l knowl edge r eached her , her hands j er ked t he
bel t t i ght as i f snappi ng her body i n t wo at t he wai st l i ne
whi l e she bur st out l aughi ng. I t was a sound of t r i umph.
He st ar ed at her i n bewi l der ment . " What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you?" he gasped.
" Haven' t you under st ood?"
" Come i n, J i m, " she sai d, t ur ni ng cont empt uousl y, wal ki ng i nt o t he l i vi ng
r oom. " Oh yes, I ' ve under st ood. "
" He' s qui t ! Gone! Gone l i ke al l t he ot her s! Lef t hi s mi l l s, hi s bank
account s, hi s pr oper t y, ever yt hi ng! J ust vani shed! Took some cl ot hi ng and
what ever he had i n t he saf e i n hi s apar t ment t hey f ound a saf e l ef t open i n
hi s bedr oom, open and empt yt hat ' s al l ! No wor d, no not e, no expl anat i on!
They cal l ed me f r omWashi ngt on, but i t ' s al l over t own! The news, I mean, t he
st or y! They can' t keep i t qui et !
They' ve t r i ed t o, but . . . Nobody knows how i t got out , but i t went
t hr ough t he mi l l s l i ke one of t hose f ur nace br eak- out s, t he wor d t hat he' d
gone, and t hen . . . bef or e anyone coul d st op i t , a whol e bunch of t hem
vani shed! The super i nt endent , t he chi ef met al l ur gi st , t he chi ef engi neer ,
Rear den' s secr et ar y, even t he hospi t al doct or ! And God knows how many ot her s!
Deser t i ng, t he bast ar ds! Deser t i ng us, i n spi t e of al l t he penal t i es we' ve
set up! He' s qui t and t he r est ar e qui t t i ng and t hose mi l l s ar e j ust l ef t
t her e, st andi ng st i l l ! Do you under st and what t hat means?"
" Do you?" she asked.
He had t hr own hi s st or y at her , sent ence by sent ence, as i f t r yi ng t o
knock t he smi l e of f her f ace, an odd, unmovi ng smi l e of bi t t er ness and
t r i umph; he had f ai l ed. " I t ' s a nat i onal cat ast r ophe! What ' s t he mat t er wi t h
you? Don' t you see t hat i t ' s a f at al bl ow? I t wi l l br eak t he l ast of t he
count r y' s mor al e and economy! We can' t l et hi mvani sh! You' ve got t o br i ng
hi mback! "
Her smi l e di sappear ed.
" You can! " he cr i ed. " You' r e t he onl y one who can! He' s your l over , i sn' t
he? . . . Oh, don' t l ook l i ke t hat ! I t ' s no t i me f or squeami shness!
I t ' s no t i me f or anyt hi ng except t hat we' ve got t o have hi m! You must know
wher e he i s! You can f i nd hi m! You must r each hi mand br i ng hi mback! "
The way she now l ooked at hi mwas wor se t han her smi l eshe l ooked as i f
she wer e seei ng hi mnaked and woul d not endur e t he si ght much l onger . " I
can' t br i ng hi mback, " she sai d, not r ai si ng her voi ce.
" And I woul dn' t , i f I coul d. Now get out of her e. "
" But t he nat i onal cat ast r ophe"
" Get out . "
She di d not not i ce hi s exi t . She st ood al one i n t he mi ddl e of her l i vi ng
r oom, her head dr oppi ng, her shoul der s saggi ng, whi l e she was smi l i ng, a
smi l e of pai n, of t ender ness, of gr eet i ng t o Hank Rear den. She wonder ed di ml y
why she shoul d f eel so gl ad t hat he had f ound l i ber at i on, so cer t ai n t hat he
was r i ght , and yet r ef use her sel f t he same del i ver ance. Two sent ences wer e
beat i ng i n her mi nd; one was t he t r i umphant sweep of : He' s f r ee, he' s out of
t hei r r each! t he ot her was l i ke a pr ayer of dedi cat i on: Ther e' s st i l l a
chance t o wi n, but l et me be t he onl y vi ct i m. . . .
I t was st r angeshe t hought , i n t he days t hat f ol l owed, l ooki ng at t he men
ar ound her t hat cat ast r ophe had made t hemawar e of Hank Rear den wi t h an
i nt ensi t y t hat hi s achi evement s had not ar oused, as i f t he pat hs of t hei r
consci ousness wer e open t o di sast er , but not t o val ue.
Some spoke of hi mi n shr i l l cur sesot her s whi sper ed, wi t h a l ook of gui l t
and t er r or , as i f a namel ess r et r i but i on wer e now t o descend upon t hemsome
t r i ed, wi t h hyst er i cal evasi veness, t o act as i f not hi ng had happened.
The newspaper s, l i ke puppet s on t angl ed st r i ngs, wer e shout i ng wi t h t he
same bel l i ger ence and on t he same dat es: " I t i s soci al t r eason t o ascr i be t oo
much i mpor t ance t o Hank Rear den' s deser t i on and t o under mi ne publ i c mor al e by
t he ol d- f ashi oned bel i ef t hat an i ndi vi dual can be of any si gni f i cance t o
soci et y. " " I t i s soci al t r eason t o spr ead r umor s about t he di sappear ance of
Hank Rear den. Mr . Rear den has not di sappear ed, he i s i n hi s of f i ce, r unni ng
hi s mi l l s, as usual , and t her e has been no t r oubl e at Rear den St eel , except a
mi nor di st ur bance, a pr i vat e scuf f l e among some wor ker s. " " I t i s soci al
t r eason t o cast an unpat r i ot i c l i ght upon t he t r agi c l oss of Hank Rear den.
Mr . Rear den has not deser t ed, he was ki l l ed i n an aut omobi l e acci dent on hi s
way t o wor k, and hi s gr i ef - st r i cken f ami l y has i nsi st ed on a pr i vat e
f uner al . "
I t was st r ange, she t hought , t o obt ai n news by means of not hi ng but
deni al s, as i f exi st ence had ceased, f act s had vani shed and onl y t he f r ant i c
negat i ves ut t er ed by of f i ci al s and col umni st s gave any cl ue t o t he r eal i t y
t hey wer e denyi ng. " I t i s not t r ue t hat t he Mi l l er St eel Foundr y of New
J er sey has gone out of busi ness. " " I t i s not t r ue t hat t he J ansen Mot or
Company of Mi chi gan has cl osed i t s door s. " " I t i s a vi ci ous, ant i - soci al l i e
t hat manuf act ur er s of st eel pr oduct s ar e col l apsi ng under t he t hr eat of a
st eel shor t age. Ther e i s no r eason t o expect a st eel shor t age. " " I t i s a
sl ander ous, unf ounded r umor t hat a St eel Uni f i cat i on Pl an had been i n t he
maki ng and t hat i t had been f avor ed by Mr .
Or r en Boyl e. Mr . Boyl e' s at t or ney has i ssued an emphat i c deni al and has
assur ed t he pr ess t hat Mr . Boyl e i s now vehement l y opposed t o any such pl an.
Mr . Boyl e, at t he moment , i s suf f er i ng f r oma ner vous br eakdown. "
But some news coul d be wi t nessed i n t he st r eet s of New Yor k, i n t he col d,
dank t wi l i ght of aut umn eveni ngs: a cr owd gat her ed i n f r ont of a har dwar e
st or e, wher e t he owner had t hr own t he door s open, i nvi t i ng peopl e t o hel p
t hemsel ves t o t he l ast of hi s meager st ock, whi l e he l aughed i n shr i eki ng
sobs and went smashi ng hi s pl at e- gl ass wi ndows
a cr owd gat her ed at t he door of a r un- down apar t ment house, wher e a pol i ce
ambul ance st ood wai t i ng, whi l e t he bodi es of a man, hi s wi f e and t hei r t hr ee
chi l dr en wer e bei ng r emoved f r oma gas- f i l l ed r oom; t he man had been a smal l
manuf act ur er of st eel cast i ngs.
I f t hey see Hank Rear den' s val ue nowshe t hought why di dn' t t hey see i t
sooner ? Why hadn' t t hey aver t ed t hei r own doomand spar ed hi mhi s year s of
t hankl ess t or t ur e? She f ound no answer .
I n t he si l ence of sl eepl ess ni ght s, she t hought t hat Hank Rear den and she
had now changed pl aces: he was i n At l ant i s and she was l ocked out by a scr een
of l i ght he was, per haps, cal l i ng t o her as she had cal l ed t o hi s st r uggl i ng
ai r pl ane, but no si gnal coul d r each her t hr ough t hat scr een.
Yet t he scr een spl i t open f or one br i ef br eakf or t he l engt h of a l et t er
she r ecei ved a week af t er he vani shed. The envel ope bor e no r et ur n addr ess,
onl y t he post mar k of some haml et i n Col or ado. The l et t er cont ai ned t wo
sent ences: I have met hi m. I don' t bl ame you.
H. R.
She sat st i l l f or a l ong t i me, l ooki ng at t he l et t er , as i f unabl e t o move
or t o f eel . She f el t not hi ng, she t hought , t hen not i ced t hat her shoul der s
wer e t r embl i ng i n a f ai nt , cont i nuous shudder , t hen gr asped t hat t he t ear i ng
vi ol ence wi t hi n her was made of an exul t ant t r i but e, of gr at i t ude and of
despai r her t r i but e t o t he vi ct or y t hat t he meet i ng of t hese t wo men i mpl i ed,
t he f i nal vi ct or y of bot hher gr at i t ude t hat t hose i n At l ant i s st i l l r egar ded
her as one of t hemand had gr ant ed her t he except i on of r ecei vi ng a message
t he despai r of t he knowl edge t hat her bl ankness was a st r uggl e not t o hear
t he quest i ons she was now hear i ng. Had Gal t abandoned her ? Had he gone t o t he
val l ey t o meet hi s gr eat est conquest ? Woul d he come back? Had he gi ven her
up? The unendur abl e was not t hat t hese quest i ons had no answer , but t hat t he
answer was so si mpl y, so easi l y wi t hi n her r each and t hat she had no r i ght t o
t ake a st ep t o r each i t .
She had made no at t empt t o see hi m. Ever y mor ni ng, f or a mont h, on
ent er i ng her of f i ce, she had been consci ous, not of t he r oomar ound her , but
of t he t unnel s bel ow, under t he f l oor s of t he bui l di ngand she had wor ked,
f eel i ng as i f some mar gi nal par t of her br ai n was comput i ng f i gur es, r eadi ng
r epor t s, maki ng deci si ons i n a r ush of l i f el ess act i vi t y, whi l e her l i vi ng
mi nd was i nact i ve and st i l l , f r ozen i n cont empl at i on, f or bi dden t o move
beyond t he sent ence: He' s down t her e. The onl y i nqui r y she had per mi t t ed
her sel f had been a gl ance at t he payr ol l l i st of t he Ter mi nal wor ker s. She
had seen t he name: Gal t , J ohn. The l i st had car r i ed i t , openl y, f or over
t wel ve year s. She had seen an addr ess next t o t he nameand, f or a mont h, had
st r uggl ed t o f or get i t .
I t had seemed har d t o l i ve t hr ough t hat mont hyet now, as she l ooked at
t he l et t er , t he t hought t hat Gal t had gone was st i l l har der t o bear . Even t he
st r uggl e of r esi st i ng hi s pr oxi mi t y had been a l i nk t o hi m, a pr i ce t o pay, a
vi ct or y achi eved i n hi s name. Now t her e was not hi ng, except a quest i on t hat
was not t o be asked. Hi s pr esence i n t he t unnel s had been her mot or t hr ough
t hose daysj ust as hi s pr esence i n t he ci t y had been her mot or t hr ough t he
mont hs of t hat summer j ust as hi s pr esence somewher e i n t he wor l d had been
her mot or t hr ough t he year s bef or e she ever hear d hi s name. Now she f el t as
i f her mot or , t oo, had st opped.
She went on, wi t h t he br i ght , pur e gl i t t er of a f i ve- dol l ar gol d pi ece,
whi ch she kept i n her pocket , as her l ast dr op of f uel . She went on,
pr ot ect ed f r omt he wor l d ar ound her by a l ast ar mor : i ndi f f er ence.
The newspaper s di d not ment i on t he out br eaks of vi ol ence t hat had begun t o
bur st acr oss t he count r ybut she wat ched t hemt hr ough t he r epor t s of t r ai n
conduct or s about bul l et - r i ddl ed car s, di smant l ed t r acks, at t acked t r ai ns,
besi eged st at i ons, i n. Nebr aska, i n Or egon, i n Texas, i n Mont anat he f ut i l e,
doomed out br eaks, pr ompt ed by not hi ng but despai r , endi ng i n not hi ng but
dest r uct i on. Some wer e t he expl osi ons of l ocal gangs; some spr ead wi der .
Ther e wer e di st r i ct s t hat r ose i n bl i nd r ebel l i on, ar r est ed t he l ocal
of f i ci al s, expel l ed t he agent s of Washi ngt on, ki l l ed t he t ax col l ect or st hen,
announci ng t hei r secessi on f r omt he count r y, went on t o t he f i nal ext r eme of
t he ver y evi l t hat had dest r oyed t hem, as i f f i ght i ng mur der wi t h sui ci de:
went on t o sei ze al l pr oper t y wi t hi n t hei r r each, t o decl ar e communi t y
bondage of al l t o al l , and t o per i sh wi t hi n a week, t hei r meager l oot
consumed, i n t he bl oody hat r ed of al l f or al l , i n t he chaos of no r ul e save
t hat of t he gun, t o per i sh under t he l et har gi c t hr ust of a f ew wor n sol di er s
sent out f r omWashi ngt on t o br i ng or der t o t he r ui ns.
The newspaper s di d not ment i on i t . The edi t or i al s went on speaki ng of
sel f - deni al as t he r oad t o f ut ur e pr ogr ess, of sel f - sacr i f i ce as t he mor al
i mper at i ve, of gr eed as t he enemy, of l ove as t he sol ut i ont hei r t hr eadbar e
phr ases as si ckeni ngl y sweet as t he odor of et her i n a hospi t al .
Rumor s went spr eadi ng t hr ough t he count r y i n whi sper s of cyni cal t er r or
yet peopl e r ead t he newspaper s and act ed as i f t hey bel i eved what t hey r ead,
each compet i ng wi t h t he ot her s on who woul d keep most bl i ndl y si l ent , each
pr et endi ng t hat he di d not know what he knew, each st r i vi ng t o bel i eve t hat
t he unnamed was t he unr eal . I t was as i f a vol cano wer e cr acki ng open, yet
t he peopl e at t he f oot of t he mount ai n i gnor ed t he sudden f i ssur es, t he bl ack
f umes, t he boi l i ng t r i ckl es, and went on bel i evi ng t hat t hei r onl y danger was
t o acknowl edge t he r eal i t y of t hese si gns.
" Li st en t o Mr . Thompson' s r epor t on t he wor l d cr i si s, November 22! "
I t was t he f i r st acknowl edgment of t he unacknowl edged. The announcement s
began t o appear a week i n advance and went r i ngi ng acr oss t he count r y. " Mr .
Thompson wi l l gi ve t he peopl e a r epor t on t he wor l d cr i si s! Li st en t o Mr .
Thompson on ever y r adi o st at i on and t el evi si on channel at 8 P. M. , on November
22! "
Fi r st , t he f r ont pages of t he newspaper s and t he shout s of t he r adi o
voi ces had expl ai ned i t : " To count er act t he f ear s and r umor s spr ead by t he
enemi es of t he peopl e, Mr . Thompson wi l l addr ess t he count r y on November 22
and wi l l gi ve us a f ul l r epor t on t he st at e of t he wor l d i n t hi s sol emn
moment of gl obal cr i si s. Mr . Thompson wi l l put an end t o t hose si ni st er
f or ces whose pur pose i s t o keep us i n t er r or and despai r . He wi l l br i ng l i ght
i nt o t he dar kness of t he wor l d and wi l l show us t he way out of our t r agi c
pr obl emsa st er n way, as bef i t s t he gr avi t y of t hi s hour , but a way of gl or y,
as gr ant ed by t he r ebi r t h of l i ght .
Mr . Thompson' s addr ess wi l l be car r i ed by ever y r adi o st at i on i n t hi s
count r y and i n al l count r i es t hr oughout t he wor l d, wher ever r adi o waves may
st i l l be hear d. "
Then t he chor us br oke l oose and went gr owi ng day by day. " Li st en t o Mr .
Thompson on November 22! " sai d dai l y headl i nes. " Don' t f or get Mr . Thompson on
November 22! " cr i ed r adi o st at i ons at t he end of ever y pr ogr am. " Mr . Thompson
wi l l t el l you t he t r ut h! " sai d pl acar ds i n subways and busest hen post er s on
t he wal l s of bui l di ngs t hen bi l l boar ds on deser t ed hi ghways.
" Don' t despai r ! Li st en t o Mr . Thompson! " sai d pennant s on gover nment car s,
" Don' t gi ve up! Li st en t o Mr . Thompson! " sai d banner s i n of f i ces and shops.
" Have f ai t h! Li st en t o Mr . Thompson! " sai d voi ces i n chur ches. " Mr . Thompson
wi l l gi ve you t he answer ! " wr ot e ar my ai r pl anes acr oss t he sky, t he l et t er s
di ssol vi ng i n space, and onl y t he l ast t wo wor ds r emai ni ng by t he t i me t he
sent ence was compl et ed.
Publ i c l oud- speaker s wer e bui l t i n t he squar es of New Yor k f or t he day of
t he speech, and came t o r aspi ng l i f e once an hour , i n t i me wi t h t he r i ngi ng
of di st ant cl ocks, t o send over t he wor n r at t l e of t he t r af f i c, over t he
heads of t he shabby cr owds, t he sonor ous, mechani cal cr y of an al ar m- t oned
voi ce: " Li st en t o Mr . Thompson' s r epor t on t he wor l d cr i si s, November 22! " a
cr y r ol l i ng t hr ough t he f r ost ed ai r and vani shi ng among t he f oggy r oof t ops,
under t he bl ank page of a cal endar t hat bor e no dat e.
On t he af t er noon of November 22, J ames Taggar t t ol d Dagny t hat Mr .
Thompson wi shed t o meet her f or a conf er ence bef or e t he br oadcast .
" I n Washi ngt on?" she asked i ncr edul ousl y, gl anci ng at her wat ch.
" Wel l , I must say t hat you haven' t been r eadi ng t he newspaper s or keepi ng
t r ack of i mpor t ant event s. Don' t you know t hat Mr . Thompson i s t o br oadcast
f r omNew Yor k? He has come her e t o conf er wi t h t he l eader s of i ndust r y, as
wel l as of l abor , sci ence, t he pr of essi ons, and t he best of t he count r y' s
l eader shi p i n gener al . He has r equest ed t hat I br i ng you t o t he conf er ence. "
" Wher e i s i t t o be hel d?"
" At t he br oadcast i ng st udi o. "
" They don' t expect me t o speak on t he ai r i n suppor t of t hei r pol i ci es, do
t hey?"
" Don' t wor r y, t hey woul dn' t l et you near a mi cr ophone! They j ust want t o
hear your opi ni on, and you can' t r ef use, not i n a nat i onal emer gency, not
when i t ' s an i nvi t at i on f r omMr . Thompson i n per son! " He spoke i mpat i ent l y,
avoi di ng her eyes.
" When i s t hat conf er ence t o be hel d?"
" At seven- t hi r t y. "
" Not much t i me t o gi ve t o a conf er ence about a nat i onal emer gency, i s i t ?"
" Mr . Thompson i s a ver y busy man. Now pl ease don' t ar gue, don' t st ar t
bei ng di f f i cul t , I don' t see what you' r e"
" Al l r i ght , " she sai d i ndi f f er ent l y, " I ' l l come, " and added, pr ompt ed by
t he ki nd of f eel i ng t hat woul d have made her r el uct ant t o vent ur e wi t hout a
wi t ness i nt o a conf er ence of gangst er s, " but I ' l l br i ng Eddi e Wi l l er s al ong
wi t h me, "
He f r owned, consi der i ng i t f or a moment , wi t h a l ook of annoyance mor e
t han anxi et y. " Oh, al l r i ght , i f you wi sh, " he snapped, shr uggi ng.
She came t o t he br oadcast i ng st udi o wi t h J ames Taggar t as a pol i ceman at
one si de of her and Eddi e Wi l l er s as a bodyguar d at t he ot her .
Taggar t ' s f ace was r esent f ul and t ense, Eddi e' sr esi gned, yet wonder i ng
and cur i ous. A st age set of past eboar d wal l s had been er ect ed i n a cor ner of
t he vast , di mspace, r epr esent i ng a st i f f l y t r adi t i onal suggest i on of a cr oss
bet ween a st at el y dr awi ng r oomand a modest st udy. A semi ci r cl e of empt y
ar mchai r s f i l l ed t he set , suggest i ng a gr oupi ng f r oma f ami l y al bum, wi t h
mi cr ophones dangl i ng l i ke bai t at t he end of l ong pol es ext ended f or f i shi ng
among t he chai r s.
The best l eader shi p of t he count r y, t hat st ood about i n ner vous cl ust er s,
had t he l ook of a r emnant sal e i n a bankr upt st or e: she saw Wesl ey Mouch,
Eugene Lawson, Chi ck Mor r i son, Ti nky Hol l oway, Dr .
Fl oyd Fer r i s, Dr . Si mon Pr i t chet t , Ma Chal mer s, Fr ed Ki nnan, and a seedy
handf ul of busi nessmen among whomt he hal f - scar ed, hal f - f l at t er ed f i gur e of
Mr . Mowen of t he Amal gamat ed Swi t ch and Si gnal Company was, i ncr edi bl y,
i nt ended t o r epr esent an i ndust r i al t ycoon.
But t he f i gur e t hat gave her an i nst ant ' s shock was Dr . Rober t St adl er .
She had not known t hat a f ace coul d age so gr eat l y wi t hi n t he br i ef space of
one year : t he l ook of t i mel ess ener gy, of boyi sh eager ness, was gone, and
not hi ng r emai ned of t he f ace except t he l i nes of cont empt uous bi t t er ness. He
st ood al one, apar t f r omt he ot her s, and she saw t he moment when hi s eyes saw
her ent er ; he l ooked l i ke a man i n a whor ehouse who had accept ed t he nat ur e
of hi s sur r oundi ngs unt i l suddenl y caught t her e by hi s wi f e: i t was a l ook of
gui l t i n t he pr ocess of becomi ng hat r ed. Then she saw Rober t St adl er , t he
sci ent i st , t ur n away as i f he had not seen her as i f hi s r ef usal t o see coul d
wi pe a f act out of exi st ence.
Mr . Thompson was paci ng among t he gr oups, snappi ng at r andombyst ander s,
i n t he r est l ess manner of a man of act i on who f eel s cont empt f or t he dut y of
maki ng speeches. He was cl ut chi ng a sheaf of t ypewr i t t en pages, as i f i t wer e
a bundl e of ol d cl ot hi ng about t o be di scar ded.
J ames Taggar t caught hi mi n mi d- st ep, t o say uncer t ai nl y and l oudl y, " Mr .
Thompson, may I pr esent my si st er , Mi ss Dagny Taggar t ?"
" So ni ce of you t o come, Mi ss Taggar t , " sai d Mr . Thompson, shaki ng her
hand as i f she wer e anot her vot er f r omback home whose name he had never
hear d bef or e; t hen he mar ched br i skl y of f .
" Wher e' s t he conf er ence, J i m?" she asked, and gl anced at t he cl ock: i t was
a huge whi t e di al wi t h a bl ack hand sl i ci ng t he mi nut es, l i ke a kni f e movi ng
t owar d t he hour of ei ght .
" I can' t hel p i t ! I don' t r un t hi s show! " he snapped.
Eddi e Wi l l er s gl anced at her wi t h a l ook of bi t t er l y pat i ent ast oni shment ,
and st epped cl oser t o her si de.
A r adi o r ecei ver was pl ayi ng a pr ogr amof mi l i t ar y mar ches br oadcast f r om
anot her st udi o, hal f - dr owni ng t he f r agment s of ner vous voi ces, of hast i l y
ai ml ess st eps, of scr eechi ng machi ner y bei ng pul l ed t o f ocus upon t he
dr awi ng- r oomset .
" St ay t uned t o hear Mr . Thompson' s r epor t on t he wor l d cr i si s at ei ght
P. M. ! " cr i ed t he mar t i al voi ce of an announcer , f r omt he r adi o r ecei ver when
t he hand on t he di al r eached t he hour of 7: 45, " St ep on i t , boys, st ep on
i t ! " snapped Mr . Thompson, whi l e t he r adi o bur st i nt o anot her mar ch.
I t was 7: 50 when Chi ck Mor r i son, t he Mor al e Condi t i oner , who seemed t o be
i n char ge, cr i ed, " AH r i ght , boys and gi r l s, al l r i ght , l et ' s t ake our
pl aces! " wavi ng a bunch of not epaper , l i ke a bat on, t owar d t he l i ght - f l ooded
ci r cl e of ar mchai r s.
Mr . Thompson t hudded down upon t he cent r al chai r , i n t he manner of
gr abbi ng a vacant seat i n a subway.
Chi ck Mor r i son' s assi st ant s wer e her di ng t he cr owd t owar d t he ci r cl e of
l i ght .
" A happy f ami l y, " Chi ck Mor r i son expl ai ned, " t he count r y must see us as a
bi g, uni t ed, happyWhat ' s t he mat t er wi t h t hat t hi ng?"
The r adi o musi c had gone of f abr upt l y, choki ng on an odd l i t t l e gasp of
st at i c, cut i n t he mi ddl e of a r i ngi ng phr ase. I t was 7: 51. He shr ugged and
went on: " happy f ami l y. Hur r y up, boys. Take cl ose- ups of Mr . Thompson,
f i r st . "
The hand of t he cl ock went sl i ci ng of f t he mi nut es, whi l e pr ess
phot ogr apher s cl i cked t hei r camer as at Mr . Thompson' s" sour l y i mpat i ent f ace.
" Mr . Thompson wi l l si t bet ween sci ence and i ndust r y! " Chi ck Mor r i son
announced. " Dr . St adl er , pl easet he chai r on Mr . Thompson' s l ef t . Mi ss
Taggar t t hi s way, pl easeon Mr . Thompson' s r i ght . "
Dr . St adl er obeyed. She di d not move.
" I t ' s not j ust f or t he pr ess, i t ' s f or t he t el evi si on audi ences, " Chi ck
Mor r i son expl ai ned t o her , i n t he t one of an i nducement .
She made a st ep f or war d. " I wi l l not t ake par t i n t hi s pr ogr am, " she sai d
evenl y, addr essi ng Mr . Thompson.
" You won' t ?" he asked bl ankl y, wi t h t he ki nd of l ook he woul d have wor n i f
one of t he f l ower vases had suddenl y r ef used t o per f or mi t s par t .
" Dagny, f or Chr i st ' s sake! " cr i ed J ames Taggar t i n pani c.
" What ' s t he mat t er wi t h her ?" asked Mr . Thompson.
" But , Mi ss Taggar t ! Why?" cr i ed Chi ck Mor r i son.
" You al l know why, " she sai d t o t he f aces ar ound her . " You shoul d have
known bet t er t han t o t r y t hat agai n, "
" Mi ss Taggar t ! " yel l ed Chi ck Mor r i son, as she t ur ned t o go. " I t ' s a
nat i onal emer "
Then a man came r ushi ng t owar d Mr . Thompson, and she st opped, as di d
ever yone el seand t he l ook on t he man' s f ace swept t he cr owd i nt o an abr upt l y
t ot al si l ence. He was t he st at i on' s chi ef engi neer , and i t was odd t o see a
l ook of pr i mi t i ve t er r or st r uggl i ng agai nst hi s r emnant of ci vi l i zed cont r ol .
" Mr . Thompson, " he sai d, " we . . . we mi ght have t o del ay t he br oadcast . "
" What ?" cr i ed Mr . Thompson.
The hand of t he di al st ood at 7: 58.
" We' r e t r yi ng t o f i x i t , Mr . Thompson, we' r e t r yi ng t o f i nd out what i t i s
. . . but we mi ght not be on t i me and"
" What ar e you t al ki ng about ? What happened?"
" We' r e t r yi ng t o l ocat e t he"
" What happened?"
. " I don' t know! But . . . We . . we can' t get on t he ai r , Mr .
Thompson. "
Ther e was a moment of si l ence, t hen Mr . Thompson asked, hi s voi ce
unnat ur al l y l ow, " Ar e you cr azy?"
" I must be. I wi sh I wer e. I can' t make i t out . The st at i on i s dead. "
" Mechani cal t r oubl e?" yel l ed Mr . Thompson, l eapi ng t o hi s f eet .
" Mechani cal t r oubl e, God damn you, at a t i me l i ke t hi s? I f t hat ' s how you
r un t hi s st at i on"
The chi ef engi neer shook hi s head sl owl y, i n t he manner of an adul t who i s
r el uct ant t o f r i ght en a chi l d. " I t ' s not t hi s st at i on, Mr . Thompson, " he sai d
sof t l y. " I t ' s ever y st at i on i n t he count r y, as f ar as we' ve been abl e t o
check. And t her e i s no mechani cal t r oubl e. Nei t her her e nor el sewher e. The
equi pment i s i n or der , i n per f ect or der , and t hey al l r epor t t he same, but .
. . but al l r adi o st at i ons went of f t he ai r at seven- f i f t y- one, and . . . and
nobody can di scover why. "
" But " cr i ed Mr . Thompson, st opped, gl anced about hi mand scr eamed, " Not
t oni ght ! You can' t l et i t happen t oni ght ! You' ve got t o get me on t he ai r ! "
" Mr . Thompson, " t he man sai d sl owl y, " we' ve cal l ed t he el ect r oni c
l abor at or y of t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e. They . . . t hey' ve never seen
anyt hi ng l i ke i t . They sai d i t mi ght be a nat ur al phenomenon, some sor t of
cosmi c di st ur bance of an unpr ecedent ed ki nd, onl y"
" Wel l ?"
" Onl y t hey don' t t hi nk i t i s. We don' t , ei t her . They sai d i t l ooks l i ke
r adi o waves, but of a f r equency never pr oduced bef or e, never obser ved
anywher e, never di scover ed by anybody. "
No one answer ed hi m. I n a moment , he went on, hi s voi ce oddl y sol emn: " I t
l ooks l i ke a wal l of r adi o waves j ammi ng t he ai r , and we can' t get t hr ough
i t , we can' t t ouch i t , we can' t br eak i t . . . . What ' s mor e, we can' t l ocat e
i t s sour ce, not by any of our usual met hods. . . .
Those waves seemt o come f r oma t r ansmi t t er t hat . . . t hat makes any
known t o us l ook l i ke a chi l d' s t oy! "
" But t hat ' s not possi bl e! " The cr y came f r ombehi nd Mr . Thompson and t hey
al l whi r l ed i n i t s di r ect i on, st ar t l ed by i t s not e of pecul i ar t er r or ; i t
came f r omDr . St adl er . " Ther e' s no such t hi ng! Ther e' s nobody on ear t h t o
make i t ! "
The chi ef engi neer spr ead hi s hands out . " That ' s i t , Dr . St adl er , "
he sai d wear i l y. " I t can' t be possi bl e. I t shoul dn' t be possi bl e. But
t her e i t i s. "
" Wel l , do somet hi ng about i t ! " cr i ed Mr . Thompson t o t he cr owd at l ar ge.
No one answer ed or moved.
" I won' t per mi t t hi s! " cr i ed Mr . Thompson. " I won' t per mi t i t ! Toni ght of
al l ni ght s! I ' ve got t o make t hat speech! Do somet hi ng! Sol ve i t , what ever i t
i s! I or der you t o sol ve i t ! "
The chi ef engi neer was l ooki ng at hi mbl ankl y.
" I ' l l f i r e t he l ot of you f or t hi s! I ' l l f i r e ever y el ect r oni c engi neer i n
t he count r y! I l l put t he whol e pr of essi on on t r i al f or sabot age, deser t i on
and t r eason! Do you hear me? Now do somet hi ng, God damn you!
Do somet hi ng! "
The chi ef engi neer was l ooki ng at hi mi mpassi vel y, as i f wor ds wer e not
conveyi ng anyt hi ng any l onger .
" I sn' t t her e anybody ar ound t o obey an or der ?" cr i ed Mr . Thompson. " I sn' t
t her e a br ai n l ef t i n t hi s count r y?"
The hand of t he cl ock r eached t he dot of 8: 00.
" Ladi es and gent l emen, " sai d a voi ce t hat came f r omt he r adi o r ecei ver a
man' s cl ear , cal m, i mpl acabl e voi ce, t he ki nd of voi ce t hat had not been
hear d on t he ai r waves f or year s" Mr . Thompson wi l l not speak t o you t oni ght .
Hi s t i me i s up. I have t aken i t over . You wer e t o hear a r epor t on t he wor l d
cr i si s. That i s what you ar e goi ng t o hear . "
Thr ee gasps of r ecogni t i on gr eet ed t he voi ce, but nobody had t he power t o
not i ce t hemamong t he sounds of t he cr owd, whi ch wer e beyond t he st age of
cr i es. One was a gasp of t r i umph, anot her of t er r or , t he t hi r dof
bewi l der ment . Thr ee per sons had r ecogni zed t he speaker : Dagny, Dr . St adl er ,
Eddi e Wi l l er s. Nobody gl anced at Eddi e Wi l l er s; but Dagny and Dr . St adl er
gl anced at each ot her . She saw t hat hi s f ace was di st or t ed by as evi l a
t er r or as one coul d ever bear t o see; he saw t hat she knew and t hat t he way
she l ooked at hi mwas as i f t he speaker had sl apped hi s f ace.
" For t wel ve year s, you have been aski ng: Who i s J ohn Gal t ? Thi s i s J ohn
Gal t speaki ng. I amt he man who l oves hi s l i f e. I amt he man who does not
sacr i f i ce hi s l ove or hi s val ues. I amt he man who has depr i ved you of
vi ct i ms and t hus has dest r oyed your wor l d, and i f you wi sh t o know why you
ar e per i shi ngyou who dr ead knowl edgeI amt he man who wi l l now t el l you. "
The chi ef engi neer was t he onl y one abl e t o move; he r an t o a t el evi si on
set and st r uggl ed f r ant i cal l y wi t h i t s di al s. But t he scr een r emai ned empt y;
t he speaker had not chosen t o be seen. Onl y hi s voi ce f i l l ed t he ai r ways of
t he count r yof t he wor l d, t hought t he chi ef engi neer soundi ng as i f he wer e
speaki ng her e, i n t hi s r oom, not t o a gr oup, but t o one man; i t was not t he
t one of addr essi ng a meet i ng, but t he t one of addr essi ng a mi nd.
" You have hear d i t sai d t hat t hi s i s an age of mor al cr i si s. You have sai d
i t your sel f , hal f i n f ear , hal f i n hope t hat t he wor ds had no meani ng.
You have cr i ed t hat man' s si ns ar e dest r oyi ng t he wor l d and you have
cur sed human nat ur e f or i t s unwi l l i ngness t o pr act i ce t he vi r t ues you
demanded. Si nce vi r t ue, t o you, consi st s of sacr i f i ce, you have demanded mor e
sacr i f i ces at ever y successi ve di sast er . I n t he name of a r et ur n t o mor al i t y,
you have sacr i f i ced al l t hose evi l s whi ch you hel d as t he cause of your
pl i ght . You have sacr i f i ced j ust i ce t o mer cy. You have sacr i f i ced
i ndependence t o uni t y. You have sacr i f i ced r eason t o f ai t h.
You have sacr i f i ced weal t h t o need. You have sacr i f i ced sel f - est eemt o
sel f - deni al . You have sacr i f i ced happi ness t o dut y.
" You have dest r oyed al l t hat whi ch you hel d t o be evi l and achi eved al l
t hat whi ch you hel d t o be good. Why, t hen, do you shr i nk i n hor r or f r omt he
si ght of t he wor l d ar ound you? That wor l d i s not t he pr oduct of your si ns, i t
i s t he pr oduct and t he i mage of your vi r t ues. I t i s your mor al i deal br ought
i nt o r eal i t y i n i t s f ul l and f i nal per f ect i on. You have f ought f or i t , you
have dr eamed of i t , you have wi shed i t , and I I amt he man who has gr ant ed
you your wi sh.
" Your i deal had an i mpl acabl e enemy, whi ch your code of mor al i t y was
desi gned t o dest r oy. I have wi t hdr awn t hat enemy. I have t aken i t out of your
way and out of your r each. I have r emoved t he sour ce of al l t hose evi l s you
wer e sacr i f i ci ng one by one. I have ended your bat t l e. I have st opped your
mot or . I have depr i ved your wor l d of man' s mi nd.
" Men do not l i ve by t he mi nd, you say? I have wi t hdr awn t hose who do. The
mi nd i s i mpot ent , you say? I have wi t hdr awn t hose whose mi nd i sn' t . Ther e ar e
val ues hi gher t han t he mi nd, you say? I have wi t hdr awn t hose f or whomt her e
ar en' t .
" Whi l e you wer e dr aggi ng t o your sacr i f i ci al al t ar s t he men of j ust i ce, of
i ndependence, of r eason, of weal t h, of sel f - est eemI beat you t o i t , I
r eached t hemf i r st . I t ol d t hemt he nat ur e of t he game you wer e pl ayi ng and
t he nat ur e of t hat mor al code of your s, whi ch t hey had been t oo i nnocent l y
gener ous t o gr asp. I showed t hemt he way t o l i ve by anot her mor al i t ymi ne. I t
i s mi ne t hat t hey chose t o f ol l ow.
Al l t he men who have vani shed, t he men you hat ed, yet dr eaded t o l ose, i t
i s I who have t aken t hemaway f r omyou. Do not at t empt t o f i nd us. We do not
choose t o be f ound. Do not cr y t hat i t i s our dut y t o ser ve you. We do not
r ecogni ze such dut y- Do not cr y t hat you need us. We do not consi der need a
cl ai m. Do not cr y t hat you own us. You don' t , Do not beg us t o r et ur n. We ar e
on st r i ke, we, t he men of t he mi nd.
" We ar e on st r i ke agai nst sel f - i mmol at i on. We ar e on st r i ke agai nst t he
cr eed of unear ned r ewar ds and unr ewar ded dut i es. We ar e on st r i ke agai nst t he
dogma t hat t he pur sui t of one' s happi ness i s evi l . We ar e on st r i ke agai nst
t he doct r i ne t hat l i f e i s gui l t .
" Ther e i s a di f f er ence bet ween our st r i ke and al l t hose you' ve pr act i ced
f or cent ur i es: our st r i ke consi st s, not of maki ng demands, but of gr ant i ng
t hem. We ar e evi l , accor di ng t o your mor al i t y. We have chosen not t o har myou
any l onger . We ar e usel ess, accor di ng t o your economi cs. We have chosen not
t o expl oi t you any l onger . We ar e danger ous and t o be shackl ed, accor di ng t o
your pol i t i cs. We have chosen not t o endanger you, nor t o wear t he shackl es
any l onger . We ar e onl y an i l l usi on, accor di ng t o your phi l osophy. We have
chosen not t o bl i nd you any l onger and have l ef t you f r ee t o f ace r eal i t yt he
r eal i t y you want ed, t he wor l d as you see i t now, a wor l d wi t hout mi nd.
" We have gr ant ed you ever yt hi ng you demanded of us, we who had al ways been
t he gi ver s, but have onl y now under st ood i t . We have no demands t o pr esent t o
you, no t er ms t o bar gai n about , no compr omi se t o r each. You have not hi ng t o
of f er us. We do not need you.
" Ar e you now cr yi ng: No, t hi s was not what you want ed? A mi ndl ess wor l d of
r ui ns was not your goal ? You di d not want us t o l eave you? You mor al
canni bal s, I know t hat you' ve al ways known what i t was t hat you want ed. But
your game i s up, because now we know i t , t oo.
" Thr ough cent ur i es of scour ges and di sast er s, br ought about by your code
of mor al i t y, you have cr i ed t hat your code had been br oken, t hat t he scour ges
wer e puni shment f or br eaki ng i t , t hat men wer e t oo weak and t oo sel f i sh t o
spi l l al ! t he bl ood i t r equi r ed. You damned man, you damned exi st ence, you
damned t hi s ear t h, but never dar ed t o quest i on your code. Your vi ct i ms t ook
t he bl ame and st r uggl ed on, wi t h your cur ses as r ewar d f or t hei r mar t yr dom
whi l e you went on cr yi ng t hat your code was nobl e, but human nat ur e was not
good enough t o pr act i ce i t . And no one r ose t o ask t he quest i on: Good?by
what st andar d?
" You want ed t o know J ohn Gal t ' s i dent i t y. I amt he man who has asked t hat
quest i on.
" Yes, t hi s i s an age of mor al cr i si s. Yes, you ar e bear i ng puni shment f or
your evi l . But i t i s not man who i s now on t r i al and i t i s not human nat ur e
t hat wi l l t ake t he bl ame. I t i s your mor al code t hat ' s t hr ough, t hi s t i me.
Your mor al code has r eached i t s cl i max, t he bl i nd al l ey at t he end of i t s
cour se. And i f you wi sh t o go on l i vi ng, what you now need i s not t o r et ur n
t o mor al i t yyou who have never known any
but t o di scover i t .
" You have hear d no concept s of mor al i t y but t he myst i cal or t he soci al .
You have been t aught t hat mor al i t y i s a code of behavi or i mposed on you by
whi m, t he whi mof a super nat ur al power or t he whi mof soci et y, t o ser ve God' s
pur pose or your nei ghbor ' s wel f ar e, t o pl ease an aut hor i t y beyond t he gr ave
or el se next door but not t o ser ve your l i f e or pl easur e. Your pl easur e, you
have been t aught , i s t o be f ound i n i mmor al i t y, your i nt er est s woul d best be
ser ved by evi l , and any mor al code must be desi gned not f or you, but agai nst
you, not t o f ur t her your l i f e, but t o dr ai n i t .
" For cent ur i es, t he bat t l e of mor al i t y was f ought bet ween t hose who
cl ai med t hat your l i f e bel ongs t o God and t hose who cl ai med t hat i t bel ongs
t o your nei ghbor sbet ween t hose who pr eached t hat t he good i s sel f - sacr i f i ce
f or t he sake of ghost s i n heaven and t hose who pr eached t hat t he good i s
sel f - sacr i f i ce f or t he sake of i ncompet ent s on ear t h. And no one came t o say
t hat your l i f e bel ongs t o you and t hat t he good i s t o l i ve i t .
" Bot h si des agr eed t hat mor al i t y demands t he sur r ender of your sel f
i nt er est and of your mi nd, t hat t he mor al and t he pr act i cal ar e opposi t es,
t hat mor al i t y i s not t he pr ovi nce of r eason, but t he pr ovi nce of f ai t h and
f or ce. Bot h si des agr eed t hat no r at i onal mor al i t y i s possi bl e, t hat t her e i s
no r i ght or wr ong i n r easont hat i n r eason t her e' s no r eason t o be mor al .
" What ever el se t hey f ought about , i t was agai nst man' s mi nd t hat al l your
mor al i st s have st ood uni t ed. I t was man' s mi nd t hat al l t hei r schemes and
syst ems wer e i nt ended t o despoi l and dest r oy. Now choose t o per i sh or t o
l ear n t hat t he ant i - mi nd i s t he ant i - l i f e.
" Man' s mi nd i s hi s basi c t ool of sur vi val . Li f e i s gi ven t o hi m, sur vi val
i s not . Hi s body i s gi ven t o hi m, i t s sust enance i s not . Hi s mi nd i s gi ven t o
hi m, i t s cont ent i s not . To r emai n al i ve, he must act , and bef or e he can act
he must know t he nat ur e and pur pose of hi s act i on. He cannot obt ai n hi s f ood
wi t hout a knowl edge of f ood and of t he way t o obt ai n i t . He cannot di g a
di t chor bui l d a cycl ot r onwi t hout a knowl edge of hi s ai mand of t he means t o
achi eve i t . To r emai n al i ve, he must t hi nk.
" But t o t hi nk i s an act of choi ce. The key t o what you so r eckl essl y cal l
' human nat ur e, ' t he open secr et you l i ve wi t h, yet dr ead t o name, i s t he f act
t hat man i s a bei ng of vol i t i onal consci ousness. Reason does not wor k
aut omat i cal l y; t hi nki ng i s not a mechani cal pr ocess; t he connect i ons of l ogi c
ar e not made by i nst i nct . The f unct i on of your st omach, l ungs or hear t i s
aut omat i c; t he f unct i on of your mi nd i s not . I n any hour and i ssue of your
l i f e, you ar e f r ee t o t hi nk or t o evade t hat ef f or t . But you ar e not f r ee t o
escape f r omyour nat ur e, f r omt he f act t hat r eason i s your means of sur vi val
so t hat f or you, who ar e a human bei ng, t he quest i on ' t o be or not t o be' i s
t he quest i on ' t o t hi nk or not t o t hi nk. '
" A bei ng of vol i t i onal consci ousness has no aut omat i c cour se of behavi or .
He needs a code of val ues t o gui de hi s act i ons. ' Val ue' i s t hat whi ch one
act s t o gai n and keep, ' vi r t ue' i s t he act i on by whi ch one gai ns and keeps
i t . ' Val ue' pr esupposes an answer t o t he quest i on: of val ue t o whomand f or
what ? ' Val ue' pr esupposes a st andar d, a pur pose and t he necessi t y of act i on
i n t he f ace of an al t er nat i ve. Wher e t her e ar e no al t er nat i ves, no val ues ar e
possi bl e.
" Ther e i s onl y one f undament al al t er nat i ve i n t he uni ver se: exi st ence or
non- exi st enceand i t per t ai ns t o a si ngl e cl ass of ent i t i es: t o l i vi ng
or gani sms. The exi st ence of i nani mat e mat t er i s uncondi t i onal , t he exi st ence
of l i f e i s not : i t depends on a speci f i c cour se of act i on. Mat t er i s
i ndest r uct i bl e, i t changes i t s f or ms, but i t cannot cease t o exi st . I t i s
onl y a l i vi ng or gani smt hat f aces a const ant al t er nat i ve: t he i ssue of l i f e
or deat h. Li f e i s a pr ocess of sel f - sust ai ni ng and sel f - gener at ed act i on. I f
an or gani smf ai l s i n t hat act i on, i t di es; i t s chemi cal el ement s r emai n, but
i t s l i f e goes out of exi st ence. I t i s onl y t he concept of ' Li f e'
t hat makes t he concept of ' Val ue' possi bl e. I t i s onl y t o a l i vi ng ent i t y
t hat t hi ngs can be good or evi l .
" A pl ant must f eed i t sel f i n or der t o l i ve; t he sunl i ght , t he wat er , t he
chemi cal s i t needs ar e t he val ues i t s nat ur e has set i t t o pur sue; i t s l i f e
i s t he st andar d of val ue di r ect i ng i t s act i ons. But a pl ant has no choi ce of
act i on; t her e ar e al t er nat i ves i n t he condi t i ons i t encount er s, but t her e i s
no al t er nat i ve i n i t s f unct i on: i t act s aut omat i cal l y t o f ur t her i t s l i f e, i t
cannot act f or i t s own dest r uct i on.
" An ani mal i s equi pped f or sust ai ni ng i t s l i f e; i t s senses pr ovi de i t wi t h
an aut omat i c code of act i on, an aut omat i c knowl edge of what i s good f or i t or
evi l . I t has no power t o ext end i t s knowl edge or t o evade i t . I n condi t i ons
wher e i t s knowl edge pr oves i nadequat e, i t di es. But so l ong as i t l i ves, i t
act s on i t s knowl edge, wi t h aut omat i c saf et y and no power of choi ce, i t i s
unabl e t o i gnor e i t s own good, unabl e t o deci de t o choose t he evi l and act as
i t s own dest r oyer .
" Man has no aut omat i c code of sur vi val . Hi s par t i cul ar di st i nct i on f r om
al l ot her l i vi ng speci es i s t he necessi t y t o act i n t he f ace of al t er nat i ves
by means of vol i t i onal choi ce. He has no aut omat i c knowl edge of what i s good
f or hi mor evi l , what val ues hi s l i f e depends on, what cour se of act i on i t
r equi r es. Ar e you pr at t l i ng about an i nst i nct of sel f pr eser vat i on? An
i nst i nct of sel f - pr eser vat i on i s pr eci sel y what man does not possess. An
' i nst i nct ' i s an uner r i ng and aut omat i c f or mof knowl edge. A desi r e i s not an
i nst i nct . A desi r e t o l i ve does not gi ve you t he knowl edge r equi r ed f or
l i vi ng. And even man' s desi r e t o l i ve i s not aut omat i c: your secr et evi l
t oday i s t hat ( hat i s t he desi r e you do not hol d. Your f ear of deat h i s not a
l ove f or l i f e and wi l l not gi ve you t he knowl edge needed t o keep i t . Man must
obt ai n hi s knowl edge and choose hi s act i ons by a pr ocess of t hi nki ng, whi ch
nat ur e wi l l not f or ce hi mt o per f or m. Man has t he power t o act as hi s own
dest r oyer and t hat i s t he way he has act ed t hr ough most of hi s hi st or y.
" A l i vi ng ent i t y t hat r egar ded i t s means of sur vi val as evi l , woul d not
sur vi ve. A pl ant t hat st r uggl ed t o mangl e i t s r oot s, a bi r d t hat f ought t o
br eak i t s wi ngs woul d not r emai n f or l ong i n t he exi st ence t hey af f r ont ed.
But t he hi st or y of man has been a st r uggl e t o deny and t o dest r oy hi s mi nd.
" Man has been cal l ed a r at i onal bei ng, but r at i onal i t y i s a mat t er of
choi ceand t he al t er nat i ve hi s nat ur e of f er s hi mi s: r at i onal bei ng or
sui ci dal ani mal , Man has t o be manby choi ce; he has t o hol d hi s l i f e as a
val ueby choi ce; he has t o l ear n t o sust ai n i t by choi ce; he has t o di scover
t he val ues i t r equi r es and pr act i ce hi s vi r t uesby choi ce.
" A code of val ues accept ed by choi ce i s a code of mor al i t y.
" Whoever you ar e, you who ar e hear i ng me now, I amspeaki ng t o what ever
l i vi ng r emnant i s l ef t uncor r upt ed wi t hi n you, t o t he r emnant of t he human,
t o your mi nd, and I say: Ther e i s a mor al i t y of r eason, a mor al i t y pr oper t o
man, and Man' s Li f e i s i t s st andar d of val ue.
" AH t hat whi ch i s pr oper t o t he l i f e of a r at i onal bei ng i s t he good; al l
t hat whi ch dest r oys i t i s t he evi l .
" Man' s l i f e, as r equi r ed by hi s nat ur e, i s not t he l i f e of a mi ndl ess
br ut e, of a l oot i ng t hug or a moochi ng myst i c, but t he l i f e of a t hi nki ng
bei ngnot l i f e by means of f or ce or f r aud, but l i f e by means of achi evement
not sur vi val at any pr i ce, si nce t her e' s onl y one pr i ce t hat pays f or man' s
sur vi val : r eason.
" Man' s l i f e i s t he st andar d of mor al i t y, but your own l i f e i s i t s pur pose.
I f exi st ence on ear t h i s your goal , you must choose your act i ons and val ues
by t he st andar d of t hat whi ch i s pr oper t o manf or t he pur pose of pr eser vi ng,
f ul f i l l i ng and enj oyi ng t he i r r epl aceabl e val ue whi ch i s your l i f e.
" Si nce l i f e r equi r es a speci f i c cour se of act i on, any ot her cour se wi l l
dest r oy i t - A bei ng who does not hol d hi s own l i f e as t he mot i ve and goal of
hi s act i ons, i s act i ng on t he mot i ve and st andar d of deat h. Such a bei ng i s a
met aphysi cal monst r osi t y, st r uggl i ng t o oppose, negat e and cont r adi ct t he
f act of hi s own exi st ence, r unni ng bl i ndl y amuck on a t r ai l of dest r uct i on,
capabl e of not hi ng but pai n.
" Happi ness i s t he successf ul st at e of l i f e, pai n i s an agent of deat h.
Happi ness i s t hat st at e of consci ousness whi ch pr oceeds f r omt he
achi evement of one' s val ues. A mor al i t y t hat dar es t o t el l you t o f i nd
happi ness i n t he r enunci at i on of your happi nesst o val ue t he f ai l ur e of your
val uesi s an i nsol ent negat i on of mor al i t y. A doct r i ne t hat gi ves you, as an
i deal , t he r ol e of a sacr i f i ci al ani mal seeki ng sl aught er on t he al t ar s of
ot her s, i s gi vi ng you deat h as your st andar d. By t he gr ace of r eal i t y and t he
nat ur e of l i f e, manever y mani s an end i n hi msel f , he exi st s f or hi s own
sake, and t he achi evement of hi s own happi ness i s hi s hi ghest mor al pur pose.
" But nei t her l i f e nor happi ness can be achi eved by t he pur sui t of
i r r at i onal whi ms. J ust as man i s f r ee t o at t empt t o sur vi ve i n any r andom
manner , but wi l l per i sh unl ess he l i ves as hi s nat ur e r equi r es, so he i s f r ee
t o seek hi s happi ness i n any mi ndl ess f r aud, but t he t or t ur e of f r ust r at i on
i s al l he wi l l f i nd, unl ess he seeks t he happi ness pr oper t o man. The pur pose
of mor al i t y i s t o t each you, not t o suf f er and di e, but t o enj oy your sel f and
l i ve.
" Sweep asi de t hose par asi t es of subsi di zed cl assr ooms, who l i ve on t he
pr of i t s of t he mi nd of ot her s and pr ocl ai mt hat man needs no mor al i t y, no
val ues, no code of behavi or . They, who pose as sci ent i st s and cl ai mt hat man
i s onl y an ani mal , do not gr ant hi mi ncl usi on i n t he l aw of exi st ence t hey
have gr ant ed t o t he l owest of i nsect s. They r ecogni ze t hat ever y l i vi ng
speci es has a way of sur vi val demanded by i t s nat ur e, t hey do not cl ai mt hat
a f i sh can l i ve out of wat er or t hat a dog can l i ve wi t hout i t s sense of
smel l but man, t hey cl ai m, t he most compl ex of bei ngs, man can sur vi ve i n any
way what ever , man has no i dent i t y, no nat ur e, and t her e' s no pr act i cal r eason
why he cannot l i ve wi t h hi s means of sur vi val dest r oyed, wi t h hi s mi nd
t hr ot t l ed and pl aced at t he di sposal of any or der s t hey mi ght car e t o i ssue.
" Sweep asi de t hose hat r ed- eat en myst i cs, who pose as f r i ends of humani t y
and pr each t hat t he hi ghest vi r t ue man can pr act i ce i s t o hol d hi s own l i f e
as of no val ue. Do t hey t el l you t hat t he pur pose of mor al i t y i s t o cur b
man' s i nst i nct of sel f - pr eser vat i on? I t i s f or t he pur pose of sel f -
pr eser vat i on t hat man needs a code of mor al i t y. The onl y man who desi r es t o
be mor al i s t he man who desi r es t o l i ve.
" No, you do not have t o l i ve; i t i s your basi c act of choi ce; but i f you
choose t o l i ve, you must l i ve as a manby t he wor k and t he j udgment of your
mi nd.
" No, you do not have t o l i ve as a man; i t i s an act of mor al choi ce. But
you cannot l i ve as anyt hi ng el seand t he al t er nat i ve i s t hat st at e of l i vi ng
deat h whi ch you now see wi t hi n you and ar ound you, t he st at e of a t hi ng unf i t
f or exi st ence, no l onger human and l ess t han ani mal , a t hi ng t hat knows
not hi ng but pai n and dr ags i t sel f t hr ough i t s span of year s i n t he agony of
unt hi nki ng sel f - dest r uct i on.
" No, you do not have t o t hi nk; i t i s an act of mor al choi ce. But someone
had t o t hi nk t o keep you al i ve; i f you choose t o def aul t , you def aul t on
exi st ence and you pass t he def i ci t t o some mor al man, expect i ng hi mt o
sacr i f i ce hi s good f or t he sake of l et t i ng you sur vi ve by your evi l .
" No, you do not have t o be a man; but t oday t hose who ar e, ar e not t her e
any l onger . I have r emoved your means of sur vi val your vi ct i ms.
" I f you wi sh t o know how I have done i t and what I t ol d t hemt o make t hem
qui t , you ar e hear i ng i t now. I t ol d t hem, i n essence, t he st at ement I am
maki ng t oni ght . They wer e men who had l i ved by my code, but had not known how
gr eat a vi r t ue i t r epr esent ed. I made t hemsee i t . I br ought t hem, not a r e-
eval uat i on, but onl y an i dent i f i cat i on of t hei r val ues.
" We, t he men of t he mi nd, ar e now on st r i ke agai nst you i n t he name of a
si ngl e axi om, whi ch i s t he r oot of our mor al code, j ust as t he r oot of your s
i s t he wi sh t o escape i t : t he axi omt hat exi st ence exi st s.
" Exi st ence exi st sand t he act of gr aspi ng t hat st at ement i mpl i es t wo
cor ol l ar y axi oms: t hat somet hi ng exi st s whi ch one per cei ves and t hat one
exi st s possessi ng consci ousness, consci ousness bei ng t he f acul t y of
per cei vi ng t hat whi ch exi st s.
" I f not hi ng exi st s, t her e can be no consci ousness: a consci ousness wi t h
not hi ng t o be consci ous of i s a cont r adi ct i on i n t er ms. A consci ousness
consci ous of not hi ng but i t sel f i s a cont r adi ct i on i n t er ms: bef or e i t coul d
i dent i f y i t sel f as consci ousness, i t had t o be consci ous of somet hi ng. I f
t hat whi ch you cl ai mt o per cei ve does not exi st , what you possess i s not
consci ousness.
" What ever t he degr ee of your knowl edge, t hese t woexi st ence and
consci ousnessar e axi oms you cannot escape, t hese t wo ar e t he i r r educi bl e
pr i mar i es i mpl i ed i n any act i on you under t ake, i n any par t of your knowl edge
and i n i t s sum, f r omt he f i r st r ay of l i ght you per cei ve at t he st ar t of your
l i f e t o t he wi dest er udi t i on you mi ght acqui r e at i t s end. Whet her you know
t he shape of a pebbl e or t he st r uct ur e of a sol ar syst em, t he axi oms r emai n
t he same: t hat i t exi st s and t hat you know i t .
" To exi st i s t o be somet hi ng, as di st i ngui shed f r omt he not hi ng of non-
exi st ence, i t i s t o be an ent i t y of a speci f i c nat ur e made of speci f i c
at t r i but es. Cent ur i es ago, t he man who wasno mat t er what hi s er r or s t he
gr eat est of . your phi l osopher s, has st at ed t he f or mul a def i ni ng t he concept
of exi st ence and t he r ul e of al l knowl edge: A i s A. A. t hi ng i s i t sel f . You
have never gr asped t he meani ng of hi s st at ement . I amher e t o compl et e i t :
Exi st ence i s I dent i t y, Consci ousness i s I dent i f i cat i on.
" What ever you choose t o consi der , be i t an obj ect , an at t r i but e or an
act i on, t he l aw of i dent i t y r emai ns t he same. A l eaf cannot be a st one at t he
same t i me, i t cannot be al l r ed and al l gr een at t he same t i me, i t cannot
f r eeze and bur n at t he same t i me. A i s A. Or , i f you wi sh i t st at ed i n
si mpl er l anguage: You cannot have your cake and eat i t , t oo.
" Ar e you seeki ng t o know what i s wr ong wi t h t he wor l d? AH t he di sast er s
t hat have wr ecked your wor l d, came f r omyour l eader s1 at t empt t o evade t he
f act t hat A i s A. Al l t he secr et evi l you dr ead t o f ace wi t hi n you and al l
t he pai n you have ever endur ed, came f r omyour own at t empt t o evade t he f act
t hat A i s A. The pur pose of t hose who t aught you t o evade i t , was t o make you
f or get t hat Man i s Man.
" Man cannot sur vi ve except by gai ni ng knowl edge, and r eason i s hi s onl y
means t o gai n i t . Reason i s t he f acul t y t hat per cei ves, i dent i f i es and
i nt egr at es t he mat er i al pr ovi ded by hi s senses. The t ask of hi s senses i s t o
gi ve hi mt he evi dence of exi st ence, but t he t ask of i dent i f yi ng i t bel ongs t o
hi s r eason, hi s senses t el l hi monl y t hat somet hi ng i s, but what i t i s must
be l ear ned by hi s mi nd.
" Al l t hi nki ng i s a pr ocess of i dent i f i cat i on and i nt egr at i on. Man
per cei ves a bl ob of col or ; by i nt egr at i ng t he evi dence of hi s si ght and hi s
t ouch, he l ear ns t o i dent i t y i t as a sol i d obj ect : he l ear ns t o i dent i f y t he
obj ect as a t abl e; he l ear ns t hat t he t abl e i s made of wood; he l ear ns t hat
t he wood consi st s of cel l s, t hat t he cel l s consi st of mol ecul es, t hat t he
mol ecul es consi st of at oms. Al l t hr ough t hi s pr ocess, t he wor k of hi s mi nd
consi st s of answer s t o a si ngl e quest i on: What i s i t ? Hi s means t o est abl i sh
t he t r ut h of hi s answer s i s l ogi c, and l ogi c r est s on t he axi omt hat
exi st ence exi st s. Logi c i s t he ar t of non- cont r adi ct or y i dent i f i cat i on.
A cont r adi ct i on cannot exi st . An at omi s i t sel f , and so i s t he uni ver se;
nei t her can cont r adi ct i t s own i dent i t y; nor can a par t cont r adi ct t he whol e.
No concept man f or ms i s val i d unl ess he i nt egr at es i t wi t hout cont r adi ct i on
i nt o t he t ot al sumof hi s knowl edge. To ar r i ve at a cont r adi ct i on i s t o
conf ess an er r or i n one' s t hi nki ng; t o mai nt ai n a cont r adi ct i on i s t o
abdi cat e one' s mi nd and t o evi ct onesel f f r omt he r eal mof r eal i t y.
" Real i t y i s t hat whi ch exi st s; t he unr eal does not exi st ; t he unr eal i s
mer el y t hat negat i on of exi st ence whi ch i s t he cont ent of a human
consci ousness when i t at t empt s t o abandon r eason. Tr ut h i s t he r ecogni t i on of
r eal i t y; r eason, man' s onl y means of knowl edge, i s hi s onl y st andar d of
t r ut h.
" The most depr aved sent ence you can now ut t er i s t o ask: Whose r eason? The
answer i s: Your s. No mat t er how vast your knowl edge or how modest , i t i s your
own mi nd t hat has t o acqui r e i t . I t i s onl y wi t h your own knowl edge t hat you
can deal . I t i s onl y your own knowl edge t hat you can cl ai mt o possess or ask
ot her s t o consi der . Your mi nd i s your onl y j udge of t r ut hand i f ot her s
di ssent f r omyour ver di ct , r eal i t y i s t he cour t of f i nal appeal . Not hi ng but
a man' s mi nd can per f or mt hat compl ex, del i cat e, cr uci al pr ocess of
i dent i f i cat i on whi ch i s t hi nki ng. Not hi ng can di r ect t he pr ocess but hi s own
j udgment . Not hi ng can di r ect hi s j udgment but hi s mor al i nt egr i t y.
" You who speak of a ' mor al i nst i nct ' as i f i t wer e some separ at e endowment
opposed t o r easonman' s r eason i s hi s mor al f acul t y. A pr ocess of r eason i s a
pr ocess of const ant choi ce i n answer t o t he quest i on: Tr ue or Fal se?Ri ght or
Wr ong? I s a seed t o be pl ant ed i n soi l i n or der t o gr owr i ght or wr ong? I s a
man' s wound t o be di si nf ect ed i n or der t o save hi s l i f er i ght or wr ong? Does
t he nat ur e of at mospher i c el ect r i ci t y per mi t i t t o be conver t ed i nt o ki net i c
power r i ght or wr ong? I t i s t he answer s t o such quest i ons t hat gave you
ever yt hi ng you haveand t he answer s came f r oma man' s mi nd, a mi nd of
i nt r ansi gent devot i on t o t hat whi ch i s r i ght .
" A r at i onal pr ocess i s a mor al pr ocess. You may make an er r or at any st ep
of i t , wi t h not hi ng t o pr ot ect you but your own sever i t y, or you may t r y t o
cheat , t o f ake t he evi dence and evade t he ef f or t of t he quest but i f devot i on
t o t r ut h i s t he hal l mar k of mor al i t y, t hen t her e i s no gr eat er , nobl er , mor e
her oi c f or mof devot i on t han t he act of a man who assumes t he r esponsi bi l i t y
of t hi nki ng.
" That whi ch you cal l your soul or spi r i t i s your consci ousness, and t hat
whi ch you cal l ' f r ee wi l l ' i s your mi nd' s f r eedomt o t hi nk or not , t he onl y
wi l l you have, your onl y f r eedom, t he choi ce t hat cont r ol s al l t he choi ces
you make and det er mi nes your l i f e and your char act er .
" Thi nki ng i s man' s onl y basi c vi r t ue, f r omwhi ch al l t he ot her s pr oceed.
And hi s basi c vi ce, t he sour ce of al l hi s evi l s, i s t hat namel ess act whi ch
al l of you pr act i ce, but st r uggl e never t o admi t : t he act of bl anki ng out ,
t he wi l l f ul suspensi on of one' s consci ousness, t he r ef usal t o t hi nknot
bl i ndness, but t he r ef usal t o see; not i gnor ance, but t he r ef usal t o know. I t
i s t he act of unf ocusi ng your mi nd and i nduci ng an i nner f og t o escape t he
r esponsi bi l i t y of j udgment on t he unst at ed pr emi se t hat a t hi ng wi l l not
exi st i f onl y you r ef use t o i dent i f y i t , t hat A wi l l not be A so l ong as you
do not pr onounce t he ver di ct ' I t i s. '
Non- t hi nki ng i s an act of anni hi l at i on, a wi sh t o negat e exi st ence, an
at t empt t o wi pe out r eal i t y. But exi st ence exi st s; r eal i t y i s not t o be wi ped
out , i t wi l l mer el y wi pe out t he wi per . By r ef usi ng t o say ' I t i s,
you ar e r ef usi ng t o say ' I am. ' By suspendi ng your j udgment , you ar e
negat i ng your per son. When a man decl ar es: ' Who amI t o know?' he i s
decl ar i ng: ' Who amI t o l i ve?'
" Thi s, i n ever y hour and ever y i ssue, i s your basi c mor al choi ce: t hi nki ng
or non- t hi nki ng, exi st ence or non- exi st ence, A or non- A, ent i t y or zer o.
" To t he ext ent t o whi ch a man i s r at i onal , l i f e i s t he pr emi se di r ect i ng
hi s act i ons. To t he ext ent t o whi ch he i s i r r at i onal , t he pr emi se di r ect i ng
hi s act i ons i s deat h.
" You who pr at t l e t hat mor al i t y i s soci al and t hat man woul d need no
mor al i t y on a deser t i sl andi t i s on a deser t i sl and t hat he woul d need i t
most . Let hi mt r y t o cl ai m, when t her e ar e no vi ct i ms t o pay f or i t , t hat a
r ock i s a house, t hat sand i s cl ot hi ng, t hat f ood wi l l dr op i nt o hi s mout h
wi t hout cause or ef f or t , t hat he wi l l col l ect a har vest t omor r ow by devour i ng
hi s st ock seed t odayand r eal i t y wi l l wi pe hi mout , as he deser ves; r eal i t y
wi l l show hi mt hat l i f e i s a val ue t o be bought and t hat t hi nki ng i s t he onl y
coi n nobl e enough t o buy i t .
" I f I wer e t o speak your ki nd of l anguage, I woul d say t hat man' s onl y
mor al commandment i s: Thou shal l t hi nk. But a ' mor al commandment ' i s a
cont r adi ct i on i n t er ms. The mor al i s t he chosen, not t he f or ced; t he
under st ood, not t he obeyed. The mor al i s t he r at i onal , and r eason accept s no
commandment s.
" My mor al i t y, t he mor al i t y of r eason, i s cont ai ned i n a si ngl e axi om:
exi st ence exi st sand i n a si ngl e choi ce: t o l i ve. The r est pr oceeds f r om
t hese. To l i ve, man must hol d t hr ee t hi ngs as t he supr eme and r ul i ng val ues
of hi s l i f e: ReasonPur poseSel f - est eem. Reason, as hi s onl y t ool of
knowl edgePur pose, as hi s choi ce of t he happi ness whi ch t hat t ool must
pr oceed t o achi eveSel f - est eem, as hi s i nvi ol at e cer t ai nt y t hat hi s mi nd i s
compet ent t o t hi nk and hi s per son i s wor t hy of happi ness, whi ch means: i s
wor t hy of l i vi ng. These t hr ee val ues i mpl y and r equi r e al l of man' s vi r t ues,
and al l hi s vi r t ues per t ai n t o t he r el at i on of exi st ence and consci ousness:
r at i onal i t y, i ndependence, i nt egr i t y, honest y, j ust i ce, pr oduct i veness,
pr i de.
" Rat i onal i t y i s t he r ecogni t i on of t he f act t hat exi st ence exi st s, t hat
not hi ng can al t er t he t r ut h and not hi ng can t ake pr ecedence over t hat act of
per cei vi ng i t , whi ch i s t hi nki ngt hat t he mi nd i s one' s onl y j udge of val ues
and one' s onl y gui de of act i ont hat r eason i s an absol ut e t hat per mi t s no
compr omi set hat a concessi on t o t he i r r at i onal i nval i dat es one' s
consci ousness and t ur ns i t f r omt he t ask of per cei vi ng t o t he t ask of f aki ng
r eal i t yt hat t he al l eged shor t - cut t o knowl edge, whi ch i s f ai t h, i s onl y a
shor t - ci r cui t dest r oyi ng t he mi ndt hat t he accept ance of a myst i cal i nvent i on
i s a wi sh f or t he anni hi l at i on of exi st ence and, pr oper l y, anni hi l at es one' s
consci ousness.
" I ndependence i s t he r ecogni t i on of t he f act t hat your s i s t he
r esponsi bi l i t y of j udgment and not hi ng can hel p you escape i t t hat no
subst i t ut e can do your t hi nki ng, as no pi nch- hi t t er can l i ve your l i f e
t hat t he vi l est f or mof sel f - abasement and sel f - dest r uct i on i s t he
subor di nat i on of your mi nd t o t he mi nd of anot her , t he accept ance of an
aut hor i t y over your br ai n, t he accept ance of hi s asser t i ons as f act s, hi s
say- so as t r ut h, hi s edi ct s as mi ddl e- man bet ween your consci ousness and your
exi st ence.
" I nt egr i t y i s t he r ecogni t i on of t he f act t hat you cannot f ake your
consci ousness, j ust as honest y i s t he r ecogni t i on of t he f act t hat you cannot
f ake exi st encet hat man i s an i ndi vi si bl e ent i t y, an i nt egr at ed uni t of t wo
at t r i but es: of mat t er and consci ousness, and t hat he may per mi t no br each
bet ween body and mi nd, bet ween act i on and t hought , bet ween hi s l i f e and hi s
convi ct i onst hat , l i ke a j udge i mper vi ous t o publ i c opi ni on, he may not
sacr i f i ce hi s convi ct i ons t o t he wi shes of ot her s, be i t t he whol e of manki nd
shout i ng pl eas or t hr eat s agai nst hi mt hat cour age and conf i dence ar e
pr act i cal necessi t i es, t hat cour age i s t he pr act i cal f or mof bei ng t r ue t o
exi st ence, of bei ng t r ue t o t r ut h, and conf i dence i s t he pr act i cal f or mof
bei ng t r ue t o one' s own consci ousness.
" Honest y i s t he r ecogni t i on of t he f act t hat t he unr eal i s unr eal and can
have no val ue, t hat nei t her l ove nor f ame nor cash i s a val ue i f obt ai ned by
f r audt hat an at t empt t o gai n a val ue by decei vi ng t he mi nd of ot her s i s an
act of r ai si ng your vi ct i ms t o a posi t i on hi gher t han r eal i t y, wher e you
become a pawn of t hei r bl i ndness, a sl ave of t hei r non- t hi nki ng and t hei r
evasi ons, whi l e t hei r i nt el l i gence, t hei r r at i onal i t y, t hei r per cept i veness
become t he enemi es you have t o dr ead and f l eet hat you do not car e t o l i ve as
a dependent , l east of al l a dependent on t he st upi di t y of ot her s, or as a
f ool whose sour ce of val ues i s t he f ool s he succeeds i n f ool i ngt hat honest y
i s not a soci al dut y, not a sacr i f i ce f or t he sake of ot her s, but t he most
pr of oundl y sel f i sh vi r t ue man can pr act i ce: hi s r ef usal t o sacr i f i ce t he
r eal i t y of hi s own exi st ence t o t he del uded consci ousness of ot her s.
" J ust i ce i s t he r ecogni t i on of t he f act t hat you cannot f ake t he char act er
of men as you cannot f ake t he char act er of nat ur e, t hat you must j udge al l
men as consci ent i ousl y as you j udge i nani mat e obj ect s, wi t h t he same r espect
f or t r ut h, wi t h t he same i ncor r upt i bl e vi si on, by as pur e and as r at i onal a
pr ocess of i dent i f i cat i ont hat ever y man must be j udged f or what he i s and
t r eat ed accor di ngl y, t hat j ust as you do not pay a hi gher pr i ce f or a r ust y
chunk of scr ap t han f or a pi ece of shi ni ng met al , so you do not val ue a
r ot t er above a her ot hat your mor al appr ai sal i s t he coi n payi ng men f or
t hei r vi r t ues or vi ces, and t hi s payment demands of you as scr upul ous an
honor as you br i ng t o f i nanci al t r ansact i onst hat t o wi t hhol d your cont empt
f r ommen' s vi ces i s an act of mor al count er f ei t i ng, and t o wi t hhol d your
admi r at i on f r omt hei r vi r t ues i s an act of mor al embezzl ement t hat t o pl ace
any ot her concer n hi gher t han j ust i ce i s t o deval uat e your mor al cur r ency and
def r aud t he good i n f avor of t he evi l , si nce onl y t he good can l ose by a
def aul t of j ust i ce and onl y t he evi l can pr of i t and t hat t he bot t omof t he
pi t at t he end of t hat r oad, t he act of mor al bankr upt cy, i s t o puni sh men
f or t hei r vi r t ues and r ewar d t hemf or t hei r vi ces, t hat t hat i s t he col l apse
t o f ul l depr avi t y, t he Bl ack Mass of t he wor shi p of deat h, t he dedi cat i on of
your consci ousness t o t he dest r uct i on of exi st ence.
" Pr oduct i veness i s your accept ance of mor al i t y, your r ecogni t i on of t he
f act t hat you choose t o l i vet hat pr oduct i ve wor k i s t he pr ocess by whi ch
man' s consci ousness cont r ol s hi s exi st ence, a const ant pr ocess of acqui r i ng
knowl edge and shapi ng mat t er t o f i t one' s pur pose, of t r ansl at i ng an i dea
i nt o physi cal f or m, of r emaki ng t he ear t h i n t he i mage of one' s val uest hat
al l wor k i s cr eat i ve wor k f t done by a t hi nki ng mi nd, and no wor k i s cr eat i ve
i f done by a bl ank who r epeat s i n uncr i t i cal st upor a r out i ne he has l ear ned
f r omot her st hat your wor k i s your s t o choose, and t he choi ce i s as wi de as
your mi nd, t hat not hi ng mor e i s possi bl e t o you and not hi ng l ess i s human
t hat t o cheat your way i nt o a j ob bi gger t han your mi nd can handl e i s t o
become a f ear cor r oded ape on bor r owed mot i ons and bor r owed t i me, and t o
set t l e down i nt o a j ob t hat r equi r es l ess t han your mi nd' s f ul l capaci t y i s
t o cut your mot or and sent ence your sel f t o anot her ki nd of mot i on: decayt hat
your wor k i s t he pr ocess of achi evi ng your val ues, and t o l ose your ambi t i on
f or val ues i s t o l ose your ambi t i on t o l i vet hat your body i s a machi ne, but
your mi nd i s i t s dr i ver , and you must dr i ve as f ar as your mi nd wi l l t ake
you, wi t h achi evement as t he goal of your r oadt hat t he man who has no
pur pose i s a machi ne t hat coast s downhi l l at t he mer cy of any boul der t o
cr ash i n t he f i r st chance di t ch, t hat t he man who st i f l es hi s mi nd i s a
st al l ed machi ne sl owl y goi ng t o r ust , t hat t he man who l et s a l eader
pr escr i be hi s cour se i s a wr eck bei ng t owed t o t he scr ap heap, and t he man
who makes anot her man hi s goal i s a hi t chhi ker no dr i ver shoul d ever pi ck up
t hat your wor k i s t he pur pose of your l i f e, and you must speed past any
ki l l er who assumes t he r i ght t o st op you, t hat any val ue you mi ght f i nd
out si de your wor k, any ot her l oyal t y or l ove, can be onl y t r avel er s you
choose t o shar e your j our ney and must be t r avel er s goi ng on t hei r own power
i n t he same di r ect i on.
" Pr i de i s t he r ecogni t i on of t he f act t hat you ar e your own hi ghest val ue
and, l i ke al l of man' s val ues, i t has t o be ear nedt hat of any achi evement s
open t o you, t he one t hat makes al l ot her s possi bl e i s t he cr eat i on of your
own char act er t hat your char act er , your act i ons, your desi r es, your emot i ons
ar e t he pr oduct s of t he pr emi ses hel d by your mi ndt hat as man must pr oduce
t he physi cal val ues he needs t o sust ai n hi s l i f e, so he must acqui r e t he
val ues of char act er t hat make hi s l i f e wor t h sust ai ni ngt hat as man i s a
bei ng of sel f - made weal t h, so he i s a bei ng of sel f - made soul t hat t o l i ve
r equi r es a sense of sel f - val ue, but man, who has no aut omat i c val ues, has no
aut omat i c sense of sel f - est eemand must ear n i t by shapi ng hi s soul i n t he
i mage of hi s mor al i deal , i n t he i mage of Man, t he r at i onal bei ng he i s bor n
abl e t o cr eat e, but must cr eat e by choi cet hat t he f i r st pr econdi t i on of
sel f - est eemi s t hat r adi ant sel f i shness of soul whi ch desi r es t he best i n al l
t hi ngs, i n val ues of mat t er and spi r i t , a soul t hat seeks above al l el se t o
achi eve i t s own mor al per f ect i on, val ui ng not hi ng hi gher t han i t sel f and t hat
t he pr oof of an achi eved sel f - est eemi s your soul ' s shudder of cont empt and
r ebel l i on agai nst t he r ol e of a sacr i f i ci al ani mal , agai nst t he vi l e
i mper t i nence of any cr eed t hat pr oposes t o i mmol at e t he i r r epl aceabl e val ue
whi ch i s your consci ousness and t he i ncompar abl e gl or y whi ch i s your
exi st ence t o t he bl i nd evasi ons and t he st agnant decay of ot her s.
" Ar e you begi nni ng t o see who i s J ohn Gal t ? I amt he man who has ear ned
t he t hi ng you di d not f i ght f or , t he t hi ng you have r enounced, bet r ayed,
cor r upt ed, yet wer e unabl e f ul l y t o dest r oy and ar e now hi di ng as your gui l t y
secr et , spendi ng your Me i n apol ogi es t o ever y pr of essi onal canni bal , l est i t
be di scover ed t hat somewher e wi t hi n you, you st i l l l ong t o say what I amnow
sayi ng t o t he hear i ng of t he whol e of manki nd: I ampr oud of my own val ue and
of t he f act t hat I wi sh t o l i ve.
" Thi s wi shwhi ch you shar e, yet submer ge as an evi l i s t he onl y r emnant of
t he good wi t hi n you, but i t i s a wi sh one must l ear n t o deser ve. Hi s own
happi ness i s man' s onl y mor al pur pose, but onl y hi s own vi r t ue can achi eve
i t . Vi r t ue i s not an end i n i t sel f . Vi r t ue i s not i t s own r ewar d or
sacr i f i ci al f odder f or t he r ewar d of evi l . Li f e i s t he r ewar d of vi r t ueand
happi ness i s t he goal and t he r ewar d of l i f e.
" J ust as your body has t wo f undament al sensat i ons, pl easur e and pai n, as
si gns of i t s wel f ar e or i nj ur y, as a bar omet er of i t s basi c al t er nat i ve, l i f e
or deat h, so your consci ousness has t wo f undament al emot i ons, j oy and
suf f er i ng, i n answer t o t he same al t er nat i ve. Your emot i ons ar e est i mat es of
t hat whi ch f ur t her s your l i f e or t hr eat ens i t , l i ght ni ng cal cul at or s gi vi ng
you a sumof your pr of i t or l oss. You have no choi ce about your capaci t y t o
f eel t hat somet hi ng i s good f or you or evi l , but what you wi l l consi der good
or evi l , what wi l l gi ve you j oy or pai n, what you wi l l l ove or hat e, desi r e
or f ear , depends on your st andar d of val ue. Emot i ons ar e i nher ent i n your
nat ur e, but t hei r cont ent i s di ct at ed by your mi nd. Your emot i onal capaci t y
i s an empt y mot or , and your val ues ar e t he f uel wi t h whi ch your mi nd f i l l s
i t . I f you choose a mi x of cont r adi ct i ons, i t wi l l cl og your mot or , cor r ode
your t r ansmi ssi on and wr eck you on your f i r st at t empt t o move wi t h a machi ne
whi ch you, t he dr i ver , have cor r upt ed.
" I f you hol d t he i r r at i onal as your st andar d of val ue and t he i mpossi bl e
as your concept of t he good, i f you l ong f or r ewar ds you have not ear ned, f or
a f or t une or a l ove you don' t deser ve, f or a l oophol e i n t he l aw of
causal i t y, f or an A t hat becomes non- A at your whi m, i f you desi r e t he
opposi t e of exi st enceyou wi l l r each i t . Do not cr y, when you r each i t , t hat
l i f e i s f r ust r at i on and t hat happi ness i s i mpossi bl e t o man; check your f uel :
i t br ought you wher e you want ed t o go.
" Happi ness i s not t o be achi eved at t he command of emot i onal whi ms.
Happi ness i s not t he sat i sf act i on of what ever i r r at i onal wi shes you mi ght
bl i ndl y at t empt t o i ndul ge. Happi ness i s a st at e of non cont r adi ct or y j oya
j oy wi t hout penal t y or gui l t , a j oy t hat does not cl ash wi t h any of your
val ues and does not wor k f or your own dest r uct i on, not t he j oy of escapi ng
f r omyour mi nd, but of usi ng your mi nd' s f ul l est power , not t he j oy of f aki ng
r eal i t y, but of achi evi ng val ues t hat ar e r eal , not t he j oy of a dr unkar d,
but of a pr oducer . Happi ness i s possi bl e onl y t o a r at i onal man, t he man who
desi r es not hi ng but r at i onal goal s, seeks not hi ng but r at i onal val ues and
f i nds hi s j oy i n not hi ng but r at i onal act i ons.
" J ust as I suppor t my l i f e, nei t her by r obber y nor al ms, but by my own
ef f or t , so I do not seek t o der i ve my happi ness f r omt he i nj ur y or t he f avor
of ot her s, but ear n i t by my own achi evement . J ust as I do not consi der t he
pl easur e of ot her s as t he goal of my l i f e, so I do not consi der my pl easur e
as t he goal of t he l i ves of ot her s. J ust as t her e ar e no cont r adi ct i ons i n my
val ues and no conf l i ct s among my desi r esso t her e ar e no vi ct i ms and no
conf l i ct s of i nt er est among r at i onal men, men who do not desi r e t he unear ned
and do not vi ew one anot her wi t h a canni bal ' s l ust , men who nei t her make
sacr i f i ces nor accept t hem.
" The symbol of al l r el at i onshi ps among such men, t he mor al symbol of
r espect f or human bei ngs, i s t he t r ader . We, who l i ve by val ues, not by l oot ,
ar e t r ader s, bot h i n mat t er and i n spi r i t . A t r ader i s a man who ear ns what
he get s and does not gi ve or t ake t he undeser ved. A t r ader does not ask t o be
pai d f or hi s f ai l ur es, nor does he ask t o be l oved f or hi s f l aws, A t r ader
does not squander hi s body as f odder or hi s soul as al ms. J ust as he does not
gi ve hi s wor k except i n t r ade f or mat er i al val ues, so he does not gi ve t he
val ues of hi s spi r i t hi s l ove, hi s f r i endshi p, hi s est eemexcept i n payment
and i n t r ade f or human vi r t ues, i n payment f or hi s own sel f i sh pl easur e,
whi ch he r ecei ves f r ommen he can r espect . The myst i c par asi t es who have,
t hr oughout t he ages, r evi l ed t he t r ader s and hel d t hemi n cont empt , whi l e
honor i ng t he beggar s and t he l oot er s, have known t he secr et mot i ve of t hei r
sneer s: a t r ader i s t he ent i t y t hey dr eada man of j ust i ce.
" Do you ask what mor al obl i gat i on I owe t o my f el l ow men?
Noneexcept t he obl i gat i on I owe t o mysel f , t o mat er i al obj ect s and t o al l
of exi st ence: r at i onal i t y. I deal wi t h men as my nat ur e and t hei r s demands:
by means of r eason. I seek or desi r e not hi ng f r omt hemexcept such r el at i ons
as t hey car e t o ent er of t hei r own vol unt ar y choi ce.
I t i s onl y wi t h t hei r mi nd t hat I can deal and onl y f or my own sel f
i nt er est , when t hey see t hat my i nt er est coi nci des wi t h t hei r s. When t hey
don' t , I ent er no r el at i onshi p; I l et di ssent er s go t hei r way and I do not
swer ve f r ommi ne. I wi n by means of not hi ng but l ogi c and I sur r ender t o
not hi ng but l ogi c. I do not sur r ender my r eason or deal wi t h men who
sur r ender t hei r s. I have not hi ng t o gai n f r omf ool s or cowar ds; I have no
benef i t s t o seek f r omhuman vi ces: f r omst upi di t y, di shonest y or f ear . The
onl y val ue men can of f er me i s t he wor k of t hei r mi nd. When I di sagr ee wi t h a
r at i onal man, I l et r eal i t y be our f i nal ar bi t er ; i f I amr i ght , he wi l l
l ear n; i f I amwr ong, I wi l l ; one of us wi l l wi n, but bot h wi l l pr of i t .
" What ever may be open t o di sagr eement , t her e i s one act of evi l t hat may
not , t he act t hat no man may commi t agai nst ot her s and no man may sanct i on or
f or gi ve. So l ong as men desi r e t o l i ve t oget her , no man may i ni t i at edo you
hear me? no man may st ar t t he use of physi cal f or ce agai nst ot her s.
" To i nt er pose t he t hr eat of physi cal dest r uct i on bet ween a man and hi s
per cept i on of r eal i t y, i s t o negat e and par al yze hi s means of sur vi val ; t o
f or ce hi mt o act agai nst hi s own j udgment , i s l i ke f or ci ng hi mt o act agai nst
hi s own si ght . Whoever , t o what ever pur pose or ext ent , i ni t i at es t he use of
f or ce, i s a ki l l er act i ng on t he pr emi se of deat h i n a manner wi der t han
mur der : t he pr emi se of dest r oyi ng man' s capaci t y t o l i ve.
" Do not open your mout h t o t el l me t hat your mi nd has convi nced you of
your r i ght t o f or ce my mi nd. For ce and mi nd ar e opposi t es; mor al i t y ends
wher e a gun begi ns. When you decl ar e t hat men ar e i r r at i onal ani mal s and
pr opose t o t r eat t hemas such, you def i ne t her eby your own char act er and can
no l onger cl ai mt he sanct i on of r easonas no advocat e of cont r adi ct i ons can
cl ai mi t . Ther e can be no ' r i ght ' t o dest r oy t he sour ce of r i ght s, t he onl y
means of j udgi ng r i ght and wr ong: t he mi nd.
" To f or ce a man t o dr op hi s own mi nd and t o accept your wi l l as a
subst i t ut e, wi t h a gun i n. pl ace of a syl l ogi sm, wi t h t er r or i n pl ace of
pr oof , and deat h as t he f i nal ar gument i s t o at t empt t o exi st i n def i ance of
r eal i t y. Real i t y demands of man t hat he act f or hi s own r at i onal i nt er est ;
your gun demands of hi mt hat he act agai nst i t . Real i t y t hr eat ens man wi t h
deat h i f he does not act on hi s r at i onal j udgment ; you t hr eat en hi mwi t h
deat h i f he does. You pl ace hi mi nt o a wor l d wher e t he pr i ce of hi s l i f e i s
t he sur r ender of al l t he vi r t ues r equi r ed by l i f eand deat h by a pr ocess of
gr adual dest r uct i on i s al l t hat you and your syst emwi l l achi eve, when deat h
i s made t o be t he r ul i ng power , t he wi nni ng ar gument i n a soci et y of men.
" Be i t a hi ghwayman who conf r ont s a t r avel er wi t h t he ul t i mat um: ' Your
money or your l i f e, ' or a pol i t i ci an who conf r ont s a count r y wi t h t he
ul t i mat um: ' Your chi l dr en' s educat i on or your l i f e, ' t he meani ng of t hat
ul t i mat umi s: ' Your mi nd or your l i f e' and nei t her i s possi bl e t o man wi t hout
t he ot her .
" I f t her e ar e degr ees of evi l , i t i s har d t o say who i s t he mor e
cont empt i bl e: t he br ut e who assumes t he r i ght t o f or ce t he mi nd of ot her s or
t he mor al degener at e who gr ant s t o ot her s t he r i ght t o f or ce hi s mi nd.
That i s t he mor al absol ut e one does not l eave open t o debat e. I do not
gr ant t he t er ms of r eason t o men who pr opose t o depr i ve me of r eason. I do
not ent er di scussi ons wi t h nei ghbor s who t hi nk t hey can f or bi d me t o t hi nk. I
do not pl ace my mor al sanct i on upon a mur der er ' s wi sh t o ki l l me. When a man
at t empt s t o deal wi t h me by f or ce, I answer hi mby f or ce.
" I t i s onl y as r et al i at i on t hat f or ce may be used and onl y agai nst t he man
who st ar t s i t s use. No, I do not shar e hi s evi l or si nk t o hi s concept of
mor al i t y: I mer el y gr ant hi mhi s choi ce, dest r uct i on, t he onl y dest r uct i on he
had t he r i ght t o choose: hi s own. He uses f or ce t o sei ze a val ue; I use i t
onl y t o dest r oy dest r uct i on. A hol dup man seeks t o gai n weal t h by ki l l i ng me;
I do not gr ow r i cher by ki l l i ng a hol dup man. I seek no val ues by means of
evi l , nor do I sur r ender my val ues t o evi l .
" I n t he name of al l t he pr oducer s who had kept you al i ve and r ecei ved your
deat h ul t i mat ums i n payment , I now answer you wi t h a si ngl e ul t i mat umof our
own: Our wor k or your guns. You can choose ei t her ; you can' t have bot h. We do
not i ni t i at e t he use of f or ce agai nst ot her s or submi t t o f or ce at t hei r
hands. I f you desi r e ever agai n t o l i ve i n an i ndust r i al soci et y, i t wi l l be
on our mor al t er ms. Our t er ms and our mot i ve power ar e t he ant i t hesi s of
your s. You have been usi ng f ear as your weapon and have been br i ngi ng deat h
t o man as hi s puni shment f or r ej ect i ng your mor al i t y. We of f er hi ml i f e as
hi s r ewar d f or accept i ng our s.
" You who ar e wor shi pper s of t he zer oyou have never di scover ed t hat
achi evi ng l i f e i s not t he equi val ent of avoi di ng deat h. J oy i s not ' t he
absence of pai n, ' i nt el l i gence i s not ' t he absence of st upi di t y, ' l i ght i s
not ' t he absence of dar kness, ' an ent i t y i s not ' t he absence of a nonent i t y. '
Bui l di ng i s not done by abst ai ni ng f r omdemol i t i on; cent ur i es of si t t i ng and
wai t i ng i n such abst i nence wi l l not r ai se one si ngl e gi r der f or you t o
abst ai n f r omdemol i shi ngand now you can no l onger say t o me, t he bui l der :
' Pr oduce, and f eed us i n exchange f or our not dest r oyi ng your pr oduct i on. ' I
amanswer i ng i n t he name of al l your vi ct i ms: Per i sh wi t h and i n your own
voi d. Exi st ence i s not a negat i on of negat i ves. Evi l , not val ue, i s an
absence and a negat i on, evi l i s i mpot ent and has no power but t hat whi ch we
l et i t ext or t f r om. us. Per i sh, because we have l ear ned t hat a zer o cannot
hol d a mor t gage over l i f e.
" You seek escape f r ompai n. We seek t he achi evement of happi ness.
You exi st f or t he sake of avoi di ng puni shment . We exi st f or t he sake of
ear ni ng r ewar ds. Thr eat s wi l l not make us f unct i on; f ear i s not our
i ncent i ve. I t i s not deat h t hat we wi sh t o avoi d, but l i f e t hat we wi sh t o
l i ve.
" You, who have l ost t he concept of t he di f f er ence, you who cl ai mt hat f ear
and j oy ar e i ncent i ves of equal power and secr et l y add t hat f ear i s t he mor e
' pr act i cal you do not wi sh t o l i ve, and onl y f ear of deat h st i l l hol ds you
t o t he exi st ence you have damned. You dar t i n pani c t hr ough t he t r ap of your
days, l ooki ng f or t he exi t you have cl osed, r unni ng f r oma pur suer you dar e
not name t o a t er r or you dar e not acknowl edge, and t he gr eat er your t er r or
t he gr eat er your dr ead of t he onl y act t hat coul d save you: t hi nki ng. The
pur pose of your st r uggl e i s not t o know, not t o gr asp or name or hear t he
t hi ng I shal l now st at e t o your hear i ng: t hat your s i s t he Mor al i t y of Deat h.
" Deat h i s t he st andar d of your val ues, deat h i s your chosen goal , and you
have t o keep r unni ng, si nce t her e i s no escape f r omt he pur suer who i s out t o
dest r oy you or f r omt he knowl edge t hat t hat pur suer i s your sel f . St op
r unni ng, f or oncet her e i s no pl ace t o r un
st and naked, as you dr ead t o st and, but as I see you, and t ake a l ook at
what you dar ed t o cal l a mor al code.
" Damnat i on i s t he st ar t of your mor al i t y, dest r uct i on i s i t s pur pose,
means and end. Your code begi ns by damni ng man as evi l , t hen demands t hat he
pr act i ce a good whi ch i t def i nes as i mpossi bl e f or hi mt o pr act i ce. I t
demands, as hi s f i r st pr oof of vi r t ue, t hat he accept hi s own depr avi t y
wi t hout pr oof . I t demands t hat he st ar t , not wi t h a st andar d of val ue, but
wi t h a st andar d of evi l , whi ch i s hi msel f , by means of whi ch he i s t hen t o
def i ne t he good: t he good i s t hat whi ch he i s not .
" I t does not mat t er who t hen becomes t he pr of i t eer on hi s r enounced gl or y
and t or ment ed soul , a myst i c God wi t h some i ncompr ehensi bl e desi gn or any
passer - by whose r ot t i ng sor es ar e hel d as some i nexpl i cabl e cl ai mupon hi mi t
does not mat t er , t he good i s not f or hi mt o under st and, hi s dut y i s t o cr awl
t hr ough year s of penance, at oni ng f or t he gui l t of hi s exi st ence t o any st r ay
col l ect or of uni nt el l i gi bl e debt s, hi s onl y concept of a val ue i s a zer o: t he
good i s t hat whi ch i s non- man.
" The name of t hi s monst r ous absur di t y i s Or i gi nal Si n, " A si n wi t hout
vol i t i on i s a sl ap at mor al i t y and an i nsol ent cont r adi ct i on i n t er ms: t hat
whi ch i s out si de t he possi bi l i t y of choi ce i s out si de t he pr ovi nce of
mor al i t y. I f man i s evi l by bi r t h, he has no wi l l , no power t o change i t ; i f
he has no wi l l , he can be nei t her good nor evi l ; a r obot i s amor al . To hol d,
as man' s si n, a f act not open t o hi s choi ce i s a mocker y of mor al i t y. To hol d
man' s nat ur e as hi s si n i s a mocker y of nat ur e. To puni sh hi mf or a cr i me he
commi t t ed bef or e he was bor n i s a mocker y of j ust i ce. To hol d hi mgui l t y i n a
mat t er wher e no i nnocence exi st s i s a mocker y of r eason. To dest r oy mor al i t y,
nat ur e, j ust i ce and r eason by means of a si ngl e concept i s a f eat of evi l
har dl y t o be mat ched. Yet t hat i s t he r oot of your code.
" Do not hi de behi nd t he cowar dl y evasi on t hat man i s bor n wi t h f r ee wi l l ,
but wi t h a ' t endency t o evi l . A f r ee wi l l saddl ed wi t h a t endency i s. l i ke a
game wi t h l oaded di ce. I t f or ces man t o st r uggl e t hr ough t he ef f or t of
pl ayi ng, t o bear r esponsi bi l i t y and pay f or t he game, but t he deci si on i s
wei ght ed i n f avor of a t endency t hat he had no power t o escape. I f t he
t endency i s of hi s choi ce, he cannot possess i t at bi r t h; i f i t i s not of hi s
choi ce, hi s wi l l i s not f r ee.
" What i s t he nat ur e of t he gui l t t hat your t eacher s cal l hi s Or i gi nal Si n?
What ar e t he evi l s man acqui r ed when he f el l f r oma st at e t hey consi der
per f ect i on? Thei r myt h decl ar es t hat he at e t he f r ui t of t he t r ee of
knowl edgehe acqui r ed a mi nd and became a r at i onal bei ng.
I t was t he knowl edge of good and evi l he became a mor al bei ng. He was
sent enced t o ear n hi s br ead by hi s l abor he became a pr oduct i ve bei ng. He was
sent enced t o exper i ence desi r ehe acqui r ed t he capaci t y of sexual enj oyment .
The evi l s f or whi ch t hey damn hi mar e r eason, mor al i t y, cr eat i veness, j oyal l
t he car di nal val ues of hi s exi st ence. I t i s not hi s vi ces t hat t hei r myt h of
man' s f al l i s desi gned t o expl ai n and condemn, i t i s not hi s er r or s t hat t hey
hol d as hi s gui l t , but t he essence of hi s nat ur e as man. What ever he wast hat
r obot i n t he Gar den of Eden, who exi st ed wi t hout mi nd, wi t hout val ues,
wi t hout l abor , wi t hout l ovehe was not man.
" Man' s f al l , accor di ng t o your t eacher s, was t hat he gai ned t he vi r t ues
r equi r ed t o l i ve. These vi r t ues, by t hei r st andar d, ar e hi s Si n.
Hi s evi l , t hey char ge, i s t hat he' s man. Hi s gui l t , t hey char ge, i s t hat
he l i ves.
" They cal l i t a mor al i t y of mer cy and a doct r i ne of l ove f or man.
" No, t hey say, t hey do not pr each t hat man i s evi l , t he evi l i s onl y t hat
al i en obj ect : hi s body. No, t hey say, t hey do not wi sh t o ki l l hi m, t hey onl y
wi sh t o make hi ml ose hi s body. They seek t o hel p hi m, t hey say, agai nst hi s
pai nand t hey poi nt at t he t or t ur e r ack t o whi ch t hey' ve t i ed hi m, t he r ack
wi t h t wo wheel s t hat pul l hi mi n opposi t e di r ect i ons, t he r ack of t he
doct r i ne t hat spl i t s hi s soul and body.
" They have cut man i n t wo, set t i ng one hal f agai nst t he ot her . They have
t aught hi mt hat hi s body and hi s consci ousness ar e t wo enemi es engaged i n
deadl y conf l i ct , t wo ant agoni st s of opposi t e nat ur es, cont r adi ct or y cl ai ms,
i ncompat i bl e needs, t hat t o benef i t one i s t o i nj ur e t he ot her , t hat hi s soul
bel ongs t o a super nat ur al r eal m, but hi s body i s an evi l pr i son hol di ng i t i n
bondage t o t hi s ear t hand t hat t he good i s t o def eat hi s body, t o under mi ne
i t by year s of pat i ent st r uggl e, di ggi ng hi s way t o t hat gl or i ous j ai l - br eak
whi ch l eads i nt o t he f r eedomof t he gr ave.
" They have t aught man t hat he i s a hopel ess mi sf i t made of t wo el ement s,
bot h symbol s of deat h. A body wi t hout a soul i s a cor pse, a soul wi t hout a
body i s a ghost yet such i s t hei r i mage of man' s nat ur e: t he bat t l egr ound of
a st r uggl e bet ween a cor pse and a ghost , a cor pse endowed wi t h some evi l
vol i t i on of i t s own and a ghost endowed wi t h t he knowl edge t hat ever yt hi ng
known t o man i s non- exi st ent , t hat onl y t he unknowabl e exi st s.
" Do you obser ve what human f acul t y t hat doct r i ne was desi gned t o i gnor e?
I t was man' s mi nd t hat had t o be negat ed i n or der t o make hi mf al l apar t .
Once he sur r ender ed r eason, he was l ef t at t he mer cy of t wo monst er s whomhe
coul d not f at homor cont r ol : of a body moved by unaccount abl e i nst i nct s and
of a soul moved by myst i c r evel at i ons
he was l ef t as t he passi vel y r avaged vi ct i mof a bat t l e bet ween a r obot
and a di ct aphone.
" And as he now cr awl s t hr ough t he wr eckage, gr opi ng bl i ndl y f or a way t o
l i ve, your t eacher s of f er hi mt he hel p of a mor al i t y t hat pr ocl ai ms t hat
he' l l f i nd no sol ut i on, and must seek no f ul f i l l ment on ear t h. Real
exi st ence, t hey t el l hi m, i s t hat whi ch he cannot per cei ve, t r ue
consci ousness i s t he f acul t y of per cei vi ng t he non- exi st ent and i f he i s
unabl e t o under st and i t , t hat i s t he pr oof t hat hi s exi st ence i s evi l and
hi s. consci ousness i mpot ent .
" As pr oduct s of t he spl i t bet ween man' s soul and body, t her e ar e t wo ki nds
of t eacher s of t he Mor al i t y of Deat h: t he myst i cs of spi r i t and t he myst i cs
of muscl e, whomyou cal l t he spi r i t ual i st s and t he mat er i al i st s, t hose who
bel i eve i n consci ousness wi t hout exi st ence and t hose who bel i eve i n exi st ence
wi t hout consci ousness. Bot h demand t he sur r ender of your mi nd, one t o t hei r
r evel at i ons, t he ot her t o t hei r r ef l exes. No mat t er how l oudl y t hey post ur e
i n t he r ol es of i r r econci l abl e ant agoni st s, t hei r mor al codes ar e al i ke, and
so ar e t hei r ai ms: i n mat t er t he ensl avement of man' s body, i n spi r i t t he
dest r uct i on of hi s mi nd.
" The good, say t he myst i cs of spi r i t , i s God, a bei ng whose onl y
def i ni t i on i s t hat he i s beyond man' s power t o concei vea def i ni t i on t hat
i nval i dat es man' s consci ousness and nul l i f i es hi s concept s of exi st ence. The
good, say t he myst i cs of muscl e, i s Soci et ya t hi ng whi ch t hey def i ne as an
or gani smt hat possesses no physi cal f or m, a super - bei ng embodi ed i n no one i n
par t i cul ar and ever yone i n gener al except your sel f . Man' s mi nd, say t he
myst i cs of spi r i t , must be subor di nat ed t o t he wi l l of God, Man' s mi nd, say
t he myst i cs of muscl e, must be subor di nat ed t o t he wi l l of Soci et y. Man' s
st andar d of val ue, say t he myst i cs of spi r i t , i s t he pl easur e of God, whose
st andar ds ar e beyond man' s power of compr ehensi on and must be accept ed on
f ai t h. Man' s st andar d of val ue, say t he myst i cs of muscl e, i s t he pl easur e of
Soci et y, whose st andar ds ar e beyond man' s r i ght of j udgment and must be
obeyed as a pr i mar y absol ut e. The pur pose of man' s l i f e, say bot h, i s t o
become an abj ect zombi e who ser ves a pur pose he does not know, f or r easons he
i s not t o quest i on. Hi s r ewar d, say t he myst i cs of spi r i t , wi l l be gi ven t o
hi mbeyond t he gr ave. Hi s r ewar d, say t he myst i cs of muscl e, wi l l be gi ven on
ear t ht o hi s gr eat - gr andchi l dr en.
" Sel f i shnesssay bot hi s man' s evi l . Man' s goodsay bot hi s t o gi ve up hi s
per sonal desi r es, t o deny hi msel f , r enounce hi msel f , sur r ender ; man' s good i s
t o negat e t he l i f e he l i ves. Sacr i f i cecr y bot hi s t he essence of mor al i t y,
t he hi ghest vi r t ue wi t hi n man' s r each.
" Whoever i s now wi t hi n r each of my voi ce, whoever i s man t he vi ct i m, not
man t he ki l l er , I amspeaki ng at t he deat hbed of your mi nd, at t he br i nk of
t hat dar kness i n whi ch you' r e dr owni ng, and i f t her e st i l l r emai ns wi t hi n you
t he power t o st r uggl e t o hol d on t o t hose f adi ng spar ks whi ch had been
your sel f use i t now. The wor d t hat has dest r oyed you i s ' sacr i f i ce. ' Use t he
l ast of your st r engt h t o under st and i t s meani ng. You' r e st i l l al i ve. You have
a chance.
" ' Sacr i f i ce' does not mean t he r ej ect i on of t he wor t hl ess, but of t he
pr eci ous. ' Sacr i f i ce' does not mean t he r ej ect i on of t he evi l f or t he sake of
t he good, but of t he good f or t he sake of t he evi l . ' Sacr i f i ce'
i s t he sur r ender of t hat whi ch you val ue i n f avor of t hat whi ch you don' t .
" I f you exchange a penny f or a dol l ar , i t i s not a sacr i f i ce; i f you
exchange a dol l ar f or a penny, i t i s. I f you achi eve t he car eer you want ed,
af t er year s of st r uggl e, i t i s not a sacr i f i ce; i f you t hen r enounce i t f or
t he sake of a r i val , i t i s. I f you own a bot t l e of mi l k and gi ve i t t o your
st ar vi ng chi l d, i t i s not a sacr i f i ce; i f you gi ve i t t o your nei ghbor ' s
chi l d and l et your own di e, i t i s.
" I f you gi ve money t o hel p a f r i end, i t i s not a sacr i f i ce; i f you gi ve i t
t o a wor t hl ess st r anger , i t i s. I f you gi ve your f r i end a sumyou can af f or d,
i t i s not a sacr i f i ce; i f you gi ve hi mmoney at t he cost of your own
di scomf or t , i t i s onl y a par t i al vi r t ue, accor di ng t o t hi s sor t of mor al
st andar d; i f you gi ve hi mmoney at t he cost of di sast er t o your sel f
t hat i s t he vi r t ue of sacr i f i ce i n f ul l .
" I f you r enounce al l per sonal desi r es and dedi cat e your l i f e t o t hose you
l ove, you do not achi eve f ul l vi r t ue: you st i l l r et ai n a val ue of your own,
whi ch i s your l ove. I f you devot e your l i f e t o r andomst r anger s, i t i s an act
of gr eat er vi r t ue. I f you devot e your l i f e t o ser vi ng men you hat et hat i s
t he gr eat est of t he vi r t ues you can pr act i ce, " A sacr i f i ce i s t he sur r ender
of a val ue. Ful l sacr i f i ce i s f ul l sur r ender of al l val ues. I f you wi sh t o
achi eve f ul l vi r t ue, you must seek no gr at i t ude i n r et ur n f or your sacr i f i ce,
no pr ai se, no l ove, no admi r at i on, no sel f - est eem, not even t he pr i de of
bei ng vi r t uous; t he f ai nt est t r ace of any gai n di l ut es your vi r t ue. I f you
pur sue a cour se of act i on t hat does not t ai nt your l i f e by any j oy, t hat
br i ngs you no val ue i n mat t er , no val ue i n spi r i t , no gai n, no pr of i t , no
r ewar di f you achi eve t hi s st at e of t ot al zer o, you have achi eved t he i deal
of mor al per f ect i on.
" You ar e t ol d t hat mor al per f ect i on i s i mpossi bl e t o manand, by t hi s
st andar d, i t i s. You cannot achi eve i t so l ong as you l i ve, but t he val ue of
your l i f e and of your per son i s gauged by how cl osel y you succeed i n
appr oachi ng t hat i deal zer o whi ch i s deat h.
" I f you st ar t , however , as a passi onl ess bl ank, as a veget abl e seeki ng t o
be eat en, wi t h no val ues t o r ej ect and no wi shes t o r enounce, you wi l l not
wi n t he cr own of sacr i f i ce. I t i s not a sacr i f i ce t o r enounce t he unwant ed.
I t i s not a sacr i f i ce t o gi ve your l i f e f or ot her s, i f deat h i s your per sonal
desi r e. To achi eve t he vi r t ue of sacr i f i ce, you must want t o l i ve, you must
l ove i t , you must bur n wi t h passi on f or t hi s ear t h and f or al l t he spl endor
i t can gi ve youyou must f eel t he t wi st of ever y kni f e as i t sl ashes your
desi r es away f r omyour r each and dr ai ns your l ove out of your body. I t i s not
mer e deat h t hat t he mor al i t y of sacr i f i ce hol ds out t o you as an i deal , but
deat h by sl ow t or t ur e.
" Do not r emi nd me t hat i t per t ai ns onl y t o t hi s l i f e on ear t h. I am
concer ned wi t h no ot her . Nei t her ar e you.
" I f you wi sh t o save t he l ast of your di gni t y, do not cal l your best
act i ons a ' sacr i f i ce' : t hat t er mbr ands you as i mmor al . I f a mot her buys f ood
f or her hungr y chi l d r at her t han a hat f or her sel f , i t i s not a sacr i f i ce:
she val ues t he chi l d hi gher t han t he hat ; but i t i s a sacr i f i ce t o t he ki nd
of mot her whose hi gher val ue i s t he hat , who woul d pr ef er her chi l d t o st ar ve
and f eeds hi monl y f r oma sense of dut y. I f a man di es f i ght i ng f or hi s own
f r eedom, i t i s not a sacr i f i ce: he i s not wi l l i ng t o l i ve as a sl ave; but i t
i s a sacr i f i ce t o t he ki nd of man who' s wi l l i ng.
I f a man r ef uses t o sel l hi s convi ct i ons, i t i s not a sacr i f i ce, unl ess he
i s t he sor t of man who has no convi ct i ons.
" Sacr i f i ce coul d be pr oper onl y f or t hose who have not hi ng t o sacr i f i ceno
val ues, no st andar ds, no j udgment t hose whose desi r es ar e i r r at i onal whi ms,
bl i ndl y concei ved and l i ght l y sur r ender ed. For a man of mor al st at ur e, whose
desi r es ar e bor n of r at i onal val ues, sacr i f i ce i s t he sur r ender of t he r i ght
t o t he wr ong, of t he good t o t he evi l .
" The cr eed of sacr i f i ce i s a mor al i t y f or t he i mmor al a mor al i t y t hat
decl ar es i t s own bankr upt cy by conf essi ng t hat i t can' t i mpar t t o men any
per sonal st ake i n vi r t ues or val ues, and t hat t hei r soul s ar e sewer s of
depr avi t y, whi ch t hey must be t aught t o sacr i f i ce. By i t s own conf essi on, i t
i s i mpot ent t o t each men t o be good and can onl y subj ect t hemt o const ant
puni shment .
" Ar e you t hi nki ng, i n some f oggy st upor , t hat i t ' s onl y mat er i al val ues
t hat your mor al i t y r equi r es you t o sacr i f i ce? And what do you t hi nk ar e
mat er i al val ues? Mat t er has no val ue except as a means f or t he sat i sf act i on
of human desi r es. Mat t er i s onl y a t ool of human val ues.
To what ser vi ce ar e you asked t o gi ve t he mat er i al t ool s your vi r t ue has
pr oduced? To t he ser vi ce of t hat whi ch you r egar d as evi l : t o a pr i nci pl e you
do not shar e, t o a per son you do not r espect , t o t he achi evement of a pur pose
opposed t o your ownel se your gi f t i s not a sacr i f i ce.
" Your mor al i t y t el l s you t o r enounce t he mat er i al wor l d and t o di vor ce
your val ues f r ommat t er . A man whose val ues ar e gi ven no expr essi on i n
mat er i al f or m, whose exi st ence i s unr el at ed t o hi s i deal s, whose act i ons
cont r adi ct hi s convi ct i ons, i s a cheap l i t t l e hypocr i t e
yet t hat i s t he man who obeys your mor al i t y and di vor ces hi s val ues f r om
mat t er . The man who l oves one woman, but sl eeps wi t h anot her
t he man who admi r es t he t al ent of a wor ker , but hi r es anot her t he man who
consi der s one cause t o be j ust , but donat es hi s money t o t he suppor t of
anot her t he man who hol ds hi gh st andar ds of cr af t smanshi p, but devot es hi s
ef f or t t o t he pr oduct i on of t r asht hese ar e t he men who have r enounced
mat t er , t he men who bel i eve t hat t he val ues of t hei r spi r i t cannot be br ought
i nt o mat er i al r eal i t y.
" Do you say i t i s t he spi r i t t hat such men have r enounced? Yes, of cour se.
You cannot have one wi t hout t he ot her . You ar e an i ndi vi si bl e ent i t y of
mat t er and consci ousness. Renounce your consci ousness and you become a br ut e.
Renounce your body and you become a f ake.
Renounce t he mat er i al wor l d and you sur r ender i t t o evi l .
" And t hat i s pr eci sel y t he goal of your mor al i t y, t he dut y t hat your code
demands of you. Gi ve t o t hat whi ch you do not enj oy, ser ve t hat whi ch you do
not admi r e, submi t t o t hat whi ch you consi der evi l
sur r ender t he wor l d t o t he val ues of ot her s, deny, r ej ect , r enounce your
sel f . Your sel f i s your mi nd; r enounce i t and you become a chunk of meat
r eady f or any canni bal t o swal l ow.
" I t i s your mi nd t hat t hey want you t o sur r ender al l t hose who pr each t he
cr eed of sacr i f i ce, what ever t hei r t ags or t hei r mot i ves, whet her t hey demand
i t f or t he sake of your soul or of your body, whet her t hey pr omi se you
anot her l i f e i n heaven or a f ul l st omach on t hi s ear t h. Those who st ar t by
sayi ng: ' I t i s sel f i sh t o pur sue your own wi shes, you must sacr i f i ce t hemt o
t he wi shes of ot her s' end up by sayi ng: ' I t i s sel f i sh t o uphol d your
convi ct i ons, you must sacr i f i ce t hemt o t he convi ct i ons of ot her s. '
" Thi s much i s t r ue: t he most sel f i sh of al l t hi ngs i s t he i ndependent mi nd
t hat r ecogni zes no aut hor i t y hi gher t han i t s own and no val ue hi gher t han i t s
j udgment of t r ut h. You ar e asked t o sacr i f i ce your i nt el l ect ual i nt egr i t y,
your l ogi c, your r eason, your st andar d of t r ut h
i n f avor of becomi ng a pr ost i t ut e whose st andar d i s t he gr eat est good f or
t he gr eat est number .
" I f you sear ch your code f or gui dance, f or an answer t o t he quest i on:
' What i s t he good?' t he onl y answer you wi l l f i nd i s ' The good of ot her s. '
The good i s what ever ot her s wi sh, what ever you f eel t hey f eel t hey wi sh, or
what ever you f eel t hey ought t o f eel . ' The good of ot her s'
i s a magi c f or mul a t hat t r ansf or ms anyt hi ng i nt o gol d, a f or mul a t o be
r eci t ed as a guar ant ee of mor al gl or y and as a f umi gat or f or any act i on, even
t he sl aught er of a cont i nent . Your st andar d of vi r t ue i s not an obj ect , not
an act , not a pr i nci pl e, but an i nt ent i on. You need no pr oof , no r easons, no
success, you need not achi eve i n f act t he good of ot her s al l you need t o
know i s t hat your mot i ve was t he good of ot her s, not your own. Your onl y
def i ni t i on of t he good i s a negat i on: t he good i s t he ' non- good f or me. '
" Your codewhi ch boast s t hat i t uphol ds et er nal , absol ut e, obj ect i ve mor al
val ues and scor ns t he condi t i onal , t he r el at i ve and t he subj ect i ve your code
hands out , as i t s ver si on of t he absol ut e, t he f ol l owi ng r ul e of mor al
conduct : I f you wi sh i t , i t ' s evi l ; i f ot her s wi sh i t , i t ' s good; i f t he
mot i ve of your act i on i s your wel f ar e, don' t do i t ; i f t he mot i ve i s t he
wel f ar e of ot her s, t hen anyt hi ng goes.
" As t hi s doubl e- j oi nt ed, doubl e- st andar d mor al i t y spl i t s you i n hal f , so
i t spl i t s manki nd i nt o t wo enemy camps: one i s you, t he ot her i s al l t he r est
of humani t y. You ar e t he onl y out cast who has no r i ght t o wi sh or l i ve. You
ar e t he onl y ser vant , t he r est ar e t he mast er s, you ar e t he onl y gi ver , t he
r est ar e t he t aker s, you ar e t he et er nal debt or , t he r est ar e t he cr edi t or s
never t o be pai d of f . You must not quest i on t hei r r i ght t o your sacr i f i ce, or
t he nat ur e of t hei r wi shes and t hei r needs: t hei r r i ght i s conf er r ed upon
t hemby a negat i ve, by t he f act t hat t hey ar e ' non- you. '
" For t hose of you who mi ght ask quest i ons, your code pr ovi des a
consol at i on pr i ze and booby- t r ap: i t i s f or your own happi ness, i t says, t hat
you must ser ve t he happi ness of ot her s, t he onl y way t o achi eve your j oy i s
t o gi ve i t up t o ot her s, t he onl y way t o achi eve your pr osper i t y i s t o
sur r ender your weal t h t o ot her s, t he onl y way t o pr ot ect your l i f e i s t o
pr ot ect al l men except your sel f and i f you f i nd no j oy i n t hi s pr ocedur e, i t
i s your own f aul t and t he pr oof of your evi l ; i f you wer e good, you woul d
f i nd your happi ness i n pr ovi di ng a banquet f or ot her s, and your di gni t y i n
exi st i ng on such cr umbs as t hey mi ght car e t o t oss you.
" You who have no st andar d of sel f - est eem, accept t he gui l t and dar e not
ask t he quest i ons. But you know t he unadmi t t ed answer , r ef usi ng t o
acknowl edge what you see, what hi dden pr emi se moves your wor l d.
You know i t , not i n honest st at ement , but as a dar k uneasi ness wi t hi n you,
whi l e you f l ounder bet ween gui l t i l y cheat i ng and gr udgi ngl y pr act i ci ng a
pr i nci pl e t oo vi ci ous t o name.
" I , who do not accept t he unear ned, nei t her i n val ues nor i n gui l t , am
her e t o ask t he quest i ons you evaded. Why i s i t mor al t o ser ve t he happi ness
of ot her s, but not your own? I f enj oyment i s a val ue, why i s i t mor al when
exper i enced by ot her s, but i mmor al when exper i enced by you? I f t he sensat i on
of eat i ng a cake i s a val ue, why i s i t an i mmor al i ndul gence i n your st omach,
but a mor al goal f or you t o achi eve i n t he st omach of ot her s? Why i s i t
i mmor al f or you t o desi r e, but mor al f or ot her s t o do so? Why i s i t i mmor al
t o pr oduce a val ue and keep i t , but mor al t o gi ve i t away? And i f i t i s not
mor al f or you t o keep a val ue, why i s i t mor al f or ot her s t o accept i t ? I f
you ar e sel f l ess and vi r t uous when you gi ve i t , ar e t hey not sel f i sh and
vi ci ous when t hey t ake i t ?
Does vi r t ue consi st of ser vi ng vi ce? I s t he mor al pur pose of t hose who ar e
good, sel f - i mmol at i on f or t he sake of t hose who ar e evi l ?
' The answer you evade, t he monst r ous answer i s: No, t he t aker s ar e not
evi l , pr ovi ded t hey di d not ear n t he val ue you gave t hem. I t i s not i mmor al
f or t hemt o accept i t , pr ovi ded t hey ar e unabl e t o pr oduce i t , unabl e t o
deser ve i t , unabl e t o gi ve you any val ue i n r et ur n. I t i s not i mmor al f or
t hemt o enj oy i t , pr ovi ded t hey do not obt ai n i t by r i ght .
" Such i s t he secr et cor e of your cr eed, t he ot her hal f of your doubl e
st andar d: i t i s i mmor al t o l i ve by your own ef f or t , but mor al t o l i ve by t he
ef f or t of ot her si t i s i mmor al t o consume your own pr oduct , but mor al t o
consume t he pr oduct s of ot her si t i s i mmor al t o ear n, but mor al t o moochi t
i s t he par asi t es who ar e t he mor al j ust i f i cat i on f or t he exi st ence of t he
pr oducer s, but t he exi st ence of t he par asi t es i s an end i n i t sel f i t i s evi l
t o pr of i t by achi evement , but good t o pr of i t by sacr i f i cei t i s evi l t o
cr eat e your own happi ness, but good t o enj oy i t at t he pr i ce of t he bl ood of
ot her s.
" Your code di vi des manki nd i nt o t wo cast es and commands t hemt o l i ve by
opposi t e r ul es: t hose who may desi r e anyt hi ng and t hose who may desi r e
not hi ng, t he chosen and t he damned, t he r i der s and t he car r i er s, t he eat er s
and t he eat en. What st andar d det er mi nes your cast e? What passkey admi t s you
t o t he mor al el i t e? The passkey i s l ack of val ue.
" What ever t he val ue i nvol ved, i t i s your l ack of i t t hat gi ves you a cl ai m
upon t hose who don' t l ack i t . I t i s your need t hat gi ves you a cl ai mt o
r ewar ds. I f you ar e abl e t o sat i sf y your need, your abi l i t y annul s your r i ght
t o sat i sf y i t . But a need you ar e unabl e t o sat i sf y gi ves you f i r st r i ght t o
t he l i ves of manki nd.
" I f you succeed, any man who f ai l s i s your mast er ; i f you f ai l , any man
who succeeds i s your ser f . Whet her your f ai l ur e i s j ust or not , whet her your
wi shes ar e r at i onal or not , whet her your mi sf or t une i s undeser ved or t he
r esul t of your vi ces, i t i s mi sf or t une t hat gi ves you a r i ght t o r ewar ds. I t
i s pai n, r egar dl ess of i t s nat ur e or cause, pai n as a pr i mar y absol ut e, t hat
gi ves you a mor t gage on al l of exi st ence.
" I f you heal your pai n by your own ef f or t , you r ecei ve no mor al cr edi t :
your code r egar ds i t scor nf ul l y as an act of sel f - i nt er est . What ever val ue
you seek t o acqui r e, be i t weal t h or f ood or l ove or r i ght s, i f you acqui r e
i t by means of your vi r t ue, your code does not r egar d i t as a mor al
acqui si t i on: you occasi on no l oss t o anyone, i t i s a t r ade, not al ms; a
payment , not a sacr i f i ce. The deser ved bel ongs i n t he sel f i sh, commer ci al
r eal mof mut ual pr of i t ; i t i s onl y t he undeser ved t hat cal l s f or t hat mor al
t r ansact i on whi ch consi st s of pr of i t t o one at t he pr i ce of di sast er t o t he
ot her . To demand r ewar ds f or your vi r t ue i s sel f i sh and i mmor al ; i t i s your
l ack of vi r t ue t hat t r ansf or ms your demand i nt o a mor al r i ght .
" A mor al i t y t hat hol ds need as a cl ai m, hol ds empt i nessnonexi st enceas
i t s st andar d of val ue; i t r ewar ds an absence, a def ect : weakness, i nabi l i t y,
i ncompet ence, suf f er i ng, di sease, di sast er , t he l ack, t he f aul t , t he f l awt he
zer o.
" Who pr ovi des t he account t o pay t hese cl ai ms? Those who ar e cur sed f or
bei ng non- zer os, each t o t he ext ent of hi s di st ance f r omt hat i deal . Si nce
al l val ues ar e t he pr oduct of vi r t ues, t he degr ee of your vi r t ue i s used as
t he measur e of your penal t y; t he degr ee of your f aul t s i s used as t he measur e
of your gai n. Your code decl ar es t hat t he r at i onal man must sacr i f i ce hi msel f
t o t he i r r at i onal , t he i ndependent man t o par asi t es, t he honest man t o t he
di shonest , t he man of j ust i ce t o t he unj ust , t he pr oduct i ve man t o t hi evi ng
l oaf er s, t he man of i nt egr i t y t o compr omi si ng knaves, t he man of sel f - est eem
t o sni vel i ng neur ot i cs. Do you wonder at t he meanness of soul i n t hose you
see ar ound you? The man who achi eves t hese vi r t ues wi l l not accept your mor al
code; t he man who accept s your mor al code wi l l not achi eve t hese vi r t ues.
" Under a mor al i t y of sacr i f i ce, t he f i r st val ue you sacr i f i ce i s mor al i t y;
t he next i s sel f - est eem. When need i s t he st andar d, ever y man i s bot h vi ct i m
and par asi t e. As a vi ct i m, he must l abor t o f i l l t he needs of ot her s, l eavi ng
hi msel f i n t he posi t i on of a par asi t e whose needs must be f i l l ed by ot her s.
He cannot appr oach hi s f el l ow men except i n one of t wo di sgr acef ul r ol es: he
i s bot h a beggar and a sucker .
" You f ear t he man who has a dol l ar l ess t han you, t hat dol l ar i s
r i ght f ul l y hi s, he makes you f eel l i ke a mor al def r auder . You hat e t he man
who has a dol l ar mor e t han you, t hat dol l ar i s r i ght f ul l y your s, he makes you
f eel t hat you ar e mor al l y def r auded. The man bel ow i s a sour ce of your gui l t ,
t he man above i s a sour ce of your f r ust r at i on. You do not know what t o
sur r ender or demand, when t o gi ve and when t o gr ab, what pl easur e i n l i f e i s
r i ght f ul l y your s and what debt i s st i l l unpai d t o ot her syou st r uggl e t o
evade, as ' t heor y, ' t he knowl edge t hat by t he mor al st andar d you' ve accept ed
you ar e gui l t y ever y moment of your l i f e, t her e i s no mout hf ul of f ood you
swal l ow t hat i s not needed by someone somewher e on ear t hand you gi ve up t he
pr obl emi n bl i nd r esent ment , you concl ude t hat mor al per f ect i on i s not t o be
achi eved or desi r ed, t hat you wi l l muddl e t hr ough by snat chi ng as snat ch can
and by avoi di ng t he eyes of t he young, of t hose who l ook at you as i f sel f -
est eemwer e possi bl e and t hey expect ed you t o have i t Gui l t i s al l t hat you
r et ai n wi t hi n your soul and so does ever y ot her man, as he goes past ,
avoi di ng your eyes. Do you wonder why your mor al i t y has not achi eved
br ot her hood on ear t h or t he good wi l l of man t o man?
" The j ust i f i cat i on of sacr i f i ce, t hat your mor al i t y pr opounds, i s mor e
cor r upt t han t he cor r upt i on i t pur por t s t o j ust i f y. The mot i ve of your
sacr i f i ce, i t t el l s you, shoul d be l ovet he l ove you ought t o f eel f or ever y
man. A mor al i t y t hat pr of esses t he bel i ef t hat t he val ues of t he spi r i t ar e
mor e pr eci ous t han mat t er , a mor al i t y t hat t eaches you t o scor n a whor e who
gi ves her body i ndi scr i mi nat el y t o al l ment hi s same mor al i t y demands t hat
you sur r ender your soul t o pr omi scuous l ove f or al l comer s.
" As t her e can be no causel ess weal t h, so t her e can be no causel ess l ove or
any sor t of causel ess emot i on. An emot i on i s a r esponse t o a f act of r eal i t y,
an est i mat e di ct at ed by your st andar ds. To l ove i s t o val ue.
The man who t el l s you t hat i t i s possi bl e t o val ue wi t hout val ues, t o l ove
t hose whomyou appr ai se as wor t hl ess, i s t he man who t el l s you t hat i t i s
possi bl e t o gr ow r i ch by consumi ng wi t hout pr oduci ng and t hat paper money i s
as val uabl e as gol d.
" Obser ve t hat he does not expect you t o f eel a causel ess f ear . When hi s
ki nd get i nt o power , t hey ar e exper t at cont r i vi ng means of t er r or , at gi vi ng
you ampl e cause t o f eel t he f ear by whi ch t hey desi r e t o r ul e you. But when
i t comes t o l ove, t he hi ghest of emot i ons, you per mi t t hemt o shr i ek at you
accusi ngl y t hat you ar e a mor al del i nquent i f you' r e i ncapabl e of f eel i ng
causel ess l ove. When a man f eel s f ear wi t hout r eason, you cal l hi mt o t he
at t ent i on of a psychi at r i st ; you ar e not 1034 so car ef ul t o pr ot ect t he
meani ng, t he nat ur e and t he di gni t y of l ove.
" Love i s t he expr essi on of one' s val ues, t he gr eat est r ewar d you can ear n
f or t he mor al qual i t i es you have achi eved i n your char act er and per son, t he
emot i onal pr i ce pai d by one man f or t he j oy he r ecei ves f r omt he vi r t ues of
anot her . Your mor al i t y demands t hat you di vor ce your l ove f r omval ues and
hand i t down t o any vagr ant , not as r esponse t o hi s wor t h, but as r esponse t o
hi s need, not as r ewar d, but as al ms, not as a payment f or vi r t ues, but as a
bl ank check on vi ces. Your mor al i t y t el l s you t hat t he pur pose of l ove i s t o
set you f r ee of t he bonds of mor al i t y, t hat l ove i s super i or t o mor al
j udgment , t hat t r ue l ove t r anscends, f or gi ves and sur vi ves ever y manner of
evi l i n I t s obj ect , and t he gr eat er t he l ove t he gr eat er t he depr avi t y i t
per mi t s t o t he l oved. To l ove a man f or hi s vi r t ues i s pal t r y and human, i t
t el l s you; t o l ove hi mf or hi s f l aws i s di vi ne. To l ove t hose who ar e wor t hy
of i t i s sel f - i nt er est ; t o l ove t he unwor t hy i s sacr i f i ce. You owe your l ove
t o ' t hose who don' t deser ve i t , and t he l ess t hey deser ve i t , t he mor e l ove
you owe t hemt he mor e l oat hsome t he obj ect , t he nobl er your l ovet he mor e
unf ast i di ous your l ove, t he gr eat er your vi r t ueand i f you can br i ng your
soul t o t he st at e of a dump heap t hat wel comes anyt hi ng on equal t er ms, i f
you can cease t o val ue mor al val ues, you have achi eved t he st at e of mor al
per f ect i on.
" Such i s your mor al i t y of sacr i f i ce and such ar e t he t wi n i deal s i t
of f er s: t o r ef ashi on t he l i f e of your body i n t he i mage of a human
st ockyar ds, and t he l i f e of your spi r i t i n t he i mage of a dump.
" Such was your goal and you' ve r eached i t . Why do you now moan compl ai nt s
about man' s i mpot ence and t he f ut i l i t y of human aspi r at i ons? Because you wer e
unabl e t o pr osper by seeki ng dest r uct i on? Because you wer e unabl e t o f i nd j oy
by wor shi ppi ng pai n? Because you wer e unabl e t o l i ve by hol di ng deat h as your
st andar d of val ue?
" The degr ee of your abi l i t y t o l i ve was t he degr ee t o whi ch you br oke your
mor al code, yet you bel i eve t hat t hose who pr each i t ar e f r i ends of humani t y,
you damn your sel f and dar e not quest i on t hei r mot i ves or t hei r goal s. Take a
l ook at t hemnow, when you f ace your l ast choi ceand i f you choose t o per i sh,
do so wi t h f ul l knowl edge of how cheapl y how smal l an enemy has cl ai med your
l i f e.
" The myst i cs of bot h school s, who pr each t he cr eed of sacr i f i ce, ar e ger ms
t hat at t ack you t hr ough a si ngl e sor e: your f ear of r el yi ng on your mi nd.
They t el l you t hat t hey possess a means of knowl edge hi gher t han t he mi nd, a
mode of consci ousness super i or t o r easonl i ke a speci al pul l wi t h some
bur eaucr at of t he uni ver se who gi ves t hemsecr et t i ps wi t hhel d f r omot her s.
The myst i cs of spi r i t decl ar e t hat t hey possess an ext r a sense you l ack: t hi s
speci al si xt h sense consi st s of cont r adi ct i ng t he whol e of t he knowl edge of
your f i ve. The myst i cs of muscl e do not bot her t o asser t any cl ai mt o
ext r asensor y per cept i on: t hey mer el y decl ar e t hat your senses ar e not val i d,
and t hat t hei r wi sdomconsi st s of per cei vi ng your bl i ndness by some manner of
unspeci f i ed means. Bot h ki nds demand t hat you i nval i dat e your own
consci ousness and sur r ender your sel f i nt o t hei r power . They of f er you, as
pr oof of t hei r super i or knowl edge, t he f act t hat t hey asser t t he opposi t e of
ever yt hi ng you know, and as pr oof of t hei r super i or abi l i t y t o deal wi t h
exi st ence, t he f act t hat t hey l ead you t o mi ser y, sel f - sacr i f i ce, st ar vat i on,
dest r uct i on.
" They cl ai mt hat t hey per cei ve a mode of bei ng super i or t o your exi st ence
on t hi s ear t h. The myst i cs of spi r i t cal l i t ' anot her di mensi on, ' whi ch
consi st s of denyi ng di mensi ons. The myst i cs of muscl e cal l i t ' t he f ut ur e, '
whi ch consi st s of denyi ng t he pr esent . To exi st i s t o possess i dent i t y. What
i dent i t y ar e t hey abl e t o gi ve t o t hei r super i or r eal m?
They keep t el l i ng you what i t i s not , but never t el l you what i t i s. Al l
t hei r i dent i f i cat i ons consi st of negat i ng: God i s t hat whi ch no human mi nd
can know, t hey sayand pr oceed t o demand t hat you consi der i t knowl edgeGod
i s non- man, heaven i s non- ear t h, soul i s non- body, vi r t ue i s non- pr of i t , A i s
non- A, per cept i on i s non- sensor y, knowl edge i s non- r eason. Thei r def i ni t i ons
ar e not act s of def i ni ng, but of wi pi ng out .
" I t i s onl y t he met aphysi cs of a l eech t hat woul d cl i ng t o t he i dea of a
uni ver se wher e a zer o i s a st andar d of i dent i f i cat i on. A l eech woul d want t o
seek escape f r omt he necessi t y t o name i t s own nat ur eescape f r omt he
necessi t y t o know t hat t he subst ance on whi ch i t bui l ds i t s pr i vat e uni ver se
i s bl ood.
" What i s t he nat ur e of t hat super i or wor l d t o whi ch t hey sacr i f i ce t he
wor l d t hat exi st s? The myst i cs of spi r i t cur se mat t er , t he myst i cs of muscl e
cur se pr of i t . The f i r st wi sh men t o pr of i t by r enounci ng t he ear t h, t he
second wi sh men t o i nher i t t he ear t h by r enounci ng al l pr of i t . Thei r non-
mat er i al , non- pr of i t wor l ds ar e r eal ms wher e r i ver s r un wi t h mi l k and cof f ee,
wher e wi ne spur t s f r omr ocks at t hei r command, wher e past r y dr ops on t hem
f r omcl ouds at t he pr i ce of openi ng t hei r mout h. On t hi s mat er i al , pr of i t -
chasi ng ear t h, an enor mous i nvest ment of vi r t ueof i nt el l i gence, i nt egr i t y,
ener gy, ski l l i s r equi r ed t o const r uct a r ai l r oad t o car r y t hemt he di st ance
of one mi l e; i n t hei r nonmat er i al , non- pr of i t wor l d, t hey t r avel f r ompl anet
t o pl anet at t he cost of a wi sh. I f an honest per son asks t hem: ' How?' t hey
answer wi t h r i ght eous scor n t hat a ' how' i s t he concept of vul gar r eal i st s;
t he concept of super i or spi r i t s i s ' Somehow. ' On t hi s ear t h r est r i ct ed by
mat t er and pr of i t , r ewar ds ar e achi eved by t hought ; i n a wor l d set f r ee of
such r est r i ct i ons, r ewar ds ar e achi eved by wi shi ng.
" And t hat i s t he whol e of t hei r shabby secr et . The secr et of al l t hei r
esot er i c phi l osophi es, of al l t hei r di al ect i cs and super - senses, of t hei r
evasi ve eyes and snar l i ng wor ds, t he secr et f or whi ch t hey dest r oy
ci vi l i zat i on, l anguage, i ndust r i es and l i ves, t he secr et f or whi ch t hey
pi er ce " t hei r own eyes and ear dr ums, gr i nd out t hei r senses, bl ank out t hei r
mi nds, t he pur pose f or whi ch t hey di ssol ve t he absol ut es of r eason, l ogi c,
mat t er , exi st ence, r eal i t yi s t o er ect upon t hat pl ast i c f og a si ngl e hol y
absol ut e: t hei r Wi sh.
" The r est r i ct i on t hey seek t o escape i s t he l aw of i dent i t y. The f r eedom
t hey seek i s f r eedomf r omt he f act t hat an A wi l l r emai n an A, no mat t er what
t hei r t ear s or t ant r umst hat a r i ver wi l l not br i ng t hemmi l k, no mat t er what
t hei r hunger t hat wat er wi l l not r un uphi l l , no mat t er what comf or t s t hey
coul d gai n i f i t di d, and i f t hey want t o l i f t i t t o t he r oof of a
skyscr aper , t hey must do i t by a pr ocess of t hought and l abor , i n whi ch t he
nat ur e of an i nch of pi pe l i ne count s, but t hei r f eel i ngs do not t hat t hei r
f eel i ngs ar e i mpot ent t o al t er t he cour se of a si ngl e speck of dust i n space
or t he nat ur e of any act i on t hey have commi t t ed.
" Those who t el l you t hat man i s unabl e t o per cei ve a r eal i t y undi st or t ed
by hi s senses, mean t hat t hey ar e unwi l l i ng t o per cei ve a r eal i t y undi st or t ed
by t hei r f eel i ngs. ' Thi ngs as t hey ar e' ar e t hi ngs as per cei ved by your mi nd;
di vor ce t hemf r omr eason and t hey become ' t hi ngs as per cei ved by your
wi shes. '
" Ther e i s no honest r evol t agai nst r easonand when you accept any par t of
t hei r cr eed, your mot i ve i s t o get away wi t h somet hi ng your r eason woul d not
per mi t you t o at t empt . The f r eedomyou seek i s f r eedomf r omt he f act t hat i f
you st ol e your weal t h, you ar e a scoundr el , no mat t er how much you gi ve t o
char i t y or how many pr ayer s you r eci t et hat i f you sl eep wi t h sl ut s, you' r e
not a wor t hy husband, no mat t er how anxi ousl y you f eel t hat you l ove your
wi f e next mor ni ngt hat you ar e an ent i t y, not a ser i es of r andompi eces
scat t er ed t hr ough a uni ver se wher e not hi ng st i cks and not hi ng commi t s you t o
anyt hi ng. , t he uni ver se of a chi l d' s ni ght mar e wher e i dent i t i es swi t ch and
swi m, wher e t he r ot t er and t he her o ar e i nt er changeabl e par t s ar bi t r ar i l y
assumed at wi l l t hat you ar e a mant hat you ar e an ent i t yt hat you ar e.
" No mat t er how eager l y you cl ai mt hat t he goal of your myst i c wi shi ng i s a
hi gher mode of l i f e, t he r ebel l i on agai nst i dent i t y i s t he wi sh f or non-
exi st ence. The desi r e not t o be anyt hi ng i s t he desi r e not t o be.
" Your t eacher s, t he myst i cs of bot h school s, have r ever sed causal i t y i n
t hei r consci ousness, t hen st r i ve t o r ever se i t i n exi st ence. They t ake t hei r
emot i ons as a cause, and t hei r mi nd as a passi ve ef f ect . They make t hei r
emot i ons t hei r t ool f or per cei vi ng r eal i t y. They hol d t hei r desi r es as an
i r r educi bl e pr i mar y, as a f act super sedi ng al l f act s. An honest man does not
desi r e unt i l he has i dent i f i ed t he obj ect of hi s desi r e. He says: ' I t i s,
t her ef or e I want i t . ' They say: ' I want i t , t her ef or e i t i s.
" They want t o cheat t he axi omof exi st ence and consci ousness, t hey want
t hei r consci ousness t o be an i nst r ument not of per cei vi ng but of cr eat i ng
exi st ence, and exi st ence t o be not t he obj ect but t he subj ect of t hei r
consci ousnesst hey want t o be t hat God t hey cr eat ed i n t hei r i mage and
l i keness, who cr eat es a uni ver se out of a voi d by means of an ar bi t r ar y whi m.
But r eal i t y i s not t o be cheat ed. What t hey achi eve i s t he opposi t e of t hei r
desi r e. They want an omni pot ent power over exi st ence; i nst ead, t hey l ose t he
power of t hei r consci ousness. By r ef usi ng t o know, t hey condemn t hemsel ves t o
t he hor r or of a per pet ual unknown.
" Those i r r at i onal wi shes t hat dr aw you t o t hei r cr eed, t hose emot i ons you
wor shi p as an i dol , on whose al t ar you sacr i f i ce t he ear t h, t hat dar k,
i ncoher ent passi on wi t hi n you, whi ch you t ake as t he voi ce of God or of your
gl ands, i s not hi ng mor e t han t he cor pse of your mi nd.
An emot i on t hat cl ashes wi t h your r eason, an emot i on t hat you cannot
expl ai n or cont r ol , i s onl y t he car cass of t hat st al e t hi nki ng whi ch you
f or bade your mi nd t o r evi se.
" Whenever you commi t t ed t he evi l of r ef usi ng t o t hi nk and t o see, of
exempt i ng f r omt he absol ut e of r eal i t y some one smal l wi sh of your s, whenever
you chose t o say: Let me wi t hdr aw f r omt he j udgment of r eason t he cooki es I
st ol e, or t he exi st ence of God, l et me have my one i r r at i onal whi mand I wi l l
be a man of r eason about al l el set hat was t he act of subver t i ng your
consci ousness, t he act of cor r upt i ng your mi nd. Your mi nd t hen became a f i xed
j ur y who t akes or der s f r oma secr et under wor l d, whose ver di ct di st or t s t he
evi dence t o f i t an absol ut e i t dar es not t ouchand a censor ed r eal i t y i s t he
r esul t , a spl i nt er ed r eal i t y wher e t he bi t s you chose t o see ar e f l oat i ng
among t he chasms of t hose you di dn' t , hel d t oget her by t hat embal mi ng f l ui d
of t he mi nd whi ch i s an emot i on exempt ed f r omt hought .
" The l i nks you st r i ve t o dr own ar e causal connect i ons. The enemy you seek
t o def eat i s t he l aw of causal i t y: i t per mi t s you no mi r acl es.
The l aw of causal i t y i s t he l aw of i dent i t y appl i ed t o act i on. Al !
act i ons ar e caused by ent i t i es. The nat ur e of an act i on i s caused and
det er mi ned by t he nat ur e of t he ent i t i es t hat act ; a t hi ng cannot act i n
cont r adi ct i on t o i t s nat ur e. An act i on not caused by an ent i t y woul d be
caused by a zer o, whi ch woul d mean a zer o cont r ol l i ng a t hi ng, a nonent i t y
cont r ol l i ng an ent i t y, t he non- exi st ent r ul i ng t he exi st ent whi ch i s t he
uni ver se of your t eacher s' desi r e, t he cause of t hei r doct r i nes of causel ess
act i on, t he r eason of t hei r r evol t agai nst r eason, t he goal of t hei r
mor al i t y, t hei r pol i t i cs, t hei r economi cs, t he i deal t hey st r i ve f or : t he
r ei gn of t he zer o.
" The l aw of i dent i t y does not per mi t you t o have your cake and eat i t ,
t oo. The l aw of causal i t y does not per mi t you t o eat your cake bef or e you
have i t . But i f you dr own bot h l aws i n t he bl anks of your mi nd, i f you
pr et end t o your sel f and t o ot her s t hat you don' t seet hen you can t r y t o
pr ocl ai myour r i ght t o eat your cake t oday and mi ne t omor r ow, you can pr each
t hat t he way t o have a cake i s t o eat i t f i r st , bef or e you bake i t , t hat t he
way t o pr oduce i s t o st ar t by consumi ng, t hat " al l wi sher s have an equal
cl ai mt o al l t hi ngs, si nce not hi ng i s caused by anyt hi ng. The cor ol l ar y of
t he causel ess i n mat t er i s t he unear ned i n spi r i t .
" Whenever you r ebel agai nst causal i t y, your mot i ve i s t he f r audul ent
desi r e, not t o escape i t , but wor se: t o r ever se i t . You want unear ned l ove,
as i f l ove, t he ef f ect , coul d gi ve you per sonal val ue, t he cause
you want unear ned admi r at i on, as i f admi r at i on, t he ef f ect , coul d gi ve you
vi r t ue, t he causeyou want unear ned weal t h, as i f weal t h, t he ef f ect , coul d
gi ve you abi l i t y, t he causeyou pl ead f or mer cy, mer cy, not j ust i ce, as i f an
unear ned f or gi veness coul d wi pe out t he cause of your pl ea. And t o i ndul ge
your ugl y l i t t l e shams, you suppor t t he doct r i nes of your t eacher s, whi l e
t hey r un hog- wi l d pr ocl ai mi ng t hat spendi ng, t he ef f ect , cr eat es r i ches, t he
cause, t hat machi ner y, t he ef f ect , cr eat es i nt el l i gence, t he cause, t hat your
sexual desi r es, t he ef f ect , cr eat e your phi l osophi cal val ues, t he cause.
" Who pays f or t he or gy? Who causes t he causel ess? Who ar e t he vi ct i ms,
condemned t o r emai n unacknowl edged and t o per i sh i n si l ence, l est t hei r agony
di st ur b your pr et ense t hat t hey do not exi st ? We ar e, we, t he men of t he
mi nd.
" We ar e t he cause of al l t he val ues t hat you covet , we who per f or mt he
pr ocess of t hi nki ng, whi ch i s t he pr ocess of def i ni ng i dent i t y and
di scover i ng causal connect i ons. We t aught you t o know, t o speak, t o pr oduce,
t o desi r e, t o l ove. You who abandon r easonwer e i t not f or us who pr eser ve
i t , you woul d not be abl e t o f ul f i l l or even t o concei ve your wi shes. You
woul d not be abl e t o desi r e t he cl ot hes t hat had not been made, t he
aut omobi l e t hat had not been i nvent ed, t he money t hat had not been devi sed,
as exchange f or goods t hat di d not exi st , t he admi r at i on t hat had not been
exper i enced f or men who had achi eved not hi ng, t he l ove t hat bel ongs and
per t ai ns onl y t o t hose who pr eser ve t hei r capaci t y t o t hi nk, t o choose, t o
val ue.
" Youwho l eap l i ke a savage out of t he j ungl e of your f eel i ngs i nt o t he
Fi f t h Avenue of our New Yor k and pr ocl ai mt hat you want t o keep t he el ect r i c
l i ght s, but t o dest r oy t he gener at or si t i s our weal t h t hat you use whi l e
dest r oyi ng us, i t i s our val ues t hat you use whi l e damni ng us, i t i s our
l anguage t hat you use whi l e denyi ng t he mi nd.
" J ust as your myst i cs of spi r i t i nvent ed t hei r heaven i n t he i mage of our
ear t h, omi t t i ng our exi st ence, and pr omi sed you r ewar ds cr eat ed by mi r acl e
out of non- mat t er so your moder n myst i cs of muscl e omi t our exi st ence and
pr omi se you a heaven wher e mat t er shapes i t sel f of i t s own causel ess wi l l
i nt o al l t he r ewar ds desi r ed by your non- mi nd.
" For cent ur i es, t he myst i cs of spi r i t had exi st ed by r unni ng a pr ot ect i on
r acket by maki ng l i f e on ear t h unbear abl e, t hen char gi ng you f or consol at i on
and r el i ef , by f or bi ddi ng al l t he vi r t ues t hat make exi st ence possi bl e, t hen
r i di ng on t he shoul der s of your gui l t , by decl ar i ng pr oduct i on and j oy t o be
si ns, t hen col l ect i ng bl ackmai l f r omt he si nner s. We, t he men of t he mi nd,
wer e t he unnamed vi ct i ms of t hei r cr eed, we who wer e wi l l i ng t o br eak t hei r
mor al code and t o bear damnat i on f or t he si n of r easonwe who t hought and
act ed, whi l e t hey wi shed and pr ayedwe who wer e mor al out cast s, we who wer e
boot l egger s of l i f e when l i f e was hel d t o be a cr i mewhi l e t hey basked i n
mor al gl or y f or t he vi r t ue of sur passi ng mat er i al gr eed and of di st r i but i ng
i n sel f l ess char i t y t he mat er i al goods pr oduced bybl ank- out .
" Now we ar e chai ned and commanded t o pr oduce by savages who do not gr ant
us even t he i dent i f i cat i on of si nner sby savages who pr ocl ai mt hat we do not
exi st , t hen t hr eat en t o depr i ve us of t he l i f e we don' t possess, i f we f ai l
t o pr ovi de t hemwi t h t he goods we don' t pr oduce. Now we ar e expect ed t o
cont i nue r unni ng r ai l r oads and t o know t he mi nut e when a t r ai n wi l l ar r i ve
af t er cr ossi ng t he span of a cont i nent , we ar e expect ed t o cont i nue r unni ng
st eel mi l l s and t o know t he mol ecul ar st r uct ur e of ever y dr op of met al i n t he
cabl es of your br i dges and i n t he body of t he ai r pl anes t hat suppor t you i n
mi d- ai r
whi l e t he t r i bes of your gr ot esque l i t t l e myst i cs of muscl e f i ght over t he
car cass of our wor l d, gi bber i ng i n sounds of non- l anguage t hat t her e ar e no
pr i nci pl es, no absol ut es, no knowl edge, no mi nd.
" Dr oppi ng bel ow t he l evel of a savage, who bel i eves t hat t he magi c wor ds
he ut t er s have t he power t o al t er r eal i t y, t hey bel i eve t hat r eal i t y can be
al t er ed by t he power of t he wor ds t hey do not ut t er and t hei r magi c t ool i s
t he bl ank- out , t he pr et ense t hat not hi ng can come i nt o exi st ence past t he
voodoo of t hei r r ef usal t o i dent i f y i t .
" As t hey f eed on st ol en weal t h i n body, so t hey f eed on st ol en concept s i n
mi nd, and pr ocl ai mt hat honest y consi st s of r ef usi ng t o know t hat one i s
st eal i ng. As t hey use ef f ect s whi l e denyi ng causes, so t hey use our concept s
whi l e denyi ng t he r oot s and t he exi st ence of t he concept s t hey ar e usi ng. As
t hey seek, not t o bui l d, but t o t ake over i ndust r i al pl ant s, so t hey seek,
not t o t hi nk, but t o t ake over human t hi nki ng.
" As t hey pr ocl ai mt hat t he onl y r equi r ement f or r unni ng a f act or y i s t he
abi l i t y t o t ur n t he cr anks of t he machi nes, and bl ank out t he quest i on of who
cr eat ed t he f act or yso t hey pr ocl ai mt hat t her e ar e no ent i t i es, t hat not hi ng
exi st s but mot i on, and bl ank out t he f act t hat mot i on pr esupposes t he t hi ng
whi ch moves, t hat wi t hout t he concept of ent i t y, t her e can be no such concept
as ' mot i on. ' As t hey pr ocl ai mt hei r r i ght t o consume t he unear ned, and bl ank
out t he quest i on of who' s t o pr oduce i t so t hey pr ocl ai mt hat t her e i s no l aw
of i dent i t y, t hat not hi ng exi st s but change, and bl ank out t he f act t hat
change pr esupposes t he concept s of what changes, f r omwhat and t o what , t hat
wi t hout t he l aw of i dent i t y no such concept as ' change' i s possi bl e. As t hey
r ob an i ndust r i al i st whi l e denyi ng hi s val ue, so t hey seek t o sei ze power
over al l of exi st ence whi l e denyi ng t hat exi st ence exi st s.
" ' We know t hat we know not hi ng, ' t hey chat t er , bl anki ng out t he f act t hat
t hey ar e cl ai mi ng knowl edge' Ther e ar e no absol ut es, ' t hey chat t er , bl anki ng
out t he f act t hat t hey ar e ut t er i ng an absol ut e' You cannot pr ove t hat you
exi st or t hat you' r e consci ous, ' t hey chat t er , bl anki ng out t he f act t hat
pr oof pr esupposes exi st ence, consci ousness and a compl ex chai n of knowl edge:
t he exi st ence of somet hi ng t o know, of a consci ousness abl e t o know i t , and
of a knowl edge t hat has l ear ned t o di st i ngui sh bet ween such concept s as t he
pr oved and t he unpr oved.
" When a savage who has not l ear ned t o speak decl ar es t hat exi st ence must
be pr oved, he i s aski ng you t o pr ove i t by means of nonexi st encewhen he
decl ar es t hat your consci ousness must be pr oved, he i s aski ng you t o pr ove i t
by means of unconsci ousnesshe i s aski ng you t o st ep i nt o a voi d out si de of
exi st ence and consci ousness t o gi ve hi mpr oof of bot hhe i s aski ng you t o
become a zer o gai ni ng knowl edge about a zer o, " When he decl ar es t hat an axi om
i s a mat t er of ar bi t r ar y choi ce and he doesn' t choose t o accept t he axi om
t hat he exi st s, he bl anks out t he f act t hat he has accept ed i t by ut t er i ng
t hat sent ence, t hat t he onl y way t o r ej ect i t i s t o shut one' s mout h, expound
no t heor i es and di e.
" An axi omi s a st at ement t hat i dent i f i es t he base of knowl edge and of any
f ur t her st at ement per t ai ni ng t o t hat knowl edge, a st at ement necessar i l y
cont ai ned i n al l ot her s, whet her any par t i cul ar speaker chooses t o i dent i f y
i t or not . An axi omi s a pr oposi t i on t hat def eat s i t s opponent s by t he f act
t hat t hey have t o accept i t and use i t i n t he pr ocess of any at t empt t o deny
i t . Let t he caveman who does not choose t o accept t he axi omof i dent i t y, t r y
t o pr esent hi s t heor y wi t hout usi ng t he concept of i dent i t y or any concept
der i ved f r omi t l et t he ant hr opoi d who does not choose t o accept t he
exi st ence of nouns, t r y t o devi se a l anguage wi t hout nouns, adj ect i ves or
ver bsl et t he wi t chdoct or who does not choose t o accept t he val i di t y of
sensor y per cept i on, t r y t o pr ove i t wi t hout usi ng t he dat a he obt ai ned by
sensor y per cept i on l et t he head- hunt er who does not choose t o accept t he
val i di t y of l ogi c, t r y t o pr ove i t wi t hout usi ng l ogi cl et t he pi gmy who
pr ocl ai ms t hat a skyscr aper needs no f oundat i on af t er i t r eaches i t s f i f t i et h
st or y, yank t he base f r omunder hi s bui l di ng, not your sl et t he canni bal who
snar l s t hat t he f r eedomof man' s mi nd was needed t o cr eat e an i ndust r i al
ci vi l i zat i on, but i s not needed t o mai nt ai n i t , be gi ven an ar r owhead and
bear ski n, not a uni ver si t y chai r of economi cs.
" Do you t hi nk t hey ar e t aki ng you back t o dar k ages? They ar e t aki ng you
back t o dar ker ages t han any your hi st or y has known. Thei r goal i s not t he
er a of pr e- sci ence, but t he er a of pr e- l anguage. Thei r pur pose i s t o depr i ve
you of t he concept on whi ch man' s mi nd, hi s l i f e and hi s cul t ur e depend: t he
concept of an obj ect i ve r eal i t y. I dent i f y t he devel opment of a human
consci ousnessand you wi l l know t he pur pose of t hei r cr eed.
" A savage i s a bei ng who has not gr asped t hat A i s A and t hat r eal i t y i s
r eal . He has ar r est ed hi s mi nd at t he l evel of a baby' s, at t he st age when a
consci ousness acqui r es i t s i ni t i al sensor y per cept i ons and has not l ear ned t o
di st i ngui sh sol i d obj ect s. I t i s t o a baby t hat t he wor l d appear s as a bl ur
of mot i on, wi t hout t hi ngs t hat moveand t he bi r t h of hi s mi nd i s t he day when
he gr asps t hat t he st r eak t hat keeps f l i cker i ng past hi mi s hi s mot her and
t he whi r l beyond her i s a cur t ai n, t hat t he t wo ar e sol i d ent i t i es and
nei t her can t ur n i nt o t he ot her , t hat t hey ar e what t hey ar e, t hat t hey
exi st . The day when he gr asps t hat mat t er has no vol i t i on i s t he day when he
gr asps t hat he hasand t hi s i s hi s bi r t h as a human bei ng. The day when he
gr asps t hat t he r ef l ect i on he sees i n a mi r r or i s not a del usi on, t hat i t i s
r eal , but i t i s not hi msel f , t hat t he mi r age he sees i n a deser t i s not a
del usi on, t hat t he ai r and t he l i ght r ays t hat cause i t ar e r eal , but i t i s
not a ci t y, i t i s a ci t y' s r ef l ect i ont he day when he gr asps t hat he i s not a
passi ve r eci pi ent of t he sensat i ons of any gi ven moment , t hat hi s senses do
not pr ovi de hi mwi t h aut omat i c knowl edge i n separ at e snat ches i ndependent of
cont ext , but onl y wi t h t he mat er i al of knowl edge, whi ch hi s mi nd must l ear n
t o i nt egr at et he day when he gr asps t hat hi s senses cannot decei ve hi m, t hat
physi cal obj ect s cannot act wi t hout causes, t hat hi s or gans of per cept i on ar e
physi cal and have no vol i t i on, no power t o i nvent or t o di st or t , t hat t he
evi dence t hey gi ve hi mi s an absol ut e, but hi s mi nd must l ear n t o under st and
i t , hi s mi nd must di scover t he nat ur e, t he causes, t he f ul l cont ext of hi s
sensor y mat er i al , hi s mi nd must i dent i f y t he t hi ngs t hat he per cei vest hat i s
t he day of hi s bi r t h as a t hi nker and sci ent i st .
" We ar e t he men who r each t hat day; you ar e t he men who choose t o r each i t
par t l y; a savage i s a man who never does.
" To a savage, t he wor l d i s a pl ace of uni nt el l i gi bl e mi r acl es wher e
anyt hi ng i s possi bl e t o i nani mat e mat t er and not hi ng i s possi bl e t o hi m.
Hi s wor l d i s not t he unknown, but t hat i r r at i onal hor r or : t he unknowabl e.
He bel i eves t hat physi cal obj ect s ar e endowed wi t h a myst er i ous vol i t i on,
moved by causel ess, unpr edi ct abl e whi ms, whi l e he i s a hel pl ess pawn at t he
mer cy of f or ces beyond hi s cont r ol . He bel i eves t hat nat ur e i s r ul ed by
demons who possess an omni pot ent power and t hat r eal i t y i s t hei r f l ui d
pl ayt hi ng, wher e t hey can t ur n hi s bowl of meal i nt o a snake and hi s wi f e
i nt o a beet l e at any moment , wher e t he A he has never di scover ed can be any
non- A t hey choose, wher e t he onl y knowl edge he possesses i s t hat he must not
at t empt t o know. He can count on not hi ng, he can onl y wi sh, and he spends hi s
l i f e on wi shi ng, on beggi ng hi s demons t o gr ant hi mhi s wi shes by t he
ar bi t r ar y power of t hei r wi l l , gi vi ng t hemcr edi t when t hey do, t aki ng t he
bl ame when t hey don' t , of f er i ng t hemsacr i f i ces i n t oken of hi s gr at i t ude and
sacr i f i ces i n t oken of hi s gui l t , cr awl i ng on hi s bel l y i n f ear and wor shi p
of sun and moon and wi nd and r ai n and of any t hug who announces hi msel f as
t hei r spokesman, pr ovi ded hi s wor ds ar e uni nt el l i gi bl e and hi s mask
suf f i ci ent l y f r i ght eni nghe wi shes, begs and cr awl s, and di es, l eavi ng you,
as a r ecor d of hi s vi ew of exi st ence, t he di st or t ed monst r osi t i es of hi s
i dol s, par t - man, par t - ani mal , par t - spi der , t he embodi ment s of t he wor l d of
non- A.
" Hi s i s t he i nt el l ect ual st at e of your moder n t eacher s and hi s i s t he
wor l d t o whi ch t hey want t o br i ng you.
" I f you wonder by what means t hey pr opose t o do i t , wal k i nt o any col l ege
cl assr oomand you wi l l hear your pr of essor s t eachi ng your chi l dr en t hat man
can be cer t ai n of not hi ng, t hat hi s consci ousness has no val i di t y what ever ,
t hat he can l ear n no f act s and no l aws of exi st ence, t hat he' s i ncapabl e of
knowi ng an obj ect i ve r eal i t y. What , t hen, i s hi s st andar d of knowl edge and
t r ut h? What ever ot her s bel i eve, i s t hei r answer . Ther e i s no knowl edge, t hey
t each, t her e' s onl y f ai t h: your bel i ef t hat you exi st i s an act of f ai t h, no
mor e val i d t han anot her ' s f ai t h i n hi s r i ght t o ki l l you; t he axi oms of
sci ence ar e an act of f ai t h, no mor e val i d t han a myst i c' s f ai t h i n
r evel at i ons; t he bel i ef t hat el ect r i c l i ght can be pr oduced by a gener at or i s
an act of f ai t h, no mor e val i d t han t he bel i ef t hat i t can be pr oduced by a
r abbi t ' s f oot ki ssed under a st epl adder on t he f i r st of t he moont r ut h i s
what ever peopl e want i t t o be, and peopl e ar e ever yone except your sel f ;
r eal i t y i s what ever peopl e choose t o say i t i s, t her e ar e no obj ect i ve f act s,
t her e ar e onl y peopl e' s ar bi t r ar y wi shesa man who seeks knowl edge i n a
l abor at or y by means of t est t ubes and l ogi c i s an ol d- f ashi oned,
super st i t i ous f ool ; a t r ue sci ent i st i s a man who goes ar ound t aki ng publ i c
pol l sand i f i t wer en' t f or t he sel f i sh gr eed of t he manuf act ur er s of st eel
gi r der s, who have a vest ed i nt er est i n obst r uct i ng t he pr ogr ess of sci ence,
you woul d l ear n t hat New Yor k Ci t y does not exi st , because a pol l of t he
ent i r e popul at i on of t he wor l d woul d t el l you by a l andsl i de maj or i t y t hat
t hei r bel i ef s f or bi d i t s exi st ence.
" For cent ur i es, t he myst i cs of spi r i t have pr ocl ai med t hat f ai t h i s
super i or t o r eason, but have not dar ed deny t he exi st ence of r eason.
Thei r hei r s and pr oduct , t he myst i cs of muscl e, have compl et ed t hei r j ob
and achi eved t hei r dr eam: t hey pr ocl ai mt hat ever yt hi ng i s f ai t h, and cal l i t
a r evol t agai nst bel i evi ng. As r evol t agai nst unpr oved asser t i ons, t hey
pr ocl ai mt hat not hi ng can be pr oved; as r evol t agai nst super nat ur al
knowl edge, t hey pr ocl ai mt hat no knowl edge i s possi bl e; as r evol t agai nst t he
enemi es of sci ence, t hey pr ocl ai mt hat sci ence i s super st i t i on; as r evol t
agai nst t he ensl avement of t he mi nd, t hey pr ocl ai mt hat t her e i s no mi nd.
" I f you sur r ender your power t o per cei ve, i f you accept t he swi t ch of your
st andar d f r omt he obj ect i ve t o t he col l ect i ve and wai t f or manki nd t o t el l
you what t o t hi nk, you wi l l f i nd anot her swi t ch t aki ng pl ace bef or e t he eyes
you have r enounced: you wi l l f i nd t hat your t eacher s become t he r ul er s of t he
col l ect i ve, and i f you t hen r ef use t o obey t hem, pr ot est i ng t hat t hey ar e not
t he whol e of manki nd, t hey wi l l answer : ' By what means do you know t hat we
ar e not ? Ar e, br ot her ?
Wher e di d you get t hat ol d- f ashi oned t er m?'
" I f you doubt t hat such i s t hei r pur pose, obser ve wi t h what passi onat e
consi st ency t he myst i cs of muscl e ar e st r i vi ng t o make you f or get t hat a
concept such as ' mi nd' has ever exi st ed. Obser ve t he t wi st s of undef i ned
ver bi age, t he wor ds wi t h r ubber meani ngs, t he t er ms l ef t f l oat i ng i n
mi dst r eam, by means of whi ch t hey t r y t o get ar ound t he r ecogni t i on of t he
concept of ' t hi nki ng. ' Your consci ousness, t hey t el l you, consi st s of
' r ef l exes, ' ' r eact i ons, ' ' exper i ences, ' ' ur ges, and ' dr i ves'
and r ef use t o i dent i f y t he means by whi ch t hey acqui r ed t hat knowl edge,
t o i dent i f y t he act t hey ar e per f or mi ng when t hey t el l i t or t he act you ar e
per f or mi ng when you l i st en. Wor ds have t he power t o ' condi t i on' you, t hey say
and r ef use t o i dent i f y t he r eason why wor ds have t he power t o change your
bl ank- out . A st udent r eadi ng a book under st ands i t t hr ough a pr ocess of
bl ank- out . A sci ent i st wor ki ng on an i nvent i on i s engaged i n t he act i vi t y of
bl ank- out . A psychol ogi st hel pi ng a neur ot i c t o sol ve a pr obl emand unt angl e
a conf l i ct , does i t by means of bl ank- out . An i ndust r i al i st bl ank- out t her e
i s no such per son. A f act or y i s a ' nat ur al r esour ce, ' l i ke a t r ee, a r ock or
a mud puddl e.
" The pr obl emof pr oduct i on, t hey t el l you, has been sol ved and deser ves no
st udy or concer n; t he onl y pr obl eml ef t f or your ' r ef l exes' t o sol ve i s now
t he pr obl emof di st r i but i on. Who sol ved t he pr obl emof pr oduct i on? Humani t y,
t hey answer . What was t he sol ut i on? The goods ar e her e. How di d t hey get
her e? Somehow. What caused i t ? Not hi ng has causes.
" They pr ocl ai mt hat ever y man bor n i s ent i t l ed t o exi st wi t hout l abor and,
t he l aws of r eal i t y t o t he cont r ar y not wi t hst andi ng, i s ent i t l ed t o r ecei ve
hi s ' mi ni mumsust enance' hi s f ood, hi s cl ot hes, hi s shel t er wi t h no ef f or t on
hi s par t , as hi s due and hi s bi r t hr i ght . To r ecei ve i t f r omwhom? Bl ank- out .
Ever y man, t hey announce, owns an equal shar e of t he t echnol ogi cal benef i t s
cr eat ed i n t he wor l d.
Cr eat edby whom? Bl ank- out . Fr ant i c cowar ds who post ur e as def ender s of
i ndust r i al i st s now def i ne t he pur pose of economi cs as ' an adj ust ment bet ween
t he unl i mi t ed desi r es of men and t he goods suppl i ed i n l i mi t ed quant i t y. '
Suppl i edby whom? Bl ank- out . I nt el l ect ual hoodl ums who pose as pr of essor s,
shr ug away t he t hi nker s of t he past by decl ar i ng t hat t hei r soci al t heor i es
wer e based on t he i mpr act i cal assumpt i on t hat man was a r at i onal bei ngbut
si nce men ar e not r at i onal , t hey decl ar e, t her e ought t o be est abl i shed a
syst emt hat wi l l make i t possi bl e f or t hemt o exi st whi l e bei ng i r r at i onal ,
whi ch means: whi l e def yi ng r eal i t y. Who wi l l make i t possi bl e? Bl ank- out . Any
st r ay medi ocr i t y r ushes i nt o pr i nt wi t h pl ans t o cont r ol t he pr oduct i on of
manki ndand whoever agr ees or di sagr ees wi t h hi s st at i st i cs, no one quest i ons
hi s r i ght t o enf or ce hi s pl ans by means of a gun. Enf or ceon whom? Bl ank- out .
Randomf emal es wi t h causel ess i ncomes f l i t t er on t r i ps ar ound t he gl obe and
r et ur n t o del i ver t he message t hat t he backwar d peopl es of t he wor l d demand a
hi gher st andar d of l i vi ng. Demandof whom? Bl ank- out .
" And t o f or est al l any i nqui r y i nt o t he cause of t he di f f er ence bet ween a
j ungl e vi l l age and New Yor k Ci t y, t hey r esor t t o t he ul t i mat e obsceni t y of
expl ai ni ng man' s i ndust r i al pr ogr essskyscr aper s, cabl e br i dges, power
mot or s, r ai l r oad t r ai nsby decl ar i ng t hat man i s an ani mal who possesses an
' i nst i nct of t ool - maki ng. '
" Di d you wonder what i s wr ong wi t h t he wor l d? You ar e now seei ng t he
cl i max of t he cr eed of t he uncaused and unear ned. Al l your gangs of myst i cs,
of spi r i t or muscl e, ar e f i ght i ng one anot her f or power t o r ul e you, snar l i ng
t hat l ove i s t he sol ut i on f or al l t he pr obl ems of your spi r i t and t hat a whi p
i s t he sol ut i on f or al l t he pr obl ems of your body
you who have agr eed t o have no mi nd. Gr ant i ng man l ess di gni t y t han t hey
gr ant t o cat t l e, i gnor i ng what an ani mal t r ai ner coul d t el l t hemt hat no
ani mal can be t r ai ned by f ear , t hat a t or t ur ed el ephant wi l l t r ampl e i t s
t or t ur er , but wi l l not wor k f or hi mor car r y hi s bur dens t hey expect man t o
cont i nue t o pr oduce el ect r oni c t ubes, super soni c ai r pl anes, at om- smashi ng
engi nes and i nt er st el l ar t el escopes, wi t h hi s r at i on of meat f or r ewar d and a
l ash on hi s back f or i ncent i ve.
" Make no mi st ake about t he char act er of myst i cs. To under cut your
consci ousness has al ways been t hei r onl y pur pose t hr oughout t he ages and
power , t he power t o r ul e you by f or ce, has al ways been t hei r onl y l ust .
" Fr omt he r i t es of t he j ungl e wi t ch- doct or s, whi ch di st or t ed r eal i t y i nt o
gr ot esque absur di t i es, st unt ed t he mi nds of t hei r vi ct i ms and kept t hemi n
t er r or of t he super nat ur al f or st agnant st r et ches of cent ur i es
t o t he super nat ur al doct r i nes of t he Mi ddl e Ages, whi ch kept men huddl i ng
on t he mud f l oor s of t hei r hovel s, i n t er r or t hat t he devi l mi ght st eal t he
soup t hey had wor ked ei ght een hour s t o ear nt o t he seedy l i t t l e smi l i ng
pr of essor who assur es you t hat your br ai n has no capaci t y t o t hi nk, t hat you
have no means of per cept i on and must bl i ndl y obey t he omni pot ent wi l l of t hat
super nat ur al f or ce: Soci et yal l of i t i s t he same per f or mance f or t he same
and onl y pur pose: t o r educe you t o t he ki nd of pul p t hat has sur r ender ed t he
val i di t y of i t s consci ousness.
" But i t cannot be done t o you wi t hout your consent . I f you per mi t i t t o be
done, you deser ve i t .
" When you l i st en t o a myst i c' s har angue on t he i mpot ence of t he human mi nd
and begi n t o doubt your consci ousness, not hi s, when you per mi t your
pr ecar i ousl y semi - r at i onal st at e t o be shaken by any asser t i on and deci de i t
i s saf er t o t r ust hi s super i or cer t ai nt y and knowl edge, t he j oke i s on bot h
of you: your sanct i on i s t he onl y sour ce of cer t ai nt y he has. The
super nat ur al power t hat a myst i c dr eads, t he unknowabl e spi r i t he wor shi ps,
t he consci ousness he consi der s omni pot ent i syour s.
A myst i c i s a man who sur r ender ed hi s mi nd at i t s f i r st encount er wi t h t he
mi nds of ot her s. Somewher e i n. t he di st ant r eaches of hi s chi l dhood, when hi s
own under st andi ng of r eal i t y cl ashed wi t h t he asser t i ons of ot her s, wi t h
t hei r ar bi t r ar y or der s and cont r adi ct or y demands, he gave i n t o so cr aven a
f ear of dependence t hat he r enounced hi s r at i onal f acul t y. At t he cr ossr oads
of t he choi ce bet ween ' I know' and ' They say, '
he chose t he aut hor i t y of ot her s, he chose t o submi t r at her t han t o
under st and, t o bel i eve r at her t han t o t hi nk. Fai t h i n t he super nat ur al begi ns
as f ai t h i n t he super i or i t y of ot her s. Hi s sur r ender t ook t he f or mof t he
f eel i ng t hat he must hi de hi s l ack of under st andi ng, t hat ot her s possess some
myst er i ous knowl edge of whi ch he al one i s depr i ved, t hat r eal i t y i s what ever
t hey want i t t o be, t hr ough some means f or ever deni ed t o hi m.
" Fr omt hen on, af r ai d t o t hi nk, he i s l ef t at t he mer cy of uni dent i f i ed
f eel i ngs. Hi s f eel i ngs become hi s onl y gui de, hi s onl y r emnant of per sonal
i dent i t y, he cl i ngs t o t hemwi t h f er oci ous possessi veness
and what ever t hi nki ng he does i s devot ed t o t he st r uggl e of hi di ng f r om
hi msel f t hat t he nat ur e of hi s f eel i ngs i s t er r or .
" When a myst i c decl ar es t hat he f eel s t he exi st ence of a power super i or t o
r eason, he f eel s i t al l r i ght , but t hat power i s not an omni sci ent super -
spi r i t of t he uni ver se, i t i s t he consci ousness of any passer - by t o whomhe
has sur r ender ed hi s own. A myst i c i s dr i ven by t he ur ge t o i mpr ess, t o cheat ,
t o f l at t er , t o decei ve, t o f or ce t hat omni pot ent consci ousness of ot her s.
' They' ar e hi s onl y key t o r eal i t y, he f eel s t hat he cannot exi st save by
har nessi ng t hei r myst er i ous power and ext or t i ng t hei r unaccount abl e consent ,
' They' ar e hi s onl y means of per cept i on and, l i ke a bl i nd man who depends on
t he si ght of a dog, he f eel s he must l eash t hemi n or der t o l i ve. To cont r ol
t he consci ousness of ot her s becomes hi s onl y passi on; power - l ust i s a weed
t hat gr ows onl y i n t he vacant l ot s of an abandoned mi nd.
" Ever y di ct at or i s a myst i c, and ever y myst i c i s a pot ent i al di ct at or .
A myst i c cr aves obedi ence f r ommen, not t hei r agr eement . He want s t hemt o
sur r ender t hei r consci ousness t o hi s asser t i ons, hi s edi ct s, hi s wi shes, hi s
whi msas hi s consci ousness i s sur r ender ed t o t hei r s. He want s t o deal wi t h
men by means of f ai t h and f or cehe f i nds no sat i sf act i on i n t hei r consent i f
he must ear n i t by means of f act s and r eason. Reason i s t he enemy he dr eads
and, si mul t aneousl y, consi der s pr ecar i ous; r eason, t o hi m, i s a means of
decept i on; he f eel s t hat men possess some power mor e pot ent t han r easonand
onl y t hei r causel ess bel i ef or t hei r f or ced obedi ence can gi ve hi ma sense of
secur i t y, a pr oof t hat he has gai ned cont r ol of t he myst i c endowment he
l acked.
Hi s l ust i s t o command, not t o convi nce: convi ct i on r equi r es an act of
i ndependence and r est s on t he absol ut e of an obj ect i ve r eal i t y. What he seeks
i s power over r eal i t y and over men' s means of per cei vi ng i t , t hei r mi nd, t he
power t o i nt er pose hi s wi l l bet ween exi st ence and consci ousness, as i f , by
agr eei ng t o f ake t he r eal i t y he or der s t hemt o f ake, men woul d, i n f act ,
cr eat e i t .
" J ust as t he myst i c i s a par asi t e i n mat t er , who expr opr i at es t he weal t h
cr eat ed by ot her sj ust as he i s a par asi t e i n spi r i t , who
pl under s t he i deas cr eat ed by ot her sso he f al l s bel ow t he l evel of a
l unat i c who cr eat es hi s own di st or t i on of r eal i t y, t o t he l evel of a par asi t e
of l unacy who seeks a di st or t i on cr eat ed by ot her s.
" Ther e i s onl y one st at e t hat f ul f i l l s t he myst i c' s l ongi ng f or i nf i ni t y,
non- causal i t y, non- i dent i t y: deat h. No mat t er what uni nt el l i gi bl e causes he
ascr i bes t o hi s i ncommuni cabl e f eel i ngs, whoever r ej ect s r eal i t y r ej ect s
exi st enceand t he f eel i ngs t hat move hi mf r omt hen on ar e hat r ed f or al l t he
val ues of man' s l i f e, and l ust f or al l t he evi l s t hat dest r oy i t , A myst i c
r el i shes t he spect acl e of suf f er i ng, of pover t y, subser vi ence and t er r or ;
t hese gi ve hi ma f eel i ng of t r i umph, a pr oof of t he def eat of r at i onal
r eal i t y. But no ot her r eal i t y exi st s.
" No mat t er whose wel f ar e he pr of esses t o ser ve, be i t t he wel f ar e of God
or of t hat di sembodi ed gar goyl e he descr i bes as ' The Peopl e, '
no mat t er what i deal he pr ocl ai ms i n t er ms of some super nat ur al di mensi on
i n f act , i n r eal i t y, on ear t h, hi s i deal i s deat h, hi s cr avi ng i s t o ki l l ,
hi s onl y sat i sf act i on i s t o t or t ur e.
" Dest r uct i on i s t he onl y end t hat t he myst i cs' cr eed has ever achi eved, as
i t i s t he onl y end t hat you see t hemachi evi ng t oday, and i f t he r avages
wr ought by t hei r act s have not made t hemquest i on t hei r doct r i nes, i f t hey
pr of ess t o be moved by l ove, yet ar e not det er r ed by pi l es of human cor pses,
i t i s because t he t r ut h about t hei r soul s i s wor se t han t he obscene excuse
you have al l owed t hem, t he excuse t hat t he end j ust i f i es t he means and t hat
t he hor r or s t hey pr act i ce ar e means t o nobl er ends. The t r ut h i s t hat t hose
hor r or s ar e t hei r ends.
" You who' r e depr aved enough t o bel i eve t hat you coul d adj ust your sel f t o a
myst i c' s di ct at or shi p and coul d pl ease hi mby obeyi ng hi s or der st her e i s no
way t o pl ease hi m; when you obey, he wi l l r ever se hi s or der s; he seeks
obedi ence f or t he sake of obedi ence and dest r uct i on f or t he sake of
dest r uct i on. You who ar e cr aven enough t o bel i eve t hat you can make t er ms
wi t h a myst i c by gi vi ng i n t o hi s ext or t i ons
t her e i s no way t o buy hi mof f , t he br i be he want s i s your l i f e, as sl owl y
or as f ast as you ar e wi l l i ng t o gi ve i t i nand t he monst er he seeks t o br i be
i s t he hi dden bl ank- out i n hi s mi nd, whi ch dr i ves hi mt o ki l l i n or der not t o
l ear n t hat t he deat h he desi r es i s hi s own.
" You who ar e i nnocent enough t o bel i eve t hat t he f or ces l et l oose i n your
wor l d t oday ar e moved by gr eed f or mat er i al pl under t he myst i cs' scr ambl e f or
spoi l s i s onl y a scr een t o conceal f r omt hei r mi nd t he nat ur e of t hei r
mot i ve. Weal t h i s a means of human l i f e, and t hey cl amor f or weal t h i n
i mi t at i on of l i vi ng bei ngs, t o pr et end t o t hemsel ves t hat t hey desi r e t o
l i ve. But t hei r swi ni sh i ndul gence i n pl under ed l uxur y i s not enj oyment , i t
i s escape. They do not want t o own your f or t une, t hey want you t o l ose i t ;
t hey do not want t o succeed, t hey want you t o f ai l ; t hey do not want t o l i ve,
t hey want you t o di e; t hey desi r e not hi ng, t hey hat e exi st ence, and t hey keep
r unni ng, each t r yi ng not t o l ear n t hat t he obj ect of hi s hat r ed i s hi msel f .
" You who' ve never gr asped t he nat ur e of evi l , you who descr i be t hemas
' mi sgui ded i deal i st s' may t he God you i nvent ed f or gi ve you!
t hey ar e t he essence of evi l , t hey, t hose ant i - l i vi ng obj ect s who seek, by
devour i ng t he wor l d, t o f i l l t he sel f l ess zer o of t hei r soul . I t i s not your
weal t h t hat t hey' r e af t er . Thei r s i s a conspi r acy agai nst t he mi nd, whi ch
means: agai nst l i f e and man.
" I t i s a conspi r acy wi t hout l eader or di r ect i on, and t he r andoml i t t l e
t hugs of t he moment who cash i n on t he agony of one l and or anot her ar e
chance scumr i di ng t he t or r ent f r omt he br oken damof t he sewer of cent ur i es,
f r omt he r eser voi r of hat r ed f or r eason, f or l ogi c, f or abi l i t y, f or
achi evement , f or j oy, st or ed by ever y whi ni ng ant i - human who ever pr eached
t he super i or i t y of t he ' hear t ' over t he mi nd.
" I t i s a conspi r acy of al l t hose who seek, not t o l i ve, but t o get away
wi t h l i vi ng, t hose who seek t o cut j ust one smal l cor ner of r eal i t y and ar e
dr awn, by f eel i ng, t o al l t he ot her s who ar e busy cut t i ng ot her cor ner sa
conspi r acy t hat uni t es by l i nks of evasi on al l t hose who pur sue a zer o as a
val ue: t he pr of essor who, unabl e t o t hi nk, t akes pl easur e i n cr i ppl i ng t he
mi nd of hi s st udent s, t he busi nessman who, t o pr ot ect hi s st agnat i on, t akes
pl easur e i n chai ni ng t he abi l i t y of compet i t or s, t he neur ot i c who, t o def end
hi s sel f - l oat hi ng, t akes pl easur e i n br eaki ng men of sel f - est eem, t he
i ncompet ent who t akes pl easur e i n def eat i ng achi evement , t he medi ocr i t y who
t akes pl easur e i n demol i shi ng gr eat ness, t he eunuch who t akes pl easur e i n t he
cast r at i on of al l pl easur eand al l t hei r i nt el l ect ual muni t i on- maker s, al l
t hose who pr each t hat t he i mmol at i on of vi r t ue wi l l t r ansf or mvi ces i nt o
vi r t ue.
Deat h i s t he pr emi se at t he r oot of t hei r t heor i es, deat h i s t he goal of
t hei r act i ons i n pr act i ceand you ar e t he l ast of t hei r vi ct i ms.
" We, who wer e t he l i vi ng buf f er s bet ween you and t he nat ur e of your cr eed,
ar e no l onger t her e t o save you f r omt he ef f ect s of your chosen bel i ef s. We
ar e no l onger wi l l i ng t o pay wi t h our l i ves t he debt s you i ncur r ed i n your s
or t he mor al def i ci t pi l ed up by al l t he gener at i ons behi nd you. You had been
l i vi ng on bor r owed t i meand I amt he man who has cal l ed i n t he l oan.
" I amt he man whose exi st ence your bl ank- out s wer e i nt ended t o per mi t you
t o i gnor e. I amt he man whomyou di d not want ei t her t o l i ve or t o di e. You
di d not want me t o l i ve, because you wer e af r ai d of knowi ng t hat I car r i ed
t he r esponsi bi l i t y you dr opped and t hat your l i ves depended upon me; you di d
not want me t o di e, because you knew i t .
" Twel ve year s ago, when I wor ked i n your wor l d, I was an i nvent or .
I was one of a pr of essi on t hat came l ast i n human hi st or y and wi l l be
f i r st t o vani sh on t he way back t o t he sub- human. An i nvent or i s a man who
asks ' Why?' of t he uni ver se and l et s not hi ng st and bet ween t he answer and hi s
mi nd.
" Li ke t he man who di scover ed t he use of st eamor t he man who di scover ed
t he use of oi l , I di scover ed a sour ce of ener gy whi ch was avai l abl e si nce t he
bi r t h of t he gl obe, but whi ch men had not known how t o use except as an
obj ect of wor shi p, of t er r or and of l egends about a t hunder i ng god. I
compl et ed t he exper i ment al model of a mot or t hat woul d have made a f or t une
f or me and f or t hose who had hi r ed me, a mot or t hat woul d have r ai sed t he
ef f i ci ency of ever y human i nst al l at i on usi ng power and woul d have added t he
gi f t of hi gher pr oduct i vi t y t o ever y hour you spend at ear ni ng your l i vi ng.
" Then, one ni ght at a f act or y meet i ng, I hear d mysel f sent enced t o deat h
by r eason of my achi evement . I hear d t hr ee par asi t es asser t t hat my br ai n and
my l i f e wer e t hei r pr oper t y, t hat my r i ght t o exi st was condi t i onal and
depended on t he sat i sf act i on of t hei r desi r es. The pur pose of my abi l i t y,
t hey sai d, was t o ser ve t he needs of t hose who wer e l ess abl e. I had no r i ght
t o l i ve, t hey sai d, by r eason of my compet ence f or l i vi ng; t hei r r i ght t o
l i ve was uncondi t i onal , by r eason of t hei r i ncompet ence.
" Then I saw what was wr ong wi t h t he wor l d, I saw what dest r oyed men and
nat i ons, and wher e t he bat t l e f or l i f e had t o be f ought . I saw t hat t he enemy
was an i nver t ed mor al i t yand t hat my sanct i on was i t s onl y power . I saw t hat
evi l was i mpot ent t hat evi l was t he i r r at i onal , t he bl i nd, t he ant i - r eal and
t hat t he onl y weapon of i t s t r i umph was t he wi l l i ngness of t he good t o ser ve
i t . J ust as t he par asi t es ar ound me wer e pr ocl ai mi ng t hei r hel pl ess
dependence on my mi nd and wer e expect i ng me vol unt ar i l y t o accept a sl aver y
t hey had no power t o enf or ce, j ust as t hey wer e count i ng on my sel f -
i mmol at i on t o pr ovi de t hemwi t h t he means of t hei r pl anso t hr oughout t he
wor l d and t hr oughout men' s hi st or y, i n ever y ver si on and f or m, f r omt he
ext or t i ons of l oaf i ng r el at i ves t o t he at r oci t i es of col l ect i vi zed count r i es,
i t i s t he good, t he abl e, t he men of r eason, who act as t hei r own dest r oyer s,
who t r ansf use t o evi l t he bl ood of t hei r vi r t ue and l et evi l t r ansmi t t o t hem
t he poi son of dest r uct i on, t hus gai ni ng f or evi l t he power of sur vi val , and
f or t hei r own val uest he i mpot ence of deat h.
I saw t hat t her e comes a poi nt , i n t he def eat of any man of vi r t ue, when
hi s own consent i s needed f or evi l t o wi nand t hat no manner of i nj ur y done
t o hi mby ot her s can succeed i f he chooses t o wi t hhol d hi s consent . I saw
t hat I coul d put an end t o your out r ages by pr onounci ng a si ngl e wor d i n my
mi nd. I pr onounced i t . The wor d was ' No. '
" I qui t t hat f act or y. I qui t your wor l d. I made i t my j ob t o war n your
vi ct i ms and t o gi ve t hemt he met hod and t he weapon t o f i ght you. The met hod
was t o r ef use t o def l ect r et r i but i on. The weapon was j ust i ce.
" I f you want t o know what you l ost when I qui t and when my st r i ker s
deser t ed your wor l dst and on an empt y st r et ch of soi l i n a wi l der ness
unexpl or ed by men and ask your sel f what manner of sur vi val you woul d achi eve
and how l ong you woul d l ast i f you r ef used t o t hi nk, wi t h no one ar ound t o
t each you t he mot i ons, or , i f you chose t o t hi nk, how much your mi nd woul d be
abl e t o di scover ask your sel f how many i ndependent concl usi ons you have
r eached i n t he cour se of your l i f e and how much of your t i me was spent on
per f or mi ng t he act i ons you l ear ned f r omot her sask your sel f whet her you woul d
be abl e t o di scover how t o t i l l t he soi l and gr ow your f ood, whet her you
woul d be abl e t o i nvent a wheel , a l ever , an i nduct i on coi l , a gener at or , an
el ect r oni c t ubet hen deci de whet her men of abi l i t y ar e expl oi t er s who l i ve by
t he f r ui t of your l abor and r ob you of t he weal t h t hat you pr oduce, and
whet her you dar e t o bel i eve t hat you possess t he power t o ensl ave t hem. Let
your women t ake a l ook at a j ungl e f emal e wi t h her shr i vel ed f ace and
pendul ous br east s, as she si t s gr i ndi ng meal i n a bowl , hour af t er hour ,
cent ur y by cent ur yt hen l et t hemask t hemsel ves whet her t hei r ' i nst i nct of
t ool - maki ng' wi l l pr ovi de t hemwi t h t hei r el ect r i c r ef r i ger at or s, t hei r
washi ng machi nes and vacuumcl eaner s, and, i f not , whet her t hey car e t o
dest r oy t hose who pr ovi ded i t al l , but not ' by i nst i nct . '
" Take a l ook ar ound you, you savages who st ut t er t hat i deas ar e cr eat ed by
men' s means of pr oduct i on, t hat a machi ne i s not t he pr oduct of human
t hought , but a myst i cal power t hat pr oduces human t hi nki ng. You have never
di scover ed t he i ndust r i al ageand you cl i ng t o t he mor al i t y of t he bar bar i an
er as when a mi ser abl e f or mof human subsi st ence was pr oduced by t he muscul ar
l abor of sl aves. Ever y myst i c had al ways l onged f or sl aves, t o pr ot ect hi m
f r omt he mat er i al r eal i t y he dr eaded. But you, you gr ot esque l i t t l e at avi st s,
st ar e bl i ndl y at t he skyscr aper s and smokest acks ar ound you and dr eamof
ensl avi ng t he mat er i al pr ovi der s who ar e sci ent i st s, i nvent or s,
i ndust r i al i st s.
When you cl amor f or publ i c owner shi p of t he means of pr oduct i on, you ar e
cl amor i ng f or publ i c owner shi p of t he mi nd. I have t aught my st r i ker s t hat
t he answer you deser ve i s onl y: ' Tr y and get i t . '
" You pr ocl ai myour sel f unabl e t o har ness t he f or ces of i nani mat e mat t er ,
yet pr opose t o har ness t he mi nds of men who ar e abl e t o achi eve t he f eat s you
cannot equal . You pr ocl ai mt hat you cannot sur vi ve wi t hout us, yet pr opose t o
di ct at e t he t er ms of our sur vi val . You pr ocl ai mt hat you need us, yet i ndul ge
t he i mper t i nence of asser t i ng your r i ght t o r ul e us by f or ceand expect t hat
we, who ar e not af r ai d of t hat physi cal nat ur e whi ch f i l l s you wi t h t er r or ,
wi l l cower at t he si ght of any l out who has t al ked you i nt o vot i ng hi ma
chance t o command us.
" You pr opose t o est abl i sh a soci al or der based on t he f ol l owi ng t enet s:
t hat you' r e i ncompet ent t o r un your own l i f e, but compet ent t o r un t he l i ves
of ot her st hat you' r e unf i t t o exi st i n f r eedom, but f i t t o become an
omni pot ent r ul er t hat you' r e unabl e t o ear n your l i vi ng by t he use of your
own i nt el l i gence, but abl e t o j udge pol i t i ci ans and t o vot e t hemi nt o j obs of
t ot al power over ar t s you have never seen, over sci ences you have never
st udi ed, over achi evement s of whi ch you have no knowl edge, over t he gi gant i c
i ndust r i es wher e you, by your own def i ni t i on of your capaci t y, woul d be
unabl e successf ul l y t o f i l l t he j ob of assi st ant gr easer .
" Thi s i dol of your cul t of zer o- wor shi p, t hi s symbol of i mpot ence
t he congeni t al dependent i s your i mage of man and your st andar d of val ue,
i n whose l i keness you st r i ve t o r ef ashi on your soul . ' I t ' s onl y human, ' you
cr y i n def ense of any depr avi t y, r eachi ng t he st age of sel f - abasement wher e
you seek t o make t he concept ' human' mean t he weakl i ng, t he f ool , t he r ot t er ,
t he l i ar , t he f ai l ur e, t he cowar d, t he f r aud, and t o exi l e f r omt he human
r ace t he her o, t he t hi nker , t he pr oducer , t he i nvent or , t he st r ong, t he
pur posef ul , t he pur eas i f ' t o f eel ' wer e human, but t o t hi nk wer e not , as i f
t o f ai l wer e human, but t o succeed wer e not , as i f cor r upt i on wer e human, but
vi r t ue wer e not as i f t he pr emi se of deat h wer e pr oper t o man, but t he
pr emi se of l i f e wer e not .
" I n or der t o depr i ve us of honor , t hat you may t hen depr i ve us of our
weal t h, you have al ways r egar ded us as sl aves who deser ve no mor al
r ecogni t i on. You pr ai se any vent ur e t hat cl ai ms t o be nonpr of i t , and damn t he
men who made t he pr of i t s t hat make t he vent ur e possi bl e. You r egar d as ' i n
t he publ i c i nt er est ' any pr oj ect ser vi ng t hose who do not pay; i t i s not i n
t he publ i c i nt er est t o pr ovi de any ser vi ces f or t hose who do t he payi ng.
' Publ i c benef i t ' i s anyt hi ng gi ven as al ms; t o engage i n t r ade i s t o i nj ur e
t he publ i c. ' Publ i c wel f ar e'
i s t he wel f ar e of t hose who do not ear n i t ; t hose who do, ar e ent i t l ed t o
no wel f ar e. ' The publ i c, ' t o you, i s whoever has f ai l ed t o achi eve any vi r t ue
or val ue; whoever achi eves i t , whoever pr ovi des t he goods you r equi r e f or
sur vi val , ceases t o be r egar ded as par t of t he publ i c or as par t of t he human
r ace.
" What bl ank- out per mi t t ed you t o hope t hat you coul d get away wi t h t hi s
muck of cont r adi ct i ons and t o pl an i t as an i deal soci et y, when t he ' No' of
your vi ct i ms was suf f i ci ent t o demol i sh t he whol e of your st r uct ur e? What
per mi t s any i nsol ent beggar t o wave hi s sor es i n t he f ace of hi s bet t er s and
t o pl ead f or hel p i n t he t one of a t hr eat ? You cr y, as he does, t hat you ar e
count i ng on our pi t y, but your secr et hope i s t he mor al code t hat has t aught
you t o count on our gui l t . You expect us t o f eel gui l t y of our vi r t ues i n t he
pr esence of your vi ces, wounds and f ai l ur esgui l t y of succeedi ng at
exi st ence, gui l t y of enj oyi ng t he l i f e t hat you damn, yet beg us t o hel p you
t o l i ve, " Di d you want t o know who i s J ohn Gal t ? I amt he f i r st man of
abi l i t y who r ef used t o r egar d i t as gui l t . I amt he f i r st man who woul d not
do penance f or my vi r t ues or l et t hembe used as t he t ool s of my dest r uct i on.
I amt he f i r st man who woul d not suf f er mar t yr domat t he hands of t hose who
wi shed me t o per i sh f or t he pr i vi l ege of keepi ng t hem, al i ve. I amt he f i r st
man who t ol d t hemt hat I di d not need t hem, and unt i l t hey l ear ned t o deal
wi t h me as t r ader s, gi vi ng val ue f or val ue, t hey woul d have t o exi st wi t hout
me, as I woul d exi st wi t hout t hem; t hen I woul d l et t heml ear n whose i s t he
need and whose t he abi l i t yand i f human sur vi val i s t he st andar d, whose t er ms
woul d set t he way t o sur vi ve.
" I have done by pl an and i nt ent i on what had been done t hr oughout hi st or y
by si l ent def aul t . Ther e have al ways been men of i nt el l i gence who went on
st r i ke, i n pr ot est and despai r , but t hey di d not know t he meani ng of t hei r
act i on. The man who r et i r es f r ompubl i c l i f e, t o t hi nk, but not t o shar e hi s
t hought st he man who chooses t o spend hi s year s i n t he obscur i t y of meni al
empl oyment , keepi ng t o hi msel f t he f i r e of hi s mi nd, never gi vi ng i t f or m,
expr essi on or r eal i t y, r ef usi ng t o br i ng i t i nt o a wor l d he despi sest he man
who i s def eat ed by r evul si on, t he man who r enounces bef or e he has st ar t ed,
t he man who gi ves up r at her t han gi ve i n, t he man who f unct i ons at a f r act i on
of hi s capaci t y, di sar med by hi s l ongi ng f or an i deal he has not f oundt hey
ar e on st r i ke, on st r i ke agai nst unr eason, on st r i ke agai nst your wor l d and
your val ues. But not knowi ng any val ues of t hei r own, t hey abandon t he quest
t o knowi n t he dar kness of t hei r hopel ess i ndi gnat i on, whi ch i s r i ght eous
wi t hout knowl edge of t he r i ght , and passi onat e wi t hout knowl edge of desi r e,
t hey concede t o you t he power of r eal i t y and sur r ender t he i ncent i ves of
t hei r mi ndand t hey per i sh i n bi t t er f ut i l i t y, as r ebel s who never l ear ned
t he obj ect of t hei r r ebel l i on, as l over s who never di scover ed t hei r l ove.
" The i nf amous t i mes you cal l t he Dar k Ages wer e an er a of i nt el l i gence on
st r i ke, when men of abi l i t y went under gr ound and l i ved undi scover ed, st udyi ng
i n secr et , and di ed, dest r oyi ng t he wor ks of t hei r mi nd, when onl y a f ew of
t he br avest of mar t yr s r emai ned t o keep t he human r ace al i ve. Ever y per i od
r ul ed by myst i cs was an er a of st agnat i on and want , when most men wer e on
st r i ke agai nst exi st ence, wor ki ng f or l ess t han t hei r bar est sur vi val ,
l eavi ng not hi ng but scr aps f or t hei r r ul er s t o l oot , r ef usi ng t o t hi nk, t o
vent ur e, t o pr oduce, when t he ul t i mat e col l ect or of t hei r pr of i t s and t he
f i nal aut hor i t y on t r ut h or er r or was t he whi mof some gi l ded degener at e
sanct i oned as super i or t o r eason by di vi ne r i ght and by gr ace of a cl ub.
The r oad of human hi st or y was a st r i ng of bl ank- out s over st er i l e
st r et ches er oded by f ai t h and f or ce, wi t h onl y a f ew br i ef bur st s of
sunl i ght , when t he r el eased ener gy of t he men of t he mi nd per f or med t he
wonder s you gaped at , admi r ed and pr ompt l y ext i ngui shed agai n.
" But t her e wi l l be no ext i nct i on, t hi s t i me. The game of t he myst i cs i s
up. You wi l l per i sh i n and by your own unr eal i t y. We, t he men of r eason, wi l l
sur vi ve.
" I have cal l ed out on st r i ke t he ki nd of mar t yr s who had never deser t ed
you bef or e. I have gi ven t hemt he weapon t hey had l acked: t he knowl edge of
t hei r own mor al val ue. I have t aught t hemt hat t he wor l d i s our s, whenever we
choose t o cl ai mi t , by vi r t ue and gr ace of t he f act t hat our s i s t he Mor al i t y
of Li f e. They, t he gr eat vi ct i ms who had pr oduced al l t he wonder s of
humani t y' s br i ef summer , t hey, t he i ndust r i al i st s, t he conquer or s of mat t er ,
had not di scover ed t he nat ur e of t hei r r i ght . They had known t hat t hei r s was
t he power . I t aught t hemt hat t hei r s was t he gl or y.
" You, who dar e t o r egar d us as t he mor al i nf er i or s of any myst i c who
cl ai ms super nat ur al vi si onsyou, who scr ambl e l i ke vul t ur es f or pl under ed
penni es, yet honor a f or t une- t el l er above a f or t une maker you, who scor n a
busi nessman as i gnobl e, but est eemany post ur i ng ar t i st as exal t edt he r oot
of your st andar ds i s t hat myst i c mi asma whi ch comes f r ompr i mor di al swamps,
t hat cul t of deat h, whi ch pr onounces a busi nessman i mmor al by r eason of t he
f act t hat he keeps you al i ve. You, who cl ai mt hat you l ong t o r i se above t he
cr ude concer ns of t he body, above t he dr udger y of ser vi ng mer e physi cal
needswho i s ensl aved by physi cal needs: t he Hi ndu who l abor s f r omsunr i se t o
sunset at t he shaf t s of a hand- pl ow f or a bowl of r i ce, or t he Amer i can who
i s dr i vi ng a t r act or ? Who i s t he conquer or of physi cal r eal i t y: t he man who
sl eeps on a bed of nai l s or t he man who sl eeps on an i nner - spr i ng mat t r ess?
Whi ch i s t he monument t o t he t r i umph of t he human spi r i t over mat t er : t he
ger m- eat en hovel s on t he shor el i nes of t he Ganges or t he At l ant i c skyl i ne of
New Yor k?
" Unl ess you l ear n t he answer s t o t hese quest i onsand l ear n t o st and at
r ever ent at t ent i on when you f ace t he achi evement s of man' s mi nd
you wi l l not st ay much l onger on t hi s ear t h, whi ch we l ove and wi l l not
per mi t you t o damn. You wi l l not sneak by wi t h t he r est of your l i f espan. I
have f or eshor t ened t he usual cour se of hi st or y and have l et you di scover t he
nat ur e of t he payment you had hoped t o swi t ch t o t he shoul der s of ot her s. I t
i s t he l ast of your own l i vi ng power t hat wi l l now be dr ai ned t o pr ovi de t he
unear ned f or t he wor shi pper s and car r i er s of Deat h. Do not pr et end t hat a
mal evol ent r eal i t y def eat ed youyou wer e def eat ed by your own evasi ons. Do
not pr et end t hat you wi l l per i sh f or a nobl e i deal you wi l l per i sh as f odder
f or t he hat er s of man.
" But t o t hose of you who st i l l r et ai n a r emnant of t he di gni t y and wi l l t o
l ove one' s l i f e, I amof f er i ng t he chance t o make a choi ce.
Choose whet her you wi sh t o per i sh f or a mor al i t y you have never bel i eved
or pr act i ced. Pause on t he br i nk of sel f - dest r uct i on and exami ne your val ues
and your l i f e. You had known how t o t ake an i nvent or y of your weal t h. Now
t ake an i nvent or y of your mi nd.
" Si nce chi l dhood, you have been hi di ng t he gui l t y secr et t hat you f eel no
desi r e t o be mor al , no desi r e t o seek sel f - i mmol at i on, t hat you dr ead and
hat e your code, but dar e not say i t even t o your sel f , t hat you' r e devoi d of
t hose mor al ' i nst i nct s' whi ch ot her s pr of ess t o f eel .
The l ess you f el t , t he l ouder you pr ocl ai med your sel f l ess l ove and
ser vi t ude t o ot her s, i n dr ead of ever l et t i ng t hemdi scover your own sel f ,
t he sel f t hat you bet r ayed, t he sel f t hat you kept i n conceal ment , l i ke a
skel et on i n t he cl oset of your body. And t hey, who wer e at once your dupes
and your decei ver s, t hey l i st ened and voi ced t hei r l oud appr oval , i n dr ead of
ever l et t i ng you di scover t hat t hey wer e har bor i ng t he same unspoken secr et .
Exi st ence among you i s a gi ant pr et ense, an act you al l per f or mf or one
anot her , each f eel i ng t hat he i s t he onl y gui l t y f r eak, each pl aci ng hi s
mor al aut hor i t y i n t he unknowabl e known onl y t o ot her s, each f aki ng t he
r eal i t y he f eel s t hey expect hi mt o f ake, none havi ng t he cour age t o br eak
t he vi ci ous ci r cl e.
" No mat t er what di shonor abl e compr omi se you' ve made wi t h your
i mpr act i cabl e cr eed, no mat t er what mi ser abl e bal ance, hal f - cyni ci sm, hal f -
super st i t i on, you now manage t o mai nt ai n, you st i l l pr eser ve t he r oot , t he
l et hal t enet : t he bel i ef t hat t he mor al and t he pr act i cal ar e opposi t es.
Si nce chi l dhood, you have been r unni ng f r omt he t er r or of a choi ce you have
never dar ed f ul l y t o i dent i f y: I f t he pr act i cal , what ever you must pr act i ce
t o exi st , what ever wor ks, succeeds, achi eves your pur pose, what ever br i ngs
you f ood and j oy, what ever pr of i t s you, i s evi l and i f t he good, t he mor al ,
i s t he i mpr act i cal , what ever f ai l s, dest r oys, f r ust r at es, what ever i nj ur es
you and br i ngs you l oss or pai n
t hen your choi ce i s t o be mor al or t o l i ve.
" The sol e r esul t of t hat mur der ous doct r i ne was t o r emove mor al i t y f r om
l i f e. You gr ew up t o bel i eve t hat mor al l aws bear no r el at i on t o t he j ob of
l i vi ng, except as an i mpedi ment and t hr eat , t hat man' s exi st ence i s an amor al
j ungl e wher e anyt hi ng goes and anyt hi ng wor ks.
And i n t hat f og of swi t chi ng def i ni t i ons whi ch descends upon a f r ozen
mi nd, you have f or got t en t hat t he evi l s damned by your cr eed wer e t he vi r t ues
r equi r ed f or l i vi ng, and you have come t o bel i eve t hat act ual evi l s ar e t he
pr act i cal means of exi st ence. For get t i ng t hat t he i mpr act i cal ' good' was
sel f - sacr i f i ce, you bel i eve t hat sel f - est eemi s i mpr act i cal ; f or get t i ng t hat
t he pr act i cal ' evi l ' was pr oduct i on, you bel i eve t hat r obber y i s pr act i cal .
" Swi ngi ng l i ke a hel pl ess br anch i n t he wi nd of an unchar t ed mor al
wi l der ness; you dar e not f ul l y t o be evi l or f ul l y t o l i ve. When you ar e
honest , you f eel t he r esent ment of a sucker ; when you cheat , you f eel t er r or
and shame. When you ar e happy, your j oy i s di l ut ed by gui l t ; when you suf f er ,
your pai n i s augment ed by t he f eel i ng t hat pai n i s your nat ur al st at e. You
pi t y t he men you admi r e, you bel i eve t hey ar e doomed t o f ai l ; you envy t he
men you hat e, you bel i eve t hey ar e t he mast er s of exi st ence. You f eel
di sar med when you come up agai nst a scoundr el : you bel i eve t hat evi l i s bound
t o wi n, si nce t he mor al i s t he i mpot ent , t he i mpr act i cal .
" Mor al i t y, t o you, i s a phant omscar ecr ow made of dut y, of bor edom, of
puni shment , of pai n, a cr oss- br eed bet ween t he f i r st school t eacher of your
past and t he t ax col l ect or of your pr esent , a scar ecr ow st andi ng i n a bar r en
f i el d, wavi ng a st i ck t o chase away your pl easur es and pl easur e, t o you, i s
a l i quor - soggy br ai n, a mi ndl ess sl ut , t he st upor of a mor on who st akes hi s
cash on some ani mal ' s r ace, si nce pl easur e cannot be mor al .
" I f you i dent i f y your act ual bel i ef , you wi l l f i nd a t r i pl e damnat i on of
your sel f , of l i f e, of vi r t uei n t he gr ot esque concl usi on you have r eached:
you bel i eve t hat mor al i t y i s a necessar y evi l .
" Do you wonder why you l i ve wi t hout di gni t y, l ove wi t hout f i r e and di e
wi t hout r esi st ance? Do you wonder why, wher ever you l ook, you see not hi ng but
unanswer abl e quest i ons, why your l i f e i s t or n by i mpossi bl e conf l i ct s, why
you spend i t st r addl i ng i r r at i onal f ences t o evade ar t i f i ci al choi ces, such
as soul or body, mi nd or hear t , secur i t y or f r eedom, pr i vat e pr of i t or publ i c
good?
" Do you cr y t hat you f i nd no answer s? By what means di d you hope t o f i nd
t hem? You r ej ect your t ool of per cept i onyour mi ndt hen compl ai n t hat t he
uni ver se i s a myst er y. You di scar d your key, t hen wai l t hat al l door s ar e
l ocked agai nst you. You st ar t out i n pur sui t of t he i r r at i onal , t hen damn
exi st ence f or maki ng no sense.
" The f ence you have been st r addl i ng f or t wo hour swhi l e hear i ng my wor ds
and seeki ng t o escape t hemi s t he cowar d' s f or mul a cont ai ned i n t he sent ence:
' But we don' t have t o go t o ext r emes! ' The ext r eme you have al ways st r uggl ed
t o avoi d i s t he r ecogni t i on t hat r eal i t y i s f i nal , t hat A i s A and t hat t he
t r ut h i s t r ue. A mor al code i mpossi bl e t o pr act i ce, a code t hat demands
i mper f ect i on or deat h, has t aught you t o di ssol ve al l i deas i n f og, t o per mi t
no f i r mdef i ni t i ons, t o r egar d any concept as appr oxi mat e and any r ul e of
conduct as el ast i c, t o hedge on any pr i nci pl e, t o compr omi se on any val ue, t o
t ake t he mi ddl e of any r oad.
By ext or t i ng your accept ance of super nat ur al absol ut es, i t has f or ced you
t o r ej ect t he absol ut e of nat ur e. By maki ng mor al j udgment s i mpossi bl e, i t
has made you i ncapabl e of r at i onal j udgment . A code t hat f or bi ds you t o cast
t he f i r st st one, has f or bi dden you t o admi t t he i dent i t y of st ones and t o
know when or i f you' r e bei ng st oned.
" The man who r ef uses t o j udge, who nei t her agr ees nor di sagr ees, who
decl ar es t hat t her e ar e no absol ut es and bel i eves t hat he escapes
r esponsi bi l i t y, i s t he man r esponsi bl e f or al l t he bl ood t hat i s now spi l l ed
i n t he wor l d. Real i t y i s an absol ut e, exi st ence i s an absol ut e, a speck of
dust i s an absol ut e and so i s a human l i f e. Whet her you l i ve or di e i s an
absol ut e. Whet her you have a pi ece of br ead or not , i s an absol ut e.
Whet her you eat your br ead or see i t vani sh i nt o a l oot er ' s st omach, i s an
absol ut e.
" Ther e ar e t wo si des t o ever y i ssue: one si de i s r i ght and t he ot her i s
wr ong, but t he mi ddl e i s al ways evi l . The man who i s wr ong st i l l r et ai ns some
r espect f or t r ut h, i f onl y by accept i ng t he r esponsi bi l i t y of choi ce.
But t he man i n t he mi ddl e i s t he knave who bl anks out t he t r ut h i n or der
t o pr et end t hat no choi ce or val ues exi st , who i s wi l l i ng t o si t out t he
cour se of any bat t l e, wi l l i ng t o cash i n on t he bl ood of t he i nnocent or t o
cr awl on hi s bel l y t o t he gui l t y, who di spenses j ust i ce by condemni ng bot h
t he r obber and t he r obbed t o j ai l , who sol ves conf l i ct s by or der i ng t he
t hi nker and t he f ool t o meet each ot her hal f way. I n any compr omi se bet ween
f ood and poi son, i t i s onl y deat h t hat can wi n. I n any compr omi se bet ween
good and evi l , i t i s onl y evi l t hat can pr of i t . I n t hat t r ansf usi on of bl ood
whi ch dr ai ns t he good t o f eed t he evi l , t he compr omi ser i s t he t r ansmi t t i ng
r ubber t ube.
" You, who ar e hal f - r at i onal , hal f - cowar d, have been pl ayi ng a con game
wi t h r eal i t y, but t he vi ct i myou have conned i s your sel f . When men r educe
t hei r vi r t ues t o t he appr oxi mat e, t hen evi l acqui r es t he f or ce of an
absol ut e, when l oyal t y t o an unyi el di ng pur pose i s dr opped by t he vi r t uous,
i t ' s pi cked up by scoundr el sand you get t he i ndecent spect acl e of a
cr i ngi ng, bar gai ni ng, t r ai t or ous good and a sel f - r i ght eousl y uncompr omi si ng
evi l . As you sur r ender ed t o t he myst i cs of muscl e when t hey t ol d you t hat
i gnor ance consi st s of cl ai mi ng knowl edge, so now you sur r ender t o t hemwhen
t hey shr i ek t hat i mmor al i t y consi st s of pr onounci ng mor al j udgment . When t hey
yel l t hat i t i s sel f i sh t o be cer t ai n t hat you ar e r i ght , you hast en t o
assur e t hemt hat you' r e cer t ai n of not hi ng.
When t hey shout t hat i t ' s i mmor al t o st and on your convi ct i ons, you assur e
t hemt hat you have no convi ct i ons what ever . When t he t hugs of Eur ope' s
Peopl e' s St at es snar l t hat you ar e gui l t y of i nt ol er ance, because you don' t
t r eat your desi r e t o l i ve and t hei r desi r e t o ki l l you as a di f f er ence of
opi ni onyou cr i nge and hast en t o assur e t hemt hat you ar e not i nt ol er ant of
any hor r or . When some bar ef oot bumi n some pest hol e of Asi a yel l s at you: How
dar e you be r i chyou apol ogi ze and beg hi mt o be pat i ent and pr omi se hi m
you' l l gi ve i t al l away.
" You have r eached t he bl i nd al l ey of t he t r eason you commi t t ed when you
agr eed t hat you had no r i ght t o exi st . Once, you bel i eved i t was ' onl y a
compr omi se' : you conceded i t was evi l t o l i ve f or your sel f , but mor al t o l i ve
f or t he sake of your chi l dr en. Then you conceded t hat i t was sel f i sh t o l i ve
f or your chi l dr en, but mor al t o l i ve f or your communi t y. Then you conceded
t hat i t was sel f i sh t o l i ve f or your communi t y, but mor al t o l i ve f or your
count r y. Now, you ar e l et t i ng t hi s gr eat est of count r i es be devour ed by any
scumf r omany cor ner of t he ear t h, whi l e you concede t hat i t i s sel f i sh t o
l i ve f or your count r y and t hat your mor al dut y i s t o l i ve f or t he gl obe. A
man who has no r i ght t o l i f e, has no r i ght t o val ues and wi l l not keep t hem.
" At t he end of your r oad of successi ve bet r ayal s, st r i pped of weapons, of
cer t ai nt y, of honor , you commi t your f i nal act of t r eason and si gn your
pet i t i on of i nt el l ect ual bankr upt cy: whi l e t he muscl e- myst i cs of t he Peopl e' s
St at es pr ocl ai mt hat t hey' r e t he champi ons of r eason and sci ence, you agr ee
and hast en t o pr ocl ai mt hat f ai t h i s your car di nal pr i nci pl e, t hat r eason i s
on t he si de of your dest r oyer s, but your s i s t he si de of f ai t h. To t he
st r uggl i ng r emnant s of r at i onal honest y i n t he t wi st ed, bewi l der ed mi nds of
your chi l dr en, you decl ar e t hat you can of f er no r at i onal ar gument t o suppor t
t he i deas t hat cr eat ed t hi s count r y, t hat t her e i s no r at i onal j ust i f i cat i on
f or f r eedom, f or pr oper t y, f or j ust i ce, f or r i ght s, t hat t hey r est on a
myst i cal i nsi ght and can be accept ed onl y on f ai t h, t hat i n r eason and l ogi c
t he enemy i s r i ght , but f ai t h i s super i or t o r eason. You decl ar e t o your
chi l dr en t hat i t i s r at i onal t o l oot , t o t or t ur e, t o ensl ave, t o expr opr i at e,
t o mur der , but t hat t hey must r esi st t he t empt at i ons of l ogi c and st i ck t o
t he di sci pl i ne of r emai ni ng i r r at i onal
t hat skyscr aper s, f act or i es, r adi os, ai r pl anes wer e t he pr oduct s of f ai t h
and myst i c i nt ui t i on, whi l e f ami nes, concent r at i on camps and f i r i ng squads
ar e t he pr oduct s of a r easonabl e manner of exi st encet hat t he i ndust r i al
r evol ut i on was t he r evol t of t he men of f ai t h agai nst t hat er a of r eason and
l ogi c whi ch i s known as t he Mi ddl e Ages. Si mul t aneousl y, i n t he same br eat h,
t o t he same chi l d, you decl ar e t hat t he l oot er s who r ul e t he Peopl e' s St at es
wi l l sur pass t hi s count r y i n mat er i al pr oduct i on, si nce t hey ar e t he
r epr esent at i ves of sci ence, but t hat i t ' s evi l t o be concer ned wi t h physi cal
weal t h and t hat one must r enounce mat er i al pr osper i t y
you decl ar e t hat t he l oot er s' i deal s ar e nobl e, but t hey do not mean t hem,
whi l e you do; t hat your pur pose i n f i ght i ng t he l oot er s i s onl y t o accompl i sh
t hei r ai ms, whi ch t hey cannot accompl i sh, but you can; and t hat t he way t o
f i ght t hemi s t o beat t hemt o i t and gi ve one' s weal t h away.
Then you wonder why your chi l dr en j oi n t he Peopl e' s t hugs or become hal f -
cr azed del i nquent s, you wonder why t he l oot er s' conquest s keep cr eepi ng
cl oser t o your door sand you bl ame i t on human st upi di t y, decl ar i ng t hat t he
masses ar e i mper vi ous t o r eason.
" You bl ank out t he open, publ i c spect acl e of t he l oot er s' f i ght agai nst
t he mi nd, and t he f act t hat t hei r bl oodi est hor r or s ar e unl eashed t o puni sh
t he cr i me of t hi nki ng. You bl ank out t he f act t hat most myst i cs of muscl e
st ar t ed out as myst i cs of spi r i t , t hat t hey keep swi t chi ng f r omone t o t he
ot her , t hat t he men you cal l mat er i al i st s and spi r i t ual i st s ar e onl y t wo
hal ves of t he same di ssect ed human, f or ever seeki ng compl et i on, but seeki ng
i t by swi ngi ng f r omt he dest r uct i on of t he f l esh t o t he dest r uct i on of t he
soul and vi ce ver sat hat t hey keep r unni ng f r omyour col l eges t o t he sl ave
pens of Eur ope t o an open col l apse i nt o t he myst i c muck of I ndi a, seeki ng any
r ef uge agai nst r eal i t y, any f or mof escape f r omt he mi nd.
" You bl ank i t out and cl i ng t o your hypocr i sy of ' f ai t h' i n or der t o bl ank
out t he knowl edge t hat t he l oot er s have a st r angl ehol d upon you, whi ch
consi st s of your mor al codet hat t he l oot er s ar e t he f i nal and consi st ent
pr act i t i oner s of t he mor al i t y you' r e hal f - obeyi ng, hal f - evadi ng
t hat t hey pr act i ce i t t he onl y way i t can be pr act i ced: by t ur ni ng t he
ear t h i nt o a sacr i f i ci al f ur nacet hat your mor al i t y f or bi ds you t o oppose
t hemi n t he onl y way t hey can be opposed: by r ef usi ng t o become a sacr i f i ci al
ani mal and pr oudl y asser t i ng your r i ght t o exi st t hat i n or der t o f i ght t hem
t o t he f i ni sh and wi t h f ul l r ect i t ude, i t i s your mor al i t y t hat you have t o
r ej ect , " You bl ank i t out , because your sel f - est eemi s t i ed t o t hat myst i c
' unsel f i shness' whi ch you' ve never possessed or pr act i ced, but spent so many
year s pr et endi ng t o possess t hat t he t hought of denounci ng i t f i l l s you wi t h
t er r or . No val ue i s hi gher t han sel f - est eem, but you' ve i nvest ed i t i n
count er f ei t secur i t i esand now your mor al i t y has caught you i n a t r ap wher e
you ar e f or ced t o pr ot ect your sel f - est eemby f i ght i ng f or t he cr eed of sel f -
dest r uct i on. The gr i mj oke i s on you: t hat need of sel f - est eem, whi ch you' r e
unabl e t o expl ai n or t o def i ne, bel ongs t o my mor al i t y, not your s; i t ' s t he
obj ect i ve t oken of my code, i t i s my pr oof wi t hi n your own soul .
" By a f eel i ng he has not l ear ned t o i dent i f y, but has der i ved f r omhi s
f i r st awar eness of exi st ence, f r omhi s di scover y t hat he has t o make choi ces,
man knows t hat hi s desper at e need of sel f - est eemi s a mat t er of l i f e or
deat h. As a bei ng of vol i t i onal consci ousness, he knows t hat he must know hi s
own val ue i n or der t o mai nt ai n hi s own l i f e. He knows t hat he has t o be
r i ght ; t o be wr ong i n act i on means danger t o hi s l i f e; t o be wr ong i n per son,
t o be evi l , means t o be unf i t f or exi st ence.
" Ever y act of man' s l i f e has t o be wi l l ed; t he mer e act of obt ai ni ng or
eat i ng hi s f ood i mpl i es t hat t he per son he pr eser ves i s wor t hy of bei ng
pr eser ved; ever y pl easur e he seeks t o enj oy i mpl i es t hat t he per son who seeks
i t i s wor t hy of f i ndi ng enj oyment . He has no choi ce about hi s need of sel f -
est eem, hi s onl y choi ce i s t he st andar d by whi ch t o gauge i t . And he makes
hi s f at al er r or when he swi t ches t hi s gauge pr ot ect i ng hi s l i f e i nt o t he
ser vi ce of hi s own dest r uct i on, when he chooses a st andar d cont r adi ct i ng
exi st ence and set s hi s sel f - est eemagai nst r eal i t y.
" Ever y f or mof causel ess sel f - doubt , ever y f eel i ng of i nf er i or i t y and
secr et unwor t hi ness i s, i n f act , man' s hi dden dr ead of hi s i nabi l i t y t o deal
wi t h exi st ence. But t he gr eat er hi s t er r or , t he mor e f i er cel y he cl i ngs t o
t he mur der ous doct r i nes t hat choke hi m. No man can sur vi ve t he moment of
pr onounci ng hi msel f i r r edeemabl y evi l ; shoul d he do i t , hi s next moment i s
i nsani t y or sui ci de. To escape i t i f he' s chosen an i r r at i onal st andar dhe
wi l l f ake, evade, bl ank out ; he wi l l cheat hi msel f of r eal i t y, of exi st ence,
of happi ness, of mi nd; and he wi l l ul t i mat el y cheat hi msel f of sel f - est eemby
st r uggl i ng t o pr eser ve i t s i l l usi on r at her t han t o r i sk di scover i ng i t s l ack.
To f ear t o f ace an i ssue i s t o bel i eve t hat t he wor st i s t r ue.
" I t i s not any cr i me you have ever commi t t ed t hat i nf ect s your soul wi t h
per manent gui l t , i t i s none of your f ai l ur es, er r or s or f l aws, but t he bl ank-
out by whi ch you at t empt t o evade t hemi t i s not any sor t of Or i gi nal Si n or
unknown pr enat al def i ci ency, but t he knowl edge and f act of your basi c
def aul t , of suspendi ng your mi nd, of r ef usi ng t o t hi nk.
Fear and gui l t ar e your chr oni c emot i ons, t hey ar e r eal and you do deser ve
t hem, but t hey don' t come f r omt he super f i ci al r easons you i nvent t o di sgui se
t hei r cause, not f r omyour ' sel f i shness, ' weakness or i gnor ance, but f r oma
r eal and basi c t hr eat t o your exi st ence: f ear , because you have abandoned
your weapon of sur vi val , gui l t , because you know you have done i t
vol i t i onal l y.
" The sel f you have bet r ayed i s your mi nd; sel f - est eemi s r el i ance on one' s
power t o t hi nk. The ego you seek, t hat essent i al ' you' whi ch you cannot
expr ess or def i ne, i s not your emot i ons or i nar t i cul at e dr eams, but your
i nt el l ect , t hat j udge of your supr eme t r i bunal whomyou' ve i mpeached i n or der
t o dr i f t at t he mer cy of any st r ay shyst er you descr i be as your ' f eel i ng. '
Then you dr ag your sel f t hr ough a sel f - made ni ght , i n a desper at e quest f or a
namel ess f i r e, moved by some f adi ng vi si on of a dawn you had seen and l ost .
" Obser ve t he per si st ence, i n manki nd' s myt hol ogi es, of t he l egend about a
par adi se t hat men had once possessed, t he ci t y of At l ant i s or t he Gar den of
Eden or some ki ngdomof per f ect i on, al ways behi nd us.
The r oot of t hat l egend exi st s, not i n t he past of t he r ace, but i n t he
past of ever y man. You st i l l r et ai n a sensenot as f i r mas a memor y, but
di f f used l i ke t he pai n of hopel ess l ongi ngt hat somewher e i n t he st ar t i ng
year s of your chi l dhood, bef or e you had l ear ned t o submi t , t o absor b t he
t er r or of unr eason and t o doubt t he val ue of your mi nd, you had known a
r adi ant st at e of exi st ence, you had known t he i ndependence of a r at i onal
consci ousness f aci ng an open uni ver se. That i s t he par adi se whi ch you have
l ost , whi ch you seekwhi ch i s your s f or t he t aki ng.
" Some of you wi l l never know who i s J ohn Gal t . But t hose of you who have
known a si ngl e moment of l ove f or exi st ence and of pr i de i n bei ng i t s wor t hy
l over , a moment of l ooki ng at t hi s ear t h and l et t i ng your gl ance be i t s
sanct i on, have known t he st at e of bei ng a man, and I I amonl y t he man who
knew t hat t hat st at e i s not t o be bet r ayed. I amt he man who knew what made
i t possi bl e and who chose consi st ent l y t o pr act i ce and t o be what you had
pr act i ced and been i n t hat one moment .
" That choi ce i s your s t o make. That choi cet he dedi cat i on t o one' s hi ghest
pot ent i al i s made by accept i ng t he f act t hat t he nobl est act you have ever
per f or med i s t he act of your mi nd i n t he pr ocess of gr aspi ng t hat t wo and t wo
make f our .
" Whoever you ar eyou who ar e al one wi t h my wor ds i n t hi s moment , wi t h
not hi ng but your honest y t o hel p you under st andt he choi ce i s st i l l open t o
be a human bei ng, but t he pr i ce i s t o st ar t f r omscr at ch, t o st and naked i n
t he f ace of r eal i t y and, r ever si ng a cost l y hi st or i cal er r or , t o decl ar e: I
am, t her ef or e I ' l l t hi nk. 1
" Accept t he i r r evocabl e f act t hat your l i f e depends upon your mi nd.
Admi t t hat t he whol e of your st r uggl e, your doubt s, your f akes, your
evasi ons, was a desper at e quest f or escape f r omt he r esponsi bi l i t y of a
vol i t i onal consci ousnessa quest f or aut omat i c knowl edge, f or i nst i nct i ve
act i on, f or i nt ui t i ve cer t ai nt yand whi l e you cal l ed i t a l ongi ng f or t he
st at e of an angel , what you wer e seeki ng was t he st at e of an ani mal .
Accept , as your mor al i deal , t he t ask of becomi ng a man.
" Do not say t hat you' r e af r ai d t o t r ust your mi nd because you know so
l i t t l e. Ar e you saf er i n sur r ender i ng t o myst i cs and di scar di ng t he l i t t l e
t hat you know? Li ve and act wi t hi n t he l i mi t of your knowl edge and keep
expandi ng i t t o t he l i mi t of your l i f e. Redeemyour mi nd f r omt he hockshops
of aut hor i t y. Accept t he f act t hat you ar e not omni sci ent , but pl ayi ng a
zombi e wi l l not gi ve you omni sci encet hat your mi nd i s f al l i bl e, but becomi ng
mi ndl ess wi l l not make you i nf al l i bl et hat an er r or made on your own i s saf er
t han t en t r ut hs accept ed on f ai t h, because t he f i r st l eaves you t he means t o
cor r ect i t , but t he second dest r oys your capaci t y t o di st i ngui sh t r ut h f r om
er r or . I n pl ace of your dr eamof an omni sci ent aut omat on, accept t he f act
t hat any knowl edge man acqui r es i s acqui r ed by hi s own wi l l and ef f or t , and
t hat t hat i s hi s di st i nct i on i n t he uni ver se, t hat i s hi s nat ur e, hi s
mor al i t y, hi s gl or y.
" Di scar d t hat unl i mi t ed l i cense t o evi l whi ch consi st s of cl ai mi ng t hat
man i s i mper f ect . By what st andar d do you damn hi mwhen you cl ai mi t ? Accept
t he f act t hat i n t he r eal mof mor al i t y not hi ng l ess t han per f ect i on wi l l do.
But per f ect i on i s not t o be gauged by myst i c commandment s t o pr act i ce t he
i mpossi bl e, and your mor al st at ur e i s not t o be gauged by mat t er s not open t o
your choi ce. Man has a si ngl e basi c choi ce: t o t hi nk or not , and t hat i s t he
gauge of hi s vi r t ue. Mor al per f ect i on i s an unbr eached r at i onal i t ynot t he
degr ee of your i nt el l i gence, but t he f ul l and r el ent l ess use of your mi nd,
not t he ext ent of your knowl edge, but t he accept ance of r eason as an
absol ut e.
" Lear n t o di st i ngui sh t he di f f er ence bet ween er r or s of knowl edge and
br eaches of mor al i t y. An er r or of knowl edge i s not a mor al f l aw, pr ovi ded you
ar e wi l l i ng t o cor r ect i t ; onl y a myst i c woul d j udge human bei ngs by t he
st andar d of an i mpossi bl e, aut omat i c omni sci ence. But a br each of mor al i t y i s
t he consci ous choi ce of an act i on you know t o be evi l , or a wi l l f ul evasi on
of knowl edge, a suspensi on of si ght and of t hought . That whi ch you do not
know, i s not a mor al char ge agai nst you; but t hat whi ch you r ef use t o know,
i s an account of i nf amy gr owi ng i n your soul . Make ever y al l owance f or er r or s
of " knowl edge; do not f or gi ve or accept any br each of mor al i t y. Gi ve t he
benef i t of t he doubt t o t hose who seek t o know; but t r eat as pot ent i al
ki l l er s t hose speci mens of i nsol ent depr avi t y who make demands upon you,
announci ng t hat t hey have and seek no r easons, pr ocl ai mi ng, as a l i cense,
t hat t hey ' j ust f eel i f or t hose who r ej ect an i r r ef ut abl e ar gument by
sayi ng: ' I t ' s onl y l ogi c whi ch means: ' I t ' s onl y r eal i t y. ' The onl y r eal m
opposed t o r eal i t y i s t he r eal mand pr emi se of deat h.
" Accept t he f act t hat t he achi evement of your happi ness i s t he onl y mor al
pur pose of your l i f e, and t hat happi nessnot pai n or mi ndl ess sel f -
i ndul gencei s t he pr oof of your mor al i nt egr i t y, si nce i t i s t he pr oof and
t he r esul t of your l oyal t y t o t he achi evement of your val ues.
Happi ness was t he r esponsi bi l i t y you dr eaded, i t r equi r ed t he ki nd of
r at i onal di sci pl i ne you di d not val ue your sel f enough t o assumeand t he
anxi ous st al eness of your days i s t he monument t o your evasi on of t he
knowl edge t hat t her e i s no mor al subst i t ut e f or happi ness, t hat t her e i s no
mor e despi cabl e cowar d t han, t he man who deser t ed t he bat t l e f or hi s j oy,
f ear i ng t o asser t hi s r i ght t o exi st ence, l acki ng t he cour age and t he l oyal t y
t o l i f e of a bi r d or a f l ower r eachi ng f or t he sun. Di scar d t he pr ot ect i ve
r ags of t hat vi ce whi ch you cal l ed a vi r t ue: humi l i t yl ear n t o val ue
your sel f , whi ch means: t o f i ght f or your happi nessand when you l ear n t hat
pr i de i s t he sumof al l vi r t ues, you wi l l l ear n t o l i ve l i ke a man.
" As a basi c st ep of sel f - est eem, l ear n t o t r eat as t he mar k of a canni bal
any man' s demand f or your hel p. To demand i t i s t o cl ai mt hat your l i f e i s
hi s pr oper t yand l oat hsome as such cl ai mmi ght be, t her e' s somet hi ng st i l l
mor e l oat hsome: your agr eement . Do you ask i f i t ' s ever pr oper t o hel p
anot her man? Noi f he cl ai ms i t as hi s r i ght or as a mor al dut y t hat you owe
hi m. Yesi f such i s your own desi r e based on your own sel f i sh pl easur e i n t he
val ue of hi s per son and hi s st r uggl e. Suf f er i ng as such i s not a val ue; onl y
man' s f i ght agai nst suf f er i ng, i s. I f you choose t o hel p a man who suf f er s,
do i t onl y on t he gr ound of hi s vi r t ues, of hi s f i ght t o r ecover , of hi s
r at i onal r ecor d, or of t he f act t hat he suf f er s unj ust l y; t hen your act i on i s
st i l l a t r ade, and hi s vi r t ue i s t he payment f or your hel p. But t o hel p a man
who has no vi r t ues, t o hel p hi mon t he gr ound of hi s suf f er i ng as such, t o
accept hi s f aul t s, hi s need, as a cl ai mi s t o accept t he mor t gage of a zer o
on your val ues. A man who has no vi r t ues i s a hat er of exi st ence who act s on
t he pr emi se of deat h; t o hel p hi mi s t o sanct i on hi s evi l and t o suppor t hi s
car eer of dest r uct i on. Be i t onl y a penny you wi l l not mi ss or a ki ndl y smi l e
he has not ear ned, a t r i but e t o a zer o i s t r eason t o l i f e and t o al l t hose
who st r uggl e t o mai nt ai n i t . I t i s of such penni es and smi l es t hat t he
desol at i on of your wor l d was made.
" Do not say t hat my mor al i t y i s t oo har d f or you t o pr act i ce and t hat you
f ear i t as you f ear t he unknown. What ever l i vi ng moment s you have known, wer e
l i ved by t he val ues of my code. But you st i f l ed, negat ed, bet r ayed i t . You
kept sacr i f i ci ng your vi r t ues t o your vi ces, and t he best among men t o t he
wor st . Look ar ound you- : what you have done t o soci et y, you had done i t f i r st
wi t hi n your soul ; one i s t he i mage of t he ot her . Thi s di smal wr eckage, whi ch
i s now your wor l d, i s t he physi cal f or mof t he t r eason you commi t t ed t o your
val ues, t o your f r i ends, t o your def ender s, t o your f ut ur e, t o your count r y,
t o your sel f .
" Wewhomyou ar e now cal l i ng, but who wi l l not answer any l onger we had
l i ved among you, but you f ai l ed t o know us, you r ef used t o t hi nk and t o see
what we wer e. You f ai l ed t o r ecogni ze t he mot or I i nvent edand i t became, i n
your wor l d, a pi l e of dead scr ap. You f ai l ed t o r ecogni ze t he her o i n your
soul and you f ai l ed t o know me when I passed you i n t he st r eet . When you
cr i ed i n despai r f or t he unat t ai nabl e spi r i t whi ch you f el t had deser t ed your
wor l d, you gave i t my name, but what you wer e cal l i ng was your own bet r ayed
sel f - est eem. You wi l l not r ecover one wi t hout t he ot her .
" When you f ai l ed t o gi ve r ecogni t i on t o man' s mi nd and at t empt ed t o r ul e
human bei ngs by f or cet hose who submi t t ed had no mi nd t o sur r ender ; t hose who
had, wer e men who don' t submi t . Thus t he man of pr oduct i ve geni us assumed i n
your wor l d t he di sgui se of a pl ayboy and became a dest r oyer of weal t h,
choosi ng t o anni hi l at e hi s f or t une r at her t han sur r ender i t t o guns. Thus t he
t hi nker , t he man of r eason, assumed i n your wor l d t he r ol e of a pi r at e, t o
def end hi s val ues by f or ce agai nst your f or ce, r at her t han submi t t o t he r ul e
of br ut al i t y. Do you hear me, Fr anci sco d' Anconi a and Ragnar Danneskj ol d, my
f i r st f r i ends, my f el l ow f i ght er s, my f el l ow out cast s, i n whose name and
honor I speak?
" I t was t he t hr ee of us who st ar t ed what I amnow compl et i ng. I t was t he
t hr ee of us who r esol ved t o avenge t hi s count r y and t o r el ease i t s i mpr i soned
soul . Thi s gr eat est of count r i es was bui l t on my mor al i t yon t he i nvi ol at e
supr emacy of man' s r i ght t o exi st but you dr eaded t o admi t i t and l i ve up t o
i t . You st ar ed at an achi evement unequal ed i n hi st or y, you l oot ed i t s ef f ect s
and bl anked out i t s cause. I n t he pr esence of t hat monument t o human
mor al i t y, whi ch i s a f act or y, a hi ghway or a br i dgeyou kept damni ng t hi s
count r y as i mmor al and i t s pr ogr ess as ' mat er i al gr eed, ' you kept of f er i ng
apol ogi es f or t hi s count r y' s gr eat ness t o t he i dol of pr i mor di al st ar vat i on,
t o decayi ng Eur ope' s i dol of a l epr ous, myst i c bum.
" Thi s count r yt he pr oduct of r easoncoul d not sur vi ve on t he mor al i t y of
sacr i f i ce. I t was not bui l t by men who sought sel f - i mmol at i on or by men who
sought handout s. I t coul d not st and on t he myst i c spl i t t hat di vor ced man' s
soul f r omhi s body. I t coul d not l i ve by t he myst i c doct r i ne t hat damned t hi s
ear t h as evi l and t hose who succeeded on ear t h as depr aved. Fr omi t s st ar t ,
t hi s count r y was a t hr eat t o t he anci ent r ul e of myst i cs. I n t he br i l l i ant
r ocket - expl osi on of i t s yout h, t hi s count r y di spl ayed t o an i ncr edul ous wor l d
what gr eat ness was possi bl e t o man, what happi ness was possi bl e on ear t h. I t
was one or t he ot her : Amer i ca or myst i cs. The myst i cs knew i t ; you di dn' t .
You l et t hemi nf ect you wi t h t he wor shi p of needand t hi s count r y became a
gi ant i n body wi t h a moochi ng mi dget i n pl ace of i t s soul , whi l e i t s l i vi ng
soul was dr i ven under gr ound t o l abor and f eed you i n si l ence, unnamed,
unhonor ed, negat ed, i t s soul and her o: t he i ndust r i al i st . Do you hear me now,
Hank Rear den, t he gr eat est of t he vi ct i ms I have avenged?
" Nei t her he nor t he r est of us wi l l r et ur n unt i l t he r oad i s cl ear t o
r ebui l d t hi s count r yunt i l t he wr eckage of t he mor al i t y of sacr i f i ce has been
wi ped out of our way. A count r y' s pol i t i cal syst emi s based on i t s code of
mor al i t y. We wi l l r ebui l d Amer i ca' s syst emon t he mor al pr emi se whi ch had
been i t s f oundat i on, but whi ch you t r eat ed as a gui l t y under gr ound, i n your
f r ant i c evasi on of t he conf l i ct bet ween t hat pr emi se and your myst i c
mor al i t y: t he pr emi se t hat man i s an end i n hi msel f , not t he means t o t he
ends of ot her s, t hat man' s l i f e, hi s f r eedom, hi s happi ness ar e hi s by
i nal i enabl e r i ght .
" You who' ve l ost t he concept of a r i ght , you who swi ng i n i mpot ent
evasi veness bet ween t he cl ai mt hat r i ght s ar e a gi f t of God, a super nat ur al
gi f t t o be t aken on f ai t h, or t he cl ai mt hat r i ght s ar e a gi f t of soci et y, t o
be br oken at i t s ar bi t r ar y whi mt he sour ce of man' s r i ght s i s not di vi ne l aw
or congr essi onal l aw, but t he l aw of i dent i t y. A i s Aand Man i s Man. Ri ght s
ar e condi t i ons of exi st ence r equi r ed by man' s nat ur e f or hi s pr oper sur vi val .
I f man i s t o l i ve on ear t h, i t i s r i ght f or hi mt o use hi s mi nd, i t i s r i ght
t o act on hi s own f r ee j udgment , i t i s r i ght t o wor k f or hi s val ues and t o
keep t he pr oduct of hi s wor k. I f l i f e on ear t h i s hi s pur pose, he has a r i ght
t o l i ve as a r at i onal bei ng: nat ur e f or bi ds hi mt he i r r at i onal . Any gr oup,
any gang, any nat i on t hat at t empt s t o negat e man' s r i ght s, i s wr ong, whi ch
means: i s evi l , whi ch means: i s ant i - l i f e.
" Ri ght s ar e a mor al concept and mor al i t y i s a mat t er of choi ce.
Men ar e f r ee not t o choose man' s sur vi val as t he st andar d of t hei r mor al s
and t hei r l aws, but not f r ee t o escape f r omt he f act t hat t he al t er nat i ve i s
a canni bal soci et y, whi ch exi st s f or a whi l e by devour i ng i t s best and
col l apses l i ke a cancer ous body, when t he heal t hy have been eat en by t he
di seased, when t he r at i onal have been consumed by t he i r r at i onal . Such has
been t he f at e of your soci et i es i n hi st or y, but you' ve evaded t he knowl edge
of t he cause. I amher e t o st at e i t : t he agent of r et r i but i on was t he l aw of
i dent i t y, whi ch you cannot escape. J ust as man cannot l i ve by means of t he
i r r at i onal , so t wo men cannot , or t wo t housand, or t wo bi l l i on. J ust as man
can' t succeed by def yi ng r eal i t y, so a nat i on can' t , or a count r y, or a
gl obe. A i s A. The r est i s a mat t er of t i me, pr ovi ded by t he gener osi t y of
vi ct i ms.
" J ust as man can' t exi st wi t hout hi s body, so no r i ght s can exi st wi t hout
t he r i ght t o t r ansl at e one' s r i ght s i nt o r eal i t yt o t hi nk, t o wor k and t o
keep t he r esul t swhi ch means: t he r i ght of pr oper t y. The moder n myst i cs of
muscl e who of f er you t he f r audul ent al t er nat i ve of ' human r i ght s' ver sus
' pr oper t y r i ght s, ' as i f one coul d exi st wi t hout t he ot her , ar e maki ng a
l ast , gr ot esque at t empt t o r evi ve t he doct r i ne of soul ver sus body. Onl y a
ghost can exi st wi t hout mat er i al pr oper t y; onl y a sl ave can wor k wi t h no
r i ght t o t he pr oduct of hi s ef f or t . The doct r i ne t hat ' human r i ght s' ar e
super i or t o ' pr oper t y r i ght s' si mpl y means t hat some human bei ngs have t he
r i ght t o make pr oper t y out of ot her s; si nce t he compet ent have not hi ng t o
gai n f r omt he i ncompet ent , i t means t he r i ght of t he i ncompet ent t o own t hei r
bet t er s and t o use t hemas pr oduct i ve cat t l e. Whoever r egar ds t hi s as human
and r i ght , has no r i ght t o t he t i t l e of ' human. '
" The sour ce of pr oper t y r i ght s i s t he l aw of causal i t y. Al l pr oper t y and
al l f or ms of weal t h ar e pr oduced by man' s mi nd and l abor . As you cannot have
ef f ect s wi t hout causes, so you cannot have weal t h wi t hout i t s sour ce: wi t hout
i nt el l i gence. You cannot f or ce i nt el l i gence t o wor k: t hose who' r e abl e t o
t hi nk, wi l l not wor k under compul si on; t hose who wi l l , won' t pr oduce much
mor e t han t he pr i ce of t he whi p needed t o keep t hemensl aved. You cannot
obt ai n t he pr oduct s of a mi nd except on t he owner ' s t er ms, by t r ade and by
vol i t i onal consent . Any ot her pol i cy of men t owar d man' s pr oper t y i s t he
pol i cy of cr i mi nal s, no mat t er what t hei r number s. Cr i mi nal s ar e savages who
pl ay i t shor t r ange and st ar ve when t hei r pr ey r uns out j ust as you' r e
st ar vi ng t oday, you who bel i eved t hat cr i me coul d be ' pr act i cal ' i f your
gover nment decr eed t hat r obber y was l egal and r esi st ance t o r obber y i l l egal .
" The onl y pr oper pur pose of a gover nment i s t o pr ot ect man' s r i ght s, whi ch
means: t o pr ot ect hi mf r omphysi cal vi ol ence. A pr oper gover nment i s onl y a
pol i ceman, act i ng as an agent of man' s sel f - def ense, and, as such, may r esor t
t o f or ce onl y agai nst t hose who st ar t t he use of f or ce. The onl y pr oper
f unct i ons of a gover nment ar e: t he pol i ce, t o pr ot ect you f r omcr i mi nal s; t he
ar my, t o pr ot ect you f r omf or ei gn i nvader s; and t he cour t s, t o pr ot ect your
pr oper t y and cont r act s f r ombr each or f r aud by ot her s, t o set t l e di sput es by
r at i onal r ul es, accor di ng t o obj ect i ve l aw. But a gover nment t hat i ni t i at es
t he empl oyment of f or ce agai nst men who had f or ced no one, t he empl oyment of
ar med compul si on agai nst di sar med vi ct i ms, i s a ni ght mar e i nf er nal machi ne
desi gned t o anni hi l at e mor al i t y: such a gover nment r ever ses i t s onl y mor al
pur pose and swi t ches f r omt he r ol e of pr ot ect or t o t he r ol e of man' s
deadl i est enemy, f r omt he r ol e of pol i ceman t o t he r ol e of a cr i mi nal vest ed
wi t h t he r i ght t o t he wi el di ng of vi ol ence agai nst vi ct i ms depr i ved of t he
r i ght of sel f - def ense. Such a gover nment subst i t ut es f or mor al i t y t he
f ol l owi ng r ul e of soci al conduct : you may do what ever you pl ease t o your
nei ghbor , pr ovi ded your gang i s bi gger t han hi s.
" Onl y a br ut e, a f ool or an evader can agr ee t o exi st on such t er ms or
agr ee t o gi ve hi s f el l ow men a bl ank check on hi s l i f e and hi s mi nd, t o
accept t he bel i ef t hat ot her s have t he r i ght t o di spose of hi s per son at
t hei r whi m, t hat t he wi l l of t he maj or i t y i s omni pot ent , t hat t he physi cal
f or ce of muscl es and number s i s a subst i t ut e f or j ust i ce, r eal i t y and t r ut h.
We, t he men of t he mi nd, we who ar e t r ader s not mast er s or sl aves, do not
deal i n bl ank checks or gr ant t hem. We do not l i ve or wor k wi t h any f or mof
t he non- obj ect i ve.
" So l ong as men, i n t he er a of savager y, had no concept of obj ect i ve
r eal i t y and bel i eved t hat physi cal nat ur e was r ul ed by t he whi mof unknowabl e
demonsno t hought , no sci ence, no pr oduct i on wer e possi bl e. Onl y when men
di scover ed t hat nat ur e was a f i r m, pr edi ct abl e absol ut e wer e t hey abl e t o
r el y on t hei r knowl edge, t o choose t hei r cour se, t o pl an t hei r f ut ur e and,
sl owl y, t o r i se f r omt he cave. Now you have pl aced moder n i ndust r y, wi t h i t s
i mmense compl exi t y of sci ent i f i c pr eci si on, back i nt o t he power of unknowabl e
demonst he unpr edi ct abl e power of t he ar bi t r ar y whi ms of hi dden, ugl y l i t t l e
bur eaucr at s. A f ar mer wi l l not i nvest t he ef f or t of one summer i f he' s unabl e
t o cal cul at e hi s chances of a har vest . But you expect i ndust r i al gi ant swho
pl an i n t er ms of decades, i nvest i n t er ms of gener at i ons and under t ake
ni net y- ni ne- year cont r act st o cont i nue t o f unct i on and pr oduce, not knowi ng
what r andomcapr i ce i n t he skul l of what r andomof f i ci al wi l l descend upon
t hemat what moment t o demol i sh t he whol e of t hei r ef f or t . Dr i f t er s and
physi cal l abor er s l i ve and pl an by t he r ange of a day. The bet t er t he mi nd,
t he l onger t he r ange. A man whose vi si on ext ends t o a shant y, mi ght cont i nue
t o bui l d on your qui cksands, t o gr ab a f ast pr of i t and r un. A man who
envi si ons skyscr aper s, wi l l not . Nor wi l l he gi ve t en year s of unswer vi ng
devot i on t o t he t ask of i nvent i ng a new pr oduct , when he knows t hat gangs of
ent r enched medi ocr i t y ar e j uggl i ng t he l aws agai nst hi m, t o t i e hi m, ,
r est r i ct hi mand f or ce hi mt o f ai l , but shoul d he f i ght t hemand st r uggl e and
succeed, t hey wi l l sei ze hi s r ewar ds and hi s i nvent i on.
" Look past t he r ange of t he moment , you who cr y t hat you f ear t o compet e
wi t h men of super i or i nt el l i gence, t hat t hei r mi nd i s a t hr eat t o your
l i vel i hood, t hat t he st r ong l eave no chance t o t he weak i n a mar ket of
vol unt ar y t r ade. What det er mi nes t he mat er i al val ue of your wor k? Not hi ng but
t he pr oduct i ve ef f or t of your mi ndi f you l i ved on a deser t i sl and. The l ess
ef f i ci ent t he t hi nki ng of your br ai n, t he l ess your physi cal l abor woul d
br i ng youand you coul d spend your l i f e on a si ngl e r out i ne, col l ect i ng a
pr ecar i ous har vest or hunt i ng wi t h bow and ar r ows, unabl e t o t hi nk any
f ur t her . But when you l i ve i n a r at i onal soci et y, wher e men ar e f r ee t o
t r ade, you r ecei ve an i ncal cul abl e bonus: t he mat er i al val ue of your wor k i s
det er mi ned not onl y by your ef f or t , but by t he ef f or t of t he best pr oduct i ve
mi nds who exi st i n t he wor l d ar ound you.
" When you wor k i n a moder n f act or y, you ar e pai d, not onl y f or your l abor ,
but f or al l t he pr oduct i ve geni us whi ch has made t hat f act or y possi bl e: f or
t he wor k of t he i ndust r i al i st who bui l t i t , f or t he wor k of t he i nvest or who
saved t he money t o r i sk on t he unt r i ed and t he new, f or t he wor k of t he
engi neer who desi gned t he machi nes of whi ch you ar e pushi ng t he l ever s, f or
t he wor k of t he i nvent or who cr eat ed t he pr oduct whi ch you spend your t i me on
maki ng, f or t he wor k of t he sci ent i st who di scover ed t he l aws t hat went i nt o
t he maki ng of t hat pr oduct , f or t he wor k of t he phi l osopher who t aught men
how t o t hi nk and whomyou spend your t i me denounci ng.
" The machi ne, t he f r ozen f or mof a l i vi ng i nt el l i gence, i s t he power t hat
expands t he pot ent i al of your l i f e by r ai si ng t he pr oduct i vi t y of your t i me.
I f you wor ked as a bl acksmi t h i n t he myst i cs' Mi ddl e Ages, t he whol e of your
ear ni ng capaci t y woul d consi st of an i r on bar pr oduced by your hands i n days
and days of ef f or t . How many t ons of r ai l do you pr oduce per day i f you wor k
f or Hank Rear den? Woul d you dar e t o cl ai mt hat t he si ze of your pay check was
cr eat ed sol el y by your physi cal l abor and t hat t hose r ai l s wer e t he pr oduct
of your muscl es? The st andar d of l i vi ng of t hat bl acksmi t h i s al l t hat your
muscl es ar e wor t h; t he r est i s a gi f t f r omHank Rear den.
" Ever y man i s f r ee t o r i se as f ar as he' s abl e or wi l l i ng, but i t ' s onl y
t he degr ee t o whi ch he t hi nks t hat det er mi nes t he degr ee t o whi ch he' l l r i se.
Physi cal l abor as such can ext end no f ur t her t han t he r ange of t he moment .
The man who does no mor e t han physi cal l abor , consumes t he mat er i al val ue-
equi val ent of hi s own cont r i but i on t o t he pr ocess of pr oduct i on, and l eaves
no f ur t her val ue, nei t her f or hi msel f nor ot her s. But t he man who pr oduces an
i dea i n any f i el d of r at i onal endeavor t he man who di scover s new knowl edgei s
t he per manent benef act or of humani t y. Mat er i al pr oduct s can' t be shar ed, t hey
bel ong t o some ul t i mat e consumer ; i t i s onl y t he val ue of an i dea t hat can be
shar ed wi t h unl i mi t ed number s of men, maki ng al l shar er s r i cher at no one' s
sacr i f i ce or l oss, r ai si ng t he pr oduct i ve capaci t y of what ever l abor t hey
per f or m. I t i s t he val ue of hi s own t i me t hat t he st r ong of t he i nt el l ect
t r ansf er s t o t he weak, l et t i ng t hemwor k on t he j obs he di scover ed, whi l e
devot i ng hi s t i me t o f ur t her di scover i es. Thi s i s mut ual t r ade t o mut ual
advant age; t he i nt er est s of t he mi nd ar e one, no mat t er what t he degr ee of
i nt el l i gence, among men who desi r e t o wor k and don' t seek or expect t he
unear ned.
" I n pr opor t i on t o t he ment al ener gy he spent , t he man who cr eat es a new
i nvent i on r ecei ves but a smal l per cent age of hi s val ue i n t er ms of mat er i al
payment , no mat t er what f or t une he makes, no mat t er what mi l l i ons he ear ns.
But t he man who wor ks as a j ani t or i n t he f act or y pr oduci ng t hat i nvent i on,
r ecei ves an enor mous payment i n pr opor t i on t o t he ment al ef f or t t hat hi s j ob
r equi r es of hi m. And t he same i s t r ue of al l men bet ween, on al l l evel s of
ambi t i on and abi l i t y.
The man at t he t op of t he i nt el l ect ual pyr ami d cont r i but es t he most t o al l
t hose bel ow hi m, but get s not hi ng except hi s mat er i al payment , r ecei vi ng no
i nt el l ect ual bonus f r omot her s t o add t o t he val ue of hi s t i me. The man at
t he bot t omwho, l ef t t o hi msel f , woul d st ar ve i n hi s hopel ess i nept i t ude,
cont r i but es not hi ng t o t hose above hi m, but r ecei ves t he bonus of al l of
t hei r br ai ns. Such i s t he nat ur e of t he ' compet i t i on' bet ween t he st r ong and
t he weak of t he i nt el l ect . Such i s t he pat t er n of ' expl oi t at i on' f or whi ch
you have damned t he st r ong.
" Such was t he ser vi ce we had gi ven you and wer e gl ad and wi l l i ng t o gi ve.
What di d we ask i n r et ur n? Not hi ng but f r eedom. We r equi r ed t hat you l eave us
f r ee t o f unct i onf r ee t o t hi nk and t o wor k as we choosef r ee t o t ake our own
r i sks and t o bear our own l osses
f r ee t o ear n our own pr of i t s and t o make our own f or t unesf r ee t o gambl e
on your r at i onal i t y, t o submi t our pr oduct s t o your j udgment f or t he pur pose
of a vol unt ar y t r ade, t o r el y on t he obj ect i ve val ue of our wor k and on your
mi nd' s abi l i t y t o see i t f r ee t o count on your i nt el l i gence and honest y, and
t o deal wi t h not hi ng but your mi nd.
Such was t he pr i ce we asked, whi ch you chose t o r ej ect as t oo hi gh.
You deci ded t o cal l i t unf ai r t hat we, who had dr agged you out of your
hovel s and pr ovi ded you wi t h moder n apar t ment s, wi t h r adi os, movi es and car s,
shoul d own our pal aces and yacht syou deci ded t hat you had a r i ght t o your
wages, but we had no r i ght t o our pr of i t s, t hat you di d not want us t o deal
wi t h your mi nd, but t o deal , i nst ead, wi t h your gun. Our answer t o t hat , was:
' May you be damned! 1 Our answer came t r ue. You ar e.
" You di d not car e t o compet e i n t er ms of i nt el l i genceyou ar e now
compet i ng i n t er ms of br ut al i t y. You di d not car e t o al l ow r ewar ds t o be won
by successf ul pr oduct i onyou ar e now r unni ng a r ace i n whi ch r ewar ds ar e won
by successf ul pl under . You cal l ed i t sel f i sh and cr uel t hat men shoul d t r ade
val ue f or val ueyou have now est abl i shed an unsel f i sh soci et y wher e t hey
t r ade ext or t i on f or ext or t i on. Your syst emi s a l egal ci vi l war , wher e men
gang up on one anot her and st r uggl e f or possessi on of t he l aw, whi ch t hey use
as a cl ub over r i val s, t i l l anot her gang wr est s i t f r omt hei r cl ut ch and
cl ubs t hemwi t h i t i n t hei r t ur n, al l of t hemcl amor i ng pr ot est at i ons of
ser vi ce t o an unnamed publ i c' s unspeci f i ed good. You had sai d t hat you saw no
di f f er ence bet ween economi c and pol i t i cal power , bet ween t he power of money
and t he power of gunsno di f f er ence bet ween r ewar d and puni shment , no
di f f er ence bet ween pur chase and pl under , no di f f er ence bet ween pl easur e and
f ear , no di f f er ence bet ween l i f e and deat h. You ar e l ear ni ng t he di f f er ence
now, " Some of you mi ght pl ead t he excuse of your i gnor ance, of a l i mi t ed mi nd
and a l i mi t ed r ange. But t he damned and t he gui l t i est among you ar e t he men
who had t he capaci t y t o know, yet chose t o bl ank out r eal i t y, t he men who
wer e wi l l i ng t o sel l t hei r i nt el l i gence i nt o cyni cal ser vi t ude t o f or ce: t he
cont empt i bl e br eed of t hose myst i cs of sci ence who pr of ess a devot i on t o some
sor t of ' pur e knowl edge
t he pur i t y consi st i ng of t hei r cl ai mt hat such knowl edge has no pr act i cal
pur pose on t hi s ear t hwho r eser ve t hei r l ogi c f or i nani mat e mat t er , but
bel i eve t hat t he subj ect of deal i ng wi t h men r equi r es and deser ves no
r at i onal i t y, who scor n money and sel l t hei r soul s i n exchange f or a
l abor at or y suppl i ed by l oot . And si nce t her e i s no such t hi ng as ' non-
pr act i cal knowl edge' or any sor t of ' di si nt er est ed' act i on, si nce t hey scor n
t he use of t hei r sci ence f or t he pur pose and pr of i t of l i f e, t hey del i ver
t hei r sci ence t o t he ser vi ce of deat h, t o t he onl y pr act i cal pur pose i t can
ever have f or l oot er s: t o i nvent i ng weapons of coer ci on and dest r uct i on.
They, t he i nt el l ect s who seek escape f r ommor al val ues, t hey ar e t he damned
on t hi s ear t h, t hei r s i s t he gui l t beyond f or gi veness. Do you hear me, Dr .
Rober t St adl er ?
" But i t i s not t o hi mt hat I wi sh t o speak. I amspeaki ng t o t hose among
you who have r et ai ned some sover ei gn shr ed of t hei r soul , unsol d and
unst amped: ' t o t he or der of ot her s. ' I f , i n t he chaos of t he mot i ves t hat
have made you l i st en t o t he r adi o t oni ght , t her e was an honest , r at i onal
desi r e t o l ear n what i s wr ong wi t h t he wor l d, you ar e t he man whomI wi shed
t o addr ess. By t he r ul es and t er ms of my code, one owes a r at i onal st at ement
t o t hose whomi t does concer n and who' r e maki ng an ef f or t t o know. Those
who' r e maki ng an ef f or t t o f ai l t o under st and me, ar e not a concer n of mi ne.
" I amspeaki ng t o t hose who desi r e t o l i ve and t o r ecapt ur e t he honor of
t hei r soul . Now t hat you know t he t r ut h about your wor l d, st op suppor t i ng
your own dest r oyer s. The evi l of t he wor l d i s made possi bl e by not hi ng but
t he sanct i on you gi ve i t . Wi t hdr aw your sanct i on. Wi t hdr aw your suppor t . Do
not t r y t o l i ve on your enemi es'
t er ms or t o wi n at a game wher e t hey' r e set t i ng t he r ul es. Do not seek t he
f avor of t hose who ensl aved you, do not beg f or al ms f r omt hose who have
r obbed you, be i t subsi di es, l oans or j obs, do not j oi n t hei r t eamt o r ecoup
what t hey' ve t aken by hel pi ng t hemr ob your nei ghbor s.
One cannot hope t o mai nt ai n one' s l i f e by accept i ng br i bes t o condone
one' s dest r uct i on. Do not st r uggl e f or pr of i t , success or secur i t y at t he
pr i ce of a l i en on your r i ght t o exi st . Such a l i en i s not t o be pai d of f ;
t he mor e you pay t hem, t he mor e t hey wi l l demand; t he gr eat er t he val ues you
seek or achi eve, t he mor e vul ner abl y hel pl ess you become. Thei r s i s a syst em
of whi t e bl ackmai l devi sed t o bl eed you, not by means of your si ns, but by
means of your l ove f or exi st ence.
" Do not at t empt t o r i se on t he l oot er s' t er ms or t o cl i mb a l adder whi l e
t hey' r e hol di ng t he r opes. Do not al l ow t hei r hands t o t ouch t he onl y power
t hat keeps t hemi n power : your l i vi ng ambi t i on. Go on st r i kei n t he manner I
di d. Use your mi nd and ski l l i n pr i vat e, ext end your knowl edge, devel op your
abi l i t y, but do not shar e your achi evement s wi t h ot her s. Do not t r y t o
pr oduce a f or t une, wi t h a l oot er r i di ng on your back. St ay on t he l owest r ung
of t hei r l adder , ear n no mor e t han your bar est sur vi val , do not make an ext r a
penny t o suppor t t he l oot er s' st at e. Si nce you' r e capt i ve, act as a capt i ve,
do not hel p t hempr et end t hat you' r e f r ee. Be t he si l ent , i ncor r upt i bl e enemy
t hey dr ead. When t hey f or ce you, obeybut do not vol unt eer . Never vol unt eer a
st ep i n t hei r di r ect i on, or a wi sh, or a pl ea, or a pur pose.
Do not hel p a hol dup man t o cl ai mt hat he act s as your f r i end and
benef act or . Do not hel p your j ai l er s t o pr et end t hat t hei r j ai l i s your
nat ur al st at e of exi st ence. Do not hel p t hemt o f ake r eal i t y. That f ake i s
t he onl y damhol di ng of f t hei r secr et t er r or , t he t er r or of knowi ng t hey' r e
unf i t t o exi st ; r emove i t and l et t hemdr own; your sanct i on i s t hei r onl y
l i f e bel t .
" I f you f i nd a chance t o vani sh i nt o some wi l der ness out of t hei r r each,
do so, but not t o exi st as a bandi t or t o cr eat e a gang compet i ng wi t h t hei r
r acket ; bui l d a pr oduct i ve l i f e of your own wi t h t hose who accept your mor al
code and ar e wi l l i ng t o st r uggl e f or a human exi st ence. You have no chance t o
wi n on t he Mor al i t y of Deat h or by t he code of f ai t h and f or ce; r ai se a
st andar d t o whi ch t he honest wi l l r epai r : t he st andar d of Li f e and Reason.
" Act as a r at i onal bei ng and ai mat becomi ng a r al l yi ng poi nt f or al l
t hose who ar e st ar ved f or a voi ce of i nt egr i t yact on your r at i onal val ues,
whet her al one i n t he mi dst of your enemi es, or wi t h a f ew of your chosen
f r i ends, or as t he f ounder of a modest communi t y on t he f r ont i er of manki nd' s
r ebi r t h.
" When t he l oot er s' st at e col l apses, depr i ved of t he best of i t s sl aves,
when i t f al l s t o a l evel of i mpot ent chaos, l i ke t he myst i c- r i dden nat i ons of
t he Or i ent , and di ssol ves i nt o st ar vi ng r obber gangs f i ght i ng t o r ob one
anot her when t he advocat es of t he mor al i t y of sacr i f i ce per i sh wi t h t hei r
f i nal i deal t hen and on t hat day we wi l l r et ur n.
" We wi l l open t he gat es of our ci t y t o t hose who deser ve t o ent er , a ci t y
of smokest acks, pi pe l i nes, or char ds, mar ket s and i nvi ol at e homes.
We wi l l act as t he r al l yi ng cent er f or such hi dden out post s as you' l l
bui l d. Wi t h t he si gn of t he dol l ar as our symbol t he si gn of f r ee t r ade and
f r ee mi ndswe wi l l move t o r ecl ai mt hi s count r y once mor e f r omt he i mpot ent
savages who never di scover ed i t s nat ur e, i t s meani ng, i t s spl endor . Those who
choose t o j oi n us, wi l l j oi n us; t hose who don' t , wi l l not have t he power t o
st op us; hor des of savages have never been an obst acl e t o men who car r i ed t he
banner of t he mi nd.
" Then t hi s count r y wi l l once mor e become a sanct uar y f or a vani shi ng
speci es: t he r at i onal bei ng. The pol i t i cal syst emwe wi l l bui l d i s cont ai ned
i n a si ngl e mor al pr emi se: no man may obt ai n any val ues f r omot her s by
r esor t i ng t o physi cal f or ce. Ever y man wi l l st and or f al l , l i ve or di e by hi s
r at i onal j udgment . I f he f ai l s t o use i t and f al l s, he wi l l be hi s onl y
vi ct i m. I f he f ear s t hat hi s j udgment i s i nadequat e, he wi l l not be gi ven a
gun t o i mpr ove i t , I f he chooses t o cor r ect hi s er r or s i n t i me, he wi l l have
t he unobst r uct ed exampl e of hi s bet t er s, f or gui dance i n l ear ni ng t o t hi nk;
but an end wi l l be put t o t he i nf amy of payi ng wi t h one l i f e f or t he er r or s
of anot her .
" I n t hat wor l d, you' l l be abl e t o r i se i n t he mor ni ng wi t h t he spi r i t you
had known i n your chi l dhood: t hat spi r i t of eager ness, advent ur e and
cer t ai nt y whi ch comes f r omdeal i ng wi t h a r at i onal uni ver se. No chi l d i s
af r ai d of nat ur e; i t i s your f ear of men t hat wi l l vani sh, t he f ear t hat has
st unt ed your soul , t he f ear you acqui r ed i n your ear l y encount er s wi t h t he
i ncompr ehensi bl e, t he unpr edi ct abl e, t he cont r adi ct or y, t he ar bi t r ar y, t he
hi dden, t he f aked, t he i r r at i onal i n men. You wi l l l i ve i n a wor l d of
r esponsi bl e bei ngs, who wi l l be as consi st ent and r el i abl e as f act s; t he
guar ant ee of t hei r char act er wi l l be a syst emof exi st ence wher e obj ect i ve
r eal i t y i s t he st andar d and t he j udge. Your vi r t ues wi l l be gi ven pr ot ect i on,
your vi ces and weaknesses wi l l not . Ever y chance wi l l be open t o your good,
none wi l l be pr ovi ded f or your evi l . What you' l l r ecei ve f r ommen wi l l not be
al ms, or pi t y, or mer cy, or f or gi veness of si ns, but a si ngl e val ue: j ust i ce.
And when you' l l l ook at men or at your sel f , you wi l l f eel , not di sgust ,
suspi ci on and gui l t , but a si ngl e const ant : r espect .
" Such i s t he f ut ur e you ar e capabl e of wi nni ng. I t r equi r es a st r uggl e; so
does any human val ue. Al l l i f e i s a pur posef ul st r uggl e, and your onl y choi ce
i s t he choi ce of a goal . Do you wi sh t o cont i nue t he bat t l e of your pr esent
or do you wi sh t o f i ght f or my wor l d? Do you wi sh t o cont i nue a st r uggl e t hat
consi st s of cl i ngi ng t o pr ecar i ous l edges i n a sl i di ng descent t o t he abyss,
a st r uggl e wher e t he har dshi ps you endur e ar e i r r ever si bl e and t he vi ct or i es
you wi n br i ng you cl oser t o dest r uct i on? Or do you wi sh t o under t ake a
st r uggl e t hat consi st s of r i si ng f r oml edge t o l edge i n a st eady ascent t o
t he t op, a st r uggl e wher e t he har dshi ps ar e i nvest ment s i n your f ut ur e, and
t he vi ct or i es br i ng you i r r ever si bl y cl oser t o t he wor l d of your mor al i deal ,
and shoul d you di e wi t hout r eachi ng f ul l sunl i ght , you wi l l di e on a l evel
t ouched by i t s r ays? Such i s t he choi ce bef or e you. Let your mi nd and your
l ove of exi st ence deci de.
" The l ast of my wor ds wi l l be addr essed t o t hose her oes who mi ght st i l l be
hi dden i n t he wor l d, t hose who ar e hel d pr i soner , not by t hei r evasi ons, but
by t hei r vi r t ues and t hei r desper at e cour age. My br ot her s i n spi r i t , check on
your vi r t ues and on t he nat ur e of t he enemi es you' r e ser vi ng. Your dest r oyer s
hol d you by means of your endur ance, your gener osi t y, your i nnocence, your
l ovet he endur ance t hat car r i es t hei r bur denst he gener osi t y t hat r esponds t o
t hei r cr i es of despai r t he i nnocence t hat i s unabl e t o concei ve of t hei r evi l
and gi ves t hemt he benef i t of ever y doubt , r ef usi ng t o condemn t hemwi t hout
under st andi ng and i ncapabl e of under st andi ng such mot i ves as t hei r st he l ove,
your l ove of l i f e, whi ch makes you bel i eve t hat t hey ar e men and t hat t hey
l ove i t , t oo. But t he wor l d of t oday i s t he wor l d t hey want ed; l i f e i s t he
obj ect of t hei r hat r ed. Leave t hemt o t he deat h t hey wor shi p. I n t he name of
your magni f i cent devot i on t o t hi s ear t h, l eave t hem, don' t exhaust t he
gr eat ness of your soul on achi evi ng t he t r i umph of t he evi l of t hei r s. Do you
hear me . . . my l ove?
" I n t he name of t he best wi t hi n you, do not sacr i f i ce t hi s wor l d t o t hose
who ar e i t s wor st . I n t he name of t he val ues t hat keep you al i ve, do not l et
your vi si on of man be di st or t ed by t he ugl y, t he cowar dl y, t he mi ndl ess i n
t hose who have never achi eved hi s t i t l e. Do not l ose your knowl edge t hat
man' s pr oper est at e i s an upr i ght post ur e, an i nt r ansi gent mi nd and a st ep
t hat t r avel s unl i mi t ed r oads. Do not l et your f i r e go out , spar k by
i r r epl aceabl e spar k, i n t he hopel ess swamps of t he appr oxi mat e, t he not -
qui t e, t he not - yet , t he not - at - al l .
Do not l et t he her o i n your soul per i sh, i n l onel y f r ust r at i on f or t he
l i f e you deser ved, but have never been abl e t o r each. Check your r oad and t he
nat ur e of your bat t l e. The wor l d you desi r ed can be won, i t exi st s, i t i s
r eal , i t i s possi bl e, i t ' s your s.
" But t o wi n i t r equi r es your t ot al dedi cat i on and a t ot al br eak wi t h t he
wor l d of your past , wi t h t he doct r i ne t hat man i s a sacr i f i ci al ani mal who
exi st s f or t he pl easur e of ot her s. Fi ght f or t he val ue of your per son. Fi ght
f or t he vi r t ue of your pr i de. Fi ght f or t he essence of t hat whi ch i s man: f or
hi s sover ei gn r at i onal mi nd. Fi ght wi t h t he r adi ant cer t ai nt y and t he
absol ut e r ect i t ude of knowi ng t hat your s i s t he Mor al i t y of Li f e and t hat
your s i s t he bat t l e f or any achi evement , any val ue, any gr andeur , any
goodness, any j oy t hat has ever exi st ed on t hi s ear t h.
" You wi l l wi n when you ar e r eady t o pr onounce t he oat h I have t aken at t he
st ar t of my bat t l eand f or t hose who wi sh t o know t he day of my r et ur n, I
shal l now r epeat i t t o t he hear i ng of t he wor l d: " I swear by my l i f e and my
l ove of i t t hat I wi l l never l i ve f or t he sake of anot her man, nor ask
anot her man t o l i ve f or mi ne. "

CHAPTER VIII
THE EGOIST

" I t wasn' t r eal , was i t ?" sai d Mr . Thompson.
They st ood i n f r ont of t he r adi o, as t he l ast sound of Gal t ' s voi ce had
l ef t t hem. No one had moved t hr ough t he span of si l ence; t hey had st ood,
l ooki ng at t he r adi o, as i f wai t i ng. But t he r adi o was now onl y a wooden box
wi t h some knobs and a ci r cl e of cl ot h st r et ched over an empt y l oud- speaker .
" We seemt o have hear d i t , " sai d Ti nky Hol l oway.
" We coul dn' t hel p i t , " sai d Chi ck Mor r i son.
Mr . Thompson was si t t i ng on a cr at e. The pal e, obl ong smear at t he l evel
of hi s el bow was t he f ace of Wesl ey Mouch, who was seat ed on t he f l oor . Far
behi nd t hem, l i ke an i sl and i n t he vast semi - dar kness of t he st udi o space,
t he dr awi ng r oompr epar ed f or t hei r br oadcast st ood deser t ed and f ul l y
l i ght ed, a semi ci r cl e of empt y ar mchai r s under a cobweb of dead mi cr ophones
i n t he gl ar e of t he f l oodl i ght s whi ch no one had t aken t he i ni t i at i ve t o t ur n
of f .
Mr . Thompson' s eyes wer e dar t i ng over t he f aces ar ound hi m, as i f i n
sear ch of some speci al vi br at i ons known onl y t o hi m. The r est of t hemwer e
t r yi ng t o do i t sur r ept i t i ousl y, each at t empt i ng t o cat ch a gl i mpse of t he
ot her s wi t hout l et t i ng t hemcat ch hi s own gl ance.
" Let me out of her e! " scr eamed a young t hi r d- r at e assi st ant , suddenl y and
t o no one i n par t i cul ar .
" St ay put ! " snapped Mr . Thompson.
The sound of hi s own or der and t he hi ccough- moan of t he f i gur e i mmobi l i zed
somewher e i n t he dar kness, seemed t o hel p hi mr ecapt ur e a f ami l i ar ver si on of
r eal i t y. Hi s head emer ged an i nch hi gher f r omhi s shoul der s.
" Who per mi t t ed i t t o hap" he began i n a r i si ng voi ce, but st opped; t he
vi br at i ons he caught wer e t he danger ous pani c of t he cor ner ed.
" What do you make of i t ?" he asked, i nst ead. Ther e was no answer .
" Wel l ?" He wai t ed. " Wel l , say somet hi ng, somebody! "
" We don' t have t o bel i eve i t , do we?" cr i ed J ames Taggar t , t hr ust i ng hi s
f ace t owar d Mr . Thompson, i n a manner t hat was al most a t hr eat .
" Do we?" Taggar t ' s f ace was di st or t ed; hi s f eat ur es seemed shapel ess; a
must ache of smal l beads spar kl ed bet ween hi s nose and mout h.
" Pi pe down, " sai d Mr . Thompson uncer t ai nl y, dr awi ng a l i t t l e away f r om
hi m.
" We don' t have t o bel i eve i t ! " Taggar t ' s voi ce had t he f l at , i nsi st ent
sound of an ef f or t t o mai nt ai n a t r ance. " Nobody' s ever sai d i t bef or e!
I t ' s j ust one man! We don' t have t o bel i eve i t ! "
" Take i t easy, " sai d Mr . Thompson.
" Why i s he so sur e he' s r i ght ? Who i s he t o go agai nst t he whol e wor l d,
agai nst ever yt hi ng ever sai d f or cent ur i es and cent ur i es? Who i s he t o know?
Nobody can be sur e! Nobody can know what ' s r i ght !
Ther e i sn' t any r i ght ! "
" Shut up! " yel l ed Mr . Thompson. " What ar e you t r yi ng t o"
The bl ast t hat st opped hi mwas a mi l i t ar y mar ch l eapi ng suddenl y f or t h
f r omt he r adi o r ecei ver t he mi l i t ar y mar ch i nt er r upt ed t hr ee hour s ago,
pl ayed by t he f ami l i ar scr eeches of a st udi o r ecor d. I t t ook t hema f ew
st unned seconds t o gr asp i t , whi l e t he cheer f ul , t humpi ng chor ds went goose-
st eppi ng t hr ough t he si l ence, soundi ng gr ot esquel y i r r el evant , l i ke t he mi r t h
of a hal f - wi t . The st at i on' s pr ogr amdi r ect or was bl i ndl y obeyi ng t he
absol ut e t hat no r adi o t i me was ever t o be l ef t bl ank.
" Tel l t hemt o cut i t of f ! " scr eamed Wesl ey Mouch, l eapi ng t o hi s f eet . " I t
wi l l make t he publ i c t hi nk t hat we aut hor i zed t hat speech! "
" You damn f ool ! " cr i ed Mr . Thompson. " Woul d you r at her have t he publ i c
t hi nk t hat we di dn' t ?"
Mouch st opped shor t and hi s eyes shot t o Mr . Thompson wi t h t he
appr eci at i ve gl ance of an amat eur at a mast er .
" Br oadcast s as usual ! " or der ed Mr . Thompson. " Tel l t hemt o go on wi t h
what ever pr ogr ams t hey' d schedul ed f or t hi s hour ! No speci al announcement s,
no expl anat i ons! Tel l t hemt o go on as i f not hi ng had happened! "
Hal f a dozen of Chi ck Mor r i son' s mor al e condi t i oner s went scur r yi ng of f
t owar d t el ephones.
" Muzzl e t he comment at or s! Don' t al l ow t hemt o comment ! Send wor d t o ever y
st at i on i n t he count r y! Let t he publ i c wonder ! Don' t l et t hemt hi nk t hat
we' r e wor r i ed! Don' t l et t hemt hi nk t hat i t ' s i mpor t ant ! "
" No! " scr eamed Eugene Lawson. " No, no, no! We can' t gi ve peopl e t he
i mpr essi on t hat we' r e endor si ng t hat speech! I t ' s hor r i bl e, hor r i bl e,
hor r i bl e! " Lawson was not i n t ear s, but hi s voi ce had t he undi gni f i ed sound
of an adul t sobbi ng wi t h hel pl ess r age.
" Who' s sai d anyt hi ng about endor si ng i t ?" snapped Mr . Thompson.
" I t ' s hor r i bl e! I t ' s i mmor al ! I t ' s sel f i sh, hear t l ess, r ut hl ess! I t ' s t he
most vi ci ous speech ever made! I t . . . i t wi l l make peopl e demand t o be
happy! "
" I t ' s onl y a speech, " sai d Mr . Thompson, not t oo f i r ml y.
" I t seems t o me, " sai d Chi ck Mor r i son, hi s voi ce t ent at i vel y hel pf ul ,
' " t hat peopl e of nobl er spi r i t ual nat ur e, you know what I mean, peopl e of . .
. of . . . wel l , of myst i cal i nsi ght " he paused, as i f wai t i ng t o be sl apped,
but no one moved, so he r epeat ed f i r ml y" yes, of myst i cal i nsi ght , won' t go
f or t hat speech. Logi c i sn' t ever yt hi ng, af t er al l . "
" The wor ki ngmen won' t go f or i t , " sai d Ti nky Hol l oway, a bi t mor e
hel pf ul l y. " He di dn' t sound l i ke a f r i end of l abor . "
" The women of t he count r y won' t go f or i t , " decl ar ed Ma Chal mer s.
" I t i s, I bel i eve, an est abl i shed f act t hat women don' t go f or t hat st uf f
about t he mi nd. Women have f i ner f eel i ngs. You can count on t he women. "
" You can count on t he sci ent i st s, " sai d Dr . Si mon Pr i t chet t . They wer e al l
pr essi ng f or war d, suddenl y eager t o speak, as i f t hey had f ound a subj ect
t hey coul d handl e wi t h assur ance. " Sci ent i st s know bet t er t han t o bel i eve i n
r eason. He' s no f r i end of t he sci ent i st s. "
" He' s no f r i end of anybody, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch, r ecapt ur i ng a shade of
conf i dence at t he sudden r eal i zat i on, " except maybe of bi g busi ness. "
" No! " cr i ed Mr . Mowen i n t er r or . " No! Don' t accuse us! Don' t say i t ! I
won' t have you say i t ! "
" What ?"
" That . . . t hat . . . t hat anybody i s a f r i end of busi ness! "
" Don' t l et ' s make a f uss about t hat speech, " sai d Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s.
" I t was t oo i nt el l ect ual . Much t oo i nt el l ect ual f or t he common man. I t
wi l l have no ef f ect . Peopl e ar e t oo dumb t o under st and i t . "
" Yeah, " sai d Mouch hopef ul l y, " t hat ' s so. "
" I n t he f i r st pl ace, " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, encour aged, " peopl e can' t t hi nk. I n
t he second pl ace, t hey don' t want t o. "
" I n t he t hi r d pl ace, " sai d Fr ed Ki nnan, " t hey don' t want t o st ar ve.
And what do you pr opose t o do about t hat ?"
I t was as i f he had pr onounced t he quest i on whi ch al l of t he pr ecedi ng
ut t er ances had been i nt ended t o st ave of f . No one answer ed hi m, but heads
dr ew f ai nt l y deeper i nt o shoul der s, and f i gur es dr ew f ai nt l y cl oser t o one
anot her , l i ke a smal l cl ust er under t he wei ght of t he st udi o' s empt y space.
The mi l i t ar y mar ch boomed t hr ough t he si l ence wi t h t he i nf l exi bl e gai et y of a
gr i nni ng skul l .
" Tur n i t of f ! " yel l ed Mr . Thompson, wavi ng at t he r adi o. " Tur n t hat damn
t hi ng of f ! "
Someone obeyed hi m. But t he sudden si l ence was wor se.
" Wel l ?" sai d Mr . Thompson at l ast , r ai si ng hi s eyes r el uct ant l y t o Fr ed
Ki nnan. " What do you t hi nk we ought t o do?"
" Who, me?" chuckl ed Ki nnan. " I don' t r un t hi s show. "
Mr . Thompson sl ammed hi s f i st down on hi s knee. " Say somet hi ng " he
or der ed, but seei ng Ki nnan t ur n away, added, " somebody! "
Ther e wer e no vol unt eer s. " What ar e we t o do?" he yel l ed, knowi ng t hat t he
man who answer ed woul d, t her eaf t er , be t he man i n power .
" What ar e we t o do? Can' t somebody t el l us what t o do?"
" I can! "
t I t was a woman' s voi ce, but i t had t he qual i t y of t he voi ce t hey had
hear d on t he r adi o. They whi r l ed t o Dagny bef or e she had t i me t o st ep f or war d
f r omt he dar kness beyond t he gr oup. As she st epped f or war d, her f ace
f r i ght ened t hembecause i t was devoi d of f ear .
" I can, " she sai d, addr essi ng Mr . Thompson. " You' r e t o gi ve up. "
" Gi ve up?" he r epeat ed bl ankl y.
" You' r e t hr ough. Don' t you see t hat you' r e t hr ough? What el se do you need,
af t er what you' ve hear d? Gi ve up and get out of t he way.
Leave men f r ee t o exi st . " He was l ooki ng at her , nei t her obj ect i ng nor
movi ng. " You' r e st i l l al i ve, you' r e usi ng a human l anguage, you' r e aski ng f or
answer s, you' r e count i ng on r easonyou' r e st i l l count i ng on r eason, God damn
you! You' r e abl e t o under st and. I t i sn' t possi bl e t hat you haven' t
under st ood. Ther e' s not hi ng you can now pr et end t o hope, t o want or gai n or
gr ab or r each. Ther e' s not hi ng but dest r uct i on ahead, t he wor l d' s and your
own. Gi ve up and get out . "
They wer e l i st eni ng i nt ent l y, but as i f t hey di d not hear her wor ds, as i f
t hey wer e cl i ngi ng bl i ndl y t o a qual i t y she was al one among t hemt o possess:
t he qual i t y of bei ng al i ve. Ther e was a sound of exul t ant l aught er under t he
angr y vi ol ence of her voi ce, her f ace was l i f t ed, her eyes seemed t o be
gr eet i ng some spect acl e at an i ncal cul abl e di st ance, so t hat t he gl owi ng
pat ch on her f or ehead di d not l ook l i ke t he r ef l ect i on of a st udi o spot l i ght ,
but of a sunr i se.
" You wi sh t o l i ve, don' t you? Get out of t he way, i f you want a chance.
Let t hose who can, t ake over . He knows what t o do. You don' t . He i s abl e t o
cr eat e t he means of human sur vi val . You ar en' t . "
" Don' t l i st en t o her ! "
I t was so savage a cr y of hat r ed t hat t hey dr ew away f r omDr .
Rober t St adl er , as i f he had gi ven voi ce t o t he unconf essed wi t hi n t hem.
Hi s f ace l ooked as t hey f ear ed t hei r s woul d l ook i n t he pr i vacy of dar kness.
" Don' t l i st en t o her ! " he cr i ed, hi s eyes avoi di ng her s, whi l e her s paused
on hi mf or a br i ef , l evel gl ance t hat began as a shock of ast oni shment and
ended as an obi t uar y. " I t ' s your l i f e or hi s! "
" Keep qui et , Pr of essor , " sai d Mr . Thompson, br ushi ng hi mof f wi t h t he j er k
of one hand. Mr . Thompson' s eyes wer e wat chi ng Dagny, as i f some t hought wer e
st r uggl i ng t o t ake shape i nsi de hi s skul l .
" You know t he t r ut h, al l of you, " she sai d, " and so do I , and so does
ever y man who' s hear d J ohn Gal t ! What el se ar e you wai t i ng f or ?
For pr oof ? He' s gi ven i t t o you. For f act s? They' r e al l ar ound you. How
many cor pses do you i nt end t o pi l e up bef or e you r enounce i t your guns, your
power , your cont r ol s and t he whol e of your mi ser abl e al t r ui st i c cr eed? Gi ve
i t up, i f you want t o l i ve. Gi ve i t up, i f t her e' s anyt hi ng l ef t i n your mi nd
t hat ' s st i l l abl e t o want human bei ngs t o r emai n al i ve on t hi s ear t h! "
" But i t ' s t r eason! " cr i ed Eugene Lawson. " She' s t al ki ng pur e t r eason! "
" Now, now, " sai d Mr . Thompson. " You don' t have t o go t o ext r emes. "
" Huh?" asked Ti nky Hol l oway.
" But . . . but sur el y i t ' s out r ageous?" asked Chi ck Mor r i son.
" You' r e not agr eei ng wi t h her , ar e you?" asked Wesl ey Mouch.
" Who' s sai d anyt hi ng about agr eei ng?" sai d Mr . Thompson, hi s t one
sur pr i si ngl y pl aci d. " Don' t be pr emat ur e. J ust don' t you be pr emat ur e, any of
you. Ther e' s no har mi n l i st eni ng t o any ar gument , i s t her e?"
" That ki nd of ar gument ?" asked Wesl ey Mouch, hi s f i nger st abbi ng agai n and
agai n i n Dagny' s di r ect i on.
" Any ki nd, " sai d Mr . Thompson pl aci dl y. " We must n t be i nt ol er ant , "
" But i t ' s t r eason, r ui n, di sl oyal t y, sel f i shness and bi g- busi ness
pr opaganda! "
" Oh, I don' t know, " sai d Mr . Thompson. " We' ve got t o keep an open mi nd.
We' ve got t o gi ve consi der at i on t o ever y one' s vi ewpoi nt .
She mi ght have somet hi ng t her e. He knows what t o do. We' ve got t o be
f l exi bl e. "
" Do you mean t hat you' r e wi l l i ng t o qui t ?" gasped Mouch.
" Now don' t j ump t o concl usi ons, " snapped Mr . Thompson angr i l y.
" I f t her e' s one t hi ng I can' t st and, i t ' s peopl e who j ump t o concl usi ons.
And anot her t hi ng i s i vor y- t ower i nt el l ect ual s who st i ck t o some pet t heor y
and haven' t any sense of pr act i cal r eal i t y. At a t i me l i ke t hi s, we' ve got t o
be f l exi bl e above al l . "
He saw a l ook of bewi l der ment on al l t he f aces ar ound hi m, on Dagny' s and
on t he ot her s, t hough not f or t he same r easons. He smi l ed, r ose t o hi s f eet
and t ur ned t o Dagny.
" Thank you, Mi ss Taggar t , " he sai d. " Thank you f or speaki ng your mi nd.
That ' s what I want you t o knowt hat you can t r ust me and speak t o me wi t h
f ul l f r ankness. We' r e not your enemi es, Mi ss Taggar t .
Don' t pay any at t ent i on t o t he boyst hey' r e upset , but t hey' l l come down
t o ear t h. We' r e not your enemi es, nor t he count r y' s. Sur e, we' ve made
mi st akes, we' r e onl y human, but we' r e t r yi ng t o do our best f or t he peopl e
t hat i s, I mean, f or ever ybodyi n t hese di f f i cul t t i mes.
We can' t make snap j udgment s and r each moment ous deci si ons on t he spur of
t he moment , can we? We' ve got t o consi der i t , and mul l i t over , and wei gh i t
car ef ul l y. I j ust want you t o r emember t hat we' r e not anybody' s enemi esyou
r eal i ze t hat , don' t you?"
" I ' ve sai d ever yt hi ng I had t o say, " she answer ed, t ur ni ng away f r omhi m,
wi t h no cl ue t o t he meani ng of hi s wor ds and no st r engt h t o at t empt t o f i nd
i t .
She t ur ned t o Eddi e Wi l l er s, who had wat ched t he men ar ound t hemwi t h a
l ook of so gr eat an i ndi gnat i on t hat he seemed par al yzed as i f hi s br ai n
wer e cr yi ng, " I t ' s evi l ! " and coul d not move t o any f ur t her t hought . She
j er ked her head, i ndi cat i ng t he door ; he f ol l owed her obedi ent l y.
Dr . Rober t St adl er wai t ed unt i l t he door had cl osed af t er t hem, t hen
whi r l ed on Mr . Thompson. " You bl oody f ool ! Do you know what you' r e pl ayi ng
wi t h? Don' t you under st and t hat i t ' s l i f e or deat h? That i t ' s you or hi m?"
The t hi n t r emor t hat r an al ong Mr . Thompson' s l i ps was a smi l e of
cont empt . " I t ' s a f unny way f or a pr of essor t o behave. I di dn' t t hi nk
pr of essor s ever went t o pi eces. "
" Don' t you under st and? Don' t you see t hat i t ' s one or t he ot her ?"
" And what i s i t t hat you want me t o do?"
" You must ki l l hi m. "
I t was t he f act t hat Dr . St adl er had not cr i ed i t , but had sai d i t i n a
f l at , col d, suddenl y and f ul l y consci ous voi ce, t hat br ought a chi l l moment
of si l ence as t he whol e r oom' s answer .
" You must f i nd hi m, " sai d Dr . St adl er , hi s voi ce cr acki ng and r i si ng once
mor e. " You must l eave no st one unt ur ned t i l l you f i nd hi mand dest r oy hi m! I f
he l i ves, he' l l dest r oy al l of us! I f he l i ves, we can' t ! "
" How amI t o f i nd hi m?" asked Mr . Thompson, speaki ng sl owl y and car ef ul l y.
" I . . . I can t el l you. I can gi ve you a l ead. Wat ch t hat Taggar t woman.
Set your men t o wat ch ever y move she makes. She' l l l ead you t o hi m, sooner or
l at er . "
" How do you know t hat ?"
" I sn' t i t obvi ous? I sn' t i t sheer chance t hat she hasn' t deser t ed you l ong
ago? Don' t you have t he wi t s t o see t hat she' s one of hi s ki nd?"
He di d not st at e what ki nd.
" Yeah, " sai d Mr . Thompson t hought f ul l y, " yeah, t hat ' s t r ue. " He j er ked hi s
head up wi t h a smi l e of sat i sf act i on. " The pr of essor ' s got somet hi ng t her e.
Put a t ai l on Mi ss Taggar t , " he or der ed, snappi ng hi s f i nger s at Mouch. " Have
her t ai l ed day and ni ght . We' ve got t o f i nd hi m. "
" Yes, si r , " sai d Mouch bl ankl y.
" And when you f i nd hi m, " Dr . St adl er asked t ensel y, " you' l l ki l l hi m?"
" Ki l l hi m, you damn f ool ? We need hi m! " cr i ed Mr . Thompson.
Mouch wai t ed, but no one vent ur ed t he quest i on t hat was on ever yone' s
mi nd, so he made t he ef f or t t o ut t er st i f f l y, " I don' t under st and you, Mr .
Thompson. "
" Oh, you t heor et i cal i nt el l ect ual s! " sai d Mr . Thompson wi t h exasper at i on.
" What ar e you al l gapi ng at ? I t ' s si mpl e. Whoever he i s, he' s a man of
act i on. Besi des, he' s got a pr essur e gr oup: he' s cor ner ed al l t he men of
br ai ns. He knows what t o do. We' l l f i nd hi mand he' l l t el l us. He' l l t el l us
what t o do. He' l l make t hi ngs wor k. He' l l pul l us out of t he hol e. "
" Us, Mr . Thompson?"
" Sur e. Never mi nd your t heor i es. We' l l make a deal wi t h hi m. "
" Wi t h hi m?"
" Sur e. Oh, we' l l have t o compr omi se, we' l l have t o make a f ew concessi ons
t o bi g busi ness, and t he wel f ar e boys won' t l i ke i t , but what t he hel l ! do
you know any ot her way out ?"
" But hi s i deas"
" Who car es about i deas?"
" Mr . Thompson, " sai d Mouch, choki ng, " I . . . I ' maf r ai d he' s a man who' s
not open t o a deal . "
" Ther e' s no such t hi ng, " sai d Mr . Thompson.
A col d wi nd r at t l ed t he br oken si gns over t he wi ndows of abandoned shops,
i n t he st r eet out si de t he r adi o st at i on. The ci t y seemed abnor mal l y qui et .
The di st ant r umbl e of t he t r af f i c sounded l ower t han usual and made t he wi nd
sound l ouder . Empt y si dewal ks st r et ched of f i nt o t he dar kness; a f ew l one
f i gur es st ood i n whi sper i ng cl ust er s under t he r ar e l i ght s.
Eddi e Wi l l er s di d not speak unt i l t hey wer e many bl ocks away f r omt he
st at i on. He st opped abr upt l y, when t hey r eached a deser t ed squar e wher e t he
publ i c l oud- speaker s, whi ch no one had t hought of t ur ni ng of f , wer e now
br oadcast i ng a domest i c comedyt he shr i l l voi ces of a husband and wi f e
quar r el i ng over J uni or ' s dat est o an empt y st r et ch of pavement encl osed by
unl i ght ed house f r ont s. Beyond t he squar e, a f ew dot s of l i ght , scat t er ed
Ver t i cal l y above t he t went y f i f t h- f l oor l i mi t of t he ci t y, suggest ed a
di st ant , r i si ng f or m, whi ch was t he Taggar t Bui l di ng.
Eddi e' st opped and poi nt ed at t he bui l di ng, hi s f i nger shaki ng.
" Dagny! " he cr i ed, t hen l ower ed hi s voi ce i nvol unt ar i l y. " Dagny, " he
whi sper ed, " I know hi m. He . . . he wor ks t her e . . . t her e . . . "
He kept poi nt i ng at t he bui l di ng wi t h i ncr edul ous hel pl essness. " He wor ks
f or Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . . . "
" I know, " she answer ed; her voi ce was a l i f el ess monot one.
" As a t r ack l abor er . . . as t he l owest of t r ack l abor er s . . . "
" I know. "
" I ' ve t al ked t o hi m. . . I ' ve been t al ki ng t o hi mf or year s . . .
i n t he Ter mi nal caf et er i a. . . . He used t o ask quest i ons . . . al l sor t s
of quest i ons about t he r ai l r oad, and I God, Dagny! was I pr ot ect i ng t he
r ai l r oad or was I hel pi ng t o dest r oy i t ?"
" Bot h. Nei t her . I t doesn' t mat t er now. "
" I coul d have st aked my l i f e t hat he l oved t he r ai l r oad! "
" He does. "
" But he' s dest r oyed i t . "
" Yes. "
She t i ght ened t he col l ar of her coat and wal ked on, agai nst a gust of
wi nd.
" I used t o t al k t o hi m, " he sai d, af t er a whi l e. " Hi s f ace . . . Dagny, i t
di dn' t l ook l i ke any of t he ot her s, i t . . . i t showed t hat he under st ood so
much. . . . I was gl ad, whenever I saw hi mt her e, i n t he caf et er i a . . . I
j ust t al ked . . . I don' t t hi nk I knew t hat he was aski ng quest i ons . . . but
he was . . . so many quest i ons about t he r ai l r oad and . . . and about you. "
" Di d he ever ask you what I l ook l i ke, when I ' masl eep?"
" Yes . . . Yes, he di d . . . I ' d f ound you once, asl eep i n t he of f i ce, and
when I ment i oned i t , he" He st opped, as a sudden connect i on cr ashed i nt o
pl ace i n hi s mi nd.
She t ur ned t o hi m, i n t he r ay of a st r eet l amp, r ai si ng and hol di ng her
f ace i n f ul l l i ght f or a si l ent , del i ber at e moment , as i f i n answer and
conf i r mat i on of hi s t hought .
He cl osed hi s eyes. " Oh God, Dagny! " he whi sper ed.
They wal ked on i n si l ence.
" He' s gone by now, i sn' t he?" he asked. " Fr omt he Taggar t Ter mi nal , I
mean. "
" Eddi e, " she sai d, her voi ce suddenl y gr i m, " i f you val ue hi s l i f e, don' t
ever ask t hat quest i on. You don' t want t hemt o f i nd hi m, do you?
Don' t gi ve t hemany l eads. Don' t ever br eat he a wor d t o anyone about
havi ng known hi m. Don' t t r y t o f i nd out whet her he' s st i l l wor ki ng i n t he
Ter mi nal . "
" You don' t mean t hat he' s st i l l t her e?"
" I don' t know. I know onl y t hat he mi ght be. "
" Now?"
" Yes. "
" St i l l ?"
" Yes. Keep qui et about i t , i f you don' t want t o dest r oy hi m. "
" I t hi nk he' s gone. He won' t be back. I haven' t seen hi msi nce . . .
si nce . . . "
" Si nce when?" she asked shar pl y.
" The end of May. The ni ght when you l ef t f or Ut ah, r emember ?" He paused,
as t he memor y of t hat ni ght ' s encount er and t he f ul l under st andi ng of i t s
meani ng st r uck hi mt oget her . He sai d wi t h ef f or t , " 1 saw hi mt hat ni ght . Not
si nce . . . I ' ve wai t ed f or hi m, i n t he caf et er i a . . . He never came back. "
" I don' t t hi nk he' l l l et you see hi mnow, he' l l keep out of your way.
Bat don' t l ook f or hi m. Don' t i nqui r e. "
" I t ' s f unny. I don' t even know what name he used. I t was J ohnny somet hi ng
or "
" I t was J ohn Gal t , " she sai d, wi t h a f ai nt , mi r t hl ess chuckl e. " Don' t l ook
at t he Ter mi nal payr ol l . The name i s st i l l t her e. "
" J ust l i ke t hat ? Al l t hese year s?"
" For t wel ve year s. J ust l i ke t hat . "
" And i t ' s st i l l t her e now?"
" Yes. "
Af t er a moment , he sai d, " I t pr oves not hi ng, I know. The per sonnel of f i ce
hasn' t t aken a si ngl e name of f t he payr ol l l i st si nce Di r ect i ve 10- 289. I f a
man qui t s, t hey gi ve hi s name and j ob t o a st ar vi ng f r i end of t hei r own,
r at her t han r epor t i t t o t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d. "
" Don' t quest i on t he per sonnel of f i ce or anyone. Don' t cal l at t ent i on t o
hi s name. I f you or I make any i nqui r i es about hi m, somebody mi ght begi n t o
wonder . Don' t l ook f or hi m. Don' t make any move i n hi s di r ect i on. And i f you
ever cat ch si ght of hi mby chance, act as i f you di dn' t know hi m. "
He nodded. Af t er a whi l e, he sai d, hi s voi ce t ense and l ow, " I woul dn' t
t ur n hi mover t o t hem, not even t o save t he r ai l r oad. "
" Eddi e"
" Yes?"
" I f you ever cat ch si ght of hi m, t el l me. "
He nodded.
Two bl ocks l at er , he asked qui et l y, " You' r e goi ng t o qui t , one of t hese
days, and vani sh, ar en' t you?"
" Why do you say t hat ?" I t was al most a cr y.
" Ar en' t you?"
She di d not answer at once; when she di d, t he sound of despai r was pr esent
i n her voi ce onl y i n t he f or mof t oo t i ght a monot one: " Eddi e, i f I qui t ,
what woul d happen t o t he Taggar t t r ai ns?"
" Ther e woul d be no Taggar t t r ai ns wi t hi n a week. Maybe l ess. "
" Ther e wi l l be no l oot er s' gover nment wi t hi n t en days. Then men l i ke Cuf f y
Mei gs wi l l devour t he l ast of our r ai l s and engi nes. Shoul d I l ose t he bat t l e
by f ai l i ng t o wai t one mor e moment ? How can I l et i t goTaggar t
Tr anscont i nent al , Eddi ego f or ever , when one l ast ef f or t can st i l l keep i t i n
exi st ence? I f I ' ve st ood t hi ngs t hi s l ong, I can st and t hema l i t t l e l onger .
J ust a l i t t l e l onger . I ' mnot hel pi ng t he l oot er s.
Not hi ng can hel p t hemnow. "
" What ar e t hey goi ng t o do?"
" I don' t know. What can t hey do? They' r e f i ni shed. "
" I suppose so. "
" Di dn' t you see t hem? They' r e mi ser abl e, pani c- st r i cken r at s, r unni ng f or
t hei r l i ves. "
" Does i t mean anyt hi ng t o t hem?"
" What ?"
" Thei r l i ves. "
" They' r e st i l l st r uggl i ng, ar en' t t hey? But t hey' r e t hr ough and t hey know
i t . "
" Have t hey ever act ed on what t hey know?"
" They' l l have t o. They' l l gi ve up. I t won' t be l ong. And we' l l be her e t o
save what ever ' s l ef t . "
" Mr . Thompson wi shes i t t o be known, " sai d of f i ci al br oadcast s on t he
mor ni ng of November 23, " t hat t her e i s no cause f or al ar m. He ur ges t he
publ i c not t o dr aw any hast y concl usi ons. We must pr eser ve our di sci pl i ne,
our mor al e, our uni t y and our sense of br oad- mi nded t ol er ance. The
unconvent i onal speech, whi ch some of you mi ght have hear d on t he r adi o l ast
ni ght , was a t hought - pr ovoki ng cont r i but i on t o our pool of i deas on wor l d
pr obl ems. We must consi der i t sober l y, avoi di ng t he ext r emes of t ot al
condemnat i on or of r eckl ess agr eement .
We must r egar d i t as one vi ewpoi nt out of many i n our democr at i c f or umof
publ i c opi ni on, whi ch, as l ast ni ght has pr oved, i s open t o al l . The t r ut h,
says Mr . Thompson, has many f acet s. We must r emai n i mpar t i al . "
" They' r e si l ent , " wr ot e Chi ck Mor r i son, as a summar y of i t s cont ent ,
acr oss t he r epor t f r omone of t he f i el d agent s he had sent out on a mi ssi on
ent i t l ed Publ i c Pul se Taki ng. " They' r e si l ent , " he wr ot e acr oss t he next
r epor t , t hen acr oss anot her and anot her . " Si l ence, " he wr ot e, wi t h a f r own of
uneasi ness, summi ng up hi s r epor t t o Mr . Thompson.
" Peopl e seemt o be si l ent . "
The f l ames t hat went up t o t he sky of a wi nt er ni ght and devour ed a home
i n Wyomi ng wer e not seen by t he peopl e of Kansas, who wat ched a t r embl i ng r ed
gl ow on t he pr ai r i e hor i zon, made by t he f l ames t hat went up t o devour a
f ar m, and t he gl ow was not r ef l ect ed by t he wi ndows of a st r eet i n
Pennsyl vani a, wher e t he t wi st i ng r ed t ongues wer e r ef l ect i ons of t he f l ames
t hat went up t o devour a f act or y. Nobody ment i oned, next mor ni ng, t hat t hose
f l ames had not been set of f . by chance and t hat t he owner s of t he t hr ee
pl aces had vani shed. Nei ghbor s obser ved i t wi t hout comment and wi t hout
ast oni shment . A f ew homes wer e f ound abandoned i n r andomcor ner s acr oss t he
nat i on, some l ef t l ocked, shut t er ed and empt y, ot her s open and gut t ed of al l
movabl e goodsbut peopl e wat ched i t i n si l ence and, t hr ough t he snowdr i f t s of
unt ended st r eet s i n t he haze of pr e- mor ni ng dar kness, went on t r udgi ng t o
t hei r j obs, a l i t t l e sl ower t han usual .
Then, on November 27, a speaker at a pol i t i cal meet i ng i n Cl evel and was
beat en up and had t o escape by scur r yi ng down dar k al l eys.
Hi s si l ent audi ence had come t o sudden l i f e when he had shout ed t hat t he
cause of al l t hei r t r oubl es was t hei r sel f i sh concer n wi t h t hei r own
t r oubl es.
On t he mor ni ng of November 29, t he wor ker s of a shoe f act or y i n
Massachuset t s wer e ast oni shed, on ent er i ng t hei r wor kshop, t o f i nd t hat t he
f or eman was l at e. But t hey went t o t hei r usual post s and went on wi t h t hei r
habi t ual r out i ne, pul l i ng l ever s, pr essi ng but t ons, f eedi ng l eat her i nt o
aut omat i c cut t er s, pi l i ng boxes on a movi ng bel t , wonder i ng, as t he hour s
went by, why t hey di d not cat ch si ght of t he f or eman, or t he super i nt endent ,
or t he gener al manager , or t he company pr esi dent .
I t was noon bef or e t hey di scover ed t hat t he f r ont of f i ces of t he pl ant
wer e empt y.
" You goddamn canni bal s! " scr eamed a woman i n t he mi dst of a cr owded movi e
t heat er , br eaki ng i nt o sudden, hyst er i cal sobsand t he audi ence showed no
si gn of ast oni shment , as i f she wer e scr eami ng f or t hemal l , " Ther e i s no
cause f or al ar m, " sai d of f i ci al br oadcast s on December 5. " Mr . Thompson
wi shes i t t o be known t hat he i s wi l l i ng t o negot i at e wi t h J ohn Gal t f or t he
pur pose of devi si ng ways and means t o achi eve a speedy sol ut i on of our
pr obl ems. Mr . Thompson ur ges t he peopl e t o be pat i ent . We must not wor r y, we
must not doubt , we must not l ose hear t , "
The at t endant s of a hospi t al i n I l l i noi s showed no ast oni shment when a man
was br ought i n, beat en up by hi s el der br ot her , who had suppor t ed hi mal l hi s
l i f e: t he younger man had scr eamed at t he el der , accusi ng hi mof sel f i shness
and gr eedj ust as t he at t endant s of a hospi t al i n New Yor k Ci t y showed no
ast oni shment at t he case of a woman who came i n wi t h a f r act ur ed j aw: she had
been sl apped i n t he f ace by a t ot al st r anger , who had hear d her or der i ng her
f i ve- year ol d son t o gi ve hi s best t oy t o t he chi l dr en of nei ghbor s.
Chi ck Mor r i son at t empt ed a whi st l e- st op t our t o but t r ess t he count r y' s
mor al e by speeches on sel f - sacr i f i ce f or t he gener al wel f ar e. He was st oned
at t he f i r st of hi s st ops and had t o r et ur n t o Washi ngt on.
Nobody had ever gr ant ed t hemt he t i t l e of " t he bet t er men" or , gr ant i ng
i t , had paused t o gr asp t hat t i t l e' s meani ng, but ever ybody knew, each i n hi s
own communi t y, nei ghbor hood, of f i ce or shop and hi hi s own uni dent i f i ed
t er ms, who woul d be t he men t hat woul d now f ai l t o appear at t hei r post s on
some comi ng mor ni ng and woul d si l ent l y vani sh i n sear ch of unknown f r ont i er s
t he men whose f aces wer e t i ght er t han t he f aces ar ound t hem, whose eyes wer e
mor e di r ect , whose ener gy was mor e consci ent i ousl y endur i ngt he men who wer e
now sl i ppi ng away, one by one, f r omever y cor ner of t he count r y
of t he count r y whi ch was now l i ke t he descendant of what had once been
r egal gl or y, pr ost r at ed by t he scour ge of hemophi l i a, l osi ng t he best of i t s
bl ood f r oma wound not t o be heal ed.
" But we' r e wi l l i ng t o negot i at e! " yel l ed Mr . Thompson t o hi s assi st ant s,
or der i ng t he speci al announcement t o be r epeat ed by al l r adi o st at i ons t hr ee
t i mes a day. " We' r e wi l l i ng t o negot i at e! He' l l hear i t ! He' l l answer ! "
Speci al l i st ener s wer e or der ed t o keep wat ch, day and ni ght , at r adi o
r ecei ver s t uned t o ever y known f r equency of sound, wai t i ng f or an answer f r om
an unknown t r ansmi t t er . Ther e was no answer .
Empt y, hopel ess, unf ocused f aces wer e becomi ng mor e appar ent i n t he
st r eet s of t he ci t i es, but no one coul d r ead t hei r meani ng. As some men wer e
escapi ng wi t h t hei r bodi es i nt o t he under gr ound of uni nhabi t ed r egi ons, so
ot her s coul d onl y save t hei r soul s and wer e escapi ng i nt o t he under gr ound of
t hei r mi ndsand no power on ear t h coul d t el l whet her t hei r bl ankl y
i ndi f f er ent eyes wer e shut t er s pr ot ect i ng hi dden t r easur es at t he bot t omof
shaf t s no l onger t o be mi ned, or wer e mer el y gapi ng hol es of t he par asi t e' s
empt i ness never t o be f i l l ed.
" I don' t know what t o do, " sai d t he assi st ant super i nt endent of an oi l
r ef i ner y, r ef usi ng t o accept t he j ob of t he super i nt endent who had vani shed
and t he agent s of t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d wer e unabl e t o t el l whet her he l i ed
or not . I t was onl y an edge of pr eci si on i n t he t one of hi s voi ce, an absence
of apol ogy or shame, t hat made t hemwonder whet her he was a r ebel or a f ool .
I t was danger ous t o f or ce t he j ob on ei t her .
" Gi ve us men! " The pl ea began t o hammer pr ogr essi vel y l ouder upon t he desk
of t he Uni f i cat i on Boar d, f r omal l par t s of a count r y r avaged by
unempl oyment , and nei t her t he pl eader s nor t he Boar d dar ed t o add t he
danger ous wor ds whi ch t he cr y was i mpl yi ng: " Gi ve us men of abi l i t y! " Ther e
wer e wai t i ng l i nes year s' l ong f or t he j obs of j ani t or s, gr easer s, por t er s
and bus boys; t her e was no one t o appl y f or t he j obs of execut i ves, manager s,
super i nt endent s, engi neer s.
The expl osi ons of oi l r ef i ner i es, t he cr ashes of def ect i ve ai r pl anes, t he
br eak- out s of bl ast f ur naces, t he wr ecks of col l i di ng t r ai ns, and t he r umor s
of dr unken or gi es i n t he of f i ces of newl y cr eat ed execut i ves, made t he
member s of t he Boar d f ear t he ki nd of men who di d appl y f or t he posi t i ons of
r esponsi bi l i t y.
" Don' t despai r ! Don' t gi ve up! " sai d of f i ci al br oadcast s on December 15,
and on ever y day t her eaf t er , " We wi l l r each an agr eement wi t h J ohn Gal t . We
wi l l get hi mt o l ead us. He wi l l sol ve al l our pr obl ems.
He wi l l make t hi ngs wor k. Don' t gi ve up! We wi l l get J ohn Gal t ! "
Rewar ds and honor s wer e of f er ed t o appl i cant s f or manager i al j obs t hen t o
f or ement hen t o ski l l ed mechani cst hen t o any man who woul d make an ef f or t t o
deser ve a pr omot i on i n r ank: wage r ai ses, bonuses, t ax exempt i ons and a medal
devi sed by Wesl ey Mouch, t o be known as " The Or der of Publ i c Benef act or s. " I t
br ought no r esul t s. Ragged peopl e l i st ened t o t he of f er s of mat er i al comf or t s
and t ur ned away wi t h l et har gi c i ndi f f er ence, as i f t hey had l ost t he concept
of " Val ue. " These, t hought t he publ i c- pul se- t aker s wi t h t er r or , wer e men who
di d not car e t o l i veor men who di d not car e t o l i ve on pr esent t er ms.
" Don' t despai r ! Don' t gi ve up! J ohn Gal t wi l l sol ve our pr obl ems! "
sai d t he r adi o voi ces of of f i ci al br oadcast s, t r avel i ng t hr ough t he
si l ence of f al l i ng snow i nt o t he si l ence of unheat ed homes.
" Don' t t el l t hemt hat we haven' t got hi m! " cr i ed Mr . Thompson t o hi s
assi st ant s, " But f or God' s sake t el l t hemt o f i nd hi m! " Squads of Chi ck
Mor r i son' s boys wer e assi gned t o t he t ask of manuf act ur i ng r umor s: hal f of
t hemwent spr eadi ng t he st or y t hat J ohn Gal t was i n Washi ngt on and i n
conf er ence wi t h gover nment of f i ci al swhi l e t he ot her hal f went spr eadi ng t he
st or y t hat t he gover nment woul d gi ve f i ve hundr ed t housand dol l ar s as r ewar d
f or i nf or mat i on t hat woul d hel p t o f i nd J ohn Gal t .
" No, not a cl ue, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch t o Mr . Thompson, summi ng up t he
r epor t s of t he speci al agent s who had been sent t o check on ever y man by t he
name of J ohn Gal t t hr oughout t he count r y. " They' r e a shabby l ot . Ther e' s a
J ohn Gal t who' s a pr of essor of or ni t hol ogy, ei ght y year s ol d t her e' s a
r et i r ed gr eengr ocer wi t h a wi f e and ni ne chi l dr ent her e' s an unski l l ed
r ai l r oad l abor er who' s hel d t he same j ob f or t wel ve year s
and ot her such t r ash. "
" Don' t despai r ! We wi l l get J ohn Gal t ! " sai d of f i ci al br oadcast s i n t he
dayt i mebut at ni ght , ever y hour on t he hour , by a secr et , of f i ci al or der , an
appeal was sent f r omshor t - wave t r ansmi t t er s i nt o t he empt y r eaches of space:
" Cal l i ng J ohn Gal t ! . . . Cal l i ng J ohn Gal t ! . . .
Ar e you l i st eni ng, J ohn Gal t ? . . . We wi sh t o negot i at e. We wi sh t o
conf er wi t h you. Gi ve us wor d on wher e you can be r eached. . . .
Do you hear us, J ohn Gal t ?" Ther e was no answer .
The wads of wor t hl ess paper money wer e gr owi ng heavi er i n t he pocket s of
t he nat i on, but t her e was l ess and l ess f or t hat money t o buy. I n Sept ember ,
a bushel of wheat had cost el even dol l ar s; i t had cost t hi r t y dol l ar s i n
November ; i t had cost one hundr ed i n December ; i t was now appr oachi ng t he
pr i ce of t wo hundr edwhi l e t he pr i nt i ng pr esses of t he gover nment t r easur y
wer e r unni ng a r ace wi t h st ar vat i on, and l osi ng.
When t he wor ker s of a f act or y beat up t hei r f or eman and wr ecked t he
machi ner y i n a f i t of despai r no act i on coul d be t aken agai nst t hem. Ar r est s
wer e f ut i l e, t he j ai l s wer e f ul l , t he ar r est i ng of f i cer s wi nked at t hei r
pr i soner s and l et t hemescape on t hen- way t o pr i son
men wer e goi ng t hr ough t he mot i ons pr escr i bed f or t he moment , wi t h no
t hought of t he moment t o f ol l ow. No act i on coul d be t aken when mobs of
st ar vi ng peopl e at t acked war ehouses on t he out ski r t s of ci t i es.
No act i on coul d be t aken when puni t i ve squadr ons j oi ned t he peopl e t hey
had been sent t o puni sh.
" Ar e you l i st eni ng, J ohn Gal t ? . . . We wi sh t o negot i at e. We mi ght meet
your t er ms. . . . Ar e you l i st eni ng?"
Ther e wer e whi sper ed r umor s of cover ed wagons t r avel i ng by ni ght t hr ough
abandoned t r ai l s, and of secr et set t l ement s ar med t o r esi st t he at t acks of
t hose whomt hey cal l ed t he " I ndi ans" t he at t acks of any l oot i ng savages, be
t hey homel ess mobs or gover nment agent s. Li ght s wer e seen, once i n a whi l e,
on t he di st ant hor i zon of a pr ai r i e, i n t he hi l l s, on t he l edges of
mount ai ns, wher e no bui l di ngs had been known t o exi st . But no sol di er s coul d
be per suaded t o i nvest i gat e t he sour ces of t hose l i ght s.
On t he door s of abandoned houses, on t he gat es of cr umbl i ng f act or i es, on
t he wal l s of gover nment bui l di ngs, t her e appear ed, once i n a whi l e, t r aced i n
chal k, i n pai nt , i n bl ood, t he cur vi ng mar k whi ch was t he si gn of t he dol l ar .
" Can you hear us, J ohn Gal t ? . . . Send us wor d. Name your t er ms.
We wi l l meet any t er ms you set . Can you hear us?"
Ther e was no answer .
The shaf t of r ed smoke t hat shot t o t he sky on t he ni ght of J anuar y 22 and
st ood abnor mal l y st i l l f or a whi l e, l i ke a sol emn memor i al obel i sk, t hen
waver ed and swept back and f or t h acr oss t he sky, l i ke a sear chl i ght sendi ng
some undeci pher abl e message, t hen went out as abr upt l y as i t had come, mar ked
t he end of Rear den St eel but t he i nhabi t ant s of t he ar ea di d not know i t .
They l ear ned i t onl y on subsequent ni ght s, when t heywho had cur sed t he mi l l s
f or t he smoke, t he f umes, t he soot and t he noi sel ooked out and, i nst ead of
t he gl ow pul sat i ng wi t h l i f e on t hei r f ami l i ar hor i zon, t hey saw a bl ack
voi d.
The mi l l s had been nat i onal i zed, as t he pr oper t y of a deser t er .
The f i r st bear er of t he t i t l e of " Peopl e' s Manager , " appoi nt ed t o r un t he
mi l l s, had been a man of t he Or r en Boyl e f act i on, a pudgy hanger - on of t he
met al l ur gi cal i ndust r y, who had want ed not hi ng but t o f ol l ow hi s empl oyees
whi l e goi ng t hr ough t he mot i ons of l eadi ng. But at t he end of a mont h, af t er
t oo many cl ashes wi t h t he wor ker s, t oo many occasi ons when hi s onl y answer
had been t hat he coul dn' t hel p i t , t oo many undel i ver ed or der s, t oo many
t el ephoni c pr essur es f r omhi s buddi es, he had begged t o be t r ansf er r ed t o
some ot her posi t i on. The Or r en Boyl e f act i on had been f al l i ng apar t , si nce
Mr . Boyl e had been conf i ned t o a r est home, wher e hi s doct or had f or bi dden
hi many cont act wi t h busi ness and had put hi mt o t he j ob of weavi ng basket s,
as a means of occupat i onal t her apy. The second " Peopl e' s Manager " sent t o
Rear den St eel had bel onged t o t he f act i on of Cuf f y Mei gs. He had wor n l eat her
l eggi ngs and per f umed hai r l ot i ons, he had come t o wor k wi t h a gun on hi s
hi p, he had kept snappi ng t hat di sci pl i ne was hi s pr i mar y goal and t hat by
God he' d get i t or el se. The onl y di scer ni bl e r ul e of t he di sci pl i ne had been
hi s or der f or bi ddi ng al l quest i ons.
Af t er weeks of f r ant i c act i vi t y on t he par t of i nsur ance compani es, of
f i r emen, of ambul ances and of f i r st - ai d uni t s, at t endi ng t o a ser i es of
i nexpl i cabl e acci dent st he " Peopl e' s Manager " had vani shed one mor ni ng,
havi ng sol d and shi pped t o sundr y r acket eer s of Eur ope and Lat i n Amer i ca most
of t he cr anes, t he aut omat i c conveyor s, t he suppl i es of r ef r act or y br i ck, t he
emer gency power gener at or , and t he car pet f r omwhat had once been Rear den' s
of f i ce.
No one had been abl e t o unt angl e t he i ssues i n t he vi ol ent chaos of t he
next f ew dayst he i ssues had never been named, t he si des had r emai ned
unacknowl edged, but ever yone had known t hat t he bl oody encount er s bet ween t he
ol der wor ker s and t he newer had not been dr i ven t o such f er oci ous i nt ensi t y
by t he t r i vi al causes t hat kept set t i ng t hemof f nei t her guar ds nor pol i cemen
nor st at e t r ooper s had been abl e t o keep or der f or t he l engt h of a daynor
coul d any f act i on must er a candi dat e wi l l i ng t o accept t he post of " Peopl e' s
Manager . "
On J anuar y 22, t he oper at i ons of Rear den St eel had been or der ed
t empor ar i l y suspended.
The shaf t of r ed smoke, t hat ni ght , had been caused by a si xt y- year ol d
wor ker , who had set f i r e t o one of t he st r uct ur es and had been caught i n t he
act , l aughi ng dazedl y and st ar i ng at t he f l ames. " To avenge Hank Rear den! " he
had cr i ed def i ant l y, t ear s r unni ng down hi s f ur nace- t anned f ace.
Don' t l et i t hur t you l i ke t hi st hought Dagny, sl umped acr oss her desk,
over t he page of t he newspaper wher e a si ngl e br i ef par agr aph announced t he
" t empor ar y" end of Rear den St eel don' t l et i t hur t you so much. . . . She
kept seei ng t he f ace of Hank Rear den, as he had st ood at t he wi ndow of hi s
of f i ce, wat chi ng a cr ane move agai nst t he sky wi t h a l oad of gr een- bl ue r ai l .
. . . Don' t l et i t hur t hi ml i ke t hi s was t he pl ea i n her mi nd, addr essed t o
no onedon' t l et hi mhear of i t , don' t l et hi mknow. . . . Then she saw
anot her f ace, a f ace wi t h unf l i nchi ng gr een eyes, sayi ng t o her , i n a voi ce
made i mpl acabl e by t he qual i t y of r espect f or f act s: " You' l l have t o hear
about i t .
. . . You' l l hear about ever y wr eck. You' l l hear about ever y di scont i nued
t r ai n. . . . Nobody st ays i n t hi s val l ey by f aki ng r eal i t y i n any manner
what ever . . . . " Then she sat st i l l , wi t h no si ght and no sound i n her mi nd,
wi t h not hi ng but t hat enor mous pr esence whi ch was pai n unt i l she hear d t he
f ami l i ar cr y t hat had become a dr ug ki l l i ng al l sensat i ons except t he
capaci t y t o act : " Mi ss Taggar t , we don' t know what t o do! " and she shot t o
her f eet t o answer .
" The Peopl e' s St at e of Guat emal a, " sai d t he newspaper s on J anuar y 26,
" decl i nes t he r equest of t he Uni t ed St at es f or t he l oan of a t housand t ons of
st eel . "
On t he ni ght of Febr uar y 3, a young pi l ot was f l yi ng hi s usual r out e, a
weekl y- f l i ght f r omDal l as t o New Yor k Ci t y. When he r eached t he empt y
dar kness beyond Phi l adel phi ai n t he pl ace wher e t he f l ames of Rear den St eel
had f or year s been hi s f avor i t e l andmar k, hi s gr eet i ng i n t he l onel i ness of
ni ght , t he beacon of a l i vi ng ear t hhe saw a snow- cover ed spr ead, dead- whi t e
and phosphor escent i n t he st ar l i ght , a spr ead of peaks and cr at er s t hat
l ooked l i ke t he sur f ace of t he moon.
He qui t hi s j ob, next mor ni ng.
Thr ough t he f r ozen ni ght s, over dyi ng ci t i es, knocki ng i n vai n at
unanswer i ng wi ndows, beat i ng on unechoi ng wal l s, r i si ng above t he r oof s of
l i ght l ess bui l di ngs and t he skel et al gi r der s of r ui ns, t he pl ea went on
cr yi ng t hr ough space, cr yi ng t o t he st at i onar y mot i on of t he st ar s, t o t he
heat l ess f i r e of t hei r t wi nkl i ng: " Can you hear us, J ohn Gal t ? Can you hear
us?"
" Mi ss Taggar t , we don' t know what t o do, " sai d Mr . Thompson; he had
summoned her t o a per sonal conf er ence on one of hi s scur r yi ng t r i ps t o New
Yor k. " We' r e r eady t o gi ve i n, t o meet hi s t er ms, t o l et hi mt ake over but
wher e i s he?"
" For t he t hi r d t i me, " she sai d, her f ace and voi ce shut t i ght agai nst any
f i ssur e of emot i on, " I do not know wher e he i s. What made you t hi nk I di d?"
" Wel l , I di dn' t know, I had t o t r y . . . I t hought , j ust i n case . . .
I t hought , maybe i f you had a way t o r each hi m"
" I haven' t . "
" You see, we can' t announce, not even by shor t - wave r adi o, t hat we' r e
wi l l i ng t o sur r ender al t oget her . Peopl e mi ght hear i t . But i f you had some
way t o r each hi m, t o l et hi mknow t hat we' r e r eady t o gi ve i n, t o scr ap our
pol i ci es, t o do anyt hi ng he t el l s us t o"
" I sai d I haven' t . "
" I f he' d onl y agr ee t o a conf er ence, j ust a conf er ence, i t woul dn' t commi t
hi mt o anyt hi ng, woul d i t ? We' r e wi l l i ng t o t ur n t he whol e economy over t o
hi mi f he' d onl y t el l us when, wher e, how. I f he' d gi ve us some wor d or si gn
. . . i f he' d answer us . . . Why doesn' t he answer ?"
" You' ve hear d hi s speech. "
" But what ar e we t o do? We can' t j ust qui t and l eave t he count r y wi t hout
any gover nment at al l . I shudder t o t hi nk what woul d happen.
Wi t h t he ki nd of soci al el ement s now on t he l oosewhy, Mi ss Taggar t , i t ' s
al l I can do t o keep t hemi n l i ne or we' d have pl under and bl oody mur der i n
br oad dayl i ght . I don' t know what ' s got i nt o peopl e, but t hey j ust don' t seem
t o be ci vi l i zed any mor e. We can' t qui t at a t i me l i ke t hi s. We can nei t her
qui t nor r un t hi ngs any l onger . What ar e we t o do, Mi ss Taggar t ?"
" St ar t decont r ol l i ng. "
" Huh?"
" St ar t l i f t i ng t axes and r emovi ng cont r ol s. "
" Oh, no, no, no! That ' s out of t he quest i on! "
" Out of whose quest i on?"
" I mean, not at t hi s t i me, Mi ss Taggar t , not at t hi s t i me. The count r y
i sn' t r eady f or i t . Per sonal l y, I ' d agr ee wi t h you, I ' ma f r eedoml ovi ng man,
Mi ss Taggar t , I ' mnot af t er power but t hi s i s an emer gency.
Peopl e ar en' t r eady f or f r eedom. We' ve got t o keep a st r ong hand. We can' t
adopt an i deal i st i c t heor y, whi ch"
" Then don' t ask me what t o do, " she sai d, and r ose t o her f eet .
" But , Mi ss Taggar t "
" I di dn' t come her e t o ar gue. "
She was at t he door when he si ghed and sai d, " I hope he' s st i l l al i ve. "
She st opped. " I hope t hey haven' t done anyt hi ng r ash. "
A moment passed bef or e she was abl e t o ask, " Who?" and t o make i t a wor d,
not a scr eam.
He shr ugged, spr eadi ng hi s ar ms and l et t i ng t hemdr op hel pl essl y.
" I can' t hol d my own boys i n l i ne any l onger . I can' t t el l what t hey mi ght
at t empt t o do. Ther e' s one cl i quet he Fer r i s- Lawson- Mei gs f act i ont hat ' s been
af t er me f or over a year t o adopt st r onger measur es. A t ougher pol i cy, t hey
mean. Fr ankl y, what t hey mean i s: t o r esor t t o t er r or . I nt r oduce t he deat h
penal t y f or ci vi l i an cr i mes, f or cr i t i cs, di ssent er s and t he l i ke. Thei r
ar gument i s t hat si nce peopl e won' t co- oper at e, won' t act f or t he publ i c
i nt er est vol unt ar i l y, we' ve got t o f or ce t hemt o. Not hi ng wi l l make our
syst emwor k, t hey say, but t er r or .
And t hey may be r i ght , f r omt he l ook of t hi ngs nowadays. But Wesl ey won' t
go f or st r ong- ar mmet hods; Wesl ey i s a peacef ul man, a l i ber al , and so amT.
We' r e t r yi ng t o keep t he Fer r i s boys i n check, but . . .
You see, t hey' r e set agai nst any sur r ender t o J ohn Gal t . They don' t want
us t o deal wi t h hi m. They don' t want us t o f i nd hi m. I woul dn' t put anyt hi ng
past t hem. I f t hey f ound hi mf i r st , t hey' dt her e' s no t el l i ng what t hey mi ght
do. . . . That ' s what wor r i es me. Why doesn' t he answer ? Why hasn' t he
answer ed us at al l ? What i f t hey' ve f ound hi mand ki l l ed hi m? I woul dn' t
know. . . . So I hoped t hat per haps you had some way . . . some means of
knowi ng t hat he' s st i l l al i ve . . . " Hi s voi ce t r ai l ed of f I nt o a quest i on
mar k.
The whol e of her r esi st ance agai nst a r ush of l i quef yi ng t er r or went i nt o
t he ef f or t t o keep her voi ce as st i f f as her knees, l ong enough t o say, " I do
not know, " and her knees st i f f enough t o car r y her out of t he r oom.
Fr ombehi nd t he r ot t ed post s of what had once been a cor ner veget abl e
st and, Dagny gl anced f ur t i vel y back at t he st r eet : t he r ar e l amp post s br oke
t he st r eet i nt o separ at e i sl ands, she coul d see a pawnshop i n t he f i r st pat ch
of l i ght , a sal oon i n t he next , a chur ch i n t he f ar t hest , and bl ack gaps
bet ween t hem; t he si dewal ks wer e deser t ed; i t was har d t o t el l , but t he
st r eet seemed empt y.
She t ur ned t he cor ner , wi t h del i ber at el y r esonant st eps, t hen st opped
abr upt l y t o l i st en: i t was har d t o t el l whet her t he abnor mal t i ght ness i nsi de
her chest was t he sound of her own hear t beat s, and har d t o di st i ngui sh i t
f r omt he sound of di st ant wheel s and f r omt he gl assy r ust l e whi ch was t he
East Ri ver somewher e cl ose by; but she hear d no sound of human st eps behi nd
her . She j er ked her shoul der s, i t was par t - shr ug, par t - shudder , and she
wal ked f ast er . A r ust y cl ock i n some unl i ght ed caver n coughed out t he hour of
f our A. M.
The f ear of bei ng f ol l owed di d not seemf ul l y r eal , as no f ear coul d be
r eal t o her now. She wonder ed whet her t he unnat ur al l i ght ness of her body was
a st at e of t ensi on or r el axat i on; her body seemed dr awn so t i ght l y t hat she
f el t as i f i t wer e r educed t o a si ngl e at t r i but e: t o t he power of mot i on; her
mi nd seemed i naccessi bl y r el axed, l i ke a mot or set t o t he aut omat i c cont r ol
of an absol ut e no l onger t o be quest i oned.
I f a naked bul l et coul d f eel i n mi d- f l i ght , t hi s i s what i t woul d f eel ,
she t hought ; j ust t he mot i on and t he goal , not hi ng el se. She t hought i t
vaguel y, di st ant l y, as i f her own per son wer e unr eal ; onl y t he wor d " naked"
seemed t o r each her : naked . . . st r i pped of al l concer n but f or t he t ar get .
. . f or t he number " 367, " t he number of a house on t he East Ri ver , whi ch her
mi nd kept r epeat i ng, t he number i t had so l ong been f or bi dden t o consi der .
Thr ee- si xt y- sevenshe t hought , l ooki ng f or an i nvi si bl e shape ahead, among
t he angul ar f or ms of t enement st hr ee- si xt y- seven . . .
t hat i s wher e he l i ves . . . i f he l i ves at al l . . . . Her cal m, her
det achment and t he conf i dence of her st eps came f r omt he cer t ai nt y t hat t hi s
was an " i f wi t h whi ch she coul d not exi st any l onger .
She had exi st ed wi t h i t f or t en daysand t he ni ght s behi nd her wer e a
si ngl e pr ogr essi on t hat had br ought her t o t hi s ni ght , as i f t he moment umnow
dr i vi ng her st eps wer e t he sound of her own st eps st i l l r i ngi ng, unanswer ed,
i n t he t unnel s of t he Ter mi nal . She had sear ched f or hi mt hr ough t he t unnel s,
she had wal ked f or hour s, ni ght af t er ni ght t he hour s of t he shi f t he had
once wor kedt hr ough t he under gr ound passages and pl at f or ms and shops and
ever y t wi st of abandoned t r acks, aski ng no quest i ons of anyone, of f er i ng no
expl anat i ons of her pr esence. She had wal ked, wi t h no sense of f ear or hope,
moved by a f eel i ng of desper at e l oyal t y t hat was al most a f eel i ng of pr i de.
The r oot of t hat f eel i ng was t he moment s when she had st opped i n sudden
ast oni shment i n some dar k subt er r anean cor ner and had hear d t he wor ds hal f -
st at ed i n her mi nd: Thi s i s my r ai l r oadas she l ooked at a vaul t vi br at i ng t o
t he sound of di st ant wheel s; t hi s i s my l i f eas she f el t t he cl ot of t ensi on,
whi ch was t he st opped and t he suspended wi t hi n her sel f ; t hi s i s my l oveas
she t hought of t he man who, per haps, was somewher e i n t hose t unnel s. Ther e
can be no conf l i ct among t hese t hr ee . . . what amI doubt i ng? . . . what can
keep us apar t , her e, wher e onl y he and I bel ong? . . . Then, r ecapt ur i ng t he
cont ext of t he pr esent , she had wal ked st eadi l y on, wi t h t he sense of t he
same unbr oken l oyal t y, but t he sound of di f f er ent wor ds: You have f or bi dden
me t o l ook f or you, you may damn me, you may choose t o di scar d me . . . but
by t he r i ght of t he f act t hat I amal i ve, I must know t hat you ar e . . . I
must see you t hi s once . . . not t o st op, not t o speak, not t o t ouch you,
onl y t o see. . . . She had not seen hi m. She had abandoned her sear ch, when
she had not i ced t he cur i ous, wonder i ng gl ances of t he under gr ound wor ker s,
f ol l owi ng her st eps.
She had cal l ed a meet i ng of t he Ter mi nal t r ack l abor er s f or t he al l eged
pur pose of boost i ng t hei r mor al e, she had hel d t he meet i ng t wi ce, t o f ace al l
t he men i n t ur nshe had r epeat ed t he same uni nt el l i gi bl e speech, f eel i ng a
st ab of shame at t he empt y gener al i t i es she ut t er ed and, t oget her , a st ab of
pr i de t hat i t di d not mat t er t o her any l onger she had l ooked at t he
exhaust ed, br ut al i zed f aces of men who di d not car e whet her t hey wer e or der ed
t o wor k or t o l i st en t o meani ngl ess sounds. She had not seen hi s f ace among
t hem. " Was ever yone pr esent ?" she had asked t he f or eman. " Yeah, I guess so, "
he had answer ed i ndi f f er ent l y.
She had l oi t er ed at t he Ter mi nal ent r ances, wat chi ng t he men as t hey came
t o wor k. But t her e wer e t oo many ent r ances t o cover and no pl ace wher e she
coul d wat ch whi l e r emai ni ng unseenshe had st ood i n t he soggy t wi l i ght on a
si dewal k gl i t t er i ng wi t h r ai n, pr essed t o t he wal l of a war ehouse, her coat
col l ar r ai sed t o her cheekbones, r ai ndr ops f al l i ng of f t he br i mof her hat
she had st ood exposed t o t he si ght of t he st r eet , knowi ng t hat t he gl ances of
t he men who passed her wer e gl ances of r ecogni t i on and ast oni shment , knowi ng
t hat her vi gi l was t oo danger ousl y obvi ous. I f t her e was a J ohn Gal t among
t hem, someone coul d guess t he nat ur e of her quest . . . i f t her e was no J ohn
Gal t among t hem. . . i f t her e was no J ohn Gal t i n t he wor l d, she t hought ,
t hen no danger exi st edand no wor l d.
No danger and no wor l d, she t hought as she wal ked t hr ough t he st r eet s of
t he sl ums t owar d a house wi t h t he number " 367, " whi ch was or was not hi s
home. She wonder ed whet her t hi s was what one f el t whi l e awai t i ng a ver di ct of
deat h: no f ear , no anger , no concer n, not hi ng but t he i cy det achment of l i ght
wi t hout heat or of cogni t i on wi t hout val ues.
A t i n can cl at t er ed f r omunder her t oes, and t he sound went beat i ng t oo
l oudl y and t oo l ong, as i f agai nst t he wal l s of an abandoned ci t y.
The st r eet s seemed r azed by exhaust i on, not by r est , as i f t he men i nsi de
t he wal l s wer e not asl eep, but had col l apsed. He woul d be home f r omwor k at
t hi s hour , she t hought . . . i f he wor ked . . . i f he st i l l had a home. . . .
She l ooked at t he shapes of t he sl ums, at t he cr umbl i ng pl ast er , t he peel i ng
pai nt , t he f adi ng si gnboar ds of f ai l i ng shops wi t h unwant ed goods i n unwashed
wi ndows, t he saggi ng st eps unsaf e t o cl i mb, t he cl ot hesl i nes of gar ment s
unf i t t o wear , t he undone, t he unat t ended, t he gi ven up, t he i ncompl et e, al l
t he t wi st ed monument s of a l osi ng r ace agai nst t wo enemi es: " no t i me" and " no
st r engt h"
and she t hought t hat t hi s was t he pl ace wher e he had l i ved f or t wel ve
year s, he who possessed such ext r avagant power t o l i ght en t he j ob of human
exi st ence.
Some memor y kept st r uggl i ng t o r each her , t hen came back: i t s name was
St ar nesvi l l e. She f el t t he sensat i on of a shudder . But t hi s i s New Yor k
Ci t y! she cr i ed t o her sel f i n def ense of t he gr eat ness she had l oved; t hen
she f aced wi t h unmovi ng aust er i t y t he ver di ct pr onounced by her mi nd: a ci t y
t hat had l ef t hi mi n t hese sl ums f or t wel ve year s was damned and doomed t o
t he f ut ur e of St ar nesvi l l e.
Then, abr upt l y, i t ceased t o mat t er ; she f el t a pecul i ar shock, l i ke t he
shock of sudden si l ence, a sense of st i l l ness wi t hi n her , whi ch she t ook f or
a sense of cal m: she saw t he number " 367" above t he door of an anci ent
t enement .
She was cal m, she t hought , i t was onl y t i me t hat had suddenl y l ost i t s
cont i nui t y and had br oken her per cept i on i nt o separ at e snat ches: she knew t he
moment when she saw t he number t hen t he moment when she l ooked at a l i st on a
boar d i n t he mol dy hal f - l i ght of a door way and saw t he wor ds " J ohn Gal t , 5t h,
r ear " scr awl ed i n penci l by some i l l i t er at e handt hen t he moment when she
st opped at t he f oot of a st ai r way, gl anced up at t he vani shi ng angl es of t he
r ai l i ng and suddenl y l eaned agai nst t he wal l , t r embl i ng wi t h t er r or ,
pr ef er r i ng not t o knowt hen t he moment when she f el t t he movement of her f oot
comi ng t o r est on t he f i r st of t he st epst hen a si ngl e, unbr oken pr ogr essi on
of l i ght ness, of r i si ng wi t hout ef f or t or doubt or f ear , of f eel i ng t he
t wi st i ng i nst al l ment s of st ai r way dr oppi ng down beneat h her unhesi t ant f eet ,
as i f t he moment umof her i r r esi st i bl e r i se wer e comi ng f r omt he st r ai ght ness
of her body, t he poi se of her shoul der s, t he l i f t of her head and t he
sol emnl y exul t ant cer t ai nt y t hat i n t he moment of ul t i mat e deci si on, i t was
not di sast er she expect ed of her l i f e, at t he end of a r i si ng st ai r way she
had needed t hi r t y- seven year s t o cl i mb.
At t he t op, she saw a nar r ow hal l way, i t s wal l s conver gi ng t o an unl i ght ed
door . She hear d t he f l oor boar ds cr eaki ng i n t he si l ence, under her st eps. She
f el t t he pr essur e of her f i nger on a door bel l and hear d t he sound of r i ngi ng
i n t he unknown space beyond. She wai t ed. She hear d t he br i ef cr ack of a
boar d, but i t came f r omt he f l oor bel ow. She hear d t he sl i di ng wai l of a
t ugboat somewher e on t he r i ver . Then she knew t hat she had mi ssed some span
of t i me, because her next awar eness was not l i ke a moment of awakeni ng, but
l i ke a moment of bi r t h: as i f t wo sounds wer e pul l i ng her out of a voi d, t he
sound of a st ep behi nd t he door and t he sound of a l ock bei ng t ur nedbut she
was not pr esent unt i l t he moment when suddenl y t her e was no door bef or e her
and t he f i gur e st andi ng on t he t hr eshol d was J ohn Gal t , st andi ng casual l y i n
hi s own door way, dr essed i n sl acks and shi r t , t he angl e of hi s wai st l i ne
sl ant i ng f ai nt l y agai nst t he l i ght behi nd hi m.
She knew t hat hi s eyes wer e gr aspi ng t hi s moment , t hen sweepi ng over i t s
past and i t s f ut ur e, t hat a l i ght ni ng pr ocess of cal cul at i on was br i ngi ng i t
i nt o hi s consci ous cont r ol and by t he t i me a f ol d of hi s shi r t moved wi t h t he
mot i on of hi s br eat h, he knew t he sumand t he sumwas a smi l e of r adi ant
gr eet i ng.
She was now unabl e t o move. He sei zed her ar m, he j er ked her i nsi de t he
r oom, she f el t t he cl i ngi ng pr essur e of hi s mout h, she f el t t he sl ender ness
of hi s body t hr ough t he suddenl y al i en st i f f ness of her coat .
She saw t he l aught er i n hi s eyes, she f el t t he t ouch of hi s mout h agai n
and agai n, she was saggi ng i n hi s ar ms, she was br eat hi ng i n gasps, as i f she
had not br eat hed f or f i ve f l i ght s of st ai r s, her f ace was pr essed t o t he
angl e bet ween hi s neck and shoul der , t o hol d hi m, t o hol d hi mwi t h her ar ms,
her hands and t he ski n of her cheek.
" J ohn . . . you' r e al i ve . . . " was al l she coul d say.
He nodded, as i f he knew what t he wor ds wer e i nt ended t o expl ai n.
Then he pi cked up her hat t hat had f al l en t o t he f l oor , he t ook of f her
coat and put i t asi de, he l ooked at her sl ender , t r embl i ng f i gur e, a spar kl e
of appr oval i n hi s eyes, hi s hand movi ng over t he t i ght , hi gh col l ar ed, dar k
bl ue sweat er t hat gave t o her body t he f r agi l i t y of a school gi r l and t he
t ensi on of a f i ght er .
" The next t i me I see you, " he sai d, " wear a whi t e one. I t wi l l l ook
wonder f ul , t oo, "
She r eal i zed t hat she was dr essed as she never appear ed i n publ i c.
as she had been dr essed at home t hr ough t he sl eepl ess hour s of t hat ni ght .
She l aughed, r edi scover i ng t he abi l i t y t o l augh: she had expect ed hi s f i r st
wor ds t o be anyt hi ng but t hat .
" I f t her e i s a next t i me, " he added cal ml y.
" What . . . do you mean?"
He went t o t he door and l ocked i t . " Si t down, " he sai d.
She r emai ned st andi ng, but she t ook t he t i me t o gl ance at t he r oomshe had
not not i ced: a l ong, bar e gar r et wi t h a bed i n one cor ner and a gas st ove i n
anot her , a f ew pi eces of wooden f ur ni t ur e, naked boar ds st r essi ng t he l engt h
of t he f l oor , a si ngl e l amp bur ni ng on a desk, a cl osed door i n t he shadows
beyond t he l amp' s ci r cl eand New Yor k Ci t y beyond an enor mous wi ndow, t he
spr ead of angul ar st r uct ur es and scat t er ed l i ght s, and t he shaf t of t he
Taggar t Bui l di ng f ar i n t he di st ance.
" Now l i st en car ef ul l y, " he sai d. " We have about hal f an hour , I t hi nk. I
know why you came her e. I t ol d you t hat i t woul d be har d t o st and and t hat
you woul d be l i kel y t o br eak. Don' t r egr et i t . You see?I can' t r egr et i t ,
ei t her . But now, we have t o know how t o act , f r omher e on. I n about hal f an
hour , t he l oot er s' agent s, who f ol l owed you, wi l l be her e t o ar r est me. "
" Oh no! " she gasped.
" Dagny, whoever among t hemhad any r emnant of human per cept i veness woul d
know t hat you' r e not one of t hem, t hat you' r e t hei r l ast l i nk t o me, and
woul d not l et you out of hi s si ght or t he si ght of hi s spi es. "
" I wasn' t f ol l owed! I wat ched, I "
" You woul dn' t know how t o not i ce i t . Sneaki ng i s one ar t t hey' r e exper t
at . Whoever f ol l owed you i s r epor t i ng t o hi s bosses r i ght now.
Your pr esence i n t hi s di st r i ct , at t hi s hour , my name on t he boar d
downst ai r s, t he f act t hat I wor k f or your r ai l r oadi t ' s enough even f or t hem
t o connect , "
" Then l et ' s get out of her e! "
He shook hi s head. " They' ve sur r ounded t he bl ock by now. Your f ol l ower
woul d have ever y pol i ceman i n t he di st r i ct at hi s i mmedi at e cal l . Now I want
you t o know what you' l l have t o do when t hey come her e. Dagny, you have onl y
one chance t o save me. I f you di d not qui t e under st and what I sai d on t he
r adi o about t he man i n t he mi ddl e, you' l l under st and i t now. Ther e i s no
mi ddl e f or you t o t ake. And you cannot t ake my si de, not so l ong as we' r e i n
t hei r hands. Now you must t ake t hei r si de. "
" What ?"
" You must t ake t hei r si de, as f ul l y, consi st ent l y and l oudl y as your
capaci t y f or decept i on wi l l per mi t . You must act as one of t hem. You must act
as my wor st enemy. I f you do, I ' l l have a chance t o come out of i t al i ve.
They need me t oo much, t hey' l l go t o any ext r eme bef or e t hey br i ng t hemsel ves
t o ki l l me. What ever t hey ext or t f r ompeopl e, t hey can ext or t i t onl y t hr ough
t hei r vi ct i ms' val ues and t hey have no val ue of mi ne t o hol d over my head,
not hi ng t o t hr eat en me wi t h. But i f t hey get t he sl i ght est suspi ci on of what
we ar e t o each ot her , t hey wi l l have you on a t or t ur e r ack I mean, physi cal
t or t ur e bef or e my eyes, i n l ess t han a week. I amnot goi ng t o wai t f or
t hat . At t he f i r st ment i on of a t hr eat t o you, I wi l l ki l l mysel f and st op
t hemr i ght t her e. "
He sai d i t wi t hout emphasi s, i n t he same i mper sonal t one of pr act i cal
cal cul at i on as t he r est . She knew t hat he meant i t and t hat he was r i ght t o
mean i t : she saw i n what manner she al one had t he power t o succeed at
dest r oyi ng hi m, wher e al l t he power of hi s enemi es woul d f ai l . He saw t he
l ook of st i l l ness i n her eyes, a l ook of under st andi ng and of hor r or . He
nodded, wi t h a f ai nt smi l e.
" I don' t have t o t el l you, " he sai d, " t hat i f I do i t , i t won' t be an act
of sel f - sacr i f i ce. I do not car e t o l i ve on t hei r t er ms, I do not car e t o
obey t hemand I do not car e t o see you endur i ng a dr awn- out mur der .
Ther e wi l l be no val ues f or me t o seek af t er t hat and I do not car e t o
exi st wi t hout val ues. I don' t have t o t el l you t hat we owe no mor al i t y t o
t hose who hol d us under a gun. So use ever y power of decei t you can command,
but convi nce t hemt hat you hat e me. Then we' l l have a chance t o r emai n al i ve
and t o escape I don' t know when or how, but I ' l l know t hat I ' mf r ee t o act .
I s t hi s under st ood?"
She f or ced her sel f t o l i f t her head, t o l ook st r ai ght at hi mand t o nod.
" When t hey come, " he sai d, " t el l t hemt hat you had been t r yi ng t o f i nd me
f or t hem, t hat you became suspi ci ous when you saw my name on your payr ol l
l i st and t hat you came her e t o i nvest i gat e. "
She nodded.
" I wi l l st al l about admi t t i ng my i dent i t y t hey mi ght r ecogni ze my voi ce,
but I ' l l at t empt t o deny i t so t hat i t wi l l be you who' l l t el l t hemt hat I
amt he J ohn Gal t t hey' r e seeki ng. "
I t t ook her a f ew seconds l onger , but she nodded, " Af t er war ds, you' l l
cl ai mand accept t hat f i ve- hundr ed- t housand dol l ar r ewar d t hey' ve of f er ed
f or my capt ur e. "
She cl osed her eyes, t hen nodded.
" Dagny, " he sai d sl owl y, " t her e i s no way t o ser ve your own val ues under
t hei r syst em. Sooner or l at er , whet her you i nt ended i t or not , t hey had t o
br i ng you t o t he poi nt wher e t he onl y t hi ng you can do f or me i s t o t ur n
agai nst me. Gat her your st r engt h and do i t t hen we' l l ear n t hi s one hal f -
hour and, per haps, t he f ut ur e. "
I ' l l do i t , " she sai d f i r ml y, and added, " i f t hat i s what happens, i f " I t
wi l l happen. Don' t r egr et i t . I won' t . You haven' t seen t he nat ur e of our
enemi es. You' l l see i t now. I f I have t o be t he pawn i n t he demonst r at i on
t hat wi l l convi nce you, I ' mwi l l i ng t o beand t o wi n you f r omt hem, once and
f or al l . You di dn' t want t o wai t any l onger ?
Oh, Dagny, Dagny, nei t her di d I ! "
I t was t he way he hel d her , t he way he ki ssed her mout h t hat made her f eel
as i f ever y st ep she had t aken, ever y danger , ever y doubt , even her t r eason
agai nst hi m, i f i t was t r eason, al l of i t wer e gi vi ng her an exul t ant r i ght
t o t hi s moment . He saw t he st r uggl e i n her f ace, t he t ensi on of an
i ncr edul ous pr ot est agai nst her sel f and she hear d t he sound of hi s voi ce
t hr ough t he st r ands of her hai r pr essed t o hi s l i ps: " Don' t t hi nk of t hem
now. Never t hi nk of pai n or danger or enemi es a moment l onger t han i s
necessar y t o f i ght t hem. You' r e her e.
I t ' s our t i me and our l i f e, not t hei r s. Don' t st r uggl e not t o be happy.
You ar e. "
" At t he r i sk of dest r oyi ng you?" she whi sper ed.
" You won' t . But yes, even t hat . You don' t t hi nk i t ' s i ndi f f er ence, do you?
Was i t i ndi f f er ence t hat br oke you and br ought you her e?"
" I " And t hen t he vi ol ence of t he t r ut h made her pul l hi s mout h down t o
her s, t hen t hr ow t he wor ds at hi s f ace: " I di dn' t car e whet her ei t her one of
us l i ved af t er war ds, j ust t o see you t hi s once! "
" I woul d have been di sappoi nt ed i f you hadn' t come. "
" Do you know what i t was l i ke, wai t i ng, f i ght i ng i t , del ayi ng i t one mor e
day, t hen one mor e, t hen"
He chuckl ed. " Do I ?" he sai d sof t l y.
Her hand dr opped i n a hel pl ess gest ur e: she t hought of hi s t en year s.
" When I hear d your voi ce on t he r adi o, " she sai d, " when I hear d t he gr eat est
st at ement I ever . . . No, I have no r i ght t o t el l you what I t hought of i t , "
" Why not ?"
" You t hi nk t hat I haven' t accept ed i t . "
" You wi l l . "
" Wer e you speaki ng f r omher e?"
" No, f r omt he val l ey. "
" And t hen you r et ur ned t o New Yor k?"
" The next mor ni ng. "
" And you' ve been her e ever si nce?"
" Yes. "
" Have you hear d t he ki nd of appeal s t hey' r e sendi ng out t o you ever y
ni ght ?"
" Sur e. "
She gl anced sl owl y about t he r oom, her eyes movi ng f r omt he t ower s of t he
ci t y i n t he wi ndow t o t he wooden r af t er s of hi s cei l i ng, t o t he cr acked
pl ast er of hi s wal l s, t o t he i r on post s of hi s bed. " You' ve been her e al l
t hat t i me, " she sai d. " You' ve l i ved her e f or t wel ve year s . . .
her e . . . l i ke t hi s . . . "
" Li ke t hi s, " he sai d, t hr owi ng open t he door at t he end of t he r oom.
She gasped: t he l ong, l i ght - f l ooded, wi ndowl ess space beyond t he
t hr eshol d, encl osed i n a shel l of sof t l y l ust r ous met al , l i ke a smal l
bal l r oomaboar d a submar i ne, was t he most ef f i ci ent l y moder n l abor at or y she
had ever seen.
" Come i n, " he sai d, gr i nni ng. " I don' t have t o keep secr et s f r omyou any
l onger . "
I t was l i ke cr ossi ng t he bor der i nt o a di f f er ent uni ver se. She l ooked at
t he compl ex equi pment spar kl i ng i n a br i ght , di f f used gl ow, at t he mesh of
gl i t t er i ng wi r es, at t he bl ackboar d chal ked wi t h mat hemat i cal f or mul as, at
t he l ong count er s of obj ect s shaped by t he r ut hl ess di sci pl i ne of a pur pose
t hen at t he saggi ng boar ds and cr umbl i ng pl ast er of t he gar r et . Ei t her - or ,
she t hought ; t hi s was t he choi ce conf r ont i ng t he wor l d: a human soul i n t he
i mage of one or of t he ot her .
" You want ed t o know wher e I wor ked f or el even mont hs out of t he year , " he
sai d, " Al l t hi s, " she asked, poi nt i ng at t he l abor at or y, " on t he sal ar y of
she poi nt ed at t he gar r et " of an unski l l ed l abor er ?"
" Oh, no! On t he r oyal t i es Mi das Mul l i gan pays me f or hi s power house, f or
t he r ay scr een, f or t he r adi o t r ansmi t t er and a f ew ot her j obs of t hat ki nd. "
" Then . . . t hen why di d you have t o wor k as a t r ack l abor er ?"
" Because no money ear ned i n t he val l ey i s ever t o be spent out si de. "
" Wher e di d you get t hi s equi pment ?"
" I desi gned i t . Andr ew St ockt on' s f oundr y made i t . " He poi nt ed t o an
unobt r usi ve obj ect t he si ze of a r adi o cabi net i n a cor ner of t he r oom:
" Ther e' s t he mot or you want ed, " and chuckl ed at her gasp, at t he i nvol unt ar y
j ol t t hat t hr ew her f or war d, " Don' t bot her st udyi ng i t , you won' t gi ve i t
away t o t hemnow. "
She was st ar i ng at t he shi ni ng met al cyl i nder s and t he gl i st eni ng coi l s of
wi r e t hat suggest ed t he r ust ed shape r est i ng, l i ke a sacr ed r el i c, i n a gl ass
cof f i n i n a vaul t of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal .
" I t suppl i es my own el ect r i c power f or t he l abor at or y, " he sai d. " No one
has had t o wonder why a t r ack l abor er i s usi ng such exor bi t ant amount s of
el ect r i ci t y. "
" But i f t hey ever f ound t hi s pl ace"
He gave an odd, br i ef chuckl e. " They won' t . "
" How l ong have you been?"
She st opped; t hi s t i me, she di d not gasp; t he si ght conf r ont i ng her coul d
not be gr eet ed by anyt hi ng except a moment of t ot al i nner st i l l ness: on t he
wal l , behi nd a r ow of machi ner y, she saw a' pi ct ur e cut out of a newspaper a
pi ct ur e of her , i n sl acks and shi r t , st andi ng by t he si de of t he engi ne at
t he openi ng of t he J ohn Gal t Li ne, her head l i f t ed, her smi l e hol di ng t he
cont ext , t he meani ng and t he sunl i ght of t hat day.
A moan was her onl y answer , as she t ur ned t o hi m, but t he l ook on hi s f ace
mat ched her s i n t he pi ct ur e.
" I was t he symbol of what you want ed t o dest r oy i n t he wor l d, " he sai d,
" But you wer e my symbol of what I want ed t o achi eve. " He poi nt ed at t he
pi ct ur e. " Thi s i s how men expect t o f eel about t hei r l i f e once or t wi ce, as
an except i on, i n t he cour se of t hei r l i f et i me. But I t hi s i s what I chose as
t he const ant and nor mal . "
The l ook on hi s f ace, t he ser ene i nt ensi t y of hi s eyes and of hi s mi nd
made i t r eal t o her , now, i n t hi s moment , i n t hi s moment ' s f ul l cont ext , i n
t hi s ci t y.
When he ki ssed her , she knew t hat t hei r ar ms, hol di ng each ot her , wer e
hol di ng t hei r gr eat est t r i umph, t hat t hi s was t he r eal i t y unt ouched by pai n
or f ear , t he r eal i t y of Hal l ey' s Fi f t h Concer t o, t hi s was t he r ewar d t hey had
want ed, f ought f or and won.
The door bel l r ang.
Her f i r st r eact i on was t o dr aw back, hi st o hol d her cl oser and l onger .
When he r ai sed hi s head, he was smi l i ng. He sai d onl y, " Now i s t he t i me
not t o be af r ai d. "
She f ol l owed hi mback t o t he gar r et . She hear d t he door of t he l abor at or y
cl i cki ng l ocked behi nd t hem.
He hel d her coat f or her si l ent l y, he wai t ed unt i l she had t i ed i t s bel t
and had put on her hat t hen he wal ked t o t he ent r ance door and opened i t .
Thr ee of t he f our men who ent er ed wer e muscul ar f i gur es i n mi l i t ar y
uni f or ms, each wi t h t wo guns on hi s hi ps, wi t h br oad f aces devoi d of shape
and eyes unt ouched by per cept i on. The f our t h, t hei r l eader , was a f r ai l
ci vi l i an wi t h an expensi ve over coat , a neat must ache, pal e bl ue eyes and t he
manner of an i nt el l ect ual of t he publ i c- r el at i ons speci es.
He bl i nked at Gal t , at t he r oom, made a st ep f or war d, st opped, made
anot her st ep and st opped.
" Yes?" sai d Gal t .
" Ar e . . . ar e you J ohn Gal t ?" he asked t oo l oudl y.
" That ' s my name. "
" Ar e you t he J ohn Gal t ?"
" Whi ch one?"
" Di d you speak on t he r adi o?"
" When?"
" Don' t l et hi mf ool you. " The met al l i c voi ce was Dagny' s and i t was
addr essed t o t he l eader . " Hei sJ ohnGal t . I shal l r epor t t he pr oof t o
headquar t er s. You may pr oceed. "
Gal t t ur ned t o her as t o a st r anger . " Wi l l you t el l me now j ust who you
ar e and what i t was t hat you want ed her e?"
Her f ace was as bl ank as t he f aces of t he sol di er s. " My name i s Dagny
Taggar t . I want ed t o convi nce mysel f t hat you ar e t he man whomt he count r y i s
seeki ng, "
He t ur ned t o t he l eader . " Al l r i ght , " he sai d. " I amJ ohn Gal t but i f you
want me t o answer you at al l , keep your st ool pi geon" he poi nt ed at Dagny
" away f r omme. "
" Mr . Gal t ! " cr i ed t he l eader wi t h t he sound of an enor mous j ovi al i t y.
" I t i s an honor t o meet you, an honor and a pr i vi l ege! Pl ease, Mr . Gal t ,
don' t mi sunder st and uswe' r e r eady t o gr ant you your wi shesno, of cour se,
you don' t have t o deal wi t h Mi ss Taggar t , i f you pr ef er not t o Mi ss Taggar t
was onl y t r yi ng t o do her pat r i ot i c dut y, but "
" I sai d keep her away f r omme. "
" We' r e not your enemi es, Mr . Gal t , I assur e you we' r e not your enemi es. "
He t ur ned t o Dagny. " Mi ss Taggar t , you have per f or med an i nval uabl e ser vi ce
t o t he peopl e. You have ear ned t he hi ghest f or mof publ i c gr at i t ude. Per mi t
us t o t ake over f r omher e on. " The soot hi ng mot i ons of hi s hands wer e ur gi ng
her t o st and back, t o keep out of Gal t ' s si ght .
" Now what do you want ?" asked Gal t .
" The nat i on i s wai t i ng f or you, Mr . Gal t . Al l we want i s a chance t o
di spel mi sappr ehensi ons. J ust a chance t o co- oper at e wi t h you. " Hi s gl oved
hand was wavi ng a si gnal t o hi s t hr ee men; t he f l oor boar ds cr eaked, as t he
men pr oceeded si l ent l y t o t he t ask of openi ng dr awer s and cl oset s; t hey wer e
sear chi ng t he r oom. " The spi r i t of t he nat i on wi l l r evi ve t omor r ow mor ni ng,
Mr . Gal t , when t hey hear t hat you have been f ound. "
" What do you want ?"
" J ust t o gr eet you i n t he name of t he peopl e. "
" AmI under ar r est ?"
" Why t hi nk i n such ol d- f ashi oned t er ms? Our j ob i s onl y t o escor t you
saf el y t o t he t op counci l s of t he nat i onal l eader shi p, wher e your pr esence i s
ur gent l y needed. " He paused, but got no answer . " The count r y' s t op l eader s
desi r e t o conf er wi t h youj ust t o conf er and t o r each a f r i endl y
under st andi ng. "
The sol di er s wer e f i ndi ng not hi ng but gar ment s and ki t chen ut ensi l s; t her e
wer e no l et t er s, no books, not even a newspaper , as i f t he r oomwer e t he
habi t at i on of an i l l i t er at e.
" Our obj ect i ve i s onl y t o assi st you t o assume your r i ght f ul pl ace i n
soci et y, Mr . Gal t . You do not seemt o r eal i ze your own publ i c val ue. "
" I do. "
" We ar e her e onl y t o pr ot ect you. "
" Locked! " decl ar ed a sol di er , bangi ng hi s f i st agai nst t he l abor at or y
door .
The l eader assumed an i ngr at i at i ng smi l e. " What i s behi nd t hat door , Mr .
Gal t ?"
" Pr i vat e pr oper t y. "
" Woul d you open i t , pl ease?"
" No. "
The l eader spr ead hi s hands out i n a gest ur e of pai ned hel pl essness.
" Unf or t unat el y, my hands ar e t i ed. Or der s, you know. We have t o ent er t hat
r oom. "
" Ent er i t . "
" I t ' s onl y a f or mal i t y, a mer e f or mal i t y. Ther e' s no r eason why t hi ngs
shoul d not be handl ed ami cabl y. Won' t you pl ease co- oper at e?"
" I sai d, no. "
" I ' msur e you woul dn' t want us t o r esor t t o any . . . unnecessar y means. "
He got no answer . " We have t he aut hor i t y t o br eak t hat door down, you know
but , of cour se, we woul dn' t want t o do i t . " He wai t ed, but got no answer .
" For ce t hat l ock! " he snapped t o t he sol di er .
Dagny gl anced at Gal t ' s f ace. He st ood i mpassi vel y, hi s head hel d l evel ,
she saw t he undi st ur bed l i nes of hi s pr of i l e, hi s eyes di r ect ed at t he door .
The l ock was a smal l , squar e pl at e of pol i shed copper , wi t hout keyhol e or
f i xt ur es.
The si l ence and t he sudden i mmobi l i t y of t he t hr ee br ut es wer e
i nvol unt ar y, whi l e t he bur gl ar ' s t ool s i n t he hands of t he f our t h went
gr at i ng caut i ousl y agai nst t he wood of t he door .
The wood gave way easi l y, and smal l chi ps f el l down, t hei r t huds magni f i ed
by t he si l ence i nt o t he r at t l e of a di st ant gun. When t he bur gl ar ' s j i mmy
at t acked t he copper pl at e, t hey hear d a f ai nt r ust l e behi nd t he door , no
l ouder t han t he si gh of a wear y mi nd. I n anot her mi nut e, t he l ock f el l out
and t he door shudder ed f or war d t he wi dt h of an i nch.
The sol di er j umped back. The l eader appr oached, hi s st eps i r r egul ar l i ke
hi ccoughs, and t hr ew t he door open. They f aced a bl ack hol e of unknown
cont ent and unr el i eved dar kness.
They gl anced at one anot her and at Gal t ; he di d not move; he st ood l ooki ng
at t he dar kness.
Dagny f ol l owed t hem, when t hey st epped over t he t hr eshol d, pr eceded by t he
beams of t hei r f l ashl i ght s. The space beyond was a l ong shel l of met al , empt y
but f or heavy dr i f t s of dust on t he f l oor , an odd, gr ayi sh- whi t e dust t hat
seemed t o bel ong among r ui ns undi st ur bed f or cent ur i es. The r ooml ooked dead
l i ke an empt y skul l .
She t ur ned away, not t o l et t hemsee i n her f ace t he scr eamof t he
knowl edge of what t hat dust had been a f ew mi nut es ago. Don' t t r y t o open
t hat door , he had sai d t o her at t he ent r ance t o t he power house of At l ant i s .
. . i f you t r i ed t o br eak i t down, t he machi ner y i nsi de woul d col l apse i nt o
r ubbl e l ong bef or e t he door woul d gi ve way. . . . Don' t t r y t o open t hat
door she was t hi nki ng, but knew t hat what she was now seei ng was t he vi sual
f or mof t he st at ement : Don' t t r y t o f or ce a mi nd.
The men backed out i n si l ence and went on backi ng t owar d t he exi t door ,
t hen st opped uncer t ai nl y, one af t er anot her , at r andompoi nt s of t he gar r et ,
as i f abandoned by a r ecedi ng t i de.
" Wel l , " sai d Gal t , r eachi ng f or hi s over coat and t ur ni ng t o t he l eader ,
" l et ' s go. "
Thr ee f l oor s of t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el had been evacuat ed and
t r ansf or med i nt o an ar med camp. Guar ds wi t h machi ne guns st ood at ever y t ur n
of t he l ong, vel vet - car pet ed cor r i dor s. Sent i nel s wi t h bayonet s st ood on t he
l andi ngs of t he f i r e- st ai r ways. The el evat or door s of t he f i f t y- ni nt h,
si xt i et h and si xt y- f i r st f l oor s wer e padl ocked; a si ngl e door and one
el evat or wer e l ef t as sol e means of access, guar ded by sol di er s i n f ul l
bat t l e r egal i a. Pecul i ar - l ooki ng men l oi t er ed i n t he l obbi es, r est aur ant s and
shops of t he gr ound f l oor : t hei r cl ot hes wer e t oo new and t oo expensi ve, i n
unsuccessf ul i mi t at i on of t he hot el ' s usual pat r ons, a camouf l age i mpai r ed by
t he f act t hat t he cl ot hes wer e badl y f i t t ed t o t hei r wear er s' husky f i gur es
and wer e f ur t her di st or t ed by bul ges i n pl aces wher e t he gar ment s of
busi nessmen have no cause t o bul ge, but t he gar ment s of gunmen have. Gr oups
of guar ds wi t h Tommy guns wer e post ed at ever y ent r ance and exi t of t he
hot el , as wel l as at st r at egi c wi ndows of t he adj oi ni ng st r eet s.
I n t he cent er of t hi s camp, on t he si xt i et h f l oor , i n what was known as
t he r oyal sui t e of t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el , ami dst sat i n dr apes, cr yst al
candel abr a and scul pt ur ed gar l ands of Sower s, J ohn Gal t , dr essed i n sl acks
and shi r t , sat i n a br ocaded ar mchai r , one l eg st r et ched out on a vel vet
hassock, hi s hands cr ossed behi nd hi s head, l ooki ng at t he cei l i ng.
Thi s was t he post ur e i n whi ch Mr . Thompson f ound hi m, when t he f our
guar ds, who had st ood out si de t he door of t he r oyal sui t e si nce f i ve A. M. ,
opened i t at el even A. M. t o admi t Mr . Thompson, and l ocked i t agai n.
Mr . Thompson exper i enced a br i ef f l ash of uneasi ness when t he cl i ck of t he
l ock cut of f hi s escape and l ef t hi mal one wi t h t he pr i soner . But he
r emember ed t he newspaper headl i nes and t he r adi o voi ces, whi ch had been
announci ng t o t he count r y si nce dawn: " J ohn Gal t i s f ound! J ohn Gal t i s i n
New Yor k! J ohn Gal t has j oi ned t he peopl e' s cause! J ohn Gal t i s i n conf er ence
wi t h t he count r y' s l eader s, wor ki ng f or a speedy sol ut i on of al l our
pr obl ems! " and he made hi msel f f eel t hat he bel i eved i t .
" Wel l , wel l , wel l ! " he sai d br i ght l y, mar chi ng up t o t he ar mchai r .
" So you' r e t he young f el l ow who' s st ar t ed al l t he t r oubl eOh, " he sai d
suddenl y, as he got a cl oser l ook at t he dar k gr een eyes wat chi ng hi m. " Wel l ,
I . . . I ' mt i ckl ed pi nk t o meet you, Mr . Gal t , j ust t i ckl ed pi nk. " He added,
" I ' mMr . Thompson, you know. "
" How do you do, " sai d Gal t .
Mr . Thompson t hudded down on a chai r , t he br usqueness of t he movement
suggest i ng a cheer i l y busi nessl i ke at t i t ude. " Now don' t go i magi ni ng t hat
you' r e under ar r est or some such nonsense. " He poi nt ed at t he r oom. " Thi s i s
no j ai l , as you can see. You can see t hat we' l l t r eat you r i ght . You' r e a bi g
per son, a ver y bi g per sonand we know i t .
J ust make your sel f at home. Ask f or anyt hi ng you pl ease. Fi r e any f l unky
t hat doesn' t obey you. And i f you t ake a di sl i ke t o any of t he ar my boys
out si de, j ust br eat he t he wor dand we' l l send anot her one t o r epl ace hi m. "
He paused expect ant l y. He r ecei ved no answer .
" The onl y r eason we br ought you her e i s j ust t hat we want ed t o t al k t o
you. We woul dn' t have done i t t hi s way, but you l ef t us no choi ce. You kept
hi di ng. And al l we want ed was a chance t o t el l you t hat you got us al l
wr ong. "
He spr ead hi s hands out , pal ms up, wi t h a di sar mi ng smi l e. Gal t ' s eyes
wer e wat chi ng hi m, wi t hout answer .
" That was some speech you made. Boy, ar e you an or at or ! You' ve done
somet hi ng t o t he count r yI don' t know what or why, but you have. Peopl e seem
t o want somet hi ng you' ve got . But you t hought we' d be dead set agai nst i t ?
That ' s wher e you' r e wr ong. We' r e not . Per sonal l y, I t hi nk t her e was pl ent y i n
t hat speech t hat made sense. Yes, si r , I do. Of cour se, I don' t agr ee wi t h
ever y wor d you sai dbut what t he hel l , you don' t expect us t o agr ee wi t h
ever yt hi ng, do you? Di f f er ences of opi ni ont hat ' s what makes hor se r aci ng.
Me, I ' mal ways wi l l i ng t o change my mi nd. I ' mopen t o any ar gument . "
He l eaned f or war d i nvi t i ngl y. He obt ai ned no answer .
" The wor l d i s i n a hel l of a mess. J ust as you sai d. Ther e, I agr ee wi t h
you. We have a poi nt i n common. We can st ar t f r omt hat . Somet hi ng' s got t o be
done about i t . Al l I want ed wasLook, " he cr i ed suddenl y, " why don' t you l et
me t al k t o you?"
" You ar e t al ki ng t o me. "
" I . . . wel l , t hat i s . . . wel l , you know what I mean. "
" Ful l y. "
" Wel l ? . . . Wel l , what have you got t o say?"
" Not hi ng. "
" Huh?! "
" Not hi ng. "
" Oh, come now! "
" I di dn' t seek t o t al k t o you. "
" But . . . but l ook! . . . we have t hi ngs t o di scuss! "
" I haven' t . "
" Look, " sai d Mr . Thompson, af t er a pause, " you' r e a man of act i on.
A pr act i cal man. Boy, ar e you a pr act i cal man! What ever el se I don' t qui t e
get about you, I ' msur e of t hat . Now ar en' t you?"
" Pr act i cal ? Yes. "
" Wel l , so amI . We can t al k st r ai ght We can put our car ds on t he t abl e.
What ever i t i s you' r e af t er , I ' mof f er i ng you a deal . "
" I ' mal ways open t o a deal . "
" I knew i t ! " cr i ed Mr . Thompson t r i umphant l y, sl ammi ng hi s f i st down on
hi s own knee. " I t ol d t hemsoal l t hose f ool i nt el l ect ual t heor i zer s, l i ke
Wesl ey! "
" I ' mal ways open t o a deal wi t h anyone who has a val ue t o of f er me. "
Mr . Thompson coul d not t el l what made hi mmi ss a beat bef or e he answer ed,
" Wel l , wr i t e your own t i cket , br ot her ! Wr i t e your own t i cket ! "
" What have you got t o of f er me?"
" Whyanyt hi ng. "
" Such as?"
" Anyt hi ng you name. Have you hear d our shor t - wave br oadcast s t o you?"
" Yes. "
" We sai d we' l l meet your t er ms, any t er ms. We meant i t . "
" Have you hear d me say on t he r adi o t hat I have no t er ms t o bar gai n about ?
I meant i t . "
" Oh, but l ook, you mi sunder st ood us! You t hought we' d f i ght you.
But we won' t . We' r e not t hat r i gi d. We' r e wi l l i ng t o consi der any i dea.
Why di dn' t you answer our cal l s and come t o a conf er ence?"
" Why shoul d I ?"
" Because . . . because we want ed t o speak t o you i n t he name of t he
count r y. "
" I don' t r ecogni ze your r i ght t o speak i n t he name of t he count r y. "
" Now l ook her e, I ' mnot used t o . . . Wel l , okay, won' t you j ust gi ve me a
hear i ng? Won' t you l i st en?"
" I ' ml i st eni ng. "
" The count r y i s i n a t er r i bl e st at e. Peopl e ar e st ar vi ng and gi vi ng up,
t he economy i s f al l i ng t o pi eces, nobody i s pr oduci ng any l onger .
We don' t know what t o do about i t . You do. You know how t o make t hi ngs
wor k. Okay, we' r e r eady t o gi ve i n. We want you t o t el l us what t o do. "
" I t ol d you what t o do. "
" What ?"
" Get out of t he way. "
" That ' s i mpossi bl e! That ' s f ant ast i c! That ' s out of t he quest i on! "
" You see? I t ol d you we had not hi ng t o di scuss. "
" Now, wai t ! Wai t ! Don' t go t o ext r emes! Ther e' s al ways a mi ddl e gr ound.
You can' t have ever yt hi ng. We ar en' t . . . peopl e ar en' t r eady f or i t . You
can' t expect us t o di t ch t he machi ner y of St at e.
We' ve got t o pr eser ve t he syst em. But we' r e wi l l i ng t o amend i t . We' l l
modi f y i t any way you wi sh. We' r e not st ubbor n, t heor et i cal dogmat i st swe' r e
f l exi bl e. We' l l do anyt hi ng you say. We' l l gi ve you a f r ee hand. We' l l co-
oper at e. We' l l compr omi se. We' l l spl i t f i f t y- f i f t y. We' l l keep t he spher e of
pol i t i cs and gi ve you t ot al power over t he spher e of economi cs. We' l l t ur n
t he pr oduct i on, of t he count r y over t o you, we' l l make you a pr esent of t he
ent i r e economy. You' l l r un i t any way you wi sh, you' l l gi ve t he or der s,
you' l l i ssue t he di r ect i vesand you' l l have t he or gani zed power of t he St at e
at your command t o enf or ce your deci si ons. We' l l st and r eady t o obey you, al l
of us, f r omme on down. I n t he f i el d of pr oduct i on, we' l l do what ever you
say. You' l l beyou' l l be t he Economi c Di ct at or of t he nat i on! "
Gal t bur st out l aughi ng.
I t was t he si mpl e amusement of t he l aught er t hat shocked Mr .
Thompson. " What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you?"
" So t hat ' s your i dea of a compr omi se, i s i t ?"
" What ' s t he . . . ? Don' t si t t her e gr i nni ng l i ke t hat ! . . . I don' t
t hi nk you under st ood me. I ' mof f er i ng you Wesl ey Mouch' s j oband t her e' s
not hi ng bi gger t hat anyone coul d of f er you! . . . You' l l be f r ee t o do
anyt hi ng you wi sh. I f you don' t l i ke cont r ol sr epeal t hem. I f you want hi gher
pr of i t s and l ower wagesdecr ee t hem. I f you want speci al pr i vi l eges f or t he
bi g t ycoonsgr ant t hem. I f you don' t l i ke l abor uni onsdi ssol ve t hem. I f you
want a f r ee economyor der peopl e t o be f r ee! Pl ay i t any way you pl ease. But
get t hi ngs goi ng. Get t he count r y or gani zed. Make peopl e wor k agai n. Make
t hempr oduce.
Br i ng back your own ment he men of br ai ns. Lead us t o a peacef ul ,
sci ent i f i c, i ndust r i al age and t o pr osper i t y. "
" At t he poi nt of a gun?"
" Now l ook, I . . . Now what ' s so damn f unny about i t ?"
" Wi l l you t el l me j ust one t hi ng: i f you' r e abl e t o pr et end t hat you
haven' t hear d a wor d I sai d on t he r adi o, what makes you t hi nk I ' d be wi l l i ng
t o pr et end t hat I haven' t sai d i t ?"
" I don' t know what you mean! I "
" Ski p i t . I t was j ust a r het or i cal quest i on. The f i r st par t of i t answer s
t he second. "
" Huh?"
" I don' t pl ay your ki nd of games, br ot her i f you want a t r ansl at i on. "
" Do you mean t hat you' r e r ef usi ng my of f er ?"
" I am. "
" But why?"
" I t t ook me t hr ee hour s on t he r adi o t o t el l you why. "
" Oh, t hat ' s j ust t heor y! I ' mt al ki ng busi ness. I ' mof f er i ng you t he
gr eat est j ob i n t he wor l d. Wi l l you t el l me what ' s wr ong wi t h i t ?"
" What I t ol d you, i n t hr ee hour s, was t hat i t won' t wor k. "
" You can make i t wor k. "
" How?"
Mr . Thompson spr ead hi s hands out . " I don' t know. I f I di d, I woul dn' t
come t o you. I t ' s f or you t o f i gur e out . You' r e t he i ndust r i al geni us. You
can sol ve anyt hi ng. "
" I sai d i t can' t be done. "
" You coul d do i t "
" How?"
" Somehow. " He hear d Gal t ' s chuckl e, and added, " Why not ? J ust t el l me why
not ?"
" Okay, I ' l l t el l you. You want me t o be t he Economi c Di ct at or ?"
" Yes! "
" And you d obey any or der I gi ve?"
" I mpl i ci t l y! "
" Then st ar t by abol i shi ng al l i ncome t axes. "
" Oh, no! " scr eamed Mr . Thompson, l eapi ng t o hi s f eet . " We coul dn' t do
t hat ! That ' s . . . t hat ' s not t he f i el d of pr oduct i on. That ' s t he f i el d of
di st r i but i on. How woul d we pay gover nment empl oyees?"
" Fi r e your gover nment empl oyees. "
" Oh, no! That ' s pol i t i cs! That ' s not economi cs! You can' t i nt er f er e wi t h
pol i t i cs! You can' t have ever yt hi ng! "
Gal t cr ossed hi s l egs on t he hassock, st r et chi ng hi msel f mor e comf or t abl y
i n t he br ocaded ar mchai r . " Want t o cont i nue t he di scussi on?
Or do you get t he poi nt ?"
" I onl y" He st opped.
" Ar e you sat i sf i ed t hat I got t he poi nt ?"
" Look, " sai d Mr . Thompson pl acat i ngl y, r esumi ng t he edge of hi s seat . " I
don' t want t o ar gue. I ' mno good at debat es. I ' ma man of act i on. Ti me i s
shor t . Al l I know i s t hat you' ve got a mi nd. J ust t he sor t of mi nd we need.
You can do anyt hi ng. You coul d make t hi ngs wor k i f you want ed t o. "
" Al l r i ght , put i t your own way: I don' t want t o. I don' t want t o be an
Economi c Di ct at or , not even l ong enough t o i ssue t hat or der f or peopl e t o be
f r eewhi ch any r at i onal human bei ng woul d t hr ow back i n my f ace, because he' d
know t hat hi s r i ght s ar e not t o be hel d, gi ven or r ecei ved by your per mi ssi on
or mi ne. "
" Tel l me, " sai d Mr . Thompson, l ooki ng at hi mr ef l ect i vel y, " what i s i t
you' r e af t er ?"
" I t ol d you on t he r adi o. "
" I don' t get i t . You sai d t hat you' r e out f or your own sel f i sh i nt er est
and t hat , I can under st and. But what can you possi bl y want i n t he f ut ur e t hat
you coul dn' t get r i ght now, f r omus, handed down t o you on a pl at t er ? I
t hought you wer e an egoi st and a pr act i cal man. I of f er you a bl ank check on
anyt hi ng you wi shand you t el l me t hat you don' t want i t , Why?"
" Because t her e ar e no f unds behi nd your bl ank check. "
" What ?"
" Because you have no val ue t o of f er me. "
" I can of f er you anyt hi ng you can ask. J ust name i t . "
" You name i t . "
" Wel l , you t al ked a l ot about weal t h. I f i t ' s money t hat you want
you coul dn' t make i n t hr ee l i f et i mes what I can hand over t o you i n a
mi nut e, t hi s mi nut e, cash on t he bar r el . Want a bi l l i on dol l ar sa cool , neat
bi l l i on dol l ar s?"
" Whi ch I l l have t o pr oduce, f or you t o gi ve me?"
" No, I mean st r ai ght out of t he publ i c t r easur y, i n f r esh, new bi l l s . . .
or . . . or even i n gol d, i f you pr ef er . "
" What wi l l i t buy me?"
" Oh, l ook, when t he count r y get s back on i t s f eet "
" When I put i t back on i t s f eet ?"
" Wel l , i f what you want i s t o r un t hi ngs your own way, i f i t ' s power t hat
you' r e af t er , I ' l l guar ant ee you t hat ever y man, woman and chi l d i n t hi s
count r y wi l l obey your or der s and do what ever you wi sh. "
" Af t er I t each t hemt o do i t ?"
" I f you want anyt hi ng f or your own gangf or al l t hose men who ve
di sappear edj obs, posi t i ons, aut hor i t y, t ax exempt i ons, any speci al f avor at
al l j ust name i t and t hey' l l get i t . "
" Af t er I br i ng t hemback?"
" Wel l , what on ear t h do you want ?"
" What on ear t h do I need you f or ?"
" Huh?"
" What have you got t o of f er me t hat I coul dn' t get wi t hout you?"
Ther e was a di f f er ent l ook i n Mr . Thompson' s eyes when he dr ew back, as i f
cor ner ed, yet l ooked st r ai ght at Gal t f or t he f i r st t i me and sai d sl owl y,
" Wi t hout me, you coul dn' t get out of t hi s r oom, r i ght now. "
Gal t smi l ed. " Tr ue. "
" You woul dn' t be abl e t o pr oduce anyt hi ng. You coul d be l ef t her e t o
st ar ve. "
" Tr ue. "
" Wel l , don' t you see?" The l oudness of homey j ovi al i t y came back i nt o Mr .
Thompson' s voi ce, as i f t he hi nt gi ven and r ecei ved wer e now t o be saf el y
evaded by means of humor . " What I ' ve got t o of f er you i s your l i f e.
" I t ' s not your s t o of f er , Mr . Thompson, " sai d Gal t sof t l y.
Somet hi ng about hi s voi ce made Mr . Thompson j er k t o gl ance at hi m, t hen
j er k f ast er t o l ook away: Gal t ' s smi l e seemed al most gent l e.
" Now, " sai d Gal t , " do you see what I meant when I sai d t hat a zer o can' t
hol d a mor t gage over l i f e? I t ' s I who' d have t o gr ant you t hat ki nd of
mor t gageand I don' t . The r emoval of a t hr eat i s not a payment , t he negat i on
of a negat i ve i s not a r ewar d, t he wi t hdr awal of your ar med hoodl ums i s not
an i ncent i ve, t he of f er not t o mur der me i s not a val ue. "
" Who . . . who' s sai d anyt hi ng about mur der i ng you?"
" Who' s sai d anyt hi ng about anyt hi ng el se? I f you wer en' t hol di ng me her e
at t he poi nt of a gun, under t hr eat of deat h, you woul dn' t have a chance t o
speak t o me at al l . And t hat i s as much as your guns can accompl i sh. I don' t
pay f or t he r emoval of t hr eat s. I don' t buy my l i f e f r omanyone. "
That ' s not t r ue, " sai d Mr . Thompson br i ght l y. " I f you had a br oken l eg,
you' d pay a doct or t o set i t .
" Not i f he was t he one who br oke i t . " He smi l ed at Mr . Thompson' s si l ence.
" I ' ma pr act i cal man, Mr . Thompson. I don' t t hi nk i t ' s pr act i cal t o est abl i sh
a per son whose sol e means of l i vel i hood i s t he br eaki ng of my bones. I don' t
t hi nk i t ' s pr act i cal t o suppor t a pr ot ect i on r acket . "
Mr . Thompson l ooked t hought f ul , t hen shook hi s head. " I don' t t hi nk you' r e
pr act i cal , " he sai d. " A pr act i cal man doesn' t i gnor e t he f act s of r eal i t y. He
doesn' t wast e hi s t i me wi shi ng t hi ngs t o be di f f er ent or t r yi ng t o change
t hem. He t akes t hi ngs as t hey ar e. We' r e hol di ng you. I t ' s a f act . Whet her
you l i ke i t or not , i t ' s a f act . You shoul d act accor di ngl y. "
" I am. "
" What I mean i s, you shoul d co- oper at e. You shoul d r ecogni ze an exi st i ng
si t uat i on, accept i t and adj ust t o i t . "
" I f you had bl ood poi soni ng, woul d you adj ust t o i t or act t o change i t ?"
" Oh, t hat ' s di f f er ent ! That ' s physi cal ! "
" You mean, physi cal f act s ar e open t o cor r ect i on, but your whi ms ar e not ?"
" Huh?"
" You mean, physi cal nat ur e can be adj ust ed t o men, but your whi ms ar e
above t he l aws of nat ur e, and men must adj ust t o you?"
" I mean t hat I hol d t he upper hand! "
" Wi t h a gun i n i t ?"
" Oh, f or get about guns! I "
" I can' t f or get a f act of r eal i t y, Mr . Thompson. That woul d be
i mpr act i cal . "
" Al l r i ght , t hen: I hol d a gun. What ar e you goi ng t o do about i t ?"
" I ' l l act accor di ngl y. I ' l l obey you. "
" What ?"
" I ' l l do what ever you t el l me t o. "
" Do you mean i t ?"
" I mean i t . Li t er al l y. " He saw t he eager ness of Mr . Thompson' s f ace ebb
sl owl y under a l ook of bewi l der ment . " I wi l l per f or many mot i on you or der me
t o per f or m. I f you or der me t o move i nt o t he of f i ce of an Economi c Di ct at or ,
I ' l l move i nt o i t . I f you or der me t o si t at a desk, I wi l l si t at i t . I f you
or der me t o i ssue a di r ect i ve, I wi l l i ssue t he di r ect i ve you or der me t o
i ssue. "
" Oh, but I don' t know what di r ect i ves t o i ssue! "
" I don' t , ei t her . "
Ther e was a l ong pause.
" Wel l ?" sai d Gal t . " What ar e your or der s?"
" I want you t o save t he economy of t he count r y! "
" I don' t know how t o save i t . "
" I want you t o f i nd a way! "
" I don' t know how t o f i nd i t . "
" I want you t o t hi nk! "
" How wi l l your gun make me do t hat , Mr . Thompson?
Mr . Thompson l ooked at hi msi l ent l yand Gal t saw, i n t he t i ght ened l i ps,
i n t he j ut t i ng chi n, i n t he nar r owed eyes, t he l ook of an adol escent bul l y
about t o ut t er t hat phi l osophi cal ar gument whi ch i s expr essed by t he
sent ence: I ' l l bash your t eet h i n. Gal t smi l ed, l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi m, as
i f hear i ng t he unspoken sent ence and under scor i ng i t . Mr .
Thompson l ooked away.
" No, " sai d Gal t , " you don' t want me t o t hi nk. When you f or ce a man t o act
agai nst hi s own choi ce and j udgment , i t ' s hi s t hi nki ng t hat you want hi mt o
suspend. You want hi mt o become a r obot . I shal l compl y. "
Mr . Thompson si ghed. " I don' t get i t , " he sai d i n a t one of genui ne
hel pl essness. " Somet hi ng' s of f and I can' t f i gur e i t out . Why shoul d you ask
f or t r oubl e? Wi t h a br ai n l i ke your syou can beat anybody.
I ' mno mat ch f or you, and you know i t . Why don' t you pr et end t o j oi n us,
t hen gai n cont r ol and out smar t me?"
" For t he same r eason t hat makes you of f er i t : because you' d wi n. "
" Huh?"
" Because i t ' s t he at t empt of your bet t er s t o beat you on your t er ms t hat
has al l owed your ki nd t o get away wi t h i t f or cent ur i es.
Whi ch one of us woul d succeed, i f I wer e t o compet e wi t h you f or cont r ol
over your muscl emen? Sur e, I coul d pr et endand I woul dn' t save your economy
or your syst em, not hi ng wi l l save t hemnowbut I ' d per i sh and what you' d wi n
woul d be what you' ve al ways won i n t he past : a post ponement , one mor e st ay of
execut i on, f or anot her year or mont hbought at t he pr i ce of what ever hope and
ef f or t mi ght st i l l be squeezed out of t he best of t he human r emnant s l ef t
ar ound you, i ncl udi ng me. That ' s al l you' r e af t er and t hat i s t he l engt h of
your r ange. A mont h? You' d set t l e f or a weekon t he unchal l enged absol ut e
t hat t her e wi l l al ways be anot her vi ct i mt o f i nd. But you' ve f ound your l ast
vi ct i mt he one who r ef uses t o pl ay hi s hi st or i cal par t . The game i s up,
br ot her . "
" Oh, t hat ' s j ust t heor y! " snapped Mr . Thompson, a l i t t l e t oo shar pl y; hi s
eyes wer e r ovi ng about t he r oom, i n t he manner of a subst i t ut e f or paci ng; he
gl anced at t he door , as i f l ongi ng t o escape. " You say t hat i f we don' t gi ve
up t he syst em, we' l l per i sh?" he asked.
" Yes. "
" Then, si nce we' r e hol di ng you, you wi l l per i sh wi t h us?"
" Possi bl y. "
" Don' t you want t o l i ve?"
" Passi onat el y. " He saw t he snap of a spar k i n Mr . Thompson' s eyes and
smi l ed. " I ' l l t el l you mor e: I know t hat I want t o l i ve much mor e i nt ensel y
t han you do. I know t hat t hat ' s what you' r e count i ng on. I know t hat you, i n
f act , do not want t o l i ve at al l . I want i t . And because I want i t so much, I
wi l l accept no subst i t ut e. "
Mr . Thompson j umped t o hi s f eet . " That ' s not t r ue! " he cr i ed. " My not
want i ng t o l i vei t ' s not t r ue! Why do you t al k l i ke t hat ?" He st ood, hi s
l i mbs dr awn f ai nt l y t oget her , as i f agai nst a sudden chi l l .
" Why do you say such t hi ngs? I don' t know what you mean. " He backed a f ew
st eps away. " And i t ' s not t r ue t hat I ' ma gunman. I ' mnot . I don' t i nt end t o
har myou. I never i nt ended t o har manybody. I want peopl e t o l i ke me. I want
t o be your f r i end . . . I want t o be your f r i end! " he cr i ed t o t he space at
l ar ge.
Gal t ' s eyes wer e wat chi ng hi m, wi t hout expr essi on, gi vi ng hi mno cl ue t o
what t hey wer e seei ng, except t hat t hey wer e seei ng i t .
Mr . Thompson j er ked suddenl y i nt o bust l i ng, unnecessar y mot i ons, as i f he
wer e i n a hur r y, " I ' ve got t o r un al ong, " he sai d. " I . . . 1
have so many appoi nt ment s. We' l l t al k about i t some mor e. Thi nk i t over .
Take your t i me. I ' mnot t r yi ng t o hi gh- pr essur e you. J ust r el ax, t ake i t easy
and make your sel f at home. Ask f or anyt hi ng you l i ke
f ood, dr i nks, ci gar et t es, t he best of anyt hi ng. " He waved hi s hand at
Gal t ' s gar ment s. " I ' mgoi ng t o or der t he most expensi ve t ai l or i n t he ci t y t o
make some decent cl ot hes f or you. I want you t o get used t o t he best . I want
you t o be comf or t abl e and . . . Say, " he asked, a l i t t l e t oo casual l y, " have
you got any f ami l y? Any r el at i ves you' d l i ke t o see?"
" No. "
" Any f r i ends?"
" No. "
" Have you got a sweet hear t ?"
" No. "
" I t ' s j ust t hat I woul dn' t want you t o get l onesome. We can l et you have
vi si t or s, any vi si t or you name, i f t her e' s anyone you car e f or . "
" Ther e i sn' t "
Mr . Thompson paused at t he door , t ur ned t o l ook at Gal t f or a moment and
shook hi s head. " I can' t f i gur e you out , " he sai d. " I j ust can' t f i gur e you
out . "
Gal t smi l ed, shr ugged and answer ed, " Who i s J ohn Gal t ?"
A whi r l i ng mesh of sl eet hung over t he ent r ance of t he Wayne- Fal kl and
Hot el , and t he ar med guar ds l ooked oddl y, desol at el y hel pl ess i n t he ci r cl e
of l i ght : t hey st ood hunched, heads down, huggi ng t hei r guns f or war mt has
i f , wer e t hey t o r el ease al l t he spi t t i ng vi ol ence of t hei r bul l et s at t he
st or m, i t woul d not br i ng comf or t t o t hei r bodi es.
Fr omacr oss t he st r eet , Chi ck Mor r i son, t he Mor al e Condi t i oner
on hi s way t o a conf er ence on t he f i f t y- ni nt h f l oor not ed t hat t he r ar e,
l et har gi c passer s- by wer e not t aki ng t he t r oubl e t o gl ance at t he guar ds, as
t hey di d not t ake t he t r oubl e t o gl ance at t he soggy headl i nes of a pi l e of
unsol d newspaper s on t he st and of a r agged, shi ver i ng vendor : " J ohn Gal t
Pr omi ses Pr osper i t y. "
Chi ck Mor r i son shook hi s head uneasi l y: si x days of f r ont - page st or i es
about t he uni t ed ef f or t s of t he count r y' s l eader s wor ki ng wi t h J ohn Gal t t o
shape new pol i ci eshad br ought no r esul t s. Peopl e wer e movi ng, he obser ved,
as i f t hey di d not car e t o see anyt hi ng ar ound t hem. No one t ook any not i ce
of hi s exi st ence, except a r agged ol d woman who st r et ched out her hand t o hi m
si l ent l y, as he appr oached t he l i ght s of t he ent r ance; he hur r i ed past , and
onl y dr ops of sl eet f el l on t he gnar l ed, naked pal m.
I t was hi s memor y of t he st r eet s t hat gave a j agged sound t o Chi ck
Mor r i son' s voi ce, when he spoke t o a ci r cl e of f aces i n Mr . Thompson' s r oom
on t he f i f t y- ni nt h f l oor . The l ook of t he f aces mat ched t he sound of hi s
voi ce.
" I t doesn' t seemt o wor k, " he sai d, poi nt i ng t o a pi l e of r epor t s f r omhi s
publ i c- pul se- t aker s. " Al l t he pr ess r el eases about our col l abor at i ng wi t h
J ohn Gal t don' t seemt o make any di f f er ence. Peopl e don' t car e. They don' t
bel i eve a wor d of i t . Some of t hemsay t hat he' l l never col l abor at e wi t h us.
Most of t hemdon' t even bel i eve t hat we' ve got hi m. I don' t know what ' s
happened t o peopl e. They don' t bel i eve anyt hi ng any mor e. " He si ghed. " Thr ee
f act or i es went out of busi ness i n Cl evel and, day bef or e yest er day. Fi ve
f act or i es cl osed i n Chi cago yest er day. I n San Fr anci sco"
" I know, I know, " snapped Mr . Thompson, t i ght eni ng t he muf f l er ar ound hi s
t hr oat : t he bui l di ng' s f ur nace had gone out of or der .
" Ther e' s no choi ce about i t : he' s got t o gi ve i n and t ake over . He' s got
t o! "
Wesl ey Mouch gl anced at t he cei l i ng. " Don' t ask me t o t al k t o hi magai n, "
he sai d, and shudder ed. " I ' ve t r i ed. One can' t t al k t o t hat man. "
" I . . . I can' t , Mr . Thompson! " cr i ed Chi ck Mor r i son, i n answer t o t he
st op of Mr . Thompson' s r ovi ng gl ance. " I ' l l r esi gn, i f you want me t o! I
can' t t al k t o hi magai n! Don' t make me! "
" Nobody can t al k t o hi m, " sai d Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s. " I t ' s a wast e of t i me. He
doesn' t hear a wor d you say. "
Fr ed Ki nnan chuckl ed. " You mean, he hear s t oo much, don' t you?
And what ' s wor se, he answer s i t . "
" Wel l , why don' t you t r y i t agai n?" snapped Mouch. " You seemt o have
enj oyed i t . Why don' t you t r y t o per suade hi m?"
" I know bet t er , " sai d Ki nnan. " Don' t f ool your sel f , br ot her . Nobody' s
goi ng t o per suade hi m. I won' t t r y i t t wi ce. . . . Enj oyed i t ?" he added,
wi t h a l ook of ast oni shment . " Yeah . . . yeah, I guess I di d. "
" What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you? Ar e you f al l i ng f or hi m? Ar e you l et t i ng hi m
wi n you over ?"
" Me?" Ki nnan chuckl ed mi r t hl essl y. " What use woul d he have f or me? I ' l l be
t he f i r st one t o go down t he dr ai n when he wi ns. . . . I t ' s onl y" he gl anced
wi st f ul l y up at t he cei l i ng" i t ' s onl y t hat he' s a man who t al ks st r ai ght . "
" He won' t wi n! " snapped Mr . Thompson. " I t ' s out of t he quest i on! "
Ther e was a l ong pause.
" Ther e ar e hunger r i ot s i n West Vi r gi ni a, " sai d Wesl ey Mouch. " And t he
f ar mer s i n Texas have"
" Mr . Thompson! " sai d Chi ck Mor r i son desper at el y. " Maybe . . .
maybe we coul d l et t he publ i c see hi m. . . at a mass r al l y . . . or maybe
on TV . . . j ust see hi m, j ust so t hey' d bel i eve t hat we' ve r eal l y got hi m. .
. . I t woul d gi ve peopl e hope, f or a whi l e . . . i t woul d gi ve us a l i t t l e
t i me. . . . "
" Too danger ous, " snapped Dr . Fer r i s. " Don' t l et hi mcome anywher e near t he
publ i c. Ther e' s no l i mi t t o what he' l l per mi t hi msel f t o do. "
" He' s got t o gi ve i n, " sai d Mr . Thompson st ubbor nl y. " He' s got t o j oi n us.
One of you must "
" No! " scr eamed Eugene Lawson. " Not me! I don' t want t o see hi mat al l ! Not
once! I don' t want t o have t o bel i eve i t ! "
" What ?" asked J ames Taggar t ; hi s voi ce had a not e of danger ousl y r eckl ess
mocker y; Lawson di d not answer . " What ar e you scar ed of ?"
The cont empt i n Taggar t ' s voi ce sounded abnor mal l y st r essed, as i f t he
si ght of someone' s gr eat er f ear wer e t empt i ng hi mt o def y hi s own.
" What i s i t you' r e scar ed t o bel i eve, Gene?"
" I won' t bel i eve i t ! I won' t ! " Lawson' s voi ce was hal f - snar l , hal f
whi mper . " You can' t make me l ose my f ai t h i n humani t y! You shoul dn' t per mi t
such a man t o be possi bl e! A r ut hl ess egoi st who"
" You' r e a f i ne bunch of i nt el l ect ual s, you ar e, " sai d Mr . Thompson
scor nf ul l y. " I t hought you coul d t al k t o hi mi n hi s own l i ngobut he' s scar ed
t he l ot of you. I deas? Wher e ar e your i deas now? Do somet hi ng! Make hi mj oi n
us! Wi n hi mover ! "
" Tr oubl e i s, he doesn' t want anyt hi ng, " sai d Mouch. " What can we of f er a
man who doesn' t want anyt hi ng?"
" You mean, " sai d Ki nnan, " what can we of f er a man who want s t o l i ve?"
" Shut up! " scr eamed J ames Taggar t . " Why di d you say t hat ? What made you
say i t ?"
" What made you scr eam?" asked Ki nnan.
" Keep qui et , al l of you! " or der ed Mr . Thompson. " You' r e f i ne at f i ght i ng
one anot her , but when i t comes t o f i ght i ng a r eal man"
" So he' s got you, t oo?" yel l ed Lawson.
" Aw, pi pe down, " sai d Mr . Thompson wear i l y. " He' s t he t oughest bast ar d
I ' ve ever been up agai nst . You woul dn' t under st and t hat . He' s as har d as t hey
come . . . " The f ai nt est t i nge of admi r at i on cr ept i nt o hi s voi ce. " As har d
as t hey come . . . "
" Ther e ar e ways t o per suade t ough bast ar ds, " dr awl ed Dr . Fer r i s casual l y,
" as I ' ve expl ai ned t o you. "
" No! " cr i ed Mr . Thompson. " No! Shut up! I won' t l i st en t o you!
I won' t hear of i t ! " Hi s hands moved f r ant i cal l y, as i f st r uggl i ng t o
di spel somet hi ng he woul d not name. " I t ol d hi m. . . t hat t hat ' s not t r ue .
. . t hat we' r e not . . . t hat I ' mnot a . . . " He shook hi s head vi ol ent l y,
as i f hi s own wor ds wer e some unpr ecedent ed f or mof danger . " No, l ook, boys,
what I mean i s, we' ve got t o be pr act i cal . . . and caut i ous. Damn caut i ous.
We' ve got t o handl e i t peacef ul l y.
We can' t af f or d t o ant agoni ze hi mor . . . or har mhi m. We don' t dar e t ake
any chances on . . . anyt hi ng happeni ng t o hi m. Because . . . because, i f he
goes, we go. He' s our l ast hope. Make no mi st ake about i t . I f he goes, we
per i sh. You al l know i t . " Hi s eyes swept over t he f aces ar ound hi m: t hey knew
i t .
The sl eet of t he f ol l owi ng mor ni ng f el l down on f r ont - page st or i es
announci ng t hat a const r uct i ve, har moni ous conf er ence bet ween J ohn Gal t and
t he count r y' s l eader s, on t he pr evi ous af t er noon, had pr oduced " The J ohn Gal t
Pl an, " soon t o be announced. The snowf l akes of t he eveni ng f el l down upon t he
f ur ni t ur e of an apar t ment house whose f r ont wal l had col l apsedand upon a
cr owd of men wai t i ng si l ent l y at t he cl osed cashi er ' s wi ndow of a pl ant whose
owner had vani shed.
" The f ar mer s of Sout h Dakot a, " Wesl ey Mouch r epor t ed t o Mr .
Thompson, next mor ni ng, " ar e mar chi ng on t he st at e capi t al , bur ni ng ever y
gover nment bui l di ng on t hei r way, and ever y home wor t h mor e t han t en t housand
dol l ar s. "
" Cal i f or ni a' s bl own t o pi eces, " he r epor t ed i n t he eveni ng. " Ther e' s a
ci vi l war goi ng on t her ei f t hat ' s what i t i s, whi ch nobody seems t o be sur e
of . They' ve decl ar ed t hat t hey' r e secedi ng f r omt he Uni on, but nobody knows
who' s now i n power . Ther e' s ar med f i ght i ng al l over t he st at e, bet ween a
' Peopl e' s Par t y, ' l ed by Ma Chal mer s and her soybean cul t of Or i ent - admi r er s
and somet hi ng cal l ed ' Back t o God, '
l ed by some f or mer oi l - f i el d owner s. "
" Mi ss Taggar t ! " moaned Mr . Thompson, when she ent er ed hi s hot el r oomnext
mor ni ng, i n answer t o hi s summons. " What ar e we goi ng t o do?"
He wonder ed why he had once f el t t hat she possessed some r eassur i ng ki nd
of ener gy. He was l ooki ng at a bl ank f ace t hat seemed composed, but t he
composur e became di squi et i ng when one not i ced t hat i t l ast ed f or mi nut e af t er
mi nut e, wi t h no change of expr essi on, no si gn of f eel i ng. Her f ace had t he
same l ook as al l t he ot her s, he t hought , except f or somet hi ng i n t he set of
t he mout h t hat suggest ed endur ance.
" I t r ust you, Mi ss Taggar t . You' ve got mor e br ai ns t han al l my boys, " he
pl eaded. " You' ve done mor e f or t he count r y t han any of t hemi t ' s you who
f ound hi mf or us. What ar e we t o do? Wi t h ever yt hi ng f al l i ng t o pi eces, he' s
t he onl y one who can l ead us out of t hi s messbut he won' t . He r ef uses. He
si mpl y r ef uses t o l ead. I ' ve never seen anyt hi ng l i ke i t : a man who has no
desi r e t o command. We beg hi mt o gi ve or der sand he answer s t hat he want s t o
obey t hem! I t ' s pr epost er ous! "
" I t i s. "
" What do you make of i t ? Can you f i gur e hi mout ?
" He' s an ar r ogant egoi st , " she sai d. " He' s an ambi t i ous advent ur er .
He' s a man of unl i mi t ed audaci t y who' s pl ayi ng f or t he bi ggest st akes i n
t he wor l d. "
I t was easy, she t hought . I t woul d have been di f f i cul t i n t hat di st ant
t i me when she had r egar ded l anguage as a t ool of honor , al ways t o be used as
i f one wer e under oat han oat h of al l egi ance t o r eal i t y and t o r espect f or
human bei ngs. Now i t was onl y a mat t er of maki ng sounds, i nar t i cul at e sounds
addr essed t o i nani mat e obj ect s unr el at ed t o such concept s as r eal i t y, human
or honor .
I t had been easy, t hat f i r st mor ni ng, t o r epor t t o Mr . Thompson how she
had t r aced J ohn Gal t t o hi s home. I t had been easy t o wat ch Mr .
Thompson' s gul pi ng smi l es and hi s r epeat ed cr i es of " That ' s my gi r l ! "
ut t er ed wi t h gl ances of t r i umph at hi s assi st ant s, t he t r i umph of a man whose
j udgment i n t r ust i ng her had been vi ndi cat ed. I t had been easy t o expr ess an
angr y hat r ed f or Gal t " I used t o agr ee wi t h hi s i deas, but I won' t l et hi m
dest r oy my r ai l r oad! " and t o hear Mr .
Thompson say, " Don' t you wor r y, Mi ss Taggar t ! We' l l pr ot ect you f r omhi m! "
I t had been easy t o assume a l ook of col d shr ewdness and t o r emi nd Mr .
Thompson of t he f i ve- hundr ed- t housand- dol l ar r ewar d, her voi ce cl ear and
cut t i ng, l i ke t he sound of an addi ng machi ne punchi ng out t he sumof a bi l l .
She had seen an i nst ant ' s pause i n Mr . Thompson' s f aci al muscl es, t hen a
br i ght er , br oader smi l el i ke a si l ent speech decl ar i ng t hat he had not
expect ed i t , but was del i ght ed t o know what made her t i ck and t hat i t was t he
ki nd of t i cki ng he under st ood.
" Of cour se, Mi ss Taggar t ! Cer t ai nl y! That r ewar d i s your sal l your s!
The check wi l l be sent t o you, i n f ul l ! "
I t had been easy, because she had f el t as i f she wer e i n some dr ear y non-
wor l d, wher e her wor ds and act i ons wer e not f act s any l onger not r ef l ect i ons
of r eal i t y, but onl y di st or t ed post ur es i n one of t hose si de- show mi r r or s
t hat pr oj ect def or mi t y f or t he per cept i on of bei ngs whose consci ousness i s
not t o be t r eat ed as consci ousness. Thi n, si ngl e and hot , l i ke t he bur ni ng
pr essur e of a wi r e wi t hi n her , l i ke a needl e sel ect i ng her cour se, was her
onl y concer n: t he t hought of hi s saf et y. The r est was a bl ur of shapel ess
di ssol ut i on, hal f - aci d, hal f f og.
But t hi sshe t hought wi t h a shudder was t he st at e i n whi ch t hey l i ved, al l
t hose peopl e whomshe had never under st ood, t hi s was t he st at e t hey desi r ed,
t hi s r ubber r eal i t y, t hi s t ask of pr et endi ng, di st or t i ng, decei vi ng, wi t h t he
cr edul ous st ar e of some Mr . Thompson' s pani c- bl ear y eyes as one' s onl y
pur pose and r ewar d. Those who desi r ed t hi s st at eshe wonder eddi d t hey want
t o l i ve?
" The bi ggest st akes i n t he wor l d, Mi ss Taggar t ?" Mr . Thompson was aski ng
her anxi ousl y. " What i s i t ? What does he want ?"
" Real i t y. Thi s ear t h. "
" I don' t know qui t e what you mean, but . . . Look, Mi ss Taggar t , i f you
t hi nk you can under st and hi m, woul d you . . . woul d you t r y t o speak t o hi m
once mor e?"
She f el t as i f she hear d her own voi ce, many l i ght - year s away, cr yi ng t hat
she woul d gi ve her l i f e t o see hi mbut i n t hi s r oom, she hear d t he voi ce of a
meani ngl ess st r anger sayi ng col dl y, " No, Mr .
Thompson, I woul dn' t . I hope I ' l l never have t o see hi magai n. "
" I know t hat you can' t st and hi m, and I can' t say I bl ame you, but
coul dn' t you j ust t r y t o"
" I t r i ed t o r eason wi t h hi m, t he ni ght I f ound hi m. I hear d not hi ng but
i nsul t s i n r et ur n. I t hi nk he r esent s me mor e t han he' d r esent anyone el se.
He won' t f or gi ve me t he f act t hat i t was I who t r apped hi m.
I ' d be t he l ast per son t o whomhe woul d sur r ender . "
" Yeah . . . yeah, t hat ' s t r ue. . . . Do you t hi nk he wi l l ever sur r ender ?"
The needl e wi t hi n her waver ed f or a moment , bur ni ng i t s osci l l at i ng way
bet ween t wo cour ses: shoul d she say t hat he woul d not , and see t hemki l l
hi m?shoul d she say t hat he woul d, and see t hemhol d ont o t hei r power t i l l
t hey dest r oyed t he wor l d?
" He wi l l , " she sai d f i r ml y. " He' l l gi ve i n, i f you t r eat hi mr i ght .
He' s t oo ambi t i ous t o r ef use power . Don' t l et hi mescape, but don' t
t hr eat en hi mor har mhi m. Fear won' t wor k. He' s i mper vi ous t o f ear . "
" But what i f . . . I mean, wi t h t he way t hi ngs ar e col l apsi ng . . .
what i f he hol ds out t oo l ong?"
" He won' t . He' s t oo pr act i cal f or t hat . By t he way, ar e you l et t i ng hi m
hear any news about t he st at e of t he count r y?"
" Why . . . no. "
" I woul d suggest t hat you l et hi mhave copi es of your conf i dent i al
r epor t s. He' l l see t hat i t won' t be l ong now. "
" That ' s a good i dea! A ver y good i dea! . . . You know, Mi ss Taggar t , " he
sai d suddenl y, wi t h t he sound of some desper at e cl i ngi ng hi hi s voi ce, " I
f eel bet t er whenever I t al k t o you. I t ' s because I t r ust you. I don' t t r ust
anybody ar ound me. But youyou' r e di f f er ent .
You' r e sol i d. "
She was l ooki ng unf l i nchi ngl y st r ai ght at hi m. " Thank you, Mr .
Thompson, " she sai d.
I t had been easy, she t hought unt i l she wal ked out i nt o t he st r eet and
not i ced t hat under her coat , her bl ouse was st i cki ng dampl y t o her shoul der
bl ades.
Wer e she abl e t o f eel she t hought as she wal ked t hr ough t he concour se of
t he Ter mi nal she woul d know t hat t he heavy i ndi f f er ence she now f el t f or her
r ai l r oad was hat r ed. She coul d not get r i d of t he f eel i ng t hat she was
r unni ng not hi ng but f r ei ght t r ai ns: t he passenger s, t o her , wer e not l i vi ng
or human. I t seemed sensel ess t o wast e such enor mous ef f or t on pr event i ng
cat ast r ophes, on pr ot ect i ng t he mi saf et y of t r ai ns car r yi ng not hi ng but
i nani mat e obj ect s. She l ooked at t he f aces i n t he Ter mi nal : i f he wer e t o
di e, she t hought , t o be mur der ed by t he r ul er s of t hei r syst em, t hat t hese
mi ght cont i nue t o eat , sl eep and t r avel woul d she wor k t o pr ovi de t hemwi t h
t r ai ns? I f she wer e t o scr eamf or t hei r hel p, woul d one of t hemr i se t o hi s
def ense?
Di d t hey want hi mt o l i ve, t hey who had hear d hi m?
The check f or f i ve hundr ed t housand dol l ar s was del i ver ed t o her of f i ce,
t hat af t er noon; i t was del i ver ed wi t h a bouquet of f l ower s f r omMr . Thompson.
She l ooked at t he check and l et i t f l ut t er down t o her desk: i t meant not hi ng
and made her f eel not hi ng, not even a suggest i on of gui l t . I t was a scr ap of
paper , of no gr eat er si gni f i cance t han t he ones i n t he of f i ce wast ebasket .
Whet her i t coul d buy a di amond neckl ace or t he ci t y dump or t he l ast of her
f ood, made no di f f er ence. I t woul d never be spent . I t was not a t oken of
val ue and not hi ng i t pur chased coul d be a val ue. But t hi sshe t hought t hi s
i nani mat e i ndi f f er ence was t he per manent st at e of t he peopl e ar ound her , of
men who had no pur pose and no passi on. Thi s was t he st at e of a non- val ui ng
soul ; t hose who chose i t she wonder eddi d t hey want t o l i ve?
The l i ght s wer e out of or der i n t he hal l of t he apar t ment house, when she
came home t hat eveni ng, numb wi t h exhaust i onand she di d not not i ce t he
envel ope at her f eet unt i l she swi t ched on t he l i ght i n her f oyer . I t was a
bl ank, seal ed envel ope t hat had been sl i pped under her door . She pi cked i t
upand t hen, wi t hi n a moment , she was l aughi ng soundl essl y, hal f - kneel i ng,
hal f - si t t i ng on t he f l oor , not t o move of f t hat spot , not t o do anyt hi ng but
st ar e at t he not e wr i t t en by a hand she knew, t he hand t hat had wr i t t en i t s
l ast message on t he cal endar above t he ci t y. The not e sai d: Dagny: Si t t i ght .
Wat ch t hem. When he' l l need our hel p, cal l me at OR 6- 5693.
F.
The newspaper s of t he f ol l owi ng mor ni ng admoni shed t he publ i c not t o
bel i eve t he r umor s t hat t her e was any t r oubl e i n t he Sout her n st at es. The
conf i dent i al r epor t s, sent t o Mr . Thompson, st at ed t hat ar med f i ght i ng had
br oken out bet ween Geor gi a and Al abama, f or t he possessi on of a f act or y
manuf act ur i ng el ect r i cal equi pment a f act or y cut of f by t he f i ght i ng and by
bl ast ed r ai l r oad t r acks f r omany sour ce of r aw mat er i al s.
" Have you r ead t he conf i dent i al r epor t s I sent you?" moaned Mr .
Thompson, t hat eveni ng, f aci ng Gal t once mor e. He was accompani ed by J ames
Taggar t , who had vol unt eer ed t o meet t he pr i soner f or t he f i r st t i me.
Gal t sat on a st r ai ght - backed chai r , hi s l egs cr ossed, smoki ng a
ci gar et t e. He seemed er ect and r el axed, t oget her . They coul d not deci pher t he
expr essi on on hi s f ace, except t hat i t showed no si gn of appr ehensi on.
" I have, " he answer ed.
" Ther e' s not much t i me l ef t , " sai d Mr . Thompson.
" Ther e i sn' t . "
" Ar e you goi ng t o l et such t hi ngs go on?"
" Ar e you?"
" How can you be so sur e you' r e r i ght ?" cr i ed J ames Taggar t ; hi s voi ce was
not l oud, but i t had t he i nt ensi t y of a cr y. " How can you t ake i t upon
your sel f , at a t er r i bl e t i me l i ke t hi s, t o st i ck t o your own i deas at t he
r i sk of dest r oyi ng t he whol e wor l d?"
" Whose i deas shoul d I consi der saf er t o f ol l ow?"
" How can you be sur e you' r e r i ght ? How can you know? Nobody can be sur e of
hi s knowl edge! Nobody! You' r e no bet t er t han anyone el se! "
" Then why do you want me?"
" How can you gambl e wi t h ot her peopl e' s l i ves? How can you per mi t your sel f
such a sel f i sh l uxur y as t o hol d out , when peopl e need you?"
" You mean: when t hey need my i deas?"
" Nobody i s f ul l y r i ght or wr ong! Ther e i sn' t any bl ack or whi t e!
You don' t have a monopol y on t r ut h! "
Ther e was somet hi ng wr ong i n Taggar t ' s manner t hought Mr .
Thompson, f r owni ngsome odd, t oo per sonal r esent ment , as i f i t wer e not a
pol i t i cal i ssue t hat he had come her e t o sol ve.
" I f you had any sense of r esponsi bi l i t y, " Taggar t was sayi ng, " you
woul dn' t dar e t ake such a chance on not hi ng but your own j udgment !
You woul d j oi n us and consi der some i deas ot her t han your own and admi t
t hat we mi ght be r i ght , t oo! You woul d hel p us wi t h our pl ans!
You woul d"
Taggar t went on speaki ng wi t h f ever i sh i nsi st ence, but Mr . Thompson coul d
not t el l whet her Gal t was l i st eni ng: Gal t had r i sen and was paci ng t he r oom,
not i n a manner of r est l essness, but i n t he casual manner of a man enj oyi ng
t he mot i on of hi s own body. Mr . Thompson not ed t he l i ght ness of t he st eps,
t he st r ai ght spi ne, t he f l at st omach, t he r el axed shoul der s. Gal t wal ked as
i f he wer e bot h unconsci ous of hi s body and t r emendousl y consci ous of hi s
pr i de i n i t . Mr . Thompson gl anced at J ames Taggar t , at t he sl oppy post ur e of
a t al l f i gur e sl umped i n ungai nl y sel f - di st or t i on, and caught hi mwat chi ng
Gal t ' s movement s wi t h such hat r ed t hat Mr . Thompson sat up, f ear i ng i t woul d
become audi bl e i n t he r oom. But Gal t was not l ooki ng at Taggar t .
" . . . your consci ence! " Taggar t was sayi ng. " I came her e t o appeal t o
your consci ence! How can you val ue your mi nd above t housands of human l i ves?
Peopl e ar e per i shi ng andOh, f or Chr i st ' s sake, " he snapped, " st op paci ng! "
Gal t st opped. " I s t hi s an or der ?"
" No, no! " sai d Mr . Thompson hast i l y. " I t ' s not an or der . We don' t want t o
gi ve you or der s. . . . Take i t easy, J i m. "
Gal t r esumed hi s paci ng. " The wor l d i s col l apsi ng, " sai d Taggar t , hi s eyes
f ol l owi ng Gal t i r r esi st i bl y. " Peopl e ar e per i shi ngand i t ' s you who coul d
save t hem! Does i t mat t er who' s r i ght or wr ong? You shoul d j oi n us, even i f
you t hi nk we' r e wr ong, you shoul d sacr i f i ce your mi nd t o save t hem! "
" By what means wi l l I t hen save t hem?
" Who do you t hi nk you ar e?" cr i ed Taggar t .
Gal t st opped. " You know i t . "
" You' r e an egoi st ! "
" I am. "
" Do you r eal i ze what sor t of egoi st you ar e?"
" Do you?" asked Gal t , l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi m.
I t was t he sl ow wi t hdr awal of Taggar t ' s body i nt o t he dept h of hi s
ar mchai r , whi l e hi s eyes wer e hol di ng Gal t ' s, t hat made Mr . Thompson
unaccount abl y af r ai d of t he next moment .
" Say, " Mr . Thompson i nt er r upt ed i n a br i ght l y casual voi ce, " what sor t of
ci gar et t e ar e you smoki ng?"
Gal t t ur ned t o hi mand smi l ed. " I don' t know. "
" Wher e di d you get i t ?"
" One of your guar ds br ought me a package of t hem. He sai d some man asked
hi mt o gi ve i t t o me as a pr esent . . . . Don' t wor r y, " he added, " your boys
have put i t t hr ough ever y ki nd of t est . Ther e wer e no hi dden messages. I t was
j ust a pr esent f r oman anonymous admi r er . "
The ci gar et t e bet ween Gal t ' s f i nger s bor e t he si gn of t he dol l ar .
J ames Taggar t was no good at t he j ob of per suasi on, Mr . Thompson
concl uded. But Chi ck Mor r i son, whomhe br ought t he next day, di d no bet t er .
" I . . . I ' l l j ust t hr ow mysel f on your mer cy, Mr . Gal t , " sai d Chi ck
Mor r i son wi t h a f r ant i c smi l e. " You' r e r i ght . I ' l l concede t hat you' r e r i ght
and al l I can appeal t o i s your pi t y. Deep down i n my hear t , I can' t bel i eve
t hat you' r e a t ot al egoi st who f eel s no pi t y f or t he peopl e. " He poi nt ed t o a
pi l e of paper s he had spr ead on a t abl e.
" Her e' s a pl ea si gned by t en t housand school chi l dr en, beggi ng you t o j oi n
us and save t hem. Her e' s a pl ea f r oma home f or t he cr i ppl ed.
Her e' s a pet i t i on sent by t he mi ni st er s of t wo hundr ed di f f er ent f ai t hs-
Her e' s an appeal f r omt he mot her s of t he count r y. Read t hem. "
" I s t hi s an or der ?"
" No! " cr i ed Mr . Thompson. " I t ' s not an or der ! "
Gal t r emai ned mot i onl ess, not ext endi ng hi s hand f or t he paper s.
" These ar e j ust pl ai n, or di nar y peopl e, Mr . Gal t , " sai d Chi ck Mor r i son i n
a t one i nt ended t o pr oj ect t hei r abj ect humi l i t y. " They can' t t el l you what
t o do. They woul dn' t know. They' r e mer el y beggi ng you. They may be weak,
hel pl ess, bl i nd, i gnor ant . But you, who ar e so i nt el l i gent and st r ong, can' t
you t ake pi t y on t hem? Can' t you hel p t hem?"
" By dr oppi ng my i nt el l i gence and f ol l owi ng t hei r bl i ndness?"
" They may be wr ong, but t hey don' t know any bet t er ! "
" But I , who do, shoul d obey t hem?"
" I can' t ar gue, Mr . Gal t . I ' mj ust beggi ng f or your pi t y. They' r e
suf f er i ng. I ' mbeggi ng you t o pi t y t hose who suf f er . I ' m. . . Mr .
Gal t , " he asked, not i ci ng t hat Gal t was l ooki ng of f at t he di st ance beyond
t he wi ndow and t hat hi s eyes wer e suddenl y i mpl acabl e, " what ' s t he mat t er ?
What ar e you t hi nki ng of ?"
" Hank Rear den. "
" Uh . . . why?"
" Di d t hey f eel any pi t y f or Hank Rear den?"
" Oh, but t hat ' s di f f er ent ! He"
" Shut up, " sai d Gal t evenl y.
" I onl y"
" Shut up! " snapped Mr . Thompson. " Don' t mi nd hi m, Mr . Gal t .
He hasn' t sl ept f or t wo ni ght s. He' s scar ed out of hi s wi t s. "
Dr . Fl oyd Fer r i s, next day, di d not seemt o be scar edbut i t was wor se,
t hought Mr . Thompson. He obser ved t hat Gal t r emai ned si l ent and woul d not
answer Fer r i s at al l .
" I t ' s t he quest i on of mor al r esponsi bi l i t y t hat you mi ght not have st udi ed
suf f i ci ent l y, Mr . Gal t , " Dr . Fer r i s was dr awl i ng i n t oo ai r y, t oo f or ced a
t one of casual i nf or mal i t y. " You seemt o have t al ked on t he r adi o about
not hi ng but si ns of commi ssi on. But t her e ar e al so t he si ns of omi ssi on t o
consi der . To f ai l t o save a Me i s as i mmor al as t o mur der . The consequences
ar e t he sameand si nce we must j udge act i ons by t hei r consequences, t he mor al
r esponsi bi l i t y i s t he same.
. . . For i nst ance, i n vi ew of t he desper at e shor t age of f ood, i t has been
suggest ed t hat i t mi ght become necessar y t o i ssue a di r ect i ve or der i ng t hat
ever y t hi r d one of al l chi l dr en under t he age of t en and of al l adul t s over
t he age of si xt y be put t o deat h, t o secur e t he sur vi val of t he r est . You
woul dn' t want t hi s t o happen, woul d you?
You can pr event i t . One wor d f r omyou woul d pr event i t . I f you r ef use and
al l t hose peopl e ar e execut edi t wi l l be your f aul t and your mor al
r esponsi bi l i t y! "
" You' r e cr azy! " scr eamed Mr . Thompson, r ecover i ng f r omshock and l eapi ng
t o hi s f eet . " Nobody' s ever suggest ed any such t hi ng! Nobody' s ever
consi der ed i t ! Pl ease, Mr . Gal t ! Don' t bel i eve hi m! He doesn' t mean i t ! "
" Oh yes, he does, " sai d Gal t . " Tel l t he bast ar d t o l ook at me, t hen l ook
i n t he mi r r or , t hen ask hi msel f whet her I woul d ever t hi nk t hat my mor al
st at ur e i s at t he mer cy of hi s act i ons. "
" Get out of her e! " cr i ed Mr . Thompson, yanki ng Fer r i s t o hi s f eet .
" Get out ! Don' t l et me hear anot her squeak out of you! " He f l ung t he door
open and pushed Fer r i s at t he st ar t l ed f ace of a guar d out si de.
Tur ni ng t o Gal t , he spr ead hi s ar ms and l et t hemdr op wi t h a gest ur e of
dr ai ned hel pl essness. Gal t ' s f ace was expr essi onl ess.
" Look, " sai d- Mr . Thompson pl eadi ngl y, " i sn' t t her e anybody who can t al k
t o you?"
" Ther e' s not hi ng t o t al k about . "
" We' ve got t o. We' ve got t o convi nce you. I s t her e anyone you' d want t o
t al k t o?"
" No. "
" I t hought maybe . . . i t ' s because she t al ksused t o t al kl i ke you, at
t i mes . . . maybe i f I sent Mi ss Dagny Taggar t t o t el l you"
" That one? Sur e, she used t o t al k l i ke me. She' s my onl y f ai l ur e. I
t hought she was t he ki nd who bel onged on my si de. But she doubl e cr ossed me,
t o keep her r ai l r oad. She' d sel l her soul f or her r ai l r oad.
Send her i n, i f you want me t o sl ap her f ace. "
" No, no, no! You don' t have t o see her , i f t hat ' s how you f eel . I don' t
want t o wast e mor e t i me on peopl e who r ub you t he wr ong way. . . .
Onl y . . . onl y i f i t ' s not Mi ss Taggar t , I don' t know whomt o pi ck.
. . . I f . . . i f I coul d f i nd somebody you' d be wi l l i ng t o consi der or .
. . "
" I ' ve changed my mi nd, " sai d Gal t . " Ther e i s somebody I ' d l i ke t o speak
t o. "
" Who?" cr i ed Mr . Thompson eager l y.
" Dr . Rober t St adl er . "
Mr . Thompson emi t t ed a l ong whi st l e and shook hi s head appr ehensi vel y.
" That one i s no f r i end of your s, " he sai d i n a t one of honest war ni ng.
" He' s t he one I want t o see. "
" Okay, i f you wi sh. I f you say so. Anyt hi ng you wi sh. I ' l l have hi mher e
t omor r ow mor ni ng. "
That eveni ng, di ni ng wi t h Wesl ey Mouch i n hi s own sui t e, Mr . Thompson
gl ar ed angr i l y at a gl ass of t omat o j ui ce pl aced bef or e hi m. " What ?
No gr apef r ui t j ui ce?" he snapped; hi s doct or had pr escr i bed gr apef r ui t
j ui ce as pr ot ect i on agai nst an epi demi c of col ds.
" No gr apef r ui t j ui ce, " sai d t he wai t er , wi t h an odd ki nd of emphasi s.
" Fact i s, " sai d Mouch bl eakl y, " t hat a gang of r ai der s at t acked a t r ai n at
t he Taggar t Br i dge on t he Mi ssi ssi ppi . They bl ew up t he t r ack and damaged t he
br i dge. Not hi ng ser i ous. I t ' s bei ng r epai r edbut al l t r af f i c i s hel d up and
t he t r ai ns f r omAr i zona can' t get t hr ough. "
" That ' s r i di cul ous! Ar en' t t her e any ot her ?" Mr . Thompson st opped; he
knew t hat t her e wer e no ot her r ai l r oad br i dges acr oss t he Mi ssi ssi ppi .
Af t er a moment , he spoke up i n a st accat o voi ce. " Or der ar my det achment s
t o guar d t he br i dge. Day and ni ght . Tel l t hemt o pi ck t hei r best men f or i t .
I f anyt hi ng happened t o t hat br i dge"
He di d not f i ni sh; he sat hunched, st ar i ng down at t he cost l y chi na pl at es
and t he del i cat e hor s d' oeuvr es bef or e hi m. The absence of so pr osai c a
commodi t y as gr apef r ui t j ui ce had suddenl y made r eal t o hi m, f or t he f i r st
t i me, what i t was t hat woul d happen t o t he ci t y of New Yor k i f anyt hi ng
happened t o t he Taggar t Br i dge.
" Dagny, " sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s, t hat eveni ng, " t he br i dge i s not t he onl y
pr obl em. " He snapped on her desk l amp whi ch, i n f or ced concent r at i on on her
wor k, she had negl ect ed t o t ur n on at t he appr oach of dusk.
" No t r anscont i nent al t r ai ns can l eave San Fr anci sco. One of t he f i ght i ng
f act i ons out t her eI don' t know whi ch onehas sei zed our t er mi nal and i mposed
a ' depar t ur e t ax' on t r ai ns. Meani ng t hat t hey' r e hol di ng t r ai ns f or r ansom.
Our t er mi nal manager has qui t . Nobody knows what t o do t her e now. "
" I can' t l eave New Yor k, " she answer ed st oni l y.
" I know, " he sai d sof t l y. " That ' s why i t ' s 7 who' l l go t her e t o st r ai ght en
t hi ngs out . At l east , t o f i nd a man t o put i n char ge.
" No! I don' t want you t o. I t ' s t oo danger ous. And what f or ? I t doesn' t
mat t er now. Ther e' s not hi ng t o save. "
" I t ' s st i l l Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . I ' l l st and by i t , Dagny, wher ever
you go, you' l l al ways be abl e t o bui l d a r ai l r oad. I coul dn' t . I don' t even
want t o make a new st ar t . Not any mor e. Not af t er what I ' ve seen. You shoul d.
I can' t . Let me do what I can. "
" Eddi e! Don' t you want " She st opped, knowi ng t hat i t was usel ess.
" Al l r i ght , Eddi e. I f you wi sh. "
" I ' mf l yi ng t o Cal i f or ni a t oni ght . I ' ve ar r anged f or space on an ar my
pl ane. . . . I know t hat you wi l l qui t as soon as . . . as soon as you can
l eave New Yor k. You mi ght be gone by t he t i me I r et ur n. When you' r e r eady,
j ust go. Don' t wor r y about me. Don' t wai t t o t el l me. Go as f ast as you can.
I . . . I ' l l say good- bye t o you, now. "
She r ose t o her f eet . They st ood f aci ng each ot her ; i n t he di mhal f l i ght
of t he of f i ce, t he pi ct ur e of Nat hani el Taggar t hung on t he wal l bet ween
t hem. They wer e bot h seei ng t he year s si nce- t hat di st ant day when t hey had
f i r st l ear ned t o wal k down t he t r ack of a r ai l r oad. He i ncl i ned hi s head and
hel d i t l ower ed f or a l ong moment .
She ext ended her hand. " Good- bye, Eddi e. "
He cl asped her hand f i r ml y, not l ooki ng down at hi s f i nger s; he was
l ooki ng at her f ace.
He st ar t ed t o go, but st opped, t ur ned t o her and asked, hi s voi ce l ow, but
st eady, nei t her as pl ea nor as despai r , but as a l ast gest ur e of
consci ent i ous cl ar i t y t o cl ose a l ong l edger , " Dagny . . . di d you know . . .
how I f el t about you?"
" Yes, " she sai d sof t l y, r eal i zi ng i n t hi s moment t hat she had known i t
wor dl essl y f or year s, " I knew i t . "
" Good- bye, Dagny. "
The f ai nt r umbl e of an under gr ound t r ai n went t hr ough t he wal l s of t he
bui l di ng and swal l owed t he sound of t he door cl osi ng af t er hi m.
I t was snowi ng, next mor ni ng, and mel t i ng dr ops wer e l i ke an i cy, cut t i ng
t ouch on t he t empl es of Dr . Rober t St adl er , as he wal ked down t he l ong
cor r i dor of t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el , t owar d t he door of t he r oyal sui t e. Two
husky men wal ked by hi s si des; t hey wer e f r omt he depar t ment of Mor al e
Condi t i oni ng, but di d not t r oubl e t o hi de what met hod of condi t i oni ng t hey
woul d wel come a chance t o empl oy, " J ust r emember Mr . Thompson' s or der s, " one
of t hemt ol d hi mcont empt uousl y. " One wr ong squawk out of youand you' l l
r egr et i t , br ot her . "
I t was not t he snow on hi s t empl est hought Dr . St adl er i t was a bur ni ng
pr essur e, i t had been t her e si nce t hat scene, l ast ni ght , when he had
scr eamed t o Mr . Thompson t hat he coul d not see J ohn Gal t . He had scr eamed i n
bl i nd t er r or , beggi ng a ci r cl e of i mpassi ve f aces not t o make hi mdo i t ,
sobbi ng t hat he woul d do anyt hi ng but t hat . The f aces had not condescended t o
ar gue or even t o t hr eat en hi m; t hey had mer el y gi ven hi mor der s. He had spent
a sl eepl ess ni ght , t el l i ng hi msel f t hat he woul d not obey; but he was wal ki ng
t owar d t hat door . The bur ni ng pr essur e on hi s t empl es and t he f ai nt , di zzyi ng
nausea of unr eal i t y came f r omt he f act t hat he coul d not r ecapt ur e t he sense
of bei ng Dr . Rober t St adl er .
He not i ced t he met al l i c gl eamof t he bayonet s hel d by t he guar ds at t he
door , and t he sound of a key bei ng t ur ned i n a l ock. He f ound hi msel f wal ki ng
f or war d and hear d t he door bei ng l ocked behi nd hi m.
Acr oss t he l ong r oom, he saw J ohn Gal t si t t i ng on t he wi ndow si l l , a t al l ,
sl ender f i gur e i n sl acks and shi r t , one l eg sl ant i ng down t o t he f l oor , t he
ot her bent , hi s hands cl aspi ng hi s knee, hi s head of sun- st r eaked hai r r ai sed
agai nst a spr ead of gr ay skyand suddenl y Dr . St adl er saw t he f i gur e of a
young boy si t t i ng on t he por ch- r ai l i ng of hi s home, near t he campus of t he
Pat r i ck Henr y Uni ver si t y, wi t h t he sun on t he chest nut hai r of a head l i f t ed
agai nst a spr ead of summer bl ue, and he hear d t he passi onat e i nt ensi t y of hi s
own voi ce sayi ng t went y- t wo year s ago: " The onl y sacr ed val ue i n t he wor l d,
J ohn, i s t he human mi nd, t he i nvi ol at e human mi nd . . . " and he cr i ed t o
t hat boy' s f i gur e, acr oss t he r oomand acr oss t he year s: " I coul dn' t hel p i t ,
J ohn! I coul dn' t hel p i t ! "
He gr i pped t he edge of a t abl e bet ween t hem, f or suppor t and as a
pr ot ect i ve bar r i er , even t hough t he f i gur e on t he wi ndow si l l had not moved.
" I di dn' t br i ng you t o t hi s! " he cr i ed. " I di dn' t mean t o! I coul dn' t hel p
i t ! I t ' s not what I i nt ended! . . . J ohn! I ' mnot t o bl ame f or i t !
I ' mnot ! I never had a chance agai nst t hem! They own t he wor l d! They l ef t
me no pl ace i n i t ! . . . What ' s r eason t o t hem? What ' s sci ence?
You don' t know how deadl y t hey ar e! You don' t under st and t hem! They don' t
t hi nk! They' r e mi ndl ess ani mal s moved by i r r at i onal f eel i ngsby t hei r gr eedy,
gr aspi ng, bl i nd, unaccount abl e f eel i ngs! They sei ze what ever t hey want ,
t hat ' s al l t hey know: t hat t hey want i t , r egar dl ess of cause, ef f ect or
l ogi ct hey want i t , t he bl oody, gr ubbi ng pi gs! . . . The mi nd? Don' t you know
how f ut i l e i t i s, t he mi nd, agai nst t hose mi ndl ess hor des? Our weapons ar e so
hel pl essl y, l aughabl y chi l di sh: t r ut h, knowl edge, r eason, val ues, r i ght s!
For ce i s al l t hey know, f or ce, f r aud and pl under ! . , , J ohn! Don' t l ook at
me l i ke t hat ! What coul d I do agai nst t hei r f i st s? I had t o l i ve, di dn' t I ?
I t wasn' t f or mysel f i t was f or t he f ut ur e of sci ence! I had t o be l ef t
al one, I had t o be pr ot ect ed, I had t o make t er ms wi t h t hemt her e' s no way t o
l i ve except on t hei r t er mst her e i sn' t ! do you hear me?t her e i sn' t ! . . .
What di d you want me t o do? Spend my l i f e beggi ng f or j obs? Beggi ng my
i nf er i or s f or f unds and endowment s? Di d you want my wor k t o depend on t he
mer cy of t he r uf f i ans who have a knack f or maki ng money? I had no t i me t o
compet e wi t h t hemf or money or mar ket s or any of t hei r mi ser abl e mat er i al
pur sui t ! Was t hat your i dea of j ust i cet hat t hey shoul d spend t hei r money on
l i quor , yacht s and women, whi l e t he pr i cel ess hour s of my l i f e wer e wast ed
f or l ack of sci ent i f i c equi pment ? Per suasi on? How coul d I per suade t hem? What
l anguage coul d I speak t o men who don' t t hi nk? . . . You don' t know how
l onel y I was, how st ar ved f or some spar k of i nt el l i gence! How l onel y and
t i r ed and hel pl ess! Why shoul d a mi nd l i ke mi ne have t o bar gai n wi t h i gnor ant
f ool s?
They' d never cont r i but e a penny t o sci ence! Why shoul dn' t t hey be f or ced?
I t wasn' t you t hat I want ed t o f or ce! That gun was not ai med at t he
i nt el l ect ! I t wasn' t ai med at men l i ke you and me, onl y at mi ndl ess
mat er i al i st s! . . . Why do you l ook at me t hat way? I had no choi ce!
Ther e i sn' t any choi ce except t o beat t hemat t hei r own game! Oh yes, i t
i s t hei r game, t hey set t he r ul es! What do we count , t he f ew who can t hi nk?
We can onl y hope t o get by, unnot i cedand t o t r i ck t hemi nt o ser vi ng our
ai ms! . . . Don' t you know how nobl e a pur pose i t was
my vi si on of t he f ut ur e of sci ence? Human knowl edge set f r ee of mat er i al
bonds! An unl i mi t ed end unr est r i ct ed by means! I amnot a t r ai t or , J ohn! I ' m
not ! I was ser vi ng t he cause of t he mi nd! What I saw ahead, what I want ed,
what I f el t , was not t o be measur ed i n t hei r mi ser abl e dol l ar s! I want ed a
l abor at or y! I needed i t ! What do I car e wher e i t came f r omor how? I coul d do
so much! I coul d r each such hei ght s!
Don' t you have any pi t y? I want ed i t ! . . . What i f t hey had t o be f or ced?
Who ar e t hey t o t hi nk, anyway? Why di d you t each t hemt o r ebel ? I t woul d have
wor ked, i f you hadn' t wi t hdr awn t hem! I t woul d have wor ked, I t el l you! I t
woul dn' t bel i ke t hi s! . . . Don' t accuse me! We can' t be gui l t y . . . al l of
us . . . f or cent ur i es. . . . We can' t be so t ot al l y wr ong! . . . We' r e not
t o be damned! We had no choi ce! Ther e i s no ot her way t o l i ve on ear t h! . . .
Why don' t you answer me? What ar e you seei ng? Ar e you t hi nki ng of t hat speech
you made? I don' t want t o t hi nk of i t ! I t was onl y l ogi c! One can' t l i ve by
l ogi c! Do you hear me? . . . Don' t l ook at me! You' r e aski ng t he i mpossi bl e!
Men can' t exi st your way! You per mi t no moment s of weakness, you don' t al l ow
f or human f r ai l t i es or human f eel i ngs! What do you want of us? Rat i onal i t y
t went y- f our hour s a day, wi t h no l oophol e, no r est , no escape? . . . Don' t
l ook at me, God damn you! I ' mnot af r ai d of you any l onger ! Do you hear me? I
amnot af r ai d! Who ar e you t o bl ame me, you mi ser abl e f ai l ur e? Her e' s wher e
your r oad has br ought you! Her e you ar e, caught , hel pl ess, under guar d, t o be
ki l l ed by t hose br ut es at any moment and you dar e t o accuse me of bei ng
i mpr act i cal ! Oh yes, you' r e goi ng t o be ki l l ed! You won' t wi n! You can' t be
al l owed t o wi n! You ar e t he man who has t o be dest r oyed! "
Dr , St adl er ' s gasp was a muf f l ed scr eam, as i f t he i mmobi l i t y of t he
f i gur e on t he wi ndow si l l had ser ved as a si l ent r ef l ect or and had suddenl y
made hi msee t he f ul l meani ng of hi s own wor ds.
" No! " moaned Dr . St adl er , movi ng hi s head f r omsi de t o si de, t o escape t he
unmovi ng gr een eyes. " No! . . . No! . . . No! "
Gal t ' s voi ce had t he same unbendi ng aust er i t y as hi s eyes: " You have sai d
ever yt hi ng I want ed t o say t o you. "
Dr . St adl er banged hi s f i st s agai nst t he door ; when i t was opened, he r an
out of t he r oom.

* * *

For t hr ee days, no one ent er ed Gal t ' s sui t e except t he guar ds who br ought
hi s meal s. Ear l y on t he eveni ng of t he f our t h day, t he door opened t o admi t
Chi ck Mor r i son wi t h t wo compani ons. Chi ck Mor r i son was dr essed i n di nner
cl ot hes, and hi s smi l e was ner vous, but a shade mor e conf i dent t han usual .
One of hi s compani ons was a val et . The ot her was a muscul ar man whose f ace
seemed t o cl ash wi t h hi s t uxedo: i t was a st ony f ace wi t h sl eepy eyel i ds,
pal e, dar t i ng eyes and a pr i zef i ght er ' s br oken nose; hi s skul l was shaved
except f or a pat ch of f aded bl ond cur l s on t op; he kept hi s r i ght hand i n t he
pocket of hi s t r ouser s.
" You wi l l pl ease dr ess, Mr . Gal t , " sai d Chi ck Mor r i son per suasi vel y,
poi nt i ng t o t he door of t he bedr oom, wher e a cl oset had been f i l l ed wi t h
expensi ve gar ment s whi ch Gal t had not chosen t o wear . " You wi l l pl ease put on
your di nner cl ot hes. " He added, " Thi s i s an or der , Mr .
Gal t . "
Gal t wal ked si l ent l y i nt o t he bedr oom. The t hr ee men f ol l owed. Chi ck
Mor r i son sat on t he edge of a chai r , st ar t i ng and di scar di ng one ci gar et t e
af t er anot her . The val et went t hr ough t oo many t oo cour t eous mot i ons, hel pi ng
Gal t t o dr ess, handi ng hi mhi s shi r t st uds, hol di ng hi s coat . The muscul ar
man st ood i n a cor ner , hi s hand i n hi s pocket . No one sai d a wor d.
" You wi l l pl ease co- oper at e, Mr . Gal t , " sai d Chi ck Mor r i son, when Gal t was
r eady, and i ndi cat ed t he door wi t h a cour t l y gest ur e of i nvi t at i on t o
pr oceed.
So swi f t l y t hat no one coul d cat ch t he mot i on of hi s hand, t he muscul ar
man was hol di ng Gal t ' s ar mand pr essi ng an i nvi si bl e gun agai nst hi s r i bs.
" Don' t make any f al se moves, " he sai d i n an expr essi onl ess voi ce.
" I never do, " sai d Gal t .
Chi ck Mor r i son opened t he door . The val et st ayed behi nd. The t hr ee f i gur es
i n di nner cl ot hes wal ked si l ent l y down t he hal l t o t he el evat or .
They r emai ned si l ent i n t he el evat or , t he cl i cks of t he f l ashi ng number s
above t he door mar ki ng t hei r downwar d pr ogr ess.
The el evat or st opped on t he mezzani ne f l oor . Two ar med sol di er s pr eceded
t hemand t wo ot her s f ol l owed, as t hey wal ked t hr ough t he l ong, di mcor r i dor s.
The cor r i dor s wer e deser t ed except f or ar med sent i nel s post ed at t he t ur ns.
The muscul ar man' s r i ght ar mwas l i nked t o Gal t ' s l ef t ; t he gun r emai ned
i nvi si bl e t o any possi bl e obser ver . Gal t f el t t he smal l pr essur e of t he
muzzl e agai nst hi s si de; t he pr essur e was exper t l y mai nt ai ned: not t o be f el t
as an i mpedi ment and not t o be f or got t en f or a moment .
The cor r i dor l ed t o a wi de, cl osed door way. The sol di er s seemed t o mel t
away i nt o t he shadows, when Chi ck Mor r i son' s hand t ouched t he door knob. I t
was hi s hand t hat opened t he door , but t he sudden cont r ast of l i ght and sound
made i t seemas i f t he door wer e f l ung open by an expl osi on: t he l i ght came
f r omt hr ee hundr ed bul bs i n t he bl azi ng chandel i er s of t he gr and bal l r oomof
t he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el ; t he sound was t he appl ause of f i ve hundr ed peopl e.
Chi ck Mor r i son l ed t he way t o t he speaker s' t abl e r ai sed on a pl at f or m
above t he t abl es f i l l i ng t he r oom. The peopl e seemed t o know, wi t hout
announcement , t hat of t he t wo f i gur es f ol l owi ng hi m, i t was t he t al l , sl ender
man wi t h t he gol d- copper hai r t hat t hey wer e appl audi ng. Hi s f ace had t he
same qual i t y as t he voi ce t hey had hear d on t he r adi o : cal m, conf i dent and
out of r each.
The seat r eser ved f or Gal t was t he pl ace of honor i n t he cent er of t he
l ong t abl e, wi t h Mr . Thompson wai t i ng f or hi mat hi s r i ght and t he muscul ar
man sl i ppi ng ski l l f ul l y i nt o t he seat at hi s l ef t , not r el i nqui shi ng hi s ar m
or t he pr essur e of t he muzzl e. The j ewel s on t he naked shoul der s of women
car r i ed t he gl i t t er of t he chandel i er s t o t he shadows of t he t abl es cr owded
agai nst t he di st ant wal l s; t he sever e bl ack- and whi t e of t he men' s f i gur es
r escued t he r oom' s st yl e of sol emnl y r egal l uxur y f r omt he di scor dant sl ashes
made by news camer as, mi cr ophones and a dor mant ar r ay of t el evi si on
equi pment . The cr owd was on i t s f eet , appl audi ng. Mr . Thompson was smi l i ng
and wat chi ng Gal t ' s f ace, wi t h t he eager , anxi ous l ook of an adul t wai t i ng
f or a chi l d' s r eact i on t o a spect acul ar l y gener ous gi f t . Gal t sat f aci ng t he
ovat i on, nei t her i gnor i ng i t nor r espondi ng.
" The appl ause you ar e hear i ng, " a r adi o announcer was yel l i ng i nt o a
mi cr ophone i n a cor ner of t he r oom, " i s i n gr eet i ng t o J ohn Gal t , who has
j ust t aken hi s pl ace at t he speaker s' t abl e! Yes, my f r i ends, J ohn Gal t i n
per sonas t hose of you who can f i nd a t el evi si on set wi l l have a chance t o
see f or your sel f i n a shor t whi l e! "
I must r emember wher e I amt hought Dagny, cl enchi ng her f i st s under t he
t abl ecl ot h, i n t he obscur i t y of a si de t abl e. I t was har d t o mai nt ai n a sense
of doubl e r eal i t y i n t he pr esence of Gal t , t hi r t y f eet away f r omher . She
f el t t hat no danger or pai n coul d exi st i n t he wor l d so l ong as she coul d see
hi s f aceand, si mul t aneousl y, an i cy t er r or , when she l ooked at t hose who
hel d hi mi n t hei r power , when she r emember ed t he bl i nd i r r at i onal i t y of t he
event t hey wer e st agi ng. She f ought t o keep her f aci al muscl es r i gi d, not t o
bet r ay her sel f by a smi l e of happi ness or by a scr eamof pani c.
She wonder ed how hi s eyes had been abl e t o f i nd her i n t hat cr owd.
She had seen t he br i ef pause of hi s gl ance, whi ch no one el se coul d
not i ce; t he gl ance had been mor e t han a ki ss, i t had been a handshake of
appr oval and suppor t .
He di d not gl ance agai n i n her di r ect i on. She coul d not f or ce her sel f t o
l ook away. I t was st ar t l i ng t o see hi mi n eveni ng cl ot hes and mor e st ar t l i ng
st i l l t hat he wor e t hemso nat ur al l y; he made t heml ook l i ke a wor k uni f or m
of honor ; hi s f i gur e suggest ed t he ki nd of banquet , i n t he days of a di st ant
past , wher e he woul d have been r ecei vi ng an i ndust r i al awar d. Cel ebr at i ons
she r emember ed her own wor ds, wi t h a st ab of l ongi ngshoul d be onl y f or t hose
who have somet hi ng t o cel ebr at e.
She t ur ned away. She st r uggl ed not t o l ook at hi mt oo of t en, not t o
at t r act t he at t ent i on of her compani ons. She had been pl aced at a t abl e
pr omi nent enough t o di spl ay her t o t he assembl y, but obscur e enough t o keep
her out of t he l i ne of Gal t ' s si ght , al ong wi t h t hose who had i ncur r ed Gal t ' s
di sf avor : wi t h Dr . Fer r i s and Eugene Lawson.
Her br ot her J i m, she not ed, had been pl aced cl oser t o t he pl at f or m; she
coul d see hi s sul l en f ace among t he ner vous f i gur es of Ti nky Hol l oway, Fr ed
Ki nnan, Dr . Si mon Pr i t chet t . The t or t ur ed f aces st r ung out above t he
speaker s' t abl e wer e not succeedi ng i n t hei r ef f or t s t o hi de t hat t hey l ooked
l i ke men endur i ng an or deal ; t he cal mof Gal t ' s f ace seemed r adi ant among
t hem; she wonder ed who was pr i soner her e and who was mast er . Her gl ance moved
sl owl y down t he l i ne- up of hi s t abl e: Mr . Thompson, Wesl ey Mouch, Chi ck
Mor r i son, some gener al s, some member s of t he Legi sl at ur e and, pr epost er ousl y,
Mr . Mowen chosen as a br i be t o Gal t , as a symbol of bi g busi ness. She gl anced
about t he r oom, l ooki ng f or t he f ace of Dr . St adl er ; he was not pr esent .
The voi ces f i l l i ng t he r oomwer e l i ke a f ever char t , she t hought ; t hey
kept dar t i ng t oo hi gh and col l apsi ng i nt o pat ches of si l ence; t he occasi onal
spur t s of someone' s l aught er br oke of f , i ncompl et ed, and at t r act ed t he
shudder i ng t ur n of t he heads at t he nei ghbor i ng t abl es. The f aces wer e dr awn
and t wi st ed by t he most obvi ous and l east di gni f i ed f or mof t ensi on: by
f or ced smi l es. These peopl eshe t hought knew, not by means of t hei r r eason,
but by means of t hei r pani c, t hat t hi s banquet was t he ul t i mat e cl i max and
t he naked essence of t hei r wor l d. They knew t hat nei t her t hei r God nor t hei r
guns coul d make t hi s cel ebr at i on mean what t hey wer e st r uggl i ng t o pr et end i t
meant .
She coul d not swal l ow t he f ood t hat was pl aced bef or e her ; her t hr oat
seemed cl osed by a r i gi d convul si on. She not i ced t hat t he ot her s at her t abl e
wer e al so mer el y pr et endi ng t o eat . Dr . Fer r i s was t he onl y one whose
appet i t e seemed unaf f ect ed.
When she saw a sl ush of i ce cr eami n a cr yst al bowl bef or e her , she
not i ced t he sudden si l ence of t he r oomand hear d t he scr eechi ng of t he
t el evi si on machi ner y bei ng dr agged f or war d f or act i on. Nowshe t hought , wi t h
a si nki ng sense of expect at i on, and knew t hat t he same quest i on mar k was on
ever y mi nd i n t he r oom. They wer e al l st ar i ng at Gal t . Hi s f ace di d not move
or change.
No one had t o cal l f or si l ence, when Mr . Thompson waved t o an announcer :
t he r oomdi d not seemt o br eat he.
" Fel l ow ci t i zens, " t he announcer cr i ed i nt o a mi cr ophone, " of t hi s count r y
and of any ot her t hat ' s abl e t o l i st enf r omt he gr and bal l r oomof t he Wayne-
Fal kl and Hot el i n New Yor k Ci t y, we ar e br i ngi ng you t he i naugur at i on of t he
J ohn Gal t Pl an! "
A r ect angl e of t ensel y bl ui sh l i ght appear ed on t he wal l behi nd t he
speaker s' t abl ea t el evi si on scr een t o pr oj ect f or t he guest s t he i mages
whi ch t he count r y was now t o see.
" The J ohn Gal t Pl an f or Peace, Pr osper i t y and Pr of i t ! " cr i ed t he
announcer , whi l e a shi ver i ng pi ct ur e of t he bal l r oomspr ang i nt o vi ew on t he
scr een. " The dawn of a new age! The pr oduct of a har moni ous col l abor at i on
bet ween t he humani t ar i an spi r i t of our l eader s and t he sci ent i f i c geni us of
J ohn Gal t ! I f your f ai t h i n t he f ut ur e has been under mi ned by vi ci ous r umor s,
you may now see f or your sel f our happi l y uni t ed f ami l y of l eader shi p! . . .
Ladi es and gent l emen" as t he t el evi si on camer a swooped down t o t he speaker s'
t abl e, and t he st upef i ed f ace of Mr . Mowen f i l l ed t he scr een" Mr . Hor ace
Bussby Mowen, t he Amer i can I ndust r i al i st ! " The camer a moved t o an aged
col l ect i on of f aci al muscl es shaped i n i mi t at i on of a smi l e. " Gener al of t he
Ar r ay Whi t t i ngt on S. Thor pe! " The camer a, l i ke an eye at a pol i ce l i ne- up,
moved f r omf ace t o scar r ed f acescar r ed by t he r avages of f ear , of evasi on,
of despai r , of uncer t ai nt y, of sel f - l oat hi ng, of gui l t . " Maj or i t y Leader of
t he Nat i onal Legi sl at ur e, Mr . Luci an Phel ps! . . . Mr .
Wesl ey Mouch! . . . Mr . Thompson! " The camer a paused on Mr .
Thompson; he gave a bi g gr i n t o t he nat i on, t hen t ur ned and l ooked of f
scr een, t o hi s l ef t , wi t h an ai r of t r i umphant expect ancy. " Ladi es and
gent l emen, " t he announcer sai d sol emnl y, " J ohn Gal t ! "
Good God! t hought Dagnywhat ar e t hey doi ng? Fr omt he scr een, t he f ace of
J ohn Gal t was l ooki ng at t he nat i on, t he f ace wi t hout pai n or f ear or gui l t ,
i mpl acabl e by vi r t ue of ser eni t y, i nvul ner abl e by vi r t ue of sel f - est eem. Thi s
f aceshe t hought among t hose ot her s?
What ever i t i s t hat t hey' r e pl anni ng, she t hought , i t ' s undonenot hi ng
mor e can or has t o be sai dt her e' s t he pr oduct of one code and of t he ot her ,
t her e' s t he choi ce, and whoever i s human wi l l know i t .
" Mr . Gal t ' s per sonal secr et ar y, " sai d t he announcer , whi l e t he camer a
bl ur r ed hast i l y past t he next f ace and went on. " Mr . Cl ar ence ' Chi ck'
Mor r i son . . . Admi r al Homer Dawl ey . . . Mr . "
She l ooked at t he f aces ar ound her , wonder i ng: Di d t hey see t he cont r ast ?
Di d t hey know i t ? Di d t hey see hi m? Di d t hey want hi mt o be r eal ?
" Thi s banquet , " sai d Chi ck Mor r i son, who had t aken over as mast er of
cer emoni es, " i s i n honor of t he gr eat est f i gur e of our t i me, t he abl est
pr oducer , t he man of t he ' know- how, ' t he new l eader of our economy
J ohn Gal t ! I f you have hear d hi s ext r aor di nar y r adi o speech, you can " have
no doubt t hat he can make t hi ngs wor k. Now he i s her e t o t el l you t hat he
wi l l make t hemwor k f or you. I f you have been mi sl ed by t hose ol d- f ashi oned
ext r emi st s who cl ai med t hat he woul d never j oi n us, t hat no mer ger i s
possi bl e bet ween hi s way of l i f e and our s, t hat i t ' s ei t her one or t he ot her
t oni ght ' s event wi l l pr ove t o you t hat anyt hi ng can be r econci l ed and
uni t ed! "
Once t hey have seen hi mt hought Dagnycan t hey wi sh t o l ook at anybody
el se? Once t hey know t hat he i s possi bl e, t hat t hi s i s what man can be, what
el se can t hey want t o seek? Can t hey now f eel any desi r e except t o achi eve i n
t hei r soul s what he has achi eved i n hi s? Or ar e t hey goi ng t o be st opped by
t he f act t hat t he Mouches, t he Mor r i sons, t he Thompsons of t he wor l d had not
chosen t o achi eve i t ? Ar e t hey goi ng t o r egar d t he Mouches as t he human and
hi mas t he i mpossi bl e?
The camer a was r ovi ng over t he bal l r oom, f l ashi ng t o t he scr een and t o t he
count r y t he f aces of t he pr omi nent guest s, t he f aces of t he t ensel y wat chf ul
l eader s andonce i n a whi l et he f ace of J ohn Gal t . He l ooked as i f hi s
per cept i ve eyes wer e st udyi ng t he men out si de t hi s r oom, t he men who wer e
seei ng hi macr oss t he count r y; one coul d not t el l whet her he was l i st eni ng:
no r eact i on al t er ed t he composur e of hi s f ace.
" I ampr oud t o pay t r i but e t oni ght , " sai d t he l eader of t he Legi sl at ur e,
t he next speaker , " t o t he gr eat est economi c or gani zer t he wor l d has ever
di scover ed, t he most gi f t ed admi ni st r at or , t he most br i l l i ant pl anner J ohn
Gal t , t he man who wi l l save us! I amher e t o t hank hi mi n t he name of t he
peopl e! "
Thi st hought Dagny, wi t h a si ckened amusement was t he spect acl e of t he
si ncer i t y of t he di shonest . The most f r audul ent par t of t he f r aud was t hat
t hey meant i t . They wer e of f er i ng Gal t t he best t hat t hei r vi ew of exi st ence
coul d of f er , t hey wer e t r yi ng t o t empt hi mwi t h t hat whi ch was t hei r dr eamof
l i f e' s hi ghest f ul f i l l ment : t hi s spr ead of mi ndl ess adul at i on, t he unr eal i t y
of t hi s enor mous pr et ense
appr oval wi t hout st andar ds, t r i but e wi t hout cont ent , honor wi t hout causes,
admi r at i on wi t hout r easons, l ove wi t hout a code of val ues.
" We have di scar ded al l our pet t y di f f er ences, " Wesl ey Mouch was now sayi ng
i nt o t he mi cr ophone, " al l par t i san opi ni ons, al l per sonal i nt er est s and
sel f i sh vi ewsi n or der t o ser ve under t he sel f l ess l eader shi p of J ohn Gal t ! "
Why ar e t hey l i st eni ng?t hought Dagny. Don' t t hey see t he hal l mar k of
deat h i n t hose f aces, and t he hal l mar k of l i f e i n hi s?
Whi ch st at e do t hey wi sh t o choose? Whi ch st at e do t hey seek f or manki nd?
. . . She l ooked at t he f aces i n t he bal l r oom. They wer e ner vousl y bl ank;
t hey showed not hi ng but t he saggi ng wei ght of l et har gy and t he st al eness of a
chr oni c f ear . They wer e l ooki ng at Gal t and at Mouch, as i f unabl e t o
per cei ve any di f f er ence bet ween t hemor t o f eel concer n i f a di f f er ence
exi st ed, t hei r empt y, uncr i t i cal , unval ui ng st ar e decl ar i ng: " Who amI t o
know?" She shudder ed, r emember i ng hi s sent ence: " The man who decl ar es, ( Who
amI t o know?' i s decl ar i ng, ' Who amI t o l i ve?' " Di d t hey car e t o l i ve?she
t hought . They di d not seemt o car e even f or t he ef f or t of r ai si ng t hat
quest i on. . . . She saw a f ew f aces who seemed t o car e. They wer e l ooki ng at
Gal t wi t h a desper at e pl ea, wi t h a wi st f ul l y t r agi c admi r at i onand wi t h hands
l yi ng l i mpl y on t he t abl es bef or e t hem.
These wer e t he men who saw what he was, who l i ved i n f r ust r at ed l ongi ng
f or hi s wor l dbut t omor r ow, i f t hey saw hi mbei ng mur der ed bef or e t hem, t hei r
hands woul d hang as l i mpl y and t hei r eyes woul d l ook away, sayi ng, " Who amI
t o act ?"
" Uni t y of act i on and pur pose, " sai d Mouch, " wi l l br i ng us t o a happi er
wor l d. . . . "
Mr . Thompson l eaned t owar d Gal t and whi sper ed wi t h an ami abl e smi l e,
" You' l l have t o say a f ew wor ds t o t he count r y, l at er on, af t er me. No, no,
not a l ong speech, j ust a sent ence or t wo, no mor e.
J ust ' hel l o, f ol ks' or somet hi ng l i ke t hat , so t hey' l l r ecogni ze your
voi ce. " The f ai nt l y st r essed pr essur e of t he " secr et ar y' s" muzzl e agai nst
Gal t ' s si de added a si l ent par agr aph. Gal t di d not answer .
" The J ohn Gal t Pl an, " Wesl ey Mouch was sayi ng, " wi l l r econci l e al l
conf l i ct s. I t wi l l pr ot ect t he pr oper t y of t he r i ch and gi ve a gr eat er shar e
t o t he poor . I t wi l l cut down t he bur den of your t axes and pr ovi de you wi t h
mor e gover nment benef i t s. I t wi l l l ower pr i ces and r ai se wages. I t wi l l gi ve
mor e f r eedomt o t he i ndi vi dual and st r engt hen t he bonds of col l ect i ve
obl i gat i ons. I t wi l l combi ne t he ef f i ci ency of f r ee ent er pr i se wi t h t he
gener osi t y of a pl anned economy, "
Dagny obser ved some f acesi t t ook her an ef f or t f ul l y t o bel i eve i t who
wer e l ooki ng at Gal t wi t h hat r ed. J i mwas one of t hem, she not ed. When t he
i mage of Mouch hel d t he scr een, t hese f aces wer e r el axed i n bor ed
cont ent ment , whi ch was not pl easur e, but t he comf or t of l i cense, of knowi ng
t hat not hi ng was demanded of t hemand not hi ng was f i r mor cer t ai n. When t he
camer a f l ashed t he i mage of Gal t , t hei r l i ps gr ew t i ght and t hei r f eat ur es
wer e shar pened by a l ook of pecul i ar caut i on. She f el t wi t h sudden cer t ai nt y
t hat t hey f ear ed t he pr eci si on of hi s f ace, t he unyi el di ng cl ar i t y of hi s
f eat ur es, t he l ook of bei ng an ent i t y, a l ook of asser t i ng exi st ence. They
hat e hi mf or bei ng hi msel f she t hought , f eel i ng a t ouch of col d hor r or , as
t he nat ur e of t hei r soul s became r eal t o her t hey hat e hi mf or hi s capaci t y
t o l i ve.
Do t hey want t o l i ve?she t hought i n sel f - mocker y. Thr ough t he st unned
numbness of her mi nd, she r emember ed t he sound of hi s sent ence: " The desi r e
not t o be anyt hi ng, i s t he desi r e not t o be. "
I t was now Mr . Thompson who was yel l i ng i nt o t he mi cr ophone i n hi s
br i skest and f ol ksi est manner : " And I say t o you: ki ck t hemi n t he t eet h, al l
t hose doubt er s who' r e spr eadi ng di suni t y and f ear ! They t ol d you t hat J ohn
Gal t woul d never j oi n us, di dn' t t hey? Wel l , her e he i s, i n per son, of hi s
own f r ee choi ce, at t hi s t abl e and at t he head of our St at e! Ready, wi l l i ng
and abl e t o ser ve t he peopl e' s cause!
Don' t you ever agai n, any of you, st ar t doubt i ng or r unni ng or gi vi ng up!
Tomor r ow i s her e t odayand what a t omor r ow! Wi t h t hr ee meal s a day f or
ever yone on ear t h, wi t h a car i n ever y gar age, and wi t h el ect r i c power gi ven
f r ee, pr oduced by some sor t of a mot or t he l i ke of whi ch we' ve never seen!
And al l you have t o do i s j ust be pat i ent a l i t t l e whi l e l onger ! Pat i ence,
f ai t h and uni t yt hat ' s t he r eci pe, f or pr ogr ess! We must st and uni t ed among
our sel ves and uni t ed wi t h t he r est of t he wor l d, as a gr eat bi g happy f ami l y,
al l wor ki ng f or t he good of al l ! We have f ound a l eader who wi l l beat t he
r ecor d of our r i chest and busi est past ! I t ' s hi s l ove f or manki nd t hat has
made hi mcome her et o ser ve you, pr ot ect you and t ake car e of you! He has
hear d your pl eas and has answer ed t he cal l of our common human dut y! Ever y
man i s hi s br ot her ' s keeper ! No man i s an i sl and unt o hi msel f ! And now you
wi l l hear hi s voi cenow you wi l l hear hi s own message! . . . ' Ladi es and
gent l emen, " he sai d sol emnl y, " J ohn Gal t t o t he col l ect i ve f ami l y of
manki nd! "
The camer a moved t o Gal t . He r emai ned st i l l f or a moment . Then, wi t h so
swi f t and exper t a movement t hat hi s secr et ar y' s hand was unabl e t o mat ch i t ,
he r ose t o hi s f eet , l eani ng si dewi se, l eavi ng t he poi nt ed gun moment ar i l y
exposed t o t he si ght of t he wor l dt hen, st andi ng st r ai ght , f aci ng t he
camer as, l ooki ng at al l hi s i nvi si bl e vi ewer s, he sai d: " Get t he hel l out of
my way! "

CHAPTER IX
THE GENERATOR

" Get t he hel l out of my way! "
Dr . Rober t St adl er hear d i t on t he r adi o i n hi s car . He di d not know
whet her t he next sound, par t - gasp, par t - scr eam, par t - l aught er , st ar t ed r i si ng
f r omhi mor f r omt he r adi obut he hear d t he cl i ck t hat cut t hembot h of f . The
r adi o went dead. No f ur t her sounds came f r omt he Wayne- Fal kl and Hot el .
He j er ked hi s hand f r omknob t o knob under t he l i ght ed di al . Not hi ng came
t hr ough, no expl anat i ons, no pl eas of t echni cal t r oubl e, no si l ence- hi di ng
musi c. Al l st at i ons wer e of f t he ai r .
He shudder ed, he gr i pped t he wheel , l eani ng f or war d acr oss i t , l i ke a
j ockey at t he cl ose of a r ace, and hi s f oot pr essed down on t he accel er at or .
The smal l st r et ch of hi ghway bef or e hi mbounced wi t h t he l eapi ng of hi s
headl i ght s. Ther e was not hi ng beyond t he l i ght ed st r i p but t he empt i ness of
t he pr ai r i es of I owa.
He di d not know why he had been l i st eni ng t o t he br oadcast ; he di d not
know what made hi mt r embl e now. He chuckl ed abr upt l yi t sounded l i ke a
mal evol ent gr owl ei t her at t he r adi o, or at t hose i n t he ci t y, or at t he sky.
He was wat chi ng t he r ar e post s of hi ghway number s. He di d not need t o
consul t a map: f or f our days, t hat map had been pr i nt ed on hi s br ai n, l i ke a
net of l i nes t r aced i n aci d. They coul d not t ake i t away f r omhi m, he
t hought ; t hey coul d not st op hi m. He f el t as i f he wer e bei ng pur sued; but
t her e was not hi ng f or mi l es behi nd hi m, except t he t wo r ed l i ght s on t he r ear
of hi s car l i ke t wo smal l si gnal s of danger , f l eei ng t hr ough t he dar kness of
t he I owa pl ai ns.
The mot i ve di r ect i ng hi s hands and f eet was f our days behi nd hi m. I t was
t he f ace of t he man on t he wi ndow si l l , and t he f aces he had conf r ont ed when
he had escaped f r omt hat r oom. He had cr i ed t o t hemt hat he coul d not deal
wi t h Gal t and nei t her coul d t hey, t hat Gal t woul d dest r oy t hemal l , unl ess
t hey dest r oyed hi mf i r st . " Don' t get smar t , Pr of essor , " Mr . Thompson had
answer ed col dl y. " You' ve done an awf ul l ot of yel l i ng about hat i ng hi s gut s,
but when i t comes t o act i on, you haven' t hel ped us at al l . I don' t know whi ch
si de you' r e on. I f he doesn' t gi ve i n t o us peaceabl y, we mi ght have t o
r esor t t o pr essur e
such as host ages whomhe woul dn' t want t o see hur t and you' r e f i r st on t he
l i st , Pr of essor . " " I ?" he had scr eamed, shaki ng wi t h t er r or and wi t h bi t t er l y
desper at e l aught er . " I ? But he damns me mor e t han anyone on ear t h! " " How do I
know?" Mr . Thompson had answer ed. " I hear t hat you used t o be hi s t eacher .
Ar i d, don' t f or get , you' r e t he onl y one he asked f or . "
Hi s mi nd l i qui d wi t h t er r or , he had f el t as i f he wer e about t o be cr ushed
bet ween t wo wal l s advanci ng upon hi m: he had no chance, i f Gal t r ef used t o
sur r ender and l ess chance, i f Gal t j oi ned t hese men.
I t was t hen t hat a di st ant shape had come swi mmi ng f or war d i n hi s mi nd:
t he i mage of a mushr oom- domed st r uct ur e i n t he mi ddl e of an I owa pl ai n.
Al l i mages had begun t o f use i n hi s mi nd t her eaf t er . Pr oj ect Xhe had
t hought , not knowi ng whet her i t was t he vi si on of t hat st r uct ur e or of a
f eudal cast l e commandi ng t he count r ysi de, t hat gave hi mt he sense of an age
and a wor l d t o whi ch he bel onged. . . . I ' mRober t St adl er he had t hought
i t ' s my pr oper t y, i t came f r ommy di scover i es, t hey sai d i t was I who
i nvent ed i t . . . . I ' l l show t hem! he had t hought , not knowi ng whet her he
meant t he man on t he wi ndow si l l or t he ot her s or t he whol e of manki nd. . . .
Hi s t hought s had become l i ke chi ps f l oat i ng i n a l i qui d, wi t hout connect i ons:
To sei ze cont r ol . . .
I ' l l show t hem! . . . To sei ze cont r ol , t o r ul e . . . Ther e i s no ot her
way t o l i ve on ear t h. . . .
These had been t he onl y wor ds t hat named t he pl an i n hi s mi nd. He had f el t
t hat t he r est was cl ear t o hi mcl ear i n t he f or mof a savage emot i on cr yi ng
def i ant l y t hat he di d not have t o make i t cl ear . He woul d sei ze cont r ol of
Pr oj ect X and he woul d r ul e a par t of t he count r y as hi s pr i vat e f eudal
domai n. The means? Hi s emot i on had answer ed: Somehow. The mot i ve? Hi s mi nd
had r epeat ed i nsi st ent l y t hat hi s mot i ve was t er r or of Mr . Thompson' s gang,
t hat he was not saf e among t hemany l onger , t hat hi s pl an was a pr act i cal
necessi t y. I n t he dept h of hi s l i qui d br ai n, hi s emot i on had hel d anot her
ki nd of t er r or , dr owned al ong wi t h t he connect i ons bet ween hi s br oken chi ps
of wor ds.
These chi ps had been t he onl y compass di r ect i ng hi s cour se t hr ough f our
days and ni ght swhi l e he dr ove down deser t ed hi ghways, acr oss a count r y
col l apsi ng i nt o chaos, whi l e he devel oped a monomani ac' s cunni ng f or
obt ai ni ng i l l egal pur chases of gas, whi l e he snat ched r andomhour s of
r est l ess sl eep, i n obscur e mot el s, under assumed names. . . .
I ' mRober t St adl er he had t hought , hi s mi nd r epeat i ng i t as a f or mul a of
omni pot ence. . . . To sei ze cont r ol he had t hought , speedi ng agai nst t he
f ut i l e t r af f i c l i ght s of hal f - abandoned t ownsspeedi ng on t he vi br at i ng st eel
of t he Taggar t Br i dge acr oss t he Mi ssi ssi ppi
speedi ng past t he occasi onal r ui ns of f ar ms i n t he empt y st r et ches of
I owa. . . . I ' l l show t hemhe had t hought l et t hempur sue, t hey won' t st op me
t hi s t i me. . . . He had t hought i t , even t hough no one had pur sued hi mas no
one was pur sui ng hi mnow, but t he t ai l l i ght s of hi s own car and t he mot i ve
dr owned i n hi s mi nd.
He l ooked at hi s si l ent r adi o and chuckl ed; t he chuckl e had t he emot i onal
qual i t y of a f i st bei ng shaken at space. I t ' s I who ampr act i cal
he t hought I have no choi ce . . . I have no ot her way . . . I ' l l show al l
t hose i nsol ent gangst er s, who f or get t hat I amRober t St adl er . . . They wi l l
al l col l apse, but I won' t ! . . . I ' l l sur vi ve! . . . I ' l l wi n! . . . I ' l l
show t hem!
The wor ds wer e l i ke chunks of sol i d gr ound i n hi s mi nd, i n t he mi dst of a
f i er cel y si l ent swamp; t he connect i ons l ay submer ged at t he bot t om.
I f connect ed, hi s wor ds woul d have f or med t he sent ence: I ' l l show hi mt hat
t her e i s no ot her way t o l i ve on ear t h! . . .
The scat t er ed l i ght s i n t he di st ance ahead wer e t he bar r acks er ect ed on
t he si t e of Pr oj ect X, now known as Har mony Ci t y. He obser ved, as he came
cl oser , t hat somet hi ng out of t he or di nar y was goi ng on at Pr oj ect X, The
bar bed- wi r e f ence was br oken, and no sent i nel s met hi mat t he gat e. But some
sor t of abnor mal act i vi t y was chur ni ng i n t he pat ches of dar kness and i n t he
gl ar e of some waver i ng spot l i ght s: t her e wer e ar mor ed t r ucks and r unni ng
f i gur es and shout ed or der s and t he gl eamof bayonet s. No one st opped hi s car .
At t he cor ner of a shant y, he saw t he mot i onl ess body of a sol di er spr awl ed
on t he gr ound.
Dr unkhe t hought , pr ef er r i ng t o t hi nk i t , wonder i ng why he f el t unsur e of
i t .
The mushr oomst r uct ur e cr ouched on a knol l bef or e hi m; t her e wer e l i ght s
i n t he nar r ow sl i t s of i t s wi ndowsand t he shapel ess f unnel s pr ot r uded f r om
under i t s dome, ai med at t he dar kness of t he count r y. A sol di er bar r ed hi s
way, when he al i ght ed f r omhi s car at t he ent r ance.
The sol di er was pr oper l y ar med, but hat l ess, and hi s uni f or mseemed t oo
sl oppy. " Wher e ar e you goi ng, bud?" he asked.
" Let me i n! " Dr . St adl er or der ed cont empt uousl y.
" What ' s your busi ness her e?"
" I ' mDr . Rober t St adl er . "
" I ' mJ oe Bl ow. I sai d, What ' s your busi ness? Ar e you one of t he new or one
of t he ol d?"
" Let me i n, you i di ot ! I ' mDr . Rober t St adl er ! "
I t was not t he name, but t he t one of voi ce and t he f or mof addr ess t hat
seemed t o convi nce t he sol di er . " One of t he new, " he sai d and, openi ng t he
door , shout ed t o somebody i nsi de, " Hey, Mac, t ake car e of Gr andpaw her e, see
what he want s! "
I n t he bar e, di mhal l of r ei nf or ced concr et e, he was met by a man who
mi ght have been an of f i cer , except t hat hi s t uni c was open at t he t hr oat and
a ci gar et t e hung i nsol ent l y i n t he cor ner of hi s mout h.
" Who ar e you?" he snapped, hi s hand j er ki ng t oo swi f t l y t o t he hol st er on
hi s hi p.
" I ' mDr . Rober t St adl er . "
The name had no ef f ect . " Who gave you per mi ssi on t o come her e?"
" I need no per mi ssi on. "
Thi s seemed t o have an ef f ect ; t he man r emoved t he ci gar et t e f r omhi s
mout h. " Who sent f or you?" he asked, a shade uncer t ai nl y.
" Wi l l you pl ease l et me speak t o t he commandant ?" Dr . St adl er demanded
i mpat i ent l y.
" The commandant ? You' r e t oo l at e, br ot her . "
" The chi ef engi neer , t hen! "
" The chi ef - who? Oh, Wi l l i e? Wi l l i e' s okay, he' s one of us, but he' s out on
an er r and j ust now. "
Ther e wer e ot her f i gur es i n t he hal l , l i st eni ng wi t h an appr ehensi ve
cur i osi t y. The of f i cer ' s hand summoned one of t hemt o appr oachan unshaved
ci vi l i an wi t h a shabby over coat t hr own over hi s shoul der s.
" What do you want ?" he snapped at St adl er , " Woul d someone pl ease t el l me
wher e ar e t he gent l emen of t he sci ent i f i c st af f ?" Dr . St adl er asked i n t he
cour t eousl y per empt or y t one of an or der .
The t wo men gl anced at each ot her , as i f such a quest i on wer e i r r el evant
i n t hi s pl ace. " Do you come f r omWashi ngt on?" t he ci vi l i an asked
suspi ci ousl y.
" I do not . I wi l l have you under st and t hat I ' mt hr ough wi t h t hat
Washi ngt on gang. "
" Oh?" The man seemed pl eased. " Ar e you a Fr i end of t he Peopl e, t hen?"
" I woul d say t hat I ' mt he best f r i end t he peopl e ever had. I ' mt he man who
gave t hemal l t hi s. " He poi nt ed ar ound hi m.
" You di d?" sai d t he man, i mpr essed. " Ar e you one of t hose who made a deal
wi t h t he Boss?"
" I ' mt he boss her e, f r omnow on, "
The men l ooked at each ot her , r et r eat i ng a f ew st eps. The of f i cer asked,
" Di d you say t he name was St adl er ?"
" Rober t St adl er , And i f you don' t know what t hat means, you' l l f i nd out ! "
" Wi l l you pl ease f ol l ow me, si r ?" sai d t he of f i cer , wi t h shaky pol i t eness.
What happened next was not cl ear t o Dr . St adl er , because hi s mi nd r ef used
t o admi t t he r eal i t y of t he t hi ngs he was seei ng. Ther e wer e shi f t i ng f i gur es
i n hal f - l i ght ed, di sor der ed of f i ces, t her e wer e t oo many f i r ear ms on
ever ybody' s hi ps, t her e wer e sensel ess quest i ons asked of hi mby j er ky voi ces
t hat al t er nat ed bet ween i mper t i nence and f ear .
He di d not know whet her any of t hemt r i ed t o gi ve hi man expl anat i on; he
woul d not l i st en; he coul d not per mi t t hi s t o be t r ue. He kept st at i ng i n t he
t one of a f eudal sover ei gn, " I ' mt he boss her e, f r omnow on . . . I gi ve t he
or der s . . . I came t o t ake over . . . I own t hi s pl ace.
. . . I amDr . Rober t St adl er and i f you don' t know t hat name i n t hi s
pl ace, you have no busi ness bei ng her e, you i nf er nal i di ot s! You' l l bl ow
your sel ves t o pi eces, i f t hat ' s t he' st at e of your knowl edge! Have you had a
hi gh- school cour se i n physi cs? You don' t l ook t o me as i f you' ve ever been
al l owed i nsi de a hi gh school , any of you! What ar e you doi ng her e? Who ar e
you?"
I t t ook hi ma l ong t i me t o gr aspwhen hi s mi nd coul d not bl ock i t any
l onger t hat somebody had beat en hi mt o hi s pl an: somebody had hel d t he same
vi ew of exi st ence as hi s own and had set out t o achi eve t he same f ut ur e. He
gr asped t hat t hese men, who cal l ed t hemsel ves t he Fr i ends of t he Peopl e, had
sei zed possessi on of Pr oj ect X, t oni ght , a f ew hour s ago, i nt endi ng t o
est abl i sh a r ei gn of t hei r own. He l aughed i n t hei r f aces, wi t h bi t t er l y
i ncr edul ous cont empt , " You don' t know what you' r e doi ng, you mi ser abl e
j uveni l e del i nquent s! Do you t hi nk t hat youyou! can handl e a hi gh- pr eci si on
i nst r ument of sci ence? Who i s your l eader ? I demand t o see your l eader ! "
I t was hi s t one of over bear i ng aut hor i t y, hi s cont empt and t hei r own
pani ct he bl i nd pani c of men of unbr i dl ed vi ol ence, who have no st andar ds of
saf et y or danger t hat made t hemwaver and wonder whet her he was, per haps,
some secr et t op- l evel member of t hei r l eader shi p; t hey wer e equal l y r eady t o
def y or t o obey any aut hor i t y. Af t er bei ng shunt ed f r omone j i t t er y commander
t o anot her , he f ound hi msel f at l ast bei ng l ed down i r on st ai r ways and down
l ong, echoi ng, under gr ound cor r i dor s of r ei nf or ced concr et e t o an audi ence
wi t h " The Boss" i n per son, The Boss had t aken r ef uge i n t he under gr ound
cont r ol r oom.
Among t he compl ex spi r al s of t he del i cat e sci ent i f i c machi ner y t hat
pr oduced t he sound r ay, agai nst t he wal l panel of gl i t t er i ng l ever s, di al s
and gauges, known as t he Xyl ophone, Rober t St adl er f aced t he new r ul er of
Pr oj ect X. I t was Cuf f y Mei gs.
He wor e a t i ght , semi - mi l i t ar y t uni c and l eat her l eggi ngs; t he f l esh of
hi s neck bul ged over t he edge of hi s col l ar ; hi s bl ack cur l s wer e mat t ed wi t h
sweat . He was paci ng r est l essl y, unst eadi l y i n f r ont of t he Xyl ophone,
shout i ng or der s t o men who kept r ushi ng i n and out of t he r oom: " Send
cour i er s t o ever y count y seat wi t hi n our r each! Tel l ' emt hat t he Fr i ends of
t he Peopl e have won! Tel l ' emt hey' r e not t o t ake or der s f r omWashi ngt on any
l onger ! The new capi t al of t he Peopl e' s Commonweal t h i s Har mony Ci t y,
hencef or t h t o be known as Mei gsvi l l e! Tel l ' emt hat I ' l l expect f i ve hundr ed
t housand dol l ar s per ever y f i ve t housand heads of popul at i on, by t omor r ow
mor ni ngor el se! "
I t t ook some t i me bef or e Cuf f y Mei gs' at t ent i on and bl ear y br own eyes
coul d be dr awn t o f ocus on t he per son of Dr . St adl er . " Wel l , what i s i t ? What
i s i t ?" he snapped.
" I amDr . Rober t St adl er . "
" Huh?Oh, yeah! Yeah! You' r e t he bi g guy f r omout er spaces, ar en' t you?
You' r e t he f el l ow who cat ches at oms or somet hi ng. Wel l , what on ear t h ar e you
doi ng her e?"
" I t i s I who shoul d ask you t hat quest i on. "
" Huh? Look, Pr of essor , I ' mi n no mood f or j okes. "
" I have come her e t o t ake cont r ol . "
" Cont r ol ? Of what ?"
" Of t hi s equi pment . Of t hi s pl ace. Of t he count r ysi de wi t hi n i t s r adi us of
oper at i on. "
Mei gs st ar ed at hi mbl ankl y f or a moment , t hen asked sof t l y, " How di d you
get her e?"
" By car . "
" I mean, whomdi d you br i ng wi t h you?"
" Nobody. "
" What weapons di d you br i ng?"
" None. My name i s suf f i ci ent . "
" You came her e al one, wi t h your name and your car ?"
" I di d. "
Cuf f y Mei gs bur st out l aughi ng i n hi s f ace.
" Do you t hi nk, " asked Dr . St adl er , " t hat you can oper at e an i nst al l at i on
of t hi s ki nd?"
" Run al ong, Pr of essor , r un al ong! Beat i t , bef or e I have you shot !
We' ve got no use f or i nt el l ect ual s ar ound her e! "
" How much do you know about t hi s?" Dr . St adl er poi nt ed at t he Xyl ophone.
" Who car es? Techni ci ans ar e a di me a dozen t hese days! Beat i t !
Thi s ai n' t Washi ngt on! I ' mt hr ough wi t h t hose i mpr act i cal dr eamer s i n
Washi ngt on! They won' t get anywher e, bar gai ni ng wi t h t hat r adi o ghost and
maki ng speeches! Act i ont hat ' s what ' s needed! Di r ect act i on!
Beat i t , Doc! Your day i s over ! " He was weavi ng unst eadi l y back and f or t h,
cat chi ng at a l ever of t he Xyl ophone once i n a whi l e. Dr . St adl er r eal i zed
t hat Mei gs was dr unk.
" Don' t t ouch t hose l ever s, you f ool ! "
Mei gs j er ked hi s hand back i nvol unt ar i l y, t hen waved i t def i ant l y at t he
panel . " I ' l l t ouch anyt hi ng I pl ease! Don' t you t el l - me what t o do! "
" Get away f r omt hat panel ! Get out of her e! Thi s i s mi ne! Do you
under st and? I t ' s my pr oper t y! "
" Pr oper t y? Huh! " Mei gs gave a br i ef bar k t hat was a chuckl e.
" I i nvent ed i t ! I cr eat ed i t ! I made i t possi bl e! "
" You di d? Wel l , many t hanks, Doc. Many t hanks, but we don' t need you any
l onger . We' ve got our own mechani cs. "
_ " Have you any i dea what I had t o know i n or der t o make i t possi bl e?
You coul dn' t t hi nk of a si ngl e t ube of i t ! Not a si ngl e bol t ! "
Mei gs shr ugged. " Maybe not . "
" Then how dar e you t hi nk t hat you can own i t ? How dar e you come her e? What
cl ai mdo you have t o i t ?"
Mei gs pat t ed hi s hol st er . " Thi s. "
" Li st en, you dr unken l out ! " cr i ed Dr . St adl er . " Do you know what you' r e
pl ayi ng wi t h?"
" Don' t you t al k t o me l i ke t hat , you ol d f ool ! Who ar e you t o t al k t o me
l i ke t hat ? I can br eak your neck wi t h my bar e hands! Don' t you know who I
am?"
" You' r e a scar ed t hug way out of hi s dept h! "
" Oh, I am, amI ? I ' mt he Boss! I ' mt he Boss and I ' mnot goi ng t o be
st opped by an ol d scar ecr ow l i ke you! Get out of her e! "
They st ood st ar i ng at each ot her f or a moment , by t he panel of t he
Xyl ophone, bot h cor ner ed by t er r or . The unadmi t t ed r oot of Dr . St adl er ' s
t er r or was hi s f r ant i c st r uggl e not t o acknowl edge t hat he was l ooki ng at hi s
f i nal pr oduct , t hat t hi s was hi s spi r i t ual son. Cuf f y Mei gs'
t er r or had wi der r oot s, i t embr aced al l of exi st ence; he had l i ved i n
chr oni c t er r or al l hi s l i f e, but now he was st r uggl i ng not t o acknowl edge
what i t was t hat he had dr eaded: i n t he moment of hi s t r i umph, when he
expect ed t o be saf e, t hat myst er i ous, occul t br eedt he i nt el l ect ual was
r ef usi ng t o f ear hi mand def yi ng hi s power .
" Get out of her e! " snar l ed Cuf f y Mei gs. " I ' l l cal l my men! I ' l l have you
shot ! "
" Get out of her e, you l ousy, br ai nl ess, swagger i ng mor on! " snar l ed Dr .
St adl er . " Do you t hi nk I ' l l l et you cash i n on my l i f e? Do you t hi nk i t ' s f or
you t hat I . . . t hat I sol d" He di d not f i ni sh. " St op t ouchi ng t hose
l ever s, God damn you! "
" Don' t you gi ve me or der s! I don' t need you t o t el l me what t o do!
You' r e not goi ng t o scar e me wi t h your cl assy mumbo- j umbo! I ' l l do as I
pl ease! What di d I f i ght f or , i f I can' t do as I pl ease?" He chuckl ed and
r eached f or a l ever .
" Hey, Cuf f y, t ake i t easy! " yel l ed some f i gur e i n t he back of t he r oom,
dar t i ng f or war d.
" St and back! " r oar ed Cuf f y Mei gs. " St and back, al l of you! Scar ed, amI ?
I ' l l show you who' s boss! "
Dr . St adl er l eaped t o st op hi mbut Mei gs shoved hi masi de wi t h one ar m,
gave a gul p of l aught er at t he si ght of St adl er f al l i ng t o t he f l oor , and,
wi t h t he ot her ar m, yanked a l ever of t he Xyl ophone.
The cr ash of soundt he scr eechi ng cr ash of r i pped met al and of pr essur es
col l i di ng on conf l i ct i ng ci r cui t s, t he sound of a monst er t ur n' i ng upon
i t sel f was hear d onl y i nsi de t he st r uct ur e. No sound was hear d out si de.
Out si de, t he st r uct ur e mer el y r ose i nt o t he ai r , suddenl y and si l ent l y,
cr acked open i nt o a ' f ew l ar ge pi eces, shot some hi ssi ng st r eaks of bl ue
l i ght t o t he sky and came down as a pi l e of r ubbl e. Wi t hi n t he ci r cl e of a
r adi us of a hundr ed mi l es, encl osi ng par t s of f our st at es, t el egr aph pol es
f el l l i ke mat chst i cks, f ar mhouses col l apsed i nt o chi ps, ci t y bui l di ngs went
down as i f sl ashed and mi nced by a si ngl e second' s bl ow, wi t h no t i me f or a
sound t o be hear d by t he t wi st ed bodi es of t he vi ct i msand, on t he ci r cl e' s
per i pher y, hal f way acr oss t he Mi ssi ssi ppi , t he engi ne and t he f i r st si x car s
of a passenger t r ai n f l ew as a shower of met al i nt o t he wat er of t he r i ver ,
al ong wi t h t he west er n spans of t he Taggar t Br i dge, cut i n hal f .
On t he si t e of what had once been Pr oj ect X, not hi ng r emai ned al i ve among
t he r ui nsexcept , f or some endl ess mi nut es l onger , a huddl e of t or n f l esh and
scr eami ng pai n t hat had once been a gr eat mi nd.
Ther e was a sense of wei ght l ess f r eedomt hought Dagnyi n t he f eel i ng t hat
a t el ephone boot h was her onl y i mmedi at e, absol ut e goal , wi t h no concer n f or
any of t he goal s of t he passer s- by i n t he st r eet s ar ound her . I t di d not make
her f eel est r anged f r omt he ci t y: i t made her f eel , f or t he f i r st t i me, t hat
she owned t he ci t y and t hat she l oved i t , t hat she had never l oved i t bef or e
as she di d i n t hi s moment , wi t h so per sonal , sol emn and conf i dent a sense of
possessi on. The ni ght was st i l l and cl ear ; she l ooked at t he sky; as her
f eel i ng was mor e sol emn t han j oyous, but hel d t he sense of a f ut ur e j oyso
t he ai r was mor e wi ndl ess t han war m, but hel d t he hi nt of a di st ant spr i ng.
Get t he hel l out of my wayshe t hought , not wi t h r esent ment , but al most
wi t h amusement , wi t h a sense of det achment and del i ver ance, addr essi ng i t t o
t he passer s- by, t o t he t r af f i c when i t i mpeded her hur r i ed pr ogr ess, and t o
any f ear she had known i n t he past . I t was l ess t han an hour ago t hat she had
hear d hi mut t er t hat sent ence, and hi s voi ce st i l l seemed t o r i ng i n t he ai r
of t he st r eet s, mer gi ng i nt o a di st ant hi nt of l aught er .
She had l aughed exul t ant l y, i n t he bal l r oomof t he Wayne- Fal kl and, when
she had hear d hi msay i t ; she had l aughed, her hand pr essed t o her mout h, so
t hat t he l aught er was onl y i n her eyesand i n hi s, when he had l ooked
st r ai ght at her and she had known t hat he hear d i t . They had l ooked at each
ot her f or t he span of a second, above t he heads of t he gaspi ng, scr eami ng
cr owdabove t he cr ash of t he mi cr ophones bei ng shat t er ed, t hough al l st at i ons
had been i nst ant l y cut of f above t he bur st s of br eaki ng gl ass on f al l i ng
t abl es, as some peopl e went st ampedi ng t o t he door s.
Then she had hear d Mr . Thompson cr y, wavi ng hi s ar mat Gal t , " Take hi m
back t o hi s r oom, but guar d hi mwi t h your l i ves! " and t he cr owd had par t ed as
t hr ee men l ed hi mout . Mr . Thompson seemed t o col l apse f or a moment , dr oppi ng
hi s f or ehead on hi s ar m, but he r al l i ed, j umped t o hi s f eet , waved vaguel y at
hi s henchmen t o f ol l ow and r ushed out , t hr ough a pr i vat e si de exi t . No one
addr essed or i nst r uct ed t he guest s: some wer e r unni ng bl i ndl y t o escape,
ot her s sat st i l l , not dar i ng t o move. The bal l r oomwas l i ke a shi p wi t hout
capt ai n. She cut t hr ough t he cr owd and f ol l owed t he cl i que. No one t r i ed t o
st op her .
She f ound t hemhuddl ed i n a smal l , pr i vat e st udy: Mr . Thompson was sl umped
i n an ar mchai r , cl ut chi ng hi s head wi t h bot h hands, Wesl ey Mouch was moani ng,
Eugene Lawson was sobbi ng wi t h t he sound of a nast y chi l d' s r age, J i mwas
wat chi ng t he ot her s wi t h an oddl y expect ant i nt ensi t y. " I t ol d you so! " Dr .
Fer r i s was shout i ng. " I t ol d you so, di dn' t I ? That ' s wher e you get wi t h your
' peacef ul per suasi on' ! "
She r emai ned st andi ng by t he door . They seemed t o not i ce her pr esence, but
t hey di d not seemt o car e.
" I r esi gn! " yel l ed Chi ck Mor r i son. " I r esi gn! I ' mt hr ough! I don' t know
what t o say t o t he count r y! I can' t t hi nk! I won' t t r y! I t ' s no use!
I coul dn' t hel p i t ! You' r e not goi ng t o bl ame me! I ' ve r esi gned! " He waved
hi s ar ms i n some shapel ess gest ur e of f ut i l i t y or f ar ewel l , and r an out of
t he r oom, " He has a hi de- out al l st ocked f or hi msel f i n Tennessee, " sai d
Ti nky Hol l oway r ef l ect i vel y, as i f he, t oo, had t aken a si mi l ar pr ecaut i on
and wer e now wonder i ng whet her t he t i me had come.
" He won' t keep i t f or l ong, i f he get s t her e at al l , " sai d Mouch. " Wi t h
t he gangs of r ai der s and t he st at e of t r anspor t at i on" He spr ead hi s hands
and di d not f i ni sh.
She knew what t hought s wer e f i l l i ng t he pause; she knew t hat no mat t er
what pr i vat e escapes t hese men had once pr ovi ded f or t hemsel ves, t hey wer e
now gr aspi ng t he f act t hat al l of t hemwer e t r apped.
She obser ved t hat t her e was no t er r or i n t hei r f aces; she saw hi nt s of i t ,
but i t l ooked l i ke a per f unct or y t er r or . Thei r expr essi ons r anged f r ombl ank
apat hy t o t he r el i eved l ook of cheat s who had bel i eved t hat t he game coul d
end no ot her way and wer e maki ng no ef f or t t o cont est i t or r egr et i t t o t he
pet ul ant bl i ndness of Lawson, who r ef used t o be consci ous of anyt hi ngt o t he
pecul i ar i nt ensi t y of J i m, whose f ace suggest ed a secr et smi l e.
" Wel l ? Wel l ?" Dr . Fer r i s was aski ng i mpat i ent l y, wi t h t he cr ackl i ng ener gy
of a man who f eel s at home i n a wor l d of hyst er i a. " What ar e you now goi ng t o
do wi t h hi m? Ar gue? Debat e? Make speeches?"
No one answer ed.
" He . . . has . . . t o . . . save . . . us, " sai d Mouch sl owl y, as i f
st r ai ni ng t he l ast of hi s mi nd i nt o bl ankness and del i ver i ng an ul t i mat umt o
r eal i t y. " He has t o . . . t ake over . . . and save t he syst em. "
" Why don' t you wr i t e hi ma l ove l et t er about i t ?" sai d Fer r i s.
" We' ve got t o . . . make hi m. . . t ake over . . . We' ve got t o f or ce hi m
t o r ul e, " sai d Mouch i n t he t one of a sl eepwal ker .
" Now, " sai d Fer r i s, suddenl y dr oppi ng hi s voi ce, " do you see what a
val uabl e est abl i shment t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e r eal l y i s?"
Mouch di d not answer hi m, but she obser ved t hat t hey al l seemed t o know
what he meant .
" You obj ect ed t o t hat pr i vat e r esear ch pr oj ect of mi ne as ' i mpr act i cal , ' "
sai d Fer r i s sof t l y. " But what di d I t el l you?"
Mouch di d not answer ; he was cr acki ng hi s knuckl es.
" Thi s i s no t i me f or squeami shness, " J ames Taggar t spoke up wi t h
unexpect ed vi gor , but hi s voi ce, t oo, was oddl y l ow. " We don' t have t o be
si ssi es about i t . "
" I t seems t o me . . . " sai d Mouch dul l y, " t hat . . . t hat t he end
j ust i f i es t he means . . . "
" I t ' s t oo l at e f or any scr upl es or any pr i nci pl es, " sai d Fer r i s. " Onl y
di r ect act i on can wor k now. "
No one answer ed; t hey wer e act i ng as i f t hey wi shed t hat t hei r pauses, not
t hei r wor ds, woul d st at e what t hey wer e di scussi ng.
" I t won' t wor k, " sai d Ti nky Hol l oway, " He won' t gi ve i n. "
" That ' s what you t hi nk! " sai d Fer r i s, and chuckl ed, " You haven' t seen our
exper i ment al model i n act i on. Last mont h, we got t hr ee conf essi ons i n t hr ee
unsol ved mur der cases. "
" I f . . . " st ar t ed Mr . Thompson, and hi s voi ce cr acked suddenl y i nt o a
moan, " i f he di es, we al l per i sh! "
" Don' t wor r y, " sai d Fer r i s. " He won' t . The Fer r i s Per suader i s saf el y
cal cul at ed agai nst t hat possi bi l i t y. "
Mr . Thompson di d not answer .
" I t seems t o me . . . t hat we have no ot her choi ce . . . " sai d Mouch; i t
was al most a whi sper .
They r emai ned si l ent ; Mr . Thompson was st r uggl i ng not t o see t hat t hey
wer e al l l ooki ng at hi m. Then he cr i ed suddenl y, " Oh, do anyt hi ng you want ! I
coul dn' t hel p i t ! Do anyt hi ng you want ! "
Dr . Fer r i s t ur ned t o Lawson. " Gene, " he sai d t ensel y, st i l l whi sper i ng,
" r un t o t he r adi o- cont r ol of f i ce. Or der al l st at i ons t o st and by. Tel l t hem
t hat I ' l l have Mr . Gal t on t he ai r wi t hi n t hr ee hour s. "
Lawson l eaped t o hi s f eet , wi t h a sudden, mi r t hf ul gr i n, and r an out of
t he r oom.
She knew. She knew what t hey i nt ended doi ng and what i t was wi t hi n t hem
t hat made i t possi bl e. They di d not t hi nk t hat t hi s woul d succeed. They di d
not t hi nk t hat Gal t woul d gi ve i n; t hey di d not want hi mt o gi ve i n. They di d
not t hi nk t hat anyt hi ng coul d save t hemnow; t hey di d not want t o be saved.
Moved by t he pani c of t hei r namel ess emot i ons, t hey had f ought agai nst
r eal i t y al l t hei r l i vesand now t hey had r eached a moment when at l ast t hey
f el t at home. They di d not have t o know why t hey f el t i t , t hey who had chosen
never t o know what t hey f el t t hey mer el y exper i enced a sense of r ecogni t i on,
si nce t hi s was what t hey had been seeki ng, t hi s was di e ki nd of r eal i t y t hat
had been i mpl i ed i n al l of t hei r f eel i ngs, t hei r act i ons, t hei r d3si r es,
t hei r choi ces, t hei r dr eams. Thi s was t he nat ur e and t he met hod of t he
r ebel l i on agai nst exi st ence and of t he undef i ned quest f or an unnamed
Ni r vana. They di d not want t o l i ve; t hey want ed hi mt o di e.
The hor r or she f el t was onl y a br i ef st ab, l i ke t he wr ench of a swi t chi ng
per spect i ve: she gr asped t hat t he obj ect s she had t hought t o be human wer e
not . She was l ef t wi t h a sense of cl ar i t y, of a f i nal answer and of t he need
t o act . He was i n danger ; t her e was no t i me and no r oomi n her consci ousness
t o wast e emot i on on t he act i ons of t he subhuman.
" We must make sur e, " Wesl ey Mouch was whi sper i ng, " t hat nobody - ever
l ear ns about i t . . . "
" Nobody wi l l , " sai d Fer r i s; t hei r voi ces had t he caut i ous dr one of
conspi r at or s. " I t ' s a secr et , separ at e uni t on t he I nst i t ut e gr ounds . . .
Sound- pr oof ed and saf el y di st ant f r omt he r est . . . Onl y a ver y f ew of
our st af f have ever ent er ed i t . . . . "
" I f we wer e t o f l y" sai d Mouch, and st opped abr upt l y, as i f he had caught
some war ni ng i n Fer r i s' f ace.
She saw Fer r i s' eyes move t o her , as i f he had suddenl y r emember ed her
pr esence. She hel d hi s gl ance, l et t i ng hi msee t he unt r oubl ed i ndi f f er ence of
her s, as i f she had nei t her car ed nor under st ood. Then, as i f mer el y gr aspi ng
t he si gnal of a pr i vat e di scussi on, she t ur ned sl owl y, wi t h t he suggest i on of
a shr ug, and l ef t t he r oom. She knew t hat t hey wer e now past t he st age of
wor r yi ng about her .
She wal ked wi t h t he same unhur r i ed i ndi f f er ence t hr ough t he hal l s and
t hr ough t he exi t of t he hot el . But a bl ock away, when she had t ur ned a
cor ner , her head f l ew up and t he f ol ds of her eveni ng gown sl ammed l i ke a
sai l agai nst her l egs wi t h t he sudden vi ol ence of t he speed of her st eps.
And now, as she r ushed t hr ough t he dar kness, t hi nki ng onl y of f i ndi ng a
t el ephone boot h, she f el t a new sensat i on r i si ng i r r esi st i bl y wi t hi n her ,
past t he i mmedi at e t ensi on of danger and concer n: i t was t he sense of f r eedom
of a wor l d t hat had never had t o be obst r uct ed.
She saw t he wedge of l i ght on t he si dewal k, t hat came f r omt he wi ndow of a
bar . No one gave her a second gl ance, as she cr ossed t he hal f deser t ed r oom:
t he f ew cust omer s wer e st i l l wai t i ng and whi sper i ng t ensel y i n f r ont of t he
cr ackl i ng bl ue voi d of an empt y t el evi si on scr een.
St andi ng i n t he t i ght space of t he t el ephone boot h, as i n t he cabi n of a
shi p about t o t ake of f f or a di f f er ent pl anet , she di al ed t he number OR 6-
5693.
The voi ce t hat answer ed at once was Fr anci sco' s. " Hel l o?"
" Fr anci sco?"
" Hel l o, Dagny. I was expect i ng you t o cal l . "
" Di d you hear t he br oadcast ?"
" I di d. "
" They ar e now pl anni ng t o f or ce hi mt o gi ve i n. " She kept her voi ce t o t he
t one of a f act ual r epor t . " They i nt end t o t or t ur e hi m. They have some machi ne
cal l ed t he Fer r i s Per suader , i n an i sol at ed uni t on t he gr ounds of t he St at e
Sci ence I nst i t ut e. I t ' s i n New Hampshi r e. They ment i oned f l yi ng. They
ment i oned t hat t hey woul d have hi mon t he r adi o wi t hi n t hr ee hour s. "
" I see. Ar e you cal l i ng f r oma publ i c phone boot h?"
" Yes. "
" You' r e st i l l i n eveni ng cl ot hes, ar en' t you?"
" Yes. "
" Now l i st en car ef ul l y. Go home, change your cl ot hes, pack a f ew t hi ngs
you' l l need, t ake your j ewel r y and any val uabl es t hat you can car r y, t ake
some war mcl ot hi ng. We won' t have t i me t o do i t l at er .
Meet me i n f or t y mi nut es, on t he nor t hwest cor ner , t wo bl ocks east of t he
mai n ent r ance of t he Taggar t Ter mi nal , "
" Ri ght . "
" So l ong, Sl ug. "
So l ong, Fr i sco. "
She was i n t he bedr oomof her apar t ment , i n l ess t han f i ve mi nut es,
t ear i ng of f her eveni ng gown. She l ef t i t l yi ng i n t he mi ddl e of t he f l oor ,
l i ke t he di scar ded uni f or mof an ar my she was not ser vi ng any l onger . She put
on a dar k bl ue sui t andr emember i ng Gal t ' s wor dsa whi t e, hi gh- col l ar ed
sweat er . She packed a sui t case and a bag wi t h a st r ap t hat she coul d car r y
swung over her shoul der . She put her j ewel r y i n a cor ner of t he bag,
i ncl udi ng t he br acel et of Rear den Met al she had ear ned i n t he out si de wor l d,
and t he f i ve- dol l ar gol d pi ece she had ear ned i n t he val l ey.
I t was easy t o l eave t he apar t ment and t o l ock t he door , even t hough she
knew she woul d pr obabl y never open i t agai n. I t seemed har der , f or a moment ,
when she came t o her of f i ce. No one had seen her come i n; t he ant er oomof her
of f i ce was empt y; t he gr eat Taggar t Bui l di ng seemed unusual l y qui et . She
st ood l ooki ng f or a moment at t hi s r oomand at al l t he year s i t had
cont ai ned. Then she smi l edno, i t was not t oo har d, she t hought ; she opened
her saf e and t ook t he document s she had come her e t o get . Ther e was not hi ng
el se t hat she want ed t o t ake f r omher of f i ceexcept t he pi ct ur e of Nat hani el
Taggar t and t he map of Taggar t Tr anscont i nent al . She br oke t he t wo f r ames,
f ol ded t he pi ct ur e and t he map, and sl i pped t hemi nt o her sui t case.
She was l ocki ng t he sui t case, when she hear d t he sound of hur r yi ng st eps.
The door f l ew open and t he chi ef engi neer r ushed i n; he was shaki ng; hi s f ace
was di st or t ed.
" Mi ss Taggar t ! " he cr i ed. " Oh, t hank God, Mi ss Taggar t , you' r e her e! We' ve
been cal l i ng f or you al l over ! "
She di d not answer ; she l ooked at hi mi nqui r i ngl y.
" Mi ss Taggar t , have you hear d?"
" What ?"
" Then you haven' t ! Oh God, Mi ss Taggar t , i t ' s . . . I can' t bel i eve i t , I
st i l l can' t bel i eve i t , but . . . Oh God, what ar e we goi ng t o do?
The . . . t he Taggar t Br i dge i s gone! "
She st ar ed at hi m, unabl e t o move.
" I t ' s gone! Bl own up! Bl own up, appar ent l y, i n one second! Nobody - knows
f or cer t ai n what happenedbut i t l ooks l i ke . . . t hey t hi nk t hat somet hi ng
went wr ong at Pr oj ect X and . . . i t l ooks l i ke t hose sound r ays, Mi ss
Taggar t ! We can' t get t hr ough t o any poi nt wi t hi n a r adi us of a hundr ed
mi l es! I t ' s not possi bl e, i t can' t be possi bl e, but i t l ooks as i f ever yt hi ng
i n t hat ci r cl e has been wi ped out ! . . . We can' t get any answer s! Nobody can
get an answer t he newspaper s, t he r adi o st at i ons, t he pol i ce! We' r e st i l l
checki ng, but t he st or i es t hat ar e comi ng f r omt he r i mof t hat ci r cl e ar e"
He shudder ed. " Onl y one t hi ng i s cer t ai n: t he br i dge i s gone! Mi ss Taggar t !
We don' t know what t o do! "
She l eaped t o her desk and sei zed t he t el ephone r ecei ver . Her hand st opped
i n mi d- ai r . Then, sl owl y, t wi st edl y, wi t h t he gr eat est ef f or t ever demanded
of her , she began t o move her ar mdown t o pl ace t he r ecei ver back. I t seemed
t o her t hat i t t ook a l ong t i me, as i f her ar mhad t o move agai nst some
at mospher i c pr essur e t hat no human body coul d combat and i n t he span of t hese
f ew br i ef moment s, i n t he st i l l ness of a bl i ndi ng pai n, she knew what
Fr anci sco had f el t , t hat ni ght , t wel ve year s agoand what a boy of t went y- si x
had f el t when he had l ooked at hi s mot or f or t he l ast t i me.
" Mi ss Taggar t ! " cr i ed t he chi ef engi neer . " We don' t know what t o do! "
The r ecei ver cl i cked sof t l y back i nt o i t s cr adl e. " I don' t , ei t her , " she
answer ed.
I n a moment , she knew i t was over . She hear d her voi ce t el l i ng t he man t o
check f ur t her and r epor t t o her l at er and she wai t ed f or t he sound of hi s
st eps t o vani sh i n t he echoi ng si l ence of t he hal l .
Cr ossi ng t he concour se of t he Ter mi nal f or t he l ast t i me, she gl anced at
t he st at ue of Nat hani el Taggar t and r emember ed a pr omi se she had made. I t
woul d be onl y a symbol now, she t hought , but i t woul d be t he ki nd of f ar ewel l
t hat Nat hani el Taggar t deser ved. She had no ot her wr i t i ng i nst r ument , so she
t ook t he l i pst i ck f r omher bag and, smi l i ng up at t he mar bl e f ace of t he man
who woul d have under st ood, she dr ew a l ar ge si gn of t he dol l ar on t he
pedest al under hi s f eet .
She was f i r st t o r each t he cor ner , t wo bl ocks east of t he Ter mi nal
ent r ance. As she wai t ed, she obser ved t he f i r st t r i ckl es of t he pani c t hat
was soon t o engul f t he ci t y: t her e wer e aut omobi l es dr i vi ng t oo f ast , some of
t heml oaded wi t h househol d ef f ect s, t her e wer e t oo many pol i ce car s speedi ng
by, and t oo many si r ens bur st i ng i n t he di st ance.
The news of t he dest r uct i on of t he Br i dge was appar ent l y spr eadi ng t hr ough
t he ci t y; t hey woul d know t hat t he ci t y was doomed and t hey woul d st ar t a
st ampede t o escapebut t hey had no pl ace t o go, and i t was not her concer n
any l onger .
She saw Fr anci sco' s f i gur e appr oachi ng f r omsome di st ance away; she
r ecogni zed t he swi f t ness of hi s wal k, bef or e she coul d di st i ngui sh t he f ace
under t he cap pul l ed l ow over hi s eyes. She caught t he moment when he saw
her , as he came cl oser . He waved hi s ar m, wi t h a smi l e of gr eet i ng. Some
consci ous st r ess i n t he sweep of hi s ar mmade i t t he gest ur e of a d' Anconi a,
wel comi ng t he ar r i val of a l ong- awai t ed t r avel er at t he gat es of hi s own
domai n.
When he appr oached, she st ood sol emnl y st r ai ght and, l ooki ng at hi s f ace
and at t he bui l di ngs of t he gr eat est ci t y i n t he wor l d, as at t he ki nd of
wi t nesses she want ed, she sai d sl owl y, her voi ce conf i dent and st eady: " I
swear by my l i f e and my l ove of i t t hat I wi l l never l i ve f or t he sake of
anot her man, nor ask anot her man t o l i ve f or mi ne. "
He i ncl i ned hi s head, as i f i n si gn of admi t t ance. Hi s smi l e was now a
sal ut e.
Then he t ook her sui t case wi t h one hand, her ar mwi t h t he ot her , and sai d,
" Come on. "
The uni t known as " Pr oj ect F" i n honor of i t s or i gi nat or , Dr . Fer nswas a
smal l st r uct ur e of r ei nf or ced concr et e, l ow on t he sl ope of t he hi l l t hat
suppor t ed t he St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e on a hi gher , mor e publ i c l evel . Onl y
t he smal l gr ay pat ch of t he uni t ' s r oof coul d be seen f r omt he I nst i t ut e' s
wi ndows, hi dden i n a j ungl e of anci ent t r ees; i t l ooked no bi gger t han t he
cover of a manhol e.
The uni t consi st ed of t wo st or i es i n t he shape of a smal l cube pl aced
asymmet r i cal l y on t op of a l ar ger one. The f i r st st or y had no wi ndows, onl y a
door st udded wi t h i r on spi kes; t he second st or y had but one wi ndow, as i f i n
r el uct ant concessi on t o dayl i ght , l i ke a f ace wi t h a si ngl e eye. The men on
t he st af f of t he I nst i t ut e f el t no cur i osi t y about t hat st r uct ur e and avoi ded
t he pat hs t hat l ed down t o i t s door ; nobody had ever suggest ed i t , but t hey
had t he i mpr essi on t hat t he st r uct ur e housed a pr oj ect devot ed t o exper i ment s
wi t h t he ger ms of deadl y di seases.
The t wo f l oor s wer e occupi ed by l abor at or i es t hat cont ai ned a gr eat many
cages wi t h gui nea pi gs, dogs and r at s. But t he hear t and meani ng of t he
st r uct ur e was a r oomi n i t s cel l ar , deep under t he gr ound; t he r oomhad been
i ncompet ent l y l i ned wi t h t he por ous sheet s of soundpr oof i ng mat er i al ; t he
sheet s had begun t o cr ack and t he naked r ock of a cave showed t hr ough.
The uni t was al ways pr ot ect ed by a squad of f our speci al guar ds.
Toni ght , t he squad had been augment ed t o si xt een, summoned f or emer gency
dut y by a l ong- di st ance t el ephone cal l f r omNew Yor k. The guar ds, as wel l as
al l ot her empl oyees of " Pr oj ect F, " had been car ef ul l y chosen on t he basi s of
a si ngl e qual i f i cat i on: an unl i mi t ed capaci t y f or obedi ence.
The si xt een wer e st at i oned f or t he ni ght out si de t he st r uct ur e and i n t he
deser t ed l abor at or i es above t he gr ound, wher e t hey r emai ned uncr i t i cal l y on
dut y, wi t h no cur i osi t y about anyt hi ng t hat mi ght be t aki ng pl ace bel ow.
I n t he cel l ar r oom, under t he gr ound, Dr . Fer r i s, Wesl ey Mouch and J ames
Taggar t sat i n ar mchai r s l i ned up agai nst one wal l . A machi ne t hat l ooked
l i ke a smal l cabi net of i r r egul ar shape st ood i n a cor ner acr oss f r omt hem.
I t s f ace bor e r ows of gl ass di al s, each di al mar ked by a segment of r ed, a
squar e scr een t hat l ooked l i ke an ampl i f i er , r ows of number s, r ows of wooden
knobs and pl ast i c but t ons, a si ngl e l ever cont r ol l i ng a swi t ch at one si de
and a si ngl e r ed gl ass but t on at t he ot her . The f ace of t he machi ne seemed t o
have mor e expr essi on t han t he f ace of t he mechani c i n char ge of i t ; he was a
husky young man i n a sweat - st ai ned shi r t wi t h sl eeves r ol l ed above t he
el bows; hi s pal e bl ue eyes wer e gl azed by an enor mousl y consci ent i ous
concent r at i on on hi s t ask; he moved hi s l i ps once i n a whi l e, as i f r eci t i ng
a memor i zed l esson.
A shor t wi r e l ed f r omt he machi ne t o an el ect r i c st or age bat t er y behi nd
i t . Long coi l s of wi r e, l i ke t he t wi st ed ar ms of an oct opus, st r et ched
f or war d acr oss t he st one f l oor , f r omt he machi ne t o a l eat her mat t r ess spr ead
under a cone of vi ol ent l i ght . J ohn Gal t l ay st r apped t o t he mat t r ess. He was
naked; t he smal l met al di sks of el ect r odes at t he ends of t he wi r es wer e
at t ached t o hi s wr i st s, hi s shoul der s, hi s hi ps and hi s ankl es; a devi ce
r esembl i ng a st et hoscope was at t ached t o hi s chest and connect ed t o t he
ampl i f i er .
" Get t hi s st r ai ght , " sai d Dr . Fer r i s, addr essi ng hi mf or t he f i r st t i me.
" We want you t o t ake f ul l power over t he economy of t he count r y. We want
you t o become a di ct at or . We want you t o r ul e. Under st and?
We want you t o gi ve or der s and t o f i gur e out t he r i ght or der s t o gi ve.
What we want , we mean t o get Speeches, l ogi c, ar gument s or passi ve
obedi ence won' t save you now. We want i deasor el se. We won' t l et you out of
her e unt i l you t el l us t he exact measur es you' l l t ake t o save our syst em.
Then we' l l have you t el l i t t o t he count r y over t he r adi o. "
He r ai sed hi s wr i st , di spl ayi ng a st op- wat ch. " I ' l l gi ve you t hi r t y
seconds t o deci de whet her you want t o st ar t t al ki ng r i ght now. I f not , t hen
we' l l st ar t . Do you under st and?"
Gal t was l ooki ng st r ai ght at t hem, hi s f ace expr essi onl ess, as i f he
under st ood t oo much. He di d not answer .
They hear d t he sound of t he st op- wat ch i n t he si l ence, count i ng of f t he
seconds, and t he sound of Mouch' s choked, i r r egul ar br eat hi ng as he gr i pped
t he ar ms of hi s chai r .
Fer r i s waved a si gnal t o t he mechani c at t he machi ne. The mechani c t hr ew
t he swi t ch; i t l i ght ed t he r ed gl ass but t on and set of f t wo sounds: one was
t he l ow, hummi ng dr one of an el ect r i c gener at or , t he ot her was a pecul i ar
beat , as r egul ar as t he t i cki ng of a cl ock, but wi t h an oddl y muf f l ed
r esonance. I t t ook t hema moment t o r eal i ze t hat i t came f r omt he ampl i f i er
and t hat t hey wer e hear i ng t he beat of Gal t ' s hear t .
" Number t hr ee, " sai d Fer r i s, r ai si ng a f i nger i n si gnal .
The mechani c pr essed a but t on under one of t he di al s. A l ong shudder r an
t hr ough Gal t ' s body; hi s l ef t ar mshook i n j er ki ng spasms, convul sed by t he
el ect r i c cur r ent t hat ci r cl ed bet ween hi s wr i st and shoul der . Hi s head f el l
back, hi s eyes cl osed, hi s l i ps dr awn t i ght . He made no sound.
When t he mechani c l i f t ed hi s f i nger of f t he but t on, Gal t ' s ar mst opped
shaki ng. He di d not move.
The t hr ee men gl anced about t hemwi t h an i nst ant ' s l ook of gr opi ng.
Fer r i s' eyes wer e bl ank, Mouch' s t er r i f i ed, Taggar t ' s di sappoi nt ed. The
sound of t he t humpi ng beat went on t hr ough t he si l ence.
" Number t wo, " sai d Fer r i s, I t was Gal t ' s r i ght l eg t hat t wi st ed i n
convul si ons, wi t h t he cur r ent now ci r cl i ng bet ween hi s hi p and ankl e. Hi s
hands gr i pped t he edges of t he mat t r ess. Hi s head j er ked once, f r omsi de t o
si de, t hen l ay st i l l .
The beat i ng of t he hear t gr ew f ai nt l y f ast er .
Mouch was dr awi ng away, pr essi ng agai nst t he back of hi s ar mchai r .
Taggar t was si t t i ng on t he edge of Ms, l eani ng f or war d.
" Number one, gr adual , " sai d Fer r i s.
Gal t ' s t or so j er ked upwar d and f el l back and t wi st ed i n l ong shudder s,
st r ai ni ng agai nst hi s st r apped wr i st sas t he cur r ent was now r unni ng f r omhi s
one wr i st t o t he ot her , acr oss hi s l ungs. The mechani c was sl owl y t ur ni ng a
knob, i ncr easi ng t he vol t age of t he cur r ent ; t he needl e on t he di al was
movi ng t owar d t he r ed segment t hat mar ked danger . Gal t ' s br eat h was comi ng i n
br oken, pant i ng sounds out of convul sed l ungs.
" Had enough?" snar l ed Fer r i s, when t he cur r ent went of f .
Gal t di d not answer . Hi s l i ps moved f ai nt l y, openi ng f or ai r . The beat
f r omt he st et hoscope was r aci ng. But hi s br eat h was f al l i ng t o an even
r hyt hm, by a cont r ol l ed ef f or t at r el axat i on.
" You' r e t oo easy on hi m! " yel l ed Taggar t , st ar i ng at t he naked body on t he
mat t r ess.
Gal t opened hi s eyes and gl anced at t hemf or a moment . They coul d t el l
not hi ng, except t hat hi s gl ance was st eady and f ul l y consci ous. Then he
dr opped hi s head agai n and l ay st i l l , as i f he had f or got t en t hem.
Hi s naked body l ooked st r angel y out of pl ace i n t hi s cel l ar . They knew i t ,
t hough none of t hemwoul d i dent i f y t hat knowl edge. The l ong l i nes of hi s
body, r unni ng f r omhi s ankl es t o t he f l at hi ps, t o t he angl e of t he wai st , t o
t he st r ai ght shoul der s, l ooked l i ke a st at ue of anci ent Gr eece, shar i ng t hat
st at ue' s meani ng, but st yl i zed t o a l onger , l i ght er , mor e act i ve f or mand a
gaunt er st r engt h, suggest i ng mor e r est l ess an ener gyt he body, not of a
char i ot dr i ver , but of a bui l der of ai r pl anes. And as t he meani ng of a st at ue
of anci ent Gr eecet he st at ue of man as a godcl ashed wi t h t he spi r i t of t hi s
cent ur y' s hal l s, so hi s body cl ashed wi t h a cel l ar devot ed t o pr ehi st or i cal
act i vi t i es. The cl ash was t he gr eat er , because he seemed t o bel ong wi t h
el ect r i c wi r es, wi t h st ai nl ess st eel , wi t h pr eci si on i nst r ument s, wi t h t he
l ever s of a cont r ol boar d. Per hapst hi s was t he t hought most f i er cel y
r esi st ed and most deepl y bur i ed at t he bot t omof hi s wat cher s sensat i ons, t he
t hought t hey knew onl y as a di f f used hat r ed and an unf ocused t er r or per haps
i t was t he absence of such st at ues f r omt he moder n wor l d t hat had t r ansf or med
a gener at or i nt o an oct opus and br ought a body such as hi s i nt o i t s
t ent acl es.
" I under st and you' r e some sor t of el ect r i cal exper t , " sai d Fer r i s, and
chuckl ed. " So ar e wedon' t you t hi nk so?"
Two sounds answer ed hi mi n t he si l ence: t he dr one of t he gener at or and t he
beat i ng of Gal t ' s hear t .
" The mi xed ser i es! " or der ed Fer r i s, wavi ng one f i nger at t he mechani c.
The shocks now came at i r r egul ar , unpr edi ct abl e i nt er val s, one af t er
anot her or mi nut es apar t . Onl y t he shudder i ng convul si ons of Gal t ' s l egs,
ar ms, t or so or ent i r e body showed whet her t he cur r ent was r aci ng bet ween t wo
par t i cul ar el ect r odes or t hr ough al l of t hemat once. The needl es on t he
di al s kept comi ng cl ose t o t he r ed mar ks, t hen r ecedi ng: t he machi ne was
cal cul at ed t o i nf l i ct t he maxi mumi nt ensi t y of pai n wi t hout damagi ng t he body
of t he vi ct i m.
I t was t he wat cher s who f ound i t unbear abl e t o wai t t hr ough t he mi nut es of
t he pauses f i l l ed wi t h t he sound of t he hear t beat : t he hear t was now r aci ng
i n an i r r egul ar r hyt hm. The pauses wer e cal cul at ed t o l et t hat beat sl ow
down, but al l ow no r el i ef t o t he vi ct i m, who had t o wai t f or a shock at any
moment .
Gal t l ay r el axed, as i f not at t empt i ng t o f i ght t he pai n, but sur r ender i ng
t o i t , not at t empt i ng t o negat e i t , but t o bear i t . When hi s l i ps par t ed f or
br eat h and a sudden j ol t sl ammed t hemt i ght agai n, he di d not r esi st t he
shaki ng r i gi di t y of hi s body, but he l et i t vani sh t he i nst ant t he cur r ent
l ef t hi m. Onl y t he ski n of hi s f ace was pul l ed t i ght , and t he seal ed l i ne of
hi s l i ps t wi st ed si dewi se once i n a whi l e. When a shock r aced t hr ough hi s
chest , t he gol d- copper st r ands of hi s hai r f l ew wi t h t he j er ki ng of hi s head,
as i f wavi ng i n a gust of wi nd, beat i ng agai nst hi s f ace, acr oss hi s eyes.
The wat cher s wonder ed why hi s hai r seemed t o be gr owi ng dar ker , unt i l t hey
r eal i zed t hat i t was dr enched i n sweat .
The t er r or of hear i ng one' s own hear t st r uggl i ng as i f about t o bur st at
any moment , had been i nt ended t o be f el t by t he vi ct i m. I t was t he t or t ur er s
who wer e t r embl i ng wi t h t er r or , as t hey l i st ened t o t he j agged, br oken r hyt hm
and mi ssed a br eat h wi t h ever y mi ssi ng beat . I t sounded now as i f t he hear t
wer e l eapi ng, beat i ng f r ant i cal l y agai nst i t s cage of r i bs, i n agony and i n a
desper at e anger . The hear t was pr ot est i ng; t he man woul d not . He l ay st i l l ,
hi s eyes cl osed, hi s hands r el axed, hear i ng hi s hear t as i t f ought f or hi s
l i f e.
Wesl ey Mouch was f i r st t o br eak. " Oh God, Fl oyd! " he scr eamed.
" Don' t ki l l hi m! Don' t dar e ki l l hi m! I f he di es, we di e! "
" He won' t , " snar l ed Fer r i s. " He' l l wi sh he di d, but he won' t ! The machi ne
won' t l et hi m! I t ' s mat hemat i cal l y comput ed! I t ' s saf e! "
" Oh, i sn' t i t enough? He' l l obey us now! I ' msur e he' l l obey! "
" No! I t ' s not enough! I don' t want hi mt o obey! I want hi mt o bel i eve! To
accept ! To want t o accept ! We' ve got t o have hi mwor k f or us vol unt ar i l y! "
" Go ahead! " cr i ed Taggar t . " What ar e you wai t i ng f or ? Can' t you make t he
cur r ent st r onger ? He hasn' t even scr eamed yet ! "
" What ' s t he mat t er wi t h you?" gasped Mouch, cat chi ng a gl i mpse of
Taggar t ' s f ace whi l e a cur r ent was t wi st i ng Gal t ' s body: Taggar t was st ar i ng
at i t i nt ent l y, yet hi s eyes seemed gl azed and dead, but ar ound t hat
i nani mat e st ar e t he muscl es of hi s f ace wer e pul l ed i nt o an obscene
car i cat ur e of enj oyment .
" Had enough?" Fer r i s kept yel l i ng t o Gal t . " Ar e you r eady t o want what we
want ?"
They hear d no answer . Gal t r ai sed hi s head once i n a whi l e and l ooked at
t hem. Ther e wer e dar k r i ngs under hi s eyes, but t he eyes wer e cl ear and
consci ous.
I n mount i ng pani c, t he wat cher s l ost t hei r sense of cont ext and l anguage
and t hei r t hr ee voi ces bl ended i nt o a pr ogr essi on of i ndi scr i mi nat e shr i eks:
" We want you t o t ake over ! . . . We want you t o r ul e!
. . . We or der you t o gi ve or der s! . . . We demand t hat you di ct at e!
. . . We or der you t o save us! . . . We or der you t o t hi nk! . . . "
They hear d no answer but t he beat i ng of t he hear t on whi ch t hei r own l i ves
depended.
The cur r ent was shoot i ng t hr ough Gal t ' s chest and t he beat i ng was comi ng
i n i r r egul ar spur t s, as i f i t wer e r aci ng and st umbl i ngwhen suddenl y hi s
body f el l st i l l , r el axi ng: t he beat i ng had st opped.
The si l ence was l i ke a st unni ng bl ow, and bef or e t hey had t i me t o scr eam,
t hei r hor r or was t opped by anot her : by t he f act t hat Gal t opened hi s eyes and
r ai sed hi s head.
Then t hey r eal i zed t hat t he dr one of t he mot or had ceased, t oo, and t hat
t he r ed l i ght had gone out on t he cont r ol panel : t he cur r ent had st opped; t he
gener at or was dead.
The mechani c was j abbi ng hi s r i nger at t he but t on, t o no avai l . He yanked
t he l ever of t he swi t ch agai n and agai n. He ki cked t he si de of t he machi ne.
The r ed l i ght woul d not go on; t he sound di d not r et ur n.
" Wel l ?" snapped Fer r i s. " Wel l ? What ' s t he mat t er ?"
" The gener at or ' s on t he bl i nk, " sai d t he mechani c hel pl essl y.
" What ' s t he mat t er wi t h i t ?"
" I don' t know. "
" Wel l , f i nd out and f i x i t ! "
The man was not a t r ai ned el ect r i ci an; he had been chosen, not f or hi s
knowl edge, but f or hi s uncr i t i cal capaci t y f or pushi ng any but t ons; t he
ef f or t he needed t o l ear n hi s t ask was such t hat hi s consci ousness coul d be
r el i ed upon t o have no r oomf or anyt hi ng el se. He opened t he r ear panel of
t he machi ne and st ar ed i n bewi l der ment at t he i nt r i cat e coi l s: he coul d f i nd
not hi ng vi si bl y out of or der . He put on hi s r ubber gl oves, pi cked up a pai r
of pl i er s, t i ght ened a f ew bol t s at r andom, and scr at ched hi s head.
" I don' t know, " he sai d; hi s voi ce had a sound of hel pl ess doci l i t y.
" Who amI t o know?"
The t hr ee men wer e on t hei r f eet , cr owdi ng behi nd t he machi ne t o st ar e at
i t s r ecal ci t r ant or gans. They wer e act i ng mer el y by r ef l ex: t hey knew t hat
t hey di d not know.
" But you' ve got t o f i x i t ! " yel l ed Fer r i s. " I t ' s got t o wor k! We' ve got t o
have el ect r i ci t y! "
" We must cont i nue! " cr i ed Taggar t ; he was shaki ng, " I t ' s r i di cul ous!
I won' t have i t ! I won' t be i nt er r upt ed! I won' t l et hi mof f ! " He poi nt ed
i n t he di r ect i on of t he mat t r ess.
" Do somet hi ng! " Fer r i s was cr yi ng t o t he mechani c. " Don' t j ust st and
t her e! Do somet hi ng! Fi x i t ! I or der you t o f i x i t ! "
" But I don' t know what ' s wr ong wi t h i t , " sai d t he man, bl i nki ng.
" Then f i nd out ! "
" How amI t o f i nd out ?"
" I or der you t o f i x i t ! Do you hear me? Make i t wor kor I ' l l f i r e you and
t hr ow you i n j ai l ! "
" But I don' t know what ' s wr ong wi t h i t . " The man si ghed, bewi l der ed. " I
don' t know what t o do. "
" I t ' s t he vi br at or t hat ' s out of or der , " sai d a voi ce behi nd t hem; t hey
whi r l ed ar ound; Gal t was st r uggl i ng f or br eat h, but he was speaki ng i n t he
br usque, compet ent t one of an engi neer . " Take i t out and pr y of f t he al umi num
cover . You' l l f i nd a pai r of cont act s f used t oget her . For ce t hemapar t , t ake
a smal l f i l e and cl ean up t he pi t t ed sur f aces. Then r epl ace t he cover , pl ug
i t back i nt o t he machi neand your gener at or wi l l wor k. "
Ther e was a l ong moment of t ot al si l ence.
The mechani c was st ar i ng at Gal t ; he was hol di ng Gal t ' s gl anceand even he
was abl e t o r ecogni ze t he nat ur e of t he spar kl e i n t he dar k gr een eyes; i t
was a spar kl e of cont empt uous mocker y.
He made a st ep back. I n t he i ncoher ent di mness of hi s consci ousness, i n
some wor dl ess, shapel ess, uni nt el l i gi bl e manner , even he suddenl y gr asped t he
meani ng of what was occur r i ng i n t hat cel l ar .
He l ooked at Gal t he l ooked at t he t hr ee menhe l ooked at t he machi ne. He
shudder ed, he dr opped hi s pl i er s and r an out of t he r oom.
Gal t bur st out l aughi ng.
The t hr ee men wer e backi ng sl owl y away f r omt he machi ne. They wer e
st r uggl i ng not t o al l ow t hemsel ves t o under st and what t he mechani c had
under st ood.
" No! " cr i ed Taggar t suddenl y, gl anci ng at Gal t and l eapi ng f or war d, " No! I
won' t l et hi mget away wi t h i t ! " He f el l down on hi s knees, gr opi ng
f r ant i cal l y t o f i nd t he al umi numcyl i nder of t he vi br at or .
" I ' l l f i x i t ! I ' l l wor k i t mysel f ! We' ve got t o go on! We' ve got t o br eak
hi m! "
" Take i t easy, J i m, " sai d Fer r i s uneasi l y, j er ki ng hi mup t o hi s f eet .
" Hadn' t we . . . hadn' t we bet t er l ay of f f or t he ni ght ?" sai d Mouch
pl eadi ngl y; he was l ooki ng at t he door t hr ough whi ch t he mechani c had
escaped, hi s gl ance par t - envy, par t - t er r or .
" No! " cr i ed Taggar t , " J i m, hasn' t he had enough? Don' t f or get , we have t o
be car ef ul . "
" No! He hasn' t had enough! He hasn' t even scr eamed yet ! "
" J i m! " cr i ed Mouch suddenl y, t er r i f i ed by somet hi ng i n Taggar t ' s f ace. " We
can' t af f or d t o ki l l hi m! You know i t ! "
" I don' t car e! I want t o br eak hi m! I want t o hear Mmscr eam! I want "
And t hen i t was Taggar t who scr eamed. I t was a l ong, sudden, pi er ci ng
scr eam, as i f at some sudden si ght , t hough hi s eyes wer e st ar i ng at space and
seemed bl ankl y si ght l ess. The si ght he was conf r ont i ng was wi t hi n hi m. The
pr ot ect i ve wal l s of emot i on, of evasi on, of pr et ense, of semi - t hi nki ng and
pseudo- wor ds, bui l t up by hi mt hr ough al l of hi s year s, had cr ashed i n t he
span of one moment t he moment when he knew t hat he want ed Gal t t o di e,
knowi ng f ul l y t hat hi s own deat h woul d f ol l ow.
He was suddenl y seei ng t he mot i ve t hat had di r ect ed al l t he act i ons of hi s
l i f e. I t was not hi s i ncommuni cabl e soul or hi s l ove f or ot her s or hi s soci al
dut y or any of t he f r audul ent sounds by whi ch he had mai nt ai ned hi s sel f -
est eem: i t was t he l ust t o dest r oy what ever was l i vi ng, f or t he sake of
what ever was not . I t was t he ur ge t o def y r eal i t y by t he dest r uct i on of ever y
l i vi ng val ue, f or t he sake of pr ovi ng t o hi msel f t hat he coul d exi st i n
def i ance of r eal i t y and woul d never have t o be bound by any sol i d, i mmut abl e
f act s. A moment ago, he had been abl e t o f eel t hat he hat ed Gal t above al l
men, t hat t he hat r ed was {woof of Gal t ' s evi l , whi ch he need def i ne no
f ur t her , t hat he want ed Gal t t o be dest r oyed f or t he sake of hi s own
sur vi val . Now he knew t hat he had want ed Gal t ' s dest r uct i on at t he pr i ce of
hi s own dest r uct i on t o f ol l ow, he knew t hat he had never want ed t o sur vi ve,
he knew t hat i t was Gal t ' s gr eat ness he had want ed t o t or t ur e and dest r oyhe
was seei ng, i t as gr eat ness by hi s own admi ssi on, gr eat ness by t he onl y
st andar d t hat exi st ed, whet her anyone chose t o admi t i t or not : t he gr eat ness
of a- man who was mast er of r eal i t y i n a manner no ot her had equal ed. I n t he
moment when he, l ames Taggar t , had f ound hi msel f f aci ng t he ul t i mat um: t o
accept r eal i t y or di e, i t was deat h hi s emot i ons had chosen, deat h, r at her
t han sur r ender t o t hat r eal mof whi ch Gal t was so r adi ant a son. I n t he
per son of Gal t he knewhe had sought t he dest r uct i on of al l exi st ence.
I t was not by means of wor ds t hat t hi s knowl edge conf r ont ed hi s
consci ousness: as al l hi s knowl edge had consi st ed of emot i ons, so now he was
hel d by an emot i on and a vi si on t hat he had no power t o di spel . He was no
l onger abl e t o summon t he f og t o conceal t he si ght of al l t hose bl i nd al l eys
he had st r uggl ed never t o be f or ced t o see: now, at t he end of ever y al l ey,
he was seei ng hi s hat r ed of exi st encehe was seei ng t he f ace of Cher r yl
Taggar t wi t h her j oyous eager ness t o l i ve and t hat i t was t hi s par t i cul ar
eager ness he had al ways want ed t o def eat he was seei ng hi s f ace as t he f ace
of a ki l l er whomal l men shoul d r i ght f ul l y l oat he, who dest r oyed val ues f or
bei ng val ues, who ki l l ed i n or der not t o di scover hi s own i r r edeemabl e evi l .
" No . . . " he moaned, st ar i ng at t hat vi si on, shaki ng hi s head t o escape
i t . " No . . . No . . . "
" Yes, " sai d Gal t .
He saw Gal t ' s eyes l ooki ng st r ai ght at hi s, as i f Gal t wer e seei ng t he
t hi ngs he was seei ng.
" 1 t ol d you t hat on t he r adi o, di dn' t I ?" sai d Gal t .
Thi s was t he st amp J ames Taggar t had dr eaded, f r omwhi ch t her e was no
escape: t he st amp and pr oof of obj ect i vi t y. " No . . . " he sai d f eebl y once
mor e, but i t was no l onger t he voi ce of a l i vi ng consci ousness.
He st ood f or a moment , st ar i ng bl i ndl y at space, t hen hi s l egs gave way,
f ol di ng l i mpl y, and he sat on t he f l oor , st i l l st ar i ng, unawar e of hi s act i on
or sur r oundi ngs.
" J i m. . . ! " cal l ed Mouch. Ther e was no answer .
Mouch and Fer r i s di d not ask t hemsel ves or wonder what i t was t hat had
happened t o Taggar t : t hey knew t hat t hey must never at t empt t o di scover i t ,
under per i l of shar i ng hi s f at e. They knew who i t was t hat had been br oken
t oni ght . They knew t hat t hi s was t he end of J ames Taggar t , whet her hi s
physi cal body sur vi ved or not .
" Let ' s . . . l et ' s get J i mout of her e, " sai d Fer r i s shaki l y. " Let ' s get
hi mt o a doct or . . . or somewher e . . . "
They pul l ed Taggar t t o hi s f eet ; he di d not r esi st , he obeyed
l et har gi cal l y, and he moved hi s f eet when pushed. I t was he who had r eached
t he st at e t o whi ch he had want ed Gal t t o be r educed. Hol di ng hi s ar ms at bot h
si des, hi s t wo f r i ends l ed hi mout of t he r oom.
He saved t hemf r omt he necessi t y of admi t t i ng t o t hemsel ves t hat t hey
want ed t o escape Gal t ' s eyes. Gal t was wat chi ng t hem; hi s gl ance was t oo
aust er el y per cept i ve.
" We' l l be back, " snapped Fer r i s t o t he chi ef of t he guar ds. " St ay her e and
don' t l et anyone i n. Under st and? No one. "
They pushed Taggar t i nt o t hei r car , par ked by t he t r ees at t he ent r ance.
" We' l l be back. " sai d Fer r i s t o no one i n par t i cul ar , t o t he t r ees and t he
dar kness of t he sky.
For t he moment , t hei r onl y cer t ai nt y was t hat t hey had t o escape f r omt hat
cel l ar t he cel l ar wher e t he l i vi ng gener at or was l ef t t i ed by t he si de of t he
dead one.
CHAPTER X
IN THE NAME OF THE BEST AMONG US

Dagny wal ked st r ai ght t owar d t he guar d who st ood at t he door of " Pr oj ect
F" . Her st eps sounded pour posef ul , even and open, r i ni ng i n t he si l ence of
t he pat h among t he t r ees. She r ai sed her head t o a r a of moonl i ght , t o l et
hi mr ecogni ze her f ace.
" Let me i n, " she sai d.
" No admi t t ance, " he answer ed i n t he voi ce of a r obot . " By or der or Dr .
Fer r i s. "
" I amher e by or der of Mr . Thompson. "
" Huh? . . . I . . . I don' t know anyt hi ng about t hat . "
" I do. "
" I mean, Dr . Fer r i s hasn' t t ol d me . . . ma' am. "
" I amt el l i ng you. "
" But I ' mnot supposed t o t ake any or der s f r omanyone except i ng Dr .
Fer r i s. "
" Do you wi sh t o di sobey Mr . Thompson?"
" Oh, no, ma' am! But . . . but i f Dr . Fer r i s sai d t o l et nobody i n, t hat
means nobody- " He added uncer t ai nl y and pl eadi ngl y, " - doesn' t i t ?"
" Do you know t hat my name i s Dagny Taggar t and t hat you' ve seen my
pi ct ur es i n t he paper s wi t h Mr . Thompson and al l t he t op l eader s of t he
count r y?"
" Yes, ma' am. "
" Then deci de whet her you wi sh t o di sobey t hei r or der s. "
" Oh, no, ma' am! I don' t ! "
" Then l et me i n. "
" But I can' t di sobey Dr . Fer r i s, ei t her ! "
" Then choose. "
" But I can' t choose ma' am! Who amI t o choose?"
" You' l l have t o. "
" Look, " he sai d hast i l y, pul l i ng a key f r omhi s pocket and t ur ni ng t o t he
door , " I ' l l ask t he chi ef . He- "
" No. " she sai d.
Some qual i t y i n t he t one of her voi ce made hi mwhi r l back t o her : she was
hol di ng a gun poi nt ed l evel l y at hi s hear t .
" Li st en car ef ul l y, " she sai d. " Ei t her you l et me i n or I shoot you.
You may t r y t o shoot me f i r st , i f you can. You have t hat choi ceand no
ot her . Now deci de. "
Hi s mout h f el l open and t he key dr opped f r omhi s hand.
" Get out of my way, " she sai d.
He shook hi s head f r ant i cal l y, pr essi ng hi s back agai nst t he door .
" Oh Chr i st , ma' am! " he gul ped i n t he whi ne of a desper at e pl ea. " I can' t
shoot at you, seei ng as you come f r omMr . Thompson! And I can' t l et you i n
agai nst t he wor d of Dr . Fer r i s! What amI t o do? I ' monl y a l i t t l e f el l ow!
I ' monl y obeyi ng or der s! I t ' s not up t o me! "
" I t ' s your l i f e. " she sai d.
" I f you l et me ask t he chi ef , he' l l t el l me, he' l l "
" I won' t l et you ask anyone. "
" But how do I know t hat you r eal l y have an or der f r omMr . Thompson?"
" You don' t . Maybe I haven' t . Maybe I ' mact i ng on my ownand you' l l be
puni shed f or obeyi ng me. Maybe I haveand you' l l be t hr own i n j ai l f or
di sobeyi ng. Maybe Dr . . Fer r i s and Mr . Thompson agr ee about t hi s. Maybe t hey
don' t and you have t o def y one or t he ot her . These ar e t he t hi ngs you have t o
deci de. Ther e i s no one t o ask, no one t o cal l , no one t o t el l you. You wi l l
have t o deci de t hemyour sel f . "
" But I can' t deci de! Why me?"
" Because i t ' s your body t hat ' s bar r i ng my way. "
" But I can' t deci de! I ' mnot supposed t o deci de! "
" I ' l l count t o t hr ee, " she sai d. " Then I l l shoot . "
" Wai t ! Wai t ! I haven' t sai d yes or no! " he cr i ed, cr i ngi ng t i ght er agai nst
t he door , as i f i mmobi l i t y of mi nd and body wer e hi s best pr ot ect i on, " One"
she count ed; she coul d see hi s eyes st ar i ng at her i n t er r or " Two" she
coul d see t hat t he gun hel d l ess t er r or f or hi mt han t he al t er nat i ve she
of f er ed" Thr ee. "
Cal ml y and i mper sonal l y, she, who woul d have hesi t at ed t o f i r e at an
ani mal , pul l ed t he t r i gger and f i r ed st r ai ght at t he hear t of a man who had
want ed t o exi st wi t hout t he r esponsi bi l i t y of consci ousness.
Her gun was equi pped wi t h a si l encer ; t her e was no sound t o at t r act
anyone' s at t ent i on, onl y t he t hud of a body f al l i ng at her f eet .
She pi cked up t he key f r omt he gr oundt hen wai t ed f or a f ew br i ef moment s,
as had been agr eed upon.
Fr anci sco was f i r st t o j oi n her , comi ng f r ombehi nd a cor ner of t he
bui l di ng, t hen Hank Rear den, t hen Ragnar Danneskj ol d. Ther e had been f our
guar ds post ed at i nt er val s among t he t r ees, ar ound t he bui l di ng. They wer e
now di sposed of : one was dead, t hr ee wer e l ef t i n t he br ush, bound and
gagged.
She handed t he key t o Fr anci sco wi t hout a wor d. He unl ocked t he door and
went i n, al one, l eavi ng t he door open t o t he wi dt h of an i nch.
The t hr ee ot her s wai t ed out si de, by t hat openi ng.
The hal l was l i ght ed by a si ngl e naked bul b st uck i n t he mi ddl e of t he
cei l i ng. A guar d st ood at t he f oot of t he st ai r s l eadi ng t o t he second f l oor .
" Who ar e you?" he cr i ed at t he si ght of Fr anci sco ent er i ng as i f he owned
t he pl ace. " Nobody' s supposed t o come i n her e t oni ght ! "
" I di d, " sai d Fr anci sco.
" Why di d Rust y l et you i n?"
" He must have had hi s r easons. "
He wasn' t supposed t o! "
" Somebody has changed your supposi t i ons. " Fr anci sco' s eyes wer e t aki ng a
l i ght ni ng i nvent or y of t he pl ace. A second guar d st ood on t he l andi ng at t he
t ur n of t he st ai r s, l ooki ng down at t hemand l i st eni ng.
" What ' s your busi ness?"
" Copper - mi ni ng. "
" Huh? I mean, who ar e you?"
" The name' s t oo l ong t o t el l you. I ' l l t el l i t t o your chi ef . Wher e i s
he?"
" I ' maski ng t he quest i ons! " But he backed a st ep away. " Don' t . . .
don' t you act l i ke a bi g shot or I ' l l "
" Hey, Pet e, he i s! " cr i ed t he second guar d, par al yzed by Fr anci sco' s
manner .
The f i r st one was st r uggl i ng t o i gnor e i t ; hi s voi ce gr ew l ouder wi t h t he
gr owt h of hi s f ear , as he snapped at Fr anci sco, " What ar e you af t er ?"
" I sai d I H t el l i t t o your chi ef . Wher e i s he?"
" I ' maski ng t he quest i ons! "
" I ' mnot answer i ng t hem. "
" Oh, you' r e not , ar e you?" snar l ed Pet e, who had but one r ecour se when i n
doubt : hi s hand j er ked t o t he gun on hi s hi p.
Fr anci sco' s hand was t oo f ast f or t he t wo men t o see i t s mot i on, and hi s
gun was t oo si l ent . What t hey saw and hear d next was t he gun f l yi ng out of
Pet e' s hand, al ong wi t h a spl at t er of bl ood f r omhi s shat t er ed f i nger s, and
hi s muf f l ed howl of pai n. He col l apsed, gr oani ng.
I n t he i nst ant when t he second guar d gr asped i t , he saw t hat Fr anci sco' s
gun was ai med at hi m.
" Don' t shoot , mi st er ! " he cr i ed.
" Come down her e wi t h your hands up, " or der ed Fr anci sco, hol di ng hi s gun
ai med wi t h one hand and wavi ng a si gnal t o t he cr ack of t he door wi t h t he
ot her .
By t he t i me t he guar d descended t he st ai r s, Rear den was t her e t o di sar m
hi m, and Danneskj ol d t o t i e hi s hands and f eet . The si ght of Dagny seemed t o
f r i ght en hi mmor e t han t he r est ; he coul d not under st and i t : t he t hr ee men
wor e caps and wi ndbr eaker s, and, but f or t hei r manner , coul d be t aken f or a
gang of hi ghwaymen; t he pr esence of a l ady was i nexpl i cabl e.
" Now, " sai d Fr anci sco, " wher e i s your chi ef ?"
The guar d j er ked hi s head i n t he di r ect i on of t he st ai r s. " Up t her e. "
" How many guar ds ar e t her e i n t he bui l di ng?"
" Ni ne. "
" Wher e ar e t hey?"
" One' s on t he cel l ar st ai r s. The ot her s ar e al l up t her e. "
" Wher e?"
" I n t he bi g l abor at or y. The one wi t h t he wi ndow. "
" Al l of t hem?"
" Yes. "
" What ar e t hese r ooms?" He poi nt ed at t he door s l eadi ng of f t he hal l .
" They' r e l abs, t oo. They' r e l ocked f or t he ni ght . "
" Who' s got t he key?"
" Hi m. " He j er ked hi s head at Pet e.
Rear den and Danneskj ol d t ook t he key f r omPet e' s pocket and hur r i ed
soundl essl y t o check t he r ooms, whi l e Fr anci sco cont i nued, " Ar e t her e any
ot her men i n t he bui l di ng?"
" No. "
" I sn' t t her e a pr i soner her e?"
" Oh . . . yeah, I guess so. Ther e must be, or t hey woul dn' t ' ve kept us al l
on dut y. "
" I s he st i l l her e?"
" That , I don' t know. They' d never t el l us, "
" I s Dr . Fer r i s her e?"
" No. He l ef t t en- f i f t een mi nut es ago. "
" Now, t hat l abor at or y upst ai r sdoes i t open r i ght on t he st ai r l andi ng?"
" Yes. "
" How many door s ar e t her e?
" Thr ee. I t ' s t he one i n t he mi ddl e. "
" What ar e t he ot her r ooms?"
" Ther e' s t he smal l l abor at or y on one si de and Dr . Fer r i s' of f i ce on t he
ot her . "
" Ar e t her e connect i ng door s bet ween t hem?
" Yes. "
Fr anci sco was t ur ni ng t o hi s compani ons, when t he guar d sai d pl eadi ngl y,
" Mi st er , can I ask you a quest i on?"
" Go ahead. "
" Who ar e you?"
He answer ed i n t he sol emn t one of a dr awi ng- r oomi nt r oduct i on, " Fr anci sco
Domi ngo Car l os Andr es Sebast i an d' Anconi a. "
He l ef t t he guar d gapi ng at hi mand t ur ned t o a br i ef , whi sper ed
consul t at i on wi t h hi s compani ons.
I n a moment , i t was Rear den who went up t he st ai r sswi f t l y, soundl essl y
and al one.
Cages cont ai ni ng r at s and gui nea pi gs wer e st acked agai nst t he wal l s of
t he l abor at or y; t hey had been put t her e by t he guar ds who wer e pl ayi ng poker
on t he l ong l abor at or y t abl e i n t he cent er . Si x of t hemwer e pl ayi ng; t wo
wer e st andi ng i n opposi t e cor ner s, wat chi ng t he ent r ance door , guns i n hand.
I t was Rear den' s f ace t hat saved hi mf r ombei ng shot on si ght when he
ent er ed: hi s f ace was t oo wel l known t o t hemand t oo unexpect ed. He saw ei ght
heads st ar i ng at hi mwi t h r ecogni t i on and wi t h i nabi l i t y t o bel i eve what t hey
wer e r ecogni zi ng.
He st ood at t he door , hi s hands i n t he pocket s of hi s t r ouser s, wi t h t he
casual , conf i dent manner of a busi ness execut i ve.
" Who i s i n char ge her e?" he asked i n t he pol i t el y abr upt voi ce of a man
who does not wast e t i me.
" You . . . you' r e not . . . " st ammer ed a l anky, sur l y i ndi vi dual at t he
car d t abl e.
" I ' mHank Rear den. Ar e you t he chi ef ?"
" Yeah! But wher e i n bl azes do you come f r om?"
" Fr omNew Yor k. "
" What ar e you doi ng her e?"
" Then, I t ake i t , you have not been not i f i ed. "
" Shoul d I have . . . I mean, about what ?" The swi f t , t ouchy, r esent f ul
suspi ci on t hat hi s super i or s had sl i ght ed hi s aut hor i t y, was obvi ous i n t he
chi ef ' s voi ce. He was a t al l , emaci at ed man, wi t h j er ky movement s, a sal l ow
f ace and t he r est l ess, unf ocused eyes of a dr ug addi ct .
" About my busi ness her e. "
" You . . . you can' t have any busi ness her e, " he snapped, t or n bet ween t he
f ear of a bl uf f and t he f ear of havi ng been l ef t out of some i mpor t ant , t op-
l evel deci si on. " Ar en' t you a t r ai t or and a deser t er and a"
" I see t hat you' r e behi nd t he t i mes, my good man.
The seven ot her s i n t he r oomwer e st ar i ng at Rear den wi t h an awed,
super st i t i ous uncer t ai nt y. The t wo who hel d guns st i l l hel d t hemai med at hi m
i n t he i mpassi ve manner of aut omat ons. He di d not seemt o t ake not i ce of
t hem.
" What i s i t you say i s your busi ness her e?" snapped t he chi ef .
. " I amher e t o t ake char ge of t he pr i soner whomyou ar e t o del i ver t o
me. "
" I f you came f r omheadquar t er s, you' d know t hat I ' mnot supposed t o know
anyt hi ng about any pr i soner and t hat nobody i s t o t ouch hi m! "
" Except me. "
The chi ef l eaped t o hi s f eet , dar t ed t o a t el ephone and sei zed t he
r ecei ver . He had not r ai sed i t hal f way t o hi s ear when he dr opped i t abr upt l y
wi t h a gest ur e t hat sent a vi br at i on of pani c t hr ough t he r oom: he had had
t i me t o hear t hat t he t el ephone was dead and t o know t hat t he wi r es wer e cut .
Hi s l ook of accusat i on, as he whi r l ed t o Rear den, br oke agai nst t he
f ai nt l y cont empt uous r epr oof of Rear den' s voi ce: " That ' s no way t o guar d a
bui l di ngi f t hi s i s what you al l owed t o happen. Bet t er l et me have t he
pr i soner , bef or e anyt hi ng happens t o hi mi f you don' t want me t o r epor t you
f or negl i gence, as wel l as i nsubor di nat i on. "
The chi ef dr opped heavi l y back on hi s chai r , sl umped f or war d acr oss t he
t abl e and l ooked up at Rear den wi t h a gl ance t hat made hi s emaci at ed f ace
r esembl e t he ani mal s t hat wer e begi nni ng t o st i r i n t he cages.
" Who i s t he pr i soner ?" he asked.
" My good man, " sai d Rear den, " i f your i mmedi at e super i or s di d not see f i t
t o t el l you, I cer t ai nl y wi l l not . "
" They di dn' t see f i t t o t el l me about your comi ng her e, ei t her ! " yel l ed
t he chi ef , hi s voi ce conf essi ng t he hel pl essness of anger and br oadcast i ng
t he vi br at i ons of i mpot ence t o hi s men. " How do I know you' r e on t he l evel ?
Wi t h t he phone out of or der , who' s goi ng t o t el l me? How amI t o know what t o
do?"
" That ' s your pr obl em, not mi ne. "
" I don' t bel i eve you! " Hi s cr y was t oo shr i l l t o pr oj ect convi ct i on, " I
don' t bel i eve t hat t he gover nment woul d send you on a mi ssi on, when you' r e
one of t hose vani shi ng t r ai t or s and f r i ends of J ohn Gal t who"
" But haven' t you hear d?"
" What ?"
" J ohn Gal t has made a deal wi t h t he gover nment and has br ought us al l
back. "
" Oh, t hank God! " cr i ed one of t he guar ds, t he youngest .
" Shut your mout h! You' r e not t o have any pol i t i cal opi ni ons! "
snapped t he chi ef , and j er ked back t o Rear den. " Why hasn' t i t been
announced on t he r adi o?"
" Do you pr esume t o hol d opi ni ons on when and how t he gover nment shoul d
choose t o announce i t s pol i ci es?"
I n t he l ong moment of si l ence, t hey coul d hear t he r ust l e of t he ani mal s
cl awi ng at t he bar s of t hei r cages.
" I t hi nk I shoul d r emi nd you, " sai d Rear den, " t hat your j ob i s not t o
quest i on or der s, but t o obey t hem, t hat you ar e not t o know or under st and t he
pol i ci es of your super i or s, t hat you ar e not t o j udge, t o choose or t o
doubt . "
" But I don' t know whet her I ' msupposed t o obey you! "
" I f you r ef use, you' l l t ake t he consequences. "
Cr ouchi ng agai nst t he t abl e, t he chi ef moved hi s gl ance sl owl y,
appr ai si ngl y, f r omRear den' s f ace t o t he t wo gunmen i n t he cor ner s. The
gunmen st eadi ed t hei r ai mby an al most i mper cept i bl e movement . A ner vous
r ust l e went t hr ough t he r oom. An ani mal squeaked shr i l l y i n one of t he cages.
" I t hi nk I shoul d al so t el l you, " sai d Rear den, hi s voi ce f ai nt l y har der ,
" t hat I amnot al one. My f r i ends ar e wai t i ng out si de. "
" Wher e?"
" Al l ar ound t hi s r oom. "
" How many?"
" You' l l f i nd out one way or t he ot her . "
" Say, Chi ef , " moaned a shaky voi ce f r omamong t he guar ds, " we don' t want
t o t angl e wi t h t hose peopl e, t hey' r e"
" Shut up! " r oar ed t he chi ef , l eapi ng t o hi s f eet and br andi shi ng hi s gun
i n t he di r ect i on of t he speaker . " You' r e not goi ng t o t ur n yel l ow on me, any
of you bast ar ds! " He was scr eami ng t o war d of f t he knowl edge t hat t hey had.
He was swayi ng on t he edge of pani c, f i ght i ng agai nst t he r eal i zat i on t hat
somet hi ng somehow had di sar med hi s men. " Ther e' s not hi ng t o be scar ed of ! " He
was scr eami ng i t t o hi msel f , st r uggl i ng t o r ecapt ur e t he saf et y of hi s onl y
spher e: t he spher e of vi ol ence. " Not hi ng and nobody! I ' l l show you' " He
whi r l ed ar ound, hi s hand shaki ng at t he end of hi s sweepi ng ar m, and f i r ed at
Rear den.
Some of t hemsaw Rear den sway, hi s r i ght hand gr i ppi ng hi s l ef t shoul der .
Ot her s, i n t he same i nst ant , saw t he gun dr op out of t he chi ef ' s hand and hi t
t he f l oor i n t i me wi t h hi s scr eamand wi t h t he spur t of bl ood f r omhi s wr i st .
Then al l of t hemsaw Fr anci sco d' Anconi a st andi ng at t he door on t he l ef t ,
hi s soundl ess gun st i l l ai med at t he chi ef .
Al l of t hemwer e on t hei r f eet and had dr awn t hei r guns, but t hey l ost
t hat f i r st moment , not dar i ng t o f i r e.
" I woul dn' t , i f I wer e you, " sai d Fr anci sco.
" J esus! " gasped one of t he guar ds, st r uggl i ng f or t he memor y of a name he
coul d not r ecapt ur e. " That ' s . . . t hat ' s t he guy who bl ew up al l t he copper
mi nes i n t he wor l d! "
" I t i s, " sai d Rear den.
They had been backi ng i nvol unt ar i l y away f r omFr anci scoand t ur ned t o see
t hat Rear den st i l l st ood at t he ent r ance door , wi t h a poi nt ed gun i n hi s
r i ght hand and a dar k st ai n spr eadi ng on hi s l ef t shoul der .
" Shoot , you bast ar ds! " scr eamed t he chi ef t o t he waver i ng men.
" What ar e you wai t i ng f or ? Shoot t hemdown! " He was l eani ng wi t h one ar m
agai nst t he t abl e, bl ood r unni ng out of t he ot her . " I ' l l r epor t any man who
doesn' t f i ght ! I ' l l have hi msent enced t o deat h f or i t ! "
" Dr op your guns, " sai d Rear den.
The seven guar ds st ood f r ozen f or an i nst ant , obeyi ng nei t her .
" Let me out of her e! " scr eamed t he youngest , dashi ng f or t he door on t he
r i ght .
He t hr ew t he door open and spr ang back: Dagny Taggar t st ood on t he
t hr eshol d, gun i n hand.
The guar ds wer e dr awi ng sl owl y t o t he cent er of t he r oom, r i ght i ng an
i nvi si bl e bat t l e i n t he f og of t hei r mi nds, di sar med by a sense of unr eal i t y
i n t he pr esence of t he l egendar y f i gur es t hey had never expect ed t o see,
f eel i ng al most as i f t hey wer e or der ed t o f i r e at ghost s.
" Dr op your guns, " sai d Rear den. " You don' t know why you' r e her e.
We do. You don' t know who your pr i soner i s. We do. You don' t know why your
bosses want you t o guar d hi m. We know why we want t o get hi mout . You don' t
know t he pur pose of your f i ght . We know t he pur pose of our s. I f you di e, you
won' t know what you' r e dyi ng f or . I f we do, we wi l l . "
" Don' t . . . don' t l i st en t o hi m! " snar l ed t he chi ef . " Shoot ! I or der you
t o shoot ! "
One of t he guar ds l ooked at t he chi ef , dr opped hi s gun and, r ai si ng hi s
ar ms, backed away f r omt he gr oup t owar d Rear den.
" God damn you! " yel l ed t he chi ef , sei zed a gun wi t h hi s l ef t hand and
f i r ed at t he deser t er .
I n t i me wi t h t he f al l of t he man' s body, t he wi ndow bur st i nt o a shower of
gl assand f r omt he l i mb of a t r ee, as f r oma cat apul t , t he t al l , sl ender
f i gur e of a man f l ew i nt o t he r oom, l anded on i t s f eet and f i r ed at t he f i r st
guar d i n r each.
" Who ar e you?" , scr eamed some t er r or - bl i nded voi ce.
" Ragnar Danneskj ol d. "
Thr ee sounds answer ed hi m: a l ong, swel l i ng moan of pani ct he cl at t er of
f our guns dr opped t o t he f l oor and t he bar k of t he f i f t h, f i r ed by a guar d at
t he f or ehead of t he chi ef .
By t he t i me t he f our sur vi vor s of t he gar r i son began t o r eassembl e t he
pi eces of t hei r consci ousness, t hei r f i gur es wer e st r et ched on t he f l oor ,
bound and gagged; t he f i f t h one was l ef t st andi ng, hi s hands t i ed behi nd hi s
back.
" Wher e i s t he pr i soner ?" Fr anci sco asked hi m.
" I n t he cel l ar . . . I guess. "
" Who has t he key?"
" Dr . Fer r i s. "
" Wher e ar e t he st ai r s t o t he cel l ar ?"
" Behi nd a door i n Dr . Fer r i s' of f i ce. "
" Lead t he way. "
As t hey st ar t ed, Fr anci sco t ur ned t o Rear den. " Ar e you al l r i ght , Hank?"
" Sur e. "
" Need t o r est ?"
" Hel l , no! "
Fr omt he t hr eshol d of a door i n Fer r i s' of f i ce, t hey l ooked down a st eep
f l i ght of st one st ai r s and saw a guar d on t he l andi ng bel ow.
" Come her e wi t h your hands up! " or der ed Fr anci sco.
The guar d saw t he si l houet t e of a r esol ut e st r anger and t he gl i nt of a
gun: I t was enough. He obeyed i mmedi at el y; he seemed r el i eved t o escape f r om
t he damp st one cr ypt . He was l ef t t i ed on t he f l oor of t he of f i ce, al ong wi t h
t he guar d who had l ed t hem.
Then t he f our r escuer s wer e f r ee t o f l y down t he st ai r s t o t he l ocked
st eel door at t he bot t om. They had act ed and moved wi t h t he pr eci si on of a
cont r ol l ed di sci pl i ne. Now, i t was as i f t hei r i nner r ei ns had br oken.
Danneskj ol d had t he t ool s t o smash t he l ock. Fr anci sco was f i r st t o ent er
t he cel l ar , and hi s ar mbar r ed Dagny' s way f or t he f r act i on of a secondf or
t he l engt h of a l ook t o make cer t ai n t hat t he si ght was bear abl et hen he l et
her r ush past hi m: beyond t he t angl e of el ect r i c wi r es, he had seen Gal t ' s
l i f t ed head and gl ance of gr eet i ng.
She f el l down on her knees by t he si de of t he mat t r ess. Gal t l ooked up at
her , as he had l ooked on t hei r f i r st mor ni ng i n t he val l ey, hi s smi l e was
l i ke t he sound of a l aught er t hat had never been t ouched by pai n, hi s voi ce
was sof t and l ow: " We never had t o t ake any of i t ser i ousl y, di d we?"
Tear s r unni ng down her f ace, but her smi l e decl ar i ng a f ul l , conf i dent ,
r adi ant cer t ai nt y, she answer ed, " No, we never had t o. "
Rear den and Danneskj ol d wer e cut t i ng hi s bonds. Fr anci sco hel d a f l ask of
br andy t o Gal t ' s l i ps. Gal t dr ank, and r ai sed hi msel f t o l ean on an el bow
when hi s ar ms wer e f r ee. " Gi ve me a ci gar et t e, " he sai d.
Fr anci sco pr oduced a package of dol l ar - si gn ci gar et t es. Gal t ' s hand shook
a l i t t l e, as he hel d a ci gar et t e t o t he f l ame of a l i ght er , but Fr anci sco' s
hand shook much mor e.
Gl anci ng at hi s eyes over t he f l ame, Gal t smi l ed and sai d i n t he t one of
an answer t o t he quest i ons Fr anci sco was not aski ng, " Yes, i t was pr et t y bad,
but bear abl eand t he ki nd of vol t age t hey used l eaves no damage,
" I ' l l f i nd t hemsome day, whoever t hey wer e . . . " sai d Fr anci sco; t he
t one of hi s voi ce, f l at , dead and bar el y audi bl e, sai d t he r est .
" I f you do, you' l l f i nd t hat t her e' s not hi ng l ef t of t hemt o ki l l . "
Gal t gl anced at t he f aces ar ound hi m; he saw t he i nt ensi t y of t he r el i ef
i n t hei r eyes and t he vi ol ence of t he anger i n t he gr i mness of t hei r
f eat ur es; he knew i n what manner t hey wer e now r el i vi ng hi s t or t ur e.
" I t ' s over , " he sai d. " Don' t make i t wor se f or your sel f t han i t was f or
me. "
Fr anci sco t ur ned hi s f ace away. " I t ' s onl y t hat i t was you . . . " he
whi sper ed, " you . . . i f i t wer e anyone but you . . . "
" But i t had t o be me, i f t hey wer e t o t r y t hei r l ast , and t hey' ve t r i ed,
and" he moved hi s hand, sweepi ng t he r oomand t he meani ng of t hose who had
made i t i nt o t he wast el ands of t he past " and t hat ' s t hat . "
Fr anci sco nodded, hi s f ace st i l l t ur ned away; t he vi ol ent gr i p of hi s
f i nger s cl ut chi ng Gal t ' s wr i st f or a moment was hi s answer .
Gal t l i f t ed hi msel f t o a si t t i ng post ur e, sl owl y r egai ni ng cont r ol of hi s
muscl es. He gl anced up at Dagny' s f ace, as her ar mshot f or war d t o hel p hi m;
he saw t he st r uggl e of her smi l e agai nst t he t ensi on of her r esi st ed t ear s;
i t was t he st r uggl e of her knowl edge t hat not hi ng coul d mat t er besi de t he
si ght of hi s naked body and t hat t hi s body was l i vi ng agai nst her knowl edge
of what i t had endur ed. Hol di ng her gl ance, he r ai sed hi s hand and t ouched
t he col l ar of her whi t e sweat er wi t h hi s f i nger t i ps, i n acknowl edgment and i n
r emi nder of t he onl y t hi ngs t hat wer e t o mat t er f r omnow on. The f ai nt t r emor
of her l i ps, r el axi ng i nt o a smi l e, t ol d hi mt hat she under st ood.
Danneskj ol d f ound Gal t ' s shi r t , sl acks and t he r est of hi s cl ot hi ng, whi ch
had been t hr own on t he f l oor i n a cor ner of t he r oom. " Do you t hi nk you can
wal k, J ohn?" he asked.
" Sur e. "
Whi l e Fr anci sco and Rear den wer e hel pi ng Gal t t o dr ess, Danneskj ol d
pr oceeded cal ml y, syst emat i cal l y, wi t h no vi si bl e emot i on, t o demol i sh t he
t or t ur e machi ne i nt o spl i nt er s.
Gal t was not f ul l y st eady on hi s f eet , but he coul d st and, l eani ng on
Fr anci sco' s shoul der . The f i r st f ew st eps wer e har d, but by t he t i me t hey
r eached t he door , he was abl e t o r esume t he mot i ons of wal ki ng.
Hi s one ar menci r cl ed Fr anci sco' s shoul der s f or suppor t ; hi s ot her ar m
hel d Dagny' s shoul der s, bot h t o gai n suppor t and t o gi ve i t .
They di d not speak as t hey wal ked down t he hi l l , wi t h t he dar kness of t he
t r ees cl osi ng i n about t hemf or pr ot ect i on, cut t i ng of f t he dead gl ow of t he
moon and t he deader gl ow i n t he di st ance behi nd t hem, i n t he wi ndows of t he
St at e Sci ence I nst i t ut e.
Fr anci sco' s ai r pl ane was hi dden i n t he br ush, on t he edge of a meadow
beyond t he next hi l l . Ther e wer e no human habi t at i ons f or mi l es ar ound t hem.
Ther e wer e no eyes t o not i ce or t o quest i on t he sudden st r eaks of t he
ai r pl ane' s headl i ght s shoot i ng acr oss t he desol at i on of dead weeds, and t he
vi ol ent bur st of t he mot or br ought t o l i f e by Danneskj ol d, who t ook t he
wheel .
Wi t h t he sound of t he door sl ammi ng shut behi nd t hemand t he f or war d
t hr ust of t he wheel s under t hei r f eet , Fr anci sco smi l ed f or t he f i r st t i me.
" Thi s i s my one and onl y chance t o gi ve you or der s, " he sai d, hel pi ng Gal t
t o st r et ch out i n a r ecl i ni ng chai r . " Now l i e st i l l , r el ax and t ake i t easy .
. . You, t oo, " he added, t ur ni ng t o Dagny and poi nt i ng at t he seat by Gal t ' s
si de.
The wheel s wer e r unni ng f ast er , as i f gai ni ng speed and pur pose and
l i ght ness, i gnor i ng t he i mpot ent obst acl es of smal l j ol t s f r omt he r ut s of
t he gr ound. When t he mot i on t ur ned t o a l ong, smoot h st r eak, when t hey saw
t he dar k shapes of t he t r ees sweepi ng down and dr oppi ng past t hei r wi ndows,
Gal t l eaned si l ent l y over and pr essed hi s l i ps t o Dagny' s hand: he was
l eavi ng t he out er wor l d wi t h t he one val ue he had want ed t o wi n f r omi t .
Fr anci sco had pr oduced a f i r st - ai d ki t and was r emovi ng Rear den' s shi r t t o
bandage hi s wound. Gal t saw t he t hi n r ed t r i ckl e r unni ng f r omRear den' s
shoul der down hi s chest .
" Thank you, Hank, " he sai d.
Rear den smi l ed. " I wi l l r epeat what you sai d when I t hanked you, on our
f i r st meet i ng: ' I f you under st and t hat I act ed f or my own sake, you know t hat
no gr at i t ude i s r equi r ed. ' "
" I wi l l r epeat , " sai d Gal t , " t he answer you gave me: ' That i s why I t hank
you. ' "
Dagny not i ced t hat t hey l ooked at each ot her as i f t hei r gl ance wer e t he
handshake of a bond t oo f i r mt o r equi r e any st at ement . Rear den saw her
wat chi ng t hemand t he f ai nt est cont r act i on of hi s eyes was l i ke a smi l e of
sanct i on, as i f hi s gl ance wer e r epeat i ng t o her t he message he had sent her
f r omt he val l ey.
They hear d t he sudden sound of Danneskj ol d' s voi ce r ai sed cheer f ul l y i n
conver sat i on wi t h empt y space, and t hey r eal i zed t hat he was speaki ng over
t he pl ane' s r adi o: " Yes, saf e and sound, al l of us. . . .
Yes, he' s unhur t , j ust shaken a l i t t l e, and r est i ng. . . . No, no
per manent i nj ur y. . . . Yes, we' r e al l her e. Hank Rear den got a f l esh wound,
but " he gl anced over hi s shoul der " but he' s gr i nni ng at me r i ght now. . . .
Losses? I t hi nk we l ost our t emper f or a f ew mi nut es back t her e, but we' r e
r ecover i ng. . . . Don' t t r y t o beat me t o Gal t ' s Gul ch, I ' l l l and f i r st and
I ' l l hel p Kay i n t he r est aur ant t o f i x your br eakf ast . "
" Can any out si der s hear hi m?" asked Dagny.
" No, sai d Fr anci sco. " I t ' s a f r equency t hey' r e not equi pped t o get . "
" Whomi s he t al ki ng t o?" asked Gal t .
" To about hal f t he mal e popul at i on of t he val l ey, " sai d Fr anci sco, " or as
many as we had space f or on ever y pl ane avai l abl e. They ar e f l yi ng behi nd us
r i ght now. Di d you t hi nk any of t hemwoul d st ay home and l eave you i n t he
hands of t he l oot er s? We wer e pr epar ed t o get you by open, ar med assaul t on
t hat I nst i t ut e or on t he Wayne- Fal kl and, i f necessar y. But we knew t hat i n
such case we woul d r un t he r i sk of t hei r ki l l i ng you when t hey saw t hat t hey
wer e beat en. That ' s why we deci ded t hat t he f our of us woul d f i r st t r y i t
al one. Had we f ai l ed, t he ot her s woul d have pr oceeded wi t h an open at t ack.
They wer e wai t i ng, hal f a mi l e away. We had men post ed among t he t r ees on t he
hi l l , who saw us get out and r el ayed t he wor d t o t he ot her s. El l i s Wyat t was
i n char ge. I nci dent al l y, He' s f l yi ng your pl ane. The r eason we coul dn' t get
t o New Hampshi r e as f ast as Dr . Fer r i s, i s t hat we had t o get our pl anes f r om
di st ant , hi dden l andi ng pl aces, whi l e he had t he advant age of open ai r por t s.
Whi ch, i nci dent al l y, he won' t have much l onger . "
" No, " sai d Gal t , " not much l onger . "
" That was our onl y obst acl e. The r est was easy. I ' l l t el l you t he whol e
st or y l at er . Anyway, t he f our of us wer e al l t hat was necessar y t o beat t hei r
gar r i son. "
" One of t hese cent ur i es, " sai d Danneskj ol d, t ur ni ng t o t hemf or a moment ,
" t he br ut es, pr i vat e or publ i c, who bel i eve t hat t hey can r ul e t hei r bet t er s
by f or ce, wi l l l ear n t he l esson of what happens when br ut e f or ce encount er s
mi nd and f or ce. "
" They' ve l ear ned i t , " sai d Gal t . " I sn' t t hat t he par t i cul ar l esson you
have been t eachi ng t hemf or t wel ve year s?"
" I ? Yes. But t he semest er i s over . Toni ght was t he l ast act of vi ol ence
t hat I ' l l ever have t o per f or m. I t was my r ewar d f or t he t wel ve year s.
My men have now st ar t ed t o bui l d t hei r homes i n t he val l ey. My shi p i s
hi dden wher e no one wi l l f i nd her , unt i l I ' mabl e t o sel l her f or a much mor e
ci vi l i zed use. She' l l be conver t ed i nt o a t r ansat l ant i c passenger l i ner an
excel l ent one, even i f of modest si ze. As f or me, I wi l l st ar t get t i ng r eady
t o gi ve a di f f er ent cour se of l essons. I t hi nk I I I have t o br ush up on t he
wor ks of our t eacher ' s f i r st t eacher . "
Rear den chuckl ed. " I ' d l i ke t o be pr esent at your f i r st l ect ur e on
phi l osophy i n a uni ver si t y cl assr oom, " he sai d. " I ' d l i ke t o see how your
st udent s wi l l be abl e t o keep t hei r mi nd on t he subj ect and how you' l l answer
t he sor t of i r r el evant quest i ons I won' t bl ame t hemf or want i ng t o ask you. "
" I wi l l t el l t hemt hat t hey' l l f i nd t he answer s i n t he subj ect . "
Ther e wer e not many l i ght s on t he ear t h bel ow. The count r ysi de was an
empt y bl ack sheet , wi t h a f ew occasi onal f l i cker s i n t he wi ndows of some
gover nment st r uct ur es, and t he t r embl i ng gl ow of candl es i n t he wi ndows of
t hr i f t l ess homes. Most of t he r ur al popul at i on had l ong si nce been r educed t o
t he l i f e of t hose ages when ar t i f i ci al l i ght was an exor bi t ant l uxur y, and a
sunset put an end t o human act i vi t y. The t owns wer e l i ke scat t er ed puddl es,
l ef t behi nd by a r ecedi ng t i de, st i l l hol di ng some pr eci ous dr ops of
el ect r i ci t y, but dr yi ng out i n a deser t of r at i ons, quot as, cont r ol s and
power - conser vat i on r ul es.
But when t he pl ace t hat had once been t he sour ce of t he t i deNew Yor k
Ci t yr ose i n t he di st ance bef or e t hem, i t was st i l l ext endi ng i t s l i ght s t o
t he sky, st i l l def yi ng t he pr i mor di al dar kness, al most as i f , i n an ul t i mat e
ef f or t , i n a f i nal appeal f or hel p, i t wer e now st r et chi ng i t s ar ms t o t he
pl ane t hat was cr ossi ng i t s sky. I nvol unt ar i l y, t hey sat up, as i f at
r espect f ul at t ent i on at t he deat hbed of what had been gr eat ness.
Looki ng down, t hey coul d see t he l ast convul si ons: t he l i ght s of t he car s
wer e dar t i ng t hr ough t he st r eet s, l i ke ani mal s t r apped i n a maze, f r ant i cal l y
seeki ng an exi t , t he br i dges wer e j ammed wi t h car s, t he appr oaches t o t he
br i dges wer e vei ns of massed headl i ght s, gl i t t er i ng bot t l enecks st oppi ng al l
mot i on, and t he desper at e scr eami ng of si r ens r eached f ai nt l y t o t he hei ght
of t he pl ane. The news of t he cont i nent ' s sever ed ar t er y had now engul f ed t he
ci t y, men wer e deser t i ng t hei r post s, t r yi ng, i n pani c, t o abandon New Yor k,
seeki ng escape wher e al l r oads wer e cut of f and escape was no l onger
possi bl e.
The pl ane was above t he peaks of t he skyscr aper s when suddenl y, wi t h t he
abr upt ness of a shudder , as i f t he gr ound had par t ed t o engul f i t , t he ci t y
di sappear ed f r omt he f ace of t he ear t h. I t t ook t hema moment t o r eal i ze t hat
t he pani c had r eached t he power st at i onsand t hat t he l i ght s of New Yor k had
gone out .
Dagny gasped. " Don' t l ook down! " Gal t or der ed shar pl y.
She r ai sed her eyes t o hi s f ace. Hi s f ace had t hat l ook of aust er i t y wi t h
whi ch she had al ways seen hi mmeet f act s.
She r emember ed t he st or y Fr anci sco had t ol d her : " He had qui t t he
Twent i et h Cent ur y. He was l i vi ng i n a gar r et i n a sl umnei ghbor hood.
He st epped t o t he wi ndow and poi nt ed at t he skyscr aper s of t he ci t y.
He sai d t hat we had t o ext i ngui sh t he l i ght s of t he wor l d, and when we
woul d see t he l i ght s of New Yor k go out , we woul d know t hat our j ob was
done. "
She t hought of i t when she saw t he t hr ee of t hemJ ohn Gal t , Fr anci sco
d' Anconi a, Ragnar Danneskj ol dl ook si l ent l y at one anot her f or a moment .
She gl anced at Rear den; he was not l ooki ng down, he was l ooki ng ahead, as
she had seen hi ml ook at an unt ouched count r ysi de: wi t h a gl ance appr ai si ng
t he possi bi l i t i es of act i on.
When she l ooked at t he dar kness ahead, anot her memor y r ose i n her mi ndt he
moment when, ci r cl i ng above t he Af t on ai r por t , she had seen t he si l ver body
of a pl ane r i se l i ke a phoeni x f r omt he dar kness of t he ear t h. She knew t hat
now, at t hi s hour , t hei r pl ane was car r yi ng al l t hat was l ef t of New Yor k
Ci t y.
She l ooked ahead. The ear t h woul d be as empt y as t he space wher e t h6i r
pr opel l er was cut t i ng an unobst r uct ed pat has empt y and as f r ee.
She knew what Nat Taggar t had f el t at hi s st ar t and why now, f or t he f i r st
t i me, she was f ol l owi ng hi mi n f ul l l oyal t y: t he conf i dent sense of f aci ng a
voi d and of knowi ng t hat one has a cont i nent t o bui l d.
She f el t t he whol e st r uggl e of her past r i si ng bef or e her and dr oppi ng
away, l eavi ng her her e, on t he hei ght of t hi s moment . She smi l edand t he
wor ds i n her mi nd, appr ai si ng and seal i ng t he past , wer e t he wor ds of
cour age, pr i de and dedi cat i on, whi ch most men had never under st ood, t he wor ds
of a busi nessman' s l anguage: " Pr i ce no obj ect . "
She di d not gasp and she f el t no t r emor when, i n t he dar kness bel ow, she
saw a smal l st r i ng of l i ght ed dot s st r uggl i ng sl owl y west war d t hr ough t he
voi d, wi t h t he l ong, br i ght dash of a headl i ght gr opi ng t o pr ot ect t he saf et y
of i t s way; she f el t not hi ng, even t hough i t was a t r ai n and she knew t hat i t
had no dest i nat i on but t he voi d.
She t ur ned t o Gal t . He was wat chi ng her f ace, as i f he had been f ol l owi ng
her t hought s. She saw t he r ef l ect i on of her smi l e i n hi s. " I t ' s t he end, " she
sai d. " I t ' s t he begi nni ng, " he answer ed.
Then t hey l ay st i l l , l eani ng back i n t hei r chai r s, si l ent l y l ooki ng at
each ot her . Then t hei r per sons f i l l ed each ot her ' s awar eness, as t he sumand
meani ng of t he f ut ur ebut t he sumi ncl uded t he knowl edge of al l t hat had had
t o be ear ned, bef or e t he per son of anot her bei ng coul d come t o embody t he
val ue of one' s exi st ence.
New Yor k was f ar behi nd t hem, when t hey hear d Danneskj ol d answer a cal l
f r omt he r adi o: " Yes, he' s awake. I don' t t hi nk he' l l sl eep t oni ght . . . .
Yes, I t hi nk he can. " He t ur ned t o gl ance over hi s shoul der . " J ohn, Dr .
Akst on woul d l i ke t o speak t o you. "
" What ? I s he on one of t hose pl anes behi nd us?"
" Cer t ai nl y. "
Gal t l eaped f or war d t o sei ze t he mi cr ophone. " Hel l o, Dr . Akst on, "
he sai d; t he qui et , l ow t one of hi s voi ce was t he audi bl e i mage of a smi l e
t r ansmi t t ed t hr ough space.
" Hel l o, J ohn. " The t oo- consci ous st eadi ness of Hugh Akst on' s voi ce
conf essed at what cost <he had wai t ed t o l ear n whet her he woul d ever
pr onounce t hese t wo wor ds agai n. " I j ust want ed t o hear your voi ce . . . j ust
t o know t hat you' r e al l r i ght . "
Gal t chuckl ed andi n t he t one of a st udent pr oudl y pr esent i ng a compl et ed
t ask of homewor k as pr oof of a l esson wel l l ear nedhe answer ed, " Of cour se I
amal l r i ght , Pr of essor . I had t o be. A i s A. "
The l ocomot i ve of t he east bound Comet br oke down i n t he mi ddl e of a deser t
i n Ar i zona. I t st opped abr upt l y, f or no vi si bl e r eason, l i ke a man who had
not per mi t t ed hi msel f t o know t hat he was bear i ng t oo much: some over st r ai ned
connect i on snapped f or good.
When Eddi e Wi l l er s cal l ed f or t he conduct or , he wai t ed a l ong t i me bef or e
t he man came i n, and he sensed t he answer t o hi s quest i on by t he l ook of
r esi gnat i on on t he man' s f ace.
" The engi neer i s t r yi ng t o f i nd out what ' s wr ong, Mr . Wi l l er s, " he
answer ed sof t l y, i n a t one i mpl yi ng t hat i t was hi s dut y t o hope, but t hat he
had hel d no hope f or year s.
" He doesn' t know?"
" He' s wor ki ng on i t . " The conduct or wai t ed f or a pol i t e hal f - mi nut e and
t ur ned t o go, but st opped t o vol unt eer an expl anat i on, as i f some di m,
r at i onal habi t t ol d hi mt hat any at t empt t o expl ai n made any unadmi t t ed
t er r or easi er t o bear . " Those Di esel s of our s ar en' t f i t t o be sent out on
t he r oad, Mr . Wi l l er s. They wer en' t wor t h r epai r i ng l ong ago. "
" I know, " sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s qui et l y.
The conduct or sensed t hat hi s expl anat i on was wor se t han none: i t l ed t o
quest i ons t hat men di d not ask t hese days. He shook hi s head and went out .
Eddi e Wi l l er s sat l ooki ng at t he empt y dar kness beyond t he wi ndow.
Thi s was t he f i r st east bound Cor net out of San Fr anci sco i n many days: she
was t he chi l d of hi s t or t ur ed ef f or t t o r e- est abl i sh t r anscont i nent al
ser vi ce. He coul d not t el l what t he past f ew days had cost hi mor what he had
done t o save t he San Fr anci sco t er mi nal f r omt he bl i nd chaos of a ci vi l war
t hat men wer e f i ght i ng wi t h no concept of t hei r goal s; t her e was no way t o
r emember t he deal s he had made on t he basi s of t he r ange of ever y shi f t i ng
moment . He knew onl y t hat he had obt ai ned i mmuni t y f or t he t er mi nal f r omt he
l eader s of t hr ee di f f er ent war r i ng f act i ons; t hat he had f ound a man f or t he
post of t er mi nal manager who di d not seemt o have gi ven up al t oget her ; t hat
he had st ar t ed one mor e Taggar t Comet on her east war d r un, wi t h t he best
Di esel engi ne and t he best cr ew avai l abl e; and t hat he had boar ded her f or
hi s r et ur n j our ney t o New Yor k, wi t h no knowl edge of how l ong hi s achi evement
woul d l ast .
He had never had t o wor k so har d; he had done hi s j ob as consci ent i ousl y
wel l as he had al ways done any assi gnment ; but i t was as i f he had wor ked i n
a vacuum, as i f hi s ener gy had f ound no t r ansmi t t er s and had r un i nt o t he
sands of . . . of some such deser t as t he one beyond t he wi ndow of t he Comet .
He shudder ed: he f el t a moment ' s ki nshi p wi t h t he st al l ed engi ne of t he
t r ai n.
Af t er a whi l e, he summoned t he conduct or once mor e. " How i s i t goi ng?" he
asked.
The conduct or shr ugged and shook hi s head.
" Send t he f i r eman t o a t r ack phone. Have hi mt el l t he Di vi si on
Headquar t er s t o send us t he best mechani c avai l abl e. "
" Yes, si r . "
Ther e was not hi ng t o see beyond t he wi ndow; t ur ni ng of f t he l i ght , Eddi e
Wi l l er s coul d di st i ngui sh a gr ay spr ead dot t ed by t he bl ack spot s of cact i ,
wi t h no st ar t t o i t and no end. He wonder ed how men had ever vent ur ed t o
cr oss i t , and at what pr i ce, i n t he days when t her e wer e no t r ai ns. He j er ked
hi s head away and snapped on t he l i ght .
I t was onl y t he f act t hat t he Comet was i n exi l e, he t hought , mat gave hi m
t hi s sense of pr essi ng anxi et y. She was st al l ed on an al i en r ai l on t he
bor r owed t r ack of t he At l ant i c Sout her n t hat r an t hr ough Ar i zona, t he t r ack
t hey wer e usi ng wi t hout payment . He had t o get her out of her e, he t hought ;
he woul d not f eel l i ke t hi s once t hey r et ur ned t o t hei r own r ai l . But t he
j unct i on suddenl y seemed an i nsur mount abl e di st ance away: on t he shor e of t he
Mi ssi ssi ppi , at t he Taggar t Br i dge.
No, he t hought , t hat was not al l . He had t o admi t t o hi msel f what i mages
wer e naggi ng hi mwi t h a sense of uneasi ness he coul d nei t her gr asp nor
di spel ; t hey wer e t oo meani ngl ess t o def i ne and t oo i nexpl i cabl e t o di smi ss.
One was t he i mage of a way st at i on t hey had passed wi t hout st oppi ng, mor e
t han t wo hour s ago: he had not i ced t he empt y pl at f or mand t he br i ght l y
l i ght ed wi ndows of t he smal l st at i on bui l di ng; t he l i ght s came f r omempt y
r ooms; he had seen no si ngl e human f i gur e, nei t her i n t he bui l di ng nor on t he
t r acks out si de. The ot her i mage was of t he next way st at i on t hey had passed:
i t s pl at f or mwas j ammed wi t h an agi t at ed mob. Now t hey wer e f ar beyond t he
r each of t he l i ght or sound of any st at i on.
He had t o get t he Comet out of her e, he t hought . He wonder ed why he f el t
i t wi t h such ur gency and why i t had seemed so cr uci al l y i mpor t ant t o r e-
est abl i sh t he Comet ' s r un. A mer e handf ul of passenger s was r at t l i ng i n her
empt y car s; men had no pl ace t o go and no goal s t o r each. I t was not f or
t hei r sake t hat he had st r uggl ed; he coul d not say f or whose. Two phr ases
st ood as t he answer i n hi s mi nd, dr i vi ng hi mwi t h t he vagueness of a pr ayer
and t he scal di ng f or ce of an absol ut e.
One was: Fr omOcean t o Ocean, f or ever t he ot her was: Don' t l et i t go! . .
.
The conduct or r et ur ned an hour l at er , wi t h t he f i r eman, whose f ace l ooked
oddl y gr i m.
" Mr . Wi l l er s, " sai d t he f i r eman sl owl y, " Di vi si on Headquar t er s does not
answer . "
Eddi e Wi l l er s sat up, hi s mi nd r ef usi ng t o bel i eve i t , yet knowi ng
suddenl y t hat f or some i nexpl i cabl e r eason t hi s was what he had expect ed.
" I t ' s i mpossi bl e! " he sai d, hi s voi ce l ow; t he f i r eman was l ooki ng at hi m,
not movi ng. " The t r ack phone must have been out of or der . "
" No, Mr . Wi l l er s. I t was not out of or der . The l i ne was al i ve al l r i ght .
The Di vi si on Headquar t er s wasn' t . I mean, t her e was no one t her e t o
answer , or el se no one who car ed t o. "
" But you know t hat t hat ' s i mpossi bl e! "
The f i r eman shr ugged; men di d not consi der any di sast er i mpossi bl e t hese
days.
Eddi e Wi l l er s l eaped t o hi s f eet . " Go down t he l engt h of t he t r ai n, "
he or der ed t he conduct or . " Knock on al l t he door st he occupi ed ones, t hat
i sand see whet her t her e' s an el ect r i cal engi neer aboar d. "
" Yes, si r . "
Eddi e knew t hat t hey f el t , as he f el t i t , t hat t hey woul d f i nd no such
man; not among t he l et har gi c, ext i ngui shed f aces of t he passenger s t hey had
seen. " Come on, " he or der ed, t ur ni ng t o t he f i r eman.
They cl i mbed t oget her aboar d t he l ocomot i ve. The gr ay- hai r ed engi neer was
si t t i ng i n hi s chai r , st ar i ng out at t he cact i . The engi ne' s headl i ght had
st ayed on and i t st r et ched out i nt o t he ni ght , mot i onl ess and st r ai ght ,
r eachi ng not hi ng but t he di ssol vi ng bl ur of cr osst i es.
" Let ' s t r y t o f i nd what ' s wr ong, " sai d Eddi e, r emovi ng hi s. coat , hi s
voi ce hal f - or der , hal f - pl ea. " Let ' s t r y some mor e. "
" Yes, si r , " sai d t he engi neer , wi t hout r esent ment or hope.
The engi neer had exhaust ed hi s meager st or e of knowl edge; he had checked
ever y sour ce of t r oubl e he coul d t hi nk of . He went cr awl i ng over and under
t he machi ner y, unscr ewi ng i t s par t s and scr ewi ng t hemback agai n, t aki ng out
pi eces and r epl aci ng t hem, di smember i ng t he mot or s at r andom, l i ke a chi l d
t aki ng a cl ock apar t , but wi t hout t he chi l d' s convi ct i on t hat knowl edge i s
possi bl e.
The f i r eman kept l eani ng out of t he cab' s wi ndow, gl anci ng at t he bl ack
st i l l ness and shi ver i ng, as i f f r omt he ni ght ai r t hat was gr owi ng col der .
" Don' t wor r y, " sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s, assumi ng a t one of conf i dence.
" We' ve got t o do our best , but i f we f ai l , t hey' l l send us hel p sooner or
l at er . They don' t abandon t r ai ns i n t he mi ddl e of nowher e. "
' They di dn' t used t o, " sai d t he f i r eman.
Once i n a whi l e, t he engi neer r ai sed hi s gr ease- smear ed f ace t o l ook at
t he gr ease- smear ed f ace and shi r t of Eddi e Wi l l er s. " What ' s t he use, Mr .
Wi l l er s?" he asked.
" We can' t l et i t go! " Eddi e answer ed f i er cel y; he knew di ml y t hat what he
meant was mor e t han t he Comet . . . and mor e t han t he r ai l r oad.
Movi ng f r omt he cab t hr ough t he t hr ee mot or uni t s and back t o t he cab
agai n, hi s hands bl eedi ng, hi s shi r t st i cki ng t o hi s back, Eddi e Wi l l er s was
st r uggl i ng t o r emember ever yt hi ng he had ever known about engi nes, anyt hi ng
he had l ear ned i n col l ege, and ear l i er : anyt hi ng he had pi cked up i n t hose
days when t he st at i on agent s at Rockdal e St at i on used t o chase hi mof f t he
r ungs of t hei r l umber i ng swi t ch engi nes.
The pi eces connect ed t o not hi ng; hi s br ai n seemed j ammed and t i ght ; he
knew t hat mot or s wer e not hi s pr of essi on, he knew t hat he di d not know and
t hat i t was now a mat t er of l i f e or deat h f or hi mt o di scover t he knowl edge.
He was l ooki ng at t he cyl i nder s, t he bl ades, t he wi r es, t he cont r ol panel s
st i l l wi nki ng wi t h l i ght s. He was st r uggl i ng not t o al l ow i nt o hi s mi nd t he
t hought t hat was pr essi ng agai nst i t s per i pher y: What wer e t he chances and
how l ong woul d i t t akeaccor di ng t o t he mat hemat i cal t heor y of pr obabi l i t y
f or pr i mi t i ve men, wor ki ng by r ul e- of - t humb, t o hi t t he r i ght combi nat i on of
par t s and r e- cr eat e t he mot or of t hi s engi ne?
" What ' s t he use, Mr . Wi l l er s?" moaned t he engi neer .
" We can' t l et i t go! " he cr i ed.
He di d not know how many hour s had passed when he hear d t he f i r eman shout
suddenl y, " Mr . Wi l l er s! Look! "
The f i r eman was l eani ng out t he wi ndow, poi nt i ng i nt o t he dar kness behi nd
t hem.
Eddi e Wi l l er s l ooked. An odd l i t t l e l i ght was swi ngi ng j er ki l y f ar i n t he
di st ance; i t seemed t o be advanci ng at an i mper cept i bl e r at e; i t di d not l ook
l i ke any sor t of l i ght he coul d i dent i f y.
Af t er a whi l e, i t seemed t o hi mt hat he di st i ngui shed some l ar ge bl ack
shapes advanci ng sl owl y; t hey wer e movi ng i n a l i ne par al l el wi t h t he t r ack;
t he spot of l i ght hung l ow over t he gr ound, swi ngi ng; he st r ai ned hi s ear s,
but hear d not hi ng.
Then he caught a f eebl e, muf f l ed beat t hat sounded l i ke t he hoof s of
hor ses. The t wo men besi de hi mwer e wat chi ng t he bl ack shapes wi t h a l ook of
gr owi ng t er r or , as i f some super nat ur al appar i t i on wer e advanci ng upon t hem
out of t he deser t ni ght . I n t he moment when t hey chuckl ed suddenl y, j oyousl y,
r ecogni zi ng t he shapes, i t was Eddi e' s f ace t hat f r oze i nt o a l ook of t er r or
at t he si ght of a ghost mor e f r i ght eni ng t han any t hey coul d have expect ed:
i t was a t r ai n of cover ed wagons.
The swi ngi ng l ant er n j er ked t o a st op by t he si de of t he engi ne. " Hey,
bud, can I gi ve you a l i f t ?" cal l ed a man who seemed t o be t he l eader ; he was
chuckl i ng. " St uck, ar en' t you?"
The passenger s of t he Comet wer e peer i ng out of t he wi ndows; some wer e
descendi ng t he st eps and appr oachi ng. Women' s f aces peeked f r omt he wagons,
f r omamong t he pi l es of househol d goods; a baby wai l ed somewher e at t he r ear
of t he car avan.
" Ar e you cr azy?" asked Eddi e Wi l l er s.
" No, I mean i t , br ot her . We got pl ent y of r oom. We' l l gi ve you f ol ks a
l i f t f or a pr i cei f you want t o get out of her e. " He was a l anky, ner vous
man, wi t h l oose gest ur es and an i nsol ent voi ce, who l ooked l i ke a si de- show
bar ker .
" Thi s i s t he Taggar t Comet , " sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s, choki ng.
" The Comet , eh? Looks mor e l i ke a dead cat er pi l l ar t o me. What ' s t he
mat t er , br ot her ? You' r e not goi ng anywher eand you can' t get t her e any mor e,
even i f you t r i ed. "
" What do you mean?"
" You don' t t hi nk you' r e goi ng t o New Yor k, do you?"
" We ar e goi ng t o New Yor k. "
" Then . . . t hen you haven' t hear d?"
" What ?"
" Say, when was t he l ast t i me you spoke t o any of your st at i ons?"
" I don' t know! . . . Hear d what ?"
" That your Taggar t Br i dge i s gone. Gone. Bl ast ed t o bi t s. Sound- r ay
expl osi on or somet hi ng. Nobody knows exact l y. Onl y t her e ai n' t any br i dge any
mor e t o cr oss t he Mi ssi ssi ppi . Ther e ai n' t any New Yor k any mor el east ways,
not f or f ol ks l i ke you and me t o r each. "
Eddi e Wi l l er s di d not know what happened next ; he had f al l en back agai nst
t he si de of t he engi neer ' s chai r , st ar i ng at t he open door of t he mot or uni t ;
he di d not know how l ong he st ayed t her e, but when, at l ast , he t ur ned hi s
head, he saw t hat he was al one. The engi neer and t he f i r eman had l ef t t he
cab. Ther e was a scr ambl e of voi ces out si de, scr eams, sobs, shout ed quest i ons
and t he sound of t he si de- show bar ker ' s l aught er .
Eddi e pul l ed hi msel f t o t he wi ndow of t he cab: t he Comet ' s passenger s and
cr ew wer e cr owdi ng ar ound t he l eader of t he car avan and hi s semi - r agged
compani ons; he was wavi ng hi s l oose ar ms i n gest ur es of command. Some of t he
bet t er - dr essed l adi es f r omt he Comet whose husbands had appar ent l y been f i r st
t o make a deal wer e cl i mbi ng aboar d t he cover ed wagons, sobbi ng and cl ut chi ng
t hei r del i cat e makeup cases.
" St ep r i ght up, f ol ks, st ep r i ght up! " t he bar ker was yel l i ng cheer f ul l y.
" We' l l make r oomf or ever ybody! A bi t cr owded, but movi ngbet t er t han
bei ng l ef t her e f or coyot e f odder ! The day of t he i r on hor se i s past ! Al l we
got i s pl ai n, ol d- f ashi oned hor se! Sl ow, but sur e! "
Eddi e Wi l l er s cl i mbed hal f way down t he l adder on t he si de of t he engi ne,
t o see t he cr owd and t o be hear d. He waved one ar m, hangi ng ont o t he r ungs
wi t h t he ot her . " You' r e not goi ng, ar e you?" he cr i ed t o hi s passenger s.
" You' r e not abandoni ng t he Comet ?"
They dr ew a l i t t l e away f r omhi m, as i f t hey di d not want t o l ook at hi m
or answer . They di d not want t o hear quest i ons t hei r mi nds wer e i ncapabl e of
wei ghi ng. He saw t he bl i nd f aces of pani c.
" What ' s t he mat t er wi t h t he gr ease- monkey?" asked t he bar ker , poi nt i ng at
Eddi e.
" Mr . Wi l l er s, " sai d t he conduct or sof t l y, " i t ' s no use . . . "
" Don' t abandon t he Comet ! " cr i ed Eddi e Wi l l er s. " Don' t l et i t go! Oh God,
don' t l et i t go! "
" Ar e you cr azy?" cr i ed t he bar ker . " You' ve no i dea what ' s goi ng on at your
r ai l r oad st at i ons and headquar t er s! They' r e r unni ng ar ound l i ke a pack of
chi ckens wi t h t hei r heads cut of f ! I don' t t hi nk t her e' s goi ng t o be a
r ai l r oad l ef t i n busi ness t hi s si de of t he Mi ssi ssi ppi , by t omor r ow mor ni ng! "
" Bet t er come al ong, Mr . Wi l l er s, " sai d t he conduct or .
" No! " cr i ed Eddi e, cl ut chi ng t he met al r ung as i f he want ed hi s hand t o
gr ow f ast t o i t .
The bar ker shr ugged. " Wel l , i t ' s your f uner al ! "
" Whi ch way ar e you goi ng?" asked t he engi neer , not l ooki ng at Eddi e.
" J ust goi ng, br ot her ! J ust l ooki ng f or some pl ace t o st op . . . somewher e.
We' r e f r omI mper i al Val l ey, Cal i f or ni a. The ' Peopl e' s Par t y'
cr owd gr abbed t he cr ops and any f ood we had i n t he cel l ar s. Hoar di ng, t hey
cal l ed i t . So we j ust pi cked up and went . Got t o t r avel by ni ght , on account
of t he Washi ngt on cr owd. . . . We' r e j ust l ooki ng f or some pl ace t o l i ve. . .
. You' r e wel come t o come al ong, buddy, i f you' ve got no homeor el se we can
dr op you of f cl oser t o some t own or anot her . "
The men of t hat car avant hought Eddi e i ndi f f er ent l yl ooked t oo mean- mi nded
t o become t he f ounder s of a secr et , f r ee set t l ement , and not mean- mi nded
enough t o become a gang of r ai der s; t hey had no mor e dest i nat i on t o f i nd t han
t he mot i onl ess beamof t he headl i ght ; and, l i ke t hat beam, t hey woul d
di ssol ve somewher e i n t he empt y st r et ches of t he count r y.
He st ayed on t he l adder , l ooki ng up at t he beam. He di d not wat ch whi l e
t he l ast men ever t o r i de t he Taggar t Comet wer e t r ansf er r ed t o t he cover ed
wagons.
The conduct or went l ast . " Mr . Wi l l er s! " he cal l ed desper at el y.
" Come al ong! "
" No, " sai d Eddi e.
The si de- show bar ker waved hi s ar mi n an upwar d sweep at Eddi e' s f i gur e on
t he si de of t he engi ne above t hei r heads. " I hope you know what you' r e
doi ng! " he cr i ed, hi s voi ce hal f - t hr eat , hal f - pl ea. " Maybe somebody wi l l come
t hi s way t o pi ck you upnext week or next mont h! Maybe! Who' s goi ng t o, t hese
days?"
" Get away f r omher e, " sai d Eddi e Wi l l er s.
He cl i mbed back i nt o t he cabwhen t he wagons j er ked f or war d and went
swayi ng and cr eaki ng of f i nt o t he ni ght . He sat i n t he engi neer ' s chai r of a
mot i onl ess engi ne, hi s f or ehead pr essed t o t he usel ess t hr ot t l e.
He f el t l i ke t he capt ai n of an ocean l i ner i n di st r ess, who pr ef er r ed t o
go down wi t h hi s shi p r at her t han be saved by t he canoe of savages t aunt i ng
hi mwi t h t he super i or i t y of t hei r cr af t .
Then, suddenl y, he f el t t he bl i ndi ng sur ge of a desper at e, r i ght eous
anger . He l eaped t o hi s f eet , sei zi ng t he t hr ot t l e. He had t o st ar t t hi s
t r ai n; i n t he name of some vi ct or y t hat he coul d not name, he had t o st ar t
t he engi ne, movi ng, Past t he st age of t hi nki ng, cal cul at i on or f ear , moved by
some r i ght eous def i ance, he was pul l i ng l ever s at r andom, he was j er ki ng t he
t hr ot t l e back and f or t h, he was st eppi ng on t he dead man' s pedal , whi ch was
dead, he was gr opi ng t o di st i ngui sh t he f or mof some vi si on t hat seemed bot h
di st ant and cl ose, knowi ng onl y t hat hi s desper at e bat t l e was f ed by t hat
vi si on and was f ought f or i t s sake.
Don' t l et i t go! hi s mi nd was cr yi ngwhi l e he was seei ng t he st r eet s of
New Yor kDon' t l et i t go! whi l e he was seei ng t he l i ght s of r ai l r oad si gnal s
Don' t l et i t go! whi l e he was seei ng t he smoke r i si ng pr oudl y f r omf act or y
chi mneys, whi l e he was st r uggl i ng t o cut t hr ough t he smoke and r each t he
vi si on at t he r oot of t hese vi si ons.
He was pul l i ng at coi l s of wi r e, he was l i nki ng t hemand t ear i ng t hem
apar t whi l e t he sudden sense of sunr ays and pi ne t r ees kept pul l i ng at t he
cor ner s of hi s mi nd. Dagny! he hear d hi msel f cr yi ng soundl essl y
Dagny, i n t he name of t he best wi t hi n us! . . . He was j er ki ng at f ut i l e
l ever s and at a t hr ot t l e t hat had not hi ng t o move. . . . Dagny! he was cr yi ng
t o a t wel ve- year - ol d gi r l i n a sunl i t cl ear i ng of t he woods
i n t he name of t he best wi t hi n us, I must now st ar t t hi s t r ai n! . . .
Dagny, t hat i s what i t was . . . and you knew i t , t hen, but I di dn' t . . .
you knew i t when you t ur ned t o l ook at t he r ai l s. . . . I sai d, " not busi ness
or ear ni ng a l i vi ng" . . . but , Dagny, busi ness and ear ni ng a l i vi ng and t hat
i n man whi ch makes i t possi bl et hat i s t he best wi t hi n us, t hat was t he t hi ng
t o def end . . . i n t he name of savi ng i t , Dagny, I must now st ar t t hi s t r ai n.
. . .
When he f ound t hat he had col l apsed on t he f l oor of t he cab and knew t hat
t her e was not hi ng he coul d do her e any l onger , he r ose and he cl i mbed down
t he l adder , t hi nki ng di ml y of t he engi ne' s wheel s, even t hough he knew t hat
t he engi neer had checked t hem. He f el t t he cr unch of t he deser t dust under
hi s f eet when he l et hi msel f dr op t o t he gr ound. He st ood st i l l and, i n t he
enor mous si l ence, he hear d t he r ust l e of t umbl eweeds st i r r i ng i n t he
dar kness, l i ke t he chuckl e of an i nvi si bl e ar my made f r ee t o move when t he
Comet was not . He hear d a shar per r ust l e cl ose byand he saw t he smal l gr ay
shape of a r abbi t r i se on i t s haunches t o sni f f at t he st eps of a car of t he
Taggar t Comet . Wi t h a j ol t of mur der ous f ur y, he l unged i n t he di r ect i on of
t he r abbi t , as i f he coul d def eat t he advance of t he enemy i n t he per son of
t hat t i ny gr ay f or m. The r abbi t dar t ed of f i nt o t he dar knessbut he knew t hat
t he advance was not t o be def eat ed.
He st epped t o t he f r ont of t he engi ne and l ooked up at t he l et t er s TT.
Then he col l apsed acr oss t he r ai l and l ay sobbi ng at t he f oot of t he engi ne,
wi t h t he beamof a mot i onl ess headl i ght above hi mgoi ng of f i nt o a l i mi t l ess
ni ght .
The musi c of Ri char d Hal l ey' s Fi f t h Concer t o st r eamed f r omhi s keyboar d,
past t he gl ass of t he wi ndow, and spr ead t hr ough t he ai r , over t he l i ght s of
t he val l ey. I t was a symphony of t r i umph. The not es f l owed up, t hey spoke of
r i si ng and t hey wer e t he r i si ng i t sel f , t hey wer e t he essence and t he f or mof
upwar d mot i on, t hey seemed t o embody ever y human act and t hought t hat had
ascent as i t s mot i ve. I t was a sunbur st of sound, br eaki ng out of hi di ng and
spr eadi ng open. I t had t he f r eedomof r el ease and t he t ensi on of pur pose. I t
swept space cl ean and l ef t not hi ng but t he j oy of an unobst r uct ed ef f or t .
Onl y a f ai nt echo wi t hi n t he sounds spoke of t hat f r omwhi ch t he musi c had
escaped, but spoke i n l aughi ng ast oni shment at t he di scover y t hat t her e was
no ugl i ness or pai n, and t her e never had had t o be. I t was t he song of an
i mmense del i ver ance.
The l i ght s of t he val l ey f el l i n gl owi ng pat ches on t he snow st i l l
cover i ng t he gr ound. Ther e wer e shel ves of snow on t he gr ani t e l edges and on
t he heavy l i mbs of t he pi nes. But t he naked br anches of t he bi r ch t r ees had a
f ai nt l y upwar d t hr ust , as i f i n conf i dent pr omi se of t he comi ng l eaves of
spr i ng.
The r ect angl e of l i ght on t he si de of a mount ai n was t he wi ndow of
Mul l i gan' s st udy. Mi das Mul l i gan sat at hi s desk, wi t h a map and a col umn of
f i gur es bef or e hi m. He was l i st i ng t he asset s of hi s bank and wor ki ng on a
pl an of pr oj ect ed i nvest ment s. He was not i ng down t he l ocat i ons he was
choosi ng: " New Yor kCl evel andChi cago . . . New Yor kPhi l adel phi a . . . New
Yor k . . . New Yor k . . . New Yor k . . . "
The r ect angl e of l i ght at t he bot t omof t he val l ey was t he wi ndow of
Danneskj ol d' s home. Kay Ludl ow sat bef or e a mi r r or , t hought f ul l y st udyi ng t he
shades of f i l mmake- up, spr ead open i n a bat t er ed case.
Ragnar Danneskj ol d l ay st r et ched on a couch, r eadi ng a vol ume of t he wor ks
of Ar i st ot l e: " . . . f or t hese t r ut hs hol d good f or ever yt hi ng t hat i s, and
not f or some speci al genus apar t f r omot her s. And al l men use t hem, because
t hey ar e t r ue of bei ng qua bei ng. . . . For a pr i nci pl e whi ch ever y one must
have who under st ands anyt hi ng t hat i s, i s not a hypot hesi s. . . . Evi dent l y
t hen such a pr i nci pl e i s t he most cer t ai n of al l ; whi ch pr i nci pl e t hi s i s,
l et us pr oceed t o say. I t i s, t hat t he same at t r i but e cannot at t he same t i me
bel ong and not bel ong t o t he same subj ect i n t he same r espect . . . "
The r ect angl e of l i ght i n t he acr es of a f ar mwas t he wi ndow of t he
l i br ar y of J udge Nar r aganset t . He sat at a t abl e, and t he l i ght of hi s l amp
f el l on t he copy of an anci ent document . He had mar ked and cr ossed out t he
cont r adi ct i ons i n i t s st at ement s t hat had once been t he cause of i t s
dest r uct i on. He was now addi ng a new cl ause t o i t s pages: " Congr ess shal l
make no l aw abr i dgi ng t he f r eedomof pr oduct i on and t r ade . . . "
The r ect angl e of l i ght i n t he mi dst of a f or est was t he wi ndow of t he
cabi n of Fr anci sco d' Anconi a. Fr anci sco l ay st r et ched on t he f l oor , by t he
danci ng t ongues of a f i r e, bent over sheet s of paper , compl et i ng t he dr awi ng
of hi s smel t er . Hank Rear den and El l i s Wyat t sat by t he f i r epl ace. " J ohn wi l l
desi gn t he new l ocomot i ves, " Rear den was sayi ng, " and Dagny wi l l r un t he
f i r st r ai l r oad bet ween New Yor k and Phi l adel phi a. She" And, suddenl y, on
hear i ng t he next sent ence, Fr anci sco t hr ew hi s head up and bur st out
l aughi ng, a l aught er of gr eet i ng, t r i umph and r el ease. They coul d not hear
t he musi c of Hal l ey' s Fi f t h Concer t o now f l owi ng somewher e hi gh above t he
r oof , but Fr anci sco' s l aught er mat ched i t s sounds. Cont ai ned i n t he sent ence
he had hear d, Fr anci sco was seei ng t he sunl i ght of spr i ng on t he open l awns
of homes acr oss t he count r y, he was seei ng t he spar kl e of mot or s, he was
seei ng t he gl ow of t he st eel i n t he r i si ng f r ames of new skyscr aper s, he was
seei ng t he eyes of yout h l ooki ng at t he f ut ur e wi t h no uncer t ai nt y or f ear .
The sent ence Rear den had ut t er ed was: " She wi l l pr obabl y t r y t o t ake t he
shi r t of f my back wi t h t he f r ei ght r at es she' s goi ng t o char ge, but I l l be
abl e t o meet t hem. "
The f ai nt gl i t t er of l i ght weavi ng sl owl y t hr ough space, on t he hi ghest
accessi bl e l edge of a mount ai n, was t he st ar l i ght on t he st r ands of Gal t ' s
hai r . He st ood l ooki ng, not at t he val l ey bel ow, but at t he dar kness of t he
wor l d beyond i t s wal l s. Dagny' s hand r est ed on hi s shoul der , and t he wi nd
bl ew her hai r t o bl end wi t h hi s. She knew why he had want ed t o wal k t hr ough
t he mount ai ns t oni ght and what he had st opped t o consi der . She knew what
wor ds wer e hi s t o speak and t hat she woul d be f i r st t o hear t hem.
They coul d not see t he wor l d beyond t he mount ai ns, t her e was onl y a voi d
of dar kness and r ock, but t he dar kness was hi di ng t he r ui ns of a cont i nent :
t he r oof l ess homes, t he r ust i ng t r act or s, t he l i ght l ess st r eet s, t he
abandoned r ai l . But f ar i n t he di st ance, on t he edge of t he ear t h, a smal l
f l ame was wavi ng i n t he wi nd, t he def i ant l y st ubbor n f l ame of Wyat t ' s Tor ch,
t wi st i ng, bei ng t or n and r egai ni ng i t s hol d, not t o be upr oot ed or
ext i ngui shed. I t seemed t o be cal l i ng and wai t i ng f or t he wor ds J ohn Gal t was
now t o pr onounce.
" The r oad i s cl ear ed, " sai d Gal t . " We ar e goi ng back t o t he wor l d. "
He r ai sed hi s hand and over t he desol at e ear t h he t r aced i n space t he si gn
of t he dol l ar .

THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

" My per sonal l i f e, " says Ayn Rand, " i s a post scr i pt t o my novel s; i t
consi st s of t he sent ence: ' And I mean i t . ' I have al ways l i ved by t he
phi l osophy I pr esent i n my booksand i t has wor ked f or me, as i t wor ks f or
my char act er s. The concr et es di f f er , t he abst r act i ons ar e t he same.
" I deci ded t o be a wr i t er at t he age of ni ne, and ever yt hi ng I have done
was i nt egr at ed t o t hat pur pose. I aman Amer i can by choi ce and convi ct i on. I
was bor n i n Eur ope, but I came t o Amer i ca because t hi s was t he count r y based
on my mor al pr emi ses and t he onl y count r y wher e one coul d be f ul l y f r ee t o
wr i t e. I came her e al one, af t er gr aduat i ng f r oma Eur opean col l ege. I had a
di f f i cul t st r uggl e, ear ni ng my l i vi ng at odd j obs, unt i l I coul d make a
f i nanci al success of my wr i t i ng. No one hel ped me, nor di d I t hi nk at any
t i me t hat i t was anyone' s dut y t o hel p me.
" I n col l ege, I had t aken hi st or y as my maj or subj ect , and phi l osophy as my
speci al i nt er est ; t he f i r st i n or der t o have a f act ual knowl edge of men' s
past , f or my f ut ur e wr i t i ng; t he secondi n or der t o achi eve an obj ect i ve
def i ni t i on of my val ues. I f ound t hat t he f i r st coul d be l ear ned, but t he
second had t o be done by me.
" I have hel d t he same phi l osophy I now hol d, f or as f ar back as I can
r emember . I have l ear ned a gr eat deal t hr ough t he year s and expanded my
knowl edge of det ai l s, of speci f i c i ssues, of def i ni t i ons, of appl i cat i onsand
I i nt end t o cont i nue expandi ng i t but I have never had t o change any of my
f undament al s. My phi l osophy, i n essence, i s t he concept of man as a her oi c
bei ng, wi t h hi s own happi ness as t he mor al pur pose of hi s l i f e, wi t h
pr oduct i ve achi evement as hi s nobl est act i vi t y, and r eason as hi s onl y
absol ut e.
" The onl y phi l osophi cal debt I can acknowl edge i s t o Ar i st ot l e. I most
emphat i cal l y di sagr ee wi t h a gr eat many par t s of hi s phi l osophybut hi s
def i ni t i on of t he l aws of l ogi c and of t he means of human knowl edge i s so
gr eat an achi evement t hat hi s er r or s ar e i r r el evant by compar i son. You wi l l
f i nd my t r i but e t o hi mi n t he t i t l es of t he t hr ee par t s of ATLAS SHRUGGED.
" My ot her acknowl edgment i s on t he dedi cat i on page of t hi s novel . I knew
what val ues of char act er I want ed t o f i nd i n a man. I met such a manand we
have been mar r i ed f or t went y- ei ght year s. Hi s name i s Fr ank O' Connor .
" To al l t he r eader s who di scover ed The Fount ai nhead and asked me many
quest i ons about t he wi der appl i cat i on of i t s i deas, I want t o say t hat I am
answer i ng t hese quest i ons i n t he pr esent novel and t hat The Fount ai nhead was
onl y an over t ur e t o ATLAS SHRUGGED.
" I t r ust t hat no one wi l l t el l me t hat men such as I wr i t e about don' t
exi st . That t hi s book has been wr i t t enand publ i shedi s my pr oof t hat t hey
do. "

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