Atlas Shrugged – Day 056 – pp. 549-558
Taggart says he can deliver Hank. That’s some valuable information according to Wesley Mouch.
I should think so.
And immediately on the tail of that nugget, Taggart has another idea. . .
Before they put the Directive into effect and freeze prices, Jimmy thinks perhaps they should discuss a small raise in rail rates. Wesley says they can talk about it.
That was masterfully played.
Then at the end of the meeting, Amalgamated Labor poses an interesting question…
“Say, . . . how is the emergency to end if everything is to stand still?”
This from the guy without a college education. Any comeback for that? What am I thinking. . .
“Don’t be theoretical,” said Mouch impatiently. “We’ve got to deal with the situation of the moment.”
And then as if to add a post script to the section, Kinnan asks,
“It says that all wages, prices, salaries, dividends, profits and so forth will be frozen on the date of the directive. Taxes , too?”
“Oh no!” cried Mouch. “How can we tell what funds we’ll need in the future?”
Indeed.
Cut to a couple weeks forward in Dagny’s office. She wakes up on he couch. Worked all night and wound up sleeping there.
Her first call of the morning is from Francisco.
“How do you like the new suspension?”
“What suspension?”
“The moratorium on brains.”
Directive 10-289 has been put into effect. Eddie brings her the newspaper with the story.
She reads it. Twists it into a roll. Calmly walks to Jim’s office and throws it in his face.
“There’s my resignation, Jim. . . . I won’t work a s slave or as a slave-driver.”
She tells Eddie she’s gone. He wishes he had the courage to go with her. Then she calls Hank and tells him. She’s going to a cabin she owns in the Berkshires. Only Eddie will know where she is. Hank understands. He’ll come for her.
And with that, the last functioning asset of Taggart Trans walked out.
Now cut to Rearden Steel.
“The first man to quit at Rearden Steel Was Tom Colby, rolling mill foreman. . . When Tom Colby told him that he was quitting, Rearden nodded, with out comment or question.”
Then there’s the matter of the “gift certificate.” The G’ll be coming for the recipe for Rearden Metal. Hank is adamant they’ll never get it.
And for two weeks after the passing of the directive, no one would speak to Hank on the subject.
Finally on the morning of May 15, Dr. Floyd Ferris came to see Hank. Without an appointment.
“Since the deadline for the signing of the national Gift Certificates expires tonight at midnight,. . . I have come to obtain your signature, Mr. Rearden.”
They want to get his signature early in the day so they can announce it on the news. So everyone can see, as proof of their ultimate power (or moral righteousness?), the last man standing has finally given in to them. So that any last hold-outs looking to follow Hank’s lead, will instantly cave as well.
Hank see that Dr F’s not beating around the bush. His candor and frankness indicate both barrels are loaded and the hammers are cocked.
“You would not have come here unless you had some extraordinary kind of black-hack to use on me. What is it?”
“Of course,” said Dr. Ferris “I would expect you to understand that. That is why no lengthy explanations are necessary.” He opened his briefcase. “Do you wish to see my blackjack? I have brought a few samples.”
Can Dr F swing a big enough stick? Did Jimmy T get all the dirt on Hank? Will he give up his own sister to force Rearden’s hand? And will this cement his position in the national looters club of America?
We’ll see…