Romantic revelations (and more rough sex)

Atlas Shrugged – Day 058 – pp. 639-648

The romantic moment of truth has finally arrived!

Hank demands to know what Francisco’s doing there.

Francisco’s seen the key in Hank’s hand. He knows what he’s doing there.

“I see that I have no right to ask you the same question,” said Francisco.

Dagny tries to intervene, but Frisco’s a big boy.

“There is only one answer which you would have the right to demand,” said Francisco, “so I will answer you that that is not the reason of my presence here.”

(She can’t just say “Listen, it’s not what you think.” ???)

Hank doesn’t believe him. Past disappointments have put him on the defensive.

What’s he doing there? He’s either trying to nail Dagny or tricking her into some business betrayal.

Of course, we know better. We also know that he can’t say anything. And this creates some great dramatic tension. But we’ve been through it before. But I guess the romantic side needs some resolution before we can move forward.

In any case, they’re back and forth about what the hell Francisco’s doing there, and Frisco is all it’s not what you think but I can’t tell you and Hank is all like you expect me to believe you and Francisco’s all leave Dagny out of this. And on they go until Hank realizes something.

“. . .he knew the absence of emotion in Francisco’s face was the strongest evidence of emotion, the evidence of some abnormal effort at control –“

Yep. . .

“Is this the woman you love?”

Francisco answered looking at her, “Yes.”

Rearden’s hand rose and swept down and slapped Francisco’s face.

(You’d think a punch would be more appropriate for these two big alpha males.)

Francisco controls his rage to retaliate. Tense moments in Rand’s prose.

This time it’s Francisco who leaves — with some new information.  (I wonder if he’ll go out and tie on a broken heart drunk.)

But there’s another revelation.

“If there’s something that must be said say it.”

“You wanted to know the name of that other man? The man I slept with. The man who had me first? It was Francisco d’Anconia!”

Guess Hank hadn’t figured the whole story out after all.

Now he looks at her all disgusted and jealous and he’s never wanted it more. Well, let’s see. . .

“. . .she felt her body thrown against him and his mouth falling on hers, more brutally than the act of a beating would have permitted. . . .She found herself, in terror, twisting her body to resist, and, in exultation, twisting her arms around him. . .”

That about sums it up.

(Makes you wonder what date-nights were like at the Rand-O’Connor house.)

Hank’s got it out of his system and confesses a little to Dagny that he’s still got it for Francisco.

Then, a knock at the door. The apartment manager with a letter that was hand delivered. From Quentin Daniels (the motor guy.) He’s quitting too. Won’t work under the terms of directive 10-289.

Dagny’s on the phone in a second trying to get a hold of Daniels. She thinks the destroyer’s coming for him (if he hasn’t already come and gone.)

She says so aloud to Hank.

“Are you beginning to think that they really exist?

“Yes.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am. I’ve met one of them.”

“Who?”

“I’ll tell you later (like Batman, keep that identity secret) I don’t know who their leader is, but I’m going to find out, . . .”

Suddenly Daniels answers the phone. He hasn’t been approached by anybody about anything. Dagny has to talk to him in person. She makes him promise not to go anywhere until she gets there.

So it’s off to Colorado tonight.

Colorado. Wasn’t that where she met Hugh Ankston? Wonder if the big revelation will happen on this trip? We’re close to the end of Chapter 9 and there’s only one more chapter in this section that I can see.

Still, I’m curious. The first part of the book laid out the premise of the novel and showed what the ascendancy of great minds can accomplish. It also showed the looters getting their hooks into everything. Part two saw all the great builders disappear (except for two) and the looters ride their bobsled of social goodness to the bottom of the run. Wonder what happens in part three?

This is getting really good.  I may start doubling up. . .