Changes

The United States government is doing more than pass bad laws. [[Robert Stadler]], director of the [[State Science Institute]], tries to call his associate director on the carpet with regard to a book that tells its readers that they ought to stop thinking or even believe that they are thinking. Stadler also wants to know about a mysterious "[[Project X]]" that has a large budget but no apparent accountability. The associate refuses to answer, and one gathers very quickly that Dr. Stadler is a mere figurehead, chosen for his reputation, and that Dr. [[Floyd Ferris]], the nominal associate, is the real director.

The United States government is doing more than pass bad laws. [[Robert Stadler]], director of the [[State Science Institute]], tries to call his associate director on the carpet with regard to a book that tells its readers that they ought to stop thinking or even believe that they are thinking. Stadler also wants to know about a mysterious "[[Project X]]" that has a large budget but no apparent accountability. The associate refuses to answer, and one gathers very quickly that Dr. Stadler is a mere figurehead, chosen for his reputation, and that Dr. [[Floyd Ferris]], the nominal associate, is the real director.

Meanwhile, Dagny and Rearden each continue as best as he or she can. Yet the political situation continues to worsen. The apparent culmination is Directive 10-289, an attempt to "freeze" the economy in place and forbid people to quit or change their jobs. In response, Dagny announces her resignation and retires to a summer home in the Berkshire Mountains. There she has a visitor: [[Francisco d'Anconia]], a man whom she has known since they both were children. She has come to know Francisco d'Anconia as a mere playboy, but now he reveals that his "playboy" persona has been a careful disguise for his real activity: to destroy his old family firm, so that when the Chilean government nationalizes it, as he predicts that they inevitably will, they will have nothing to work with.

Meanwhile, Dagny and Rearden each continue as best as he or she can. Yet the political situation continues to worsen. The apparent culmination is Directive 10-289, an attempt to "freeze" the economy in place and forbid people to quit or change their jobs. In response, Dagny announces her resignation and retires to a summer home in the Berkshire Mountains. Francisco d'Anconia visits her there. And now he reveals that the "playboy" persona that he has cultivated over the last twelve years has been a careful disguise for his real activity: to destroy his old family firm, so that when the Chilean government nationalizes it, as he predicts that they inevitably will, they will have nothing to work with.

Their conversation is interrupted by a shocking report: a catastrophic explosion involving the Taggart Comet (the premiere coast-to-coast express) and a special ammunition train has collapsed the eight-mile [[Taggart Tunnel]] through the Rocky Mountains. Against Francisco d'Anconia's fervent protests, Dagny returns to work.

Their conversation is interrupted by a shocking report: a catastrophic explosion involving the Taggart Comet (the premiere coast-to-coast express) and a special ammunition train has collapsed the eight-mile [[Taggart Tunnel]] through the Rocky Mountains. Against Francisco d'Anconia's fervent protests, Dagny returns to work.