Changes

== Death ==

== Death ==

Robert Stadler did not wait to see what the authorities would do next. He jumped into his [[automobile]] and drove across country, toward Iowa and the site of Project X. As he drove, he heard that the authorities had managed to negotiate with Galt, and that those negotiations had produced "The John Galt Plan," which they would announce at an upcoming broadcast from the grand ballroom of the Wayne-Falkland. Stadler tuned this program in, but even before John Galt said, "Get...out of my way," and the broadcast was cut off, Stadler knew how it would end.

Robert Stadler jumped into his [[automobile]] and drove across country, toward Iowa and Harmony City, which was the Project X campus. As he drove, he heard that the authorities had managed to negotiate with Galt, and that those negotiations had produced "The John Galt Plan," which they would announce at an upcoming broadcast from the grand ballroom of the Wayne-Falkland. Stadler tuned this program in, but even before John Galt said, "Get...out of my way," and the broadcast was cut off, Stadler knew how it would end.

Stadler drove on, muttering to himself, "I'll show them. I'll show them." His intention was to seize control of Project X and rule the area of its influence as his private feudal domain. He had no plan in mind of how to make this happen, other than to walk onto the project campus, drop his name, and start barking out orders.

Stadler drove on, muttering to himself, "I'll show them. I'll show them." He was going to seize control of Project X and rule the area of its influence as his private feudal domain. He had no plan in mind of how to make this happen, other than to walk into Harmony City, drop his name, and start barking out orders.

He arrived at the Project site to find it occupied by the sort of persons, commonly called "goons," with whom he had never before had the misfortune to deal. In a blustering, imperious tone, he demanded entry and was admitted. He would repeat his name, thinking that his name alone would open doors for him. Yet no one seemed to know his name, a situation that angered him. At every step, he found himself demanding to see the next higher person in command, and kept trying to assert his own authority:{{cquote|I'm the boss around here. I give the orders. I'm Dr. Robert Stadler, and if you don't know ''that'' name in ''this'' place, you've got no business being here.}}

He arrived at Harmony City to find it occupied by the sort of persons, commonly called "goons," with whom he had never before had the misfortune to deal. In a blustering, imperious tone, he demanded entry and was admitted. He would repeat his name, thinking that his name alone would open doors for him. Yet no one seemed to know his name, a situation that angered him. At every step, he found himself demanding to see the next higher person in command, and kept trying to assert his own authority:{{cquote|I'm the boss around here. I give the orders. I'm Dr. Robert Stadler, and if you don't know ''that'' name in ''this'' place, you've got no business being here.}}

Then it hit him: these men had taken the project over for themselves! Incredulous, he asked sarcastically whether these untrained and uneducated men actually thought that they could "handle a high-precision instrument of science." Then he demanded to see the leader of what he now regarded as he would any gang of robbers or burglars.

Then it hit him: these men had taken the project over for themselves! Incredulous, he asked sarcastically whether these untrained and uneducated men actually thought that they could "handle a high-precision instrument of science." Then he demanded to see the leader of what he now regarded as he would any gang of robbers or burglars.

Stadler was even more appalled. As he spoke, he realized that he had sold his soul, and also realized that Cuffy Meigs was, in essence, here to collect it. In a last gesture of defiance, Stadler roared at Meigs not to touch the levers and tried to push him away from them. Meigs knocked Stadler down and then yanked a lever at random.

Stadler was even more appalled. As he spoke, he realized that he had sold his soul, and also realized that Cuffy Meigs was, in essence, here to collect it. In a last gesture of defiance, Stadler roared at Meigs not to touch the levers and tried to push him away from them. Meigs knocked Stadler down and then yanked a lever at random.

The result was catastrophic. The Xylophone, activated at full gain, destroyed itself, its own blockhouse, Stadler, Meigs, Meigs' crew, and every structure within a hundred miles. Stadler would never know it, but every man, woman and child in that radius was killed almost instantly—and, worst of all, the [[Taggart Bridge]] across the [[Mississippi River]] was cut in half.

The result was catastrophic. The Xylophone, activated at full gain, destroyed itself, its own blockhouse, Stadler, Meigs, Meigs' crew, Harmony City, and every structure within a hundred miles. This included the flattening of [[Des Moines]] and Fort Dodge in [[Iowa]], Austin, [[Minnesota]], Woodman, [[Wisconsin]], and [[Rock Island]], [[Illinois]]. Stadler would never know it, but every man, woman and child in that radius was killed almost instantly—and, worst of all, the [[Taggart Bridge]] across the [[Mississippi River]] was cut in half.

Robert Stadler survived the initial blast, only to die in agony within about five minutes.

Robert Stadler survived the initial blast, only to die in agony within about five minutes.