Changes

Thousands of listeners took John Galt's advice. They could not contact him, so they could not come to Mulligan's Valley. But many of them set up their own versions of Mulligan's Valley, chiefly armed camps in various forests and other "wilderness" regions.

Thousands of listeners took John Galt's advice. They could not contact him, so they could not come to Mulligan's Valley. But many of them set up their own versions of Mulligan's Valley, chiefly armed camps in various forests and other "wilderness" regions.

John Galt now made his almost-fatal mistake. He remained in New York City long enough for Dagny Taggart to come to him. But, unknown to her, she had the [[FBI]] on her tail, and in consequence, John Galt was arrested, as he knew he would be.

John Galt now made his almost-fatal mistake. He could have stayed in Mulligan's Valley and relied on Francisco, or Ragnar, or both to watch for signs that Dagny was ready to quit, and bring her to him. But he had promised Dagny that all she need do was draw a dollar sign in chalk on the plinth of Nathaniel Taggart's statue in the Terminal, and he would come for her that evening. True to his promise, he returned to New York City and stayed long enough for Dagny Taggart to come to him. But, unknown to her, she had the [[FBI]] on her tail, and in consequence, John Galt was arrested, as he knew he would be.

The authorities could not charge him with anything. Instead, President [[Mr. Thompson|Thompson]] tried to urge him to take the post of "Economic Dictator" of the country, a suggestion that Galt found laughable. To illustrate the absurdity of the proposition, Galt said that his first order would be to abolish all income taxes and fire all government employees. Naturally, Thompson rejected those proposals.

The authorities could not charge him with anything. Instead, President [[Mr. Thompson|Thompson]] tried to urge him to take the post of "Economic Dictator" of the country, a suggestion that Galt found laughable. To illustrate the absurdity of the proposition, Galt said that his first order would be to abolish all income taxes and fire all government employees. Naturally, Thompson rejected those proposals.

A number of senior administration officials then tried to plead with Galt, all to no avail. [[Floyd Ferris]] of the [[State Science Institute]] did not plead; he threatened. Specifically he threatened to institute a program of executions of "unproductive citizens," a program he said would be necessary if Galt did not cooperate. [[Mr. Thompson]] was horrified and said that Ferris was not serious. Galt was having none of that. He said, {{cquote|Oh yes, he did mean it. Tell that [illegitimate son] to look at me, and then look in the mirror, and ask himself whether I could ever think that ''my'' moral stature was at the mercy of ''his'' actions.}}

First [[James Taggart]], and then Chick Morrison tried to plead with Galt, to no avail. [[Floyd Ferris]] of the [[State Science Institute]] did not plead; he threatened. Specifically he threatened to institute a program of executions of "unproductive citizens," a program he said would be necessary if Galt did not cooperate. [[Mr. Thompson]] was horrified and said that Ferris was not serious. Galt was having none of that. He said, {{cquote|Oh yes, he did mean it. Tell that [illegitimate son] to look at me, and then look in the mirror, and ask himself whether I could ever think that ''my'' moral stature was at the mercy of ''his'' actions.}}

The last person to see Galt, and this at Galt's seemingly incongruous request, was his former chairman of [[physics]] at PHU, Dr. [[Robert Stadler]], now the (nominal) Director of the State Science Institute. Galt said nothing; he merely allowed Stadler to babble at him about how much he wanted a laboratory and what he could have done with it. But Stadler talked too much, and revealed his conclusion that Galt was now the man who had to be destroyed. Stadler tried to take that back, but Galt said to him, {{cquote|You have said everything that I wanted to say to you.}}

The last person to see Galt, and this at Galt's seemingly incongruous request, was his former chairman of [[physics]] at PHU, Dr. [[Robert Stadler]], now the (nominal) Director of the State Science Institute. Galt said nothing; he merely allowed Stadler to babble at him about how much he wanted a laboratory and what he could have done with it. But Stadler talked too much, and revealed his conclusion that Galt was now the man who had to be destroyed. Stadler tried to take that back, but Galt said to him, {{cquote|You have said everything that I wanted to say to you.}}

Finally, the authorities put on a television show and announced a new "John Galt Plan for Peace and Prosperity," and ordered Galt (at the point of a gun) to dress for the occasion and appear on camera. Galt cooperated until at last the time came for him to speak. And then, moving swiftly enough that the viewers could not miss the gun aimed at him, he rushed to the on-stage podium and said, {{cquote|Get...out of my way.}}

The authorities left him in solitary confinement in the Royal Suite of the Wayne-Falkland for another three days. Then they put on a television show and announced a new "John Galt Plan for Peace and Prosperity," and ordered Galt (at the point of a gun) to dress for the occasion and appear on camera. Galt cooperated until at last the time came for him to speak. And then, moving swiftly enough that the viewers could not miss the gun aimed at him, he rushed to the on-stage podium and said, {{cquote|Get...out of my way.}}

The authorities stopped the show immediately and then took Galt to the headquarters of the State Science Institute. They then tried to examine him under torture by electric shock—but Galt was prepared for it, and knew in advance that they would not dare deliver to him a lethal shock.

The authorities stopped the show immediately and then took Galt to the [[New Hampshire]] campus of the State Science Institute. They then tried to examine him under torture by electric shock—but Galt was prepared for it, and knew in advance that they would not dare deliver to him a lethal shock.

Then the electroshock generator broke down, and the operator could not repair it. John Galt himself gave the diagnosis of the trouble and suggested a repair, and the rich irony of the situation caused the operator to flee in terror. The three interrogators also fled, after one of them ([[James Taggart]]) cried out that he wanted "to make him scream," and then screamed himself, now that he realized exactly what sort of man he had become.

Then the electroshock generator broke down, and the operator could not repair it. John Galt himself gave the diagnosis of the trouble and suggested a repair, and the rich irony of the situation caused the operator to flee in terror. The three interrogators also fled, after one of them ([[James Taggart]]) cried out that he wanted "to make him scream," and then screamed himself, now that he realized exactly what sort of man he had become.