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Line 103: − + − + + + + + − Henry Rearden followed Francisco's direction and set out for the Gulch. Francisco then told all of Rearden's regulars that Rearden had now chosen to "vanish" from the world. All of them decided to do the same thing, with the result that Henry Rearden's mills fell silent for the first time since their founding.+ + +
→The conquest of Henry Rearden
Francisco signed that message with all his names in full.
Francisco signed that message with all his names in full.
Then he applied for a job at Rearden Steel, not under his true name, but under the name of Frank Adams. He signed on as a furnace foreman. He learned quickly that the Unification Board was moving several workers into the plant who had no experience in a steel mill, and that they planned to start a riot to coincide with a conference that several members of the Bureau had scheduled, to which they "invited" Henry Rearden. At that conference, they would explain the Steel Unification Plan, under which all the steelmakers of the country would work "as a team" and be paid according to the blast furnaces they owned, regardless of productivity (or lack of it).
Then he applied for a job at Rearden Steel, not under his true name, but under the name of Frank Adams. He signed on as a furnace foreman. He learned quickly that the Unification Board was moving several workers into the plant who had no experience in a steel mill. When he had decamped from Chile for the last time, he had taken several of his best white- and blue-collar workers with him. He presumably brought one of these into Rearden Steel to back him up against whatever act of violence might break out.
Francisco organized the regular employees as a [[militia]] to fight the rioters when the riots broke out. Henry Rearden returned to the mills when the riots were in their full fury, and Francisco had to intervene personally to rescue Rearden from two thugs who had clubbed Rearden senseless.
Sure enough, on October 20, the pressure campaign began. The union at the plant petitioned the Unification Board for a raise. Three days later, the Board turned them down. Then the newspapers brought out sob story after sob story about the workers at Rearden Steel. Francisco knew exactly what was going on, and alerted John to be ready to move at a minute's notice to get Hank Rearden out. When, on October 31, the [[Internal Revenue Service]] slapped a phony tax lien on Rearden, Francisco knew that the storm could break at any time.
On the afternoon of November 4, he learned the final details of the plot against Rearden. Five government men would meet Rearden in New York, and explain the Steel Unification Plan, under which all the steelmakers of the country would work "as a team" and be paid according to the blast furnaces they owned, regardless of productivity (or lack of it). On that very day, a riot would break out at the plant, to try to intimidate Rearden into accepting the Plan.
Francisco got word to John Galt that he should get to the Reading Airport at once and prepare to break out Rearden's plane for a flight to the Gulch. He then went straight to the mills superintendent with what he knew about the riot to come. The super tried to get help from the police, but none was forthcoming. So Francisco organized the regular employees as a [[militia]] to fight the rioters when the riots broke out. Henry Rearden returned to the mills when the riots were in their full fury, and Francisco had to intervene personally to rescue Rearden from two thugs who had clubbed Rearden senseless.
After Rearden recovered, Francisco went to see Rearden in his office. At last Rearden was ready to hear Francisco's great secret, and to follow Francisco wherever he led him. Rearden thanked him profusely and, as a sign of friendship, called Francisco by his first name. Francisco, in turn, called Rearden by his short name, "Hank."
After Rearden recovered, Francisco went to see Rearden in his office. At last Rearden was ready to hear Francisco's great secret, and to follow Francisco wherever he led him. Rearden thanked him profusely and, as a sign of friendship, called Francisco by his first name. Francisco, in turn, called Rearden by his short name, "Hank."
Francisco summoned his assistant to drive Rearden back to his apartment, and then to the Reading Airport. He instructed Rearden to take everything ''objectively'' valuable that he could carry, and take some warm clothing. Rearden followed his instructions and let the assistant help him.
Francisco then told all of Rearden's regulars that Rearden had now chosen to "vanish" from the world. He flew five of them, in his own aircraft, to the Gulch, and arranged for the others to follow him there on the ground. With the result that Henry Rearden's mills fell silent for the first time since their founding.
== The rescue of John Galt ==
== The rescue of John Galt ==