Changes

On September 7, Rearden took a call from a Washington man (probably Tinky Holloway), telling him that Washington had granted him a certificate of "essential need" for the delivery of oil-based fuels. The only reason the Washington man gave for calling was that the State of California had slapped a surtax of fifty percent on all businesses, and all the California oil companies had folded on the strength of that.

On September 7, Rearden took a call from a Washington man (probably Tinky Holloway), telling him that Washington had granted him a certificate of "essential need" for the delivery of oil-based fuels. The only reason the Washington man gave for calling was that the State of California had slapped a surtax of fifty percent on all businesses, and all the California oil companies had folded on the strength of that.

Soon after that, Henry caught his brother Philip lurking in the mills. Philip startled Henry by applying to him for a job. Henry couldn't begin to understand why his brother, who knew nothing about the steel business, would want a job in Henry's mills. Philip acted as though he were in a position to demand a job from Henry. Naturally Henry refused. Nor was Henry impressed when Philip made a political threat against him.

That evening, Henry caught his brother Philip lurking in the mills. Philip startled Henry by applying to him for a job. Henry couldn't begin to understand why his brother, who knew nothing about the steel business, would want a job in Henry's mills. Philip acted as though he were in a position to demand a job from Henry. Naturally Henry refused. Nor was Henry impressed when Philip made a political threat against him.

Henry did not make a connection between the two events. But he worried, all the same, about why Washington had felt the need to placate him after the California oil disaster.

Henry did not make a connection between the two events. But he worried, all the same, about why Washington had felt the need to placate him after the California oil disaster.

A few days later, Henry Rearden's divorce trial took place. Lillian was not present; why the court chose to conduct those proceedings in the absence of the defendant, Henry did not understand. He and his attorney guessed that the government was planning to spring something on him—what, neither man could guess.

The next day, Henry Rearden's divorce trial took place. Lillian was not present; why the court chose to conduct those proceedings in the absence of the defendant, Henry did not understand. He and his attorney guessed that the government was deliberately "greasing the skids" for his divorce, to make him complacent. They decided that the government planned to spring something on him—what, neither man could guess.

Henry returned to the mills—where "Non-Absolute" told Henry that he wanted to quit his government job and work for Henry directly. Henry almost accepted that offer. But he and the young man realized that the law, or rather Directive 10-289, would not allow it. They also agreed that certain things were happening at the plant that would make the young man much more valuable to Henry in his present position.

Henry returned to the mills—where "Non-Absolute" told Henry that he wanted to quit his government job and work for Henry directly. Henry almost accepted that offer. But he and the young man realized that the law, or rather Directive 10-289, would not allow it. They also agreed that certain things were happening at the plant that would make the young man much more valuable to Henry in his present position.