Changes

The next day, Galt left the valley for New York City. Francisco d'Anconia and Ragnar Danneskjold tried to talk him out of it, but to no avail. Rearden knew better than to try. He knew why Galt was going back to the outer world: Dagny.

The next day, Galt left the valley for New York City. Francisco d'Anconia and Ragnar Danneskjold tried to talk him out of it, but to no avail. Rearden knew better than to try. He knew why Galt was going back to the outer world: Dagny.

Months passed with no news, except for the fire at Rearden Steel on January 22. Then, in the middle of February, John Galt was arrested. Somehow Dagny had been involved. Henry was probably not inclined to believe that Dagny would deliberately betray John Galt to the authorities. Surely she was acting at Galt's own suggestion, so that she would not come to harm. (Henry would probably hear the truth of the matter from Galt himself later on.)

Months passed with no news, except for the steady gazette of news about the decline of Rearden Steel, and the fire that closed it for good on January 22. Then, in the middle of February, John Galt was arrested. Somehow Dagny had been involved. Henry was probably not inclined to believe that Dagny would deliberately betray John Galt to the authorities. Surely she was acting at Galt's own suggestion, so that she would not come to harm. (Henry would probably hear the truth of the matter from Galt himself later on.)

The news of Galt's arrest electrified, astounded, and angered every man in the valley. By now, [[Ragnar Danneskjold]] had hidden his old pirate vessel and had mustered out his crew to build their own homes in the valley. Now, Danneskjold organized a militia to attempt to rescue Galt. The valley had planes enough to transport half the men, and so Danneskjold took off for New York City with a sizeable air force, and half the male population of the valley as commandoes. Hank Rearden served as Danneskjold's aide, while Francisco served as his "G-2," or chief of intelligence.

The news of Galt's arrest electrified, astounded, and angered every man in the valley. By now, [[Ragnar Danneskjold]] had hidden his old pirate vessel and had mustered out his crew to build their own homes in the valley. Now, Danneskjold organized a militia to attempt to rescue Galt. The valley had planes enough to transport half the men, and so Danneskjold took off for New York City with a sizeable air force, and half the male population of the valley as commandoes. Hank Rearden served as Danneskjold's aide, while Francisco served as his "G-2," or chief of intelligence.

When the authorities announced the drafting of "The John Galt Plan for Peace and Prosperity," Francisco guessed that the time would soon come for them to make their move. He had reached Dagny and instructed her to watch the men now holding Galt and to call Francisco at once if anything threatened him.

When the authorities announced the drafting of "The John Galt Plan for Peace and Prosperity," Francisco guessed that the time would soon come for them to make their move. He had reached Dagny and instructed her to watch the men now holding Galt and to call Francisco at once if anything threatened him.

Sure enough, the authorities planned a [[television]] special to announce their plan. But in the middle of that show, John Galt moved deftly enough to demonstrate that someone was pointing a gun at him, and said,{{cquote|Get...out of my way.}}

Sure enough, the authorities planned a [[television]] special to announce their plan. But in the middle of that show, John Galt moved deftly enough to demonstrate that someone was pointing a gun at him, and said,{{cquote|Get...out of my way.}}

Very shortly thereafter, Francisco got the call he was waiting for. Dagny told them that the authorities would now transport Galt to the campus of the [[State Science Institute]] in New Hampshire (probably on the present grounds of the United States Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, near the town of Lyme) and there put him to some kind of torture. The air militia had to scramble to get their planes in the air, from hidden landing areas, which is why they would not reach the Institute for hours. Dagny then gave them this shocking piece of news: the famous Taggart Bridge at Bedford, [[Illinois]], the only railroad bridge that crossed the [[Mississippi River]], had been cut in half by a malfunction at the mysterious [[Project X]]. Only then would Henry have learned the nature of the secret project that he once refused to support.

Very shortly thereafter, Francisco got the call he was waiting for. Dagny told them that the authorities would now transport Galt to the campus of the [[State Science Institute]] in New Hampshire (probably on the present grounds of the United States Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, near the town of Lyme) and there put him to some kind of torture. The air militia had to scramble to get their planes in the air, from hidden landing areas, which is why they would not reach the Institute for hours. Dagny then gave them this shocking piece of news: the famous [[Taggart Bridge]] at Bedford, [[Illinois]], the only railroad bridge that crossed the [[Mississippi River]], had been cut in half by a malfunction at the mysterious [[Project X]]. Only then would Henry have learned the nature of the secret project that he once refused to support.

That news caused a panic throughout the city of New York, in which residents fled the city with all their belongings lashed to their automobile roofs. In the middle of this panic, Francisco picked Dagny up, and she, Francisco, Rearden, and Danneskjold got away in Danneskjold's aircraft.

That news caused a panic throughout the city of New York, in which residents fled the city with all their belongings lashed to their automobile roofs. In the middle of this panic, Francisco picked Dagny up, and she, Francisco, Rearden, and Danneskjold got away in Francisco's aircraft.

The council of war that the Galt's Gulch Committee of Safety (now consisting of Dagny Taggart, Francisco d'Anconia, Ragnar Danneskjold, and Henry Rearden) now held was tense. The militia had camped in New York, but had hesitated to storm the Wayne-Falkland Hotel, in fear that the authorities would simply kill John Galt before they could get halfway up the building. An assault on the State Science Institute would be easier, but not by much. In the end, the Committee decided to go in as a four-person spearhead and attempt the rescue alone. Danneskjold ordered his infantry to stay behind in reserve. He placed Ellis Wyatt in command, with orders to post guards throughout the trees that surrounded the Institute campus, and to storm the building that housed "Project F" if the four did not make it out. Then the four went in to attempt the rescue.

The council of war that the Galt's Gulch Committee of Safety (now consisting of Dagny Taggart, Francisco d'Anconia, Ragnar Danneskjold, and Henry Rearden) now held was tense. An assault on the State Science Institute would be easier, but not by much, than an assault on the Wayne-Falkland would have been. In the end, the Committee decided to go in as a four-person spearhead and attempt the rescue alone. Danneskjold ordered his infantry to stay behind in reserve. He placed Ellis Wyatt in command, with orders to post guards throughout the trees that surrounded the Institute campus, and to storm the building that housed "Project F" if the four did not make it out. Then the four went in to attempt the rescue.

They got in with surprising ease. Henry Rearden was in fact the only casualty; he suffered a flesh wound. But of the sixteen-member garrison, the rescuers killed five and incapacitated the rest. They released Galt from the electroshock device to which the government men had strapped him, and hustled him out as fast as they could move (though Danneskjold took time to destroy the torture apparatus). They took off and headed back to the valley for the last time.

They got in with surprising ease. Henry Rearden was in fact the only casualty; he suffered a flesh wound. But of the sixteen-member garrison, the rescuers killed five and incapacitated the rest. They released Galt from the electroshock device to which the government men had strapped him, and hustled him out as fast as they could move (though Danneskjold took time to destroy the torture apparatus). They took off and headed back to the valley for the last time.