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== The unraveling ==

== The unraveling ==

Wesley Mouch, now thoroughly out of his depth, could only rely on the consummate deal-making skills of his ultimate boss, [[Mr. Thompson]]. Mr. Thompson prepared to address the nation on November 22, 1929. But fifteen minutes before he was to speak, all the [[radio]] and [[television]] stations were jammed. Then at the appointed hour, a voice spoke through the jamming: a voice identifying itself as that of [[John Galt]], a name that Mouch had known only as part of a slang phrase. The man calling himself John Galt took credit for the economic collapse, and for three hours essentially said that he and all the other "men of the mind" were on [[strike]], and then called for a general strike of anyone else whom he personally had not yet been able to reach.

Wesley Mouch, now thoroughly out of his depth, could only rely on the consummate deal-making skills of his ultimate boss, [[Mr. Thompson]]. Mr. Thompson prepared to address the nation on November 22, 1957. But fifteen minutes before he was to speak, all the [[radio]] and [[television]] stations were jammed. Then at the appointed hour, a voice spoke through the jamming: a voice identifying itself as that of [[John Galt]], a name that Mouch had known only as part of a slang phrase. The man calling himself John Galt took credit for the economic collapse, and for three hours essentially said that he and all the other "men of the mind" were on [[strike]], and then called for a general strike of anyone else whom he personally had not yet been able to reach.

That John Galt was who he said he was, neither Mouch nor Mr. Thompson nor anyone else in Congress or the administration could doubt—not after Galt specifically named several of the vanished men in his speech. (Galt also named [[Robert Stadler]], the Director of the [[State Science Institute]], but Mouch never figured out that reference, as unflattering as it apparently was.)

That John Galt was who he said he was, neither Mouch nor Mr. Thompson nor anyone else in Congress or the administration could doubt—not after Galt specifically named several of the vanished men in his speech. (Galt also named [[Robert Stadler]], the Director of the [[State Science Institute]], but Mouch never figured out that reference, as unflattering as it apparently was.)

A few days later, John Galt was found—in New York! Mr. Thompson had him kept under guard in the penthouse suite of the Wayne-Falkland Hotel in New York. Mouch was one of many men who tried to persuade John Galt to cooperate with the government and accept the post of Economic Dictator of the country. Mr. Thompson was prepared to have the Unification Board step aside and give Galt the whole show, but Galt was having none of that.

A few weeks later, John Galt was found—in New York! Mr. Thompson had him kept under guard in the penthouse suite of the Wayne-Falkland Hotel in New York. Mouch was one of many men who tried to persuade John Galt to cooperate with the government and accept the post of Economic Dictator of the country. Mr. Thompson was prepared to have the Unification Board step aside and give Galt the whole show, but Galt was having none of that.

Mouch continued to trust Mr. Thompson, who then arranged a television special to announced something called "The John Galt Plan for Peace and Prosperity." Mouch knew full well that no such plan was in the offing, but he went along with the program anyway, hoping that Galt would not refuse such power when offered him on national television.

Mouch continued to trust Mr. Thompson, who then arranged a television special to announced something called "The John Galt Plan for Peace and Prosperity." Mouch knew full well that no such plan was in the offing, but he went along with the program anyway, hoping that Galt would not refuse such power when offered him on national television.