Changes

Anyone pronouncing that oath with meaning would, by so doing, open the lock. Now with electric power to spare, Galt built the ray screen. He also blocked the Million Dollar Pass to the south. He left the northern (downstream) approach in place, but use a smaller version of his ray screen to camouflage it. Finally, John Galt built his own house in the valley, to use for one month out of the twelve.

Anyone pronouncing that oath with meaning would, by so doing, open the lock. Now with electric power to spare, Galt built the ray screen. He also blocked the Million Dollar Pass to the south. He left the northern (downstream) approach in place, but use a smaller version of his ray screen to camouflage it. Finally, John Galt built his own house in the valley, to use for one month out of the twelve.

This project began in May of 2007. In June, five other men came to visit John and Midas in the valley: [[Francisco d'Anconia]], [[Ragnar Danneskjöld]], [[Hugh Akston]], [[William Hastings]], and [[Richard Halley]], a [[music]] composer. June was the "vacation month" of the strike, and Midas agreed to let these other five build their own houses. Francisco built his in the forest near the old Ice Park, and while there he collected some rocks, intending to [[assay]] them. He actually assayed them on-site, as he knew how to do, and found them rich in [[copper]]. So he was the first to ask Midas for a major leasehold, which Midas granted. That was the beginning of D'Anconia Copper Number One.

This project began in May of 2011. In June, five other men came to visit John and Midas in the valley: [[Francisco d'Anconia]], [[Ragnar Danneskjöld]], [[Hugh Akston]], [[William Hastings]], and [[Richard Halley]], a [[music]] composer. June was the "vacation month" of the strike, and Midas agreed to let these other five build their own houses. Francisco built his in the forest near the old Ice Park, and while there he collected some rocks, intending to [[assay]] them. He actually assayed them on-site, as he knew how to do, and found them rich in [[copper]]. So he was the first to ask Midas for a major leasehold, which Midas granted. That was the beginning of D'Anconia Copper Number One.

Ragnar cleared away one of the buildings on the valley floor and built a riverfront house. Dr. Akston built his house about halfway up-slope on the eastern bank, where he could watch the sunset. William Hastings built a house, as all the others did, but perhaps even then Midas knew that Hastings was ailing and might not come back. (William Hastings did come back the next year but died shortly after he reached his home in Brandon, [[Wyoming]].) Richard Halley built a house on a parcel of land closer to the old town.

Ragnar cleared away one of the buildings on the valley floor and built a riverfront house. Dr. Akston built his house about halfway up-slope on the eastern bank, where he could watch the sunset. William Hastings built a house, as all the others did, but perhaps even then Midas knew that Hastings was ailing and might not come back. (William Hastings did come back the next year but died shortly after he reached his home in Brandon, [[Wyoming]].) Richard Halley built a house on a parcel of land closer to the old town.

At the end of June, all of Midas' visitors went back to wherever they were living on the outside. Midas was now isolated, in his new house and behind the two ray screens. He did not remain isolated for very long. In the fall of 2007, [[Judge Narragansett]] joined the strike. Midas instantly asked the judge to join him. The judge did so, and then bought some of Midas' livestock and started his own chicken and dairy farm. The two then invited Richard Halley to take permanent residence. Perhaps Midas had decided to become a music patron—but Halley did not rely entirely on Midas' patronage. He negotiated a larger leasehold and planted fruit trees on his land.

At the end of June, all of Midas' visitors went back to wherever they were living on the outside. Midas was now isolated, in his new house and behind the two ray screens. He did not remain isolated for very long. In the fall of 2011, [[Judge Narragansett]] joined the strike. Midas instantly asked the judge to join him. The judge did so, and then bought some of Midas' livestock and started his own chicken and dairy farm. The two then invited Richard Halley to take permanent residence. Perhaps Midas had decided to become a music patron—but Halley did not rely entirely on Midas' patronage. He negotiated a larger leasehold and planted fruit trees on his land.

So now Midas had a functioning community. He himself raised [[wheat]] and [[tobacco]], and founded a company, with Hugh Akston as the other shareholder, to produce a new brand of cigarettes better than any available on the outside. Judge Narragansett raised chickens and produced raw milk and dairy products, and Richard Halley produced fresh fruit. Whatever the men could not produce for themselves, Midas would acquire through a secret channel that the novel never explains; this was probably a black market in industrial supplies, perhaps the same one that Ragnar Danneskjöld would supply in his [[privateer]]ing activities.

So now Midas had a functioning community. He himself raised [[wheat]] and [[tobacco]], and founded a company, with Hugh Akston as the other shareholder, to produce a new brand of cigarettes better than any available on the outside. Judge Narragansett raised chickens and produced raw milk and dairy products, and Richard Halley produced fresh fruit. Whatever the men could not produce for themselves, Midas would acquire through a secret channel that the novel never explains; this was probably a black market in industrial supplies, perhaps the same one that Ragnar Danneskjöld would supply in his [[privateer]]ing activities.