“For what?”
“Our economy is in a state of extremely precarious equilibrium. We all have to pool our efforts to save it from collapse.”
“Well, what is it you want me to do?”
“These are the considerations which I was asked to call to your attention. I am from the State Science Institute, Mr. Rearden.”
“You’ve said so before. But what did you wish to see me about?”
“The State Science Institute does not hold a favorable opinion of Rearden Metal.”
“You’ve said that, too.”
“Isn’t that a factor which you must take into consideration?”
“No.”
The light was growing dim in the broad windows of the office. The days were short. Rearden saw the irregular shadow of the nose on the man’s cheek, and the pale eyes watching him; the glance was vague, but its direction purposeful.
“The State Science Institute represents the best brains of the country, Mr. Rearden.”
“So I’m told.”
“Surely you do not want to pit your own judgment against theirs?”
“I do.”
The man looked at Rearden as if pleading for help, as if Rearden had broken an unwritten code which demanded that he should have understood long ago. Rearden offered no help.
“Is this all you wanted to know?” he asked.
“It’s only a question of time, Mr. Rearden,” the man said placatingly. “Just a temporary delay. Just to give our economy a chance to get stabilized. If you’d only wait for a couple of years—”
Rearden chuckled, gaily, contemptuously. “So that’s what you’re after? Want me to take Rearden Metal off the market? Why?”
“Only for a few years, Mr. Rearden. Only until—”
“Look,” said Rearden. “Now I’ll ask you a question: did your scientists decide that Rearden Metal is not what I claim it is?”
“We have not committed ourselves as to that.”
“Did they decide it’s no good?”
“It is the social impact of a product that must be considered. We are thinking in terms of the country as a whole, we are concerned with the public welfare and the terrible crisis of the present moment, which—”
“Is Rearden Metal good or not?”
“If we view the picture from the angle of the alarming growth of unemployment, which at present—”
“Is Rearden Metal good?”
“At a time of desperate steel shortage, we cannot afford to permit the expansion of a steel company which produces too much, because it might throw out of business the companies which produce too little, thus creating an unbalanced economy which—”
“Are you going to answer my question?”
The man shrugged. “Questions of value are relative. If Rearden Metal is not good, it’s a physical danger to the public. If it is good—it’s a social danger.”
“If you have anything to say to me about the physical danger of Rearden Metal, say it. Drop the rest of it. Fast. I don’t speak that language.”
“But surely questions of social welfare—”
“Drop it.”
The man looked bewildered and lost, as if the ground had been cut from under his feet. In a moment, he asked helplessly, “But what, then, is your chief concern?”
“The market.”
“How do you mean?”
“There’s a market for Rearden Metal and I intend to take full advantage of it.”
“Isn’t the market somewhat hypothetical? The public response to your metal has not been encouraging. Except for the order from Taggart Transcontinental, you haven’t obtained any major—”
“Well, then, if you think the public won’t go for it, what are you worrying about?”
“If the public doesn’t go for it, you will take a heavy loss, Mr.
Rearden.”
“That’s my worry, not yours.”
“Whereas, if you adopt a more co-operative attitude and agree to wait for a few years—”
“Why should I wait?”
“But I believe I have made it clear that the State Science Institute does not approve of the appearance of Rearden Metal on the metallurgical scene at the present time.”
“Why should I give a damn about that?”
The man sighed. “You are a very difficult man, Mr. Rearden.”
The sky of the late afternoon was growing heavy, as if thickening against the glass of the windowpanes. The outlines of the man’s figure seemed to dissolve into a blob among the sharp, straight planes of the furniture.
“I gave you this appointment,” said Rearden, “because you told me that you wished to discuss something of extreme importance. If this is all you had to say, you will please excuse me now. I am very busy.”
The man settled back in his chair. “I believe you have spent ten years of research on Rearden Metal,” he said. “How much has it cost you?”
Rearden glanced up: he could not understand the drift of the question, yet there was an undisguised purposefulness in the man’s voice; the voice had hardened.
“One and a half million dollars,” said Rearden.
“How much will you take for it?”
Rearden had to let a moment pass. He could not believe it. “For what?” he asked, his voice low.
“For all rights to Rearden Metal.”
“I think you had better get out of here,”‘ said Rearden.
“There is no call for such an attitude. You are a businessman. I am offering you a business proposition. You may name your own price.”
“The rights to Rearden Metal are not for sale.”
“I am in a position to speak of large sums of money. Government money.”
Rearden sat without moving, the muscles of his cheeks pulled tight; but his glance was indifferent, focused only by the faint pull of morbid curiosity.
“You are a businessman, Mr. Rearden. This is a proposition which you cannot afford to ignore. On the one hand, you are gambling against great odds, you are bucking an unfavorable public opinion, you run a good chance of losing every penny you put into Rearden Metal. On the other hand, we can relieve you of the risk and the responsibility, at an impressive profit, an immediate profit, much larger than you could hope to realize from the sale of the metal for the next twenty years.”
“The State Science Institute is a scientific establishment, not a commercial one,” said Rearden. “What is it that they’re so afraid of?”
“You are using ugly, unnecessary words, Mr. Rearden. I am endeavoring to suggest that we keep the discussion on a friendly plane. The matter is serious.”
“I am beginning to see that.”
“We are offering you a blank check on what is, as you realize, an unlimited account. What else can you want? Name your price.”
“The sale of the rights to Rearden Metal is not open to discussion.
If you have anything else to say, please say it and leave.”
The man leaned back, looked at Rearden incredulously and asked, “What are you after?”
“I? What do you mean?”
“You’re in business to make money, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
“You want to make as big a profit as possible, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Then why do you want to struggle for years, squeezing out your gains in the form of pennies per ton—rather than accept a fortune for Rearden Metal? Why?”
“Because it’s mine. Do you understand the word?”
The man sighed and rose to his feet. “I hope you will not have cause to regret your decision, Mr. Rearden,” he said; the tone of his voice was suggesting the opposite.
“Good day,” said Rearden.
“I think I must tell you that the State Science Institute may issue an official statement condemning Rearden Metal.”
“That is their privilege.”
“Such a statement would make things more difficult for you.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“As to further consequences . . .” The man shrugged. “This is not the day for people who refuse to co-operate. In this age, one needs friends. You are not a popular man, Mr. Rearden.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Surely, you understand.”
“I don’t.”
“Society is a complex structure. There are so many different issues awaiting decision, hanging by a thin thread. We can never tell when one such issue may he decided and what may be the decisive factor in a delicate balance. Do I make myself clear?”
“No.”
The red flame of poured steel shot through the twilight. An orange glow, the color of deep gold, hit the wall behind Rearden’s desk.
The glow moved gently across his forehead. His face had an unmoving serenity.
“The State Science Institute is a government organization, Mr.
Rearden. There are certain bills pending in the Legislature, which may be passed at any moment. Businessmen are peculiarly vulnerable these days. I am sure you understand me.”
Rearden rose to his feet. He was smiling. He looked as if all tension had left him.
“No, Dr. Potter,” he said, “I don’t understand. If I did, I’d have to kill you.”
The man walked to the door, then stopped and looked at Rearden in a way which, for once, was simple human curiosity. Rearden stood motionless against the moving glow on the wall; he stood casually, his hands in his pockets.
“Would you tell me,” the man asked, “just between us, it’s only my personal curiosity—why are you doing this?”