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There are rumors of a "Tomorrowland" or "Silver City" in central Florida, where the homes are lit, machines do all the work, and radios project pictures -- all of it being run by the disembodied head of a cinema mogul, connected to the machinery underlying the town.

The Objectivists' miraculous power source may in fact be at its limit, which explains why Glatt's slickers want to reach Shippingport, Pennsylvania -- rather than inventing a new technology, Glatt may have stumbled on existing government prototypes and gotten them to work, and there is one in the otherwise unremarkable town. Alternatively, Glatt's motor requires a rare substance to operate (one legend says that it's diamonds), and there is more of it there.

Nathan Holmes is not dead, he was never alive - he's a fictional character from a penny-dreadful, and his writings have been created or edited by a committee of various organizations such as the KKK. At least some Holmists would be persuaded to end their racial cleansing crusade if this was exposed, but how to prove this, and how to spread this message?

Who is Danny California? One person? A Mojave legend? A small band of vigilantes operating under one name?

Arizona Sword:

Blacksmith, make a sword for me, such as none did ever see,

For ancient symbols of majesty have power in troubled times.

Blacksmith, make me a magic sword,

one that will make me the valley's lord

Whom folk will hail with one accord to save them from their crimes.

Seeing he would not be deterred, the blacksmith took him at his word

And pondered long on what he'd heard about this would-be lord.

He pumped the fire and he made his

start, melted iron in the fire's heart,

But he named the steel with an older art the Arizona Sword.

He chanted words to the blazing mix,

of ancient Red Men's and White Men's tricks

To draw a spirit, and purpose fix in what the blade would feel:

The iron laws from Nature's hand,

the ruthless will of the desert land,

The freedom no one can command – and cast that thought in steel.

And when the blacksmith's work was done,

the new sword gleamed like the setting sun.

All down the blade did the old runes run, a warning plain to see.

The steel was grained like the finest

wood. A full yard long and more it stood.

The runes read: "I serve but the good of life and liberty."

Near the hilt, set in copper wire, a phoenix rose up from the pyre.

A copper star within the fire rayed out copper cords.

The grip was like a saguaro made

that clasped a moon in quartz and jade.

In truth, like to no other blade was the Arizona Sword.

"Blacksmith,

well have ye served my cause. This shall aid me to make the laws.

Hmmm, the guards are shaped like

cougar's paws; in truth, like none I've seen.

The price is steep, but I shall not carp.

She'll sing more praise than a minstrel's harp.

Ye gods, that blade is razor-sharp! ...For a symbol, very keen."

"And cheap she'll be if I strike ye dead!

" The blacksmith promptly turned and fled.

The lordling laughed and shrugged

instead, and went out to meet his horde.

He cried out:

"This is the day foretold. Just one hand now this land shall hold,

For in this sign will I rule. Behold, the Arizona Sword."

"No more argument shall we find, but all hereafter shall be inclined

To just one purpose and just one mind. Thus do I mean to do.

Now go ye forth, and take the land.

" The sword heard well his first command.

She lunged and twisted in his hand, and fell, and ran him through.

They say the sword vanished clean away,

for none has heard of it since that day,

But seek it wisely, and find ye may. Take care, who would be lord.

Beware, ye tyrant! Beware, ye fool!

For who is the master and who the tool?

Ye may well serve, but ye shall not rule the Arizona Sword.

=========

"I will stop the motor of the world", said John Glatt once. Now, he is an old man; he commands immense respect from the Objectivists, of course, but his mind isn't quite as fast or sharp as it was. And he has fostered a ruthless meritocracy in which everyone is replaceable -- including him, should someone have enough savvy and charisma, or the underhandedness, to do it. He has regrets. He's also started to lock his door at night, something he used to brag about not needing to. He wonders if he should go into history as a conqueror, and make an exception to his principles and force a confrontation with the Legion directly in a great rail war, or maintain the principles he formulated until the end.

As John Glatt reflects on his legacy and contemplates the choices before him, he finds himself torn between his principles and the desire for a lasting impact on history. The weight of leadership and the burden of maintaining the Objectivist society have taken a toll on him. His aging mind and the growing sense of vulnerability have made him question his previous confidence and invincibility.

Regret seeps into his thoughts as he considers the sacrifices and compromises made along the way. He wonders if the ruthless meritocracy he fostered, which once seemed necessary for survival, has created a culture that is too cutthroat and lacking in compassion. The realization that everyone, including himself, is replaceable leaves him grappling with the fragility of his own position and the fleeting nature of power.

The looming presence of the Legion and their formidable leader, Eddie Willikers, adds another layer of complexity to Glatt's internal struggle. The idea of a great rail war, a clash between the Objectivists and the Legion, tempts him with the potential for conquest and securing his place in history. Yet, he hesitates to compromise his principles and question the values that have guided him thus far.

As he locks his door at night, a symbol of his newfound vulnerability, Glatt contemplates the path he should take. Should he continue to uphold the principles he formulated, even if it means fading into history as a principled leader but without significant conquests? Or should he deviate from his ideals, risking everything for a chance at a defining moment that could reshape the future of the Objectivist society?

In his moments of introspection, Glatt grapples with the choices before him, seeking clarity and searching for a path that aligns with his values while also leaving a lasting impact. The weight of his decisions and the potential consequences weigh heavily on his shoulders as he ponders the legacy he will leave behind.

Eddie abandoned Objectivism after discovering John's secret: Glatt did not invent a motor that runs on atmospheric energy. Instead, he ended up working as an engineer in this universe's equivalent of the Manhattan Project. While his contributions to the project were important, he was not by any means the sole inventor; he quit the project thinking that he could commercialize nuclear reactors before safety reviews ran their course, found himself accused of stealing state secrets, and destabilized the government in order to get away with it. The real reason why there are only a few "Glatt Engines" and making more has been difficult is the unavailability of refined uranium ore. Glatt readily acknowledged this when confronted, but told Eddie that people need larger-than-life figures, and besides, Glatt wasn't the sole inventor but was the only one who wanted to take the new nuclear technology commercial. Eddie reluctantly agreed, but confronted Glatt again after discovering an uranium mine/refinery where prisoners and indentured debtors would be taken, to extract nuclear ore with little concern for safety and an extremely high mortality rate. In Glatt's defense, the families of these "indeadted" were well compensated, but Eddie still considered this enough of a crime against humanity that he wanted to confront Glatt again, this time publicly. The night before the board meeting, Ragnar, a friend of Glatt who was a retired pirate, tried to talk Eddie out of it, then attacked him when he refused. Eddie latter narrowly escaped by stealing the first of the Objectivists' experimental long-range colony train, the Tranerica. There was a rail battle between Eddy and Ragnar, in which Eddy lost an arm and a leg and Ragnar his life. Eddie and his crew drove what was left of the Tranerica as far away from Colorado as they could, and dismantled it when they found the Terminal, in order to reconstruct the place. As a side note, this ended the Objectivists' experiment with self-sufficient war trains, with the exception of the Minotaur.

Eddie is no hero himself; he's more of a pragmatist, wanting an industrial society to exist that doesn't go the lengths that Glatt's does. He tells Glatt's story to people if he is asked, but the Objectivists' propaganda machine has succeeded in cementing the official story well enough that Eddie's recounting of it looks like a conspiracy theory in comparison. While he has some of the original documents, true believers in Glatt's heroic persona could, and have, dismissed them as fakes produced with a recovered printing press and photo lab somewhere in the recent past.

Eddie's discovery of John Glatt's true past and the dark secrets surrounding the development of nuclear technology has left him disillusioned with Objectivism and determined to confront Glatt publicly. The revelation that Glatt's claims of inventing a revolutionary motor powered by atmospheric energy were false shattered Eddie's faith in his former leader.

As Eddie delved deeper into the truth, he stumbled upon a uranium mine and refinery operated by the Objectivists, where prisoners and indentured debtors were subjected to dangerous and deadly conditions to extract nuclear ore. This revelation struck a moral chord within Eddie, as he saw it as a grave violation of humanity's dignity and worth. Despite Glatt's defense of compensating the families of those affected, Eddie could not reconcile the inherent disregard for human life and safety.

Driven by his own pragmatism and a desire for a more ethical and balanced industrial society, Eddie decided to confront Glatt publicly. He intended to expose the truth about Glatt's involvement in the nuclear project and the exploitation of people in the uranium mining operation. However, the Objectivists' propaganda machine had successfully solidified Glatt's heroic persona, making it challenging for Eddie's accounts to be believed.

Armed with some original documents and evidence, Eddie shares Glatt's true story with those willing to listen. However, many devoted followers of Glatt dismiss Eddie's claims as conspiracy theories, attributing them to forged documents created by dissenters. Eddie finds himself battling against a powerful narrative that paints Glatt as a heroic figure, making it difficult to sway public opinion.

Escaping the clutches of the Objectivists, Eddie and his crew embark on a journey to establish a new society based on principles that prioritize both progress and human welfare. They find refuge in the Terminal, where they dismantle the Tranerica, repurposing its remains to rebuild the fortified stronghold.

While Eddie is not a traditional hero, his pragmatism and determination to create a more just and balanced society drive him forward. He seeks to challenge the extreme ideologies of the Objectivists and find a middle ground where industrial progress can coexist with compassion and respect for human life.