Fountain Head by Ayn Bru
Fountain Head by Ayn Bru Fountain Head by Ayn Bru
Chapter 1
“The Committee has made its decision. They’ve endorsed the
plan without your ridiculous water feature”.
Atlas looked at John Gray with contemptuous eyes.
“You can’t do that”
“Too late, Atlas. We already have" said John Gray, with
a sneering smile.
"By whose authority?"
"By the authority of the Government of Mediocre City,
Atlas. As you well know!"
"Damn you and damn your government!" cried Atlas
"Listen here, Atlas, we run this city and we're not
having it ruined by building a plaza with a..." he almost choked on the
word "... a fountain."
"Why the hell not dammit?!"
"Because" yelled John Gray, banging his fist on his
desk in the communal work area "we're here to keep order in this city, not
work up the crowds with extravagant jets of water! That would be chaos, and we
have to keep the people calm!"
"Keep them enslaved you mean!" shouted Atlas, the
words launching inspiringly out of his mouth, which sat handsomely on his big
head with its large, amazing brain inside it. "You don't care about the
people, Gray. You just want to keep them in a herd mentality so you can control
them, and all of your promises of equality and happiness are just a means to
exercise power over them! My fountain is a thing of beauty, a triumph of the
human spirit, and of freedom and intellectual strength... (continues for 26
pages)
... I will build that fountain with or without your
permission, even if I have to build it all myself!"
"Ha! I'd like to see that" mocked Gray "what
will you use? That gigantic head of yours?"
"Hmmm" said Atlas, "maybe I will, Gray. Maybe
I will..."
Chapter 2 - 52
to be written later (note to self: insert diatribes disguised
as dialogue)
Chapter 53
Atlas looked down at the switch. Here it was at last, the end
point. The conclusion of all of his monumental struggles. He had overcome
everything and everyone using nothing more than his own strength and genius,
and his head. He decided to turn the switch on in the same way he had built
everything that stood before him, by smashing his head into it.
His cranium crashed down onto the activation button, and as
he stood back and wiped the chunks of bloody flesh from his pulverised brow a
rumbling sound started. A jet of water flew across the air and landed at John
Gray's feet.
Within seconds the fountain had exploded into life, dazzling
the watching crowds, who were in the presence of sublime beauty for the first
time and who finally realised their own inherent lack of worth. But the
brilliant foaming and dancing sprays could not distract from the single tear
running down John Gray's cheek.
"I had it all wrong, Atlas" he simpered. "I
thought men could be made equal. But gazing on these celestial waters before me
now I realise I was wrong. Some men are merely cattle, while others are gods.
From now on Mediocre City will be called Atlastown.
Atlas, you truly are...
a Fountain Head!"
THE END
Chapter 1
“The Committee has made its decision. They’ve endorsed the
plan without your ridiculous water feature”.
Atlas looked at John Gray with contemptuous eyes.
“You can’t do that”
“Too late, Atlas. We already have" said John Gray, with
a sneering smile.
"By whose authority?"
"By the authority of the Government of Mediocre City,
Atlas. As you well know!"
"Damn you and damn your government!" cried Atlas
"Listen here, Atlas, we run this city and we're not
having it ruined by building a plaza with a..." he almost choked on the
word "... a fountain."
"Why the hell not dammit?!"
"Because" yelled John Gray, banging his fist on his
desk in the communal work area "we're here to keep order in this city, not
work up the crowds with extravagant jets of water! That would be chaos, and we
have to keep the people calm!"
"Keep them enslaved you mean!" shouted Atlas, the
words launching inspiringly out of his mouth, which sat handsomely on his big
head with its large, amazing brain inside it. "You don't care about the
people, Gray. You just want to keep them in a herd mentality so you can control
them, and all of your promises of equality and happiness are just a means to
exercise power over them! My fountain is a thing of beauty, a triumph of the
human spirit, and of freedom and intellectual strength... (continues for 26
pages)
... I will build that fountain with or without your
permission, even if I have to build it all myself!"
"Ha! I'd like to see that" mocked Gray "what
will you use? That gigantic head of yours?"
"Hmmm" said Atlas, "maybe I will, Gray. Maybe
I will..."
Chapter 2 - 52
to be written later (note to self: insert diatribes disguised
as dialogue)
Chapter 53
Atlas looked down at the switch. Here it was at last, the end
point. The conclusion of all of his monumental struggles. He had overcome
everything and everyone using nothing more than his own strength and genius,
and his head. He decided to turn the switch on in the same way he had built
everything that stood before him, by smashing his head into it.
His cranium crashed down onto the activation button, and as
he stood back and wiped the chunks of bloody flesh from his pulverised brow a
rumbling sound started. A jet of water flew across the air and landed at John
Gray's feet.
Within seconds the fountain had exploded into life, dazzling
the watching crowds, who were in the presence of sublime beauty for the first
time and who finally realised their own inherent lack of worth. But the
brilliant foaming and dancing sprays could not distract from the single tear
running down John Gray's cheek.
"I had it all wrong, Atlas" he simpered. "I
thought men could be made equal. But gazing on these celestial waters before me
now I realise I was wrong. Some men are merely cattle, while others are gods.
From now on Mediocre City will be called Atlastown.
Atlas, you truly are...
a Fountain Head!"
THE END
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