This is the chapter where the story seems to turn into an action movie. Also, this is where my hatred of Rand’s protaganists is sealed forever. I did not like these people at all, especially with Dagny coldheartedly shooting the guard point blank then flying off with her three lovers. (I got the impression Rand was trying to justify her own choices in life.)
The abandonment of Eddie Willers bothered me, too, probably because I identified most with his character (dedicated, loyal to the end). But, the story couldn’t have ended any other way. It seems Rand wanted to teach a lesson with Eddie Willers: He didn’t put his own interests first, and in the end, he paid for that “sin”.
In reality, that is the way life works. In that way, maybe Rand is a realist. Those of us who have lived our lives like Eddie Willers might cringe at the thought, but it’s the way things really are.
I never thought of the dollar sign as a religious symbol, like the cross. Yes, come to think of it, you raise a good point: Rand does create her own religious symbolism and saints for Objectivism.
Very good bit of deduction. It might be the key to understanding what happened to Eddie.