Part 5, Chapter 13-14: The Rat's First Letter and The Rat's Second Letter and Part 5, Chapter 15-16: The Song is Over and She Drinks Her Salty Dog, Talking about the Sound of the Waves Summary

A year previously, a friend of the main character, known as "The Rat," had written a rambling letter in which he apologizes for skipping town without saying goodbye and tells the man of many towns to which he has traveled. He tells the man he will not include his address because he fears if he does "something inside him will change." He then recants the details of his life on the road, encloses a novel, and ends the letter...