Chapter 16, 17 & 18 Summary

Three o'clock in the morning of that day finds Kerouac in the neighbor's car at the rooming house, since the others are asleep and he had been talking with the young man about how Cody and Dave were the greatest drivers in the world. The neighbor tells him he used to drive a getaway car and takes the still drinking Kerouac through the streets of San Francisco at 100 miles per hour and back again to demonstrate his skill. This chapter is another example of the openness with which Kerouac welcomes every person and every adventure. It is an equally admirable and risky practice.

In the seventeenth chapter, Kerouac learns that Cody has lost his job and agrees to give him the money he needs for rent. Upon meeting up, they make plans to go with Monsanto, Arthur Ma, Dave, Romana and Evelyn, Cody's...