Chapters 17-18 Summary

In Chapter 17 Forrest learns that Mama has run off with "some protestant." He grabs a plastic garbage bag to shelter himself from the pouring rain, only to find a homeless person beneath it, warming himself on a grate. Learning that Forrest is new in town, the man gives him a new bag and shares space. It is a badly-aged Lt. Dan. They exchange stories, with Dan waiting to die and declaring "natural laws" and the "scheme of things" to be "philosophic bullshit." When Forrest says he plans on finding Jenny, wherever she is, Dan volunteers to help. Forrest phones Mose, learns of the band's break-up, and gets a Chicago number for Jenny. From an ex-lover there, he learns that Jenny has moved to Indianapolis to work at Temperer Tire Co. Forrest and Dan take the bus there and find Jenny on...