Section 17, Through p. 458, Summary

Rebecca Volsted, the pale Danish secretary, continues pursuing Charlie, trying to lure him into her bed. Fresh with memories of lusty and busty Renata, Charlie is in no mood to be wooed by the skinny, translucent Rebecca. Rebecca allows that she is concerned for Charlie's mental health, because he has been heard to mumble for hours while he's locked alone in his room. Of course there is really nothing demented about this; Charlie is merely reading to and conversing with the dead. He is sure, however, that Rebecca would not see the logic in this, so he throws her off stride by asking if she has been listening at his door. In fact, Charlie concludes there are no non-peculiar living humans, and if he is successful in opening up communication with dead souls, he will discover more stable companions...