Section 17 and Section 18 Summary and Analysis

Section 17 begins on page 88 with the phrase, "his name was Henry Beckett...." Henry Beckett awakens to find his skin has turned gold colored with green polka-dots. He calls in sick, and then phones a doctor, demanding an appointment. His girlfriend comes and is amazed at his appearance, but also finds him beautiful. He promises to call her after his appointment with the doctor, but the doctor does not know the cause of the coloration. On returning home, Beckett grabs a hunting rifle and plenty of ammunition, drives to a cutoff on the freeway, and begins to shoot drivers. When police arrive, he shoots them as well. They close in on him, and he suddenly realizes the coloration is gone from his hands and body. He raises his hands in surrender, and they shoot him. Bukowski again shows...