March 12 Summary and Analysis

The Western Flyer sails past Santa Barbara, where porpoises surround the vessel. Steinbeck describes their personalities and speculates on why the crew don't like to catch and eat them when they are willing to catch any other fish. He determines that it may be because they seem too human-like. The boat sails on, past Los Angeles and San Pedro. The next morning, they enter San Diego Bay, where preparations for war are being made all around them. Steinbeck relates a conversation with a military officer about whether he knows anything about the effect of his shells on the communities where they land. The officer's response reflects the unthinking, organism-like mind of the military structure, in which individual members do not make decisions or become concerned with the effects of their actions.

The expedition members refuel and fill the water tanks, take...