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On the Road Part 2, Chapter 6
"It was drizzling and mysterious at the beginning of our journey. I could see that it was all going to be one big saga of the mist. 'Whooee!' yelled Dean. 'Here we go!' And he hunched over the wheel and gunned her; he was back in his element, everybody could see that." Part 2, Chapter 6, page 133
They drive fast in the direction of New Orleans. The radio blares and the car is beginning to show its wear. Dean decides that he and Marylou should stay together in California. Sal is a little upset. They sail through D.C. at the time of Truman's second presidential inauguration. Ed drives too fast and a cop stops them. They all have to go to the station. The cops try to use part of the Mann Act on the one women and three men situation, but Marylou is carrying her marriage license. Dean is fined 25 dollars. Now they only have 15 dollars to get to California. Ed offers to go to jail instead. Dean promises to come back and shoot the cop who stopped them. They need to pick up hitchhikers for money. They pick up a hitchhiker who says they he gets money by stopping at the houses of other Jews and demanding charity. They stop in Testament because he says that he can get money, but he disappears instead. Dean rattles on about God again. Sal drives through North Carolina, and they stop at a service station where Ed steals cigarettes and they drive off without paying for their gas. Ed drives and Dean talks about his train riding days when he lost his father for eleven months. They arrive in New Orleans and Dean gawks at the women.
"'Oh I love, love, love women! I think women are wonderful! I love women!' He spat out the window; he groaned; he clutched his head. Great beads of sweat fell from his forehead from pure excitement and exhaustion." Part 2, Chapter 6, pg. 140
They cross the Mississippi by boat and look over the river. Dean continues to act crazy. They go to Old Bull Lee's. No one is home but Jane Lee, who thinks that the city is on fire because she is tripping on Benzedrine. Galatea shows up, tear-stained, and asks Ed what is going on. Old Bull Lee comes home to this confusion. Old Bull Lee has very little money and what he does have he spends mostly on drugs. His kids eat very little and he eats even less. Sal thinks Old Bull Lee is some sort of a teacher who has learned much about life through the world. Apparently, he is suffering from multiple personalities. He asks everyone what they are doing and suggests they all smoke some pot before dinner. Old Bull Lee tells many stories, shows off his gun collection, and basically ignores his wife. Dean and Sal decide to have a big night in New Orleans. Old Bull Lee tells them that the bars are boring but he cannot dissuade them. Old Bull Lee tells Sal that Dean has gotten worse and asks Sal to stay in New Orleans for his own good. They leave to take the ferry into the city.
They go to the bars in the French quarter. Marylou does all the drugs she can. When they get home, Jane is reading the want ads, Ed is sleeping with Galatea, and Sal takes a walk as Old Bull Lee reads Kafka. After his walk, Sal goes back into the house and falls asleep.
