Chapter 24 Summary

The twenty-forth chapter goes deeper into the description of Jack and Cody's relationship, and thereby, his relationship with Evelyn. Kerouac opens with a description of McLear's pet hawk riding around on his shoulder, and how it fits in with his whole Rimbaud persona. From there, he moves to a conversation he has with Cody about Cody's plans for them, describing it in an aside as a crisis about to get worse. Cody has the idea of sharing Jack with yet another of his lovers: something Kerouac explains is a strange extension of their brotherly relationship, each one reminding the other of his own father. Her name is Willamine, and she has been Cody's confidante and lover since his time in San Quentin. Giving her to Jack for a while is Cody's way of taking care of her, and allowing Jack in some strange...