Chapter 18: Jailbreak Summary and Analysis

Slim and Red Eye admit to the crime and get sent to the State workforce (instead of jail) for one year. After being in a week, Slim realizes he cannot do another stint in jail so soon after his last one. He has a young cellmate and one night, after mistakenly sleeping through roll call, Slim is inspired to break from the workforce jail. At first wary, the young cellmate reluctantly agrees to help him by putting a dummy in his bed one night during roll call. Earlier in the day, Slim hides in a supply closet until that evening. When the bell sounds that all is safe, he escapes, jumping from building to building and heads to Indiana.

Slim is particularly pleased with the idea he has duped the white guards. He is delighted they will be scratching...