Chapter 12 Summary

In Chapter 12, a train accident happens. Slake tries to return to his hideout, but the police are there. Passengers are being rerouted. Everything is taped off. The downtown tracks are blocked because of falling concrete. Slake is in a panic. He cannot go home. He rides the subway all night long. He sells the paper in the morning. He looks exhausted. He does not sweep with his usual enthusiasm.

He sits down to eat. The manager and the waitress talk about the accident. It is amazing it did not happen before because the city has been patching it for years. Now the city has to fix it. A crew will go down there soon and be there for a while. Slake asks how soon. The waitress is stunned because Slake rarely talks and he shows a great interest. She asks him why he...