Chapter 13 Summary

Princess stops by to visit Ray and Alvah, but Alvah is out for a few hours. Princess has to call home to tell her mother where she will be, and then she and Ray have a prolonged session of sex followed by a shared bath as Alvah returns. Princess then leaves, and later on, Japhy and Coughlin visit. Later still, Morley visits. The five men get drunk and talk about poetry, philosophy and enlightenment. They wander around Berkeley campus, visit a professor and then return to Ray's house where they drink and talk into the night. Ray has recently received some money and asks Japhy to help him buy good mountaineering equipment. Japhy readily agrees.

The men recite poetry, make up spontaneous poetry and talk about poetry, language and meaning. Late in the night, Ray and Coughlin wrestle wildly and knock some big...