Chapter 15, "Joys of the Homeward Voyage" Summary

Willie writes May and his mother, suggesting both meet him in San Francisco. Stilwell, who received six months' restriction to the ship, comes begging to Willie as morale officer. Stilwell wants to go home on leave. He has not been home in two years, and he has an unfaithful wife and a child in Idaho. Willie tells Stilwell to write them that he is coming home. The talk in the wardroom at lunch the next day is cordial, and Queeg even cracks jokes. Queeg wants to buy unused liquor rations at the officers' wine mess in the Navy Yard. The Caine's officers and the captain line up at the club's liquor counter and buy thirty quarts of scotch and rye whiskey. The next morning, Queeg asks a carpenter's mate to build...