Chapter 12, How Henry Found His Niche, through Chapter 13, Motel Room Summary

In chapter twelve, Henry becomes a park ranger after Myra leaves him to return to New York. He is determined to only work six months of the year, as park rangers do. He believes he has found his calling in life. Henry is interviewed by a man named Gibbs Pratt at Pratt's home. The two men drink while they talk, and Henry becomes rather intoxicated. Drunk, Henry leaves and drives through the man's stone retaining wall in his Park Ranger vehicle. A cow and calf are in the road, and Henry crashes while swerving to avoid them. Gibbs drives up, tells him his story sounds logical enough, and the two men begin cleaning up the wreckage, drinking the beer that didn't break in the crash...