Busted

  After the incident with Mildred's friends, Montag decides to hide the books outside the house while Mildred is in the bathroom, since he has noticed that some were missing and thinks that she probably started burning them on her own.  Then, he heads to the fire station, with Faber in his ear.  Faber scolds him for acting that way with the women, telling Montag, "Don't haggle and nag them; you were so recently of them yourself" (p.103).  Montag begins to feel guilty and thinks maybe it would be better if he just went back to the way he was before, but Faber assures him that he must keep fighting.  When Montag arrives at the firehouse, Captain Beatty is waiting for him with the other men.  Beatty holds out his hand and Montag gives him the book that he has brought with him.  Beatty doesn't even look at it, and throws it in the trash to burn.  Montag sits at the table and Beatty begins talking to him, quoting several contradicting sayings from various books, trying to show Montag "what traitors books can be.  You think they're backing you up, and they turn on you" (p.107).  Faber, listening to all of this through the earpiece, tries to tell Montag that Beatty is just trying to confuse him.  After Beatty is done talking, Faber tells Montag that he's heard both sides of it and it's up to him "to know with which ear" he'll listen to.  Then, the fire station bell rings with an alarm of a reported house with books.  I had guessed that the call was for Montag's house, and was even more convinced when Captain Beatty tells Montag that he'll be fine to ride along since "this is a special case."  Montag is so wrapped up in his thoughts about being able to burn again, he's not even paying attention to where they are going, and when he looks up, he realizes that they are indeed at his house.

Reaction and Questions:  How the heck does Beatty know so many quotes?  He did mention in this section that he had been through what Montag was going through, but I feel like there is more to the story with Beatty.  I mean, Montag is just scratching the surface with books, and trying to read them right off the bat, he cannot make sense of them.  Beatty is able to not only quote books, but to understand their meaning by using them.  How did he attain this knowledge, and why does he use it for "evil" instead of "good"???  I'm pretty sure Mildred's friends turned in Montag, but they only knew of the one book, unless they knew he had more?  Since the books are hidden outside, will the firemen find them?  Or maybe the Hound will find them?  What will Mildred think of the firemen coming to her house?  Will she fight for Montag or just give up?  If they do find the books, what will happen to Montag?  And also, how will Professor Faber help?  Will Beatty discover the earpiece?