The River

  Montag finally makes it to Professor Faber's house, where he fills Faber in on everything that's happened in the past few hours.  Montag can't believe what he's done and how in one night, everything has changed.  Faber reassures him saying, "You did what you had to do.  It was coming on for a long time" (p.131).  Montag agrees, knowing that the feelings that he is acting upon have been inside him for a long time.  Faber tells Montag to head for the river until he reaches the old railroad tracks.  There are camps along there that Montag may be able to survive in while hiding out.  Before he leaves Faber's house, they decide to get an update on the search for him and turn on Faber's tiny TV, which is the size of a postcard.  Faber explains that the TV is so small because he didn't want something that would take over his life, like how it does for the others.  While watching the live news broadcast, they learn that the city has borrowed a Mechanical Hound from another city and are about to release it on the hunt for Montag.  The two become very nervous as they watch the hound discover Montag's scent from the flame thrower and head off, following the scent.  Montag instructs Faber to burn everything that Montag touched and turn on his sprinklers so that the hound doesn't track the scent into his house.  Montag takes a suitcase full of Faber's clothes and a bottle of whiskey, in hopes of trying to drown out the scent the hound has stored in its memory, and heads for the river.  

  Montag stops to catch his breath and peers through peoples windows to follow the live feed of the hound.  He watches the hound stop in Faber's yard and hesitate… but then follows Montag's scent back into the alley.  Montag is relieved that Faber was not discovered, but quickly realizes he needs to get a move on, since the hound is heading his way!  Montag decides to listen to his Seashell again to keep posted, and hears the radio saying the police want, "Everyone in every house in every street open a front or rear door or look from the windows.  The fugitive cannot escape if everyone in the next minute looks from his house" (p.138).  They then give a countdown of 10 seconds.  Montag runs faster and faster, so close to the river.  Just before the TVs shout "Ten!" and doors everywhere open, Montag makes it to the river and into the darkness.  He jumps in, takes off all his clothes, and bathes himself with the whiskey.  He then puts on all of Faber's clothes and lets the river whisk him away downstream.  

Reaction & Questions:  While this section of the book was short, it was pretty intense.  Montag is still a fugitive on the run, and of course they have brought in another hound!  I should have thought of that.  I felt like the "battle" scene between Montag and the first hound was a little underwhelming based on the foreshadowing of the hound in the beginning of the book.  I should've known there would be another one involved.  Thank goodness that the hound didn't detect Montag's scent at Faber's house, because then killing Beatty may have been in vain.  The main reason Montag killed Beatty was to protect Faber.  If they found him out anyway, then what would be the point?  Although, there is also the fact that Montag was able to escape, at least at that moment.  I thought the police and news getting all of the townspeople involved in looking out the window was very smart on their part.  Guaranteed every single house was watching and was happy to participate in the exciting chase.  As a reader, while the counting to 10 goes on, I kept thinking, he's gotta make it, he's gotta make it!  Sure enough, just in the nick of time he does!  I'm getting so near to the end of the book, that I just want to jump ahead and see what happens in the end already!  Will Montag have a face-off with this new hound or will the whiskey and clothing-change end the trail and the river?  At this point, I am wondering how the book will end.  Will Montag just be running for the rest of his life?  Or will he be able to make a new home for himself in one of the camps?  Or perhaps he will get caught by the hound and go to jail, but Faber will continue to fight for the both of them?