The Long Walk

Garraty is fascinated by Scramm, who is married. He tells Garraty about his life back home; he married Cathy when he was 15. She’s pregnant, and Scramm is optimistic that his child will go to college. Scramm is also confident that he’ll finish the Walk. Garraty marvels at this optimism.

Two girls cheer them on from the side of the road. Gribble breaks from the pack and runs to them. He frantically kisses one of the girls, receiving three warnings in the process. He’s soon shot. Garraty is so aroused by the scene that he ejaculates in his pants.

He feels rage toward Stebbins, who is tailing the pack like a vulture. Scramm is developing a cold. Harkness, who planned to write a book about the Walk, is shot.

Baker tells the boys about his uncle, an undertaker. They contemplate the philosophical question of who buries the undertaker. Olson begs a soldier to let him rest. Percy edges toward the shoulder, watching the soldiers. He makes a break for it and is immediately shot. McVries begins praying, and Abraham begs him to stop.

A spectator gives the Walkers the finger, and Garraty points out that the Walk has interrupted the trucker’s route, so he might lose his job.