Going After Cacciato: Chapter 18 Summary & Analysis

It is evening in Mandalay, shortly after the events of the previous chapter, and the troops have gathered together to eat dinner. Eddie raises an important question: what are the soldiers supposed to be searching for? Oscar Johnson replies that the soldiers will have to think like Cacciato, so they’ll have to search the brothels and bars. Eddie protest that these places “don’t sound like Cacciato,” but Johnson insists that they must all look there. Everyone drinks a toast to Harold Murphy, and to their memories together. Doc then proposes a toast to Lieutenant Corson—a man with, Doc claims, 25 years of combat service. He even proposes a toast for Cacciato. Afterwards, Eddie asks one more question—what do the soldiers do if they do find Cacciato? In answer, Corson makes a “vague, dismissive gesture with his hand.”

The soldiers establish their new routine: they wake up early in the Minneapolis Hotel, begin searching the city, then return to sleep. Paul Berlin is particularly confused by the new routine, and he can’t imagine where Cacciato could be. He walks with Sarkin through restaurants and teashops, never seeing a sign of Cacciato. Berlin tries to remember details of Cacciato’s personality that could help him find the man. Cacciato loves to fish, he remembers.

One day, Berlin and Sarkin are walking through Mandalay when Berlin—much to his amazement—sees Cacciato walking less than six feet in front of him. Cacciato is dressed as a monk, and his hands are folded. Around him there stand four other monks, all wearing identical robes. Berlin and Sarkin struggle to keep up with Cacciato in the crowded streets. They follow Cacciato and his fellow “monks” to a large altar, around which there’s a crowd. Berlin whispers that he’s “going after” Cacciato, and runs toward him.

Berlin approaches Cacciato, now standing at the center of the crowd. The air smells of incense, and everyone is chanting together. As Berlin gets closer, he catches a glimpse of Cacciato’s face—or at least “what might have been Cacciato,” staring directly at him. Suddenly, two men seize Berlin by the arms and pull him back. Berlin tries to break free, but finds that the men are smothering him. Berlin sees Cacciato’s face only inches away from his own, and then Berlin loses consciousness.

When Berlin wakes up, he’s lying alone in a park, with Sarkin standing over him. Sarkin explains that he’s been passed out for hours. Berlin asks which way Cacciato went, and Sarkin, smiling slightly, points toward the railroad station—“The way to Paris.”