Yossarian refuses to fly

Yossarian refuses to fly any more combat missions. After the death of his friend Nately in the mid-air collision over Spezia, Yossarian marches backward through the squadron with his hand on his gun, keeping a leery eye out for Nately's whore, who has been trying to kill him since he broke the news of Nately's death. He tells Captain Piltchard and Captain Wren that he is through flying. They leave his name off the flight schedule for the next mission and report the matter to Group Headquarters.

The Commanders' Response

Colonel Korn laughs calmly when he hears the news. "What the devil do you mean, he won't fly more missions?" he asks with a smile, as Colonel Cathcart creeps away into a corner to brood about the sinister import of the name Yossarian popping up to plague him once again. Korn asks why Yossarian refuses, and Piltchard and Wren suggest that Nately's death may be the reason. "Who does he think he is—Achilles?" Korn says, pleased with the simile, and files a mental reminder to repeat it the next time he finds himself in General Peckem's presence. He insists that Yossarian has no choice and must fly more missions. Piltchard and Wren report that they already told him that, but it made no difference. Korn then suggests sending Yossarian to Rome for a rest, thinking that Nately's death may have hurt him a bit.

The Deal

Colonel Korn and Colonel Cathcart eventually work out a deal to send Yossarian home. They will promote him to major, give him another medal, and issue glowing press releases describing his valor over Ferrara, his deep and abiding loyalty to his outfit, and his consummate dedication to duty. In return, Yossarian must agree to like them, to be their pal, to say nice things about them here and back in the States, and to become one of the boys. The deal is designed to prevent the other men from learning that Yossarian is being sent home as a result of his refusal to fly more missions, and to prevent General Peckem or General Scheisskopf from getting wind of any friction between them. Yossarian initially agrees to the deal, shaking hands with Colonel Korn and calling him "Blackie" and Colonel Cathcart "Chuck." But after he is stabbed by Nately's whore and hospitalized, he changes his mind. He tells Major Danby that he is breaking the agreement, that it is an odious deal. Danby warns him that if he does not go through with the deal, they will institute court-martial proceedings, charging him with incompetence over Ferrara, insubordination, refusal to engage the enemy in combat when ordered to do so, and desertion. They will also find him guilty of rape, extensive black-market operations, acts of sabotage, and the sale of military secrets to the enemy, using witnesses who will swear he did those things. Yossarian realizes he has no hope of winning a court-martial.

The Escape

When the chaplain bursts into the hospital room with the electrifying news that Orr has washed ashore in Sweden after rowing there in a yellow raft, Yossarian leaps out of bed with an incredulous yelp. He realizes that Orr planned it that way from the beginning, that he even practiced getting shot down and rehearsed for it on every mission he flew. Yossarian decides to run away to Sweden himself. He tells Major Danby that he is not running away from his responsibilities but running to them. Danby protests that it is impossible, a geographical impossibility to get there from here. Yossarian replies that at least he will be trying. He wants to find Nately's whore's kid sister in Rome and take her to Sweden with him if he can. Danby, after a moment of hesitation, gives Yossarian a thick wad of Italian currency and urges him to go. The chaplain declares that he will stay and persevere, that he will nag and badger Colonel Cathcart and Colonel Korn every time he sees them, and that he will punch Captain Black in the nose. Yossarian jumps out of bed, puts on his uniform, and runs out the door. Nately's whore is hiding just outside, and her knife comes down, missing him by inches. He takes off.