Montag escapes into the river

Montag reaches the river and wades in, stripping off his clothes and washing himself with whisky to throw off the Hound's scent. He puts on Faber's old clothes and floats downstream, leaving the city behind. The Hound and helicopters lose his trail and eventually give up the chase, settling for a scapegoat. Montag feels a sense of peace and freedom as he drifts away from the oppressive society.