Chapter 19

           THEFIGHTCLUBmechanicisstandingonthegas, ragingbehindthewheelinhisquietway, andwestillhavesomethingimportanttodo,tonight. 

           OnethingI’llhavetolearnbeforetheendofcivilization ishowtolookatthestarsandtellwhereI’mgoing. ThingsarequietasdrivingaCadillacthroughouterspace. Wemustbeoffthefreeway. Thethreeguysinthebackseatarepassedoutorasleep. 

           "Youhadanear-lifeexperience,"themechanicsays. 

           Hetakesonehandoffthesteeringwheelandtouchesthelongweltwheremyforeheadbouncedoffthesteeringwheel. Myforeheadisswellingenoughtoshutbothmyeyes, andherunsacoldfingertipdownthelengthoftheswelling. TheCornichehitsabumpandthepainseemstobumpoutovermyeyesliketheshadowfromthebrimofacap. Ourtwistedrearspringsandbumperbark andcreakinthequietaroundourrushdownthenightroad. 

           ThemechanicsayshowthebackbumperoftheCornicheishangingbyitsligaments, howitwastornalmostfreewhenitcaughtanendofthetruck’sfrontbumper. 

           Iask,istonightpartofhishomeworkforProjectMayhem? 

           "Partofit,"hesays. "Ihadtomakefourhumansacrifices,andIhavetopickupaloadoffat." 

           Fat? 

           "Forthesoap." 

           WhatisTylerplanning? 

           Themechanicstartstalking,andit’spureTylerDurden.