Nately’s death nearly kills the chaplain because of his intense compassion for his young friend. It nearly kills Yossarian for a different reason. One of Yoosarian’s first responsibilities when he arrives in Rome is to find Nately’s girlfriend to tell her of the tragic news concerning the raid on La Spezia. She does not take it well. For whatever reason, the woman ferociously attacks Yossarian and repeatedly tries to kill him. First she goes after him with a potato peeler. Then she rakes him with her long fingernails. She charges at him from the kitchen with a bread knife. She kicks him in the groin. A large ashtray and a full wine bottle turn into weapons. Every time Yossarian thinks he has subdued her, she surprises him again like some almost-comic avenger. Yossarian wonders if all this could be because he broke Nately’s nose or if it’s because she somehow blames him for the death. Perhaps it’s just because he is the only one there. When the woman’s kid sister arrives, she comes after Yossarian with a bread knife. The Captain escapes to a nearby Red Cross building. Bleeding all over, he washes up in the men’s room. Upon exiting, he is assaulted again; this time, the woman uses a silver steak knife. Yossarian gets away and spends three hours finding Hungry Joe so that they can fly back to Pianosa. When they land on the island, Nately’s whore is already there, disguised in mechanic’s green coveralls. They fly her back to Rome and dump her on the landing strip before taking off immediately for Pianosa. Late that night, Yossarian spots her in the bushes near his tent, disguised as a farmer and carrying a huge carving knife. Finally, he and Hungry Joe fly her over northern Italy, well behind enemy lines; strap a parachute on her; and push her out of the plane.
By the end of the week, Yossarian misses the attacks and is worried about the kid sister. He is uncomfortable with his celebrity status on base and annoyed by the questions of other airmen who would also like to stop flying missions. When Yossarian learns that the brothel in Rome has been raided by military police and that the kid sister probably is homeless, he goes AWOL to see if he can help her.
