Montag plants books in the home of his fellow fireman Black. This happens while he is on the run from the police. He breaks into the house and hides some books in the kitchen while Mrs. Black is asleep and Black is at the fire station.

Montag had intended to plant books in another fireman's home for some time. In fact, he developed this "insidious plan" with Faber, the purpose of which is to bring down the fireman system from the inside. When these books are discovered, it will appear to Captain Beatty that the fireman system has become corrupted. Black's home will be burned, while Mrs. Black is left outside in the cold.

Montag does not plant books in Black's home because he bears any malice towards him. It is simply the most effective way of bringing down the censorship system. Montag wants to create a new society in which books are encouraged and valued, and this is, in his view, the only way to make it happen.