Part 2, Chapter 23 Summary

Carlos meets Mariano, one his brother's friends, in Pismo Beach. They have a room they share with other people. Carlos eats by hanging around the restaurant and finding what he can. The owner, a Korean woman, tells him he can eat there whenever he wants. In the spring he goes to Seattle for the fishing season and runs into Julio. He teaches Carlos how to play Pi-Q, a gambling game. Julio is a good pick pocket and considers his "pickings" to be works of art, which is why he doesn't sell them. Carlos tries gambling and loses all of his money. With just fifteen cents remaining the next morning, he tries again and wins five hundred dollars. He goes to Los Angeles and looks for Amado but can't find him, so he goes on to San Diego. He goes by boat...