Book II, Part I - Passing Through Mexico: Chapters 1 - 5 Summary

Duluoz is out to prove that he is able to do nothing and still be a worthwhile artist. The short time spent "with the desolation angels, the poets and characters of the San Francisco Renaissance" were a breath of fresh air that cannot alter the course of his path. Did anyone ever give Rembrandt grief for painting all night instead of simply focusing on the work he performed in the day?

Duluoz has chosen to spend the night in the desert when there is a break in the trip. Two squad cars surround Duluoz as he walks through the desert under a full moon, looking for a place to sleep. The police are baffled that a man who has enough money to rent a bed...