Summary

Part II begins in 1948 as Walker continues on his train ride. He passes through the Midwest and western states, and finally arrives in California at Union Station, where he glances at a pamphlet describing the state as “a paradise in the sun” (41). He wanders through Chinatown and then Los Angeles' Main Street, surprised at the racial and ethnic diversity of the people he encounters. He falls asleep in a movie theater.

In the morning, Walker gets a free meal from a church and visits the Labor Exchange for the $20/week he is entitled to as a veteran. He wanders into Skid Row, where most of L.A.'s homeless population live on the street, and meets a man who calls himself Billy Idaho. Billy is also a vet and he provides Walker with some information about the city. He suggests Walker go to...