He took a few steps around the corner, fascinated. Tents, and shacks of cardboard and plastic, and scavenged sheet metal huts covered the western end of The Mall. A cluster of grimy white canvas spread up the shallow rise of the monument grounds, looking like dirty snow humped against the base of the Washington Monument. Who knew how much further the improvised slum extended? It was as if the sleaziest neighborhood of the Barrens had been dumped into the middle of Washington. It was unbelievable—but the noise and smells and sights were real!