"[first face-to-face meeting with the player, on Narayan] What? You're not... where is he? Look, I know he's here, I have his Book. So where is he...? He didn't come. I take Releeshahn from him, and he sends you instead. [to himself] You idiot! You actually thought this would work?! You thought that you could force him into coming here and fixing things? Why? Why would he rewrite Narayan? Because of your messages, because of your paintings?! Look at your world! Look at what's left of it! When are you gonna get it through your thick skull that you do not matter to him?! [sighs, calming himself] No one could be alive out there. No one... [turns back to the player] We're stuck here, you know. The Linking Book back to J'nanin is gone, left behind when I linked out of Atrus' study. And as for getting into Narayan, look around you. This chamber is the only way in, and Atrus installed some kind of shield, and I have never been able to get past it. Not once in all these years. So you're just as stuck here as I am. At least until I open this Book, and I show Atrus what it's like to watch your friends and relatives die. [turns to leave, then stops and turns back] If you do find a way out of here, I suggest that you think very carefully about using it. Because the one thing I know about Linking Books - the doors they open... don't close behind you."