The chapter opens with a description of the "Infernal Book of Chaos" and the prophet Healayas. The narrator tells us that the book has been in existence "for thousands of years" and that it has been rising up with a "striking mass" as if it were a direct challenge to the knowledge of history. He says that he came looking for the "bravest yaks" who do not bother to go to the "wilderness" of the book. He explains that he gave up his career as a scientist 15 years ago and that his old friend, Professor Londel, pursued his research "like a man possessed" . He would sink down into a "universe of shadows" and never emerge. He met Londel by accident when he was a young "thug" from the south. Londel had handed him his "incredible discovery" as his "last will and testament" , but now he is alone in the "nightmare place" and feels like a different person. He wonders how he is supposed to pay back for all the sacrifices he has made. He tells the narrator that the exhibition of his book is opening on July 4th and that the police forces are overwhelmed by the "wave of atrocious murders" that have struck the country. He adds that the author of the article on him, Jack Stanton, has disappeared. He has received death threats from a "certain" person who tried to kill him after he cornered the professor.