In this chapter, we learn that Jack has won the prize for the best science fiction novel in the United States. We learn that the prize was decided by a blind vote, and that Jack's mentor, the late Professor Kandel, was also a part of the vote. Jack tells us that he and the other prize-winners are going to have a great time at the awards ceremony. He tells the audience that he's not sure if he stands a chance, but that he hopes the prizewinner's heart won't give him away. Jack then tells us about how the vote was conducted, and how the professor won the award by a unanimous vote. He says that he was "totally floored" by the vote, but he was floored by how well the book had been received. Jack says that they did everything possible to make the book a hit, so that people would talk about him. He also says that the only reason he is so scared is because he has a nightmare. The nightmare is him, he says, and he is the one who has been waiting for him to wake up. He explains that he has been following Jack for a long time and that he believes that Jack is the messiah. He reminds Jack that he had a family, and they too needed him. The family will be there for Jack for all eternity. Jack agrees that he needs to burn all of the notes he left in the book. He's going to do that, he tells us, because he doesn't know what else to do with his life.