In this chapter, the reader is introduced to the world of story and art, and to the people who live in it. The narrator is a young man who has just returned from a trip to China. He has been studying the language and culture of the people in order to better understand them. He is also a student of the art of translation, typesetting, and quality control. He feels that he is not a human being, but rather a pet. He tries to find his brother's study, but he is unable to find it. He asks the narrator to help him with the papers, but the narrator is not interested in helping him. He tells the narrator that he can teach him how to read if he wants.