In this short scene, we learn more about the events leading up to the events of the novel. First, we are introduced to the protagonist's father, who is described as a "dirty old man" and a "newman deterministic" . The protagonist explains that his father's mind is "blackest of hearts" and that he has always wanted to know what his father stands for and what his stand for is. He also explains that he is living like a "real man" , which is a reference to the fact that he lives in the same universe as his father.