This chapter's epigraph is from a book called "The Curse of Contrivance," written by Shmoop and published by Random House in 2000 . In the book, the author warns his readers that the more they love, the more life will be taken away from them. If they love no one, they will take away the lives of animals and humans. The more they steal life, the less lives they will be able to take. Shmooop says, "The more you love the more lives are taken away. If you love no man, no life is taken from him. If he loves no woman, he will strip the life from animals and even humans. " Shmoop no, withered curse of contradiction" . Shmoopp says that he has been looking for her for a year now, but he hasn't eaten for half a year. He says that even if he cut his own head off, he wouldn't be killed even if it were cut off by an inhuman being. He adds, "I created demons, who might kill me on another continent." Shmopp explains that he is the emperor of Mongolia and the people of Mongolia are "units" on a board game. He is preparing for war, and he hates the expansion of his country's land. Shmop says that his purpose in life is to die. He wants to see his brother and crush him, and so he wants to find a way to kill them together.