 Before Blaine lets Roland and his ka-tet on board, he kills every single living thing in the city of Lud with poison gas.Blaine reveals to the ka-tet that he plans to derail in Topeka, destroying himself and killing them, but accepts Roland's challenge to a riddle contest for a chance at the survival of the ka-tet.If Blaine cannot answer every riddle put to him by the ka-tet, he will let them depart safely once they reach Topeka.