Yes, that is, that is the reason. [A little puzzled because there's only one reason.] And he's supposed to be stopping me, of course. He tempts and I thwart his tempting. But it's just been the two of us as field agents since the Beginning, so after a while, well. One gets to know the enemy.

He always cares, [he says sternly,] but He doesn't often interfere, as I said. It's all part of the ineffable plan. For the most part the Metatron enforces his own interpretation of the rules. [Is that a note of dislike for the Metatron? Yes it is.]