At first, all attempts at dissuading the creature seem to fail. Henry's telepathic attempts are met with powerful pushback-- he might get a brain bruise or two from the creature attempting to shove him out of his mind, but.

Then the snake sees the sandwiches. It eyes the sandwiches. It chomps the sandwiches, and if LWJ isn't careful he may lose a finger!! Once it has eaten its fill, it settles down, though it is still glaring at the group and keeping itself between them and the door.

The creature cannot be questioned directly-- it does not seem to understand anything the group is trying to ask it. But it does keep insisting that they "LEAVE" and that it is "PROTECTING" and that whatever is going on in the solitary room, it is "MOTHER'S DOING."

If the group does not leave on their own, the snake will eventually conjure up another whirlwind, one that will kick them all down the hallway and. . . back out into the courtyard, straight into the pond? Wait, how did you all get there??