Curufin nods. "I suspected as much, with respect to the Voidtrecker Express's awareness of our emotions. You think it's the tethers that give it that awareness? I understand little of how the train functions, and I suppose that maybe someday I'll know more."

Too little data, that's true!

"As for those who don't want to be on the train, there are several possible reasons for that. Some of these passengers feel they are needed in their own worlds, and it grieves them to be absent when they are needed. Others miss the people whom they left behind and they want to return to them. Some feel that they do not have the skills or abilities to participate fully in train life, especially the missions. Some don't have the social skills to fully participate. But I can't account for everyone. My parents, Fëanor and Nerdanel, both left, but they had not become disengaged, they were still engaged with train life. I believe they wanted to return home, however. I can't think of anyone who really wanted to stay but ended up leaving."