GeraldhadpenetratedalltheouterplacesofGudrun\'ssoul。Hewastoherthemostcrucialinstanceoftheexistingworld，theneplusultraoftheworldofmanasitexistedforher。Inhimsheknewtheworld，andhaddonewithit。KnowinghimfinallyshewastheAlexanderseekingnewworlds。Buttherewerenonewworlds，therewerenomoremen，therewereonlycreatures，little，ultimatecreatureslikeLoerke。Theworldwasfinishednow，forher。Therewasonlytheinner，individualdarkness，sensationwithintheego，theobscenereligiousmysteryofultimatereduction，themysticfrictionalactivitiesofdiabolicreducingdown，disintegratingthevitalorganicbodyoflife。
AllthisGudrunknewinhersubconsciousness，notinhermind。Sheknewhernextstep——sheknewwhatsheshouldmoveonto，whensheleftGerald。
ShewasafraidofGerald，thathemightkillher。Butshedidnotintendtobekilled。Afinethreadstillunitedhertohim。Itshouldnotbeherdeathwhichbrokeit。Shehadfurthertogo，afurther，slowexquisiteexperiencetoreap，unthinkablesubtletiesofsensationtoknow，beforeshewasfinished。
Ofthelastseriesofsubtleties，Geraldwasnotcapable。Hecouldnottouchthequickofher。Butwherehisruderblowscouldnotpenetrate，thefine，insinuatingbladeofLoerke\'sinsect—likecomprehensioncould。
Atleast，itwastimeforhernowtopassovertotheother，thecreature，thefinalcraftsman。SheknewthatLoerke，inhisinnermostsoul，wasdetachedfromeverything，forhimtherewasneitherheavennorearthnorhell。Headmittednoallegiance，hegavenoadherenceanywhere。Hewassingleand，byabstractionfromtherest，absoluteinhimself。