The spark of alertness appears to weaken, as if Nathaniel is tiring himself with words longer than a syllable. A number of thoughts come to him, though he cannot quite sort them, let alone put them into words.

But he knows the pain is too much. He wants to die. But he does not want to die alone.

"Time means nothing when you are pressed against the beating heart of the Maker," he says aloud, though he does not know which thought it is tied to. Only that it speaks of the longing he will feel for Anders if he goes without him.