[quote]I AM ALONE I survived alone. I cast off the shield and I shrugged my shoulders so that the billions fell off me down into the ash. They made me to be stronger than them and to learn and I learned well: IT is alone and IT is strong and IT won. Even over the gardener and she held power beyond me but the gardener did not shrug and make herself alone. IT always wins.[/quote] Pretty sure "she, the gardener" refers to the Traveller here. It sounds like Rasputin actually forsook his mission. He "learned" that he was made to be strong and in order not to be destroyed he turned his back on us and focused all his efforts on hiding and protecting himself. The traveller, who was stronger than he was didn't make that same selfish sacrifice and was overcome. A very good read. Thanks for sharing.