much of the gut-wrenching to consider in the how the ritual words at the door of the kemmerhouse in coming of age in karhide parallel genly and estraven's journey in the left hand of darkness:
"You cross earth now. You cross water now. You cross the Ice now…. And the exulting ending, as we came into the centerhall: Together we have crossed the Ice. Together we come into the Hearthplace, Into life, bringing life! In the act of creation, praise!"
but of course, they do not come to life—the generative act that supplants the intimacy of the sex they were too perplexed and afraid to have is therem's death and the birth of the new ekumenical gethen. genly comes into the hearthplace alone, bringing death and life together; they crossed the ice but could not cross to one another. and now never can.
