The Decline of Don Elkins

[βαθμιαίος]

I think he was offering himself in order to save Carla. Ra mentioned potentially fatal results for her, and, judging by the frequency of his questions about her condition, he had been worried about her for a long time.

Have you read Esmerelda Sweetwater? I think he saw events proceeding as they did in that book and decided that it would be he who offered the sacrifice this time.

However, it's been a while since I read that book and may be misremembering/conflating.