Do you know how The Peloponnesian War ends? "He [Tissaphernes] therefore decided to go and see them at the Hellespont in order to protest against what had happenned at Antandros and to clear himself as best he could from what they had to say against him with regard to the Phoenician fleet and other matters. He went first to Ephesus where he made a sacrifice to Artemis..." that is to say, it doesn't end at all. As Firestone said, Kafka didn't finish The Castle so I don't see why I should. But there is a surprise ending: in the last book Athens becomes an oligarchy. All that Pericles's funeral oration stuff about a democracy creating the best soldiers because they understand what they're fighting for and Athen's freedoms being a beacon to the world are out the window when they start seriously losing battles. Once the empire's in danger, it's the power of the strong over the weak. Same as ever, but it's still sad.