Appointment in Samarra question

Shadrack - I absolutely love this book. For me the ending is such a small part of the story that it doesn't matter how he does the deed - he is unraveling from the get go and had no bearings on where he was headed. He's also an alcoholic as are many of the characters and he can't control his actions when he's drunk. He's in a small town where you know who's doing what by simply being astute. All of is actions have disproportionate consequences and he is stuck in a downward spiral of impulse and remorse on a very small stage. In the end he cracks which is not hard to imagine at all. Another casualty of the 20th century American dream. Cheers, Don