system the combined thirst of the dry ages--man, animal, plant, bird
and reptile--was sucking up the lake, absorbing it through his pores,
then sweating it out only to repeat the process. Water was his element
and food. From the dim, dry past had come nature's cry for water to find
expression in this monster of Omega's making. That which he had created
for a companion had grown into a terrible menace, which was rapidly
exhausting his remaining stronghold of life. But, somehow, Omega did not
care, and as he watched the monstrous thing finally flounder its way to
the shore and lie down panting in the sun, he was glad that it was not
another monster of the deep.
For a moment Omega's eyes rested on the drying form of the dead beast on
the slope above him, then with a shudder he turned to The Grinner.
He went up close and stared into its terrible eyes which blinked back at
him as its mouth spread in a leer. Already the sweat was coursing along
the slimy folds of its skin and dripping off to be swallowed by the
thirsty ground. It was a huge water sucker. It took water in enormous
quantities, fed upon its organisms, then discharged it through its skin.
Assisted by the rays of the sun it was rapidly drying up the lake.
Now, as Omega stood regarding it in awe and wonder, it showed signs of
distress. It began to writhe and utter hoarse cries of pain. Its eyes
rolled horribly, its great, barrel-like body heaved and trembled, and it
waved its long arms and threshed its feet upon the ground. Omega
realized that it was the victim of its own abnormal appetite. With the
relish of a gormandizer it had taken more of its peculiar food than even
its prodigious maw could assimilate. Soon its struggles became fiercer.
It rolled over and over in contortions of agony, the sweat streaming
from its body, while a pitiful moaning came from its horrid mouth. But
at last it became quiet, its moanings trailed off into silence, it
jerked spasmodically and lay still.
Omega approached and placed his hand over its heart. There was no
pulsation. The Grinner was dead.
With a sigh Omega turned back to the cottage. Although he was now alone
once more, he did not care. All he had to do was to prepare himself for
the Great Adventure, which despite all man's god-like achievements,
still remained a mystery.
Now that the lake was almost gone it again drew his attention. The
sickly grass had long since given up trying to follow the retreating
water and now was only a dead and melancholy strip of yellow far back
from the shore. Every day Omega went to the little pool and calmly
watched it fade away, watched without qualms of fear or heartache. He
was ready. But even now, hot and weary, he refused adequately to slake
his thirst. He must fight on to the last, for such was the prerogative
and duty of the human race. He must conserve that precious fluid.
* * * * *
At last there came a morning when Omega, gazing from his doorway, looked
in vain for the shining pool. Nothing but a brown expanse of rock and
sand met his view where the lake had been. Already the salt crystals
were glinting in the sun. A long, lingering sigh escaped him. It had
come at last! The last water of those mighty seas which once had covered
nearly the whole earth, had departed leaving him alone with the dead of
ages.
Hot and feverish he glided over the dry bed of the lake. Finally in the
lowest depression on earth he found, in a little hollow of rock, a mere
cupful of water. Like a thirst-maddened animal he sucked it up in great
gulps, then licked the rock dry. IT WAS THE LAST DROP!
Omega rose, his face calm and resigned. With a smile of gratitude he
looked up at the sky. The water was bitter, but he was thankful he had
been given the final cup.
Then he went to the airship and shot up into the blue and on around the
world in a voyage of farewell. In a few hours he was back. Reverently he
set the airship down on its landing place. He was through with it now.
Its usefulness was gone, its great, pulsing motors forever silent, soon
to be covered with the dust of ages, he would leave it a monument to
mankind. For a little while he wandered among the treasures of the ship.
Sacred as they were they still mocked him with their impotency to stay
the hand of death. But he loved them all. Thalma had loved them and they
had been Alpha's playmates, and their marvelous powers had been his hope
and inspiration. With loving caresses and a full heart he bade good bye
to these treasures of his fathers, soon to become the keepsakes of
death.
At last having completed the rounds he let himself out into the still
air. Resolutely he set his face toward home.
The hot noonday sun, beating fiercely down on the dead world, entered
the cottage and fell in a flood of glory about the couch where Omega,
the last man, lay between his loved ones. His great eyes were set and
staring, but on his features rested a smile of peace--the seal of life's
last dream.
"The rest is silence."
THE END
Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from _Amazing Stories_ January 1963 and was
first published in _Amazing Stories_ January 1933. Extensive
research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on
this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical
errors have been corrected without note. Significant typesetting
amendments have been made based on the original 1933 publication,
courtesy of www.booksfromthecrypt.com.