The Project Gutenberg eBook, Last Enemy, by Henry Beam Piper, Illustrated
by Miller

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Title: Last Enemy

Author: Henry Beam Piper

Illustrator: Miller

Release Date: July 10, 2006 [eBook #18800]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Astounding Science Fiction,
August, 1950. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence
that the copyright on this publication was renewed.

LAST ENEMY

by

H. BEAM PIPER

Illustrated by Miller

_The last enemy was the toughest of all--and conquering him
was in itself almost as dangerous as not conquering. For a
strange pattern of beliefs can make assassination an
honorable profession!_

[Illustration: ]

Along the U-shaped table, the subdued clatter of dinnerware and the
buzz of conversation was dying out; the soft music that drifted down
from the overhead sound outlets seemed louder as the competing noises
diminished. The feast was drawing to a close, and Dallona of Hadron
fidgeted nervously with the stem of her wineglass as last-moment
doubts assailed her.

The old man at whose right she sat noticed, and reached out to lay his
hand on hers.

"My dear, you're worried," he said softly. "You, of all people,
shouldn't be, you know."

"The theory isn't complete," she replied. "And I could wish for more
positive verification. I'd hate to think I'd got you into this--"

Garnon of Roxor laughed. "No, no!" he assured her. "I'd decided upon
this long before you announced the results of your experiments. Ask
Girzon; he'll bear me out."

"That's true," the young man who sat at Ga