th hour
with the prize. No need of calling for help. This was no armed
war-party, but the most defenseless being in the Universe--a mother
burdened with a child.

Guldran put on another burst of speed. His previous shouts had served
only to spur the woman to greater efforts. Surely there was _some_ magic
word that had survived even the centuries of illiteracy. Something
equivalent to the "bread and salt" of all illiterate peoples. Cupping
his hands to his mouth, he shouted, "Food! food!"

Ahead of him the woman turned her head, leaped lightly in mid-stride,
and went on; slowing a little but still running doggedly.

Guldran's pulse leaped. He yelled again, "Food!"

The instant that his foot touched the yielding surface of the trap, he
knew that he had met defeat. As his body crashed down on the
fire-sharpened stakes, he knew too the terror from which the last men of
the human race had fled.

Above him the woman looked down, her teeth gleaming wolfishly. She
pointed down into the pit; spoke exultantly to the child.

"Food!" said the last woman on earth.

THE END

Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from _If Worlds of Science Fiction_
September 1952. 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.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Last Supper, by T. D. Hamm

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