ing upon him and licking
his hand. Its red tongue always hung from its slavering mouth like that
of a panting dog. Omega named it The Grinner, because of its habitual
and ghastly smile. He took it to the cottage that it might wait on him
through the long hours of solitude. That night it slept by his side,
content and motionless. But the next morning after this first night of
incongruous companionship Omega was awakened by its stertorous
breathing and the touch of a cold, clammy sweat which was oozing from
its pores and dropping upon the floor.

* * * * *

Throughout the day Omega marveled at this phenomenon. He noticed that
the weird thing went often to the drinking fountain and wrapped its
tongue about the water jet. That night he awakened at midnight to find
The Grinner gone. He did not bother to look for him and mid-forenoon he
returned. His rotund form seemed to have grown even larger, and as he
ambled about on all fours the sweat trickled from his repulsive skin and
trailed across the floor. It was a strange thing and Omega was at a loss
to account for it, but his wonder was eclipsed by his appreciation of
The Grinner's companionship. The Grinner was often absent for hours at a
time, but he always returned of his own free will. Omega often saw him
ambling among the rocks or stretched out in the sun on the beach. He
formed the habit of letting him have his way, which was that of extreme
laziness. But during all this time he was growing prodigiously. In three
months he had become a monster weighing well over half a ton, but he
still retained his amiable nature and affection for his master.

* * * * *

Omega seldom left the cottage. Determined to live as long as
possible--for the age-old urge of life still persisted--to do nothing to
hasten his end, he, nevertheless, was doing nothing to defer it. His
soul in the past, he desired only to be near his dear ones. For hours he
would sit gazing on their peaceful features, pouring into their heedless
ears the love songs of his heart. Living for them, patiently awaiting
the day when he, too, could enter into rest, he paid less and less
attention to The Grinner, only noticing that he grew more horrible and
repulsive as his size increased.

Lonely and despondent Omega at last left the cottage only to go to the
airship for supplies. He seldom even looked toward the lake. It was a
long time since he had walked ab