have been standing by your couch,
drinking in the dear sight of you. You sleep soundly, tired
as you are by the long-promised story we told you on this,
your sixteenth birthday, the tale of how the world you know
only from our teachings was destroyed, of how we planned
with our friends to escape the general fate, of how an
accident separated us from them and immured us here alone,
of how you were born in this room and why you have lived
here all your short life. We told you all that, but there is
one thing we did not tell you.

Our food supply has run low, and the gas outside shows no
signs of abatement. With careful husbanding we could all
three live for another four months, but there is no prospect
that we shall be released in so short a time. Alone, you
will have sufficient for a year. If we had had some of Carl
Thorman's life-suspension serum--but it was his perfection
of that which caused the change of plan to a common refuge,
and we never thought to stock with it the discarded rooms in
our own apartments.

We have talked it over, and have decided that you must have
that eight months' extra chance. And so, dear daughter, this
must be farewell.

When the gas is gone Anthony will come to seek us, if he
still lives. You will know him by the white robe of metal
fabric he will wear, with its black girdle. Trust yourself
to him; he was our friend. If all the food has been
consumed, and he still has not come, open the door. But fate
will not be so cruel to you.

We are weary of the long waiting, Naomi. Do not grieve for
us. We shall go out into the gas hand in hand, and release
will be welcome.

God guard you.

* * * * *

Allan was deeply moved by the love and sacrifice so simply worded. He
looked at the girl, and had to blink away a mist that hazed his sight
before he could see her. "I see," he said. "When the year ended and
Anthony had not come, you opened the door--"

"And the gas was gone. Then I heard someone moving far down the
corridor. I was so happy. Who could it be but Anthony? I called. A
hairy, black giant came running, bellowing in some strange language. I
was terribly frightened: I think I screamed, and tried to shut the
door. But he was too quick for me: he was in the room, and his filthy
paws reached out for m