the other."

"But it's not going to happen?"

Hugh's mind went off on another track. "You know, Jim--I've never been a
religious man. In fact I've only had one concept of God. I believe that
God--above all, is a gentleman."

Jim said nothing and after a moment, Hugh went on. "Do you know what
they do when they execute a man by firing squad?"

"What do they do?"

"After the squad fires its volley, the Captain steps up to the fallen
man and puts a bullet through his brain. The man is executed for a
reason, but the bullet is an act of mercy--the act of a gentleman.

"We are being executed for a reason we can't understand, and the bullet
has already been fired, Jim. Another ten hours--eleven hours."

"What bullet?"

"Look up there. See it? The Moon."

Jim looked dully into the sky. "It's bigger--a way bigger."

"Hurtling in toward us at ever increasing speed. When it hits--"

Jim looked at his brother with complete understanding at last. "When it
hits--we won't be here any more."

"That's right. A quick, easy death for the world--from the bullet fired
by the Last Gentleman."

They turned back toward the house. "Shall I tell Myra," Jim asked.

"What do you think you should do?"

"No--no, we won't tell her. We've got ten hours."

"Yes--we've got ten hours."

"Let's go home and have some coffee."

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