Rory Magill

“ Hugh looked up into the blue sky. "A dwarf star, Jim. So incredibly heavy, it would be hard for you to conceive of its weight. This star blew up—broke into five pieces and the five pieces followed each other through space. This world was formed in the meantime—maybe even this galaxy—we don't know. So the five pieces of heavy star had a rendezvous with a world unborn. The world was born and grew old and then the rendezvous was kept. Right on schedule. On some schedule so huge and ponderous we can't even begin to understand it."
"The five bombs." ”

“ A moon over a quiet country—over a weary, waiting, world.
Jim didn't go to work the next day. He hadn't planned to stay away from work, but he and Myra awoke very late and it was then that he made up his mind. For a long time, they lay in bed, not even the thought of Hugh being around and all the things they wanted to talk about, could bring them out of bed until they felt guilty about not getting up. ”

“ During the coffee that Myra made, Hugh said, "Had quite a time getting here. Trains disrupted. All air lines grounded. But I wanted to see you again before—"
"Then there is a war," Jim said. "We've been kind of wondering out here. With the censorship we don't get any news and the people hereabouts have almost forgotten the bombs I guess."
Hugh stared into his coffee cup for a long time. "No—there isn't any war." Hugh grinned wryly. "I don't think anybody in the world has got enough energy left to fight one." ”

“ 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. ”

“ Myra got breakfast. She dropped the skillet while transferring the eggs to a platter but she got her foot out of the way so no harm was done. After breakfast the men went back outside. Jim moved automatically toward a chair.
Then he stopped and frowned. He straightened deliberately. He turned and looked at his brother. He said, "Hugh. You're a man that knows. What's wrong? What did those bombs do to us? Tell me. I've got to know."
Hugh was silent for a time. Then he said, "Feel up to a walk?" ”