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Science Fiction Collector, v. 2, issue 6, May 1937

Page 10

" NO MORE

A SHORT STORY BY SAM MOSKOWITZ

"You're the last hope of a beleaguered race. Dr. Milton, the last hope. Won't you help us? All the earnestness and ability of a lawful procedure went Into lawyer Homer's remarks, for more was at stake than an ordinary court case. In his convincing oral ability lay the future well-being of the world.  He was dealing with a very unusual person.
    "Hmm-m-- you say that Disease X is making considerable progress in
exterminating the human race," commented Dr. Milton.
     "Exactly. Despite all precautions, this unknown disease is killing people by the tens of thousands. If you do not lend your ability as a
disease expert to the welfare of the human race, millions may die before a check can be brought to fore."
     "1 help the human race?   What do you take me for?   Let them die. It's about time some of the excess population were reduced!"
     "But Doctor—-"
     "No buts. I will have to call this little talk to an end. To
think, I had to call off a falsto* contest to listen to your prattle."
     "But--"
"James,. show the gentleman to the door.." Crestfallen, James Howard Homer was ushered to the door. A. great lawyer he might be, yet not
great enough to turn the diseased mind of Dr. Milton into the necessary channels.    Even violence had failed to accomplish that. In his mind,
there was no thought of giving up. Tomorrow was another day and perhaps, perhaps—Oh, it was too much to expect--
     True to his mental promlse, Homer returned the following
day to the Milton residence,  this time with news of a more tremendous splurge of death than before. Hideous death—for the effects of Disease X were not pleasant. As most diseases, it starts with a fever;
then, as It advanced thru its various stages, a peculiar radiant action is set up which disintegrates the body piece by piece into a heaping pile of thick, brown dust. There is practically nothing left to bury.
      He came the day after, with news of the first stages of the disease in his own child.    Again he renewed his plea, only to be thwarted by.the man's berated sense of humor.   Fists clinched, teeth pressed in unbearable tightness, he would stand outside Dr. Milton's home on such occasions, while the irony of it all coursed thru his feverish brain.

* --- Falsto: A popular gambling game of the day; a combination of roulette and cards.

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" NO MORE A SHORT STORY BY SAM MOSKOWITZ "You're the last hope of a beleaguered race. Dr. Milton, the last hope. Won't you help us? All the earnestness and ability of a lawful procedure went Into lawyer Homer's remarks, for more was at stake than an ordinary court case. In his convincing oral ability lay the future well-being of the world. He was dealing with a very unusual person. "Hmm-m-- you say that Disease X is making considerable progress in exterminating the human race," commented Dr. Milton. "Exactly. Despite all precautions, this unknown disease is killing people by the tens of thousands. If you do not lend your ability as a disease expert to the welfare of the human race, millions may die before a check can be brought to fore." "1 help the human race? What do you take me for? Let them die. It's about time some of the excess population were reduced!" "But Doctor—-" "No buts. I will have to call this little talk to an end. To think, I had to call off a falsto* contest to listen to your prattle." "But--" "James,. show the gentleman to the door.." Crestfallen, James Howard Homer was ushered to the door. A. great lawyer he might be, yet not great enough to turn the diseased mind of Dr. Milton into the necessary channels. Even violence had failed to accomplish that. In his mind, there was no thought of giving up. Tomorrow was another day and perhaps, perhaps—Oh, it was too much to expect-- True to his mental promlse, Homer returned the following day to the Milton residence, this time with news of a more tremendous splurge of death than before. Hideous death—for the effects of Disease X were not pleasant. As most diseases, it starts with a fever; then, as It advanced thru its various stages, a peculiar radiant action is set up which disintegrates the body piece by piece into a heaping pile of thick, brown dust. There is practically nothing left to bury. He came the day after, with news of the first stages of the disease in his own child. Again he renewed his plea, only to be thwarted by.the man's berated sense of humor. Fists clinched, teeth pressed in unbearable tightness, he would stand outside Dr. Milton's home on such occasions, while the irony of it all coursed thru his feverish brain. * --- Falsto: A popular gambling game of the day; a combination of roulette and cards.