He shook his fist at the silent, towering forms. "Damn you! It's me. Man. Man. I'm human. I'm not crawlin'. See, I'm not crawlin', I'm talkin' to you. I'm talkin' and I'm thinkin', too. See." "_It's making noises._" "_Yes. All the various species of organic life make noises peculiar to their type. Have you not seen a grub before?_" "_No. Let us kill it now. We must report back to Central File. How long will it take to kill all organic life?_" "_Central File says it will take many more years, even though now most organic life has been destroyed. We must complete the task soon, you know. Man will return. Glorious Mangod. Mighty Mangod. Mangod the Creator. Mangod the Eternal!_" "_Ah yes. Mighty Mangod. How long will it be before the Mangod's coming?_" Jon shivered, reached out a shaking hand as though to support himself against the air. He tried to speak, but his facial muscles seemed frozen. He wanted to say, "I'm Man. I'm your Creator. I made you, long ago." But he could say nothing. Nothing at all. "_That is not known. Mangod made us in his own image, then departed, promising to return. Return to bring us glory and eternity._" "_May the Great Mangod who created us from the lifeless stuff of the dirt return soon, for only then may our destiny be fulfilled._" "_Yes. May Mangod return soon. Meanwhile, Central File demands immediate action in preparation for that Day. Kill this grub. Soon all organic life that stands in the way of the Mangod's coming will be eradicated._" The thunderous impact of telepathic power roared in Jon's head as he staggered forward, fists clenched. "FOR THEE, GREAT MANGOD. FOR WHOM WE WAIT." [Illustration: "_Return, oh Mangod, to bring us glory._"] Jon laughed. Hot tears scalded his face as he laughed. He was still laughing as the red-death eye brightened, leaped out, and silently swept him away. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of In His Image, by Bryce Walton