He felt a weariness that smothered all happiness of success. For they _had_ succeeded, in these four frantic months. After Lee Kendrick had told his story to the world, after the plotters who had ruthlessly condemned millions "for the good of the race" had been exposed and arrested, those millions of dubious folk had suddenly felt the full panicky shock of truth, had realized at last that Doomsday was real. They had poured into New York, in fear-driven mobs that could hardly be handled. And Wales, as the hastily appointed new Evacuation Marshal, had felt in his soul that it was too late, that some would surely be left. He had reckoned without that quality in human beings that draws their greatest strength out of peril. The Marslift had been speeded up, speeded up farther, speeded up until rocket-crews fainted of fatigue at their posts. But it had, at last, been done.... The door opened, and Martha came across the office to where Wales sat hunched and weary with his hands spread out on the empty desk. "It's time, Jay," she said. "Lee and the others are waiting." He looked slowly up at her. "We got them all off," he said. "Yes. We got them all off." "About one thing," he said, "Fairlie was right. It'll be hard on Mars for us, harder because of all those last millions. But I don't think anyone will ever complain." He thought of the people who had streamed through New York, into the Marslift rockets, these last weeks and days. He thought of Sam Lanterman and his people from Pittsburgh, and Lanterman complaining, "Hell, I got to own a whole city and what happens--I get scared out of it! Oh well, I guess it won't be so bad out there." Martha touched his shoulder gently. "Come, Jay." He got to his feet and walked heavily with her to the lift. They went down through the silent, empty building to the empty street. Empty, except for the car in which Kendrick and the two others waited, looking up silently at the crimson face of the thing that was coming fast, fast, toward Earth. The car bore them fast through the empty streets, and the lifeless metropolis fell behind them and they rushed across a countryside already wearing a strange and ominous new aspect, to the Spaceport. The last rocket waited, a silvery tower flashing back the red light from the sky. They got out of the car and walked toward it. Hollenberg had won the honor of being the last rocket-captain to leave Earth. But he did not look as though he enjoyed that honor now. "We're ready," he said. Wales asked, "Is Fairlie aboard?" Hollenberg nodded grimly. "Aboard, and locked up. He was the last evacuee taken on, as per orders." They stood, looking at each other. It came to Wales what was the matter. They stood upon Earth, and it was the last time that they might ever stand upon it. He said harshly, "If we're ready, let's go." The rocket-ship bore them skyward on wings of flame and thunder, and an Earth empty of man lay waiting. * * * * *