Photo courtesy of Augapfel on Flickr.
The Thousandth Birthday Party
Durant Imboden, first published in If: Worlds of Science Fiction, December, 1966.
part 6
“I thought that bit a bout one of them glowing was all a publicity gimmick,” one of the other officials said wonderingly. “Luke, I thought they just let someone go every few millions times to keep everyone’s hopes up.”
“Well, it’s glowing,” said the head official. He went over to Carr and clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s glowing, sir. It’s glowing.” He stepped back a moment and suddenly began staring at Carr in awe. “My lord,” he exclaimed quietly, “you’re — you’re an Immortal.”
And thus did Oglivy Carr go back into the banquet hall, accompanied by the lottery officials and much thunderous applause, to blow out the candles of his birthday cake and to celebrate his status as an Immortal.
“Thank God, Ogie,” is wife whispered after she kissed him wetly during their tight embrace.”We’re together, Ogie,” she whispered again, as the photographers’ flashguns popped all around them and she and her husband clasped and kissed by well-wishers.
“Yes, Helen dearest, we’re together,” he whispered back.
And they would be, at least for another seven hundred and forty-two years.
END
In this Sunday series of posts I will be “re-publishing” pulp science fiction short stories that have long since gone out of print. When possible I will seek out author’s and estates for permission.
