The young man who had spoken would not be put off. He was respectful but insistent as he said, "We threw out the power block. It has been in effect for almost an hour. The time has come for you to speak and then we must take off." For some reason he had spoken in English and Joe answered in kind. "All right. Let's get it over with." Another of the young men said, "You don't seem very optimistic about it." Joe's face was grave. "I'm not. I've learned a few things since I set down here." He turned to Biddy and Davey. "Would you like to come inside?" * * * * * He accompanied his pace to that of Davey and when they were inside he seated them near the shining box and then took his own seat in front of the control panel. And while the others stood back with their arms folded, he turned several dials and then spoke into a screened speaker in the machine. "People of the world--for the last hour your planet has not been functioning. All mechanical means of transportation has been at a standstill. Your electric currents from pole to pole have ceased their flow. Your homes have been dark. This inaction stems from a force-barrier we have thrown up around your planet. As a result, your generators have stopped producing electricity--" Wide-eyed, Davey whispered to Biddy. "That was why the jeep's motor died." Biddy's eyes were like saucers as she nodded--not understanding, but fascinated by Joe and his cold, grim manner. He went on. "This was done for two reasons--to demonstrate a small segment of our power, and to bring you to your receiving sets. They are no doubt all turned on as you wait for their silence to be broken." Joe rubbed an unconscious hand across his throat and paused for a moment. "I am breaking that silence now. I represent a council of planets beyond your solar system and I have been sent here to give you an ultimatum. We have watched you for a long time--watched with sympathy and complete good will as you struggled upward through your evolutionary periods. We liked much of what we saw, sympathizing with you in your mistakes and rejoicing with you in your successes. "Then we saw your scientific development outstrip your moral advancement and your sense of responsibility. We watched you fight in caves with clubs and stones--with bows and arrows--with gun powder and atomic fission. And always we hoped your hostility would give way to common sense and mutual respect if not mutual love. "But this did not happen. Each new discovery you made was qualified through a single question: How many more will it kill at a time? You moved out into space with your man-made stations and we hoped that finally you would awaken and your hostilities fade into history."