“Fragments of the lunar projectiles show that they contain large quantities of steel. We’ve divided the country into fifty zones, in each of which a powerful electro-magnet will be erected. Having erected these in the least populated districts of each zone, and warned the inhabitants to leave the danger area, our sole remaining problem is to make them powerful enough to attract the projectiles, which we can easily do with the resources at our command. Our power plants will be far enough from the magnetic poles to keep them from injury, and as soon as one pole is destroyed another can be quickly erected.” “You sure have some head on you, Ted. What about the Mongoloid Asiatics? Find out anything?” “Nothing definite. For the present we’re sitting tight and saying nothing. Professor Ederson will, no doubt, be able to check up on them. If they haven’t double crossed us there will still be plenty of time to explain my plan of defense to them.” Professor Ederson did not arrive until late the following afternoon. Roger met him on the roof, and immediately escorted him to Ted’s private office. He was a little, wizened man, with a grizzled Van Dyke, a thin, aquiline nose, and huge, thick-lensed glasses which gave him an owl-like expression. “I’ve been studying the translation of Dr. Wu while Bevans, your admirable pilot, conducted me here,” said the professor when greetings were over. “It seems to me to be quite accurate.” “What about the message he wrote for me?” asked Ted. “I cannot, for the life of me, understand why you sent so belligerent a message,” replied the professor. “Belligerent? What do you mean?” Ted quickly produced an English copy of the message which he has asked Dr. Wu to translate into the Lunite language for him. “Why,” said the professor, scanning it in surprise, “this is nothing like the message I have translated.” “Let me have your translation,” requested Ted. The professor produced a sheaf of papers from his inside coat pocket, selected one, and handed it to Ted. The latter read it aloud: _To the Imperial Government of P’an-ku_: _Greeting_: The Associated Governments of the Earth have found cause for much mirth in the note of the Imperial Government of P’an-ku. It is the intention of the Associated Governments of the Earth to quickly and completely destroy Ma Gong (The Moon) if its inhabitants refuse to submit to the viceroys which the Associated Governments of the Earth are preparing to send to rule over them. The Imperial Government of P’an-ku has complained of the destruction of Ur. This is only a minute sample of the destruction which will be wrought on Ma Gong if there are any further acts of hostility on the part of the Imperial Government of P’an-ku. “Whew!” exclaimed Roger. “No wonder the girl and the old man looked horrified.” “And it’s no wonder the imperious and belligerent P’an-ku sneered,” said Ted. “Looks as if we’re in for it, sure enough, now.”