“August 21, 1931! Remember that date. Our system of underground tunnels will then be perfected, our power bases established, the charges of ‘Venusite’ in place and ready to be set off. Under each of your largest cities even now work is being carried on. On that date the ‘Venusite’ under these cities will send its destructive wave rolling upward, and the centers of the cities will be ground into dust. In the midst of this confusion our lieutenants will emerge and assume command. Anyone resisting will be instantly destroyed by ‘Venusite’ guns. Nothing in the world can withstand us, and the way will be paved for our complete mastery of your earth. Slaves you will be, among other things preparing for us a certain alloy of metals common here, scarce on Venus. In a little while we shall have sent enough of this back to Venus to bring thousands here. It is only a matter of time before your race will be entirely supplanted by ours. It is the law of Nature.” He stopped and looked at me with an expression of fiendish, smug self-satisfaction. His horrible words made me quail inwardly, but I determined to show a disinterested calmness, a scientific detachment suitable to one in my profession. “If you are so smart and powerful,” I said, boldly, “why did you find it necessary to live all these years underground? Why didn’t you simply stay on the surface and sweep all opposition before you without bothering about these tunnels and charges you mention? I’m rather inclined to think it is all a big bluff, and your ‘Venusite’ not what it is cracked up to be. You’ve proved it is powerful, all right, but there wouldn’t be enough of it to do all the things you say. You couldn’t possibly make such a series of tunnels in such a few years.” I paused for breath. Oomlag was busy manipulating his wireless contraption. He grinned at me sardonically. “Show me!” I continued, vehemently. “There is one thing we humans pride ourselves on, and that is our sense of logic. It isn’t logical that you could do all these things. You are here, fighting for a toe-hold on our planet, afraid to come out in the open and fight. Why? Because you have just barely managed to get here, and now find yourselves isolated with no means of retreat, and unable to advance. You are . . .” I stopped, caught by the malevolent expression in Oomlag’s eyes. He had ceased to handle his wireless and his devilish grin had changed to a look of cold hatred. He leaned forward, and for a moment I feared it was his intention to throttle me. I realized that I had gone too far with my bold talk; but just as I was steeling myself for the feel of his terrible fingers around my throat, his ochre lips revealed his pointed teeth and he threw back his head with a guttural laugh. “Your sense of logic! It is well that the humor of your remarks struck me, for I might otherwise have choked you into insensibility.” His fingers drummed lightly on the table as he continued.