"We do. We are taking them from all worlds where they exist. But we need yours also."
Raiders of the universe! Looting young worlds of the precious radium ores! Piracy on a cosmic scale!
"And if Earth refuses your demand?"
For answer, Garboreggg rippled to a wall of the room and pressed a button. The wall dissolved, weirdly, mysteriously. A series of vast silver plates was revealed, and a battery of control levers.
"This will happen to all of your Earth unless the ores are given us."
The titan closed a switch. On the first screen flashed the picture of a huge tower such as Phobar had seen in the metal city.
Garboreggg adjusted a second control that was something like a range-finder. He pressed a third lever—and from the tower leaped a surge of terrific energy, like a bolt of lightning a quarter of a mile broad. The giant closed another switch—and on the second plate flashed a picture of New York City.
Then—waiting. Seconds, minutes drifted by. The atmosphere became tense, nerve-cracking. Phobar's eyes ached with the intensity of his stare. What would happen?
Abruptly it came.