"You've been very curious about the replica of New York II which you saw when you landed."
Saxon nodded, trying to conceal a thought which had begun to take shape in the back of his mind.
"It's just that. A replica of a city built during the Atomic Age by the humanoids. Their constant implacable wars are so savage that we've found it necessary to duplicate their work here, if we hope to preserve any of it for study."
Saxon narrowed his eyes, asked, "You spoke of the menace of having such savage neighbors. Just how serious was such a threat?"
The Moderator smiled and glanced at his constituents. Saxon strained to grasp the thoughts flowing between them, but failed utterly.
"Admirable!" the Moderator commented suddenly. "Your reactions, my son, are leading us to hope we may turn in the most optimistic report."
Saxon stared at him as if he were crazy. Ileth's tears had subsided to a sniffle.
"Now for your question," said the Moderator and coughed again.
"The menace was real, not imaginary. We had created a monster that would be either a marvelous scientific instrument, or—the means of our destruction.