"Is it so dangerous in there that we need a Thor gun?" Susan Sidwell said. Susan had majored in ionic chemistry and had graduated with high honors.
"No, it isn't dangerous at all," the instructor answered hastily. "The weapon is worn merely for the sake of tradition."
"No danger at all, young lady," the captain said. "Nothing to worry about. Not while you've got this, anyhow." He patted the Thor gun which the instructor was buckling to his waist.
The gates were open. The instructor in the lead, the group passed through. Billy Kasker brought up the rear. Joe Buckner was directly ahead of him.
They went first to see the wreckage of the city—shattered walls, tumbled buildings, streets with rubble still piled in them. Weeds and creeping vines grew over the broken bones of this city as if they were attempting to hide the ugly scars.
The instructor adjusted his voice to the proper tone. He had made this same speech to many graduating classes and he knew exactly what he was going to say.
"You understand, of course, that this part of the old city was almost completely destroyed in our attack of the year 4021 After Yevbro, or the year 1967, according to the way the natives reckoned time on this planet. This part of it has been allowed to remain the way our ships left it, as an example of the effectiveness of our weapons."
His voice gave the impression that he was personally participating in that attack and was enjoying the destruction that had taken place. He stood straight, squared his shoulders and breathed deeply.
"What happened to the natives who lived here?" Billy Kasker asked.
The instructor frowned. "Oh, they were killed." At first he was a little irritated at the question, then again satisfaction came back into his voice.