An Ultimatum From Mars by Ray Cummings

Author:Ray Cummings [Cummings, Ray]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-27T21:00:00+00:00

SET MARROK flung the little Japanese a darkling glance. “As set forth in our note of yesterday—”

“Your ultimatum,” Hallen stated.

“No such construction of our most reasonable request is permissible,” the Martian disclaimed. “When the peace of the starways is threatened, we must act.”

“Your ultimatum.” Hallen persisted, “requires our answer by midnight tonight. You are familiar with our Earths political history, Set Marrok? You have heard of the Monroe Doctrine ?”

The big Martian stared. Mr. Sukiyama murmured:

“The honorable Monroe Doctrine was mos’ respected by my illustrious Japanese people for two hundred years.”

“It was a sacred principle of the great American nation which dominated this hemisphere for more than two centuries/* Hallen added. “And when the World Federation was established, it was extended to include the entire Earth.” Hallen’s voice turned crisp. “Do you think now that we want a Martian-ruled colony established on Earth ? We could never submit to that, Marrok/’

The Martian stiffened. “Am I to construe this as an indication that your government is going to defy our request?” he demanded. His gray face flushed a little with his rising anger.

“Yes,” Hallen said abruptly.

“So sorry,” said Mr. Toy.

“You’re crazy,” Marrok retorted. “Without iridite you’re helpless and you know it.”

“Unfortunately yes,” Mr. Sukiyama murmured.

“So sorry about that,” Mr. Toy said regretfully.

“You’re fools—crazy, damn fools!” Marrok suddenly exploded. “Why, if you dare to—”

“Defy your threats?” Hallen prompted. “We can talk plainly, Marrok. This is an informal visit—not diplomacy, you know. If we dare to defy you—”

“We will smash you with our invasion from pole to pole,” Marrok rasped.

“In the interests of interplanetary peace?” Hallen suggested.

“Which so fervently the honorable Martians desire,” Mr. Sukiyama put in.

The Martian ambassador waved it away. “Don’t be a fool, Hallen.” He clanked his sword ornament with a ringing thump against the metal of his shoes. “If you have any influence with your government, you had better make them realize that the might of Mars cannot be held in check. Our destiny of interplanetary conquest must be fulfilled.”

“And you won’t stop until you own the Earth?” Hallen retorted. “Aren’t you forgetting your little minority in our Central America? That situation so intolerable to you?”

“Don’t be a nitwit.” The Martian grinned. “The Earth is helpless, no matter what we choose to do—that’s the real fact. And still you think you dare defy us?”

“So terribly sorry,” Mr. Toy murmured.

“Regretfully necessary to defy you,” Mr. Sukiyama acknowledged gently. “Unfortunately, yes.”

The big Martian’s irritation suddenly boiled completely over. He jumped to his feet. “You’re just damned fools,” lie roared. “This gives us our opportunity. For six of your Earth-years, now, we’ve prepared for it—this chance to conquer you—”

“Exactly.” Hallen’s quiet voice cut through the Martian’s roar. He, too, was on his feet and he was grimly smiling. “The people of Earth are glad to have your version of Martian aggression. The real voice of Mars—with this prating of interplanetary peace discarded.”

Hallen had pressed a button on his desk. The office door opened, with the big, red-headed Joe McCarthy looming there, silhouetted by the blue-green glare of the laboratory behind him.

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