* * *
Some months had passed, and the four strangers were now able to speak the language fluently. Pete and Mal had been put in charge of them and the four were quite well-known throughout the island - in many cases, even liked. They were, however, kept secret from visitors to the island from other countries. Pete and Mal were to observe them and to guard them against anyone who might take a dislike to them. Pete was not scared of them now, and he knew that he probably looked as horrible to the strangers as the strangers did to him.
Life continued in this way until, one morning, the leader of the four visitors from space surprised Pete and Mal by saying that this would be the last day of their friendship. When asked to explain, he began to tell their story. "You see," he began, "we come from a planet in another solar system. Our world is dying because of a war that we had some years ago. We observed many planets and decided to move to this one as it is very like our own world. We will have to wipe out everyone on this planet, and to do that we are making this island our headquarters. Four space-ships from our planet will land this afternoon. We will attempt to destroy the small population of this island. If we are beaten our planet will die, but I'm sure we will destroy you easily.
"How do you think you are going to do that?" asked Pete angrily.
"Probably like this," said the first speaker, and he walked over to the window, took a strange weapon from his clothing, and he pointed it at someone who was walking by. The person dropped dead immediately. With that the four walked out of the room, leaving Pete and Mal staring at each other, horrified.
That afternoon the ships arrived as promised. There were only three, one having gone off course and landed in the ocean. As soon as the strangers came out of their space-ships they were attacked by the people of the island, but the strangers were ready for them. It was a terrible battle, fought on the beach of the island, the Earthmen knowing that failure meant death for all their race.
At last it was over. The bodies of the strangers and some of the islanders were lying on the sand. All the strangers had been killed. The battle had been won. Pete and Mal were still alive and unhurt. Mal was even feeling a bit sorry for the strangers who had fought for their planet, but Pete, remembering the calmness with which the leader had shot the person walking past the window said, "Creatures as cruel as that deserve to die."
"Yes, I suppose so, " answered Mal, "but where did they come from?"
"From a planet far away in a distant galaxy. I heard them talking about it once. I think they called it 'Earth'."