A former student named John Brewster tells him that he has just joined Earth's Home Defense in response to the outbreak of war between Earth and Venus. The Martians, being few in number, no longer fight wars, and Ullen finds the whole concept puzzling. Later, in a conversation with an Earthman in a fallout shelter during an air raid, Ullen casually mentions an ancient Martian weapon called a skellingbeg, or fall-apart weapon.
A former student named John Brewster informs him that he has joined Earth's Home Defense in response to the war between Earth and Venus. The Martians, being few in number, no longer engage in wars, and Ullen finds this concept puzzling. Later, during a conversation with an Earthman in a fallout shelter during an air raid, Ullen casually mentions an ancient Martian weapon called a skellingbeg or fall-apart device.