Traveling faster than light, the ripple would pass through the sun in about four seconds and would traverse the ninety-three million miles from the sun to Earth in six and a half minutes.

All the damage would be caused by the heat transported by the ripple from its four-second contact with the sun.

'Mercury,' said Peter Linden, 'will be horribly scorched, but all the planets, including Earth, will survive.'

Nevertheless, shelters must be dug. During the period of flare-up, the people on the side of the Earth exposed to the sun must be underground... Fortunately, the huge Pacific Ocean would bear the brunt -

When his turn came before the cameras and microphones, Hewitt said, 'I have happier news.'

During its period of translight-speed cruising, the Hope of Man had visited scores of other sun systems. They had found three other available planets that men could live on. Many colonists were needed to augment those who were already there.

'Right now,' said Hewitt, 'my own family – my wife, Ruth, and our four children – are on one of those planets. It will be our permanent home.'

Those words were the beginning of the sales talk he made as the world listened in.