midday
If complete surrender has not been made by high noon , two days from now , New York will be destroyed . '' The voice ceased . The humming recommenced -- waned in volume till it died away . Twilight turned once more to midday . Peering fixedly through the west windows of the laboratory , the little assemblage saw the disc swallowed up in the clear blue sky . Then they turned , faced one another gravely . Outside , on the streets , confusion reigned .