 Why does Ethaniel think the humans look defenseless?
A gentle fancy for the Christmas Season—an oft-told tale with a wistful twistful of Something that left the Earth with a wing and a prayer. Earth was so far away that it wasn't visible. But this vast distance did not mean that isolation could endure forever. Instruments within the ship intercepted radio broadcasts and, within the hour, early TV signals. The history of the planet was tabulated as facts became available. "I can guess," said Ethaniel, who had spoken first. "It's not what they've done," said Bal, the second alien. "I may remind you that in two months twenty-nine days we're due in Willafours," said Bal. They've had two world wars in one generation and that the third and final one is coming up you can't help feeling in everything they do." "The wrong diplomatic move, or a trigger-happy soldier could set it off. A meteor shower could pass over and their clumsy instruments could interpret it as an all-out enemy attack." Except for the one thing they lack, and that's quite odd, they seem exactly like us. "It is. "There is. "In a week we can't negate their entire history. "You can't tell," said Ethaniel. "Very little," conceded Ethaniel. "And when we get to Willafours we'll be busy. There's nothing in this region of space our people want," said Ethaniel. "And how long can Earth last?
 Without wings, the humans look small and defenseless.
 Without space travel, the humans seem defenseless against an alien attack.  Without wings, the humans look small and defenseless.  Without wings, the humans look like children.  Without space weapon technology, the humans seem defenseless against an alien attack.