"No," said Thymar softly. "It's there--pure life force, or whatever it might be termed, but with those Jewels one man would be as ten thousand men, each greater than any Earth has produced. "And you can be that man, Nathan!" The old spaceman raised again from the bed. "I bequeath to you the two Jewels that I have left. There were three, but--" "Firebird?" "That does not matter. I warned you of her because she has sworn to have the Jewels. I know she has two, maybe more. You'll have to kill her for them. Think what it would mean to the universe if that ruthless witch possessed the Jewels. Hell would be let loose. "The Jewels are no concern of mine. I want to know only who did this to you." Thymar sank back again. His voice whispered almost inaudibly, "Come closer." "In the cave of Lava Mountain," he whispered hoarsely, "do you remember the Stone Pig? The two Jewels are there. It makes no difference who did this to me. Nothing matters but the Jewels of Chamar. Take them--and become master of the universe!" "Who did--?" Then Nathan's fury-laden voice ceased. The only sound was the hush of rain outside. Slowly Nathan's head bent low. His father was dead. Never again would Thymar Ormondy's voice roar upon the spaceways or in the thousand tavern rendezvous of the spacemen. Tabor put his hand upon Nathan's shoulder. "Sorry, son." * * * * * Nathan rose. It was as if an electric charge had been thrust between the other men. "I'll find the killer," said Nathan evenly. He looked down at the form on the cavern floor. "I'll find him if it takes the rest of my life. Why did he warn me of Firebird? Was it only because of the Jewels or do you think she could have done this?" "He hated Firebird because of an old quarrel. She might have done it, but I don't know. I was with Thymar in Aquatown when he received a message saying information concerning the Blue Jewel could be found here. He went alone and we were to meet a day later to leave for Mars. He didn't show up so I came here and found him like this." Nathan nodded. The policeman, Cleeg, had told him that much after Tabor had sent word. But that was no help. It only served to fix Nathan's hatred more intensely upon the cursed Seven Jewels of Chamar. "Was my father carrying any of the Jewels when he came here?" "He had the Pink one. I tried to warn him, but he said he could take care of it." "And now it's gone, of course." Tabor nodded. "The whole thing was a trap by someone who knew he had it." "Who knew of it?" "Half of Venus. He was drunk and boasting of it in the taverns the night before." That was Thymar, Nathan thought, a great flagon of wine in one hand, boasting to the whole assemblage in some tavern, proclaiming his fabulous deeds upon the spaceways and challenging any one to dispute his word with flame lances. "Take care of things, will you?" Nathan said abruptly. "I'll get back to the town." "What are you going to do?"