"But that's the one that was stolen! That would mean--" "Exactly. How do you suppose he obtained the mistaken idea that we were dead? I'll tell you how it was: He tipped off the Black Warrior who attacked us in space. Tabor didn't dare do it himself, but he left it for the other killer to do, then Tabor planned to take our four Jewels from our attacker. That's why he came here--to look for the man." "He came to take me back." "Nonsense. That's a tale he thought up on the spur of the moment when he found that we were victorious in the space battle." Nathan frowned. The story was logical even if it wasn't reasonable. But Firebird had no proof. Unless she could prove Tabor had the Pink Jewel-- Carefully concealing his emotions from the crowd in the tavern, Nathan unlocked the belt container of the Jewels and handed them over to Firebird. "Tabor's waiting," he said. For Tabor, Firebird donned another cloak of personality, revealing still another facet of herself to bewilder Nathan. She taunted and baited Tabor as if trying to rouse his anger. But the shaggy spaceman seemed to be in a mood that would not be ruffled by Firebird's taunts. Aboard the ship, they entered the tiny lounge cabin. "I've got frozen Grier steak direct from Venus," Tabor said. "How does that sound?" "O.K." said Nathan. "Then I'll show you how a master cook of the spaceways prepares it." He disappeared into the galley. Nathan watched Firebird. Her eyes darted about the walls of the cabin as if searching every panel and joint. She edged closer to Nathan on the narrow lounge seat. When Tabor was out of sight around the corner of the corridor, she took Nathan's hand and pressed it against the pouch where she had the four Jewels. The pouch was almost too hot to touch. * * * * * Questions piled upon his lips. Firebird smiled without speaking. "But we don't know the color of it," said Nathan. "Right. We don't know the color of it, except that it's either blue or pink." "We'll find out soon enough," said Nathan. He rose from the seat, his lips pressed tightly. "No!" Firebird grasped his arm. "We don't need to do that. We'll let him bring it to us when we need it. There's no danger of his going to Venus, now." "What do you mean?" Nathan sat down reluctantly. "We'll head for the Pater Mountains where the seventh Jewel is buried. You did a good job of letting it be known what we were here for. When we start buying equipment the word will get around that we are going for the seventh Jewel. You can be sure that Tabor will be there--and so will the holder of the remaining Jewel. We'll have the seven then. They'll be ours for the taking." Nathan nodded. "Perhaps you are right. It would be easier to force Tabor to tip his hand out there than here in Taurus."