Boghaz squatted down on the floor beside Carse and smiled down at him like one humoring a child who wishes to play.
“My friend, you are not being honest with me. There’s no man on Mars who doesn’t know that the Quiru long, long ago left our world because of what Rhiannon, the Cursed One among them, had done. And all men know they built a secret tomb before they left, in which they locked Rhiannon and his powers.
“Is it wonderful that men should covet the powers of the gods? Is it strange that ever since men have hunted that lost Tomb? And now that you have found it, do I, Boghaz, blame you for wanting to keep the secret to yourself?”
He patted Carse’s shoulder and beamed.
“It is but natural on your part. But the secret of the Tomb is too big for you to handle. You need my brains to help you. Together, with that secret, we can take what we want of Mars.”
Carse said without emotion, “You’re crazy. I have no secret. I bought the sword from a trader.”
Boghaz stared at him for a long moment. He stared very sadly. Then he sighed heavily.
“Think, my friend. Wouldn’t it be better to tell me than to make me force it out of you?”
“There’s nothing to tell,” Carse said harshly.
He did not wish to be tortured. But that odd warning instinct had returned more strongly. Something deep within him warned him not to tell the secret of the Tomb!