But these were the elite of the population of Mars. The lower types were found in the five suburbs surrounding Heliopolis.
The worst of the five was Taurus, where daily morning chores was burial of those who had been unfortunate in the night's tavern brawls.
As the Corsair approached the red planet Nathan wondered where the incomprehensible Firebird fit into this wild and evil city. But she claimed it for home. Regarding the miracle of Luline she had refused to say a word and his repeated inquiries only forced her to greater reticence and widened the gap between them until he was forced to give up.
It was night on that side of Mars when they dropped the Corsair onto the crowded field at the edge of Taurus. Amid the other vessels the ship stood like a jewel in a handful of gravel.
There was always a pause in the activities of the field when the ship of the Firebird came in. Attendants straightened up to stare, and wizened, space-burned adventurers paused when Firebird strode out of the port. She went down the ramp as if she were making a grand entrance into a ballroom. A thousand eyes were upon her, from corners of the field, from shops and all night eateries, and from the hulls of silent ships.
She was a living legend walking in their midst.
She gave instructions for the needed repairs to the Corsair, then the two of them started towards the town only a quarter of a mile away.
"What happens next?" said Nathan.
"Almost anything, but whatever it is it will require the use of your flame lance. Keep it handy. There will be a lot of waiting and listening. If you wait long enough you can hear all the secrets of the innermost chambers of the System revealed right in the taverns of Taurus.
"Our plan will be to let it be known that we have the four Jewels and are here for the other three. There'll be happenings enough after that. I'll leave it to you to spread that information."