"That was too close," Nathan said. "I waited too long for that shot."
"You got him. That's what counts."
He looked at Firebird. She was not disturbed by their narrow escape. It was obviously not in her philosophy to hold post mortems.
They swung back to the blazing wreckage. The light of dawn streaked the sky before it was cool enough to approach. There was no tangible remains of the enemy who had died in the flames.
"It couldn't have been Tabor. He shoots better than that," said Nathan.
Firebird poked among the embers, using the pouch containing the four Jewels as an indicator. Then she caught the sparkle in the sands.
It was the Blue Jewel.
IX
The bloody dawn of Mars lit the ruins of Pheme as they sped past it again. Though they had not slept they did not feel sleepy as daylight came.