"Yes," he said flatly.
"But why? Couldn't he buy land?"
"No," said Cosmo, "he couldn't. Land here is entailed. It stays in the same family from generation to generation. Mu is one of the few countries on Venus where Terrans have been able to settle at all. Bemmelman's only chance was to have my people murdered and forge notes."
"Does he know who you are?"
Cosmo nodded. "He's tried to have me assassinated several times," he said indifferently.
Mia swallowed. "You—you said I was in danger."
"Doesn't it strike you there's a great deal of similarity between your case and mine. Your father has been murdered, supposedly by the Renegade. It looks like Bemmelman is getting ready to expand."
"He—he wouldn't kill me!" said Mia indignantly. "Would he?"
"No," said Cosmo, a smile quirking the corners of his wide, grim-lipped mouth. His lean, narrow jaw and thin, hooked nose gave him a saturnine cast. "But I wouldn't put it past him to kidnap you. Remember the Blue Venus. I happen to know Bemmelman's been anxious to repeat that experiment, but a beautiful Terran girl is hard to get."
She shivered slightly, said: "That's preposterous! He wouldn't dare! Would he?"