"Yes. The patrol planes can't navigate in these clouds. But the Ormoo can. It flys by instinct."
She relaxed, laid her damp black curls against his shoulder.
"Cosmo, why did you turn renegade?"
Her attitude had undergone such an about face that his green eyes hardened warily.
"It's a long story."
Mia snuggled deeper in his arms. "Was it because your father and mother were killed and Bemmelman stole your plantation?"
"That was part of it. My nurse fled with me to the Cloud Mountains. The Jovians trailed us, hunted us for months, then we fell in with a party of outlaws. They were rough men, but kind. I didn't understand much that was happening at the time, but later I managed to piece it together. I swore I'd make Bemmelman pay."
He laughed mirthlessly. "It was no use. The authorities weren't interested in hearing anything against him. I thought maybe if I could get concrete evidence, that would force them to act. I broke into his manor house. I was discovered, but I got away. I was wearing a hood to conceal my features. The newscasters played it up. The hooded man. The Renegade. I suddenly found myself notorious—an outlaw."
"But you raided other plantations. You stirred up the serfs!" She couldn't keep the edge of hate and accusation out of her voice.
"Some," he admitted with a grin, "though we preyed on other outlaws principally. But whenever the Security Patrol couldn't solve a crime, they laid it to the Renegade. The list is astounding: murder, rapine, theft." He chuckled grimly. "I've even been credited with committing two killings at the same time over five hundred miles apart."