Cosmo said nothing.
Bemmelman's face went purple. He kicked Cosmo viciously in the ribs. "Where's the feeding ground? Where is it? Where is it?"
Mia regained consciousness, sat up. She stared wide-eyed at the berserk planter.
Bemmelman glanced at her, paused. He rubbed his nose, a fiendish light shining in his pig-like eyes. He said in a sudden altered tone: "I'm still willing to bargain, Cosmo."
"What do you mean?"
"Either you reveal the location of the feeding grounds, or I hand Miss MacIver over to the Dawn Men. Yes sir, I'm anxious to repeat that experiment." He pointed to the Blue Venus who was just coming out from under the effects of the gas.
Cosmo's features were inscrutable. He asked: "What happens to Miss MacIver if I give you that information?"
"I'll release her in Venusport with her fare back to Earth. I'm holding personal notes on the MacIver plantation anyway."
"Notes?" echoed Mia blankly. "Father never mentioned any notes. I—I don't believe it!"
A veil dropped before Bemmelman's eyes. "I haven't told you before. I didn't like to so soon after your father's death. But I lent him considerable money. Yes sir, considerable."