"But I don't understand, Claude."
"It's not too hard to understand, Mrs. Marshall," Whiting said. "It just means that someone in Washington loused up the detail. They're always making mistakes like that.... I figure some clerk—"
"But what are we supposed to do?"
Bruce Whiting moved his shoulders. "I don't know, Mrs. Marshall. I just don't know.... After all we were here first. Why don't you take it up with the Colonization Director?... Maybe there's another tract he could give you."
"I don't want another tract," Claude said flatly. "I want this one."
"So do I, Mr. Marshall."
"But the land's mine!"
"Is it? How about my title? It's just as valid as yours."
"That'll be for the law to decide," Claude said grimly. "And we'll fight you on it. By God, we'll fight you on it all the way from here to Washington and back!"
"That's up to you, of course. In the meantime, may I remind you that I hold possession?"