"Uh uh. No good. I've already felt him out on that. I had the same idea last night, so I came right out and asked him if he'd settle for fifty acres apiece.... He refused. Oh, he was nice enough about it. But he gave me to understand it was all or nothing with him."
"I'm hungry," Billy said.
Claude looked at his wife. "So am I. Let's go over to the mess hall. That's where the Whitings went, I think."
"Claude?"
"Yes, Joan."
"Let's not sit with them, if we meet them there."
"All right, honey. Let's not."
They were halfway to the door when Leon Stubbs came out of the inner office. He smiled.
"Mind stepping inside a moment?" he said.
When Claude hesitated, he added: "Perhaps Mrs. Marshall had better come in too."