"What's the matter? You 'fraid a girl can lick you playing games?"
"Huh!" said Bobby again. There was something sissy about playing games
with fourteen-year-old girls. It didn't help much that Ginger, with
skinny-armed, keen-eyed accuracy succeeded in beating both himself and
her brother in two games of quoits and one of shuffleboard before the
dinner-gong rang.
Dinner was a truculent experience. Conversation had done absolutely
nothing to clarify the issue. Both parties were sincere in their
conviction of ownership to Eros. Pop based his claim on the
establishment of a permanent base at Delta Port; Wilkes insisted that
priority of arrival was his proof of occupancy.
"So one of us," insisted Wilkes, "has got to leave. And since _we_
can't--"
"Can't?"
"Our ship crashed," explained Red Wilkes, watching Moira, "on landing.
It is a total wreck."
* * * * *
Bobby thought, glumly, that Moira was a total wreck, too. He had held
hopes for Moira. Since their arrival on Eros she had turned into a
pretty nice guy; cheerful, willing to work, fresh-looking. Now, for
some obscure reason, she had piled her hair up on top of her head, put
powder on her face and red stuff on her mouth. She wore a dress instead
of pants, and she was mincing and prissing around like a prize horse.
"So," continued Wilkes, "since _we_ can't leave, your family must."
And Dick laughed out loud.
"Checkmate!" he said.
"What?"
"We've wasted time," said Dick, "trying to decide which family must
leave. The truth is, neither of us can! Because, you see, we cracked up
in landing, also. Our ship lies out there four fathoms deep in Delta
Sound!" He rose. "So that's that, folks. And I'm afraid, Mr. Wilkes,
that under the present circumstances, _your_ family will be the one to
ultimately depart from Eros."
"Ours? Why?"
"Because of the internationally recognized laws of squatters' rights.
You must know the requirements a settler has to fulfill in order to
establish claim to land? He must declare his purpose of settling upon
leaving the parent planet--"
"We did that," said Red Wilkes, "before we left."
"I know. And four months later he will be visited by an inspection ship
of the S.S.P.--"
"We know that, too."
"--upon the arrival of which," Dick continued, "he must show
advancement in the following colonization projects. (a) Establishment
of a power plant or unit; (b) construction of a suitable dwelling
or dwellings; (c) satisfactory advancement of natural resources,
including farms, fisheries or other means of livelihood and
sustenance--"
"Get to the point!" growled Wilkes.
"Immediately. And with pleasure. You see, my dear sir, as you have told
us, you left Mars even _before_ we left Earth. But whereas we have
turned our time to good account, constructing the comforts which you
now see about you, your family has squandered precious weeks wandering
over the face of Eros seeking a favorable location.
"If I am not mistaken, the Solar Space Patrol's inspection is only six
short weeks in the offing. And judging from our experience, you cannot
possibly satisfy the requirements of the land-grant code in that short
space of time. I remind you that the planting of a garden would, in
itself, spell an end to your ambitions."
Sam Wilkes was on his feet, choking with rage.
"That there law is nonsense, Moseley! The land law allows us a full
year to establish a settlement--"
"Ah, yes! The land law. But you forget that these are unusual
circumstances. Two families with equally valid rights have claimed
Eros. Land law is overruled, and the law of squatters' dominion comes
into effect.
"So, I'm very sorry for you, Wilkes. But I hope we can be friendly
neighbors for the short time you _remain_ here with us on Eros."
* * * * *
Wilkes was a statue of dismay. The rigidity of him melted enough to let
him turn slowly to his son.
"Is--is that right, Red?"
And the younger Wilkes nodded.
"I'm afraid it is, Dad."
Sam Wilkes brought his fist down on the table. The hand-made crockery
danced and trembled.
"Then, by Gad! I'll have no more of this talk or no more phoney
hospitality. Bessie, Ginger, Papa--come on! We're getting out of here!
We've got work to do!"