Moments later, he nearly jumped when a strong had clapped him on the shoulder and gave it a squeeze. It was a typical habit his father had, and it cou...d be quite startling when it came unexpectedly."Nice view, isn't it?" What is?" Dave asked, trying to sound as confused as possible.Alan's indulgent laughter signalled the total and utter failure of his attempted deception, but thankfully he didn't press the issue and went to sit with his tipsy wife and sister instead. Still, finding out that his. Leo had an entire collection of pre-electric hand tools lined up on a peg board. There was also an extensive collection of nuts, bolts and screws in little baby food bottles hanging over the bench. The old vise alone would bring fifty or sixty dollars at the right sale. There was probably at least three or four hundred dollars value in the little room. She stood in front of the bench, watching me evaluate the tools, and I was glad that I had long ago developed a poker face from hundreds of. "Lynne looked at me, her eyes narrowed. "Bob, I'd like to have this calm and rational discussion with Jill alone, if you don't mind."I knew a dismissal when I heard it. "Sure," I said.Then I got out of there while the getting was good.I didn't see either of them until almost four in the afternoon. I was lying in the hammock, doing a crossword puzzle when their truck pulled into the driveway. Jill was driving. She parked and got out, seeming to wander over my way."Mom says I can't see you any. We would be friends. Please call me Shan." He shook David's hand. "I believe you are the leader of this group?"David said, "Yes. My name is David Lewis and this is our co-leader and my wife, Bobbi. We had no expectations in coming here but thought we should as we are trying to check on the rest of the world on behalf of our communities."Shan said, "Then, you do not represent the United States government?"David said, "Not in the way you contemplate. There is no United States government. Our.