.. You could just let me go," he ventured hopefully, trying to look innocent."Yeah, let him go!" A coarse voice guffawed from one of the men."You shut...your yap, Gilson, and get back to work unloadin' that truck! We're runnin' late enough as it is. Now, suppose I did turn you loose. What would you do?" Head for the nearest town, an' get me sumpin' to eat, I guess. Hey, what part of the country is this?" You really don't know where you're at, do you?" Stan smiled down sardonically at him.He took. There are only a few ways that I can do so that will not prevent you from living and participating in society."Valerie said in a dreamy and dazed tone o voice, "What ways are those?" I cannot tell you before you consent. However, looking into your sub-mind, I perceive one manner which, while disruptive, you could adapt to and would not find objectionable."Valerie frowned. "It doesn't make sense to have less control over my life, and not even know what I'm agreeing to. I mean, wouldn't everyone. ’ And that’s just about all he would say to me. Done with his sandwich, he would make himself his coffee then leave me to myself and go into his library. The electricity was never steady. Some days we didn’t have any at all, and those days were worse for me as I couldn’t watch anything on the telly. All I’d be left with is either taking a nap, reading a book, going to sit outside or take a walk into town while he remained in his library banging away at his machine. He wasn’t always a taciturn. “Wow,” he breathed. “In that diner, I could tell you were hurt, and I understand that. Helen, I want you to know, I’m not like that.”“I didn’t think you were,” she answered, but her voice lacked certainty.“I think you did,” he corrected, gently, “but that’s okay, really.” His right hand reached out and stroked the back of her left. “You’re beautiful, as I said before. A very attractive woman. I’d like to be your friend, but I make no assumptions about you – or any relationship we may or might.