_{❛ b –– both , ❜ he concedes , eyes squinted at the stranger . ❛ i’m afraid i probably w –– wouldn’t be much help , anyway . ❜}

        _{❛ how sure are you about that? ❜ it was a risk – more so than the one’s he’d taken before – and yet he knew it would be worth it.  ❛ the least you can do is try. ❜  a pause.  ❛ unless, there would be harm in that for… you. ❜}