“What'cha got it for, anyhow?”
Gary hesitated only long enough to sow the suspicion. “I found it.”
“You're a liar!”
“Well — I picked it up back there a piece. In a store.”
“Step away from it — over there.”
Gary took a dozen careful steps to one side and turned to face the three of them. The other two stood there uselessly, equally nervous and apprehensive, watching him and their leader. All of them were in ragged clothing and all smelled offensive from long weeks or months without a bath. They appeared unarmed. The leader held the shotgun on Gary and made a motion with his thumb.
“Take a look at it, Sully.”
Sully trotted over to the gear and pawed it, not knowing what it was and therefore not knowing how to examine it with intelligence.
“It's clean, Harry,” was all he could think to say.
“Spread it out!” Harry barked. “Let's have a look.”