"How about this." He steers out due south, water sparkling like a line of silk billowing gently in the breeze below them. "You ask me a question about 'em and I'll answer."

He doesn't promise to answer truthfully. Just to come up with an answer, but he won't point that out to Charlie. Nah, a guy's got to hold on to a little bit of mystique or at least a tiny shred of dignity.

Just enough to hang onto so he could say he's got something going for him.