"I thought of telling you about the West and some of the things I've seen around the world," Brand said. "And perhaps share some stories about the lands over the seas beyond...but perhaps I could be persuaded to play basketball or something with the little one here. He'd get to be the ball."<br/><br/>His big hands flexed ominously.<br/><br/>"I have crossed the world several times," he went on, turning from the young man and deliberately ignoring him. "Name a country and I can tell you a tale of it."