Because of only having one elder there, I knew I had some wiggle room. I still wanted to be left alone, so I turned the question back on him. I acted shocked and asked if he asked because HE didn't believe it was true. He recoiled from the thought and that was the end of the conversation.
That's exactly what occurred to me last night when I woke up once.
I am glad I had made the rule that I would only talk to one person at a time. I refused any visits by two elders. Now, I just refuse any visits. They still try to catch me working in yard and will use that as an excuse to stop by and talk. I will talk to them about everyday things, but that's it. My own thoughts on God and religion are my private thoughts and I choose who I wish to speak to about them and when.
Bingo: that's what kept me from getting clobbered towards the end, as I started to put the fade into effect. Then, once I started moving around the country, they lost track of me.