He made eye contact with each of them. "We ain't gonna stand for no weirdness out here." He nodded for emphasis. He put his shades back on, threw his leg over the bike and punched the electric starter. The Harley rumbled to life and he blipped the throttle several times, staring at them through his mirrored shades. He wished he could pull a doughnut, locking up the front break and shifting into gear, giving a lot of throttle so the rear wheel could slide around in a 180. But the last time he'd tried that, he had dropped the bike on its side in front of Harlan's hardware store and he had to ask Harlan to come out and help him pick it up. He still hadn't heard the end of that one. He carefully eased the bbike around over the ruts and gave it some gas. The rear wheel spun in the dirt and he almost lost it but he managed to save himself at the last instant and he shot off down the road.

They laughed as they watched Dorf ride off into the sunset. Ned walked back toward the cabin in an exaggerated version of John Wayne's rolling gait inject tossed off a salute at Dorf's back. Marcie and Brenda shook their heads and went back into the cabin. Alice had missed the show. She had come in from the storage shed with a sack of pots and pans so they could start on dinner. She set them down on the table and went into the back room. The pantry. She opened the door and jumped back with a scream as Ralph stepped out, leering at her insanely.

"I'm a messenger of God!" he cried, coming at her with his hand raised. She backed up against the stove as Marcie and Ned came running in, hearing her scream. They pulled up short at the sight of Ralph standing like an animated scarecrow and staring wildly at them.

"You're doomed if you stay here!" Ralph said, "This place is cursed! Cursed!"

Ned and Marcie glanced at each other uneasily.

"It's got a death curse!" Ralph said. His eyes wide.

"Who are you?" Alice asked, staying well out of his reach.

"What do you want?" said Marcie, moving behind Ned.

"God sent me," Ralph answered.

"Get out of here, man," Ned hoped he didn't sound as frightened as he felt.

"I got to warn ya!" Ralph said, moving toward them.

Ned sidled away from the door, giving him a clear path and hoping he would take it. Ralph stared at each of them, his eyes bulging.

"You're doomed if you stay! Go! Goooo…" he suddenly lurched past Ned and went out the cabin door, hurrying away without a backward look. Ned watched him go, then took a deep breath.

"I think we just met Ralph."

"God," said Alice, putting her hand to her forehead, "What's next?" She looked out the door and saw Ralph approaching on his riggedy old bicycle.