IT WAS A PERFECT LOS ANGELES MORNING IN THE PARKING lot by the Brown Star Organic Co-op stall in the Farmers Market. Bright, but not hot, and with a slight breeze. The market was bustling with customers from all over L.A. and the San Fernando Valley. Tourists crowded the stalls, looking for a late breakfast and local delicacies. Some of the more charitably minded stopped by the bake sale table of a new environmental group most of them weren’t quite sure they’d heard of.

Marian White of Enid, Oklahoma, stood by the bake sale table and cocked her head. “‘Scourge the Earth.’ That’s an unusual name for an environmental group. Can you tell me about it?”

Susie smiled at her. “We’re a fairly new group. Local mainly, but we hope to be going global soon.”

“How nice. And what are you working on these days?”

Tommy said, “Our ultimate goal is to poison the seas, scorch the land, and bring the end of days to all vile human life.”

“Excuse me?”

“Save the trees,” said Susie. “We want to save the trees.”

“And the baby seals,” said Janet from over her shoulder.

“Oh, I love them,” said Marian.

“Would you like to try a sample?” said Susie.

Marian looked over the long spread of pies and cakes. “What’s that one?”

“That’s a hate-in-a-blistering-inferno-of-agony bar.”

“That’s an unusual name.”

“Thank you.”

“What flavor is it?” said Marian.

“Lemon.”

“Could I try one of those?”

“Certainly.” Susie cut off a small piece of the bar and handed it to her on a paper napkin. “Here you go.”

Marian popped it in her mouth and chewed. “It’s delicious. I’ll take two, please.”

“Wonderful. Lord Caleximus will smile upon you and devour your soul quickly and mercifully. There will be little pain.”

“Are you sure you’re an environmental group?”

“Save the whales,” said Susie.

“Of course,” said Marian. She narrowed her eyes. “It’s just that I get the feeling you have some other agenda, too.”

“No nukes,” said Janet.

Susie wiped her hands on her apron. “If you think we’re raising money to summon our unholy death god from a black well of eternal suffering to ravage mankind, you couldn’t be more wrong.”

“Well, all right then. What’s that?” said Marian, pointing.

“Carrot cake. With a frosting of cream cheese, chopped pecans, and bottomless horror.”

Marian frowned. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that. Do you have anything with little to no horror? My daughter-in-law is trying to lose some weight.”

Susie picked up a plate. “We have some gluten-free chocolate chip venomous rage Toll House cookies.”

Marian shook a finger at Susie. “See, that’s why I think you might have another agenda.”

“Butterscotch brownies. Do you like butterscotch?”

“I’m not sure. May I try one?”

Susie handed her a sliver of brownie. “I think you’ll like it.”