"Brave fools," June muttered, but Howard ignored her.

It was about a half hour later, just when Crystal thought they might make it back to the interstate alive, that the other brave souls came into view. Crystal knew they were trouble the moment she spotted them. She'd seen their kind in the movies too many times not to know what they were like.

"Oh, my God!" June said. "Howard, turn around."

"Just stay calm," Howard said. "Nothing to worry about." He waved at the four motorcyclists as he steered past them, giving them a smile.

The four were down at the edge of the stream, their chrome-trimmed cycles parked up above on the road. They resembled four pirates, one of them with his pants off and wading in the stream while he pissed. The pissing cyclist was the only one to acknowledge Howard's wave, holding his beer can up in salute and giving Howard a toothy grin, his red bandana holding his long hair in place. The other three all stared grimly at the passing auto as if either stunned or disturbed by the intrusion. Howard managed to squeeze the car between the cycles and the canyon wall, missing one bike by inches.

"Don't look back," Howard half whispered, although Crystal was already looking back, disturbed by the way the four cyclists seemed to be calling a quick conference.

As soon as the station wagon had rounded the next bend, Howard gave the car more gas.

"What's wrong?" June demanded, sounding half hysterical. "Oh, for Christ sake!" Howard said. "Just stay calm! There's nothing to worry about!"

"I just knew something like this would happen," June said. "They're going to come after us. I just know it."

"Maybe we should've brought your pistol, Dad," Randy said.