Ned slowly poked his head out of the cave mouth. He took in a deep
breath of the calm sea air. He then walked back into the
cave. "Okay everyone. it looks pretty safe out there."

"Gee Ned, yuh shurr? Can't hear any wind r rain. Was that yer frst
clue?"

Ned shrugged. "Actually yes."

A.J. fidgeted. "Son ov a bich." he mumbled quickly.

"And just where the hell have you been getting your alcohol this
past month and a half? Your stash was probably blown away."

A.J. held out a bottle in front of him. "Sco-pe. Takin' it
slow. 'Sides, it's sorta in my body like blubr is ina walrs."

"Ah, okay that one I get." Ned stepped out of the cave and flipped
out his phone. "Hey, the storms finally gone. What do you want to
do with them? Okay, yeah, I think I can handle that. Alright." He
flipped it closed and walked back inside. "Okay everyone, it's safe
to get out of here so come into the light." He made a quick review
of the people there. "Hey where's Carly?"

"Didn't you see her?" Zander asked. "She followed you out when you
went to make your call."

"Oh, okay. I thought that was a stick that had fallen out of the
tree. Guess that explains why it started bitching about random
things. You know, she wasn't all that huge before and now she hasn't
eaten for weeks. If she was emaciated before what does that make her
now? She does still scientifically exist right?"

Ned led them outside. "Okay, lets see. Welcome back fans to our
next week of this little game. This storm took a bit longer than we
thought. But here we are again. Let's see... Last time Luke went
home happily. Bet he's really good and gone by now." He turned his
attention to the players. "Your game is simple today. Who do you
hate the most?"

"Carly." came unyieldingly out of three mouths in unison.

"Ex-CUSE me? What?"

"Cm on Carly babes. Donchu evr think about how you aint got iny
frens in Port Carlss?"

"Yeah, you are kinda a bitch." Laura added.

"That's for sure." Zander finished.

Carly scoffed and ran to get her torch. But the wind suddenly
shifted and blew a bit of fire into her hair, igniting it immediately.

Ned looked back and forth. "Okay... Uhm... Anybody got a clue
which one's the torch?"

"I'd say it's the one that isn't running in circles screaming 'Help
me, put me out put me out please!' "

"Well yeah but, what if it's a magical torch Zander? I mean come on,
Carly saying PLEASE? I just can't buy that."

Zander rubbed his chin. "Hmn? Good point."

Ned held his snuffer tight in his hand. He took a swing at one of
the fired things in front of him. He stared down at it. "Well, it
yelped on the way down? What do you suppose that means?"

Zander shrugged. "If it's a magical torch don't you suppose it could
talk too?"

"You're probably right." Ned walked over to the remaining fiery
thing. He lightly patted it on its head to put it out. "Sorry about
that Carly. You alright?"

It stood there in silence.

"Too traumatic to talk huh? Well, just think you get to go home to
your loving husband Sonny now. We're getting the hell out of here
before that magic torch comes to and kicks our asses." Ned looked
quickly at the camera. "Well, that's all for this week. We'll try
to have everything in order by our next showing. Bye."

Ned and his group fled quickly down the beach. They didn't see the
figure lift it's head off the ground. "M...mother fuckers." Then it
groaned and passed back out.