Ralph was reunited with Bill in softly lit comfortable room. The color in Bill's face had returned as he rested on a couch-like object, sipping a delicious but unidentifiable drink.

"How ya doin', kid?" Bill asked cheerfully.

"I was gonna ask you the same." Ralph said as he sat on the couch next to Bill.

"Ya see? Told ja. Nothin' to it! Have you tried this stuff? Get some of this stuff, it's delicious."

Ralph chuckled. It felt like old times.

"Yeah!" Bill continued. "Just a bunch of friendly, down on the farm, little green guys, flyin' around in their chandelier. Just a stroll with in the park. Nothing. Heh heh."

"You amaze me, Bill. You always have. A stroll in the park?"

"Yeah. Yeah. Piece of cake."

"Are you really OK?"

"Well, Ralph, ah…for a geezer who just got his insides put through a Cuisinart on high, yeah. I'm good." He paused. "I'm OK with this, Ralph, now, I really am."

"Let's go home, Bill." Ralph smiled.

"You know, 'started together, finish together'... Huh? What did you say?"

"You heard me right. It's not our time yet."

"Go home, Ralph? As in terra firma, U S of A?" Bill's spirits lifted to the heavens.

"Yeah!" Ralph grinned to both ears, his smile the size of California.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah!"

The two shook hands and patted each other on the back.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Bill spent the next week with the Hinkleys, getting under foot, getting on Pam's last nerve—which she cheerfully endured—and catching up on the world. He would go back to the cabin, at least for now, but would no longer live in fear. Ralph intended to visit Bill on a regular basis and make sure he was OK.

- - - - - - - - -

Ralph saw Bill to the airport.

"You know, ah, Ralph," Bill began pensively, "I've been thinking…"

"That can't be good."

"Now hear me out here. I was thinking that, well, I kinda…owe those green guys my life."

"Now Bill…"

"Lemme finish. I owe 'em my life at least a couple times over, so if they want me to…ah…take a ride…a little magic carpet ride to, you know, to outer space…Well, maybe, ah, maybe that's OK."

The idea still made Bill squeamish, but the deep fear that had haunted him for so many years was completely gone. He could face his future, come what may.

"Bill, when our time comes, it'll be right."

They parted, reluctantly, knowing it was not the end.