It's a black, chilly Halloween, as witches walk around, brooms in hand, with ghastly white ghosts and one-eyed pirates with wooden legs. As they roam through the silent neighborhood, a street light flickers on and off suspiciously as dark, angry clouds float slowly - threateningly - high above the naked trees. The full moon, a placid giant, sits in the sky as yellow as a smoker's tooth. The frigid air has a smokey smell to it. A sudden whispering wind, almost visible, sweeps up leaves with its transparent hand. A black cat hisses and its hairs stand up straight, glowing amber eyes wild with fright. Everything turns quiet, except for the occasional sound of a chorus of high-pitched voices singing "Trick-or-treat!"