[ He throws his hands up -- not so much in exasperation as in faint amusement: ]

You can just say "that sounds stupid," lady. I won't be offended.

[ He scans the trees again -- no movement still, so far, whether it's little girls or another of those snake creatures marauding about, Albert's not eager to run into the latter -- as he folds his arms again. ]

You've experience, then. So I'll ask: The people here... they talk like this girl's a good omen. Do good-luck spirits usually turn up in the middle of the night?