rick was pale and thin and never wore anything other than black . you are going out like that ? i assumed that he had just done an odd job for one of the residents , as he was wearing one of those utility belts that workers sometimes wear . `` yes , '' he murmured as though he were admitting to a fault . he did n't know what he 'd been expecting , but it sure the hell was n't that . as he tapped on the porch door , he took the hat off . he nodded to ruth who rose . 