It was only hearsay; an old wives tale. It was something that everyone pretended not to care about, but obeyed nonetheless.
On a certain stretch of lonely road, at dusk, never stop for a hitch-hiker. If you do, then a glance down at the passenger’s feet once in the vehicle, and you will see cloven hooves. You shall never be heard from again.
Roderick thought it was a load of nonsense. Unfortunately.