Chapter 13

           Marvintrudgedondownthecorridor,stillmoaning.

           "…andthenofcourseI’vegotthisterriblepaininallthediodesdownmylefthandside…"

           "No?"saidArthurgrimlyashewalkedalongbesidehim."Really?"

           "Ohyes,"saidMarvin,"ImeanI’veaskedforthemtobereplacedbutnooneeverlistens."

           "Icanimagine."

           VaguewhistlingandhummingnoiseswerecomingfromFord."Wellwellwell,"hekeptsayingtohimself,"ZaphodBeeblebrox…"

           SuddenlyMarvinstopped,andheldupahand.

           "Youknowwhat’shappenednowofcourse?"

           "No,what?"saidArthur,whodidn’twanttoknow.

           "We’vearrivedatanotherofthosedoors."

           Therewasaslidingdoorletintothesideofthecorridor.Marvineyeditsuspiciously.

           "Well?"saidFordimpatiently."Dowegothrough?"

           "Dowegothrough?"mimickedMarvin."Yes.Thisistheentrancetothebridge.Iwastoldtotakeyoutothebridge.ProbablythehighestdemandthatwillbemadeonmyintellectualcapacitiestodayIshouldn’twonder."

           Slowly,withgreatloathing,hesteppedtowardsthedoor,likeahunterstalkinghisprey.Suddenlyitslidopen.

           "Thankyou,"itsaid,"formakingasimpledoorveryhappy."

           DeepinMarvin’sthoraxgearsground.

           "Funny,"heintonedfunerally,"howjustwhenyouthinklifecan’tpossiblygetanyworseitsuddenlydoes."

           HeheavedhimselfthroughthedoorandleftFordandArthurstaringateachotherandshruggingtheirshoulders.FrominsidetheyheardMarvin’svoiceagain.

           "Isupposeyouwanttoseethealiensnow,"hesaid.