Автостопом по галактике

           "Wearetheoneswhowillhear,"saidPhouchg,"theanswertothegreatquestionofLife…!"

           "TheUniverse…!"saidLoonquawl.

           "AndEverything…!"

           "Shhh,"saidLoonquawlwithaslightgesture,"IthinkDeepThoughtispreparingtospeak!"

           Therewasamoment’sexpectantpausewhilstpanelsslowlycametolifeonthefrontoftheconsole.Lightsflashedonandoffexperimentallyandsettleddownintoabusinesslikepattern.Asoftlowhumcamefromthecommunicationchannel.

           "Goodmorning,"saidDeepThoughtatlast.

           "Er…Goodmorning,ODeepThought,"saidLoonquawlnervously,"doyouhave…er,thatis…"

           "Ananswerforyou?"interruptedDeepThoughtmajestically."Yes.Ihave."

           Thetwomenshiveredwithexpectancy.Theirwaitinghadnotbeeninvain.

           "Therereallyisone?"breathedPhouchg.

           "Therereallyisone,"confirmedDeepThought.

           "ToEverything?TothegreatQuestionofLife,theUniverseandEverything?"

           "Yes."

           Bothofthemenhadbeentrainedforthismoment,theirliveshadbeenapreparationforit,theyhadbeenselectedatbirthasthosewhowouldwitnesstheanswer,butevensotheyfoundthemselvesgaspingandsquirminglikeexcitedchildren.

           "Andyou’rereadytogiveittous?"urgedLoonquawl.

           "Iam."

           "Now?"

           "Now,"saidDeepThought.

           Theybothlickedtheirdrylips.

           "ThoughIdon’tthink,"addedDeepThought,"thatyou’regoingtolikeit."

           "Doesn’tmatter!"saidPhouchg."Wemustknowit!Now!"

           "Now?"inquiredDeepThought.

           "Yes!Now…"

           "Alright,"saidthecomputerandsettledintosilenceagain.Thetwomenfidgeted.Thetensionwasunbearable