Автостопом по галактике

           "Well,"saidZaphod,attackingabonefulofgrilledmuscle,"ourhostsherehavebeengassingusandzappingourmindsandbeinggenerallyweirdandhavenowgivenusarathernicemealtomakeituptous.Here,"hesaidhoikingoutalumpofevilsmellingmeatfromabowl,"havesomeVeganRhino’scutlet.It’sdeliciousifyouhappentolikethatsortofthing."

           "Hosts?"saidArthur."Whathosts?Idon’tseeany…"

           Asmallvoicesaid,"Welcometolunch,Earthcreature."

           Arthurglancedaroundandsuddenlyyelped.

           "Ugh!"hesaid."Therearemiceonthetable!"

           TherewasanawkwardsilenceaseveryonelookedpointedlyatArthur.

           Hewasbusystaringattwowhitemicesittinginwhatlookedlikewhiskyglassesonthetable.Heheardthesilenceandglancedaroundateveryone.

           "Oh!"hesaid,withsuddenrealization."Oh,I’msorry,Iwasn’tquitepreparedfor…"

           "Letmeintroduceyou,"saidTrillian."ArthurthisisBenjimouse."

           "Hi,"saidoneofthemice.Hiswhiskersstrokedwhatmusthavebeenatouchsensitivepanelontheinsideofthewhisky-glasslikeaffair,anditmovedforwardslightly.

           "AndthisisFrankiemouse."

           Theothermousesaid,"Pleasedtomeetyou,"anddidlikewise.

           Arthurgaped.

           "Butaren’tthey…"

           "Yes,"saidTrillian,"theyarethemiceIbroughtwithmefromtheEarth."

           ShelookedhimintheeyeandArthurthoughthedetectedthetiniestresignedshrug.

           "CouldyoupassmethatbowlofgratedArcturanMegadonkey?"shesaid.

           Slartibartfastcoughedpolitely.

           "Er,excuseme,"hesaid.

           "Yes,thankyouSlartibartfast,"saidBenjimousesharply,"youmaygo.