Автостопом по галактике

           "

           "What?Oh…er,verywell,"saidtheoldman,slightlytakenaback,"I’lljustgoandgetonwithsomeofmyfjordsthen."

           "Ah,wellinfactthatwon’tbenecessary,"saidFrankiemouse."Itlooksverymuchasifwewon’tbeneedingthenewEarthanylonger."Heswivelledhispinklittleeyes."Notnowthatwehavefoundanativeoftheplanetwhowastheresecondsbeforeitwasdestroyed."

           "What?"criedSlartibartfast,aghast."Youcan’tmeanthat!I’vegotathousandglacierspoisedandreadytorolloverAfrica!"

           "Wellperhapsyoucantakeaquickskiingholidaybeforeyoudismantlethem,"saidFrankie,acidly.

           "Skiingholiday!"criedtheoldman."Thoseglaciersareworksofart!Elegantlysculpturedcontours,soaringpinnaclesofice,deepmajesticravines!Itwouldbesacrilegetogoskiingonhighart!"

           "ThankyouSlartibartfast,"saidBenjifirmly."Thatwillbeall."

           "Yessir,"saidtheoldmancoldly,"thankyouverymuch.Well,goodbyeEarthman,"hesaidtoArthur,"hopethelifestylecomestogether."

           Withabriefnodtotherestofthecompanyheturnedandwalkedsadlyoutoftheroom.

           Arthurstaredafterhimnotknowingwhattosay.

           "Now,"saidBenjimouse,"tobusiness."

           FordandZaphodclinkedtheirglassestogether.

           "Tobusiness!"theysaid.

           "Ibegyourpardon?"saidBenji.

           Fordlookedround.

           "Sorry,Ithoughtyouwereproposingatoast,"hesaid.

           Thetwomicescuttledimpatientlyaroundintheirglasstransports.Finallytheycomposedthemselves,andBenjimovedforwardtoaddressArthur.

           "Now,Earthcreature,"hesaid,"thesituationwehaveineffectisthis.