h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*the sound of someone hopping on one foot and muttering under their breath floats up the stairs on a cloud of dust specks*

*rummages in pockets, finds a miner helmets, switches on lamp and gingerly starts down the stairs*

Mind your heads, the ceiling is a little low.

*crouches ..... makes sure goblet is full of UBS, grabs a MAG light .... follows*

Courtesy

*follows as well, mini-MAG clutched in her hand. it sheds blue light, as any good techie's mini-MAG should*

*the noises from below become more defined as the interpid crew goes farther and farther down. they seem to be communicating a certain level of discomfort, as well as surprise at the existence of a stone step in the particular location that a step seems to exist)

*with the aid of miner's lamp and two mag lights, the stairs are lit up like Tower Bridge*

The stairs only seem to go down a flight.

*Arrives at the bottom, opeing into a barrel vaulted room.*

What a lovely example of barrel vaulting, must have been built by skilled masons.

I rather like the stacks of dusty wine bottles, myself.... communion wine for the Church? With these many bottles I think AB Marv could reach the Outer Rim of the Galaxy!

*Takes down a bottle and examines the label. Passes it around. Now there are only 29487234985698 left.*

*blinded by the sudden light, trips over a small barrell and falls into the corner. now hidden from site and not entirely sure of the cause of the sudden brilliance in the room, mutters about thermonuclear devices and ill placed chucks of wood*

*freezes*

who's there?! we've got you surrounded! come out with your hands up!

Who's where?

I'm here!

*wanders around the room*

Look at all these barrels! Shall we open one and see what's in it?

Good idea. If it turns out to be Gwennie, though, you just bang the lid back into place!

*opens a barrel lid*


Noooooooo...........I don't believe it!


Could it be ABMarv's secret vice?


Its full of ginger snaps!

Wait ...... it's just a clever ruse.

*puts hand to the bottom of the barrel, hits a wooden obstruction before getting to the bottom*

There's a hidden area at the bottom of the barrel!!!

Courtesy

~humming to self!~ Roll out the barrel... we'll have a barrel of fun...

*manages to stand up without any pain and - therefore - no comic relief*

Hullo, all! I was wondering what all the noise and lights were about. Good to see everyone. Its been a tad dark and lonely down here. It was only my belief in the Brownie - and a bag of Monsy's Special Brownies - that kept me sane.

*jumps...turns round and sees a shadowy figure*

Who's that!

*miner's light shining brightly on the figure*

G7 what are you doing stuck down here? Was that you swearing like a trooper?

I apologize for my delay in making it down the stair. I note that you have found my long lost High Priestess.

<drinks mightly from the he brought with him>

*enters from a dark corner, brushing cobwebs and crumbs off*

And just where have you all been? I have been waiting for what, over a month for all of you to show up! Let me show you what I've found over here

*waves everyone in her direction*

*Brushes away the cobwebs from her friends and goes to look at Montana's find.*

WOW!!! I've never seen one of those before!!! Do you think it bites????

*looks vaguely embarassed about her skillful blue-streak swearing, but refuses to comment*

What do you have there, Red?