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

It was a cold wet night water dripped down his neck from the trees around the gates he was standing by, he heard the car before he saw the lights stab through the darkness as it rounded the corner.

It had that low, vibrant rumble that, in normal circumstances, is both comforting and exciting. But, here, now, in this time and place, its sound sent chills down his spine.... or was that the icy water? He didn't know. He didn't care.

The keys to the gate felt cold in his hand, keeping his neyes fixed on the car he felt for the gate key. Slowing the car approached flooding the gate way with light.

He hears the passenger's side window whirr down as the dark mass of the car comes to a slow and liquid stop. He affects a look of polite inquiry.

The light glinted on the plastic laminate on the pass that was thrust out of the window. He glanced at the photograph looked at the face of the passenger, and turned to open the gate.

It was patently obvious that the plasticized card was a fake, and that the passenger did NOT want it known that she was attending tonight's meeting. For if word got out that she was here, the region would soon be swarming with the papparazi ...

The key slipped smoothly into the lock. He had almost decided to refuse her entry, 'what the hell' he decided and swung open the gate and waved the car through, 'its not my problem now' he thought as the tail lights disappeared behind the trees.

With his eyes still on the trees as he pulls the gate closed, he doesn't notice the three slight shadows that slip through the narrowing gap. He locks the gate, pulls the collar of his coat up around his neck, slouches against the gate pillar and shivers.

This is going to be a long night he thought, he looked at his watch and groned, he had only been there two hours. He looked at the sky the lack of stars told him there was still a thick layer of cloud, the rain was here to stay.

And, for the umpteenth time, he wished The Company had given him a day watch instead of this one with the luminous dial... at least, then, he would have had more to look at while on shift.

He was taken by surprise by the distant noise, at first he could not make it out. The voice on pocket radio called him to leave his post at the gate and investagate and he set off at a cautious run.

As he got closer to the noise, he could just make out some movement backlit against the arboretum. He slowed to a cautious walk and crept up behind a bush and peered through the branches.

oh dang... how did he get through the GATE !!

The complaints were comeing fron a figure just seen running flat out towards the house. he turned to follow.