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

No, not that I can think of. We've accomplished our initial quest mission of returning the nice tree to its home. Now all we have to do is tie up all the loose ends that have started over the course of this story, and head home safely. And the first step to that last part logically begins with us marching down into a Kobold's den.

*hurries after the others after having said goodbye to Gandalf*

*Drops down into the tunnel. Looks around. Reaches into his backpack and pulls out his battery-powered, brass lantern, just in case*

Eh - I hope you've got spare batteries Affy? I wouldn't enjoy running around in these passages looking for a vending machine... I never did manage to find it in CC)

I've got my mini mag-lite, if needed. We ought to be okay.

*Rushes to keep up with the rat-ant, which is moving very quickly through the maze of twisty passages.*

*the rat-ant in front suddenly comes to a halt. The tunnel has widened and its walls are well finished... except for the slab of sandstone completely blocking the way, side to side and top to bottom*

*it appears to have fallen down quite recently*

*as its fellow rat-ants arrive in the space, they turn and look expectantly at Affy*

Sandstone, eh? There wouldn't happen to be a hole in the middle of the slab? *strongly reminded of the underground city of Derinkuyu in Turkey*

http://www.maddogsbreakfast.com.au/mdb/gui/art/art21c.shtml
http://www.briankohl.com/photogallery/turkey-cappadocia-derinkuyu02.html

Ah, the Collossal Cave. A must-see for any adventurer. The maze with the vending machine is the only maze I have ever seen where I recommend the use cheating by looking at someone else's map. Each room with six exits, not a single linear passage among 'em.

*Affy looks at the sandstone block*

Ah, sandstone. It wouldn't be granite, of course not. It's never granite. Not once in the five years since I purchased the Tossio spell has it ever been granite. NOT ONCE! That salesman overplayed the importance of being able to turn granite into fettucine, he overplayed it a great deal....stupid salesman....

Well,....the last time I saw a granite wall like this was in the Royal Puzzle while I was vacationing in the Land Of Shadow in Zork....I seriously doubt that it'll be as easy here as there, but,....

*Pushes against the sandstone block experimentally*

*sand spills out of recesses in the ceiling and some of it gets down the back of Affi's neck*

*the slab doesn't move*

*the rat-ant who led the way unsheathes his stingersword and uses it to scribble some Galactic runes in the sand, then puts his sword away and resumes his expectant gaze*

*scrutinizes the slab, eyes narrowed*

*one of the other rat-ants takes out his stingersword and writes on the floor:


563


and looks hopefully around at the humans*

*Scratches the back of his neck, annoyed*

Well, it was worth a shot. No immediate harm done.

*Affy sets his OmeGauntlet to "Laser: Blaster Damage" and tries shooting the slab of sandstone*

5, 6, 3? Could that be a clock?

Like in pressing the slab at 5 o'clock, and then 6 o'clock and then 3 o'clock?

*Sorry, symlpost*

*Affy looks down from his attempt at blasting the sandstone and looks at the markings*

Hmmmm,....interesting....

It could be the clock....that wouldn't explain the spaces before the numbers, but it's worth a shot.

*Experimentally presses the stone where Titania suggests*

*the ceiling pours more sand down everyone's necks, including the rat-ants, and the stone slab remains in place, impervious*

*a third rat-ant comes forward, and, with his sword, adds what's written on the floor, so that now the travellers see:

#563

*Witty slaps her forehead and starts paging through some backlog on her pda.*

Affy, remember that call from Lil on your ring? There was something about Galactic 4. That's it, that's the key.


Ooh Mah Sî Tah Wwwÿ Wwwÿ Græ Mah...



Not that I understand what I just said. Is that an Elvis song or am I way off base?

*Affy laughs*

Oh, I get it now! The rat-ants are telling a joke. Nice one, rat-ants. I caught this evening's episode of "Thaltarian Downs" as well. Pretty funny stuff, really.

Note to self: if there is a long-running thread that started (or at least resumed) January 1, find if there's any parralel threads when you start looking through it, and start going through it /then/. At least it's only February 19 ...

*with a deep grinding noise, the slab slides upward into the ceiling*
*following this, all is silent except for a final trickle of sand down the back of Affy's neck*

* the removal of the slab reveals another short length of tunnel with a neat wooden door at the end*

*the rat-ants rush forward, throw open the door and surge into the room*

*the room is small and features two other doors and a staircase leading downward to a closed door. There is a brass plaque on the floor with an inscription on it, and a teacup in a corner*