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

Ah! m'lady! I was shouting at the bosun. I trust I find you well, if a bit seasick?

*smiles weakly and the Captain and glares at the shadow where Liquid is standing*

Yesss.. I do feel just a little better Captain.. but please excuse me.

*She runs towards the side of the ship*

*Assigns a nearby crewman to helm and follows her, silently* *whispers-"What's she up to?" and watches around the side of the wall*

Ah it's good to smell the sea breeze, feel the wind in your hair and the raise and fall of the waves beneath you feet. I know you're a wood elf, milday, but should you really be that shade of green?

*leans over the side of the ship feeling very queasy*

*sees Liquid fall briefly into the visible spectrum, just enough to Cast a shadow, jumps out* Who are You! Don' try and pretend you aren't there, I saw your shadow! You're the one who has been restricting me and...*looks bemused* Wha...? M'lady, is there someone else here...? I could have sworn...

Forgive me,milday. I am only permitted to act for life threatening illness, this is not life threatening. But I can do something which will ease it somewhat.
*He lays a hand on her back as she leans over railing. His hand glows gold.The light fades.*
This is only temporary but mau help, milday.

*She gasps as she feels the pressure of his hand against her back*...


.. Thank you my friend </>

You are welcome.
Captain what is that island on the horizon that we are apporaching? I do not know these waters, so I do not recognise it.

*Looks up sharply*

Where are we?

Captain.
Wake up.
Put the bottle of rum and the cabin boy down. Pay attention.

You must be hallucinating, bosun... Where the devil did YOU come from? Oh! Musta bin your shadow i saw... Honestly, the crewman deserved it, and the rum... er... liquid protection, you know...?

Kindly take charge of the wheel, captain, There is an island coming up. It doesn't seem to be on the charts. We must be on our gaurd.

No, bosun, I've seen it before, It's perfectly safe... Or was that...*noises of gears in head grinding* Oh gods... *colour drains from face, dramatic music* Turn the ship, bosun, get us away from here, ALL HANDS! PREPARE FOR EMERGENCY SPEED!

Captain! What is it? What's wrong? Stop spinning the wheel so crazily. What is wrong with that Island? Why, despite all your attempts at speed, are we being drawn towards it?

*Storms descend, waves crash madly over the side* *holds on madly to railing as he goes toward cabin* We'll all be doomed, if I cant... *is almost swept overboard* Were.....trouble...!...bosun......faster....out of here....... hear me?*noise drowns out voice*

*Liquid materialises out of storm.*
Give me the wheel, captain.
*Magic forces clash as the messenger from the Gods takes the helm.*

Who... who are you? *steps aside, giving Liquid the helm*

*The forces of magic on the island are very strong.*


Captain. We will have to let the forces take us into the bay. If I fight them, it will destroy the ship, and I can afford nothing that will cause harm to milday. Take the wheel. I shall go to see how she is. But first Captain. Tell me why were you so frightened of this island?

This... this island... I cannot say... I cannot tell you, you can read minds? Read mine, then, for if I say it aloud, all the worse will happen... If that's possible...*feels mind being probed, the following is heard to mind readers ONLY-"I have been here before, many years ago, on my first voyage, oh... the evil..." and the mind goes blank* *faints*