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

*climbs down from haywain and returns to dogsled*

Your turn to drive, d'E!

*settles comfortably into sled*

*Affy shakes off the remnants of Lil's snowball, and makes a mental note to wipe the dust off of a certain invention on the top of Mt. Sandcastle when this journey ends. He picks up some snow, rolls it into a spherical form, and waits for the time to be right*


Too bad that we don't have your 100%-accurate, 2-snowballs-per-second snow bazooka with us, right?

Are we about ready then?

*to nobody in particular*

Amos: All abourd that's gettin aboard!

*Lil settles into the hay* Better get your seat while the hay's still dry, guys!

gives up on fluffy creatures of the genus warmus digitalis extremis which gambol off into the snow, and scrambles back to hay wagon, stopping on way to make a snow angel, and then looking pleased, but with wet cold feet, clambers up and waits expectantly

*flies back to the haywain and snuggles down in the hay*

*Ruppy, indignant about getting a snowball right in the curly-Q, leaves her hole in the snow bank. She shortly forgets her indignation as it is clear that everyone else is making ready to leave. She goes to the haywain and sits impatiently below the rail where Carmel rests*

Pug - Fnerfle? Fnuff!

Dear me, I believe that's my ride. I'm awaaaaaaaaay!

*she leaps down to Ruppy's back, a move she had seen in an old Tom Mix movie, and miraculously does not fall. They fall trotting along in beside the two big dogs.

*The periscope schuffs back to the haywain and a snowy Munchkin clambours in* Did anyone else see giant, gurning ants? Any old shoes, I met a vey nice person there, but they refused to come out as they were worried about Heffalumps.

/* Tries very hard to focus on the task, ends up thinking about a walrus. Refocuses. */

Mush mush mush!

*Scrambles into the haywain just as it starts moving.*

Not a moment too soon, either. Something back there wasn't happy about us stealing eggs.

*There is an ominous rumbling beneath the snow, near the tinsel trees.*

Anyway, does anyone know where the expression "mush" came from? Aparently its a bastardization of the french "marche".

*from dogsled*

Thanks GL, I must admit I was a bit confused, because in Sweden we say 'Tjiipp tjiipp!' (pronounced like - uh - cheepp? somewhere between chip and cheap)

WM, could I trouble you for another Irish ?

I've got some more mince pies here. Any one?

I hope whatever is following us just wants to offer suggestions in the viewing of the eggs, and is in no way posessive of them in such a way as to endanger any of us, thankyouverymuch.

*the great horses snort and break into an easy trot as the lane begins following a series of hairpin turns. the snow has thinned slightly and is falling in small flakes now, and the wind is calm*

*enjoys to warmth of the hay and the cheery atmosphere*

I'd love another mince pie, Caer. Thank you.

G7

*Having retrieved the thermos from the dogsled, Witty passes it on to Caer.*

Help yourself, there's quite a bit left. And I'll try a mince pie, too, please.

*being a clever understanding 'mush!' as well as 'tjiipp!'*

Nnnngggghhh!

*manages to get the sled going again*

Woof? (to Zeppo - you OK?)

*follows haywain*

*passes mince pies around and pours out a picnic mugful of Irish *

Thanks WM (or do you prefer Witty?), just the right amount of whiskey in that.

*opts for whisky uncontaminated by coffee* it goes straight to her antennae as always*

Either WM or Witty is fine, Caer. I'll answer to either.

*Pick up her knitting, which is getting large enough to serve as a decent lap robe.*