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

*dashes out of Atelier grasping a note in her hand*

*spots huge Percheron still waiting for her outside*

*tries to mount*

*looks around*

*spots rock*

Gandalf, would you mind, please...?

*climbs up on rock, and then on to Gandalf's back*

Go Gandalf - we've got to catch up with the others!

*admires scenery*

*Pierrot flys after Titania to see what's up.*

*looking around to see whether the two dogs are allright, Amos sees them eating quiche -- then he notices a rider approaching from behind*

Whoa, whoa Bonnie, Clyde! We have company following up on us! *the coach comes to a halt*

*slows down*

*swings horse around* (now that /could/ sound silly )

*rapidly approaching, waving something that looks like a piece of paper in her hand*

This *pant* is a new *pant* message from *pant* THEM!


WE KNOW YOU HAVE THE ALTAIRIAN EMERALD.
WE KNOW YOU HAVE THE MANUAL FOR KLAG III.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE HOSTESS ALIVE AGAIN YOU WILL TRADE THESE PRICELESS ITEMS FOR HER LIFE.
GO TO THE LURKERS COTTAGE.

now /thats/ not very friendly

*catching her breath*

...and I fear they mean my emerald - that's the only emerald I know about, anyway... sorry Pierrot - I would have trusted you with the message, but not with the emerald itself...

what does it do?

Oh - lots of things, I think... I've only been able to find about a few of the uses so far...

so it could help rescue Lil?

Either that, or I might have to give it up as part of the ransom...

Can I see the note? *Amos shifts the reins to one hand and holds out the other*

The best thing the emerald would do is be given to the hostages unless our elven friend knows how to scry with it...

Scry?

Not so fast, please... does anyone know the manual mentioned in the message?

On the bullet thing, I've noticed in Hootoo World that friendly fire always bypasses friends enroute to enemies, so we should be ok.

What emerald T? is it a family heirloom or something? Anyway, we will have to find away of fobbing them off with a good fake. Shall I phone QVC?

*to Z and X* You two keep a watch while I go back and see what Miz Titania brought*

*rides back in time to hear the last part of the coversation*

Wait up now, we're not giving up anything. I don't care if it's a jewel, a book or a thousand head of longhorns. *looks at the note over Amos's shoulder* Where's this Lurker live then?

Wasn't that the cottage we saw on our hunt?

i think they should just give us Lil back

*Amos nods* Aye, that's the badger. The Lurker's cottage. Out beyond the village limits, the other side of the ford. They wouldn't have her there, though. That's too easy! I'd bet there will be further instructions when we get there.

Hope that Lurker isn't there, though. Gave us all a turn, it did.

*takes in this information* OK.

*rides back to the posse* Now here's the deal. We got another message from the kidnappers with their demands. We're supposed to go to the Lurker's Cottage, which is outside of town, past where we ford the river. Amos knows where it is. It sounds like this Lurker might be involved or is just some kind of desperate cuss, so we go ahead and surround the house before the coach rides up. Savvy?