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

*As Tavaron still has her eyes closed, Paul sees Eli and Lucy first. He waves back at them*

Good morning. Fine, thanks. Although I have the feeling that people *he gestures at Tavaron and Anezka* have been talking about me.

*Tavaron chuckles and opens her eyes*

Good morning. And how are you? Did you have a good night?

*she gently bites Pauls finger as he carelessly let his hand hang over the edge of the sunbed. He chuckles and looks at the things Eli and Lucy are carrying*

You want to go snorkling?

*Eli laughs and grins conspiratorially at Paul. *

Then you'd better beware, P... Ouch!

* He looks at Lucy, who has poked him playfully in the ribs, and both of them start to laugh. Lucy winks at Tavaron and Anezka, and nods. *

Yes, we had, thanks. And maître Escoffier had quite a treat for us at breakfast.

* She smiles at Paul. *

Yes, we are. Does anyone want to join us?

* Eli looks at Tavaron.

Do you know a good spot, or shall we just walk into the sea and start swimming?

*Tavaron and Paul laugh and Paul nods at Eli*

Oh yes, that's how it is...

*he sighs theatrically, then laughs when Tavaron tickles his side. She sits up*

I'll come with you. We can take the boat.

*she looks at Paul*

Will you come, too?

*Paul nods, stands up and then offers Tavaron his hand to pull her up. She takes it and stand up, too, then turns to Eli*

We'll just go to get our things and we should also take some water with us.

*she looks at Paul*

And you'll get anouther layer of sunscreen before we go.

* Eli and Lucy nod, and Eli says: *

Water. Good idea, we didn't think of that.

* He smiles at Anezka. *

Are you coming with us, too?

*Tavaron and Paul go to the tardis t get their things, get water and also sandwiches - just for the case and Tavaron puts on her bikini.*


*Anezka looks at Eli*

Um... no, no thanks. I... um, should better stay here in the shade. Maybe I'll try snorkling here, near to the beach. I shouldn't stay in the sun for too long. And I don't want to keep anyone from having fun because I have to get back into the shade. Maybe, um... maybe I'll go with Jack someday. Snorkling I mean. We wouldn't stay so long then.

* Eli smiles at Anezka. *

I'm sorry to hear you can't stay in the sun. Maybe you can go on a night dive sometime, then.

*Anezka nods*

Maybe. And I can stay in the sun. Just not so long. Although I take pills and sunscreen.

*she suddenly feels handicapped*

* Lucy gives Anezka a sympathising look. *

Better not take any risks if your skin is so sensitive. One of my uncles had something similar. He used to get terrible sunburn.

*Anezka blinks*

Had? ... oh... no, it's no disease.

*Tavaron and Paul come back out of the tardis, put their things into the boat and wave to Eli and Lucy*

* Lucy looks a little taken aback. *

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply... You mean you're not *used* to bright sunlight, is that it?

* Eli waves back at Paul and Tavaron, hoping they'll understand they can't leave now, leaving Anezka distressed. *

*Anezka nods*

Yes, that's right. No sunlight at all.

*she feels uncomfortable, somehow Eli and Lucy don't make it easy to tell them. They seem to see her as some kind of freak*

You see, that.. um... that happens when your people live underground for centuries. If you... um... would excuse me now.

*she walks to the tardis, pretending that she has to go to the toilet*

*Malaba enjoyed sleeping in on her first day on the island, but by the time she'd gotten up, the tardis was deserted*

*She spent a while waiting for the others, then finally took some bread and fruit from the kitchen, feeling guilty for doing so - she didn't ask, and the chef might need it for something*

*She took the impromptu picnic with her on a walk across the island, returning in the evening to find all quiet again. There seemed to be a few people sitting on the beach in the fading light, but they seemed happy enough without her, and she didn't want to disturb anyone, so she simply went to have a long bath - it's been years since she's been near a bathtub rather than a shower - and went to bed*

*This morning, she got up earlier, but once again, there seemed to be nobody near*

*It still didn't seem right, but she again took a small amount of food from the kitchen, stuffed it in her bag with her towel and the swimsuit, just in case, and went to explore again, this time walking along the beach rather than going into the interior - there don't seem to be any hills offering an overview anyway*

*Now, she is sitting on the beach at the far side of the island. She has taken her uniform jacket and boots off and rolled up her trouser legs*

*She's a bit bored and rather lonely. She misses Gullintoppur*

*What food she had is long since eaten, and the water drunk, but there doesn't seem to be any point in heading back to the empty tardis. She's always been a bit suspicious of people who go on holiday and spend the whole time in their hotel rooms*

*Toes buried in the warm sand, she works on a little project to stay busy*

http://k41.pbase.com/u18/dave1/upload/20413506.221_2148.jpg

*She doesn't want to spoil anyone's fun by asking to go home, but she's starting to regret that she came*

* Eli and Lucy nod, suddenly understanding, but they get no chance of telling Anezka, as she leaves in a bit of a rush. They exchange a glance and walk down the beach towards the boat. As they get in, Lucy looks at Tavaron. *

I'm afraid we distressed Anezka somewhat.

* She tells them about their conversation. *

I hope she'll be alright.

*Kyra wakes up under the bed*

What the ... ? </>

*She gets out, with a little bit of difficulty, has a bath and gets dressed in the same top she'd come in*

http://wallpapers.skins.be/christina-ricci/christina-ricci-1024x768-17491.jpg

*She sits on one of the terraces overlooking the beach and watches the waves*

*Tavaron starts the engine - which is unusually quiet - and they drive away from the beach. She looks at Lucy and Eli*

I hope so, too. I didn't have the impression that she usually has problems to talk about it.

* Eli nods. *

Let's hope we'll be able to straighten it out later. She seems nice.

* He looks around. *

Where are you taking us?

*Jack sees Anezka come back into the tardis, and looks at her, concerned*

What's wrong?

*Paul nods*

She is nice, yes.

*he turns to Tavaron*

Yes, where are you taking us, kitty?

*Tavaron grins*

Oh, I'm just kidnapping you.

*she chuckles*

No, just a bit away from the beach. I think we'refar enough now.

*she turns off the engine*

*Anezka shrugs*

I just talked to Mr Charognard and Miss Zhang. They invited me to go snorkling with them, Tavaron and Paul and I said I should better not stay in the sun for so long.

* Eli and Lucy chuckle, and put on their flippers. They both have one of Eli's knives strapped to their leg as a safety measure. Lucy smiles at Tavaron. *

Anything we need to know before we dive in?