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

*Eli Charognard's researches have not gone unnoticed in certain quarters*

*A slim envelope appears in his mail slot*

*Inside is a card*

http://ewancient.lysator.liu.se/pic/art/p/u/puimun/21world.jpg

*On the reverse of the card is a cryptic message*

Today, the thought - tomorrow, the Concourse.

*MacAlpine gives a vague, brave half-smile*

Yes. Just something for pain. Else I can't sleep.

*He hopes she's suitably impressed*

*Charlotte slowly takes a sip of wine and looks at MacAlpine. To her it doesn't seem like his hand hurts very much.*

That bad? I'm sorry, Lieutenant.

*she does him a favour and gives him a pitying look*

*MacAlpine smiles and shakes his head*

Don't be. It's quite manageable, now that I'm on proper medication rather than the strange herbal concoction she prescribed.

*Charlotte nods*

Good to hear, Lieutenant.

*she yawns, covering her mouth with her hand*

Sorry.

*MacAlpine looks at his chronometer*

Oh, don't be. I'm sure you've had a long day. Can I walk you anywhere?

*Jamie Douglass is in the bosom of his family*

*Er, that didn't come out right. Start again*

*Jamie Douglass is sitting in the wendy house, on the ground, back to back with Liam, eating cevapcici with tzatziki sauce, and listening to Ilya telling everybody stories about the Olden Dayes*

*There*

And it came to pass in those days, that there was a big locust plague...yum, says I, and heads out there with a crew of hungry prophets and a bunch of burlap bags...

I got 'em to give up sackcloth, you see...

*Toirdhealbhach laughs so hard he falls into the pool, and Morgan throws rice balls at Ilya*

*Charlotte shakes her head - she is too sleepy to go on talking*

No, thank you Lieutenant. But I hope you don't mind if I leave now.

*she stands up and smiles at him*

Good night.

*MacAlpine stands up*

Of course I don't mind. Have a good watch, Ms Schra-, I mean, Ms Ahrendt.

*He smiles, and makes no move to pick up his tray yet, as that would look like was trying to walk with her, against her express wish*

*Charlotte smiles again and then leaves. She had a busy day and is tired.*

*MacAlpine returns to his quarters*

*He takes almost an hour to properly clean and dress his hand - the doctor couldn't even be bothered to do that, he thinks, and it probably looks as bad as it does now because there were still some plant bits in it*

*He applies a generous coat of the ointment he was given, but he's not bothered to go back for more of her herbal painkiller, having decided that what he has in his medicine cabinet does the job better*

*Having finally wrapped a new bandage, he goes to sit and read, drinking coffee rather than his usual whisky*

*Saladin and Suleiman Larris are sitting together at the dining table, though everyone else has moved over to the sofas, except Sylvana and Sophie, who are playing dominoes at the other end*

*The twins are working on an epad, each interrupting the other to add things, and they both laugh once in a while*

*Finally, Suleiman looks up*

Hey, Sean! Any idea where we can get a video camera?

*Saladin adds*

And a dog?

*Sean turns away from the GV screen reluctantly*

Whatever for? But we don't have any, anyway.

*Sam chimes in*

The cameras are all being confiscated, since too much is ending up on GV, and the Mariposa is an experimental ship, after all...

*Suleiman looks disappointed*

Pity.

*Sam knows better than to ask what they're up to*

You could always ask at Communications or somewhere, if it's for a specific reason... As for the dog, try one of the vets. Or ask around in the Arbo.

*Oswald Harris is on his way to Orville's house - on foot, this time, because Orville's mother doesn't like her courtyard full of bikes*

*It will be interesting today, because Jana will be taking part for the first time. But it'd be more interesting if-*

*His train of thought is interrupted by a happy circumstance - he sees Kyra coming out of a side street*

Hey! Wait up! Feel like having lunch with me? And, uh, well, with the rest of the Hogs? We have a meeting right about now...

*Kyra had been near the school, and heard some rumours that Jana was to be doing 'something' for the group of boys. Although she's decided they're mostly harmless, it can't hurt to make certain. She smiles softly when she sees Oswald*

Sure. Sounds like fun.

*Oswald grins and hikes his heavy backpack up higher*

Great! Let's go, then.

*He trots along next to Kyra, pointing out the sights of town until they come to Orville's house, which is in a row of slightly bigger houses near the park. His family occupies the house at the end of the row*

http://www.miketectonpublishing.com/townhouse.gif

That's his place, see, and we're all invited. Oh, hello, Mrs Harris.

*This last is to the woman pruning the roses in the front yard*

http://union.extension.psu.edu/Images/WomanGardener.jpg

*She smiles at Kyra and Oswald*

Hello, there, dears. Go on up - the others are already waiting in the library. I'll have Olefa bring up lunch for your new friend, too.

*Personally, she's glad they're getting more girls in the group, it's not good for the boys to be among themselves so much*

*Once inside, Oswald leads the way up the stairs and into a rather opulent study, with bookcases lining two walls and several tables, couches, and chairs*

http://www.tocal.com/homestead/guide/guide07.jpg

*There are about half a dozen people already there. Orville and Jana share the couch by the window*

*Jana is looking a bit unhappy*

Of *course* I want to be here, but if I don't pass that exam tomorrow, they'll tell my *sister*, and she'll send-

*She sees Kyra, and stops in mid-sentence*

*Orville leans over to kiss Jana on the cheek*

Don't worry about it, Princess. I told you we'll take care of that...

*Kyra doesn't react to what she's overheard, but she's suddenly glad she came.

*She straddles a chair and leans forward against the backboard*

*Oswald puts his backpack down and sits close to Kyra*

*A woman comes in with a tea trolley and starts putting plates, glasses, pitchers of lemonade, sandwiches, and little cakes out on the sideboard, but nobody pays her any attention - they're used to this*

*Orville looks at Kyra*

Ah, glad you could make it - Jana tells me you're a Starfleet officer, should be useful.

*He looks vaguely amused*

So, boys - and girls - what are we dealing with today?

*Oswald pipes up first*

Well, I'm still having trouble calculating that trajectory...

*A young, scrawny redhead adds*

I'll need to practice my Romulan some more...

*A bored-looking blonde sitting in the bay window overlooking the garden sighs*

I'm still having trouble finding the exact symptoms, I mean, there are general things, but how to tell it apart from other poisons...

*Kyra watches, amused, and wonders if she's becoming paranoid. They're just kids cheating on exams, nothing she has to worry about*

*Orville smiles sweetly at Jana*

And what are you having trouble with, Princess?

*Jana blushes, and admits softly*

Geometry.

*Orville jumps up, clapping his hands once*

Right, well, in that case, you're with Oswald - he's good at that, I don't understand why he can't do his Physics. Oberon - Romulan again? I'll help you in just a minute, but first I'll ask Father whether Osias can have the big medical encyclopaedia from his office. Othello, when Jana's done with Oswald, you can ask her about Earth history, apparently she's good at that. Or had you finished your report by now?

*He's been walking around the room, and now stops in front of Kyra, looking amused*

What's your area of expertise, then? Care to help any of us out? I know, you can talk to Octavio, he wants to join Starfleet...

*He looks around searchingly*

Whom have we forgotten? Oz? Any trouble today, or were you just here to use the consoles?

*Kyra laughs out loud. She is getting paranoid, seeing bad guys behind every bush*

I dunno, I never went ...

*She is about to tell them that she never went to school, but that would bring up all sorts of questions about how she joined Starfleet*

I mean, I was never that good at maths.

*She suddenly feels inadequate. They're not likely to have an exam on street smarts*

I dunno, history, politics, I guess.

*Oz perks up*

Oh, that's what I need help with.

*He moves between Oswald and Kyra*