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

*Pounding hoofbeats are heard coming from the direction of the town. Before anyone can react, a horse and rider gallop by in a blur of black. As it passes the stagecoach, a "swish, swish, swish" is heard and a somewhat lopsided letter "Z" appears on the door of the coach. Moments later the horse and rider pass the advanced group and disappear in the distance.*

*looks at passing blur, then at slashes in the coach*

More fun to come still!

How are you doing, Amos? Have a little more water.

I think we had best make him comfortable and wait till he is able to speak.

*Swallows the water, gratefully. Tries to sit up, winces and sinks back down.*

Thank you, ma'am. I'm still a little light-headed. My head feels like Clyde kicked it, but I don't think anything's broken. I think a bullet grazed my head and knocked me out. I was starting to come to, when the coach started moving and I got tossed around like dice in your hand. I'm going to have more than a few bruises to show for it.

*climbs down*

Oh - I'm sorry Amos, I really am - didn't know it was you in there...

*digs in pocket, pulls out a small pouch, hands it to Amos*

Here - mix this into some water - it'll reduce the pain...

*looks at the stagecoach door*

Is that a J or a Z?

Eh... *scratches head* ...J for Jello?

*Looks up.*

Who was that masked man?

*scrambles up the back leg of Montana Red's horse to get a better view of proceedings*

[Amy] Look Styx! This is the horse you bit on the bum!

[Styx] Heh heh heh. Horse name Baccy. *looks wistful* Time for lunch. Give me food.

[Amy] So you like horses but you couldn't eat a whole one? Caerwynn is the new Food Lady. Ask her.

*unseen and unheard by everyone an invisible apparition is floating around one of the animals*

Baccy, Baccy, steady there boy it's yer ole friend Reb. Yer were the bestest horse ah ever did own . I gotter job fer you ........ nearing the ......... just go like heck ........ signal is ....... heh heh heh ........

[X feels a shiver running up and down his spine. He looks around, but sees nothing odd. If you're thinking it's odd that a Reploid can sense stuff like that, then you're thinking along the wrong lines.]

*sea frowns*

this is so... strange. masked men riding about, slashing carriages... odd flashes from far away...

mmmm.

*shivers*

[Styx] Was ghost. Demon rats can see ghosts. Ghost whispers to horse. Welsh Lady, give Styx pork pie.

*has a rummage but can only find a ham and egg pie*

Will this do Styx? There's some Hobnobs left over if not.

*shivers*

I feel as if someone has just walked over my grave.

I wouldn't like to be out here at night without the rest of the posse.

*the pugs sense one of their enemies, a "thing-that-is-not-there" and they go nuts*

*hears the pugs going nuts and looks back to see if everyone is okay back there*

Let's light a fire and and get the kettle on. The World always looks a better place after a nice cuppa, for awhile anyway.

A would be wonderful, Caer!

Amos, are you alright? Do you feel up to driving the coach, or should I continue?

We'd better start deciding on where to spend the night... I wish we weren't split up in two groups - Amy, maybe you could fly ahead and ask the others to join us?

Besides, it might make it easier for all to know where they are - the pugs are with the advance group, aren't they?

Where IS the Advance Group, anyway?