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

*Trailing behind on foot.*

Hey! Wait up! Yer can't get yer friend back without yer's givin' me the jewel fer negotiartin'! Miss Bunny's got the wrong one, it's a green one that the Celery's yankerin' fer.

*Sees the salonistas finally making progress and relaxes just a little.*

*Carmel wrinkles up her nose with such distaste she nearly breaks some of the little black stitches that make up he nose.*

Oh, bother, does this mean he's going to follow us? I hate to think ill of anyone, really I do, but I must say the Reverend has just made a terrible impression upon me. Truly,and I admit this isn't a very nice thing to say about a person, but I think he's the sort of man who grew up without ever having a Teddy bear.

Carmel, that's a terrible thing to say!

*Gandalf thunders to a halt in front of Witty, enveloping the whole area in a huge cloud of dust*

And, we're back! Ooooh! A hole in the ground! Do say we get to go inside...

Sorry about the dust, Witty - but, after all, he does have hooves the size of dinner plates...*shrugs, then carefully slides off Gandalf so as not to twist her ankle*

Reverend - you are beginning to be a bit of a bother, you know! Come to think of it... *leans forward and suspiciously inspects the reverend more closely* ...your manners seem to have undergone a change...

Titania, this layer of dust freshens up the layer I put on at the ranch house. I'm kinda gettin' used to it. I least I'm not sticky.

*Turns her attention to the "reverend".*

Now what is it you are blathering about? You think we need your assistance?

A'course yer need my help, on account of me bein' whatchyer call a neuteral party. I kin negotiart with the Celery, only I need sometin' to bargain with. So if yer's got the green jewel an' gives it to me, I's kin go talk to the Celery an' show I'm honest, an' then convince him to let go yer friend, an' return the jewel an' the manual to yer. Easy, 'cuz I'm a preacher, an' trustful.

To be honest, I think we were thinking more along the lines of blasting the celery to smithereens and rescuing Lil without ever letting any manuels or jewels out of our sight, at all.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but was he really speaking with *that* kind of accent earlier? *rummages in her pockets for a pair of o-o*

*tilts head, listening to some strange noises from down below*

What's that dark hole? *spots ladder* Are there caves?

If we don't hurry up, we'll be missing all of the action! Come on, Sol!

*climbs down the ladders in a hurry, having completely forgotten about the oddities of the 'reverend' in her excitement*

*Calls after Titania.*

Munchkin, Caer and GL are down there somewhere. I haven't heard a word from them at all.

Be careful!

*Looks at d'E and Sol.*

Should we follow? And what should we do with him? *Gestures to the reverend.*

I guess we should follow, and bring him with us. He might turn out to be useful one way or another.

/* Descends the ladder. */

Oh, wait!

What about Carmel and the pugs? Should we bring them down, too?

Hmmm, yer don' wanna be blastin' the Celery, cuz of what him needin' his soul saved, yer know. Tha's zactly why yer need a preacher ter help yer, yer see, jus' that atterude there.

To show my good faith, I'll hep yer with the Bunny.

*Picks up the red wagon and heads down the ladder. *

All right. But remember... I've got my eye on you and this nano-gun is loaded. That's precious cargo you have there.

*Follows down the ladder into the cave.*

*Follows down into caves*

*The Lone Jello and Tontello come around a boulder on foot.*

Lone Jello: ...sure there's nothing there. See. Nothing here.

Tontello: Wait Kemosabe. Me see many footprints. Me see footprints go to hole in ground. Me see ladder in hole.

Lone Jello: Hmmmm. You may just have something there, Tontello. We'd better investigate. You go down first and I'll cover you from here.

Tontello: But......yes, Kemosabe.

*Tontello descends the ladder, then the Lone Jello follows.*