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

*E looks horrified.*

Please, don't say that's true...you're just trying to panic me aren't you...? He *can't* hurt James...

*E feels like crying... Volk had lied to her... And there was nothing she could do...*

*L is shocked... He hadn't expected such effect... He certainly hadn't wanted to frighten E... And if she started to cry, he wouldn't know what to do with himself...*

L: No, E, look, Seriy doesn't want to do any harm to Bond, really... If Bond minded his own business...

*L realized that this was exactly what Bond was doing... He continued nevertheless...*

L: ...then Seriy would leave him alone... All he wants is that noone interferes with his plans...

Surely he can't expect James to just sit back & let him get on with it? It's his *job* to stop him...

*E looks away from Liebe, unable to say this whilst looking at him...for some reason she didn't want to say it...*

...It's my job too...

*L feels dangerously like screaming "NOOOO! It isn't!!!", but can hold it back just in time...*

L: Why should it be Bond's job to stop Volk? He doesn't want to do anything evil... And, what is more, why should it be *your* job to stop *your own* father? Stop him from what?

*L hopes this sounded convincing...*

*E looks Liebe in the eye...*
He's creating the S30...I know he is... If people were to eat the donut, the consquences would be unfathomable...

*Looking at Liebe, E honestly wonders why she should bother to stop Volk...she was perfectly happy sitting here...and Bond would sort it out...wouldn't he?*

*E smiles slightly...*

*L's jaw drops...*

L: How on Earth do you know about the S30? I have been unconscious for too long, that's for sure...

*Suddenly, L feels his headache returning... He feels a strange urge not to think about these matters any more...*

L: Please let's talk about something else... This topic is giving me a headache...

*He smiles back at E, fearing that she would shatter into bits again... Luckily, it's not that bad... yet?*

You can smell them a mile away...

*E notices Liebe's suffering, and feels guilty that she may have caused it somehow...*

Do you want another glass of water...? You really don't look so good at the moment...

*E starts to worry...*

Talk about something else...that's a good idea...

*E smiles at Liebe again, hoping it would help somehow...*

*L feels strangely comforted by E's smile.*

L: Oh, yes, please, another glass of water would be fine... Or perhaps that bourbon you gave me the first time... Why don't you have something yourself?

*E gets up and goes back over to the table... She returns with 2 glasses, both of water... She hands one to Liebe before sitting down again...*

I think you'll be better off with water...I wouldn't want anything to happen to you...

*E smiles again.*

L: Thank you... Although I don't think a little Bourbon could do me any harm...

*He raises his glass*

L: Cheers!

*E sighs...*

*She takes a drink of her water, looking at Liebe over the rim of the glass...*

if your interested i have some elderflower champagne here

L: I mean, if you prefer it to water... I personally don't like that stuff... Give me a nice strong Bourbon, that's what I say...

*After drinking the water in his glass, he decides that he's not thirsty anymore. He sits back and looks at E, a little dreamily...*

*E notices that Liebe seems to have relaxed a bit, and takes it as a sign that perhaps he was going to be alright.*

*E smiles at the thought...*

So...erm...

*E was suddenly very shy*

...Tell me about yourself...

*This is not one of the questions L had expected... Normally, he hates talking about himself... But this time, somehow, he can't help it...*

L: Well... There's not much to tell, really... I'm working for the Heart of Oak Artificial Limb Co., as you know, and as you know, I'm a friend of Seriy's... We've known each other for quite some time... When I was little, he used to play with me... He used to throw me up into the air and catch me again... I thought he was the strongest man in the whole world... And I couldn't stand him playing with other children... He knew that, and he never did...

*L stops in mid-word... Something had just rang a faint little bell in his head... ()*

*E stare in disbelief...*

...How little...?

L: Um... I don't quite remember... Very little I suppose... But when did YOU last see your father?

When I was 5...
...He never came back...

*E feels very sad at the thought of this...*

L: This is strange... He never mentioned he had a daughter... I learned about it only a few weeks ago...

...I'm sure he'd say that it was for the best...

*E feels very sad, but Liebe seemed to be a lot better now, which made her smile a bit*

...Why did he tell you...? There wasn't any reason for him to...