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

Chapter 26

A87815181

“Mrs. Mardachi,” the insurance agent began, “We don’t like doing this, but the money we paid you after your father’s demise will need to be repaid. Not immediately, of course, but within a reasonable time.”

“Is your father available to talk to?” the man from NASA asked Viola.

“He’s giving interviews,” Viola said. “I imagine that several billion people worldwide are listening in.”

“NASA has been quite interested in that rocket he launched a few days ago,” he said. “We were concerned that he might have broken some aeronautic regulations in doing so, but the launch seemed accidental, and we assumed your father did not survive. NASA may be willing to drop any charges if your father agrees to help us with our space program.”

Looking toward Blemnox, Viola and Blake could see more and more spotlights being set up. Mourners rubbed shoulders with paramedics, policemen, and media people. People from nearby towns were also starting to stream in, many of them anxious to buy autographed copies of Ravena’s book. By her side, Scribbles was happily counting book sales and placing rush orders for additional printings.

KR3BS had brewed gallons of coffee and prepared a ton of food for the memorial service in the planetarium, but now everyone was on the front steps or watching from the lawn. The pyramid coffee shop was open for business, with Grandma and two of Forty’s grandsons handing out lattes and pastries to anyone who wanted them. Next to them, Grandpa and Yolanda were serving food from the Mount Everest ice cream parlor.

The clockwork bandstand was playing “Love can’t be rushed.” In the distance, the animatronic Moby Dick had just finished “High Hopes” and was now singing “I did it my way.” A short distance from the East façade, the supersonic plane waited at the start of a long, straight runway that ran between the potato fields to the south. Neighborhood children cast longing glances at the merry-go-round. Two of Forty’s grandsons were considering whether to let them ride. It was bound to be good publicity for the future of the Blemnox theme park as long as there were no malfunctions.

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[Amy P]

Deb

Chapter 28 will be the end of the story. Chapter 29 will be the prologue, which should have been at the beginning, but this is a Blemnox story. Normality rarely gets a chance to show its face [or any other body parts]. Chapter 30 will be the original Blemnox short stories that provided a basis for this saga.