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

Okay, we have established beyond reasonable doubt that he is not wearing gloves, I think.
If he hasn't covered his hands, or lost the feeling in them, I deduce that he is very distracted.
I cannot guess what it might be, especially as it is not a soldier. Any more clues?

Was there something in the letter that distracted him? For some reason I'm thinking that he's stranded on the island and there was something in the letter that could have helped him escape, but he missed it or something (?)

Is he by himself marooned on a island and hes reading the letter that he sent in a bottle for help

I have already said that the contents of the letter are not the reason for the man crying and that he is not a soldier (or member of any other of the armed forces). Think Ôwhy would he not feel the cigarette burn his fingersÕ and work back from there to the uniform.

The island is also significant - it doesn't necessarily have to be a desert one.

So, we are talking about a Policeman on a traffic island, then?


Geggs

No Geggs, we are not. It is an island in the sea and read the clues. WHY doesn't he feel the cigarette burn his fingers?

Is it a real cigarette

He has an artificial hand or arm and now it's damaged (which is not good if you're on a desert island (uniform wearing or not))

OR (to be completly off the wall)

He's playing a virtual reality game and his time's up!!

No he is a real man on a real island with real hands. THINK. Why can't he feel the cigarette burn (there is one very logical reason) and if you get that work back to the uniform and the island. It is NOT a 'trick' question (virtual reality - prosthetics etc) but you do have to apply a bit of lateral thinking. I can't raelly give any more clues without telling you the answer.

Well, just because it's an island doesn't mean it has to be a desert. Take the Isle of Wight, for example. Or the Isle of Man. Or Jersey.


Geggs

OK - but it is not. Ignore the island, it needn't even be an island although they often were (for obvious reasons when you get the answer). Think ONLY of reasons why he cannot feel the burning cigarette.

Hardened skin. He is seriously calloused on those fingers.


Geggs

Think of disease - but that is virtually telling you the answer.

Leporsy.

So he's in a leper colony. Yep, they were usually islands.


Geggs

Yes - phewwww - it is worse than extracting teeth.

Now work back to the uniform and why he cries.

It's not Napoleon, it is? He died in a leper colony, I think.


Geggs

If he did, it is not the answer. Right - you have established that it is a lepper colony.
Question. Why is this man wearing a uniform
Question. Why has every one assumed that the uniform is military?
Question. What can you deduce from the fact that this person is wearing a uniform?
Question. Why does the person not feel the burning cigarette?
Question. Why does he cry?

It is a nurse's or doctors uniform. He is crying because he cannot feel the cigarette burn ergo he has contracted leprosy