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

Well, we've passed Witty's date and my date and today is Affy's date. So, it looks like Affy is the winner of the pool, since there is no sign of Lord R. I now think that we won't hear from him until late on the weekend - say, on the 7th. He'll have alot of backlog to catch up on.

8 qt433l 29h[5 g3 3qwy r94 y8j 59 r8h8wy 85 f346 178dio6l

*Distracted, WM hears Affy speak, but doesn't comprehend.*

Pardon me, Affy. Could you repeat that?

I'm pretty sure he said:

8 qt433l 29h[5 g3 3qwy r94 y8j 59 r8h8wy 85 f346 178dio6l

At least, that is what it sounded like to me. Giberish.

Or he dropped his keyboard.

"I agree. won't be easy for him to finish it very quickly."

Very good, NYC. I was sure I wouldn't be the only one around here who knew the QWERTY Code.

Can I guess January 23rd? Or does my inside information disqualify me?

[A martini materializes in NYC's hand]

[The chef thaws and reacts to being given money]

Oh, so ye landlubbers think yas ken bribe me, eh? Whell Cap'n Cook willn't be so easy to persuade!

[By the way, how come no one has greeted this apparent Ship's Cook? You know, something along the lines of "Hey, Seaman" (Is this joke too obscure for even Affy to get? Stay tuned!)]

Hello Sailor!


Oh, please, it was challenging without the clues, but don't just spell it out for experienced text adventure players like myself.


*Affy waits to see if his utterance of the two sacred words will result in something special happening. Only once, in his entire career as an adventurer, has this legendary phrase yielded something more than "Nothing happens here." He eagerly awaits the answer*

[Affy's greeting has an odd effect on the cook. He drops his cleaver, and gives Affy a great big bear hug. Crying, he says:]

Ah, matey! And hello to ye, too! I've been feeling so lonely these years. Nobody wants to sit and chat with a poor old sailor like meself. It's always "Ulysses, chop the meat! Ulysses, is dinner ready? Ulysses this, Ulysses that!" Look here, you seem like a decent sort, let me show you into a less frozen part of this 'ere maze!

[He leads the group up a winding staircase to a pair of doors]

These 'ere are the back ways into rooms 013 and 011. Now, I ain't got the keys to the rooms, but at least up 'ere it ain't so nippy like.

Rooms 013 and 011, eh? Well, thanks there Ulysses. You know, this whole scene seems to be very, very familiar....Hmmmm....

*Affy pulls the keys out of his pocket, and tries to decide which room to dash to first*

Let's see. Which was the room that had the paintings, Affy? Wasn't it room 13? Lord R's room. Let's look in there.

* Peet tags along for the promised "Stunning Conclusion"...

*Affy unlocks room 013 and heads through....*

* Peet follows, and looks around. He sees... (help us out here, GL!)

*BBW follows the others into room 13* http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F57089?thread=87243&skip=0&show=20