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

On his 36th birthday, May 18, Travis Cornell rose a five o'clock in the morning. He dressed in sturdy hiking boots, jeans, and a long sleeved blue cotton shirt. He drove his pickup south from his home in Santa Barbara all the way to rural Santiago Canyon on the eastern edge of Orange County, south of Los Angeles. He took only a package of Oreo cookies, a large canteen full of orange-flavoured Kool-Aid, and a fully loaded Smith & Weston .38 Chiefs Special.

He stopped at a wayside halt, desolate in its appearance, close to the canyon. Upon opening the door of his pickup, he stood up, slowly looked left then right. A tumbleweed gently brushed his ankle. He kicked it out of the way and slammed the door shut. An old man was sleeping in an armchair, arms folded, head down, legs out, straw in mouth, hat over brow. He approached him and nudged his foot with his 'Old man' he said.