"Adams, Douglas - Life, the Universe, and Everything" - читать интересную книгу автора (Adams Douglas)

"Yes."
"... and ..."
"I think you've got the message."
"I can see it," said Arthur, "it's a spaceship."
For a moment Arthur was stunned by the reaction this revelation provoked.
A roar erupted from the crowd, and from every direction people were running,
shouting, yelling, tumbling over each other in a tumult of confusion. He
stumbled back in astonishment and glanced fearfully around. Then he glanced
around again in even greater astonishment.
"Exciting, isn't it?" said an apparition. The apparition wobbled in front
of Arthur's eyes, though the truth of the matter is probably that Arthur's
eyes were wobbling in front of the apparition. His mouth wobbled as well.
"W ... w ... w ... w ..." his mouth said.
"I think your team have just won," said the apparition.
"W ... w ... w ... w ..." repeated Arthur, and punctuated each wobble with
a prod at Ford Prefect's back. Ford was staring at the tumult in trepidation.
"You are English, aren't you?" said the apparition.
"W ... w ... w ... w ... yes" said Arthur.
"Well, your team, as I say, have just won. The match. It means they retain
the Ashes. You must be very pleased. I must say, I'm rather fond of cricket,
though I wouldn't like anyone outside this planet to hear me saying that. Oh
dear no."
The apparition gave what looked as if it might have been a mischievous
grin, but it was hard to tell because the sun was directly behind him,
creating a blinding halo round his head and illuminating his silver hair and
beard in a way which was awesome, dramatic and hard to reconcile with
mischievous grins.
"Still," he said, "it'll all be over in a couple of days, won't it? Though
as I said to you when we last met, I was very sorry about that. Still,
whatever will have been, will have been."
Arthur tried to speak, but gave up the unequal struggle. He prodded Ford
again.
"I thought something terrible had happened," said Ford, "but it's just the
end of the game. We ought to get out. Oh, hello, Slartibartfast, what are you
doing here?"
"Oh, pottering, pottering," said the old man gravely.
"That your ship? Can you give us a lift anywhere?"
"Patience, patience," the old man admonished.
"OK," said Ford. "It's just that this planet's going to be demolished
pretty soon."
"I know that," said Slartibartfast.
"And, well, I just wanted to make that point," said Ford.
"The point is taken."
And if you feel that you really want to hang around a cricket pitch at
this point ..."
"I do."
"Then it's your ship."
"It is."
"I suppose." Ford turned away sharply at this point.
"Hello, Slartibartfast," said Arthur at last.