Chapter 8
“So, do we just sit here, or what?” said Zaphod angrily, “what do these guys out here want?”
“You, Beeblebrox,” said Roosta, “they’re going to take you to the Frogstar – the most totally evil world in the Galaxy.”
“Oh, yeah?” said Zaphod. “They’ll have to come and get me first.”
“They have come and got you,” said Roosta, “look out of the window.”
Zaphod looked, and gaped.
“The ground’s going away!” he gasped, “where are they taking the ground?”
“They’re taking the building,” said Roosta, “we’re airborne.”
Clouds streaked past the office window.
Out in the open air again Zaphod could see the ring of dark green Frogstar Fighters round the uprooted tower of the building. A network of force beams radiated in from them and held the tower in a firm grip.
Zaphod shook his head in perplexity.
“What have I done to deserve this?” he said, “I walk into a building, they take it away.”
“It’s not what you’ve done they’re worried about,” said Roosta, “it’s what you’re going to do.”
“Well don’t I get a say in that?”
“You did, years ago. You’d better hold on, we’re in for a fast and bumpy journey.”
“If I ever meet myself,” said Zaphod, “I’ll hit myself so hard I won’t know what’s hit me.”
Marvin trudged in through the door, looked at Zaphod accusingly, slumped in a corner and switched himself off.
On the bridge of the Heart of Gold, all was silent. Arthur stared at the rack in front of him and thought. He caught Trillian’s eyes as she looked at him inquiringly. He looked back at the rack.
Finally he saw it.