The girl laughed and stepped forward a little out of the shadow. She was tall, and had that kind of self-possessed shyness which is a great trick if you can do it.
It’s my big number, she said. I have a Master’s degree in Social Economics and can be very convincing. People love it. Especially in this city.
Goosnargh, said Ford Prefect, which was a special Betelgeusian word he used when he knew he should say something but didn’t know what it should be.
He sat on a step, took from his satchel a bottle of that Ol’ Janx Spirit and a towel. He opened the bottle and wiped the top of it with the towel, which had the opposite effect to the one intended, in that the Ol’ Janx Spirit instantly killed off millions of the germs which had been slowly building up quite a complex and enlightened civilization on the smellier patches of the towel.
Want some? he said, after he’d had a swig himself.
She shrugged and took the proffered bottle.
They sat for a while, peacefully listening to the clamour of burglar alarms in the next block.
As it happens, I’m owed a lot of money, said Ford, so if I ever get hold of it, can I come and see you then maybe?
Sure, I’ll be here, said the girl. So how much is a lot?
Fifteen years’ back pay.
For?
Writing two words.
Zarquon, said the girl. Which one took the time?
The first one. Once I’d got that the second one just came one afternoon after lunch.
A huge electronic drum kit hurtled through the window high above them and smashed itself to bits in the street in front of them.
It soon became apparent that some of the burglar alarms on the next block had been deliberately set off by one police tribe in order to lay an ambush for the other. Cars with screaming sirens converged on the area, only to find themselves being picked off by copters which came thudding through the air between the city’s mountainous tower blocks.
In fact, said Ford, having to shout now above the din, it wasn’t quite like that. I wrote an awful lot, but they just cut it down.
He took his copy of the Guide back out of his satchel.
Then the planet got demolished, he shouted. Really worthwhile job, eh? They’ve still got to pay me, though.
You work for that thing? the girl yelled back.
Yeah.
Good number.
n. 鼓,鼓声,鼓状物
vi. 击鼓,连续敲击