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"Oh good" he whirred, in considerable astonishment

"Oh yes," said Arthur, "I thought that soery was really particularly effective"

Ford continued to stare at hihts around this totally new concept Were they really going to be able to bareface their way out of this?

"Yes, do continue" invited the Vogon

"Ohand erinteresting rhythmic devices too," continued Arthur, "which seemed to counterpoint theerer" He floundered

Ford leaped to his rescue, hazarding "counterpoint the surrealis metaphor of theer" He floundered too, but Arthur was ready again

"humanity of the"

"Vogonity," Ford hissed at him

"Ah yes, Vogonity (sorry) of the poet's compassionate soul," Arthur felt he was on a hoh the medium of the verse structure to sublimate this, transcend that, and come to terms with the funda a triumphant crescendo) "and one is left with a profound and vivid insight intointoer" (which suddenly gave out on hirace:

"Into whatever it was the poem was about!" he yelled Out of the corner of his ood"

The Vogon perused them For a moht no--too little too late His voice took on the quality of a cat snagging brushed nylon

"So what you're saying is that I write poetry because underneath my mean callous heartless exterior I really just want to be loved," he said He paused "Is that right?"

Ford laughed a nervous laugh "Well I mean yes," he said, "don't we all, deep down, you knower"

The Vogon stood up

"No, well, you're co," he said, "I just write poetry to throw oing to throw you off the ship anyway Guard! Take the prisoners to number three airlock and throw them out!"

"What?" shouted Ford

A huge young Vogon guard stepped forward and yanked thee blubbery arms

"You can't throw us into space," yelled Ford, "we're trying to write a book"

"Resistance is useless!" shouted the Vogon guard back at hion Guard Corps

The captain watched with detached amusement and then turned away

Arthur stared round him wildly

"I don't want to die now!" he yelled "I've still got a headache! I don't want to go to heaven with a headache, I'd be all cross and wouldn't enjoy it!"

The guard grasped the deferentially towards his captain's back, hoiked thee A steel door closed and the captain was on his own again He hu his notebook of verses

"H metaphor" He considered this for a rim smile

"Death's too good for them," he said

The long steel-lined corridor echoed to the feeble struggles of the two huon armpits

"This is great," spluttered Arthur, "this is really terrific Let go of me, you brute!"

The Vogon guard dragged them on

"Don't you worry," said Ford, "I'll think of so" He didn't sound hopeful

"Resistance is useless!" bellowed the guard

"Just don't say things like that," stammered Ford "How can anyone s like that?"

"My God," co about a positive mental attitude and you haven't even had your planet deht I'd have a nice relaxed day, do a bit of reading, brush the dogIt's now just after four in the afternoon and I'ht years froled as the Vogon tightened his grip

"Alright," said Ford, "just stop panicking"

"Who said anything about panicking?" snapped Arthur "This is still just the culture shock You wait till I've settled down into the situation and found "

"Arthur, you're getting hysterical Shut up!" Ford tried desperately to think, but was interrupted by the guard shouting again