Part eight: the Earth revisited
These are Douglas Adams' original hints for the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Adventure Game. Some questions have multiple answers and some are red herrings, so don't take the presence or absence of a question on a certain topic as an indication of what is important, and don't assume that long answers indicate important questions.
Who am I?
Ask the game! (Type "Who am I"?)
Where should I go?
You are reliving the last few minutes before the destruction of the Earth...
- Still stuck?
...this time as Ford Prefect rather than Arthur Dent.
- Still stuck?
The Improbability Drive has sent you back in time and has also changed your identity.
- Still stuck?
You want to do what Ford did when you were Arthur.
- Still stuck?
Go north to Front of House.
What should I do about that feeling of uneasiness?
Have you tried waiting a few turns?
- Still stuck?
Obviously, you're doing the wrong thing.
- Still stuck?
You shouldn't be in the Pub at this point.
- Still stuck?
See the previous question.
What should I do about Arthur?
According to the introductory text for this scene, why did you come here?
- Still stuck?
What did Ford do at this point when you were Arthur?
- Still stuck?
Try to give the towel to Arthur.
- Still stuck?
The towel is inside your satchel.
What should I do about Prosser?
Don't go on until you've done the step called for by the previous question.
- Still stuck?
You want Arthur to come with you to the Pub.
- Still stuck?
If you recall from when you were Arthur, it would mean the destruction of Arthur's house if he stood up at this point.
- Still stuck?
He won't stand up until you've safeguarded his house.
- Still stuck?
You have to talk to Prosser.
- Still stuck?
But he can't hear you from here.
- Still stuck?
So you have to "Approach Prosser" or "Walk around the bulldozer". Now you can talk to him.
- Still stuck?
You want him to lie down in front of the bulldozer.
- Still stuck?
Try "Prosser, lie down in front of the bulldozer".
- Still stuck?
Arthur is now willing to follow you to the Pub.
What should I do in the Pub?
Unless Arthur is with you, you are here prematurely.
- Still stuck?
Once again, think back to what Ford did when you were Arthur.
- Still stuck?
The first thing to do is "Buy some beer".
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Then "Drink the beer". Arthur will follow your example. You need to do this twice.
- Still stuck?
You can "Buy some peanuts", but it isn't necessary to do so.
- Still stuck?
When Arthur's house is destroyed, he will rush out of the Pub. It would be a good idea to stay with him.
What should I do about the dog?
There's not much you can do about the dog at this point.
- Still stuck?
You may find out more about the dog later.
What's the point of this second Earth scene?
You learn a lot about Ford's motivations, thus making for a more cohesive, internally consistent story line.
- Still stuck?
Oh, right. You're more interested in puzzle solutions. The entire point of this scene is acquiring one particular item for use on the Heart of Gold.
- Still stuck?
It's in the satchel.
- Still stuck?
It's the satchel fluff.
- Still stuck?
There's a way to transfer it to something, other than the satchel, so that it will be accessible when you get back to the Heart of Gold.
- Still stuck?
That something is Arthur Dent.
- Still stuck?
Give the fluff to Arthur.
- Still stuck?
This is a rather weird action, and Arthur won't accept the fluff until he's had enough beer.
- Still stuck?
After Arthur runs back to his house (now rubble), follow him and give him the fluff. He'll accept it at this point and put it in his pocket. Then just wait for events to run their course, and you'll soon find yourself back in Dark. When you get back to the Heart of Gold, the satchel fluff should be in the pocket of your gown.
