"I'm Percival Unha," he announced, picking up a nameplate from his desk bearing the inscription 'UNHA P.' . "See? Do you know that robot, the one that went in the interface room?"
"Yes, he's with us," said Trillian. Percival's voice sounded vaguely familiar to her.
"What's his name?" Asked Percival. His voice had all the tonal qualities of a bored foghorn.
"That's the second time we've been asked that," said Bolo. "It's Marvin."
"That's all the recognition he deserves," moaned Percival. The girls looked at each other, stunned. "I programmed that robot. I built part of my personality into it. Is he a jolly robot?"
"Not really," said Fenchurch. "Not much of the time. Well, to be perfectly honest, never really."
"Not surprising," said Percival. "I'm not what you would call a bubbly person myself. I was having a rough time when I was programming it. I had one of the first sex cybernauts, you see. My android replica was playing up again, it's no joke. I was terribly, I don't know, pissed off with the whole thing. My heart wasn't in it."
"That explains a lot," said Trillian. "Your robot has taken depression to new depths."
"I would really like to meet him," said Percival. "I never met him after initial programming, he was whisked away to serve on a new ship, the Heart of Gold."
"I'll get him for you," said Bolo, running off to the interface room.
"I never thought I'd get this opportunity," said Percival. "We don't get to see any finished products. It was a shame I wasn't a bit more cheerful when I did Marvin, but I only recall being cheerful once, and I didn't waste that on a stupid robot."
Bolo brought Marvin through the desks to Percival.
"Marvin, this is your creator, Percival Unha," said Trillian, proudly.
"Daddy?" Stuttered Marvin.
"Marvin," said Percival.
Marvin moved forward and embraced Percival. Tears welled up in everyone's eyes. Marvin gripped Percival tighter as Percival sobbed on his shoulder. It may have been a trick of the light, but Trillian was sure she saw a smile on Marvin's face, just before he sent fifty thousand volts through Percival.
"That'll teach him to fuck around playing God," said Marvin as he trundled through the smouldering mess that was once Percival.
CHAPTER 57
Zaphod, Ford and Arthur had now reached the final room of the initiative test. They had just carefully circumnavigated a large pool of aggressive looking slime, which was perfectly harmless apart from the smell. If they had touched any part of the slime, the smell would have stayed with them for life. As most potential employees couldn't avoid the slime, the Marketing Division came up with the slogan 'You may think our products stink, but you should meet our employees' as a possible replacement for 'Share and enjoy'.
The only reasons Zaphod, Ford and Arthur had reached this final room were luck, bad taste and the fact that the initiative test wasn't designed for three people who spent more time arguing about what to do than doing anything at all. Most potential hazards got so bored waiting, they went off to pester someone else.
The final room contained two exit doors, a large screen and three weary hitchhikers.
"So this is it," said Arthur. "We're going to get out of here."
"I told you I'd get you through," said Zaphod.
"When?" Asked Ford.
"Earlier," said Zaphod. "Didn't I? Well if I didn't, I sure meant to. You should have known you could rely on me."
"Rely on you!" Exclaimed Arthur. "That's a bit of a contradiction in terms. It's like saying 'Flat Pack Easy Assembly' or 'Military Intelligence'."
"Haven't I given you guidance?" Demanded Zaphod.
"Guidance?" Yelled Ford. "Climbing up the wall screaming 'Slime, slime, don't let it touch me' is not my idea of guidance."
"Hey! Get offa my case," said Zaphod. "Wasn't it me who discovered the gravity walls around the slime?"
"I didn't like the look of that stuff," said Arthur. "It reminded me of stuff on Earth that was put on hamburgers disguised as relish."
"And I really relish the thought of getting outta here guys," whined Zaphod. "So can we please get a move on?"
As Zaphod spoke, the large screen lit up. An old, balding head wearing glasses appeared. He had the look of a traffic warden with piles. Totally humourless was a very generous description of the look on his face.
"You have reached the final room of the initiative test," began the Face. "And your final test. You must decide which of these two doors to pass through, one being an exit door to the offices and the other is a true exit door off this mortal coil in a horrible fashion. I can help you by answering one question about the doors but be warned, I can only say one true sentence and the rest lies or one false sentence and the rest the truth."
"Terrific," sighed Ford. The Face remained motionless.
"Well?" Asked Zaphod. "Let's have some help, oh happy hologram."
"I am an incredible liar." Stated the Face.
"Which door is safe?" Asked Arthur.
"The left door is perfectly safe," said the Face.
"If he said he was a liar then that was the truth, so the right door must be safe," said Arthur, heading towards the door.
"Wait!" Yelled Ford. "I'm not sure. If he lied about being a liar, then the left door is perfectly safe. Let's make an effort to get our heads around this concept."
"Listen, all I want to get my heads around is a stiff drink, preferably served by a wench with obscene tendencies," said Zaphod. "Let Arthur go."
"What?" Shouted Arthur. "I could die!"
"You could save the life of the editor of the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, man!" Retorted Zaphod. "Get your priorities right. Sheesh, your grip of universal importance is as good as my grip on Eccentrica Gallumbits' bits at this very moment in time. We could both do with taking things in hand a bit more."
"Look, petty in-fighting won't help us," said Ford, trying to calm things down.
"Why not?" Said Arthur. "That's all this poor excuse for an intergalactic waste disposal unit in reverse seems to show any aptitude for."
"Listen pal, if we're talking about aptitude, let me get a banana and see if you can manage to peel it without scratching your arse thinking about it," snarled Zaphod.
"Will you two just give it a rest," pleaded Ford. "Let's just devote our energy to solving this problem. Now let's think."
CHAPTER 58
Marvin, Trillian, Fenchurch and Bolo had finally reached the main computer room. An imposing oak door barred the way.
"Only executives are allowed to enter," said Marvin. "I'll go into a interface room to get us in."
"How?" Asked Bolo.
"Because he's got the brain the size of a planet," said Trillian. "Beat you to it, Marvin."
"I wasn't going to say it anyway," said Marvin. "I was going to say that the executives are as stupid as all other life forms. A digital watch could get in without too much trouble." He went into the interface room.
"He seemed to cheer up a bit after he killed Percival," remarked Fenchurch.
"Remember he's in a new body," said Trillian. "He's probably found a pleasure circuit and doesn't know what to do with it."