Chapter 3 Summary

As the huge yellow "slablike somethings" moved toward Earth, Ford Prefect's "Sub-Etha Sens-O-Matic winked away in his satchel, telling of their approach. Also in his satchel, he carried a copy of The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, published in the form of a micro sub meson electronic component, the words "Don't Panic" printed on it "in large friendly letters." Thirdly, in his satchel, Ford Prefect carried a large bath towel – the most "massively useful thing an interstellar hitch hiker can have." Apparently thinking of this, Ford asks Arthur whether or not he, too, has a towel.

Just then, they hear a crash coming from outside the pub. It's Arthur's house being torn down by the yellow bulldozers, and he rushes out to try to stop them. Suddenly a silence hits the Earth. Into the silence, a voice calls out in quadraphonic sound...