Chapter 5 Summary

Arthur Dent regains consciousness in the bowels of a Vogon flagship, thanks to Ford Prefect's quick thinking and knowledge of inter-galactic hitch hiking. It was the Vogons who had bulldozed Earth, and while Ford knows they hate hitch hikers, he also knows they employ Demitrassis as catering staff. Demitrassis are a "wild but pleasant bunch," who are willing to take on and hide hitch hikers because more than anything they love to annoy Vogons.

Traumatized, Arthur asks Ford where they are, and his friend assures him they are safe, adding that they are in one of the spaceships of the Vogon Constructor Fleet. "Ah," Arthur responds, "This is obviously some strange usage of the word safe that I wasn't previously aware of." Devastated at the news that Earth no longer exists, Arthur tries to orient himself to his new situation. Ford helps out...