The Elder made a small motion. The robot halted. Trillian suddenly seemed very doubtful of her own judgment.
How do you know all this? said Zaphod to Marvin at this point.
Computer records, said Marvin. I have access.
You’re very different, aren’t you, said Trillian to the Elder Masters, from your fellow worldlings down on the ground. You’ve spent all your lives up here, unprotected by the atmosphere. You’ve been very vulnerable. The rest of your race is very frightened, you know, they don’t want you to do this. You’re out of touch, why don’t you check up?
The Krikkit Elder grew impatient. He made a gesture to the robot which was precisely the opposite of the gesture he had last made to it. The robot swung its battleclub. It hit the small white globe.
The small white globe was the supernova bomb.
It was a very, very small bomb which was designed to bring the entire Universe to an end.
The supernova bomb flew through the air. It hit the back wall of the council chamber and dented it very badly.
So how does she know all this? said Zaphod.
Marvin kept a sullen silence.
Probably just bluffing, said Zaphod. Poor kid, I should never have left her alone.