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An Excerpt from "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams

“What is this great task for which I, Deep Thought, the second greatest computer in time and space, have been called into existence?”
“Oh Deep Thought computer,” Fook said, “the task we have designed you to perform is this. We want you to tell us...” he paused, “the Answer!”
“The Answer?” Said Deep Thought. “The Answer to what?”
“Life!” urged Fook.
“The Universe!” said Lunkwill.
“Everything!” they said in chorus.
Deep Thought paused for a moment’s reflection.
“Tricky,” he said finally.
“But you can do it?”
“Yes” said Deep Thought. “I can do it”
“There is an answer?” said Fook with breathless excitement.
“A simple answer?” added Lunkwill.
“Yes,” said Deep Thought. “Life, the Universe, and Everything. There is an answer. But,” he added, “I’ll have to think about it.”

Slight jump ahead in the story, Deep Thought told him it would take seven and a half million years and to come back then for the answer.

Seven and a half million years later...

“Good morning,” said Deep Thought at last.
“Er...good morning, O Deep Thought,” said Loonquawl nervously,
“Do you have...er, that is...”
“An answer for you?” interrupted Deep Thought majestically. “Yes. I have.”
The two men shivered with expectancy. Their waiting had not been in vain.
“There really is one?” breathed Phouchg.
“To Everything? To the great question of Life, the Universe and Everything?”
“Yes, though I don’t think,” added Deep Thought, “that you’re going to like it.”
“Doesn’t matter!” said Phouchg. “We must know it! Now!”
“All right,” said Deep Thought. “The Answer to the Great Question”
“Yes...!”
“Of Life, the Universe and Everything” Said Deep Thought.
“Yes...!”
“Is...” said Deep Thought, and paused.
“Yes...!”
“Is...”
“Yes...!!!...?”

"Forty-Two" said Deep Thought with infinite majesty and calm.

Happy Birthday to me....