there was a short crackle of static and then gala could hear the voice of the prime minister , the voice of all the great occasions in her life , coming through in broken fragments as drax put the car into third and accelerated out of the town , ' ... weapon devised by the ingenuity of man ... a thousand miles into the firmament ... area patrolled by her majesty 's ships ... designed exclusively for the defence of our beloved island ... a long era of peace ... development for man 's great journey away from the confines of this planet ... sir hugo drax , that great patriot and benefactor of our country ... ' gala heard drax 's roar of laughter above the howling of the wind , a great scornful bray of triumph , and then the set was switched off .