Chapter 7

Fowl manor.

Having waited while Butler removed the captive from the room, Artemis approached a window and removed the portiere. For a few seconds he stood there examining the vicinities, then curtained the window and having made only three steps, came before a massive floor clock. Fowl-junior pressed a small ordinary ledge and the mechanism moved aside, having exposed a steel door of the safe.

The young man has then typed in a digital code, put his finger on a gel scanner and, in completion of everything, got a key hanging on a thin chain and inserted it into a keyhole slowly turning it.

In one of the most reliable safes that there was in the world, laid an ancient book in a leather binding. Artemis Fowl took it carefully in his hands and closed the safe with his elbow. Having barely reaching the opposite end of the room the clockwork smoothly and almost silently returned to its place, having hidden the hiding place.

Fowl sat in the office armchair, put the book before him and instead of opening it were there was a bookmark, has begun carefully looking through the pages.

The book as it was already spoken was ancient and very valuable. For the right to possess it Artemis had to lay out a large sum during visiting an auction where there were sold things from a known expert on mythology. However Fowl about did not regret it: the book was his true conductor on a way to infinite riches. And the fact, that he yet has not received these riches, said only that Artemis, despite the major efforts he applied, it was not possible to understand the key moments described in the book. For this reason he was very happy, that has caught, absolutely accidentally, two elves. Even if from one of them sense there wasn't any sense it was possible to make the second one to decipher the records.

Only also it was necessary is to find a way to approach Holly Short, and Artemis quite fairly believed, that he won't have any problems with this. Eventually, Fowls were able to convince people, Artemis was a Fowl, which meant …A simple enough syllogism made in mind, has made Artemis smile. However it was not that smile or if to tell more precisely, a grin to which Artemis stated contempt for people surrounding him. More likely it was an undistinguished grimace of the person rather and rather happy with himself who Artemis undoubtedly was.

Artemis considered himself quite good as a psychologist. Therefore, yet not knowing plainly anything about Holly Short, he has already approximately defined strategy of her behavior. To be more or less polite, but thus persevering. Not to oppress, but at once show, who was in charge of the situation. And at last never to threaten her. Strong people - and Holly Short undoubtedly belonged to people (or elves) of this kind - from it never break. The opposite, threats only will strengthen their spirit and eventually, they can simply spit in your face instead of quickly and precisely executing what you want from them. No. It would be better to put her before a choice: ether she carries out everything that Artemis wants or her little stupid friend will have an "accident". Perhaps not even one.

Here from that consciousness, those from their actions depend on another's life, such people become often pliable. And if it is a human life which you know personally, tractability only amplifies. Once Artemis himself was in a similar position: he was ready to pay the ransom, ready to come tearing along to Murmansk, even firmly knowing that he will be killed after only rescuing his father …

Stop! That never happened! That is, Murmansk was and Fowl-senior's disappearance was real. But nobody demanded any ransom! Artemis wasn't even sure, whether his father has been kidnapped! And he didn't even go to Murmansk: when his father was found, young Artemis stayed at school. So the last idea was only an extraordinary creation of his mind, only an invention.

Artemis massaged his temples.

Its unbelievable, that a person can imagine sometimes! Probably, its because he didn't have any sleep. « Well, even an ingenious brain needs rest sometimes », - with a light shade of narcissism the genius thought.

And, having made this remark, Artemis has once again plunged into studying the book.


Heaven, the LEP.

Major Root had already almost an hour nervously reeled up circles in the cabinet. Thus he, following an old habit, did not let release the smelly mushroom cigarette from his mouth, the suffocating smoke from which gathered under the ceiling of the room.

" Julius, will you ever stop to smoking this muck any time soon? " has unsuccessfully appealed to him Foaly. " A little more, and I should order a gas mask!"

Root just ignored the plaintive lamentation of the centaur: he had more important things to worry about and did not have time to listen Foaly moaning.

" We need to stop time, " the major and, probably haven run enough and given out at last, heavily lowered to the armchair.

Foaly has closely looked at the chief and has there and then disappointed him, having told:

" It will not help us."

" Nonsense! " The major sniffed. " Earlier this method always allowed us to achieve a victory."

" Julius, I shall risk to remind you, that last time we tried to solve the Fowl problem with the field. And how did it end?

" With nothing good, " Roots enthusiasm had somehow dropped at once.

He looked at his boots, then straightened and noticeably having become cheerful, has told:

" But we erased his memory! Means, he forgotten the way he escaped the time field!"

"We erased his memory instead of his ingenious brains, " the centaur objected. "He will think up a way again. And we shall fly, like plywood above Paris."

" What Paris?"

" I can't believe you major! Were you really that bad in geography of mud man at school? " Foaly was amazed. Even the tragedy of the situation did not prevent him from teasing the chief. "Paris is a city."

" I don't care even if it was a continent! " Root didn't sustain. " I am enraged with your silly jokes. The only reason why you still work in LEPrecon, is my thank to my boundless patience!"

" It's not that boundless, Julius, " has imperturbably responded Foaly. " And I work here absolutely for an entirely other reason. Because I am a genius, and I am irreplaceable."

" What self-conceit! " Root began, but wasn't given a chance to finish.

The door squeaked and in poked in Elizabeth Duvall's head. And in a second there was she herself, dressed like a star.

" Djuvall, what are you doing here? " Root asked. " I don't think i called you."

But Liz was uneasy to confuse with such, to put it mildly, a cool welcome.

" I from the Council, " she informed. "They already heard about Short's and Medici's little accident."

" Really? " The major narrowed his eyes. "Continue."

" A decision was made to clear the Fowl manor from the face of the earth and together with it get rid of Artemis."

" And what about Holly? And Nika? " asked Foaly.

Liz gave an evil smile.

" Recently they made a lot of trouble. The life of two utterly worthless officers is not necessary to worry about."

Root reddened.

" I will not allow for my officers to get erased from the face of the earth!" He bellowed. " I won't allow this."

" The Council decided that you were just wasting time with Fowl and his gang in the past! " told Duvall. "The Command of the operation was assigned to me. By the way, I am hired, " Liz smiled. "In other words. Now I am Major Duvall. I shall destroy Fowl and at the same time two upstarts."


Fowl manor.

When Artemis had again invited Holly to his study, he certainly, knew nothing about the aggressive plans of Liz. He did not even suspect about the existence of this little fool.

Fowls invitation resembled more of an order and Butler gave it weight. Therefore Holly has solved that ignoring Fowls words wasn't polite. And besides - it is unsafe.

" I only hope, that you didn't bring him to tears, " she silently told Nika.

" You think he decided to recoup on you when I represented before him Liz and nearly gave him a nerve failure? No way! Simply, if he will become interested tell him Duvall's story, only change the names. A minute won't pass as he will sob together with you."

" He won't, " Holly said confidently.

" Then he will be simply obliged to offer you a handkerchief, " instantly reacted Medici's. " Or he will lose the right to be called a noble person.

Short sniffed.

" And who told you that he is a noble person?"

" You."

" Oh, really?"

" A thousand times."

" Probably, I was drunk. In any case, now I do not see in him anything noble.

The groundless dispute was interrupted by the devoted bodyguard of Artemis who didn't want to wait, while two girl-friends-talkers will stop talking. He has made two steps inside, seized Holly by the shoulder, without saying a word, turned her in the direction of a wooden door and has carelessly said:

" Well go."

Holly has considered, that is better will follow to his "advice".

Artemis Fowl waited for her, carelessly having collapsed in the armchair and having thrown his legs on the table. Generally he did not like similar poses, but thought that it is better to play « the bad guy », a light parody to the Chicago gangster.

" It is a pity that I do not have all these gold trinkets, " he murmured. " It would turn out even more convincing."

Holly entered the study, already the second time for this morning. And moreover, this time she entered confidently, with a highly lifted head and not waiting for Butlers actions, closed the door behind her back as though was here a full mistress.

On one hand, Fowl didn't like this: for his plan it would be far better if she was afraid of him and shivered at the mention of his name. On the other hand, because of her bravery he has involuntarily started to sympathize her.

Holly did not stop at the threshold, but in a self-assured gait crossed the room and sat in the armchair directly opposite to Fowl. Artemis forced him self to frown, hoping to scare the girl. But instead of being frightened or worried, Holly first drawn her lips and then unexpectedly opened them and said:

" Get your legs off the table Arty! What a cheap performance. Never shall I believe that Artemis Fowl can sit like this."

Artemis certainly, didn't rush to carry out her wish.

" I sit as I want, " he answered, adding metal to his voice. " And you, Ms. Short, apparently have become impudent. I did not ask you to address me as "Arty" its Mr. Fowl to you."

Holly didn't stop there.

" This is not a meeting, and I am no your business partner. That fact, that you have taken me and my friend hostage doesn't make me respect you. Enough of this, Fowl."

He, perhaps, could protest but unexpectedly inclined his head a little forward and gave Short a long appreciating glance. He then removed his legs from the table and said in a different voice:

" All right, Holly."

At a sound of her name the elf shuddered. In Fowls lips it sounded so … strange?

" What do you want from me? " she asked hoarsely and then became ashamed of sounding scared , as if Artemis could guess her thoughts.

" The same, as earlier. Information."

" I have already told you that I can not give it to you, " patiently, as if explaining to a small child, said Holly. " I do not wish to harm my own people."

Fowl-junior just grinned.

" I will get the information even without you. Its just in this case i will need more time."

" Well and how you will get it? " Holly asked.

" I have one interesting treatise written in the Middle Ages. Do you wish to take a look?"

Holly nodded.

Artemis risen, approached the desk and took a book. He returned, but sat down not in his chair, but on the armrest of Holly's armchair, and then handed over to her the treatise.

Holly opened the book on a random page. And then turned it, and started reading the next. Everything inside her went cold.

Unlike Artemis, Holly was familiar with the language, and understood at once that the native words have been simply written down in roman style and the book represented a retelling of the bible of the People with numerous comments of the author who is necessary to say understood there world very good. And maybe, her inner voice said, the author was one of the People?

Anyway, it wasn't necessary to open the veil of the secret to a greedy mud man as Artemis.

And Artemis in the meantime bended above her also was looking at the book over her shoulder as if hoping, that the lines will become clear to him.

Strange, but Holly wanted for him to be farther away from her as possible. And it wasn't because his nearness was unpleasant to her. More likely the opposite: Fowls hardly audible breath near her cheek and the rare contact of his hair with her skin made her nervous. Obviously she had sympathy to the thief and it made her wish devoutly, for him to sit farther away. « This is so wrong,-she said mentally.- I am just confused, that's all!»

Artemis did not know what she was thinking. Strange, but he would really like to find out. Perhaps, during this moment he wanted to get inside her thoughts even more, than to translate the treatise. And he also would like to find out, what color her eyes were: though he looked in them at night, the color was not remembered in his memory.

" They are hazel you fool! " whispered his inner voice, as if trying to warn Fowl from making a mistake.

But Artemis had already made his decision. Softly, not like a few hours ago, he clasped her face in his palms. Holly looked at him, at first a little scared then questiongly and then suddenly whispered:

" Get your hands off of me."


Well if you wish to find out whats next review please!I know I can be evil stopping at the most exiting moment,but come on! So can be people who read and don't even leave a three-word review!So pleeeeeaaaassse review!