The LEP.
It's been a long time since Liz left, having reminded that she controls the hole parade now and the major still could not recover from the shock.
"No, just think! This bimbo, this protégé, this...this..."
" Blond bitch! "suggested Foaly.
" … this blond bitch declares, that they will destroy Fowl, this disgusting, criminal …"
" Immoral and ingenious!"
" … immoral and ingenious young man, and along with him two of my officers! One of which is the best on the force! This will …"
" Never happen! " finished Foaly.
" Exactly!"
On this Root ran out of ideas. All but one, the most important.
" Short and Medici must be rescued, " he uttered.
" As well as Fowl, " the centaur added.
Root nearly fell of his chair. Then expressively twisted his finger at his temple and stared at the centaur.
" Well it is impossible to allow to destroy such an ingenious brain, " he explained.
" I don't even care about Fowl, " admitted Root. " And I don't care whether he is a genius or not. But I don't like the idea of Duvall getting rid of my officers."
" Well, if i refuse to provide them with my help, then there is a possibility there plan will fail, " suggested Foaly.
Root opened his cigarette case, took another mushroom cigar and, without paying attention to the suffering expression on Foaly's face, lit it up and then, having made a few inhalings inquired:
" You think that our officers do not know how to blow something up?"
The centaur rubbed his hands.
"They can and they know how. But there won't be any sense in this, 'cause only one person can install the time stop and that's me."
"It's unlikely that it's going to stop this psychopath and her lover, " the major sighed. " She will find something else. She hates Holly and Medici."
He was worried and did not notice that ashes from his mushroom cigar fell on the floor beneath his feet.
" Nevertheless, you must disappear, " continued Root. " You will give us technical support from any other secluded place.
" To you? " Foaly didn't understand.
" Well someone must rescue them. I will take Trouble and some other checked officers, and we will try to get out imperceptibly to Ireland. It is better to agree with Fowl, than to allow Liz be the leader."
Fowl manor.
When Artemis's hands were back on his lap, and the visual contact was interrupted, Holly sighed more freely. Now this mud man did not hypnotize her with his shrill-blue eyes and her heart didn't beet as fast as before.
"Sorry, " he told her as if he stepped on her foot in a subway.
Holly nodded.
" I am afraid, you've miscalculated about the treatise, " she told him. " It's only myths."
Now Artemis became angry, though he certainly didn't let it show.
" What I've just done does not give you the right to consider me an idiot. It was enough for me to look at your expression and the convulsive movements of your fingers. At least enough to understand that this book will be a very big help to me."
Holly turned to face him straight in the eyes.
" Listen, why do you need me? I don't know anything special. As well as Nika .She is a bit crazy, if you haven't noticed."
Now the sight of her hazel eyes only caused Artemis discomfort, therefore he answered a bit too sharply:
" But I have noticed that you hold me for a fool! And I really don't like that. You know, Holly I consider myself as a good psychologist. I have accompanied your girlfriend with her little scene but only because I hoped to receive the information from you."
" Just let us go. I promise that we won't give you out to the Council."
Artemis sighed hard.
" Holly, you to me in your own way is a nice person. And lieutenant Medici - too. But I am, in truth, not such a fool to miss what came to me to my hands. For us, the Fowls, gold is everything, though you probably wouldn't have heard of this."
" I heard! Oh, I heard! - Holly became furious. -And i must say not once or twice in my life. And all the time - from you! One time I thought that you have changed and became a better person! - On this she calmed down and then added quietly in a sad voice, - It seemed that you actually changed. And maybe it's my fault that you are like this, " she hushed up, looking for not so insulting, but correct words. "Greedy and ruthless."
Artemis considered that it will be better move to the free armchair.
" I do not understand what you are talking about. You could not have affected me in any way because I see you for the first time in my life."
He does not remember, with grief ascertained Holly. He remembers nothing. Even if now I will tell him the truth, he all the same won't believe me. And he will surely not become the former Artemis which I once knew. D'Arvit! If only I could imagine, what would happen to him, I would never have flied here, to see what he became. Is this really that person who once liked me and which I considered as a friend? And let it be called Stockholm syndrome, I really did sympathized him. This person has saved my life. And now he is close to destroying all of us.
" Listen, I am tired of trying to persuade you, " the criminal continued. " I do not wish to cause you any pain. You speak as if you know me. Then you should know that I will not stop at anything, and will go on till I reach my goal. And you have two choices. Either you join me and then you too will win from the transaction. Believe me; you can live on the surface a good life, a very good life indeed. Especially, if you have money."
" And the second choice? " asked Short quietly.
Fowl was silent.
" Well?"
No answer, not a sound.
" What, you haven't yet decided in what way you wish to finish me off? " Holly asked maliciously. " It will be very easy for you."
" Be quite, " suddenly ordered Fowl, his voice harder than rock.
Holly slammed her mouth shut.
" I won't kill you, " slowly, with arrangement, explained Artemis. " You are not one of the people who will be frightened. You know what I'll do? - Holly shook her head. - If you will not translate me the treatise into English, you won't see your girlfriend anymore."
Disgust flashed in Hollys eyes.
" Now you are the same monster, as Spiro!"
" How do you know about Spiro? " Artemis was struck.
" I have told you Fowl. I know a lot about you. Even what you do not know, " it seemed to him, Holly said it almost ominously.
Artemis-junior grinned.
" It sounds like you are my conscience."
" You were late, when they were giving this useful quality away, " declared the captain. " Or perhaps instead of conscience you were given impudence by mistake.
" Anyway, impudence -is probably my second happiness, " parried Artemis. " Well, what do you think about your friend?"
The elf looked at him with hostility.
" You are a bastard."
" Without personal insults, please."
" You are a mean blackmailer. You know, that I cannot sacrifice Nika's life even to rescue my people."
Fowl grinned even more widely.
" In that case it is possible to consider, that we have almost agreed. Look trough the book, while I order Butler to bring Lieutenant Medici."
Artemis pulled out a mobile phone from his pocket and pressed one of the buttons on speed dial. Butler responded immediately.
"Bring me the second captive, " With rapid speech told Artemis and, having heard the answer « It will be done, sir », closed his phone. Within several minutes he examined his red-haired extraction, who with concentration looked through the pages, and frankly admired her as if she was his property. The Stockholm syndrome on the contrary, disseminated the young man. I definitely like her. Especially when she is angry. Perhaps, if this elfin adventure did not promise me such profits, I would allow her to leave.
" What? " Suddenly asked Holly, not tearing her gaze from the book.
Did he say the last sentence out aloud?
" Nothing."
Artemis mentally begged, so that she wouldn't understand his words, but the foresight, most likely decided to turn away from him.
" You know, " Holly said silently looking at him with her hazel eyes. " I liked you more several minutes ago when you nearly kissed me."
It looked like the same bubble returned. The idea of the kiss did not came to his head, when he imagined the missed opportunity, Artemis wanted to wind back the time.
Trying to at least keep his composure, he murmured:
" But you told me to get my hands off!"
" So? - She said."
Haven.
Lizzie was sitting comfortably in her armchair of the assistant pilot and thrown legs her on the instrument panel.
" You certainly have nice boots, " pilot Cody told her. "But I must drive the shuttle, and your footwear isn't helping me."
" Easy, Cody " Elizabeth told freely. " I am the major now."
"OK, - agreed Cody, " but your legs need to be removed or we won't be able to fly."
" All right, all right, you dimwit! " grumbled Duvall, removing her legs.
Cody had already noticed that the mistress of his chief didn't find the time to fasten her seatbelt. Well, what do you want from her? It's hardly that this spoiled elf ever traveled in police shuttles. And in the chairman shuttles, belts aren't necessary.
Cody really wanted for the Council to get smeared all over the wall but if this happened, he would be threatened with a similar death. Therefore the pilot has delicately cleared his throat and noticed:
"Elizabeth, you should fasten the seat belt."
" What's that for? - She twisted. "We can't fly up, because of this too?"
Cody reminded himself to be patient.
" We will be able to fly up. But then you'll get smeared all over the wall. And put on your helmet."
" Fine, " Liz stretched discontentedly. " But only because I wish to finish those two upstarts as soon as possible."
Cody did not share her point of view and did not consider Holly Short and Nika Medici as upstarts. If someone was the upstart then it was Duvall herself. However, Cody didn't have the right to challenge her powers given by the chairman.
If something will save the two officers, he thought, liberating the shuttle it can only be a miracle.
The Fowl manor.
Barley having entered the study, Nika at once drawn attention to herself saying loudly:
" Well at last you've remembered about the poor hungry girl. Though to consider, that you are here together, sitting very close plus there is a bottle of wine on the table, and it's getting dark it is possible to understand your forgetfulness! I even know how it's called!"
" I am very happy for you, " Artemis answered calmly, which moved more closely to Holly, namely again sat down on the armrest of her chair. "This means, that you aren't such a fool as you seemed."
" What, I was that bad? " Medici asked smiling.
" In Artemis's opinion, the premiere failed, " told Holly.
Medici blinked.
" Artemis? So he is already Artemis? You know, this is progress!
Apparently, a few hours staying in the cellar didn't make the Wasp kinder, and her sting, less sharp.
" And just a couple of minutes ago he was the most vile mud man on the planet, " Nika continued in the meantime.
Artemis was not confused at all and if he was confused, the gunnies did not let it show.
" We just discussed your destiny, and I have made Holly a proposal."
Medici chuckled, while Fowl frowned.
" Not that kind of proposal. I have told her, that if she does not want you to die she must tell me everything about elves."
" Don't tell him anything! " Nika exclaimed. " I'd rather slice my wrists right here, right now. At least I'll spoil his carpet. I hope this rag coasted you big money?
" Sit down and be quite, " Fowl told her. " Holly must decide herself."
But Holly Short wasn't given a chance to make her decision. During that moment when she was almost ready, Artemis's phone rang unexpectedly.
" A message? " The young man asked surprised. " From who?"
Holly bended more closely and stared at the screen.
« Holly, Nika, Fowl! You have big trouble coming your way: Lizzi is going to blow up the manor. The Council supports that decision. I don't think I will be able to help you. Foaly », - she read.
Artemis scratched the back of his head, then looked at Holly and then transferred his gaze to Nika.
" What does all of this mean?"
"That Lizzi has received the sanction to blow up your manor and us together with it, " the brunette answered.
Holly found Artemis's hand and griped it. However, Fowl hardly noticed it: that's how much he was shocked by the news.
" I don't understand! " He admitted, at last. " Can somebody explain all of this to me?"
Nika and Holly started talking in eager rivalry.
" The People already faced you a few times."
" Nine years ago."
" And you stole our gold."
" That was the ransom for Holly."
" That's why our kind doesn't like you very much now."
" And Liz - the mistress of the chair man."
" And she does not like us."
" And they have decided to finish us all. With one go."
" And her team will be here any moment now."
" Clear? "They finished together.
Artemis thought and nodded.
" More or less."
The pause hung in the air. Then Artemis said:
" And if both of you will get away from here? Then my manor won't get destroyed?"
Medici sniffed.
" Didn't you hear a word we just said?"
" Yes, and what?"
" Look, your manor will get blown up and it doesn't matter weather we are here or not."
" One second! " Fowl frowned. "Is it bomb of biological action?"
The elves nodded. Then Holly suddenly stretched her lips in to a smile.
"What is it? " inquired Medici. " I do not see anything cheerful in our situation."
" They won't use the bomb, " and, having noticed puzzled gazes on her, she explained. " They will need the time stop; differently they will appear in the epicenter of the events: and this thing has a huge radius when exploded. Nobody, except for Foaly is able to create it. The time stop that is."
But Hollys message didn't please Nika Medici.
" I would prefer them bombing us .Then we simply would leave the time field like Artemis did. All the same Liz won't stop at anything if there is an opportunity to smear us all over the wall."
" « Smear us all over the wall »! " Artemis imitated. "What an expression."
- And what do you think she will do? - Holly addressed Lieutenant Medici.
However Medici wasn't the one who answered.
" She will send a troll to the manor, " Fowl blurted out.
And this person doesn't remember anything about us, Holly thought confused.
So what do you think?Please review.))))
P.S.-a big thanks to Holikimaela ;)
