Chapter 5!!! Things are moving quite quickly now. I have decided my new
character is going to be introduced in the next chapter, so look out for
that. Although the next chapter might take a little longer to write, seeing
as I am going to be introducing a completely new character. But anyway, on
with the rest of this chapter! (By the way, as always, reviews are greatly
appreciated. I write better if I know there are people out there, looking
forward to the next chapter :D) br
Mulch yawned, sleepily. He had thought that as soon as he arrived at Fowl Manor he would be assigned a task, given the plan, or told about some amazing crime that would leave him rolling in money if carried out satisfactorily. This was not the case. In fact, for once, Artemis had nothing planned. His theory was, that even if he checked out building plans and places containing items of great value, by the time Mulch came and triggered his memory, everything would be different, and have moved on in the space of a few years. Clever reasoning, but Mulch refused to see this as he waited and paced up and down the corridors of Fowl Manor. br
Even Butler checked his watch. He was used to Artemis spending a lot of time in meditation, but he had been in his office for nearly three hours. Although Butler knew how serious it was to disturb Artemis in one of these times, he was seriously concerned about Artemis's safety. He had never spent this long alone, and had warned neither Mulch or himself that he may take some time. Perhaps, this time, it would be better to check on Artemis? He could be in danger. br
Butler was spared of having to make that decision, because, just then, Artemis emerged, looking extremely pleased with himself. br "Butler? Mulch? I'd like you to come inside... I have had an idea which I think you will be interested to hear about." Artemis explained, the same look on his face which he always had when he had a plan. Mulch rubbed his hands together greedily, and made his way into the study. br"About time too. I thought you'd fallen through the floor or something!" Mulch chuckled, imagining the picture. Butler gave Mulch a warning glance, then sighed and followed him into the study. He knew he probably wouldn't like what he was about to hear. br At that exact moment, Captain Holly Short landed gently on a large stretch of lawn. She gazed slowly up at the wonder of architecture that was Fowl Manor, before pondering her next move. She could not enter the building, of course- that was against the rules of the People, and would mean giving up her magic. No, she would not be able to enter Fowl Manor unless invited in, which would mean being seen. Which was out of the question. So perhaps another route...br
Holly switched her shield on and opened connections with Foaly. br "How exactly am I meant to find him? He could be anywhere. Perhaps finding a small, late teenage boy in a small house would be Ok, but I have no chance in this huge place!" She exclaimed, gazing once more at the huge Manor that Artemis spent his time in.br Foaly answered casually. "Well, why don't you just peer in through some of the windows? Come on Holly, am I expected to do all the work around here?" Foaly asked, almost laughing at Holly's frustration.br "Look, pony boy," She replied through gritted teeth, "I do not NEED to be here, and if I wanted to, I could turn around right now. So a little respect would go a long way..." Holly, now completely shielded, hovered slightly above the ground and looked in through some of the lower windows. br "Now, where does the little hermit usually stay cooped up ... " She wondered, silently. It took a few minutes before she reached her goal, and found Artemis sitting in his own private antique chair, talking to Butler, who was standing just in front of his desk. Artemis was facing away from Holly, so she could not see his face, but she still recognized him immediately. She hovered silently for a few moments, before a new character shifted into her view. She blinked, and rubbed her eyes. No way. It couldn't be!br
There, standing right next to Butler, was Mulch Diggums, who, now he needed no disguise, stood in his usual attire. Holly gasped. br "Erm, Foaly? You had probably better see this." She muttered, switching the camera in her helmet on. Holly heard a few brief clicks from Foaly's computer, before stunned silence. For one of the very few and far between times in his life, Foaly was speechless.
Mulch yawned, sleepily. He had thought that as soon as he arrived at Fowl Manor he would be assigned a task, given the plan, or told about some amazing crime that would leave him rolling in money if carried out satisfactorily. This was not the case. In fact, for once, Artemis had nothing planned. His theory was, that even if he checked out building plans and places containing items of great value, by the time Mulch came and triggered his memory, everything would be different, and have moved on in the space of a few years. Clever reasoning, but Mulch refused to see this as he waited and paced up and down the corridors of Fowl Manor. br
Even Butler checked his watch. He was used to Artemis spending a lot of time in meditation, but he had been in his office for nearly three hours. Although Butler knew how serious it was to disturb Artemis in one of these times, he was seriously concerned about Artemis's safety. He had never spent this long alone, and had warned neither Mulch or himself that he may take some time. Perhaps, this time, it would be better to check on Artemis? He could be in danger. br
Butler was spared of having to make that decision, because, just then, Artemis emerged, looking extremely pleased with himself. br "Butler? Mulch? I'd like you to come inside... I have had an idea which I think you will be interested to hear about." Artemis explained, the same look on his face which he always had when he had a plan. Mulch rubbed his hands together greedily, and made his way into the study. br"About time too. I thought you'd fallen through the floor or something!" Mulch chuckled, imagining the picture. Butler gave Mulch a warning glance, then sighed and followed him into the study. He knew he probably wouldn't like what he was about to hear. br At that exact moment, Captain Holly Short landed gently on a large stretch of lawn. She gazed slowly up at the wonder of architecture that was Fowl Manor, before pondering her next move. She could not enter the building, of course- that was against the rules of the People, and would mean giving up her magic. No, she would not be able to enter Fowl Manor unless invited in, which would mean being seen. Which was out of the question. So perhaps another route...br
Holly switched her shield on and opened connections with Foaly. br "How exactly am I meant to find him? He could be anywhere. Perhaps finding a small, late teenage boy in a small house would be Ok, but I have no chance in this huge place!" She exclaimed, gazing once more at the huge Manor that Artemis spent his time in.br Foaly answered casually. "Well, why don't you just peer in through some of the windows? Come on Holly, am I expected to do all the work around here?" Foaly asked, almost laughing at Holly's frustration.br "Look, pony boy," She replied through gritted teeth, "I do not NEED to be here, and if I wanted to, I could turn around right now. So a little respect would go a long way..." Holly, now completely shielded, hovered slightly above the ground and looked in through some of the lower windows. br "Now, where does the little hermit usually stay cooped up ... " She wondered, silently. It took a few minutes before she reached her goal, and found Artemis sitting in his own private antique chair, talking to Butler, who was standing just in front of his desk. Artemis was facing away from Holly, so she could not see his face, but she still recognized him immediately. She hovered silently for a few moments, before a new character shifted into her view. She blinked, and rubbed her eyes. No way. It couldn't be!br
There, standing right next to Butler, was Mulch Diggums, who, now he needed no disguise, stood in his usual attire. Holly gasped. br "Erm, Foaly? You had probably better see this." She muttered, switching the camera in her helmet on. Holly heard a few brief clicks from Foaly's computer, before stunned silence. For one of the very few and far between times in his life, Foaly was speechless.