The Family Name—The Arctic Incident
By Elbereth in April
Chapter 7: The Rescue
They headed back to the Arctic Circle.
"Scourgify."
"Give it up, Malfoy."
"Scourgify."
"You've cast that charm three times already. Your robe is never going to come completely clean again."
"I want that mad ex-LEP Recon to pay my drycleaning bills." Draco crossed his arms and looked sulky.
"Maybe we can add that into his sentence," Holly smirked, amused. She was at the pilot's controls again, despite Draco's insistence that he was sure he could fly a shuttle if he could fly a broom.
Foaly had retrieved an email from Artemis's computer and found a message instructing them to go to the coast of Murmansk, where an old submarine was docked, at midnight on the 14th. The ransom was $5 million. The Council had approved giving Root and Holly wings for the mission, so once they were at the shuttleport, it wouldn't take too long to get to the drop point. Draco had un-shrunken his broom.
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The odds, however, were against them. They couldn't shield due to radiation, they couldn't get close enough to mesmerize, it took too long to set up a time stop. The party carried plenty of fairy weaponry, but if they started shooting, the kidnappers would kill Mr. Fowl. If they paid the ransom, they would all be killed anyway. And as they stood overlooking the fjord and the sub, they could see over 80 men camped out around the area, all lying in wait with firearms.
"You walk in there, you'll be carried out," Holly said, frowning.
Butler indicated the conning tower. "I would guess the target is being held there. To get there, you've got to walk all the way along the sub. They've got a hundred men hiding around the perimeter. I'm sorry, Artemis, I just don't see it."
Artemis sighed. "I do have a plan, but I'm not sure how well you'll like it." He looked around at them, thinking, 'I'm not sure how well I like it.'
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Artemis waited ten minutes for everyone to get in position. He put on one of the LEP helmets so he could see into the tower and have Holly be able to hear him. Then he dialed the number to Mikhael Vassikin's cell phone.
Vassikin almost fell over when his phone rang. He grabbed it quickly. "Da? What is it? I'm busy."
"This is Fowl," Artemis said in flawless Russian. "It's midnight. I'm here."
"Here? Where? I don't see anything."
"Close enough."
"How did you get this number?"
Artemis laughed condescendingly. The helmet's hi-res night-sight filter was good enough for him to see Vassikin shudder. "I know someone. He has all the numbers."
"Do you have the money?"
"Of course." This was even true; Foaly had some printed up. Of course, it would disappear after awhile. "Do you have the package?"
"Right here."
Artemis laughed again, trying to sound as cold and intimidating as possible. He was very successful. "All I see is a fat imbecile, a little rat, and someone with a hood over his head. It could be anyone. I'm not paying $5 million for your cousin Yuri."
Vassikin ducked below the lip of the tower. "Fowl can see us!" he hissed to his cohort, Kamar. "Stay low."
Kamar made a radio call to his men. "Fowl's here. Search the area."
Vassikin spoke to Fowl again. "Come down here and check then. You'll see soon enough."
"I can see fine from right here. Just take the hood off."
"He wants me to take the hood off," Vassikin whispered to Kamar.
"Go ahead. They're both dead in a few minutes anyway."
Vassikin shrugged. "OK, Fowl, I'm taking off the hood. The next face you see will be your father's." He propped their prisoner high over the lip of the conning tower and pulled the sack off the man's head.
Artemis drew in a sharp breath. It was definitely his father. "Yes." Artemis's voice was deliberately devoid of emotion. "It's him."
Vassikin grinned at Kamar. "We're in the money," he whispered.
This happy thought vanished as Artemis continued speaking. "We have one problem here, gentlemen. You see, the last thing I need is for my father to return and destroy what I have built up over the past two years. It would be better for me if he were dead. But to be frank, I don't feel very kindly towards any of you, either, for trying to extort me. So if you were to die with him, well. . . I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. That being said, gentlemen, I recommend that you run. And you'd better run fast, boys."
Artemis hung up. He had given Holly and Root their signal. Not too close, but quite nearby, they were hovering by their mechanical wings, firing their lasers at the top of a snowy hill. With a large rumble, the ice, snow, and rock began to plummet down, speeding towards the Russian mobsters below.
Vassikin took one look and dropped the prisoner. By accident and overbalancing, he dropped him over the side of the tower, but even if this had registered, he wouldn't have cared. Fowl had made it very clear that his father was of no value to him, and by extension, he was of no value to them. What was important was the two tons of snow heading towards them.
"Run!" Kamar screamed into his radio, following his own advice. "It's every man for himself!"
Vassikin was hot on his heels as they ran down the tower steps. The men in the field were also fleeing for their lives.
Butler had been estimating distances. 'I think at least most of them will survive,' he thought, but only in passing. His main concern was the falling body of Artemis Fowl, Sr.
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Draco was sitting on his broom, waiting. The fairies had been given the more dangerous job of starting the avalanche. If they had misjudged anything, they could be swept away by snow, or end up killing all the Russians. They'd been walking a fine line, trying not to kill anyone.
Draco had flown above the clouds until he reached the far side of the tower, then he came down far enough to see. The plan was that after everyone started running away, he'd land on the tower, grab Mr. Fowl--he was wearing a Moonbelt to help with the weight--and fly him back to the others, before the snow knocked the wooden tower over, smashing it like toothpicks.
He waited until he heard the rumble, smirking as men on the ground started running. But then, to his horror, he saw the man who had been holding Mr. Fowl drop him, right over the side of the tower.
His instincts kicked in and he reacted instantly. He swooped down in a steep dive, racing after Artemis's father. His heart was pounding. 'Come on, come on, you caught the Snitch, didn't you? You can do this!'
'But this is infinitely more important than a Snitch,' another voice in his head responded. 'What if you don't make it? How will you tell Fowl you let his father die?'
This prompted a sudden burst of speed as he lay flat over his broom. 15 feet away--10 feet--8 feet--an arm's distance now--a hand's width--but the ground was closing in just as fast, and they were directly above the sub-zero Arctic water--which was 11 feet--8 feet--6 feet--his hand closed on the back of Mr. Fowl's shirt, as his other hand and his knees gripped desperately onto the broom. He still nearly fell off the side, pulled down by the heaviness of the other body. He would have to let go with one hand to attach the adult to the Moonbelt, and he didn't think he'd be able to do it. He was going to drop him--no, they were both going to be dragged down into the freezing water, because there was no way he was letting go.
They would both die then, because the broom wouldn't work under water, and Draco wasn't that good of a swimmer, even if he could still get his limbs to move in the coldness of the water. Once they went under it was all over. 4 feet--3 feet--
"Screw that!" he managed through gritted teeth. He felt magic suddenly coursing through his body. "Wingardium Leviosa!"
And the man he was clinging to began to rise. Draco drew in a shuddering breath and let go of Artemis's father. He pulled his broom sharply upwards, then leveled out. He hung on by knees alone as he unwound the cord from his belt and attached it to Mr. Fowl's waist. Then he cast Mobilus Corpus for better control and tugged the adult's body onto the broom. He ended the first spell with another shaky sigh, and let his hands give in to their trembling.
"Okay, sir," he said to the unconscious man. "I'll take you to your son now."
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As soon as Draco landed with Mr. Fowl, Holly rushed over. She put her hands on the man's chest and started healing him from his various injuries.
Draco went and stood next to his fellow Slytherin. He noticed the dried tear tracks on Fowl's face, but pretended not to.
Everyone was silent, waiting on Holly's pronouncement of Artemis Sr.'s health. "All right," she said finally, "I've done all I can. I've even restored sight to one eye. There's nothing I can do about the missing leg. But he should be just fine. He'll need long-term recovery time, though, and prolonged medical attention."
Artemis nodded. "Thank you. All of you. Very well done."
"We can even do a slight mind-wipe so these last two years of his imprisonment are sort of--blurred," she offered. "We can make his last memory a happy one."
"Good." Artemis swallowed. "Please do."
"Are you taking him back to Ireland?" Draco asked, forehead scrunched up. "Or does he need healed up more first?"
"Well. . ."
"Cause from Murmansk, we can fly him to a wizarding village and floo to Durmstrang. I'm not sure of the school's exact location--somewhere in Estonia, but it's unplottable, like Hogwarts. We can floo there, though, no problem. From there we could floo internationally to Hogwarts or to St. Mungo's, and from there back to Ireland."
"I don't want to take him to Hogwarts or St. Mungo's. Too many people would become involved in my business. This doesn't need to be bruited around."
"Then you could have Durmstrang's mediwizard heal him. Snape talks to him sometimes about potions and says he's quite good."
"That's not a bad idea," said Root. "I could put Butler on the anti-grav belt and Holly could carry Fowl's father. Fowl can ride with Malfoy on his broom." He looked at Butler. "What do you think?"
Butler looked wary, but agreed. "Unless you have a better plan, Artemis?"
"No. . . I'd rather have a mediwizard look at him than a Muggle doctor. They can do a lot more."
"Well then," Root smiled, "Butler, this is your chance to fly."
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The flight was relatively uneventful. Butler was pale and quiet, but not in any danger of falling with the Moonbelt.
"That was a good catch, Malfoy. He might not have survived the water."
"Yeah--I'm glad my father insisted I be a Seeker instead of a Keeper, now."
"It was rather impressive," Holly called over to them with a smile.
Draco blushed. "Thanks."
"Don't give him a swelled head," Root grunted. "He's arrogant enough as he is."
Draco just smirked. "What can I say? I am a Malfoy."
"When we get back to the manor, I'm digging out my plaque," Artemis threatened, actually smiling rather widely for him.
"Don't you dare, Fowl!"
"What plaque?" Holly asked.
"It was a Christmas present. It. . ."
"Fowl. . ."
". . . says Fowl's are better than Malfoy's." Artemis let the wind blow his hair back, feeling better than he'd felt in a long time.
"Such an obvious and pathetic boldfaced lie."
"We could take a vote," Holly suggested, eyes twinkling impishly.
"As your employee, Butler would not be allowed to participate."
"Just give it up, Malfoy."
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They found a wizarding village by performing a Point Me charm. Holly turned the task of carrying Artemis Sr. over to Butler.
"We'll be going back now," Root said. He and Holly shook hands with Butler.
"Thank you," Artemis told them again.
"One last thing, Fowl. Foaly said that in light of the help you've given us, he's pulling the surveillance on your manor."
"That's good to know. I'm not going to do anything, by the way, so don't worry."
"That's good to know. Because a large section of the Council wanted you both mind-wiped. And with a chunk of memory that big, your IQ could take a bit of a dip."
Draco put his hand to his heart in mock horror. "Without Fowl's genius, where would he be? It's not like he has my dashing good looks or irresistible charm to fall back on. . ."
"You're delusional, Malfoy."
"What, you don't find me incredibly good-looking?"
"It's hard for me to say about other guys, but I'd say your chunky hair alone disqualifies you."
Draco forced himself not to run a hand over his hair. "Oh, shut up, Fowl. You have no taste anyway."
He then turned to Holly, gave her one of his best smiles, and kissed her hand. "It was a pleasure to see you again. I wish you good health."
Root chuckled at her expression. Artemis looked at Butler and rolled his eyes.
"I'm not ready to acknowledge that you have irresistible charm yet, either, Mud Boy, but keep trying," Holly smirked.
"What about the dashing good looks?" Butler asked, supremely curious to what she'd say.
"It's hard for me to say about humans, but see me when you're about ten years older, and I'll tell you then."
"Why are you all so mean?" Malfoy pouted.
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