It was already half past midnight, and Holly was still lying on her futon with a female magazine. A mug of nettle smoothie and a plate of toast were on a bedside table. An ideal start of a weekend. She took a notice to all latest trends of the underground fashion, looked through a dozen unrealistic cooking recipes, considered some idiotic advice "How to Attract His Attention" and decided that she needs to buy at least five new cosmetic products. Holly put the magazine down and stretched. She thought that it would be nice to go shopping with Caballine, her only female friend. In the end, Samhain is next week, and she wanted to find some nice presents to her friends. In addition, it was worthwhile to start looking for a dress for the celebration of the Solstice. Twice a year, on Yule and Litha, police was giving balls in the officers' club. In fact, the dances were arranged every Saturday, but the annual Summer and Winter Ball were significant events. And everyone should get a decent evening dress and learn a couple of dances.
After having a shower Holly reached for the wrist computer to call Caballine when the earpiese rang.
"Holly, dear, are you awake already? Commander Kelp wants to see you because of an urgent matter, could you come to Police Plaza as soon as possible?''
"Why did not he call me himself?" said Holly in response.
"Don't know, probably he's busy. Commander just asked me to call you and send on a very special mission."
Centaur decided that Holly shouldn't know too much.
"Meet me in the office in an hour maybe, OK? Or sooner, if possible.''
''Okay, I'm already coming. I'll be there in half an hour.''
Holly was a little bit late but after forty-five minutes she was already standing next to Foaly having a brief looking on a map.
"Here, the glacier desert in Greenland where the sensor is hidden. In one of the "places of power" of the planet, I checked out with ancient maps when I placed them. When the sensor began to malfunction a couple of weeks ago, I tried to investigate what is located there. I looked up and down, I swear, but I did not find any mentions of this place. There has never been a temple, no sacred circle, nothing like that, which is really strange. Our ancestors still living above the ground staked all the points of magical energy output. They put at least an altar or something. Perhaps this place is so old that we have no mention of it.''
"Or it has an unhappy history. As with the Berserker Gate. The mausoleum is not a place where the priests would like to see over-drunk dancing pixies, sprites and elves.''
''Maybe. In any case, earlier I observed stable magical emissions at all points with small fluctuations and a tendency to activity decreasing then a few dozens of years ago a graph began to increase slowly but steadily. This happens sometimes and after a couple of decades activity decreases. But not this time. Instead of a falling-off, magical activity began to grow exponentially. If it is true, then it would be like a giant magical eruption. But this is unrealistic, and most likely the sensor is off scale due to some kind of malfunction. It happens for the first time with my equipment, it's not stupid "Koboi Laboratories", so I've chosen you for this mission.''
''Wait, you said that it was Trouble.''
"Uh... well, yes, he decided to call you, but of course I gave him an advice to chose you for this important task."
Holly nodded. The centaur looked so pleased with himself that she did not want to spoil his mood with her doubts. She wasn't sure that Trouble suddenly started to listen Foaly's instructions. The commander could only ask his opinion, but Kelp preferred to make his own decisions.
"You may take the equipment before you leave, but first you have to see Commander. I think he wants to send Number One with you, Qwan called him today.''
''Were you eavesdropping Trouble's conversation?''
''Who, me? Never! What do you take me for?''
Holly sighed and left.
Trouble Kelp was sitting absently at the table. Holly knocked, but he did not answer so she entered without an invitation. Commander did not notice her. The girl cleared her throat. Trouble winced as if suddenly woke up, stared at her and asked in surprise:
"Holly, what are you doing here?"
"Foaly said it was you who sent for me. But I feel that he was just covering himself.''
Trouble grinned.
"He was already beaten today. Okay, I'll deal with him later. In fact, it's even better that he sent for you. May I ask you a favor?''
"You want me to take Number One?"
''How do you know?'' Trouble's face went red. ''Don't say a word, donkey-boy did it. Well, maybe dock wages will deprive him of the opportunity to put his damned bugs everywhere.'' Commander got up and walked around the office. ''Take an extra set of goggles and wings for the demon, I already contacted him on the "urgent matter of his profile". Besides, if the sensor is working well, you really need his help. The nearest magma blast is in thirty-five minutes so hurry up. I would like you to keep in touch with me and Foaly. I wish it turns out to be a minor problem, but if it's something serious, I do not want to start a mass hysteria in the city. Is everything clear, Captain?''
"Yes, sir, everything is clear."
Trouble turned on his heels and approached Holly closely. He was shorter than average man-elf, so at work he wore thick-soled shoes with a metal heel to have the opportunity to look down on the subordinates. He pressed his shoulder to the Holly's, leaned against her ear and whispered:
"You have Foaly's camera in your bathroom. You'd better change around and close it with a shelf for example. If you need help, Grub and me are at your service.''
After that he kissed her on the cheek, and before Holly could say anything, he let his eyes rove, silently saying "he is definitely looking at us right now." She nodded, it's better to give the centaur food for thought, perhaps he would not guess that the commander had just buried him. Trouble smiled and winked:
"Now go Captain Short, you have half an hour left!"
Holly saluted and left the office.
Forty minutes later, when Holly with Number One traveled to the surface in currents of hot magma, Trouble dialed Grub's number and told that he will come as soon as possible to help Daddy move the furniture, since he had a delay for about two hours until the captain will get in touch when she get to Greenland. Then he would take his place side by side with Foaly to come to the rescue in case of emergency. Intuition suggested Commander that he would not be able to visit his parents soon.