Fit the fifth

All the fictional characters belong to Eoin Colfer. The quarks belong to Murray Gell-Mann.

With thanks to Hopelily and Julienne Potato for their advice.


THE HUNTING OF THE QUARK

Minerva knew psychology, physics and Artemis Fowl from the bottom up; strange that they weren't acquainted.

Sighting him in Barcelona she'd known she'd have to counter his stratagems. Diversion would be her best bet. If she intrigued him she could distract him, stay on top. Know your enemy: he was Irish, adolescent, brilliant, scientific. She needed to target all those facets.

She'd seen how he looked her up and down; her charm would take care of the adolescent element. Element – elementary particle – quantum – Irish. Why was she thinking of Gell-Mann and James Joyce? Of course! Time for the quark joke.


Author's Note: I'm afraid I indulged myself on this one. The challenge here is working out why some words are in italics, as well as catching the literary allusions.