Disclaimer: The characters, much of the dialogue, and sadly, even the plot are not mine; they all belong to Eoin Colfer.

Pages: 220 – 224

Chapter 17: Trade-Off

Holly laid on her back in the duffel, wishing her wrists were bound in front of her rather behind her back, as she would have been decidedly more comfortable. However, now that something was actually happening, she wasn't about to complain as she concentrated instead on listening to little Artemis and Kronski's conversation.

"You have no idea what it's been like for me, Ah-temis," Kronski said piteously. "Hounded from country to country because of my beliefs, like some common criminal. And now that I have finally found somewhere to call home – now that I have persuaded the committee to meet here – I lose my trial animal. That lemur was the centerpiece of the entire conference."

Somebody get me a box of tissues, thought Holly.

However, this little speech of Kronski's made her realize something she had missed before back in the vehicle, while she had been distracted by the horror of what was happening. So, Kronski had lost the lemur. Even though something had obviously gone wrong with Artemis's plan and she had been captured, the mission had at least had some measure of success in terms of its main goal: Mulch had managed to save Jayjay. That was one thing to be glad for.

However, Holly began to have a sneaking suspicion that even this had been part of little Artemis's plan. After all, if Kronski lost one animal, he would have no choice but to buy another. Sly and devious as ever, I see.

"All is not lost, Doctor," Artemis was saying, in an oddly comforting tone that made Holly want to wretch. "I can provide you with something that will rejuvenate your society and make it globally relevant."

That 'something' being her, she supposed. Now that it was happening, Holly almost couldn't believe that he was actually selling her to this man. Strange that 'pure evil' could come in the form of a ten-year-old boy.

"What is this?" Holly heard Kronski say. "Photo manipulation?"

Artemis must be showing Kronski the digital image Butler had taken of her earlier, or so she guessed.

"No," said Artemis simply. "Genuine. This creature is real." He spoke using that tone Holly had come to know so well, the absolute, unshakable certainty that forced even the most skeptical of recipients to at least do a double-take. The little liar was telling the truth in this case, though.

However, Kronski did still seem a bit dubious, at least superficially. But he was distracted when, much to his annoyance, Artemis indicated the Extinctionist president would have to pay even more for this new specimen on top of what he had paid for the lemur. Of course, Holly knew the man should have seen that coming – Artemis wouldn't go to all this trouble unless he had something more to gain.

When Kronski asked for the price, Holly was a bit shocked when Artemis replied immediately, "You pay five million euros." He added, making it clear that there would be no haggling, "Nonnegotiable." That was easily fifty times the money he had gotten for Jayjay, Holly thought. It made the other transaction seem like almost nothing.

Five million. Wow. I'm flattered, Ah-temis, she thought sarcastically. So it was really true, there really was no limit to the depths this Artemis could sink. It was amazing how this ten-year-old could control the ebb and flow of this conference as he was even in this setting of cutthroat, underworld business dealings, as he went on to make his careful threats implying what his bodyguard would do if Kronski tried to cheat him. She could see here how, despite his age, he really was like any other Mud Man crime lord; he might even more intimidating and ruthless than average to make up for what he lacked in years and physical stature.

Holly wondered how on earth this boy could ever grow up into the Artemis she knew now. The fourteen-year-old Artemis may have been no saint and he had lied to her, but even so he had still done many good, even selfless things for others. It was hard to see how someone this cold could ever turn over a new leaf, even partially, to change so much in such a short time.

Kronski's view on the ten-year-old was a bit different. After a moment of silence once it appeared that the negotiations were finished, Kronski having agreed he would pay if he could be satisfied 'the creature' was the genuine article, the doctor said, with something like nostalgia in his voice, "You ever think it strange, Ah-temis, how a kid like you winds up going eyeball to eyeball with an old crook like me?"

Artemis hesitated. "I don't understand the question," he said, though Holly imagined admitting it aloud probably cost him. The know-it-all.

Sounding like he was enjoying himself tremendously, in reply Kronski laughed heartily and clapped his hands together like a grade-schooler being given a slice of birthday cake. "It delights me, Ah-temis," he said simply, still chuckling, "that a boy like you exists. It makes my day."

Holly could feel disgust rise inside her. Having people as vile as he was of all ages in the world – yes, what a treat indeed.

Holly's eyes narrowed and she wrinkled her nose as all manner of coldly furious thoughts coiled around her mind like the appendages of some thorny plant. She so wished she had her LEP badge and an entire team from Haven behind her right now so she could lock these two up in a tiny dark cell somewhere, where they belonged.

"Now," said Kronski, and he stopped laughing abruptly, in an instant completely serious, almost to the point of threatening, "how soon can I inspect the creature?"

Holly felt Butler seize the bag and climb suddenly to his feet, making absolutely no sound as he did so. Her body was suddenly crammed against his rock-hard side again, and this time in response she made sure to slacken every muscle in her body, so he wouldn't feel the need to close his arm around her like a vice again.

"Immediately," said Artemis.

"Good." Holly heard Kronski clap his hands again. "Well, text your man to come hither. Let's say it takes him thirty minutes to get here, another ten to clear security..."

Hmm. Evidently Kronski did not know they were there already; she would expect nothing less from Butler and Artemis. Holly had no idea how the magic of invitation-only for fairies to enter buildings worked, but now she was even more grateful for whatever had happened that had counted as an invitation for the fairy in the bag. Maybe Artemis and his bodyguard were so inseparable that an invitation to Artemis counted as an invitation to Butler and by extension the 'creature' he'd brought with him or... Well, it didn't matter really. She was inside Kronski's building and she wasn't throwing up, that was what counted.

"I said immediately," Artemis repeated smoothly, then clicked his fingers in a way Holly found a very obnoxious, like a trainer calling for his dog, or royalty summoning his subjects.

Butler moved, followed by a sort of high-pitched squeak of alarm from the doctor, as though he'd just spotted a mouse. He got over it quickly, but he seemed rather annoyed with himself.

Now, there's the dignity one would expect from the leader of an organization that goes around murdering rare animals for sport, Holly thought wryly, wishing Artemis was there so they could share an eye-roll.

Kronski spent a minute figuring out how Butler had managed to get there, then remembered Holly. Or, as he put it, 'the merchandise.'

Holly was beyond caring about being referred to liked she was a shot raccoon caught raiding the chicken house or a leftover sack of metal shrapnel by this point, but she still had to be irritated by it a little, on principle.

Holly, still inside the duffel, was lifted up and placed on a hard surface. Three figures were standing around the bag according to what she was able to discern with her hearing. She thought she could just make out the heartbeat of each Mud Person there. The steady Thud. Thud. Thud. of Butler's, the excited thump thump thump of Kronski's, and the lighter thrum of little Artemis's, though it was even and steady like Butler's.

Holly felt her own heart rate speed up, knowing what was going happen. In a moment, the bag would open and she would be greeted by the sight of three Mud Men faces peering down at her like she was a new exotic dish they were about to eat.

Holly began to feel slightly queasy again. Even though she was still wearing the abaya dress over her one-piece, the idea of it made her feel exposed somehow, vulnerable. She was bound and unable to speak, a helpless object, a piece of property being observed for the purpose of being sold.

Kronski's breathing was hitched and almost labored as he anticipated getting his hands on the prize. In a moment, she would be completely at the man's mercy – It was an image dreadful enough to temper her sarcasm as well as her desire to escape the bag that so tightly enclosed her, despite the intense feelings of claustrophobia still tightening her stomach.

Before they opened the duffel, she heard Butler saying to the others in cautioning tones, "She has some kind of hypnotizing skills. I once met a guy in Laos who could put a whammy on you, but nothing like this. She tried it outside the souk and I nearly ran into a camel, so I taped her mouth."

It really was too bad he hadn't really run into a camel then, she thought, recovering herself a bit as she twisted her lips in annoyance against the stickiness holding them together. She really could have done without this irksome tape. Even without taking the mesmer's usefulness as a weapon into consideration, she had a few choice words she would have liked to say to them all if she'd been able.

Butler continued, unaware of the elf's resentful thoughts as she stifled the simultaneous feeling of fear and desire to be snide that spun in her head as each tried to get control, making the stability of her mind tilt even more wildly than before, "Also, as we know, she can turn invisible. When I opened the bag at first, she wasn't there. I think her juice is running out though."

Ah, so he'd noticed that. Having magic powers wasn't much use if there wasn't enough magic to fuel them effectively. She supposed it didn't take knowledge of the supernatural to figure out that much, but it was still annoying.

"There could be more stunts," Butler warned, "who knows what tricks she has hidden in those pointed ears. Are you prepared to take that risk?"

Ironic; it wasn't really her pointed ears he needed to worry about.

Holly closed her eyes for a moment, the corners of her mouth twitching behind the tape. Deranged giddiness wasn't really much better of a state to be in than abject terror, although the former was certainly more enjoyable.

"Yes," said Kronski, breathing heavily in a way that sent goosebumps spiking up and down Holly's arms, underneath the layer of sweat. "Absolutely yes. Open the bag."

At the moment Holly honestly did not know whether she wanted to laugh uncontrollably or hiss or cry or scream. She could feel her heartbeat in her ears. It seemed the excess energy she had gained earlier might wind up only being used to express her anger or fear or demented amusement more fully if she didn't get control of it. She would have to channel it properly if it was to be of any good to her at all; she had to remained staid and watchful, to wait patiently.

Just relax and take it, she told herself. For now.

Holly stared up as the bit of light streaming down on her forehead from the hole grew steadily wider as someone drew back the zipper, the sound like the buzzing of a hornet, so loud it echoed in the sudden quiet that had fallen over the room. She caught a flash of a small pale hand and the sleeve of a dark blue, custom-made suit as it finished pulling open the duffel and drew away.

Holly felt a blast of the cool air of the room on her face and neck, and the stuffy, stale air was suddenly fresh – though ruined somewhat by the smell of animal pelts again and a variety of artificial scents that also somehow managed to reek of dead animals.

Holly squinted at the bright light as her eyes adjusted, and for a moment she had an image of herself laying on her back on an operating table, strapped down, while Mud Man doctors in full scrubs leaned over her and shone bright lights in her face. At least dying at the hands of the Extinctionists meant that particular vision wouldn't be coming to pass. Hopefully.

An enormous man with white skin speckled with little brown splotches, dressed in a beige robe cinched around an ample waist of a kind Holly had thought only worn by women in this country, stared back at her. She could not see his eyes properly because they were concealed behind a pair of glasses with purple lenses; instead she saw her own worn and exhausted – but also defiant and resentful – features reflected back at her.

However, from what Holly could see, his eyes were now wide with surprise and morbid fascination as he took her in, eyes slowly roving over her entire frame before returning to her face.

Holly could not have expressed how much she loathed this man. Everything about him was malignant, disgusting, like the foulest beast one could imagine. His appearance, what he stood for, the hungry look in his eyes behind the purple lenses.

So when she saw out of the corner of her eye his hand moving toward her, she widened her eyes into a ferocious glare and every muscle in her face tightened, this being pretty much the only method of communication left to her. Her way of warning him not to do what he was obviously intending to do.

But Kronski apparently took no notice. There was a slack, wide-eyed look of wonder on his face that would have been cute on a child seeing an elephant or a tiger at the zoo for the first time, but was as repulsive on the doctor as everything else.

Holly fervently wished she could bite him as he slid his fingers over her forehead, feeling for himself that it was far too wide to belong to a Mud Man child of Holly's size, leaving trails in her mask of cool sweat, then moved a hand to fondle her pointed ear, pulling at it to see that it was real.

Kronski moved dazedly out of Holly's line of vision, and she caught sight of little Artemis standing a ways back from where the doctor had been blocking her view of the boy a moment before. She realized it was the first time she was seeing him up close during this trip to the past.

Artemis, however, did not look at her. Instead, his cold blue eyes stared right over where she was, apparently still fixed on Kronski, his expression placid.

A moment later Holly heard the gush of running water falling into a cup. This simple act had the unanticipated result of suddenly making Holly start mentally calling Kronski every rude word in every language she could think of as she suddenly realized that, on top of everything else, her throat felt like it was on fire. The doctor's adding insult to injury by acting like he was taunting her even if it was unintentional was only one more straw on the already impressive pile, and it was only so long before her back broke. Or she broke somebody else's.

"Five million at today's market price," said the doctor, like he had just stumbled across the deal of a lifetime. "You said five and we agreed. No upping the price now."

Little Artemis gave his trademark vampire smile with which Holly had become so familiar over the years.

"Five million. Plus expenses." Artemis closed his eyes, the self-satisfaction obvious on his ordinarily near-emotionless features.

Holly glowered at him from where she laid, wishing she could wipe that smug look off his face.

I hope you're pleased with yourself, you little mud monster, she thought, because you're really going to regret this someday. This wasn't a threat so much as a fact. Unfortunately, she couldn't extract much satisfaction from it as she pictured the present Artemis driving dejectedly back to the shuttle in the darkness, realizing he had been thoroughly outmatched by his younger counterpart and completely at a loss as to what to do next.

The younger Artemis looked as though he was about to turn away then and move beyond where Holly would be able to continue to stare him down, but he stopped. For just an instant his cool blues eyes flickered down unexpectedly to meet her mismatched ones, one of which he could not know had once belonged to him.

Holly's glare hardened further, recalcitrant and accusatory, though she wasn't so deluded as to believe she could really exert any power over the imperturbable ten-year-old with a mere look. In fact, she fully expected him to leer, to provoke her as ever with that cold, inexorable smile as he reveled in his conquest even in the face of his opponent's displeasure.

However, she was in for a surprise as his smile slowly faded, and a flicker of annoyance flashed across his brow. He looked back at her and, inconceivably, for just a moment the expression in his dark fathomless eyes seemed almost to say, "I won, you lost. There's no use trying to make me feel guilty about it now."

Holly kept her own eyes locked with his. You already feel guilty, she wanted to say, though even she wasn't at all convinced whether it was true or not. You feel sick with guilt without me ever saying a word, and I hope it eats you from the inside out.

Artemis's face was blank as he turned and walked away, lightly asking coolly of Kronski if the doctor would be so kind as to have the five million euros in diamonds delivered to him immediately. However, Holly had the distinct impression that the young boy did not look quite so smug anymore.

A/N: Hey, Merry Christmas! Or maybe I should say 'Happy Holidays'... (; I've always wanted to post something on Christmas day and call it a present, lol. (I had this chapter ready several days ago actually, but since the last one was so long I wanted to wait to allow more of a chance for people to read that one first.) Though you're probably all so busy you won't see it until afterward anyway, right? (;

Anyway, thanks for reviewing! I love hearing from you all, as always. (: I know things are a bit slow right now, but I hope I haven't chased anyone away, lol. Writing is so hard...! But being reminded people are actually reading this helps keep me from letting my guard down or getting lazy. (;

Posted 12/25/11