But Ill have a satellite picture in thirty minutes, protested the centaur. We can wait that long, surely.
Sool elbowed past Foaly to the keyboard. Negative. You know the regulations. No bodies are left exposed for the humans to find. Its a tough rule, I know, but necessary.
The helmet could have malfunctioned! said Foaly, grasping at straws.
Is it likely that all the life-sign readings could have flatlined at the same moment through equipment failure?
No, admitted Foaly.
And just how unlikely is it?
About one chance in ten million, said the technical adviser miserably.
Sool picked his way around the keyboard. If you dont have the stomach for it, centaur, Ill do it myself. He entered his password and then detonated the incinerator in Hollys helmet. On a rooftop in Munich, Hollys helmet dissolved in a pool of acid. And, in theory, so did Hollys body.
There, said Sool, satisfied. Shes gone, and now we can all sleep a little easier.
Not me, thought Foaly, staring forlornly at the screen. It will be a very long time before I sleep easy again.
T EMPLE B AR, D UBLIN, I RELAND
Artemis Fowl woke from a sleep haunted by nightmares. In his dreams, strange, red-eyed creatures had ripped open his chest with scimitar tusks and dined on his heart. He sat up in an undersized cot, both hands flying to his chest. His shirt was caked in dried blood, but there was no wound. Artemis took several deep, shuddering breaths, pumping oxygen through his brain. Assess the situation, Butler always told him. If you find yourself in unfamiliar territory, become familiar with it before opening your mouth. Ten seconds of observation could save your life.
Artemis looked around, his eyelids fluttering like camera shutters. Absorbing every detail. He was in a small boxroom, about three metres square. One wall was completely transparent and appeared to look out over the Dublin quays. From the position of the Millennium Bridge, the room had to be somewhere in the Temple Bar area. The chamber itself was constructed from a strange material: some kind of silver-grey fabric rigid, but malleable with several plasma screens on the opaque walls. It was all extremely high-tech but seemed to be years old, and almost abandoned.
In the corner, a girl sat, hunched, on a folding chair. She cradled her head in both hands, her shoulders twitching gently with sobs.
Artemis cleared his throat. Why are you crying, girl?
The girl jerked upright, and it became immediately obvious that this was no normal girl. In fact, she appeared to belong to a totally different species.
Pointed ears, Artemis noted, with surprising composure. Prosthetic or real?
Holly almost smiled through her tears. Typical Artemis Fowl. Always looking for options. My ears are very real, as you well know knew.
Artemis was silent for several moments, processing the wealth of information in those few sentences.
Real pointed ears? Then you are of another species, not human. Possibly a fairy?
Holly nodded. I am a fairy. Actually an elf. Im what you would call a leprechaun too, but thats just a job.
And fairies speak English, do they?
We speak all languages. The gift of tongues, it is part of our magic
Artemis knew that these revelations should send his world spinning on its axis, but he found himself accepting her every word. It was as though he had always suspected the existence of fairies, and this was simply confirmation. Although, strangely, he could not remember ever having even thought about fairies before this day.
And you claim to know me? Personally, or from some kind of surveillance? You certainly seem to have the technology.
Weve known you for a few years now, Artemis. You made first contact, and weve been keeping an eye on you ever since.
Artemis was slightly startled, I made first contact?
Yes. December, two years ago. You kidnapped me.
Is this your revenge? That explosive device? My ribs? A horrible thought struck the Irish boy. And what about Butler? Is he dead?
Holly did her best to answer all these questions. It is revenge, but not mine. And Butler is alive. I just had to get you out of there before another attempt was made on your life.
So were friends now?
Holly shrugged. Maybe. Well see.
All this was slightly confusing. Even for a genius. Artemis crossed his legs in the lotus position, resting his temples against pointed fingers.
You had better tell me everything, he said, closing his eyes. From the beginning. And leave nothing out.