She closed her eyes, in case any strobe light squeezed past her visor, and waited for the pop. The flash, when it came, lit up the tent like a lampshade. Several seams of weak stitching were burnt out, and bands of white light shot skywards like wartime searchlights. When she opened her eyes, the dwarfs were unconscious on the tent floor. One was the unfortunate Sergei who had managed to climb from his tunnel just in time to get knocked out. Holly searched her belt for a Sleeper/Seeker hypodermic. The hypodermic contained small tracker beads loaded with a charged sedative. When the beads were injected into a fairy's bloodstream, that fairy could be tracked anywhere in the world, and knocked out at will. It made retrieving rogue fairies a lot easier. Holly quickly fought her way through the folds of canvas, tagged all six dwarfs, then crawled to the
flaps. Now Sergei and his band could be apprehended at any time. This left her free to pursue Artemis Fowl.
The tent was around her ears now, held up by pockets of trapped air. She had to get out, or it would completely collapse on her. Holly activated the mechanical wings on her back, creating her own little wind tunnel, and hovered through the flap, boots scraping the earth.
Fowl was leaving along with Butler.
'Don't move, Artemis,' she yelled. 'I won't hesitate to shoot you. In fact, I'm quite looking forward to it.'
This was fighting talk, brimming with bravado and confidence. Two things that were in short supply, but at least she sounded ready for a fight.
Artemis turned slowly. 'Captain Short. You don't look so well. Maybe you should get some medical attention.'
Holly knew she looked terrible. She could feel her fairy magic healing the bruises on her ribs, and her vision was still jumpy from stun grenade overspill.
'I'm fine, Fowl. And even if I'm not, the computer in my helmet can fire this gun all on its own.'
Butler took a step to one side splitting the target. He knew Holly would have to shoot him first.
'Don't bother, Butler,' said Holly. 'I can drop you and hunt the Mud Boy down in my own time.'
Artemis tutted. 'Time is something you don't have. The circus hands are already coming. In seconds they will be here, followed closely by the circus audience. Five hundred people all wondering what is going on here.'
'So what? I'll be shielded.'
'So there is no way for you to take me in. And even if you could, I doubt that I have broken any fairy law. All I did was to steal a human tiara. Surely the LEP don't get involved in human crime. I can't be held responsible for fairy criminals.'
Holly struggled to keep her gun hand steady.
Artemis was right, he hadn't done anything to threaten the People. And the shouts from the circus folk were growing louder.
'So you see, Holly, you have no choice but to let me go.'
'And what about the other dwarf?' 'What dwarf?' said Artemis innocently. 'The seventh dwarf. There were seven.' Artemis counted on his fingers. 'Six, I believe. Only six. Perhaps in all the excitement ...'
Holly scowled behind her mask. There must be something she could salvage from this. 'Give me that tiara. And the helmet.' Artemis rolled the helmet across the ground.
'The helmet, certainly. But the tiara is mine.'
'Give it to me,' shouted Holly, authority in every syllable. 'Give it to me, or I will stun you both and you can take your chances with Ehrich Stern.'
Artemis almost smiled. 'Congratulations, Holly.
A masterstroke.' He took the tiara from his pocket, tossing it to the LEP officer.
'Now you can report that you broke up a gang of dwarf jewel thieves, and recovered the stolen tiara. A clutch of feathers in your cap, I would think.'
People were coming. Their thumping feet jarred the earth.
Holly set her wings to hover.
'We'll meet again, Artemis Fowl,' she said, rising into the air.
'I know,' replied Artemis. 'I look forward to it.'
It was true. He did.
Artemis watched his nemesis lift slowly into the night sky. And just as the crowd appeared around the corner, she vibrated out of the visible spectrum. Only a fairy shaped patch of stars remained.
Holly really makes things interesting, he thought, closing his fist around the stone in his pocket. / wonder if she will notice the switch. Will she look closely at the blue diamond and see that it seems a little bit oily?
Butler tapped him on the shoulder.
'Time to be gone,' said the giant manservant.
Artemis nodded. Butler was right, as usual. He almost felt sorry for Sergei and the Significants. They would believe themselves safe right up until the Retrieval squad arrived to take them away.
Butler took his charge by the shoulder, and directed him to the shadows. In two steps they were invisible. Finding the darkness was a talent of Butler's.
Artemis looked skywards one last time. Where is Captain Short now, he wondered. In his mind she would always be there, looking over his shoulder, waiting for him to slip up.
EPILOGUE: Fowl Manor
Angeline Fowl sat slumped at her dressing table, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Today was her husband's birthday. Little Arty's father. Missing for over a year, and every day made his return more unlikely. Each day was difficult, but this day was almost impossible. She ran a slender finger over a photograph on the dresser. Artemis senior, with his strong teeth and blue eyes. Such a startling blue, she had never seen quite that colour before or since, except in the eyes of her son. It had been the first thing she had noticed about him.
Artemis entered the room hesitantly. One foot outside the threshold.
'Arty, dear,' said Angeline, drying her eyes. 'Come here. Give me a hug, I need one.'
Artemis crossed the deep pile carpet, remembering the many times he had seen his father framed by the bay window.
'I will find him,' he whispered once in his mother's arms.
'I know you will, Arty,' replied Angeline, fearful of the lengths her extraordinary son would go to. Afraid to lose another Artemis.
Artemis drew back. 'I have a gift for you, Mother. Something to remind you, and give you strength.'
He drew a golden chain from his breast pocket. Swinging in its V was the most incredible blue diamond. Angeline's breath caught in her throat. 'Arty, it's uncanny. Amazing. That stone is exactly the same colour ...'
'As Father's eyes,' completed Artemis, coupling the clasp around his mother's neck. 'I thought you might like it.'
Angeline gripped the stone tightly in her hand, the tears flowing freely now. 'I shall never take it off.'
Artemis smiled sadly. 'Trust me, Mother, I will find him.'
Angeline looked at her son in wonder. 'I know you will, Arty,' she said again. But this time, she believed it.
The People - A Spotter's Guide
There are many different types of fairy and, with each one, it's important to know what you are dealing with.This is just some of the information collected by Artemis Fowl during his adventures. It is confidential and must not fall into the wrong hands.The future of the People depends on it.
Elves
Distinguishing features:
About one metre tall Pointy ears Brown skin Red hair
Character:
Intelligent
Strong sense of right and wrong
Very loyal
Sarcastic sense of humour, although that might just be a particular female LEP officer
Loves:
Flying, either in a craft or with wings
Situations to avoid:
They really don't like it if you kidnap them and take their gold.
Dwarfs
Distinguishing features:
Short, round and hairy
Large tombstone teeth - good for grinding ... well, anything really.
Unhingable jaws enabling them to excavate tunnels
Sensitive beard hair
Skin capable of acting like suction cups when dehydrated
Smelly
Character:
Sensitive Intelligent Criminal tendencies
Loves:
Gold and precious gems
Tunnelling
The dark
Situations to avoid:
Being in a confined space with them when they have been tunnelling and have a build-up of trapped air. If they reach for the bum flap on their trousers, get out of there ...
Trolls
Distinguishing features:
Huge - as big as an elephant
Light-sensitive eyes
Hate noise
Hairy with dreadlocks
Retractable claws
Teeth! - lots and lots of teeth
Tusks like a wild boar (a really wild boar)
Green tongue
Exceptionally strong
Weak point at the base of the skull
Character:
Very, very stupid - the troll has a tiny brain Mean and bad-tempered
Loves:
Eating - anything. A couple of cows would make a light snack
Situations to avoid:
Are you joking? If you even think a troll is near, run like the wind.
Goblins
Distinguishing features:
Scaly
Lidless eyes - they lick their eyeballs to keep them moist