Holly led Mulch out, and Artemis realized that he really was sorry to see the dwarf go. But more than that, he was sorry that the memory of their friendship could soon be gone forever.
The technicians descended like flies on a carcass. In seconds every human in the room had electrodes attached to temples and wrists. Each set of electrodes ran through a neural transformer and onto a plasma screen. Memories flickered on the screens.
Foaly studied the images. “Way too early,” he announced. “Calibrate them to sixteen months ago. Actually, make that about three years. I don’t want Artemis planning his initial kidnap all over again.”
“Bravo, Foaly,” said Artemis bitterly. “I was hoping you might miss that.”
The centaur winked. “That’s not all I didn’t miss.”
On the pull-down screen, Root’s pixelated mouth stretched into a smile. “Tell him, Foaly. I can’t wait to see the human’s face.”
Foaly consulted a file on his hand held computer.
“We checked your e-mail, and guess what?”
“Do tell.”
“We found a fairy file, just waiting to be delivered. We also ran a search on the Internet in general. And lo and behold, someone with your e-mail address had rented some storage megabytes. More fairy files.”
Artemis was unrepentant. “I had to try. I’m sure you understand.”
“Nothing else you want to tell us about?”
Artemis opened his eyes wide, the epitome of innocence. “Nothing. You’re too clever for me.”
Foaly took a small laser disk from a toolbox, sliding it into the drive of a networked computer on the table. “Well, just in case, I’m going to detonate a data charge in your computer system. The virus will leave your files unharmed, unless they pertain to the People. Not only that, but the virus will monitor your system for a further six months, just in case you have outwitted us somehow.”
“And you’re telling me all this because I won’t remember it anyway.”
Foaly did a little four-step, clapping his hands together. “Exactly.”
Holly pushed through the door, dragging a metallic capsule behind her.
“Look what they found buried in the grounds.” She flipped the lid, pouring the capsule’s contents on the Tunisian carpet. Several computer disks and hard copies of Artemis’s diary fanned across the carpet.
Foaly examined a disk. “Something else you forgot to mention.”
Artemis was not quite so cocky now. His lifelines to the past were being cut one by one.
“It slipped my mind.”
“That’s it, I suppose. There’s nothing else.”
Artemis returned to his chair, folding his arms. “And if I say yes, you’ll believe me, I suppose.”
Root laughed so hard that it seemed the screen was shaking.
“Oh yes, Artemis. We trust you completely. How could we not after all you’ve put the People through? If you don’t mind we’d like to ask you a few questions under the mesmer, and this time you won’t be wearing sunglasses.”
Sixteen months previously, Artemis had successfully deflected Holly’s hypnotic gaze with mirrored sunglasses. It was the first time he had outwitted the fairies. It was not to be the last.
“Well, then, let’s get on with it.”
“Captain Short,” barked Root. “You know what to do.”
Holly removed her helmet, massaging the tips of her ears to get the circulation going.
“I’m going to mesmerize you and ask a few questions. It’s not the first time you’ve been under, so you know that the procedure is not painful. I advise you to relax. If you try to resist, it could cause memory loss or even brain damage.”
Artemis held up his palm. “Wait a moment. Am I right in thinking that when I wake up again, this will all be over?”
Holly smiled. “Yes, Artemis. This is good-bye, for the last time.”
Artemis’s face was composed, in spite of the emotions churning inside him.
“Well, then, I have a few things to say.”
Root was curious in spite of himself. “One minute, Fowl. Then nighty-night.”
“Very well. First, thank you. I have my family and friends around me thanks to the People. I wish I didn’t have to forget that.”
Holly laid a hand on his shoulder. “It’s better this way, Artemis. Believe me.”
“And second, I want you all to think back to the first time you met me. Remember that night?”
Holly shuddered. She remembered the cold individual who had attacked her by a magical hotspot in Southern Ireland. Commander Root would never forget escaping an exploding tanker by the skin of his wings, and Foaly’s first encounter with Artemis had been via a recording of the negotiations for Holly’s release. He had been a despicable creature.
“If you take away the memories and influences of the People,” continued Artemis, “I might become that person again. Is that what you really want?”
It was a chilling thought. Were the People responsible for Artemis’s transformation? And were they to be responsible for changing him back?
Holly turned to the screen. “Is it possible? Artemis has come a long way. Do we have the right to destroy all that progress?”
“He’s right,” added Foaly. “I never thought I would say this, but I kinda like the new model.”
Root opened another computer window on the screen. “The Psych Brotherhood did this probability report for us. They say the chances of a reversion are slim. Fowl will still have strong positive influences from his family and the Butlers.”
“The Psych Brotherhood?” objected Holly. “Argon and his cronies? And when exactly did we start trusting those witch doctors?”
Root opened his mouth to yell, but thought better of it—not something that happened every day.
“Holly,” he said, almost gently. “The future of our culture is at stake here. The bottom line is that Artemis’s future is not our problem.”
Holly’s mouth was a grim slash. “If that’s true, then we’re as bad as the Mud Men.”
The commander decided to revert to his usual mode of communication.
“Listen to me, Captain,” he roared. “Being in command means making tough decisions. Not being in command means shutting up and doing what you’re told. Now mesmerize those humans before we lose the link.”
“Yes, sir. Whatever you say, sir.”
Holly stood directly in front of Artemis, careful to make eye contact.
“Good-bye, Holly. I won’t see you again, though I’m sure you will see me.”
“Just relax, Artemis. Deep breaths.”
When Holly spoke again, her voice was layered with bass and alto. The hypnotic layers of the mesmer.
“That was some job we did on Spiro, eh?”
Artemis smiled sleepily. “Yes. The last adventure. No more hurting people.”
“How do you come up with these plans?”
Artemis’s lids drooped. “Natural ability, I suppose. Handed down by generations of Fowls.”
“I bet you would do anything to hang onto your fairy memories.”
“Almost anything.”
“So what did you do?”
Artemis smiled. “I played a few little tricks.”
“What kind of tricks?” pressed Holly.
“It’s a secret. I can’t tell you.”
Holly added a few more layers to her voice.
“Tell me, Artemis. It will be our secret.”
A vein pulsed in Artemis’s temple. “You won’t tell? You won’t tell the fairies?”