"Artemis Fowl 02 - The Arctic Incident" - читать интересную книгу автора (Colfer Eoin)

The car swung into the driveway, crunching across the gravel. Butler climbed out. Holly felt her back teeth grinding. Once upon a time, she had saved his life, healing him after a mortal encounter with a troll. She wasn't sure if she'd do it again.
Holding her breath, LEPrecon Captain Holly Short set the DoubleDex to slow descent. She dropped soundlessly, skimming past the storeys, and aimed her weapon at Butler's chest. Now there was a target a sun-blinded dwarf couldn't miss.
The human couldn't have detected her presence. Not possible. Yet something made him pause. He stopped and sniffed the air. The Mud Man was like a dog. No, not a dog, a wolf. A wolf with a big handgun.
Holly focused her helmet lens on the weapon, sending a photo to her computer database. Moments later, a hi-res rotating 3D image of the gun appeared in the corner of her visor.
'Sig Sauer,' said a recorded byte of Foaly's voice. 'Nine millimetre. Thirteen in the magazine. Big bullets. One of these hits you and it could blow your head off; something even the magic can't fix. Other than that you should be all right, presuming you remembered to wear the regulation above-ground micro-fibre jumpsuit recently patented by me. Then again, being a Recon jock, you probably didn't.'
Holly scowled. Foaly was all the more annoying when he was right. She had jumped on the first available shuttle without even bothering to change into an above-ground suit.
Holly's eyes were level with Butler's now, yet she was still hovering over a metre from the ground. She released the visor seals, wincing at the pneumatic hiss.
Butler heard the escaping gas, swinging the Sig Sauer towards the source.
'Fairy,' he said. 'I know you're there. Unshield or I start shooting.'
This was not exactly the tactical advantage Holly had in mind. Her visor was up, and the manservant's finger was creaking on his pistol's hair trigger. She took a deep breath and shut down her shield.
'Hello, Butler,' she said evenly.
Butler cocked the Sig Sauer. 'Hello, Captain. Come down slowly, and don't try any of your ...'
'Put your gun away,' said Holly, her voice layered with the hypnotic mesmer.
Butler fought it, the gun barrel shaking erratically.
'Put it down, Butler. Don't make me fry your brain.'
A vein pulsed in Butler's eyelid.
Unusual, thought Holly. I've never seen that before.
'Don't fight me, Mud Man. Give in to it.'
Butler opened his mouth to speak. To warn Artemis. She pushed harder, the magic cascading around the human's head.
'I said put it down!'
A bead of sweat ran down the bodyguard's cheek.
'PUT IT DOWN!'
And Butler did, gradually and grudgingly.
Holly smiled. 'Good, Mud Man. Now, back to the car and act as though nothing's wrong.'
The manservant's legs obeyed, ignoring the signals from his own brain.
Holly buzzed up her shield. She was going to enjoy this.
Artemis was composing an e-mail on his laptop.
Dear Principal Guiney ... it read ...
Because of your counsellor's tactless interrogation of my little Arty, I have taken him out of school for a course of therapy sessions with real professionals in the Mont Gaspard Clinic in Switzerland. I am considering legal action. Do not attempt to contact me as that would only serve to irritate me further and, when irritated, I generally call my attorneys.
Sincerely,
Angeline Fowl
Artemis sent the message, allowing himself the luxury of a small grin. It would have been nice to watch Principal Guiney's expression when he read the electronic letter. Unfortunately, the button camera he'd planted in the headmaster's office could only be accessed within a mile radius.
Butler opened the driver's door and, after a moment, slipped into the seat.

Artemis folded his phone into its wallet. 'Captain Short, I presume. Why don't you stop vibrating and settle into the visible spectrum?'
Holly speckled into view. There was a gleaming gun in her hand. Guess where it was pointed.
'Really, Holly, is that necessary?'
Holly snorted. 'Well, let's see. Kidnapping, actual bodily harm, extortion, conspiracy to commit murder. I'd say it's necessary.'
'Please, Captain Short,' said Artemis, with a smile, 'I was young and selfish. Believe it or not, I do harbour some doubts over that particular venture.'
'Not enough doubts to return the gold?'
'No,' admitted Artemis. 'Not quite.'
'How did you know I was here?'
Artemis steepled his fingers. 'There were several clues. One, Butler did not conduct his usual bomb check under the car. Two, he returned without the items he went to fetch. Three, the door was left open for several seconds, something no good security man would permit. And four, I detected a slight haze as you entered the vehicle. Elementary really.'
Holly scowled. 'Observant little Mud Boy, aren't you?'
'I try. Now, Captain Short, if you would be so kind as to tell me why you are here.'
'As if you don't know.'
Artemis thought for a moment. 'Interesting. I would guess that something has happened. Obviously something that I am being held responsible for.' He raised an eyebrow fractionally. An intense expression of emotion for Artemis Fowl. 'There are humans trading with the People.'
'Very impressive,' said Holly. 'Or it would be if we didn't both know that you're behind it. And if we can't get the truth out of you, I'm sure your computer files will prove most revealing.'
Artemis closed the laptop's lid. 'Captain. I realize there is no love lost between us, but I don't have time for this now. It is imperative that you give me a few days to sort out my affairs.'
'No can do, Fowl. There are a few people below ground who would like a word.'