Artemis Fowl - Eoin Colfer [0]
New York
Text copyright © 2001 by Eoin Colfer
Published by Disney•Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.
For information address Disney•Hyperion Books, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011-5690.
New Disney •Hyperion paperback edition, 2009
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 978-1-4231-2452-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file.
Visit www.artemisfowl.com
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1 The Book
Chapter 2 Translation
Chapter 3 Holly
Chapter 4 Abduction
Chapter 5 Missing In Action
Chapter 6 Siege
Chapter 7 Mulch
Chapter 8 Troll
Chapter 9 Ace In The Hole
Epilogue
Preview Of Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident
Artemis Fowl: Read The Entire Series
Artemis Fowl Book 1
Artemis Fowl Book 2: The Arctic Incident
Artemis Fowl Book 3: Eternity Code
Artemis Fowl Book 4: Opal Deception
Artemis Fowl Book 5: Lost Colony
Artemis Fowl Book 6: Time Paradox
Artemis Fowl Book 7: Atlantis Complex
For Jackie
PROLOGUE
How does one describe Artemis Fowl? Various psychiatrists have tried and failed. The main problem is Artemis’s own intelligence. He bamboozles every test thrown at him. He has puzzled the greatest medical minds, and sent many of them gibbering to their own hospitals.
There is no doubt that Artemis is a child prodigy. But why does someone of such brilliance dedicate himself to criminal activities? This is a question that can be answered by only one person. And he delights in not talking.
Perhaps the best way to create an accurate picture of Artemis is to tell the by now famous account of his first villainous venture. I have put together this report from firsthand interviews with the victims, and as the tale unfolds, you will realize that this was not easy.
The story began several years ago at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Artemis Fowl had devised a plan to restore his family’s fortune. A plan that could topple civilizations and plunge the planet into a cross-species war.
He was twelve years old at the time. . . .
CHAPTER 1
THE BOOK
Ho Chi Minh City in the summer. Sweltering by anyone’s standards. Needless to say, Artemis Fowl would not have been willing to put up with such discomfort if something extremely important had not been at stake. Important to the plan.
Sun did not suit Artemis. He did not look well in it. Long hours indoors in front of a computer screen had bleached the glow from his skin. He was white as a vampire and almost as testy in the light of day.
“I hope this isn’t another wild-goose chase, Butler,” he said, his voice soft and clipped. “Especially after Cairo.”
It was a gentle rebuke. They had traveled to Egypt on the word of Butler’s informant.
“No, sir. I’m certain this time. Nguyen is a good man.”
“Hmm,” droned Artemis, unconvinced.
Passersby would have been amazed to hear the large Eurasian man refer to the boy as sir. This was, after all, the third millennium. But this was no ordinary relationship, and these were no ordinary tourists.
They were sitting outside a curbside cafe on Dong Khai Street, watching the local teenagers circle the square on mopeds.
Nguyen was late, and the pathetic patch of shade provided by the umbrella was doing little to improve Artemis’s mood. But this was just his daily pessimism. Beneath the sulk was a spark of hope. Could this trip actually yield results? Would they find the Book? It was too much to hope for.
A waiter scurried to their table.
“More tea, sirs?” he asked, head bobbing furiously.
Artemis sighed. “Spare me the theatrics, and sit down.”
The waiter turned instinctively to Butler, who was after all, the adult.
“But, sir, I am the waiter.”
Artemis tapped the table for attention.
“You are wearing handmade loafers, a silk shirt, and three gold signet rings. Your English