Artemis Fowl_ The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer [48]
‘Hello, Foaly. Long time no see.’
Foaly returned the grin, but his wasn’t quite as wide. ‘Opal. How nice to see you. How are the folks?’ Everyone knew how Opal had bankrupted her father. It was a legend in the corporate world.
‘Very well, thanks. Cumulus House is a lovely asylum.’
Foaly decided he would try sincerity. It was a tool he didn’t use very often. But he would give it a go.
‘Opal. Think about what you’re doing. Cudgeon is insane, for pity’s sake. Once he has what he wants, he will dispose of you in a heartbeat!’
The pixie shook a perfectly manicured finger. ‘No, Foaly, you’re wrong. Briar needs me. He really does. He’d be nothing without me and my gold.’
The centaur looked deep into Opal’s eyes. The pixie actually believed what she was saying. How could someone so brilliant be so deluded?
‘I know what this is all about, Opal.’
‘Oh, you do?’
‘Yes. You’re still sore because I won the science medal back in university.’
For a second, Koboi’s composure slipped, and her features didn’t seem quite so perfect.
‘That medal was mine, you stupid centaur. My wing design was far superior to your ridiculous iris-cam. You won because you were a male. And that’s the only reason.’
Foaly grinned, satisfied. Even with the odds so hugely against him, he hadn’t lost the ability to be the most annoying creature under the world when he wanted to be.
‘So what do you want, Opal? Or did you just call to chat about our schooldays?’
Opal took a long drink from a crystal glass. ‘I just called, Foaly, to let you know I’m watching, so don’t try anything. I also wanted to show you something from the security cameras downtown. This is live footage by the way, and Briar is with the Council right now, blaming you for it. Happy viewing.’
Opal’s face disappeared to be replaced by a high-angle view of downtown Haven. A tourist district, outside Spud’s Spud Emporium. Generally, this area would be thronged with Atlantean couples taking photos of each other in front of the fountain. But not today, because today the square was a battleground. The B’ wa Kell was waging open war with the LEP and, by the looks of things, it was a one-sided battle. The goblins were firing their Softnose weapons, but the police were not shooting back. They just huddled behind whatever shelter they could find. Completely helpless.
Foaly’s jaw dropped. This was disastrous. And he was being blamed for everything. Of course, the thing about scapegoats was that they could not be left alive to protest their innocence. He had to get a message to Holly, and fast, or they were all dead fairies.
CHAPTER 10: TROUBLE AND STRIFE
DOWNTOWN HAVEN
SPUD’S Spud Emporium was not a place you wanted to be on the best of days. The fries were greasy, the meat was mysterious and the milkshakes had gristly lumps. Nevertheless, the Emporium did a roaring trade, especially during the solstice.
At this precise moment, Captain Trouble Kelp would almost have preferred to be inside the fast-food joint, choking down a rubbery burger, than outside it dodging lasers. Almost.
With Root out of the picture, field command fell to Captain Kelp. Usually this was a responsibility he would have relished. But then again, usually he would have had the benefit of transport and weapons. Thankfully they still had communications.
Trouble and his patrol had been rousting B’ wa Kell hot spots when they were bushwhacked by a hundred members of the reptilian triad. The goblins had positioned themselves on the rooftops, catching the LEP squad in a deadly crossfire from Softnose lasers and fireballs. Pretty complex thinking for the B’ wa Kell. The average goblin found simultaneous scratching and spitting a challenge. They had to be getting their orders from someone.
Trouble and one of his junior corporals were pinned down behind a photo booth, while the remaining officers had managed to take cover in Spud’s Emporium.
For the moment, they were keeping the goblins at bay