Artemis Fowl_ The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer [66]
‘And that helps us how?’
‘A crack opens up in that rock when it cools down. I worked on the foundations when they were building this place. Gets you right in under the labs. Still a way to go, but at least you’re in.’
The commander was sceptical. ‘So how come Opal Koboi hasn’t noticed this gaping fissure?’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t say it was gaping.’
‘How big?’
Mulch shrugged. ‘Dunno. Maybe five metres. At its widest point.’
‘That’s still a pretty big fissure to be sitting there all day.’
‘Only it’s not there all day,’ interrupted Artemis. ‘Is it, Mulch?’
‘All day? I wish. I’d say, at a guess, this is only an approximation mind…’
Root was losing his cool. Being one step behind all the time didn’t agree with him.
‘Tell me, convict, before I add another scorch mark to your behind!’
Mulch was injured. ‘Stop shouting, Julius, you’re curling my beard.’
Root opened the cooler, letting the icy tendrils play over his face.
‘OK, Mulch. How long?’
‘Three minutes max. Last time I did it with a set of wings, wearing a pressure suit. Nearly got crushed and fried.’
‘Fried?’
‘Let me guess,’ said Artemis. ‘The fissure only opens when the rock has contracted sufficiently. If this fissure is on a chute wall, then the coolest time would be moments before the next flare.’
Mulch winked. ‘Smart, Mud Boy. If the rocks don’t get you, the magma will.’
Holly’s voice crackled over the com speakers. ‘I’ve got a visual on something. Could be a shadow, or it could just be a crack in the chute wall.’
Mulch did a little dance, looking very pleased with himself. Now, Julius, you can say it. I was right again! You owe me, Julius, you owe me.’
The commander rubbed the bridge of his nose. If he made it through this alive, he was never leaving the station again.
KOBOI LABORATORIES
Koboi Labs was surrounded by a ring of B’ wa Kell goblins. Armed to the teeth, tongues hanging out for blood. Cudgeon was hustled past roughly, prodded by a dozen barrels. The DNA cannons hung inoperative in their towers, for the moment. The second Cudgeon felt the B’ wa Kell had outlived its usefulness, then the guns would be reactivated.
The commander was taken to the inner sanctum, and forced to his knees before Opal and the B’ wa Kell generals. Once the soldiers had been dismissed, Cudgeon was back on his feet and in command.
‘Everything proceeds according to plan,’ he announced, crossing to stroke Opal’s cheek. ‘In an hour Haven will be ours.’
General Scalene was not convinced. ‘It would be ours a lot faster if we had some Koboi blasters.’
Cudgeon sighed patiently. ‘We’ve been through this, General. The disruption signal knocks out all neutrino weapons. If you get blasters, so will the LEP.’
Scalene shuffled into a corner, licking his eyeballs.
Of course, that was not the only reason for denying the goblins neutrino weapons. Cudgeon had no intention of arming a group he intended to betray. As soon as the B’ wa Kell had disposed of the Council, Opal would return power to the LEP.
‘How are things proceeding?’
Opal swivelled in her Hoverboy, legs curled beneath her. ‘Deliciously. The main doors fell moments after you left to… negotiate.’
Cudgeon grinned. ‘Good thing I left. I might have been injured.’
‘Captain Kelp has pulled his remaining forces into the Operations’ room, ringing the booth. The Council is in there too.’
‘Perfect,’ said Cudgeon.
Another B’ wa Kell general, Sputa, banged the conference table. ‘No, Cudgeon. Far from perfect. Our brothers are wasting away in Howler’s Peak.’
‘Patience, General Sputa,’ said Cudgeon soothingly, actually laying a hand on the goblin’s shoulder. ‘As soon as Police Plaza falls, we can open the cells in Howler’s Peak without resistance.’
Internally Cudgeon fumed. These idiot creatures. How he detested them. Clothed in robes fashioned from their own cast-off skin. Repulsive. Cudgeon longed to reactivate the DNA