Police Plaza1, Haven2 City, The Lower Elements
Everybody in Police Plaza was all talk about the Zito probe. In truth it was a bit of a distraction3 from recent events. The LEP didn’t lose many officers in the field. And now two in the same shift. Foaly was taking it hard, especially the loss of Holly5 Short. It was one thing to lose a friend in the line of duty, but for that friend to be falsely accused of murder was unbearable6. Foaly could not stand the idea that the People would forever remember Holly as a cold-blooded killer7. Captain Short was innocent. What’s more, she was a decorated hero, and deserved to be remembered as such.
A corn screen flickered8 into life on his wall. One of his technical assistants in the outer office appeared. The elf’s pointed9 ears were quivering with excitement.
‘The probe is down to sixty-five miles. I can’t believe the humans have gotten this far.“
Foaly opened a screen on his wall. He couldn’t believe it either. In theory, it should have been decades before humans developed a laser sophisticated enough to puncture10 the crust without frying half a continent. Obviously, Giovanni Zito went right ahead and developed the laser without worrying about Foaly’s projections11 for his species.
Foaly almost regretted having to shut Zito’s project down. The Sicilian was one of the brightest hopes for the human race. His plan to harness the power of the outer core was a good one, but the cost was fairy exposure, and that was too high a price to pay.
‘Keep a close eye on it,“ he said, trying to sound interested. ”Especially when it runs parallel to E7. I don’t anticipate any trouble, but eyes peeled just in case.“
‘Yes, sir. Oh, and we have Captain Verbil on line two, from the surface.“
A tiny spark of interest lit the centaur13’s eyes. Verbil. The sprite had allowed Mulch Diggums to steal an LEP shuttle. Mulch escaped a few hours after his friends on the force had been killed. Coincidence? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Foaly opened a window to the surface.
In it he could see Verbil’s chest.
Foaly sighed. “Chix! You’re hovering15. Come down where I can see you.”
‘Sorry,“ said Chix, alighting on the floor.
‘I’m a bit emotional. Trouble Kelp gave me a real grilling16.“
‘What do you want, Chix? A hug and a kiss? I have things on my mind here.“
Verbil’s wings flared17 up behind him. It was a real effort to stay on the ground. “I have a message for you, from Mulch Diggums.”
Foaly fought the urge to whinny. No doubt Mulch would have some choice words for him.
‘Go on, then. Tell me what our foul-mouthed friend thinks of me.“
‘This is between us, right? I don’t want to be pensioned off on the grounds that I’m unstable18.“
‘Yes, Chix, it’s between us. Everyone has a right to be temporarily unstable. Today of all days.“
‘It’s ridiculous, really. I don’t believe it for a minute.“ Chix attempted a confident chuckle20.
Foaly snapped. “What’s ridiculous? What don’t you believe!“ Tell me, Chix, or I’ll reach down this com link and drag it out of you.”
‘Are we secure?“
‘Yes!“ the centaur screeched21. ”We’re secure. Tell me. Give me Mulch’s message.“
Chix took a deep breath, saying the words as he let it out. “Opal Koboi is back.”
Foaly’s laughter started somewhere around his hooves and grew in volume and intensity24 until it burst out of his mouth. “Opal is back! Koboi is back!
I get it now. Mulch conned25 you into letting him steal the shuttle. He played on your fear of Opal waking up, and you bought it. Opal is back; don’t make me laugh.“
‘That’s what he said,“ Chix mumbled26 sulkily.
‘There’s no need to laugh so hard. You’re spitting on the screen. I have feelings, you know.“
Foaly’s laughter petered out. It wasn’t real laughter anyway, it was just an outburst of emotion.
Mostly sadness, with some frustration27 mixed in.
‘Okay, Chix. It’s not your fault. Mulch has fooled smarter sprites than you.“
It took Chix a moment to realize that he was being insulted.
‘It could be true“ he said, miffed. “You could be wrong. It is possible, you know. Maybe Opal Koboi conned you.”
Foaly opened another window on his wall.
‘No, Verbil, it is not possible. Opal could not be back, because I’m looking at her right now.“
Live feed from the Argon Clinic confirmed that Opal was indeed still suspended in her coma28 harness.
She’d had her DNA29 swab minutes beforehand.
Chix’s petulance30 crumbled31. “I can’t believe it,” he muttered. “Mulch seemed so sincere. I actually thought Holly was in danger.”
Foaly’s tail twitched32. “What? Mulch said Holly was in danger? But Holly is gone. She died.”
‘Yes,“ said Chix morosely33. ”Mulch was shoveling more horse dung, I suppose. No offense34.“
Of course. Opal would set Holly up to take the blame for Julius. That little cruel touch would be just like Opal. If she wasn’t right there, in her harness. DNA never lies.
Chix rapped the screen surround at his end, to get Foaly’s attention. “Listen, Foaly, remember what you promised. This is between us. No need for anyone else to know I got duped by a dwarf35. I’ll end up scraping vole curry36 off the sidewalk after crunchball matches.”
Foaly absently shut the window. “Yes, whatever. Between us. Right.”
Opal was still secure. No doubt about it.
Surely she couldn’t have escaped. If she had, then maybe this probe was more sinister37 than it seemed. She couldn’t have escaped. It wasn’t possible.
But Foaly’s paranoid streak38 couldn’t let it go. Just to be sure, there were a few little tests he could perform. He really should get authorization39, but if he was wrong, nobody had to know. And if he was right, nobody would care about a few hours of computer time.
The centaur ran a quick search on the surveillance database and selected the footage from the chute access tunnel where Julius had died.
There was something he wanted to check.
Uncharted Chute, Three Miles Below Southern Italy
The stolen shuttle made good time to the surface.
Holly flew as fast as she could without burning the gearbox or smashing them into a chute wall.
Time may have been of the essence, but the motley crew would be of little use to anyone if they had to be scraped off the wall like so much crunchy pate12.
‘These old rigs are mainly for watch changes,“ explained Holly. ”The LEP got this one secondhand at a criminal assets auction40. It’s souped up to avoid customs ships. It used to belong to a curry smuggler43.“
Artemis sniffed44. A faint yellow odor still lingered in the cockpit. “Why would anyone smuggle42 curry?”
‘Extra-hot curry is illegal in Haven. Living underground, we have to be careful of emissions45, if you catch my drift.“
Artemis caught her drift and decided46 not to pursue the subject.
‘We need to locate Opal’s shuttle before we venture aboveground and give our position away.“
Holly pulled over next to a small lake of black oil, the shuttle’s downdraft rippling47 the surface.
‘Artemis, I think I mentioned that it’s a stealth shuttle. Nothing can detect her. We don’t have sensors49 sophisticated enough to spot her. Opal and her pixie sidekicks could be sitting in their craft just around the next bend, and our computers wouldn’t pick them up.“
Artemis leaned in over the dashboard readouts.
‘You’re approaching this the wrong way, Holly.
We need to find out where the shuttle is not.“
Artemis launched various scans, searching for traces of certain gases within a hundred-mile radius50. “I think we can assume that the stealth shuttle is very close to E7, perhaps right at the mouth; but that still leaves us with a lot of ground to cover, especially if our eyes are all we have to rely on.”
‘That’s what I’ve been saying. But do go on;
I’m sure you have a point.“
‘So I’m using this shuttle’s limited sensor48 dishes to scan from here right up the chute to the surface and down about thirty miles.“
‘Scanning for what?“ said Holly in exasperation51.
‘A hole in the air?“
Artemis grinned. “Exactly. You see, normal space is made up of various gases: oxygen, hydrogen, and so on, but the stealth shuttle would prevent any of these from being detected inside the ship’s hull52. So if we find a small patch of space without the usual ambient gasses…”
‘Then we’ve found the stealth shuttle,“ said Holly.
‘Exactly.“
The computer completed its scan quickly, building an on-screen model of the surrounding area. The gases were displayed in various whirling hues53.
Artemis instructed the computer to search for anomalies. It found three: one with an abnormally high saturation54 of carbon monoxide.
‘That’s probably an airport. A lot of exhaust fumes55.“
The second anomaly was a large area with only trace elements of any gas.
‘A vacuum, probably a computer plant,“ surmised56 Artemis.
The third anomaly was a small area just outside the lip of E7 that appeared to contain no gas of any kind.
‘That’s her. The volume is exactly right. She’s on the north side of the chute entrance.“
‘Well done,“ said Holly, punching him lightly on the shoulder. ”Let’s get up there.“
‘You know, of course, that as soon as we put our nose into the main chute system, Foaly will pick us up.“
Holly gave the engines a few seconds to warm up. “It’s too late to worry about that. Haven is more than six hundred miles away. By the time anyone gets here, we’ll either be heroes or outlaws57.”
‘We’re already outlaws,“ said Artemis.
‘True,“ agreed Holly. ”But soon we could be outlaws with no one chasing us.“
Police Plaza, The Lower Elements
Opal Koboi was back. Could it be possible?
The thought niggled at Foaly’s ordered mind, unraveling any chain of thought that he tried to compose.
He would not find any peace until he found out for certain. One way or the other.
The first place to check was the video footage from E37. If one began with the assumption that Koboi was indeed alive, then a number of details could be explained. Firstly, the strange haze58 that had appeared on all the tapes was not simply interference, but manufactured to hide something. The loss of audio signal, too, could have been orchestrated by Koboi to cover whatever had passed between Holly and Julius in the tunnel.
And the calamitous59 explosion could have been Koboi’s doing and not Holly’s. The possibility brought tremendous peace to Foaly, but he contained it. He hadn’t proven anything yet.
Foaly ran the tape through a few filters without result. The strange blurred61 section refused to be sharpened, cloned, or shifted. That in itself was unusual. If the blurred spot was just computer glitchery, Foaly should have been able to do something about it. But the indistinct patch stood its ground, repelling62 everything Foaly threw at it.
You may have the hi-tech ground covered, thought the centaur, but what about good old lo-tech?
Foaly zoomed63 the footage to moments before the explosion. The blurred patch had transferred itself to Julius’s chest, and indeed at times, the commander appeared to be looking at it. Was there an explosive device under there? If so, then it must have been remotely detonated. The jammer signal was probably sent from the same remote. The detonation64 command would override65 all other signals, including the jammer. This meant that for perhaps a thousandth of a second before detonation, whatever was on Julius’s chest would become visible. Not long enough for the fairy eye to capture, but a camera would see it just fine.
Foaly fast-forwarded to the explosion and then began to work his way backward, frame by frame. It was agonizing67 work, watching his friend being reassembled by the reversed film. The centaur tried to ignore it and concentrate on the work. The flames shrank from orange plumes68 to white shards69, eventually containing themselves inside an orange minisun. Then, for a single frame, something appeared. Foaly flicked70 past it, then returned. There! On Julius’s chest, right where the blur60 used to be. A device of some kind.
Foaly’s fingers jabbed the enlarge tool. There was a square foot metal panel secured to Julius’s chest with octo-bonds. It had been picked up by the camera for a single frame. Less than one thousandth of a second, which was why it had been missed by the investigators71. On the face of the panel was a plasma72 screen. Someone had been communicating with the commander before he died. That someone had not wanted to be overheard, hence the audio jammer. Unfortunately, the screen was now blank, as the detonation signal which disrupted the jammer would also have disrupted the video.
But I know who it is, thought Foaly. It’s Opal Koboi, back from limbo73.
But he needed proof. The centaur’s word was worth about as much to Ark Sool as a dwarf’s denial that he had passed wind.
Foaly glared at the live feed from the Argon Institute. There she was. Opal Koboi, still deep in her coma. Apparently74.
How did you do it? Foaly wondered. How could you swap75 places with another fairy?
Plastic surgery wouldn’t do it. Surgery couldn’t change DNA. Foaly opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a piece of equipment that resembled two miniature kitchen plungers.
There was only one way to find out what was going on here. He would have to ask Opal directly.
When Foaly arrived at the institute, Dr. Argon was reluctant to allow him into Opal’s room.
‘Miss Koboi is in a deep state of catatonia,“ said the gnome77 peevishly78. ”Who knows what effect your devices will have on her psyche79. It’s difficult, nigh impossible, to explain to a layfairy what damage intrusive80 stimuli81 may have on the recovering mind.“
Foaly whinnied. “You had no trouble letting the TV networks in. I suppose they pay better than the LEP. I do hope you are not beginning to view Opal as your personal possession, Doctor. She is a state prisoner, and I can have her moved to a state facility any time I like.”
‘Maybe just five minutes,“ said Jerbal Argon, tapping in the door’s security code.
Foaly clopped past him and plonked his briefcase82 on the table. Opal swung gently in the draft from the doorway83. And it did seem to be Opal. Even this close, with every feature in focus, Foaly would have sworn that this was his old adversary84.
The same Opal who had competed with him for every prize at college. The same Opal who had very nearly succeeded in having him blamed for the goblin uprising.
‘Get her down from there,“ he ordered.
Argon positioned a bunk85 below the harness, complaining with every step. “I shouldn’t be doing physical labor“ he moaned. ”It’s my hip41. No one knows the pain I’m in. No one. The warlocks can’t do a thing for me.“
‘Don’t you have staff to do this sort of thing?“
‘Normally, yes,“ said Argon, lowering the harness.
‘But my janitors86 are on leave. Both at the same time. Normally I wouldn’t allow it, but good pixie workers are hard to find.“
Foaly’s ears pricked87 up. “Pixies? Your janitors are pixies?”
‘Yes. We’re quite proud of them around here, minor88 celebrities89, you know. The pixie twins. And of course they have the highest respect for me.“
Foaly’s hands shook as he unpacked90 his equipment. It all seemed to be coming together. First Chix, then the strange device on Julius’s chest, now pixie janitors who were on leave. He just needed one more piece of the puzzle.
‘What is it you have there?“ asked Argon anxiously. ”Nothing that could cause any damage.“
Foaly tilted91 the unconscious pixie’s head backward. “Don’t worry, Argon. It’s just a Retimager. I’m not going in any farther than the eyeballs.”
He held open the pixie’s eyes one at a time, sealing the plunger like cups around the sockets92.
‘Every image is recorded on the retinas. This leaves a trail of microscratches that can be enhanced and read.“
‘I know what a Retimager is,“ snapped Argon. ”I do read science journals occasionally, you know. So you can tell what the last thing Opal saw was. What good will that do?“
Foaly connected the eyepieces to a wall computer. “We shall see,” he said, endeavoring to sound cryptic93 rather than desperate.
He opened the Retimager’s program on the plasma screen, and two dark images appeared.
‘Left and right eyes,“ explained Foaly, toggling a key until the two images overlapped94.
The image was obviously a head from a side angle, but it was too dark to identify.
‘Ooh, such brilliance,“ gushed95 Argon sarcastically96. ”Shall I call the networks? Or should I just faint in awe76?“
Foaly ignored him. “Lighten and enhance,” he said to the computer.
A computer-generated paintbrush swabbed the screen, leaving a brighter and sharper picture behind it.
‘It’s a pixie,“ muttered Foaly. ”But still not enough detail.“ He scratched his chin. ”Computer, match this picture with patient Koboi, Opal.“
A picture of Opal flashed up on a separate window. It resized itself and revolved97 until the new picture was at the same angle as the original. Red arrows flashed between the pictures, connecting identical points. After a few moments the space between the two pictures was completely blitzed with red lines.
‘Are these two pictures of the same person?“ asked Foaly.
‘Affirmative,“ said the computer. ”Though there is a point zero five percent possibility of error.“
Foaly jabbed the print button. “I’ll take those odds98.”
Argon stepped closer to the screen, as though in a daze99. His face was pale, and growing paler as he realized the implications of the picture.
‘She saw herself from the side,“ he whispered. ”That means…“
‘There were two Opal Kobois,“ completed Foaly. ”The real one, that you let escape. And this shell here, which can only be…“
‘A clone.“
‘Precisely100,“ said Foaly, plucking the hard copy from the printer. ”She had herself cloned, and then your janitors waltzed her right out of here under your nose.“
‘Oh dear.“
‘Oh dear hardly covers it. Maybe now would be a good time to call the networks, or faint in awe.“
Argon took the second option, collapsing101 to the floor in a limp heap. The sudden evaporation102 of his dreams of fame and fortune was too much to handle all at once.
Foaly stepped over him and galloped103 all the way to Police Plaza.
E7, Southern Italy
Opal Koboi was having a hard time being patient. She had used up every last drop of her patience in the Argon Clinic. And now she wanted things to happen on her command. Unfortunately, a hundred million tons of hematite will only sink through the earth at sixteen feet per second, and there isn’t a lot anybody can do about it. Opal decided to pass the time by watching Holly Short die. That cretinous captain. Who did she think she was, with her crew cut and cute bow lips?
Opal glanced at herself in a reflective surface. Now, there was real beauty. There was a face that deserved its own currency, and it was quite possible that she would soon have it.
‘Mervall,“ she snapped. ”Bring me the Eleven Wonders disk. I need something to cheer me up.“
‘Right away, Miss Koboi,“ said Merv.
‘Would you like me to finish preparing the meal first, or bring you the disk directly.“
Opal rolled her eyes at her reflection.
‘What did I just say?“
‘You said to bring you the disk.“
‘So what do you think you should do, my dearest Mervall?“
‘I think I should bring you the disk,“ said Merv.
‘Genius, Mervall. Pure genius.“
Merv left the shuttle’s kitchenette and ejected a disk from the recorder. The computer would have the film on its hard drive, but Miss Koboi liked to have her personal favorites on disk so she could be cheered up wherever she happened to be.
Highlights from the past included her father’s nervous breakdown104, the attack on Police Plaza, and Foaly bawling105 his eyes out in the LEP operation’s booth.
Merv handed the disk to Opal.
‘And?“ said the tiny pixie.
Merv was stumped106 for a moment, then he remembered.
One of Opal’s new commandments was that the Brill brothers should bow when they approached their leader. He swallowed his pride and bowed low from the waist.
‘Better. Now, weren’t you supposed to be preparing dinner?“
Merv retreated, still bowing. There was a lot of pride- swallowing going on around here in the last few hours. Opal was unhappy with the level of service and respect provided by the Brill brothers, and so she had drawn107 up a list of rules. These directives included the aforementioned bowing, never looking Opal in the eyes, going outside the shuttle to pass wind, and not thinking too loudly within ten feet of their employer.
‘Because I know what you are thinking,“ Opal had said, in a low tremulous voice. ”I can see your thoughts swirling108 was around your head. Right now, you’re marveling at how beautiful I am.“
‘Uncanny,“ gasped109 Merv, while traitorously110 wondering if there was a cuckoo flitting about her head at that very moment. Opal was going seriously off the rails with all this changing her species and world domination. Scant111 and himself would have deserted112 her by now, if she hadn’t promised that they could have Barbados when she was Queen of the Earth. That and the fact that if they deserted her now, Opal would add the Brill brothers to her vengeance113 list.
Merv retreated to the kitchen and continued with his efforts to prepare Miss Koboi’s food without actually touching114 it. Another new rule.
Meanwhile, Scant was in the cargo115 bay checking the detonator relays on the last two shaped charges. One for the job, and one for backup. The charges were about the size of melons, but would make a much bigger mess if they exploded. He checked that the magnetic relay pods were secure on the casings. The relays were standard mining sparker units that would accept the signal from the remote detonator and send a neutron116 charge into the bellies117 of the charges.
Scant winked118 at his brother through the kitchen doorway.
Merv pursed his lips in silent imitation of a cuckoo. Scant nodded wearily. They were both getting tired of Opal’s outrageous119 behavior.
Only the thought of drinking pina coladas on the beach in Barbados kept them going.
Opal, oblivious120 to all the discontent in her camp, popped the video disk into the multidrive. To watch one’s enemies die in glorious color and surround sound was surely one of the greatest advantages of technology. Several video windows opened on the screen. Each one represented the view from one of the hemisphere’s cameras.
Opal watched delightedly as Holly and Artemis were driven into the river by a pack of slobbering trolls. She oohed and aahed as they took refuge on the tiny island of corpses121. Her tiny heart beat faster as they scaled the temple scaffolding. She was about to instruct Mervall to fetch her some chocolate truffles from the booty box to go with the movie, when the cameras blacked out.
‘Mervall,“ she squealed122, wringing123 her delicate fingers. ”Descant124! Get in here.“
The Brill brothers rushed into the lounge, handguns drawn.
‘Yes, Miss Koboi?“ said Scant, laying the shaped charges down on a fur-covered lounger.
Opal covered her face. “Don’t look at me!” she ordered.
Scant lowered his eyes. “Sorry. No eye contact. I forgot.”
‘And stop thinking that.“
‘Yes, Miss Koboi. Sorry, Miss Koboi.“ Scant had no idea what he was supposed to be thinking, so he tried to blank out everything.
Opal crossed her arms and tapped her fingers on her forearms until both brothers were bowed before her.
‘Something has gone wrong,“ she said, her voice trembling slightly. ”Our Temple of Artemis cameras seem to have malfunctioned125.“
Merv backed the footage up to the last image.
In it the trolls were advancing on Artemis and Holly across the temple roof.
‘It looks like they were done for anyway, Miss Koboi.“
‘Yep,“ agreed Scant. ”No way out of that one.“
Opal cleared her throat. “Firstly, yep is not a word, and I will not be spoken to in slang. New rule. Secondly126, I assumed that Artemis Fowl127 was dead once before, and I spent a year in a coma as a result. We must proceed as though Fowl and Short have survived and are on our trail.“
‘With respect, Miss Koboi,“ said Merv, directing the words at his own toes. ”This is a stealth shuttle; we didn’t leave a trail.“
‘Moron128,“ said Opal casually129. ”Our trail is on every television screen aboveground, and doubtless below it. Even if Artemis Fowl were not a genius, he would guess that I am behind the Zito probe.
We need to plant the final charge now. How deep is the probe?“
Scant consulted a computer readout. “One hundred miles. We have ninety minutes to go to the optimum blast point.”
Opal paced the deck for a few moments. “We have not picked up any communication with Police Plaza, so if they are alive they are alone.
Best not to risk it. We will plant the charge now and guard it. Descant, check the casings again.
Mervall, run a system’s check on the shuttle.
I don’t want a single ion escaping through the hull.“
The pixie twins stepped backward, bowing as they went. They would do as they were told, but surely the boss was being a bit paranoid.
‘I heard that thought,“ screeched Opal. ”I am not paranoid!“
Merv stepped behind a steel partition to shield his brain waves. Had Miss Koboi really intercepted130 the thought? Or was it just the paranoia131 again? After all, paranoid people usually believe that everyone thinks they are paranoid.
Merv poked132 his head out from behind the partition and beamed a thought at Opal, just to be sure.
Holly Short is prettier than you, he thought as loudly as he could. A treasonous thought, to be sure. One Opal could hardly fail to pick up on if she could indeed read minds.
Opal stared at him. “Mervall?”
‘Yes, Miss Koboi?“
‘You’re looking directly at me. That’s very bad for my skin.“
‘Sorry, Miss Koboi,“ said Merv, averting134 his eyes. His eyes happened to glance through the cockpit windshield, toward the mouth of the chute.
He was just in time to see an LEP shuttle rise through the holographic rock outcrop that covered the shuttlebay door. “Em, Miss Koboi, we have a problem.” He pointed out the windshield.
The shuttle had risen to thirty feet and was hovering above the Italian landscape, obviously searching for something.
‘They’ve found us,“ said Opal in a horrified135 whisper. Then she quelled136 her panic, quickly analyzing137 the situation.
‘That is a transport shuttle, not a pursuit vehicle,“ she noted138, walking quickly into the cockpit, closely followed by the twins. ”We must assume that Artemis Fowl and Captain Short are aboard. They have no weapons and only basic scanners. In this poor light we are virtually invisible to the naked eye. They are blind.“
‘Should we blast them from the skies?“ asked the younger Brill brother eagerly. At last some of the action he had been promised.
‘No,“ replied Opal. ”A plasma burst would give our position to human and fairy police satellites. We go silent. Turn off everything.
Even life support. I don’t know how they got this close, but the only way they’re going to find out our exact location is to run into us. And if that happens, their sad little shuttle will crumple139 like cardboard.“
The Brills obeyed promptly140, switching off all of the shuttle’s systems.
‘Good,“ whispered Opal, placing a slim finger over her lips. They watched the shuttle for several minutes until Opal decided to break the silence.
‘Whoever is passing wind, please stop it, or I will devise a fitting punishment.“
‘It wasn’t me,“ mouthed the Brill brothers simultaneously141. Neither was anxious to find out what the fitting punishment for passing wind was.
E7, Ten Minutes Earlier
Holly eased the LEP shuttle through a particularly tricky142 secondary shaft143 and into E7. Almost immediately two red lights began pulsing on the console.
‘The clock is ticking,“ she announced. ”We just triggered two of Foaly’s sensors. They’re going to put the shuttle together with the probe and come running.“
‘How long?“ asked Artemis.
Holly calculated in her head. “If they come supersonic in the attack shuttle, less than half an hour.”
‘Perfect,“ said Artemis, pleased.
‘I’m glad you think so,“ moaned Mulch.
‘Supersonic LEP officers are never a welcome sight among burglars. As a general rule we prefer our police officers subsonic.“
Holly clamped the shuttle to a rocky outcrop on the chute wall. “Are you backing out, Mulch?
Or is just the usual moaning?“
The dwarf rotated his jaw144, warming it up for the work ahead. “I think I’m entitled to a little moan. Why do these plans always involve me putting myself in harm’s way, while you three get to wait it out in the shuttle?“
Artemis handed him a cooler sack from the galley145. “Because you are the only one who can do this, Mulch. You alone can foil Koboi’s plan.”
Mulch was not impressed. “I’m not impressed,” he said. “I’d better get a medal for this. Real gold, too. No more gold-plated computer disks.”
Holly hustled146 him to the starboard hatch.
‘Mulch, if they don’t lock me in prison for the rest of my life, I will start the campaign to give you the biggest medal in the LEP cabinet.“
‘And amnesty for any past and future crimes?“
Holly opened the hatch. “Past, maybe. Future, not a chance. But no guarantees. I’m not exactly flavor of the month at Police Plaza.”
Mulch tucked the sack inside his shirt.
‘Okay. Possible big medal and probable amnesty. I’ll take it.“ He put one foot outside onto the flat surface of the rock.
Tunnel wind sucked at his leg, threatening to tumble him into the abyss. “We meet back here in twenty minutes.”
Artemis handed the dwarf a small walkie-talkie from the LEP locker147. “Remember the plan,” shouted Artemis over the roar of the wind.
‘Don’t forget to leave the communicator. Only steal what you are supposed to. Nothing else.“
‘Nothing else,“ echoed Mulch, looking none too pleased. After all, who knew what valuables Opal may have lying about up there. ”Unless something really jumps out at me.“
‘Nothing,“ insisted Artemis. ”Now, are you sure you can get in?“
Mulch’s grin revealed rows of rectangular teeth. “I can get in. You just make sure their power is off and they’re looking the other way.”
Butler hefted the bag of tricks that he had brought with him from Fowl Manor148. “Don’t worry, Mulch. They’ll be looking the other way. I guarantee it.”
Police Plaza, The Lower Elements
All the brass149 were in the Operations Room, watching live television updates on the probe’s progress when Foaly burst in.
‘We need to talk,“ blurted150 the centaur to the general assembly.
‘Quiet,“ hissed151 Council Chairman Cahartez. ”Have a bowl of curry.“
Chairman Cahartez ran a fleet of curry vans in Haven City. Vole curry was his specialty152. Obviously he was catering153 this little viewing session.
Foaly ignored the buffet154 table. He snatched a remote control from a chair armrest and muted the master volume.
‘We have big trouble, ladies and gentlemen. Opal Koboi is loose, and I think she’s behind the Zito probe.“
A high-back swivel chair swung around. Ark Sool was lounging in it. “Opal Koboi? Amazing. And she’s doing all this psychically155, I suppose.”
‘No. What are you doing in that chair? That’s the commander’s chair. The real commander, not Internal Affairs.“
Sool tapped the golden acorns156 on his lapel.
‘I’ve been promoted.“
Foaly blanched157. “You’re the new Recon commander?”
Sool’s smile could have illuminated158 a dark room. “Yes. The Council felt that Recon had been getting a bit out of hand lately. They felt, and I must say I agree, that Recon needs a firm hand. Of course I will stay on at Internal Affairs until a suitable replacement159 can be found.”
Foaly scowled160. There was no time for this. Not now.
He had to get clearance161 for a supersonic launch immediately.
‘Okay, Sool, Commander. I can lodge162 my objection later. Right now we have an emergency on our hands.“
Everyone was listening now. But none with much enthusiasm, except Commander Vinyaya who had always been a staunch supporter of Julius Root, and would certainly have not voted for Sool.
Vinyaya was all ears.
‘What’s the emergency, Foaly?“ she asked.
Foaly slipped a computer disk into the room’s multidrive. “That thing in the Argon Clinic is not Opal Koboi; it’s a clone.”
‘Evidence?“ demanded Sool.
Foaly highlighted a window on the screen. “I scanned her retinas and found that the last image the clone saw was Opal Koboi herself. Obviously during her escape.”
Sool was not convinced. “I’ve never trusted your gadgets163, Foaly. Your Retimager is not accepted as actual evidence in a courtroom.”
‘We’re not in a courtroom, Sool,“ said Foaly through ground teeth. ”If we accept that Opal could be loose, then the events of the past twenty-four hours take on a whole new significance. A pattern begins to emerge. Scalene is dead, pixies are missing from the clinic, Julius is murdered, and Holly is blamed. Then within hours of this a probe is sent down a decade ahead of schedule. Koboi is behind all of this. That probe is on its way here and we’re sitting around watching it on PPTV… eating stinking164 vole curry!“
‘I object to the disparaging165 curry remark,“ said Cahartez, wounded. ”But otherwise I get your point.“
Sool jumped from his chair. “What point?
Foaly is connecting dots that don’t exist. All he is trying to do is exonerate166 his late friend, Captain Short.“
‘Holly may be alive!“ snapped Foaly.
‘And trying to do something about Opal Koboi.“
Sool rolled his eyes. “But her vitals flatlined, centaur. We remote-destructed her helmet. I was there, remember?”
A head poked into the room. One of Foaly’s lab apprentices167. “I got that case, sir,” he panted. “Quick as I could.”
‘Well done, Roob,“ said Foaly, snatching the case from the apprentice’s hand. He spun168 the case around. ”I issued Holly and Julius with new suits. Prototypes. They both have bio-sensors and trackers. They are not linked with the LEP mainframe. I never thought to check them earlier. Holly’s helmet may be out of action, but her suit is still functioning.“
‘What do the suit’s sensors tell us, Foaly?“ asked Vinyaya.
Foaly was almost afraid to look. If the suit sensors were flatlining, it would be like losing Holly again. He counted to three, then consulted the small screen in the case. There were two readouts on the screen. One was flat. Julius. But the other was active in all areas.
‘Holly is alive!“ shouted the centaur, kissing Commander Vinyaya soundly on the cheek.
‘Alive and reasonably well, apart from elevated blood pressure and next to zero magic in her tank.“
‘And where is she?“ asked Vinyaya, smiling.
Foaly enlarged the locator section of the screen.
‘On her way up E7, in the shuttle that was stolen by Mulch Diggums, if I’m not mistaken.“
Sool was delighted. “Let me get this straight. Murder suspect Holly Short is in a stolen chute next to the Zito probe.”
‘That’s right.“
‘That would make her the prime suspect in any irregularities concerning the probe.“
Foaly was very tempted19 to actually trample169 Sool, but he held his temper in check, for Holly’s sake. “All I’m asking, Sool, is that you give me a green light to send the supersonic shuttle to investigate. If I’m right, then your first act as Commander will be to avert133 a calamity170.”
‘And if you’re wrong? Which you probably are.“
‘If I’m wrong, then you get to bring in public enemy number one, Captain Holly Short.“
Sool stroked his goatee. It was a win-win situation. “Very well. Send the shuttle. How long will it take to prep?”
Foaly pulled a phone from his pocket and hit a number on the speed dial.
‘Major Kelp,“ he said into the mouthpiece.
‘Green light. Go.“ Foaly smiled at Ark Sool. ”I briefed Major Kelp on my way over. I felt sure you’d see it my way.
Commanders generally do.“
Sool scowled. “Don’t get familiar with me, ponyboy. This is not the start of a beautiful relationship. I’m sending the shuttle because it is the only option. If you are somehow manipulating me, or bending the truth, I will bury you in tribunal hearings for the next five years. Then I will fire you.”
Foaly ignored him. There would be plenty of time for trading threats later. He needed to concentrate on the shuttle’s progress. He had gone through the shock of Holly’s death once before; he did not intend to go through it again.
E7
Mulch Diggums could have been an athlete. He had the jaw and recycling equipment for sprint171 digging, or even cross-country. Plenty of natural ability, but no dedication172.
He tried it for a couple of months in college, but the strict regime of training and diet did not suit him. Mulch could still remember his college tunneling coach giving him a pep talk after training one night.
‘You got the jaw, Diggums,“ the old dwarf admitted. ”And you sure got the behind. I ain’t never seen no one who could pump out the bubbles like you do. But you ain’t got the heart, and that’s what’s important.“
Maybe the old dwarf was right: Mulch never did have the heart for selfless activity. Tunneling was a lonely job, and there wasn’t much money in it either.
And because it was an ethnic173 sport, the TV networks were not interested. No advertising174 meant no big pay deals for the athletes. Mulch decided his digging prowess could be more profitably utilized175 on the shady side of the law. Maybe if he had some gold, then female dwarfs176 would be more likely to return his calls.
And now here he was, breaking all his rules, preparing to break into a craft that was bristling177 with fairy sensors and occupied by armed hostiles. Just to help someone else.
Of all the vehicles on the planet or under it, Artemis just had to get into the most technologically178 advanced shuttle in existence. Every square inch of the stealth shuttle’s plating would be alarmed with lasers, motion sensors, static sheets, and who knew what else. Still, alarms were no good if they weren’t activated179, and that was what Mulch was counting on.
Mulch waved good-bye in the general direction of the shuttle, just in case anyone was still watching him, and traversed the rocky outcrop to the safety of the chute wall. Dwarfs do not like heights, and being technically180 below sea level was not helping181 his vertigo182.
The dwarf sank his fingers into a vein183 of soft clay sprouting184 through the rock wall. Home. Anywhere on earth was home to a dwarf, as long as there was clay. Mulch felt calm settle over him. He was safe now, for the time being, at any rate.
The dwarf unhinged his jaw with twin cracks that would make any other sentient185 species wince186. He popped the snaps on his bum-flap and launched himself into the clay. His gnashing teeth scooped187 buckets of clay from the chute wall, creating an instant tunnel. Mulch crawled into the space, sealing the cavity behind him with recycled clay from his rear end.
After half a dozen mouthfuls, the sonar filaments188 in his hair detected a shelf of rock ahead, so he adjusted his course accordingly. The stealth shuttle would not be set down on rock because it was top of the range, and as such would have a battery rod. The rods telescoped from the belly189 of the ship, drilling fifty feet below the ground and recharging the shuttle’s batteries with the power of the earth. The cleanest of energies.
The battery rod vibrated slightly as it harvested, and it was this vibration190 that Mulch homed in on now. It took him just over five minutes of steady munching191 to clear the rock shelf and reach the tip of the battery rod. The vibrations192 had already loosened the earth, and it was a simple matter for Mulch to clear himself a little cave. He spread saliva193 on the walls and waited.
Holly piloted the LEP craft through the small shuttleport, overriding194 the shuttle doors with her Recon access code. Police Plaza hadn’t bothered to change her code, because as far as they were concerned, she was dead.
A sheet of black rain clouds was spreading shadows across the Italian countryside as they cleared the holographic outcrop that shielded the shuttleport. A light frost coated the reddish clay, and a southerly wind lifted the shuttle’s tail.
‘We can’t stay out here for long,“ said Holly, throttling195 back to a hover14. ”This transporter doesn’t have defenses.“
‘We won’t need long,“ said Artemis. ”Fly in a grid196 search pattern, as though we’re not certain where exactly the stealth shuttle is.“
Holly punched some coordinates197 into the flight computer. “You’re the genius.”
Artemis turned to Butler, who was cross-legged in the aisle198. “Now, old friend, can you make certain that Opal is looking this way?”
‘Can do,“ said Butler, crawling to the port side exit. He knuckled200 the access button and the door slid back. The shuttle bucked201 slightly as the cabin pressure equalized then settled.
Butler opened his bag of weaponry and selected a handful of metal spheres, roughly the size of tennis balls. He flicked back the safety cap on one, then depressed202 the button below with his thumb. The button began to rise to its original position.
‘Ten seconds until the button is flush with the surface. Then it makes a connection.“
‘Thank you for the lecture,“ said Artemis dryly. ”Though now is hardly the time.“
Butler smiled, tossing the metal sphere into the air. Five seconds later it exploded, blowing a small crater203 in the earth below. Scorch204 lines emanated205 from the crater, giving it the appearance of a black flower.
‘I bet Opal is looking now,“ said Butler, priming the next grenade. ‘I’m sure others will be looking soon. Explosions don’t tend to go unnoticed for long. We are relatively206 isolated207 here. The nearest village is approximately ten miles away. If we are lucky, that gives us a ten-minute window. Next grid square, please, Holly. But not too close; we don’t want to scare them off.“
Fifty feet below the ground, Mulch Diggums waited in his little DIY cave, watching the tip of the battery rod. As soon as it stopped vibrating, he began working his way upward through the loose clay. The telescopic rod was warm to the touch, heated by the energy it conducted to the shuttle’s batteries. Mulch used it to help him on his journey, pulling himself upward, hand over hand.
The clay he consumed was broken and aerated208 from the rod’s drilling action, and Mulch was glad for that extra air. He converted it to wind, using it to boost himself upward.
Mulch increased his pace, pumping the air and clay through his recycling passages. Opal would only be distracted by the shuttle for so long before it occurred to her that it was a diversion. The rod thickened as he went along, until he arrived at a rubber seal in the belly of the shuttle itself, which was raised on three retractable209 legs two feet off the ground.
When the shuttle was in flight, this seal would be covered by a metal panel; but the shuttle was not in flight at the moment, and the sensors were turned off.
Mulch climbed from his tunnel and rehinged his jaw.
This was precision work and he needed fine control of his teeth. Rubber was not a recommended part of a dwarf’s diet, and so could not be swallowed. Half-digested rubber could seal up his insides as effectively as a barrel of glue.
It was an awkward bite. Difficult to get a grip. Mulch flattened210 his cheek against the battery rod, worming upward until his incisors could get some purchase on the seal. He bore down on the heavy rubber, rotating his jaw in small circles until his upper tooth broke through. Then he ground his teeth, enlarging the rent until there was a six-inch tear in the rubber. Now Mulch could get one side of his mouth into the gap. He tore off large chunks211, careful to spit them out immediately.
In less than a minute Mulch had torn a foot-square hole. Just enough for him to squeeze through.
Anyone unfamiliar212 with dwarfs would have bet money that Mulch would never squeeze his well-fed bulk through such a narrow aperture213, but they would have lost their cash.
Dwarfs have spent millennia214 escaping from cave-ins, and have developed the ability to squeeze through tighter holes than this one.
Mulch sucked in his gut215 and wiggled through the torn seal, headfirst. He was glad to be out of the faint, morning sunlight. Sun was another thing dwarfs did not like. After mere216 minutes in direct sunlight, a dwarf’s skin would be redder than a boiled lobster’s. He shinned along the battery rod into the shuttle’s engine compartment217. Most of the small space was taken up with flat batteries and a hydrogen generator218. There was an access hatch overhead that led into the cargo bay. Light ropes ran the length of the compartment, giving off pale green light. Any radiation leak from the generator would show up purple.
The reason that the light ropes were still working without power was that illumination was supplied by specially4 cultivated decaying algae219. Not that Mulch knew any of this; he just knew that the light was very similar to the luminescence from dwarf spittle, and the familiarity made him relax. He relaxed a bit too much, as it happened, allowing a small squib of tunnel gas to escape through his bum-flap. Hopefully nobody would notice that…
Maybe half a minute later, he heard Opal’s voice from outside.
‘Now, whoever is passing wind, please stop it, or I will devise a fitting punishment.“
Oops, thought Mulch guiltily. In dwarf circles it is considered almost criminal to allow someone else to be blamed for your air bubbles. Through sheer force of habit, Mulch almost raised his hand and confessed, but luckily his instinct for self-preservation was stronger than his conscience.
Moments later the signal came. It was hard to miss. The explosion rocked the entire shuttle twenty degrees off center. It was time to make his move and trust Artemis when he said that it was almost impossible not to watch an explosion.
Mulch nudged the hatch open a crack with the crown of his head. The dwarf half expected someone to stamp on the hatch, but the cargo bay was empty. Mulch folded the hatch back and crept all the way into the small chamber220. There was a lot here to interest him.
Crates221 of ingots, Perspex boxes of human currency, and antique jewelry222 hanging from mannequins. Obviously Opal did not intend on being poor in her new role as a human. Mulch snagged a single diamond earring223 from a nearby bust224. So Artemis had told him not to take anything. So what? One earring wouldn’t slow him down.
Mulch popped the pigeon’s egg-size diamond into his mouth and swallowed. He could pass that later when he was on his own. Until then it could lodge in his stomach wall, and it would come out shinier than it went in.
Another explosion bucked the floor beneath his feet, reminding Mulch to move on. He crossed to the bay door, which was slightly ajar. The next chamber was the passenger area, and it was just as plush as Holly had described. Mulch’s lips rippled225 at the sight of fur-covered chairs. Repulsive226.
Beyond the passenger area was the cockpit. Opal and her two friends were clearly visible, staring intently out of the front windshield. They were making not a sound, and saying not a word. Just as Artemis had said.
Mulch dropped to his knees and crawled across the lounge’s carpet. He was now completely exposed.
If one of the pixies decided to turn around, he would be stranded227 in the center of the lounge with nothing but a smile to hide behind.
Just keep going and don’t think about that, Mulch told himself.
If Opal catches you, pretend you’re lost or have amnesia228, or just came out of a coma. Maybe she’ll sympathize, give you some gold, and send you on your way. Yeah, right.
Something creaked slightly beneath Mulch’s knee.
The dwarf froze, but the pixies didn’t react to the sound. Presumably that was the lid of the booty box.
Opal’s little hidey hole. Mulch crawled around the box. If there was one thing he didn’t need, it was more creaks.
Two shaped charges lay on a chair, level with Mulch’s nose. He couldn’t believe it. Right there, less than a yard away. This was the one part of the plan that relied on luck. If one of the Brill brothers had the charge tucked under his arm or if there were more charges than he could carry, then they would have to ram66 the shuttle and hope to disable her. But here it was, almost begging to be stolen.
When he was committing a robbery, Mulch often gave voices to the objects he was about to steal. This, he knew, would sound a little crazy to the rest of the world, but he spent a lot of time on his own and he needed someone to talk to.
Come on, Mister Handsome Dwarf, said one of the charges in a breathy falsetto.
I’m waiting. I don’t like it here you know. Please rescue me.
Very well, Madame, said Mulch silently, taking the bag from inside his shirt.
I’ll take you, but we’re not going very Jar.
Me, too, said the other charge. still want to go, too.
Don’t worry, ladies. Where you’re going, there’s plenty of room for both of you.
When Mulch Diggums crept out through the torn seal a minute later, the charges were no longer on the chair. In their place was a small handheld communicator.
The three pixies sat quietly in the stealth shuttle’s cockpit One was concentrating on the transport craft hovering two hundred yards off their bows. The other two were concentrating on not passing wind, and not thinking about not passing wind.
The transport shuttle’s side entrance opened, and something winked in the morning light as it tumbled earthward. Seconds later the something exploded, rocking the stealth shuttle on its suspension bags.
The Brill brothers gasped, and Opal cuffed229 them both on the ear.
Opal was not worried. They were searching. Shooting in the dark, or very close to it. Maybe in thirty minutes there would be enough light to see the ship with the naked eye, but until then they were blending very nicely with the surrounding countryside, thanks to a hull made from stealth ore and cam-foil. Fowl must have guessed where they were because of this chute’s proximity230 to the probe. But all he had was an approximation. Of course it would be delightful231 to blast them out of the air, but plasma bursts would light up Foaly’s satellite scanners and paint a bull’s- eye on their hull.
She plucked a digi-pad and pen from the dash and scrawled232 a message on it.
Stay quiet and calm. Even if one of those charges hits us, it will not penetrate233 the hull.
Mervall took the pad.
Maybe we should leave. Mud Men will be coming.
Opal wrote a response.
Dear Mervall, please don’t start thinking; you will hurt your head. We wait until they leave. At this close range, they could actually hear our engines starting.
Another explosion rocked the stealth shuttle.
Opal felt a bead234 of sweat roll down her forehead. This was ridiculous: she didn’t perspire235, certainly not in front of the help. In five minutes the humans would come to investigate.
It was their nature. So she would wait five minutes, then try to slip past the LEP shuttle, and if she couldn’t slip past, then she would blast them out of the sky and take her chances with the supersonic shuttle that would no doubt come to investigate.
More grenades dropped from the LEP craft, but they were farther away now, and the shock waves barely caused a shudder236 in the stealth shuttle. This went on for two or three minutes without the remotest danger to Opal or the Brills, then suddenly the transport shuttle sealed its door and peeled off back down the chute.
‘Hmm,“ said Opal. ”Surprising.“
‘Maybe they ran out of ammunition,“ offered Merv, though he knew that Opal would punish him for offering an opinion.
‘Is that what you think, Mervall? They ran out of explosives and so they decided just to let us go? Do you really imagine that to be true, you imbecilic excuse for a sentient being? Don’t you have any frontal lobes237?“
‘I was just playing devil’s advocate,“ mumbled Merv weakly.
Opal rose from her seat, waving a hand at each Brill brother. “Just shut up. I need to talk to myself for a minute.” She paced the narrow cockpit.
‘What’s going on here? They track us to the chute, then put on a big fireworks display, then leave. Just like that. Why? Why?“
She rubbed both temples with a knuckle199.
‘Think.“ Suddenly Opal remembered something.
‘Last night. A shuttle was stolen in E1. We heard about it on the police band. Who stole it?“
Scant shrugged238. “I dunno. Some dwarf. Is it important?”
‘That’s right. A dwarf. And wasn’t there a dwarf involved in the Artemis Fowl siege? And weren’t there rumors239 of the same dwarf helping Julius to break into Koboi labs?“
‘Rumors. No actual evidence.“
Opal turned on Scant. “Maybe that’s because, unlike you, this dwarf is smart. Maybe he doesn’t want to be caught.” The pixie took a moment to connect the dots. “So they have a dwarf burglar, a shuttle, and explosives. Holly must know that those pathetic grenades can’t penetrate our hull, so why drop them? Unless…”
The truth hit her like a physical blow in the stomach. “Oh no,” she gasped. “Distraction. We sat here like fools watching the pretty lights.And all the time…“
She heaved Scant aside, rushing past him to the lounge.
‘The charges,“ she shrieked240. ”Where are they?“
Scant went straight to the chair. “Don’t worry, Miss Koboi, they’re right-was He stopped, the sentence’s final word stuck in his throat.
‘I, ah, they were right there. In the chair.“
Opal picked up the small handheld radio.
‘They’re toying with me. Tell me you put the backup somewhere safe.“
‘No,“ said Scant miserably241. ”They were together.“
Merv pushed past him into the cargo bay. “The engine compartment is open.” He stuck his head through the hatch. His voice wafted242 up, muffled243 by the floor panels. “The battery rod seal has been ripped apart. And there are footprints. Someone came through here.”
Opal threw back her head and screamed. She held it for a long time for such a small individual.
Finally her breath ran out. “Follow the shuttle,” she gasped when her wind returned. “I modified those charges myself and they cannot be disarmed244. We can still detonate. At the very least we will destroy my enemies.”
‘Yes, Miss Koboi,“ said Merv and Scant together.
‘Don’t look at me,“ howled Opal.
The Brill brothers fled to the cockpit, trying to simultaneously bow, look at their feet, not think anything dangerous, and above all, not pass wind.
Mulch was waiting at the rendezvous245 site when the LEP shuttle arrived. Butler opened the door and hauled the dwarf in by the collar.
‘Did you get it?“ asked Artemis anxiously.
Mulch passed him the bulging246 bag. “Right here.
And before you ask, I left the radio.“
‘So everything went according to plan?“
‘Completely,“ replied Mulch, neglecting to mention the diamond nestled in his stomach wall.
‘Excellent,“ said Artemis, striding past the dwarf to the cockpit.
‘Go,“ he shouted, thumping247 Holly’s headrest.
Holly already had the shuttle ticking over, and was holding it with the brake.
‘We’re gone,“ she said, releasing the brake and flooring the throttle248. The LEP craft bolted from the rocky outcrop like a pebble249 from a catapult.
Artemis’s legs were dragged from the floor, flapping behind him like windsocks. The rest of him would have followed if he hadn’t held on to the headrest.
‘How much time do we have?“ asked Holly, through lips rippled by G-force.
Artemis pulled himself into the passenger seat.
‘Minutes. The orebody will hit a depth of one hundred and five miles in precisely one quarter of an hour. Opal will be after us any second.“
Holly shadowed the chute wall, spinning between two towers of rock. The lower portion of E7 was quite straight, but this stretch corkscrewed through the crust, following the cracks in the plates.
‘Is this going to work, Artemis?“ said Holly.
Artemis pondered the question. “I considered eight plans, and this was the best one. Even so, we have a sixty- four percent chance of success. The key is to keep Opal distracted so she doesn’t discover the truth. That’s up to you, Holly. Can you do it?”
Holly wrapped her fingers around the wheel.
‘Don’t worry. It’s not often I get a chance to do some fancy flying. Opal will be so busy trying to catch us that she won’t have time to consider anything else.“
Artemis looked out of the windshield. They were pointing straight down toward the center of the earth.
Gravity fluctuated at this depth and speed, so they were alternately pinned to their chairs and straining to be free of their seat belts. The chute’s blackness enveloped250 them like tar23, except for the cone251 of light from the shuttle’s headlamps. Gigantic rock formations darted252 in and out of the cone heading straight for their nose. Somehow Holly steered253 them through, without once tapping the brake.
On the plasma dash, the icon254 representing the gaseous255 anomaly that was Opal’s ship inched across the screen.
‘They’re on to us,“ said Holly, catching256 the movement from the corner of one eye.
Artemis’s stomach was knotted from flight nausea257 anxiety, fatigue258, and exhilaration. “Very well,” he said, almost to himself. “The chase is on.”
At the mouth of E7, Merv was at the wheel of the stealth shuttle. Scant was on instruments, and Opal was in charge of giving orders and general ranting259.
‘Do we have a signal from the charge?“ she screeched from her chair.
Her voice is really getting annoying, thought Scant, but not too loudly. “No,” he replied.
‘Nothing. Which means it must be in the other shuttle.
Their shields must be blocking the charge’s signal.
We need to get closer, or I could send the detonation signal anyway; we might get lucky.“
Opal’s screech22 grew more strident. “No!
We must not detonate before that shuttle reaches one hundred and five miles. If we do, the orebody will not change course. What about this stupid communicator? Anything from that?“
‘Negative,“ said Scant. ”If there’s another one, it must be switched off.“
‘We could always return to Zito’s compound,“ said Merv. ”We have a dozen more charges there.“
Opal leaned forward in her seat, punching Merv’s shoulders with her tiny fists. “Idiot. Moron.
Half-wit. Are you in some kind of stupidity competition? Is that it? If we return to Zito’s, the orebody will be too deep by the time we return. Not to mention the fact that Captain Short will present the LEP with her version of events and they will have to investigate, at the very least. We must get closer and we must detonate. Even if we miss the probe window, at least we destroy any witnesses against me.“
The stealth shuttle had proximity sensors linked into the navigating260 software, which meant that Opal and company did not have to worry about colliding with the chute wall or stalactites.
‘How long before we’re in detonation range?“
Opal barked. To be honest, it was more of a yip.
Merv did some quick calculations. “Three minutes. No more.”
‘How deep will they be at that point?“
A few more sums. “One hundred and fifty-five miles.”
Opal pinched her nose. “It could work. Presuming they have both charges, the resulting explosion, even if not directed as we planned, may be enough to blow a crack in the wall. It’s our only option. If it fails, at least we have time to regroup. As soon as they hit one hundred and five, send the detonate signal. Send it continuously. We may get lucky.“
Merv flipped261 a plastic safety cover off the DETONATE button. Only minutes to go.
Artemis’s insides were trying to force their way out his throat. “This heap needs new gyroscopes,” he said.
Holly barely nodded, too busy concentrating on a particularly tricky series of jinks and loops in the chute.
Artemis consulted the dashboard’s readout.
‘We’re at a depth of one hundred and five now. Opal will be trying to detonate. She’s closing fast.“
Mulch stuck his head through from the passenger section.
‘Is all this jiggling about really necessary? I’ve had a lot to eat recently.“
‘Nearly there,“ said Artemis. ”The ride is just about over. Tell Butler to open the bag.“
‘Okay. Are you sure Opal will do what she’s supposed to?“
Artemis smiled reassuringly262. “Of course I am. It’s human nature, and Opal is a human now, remember? Now, Holly. Pull over.”
Mervall tapped the readout. “You’re not going to believe this, Op… Miss Koboi.”
The merest hint of a smile flickered across Opal’s lips. “Don’t tell me. They have stopped.”
Merv shook his head, astounded263. “Yes, they are hovering at one hundred and twenty-five. Why would they do that?”
‘There’s no point trying to explain it, Mervall. Just keep sending the detonation signal, but slow us down. I don’t want to be too close when we get a connection.“
She drummed her nails on the handheld communicator left behind by the dwarf. Any second now.
A red call light flashed on the communicator, accompanied by a slight vibration. Opal smiled, flipping264 open the walkie-talkie’s screen.
Artemis’s pale face filled the tiny screen.
He was trying to smile, but it was obviously forced.
‘Opal, I am giving you one chance to surrender. We have disarmed your charges and the LEP is on its way. It would be better for you to turn yourself over to Captain Short than shoot it out with an armed LE
收听单词发音 |
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plaza
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haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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specially
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holly
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unbearable
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killer
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| n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者 | |
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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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puncture
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| n.刺孔，穿孔；v.刺穿，刺破 | |
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projections
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| 预测( projection的名词复数 )； 投影； 投掷； 突起物 | |
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12
pate
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| n.头顶；光顶 | |
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13
centaur
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| n.人首马身的怪物 | |
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14
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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15
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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16
grilling
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| v.烧烤( grill的现在分词 )；拷问，盘问 | |
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17
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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18
unstable
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| adj.不稳定的，易变的 | |
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19
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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20
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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21
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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22
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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23
tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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24
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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25
conned
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| adj.被骗了v.指挥操舵( conn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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28
coma
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| n.昏迷，昏迷状态 | |
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29
DNA
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| (缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸 | |
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30
petulance
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| n.发脾气，生气，易怒，暴躁，性急 | |
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31
crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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32
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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33
morosely
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| adv.愁眉苦脸地，忧郁地 | |
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34
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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35
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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36
curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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37
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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38
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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39
authorization
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| n.授权，委任状 | |
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40
auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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41
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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42
smuggle
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| vt.私运；vi.走私 | |
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43
smuggler
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| n.走私者 | |
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44
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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45
emissions
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| 排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体） | |
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46
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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47
rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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48
sensor
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| n.传感器，探测设备，感觉器（官） | |
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49
sensors
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| n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 ) | |
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50
radius
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| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
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51
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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52
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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53
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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54
saturation
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| n.饱和(状态)；浸透 | |
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55
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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56
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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57
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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58
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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59
calamitous
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| adj.灾难的，悲惨的；多灾多难；惨重 | |
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60
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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61
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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62
repelling
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| v.击退( repel的现在分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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63
zoomed
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| v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的过去式 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨 | |
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64
detonation
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| n.爆炸；巨响 | |
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65
override
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| vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于 | |
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66
ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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67
agonizing
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|
| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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68
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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69
shards
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| n.（玻璃、金属或其他硬物的）尖利的碎片( shard的名词复数 ) | |
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70
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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71
investigators
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| n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 ) | |
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72
plasma
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| n.血浆，细胞质，乳清 | |
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73
limbo
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| n.地狱的边缘；监狱 | |
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74
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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75
swap
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| n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易 | |
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76
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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77
gnome
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| n.土地神；侏儒，地精 | |
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78
peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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79
psyche
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| n.精神；灵魂 | |
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80
intrusive
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| adj.打搅的；侵扰的 | |
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81
stimuli
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| n.刺激（物） | |
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82
briefcase
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| n.手提箱，公事皮包 | |
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83
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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84
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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85
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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86
janitors
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| n.看门人( janitor的名词复数 )；看管房屋的人；锅炉工 | |
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87
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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88
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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89
celebrities
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| n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉 | |
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90
unpacked
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| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
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91
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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92
sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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93
cryptic
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|
| adj.秘密的，神秘的，含义模糊的 | |
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94
overlapped
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| _adj.重叠的v.部分重叠( overlap的过去式和过去分词 )；（物体）部份重叠；交叠；（时间上）部份重叠 | |
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95
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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96
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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97
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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98
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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99
daze
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| v.(使)茫然，(使)发昏 | |
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100
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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101
collapsing
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| 压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂 | |
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102
evaporation
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| n.蒸发，消失 | |
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103
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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104
breakdown
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| n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌 | |
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105
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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106
stumped
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| 僵直地行走，跺步行走( stump的过去式和过去分词 )； 把（某人）难住； 使为难； （选举前）在某一地区作政治性巡回演说 | |
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107
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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108
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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109
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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110
traitorously
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| 叛逆地，不忠地 | |
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111
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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112
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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113
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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114
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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115
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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116
neutron
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| n.中子 | |
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117
bellies
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| n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的 | |
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118
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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119
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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120
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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121
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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122
squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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123
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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124
descant
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| v.详论，絮说；n.高音部 | |
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125
malfunctioned
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| 发生故障(malfunction的过去式与过去分词) | |
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126
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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127
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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128
moron
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| n.极蠢之人，低能儿 | |
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129
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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130
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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131
paranoia
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| n.妄想狂，偏执狂；多疑症 | |
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132
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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133
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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134
averting
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| 防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移 | |
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135
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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136
quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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137
analyzing
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| v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析 | |
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138
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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139
crumple
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| v.把...弄皱，满是皱痕，压碎，崩溃 | |
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140
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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141
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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142
tricky
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| adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的 | |
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143
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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144
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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145
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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146
hustled
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| 催促（hustle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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147
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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148
manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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149
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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150
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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151
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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152
specialty
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| n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长 | |
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153
catering
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| n. 给养 | |
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154
buffet
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| n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台 | |
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155
psychically
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| adv.精神上 | |
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156
acorns
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| n.橡子，栎实( acorn的名词复数 ) | |
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157
blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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158
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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159
replacement
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| n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品 | |
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160
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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161
clearance
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| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
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162
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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163
gadgets
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| n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ） | |
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164
stinking
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| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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165
disparaging
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| adj.轻蔑的，毁谤的v.轻视( disparage的现在分词 )；贬低；批评；非难 | |
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166
exonerate
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| v.免除责任，确定无罪 | |
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167
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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168
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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169
trample
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| vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯 | |
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170
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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171
sprint
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| n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过 | |
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172
dedication
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| n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞 | |
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173
ethnic
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| adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的 | |
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174
advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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175
utilized
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| v.利用，使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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176
dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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177
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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178
technologically
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| ad.技术上地 | |
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179
activated
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| adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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180
technically
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| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
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181
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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182
vertigo
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| n.眩晕 | |
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183
vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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184
sprouting
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| v.发芽( sprout的现在分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
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185
sentient
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| adj.有知觉的，知悉的；adv.有感觉能力地 | |
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186
wince
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| n.畏缩，退避，（因痛苦，苦恼等)面部肌肉抽动；v.畏缩，退缩，退避 | |
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187
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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188
filaments
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| n.（电灯泡的）灯丝( filament的名词复数 )；丝极；细丝；丝状物 | |
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189
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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190
vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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191
munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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192
vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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193
saliva
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| n.唾液，口水 | |
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194
overriding
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| a.最主要的 | |
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195
throttling
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| v.扼杀( throttle的现在分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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196
grid
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| n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅 | |
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197
coordinates
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| n.相配之衣物；坐标( coordinate的名词复数 )；（颜色协调的）配套服装；[复数]女套服；同等重要的人（或物）v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的第三人称单数 )；协调；协同；成为同等 | |
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198
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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199
knuckle
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| n.指节；vi.开始努力工作；屈服，认输 | |
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200
knuckled
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| v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的过去式和过去分词 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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201
bucked
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| adj.快v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的过去式和过去分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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202
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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203
crater
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| n.火山口，弹坑 | |
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204
scorch
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| v.烧焦，烤焦；高速疾驶；n.烧焦处，焦痕 | |
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205
emanated
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的过去式和过去分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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206
relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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207
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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208
aerated
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| v.使暴露于空气中，使充满气体( aerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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209
retractable
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| adj.可收回的；可撤消的；可缩回的；可缩进的 | |
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210
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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211
chunks
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| 厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分 | |
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212
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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213
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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214
millennia
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| n.一千年，千禧年 | |
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215
gut
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| n.[pl.]胆量；内脏；adj.本能的；vt.取出内脏 | |
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216
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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217
compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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218
generator
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| n.发电机，发生器 | |
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219
algae
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| n.水藻，海藻 | |
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220
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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221
crates
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| n. 板条箱, 篓子, 旧汽车 vt. 装进纸条箱 | |
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222
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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223
earring
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| n.耳环，耳饰 | |
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224
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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225
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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226
repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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227
stranded
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| a.搁浅的，进退两难的 | |
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228
amnesia
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| n.健忘症，健忘 | |
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229
cuffed
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| v.掌打，拳打( cuff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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230
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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231
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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232
scrawled
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| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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233
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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234
bead
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| n.念珠；(pl.)珠子项链；水珠 | |
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235
perspire
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| vi.出汗，流汗 | |
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236
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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237
lobes
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| n.耳垂( lobe的名词复数 )；（器官的）叶；肺叶；脑叶 | |
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238
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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239
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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240
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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241
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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242
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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243
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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244
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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245
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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246
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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247
thumping
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| adj.重大的，巨大的；重击的；尺码大的；极好的adv.极端地；非常地v.重击(thump的现在分词)；狠打；怦怦地跳；全力支持 | |
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248
throttle
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| n.节流阀，节气阀，喉咙；v.扼喉咙，使窒息，压 | |
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249
pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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250
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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251
cone
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| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
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252
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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253
steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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254
icon
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| n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像 | |
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255
gaseous
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| adj.气体的，气态的 | |
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256
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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257
nausea
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| n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶) | |
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258
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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259
ranting
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| v.夸夸其谈( rant的现在分词 )；大叫大嚷地以…说教；气愤地)大叫大嚷；不停地大声抱怨 | |
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260
navigating
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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261
flipped
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| 轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥 | |
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262
reassuringly
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| ad.安心，可靠 | |
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263
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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264
flipping
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| 讨厌之极的 | |
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