LENIN PROSPEKT, MIRMANSK
MIKHAEL Vassikin was growing impatient. For over two years now he'd been on babysitting duty. At Britva's request. Not that it had actually been a request. The term request implied that you had a choice in the matter.You did not argue with Britva.You did not even protest quietly. The Menidzher, or manager, was from the old school where his word was law.
Britva's instructions had been simple: feed him, wash him and, if he doesn't come out of the coma1 in another year, kill him and dump the body in the Kola.
Two weeks before the deadline, the Irishman had bolted upright in his bed. He awoke screaming a name. That name was Angeline. Kamar got such a shock, he'd dropped the bottle of wine he'd been opening. The bottle smashed, piercing his Ferruci loafers and cracking a big toenail.Toenails grow back, but Ferruci loafers were hard to come by in the Arctic Circle. Mikhael had been forced to sit on his partner to stop him killing2 the hostage.
So now they were playing the waiting game. Kidnapping was an established business and there were rules. First you sent the teaser note, or in this case the e-mail. Wait a few days to give the pigeon a chance to put some funds together, then hit him with the ransom3 demand.
They were locked in Mikhael's apartment on Lenin Prospekt, waiting for the call from Britva. They didn't even dare to go out for air. Not that there was much to see. Murmansk was one of those Russian cities that had been poured directly from a concrete mould. The only time Lenin Prospekt looked good was when it was buried in snow.
Kamar emerged from the bedroom. His sharp features were stretched in disbelief. 'He wants caviar, can you believe it? I give him a nice bowl of stroganina and he wants caviar, the ungrateful Irlanskii.'
Mikhael rolled his eyes. 'I liked him better asleep.'
Kamar nodded, spitting into the fireplace. 'The sheets are too rough, he says. He's lucky I don't wrap him in a sack and roll him into the bay —'
The phone rang, interrupting his empty threats.
'This is it, my friend,'Vassikin said, clapping Kamar on the shoulder. 'We are on our way.'
Vassikin picked up the phone. 'Yes?'
'It's me,' said a voice, made tinny by old wiring.
'Mister Brit -'
'Shut up, idiot! Never use my name!'
Mikhael swallowed. The Menidzher didn't like to be connected to his various businesses. That meant no paperwork and no mention of his name if it could be recorded. It was his custom to make calls while driving around the city so that his location could not be triangulated.
'I'm sorry, boss.'
'You should be,' continued the Mafiya kingpin. 'Now listen, and don't talk. You have nothing to contribute.'
Vassikin covered the handset. 'Everything's fine,' he whispered, giving Kamar the thumbs up. 'We're doing a great job.'
'The Fowls6 are a clever outfit7,' continued Britva. 'And I have no doubt they are concentrating on tracing the last e-mail.'
'What did I tell you?'
'You said not to talk, Mister Brit ... sir.'
'That's right. So send the ransom message and then move Fowl5 to the drop point.'
Mikhael paled. 'The drop point?'
'Yes, the drop point. No one will be looking for you there, I guarantee it.'
'But -'
'Again with the talking! Get yourself a spine10, man. It's only for a couple of days. So, you might lose a year off your life. It won't kill you.'
Vassikin's brain churned, searching for an excuse. Nothing came.
'OK, boss. Whatever you say.'
'That's right. Now listen to me. This is your big chance. Do this right and you move up a couple of steps in the organization.'
Vassikin grinned. A life of champagne11 and expensive cars beckoned12.
'If this man really is young Fowl's father, the boy will pay up. When you get the money, dump them both in the Kola. I don't want any survivors13 to start a vendetta14. Call me if there's any trouble.'
'OK, boss.'
'Oh, and one more thing.'
'Yes?'
'Don't call me.'
The line went dead. Vassikin was left staring at the handset as though it were a handful of plague virus.
'Well?' asked Kamar.
'We are to send the second message.'
A broad grin split Kamar's face. 'Excellent. At last this thing is nearly over.'
'Then we are to move the package to the drop zone.'
The broad grin disappeared like a fox down a hole. 'What? Now?'
'Yes. Now.'
Kamar paced the tiny living room. 'That is crazy. Completely insane. Fowl cannot be here for a couple of days at the earliest. There's no need for us to spend two days breathing in that poison. What is the reasoning?'
Mikhael extended the phone. 'You tell him. I'm sure the Menidzher will appreciate being told he is a madman.'
Kamar sank on to the threadbare sofa, dropping his head into his hands. 'Will this thing never end?'
His partner fired up their ancient sixteen-megabyte hard drive. 'I don't know for certain,' he said, sending the pre-prepared message. 'But I do know what will happen if we don't do what Britva says.'
Kamar sighed. 'I think I'll go shout at the prisoner for a while.'
'Will that help?'
'It won't,' admitted Kamar. 'But it will make me feel better.'
E93, ARCTIC SHUTTLE PORT
The Arctic Station had never been high on the fairy tourist list. Sure, icebergs15 and polar bears were pretty, but nothing was worth saturating16 your lungs with irradiated air for.
Holly17 docked the shuttle in the only serviceable bay. The terminal itself resembled nothing more than a deserted19 warehouse20. Static conveyer belts snaked along the floor and low-level heating pipes rattled22 with insect life.
Holly handed out human overcoats and gloves from an ancient locker23.
'Wrap up, Mud Boys. It's cold outside.'
Artemis did not need to be told. The terminal's solar batteries had long since shut down, and the ice's grip had cracked the walls like a nut in a vice18.
Holly tossed Butler his coat from a distance. 'You know something, Butler? You stink24!' she said, laughing.
The manservant growled25. 'You and your radiation gel. I think my skin's changed colour.'
'Don't worry about it. Fifty years and it'll wash right off:
Butler buttoned a Cossack greatcoat up to his neck. 'I don't know why you're getting all wrapped up.You've got the fancy suits.'
'The coats are camouflage,' explained Holly, smearing26 rad gel on her face and neck. 'If we shield, the vibration27 makes the suits useless. Might as well dip your bones in a reactor28 core. So for tonight only, we're all humans.'
Artemis frowned. If the fairies couldn't shield, it would make rescuing his father all the more difficult. His evolving plan would have to be adjusted.
'Less of the chat,' growled Root, pulling a bearskin hat over his pointed29 ears. 'We move out in five. I want everybody armed and dangerous. Even you, Fowl, if your little wrists can support a weapon.'
Artemis selected a fairy handgun from the shuttle's arsenal30. He jacked the battery into its slot, flicking31 the setting up to three.
'Don't worry about me, Commander. I've been practising. We have quite a stash32 of LEP weaponry at the manor33.'
Root's complexion34 cranked up one more notch35. 'Well, there's a big difference between stunning37 a cardboard cutout and a real person.'
Artemis gave his vampire38 smile. 'If everything proceeds according to plan, there will be no need for weapons. The first stage is simplicity39 itself: we set up a surveillance post near Vassikin's apartment. When the opportunity arises, Butler will snatch our Russian friend and the five of us can have a little chat. I'm sure that he will tell us everything we need to know under the influence of your mesmer. Then, it will be a simple matter to stun36 any guards and rescue my father.'
Root pulled a heavy scarf over his mouth. 'And what if things don't go according to plan?'
Artemis's eyes were cold and determined40. 'Then, Commander, we will have to improvise41.'
Holly felt a shiver rattle21 around her stomach. And it had nothing to do with the climate.
*
The terminal was buried twenty metres below an ice pack. They took the courtesy elevator to the surface, and the party emerged into the Arctic night looking for all the world like an adult and three children. Albeit42 three children with inhuman43 weaponry clanking under every loose fold of cloth.
Holly checked the GPS locator on her wrist. 'We're in the Rosta district, Commander. Twenty klicks north of Murmansk.'
'What's Foaly got on the weather? I don't want to be caught in the middle of a blizzard44 miles from our destination.'
'No luck. I can't get a line. Magma flares45 must still be up'
'D'Arvit!' swore Root. 'Well, I suppose we'll have to take our chances on foot. Butler, you're the expert here, you take point. Captain Short, bring up the rear. Feel free to boot any human backside if it lags behind.'
Holly winked46 at Artemis. 'No need to tell me twice, sir.'
'I'll bet there isn't,' grunted47 Root, with only the barest hint of a smile playing about his lips.
The motley band trudged48 south-east by moonlight until they reached the railway line. Walking along the sleepers49 was the one place they could be safe from drifts and suck holes. Progress was slow. A northerly wind snaked through every pore in their clothing, and the cold attacked any exposed skin like a million electric darts52.
There was little conversation. The Arctic had that effect on people, even if three of them were wearing coil-heated suits.
Holly broke the silence. Something had been nagging53 at her for a while. 'Tell me something, Fowl,' she said from behind him. 'Your father. Is he like you?'
Artemis's step faltered54 for an instant. 'That's a strange question. Why do you ask?'
'Well, you're no friend to the People. What if the man we're trying to rescue is the man who will destroy us?'
There was a long silence, broken only by the chattering55 of teeth. Holly saw Artemis's chin drop on to his chest.
'You have no cause to be alarmed, Captain. My father, though some of his ventures were undoubtedly57 illegal, was ... is ... a noble man. The idea of harming another creature would be repugnant to him.'
Holly tugged58 her boot from twenty centimetres of snow. 'So, what happened to you?'
Artemis's breath came over his shoulder in icy sheets. 'I ... I made a mistake.'
Holly squinted59 at the back of the human's head. Was this actual sincerity60 from Artemis Fowl? It was hard to believe. Even more surprising was the fact that she didn't know how to react. Whether to extend the hand of forgiveness, or the boot of retribution. Eventually, she decided61 to reserve judgement. For the moment.
They passed into a ravine, worn smooth by the whistling wind. Butler didn't like it. His soldier's sense was beating a tattoo62 on the inside of his skull63. He raised a clenched64 fist.
Root double-timed until he caught up.
'Trouble?'
Butler squinted into the snow field, searching for footprints. 'Maybe. Nice spot for a surprise attack.'
'Maybe. If anyone knew we were coming.'
'Is that possible? Could someone know?'
Root snorted, breath forming clouds in the air before him. 'Impossible. The chute is totally isolated65, and LEP security is the tightest on the planet.'
And that was when the goblin hit squad66 soared over the ridge67.
Butler grabbed Artemis by the collar, unceremoniously flinging him into a drift. His other hand was already drawing his weapon.
'Keep your head down, Artemis. Time for me to earn my salary.'
Artemis would have responded testily68 had his head not been under a metre of snow.
There were four goblins flying in loose formation, dark against the starlit sky. They quickly rose to three hundred metres, making no attempt to conceal69 their presence. They neither attacked nor fled, simply hovered70 overhead.
'Goblins,' grunted Root, pulling a Far shoot neutrino rifle into his shoulder. 'Too stupid to live. All they had to do was pick us off.'
Butler picked a spot, spreading his legs for steadiness. 'Do we wait until we see the whites of their eyes, Commander?'
'Goblin eyes don't have whites,' responded Root. 'But even so, holster your weapon. Captain Short and I will stun them. No need for anyone to die.'
Butler slid the Sig Sauer into its pouch71 beneath his arm. It was next to useless at that range anyway. It would be interesting to see howr Holly and Root handled themselves in a firefight. After all, Artemis's life was pretty much in their hands. Not to mention his own.
Butler glanced sideways. Holly and the commander were pumping the triggers of various weapons. Without any result. Their weapons were as dead as mice in a snake pit.
'I don't understand it,' muttered Root. 'I checked these myself.'
Artemis, naturally, was first to figure it out. He shook the snow from his hair.
'Sabotage,' he proclaimed, tossing aside the useless fairy handgun. 'There is no other alternative. This is why the B'wa Kell needs Softnose weapons, because it has somehow disabled fairy lasers.'
But the commander was not listening, and neither was Butler. This was no time for clever deductions72; this was a time for action. They were sitting ducks out here, dark against the pale Arctic glow. This theory was confirmed when several Softnose laser bursts bored hissing73 holes in the snow at their feet.
Holly activated74 her helmet Optix, zooming75 in on the enemy.
'It looks like one of them has a Softnose laser, sir. Something with a long barrel.'
'We need cover. Fast!'
Butler nodded. 'Look. An overhang. Under the ridge.'
The manservant grabbed his charge by the collar, hoisting76 him aloft as easily as a child would lift a kitten.They struggled through the snow to the shelter of the overhang. Maybe a million years ago the ice had melted sufficiently77 for a layer to slump78 slightly, then freeze up again. The resulting wrinkle had somehow lasted through the ages and could now possibly save their lives.
They dived underneath79 the lip, wriggling80 backwards81 against a wall of ice. The frozen canopy82 was easily thick enough to withstand gunfire from any conventional weapon.
Butler shielded Artemis with his body, risking an upward glance.
'Too far. I can't make them out. Holly?'
Captain Short poked84 her head from under the frozen ledge85 and her Optix zoomed86 into focus.
'Well, what are they up to?'
Holly waited a beat, until the figures sharpened.
'Funny thing,' she commented. 'They're all firing now, but...'
'But what, Captain?'
Holly tapped her helmet to make sure the lenses were working. 'Maybe I'm getting some Optix distortion, sir, but it looks like they're missing on purpose, shooting way over our heads.'
Butler felt the blood pounding in his brain. 'It's a trap!' he roared, reaching behind him to grab Artemis. 'Everybody out! Everybody out!'
And that was when the goblin charges sent fifty tonnes of rock, ice and snow tumbling to the ground.
They nearly made it. Of course, nearly never won a bucket of squid at gnommish roulette. If it hadn't been for Butler, not one of the group would have survived. Something happened to him. An inexplicable87 surge of strength, not unlike the energy bursts that allow mothers to lift fallen trees off their children. The manservant grabbed Artemis and Holly, spinning them forward like stones across a pond. It wasn't a very dignified88 way to travel, but it certainly beat having your bones pulverized89 by falling ice. For the second time in so many minutes, Artemis landed nose first in a snowdrift. Behind him, Butler and Root were scrabbling from beneath the ledge, boots slipping on the icy surface. The air was rent by avalanche90 thunder, and the pack ice beneath them heaved and split. Thick chunks91 of rock and ice speared the cave's opening like bars. Butler and Root were trapped.
Holly was on her feet, racing8 towards her commander. But what could she do? Throw herself back underneath the ledge?
'Stay back, Captain,' said Root into his helmet mike. 'That's an order!'
'Commander,' Holly breathed. 'You're alive.'
'Somehow,' came the reply. 'Butler is unconscious and we're pinned down. The ledge is on the point of collapsing92. The only thing holding it up is the debris93. If we brush that aside to get out ..."
They were alive then at least. Trapped, but alive. A plan, they needed a plan.
Holly found herself strangely calm. This was one of the qualities that made her such an excellent field agent. In times of excessive stress, Captain Short had the ability to target a course of action. Often the only viable94 course. In the combat simulator for her captain's exam, Holly had defeated insurmountable virtual enemies by blasting the projector95. Technically96, she had defeated all her enemies, so the panel had to pass her.
Holly spoke98 into her helmet mike. 'Commander, undo56 Butler's Moonbelt and strap99 yourselves on. I'm going to haul you both out of there.'
'Roger, Holly. Do you need a piton?'
'If you can get one out to me.'
' Standby.'
A piton dart51 jetted through a gap in the icy bars, landing a metre from Holly's boots. The dart trailed a length of fine-grade cord.
Holly snapped the piton into the cord receptacle on her own belt, making sure there were no kinks in the line. Meanwhile, Artemis had dragged himself from the drift.
'This plan is patently ridiculous,' he said, brushing the snow from his sleeves. 'You cannot hope to drag their combined weight with sufficient velocity100 to break the icicles and avoid being crushed.'
'I'm not going to drag them,' snapped Holly.
'Well then, who is?'
Captain Short pointed down the track. There was a green train winding101 its way towards them.
'That is,' she said.
There were three goblins left. Their names were D'Nall, Aymon and Nyle. Three rookies vying102 for the recently vacated lieutenant103's spot. Lieutenant Poll had handed in his resignation when he'd strayed too close to the avalanche and been swatted by a five-hundred-kilo pane97 of transparent104 ice.
They hovered at three hundred metres, well out of range. Of course, they weren't out of fairy-weapon range, but LEP weapons weren't operational at the moment. Koboi Laboratories' upgrades had seen to that.
'That was some hole in Lieutenant Poll,' whistled Aymon. 'I could see right through 'im. An' I don't mean that like he was a bad liar105.'
Goblins didn't get too attached to each other. Considering the amount of backstabbing, backbiting106 and general vindictiveness107 that went on in the B'wa Kell, it didn't pay to make any special friends.
'What you think?' asked D'Nall, the handsome one, relatively108 speaking. 'Maybe one of you guys should take a spin down there.'
Aymon snorted. 'Sure thing. We go down and get sparked by the big one. Just how dumb do you think we are?'
'The big one is out of the picture. I sparked him myself. Sweet shot.'
'My shot set off the avalanche,' objected Nyle, the baby of the gang. 'You're always claimin' my kills.'
'What kills?The only thing you ever killed was a stink worm. And that was an accident.'
'Rubbish,' sulked Nyle. 'I meant to kill that worm. He was buggin' me.'
Aymon swooped109 between the two. 'All right. Keep your scales on, the pair of you. All we gotta do is throw a few rounds into the survivors from up here.'
'Nice plan, genius,' sneered110 D'Nall. 'Except it won't work.'
'And why not?'
D'Nall pointed below with a manicured nail. 'Because they're boarding that train.'
Four green carriages were winding in from the north, dragged along by an ancient diesel111 engine. A maelstrom112 of snow flurries coiled in its wake.
Salvation113, thought Holly. Or perhaps not. For some reason, the mere114 sight of the clanking locomotive set her stomach bubbling with acid. Still, she was in no position to be choosy.
'It's the Mayak Chemical train,' said Artemis.
Holly glanced over her shoulder. Artemis seemed even paler than usual. 'The what?'
'Environmentalists worldwide call it the Green Machine, something of an irony115. It transports spent uranium and plutonium assemblies to the Mayak Chemical Combine for recycling. One driver locked up in the engine. No guards. Fully116 loaded, this thing is hotter than a nuclear submarine.'
'And you know about this because
Artemis shrugged117. 'I like to keep track of these things. After all, radiation is the world's problem.'
Holly could feel it now. Uranium tendrils eating through the rad gel on her cheeks. That train was poison. But it was her only chance of getting the commander out alive.
'This just keeps getting better and better,' Holly muttered.
The train was closer. Obviously. Motoring along at about ten klicks an hour. No problem for Holly on her own, but with two men down and one next-to-useless Mud Boy, it was going to take quite a feat4 to get on board that locomotive.
Holly spared a second to check on the goblins. They were holding steady at three hundred metres. Goblins were no good at improvisation118. This train was unexpected; it would take them at least a minute to work out a new strategy. The big hole in their fallen comrade might give them further pause for thought.
Holly could feel the radiation emanating119 from the carriages, burning through the tiniest gap in the radiation gel, prickling her eyeballs. It was only a matter of time before her magic ran out. After that, she was living on borrowed time.
No time to think about it now. Her priority was the commander. She had to get him out of there alive. If the B'wa Kell was brazen120 enough to mount an operation against the LEP, there was obviously something pretty big going on below ground. Whatever it was, Julius Root would be needed to spearhead the counterattack. She turned towards Artemis.
'OK, Mud Boy. We've got one shot at this. Grab on to whatever you can.'
Artemis couldn't hide an apprehensive121 shiver.
'Don't be afraid, Artemis. You can make it.'
Artemis bristled122. 'It's cold, fairy. Humans shiver in the cold.'
'That's the spirit,' said the LEP captain, and she began to run. The piton wire played out behind her like a harpoon123 cable. Though it had the approximate grade of fishing line, the cable could easily suspend two struggling elephants. Artemis raced after her as fast as his loafered feet could manage.
They ran parallel to the tracks, feet crunching124 through the snow. Behind them the train grew closer, pushing a buffer125 of air before it.
Artemis struggled to keep up. This was not for him. Running and sweating. Combat, for heaven's sake. He was no soldier. He was a planner. A mastermind. The hurly-burly of actual conflict was best left to Butler and people like him. But his manservant wasn't there to take care of the physical tasks this time. And he never would be again if they didn't manage to board this train.
Artemis's breath came short, crystallizing in front of his face, blurring126 his vision. The train had drawn127 level now, steel wheels spewing ice and sparks into the air.
'Second carriage,' panted Holly. 'There's a runner. Mind your footing.'
Runner? Artemis glanced behind. The second carriage was coming up fast. But the noise was blurring his vision. Was that possible? It was terrific. Unbearable128. There, below the steel doors. A narrow board. Wide enough to stand on. Barely.
Holly alighted easily, flattening129 herself against the carriage wall. She made it look so effortless. A simple skip and she was safe from the grab of those pulverizing130 wheels.
'Come on, Fowl,' shouted Holly. 'Jump.'
Artemis tried, he really did. But the toe of his loafer snagged on a sleeper50. He stumbled forward, pin-wheeling for balance. A painful death came rushing up to meet him.
Two left feet,' muttered Holly, grabbing her least favourite Mud Boy by the collar. Momentum131 swung Artemis forward, slamming him into the door like something out of a cartoon.
The piton cord was slapping against the carriage. Only seconds left before Holly departed from the train as quickly as she'd arrived. The LEP captain searched for a strongpoint to anchor herself. Root and Butler's weight may have been reduced by the Moonbelt, but the jerk when it came, would be more than sufficient to drag her from the locomotive. And if that happened, it was all over.
Holly hooked one arm through a rung on the carriage's external ladder. She noticed magical sparks playing over a rip in her suit. They were counteracting132 the radiation damage. How much longer could her magic last under these conditions? Constant healing really took it out of a girl. She needed to complete the power-restoring Ritual. And the sooner the better.
Holly was about to unclip the cable and attach it to one of the rungs when it snapped taut133, pulling Holly's legs from beneath her. She held on to the rung grimly, fingernails digging into her own skin. On reflection, this plan needed a bit of work. Time seemed to stretch, elastic135 as the cord and, for a moment, Holly thought her elbow would pop right out of its socket136. Then the ice gave and Root and Butler were twanged out of their icy tomb like a bolt from a crossbow.
Seconds later, they slapped against the side of the train, their reduced weight keeping them aloft, for now. But it was only a matter of time before what little gravity they had pushed them under the steel wheels.
Artemis latched137 on to the rung beside her. 'What can I do?'
She nodded at a shoulder pocket. 'In there. A small vial. Take it out.'
Artemis ripped open theVelcro flap, pulling out a tiny spray bottle. 'OK. Got it.'
'Good. It's up to you now, Fowl. Up and over.'
Artemis's mouth dropped open. 'Up and ...?'
'Yes. It's our only hope. We have to get this door open to reel in Butler and the commander.There's a bend in the track two klicks away. If this train slows down even one revolution, they're gone.'
Artemis nodded. 'The vial?'
'Acid. For the lock. The mechanism's on the inside. Cover your face and squeeze. Give it the whole tube. Don't get any on you.'
It was a long conversation under the circumstances. Especially since every second was vital. Artemis did not waste another one on goodbyes.
He dragged himself to the next rung, keeping the length of his body pressed close to the carriage. The wind was whipping along the length of the train, tiny motes138 of ice in every gust139. They stung like bees. Nevertheless, Artemis pulled off his gloves with chattering teeth. Better frostbite than being crushed beneath the wheels.
Upwards140. One rung at a time, until his head poked above the carriage. Every shred141 of shelter was now gone. The air pounded his forehead, forcing itself down his throat. Artemis squinted through the blizzard, along the carriage's roof. There! In the centre. A skylight. Across a desert of steel, blasted smooth as glass by the elements. Not a handhold within five metres. The strength of a rhino142 would be of no use here, Artemis decided. At last an opportunity to use his brain. Kinetics and momentum. Simple enough, in theory.
Keeping to the front rim134 of the carriage, Artemis inched on to the roof.The wind wormed beneath his legs, raising them five centimetres from the deck, threatening to float him off the train.
Artemis curled his fingers around the rim. These were not gripping fingers. Artemis hadn't gripped anything bigger than his mobile phone in several months. If you wanted someone to type Paradise Lost in under twenty minutes, then Artemis was your man. But as for hanging on to carriage roofs in a blizzard. Dead loss. Which, fortunately, was all part of the plan.
A millisecond before his finger joints143 parted company, Artemis let go. The slipstream shot him straight through the skylight's metal housing.
Perfect, he would have grunted, had there been a cubic centimetre of air in his lungs. But even if he had said it, the wind would have snatched away any words before his own ears heard them. He had moments now before the wind dug its fingers beneath his torso, flipping144 him on to the icy steppes. Cannon145 fodder146 for the goblins.
Artemis fumbled147 the acid vial from his pocket, snapping the top between his teeth. A fleck148 of the acid flew past his eye. No time to worry about that now. No time for anything.
The skylight was secured by a thick padlock. Artemis dribbled149 two drops into the keyhole. All he could spare. It would have to be enough.
The effect was immediate150. The acid ate through the metal like lava151 through ice. Fairy technology. Best under -the world.
The padlock pinged open, exposing the hatch to the wind's power. It flipped152 upwards and Artemis tumbled through on to a pallet of barrels. Not exactly the picture of a gallant153 rescuer.
The train's motion shook him from the cargo154. Artemis landed face up, gazing at the triple-triangled symbol for radiation stamped on the side of each container. At least the barrels were sealed, though rust155 seemed to have taken hold on quite a few.
Artemis rolled across the slatted floor, clambering to his knees alongside the door. Was Captain Short still anchored there, or was he alone now? For the first time in his life. Truly alone.
'Fowl! Open the door, you pasty-faced Mud Weasel!'
Ah well. Not alone then.
Covering his face with a forearm, Artemis drenched156 the carriage's triple bolt with fairy acid. The steel lock melted instantly, dripping to the floor like a stream of mercury. Artemis dragged the sliding door back.
Holly was hanging on grimly, her face steaming where radiation was eating through the gel.
Artemis grabbed her waistband. 'On three?'
Holly nodded. No more energy for speech.
Artemis flexed157 his digits158. Fingers, don't fail me now. If he ever got out of this, he would buy one of those ridiculous home gymnasiums advertised on the shopping channels.
'One.'
The bend was coming. He could see it out of the corner of his eye. The train would slow down or derail itself.
'Two.'
Captain Short's strength was almost spent. The wind rippled159 her frame like a windsock.
'Three!'
Artemis pulled with all the strength in his thin arms. Holly closed her eyes and let go, unable to believe she was trusting her life to this Mud Boy.
Artemis knew a little something about physics. He timed his count to take advantage of swing, momentum and the train's own forward motion. But nature always throws something into the mix that can't be anticipated. In this case the something was a slight gap between two sections of the track. Not enough to derail a locomotive, but certainly enough to cause a bump.
This bump sent the carriage door crashing into its frame like a five-tonne guillotine. But it looked like Holly had made it. Artemis couldn't really tell because she had crashed into him, sending them both careering into the wooden siding. She seemed to be intact, from what he could see. At least her head was still attached to her neck, which was good. But she did seem to be unconscious. Probably trauma160.
Artemis knew that he was going to pass out too. He could tell by the darkness eating at the corners of his vision, like some malignant161 computer virus. He slipped sideways, landing on Holly's chest.
This had more severe repercussions162 than you might think. Because Holly was unconscious, her magic was on autopilot. And unsupervised magic flows like electricity. Artemis's face made contact with the fairy's left hand, diverting the flow of blue sparks. And while this was good for him, it was most definitely bad for her. Because although Artemis didn't know it, Holly needed every spark of magic she could muster163 — not all of her had made it inside the train.
Commander Root had just activated his piton cord winch when he received a most unexpected poke83 in the eye.
The goblin D'Nall removed a small rectangular mirror from his tunic164 and checked his scales were smooth.
'These Koboi wings are great. You think we'll be allowed to keep 'em?'
Aymon scowled165. Not that you'd notice. Goblin lizard166 ancestry167 meant that facial movement was pretty limited. 'Quiet, you hot-blooded fool!'
Hot-blooded. That was a pretty serious insult for one of the B'waKell.
D'Nall bristled. 'Be careful, friend, or I'll tear that forked tongue right out of your head.'
'We won't have a tongue between us if those elves escape!' retorted Aymon.
It was true. The generals did not take disappointment well.
'So what do we do? I got the looks in this outfit. That must make you the brains.'
'We shoot at the train,' interjected Nyle. 'Simple.'
D'Nall adjusted his Koboi DoubleDex, hovering168 across to the squad's junior member.
'Idiot,' he snapped, administering a swift slap to the head. 'That thing is radioactive, can't you smell it? One stray burst and we'll all be ash floating on the breeze.'
'Good point,' admitted Nyle. 'You're not as stupid as you look.'
'Thank you.'
'Welcome.'
Aymon throttled169 down, descending170 to a hundred and fifty metres. It was so tempting171. One tightly focused burst to take out the elf clinging to the carriage, another to dispatch the human on the roof. But he couldn't risk it. One degree off target and he'd sucked his last stink-worm spaghetti.
'OK,' he announced into his helmet mike. 'Here's the plan. With all the radiation in that carriage, chances are the targets will be dead in minutes. We follow the train for a while just to make sure. Then we go back and tell the general we saw the bodies.'
D'Nall buzzed down beside him. 'And do we see the bodies?'
Aymon groaned172. 'Of course not, you fool! Do you want your eyeballs to dry up and fall out?'
'Duh;
'Exactly. So are we clear?'
'Crystal,' said Nyle, drawing his Softnose Redboy handgun. He shot his comrades from behind. Close range, point blank. They never had a chance. He followed their bodies to Earth on full magnification. The snow would cover them in minutes. Nobody would be stumbling over those particular corpses173 until the polar caps melted.
Nyle bolstered174 his weapon, punching in the coordinates175 for the shuttle terminal on his flight computer. If you studied his reptilian176 face carefully, it was just possible to make out a grin.There was a new lieutenant in town.
收听单词发音 |
1
coma
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| n.昏迷，昏迷状态 | |
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2
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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spiked
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| adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的 | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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14
vendetta
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| n.世仇，宿怨 | |
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15
icebergs
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| n.冰山，流冰( iceberg的名词复数 ) | |
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16
saturating
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| 浸湿，浸透( saturate的现在分词 )； 使…大量吸收或充满某物 | |
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holly
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| n.[植]冬青属灌木 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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19
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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20
warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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21
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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22
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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23
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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24
stink
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| vi.发出恶臭；糟透，招人厌恶；n.恶臭 | |
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25
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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26
smearing
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| 污点，拖尾效应 | |
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27
vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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28
reactor
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| n.反应器；反应堆 | |
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29
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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30
arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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31
flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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32
stash
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| v.藏或贮存于一秘密处所；n.隐藏处 | |
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33
manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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34
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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35
notch
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| n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级 | |
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36
stun
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| vt.打昏，使昏迷，使震惊，使惊叹 | |
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37
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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38
vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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39
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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40
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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41
improvise
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| v.即兴创作；临时准备，临时凑成 | |
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42
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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43
inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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44
blizzard
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| n.暴风雪 | |
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45
flares
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| n.喇叭裤v.（使）闪耀( flare的第三人称单数 )；（使）（船舷）外倾；（使）鼻孔张大；（使）（衣裙、酒杯等）呈喇叭形展开 | |
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46
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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47
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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48
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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49
sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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50
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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51
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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52
darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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53
nagging
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| adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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54
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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55
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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56
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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57
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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58
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
squinted
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| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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60
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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61
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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62
tattoo
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| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
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63
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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64
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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66
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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67
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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68
testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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69
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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70
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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71
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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72
deductions
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| 扣除( deduction的名词复数 )； 结论； 扣除的量； 推演 | |
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73
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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74
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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75
zooming
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| adj.快速上升的v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的过去分词 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨 | |
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76
hoisting
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| 起重，提升 | |
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77
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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78
slump
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| n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌 | |
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79
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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80
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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81
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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82
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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83
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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84
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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85
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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86
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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87
inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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88
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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89
pulverized
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| adj.[医]雾化的，粉末状的v.将…弄碎( pulverize的过去式和过去分词 )；将…弄成粉末或尘埃；摧毁；粉碎 | |
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90
avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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91
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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92
collapsing
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| 压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂 | |
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93
debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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94
viable
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| adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的 | |
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95
projector
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| n.投影机，放映机，幻灯机 | |
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96
technically
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| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
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97
pane
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| n.窗格玻璃，长方块 | |
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98
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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99
strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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100
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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101
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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102
vying
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| adj.竞争的；比赛的 | |
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103
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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104
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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105
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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106
backbiting
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| 背后诽谤 | |
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107
vindictiveness
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| 恶毒；怀恨在心 | |
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108
relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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109
swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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110
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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111
diesel
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| n.柴油发动机，内燃机 | |
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112
maelstrom
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| n.大乱动；大漩涡 | |
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113
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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114
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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115
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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116
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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117
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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118
improvisation
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| n.即席演奏(或演唱)；即兴创作 | |
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119
emanating
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的现在分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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120
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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121
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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122
bristled
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| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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123
harpoon
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| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
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124
crunching
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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125
buffer
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| n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲 | |
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126
blurring
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| n.模糊，斑点甚多，（图像的）混乱v.（使）变模糊( blur的现在分词 )；（使）难以区分 | |
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127
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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128
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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129
flattening
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| n. 修平 动词flatten的现在分词 | |
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130
pulverizing
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| v.将…弄碎( pulverize的现在分词 )；将…弄成粉末或尘埃；摧毁；粉碎 | |
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131
momentum
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| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
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132
counteracting
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| 对抗，抵消( counteract的现在分词 ) | |
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133
taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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134
rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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135
elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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136
socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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137
latched
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| v.理解( latch的过去式和过去分词 )；纠缠；用碰锁锁上（门等）；附着（在某物上） | |
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138
motes
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| n.尘埃( mote的名词复数 )；斑点 | |
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139
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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140
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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141
shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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142
rhino
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| n.犀牛，钱, 现金 | |
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143
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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144
flipping
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| 讨厌之极的 | |
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145
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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146
fodder
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| n.草料；炮灰 | |
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147
fumbled
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| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
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148
fleck
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| n.斑点，微粒 vt.使有斑点，使成斑驳 | |
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dribbled
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| v.流口水( dribble的过去式和过去分词 )；（使液体）滴下或作细流；运球，带球 | |
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150
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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151
lava
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| n.熔岩，火山岩 | |
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152
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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153
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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154
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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155
rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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156
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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157
flexed
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| adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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158
digits
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| n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾 | |
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159
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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160
trauma
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| n.外伤，精神创伤 | |
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161
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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162
repercussions
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| n.后果，反响( repercussion的名词复数 )；余波 | |
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163
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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164
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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165
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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166
lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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167
ancestry
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| n.祖先，家世 | |
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168
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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169
throttled
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| v.扼杀( throttle的过去式和过去分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制 | |
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170
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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171
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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172
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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173
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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174
bolstered
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| v.支持( bolster的过去式和过去分词 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助 | |
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175
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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176
reptilian
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| adj.（像）爬行动物的；（像）爬虫的；卑躬屈节的；卑鄙的n.两栖动物；卑劣的人 | |
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