Eoin Colfer - [Artemis Fowl 04] - The Opal Deception (v1.5) by The Opal Deception (v1.5)

Author:The Opal Deception (v1.5) [Deception, The Opal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-07-09T02:12:25.888000+00:00

91

“That ridiculous centaur!” shrieked Opal, hurling her plate against the

wall. “He was lucky, and I was hampered by that idiot Cudgeon. Not this

time. This time I am the architect of my own fate. And of yours.”

“And what is it this time?” Artemis asked mockingly. “Another orchestrated rebellion? Or perhaps a mechanical dinosaur?”

Opal’s face grew white with rage. “Is there no end to your impudence,

Mud Boy? No small-scale rebellions this time. I have a grander vision. I will

lead the humans to the People. When the two worlds collide, there will be

a war and my adopted people will win.”

“You’re a fairy, Koboi,” interjected Holly. “One of us. Rounded ears

don’t change that. Don’t you think the humans will notice when you don’t

get any taller?”

Opal patted Holly’s cheek almost affectionately. “My poor, dear, underpaid police officer. Don’t you think I thought of all this while I stewed

in that coma for almost a year? Don’t you think I thought of everything? I

have always known humans would discover us eventually, so I have prepared.” Opal leaned over, parting her jet-black hair to reveal a magically fading three-inch scar on her scalp.

“Getting my ears rounded wasn’t the only surgery I had done. I also

had something inserted in my skull.”

“A pituitary gland,” guessed Artemis.

“Very good, Mud Boy. A rather tiny artificial human pituitary gland.

HGH is one of seven hormones secreted by the pituitary.”

“HGH?” interrupted Holly.

“Human growth hormone,” explained Artemis.

“Exactly. As the name implies, HGH enhances the growth of various

organs and tissues, especially muscle and bone. In three months, I have already grown half an inch. Oh, maybe I’ll never make the basketball team,

but no one will ever believe that I am a fairy.”

“You’re no fairy,” said Holly bitterly.

“At heart you’ve always been human.”

“That’s supposed to be an insult, I suppose. Maybe I deserve that, considering what I am about to do to you. In an hour’s time, there won’t be

enough of you two remaining to fill the booty box.”

This was a term that Artemis had not heard before.

“Booty box” That sounds like a pirate expression.”

Opal opened a secret panel in the flooring, revealing a small compartment underneath. “This is a booty box. The term was coined by vegetable

smugglers more than eight thousand years ago. A secret compartment that

would go unnoticed by customs officials. Of course, these days, with X-ray,

infrared, and motion-sensitive cameras, a booty box isn’t much good.” Opal

smiled slyly, like a child who has put one over on her teacher. “Unless of

course the box is completely constructed from stealth ore, refrigerated, and

has internal projectors to fool X-ray and infrared. The only way to detect

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