the demon island. And Artemis had been right so far. If Holly had to rely on someone's theories, she would prefer those theories to be Artemis Fowl's.
As Holly watched No.1 drop the silver slug and disappear, she could not resist snapping a photo of Kong's face with her helmet camera. His reaction was priceless. They would have a good laugh over that later.
Then she activated her wings, rising above the giant silver ball, watching for signs.
Seconds later, a faint blue electrical rectangle began spinning at the silver ball's crown, exactly where Artemis had known it would. No.1 was coming back. Just as Artemis had predicted.
Such a large mass of silver within three metres should interrupt No.1 's journey home. It should cause a momentary materialization at the summit, where the damper's energy field is most concentrated. You, Holly, have to be there to make sure this momentary materialization becomes more permanent.
On the mass damper, No.1 's shape was visible inside the glowing rectangle. He seemed a little confused, as though half asleep. One arm snaked through into this world, grasping at reality. It was enough for Holly. She darted down and clamped a silver bracelet round No.1 's grey wrist. The ghostly fingers wiggled, then solidified. Solidity sped along
No.1's arm like grey paint, rescuing him from Limbo. In seconds, where there had only been space, now crouched a shivering creature.
'Did I go?' asked the little imp. 'Am I back?'
'Yes and yes,' said Holly. 'Now stay quiet and still. We have to get you out of here.'
The mass damper swung slowly, dissipating the wind power buffeting Taipei 101. Holly leaned into the sway, grabbed a hold of No.1 and took off vertically, careful to keep her cargo shielded by the seven-hundred- tonne silver ball.
The next floor up was another observation floor, but it was closed for decoration. A single workman was slicing carpet for a corner section, and he did not seem surprised to see a muumuu-clad imp come sailing over the railing.
'Hey,' he said. 'It's an imp in a muumuu. You know something, imp?'
No.1 landed on the floor with a thump. 'No,' he said cautiously. 'Tell me something.'
'I am not a bit surprised to see you,' said the man. 'In fact, you are so unremarkable, that I am going to forget all about you as soon as you've gone.'
No.1 picked himself up, straightening his bonnet. 'You've had a talk with him, I see.'
Holly switched off her shield, speckling into view. 'I gave him a blast of the mesmer.' She peered over the railing down into the restaurant.
'Come here, Number One. You'll enjoy this.'
No.1 placed his fingers against the glass. Kong and his cronies were creating chaos below, blundering towards the elevators. Kong was particularly perturbed, barging tourists from his path and overturning tables.
'We probably don't have time for this,' said No.1.
'Probably not,' agreed Holly. Neither fairy moved.
'Hey, look,' said the workman. 'Another fairy. How utterly unremarkable.'
Only when the Toshiba elevator doors had closed behind Billy Kong and his crew, did Holly turn to leave.
'Where to now?' asked No.1, wiping a happy-tear from his eye.
'Now, we go to stage two,' replied Holly, calling the elevator. 'Time to save Hybras.'
'Never a dull moment,' said No.1, scurrying into the metal box. 'Hey, my first cliche.'
Artemis and Butler had watched Minerva cross the restaurant towards them. She bore herself with considerable courage under the circumstances. Her chin was up and she had a determined look in her eye.
'Butler, can I ask you something?' said Artemis.
Butler was trying to keep an eye on every single person in the restaurant.
'I'm a little busy at the moment, Artemis.'
'Nothing taxing. Just a 'yes' or 'no' answer. Is it normal, during puberty, to feel these blasted feelings of attraction at stressful times?
During a ransom drop, for instance.'
'She's pretty, isn't she?'
'Extremely. And funny too — remember that quark joke?'
'I do. We must have a talk about jokes someday. Perhaps Minerva could sit in. And in response to your question, it is normal. The more stressful the situation, the more your body pumps out the hormones.'
'Good. Normal then. Back to business.'
Minerva didn't rush. She picked her way around tourists and tables as she walked steadily towards them.
When she drew level, Butler placed a guiding and protective hand on her back.
'Get kidnapped every day, do you?' he growled, steering her to the elevator.
Artemis followed, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure they were not being pursued. Kong was not even looking at them, so happy was he with his prize.
The elevator opened and the trio stepped inside. On the elevator wall, the floor light was rapidly winking downwards.
Artemis held out his hand to Minerva. 'Artemis Fowl the Second. Pleased to meet you finally.'
Minerva shook the hand warmly. 'Minerva Paradizo.
Likewise. You gave up your demon for me. I do appreciate it.' She blushed slightly.
The elevator slowed to a smooth stop, and the steel doors slid open with barely a hiss.
Minerva peeked out. 'This is not the lobby. Why aren't we leaving?'
Artemis stepped out on to the fortieth floor. 'Our work here is not finished. I need to get our demon back and it's about time you knew what you almost went up against.'
Chapter 12: HEART OF STONE
Artemis strode through the Kimsichiog Gallery lobby, flanked by Butler and Minerva.
'We're in an art gallery,' said Minerva. 'Do we really have time for art?'
Artemis halted, surprised. 'There's always time for art,' he said. 'But we're here for a very special piece of art.' 'Which is?'
Artemis pointed at painted silk banners hanging at regular intervals from the ceiling. Each banner was emblazoned with a single dramatic spiralling rune.
'I follow what is happening in the art world. This exhibition is of particular interest to me. The centrepiece is the remains of a fantastic sculpture. A semicircle of strange dancing creatures. Maybe ten thousand years old. Believed to have been found off the shore of
Ireland, and yet here it is, in Taiwan, being exhibited by an American oil company.'
'Artemis, why are we here? I need to get home to my father.'
'Don't you recognize the rune? Haven't you seen it somewhere?'
Minerva remembered immediately. 'Mais ouil Certainement. It is the rune from the demon's forehead. The very same.'
Artemis snapped his fingers, and continued walking.
'Exactly. When I met Number One, I knew his markings were familiar.
It took me a while to remember where I had seen them before, but once I knew, then it occurred to me that maybe this sculpture was not a sculpture at all.'
Minerva's brain raced ahead. 'It was the ring of warlocks. From the original time spell.'
'Precisely. What if they were not blasted into space. What if one of them had the quick thinking to use the gargoyle's touch, to turn them all to stone.'
'And if Number One is a warlock, then he is the only one who can reanimate them.'
'Very good, Minerva. You catch on quickly. Young, quick and arrogant.
