The New York Times Best-Seller

ARTEMIS FOWEL

By: Eoin Colfer

"You are wearing handmade loafers, a silk shirt, and three gold signet rings. Your English has a tinge of Oxford about it, and your nails have the soft sheen of the recently manicured. You are not a waiter. You are our contact Nguyen Xuan, and you have adopted this pathetic disguise to discreetly check for weaponry".

"Let me fill you in on the weapons status," continued Artemis. "I am unarmed. But Butler here, has a Sig Sauer in his shoulder holster, two shrike-throwing knives in his boots, a derringer two-shot up his sleeve, garrotte wire in his watch, and three stun grenades concealed in various pockets. Anything Butler?"

It was the second time he'd underestimated his opponents. One way or another, there wouldn't be a third.

Now that the moment had come, Artemis was almost afraid to seize it. It was hard to believe that after all these months, his wicked scheme was minutes away from fruition. Of course these last few minutes were the vital ones, and the most dangerous.
The gold sat there, stacked in shining rows. It seemed to have an aura, a warmth, but also an inherent danger. There were a lot of people willing to die or kill for the unimaginable wealth this gold could bring.
Holly was mesmerized. Fairies have an affinity for minerals; they are of the earth. But gold was their favorite. Its luster. Its allure.

Without another word Butler drained his glass, Juliet folllwed suit. They sank to the floor. Artemis swallowed the trnaquilizer-laced chamgagne, and sank into unconsciousness.

The bio-bomb detonated. A blue orb of condensed light crackled and spread, filling every corner of the manor with its deadly rays. Flowers withered, insects shriveled, and fish died in their tanks. Not one cubic milimeter was spared. Artemis Fowl and his cohorts could not have escaped. It was impossible.