β
Confidence is ignorance. If you're feeling cocky, it's because there's something you don't know.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
It's like learning to ride a unicorn. You never forget.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
I never tell anyone exactly how clever I am. They would be too scared.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
If I win, I'm a prodigy. If I lose, then I'm crazy. That's the way history is written.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
If you were me, then I'd be you, and if I were you, then I'd hide somewhere far away.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
Being in command means making tough decisions. Not being in command means shutting up and doing what you're told.
--Artemis Fowl
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Artemis Fowl Files)
β
Trust me. I'm a genius.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
No matter what dimension you're in, there's a big-headed male trying to take over the world.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, #5))
β
Foaly: Anyone see you come in here?
Holly: The FBI, CIA, NSA, DEA, MI6. Oh, and the EIB.
Foaly: The EIB?
Holly: (smirking) Everyone in the building.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl Band 1-3)
β
Listen to me, goblin. You're stupid, let's accept that and move on.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
(about his terrible attempt at making a sandwich) It's more difficult than it looks. (Artemis Fowl)
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
Butler could kill you a hundred different ways without use of his armoury. Though I'm sure one would be quite sufficient.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
Artemis felt like he was six again and caught hacking the school computers trying to make the test questions harder
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, #6))
β
Let us proceed under the assumption that the fairy folk do exist, and that I am not a gibbering moron.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
I don't like lollipops.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
A CD. How quaint. We have these in museums.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
I can't imagine what they're planning. But I can tell you two things. We won't like it, and it won't be legal.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Artemis Fowl Files)
β
We're being lead by an idiot with a crayon.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, #2))
β
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door β
Only this, and nothing more."
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; β vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow β sorrow for the lost Lenore β
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore β
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me β filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door β
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; β
This it is, and nothing more."
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"β here I opened wide the door; β
Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" β
Merely this, and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore β
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; β
'Tis the wind and nothing more."
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door β
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door β
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore β
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
Much I marveled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaningβ little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door β
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore.
β
β
Edgar Allan Poe (The Raven)
β
Who are you?" he asked.
I am the future queen of this world, at the very least. You may refer to me as Mistress Koboi for the next five minutes. After that you may refer to me as Aaaaarrrrgh, hold your throat, die screaming, and so on.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, #6))
β
The problem is that I know the textbook answers to any question you care to ask.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
To write poetry and to commit suicide, apparently so contradictory, had really been the same, attempts at escape.
β
β
John Fowles (The Magus)
β
The human race is unimportant. It is the self that must not be betrayed."
"I suppose one could say that Hitler didn't betray his self."
"You are right. He did not. But millions of Germans did betray their selves. That was the tragedy. Not that one man had the courage to be evil. But that millions had not the courage to be good.
β
β
John Fowles (The Magus)
β
Hit that back-stabber where it hurts, right in the ambition.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
I love making, I love doing. I love being to the full, I love everything which is not sitting and watching and copying and dead at heart.
β
β
John Fowles (The Collector)
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl Band 1-3)
β
I'm right there with you, darlin'. Unless you step on a landmine, in which case I'm way back in the Operations Room.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
I think we are just insects, we live a bit and then die and thatβs the lot. Thereβs no mercy in things. Thereβs not even a Great Beyond. Thereβs nothing.
β
β
John Fowles (The Collector)
β
A genius. A criminal mastermind. A millionaire. And he is only twelve years old.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
And one more thing. About my name β Artemis β you were right. In London, it is generally a female name, after the Greek goddess of archery. But every now and then a male comes along with such a talent for hunting that he earns the right to use the name. I am that male. Artemis the hunter. I hunted you.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
Look!" said Foaly, pointing with some urgency into the vast steel-gray gloom, "Someone who cares!
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
Humm humm haaa. Rahmumm humm haaaa," intoned Opal, finishing her chant. "Peace be inside me, tolerance all around me, forgiveness in my path. Now, Mervall, show me where the filthy human is so that I may feed him his organs.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, #6))
β
The very beginning of Genesis tells us that God created man in order to give him dominion over fish and fowl and all creatures. Of course, Genesis was written by a man, not a horse. There is no certainty that God actually did grant man dominion over other creatures. What seems more likely, in fact, is that man invented God to sanctify the dominion that he had usurped for himself over the cow and the horse.
β
β
Milan Kundera (The Unbearable Lightness of Being)
β
No, mademoiselle, I would not like to see the children's menu. I have no doubt that the children's menu itself tastes better than the meals on it. I would like to order Γ la carte. Or don't you serve fish to minors?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
If it looks like a Dwarf, and it smells like a Dwarf, then it's probably a Dwarf or a latrine wearing dungerees.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, #5))
β
Artemis: (shocked) Why, Doctor? This is a sensitive area. For all you know I could be suffering from depression.
Doctor Po: I suppose you could. Is that the case?
Artemis: (head in hands) It's my mother, Doctor.
Doctor Po: Yes?
Artemis: My mother, she...
Doctor Po: Your mother, yes?
Artemis: She forces me to endure this ridiculous therapy when the school's so-called counsellors are little better than misguided do-gooders with degrees.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, #2))
β
Can we please focus? We are supposed to be professionals." Holly said.
"Not me!" said Orion cheerily, "I'm just a Teenager with hormones running wild and may I say, young fairy lady, they're running wild in your direction.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
I am charging you with the protection of my mother and friends, not to mention keeping my younger self off the Internet. He is as dangerous as Opal.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, #6))
β
Stay back, human. You don't know what you're dealing with.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
Oh, I'm crazy all right. I do have plenty of psychoses. Multiple personality, delusional dementia, OCD. I've got them all, but most of all, I'm crazy about you.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
I bet," said Mulch, "that you would set the world on fire just to watch it burn."
Opal tapped the suggestion into a small electronic notepad on her pocket computer.
Thanks for that. Now, tell me everything.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, #6))
β
Knock yourself out... Or rather, don't.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
(to Foaly) Captain Short's life is in danger, so push the button before I climb that tower and push it with your face!
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
Really, I'm trying to care, Artemis, really. But I thought it was all supposed to be over when the fat lady sings. Well, she's singing, but it doesn't appear to be over
β
β
Eoin Colfer
β
Shut up, Julius! I mean, quiet a moment, Commander.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
We all want things we can't have. Being a decent human being is accepting that.
β
β
John Fowles (The Collector)
β
What's that supposed to mean? A wolf's head on a stick. Big wolf barbecue tonight? Bring your own wolf?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, #5))
β
We all write poems; it is simply that poets are the ones who write in words.
β
β
John Fowles (The French Lieutenantβs Woman)
β
I am unarmed. But Butler here, my ...ah...butler, has a Sig Saucer in his shoulder holster, two shrike-throwing knives in his boots, aderringer two-shot up his sleeve, garrotte wire in his watch, and three stun greanades concealed in variouse pockets. Anything else, Butler?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
Orion:"Oh, how I pray that dragon will turn 'round so that I may smite it."
Foaly: "Smite it with what? Your secret birthmark?"
Orion: "Don't you mock my birthmark, which I may or may not have.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
Everyone says that I have no sense of humor, then I construct a perfectly sound pun around a well-known psychological condition, and it is ignored.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, #5))
β
I don't suppose you would consider peaceful surrender?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
I'm the crazy girly captain, Remember?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, #2))
β
I feel a little dizzy," said Orion. "But also wonderfully elated. I feel that I am on the verge of finding a rhyme for the word orange."
"Oxygen deprivation," said Foaly. "Or maybe it's just him.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
If you forget everything else about me, please remember this. I walked down that street and I never looked back and I love you. I love you. I love you so much that I shall hate you for ever for today.
β
β
John Fowles (The Magus)
β
If Koboi defeats and presumably murders us both then you can consider the debt null and void.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
(text message) CMDR ROOT. TRBLE BELOW. HAVN OVRRN BY GOBLINS. PLCE PLAZA SRROUNDED. CUDGEON + OPL KBOI BHND PLOT. NO WPONS OR CMMUNICATIONS. DNA CNONS CNTRLLED BY KBOI. I M TRPPED IN OP BTH. CNCL THNKS IM 2 BLM. IF ALIVE PLSE HLP. IF NOT, WRNG NMBR.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, #2))
β
So, what did you get for me?"
Angeline paused for a beat. "Jeans."
"What?" croaked Artemis.
"And a T-shirt.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
When you draw something it lives and when you photograph it it dies.
β
β
John Fowles (The Collector)
β
Either that boy is the sanest creature on Earth, he thought, or he is so disturbed that our tests cannot even begin to scratch the surface.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Last Guardian (Artemis Fowl, #8))
β
The most important questions in life can never be answered by anyone except oneself.
β
β
John Fowles (The Magus)
β
Certainly, Doctor. Let's talk about your chair. Victorian?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
That was horrible. Horrible. That poor little guy."
Pex was unrepentant. "Yeah, well, he asked for it. Calling us ... all those things."
But---buried alive! That's like in that horror movie. Y'know -- the one with all the horror."
I think I saw that one. With all the words going up on the screen at the end?"
Yeah, that was it. Tell you the truth, those words kinda ruined it for me.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
I am infinitely strange to myself.
β
β
John Fowles (The French Lieutenantβs Woman)
β
Forgettingβs not something you do, it happens to you. Only it didnβt happen to me.
β
β
John Fowles (The Collector)
β
I want you to know, my dear friend, that without you, I would not be the person I am today." He leaned in close and whispered, "I was a broken boy, and you fixed me. Thank you.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Last Guardian (Artemis Fowl, #8))
β
I hate the uneducated and the ignorant. I hate the pompous and the phoney. I hate the jealous and the resentful. I hate the crabbed and mean and the petty. I hate all ordinary dull little people who aren't ashamed of being dull and little.
β
β
John Fowles (The Collector)
β
I'm not threatening you. I'm just informing you of police procedure. If you continue to obstruct me, I remove the obstruction, in this case you, and proceed to the next command.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, #2))
β
Too much damned TV. Thinks he's Sherlock Holmes."
"That's professor Moriarty," corrected Foaly.
"Holmes, Moriarty, they both look the same with the flesh scorched off their skulls.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
Mr Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls. He liked thick giblet soup, nutty gizzards, a stuffed roast heart, liverslices fried with crustcrumbs, fried hencods' roes. Most of all he liked grilled mutton kidneys which gave to his palate a fine tang of faintly scented urine.
β
β
James Joyce (Ulysses)
β
No, I don't think you understand just how stupid goblins are. Let me give you an example. One of the B'wa Kell generals, and this is their top fairy, was caught caught trying to pass off forged credit slips by signing his own name.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, #2))
β
Excuse me, Captain. Are you two going to weep salty tears of admiration over a helmet all night, or do we have matters to discuss?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, #5))
β
Greece is like a mirror. It makes you suffer. Then you learn.'
To live alone?'
To live. With what you are.
β
β
John Fowles (The Magus)
β
My bugs don't have bugs.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
You wish to be liked. I wish simply to be. One day you will know what that means, perhaps. And you will smile. Not against me. But with me.
β
β
John Fowles (The Magus)
β
When the moment comes, will you take your chance to be a hero?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
A cloak of invisibility? This is a highly sensitive piece of field equipment. What does he think? Some warlock pulled it out of his armpit?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, #5))
β
Artemis simple-toon
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Artemis Fowl Files)
β
Quickly, Holly," said Artemis urgently. "Follow those bubbles."
Holly opened the throttle. "Now there's an order I never thought I'd hear from you.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
That's the last order I'll ever give you Captain. Don't you dare ignore it.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, #4))
β
Friendship isn't a science mudboy. Just do what you think is right.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, #4))
β
Between skin and skin, there is only light.
β
β
John Fowles (The Magus)
β
Genius inspires resentment. A sad fact of life.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, #6))
β
The ordinary man is the curse of civilization.
β
β
John Fowles (The Collector)
β
Me," Artemis blurted. "I'm the nut."
Artemis could have sworn the squid winked at him before bringing the five-ton chunk of spacecraft swinging down toward the morsel of meat in its blue shell.
"I'm the nut!" Artemis shouted again, a little hysterically, it must be said.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
So if you're not Artemis Fowl, then who are you?"
The boy extended a dripping hand straight up. "My name is Orion. I am so pleased to meet you at last. I am, of course, your servant."
Holly shook the proferred hand, thinking that manners were lovely, but she really needed someone cunning and ruthless right now, and this kid didn't appear to be very cunning.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
Orion brightened. "I have an idea."
"Yes?" said Foaly, daring to hope that a spark of Artemis remained.
"Why don't we look for some magic stones that can grant wishes? Or, if that doesn't work, you could search my naked body for some mysterious birthmark that means I am actually the prince of somewhere or other.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
It took teams of LEP warlocks to slow down time for a few hours; the magic required to open a door to the tunnel was stupendous. It would be easier to shoot down the moon.
Opal tapped this into her notepad.
Reminder. Shoot down the moon? Viable?
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, #6))
β
The power of women! I've never felt so full of mysterious power. Men are a joke.
We're so weak physically, so helpless with things. Still, even today. But we're stronger than they are. We can stand their cruelty. They can't stand ours.
β
β
John Fowles (The Collector)
β
Artemis: I am not buoyed by that.
Foaly: You are not supposed to be buoyed by that. You are supposed to be equalized.
Mulch: I'm pretty sure that both of you just made really horrible jokes. But I'm not sure because I think you broke my funny bone.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
It's despair at the lack of feeling, of love, of reason in the world. It's despair that anyone can even contemplate the idea of dropping a bomb or ordering that it should be dropped. It's despair that so few of us care. It's despair that there's so much brutality and callousness in the world. It's despair that perfectly normal young men can be made vicious and evil because they've won a lot of money. And then do what you've done to me.
β
β
John Fowles (The Collector)
β
Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk. They had somehow got it into their heads that each fairy lugged around a pot of gold with him wherever he went. While it was true that LEP had a ransom fund, because of its officers' high-risk occupation, no human had ever taken a chunk of it yet. This didn't stop the Irish population in general from skulking around rainbows, hoping to win the supernatural lottery.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))
β
Isabel and Alma Trumbo are the sisters who reside in the brick rambler on Church Street. They are a bit, uh, different and unorthodox. Borderline eccentric, some of the townies say, especially Alma.β
βWhat do the borderline eccentric sisters Isabel and Alma know about solving a murder case?β
Dwight gave it a momentβs reflection. βThey could probably write a book about it.
β
β
Ed Lynskey (Fowl Play)
β
Very well, I promise. So, what did you get for me?" Angeline paused for a beat. "Jeans." "What?" croaked Artemis. "And a T-shirt" ...Artemis took several breaths. "Does the T-shirt have any writing on it?" A rustling of paper crackled through the phone's speakers. "Yes, it's so cool. There's a picture of a boy who for some reason has no neck and only three fingers on each hand, and behind him in this sort of graffiti style is the words RANDOMOSIY. I don't know what that means but it sounds really current." Randomosity though Artemis, and he felt like weeping.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
You know, Miss Holly, you look very dramatic like that, backlit by the fire. Very attractive, if I may say so. I know you shared a moment passionne with Artemis which he subsequently fouled up with his typical boorish behavior. Let me just throw something out there for you to consider while we're chasing the probe: I share Artemis's passion but not his boorishness. No pressure; just think about it.
This was enough to elicit a deafening moment of silence even in the middle of a crisis, which Orion seemed to be blissfully unaffected by.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
Butler snapped his fingers. "Focus, Artemis! Time enough for your Atlantis Complex later. We have the Atlantis Trench outside that door and six miles of water above it. If you want to stay alive, you need to stay alert." He turned to Holly. "This is ridiculous. I'm pulling the plug."
Holly's mouth was a tight line as she shook her head. "Navy rules, Butler. You're on my boat, you follow my orders."
"As I remember, I brought the boat."
"Yes, thanks for bringing my boat.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
Jon Spiro had not hired Pex and Chips for their debating sills. In the job interview, they had only been set one task. A hundred applicants were handed a walnut and asked to smash it however they could. Only two succeeded. Pex had shouted at the walnut for a few minutes, then flattened it between his giant palms. Chips had opted for a more controversial method. He placed the walnut on the table, grabbed is interviewer by the ponytail, and used the man's forehead to smash the nut. Both men were hired on the spot. They quickly established themselves as Arno Blunt's most reliable leiutenants for in-house work. They were not allowed outside Chicago, as this could involve map reading, something Pex and Chips were not very good at.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3))
β
How do I love thee? wondered Orion. "Let me see. I love thee passionately and eternally...obviously eternally-that goes without saying." Holly blinked sweat from her eyes. "Is he serious?" she called over her shoulder to Foaly. "Oh, absolutely," said the centaur "If he asks you to look for birthmarks, say no immediately." "Oh, I would never." Orion assured her. "Ladies don't look for birthmarks; that is work for jolly fellows like the Goodly Beast and myself. Ladies, like Miss Short, do enough by simply existing. They exude beauty, and that is enough." "I am not exuding anything." said Holly, through gritted teeth. Orion tapped her shoulder. "I beg to differ. You're exuding right now, a wonderful aura. It's pastel blue with little dolphins." Holly gripped the wheel tightly. "I'm going to be sick. Did he just say pastel blue?" "And dolphins, little ones," said Foaly.
β
β
Eoin Colfer (The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7))
β
Relax, Mr. Diggums. Have another nettle beer, or some spring water." The commander took two bottles from the cooler and offered one to Mulch.
Mulch studied the label. "Derrier? No thanks. You know how they put the bubbles in this stuff?"
Vinyaya's mouth twitched with the ghost of a smile. "I thought it was naturally carbonated."
"Yeah, that's what I thought until I got a prison job at the Derrier plant. They employ every dwarf in the Deeps. They made us sign confidentiality contracts."
Vinyaya was hooked. "So go on, tell me. How do they get the bubbles in?"
Mulch tapped his nose. "Can't say. Breach of contract. All I can say is it involves a huge vat of water and several dwarfs using our ...eh" Mulch pointed to his rear end-"... natural talents."
Vinyaya gingerly replaced her bottle.
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Eoin Colfer (The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, #5))
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Once upon a time there was a young prince who believed in all things but three. He did not believe in princesses, he did not believe in islands, he did not believe in God. His father, the king, told him that such things did not exist. As there were no princesses or islands in his father's domains, and no sign of God, the young prince believed his father.
But then, one day, the prince ran away from his palace. He came to the next land. There, to his astonishment, from every coast he saw islands, and on these islands, strange and troubling creatures whom he dared not name. As he was searching for a boat, a man in full evening dress approached him along the shore.
Are those real islands?' asked the young prince.
Of course they are real islands,' said the man in evening dress.
And those strange and troubling creatures?'
They are all genuine and authentic princesses.'
Then God must exist!' cried the prince.
I am God,' replied the man in full evening dress, with a bow.
The young prince returned home as quickly as he could.
So you are back,' said the father, the king.
I have seen islands, I have seen princesses, I have seen God,' said the prince reproachfully.
The king was unmoved.
Neither real islands, nor real princesses, I have seen God,' said the prince reproachfully.
The king was unmoved.
Neither real islands, nor real princesses, nor a real God exist.'
I saw them!'
Tell me how God was dressed.'
God was in full evening dress.'
Were the sleeves of his coat rolled back?'
The prince remembered that they had been. The king smiled.
That is the uniform of a magician. You have been deceived.'
At this, the prince returned to the next land, and went to the same shore, where once again he came upon the man in full evening dress.
My father the king has told me who you are,' said the young prince indignantly. 'You deceived me last time, but not again. Now I know that those are not real islands and real princesses, because you are a magician.'
The man on the shore smiled.
It is you who are deceived, my boy. In your father's kingdom there are many islands and many princesses. But you are under your father's spell, so you cannot see them.'
The prince pensively returned home. When he saw his father, he looked him in the eyes.
Father, is it true that you are not a real king, but only a magician?'
The king smiled, and rolled back his sleeves.
Yes, my son, I am only a magician.'
Then the man on the shore was God.'
The man on the shore was another magician.'
I must know the real truth, the truth beyond magic.'
There is no truth beyond magic,' said the king.
The prince was full of sadness.
He said, 'I will kill myself.'
The king by magic caused death to appear. Death stood in the door and beckoned to the prince. The prince shuddered. He remembered the beautiful but unreal islands and the unreal but beautiful princesses.
Very well,' he said. 'I can bear it.'
You see, my son,' said the king, 'you too now begin to be a magician.
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John Fowles