The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, #3)

by Eoin Colfer

Holly snorted. “What do you want me to do? Cut it off and take it with us?” Artemis’s silence was response enough. “What? You want me to cut off his thumb? Are you insane?” Artemis waited patiently for the outburst to pass. “Listen to me, Captain. It’s only a temporary measure. The thumb can be reattached. True?” Holly raised her palms. “Just shut up, Artemis. Just close your mouth. And I thought you’d changed. The commander was right. There’s no changing human nature.” “Four minutes,” persisted Artemis. “We have four minutes to crack the vault and get back. Spiro won’t feel a thing.” Holly felt as though her helmet were shrinking. “Artemis, I’ll stun you, so help me.” “Think, Holly. I had no choice but to lie about my plan. Would you have agreed if I had told you earlier?” “No. And I’m not agreeing now.” Artemis’s face glowed as pale as the walls. “You have to, Captain. There is no other way.”