The Code
Image from EoinColfer.com, but I have taken out some of the grid lines, to make it easier on the eye.
There are 2 different codes hidden in different versions of this book. They are both decoded on this page.
New UK Version Decoded
“The first reference to Artemis Fowl in the human media is in a newspaper article from Dublin chronicle. Artemis made the paper by solving the riddle of the mayor of Dublin’s chains.
The mayor held a press conference, to appeal for help after the cities priceless chains of office were stolen. Artemis managed to persuade his bodyguard to bring him along.
When the reporters had finished asking their questions, Artemis raised his hand. The Mayor allowed the small boy to ask his question, expecting something simple and childlike. Instead Artemis asked him, to name three kinds of butterfly.
When the mayor could not answer, Artemis stood on his chair and addressed the journalists present. He told them that in his opinion the mayoral chains could not have been stolen from the secure vault or taken from around the mayor’s neck without his knowledge. So this man could not be the mayor, he must be an imposter.
The proof of this was that the real mayor was a keen butterfly collector and would most certainly have been able to answer Artemis’ question. Most journalists laughed, but one did not. He suggested that the mayor allow himself to be fingerprinted.
The man calling himself mayor panicked and ran.
It was later discovered that this man was indeed an imposter. He was the mayors own twin brother.
The real mayor was being held in a warehouse in the south of the city. The plan was to hold him for a week while his twin’s gang looted the mayoral mansion and cashed the insurance cheque for the ceremonial chains.
Artemis Fowl was six years old when he foiled this plan.”
Decoded by Kristian Haaber. Thanks Kristian!
Original UK Version Decoded
“The prophecies of Ohm, phlegm pot cleaner, to Frond, elfen king.
I am Ohm, phlegm pot cleaner to the king, but I am much more than that for I see the future written in the phlegm. For centuries we pixies have read the phlegm, but I am the best there has ever been. My visions are generally of little importance, I foretell outbreaks of troll pox or gas spasms among elderly dwarfs, but sometimes even a poor pot cleaner can see wondrous things. A vision came to me two moons ago when I was gazing deep into his majesty’s own phlegm pot. I was heating the pot over a flame when the sign appeared. This vision was more vivid and detailed than any I had previously seen. Because of its importance I decided to write it down for posterity and so I can say I told you so.
I saw an age when the People have been driven underground by the Mud Men. This is what the phlegm told me. In this time one shall come among us, Fowl by name and foul by nature, a mud man unlike any other. He shall learn our secrets and use them against us. I see him now as plain as day. His face is pale he has dark eyes and raven hair.
Yet it must be a mistake for he seems a mere youth. Surely no mud boy could outwit the People, but now I see that the boy is not alone. He is aided by a formidable warrior, scared from a thousand battles. This Fowl shall hold the People to ransom for their most precious possession, gold, and in spite of all our magic there is still a chance that he will prevail, for he has discovered how to escape the time field.
Unfortunately how the story ends I cannot say, but there was more to see. There is another story to come. Someone will bring the People and the Mud Men together. The worst of both races. This fairy’s goal is to grind all the creatures to earth beneath his boot. And who is traitor its is not clear, but he shall start a war unlike anything the People have ever seen. Those who were enemies shall be united against him, and for the first time there will be mud men below ground.
I have one clue to his identity, a riddle.
Goblins shall rise and Haven shall fall.
A villainous elf is behind it all,
To find the one who so disappoints,
Look ye to where the finger points.
Instead of one face this elf has two,
Both speak false and none speak true.
While publicly he lends a helping hand,
His true aim is to seize command.
I know. Its not very plain is it I don’t understand either, but perhaps in the future all will become clear. Look for a powerhungry elf who has a finger pointed at him during our tale. And so, this is Ohm’s legacy. A warning that may save the world from total destruction.
There’s not much to work with I know. The details are a bit sketchy. My advice to you is to consult the phlegm. It may be that you are sensitive. I have buried this prophecy with my phlegm pot. If you are not fortunate enough to work as a pot cleaner then there is usually a supply of phlegm every time you have a cold. Here ends the first prophecy of Ohm.
Because of the importance of my visions I shall repeat the prophecies once more. If you have just begun to understand the text then read on. If you have worked out the entire message then congratulations. Now go and save the world.”
And to explain? Well, Ohm is a phlegm pot cleaner (No comment.). He does not feature anywhere else in the actual stories, so let’s not worry about what other activities he got up to.
What he has predicted comes in two halves. The first half, is an overview of “Artemis Fowl,” the book, and the second half is an overview of “The Arctic Incident.” I’ll say no more in case you haven’t read the book yet, but clearly Eoin Colfer had the plot for The Arctic Incident already thought out when this book was published.
The final two paragraphs have little more use, but they do make the code longer, so I’m not complaining. Near the end, he says, “I shall repeat the prophecies once more.” This may sound confusing on this page, but in the book, this is exactly what happens. The code repeats.
