The Faceless Ones (Skulduggery Pleasant - Book 3) by Derek Landy Page B

end up.
    The front door opened and Valkyrie walked in, dropped her coat on the floor, and sprawled on the sofa. Skulduggery walked in after her, picked up her coat, folded it neatly, and put it on the table.
    "Will you be okay there?" he asked. "Do you want anything to eat or drink?"
    "You never have anything to eat or drink," Valkyrie said, her words muffled by the cushion her face had sunk into.
    "I think I have some leftover pizza from last time you were here."
    "That was two weeks ago."
    "You think it's gone off?"
    "I think it's walked off. Really, I'm fine. Have you figured out what the Isthmus Anchor is yet? "
    "I'm ... working on it."
    "You might want to work faster. When are we going to look for the gate?"
    "First thing in the morning."
    Valkyrie sighed. "In that case, I need to get some sleep."
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    ***
    Friday came, with a morning that threatened rain, and they drove out of Dublin, took the motorway, and turned off at Balbriggan. Half an hour later, they pulled up beside a sign that announced, in faded red letters, that this was Aranmore Farm and that it was private property. The land was vast, with hills and meadows that stretched out till the woodland that bordered it.
    "So this is where the world ends," Valkyrie said, putting the map away. "Certainly prettier than I'd imagined."
    Skulduggery put the Bentley in gear, and they started up the hill. Long grasses grew on either side of the track, and the wheels rumbled heavily. A white farmhouse came into view, with a slate roof and large windows. Behind it, stone sheds of varying sizes surrounded a yard in which old farm machinery stood in neat lines.
    They reached the house and Skulduggery turned off the engine. He made sure his disguise was in place, and then they both got out.
    They approached the front door and Valkyrie knocked. She knocked again and looked back at Skulduggery.
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    "Who do you think lives here?"
    "At a guess? A farmer."
    "You're amazing,'' she said dryly.
    "A single farmer," Skulduggery continued, "living alone. Never married, by the looks of things. No children. I'd say he'd be in his early seventies, judging by the clothes on the line we passed."
    "We passed a clothesline?"
    "What have I told you about keeping your eye out for details?"
    "You said I shouldn't worry about that because I have you to do it for me."
    "Yes, I'm pretty sure that's the exact opposite of what I said."
    "Maybe he's taking an afternoon nap or something." Valkyrie peered in through the window. "I don't think there's anybody around."
    "That's lovely, that is," said a voice from behind them, and they turned to see an elderly man striding toward them. He had wiry gray hair, bald on top, and a large nose. He was dressed in a tattered shirt with black suspenders holding up his trousers, which were in turn tucked into mucky Wellington boots. "Reach a certain age and suddenly you're a nobody, suddenly you're not even worth counting. You know
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    the problem with people your age, young lady?"
    Valkyrie remembered her talk with Kenspeckle. "We think we'll live forever?" she answered hopefully.
    "You have no respect for your elders."
    She scowled, wondering how she could ever get that one right if the answer kept changing.
    "So what do you want?" the farmer continued. "Why have you come all the way down here? And you," he said, turning his attention to Skulduggery, "why are you all wrapped up like the Invisible Man? You got something wrong with your face? "
    "Actually," Skulduggery said, "yes. My name is Skulduggery Pleasant. This is my associate, Valkyrie Cain."
    "What, do they give out prizes for silly names now? "
    "And you are ...?"
    "Hanratty," the old man said. "Patrick Hanratty."
    "Mr. Hanratty--" Valkyrie began, but he shook his head.
    "Call me Paddy."
    "Okay, Paddy--"
    "Wait, I've changed my mind. Call me Mr. Hanratty."
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    Valkyrie smiled patiently. "Have you noticed any strange people in the area lately?"
    "Strange how? Strange like you, or just normal strange?