Hamish X and the Hollow Mountain Read Online Free PDF Page A

reflect the flowers. The chameleon paint was workingperfectly. It had even managed to mimic the splashes of lighter green that represented the vomit-covered rabbits.
    A section of the airship’s stern dropped slowly on hydraulic hinges to reveal the cargo hold. As soon as the ramp touched the grass several children dashed down its length, holding long ropes threaded through metal pegs. They hammered the pegs into the ground with wooden mallets.
    When the ship was secure, swaying slightly in the breeze, Mr. Kipling, Mrs. Francis, Mimi, and Parveen strolled down the ramp and looked around. A little boy saluted Mr. Kipling. “The ship is secure.”
    â€œExcellent work, children.” Mr. Kipling leaned on Mrs. Francis and breathed deeply. “Well, we’ve made it. Welcome to Switzerland.”
    â€œIt’s beautiful,” Mrs. Francis whispered reverently. “Look at the mountains …”
    â€œThe blue sky,” Parveen added.
    â€œAnd get a load o’ those rabbits all covered in puke,” Mimi said with disgust.
    â€œWe don’t have time to waste,” Parveen said. “The ODA may track us at any moment.”
    Mimi surveyed the empty field and scowled. “Are you sure these is the coordinates? It don’t seem like nuthin’ is here. Either the King o’ Switzerland is a barf-covered rabbit or he ain’t around.”
    â€œThis is the exact location stipulated by the knife.” Parveen surveyed the valley, a hand shielding his eyes from the morning sun.
    â€œBut why’re we out in the middle o’ nowhere? Shouldn’t there be a town er a farmhouse er even a barn er sumthin’?”
    â€œI assume the King wanted us to stay away from the major centres of population to avoid being spotted by theODA. He seems to be cautious. Otherwise, he would have been found out long ago.”
    â€œHow do we know this ain’t all a trap? Maybe he’s workin’ fer the Grey Agents his own self.”
    â€œWhy go to all this trouble?”
    Mimi glowered and scuffed the grass with her toe. “I ain’t figgered that out yet.”
    Mr. Kipling raised his ancient binoculars 16 and scanned the surrounding mountains. “No one in sight. Which is not to say that they mightn’t be watching us from a hidden vantage point.” He smiled and laid a hand on Mrs. Francis’s shoulder. “It might be nice for the children to get out of the ship. A little sunshine, eh? Chance to play … Blow off some steam, what? Every child needs a little playtime.”
    â€œGood idea.” Mrs. Francis nodded primly and waddled back up the ramp into the ship.
    AN HOUR LATER , the former inmates of Windcity Orphanage and Cheese Factory were happily playing in the shadow of the Orphan Queen . Certainly, they had gained their freedom from the oppressive Viggo when Hamish X had rescued them from the Cheese Pirates, but this was the first real taste of true liberty in a place where liberty might actually be quite pleasant. Being free inWindcity wasn’t really like being free at all. Here, under the warm sun, with beautiful mountains all around and green grass underfoot, the orphans could finally breathe easily and revel in their newfound state. Their eyes had shone as they piled out of the airship and onto the green meadow, shouting and laughing, tumbling and wrestling in the clear morning air.
    The older children had begun an impromptu 17 game of soccer on the grassy meadow. The children too young to play soccer happily played tag or duck-duck-goose. The ones too small to play duck-duck-goose were very small indeed and amused themselves by gurgling and tugging on their own feet. Some of the youngest hugged soiled rabbits, much to the chagrin of Mrs. Francis, who took the rabbits from the disappointed children and rinsed the poor creatures in the galley sink.
    And now Mr. Kipling sat smoking his pipe, keeping a watchful eye over the children while