Hamish X and the Hollow Mountain (13 page)

“This is the first public appearance of Hamish X. He has just defeated the Moscow Seven, a notorious gang of cutthroats who kidnapped children and sold them into slavery. The photo was taken by one of the freed children. This was over eleven years ago.”

“But,” Mimi said, “Hamish X cain't be more than ten. I'm older than him.”

“Exactly.” Pictures flashed by in quick succession. Hamish X clinging to the side of a burning building. He was caught in mid-shout, his boots blazing. The Kickie Shoe Factory sign burned merrily behind him. “Hamish X destroys the Kickie Shoe Factory that employs all child labour. Who delivered him there? The ODA.” A picture of Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet delivering Hamish X to the front gate of Kickie Shoes. “This picture was taken two weeks before Hamish X led the rebellion in the shoe factory. Note the strange handcuffs.” Indeed, the glowing plastic bracelets secured Hamish X's hands.

“The pattern repeats itself ten months later.” The picture shifted. Now Hamish X was on the deck of a ship surrounded by cheering children.

“Hamish X defeats Soybeard the Pirate and smashes his child piracy ring. Six months later, he destroys the child slave rodeo of Spicy Tuna, the infamous Mexican Wrestler.” The next picture showed Hamish X in a wrestling ring fighting a huge man in pink tights.

“Next we find Hamish X in Colombia where he smashes the Malinqué Coffee Cartel. The unscrupulous company exploited child labour to produce cheap coffee
beans.” The next picture was bizarre: Hamish X battling a giant octopus while riding a donkey.
⁴⁰
“And of course, the now famous dance with the Yeti. Hamish X challenged the Abominable Snow Man to a break dance contest.
⁴¹
He won the dance marathon and so freed hundreds of children from the Tibetan Silver
Mines.” The photo showed Hamish X dancing with a large hairy creature. Hamish X was frozen in mid-air as he prepared to undertake a break dancing move known as the “aerial worm.”

Most of the pictures were grainy and looked as if they were taken by eyewitness amateur photographers. Some were of excellent quality. Some were pulled from the newspapers and some were cut from news broadcasts. The King spoke as the pictures flipped by.

“For over a decade, Hamish X has made appearances all over the world. He comes out of nowhere, thwarts some evildoer, and then vanishes without a trace for months on end. Where does he come from? Where does he go?”

“The ODA delivered him to Windcity,” Parveen said. “And then they came to take him back.”

The King nodded. “Strange, isn't it? The ODA agents seem to be everywhere Hamish X is. In fact, they seem to deliver Hamish X to a location where he can damage their interests and the interests of their clients.”

“It don't make no sense.”

“No, Mimi, it don't. Unless Hamish X is part of some larger plan of the ODA, one in which they are willing to sacrifice a few lesser plans to achieve the greater.” He pointed to the latest photo. Hamish X filled the screen, his body displayed from head to toe. The backdrop was a jungle, lush and green. In his hand he held the book
Great Plumbers and Their Exploits
. The boots shone slick and black in the sunlight. The golden eyes were wary as they looked at the camera. “Here is a truly remarkable boy,” the King continued. “These boots he wears: Where did he get them? Why can't he take them off? What is their ultimate purpose? And the book: Why does he carry it everywhere? Why does the ODA allow him to keep it?”

“I have a theory about the book,” Parveen offered. The King leaned forward expectantly. “I have read it very closely. On the surface, it is exactly what it appears to be: a very boring book about plumbers and plumbing. On closer inspection, I have found patterns in the text, repeated words and phrases. I believe the book has a hidden code. Hamish X is compelled to read the book and it teaches him computer code subconsciously.”

The King's mouth popped open in surprise. “Of course. What a brilliant deduction, Parveen!” Liam clicked his tongue and shook his head. “All this time studying Hamish X and that never occurred to me. What a clever person you are.” Parveen blushed. The King's eyes were bright with excitement. “It all fits with my own observations. But I need to prove it once and for all. That's why I need you to trust me. I know your life up to this point has left you mistrustful of anyone but each other, but I need you to believe I have Hamish X's best interests at heart.” The King hobbled over to Parveen and Mimi until he could reach out and grasp their hands. “I have made Hamish X my lifelong project. I believe that if we can unlock his secret we will be able to defeat the ODA and, hopefully, free Hamish X.”

“I got a question,” Mimi said suddenly.

“Ask away.”

“The knife,” Mimi began. “How did Hamish X git it in the first place?”

“Ah,” the King chuckled. “One of my operatives planted it in his boot. It was in Egypt, four years ago …”

“The Happy Smiles Incident?” Parveen asked. “I heard rumours about the uprising there.”

“Correct. I learned that Hamish X had been confined at Happy Smiles, and I decided this was my chance …”

H
AMISH X STOOD AT THE GATE
of the Happy Smiles Orphanage and Souvenir Factory. The entire compound was a smoking ruin. Happy Smiles was a workhouse that churned out cheap plastic replicas of the Pyramids, the Sphinx, mummies, and all sorts of Egyptian memorabilia. Up until that morning it had been run with child labour provided by miserable orphans who slaved under the owner of the factory, Mahkmed Abdul Smith. Mr. Smith, the son of an evil English chiropractor and an Egyptian seamstress, had run the factory with an iron fist. The children were given a handful of rice every day and a cup of water. The poor inmates were expected to work fourteen-hour shifts turning out plastic trinkets that were then sold at the market in Mahkmed Abdul Smith's souvenir stalls.

The children had been resigned to their lives of eternal drudgery and woe until the ODA had brought Hamish X to the factory one day as a new worker. Within two weeks, rebellion was brewing.

In the dark of night, Hamish X led an assault on the guards and captured Mahkmed. The children ran riot and broke down the front gates. Unattended, the plastic pyramid machine overheated and burst into flames. Now, with the children safely fleeing into the streets of Cairo, beyond the reach of the ODA, Hamish X stood in front of the blazing factory enjoying the sight of the conflagration.

“What a magnificent spectacle, eh Mahkmed?” Hamish X sighed. “I've never seen this place look better.”

Mahkmed's only answer was a miserable whimper. Certainly, the sight of his life's work going up in flames was enough of a blow, but the added humiliation of Hamish X standing on his chest made everything slightly more depressing. The soles of the fabled boots dug into Mahkmed's puffy flesh, causing him a great deal of discomfort. His hands and feet were bound tightly together behind his back.

“Well you should whimper, Mahkmed. Does it hurt to be trampled on? Imagine how the children ground under your boot heels these twenty years might feel.”

Hamish X hopped down onto the ground. He picked up his backpack and took one last look at the burning factory. Turning to walk up the street, he was surprised to see a boy his own age standing in his path. The boy was dressed in rags, but Hamish X didn't recognize him from Happy Smiles. Perhaps he was one of the many children who lived rough on the streets of Cairo? He didn't look malnourished. In fact, he looked healthy and fit.

“Hamish X,” the boy said. His teeth flashed white in contrast to the dark skin of his face. “I come from the King of Switzerland.”

“Who?” Hamish X was confused. “There is no King in Switzerland.”

The sound of a distant helicopter made the boy jump. His voice became urgent. “I haven't time. They'll be here soon. The King wants you to have this.” The boy thrust out his hand. In his palm was a pocketknife, shiny and new. A silver cross was inlaid on the side. “Keep it secret. Don't show it to them.” He pointed at the approaching black helicopter. Quickly, he slapped the knife into Hamish X's hand, and with a small wave he darted between two buildings and disappeared.

Puzzled, Hamish X looked at the knife. He hefted it. It felt impossibly light in his palm. The helicopter was coming closer. He looked up into the sky, shielding his eyes against the midday sun. Dust rose as the helicopter descended. Hamish X felt a growing dread as it approached. Looking down at the knife in his palm, he felt a sudden urge to hide it from view. Some instinct told him he should keep the strange object a secret from whoever was in the helicopter. He slid the knife into his left boot.

“Hamish X …” A beautiful female voice emanated from a
speaker on the belly of the helicopter. “Stay where you are. Mother's here.”

“Mother?” The helicopter bore the logo of the ODA, sickly and yellow. Hamish X knew he should run but somehow the Voice compelled him to stand still.

When the craft was on the ground, a side door opened and Mr. Sweet stepped out into the dusty street. “Hamish X. It's time to come back with us …” Hamish X climbed into the hatchway, the knife in his boot forgotten.

THE KING COUGHED
as he finished his story. A raccoon offered him a glass of water which he accepted gratefully. “Thank you, George.” Liam took a sip, his hands shaking so badly that he almost spilled his drink. Refreshed, he went on speaking. “The knife is made of an alloy that is undetectable to X-ray and deep radar. It's a tracking device that has helped me keep tabs on Hamish X and his movements. We found a very interesting pattern.”

The King indicated the screen. A map showed a series of red lines criss-crossing the face of the earth. Hamish X had travelled back and forth in the last four years and there was a definite pattern. All the lines radiated out from a central location on the eastern seaboard of the United States.

“They all lead back to Providence, Rhode Island.”

“The HQ of them Grey Creeps.”

“Every three or four months, Hamish X is released into the world. He has an adventure. The ODA then retrieve him.”

“So he's workin' for the ODA?” Mimi shook her head in disbelief.

“No, dear Mimi. I don't think Hamish X has any idea that they're using him.”

“Why doesn't he remember anything of this?” Parveen asked. “His recollections of his past life and adventures are vague at best. He seems to retain skills and abilities but no long-term memories.”

The King nodded. “Here's where a strange story becomes even stranger. You're right. His lack of memories is very weird. What if I told you that Hamish X, the boy who is your friend, might not really be a boy at all?”

“Wuh?” Mimi crossed her arms. “Whaddya talkin' about? He's a boy all right.”

“A boy in appearance and function, but he is also something more …”

“A computer!” Parveen breathed.

“Got it in one!” Liam smiled.

“A com
pu
ter?” Mimi scoffed. “That's just stupid. Anyone can see he's a kid just like you and me.”

“I don't know, Mimi …” Parveen said. “A boy who never ages? A boy with superhuman abilities? He's like no other boy on earth.”

“He's our friend,” Mimi said flatly. “Shore he's weird and jest now he's more than a little wacko but … he ain't just some … machine.” Mimi's voice cracked as she tried to hold back tears.

The King's voice was calm. “Mimi, I know you care for Hamish X. You're a good friend and that's just what he needs right now. He can't make this decision for himself.” Liam squeezed her shoulder and smiled. “This may be the greatest gift you could give him. Maybe we can find some way to set him free.”

Mimi looked into the King's eyes. She saw nothing but concern. “Will it hurt 'im?”

Liam frowned. “Perhaps.”

Mimi sat back, a fierce scowl on her face. The thought
of people hurting Hamish X made her angry, but she could see no other way.

“Mimi,” Parveen said softly. She turned and looked into his eyes, large and brown behind his thick glasses. “Hamish X is not happy as he is. You can see that. The only hope we have is to trust these people. I suggest we do so.”

Mimi looked at the King. His blue eyes were filled with sympathy. “I promise, we will do everything we can to make sure he isn't harmed.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. She roughly knuckled them away. “Okay. Let's do it. But if anybody hurts him, they answer to me. Understood?”

“Understood.” The King pushed himself to his feet. Reaching for his crutches, he called, “George! Prepare the computer lab!”

Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet

The rain soaked the agents to the skin as they all lined up in front of Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet. They were spattered in mud up to their knees. The green meadow was green no more. The search had churned up the once lovely turf into a morass of black mud.