Hamish X Goes to Providence Rhode Island Read Online Free
Author: Sean Cullen
Really!â Mrs. Francisâs face flushed with fury as she stamped her small foot again. âI demand that you live up to your promise to provide aid and assistance to the King. Why ⦠itâs the right thing to do, seeing that the Hollow Mountain is destroyed and the King probably ⦠probably â¦â She burst into tears, burying her face in Mr. Kiplingâs shoulder.
Xnasos and his fellows lowered their weapons and hung their heads, suddenly finding the stone floor fascinating in the extreme. Finally, Xnasos said sheepishly, âMadam, thereâs no need for tears. We were just being cautious. We canât be too careful any more. The Grey Agents are formidable enemies. We canât risk war with the ODA. There are not so many of us as there once were.â He looked up and his big blue eyes were full of sadness. âThe Hollow Mountain destroyed?â He shook his head. âThe pact we made was one of mutual protection and safe haven. I never thought weâd see the day when the King of Switzerland needed our help. But this is a grave decision, affecting us all. We must debate.â He bowed and his fellows followed suit. âWe have to be certain that you are deserving to enter the great and hallowed undersea realm of Atlantis!â
Chapter 3
PARVEEN
A sudden, jarring thud woke Parveen from a fitful sleep. He groaned, stretching his stiff, cramped muscles. The compartment he shared with his unconscious sister was barely spacious enough to accommodate one person, and that was under the assumption that the person in question was drugged, stunned, or otherwise incapacitated. Parveen had spent the entire trip from the Hollow Mountain jammed to one side of the cubbyhole, fighting a growing claustrophobic panic. 16
Parveen had no idea how long the journey had taken between the Hollow Mountain and their destination. Initially filled with terror, anxious that the Grey Agents might discover him as a stowaway, he had done his best to stay alert. Eventually, however, the lulling sound of the engines and the featureless dark of the compartment had conspired to drag him down into sleep.
Now, it appeared, they had arrived at their destination. The low throbbing of engines, whose deep vibration had pervaded the entire craft, suddenly cut out. Parveen felt its absence pulsating in his bones.
âNow what?â he whispered to himself. He had taken to talking to himself, just to keep from losing his grip. The fear and panic were so close to the surface. He had always thought he didnât need any company, preferring to immerse himself in lonely study and solitary pursuits, but something had changed. Being part of the community of the Hollow Mountain, finding his sister again, and the adventures heâd experienced with Mimi and Hamish X had changed him. Now, in this dark coffin, he wished he could speak to anyone, see a familiar face.
âI guess weâre on our own,â he said to the inert form of Noor, asleep or unconscious beside him. He couldnât tell. Her breathing was regular and steady, but she didnât stir as a normal sleeping person might. Parveen dug in his knapsack and fished out a small but powerful flashlight. He twisted it on and looked at his sisterâs sleeping face.
Her normally dark skin was pale and sickly. Her smooth black hair was gathered in a ponytail, coiled behind her head like a pillow.
âI wish youâd wake up,â Parveen whispered. âI could use your help.â
He shone the thin flashlight beam around the enclosed compartment. Just after he had crept into the cubbyhole with his sister, a hatch had slammed down, sealing them in. He had tried everything he could to open the hatch, but there was no catch on the inside. Even if there had been an inner access panel for the electronic lock, he didnât have the tools to deal with it. He had explored every inch of the compartment and found only a small drain at one end,down
Xnasos and his fellows lowered their weapons and hung their heads, suddenly finding the stone floor fascinating in the extreme. Finally, Xnasos said sheepishly, âMadam, thereâs no need for tears. We were just being cautious. We canât be too careful any more. The Grey Agents are formidable enemies. We canât risk war with the ODA. There are not so many of us as there once were.â He looked up and his big blue eyes were full of sadness. âThe Hollow Mountain destroyed?â He shook his head. âThe pact we made was one of mutual protection and safe haven. I never thought weâd see the day when the King of Switzerland needed our help. But this is a grave decision, affecting us all. We must debate.â He bowed and his fellows followed suit. âWe have to be certain that you are deserving to enter the great and hallowed undersea realm of Atlantis!â
Chapter 3
PARVEEN
A sudden, jarring thud woke Parveen from a fitful sleep. He groaned, stretching his stiff, cramped muscles. The compartment he shared with his unconscious sister was barely spacious enough to accommodate one person, and that was under the assumption that the person in question was drugged, stunned, or otherwise incapacitated. Parveen had spent the entire trip from the Hollow Mountain jammed to one side of the cubbyhole, fighting a growing claustrophobic panic. 16
Parveen had no idea how long the journey had taken between the Hollow Mountain and their destination. Initially filled with terror, anxious that the Grey Agents might discover him as a stowaway, he had done his best to stay alert. Eventually, however, the lulling sound of the engines and the featureless dark of the compartment had conspired to drag him down into sleep.
Now, it appeared, they had arrived at their destination. The low throbbing of engines, whose deep vibration had pervaded the entire craft, suddenly cut out. Parveen felt its absence pulsating in his bones.
âNow what?â he whispered to himself. He had taken to talking to himself, just to keep from losing his grip. The fear and panic were so close to the surface. He had always thought he didnât need any company, preferring to immerse himself in lonely study and solitary pursuits, but something had changed. Being part of the community of the Hollow Mountain, finding his sister again, and the adventures heâd experienced with Mimi and Hamish X had changed him. Now, in this dark coffin, he wished he could speak to anyone, see a familiar face.
âI guess weâre on our own,â he said to the inert form of Noor, asleep or unconscious beside him. He couldnât tell. Her breathing was regular and steady, but she didnât stir as a normal sleeping person might. Parveen dug in his knapsack and fished out a small but powerful flashlight. He twisted it on and looked at his sisterâs sleeping face.
Her normally dark skin was pale and sickly. Her smooth black hair was gathered in a ponytail, coiled behind her head like a pillow.
âI wish youâd wake up,â Parveen whispered. âI could use your help.â
He shone the thin flashlight beam around the enclosed compartment. Just after he had crept into the cubbyhole with his sister, a hatch had slammed down, sealing them in. He had tried everything he could to open the hatch, but there was no catch on the inside. Even if there had been an inner access panel for the electronic lock, he didnât have the tools to deal with it. He had explored every inch of the compartment and found only a small drain at one end,down
Readers choose
Jordan Ervin
Karen Robards
Alton Gansky
Vicki Keire
Meredith Woerner
Danielle Sosin
Jinx Morgan
Meg Cabot
Adrian eng Smith