Read Online Hamish X Goes to Providence Rhode Island by Sean Cullen - Free Book Online Page B

smoke billowed from the stern as the ship coasted gently, slowing as it lost momentum. Hamish X grinned. He had done it. He’d stopped the ship. He pounded the warm water of the sea with his fists, crowing with delight. “Ha! It worked! It worked! I did it … I …”
    His delight suddenly ebbed when he saw how close the rocks loomed. In the gathering dawn light they glistened in the pounding spray. A rainbow hung over the black stone teeth, but Hamish X couldn’t take time to appreciate its beauty. The ship, deprived of power, was drifting on the current. The inexorable pull of the sea would grind the ship to pieces.
    His work wasn’t over yet.
    â€œBoy,” he spat out another mouthful of sea, “you solve one problem and create another. Life can be very annoying.” He smiled ruefully and began to swim after the wayward vessel.

Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet
    Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet strode along the causeway through the forest of harnessed children hanging in the air. In a state of suspended animation, the children were oblivious to everything around them. They didn’t notice the two Grey Agents passing below.
    â€œMr. Candy, we seem to be no further ahead than we were before.”
    â€œWe’ve managed to destroy the King of Switzerland and root out his rat’s nest of resistance. That’s certainly a plus.” Mr. Candy waved a gloved hand distractedly at the children hanging overhead. “And we reaped a good haul of battery power for the portal generator.”
    â€œIndeed,” Mr. Sweet nodded, ducking his head in the odd, birdlike manner common to the Grey Agents to indicate his agreement. “The Hall of Batteries is completely full. Some of the units are rather immature . . .” He poked a little girl hanging at shoulder height, setting her swinging gently. “But that can’t be helped. We’ll need every possible source of energy to open the portal.”
    They walked through the sterilized airlock and onto the catwalk, looking out over the vast chamber that held the massive circlet, cables snaking away into the many machines at its base. Grey Agents climbed like ants on the giant structure as it pulsed faintly, castinga sickly glow over the faces of Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet as they stood at the rail admiring the horrible apparatus.
    â€œSo beautiful,” Mr. Candy breathed with an emotion and reverence rarely expressed in his cold, antiseptic voice. “Soon the worlds will align and the portal will be ready.”
    â€œYes,” Mr. Sweet agreed. Their rapt faces stared up at their horrible machine. Its flashes of energy were reflected in their insectile goggles as they admired the portal.
    â€œBut we still lack the final, crucial component, Mr. Candy.”
    â€œIndeed, Mr. Sweet. Indeed. We must retrieve Hamish X at whatever cost. The time is growing short.”
    They turned from the rail and headed down the catwalk to an elevator with dull metallic doors. When they were a few metres short of the elevator, Mr. Sweet stopped suddenly. He spun around and faced back the way they had come, cocking his head and scanning the catwalk.
    â€œWhat is it, Mr. Sweet?” Mr. Candy stepped up beside him.
    â€œMr. Candy, I don’t know. I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye.”
    â€œWhat kind of something?”
    â€œI’m not sure,” Mr. Sweet said, annoyed. He hated not being sure. For an instant, he’d thought he’d seen a human shape just at the edge of his vision. He scanned the catwalk intently for a moment, but he couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. There was only stone and metal decking and nothing more. “I thought I saw someone. An intruder.”

    â€œSurely you are mistaken,” Mr. Candy said. “Who could intrude on our Headquarters? Who could possibly penetrate our defences?” 44
    Mr. Sweet scanned the catwalk a final time and shrugged. “Indeed, Mr.