Hamish X and the Hollow Mountain by Sean Cullen

his head. Then he turned his gaze on Parveen and Mimi. His eyes were kind. “Now, tell me your story, every bit of it. How did you come to be here? Leave nothing out.”
    So Mimi and Parveen told the whole sad and sorry tale of how they ended up at Windcity Orphanage and Cheese Factory. They told of Viggo and of Mrs. Francis and her kindness. They told of cheese making, misery and woe, and the arrival of Hamish X. They told of their escape plans and the coming of the Cheese Pirates led by the horrible Cheesebeard. They told of their journey north and of Snow Monkey Island. They told of the death of Cheesebeard and the defection of Mr. Kipling and his betrothal to the sweet Mrs. Francis. Finally, they related the story of the destruction of Windcity, the thwarting of Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet, and of the knife’s activation, triggering their trip to Switzerland in search of a King they weren’t even sure existed.
    They switched back and forth in the telling as the raccoons brought tea and cake, cheese and crackers, chocolate and more cheese. The King listened eagerly. He laughed and clapped his hands when he heard about thesnow monkeys and the woolly mammoth and all the little details. When they at last reached the part about the Grey Agents and the knife and their trip across the ocean, he nodded and became thoughtful. It was completely dark outside the window when they finished their story. The King sat back as George (in the form of the two raccoons) cleared away the dishes and poured them glasses of cold glacier water, straight from the fountain.
    â€œWhat an amazing tale,” the King said after a moment’s silent reflection. “You’ve already overcome so many obstacles, and then to take such a long journey on such scanty evidence.” He shook his head and clucked his tongue softly. “You are very brave indeed. Hamish X was lucky to find such friends.”
    Mimi plunked down her glass and levelled a green-eyed stare at the King. “I think we’ve waited long enough. Ya heard our story. What’s yers?”
    â€œMimi,” Parveen said sharply. To Liam he said, “She’s a bit rude, but she means well.”
    â€œAnd she’s right!” The King pushed himself to his feet. Deftly plucking one of his crutches from the hook, he pivoted away to look out over the mountainside. Blue gas lamps flickered softly in an almost imperceptible breeze. He leaned his bottom on the window frame and smiled at them. “What do you want to know?”

Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet
    The valley was swarming with agents, combing the area for any sign of Hamish X’s passing. The agents wore grey field uniforms, covered in pockets. They had thick belts hung with pouches and grey helmets covered their heads, leaving only their begoggled faces exposed.
    Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet sat in the cab of a truck with the engine idling. They surveyed the data coming in from the satellite cameras high above in orbit. The satellites were owned by the many governments the ODA had business with, commandeered despite vigorous protests from said governments. Nothing could be allowed to interfere with the search. Nothing.
    A female agent came to the door of the truck and rapped on the window. Mr. Candy pressed a button and the window descended.
    â€œNo sign of the fugitives, Agent Candy. They seem to have vanished.”
    â€œThey can’t have vanished, Agent Fudge,” Mr. Candy snapped. “Keep searching.”
    Agent Fudge nodded and turned away. Mr. Candy raised the window. Mr. Sweet was studying a small screen, his face outlined in the blue glow. He tapped a button and pictures flashed by.

    â€œNothing on the satellite photos. Neither in infrared nor ultraviolet spectrum.”
    â€œWe must find them. They can’t have just disappeared.” Mr. Candy leaned in to scan the pictures.
    â€œWe must assume the King of Switzerland is involved. We find the King and his infamous