Hamish X Goes to Providence Rhode Island Read Free Page B

deal with any guff from you bunch o’ shrimps. Are you gonna help us or are we gonna have to make ya sorry ya didn’t? I started this day at a wedding. Don’t make me end it at a funeral.”
    She planted her fists on her hips and stuck out her chin, waiting for a response.
    The little people looked at one another, then at the hawkish face of the girl glowering at them. They looked at the crowd of children who stared back with determined faces. Mr. Kipling’s hand fell to the hilt of his sabre.

    â€œSurely, there’s no need for threats.” Xnasos smiled unctuously, 14 showing yellow, unhealthy-looking teeth. “We just have to be cautious. Our realm is a secret that has been kept for centuries—”
    â€œMillennia,” one of the others offered. She was a short, bandy-legged female who wore a skirt of what looked like fish skins.
    â€œI’m talking! It’s me who’s the talking one. My turn. We agreed.”
    â€œWell, just be accurate,” the woman said evenly. “It’s more like millennia.”
    â€œFine. Millennia.”
    â€œFine.”
    â€œFine.”
    â€œHey,” Mimi interrupted the witty repartee. “Are ya gonna help us or not?”
    The one called Xnasos rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Grey Agents, you say?” He shot a worried glance at his sister, who frowned. “Most dangerous, they are. We certainly don’t want to attract their attention. Another good reason for us to send you packing.”
    â€œBut we did swear a pact with the King of the Hollow Mountain,” Xnasha insisted. “And, brother, they are children!”
    The little people murmured their agreement. Xnasos looked vexed. He glared at Mimi and her companions.
    â€œXnasos,” Xnasha repeated softly. “We swore an oath.”

    â€œI heard you the first time!” Xnasos barked, furious. He glared his sister into silence.
    â€œWell?” Mimi prompted.
    Xnasos stepped forward, and after one more disdainful look at Mimi, he sneered. “We refuse your appeal for shelter.”
    Cara’s voice was sharp. “You can’t do that. You had a deal with the King of Switzerland. We were to come here for help.”
    The strangers scuffed their sandals against the stone floor, looking uncomfortable. Xnasha seemed embarrassed. Xnasos shook his head and raised a pedantic 15 finger. “We had a deal with a King of Switzerland. Not necessarily the King of Switzerland who is your King of Switzerland!” The pale eyes flickered back and forth. “And I don’t see a King of Switzerland anywhere. So … the deal’s off.”
    Mimi reached over her shoulder and pulled her fighting stick from its sheath on her back. She swung the stick once around her head and settled into a combat stance, her left foot forward, the stick held menacingly in front of her. “All right. I ain’t gonna take no fer an answer. I’ve had a bad day. The worst. We ain’t gonna leave.”
    Cara took up position next to Mimi. Mr. Kipling drew his sabre, the slice of steel on leather echoing off the stone walls. The little people shrank back, raising their various weapons and retreating towards their weird shining dome.
    â€œStop this foolishness at once!” Mrs. Francis’s voice froze everybody in his or her tracks. She pushed her way through the ring of children to arrive in front of thefierce-looking pack of stunted creatures. Mimi was alarmed to see Mrs. Francis place herself within striking distance of the weapons in their gnarled hands. The former housekeeper showed no sign of fear, however. She puffed herself up as large as she could and stamped her soiled satin-encased foot. “How dare you refuse shelter to these children? They are hungry and frightened and in need of your help.”
    â€œI wasn’t really—,” Xnasos began, only to be cut off by Mrs. Francis.
    â€œNo, you weren’t really!