and find a place to stow this ship. Hamish X must be taken to the medical lab immediately. Thereâs no time to waste.â
The raccoons moved forward to enter the ship.
Mimi blocked the way. Hands on her hips, she scowled. âJust hold yer ⦠raccoons, mister. We ainât gonna jest hand ar friend over jest like that. Hamish X and the kids and nobody else ainât goinâ anywhere until you tell us whatâs goinâ on and why. Weâve come all the way from Windcity Orphanage and Cheese Factory âcause our friend needs some help.â
âMimi!â Mrs. Francis was about to scold her, but the King held up a pale hand.
âOf course, you are correct, Mimi. You are being asked to trust me and take everything on faith. I know thatâs hard because your life up to this point has been filled with mistrust, disappointment, and heartbreak. What can I tell you that will soothe your fears?â
âWhere exactly are we at?â Mimi said. âIf it ainât too much trouble.â
âAh,â King Liam smiled. âLet me explain. You are in my kingdom: the Hollow Mountain. The Hollow City. You are safe here for as long as you wish to stay. Come with me, please. I have food and drink and a place for you to rest. Youâve come a long way.â
Mimi and Parveen wanted nothing more than to eat and rest. They hadnât been able to let down their guardsince Mr. Candy and Mr. Sweet had come to take Hamish X away. Still though, Mimi crossed her arms over her chest and defiantly set her jaw.
âYou listen here, yer worship, highness or whatever,â she said sternly. âWeâve been brought all the way here and we ainât goinâ a step further until we gets some kinda explanation. Yer Guards hereââshe jabbed a thumb at Aidan and Caraââthey wouldnât tell us nuthinâ. What is this place? Who are you? Why did you give Hamish X that knife and whatâs goinâ on with ar friend? He ainât been the sanest fellar I ever met from day one but things just took a turn fer the worse and I want to make shore heâs gonna be all right.â
Liam looked at her for a moment and he smiled. He winked at her and chuckled softly. âYou were right in your report, Aidan. She is a force to be reckoned with. Mimi and Parveen, I understand your reluctance and your fears. Iâm pleased Hamish X fell in with such good souls. He has such a weight on his shoulders and he couldnât have better people to share his load. All will be explained, I promise you.â He gestured towards the crutches in his hands. âI am not in the best of health, as Iâm sure youâve noticed. Standing for a long time can be a chore. There is another reason weâve got to hurry. Hamish X is in a perilous state. Each hour that passes is dangerous for him. I wish to restore him to his proper self. My technicians and I have developed a process that may be able to waken him and heal him. I ask only that you give me the benefit of the doubt.â
Mimi frowned. She looked to Parveen, who shrugged. âI donât know what else to do,â he said. âI suppose we have to trust someone.â
âIn your shoes Iâd be suspicious, too,â the King said.âCan we compromise? Hamish X must be prepared for the process. While my people are doing that, weâll eat and Iâll tell you what I know. If you still feel the same fears, you can take Hamish X and go on your way. Deal?â The King held out his hand.
Mimi narrowed her eyes and hesitated. Finally, she said, âHereâs the conditions: Mr. Kipling and Mrs. Francis go with Hamish X and he donât leave their sight fer even a second. We hear yer tale and if we think yer on the up-and-up, weâll let ya do yer process er whatever.â Mimi held out her hand.
The King beamed and shook Mimiâs hand. âFollow me.â
He carefully wheeled around