Hamish X and the Cheese Pirates by Sean Cullen Page B

darkened and his strange eyes flashed. “Because she can’t. I have to find her! That’s the way it has to be!” he snapped.
    Mimi flinched. “Whatever you say! Don’t get yerself in a lather!”
    As quickly as his anger came, it went away again. Hamish X smiled sheepishly. “I’m sorry. I’m a little sensitive about Mother.”
    â€œWell, how come you haven’t managed to crack the code? In all these years?”
    â€œIf it was easy to crack, it would hardly be a secret code, would it?”
    Mimi had no answer to that.
    Parveen bent over the book, examining it minutely through his thick glasses. He looked at Hamish.
    â€œMay I?” he asked.
    Hamish X narrowed his eyes and clutched the book tightly. Parveen held out his open hands. “I promise I’ll give it right back.” Hamish X hesitated a moment longer, then handed the book to Parveen.
    Parveen ran his hands over the cover. The book was bound in leather and inlaid with gold leaf. It would have been very valuable had its subject not been so obviously boring. Parveen carefully opened the cover and flipped through the pages. There were diagrams and black ink illustrations throughout. The print was fine and dense. Parveen studied the book silently for a moment. “I would very much like to examine this at leisure, Hamish X.Perhaps I could help you decipher something, given time.”
    Hamish X shook his head, snatching the book back. “Only I can crack the code. I have to do it alone.” He placed the book on his cot. Then he picked up the rucksack and dumped the rest of his belongings onto the scratchy grey flannel blanket that covered the bed.
    â€œNot a lot to show for myself,” he said, looking at the meagre bundle of possessions. “Just these things and, of course, my boots.” He plunked them on the floor: one, two.
    â€œMay I?” Parveen asked again, pulling a magnifying glass out of the pocket of his overalls.
    Hamish X smiled. “Be my guest.”
    Parveen spent the next five minutes examining the strange boots in detail. He tapped them. He stroked them. He lifted each one and looked at the knobby soles. Finally, he sat back on his heels. “Where did you get them?” he asked.
    â€œI don’t remember exactly,” Hamish said. “It sounds weird but … I’ve always had them. I can’t remember a time when they weren’t on my feet.” He laughed.
    â€œC’mon,” Mimi scoffed. “You tryin’ to tell us those boots grow with ya?”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you, Mimi. And what’s even weirder is, I’ve never, ever taken them off.”
    â€œYou’ve never seen your own feet?” Parveen’s eyes were wide behind his glasses, which made him look even more owlish. “That is truly disturbing!”
    â€œHow is it even possible?” Mimi said. “How can boots grow?”
    Hamish X shrugged. “I only know what I’ve seen with my own eyes. They’re my best friends, these boots!” Heslapped the shiny black footwear. “They’ve been with me through thick and thin. I like to think maybe a wizard put them on me. That they’re magic or something.”
    â€œWhatever!” Mimi rolled her eyes. “Got any other surprises?”
    He looked around him to check that they weren’t being watched. All the children were in the cafeteria and the one guard, Hammerface, was dozing in a chair by the wall.
    â€œJust this,” he whispered.
    Hamish stuffed the fingers of his right hand down the side of his right boot. With a flourish like a magician in a stage show, he produced a bulky Swiss Army pocketknife.
    The knife looked like most Swiss Army knives; red on the sides with an inlaid Swiss Cross, utensils neatly folded into the centre. The only difference was in the number of utensils: there were too many to count. The knife practically