Secret Safari (3 page)

EJ saw that there were five silver CHARMs (Clever Hidden Accessories with Release Mechanism) lying on the table in front of A1: a button, a hot air balloon, what looked like a skinny-tailed squirrel standing on its back legs, and a camera.

‘I already have a camera on my phone,' said EJ.

‘Not a camera like this you don't,' replied A1. ‘This is another charm developed by the animal division. It's a camera-catch.'

‘It's a what?'

‘Treating wild animals can be dangerous. We need to catch them and keep them calm while we help them. That's where camera-catch comes in. You simply aim the camera at the animal and click, a net shoots out around the animal and releases a completely safe gas that puts them gently to sleep. We have encased it all in a camera so as not to arouse suspicion.' A1 chuckled. ‘You could say we catch them on camera! And, no, EJ, it cannot be used on brothers.'

How did A1 know I was thinking that?
wondered EJ.

‘I just do, EJ. Now, let's continue,' said A1. ‘The button is your camouflage charm. It will change the colour of your clothes and anything attached to you to blend in with your surroundings. The hot air balloon charm will, on activation, inflate to a fully operational and motorised hot air balloon. Your flight training has been superb, EJ, and I believe you are ready to pilot yourself.'

EJ smiled. She had practised her aviation skills a lot and was proud that it had paid off.

‘And is that a squirrel charm, A1?' asked EJ.

‘It's a meerkat,' said A1, picking up the little animal charm, ‘well, a meerkat-cam charm. It's a multi-use alarm system—you can thank IJ12 for that one, she developed it after seeing the
SHADOW
's bird-cam.'

She passed it to EJ, who looked closely and could see it was indeed a cute little meerkat, holding its front paws up. Cute and effective.

‘Finally, there is an upgraded animal food dispenser,' said A1, passing another charm to EJ. ‘It replaces your other feeding charms.'

‘No heart charm?' EJ asked A1. She was a little disappointed.
SHINE
heart charms were often used to encourage agents when a mission got tough.

‘Not this time, EJ,' said A1. ‘But we don't always supply them for missions. Help can come in other ways, you know.'

‘Okay,' said EJ, not completely sure what A1 meant nor happy about another change from normal. As she attached the charms to her bracelet, she remembered something else she needed to ask A1. ‘I do have one more question, it's not really related but …'

‘About Nema?' asked A1.

‘Yes,' said EJ. ‘Why is she back at school? Shouldn't she be in
SHINE
detention for her work on the diamond robbery at Christmas?'

‘There is a
SHINE
motto,' said A1. ‘“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”. I think it might be useful to have Nema at school. We might learn something from her about
SHADOW
's plans. Remember she doesn't know you know she works for
SHADOW
—or that you work for
SHINE
.'

‘I guess so,' said EJ.
Pity, but I suppose that's the plan,
she thought.

‘That is the plan, EJ,' said A1. ‘Now, this will cheer you up,' she went on. ‘You will need to make contact with CC12 on arrival in Africa.'

EJ's face lit up on hearing her spy buddy's name. ‘How will I find her?' she asked.

‘You'll see,' said A1, chuckling a little at her own joke as SJ walked back into the Operations Room with a backpack marked with a red cross. ‘Good, SJ, you have your medical supplies. Now you'd both better get back to the airport before the boys notice you are gone. Good luck and enjoy your holiday!'

EJ and SJ smiled and waved to A1 as they left the Operations Room and got back into the bullet train. It returned them to the dark corridor behind the women's toilets. As the train door opened, their phones beeped. EJ checked her phone screen.

Five, four, three, two, one …

Two panels of the back wall in front of them spun around and two toilets appeared. EJ and SJ took their positions on the seats and held on as the toilets spun back into the cubicles. They then both unlocked their doors and walked out of the women's toilets and back to the duty-free shop. Bob and Dad were still there, still looking at computer games.

‘Sorry we were a little while,' said Emma's mum.

‘Oh, are you back already?' said Bob.

Emma smiled at her mum. The boys were none the wiser.

Then there was an announcement. ‘Flight 59 to Nairobi now boarding.'

‘That's us,' cried Emma's dad. ‘Let's go!'

Emma checked the flight number again: it was 59 and if you alpha-matched those numbers, 5 stood for E and 9 stood for J: you got EJ. Just a coincidence? Emma thought not. A1 didn't like coincidences.

The flight went smoothly. Emma's dad slept most of the time and her mum read. Bob played games and Emma watched movies. She had just settled down to watch
Spy Movie 3
when the flight crew began the meal service.

‘Chicken or vegetarian meal?' the attendant asked Bob.

‘Chicken, thanks,' said Bob as the tray was passed over Emma to him.

Emma was about to say chicken too when the attendant put a tray in front of her. ‘There you go, you'll love the vegetarian dish,' she said.

‘Oh,' said Emma. ‘I was actually thinking I would like the chicken, please.'

‘Oh, this is so much better,' replied the woman. ‘It's a really light dish.'

‘But I love chicken …' began Emma.

‘No, really, you'll love this,' said the woman again. ‘And it comes with such a lovely napkin. You'll really want to take a good look at it. It's A1.' The woman looked straight at Emma.

‘Oh, right,' said Emma as the penny dropped. ‘The vegetarian meal does look yummy doesn't it? Thank you.' EJ opened the plastic bag with the cutlery and napkin and unfolded the napkin. As she did a small card fell into her lap.

EJ switched from
Spy Movie 3
to channel 19 and put on her headphones. The
SHINE
logo appeared and then the title,
Agents in Action—SWR in Africa
.

Bob leaned over. ‘What are you watching?' he asked.

‘Oh, a really interesting documentary,' she said.

Bob leant over so much he was practically sitting on Emma. ‘Ugh,' he said, ‘you are such a nerd, Emma! You and your animals!'

‘Yeah,' sighed Emma, relieved. ‘Me and my animals!'

Bob went back to his games and EJ returned to her briefing. The film showed many African animals and talked about the threats they faced from poachers and what
SHINE
was trying to do to help. It talked about the new micro-chipping project that SJ45 was a major part of and EJ felt proud that her mum's work was going to help so many animals. But there was something about the film that also made EJ nervous. Africa was such a vast, vast continent. How on earth was she going to find Adriana and the ‘black' she was hunting? Lots of black coloured animals had come up on the screen—rhinos, elephants, hippos, monkeys …Which one was Adriana after? Or was it all of them? What was her plan and how was EJ going to stop her? An announcement interrupted her thoughts.

‘On behalf of the captain and crew, I hope you have enjoyed your flight today and have a safe and enjoyable time in Africa. Please ensure your table is folded, your seat is upright and your seatbelt is tightly fastened in preparation for landing.'

Well,
thought EJ,
this is it. I'm sure I'll think of something.

The plane touched down on the tarmac and the passengers filed out through the forward door, the attendants farewelling them and wishing them a happy holiday as they left.

‘Thank you,' said Emma as she walked out.

‘Our pleasure,' said the attendant. ‘And good luck, EJ12,' she whispered.

The Jacks family walked down the steps from the plane and on to the tarmac. A hot, dry wind blew and the sun beat down on their faces.

‘Over there,' said Bob, pointing to a tall woman holding a sign saying ‘Jacks Family.'

‘
Jambo
! Welcome to Africa!' cried the woman. ‘My name is Rafiki. Welcome to Angavu Safaris!'

‘Angavu?' asked Bob. ‘What does that mean?'

‘It means “shining” in Swahili,' replied Rafiki.

Emma and her mum smiled knowingly at each at each other.

Rafiki took the Jacks to the baggage claim area and they waited by the long conveyor belt that snaked its way through the arrivals hall. Suddenly a bell sounded and an orange light above a chute in the back wall began to flash. The conveyor belt started to move and bags and suitcases started to tumble out of the chute.

‘Emma,' said Rafiki, ‘the toilets are straight ahead.'

‘Oh, I'm fine, thanks,' replied Emma.

‘They're right there,' pressed Rafiki. ‘Next to the lockers,' she whispered. ‘Go to aisle CC.'

CC? Now Emma got it. ‘Oh, actually yes, thanks Rafiki,' said Emma as she walked over to the locker area. She found the third row and began looking from the start of the row.

‘CC1, CC2,' she said, walking slowly down the row. ‘And here on the end is CC12.'

 

Piinngg!

 

It was a message from
SHINE
.

I should have guessed,
thought EJ as she keyed in the code. Once she pressed the last number, she heard the lock click and she opened the door.

‘
Jambo
, EJ12!' A small girl, pale with freckles and reddish-blonde, plaited hair, was sitting in the locker, smiling out at EJ.

‘Hi, CC! Is it comfortable in there?'

‘Actually, it's bigger than it looks. And it's in the perfect position. I can see everyone who enters and leaves the airport.'

‘And what have you seen, CC?' asked EJ.

‘Adriana has escaped
SHINE
detention.'

‘I know,' said EJ. ‘A1 told me this morning.'

‘And it gets worse,' said CC. ‘She's here.'

EJ swung around quickly.

‘Not now, but in Africa. She flew in late last night, arriving on the same flight as a large delivery of boxes. I snuck around to take a closer look at them earlier today. They are packing crates with ventilation holes and they are stamped SWR. But they aren't part of our SWR operation.'

‘So there
are
two SWRs,' said EJ. ‘But what is Adriana doing with hers?'

‘That's all I know,' said CC. ‘But, as you've probably guessed, Angavu Safaris are a
SHINE
cover and Rafiki will take you and SJ45 to our SWR.'

‘But what about Dad and Bob?' asked EJ.

‘Don't worry, there's a plan.'

‘I should have known,' said EJ. ‘Thanks, CC.'

‘Good luck, EJ12,' smiled CC, closing the door.

EJ rejoined her family just as Bob and Dad were pulling the last of their cases off the conveyor belt.

‘Okay,' said Rafiki, ‘Your prize gives you two options for the first part of your holiday and then you will finish with two days on the island of Zanzibar. But which would you like for part one? Animals or adventure?'

‘Animals!' cried Emma.

‘Adventure!' cried Bob.

Rafiki turned to Emma's mum and dad. ‘You can split up,' she explained. ‘The boys might prefer the adventure package. It includes white-water rafting, rock climbing, ballooning …'

Bob looked like he was going to explode. ‘Dad, please! We have to do the adventure!'

‘Well, it's supposed to be a family holiday,' said Dad. ‘Although I have to admit it sounds pretty good …' He looked at Emma's mum searchingly.

‘Why don't you go?' said Emma's mum, smiling. ‘It will be a great father-and-son couple of days and you know how much Em and I love animals. Then we can all meet and swap stories.'

‘Ha!' cried Bob. ‘I reckon it will be us who will have the stories!'

I wouldn't be so sure about that,
thought Emma.

Rafiki made a quick call on her phone and a young man appeared and collected the boys. ‘Well, that was easy,' she said as they waved goodbye. ‘Now, Agents EJ12 and SJ45, we need to get you to the
SHINE
Wildlife Refuge.'