Secret Safari

by Susannah McFarlane

  ‘Mum, I mean SJ45,’ said EJ. ‘I’ve just received a code.’

  ‘Okay, EJ, do your thing,’ said SJ45. ‘A1 will need it cracked before we arrive at HQ.’

  That didn’t give EJ long. She looked back at the screen.

  EJ looked at the message. It looks like nonsense but there are spaces so they must be words, thought EJ. But what sort of words are they? Where do I start? EJ knew all messages had to have a clue somewhere otherwise the person receiving it wouldn’t understand it. It would be like getting a message in another language that they didn’t speak.

  Hold on, thought EJ. Another language, maybe that’s it. Maybe this message isn’t in code but in another language. But which one? EJ knew there were more than six thousand languages in the world.

  This might take a while, she thought. The message was traced to a phone in Africa so maybe it’s an African language. How many languages can there be in Africa? I’ll have this done in no time.

  EJ swiped to the SHINE Internet app on her phone and keyed in the question. When she saw the answer she was a little deflated.

  ‘Great,’ said EJ.

  ‘Everything okay?’ asked SJ45.

  ‘Not yet,’ said EJ.

  She looked back at the screen and touched on the icon of the small light globe in the bottom corner that was for agents to send messages back to SHINE HQ. It was a high-level security email system. EJ quickly keyed her email.

  She touched SEND and waited. After only seconds, the globe icon flashed. EJ touched it and saw her reply.

  Okay, thought EJ. Now we’re getting somewhere. Again she went on the Internet and searched languages spoken in Tanzania. There was a number of different languages spoken but there was one major language, Swahili.

  ‘I wonder,’ said EJ as she then cut and pasted the message into her translator app and pressed the TRANSLATE button.

  ‘Now that’s better,’ she said, looking at her screen.

  EJ read her mum the message.

  ‘That poem is even worse than mine,’ said SJ.

  ‘Yes,’ agreed EJ. ‘There is someone at SHADOW who loves to write in poems, and they’re always bad: Adriana X.’

  ‘A1’s sister?’ said SJ. ‘But she’s in SHINE detention.’

  ‘I know,’ said EJ. ‘But I’m sure it is Adriana. Maybe A1 knows something.’

  ‘We’re about to find out,’ said SJ. ‘The train is stopping. We must be at HQ. Watch the step as you get off, EJ.’

  ‘SJ45,’ said EJ, ‘I am Spy of the Year. I think I can get off a train by myself.’

  ‘Welcome back, EJ12 and SJ45,’ said A1, the head of SHINE. ‘It’s nice to have you here together.’

  ‘But why are we both here?’ said EJ. ‘And why is the whole family going to Africa? I assume the competition is just a cover.’

  ‘It is indeed,’ replied A1. ‘And you don’t need your mother on a mission but we do. Since we need you both at the same time, the cover of a family holiday is perfect. We didn’t want the boys to get suspicious and a competition seemed the easiest way to do it.’

  Only A1 would think creating a whole competition would be the easiest way to do anything, thought EJ. But what does A1 need Mum for?

  ‘SJ45 has been doing some important work in her vet surgery, developing a new animal micro-chipping method, one that will be easier to use with wild animals. Plus our animal division has been developing a surgical spray cream that heals wounds quickly. It’s just what SWR needs.’

  ‘What’s SWR?’

  ‘SHINE Wildlife Refuge’, replied A1. ‘We have them all over the world as part of our animal protection program but it is in Africa, in the battle against poachers, that we are most active. If poachers don’t kill animals outright, the awful wounds they inflict kill them anyway. If we can get the animals a fast-acting healing cream, it could mean the difference between life and death. SJ45, please report to the animal division for your African vet kit. Come back here as soon as possible.’

  ‘Will do, A1,’ said SJ and she left the Operations Room via a metal door.

  ‘SWR was also in the message I just decoded,’ said EJ, looking confused.

  ‘Yes, quite, EJ,’ said A1. ‘Let’s take a look at the message now. Light Screen, lower.’

  On A1’s command, a huge voice-activated screen descended from the ceiling of the Operations Room. ‘Show message,’ instructed A1. The decoded message appeared in the centre of the screen.

  ‘Quick work on the decode,’ A1 congratulated EJ. ‘Any thoughts on what it means?’

  ‘It must be from Adriana,’ replied EJ. ‘The way the message is a bad poem is her all over and, there’s another thing …’

  ‘Go on,’ said A1.

  ‘It uses the words “hunting black”,’ said EJ. ‘Adriana likes black things. She was hunting for black coral in the reef, remember? Well, wildebeest are animals, so maybe the black thing she’s hunting this time is an animal too. The only problem is that Adriana is in SHINE detention.’

  A1 sighed. ‘I wish that was the problem, EJ. Adriana escaped from SHINE detention yesterday afternoon. She seemed to have suddenly become ill and so she was being taken to hospital. SHADOW intercepted the ambulance and Adriana escaped. She must have planned the whole thing. And now we have reports of increased poaching activity in East Africa and this message. It is just all too much of a coincidence.’

  ‘But what does the rest of the message mean?’ asked EJ. ‘What is the “path of wildebeest” and “the shopping list”?’

  ‘That’s what you need to find out, EJ12. While SJ45 is working at SWR, you need to find Adriana. Now, you will need safari clothes.’ A1 passed EJ a duty-free shopping bag. ‘Obviously you can’t change here but put them in your hand luggage. You will also need some more spy charms.’

  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 suppl
y 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.’

  Rafiki, EJ and SJ walked to a large, white open-topped jeep that was splattered with mud. This was just as EJ had imagined—a real safari jeep to travel through the rough and wild African landscape. So she was disappointed when they drove out of the airport and turned on to a black, bitumen highway, with streetlights and road signs, and headed towards a city with tall buildings looming in the distance. She didn’t come here to see skyscrapers! Even when Rafiki took a turn away from the city, the scenery was still urban. With nothing particular to look at and tired after the long flight, EJ nodded off.