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hurried over to where Sophie lay.
    The ambulance and the police arrived simultaneously, and one of the policemen tried to bar Jay's approach.
    "Stand aside!” The voice came from Jay's mouth, but Mary knew it wasn't hers. This was a voice so authoritative that the police, ambulance men and even her father moved to one side. Jay straddled Sophie and stooping, she grasped either side of the huge tyre that was resting on Sophie's legs and heaved. Incredibly the bus tilted away from her. Mary heard the startled cries of the onlookers as Jay lifted the huge wheel up off the road, tilting the bus even further.
    Once Mary's dad and the doctor had dragged Sophie clear, Jay released the tyre. Even as the wheel hit the road causing the bus to rock on its shock absorbers, she dropped to her knees and clasped one of Sophie's hands. A blue light poured from Jay's fingers. It travelled along Sophie's arm over her shoulders and head then flowed downwards until Sophie was completely encased in a pulsating blue light.
    Mary stared in shock, trying to take in the incredible things her best friend had done, but then Jay seemed to collapse. As though awakening from a trance the ambulance men rushed towards Jay and Sophie.
    "No!” One of the policemen cried. “That light or whatever it is could be dangerous."
    The men hesitated but Mary's dad pushed past them.
    "Dangerous?” he asked bending and scooping Jay up into his arms. “Are you going to let a bit of light stop you from helping that girl?” He carried Jay over towards Mary and lowered her onto the back seat of the car. “Take care of her,” he said and turning, he walked back towards Sophie. Ignoring her luminous covering, he squatted and gently stroked her hair. “Now then, who's going to give me a hand with this girl?”
    The ambulance men looked at each other, shrugged, and then carried a stretcher over to them. One of them gingerly lowered his hand through the glowing blue shroud and felt for Sophie's pulse. Apparently satisfied, he nodded towards Mary's dad.
    "Her pulse is okay, this stuff seems harmless,” he said and turned to his colleague. “We'll need a collar and a head brace. Come on, let's get his girl in the ambulance and to hospital."
    They worked quickly and at last Sophie, who was still encased in the strange light, was lifted onto a stretcher.
    "I'm sorry but you can't move her!” A police officer wearing sergeant's stripes barred their way, two other officers joined him. “That stuff, whatever it is, could be radioactive or something,” he said. “My instructions are to keep you isolated until a rapid response team arrives. You're all under quarantine restrictions."
    "We have to get this girl to hospital,” protested one of the paramedics. “She's in a critical condition."
    "I'm sorry but I have my orders,” the sergeant said. “She'll have to stay where she is."
* * * *
    "Sophie?” Jay asked weakly, making Mary jump. “Is she going to be ok?"
    "They ought to have taken her to hospital by now, but the police have put us under quarantine,” Mary said. “Are you ok? How did you do that and what's that blue light?"
    "How did I do what? What light?” Jay asked and sat up. “What are you talking about?"
    Mary pointed to Sophie. “You lifted the bus off her and the stuff that's covering her shot out of your hands."
    "I don't remember,” Jay said. “I feel as though I've just run a marathon. I'm shattered."
    "There's something you're not telling me. You must have run at about ninety miles an hour to get here so quick,” Mary said. “Now you're lifting up buses and shooting out blue light. What's going on, Jay?"
    A puzzled expression came over Jay's face. “I don't know,” she said. “I can't remember anything after getting your call.” She rubbed her forehead as though trying to remember. “It's just a blank."
    The car door opened and Mary's dad looked at Jay in concern. “Are you all right?” he asked. “Everyone's talking about what