Kimono Code Read Free Page A

Room. ‘Excellent work on researching the intercepted message. It reminds me of the motto, “We find answers in questions!”, and indeed you did. You deserve your ranking in the Shining Stars competition. Well done!’
    EJ blushed. She had worked hard on trying to understand the message, and it was great that A1 noticed. She wasn’t always sure that A1 realised how hard those codes could be.
    â€˜Those codes can be hard, can’t they?’ continued A1. ‘We know a lot more now, but there are still many questions to answer.’
    â€˜Like who are the kunoichi ?’ asked EJ.
    â€˜Exactly,’ said A1. ‘ SHADOW has been very quiet in Japan for years—we almost wondered if they were no longer operating there. But this message was intercepted from a known agent who turned up in Japan, so we must assume that they are indeed behind this. And, now, they are holding the Japanese Government to ransom for 400,000,000 yen.’
    â€˜That’s a lot of money,’ said EJ.
    â€˜Yes, it’s about five million dollars,’ said A1. ‘If you remember, SHADOW has been very interested in money lately, even more interested than usual. First, there was their animal poaching operation in Africa, and then their attempt to steal the priceless art works in Paris. Luckily, we had you to stop them, EJ12.’
    EJ blushed once more. She had managed to stop SHADOW each time, but would she be able to do it again?
    â€˜Now you must do it again,’ said A1. ‘But it seems SHADOW is getting more ambitious. What are they planning? Why do they need so much money? And who could stop a whole country of trees from blooming? I have to say, while it is evil, it is ingenious.’
    â€˜The cherry blossom season is important to the Japanese, isn’t it?’ asked EJ.
    â€˜Yes, very. It’s part of centuries of tradition,’ replied A1. ‘It is so important that each year they report on the progress of the blossom, known as the Sakura Front, on the evening news. They track the trees across Japan from the first budding in the south of the country to the final full bloom in the far north. Let me show you.’ A1 turned from EJ and looked up. ‘Light Screen lower, show map of Japan.’
    The large Light Screen, which connected into the SHINE network of files and the Internet, lowered from the ceiling of the Operations Room. A corner of the screen flashed, and a map of Japan appeared.
    â€˜Show Sakura Front,’ instructed A1.
    The screen flashed. A Japanese woman, sitting at a desk in front of a map of Japan, appeared.
    â€˜Show sub-titles,’ instructed A1.
    As the woman spoke in Japanese, A1 and EJ followed the translated text at the bottom of the screen.
    â€˜Blossoms have still not appeared in the south of Japan, with some cities over two months late,’ the commentator reported. ‘At first, scientists wondered if global warming was responsible, but temperatures in Japan have been perfect for the blossom. It seems that the trees have been infected with something, and scientists are working around the clock but so far have found no antidote to the mysterious “Blossom Block”.’ While preparations for the hanami celebrations continue in the capital of Tokyo, scientists cannot say if the blossoms will bloom there—or, indeed, anywhere this year.’
    â€˜And now this message,’ said EJ.
    â€˜Yes,’ said A1. ‘It seems Blossom Block is a not a natural occurrence. Someone is infecting the trees. Scientists fear that if the antidote is not found quickly, the “Block” may be permanent.’
    â€˜That would be awful,’ cried EJ.
    â€˜Indeed,’ agreed A1. ‘We need to work quickly. We need to find and stop the kunoichi and find out who is behind this.’
    â€˜The Japanese symbol for fox was stamped in the corner of the message, almost like a signature,’ said EJ. ‘I think