Secret Safari Read Free Page B

asked EJ. ‘What is the “path of wildebeest” and “the shopping list”?’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜I already have a camera on my phone,’ said EJ.
    â€˜Not a camera like this you don’t,’ replied A1. ‘This is another charm developed by the animal division. It’s a camera-catch.’
    â€˜It’s a what?’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜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.
    â€˜And is that a squirrel charm, A1?’ asked EJ.
    â€˜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.
    â€˜Finally, there is an upgraded animal food dispenser,’ said A1, passing another charm to EJ. ‘It replaces your other feeding charms.’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜Not this time, EJ,’ said A1. ‘But we don’t always supply them for missions. Help can come in other ways, you know.’
    â€˜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 …’
    â€˜About Nema?’ asked A1.
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜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 .’
    â€˜I guess so,’ said EJ. Pity, but I suppose that’s the plan, she thought.
    â€˜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?’