In The Dark (3 page)

Things were also not as EJ expected them to be when she arrived in the
SHINE HQ
operations room. Instead of the usual bright lights and flashing screens, the room was dim and shadowy. Only a few monitors were on and there were candles burning at each workstation.

‘It is all a bit dark and dingy here, I'm afraid, but welcome back EJ12,' said A1 who was, as always, there to greet EJ. A1's large, bright yellow pendant, the one she always wore, seemed even brighter in the gloomy room.

‘But why is it so dark?' asked EJ. ‘And why was it so dark in the Mission Tube?'

‘We're trying to save power because we are running low,' said A1. ‘All of
SHINE's
power comes from our own solar energy plant,' she explained. ‘We wouldn't be a very secret secret organisation if we had to use the normal energy supply, so we make our own. The plant is in an isolated location, known to only a few people. Over the last week the energy levels have been slowly dropping. We don't know why.'

‘Perhaps something has broken at the plant,' suggested EJ.

‘That's what we thought at first, but our head engineer herself has checked all the machinery. Twice. Everything is in perfect working order.'

‘Then maybe there has been less sunlight?' said EJ.

‘We checked that as well. For the last week there have been perfect conditions, almost ridiculously clear blue skies,' said A1. ‘Let's hope the message you decoded shines some light on the problem.'

Normally at this point in a mission meeting with A1, the enormous Light Screen would lower. The Light Screen was like the
SHINE
brain, connecting all the files stored on the
SHINE
network with information from all over the web and the world. Images would flash up, maps would appear, and videos and audio would play on the Light Screen, all helping
SHINE
to piece together the puzzle of a
SHADOW
plot. The Light Screen was normally lowered by voice command using electricity, but now A1 was pulling it down like a blind and, rather than all those screens, it was just a whiteboard. EJ wasn't impressed and must have looked it.

‘I know EJ, it's not as impressive as usual but the Light Screen uses much too much power,' said A1. ‘We have to save it for when we really need it. Right, let's get down to work.'

‘Okay,' replied EJ, trying to sound enthusiastic. ‘We can start with the code.'

‘Indeed, EJ,' said A1. ‘Let's put that up on the board.' A1 took up a marker pen and began to write...

EJ thought A1's handwriting was beautiful. She wished she could write like that.

‘Good work on decoding the message so quickly EJ12. Now we need to work out what it means. I wonder why they used Braille?'

‘Maybe the person who wrote it is blind,' suggested EJ.

‘Or the person who was being sent the message,' said A1.

‘Or maybe the message had to be read in the dark.'

‘Yes, quite. It could be for any reason—or just be something to trick us. What is certain is that Operation Lights Out is behind our decreasing energy supplies. And the message says “Operation Lights Out Fast”. If that means what I think it does, then the operation is moving quickly and we are in trouble.'

‘But what
is
Operation Lights Out?' asked EJ. ‘What is Stage Two and who do you think is behind it all? And why does the message rhyme?'

‘It's very bad rhyming though, isn't it?' said A1. ‘But the code gives us some clues. Look, SHADOW CAST, casting a shadow on our light supplies. That confirms that it is
SHADOW.
They've tried before to attack our power supplies and they love using clever names for their plans. But who is sending this report to them about Operation Lights Out? Who is behind this evil scheme? It must be one of their scientists, but which one?'

‘Whoever they are, they like poetry,' EJ pointed out. ‘And the message ends with the letters AX—are they the initials of the person sending the message?'

‘AX,' said A1. ‘Could it be, I wonder?' And for a moment A1 looked deep in thought, her brow crumpling as she frowned.

‘A1?' said EJ. She wished she knew what A1 was thinking.

‘Yes, yes, my turn to wander off, sorry EJ12,' replied A1. ‘We'll run the initials through the
SHINE
records. Because we're working with such low energy it will take some time. We will have to text you the results. In the meantime we need to text you where they are operating from. We'll need a map.'

Usually A1 would speak to the voice-activated Light Screen and a map would appear. She might then say, ‘find solar plant' and the Light Screen would home in on the location, combining 3-D mapping with satellite photography to show possible locations and the best routes to get there. Instead, A1 opened a cupboard and took out a large roll of paper, blowing dust off it as she unrolled it on a bench.

‘This is a map of the area around our power station, EJ. It's quite deserted but over a hundred
years ago, it was a busy gold-mining area. There's an old mine somewhere north of the bushland, past the station, if I am not mistaken...'

A1 is never mistaken,
thought EJ.

A1 bent over the map with her fingers following one pathway and then another until ... ‘Aha! There it is,' she said sticking a pin into the map. ‘“Black Cave Mine—abandoned” it says here. Let's see if we can find out more.'

‘With the Light Screen this time?' asked EJ hopefully.

‘No EJ, with a book about the area's history,' said A1. ‘We had our books scanned but we also kept the originals. Stand back,' and with that A1 pushed a button and the wall behind her flipped around, monitor and all. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves were on the other side. With the candlelight, the wooden bookcases and dusty books, the
SHINE
Operations Room suddenly looked less like a twenty-first-century spy centre and more like an old-fashioned library.

Weird but also cool,
thought EJ.

‘It might be up here,' called A1 from the top of a long ladder on wheels that could move from bookcase to bookcase. ‘Let me look, geography, no, no, here, the history section. Now we need the book for that area. Here!' A1 pulled out the book and passed it down to EJ. ‘See what you can find.'

EJ turned to the index. She flicked from A to C then back to B. Then she ran her finger down the columns as she looked through the B entries. The Light Screen would have found the answer in seconds.
Hmm,
she thought as she read,
Ballroom Dancing, Birds ... Black Cave Mine.
‘A1, I've found it.'

‘Brilliant EJ. What does the book say about it?'

EJ checked the page number then flicked to the page. She did think googling the mine would have been easier.

‘We don't need Google, EJ12,' said A1.

There she goes again,
thought EJ.

‘This book will tell us what we need and we can save the power,' continued A1. ‘Read it out now, in a big loud voice.'

‘Okay,' said EJ and she began reading. ‘“The Black Cave Mine was one of the largest goldmines in the area. It was named for the dark tunnel system built as the miners searched for gold. Mine carts running on tracks were used to carry rock and gold out of the mine's numerous entrances. On top of the hill, a mine tower stood above the mineshaft—a large hole running from the top to the bottom of the mine—that linked all the tunnels to the top of the mine. A simple elevator system in the mineshaft raised and lowered a large metal cage on wires running from the top of the mine tower. It was used to lower supplies into the mine and as another exit for the miners. The mine was abandoned at the end of the nineteenth century but the tower still stands on what is now known as Black Cave Hill.” And, look, A1,' said EJ showing her the page, ‘there's a drawing of the mine's tunnel system.'

‘Good work, EJ. Look at the picture closely. You can see the tunnels widen on either side of the shaft into little rooms. The miners used these landings to store equipment and supplies. We might find Operation Lights Out in one of those.'

‘Yes, but what
is
Operation Lights Out?' said EJ.

‘That's what you need to find out, EJ12.
SHADOW
is up to something in that mine. Tonight they will be ready to go to the next stage—and I don't like the idea of it being a blast. Let's get you ready, EJ12.' A1 picked up a candlestick and moved back to the briefing table. ‘We have a few new things for you.'

EJ was excited. What clever inventions would
SHINE
have for her this time?

‘This will be an underground operation, EJ,' said A1.

‘Well, we are a secret underground organisation, A1,' replied EJ.

‘No, I mean that if we are right and Operation Lights Out is operating from the mine, you are going to have to go under the ground to find it.'

EJ gulped. ‘Underground? Down into Black Cave Mine?'

‘Yes, EJ,' said A1. ‘Actually it won't make much difference to the mission if you are underground or above ground—you will be working at night.'

A night mission?
EJ suddenly felt less than excited.
Can I do this?
she wondered.

‘You can do this, EJ12,' said A1 loudly. ‘I know you can.'

You might not be so sure,
thought EJ,
if you knew that I get scared by my dressing gown or my gym bag or if you realised how my imagination runs away with me, making me too scared to move.

‘The trick with night missions,' said A1 firmly but kindly, ‘is not to let your imagination run away with you. Everything is exactly the same at night as it is in the daytime, just harder to see. “Shine a light on your fears”, that's an old
SHINE
motto, you know. And lighten up, EJ12!' chuckled A1. ‘We've equipped you with everything you need, including a light pack.' She passed EJ a backpack.

‘This feels heavy,' said EJ.

‘Not a light-weight pack,' said A1, laughing. ‘A bag of lights, different kinds of lights that will help you see. Take a look inside.'

EJ unpacked the bag, laying everything out on the bench. As she did, she began to feel a little more
confident. There was a large torch, a small torch, night-vision glasses and even some candles and matches.

‘Don't forget your boots EJ,' said A1. ‘They've been upgraded and I think they should give you a real lift.'

EJ looked at the black boots on the table. ‘I don't suppose you've fixed the rather random way the boots work?' she asked. She was thinking back to her jungle mission when she clicked and ice-skates appeared. Or when she was in Antarctica searching for the ice-skates and she got flippers.

‘Not quite but you will be pleased to hear,' said A1 quickly moving the conversation on, ‘that we have some new charms for your bracelet.'

EJ's face brightened. She loved the
SHINE
charms. CHARM stood for Clever Hidden Accessories with Release Mechanism.
SHINE
wanted their agents to be able to carry their equipment with them easily and without attracting attention. The
SHINE
inventors created a process for shrinking things and inserting them into charms. The agent activated the
equipment with a simple twist of the charm. It was
incredible the things they thought of—there was spray to attract butterflies, sounds to repel crocodiles, ice-picks, penguin food dispensers—the
SHINE
inventors were clever women indeed, thought EJ.

‘The
SHINE
inventors are clever women, aren't they, EJ?' said A1.

This mind-reading thing is getting a little weird,
thought EJ.

‘This time they have really outdone themselves,' A1 said.

EJ looked at the four new charms: there was a twisted string, a ladybird, a sun and a little heart with a candle within it. ‘They're pretty,' she said.

‘And practical,' said A1. She picked up the sun charm. ‘This is perhaps the most important one.'

EJ looked closer and saw that it was glowing yellow. ‘That's beautiful,' she exclaimed.

‘It's more than just beautiful,' said A1. ‘This charm has a transmitter which is linked to our power station's energy level monitor. The colour changes according to the level: blue is normal, yellow is below normal, orange for well below normal, red for dangerously low and flashing red for near empty.'

‘Let's hope I don't see that one,' said EJ. As she walked towards the
SHINE
dressing rooms to get ready, she attached the charms to her bracelet. Changing into her mission clothes always made EJ feel stronger, more confident. This time she was wearing top-to-toe black: black top, black cargo pants, black
SHINE
utility belt, even a black headband.
SHINE
thought of everything.

EJ checked her utility belt, which had all the usual things, such as binoculars, compass (glow-in-the-dark issue), pocketknife, phone holder and, this time, a little tub of what looked like black mud. EJ checked the label.

‘What do I need this for?' EJ asked as she came out of the dressing rooms.

‘We want you to blend in with your surroundings, which you will if you are top-to-toe black. You will be as dark as the night—and the mine,' said A1. EJ wished she hadn't reminded her. ‘But you won't be alone,' said A1. ‘Remember to upload your BEST.'

SHINE
believed their agents worked better with back-up, so they had developed the BEST agent assistance system. BEST stood for Brains, Expertise, Support, Tips and every agent had a network of people she could call on to help her. The BESTies, as they were known, were screened by
SHINE HQ
and cleared to help the agent on missions. They were there to support the agent when the mission got tough. The BESTies could ask no questions and an agent could never discuss her work with them when a mission was over. That was okay with the BESTies—they liked being part of a top-secret mission, even if they couldn't tell anyone about it.

EJ opened the BEST app on her phone, flicked through her contacts and thought hard. Hannah,
Elle, Mum ... Who would she need on this mission? It was hard to tell when the mission hadn't begun, but all the talk about darkness was scaring EJ a bit, and who did she turn to when she felt scared? Mum. EJ's mum had also been a
SHINE
agent so she knew how things worked. Yes, Mum would be perfect, decided EJ. EJ selected her mum on the screen and pressed ‘OK' to activate the BEST communication system. EJ's mum would now be alerted by text message that she had been selected as a mission BESTie. She would be advised to stay alert and be on stand-by should EJ need her.
That's funny,
thought EJ,
that's sort of what mums seem to do anyway.

‘Ready EJ12?' asked A1. ‘It's time to get going. You will be taking the Mission Tube train. We use it to transport the engineers to the solar plant. The train line finishes just past the power station, a little way out in the bush. Once out of the Mission Tube, you will need to make your way north through the bush to the mine. Use your compass. Hopefully we will intercept another message which will give us some more clues to help you, but for now, good
luck EJ12,' and with that A1 pushed a button under the briefing table. The wall at the end of the briefing room slid back to reveal the Mission Tube and a small, silver bullet train.

‘Wow!' exclaimed EJ, ‘has that been here the whole time?'

‘Yes, EJ12. The bean bags work well for short trips but if they travel too far along the mission tube, the bags begin to wear and the beans begin to fall out,' explained A1. ‘And, of course, they can only carry one person at a time. That's where our bullet train comes in.'

‘But who is going to drive it?' asked EJ.

‘You are, of course,' replied A1.

‘I am?' said EJ, looking surprised but also excited.

‘I have checked your training reports and you did pretty well on the “Steering-with-Speed” unit so I know you will have no problems at all with the bullet train,' said A1. ‘It is one of the easiest of all our trains to drive.'

SHINE
regularly held classes and workshops at its top-secret training base. It was like a school camp for secret agents.
SHINE
needed to make sure that their agents were up to date with the very latest developments in code-cracking and knew how to use the equipment they were given on missions. EJ loved these camps and the Under 12 Driving Camp had been one of the best. She had been trained on ride-on mowers (you never knew what might be needed on a mission), tractors, dirt-bikes, snow mobiles, diggers and trains. The “Steering-with-Speed” part of the camp was the best as the agents practised going as fast as they could while still keeping control of their vehicle. It was so much better than the dodgem cars at the carnival.

‘OK, EJ12, all aboard,' said A1.

Excellent!
thought EJ.
My brother would be so jealous if he knew.