In The Dark

by Susannah McFarlane

  Emma pushed her phone into the socket and waited. There was a beep then Emma entered her pin code and removed her phone. Another beep and then the usual message flashed up on her phone screen.

  EJ loved the next bit. Suddenly, the wall behind the toilet spun around, with the toilet and EJ still attached. EJ slipped off the toilet seat and onto a beanbag at the top of what looked like a giant tunnel slide. This was the start of the SHINE Mission Tube. A protective shield came over the back of the beanbag, covering EJ. The wall then spun back and EJ heard the click as the toilet door unlocked on the other side. Everything in the cubicle would seem completely normal.

  EJ was ready. She typed ‘go’ into her phone and...

  Travelling down the tube and into the SHINE tube network, EJ whizzed around corners at high speed. This time, however, the lights along the tube seemed dimmer than usual, making it darker and casting shadows on the usually bright steel walls. EJ normally loved the Mission Tube ride but this time it was less fun somehow. She was almost relieved when she slowed to a halt at a small platform with a keypad and screen. The protective shield over the beanbag flipped back and EJ again keyed in her pin code and waited for the security check.

  The check changed each time. Sometimes it was an eye scan, sometimes voice-matching, once it was big toe recognition. You never knew what it would be—and neither would anyone attempting to break into the SHINE network.

  ‘Please place hand on pad,’ requested a digital voice.

  Hmmm, this is a new one, thought Emma as she followed the instructions.

  EJ put her left hand onto the pad.

  ‘Incorrect placement,’ said the voice.

  EJ frowned and jiggled her hand around.

  ‘Correct placement confirmed but incorrect hand. Please place writing hand on pad,’ said the voice.

  ‘Well, why didn’t you say so?’ said EJ feeling a little irritated and then a little silly for talking to a computer-generated voice. EJ put her right hand on the pad.

  ‘Correct hand, correct placement now confirmed,’ said the voice. ‘Please wait. Handprint scan in progress.’

  Phew, thought Emma

  There was a short, sharp flash on the pad then a low buzzing noise. After a few seconds, there was another flash.

  ‘Handprint scan is now complete. Agent identity confirmed. Please drop in, EJ12!’

  There was another beep as the platform beneath her opened up and EJ, still on her beanbag, dropped gently down. She had landed in the Code Room, a small chamber where there was a table, a chair and a clear plastic tube protruding from the ceiling. EJ moved to the chair and waited.

  She heard the familiar whizzing noise, put her hands under the tube and caught a little capsule that popped out. EJ opened the capsule and took out a piece of paper and a pen. She could feel the butterflies starting to flutter inside her as they always did when she was getting a new code. They were good butterflies, exciting, the sort you got when you were waiting to open a present. Emma read the message on the paper.

  EJ looked at the paper. There seemed to be nothing under this information. Invisible ink again maybe, she thought, and activated her Invisi-Visi app and a small purple light flashed on her phone. It was ultra-violet that would show up invisible ink. She scanned the paper with the ray, expecting to see a message appear. It didn’t.

  What now? thought EJ.

  EJ fiddled with her charm bracelet as she often did when she was thinking, and looked at the paper again. This time however she not only looked really closely at the piece of paper, she felt it carefully. She ran her fingers up and down the page. As she did, she noticed that there were little bumps all over the paper. Was that just the texture of the paper or was it something else? Could it be part of the message?

  EJ felt the little bumps again and then had an idea. She took a pen out of her backpack and carefully drew a black dot on top of each bump. When she finished she looked at the piece of paper—there were dots everywhere, but they seemed to be in a pattern.

  I think I recognise that, said EJ to herself. I wonder if it is Braille, the writing invented for blind people? Let’s check. EJ took out her phone, touched on her code app and flicked through until she found the Braille alphabet then pressed ‘OK’. The Braille alphabet flashed onto her screen, looking the same as the dot patterns on the paper.

  Okay, thought EJ, let’s get this code cracked.

  Carefully, EJ began matching the code to the key. She quickly got the first two words, writing them under the code.

  Looks like it is a straightforward Braille code, thought EJ. This should be easy.

  And it was. Well, for an expert code-cracker anyway. EJ had the code out in minutes.

  The message may have been decoded but what did it mean? EJ12 would have to get help to answer that question. She folded the paper with the decoded message on it and slid it back into the capsule. She then pushed the capsule back up the tube and it was sucked away. The message would shoot back to SHINE HQ, which was where EJ needed to go. She keyed ‘go’ into her keypad. The floor under her beanbag slipped back and she dropped down into another tube, which would take her there. The tube was even darker than before. What was going on?

  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.

&
nbsp; ‘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 the
m 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.