Kimono Code (3 page)

‘It's good to see you, EJ12,' said A1 as EJ entered the Operations 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.

‘Those codes can be hard, can't they?' continued A1. ‘We know a lot more now, but there are still many questions to answer.'

‘Like who are the
kunoichi
?' asked EJ.

‘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.'

‘That's a lot of money,' said EJ.

‘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?

‘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.'

‘The cherry blossom season is important to the Japanese, isn't it?' asked EJ.

‘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.

‘Show
Sakura
Front,' instructed A1.

The screen flashed. A Japanese woman, sitting at a desk in front of a map of Japan, appeared.

‘Show sub-titles,' instructed A1.

As the woman spoke in Japanese, A1 and EJ followed the translated text at the bottom of the screen.

‘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.'

‘And now this message,' said EJ.

‘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.'

‘That would be awful,' cried EJ.

‘Indeed,' agreed A1. ‘We need to work quickly. We need to find and stop the
kunoichi
and find out who is behind this.'

‘The Japanese symbol for fox was stamped in the corner of the message, almost like a signature,' said EJ. ‘I think that's a clue.'

‘You may be right, EJ,' said A1. ‘Now, we need to get you to Japan to find more clues.'

‘But where in Japan?' asked EJ.

‘The message was intercepted in Tokyo, so I think we should start there,' said A1. ‘Agent IJ12 is already in our lab working with Professor TR55, testing another bit of the twig that came with message. They are working with the Japanese scientists and will let you know if they discover anything. We need everyone working on this one, EJ.'

You don't quite have everyone,
thought EJ, thinking of Hannah.

‘A1,' started EJ, ‘I thought
SHINE
needed more agents.'

‘Yes, we are always on the lookout for more clever people,' said A1.

‘I think you might be missing someone,' said EJ. ‘There was this writing competition and I was sure…'

A1 smiled at EJ, but said firmly: ‘EJ, you know I can't discuss recruitment with you. And, you know, we are very busy with our animal training at the moment. Please change into your spy gear while I prepare your CHARMs.'

EJ walked to the cubicles at the end of the Operations Room. She changed into the standard
SHINE
-issue mission gear: long black pants, black top, belt and boots, cap and a backpack. She put on her
SHINE
CHARM bracelet, left her school uniform on the hook for
SHINE
to deliver home and walked back to A1. She saw four silver CHARMs set out on the bench: a sushi roll, chopsticks, a woman's head with hair in a bun, and a chubby, little smiling man.

‘Your bracelet is getting full,' observed A1. ‘I'll get the Invention Team to look into that. Now, maps and transport guides have been uploaded to your phone, as well as a new audio translation app,' explained A1. ‘You also have some Japanese money in your purse and a Japanese rail card that you can use on all trains, including the high-speed Bullet Train.'

‘Right,' said EJ. ‘And the CHARMs? I hope that is a food CHARM,' she said, looking at the sushi CHARM. ‘I love sushi!'

‘So does IJ12,' said A1, smiling. ‘This is her invention, but I'm afraid you can't eat it. It's the latest addition to our sci-CHARM range. When you have activated the CHARM, a small rod appears from the sushi, a little like a memory stick. You simply stick the rod into whatever you want to test, and the device takes a sample. You then connect it to your spy-phone and it will transmit the data back to the
SHINE
laboratories, where IJ12 will be able to work on it for you.'

‘And the sushi part?' queried EJ.

‘A handy disguise. You will simply look like you're eating. Now, this next one is also perfect for Japan,' said A1, picking up the chopstick CHARM. ‘This is a chopstick-cam. You may not be able to use your spy-phone without attracting attention, but with chopstick-cam, you will be able to film without anyone knowing.'

‘And this head?' asked EJ.

‘It's a disguise CHARM,' answered A1. ‘The Japanese all have black hair, so your blonde hair may make you a little conspicuous. You can also change the hair type with this dial here. There are three styles: “standard, straight, long”, “standard, straight, short” and “geisha”.'

‘Geisha?' asked EJ.

‘Your in-flight briefing will explain—and about Buddhism,' said A1, passing EJ the CHARM with the chubby, little smiling man. ‘We have some support agents already in Japan. They will contact you if they have any updates.'

‘Thanks, A1,' said EJ.

‘Memorise this agent identification exchange,' said A1, passing EJ a piece of paper. ‘And let's get you moving. The supersonic jet is ready, and I think you will be happy to see your co-pilot.'

EJ climbed aboard the
SHINE
supersonic jet.

‘Welcome, EJ12. Destination Tokyo,' said EK12, beaming, as she sat, headphones on, in the co-pilot seat next to LP30. ‘Please prepare for take-off.'

EJ grinned at her friend. ‘Rosie that, LP30 and EK12.'

EJ strapped on her seatbelt, and the jet taxied onto the runway. It moved faster and faster until EJ heard the engines surge as the jet lifted into the sky. She watched out the window as the jet climbed quickly through the clouds.

‘Cruising at 35,000 feet, and your co-pilot has control,' said LP30. ‘Please turn on your in-flight briefing, EJ12, and then try to get some sleep. We will be landing in just over four hours. It will be early morning in Tokyo.'

EJ turned on the screen in front of her.

EJ tapped Mission Briefing, and the screen flashed.

A video began, showing pictures from Japan: bustling cities jam-packed with people, and then beautiful, still, deep and dark forests. There were ancient temples and manicured gardens and enormous cities with Bullet Trains and high-tech electronics.

Gee whizz, lemonfizz,
thought EJ.
There are so many different, opposite things, old and new. And so many temples!

And there were. In the briefing, it was explained that there were thousands of temples all over Japan: beautiful buildings of stone and wood unlike anything EJ had ever seen before; shrines, large and small, where the Japanese paid their respects to their ancestors or prayed to their gods. There were two main religions in Japan—Shinto and Buddhism, which both played an important role in how the Japanese lived, learnt to accept change and deal with problems. The cherry blossom reminded them that change is always occurring, and even the beautiful blossoms don't last forever.

Well, someone is making sure the blooming doesn't even start, let alone end,
thought EJ.
But, why? Is it just for the money?

EJ watched and learnt more about Japan and its many traditions. She learnt about the geisha—women who wore beautifully decorated kimono and made up their faces with white powder and make-up to practise the arts of flower arranging, music and painting to entertain the guests who came to their tea-houses. The geisha were also expert in ancient tea-making ceremonies, when tea was mixed and served to guests. It took many years of training and practice to become a geisha, and the women stayed in the tea-houses, with few people seeing them. Tourists and Japanese alike considered it lucky to see geisha. EJ looked at their costumes—exquisitely coloured and embroidered silk dress-coats, known as kimono, which were carefully wrapped around them.

Next, EJ clicked on Language Training and learnt some basic Japanese words and customs. She practised saying
Konnichiwa
(hello),
Arigato
(thank you) and
Sumimasen
(excuse me) over and over, but she must have fallen asleep because she awoke with a start a few hours later.

 

 

It was a phone message from HQ, from IJ12.

EJ checked the time. ‘How long until touch-down, EK?' she asked.

‘We have commenced our descent,' said EK. ‘We land in Tokyo in five minutes. We have clearance to land at the airport, where a special escort will meet you and take you to the Bullet Train. You will then travel into the city centre.'

‘Rosie that,' said EJ. ‘I need to get to Ueno Park.' She checked her map. It would not take long to walk from the train station to the park. She could get the samples quickly for IJ.

The jet touched down on the tarmac. The door opened, and steps down to the ground unfolded automatically.

‘Good luck, EJ,' said EK.

‘
Arigato
, EK and LP,' replied EJ, as she stepped out though the door. She walked down the steps of the jet and was met by a young Japanese woman, who bowed as EJ approached.

‘
Konnichiwa
, EJ-san,' she said. ‘Welcome to Japan. My name is Akiko, and I will take you to the Bullet Train.'

‘
Arigato gozaimasu
, Akiko-san,' replied EJ, also bowing. She was glad of her in-flight briefing.

‘Follow me, please. We have a secret express corridor through the airport to the station.'

EJ followed Akiko as they walked across the tarmac and through a plain metal door that led into a narrow corridor. Through the wall, EJ could hear the hustle and bustle of the airport, the announcements, the clang of trolleys and the noise of the people. This was a better way. She continued behind Akiko as she opened another door and stepped through to the top of a stairwell.

‘From here you can go down directly to the underground platform of the Bullet Train,' explained Akiko. ‘The next train arrives in three minutes. You have your rail pass?'

‘Yes,' said EJ.

Akiko opened a door. ‘Good luck, EJ-san. We really need our
hanami
!'

‘I'll do my best,' promised EJ.

EJ stepped on to the platform. It was marked with yellow lines indicating where to stand to board the train. When the long, white, ultra-modern train pulled up silently to the platform, it stopped with the doors exactly in front of the yellow lines. She couldn't help admiring the precision of it all.

EJ boarded the train, along with hundreds of other travellers, and found a seat by the window. As the train began to move into a tunnel, EJ looked out over her seat, across the tops of the other passengers' heads. All of the black-haired heads: EJ was the only blonde person in the whole carriage. A1 was right. Even with her cap on, EJ's blonde hair was going to make her conspicuous.

Standing up, EJ walked to the toilets at the end of the carriage. She went in and closed the door. Inside the cubicle, she took the disguise CHARM from her bracelet and twisted it. Seconds later, she was holding a hairy, black cap with a dial on the inside rim. EJ selected ‘standard, straight, long', and the hair on the cap extended. EJ put on the cap, which whirred as it adjusted to EJ's head. She looked in the mirror.
I look strange
, she thought.
But it's perfect.
It was then that she noticed there was also a dial on the toilet seat with options for seat covers, automatic flushing and even music to play—all this in a toilet on a train.

No one looked up as EJ walked back to her seat. The Bullet Train had left the tunnel and was now speeding past rows of tall buildings, most of them covered with advertising signs. EJ thought that meant they would soon be arriving, but the screen at the end of carriage said they would not reach Tokyo Central Station for another thirty minutes. EJ watched as they sped past yet more roads, billboards, overpasses, underpasses and rows of buildings that stretched out as far as she could see. Tokyo was huge, by far the biggest city EJ had ever been in.

You could hide a lot of secrets in a city this big
, thought EJ. She kept looking, amazed by the size of and slightly dazzled by the signs with symbols she couldn't understand, until the train silently pulled into Tokyo Central Station. She stood up and waited with the other passengers queuing to get off. The train doors opened automatically, and one by one the passengers stepped down onto the already crowded platform. EJ followed the crowd, walking off the platform, down the steps and out onto an enormous concourse lined with shops and more advertising signs. People were walking quickly in all directions, from platforms, to platforms, out of shops, into kiosks, through ticket gates, up steps. Everywhere, there were signs in Japanese, all except one that read EXIT.

I know that one
, thought EJ, relieved. She followed the exit signs on to an escalator and up into an even greater rush and crush of people on a street. She looked up at the buildings with their walls covered in brightly coloured advertising signs and television screens playing ads. Buses and cars jammed the roads, and people, people were everywhere, making their way along the footpath, across the roads and into buses. EJ stood for a moment, her head spinning as she tried to take it all in. Then she saw a white car approach her, a car with an illuminated sign on top—TAXI.

‘I understand that sign as well,' she cried as she began to wave down the car.

The taxi pulled over, and EJ stepped back as the door automatically swung open. She got into the back seat and smiled at the woman driving.

‘
Arigato gozaimasu
,' said EJ. ‘Ueno Park.'