Big Brother by Susannah McFarlane

self-destructing.
    Sparks jumped from the fly and it became hot, too hot for EJ to hold. She dropped the flower on the ground as the bug sparked again, then burst into flames. EJ stamped it out with her boot before it burnt her.
    But BJ1 wasn’t so lucky. The puppy yelped in pain.
    â€˜BJ1, what’s wrong?’ asked EJ anxiously. The puppy ran whimpering to EJ and started licking her feet furiously. EJ looked at her paws: the pads were red-raw, burnt.
    â€˜Were you pawing one of the flies, BJ? Poor you! We need to get those paws treated.’
    EJ didn’t waste any time. She picked up BJ1 and what was left of the spy-fly and sprinted towards the back door of the office. She opened the door. Quickly she put BJ1 back in the pet carrier, took the picture down and re-entered the number code. The door opened. EJ opened the disc on BJ’s SHINE collar tag and put in one of the spy-flies. It couldn’t hurt BJ1 any more but it could help SHINE work out what it was. She gave the puppy a kiss on her fluffy head.
    â€˜You’ve done a great job, BJ1,’ she said. ‘Give this to A1 and I’ll see you at home soon.’
    EJ closed the carrier and put it in the Mission Tube. As she shut the door, she heard the whoosh of BJ1 being returned to HQ. She sent a message to A1.

    Then EJ slipped out the back door of the office and locked the door.
    â€˜BJ1 will be fine now but what about Trojan?’ she wondered. ‘Is that why she was so difficult, because the flies were hurting her?’ EJ remembered the sores on the horse’s coat. They must be burns. EJ wondered how SHADOW , how GG, could do that. Somehow EJ couldn’t imagine GG letting a horse be harmed, she had seemed so passionate about keeping the horses safe. Yet, it seemed that it was true.
    â€˜I need to find Trojan and remove those flies in her coat before they hurt her. But how am I going to find her?’
    EJ looked down at her CHARM bracelet and noticed the horse-heart CHARM. She twisted it and as she did, an inscription appeared.

    â€˜I need a lot more than encouragement to help me,’ said EJ grumpily.
    Then, from behind, EJ heard a snort and then a loud whinny in the dark. She turned around. There was another whinny and EJ walked towards the sound. Then she heard a snort close by. EJ took out her torch and was staring into a pair of large brown eyes. It was Lucinda; she must have jumped the fence. EJ looked at Lucinda. Lucinda looked at EJ, pawing her hoof. Then EJ understood.
    â€˜I actually need to get back on the horse! I need to ride a horse into the bush to find Trojan. Maybe we can find Trojan together?’
    EJ thought she might just be able to ride Lucinda to look for Trojan but what would she do once she found her? She knew her nerves and the horse’s fear meant she would be unlikely to catch the horse and she could end up even making things worse for Trojan.
    â€˜I need someone I can trust,’ said EJ. ‘I need someone that Trojan will be able to trust, someone who is good with animals, someone patient, someone kind …’
    EJ smiled. She knew exactly who could help her.
    â€˜Of course!’ she said. ‘Han.’
    EJ took out her phone and sent a text to HJ12.

    EJ didn’t want to take any risks, which is why she had worked out passwords. Hannah would be the only person at the CAT who would know what to say.

    EJ heard footsteps. She listened carefully. It was only one person approaching. EJ checked the rosette-cam monitor and smiled. HJ12, helmet on, walked around the back of the stables and came down towards the mounting yard. EJ waited for the password.
    â€˜Fluffy 13,’ whispered HJ12. ‘Fluffy 13?’
    â€˜HJ, over here,’ whispered EJ.
    HJ walked over and the two friends hugged.
    â€˜You got my message,’ said EJ.
    â€˜I’ve done my basic training,’ said HJ. ‘I know we need to keep our phones on at all times.’
    â€˜Good