Big Brother by Susannah McFarlane Page A

work, HJ,’ said EJ. ‘I need your help but I have to warn you, it’s a little above basic training.’
    â€˜I’m ready, Em, I mean, EJ,’ said HJ.
    EJ explained what had happened while HJ saddled up Lucinda. She expertly pulled the girth tight and adjusted the stirrups. EJ put on her riding helmet.
    â€˜Now we’re ready, EJ,’ said HJ. ‘I’ll hold Lucinda while you get on.’
    EJ put one foot in the stirrups and swung the other leg over Lucinda. HJ passed her the reins. EJ put out her hand to HJ who pulled herself up and swung behind EJ, putting her hands around her friend’s waist and taking the reins.
    â€˜Put your hands over mine,’ she said. ‘See how your hands need to be soft? You hold the reins firmly but not too tight. Okay, you have a go now and give her a kick so she knows we’re ready.’
    EJ felt confident with her friend behind her and they walked out of the mounting yard and onto the moonlit track leading to the drive.
    Then a loud voice shattered the silence.
    â€˜EJ12!’ shouted GG22. ‘What are you doing back here? Who’s that with you? Where are you going?’
    It was GG22. Had she been watching them on the spy-flies? EJ couldn’t stay to find out. Instinctively, she gave Lucinda a sharp kick. HJ leant into EJ as Lucinda broke into a gallop and they raced down the drive away from the CAT. Away from GG22 and, they hoped, towards Trojan.

 
    EJ looked back but GG22 wasn’t following them as they rode out of the CAT.
    â€˜Look, EJ,’ said HJ, shining a torch on the ground. ‘Horse poo! It’s probably Trojan’s. Let’s go in this direction.’
    EJ and HJ rode on. They saw more poo and then some broken branches, as if something had pushed through roadside bushes.
    â€˜Perhaps a car frightened her off the road. And look, in there! More horse poo. Let’s turn off here,’ said EJ as she pulled on the left rein to guide Lucinda off the road and into the bush.
    They moved more slowly through the brackenand fallen trees in the bush but even in the dark, Lucinda was sure-footed and steady. Then, suddenly, the bay stopped. There was a noise, a squeaking noise. Lucinda shook her head and snorted. Her ears twitched forward.
    â€˜Did you hear that, HJ?’ asked EJ.
    â€˜I think so,’ said HJ. ‘Is it a cry?’
    They heard the noise again.
    â€˜Something’s in trouble,’ said EJ. ‘But it’s not Trojan.’
    â€˜It’s smaller,’ said HJ. ‘We’ve been learning animal noise recognition in training and that is a small animal, probably a baby, in pain.’
    Lucinda began to move now, slowly, then she swung her head down, pushing into some long grass.
    â€˜I think she’s found something,’ said HJ.
    EJ climbed down from Lucinda and shone her torch down through the grasses to see a small baby kangaroo lying in the grass. The joey’s right leg was limp.
    â€˜It’s a joey,’ said EJ. ‘And I think it’s broken its leg.’ EJ shone her torch out beyond the joey. ‘There’s no sign of its mother.’
    â€˜We need to bring it with us,’ said HJ. ‘It won’t survive out here.’
    HJ took a CHARM from her bracelet and twisted. She passed a soft, brown bag down to EJ.
    â€˜It’s a baby animal-care pouch,’ explained HJ. ‘It will keep this little one warm until we can get back to the CAT.’
    EJ gently lifted the joey into the pouch and up to HJ and then put her foot back in the stirrup and swung herself back on to Lucinda. She then took the joey and held it nestled in front of her in the pouch. EJ gave Lucinda a little kick to the sides and they walked on.
    â€˜Well, we found one animal that needs our help,’ said EJ. ‘But it’s not the one we’re looking for. There’s no sign of Trojan.’
    But Lucinda must have sensed something. She flared her