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heading towards Antarctica, the world’s coldest, windiest and most uninhabited region. Uninhabited by people, that is—the area is simply teeming with animals.’ And as A1 spoke, images burst onto the screen—whales, fish, birds, leopard seals and, of course, Emperor penguins.
    â€˜Look closely at this group of penguins EJ12, because these are the birds that will let you know when you are approaching Emperor Penguin Point. You may come across other penguins but you need to make sure you find the Emperor penguins. Once you see them, you will know that you’re close to the target.
    â€˜As you know, Shining Light will take you as far it can but, once the pack ice becomes too thick, you will have to travel alone on Shinemobile 3. Be careful EJ, the ice may look like a smooth sheet but that’s not always the case. The ice sheets are constantly moving and cracking, creating huge crevasses—make sure you don’t fall in one! But if you do, remember your boots. They are there to help.
    â€˜You now have just a few hours to get to Emperor Penguin Point and make the payment to Dr Hill. You will make the payment via your phone,’ A1 finished.
    â€˜But then won’t she know it’s me?’
    â€˜Not with Invisi-Pay, she won’t,’ A1 explained. ‘All Dr Hill will see is the deposit and once that hits her account, you should be given an invitation to the party.
    â€˜EJ12, you also need to know that since you left SHINE HQ, we have detected unexpected shipping movements in the outlying areas of the region. You may have some company out there—and I don’t mean the penguins. For now, the radar shows that Shining Light is way ahead but you must work quickly, EJ12. SHADOW will not want any SHINE agents gate-crashing their party.’
    Gate-crashing—what a modern word for A1! But then again, nothing that woman said or did surprised EJ anymore.
    â€˜Oh yes EJ, I know what you’re thinking. Well, this old woman’s gate-crashed a few parties in her time, too.’
    How does she do that? thought EJ with a grin.
    â€˜I just do!’ laughed A1. ‘Good luck, EJ12. SHINE out.’

    All that talk about parties and invitations took EJ’s thoughts back to school—and Nema. She would just have to tell Nema that she couldn’t go to her party. She would do something else with her real friends—friends that weren’t mean to her or to other people. She could stand up to Nema. Couldn’t she?
    As EJ thought about Nema again, she began to feel sick in her stomach. But now, unlike this morning before school, it was for real. Then EJ realised that it wasn’t just the thought of Nema that was tying her stomach in knots. It was the way the ship was rocking as it knocked against the waves. The waves were getting bigger and bigger, the sea was getting rougher and rougher, and EJ12 was feeling worse and worse. Oh no, I must be sea-sick!
    EJ was right. Each time the ship lurched from one side to another, her stomach went with it. For such ahuge boat, it felt like it was being tossed around like a tiny little ball in the ocean. EJ’s face started turning green and she wondered how much longer it would be before she and her breakfast parted company.
    Just when she thought she had better look for a toilet or a bucket or anything, Captain C2C knocked on her cabin door and entered. She took one look at EJ and laughed, but in a kindly sort of way.
    â€˜Still looking for those sea legs I see, EJ12! You better come up on deck, you’ll feel better up there. Oh, and you have activated your boat charm, haven’t you? That will help too. I have mine on all the time when we’re at sea.’
    EJ looked at Captain C2C’s wrist and saw that she had a bracelet similar to hers and a boat charm. Did all agents carry the charms?
    â€˜We all carry the charms, EJ, and we all need a little help sometimes,’ said Captain C2C, smiling.