He whipped around to see a young woman in dark goggles peering at him She gave him a thumbs up Ben let out all his air in a stream of bubbles and burst to the surface with a splash Zoe popped up a second later I win she said excitedly I had to come up Ben said jerking his thumb over his shoulder Erika’s here Zoe looked up and down the pool I can’t see her she said You’re just making up an excuse for losing to me Over here came a voice with a slight German accent Erika was standing next to a fountain in the corner and waving a glass eyeball at them
Ben and Zoe swam across to her Hey Erika said Ben I take it we’ve got a new mission Zoe and Ben Woodward were like most other teenagers except for one important difference they were operatives for WILD a secret organization dedicated to saving animals all over the world It had been set up by their uncle Dr Stephen Fisher Whenever Zoe and Ben were needed Uncle Stephen sent his second-in-command Erika Bohn to bring them in But she was never allowed to tell them the details of their mission Instead Uncle Stephen always sent them a
glass eyeball that served as a clue to which species of animal needed their help Good to see you both said Erika smiling brightly She peeled off her goggles and handed them the glass eyeball It was about the size of a human’s and had an inky black pupil Zoe turned it over in her hand I wonder which animal this is from she muttered You can think about that in the helicopter said Erika Come on let’s get dressed and head to WILD Island Twenty minutes later the three of them were flying out over the ocean The familiar smell of chicken manure the helicopter’s fuel filled the air Like everything at WILD
the chopper was environmentally friendly Zoe took the chance to call their grandmother while Ben examined the eyeball Their parents were vets who were currently working abroad so their grandma looked after them while their parents were away Mr and Mrs Woodward didn’t know that their children worked for WILD Only Grandma was in on their secret That Stephen Grandma’s cheerful voice said through the speaker Where’s he sending you now We don’t know yet said Zoe He gave us a clue though He was always one for a puzzle
