Secret Friends (7 page)

“I need a word with you,” she whispered.

Panic gripped Antonia, making her grey-green eyes widen in alarm.

“You’re not in any trouble.” Claudia squeezed Antonia’s hand. “It’s good news. I’ll talk to you later.”

Antonia and Cai offered to clean out the guillemot cages. They were in the back room, nine birds in three cages. The survivors were a tough, cheeky bunch and Antonia was growing fond of them. Donning large rubber gloves Antonia and Cai rolled up soiled newspaper and replaced it with clean stuff. They refreshed
water dishes and finally refilled the plastic food cartons with fish.

“They’re very greedy,” said Cai, watching the largest bird wolf down a herring.

“They sound like cats.” The guillemots made a soft purring noise that made Antonia laugh. She was so absorbed watching them that she was only half aware of a tickling feeling on her neck. She rubbed at it and her fingers brushed against her dolphin charm. Suddenly, Antonia realised the charm was vibrating.

Spirit
, she thought, only just stopping the words from escaping out loud.

“I’ll put the rubbish out if you sweep the floor,” said Cai, picking up the dustbin bag.

“No, I’ll put the rubbish out,” said Antonia forcefully.

Cai gave her a quizzical look. “All right,” he said. “If you’re that keen to do it then go ahead.”

“Yes, no, I mean…” Realising she was babbling, Antonia clamped her mouth shut.

She grabbed the dustbin bag from Cai, glad of an excuse to escape. The dolphin charm was vibrating strongly and Antonia was desperate to answer the call. Was Dream in trouble again? What if Antonia hadn’t healed her properly and the wound had turned bad? She wrenched the outside door open.

A shrill whistle burst from Antonia’s necklace followed by a series of clicks.

“Wait,” said Cai, holding her arm. “What’s that noise?”

Antonia stared at Cai in disbelief. Surely he
didn’t mean the noise coming from her necklace? Only a Silver Dolphin could hear that.

“What noise?” she asked, pulling her arm free.

“I thought I heard a whistle.”

“I didn’t hear it,” said Antonia, backing out of the door.

Cai followed, a dazed look on his face. Antonia wondered how to get rid of him when suddenly there was Claudia.

“Antonia,” she said, winking. “Can you put that rubbish out on you own? I’ve another job for Cai.”

Antonia nodded, gratefully escaping as Claudia steered Cai in the opposite direction.

A
ntonia dumped the rubbish in the wheelie bin, then hurtled through the gate that led to the beach. Quickly she pulled off her shoes, throwing them into the Sea Watch boat as she passed.

“Spirit, I’m coming,” she panted.

Soft white sand flew up in her face as she
raced down to the water. She splashed into the sea and when she was in waist deep she swam, thrilling as her legs melded together like a tail. Antonia leapt in and out of the water, skimming across its surface as she hurried to answer Spirit’s call. It felt like flying, but she was too anxious to enjoy it. Sandy Bay was empty now the
Princess Romana
had gone. The sea stretched away, rippling like a huge blue flag in the breeze. Antonia hurtled on, swimming until she felt vibrations in the water and saw four dolphins coming towards her. Then she slowed. Three of the dolphins held back allowing the second smallest dolphin to lead the way. It was Dream. Shyly she swam up to Antonia and hesitantly greeted her, nose to nose.

Antonia held her breath as she gently rubbed the dolphin’s nose back.

“Hello, Dream, are you better now?”

Dream dipped her silver head. “Yes, thanks to you. I’ll always be grateful to you for healing me, Silver Dolphin.”

Antonia blushed, for once tongue-tied. Spirit, Star and Bubbles swam forward.

“We’ll always be grateful too,” said Spirit.

“It was nothing,” clicked Antonia. “I was glad I could help.”

Spirit patted Antonia’s head with his fin. “We need your help again, Silver Dolphin. The dolphins in my pod keep finding funny coloured things floating in the sea. Can you take them back to shore so they’re not mistaken for food?”

“Look, Silver Dolphin!” Bubbles exclaimed. “There’s one there, the green thing that’s a bit like seaweed.”

“It’s a burst balloon,” said Antonia. “It’s come from the
Princess Romana
. The sailors released a hundred coloured balloons when they sailed from Sandy Bay.”

“Was that the boat caught in the storm?” asked Spirit.

Antonia nodded. “I don’t suppose the sailors realised the harm they could cause by letting the balloons go. They wouldn’t have wanted that, especially after the damage they’d already done to the sea.”

Spirit nodded. “Pollution is often caused in error,” he clicked.

“Dad, can I help the Silver Dolphin to find
the balloons?” asked Dream.

“And me,” squeaked Bubbles, rolling in the water.

Antonia held her breath. It was the first time Dream had offered to help. She hoped that Bubbles’s exuberance wouldn’t put her off like it usually did.

“Yes, you can. It’s a good idea,” said Spirit.

“Thanks, Dad. Are you ready, Silver Dolphin?” Dream asked shyly.

Antonia’s smile was a metre wide. At last she felt that Dream might become her friend. “Be careful, my darlings,” warned Star. “Don’t accidentally swallow the balloons.”

“
Muuum
,” clicked Dream. “Don’t fuss!”

Antonia, Dream and Bubbles swam round collecting up the burst balloons. Antonia
shuddered each time she picked one up. They felt limp and slimy and they reminded her of jellyfish. Antonia was allergic to jellyfish and used to be very frightened of them until she’d learnt how to avoid them. When all the balloons had been recovered Antonia wrapped them into a ball with the ribbon attached to them, then tied the ball to her wrist. The balloon ball was so light it would be easy to carry home to dispose of properly.

“We’re done!” clicked Bubbles cheerfully. “Come on, Flipper Feet. Let’s ask Dad if we can play.”

Antonia was about to follow Bubbles when she realised that Dream wasn’t with them. Neatly somersaulting in the water she went back for her.

“Will you play with us?” she asked.

Dream hesitated.

“Please?”

“Thanks, I’d like that,” clicked Dream.

Bubbles reached his parents ahead of everyone else, but before he could speak Spirit silenced him.

“Something’s swimming this way,” he said.

Antonia could sense it too. Intrigued, she trod water. The vibrations were really strong. The approaching animal must be quite big.

“It feels like…” Spirit tensed. “I don’t believe it! But how can that be?”

His bright eyes scanned the water, widening as the splashing shape came into focus.

“Impossible,” he whistled.

Following his gaze Antonia wondered if she
was dreaming. Surely that wasn’t Cai hesitantly swimming closer? Realising it was, Antonia’s mouth opened in surprise. How on earth had Cai managed to swim out so far? Surprise quickly turned to fear. Cai must have followed her.

“Spirit, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I tried my best to keep our friendship a secret…”

Spirit wasn’t listening. Instead he swam forward to greet Cai.

“Silver Dolphin,” he clicked in wonder. “You answered the dolphin’s call.”

“But what’s…” Cai’s voice squeaked, then stopped. He cleared his throat. “What’s happening to me?” he clicked at last. “What’s a Silver Dolphin?”

“A Silver Dolphin is someone who cares for
the sea and all the dolphins and creatures that live here,” said Spirit kindly. “A Silver Dolphin must answer the dolphins’ call to give help whenever it is needed.”

Cai stared at Spirit with astonishment.

“Aunty Claudia said something about answering the call when she lent me this.” He held out his hand. Wrapped around his wrist was a silver chain with a dolphin charm.

“Claudia is a very special friend,” clicked Spirit. “I can hardly believe that she’s found us a second Silver Dolphin. Silver Dolphins are very rare.”

Suddenly Cai noticed Antonia bobbing excitedly in the water.

“Are you a Silver Dolphin too?” he asked.

Antonia’s smile mirrored Cai’s.

“Yes,” she said.

“That’s so cool!” Cai accidentally lapsed into his human voice.

Impatiently Bubbles tapped Antonia on the shoulder.

“What’s he saying?”

Antonia laughed. “You have to speak dolphin,” she clicked.

“How?”

“It’s easy when you get the hang of it. Just believe you’re a dolphin and let it happen.”

“What…like this?” Cai whistled and clicked. Suddenly, he burst out laughing. “This is so amazing!” Pinching himself, he laughed again. “Ouch! Definitely not dreaming then!”

“Two Silver Dolphins, that’s so bubbly,” whistled Bubbles. “Can we play, Dad? Can we
teach the new Silver Dolphin seaweed tag?”

Indulgently, Spirit patted Bubbles on the head with his flipper.

“Next time,” he promised. “Give the new Silver Dolphin a chance to take all this in.”

“Please?” Bubbles begged.

“Bubbles,” warned Star.

“Can I swim some of the way home with the Silver Dolphins then?” asked Bubbles.

“Yes,” Spirit nodded. “Just don’t
go
too close to the shore.”

“Bubbly!” Bubbles leapt up and, standing on his tail on the sea’s surface, turned a full circle.

“Bubbles!” shrieked Dream as he splashed down and soaked everyone.

Spirit and Star said goodbye, gently rubbing noses with Cai and Antonia. Cai was so
excited it reminded Antonia of how she felt when she’d first learnt she was a Silver Dolphin. She hung back, letting Cai swim alongside Bubbles.

“Are you coming too?” she asked Dream.

Dream looked undecided and Antonia held her breath, hoping she would agree.

“Yes, I’ll come,” she clicked at last.

“That’s bubbly!” Antonia lightly brushed Dream’s nose with her own.

They swam together, a short distance behind Cai and Bubbles. Antonia watched them fondly. She could hardly believe that Cai was a Silver Dolphin too.

I need a word with you
.

From nowhere Claudia’s words from earlier whispered round Antonia’s head. Claudia must
have been going to tell her that Cai could be a Silver Dolphin!

“Hey, Flipper Feet,” Bubbles slowed up. “He’s doing that funny thing you used to do with your arms.”

Cai’s legs flicked at the water, working together like a tail, but his arms swam breaststroke.

Antonia laughed.

“Give him a chance,” she clicked back. “Remember he’s only just discovered he’s a Silver Dolphin.”

A shiver of excitement tingled through Antonia. Two Silver Dolphins! Think of the difference to the environment they could make! But best of all was having Cai as part of the amazing secret too. Now they could share everything.

Use your magic wisely, Silver Dolphin
, said Claudia’s voice in her head.

I will
, Antonia promised back.

Bubbles and Cai pulled ahead so Antonia sped up.

“Come on, Dream,” she whistled. “We can’t let the boys beat us. Let’s race them.”