Secret Friends

by Summer Waters

  “Not the beach at the end of my garden. The police can’t close that as it belongs to me,” said Claudia. “As you know it’s only a small area. That man wanted to use my beach as a base to scavenge from. He offered me a percentage of anything he found and got very nasty when I turned his offer down.”

  “Are you all right?” Antonia touched Claudia on the arm. “Shall I make you a cup of tea?” There was a kettle in the Sea Watch building. Antonia’s mum always made a cup of tea when there was a crisis. Antonia wasn’t sure why, but Mum seemed to think it helped.

  Claudia smiled. “No, thank you. One of you could go and close the gates for me, though. I leave them open for my adult volunteers who drive here, but I think I’d better keep them shut to deter any more strangers from coming in.”

  “Let’s chain them together with a huge padlock. That’ll keep people out,” said Cai.

  “I don’t think we need to go that far.” Claudia smiled at him. “I don’t want to keep everyone away. Come and find me on the beach when you’re done. You can help me to take some sea samples. I’ve been checking for oil, but we seem to be all right so far. The oil hasn’t reached our beach.”

  Claudia strode towards the beach and Cai raced back up the garden to close the gates. Antonia stayed rooted to the spot, relief flooding through her. She could hardly believe her good luck. She hadn’t realised Claudia owned her patch of beach. So she could swim out to Spirit if he called her. Then a new thought struck her and Antonia’s mouth widened into a huge smile. Why wait for Spirit to call? She would go and visit the dolphins again, as she’d done yesterday. Only this time, purely for fun. She knew Bubbles would be pleased to see her and maybe she could persuade Dream to play with them too. Antonia really wanted to make friends with Bubbles’s big sister.

  “What are you grinning at? You look like you’ve had some really good news.” Cai was back from shutting the gates.

  “Nothing, I mean it’s just I love being at Sea Watch,” Antonia blustered. “It’s much more fun than school.”

  “Lauren’s not getting to you, is she?” asked Cai, his brown eyes narrowing.

  “Nothing I can’t handle,” said Antonia lightly. “Come on. Let’s go and help Claudia to collect samples of sea water.”

  There was so much to do at Sea Watch. After collecting the sea water they gave a second bath to three birds who’d been very badly oiled, and then cleaned out the pens of the recovering birds. The time sped past. With a start Antonia realised she didn’t have time for a private chat with Claudia if she wanted to see Bubbles before she had to go to her swimming club. Quickly she finished topping up water bowls, then washed her hands in the sink.

  “See you tomorrow,” she said to Cai as she shook her hands dry.

  Cai raised his eyebrows. “You’re going early.”

  “Swimming club,” said Antonia, her eyes searching the room for Claudia. “I’ve been moved to the Wednesday class. Can you say goodbye to Claudia for me?”

  “Sure,” said Cai. “See you tomorrow.”

  Antonia checked the garden was empty before heading down to the beach. Inside she was bubbling with excitement. She couldn’t wait to see Bubbles’s face when she turned up again. She knew he’d be pleased and surprised to see her. Claudia’s boat was tied to the wooden gate that opened on to the beach. Sitting on the sand Antonia pulled off her shoes and socks, then tucked them inside the boat. She felt far more confident than she had yesterday and was sure that she would find her dolphins again. She could almost feel the magic fizzing round her body. Taking a slow calming breath Antonia imagined herself swimming in the sea.

  “I am a Silver Dolphin,” she said, walking into the surf.

  The water reached her stomach and she was about to start swimming when a cry stopped her.

  “Antonia!”

  Surprised, she spun round. The afternoon sun dazzled her eyes, but there was no mistaking Claudia’s tall figure running down the beach.

  “Antonia, wait!”

  Chapter Nine

  Claudia stopped at the edge of the surf, her face wrinkled with concern. “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “I…I…I’m going to find Spirit,” Antonia stuttered.

  “Why? He didn’t call for you.” Claudia’s fingers went to her throat and she pulled a silver dolphin necklace from under her shirt. “I may be too old to swim and help the dolphins, but I still like to know what’s going on,” she said wistfully.

  Antonia was pleased that Claudia was still in touch with the dolphins.

  “I’ve got something really exciting to tell you,” she burst out. “I can become a Silver Dolphin whenever I want. Yesterday I swam out to sea to warn Spirit about the oil.”

  Antonia thought Claudia would be thrilled by her news, but she didn’t look it. Instead she asked, “So why are you going to find him today?”

  Feeling uncertain, Antonia twiddled with her own dolphin charm. “I wanted to swim with Bubbles,” she said at last.

  “I think,” said Claudia gently, “it’s time we had a little chat.”

  As Antonia splashed out of the sea she was shocked to find that the skirt of her dress was soaking wet.

  “What happened?” she asked. “Why isn’t the magic working?”

  “Because you weren’t needed,” said Claudia. “You can only become a Silver Dolphin if there is work to do.”

  She led Antonia up the beach and sat her down by the Sea Watch boat.

  “Being a Silver Dolphin is a very big responsibility,” Claudia began. “And for you there is more. Do you remember me telling you that we share the same birthday?”

  “Midsummer’s Day,” said Antonia. Claudia had told her that the night she’d first explained Silver Dolphins to her.

  Claudia nodded. “A Silver Dolphin who is born on the longest day of the year is even more powerful. You’ll find, as you learn to use your magic, that there are lots of things you can do that other Silver Dolphins can’t.”

  “Like becoming a Silver Dolphin when I want to?” Antonia asked.

  “That’s right. But with great power comes an even greater responsibility. You must use your magic wisely. You must never interfere with nature unless you are putting right a wrong caused by humans. And you may only become a Silver Dolphin when you are needed. You can’t become one just for fun.”

  Hot shame flooded through Antonia. She stared at her feet, but Claudia put a finger under her chin and gently lifted her face up.

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re doing a great job. You’ve learnt so much in a very short time.”

  “Antonia, what happened?”

  Cai vaulted over the small gate in the fence separating beach from garden and ran over. “Why is your dress wet?”

  His face was full of concern, causing Antonia another twang of guilt, knowing that she’d messed up.

  “A little accident,” said Claudia smoothly. “I asked Antonia to get one last sea sample for me and she slipped and fell in. Help me up, Cai, there’s a good lad.”

  Claudia held out her hand and Cai, lips twitching, pulled his great-aunt to her feet.

  “Look at you!” Cai started to laugh as Antonia scrambled up. “Your dress is soaked! You can’t go home like that, can she, Aunty Claudia? Can she stay for tea while she dries off?”

  “I’ve got swimming club tonight,” said Antonia, glad of the excuse. Normally she would have loved to stay for tea, but she couldn’t face it right now. She needed time alone to think about what Claudia had told her.

  “Come tomorrow then,” said Cai. “She can, can’t she?”

  Claudia nodded. “Antonia’s always welcome here. She doesn’t need an invitation.”

  “Thanks, I’d like that,” said Antonia. On the way home Antonia stopped halfway up Sandy Bay Road to look down at the beach. It was still like an enormous jumble sale, staffed by tiny blue figures that had to be the police. The beach was cordoned off with blue and white incident tape that rippled in the sea breeze. A tiny figure
sat on the edge of the promenade, sketching away. Sophie. Even at this distance there was no mistaking Antonia’s best friend.

  I’ve two best friends now, Antonia decided. Sophie and Cai.

  She was pleased that Sophie didn’t mind her spending time with Cai at Sea Watch.

  “Why should I mind?” Sophie had answered when Antonia asked her about it. “Cai goes round with Toby at school so it’s not like you keep leaving me out.”

  Antonia took a last look at the beach. With the stricken Princess Romana lying at the mouth of the bay and the lost cargo still littering the beach, Sandy Bay had never looked so full. Yet to Antonia, knowing her dolphins were far out at sea, the place felt empty.

  “Please hurry and clear up the mess,” Antonia urged the tiny policemen down below as she continued walking home.

  Straight after an early tea Antonia put her swimming things in a bag along with Dad’s mobile phone. Her swimming teacher had moved her up a group to train with the squad and the session lasted for two hours.

  “Don’t forget to ring me on the landline when you’ve finished and I’ll come and pick you up,” said Mr Lee, jangling his car keys.

  “Can I come too?” asked Jessica.

  “No, darling,” said Mrs Lee. “It’s time for your bath.”

  “Aw!” squeaked Jessica. “Not fair.”

  “Never mind, Jess, it’ll soon be the weekend and your lesson,” said Antonia.

  The swimming pool was a short drive away. As Mr Lee pulled up outside Antonia had a strange sensation that Spirit needed her. Seconds later her dolphin charm began to tremble.

  “I’ll watch you run in,” said Dad. “Wait inside for me when you’ve finished. It’ll be too late for you to come out on your own.”

  “OK,” said Antonia, only half listening.

  Whatever could Spirit want? It must be a real emergency for him to call her at this time of the evening.

  “Spirit, I hear your call,” she whispered under her breath as the dolphin charm vibrated more strongly. Antonia climbed out of the car just as the charm began to whistle.

  “Have fun,” said Dad.

  “Thanks,” she called, and waved.

  Antonia raced inside the swimming-pool building, a plan forming in her head. The lady at the desk smiled at her as she approached.

  “Swimming squad?” she asked.

  “Er, yes.”

  “Name?”

  “Antonia Lee,” said Antonia, trying to ignore the vibrating charm and its high-pitched whistle. “I can’t swim tonight. I just came to say that something’s come up, but I’ll be here next week.”

  “Thanks for letting us know. I’ll pass the message on to your coach,” said the lady, picking up her pen.

  Gratefully Antonia hurried back outside. Dad had gone home and she had a couple of hours before he was expecting to pick her up. Heading left down the street Antonia ran all the way to Claudia’s. She wondered if she should call at the house and ask permission to use Claudia’s beach, but decided against it. What if Cai answered the front door? Besides, Claudia would know from her own necklace that Spirit needed help. Antonia stopped a few paces away from Claudia’s shut gates to get her breath back. Then quickly she let herself in and crept down the side of the house, keeping to the edge of the garden so the bushes would mask her. The Sea Watch building was locked up for the night. Antonia hurried past it, then hopped across the sand, pulling off her sandals as she went. She left the sandals and her swimming bag inside the Sea Watch boat. The sea was calm, unlike her wildly vibrating dolphin charm. With a sense of foreboding Antonia cupped it in her hand. Something serious must have happened for the charm to react like this. Quickly she splashed further out to sea.

  “Spirit, I’m on my way,” she whistled as her legs melded together and at last she was swimming like a dolphin.

  Chapter Ten

  A short way out to sea Antonia heard the hum of a boat and looking round saw a police launch cruising in a circular path. For a second she panicked and treading water, she almost put her hands up in the air like she’d seen people do in films. The launch seemed to be patrolling between Sandy Bay and the Princess Romana. At this distance Antonia thought she probably couldn’t be seen, but she wasn’t taking any chances. After a deep breath she plunged under the sea’s surface and swam on out of sight. Soon her skin began tingling and Antonia guessed from the strength of the vibrations that a dolphin was approaching. She surfaced and swam on, her body slicing through the sea as she hurried to meet Spirit and find out why he’d called. But as the dolphin shape became visible Antonia drew up in shock.

  “Bubbles!” she exclaimed.

  Bubbles’s eyes were bright with panic and he didn’t greet Antonia with his usual exuberance.

  “This way, Silver Dolphin,” he clicked. “Hurry.”

  Checking that Antonia was following him Bubbles swam away. Icy fingers of panic clutched Antonia’s stomach. Where was Spirit? Was he hurt? Antonia raced after Bubbles, wishing she knew what was wrong. They swam for ages until up ahead Antonia saw shadowy shapes in the water. As she swam closer the shapes became dolphins, almost thirty of them slowly circling in a tightknit ring. Antonia stopped in amazement. As Bubbles approached, two of them parted, allowing Bubbles to swim between them into the ring’s centre. Antonia followed, wondering what she would find inside the dolphin circle. Bubbles came to an abrupt halt.

  “She’s here,” he whistled.

  “Thank goodness.”

  Spirit swam forward and nudged Antonia into the centre of the ring where Star, his wife, was anxiously tending a smaller dolphin. Antonia’s heart raced at the sight of the blood seeping into the water. Then she realised the injured dolphin was Dream.

  “She got hit by a speedboat,” choked Bubbles. “Make her better, Silver Dolphin. Please make her better.”

  “Hush,” said Spirit, stroking Bubbles with a flipper. “Don’t worry, son. The Silver Dolphin will do what she can.”

  Antonia stretched out a hand. “It’s OK, I won’t hurt you,” she murmured as Dream flinched.

  Antonia tried not to look too worried by the large gash directly above Dream’s left flipper, but inside she was panicking about how she could treat it.

  “She was out at sea bow-riding behind a boat when a second boat with a blue flashing light came up. The first boat turned unexpectedly and caught Dream side on,” said Spirit.

  “The boat with the blue light was a police launch,” said Antonia, suddenly working it all out. “I expect the other boat was a looter.”

  As she examined Dream’s wound she wondered if the looter was the same person who’d wanted to use Claudia’s beach.

  Star stroked her daughter’s head with a flipper.

  “Can you make her better, Silver Dolphin?” she clicked anxiously.

  Antonia breathed deeply, trying to hide the panic that was still scrambling her insides. How was she expected to help Dream? She wasn’t a vet.

  Go work it out.

  Antonia blinked. The voice in her head was Claudia’s. It gave her confidence. She was a Silver Dolphin. She could work out how to save Dream. Antonia thought about all the times she’d fallen over and cut her own knees. Mum had cleaned the cuts then bandaged them to stop the bleeding. But what could she use as a bandage?

  “I need something to stop the blood,” she whistled. “Seaweed,” she added, finding inspiration. “Bubbles, can you find me lots of seaweed?”

  Bubbles leapt into action.

  “On it,” he whistled, swimming back through the circle of dolphins.

  “Bubbles, wait,” clicked Spirit. “I’ll come with you. Dream’s in safe hands now the Silver Dolphin is here.”

  The responsibility made Antonia shiver. Spirit had such faith in her. Dream was losing a lot of blood. The water around her was an ugly shade of red. There must be something more she could do. Gently Antonia pressed the sides of the wound together with her hands. Dream winced and shyly Antonia clicked soothing noises. She felt awkward
touching the dolphin. She’d been longing to get to know her better, but not like this!

  “Does it hurt?” clicked Star anxiously as Dream winced again.

  “I’m fine,” said Dream, through gritted teeth.

  “What’s bow-riding?” asked Antonia, hoping to take Dream’s mind off her injury.

  “It’s when you swim behind a boat in its waves. The faster the boat goes, the choppier the water gets. It’s great fun.” Dream managed a small smile.

  “It’s also dangerous if you get too close,” said Star sharply. “We’ve warned you before to be careful. Now perhaps you’ll listen to us.”

  As Star continued her lecture Antonia couldn’t help but smile. Poor Dream. Star sounded so much like her own mother! When Star finally paused Antonia quickly changed the subject.

  “Why are there dolphins circling us?”

  “They’re in our pod. They’re protecting me. Blood attracts sharks,” said Dream.

  “It’s just a precaution,” said Star quickly. “There aren’t any sharks here. Hush now, darling. You mustn’t wear yourself out talking.”

  “Muum!” Dream flushed with embarrassment.

  Antonia gave Dream a sympathetic look.

  “I could really do with that seaweed,” she said. “Star, will you go and look for some too?”

  Star hesitated. “I suppose I could. You’ll be all right, won’t you, darling?”

  “Of course I will,” said Dream.

  Star rubbed noses first with her daughter and then Antonia before swimming out of the dolphin ring. Antonia noticed Dream wince and was impressed by her bravery.

  “Thanks,” said Dream, when they were alone. “She was starting to drive me mad.”

  “My mum’s the same,” said Antonia. “They fuss because they care.”

  Her fingers were turning numb from pressing Dream’s wound together. Carefully, Antonia flexed her fingers to get some life back in them. Blood spurted into the water. Gasping, Antonia held her fingers still.

  “Is it really bad?” asked Dream.

  Antonia hesitated, but Dream would expect her to tell the truth and she didn’t want to break the dolphin’s trust in her.