“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.”
Copyright
First published in paperback by HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2009
HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd,
77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JB.
Visit our website at: www.harpercollins.co.uk
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Text copyright © Julie Sykes 2009
Cover illustrations copyright © Andrew Farley 2009
The author and illustrator assert the moral right to be identified
as the author and illustrator of the work.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition © 2009 ISBN: 9780007340729
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