Secret Friends by Summer Waters Page B

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 hedidn’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.

Chapter Thirteen
    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 sheraced 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.