tell him in person, but it was a twenty-minute walk away and she felt certain there wasn’t time. That left only one option. To stop Mr and Mrs Jones herself.
Antonia knew that as a special Silver Dolphin she could use her magical powers at any time, if the need arose. Surely there was a need now, before more damage was done to the coral beds? Flicking the notepad over a page, Antonia wrote a message to her parents, saying that she’d gone for an early morning walk. Then she quietly let herself out of the back door and headed for Sandy Bay.
Chapter Twelve
T he air felt fresh and clean as Antonia ran along the (deserted roads. She reached Sandy Bay beach in record time and, pulling her sandals off, jogged across the empty sand. It was a wonderful feeling, being alone on the beach. Antonia dumped her sandals on the rocks then hopped down to the sea. Tinywaves lapped the shore, licking at her feet as she splashed into the water.
“I am a Silver Dolphin,” she whispered as the water curled over her knees. The sea was so cold it almost took her breath away. When it was waist high, Antonia gritted her teeth and swam. At first nothing seemed to be happening. Her T-shirt and shorts dragged in the water as she struggled on.
“I am a Silver Dolphin,” she repeated, ignoring the sea’s numbing coldness.
Suddenly a warm feeling tingled through her. At last, the magic was working! Antonia whooped in delight as her legs melded together and her body became streamlined. Seconds later she leapt from the water, whistling like a real dolphin as her bodyarched above the flat sea.
At first, Antonia concentrated on swimming. Her tail-like legs propelled her forward and her hands flicked at the water like fins. Soon she was swimming as fast as she had on the day she’d rescued Topper; even faster than a real dolphin. As Antonia neared the
Georgie Girl
she could see it was deserted. Mr and Mrs Jones must be off looking for more treasures in the speedboat. She was about to alter her course to go after them when she realised she needed a plan.
She couldn’t confront Mr and Mrs Jones in the middle of the sea. Antonia knew she risked them discovering the secret of the Silver Dolphins if they saw her swimming alone and without diving equipment. But shehad to do something to stop them or they would cause terrible damage, especially if they were plundering the coral beds. Antonia continued to swim towards the
Georgie Girl
while she thought about her dilemma. The answer came to her suddenly.
Spirit
.
Most people loved watching dolphins. If Mr and Mrs Jones saw Spirit, they’d be so excited they’d probably follow him. Spirit could lead them away from the coral beds while Antonia swam back to tell the coastguard. Excited with this simple solution, Antonia stopped swimming and trod water.
“Spirit,” she whistled. “I need your help.”
There was a gentle swell in the sea. Muscles tensed, Antonia bobbed up anddown with the waves as she listened for a reply. It came more quickly than she’d hoped.
“Silver Dolphin, is that you?”
“Yes. Come now. I need your help.”
“I’m coming, Silver Dolphin.”
The sea sparkled like sapphires as the sun rose higher, but Antonia hardly noticed. She was too anxious to relax. Soon she felt the vibrations. Something was heading towards the
Georgie Girl
, travelling fast and close to the sea’s surface. But the vibrations were too big to be Spirit, so Antonia dived under the water to hide. A speedboat roared up, slowing as it approached the
Georgie Girl
until the noise of the engine turned to idle. Antonia heard voices, but they were muffled, like the underwater sounds at a swimming pool.
Cautiously she swam closer, staying on the opposite side of the
Georgie Girl
to the speedboat. The closer Antonia got to the boat, the stronger her sense of unease grew. Bad things were happening and it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up like miniature soldiers. Shivering, Antonia decided to
Antonia knew that as a special Silver Dolphin she could use her magical powers at any time, if the need arose. Surely there was a need now, before more damage was done to the coral beds? Flicking the notepad over a page, Antonia wrote a message to her parents, saying that she’d gone for an early morning walk. Then she quietly let herself out of the back door and headed for Sandy Bay.
Chapter Twelve
T he air felt fresh and clean as Antonia ran along the (deserted roads. She reached Sandy Bay beach in record time and, pulling her sandals off, jogged across the empty sand. It was a wonderful feeling, being alone on the beach. Antonia dumped her sandals on the rocks then hopped down to the sea. Tinywaves lapped the shore, licking at her feet as she splashed into the water.
“I am a Silver Dolphin,” she whispered as the water curled over her knees. The sea was so cold it almost took her breath away. When it was waist high, Antonia gritted her teeth and swam. At first nothing seemed to be happening. Her T-shirt and shorts dragged in the water as she struggled on.
“I am a Silver Dolphin,” she repeated, ignoring the sea’s numbing coldness.
Suddenly a warm feeling tingled through her. At last, the magic was working! Antonia whooped in delight as her legs melded together and her body became streamlined. Seconds later she leapt from the water, whistling like a real dolphin as her bodyarched above the flat sea.
At first, Antonia concentrated on swimming. Her tail-like legs propelled her forward and her hands flicked at the water like fins. Soon she was swimming as fast as she had on the day she’d rescued Topper; even faster than a real dolphin. As Antonia neared the
Georgie Girl
she could see it was deserted. Mr and Mrs Jones must be off looking for more treasures in the speedboat. She was about to alter her course to go after them when she realised she needed a plan.
She couldn’t confront Mr and Mrs Jones in the middle of the sea. Antonia knew she risked them discovering the secret of the Silver Dolphins if they saw her swimming alone and without diving equipment. But shehad to do something to stop them or they would cause terrible damage, especially if they were plundering the coral beds. Antonia continued to swim towards the
Georgie Girl
while she thought about her dilemma. The answer came to her suddenly.
Spirit
.
Most people loved watching dolphins. If Mr and Mrs Jones saw Spirit, they’d be so excited they’d probably follow him. Spirit could lead them away from the coral beds while Antonia swam back to tell the coastguard. Excited with this simple solution, Antonia stopped swimming and trod water.
“Spirit,” she whistled. “I need your help.”
There was a gentle swell in the sea. Muscles tensed, Antonia bobbed up anddown with the waves as she listened for a reply. It came more quickly than she’d hoped.
“Silver Dolphin, is that you?”
“Yes. Come now. I need your help.”
“I’m coming, Silver Dolphin.”
The sea sparkled like sapphires as the sun rose higher, but Antonia hardly noticed. She was too anxious to relax. Soon she felt the vibrations. Something was heading towards the
Georgie Girl
, travelling fast and close to the sea’s surface. But the vibrations were too big to be Spirit, so Antonia dived under the water to hide. A speedboat roared up, slowing as it approached the
Georgie Girl
until the noise of the engine turned to idle. Antonia heard voices, but they were muffled, like the underwater sounds at a swimming pool.
Cautiously she swam closer, staying on the opposite side of the
Georgie Girl
to the speedboat. The closer Antonia got to the boat, the stronger her sense of unease grew. Bad things were happening and it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up like miniature soldiers. Shivering, Antonia decided to
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