Double Danger

Silver Dolphins

DOUBLE DANGER

Summer Waters

For Daisy, Sophie, Sara, Ellie, Emily C, Madi and Elise

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Copyright

About the Publisher

A short way from the cliffs a dolphin swam frantically through the water, her voice calling out in shrill whistles and clicks. Hearing her distress, Spirit, the leader of the dolphin pod, quickly swam to her side.

“Wait,” he clicked, swinging his magnificent silver body round to stop her from swimming away. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Sunny,” sobbed the dolphin. “I only stopped for a minute, but when I turned back Sunny had vanished.”

“He can’t have gone far,” Spirit soothed her. “Stay calm. We’ll soon find him.”

Spirit drifted in the water for a moment, his senses tuned to the sea. Then smiling, he said, “Follow me.”

He led the dolphin away from the cliffs, then dived down to the seabed. Suddenly, a group of dolphins sped past, herding a shoal of fish. With their prey corralled into a tight ball, the dolphins pounced, catching the fish in their mouths.

“Sunny,” clicked Spirit, when the fish had all gone. “Your mother was worried about you.”

The little dolphin squeaked with surprise.

“Spirit,” he clicked, bowing his head. Then, eyes shining with excitement, he added, “Did you see that? Did you see me catch my first fish?”

“I did,” clicked Spirit kindly. “But next time you go off with your friends, remember to tell your mum.”

Sunny blushed, but his mother wasn’t cross, just dazed.

“I didn’t know he was ready to fish,” she stammered.

“Our children are full of surprises,” said Spirit. “They learn quickly.”

Spirit shivered as a strange feeling swept over him. He sensed surprises and difficult choices ahead for the Silver Dolphins. But they were fast learners too. Spirit was confident they would make their decisions wisely.

Sophie was waiting for Antonia at the end of her drive. Antonia grinned and her feet gave a little skip as she hurried towards her friend. Sophie had been on holiday and now she was back for the final two days of the summer term.

“Hi,” she called.

“Hi,” said Antonia, running the last few steps and giving Sophie a hug. Linking arms, she asked, “How was Jersey?”

“Brilliant,” Sophie sighed. “I wanted to stay longer, but Mum said everyone had to go back to work, including me.”

“I should think so too,” Antonia teased.

Sophie had only been away for a week, but Antonia thought it felt like much longer. She’d missed having her around.

“I bet we won’t be doing anything interesting. It’ll be boring stuff, like tidying and emptying our trays ready to move up to Mrs Howard’s class in September.”

“Well, I’m glad you came back. It wasn’t the same without you,” said Antonia.

“I missed you too. I wish you could have come to Jersey with us. You’d have loved it. The beaches were fantastic. And guess what? I even had a go at surfing! I wasn’t any good, though.”

Sophie chattered on, hardly pausing for breath. Antonia didn’t mind. She was glad to have Sophie back. They’d been best friends forever.

“We went to a pottery and I bought you something.” At last Sophie paused as she started to shrug her school bag off her shoulders. “You can have it now.”

Just then a familiar sensation swept over Antonia, making her body tingle with anticipation. Spirit, her dolphin friend, was about to call. Antonia’s heart quickened. This was tricky. She wanted to stay and chat, but she had to answer Spirit’s call immediately. Then she remembered that they were on their way to school. Antonia did some quick thinking.

“Er, thanks, but I’ve just remembered, I left my packed lunch at home. I’m sorry, Sophie, but I’ll have to go back and get it.” Antonia felt her face redden at the fib.

“I’ll come with you,” said Sophie. “You can take your present home. I wasn’t happy about bringing it to school anyway, in case it got broken.”

The silver dolphin charm Antonia always wore round her neck started vibrating. She covered it with her hand, even though she knew that Sophie wouldn’t notice. Only a Silver Dolphin could hear the dolphins’ call. Silver Dolphins were guardians of the sea. They had special magical abilities to help them care for the oceans and the creatures living there.

Antonia stopped walking. Her heart was racing, but she forced herself to stay calm. “That would be fun, but there’s no point in us both being late. You go on ahead and tell Miss Brown and my mum where I am. They’ll worry if I don’t turn up on time.”

Sophie sighed. “It must be a pain having a mum who works in the school office. Trust you to forget your lunchbox today! I’ve got so much to tell you.”

“I’m sorry, Soph. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

Antonia felt guilty at letting Sophie down, but at the same time wished she would hurry up and go to school. Spirit needed her. The dolphin charm thrumming against her neck suddenly gave a shrill whistle.