Stolen Treasures (8 page)

“Fun!” exclaimed Antonia. She pushed her damp hair out of her eyes and glared at the top of Emily’s bent head. “Do you know exactly what your parents were scuba diving for?”

Emily stood up and stared at Antonia in surprise.

“Are you all right? You sound angry.”

“I am because…” Antonia stopped, just in time. She had to be careful what she said and not give too much away about Silver Dolphins. “I heard a rumour that your parents were taking live animals from the sea, then
killing them to sell in their shop.”

Emily flushed bright red and her glasses slid down her nose. She pushed them back.

“I don’t listen to rumours. I don’t know where Mum and Dad’s stock comes from, either. But I’ve been thinking about Sea Watch and all the good stuff that happens there. I couldn’t get what Claudia said about ruining the sea and people not coming to visit any more out of my head.”

Emily paused, her eyes scanning the horizon. “I like it here. I’m not sure, but I think I saw a dolphin this morning. It was quite a long way out, but it was so exciting. I’m going to come down early again tomorrow and bring binoculars.

“Anyway, I thought it would be good if
Emily’s Treasure Chest
concentrated on environmentally-friendly souvenirs. So I’ve been collecting stuff to show Mum and Dad. Dropped feathers, empty shells and even bits of driftwood.”

Emily thrust the bucket at Antonia. “Look, what do you think?”

Unconsciously, Antonia touched her silver dolphin charm. It felt soft and alive. The anger slowly drained away. Claudia had been right to give Emily a chance. It wasn’t fair to blame her for her parents’ crimes.

“It’s a brilliant idea,” said Antonia. “We’ll help you, Cai and me. We’re often on the beach, so if we find anything pretty we’ll keep it for you.”

“Thanks. Well, I’d better get going. Mum
and Dad said they’d cook me breakfast when they get back. Bacon rolls with fried eggs and mushrooms. See you Monday.”

Antonia lay on her back, staring up at the cloudless sky, enjoying the swell of the sea beneath her. Inside, she was still bubbling with excitement. Monday was her least favourite day of the week, but this one had been totally brilliant. It had started when Emily waylaid her and Cai in the playground before school.

“Promise you won’t tell anyone,” Emily whispered, pulling them into a tight huddle.

“Mum and Dad had a visit from the coastguard on Saturday. It was soooo embarrassing. Those rumours were right,
Antonia. They’d been catching sea life and letting it die, to make their souvenirs. And they’d damaged a coral bed in a special protected area! They were given a warning, but if it happens again the coastguard said he’d tell the police and they’d be prosecuted.

“Mum and Dad were really shocked. I think they knew they’d been doing wrong, but they didn’t realise it was that serious. Neither of them meant to hurt anything. Mum said she didn’t know that starfish and sea urchins could suffer like other animals. How dumb is that!

“They’re coming with me to Sea Watch this afternoon to meet Claudia. Dad’s bringing his cheque book. He’s going to make a donation to Sea Watch, by way of an apology.”

At the end of school, Mr and Mrs Jones met Emily and they all walked to Sea Watch with Antonia and Cai. Antonia felt uncomfortable at first, but Mr and Mrs Jones weren’t the villains she’d expected them to be. They seemed genuinely upset about damaging the coral beds and the suffering they’d caused to the sea life.

They stayed at Sea Watch for ages and asked lots of questions. They were really impressed with Claudia and the work she was doing, and before they went home they made a large donation. The money meant Claudia could invest in new equipment she needed, including another pen in the garden with a pool for injured animals.

“Let’s have a party,” said Claudia when the
last volunteer had left.

She made a huge jug of fruit punch, peach juice and lemonade with chunks of real fruit, then put it on a tray with tall glasses, bendy straws and a dish of nibbles. They took it outside and settled themselves on the garden chairs. Antonia was on her second glass of punch when she became aware that Spirit was going to call. She put her glass on the table and seconds later, her dolphin charm began to vibrate.

“Oh!” exclaimed Cai, nearly spilling his drink. “See you later, Aunty Claudia.”

Sensing the call wasn’t urgent, Antonia waited for Cai and they swam to Spirit together.

Antonia was right, no one was hurt. But
Spirit had found a long piece of fishing line caught on the rocks. Cai removed it and gave it to Antonia, who tucked it in the pocket of her school dress to dispose of safely when they got home.

Spirit watched them from the sea and when they dived back into the water he said, “Thank you, Silver Dolphins. You can play with Bubbles and Dream now. You deserve a reward for all your hard work and the danger you have put yourselves in recently.”

Being a Silver Dolphin was so fantastic Antonia and Cai didn’t expect rewards, but it was brilliant fun playing with Bubbles and Dream. To his amazement, Cai won seaweed tag.

“My swimming’s getting really good,” he
boasted. “I can almost do the arms properly now.”

“Flipper Boy!” teased Bubble. “But can you do a twister?”

Cai and Antonia spent ages trying. Antonia got more and more frustrated with her efforts.

“I can get three-quarters of the way round, then I collapse,” she grumbled.

“You’ll get there with practice,” said Dream encouragingly.

“And besides, you can do everything else,” said Cai.

“Not everything,” said Antonia, knowing she still had lots to learn. Not just as a Silver Dolphin, but about people, too. She readily admitted her feelings about Emily had been wrong. Antonia was growing to like her and
was glad she would still see Emily at Sea Watch when she left Sandy Bay Primary at the end of term.

“Flipper Feet,” cried Bubbles, launching a surprise attack, butting Antonia in the back and rolling her on to her tummy. Spluttering, Antonia somersaulted and chased after him.

“Water fight,” she clicked. “Two teams. You and Cai, against Dream and me.”

“You’re on,” they all whistled back.

Bubbles leaped out of the water, turned a full circle on his tail, before landing on his side and splashing everyone.

“Oi!” laughed Cai. “Remember we’re on the same team.”

When everyone was thoroughly splashed Dream called a truce. “We have to go soon,”
she said. “Dad’s taking us out to sea.”

“I have to go too,” said Antonia reluctantly. “Mum will worry if I’m late.”

“Stay to tea,” begged Cai. “We’ll ring your mum when we get back. We’ve still got the fruit punch to finish.”

“Thanks. I will if I’m allowed.”

Bubbles and Dream swam with the Silver Dolphins until they were in sight of Claudia’s beach.

“See you soon,” clicked Antonia, rubbing noses first with Dream and then Bubbles.

She raced Cai ashore. They waded up the beach, shaking themselves like wet dogs, laughing as the water poured from their clothes. Suddenly Antonia stopped laughing and her face turned serious.

“What?” asked Cai, pulling on trainers.

“This,” said Antonia, stretching out her hands. “Being a Silver Dolphin. Sea Watch, Claudia and you. It’s totally amazing.”

You’re amazing too
.

The voice in her head was Claudia’s. Sensing she was very close, Antonia shoved her feet in her sandals and ran to meet her.