Читать книгу Stormy Skies - Summer Waters - Страница 7

Darkness was just beginning to lift when Antonia woke. Sleepily she opened her eyes, wondering why her room felt different. Then she remembered. She was staying at Hannah’s. She sat up as a familiar sensation nudged her fully awake. The dolphins were going to call. Hurriedly she swung her legs over the side of the bunk and climbed down the ladder. As she reached the floor, her dolphin charm began to vibrate and an unfamiliar voice sounded in her head.

Silver Dolphin, we need you.

Vision, I hear your call, Antonia silently answered, guessing it must be the dolphin leader. His voice was higher than Spirit’s and he spoke more quickly.

Antonia searched for her clothes, rummaging in the drawer that Hannah had emptied for her the night before. It was difficult to see clearly, but she didn’t switch the light on. Antonia’s silver dolphin charm fluttered against her neck. As it began to beat with a steady rhythm, the charm emitted a high-pitched whistle. Hannah’s charm whistled too, waking her. She jumped out of bed in a flash.

“You heard first?” she asked as she pulled on a pair of grey cargo trousers hanging from a chair.

Flushing with embarrassment, Antonia nodded. She didn’t want Hannah to think she was showing off, but Hannah grinned, happy to accept that Antonia was a more powerful Silver Dolphin than her. They finished dressing in silence and crept into the hall, meeting up there with Cai, who came out of his room carrying his shoes.

“Let’s go,” whispered Hannah, unbolting the front door.

“What about writing a note for your mum?” Antonia reminded her.

“No need,” said Hannah. “Mum’s used to me doing my own thing. And it’s Sunday. She never gets up this early!”

Hannah closed the front door of the flat and led the way along the corridor, down the stairs and across the lobby to the apartment’s communal front door. Even though only a Silver Dolphin could hear the call, the shrill whistle still made Antonia nervous. Wincing, she followed Hannah outside. The grass was heavy with dew and by the time they reached the gate at the end of the garden, Antonia’s trainers were soaked.

Hannah pelted down the public footpath, Antonia and Cai hot on her heels running side by side. Soon the ground began to level out, and as the trees thinned, Antonia caught the smell of the sea. She inhaled deeply, loving its sharp, salty tang and the mewling cries of the early morning gulls.

The path ended in a kissing gate. One by one the Silver Dolphins squeezed through it. Hannah didn’t wait for Antonia and Cai, but sprinted up the sand dunes rising before her.

Antonia followed, the soft sand shifting under her feet. Her calf muscles protested at the unfamiliar sensation of running uphill on moving sand. Spiky green marram grass grew everywhere and it whipped against Antonia’s trousers as if urging her on. Panting with exertion, she arrived at the top of the dunes and stood there for a moment, her eyes scanning the vast expanse of sand ahead.

“Wow!” exclaimed Cai.

“It’s huge,” Antonia agreed. The sand spread before them like an enormous yellow canvas, the sea a splash of blue on the horizon.

“Hurry,” urged Hannah, pulling off her shoes and socks.

Antonia and Cai did the same, leaving their shoes hidden in a clump of marram grass. Antonia’s bare toes found it hard to grip on to the powdery dunes and she kept sliding backwards. At the bottom the sand was much firmer. Antonia pounded across the beach with Cai, catching up with Hannah and running alongside her as she raced towards the flat sea. The water was icy cold. Gritting her teeth, Antonia braced herself and dived in.

Silver Dolphin, we need you.

I’m on my way.

The shock of the freezing water made Antonia gasp out loud, but seconds later her legs melded together like a dolphin’s tail and she stopped noticing the cold. She was a Silver Dolphin! Antonia whistled for joy as her body arched in and out of the steely-grey sea.

“Over there,” panted Hannah after they’d been swimming for ages.

Antonia had felt the dolphins’ vibrations long before she spotted their four silver heads anxiously bobbing in the water. Hannah swam towards the largest, a proud-looking common dolphin whose wise eyes were lined with stripes that ran to his mouth.

“Welcome, Silver Dolphins. Thank you for answering my call,” clicked Vision. After quickly greeting everyone by rubbing noses, he clicked, “Follow me.”