Читать книгу High Tide - Summer Waters - Страница 5

Hidden behind some rocks, Spirit, a magnificent dolphin with striking yellow markings, lazily watched the younger dolphins searching the seabed for a strand of seaweed. His wife, Star, was watching them too.

“I’ve found some,” clicked Bubbles, digging in the sand with his nose and uncovering a long, green, crinkly piece.

“Good,” clicked Swift, an athletic dolphin with a sleek, muscular body. “Now we can play seaweed tag. Who wants to be ‘it’?”

“Me,” squeaked Velvet, shyly swimming forward.

As she reached out to take the seaweed from Bubbles, Swift swam in front of her, blocking the way.

“Who said you could play?” he clicked bossily.

“N-n-no one,” said Velvet uncertainly. “But I can, can’t I?”

“No,” Swift clicked. “Boys only. Go away.”

Star went to intervene, but Spirit stopped her.

“Wait a moment,” he said softly. “Let’s see if they can sort this out for themselves.”

Just then Bubbles swam forward and tossed the seaweed down in the sand. “If Velvet can’t play then I don’t want to either,” he said.

“Boys only,” said Swift firmly. “And you will play or else.”

As he spoke, Swift seemed to grow larger. The other young dolphins huddled together, nervously watching what would happen next.

“Or else what?” asked Bubbles calmly. “You don’t scare me. Come on, Velvet. Let’s go play somewhere else.”

Swift stared in surprise as Bubbles and Velvet left with the other dolphins chasing after them calling, “Wait for us. Can we play too?”

When they’d gone, Star smiled at Spirit.

“Bubbles did well,” she said. “It takes courage to stand up to someone who looks stronger than you.”

“He did,” clicked Spirit proudly.

“The Silver Dolphins do well too,” Star mused. “They stand up for us and our oceans.”

“The Silver Dolphins are very brave,” Spirit agreed. “We are lucky to have them.”