Stolen Treasures

by Summer Waters

  “Cool,” said Cai, experimenting a few times. “I think I’ve got the hang of it.”

  Antonia and Cai folded the net into an even tighter bundle, then secured it with a loose end. Then they began towing it ashore with Bubbles and Dream.

  “Where are we going?” asked Bubbles.

  “Aunty Claudia’s beach,” and “Gull Bay,” said Cai and Antonia together.

  They laughed.

  “I left my things on Gull Bay beach,” said Antonia, “but it would make more sense to go back to yours and use the Sea Watch bins to get rid of the net. I can get my things later.”

  “Where did the net come from?” mused Cai. “Was it dumped on purpose?”

  Bubbles stopped swimming and excitedly smacked his tail on the water.

  “Dad meant to tell you, but in the drama, I expect he forgot. Some of the dolphins saw that fishing boat again, the one that’s been causing the damage. There was an old net, like this one hanging from the boat rail.”

  “Why didn’t someone call us when the dolphins first saw the boat?” asked Antonia.

  “It was going too fast. It was gone before the dolphins found Dad.”

  Antonia’s grey-green eyes blazed with fury. “This has to stop,” she said in a low voice. “Topper could have died. We must find out who owns that boat and deal with them before it’s too late.”

  Chapter Ten

  Bubbles and Dream left the Silver Dolphins in sight of Claudia’s beach. They rubbed goodbye with their noses and Bubbles did the twister, leaping up and standing on the surface of the sea on his tail, while he turned a full circle.

  “Show off,” teased Dream, before launching into a series of arches, her silver body flashing in and out of the water.

  Cai and Antonia swam the final distance home, struggling under the weight of the net, now there were only two of them to tow it. As they waded ashore, Antonia wished that after binning the net she could go back to the sea to practise arching and leaping like Bubbles and Dream. She knew it was impossible, though. Now she wasn’t needed the magic was fizzling out. Her legs were working properly and water poured from her clothes as she headed up the beach. The net felt even heavier on land. Limp bits of seaweed snagged in its frayed squares, as Cai and Antonia rolled and dragged it along. When Cai stopped at the Sea Watch boat to retrieve his shoes, Antonia started to giggle.

  “I’ve just had a thought. I haven’t got any shoes to walk back to Gull Bay,” she chuckled.

  Cai laughed too, so much so that they both ended up rolling around in hysterics on the sand, until Claudia came from the garden to see what the noise was about.

  “I’ll drive Antonia home,” she offered. “We’ll stop off on the way to pick up your shoes and bag.”

  Antonia had to wait until all the jobs were finished before Claudia could take her home. She borrowed some socks from Cai and an ancient pair of welly boots from Claudia, so she could help finish the day’s tasks. One by one, the volunteers drifted home until only Emily was left. She came out of the back room from cleaning out the guillemots, carrying a sack of rubbish.

  “I didn’t know you were here. Why are you wearing those?” she asked, staring at Antonia’s feet.

  “I got my shoes wet,” Antonia fibbed.

  “How did you do that?”

  “Um…taking some samples of the sea water.”

  “Oh, right. And where did you disappear to?” Emily rounded on Cai. “Skiving, I bet.”

  Antonia was starting to get irritated with Emily’s questions. Reminding herself that Emily was only trying to be friendly, she forced a smile and said, “Did you remember to bring your camera, Emily? Some of the guillemots are almost ready to be released.”

  “I forgot again!” squeaked Emily, stamping her foot and narrowly missing treading on Cai. “And Mum’s really keen to see some pictures. She’s wondering if she could use guillemot feathers for some of her souvenirs.”

  “Dropped ones only, I hope,” called Claudia lightly.

  “Er, yeah, I suppose so,” said Emily. “I don’t get involved that much in the shop.” She lowered her voice and said confidingly, “To be honest, it’s really boring. Mum and Dad said I could work in the shop over the summer holidays, but I’d much rather be here with you lot.”

  “That’s nice,” Claudia smiled warmly at Emily. “And if your mum and dad have a spare moment, they’re welcome to come along with you to see what we do. They might find it useful. Conservation is very good for tourism. It’s important to look after the environment. If we ruin the sea, then people won’t want to visit and spend money in the local shops.”

  “Thanks,” said Emily beaming back at Claudia. “I’ll tell them that.”

  “I’m going outside to check on Stripes, so I’ll put the rubbish out for you. Thanks for all your help, Emily. Will we see you tomorrow?”

  “Nah. It’s the play tomorrow,” said Emily. “Wish me luck. I dunno why they gave me a speaking part, when I’ve only been here a few days. I hope I don’t muck it up.”

  She accidentally knocked the rubbish sack against Claudia’s leg as she handed it over, then waving cheerfully, went home. Antonia smothered a sigh of relief. It was hard work being nice to Emily. But clever Claudia! She hoped Emily would remember to tell her parents about the invitation.

  “That’s it, then,” said Claudia. “We’re almost done.”

  “Can I come with you to check on Stripes?” asked Antonia.

  “Yes, of course.”

  Stripes was fast asleep. Claudia checked the padlock on her pen, then went back to the Sea Watch building to double check she’d locked that too, before heading up to the house for her car keys. Antonia clumped up the drive with Cai to help open the gates.

  On the way to Gull Bay, Cai sat in the front of the car and told Claudia about rescuing Topper.

  “It was clever of you to get him above the water,” said Claudia, glancing at Antonia in the rear-view mirror.

  “I couldn’t have done it without Cai,” said Antonia modestly. “It was his idea to cut Topper free with the rocks.” Her fingers strayed to her silver dolphin charm and she lightly stroked it, loving the way it felt just like a real dolphin.

  “I’m so glad there are two Silver Dolphins,” said Claudia. “You’re stronger as a team.”

  Claudia stopped the car at the top of the track that led to the cove and Antonia and Cai walked down to the beach to get Antonia’s things. Back in the car, Antonia changed out of the borrowed wellies and into her sandals.

  “Thanks,” she said as Claudia pulled up outside her house. “See you tomorrow.”

  Jessica must have been watching for her from the window because she pounced on Antonia as soon as she got in.

  “Come and see my new camp in the garden,” she begged. “I spent ages making it. Mum says we can eat in it, if we want to.”

  “Antonia, is that you?” Mum called out from the kitchen. “Good. You’re just in time for tea. Do you want it in the garden with Jessica?”

  “Yes, she does,” called Jessica.

  “Jess!” Antonia laughed. “Oh all right. I’ll eat in your camp. Stop pulling on my arm.”

  “Hello, stranger,” said Mum as Antonia walked into the kitchen. “Did you have a good time?”

  “Amazing,” said Antonia, giving Mum a hug. “Can I do anything?”

  “Make some drinks for you and Jessica, then take them outside with this dish of salad. I’ll bring the pizza and jacket potatoes out in a minute.”

  Antonia loaded a tray with two glasses of peach juice and a salad bowl piled high with carrot sticks, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and red pepper. She tore off two pieces of kitchen roll for wiping fingers on and carried the tray out to the garden. Jessica had built her camp in the same place as before, only this time she’d used a huge tarpaulin sheet borrowed from Dad.

  “This is wicked,” said Antonia, setting the tray down and crawling inside. “Did you build it yourself?”

  “Mum helped,” said Jessica. �
��That sheet thing was too heavy for me to lift on my own. It’s much better than the blanket tent because it’s bigger. I’m going to ask Mum if I can sleep in it tonight. Do you want to sleep out with me?”

  “Sounds fun,” said Antonia. “But Mum won’t let you on a school night. Why don’t you ask if you can sleep out at the weekend?”

  “Yes!” exclaimed Jessica, her eyes shining. “She’ll have to let me—cos it’s my birthday on Sunday! It could be my birthday treat.”

  “You’re already having a birthday treat,” said Antonia. “Dad’s taking you to the water park with Naomi on Saturday.”

  “So?” said Jessica, dismissively. “I want to sleep in the garden too.” She picked up a slice of cucumber and began to nibble the rind. “Is this all we’re having for tea?”

  “There’s pizza and jacket potatoes. I’ll go and get it.”

  Antonia crawled out of the tent and stood up. She was facing the bay and as she turned to go back indoors, something caught her eye. She stared more carefully at the sea. In the distance, she could just make out a small blue boat. Her heart began to thump and her head felt dizzy. Was this the boat that had caused so much trouble? Antonia stood and stared but as the boat drew nearer, she groaned. It wasn’t the boat she was looking for; it had a sail and a mast. Disappointed, she went indoors to get the pizza.

  Chapter Eleven

  The following day, there was chaos at school as Year Six prepared for their production. There were two shows, an afternoon matinee and an evening performance. The excitement was infectious and after lunch, the Year Five teachers abandoned lessons and held a friendly rounders match instead. Not that it was ever going to be friendly with Mr Jeffers’ class. They were so competitive. Right from the start, 5J were out to win, but 5B weren’t going to let it happen without a fight. Even Lauren managed to put aside her dislike of Antonia, throwing her a ball so she could stump out 5J’s Millie Jackson. It was a closely fought match, but in the end 5J won by one rounder.

  “Cheats!” bellowed Lauren as they made their way in from the field.

  “Lauren!” Miss Brown frowned at the big girl. “Any more of that and you won’t play next time.”

  Antonia had been looking forward to going to Sea Watch all day, but once she was finally there, she couldn’t settle. She kept wondering where the old blue fishing boat was and whether it was causing any more damage. The incident with Topper had been too close for comfort. Antonia shuddered at what might have happened had she and Cai been unable to reach the baby dolphin in time.

  Claudia let Antonia feed Stripes again. It was sad knowing that this was probably the last time she would see the cub.

  “I hope you make friends with the other badgers. And just you be careful crossing roads when you’re finally released,” Antonia told Stripes.

  She washed and sterilised Stripes’s bottle then went to help Cai with the last few tidying jobs of the day.

  Antonia ran most of the way home, but she still couldn’t get rid of her restlessness. Jessica was the same, but for a different reason. She was so excited about her birthday treat the following day that at bedtime she couldn’t sleep and begged her big sister to read her a story. Antonia collected together a heap of books, including one about a family of mice living in a rusty car. She was three chapters into the mouse story when Jessica grunted and Antonia realised her sister was fast asleep.

  She tiptoed out of the room and climbed the stairs to her attic bedroom. For a while she stared out of the window at the bay. The Sandy Bay Rowing Club were out in their bright green canoes, hurtling from one side of the bay to the other. At last Antonia went and had a shower, then pulling her blind to darken the summer evening, she climbed into bed.

  She slept lightly and woke very early Saturday morning, with a funny feeling that something was about to happen. Knowing she couldn’t get back to sleep, she got up and pulled on some clothes. The feeling was growing stronger and was very unsettling.

  Pulling open her blind, Antonia froze. A blue fishing boat was anchored near the headland cliffs. Her heart lurched sideways and she clutched at her chest with her hand. She knew this was the boat she’d been looking for. She could feel it. Hurriedly she crept downstairs to get dad’s binoculars from the utility room.

  Antonia took the binoculars into the garden. The lawn was wet with dew, soaking her sandals as she crossed it. With shaking hands, she held the binoculars to her eyes, focusing them quickly, then scanning the sea until she found the boat. It was the right one—and it also had a tiny speedboat attached to one side. On deck, a man and a woman dressed in wetsuits were hauling a net aboard. Antonia trained the binoculars on them. It was definitely the same lady that she’d seen before, and there was something about her that was very familiar. Antonia continued to watch her. With that funny loping gait she looked and moved just like Emily. And hadn’t Emily said that her parents loved scuba diving? Suddenly, there was no doubt left in Antonia’s mind. These people were Mr and Mrs Jones! She watched as the net slid on to the boat. It was full of sea life. So, she’d been right. They were stealing from the ocean!

  Quickly, Antonia trained the binoculars on the boat’s stern and read the boat’s name and registration number aloud, “Georgie Girl, SB 890.”

  “Got you!” she cried, racing back indoors to write the details down. But as she scribbled them on the kitchen notepad a thought struck her. What exactly were Emily’s parents diving for this time? They weren’t far from the pink sea fan coral beds. What if they went back to collect the fragile corals? Antonia couldn’t let that happen. She tapped the pencil on the pad. She knew she ought to ring the coastguard station and let the coastguard deal with it, but she didn’t know the telephone number. She could go there and 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

  The 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. Tiny waves 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 body arched 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 she had 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 and down 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 wait where she was for Spirit. Thankfully he came quickly and, feeling his vibrations in the water, Antonia clicked his name.

  “Spirit?”

  “Nearly there, Silver Dolphin.”