by Sarah Webb
Dad’s right − Mom would definitely want us to be happy. “We can try.” Then I think of something else. “Can Mattie and Cal come and stay with us in Stony Brook sometime? When we go back. I think Mom would like that.”
“Great idea.” He gives me a smile.
“And maybe we can continue some of Mom’s research together? Your D-Com is genius. I want to know more about it.”
He looks surprised. “Really? I didn’t think you’d be interested in the D-Com side of things. Isn’t it a bit geeky?”
“An underwater computer that can help us communicate with dolphins? Are you kidding? It’s so radical it makes my brain hurt just thinking about it. I’m sorry I didn’t say it before. I was a bit annoyed with you about the whole echolocation thing.”
He grins. “That’s OK, and I guess the D-com is a bit radical. And, you know something, don’t tell anyone, but the echolocation research is pretty boring.”
I laugh. “I won’t tell any of your marine biology friends, don’t worry. Hey, maybe we could have a Dad and Rory day tomorrow. Take the boat out to Seafire Bay. See how Scar and Dolphin Mom and Baby are doing. Work with Click and the D-Com.”
“I’d love that, Aurora.” He twists around and holds out his arms to me. I hesitate for a second. I haven’t let Dad hug me properly since Mom died, but it’s time. I fall into his arms and hug him back.
Three Years Later
The Irish Times, 21 August
Groundbreaking Dolphin Discovery Made in Irish Waters
Father-and-daughter team Professor Aidan Kinsella of North Shore University, Stony Brook, USA, and Aurora Finn-Kinsella made history yesterday when they successfully undertook two-way communication with a bottlenose dolphin in the waters around Little Bird Island, off the coast of West Cork, Ireland.
The D-com – a cutting-edge computer developed by Professor Kinsella with his late wife Professor Margo Finn – can be used underwater to generate artificial “dolphin” whistles that the mammals can understand and respond to. To date, the research, involving a dolphin that locals call “Click”, has been limited to asking Click to collect a piece of seaweed and pass it to Aurora. The D-com has created a signature whistle that Click has learned to associate with Aurora.
The game changer came when Click made the whistle for Aurora’s name and the D-com was able to recognize it.
Speaking about the breakthrough, Professor Kinsella said: “It’s taken us three long years to get here, and it wouldn’t have happened without the outstanding work undertaken by my wife. We will be publishing her research in the fall, and dolphin lovers all over the world will be able to read about her extraordinary work and her extraordinary life. We believe that dolphins are one of the most intelligent species on the planet and deserve our respect and our protection. Aurora and I are proud to be continuing Margo’s work. Together.”
Acknowledgements
I’m very grateful to the team at Walker Books, who do all the hard work behind the scenes: my wonderful editors, Annalie and Emily; Maria, who designed the beautiful cover, which is one of my all-time favourites; and Jack, who drew the map of Little Bird Island. Thanks also to all those on the sales and marketing side, especially Conor in Ireland, Jo, Jill, Sarah, Heidi and the team.
My agents, Philippa and Peta, are always a joy to work with and keep me smiling. And to my friends in the children’s book world, especially the gang in Dubray, Eason, Gutter, Hodges Figgis, Raven and Bridge Street Books. You are all so dedicated to the cause − I salute you! Also to the teams at Children’s Books Ireland, the Irish Writers Centre, Mountains to Sea Book Festival and Listowel Writers Week – all Trojan children’s book lovers.
My family and friends keep me sane and put up with my odd working hours and festival trips − thanks, all of you!
I had some very special help with this book. Jasmine Hutchinson and the Orville A. Todd Book Club of Spackenkill, Poughkeepsie, New York, read the manuscript and made some great suggestions. Also the tireless Kathryne Alfred Del Sesto picked through the chapters and made sure Rory sounded like an authentic American teenager.
My writer friend Kate Thompson and her husband, Malcom Douglas, helped with the diving scenes, and I’m most grateful for their expertise. Wildlife expert Don Conroy was also so kind and helpful.
Finally, I’d like to thank a woman I’ve never met. Denise Herzing has been working with dolphins for over 28 years. Watching her TED talk about her work inspired me to find out more about dolphin communication. When I was a young girl, I wanted to be a marine biologist, and through writing this book, I’ve been able to live my dream in a small way.
My final thanks are to you − the reader of this book. Thank you for picking up my novel. If you liked Rory’s story, I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line – [email protected].
Yours in books,
Sarah XXX
Sarah Webb worked as a children’s bookseller for many years before becoming a full-time writer. Writing is her dream job because it means she can travel, read books and magazines, watch movies, and interrogate friends and family, all in the name of “research”. She adores stationery, especially stickers, and is a huge reader – she reads at least one book a week. As well as The Songbird Cafe Girls series, Sarah has written six Ask Amy Green books, eleven adult novels and many books for younger children. She visits a school every Friday during term time and loves meeting young readers and writers. She has been shortlisted for the Queen of Teen Award (twice!) and the Irish Book Awards.
Find out more about Sarah at www.SarahWebb.ie or on Twitter (@sarahwebbishere) and facebook.com/sarahwebbwriter.
Books by Sarah Webb
The Songbird Cafe Girls
1. Mollie Cinnamon Is Not a Cupcake
2. Sunny Days and Moon Cakes
3. Aurora and the Popcorn Dolphin
For older readers:
Ask Amy Green
1. Boy Trouble
2. Summer Secrets
3. Bridesmaid Blitz
4. Love and Other Drama-Ramas
5. Dancing Daze
6. Wedding Belles
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. All statements, activities, stunts, descriptions, information and material of any other kind contained herein are included for entertainment purposes only and should not be relied on for accuracy or replicated as they may result in injury.
First published 2016 by Walker Books Ltd
87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ
Text © 2016 Sarah Webb
Cover photographs © 2016 Ericka McConnell and Susanne Walstrom / Getty Images
Little Bird Island map by Jack Noel
The right of Sarah Webb to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-4063-6919-9 (ePub)
www.walker.co.uk