by Bindi Irwin
Sharkbait let out a yelp as he, too, tripped on Bindi’s cat’s cradle. He tumbled off the gangway and into the water, causing a huge splash.
The sack of shark fins hit the gangway. It spilled open – it must have been the sack that Bindi had untied. Shark fins scattered in every direction in a gruesome display.
The two men hollered and thrashed in the water. Bindi would have to help them, just in case they couldn’t swim.
She dashed across to Lucky. He was still sitting on the car boot, motionless. She put out her hand and he climbed on. ‘Thanks for your support, tiny buddy,’ she said.
With Lucky safely stashed in her pocket Bindi ran to the edge of the wharf and peered down into the darkness. Two bedraggled faces looked up at her. The men were struggling to keep afloat.
‘Who are you?’ Gold Tooth shouted at her in English. He shook his head and waved angrily. ‘Never mind! Quickly! Throw me a rope or something so I can get out of here. And then scram!’
Sharkbait shouted too, also in English. ‘There’s a lifesaving ring just down there, past that car.’ He pointed. ‘Hurry.’
Bindi ran off. Sure enough, there was the ring, tied to a pole. A length of rope was coiled there too.
She quickly untied the ring and grabbed the rope.
Bindi hoped desperately that Kelly would soon return with the policeman, but she couldn’t waste any time – she had to save the men from drowning.
‘Here!’ She threw the ring into the water. Gold Tooth scrabbled over to the ring, pushing Sharkbait out of the way.
‘Now throw me the rope!’ Gold Tooth shouted.
Bindi glanced at Sharkbait. He was managing to tread water, but hadn’t tried to swim to safety. Perhaps he can’t swim either, she thought.
She quickly hitched the rope to a pylon. ‘Catch!’ she yelled, throwing the fisherman the other end.
Gold Tooth reached out to grab the rope before Sharkbait could get to it. The two men struggled, both trying to grasp the rope and pull it out of reach of the other.
Bindi shook her head and rolled her eyes. Sometimes adults were so ridiculous!
She was about to shout at the men when a sound she’d been longing to hear cut through the night. A siren.
Bindi turned. Pulling up behind the big black car was a police car, its lights flashing.
The back door flew open. Kelly almost fell out in her rush to get to Bindi. After her came Meena, looking very worried.
Last out was Ali, the policeman they’d met at the station. He stared down at the two men flailing about in the water. ‘Looks like you’re trying to make shark finner soup, Bindi,’ he said.
The sea was an aquamarine jewel, shimmering in the morning sun. Bindi and Kelly kept watch from their usual position on the bow of Meena’s boat.
The soft breeze tickled Bindi’s cheeks. She breathed deeply, taking in the clean salty air.
‘So what’s going to happen to Gold Tooth and Sharkbait?’ Bindi wondered aloud as she closed her eyes and raised her face to the warm sun.
‘They’ll have to go to court, I guess. But thanks to you, Bindi, it’s an open and shut case.’ Kelly gave her friend a pat on the back.
‘And thanks to you, too, Kelly.’ Bindi gazed at the horizon. It was a perfect day to be on the high seas. ‘And Lucky. He found the shark fins. He brought us luck when we needed it.’
‘And Ali. We couldn’t have done it without him.’ Kelly turned to look at Bindi. ‘But what about that other policeman we met at the station? Why would he try to protect shark finners?’
Bindi shook her head. ‘I don’t know. But he did. And now he’s in trouble too.’
Kelly suddenly straightened up and gripped her friend’s arm. ‘I’ve got to ask Meena something! I was going to ask her last night, when she found me back at the police station. But there was so much going on, I forgot.’
‘Meena!’ Kelly dashed across the deck to the boat’s skipper, who was snacking on a mango.
Bindi followed.
‘What was that phone call about yesterday, when you had to go back to the office? I’ve been meaning to ask.’
Meena smiled. ‘Ah, now that would be telling.’
Kelly laughed. ‘So tell!’
‘Well, it was from a colleague who’s helping to catch shark finners and the policemen who protect them. He rang me with some information about the fishing boat.’ Meena put her arms around the two girls. ‘But you two were way ahead of us!’
‘Yay!’ Bindi and Kelly high-fived.
Meena popped the last piece of mango into her mouth. ‘Okay, girls. Time to drop anchor. Big Mouth is waiting.’
Below the surface it was another world, more spectacular than the most amazing movie or anything Bindi could ever imagine. Coral, plants, fish, shellfish – sea life in all its diversity and beauty.
Bindi, Kelly and Meena swam along the reef ledge. Bindi would never tire of this incredible sight, she was sure.
Then she spotted a baby hammer-head shark. This one was swimming below her, searching for tiny prey, its hilariously shaped head wagging to and fro. It was a happy sight.
But where was Big Mouth? There was no sign of any whale sharks. Perhaps they’d moved on to the next reef, in their long journey around the planet. Bindi swam ahead, around an outcrop and into open water.
Then she felt it. A dark shadow above her, blocking out the sun. She turned.
Big Mouth! He was swimming slowly, as if he was going for a morning stroll. His wide mouth was open as he sucked in water and the plankton he fed on.
Kelly and Meena appeared beside her. Bindi pointed.
With broad smiles on their faces, Bindi, Kelly and Meena set off with a kick, following the whale shark from a distance.
Despite appearances, however, Big Mouth was moving fast. They would never keep up. With a swish of his tail, the whale shark darted off into the deep and was soon out of sight.
Bindi waved. Till next time, Big Mouth. And there will be a next time. Pinky promise.
* * *
ANIMAL FACT FILE
THE WHALE SHARK
The whale shark is the largest fish in the sea, reaching lengths of 12 metres or more, which is about as long as a bus. They can weigh up to around 19 tonnes.
Whale sharks are harmless filter feeders. Their favourite meal is plankton. A whale shark opens its huge mouth wide and sucks in plankton, fish eggs and tiny fish. It then shuts its mouth, forcing water out of its gills. Whatever is left is its dinner.
Whale sharks prefer warm water, and can be found in tropical seas. They travel far. Every spring they migrate to Ningaloo Reef off Western Australia to enjoy the abundant supply of plankton.
Whale sharks are vulnerable. Little is known about how they breed.
* * *