The Rainbow Pool

by Unknown

  ‘Yes… thanks, Mum.’ She forced her face into a happy expression. ‘It’ll be… brilliant.’

  All afternoon Lizzy worked furiously at the decorating. She was trying to take her mind off the disastrous setback, but she couldn’t stop worrying about it. If Rose was with them on the trawler, how on earth could they carry out their plan? Everything could be ruined. There had to be a way to stop Rose from coming!

  The trouble was she couldn’t think of anything that would work. She had plenty of ideas, but they got wilder and wilder as the day went on. And when she reached the point of thinking that perhaps she could creep into Rose’s room tonight and paint measles spots on her face and neck, Lizzy admitted defeat. Her only hope was that Rose wouldn’t want to go.

  But when Rose came home the hope was dashed. Rose was bubbling with enthusiasm about the trip. And as she talked about it she kept giving Lizzy a look of pure triumph. Lizzy didn’t understand why. However, she soon found out when she followed Rose to her room, hoping that she might be able to persuade her to change her mind.

  Rose was checking her emails, but when Lizzy came in she turned away from the computer and said, ‘Ah. I thought you’d come up here soon.’

  Lizzy didn’t know what she meant, so she ignored the remark. ‘Look, Rose,’ she said awkwardly, ‘I was just wondering… well, going out on a trawler’s not going to be like going on a pleasure-boat, is it? It’ll be really noisy, and not very comfortable, and everything’ll stink of fish and things. And the sea’s sure to be much rougher when we get a long way out. So I sort of thought…’

  ‘Oh,’ said Rose, looking innocent and pretending to misunderstand, ‘you mean, you don’t really want to go?’

  ‘No! Not me. I was thinking about you.’

  A grin spread slowly across Rose’s face. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I know you were. And I know why.’

  Lizzy stared, dismayed.

  ‘You see,’ Rose went on, ‘I followed you to the harbour last night.’

  The colour drained from Lizzy’s face. ‘What?’

  ‘Come on – don’t try to fool me. I followed you, and I saw you meet Mr Carrick and that boy Kes. You’re up to something, Lizzy Baxter – I’ve known it for days, and it’s howlingly obvious that this trawler trip’s got something to do with it.’ She studied Lizzy’s horrified expression and her suspicions were confirmed. ‘I want in on the secret, so there’s no way you’re going to stop me from coming. If you try, I’ll tell Mum and Dad what happened last night, and then you won’t be allowed to go at all!’

  In that awful moment Lizzy realized that she was cornered. Rose wouldn’t believe the truth, even if she could have found the words to tell her. Making up a convincing story on the spot was impossible too. So she had only one choice.

  She sank on to the edge of Rose’s bed and stared down at her own feet. ‘Look,’ she said, ‘there is a secret, and it’s desperately important to me. But I’ve promised that I won’t tell anyone. Not even you.’ She looked up, her eyes pleading. ‘I want to, but… I promised faithfully. When it’s sorted out, I’ll be able to explain everything. For now, though… Please, Rose, don’t tell Mum and Dad about yesterday. And don’t try to make me tell you any more!’

  Rose and Lizzy were good friends and Rose didn’t want to make trouble for her sister. Besides, she reminded herself, if she gave Lizzy away she would never find out what the secret was.

  ‘Just tell me one thing,’ she said. ‘This isn’t dangerous or anything, is it? For you, I mean?’

  Lizzy knew that if Rose tried for a hundred years she would never guess just how dangerous it was. But though she hated lying, she had to do it.

  ‘No,’ she replied. ‘It’s OK. Honestly it is.’

  ‘Well…’ Rose sighed. ‘All right, then. I won’t tell anyone, and I won’t ask you any more questions. But,’ she grinned suddenly, ‘I’m still coming on that boat trip!’

  Chapter Six

  The girls were to be at the harbour at eight o’clock the next morning. Lizzy got up at six. Excitement and nerves were fighting each other, and her stomach felt as if it were full of little turning wheels. She had lain awake most of the night, worrying about how she and Kes could carry out their plan to take the pearl to Taran with Rose on board the boat, but she’d not come up with any answers. She could only hope that Jack would think of something. Either that, or Rose would change her mind at the last minute and stay behind.

  The hope was dashed when she tried to get into the bathroom and discovered that Rose was already there.

  ‘Won’t be long!’ Rose sang out over the noise of the shower splashing. ‘Isn’t it a gorgeous day? I can’t wait to get out on the sea!’

  Mum had got up too when she heard the girls, and by the time Lizzy had showered she was cooking breakfast for them.

  ‘You don’t want to go off on empty stomachs,’ she said. ‘And I’m doing you packed lunches too.’

  ‘Great; thanks, Mum,’ said Rose. She ate ravenously when the breakfast was ready, but Lizzy had to force herself to finish every mouthful. Her locket, with the silver pearl inside, was on its chain round her neck, and every few moments she touched it as though to make sure that it hadn’t suddenly vanished into nowhere.

  By quarter to eight Rose was impatient to go.

  ‘Have you got everything?’ Mum asked.

  ‘Sure!’ Rose slapped her shoulder-bag. ‘Camera, sunglasses, factor thirty suncream – and my bikini’s on under my shorts, for sunbathing.’

  ‘We’re going on a trawler, not on a cruise,’ said Lizzy sharply.

  ‘So? I’ll find somewhere to stretch out in the sun, you watch me!’ Rose grinned. ‘Bye, Mum – see you later!’

  She hurried out of the front door. Lizzy made to follow, then suddenly, on impulse, turned back and hugged Mrs Baxter with all her strength. ‘Bye, Mum!’

  Mum looked surprised and pleased. She waved as the girls headed off down the street, then closed the door, wondering why Lizzy had hugged her so hard.

  Rose had noticed too, and as soon as they were out of Mum’s earshot she said, ‘What was that for?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘That huge hug you gave Mum.’

  ‘Nothing,’ Lizzy replied defensively. ‘I just felt like it.’

  Rose looked disbelieving. She was curious about something else too. ‘And why have you got your wetsuit on under your clothes? That’s nuts!’

  Lizzy flushed. ‘No, it isn’t. It can get cold on the sea.’

  Rose opened her mouth to ask another question, but something made her change her mind. As she had told herself last night, if she pushed Lizzy too hard, she wouldn’t learn anything at all. So she just said, ‘OK. Your choice.’

  Lizzy breathed a sigh of relief.

  The fish market was nearly over, but the dockside was still bustling with activity. The girls couldn’t pick out the Regard from among all the other boats, but then Rose saw someone waving to them from further along the harbour.

  ‘There’s Paul!’ She waved back and broke into a run, Lizzy on her heels. They dodged a trundling forklift truck and two men pushing a trolley loaded with empty boxes, and there, too, were Mr Treleaven and Jack waiting to meet them. Jack gave Lizzy a very special look but only said cheerfully, ‘Morning, girls! You made it, then?’

  ‘Of course we did, Mr Carrick!’ Rose pretended to be indignant, though she was smiling at him. ‘Are you coming with us?’

  ‘Oh, yes. You can’t keep an old fisherman away from the sea, you know.’

  Rose went towards the boat with Paul and his father, but Jack hung back and whispered, ‘I’m sorry, Lizzy, but there was nothing I could do. It would have looked strange if we’d invited you but not Rose, wouldn’t it?’

  Lizzy nodded. ‘I know. But how are we going to do what we need to, without her knowing?’

  ‘We’ll have to distract her somehow. I’ve got a few ideas, but we can talk about that once we’re at sea. For now, just pretend that everything’s fine, OK?�
�

  ‘I’ll try. But she already knows something’s going on.’ Lizzy told him what had happened last night, about her confession and Rose’s promise.

  Jack frowned. ‘Will she keep the promise, do you think?’

  Lizzy hesitated, then replied, ‘Yes. I’m sure she will. But she’s busting to know the secret.’

  ‘Well, that’s another problem we must solve when we have to. It’s a pity she followed you, but you mustn’t blame yourself; you weren’t to know. We’ll sort it out, Lizzy, don’t worry. Now, Arhans isn’t far away. When she sees the boat leave, she’ll fetch Kes and they’ll follow us.’ Briefly and reassuringly he squeezed her hand. ‘Come on. Let’s get aboard before the others wonder what we’re up to.’

  Regard left her mooring twenty minutes later, easing out stern first and then turning slowly until her bows pointed to the sea. As she glided towards the harbour entrance Lizzy stood by the wheelhouse, watching the quay slip past. She had never been on a boat of this size before; it was a completely new experience and it was fascinating. There was the rough chug-chugging of the trawler’s engine, the vibration of the deck under her feet, and the rhythmic dip and rise of their movement, like a huge, gentle rocking chair. She could smell the sea, but there were other smells too: diesel and oil and fish and others she didn’t recognize, all mixing together.

  Rose came to join her, pushing back her dark hair that the wind blew around her face. ‘Great, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘Except for this wretched thing…’ She wriggled her shoulders, trying to adjust the life jacket she had been made to put on. ‘I won’t get much of a tan through this!’

  ‘You won’t get drowned if you fall overboard, either,’ Lizzy pointed out. Jack had told her to wear a jacket too; they both knew she didn’t need it, but they had to keep up appearances.

  Rose raised her eyebrows. ‘I’ve no intention of falling overboard, thanks! The sea’s much too cold. Though you with that wetsuit –’

  ‘Oh, don’t start that again! I told you why I’m wearing it.’

  Rose opened her mouth, hesitated, then thought better of what she had been going to say and changed the subject. ‘Paul says we’re going right out past Land’s End. I wonder if we’ll see any dolphins?’

  The remark sounded casual, but Lizzy knew Rose was watching her for some kind of reaction, so she just smiled and didn’t answer. They had reached the end of the quay wall now, and as the boat turned towards the open sea the rocking motion suddenly became stronger.

  ‘Whoops!’ Rose swayed and staggered and nearly tripped over a metal bar that projected up from the deck. ‘I hope it isn’t going to be rough!’

  ‘This isn’t rough,’ said Lizzy. ‘You wait till we get further out.’ Then, realizing that she wasn’t supposed to know about that sort of thing, she added quickly, ‘Remember when we went on that Sea Safari, when we first came here? The guy who took us said it was a calm day, but it was much lumpier than this.’

  ‘Yes, it was, wasn’t it?’ Rose pulled a face. ‘Oh, well; if I get seasick, I get seasick.’

  ‘You’ll be OK,’ said Paul, coming up behind them. ‘I’m making tea in a minute. Fisherman’s tea cures anything!’

  He was probably right, Lizzy thought a short while later, looking dubiously at the steaming mug that was put into her hand. The tea was the colour of very old bricks, and when she cautiously sipped it even the three spoonfuls of sugar that Paul had put in couldn’t hide the overpowering taste.

  ‘Yuk!’ Rose whispered. ‘This is disgusting! How can anyone say they actually like it?’ She glanced furtively over her shoulder to make sure Paul wasn’t nearby. ‘I’m going to chuck mine overboard when no one’s looking!’

  ‘Me too.’ Lizzy grinned. She wondered where Arhans and Kes were now. They might already be following the boat, and she had a sudden vision of the tea sploshing into the sea where Kes was swimming, and what he would think of the taste. That made her start to giggle, and Rose stared at her.

  ‘It wasn’t that funny,’ she said.

  ‘Sorry.’ Lizzy knew that the giggling fit was a result of nerves, and she forced herself to stop. Where were Kes and Arhans? Surreptitiously she looked over the rail to the sea below. But the water was churning with the wash from the Regard’s bows, and it was impossible to see anything below the surface. Wondering if Jack was looking too, she raised her head again and glanced around. But Jack was with Mr Treleaven in the wheelhouse; she could see them through the window, talking and laughing together. She sighed inwardly. She should try to be like him and stop worrying. They were hardly out of the harbour yet; there was plenty of time. She must control her impatience, and wait.

  Chapter Seven

  By the time the dramatic cliffs of Land’s End slid by on their right-hand side – which Lizzy had now learned to call the starboard beam – there was still no sign of Kes or the dolphins.

  Rose had decided to sunbathe, but on the deck of a fishing trawler that was far from easy. She had been grumbling to Lizzy that there simply wasn’t any spot where a person could stretch out properly without banging their head, knees or elbows against hatch covers, fishing gear or some bolted-down lump of metal that couldn’t be moved out of the way. Eventually she had solved the problem by lying down in a small inflatable boat that was lashed on top of a hatch cover. Paul laughed when he saw her, but now he’d given up teasing and was with Lizzy at the rail.

  ‘See the lighthouse away to starboard?’ he said, pointing. ‘That’s the Longships. At night you can see its light from nearly twenty miles away.’

  Lizzy gazed at the distant, lonely tower and smiled. ‘It’s a bit different from our little one at home!’

  ‘Too right! It’s got a helicopter landing-pad on the top – can you just imagine how ours would look with one of those?’

  She laughed, then turned to call over her shoulder to Rose. ‘Rose, did you hear that? The lighthouse over there has got a helicopter pad on top!’

  ‘Oh. Right,’ said Rose. Her voice sounded peculiar, and Lizzy turned round. ‘Rose? You OK?’

  Rose had sat up but was hunched over her drawn-up knees. Her face had lost its colour, and for a moment she didn’t answer. Then she said, ‘No. I feel queasy.’

  ‘Uh-oh,’ said Paul. ‘She’s seasick.’ He left the rail and went over to her. ‘Come on, Rose, it’ll only get worse if you sit here. The best thing is to turn your face to the wind and focus your eyes on the horizon.’

  He tried to help her to her feet, but Rose groaned and shook her head. ‘No-o-o! I just want to lie down…’

  ‘All right. Not here, though. Let’s get you below, and you can lie on one of the bunks. Give me a hand with her, Lizzy, yeah?’

  Between them they got Rose out of the small boat and helped her towards the companion ladder that led down to the crew’s cabin. Jack and Mr Treleaven saw them, and Mr Treleaven came out of the wheelhouse.

  ‘Seasick?’ He eyed Rose sympathetically. ‘Bad luck, Rose. Give her the centre bunk, Paul; she won’t notice the motion of the boat so much there. And give her an anti-nausea tablet if she can take it; they’re in the first-aid box.’ He paused, then smiled with wry humour. ‘And you’d better make sure she’s got a bucket handy.’

  ‘Don’t wanna tablet or a bucket…’ Rose mumbled. ‘Just wanna die…’

  Somehow Paul and Lizzy got Rose down the ladder to the cabin, where they made her as comfortable as they could. Lizzy felt she ought to sit with her sister, but Paul shook his head.

  ‘She’s feeling so lousy she won’t notice whether anyone’s here or not,’ he said. ‘If we leave her alone she’ll probably sleep, and that’ll help. Trust me, I know; it happened to me every trip for six months when I first started fishing with Dad!’

  Lizzy admitted to herself that she would much rather go back on deck, and pushed down the thought that she was being mean. Truthfully, Rose’s seasickness was an answer to her biggest problem – and she soon found out that Jack agreed.

  ‘Don’t feel guilty
,’ he told her when she emerged through the hatch into the fresh air again. ‘It would have happened in any case, and it does keep her out of the way.’

  ‘I suppose so.’ Lizzy was still having a tussle with her conscience, but tried hard to ignore it. ‘Have you seen Kes or the dolphins yet?’ she asked, lowering her voice.

  He smiled. ‘Go up for’ard, and look over the rail.’

  Her eyes lit up and she hurried along the deck to the Regard’s bows. And there they were – five dolphins leaping and diving as they sped through the sea ahead of the trawler. Lizzy saw Arhans’s silver streak as she led them, and her heartbeat quickened with excitement.

  ‘They know where we’ve got to go,’ said Jack, coming to stand beside her. ‘All we have to do is follow them.’

  Follow them… Quickly Lizzy turned to glance at the wheelhouse. Mr Treleaven was at the wheel. His face was unreadable, and she thought: was he following the dolphins? What had Jack told him? Could he possibly know about Kes, and what they were planning to do?

  She looked at Jack with the question in her eyes, but, as he had done once before when she’d asked, he only smiled and put a finger to his lips. Then he too turned towards the wheelhouse and nodded to Mr Treleaven. Mr Treleaven nodded in reply, and called out to Paul, who was in the stern checking the fishing gear.

  ‘Paul! Leave that for now, boy; we’re not going to shoot the trawl for a while yet. I haven’t put the new diaphragm on that bilge pump that’s been playing up. Go down and sort it, will you? And stay with it for a while when you’ve finished, to make sure it’s working properly.’

  ‘OK, Dad.’ Paul headed for the companion ladder. ‘Anyone want more tea?’

  ‘Not now. You’d better check on Rose, though.’

  Paul vanished, and Lizzy thought: So Mr Treleaven does know something. It was obvious that Paul was being deliberately sent below so that he wouldn’t see what was going to happen. She looked at Mr Treleaven again, but his face was as inscrutable as ever as he gazed ahead over the sea and the Regard chugged on.