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Broken Promises
Summer Waters
Exciting new magical adventure series for girls – will you answer the call of Silver Dolphins?Antonia is a secret Silver Dolphin – she's responsible for helping the creatures of the bay when their environment is threatened, by responding to the call of her magic necklace.When her cousins come to stay, Antonia’s loyalties are divided between family and her dolphin friends. New Sea Watch members are also causing rifts and she can’t help getting swept up in rivalry with Rosie, the latest volunteer. Will Antonia end up breaking the most important promise of all?
Silver Dolphins Broken Promises
by
Summer Waters
To Alistair, William, Tim and Antonia for putting up withlate dinners and broken plates
Table of Contents
Cover Page (#u78211efc-f3f1-5da5-80da-c43517fc6fcd)
Title Page (#uc7a96b8c-9715-5fa9-86a9-8d4445bac888)
Dedication (#ud191192d-b401-5c76-a9f1-2606bdc658e3)
Prologue (#ua3378847-47fa-5e55-a52f-f0195c7d13c7)
Chapter One (#uefaf7f55-accf-59fe-9197-81a344cdd5c7)
Chapter Two (#u355c9a44-d3c5-597c-b204-2658eb617478)
Chapter Three (#uaecadd64-0395-59b8-af8a-dff155b79eb4)
Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#ulink_56583c40-7e28-5b72-b4bb-38a84f42eeba)
The summer storm came from nowhere. Rain beat down and the squalling wind whipped up the waves until they were higher than houses. Out at sea, thirty dolphins followed their leader as he dived underwater. It was a struggle to swim in the churning ocean as they headed for the seabed. Fighting tired muscles, the dolphins battled on until gradually, the ocean’s mighty force lessened. At last the pod reached the bottom where all was calm and dark. For a while they chatted excitedly in whistles and clicks. Then, one by one they began to rest, the youngest first, followed by the adults, swimming together in a slow lazy circle.
Soon only two dolphins were properly awake; Star, a pretty dolphin with dark friendly eyes and Spirit, the leader.
“That was unexpected,” whispered Star, nuzzling at Spirit affectionately.
Spirit nuzzled his wife back.
“There is more to come,” he clicked. “I sense stormy times ahead for our Silver Dolphins.”
“Surely not,” squeaked Star, alarmed.
“Hush,” soothed Spirit. “The Silver Dolphins will ride out the storm just as we do now.”
Star’s eyes were anxious.
“It won’t be easy for them,” she clicked.
“Being a Silver Dolphin is never easy,” Spirit replied. “But the struggle is worthwhile.”
“Can we help them?” asked Star.
“The Silver Dolphins must find their own way,” said Spirit calmly. “But yes, we will be with them on their journey.”
Chapter One (#ulink_e73acdf5-6c63-5e20-b360-43b452da1e7d)
Antonia Lee trod water, staring around at the empty sea. Where was everyone hiding? Movement over by the rocks caught her eye. Antonia squinted into the sunlight. Was that Cai? She thought she could see his curly brown hair sticking over the top of the rock. Antonia turned her back, pretending she hadn’t noticed him. Casually she swam in the opposite direction, then diving down, she doubled back underwater. In one hand she trailed a long piece of crinkly brown seaweed. If she could sneak up on Cai and tag him then it would be his turn to be ‘it’. She had almost reached the rocks when Cai broke cover. Like a rocket he shot past her, a huge grin on his face.
“Not ‘it’,” he called triumphantly.
Antonia grinned back as he disappeared. Cai hadn’t been a Silver Dolphin for very long, but he was a quick learner. Already he was as at home in the water as their dolphin friends, Bubbles and Dream. Antonia swam on, her eyes searching for the dolphins. At last she saw them, hiding together in a kelp bed. Antonia paddled through the kelp, parting it with her free hand. A school of tiny fish darted across her path, startling her. Taking advantage of her surprise, Dream and Bubbles made a dash for a new hiding place. The chase was on. Antonia pretended to follow Dream. Then, in a sudden change of direction, she lunged at Bubbles, tagging his tail with the seaweed.
“‘It’!” she cried.
“No, you are,” clicked Bubbles, flicking the seaweed back at her.
They played until the seaweed had almost disintegrated. Then, calling a truce, they floated on the sea’s surface, enjoying the warmth of the sun on their faces.
“We’d better get back,” clicked Dream eventually. “Dad’s taking the pod fishing soon.”
“Spoilsport,” clicked Bubbles, flicking water at her.
Dream looked slightly cross until Cai flicked water back at Bubbles. That started a water fight with everyone splashing so hard they churned up the sea like a whirlpool.
“Enough,” panted Antonia. “We have to go now. It’s nearly tea time.”
“Goodbye,” said Bubbles, solemnly swimming forward as if to rub noses with her.
“Goodbye…BUBBLES!” she shrieked as, catching her unawares, he doused her with water.
Bubbles clicked a laugh. “See you soon, Silver Dolphin,” he called, keeping a safe distance away.
“I’ll get you for that,” Antonia laughed back.
She waited for Cai to finish saying goodbye to Dream, then rubbed noses with the older dolphin. The dolphins swam out to sea, leaping in and out of the water, their silver bodies curving like half-moons. Antonia and Cai headed in the opposite direction, swimming in companionable silence until Antonia suddenly exclaimed, “We’ve forgotten the rubbish.”
She flushed guiltily, but Cai just laughed.
“Well remembered,” he said placidly.
Somersaulting neatly they swam back to the rocks to collect their bundle: several crisp packets, an old shoe and two polystyrene cups all wrapped up in a split carrier bag.
“What would have happened if we’d left this behind?” Antonia idly wondered. “Do you think Spirit would have been cross?”
“No,” said Cai. “Spirit knows we’re not perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. We might not have been allowed to play with Bubbles and Dream for a bit, though.”
“We shouldn’t make mistakes,” said Antonia emphatically.
“Everyone does,” said Cai wisely. “Don’t be too hard on us just because we’re Silver Dolphins.”
Antonia lightly touched the silver dolphin charm hanging round her neck. As Silver Dolphins, Antonia and Cai were guardians of the sea. Whenever Spirit called for their help a special magic let them swim like dolphins so they could sort the problem out. Silver Dolphin magic was very rare. Antonia and Cai only knew one other person who had it: Claudia, Cai’s great-aunt. She had been a Silver Dolphin before deciding that she was too old to do the job properly. Now she ran a marine conservation charity called Sea Watch instead.
They parted company at Claudia’s beach.
“I’ll take the rubbish,” said Cai. “It can go in the Sea Watch bins. Where did you leave your shoes?”
“Gull Bay,” said Antonia. It was her favourite beach after Claudia’s because not many tourists knew about it. “See you tomorrow then.”
“See you,” said Cai.
Antonia swam on. She was enjoying every minute of the school holidays. So far, she’d spent most of it at Sea Watch with Cai. Leaping in and out of the water Antonia relished her freedom. Gull Bay was quiet with only a handful of people left on the beach. Antonia swam until she could see the seabed then, standing up, she waded ashore. Water poured from her clothes, leaving them as dry as if she’d been playing in the sun. Only her hair was slightly damp. Her sandals were where she’d left them, at the far end of the beach. Ramming her feet into them, Antonia padded across the sand.
She was almost home when someone called her name. Turning, Antonia saw her other best friend, Sophie, running towards her. As usual, Sophie was carrying her sketch book.
“Hi, I can’t believe we haven’t seen each other since the holidays started,” panted Sophie, catching Antonia up.
“Me neither,” said Antonia guiltily. “What have you been up to?”
“Helping Dad and drawing mostly. I’m getting really good at cats. A lady in one of Dad’s classes has commissioned me to paint her cat for her. She’s going to send me a photograph to copy from when she gets home.”
“Well done! That’s brilliant news!” Antonia exclaimed.
Sophie’s dad was an artist and in the summer he ran art classes for the tourists. Sophie was very good at art too and her latest project was sketching and painting cats. And now someone was paying her for it!
They reached the end of the road.
“Let’s do something together soon,” said Sophie.
“Definitely,” Antonia agreed. “I’ll ring you.”
Antonia ran the rest of the way home. Pushing open the front door, she could hear lots of banging upstairs.
“Mum?” she called out.
“Up here, darling,” Mum shouted back. “Come and give me a hand.”
Antonia went upstairs and found her mother slowly backing out of the cupboard on the landing.
“Help me with this,” she panted.
Antonia reached out and took some of the weight of the large bin bag her mother was carrying.
“What is it?” she asked.
“The put-you-up and the airbed,” said Mum. “Aunty Sue phoned today and arranged for Abi and Ella to come and stay for a week.”
“Great,” said Antonia enthusiastically. She hadn’t seen her cousins since Christmas and it would be fun to have them to stay. Abi was eleven, a whole year older than Antonia, but they got on really well. Jessica, Antonia’s seven-year-old sister, and Ella, also seven, were good friends too.
“I can take Abi to Sea Watch. She’ll love it. When are they coming?”
“Wednesday.”
“But that’s the day after tomorrow,” Antonia squeaked.
“That’s why I’m getting the beds out to air,” said Mum, laughing.
“It’s going to be such fun,” said Antonia happily. “Which bed is Abi having? I’ll put it straight in my room.”
Chapter Two (#ulink_b0d427ff-f1ba-5d5e-9678-32af0b66ed27)
The following morning, there was a new girl at Sea Watch. She seemed quite at home sitting at the large table next to Eleanor, Emily and Oliver, who were telling her about the Sea Watch litter-picking event scheduled for Saturday.
“Hi, everyone,” said Antonia, including the new girl in her greeting. “Where’s Cai?”
“He’s outside feeding Tilly,” said Emily.
Tilly, an abandoned seal pup rescued by Claudia, had been at Sea Watch for a few days and was already making good progress.
“This is Hannah,” Emily added. “Her mum’s working in the area so she’ll be here for a couple of weeks.”
Hannah smiled at Antonia. She was pale and thin with long red hair. She would have seemed fragile, had it not been for her piercing grey eyes. Antonia was transfixed. She couldn’t stop staring at Hannah. A strong feeling swept over her. Hannah was no ordinary girl. Antonia sensed there was something special about her. It was as if…
Hannah stared back with open curiosity and Antonia pulled herself together. What was wrong with her? Of course there wasn’t anything special about Hannah. Only last week, she’d suspected her own sister of being a Silver Dolphin and she’d been completely wrong about that! Quickly she headed outside to find Cai.
The seal pup had just finished her bottle and was nosing at Cai’s hand for more. Antonia laughed as Cai held the empty bottle out of her reach, saying, “You’ll get wind if you suck on that.”
