Secret Friends Read Online Free

sound of the sea filling her ears like the breath of an enormous sleeping beast. Occasionally a wave smacked against her, but apart from the sea sounds there was nothing else to hear. Antonia scanned the horizon, unsure whether to swimon or to give up and go home. Then suddenly her body began to tingle. At once Antonia recognised the sensation. It was caused by vibrations in the water. Was something coming her way? The vibrations grew stronger and then turned into a welcome clicking sound.
    “Spirit,” she called.
    “Silver Dolphin?” Spirit sounded incredulous. “Is that you?”
    “Yes,” clicked Antonia, excitement making her squeak. “Where are you?”
    “Not far. Stay where you are. I’ll come to you.”
    Spirit’s voice was serious and Antonia felt a pang of uncertainty. Was he annoyed because she had come without being called? As she waited Antonia’s stomach churned uncomfortably.
    A while later Antonia felt more vibrations in the sea. These were stronger, pinging against her skin like hailstones. She scanned the sea’s surface and at last she saw two dolphins, their bodies making silver arches as they leapt in and out of the water. As they drew closer Antonia recognised the bigger dolphin as Spirit. The smaller one was almost identical except that the blaze across his flank was more amber than yellow.
    “Bubbles!”
    Antonia hadn’t realised she’d been holding her breath until it came out in a sudden rush of air. Spirit couldn’t be angry with her if he’d brought Bubbles along. Antonia longed to swim to meet Bubbles, but held back, remembering why she was here. Bubbles alsorecognised the importance of the occasion and slowed, letting Spirit greet Antonia first. Spirit swam right up to Antonia, his liquid eyes holding hers as he gently rubbed her, nose to nose.
    “Silver Dolphin!” he exclaimed. “What brings you here? Did another dolphin call you?”
    “There’s been an oil leak from a ship that ran aground in the storm. I came to warn you to stay out at sea. It’s not safe for you to come inshore until the oil has broken up.”
    “You mean you came on your own to warn us of the danger? No other dolphin called you?”
    Antonia nodded.
    A strange expression crossed Spirit’s face, then he lightly touched the top of Antonia’s head with his flipper.
    “I knew it,” he whispered. “Yours is a very powerful gift, Silver Dolphin. Use it wisely.”
    Antonia flushed. What did Spirit mean by that? She was going to ask, but Spirit moved back to include Bubbles in the conversation and the moment passed.
    “Thank you, Silver Dolphin. That was a brave thing to do. We’ll definitely stay out at sea until the oil has broken up.”
    Bubbles made a sad face, then nudged his father in the side.
    “Dad, it might be ages before I see the Silver Dolphin again. Please can we play for a bit?”
    Spirit clicked a laugh.
    “Swim along, my little dolphin. Go have fun with your friend.”
    “Bubbly!” whistled Bubbles. “Let’s playseaweed tag. The first one to find some seaweed’s
not
it.”
    He dived down towards the seabed, but Spirit blocked Antonia from following with his tail.
    “You’ve come a long way. Can you find your way back?” he asked.
    Antonia looked towards the
Princess Romana
, a small black dot on the flat blue sea.
    “Yes, home is that way.”
    “Call me if you get lost,” said Spirit.
    “Thank you,” said Antonia.
    A fountain of water spouted up behind them as Bubbles surfaced.
    “You’re it,” he whistled, tossing a strand of seaweed at Antonia, but missing. “Whoops, sorry, Dad.”
    Spirit shook the seaweed off his head and threw it back at Bubbles.
    “I should ground you for that,” he said.
    “Aw, Dad! You wouldn’t!”
    “Hmmm,” said Spirit, a twinkle in his eye. “Better swim along before I do.”
    “Come on, Flipper Feet.” Bubbles flicked the seaweed at Antonia. “Catch me if you can.”
    Antonia hesitated, then Spirit reached out and gently rubbed his