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  Antonia choked back a sob. She couldn’t bear it if she wasn’t a Silver Dolphin any more. Her fingers strayed to her silver dolphin charm. It lay on her neck, reassuringly soft as always.

  There, you’re being silly, she scolded herself. Her magic must be working or the charm would feel hard and cold like real silver. Antonia tried to chase all the unpleasant thoughts away by thinking about Bubbles and Dream. She wondered if they were missing her as much as she was missing them.

  Restlessly, Antonia tossed and turned. The air conditioning was making her throat dry. It was still very warm outside, but Antonia longed to open a window and let the night air in. It was a long time before she drifted into a troubled sleep. Then a short while later she woke with a terrible pain in her head. She clutched at it with her hands. Her face was burning and her whole body ached.

  “Oooooh,” she moaned.

  She felt awful. Tears prickled under her eyelids then rolled down her face. There was only one thing Antonia wanted now and it was something she couldn’t have. Antonia wanted her mum.

  Chapter Nine

  Cai was woken up by Antonia moaning and came to see if she was all right.

  “I’ll go and get Mum,” he said the moment he saw her.

  After that everything was a blur. Antonia was conscious of Mrs Pacific talking in a low, soothing voice then someone laying a damp flannel on her forehead. Ages later a lady with flowery perfume and a strong Australian accent came and sat on the edge of her bed.

  “I’m Doctor Melanie Collard,” she said. “Can you tell me where it hurts?”

  “My head,” moaned Antonia.

  Gently, the doctor helped Antonia upright so she could examine her. She looked down her throat and shone a light into her ears.

  “Woah!” she exclaimed. “That’s some ear infection you’ve got. No wonder your head hurts. Has it been like it for long?”

  “Yes,” croaked Antonia. “It’s been buzzing for days.”

  “I’m not surprised. You’ll need a strong antibiotic for that. The pharmacy in town won’t be open until the morning, but in the meantime I’ll give you something for the pain.”

  Antonia closed her eyes as Dr Collard rustled in her bag. She felt something cold on her skin then a sharp prick.

  “That should help,” said the doctor kindly. “Now try and get some sleep.”

  Gratefully, Antonia drifted off. She slept fitfully, waking every now and then, and each time the room was lighter. Much later she was aware of people quietly moving around the apartment. Antonia stayed where she was, not well enough to get up. Then Mrs Pacific came in and asked if she wanted anything to eat. Antonia shook her head, but allowed Mrs Pacific to help her sit up to take a sip from a glass of iced water. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand then wearily sank back on to the pillows.

  “Lenny and Cai have run into town to get your prescription,” said Mrs Pacific. “I’ll phone your mum later and tell her you’re not well. You can speak to her too. They’re about nine hours behind us so I won’t ring yet. We don’t want to frighten your mum by ringing in the middle of the night.”

  Antonia gave Mrs Pacific a weak grin. Although she badly wanted to see her mum right then, she didn’t feel up to talking to her on the phone. Hopefully, she would later. Mrs Pacific chattered on as she plumped Antonia’s pillows and straightened her bed.

  “You’re to take it easy while the antibiotics start to work. No swimming—doctor’s orders! Though I don’t suppose you’ll want to swim anyway. Shall I draw the curtains? No? Do you want the television on then?”

  “No thanks.” Antonia’s head wasn’t hurting as badly as it had in the night, but it was still very sore and the buzzing in her ear was making it hard to concentrate. She lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling, trying to make sense of her jumbled thoughts.

  When Cai and his dad returned, they came in to visit Antonia. With a wide grin, Mr Pacific held out grapes and a bouquet of exotic-looking flowers.

  “For the patient,” he said grandly.

  Antonia swallowed back the lump in her throat. No wonder Cai was kind; his parents were so thoughtful.

  “Cai, no!” Mr Pacific playfully smacked Cai’s hand as he reached out for a grape.

  “That’s all right,” said Antonia. “It’s a huge bunch. There’s plenty to share.”

  “You have to take one of these as well.” Mr Pacific pulled out a box from his pocket and then snapped a tablet from the foil-covered sheet inside.

  “Crikey!” he exclaimed. “Do you think the doctor ordered the right thing? It’s enormous. Looks like the kind of tablet you’d give a horse.”

  With a cheeky grin, he read the label on the box. “It’s definitely got your name on it. Better take a large swig of water then.”

  Antonia wasn’t keen on taking tablets and was concentrating on drinking enough water to swallow it, so at first she didn’t notice Cai’s agitation. It wasn’t until he started hopping up and down that she realised something was wrong.

  “Erm, I was wondering if…” Cai’s face was red with embarrassment as he struggled to find the right words.

  Suddenly Antonia noticed the silver dolphin charm pinned to his T-shirt. It was vibrating. Her hand flew to her own necklace and the dolphin’s tail fluttered against her fingers like a feather in the wind. Only a Silver Dolphin could see and hear when the dolphins were calling. Mr Pacific didn’t notice a thing and smiled encouragingly at Cai while he waited for him to finish his sentence. Antonia was aware of a clicking noise and fought the buzzing in her head to listen to it.

  Diamond, I hear your call, she silently clicked back.

  But could she answer the call when she felt so ill?

  “You’re not allowed to go swimming, are you?” said Cai, guessing her line of thought.

  “No, but…”

  “No buts!” said Mr Pacific heartily. “Definitely no swimming.”

  “No, but Cai can go if he wants to,” said Antonia in a rush. “Don’t hang around here for me. I might get up soon and read or something.” She hoped she sounded convincing. She minded dreadfully that Cai would answer Diamond’s call without her!

  “Well, if you’re sure.” Cai was already at the door.

  “Cai!” Mr Pacific was shocked.

  “I’m cool with it. Really, Mr Pacific,” said Antonia. “It’s not Cai’s fault I’ve got an ear infection. I’d hate him to stay in just for me.”

  “Go on then, hop it,” Mr Pacific sighed.

  “Thanks,” said Cai, disappearing at a run.

  “I’m going to read for a bit.” Antonia had no intention of reading, but hoped Mr Pacific would get the hint and leave.

  This was awful. She hated not being able to hear Diamond properly and she hated not being able to answer the call. Would Cai be all right on his own? The Australian ocean was very different from the English one. Images of sharks, box jellyfish and blue ringed octopus—all things Cai might encounter when answering Diamond’s call—flashed through her mind. Petrified, Antonia lay in bed waiting for Cai to return. Surely his Silver Dolphin magic would keep him safe, wouldn’t it?

  Chapter Ten

  “It was fine,” said Cai. “At first I was terrified I’d meet a shark, but once I was in the water I forgot all about that. The task wasn’t difficult. One of Diamond’s pod, a dolphin called Streak, had cut his fin on a broken bottle. I blotted it with seaweed until the bleeding stopped, then I collected up the glass and brought it ashore. If only everyone thought to take their rubbish home with them, the sea would be a much safer place.”

  “Did you tell Diamond about me being ill?”

  “Yes, she was very interested. She thought that Spirit had exaggerated your powers. She thinks your magic will be stronger when you’re feeling better.”

  Antonia breathed a sigh of relief. She’d come to the same conclusion herself, that her loss of power was due to her ear infection, but it was nice to have it confirmed.

  “So Diamond’s spoken to Sp
irit. How did that happen?”

  “They met, halfway between here and Australia. Remember Spirit went away a couple of days before we left home? Well, that’s where he was. He used dolphin magic to contact Diamond. She was only too glad to meet up with Spirit when she heard about us.”

  “That’s great,” said Antonia. “Did you play with the dolphins?”

  “For a bit.” Cai looked sheepish. “Jet and Swirl asked and I couldn’t let them down, could I?”

  “Of course not,” Antonia agreed. “I feel such a lazy lump being stuck in bed.”

  “You are,” said Cai, laughing.

  “Your mum won’t let me get up!” Antonia was indignant.

  “Quite right too. You look awful.”

  “I feel it.” Antonia hated admitting that. She wanted everything back to normal. Being ill was no fun and she couldn’t help feeling envious of Cai who’d answered a call on his own and got to play with the dolphins.

  Even with the antibiotics it took Antonia longer than she’d hoped to recover. She spent the rest of the day in bed and the following day, feeling only a little better, Mrs Pacific made her a bed on the sofa in the lounge. Mrs Pacific was very kind, fussing over her and keeping her supplied with cold drinks and a stack of DVDs to watch, but Antonia badly missed her own mum. It was good to speak to her on the telephone and she’d spoken with her dad and Jessica too.

  On the third day following the doctor’s visit Antonia felt well enough to get dressed. Mr Pacific put the sun umbrella up and she sat on the patio reading and occasionally watching the sea. Cai wanted to keep her company, but Antonia was happy to be on left on her own, insisting that Cai spend time with each of his parents. She felt awful that they couldn’t go out as a family because someone had to stay behind and look after her.

  “It’s no problem,” Mrs Pacific assured her. “You’ll have to visit us again. You’ve missed out too.”

  “I’m surprised you’d want me back after the trouble I’ve caused.”

  Mrs Pacific laughed. “You’re worth it,” she said kindly. “I’m so relieved Cai has you for a friend. Lenny and I worry about leaving him in England, but now I’ve met you I can see we don’t need to.”

  To her frustration, Antonia felt very weak after her first day out of bed and decided on an early night. She was going to read, but fell asleep immediately and dreamt she was swimming alone at night in the ocean. The dream was scary; in it she was battling with a box jellyfish. Its long tentacles snagged round her legs as its soft jelly body smothered her face.

  Antonia woke with a pounding heart to find her reading book over her nose and the duvet twisted tightly round her legs. It took a little while for her heart to slow and even longer to free herself from the duvet. At last Antonia was able to reach for the bedside light and switch it on.

  She lay propped against her pillows, staring at the picture of the leaping dolphins. What would Spirit and Diamond and their pods be doing now? Thinking about her dolphins made Antonia’s eyes feel weary again. She snuggled down in bed, but as she began to doze, something tickled her neck. Sleepily, she brushed it with her hand. The tickle grew stronger and a soft clicking noise filled the room.

  Antonia jerked awake, her fingers reaching for her silver dolphin necklace. It was vibrating. Faster and faster the vibrations grew until the dolphin’s soft body was thrumming against her neck like raindrops on a window. A shrill whistle echoed round the room.

  Hurry, Silver Dolphin.

  Diamond, I hear your call.

  In a flash Antonia was out of bed and pulling her clothes from the wardrobe. “Ooh!” she exclaimed, clutching at the wardrobe door. She’d moved too fast and now her head was spinning. She stood quietly for a moment while her body recovered. The dolphin charm beat wildly against her skin.

  Diamond, I’m on my way.

  Antonia pulled her clothes on over the top of her pyjamas then, hearing footsteps outside her room, tiptoed to the door and peeped out. Cai was creeping down the hallway.

  “Wait!” whispered Antonia.

  “Antonia! You scared the life out of me.”

  In the moonlight shining into the hall Cai’s face was unusually pale. “Go back to bed. I can manage on my own.”

  “But it’s the middle of the night,” whispered Antonia.

  “So?”

  “It’ll be safer if there are two of us.”

  “The dolphin magic will keep me safe. The doctor said no swimming.”

  “Yes, but my ear’s fine now,” Antonia lied. “I’m coming with you.”

  “You’re not!” Cai folded his arms and glared at her.

  Antonia glared back with a mixture of emotions filling her head. How dare Cai insist he went off on his own? He couldn’t tell her what to do. She was a Silver Dolphin too.

  “Please, Antonia?”

  Antonia’s anger evaporated. Cai wasn’t trying to be bossy or mean. He was just concerned. “Look, I wouldn’t lie to you. I’m fine. I want to come. Let’s not waste time arguing. This call feels urgent.”

  Cai grinned. “Antonia Lee, you are lying,” he insisted. “Please go back to bed or I’ll be forced to wake Mum and Dad.”

  “You wouldn’t!” Antonia was shocked. “Then neither of us could answer the call.”

  Cai said nothing and Antonia couldn’t make up her mind if he was bluffing or not. The seconds ticked by until a loud, urgent whistle filled the hall.

  Silver Dolphin, COME QUICKLY!

  Antonia knew she was beaten. “All right,” she said with a sigh. “I won’t come. But I’m not going back to bed. I’m waiting on the patio until you get back.”

  Cai reached out and, brushing her on the arm, whispered, “Thanks.” Swiftly, he opened the front door and disappeared into the dark.

  Chapter Eleven

  Collecting a jumper from her room and wrapping it around her shoulders, Antonia softly opened the lounge doors and went and stood on the patio. After a while she saw a dark shape running across the beach. Even though she knew Cai wouldn’t see her, she leant over the balcony and waved. Without hesitation Cai splashed into the water and swam away.

  Antonia experienced a sudden pang of unease. Had she been right to let him go off on his own? Spirit had warned her a long time ago that being a Silver Dolphin could be dangerous.

  The waiting was awful. At first Antonia sat curled in a ball on a sun lounger, but she was too restless to be still for long and hung over the balcony, her eyes searching for signs of life in the sea. Where was Cai now and what was he doing? Did Claudia feel the same anxiety and helplessness when Antonia and Cai answered the call, leaving her behind?

  Lit by a huge round moon, the sea stretched away, a black cloak rippling in the breeze. Antonia touched her necklace for reassurance. The charm had stopped vibrating, but every now and then she felt it quiver as if it was trying to tell her something. Antonia closed her eyes and cleared a space in her head. It was easier to concentrate now the buzzing had gone. Soon the space was filled with a whisper. The whisper grew louder and more insistent.

  Come quickly, Silver Dolphin, we need you.

  Antonia knew this second call was meant for her. Straightaway she answered.

  Diamond, I hear your call.

  Swiftly and quietly, she went back inside, locking the patio doors, then creeping through the sleeping house to go back out through the front door. She ran down the deserted road, hesitating at the steps, before hurtling down them as fast as was safe. At the bottom she stumbled, tripping over Cai’s abandoned shoes.

  “Ouch!” Antonia mumbled a curse as she threw her sandals next to Cai’s, then hared across the beach with only the moon to light her way. As she paddled into the sea, Antonia realised that neither she nor Cai had left a note for his parents. Crossing her fingers, she willed them not to wake up until morning.

  The sea was chillier than she’d been expecting. Teeth chattering noisily, Antonia waded further into the water. She didn’t start swimming until she was in up to her waist. At f
irst the coldness made her wince, but as her legs melded together and her body took on dolphin-like characteristics, she soon forgot the cold. Using her hands for flippers and kicking her legs together like a tail, Antonia swam in the dark ocean.

  It was fantastic being in the water again after so many days moping around in bed. Antonia’s muscles tingled with exhilaration as she leapt in and out of the sea. This was better than flying! The magic propelled Antonia along faster than a real dolphin as she raced to answer Diamond’s call.

  Even with the moon’s light it wasn’t easy to work out exactly where she was, but Antonia thought she was travelling parallel to the hotel beach. Sensing vibrations to her left, she turned towards the coastline. The hotel was as clear to see as a patch of daylight, lights blazing from every angle. Antonia slowed, seeing and sensing dark shapes in the water ahead.

  “Silver Dolphin, you came.”

  Diamond broke away from the group of dolphins anxiously milling around and rubbed noses with her in greeting.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t come more quickly.” Antonia’s face was hot with embarrassment.

  “I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t so urgent,” clicked Diamond. “I know you’re not completely better. Are you sure you’re able to help?”

  “Yes,” Antonia nodded emphatically. “Tell me what to do.”

  “You’re needed on the beach.” Diamond nodded her head in the direction of the shore where Antonia could just make out a small cove. She screwed up her eyes, trying to work out where she was. Then she got it. It was the secluded cove round the corner from the hotel’s private beach where they’d rescued the turtle. That incident seemed such a long time ago, it was no wonder Antonia hadn’t recognised where she was.

  Cai was on the beach, dashing about the sand like a battery-operated toy. But what was he doing? Antonia trod water, fascinated by his antics. One minute Cai would stoop down then the next he ran over to squat at the edge of the sea.