Daring Dolphin Rescue (OceanX Book 3) by Kate B. Jerome

Author:Kate B. Jerome
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Insight Kids
Published: 2023-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

Samuel swam around and ducked briefly underwater—like he was trying to get a closer look at the animal. Then he took his snorkel out and yelled, “This dolphin is tangled in a line with a crab trap that’s weighing it down! I think it’s having trouble getting to the surface!”

“It’ll drown,” I said in alarm. “We’ve got to help it!”

Captain Perry had a grim look on his face.

“Samuel!” he shouted. “Forget about the drone and come aboard at once!”

The tone of his voice made it clear that he was captain of the ship. Samuel immediately started swimming back to the boat.

“Wait,” I protested. “We can’t just leave it.”

Captain Perry was already moving toward the ship’s radio.

“Marena, it’s very important that we report this right away,” he said.

Before I could say more, Lucas motioned me over. We both gave Samuel a hand to help him out the water.

The dolphin didn’t swim away. It moved around the back of the boat in wide circles. I knelt down to the swim platform so I could see it more closely. At one point, the dolphin turned its head to one side. It seemed to be looking directly at me. And, for some reason I could not explain, I felt certain it was asking me for help.

“Samuel, what can we do?” I pleaded.

Samuel looked worried, too.

“I don’t know if we can save her, but we’re really lucky that Captain Perry is here. He’s one of the experts the Marine Mammal Center calls when there’s a report that a dolphin’s in trouble.”

“Yes, I read that only a trained expert can help an entangled marine mammal,” Lucas said. “NOAA has strict rules.”

“Well, who’s Noah, and can we get him here right away?” I asked. My voice shook with impatience.

“NOAA is not a person, Marena,” Samuel said. “It’s an organization. N-O-A-A stands for National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration,”

I groaned. Of course I knew that! I’d just forgotten.

“Listen, Marena,” Lucas said. “Captain Perry’s on it.”

I could hear Captain Perry giving out our exact location coordinates. He was deep in conversation with the person on the radio.

“They’re not going to make it in time,” I whispered to myself.

Don’t let her hear you!

I stared at the dolphin.

“Keep breathing!” I said in a louder voice.

“You can do this!” I said even louder. The salty spray from the waves splashed onto my face and clothes. I was soon soaked. But I didn’t care. I just stared at the circling dolphin, giving all my support. I could see the fin on her back had a chunk missing. It looked almost like a bite mark. I wondered what this poor dolphin had already been through.

“Marena, did you hear me?” Captain Perry asked.

Oh, no, I zoned out!

“Yes! I mean no, Captain Perry, I didn’t hear you,” I answered.

“I have permission from NOAA to try to cut the crab trap loose. I’m not going to touch the dolphin, because I don’t want to stress her. But if we can get rid of the trap dangling at the bottom of that rope, it should relieve the weight.

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