Broken Promises by Summer Waters

Author:Summer Waters
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Chapter Eight

“Silver Dolphins,” squeaked Bubbles. He greeted Antonia first. Enthusiastically she greeted him back, pleased that she was still his favourite.

“Can we play, Dad?” begged Bubbles and Dream when they’d said hello to everyone.

Star clicked a laugh.

“I thought you wanted to come here to help the Silver Dolphins,” she said.

“They don’t need help any more,” said Bubbles.

Spirit laughed too.

“Yes, you can play,” he generously clicked. “Your mother and I have things to sort out. We’ll see you later.”

“Bubbly! Thanks, Dad.” Bubbles smacked the water with his tail, soaking everyone. “Let’s play Sprat. I’ll be ‘it’. You get a three-wave head start.”

Everyone scattered as Bubbles counted three waves. Antonia dived down to look for somewhere to hide. The green-blue water was crystal clear, but there were several rocks dotted around the seabed. She swam behind a short fat one, lying flat so her stomach was almost touching the sand. It was a good hiding place and Antonia was annoyed when Hannah suddenly appeared behind her, startling a school of tiny fish. Hannah grinned at Antonia in a conspiratorial way as she lay down beside her. Inwardly Antonia sighed. Why couldn’t she go somewhere else? But at least Hannah was good at hiding. She didn’t wriggle or keep peeking out to see if Bubbles was coming. She didn’t get the giggles either, something that often happened to Antonia when she was hiding with Cai. Hannah lay so still she could have been part of the seabed. Trust her to be good at everything. Antonia’s resentment continued to build. Well, she wasn’t going to let her win Sprat. The moment Antonia felt vibrations in the water she broke cover and swam away.

“Sprat! I see you,” whistled Bubbles, chasing after her.

Hannah broke cover and followed Antonia as she swam towards another rock. Determined not to get beaten, Antonia pulled ahead. Movement on the beach caught her eye. What was that? Sprat forgotten, Antonia changed course and headed for the shore where a kittiwake was staggering around. Drawing closer, Antonia saw it was tangled in a length of twine. Suddenly, Hannah changed direction. She’d spotted the kittiwake too. Antonia swam faster. She’d seen the bird first and was determined to get to it before Hannah. She was conscious that Hannah was catching her up. Frantically splashing ashore she ran up the beach. Startled, the bird opened its bright yellow beak.

“Kitti-waaak,” it shrilled, flapping its wings in alarm. The bird tottered and almost fell over as the twine became more tangled round its body and legs.

What was she thinking? By running so fast Antonia was scaring the bird and making things worse. She stopped dead as the panicking bird tied itself in more knots. Hannah ran past her and, lunging at the kittiwake, caught it as it managed to flap a few centimetres off the ground.

“Kitti-waak!” squawked the terrified bird, struggling fiercely. A spot of blood appeared on its white breast.

“Shhh,” crooned Hannah.

She held the bird at arm’s length until eventually it stopped struggling. Gently, Hannah’s fingers worked at untangling the twine.

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