Stormy Skies. Summer Waters

       Chapter Four

      Immediately Cai and Lulu swam up from behind a rock. Hannah appeared from the other direction. “

      What is it?” asked Lulu curiously.

      “It’s a metal sign,” said Hannah. “People stand these outside shops to show what’s inside. This one’s advertising coffee. No wonder the seal was hurt. It looks like she got her flipper caught in the bit that swings.”

      “How did it get here?” Antonia wondered aloud.

      “Someone probably threw it into the sea for a joke. The big question is – how are we going to get it out?” asked Cai, running a hand through his dark curly hair.

      “With great care,” said Antonia, gingerly holding the sign’s metal middle so that it couldn’t swing shut and trap her fingers. “Keep back, Lulu and Rolly.”

      Lulu had been edging closer, but moved away as the Silver Dolphins closed in and prepared to move the sign.

      “Ready?” asked Cai. “Lift.”

      Grunting with effort, Antonia, Cai and Hannah swam, lifting the sign up to the surface. It was heavy and awkward to hold. They swam slowly to avoid injuring themselves. Once they surfaced, they laid the sign flat then trod water to get their breath back.

      “Phew! It’s heavy,” Antonia panted.

      Hannah was scanning the coastline with her piercing grey eyes. At last she said, “We’re near the café we went to last night. If you look up, you can see where the trees have been cut down. And to the right is the beach with the seal colony. I think this sign came from that café. There used to be one exactly the same outside it.”

      “You’re right,” said Cai excitedly. “I can see the back of the café from here.”

      “I wonder…Do you think the sign might have fallen off the cliff? Only the ground wasn’t very safe up there,” suggested Antonia.

      “It might have,” said Hannah. “I don’t suppose we’ll ever know. The important thing is not to leave it here to hurt anyone else.”

      “Does that mean you have to go home now? That’s the shortest game of Sprat ever,” grumbled Lulu.

      “We’ll have a longer game next time,” Hannah promised her.

      It was a slow swim back to the beach. Antonia’s fingers ached from keeping them clamped round the sign’s metal middle. Once she let go and nearly trapped her fingers. Lulu and Rolly swam alongside, clicking encouragement. When the beach came in sight, they said goodbye, but without the usual rubbing of noses.

      “We won’t come any closer,” said Lulu warily. “See you soon, Silver Dolphins. Dad’s going to be very pleased when we tell him you’ve made the sea safe for us again.”

      “Bye, Lulu, bye, Rolly,” everyone clicked back.

      They trod water, watching the two dolphins swim away, their bodies a silver blur as they raced back to their pod.

      “Better get this ashore,” said Antonia when the dolphins were tiny specks on the horizon.

      As the water grew shallower, the sign became heavier and more cumbersome to move. They paddled through the surf and up the sand, water pouring from their clothes until they were totally dry with only their hair feeling slightly damp.

      “We left our shoes over there,” said Antonia, changing direction.

      Panting with effort, Antonia, Cai and Hannah carried the coffee sign up the beach and stood it upright in the sand.

      “What do we do with it now?” asked Cai. “We can’t leave it here.”

      “I know,” said Hannah. She smiled mischievously. “Let’s take it to Kathleen – her place isn’t so far from here. It’ll be our first gift from the sea to Ocean Watch.”

      Antonia and Cai chuckled. “That’s a great idea,” they agreed.

      Hurriedly they pulled on their socks and shoes then, turning the sign on its side to carry it, they set out to Kathleen’s. The day was getting lighter and a few early risers were out walking their dogs on the beach. A friendly Labrador ran up and sniffed at the sign until his owner called him away. She stared suspiciously at Antonia, Cai and Hannah, as if they were up to no good.