Chapter Four

      Walking to school with Sophie the next morning, Antonia’s feet felt like they were floating on air. Finally, it was the last day of term. Straight after lunch—an end-of-term picnic on the school field—the holidays started. Six whole weeks of freedom! Antonia couldn’t wait.

      Miss Brown’s desk was a mountain of gifts and Antonia added her own to the pile—a pretty notebook made from recycled paper and a pen with a clay starfish on the end. The morning was a blur of last-minute tidying, followed by a final assembly. Lunch was a noisy, cheerful affair. The Year Sixes, who were leaving for secondary school, came round collecting signatures on their school sweatshirts and cardigans. Antonia drew a dolphin on her friend Emily’s and the big girl squeaked in delight.

      “Are you going to Sea Watch after school? Wait for me then,” she said.

      Emily talked non-stop on the way to Sea Watch. She’d brought her camera with her to take some photos of the guillemots before they were released.

      “Aunty Claudia thinks we can let them go next week,” said Cai. “They should be properly acclimatised by then.”

      “A clima-whattie?” asked Emily.

      “Acclimatised; it means getting them used to being outside again.”

      Claudia was pleased to see everyone. As they tidied their school bags into a cupboard, she drew Antonia to one side.

      “Bad luck about yesterday. I hope you weren’t in too much trouble?”

      “I was a bit,” Antonia admitted. “I’m just glad school’s finished. Now I can stop worrying about what to do if Spirit calls in the middle of a lesson.”

      “That would be awkward,” agreed Claudia. “But you’d find a way round it.”

      “How? What if it happens next term?”

      Claudia smiled and immediately Antonia knew what her answer would be. Staring into Claudia’s sea-green eyes she thought, I have to work it out for myself.

      Without speaking, Claudia answered, You are the Silver Dolphin.

      Antonia wondered if she should mention her suspicion about Jessica, but decided against it. Of course Jessica wasn’t a Silver Dolphin. It was just a silly thought.

      Claudia put Antonia and Cai to work, moving the guillemots from their indoor pens to an outdoor aviary. To transport the birds, she gave them a special cardboard box with handles and air holes, and a thick pair of gloves each.

      “If the birds are frightened, they might try and bite you, so remember to talk to them in a low calm voice and don’t make any sudden movements,” said Claudia.

      Antonia was very fond of the guillemots. There were nine survivors, each with their own cheeky personality. Antonia’s favourite was a bright-eyed bird who always had a lot to say.