the suitcases into the boot of the hire car, Cai and Antonia climbed into the back. Once they got on to the highway, Mr Pacific switched on the air conditioning and Antonia gratefully sank back in her seat. That felt better. It was as warm as a sunny day in England even though it must be gone midnight. Antonia didn’t bother to look at her watch, knowing it was still on English time.
“The place we’re living in only has one bedroom, so we’ve rented a holiday apartment in the grounds of a brand-new hotel complex.” Mrs Pacific twisted round in her seat so she could talk to Antonia and Cai. “It’s right next to the beach. We know how much you love the water, Cai, and Claudia tells us that Antonia’s the same. She made me promise to book a seaside location to keep you both happy.”
The friends exchanged a secret smile. There was a reason for Cai and Antonia’s shared love of the sea. Unconsciously, Antonia’s hand strayed to the dolphin charm she always wore round her neck.
She and Cai were Silver Dolphins, or guardians of the sea. They had special magical abilities to help them care for the oceans and the creatures living there. Silver Dolphins were rare. Only someone who was in tune with nature and believed in magic could become one. Claudia had been a Silver Dolphin once, although these days she ran a marine conservation charity called Sea Watch.
Antonia closed her eyes, drifting in and out of sleep as the car sped along the empty roads. Then Cai gently shook her arm.
“We’re here,” he said.
The hotel complex looked like a small city with so many lights blazing against the inky black sky. Antonia pressed her nose up to the window for a better look.
“Wow!”
“Isn’t it amazing?” said Mr Pacific. He slowed the car as the buildings drew closer, then turned right and parked outside a neat row of bungalows. “It’s got everything. Three pools, two hot tubs, a gym, tennis courts, a cinema…”
“Darling, you sound like a holiday brochure,” interrupted Mrs Pacific. “Let’s get these poor children to bed and they can explore for themselves tomorrow.”
Sleepily, Antonia and Cai followed Mr and Mrs Pacific into the holiday apartment. It was the nicest place Antonia had ever stayed in and had three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Antonia and Cai’s rooms were next door to each other. The spacious lounge had patio doors and a tiny modern kitchen and dining area at one end.
Antonia stood at the doors, staring into the night. The patio was lit by soft garden lights. Beyond it was a balcony overlooking the sea. A huge moon hung in the sky and the water sparkled like black diamonds.
“I can’t wait to go swimming,” said Cai, yawning.
“Me too,” agreed Antonia, although right now she was too tired to do anything. Mrs Pacific let Antonia telephone her mum and dad to tell them she’d arrived safely. It felt funny knowing they were so far away. Antonia was too tired to talk for long and promised to phone back when she was more awake.
“Bedtime,” said Mrs Pacific, when Antonia came off the phone.
Gratefully, Antonia followed her to the bedroom where Mr Pacific had put her suitcase and bag. She looked around, taking in the single bed, wardrobe, dressing table and wall-mounted television.
“If you need anything in the night, just ask.” Mrs Pacific smiled at Antonia then, blowing her a kiss, closed the door.
Antonia pulled her pyjamas out of the suitcase. It was an effort to undress and she left her clothes in an untidy heap. Without bothering to brush her hair or teeth, she peeled back the duvet and climbed into bed. Bliss! She reached for the bedside light to turn it off then stopped. On the wall opposite the bed hung a picture of three dolphins, their gleaming bodies almost vertical as they leapt out of the sea.
Antonia stared at the picture for a moment. The dolphins were bottlenoses, unlike her own pod of common dolphins. Antonia felt a sharp pang of homesickness. What had she done? She’d left her mum, dad and little sister Jessica, and her wonderful dolphins, Spirit, Star, Dream and Bubbles, to travel to the other side of the world and stay with people she hardly knew.
Antonia had been very worried about leaving the dolphins. What if they needed help while she and Cai were away? But Claudia had promised that she would answer their call.
“I’m not that ancient that I can’t fill in for you both for a couple of weeks!” she’d said indignantly.
Antonia’s fingers curled round her dolphin charm. It felt soft and slippery, just like a real dolphin. Slowly her anxiety slipped away. She hadn’t travelled to Australia alone. She was here with Cai, and if his parents were as nice as he was then she would have a wonderful time. Cai was the brave one. When he’d first come to Sandy Bay, he’d not known anyone apart from his Great Aunty Claudia, whom he’d only visited a few times.
Switching off the light, Antonia snuggled down in bed. The moment her eyes closed she saw dolphins. She slept soundly and dreamt she was playing a game of Sprat with Bubbles, Dream and Cai.
Antonia woke with the sun on her face. It was filtering in from a different direction than she was used to and for a second she couldn’t work out where she was. She opened her eyes and saw three leaping dolphins on the wall opposite. Suddenly everything came back in a rush. She was in Australia with Cai!
At once Antonia jumped out of bed and rummaged through her suitcase for shorts and a T-shirt. Finding her washbag, she pulled out a hairbrush and combed the tangles from her long blonde hair.
On her way to the bathroom she bumped into Cai, still in his pyjamas.
“Hi,” he yawned sleepily. “Mum’s making us brunch.”
Antonia’s stomach grumbled hungrily, making them both laugh.
“I’ll just have a quick wash,” she said.
“No hurry,” said Cai, yawning again. “Suppose I’d better get dressed.”
Cai took ages and eventually Antonia gave up hovering outside his room and went in search of his parents. They were in the kitchen, where Mr Pacific was cutting up a fresh pineapple while Mrs Pacific fried bacon.
“Hi, did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thanks. Can I do anything?” Antonia felt awkward watching Cai’s parents doing all the work.
“You could put the plates on the patio table. We’re eating outside.” Mrs Pacific pointed her spatula in the direction of the plates then expertly flipped the bacon over. It sizzled and spat and Antonia’s stomach growled again.
“Hungry?” Mrs Pacific smiled.
“Very,” said Antonia, suddenly feeling more relaxed.
She carried the plates outside then leant on the balcony, taking in the view. It was magnificent. The hotel gardens dropped steeply down to the beach about three metres beneath her. The golden sand, dotted with scrubby vegetation and palms, was fringed by crystal blue sea.
Dazzled by its brightness, Antonia screwed up her
