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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 ashort 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. Themoment Antonia felt vibrations in the water she broke cover and swam away.
    â€œSprat! 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 wascatching her up. Frantically splashing ashore she ran up the beach. Startled, the bird opened its bright yellow beak.
    â€œKitti-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.
    â€œ Kitti-waak! ” squawked the terrified bird, struggling fiercely. A spot of blood appeared on its white breast.
    â€œShhh,” crooned Hannah.
    She held the bird at arm’s length until eventually it stopped struggling. Gently, Hannah’s fingers worked at untangling the twine. It took ages. Her fingers tugged at the knots until the last piece fell away.
    â€œI’ll put this in the bin later,” she murmured, putting the twine in the pocket of her shorts. Carefully she examined the bird. Spots of blood stained its white feathers where it had injured itself panicking.
    â€œWe can’t let it go,” said Hannah decisively. “We’ll have to take it back to Sea Watch for treatment.”
    Antonia shook her head.
    â€œHere, let me.” She reached out for the bird.
    Hannah flinched and held on to it. “I saidgive it here,” said Antonia coldly.
    Reluctantly Hannah passed the bird to Antonia. She took it, making gentle crooning noises in her throat. The bird fixed her with a steely eye. Gradually it relaxed. Antonia laid three fingers on the wound and imagined it healing.
    Mend.
    In her mind Antonia saw the wound closing up. A warm feeling crept down her arm and into her fingers. When they began to tingle Antonia pressed more firmly on the wound.
    Heal.
    The tingling sensation faded, leaving a warm glow that spread into her hands. She held her fingers against the kittiwake for a while longer, then pulled them away. The cuthad gone. Only a few spots of dried blood remained. Antonia walked over to the rocks and put the bird down.
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