Dolphin Island

Though he had never stopped to think about it, the island had become the home he had never known, and the Professor a replacement for the father he could scarcely remember. Here he had felt the security which he had longed for and unconsciously striven to find. Now that security was threatened because no one could get a message across a hundred miles of sea—in this age when moons and planets talked to one another.

Only a hundred miles! Why, he himself had traveled a greater distance, when he first came to the island…

And with that memory, he suddenly knew, beyond all doubt or argument, exactly what he had to do. Dolphins had brought him as far as Dolphin Island; now they could carry him the rest of the way to the mainland.

He was sure that Susie and Sputnik, taking turns in pulling the surfboard, could get him across that hundred miles of water in less than twelve hours. This would be the pay-off for all the days they had spent together, hunting and exploring along the edge of the reef. With the two dolphins beside him, he felt absolutely safe in the sea; they knew all his wishes, even without the use of the communicator.

Johnny looked back at some of the trips they had made together. With Susie towing Mick’s large board, and Sputnik towing Johnny on a smaller one, they had once crossed to the adjacent reef on Wreck Island, which was about ten miles away. The journey had taken just over an hour—and the dolphins had not been hurrying.

But how could he convince anyone that this was not a crazy, suicidal stunt? Only Mick would understand. The other islanders would certainly stop him if they had any idea what he was planning. Well, he would have to get away before they knew.

Mick’s reaction was just what he had expected. He took the plan perfectly seriously, but was not at all happy about it

“I’m sure it can be done,” he said. “But you can’t go by yourself.”

Johnny shook his head.

“I’ve thought of that,” he answered. For the first time in his life, he felt glad that he was small. “Remember those races we’ve had? How many have you won? You’re too big—you’d only slow us down.”

That was perfectly true, and Mick could not deny it. Even the more powerful Susie could not tow him as fast as Sputnik could tow Johnny.

Defeated on this point, Mick tried a new argument

“It’s over twenty-four hours since we’ve been cut off from the mainland. Before long, someone’s bound to fly over to see what’s happened, since they’ve had no word from us. You may risk your neck for nothing.”

“That’s true,” admitted Johnny. “But whose neck is more important—mine or Professor Kazan’s? If we keep on waiting, it may be too late. Besides, they’ll be pretty busy on the mainland after that storm. It may be a week before they work around to us.”

“Tell you what” said Mick. “We’ll get organized, and if there’s no sign of help and the Professor’s still bad by the time you’re ready to go, then we’ll talk it over again.”

“You won’t speak to anyone?” said Johnny anxiously.

“Of course not. By the way, where are Susie and Sputnik? Are you sure you can find them?”

“Yes—they were around the jetty earlier this morning, looking for us. They’ll come quickly enough when I push the HELP! button.””

Mick began to count items off on his fingers.

“You’ll want a flask of water—one of those flat plastic ones—some concentrated food, a compass, your usual diving gear—I can’t think of anything else. Oh, a flashlight—you won’t be able to do’the whole trip in the daytime.”

“I was going to leave around midnight, then I’ll have the Moon for the first half of the way, and I’ll hit the coast during daylight.”

“You seem to have worked it out pretty well,” said Mick with grudging admiration. He still hoped that the attempt would be unnecessary and that something would turn up. But if it did not, he would do all that he could to launch Johnny toward the distant mainland.

Because both boys, like everyone else on the island, had to help with urgent repair work, they could do little until nightfall. Even after darkness came, there were some jobs that continued by the soft light of kerosene lanterns, and it was not until very late in the evening that Johnny and Mick were able to complete their arrangements.

Luckily, no one saw them as they brought the little surfboard down to the harbor and launched it among the overturned and shattered boats. Equipment and harness were all attached. Only the dolphins were needed now— and the final, unavoidable reason for going.

Johnny handed the communicator bracelet to Mick.

“See if you can call them,” he said. “I’m running up to the hospital. I won’t be more than ten minutes.”

Mick took the bracelet and waded out into deeper water. The fluorescent letters were clearly visible on the tiny keyboard, but he did not need them, for, like Johnny, he could use the instrument blindfolded.