turning aside at the last possible moment. They never played such tricks
with Johnny, though they would often nibble at his flippers or rub gently against
him, expecting to be tickled and stroked in return.
This prejudice upset Mick, who couldn’t see why Susie and Sputnik preferred, as he
put it, “an undersized little pale-skin” like Johnny. But dolphins are as temperamental
as human people, and there is no accounting for tastes. Mick’s opportunity was to
come later, though in a way that no one could have guessed.
Despite occasional arguments and quarrels, the boys were now firm friends and were
seldom far apart. Mick was, indeed, the first really close friend that Johnny had
ever made. There was good reason for this, though he did not know it. After losing
both his parents, at such an early age, he had been afraid to risk his affections
elsewhere, but now the break with his past was so complete that it had lost much of
its power over him.
Besides, Mick was someone whom anybody could admire. Like most of the islanders, he
had a splendid physique; generations of sea-battling forefathers had made sure of
that. He was alert and intelligent and full of information about things of which Johnny
had never heard. His faults were minor ones—rashness, exaggeration, and a fondness
for practical jokes, which sometimes got him into trouble.
Toward Johnny he felt protective, almost fatherly, as a big man can often be toward
a much smaller one. And perhaps the warmhearted island boy, with his four brothers,
three sisters, and scores of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and nieces, felt the
inner loneliness of this runaway orphan from the other side of the world.
Ever since he had mastered the basic technique of diving, Johnny had been pestering
Mick to take him exploring off the edge of the reef, where he could test his new skills
in deep water and among big fish. But Mick had taken his time. Though he was impatient
in small matters, he could be cautious in big ones. He knew that diving in a small,
safe pool, or close to the jetty, was very different from operating in the open sea.
So many things could go wrong: there were powerful currents, unexpected storms might
spring up, sharks might make a nuisance of themselves—the sea was full of surprises,
even for the most experienced diver. It was merciless to those who made mistakes and
did not give them a second chance.
Johnny’s opportunity came in a way that he had not expected. Susie and Sputnik were
responsible. Professor Kazan had decided that it was time they went out into the world
to earn their own living. He never kept a pair of dolphins longer than a year, believing
that it was not fair to do so. They were social creatures and needed to make contact
with their own kind. Most of his subjects, when he released them, remained close to
the island and could always be called through the underwater loud-speakers. He was
quite sure that Susie and Sputnik would behave in the same way.
In fact, they simply refused to leave. When the gate of the pool was opened, they
swam a little way down the channel leading into the sea, then darted back as if afraid
that they would be shut outside.
“I know what’s wrong,” said Mick in disgust. “They’re so used to being fed by us that
they’re too lazy to catch their own fish.”
There might have been some truth in that, but it was not the whole explanation. For
when Professor Kazan asked Johnny to swim down the channel, they followed him out
to sea. He did not even have to press any of the buttons on the communicator.
After that, there was no more swimming in the deserted pool, for which, though no
one knew it, Professor Kazan now had other purposes in mind. Every morning, immediately
after their first session at school, Mick and Johnny would meet the two dolphins and
head out to the reef. Usually they took Mick’s surfboard with them, as a floating
with Johnny, though they would often nibble at his flippers or rub gently against
him, expecting to be tickled and stroked in return.
This prejudice upset Mick, who couldn’t see why Susie and Sputnik preferred, as he
put it, “an undersized little pale-skin” like Johnny. But dolphins are as temperamental
as human people, and there is no accounting for tastes. Mick’s opportunity was to
come later, though in a way that no one could have guessed.
Despite occasional arguments and quarrels, the boys were now firm friends and were
seldom far apart. Mick was, indeed, the first really close friend that Johnny had
ever made. There was good reason for this, though he did not know it. After losing
both his parents, at such an early age, he had been afraid to risk his affections
elsewhere, but now the break with his past was so complete that it had lost much of
its power over him.
Besides, Mick was someone whom anybody could admire. Like most of the islanders, he
had a splendid physique; generations of sea-battling forefathers had made sure of
that. He was alert and intelligent and full of information about things of which Johnny
had never heard. His faults were minor ones—rashness, exaggeration, and a fondness
for practical jokes, which sometimes got him into trouble.
Toward Johnny he felt protective, almost fatherly, as a big man can often be toward
a much smaller one. And perhaps the warmhearted island boy, with his four brothers,
three sisters, and scores of aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and nieces, felt the
inner loneliness of this runaway orphan from the other side of the world.
Ever since he had mastered the basic technique of diving, Johnny had been pestering
Mick to take him exploring off the edge of the reef, where he could test his new skills
in deep water and among big fish. But Mick had taken his time. Though he was impatient
in small matters, he could be cautious in big ones. He knew that diving in a small,
safe pool, or close to the jetty, was very different from operating in the open sea.
So many things could go wrong: there were powerful currents, unexpected storms might
spring up, sharks might make a nuisance of themselves—the sea was full of surprises,
even for the most experienced diver. It was merciless to those who made mistakes and
did not give them a second chance.
Johnny’s opportunity came in a way that he had not expected. Susie and Sputnik were
responsible. Professor Kazan had decided that it was time they went out into the world
to earn their own living. He never kept a pair of dolphins longer than a year, believing
that it was not fair to do so. They were social creatures and needed to make contact
with their own kind. Most of his subjects, when he released them, remained close to
the island and could always be called through the underwater loud-speakers. He was
quite sure that Susie and Sputnik would behave in the same way.
In fact, they simply refused to leave. When the gate of the pool was opened, they
swam a little way down the channel leading into the sea, then darted back as if afraid
that they would be shut outside.
“I know what’s wrong,” said Mick in disgust. “They’re so used to being fed by us that
they’re too lazy to catch their own fish.”
There might have been some truth in that, but it was not the whole explanation. For
when Professor Kazan asked Johnny to swim down the channel, they followed him out
to sea. He did not even have to press any of the buttons on the communicator.
After that, there was no more swimming in the deserted pool, for which, though no
one knew it, Professor Kazan now had other purposes in mind. Every morning, immediately
after their first session at school, Mick and Johnny would meet the two dolphins and
head out to the reef. Usually they took Mick’s surfboard with them, as a floating
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