There was a long silence as everyone tried to think what to do.
‘If we could get hold of some explosives,’ Charlie said at last, ‘we could blow up the supermarket building, then they wouldn’t be able to have the opening ceremony at all.’
‘Yes, and spend the rest of our lives in jail,’ said Jas witheringly.
‘How could we get any explosives?’ said Amir. ‘And anyway, wouldn’t that be terrorism?’
‘Miners use them down mines,’ said Charlie doubtfully.
No one thought this was worth answering.
‘Couldn’t we just go and talk to them and tell them what would happen?’ burst out Finn. ‘Nobody wants to kill things, surely?’
‘They wouldn’t listen,’ said Kyla bitterly. ‘They don’t listen to anyone. Mum’s written loads of letters about how all the little shops will go out of business, but they don’t care.’
‘Yes, but killing dolphins . . .’ said Finn.
‘Anyway, they wouldn’t believe us telling them how bad balloons in the sea are,’ said Jas. ‘Can you imagine them even bothering to talk to a bunch of kids?’
‘I think we should get lots of dog poo and throw it at them,’ said Dougie, who had stopped being awestruck by being in the Lighthouse Crew, and was his old self again.
‘Dou-gieee,’ chorused the others.
‘This isn’t a game, Dougie,’ said Finn hotly.
‘I’m only saying,’ said Dougie, aggrieved.
‘We’ll have to start a campaign,’ said Jas.
‘There isn’t time!’ said Finn. ‘Dougie said the ceremony’s on Monday, and it’s Saturday now! That’s the day after tomorrow!’
The children sat in silence, thinking furiously. They were concentrating so hard, they didn’t hear the footsteps coming up the ladder, and started with surprise when the trapdoor went up and Professor Jamieson’s head appeared.
‘Which of you is Dougie?’ he said.
‘That’s me,’ said Dougie, looking anxious.
‘Your mother’s called to make sure you got here safely,’ said the professor. ‘She said you’d come to get some statistics from me?’
There was an embarrassed silence.
‘I don’t – exactly – know what stateristics is,’ Dougie said at last.
‘It’s facts,’ said Amir. ‘Information.’
‘We’re doing a project,’ said Charlie.
‘On dolphins,’ said Finn.
‘No,’ said Charlie. ‘It’s on rock pools.’
‘You don’t seem very sure,’ said Professor Jamieson.
‘The thing is, Dad,’ said Jas, ‘it’s not exactly a project. More a . . . a protest meeting.’ She saw the surprised look on the faces of the others, and said, ‘Think about it. We haven’t got time to do a project and sort out the balloon thing as well. We’d better just tell him. He might be useful.’
‘Thank you, Jas,’ her father said mildly. ‘I’m always happy to help.’
‘It’s that awful new supermarket in Rothiemuir!’ Kyla burst out. ‘The one that’s opening on Monday and that’s going to put us out of business. They’re going to release five thousand balloons!’
‘It’s wicked!’ said Finn hoarsely. ‘It’s murder!’
Professor Jamieson looked grave.
‘It is indeed appalling,’ he said. ‘I quite see that you need a protest meeting.’
‘We’re going to stop them,’ said Dougie proudly.
‘I see. May I ask how?’
‘We don’t know,’ said Jas. ‘We’re still thinking.’
‘Well, do you know, the simplest way is often the best,’ said Professor Jamieson. ‘Why don’t I just phone them up and ask them to reconsider? We can go downstairs and I’ll do it now, if you like.’
‘They won’t listen,’ said Kyla. ‘They never do.’
‘Not to us,’ said Jas, ‘but there’s a chance they might listen to my dad.’
Jas was used to her father’s study, but the others looked round in awe. The big room was crammed with books and documents. The walls were covered with charts, maps and pictures, and a couple of impressive computers stood on the professor’s desk.
Finn could hardly stand still, but the others were looking round curiously. Charlie was nodding knowledgeably at a map of the bay showing the movement of currents. Kyla was admiring a picture of a seal pup on the cover of a book. Amir’s fingers were clearly itching to have a go on one of the big computers. Only Dougie had been distracted – by a scab he was picking on his knee.
‘Um – you don’t happen to have a phone number for the supermarket, do you?’ said the professor, rootling among the papers on his desk as if he might magically find it there.
Amir pulled out his phone and scrolled down it for a few moments.
‘Found it,’ he said, holding it out to show him.
‘Excellent piece of research,’ said the professor. ‘Have you considered a career in marine biology? I could—’
‘Dad!’ said Jas.
‘Sorry,’ said the professor. ‘Now give me that number. Let’s see what we can do.’
Finn held his breath as the professor, who had finally been put through to the manager of the new supermarket, politely explained that releasing 5,000 balloons would cause death and destruction to a large number of birds and animals. But it was clear that the conversation was not going well. As the voice on the other end of the line got louder and angrier, Finn balled his fists so tightly that his nails started digging into the palms of his hands. In the end, the professor was obliged to hold the phone away from his ear to avoid being deafened.
He replaced the receiver on the cradle and turned to face the children. Jas was shocked. She had never seen her father look so angry.
‘Disgraceful!’ said the professor. ‘Stupid and irresponsible! And all because of some football player who’s supposed to be at the opening.’
‘A footballer?’ said Charlie eagerly. ‘Who?’
‘Never heard of him,’ said the professor crossly. ‘Tom someone. Heston. Hetherton.’
‘Not Tom Henderson?’ breathed Charlie, exchanging looks with Amir.
‘Henderson. Yes. The press will be there – newspapers, radio . . . This Henderson’s supposed to be pressing the button to release the balloons. Of all the stupid – and it’s the first time I’ve been called a crackpot, too. I shall make a strong complaint to the local council. Surely they must be able to put a stop to—’
‘It’s the weekend, Dad. It’s Saturday. The offices will be closed,’ Jas said unhappily. ‘There’s no time before the ceremony on Monday.’
‘Then I shall send a strongly worded complaint to the environmental department,’ said the professor. ‘We must make sure it doesn’t happen again. Now I’m sorry, children. I don’t see what else I can do, and I have some urgent emails to attend to.’
‘But we can’t just . . . You c-can’t just . . .’ stammered Finn.
Jas made a face at him. Her father’s attention had moved away. He was already thinking about something else.
The children filed silently out of the study and climbed back up to the lantern room.
‘Tom Henderson!’ Charlie said reverently. ‘In Rothiemuir! I don’t believe it!’
‘He’s just the greatest,’ said Amir. ‘Did you see that goal in the last minute of overtime against Celtic? It sealed the match!’
‘Shut up!’ burst out Finn. ‘What are you talking about football for? Don’t you get how awful this is? I’ve got friends out there in the sea. They’re probably going to die!’
‘Sorry, Finn,’ mumbled Charlie and Amir.
‘I’m going to make a poster with a picture of a dolphin on it,’ said Kyla, ‘and put it up in our shop window.’
‘That’s a good idea, Kyla,’ said Jas. ‘Actually, it’s a great idea. We can make loads of posters and stick them up all over Stromhead and Rothiemuir.’
‘Yes, with a picture of a dolphin, and “Don’t release balloons” written underneath.’
‘No, it should say “Balloons kill dolphins”,’ said Finn passionately.
‘It’s not just dolphins, is it?’ said Jas. ‘It’s birds. And seals. And everything.’
‘How about “Balloons kill wildlife. Stop the balloon release!” ’ said Amir.
The others nodded.
‘We’ll need lots of sheets of paper and felt tips,’ said Jas.
Charlie was looking uncomfortable.
‘I dunno,’ he said. ‘I’m rubbish at drawing and writing.’
‘We only need one really good one,’ said Jas. ‘Kyla’s best at drawing. She can do it, and I’ll make copies. Dad’s got a really good printer. Then we can get the bus into Rothiemuir and put them up everywhere.’
‘Mum’ll never let us go to Rothiemuir without her,’ said Dougie.
‘You can leave that bit to Amir and Finn and me, then,’ said Charlie grandly.
‘What’s the time?’ Dougie said suddenly. ‘Mum said I’ve got to be home by twelve. What are we going to tell her about the rock-pool project, and the . . . the data and everything?’
‘We’d better drop that story,’ said Amir. ‘Just tell her we’ve changed our minds and we’re setting up a – a . . .’
‘A protest group,’ said Jas.
Kyla nodded.
‘She won’t mind that. She’ll be pleased. It’s about trying to save the village shop too.’
‘But tell her we’re going to save the dolphins as well,’ said Finn, ‘because somehow or other, we’ve just got to do it!’