The Water Dragon unfurled its sinuous body to greet them. It was waiting close to the side of the tank, as if it had anticipated their arrival. It tapped its chin spines against the glass, milky eyes settling on Alex as he approached.

The fresh understanding between them had transformed his fear of the creature into something closer to awe. Now Alex saw how countless colours eddied deep within the dragon’s scales, smothered by the leaden grey that dulled their surface. He sensed the strength in every coil and sinew of its length, the power lying dormant within, doused by poison and pollution.

“We’re going to get you out,” he said.

That hidden, ancient power would flourish as soon as they returned the Water Dragon to the ocean. It would be free.

“O-M-G,” said Bridget. “It’s actually a dragon.”

Anil punched the air. “I knew it was real!”

There was no time for them to gawk. A small stage with a microphone had been erected in front of the tank. Two columns of empty chairs faced it, ready for the guests once the auction began. It wouldn’t be long before they streamed through the archway.

“Anil, are you ready?”

By the time Alex turned around Anil had already stripped down to his skimpy swimming trunks. Bridget averted her eyes as she tied a rope securely around his waist. It was long enough that they could keep hold of one end while Anil entered the tank. They pulled the cover off the filtration pipe and helped him climb onto the edge. Water gurgled and slurped around his legs.

“If you get into trouble, tug the rope twice,” Bridget told him.

Anil flashed her a winning grin. “Don’t you worry about me.”

He took a single deep breath and ducked into the pipe. The rope began to run through their hands as he pulled himself up into the water-filled tunnel that ran around the side of the tank.

Alex spoke into the walkie-talkie. “Anil is inside the filtration pipe.”

“You mean Tunnel Turtle?” replied Zoey.

“You know exactly who I mean.”

Keeping a tight hold on the lifeline, Alex pressed a hand against the cool glass of the tank. The Water Dragon drifted close on the other side. When Alex closed his eyes and listened, it was no longer currents of despair and anger he heard. It was the gentle tide of hope.

“Heads up! We’ve got a problem.” Zoey’s voice was urgent. “Two guards heading straight for you!”

Alex and Bridget scrambled out of sight just in time to hide themselves from a pair of guards wandering lazily towards the tank. The rope still trailed into the mouth of the pipe.

“Do fish have souls?” asked the first guard.

“I hope not,” replied the second. “Or this place must be full of fish ghosts.”

Alex was really glad that Zoey couldn’t hear the conversation.

The guards kept their distance from the tank, stopping on the far side of the path to peer at the Water Dragon.

“You think it’s real?” asked the first guard.

“Nah, I reckon it’s computer graphics or something.” Still, neither of them dared to move any closer.

The safety rope stopped feeding through Alex and Bridget’s hands. Inside the pipe, Anil must have realized the guards were there and waited. If he emerged inside the tank now the guards would spot him immediately.

“We need to pull him out,” whispered Bridget.

“Just wait.” Alex realized his knuckles were turning white where he tightly gripped the rope.

The guards continued to linger.

“You heard what this lot are willing to pay?” said the first guard, jerking a thumb over his shoulder at the archway, where the guests were gathering on the other side of the doors.

The second guard whistled low and long. “A pretty penny for some fancy fish fingers.”

The first guard caught sight of the rope and took a step towards it. Alex held his breath. Inside the tank, the Water Dragon opened its mouth in a bubbling roar, showing off the sharpness of its teeth. The guards squeaked in fright and hurried back to the party on the other side of the doors.

Bubbles rushed into the tank as soon as they were gone. Anil burst from the pipe inside and kicked powerfully to the surface. He sucked hungrily at the air, ignoring the dragon drifting beneath him.

Alex hurried out from their hiding place. “Are you okay?”

Anil gasped another breath before breaking into a wide smile. “New record! I can’t wait to tell my brother!”

He steadied himself against the side of the tank and began reeling the rope in through the filtration tunnel.

Anil peered down at the dragon. “It’s definitely not going to eat me, right?”

“I didn’t bring you here to be a snack.”

Old fishing nets had been sewn into the middle of the rope to create a harness that would support the Water Dragon’s weight. Anil ducked underwater to tuck it around the dragon’s armour-plated middle, before looping the rope and tying a knot to hold it in place. Then he hurled the trailing end over the side of the tank for Bridget to catch.

“Heck.” The walkie-talkie fizzed. “We have a problem,” said Zoey.

“I’m really getting sick of you saying that.”

“Then I just won’t tell you that the guests are moving towards the doors for the auction to start.”

Alex snapped his head around to look. The doors began to push open. But before they were wider than a crack, Mayor Parch stepped across to block the way.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my utmost pleasure and a tremendous honour to welcome you all to our humble seaside town on such a beautiful evening!”

He stopped as if waiting for applause. Nobody gave him any.

“We have to hurry!” said Alex.

Bridget wrapped the rope around her wrist and planted her feet wide on the path. “Let’s hope I’m as strong as I think I am.”

She heaved on the rope. Her arms flexed and the muscles in her back rippled. Immediately the Water Dragon was lifted to the top of the water. It let out a low rumble that made the glass vibrate.

“It’s okay,” Alex whispered, sure the creature could understand him. “We’re trying to help.”

The dragon would have to bear the indignity of being winched tortuously slowly from the tank. Bridget’s face burned bright red as she strained on the rope. The dragon grew heavier as soon as it was clear of the water. Alex found a space beside his sister and added his meagre strength to the effort. Anil tried to push from underneath.

“You need to get out of there!” Alex shouted to him.

Anil strained underneath the dragon. “I can help!”

“Quickly!” urged Zoey from the walkie-talkie. Alex pictured her in the back of the ice cream van, watching helplessly.

Thankfully, the mayor would never pass up an opportunity to deliver a long-winded speech to a captive audience. “As a boy I dreamed of discovering something truly special, something no eyes had ever gazed upon before. Finally, my dream has become reality.”

“And now you’re going to sell it,” muttered Alex.

The Water Dragon was approaching the top of the tank, wriggling uncomfortably as its writhing body sagged over the harness tied around its middle. Alex thought its weight might pull his arms straight out of their sockets.

On the other side of the doors, Mayor Parch cleared his throat. “Tonight I present you all with a truly once in a lifetime opportunity. You may have read about such a creature in fairy tales and old pirate stories, but never has such a thing been captured alive. Until now! I will prove to you all that the myths are true.”

A murmur of excitement – or perhaps impatience – rippled through the audience.

The shoulders of Bridget’s T-shirt ripped open as she heaved the Water Dragon to the top of the tank. It swayed and swivelled against the edge, one last tug required to tip it over.

“I’m beginning to think catching it with our bare hands wasn’t such a brilliant idea,” said Alex as the dragon loomed over them. Its head trailed over the lip of the tank, long-suffering eyes watching them closely.

“Exactly none of this was a brilliant idea,” Bridget replied through gritted teeth. “No other choice now!”

Beyond the doorway, the mayor was turning the final corner of his speech. “So without further ado, allow me to introduce you to our auction’s first and only lot. A magnificent creature! A singularly rare and exceptional phenomenon! A tremendous investment!”

“Hurry!” shouted Zoey in Alex’s ear.

Alex and Bridget tugged on the rope as hard as they could. The dragon’s body began to roll over the edge of the tank.

It was too late. The doors were thrown open with a dramatic flourish.

Every set of eyes landed on the Water Dragon suspended awkwardly in the air above the tank on a rope, and the pair of sweating, terrified children that held it there.