Mermaids in the Backyard Read Free Page B

with the whole idea of mermaids, never mind pet sea horses. But another part was figuring out the problem.
    “So the waves tossed you in here,” she said, pointing at the pool. “Then the big rocks kept you from swimming back out.”
    “Yes,” Sealily said. “And the small rocks, too. When I tried to crawl over them, they hurt my tail.”
    Lindy looked at the hilly ground around the tide pool. Sharp rocks were scattered everywhere. Well,
almost
everywhere.
    “What about going that way?” She pointed back the way she’d come. There was a short rocky area at the edge of the pool in that direction. Beyond was the soft sand of the path leading up toward the house.
    Coral looked worried. “She can’t breathe out of the water long enough to crawl all the way around. We’re too slow on the Drylands.” She flicked the end of her tail for emphasis, then disappeared.
    Lindy guessed she was diving back down into the water to breathe. Sure enough, the mergirl returned with the next wave.
    “I have an idea,” Lindy told Coral and Sealily. “I’ll be right back.”
    She raced away. Several times she almost tripped or slipped. Finally she reached the open area beneath the bug house. It was nice to be out of the driving rain, though the wind still blew salt spray in.
    Dodging through the maze of stilts, Lindy made her way to the huge concrete beam at the center. There, on a row of hooks, hung several bright orange life jackets. She slung one over her arm, then ran back out into the storm. Soon she was back at the tide pool.
    “What’s that?” Sealily asked.
    “You can lie on this,” Lindy explained. “I’ll pull the straps and drag you. That waythe rocks won’t cut you on the way to the path. And I can pull you around on the sand faster than you could crawl.”
    Coral stared at Lindy, her eyes huge with worry. “Are you sure you can pull her fast enough? She’ll only have a few minutes.”
    “Of course!” But suddenly Lindy
wasn’t
sure. “Uh, or if you want, we could wait for Jessica to get here. Then she can help.”
    Coral looked even more alarmed. “No!” she cried. “No one else can see us! We’re in enough trouble already, letting one Drylander see us! If our people find out …”
    “Okay, okay,” Lindy said. “Don’t worry. I’m sure I can do it myself.”
    “Good,” Sealily said. “Come on, Finny. Let’s get you out of here first. Go with Coral.” She scooped up the little sea horse. He immediately wriggled free and poppedback into the water, chirping loudly. Sealily grabbed him again. “Stop that,” she scolded. “I’ll be in the water with you soon.”
    Sealily stretched up, balancing on the last section of her tail. Coral stretched her arm out over the rocks as far as she could. She still couldn’t quite reach Finneus.
    “Maybe I can toss him over into the water,” Sealily said.
    “No!” Coral said. “The waves are too rough. He’d get smashed up against the rocks.”
    Lindy nodded. The sea horse
was
tiny—much smaller than Tara’s pet Chihuahua. “Try handing him to me instead,” she suggested. “I think I can reach Coral from here.”
    She reached toward Finneus. As soon as he saw her, the sea horse chirped loudly and tried to wriggle away. But Sealily held on to him.
    “It’s okay, Finny!” she said. “Lindy is our friend.”
    “That’s right, Finneus,” Lindy said softly. “I just want to help you.”
    Finneus stopped wriggling. He stared at Lindy with his tiny, dark eyes. When he chirped again, it sounded like a question.
    “Good boy,” Lindy cooed, slipping herhands around Sealily’s. Sealily slid hers out, leaving Lindy holding Finneus. His skin felt cool and lumpy.

    Lindy stepped back, then stretched out with both hands. Coral was waiting, reaching over the rocks.
    “I’ve got you, Finneus,” Coral said as she grabbed him. She smiled at Lindy. “Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
    “Finny likes you, Lindy Drylander,” Sealily said as Coral