In this book …
Friends, family and feelings
Discovery and adventure
Our shared planet
About the author
Anthony Burt is a teacher and youth worker who runs a charity, Way of the Wharves. This charity works with schools to improve maritime wildlife habitats, and creates art-history and map-making projects.
Anthony loves nature and believes we should look after it like Shelby, Wade and their gran do. He lives in Scotland with his cat, Watson.
approve (verb) approves, approving, approved
1. to say or think someone or something is good or suitable
2. to formally agree that something is good or correct
associate (verb) associates, associating, associated
To associate one person or thing with another is to connect them in your mind.
fulfil (verb) fulfils, fulfilling, fulfilled
To fulfil something is to achieve it or carry it out.
inaccurate (adjective) not accurate
controversial (adjective) likely to cause people to have strong opinions and to disagree
distract (verb) distracts, distracting, distracted to take someone’s at tention away from something
> distracted (adjective) not paying at tention, because of thinking about something else
justify (verb) justifies, justifying, justified
To justify something is to show or say that it is right, fair or reasonable.
reassure (verb) reassures, reassuring, reassured
To reassure someone is to take away their doubts or fears.
represent (verb) represents, representing, represented
To represent something or someone is to be a picture or model or symbol of them.
undermine (verb) undermines, undermining, undermined
To undermine a plan, a person or their efforts is to make them less effective.
likes chatting with friends, exploring, and water parks.
likes reading, playing games with his friends online, and swimming.
is now the Lighthouse Keeper of Por tside Bay, but she comes from a secret underwater city called Aquatica.
CAPTAIN PINCER is the owner of Pincer’s Portside Treasures shop.
DOG DAVE works for Captain Pincer.
Shelby stepped over a snake of rope. ‘Hey, I think I found an old propeller!’ She nodded towards a huge chunk of metal leaning against the wall.
Shelby and her brother, Wade, were at the shipyard. They were helping Gran find spare parts for her inventions.
‘Well spotted, Shelby!’ Gran replied, walking over. ‘That will come in handy.’
Shelby grinned. Shelby and Wade had spent the whole summer holiday staying with Gran at her lighthouse. It had been the best summer ever.
Gran’s basement was filled with amazing underwater inventions. Even more exciting was Gran’s secret identity ...
‘Hey, can you two smell that?’ asked Wade. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. There was a powerful pong of rotten fish drifting towards them on the breeze.
Gran stopped rummaging and straightened up. She looked out across the shipyard. Two men were nosing around. One had a grumpy-looking face, sandwiched between a thick pullover and a white Captain’s hat. The other was tall and dressed in a woolly hat and jumper. He was eating the biggest, burnt-pastry pie Shelby had ever seen. Yellow fish sauce dribbled down his chin.
It was Captain Pincer and Sea Dog Dave.
‘What are they doing here?’ Shelby asked. ‘I bet they’re up to no good.’
The children had come up against the devious pair before. Captain Pincer owned a shop called Pincer’s Portside Treasures. He and Sea Dog Dave were always looking for new money-making schemes. They just didn’t care what damage they caused to the environment along the way.
Gran’s forehead wrinkled. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said, trying to reassure her grandchildren. ‘Whatever they’re up to, we’ll find out ... and put a stop to it.’
Gran pulled the children behind the hull of an old ship, so they were out of sight.
Shelby peered round the side of the hull. She watched as Pincer and Dave ambled over to Mr Keel, the owner of the shipyard.
Mr Keel, a stocky man, was sitting outside his of f ice, next to a huge pile of nets and barrels. Captain Pincer started talking to him, but they were too far away to hear what was being said.
‘I’m going to see if I can get closer,’ Shelby whispered.
‘Don’t let them see you,’ warned Gran.
‘I’ll be careful,’ she replied.
Shelby tiptoed towards the of f ice and hid behind a giant anchor.
Shelby watched Captain Pincer hand over some money to Mr Keel. In return, the shipyard owner pointed Captain Pincer in the direction of an old trawler ship, moored nearby.
‘I want my boat back in one piece,’ said Mr Keel.
‘I’ll take good care of it,’ Pincer replied.
Pincer and Sea Dog Dave stopped near the anchor Shelby was hiding behind. ‘Tell me more about this legend, Dave,’ said Captain Pincer in a low voice.
Sea Dog Dave rubbed his chin. ‘Legend has it that there’s an underwater entrance to a secret city … called Aquatica. ’
Shelby’s eyes grew wide. How did Sea Dog Dave know about Aquatica? Of course, the legend was real. Gran was born in Aquatica – that was her big secret! Even now, when Gran got in the water, she developed gills and webbed hands and feet. She could talk to sea creatures, too. Wade and Shelby had nicknamed her Granphibian, and their underwater adventures with her so far had been awesome. However, not even Granphibian could find the entrance back to Aquatica. Shelby shivered at the thought that Captain Pincer and Sea Dog Dave might get there first.
‘What’s in Aquatica?’ Captain Pincer asked, his eyes glinting.
Sea Dog Dave took another bite of his pie, munching it thoughtfully. ‘It’s controversial , but some say there are gems and jewels wherever you look. It’s bursting with riches!’
‘Bursting?’ Captain Pincer said greedily. ‘Good job we hired a big boat then.’
He glanced out to sea. ‘Let’s go hunting for this place. Perhaps the entrance to Aquatica is out there in Portside Bay somewhere.’
Shelby had heard enough. She crept back to Gran and Wade and told them what she had learned.
‘We can’t let them f ind Aquatica!’ said Wade, shocked.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Gran, ‘we’ll find a way to undermine their plans.’
She stepped out from her hiding place. ‘I need to pay for the propeller. You two keep an eye on those crooks.’
While Gran was talking to Mr Keel, Wade and Shelby pretended to be admiring the boats.
‘We’re going to be rich when we find Aquatica!’ they heard Captain Pincer say. ‘But we don’t want anyone else to know what we’re doing otherwise they’ll want a share of the riches.’
To undermine a plan, a person or their efforts is to make them less effective.
‘Aye, we need a cover story,’ said Sea Dog Dave, nodding. He rummaged in his bag and pulled out another f ish pie.
Captain Pincer snatched the pie from Sea Dog Dave’s hands. ‘Thanks!’ he said, taking a huge bite. Then he dropped the pie and doubled over. ‘I never associated you with being a great cook, but … this pie is disgusting!’
To associate one person or thing with another is to connect them in your mind.
Captain Pincer wiped his mouth. Then his eyes lit up. ‘You’re brilliant!’
‘Err … thanks.’ Sea Dog Dave replied.
‘We’ll use the boat to dredge the sea f loor,’ explained Captain Pincer, ‘and whatever we dredge up will go into pies. We’ll sell them in my shop!’ Captain Pincer lowered his voice. ‘The pie business will be our cover for finding Aquatica!’
‘Not if we have anything to do with it,’ Wade whispered to Shelby. They pretended to inspect another boat, making sure they were still near enough to hear Pincer and Dave. The children continued to listen in on their conversation.
‘I’ll need all those,’ said Captain Pincer, pointing back to the shipyard and the pile of nets. ‘I want the biggest nets. They will help me fulfil my plans to dredge up the seabed. Soon I’ll have heaps of f ish, and I’ll know where the entrance to Aquatica is. Then we’ll be rich!’
Back at the lighthouse, Shelby, Wade and Gran gazed out from the top of the tower.
Captain Pincer and Sea Dog Dave had wasted no time. They had already launched the trawler from the shipyard. Now it was chugging its way across the bay and out to sea.
Gran picked up her binoculars and peered through them.
‘He hasn’t even got proper f ishing nets,’ Gran said, ‘just some old netting with metal hooks attached.’
‘They will wreck the sea floor!’ Wade said.
Shelby clenched her teeth. ‘How can they justify doing something so … damaging?’
‘Now Captain Pincer’s heard about the legend of Aquatica, I guess he’ll do anything to find the entrance,’ Wade said sadly.
‘It looks that way, my dears,’ Gran said. She gave the children a reassuring smile. ‘So we’d better get to work! It’s up to us to stop him wrecking the seabed. Come on … we’re going on an underwater adventure.’
Gran led the children down the steps of the lighthouse to the ground floor. ‘Give me a hand, will you?’ she said, grabbing the rug.
Together they rolled the rug back and heaved open the hatch to the basement.
To justify something is to show or say that it is right, fair or reasonable.
Cold air rushed up into Shelby’s face.
A light flickered on beside an old creaky ladder. They climbed down into Gran’s inventing workshop. It was stuffed with amazing gadgets and electronic maps.
‘You two take the submarine,’ said Gran. ‘It’s a bit of a squash with three of us, and I can swim just as fast.’
‘Where is the Shark-sub?’ asked Wade, scratching his head and looking at the large, empty space, where the submarine was normally parked.
‘I moved it to the water last week when I was running some tests,’ said Gran. ‘I needed to approve the new robotic arms that I f it ted.’
Wade and Shelby put their wetsuits on, just in case. They grabbed their helmets, complete with breathing equipment and communication devices. Then they walked down the tunnel that ran underneath the clif fs.
To approve something is to formally agree that it is good or correct.
The steel Shark-sub was parked in the sea cave at the end of the tunnel. Shelby felt a shiver of excitement at the sight of it.
Gran pulled the shark’s fin to open a hatch in the submarine. Wade and Shelby climbed in. Wade slid into the steering seat and Shelby jumped in next to him.
Gran put in an earpiece, so she could communicate with the children. Then she shut the hatch, sealing them safely in.
Gran’s voice came out of the speakers inside the submarine. ‘The tracking system should pick up any large moving objects like Captain Pincer’s trawler,’ she explained. ‘The trawler will be represented on the map on screen as a blue flashing dot.’
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Shelby grinned at Wade. ‘This machine is so cool!’ she said.
Wade flicked a switch and the submarine’s eco-engine hummed into action. ‘I love this thing!’ he shouted.
Shelby grabbed the power lever, pushing it forward. ‘Let’s go! We have an ocean to save!’
To represent something or someone is to be a picture or model or symbol of them.
Diving beneath the waves, the Shark-sub bolted away from the lighthouse and the cliffs and out to sea.
Shelby glanced at the map. The screen was making a blip-blip-blipping noise.
The blue dot of Pincer’s trawler was flashing some way off.
They soon left Portside Bay behind as they headed out into the open sea.
Gran had dived into the water and had transformed into Granphibian. Now, she was swimming easily alongside the Shark-sub. The submarine’s lights blazed out through the water. Thousands of tiny plankton shot through the beams like specks of dust. Dapple-backed mackerel darted by as Wade steered the submarine deeper underwater.
Even though they were travelling at speed, the blue dot on the screen that represented the trawler seemed to be getting further away, not closer.
Shelby pushed the lever down again. Nothing happened. ‘Can we make the sub go any faster?’ She looked at her brother.
Wade frowned. ‘Well, I think I might be able to re-route some power from the air pressure units to the engine’s air-jets. But I haven’t tried it before.’
‘Let’s do it!’ Shelby gripped the side of her chair.
Wade leant forward, narrowing his eyes in concentration. ‘OK … here we go!’
Shelby held her breath as her brother pressed several buttons and pulled two levers by his side.
‘Try the power again,’ said Wade. Shelby pushed the lever and the submarine sped forwards. ‘It’s working!’ she cried.
To represent something or someone is to be a picture or model or symbol of them.
Slowly, they began to close on the trawler. Shelby bit her lip. ‘Wade, how are we going to stop Captain Pincer when we catch up with him?’
Wade shrugged. ‘I don’t know,’ he said, distracted. ‘Let’s not worry about that now. Let’s just find him first.’
If someone is distracted, they are not paying attention because they are thinking about something else.
Fif teen minutes later …
The blue dot on the screen was f lashing frantically. Shelby thought it might be inaccurate. Then she saw the massive hull of the trawler above them.
Wade slowed the submarine to match the speed of the trawler.
Just then, a cloud of sand rose from the seabed.
In the middle of the swirling sand, they could see a wall of thick netting. Metal hooks were clawing up the seabed floor. Ropes attached to the netting stretched up to the trawler above.
‘Captain Pincer has gone too far this time,’ Wade’s voice quivered.
Shelby watched in horror as the net caught up rocks, crabs, shrimp, and fish … anything and everything in its path.
How on earth were they going to stop him?
Above, Shelby could see Captain Pincer’s trawler had stopped.
Granphibian knocked on the glass porthole, making Shelby and Wade jump. Her voice echoed inside the submarine. ‘I think it’s time we used the robotic arms,’ she said. ‘Shelby, do you remember how to use them?’
‘Yes, Granphibian!’ she replied.
Shelby leaped up and yanked open a cabinet above her head. From inside, she pulled down a pair of grey gloves. They had thick wires and sensors attached to them. Shelby slid them on, grinning. Then she pressed a small button on each glove.
There was a buzzing noise, and two small hatches opened. Then two robotic arms extended from either side of the submarine. On the ends of the arms were metal, clamp-like hands.
Granphibian did a somersault in the water. She was smiling and giving Shelby two thumbs up.
Shelby turned her wrists and made a double thumbs up sign in return. Both robotic arms made exactly the same movements as she did. Granphibian grinned at Shelby.
Shelby wiggled excitedly in her seat. She was pleased, but she couldn’t let herself get distracted.
Shelby looked out of the porthole.
In front of her, hundreds – no, thousands –of sea creatures were caught in the huge horrible-looking net. They were all swimming in panicked circles, desperately trying to find a way out.
To distract someone is to take their attention away from something.
Shelby felt her face burn. ‘All of this to make money.’
‘I don’t get how he can justify doing this,’ Wade added.
‘Captain Pincer has a lot to answer for!’
Shelby clenched her teeth. ‘But first we have to stop him … and now!’
Wade pushed the throttle, and the submarine crept forward.
As they got up close to the net, Shelby moved her hands forward. The robotic arms moved forward too. Shelby closed her right hand and the right robotic hand gripped the net.
‘Steady,’ Wade said.
‘I am being steady!’ Shelby snapped.
To justify something is to show or say that it is right, fair or reasonable.
Shelby’s nerves were getting the better of her. She couldn’t afford to be inaccurate. Any wrong moves and she could end up crushing the fish in the net.
She reached her lef t hand forward, ready to grab the net with the other robotic hand. Then she froze. Shelby’s eyes widened as she spotted a familiar yellow and brown flatfish. She let go of the net completely.
‘What is it?’ asked Wade.
‘It’s Moby!’ Moby was Gran’s BFF – Best Fishy Friend. ‘He’s trapped too!’ Shelby exclaimed.
‘Shelby,’ Granphibian’s voice echoed in the submarine once more. ‘You have to do this!’
‘But what if I hurt Moby?’ she cried.
‘Breathe slowly,’ Granphibian said. ‘You’ve got this.’ Her calm voice was reassuring.
Shelby moved her hands again, and this time both of the robotic hands gripped the net. She began to pull her hands apart. The net strained. Shelby pulled harder and the net f inally began to rip, creating a large hole.
‘Nice work,’ said Wade.
Hundreds of fish poured out of the hole, all bolting away as fast as they could.
To reassure someone is to take away their doubts or fears.
Above them, the trawler was moving forward quickly again. The current it created sucked the ripped net with it.
‘There’s Moby!’ Wade said, as he wrestled with the submarine’s controls.
‘He’s still trapped in the net!’ moaned Shelby.
Moby was flicking his wide, flat tail against the net, unable to find a way out.
Then the submarine jolted. Shelby fell against her brother, and her hands slipped out of the gloves. The submarine was dragged sideways. Alarms started blaring in the sub and warning lights flashed.
‘One of the net’s hooks has got caught on one of the robotic arms!’ Wade yelled. ‘Granphibian? Can you hear us?’
There was no reply. ‘The communications must be down!’ he exclaimed.
Wade tried to regain control of the submarine. The pull of the net was so strong it undermined his efforts. Shelby felt sick as the Shark-sub was dragged and bounced along.
To undermine a plan, a person or their efforts is to make them less effective.
Now, Shelby could see the huge scrape marks left in the seabed. The lines stretched out into the dark blue sea, like giant scratches in sand.
Then Shelby saw something else … something large. They were being dragged towards a huge grey shape.
‘What is that?’ Wade yelled, peering through the sub’s porthole.
‘Boulder!’ yelled Shelby.
The boulder got bigger and bigger as the submarine was dragged along the seabed.
Wade’s eyes widened. ‘Brace for impact!’
Shelby looked at him. ‘What does that mean?’
Her brother shrugged. ‘I don’t know … that’s what they always say in the movies!’
The submarine struck the boulder with a huge thump. A small web of cracks spread out across the porthole above Shelby.
‘Oh, no!’ cried Shelby. ‘Don’t worry, the glass is holding,’ Wade said. ‘For now.’
Shelby clenched her teeth and slid the robotic gloves back on. ‘I have to get us free from that net.’
She tested the robotic hands. The one the hook was attached to wasn’t responding. Luckily, the other robotic hand wiggled as she moved her fingers.
Quickly, she moved the working arm. Shelby reached round and searched the other side of the submarine for the metal hook. It was like trying to scratch an itch that was just out of reach.
‘Hurry, Shelby,’ said Wade.
‘Don’t distract me!’ she replied. Shelby stretched her fingers as far as she could. The robotic arm responded. She felt the hand come into contact with the hook. She took hold of it in a pincer grip. Next, Shelby tried to wiggle it loose. She gave a final tug and the hook came free.
‘Yes!’ cried Shelby.
‘Well done!’ said Wade, pulling a lever as he struggled to get the submarine back under control.
To distract someone is to take their attention away from something.
Shelby stared out of the porthole, desperate to find Moby. Then she spotted him, still stuck in the net ... He was now being dragged away by the trawler.
‘Quick, Wade,’ Shelby said. ‘After that net!’
The Shark-sub jerked up and sideways.
‘It’s not responding properly,’ replied Wade.
Shelby gazed in horror as Moby was pulled further and further away.
Just then, Granphibian swam past the submarine, kicking her legs hard.
Shelby watched, impressed, as Granphibian fought her way into the net and guided Moby out to safety.
Shelby and Wade cheered.
Then Shelby felt a drip of water fall on her head. ‘Wade,’ she said. ‘We’ve got a problem.’
The cracks in the porthole were getting bigger. Water was trickling in.
‘LEAK DETECTED!’ an alarm blared. ‘LEAK DETECTED!’
‘I think it’s time to abandon ship,’ Wade said. ‘I mean ... abandon sub.’
‘That is a plan I def initely approve of,’ Shelby said, wiping another drip from her face.
Wade and Shelby grabbed their diving helmets and put them on. Then they made for the emergency exit and swam out to join Granphibian and Moby.
Granphibian hugged her grandchildren. ‘I’m glad you’re all right,’ she said. ‘When I saw that net dragging you along in the sub, I felt so helpless!’
To approve of someone or something is to say or think they are good or suitable.
‘There was nothing you could have done,’ Wade said, reassuring her.
They watched the Shark-sub sink to the sea floor. Its lights gradually flickered out.
Then something caught Shelby’s eye among the swirling sand and debris.
‘What’s that?’ It looked like part of a map. ‘What if it’s a lost section of the map to Aquatica?’
Moby immediately swam down towards the map.
Suddenly, another net came shooting down from the trawler above. It captured Moby and the map.
‘No!’ cried Shelby. ‘Not again!’
To reassure someone is to take away their doubts or fears.
The net was already being dragged back up to the ship, taking Moby and the map with it.
Granphibian didn’t waste any time and shot after it. The two children followed, but Granphibian was a lot faster than them. Shelby and Wade broke through the surface next to Captain Pincer’s trawler, blinking in the daylight. Shelby looked around but there was no sign of Granphibian.
‘Hey, what are you two doing out here at sea?’ Sea Dog Dave was leaning over the side of the trawler, looking down at Wade and Shelby.
‘Erm …’ Shelby had to think fast. ‘We were out diving. Our gran is with us.’
‘Could we come aboard and wait for her?’ asked Wade. ‘She must be around here somewhere.’
Captain Pincer joined Sea Dog Dave. ‘I suppose so,’ he said, grumpily. ‘We can’t exactly leave you floating in the middle of nowhere.’
Sea Dog Dave pointed to a ladder on the side of the boat, and Shelby and Wade climbed up on to the deck, removing their helmets.
Captain Pincer turned his back on the children and pulled something out of his pocket. ‘Look what we’ve dragged up,’
Captain Pincer said to Sea Dog Dave.
‘The map to Aquatica!’ cried Dave.
‘Shhhh!’ Captain Pincer hissed. ‘It’s only part of a map. Even so, it will help us fulfil our plan!’
‘Not our plan to catch any fish,’ said Sea Dog Dave, disappointedly. ‘We’ve only caught this one measly plaice.’
Sea Dog Dave lifted Moby out of a bucket of sea water by his f in. Shelby gasped.
‘We might be able to make one tiny pie after all,’ Captain Pincer said.
‘Wait!’ said Wade, standing up. ‘I think I can see something in the water. It looks like a bit of a map!’
Captain Pincer’s eyes grew wide. ‘Aquatica,’ he whispered.
Captain Pincer ran to the side of the boat. Sea Dog Dave dropped Moby back in the bucket and followed.
While the two crooks were distracted, Shelby heaved the bucket up. She tipped the water over the edge. ‘Swim away, Moby,’ she called down. The plaice waved his fin in thanks and dived under the waves.
‘I can’t see any map,’ called Captain Pincer loudly.
‘Oh?’ said Wade. ‘Must have been a trick of the light.’
Captain Pincer and Sea Dog Dave walked back over to Wade and Shelby.
‘Hey, where did my fish go?’ asked Sea Dog Dave.
‘I’ve no idea,’ said Shelby innocently.
If someone is because they are thinking about something else.
Just then, the children heard a familiar voice. ‘There you are, children!’
Granphibian exclaimed.
Captain Pincer and Sea Dog Dave jumped.
‘We were diving when we got caught up in some very dangerous nets. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about them, would you?’ Granphibian asked.
‘No idea what you mean,’ said Captain Pincer. ‘How did you get aboard?’
‘I climbed the ladder, of course. Thank you for keeping my grandchildren safe.’
‘Er … no problem,’ replied Sea Dog Dave.
Granphibian looked at the map in Captain Pincer’s hands. ‘Ooh, what a beautiful picture!’ she said, leaning closer.
Captain Pincer stepped quickly back, moving the map out of Granphibian’s reach. ‘It’s mine,’ he snapped. Then he held the map up to the light to get a better look at the detail. Captain Pincer smiled smugly as he stared at it, and at the words represented on the map. Except that the longer he stared at the paper, the smaller his smile became.
‘Is this SOME KIND OF JOKE?’ Captain Pincer waved the map around above his head. ‘How am I supposed to read this? It’s written in a different language.’
‘Let me see,’ said Granphibian.
Reluctantly, Captain Pincer showed her.
‘Hmm,’ said Granphibian thoughtfully. ‘It looks like some sort of ancient language.’ She shrugged. ‘Oh well, I suppose it will have to remain a mystery!’ She turned to Wade and Shelby and winked.
‘Never! There must be a way to work out what it says,’ said Captain Pincer.
To represent something or someone is to be a picture or model or symbol of them.
He stamped his foot. ‘I’m not going back to shore until we f igure it out!’
‘I don’t wish to undermine you, but you might not have a choice,’ replied Granphibian.
Shelby followed Granphibian’s gaze. A few metres from the trawler’s hull, she saw two fins cutting through the water’s surface.
‘SHARKS!’ Sea Dog Dave yelped.
Captain Pincer went pale. ‘Since w-when are there sh-sharks around here?’
Shelby watched the dark shapes of the sharks’ bodies move gracefully in the water. Each one was half the size of the ship. They glided towards the back of the boat where the nets were fastened.
‘They look like basking sharks,’ said Granphibian. ‘Perfectly harmless to humans. Unless …’
‘Unless?’ Captain Pincer asked with a gulp. ‘Unless anyone has been trawling the seabed. That gets them upset,’ Granphibian said. ‘You haven’t been trawling the seabed, have you? Only they seem to be very interested in your boat.’
‘No!’ replied Sea Dog Dave, quickly.
‘I think you’d better return to shore,’ suggested Granphibian. ‘Those sharks could do some real damage. And they don’t seem to be going anywhere.’
Captain Pincer went red in the face. ‘I’m not leaving!’
Captain Pincer began to pace up and down the deck, thinking. Finally, he said, ‘I believe this map is the key to finding the lost underwater city of Aquatica. You seem to know lots about the sea. If you help me find it, I will split the treasure with you.’
Granphibian’s eyes widened. ‘Aquatica, you say?’
There was a brief silence. Shelby wondered what Granphibian would do.
Granphibian burst out laughing. ‘The lost underwater city of Aquatica!’ she exclaimed. ‘Wade, Shelby, did you hear that?’
Shelby and Wade joined in the laughter, leaning on each other for support.
‘We explore these waters all the time, and we’ve never heard of any such thing,’ added Wade.
‘Stop laughing!’ Captain Pincer yelled. ‘It’s not funny.’
This only made Granphibian, Shelby and Wade laugh even more.
Even Sea Dog Dave started to chuckle.
‘What are you laughing at?’ Captain Pincer demanded.
‘I don’t know,’ said Sea Dog Dave, giggling.
‘Laughter is infectious. I can’t help it!’
‘I don’t care what you all think,’ said Captain Pincer. ‘I’m going to find Aquatica and all of its jewels, with or without you.’
Captain Pincer clutched the map. ‘And when I find it, I’ll be rich! Then I’ll be able to fulfil all my dreams.’
‘Even if it did exist,’ asked Shelby, ‘how are you going to reach an underwater city from up here?’
Captain Pincer pointed to her wetsuit. ‘I have diving equipment of my own,’ he snapped.
Granphibian glanced over the edge of the boat. ‘In case you have forgotten,’ she said, ‘those sharks are still circling.’
‘Maybe I should just catch those sharks and make shark pies,’ said Captain Pincer.
‘Good idea, Captain,’ said Sea Dog Dave. ‘We’ll make a lot of pies out of those two!’
‘Agreed. Prepare the nets, Sea Dog!’
Captain Pincer ordered.
Granphibian’s expression hardened and she sighed. Ignoring Captain Pincer and his assistant, she wandered across to the edge of the trawler. She looked over the side. Then Granphibian whistled down at the water. At once, the two circling shark fins disappeared.
‘What’s Gran up to?’ Shelby wondered.
‘What did you do?’ said Captain Pincer, looking over the edge of the boat. The water was still. ‘Where did those sharks go?’
Granphibian gave an innocent shrug.
Just then the trawler shuddered. A loud, thudding noise echoed up from below deck. ‘What’s going on?’ yelled Captain Pincer.
The boat rocked and the nets and barrels slid to one side. Shelby and Wade jumped out of the way and joined Granphibian, who was holding on to the side of the boat.
The boat rocked again, more violently this time.
‘I hope this is all part of some clever plan, Gran,’ whispered Shelby.
‘Don’t you worry,’ Granphibian reassured her.
Just then water began to rush up the cabin steps and on to the deck. It sploshed around Shelby’s feet. In no time, it was ankle-deep.
Captain Pincer’s eyes opened wide. ‘What … have … you … done?’
‘I haven’t done anything,’ Granphibian said. ‘But I’d say those sharks crashed into your boat and made a hole in it. It’s sprung quite a big leak.’
Sea Dog Dave grabbed a bucket, hoping to scoop water out.
As he ran to the side of the boat with the bucket, Sea Dog Dave knocked into Captain Pincer. Captain Pincer slipped over on the wet deck and the map flew out of his hands.
Shelby leapt up and caught it. She handed it to Granphibian.
Captain Pincer crawled to his feet. ‘Hey, where’s my map gone? This is hopeless! I’ve lost the map and the boat is ruined. It’s not even ours! Mr Keel is going to be furious.’
‘I think it’s time to leave, children,’ Granphibian said, smiling. ‘Don’t you?’
Shelby and Wade secured their helmets in place once more. Then they jumped into the water.
Shelby heard Captain Pincer yelling, ‘Abandon ship!’
Granphibian was close behind them. They all swam away from the trawler. When they were a safe distance away, they turned back to watch. The ship was half sunk by now.
Sea Dog Dave was already inflating a small rescue dinghy. When he launched it, it hit the water with a splosh.
‘You have my map!’ screeched Captain Pincer, as he noticed Granphibian holding something in her hand.
‘This?’ replied Granphibian. ‘No, it’s just a piece of rubbish from the seabed.’ She crumpled it and put it in her belt pocket. When Pincer looked away, she winked at her grandchildren.
‘Come on, Captain. Let’s go,’ called Sea Dog Dave. He had climbed into the dinghy and was waiting for Captain Pincer. The trawler tipped and Captain Pincer slid down into the dinghy. The trawler sank a little further into the sea.
Two large fins surfaced. The huge basking sharks began to circle Granphibian and the children.
‘Wow, I’ve never seen a basking shark up close before,’ said Wade.
Shelby knew she had no reason to worry when she was with Granphibian. All the same, she still felt a little nervous around such large creatures.
‘Don’t worry, children. As I said before, basking sharks only eat plankton, so they are totally harmless,’ said Granphibian.
‘Especially these two. Billo and Bello have been my friends for a long time.’ She called out to the sharks. ‘Thank you, boys!’
‘Is it time to head home now?’ said Wade.
‘Soon, dear,’ said Granphibian. ‘We just need to clear up some of Captain Pincer’s mess first,’ she explained. ‘Like those awful nets.’
‘What about his boat?’ Shelby asked.
‘That’s a wreck now. It will sink to the bottom of the sea,’ Granphibian said.
‘But shipwrecks turn into excellent coral reefs where sea life thrives, so in time it will become a lovely new home for the fish.’
‘How do we clear up the rest of the mess though?’ asked Wade. ‘And how do we get the Shark-sub back?’
‘I have an idea,’ said Shelby. ‘Do you think Billo and Bello would help us one more time? If we wrap the submarine in the nets, they could drag it to shore for us, clearing up two problems in one go.’
‘Great thinking,’ replied Granphibian. ‘Right, let’s dive!’
Granphibian and the children slipped back below the water. As they swam down, Granphibian gave instructions to Billo and Bello, who signalled their agreement by waving their fins.
Shelby noticed lots of little bubbles spreading out around them in the water.
A moment later, Shelby, Wade and Granphibian were surrounded by many dif ferent species of fish.
‘They’ve all come to help with the clean-up!’ Granphibian exclaimed. Then a yellow-brown plaice with bright red spots swam up to them.
‘Moby!’ Granphibian said, patting her friend. ‘It’s good to know you’re safe.’
Soon they were back at the seabed.
All the sea creatures and the two basking sharks helped them. Before long, Granphibian, Shelby and Wade managed to gather all the ripped net together. They dragged them over the Shark-sub. In no time, their work was done.
‘Good job!’ called out Granphibian to all the fish. ‘Thank you for your help!’
Moby swam forwards and issued a series of bubbles and gurgles and pointed with his fins to Shelby and Wade.
Granphibian smiled. ‘Moby says that all the fish say thank you for helping them,’ she explained to the children.
‘You’re welcome!’ said Shelby.
Then it was time to head home.
Granphibian, Shelby and Wade swam back towards Granphibian’s lighthouse. Billo and Bello swam alongside them, dragging the bulging nets and the Shark-sub between them.
Soon the cliffs came into view, and then
Portside Bay harbour. Finally, they saw the sea cave under the lighthouse and the beach.
With help from the basking sharks, they heaved the nets and the Shark-sub onto the shore.
When they were done, Shelby and Wade turned and waved goodbye to their new friends, Billo and Bello.
It was a beautiful evening. The orange sun was sinking on the horizon. Shelby watched the sharks’ f ins as they headed back out to sea.
‘I think we can leave the nets safely on shore for a while. We need to get warm and dry,’ said Granphibian. She led Wade and Shelby into the tunnel under the cliff.
Back at the lighthouse, they all soon got warm as they changed into comfy clothes.
Wade and Shelby sat on the step of the lighthouse, watching the sun set. Gran brought them hot chocolate and joined them on the step.
From her pocket, Gran brought out the map section that they’d taken from Pincer. She frowned in concentration at the strange symbols on it. Her face lit up. ‘Aha, now I understand. That’s the trouble with this old Aquatica language. Almost every symbol has six different meanings …’
‘I knew you’d be able to read it,’ Shelby said, grinning.
Gran pulled out two more map pieces that they’d found on previous adventures.
‘It looks like there’s just one more corner missing, Gran,’ said Wade.
Gran smiled and put the bits of map back in her pocket. ‘That will have to wait for another adventure,’ she said.
The next day ... Shelby and Wade went into town. They walked along Portside Bay’s high street, doing some jobs for Gran. She was back at the lighthouse, organising for the nets to be taken to a recycling centre. She hoped part of the nets could be reused or made into something new.
‘Look over there,’ said Shelby, pointing to a shop across the road.
Painted in rough letters above the door was a sign that read ‘PINCER’S FISH PIES!’
Someone had roughly crossed out ‘FISH’ and scrawled ‘VEGETABLE’ underneath. Shelby and Wade crossed the road. Cautiously, they peered through the window of the shop.
Captain Pincer was inside, looking hot and bothered. He was spooning carrots and potatoes into pastry pie cases. Sea Dog Dave was putting the pies into an oven. Both men looked grouchy and fed up.
The window was open slightly. Wade and Shelby could hear them talking inside.
‘We’ll have to sell thousands of these pies to pay for the boat we sunk,’ Dave grumbled.
‘Well, this is all your fault,’ Captain Pincer snapped, wiping sweat from his face.
‘If you hadn’t mentioned that ridiculous legend ... Aquatica indeed. As if such a place exists!’
Shelby grinned at Wade. ‘As if!’ she exclaimed.
‘Come on,’ said Wade. ‘Let’s get home ... we have a submarine to f ix!’
The two children made their way back to the lighthouse ... ready for another adventure.
Guiding Lights: The Story of Lighthouses by David Macphail
Oxford Reading Level 15
Planet Action by Keya Lamba and Shweta Bahri
Oxford Reading Level 15
Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, OX2 6DP, United Kingdom
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Illustrations © Mike Phillips 2024
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First published 2024
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ISBN: 978-1-382-04181-2
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Acknowledgements
Written by Anthony Burt
Illustrated by Mike Phillips
Author photo courtesy of Anthony Burt
Captain Pincer and Sea Dog Dave are up to no good ... again! They’re on the hunt for the underwater city of Aquatica. The trouble is, they don’t care how much damage they do along the way. Can Gran, Shelby and Wade stop them before they destroy the seabed?
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