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21
Going home
Dilo was surprised when Debra slid quietly into his holding pool. At first he was excited and swam round her quickly. Debra matched him by swimming like a dolphin with her legs together. Gradually she slowed down. So did Dilo. Then Ted Manson, the diver, and Tina, the trainer got into the pool. Dilo swam to them and then went back to Debra. The stretcher with two holes was lowered gently into the water. Dilo inspected it and swam away. Tina and Ted remained quiet and calm. They did not want to alarm Dilo. Debra stroked Dilo very gently and spoke to him in a quiet voice.
“Come on Dilo, do this for me. I’ve told them you would. Just swim over the stretcher. There is no hurry. Then we will lift you out of this awful pool and put you back in the sea, where you belong.”
Those around the pool watched in silence. Could Debra entice a dolphin to do something he would not normally do? Did Dilo trust Debra that much?
Dilo behaved almost as if he were asleep. He hung on the surface of the pool with Debra stroking him.
“Come on Dilo, I know we can do it,” she said in a whisper.
Tina and the diver moved slowly towards her. Gently they started to slide the stretcher beneath Dilo. The dolphin swam away. Debra’s plan wasn’t working.
Debra continued to talk to Dilo. “Please Dilo, stay still, please, do it for me.” Tina and Ted edged forwards. “Please stay still Dilo, please,” pleaded Debra.
Dilo obeyed. Very slowly the sling was raised under Dilo. Debra gently guided Dilo’s pectoral fins through the holes especially made for the purpose.
Dilo was caught.
The three moved to the edge of the pool. Debra continued to talk to Dilo, pacifying him with her words. Two more assistants came into the water.
With one person on each corner of the stretcher Dilo was heaved out of the pool. Soon he was being carried to a waiting van. After a short ride on a foam mattress Dilo was lifted out. Four strong people carried him down the beach.
Debra, still wearing her wetsuit, walked by his side, “You’re going home. You’re going back to the sea,” she said excitedly.
As he was lowered into the sea Dilo felt cool sea water bathe his body. His weight was gone. It was easy to breathe. Dilo didn’t struggle as he was eased into deeper water. Then the magic moment came. The stretcher was slipped from under him and the four men waded ashore.
Dilo remained floating, bobbing gently on the surface. Next to him was Debra. She too floated gently on the surface, comfortable in her wetsuit. Occasionally she blew out through her snorkel tube. Dilo closed his eyes. His body was soaking in the sounds of the sea - the crackle of the shrimps, the coarse grating sound of the waves rolling up the beach and the distant throb of an engine. He could sense Debra floating beside him. She wasn’t touching him but he knew exactly where she was. He also knew she would not stay long. She was a visitor to the sea from the land.
Then he remembered his mother, telling him he was born to roam. ‘The Call of the Deep’ she called it. At that moment of freedom he felt it stronger than ever. He loved having Debra beside him but he knew it was time to leave the shore and head out into the wide, wide ocean. The thought of it filled him with energy and joy. He opened his eyes and started to swim around Debra. Faster and faster he went until he was travelling at full speed. He dived to the bottom and rubbed his belly on the coarse sand. Then he headed for the surface and leapt as high as he could. He felt the air on his body before he crashed back into the sea in a tumult of bubbles.
Throughout his stay in the pool Dilo had swum in circles. Now he could swim in a straight line. And that’s what he did. He left Debra and swam at full speed towards the horizon. Occasionally Dilo jumped just for the sheer joy of being free in the sea.
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