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soft earth. Jack breathed a sigh of relief, his hands hurt and his knuckles were white from clinging onto the seat. His legs were shaking as he climbed onto the island. He’d thought either Gerda or Medric would have been there to meet him but neither goose appeared. He didn’t want to go over to the shelter without being invited so he called as loudly as he could.
    ‘Hello! It’s Jack, I’ve brought your supper.’
    Medric’s head shot out of the shelter.
    ‘Shhh!’
    ‘Sorry!’ whispered Jack. ‘I didn’t mean to disturb you.’
    ‘It’s not me it’s Gerda. Loud noises when you’re laying aren’t good.’
    ‘Sorry, do you want me to take the eggs back for Nora?’
    Medric lowered his neck and shook his tail feathers. Jack realised he’d said the wrong thing.
    ‘I most certainly do not want you to take any of Gerda’s eggs, these eggs aren’t for eating they’re for hatching.’
    ‘Hatching!’
    ‘Yes, hatching, don’t you know anything?’
    ‘Nora didn’t tell me. I’m sorry. I was only trying to help. I’ve brought your supper.’
    ‘Supper! It’s a bit early for supper.’
    ‘I know but I’ve got to go home for mine soon so I thought I’d bring it over now and say hello.’
    ‘You’d better come inside after you’ve put it out.’
    It was harder lifting the bucket of grain out of the boat than it had been getting it in. Jack tipped the contents onto the bare earth where Nora usually put it, returned the empty bucket to the boat then made his way to the shelter. He knocked on the side of the open door.
    ‘Come in, come in,’ said Medric.
    Jack was worried he might tread on the eggs but when he entered the shelter he found that the straw from around the entrance had gone. It had been piled into the far corner and shaped into a circular mound, on top of which sat Gerda.
    ‘Do you want to come and have a quick look?’ she asked as she slowly raised her body.
    Jack could see a clutch of large white eggs.
    ‘Ten,’ Medric informed him. ‘Better sit down my dear, you don’t want them getting cold.’
    ‘When will they hatch?’ asked Jack as he watched Gerda settle herself gently back onto the nest.
    ‘Not for a while yet,’ replied Medric as he started hustling Jack towards the doorway.
    ‘Well I’d better go. I don’t want to disturb you.’
    ‘Fine, fine,’ said Medric as he waddled out of the shelter. ‘Gerda’s looking forward to hearing the splatter of webbed feet. We’ll invite you over when they’ve hatched.’
    ‘Thank you, I’d like that,’ replied Jack before saying goodbye.
    When he reached the boat he turned to wave but Medric had already gone back inside. He wondered if Camelin knew about Gerda’s eggs. As he climbed into the boat he thought carefully about what he was going to instruct the boat to do. ‘Return me slowly to the shore,’ was the best he could come up with.
    The journey back was much better. Jack trailed one hand over the side and dangled it in the water as he enjoyed the view. He thought he saw a movement in the willow tree and a black shape he recognised. As the small boat ran ashore Camelin swooped out of the tree and landed by the water’s edge. He waddled over and waited until Jack had secured the boat and removed the bucket before speaking.
    ‘Using magic again? I thought we had to use our wands wisely?’
    Jack didn’t want to get into an argument and he knew it was useless to try to explain.
    ‘Do you want dinner too?’
    ‘Now you’re talking,’ replied Camelin as he flew past Jack. ‘Race you to the kitchen.’
    Jack had no intention of racing. He returned the bucket to the shed and then peeked into the herborium. He sniffed the air. The nasty smell had gone so he checked the potion. Everything looked alright, as far as he could tell, so he closed the door and started to make his way towards the kitchen. A rapid fluttering of wings above his head made him look up. Before Jack could say or do anything, Timmery flew past