I was there he said. It was a sunday I think. I had gone over to the rocks and lay on my towel in a rift. That’s how you couldn’t see me but I could see you.

Someone had told me the sea eagle had a new brood. I brought the binoculars. It was sunny and warm. I saw you all arrive. You and your brother were playing in the sand. Our erik was snoozing on the blanket. I thought that you two were just little. Too small to go swimming on your own. Besides the wind was up. Off and on I kept an eye on you through the binoculars.

After an hour or so the sea eagle swooped into my field of vision. It seemed to play a game with a gull or maybe the gull 97was just being a nuisance. I tracked the movements of the birds. Observed their gliding skills on the air currents.

I don’t know if you’ve ever watched a sea eagle he asked. I said no.

It soars over its kingdom. Takes a break now and then to dive for fish or to steal from other birds. If you like we can drive down to the sea. Their eggs will be hatching soon.

By the way jana do you protect yourself he asked as if the thought of sea eaglets had reminded him of human reproduction.

No I said and you don’t either. But I’m not likely to have any more children. I caught some kind of infection. Mother said that I almost died. As for me I think I wanted to die like katarinahansson’s mum does.

Not likely he repeated and fetched more coffee for us. Then he sat deep in thought for quite a long while. His gaze was lost in the distance and even though I talked to him he didn’t answer. In the end I put my hand on his shoulder and asked him to carry on with the story.

Where was I he asked. With the sea eagle.

Yes that’s right.

Then he fell silent again. He seemed uneasy about telling the story to the end but I had to know what happened.

Please john I said. What happened next.

I moved the binoculars he said. From the eagle down to you. At first I couldn’t find you children. Only our erik still sleeping away. You had put a towel on top of him.

The waves had grown much larger now and between the wavetops I saw bror. He seemed to be screaming. Ran to pull the towel off our erik and made him come down to the water’s edge. Your brother was pointing out over the sea. I tried to follow with 98the binoculars. There were lots of waves breaking and foaming. And then suddenly your head cut through the surface and gasped for new air.