Page 104 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘This one is quite unique, Mr Forbes. But I will know it when I see it.’

‘Righto. Sounds like you might need a while to browse, so it really would be best if you returned later, if you don’t mind.’

Kreeg replied firmly, ‘I am convinced it’s here, Mr Forbes. There is no need to browse.’

‘Listen, I’m really not sure what you mean...’

The dialogue was broken by the sound of baby Laurence beginning to mewl.

‘Poor child. Take him in your arms, Mrs Forbes. Savour each moment with him. There is nothing more sacred than the bond between a mother and her child.’ Elle looked at me, and I cast my eyes to the floor. ‘May I ask you, Mrs Forbes, what this little baby would do without you?’ Kreeg said.

‘What do you mean?’ Louise replied, shocked by the question.

‘Allow me to be clearer: if some nasty fate were to befallyou, and your husband too, what would become of little Laurence here?’

Rupert raised his voice. ‘I say, steady on, old man. What a vile thing to say in my shop!’

‘Just words, Mr Forbes. Nonetheless, I appreciate that it is a difficult question to answer. Because, in truth, you do not know what would become of your child.’

Laurence was crying now. ‘Listen, I’d like you to leave,’ Rupert stated firmly. ‘You’re upsetting my wife.’

Kreeg continued. ‘A mother is everything to a child. She is a carer, a friend, an anchor. Without that anchor, a child can drift away, and there is no telling where they might end up.’

‘I really don’t understand what you’re talking about, Mr Zeeker. Now leave this shop,’ Rupert demanded once more.

‘Imagine if I stole you away now, Mrs Forbes, dooming your child to a motherless existence. Do you not think that Laurence here would have a right to seek revenge on me?’

‘Are you threatening my child?’ Rupert asked, now with full-throated aggression in his voice.

‘Me? I would never do such a thing, Mr Forbes. It is not within my nature. But the tall, brown-eyed man who is in your employ... I wouldn’t be so sure about him.’

‘For God’s sake, man, I’ve had about enough of this.’ I heard the floorboards creak in rapid succession as Rupert crossed the shop to shove Kreeg out. There was a yelp from Louise.

‘Put him down!’ she cried. I gripped the door handle, ready to burst forth and confront Kreeg. There was not a chance I was going to let him hurt Rupert.

‘I would be happy to let your husband go, Mrs Forbes, as soon as you tell me where the Tanits are,’ growled Eszu.

‘Who are the Tanits?!’ Louise shouted. My heart was breaking at her continued loyalty, despite the threat to her husband.

There was a thud, and a gasp, as Kreeg had obviously allowed Rupert to drop to the floor. ‘I know they worked for your family,’ he continued. ‘I had a very interesting drink with your brother just the other day. Well, I say drink, the reprobate downed nearly the entire whisky bottle. He told me that they left your estate and now run this bookshop.’

‘We don’t know that name,’ stumbled Rupert, still gasping for breath. ‘As you saw, Teddy is a drunk. You can’t rely on a single word he says. We have no reason to lie to you.’

‘Don’t you?’ Kreeg asked. ‘Whatever Tanit’s told you, it’s untrue. You have a killer in your employ, Mrs Forbes. I suppose he didn’t mention that, did he? Trust me, I would be very glad to alleviate you of the threat he presents to your family.’

‘I’m calling the police,’ Rupert said, as I heard him jog to the back of the shop and pick up the telephone receiver. ‘You’d better clear out. You don’t want to be found within the vicinity of this establishment when they arrive. You probably don’t realise who you’ve just assaulted. Perhaps my drunken brother-in-law neglected to mention that the bookshop is a hobby. I work for the British government.’

‘Poor you, Mr Forbes. Very well, I shall bid you good day. Before I go, however... at the start of our conversation you mentioned the war. Tell me, would you make a distinction between the soldier who had murdered your friend, and those who worked to protect him?’

‘Get out! Just get out!’ screamed Louise, as Laurence’s cries became louder.

‘As you wish.’ I heard the shop bell ring as the door opened. ‘Oh, and by the way, his name is not “Robert”.’ The door slammed.

‘Shh, baby, it’s all right,’ Louise soothed, as Rupert opened the door we were hidden behind.

‘Bloody hell, chaps. What on earth was all that about?!’Elle and I blinked in the light as Louise went to lock the shop and close the blinds.

‘Thank you, Rupert. Thank you for not giving us up.’ I shook his hand.