Page 115 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

Tears filled my eyes. I nodded. ‘Elle told me that once.’

Sarah shrugged. ‘She was right.’ She gave me a light push on the chest. ‘And anyway, when we get to Australia, you canfind a nice new girlfriend who doesn’t abandon yer on ships. All right?’

I gave a chuckle through my tears. ‘All right Sarah. Point taken.’

‘Anyway, mista, I really do want to hear your story, starting tomorrow night. You won’t let me down, will yer?’

I shook my head. ‘I won’t, Sarah.’

I bade her goodnight and returned to my cabin, and to my diary. I will keep my promise to Sarah. She somehow has managed to rouse me from the depths of my dark thoughts. Despite her difficult life, she strives to see the brighter side, and what’s more, finds the capacity to care for others too.

She reminds me a little of Elle.

Once more, reader, the universe seems to have thrown me a lifeline. The next night, and all the nights after that, I have met with Sarah on the viewing deck of the RMSOrient. As a result, I have shared with her my story in full. She was glued to every word. I even felt compelled to show her the diamond.

‘Bloody ’ell! Well, I regret turnin’ that down the other night! Cor, it’s the size of a bleedin’ rat!’

‘Do you promise not to tell anyone aboard that I have it, Sarah? Money and diamonds can make men mad, as I think I’ve managed to convey.’

She tapped her nose. ‘Don’t you worry, Mr T, your secret’s safe with me.’ Sarah folded her arms and leant back on the viewing deck’s wooden bench. ‘You know the thing I can’t get me ’ead round? If you was plannin’ on doin’ a runner, why would you buy a wedding dress?’ I considered Sarah’s point. It was very astute. ‘Did she take her time choosing it?’

I cast my mind back. ‘She did, yes.’

Sarah sucked her teeth. ‘Very strange, Mr T. As is the way the bag was just left on the dock, as if she’d disappeared into thin air.’

‘I agree, Sarah. It has to have been a last-minute decision.’

She nodded. ‘Must ’ave been, yeah. Do you reckon you’ll go lookin’ for her?’

It was a question I had spent many sleepless nights contemplating. ‘I always promised to keep Elle safe. I worry that going back will only endanger her again. I’m trying to accept that Elle distancing herself from me is the safest outcome,’ I replied sadly.

Sarah slapped a hand on my back. ‘I feel for yer, Mr T. Will you be getting off tomorrow when we dock at Port Said?’

I tried to rally myself. ‘Absolutely. I’d never miss an opportunity to set foot in an entirely new land. I’m assuming that your “captors” will let you and the other children off the boat for a visit?’

Sarah laughed. ‘Yeah! We can’t wait. Apparently, there’s this rich old Scottish woman – even richer than you, she’s in first class – who’s going to treat us all to sweetmeats and Turkish delights. Fancy that!’

I was pleased to hear it. ‘Oh, really? Thatisexciting news. What’s her name?’

Sarah narrowed her eyes in thought. ‘I’m pretty sure someone said it was Kitty Mercer. Apparently ’er ’usband died. Or left ’er or something. I’m not really sure. But she’s got bags of cash.’

I thought for a moment. ‘You know, I wonder if she’s connected to the Mercer pearling empire that’s run out of Australia? I’ve read about them in the newspaper.’

‘Prob’ly is, I reckon. Apparently, she’s got a massive mansion out in Australia, even though she started out like one of us – no money, I mean. Everyone says you can make a new life for yourself in this place. What do you think it will be like?’

Without my love... empty, heartbreaking, vast, cruel.

‘Oh, I imagine it will be fantastic, and most importantly of all, you’re going to do wonderfully there.’

The next day, I watched Kitty Mercer lead a small army of children off the ship and into Port Said. When I laid eyeson her, it occurred to me that I had seen Mrs Mercer before, on the day we left Tilbury. She had been one of the individuals I had desperately begged for information about Elle.

As theOrientwas constantly in motion, the resulting breeze meant that nobody on board had a real appreciation for the air temperature. However, since docking, the African heat had hit us all, and I passed through a sea of red faces as I made my way to the gangplank. Walking off the ship, the smell of unwashed bodies and rotting fruit accosted my nose. I made my way through the busy port, observing a steady stream of crates and animals being moved to and from the docked steamships.

Leaving the port, I headed into the old town itself. I soon came across a well-stocked market boasting spices, fruit and flatbreads baking in scorching-hot ovens. The air around them quite literally rippled with the heat. Local residents swirled around me in their bright-coloured robes and fez hats. I did my best to take it all in.

As I did so, I was consumed by negative thoughts. How much sweeter this experience would have been if I were sharing it with Elle. Suddenly, the Turkish delight I purchased had no taste, and the vibrant colours of the stalls may as well have been grey.

That evening, when we were back on the ship, Sarah didn’t meet me for our usual night-time chat. I could not blame her. Mrs Mercer had been able to show her and her fellow orphans a better time than I could ever manage in my current state. Nonetheless, I returned each evening, out of habit, and talked to my Seven Sisters instead. Five nights later, Sarah bounded up to me.