Page 151 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

As I approach the age of sixty, I have come to realise that Angelina’s prophecy is unlikely to come true. Of course, I still have Georg search the databases of the world for Elle’s name, but the physical trips to follow up on tenuous leads have become less frequent. Whenever Iamaway, I simply cannot wait to return to Atlantis and spend time with little Maia. I love nothing more than to take her toddling around the gardens and down to the shoreline, and to tell her lengthy bedtime stories about my adventures.

This does not mean, of course, that I am not deeply pained by the concept that I already have a biological daughter living in the world – one who needs me as much as little Maia does. I simply try not to think about it too much. For so long, Ihave put my faith in stars and prophecies. Perhaps it is time to live in the real world.

I was given a sharp reminder to do so earlier this evening, when I received a telephone call. Normally, when I pick up the receiver, it is Georg. My calls are screened through his firm, to prevent any unwanted contact from Eszu (who, by the way, has been as quiet as a mouse).

‘Good evening, Georg,’ I said, answering the call.

‘Hello?’ replied a voice in a Norwegian accent.

‘Horst?’ I asked. He and Astrid, along with the Forbes family and Ralph Mackenzie, are the only humans I permit to have a direct line to Atlantis.

‘Good evening, Bo. I hope I’m not troubling you?’

‘Not at all, my dear friend. How are you?’ I asked, slipping back into Norwegian – effortlessly, if I may brag.

‘Oh, physically, I am well, as is Astrid.’

I picked up the telephone unit and took a seat in my leather office chair. ‘I read about Felix’s latest composition inThe Instrumentalistmagazine. Bravo! You must be very proud.’

When he replied, Horst sounded grim. ‘Proud is the last thing I am of my grandson.’

‘Oh.’ I was taken aback.

‘Before I get into that, tell me,Papa, how is young Maia?’ he asked.

‘Incredibly well! Thank you for asking, Horst. Just this morning I caught her readingWinnie the Poohaloud to herself. Notactuallyreading it – she’s still only three. But she was adjusting her voice for different characters, just as I do when I narrate it to her myself...’ I had to stop myself gushing.

Horst chuckled. ‘Children are a blessing.’

‘She teaches me something new every day,’ I said, mindlessly curling the wire of the phone around my finger. ‘Even if that thing is how to scrub chocolate out of a shirt.’

‘I’m very happy to hear that the both of you are getting along so famously.’ There was a pause on the line. ‘Dare I ask about Elle?’

‘There is nothing to report, I’m afraid to say, Horst. As each day passes I lose more hope. As you know, I will never stop my search, but I have Maia to focus on now.’

‘I know you do.’

I was struggling to hear my old friend down the line. ‘Sorry, Horst, it’s a little difficult to hear you. Is there any way you could speak a little louder?’

‘Uh... no, I’m afraid not. Astrid’s asleep upstairs, and the matter I wish to discuss should remain private between you and me.’

I sat up in my chair. ‘Is everything all right?’

Horst exhaled. ‘Frankly, my old friend, it is not.’ He tutted. ‘It’s Felix. He’s got himself into a rather difficult situation.’

‘I see. Well, I’ll provide any advice I can.’

‘As you know, Felix has become famous here in Bergen. In fact, in all of Norway. People know him as the orphan of the great Pip Halvorsen and his beautiful wife Karine, who died so tragically when their son was an infant. There have been articles on it, and I dare say that the prodigal son has begun to believe in his own myth.’

‘I see,’ I replied, not entirely sure of how to respond.

‘All this has been compounded by the fact that he has been given a teaching role at the University of Bergen. There are many young women there...’

I didn’t like where this conversation was going. ‘Young women?’

‘Yes. Whenever Astrid and I see him, which is rare these days, there is a new one on his arm. And he drinks far too much.’ Horst gave an exhausted sigh.

I thought for a moment. ‘He is a young man with a littlefame and notoriety. I think it would be naive to expect anything else,’ I encouraged. ‘Hopefully it is a phase he will grow out of as the years pass.’