Page 176 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘I don’t know what to say,’ I panted.

‘Neither do I, Atlas. Let me get you a drink.’ Marina crossed to the decanter which contained a Macallan single malt, imported especially from the Scottish Highlands. ‘I do not suppose there is much point in wondering if it is a coincidence.’

‘No. Think of all the universities on the planet. Kreeg’s boy justsomehowends up at Maia’s, and becomes her boyfriend? It cannot be chance. This is targeted, I am sure of it.’ I sat down in my chair, and Marina handed me the whisky. ‘Cheers.’ I clinked her glass, and we both took a swig. The warm mellow spirit helped to fortify me. ‘What’s the purpose of it, Ma? To send a message? To let me know that he’s watching me? Or worse. What if he intends to harm the girls? Oh dear, my little Maia...’ I put my head on my desk. Marina rubbed my back.

‘Please try to remain calm, Atlas. We do not have the full picture yet.’

‘I was about to call Georg to get an update on Kreeg himself.’

There was another knock at the door, and I looked up. ‘Are you all right, Pa? I just wanted to check on you.’ The voice belonged to Maia.

‘Let her in,’ Marina mouthed to me. I crossed to the study door, breathed in deeply, and smiled widely before opening it.

‘Hello, Maia!’ I said, with probably a touch too muchenthusiasm. ‘I’m so sorry I had to leave the table on your first night back. I just began to feel a little wobbly, that’s all. As I said, it’s only a bit of sunstroke.’ She entered the room, and I closed the door behind her.

‘If you say so, Pa.’ She looked at the whisky glasses on my desk. ‘But everyone really does think it’s because I mentioned my... boyfriend.’

I vehemently shook my head. ‘No, Maia, absolutely not. I encourage all of you to find love. As I have told you before, it is the only thing that makes life worth living.’

‘It’s just... you seemed fine, then I mentioned Zed, and suddenly you were standing up to leave.’

I gave her a hug, but she was an unwilling recipient. ‘It’s just a funny turn, my darling, that’s all. I’m all right, aren’t I, Ma?’

Ma nodded. ‘Oh yes, your pa will be right as rain. Please go back and enjoy your chilli. Claudia made it especially for you.’

‘All right, Ma.’ She went to leave, but turned to me before reaching the door. ‘I promise you, Zed is the sweetest man I’ve ever met. He asks so many questions about my sisters, and you, and Atlantis... I never thought someone could be so interested in my life!’ She giggled and left.

‘Oh dear,’ was all I could muster.

‘Come on, sit back down. You look as white as a sheet,’ Ma said, guiding me back into the chair, where I sat for a while, my head in my hands.

‘No doubt Kreeg has asked him to probe Maia for info on Atlantis. I just hope she hasn’t given Zed the exact details of its location.’

‘Even if she has, please remember that you have prepared for such an event.’

‘You’re right,’ I replied. ‘But I haven’t had the escape routeschecked in over a decade.’ I shook my head. ‘I thought he’d let me be.’

‘I too,chéri.’

I drummed my fingers on the desk. ‘It’s no good sitting here and panicking. Firstly, I want us to inspect all the hidden areas of the house. I need to make sure the lifts are in working order, and the lights in the tunnels which lead to the boathouse are working too.’ I stood up and poured another whisky. I offered to do the same for Marina, but she declined. ‘I’ll have Georg increase the surveillance on Kreeg himself, too. I don’t want us to be sitting ducks. I’ll also put my search for Elle on hold for a while. God forbid that Eszu arrives at Atlantis and I’m not here to protect the girls.’

‘Do you really think he would hurt them? Your innocent children?’

‘I don’t know what he’s capable of. I worry that for him, nothing is off limits.’

‘Then you are wise to be as cautious as you are.’ Marina took my hand. ‘We will protect them, Atlas. Together.’

Over the course of the next few weeks, all of Atlantis’s secrets were investigated and reinforced. With Ma, I ran through various scenarios in which Kreeg might arrive at the house, and how we could best organise the girls. It is a situation I dread. How would I even possibly begin to explain to them what was happening? They would start to question and doubt their own father. It is a reality which I find too difficult to contemplate just at the moment.

The night before Maia was due to return to university, I spied Marina emerging from my eldest daughter’s bedroom looking pale-faced.

‘Everything all right, Ma?’ I asked.

She hadn’t seen me in the corridor, and nearly jumped out of her skin. ‘Sorry, I was in another world,’ she gasped, clutching her hand to her chest.

‘Evidently. Is everything okay?’

‘Hmm? Oh, yes, fine. Everything’s fine.’