Page 180 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘Yes, Atlas?’

‘I still have deep concerns about Zed Eszu. Although I tried to make a bargain, he will remain a threat as long as he walks the earth. Even though my girls are strong, and will be even stronger after they learn the truth about their pasts,you must promise me you will do your best to mitigate his influence,’ he implored. ‘Protect my daughters from him as best you can.’

‘I swear, my friend.’

‘Thank you, Georg. You have been... exemplary. I owe you so very much.’ Atlas gently bowed his head.

Georg was choked. ‘It has been the honour of my life. All that I have done has been in grateful recompense for your kindness.’

‘You’ve made me very proud. As has Claudia, of course. There is no one in the universe I trust more than you.’

‘The feeling is a mutual one, Atlas.’

‘Good. Now, are you absolutely sure that you are clear on my instructions? Given this unexpected turn of events, I just want to run through everything one more time.’ Atlas went to stand, and Georg extended a hand to help. ‘Thank you.’ He tottered over to the bookshelf and cast an eye over his collection. ‘Repeat the plan back to me, please.’

Georg nodded. ‘Of course. Firstly, I am to give the missing sister your original diary when she is found. We have all the information we need now. I will find her.’

Atlas raised a questioning eyebrow. ‘You’ve definitely got the drawing of the emerald ring?’

‘Yes.’

He continued his mental checklist. ‘And the coordinates to Argideen House?’

‘Absolutely.’

Atlas picked up the charcoal drawing of Elle, and stared at it for a while. ‘Are my letters to the girls in place at Atlantis? Alongside the physical clues?’

‘They’re in my office. All are sealed and ready to be handed over as soon as I return.’

Atlas seemed to relax a little, before remembering somethingelse. ‘What about the armillary sphere? Has that all been seen to?’

‘Yes. The engraver is finishing off his work this afternoon. I will double-check the inscriptions and coordinates myself.’

‘Excellent. And the surprise?’

‘Seen to, Atlas.’

Atlas gave a weak smile. ‘I’ll look forward to seeing everyone’s faces, from wherever I am. Thank you, Georg.’ He walked back over to the desk and shuffled his papers together. He looked at the pages ruefully. ‘I only wish I could be there to guide them through all this.’ He shook his head. ‘Maia, Ally, Star, CeCe, Tiggy, Electra... they have so much to learn about their origins.’ A slightly haunted look crossed Atlas’s face. ‘Have I done the right thing, Georg?’

‘I believe that you have. With all my heart.’

Atlas gently eased himself back into his chair and looked out of theTitan’s window at the open water. ‘I worry that I should have told them all the truth years ago.’

‘It is only natural that you would fret. But remember, if you had told them everything before now, it could have endangered them all.’

Atlas nodded slowly, and took a sip of his water. Georg was distressed to see just how much his hand trembled whilst he held the glass. ‘Now, when I am gone, and only then, you will give my daughters these.’ With a frail hand, Atlas pointed to the fresh pages which lay on the desk, the ink still drying. ‘If the girls think that I have in any way deceived them...’ – he paused and put a hand to his chest – ‘it would ruin it all.’ A long pause hung between the two men. Atlas looked up at Georg. Although his skin was wrinkled and his hair white, Atlas’s brown eyes were as searching as they had always been. ‘You know exactly what I set out to do. I could never have predicted I would survive.’

‘No. Neither could I,’ Georg replied quietly.

Atlas opened a drawer in his desk and produced an A4 manila envelope. He delicately placed the new pages inside, returned them to the drawer and turned the key in the lock. Then he removed it and handed it to Georg.

‘Only when the time is right. When I am gone.’

Atlas went to stand again, but struggled this time. Georg immediately offered his arm, and his old friend hauled himself to his feet. Then he embraced him, an action which produced tears in the eyes of both men. ‘I am glad we had this extra time, old friend. It gives me the opportunity to say something I did not the other day.’

‘What is that?’

Atlas smirked. ‘Will you hurry up and tell her?’