Page 194 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘Augustus?’ Clymene asked.

‘A little pompous, don’t you think?’ Lapetus replied. ‘Augustus Tanit. I’m not so sure.’ He craned his neck as he thought through potential names.

‘It would be nice for it to start with “A” though. Alexei? Alexander, in honour of the tsar?’

Lapetus stared at his wife. ‘Do you wish him to have a death sentence?’

Clymene shook her head. ‘I’m only teasing you, my dear.’ Suddenly, she winced. ‘Ouch.’

‘What’s the problem?’

‘I’m so sore...’ Clymene put her hand down to feel the source of her pain. When she removed it from under her skirt, it was covered in blood.

Lapetus’s face dropped. ‘You’re still bleeding...’

Clymene swallowed hard. ‘Yes.’

‘What do I do, Clymene?’

She looked into her husband’s eyes, and put a tender hand to his cheek. ‘I love you, Lapetus. With all my heart. It is the only thing I have been truly certain of in my entire life.’

‘And I love you, Clymene.’

‘Now,’ she said. ‘I am so tired. So... tired.’ Clymene closed her eyes, and her husband began to stroke her hair.

‘Rest now, my darling. You are safe, and our baby is safe, and we are here together.’

Soon after, mother, father and baby drifted into an unbroken sleep.

They awoke to shouting. ‘Stand up!’ The new family blinked in the bright light which streamed from the open door, and focused on the Bolshevik guard, with his rifle swinging in front of him.

It didn’t take long for the occupants of the carriage to obey his instructions, all save for Clymene, who looked deathly pale.

‘My darling?’ Lapetus asked. Clymene blinked slowly.

‘I said stand, by order of the Red Guard!’

The newborn child began to cry. ‘Please, my wife is sick. She only gave birth last night. If you have any compassion, you will fetch a doctor,’ Lapetus pleaded.

The guard slowly approached him. ‘Compassion? Where was the tsar’s compassion as his people starved in the fields?’ he hissed quietly. ‘She. Will. Stand.’

‘It’s... all right,’ Clymene breathed. ‘Here, Lapetus, take the baby.’ Her husband did so, and Rhea Eszu rushed to help her to her feet.

‘I have a list of names,’ barked the guard. The following will accompany me: Vera Orlova. Galina Nikolaeva. Clymene Tanit.’

‘What do you want with the ladies-in-waiting?’ Cronus asked. ‘Are they to be reunited with the tsarina?’

The guard smiled slowly. ‘One might say that, yes.’

Vera and Galina held on to one another, and began to sob.

An electricity began to course through Lapetus’s veins. ‘Sir,as I said, my wife gave birth to our child only last night. The baby needs his mother.’

The guard looked at Clymene and nodded. ‘The child can come too.’

‘No!’ Clymene cried. ‘No!’

Lapetus dropped to his knees. ‘Please allow her to stay here. What harm can we do in this railway carriage? I beg you. Keep our family together.’