Page 201 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘You were so brave. In fact,’ Atlas said, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone be as brave as that.’

Kreeg rolled over. ‘Really?’

‘Yes! You called Maxim a warthog!’ Atlas said, grinning.

Kreeg wiped his nose on his sleeve. ‘I did, didn’t I?’

‘It was amazing!’

Kreeg shrugged. ‘It was nothing.’

‘I think,’ Atlas said cautiously, ‘your Papa would be very proud of you.’

Kreeg cast his eyes downward, and was quiet for a while. ‘Perhaps I’ll teach you the hippopotamus mate tomorrow.’

‘That would be brilliant!’

‘All right. Anyway, I’m tired. Let’s get some sleep.’

The boys sourced their blankets from the small space at the end of the mattress, and lay their heads on their pillows.

When Kreeg awoke, his mouth was dry and his tongue felt thick. As he stretched, it occurred to him that he had not drunk any water since before his game of chess with Atlas, and he was desperately thirsty. Kreeg yawned and resolved to make his way to the pitcher that was kept in the makeshift kitchen. Their tiny room was pitch black, but Kreeg was guided by a flicker of light from behind the door. He stood, and gently manoeuvred himself over Atlas, being careful not wake him. Just as he was about to turn the handle, he heard his mother’s hushed voice. Kreeg frowned. He wasnotgoing to risk another encounter with Maxim. Instead, he put his ear to the wood and listened.

‘So, would you do it for me, Maxim?’ Rhea’s speech was more slurred than Kreeg had ever heard it. Clearly, she was very drunk.

‘Explain again. You want me to sell something?’ Maxim’s speech was also heavy and stilted. Both had obviously been enjoying the vodka since the boys had gone to bed.

‘A Romanov diamond, Maxim. Bigger than any I’ve ever seen!’

‘Bah. Sell it yourself.’

‘You know I cannot. If I try to sell it in Tobolsk, it will link me to the Whites. They’ll know about my connection to the Romanovs. But if you sell it, as a Red, they’ll just... assume that you stole it.’

‘Tell me, Rhea, how did you come to be in possession of a Romanov diamond?’

‘I saw an opportunity and I took it.’

‘Elaborate.’

‘When the tsar and tsarina were taken, they left some of us behind to rot in a carriage, including a heavily pregnant woman. That night she went into labour, and I delivered the child – Atlas.’

Maxim seemed to let out a burp. ‘Go on.’

‘As I was delivering the child, I felt a hard lump in the lining of his mother’s skirt. I grabbed it, saw what it was and placed it in my pocket.’

‘You stole it?’

Rhea sighed. ‘Yes.’

‘Did you not fear repercussions?’

‘I live in Russia. I fear repercussions for everything. I was merely doing what I thought I had to do to survive. Plus, the mother was bleeding very heavily. She was going to die.’

‘What happened to the boy’s father?’

‘I told you, he left us to seek help. He had family in Switzerland.’

‘A fool’s errand. He wouldn’t have lasted three days out there.’