Page 204 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘We met soon after her husband’s funeral. She was grieving. I was there for her. What more is there to say?’ He stuffed the smoked salmon-topped blini into his mouth.

‘You married her for money?’

Kreeg swallowed and shook his head. ‘No. I loved her.’

‘Then I am deeply, deeply sorry. You endured the hardest pain a human can.’

He poured himself another shot of vodka. ‘Perhaps. But my mother’s death provided a shield that protected me from most of life’s barbs. I suppose I should thank you for that. Anyway, I digress. Tell me how you found your daughters.’

Over the next two hours, I told Kreeg everything that had led to the adoption of the sisters, from being found by Bel under Landowski’s hedge, to the business card which had been kept by Cecily Huntley-Morgan as a good luck token.

‘Even though you pursued me throughout my early life, I realise now that my continued flight from you gave me my greatest gift – my daughters. And now, I thank you for it.’ I raised my glass and toasted Kreeg, but he failed to reciprocate the gesture. For some reason, the story of how I had found my girls seemed to have unsettled him. If I didn’t know better, I would have said that my former brother was... rattled. ‘I only have one regret,’ I continued.

‘What is that?’ he said slowly.

‘I never found my precious seventh child. My own flesh and blood... I don’t know,’ I mused, wistfully. ‘Perhaps Angelina was wrong, and she never made it into the world.’Kreeg remained silent, slowly topping up his glass and eyeing me. ‘I met my beloved Elle in Paris when we were only children. You might remember you saw her once when we were drinking with friends in a café in Leipzig. You came in and I knew you’d recognised me. I told Elle that we must leave immediately, but as you know, we did not, and you set my lodgings on fire. I had to jump out of the window to escape. I broke my arm and never played my beloved cello again.’

‘I apologise,’ Kreeg said. ‘You were very talented with a bow. But no matter, you still managed to escape.’

Spurred on by the vodka, I spoke boldly. ‘Of course, I knew your father was Prussian, but the shock I felt seeing you in your SS uniform... my old friend, my brother... a Nazi!’

‘Poverty and starvation fuelled by bitterness can remove the heart, Atlas.’

I stared at him. ‘It did not remove mine.’

Kreeg folded his arms. ‘Elle was very beautiful.’

‘That, we may both agree on.’ I sipped my vodka. ‘How did you escape Germany after the war?’

‘I saw what was coming in 1943 and escaped to the one place where Hitler’s mighty hands could not reach – London. I posed as a Russian émigré – my years growing up at court had given me the perfect cover. By chance, I met a White princess who had fled to London in 1917. She was old and rich and I flattered her ego. I moved into her apartment, which stank of the many cats she petted like children. It wasn’t long before she took me into her bed. I would escape to the bars of Soho whenever I could, which is when I got talking to that awful man Teddy. You can imagine my surprise when I heard the name “Tanit” crop up.’

‘And our paths crossed once more.’

‘I will never forget the fear in your eyes when you saw meacross the street.’ Kreeg flashed me the oiliest of smiles. ‘It gave me a great deal of pleasure.’

‘After your appearance at the bookshop, we took the decision to leave Europe’s shores forever and forge a new life together on the other side of the world – to disappear into the vastness of Australia with the rest of the immigrants. We wanted – needed – peace.’

Kreeg gave a snort and took another shot of vodka. ‘Youneeded peace when you denied me mine?’

I continued. ‘We had arranged our passage via steamship, and agreed to meet on board. But... she never came. By the time I’d searched the ship and discovered she was not present, we had set sail.’ The energy suddenly left my body. ‘Out of all my dark times, that voyage to Australia was the lowest point of my life. Even the long journey from Siberia to France did not compare to the desolation I felt. I... had finally lost hope.’ Kreeg stayed silent, but the intensity of his stare had increased significantly. ‘And yet,’ I continued, ‘my life was again saved by a young orphan girl. She made me remember the innate goodness of humanity. If it had not been for the kindness of strangers, we would not be sitting here now, enjoying our last supper together.’

‘I lost faith in human nature long ago...’

‘And I have had my own faithrestoredby people... but we were always different.’

‘Oh yes!’ Kreeg suddenly slammed his vodka glass hard onto the table. ‘You, the perfect, kind son. Me – my mother’s own flesh and blood – the troublemaker. The angry young man. It was obvious from the start she loved you more – the quiet, intelligent, sweet boy... She fussed over you, gave you the best of whatever she could find to eat... Even trustedyouabove her own son to be the messenger who would take the diamond to Gustav!’

I was genuinely shocked by Kreeg’s interpretation of the past. ‘Your perception of reality is warped. What you have said is simply not true. I’ve already explained that Rhea chose me to be the messenger to protect you. For God’s sake, you were the one that was sent to tutoring!’

‘So she could spend more time with you!’

Kreeg grabbed the vodka bottle and took five enormous gulps. For the first time, I saw clearly the resentment that stemmed back across the years to our childhood. He truly resented me.

‘We were different, Kreeg, that is all. Neither one better than the other.’

‘I hated you for your unerring belief in the goodness of humanity. Then... and now.’

I shook my head. ‘It is the one thing you could never take from me. That, and my beloved Elle. I admit, I would have killed you before I allowed harm to come to her.’ Kreeg muttered something into his vodka glass. ‘What did you say?’