Page 208 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘Elle believed that the child died during its birth. It was a messy affair – she was operated on in hospital and knew nothing. Meanwhile, I devised a plan. Understandably, I didn’t want your little bastard foisted upon me.’

‘Did you murder my child too? With your own bare hands?! My God, my GOD! What kind of animal are you?’

‘Please, Atlas – I do have some modicum of compassion. Even I would not murder a child in cold blood. I left it on the doorstep of a local priest. I gave her to your precious God for safekeeping.’

‘It was a “she”? A girl?’

‘Yes.’

‘The missing sister. My precious Merope...’

‘I saw a way to taunt you, too. I put the ring you’d bought Elle in the basket with the child, hoping one day you’d somehow come across it... and realise what you’d lost.’

‘Elle’s emerald ring? With seven points?’

‘The very same.’

Moving as quickly as I could, I grabbed the gun from Kreeg’s end of the table and stood up. I pointed it at his head. I am not ashamed to say that my fury knew no bounds. ‘Tell me where this priest’s house was or I swear I will shoot you now.’

Kreeg raised his hands in the air. His eyes were suddenly full of fear as he realised his mistake. ‘I do not recall... I...’ I cocked the gun, ready to shoot. ‘Ireland,’ Kreeg stumbled. ‘West Cork. That’s where I took Elle after we left Tilbury Port.’

‘Why Ireland? Why take her there? TELL ME!’

He threw his arms out. ‘I wanted somewhere isolated and remote. Somewhere you’d never think to come sniffing around... And where better than the very edge of Europe? West Cork in the fifties was as rural as it got, Atlas. We didn’t even have electricity. It was perfect.’

‘Perfect...’ I whispered, as I gripped the gun hard.

‘I bought a run-down house in the middle of nowhere, using money I’d stolen from the White princess.’

‘Where was the house?’

‘Near a town called Clonakilty.’

‘Its name?’

‘Argideen House.’

‘You took everything...Everythingthat was mine!’

Kreeg jumped to his feet and matched my eyeline. ‘You killed my mother!’

‘You know in your heart I did not. You used it as an excuse, because you hated me from the start. You believed I stole the attention that should have been yours.’

Eszu’s eyes reddened. ‘Everyone loved you. The perfect child.’

‘I lovedyou, brother. I looked up to you, protected you if you were in trouble, covered for you...’

Now it was Kreeg who sobbed. ‘Atlas the hero! Atlas the strong! Atlas the brave! And Atlas the good...’

‘No.’ I shook my head wearily. ‘You destroyed the Atlas I once was. You have let me carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. You have punished me for all that I am. Are you not satisfied?’

‘I will never be satisfied until we no longer breathe the same air. You have the gun now. Shoot me and end it!’ Kreeg had begun to tremble. ‘I can see now that you have every reason to do it. Surely evenyoucannot forgive what I have told you today?’

I shifted on my feet as I weighed up my options. ‘I am struggling. Yes. I admit it.’

‘Then DO it!’ Kreeg screeched. ‘Be human for once! Punish those that have sinned against you, sought to destroy you... pull the trigger!’

I held the pistol to Kreeg’s head for a while, before my hand began to shake, and I dropped it back on the table. ‘No. Never.’