Page 214 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

Atlas’s shoulders seemed to drop. ‘The girls are here? For me?’

‘Yes.Allof them.’

‘You mean...’ Marina nodded. ‘She...’ Atlas’s voice cracked. ‘She is here? My first daughter?’

‘Yes.’

Atlas tried to gather himself, clearly fighting his shallow breathing. ‘Do they know I am near death?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,chéri. As if you could ever do anything as normal asdying!’

‘Ma,’ he said, squeezing her hand a little tighter. ‘It’s all right. Do they know?’

Marina held back tears. Atlas was protecting his daughters to the last. ‘Yes. They wish to say goodbye. As do I, my dear man.’ She stroked his head gently. ‘What troubles you have seen.’

‘Troubles, Marina?’ Atlas managed to shake his head. ‘No. Only life and humanity – the good and the bad – played out over ninety years.’

‘Before the girls come in, I want to say my own thank you, for trusting me with their upbringing. For taking me on when I had no relevant qualifications...’

‘My dear Marina,’ he smiled. ‘I saw the way you cared for those children in Paris. I knew how much love is within you.’

‘I did some dreadful things, too... things I am so ashamed of.’

He patted her hand. ‘As I have told the girls so many times, never judge others on what theydo, but onwhothey are.Now, is Georg here?’ Ma nodded, and Atlas sighed. ‘Do you ever wonder why he has never felt he could profess his love for you, when it has been so obvious for all these years how he feels about you?’

Ma gave a light chuckle. ‘I would be lying if I said no. But, there are many things he does not know about me. I worry that he would be...ashamedof me.’

‘I entreat you to speak to him. He and you must both lay the past to rest. Please, Marina, life is so very short... promise me you will try.’ He looked at his old friend imploringly.

‘I promise.’ Marina took a moment to compose herself. ‘Now, have you the energy to see your girls?’

A smile returned to his face. ‘If I don’t, I will find it. Are they going to be all right?’

‘Oh, yes. We have raised some strong women.’ Marina stood, took Atlas’s hand again, and kissed it. ‘I will send them in.’

Atlas leant back into his pillows, and summoned every last iota of strength he possessed. He took a moment to close his eyes, and send up a prayer to the heavens.

‘Thank you for sending them.’

Them the door to his bedroom opened once more, and tears fell down his face as he greeted his six daughters one by one. He took each in his arms, and lightly kissed the tops of their heads, as he had done when they were children. Although every one of them cried, they were tears of joy, not pain. Though events had tried to keep the family apart, the universe had brought them together one final time.

The sisters settled themselves around their pa’s bed, and he was clearly overjoyed to be surrounded by the people he loved most in the world.

‘My bold, brilliant, beautiful girls. I only ever wanted to keep you safe.’

‘We know, Pa, we know,’ Star comforted him.

‘We’re just... so happy to see you again,’ wept Ally.

Atlas looked up to the ceiling. ‘The story is long. I did not expect to live...’ He turned back to the sisters. ‘But I wrote everything down, and gave it to Georg. You will all know the truth.’

‘We already know, Pa,’ Electra said softly. ‘Georg gave us the pages before we arrived here.’

‘Ah, did he now?’ Atlas said, raising an eyebrow. ‘Please remind me to give him the sack.’ Muted chuckles punctuated the girls’ tears. ‘In fact,’ Atlas breathed, ‘where is he?’

‘Outside,’ said CeCe. ‘Shall I fetch him?’

Atlas smiled. ‘Thank you, CeCe.’