Page 215 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

Maia leant in towards her father. ‘Pa, through your “death” each of us grew up and found ourselves. We are all adults now – the people you wanted us to become.’

Atlas gave a little nod. ‘I’m so proud of you. Georg has told me that each of you found your birth families.’

‘Yes,’ said Maia tenderly. ‘But more importantly, we all found our futures. And happiness.’

‘Then that,’ Atlas breathed, ‘is the best gift I could ever have given you.’

‘Pa, just one question,’ Ally said. ‘Over the last year, we all at one time thought we had heard or seen you.’

‘Or even smelt you,’ Electra whispered.

‘Did you ever come back to Atlantis?’ Ally asked.

‘Or were you in Bergen?’ added Star. ‘I thought I saw you at Ally’s concert.’

Their father smiled. ‘Sadly, no. Although I was following your progress. You could say I was with you in spirit, as I always will be... Just look up to the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades and I will be there, too. Atlas – your father – watching over you all.’

‘You’ll always bePa Saltto us,’ sobbed Tiggy.

He grinned. ‘Of course. Do I still smell of the sea, little Maia?’

The girls laughed again. He was being so strong for them.

There was a faint knock on the bedroom door, and Georg Hoffman entered the room. ‘Hello, Atlas,’ said his old friend.

‘Hello again, Georg. It’s nice that you are here to say goodbye to me for a third time.’ He gave Georg a gentle wink. ‘Now, excuse me, girls, might you just make a little room?’ Maia and Ally moved so that Georg could reach the bed. He took Atlas’s hand, but was delicately pulled in for an embrace. The sisters watched as he whispered something to Georg, who nodded fervently before standing up. ‘Thank you, my friend, for bringing everyone to me. It is the most beautiful gift.’

‘Speaking of gifts,’ said Georg. ‘Ally? Bear has arrived.’

‘Pa... would you like to meet your grandson?’

‘Your boy, Ally? He is on Delos?’

She nodded. ‘Captain Hans has just ferried him over from theTitan.’

Atlas’s eyes glistened. ‘Please, bring him in...’

Ally disappeared momentarily, and returned with her son in her arms. ‘Pa, this is Bear. Bear, meet your grandpa.’

‘Hello, precious one. May I hold him?’ Ally hesitated a moment. ‘Please, I didn’t drop any of you. I don’t intend to start now!’ Ally smiled and gently placed her son in her father’s arms. ‘Bear... what a wonderful name. My goodness, Ally.’ He looked up at her. ‘He looks so much like you.’

The women watched their father coo and fuss over the infant, who somehow provided Atlas with a second wind of energy, as if he was taking strength from the young life – and the future – which he cradled in his arms. With his renewed vigour, Atlas was able to ask his daughters about the romantic partners that Georg had told him all about, and hear fromtheir own lips the fates of the families he had known from long ago.

When the time felt right, Maia made eye contact with each of her sisters. They all sensed that the moment had come.

‘Pa,’ Maia said. ‘There is someone else here to see you. She is waiting outside.’

Atlas’s breathing quickened. Tiggy took his hand. ‘Don’t be scared, Pa. This is your reward from the universe.’ The girls stood up one by one, and he blew each a kiss as they left the room.

Then, very slowly, the door opened once again, and Merry stepped inside.

‘Hello, Pa,’ she said with a smile. She walked towards him and gave him a gentle peck on his forehead.

Atlas’s eyes were open wide. ‘Elle...’ he whispered.

Merry shook her head. ‘I’m afraid not. Mary was the name I was given by my family in Ireland. But everyone would call me “Merry” because I was happy. Your girls say you’d be calling me “Merope” had you found me sooner.’

‘Merope... Merry.’ Atlas beamed at the coincidence, and stared at his daughter in wonder. ‘Can it really be you?’