Page 216 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘It’s me all right. I’m your flesh and blood.’

Atlas was too moved to speak, tears dripping down his cheeks. He reached out his hand, and Merry gripped it tightly. Soon, she began to cry too. The pair sat in silence for a while, father and daughter, taking each other in for the first time.

‘You look like your mother,’ Atlas managed. ‘Merry, she was so beautiful. See? There she is.’ Atlas pointed to the charcoal drawing from Atlantis, which now hung alongside his bed.

‘I’ve seen the copy Georg has,’ Merry replied. ‘The girls have said they recognised me from it the moment I stepped on board theTitan.’ She nodded towards the drawing.‘Everyone was wondering where the original picture had gone.’

‘I asked Claudia to bring it here. It is all I have left of her, I...’ Atlas stared at his daughter, choked with emotion. ‘Now you are here – a part of her is with me. It is a miracle. Forgive me, my darling, that I couldn’t be there to protect you. I searched for you for years, right across the world. I never expected you to be in Ireland, I...’

Merry could see Atlas becoming distressed. ‘Shh, it’s all right, Pa. Everything’s all right now. So, tell me about her – Elle. Tell me of my mother.’

Atlas smiled widely. ‘It would be my honour.’

He held Merry’s hand, and told her all that he could. His eldest daughter watched the light dance in his eyes as he recalled the love of his life, and everything that she was to him. Eventually, Atlas became tired, and Merry watched him doze off, his hand still clutching hers. Slowly, his grip began to lessen, and Merry sensed her father floating away. She quickly stood up, and went to bring in the rest of the girls to say goodbye.

Each of them kissed their father in turn and sat around his bed, holding tightly to one another and weeping.

Eventually, as the sun began to rise over Delos, the light crept onto Atlas’s face. He opened his eyes, and gave the room a smile which radiated warmth and love.

‘I can see her,’ Atlas said. ‘She is waiting for me. Elle is waiting for me...’

Then, after his life of immeasurable beauty, pain and kindness, Atlas Tanit closed his eyes for the final time.

Despite it being a tight fit, the Seven Sisters just about managed to squeeze into Christian’s small boat, which ferried them to and from the mainland.

‘You’re sure you’re comfortable with the controls, Ally?’ he asked.

‘Yes, thank you,’ she replied, positioning herself at the wheel.

‘Okay, Ma, we’re ready,’ Maia said, swivelling her torso around so that she faced the jetty. She held her two hands out.

‘Oui,chérie.’ Ma passed her the ornate brass urn which contained Atlas’s ashes. When she had done so, she stepped back, and Georg placed his hands lovingly on her shoulders.

‘You’re sure neither of you want to come out with us? It wouldn’t take Christian too long to ready a second boat,’ Electra offered.

‘Thank you, my darling, but no. It is only right that the seven of you lay him to rest,’ replied Ma.

‘We will all be here waiting for you,’ Georg assured her.

Ally nodded at Christian, who untethered the line from the jetty. She put the boat into gear, and cruised slowly out intothe centre of the lake. The June day was dry and bright, and warm sunlight glistened on the glassy surface. Ensuring her chosen spot was secluded, Ally killed the engines, and the women basked in the exquisite serenity of the water and the mountains.

Curiously, none of them felt any sense of sadness. Instead, each was filled with a tranquillity that they were finally able to give their father the send-off which had initially been denied to them. The boat bobbed silently on the water for a while.

‘Ally, would you...?’ Maia eventually managed.

Her sister nodded, and from under one of the benches, pulled out the case containing her flute. She removed it, lifted the lip plate to her mouth, and began to play. The piece the girls had chosen was ‘Jupiter’ fromThe Planetsby Gustav Holst – one of Pa’s favourites.

Ally played elegantly, as she always did, and the notes drifted back across the lake to Atlantis. Each of the sisters closed their eyes and spoke privately to their father. They thanked him for saving them from the lives they might have had, and for the unconditional love he had shown them.

‘Thank you, Ally,’ Star said, when her sister had finished playing.

‘All right then,’ Maia said, carefully prising open the urn. She took a handful of the ashes within, and gently scattered them out onto the lake. ‘Bye, Pa,’ she said, with stoic bravery.

The urn was passed around each of the sisters. Some spoke for a long time, others not at all. Finally, the ashes were given to Merry. ‘Thank you.’ She smiled, and took a deep breath. ‘Pa, although I barely knew you, I am very proud to be your daughter.’ She spread a final handful into the water.

After a while, Ally restarted the boat’s motor, and steadily ferried her sisters back to land. On the grass beyond the jetty,a veritable throng of family and friends were gathered to toast the extraordinary life of Atlas Tanit. After Christian had tied off the line, he offered his hand to Maia, and she stepped down onto the wooden dock. Valentina hurried down the jetty, and wrapped her arms around her. Floriano followed, cradling Bel, their three-month-old daughter, who gurgled as she was placed in her mother’s arms.

‘Hello, my sweet,’ she cooed. ‘Come on, let’s get out of the way so everyone else can get off.’