Page 224 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

Then a beautiful woman with blonde hair appeared next to him, and took his hand.

‘Mum...’ Merry whispered in a daze. ‘Christian!’ she shouted. ‘Christian! Stop the boat! Stop it!’ Without hesitation, Christian cut the engine.

‘Is everything all right, Merry?’

‘Please, take us over there...’ Merry pointed to the couple, who were still waving to her.

‘Of course.’ Christian replied, and began slowly approaching the outcrop.

‘I love you!’ cried the man.

‘I love you too,’ whispered Merry.

Christian steered the boat as close as he could to the rocks. Merry held her gaze on her parents for as long as she could, but eventually, the image slowly faded away.

And she knew they had gone.