Page 33 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘Sorry, Ma.’ Maia was cowed.

‘I wish to tell you how proud I am of each of you. You have all handled the events of the last twelve months with a bravery, determination and wisdom which would have made your father so happy. I know that you will now continue to be the tolerant, generous and intelligent women that your father, and, if I may take a small amount of credit, I raised you to be.’

The effect she had on the sisters was significant. From what I had observed so far, I would wager that she was a woman who chose the moments to assert her authority carefully.

Ally broke the silence. ‘Merry, I know I speak for all of us when I say that we really are so happy and proud that you are here. You must forgive us if we let our emotions get the better of us at any point.’

‘It’s quite all right,’ I assured her. ‘If there’s anyone who understands the feeling of having your world turned upside down, it’s me.’

Georg returned from the salon carrying pages piled high, and on top, the original beaten leather-bound diary. ‘Six copies and the original.’ He proceeded to place the individual facsimiles in front of the sisters, and handed me the diary.

‘Gosh, it’s enormous,’ said Star. ‘It must be hundreds of pages long.’ She lifted her copy from the table and examined it.

‘You’re not wrong there. I should tell you that I have readsome of it,’ I told them. ‘But not a great deal. He’s still a little boy. It’s quite a story so far, I have to say.’

‘Well, that sounds like Pa.’ Tiggy smiled.

‘It’s a bit of an education, too. Come to think of it, I must put Rio on my “to visit” list.’

‘I’m sorry?’ Maia said, leaning in towards me.

‘Oh, apologies, I’m just thinking out loud. The diary starts with your Pa meeting the chap who sculptedChrist the Redeemer. As one does.’ Maia’s jaw began to drop. ‘Sorry, is that significant?’ I asked earnestly.

‘You might say that, yes,’ said Ally. ‘His assistant was Maia’s great-grandfather.’

I began to mirror Maia’s expression. ‘You’re joking? Laurent... what was it?’

‘Brouilly,’ Maia managed to stumble.

‘My word... That’s incredible. I’m so sorry, Maia, I didn’t mean to give a spoiler.’

‘No, not at all. It’s... wow.’ She slowly shook her head. Around the table, I noticed the sisters glancing excitedly at one another.

‘Is that what this diary is going to be like?’ Electra asked. ‘We’ll all find out exactly why Pa chose to adopt us? Georg?’

‘You must read and find out,’ he replied stoically.

Tiggy clapped her hands together. ‘Right, how shall we do this? Does everyone want to read it together?’ she asked.

Maia was the first to reply. ‘Oh, no. I think I’d like to have some space to process things as I’m learning them. How does everyone else feel?’

‘I think that’s a good idea, Maia,’ Ally replied. ‘It looks like there won’t be much time spent in the hot tub on this particular cruise. We’ll all have our heads buried in Pa’s life story.’ There was a burble of agreement amongst the table.

‘I’m not as fast at getting through books as you guys are,’CeCe added meekly. ‘Particularly if I’m under pressure to try and read something quickly. My dyslexia just causes letters to become a great big jumble.’ She looked at the floor.

‘Oh, sorry, CeCe, of course. Would you like to read it together? I certainly wouldn’t mind speaking it out loud,’ Star said.

CeCe gave her a grateful smile. ‘Thanks, Star. That’d be great. As long as you’re sure you don’t mind?’

‘Don’t be silly, of course I don’t.’

Ally stood up. ‘That’s settled then. We’ve got three days. That should give us enough time to get through everything,’ she confirmed.

‘It’s sort of fitting in a way, isn’t it?’ Electra said. ‘By the time we come to say goodbye to him, we’ll know who Pa really was.’

Maia began to make her way to the second deck. Ever since Merry had mentioned that Brouilly featured in the diary, her mind had been racing. What was Pa’s connection? She thought back to her own personal journey of self-discovery one year ago. The pieces of her biological jigsaw had been firmly assembled, and she was fully aware of the genetic inheritance that had gifted her the shiny dark brown hair and unblemished honey-brown skin. But now, Maia was beginning to realise that the picture was incomplete. Why had Pa chosen her to rescue? And how did he himself know so much about her family history?

Maia found Floriano luxuriating in a deep leather chair in the corner of the reading room, book in hand. The image sent butterflies fluttering in Maia’s stomach. It reminded her of Pa, who used to spend so much of his time on theTitanin that particular spot. The room was undeniably one of her favourite places on board – a grand floating library with bespoke bookshelves lining every wall, each packed to the brim with Pa’s favourite tomes. Maia recalled endless, sumptuous summers picking out novels and retreating up to the sun deck to spend a day reading under golden rays. She closed her eyes and inhaled the sweet, musky smell of the books. It hadn’t changed a bit since she was ten, and first took an interest in the contents of the reading room. She cast her mind back...