Page 62 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘Where will you spend Christmas?’

I paused to consider. ‘I...’

Before I could reply to Pip, I watched two SS officers enterthe café, sauntering through in their distinctive grey uniforms, pistols sheathed in leather holsters around their waists. When I saw the face of the younger of the two men, I physically felt the blood drain from my face.

Although a decade older, Kreeg still possessed his strong jawline and laser-like eyes, which sat above sharp cheekbones in olive-toned skin. He returned my gaze. As calmly as possible, I lowered my eyes and turned my face away. Eszu and his colleague sat at a table only a few feet from my own. The man who had vowed to kill me was within touching distance.

‘We are not sure of our plans yet,’ I stuttered to Pip, who had been waiting for a response. I subtly turned to Elle and whispered to her. ‘He is here. Kreeg.’

Her eyes widened.

‘Do not move. We will wait a few minutes and then calmly exit the café.’

She gripped my hand tightly.

Seeing Kreeg was shocking enough, but the sight of him in the grey uniform of the SS turned my stomach. As children, we had built igloos in the snow, climbed frozen trees, and told each other stories to pass the long, dark Siberian evenings. And now he served the Nazi Party. I looked down at my feet. Even though I longed to jump up and run, I knew it would be futile. I wouldn’t last a minute.

‘It’s been lovely catching up, but Bo and I really have to be getting home – we have some essays to finish, don’t we, Bo?’ Elle announced. I nodded. ‘I’ll see you later, Karine. Bye, Pip.’

‘Oh. Goodbye then,’ he replied. Karine had a sympathetic look on her face, assuming that we had merely been unsettled by the presence of the officers.

Still gripping my hand, Elle calmly stood up and began to make her way purposefully towards the door. Although I hadbroken eye contact with Kreeg a while ago, I felt his gaze follow me across the room. With each step, my expectation of receiving a bullet in the back increased, but there was no shot. When we reached the exit, I found myself unable to resist the temptation to turn and look at him once more. To my surprise, he had his back to me, and was sipping the coffee which had just arrived at his table.

We returned to my lodgings as quickly as we could, but maintained a steady pace so as not to attract attention.

‘You’re sure it was him, Bo?’ Elle gasped.

‘I am nearly positive. It’s been so many years... but his eyes are the same. My Lord, my Lord!’ My exasperation was increasing with every second.

‘Please, try to keep your composure, my love. Do you think that he has tracked you here?’

I shrugged. ‘He must have... I cannot think of another explanation. But when we left the café, he did not watch us go. He had his back to us.’

Elle nodded, relieved. ‘Good. Perhaps he did not recognise you. But Bo, you’re both Russian. How is it that Kreeg can be a member of the SS?’

‘His father was Prussian. Do you recall? I told you all about Cronus Eszu.’

‘Of course,’ she replied, remembering the history.

We arrived back at the battered limestone terrace I call home and hurriedly climbed the narrow stairs to the third floor. When we reached my room, I locked the door and made sure to close the thin curtains. Luckily, the woman who runs the lodgings, Frau Schneider, is an old Bohemian, and hardly raises an eyebrow at a female entering the building, as long as ‘I don’t hear anything and they’re out by nine’.

I sat on the creaking bed and put my head in my hands. ‘If we were looking for signs that we must leave Leipzig, Ithink we just had a big one. We have to make arrangements to flee as soon as possible.’ I ran my hands through my hair. My breath was short and sharp, and felt simultaneously hot and cold. ‘I don’t... I don’t feel...’ The world turned blurry, and my field of vision began to narrow.

Elle joined me on the bed. ‘It’s fine, my love. You’re all right.’ She put a comforting arm around me. ‘Be calm. You are safe, and I am here. You have had a shock, but you will recover.’

‘We have to leave, Elle. He’ll come for me... He’ll come for us...’

‘I agree, my love. But will you listen to me a moment?’ I gathered myself together and nodded. ‘Thank you. Now, from what you have told me, Kreeg Eszu has one mission in life – to end yours. Yes?’

‘You know the answer to that question.’

‘Well then, if he had recognised you in the café, he would not have failed to act, no matter the consequences. Do you concur?’

I paused for a moment, before agreeing. ‘I suppose, yes.’

‘It stands to reason, therefore, that he did not realise who you were. On that basis, we can assume that there is no immediate danger to you. Do you follow my logic?’ she asked. I hesitated. ‘Just in the way that there is no immediate danger to me from Leipzig’s political situation. No one is breaking into our homes and segregating us – yet. That is not to say that things cannot change quickly, but for now, in this moment, we are safe and we are together. So please, my dearest, stay calm. For me, if nothing else.’

I slowed my breathing, and looked into Elle’s eyes. ‘I am sorry.’