Page 192 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt
‘Safely sewn into the lining of my skirt.’
Lapetus sighed. ‘I can only pray that you are given an opportunity to return it to her.’
‘No one can find out about it.’
‘I understand, my love.’ He squeezed her hand harder. ‘And no one will.’ Eventually, exhaustion caught up with the Tanits, and Lapetus and Clymene descended into sleep.
When Clymene woke, a shooting pain surged through her stomach. It felt as if someone had gained access to her insides, and was scraping and scratching at them. She cried out in agony.
Lapetus sat bolt upright. ‘My darling. What’s wrong?’
‘It’s the baby,’ Clymene groaned.
He put a gentle hand on her belly. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘I don’t know. It hurts...’ Another jolt of pain passed through her abdomen, and she cried out once more.
‘What’s going on?’ asked a bleary-eyed Cronus.
‘The baby,’ Lapetus replied, aware that his midriff had become wet. ‘My love, I think the baby is coming.’
Clymene looked panicked. ‘But he is not expected for another month!’
‘I think your waters have broken. Cronus, could you bring an oil lamp?’
‘Of course, there’s one by the door.’
The whole carriage was now awake and sitting up. Clymene screeched again. ‘It’s going to be all right, my darling, you’ll see. I am here,’ Lapetus comforted her.
Cronus returned with the lamp, and after scrabbling around in his pockets for a match, handed it to Lapetus. As he peeled back his own blankets, and then turned his attention to Clymene’s, to his horror, the liquid he observed was not clear, but red.
Clymene saw the look of shock on her husband’s face. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing, my love, nothing,’ said Lapetus, flustered.
‘Rhea!’ Cronus cried.
His wife threw off her blankets and made her way over to Clymene. Lapetus pointed to the blood, and Rhea nodded. ‘Vera, Galina!’ she screeched at the other two ladies-in-waiting. ‘Your assistance is required.’ Both women obliged.
‘Mama?’ came a high-pitched voice. ‘What’s going on?’
‘It’s all right, Kreeg,’ Cronus said, lifting his son into his arms. ‘You’re going to come over here with me, and we’re going to play a game of cards.’
‘I’m sleepy,’ Kreeg replied.
‘I know. But you won’t be soon.’
‘Lapetus, gather as many blankets as you can. We will need them for the blood. Vera, I require water, too.’
‘But we barely have enough to drink...’
‘Damn it, Vera, are you unaware of our surroundings?’ Rhea snapped. ‘Find a way to melt some snow.’ Vera scuttled out of the carriage.
Rhea felt her way under Clymene’s skirt, checking for any sign of the baby. What she found alarmed her.
‘Clymene, you’re going to be all right. Your baby is coming, but it is the wrong way round. It will come feet-first.’ Sheinhaled deeply. ‘This will not be easy, but we will all help you through it.’
‘Is that why there is so much blood?’ asked a worried Galina.
