Page 206 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt
‘Wherever you plan on taking me, he’ll find you. I know he will.’
‘Let him try. Now, come along, my dear.’
‘Wait. Let me write him a note.’
Kreeg scoffed. ‘A note?! To explain what has happened to you? Has he told you that I’m stupid? It wouldn’t surprise me.’
‘No. You wish to cause him pain, don’t you? That is the purpose of stopping me from boarding that ship.’
Kreeg raised an eyebrow. ‘How astute of you.’
‘What could be more painful to him than believing that I have left him by choice? I will write him a goodbye note. Then, at least, I will have emotional closure... and my fiancé’s agony will be doubled.’ Kreeg considered her proposal. ‘You can call it a last request.’
‘You think I am going to kill you?’
‘You have a gun in my back.’
Kreeg chuckled grimly. ‘Write your damn note.’ Elle leant down to open her bag, and pulled out a piece of paper she had taken from the hotel, alongside a pen. Kreeg watched her write each word over her shoulder. ‘There. Is that to your satisfaction?’
Kreeg read the note.
Knowing you was the privilege of my life.
Rest easy without the burden of having to keep me safe.
Ever yours,
Elle xx
(Go and live your life, as I must live mine.)
Eszu nodded.
‘Good, now let me find someone to hand it to him.’
‘What? No. Come on. We’re leaving now. It was a pointless idea anyway.’ He gripped her arm more tightly and began to pull her away.
‘Ouch!’ Elle dropped the light blue paper bag with thesatin dress, but not before she had an opportunity to slip the note inside. As Eszu pulled her away from the crowd, Elle looked up at the ship. There, she caught a final glimpse of the man she loved, who was eagerly looking out onto the port below.
‘Goodbye, my love,’ she whispered. ‘Find me.’
Kreeg led her several streets away, where he forced Elle to enter a black Rolls Royce.
‘Sit in the front with me.’ Elle followed his instructions, and as soon as she had shut the door, Kreeg removed the newspaper from the top of the pistol. ‘If you try to run, I’ll shoot you.’
The woman was breathing heavily, but resolute. ‘Can I ask where we’re going now?’
Kreeg sniggered. ‘Would it surprise you to learn that I have not thought that far ahead?’
‘Actually, it would,’ replied the woman. Kreeg started the car and began to drive, the pistol sitting in his lap. ‘He didn’t do what you think he did, Kreeg. He is a good man. The kindest.’
Kreeg shot her a look. ‘Oh, so he’s told you about who I am, and why I am pursuing him?’
‘Of course. We have known each other since we were children.’
‘Really?’ Kreeg said. ‘So you too know what an arrogant, scheming little boy he was.’
The woman thought of something. ‘You know he still has the diamond. He wants to return it to you. If you stop the car, we can go and get it from him now.’
