Page 191 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt
Cronus Eszu was a Prussian count, and had been a loyal member of the royal household since the ascension of Nicholas’s father. He was responsible for teaching the royal children languages and foreign culture. As Lapetus was responsible for Music and Classics, their lessons often shared aspects, and Cronus and Lapetus had become firm friends over the years. Cronus was married to Rhea – also a lady-in-waiting to Alexandra – and together they had a four-year-old son, Kreeg.
It had been speculated by many that Tsar Nicholas II was not as fond of Cronus as his father had been, but had elected for him to remain in the household post-revolution due to his young son, to whom he did not wish to pass on a death sentence.
‘You’re right, Cronus,’ Lapetus replied. ‘What choice do we have?’
He helped his wife up into the neighbouring carriage, which was dark, damp and altogether miserable. Lapetus took Kreeg from Cronus’s arms and lifted him up inside. ‘There we go, little man.’ Lapetus surveyed the surroundings. ‘Good Lord, it’sbitingin here, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. Somehow it’s worse inside than out,’ Clymene replied.
All in all, there were seven members of the royal household ordered into the carriage, including Alexandra’s dressmaker and two other ladies-in-waiting. Once the last of the party had climbed in, a guard slammed the door shut.
From outside, Yakovlev screeched, ‘Let’s go!’
The locomotive hissed as it built up a head of steam. Both the Tanits and the Eszus watched through a carriage window as the large wheels began to turn, and the Romanovs were moved on from Tyumen station.
‘Do you really think they’re going to Ekaterinburg?’ Rhea asked.
‘Who knows, my darling,’ Cronus replied. ‘They’re all so busy fighting and disagreeing amongst themselves.’
‘Will we see them again, Lapetus?’ Clymene asked her husband, a hint of a tear in her eye.
‘I fear not, my love. I fear not.’ He took his wife’s hand.
‘Those poor, innocent children, Lapetus. I can’t even comprehend it.’
Suddenly, the occupants of the carriage were thrown from their feet, as a great force hit them from behind.
‘What’s happening?’ Rhea cried from the floor.
‘They’re shunting us!’ shouted Cronus.
After an uncomfortable few minutes, the carriage came to rest against a buffer, and the door was wrenched open by a soldier. ‘You will remain here,’ he said.
‘Is there any chance of some food for my wife?’ Lapetus asked. ‘Or a blanket? As you can see, she’s pregnant. You might not approve of our association with the tsar, but you cannot blame an unborn child.’ The soldier rolled his eyes, but returned moments later with some coarse woollen throws and a few pieces of bread. ‘Thank you,’ said Lapetus sincerely.
After a few hours with no further Bolshevik instructions, the occupants of the carriage resolved to get some sleep. Each was exhausted after their marathon journey. They huddled in the corner of the carriage and packed themselves in tightly against one another to share the little bodily warmth they had.
Soon enough, the Eszus began to snore, as they were often prone to doing.
‘Lapetus?’ Clymene whispered. ‘Are you awake?’
‘Of course, my love. Are you all right?’ He reached for her hand.
‘Yes. But I have something to tell you. Do you think everyone is asleep?’
Lapetus craned his head to observe Cronus and Rhea, whose chests continued to rise and fall slowly. To double-check, he gave a low whistle, which received no response. ‘Yes. You can speak freely.’
‘All right. The night before we left Tobolsk, the tsarina tasked me with something. It is a mission which I now worry I will be unable to fulfil.’
‘Tell me.’
Clymene took a deep breath. ‘She knew that Yakovlev was going to move us that night. I asked if there was anything she wished to take that would remind her of her past, and her rightful position as ruler. She crossed to her dresser, where she removed a small box from the drawer and unlocked it. Then...’ Clymene was interrupted by a grunt from Cronus,who resumed his snoring after a few moments. ‘Then she produced the largest diamond I have ever seen in my life. She told me that it had been in the royal family for generations, and was her favourite piece. She said that she could not transport it herself, as in all likelihood it would fall into Bolshevik hands. So she...’
‘Gave it to you.’ Lapetus completed his wife’s sentence for her.
‘Yes.’
‘Where is it now?’
