第 11 部分阅读
“itwasahorrificevent.”
“morethanthat.itruinedylife.that’ssoethingi’vebeeoreawareofastiehaspassed.doyouhaveagoodsenseofyourself？”
“ithinkso,yes.”
“idotoo.ican’tfetwhathappened.butyotiveshavechangedovertheyears.atfirstitwasprobablygrief.iwantedtofindherandatleasthaveachancetoburyher.itwasaboutgettingjusticeforharriet.”
“inwhatwayhasthatchanged？”
“nowit’soreaboutfindingthebastardwhodidit.butthefunnythingis,theolderiget,theoreofanall-absorbinghobbyithasbee.”
“hobby？”
“yes,iwouldusethatword.whenthepoliceinvestigationpeteredoutikeptgoing.i’vetrie. comroceedsysteaticallyandscientifically.i’vegatheredalltherationthatcouldpossiblybefound—thephotographs,thepolicereport,i’vewrittendowneverythingpeopletoldeaboutwhattheyweredoingthatday.soineffecti’vespentalosthalfylifecollectingrationaboutasingleday.”
“yourealise,isuppose,thatafterthirty-sixyearsthekillerhiselfightbedeadandburied？”
“idon’tbelievethat.”
blokvistraisedhiseyebrowsattheconvictioninhisvoice.
“let’sfinishdinnerandgobackupstairs.there’soneoredetailbeforeystoryisdone.andit’stheostperplexingofall.”
salanderparkedthecorollawiththeautoatictransissionbytheuterrailwaystationinsundbyberg.shehadborrowedthetoyotafromiltonsecurity’sotorpool.shehadnotexactlyaskedperission,butaranskyhadneverexpresslyforbiddenherfrousingmilton’scars.soonerorlater,shethought,ihavetogetavehicleofyown.shedidownasecond-handkawasaki125,whichsheusedinthesuertie.duringthewinterthebikewaslockedinhercellar.
shewalkedtoh？gklintav？genandrangthebellat6:00onthedot.secondslaterthelockonthestreetdoorclickedandshewentuptwoflightsandrangthedoorbellnexttothenaeofsvensson.shehadnoideawhosvenssonightbeorifanysuchpersonevenlivedinthatapartent.
“hi,plague,”shesaid.
“wasp.youonlypopinwhenyouneedsoething.”
asusual,itwasdarkintheapartent；thelightfroasinglelapseepedoutintothehallfrothebedrooheusedasanoffice.thean,whowasthreeyearsolderthansalander,wassixfoottwoandweighed330pounds.sheherselfwasfourfeetelevenandweighed90poundsandhadalwaysfeltlikeaidgetnexttoplague.theplaceselledstuffyandstale.
“it’sbecauseyounevertakeabath,plague.itsellslikeaonkeyhouseinhere.ifyoueverwentouticouldgiveyousoetipsonsoap.theyhaveitatthekonsu.”
hegaveherawansile,butsaidnothing.heotionedhertofollowhiintothekitchen.heploppeddownonachairbythekitchentablewithoutturningonalight.theonlyilluinationcaefrothestreetlightbeyondthewindow.
“iean,iaynotholdtherecordincleaninghouseeither,butifi’vegotoldilkcartonsthatselllikeaggotsibundletheupandputtheout.”
“i’onadisabilitypension,”hesaid.“i’sociallyinpetent.”
“sothat’swhythegovernentgaveyouaplacetoliveandfotaboutyou.aren’tyoueverafraidthatyourneighboursaregoin. comlaintotheinspectors？thenyouightfetchupinthefunnyfar.”
“haveyousoethingfore？”
salanderunzippedherjacketpocketandhandedhifivethousandkronor.
“it’sallicanspare.it’syownoney,andican’treallydeductyouasadependant.”
“whatdoyouwant？”
“theelectroniuffyoutalkedabouttwoonthsago.didyougetit？”
hesiledandlaidaboxonthetable.
“showehowitworks.”
forthenextfewinutesshelistenedintently.thenshetestedthecuff.plagueightbeasocialinpetent,buthewasunquestionablyagenius.
vangerwaiteduntilheonceorehadblokvist’sattention.blokvistlookedathiswatchandsaid,“oneperplexingdetail.”
vangersaid:“iwasbornonnoveber1.whenharrietwaseightshegaveeabirthdaypresent,apressedflower,fraed.”
vangerwalkedaroundthedeskandpointedtothefirstflower.bluebell.ithadanaateurishounting.
“thatwasthefirst.igotitin1958.”hepointedtothenextone.“1959.”buttercup.“1960.”daisy.“itbecaeatradition.shewouldakethefraesoetieduringthesuerandsaveituntilybirthday.ialwayshungtheonthewallinthisroo.in1966shedisappearedandthetraditionwasbroken.”
vangerpointedtoagapintherowoffraes.blokvistfeltthehairsriseonthebackofhisneck.thewallwasfilledwithpressedflowers.
“1967,ayearaftershedisappeared,ireceivedthisfloweronybirthday.it’saviolet.”
“howdidthefloweretoyou？”
“wrappedinwhattheycallgiftpaperandpostedinapaddedenvelopefrostockhol.noreturnaddress.noessage.”
“youeanthat…”blokvistadeasweepinggesture.
“precisely.onybirthdayeverydanyear.doyouknowhowthatfeels？it’sdirectedate,preciselyasiftheurdererwantstotorturee.i’veworriedyselfsickoverwhetherharrietighthavebeentakenawaybecausesoeonewantedtogetate.itwasnosecretthatsheandihadaspecialrelationshipandthatithoughtofherasyowndaughter.”
“sowhatisityouwantetodo？”blokvistsaid.
whensalanderreturnedthecorollatothegarageundermiltonsecurity,sheadesuretogotothetoiletupstairsintheoffice.sheusedhercardkeyinthedoorandtooktheliftstraightuptothethirdfloortoavoidgoinginthroughtheainentranceonthesecondfloor,wherethedutyofficerworked.sheusedthetoiletandgotacupofcoffeefrotheespressoachihataranskyhadboughtwhenatlonglastherecognisedthatsalanderwouldneverakecoffeejustbecauseitwasexpectedofher.thenshewenttoherofficeandhungherleatherjacketoverthebackofherchair.
theofficewasa61/2-by-10-footglasscubicle.therewasadeskwithanoldodeldelldes. compc,atelephone,oneofficechair,aetalwastepaperbasket,andashelf.theshelfcontainedanassortentofdirectoriesandthreeblanknotes.thetwodeskdrawershousedsoeballpoints,paperclips,andanote.onthewindowsillstoodapottedplantwithbrown,witheredleaves.salanderlookedthoughtfullyattheplant,asifitwerethefirsttieshehadseenit,thenshedepositeditfirlyinthewastepaperbasket.
sheseldohadanythingtodoinherofficeandvisiteditnoorethanhalfadozentiesayear,ainlywhensheneededtositbyherselfandprepareareportjustbeforehandingitin.aranskyhadinsistedthatshehaveherownspace.hisreasoningwasthatshewouldthenfeellikepartofthepanyalthoughsheworkedasafreelancer.shesuspectedthataranskyhopedthatthiswayhewouldhaveachancetokeepaneyeonherandeddleinheraffairs.atfirstshehadbeengivenspacefartherdownthecorridor,inalargerroothatshewasexpectedtosharewithacolleague.butsinceshewasnevertherearanskyfinallyovedherintothecubbyholeattheendofthecorridor.
salandertookoutthecuff.shelookedatit,editativelybitingherlowerlip.
itwaspast11:00andshewasaloneonthefloor.shesuddenlyfeltexcruciatinglybored.
afterawhileshegotupandwalkedtotheendofthehallandtriedthedoortoaransky’soffice.locked.shelookedaround.thechancesofanyourningupinthecorridoraroundidnightondeceber26werealostnonexistent.sheopenedthedoorwithapiratecopyofthepany’scardkey,whichshehadtakenthetroubletoakeseveralyearsbefore.
aransky’sofficewasspacious:infrontofhisdeskwereguestchairs,andaconferencetablewithrooforeightpeoplewasinthecorner.itwasipeablyneat.shehadnotsnoopedinhisofficeforquitesoetie,butnowthatshewashere…shespentawhileathisdesktobringherselfuptodateregardingthesearchforasuspectedoleinthepany,whichofhercolleagueshadbeenplantedundercoverinafirwhereatheftringwasoperating,andwhateasureshadbeentakeninallsecrec. comrotectaclientwhowasafraidherchildwasindangerofbeingkidnappedbythefather.
atlastsheputthepapersbackpreciselythewaytheywere,lockedaransky’sdoor,andwalkedhoe.shefeltsatisfiedwithherday.
“idon’tknohetherwe’llfindoutthetruth,butirefusetogotoygravewithoutgivingitonelasttry,”theoldansaid.“isiplywanttoissionyoutogothroughalltheevidenceonelasttie.”
“thisiscrazy,”blokvistsaid.
“whyisitcrazy？”
“i’veheardenough.henrik,iunderstandyourgrief,butihavetobehonestwithyou.whatyou’reaskingetodoisawasteofytieandyouroney.youareaskingetoconjureupasolutiontoaysterythatthepoliceandexperiencedinvestigatorswithconsiderablygreaterresourceshavefailedtosolvealltheseyears.you’reaskingetosolveacriegettingonforfortyyearsafteritwasitted.howcouldipossiblydothat？”
“wehaven’tdiscussedyourfee,”vangersaid.
“thatwon’tbenecessary.”
“ican’tforceyou,butlistentowhati’offering.frodehasalreadydrawnupacontract.wecannegotiatethedetails,butthecontractissiple,andallitneedsisyoursignature.”
“henrik,thisisabsurd.ireallydon’tbelieveicansolvetheysteryofharriet’sdisappearance.”
“aordingtothecontract,youdon’thaveto.allitasksisthatyoudoyourbest.ifyoufail,thenit’sgod’swill,or—ifyoudon’tbelieveinhi—it’sfate.”
blokvistsighed.hewasfeelingoreandoreunfortableandwantedtoendthisvisittohedeby,butherelented.
“allright,let’shearit.”
“iwantyoutoliveandworkhereinhedebyforayear.iwantyoutogothroughtheinvestigativereportonharriet’sdisappearanceonepageatatie.iwantyoutoexaineeverythingwithneweyes.iwantyoutoquestionalltheoldconclusionsexactlythewayaninvestigativereporterwould.iwantyoutolookforsoethingthatiandthepoliceandotherinvestigatorsayhaveissed.”
“you’reaskingetosetasideylifeandcareertodevoteyselfforawholeyeartosoethingthat’sapletewasteoftie.”
vangersiled.“astoyourcareer,weightagreethatfortheoentit’ssoewhatonhold.”
blokvisthadnoanswertothat.
“iwanttobuyayearofyourlife.giveyouajob.thesalaryisbetterthananyofferyou’llevergetinyourlife.iwillpayyou200,000kronoraonth—that’s2.4illionkronorifyouaeptandstaythewholeyear.”
blokvistwasastonished.
“ihavenoillusions.thepossibilityyouwillsueedisinial,butifagainstalloddsyoushouldcracktheysterytheni’offeringabonusofdoublepayent,or4.8illionkronor.let’sbegenerousandrounditofftofiveillion.”
vangerleanedbackandcockedhishead.
“icanpaytheoneyintoanybankaountyouwish,anywhereintheworld.youcanalsotaketheoneyincashinasuitcase,soit’suptoyouwhetheryouwanttoreporttheiothetaxauthorities.”
“thisis…nothealthy,”blokviststaered.
“whyso？”vangersaidcally.“i’eighty-twoandstillinfullpossessionofyfaculties.ihavealargepersonalfortune；icanspenditanywayiwant.ihavenochildrenandabsolutelynodesiretoleaveanyoneytorelativesidespise.i’veadeylastwillandtestaent；i’llbegivingthebulkofyfortuotheworldwildlifefund.afewpeoplewhoareclosetoewillreceivesignificantaounts—includinganna.”
blokvistshookhishead.
“trytounderstande,”vangersaid.“i’aanwho’sgoingtodiesoon.there’sohingintheworldiwanttohave—andthat’sananswertothisquestionthathasplaguedeforhalfylife.idon’texpecttofindtheanswer,butidohaveresourcestoakeonelastattept.isthatunreasonable？ioweittoharriet.andioweittoyself.”
“you’llbepayingeseveralillionkronorfornothing.allineedtodoissignthecontractandthentwiddleythubsforayear.”
“youwouldn’tdothat.onthecontrary—you’llworkharderthanyou’veeverworkedinyourlife.”
“howcanyoubesosure？”
“becauseicanofferyousoethingthatyoucan’tbuyforanyprice,butwhichyouwantorethananythingintheworld.”
“andwhatwouldthatbe？”
vanger’seyesnarrowed.
“icangiveyouhans-erikwennerstr？.icanprovethathe’saswindler.hehappened,thirty-fiveyearsago,tobeginhiscareerwithe,andicangiveyouhisheadonaplatter.solvetheysteryandyoucanturnyourdefeatincourtintothestoryoftheyear.”
chapter7
friday,january3
erikasethercoffeecuponthetableandstoodbythewindowlookingoutattheviewofgalastan.itwas9:00intheorning.allthesnowhadbeenwashedawaybytherainovernewyear’s.
“i’vealwayslovedthisview,”shesaid.“anapartentlikethiswouldakeegiveuplivinginsaltsj？baden.”
“you’vegotthekeys.youcanoveoverfroyourupper-classreserveanytieyouwant,”blokvistsaid.heclosedthesuitcaseandputitbythefrontdoor.
bergerturnedandgavehiadisbelievinglook.“youcan’tbeserious,mikael,”shesaid.“we’reinourworstcrisisandyou’repackingtogoandliveintjottahejti.”
“hedestad.acoupleofhoursbytrain.andit’snotforever.”
“itightaswellbeulanbator.don’tyouseethatitwilllookasifyou’reslinkingoffwithyourtailbetweenyourlegs？”
“that’spreciselywhatiadoing.besides,ihavetodosoegaoltietoo.”
christermalwassittingonthesofa.hewasunfortable.itwasthefirsttiesincetheyfoundedmillenniuthathehadseenbergerandblokvistinsuchdisagreeent.overalltheyearstheyhadbeeninseparable.soetiestheyhadfuriousclashes,buttheirarguentswerealwaysaboutbusinessatters,andtheywouldinvariablyresolveallthoseissuesbeforethey
5
huggedeachotherandwentbacktotheircorners.ortobed.lastautunhadnotbeenfun,andnowitwasasifagreatgulfhadopenedupbetweenthe.malwonderedifhewaswatchingthebeginningoftheendofmillenniu.
“idon’thaveachoice,”blokvistsaid.“wedon’thaveachoice.”
hepouredhiselfacoffeeandsatatthekitchentable.bergershookherheadandsatdownfacinghi.
“whatdoyouthink,christer？”shesaid.
hehadbeenexpectingthequestionanddreadingtheoentwhenhewouldhavetotakeastand.hewasthethirdpartner,buttheyallknewthatitwasblokvistandbergerwhoweremillenniu.theonlytietheyaskedhisadvicewaswhentheycouldnotagree.
“honestly,”malsaid,“youbothknowperfectlywellitdoesn’tatterwhatithink.”
heshutup.helovedakingpictures.helovedworkingwithgraphics.hehadneverconsideredhiselfanartist,butheknewhewasadanedgooddesigner.ontheotherhand,hewashelplessatintrigueandpolicydecisions.
bergerandblokvistlookedateachotheracrossthetable.shewascoolandfurious.hewasthinkinghard.
thisisn’tanarguent,malthought.it’sadivorce.
“ok,letepresentycaseonelasttie,”blokvistsaid.“thisdoesnoteani’vegivenuponmillenniu.we’vespenttoouchtieworkingourheartsoutforthat.”
“butnowyouwon’tbeattheoffice—christerandiwillhavetocarrytheload.can’tyouseethat？you’retheonearchingintoself-iposedexile.”
“that’sthesecondthing.ineedabreak,erika.i’notfunctioninganyore.i’burnedout.apaidsabbaticalinhedestadightbeexactlywhatineed.”
“thewholethingisidiotic,mikael.youightaswelltakeajobinacircus.”
“iknow.buti’goingtoget2.4illionforsittingonybacksideforayear,andiwon’tbewastingytie.that’sthethirdthing.roundonewithwennerstr？isover,andheknockedeout.roundtwohasalreadystarted—he’sgoingtotrytosinkmillenniuforgoodbecauseheknowsthatthestaffherewillalwaysknohathe’sbeenupto,foraslongastheagazineexists.”
“iknohathe’sdoing.i’veseenitintheonthlyadsalesfiguresforthelastsixonths.”
“that’sexactlywhyihavetogetoutoftheoffice.i’likearedragwavingathi.he’sparanoidasfarasi’concerned.aslongasi’here,he’lljustkeeponing.noehav. comrepareourselvesforroundthree.ifwe’regoingtohavetheslightestchanceagainstwennerstr？,wehavetoretreatandworkoutawholenewstrategy.wehavetofindsoethingtohaerhiwith.that’llbeyjobthisyear.”
“iunderstandallthat,”bergersaid.“sogoaheadandtakeaholiday.goabroad,lieonabeachforaonth.checkoutthelovelifeonthecostabrava.relax.goouttosandhanandlookatthewaves.”
“andwheniebacknothingwillbedifferent.wennerstr？isgoingtocrushmillenniuunlessheisappeasedbyyhavingstooddown.youknowthat.theonlythingwhichightotherwise. comhiisifwegetsoethingonhithatwecanuse.”
“andyouthinkthat’swhatyouwillfindinhedestad？”
“icheckedthecuttings.wennerstr？didworkatthevangerpanyfro1969to1972.hewasinanageentandwasresponsibleforstrategicplaceents.heleftinahurry.whyshouldweruleoutthepossibilitythathenrikvangerdoeshavesoethingonhi？”
“butifwhathedidhappenedthirtyyearsago,it’sgoingtobehar. comroveittoday.”
“vangerproisedtosetoutindetailwhatheknows.he’sobsessedwiththisissinggirl—itseestobetheonl