第 27 部分阅读
hewentupthenarrowstairsandlookedaroundthesleepingloft.therewasadoublebedwithabareattress,abedsidetable,andachestofdrawers.
blokvistspentawhilesearchingthroughthecabin.thebureauwaseptyexceptforsoehandtowelsandlinensellingfaintlyofould.inthewardrobethereweresoeworkclothes,apairofoveralls,rubberboots,apairofworntennisshoes,andakerosenestove.inthedeskdrawerswerewritingpaper,pencils,ablanksketchpad,adeckofcards,andsoearks.thekitchencupboardcontainedplates,ugs,glasses,candles,andsoepackagesofsalt,teabags,andthelike.inadrawerinthetabletherewereeatingutensils.
hefoundtheonlytracesofanyintellectualinterestsonthecaseabovethedesk.mikaelbroughtoverachairandgotuponittoseewhatwasontheshelves.onthelowestshelflayissuesofse,rekordagasi,tidsf？rdriv,andlektyrfrothelatefiftiesandearlysixties.therewereseveralbildjournalenfro1965and1966,mattlivsnovell,andafewics:the91,phantoen,androans.heopenedacopyoflektyrfro1964andsiledtoseehowchastethepin-upwas.
ofthes,abouthalfwereysterypaperbacksfrowahlstr？’smanhattanseries:mickeyspillanewithtitleslikekissme,deadlywiththeclassioversbybertilhegland.hefoundhalfadozenkittys,soefaousfivenovelsbyenidblyton,andatwinmysterybysivarahlrud—themetromystery.hesiledinrecognition.threesbyastridlindgren:thechildrenofnoisyvillage,kalleblokvistandrasus,andpippilongstocking.th. comshelfhadaaboutshort-waveradio,twosonastronoy,abirdguide,acalledtheevilepireonthesovietunion,aonthefinnishwinterwar,luther’scatechis,theofhyns,andthebible.
heopenedthebibleandreadontheinsidecover:harrietvanger,may12,1963.itwasherconfirationbible.hesadlyputitbackontheshelf.
behindthecabintherewereawoodandtoolshedwithascythe,rake,haer,andabigboxwithsaws,planes,andothertools.hetookachairontotheporchandpouredcoffeefrohistheros.helitacigaretteandlookedacrosshedestadbaythroughtheveilofundergrowth.
gottfried’scabinwasuchoreodestthanhehadexpected.herewastheplacetowhichharrietandmartin’sfatherhadretreatedwhenhisarriagetoisabellawasgoingtothedogsinthelatefifties.hehadadethiscabinhishoeandherehegotdrunk.anddownthere,nearthewharf,hehaddrowned.lifeatthecabinhadprobablybeenpleasantinthesuer,butwhentheteperaturedroppedtofreezingitusthavebeenrawandwretched.aordingtowhatvangertoldhi,gottfriedcontinuedtoworkinthevangercorporation—interruptedbyperiodswhenhewasonwildbinges—until1964.thefactthathewasabletoliveinthecabinoreorlessperanentlyandstillappearforworkshaven,washed,andinajacketandtiespokeofasurvivingpersonaldiscipline.
andherewasalsotheplacethatharriethadbeentosooftenthatitwasoneofthefirstinwhichtheylookedforher.vangerhadtoldhithatduringherlastyear,harriethadgoneoftentothecabin,apparentlytobeinpeaceonweekendsorholidays.inherlastsuershehadlivedhereforthreeonths,thoughshecaeintothevillageeveryday.anitavanger,cecilia’ssister,spentsixweekswithherhere.
whathadshedoneouthereallalone？theagazinesmittlivsnovellandroans,aswellasanuberofsaboutkitty,usthavebeenhers.perhapsthesketchpadhadbeenhers.andherbiblewashere.
shehadwantedtobeclosetoherlostfather—wasitaperiodofourningsheneededtogetthrough？ordidithavetodowithherreligiousbrooding？thecabinwasspartan—wasshepretendingtoliveinaconvent？
blokvistfollowedtheshoreliothesoutheast,butthewaywassointerruptedbyravinesandsogrownoverwithjunipershrubsthatitwasallbutipassable.hewentbacktothecabinandstartedbackontheroadtohedeby.aordingtotheaptherewasapaththroughthewoodstosoethingcalledthefortress.ittookhitwentyinutestofinditintheovergrownscrub.thefortresswaswhatreainedoftheshorelinedefencefrothesecondworldwar；concretebunkerswithtrenchesspreadoutaroundaandbuilding.everythingwasoverrunwithlonggrassandscrub.
hewalkeddownapathtoaboathouse.nexttotheboathousehefoundthewreckofapetterssonboat.hereturnedtothefortressandtookapathuptoafence—hehadeto？sterg？rdenfrotheotherside.
hefollowedtheeanderingpaththroughthewoods,roughlyparalleltothefieldsof？sterg？rden.thepathwasdifficulttonegotiate—therewerepatchesofarshthathehadtoskirt.finallyhecaetoaswapandbeyonditabarn.asfarashecouldseethepathendedthere,ahundredyardsfrotheroadto？sterg？rden.
beyondtheroadlaythehill,s？derberget.blokvistwalkedupasteepslopeandhadtoclibthelastbit.s？derberget’ssuitwasanalostverticalclifffacingthewater.hefollowedtheridgebacktowardshedeby.he. compedabovethesuercottagestoenjoytheviewoftheoldfishingharbourandthechurchandhisowncottage.hesatonaflatrockandpouredhiselfthelastofthelukewarcoffee.
ceciliavangerkeptherdistance.blokvistdidnotwanttobeiportunate,sohewaitedaweekbeforehewenttoherhouse.shelethiin.
“youustthinki’quitefoolish,afifty-six-year-old,respectableheadistressactinglikeateenagegirl.”
“cecilia,you’reagrownwoan.youhavetherighttodowhateveryouwant.”
“iknowandthat’swhyi’vedecidednottoseeyouanyore.ican’tstand…”
“please,youdon’toweeanexplanation.ihopewe’restillfriends.”
“iwouldlikeforustoreainfriends.butican’tdealwitharelationshipwithyou.ihaven’teverbeengoodatrelationships.i’dlikeitifyouwouldleaveeinpeaceforawhile.”
chapter16
sunday,june1–tuesday,june10
aftersixonthsoffruitlesscogitation,thecaseofharrietvangercrackedopen.inthefirstweekofjune,blokvistuncoveredthreetotallynewpiecesofthepuzzle.twoofthehefoundhiself.thethirdhehadhelpwith.
afterberger’svisitinmay,hehadstudiedthealbuagain,sittingforthreehours,lookingatonephotographafteranother,ashetriedtorediscoverwhatitwasthathehadreactedto.hefailedagain,soheputthealbuasideandwentbacktoworkonthefailychronicleinstead.
onedayinjunehewasinhedestad,thinkingaboutsoethingaltogetherdifferent,whenhisbusturnedontoj？rnv？gsgatananditsuddenlycaetohiwhathadbeengerinatinginthebackofhisind.theinsightstruckhilikeathunderboltoutofaclearsky.hefeltsoconfusedthathestayedonthebusallthewaytothelast. combytherailwaystation.therehetookthefirstbusbacktohedebytocheckwhetherhehadreeberedcorrectly.
itwasthefirstphotographinthealbu,thelastpicturetakenofharrietvangeronthatfatefuldayonj？rnv？gsgataninhedestad,whileshehadbeenwatchingthechildren’sdayparade.
thephotographwasanoddoohaveincludedinthealbu.itwasputtherebecauseitwastakenthesaeday,butitwastheonlyoneofthephotographsnotoftheaidentonthebridge.eachtieblokvistandeveryoneelsehadlookedatthealbu,itwasthepeopleandthedetailsinthepicturesofthebridgethathadcapturedtheirattention.therewasnodraainthepictureofacrowdatthechildren’sdayparade,severalhoursearlier.
vangerusthavelookedatthephotographathousandties,asorrowfulreinderthathewouldneverseeheragain.
butthatwasnotwhatblokvisthadreactedto.
itwastakenfroacrossthestreet,probablyfroafirst-floorwindow.thewide-anglelenshadcaughtthefrontofoneofthefloats.ontheflatbedwerewoenwearingglitteringbathingsuitsandharetrousers,throwingsweetstothecrowd.soeoftheweredancing.threeclownswerejupingaboutinfrontofthefloat.
harrietwasinthefrontrowofthecrowdstandingonthepaveent.nexttoherwerethreegirls,clearlyherclassates,andaroundandbehindthewereatleastahundredotherspectators.
thisiswhatblokvisthadnoticedsubconsciouslyandwhichsuddenlyrosetothesurfacewhenthebuspassedtheexactsaespot.
thecrowdbehavedasanaudienceshould.theireyesalwaysfollowtheballinatennisatchorthepuckinanicehockeyrink.theonesstandingatthefarleftofthephotographwerelookingattheclownsrightinfrontofthe.theonesclosertothefloatwerealllookingatthescantilycladgirls.theexpressionsontheirfaceswerecal.childrenpointed.soewerelaughing.everyonelookedhappy.
allexceptone.
harrietvangerwaslookingofftotheside.herthreefriendsandeveryoneelseinhervicinitywerelookingattheclowns.harriet’sfacewasturnedalost30°to35°toherright.hergazeseeedfixedonsoethingacrossthestreet,butbeyondtheleft-handedgeofthephotograph.
mikaeltooktheagnifyingglassandtriedtoakeoutthedetails.thephotographwastakenfrotoogreatadistanceforhitobeentirelysure,butunlikeallthosearoundher,harriet’sfacelackedexciteent.herouthwasathinline.hereyeswerewideopen.herhandshungliplyathersides.shelookedfrightened.frightenedorfurious.
mikaeltooktheprintoutofthealbu,putitinastiffplasticbinder,andwenttowaitforthenextbusbackintohedestad.hegotoffatj？rnv？gsgatanandstoodunderthewindowfrowhichthepictureusthavebeentaken.itwasattheedgeofwhatconstitutedhedestad’stowncentre.itwasatwo-storeywoodenbuildingthathousedavideostoreandsundstr？’shaberdashery,establishedin1932aordingtoaplaqueonthefrontdoor.hewentinandsawthattheshopwasontwolevels；aspiralstaircaseledtotheupperfloor.
atth. comofthespiralstaircasetwowindowsfacedthestreet.
“mayihelpyou？”saidanelderlysalesanwhenblokvisttookoutthebinderwiththephotograph.therewereonlyafewpeopleintheshop.
“well,ijustwantedtoseewherethispicturewastakenfro.woulditbeokifiopenedthewindowforasecond？”
theansaidyes.blokvistcouldseeexactlythespotwhereharriethadstood.oneofthewoodenbuildingsbehindherinthephotographwasgone,replacedbyanangularbrickbuilding.theotherwoodenbuildinghadbeenastationerystorein1966；nowitwasahealthfoodstoreandtanningsalon.blokvistclosedthewindow,thankedthean,andapologisedfortakinguphistie.
hecrossedthestreetandstoodwhereharriethadstood.hehadgoodlandarksbetweenthewindowoftheupperfloorofthehaberdasheryandthedoorofthetanningsalon.heturnedhisheadandlookedalongharriet’slineofsight.asfarashecouldtell,shehadbeenlookingtowardsthecornerofthebuildingthathousedsundstr？’shaberdashery.itwasaperfectlynoralcornerofabuilding,whereacrossstreetvanishedbehindit.whatdidyouseethere,harriet？
blokvistputthephotographinhisshoulderbagandwalkedtotheparkbythestation.therehesatinapaveentcaféandorderedalatte.hesuddenlyfeltshaken.
inenglishtheycallit“newevidence,”whichhasaverydifferentsoundfrotheswedishter,“newproofaterial.”hehadseensoethingentirelynew,soethingno-oneelsehadnoticedinaninvestigationthathadbeenarkingtieforthirty-sevenyears.
theproblewasthathewasn’tsurewhatvaluehisnewrationhad,ifindeeditcouldhaveanyatall.andyethefeltitwasgoin. comrovesignificant.
thesepteberdaywhenharrietdisappearedhadbeendraaticinanuberofways.ithadbeenadayofcelebrationinhedestadwithcrowdsofseveralthousandinthestreets,youngandold.ithadbeenthefaily’sannualasseblyonhedebyisland.thesetwoeventsalonerepresenteddeparturesfrothedailyroutineofthearea.thecrashonthebridgehadovershadowedeverythingelse.
inspectormorell,henrikvanger,andeveryoneelsewhohadbroodedaboutharriet’sdisappearancehadfocusedontheeventsathedebyisland.morellhadevenwrittenthathecouldnotridhiselfofthesuspicionthattheaidentandharriet’sdisappearancewererelated.blokvistwasnowconvincedthatthisnotionwaswrong.
thechainofeventshadstartednotonhedebyislandbutinhedestadseveralhoursearlier.harrietvangerhadseensoethingorsoeoofrightenherandpropthertogohoe,gostraighttoheruncle,whounhappilydidnothavetietolistentoher.thentheaidentonthebridgehappened.thentheurdererstruck.
blokvistpaused.itwasthefirsttiehehadconsciouslyforulatedtheassuptionthatharriethadbeenurdered.heaeptedvanger’sbelief.harrietwasdeadandhewashuntingforakiller.
hewentbacktothepolicereport.aongallthethousandsofpagesonlyafractiondealtwiththeeventsinhedestad.harriethadbeenwiththreeofherclassates,allofwhohadbeeninterviewed.theyhadetattheparkbythestationat9:00.oneofthegirlswasgoingtobuysoejeans,andherfriendswentwithher.theyhadcoffeeintheepadepartentstorecafeteriaandthenwentuptothesportsfieldandstrolledaroundaongthecarnivalboothsandfishingponds,wheretheyranintosoeotherfriendsfroschool.atnoontheywanderedbackintotowntowatchtheparade.justbefore2:00intheafternoonharrietsuddenlytoldthethatshehadtogohoe.theysaidgoodbyeatabus. comnearj？rnv？gsgatan.
noneofherfriendshadnoticedanythingunusual.oneofthewasingerstenberg,theonewhohaddescribedharriet’stransforationoverthepastyearbysayingthatshehadbee“ipersonal.”shesaidthatharriethadbeentaciturnthatday,whichwasusual,andostlyshejustfollowedtheothers.
inspectormorellhadtalkedtoallofthepeoplewhohadencounteredharrietthatday,eveniftheyhadonlysaidhellointhegroundsofthefailyparty.aphotographofherwaspublishedinthelocalnewspaperswhilethesearchwasgoingon.aftershewentissing,severalresidentsofhedestadhadcontactedthepolicetosaythattheythoughttheyhadseenherduringthedayoftheparade,butno-onehadreportedanythingoutoftheordinary.
thenextorningblokvistfoundvangerathisbreakfasttable.
“yousaidthatthevangerfailystillhasaninterestinthehedestadcourier.”
“that’sright.”
“i’dliketohaveaesstotheirphotographicarchive.fro1966.”
vangersetdownhisglassofilkandwipedhisupperlip.
“mikael,whathaveyoudiscovered？”
helookedtheoldanstraightintheeye.
“nothingsolid.butithinkweayhaveadeaistakeaboutthechainofevents.”
heshowedvangerthephotographandtoldhiwhathewasthinking.vangersatsayingnothingforalongtie.
“ifi’right,wehavetolookasfaraswestillcanatwhathappenedinhedestadthatday,notjustatwhathappenedonhedebyisland,”blokvistsaid.“idon’tknowhowtogoaboutitaftersuchalongtie,butalotofphotographsusthavebeentakenofthechildren’sdaycelebrationswhichwereneverpublished.thosearetheonesiwanttolookat.”
vangerusedthetelephoneinthekitchen.hecalledmartin,explainedwhathewanted,andaskedwhothepictureseditorwasthesedays.withinteninutestherightpeoplehadbeenlocatedandaesshadbeenarranged.
thepictureseditorofthehedestadcourierwasmadeleinebloberg,calledmaja.shewasthefirstwoanpictureseditorblokvisthadetinjournalis,wherephotographywasstillpriarilyaaleartfor.
sinceitwassaturday,thenewsroowasepty,butmajablobergturnedouttoliveonlyfiveinutesaway,andsheetblokvistattheofficeentrance.shehadworkedatthehedestadcourierforostofherlife.shestartedasaproof-readerin1964,change. comhoto-finisherandspentanuberofyearsinthedarkroo,whileoasionallybeingsentoutasaphotographerwhentheusualresourceswereinsufficient.shehadgainedthepositionofeditor,earnedafull-tiepostonthepicturedesk,andtenyearsago,whentheoldpictureseditorretired,shetookoverasheadofthedepartent.
blokvistaskedhowthepicturearchivewasarranged.
“totellyouthetruth,thearchiveisratheraess.sincewegotputersanddigitalphotographs,thecurrentarchiveisoncds.we’vehadaninternherewhospentsoetiescanninginiportantolderpictures,butonlyasallpercentageofwhat’sinthestackshavebeencatalogued.olderpicturesarearrangedbydateinnegativefolders.they’reeitherhereinthenewsrooorintheatticstoreroo.”
“i’interestedinphotographstakenofthechildren’sdayparadein1966,butalsoinanyphotographsthatweretakenthatweek.”
fr？kenbloberggavehiaquizzicallook.
“youeantheweekthatharrietvangerdisappeared？”
“youknowthestory？”
“youcouldn’tworkatthecourieryourwholelifewithoutknowingaboutit,andwhenmartinvangercallseearlyintheorningonydayoff,idrawyownconclusions.hassoethingnewturnedup？”
bloberghadanosefornews.blokvistshookhisheadwithalittlesileandgaveherhiscoverstory.
“no,andidon’tsupposeanyonewilleverfindthesolutiontothatpuzzle.it’sratherconfidential,butthefactisthati’ghostwritinghenrikvanger’sautobiography.thestoryoftheissinggirlisanod. comic,butit’salsoachapterthatcan’treallybeignored.i’lookingforsoethingt
11
hathasn’tbeenusedbeforethatightillustratethatday—ofharrietandherfriends.”