第 30 部分阅读
thenextsecondmikaelstraightenedup,hardlyabletobelievehiseyes.salanderhadwrittenabriefpassagegivingherassessentofwhatwouldhappenafterthetrial.shehadreproducedvirtuallywordforwordthepressreleasethatheandbergerhadsubittedafterheresignedaspublisherofmillenniu.
butsalanderhadusedhisoriginalwording.heglancedagainatthecoverofthereport.itwasdatedthreedaysbeforeblokvistwassentenced.thatwasipossible.thepressreleaseexistedtheninonlyoneplaceinthewholeworld.inblokvist’sputer.inhisi,notonhisputerattheoffice.thetextwasneverprintedout.notevenbergerhadacopy,althoughtheyhadtalkedaboutthesubject.
blokvistputdownsalander’sreport.heputonhisjacketandwentoutintothenight,whichwasverybrightoneweekbeforemidsuer.hewalkedalongtheshoreofthesound,pastceciliavanger’spropertyandtheluxuriousotorboatbelowmartinvanger’svilla.hewalkedslowly,ponderingashewent.finallyhesatonarockandlookedattheflashingbuoylightsinhedestadbay.therewasonlyoneconclusion.
“you’vebeeninyputer,fr？kensalander,”hesaidaloud.“you’reafuckinghacker.”
chapter18
wednesday,june18
salanderawokewithastartfroadrealesssluber.shefeltfaintlysick.shedidnothavetoturnherheadtoknowthatmiihadleftalreadyforwork,butherscentstilllingeredinthestuffyairofthebedroo.salanderhaddrunktooanybeersthenightbeforewiththeevilfingersatthemill.miihadturnedupnotlongbeforeclosingtieandehoewithherandintobed.
salander—unlikemii—hadneverthoughtofherselfasalesbian.shehadneverbroodedoverwhethershewasstraight,gay,orevenbisexual.shedidnotgiveadanaboutlabels,didnotseethatitwasanyoneelse’sbusinesswhoshespenthernightswith.ifshehadtochoose,shepreferredguys—andtheywereinthelead,statisticallyspeaking.theonlyproblewasfindingaguywhowasnotajerkandonewhowasalsogoodinbed；miiwasasweetproise,andsheturnedsalanderon.theyhadetinabeertentatthepridefestivalayearago,andmiiwastheonlypersonthatsalanderhadintroducedtotheevilfingers.butitwasstilljustacasualaffairforbothofthe.itwasnicelyingclosetomii’swar,softbody,andsalanderdidnotindwakingupwithherandtheirhavingbreakfasttogether.
herclocksaiditwas9:30,andshewaswonderingwhatcouldhavewokenherwhenthedoorbellrangagain.shesatupinsurprise.no-onehadeverrungherdoorbellatthishour.veryfewpeoplerangherdoorbellatall.shewrappedasheetaroundherandwalkedunsteadilytothehalltoopenthedoor.shestaredstraightintotheeyesofmikaelblokvist,feltpanicracethroughherbody,andtookastepback.
“goodorning,fr？kensalander,”hegreetedhercheerfully.“itwasalatenight,isee.caniein？”
withoutwaitingforananswer,hewalkedin,closingthedoorbehindhi.heregardedwithcuriositythepileofclothesonthehallfloorandtherapartofbagsfilledwithnewspapers；thenhepeeredthroughthebedroodoorwhilesalander’sworldstartedspinninginthewrongdirection.how？what？who？blokvistlookedatherbewilderentwithauseent.
“iassuedthatyouwouldnothavehadbreakfastyet,soibroughtsoefilledbagelswithe.igotonewithroastbeef,onewithturkeyanddijonustard,andonevegetarianwithavocado,notknowingyourpreference.”hearchedintoherkitchenandstartedrinsinghercoffeeaker.“wheredoyoukeepcoffee？”hesaid.salanderstoodinthehallasiffrozenuntilsheheardthewaterrunningoutofthetap.shetookthreequickstrides.
“. com！. comatonce！”sherealisedthatshewasshoutingandloweredhervoice.“danitall,youcan’tebarginginhereasifyouownedtheplace.wedon’tevenknoweachother.”
blokvistpaused,holdingajugandturnedtolookather.
“wrong！youknowebetterthanalostanyoneelsedoes.isn’tthatso？”
heturnedhisbackonherandpouredthewaterintotheachine.thenhestartedopeninghercupboardsinsearchofcoffee.“speakingofwhich,iknowhowyoudoit.iknowyoursecrets.”
salandershuthereyes,wishingthatthefloorwould. compitchingunderherfeet.shewasinastateofentalparalysis.shewashungover.thissituationwasunreal,andherbrainwasrefusingtofunction.neverhadsheetoneofhersubjectsfacetoface.heknowswhereilive！hewasstandinginherkitchen.thiswasipossible.itwasoutrageous.heknowswhoia！
shefeltthesheetslipping,andshepulledittighteraroundher.hesaidsoething,butatfirstshedidn’tunderstandhi.“wehavetotalk,”hesaidagain.“butithinkyou’dbettertakeashowerfirst.”
shetriedtospeaksensibly.“youlistentoe—ifyou’rethinkingofakingtrouble,i’nottheoneyoushouldbetalkingto.iwasjustdoingajob.youshouldtalktoyboss.”
hehelduphishands.auniversalsignofpeace,orihavenoweapon.
“i’vealreadytalkedtoaransky.bytheway,hewantsyoutoringhi—youdidn’tanswerhiscalllastnight.”
shedidnotsenseanythreat,butshestillsteppedbackapacewhenhecaecloser,tookherarandescortedhertothebathroodoor.shedislikedhavinganyoouchherwithoutherleave.
“idon’twanttoaketrouble,”hesaid.“buti’quiteanxioustotalktoyou.afteryou’reawake,thatis.thecoffeewillbereadybythetieyouputonsoeclothes.first,ashower.vaoose！”
passivelysheobeyed.lisbethsalanderisneverpassive,shethought.
sheleanedagainstthebathroodoorandstruggledtocollectherthoughts.shewasoreshakenthanshewouldhavethoughtpossible.graduallysherealisedthatashowerwasnotonlygoodadvicebutanecessityafterthetuultofthenight.whenshewasdone,sheslippedintoherbedrooandputonjeans,andat-shirtwiththesloganarmageddonwasyesterday—todaywehaveaseriousproblem.
afterpausingforasecond,shesearchedthroughherleatherjacketthatwasslungoverachair.shetookthetaseroutofthepocket,checkedtoseethatitwasloaded,andstuckitinthebackpocketofherjeans.thesellofcoffeewasspreadingthroughtheapartent.shetookadeepbreathandwentbacktothekitchen.
“doyounevercleanup？”hesaid.
hehadfilledthesinkwithdirtydishesandashtrays；hehadputtheoldilkcartonsintoarubbishsackandclearedthetableoffiveweeksofnewspapers；hehadwashedthetablecleanandputoutugsand—hewasn’tjokingafterall—bagels.ok,let’sseewherethisisheading.shesatdownoppositehi.
“youdidn’tansweryquestion.roastbeef,turkey,orvegetarian？”
“roastbeef.”
“theni’lltaketheturkey.”
theyateinsilence,scrutinisingeachother.whenshefinishedherbagel,shealsoatehalfofthevegetarianone.shepickedupacrupledpackofcigarettesfrothewindowsillanddugoneout.
hebrokethesilence.“iaynotbeasgoodasyouatinvestigations,butatleasti’vefoundoutthatyou’renotavegetarianor—asherrfrodethought—anorexic.i’llincludethatrationinyreport.”
salanderstaredathi,buthelookedsoausedthatshegavehiacrookedsile.thesituationwasbeyondallrhyeorreason.shesippedhercoffee.hehadkindeyes.shedecidedthatwhateverelseheightbe,hedidnotseetobeaaliciousperson.andtherewasnothinginthepishehaddohatwouldindicatehewasaviciousbastardwhoabusedhisgirlfriendsoranythinglikethat.shereindedherselfthatshewastheonewhokneweverything.knowledgeispower.
“whatareyougrinningat？”shesaid.
“i’sorry.ihadnotinfactplannedtoakeyentranceinthisway.ididn’teantoalaryou.butyoushouldhaveseenyourfacewhenyouopenedthedoor.itwaspriceless.”
silence.tohersurprise,salanderfoundhisuninvitedintrusionaeptable—well,atleastnotunpleasant.
“you’llhavetothinkofitasyrevengeforyourpokingaroundinypersonallife,”hesaid.“areyoufrightened？”
“nottheleastbit,”salandersaid.
“good.i’notheretoaketroubleforyou.”
“ifyoueventrytohurtei’llhavetodoyouaninjury.you’llbesorry.”
blokviststudiedher.shewasbarelyfourfootelevenanddidnotlookasthoughshecouldputupuchresistanceifhewereanassailantwhohadforcedhiswayintoherapartent.buthereyeswereexpressionlessandcal.
“well,thatwon’tbenecessary,”hesaidatlast.“ionlyneedtotalktoyou.ifyouwantetoleave,allyouhavetodoissayso.it’sfunnybut…oh,nothing…”
“what？”
“thisaysoundcrazy,butfourdaysagoididn’tevenknowyouexisted.thenireadyouranalysisofe.”hesearchedthroughhisshoulderbagandbroughtoutthereport.“itwasnotentertainingreading.”
helookedoutofthekitchenwindowforawhile.“couldibuacigarette？”sheslidthepackacrossthetable.
“yousaidbeforethatwedon’tknoweachother,andisaidthatyes,wedo.”hepointedatthereport.“ican’tpetewithyou.i’veonlydonearapidroutinecheck,togetyouraddressanddateofbirth,stufflikethat.butyoucertainlyknowagreatdealaboute.muchofwhichisprivate,dait,thingsthatonlyyclosestfriendsknow.andnowhereia,sittinginyourkitchenandeatingbagelswithyou.wehaveknowneachotherhalfanhour,butihavethefeelingthatwe’vebeenfriendsforyears.doesthatakesensetoyou？”
shenodded.
“youhavebeautifuleyes,”hesaid.
“youhaveniceeyesyourself,”shesaid.
longsilence.
“whyareyouhere？”shesaid.
kalleblokvist—shereeberedhisnicknaeandsuppressedtheipulsetosayitoutloud—suddenlylookedserious.healsolookedverytired.theself-confidencethathehadshownwhenhefirstwalkedintoherapartentwasnowgone.theclowningwasover,oratleasthadbeenputaside.shefelthistudyingherclosely.
salanderfeltthatherposurewasbarelyskin-deepandthatshereallywasn’tinpletecontrolofhernerves.thistotallyunlooked-forvisithadshakenherinawaythatshehadneverexperiencedinconnectionwithherwork.herbreadandbutterwasspyingonpeople.infactshehadneverthoughtofwhatshedidforaranskyasarealjob；shethoughtofitoreasaplicatedpastie,asortofhobby.
thetruthwasthatsheenjoyeddiggingintothelivesofotherpeopleandexposingthesecretstheyweretryingtohide.shehadbeendoingit,inonefororanother,foraslongasshecouldreeber.andshewasstilldoingittoday,notonlywhenaranskygaveheranassignent,butsoetiesforthesheerfunofit.itgaveherakick.itwaslikeaplicatedputergae,exceptthatitdealtwithreallivepeople.andnowoneofherhobbieswassittingrighthereinherkitchen,feedingherbagels.itwastotallyabsurd.
“ihaveafascinatingproble,”blokvistsaid.“tellethis,whenyouweredoingyourresearchoneforherrfrode,didyouhaveanyideawhatitwasgoingtobeusedfor？”
“no.”
“thepurposewastofindoutallthatrationaboutebecausefrode,orratherhiseployer,wantedtogiveeafreelancejob.”
“isee.”
hegaveherafaintsile.
“oneofthesedaysyouandishouldhaveadiscussionabouttheethicsofsnoopingintootherpeople’slives.butrightnowihaveadifferentproble.thejobiwasoffered,andwhichinexplicablyiagreedtodo,iswithoutdoubttheostarreassignenti’veeverundertaken.beforeisayoreineedtobeabletotrustyou,lisbeth.”
“whatdoyouean？”
“aranskytellseyou’re100percentreliable.butistillwanttoaskyouthequestion.canitellyouconfidentialthingswithoutyourtellingthetoanyoneelse,byanyeans,ever？”
“waitainute.you’vetalkedtodragan？ishetheonewhosentyouhere？”i’goingtokillyou,youfuckingstupidarenian.
“notexactly.you’renottheonlyonewhocanfindoutsoeone’saddress；ididthatallonyown.ilookedyouupinthenationalregistry.therearethreelisbethsalanders,andtheothertwoweren’tagoodatch.butihadalongtalkwitharanskyyesterday.hetoothoughtthatiwantedtoaketroubleoveryourferretingaroundinyprivatelife.intheendiconvin
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提供
cedhithatihadalegitiatepurpose.”
“whichiswhat？”
“asitoldyou,frode’seployerhiredetodoajob.i’vereachedapointwhereineedaskilledresearcher.frodetoldeaboutyouandsaidthatyouwereprettygood.hehadn’teanttoidentifyyou,itjustslippedout.iexplainedtoaranskywhatiwanted.heok’dthewholethingandtriedtocallyou.andhereia.callhiifyouwant.”
ittooksalanderainutetofindherobileaongtheclothesthatmiihadpulledoffher.blokvistwatchedherebarrassedsearchwithinterestashepatrolledtheapartent.allherfurnitureseeedtobestrays.shehadastate-of-the-artpoweronanapologyforadeskinthelivingroo.shehadacdplayeronashelf.hercdcollectionwasapitifultotaloftencdsbygroupshehadneverheardof,andtheusiciansonthecoverslookedlikevapiresfroouterspace.musicwasprobablynotherbiginterest.
salandersawthataranskyhadcalledherseventiesthenightbeforeandtwicethisorning.shepunchedinhisnuberwhileblokvistleanedagainstthedoorfraeandlistenedtotheconversation.
“it’se…sorry…yes…itwasturnedoff…iknow,hewantstohiree…no,he’sstandingintheiddleofyfuckinglivingroo,forchrist’ssake…”sheraisedhervoice.“dragan,i’hungoverandyheadhurts,soplease,nogaes,didyouokthisjobornot？…thanks.”
salanderlookedthroughthedoortothelivingrooatblokvistpullingoutcdsandtakingsofftheshelf.hehadjustfoundabrownpillbottlethatwasissingitslabel,andhewasholdingituptothelight.hewasabouttounscrewth. com,soshereachedoutandtookthebottlefrohi.shewentbacktothekitchenandsatdownonachair,assagingherforeheaduntilhejoinedher.
“therulesaresiple,”shesaid.“nothingthatyoudiscusswitheorwitharanskywillbesharedwithanyoneatall.therewillbeacontractwhichstatesthatmiltonsecuritypledgesconfidentiality.iwanttoknohatthejobisaboutbeforeidecidewhetheriwanttoworkforyouornot.thatalsoeansthatiagreetokeeptoyselfeverythingyoutelle,whetheritakethejobornot,providedthatyou’renotconductinganysortofseriouscriinalactivity.inwhichcase,i’llreportittodragan,whointurnwillreportittothepolice.”
“fine.”hehesitated.“aranskyaynotbepletelyawareofwhatiwanttohireyoufor…”
“soehistoricalresearch,hesaid.”
“well,yes,that’sright.iwantyoutohelpetoidentifyaurderer.”
ittookblokvistanhourtoexplainalltheintricatedetailsintheharrietvangercase.heleftnothingout.hehadfrode’sperissiontohireher,andtodothathehadtobeabletotrustherpletely.
hetoldhereverythingaboutceciliavangerandthathehadfoundherfaceinharriet’swindow.hegavesalanderasgoodadescriptionofhercharacterashecould.shehadovedhighuponthelistofsuspects,hislist.buthewasstillfarfrobelievingthatshecouldbeinanywayassociatedwithaurdererwhowasactivewhenshewasstillayoungwoan.
hegavesalanderacopyofthelistinthedate:“magda—32016；sara—32109；r.j.—30112；r.l.—32027；mari—32018.”andhegaveheracopyoftheversesfroleviticus.
“whatdoyouwantetodo？”
“i’veidentifiedther.j.,rebeckajacobsson.”hetoldherwhatthefive-figurenubersstoodfor.“ifi’right,thenwe’regoingtofindfourorevictis—magda,sara,mari,andr.l.”
“youthinkthey’reallurdered？”
“whatithinkisthatwearelookingforsoeonewho—iftheothernubersandinitialsalsoprovetobeshorthandforfourorekillings—isaurdererwhowasactiveinthefiftiesandaybealsointhesixties.andwhoisinsoewaylinkedtoharrietvanger.i’vegohroughbackissuesofthehedestadcourier.rebecka’surderistheonlygrotesquecriethaticouldfindwithaconnectiontohedestad.iwantyoutokeepdigging,alloverswedenifnecessary,untilyouakesenseoftheothernaesandverses.”
salanderthoughtinexpressionlesssilenceforsuchalongtiethatblokvistbegantogrowipatient.hewaswonderingwhetherhehadchosenthewrongpersonwhensheatlastraisedherhead.
“i’lltakethejob.butfirstyouhavetosignacontractwitharansky.”
aranskyprintedoutthecontractthatblokvistwouldtakebacktohedestadforfrode’ssignature.whenhereturnedtosalander’soffice,hesawhowsheandblokvistwereleaningoverherpower.hehadhishandonhershoulder—hewastouchingher—andpointing.aranskypausedinthecorridor.
blokvistsaidsoethingthatseeedtosurprisesalander.thenshelaughedoutloud.
aranskyhadneveronceheardherlaughbefore,andforyearshehadbeentryingtowinhertrust.blokvisthadknownherforfiveinutesandshewaspracticallygigglingwithhi.hefeltsuchaloathingforblokvistatthatoentthathesurprisedhiself.heclearedhisthroatashestoodinthedoorwayandputdownthefolderwiththecontract.
blokvistpaidaquickvisittothemillenniuofficeintheafternoon.itwashisfirsttieback.itfeltveryoddtoberunningupthosefailiarstairs.theyhadnotchangedthecodeonthedoor,andhewasabletoslipinunnoticedandstandforaoent,lookingaround.
mille