第 36 部分阅读
“so？”
“iwas…ihadalittletietoyselfthisspringandreadquiteabitaboutsadistsinaratherdifferentcontext.oneofthethingsireadwasanfbianual.itclaiedthatastrikingportionofconvictedserialkillerscaefrodysfunctionalhoesandtorturedanialsintheirchildhood.soeoftheconvictedaericanserialkillerswerealsoarrestedforarson.torturedanialsandarsoncropupinseveralofharriet’surdercases,butwhatiwasreallythinkingaboutwasthefactthattheparsonageburneddowninthelateseventies.”
“it’salongshot,”blokvistsaid.
lisbethnodded.“agreed.butifindnothinginthepolicereportaboutthecauseofthefire,anditwouldbeveryinterestingtoknowiftherewereotherunexplainedfireshereaboutsinthesixties.itwouldalsobeworthcheckingtoseeiftherewereanycasesofanialabuseorutilationintheareabackthen.”
whensalanderwenttobedonherseventhnightinhedeby,shewasildlyirritatedwithblokvist.foralostaweekshehadspentpracticallyeverywakinginutewithhi.norallyseveninutesofanotherperson’spanywasenoughtogiveheraheadache,soshesetthingsuptoliveasarecluse.shewasperfectlycontentaslongaspeopleleftherinpeace.unfortunatelysocietywasnotverysartorunderstanding；sheha. comrotectherselffrosocialauthorities,childwelfareauthorities,guardianshipauthorities,taxauthorities,police,curators,psychologists,psychiatrists,teachers,andbouncers,whowouldneverletherintothebareventhoughshewastwenty-five.therewasawholearyofpeoplewhoseeednottohaveanythingbettertodothantotrytodisruptherlife,and,iftheyweregiventheopportunity,tocorrectthewayshehadchosentoliveit.
itdidnogoodtocry,shehadlearnedthatearlyon.shehadalsolearnedthateverytieshetriedtoakesoeoneawareofsoethinginherlife,thesituationjustgotworse.consequentlyitwasuptohertosolveherproblesbyherself,usingwhateverethodsshedeeednecessary.soethingthatadvo
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katbjuranhadfoundoutthehardway.
blokvisthadthesaetiresoehabitaseveryoneelse,pokingaroundinherlifeandaskingquestions.ontheotherhand,hedidnotreactatalllikeostotherenshehadet.
whensheignoredhisquestionshesiplyshruggedandleftherinpeace.astounding.
heriediateove,whenshegotholdofhisithatfirstorning,hadnaturallybeentotransferalltherationtoherownputer.thatwayitwasokifhedupedherfrothecase；shewouldstillhaveaesstotheaterial.
shehadexpectedafuriousoutburstwhenheappearedforhisbreakfast.insteadhehadlookedalostresigned,utteredsoethingsarcastic,andgoneofftotheshower.thenhebegandiscussingwhatshehadread.astrangeguy.sheightevenbedeludedintothinkingthathetrustedher.
thatheknewaboutherpropensitiesasahackerwasserious.salanderwasawarethatthelegaldescriptionofthekindofhackingshedid,bothprofessionallyandasahobby,was“unlawfuldatatrespassing”andcouldearnhertwoyearsinprison.shedidnotwanttobelockedup.inhercaseaprisonsentencewouldeanthatherputerswouldbetakenfroher,andwiththetheonlyoupationthatshewasreallygoodat.shehadnevertoldaranskyhowshegatheredtherationtheywerepayinghertofind.
withtheexceptionofplagueandafewpeopleonthewho,likeher,devotedtheselvestohackingonaprofessionallevel—andostoftheknewheronlyas“wasp”anddidnotknohoshewasorwhereshelived—kalleblokvistwastheonlyonewhohadstubledontohersecret.hehadetoherbecausesheadeablunderthatnotevenatwelve-year-oldwouldit,whichonlyprovedthatherbrainwasbeingeatenupbyworsandthatshedeservedtobeflogged.butinsteadofgoingcrazywithragehehadhiredher.
consequentlyshewasildlyirritatedwithhi.
whentheyhadasnackjustbeforeshewenttobed,hehadsuddenlyaskedherifshewasagoodhacker.
toherownsurpriseshereplied,“i’probablythebestinsweden.thereaybetwoorthreeothersataboutylevel.”
shedidnotdoubttheauracyofherreply.plaguehadoncebeenbetterthanshewas,butshehadpassedhilongago.
ontheotherhand,itfeltfunnytosaythewords.shehadneverdoneitbefore.shehadneverhadanoutsidertohavethissortofconversationwith,andsheenjoyedthefactthatheseeedipressedbyhertalents.thenhehadruinedthefeelingbyaskinganotherquestion:howhadshetaughtherselfhacking？
whatcouldshesay？i’vealwaysbeenabletodoit.insteadshewenttobedwithoutsayinggoodnight.
irritatingheryetfurther,hedidnotreactwhensheleftsoabruptly.shelaylisteningtohiovingaboutinthekitchen,clearingthetableandwashingthedishes.hehadalwaysstayeduplaterthanshedid,butnowhewasobviouslyonhiswaytobedtoo.sheheardhiinthebathroo,andthenhewentintohisbedrooandshutthedoor.afterawhilesheheardthebedcreakwhenhegotintoit,notayardawayfroherownbutontheothersideofthewall.
shehadbeensharingahousewithhiforaweek,andhehadnotonceflirtedwithher.hehadworkedwithher,askedheropinion,slappedherontheknucklesfigurativelyspeakingwhenshewasonthewrongtrack,andacknowledgedthatshewasrightwhenshecorrectedhi.dait,hehadtreatedherlikeahuanbeing.
shegotoutofbedandstoodbythewindow,restlesslypeeringintothedark.thehardestthingforherwastoshowherselfnakedtoanotherpersonforthefirsttie.shewasconvincedthatherskinnybodywasrepulsive.herbreastswerepathetic.shehadnohipstospeakof.shedidnothaveuchtooffer.apartfrothatshewasaquitenoralwoan,withthesaedesiresandsexdriveaseveryotherwoan.shestoodthereforthenexttwentyinutesbeforesheadeupherind.
blokvistwasreadinganovelbysaraparetskywhenheheardthedoorhandleturnandlookeduptoseesalander.shehadasheetwrappedroundherbodyandstoodinthedoorwayforaoent.
“youok？”hesaid.
sheshookherhead.
“whatisit？”
shewentovertohisbed,tookthe,andputitonthebedsidetable.thenshebentdownandkissedhiontheouth.shequicklygotintohisbedandsatlookingathi,searchinghi.sheputherhandonthesheetoverhisstoach.whenhedidnotprotestsheleanedoverandbithionthenipple.
blokvistwasflabbergasted.hetookhershouldersandpushedherawayalittlesothathecouldseeherface.
“lisbeth…idon’tknowifthisissuchagoodidea.wehavetoworktogether.”
“iwanttohavesexwithyou.andiwon’thaveanyprobleworkingwithyou,butiwillhaveahellofaproblewithyouifyoukickeout.”
“butwehardlyknoweachother.”
shelaughed,anabruptlaughthatsoundedalostlikeacough.
“you’veneverletanythinglikethatstandinyourwaybefore.infact,asididn’tsayinybackgroundreport,you’reoneoftheseguyswhocan’tkeephishandsoffwoen.sowhat’swrong？aren’tisexyenoughforyou？”
blokvistshookhisheadandtriedtothinkofsoethingclevertosay.whenhecouldn’tshepulledthesheetoffhiandsatastridehi.
“idon’thaveanycondos,”hesaid.
“screwit.”
whenhewokeup,heheardherinthekitchen.itwasnotyet7:00.heayonlyhavesleptfortwohours,andhestayedinbed,dozing.
thiswoanbaffledhi.atabsolutelynopointhadsheevenwithaglanceindicatedthatshewastheleastbitinterestedinhi.
“goodorning,”shesaidfrothedoorway.sheevenhadthehintofasile.
“hi.”
“weareoutofilk.i’llgotothepetrolstation.theyopenatseven.”andshewasgone.
heheardhergooutofthefrontdoor.heshuthiseyes.thenheheardthefrontdooropenagainandsecondslatershewasbackinthedoorway.thistieshewasnotsiling.
“you’dbettereandlookatthis,”shesaidinastrangevoice.
blokvistwasonhisfeetatonceandpulledonhisjeans.
duringthenightsoeonehadbeentothecottagewithanunwelepresent.ontheporchlaythehalf-charredcorpseofacat.thecat’slegsandheadhadbeencutoff,thenthebodyhadbeenflayedandthegutsandstoachreoved,flungnexttothecorpse,whichseeedtohavebeenroastedoverafire.thecat’sheadwasintact,onthesaddleofsalander’sotorcycle.herecognisedthereddish-brownfur.
chapter22
thursday,july10
theyatebreakfastinthegardeninsilenceandwithoutilkintheircoffee.salanderhadtakenoutacanondigitalcaeraandphotographedtheacabretableaubeforeblokvistgotarubbishsackandcleaneditaway.heputthecatinthebootofthevolvo.heoughttofileapolicereportforanialcruelty,possiblyintiidation,buthedidnotthinkhewouldwanttoexplainwhytheintiidationhadtakenplace.
at8:30isabellavangerwalkedpastandontothebridge.shedidnotseetheoratleastpretendednotto.
“howareyoudoing？”blokvistsaid.
“oh,i’fine.”salanderlookedathi,perplexed.ok,then.heexpectsetobeupset.“whenifindtheotherfuckerwhotorturedaninnocentcattodeathjusttosendusawarning,i’goingtoclobberhiwithabaseballbat.”
“youthinkit’sawarning？”
“haveyougotabetterexplanation？itdefinitelyeanssoething.”
“whateverthetruthisinthisstory,we’veworriedsoebodyenoughforthatpersontodosoethingreallysick.butthere’sanotherprobletoo.”
“iknow.thisisananialsacrificeinthestyleof1954and1960anditdoesn’tseecrediblethatsoeoneactivefiftyyearsagowouldbeputtingtorturedanialcorpsesonyourdoorsteptoday.”
blokvistagreed.
“theonlyoneswhocouldbesuspectedinthatcaseareharaldvangerandisabellavanger.thereareanuberofolderrelativesonjohanvanger’sside,butnoneoftheliveinthearea.”
blokvistsighed.
“isabellaisarepulsivebitchwhocouldcertainlykillacat,butidoubtshewasrunningaroundkillingwoeninthefifties.haraldvanger…idon’tknow,heseessodecrepithecanhardlywalk,andican’tseehisneakingoverherelastnight,catchingacat,anddoingallthis.”
“unlessitwastwopeople.oneolder,oneyounger.”
blokvistheardacargobyandlookedupandsawceciliadrivingawayoverthebridge.haraldandcecilia,hethought,buttheyhardlyspoke.despitemartinvanger’sproisetotalktoher,ceciliahadstillnotansweredanyofhistelephoneessages.
“itustbesoebodywhoknowswe’redoingthisworkandthatwe’reakingprogress,”salandersaid,gettinguptogoinside.whenshecaebackoutshehadputonherleathers.
“i’goingtostockhol.i’llbebacktonight.”
“whatareyougoingtodo？”
“pickupsoegadgets.ifsoeoneiscrazyenoughtokillacatinthatdisgustingway,heorshecouldattackusnexttie.orsetthecottageonfirewhilewe’reasleep.iwantyoutogointohedestadandbuytwofireextinguishersandtwosokealarstoday.oneofthefireextinguishershastobehalon.”
withoutanotherword,sheputonherhelet,kick-startedtheotorcycle,androaredoffacrossthebridge.
blokvisthidthecorpseandtheheadandgutsintherubbishbinbesidethepetrolstationbeforehedroveintohedestadtodohiserrands.hedrovetothehospital.hehadadeanappointenttoeetfrodeinthecafeteria,andhetoldhiwhathadhappenedthatorning.frodeblanched.
“mikael,ineveriaginedthatthisstorycouldtakethisturn.”
“whynot？thejobwastofindaurderer,afterall.”
“butthisisdisgustingandinhuan.ifthere’sadangertoyourlifeortofr？kensalander’slife,wearegoingtocallitoff.letetalktohenrik.”
“no.absolutelynot.idon’twanttoriskhishavinganotherattack.”
“heaskseallthetiehowthingsaregoingwithyou.”
“sayhellofroe,please,andtellhii’ovingforward.”
“whatisnext,then？”
“ihaveafewquestions.thefirstincidentourredjustafterhenrikhadhisheartattackandiwasdowninstockholfortheday.soebodywentthroughyoffice.ihadprintedoutthebibleverses,andthephotographsfroj？rnv？gsgatanwereonydesk.youknewandhenrikknew.martinknewapartofitsinceheanisedforetogetintothecourieroffices.howanyotherpeopleknew？”
“well,idon’tknohomartintalkedto.butbothbirgerandceciliaknewaboutit.theydiscussedyourhuntinginthepicturesarchivebetweentheselves.alexanderknewaboutittoo.and,bytheway,gunnarandhelenanilssondidtoo.theywereuptosayhellotohenrikandgotdraggedintotheconversation.andanitavanger.”
“anita？theoneinlondon？”
“cecilia’ssister.shecaebackwithceciliawhenhenrikhadhisheartattackbutstayedatahotel；asfarasiknow,shehasn’tbeenouttotheisland.likececilia,shedoesn’twanttoseeherfather.butsheflewbackwhenhenrikcaeoutofintensivecare.”
“where’scecilialiving？isawherthisorningasshedroveacrossthebridge,butherhouseisalwaysdark.”
“she’snotcapableofdoingsuchathing,isshe？”
“no,ijustwonderwhereshe’sstaying.”
“she’sstayingwithherbrother,birger.it’swithinwalkingdistancetovisithenrik.”
“doyouknoheresheisrightnow？”
“no.she’snotvisitinghenrik,atanyrate.”
“thanks,”blokvistsaid,gettingup.
thevangerfailywashoveringaroundhedestadhospital.inthereceptionbirgervangerpassedonhiswaytothelifts.blokvistwaiteduntilhewasgonebeforehewentouttothereception.insteadheranintomartinvangerattheentrance,atexactlythesaespotwherehehadrunintoceciliaonhispreviousvisit.theysaidhelloandshookhands.
“haveyoubeenuptoseehenrik？”
“no,ijusthappenedtoeetdirchfrode.”
martinlookedtiredandhollow-eyed.itourredtomikaelthathehadagedappreciablyduringthesixonthssincehehadethi.
“howarethingsgoingwithyou,mikael？”hesaid.
“moreinterestingwitheverydaythatpasses.whenhenrikisfeelingbetterihopetobeabletosatisfyhiscuriosity.”
birgervanger’swasawhite-brickterracehouseafive-inutewalkfrothehospital.hehadaviewoftheseaandthehedestadarina.no-oneansweredwhenblokvistrangthedoorbell.hecalledcecilia’sobilenuberbutgotnoanswerthereeither.hesatinthecarforawhile,druinghisfingersonthesteeringwheel.birgervangerwasthewildcardinthedeck；bornin1939andsotenyearsoldwhenrebeckajacobssonwasurdered；twenty-sevenwhenharrietdisappeared.
aordingtohenrik,birgerandharriethardlyeversaweachother.hehadgrownupwithhisfailyinuppsalaandonlyovedtohedestadtoworkforthefir.hejupedshipafteracoupleofyearsanddevotedhisel. comolitics.buthehadbeeninuppsalaatthetielenaanderssonwasurdered.
theincidentwiththecatgavehianoinousfeeling,asifhewereabouttorunoutoftie.
ottofalkwasthirty-sixwhenharrietvanished.hewasnowseventy-two,youngerthanhenrikvangerbutinaconsiderablyworseentalstate.blokvistsoughthioutatthesvalanconvalescenthoe,ayellow-brickbuildingashortdistancefrothehederiverattheotherendofthetown.blokvistintroducedhiselftothereceptionistandaskedtobeallowedtospeakwithpastorfalk.heknew,heexplained,thatthepastorsufferedfroalzheier’sandenquiredhowlucidhewasnow.anurserepliedthatpastorfalkhadfirstbeendiagnosedthreeyearsearlierandthatalasthediseasehadtakenanaggressivecourse.falkcouldunicate,buthehadaveryfeebleshort-tereory,anddidnotrecogniseallofhisrelatives.hewasonthewholeslippingintotheshadows.hewasalsoprooanxietyattacksifhewasconfrontedwithquestionshecouldnotanswer.
falkwassittingonabenchinthegardenwiththreeotherpatientsandaalenurse.blokvistspentanhourtryingtoengagehiinconversation.
hereeberedharrietvangerquitewell.hisfacelitup,andhedescribedherasacharinggirl.butblokvistwassoonawarethatthepastorhadfottenthatshehadbeenissingtheselastthirty-sevenyears.hetalkedaboutherasifhehadseenherrecentlyandaskedblokvisttosayhellotoherandurgehertoeandseehi.blokvistproisedtodoso.
heobviouslydidnotreebertheaidentonthebridge.itwasnotuntiltheendoftheirconversationthathesaidsoethingwhichadeblokvistprickuphisears.
itwaswhenblokviststeeredthetalktoharriet’sinterestinreligionthatfalksuddenlyseeedhesitant.itwasasthoughacloudpassedoverhisface.falksatrockingbackandforthforawhileandthenlookedupatblokvistandaskedwhohewas.blokvistintroducedhiselfagainandtheoldanthoughtforawhile.atlengthhesaid:“she’sstillaseeker.shehastotakecareofherselfandyouhavetowarnher.”
“whatshouldiwarnherabout？”
falkgrewsuddenlyagitated.heshookhisheadwithafrown.
“shehastoreadsolascripturaandunderstandsufficientiascripturae.that’stheonlywaythatshecanaintainsolafide.josefwillcertainlyexcludethe.theywereneveraeptedintothecanon.”
blokvistunderstoodnothingofthis,buttookassiduousnotes.thenpastorfalkleanedtowardshiandwhispered,“ithinkshe’sacatholic.shelovesagicandhasnotyetfoundhergod.sheneedsguidance.”
theword“catholic”obviouslyhadanegativeconnotationforpastorfalk.
“ithoughtshewasinterestedinthepentecostaloveent？”
“no,no,no,n