第 39 部分阅读

“hownicetoseeyou,”hesaid.“i’vebeenfeelingguiltythatineverproperlyexpressedygratitudefortheextraordinaryworkyoudidforus.bothlastwinterandnow,thissuer.”

salandergavehiasuspiciousglare.

“iwaspaid,”shesaid.

“that’snotit.iadesoeassuptionsaboutyouwhenifirstsawyou.youwouldbekin. comardoneinretrospect.”

blokvistwassurprised.frodewascapableofaskingatwenty-five-year-oldpiercedandtattooedgirltofivehiforsoethingforwhichhehadnoneedtoapologise！thelawyerclibedafewnotchesinblokvist’seyes.salanderstaredstraightahead,ignoringhi.

frodelookedatblokvist.

“whatdidyoudotoyourhead？”

theysatdown.blokvistsuedupthedevelopentsofthepasttwenty-fourhours.ashedescribedhowsoeonehadshotathioutnearthefortress,frodeleapedtohisfeet.

“thisisbarkingad.”hepausedandfixedhiseyesonblokvist.“i’sorry,butthishasto. com.ican’thaveit.iagoingtotalktohenrikandbreakthecontract.”

“sitdown,”saidblokvist.

“youdon’tunderstand…”

“whatiunderstandisthatlisbethandihavegotsoclosethatwhoeverisbehindallofthisisreactinginaderangedanner,inpanic.we’vegotsoequestions.firstofall:howanykeysaretheretothevangerfailycryptandwhohasone？”

“it’snotyprovince,andihavenoidea,”frodesaid.“iwouldsupposethatseveralfailyeberswouldhaveaesstothecrypt.iknowthathenrikhasakey,andthatisabellasoetiesgoesthere,butican’ttellyouwhethershehasherownkeyorwhethersheborrowshenrik’s.”

“ok.you’restillontheainboard.arethereanycorporatearchives？alibraryorsoethinglikethat,wherethey’vecollectedpressclippingsandrationaboutthefirovertheyears？”

“yes,thereis.atthehedestadainoffice.”

“weneedaesstoit.arethereanyoldstaffnewslettersoranythinglikethat？”

“againihavetoconcedethatidon’tknow.ihaven’tbeentothearchivesyselfinthirtyyears.youneedtotalktoawoannaedbodillindgren.”

“couldyoucallherandarrangethatlisbethhasaesstothearchivesthisafternoon？sheneedsalltheoldpressclippingsaboutthevangercorporation.”

“that’snoproble.anythingelse？”

“yes.gregervangerwasholdingahasselbladinhishandonthedaythebridgeaidentourred.thateansthathealsoighthavetakensoepictures.wherewouldthepictureshaveendedupafterhisdeath？”

“withhiswidoworhisson,logically.letecallalexanderandaskhi.”

“whatailookingfor？”salandersaidwhentheywereontheirwaybacktotheisland.

“pressclippingsandstaffnewsletters.iwantyoutoreadthrougheverythingaroundthedateswhentheurdersinthefiftiesandsixtieswereitted.makeanoteofanythingthatstrikesyou.betterifyoudothispartofthejob.itseesthatyoureory…”

shepunchedhiintheside.

fiveinuteslaterherkawasakiwasclatteringacrossthebridge.

blokvistshookhandswithalexandervanger.hehadbeenawayforostofthetiethatblokvisthadbeeninhedeby.hewastwentywhenharrietdisappeared.

“dirchsaidthatyouwantedtolookatoldphotographs.”

“yourfatherhadahasselblad,ibelieve.”

“that’sright.it’sstillhere,butno-oneusesit.”

“iexpectyouknowthathenrikhasaskedetostudyagainwhathappenedtoharriet.”

“that’swhatiunderstand.andthereareplentyofpeoplewhoaren’thappyaboutthat.”

“apparentlyso,andofcourseyoudon’thavetoshoweanything.”

“please…whatwouldyouliketosee？”

“ifyourfathertookanypicturesonthedayoftheaident,thedaythatharrietdisappeared.”

theywentuptotheattic.ittookseveralinutesbeforealexanderwasabletoidentifyaboxofunsortedphotographs.

“takehoethewholebox,”hesaid.“ifthereareanyatall,they’llbeinthere.”

asillustrationsforthefailychronicle,gregervanger’sboxheldsoerealges,includinganuberofgregertogetherwithsvenoloflindhol,thebigswedishnazileaderintheforties.thosehesetaside.

hefoundenvelopesofpicturesthatgregerhadtakenoffailygatheringsaswellasanytypicalholidayphotographs—fishingintheountainsandajourneyinitaly.

hefoundfourpicturesofthebridgeaident.inspiteofhisexceptionalcaera,gregerwasawretchedphotographer.twopictureswereclose-upsofthetankertruckitself,twowereofspectators,takenfrobehind.hefoundonlyoneinwhichceciliavangerwasvisibleinsei-profile.

hescannedinthepictures,eventhoughheknewthattheywouldtellhinothingnew.heputeverythingbackintheboxandhadasandwichlunchashethoughtthingsover.thenhewenttoseeanna.

“doyouthinkhenrikhadanyphotographalbusotherthantheonesheassebledforhisinvestigationaboutharriet？”

“yes,henrikhasalwaysbeeninterestedinphotography—eversincehewasyoung,i’vebeentold.hehaslotsofalbusinhisoffice.”

“couldyoushowe？”

herreluctancewasplaintosee.itwasohingtolendblokvistthekeytothefailycrypt—godwasinchargethere,afterall—butitwasanotherattertolethiintohenrikvanger’soffice.god’swritdidnotextendthere.blokvistsuggestedthatannashouldcallfrode.finallysheagreedtoallowhiin.alostthreefeetoftheverybottoshelfwastakenupwithphotographalbus.hesatatthedeskandopenedthefirstalbu.

vangerhadsavedeverylastfailyphotograph.manywereobviouslyfrolongbeforehistie.theoldestpicturesdatedbacktothe1870s,showinggruffenandsternwoen.therewerepicturesofvanger’sparents.oneshowedhisfathercelebratingmidsuerwithalargeandcheerfulgroupinsandhanin1906.anothersandhanphotographshowedfredrikvangerandhiswife,ulrika,withanderszornandalbertengstr？sittingatatable.otherphotographsshowedworkersonthefactoryfloorandinoffices.hefoundcaptainoskargranathwhohadtransportedvangerandhisbelovededithlobachtosafetyinkarlskrona.

annacaeupstairswithacupofcoffee.hethankedher.bythenhehadreachedoderntiesandwaspagingthroughiagesofvangerinhisprie,openingfactories,shakinghandswithtageerlander,oneofvangerandmarcuswallenberg—thetwocapitalistsstaringgrilyateachother.

inthesaealbuhefoundaspreadonwhichvangerhadwritteninpencil“failycouncil1966.”twocolourphotographsshowedentalkingandsokingcigars.herecognisedhenrik,harald,greger,andseveralofthealein-lawsinjohanvanger’sbranchofthefaily.twophotographsshowedtheforaldinner,fortyenandwoenseatedatthetable,alllookingintothecaera.thepicturesweretakenafterthedraaatthebridgewasoverbutbeforeanyonewasawarethatharriethaddisappeared.hestudiedtheirfaces.thiswasthedinnersheshouldhaveattended.didanyoftheenknowthatshewasgone？thephotographsprovidednoanswer.

thensuddenlyhechokedonhiscoffee.hestartedcoughingandsatupstraightinhischair.

atthefarendofthetablesatceciliavangerinherlight-coloureddress,silingintothecaera.nexttohersatanotherblondewoanwithlonghairandanidenticallight-coloureddress.theyweresoalikethattheycouldhavebeentwins.andsuddenlythepuzzlepiecefelli. comlace.ceciliawasn’ttheoneinharriet’swindow—itwashersister,anita,twoyearsherjuniorandnowlivinginlondon.

whatwasitsalanderhadsaid？ceciliavangerisinalotofthepictures.notatall.thereweretwogirls,andaschancewouldhaveit—untilnow—theyhadneverbeenseeninthesaefrae.intheblack-and-whitephotographs,froadistance,theylookedidentical.vangerhadpresuablyalwaysbeenabletotellthesistersapart,butforblokvistandsalanderthegirlslookedsoalikethattheyhadassueditwasoneperson.andno-onehadeverpointedouttheiristakebecausetheyhadneverthoughttoask.

blokvistturnedthepageandfeltthehairsonthebackofhisneckstandonend.itwasasifacoldgustofwindpassedthroughtheroo.

therewerepicturestakenthenextday,whenthesearchforharriethadbegun.ayounginspectormorellwasgivinginstructionstoasearchpartyconsistingoftwouniforedpoliceofficersandtenenwearingbootswhowereabouttosetout.vangerwaswearingaknee-lengthraincoatandanarrow-briedenglishhat.

ontheleftofthephotographstoodayoung,slightlystoutyounganwithlight,longishhair.hehadonadarkpaddedjacketwitharedpatchattheshoulder.theiagewasveryclear.blokvistrecognisedhiatonce—andthejacket—but,justtoakesure,hereovedthephotographandwentdowntoaskannaifsherecognisedthean.

“yes,ofcourse,that’smartin.”

salanderploughedthroughyearafteryearofpresscuttings,ovinginchronologicalorder.shebeganin1949andworkedherwayforward.thearchivewashuge.thepanywasentionedintheedianearlyeverydayduringtherelevanttieperiod—notonlyinthelocalpressbutalsointhenationaledia.therewerefinancialanalyses,tradeunionnegotiations,thethreatofstrikes,factoryopeningsandfactoryclosings,annualreports,changesinanagers,newproductsthatwerelaunched…therewasafloodofnews.click.click.click.herbrainwasworkingathighspeedasshefocusedandabsorbedtherationfrotheyellowingpages.

afterseveralhoursshehadanidea.sheaskedthearchivesanageriftherewasachartshowingwherethevangercorporationhadfactoriesorpaniesduringthefiftiesandsixties.

bodillindgrenlookedatsalanderwithundisguisedcoldness.shewasnotatallhappygivingatotalstrangerperissiontoentertheinnersanctuofthefir’sarchives,beingobligedtoallowhertolookthroughwhateverdocuentssheliked.andbesides,thisgirllookedlikesoesortofhalf-wittedfifteen-year-oldanarchist.butherrfrodehadgivenherinstructionsthatcouldnotbeisinterpreted.thisslipofagirlwastobefreetolookatanythingshepleased.anditwasurgent.shebroughtouttheprintedannualreportsfortheyearsthatsalanderwantedtosee；eachreportcontainedachartofthefir’sdivisionsthroughoutsweden.

salanderlookedatthechartsandsawthatthefirhadanyfactories,offices,andsalesoutlets.ateverysitewhereaurderwasitted,therewasalsoareddot,soetiesseveral,indicatingthevangercorporation.

shefoundthefirstconnectionin1957.rakellunde,landskrona,wasfounddeadthedayafterthev.＆ap；c.constructionpanyclinchedanorderworthseveralilliontobuildagalleriainthetown.v.＆ap；c.stoodforvangerandcarlénconstruction.thelocalpaperhadinterviewedgottfriedvanger,whohadetotowntosignthecontract.

salanderrecalledsoethingshehadreadinthepoliceinvestigationintheprovincialrecordofficeinlandskrona.rakellunde,fortune-tellerinherfreetie,wasanofficecleaner.shehadworkedforv.＆ap；c.construction.

at7:00intheeveningblokvistcalledsalanderadozentiesandeachtieherobilewasturnedoff.shedidnotwanttobedisturbed.

hewanderedrestlesslythroughthehouse.hehadpulledoutvanger’snotesonmartin’sactivitiesatthetieofharriet’sdisappearance.

martinvangerwasinhislastyearatthepreparatoryschoolinuppsalain1966.uppsala.lenaandersson,seventeen-year-oldpreparatoryschoolpupil.headseparatedfrothefat.

vangerhadentionedthisatonepoint,butblokvisthadtoconsulthisnotestofindthepassage.martinhadbeenanintrovertedboy.theyhadbeenworriedabouthi.afterhisfatherdrowned,isabellahaddecidedtosendhitouppsala—achangeofscenewherehewasgivenrooandboardwithharaldvanger.haraldandmartin？ithardlyfeltright.

martinvangerwasnotwithharaldinthecargoingtothegatheringinhedestad,andhehadissedatrain.hearrivedlateintheafternoonandsowasaongthosestrandedonthewrongsideofthebridge.heonlyarrivedontheislandbyboatsoetieafter6:00.hewasreceivedbyvangerhiself,aongothers.vangerhadputmartinfardownthelistofpeoplewhoighthavehadanythingtodowithharriet’sdisappearance.

martinsaidthathehadnotseenharrietonthatday.hewaslying.hehadarrivedinhedestadearlierinthedayandhewasonj？rnv？gsgatan,facetofacewithhissister.blokvistcouldprovetheliewithphotographsthathadbeenburiedforalostfortyyears.

harrietvangerhadseenherbrotherandreactedwithshock.shehadgoneouttohedebyislandandtriedtotalktohenrik,butshewasgonebeforeanyconversationcouldtakeplace.whatwereyouthinkingoftellinghi？uppsala？butlenaandersson,uppsala,wasnotonthelist.youcouldnothaveknownaboutit.

thestorystilldidnotakesensetoblokvist.harriethaddisappearedaround3:00intheafternoon.martinwasunquestionablyontheothersideofthewateratthattie.hecouldbeseeninthephotographfrothechurchhill.hecouldnotpossiblyhavehurtharrietontheisland.onepuzzlepiecewasstillissing.anacplice？anitavanger？

frothearchivessalandercouldseethatgottfriedvanger’spositionwithinthefirhadchangedovertheyears.attheageoftwentyin1947,heetisabellaandiediatelygotherpregnant；martinvangerwasbornin1948,andwiththattherewasnoquestionbutthattheyoungpeoplewouldarry.

whengottfriedwastwenty-two,hewasbroughtintotheainofficeofthevangercorporationbyhenrikvanger.hewasobviouslytalentedandtheyayhavebeengrooinghitotakeover.hewasprootedtotheboardattheageoftwenty-five,astheassistantheadofthepany’sdevelopentdivision.arisingstar.

soetieintheid-fiftieshisstarbega. comluet.hedrank.hisarriagetoisabellawasontherocks.thechildren,harrietandmartin,werenotdoingwell.henrikdrewtheline.gottfried’scareerhadreacheditszenith.in1956anotherappointentwasade,anotherassistantheadofdevelopent.twoassistantheads:onewhodidtheworkwhilegottfrieddrankandwasabsentforlongperiodsoftie.

butgottfriedwasstillavanger,aswellascharingandeloquent.fro1957on,hisworkseeedtoconsistoftravellingaroundthecountrytoopenfactories,resolvelocalconflicts,andspreadaniagethatpanyanageentreallydidcare.we’resendingoutoneofourownsonstolistentoyourprobles.wedotakeyouseriously.

salanderfoundasecondconnection.gottfriedvangerhadparticipatedinanegotiationinkarlstad,wherethevangercorporationhadboughtatiberpany.onthefollowingdayafarer’swife,magdalovisasj？berg,wasfoundurdered.

salanderdiscoveredthethirdconnectionjustfifteeninuteslater.uddevalla,1962.thesaedaythatleaperssondisappeared,thelocalpaperhadinterviewedgottfriedvangeraboutapossibleexpansionoftheharbour.

whenfrulindgrenhadwantedtocloseupandgohoeat5:30,salanderhadsnappedatherthatshewasalongwayfrofinishedyet.shecouldgohoeaslongassheleftthekey,andsalanderwouldlockup.bythattiethearchivesanagerwassoinfuriatedthatagirllikethisonecouldbossheraroundthatshecalledherrfrode.frodetoldherthatsalandercouldstayallnightifshewantedto.wouldfrulindgrenpleasenotifysecurityattheofficesothattheycouldletsalanderoutwhenshewantedtoleave？

threehourslater,gettingonfor8:30,salanderhadconcludedthatgottfriedvangerhadbeenclosetowhereatleastfiveoftheeighturderswereitted,eitherduringthedaysbeforeoraftertheevent.shewasstillissingrationabouttheurdersin1949and1954.shestudiedanewspaperphotographofhi.asli,handsoeanwithdarkblondhair；helookedratherlikeclarkgableingonewiththewind.

in1949gottfriedwastwenty-twoyearsold.thefirsturdertookplaceinhishoeterritory.hedestad.rebeckajacobsson,whoworkedatthevangercorporation.wheredidthetwoofyoueet？whatdidyouproiseher？

salanderbitherlip.theproblewasthatgottfriedvangerhaddrownedwhenhewasdrunkin1965,whilethelasturderwasittedinuppsalainfebruary1966.shewonderedifshewasistakenwhenshehadaddedlenaandersson,theseventeen-year-oldschoolgirl,tothelist.no.itightnotbethesaesignature,butitwasthesaebibleparody.theyustbeconnected.

by9:00itwasgettingdark.theairwascoolanditwasdrizzling.mikaelwassittinginthekitchen,druinghisfingersonthetable,whenmartinvanger’svolvocrossedthebridgeandturnedouttowardsthepoint.thatsoehowbroughtatterstoahead.

hedidnotknohatheshoulddo.hiswholebeingwasburningwithadesiretoaskquestions—toinitiateaconfrontation.itwascertainlynotasensibleattitudetohaveifhesuspectedmartinvangerofbeinganinsaneurdererwhohadkilledhissisterandagirlinuppsala,andwhohadalsoverynearlysueededinkillinghitoo.butmartinwasalsoaag.andhedidnotknowthatblokvistknew；hecouldgoandseehiwiththepretextthat…well,hewantedtoreturnthekeytogottfriedvanger’scabin.blokvistlockedthedoorbehindhiandstrolledouttothepoint.

haraldvanger’shousewaspitchdark,asusual.inhenrik’shousethelightswereoffexceptinoneroofacingthecourtyard.annahadgoobed.isabella’shousewasdark.ceciliawasn’tathoe.thelightswereonupstairsinalexander’shouse,butth