第 43 部分阅读
“iheardhi.thatwasaboutwhenigotdowntothebaseent.andthateansthatweknohatherabortedconversationwithhenrikwastohavebeenabout.”
blokvistfrowned.“notreally.thinkofthechronology.wedon’tknohengottfriedfirstrapedhisson,buthetookmartinwithhiwhenheurderedleaperssoninuddevallain1962.hedrownedin1965.beforethat,heandmartintriedtotalktoharriet.wheredoesthatleadus？”
“martinwasn’ttheonlyohatgottfriedassaulted.healsoassaultedharriet.”
“gottfriedwastheteacher.martinwasthepupil.harrietwaswhat？theirplaything？”
“gottfriedtaughtmartintoscrewhissister.”salanderpointedatthepolaroidprints.“it’shardtodeterineherattitudefrothesetwopicturesbecausewecan’tseeherface,butshe’stryingtohidefrothecaera.”
“let’ssaythatitstartedwhenshewasfourteen,in1964.shedefendedherself—couldn’taeptit,asmartinputit.thatwaswhatshewasthreateningtotellhenrikabout.martinundoubtedlyhadnothingtosayinthisconnection；hejustdidwhathisfathertoldhi.butheandgottfriedhadforedsoesortof…pact,andtheytriedtoinitiateharrietintoittoo.”
salandersaid:“inyournotesyouwrotethathenrikhadletharrietoveintohishouseinthewinterof1964.”
“henrikcouldseetherewassoethingwronginherfaily.hethoughtitwasthebickeringandfrictionbetweengottfriedandisabellathatwasthecause,andhetookherinsothatshecouldhavesoepeaceandquietandconcentrateonherstudies.”
“anunforeseenobstacleforgottfriedandmartin.theycouldn’tgettheirhandsonheraseasilyorcontrolherlife.buteventually…wheredidtheassaulttakeplace？”
“itusthavebeenatgottfried’scabin.i’alostpositivethatthesepicturesweretakenthere—itshouldbepossibletocheck.thecabinisinaperfectlocation,isolatedandfarfrothevillage.thengottfriedgotdrunkonelasttieanddiedinaostbanalway.”
“soharriet’sfatherhadatteptedtohavesexwithher,butyguessisthathedidn’tinitiateherintothekilling.”
blokvistrealisedthatthiswasaweakpoint.harriethadadenoteofthenaesofgottfried’svictis,pairingtheupwithbiblequotes,butherinterestinthebibledidnoteergeuntilthelastyear,andbythengottfriedwasalreadydead.hepaused,tryingtoeupwithalogicalexplanation.
“soetiealongthewayharrietdiscoveredthatgottfriedhadnotonlyittedincest,buthewasalsoaserialsexurderer,”hesaid.
“wedon’tknohenshefoundoutabouttheurders.itcouldhavebeenrightbeforegottfrieddrowned.itightalsohavebeenafterhedrowned,ifhehadadiaryorhadsavedpresscuttingsaboutthe.soethingputheronhistrack.”
“butthatwasn’twhatshewasthreateningtotellhenrik,”blokvistsaid.
“itwasmartin,”salandersaid.“herfatherwasdead,butmartinwasgoingonabusingher.”
“exactly.”
“butitwasayearbeforeshetookanyaction.”
“whatwouldyoudoifyoufoundoutthatyourfatherwasaurdererwhohadbeenrapingyourbrother？”
“i’dkillthefucker,”salandersaidinsuchasobertohatblokvistbelievedher.hereeberedherfaceasshewasattackingmartinvanger.hesiledjoylessly.
“ok,butharrietwasn’tlikeyou.gottfrieddiedbeforesheanagedtodoanything.thatalsoakessense.whengottfrieddied,isabellasentmartintouppsala.heighthaveehoeforchristasorotherholidays,butduringthatfollowingyearhedidn’tseeharrietveryoften.shewasabletogetsoedistancefrohi.”
“andshestartedstudyingthebible.”
“andinlightofwhatwenowknow,itdidn’thavetobeforanyreligiousreasons.maybeshesiplywantedtoknohatherfatherhadbeenupto.shebroodedoverituntilthechildren’sdaycelebrationin1966.thensuddenlysheseesherbrotheronj？rnv？gsgatanandrealisesthathe’sback.wedon’tknowiftheytalkedtoeachotherorifhesaidanything.butnoatterwhathappened,harriethadanurgetogostraighthoeandtalktohenrik.”
“andthenshedisappeared.”
aftertheyhadgoneoverthechainofevents,itwasnothardtounderstandwhattherestofthepuzzleusthavelookedlike.blokvistandsalanderpackedtheirbags.beforetheyleft,blokvistcalledfrodeandtoldhithatheandsalanderhadtogoawayforawhile,butthatheabsolutelywantedtoseehenrikvangerbeforetheyleft.
blokvistneededtoknohatfrodehadtoldhenrik.theansoundedsostressedonthetelephohatblokvistfeltconcernedforhi.frodesaidthathehadonlytoldhithatmartinhaddiedinacaraident.
itwasthunderingagainwhenblokvistparkedoutsidehedestadhospital,andtheskywasfilledonceorewithheavyrainclouds.hehurriedacrossthecarparkjustasitstartedtorain.
vangerwaswearingabathrobe,sittingatatablebythewindowofhisroo.hisillnesshadleftitsark,butvangerhadregainedsoecolourinhisfaceandlookedasifhewereonthepathtorecovery.theyshookhands.blokvistaskedthenursetoleavethealoneforafewinutes.
“you’vebeenavoidinge,”vangersaid.
mikaelnodded.“onpurpose.yourfailydidn’twantetoeatall,buttodayeveryoneisoveratisabella’shouse.”
“poormartin,”vangersaid.
“henrik.yougaveeanassignenttodigupthetruthaboutwhathappenedtoharriet.didyouexpectthetruthtobepainless？”
theoldanlookedathi.thenhiseyeswidened.
“martin？”
“he’spartofthestory.”
henrikclosedhiseyes.
“nowihavegotaquestionforyou,”blokvistsaid.
“telle.”
“doyoustillwanttoknohathappened？evenifitturnsouttobepainfulandevenifthetruthisworsethanyouiagined？”
henrikgaveblokvistalonglook.thenhesaid,“iwanttoknow.thatwasthepointofyourassignent.”
“ok.ithinkiknohathappenedtoharriet.butthere’sonelastpieceofthepuzzleissingbeforei’sure.”
“telle.”
“no.nottoday.whatiwantyoutodorightnowistorest.thedoctorssaythatthecrisisisoverandthatyou’regettingbetter.”
“don’tyoutreatelikeachild,youngan.”
“ihaven’tworkeditalloutyet.whatihaveisatheory.iagoingouttofindthelastpieceofthepuzzle.thenexttieyouseee,i’lltellyouthewholestory.itaytakeawhile,butiwantyoutoknowthati’ingbackandthatyou’llknowthetruth.”
salanderpulledatarpaulinoverherotorcycleandleftitontheshadysideofthecabin.thenshegotintoblokvist’sborrowedcar.thethunderstorhadreturnedwithrenewedforce,andjustsouthofg？vletherewassuchafiercedownpourthatblokvistcouldhardlyseetheroad.justtobesafe,hepulledintoapetrolstation.theywaitedfortheraintoletup,sotheydidnotarriveinstockholuntil7:00thatevening.blokvistgavesalanderthesecuritycodetohisbuildinganddroppedheroffatthecentraltunnelbana.hisapartentseeedunfailiar.
hevacuuedanddustedwhilesalanderwenttoseeplagueinsundbyberg.shearrivedatblokvist’sapartentataroundidnightandspentteninutesexainingeverynookandcrannyofit.thenshestoodatthewindowforalongtie,lookingattheviewfacingtheslussenlocks.
theygotundressedandslept.
atnoonthenextdaytheylandedatlondon’sgatwickairport.theywereetwithrain.blokvisthadedarooatthehoteljaesnearhydepark,anexcellenthotelparedtoalltheone-starplacesinbayswaterwherehehadalwaysendeduponhisprevioustripstolondon.
at5:00p..theywerestandingatthebarwhenayoungishancaetowardsthe.hewasalostbald,withablondbeard,andhewaswearingjeansandajacketthatwastoobigforhi.
“wasp？”
“trinity？”shesaid.theynoddedtoeachother.hedidnotaskforblokvist’snae.
trinity’spartnerwasintroducedasbobthedog.hewasinanoldvwvanaroundthecorner.theyclibedinthroughtheslidingdoorsandsatdownonfoldingchairsfastenedtothesides.whilebobnavigatedthroughthelondontraffic,waspandtrinitytalked.
“plaguesaidthishadtodowithsoecrash-bangjob.”
“telephoappingandcheckingeailsinaputer.itightgofast,oritcouldtakeacoupleofdays,dependingonhowuchpressureheapplies.”lisbethgesturedtowardsblokvistwithherthub.“canyoudoit？”
“dodogshavefleas？”trinitysaid.
anitavangerlivedinaterracehouseintheattractivesuburbofst.albans,aboutanhour’sdrivenorth.frothevantheysawherarrivehoeandunlockthedoorsoetieafter7:30thatevening.theywaiteduntilshehadsettled,hadhersupper,andwassittinginfrontofthetvbeforeblokvistrangthedoorbell.
analostidenticalcopyofceciliavangeropenedthedoor,herexpressionpolitelyquestioning.
“hi,anita.mynaeismikaelblokvist.henrikvangeraskedetoeandseeyou.iassuethatyou’veheardthenewsaboutmartin.”
herexpressionchangedfrosurprisetowariness.sheknewexactlywhomikaelblokvistwas.buthenrik’snaeeantthatshewasforcedtoopenthedoor.sheshowedblokvistintoherlivingroo.henoticedasignedlithographbyanderszornoverthefireplace.itwasaltogetheracharingroo.
“fiveeforbotheringyououtoftheblue,butihappenedtobeinst.albans,anditriedtocallyouduringtheday.”
“iunderstand.pleasetellewhatthisisabout？”
“areyouplanningtobeatthefuneral？”
“no,asaatteroffact,i’not.martinandiweren’tclose,andanyway,ican’tgetawayattheoent.”
anitavangerhadstayedawayfrohedestadforthirtyyears.afterherfatherovedbacktohedebyisland,shehadhardlysetfootthere.
“iwanttoknohathappenedtoharrietvanger,anita.it’stieforthetruth.”
“harriet？idon’tknohatyouean.”
blokvistsiledatherfeignedsurprise.
“youwereharriet’sclosestfriendinthefaily.youweretheonesheturnedtowithherhorriblestory.”
“ican’tthinkwhatyou’retalkingabout,”anitasaid.
“anita,youwereinharriet’sroothatday.ihavephotographicproofofit,inspiteofwhatyousaidtoinspectormorell.inafewdaysi’goingtoreporttohenrik,andhe’lltakeitfrothere.itwouldbebettertotellewhathappened.”
anitavangerstoodup.
“getoutofyhousethisinute.”
blokvistgotup.
“soonerorlateryou’regoingtohavetotalktoe.”
“ihavenothingnow,noreverwillhave,anythingtosaytoyou.”
“martinisdead,”blokvistsaid.“youneverlikedmartin.ithinkthatyouovedtolondonnotonlytoavoidseeingyourfatherbutalsosothatyouwouldn’thavetoseemartin.thateansthatyoualsoknewaboutmartin,andtheonlyonewhocouldhavetoldyouwasharriet.thequestionis:whatdidyoudowiththatknowledge？”
anitavangerslaedherfrontdoorinhisface.
salandersiledwithsatisfactionassheunfastenedtheicrophonefrounderhisshirt.
“shepickedupthetelephoneabouttwentysecondsaftershenearlytookthedooroffitshinges,”shesaid.
“thecountrycodeisaustralia,”trinitysaid,puttingdowntheearphonesonthelittledeskinthevan.“ineedtochecktheareacode.”heswitchedonhisla. com.“ok,shecalledthefollowingnuber,whichisatelephoneinatowncalledtennantcreek,northofalicespringsinthenorthernterritory.doyouwanttoheartheconversation？”
blokvistnodded.“whattieisitinaustraliarightnow？”
“about5:00intheorning.”trinitystartedthedigitalplayerandattachedaspeaker.mikaelcountedeightringsbeforesoeonepickedupthetelephone.theconversationtookplaceinenglish.
“hi.it’se.”
“h,iknowi’aorningpersonbut…”
“ithoughtofcallingyouyesterday…martinisdead.heseestohavedrivenhiscarintoatruckthedaybeforeyesterday.”
silence.thenwhatsoundedlikesoeoneclearingtheirthroat,butitighthavebeen:“good.”
“butwehavegotaproble.adisgustingjournalistthathenrikdugupfrosoewherehasjustknockedonydoor,hereinst.albans.he’saskingquestionsaboutwhathappenedin1966.heknowssoething.”
againsilence.thenaandingvoice.
“anita.putdownthetelephonerightnow.wecan’thaveanycontactforawhile.”
“but…”
“writealetter.tellewhat’sgoingon.”thentheconversationwasover.
“sharpchick,”salandersaid.
theyreturnedtotheirhoteljustbefore11:00.thefrontdeskanagerhelpedthetoreserveseatsonthenextavailableflighttoaustralia.soontheyhadreservationsonaplaneleavingat7:05thefollowingevening,destinationmelbourne,changinginsingapore.
thiswassalander’sfirstvisittolondon.theyspenttheorningwalkingfrocoventgardenthroughsoho.they. compedtohaveacaffelatteonoldptonstreet.around3:00theywerebackatthehoteltocollecttheirluggage.whileblokvistpaidthebill,salanderturnedonherobile.shehadatextessage.
“aranskysaystocallatonce.”
sheusedatelephoneinthelobby.blokvist,whowasstandingashortdistanceaway,noticedsalanderturntohiwithafrozenexpressiononherface.hewasathersideatonce.
“whatisit？”
“myotherdied.ihavetogohoe.”
salanderlookedsounhappythatheputhisarsaroundher.shepushedhiaway.
theysatinthehotelbar.whenblokvistsaidthathewouldcancelthereservationstoaustraliaandgobacktostockholwithher,sheshookherhead.
“no,”shesaid.“wecan’tscrewupthejobnow.you’llhavetogobyyourself.”
theypartedoutsidethehotel,eachoftheakingforadifferentairport.
chapter26
tuesday,july15–thursday,july17
blokvistflewfromelbouroalicesprings.afterthathehadtochooseeithertocharteraplaneortorentacarforthereaining250-iletripnorth.hechosetogobycar.
anunknownpersonwiththebiblicalsignatureofjoshua,whowaspartofplague’sorpossiblytrinity’systeriousinternationalwork,hadleftanenvelopeforhiatthecentralrationdeskatmelbourneairport.
thenuberthatanitahadcalledbelongedtoaplacecalledcochranfar.itwasasheepstation.anarticlepulledofftheintergaveasnapshotguide.
australia:populationof18illion；sheepfarers,53,000；approx.120illionheadofsheep.theexportofwoolapprox.3.5billiondollarsannually.australiaexports700illiontonsofuttonandlab,plusskinsforclothing.binedeatandwoolproductiononeofthecountry’sostiportantindustries…
cochranfar,founded1891byjereycochran,australia’sfifthlargestagriculturalenterprise,approx60,000merinosheep.thestationalsoraisedcattle,pigs,andchickens.cochranfarhadipressiveannualexportstotheu.s.a.,japan,china,andeurope.
thepersonalbiographieswerefascinating.
in1972cochranfarpasseddownfrorayondcochrantospencercochran,educ.oxford.spencerd.in1994,andfarrunbywidow.blokvistfoundherinablurry,low-resolutionphotographdownloadedfrothecochranfarwebsite.itshowedawoanwithshortblondehair,herfacepartiallyhidden,shearingasheep.
aordingtojoshua’snote,thecouplehadarriedinitalyin1971.
hernaewasanitacochran.
blokvist. compedovernightinadried-upholeofatownwiththehopefulnaeofwannado.atthelocalpubheateroastuttonanddownedthreepintsalongwithsoelocalswhoallcalledhi“ate.”
lastthingbeforehewenttobedhecalledbergerinnewyork.
“i’sorry,ricky,buti’vebeensobusythatihaven’thadtietocall.”
“whatthehellisgoingon？”sheexploded.“christercalledandtoldethatmartinvangerhadbeenkilledinacaraident.”
“it’salongstory.”
“andwhydon’tyouansweryourtelephone？i’vebeencallinglikecrazyfortwodays.”
“itdoesn’tworkhere.”
“whereishere？”
“rightnowi’aboutonehundredtwenty-fiveilesnorthofalicesprings.inaustralia,thatis.”
mikaelhadrarelyanagedtosurpriseberger.thistieshewassilentfornearlytenseconds.
“andwhatareyoudoinginaustralia？ifiightask.”
“i’finishingupthejob.i’llbebackinafewdays.ijustcalledtotellyouthatyworkforhenrikvangerisalostdone.”
hearrivedatcochranfararoundnoonthefollowingday,tobetoldthatanitacochranwasatasheepstationnearaplacecalledmakawakaseventy-fiveilesfartherwest.
itwas4:00intheafternoonbythetiemikaelfoundhiswaythereondustybackroads.he. compedatagatewheresoesheepranchersweregatheredaroundthehoodofajeephavingcoffee.blokvistgotoutandexplainedthathewaslookingforanitacochran.theyallturnedtowardsauscularyoungan,clearlythedecision-akerofthegroup.hewasbarechestedandverybrownexceptforthepartsnorallycoveredbyhist-shirt.hewaswearingawide-briedhat.
“thebossisabouteighteenilesoffinthatdirection,”hesaid,pointingwithhisthub.
hecastascepticalglanceatblokvist’svehicleandsaidthatitightnotbesuchagoodideatogooninthatjapanesetoycar.finallythetannedathle