第 49 部分阅读
ihopethatyouwillaepthavingeshowuplikethis.ifyoudon’twanteontheboard,i’llunderstand,butidoassureyouthati’lldoallicantosupportmillenniu.iaingreatdebttoyou,andiwillalwayshavethebestofintentionsinthisregard.
ietyourcolleagueerikaberger.i’notsurewhatshethoughtofe,andiwassurprisedtohearthatyouhadn’ttoldheraboutwhathappened.
iwouldveryuchliketobeyourfriend.ifyoucanstandtohaveanythingoretodowiththevangerfaily.bestregards,harriet
p.s.iunderstoodfroerikathatyou’replanningtotacklewennerstr？again.dirchfrodetoldehowhenrikpulledaswiftyonyou,astheysayinaustralia.whatcanisay？i’sorry.ifthere’sanythingicando,leteknow.
fro
to:
hiharriet.ilefthedebyinabighurryandanoorkingonwhatireallyshouldhavebeenspendingytieonthisyear.you’llbeadvisedinplentyoftiebeforethearticlegoe. comress,butithinkicansaythattheproblesofthepastyearwillsoonbeover.
ihopeyouanderikawillbefriends,and,ofcourse,ihavenoproblewithyoubeingonmillenniu’sboard.i’lltellerikaaboutwhathappened,ifyouthinkthat’swise.henrikwantedenevertosayanythingtoanyone.let’ssee,butrightnowidon’thavethetieortheenergyandineedalittledistancefirst.
let’skeepintouch.best/mikael
salanderwasnotespeciallyinterestedinwhatmikaelwaswriting.shelookedupfroherwhenblokvistsaidsoething,butatfirstshecouldnotakeitout.
“sorry.iwastalkingaloud.isaidthatthisishorrible.”
“what’shorrible？”
“wennerstr？hadanaffairwithatwenty-two-year-oldwaitressandhegotherpregnant.haveyoureadhiscorrespondencewithhislawyer？”
“mydearmikael—youhavetenyearsofcorrespondence,eails,agreeents,travelarrangeents,andgodknowswhatonthatharddrive.idon’tfindwennerstr？sofascinatingthati’dcrasixgigsofgarbageintoyhead.ireadthroughafractionofit,ostlytosatisfyycuriosity,andthatwasenoughtotellethathe’sagangster.”
“ok.hegotherpregnantin1997.whenshewantedpensation,hislawyergotsoeootrytoconvincehertohaveanabortion.iassuetheintentionwastoofferherasuofoney,butshewasn’tinterested.thenthepersuadingendedupwiththeheavyholdingherunderwaterinabathuntilsheagreedtoleavewennerstr？inpeace.andwennerstr？’sidiotwritesallthistothelawyerinaneail—ofcourseencrypted,butevenso…itdoesn’tsayuchfortheiqofthisbunch.”
“whathappenedtothegirl？”
“shehadanabortion,andwennerstr？waspleased.”
salandersaidnothingforteninutes.hereyeshadsuddenlyturneddark.
“oneoreanwhohateswoen,”sheutteredatlast.
sheborrowedthecdsandspentthenextfewdaysreadingthroughwennerstr？’seailsandotherdocuents.whileblokvistkeptworking,salanderwasupinthesleepingloftwithherpoweronherknees,ponderingwennerstr？’speculiarepire.
anideahadourredtoherandshecouldnotletitgo.mostofallshewonderedwhyithadnotourredtohersooner.
inlateoctobermikaelturnedoffhisputerwhenitwasonly11:00intheorning.heclibeduptothesleepingloftandhandedsalanderwhathehadwritten.thenhefellasleep.shewokehithateveningandgavehiheropinionofthearticle.
justafter2:00intheorning,blokvistadethelastbackupofhiswork.
thenextdayheclosedtheshuttersonthewindowsandlockedup.salander’sholidaywasover.theywentbacktostockholtogether.
hebroughtupthesubjectastheyweredrinkingcoffeefropapercupsonthevaxholferry.
“whatthetwoofusneedtodecideiswhattotellerika.she’sgoingtorefus. comublishthisifican’texplainhowigotholdoftheaterial.”
erikaberger.blokvist’seditorinchiefandlong-tielover.salanderhadneveretherandwasnotsurethatshewantedtoeither.bergerseeedlikesoeindefinabledisturbanceinherlife.
“whatdoessheknowaboute？”
“nothing.”hesighed.“thefactisthati’vebeenavoidinghereversincethesuer.she’sveryfrustratedaboutthefactthaticouldn’ttellherwhathappenedinhedestad.sheknows,ofcourse,thati’vebeenstayingoutatsandhanandwritingthisstory,butshedoesn’tknohatit’sabout.”
“h.”
“inacoupleofhoursshe’llhavetheanuscript.thenshe’sgoingtogiveethethirddegree.thequestionis,whatshoulditellher？”
“whatdoyouwanttotellher？”
“i’dliketotellherthetruth.”
salanderfrowned.
“lisbeth,erikaandiarguealostallthetie.itseestobepartofhoeunicate.butshe’sabsolutelytrustworthy.you’reasource.shewouldratherdiethanrevealwhoyouare.”
“howanyotherswouldyouhavetotell？”
“absolutelyno-one.itwillgotothegravewitheanderika.butiwon’ttellheryoursecretifyoudon’twanteto.ontheotherhand,it’snotanoptionforetolietoerika,akeupsoesourcethatdoesn’texist.”
salanderthoughtaboutituntiltheydockedbythegrandhotel.analysisofconsequences.reluctantlyshefinallygaveblokvistperissiontointroducehertoerika.heswitchedonhisobileandadethecall.
bergerwaslunchingwithmalineriksson,whoshewasconsideringhiringasanagingeditor.erikssonwastwenty-nineyearsoldandhadbeenworkingasatepforfiveyears.shehadneverheldaperanentjobandhadstartedtodoubtthatsheeverwould.bergercalledherontheverydaythatmalin’slatesttepjobendedtoaskifshewouldliketoapplyforthemillenniuposition.
“it’sateporarypostforthreeonths,”bergersaid.“butifthingsworkout,itcouldbeperanent.”
“i’veheardruoursthatmillenniuishavingadifficulttie.”
bergersiled.
“youshouldn’tbelieveruours.”
“thisdahlanthatiwouldbereplacing…”erikssonhesitated.“he’sgoingtoworkataagazineownedbyhans-erikwennerstr？…”
bergernodded.“it’shardlyatradesecretthatwe’reinconflictwithwennerstr？.hedoesn’tlikepeoplewhoworkformillenniu.”
“soifitakethejobatmillenniu,iwouldendupinthatcategorytoo.”
“it’sverylikely,yes.”
“butdahlangotajobwithmonopolyfinancialmagazine,didn’the？”
“youightsaythatit’swennerstr？’swayofpayingforservicesrendered.areyoustillinterested？”
erikssonnodded.
“whendoyouwantetostart？”
that’swhenblokvistcalled.
sheusedherownkeytoopenthedoortohisapartent.itwasthefirsttiesincehisbriefvisittotheofficeatmidsuerthatshewaseetinghifacetoface.shewentintothelivingrooandfoundananorexicallythingirlsittingonthesofa,wearingawornleatherjacketandwithherfeetproppeduponthecoffeetable.atfirstshethoughtthegirlwasaboutfifteen,butthatwasbeforeshelookedintohereyes.shewasstilllookingatthiscreaturewhenblokvistcaeinwithacoffeepotandcoffeecake.
“fiveeforbeingpletelyipossible,”hesaid.
bergertiltedherhead.therewassoethingdifferentabouthi.helookedhaggard,thinnerthanshereebered.hiseyeshadashaedexpression,andforaoentheavoidedhergaze.sheglancedathisneck.shesawapaleredline,clearlydistinguishable.
“i’vebeenavoidingyou.it’saverylongstory,andi’notproudofyroleinit.butwe’lltalkaboutthatlater…nowiwanttointroduceyoutothisyoungwoan.erika,thisislisbethsalander.lisbeth,erikaberger,editorinchiefofmillenniuandybestfriend.”
salanderstudiedberger’selegantclothesandself-confidentanneranddecidedaftertensecondsthatshewasostlikelynotgoingtobeherbestfriend.
theireetinglastedfivehours.bergertwiceadecallstocancelothereetings.shespentanhourreadingpartsoftheanuscriptthatblokvistputinherhands.shehadathousandquestionsbutrealisedthatitwouldtakeweeksbeforeshegottheanswered.theiportantthingwastheanuscript,whichshefinallyputdown.ifevenafractionoftheseclaiswereaurate,awholenewsituationhadeerged.
bergerlookedatblokvist.shehadneverdoubtedthathewasanhonestperson,butnowshefeltdizzyandwonderedwhetherthewennerstr？affairhadbrokenhi—thatwhathehadbeenworkingonwasallafigentofhisiagination.blokvistwasatthatoentunpackingtwoboxesofprinted-outsourceaterial.bergerblanched.shewanted,ofcourse,toknowhowithadeintohispossession.
ittookawhiletoconvinceherthatthisoddgirl,whohadsaidnotonewordduringtheeeting,hadunliitedaesstowennerstr？’sputer.andnotjusthis—shehadalsohackedintotheputersofseveralofhislawyersandcloseassociates.
berge
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提供
r’siediatereactionwasthattheycouldnotusetheaterialsinceithadbeenobtainedthroughillegaleans.
but,ofcourse,theycoulduseit.blokvistpointedoutthattheyhadnoobligationtoexplainhowtheyhadacquiredtheaterial.theycouldjustaswellhaveasourcewithaesstowennerstr？’sputerwhohadburnedeverythingonhisharddrivetoacd.
finallybergerrealisedwhataweaponshehadinherhands.shefeltexhaustedandstillhadquestions,butshedidnotknoheretobegin.atlastsheleanedbackagainstthesofaandthrewoutherhands.
“mikael,whathappenedupinhedestad？”
salanderlookedupsharply.blokvistansweredwithaquestion.
“howareyougettingalongwithharrietvanger？”
“fine.ithink.i’veethertwice.christerandidroveuptohedestadforaboardeetinglastweek.wegotdrunkonwine.”
“andtheboardeeting？”
“shekeptherword.”
“ricky,iknowyou’refrustratedthati’vebeenduckingyouandingupwithexcusesnottotellyouwhathappened.youandihaveneverhadsecretsfroeachother,andallofasuddenthere’ssixonthsofylifethati’…notpreparedtotellyouabout.”
bergeretblokvist’sgaze.sheknewhiinsideandout,butwhatshesawinhiseyeswassoethingshehadneverseenbefore.hewasbegginghernottoask.salanderwatchedtheirwordlessdialogue.shewasnopartofit.
“wasitthatbad？”
“itwasworse.i’vebeendreadingthisconversation.iproisetotellyou,buti’vespentseveralonthssuppressingyfeelingswhilewennerstr？hasabsorbedallyattention…i’stillnotready.i’dpreferitifharriettoldyouinstead.”
“what’sthatarkaroundyourneck？”
“lisbethsavedylifeupthere.ifitweren’tforher,i’dbedead.”
berger’seyeswidened.shestaredatthegirlintheleatherjacket.
“andrightnowyouneedtoetoanagreeentwithher.sheisoursource.”
bergersatforatie,thinking.thenshedidsoethingthatastonishedblokvistandstartledsalander；shesurprisedevenherself.thewholetieshehadbeensittingatmikael’sliving-rootable,shehadfeltsalander’seyesonher.ataciturngirlwithhostilevibrations.
bergerstoodupandwentaroundthetableandthrewherarsaroundthegirl.salandersquiredlikeaworabouttobeputonahook.
chapter29
saturday,noveber1–tuesday,noveber25
salanderwassurfingthroughwennerstr？’scyber-epire.shehadbeenstaringatherputerscreenforalostelevenhours.theideathathadaterialisedinsoeunexplorednookofherbrainduringthelastweekatsandhanhadgrownintoaanicpreoupation.forfourweeksshehadisolatedherselfinherapartentandignoredanyunicationfroaransky.shehadspenttwelvehoursadayinfrontofherputer,soedaysore,andtherestofherwakinghoursshehadbroodedoverthesaeproble.
duringthepastonthshehadhadinterittentcontactwithblokvist.hetoowaspreoupied,busyatthemillenniuoffices.theyhadconferredbytelephoneacoupleoftieseachweek,andshehadkepthiupdatedonwennerstr？’scorrespondenceandotheractivities.
forthehundredthtieshewentovereverydetail.shewasnotafraidthatshehadissedanything,butshewasnotsurethatshehadunderstoodhoweveryoneoftheintricateconnectionsfittedtogether.
thisuch-discussedepirewaslikealiving,forless,pulsatinganisthatkeptchangingshape.itconsistedofoptions,bonds,shares,partnerships,loaninterest,ineinterest,deposits,bankaounts,payenttransfers,andthousandsofothereleents.anincrediblylargeproportionoftheassetswasdepositedinpost-office-boxpaniesthatownedoneanother.
thefinancialpundits’ostinflatedanalysesofthewennerstr？groupestiateditsvalueatorethan900billionkronor.thatwasabluff,oratleastafigurethatwasgrosslyexaggerated.obviouslywennerstr？hiselfwasbynoeanspoor.shecalculatedtherealassetstobeworthbetween90and100billionkronor,whichwasnothingtosneezeat.athoroughauditoftheentirecorporationwouldtakeyears.allinallsalanderhadidentifiedclosetothreethousandseparateaountsandbankholdingsallovertheworld.wennerstr？wasdevotinghiselftofraudthatwassoextensiveitwasnolongererelycriinal—itwasbusiness.
soewhereinthewennerstr？anistherewasalsosubstance.threeassetskeptshowingupinthehierarchy.thefixedswedishassetswereunassailableandgenuine,availabl. comublicscrutiny,balancesheets,andaudits.theaericanfirwassolid,andabankinnewyorkservedasthebaseforallliquidcapital.thestorywasinthebusinesswiththepost-office-boxpaniesinplacessuchasgibraltarandcyprusandmacao.wennerstr？waslikeaclearinghousefortheillegalweaponstrade,oneylaunderingforsuspectenterprisesincolobia,andextreelyunorthodoxbusinessesinrussia.
ananonyousaountinthecayanislandswasunique；itwaspersonallycontrolledbywennerstr？butwasnotconnectedtoanypanies.afewhundredthsofapercentofeverydealthatwennerstr？adewouldbesiphonedintothecayanislandsviathepost-office-boxpanies.
salanderworkedinatrance-likestate.theaount—click—eail—click—balancesheets—click.shenoteddownthelatesttransfers.shetrackedasalltransactioninjapantosingaporeandonvialuxebourgtothecayanislands.sheunderstoodhowitworked.itwasasifshewerepartoftheipulsesincyberspace.sallchanges.thelatesteail.onebriefessageofsoewhatperipheralinterestwassentat10:00p..thepgpencryptionprograewasajokeforanyonewhowasalreadyinsidehisputerandcouldreadtheessageinplaintext:
bergerhas. compedarguingabouttheads.hasshegivenupordoesshehavesoethingcooking？yoursourceattheeditorialofficesassuredusthattheywereonthebrinkofruin,butitsoundsasiftheyjusthiredanewperson.findoutwhat’shappening.blokvisthasbeenworkingatsandhanforthepastfeeeks,butno-oneknowswhathe’swriting.he’sbeenseenattheeditorialofficesthepastfewdays.canyouarrangeforanadvancecopyofthenextissue？/hew/
nothingdraatic.lethiworry.yourgooseiscooked,oldan.
at5:30intheorningsheturnedoffherputerandgotoutanewpackofcigarettes.shehaddrunkfour,no,fivecokesduringthenight,andnowshegotoutasixthandwenttositonthesofa.shewaswearingonlyknickersandawashed-outcaouflageshirtadvertisingsoldieroffortuneagazine,withtheslogankillthemallandletgodsortthemout.sherealisedthatshewascold,soshereachedforablanket,whichshewrappedaroundherself.
shefelthigh,asifshehadconsuedsoeinappropriateandpresuablyillegalsubstance.shefocusedhergazeonthestreetlapoutsidethewindowandsatstillwhileherbrainworkeda. comspeed.maa—click—sister—click—mii—click—holgerpalgren.evilfingers.andaransky.thejob.harrietvanger.click.martinvanger.click.thegolfclub.click.thelawyerbjuran.click.everysinglefuckingdetailthatshecouldn’tfetevenifshetried.
shewonderedwhetherbjuranwouldevertakehisclothesoffinfrontofawoanagain,andifhedid,hoashegoingtoexplainthetattoosonhisstoach？andthenexttiehewenttothedoctorhoouldheavoidtakingoffhisclothes？
andmikaelblokvist.click.
sheconsideredhitobeagoodperson,possiblywithapracticalpigplexthatwassoetiesalittletooapparent.andhewasunbearablynaivewithregardtocertaineleentaryoralissues.hehadanindulgentandfivingpersonalitythatlookedforexplanationsandexcusesforthewaypeoplebehaved,andhewouldnevergetitthattheraptorsoftheworldunderstoodonlyonelanguage.shefeltalostawkwardlyprotectivewhenevershethoughtofhi.
shedidnotreeberfallingasleep,butshewokeupat9:00a..withacrickinherneckandwithherheadleaningagainstthewallbehindthesofa.shetotteredtothebedrooandfellbacktosleep.
itwaswithoutadoubtthebiggeststoryoftheirlives.forthefirsttieinayearandahalf,bergerwashappyinthewaythatonlyaneditorwhohasaspectacularscoopintheovencanbe.sheandblokvistwerepolishingthearticleonelasttiewhensalandercalledhionhisobile.
“ifottosaythatwennerstr？isstartingtogetw