第 17 部分阅读
theonlybrotherworthyofaeasureofepathyinvanger’seyeswasthesicklygustav,whodiedoflungdiseasein1955.gustavhadneverbeeninterestedinpolitics,andheseeedtobesoesortofisanthropicartisticsoul,withabsolutelynointerestinbusinessorworkinginthevangercorporation.
blokvistaskedvanger:“nowyouandharaldaretheonlyonesleft.whydidheovebacktohedeby？”
“heovedhoein1979.heownsthathouse.”
“itustfeelstrangelivingsoclosetoabrotherthatyouhate.”
“idon’thateybrother.ifanything,iaypityhi.he’sapleteidiot,andhe’stheonewhohatese.”
“hehatesyou？”
“precisely.ithinkthat’swhyhecaebackhere.sothathecouldspendhislastyearshatingeatclosequarters.”
“whydoeshehateyou？”
“becauseigotarried.”
“ithinkyou’regoingtohavetoexplainthat.”
vangerhadlostcontactwithhisolderbrothersearlyon.hewastheonlybrothertoshowanaptitudeforbusiness—hewashisfather’slasthope.hehadnointerestinpoliticsandsteeredclearofuppsala.insteadhestudiedeconoicsinstockhol.afterheturnedeighteenhespenteverybreakandsuerholidayworkingatoneoftheofficeswithinthevangercorporationorworkingwiththeanageentofoneofitspanies.hebecaefailiarwithallthelabyrinthsofthefailybusiness.
on10june,1941—intheidstofanall-outwar—vangerwassenttogeranyforasix-weekvisitatthevangercorporationbusinessofficesinhaburg.hewasonlytwenty-oneandthevanger’sgeranagent,apanyveteranbythenaeofherannlobach,washischaperoneandentor.
“iwon’ttireyouwithallthedetails,butwheniwentthere,hitlerandstalinwerestillgoodfriendsandtherewasn’tyetaneasternfront.everyonestillbelievedthathitlerwasinvincible.therewasafeelingof…bothoptiisanddesperation.ithinkthosearetherightwords.morethanhalfacenturylater,it’sstilldifficul. comutwordstotheood.don’tgetewrong—iwasnotanazi,andinyeyeshitlerseeedlikesoeabsurdcharacterinanoperetta.butitwouldhavebeenalostipossiblenottobeinfectedbytheoptiisaboutthefuture,whichwasrifeaongordinarypeopleinhaburg.despitethefactthatthewarwasgettingcloser,andseveralbobingraidswerecarriedoutagainsthaburgduringthetieiwasthere,thepeopleseeedtothinkitwasostlyateporaryannoyance—thatsoontherewouldbepeaceandhitlerwouldestablishhisneuropa.peoplewantedtobelievethathitlerwasgod.that’swhatitsoundedlikeinthepropaganda.”
vangeropenedoneofhisanyphotographalbus.
“thisislobach.hedisappearedin1944,presuablylostinsoebobingraid.weneverknehathisfatewas.duringyweeksinhaburgibecaeclosetohi.iwasstayingwithhiandhisfailyinanelegantapartentinawell-to-doneighbourhoodofhaburg.wespenttietogethereveryday.hewasnooreanazithaniwas,butforconveniencehewasaeberoftheparty.hisebershipcardopeneddoorsandfacilitatedopportunitiesforthevangercorporation—andbusinesswaspreciselywhatwedid.webuiltfreightwagonsfortheirtrains—i’vealwayswonderedwhetheranyofourwagonsweredestinedforpoland.wesoldfabricfortheiruniforsandtubesfortheirradiosets—althoughofficiallywedidn’
7
提供
tknohattheywereusingthegoodsfor.andlobachknewhowtolandacontract；hewasentertainingandgood-natured.theperfectnazi.graduallyibegantoseethathewasalsoaanwhowasdesperatelytryingtohideasecret.
“intheearlyhoursofjune22in1941,lobachknockedonthedoorofybedroo.myroowasnexttohiswife’sbedroo,andhesignalledetobequiet,getdressed,andewithhi.wewentdownstairsandsatinthesokingsalon.lobachhadbeenupallnight.hehadtheradioon,andirealisedthatsoethingserioushadhappened.operationbarbarossahadbegun.geranyhadinvadedthesovietuniononmidsuereve.”vangergesturedinresignation.“lobachtookouttwoglassesandpouredagenerousaquavitforeachofus.hewasobviouslyshaken.wheniaskedhiwhatitalleant,herepliedwithforesightthatiteanttheendforgeranyandnazis.ionlyhalfbelievedhi—hitlerseeedundefeatable,afterall—butlobachandidrankatoasttothefallofgerany.thenheturnedhisattentio. comracticalatters.”
blokvistnoddedtosignalthathewasstillfollowingthestory.
“first,hehadnopossibilityofcontactingyfatherforinstructions,butonhisowninitiativehehaddecidedtocutshortyvisittogeranyandsendehoe.second,heaskedetodosoethingforhi.”
vangerpointedtoayellowedportraitofadark-hairedwoan,inthree-quarterview.
“lobachhadbeenarriedforfortyyears,butin1919heetawildlybeautifulwoanhalfhisage,andhefellhopelesslyinlovewithher.shewasapoor,sipleseastress.lobachcourtedher,andlikesoanyotherwealthyen,hecouldaffordtoinstallherinanapartentaconvenientdistancefrohisoffice.shebecaehisistress.in1921shehadadaughter,whowaschristenededith.”
“richolderan,pooryoungwoan,andalovechild—thatcan’thavecauseduchofascandalintheforties,”blokvistsaid.
“absolutelyright.ifithadn’tbeenforohing.thewoanwasjewish,andconsequentlylobachwasthefatherofajewintheidstofnazigerany.hewaswhattheycalleda‘traitortohisrace.’”
“ah…thatdoeschangethesituation.whathappened？”
“edith’sotherhadbeenpickedupin1939.shedisappeared,andwecanonlyguesswhatherfatewas.itwasknown,ofcourse,thatshehadadaughterwhowasnotyetincludedonanytransportlist,andwhowasnowbeingsoughtbythedepartentofthegestapowhosejobitwastotrackdownfugitivejews.inthesuerof1941,theweekthatiarrivedinhaburg,edith’sotherwassoehowlinkedtolobach,andhewassuonedforaninterview.heacknowledgedtherelationshipandhispaternity,buthestatedthathehadnoideawherehisdaughterightbe,andhehadnothadanycontactwithherintenyears.”
“sowherewasthedaughter？”
“ihadseenhereverydayinthelobachs’hoe.asweetandquiettwenty-year-oldgirlwhocleanedyrooandhelpedservedinner.by1937thepersecutionofthejewshadbeengoingonforseveralyears,andedith’sotherhadbeggedlobachforhelp.andhedidhelp—lobachlovedhisillegitiatechildjustasuchashislegitiatechildren.hehidherintheostunlikelyplacehecouldthinkof—rightinfrontofeveryone’snose.hehadarrangedforcounterfeitdocuents,andhehadtakenherinastheirhousekeeper.”
“didhiswifeknohoshewas？”
“no,itseeedshehadnoidea.ithadworkedforfouryears,butnowlobachfeltthenoosetightening.itwasonlyaatteroftiebeforethegestapowouldeknockingonthedoor.thenhewenttogethisdaughterandintroducedhertoeassuch.shewasveryshyanddidn’tevendarelookeintheeye.sheusthavebeenuphalfthenightwaitingtobecalled.lobachbeggedetosaveherlife.”
“how？”
“hehadarrangedthewholething.iwassupposedtobestayinganotherthreeweeksandthentotakethenighttraintocopenhagenandcontinuebyferryacrossthesound—arelativelysafetrip,eveninwartie.buttwodaysafterourconversationafreighterownedbythevangercorporationwastoleavehaburgheadedforsweden.lobachwantedtosendewiththefreighterinstead,toleavegeranywithoutdelay.thechangeinytravelplanshadtobeapprovedbythesecurityservice；itwasaforality,butnotaproble.butlobachwantedeonboardthatfreighter.”
“togetherwithedith,ipresue.”
“edithwassuggledonboard,hiddeninsideoneofthreehundredcratescontainingachinery.myjobwa. comrotectherifsheshouldbediscoveredwhilewewerestillingeranterritorialwaters,an. comreventthecaptainoftheshipfrodoinganythingstupid.otherwiseiwassupposedtowaituntilwewereagooddistancefrogeranybeforeiletherout.”
“itsoundsterrifying.”
“itsoundedsipletoe,butitturnedintoanightarejourney.thecaptainwascalledoskargranath,andhewasfarfropleasedtobeaderesponsibleforhiseployer’ssnottylittleheir.welefthaburgaround9:00intheeveninginlatejune.wewerejustakingourwayoutoftheinnerharbourwhentheair-raidsirenswentoff.abritishbobingraid—theheaviestihadthenexperienced,andtheharbourwas,ofcourse,theaintarget.butsoehoegotthrough,andafteranenginebreakdownandaiserablystorynightinine-filledwaterswearrivedthefollowingafternoonatkarlskrona.you’reprobablygoingtoaskewhathappenedtothegirl.”
“ithinkiknow.”
“myfatherwasunderstandablyfurious.ihadputeverythingatriskwithyidioticventure.andthegirlcouldhavebeendeportedfroswedenatanytie.butiwasalreadyjustashopelesslyinlovewithheraslobachhadbeenwithherother.iproposedtoherandgaveyfatheranultiatu—eitherheaeptedourarriageorhe’dhavetolookforanotherfattedcalfforthefailybusiness.hegavein.”
“butshedied？”
“yes,fartooyoung,in1958.shehadacongenitalheartdefect.anditturnedoutthaticouldn’thavechildren.andthat’swhyybrotherhatese.”
“becauseyouarriedher.”
“because—tousehisownwords—iarriedafilthyjewishwhore.”
“buthe’sinsane.”
“icouldn’thaveputitbetteryself.”
chapter10
thursday,january9-friday,january31
aordingtothehedestadcourier,blokvist’sfirstonthoutinthecountrywasthecoldestinrecordedeory,oratleastsincethewartiewinterof1942.afteronlyaweekinhedebyhehadlearnedallaboutlongunderwear,woollysocks,anddoubleundershirts.
hehadseveraliserabledaysintheiddleoftheonthwhentheteperaturedroppedto-35°f.hehadexperiencednothinglikeit,notevenduringtheyearhespentinkirunainlaplanddoinghisilitaryservice.
oneorningthewaterpipesfroze.nilssongavehitwobigplastiontainersofwaterforcookingandwashing,butthecoldwasparalysing.iceflowersforedontheinsidesofthewindows,andnoatterhowuchwoodheputinthestove,hewasstillcold.hespentalongtieeachdaysplittingwoodintheshednexttothehouse.
attieshewasonthebrinkoftearsandtoyedwithtakingthefirsttrainheadingsouth.insteadhewouldputononeoresweaterandwrapupinablanketashesatatthekitchentable,drinkingcoffeeandreadingoldpolicereports.
thentheweatherchangedandtheteperaturerosesteadilytoabaly14°f.
mikaelwasbeginningtogettoknowpeopleinhedeby.martinvangerkepthisproiseandinvitedhiforaealofoosesteak.hisladyfriendjoinedthefordinner.evawasawar,sociable,andentertainingwoan.blokvistfoundherextraordinarilyattractive.shewasadentistandlivedinhedestad,butshespenttheweekendsatmartin’shoe.blokvistgraduallylearnedthattheyhadknowneachotherforanyyearsbutthattheyhadnotstartedgoingouttogetheruntiltheywereiddle-aged.evidentlytheysawnoreasontoarry.
“she’sactuallyydentist,”saidmartinwithalaugh.
“andarryingintothiscrazyfailyisn’treallyything,”evasaid,pattingmartinaffectionatelyontheknee.
martinvanger’svillawasfurnishedinblack,white,andchroe.therewereexpensivedesignerpiecesthatwouldhavedelightedtheconnoisseurchristermal.thekitchenwasequippedtoaprofessionalchef’sstandard.inthelivingrootherewasahigh-endstereowithanipressivecollectionofjazzrecordsfrotoydorseytojohncoltrane.martinvangerhadoney,andhishoewasbothluxuriousandfunctional.itwasalsoipersonal.theartworkonthewallswasreproductionsandposters,ofthesortfoundinikea.theshelves,atleastinthepartofthehousethatblokvistsaw,housedaswedishencyclopediaandsoecoffeetablesthatpeopleighthavegivenhiaschristaspresents,forwantofabetteridea.allinall,hecoulddiscernonlytwopersonalaspectsofmartinvanger’slife:usicandcooking.his3,000orsolpsspokefortheoneandtheothercouldbededucedfrothefactofmartin’sstoachbulgingoverhisbelt.
theanhiselfwasaixtureofsiplicity,shrewdness,andaiability.ittooknogreatanalyticalskilltoconcludethatthecorporateceowasaanwithprobles.astheylistenedto“nightintunisia,”theconversationwasdevotedtothevangercorporation,andmartinadenosecretofthefactthatthepanywasfightingforsurvival.hewascertainlyawarethathisguestwasafinancialreporterwhohehardlyknew,yethediscussedtheinternalproblesofhispanysoopenlythatitseeedreckless.perhapsheassuedthatblokvistwasoneofthefailysincehewasworkingforhisgreat-uncle；andliketheforerceo,martintooktheviewthatthefailyebersonlyhadtheselvestoblaeforthesituationinwhichthepanyfounditself.ontheotherhand,heseeedalostausedbyhisfaily’sincorrigiblefolly.evanoddedbutpassednojudgeentofherown.theyhadobviouslybeenoverthesaegroundbefore.
martinaeptedthestorythatblokvisthadbeenhiredtowriteafailychronicle,andheinquiredhowtheworkwasgoing.blokvistsaidwithasilethathewashavingtheosttroublereeberingthenaesofalltherelatives.heaskedifheightebacktodoaninterviewinduecourse.twiceheconsideredturningtheconversationtotheoldan’sobsessionwithharriet’sdisappearance.vangerusthavepesteredherbrotherwithhistheories,andmartinustrealisethatifblokvistwasgoingtowriteaboutthevangers,hecouldnotignorethefactthatonefailyeberhadvanishedindraatiircustances.butmartinshowednosignofwantingtodiscussthesubject.
theeveningended,afterseveralroundsofvodka,at2:00intheorning.blokvistwasfairlydrunkasheskiddedthethreehundredyardstotheguesthouse.ithadbeenapleasantevening.
oneafternoonduringblokvist’ssecondweekinhedebytherewasaknockonthedoor.heputasidethebinderfrothepolicereportthathehadju. comened—thesixthintheseries—andclosedthedoortohisofficebeforeheopenedthefrontdoortoablondewoanwellwrappedupagainstthecold.
“hi.ijustthoughti’deandsayhello.i’ceciliavanger.”
theyshookhandsandhegotoutthecoffeecups.cecilia,daughterofharaldvanger,appearedtobeanopenandengagingwoan.blokvistreeberedthatvangerhadspokenofherappreciatively；hehadalsosaidthatshewasnotonspeakingterswithherfather,hernext-doorneighbour.theychattedforawhilebeforeshebroughtupthereasonforhervisit.
“iunderstandthatyou’rewritingaaboutthefaily,”shesaid.“i’notsurethaticarefortheidea.iwantedtoseewhatsortofpersonyouare.”
“well,henrikvangerhirede.it’shisstory,sotospeak.”
“andourgoodhenrikisn’texactlyneutralinhisattitudetowardsthefaily.”
blokviststudiedher,unsurewhatshewasgettingat.“you’reopposedtohavingawrittenaboutthevangerfaily？”
“ididn’tsaythat.anditdoesn’treallyatterwhatithink.butbynowyouusthaverealisedthatithasn’talwaysbeenplainsailingtobepartofthisfaily.”
blokvisthadnoideawhatvangerhadsaidorhowuchceciliaknewabouthisassignent.hethrewouthishands.
“i’contractedbyyouruncletowriteafailychronicle.hehassoeverycolourfulviewsaboutebersofthefaily,buti’llbestickingstrictlytowhatcanbedocuented.”
ceciliavangersiledbutwithoutwarth.“whatiwanttoknowis:willihavetogointoexileoreigratewhentheesout？”
“idon’texpectso,”blokvistsaid.“peoplewillbeabletotellthesheepfrothegoats.”
“likeyfather,forinstance？”
“yourfatherthefaousnazi？”blokvistsaid.
ceciliavangerrolledhereyes.“myfatheriscrazy.ionlyseehiafewtiesayear.”
“whydon’tyouwanttoseehi？”
“waitainute—beforeyoustartinaskingalotofquestions…areyouplanningtoquoteanythingisay？orcanicarryonanoralconversationwithyou？”
“myjobistowriteastartingwithalexandrevangeersad’sarrivalinswedenwithbernadotteandgoinguptothepresent.it’stocoverthebusinessepireoveranydecades,butitwillalsodiscusswhytheepireisindifficultyanditwilltouchontheaniositythatexistswithinthefaily.insuchasurveyit’sipossibletoavoidhavingsoedirtylinenfloattothesurface.butthatdoesn’teanthati’goingtosetou. comresentaaliciousportraitofanyone.forexaple,i’veetmartinvanger；heseestoeaverysypatheticperson,andthat’showi’goingtodescribehi.”
ceciliavangerdidnotreply.
“whatiknowaboutyouisthatyou’reateacher…”
“it’sactuallyworsethanthat—i’theheadistressofhedestadpreparatoryschool.”
“i’sorry.iknowthatyouruncleisfondofyou,thatyou’rearriedbutseparated…andthat’saboutallsofar.sodopleasegoaheadandtalktoewithoutfearofbeingquoted.i’surei’lleknockingonyourdoorsoedaysoon.thenitwillbeanofficialinterview,andyoucanchoosewhetheryouwanttoansweryquestionsornot.”
“soicantalktoyouthenornow…offtherecord,astheysay？”
“ofcourse.”
“andthisisofftherecord？”
“ofcourse.thisisasocialvisitafterall.”
“ok.thencaniaskyousoething？”
“please.”