第 37 部分阅读

thenpastorfalkseeedtofetallaboutblokvistandstartedtalkingwiththeotherpatients.

hegotbacktohedebyislandjustafter2:00.hewalkedovertoceciliavanger’sandknockedonthedoor,butwithoutsuess.hetriedherobilenuberagainbutnoanswer.

heattachedonesokealartoawallinthekitchenandonenexttothefrontdoor.heputonefireextinguishernexttothewoodstovebesidethebedroodoorandanotheronebesidethebathroodoor.thenheadehiselflunch,whichconsistedofcoffeeandopensandwiches,andsatinthegarden,wherehewastypingupthenotesofhisconversationwithpastorfalk.whenthatwasdone,heraisedhiseyestothechurch.

hedeby’snewparsonagewasquiteanordinaryoderndwellingafewinutes’walkfrothechurch.blokvistknockedonthedoorat4:00andexplainedtopastormargaretastrandhthathehadetoseekadviceonatheologicalatter.margaretastrandhwasadark-hairedwoanofabouthisownage,dressedinjeansandaflannelshirt.shewasbarefootandhadpaintedtoenails.hehadrunintoherbeforeatsusanne’sbridgecaféonacoupleofoasionsandtalkedtoheraboutpastorfalk.hewasgivenafriendlyreceptionandinvitedtoeandsitinhercourtyard.

blokvisttoldherthathehadinterviewedottofalkandwhattheoldanhadsaid.pastorstrandhlistenedandthenaskedhitorepeatitwordforword.

“iwassenttoservehereinhedebyonlythreeyearsago,andi’veneveractuallyetpastorfalk.heretiredseveralyearsbeforethat,butibelievethathewasfairlyhigh-church.whathesaidtoyoueantsoethingonthelinesof‘keeptoscripturealone’—solascriptura—andthatitissufficientiascripturae.thislatterisanexpressionthatestablishesthesufficiencyofscriptureaongliteralbelievers.solafideeansfaithaloneorthetruefaith.”

“isee.”

“allthisisbasicdoga,sotospeak.ingeneralit’stheplatforofthechurchandnothingunusualatall.hewassayingquitesiply:‘readthebible—itwillprovidesufficientknowledgeandvouchesforthetruefaith.’”

mikaelfeltabitebarrassed.

“nowihavetoaskyouinwhatconnectionthisconversationourred,”shesaid.

“iwasaskinghiaboutapersonhehadetanyyearsago,soeonei’writingabout.”

“areligiousseeker？”

“soethingalongthatline.”

“ok.ithinkiunderstandthecontext.youtoldethatpastorfalksaidtwootherthings—that‘josefwillcertainlyexcludethe’andthat‘theywereneveraeptedintothecanon.’isitpossiblethatyouisunderstoodandthathesaidjosefusinsteadofjosef？it’sactuallythesaenae.”

“that’spossible,”blokvistsaid.“itapedtheconversationifyouwanttolistentoit.”

“no,idon’tthinkthat’snecessary.thesetwosentencesestablishfairlyunequivocallywhathewasalludingto.josefuswasajewishhistorian,andthesentence‘theywereneveraeptedintothecanon’ayhaveeantthattheywereneverinthehebrewcanon.”

“andthateans？”

shelaughed.

“pastorfalkwassayingthatthispersonwasenthralledbyesotericsources,specificallytheapocrypha.thegreekwordapokryphoseans‘hidden,’andtheapocryphaarethereforethehiddenswhichsoeconsiderhighlycontroversialandothersthinkshouldbeincludedintheoldtestaent.theyaretobias,judith,esther,baruch,sirach,thesofthemaabees,andsoeothers.”

“fiveyignorance.i’veheardaboutthesoftheapocryphabuthaveneverreadthe.what’sspecialaboutthe？”

“there’sreallynothingspecialabouttheatall,exceptthattheycaeintoexistencesoewhatlaterthantherestoftheoldtestaent.theapocryphaweredeletedfrothehebrewbible—notbecausejewishscholarsistrustedtheircontentbutsiplybecausetheywerewrittenafterthetiewhengod’srevelatoryworkwasconcluded.ontheotherhand,theapocryphaareincludedintheoldgreektranslationofthebible.they’renotconsideredcontroversialin,forexaple,theroancatholihurch.”

“isee.”

“however,theyarecontroversialintheprotestantchurch.duringthereforation,theologianslookedtotheoldhebrewbible.martinlutherdeletedtheapocryphafrothereforation’sbibleandlatercalvindeclaredthattheapocryphaabsolutelyustnotserveasthebasisforconvictionsinattersoffaith.thustheircontentscontradictorinsoewayconflictwithclaritasscripturae—theclarityofscripture.”

“inotherwords,censoreds.”

“quiteright.forexaple,theapocryphaclaithatagianbepractisedandthatliesincertaincasesaybeperissible,andsuchstateents,ofcourse,upsetdogaticinterpretersofscripture.”

“soifsoeonehasapassionforreligion,it’snotunthinkablethattheapocryphawillpopupontheirreadinglist,orthatsoeonelikepastorfalkwouldbeupsetbythis.”

“exactly.encounteringtheapocryphaisalostunavoidableifyou’restudyingthebibleorthecatholicfaith,andit’sequallyprobablethatsoeonewhoisinterestedinesotericaingeneralightreadthe.”

“youdon’thappentohaveacopyoftheapocrypha,doyou？”

shelaughedagain.abright,friendlylaugh.

“ofcourseido.theapocryphawereactuallypublishedasastatereportfrothebibleissionintheeighties.”

aranskywonderedwhatwasgoingonwhensalanderaskedtospeaktohiinprivate.heshutthedoorbehindherandotionedhertothevisitor’schair.shetoldhithatherworkformikaelblokvistwasdone—thelawyerwouldbepayingherbeforetheendoftheonth—butthatshehaddecidedtokeeponwiththisparticularinvestigation.blokvisthadofferedheraconsiderablyhighersalaryforaonth.

“iaself-eployed,”salandersaid.“untilnowi’venevertakenajobthatyouhaven’tgivene,inkeepingwithouragreeent.whatiwanttoknowiswhatwillhappentoourrelationshipifitakeajobonyown？”

aranskyshrugged.

“you’reafreelancer,youcantakeanyjobyouwantandchargewhatyouthinkit’sworth.i’justgladyou’reakingyourownoney.itwould,however,bedisloyalofyoutotakeonclientsyoufindthroughus.”

“ihavenoplanstodothat.i’vefinishedthejobaordingtothecontractwesignedwithblokvist.whatthisisaboutisthatiwanttostayonthecase.i’devendoitfornothing.”

“don’teverdoanythingfornothing.”

“youknohatiean.iwanttoknoherethisstoryisgoing.i’veconvincedblokvisttoaskthelawyertokeepeonasaresearchassistant.”

shepassedtheagreeentovertoaransky,whoreadrapidlythroughit.

“withthissalaryyouightaswellbeworkingforfree.lisbeth,you’vegottalent.youdon’thavetoworkforsallchange.youknowyoucanakeahellofalotorewitheifyoueonboardfull-tie.”

“idon’twanttoworkfull-tie.but,dragan,yloyaltyistoyou.you’vebeengreattoesinceistartedhere.iwanttoknowifacontractlikethisisokwithyou,thattherewon’tbeanyfrictionbetweenus.”

“isee.”hethoughtforaoent.“it’s100percentok.thanksforasking.ifanyoresituationslikethiscropupinthefuturei’dappreciateitifyouaskedesotherewon’tbeanyisunderstandings.”

salanderthoughtoverwhethershehadanythingtoadd.shefixedhergazeonaransky,sayingnotaword.insteadshejustnoddedandthenstoodupandleft,asusualwithnofarewellgreeting.

shegottheanswershewantedandinstantlylostinterestinaransky.hesiledtohiself.thatshehadevenaskedhiforadvicearkedanewhighpointinhersocialisationprocess.

heopenedafolderwithareportonsecurityatauseuwhereabigexhibitionoffrenchipressionistswasopeningsoon.thenheputdownthefolderandlookedatthedoorthroughwhichsalanderhadjustgone.hethoughtabouthowshehadlaughedwithblokvistinherofficeandwonderedifshewasfinallygrowinguporwhetheritwasblokvistwhowastheattraction.healsofeltastrangeuneasiness.hehadneverbeenabletoshakeoffthefeelingthatlisbethsalanderwasaperfectvicti.andhereshewas,huntingaadanoutinthebackofbeyond.

onthewaynorthagain,salandertookonipulseadetourbywayof？ppelvikennursinghoetoseeherother.exceptforthevisitonmidsuereve,shehadnotseenherothersincechristas,andshefeltbadforsoseldotakingthetie.asecondvisitwithinthecourseofafeeekswasquiteunusual.

herotherwasinthedayroo.salanderstayedagoodhourandtookherotherforawalkdowntotheduckpondinthegroundsofthehospital.herotherwasstilluddlinglisbethwithhersister.asusual,shewashardlypresent,butsheseeedtroubledbythevisit.

whensalandersaidgoodbye,herotherdidnotwanttoletgoofherhand.salanderproisedtovisitheragainsoon,butherothergazedafterhersadlyandanxiously.

itwasasifshehadapreonitionofsoeapproachingdisaster.

blokvistspenttwohoursinthegardenbehindhiscabingoingthroughtheapocryphawithoutgainingasingleinsight.butathoughthadourredtohi.howreligioushadharrietvangeractuallybeen？herinterestinbiblestudieshadstartedthelastyearbeforeshevanished.shehadlinkedanuberofbiblequotestoaseriesofurdersandthenhadethodicallyreadnotonlyherbiblebutalsotheapocrypha,andshehaddevelopedaninterestincatholicis.

hadshereallydohesaeinvestigationthatblokvistandsalanderweredoingthirty-sevenyearslater？wasitthehuntforaurdererthathadspurredherinterestratherthanreligiosity？pastorfalkhadindicatedthatinhiseyesshewasoreofaseeker,lessagoodchristian.

hewasinterruptedbybergercallinghionhisobile.

“ijustwantedtotellyouthatgregerandiareleavingonholidaynextweek.i’llbegoneforfourweeks.”

“whereareyougoing？”

“newyork.gregerhasanexhibition,andthenwethoughtwe’dgotothecaribbean.wehaveachancetoborrowahouseonantiguafroafriendofgreger’sandwe’restayingtheretwoweeks.”

“thatsoundswonderful.haveagreattie.andsayhitogreger.”

“thenewissueisfinishedandwe’vealostwrappedupthenextone.iwishyoucouldtakeoveraseditor,butchristerhassaidhewilldoit.”

“hecancalleifheneedsanyhelp.how’sitgoingwithjannedahlan？”

shehesitated.

“he’salsogoingonholiday.i’vepushedhenryintobeingtheactinganagingeditor.heandchristerareindingthestore.”

“ok.”

“i’llbebackonaugustseventh.”

intheearlyeveningblokvisttriedfivetiestotelephonececiliavanger.hesentheratextaskinghertocallhi.buthereceivednoanswer.

heputawaytheapocryphaandgotintohistracksuit,lockingthedoorbeforehesetoff.

hefollowedthenarrowpathalongtheshoreandthenturnedintothewoods.hegroundhiswaythroughthicketsandarounduprootedtreesasfastashecouldgo,eergingexhaustedatthefortresswithhispulseracing.he. compedbyoneoftheoldartillerybatteriesandstretchedforseveralinutes.

suddenlyheheardasharpcrackandthegreyconcretewallnexttohisheadexploded.thenhefeltthepainasfragentsofconcreteandshrapneltoreadeepgashinhisscalp.

forwhatseeedaernityblokviststoodparalysed.thenhethrewhiselfintotheartillerytrench,landinghardonhisshoulderandknockingthewindoutofhiself.asecondroundcaeattheinstanthedived.thebulletsackedintotheconcretefoundation.

hegottohisfeetandlookedallaround.hewasintheiddleofthefortress.totherightandleftnarrow,overgrownpassagesayarddeeprantothebatteriesthatwerespreadalongalineof250yards.inacrouch,hestartedrunningsouththroughthelabyrinth.

hesuddenlyheardanechoofcaptainadolfsson’siniitablevoicefrowinteranoeuvresattheinfantryschoolinkiruna.blokvist,keepyourfuckingheaddownifyoudon’twanttogetyourarseshotoff.yearslaterhestillreeberedtheextrapractisedrillsthatcaptainadolfssonusedtodevise.

he. compedtocatchhisbreath,hisheartpounding.hecouldhearnothingbuthisownbreathing.thehuaneyeperceivesotionuchquickerthanshapesandfigures.moveslowlywhenyou’rescouting.blokvistslowlypeekedaninchoverth. comedgeofthebattery.thesunwasstraightaheadandadeitipossibletoakeoutdetails,buthecouldseenooveent.

hepulledhisheadbackdownandranontothenextbattery.itdoesn’tatterhowgoodtheeney’sweaponsare.ifhecan’tseeyou,hecan’thityou.cover,cover,cover.makesureyou’reneverexposed.

hewas300yardsfrotheedgeof？sterg？rdenfar.soe40yardsfrowhereheknelttherewasanalostiperablethicketoflowbrush.buttoreachthethickethewouldhavetosprintdownagrassslopefrotheartillerybattery,andhewouldbepletelyexposed.itwastheonlyway.athisbackwasthesea.

hewassuddenlyawareofpaininhistepleanddiscoveredthathewasbleedingandthathist-shirtwasdrenchedwithblood.scalpwoundsnever. combleeding,hethoughtbeforeheagainconcentratedonhisposition.oneshotcouldjusthavebeenanaident,buttwoeantthatsoebodywastryingtokillhi.hehadnowayofknowingifthearksanwaswaitingforhitoreappear.

hetriedtobecal,thinkrationally.thechoicewastowaitortogetthehellout.ifthearksanwasstillthere,thelatteralternativewasassuredlynotagoodidea.ifhewaitedwherehewas,thearksanwouldcallywalkuptothefortress,findhi,andshoothiatcloserange.

hecan’tknowifi’vegootherightorleft.rifle,aybeaooserifle.probablywithtelescopicsights.whichwouldeanthatthearksanwouldhavealiitedfieldofvisionifhewaslookingformikaelthroughthesights.

ifyou’reinatightspot—taketheinitiative.betterthanwaiting.hewatchedandlistenedforsoundsfortwoinutes；thenheclaberedoutofthebatteryandraceddowntheslopeasfastashecould.

hewashalfwaydowntheslopeasathirdshotwasfired,butheonlyheardavaguesackbehindhi.hethrewhiselfflatthroughthecurtainofbrushandrolledthroughaseaofstingingtles.thenhewasonhisfeetandovingawayfrothedirectionofthefire,crouching,running,. compingeveryfiftyyards,listening.heheardabranchcracksoewherebetweenhiandthefortress.hedroppedtohisstoach.

crawlusingyourelbowswasanotherofcaptainadolfsson’sfavouriteexpressions.blokvistcoveredthenext150yardsonhiskneesandtoesandelbowsthroughtheundergrowth.hepushedasidetwigsandbranches.twiceheheardsuddencracksinthethicketbehindhi.thefirstseeedtobeveryclose,aybetwentypacestotheright.hefroze,layperfectlystill.afterawhilehecautiouslyraisedhisheadandlookedaround,buthecouldseeno-one.helaystillforalongtie,hisnervesonfullalert,readytofleeorpossiblyakeadesperatecounterattackiftheeneycaeathi.thenextcrackwasfrofartheraway.thensilence.

heknowsi’here.hashetakenupapositionsoewhere,waitingforetostartoving,orhasheretreated？

blokvistkeptcrawlingthroughtheundergrowthuntilhereachedthe？sterg？rden’sfence.

thiswasthenextcriticaloent.apathraninsidethefence.helaystretchedoutontheground,watching.thefarhousewas400yardsdownagentleslope.totherightofthehousehesawcowsgrazing.whyhadn’tanyoneheardtheshotsandetoinvestigate？suer.maybenobodyisathoerightnow.

therewasnoquestionofcrossingthepasture—therehewouldhavenocoveratall.thestraightpathbesidethefencewastheplacehehiselfwouldhavepickedforaclearfieldoffire.heretreatedintothebrushuntilhecaeoutontheothersideintoasparsepinewood.

hetookthelongwayaround？sterg？rden’sfieldsands？derbergettoreachhoe.whenhepassed？sterg？rdenhecouldseethattheircarwasgone.atth. comofs？derbergethe. compedandlookeddownonhedeby.intheoldfishingcabinsbythearinathereweresuervisitors；woeninbathingsuitsweresittingtalkingonadock.heselledsoethingcookingonanoutdoorgrill.childrenweresplashinginthewaternearthedocksinthearina.

justafter8:00.itwasfiftyinutessincetheshotshadbeenfired.nilssonwaswateringhislawn,wearingshortsandnoshirt.howlonghaveyoubeenthere？vanger’shousewaseptybutforanna.haraldvanger’shouselookeddesertedasalways.thenhesawisabellavangerinherbackgarden.shewassittingthere,obviouslytalkingtosoeone.ittookasecondforblokvisttorealiseitwasthesicklygerdavanger,bornin1922andlivingwithherson,alexander,inoneofthehousesbeyondhenrik’s.hehadneverether,buthehadseenherafewties.ceciliavanger’shouselookedepty,butthenmikaelsawaoveentinherkitchen.she’shoe.wasthearksanawoan？heknewthatceciliacouldhandleagun.hecouldseemartinvanger’scarinthedriveinfrontofhishouse.howlonghaveyoubeenhoe？

orwasitsoeoneelsethathehadnotthoughtofyet？frode？alexander？tooanypossibilities.

heclibeddownfros？derbergetandfollowedtheroadintothevillage；hegothoewithoutencounteringanyone.thefirstthinghesaasthatthedoorofthecottagewasajar.hewentintoacrouchalostinstinctively.thenheselledcoffeeandsawsalanderthroughthekitchenwindow.

sheheardhieinthefrontdoorandturnedtowardshi.shestiffened.hisfacelookedterrible,searedwithbloodthathadbe