第 40 部分阅读
hepausedirresolutelyoutsidemartinvanger’shouse,tookouthisobile,andpunchedinsalander’snuber.stillnoanswer.heturnedoffhisobilesothatitwouldnotstartringing.
therewerelightsondownstairs.blokvistwalkedacrossthelawnand. compedafewyardsfrothekitchenwindow,buthecouldseeno-one.hecontinuedonaroundthehouse,pausingateachwindow,buttherewasnosignofmartin.ontheotherhand,hediddiscoverthatthesallsidedoorintothegaragewasslightlyopen.don’tbeadanfool.buthecouldnotresisttheteptationtolook.
thefirstthinghesawonthecarpenter’sbenchwasanopenboxofaunitionforaooserifle.thenhesawtwogasolinecansonthefloorunderthebench.preparationsforanothernocturnalvisit,martin？
“ein,mikael.isawyouontheroad.”
blokvist’sheartskippedabeat.slowlyheturnedhisheadandsawmartinvangerstandinginthedarkbyadoorleadingintothehouse.
“yousiplycouldn’tstayaway,couldyou？”
hisvoicewascal,alostfriendly.
“hi,martin,”blokvistsaid.
“ein,”martinrepeated.“thisway.”
hetookastepforwardandtotheside,holdingouthislefthandinaninvitinggesture.heraisedhisrighthand,andblokvistsawthereflectionofdulletal.
“ihaveaglockinyhand.don’tdoanythingstupid.atthisdistanceiwon’tiss.”
blokvistslowlyovedcloser.whenhereachedmartin,he. compedandlookedhiintheeye.
“ihadtoehere.therearesoanyquestions.”
“iunderstand.throughthedoor.”
blokvistenteredthehouse.thepassageledtothehallnearthekitchen,butbeforehegotthatfar,martinvanger. compedhibyputtingahandlightlyonblokvist’sshoulder.
“no,notthatway.toyourright.openthedoor.”
thebaseent.whenblokvistwashalfwaydownthesteps,martinvangerturnedaswitchandthelightswenton.totherightofhiwastheboilerroo.aheadhecouldsellthescentsoflaundry.martinguidedhitotheleft,intoastorageroowitholdfurnitureandboxes,atthebackofwhichwasasteelsecuritydoorwithadeadboltlock.
“here,”martinsaid,tossingakeyringtoblokvist.“openit.”
heopenedthedoor.
“theswitchisontheleft.”
blokvisthadopenedthedoortohell.
around9:00salanderwenttogetsoecoffeeandaplastic-wrappedsandwichfrothevendingachineinthecorridoroutsidethearchives.shekeptonpagingthrougholddocuents,lookingforanytraceofgottfriedvangerinkalarin1954.shefoundnothing.
shethoughtaboutcallingblokvist,butdecidedtogothroughthestaffnewslettersbeforeshecalleditaday.
thespacewasapproxiatelytenbytwentyfeet.blokvistassuedthatitwassituatedalongthenorthsideofthehouse.
martinvangerhadcontrivedhisprivatetorturechaberwithgreatcare.ontheleftwerechains,etaleyeletsintheceilingandfloor,atablewithleatherstrapswherehecouldrestrainhisvictis.andthenthevideoequipent.atapingstudio.inthebackoftheroowasasteelcageforhisguests.totherightofthedoorwasabench,abed,andatvcornerwithvideosonashelf.
assoonastheyenteredtheroo,martinvangeraiedthepistolatblokvistandtoldhitolieonhisstoachonthefloor.blokvistrefused.
“verywell,”martinsaid.“theni’llshootyouinthekneecap.”
hetookai.blokvistcapitulated.hehadnochoice.
hehadhopedthatmartinwouldrelaxhisguardjustatenthofasecond—heknewhewouldwinanysortoffightwithhi.hehadhadhalfachanceinthepassageupstairswhenmartinputhishandonhisshoulder,buthehadhesitated.afterthatmartinhadnoteclose.withabulletinhiskneecaphewouldhavelosthischance.helaydownonthefloor.
martinapproachedfrobehindandtoldh. comuthishandsonhisback.hehandcuffedhi.thenhekickedmikaelinthecrotchandpunchedhiviciouslyandrepeatedly.
whathappenedafterthatseeedlikeanightare.martinswungbetweenrationalityandpurelunacy.foratiequitecal,thenextinstanthewouldbepacingbackandforthlikeananialinacage.hekickedblokvistseveralties.allblokvistcoulddowastr. comrotecthisheadandtaketheblowsinthesoftpartsofhisbody.
forthefirsthalfhourmartindidnotsayaword,andheappearedtobeincapableofanysortofunication.afterthatheseeedtorecovercontrol.heputachainroundblokvist’sneck,fasteningitwithapadlocktoaetaleyeletonthefloor.heleftblokvistaloneforaboutfifteeninutes.whenhereturned,hewascarryingalitrebottleofwater.hesatonachairandlookedatblokvistashedrank.
“couldihavesoewater？”blokvistsaid.
martinleaneddownandlethitakeagoodlongdrinkfrothebottle.blokvistswallowedgreedily.
“thanks.”
“stillsopolite,kalleblokvist.”
“whyallthepunchingandkicking？”blokvistsaid.
“becauseyouakeeveryangryindeed.youdeservetobepunished.whydidn’tyoujustgohoe？youwereneededatmillenniu.iwasserious—wecouldhaveadeitintoagreatagazine.wecouldhaveworkedtogetherforyears.”
blokvistgriacedandtriedtoshifthisbodyintoaorefortableposition.hewasdefenceless.allhehadwashisvoice.
“iassueyoueanthattheopportunityhaspassed,”blokvistsaid.
martinvangerlaughed.
“i’sorry,mikael.but,ofcourse,youknowperfectlywellthatyou’regoingtodiedownhere.”
blokvistnodded.
“howthehelldidyoufinde,youandthatanorexicspookthatyoudraggedintothis？”
“youliedaboutwhatyouweredoingonthedaythatharrietdisappeared.youwereinhedestadatthechildren’sdayparade.youwerephotographedthere,lookingatharriet.”
“wasthatwhyyouwenttonorsj？？”
“togetthepicture,yes.itwastakenbyahoneyooncouplewhohappenedtobeinhedestad.”
heshookhishead.
“that’sacrasslie,”martinsaid.
blokvistthoughthard:whattosa. comreventorpostponehisexecution.
“where’sthepicturenow？”
“thenegative？it’sinasafe-depositboxathandelsbankenhereinhedestad…youdidn’tknowthatihaveasafe-depositbox？”heliedeasily.“therearecopiesinvariousplaces.inyputerandinthegirl’s,ontheserveratmillenniu,andontheserveratmiltonsecurity,wherethegirlworks.”
martinwaited,tryingtoworkoutwhetherornotblokvistwasbluffing.
“howuchdoesthegirlknow？”
blokvisthesitated.salanderwasrightnowhisonlyhopeofrescue.whatwouldshethinkwhenshecaehoeandfoundhinotthere？hehadputthephotographofmartinvangerwearingthepaddedjacketonthekitchentable.wouldsheaketheconnection？wouldshesoundthealar？sheisnotgoingtocallthepolice.thenightarewasthatshewouldetomartinvanger’shouseandringthebell,deandingtoknohereblokvistwas.
“answere,”martinsaid,hisvoiceice-cold.
“i’thinking.sheknowsalostasuchasido,aybeevenalittleore.yes,iwouldreckonsheknowsorethanido.she’sbright.she’stheonewhoadethelinktolenaandersson.”
“lenaandersson？”martinsoundedperplexed.
“thegirlyoutorturedandkilledinuppsalain1966.don’ttelleyou’vefotten？”
“idon’tknohatyou’retalkingabout.”butforthefirsttiehesoundedshaken.itwasthefirsttiethatanyonehadadethatconnection—lenaanderssonwasnotincludedinharriet’sdate.
“martin,”blokvistsaid,akinghisvoiceassteadyashecould.“it’sover.youcankille,butit’sfinished.tooanypeopleknow.”
martinstartedpacingbackandforthagain.
ihavetoreeberthathe’sirrational.thecat.hecouldhavebroughtthecatdownhere,buthewenttothefailycrypt.martin. comped.
“ithinkyou’relying.youandsalanderaretheonlyoneswhoknowanything.youobviouslyhaven’ttalkedtoanyone,orthepolicewouldhavebeenherebynow.anicelittleblazeintheguestcottageandtheproofwillbegone.”
“andifyou’rewrong？”
“ifi’wrong,thenitreallyisover.butidon’tthinkitis.i’llbetthatyou’rebluffing.andwhatotherchoicedoihave？i’llgivethatsoethought.it’sthatanorexiclittlecuntwho’stheweaklink.”
“shewenttostockholatlunchtie.”
martinlaughed.
“bluffaway,mikael.shehasbeensittinginthearchivesatthevangercorporationofficesallevening.”
blokvist’sheartskippedabeat.heknew.he’sknownallalong.
“that’sright.theplanwastovisitthearchiveandthengotostockhol,”blokvistsaid.“ididn’tknowshestayedtheresolong.”
“. comallthiscrap,mikael.thearchivesanagerrangtotellethatdirchhadletthegirlstaythereaslateassheliked.whicheansshe’llcertainlybehoe.thenightwatchanisgoingtocallewhensheleaves.”
part4
hostiletakeover
july11todecember30
niy-twopercentofwoeninswedenwhohavebeensubjectedtosexualassaulthavenotreportedtheostrecentviolentincidenttothepolice.
chapter24
friday,july11–saturday,july12
martinvangerbentdownandwentthroughmikael’spockets.hetookthekey.
“sartofyoutochangethelock,”hesaid.“i’goingtotakecareofyourgirlfriendwhenshegetsback.”
blokvistreindedhiselfthatmartinwasanegotiatorexperiencedfroanyindustrialbattles.hehadalreadyseenthroughonebluff.
“why？”
“whywhat？”
“whyallofthis？”blokvistgesturedvaguelyatthespacearoundhi.
martinbentdownandputonehandunderblokvist’schin,liftinghisheadsotheireyeset.
“becauseit’ssoeasy,”hesaid.“woendisappearallthetie.nobodyissesthe.iigrants.whoresfrorussia.thousandsofpeoplepassthroughswedeneveryyear.”
heletgoofblokvist’sheadandstoodup.
martin’swordshitblokvistlikeapunchintheface.
christalighty.thisisnohistoricalystery.martinvangerisurderingwoentoday.andiwanderedrightintoit…
“asithappens,idon’thaveaguestrightnow.butitightauseyoutoknowthatwhileyouandhenriksataroundbabblingthiswinterandspring,therewasagirldownhere.irinafrobelarus.whileyousatandatedinnerwithe,shewaslockedupinthecagedownhere.itwasapleasanteveningasireeber,no？”
martinperchedonthetable,lettinghislegsdangle.blokvistshuthiseyes.hesuddenlyfeltacidinhisthroatandheswallowedhard.thepaininhisgutandinhisribsseeedtoswell.
“whatdoyoudowiththebodies？”
“ihaveyboatatthedockrightbelowhere.itakethealongwayouttosea.unlikeyfather,idon’tleavetraces.buthewassarttoo.hespreadhisvictisoutalloversweden.”
thepuzzlepieceswerefallingi. comlace.
gottfriedvanger.fro1949until1965.thenmartinvanger,startingin1966inuppsala.
“youadireyourfather.”
“hewastheonewhotaughte.heinitiatedewheniwasfourteen.”
“uddevalla.leapersson.”
“aren’tyouclever？yes,iwasthere.ionlywatched,butiwasthere.”
“1964.sarawittinronneby.”
“iwassixteen.itwasthefirsttieihadawoan.myfathertaughte.iwastheonewhostrangledher.”
he’sbragging.goodlord,whatarevoltinglysickfaily.
“youcan’thaveanynotionofhowdeentedthisis.”
“youareaveryordinarylittleperson,mikael.youwouldnotbeabletounderstandthegodlikefeelingofhavingabsolutecontroloversoeone’slifeanddeath.”
“youenjoytorturingandkillingwoen,martin.”
“idon’tthinksoreally.ifidoanintellectualanalysisofycondition,i’oreofaserialrapistthanaserialurderer.infact,ostofalli’aserialkidnapper.thekillingisanaturalconsequence,sotospeak,becauseihavetohideycrie.
“ofcourseyactionsaren’tsociallyaeptable,butycrieisfirstandforeostacrieagainsttheconventionsofsociety.deathdoesn’teuntiltheendofyguests’visitshere,afteri’vegrownwearyofthe.it’salwayssofascinatingtoseetheirdisappointent.”
“disappointent？”
“exactly.disappointent.theyiagihatiftheypleasee,they’lllive.theyadapttoyrules.theystarttotrusteanddevelopacertaincaaraderiewithe,hopingtotheveryendthatthiscaaraderieeanssoething.thedisappointenteswhenitfinallydawnsonthethatthey’vebeenwellandtrulyscrewed.”
martinwalkedaroundthetableandleanedagainstthesteelcage.
“youwithyourbourgeoisconventionswouldnevergraspthis,buttheexciteentesfroplanningakidnapping.they’renotdoneonipulse—thosekindsofkidnappersinvariablygetcaught.it’sasciencewiththousandsofdetailsthatihavetoweigh.ihavetoidentifyyprey,apoutherlife,whoisshe,wheredoessheefro,howcaniakecontactwithher,whatdoihavetodotobealonewithypreywithoutrevealingynaeorhavingitturnupinanyfuturepoliceinvestigation？”
shutup,forgod’ssake,blokvistthought.
“areyoureallyinterestedinallthis,mikael？”
hebentdownandstrokedblokvist’scheek.thetouchwasalosttender.
“yourealisethatthiscanonlyendoneway？willitbotheryouifisoke？”
“youcouldoffereacigarette,”hesaid.
martinlittwocigarettesandcarefullyplacedoneofthebetweenblokvist’slips,lettinghitakealongdrag.
“thanks,”blokvistsaid,autoatically.
martinvangerlaughedagain.
“yousee.you’vealreadystartedtoadapttothesubissionprinciple.iholdyourlifeinyhands,mikael.youknowthaticandispatchyouatanysecond.youpleadedwithetoiproveyourqualityoflife,andyoudidsobyusingreasonandalittlegoodanners.andyouwererewarded.”
blokvistnodded.hisheartwaspoundingsoharditwasalostunbearable.
at11:15lisbethsalanderdranktherestofthewaterfroherpetbottleassheturnedthepages.unlikeblokvist,whoearlierinthedayhadchokedonhiscoffee,shedidn’tgetthewaterdownthewrongway.ontheotherhand,shedidopenhereyeswidewhensheadetheconnection.
click！
fortwohoursshehadbeenwadingthroughthestaffnewslettersfroallpointsofthepass.theainnewsletterwaspanyration.itborethevangerlogo—aswedishbannerflutteringinthewind,withthepointforinganarrow.thepublicationwaspresuablyputtogetherbythefir’sadvertisingdepartent,anditwasfilledwithpropagandathatwassupposedtoaketheeployeesfeelthattheywereebersofonebigfaily.
inassociationwiththewintersportsholidayinfebruary1967,henrikvanger,inaagnaniousgesture,hadinvitedfiftyeployeesfrotheainofficeandtheirfailiestoaweek’sskiingholidayinh？rjedalen.thepanyhadaderecordprofitsduringthepreviousyear.theprdepartentwenttooandputtogetherapicturereport.
manyofthepictureswithausingcaptionswerefrotheslopes.soeshowedgroupsinthebar,withlaughingeployeeshoistingbeerugs.twophotographswereofasallorningfunctionwhenhenrikvangerproclaiedulla-brittmogrentobethebestofficeworkeroftheyear.shewasgivenabonusoffivehundredkronorandaglassbowl.
thecereonywasheldontheterraceofthehotel,clearlyrightbeforepeoplewerethinkingofheadingbacktotheslopes.abouttwentypeoplewereinthepicture.
onthefarright,justbehindhenrikvanger,stoodaanwithlongblondhair.hewaswearingadarkpaddedjacketwithadistinctivepatchattheshoulder.sincethepublicationwasinblack-and-white,thecolourwasn’tidentifiable,butsalanderwaswillingtobetherlifethattheshoulderpatchwasred.
thecaptionexplainedtheconnection.…farright,martinvanger,whoisstudyinginuppsala.heisalreadybeingdiscussedassoeonewithaproisingfutureinthepany’sanageent.
“gotcha,”salandersaidinalowvoice.
sheswitchedoffthedesklapandleftthenewslettersinpilesalloverthedesk—soethingforthatslutlindgrentotakecareoftoorrow.
shewentouttothecarparkthroughasidedoor.asitclosedbehindher,shereeberedthatshehadproisedtotellthenightwatchanwhensheleft.she. compedandlethereyessweepoverthecarpark.thewatchan’sofficewasontheothersideofthebuilding.thateantthatshewouldhavetowalkallthewayroundtotheotherside.letsleepingdogslie,shedecided.
beforesheputonherhelet,sheturnedonherobileandcalledblokvist’snuber.shegotaessagesayingthatthesubscribercouldnotbereached.butshealsosawthathehadtriedtocallhernofewerthanthirteentiesbetween3:30and9:00.inthelasttwohours,nocall.
salandertriedthecottagenuber,buttherewasnoanswer.shefrowned,strappedonherputer,putonherhelet,andkick-startedtheotorcycle.theridefrotheainofficeattheentrancetohedestad’sindustrialdistrictouttohedebyislandtookteninutes.alightwasoninthekitchen.
salanderlookedaround.herfirstthoughtwasthatblokvisthadgooseefrode,butfrothebridgeshehadalreadynoticedthatthelightswereoffinfrode’shouseontheothersideofthewater.shelookedatherwatch:11:40.
shewentintothecottage,openedthewardrobe,andtookoutthetwopcsthatshewasusingtostorethesurveillancepicturesfrothecae