he. compedbelowceciliavanger’shouseandstoleaglanceatthelightedwindowsonth. comfloor.thenhewenthoeandputonsoecoffeeofhisown.hewentintohisofficewhilehewaitedforittobrew.

  beforehepresentedhiselfattheprisonhehadreturnedtheajorityofvanger’sdocuentationonharriet.ithadseeedwisenottoleaveitinaneptyhouse.nowtheshelveslookedbare.hehad,ofthereports,onlyfiveofvanger’sownnotes,andthesehehadtakenwithhitorull？kerandnowknewbyheart.henoticedanalbuonth. comshelfofthecasethathehadfotten.

  hecarriedittothekitchentable.hepouredhiselfcoffeeandbegangoingthroughit.

  theywerephotographsthathadbeentakenonthedayharrietdisappeared.thefirstofthewasthelastphotographofharriet,atthechildren’sdayparadeinhedestad.thenthereweresoe180crystal-clearpicturesofthesceneoftheaidentonthebridge.hehadexainedtheiagesonebyonewithaagnifyingglassonseveraloasionspreviously.nowheturnedthepagesalostabsent-indedly；heknewhewasnotgoingtofindanythinghehadnotseenbefore.infacthefeltallofasuddenfedupwiththeunexplainabledisappearanceofharrietvangerandslaedthealbushut.

  restlesslyhewenttothekitchenwindowandpeeredoutintothedarkness.

  thenheturnedhisgazebacktothealbu.hecouldnothaveexplainedthefeeling,butathoughtflittedthroughhishead,asthoughhewerereactingtosoethinghehadjustseen.itwasasthoughaninvisiblecreaturehadwhisperedinhisear,akingthehairsonthebackofhisneckstandonend.

  heopenedthealbuagain.hewentthroughitpagebypage,lookingatallthepicturesofthebridge.helookedattheyoungerversionofanoil-soakedhenrikvangerandayoungerharald,aanwhohehadstillnotet.thebrokenrailing,thebuildings,thewindowsandthevehiclesvisibleinthepictures.hecouldnotfailtoidentifyatwenty-year-oldceciliaintheidstoftheonlookers.shehadonalight-coloureddressandadarkjacketandwasinatleasttwentyofthephotographs.

  hefeltafreshexciteent,andovertheyearsblokvisthadlearnedtotrusthisinstincts.theseinstinctswerereactingtosoethinginthealbu,buthecouldnotyetsaywhatitwas.

  hewasstillatthekitchentableat11:00,staringonebyoneagainatthephotographswhenheheardthedooropen.

  “mayiein？”itwasceciliavanger.withoutwaitingforananswershesatdownacrossfrohiatthetable.blokvisthadastrangefeelingofdéjàvu.shewasdressedinathin,loose,light-coloureddressandagreyish-bluejacket,clothesalostidenticaltothoseshewaswearinginthephotographsfro1966.

  “you’retheonewho’stheproble,”shesaid.

  blokvistraisedhiseyebrows.

  “fivee,butyoutookebysurprisewhenyouknockedonthedoortonight.nowi’sounhappyican’tsleep.”

  “whyareyouunhappy？”

  “don’tyouknow？”

  heshookhishead.

  “ifitellyou,proiseyouwon’tlaugh.”

  “proise.”

  “wheniseducedyoulastwinteritwasanidiotic,ipulsiveact.iwantedtoenjoyyself,that’sall.thatfirstnightiwasquitedrunk,andihadnointentionofstartinganythinglong-terwithyou.thenitturnedintosoethingelse.iwantyoutoknowthatthoseweekswithyouasyoasionalloverweresoeofthehappiestinylife.”

  “ithoughtitwaslovelytoo.”

  “mikael,i’vebeenlyingtoyouandtoyselfthewholetie.i’veneverbeenparticularlyrelaxedaboutsex.i’vehadfivesexpartnersinyentirelife.oncewheniwastwenty-oneandadebutante.thenwithyhusband,whoietwheniwastwenty-fiveandwhoturnedouttobeabastard.andthenafewtieswiththreeguysietseveralyearsapart.butyouprovokedsoethingine.isiplycouldn’tgetenough.ithadsoethingtodowiththefactthatyou’resoundeanding.”

  “cecilia,youdon’thaveto…”

  “shh—don’tinterrupt,ori’llneverbeabletotellyouthis.”

  blokvistsatinsilence.

  “thedayyouleftforprisoniwasabsolutelyiserable.youweregone,asthoughyouhadneverexisted.itwasdarkhereintheguesthouse.itwascoldandeptyinybed.andthereiwas,anoldaidoffifty-sixagain.”

  shesaidnothingforawhileandlookedblokvistintheeyes.

  “ifellinlovewithyoulastwinter.ididn’teanto,butithappened.andthenitookstockandrealisedthatyouwereonlyhereteporarily；onedayyou’llbegoneforgood,andi’llstayherefortherestofylife.ithurtsodanuchthatidecidediwasn’tgoingtoletyouinagainwhenyoucaebackfroprison.”

  “i’sorry.”

  “it’snotyourfault.whenyoulefttonightisatandcried.iwishihadthechancetoliveylifeoveragain.theniwoulddecideonohing.”

  “what’sthat？”

  shelookeddownatthetable.

  “thatiwouldhavetobetotallyinsao. comseeingyoujustbecauseyou’regoingtoleaveoneday.mikael,canwestartagain？canyoufetwhathappenedearlierthisevening？”

  “it’sfotten,”hesaid.“butthankyoufortellinge.”

  shewasstilllookingdownatthetable.

  “ifyoustillwante,let’sdoit.”

  shelookedathiagain.thenshegotupandwentovertothebedroodoor.shedroppedherjacketonthefloorandpulledherdressoverherheadasshewent.

  blokvistandceciliavangerwokeupwhenthefrontdooropenedandsoeonewaswalkingthroughthekitchen.theyheardthethudofsoethingheavybeingputdownnearthewoodstove.thenbergerwasstandinginthebedroodoorwaywithasilethatrapidlychangedtoshock.

  “oh,goodlord.”shetookastepback.

  “hi,erika,”blokvistsaid.

  “hi.i’sosorry.iapologiseathousandtiesforbarginginlikethis.ishouldhaveknocked.”

  “weshouldhavelockedthefrontdoor.erika—thisisceciliavanger.cecilia—erikabergeristheeditorinchiefofmillenniu.”

  “hi,”ceciliasaid.

  “hi,”bergersaid.shelookedasthoughshecouldnotdecidewhethertostepforwardandpolitelyshakehandsorjustleave.“uh,i…icangoforawalk…”

  “whatdoyousa. comuttingonsoecoffeeinstead？”blokvistlookedatthealarclockonthebedsidetable.justpastnoon.

  bergernoddedandpulledthebedroodoorshut.blokvistandcecilialookedateachother.ceciliaappearedebarrassed.theyhadadeloveandtalkeduntil4:00intheorning.thenceciliasaidshethoughtshe’dsleepoverandthatinthefutureshewouldn’tgiveatinker’scusswhoknewshewassleepingwithmikaelblokvist.shehadsleptwithherbacktohiandwithhisartuckedaroundherbreasts.

  “listen,it’sok,”hesaid.“erika’sarriedandsheisn’tygirlfriend.weseeeachothernowandthen,butshedoesn’tcareatallifyouandihavesoething…she’sprobablyprettyebarrassedherselfrightnow.”

  whentheywentintothekitchenawhilelater,erikahadsetoutcoffee,juice,leonaralade,cheese,andtoast.itselledgood.ceciliawentstraightuptoherandheldoutherhand.

  “iwasalittleabruptinthere.hi.”

  “dearcecilia,i’sosorryfor. cominginlikeanelephant,”saidaveryebarrassederikaberger.

  “fetit,forgod’ssake.andlet’shavebreakfast.”

  afterbreakfastbergerexcusedherselfandleftthealone,sayingthatshehadtogoandsayhellotovanger.ceciliaclearedthetablewithherbacktomikael.hewentupandputhisarsaroundher.

  “what’sgoingtohappennow？”ceciliasaid.

  “nothing.thisisthewayitis—erikaisybestfriend.sheandihavebeentogetheroffandonfortwentyyearsandwillprobablybe,onandoff,togetherforanothertwenty.ihopeso.butwe’veneverbeenacoupleandwenevergetinthewayofeachother’sroances.”

  “isthatwhatwehave？aroance？”

  “idon’tknohatwehave,butapparentlywegetalong.”

  “where’sshegoingtosleeptonight？”

  “we’llfindheraroosoewhere.oneofhenrik’sspareroos.shewon’tbesleepinginybed,anyway.”

  ceciliathoughtaboutthisforaoent.

  “idon’tknowificanhandlethis.youandsheightfunctionthatway,butidon’tknow…i’venever…”sheshookherhead.“i’goingbacktoyplace.ihavetothinkaboutthisforawhile.”

  “cecilia,youaskedeearlieranditoldyouaboutyrelationshipwitherika.herexistencecan’tbeanygreatsurprisetoyou.”

  “that’strue.butaslongasshewasatafortabledistancedowninstockholicouldignoreher.”

  ceciliaputonherjacket.

  “thissituationisludicrous,”shesaidwithasile.“eoverfordinnertonight.bringerika.ithinki’goingtolikeher.”

  erikahadalreadysolvedtheprobleofwheretosleep.onpreviousoasionswhenshehadbeenuptohedebytovisitvangershehadstayedinoneofhisspareroos,andsheaskedhistraightoutifshecouldborrowtherooagain.henrikcouldscarcelyconcealhisdelight,andheassuredherthatshewasweleatanytie.

  withtheseforalitiesoutoftheway,blokvistandbergerwentforawalkacrossthebridgeandsatontheterraceofsusanne’sbridgecaféjustbeforeclosingtie.

  “i’reallypissedoff,”bergersaid.“idriveallthewayupheretoweleyoubacktofreedoandfindyouinbedwiththetownfeefatale.”

  “i’sorryaboutthat.”

  “howlonghaveyouandmissbigtits…”bergerwavedherindexfinger.

  “froaboutthetievangerbecaepartowner.”

  “aha.”

  “whatdoyouean,aha？”

  “justcurious.”

  “cecilia’sagoodwoan.ilikeher.”

  “i’notcriticising.i’justpissedoff.candywithinreachandthenihavetogoonadiet.hoasprison？”

  “likeanuneventfulholiday.howarethingsattheagazine？”

  “better.forthefirsttieinayeartheadvertisingrevenueisontherise.we’rewaybelowthistielastyear,butwe’veturnedthecorner.thankstohenrik.buttheweirdthingisthatsubscriptionsaregoinguptoo.”

  “theytendtofluctuate.”

  “byacoupleofhundredonewayortheother.butwe’vepickedupthreethousandinthepastquarter.atfirstithoughtitwasjustluck,butnewsubscriberskeepingin.it’sourbiggestsubscriptionjupever.atthesaetie,ourexistingsubscribersarerenewingprettyconsistentlyacrosstheboard.noneofuscanunderstandit.wehaven’trunanyadcapaigns.christerspentaweekdoingspotchecksonwhatsortofdeographicisshowingup.first,they’reallbrand-newsubscribers.second,70percentofthearewoen.norallyit’stheotherwayaround.third,thesubscriberscanbedescribedasiddle-inewhite-collarworkersfrothesuburbs:teachers,iddleanageent,civilserviceworkers.”

  “thinkit’stheiddle-classrevoltagainstbigcapital？”

  “idon’tknow.butifthiskeepsup,it’lleanasignificantshiftinoursubscriberprofile.wehadaneditorialconferencetwoweeksagoanddecidedtostartrunningnewtypesofaterialintheagazine.iwantorearticlesonprofessionalattersassociatedwithtco,theswedishconfederationofprofessionaleployees,andalsooreinvestigativereportingonwoen’sissues,forinstance.”

  “don’tchangetoouch,”blokvistsaid.“ifwe’regettingnewsubscriberstheniteansthattheylikewhatwe’rerunningalready.”

  ceciliahadalsoinvitedvangertodinner,possiblytoreducetheriskoftroubleso. comicsofconversation.shehadadeavenisonstew.bergerandvangerspentagooddealofthetiediscussingmillenniu’sdevelopentandthenewsubscribers,butgraduallytheconversationovedontootheratters.bergersuddenlyturnedtoblokvistatonepointandaskedhihowhisworkwasingalong.

  “i’countingonhavingadraftofthefailychroniclepleteinaonthforhenriktolookat.”

  “achronicleinthespiritoftheaddasfaily,”ceciliasaid.

  “itdoeshavecertainhistoricalaspects,”blokvistconceded.

  ceciliaglancedatvanger.

  “mikael,henrikisn’treallyinterestedinafailychronicle.hewantsyoutosolvetheysteryofharriet’sdisappearance.”

  blokvistdidnotsayaword.eversincehehadbegunhisrelationshipwithceciliahehadtalkedfairlyopenlyaboutharrietwithher.ceciliahadalreadydeducedthatthiswashisrealassignent,eventhoughheneverforallyadittedit.hehadcertainlynevertoldhenrikthatheandceciliahaddiscussedthesubject.vanger’sbushyeyebrowsdrewtogetherabit.erikawassilent.

  “mydearhenrik,”ceciliasaid.“i’notstupid.idon’tknohatsortofagreeentyouandmikaelhave,buthisstayhereinhedebyisaboutharriet.itis,isn’tit？”

  vangernoddedandglancedatblokvist.

  “itoldyoushewassharp.”heturnedtoberger.“ipresuethatmikaelhasexplainedtoyouwhathe’sworkingonhereinhedeby.”

  shenodded.

  “andipresueyouthinkit’sasenselessundertaking.no,youdon’thavetoanswerthat.itisanabsurdandsenselesstask.butihavetofindout.”

  “ihavenoopinionontheatter,”bergersaiddiploatically.

  “ofcourseyoudo.”heturnedtoblokvist.“telle.haveyoufoundanythingatallthatighttakeusforward？”

  blokvistavoidedeetingvanger’sgaze.hethoughtinstantlyofthecold,unplaceablecertaintyhehadhadthenightbefore.thefeelinghadbeenwithhiallday,buthehadhadnotietoworkhiswaythroughthealbuagain.atlasthelookedupatvangerandshookhishead.

  “ihaven’tfoundasinglething.”

  theoldanscrutinisedhiwithaperatinglook.herefrainedfroenting.

  “idon’tknowaboutyouyoungpeople,”hesaid,“butforeit’stietogotobed.thankyoufordinner,cecilia.goodnight,erika.doseeebeforeyouleavetoorrow.”

  whenvangerhadclosedthefrontdoor,silencesettledoverthe.itwasceciliawhospokefirst.

  “mikael,whatwasallthatabout？”

  “iteansthathenrikisassensitiv. comeople’sreactionsasaseisograph.lastnightwhenyoucaetothecottageiwaslookingthroughanalbu.”

  “yes？”

  “isawsoething.idon’tknohatitwasyet.itwassoethingthatalostbecaeanidea,butiissedit.”

  “sowhatwereyouthinkingabout？”

  “ijustcan’ttellyou.andthenyouarrived.”

  ceciliablushed.sheavoidedberger’sgazeandwentou. comutonsoecoffee.

  itwasawarandsunnyday.newgreenshootswereappearing,andblokvistcaughthiselfhuingtheoldsongofspring,“blossotieising.”itwasmondayandbergerhadleftearly.

  whenhehadgooprisoninid-march,snowstillcoveredtheland.nowthebircheswereturninggreenandthelawnaroundhiscabinwaslush.forthefirsttiehehadachancetolookaroundallofhedebyisland.at8:00hewentoverandaskedtoborrowatherosfroanna.hespokebrieflywithvanger,whowasjustup,andwasgivenhisapoftheisland.hewantedtogetacloserlookatgottfried’scabin.vangertoldhithatthecabinwasownedbymartinvangernowbutthatithadstoodostlyvacantovertheyears.oasionallysoerelativewouldborrowit.

  blokvistjustanagedtocatchmartinbeforeheleftforwork.heaskedifheightborrowthekey.martingavehianausedsile.

  “ipresuethefailychroniclehasnowreachedthechapteraboutharriet.”

  “ijustwanttotakealook…”

  martincaebackwiththekeyinainute.

  “isitokthen？”

  “asfarasi’concerned,youcanoveinthereifyouwant.exceptforthefactthatit’sstuckrightattheotherendoftheisland,it’sactuallyanicerspotthanthecottageyou’rein.”

  blokvistadecoffeeandsandwiches.hefilledabottlewithwaterbeforehesetoff,stuffinghispiiclunchinarucksackheslungoveroneshoulder.hefollowedanarrow,partiallyovergrownpaththatranalongthebayonthenorthsideofhedebyisland.gottfried’scabinwasonapointaboutoneandahalfilesfrothevillage,andittookhionlyhalfanhourtocoverthedistanceataleisurelypace.

  martinvangerhadbeenright.whenblokvistcaearoundthebendofthenarrowpath,ashadedareabythewateropenedup.therewasaarvellousviewoftheinlettothehederiver,hedestadarinatotheleft,andtheindustrialharbourtotheright.

  hewassurprisedthatno-onehadwantedtooveintogottfried’scabin.itwasarusticstructureadeofhorizontaldark-stainedtiberwithatileroofandgreenfraes,andwithasallporchatthefrontdoor.theaintenanceofthecabinhadbeenneglected.thepaintaroundthedoorsandwindowswasflakingoff,andwhatshouldhavebeenalawnwasscrubayardhigh.clearingitwouldtakeonewholeday’shardworkwithscytheandsaw.

  blokvistunlockedthedoorandunscrewedtheshuttersoverthewindowsfrotheinside.thefraeworkseeedtobeanoldbarnoflessthan1,300squarefeet.theinsidewasfinishedwithplanksandconsistedofoneroowithbigwindowsfacingthewateroneithersideofthefrontdoor.astaircaseledtoanopensleepingloftattherearofthecabinthatcoveredhalfthespace.beneaththestairswasanichewithapropanegasstove,acounter,andasink.thefurnishingswerebasic；builtintothewalltotheleftofthedoortherewasbench,aricketydesk,andaboveitacasewithteakshelves.fartherdownonthesaesidewasabroadwardrobe.totherightofthedoorwasaroundtablewithfivewoodenchairs；afireplacestoodintheiddleofthesidewall.

  thecabinhadnoelectricity；insteadtherewereseveralkerosenelaps.inon