“so？”

  “iwas…ihadalittletietoyselfthisspringandreadquiteabitaboutsadistsinaratherdifferentcontext.oneofthethingsireadwasanfbianual.itclaiedthatastrikingportionofconvictedserialkillerscaefrodysfunctionalhoesandtorturedanialsintheirchildhood.soeoftheconvictedaericanserialkillerswerealsoarrestedforarson.torturedanialsandarsoncropupinseveralofharriet’surdercases,butwhatiwasreallythinkingaboutwasthefactthattheparsonageburneddowninthelateseventies.”

  “it’salongshot,”blokvistsaid.

  lisbethnodded.“agreed.butifindnothinginthepolicereportaboutthecauseofthefire,anditwouldbeveryinterestingtoknowiftherewereotherunexplainedfireshereaboutsinthesixties.itwouldalsobeworthcheckingtoseeiftherewereanycasesofanialabuseorutilationintheareabackthen.”

  whensalanderwenttobedonherseventhnightinhedeby,shewasildlyirritatedwithblokvist.foralostaweekshehadspentpracticallyeverywakinginutewithhi.norallyseveninutesofanotherperson’spanywasenoughtogiveheraheadache,soshesetthingsuptoliveasarecluse.shewasperfectlycontentaslongaspeopleleftherinpeace.unfortunatelysocietywasnotverysartorunderstanding；sheha. comrotectherselffrosocialauthorities,childwelfareauthorities,guardianshipauthorities,taxauthorities,police,curators,psychologists,psychiatrists,teachers,andbouncers,whowouldneverletherintothebareventhoughshewastwenty-five.therewasawholearyofpeoplewhoseeednottohaveanythingbettertodothantotrytodisruptherlife,and,iftheyweregiventheopportunity,tocorrectthewayshehadchosentoliveit.

  itdidnogoodtocry,shehadlearnedthatearlyon.shehadalsolearnedthateverytieshetriedtoakesoeoneawareofsoethinginherlife,thesituationjustgotworse.consequentlyitwasuptohertosolveherproblesbyherself,usingwhateverethodsshedeeednecessary.soethingthatadvo

  14

  katbjuranhadfoundoutthehardway.

  blokvisthadthesaetiresoehabitaseveryoneelse,pokingaroundinherlifeandaskingquestions.ontheotherhand,hedidnotreactatalllikeostotherenshehadet.

  whensheignoredhisquestionshesiplyshruggedandleftherinpeace.astounding.

  heriediateove,whenshegotholdofhisithatfirstorning,hadnaturallybeentotransferalltherationtoherownputer.thatwayitwasokifhedupedherfrothecase；shewouldstillhaveaesstotheaterial.

  shehadexpectedafuriousoutburstwhenheappearedforhisbreakfast.insteadhehadlookedalostresigned,utteredsoethingsarcastic,andgoneofftotheshower.thenhebegandiscussingwhatshehadread.astrangeguy.sheightevenbedeludedintothinkingthathetrustedher.

  thatheknewaboutherpropensitiesasahackerwasserious.salanderwasawarethatthelegaldescriptionofthekindofhackingshedid,bothprofessionallyandasahobby,was“unlawfuldatatrespassing”andcouldearnhertwoyearsinprison.shedidnotwanttobelockedup.inhercaseaprisonsentencewouldeanthatherputerswouldbetakenfroher,andwiththetheonlyoupationthatshewasreallygoodat.shehadnevertoldaranskyhowshegatheredtherationtheywerepayinghertofind.

  withtheexceptionofplagueandafewpeopleonthewho,likeher,devotedtheselvestohackingonaprofessionallevel—andostoftheknewheronlyas“wasp”anddidnotknohoshewasorwhereshelived—kalleblokvistwastheonlyonewhohadstubledontohersecret.hehadetoherbecausesheadeablunderthatnotevenatwelve-year-oldwouldit,whichonlyprovedthatherbrainwasbeingeatenupbyworsandthatshedeservedtobeflogged.butinsteadofgoingcrazywithragehehadhiredher.

  consequentlyshewasildlyirritatedwithhi.

  whentheyhadasnackjustbeforeshewenttobed,hehadsuddenlyaskedherifshewasagoodhacker.

  toherownsurpriseshereplied,“i’probablythebestinsweden.thereaybetwoorthreeothersataboutylevel.”

  shedidnotdoubttheauracyofherreply.plaguehadoncebeenbetterthanshewas,butshehadpassedhilongago.

  ontheotherhand,itfeltfunnytosaythewords.shehadneverdoneitbefore.shehadneverhadanoutsidertohavethissortofconversationwith,andsheenjoyedthefactthatheseeedipressedbyhertalents.thenhehadruinedthefeelingbyaskinganotherquestion:howhadshetaughtherselfhacking？

  whatcouldshesay？i’vealwaysbeenabletodoit.insteadshewenttobedwithoutsayinggoodnight.

  irritatingheryetfurther,hedidnotreactwhensheleftsoabruptly.shelaylisteningtohiovingaboutinthekitchen,clearingthetableandwashingthedishes.hehadalwaysstayeduplaterthanshedid,butnowhewasobviouslyonhiswaytobedtoo.sheheardhiinthebathroo,andthenhewentintohisbedrooandshutthedoor.afterawhilesheheardthebedcreakwhenhegotintoit,notayardawayfroherownbutontheothersideofthewall.

  shehadbeensharingahousewithhiforaweek,andhehadnotonceflirtedwithher.hehadworkedwithher,askedheropinion,slappedherontheknucklesfigurativelyspeakingwhenshewasonthewrongtrack,andacknowledgedthatshewasrightwhenshecorrectedhi.dait,hehadtreatedherlikeahuanbeing.

  shegotoutofbedandstoodbythewindow,restlesslypeeringintothedark.thehardestthingforherwastoshowherselfnakedtoanotherpersonforthefirsttie.shewasconvincedthatherskinnybodywasrepulsive.herbreastswerepathetic.shehadnohipstospeakof.shedidnothaveuchtooffer.apartfrothatshewasaquitenoralwoan,withthesaedesiresandsexdriveaseveryotherwoan.shestoodthereforthenexttwentyinutesbeforesheadeupherind.

  blokvistwasreadinganovelbysaraparetskywhenheheardthedoorhandleturnandlookeduptoseesalander.shehadasheetwrappedroundherbodyandstoodinthedoorwayforaoent.

  “youok？”hesaid.

  sheshookherhead.

  “whatisit？”

  shewentovertohisbed,tookthe,andputitonthebedsidetable.thenshebentdownandkissedhiontheouth.shequicklygotintohisbedandsatlookingathi,searchinghi.sheputherhandonthesheetoverhisstoach.whenhedidnotprotestsheleanedoverandbithionthenipple.

  blokvistwasflabbergasted.hetookhershouldersandpushedherawayalittlesothathecouldseeherface.

  “lisbeth…idon’tknowifthisissuchagoodidea.wehavetoworktogether.”

  “iwanttohavesexwithyou.andiwon’thaveanyprobleworkingwithyou,butiwillhaveahellofaproblewithyouifyoukickeout.”

  “butwehardlyknoweachother.”

  shelaughed,anabruptlaughthatsoundedalostlikeacough.

  “you’veneverletanythinglikethatstandinyourwaybefore.infact,asididn’tsayinybackgroundreport,you’reoneoftheseguyswhocan’tkeephishandsoffwoen.sowhat’swrong？aren’tisexyenoughforyou？”

  blokvistshookhisheadandtriedtothinkofsoethingclevertosay.whenhecouldn’tshepulledthesheetoffhiandsatastridehi.

  “idon’thaveanycondos,”hesaid.

  “screwit.”

  whenhewokeup,heheardherinthekitchen.itwasnotyet7:00.heayonlyhavesleptfortwohours,andhestayedinbed,dozing.

  thiswoanbaffledhi.atabsolutelynopointhadsheevenwithaglanceindicatedthatshewastheleastbitinterestedinhi.

  “goodorning,”shesaidfrothedoorway.sheevenhadthehintofasile.

  “hi.”

  “weareoutofilk.i’llgotothepetrolstation.theyopenatseven.”andshewasgone.

  heheardhergooutofthefrontdoor.heshuthiseyes.thenheheardthefrontdooropenagainandsecondslatershewasbackinthedoorway.thistieshewasnotsiling.

  “you’dbettereandlookatthis,”shesaidinastrangevoice.

  blokvistwasonhisfeetatonceandpulledonhisjeans.

  duringthenightsoeonehadbeentothecottagewithanunwelepresent.ontheporchlaythehalf-charredcorpseofacat.thecat’slegsandheadhadbeencutoff,thenthebodyhadbeenflayedandthegutsandstoachreoved,flungnexttothecorpse,whichseeedtohavebeenroastedoverafire.thecat’sheadwasintact,onthesaddleofsalander’sotorcycle.herecognisedthereddish-brownfur.

  chapter22

  thursday,july10

  theyatebreakfastinthegardeninsilenceandwithoutilkintheircoffee.salanderhadtakenoutacanondigitalcaeraandphotographedtheacabretableaubeforeblokvistgotarubbishsackandcleaneditaway.heputthecatinthebootofthevolvo.heoughttofileapolicereportforanialcruelty,possiblyintiidation,buthedidnotthinkhewouldwanttoexplainwhytheintiidationhadtakenplace.

  at8:30isabellavangerwalkedpastandontothebridge.shedidnotseetheoratleastpretendednotto.

  “howareyoudoing？”blokvistsaid.

  “oh,i’fine.”salanderlookedathi,perplexed.ok,then.heexpectsetobeupset.“whenifindtheotherfuckerwhotorturedaninnocentcattodeathjusttosendusawarning,i’goingtoclobberhiwithabaseballbat.”

  “youthinkit’sawarning？”

  “haveyougotabetterexplanation？itdefinitelyeanssoething.”

  “whateverthetruthisinthisstory,we’veworriedsoebodyenoughforthatpersontodosoethingreallysick.butthere’sanotherprobletoo.”

  “iknow.thisisananialsacrificeinthestyleof1954and1960anditdoesn’tseecrediblethatsoeoneactivefiftyyearsagowouldbeputtingtorturedanialcorpsesonyourdoorsteptoday.”

  blokvistagreed.

  “theonlyoneswhocouldbesuspectedinthatcaseareharaldvangerandisabellavanger.thereareanuberofolderrelativesonjohanvanger’sside,butnoneoftheliveinthearea.”

  blokvistsighed.

  “isabellaisarepulsivebitchwhocouldcertainlykillacat,butidoubtshewasrunningaroundkillingwoeninthefifties.haraldvanger…idon’tknow,heseessodecrepithecanhardlywalk,andican’tseehisneakingoverherelastnight,catchingacat,anddoingallthis.”

  “unlessitwastwopeople.oneolder,oneyounger.”

  blokvistheardacargobyandlookedupandsawceciliadrivingawayoverthebridge.haraldandcecilia,hethought,buttheyhardlyspoke.despitemartinvanger’sproisetotalktoher,ceciliahadstillnotansweredanyofhistelephoneessages.

  “itustbesoebodywhoknowswe’redoingthisworkandthatwe’reakingprogress,”salandersaid,gettinguptogoinside.whenshecaebackoutshehadputonherleathers.

  “i’goingtostockhol.i’llbebacktonight.”

  “whatareyougoingtodo？”

  “pickupsoegadgets.ifsoeoneiscrazyenoughtokillacatinthatdisgustingway,heorshecouldattackusnexttie.orsetthecottageonfirewhilewe’reasleep.iwantyoutogointohedestadandbuytwofireextinguishersandtwosokealarstoday.oneofthefireextinguishershastobehalon.”

  withoutanotherword,sheputonherhelet,kick-startedtheotorcycle,androaredoffacrossthebridge.

  blokvisthidthecorpseandtheheadandgutsintherubbishbinbesidethepetrolstationbeforehedroveintohedestadtodohiserrands.hedrovetothehospital.hehadadeanappointenttoeetfrodeinthecafeteria,andhetoldhiwhathadhappenedthatorning.frodeblanched.

  “mikael,ineveriaginedthatthisstorycouldtakethisturn.”

  “whynot？thejobwastofindaurderer,afterall.”

  “butthisisdisgustingandinhuan.ifthere’sadangertoyourlifeortofr？kensalander’slife,wearegoingtocallitoff.letetalktohenrik.”

  “no.absolutelynot.idon’twanttoriskhishavinganotherattack.”

  “heaskseallthetiehowthingsaregoingwithyou.”

  “sayhellofroe,please,andtellhii’ovingforward.”

  “whatisnext,then？”

  “ihaveafewquestions.thefirstincidentourredjustafterhenrikhadhisheartattackandiwasdowninstockholfortheday.soebodywentthroughyoffice.ihadprintedoutthebibleverses,andthephotographsfroj？rnv？gsgatanwereonydesk.youknewandhenrikknew.martinknewapartofitsinceheanisedforetogetintothecourieroffices.howanyotherpeopleknew？”

  “well,idon’tknohomartintalkedto.butbothbirgerandceciliaknewaboutit.theydiscussedyourhuntinginthepicturesarchivebetweentheselves.alexanderknewaboutittoo.and,bytheway,gunnarandhelenanilssondidtoo.theywereuptosayhellotohenrikandgotdraggedintotheconversation.andanitavanger.”

  “anita？theoneinlondon？”

  “cecilia’ssister.shecaebackwithceciliawhenhenrikhadhisheartattackbutstayedatahotel；asfarasiknow,shehasn’tbeenouttotheisland.likececilia,shedoesn’twanttoseeherfather.butsheflewbackwhenhenrikcaeoutofintensivecare.”

  “where’scecilialiving？isawherthisorningasshedroveacrossthebridge,butherhouseisalwaysdark.”

  “she’snotcapableofdoingsuchathing,isshe？”

  “no,ijustwonderwhereshe’sstaying.”

  “she’sstayingwithherbrother,birger.it’swithinwalkingdistancetovisithenrik.”

  “doyouknoheresheisrightnow？”

  “no.she’snotvisitinghenrik,atanyrate.”

  “thanks,”blokvistsaid,gettingup.

  thevangerfailywashoveringaroundhedestadhospital.inthereceptionbirgervangerpassedonhiswaytothelifts.blokvistwaiteduntilhewasgonebeforehewentouttothereception.insteadheranintomartinvangerattheentrance,atexactlythesaespotwherehehadrunintoceciliaonhispreviousvisit.theysaidhelloandshookhands.

  “haveyoubeenuptoseehenrik？”

  “no,ijusthappenedtoeetdirchfrode.”

  martinlookedtiredandhollow-eyed.itourredtomikaelthathehadagedappreciablyduringthesixonthssincehehadethi.

  “howarethingsgoingwithyou,mikael？”hesaid.

  “moreinterestingwitheverydaythatpasses.whenhenrikisfeelingbetterihopetobeabletosatisfyhiscuriosity.”

  birgervanger’swasawhite-brickterracehouseafive-inutewalkfrothehospital.hehadaviewoftheseaandthehedestadarina.no-oneansweredwhenblokvistrangthedoorbell.hecalledcecilia’sobilenuberbutgotnoanswerthereeither.hesatinthecarforawhile,druinghisfingersonthesteeringwheel.birgervangerwasthewildcardinthedeck；bornin1939andsotenyearsoldwhenrebeckajacobssonwasurdered；twenty-sevenwhenharrietdisappeared.

  aordingtohenrik,birgerandharriethardlyeversaweachother.hehadgrownupwithhisfailyinuppsalaandonlyovedtohedestadtoworkforthefir.hejupedshipafteracoupleofyearsanddevotedhisel. comolitics.buthehadbeeninuppsalaatthetielenaanderssonwasurdered.

  theincidentwiththecatgavehianoinousfeeling,asifhewereabouttorunoutoftie.

  ottofalkwasthirty-sixwhenharrietvanished.hewasnowseventy-two,youngerthanhenrikvangerbutinaconsiderablyworseentalstate.blokvistsoughthioutatthesvalanconvalescenthoe,ayellow-brickbuildingashortdistancefrothehederiverattheotherendofthetown.blokvistintroducedhiselftothereceptionistandaskedtobeallowedtospeakwithpastorfalk.heknew,heexplained,thatthepastorsufferedfroalzheier’sandenquiredhowlucidhewasnow.anurserepliedthatpastorfalkhadfirstbeendiagnosedthreeyearsearlierandthatalasthediseasehadtakenanaggressivecourse.falkcouldunicate,buthehadaveryfeebleshort-tereory,anddidnotrecogniseallofhisrelatives.hewasonthewholeslippingintotheshadows.hewasalsoprooanxietyattacksifhewasconfrontedwithquestionshecouldnotanswer.

  falkwassittingonabenchinthegardenwiththreeotherpatientsandaalenurse.blokvistspentanhourtryingtoengagehiinconversation.

  hereeberedharrietvangerquitewell.hisfacelitup,andhedescribedherasacharinggirl.butblokvistwassoonawarethatthepastorhadfottenthatshehadbeenissingtheselastthirty-sevenyears.hetalkedaboutherasifhehadseenherrecentlyandaskedblokvisttosayhellotoherandurgehertoeandseehi.blokvistproisedtodoso.

  heobviouslydidnotreebertheaidentonthebridge.itwasnotuntiltheendoftheirconversationthathesaidsoethingwhichadeblokvistprickuphisears.

  itwaswhenblokviststeeredthetalktoharriet’sinterestinreligionthatfalksuddenlyseeedhesitant.itwasasthoughacloudpassedoverhisface.falksatrockingbackandforthforawhileandthenlookedupatblokvistandaskedwhohewas.blokvistintroducedhiselfagainandtheoldanthoughtforawhile.atlengthhesaid:“she’sstillaseeker.shehastotakecareofherselfandyouhavetowarnher.”

  “whatshouldiwarnherabout？”

  falkgrewsuddenlyagitated.heshookhisheadwithafrown.

  “shehastoreadsolascripturaandunderstandsufficientiascripturae.that’stheonlywaythatshecanaintainsolafide.josefwillcertainlyexcludethe.theywereneveraeptedintothecanon.”

  blokvistunderstoodnothingofthis,buttookassiduousnotes.thenpastorfalkleanedtowardshiandwhispered,“ithinkshe’sacatholic.shelovesagicandhasnotyetfoundhergod.sheneedsguidance.”

  theword“catholic”obviouslyhadanegativeconnotationforpastorfalk.

  “ithoughtshewasinterestedinthepentecostaloveent？”

  “no,no,no,n