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