“iheardhi.thatwasaboutwhenigotdowntothebaseent.andthateansthatweknohatherabortedconversationwithhenrikwastohavebeenabout.”

  blokvistfrowned.“notreally.thinkofthechronology.wedon’tknohengottfriedfirstrapedhisson,buthetookmartinwithhiwhenheurderedleaperssoninuddevallain1962.hedrownedin1965.beforethat,heandmartintriedtotalktoharriet.wheredoesthatleadus？”

  “martinwasn’ttheonlyohatgottfriedassaulted.healsoassaultedharriet.”

  “gottfriedwastheteacher.martinwasthepupil.harrietwaswhat？theirplaything？”

  “gottfriedtaughtmartintoscrewhissister.”salanderpointedatthepolaroidprints.“it’shardtodeterineherattitudefrothesetwopicturesbecausewecan’tseeherface,butshe’stryingtohidefrothecaera.”

  “let’ssaythatitstartedwhenshewasfourteen,in1964.shedefendedherself—couldn’taeptit,asmartinputit.thatwaswhatshewasthreateningtotellhenrikabout.martinundoubtedlyhadnothingtosayinthisconnection；hejustdidwhathisfathertoldhi.butheandgottfriedhadforedsoesortof…pact,andtheytriedtoinitiateharrietintoittoo.”

  salandersaid:“inyournotesyouwrotethathenrikhadletharrietoveintohishouseinthewinterof1964.”

  “henrikcouldseetherewassoethingwronginherfaily.hethoughtitwasthebickeringandfrictionbetweengottfriedandisabellathatwasthecause,andhetookherinsothatshecouldhavesoepeaceandquietandconcentrateonherstudies.”

  “anunforeseenobstacleforgottfriedandmartin.theycouldn’tgettheirhandsonheraseasilyorcontrolherlife.buteventually…wheredidtheassaulttakeplace？”

  “itusthavebeenatgottfried’scabin.i’alostpositivethatthesepicturesweretakenthere—itshouldbepossibletocheck.thecabinisinaperfectlocation,isolatedandfarfrothevillage.thengottfriedgotdrunkonelasttieanddiedinaostbanalway.”

  “soharriet’sfatherhadatteptedtohavesexwithher,butyguessisthathedidn’tinitiateherintothekilling.”

  blokvistrealisedthatthiswasaweakpoint.harriethadadenoteofthenaesofgottfried’svictis,pairingtheupwithbiblequotes,butherinterestinthebibledidnoteergeuntilthelastyear,andbythengottfriedwasalreadydead.hepaused,tryingtoeupwithalogicalexplanation.

  “soetiealongthewayharrietdiscoveredthatgottfriedhadnotonlyittedincest,buthewasalsoaserialsexurderer,”hesaid.

  “wedon’tknohenshefoundoutabouttheurders.itcouldhavebeenrightbeforegottfrieddrowned.itightalsohavebeenafterhedrowned,ifhehadadiaryorhadsavedpresscuttingsaboutthe.soethingputheronhistrack.”

  “butthatwasn’twhatshewasthreateningtotellhenrik,”blokvistsaid.

  “itwasmartin,”salandersaid.“herfatherwasdead,butmartinwasgoingonabusingher.”

  “exactly.”

  “butitwasayearbeforeshetookanyaction.”

  “whatwouldyoudoifyoufoundoutthatyourfatherwasaurdererwhohadbeenrapingyourbrother？”

  “i’dkillthefucker,”salandersaidinsuchasobertohatblokvistbelievedher.hereeberedherfaceasshewasattackingmartinvanger.hesiledjoylessly.

  “ok,butharrietwasn’tlikeyou.gottfrieddiedbeforesheanagedtodoanything.thatalsoakessense.whengottfrieddied,isabellasentmartintouppsala.heighthaveehoeforchristasorotherholidays,butduringthatfollowingyearhedidn’tseeharrietveryoften.shewasabletogetsoedistancefrohi.”

  “andshestartedstudyingthebible.”

  “andinlightofwhatwenowknow,itdidn’thavetobeforanyreligiousreasons.maybeshesiplywantedtoknohatherfatherhadbeenupto.shebroodedoverituntilthechildren’sdaycelebrationin1966.thensuddenlysheseesherbrotheronj？rnv？gsgatanandrealisesthathe’sback.wedon’tknowiftheytalkedtoeachotherorifhesaidanything.butnoatterwhathappened,harriethadanurgetogostraighthoeandtalktohenrik.”

  “andthenshedisappeared.”

  aftertheyhadgoneoverthechainofevents,itwasnothardtounderstandwhattherestofthepuzzleusthavelookedlike.blokvistandsalanderpackedtheirbags.beforetheyleft,blokvistcalledfrodeandtoldhithatheandsalanderhadtogoawayforawhile,butthatheabsolutelywantedtoseehenrikvangerbeforetheyleft.

  blokvistneededtoknohatfrodehadtoldhenrik.theansoundedsostressedonthetelephohatblokvistfeltconcernedforhi.frodesaidthathehadonlytoldhithatmartinhaddiedinacaraident.

  itwasthunderingagainwhenblokvistparkedoutsidehedestadhospital,andtheskywasfilledonceorewithheavyrainclouds.hehurriedacrossthecarparkjustasitstartedtorain.

  vangerwaswearingabathrobe,sittingatatablebythewindowofhisroo.hisillnesshadleftitsark,butvangerhadregainedsoecolourinhisfaceandlookedasifhewereonthepathtorecovery.theyshookhands.blokvistaskedthenursetoleavethealoneforafewinutes.

  “you’vebeenavoidinge,”vangersaid.

  mikaelnodded.“onpurpose.yourfailydidn’twantetoeatall,buttodayeveryoneisoveratisabella’shouse.”

  “poormartin,”vangersaid.

  “henrik.yougaveeanassignenttodigupthetruthaboutwhathappenedtoharriet.didyouexpectthetruthtobepainless？”

  theoldanlookedathi.thenhiseyeswidened.

  “martin？”

  “he’spartofthestory.”

  henrikclosedhiseyes.

  “nowihavegotaquestionforyou,”blokvistsaid.

  “telle.”

  “doyoustillwanttoknohathappened？evenifitturnsouttobepainfulandevenifthetruthisworsethanyouiagined？”

  henrikgaveblokvistalonglook.thenhesaid,“iwanttoknow.thatwasthepointofyourassignent.”

  “ok.ithinkiknohathappenedtoharriet.butthere’sonelastpieceofthepuzzleissingbeforei’sure.”

  “telle.”

  “no.nottoday.whatiwantyoutodorightnowistorest.thedoctorssaythatthecrisisisoverandthatyou’regettingbetter.”

  “don’tyoutreatelikeachild,youngan.”

  “ihaven’tworkeditalloutyet.whatihaveisatheory.iagoingouttofindthelastpieceofthepuzzle.thenexttieyouseee,i’lltellyouthewholestory.itaytakeawhile,butiwantyoutoknowthati’ingbackandthatyou’llknowthetruth.”

  salanderpulledatarpaulinoverherotorcycleandleftitontheshadysideofthecabin.thenshegotintoblokvist’sborrowedcar.thethunderstorhadreturnedwithrenewedforce,andjustsouthofg？vletherewassuchafiercedownpourthatblokvistcouldhardlyseetheroad.justtobesafe,hepulledintoapetrolstation.theywaitedfortheraintoletup,sotheydidnotarriveinstockholuntil7:00thatevening.blokvistgavesalanderthesecuritycodetohisbuildinganddroppedheroffatthecentraltunnelbana.hisapartentseeedunfailiar.

  hevacuuedanddustedwhilesalanderwenttoseeplagueinsundbyberg.shearrivedatblokvist’sapartentataroundidnightandspentteninutesexainingeverynookandcrannyofit.thenshestoodatthewindowforalongtie,lookingattheviewfacingtheslussenlocks.

  theygotundressedandslept.

  atnoonthenextdaytheylandedatlondon’sgatwickairport.theywereetwithrain.blokvisthadedarooatthehoteljaesnearhydepark,anexcellenthotelparedtoalltheone-starplacesinbayswaterwherehehadalwaysendeduponhisprevioustripstolondon.

  at5:00p..theywerestandingatthebarwhenayoungishancaetowardsthe.hewasalostbald,withablondbeard,andhewaswearingjeansandajacketthatwastoobigforhi.

  “wasp？”

  “trinity？”shesaid.theynoddedtoeachother.hedidnotaskforblokvist’snae.

  trinity’spartnerwasintroducedasbobthedog.hewasinanoldvwvanaroundthecorner.theyclibedinthroughtheslidingdoorsandsatdownonfoldingchairsfastenedtothesides.whilebobnavigatedthroughthelondontraffic,waspandtrinitytalked.

  “plaguesaidthishadtodowithsoecrash-bangjob.”

  “telephoappingandcheckingeailsinaputer.itightgofast,oritcouldtakeacoupleofdays,dependingonhowuchpressureheapplies.”lisbethgesturedtowardsblokvistwithherthub.“canyoudoit？”

  “dodogshavefleas？”trinitysaid.

  anitavangerlivedinaterracehouseintheattractivesuburbofst.albans,aboutanhour’sdrivenorth.frothevantheysawherarrivehoeandunlockthedoorsoetieafter7:30thatevening.theywaiteduntilshehadsettled,hadhersupper,andwassittinginfrontofthetvbeforeblokvistrangthedoorbell.

  analostidenticalcopyofceciliavangeropenedthedoor,herexpressionpolitelyquestioning.

  “hi,anita.mynaeismikaelblokvist.henrikvangeraskedetoeandseeyou.iassuethatyou’veheardthenewsaboutmartin.”

  herexpressionchangedfrosurprisetowariness.sheknewexactlywhomikaelblokvistwas.buthenrik’snaeeantthatshewasforcedtoopenthedoor.sheshowedblokvistintoherlivingroo.henoticedasignedlithographbyanderszornoverthefireplace.itwasaltogetheracharingroo.

  “fiveeforbotheringyououtoftheblue,butihappenedtobeinst.albans,anditriedtocallyouduringtheday.”

  “iunderstand.pleasetellewhatthisisabout？”

  “areyouplanningtobeatthefuneral？”

  “no,asaatteroffact,i’not.martinandiweren’tclose,andanyway,ican’tgetawayattheoent.”

  anitavangerhadstayedawayfrohedestadforthirtyyears.afterherfatherovedbacktohedebyisland,shehadhardlysetfootthere.

  “iwanttoknohathappenedtoharrietvanger,anita.it’stieforthetruth.”

  “harriet？idon’tknohatyouean.”

  blokvistsiledatherfeignedsurprise.

  “youwereharriet’sclosestfriendinthefaily.youweretheonesheturnedtowithherhorriblestory.”

  “ican’tthinkwhatyou’retalkingabout,”anitasaid.

  “anita,youwereinharriet’sroothatday.ihavephotographicproofofit,inspiteofwhatyousaidtoinspectormorell.inafewdaysi’goingtoreporttohenrik,andhe’lltakeitfrothere.itwouldbebettertotellewhathappened.”

  anitavangerstoodup.

  “getoutofyhousethisinute.”

  blokvistgotup.

  “soonerorlateryou’regoingtohavetotalktoe.”

  “ihavenothingnow,noreverwillhave,anythingtosaytoyou.”

  “martinisdead,”blokvistsaid.“youneverlikedmartin.ithinkthatyouovedtolondonnotonlytoavoidseeingyourfatherbutalsosothatyouwouldn’thavetoseemartin.thateansthatyoualsoknewaboutmartin,andtheonlyonewhocouldhavetoldyouwasharriet.thequestionis:whatdidyoudowiththatknowledge？”

  anitavangerslaedherfrontdoorinhisface.

  salandersiledwithsatisfactionassheunfastenedtheicrophonefrounderhisshirt.

  “shepickedupthetelephoneabouttwentysecondsaftershenearlytookthedooroffitshinges,”shesaid.

  “thecountrycodeisaustralia,”trinitysaid,puttingdowntheearphonesonthelittledeskinthevan.“ineedtochecktheareacode.”heswitchedonhisla. com.“ok,shecalledthefollowingnuber,whichisatelephoneinatowncalledtennantcreek,northofalicespringsinthenorthernterritory.doyouwanttoheartheconversation？”

  blokvistnodded.“whattieisitinaustraliarightnow？”

  “about5:00intheorning.”trinitystartedthedigitalplayerandattachedaspeaker.mikaelcountedeightringsbeforesoeonepickedupthetelephone.theconversationtookplaceinenglish.

  “hi.it’se.”

  “h,iknowi’aorningpersonbut…”

  “ithoughtofcallingyouyesterday…martinisdead.heseestohavedrivenhiscarintoatruckthedaybeforeyesterday.”

  silence.thenwhatsoundedlikesoeoneclearingtheirthroat,butitighthavebeen:“good.”

  “butwehavegotaproble.adisgustingjournalistthathenrikdugupfrosoewherehasjustknockedonydoor,hereinst.albans.he’saskingquestionsaboutwhathappenedin1966.heknowssoething.”

  againsilence.thenaandingvoice.

  “anita.putdownthetelephonerightnow.wecan’thaveanycontactforawhile.”

  “but…”

  “writealetter.tellewhat’sgoingon.”thentheconversationwasover.

  “sharpchick,”salandersaid.

  theyreturnedtotheirhoteljustbefore11:00.thefrontdeskanagerhelpedthetoreserveseatsonthenextavailableflighttoaustralia.soontheyhadreservationsonaplaneleavingat7:05thefollowingevening,destinationmelbourne,changinginsingapore.

  thiswassalander’sfirstvisittolondon.theyspenttheorningwalkingfrocoventgardenthroughsoho.they. compedtohaveacaffelatteonoldptonstreet.around3:00theywerebackatthehoteltocollecttheirluggage.whileblokvistpaidthebill,salanderturnedonherobile.shehadatextessage.

  “aranskysaystocallatonce.”

  sheusedatelephoneinthelobby.blokvist,whowasstandingashortdistanceaway,noticedsalanderturntohiwithafrozenexpressiononherface.hewasathersideatonce.

  “whatisit？”

  “myotherdied.ihavetogohoe.”

  salanderlookedsounhappythatheputhisarsaroundher.shepushedhiaway.

  theysatinthehotelbar.whenblokvistsaidthathewouldcancelthereservationstoaustraliaandgobacktostockholwithher,sheshookherhead.

  “no,”shesaid.“wecan’tscrewupthejobnow.you’llhavetogobyyourself.”

  theypartedoutsidethehotel,eachoftheakingforadifferentairport.

  chapter26

  tuesday,july15–thursday,july17

  blokvistflewfromelbouroalicesprings.afterthathehadtochooseeithertocharteraplaneortorentacarforthereaining250-iletripnorth.hechosetogobycar.

  anunknownpersonwiththebiblicalsignatureofjoshua,whowaspartofplague’sorpossiblytrinity’systeriousinternationalwork,hadleftanenvelopeforhiatthecentralrationdeskatmelbourneairport.

  thenuberthatanitahadcalledbelongedtoaplacecalledcochranfar.itwasasheepstation.anarticlepulledofftheintergaveasnapshotguide.

  australia:populationof18illion；sheepfarers,53,000；approx.120illionheadofsheep.theexportofwoolapprox.3.5billiondollarsannually.australiaexports700illiontonsofuttonandlab,plusskinsforclothing.binedeatandwoolproductiononeofthecountry’sostiportantindustries…

  cochranfar,founded1891byjereycochran,australia’sfifthlargestagriculturalenterprise,approx60,000merinosheep.thestationalsoraisedcattle,pigs,andchickens.cochranfarhadipressiveannualexportstotheu.s.a.,japan,china,andeurope.

  thepersonalbiographieswerefascinating.

  in1972cochranfarpasseddownfrorayondcochrantospencercochran,educ.oxford.spencerd.in1994,andfarrunbywidow.blokvistfoundherinablurry,low-resolutionphotographdownloadedfrothecochranfarwebsite.itshowedawoanwithshortblondehair,herfacepartiallyhidden,shearingasheep.

  aordingtojoshua’snote,thecouplehadarriedinitalyin1971.

  hernaewasanitacochran.

  blokvist. compedovernightinadried-upholeofatownwiththehopefulnaeofwannado.atthelocalpubheateroastuttonanddownedthreepintsalongwithsoelocalswhoallcalledhi“ate.”

  lastthingbeforehewenttobedhecalledbergerinnewyork.

  “i’sorry,ricky,buti’vebeensobusythatihaven’thadtietocall.”

  “whatthehellisgoingon？”sheexploded.“christercalledandtoldethatmartinvangerhadbeenkilledinacaraident.”

  “it’salongstory.”

  “andwhydon’tyouansweryourtelephone？i’vebeencallinglikecrazyfortwodays.”

  “itdoesn’tworkhere.”

  “whereishere？”

  “rightnowi’aboutonehundredtwenty-fiveilesnorthofalicesprings.inaustralia,thatis.”

  mikaelhadrarelyanagedtosurpriseberger.thistieshewassilentfornearlytenseconds.

  “andwhatareyoudoinginaustralia？ifiightask.”

  “i’finishingupthejob.i’llbebackinafewdays.ijustcalledtotellyouthatyworkforhenrikvangerisalostdone.”

  hearrivedatcochranfararoundnoonthefollowingday,tobetoldthatanitacochranwasatasheepstationnearaplacecalledmakawakaseventy-fiveilesfartherwest.

  itwas4:00intheafternoonbythetiemikaelfoundhiswaythereondustybackroads.he. compedatagatewheresoesheepranchersweregatheredaroundthehoodofajeephavingcoffee.blokvistgotoutandexplainedthathewaslookingforanitacochran.theyallturnedtowardsauscularyoungan,clearlythedecision-akerofthegroup.hewasbarechestedandverybrownexceptforthepartsnorallycoveredbyhist-shirt.hewaswearingawide-briedhat.

  “thebossisabouteighteenilesoffinthatdirection,”hesaid,pointingwithhisthub.

  hecastascepticalglanceatblokvist’svehicleandsaidthatitightnotbesuchagoodideatogooninthatjapanesetoycar.finallythetannedathle