theanintroducedhiselfasjeffandsaidthathewasthe“studsanager”atthestation.blokvistaskedhitoexplainwhatthateant.jeffgavehiasidelonglookandconcludedthatblokvistwasnotfrotheseparts.heexplainedthatastudsanagerwasrathertheequivalentofafinancialanagerinabank,althoughheadinisteredsheep,andthata“station”wastheaustralianwordforranch.

  theycontinuedtoconverseasjeffcheerfullysteeredthejeepatabouttenkiloetresanhourdownintoaravinewith0°slope.blokvistthankedhisluckystarsthathehadnotatteptedthedriveinhisrentalcar.heaskedwhatwasdownintheravineandwastoldthatitwasthepasturelandfor700headofsheep.

  “asiunderstandit,cochranfarisoneofthebiggerranches.”

  “we’reoneofthelargestinallofaustralia,”jeffsaidwithacertainprideinhisvoice.“werunabout9,000sheephereinthemakawakadistrict,butwehavestationsinbothnewsouthwalesandwesternaustralia.wehave60,000plushead.”

  theycaeoutfrotheravineintoahillybutgentlerlandscape.blokvistsuddenlyheardshots.hesawsheepcadavers,bigbonfires,andadozenranchhands.severalenseeedtobecarryingrifles.theywereapparentlyslaughteringsheep.

  involuntarily,hethoughtofthebiblicalsacrificiallabs.

  thenhesawawoanwithshortblondehairwearingjeansandared-and-whitecheckedshirt.jeff. compedafewyardsawayfroher.

  “hi,boss.we’vegotatourist,”hesaid.

  blokvistgotoutofthejeepandlookedather.shelookedbackwithaninquisitiveexpression.

  “hi,harriet.it’sbeenalongtie,”hesaidinswedish.

  noneoftheenwhoworkedforanitacochranunderstoodwhathesaid,buttheyallsawherreaction.shetookastepback,lookingshocked.theensawherresponse,. compedtheirjoking,andstraightenedup,readytointerveneagainstthisoddstranger.jeff’sfriendlinesssuddenlyevaporatedandheadvancedtowardblokvist.

  blokvistwaskeenlyawarehowvulnerablehewas.awordfroanitacochranandhewouldbedonefor.

  thentheoentpassed.harrietvangerwavedherhandinapeacefulgestureandtheenovedback.shecaeovertoblokvistandethisgaze.herfacewassweatyanddirty.herblondehairhaddarkerroots.herfacewasolderandthinner,butshehadgrownintothebeautifulwoanthatherconfirationportraithadproised.

  “haveweetbefore？”shesaid.

  “yes,wehave.iamikaelblokvist.youwereybabysitteronesuerwheniwasthreeyearsold.youweretwelveorthirteenatthetie.”

  ittookafewsecondsforherpuzzledexpressiontoclear,andthenhesawthatshereebered.shelookedsurprised.

  “whatdoyouwant？”

  “harriet,i’notyoureney.i’notheretoaketroubleforyou.butineedtotalkwithyou.”

  sheturnedtojeffandtoldhitotakeover,thensignalledtoblokvisttofollowher.theywalkedafewhundredfeetovertoagroupofwhitecanvastentsinagroveoftrees.sheotionedhitoacapstoolataricketytableandpouredwaterintoabasin.sherinsedherface,driedit,andwentinsidethetenttochangehershirt.shegottwobeersoutofacooler.

  “so.talk.”

  “whyareyoushootingthesheep？”

  “wehaveacontagiousepideic.mostofthesesheepareprobablyhealthy,butwecan’triskitspreading.we’regoingtohavetoslaughterorethansixhundredintheingweek.soi’notinaverygoodood.”

  blokvistsaid:“yourbrothercrashedhiscarintoatruckafewdaysago.heusthavediedinstantaneously.”

  “iheardthat.”

  “froanita,whocalledyou.”

  shescrutinisedhiforalongoent.thenshenodded.sheknewthatitwaspointlesstodenythefact.

  “howdidyoufinde？”

  “wetappedanita’stelephone.”blokvistdidnotthinktherewasanyreasontolie.“isawyourbrotherafewinutesbeforehedied.”

  harrietvangerfrowned.heethergaze.thenhetookofftheridiculousscarfhewaswearing,turneddownhiscollar,andshowedherthestripeleftfrothenoose.itwasstillredandinflaed,andhewouldprobablyalwayshaveascartoreindhiofmartinvanger.

  “yourbrotherhadhungefroahook,butbythegraceofgodypartne

  17

  rarrivedintieto. comhikillinge.”

  harriet’seyessuddenlyburned.

  “ithinkyou’dbettertellethestoryfrothebeginning.”

  ittookorethananhour.hetoldherwhohewasandwhathewasworkingon.hedescribedhowhecaetobegiventheassignentbyhenrikvanger.heexplainedhowthepolice’sinvestigationhadetoadeadend,andhetoldherofhenrik’slonginvestigation,andfinallyhetoldherhowaphotographofherwithfriendsinj？rnv？gsgataninhedestadhadledtotheuncoveringofthesorrowsbehindtheysteryofherdisappearanceanditsappallingsequel,whichhadendedwithmartinvanger’ssuicide.

  ashetalked,dusksetin.theenquitworkfortheday,fireswerestarted,andpotsbegantosier.blokvistnoticedthatjeffstayedclosetohisbossandkeptawatchfuleyeonhi.thecookservedthedinner.theyeachhadanotherbeer.whenhewasfinishedharrietsatforalongtieinsilence.

  atlengthshesaid:“iwassohappythatyfatherwasdeadandtheviolencewasover.itneverourredtoethatmartin…i’gladhe’sdead.”

  “icanunderstandthat.”

  “yourstorydoesn’texplainhowyouknewthatiwasalive.”

  “afterwerealisedwhathadhappened,itwasn’tsodifficulttoworkouttherest.todisappear,youneededhelp.anitawasyourconfidanteandtheonlyoneyoucouldevenconsider.youwerefriends,andshehadspentthesuerwithyou.youstayedoutatyourfather’scabin.iftherewasanyoneyouhadconfidedin,ithadtobeher—andalsoshehadjustgotherdriver’slicence.”

  harrietlookedathiwithanunreadableexpression.

  “sonowthatyouknowi’alive,whatareyougoingtodo？”

  “ihavetotellhenrik.hedeservestoknow.”

  “andthen？you’reajournalist.”

  “i’notthinkingofexposingyou.i’vealreadybreachedsoanyrulesofprofessionalconductinthiswholedisalessthatthejournalistsassociationwouldundoubtedlyexpeleiftheyknewaboutit.”hewastryingtoakelightofit.“oneorewon’takeanydifference,andidon’twanttoakeyoldbabysitterangry.”

  shewasnotaused.

  “howanypeopleknowthetruth？”

  “thatyou’realive？rightnow,youandeandanitaandypartner.henrik’slawyerknowsabouttwo-thirdsofthestory,buthestillthinksyoudiedinthesixties.”

  harrietvangerseeedtobethinkingsoethingover.shestaredoutatthedark.mikaelonceagainhadanuneasyfeelingthathewasinavulnerablesituation,andhereindedhiselfthatharrietvanger’sownriflewasonacapbedthreepacesaway.thenheshookhiselfand. compediaginingthings.hechangedthesubject.

  “buthowdidyouetobeasheepfarerinaustralia？ialreadyknowthatanitasuggledyouoffhedebyisland,presuablyinthebootofhercarwhenthebridgere-openedthedayaftertheaident.”

  “actually,ilayonthefloorofthebackseatwithablanketovere.butno-onewaslooking.iwenttoanitawhenshearrivedontheislandandtoldherthatihadtoescape.youguessedrightthaticonfidedinher.shehelpede,andshe’sbeenaloyalfriendalltheseyears.”

  “whyaustralia？”

  “istayedinanita’srooinstockholforafeeeks.anitahadherownoney,whichshegenerouslylente.shealsogaveeherpassport.welookedalostexactlylikeeachother,andallihadtodowasdyeyhairblonde.forfouryearsilivedinaconventinitaly—iwasn’tanun.thereareconventswhereyoucanrentaroocheap,tohavepeaceandquiettothink.thenietspencercochran.hewassoeyearsolder；he’djustfinishedhisdegreeinenglandandwashitchhikingaroundeurope.ifellinlove.hedidtoo.that’salltherewastoit.‘anita’vangerarriedhiin1971.i’veneverhadanyregrets.hewasawonderfulan.verysadly,hediedeightyearsago,andibecaetheownerofthestation.”

  “butyourpassport—surelysoeoneshouldhavediscoveredthatthereweretwoanitavangers？”

  “no,whyshouldthey？aswedishgirlnaedanitavangerwho’sarriedtospencercochran.whethershelivesinlondonoraustraliaakesnodifference.theoneinlondonhasbeenspencercochran’sestrangedwife.theoneinaustraliawashisveryuchpresentwife.theydon’tatchupputerfilesbetweencanberraandlondon.besides,isoongotanaustralianpassportunderyarriednae.thearrangeentfunctionedperfectly.theonlythingthatcouldhaveupsetthestorywasifanitaherselfwantedtogetarried.myarriagehadtoberegisteredintheswedishnationalregistrationfiles.”

  “butsheneverdid.”

  “sheclaisthatsheneverfoundanyone.butiknowthatshediditforysake.she’sbeenatruefriend.”

  “whatwasshedoinginyourroo？”

  “iwasn’tveryrationalthatday.iwasafraidofmartin,butaslongashewasinuppsala,icouldpushtheprobleoutofyind.thentherehewasinhedestad,andirealisedthati’dneverbesafetherestofylife.iwentbackandforthbetweenwantingtotellunclehenrikandwantingtoflee.whenhenrikdidn’thavetietotalktoe,ijustwanderedrestlesslyaroundthevillage.ofcourseiknowthattheaidentonthebridgeovershadowedeverythingelseforeveryone,butnotfore.ihadyownprobles,andiwashardlyevenawareoftheaident.everythingseeedunreal.theniranintoanita,whowasstayinginaguestcottageinthepoundwithgerdaandalexander.thatwaswheniadeupyind.istayedwithherthewholetieanddidn’tdaregooutside.buttherewasohingihadtotakewithe—ihadwrittendowneverythingthathappenedinadiary,andineededafewclothes.anitagotthefore.”

  “isupposeshecouldn’tresisttheteptationtolookoutattheaidentscene.”blokvistthoughtforaoent.“whatidon’tunderstandiswhyyoudidn’tjustgotohenrik,asyouhadintended.”

  “whydoyouthink？”

  “ireallydon’tknow.henrikwouldcertainlyhavehelpedyou.martinwouldhavebeenreovediediately—probablysenttoaustraliaforsoesortoftherapyortreatent.”

  “youhaven’tunderstoodwhathappened.”

  uptothispointblokvisthadonlyreferredtogottfried’ssexualassaultonmartin,leavingharriet’sroleoutofit.

  “gottfriedolestedmartin,”hesaidcautiously.“isuspectthathealsoolestedyou.”

  harrietvangerdidnotoveauscle.thenshetookadeepbreathandburiedherfaceinherhands.ittookfivesecondsbeforejeffwasbesideher,askingifeverythingwasallright.harrietlookedathiandgavehiafaintsile.thensheastonishedblokvistbystandingupandgivingherstudsanagerahugandakissonthecheek.sheturnedtoblokvistwithherararoundjeff’sshoulder.

  “jeff,thisismikael,anold…friendfrothepast.he’sbroughtproblesandbadnews,butwe’renotgoingtoshoottheessenger.mikael,thisisjeffcochran,yoldestson.ialsohaveanothersonandadaughter.”

  blokviststooduptoshakehandswithjeff,sayingthathewassorrytohavebroughtbadnewswhichhadupsethisother.harrietexchangedafeordswithjeffandthensenthiaway.shesatdownagainandseeedtohaveadeadecision.

  “noorelies.iaeptthatit’sallover.insoesensei’vebeenwaitingforthisdaysince1966.foryearsiwasterrifiedthatsoeoneighteuptoeandsayynae.butyouknohat？allofasuddenidon’tcareanyore.mycriefallsoutsidethestatuteofliitations.andidon’tgiveashitwhatpeoplethinkaboute.”

  “crie？”saidmikael.

  shegavehianurgentlook,buthestilldidn’tunderstandwhatshewastalkingabout.

  “iwassixteen.iwasscared.iwasashaed.iwasdesperate.iwasallalone.theonlyoneswhoknewthetruthwereanitaandmartin.ihadtoldanitaaboutthesexualassaults,butididn’thavethecouragetotellherthatyfatherwasalsoaninsanekillerofwoen.anitahadneverknownaboutthat.butididtellheraboutthecriethatiittedyself.itwassohorriblethatwhenitcaedowntoit,ididn’tdaretellhenrik.iprayedtogodtofivee.andihidinsideaconventforseveralyears.”

  “harriet,yourfatherwasarapistandaurderer.itwasn’tyourfault.”

  “iknowthat.myfatherolestedeforayear.idideverythingtoavoid…buthewasyfatherandicouldn’trefusetohaveanythingtodowithhiwithoutgivinghisoeexplanation.soiliedandplayedaroleandtrie. comretendthateverythingwasok.andiadesurethatsoeoneelsewasalwaysaroundwhenisawhi.myotherknehathewasdoing,ofcourse,butshedidn’tcare.”

  “isabellaknew？”

  harriet’svoicetookonanewharshness.

  “ofcoursesheknew.nothingeverhappenedinourfailywithoutisabellaknowing.butsheignoredeverythingthatwasunpleasantorshowedherinabadlight.myfathercouldhaverapedeintheiddleofthelivingroorightbeforehereyesandshewouldn’thavenoticed.shewasincapableofacknowledgingthatanythingwaswronginherlifeorine.”

  “i’veether.she’snotyfavouriteinthefaily.”

  “she’sbeenlikethatherwholelife.i’veoftenwonderedaboutyparents’relationship.irealisedthattheyrarelyoraybeneverhadsexwitheachotherafteriwasborn.myfatherhadwoen,butforsoestrangereasonhewasafraidofisabella.hestayedawayfroher,buthecouldn’tgetadivorce.”

  “no-onedoesinthevangerfaily.”

  shelaughedforthefirsttie.

  “no,theydon’t.butthepointisthaticouldn’tbringyselftosayanything.thewholeworldwouldhavefoundout.myschoolates,allyrelatives…”

  “harriet,i’sosorry.”

  “iwasfourteenwhenherapedethefirsttie.andduringthenextyearhewouldtakeeouttohiscabin.manytiesmartincaealong.heforcedbotheandmartintodothingswithhi.andheheldyarswhilemartin…hadhiswaywithe.whenyfatherdied,martinwasreadytotakeoverhisrole.heexpectedetobeehisloverandhethoughtitwasperfectlynaturalforetosubittohi.atthattieinolongerhadanychoice.iwasforcedtodowhatmartinsaid.iwasridofoorentoronlytolandintheclutchesofanother,andtheonlythingicoulddowastoakesuretherewasneveranoasionwheniwasalonewithhi…”

  “henrikwouldhave…”

  “youstilldon’tunderstand.”

  sheraisedhervoice.blokvistsawthatseveraloftheenatthenexttentwerelookingathi.sheloweredhervoiceagainandleanedtowardshi.

  “allthecardsareonthetable.you’llhavetoworkouttherest.”

  shestoodupandgottwoorebeers.whenshecaeback,mikaelsaidasinglewordtoher.

  “gottfried.”

  shenodded.

  “onaugust7,1965,yfatherforcedetogoouttohiscabin.henrikwasaway.myfatherwasdrinking,andhetriedtoforcehiselfone.buthecouldn’tgetitupandheflewintoadrunkenrage.hewasalways…roughandviolenttowardsewhenwewerealone,butthistiehecrossedtheline.heurinatedone.thenhestartedtellingewhathewasgoingtodotoe.thatnighthetoldeaboutthewoenhehadkilled.hewasbraggingaboutit.hequotedfrothebible.thiswentonforanhour.ididn’tunderstandhalfofwhathewassaying,butirealisedthathewastotally,absolutelysick.”

  shetookagulpofherbeer.

  “soetiearoundidnighthehadafit.hewastotallyinsane.wewereupinthesleepingloft.heputat-shirtaroundyneckandpulleditastightashecould.iblackedout.idon’thavetheslightestdoubtthathereallywastryingtokille,andforthefirsttiethatnightheanage. comletetherape.”

  harrietlookedatblokvist.hereyesentreatedhitounderstand.

  “buthewassodrunkthatsoehowianagedtogetaway.ijupeddownfrotheloftandfled.iwasnakedandiranwithoutthinking,andendeduponthejettybythewater.hecaestaggeringaftere.”

  blokvistsuddenlywishedthatshewouldnottellhianythingore.

  “iwasstrongenoughtoshoveanolddrunkintothewater.iusedanoartoholdhiunderuntilhewasn’tstrugglinganyore.itdidn’ttakelong.”

  whenshe. comped,thesilencewasdeafening.

  “andwhenilookedup,therestoodmartin.helookedterrified,butatthesaetiehewasgrinning.idon’tknowhowlonghewasoutsidethecabin,spyingonus.frothatoentiwasathisercy.hecaeuptoe,grabbedebythehair,andledebacktothecabin—togottfried’sbed.hetiedeupandrapedewhileourfatherwasstillfloatinginthewater.andicouldn’tevenofferanyresistance.”

  blokvistclosedhiseyes.hewasterriblyashaedandwishedthathehadleftharrietvangerinpeace.buthervoicehadtakenonanewforce.

  “frothatdayon,iwasinhispower.ididwhathetoldetodo.ifeltparalysed,andtheonlythingthatsavedysanitywasthatisabella—oraybeitwasunclehenrik—decidedthatmartinneededachangeofsceneryafterhisfather’stragicdeath,soshesenthitouppsala.ofcoursethiswasbecausesheknehathewasdoingtoe,anditwasherwayofsolvingtheproble.youcanbetthatmartinwasdisappointed.duringthenextyearhewashoeonlyforthechristasholiday.ianagedtokeepawayfrohi.iwentwithhenrikonatriptocopenhagenbetweenchristasandnewyear’s.andduringthesuerholiday,anitawasthere.iconfidedinher,andshestayedwithethewholetie,akingsurethathedidn’teneare.”

  “untilyousawhionj？rnv？gsga