“harriettalkedwithareporterfrothecourier.herstoryisthatsheranawayfrohoebecauseshedidn’tgetalongwithherfaily,butthatsheobviouslyhasdonewellintheworldsinceshe’stheheadofaverysubstantialenterprise.”

  blokvistwhistled.

  “idiscoveredthattherewasoneyinaustraliansheep,butididn’tknowthestationwasdoingthatwell.”

  “hersheepstationisgoingsuperbly,butthatisn’theronlysourceofine.thecochrancorporationisinining,opals,anufacturing,transport,electronics,andalotofotherthingstoo.”

  “wow！sowhat’sgoingtohappennow？”

  “honestly,idon’tknow.peoplehavebeenturningupallday,andthefailyhasbeentogetherforthefirsttieinyears.they’reherefrobothfredrikandjohanvanger’ssides,andquiteafewfrotheyoungergenerationtoo—theonesintheirtwentiesandup.thereareprobablyaroundfortyvangersinhedestadthisevening.halfoftheareatthehospitalwearingouthenrik；theotherhalfareatthegrandhoteltalkingtoharriet.”

  “harrietustbethebigsensation.howanyoftheknowaboutmartin？”

  “sofarit’sjuste,henrik,andharriet.wehadalongtalktogether.martinand…youruncoveringofhisunspeakablelife,it’sovershadowingjustabouteverythingforusattheoent.ithasbroughtanenorouscrisisforthepanytoahead.”

  “icanunderstandthat.”

  “thereisnonaturalheir,butharrietisstayinginhedestadforawhile.thefailywillworkoutwhoownswhat,howtheinheritanceistobedividedandsoon.sheactuallyhasashareofitthatwouldhavebeenquitelargeifshehadbeenherethewholetie.it’sanightare.”

  mikaellaughed.frodewasnotlaughingatall.

  “isabellahadacollapseatthefuneral.she’sinthehospitalnow.henriksayshewon’tvisither.”

  “goodforhenrik.”

  “however,anitaisingoverfrolondon.iatocallafailyeetingfornextweek.itwillbethefirsttieintwenty-fiveyearsthatshe’sparticipated.”

  “whowillbethenewceo？”

  “birgerisafterthejob,buthe’soutofthequestion.what’sgoingtohappenisthathenrikwillstepinasceoprotefrohissickbeduntilwehireeithersoeonefrooutsideorsoeonefrowithinthefaily…”

  blokvistraisedhiseyebrows.

  “harriet？youcan’tbeserious.”

  “whynot？we’retalkingaboutanexceptionallypetentandrespectedbusinesswoan.”

  “shehasapanyinaustraliatolookafter.”

  “true,buthersonjeffcochranisindingthestoreinherabsence.”

  “he’sthestudsanageronasheepranch.ifiunderstoodtheattercorrectly,heseestoitthatthecorrectsheepatewitheachother.”

  “healsohasadegreeineconoicsfrooxfordandalawdegreefromelbourne.”

  blokvistthoughtaboutthesweaty,uscularanwithhisshirtoffwhohaddrivenhiintoandthroughtheravine；hetriedtoiaginehiinapinstripesuit.whynot？

  “allofthiswilltaketietoworkout,”frodesaid.“butshewouldbeaperfectceo.withtherightsupportteashecouldrepresentawholenewdealforthepany.”

  “shedoesn’thavetheexperience…”

  “that’strue.shecan’tjustpopupoutoforeorlessnowhereandstarticro-anagingthepany.butthevangercorporationisinternational,andwecouldcertainlyhaveanaericanceowhodoesn’tspeakawordofswedish…it’sonlybusiness,whenall’ssaidanddone.”

  “soonerorlateryou’regoingtohavetofaceuptotheprobleofmartin’sbaseent.”

  “iknow.butwecan’tsayanythingwithoutdestroyingharriet…i’gladi’nottheonewhohastoakethedecisionaboutthis.”

  “danit,dirch,youwon’tbeabletoburythefactthatmartinwasaserialkiller.”

  “mikael,i’ina…veryunfortableposition.”

  “telle.”

  “ihaveaessagefrohenrik.hethanksyoufortheoutstandingworkyoudidandsaysthatheconsidersthecontractfulfilled.thateansheisreleasingyoufroanyfurtherobligationsandthatyounolongerhavetoliveorworkhereinhedestad,etc.so,takingeffectiediately,youcanovebacktostockholanddevoteyourselftoyourotherpursuits.”

  “hewantsetovanishfrothescene,isthatthegistofit？”

  “absolutelynot.hewantsyoutovisithiforaconversationaboutthefuture.hesayshehopesthathisinvolveentontheboardofmillenniucanproceedwithoutrestrictions.but…”

  frodelookedevenoreunfortable,ifthatwaspossible.

  “don’ttelle,dirch…henolongerwantsetowriteahistoryofthevangerfaily.”

  dirchfrodenodded.hepickedupanote,openedit,andpusheditovertomikael.

  “hewroteyouthisletter.”

  dearmikael,

  ihavenothingbutrespectforyourintegrity,andidon’tintendtoinsultyoubytryingtotellyouwhattowrite.youaywriteandpublishwhateveryoulike,andiwon’texertanypressureonyouwhatsoever.

  ourcontractreainsvalid,ifyouwanttocontinue.youhaveenoughaterialtofinishthechronicleofthevangerfaily.

  mikael,i’veneverbeggedanyoneforanythinginyentirelife.i’vealwaysthoughtthatapersonshouldfollowhisoralsandhisconvictions.thistieihavenochoice.

  ia,withthisletter,beggingyou,bothasafriendandaspartownerofmillenniu,torefrainfropublishingthetruthaboutgottfriedandmartin.iknowthat’swrong,butiseenowayoutofthisdarkness.ihavetochoosebetweentwoevils,andinthiscasetherearenowinners.

  ibegyounottowriteanythingthatwouldfurtherhurtharriet.youknowfirst-handwhatit’sliketobethesubjectofaediacapaign.thecapaignagainstyouwasofquiteodestproportions.youcansurelyiaginewhatitwouldbelikeforharrietifthetruthweretoeout.shehasbeentorentedforfortyyearsandshouldn’thavetosufferanyoreforthedeedsthatherbrotherandherfatheritted.andibegyoutothinkthroughtheconsequencesthisstoryighthaveforthethousandsofeployeesinthepany.thiscouldcrushherandannihilateus.

  henrik

  “henrikalsosaysthatifyourequirepensationforfinanciallossesthatayarisefroyourrefrainingfropublishingthestory,heisentirelyopentodiscussion.youcansetanyfinancialdeandsyouthinkfit.”

  “henrikvangeristryingtoshuteup.tellhithatiwishhehadnevergivenethisoffer.”

  “thesituationisjustastroublesoeforhenrikasitisforyou.helikesyouveryuchandconsidersyouhisfriend.”

  “henrikvangerisacleverbastard,”blokvistsaid.hewassuddenlyfurious.“hewantstohushupthestory.he’splayingonyeotionsandheknowsilikehitoo.andwhathe’salsosayingisthatihaveafreehan. comublish,andifidosohewouldhavetorevisehisattitudetowardsmillenniu.”

  “everythingchangedwhenharrietsteppedontothestage.”

  “andnowhenrikisfeelingoutwhatypricetagightbe.idon’tintendtohangharrietouttodry,butsoebodyhastosaysoethingaboutthewoenwhodiedinmartin’sbaseent.dirch,wedon’tevenknowhowanywoenhetorturedandslaughtered.whoisgoingtospeakupontheirbehalf？”

  salanderlookedupfroherputer.hervoicewasalostinaudibleasshesaidtofrode,“isn’tthereanyoneinyourpanywho’sgoingtotrytoshuteup？”

  frodelookedastonished.onceagainhehadanagedtoignoreherexistence.

  “ifmartinvangerwerealiveatthisoent,iwouldhavehunghiouttodry,”shewenton.“whateveragreeentmikaeladewithyou,iwouldhavesenteverydetailabouthitothenearesteveningpaper.andificould,iwouldhavestuckhidowninhisowntortureholeandtiedhitothattableandstuckneedlesthroughhisballs.unfortunatelyhe’sdead.”

  sheturnedtoblokvist.

  “i’satisfiedwiththesolution.nothingwedocanrepairtheharthatmartinvangerdidtohisvictis.butaninterestingsituationhaseup.you’reinapositionwhereyoucancontinuetoharinnocentwoen—especiallythatharrietwhoyousowarlydefendedinthecaronthewayuphere.soyquestiontoyouis:whichisworse—thefactthatmartinvangerrapedheroutinthecabinorthatyou’regoingtodoitinprint？youhaveafinedilea.maybetheethicsitteeofthejournalistsassociationcangiveyousoeguidance.”

  shepaused.blokvistcouldnoteethergaze.hestareddownatthetable.

  “buti’notajournalist,”shesaidatlast.

  “whatdoyouwant？”dirchfrodeasked.

  “martinvideotapedhisvictis.iwantyoutodoyourdanedesttoidentifyasanyasyoucanandseetoitthattheirfailiesreceivesuitablepensation.andtheniwantthevangercorporationtodonate2illionkronorannuallyandinperpetuitytothenationalanisationforwoen’scrisiscentresandgirls’crisiscentresinsweden.”

  frodeweighedthepricetagforainute.thenhenodded.

  “canyoulivewiththat,mikael？”salandersaid.

  blokvistfeltonlydespair.hisprofessionallifehehaddevotedtouncoveringthingswhichotherpeoplehadtriedtohide,andhecouldnotbepartytothecoveringupoftheappallingcriesittedinmartinvanger’sbaseent.hewhohadlabastedhiscolleaguesfornotpublishingthetruth,herehesat,discussing,negotiatingeven,theostacabrecover-uphehadeverheardof.

  hesatinsilenceforalongtie.thenhenoddedhisassent.

  “sobeit,”frodesaid.“andwithregardtohenrik’sofferforfinancialpensation…”

  “hecanshoveituphisbackside,anddirch,iwantyoutoleavenow.iunderstandyourposition,butrightnowi’sofuriouswithyouandhenrikandharrietthatifyoustayanylongerweightnotbefriendsanyore.”

  frodeadenoovetogo.

  “ican’tleaveyet.i’notdone.ihaveanotheressagetodeliver,andyou’renotgoingtolikethisoneeither.henrikisinsistingthatitellyoutonight.youcangouptothehospitalandflayhitoorroworningifyouwish.”

  blokvistlookedupandstaredathi.

  frodewenton.“thishasgottobethehardestthingi’veeverdoneinylife.butithinkthatonlypletecandourwithallthecardsonthetablecansavethesituationnow.”

  “soit’scandouratlast,isit？”

  “whenhenrikconvincedyoutotakethejoblastchristas,”dirchsaid,ignoringhissarcas,“neitherhenorithoughtthatanythingwouldeofit.thatwasexactlywhathesaid,buthewantedtogiveitonelasttry.hehadanalysedyoursituation,particularlywiththehelpofthereportthatfr？kensalanderputtogether.heplayedonyourisolation,heofferedgoodpay,andheusedtherightbait.”

  “wennerstr？.”

  frodenodded.

  “youwerebluffing？”

  “no,no,”frodesaid.

  salanderraisedaneyebroithinterest.

  “henrikisgoingtoakegoodoneverythingheproised.he’sarranginganinterviewandisgoingpublicwithadirectassaultonwennerstr？.youcanhaveallthedetailslater,butroughlythesituationisthis:whenwennerstr？waseployedinthefinancedepartentofthevangercorporation,hespentseveralillionkronorspeculatingonforeigncurrency.thiswaslongbeforeforeignexchangefuturesbecaetherage.hedidthiswithoutauthority.onedealafteranotherwentbad,andhewassittingtherewithalossofsevenillionkronorthathetriedtocoverup.partlybycookingthesandpartlybyspeculatingevenharder.itinevitablycaetolightandhewassacked.”

  “didheakeanyprofithiself？”

  “ohyes,headeoffwithabouthalfaillionkronor,whichironicallyenoughbecaetheseedoneyforthewennerstr？group.wehavedocuentationforallofthis.youcanusetherationhoweveryoulike,andhenrikwillbackuptheausationspublicly.but…”

  “but,andit’sabigbut,dirch,therationisworthless,”blokvistsaid,slainghisfistonthetable.“itallhappenedthirty-plusyearsagoandit’saclosed.”

  “you’llgetconfirationthatwennerstr？isacrook.”

  “thatwillannoywennerstr？whenitesout,butitwon’tdaagehianyorethanadirecthitfroapeashooter.he’sgoingtoshufflethedeckbyputtingoutapressreleasesayingthathenrikvangerisanoldhas-beenwho’sstilltryingtostealsoebusinessfrohi,andthenhe’llprobablyclaithathewasactingonordersfrohenrik.evenifhecan’tprovehisinnocence,hecanlaydownenoughsokescreensthatno-onewilltakethestoryseriously.”

  frodelookedunhappy.

  “youconnede,”blokvistsaid.

  “thatwasn’tourintention.”

  “iblaeyself.iwasgraspingatstraws,andishouldhaverealiseditwassoethinglikethat.”helaughedabruptly.“henrikisanoldshark.hewassellingaproductandtoldewhatiwantedtohear.it’stieyouwent,dirch.”

  “mikael…i’sorrythat…”

  “dirch.go.”

  salanderdidnotknohethertogoovertoblokvistortoleavehiinpeace.hesolvedtheprobleforherbypickinguphisjacketwithoutawordandslaingthedoorbehindhi.

  fororethananhourshewaitedrestlesslyinthekitchen.shefeltsobadthatsheclearedthetableandwashedthedishes—arolesheusuallylefttoblokvist.shewentregularlytothewindowtoseeiftherewasanysignofhi.finallyshewassonervousthatsheputonherjacketandwentouttolookforhi.

  firstshewalkedtothearina,wherelightswerestilloninthecabins,buttherewasnosignofhi.shefollowedthepathalongthewaterwheretheyusuallytooktheireveningwalks.martinvanger’shousewasdarkandalreadylookedabandoned.shewentouttotherocksatthepointwheretheyhadoftensattalking,andthenshewentbackhoe.hestillhadnotreturned.

  shewenttothechurch.stillnosign.shewasatalosstoknohattodo.thenshewentbacktoherotorcycleandgotaflashlightfrothesaddlebagandsetoffalongthewateragain.ittookherawhiletowindherwayalongthehalf-overgrownroad,andevenlongertofindthepathtogottfried’scabin.itlooedoutofthedarknessbehindsoetreeswhenshehadalostreachedit.hewasnotontheporchandthedoorwaslocked.

  shehadturnedtowardsthevillagewhenshe. compedandwentback,allthewayouttothepoint.shecaughtsightofblokvist’ssilhouetteinthedarknessontheendofthejettywhereharrietvangerhaddrownedherfather.shesighedwithrelief.

  heheardherasshecaeoutontothejetty,andheturnedaround.shesatdownnexttohiwithoutaword.atlasthebrokethesilence.

  “fivee.ihadtobealoneforawhile.”

  “iknow.”

  shelittwocigarettesandgavehione.blokvistlookedather.salanderwastheostasocialhuanbeinghehadeveret.usuallysheignoredanyatteptonhisparttotalkaboutanythingpersonal,andshehadneveraeptedasingleexpressionofsypathy.shehadsavedhislife,andnowshehadtrackedhiouthereinthenight.heputanararoundher.

  “nowiknohatypriceis,”hesaid.“we’veforsakenthosegirls.they’regoingtoburythewholestory.everythinginmartin’sbaseentwillbevacuuedintooblivion.”

  salanderdidnotanswer.

  “erikawasright,”hesaid.“iwouldhavedoneoregoodifi’dgoosparaonthandthenehoerefreshedandtakenonwennerstr？.i’vewastedalltheseonths.”

  “ifyou’dgoospain,martinvangerwouldstillbeoperatinginhisbaseent.”

  theysattogetherforalongtiebeforehesuggestedthattheygohoe.

  blokvistfellasleepbeforesalander.shelayawakelisteningtohibreathe.afterawhileshewenttothekitchenandsatinthedarkonthekitchenbench,sokingseveralcigarettesasshebrooded.shehadtakenitforgrantedthatvangerandfrodeightconhi.itwasintheirnature.butitwasblokvist’sproble,nothers.orwasit？

  atlastsheadeadecision.shestubbedouthercigaretteandwentintothebedroo,turnedonthelap,andshookmikaelawake.itwas2:30intheorning.

  “what？”

  “i’vegotaquestion.situp.”

  blokvistsatup,drunkwithsleep.

  “whenyouwereindicted,whydidn’tyoudefendyourself？”

  blokvistrubbedhiseyes.helookedattheclock.

  “it’salongstory,lisbeth.”

  “i’vegottie.telle.”

  hesatforalongwhile,ponderingwhatheshouldsay.finallyhedecidedonthetruth.

  “ihadnodefence.therationinthearticlewaswrong.”

  “whenihackedyourputerandreadyoureailexchangewithberger,therewereplentyofreferencestothewennerstr？affair,butyoutwokeptdiscussingpracticaldetailsaboutthetrialandnothingaboutwhatactuallyhappened.whatwasitthatwentwrong？”

  “lisbeth,ican’tlettherealstorygetout.ifellintoatrap.erikaandiarequiteclearthatitwoulddaageourcredibilityevenfurtherifwetoldanyonewhatreallyhappened.”

  “listen,kalleblokvist,yesterdayafternoonyousatherepreachingaboutfriendshipandtrustandst

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  uff.i’notgoin. comutthestoryonthe.”

  blokvistprotested.itwastheiddleofthenight.hecouldnotfacethinkingaboutthewholethingnow.shewentonstubbornlysittingthereuntilhegavein.hewenttothebathrooandwashedhisfaceandputthecoffeepoton.thenhecaebacktothebedandtoldherabouthowhisoldschoolfriendrobertlindberg,inayellowm？lar-30intheguestarinainarhola,hadarousedhiscuriosity.

  “youeanthatyourbuddywaslying？”

  “no,notatall.hetoldeexactlywhatheknew,andicouldverifyeachandeverywordindocuentsfrotheauditatsib.ievenwenttopolandandphotographedthesheet-etalshackwherethishugebigminospanywashoused.iinterviewedseveralofthepeoplewhohadbeeneployedatthepa