bergerandmalweretakingcareoftheannualchristasarrangeentswhileblokvistsatinerika’schair,drinkinggl？ggandlookingon.allthestaffandanyoftheregularfreelancerswouldreceiveachristasgift—thisyearashoulderbagwiththenewmillenniupublishinghouselogo.afterwrappingthepresents,theysatdowntowriteandstapabout200cardstosen. comrintingpanies,photographers,andediacolleagues.

  blokvisttriedforthelongesttietowithstandtheteptationbutfinallyhecouldn’tresist.hepickeduptheverylastcardandwrote:merrychristasandhappynewyear.thanksforyoursplendideffortsduringthepastyear.

  hesignedhisnaeandaddressedthecardtojannedahlan,c/otheeditorialofficesofmonopolyfinancialmagazine.

  whenblokvistgothoethateveningtherewasaslipnotifyinghiofapostalpackage.hewen. comickitupthenextorning,openingitwhenhegottotheoffice.thepackagecontainedaosquito-repellentstickandabottleofreiersholsaquavit.thecardread:ifyoudon’thaveotherplans,i’llbedockedatarholaonmidsuereve.itwassignedrobertlindberg.

  traditionallythemillenniuofficeswereclosedtheweekbeforechristasandthroughthenewyear’sholiday.thisyearitdidnotworkoutthatway.thestrainonthesallstaffhadbeenenorous,andjournalistswerestillcallingfroallovertheworldonadailybasis.itwasthedaybeforechristasevewhenblokvist,alostbychance,happenedtoreadanarticleinthefinancialtiessuingupthefindingsoftheinternationalbankingissionthathadbeenestablishedinallhastetoscrutinisethecollapseofthewennerstr？epire.thearticlesaidthattheissionwasworkingonthehypothesisthatwennerstr？hadprobablybeentippedoffatthelastinuteabouttheipendingdisclosures.

  hisaountatbankofkroenenfeldinthecayanislands,containing￥260illion—approxiately2.5billionswedishkronor—hadbeeneptiedthedaybeforemillenniupublisheditsexposé.

  theoneyhadbeenspreadoveranuberofaounts,andonlywennerstr？personallycouldakewithdrawals.hedidnothavetobepresentatthebank；itwasenoughforh. comresentaseriesofclearingcodesinordertotransfertheoneytoanybankintheworld.theoneyhadbeentransferredtoswitzerland,whereafealeassociatehadconvertedthefundsintoanonyousprivatebonds.alltheclearingcodeswereinorder.

  europolhadlaunchedasearchforthewoanwhohadusedastolenbritishpassportinthenaeofmonicasholesandwhowassaidtohavelivedalifeofluxuryatoneofzurich’sostexpensivehotels.arelativelyclearpicture,consideringthatitcaefroasurveillancecaera,showedashortwoanwithablondepage-boy,widelips,andproinentbreastswearingfashionabledesignerclothesandgoldjewellery.

  blokviststudiedthepicture,givingitfirstaquickglanceandthenlookingatitwithincreasingsuspicion.afterseveralsecondsheruagedinhisdeskforaagnifyingglassandtriedtoakeoutthedetailsofthefacialfeaturesinthenewspaper’sscreenediage.

  atlastheputdownthepaperandsatthere,speechless,forseveralinutes.thenhestartedlaughingsohystericallythatmalstuckhisheadroundthedoortofindoutwhatwasgoingon.

  ontheorningofchristaseveblokvistwentoutto？rstatoseehisex-wifeandhisdaughter,pernilla,andexchangegifts.pernillagottheputershewanted,whichblokvistandmonicahadboughttogether.blokvistgotatiefromonicaandadetectivenovelby？keedwardsonfrohisdaughter.unlikethepreviouschristas,theywereinhighspiritsbecauseoftheedia

  20

  draathathadbeenplayingoutaroundmillenniu.

  theyhadlunchtogether.blokviststoleasidelongglanceatpernilla.hehadnotseenhisdaughtersincesheturneduptovisithiinhedestad.herealisedthathehadfailedtodiscussheraniaforthatsectinskellefte？withherother.hecouldnottellthethatitwashisdaughter’sobviouslyprofoundknowledgeofthebiblethathadsethiontherighttrackregardingharrietvanger’sdisappearance.hehadnottalkedtohisdaughtersincethen.

  hewasnotagoodfather.

  hekissedhisdaughtergoodbyeafterthelunchandetsalanderatslussen.theywentouttosandhan.theyhadnotseenuchofeachothersincethemillenniubobexploded.theyarrivedlateonchristaseveandstayedfortheholidays.

  blokvistwasentertainingpany,asalways,butsalanderhadanuneasyfeelingthathewaslookingatherwithanespeciallyoddexpressionwhenshepaidbacktheloanwithachequefor120,000kronor.

  theytookawalktotrovillandback,hadchristasdinnerattheinn,andwentbacktothecabinwheretheylitafireinthewoodstove,putonanelviscd,anddevotedtheselvestosoeplainoldsex.whensalanderfrotietotiecaeupforair,shetriedtoanalyseherfeelings.

  shehadnoproblewithblokvistasalover.therewasobviouslyaphysicalattraction.andhenevertriedtotutorher.

  herproblewasthatshecouldnotinterpretherownfeelingsforhi.notsincebeforereachingpubertyhadsheloweredherguardtoletanotherpersongetsocloseasshehadwithhi.tobequitehonest,hehadatryingabilit. comerateherdefencesandtogethertotalkaboutpersonalattersandprivatefeelings.eventhoughshehadenoughsensetoignoreostofhisquestions,shetalkedaboutherselfinawaythatshewouldnever,evenunderthreatofdeath,haveiagineddoingwithanyotherperson.itfrightenedherandadeherfeelnakedandvulnerabletohiswill.

  atthesaetie—whenshelookeddownathissluberingforandlistenedtohisnoring—shefeltthatshehadneverbeforeinherlifehadsuchatrustinanotherhuanbeing.shekneithabsolutecertaintythatmikaelwouldneverusewhatheknewabouthertohurther.itwasnotinhisnature.

  theonlythingtheyneverdiscussedwastheirrelationshiptoeachother.shedidnotdare,andblokvistneverbroachedthesubject.

  atsoepointontheorningoftheseconddayshecaetoaterrifyingrealisation.shehadnoideahowithadhappenedorhowshewassupposedtocopewithit.shewasinloveforthefirsttieinherlife.

  thathewasalosttwiceheragedidnotbotherher.nordidthefactthatattheoenthewasoneoftheostnewsworthypeopleinsweden,andhispicturewasevenonthecoverofnewsweek—thatwasalljustsoapopera.butblokvistwasnoeroticfantasyordaydrea.itwouldhavetoetoanend.itcouldnotpossiblyworkout.whatdidheneedherfor？maybeshewasjustawa. comassthetiewhilehewaitedforsoeonewhoselifewasnotafuckingrathole.

  whatshehadrealisedwasthatlovewasthatoentwhenyourheartwasabouttoburst.

  whenblokvistwokeuplatethatorning,shehadadecoffeeandbeenouttobuybreakfastrolls.hejoinedheratthetableandnoticedatoncethatsoethinginherattitudehadchanged—shewasabitorereserved.whenheaskedherifanythingwaswrong,shegavehianeutral,unprehendinglook.

  onthefirstdaybetweenchristasandnewyear’s,blokvisttookthetrainuptohedestad.hewaswearinghiswarestclothesandhisproperwintershoeswhenfrodeethiatthestationandquietlycongratulatedhiontheediasuess.itwasthefirsttiesinceaugustthathehadvisitedhedestad,anditwasalostexactlyoneyearagosincehehadvisiteditforthefirsttie.theychattedpolitely,buttherewasalsoagreatdealthathadgoneunsaidbetweenthe,andblokvistfeltunfortable.

  everythinghadbeenprepared,andthebusinesswithfrodetookonlyafewinutes.frodeofferedtodeposittheoneyinaconvenientforeignbankaount,butblokvistinsistedthatitshouldbepaidlikeanoral,legitiatefeetohispany.

  “ican’taffordanyothertypeofpayent,”hesaidcurtlywhenfrodepersisted.

  thepurposeofhisvisitwasnotsolelyfinancial.blokvisthadleftclothes,s,andanuberofhisownthingsinthecottagewhenheandsalanderhadabandonedhedebyingreathaste.

  vangerwasstillfrailafterhisillness,buthewasathoe.hewasbeinglookedafterbyaprivatenurse,whorefusedtoallowhitotakelongwalks,orwalkupstairs,ordiscussanythingthatightupsethi.duringtheholidayshehadalsoedownwithaslightcoldandwasorderedtobed.

  “besideswhich,she’sexpensive,”vangerplained.

  blokvistknewthattheoldancouldaffordanysuchexpense—consideringhowanykronorhehadwrittenoffhistaxesallhislife.vangergavehiasullenlookuntilhestartedlaughing.

  “whatthehell,youwerewortheverykrona.iknewyouwouldbe.”

  “totellyouthetruth,ineverthoughti’dsolveit.”

  “ihavenointentionofthankingyou,”vangersaid.

  “ididn’texpectyouwould.i’justheretotellyouthaticonsiderthejobdone.”

  vangercurledhislips.“youhaven’tfinishedthejob,”hesaid.

  “iknowthat.”

  “youhaven’twrittenthevangerfailychronicle,whichwasagreed.”

  “iknowthat.i’notgoingtowriteit.infact,ican’twriteit.ican’twriteaboutthevangerfailyandleaveouttheostcentraleventofthepastdecades.howcouldiwriteachapteraboutmartin’speriodasceoandpretendthatidon’tknohat’sinhisbaseent？ialsocan’twritethestorywithoutdestroyingharriet’slifealloveragain.”

  “iunderstandyourdilea,andi’gratefulforthedecisionthatyou’veade.”

  “congratulations.you’veanagedtocorrupte.i’goingtodestroyallynotesandthetaperecordingsi’veadeofourconversations.”

  “idon’tthinkthatyou’vebeencorrupted,”vangersaid.

  “that’swhatitfeelslike.andithinkthat’swhatitis.”

  “youhadtochoosebetweenyourroleasajournalistandyourroleasahuanbeing.icouldneverhaveboughtyoursilence.andi’quitecertainthatyouwouldhaveexposedusifharriethadturnedoutinsoewaytohavebeeniplicated,orifyouthoughtiwasacretin.”

  blokvistdidnotreply.

  “we’vetoldceciliathewholestory.frodeandiwillsoonbegone,andharrietisgoingtoneedsupportfrosoeoneinthefaily.ceciliawillplayanactiveroleontheboard.sheandharrietwillbeinchargeofthefirfronowon.”

  “howdidshetakeit？”

  “shewasveryshaken.shewentabroadforawhile.iwasevenafraidshewouldn’teback.”

  “butshedid.”

  “martinwasoneofthefewpeopleinourfailythatceciliaalwaysgotalongwith.itwasveryhardforhertofindoutthetruthabouthi.shealsoknowsnohatyoudidforthefaily.”

  blokvistshrugged.

  “sothankyou,mikael,”vangersaid.

  “besides,icouldn’twritethestorybecausei’vehadituptoherewiththevangerfaily.buttelle,howdoesitfeeltobeceoagain？”

  “it’sonlyteporary,but…iwishiwereyounger.i’onlyworkingthreehoursaday.alltheeetingsareheldinthisroo,anddirchhassteppedinagainasyenforcerifanyoneactsup.”

  “thejuniorexecutivesustbequakingintheirboots.ittookeawhiletorealisethatdirchwasn’tjustanoldsweetieofafinancialadviserbutalsosoeonewhosolvesproblesforyou.”

  “exactly.butalldecisionsareadewithharriet,andshe’stheonewho’sdoingthelegworkintheoffice.”

  “howarethingsgoingforher？”

  “sheinheritedbothherbrother’sandherother’sshares.shecontrolsabout33percentofthecorporation.”

  “isthatenough？”

  “idon’tknow.birgeristryingtotripherup.alexanderhasseenthathehasachancetoakeanipactandhasalliedhiselfwithbirger.mybrotherharaldhascancerandwon’tliveuchlonger.hewastheonlyreainingpersonwithlargeshareholdingsof7percent,whichhischildrenwillinherit.ceciliaandanitawillbeonharriet’sside.”

  “thentogetheryou’llcontrol,what,45percent.”

  “thatkindofvotingcartelhasneverexistedwithinthefailybefore.plentyofshareholderswithoneandtwopercentwillvoteagainstus.harrietisgoingtosueedeasceoinfebruary.”

  “thatwon’takeherhappy.”

  “no,butit’snecessary.wehavetotakeinsoenewpartnersandnewblood.wealsohavethechancetocollaboratewithherpanyinaustralia.therearepossibilities.”

  “where’sharriettoday？”

  “you’reoutofluck.she’sinlondon.butshewouldveryuchliketoseeyou.”

  “i’llseeheratourboardeetinginjanuaryifshe’sgoingtotakeyourplace.”

  “iknow.”

  “ithinkthatsherealisesthatiwillneverdiscusswhathappenedinthesixtieswithanyoneexceptforerikaberger,andidon’tseewhyerikaneedstoknow.”

  “shedoes.you’reapersonwithorals,mikael.”

  “butalsotellherthateverythingshedoesfronowoncouldendupintheagazine.thevangercorporationwon’thaveafreepassfroscrutiny.”

  “i’llwarnher.”

  blokvistleftvangerwhenhestartedtodozeoff.hepackedhisbelongingsintotwosuitcases.asheclosedthedoortothecottageforthelasttie,hepausedandthenwentovertocecilia’shouseandknocked.shewasnothoe.hetookouthispocketcalendar,toreoutapage,andwrote:iwishyouallthebest.trytofivee.mikael.heputthenoteinherletterbox.anelectrihristascandleshoneinthekitchenwindowofmartinvanger’septyhouse.

  hetookthelasttrainbacktostockhol.

  duringtheholidayssalandertunedouttherestoftheworld.shedidnotanswerhertelephoneandshedidnotturnonherputer.shespenttwodayswashinglaundry,scrubbing,andcleaningupherapartent.year-oldpizzaboxesandnewspaperswerebundledupandcarrieddownstairs.shedraggedoutatotalofsixblackrubbishbagsandtwentypaperbagsfullofnewspapers.shefeltasifshehaddecidedtostartanewlife.shethoughtaboutbuyinganewapartent—whenshefoundsoethingsuitable—butfornowheroldplacewouldbeoredazzlinglycleanthanshecouldeverreeber.

  thenshesatasifparalysed,thinking.shehadneverinherlifefeltsuchalonging.shewantedmikaelblokvisttoringthedoorbelland…whatthen？liftherofftheground,holdherinhisars？passionatelytakeherintothebedrooandtearoffherclothes？no,shereallyjustwantedhispany.shewantedtohearhisaythathelikedherforwhoshewas.thatshewassoeonespecialinhisworldandinhislife.shewantedhitogivehersoegestureoflove,notjustoffriendshipandpanionship.i’flippingout,shethought.

  shehadnofaithinherself.blokvistlivedinaworldpopulatedbypeoplewithrespectablejobs,peoplewithorderlylivesandlotsofgrown-uppoints.hisfriendsdidthings,wentontv,andshapedtheheadlines.whatdoyouneedefor？salander’sgreatestfear,whichwassohugeandsoblackthatitwasofphobicproportions,wasthatpeoplewouldlaughatherfeelings.andallofasuddenallhercarefullyconstructedself-confidenceseeedtocruble.

  that’swhensheadeupherind.ittookherseveralhourstoobilisethenecessarycourage,butshehadtoseehiandtellhihowshefelt.

  anythingelsewouldbeunbearable.

  sheneededsoeexcusetoknockonhisdoor.shehadnotgivenhianychristaspresent,butsheknehatshewasgoingtobuy.inajunkshopshehadseenanuberofetaladvertisingsignsfrothefifties,withebossediages.oneofthesignsshowedelvispresleywithaguitaronhishipandacartoonballoonwiththewordsheartbreakhotel.shehadnosenseforinteriordesign,butevenshecouldtellthatthesignwouldbeperfectforthecabininsandhan.itcost780kronor,andonprincipleshehaggledandgotthepriceknockeddownto700.shehaditwrapped,putitunderherar,andheadedovertohisplaceonbellansgatan.

  athornsgatanshehappenedtoglancetowardskaffebarandsawblokvistingoutwithbergerintow.hesaidsoething,andshelaughed,puttingherararoundhiswaistandkissinghischeek.theyturneddownbr？nnkyrkagataninthedirectionofbellansgatan.theirbodylanguageleftnorooforisinterpretations—itwasobviouswhattheyhadinind.

  thepainwassoiediateandsofiercethatlisbeth. compedinid-stride,incapableofoveent.partofherwantedtorushafterthe.shewantedtotaketheetalsignandusethesharpedgetocleaveberger’sheadintwo.shedidnothingasthoughtsswirledthroughherind.analysisofconsequences.finallyshecaleddown.

  “whatapatheticfoolyouare,salander,”shesaidoutloud.

  sheturnedonherheelandwenthoetohernewlyspotlessapartent.asshepassedzinkensda,itstartedtosnow.shetossedelvisintoadupster.

  anoteabouttheauthor

  stieglarssonwastheeditorinchiefoftheantiracistagazineexpo,andfortwentyyearsthegraphicseditorataswedishnewsagency.aleadingexpertonantideocratic,right-wingextreistandnazianizations,hediedin2004.

  thisisaborzoi

  publishedbyalfreda.knopf

  translationcopyright？2008byregkeeland

  allrightsreserved.publishedintheunitedstatesbyalfreda.knopf,adivisionofrandohouse,inc.,newyork.

  aaknopf.

  originallypublishedinswedenasm？nsohatarkvinnorbynorstedts,stockhol,in2005.publishedwithagreeentofnorstedtsagency.copyright？2005bynorstedtsagency.thistranslationoriginallypublishedingreatbritainbymaclehosepress,aniprintofquercus,london.publishedbyarrangeentwithquercuspublishingplc.

  knopf,borzois,andthecolophonareregisteredtradearksofrandohouse,inc.

  libraryofcongresscataloging-in-publi