船说 Hewentupthenarrowstairsandlookedaroundthesleepingloft.Therewasadoublebedwithabareattress,abedsidetable,andachestofdrawers.
Blokvistspentawhilesearchingthroughthecabin.Thebureauwaseptyexceptforsoehandtowelsandlinensellingfaintlyofould.Inthewardrobethereweresoeworkclothes,apairofoveralls,rubberboots,apairofwotennisshoes,andakerosenestove.Inthedeskdrawerswerewritingpaper,pencils,abnksketchpad,adeckofcards,andsoearks.Thekitchencupboardcontainedptes,ugs,gsses,candles,andsoepackagesofsalt,teabags,andthelike.Inadrawerinthetabletherewereeatingutensils.
Hefoundtheonlytracesofanyintellectualinterestsonthecaseabovethedesk.Mikaelbroughtoverachairandgotuponittoseewhatwasontheshelves.OnthelowestshelfyissuesofSe,Rekordagasi,Tidsfrdriv,andLektyrfrothetefiftiesandearlysixties.TherewereseveralBildjoualenfro1965and1966,MattLivsNovell,andafewics:The91,Phantoen,andRoans.HeopenedacopyofLektyrfro1964andsiledtoseehowchastethepinas.
Ofthes,abouthalfwereysterypaperbacksfroWahlstrsManhattanseries:MickeySpilnewithtitleslikeKissMe,DeadlywiththecssioversbyBertilHegnd.HefoundhalfadozenKittys,soeFaousFivenovelsbyEnidBlyton,andaTwinMysterybySivarAhlrudTheMetroMystery.Hesiledinrecognition.ThreesbyAstridLindgren:TheChildrenofNoisyVilge,KalleBlokvistandRasus,andPippiLongstocking.Thshelfhadaaboutshortwaveradio,twosonastronoy,abirdguide,acalledTheEvilEpireontheSovietUnion,aontheFinnishWinterWar,Lutherscatechis,theofHyns,andtheBible.
HeopenedtheBibleandreadontheinsidecover:HarrietVanger,May12,1963.ItwasherConfirationBible.Hesadlyputitbackontheshelf.
Behindthecabintherewereawoodandtoolshedwithascythe,rake,haer,andabigboxwithsaws,pnes,andothertools.Hetookachairontotheporchandpouredcoffeefrohistheros.HelitacigaretteandlookedacrossHedestadBaythroughtheveilofundergrowth.
Gottfriedscabinwasuchoreodestthanhehadexpected.HerewasthepcetowhichHarrietandMartinsfatherhadretreatedwhenhisarriagetoIsabelwasgoingtothedogsinthetefifties.Hehadadethiscabinhishoeandherehegotdrunk.Anddownthere,nearthewharf,hehaddrowned.Lifeatthecabinhadprobablybeenpleasantinthesuer,butwhentheteperaturedroppedtofreezingitusthavebeenrawandwretched.AordingtowhatVangertoldhi,GottfriedcontinuedtoworkintheVangerCorporationinterruptedbyperiodswhenhewasonwildbingesuntil1964.Thefactthathewasabletoliveinthecabinoreorlessperanentlyandstilppearforworkshaven,washed,andinajacketandtiespokeofasurvivingpersonaldiscipline.
AndherewasalsothepcethatHarriethadbeentosooftenthatitwasoneofthefirstinwhichtheylookedforher.Vangerhadtoldhithatduringherstyear,Harriethadgoneoftentothecabin,apparentlytobeinpeaceonweekendsorholidays.Inherstsuershehadlivedhereforthreeonths,thoughshecaeintothevilgeeveryday.AnitaVanger,Ceciliassister,spentsixweekswithherhere.
WhathadshedoneoutherealloneTheagazinesMittLivsNovelndRoans,aswelsanuberofsaboutKitty,usthavebeenhers.Perhapsthesketchpadhadbeenhers.AndherBiblewashere.
ShehadwantedtobeclosetoherlostfatherwasitaperiodofouingsheneededtogetthroughOrdidithavetodowithherreligiousbroodingThecabinwasspartanwasshepretendingtoliveinaconvent
Blokvistfollowedtheshoreliothesoutheast,butthewaywassointerruptedbyravinesandsogrownoverwithjunipershrubsthatitwasallbutipassable.HewentbacktothecabinandstartedbackontheroadtoHedeby.AordingtotheaptherewasapaththroughthewoodstosoethingcalledtheFortress.Ittookhitwentyinutestofinditintheovergrownscrub.TheFortresswaswhatreainedoftheshorelinedefencefrotheSecondWorldWar；concretebunkerswithtrenchesspreadoutaroundaandbuilding.Everythingwasoverrunwithlonggrassandscrub.
Hewalkeddownapathtoaboathouse.NexttotheboathousehefoundthewreckofaPetterssonboat.HeretuedtotheFortressandtookapathuptoafencehehadetostergrdenfrotheotherside.
Hefollowedtheeanderingpaththroughthewoods,roughlyparalleltothefieldsofstergrden.Thepathwasdifficulttonegotiatetherewerepatchesofarshthathehadtoskirt.Finallyhecaetoaswapandbeyonditaba.Asfarashecouldseethepathendedthere,ahundredyardsfrotheroadtostergrden.
Beyondtheroadythehill,Sderberget.Blokvistwalkedupasteepslopeandhadtoclibthestbit.Sderbergetssuitwasanalostverticalclifffacingthewater.HefollowedtheridgebacktowardsHedeby.Hepedabovethesuercottagestoenjoytheviewoftheoldfishingharbourandthechurchandhisowncottage.Hesatonaftrockandpouredhiselfthestofthelukewarcoffee.
CeciliaVangerkeptherdistance.Blokvistdidnotwanttobeiportunate,sohewaitedaweekbeforehewenttoherhouse.Shelethiin.
“YouustthinkIquitefoolish,afiftysixyearold,respectableheadistressactinglikeateenagegirl.”
“Cecilia,youreagrownwoan.Youhavetherighttodowhateveryouwant.”
“IknowandthatswhyIvedecidednottoseeyouanyore.Icantstand”
“Please,youdontoweeanexpnation.Ihopewerestillfriends.”
“Iwouldlikeforustoreainfriends.ButIcantdealwitharetionshithyou.Ihaventeverbeengoodatretionships.Idlikeitifyouwouldleaveeinpeaceforawhile.”
CHAPTER16
Sunday,June1–Tuesday,June10
Aftersixonthsoffruitlesscogitation,thecaseofHarrietVangercrackedopen.InthefirstweekofJune,Blokvistuncoveredthreetotallynewpiecesofthepuzzle.Twoofthehefoundhiself.Thethirdhehadheith.
AfterBergersvisitinMay,hehadstudiedthealbuagain,sittingforthreehours,lookingatonephotographafteranother,ashetriedtorediscoverwhatitwasthathehadreactedto.Hefailedagain,soheputthealbuasideandwentbacktoworkonthefailychronicleinstead.
OnedayinJunehewasinHedestad,thinkingaboutsoethingaltogetherdifferent,whenhisbustuedontoJvgsgatananditsuddenlycaetohiwhathadbeengerinatinginthebackofhisind.Theinsightstruckhilikeathunderboltoutofaclearsky.Hefeltsoconfusedthathestayedonthebusallthewaytothestbytherailwaystation.TherehetookthefirstbusbacktoHedebytocheckwhetherhehadreeberedcorrectly.
Itwasthefirstphotographinthealbu,thestpicturetakenofHarrietVangeronthatfatefuldayonJvgsgataninHedestad,whileshehadbeenwatchingtheChildrensDayparade.
Thephotographwasanoddoohaveincludedinthealbu.Itwasputtherebecauseitwastakenthesaeday,butitwastheonlyoneofthephotographsnotoftheaidentonthebridge.EachtieBlokvistandeveryoneelsehadlookedatthealbu,itwasthepeopleandthedetailsinthepicturesofthebridgethathadcapturedtheirattention.TherewasnodraainthepictureofacrowdattheChildrensDayparade,severalhoursearlier.
Vangerusthavelookedatthephotographathousandties,asorrowfulreinderthathewouldneverseeheragain.
ButthatwasnotwhatBlokvisthadreactedto.
Itwastakenfroacrossthestreet,probablyfroafirstfloorwindoheftbedwerewoenwearingglitteringbathingsuitsandharetrousers,throwingsweetstothecrowd.Soeoftheweredancing.Threeclownswerejupingaboutinfrontofthefloat.
Harrietwasinthefrontrowofthecrowdstandingonthepaveent.Nexttoherwerethreegirls,clearlyhercssates,andaroundandbehindthewereatleastahundredotherspectators.
ThisiswhatBlokvisthadnoticedsubconsciouslyandwhichsuddenlyrosetothesurfacewhenthebuspassedtheexactsaespot.
Thecrowdbehavedasanaudienceshould.Theireyesalwaysfollowtheballinatennisatchorthepuckinanicehockeyrink.Theonesstandingatthefarleftofthephotographwerelookingattheclownsrightinfrontofthe.Theonesclosertothefloatwerealllookingatthescantilycdgirls.Theexpressionsontheirfaceswerecal.Childrenpointed.Soewereughing.Everyonelookedhappy.
Allexceptone.
HarrietVangerwaslookingofftotheside.Herthreefriendsandeveryoneelseinhervicinitywerelookingattheclowns.Harrietsfacewastuedalost30°to35°toherright.Hergazeseeedfixedonsoethingacrossthestreet,butbeyondthelefthandedgeofthephotograph.
Mikaeltooktheagnifyinggssandtriedtoakeoutthedetails.Thephotographwastakenfrotoogreatadistanceforhitobeentirelysure,butunlikeallthosearoundher,Harrietsfaceckedexciteent.Herouthwasathinline.Hereyeswerewideopen.Herhandshungliplyathersides.Shelookedfrightened.Frightenedorfurious.
Mikaeltooktheprintoutofthealbu,putitinastiffpsticbinder,andwenttowaitforthenextbusbackintoHedestad.HegotoffatJvgsgatanandstoodunderthewindowfrowhichthepictureusthavebeentaken.ItwasattheedgeofwhatconstitutedHedestadstowncentre.ItwasatwostoreywoodenbuildingthathousedavideostoreandSundstrsHaberdashery,establishedin1932aordingtoapqueonthefrontdoor.Hewentinandsawthattheshasontwolevels；aspiralstaircaseledtotheupperfloor.
Atthofthespiralstaircasetwowindowsfacedthestreet.