船说 ThenPastorFalkseeedtofetalboutBlokvistandstartedtalkingwiththeotherpatients.
HegotbacktoHedebyIsndjustafter2:00.HewalkedovertoCeciliaVangersandknockedonthedoor,butwithoutsuess.Hetriedherobilenuberagainbutnoanswer.
Heattachedonesokeartoawallinthekitchenandonenexttothefrontdoor.Heputonefireextinguisheexttothewoodstovebesidethebedroodoorandanotheronebesidethebathroodoor.Thenheadehiselflunch,whichconsistedofcoffeeandopensandwiches,andsatinthegarden,wherehewastypingupthenotesofhisconversationwithPastorFalk.Whenthatwasdone,heraisedhiseyestothechurch.
Hedebysnewparsonagewasquiteanordinaryodedwellingafewinuteswalkfrothechurch.Blokvistknockedonthedoorat4:00andexpinedtoPastorMargaretaStrandhthathehadetoseekadviceonatheologicatter.MargaretaStrandhwasadarkhairedwoanofabouthisownage,dressedinjeansandafnnelshirt.Shewasbarefootandhadpaintedtoenails.HehadrunintoherbeforeatSusannesBridgeCaféonacoupleofoasionsandtalkedtoheraboutPastorFalk.Hewasgivenafriendlyreceptionandinvitedtoeandsitinhercourtyard.
BlokvisttoldherthathehadinterviewedOttoFalkandwhattheoldanhadsaid.PastorStrandhlistenedandthenaskedhitorepeatitwordforword.
“IwassenttoservehereinHedebyonlythreeyearsago,andIveneveractuallyetPastorFalk.Heretiredseveralyearsbeforethat,butIbelievethathewasfairlyhighchurch.WhathesaidtoyoueantsoethingonthelinesofkeeptoScripturealonesoscripturaandthatitissufficientiascripturae.ThistterisanexpressionthatestablishesthesufficiencyofScriptureaongliteralbelievers.Sofideeansfaithaloneorthetruefaith.”
“Isee.”
“Allthisisbasicdoga,sotospeak.Ingeneralitstheptforofthechurchandnothingunusuatall.Hewassayingquitesiply:ReadtheBibleitwillprovidesufficientknowledgeandvouchesforthetruefaith.”
Mikaelfeltabitebarrassed.
“NowIhavetoaskyouinwhatconnectionthisconversationourred,”shesaid.
“Iwasaskinghiaboutapersonhehadetanyyearsago,soeoneIwritingabout.”
“Areligiousseeker”
“Soethingalongthatline.”
“OK.IthinkIunderstandthecontext.YoutoldethatPastorFalksaidtwootherthingsthatJosefwillcertainlyexcludetheandthattheywereneveraeptedintothecanon.IsitpossiblethatyouisunderstoodandthathesaidJosefusinsteadofJosefItsactuallythesaenae.”
“Thatspossible,”Blokvistsaid.“Itapedtheconversationifyouwanttolistentoit.”
“No,Idontthinkthatsnecessary.Thesetwosentencesestablishfairlyunequivocallywhathewasalludingto.JosefuswasaJewishhistorian,andthesentencetheywereneveraeptedintothecanonayhaveeantthattheywereneverintheHebrewcanon.”
“Andthateans”
Sheughed.
“PastorFalkwassayingthatthispersonwasenthralledbyesotericsources,specificallytheApocrypha.TheGreekwordapokryphoseanshidden,andtheApocryphaarethereforethehiddenswhichsoeconsiderhighlycontroversiandothersthinkshouldbeincludedintheOldTestaent.TheyareTobias,Judith,Esther,Baruch,Sirach,thesoftheMaabees,andsoeothers.”
“Fiveyignorance.IveheardaboutthesoftheApocryphabuthaveneverreadthe.Whatsspeciaboutthe”
“Theresreallynothingspeciabouttheatall,exceptthattheycaeintoexistencesoewhatterthantherestoftheOldTestaent.TheApocryphaweredeletedfrotheHebrewBiblenotbecauseJewishschorsistrustedtheircontentbutsiplybecausetheywerewrittenafterthetiewhenGodsrevetoryworkwasconcluded.Ontheotherhand,theApocryphaareincludedintheoldGreektranstionoftheBible.Theyrenotconsideredcontroversialin,forexaple,theRoanCatholihurch.”
“Isee.”
“However,theyarecontroversialintheProtestantChurch.DuringtheReforation,theologianslookedtotheoldHebrewBible.MartinLutherdeletedtheApocryphafrotheReforationsBibleandterCalvindecredthattheApocryphaabsolutelyustnotserveasthebasisforconvictionsinattersoffaith.ThustheircontentscontradictorinsoewayconflictwithcritasscripturaethecrityofScripture.”
“Inotherwords,censoreds.”
“Quiteright.Forexaple,theApocryphacithatagianbepractisedandthatliesincertaincasesaybeperissible,andsuchstateents,ofcourse,upsetdogaticinterpretersofScripture.”
“Soifsoeonehasapassionforreligion,itsnotunthinkablethattheApocryphawillpopupontheirreadinglist,orthatsoeonelikePastorFalkwouldbeupsetbythis.”
“Exactly.EncounteringtheApocryphaisalostunavoidableifyourestudyingtheBibleortheCatholicfaith,anditsequallyprobablethatsoeonewhoisinterestedinesotericaingeneralightreadthe.”
“YoudonthappentohaveacopyoftheApocrypha,doyou”
Sheughedagain.Abright,friendlyugh.
“OfcourseIdo.TheApocryphawereactuallypublishedasastatereportfrotheBibleissionintheeighties.”
AranskywonderedwhatwasgoingonwhenSanderaskedtospeaktohiinprivate.Heshutthedoorbehindherandotionedhertothevisitorschair.ShetoldhithatherworkforMikaelBlokvistwasdhewyerwouldbepayingherbeforetheendoftheonthbutthatshehaddecidedtokeeponwiththisparticurinvestigation.Blokvisthadofferedheraconsiderablyhighersaryforaonth.
“Iaselfeployed,”Sandersaid.“UntilnowIvenevertakenajobthatyouhaventgivene,inkeepingwithouragreeent.WhatIwanttoknowiswhatwillhappentoourretionshipifItakeajobonyown”
Aranskyshrugged.
“Youreafreencer,youcantakeanyjobyouwantandchargewhatyouthinkitsworth.Ijustgdyoureakingyourownoney.Itwould,however,bedisloyalofyoutotakeonclientsyoufindthroughus.”
“Ihavenopnstodothat.IvefinishedthejobaordingtothecontractwesignedwithBlokvist.WhatthisisaboutisthatIwanttostayonthecase.Idevendoitfoothing.”
“Donteverdoanythingfoothing.”
“YouknohatIean.Iwanttoknoherethisstoryisgoing.IveconvincedBlokvisttoaskthewyertokeepeonasaresearchassistant.”
ShepassedtheagreeentovertoAransky,whoreadrapidlythroughit.
“Withthissaryyouightaswellbeworkingforfree.Lisbeth,youvegottalent.Youdonthavetoworkforsallchange.Youknowyoucanakeahellofalotorewitheifyoueonboardfulltie.”
“Idontwanttoworkfulltie.But,Dragan,yloyaltyistoyou.YouvebeengreattoesinceIstartedhere.IwanttoknowifacontractlikethisisOKwithyou,thattherewontbeanyfrictionbetweenus.”
“Isee.”Hethoughtforaoent.“Its100percentOK.Thanksforasking.IfanyoresituationslikethiscropupinthefutureIdappreciateitifyouaskedesotherewontbeanyisunderstandings.”
Sanderthoughtoverwhethershehadanythingtoadd.ShefixedhergazeonAransky,sayingnotaword.Insteadshejustnoddedandthenstoodupandleft,asusualwithnofarewellgreeting.
ShegottheanswershewantedandinstantlylostinterestinAransky.Hesiledtohiself.Thatshehadevenaskedhiforadvicearkedanewhighpointinhersocialisationprocess.