becausehecouldnotstayawayfromErikaBerger.Hehadneverliedabouthisfeelingsforhertohiswife,Monica,butshehadthoughtitwouldeheymarriedandtheirdaughterwasborn.AndBergerhadalmostsimultaneouslymarriedGregerBe.Blomkvisttoohadthoughtitwouldend,andforthefirstyearsofhismarriageheandBergerhadonlyseeneachotherprofessionally.TheartedMillenniumandwithinafewweeksalltheirgoodiionshaddissolved,aeeveningtheyhadfurioussexonherdesk.Thatledtoatroublesomeperiodinwhikvistwantedverymuchtolivewithhisfamilyandseehisdaughtergrowup,butatthesametimehewashelplesslydrawnter.JustasSanderhadguessed,itwashistinualiythatdrovehiswifetoleave.
Strangelyenough,Beseemedtoaepttheirretionship.BergerhadalwaysbeenopenaboutherfeelingsforMikael,aoldherhusbandassoonastheystartedhavingsexagain.Maybeittookthesoulofanartisttohandlesuchasituation,someonesoedupinhisowivity,orpossiblyjustedupinhimself,thathedidnotrebelwhenhiswifesleptwithanotherman.SheevendividedupherholidaysoshecouldspendtwoweekswithherloverinhissummeratSandhamn.BlomkvistdidnotthinkveryhighlyofBe,andhehadneveruoer’sloveforhim.Buthewasgdthatheaeptedthatshecouldlovetwomenatthesametime.
Blomkvistcouldnotsleep,andat4:00hegaveup.Hewenttothekitahecourtjudgementonemoretimefrombeginningtoend.HavingthedotinhishandhehadasetherehadbeehingalmostfatefuboutthemeetingatArholma.HecouldneverbesurewhetherLindberghadtoldhimthedetailsofWer?m’sswindlesimplyforthesakeofagoodstorybetweentoastsintheprivacyofhisboat’sorwhetherhehadreallywahestorytobemadepublic.
Heteobelievethefirst.ButitmayhavebeenthatLindberg,forhisownpersonalorbusinessreasons,hadwaodamageWer?m,andhehadseizedtheopportunityofhavingacaptivejournalistonboard.LindberghadbeensoberenoughtoinsistonBlomkvisttreatinghimasananonymoussource.FromthatmomentLindbergcouldsaywhatheliked,becausehisfriendwouldneverbeabletodisclosehissource.
IfthemeetingatArholmahadbee-up,thenLindbergcouldnothavepyedhisrolebetter.Butthemeetinghadtohavehappenedbyce.
LindbergcouldhavehadnonotionoftheextentofBlomkvist’sptforpeoplelikeWer?m.Forallthat,afteryearsofstudy,herivatelyvihattherewasnotasinglebankdirectororcelebritycorporateexecutivewhowasn’talsoacretin.
BlomkvisthadneverheardofLisbethSanderandilyiofherreportdeliveredearlierthatday,buthadhelisteoithewouldhavenoddedinagreementwhenshespokeofhisloathingforbeanters,sayingthatitwasnotamaionofhisleft-wingpoliticalradicalism.Mikaelwasnotuedinpolitics,buthewasextremelyscepticalofpolitical“isms.”Hehadvotedonlyonaparliamentaryele—in1982—andthenhehadhesitantlyplumpedfortheSocialDemocrats,therebeingnothinginhisimaginationworsethanthreeyearsmorewithG?staBohmanasfinanisterandThorbj?rnF?lldinasprimeminister.SohehadvotedforOlofPalme,andgotiheassassinationofhisprimeministerplustheBoforssdandEbbeCarlsson.
Hisptforhisfellowfinancialjournalistswasbasedohingthatinhisopinioninasmorality.Theequationwassimple.Abankdirectorwhoblowsmillionsonfoolhardyspecutionsshouldnotkeephisjob.Amanagingdirectorwhopysshellpanygamesshoulddotime.Aslumndlordwhoforcesyoungpeopletopaythroughthenoseanduhetableforaone-roomapartmentwithsharedtoiletshouldbehungouttodry.
Thejobofthefinancialjournalistwastoexamihesharkswhocreatedicrisesaedawaythesavingsofsmalliors,toscrutinisepanyboardswiththesamemercilesszealwithwhichpoliticalreporterspursuethetiepsoutoflineofministersandmembersofParliament.Hecouldnotforthelifeofhimuandwhysomanyiialfinancialreporterstreatedmediocrefinancialwhelpslikerockstars.
Theserecalcitrantviewshadtimeaftertimebroughthimintoflictwithhispeers.B,forone,wasgoingtobeanenemyforlife.HistakingonaroleofsocialcritichadactuallytransformedhimintoapricklyguestonTVsofas—hewasalwaystheoneiomentwheneveranyCEOwascaughtwithagoldenparachuteworthbillions.
Mikaelhadnotroubleimaginingthatchampagleshadbeenuncorkedinsomeneers’basthatevening.
Erikahadthesameattitudetothejournalist’sroleashedid.Eveheywereinjournalismschooltheyhadamusedthemselvesbyimaginingamagazihjustsuchamissionstatement.
ErikawasthebestbossMikaelcouldimagine.Shewasananiserwhocouldhandleemployeeswithwarmthandtrustbutwhoatthesametimewasn’tafraidoffrontationandcouldbeverytoughwhennecessary.Aboveall,shehadanicygutfeelicametomakingdecisionsaboutthetentsoftheupingissue.SheandMikaeloftenhaddifferingviewsandcouldhavehealthyarguments,buttheyalsohadunwaveringfideneachother,andtogethertheymadeaableteam.Hedidthefieldworkoftragdowory,whileshepackagedandmarketedit.
Millenniumwastheirmutualcreation,butitwouldneverhavebeerealitywithouthertalentfingupfinang.Itwasthew-cssguyandtheupper-cssgirliifulunion.Erikacamefromoldmoney.Shehadputuptheinitialseedmoneyaalkedbothherfatherandvariousacquaintaoiingsiderablesumsintheproject.
MikaelhadoftenwonderedwhyErikahadsethersightsonMillennium.True,sheartowhemajoritypartner,infadeditorinchiefofherownmagazine,whichgaveherprestigearoloverpublicitythatshecouldhardlyhaveobtainedinanyotherjob.UnlikeMikael,shehadtratedontelevisionafterjournalismschool.Shewastough,lookedfantastiera,andcouldholdherownwiththepetition.Shealsohadgoodtathebureaucracy.Ifshehadstucktoit,shewouldundoubtedlyhavehadamanagerialjobatoheTVelsatasiderablyhighersarythanshepaidherselfnow.
BergerhadalsovincedChristerMalmtobuyintothemagazine.Hewasanexhibitionistgaycelebritywhosometimesappearedwithhisboyfriendin“athomewith”articles.TheiinhimbeganwhenhemovedinwithArnoldMagnusson,anactorwithabackgroundattheRoyalDramaticTheatrewhohadmadeaseriousbreakthroughwhenhepyedhimselfinadocu-soap.ChristerandArnhadthenbeeamediaitem.
Atthirty-six,Malmwasasought-afterprofessionalphotographeranddesignerwhogaveMillenniumamodernlook.HeranhisbusinessfromanoffithesamefloorasMillennium,andhedidgraphicdesignoneweekineverymonth.
TheMillenniumstaffsistedofthreefull-timeemployees,afull-timetrainee,andtwopart-timers.Itwasnotalucrativeaffair,butthemagazinebrokeeven,andthecircutionandadvertisingrevenuehadincreasedgraduallybutsteadily.Untiltodaythemagazinewasknownforitsfrankandreliableeditorialstyle.
Nowthesituationwouldinallprobabilitybeging.BlomkvistreadthroughthepressreleasewhichheandBergerhaddraftedandwhichhadquicklybeenvertedtoawireservicestoryfromTTthatwasalreadyuponAfto’swebsite.
VICTEDREPORTERLEAVESMILLENNIUM
Sto.JournalistMikaelBlomkvistisleavinghispostaspublisherofthemagazineMillennium,reportseditorinchiefandmajorityshareholderErikaBerger.
BlomkvistisleavingMillenniumofhisownchoice.“He’sexhaustedafterthedramaofretmonthsaimeoff,”saysBerger,whowilltakeovertheroleofpublisher.
BlomkvistwasohefoundersofMillennium,startedin199erdoesnotthinkthatthemagazinewillsufferinthewakeoftheso-called“Wer?maffair.”
Themagazinewilleoutasusualmonth,saysBerger.
“MikaelBlomkvisthaspyedamajorroleinthemagazine’sdevelopment,buturninganewpage.”
BergerstatesthatsheregardstheWer?maffairastheresultofaseriesofunfortunatecircumstances.Sheregretsthenuisaowhis-ErikWer?mwassubjected.Blomkvistcouldnotbereachedforment.
“Itmakesmemad,”Bergersaidwhenthepressreleasewasemailedout.“Mostpeoplearegoingtothinkthatyou’reanidiotandI’mabitchwho’stakingtheopportunitytosackyou.”
“Atleastourfriendswillhavesomethioughabout.”Blomkvisttriedtomakelightofit;shewasnottheleastamused.
“Idon’thaveapnB,butIthinkwe’remakingamistake,”shesaid.
“It’stheonlywayout.Ifthemagazinecolpses,allouryearsofworkwillhavebeeninvain.We’vealreadytakeingontheadsrevenue.Howdiditgowiththeputerpany,bytheway?”
Shesighed.“Theytoldmethismthattheydidn’twanttotakespatheissue.”
“Wer?mhasakofstothatpany,soit’snoaident.”
“Wescareupsomenewts.Wer?mmaybeabigwheel,buthedoesn’towhinginSweden,andwehaveourtacts.”
Blomkvistputanarmaroundherandpulledherclose.
“Somedaywe’regoingtonailHerrWer?msohardWallStreetisgoingtojumpoutofitssocks.ButtodayMillenniumhastogetoutofthespotlight.”
“Iknowallthat,butIdon’tlikeingacrossasafugbitdyou’rebeingfortoadisgustingsituatioendthatthere’ssomesortofdivisioweenyouandme.”
“Ricky,aslongasyouandItrusteachotherwe’vegotace.Wehavetopyitbyear,andrightnowit’stimetoretreat.”
Sherelutlyadmittedthatthereressinglogictowhathesaid.
CHAPTER4
Monday,December23–Thursday,December26
Bergerstayedovertheweekend.Theygotuponlytogotothebathretsomethi,buttheyhadnotonlymadelove.Theyhadiofootforhoursandtalkedaboutthefuture,weighingupthepossibilities,andtheodds.WhendawnondaymitwasthedaybeforeChristmasEveandshekissedhimgoodbye—untilime—anddrovehome.
BlomkvistspentMondaywashingdishesandingtheapartment,thenwalkingdowntotheoffidclearingouthisdesk.HehadnoiionofbreakihthemagazihehadeventuallyvincedBergerthathehadtobeseparatedfromthemagazineforatime.Hewouldworkfromhome.
TheofficewasclosedfortheChristmasholidaysandallhiscolleaguesweregone.Hewasweedingthroughtraysofpapersandpagsincartonstotakeawaywheeleph.
“I’mlookingforMikaelBlomkvist,”saidahopefulbutunfamiliarvoitheline.
“Speaking.”
“Fivemeforbyoulikethisunannounced,sotospeak.MynameisDirchFrode.”Blomkvisthehetime.“I’mawyer,andIrepresentatwhowouldverymuchliketohaveatalkwithyou.”
“That’sfine,pleaseaskyourttocallme.”
“Imeanthathewantstomeetwithyouinperson.”
“OK,makeanappoiandsendhimuptotheoffice.Butyou’dbetterhurry;I’mclearingoutmydeskrightnow.”
“Mytwouldlikeyoutovisithimiad—it’sonlythreehoursbytrain.”
Blomkvistpushedafilingtrayaside.Themediahavetheabilitytoattractthecraziestpeopletocallinperfectlyabsurdtips.EverynewsroominthewetsupdatesfromUFOlogists,graphologists,stologists,paranoiacs,everysortofspiracytheorist.
BlomkvisthadoeoalecturebythewriterKarlAlvarNilssonattheABFhallontheanniversaryofthemurderofPrimeMinisterOlofPalme.Thelecturewasserious,andintheaudiencewereLennartBodstr?mandotherfriendsofPalme’s.Butasurprisingnumberofamateuriigatorshadturnedup.OhemwasawomaninherfortieswhtheQandAhadtakentheprofferedmicrophohenloweredhervoicetoabarelyaudiblewhisper.Thisaloneheraldedaingdevelopment,andnobodywassurprisedwhenthewomanbeganbyg,“IknowwhomurderedOlofPalme.”FromthestageitwassuggestedsomewhatironicallythatifthewomanhadthisrmatiowouldbehelpfulifsheshareditwiththePalmeiigationatonce.Shehurriedtoreply:“I’t,”shesaidsosoftlyitwasalmostimpossibletohear.“It’stoodangerous!”
BlomkvistwonderedwhetherthisFrodewasanotherohetruth-sayerswhocouldrevealthesecretmentalhospitalwhereS?po,theSecurityPolice,ranexperimentsonthoughttrol.
“Idon’tmakehousecalls,”hesaid.
“IhopeIviomakeaion.Mytishty,andforhimitwouldbetooexhaustingtoedowntoSto.Ifyouinsist,wecouldcertainlyarrangesomething,buttotellyouthetruth,itwouldbepreferableifyouwouldbesokind…”
“Whoisyourt?”
“ApersonwhosenameIsuspectyouhaveheardinyourwork.HenrikVanger.”
Blomkvistleanedbasurprise.HenrikVanger—ofcoursehehadheardofhim.AnindustrialistandformerheadoftheVangerpanies,onowhefieldsofsawmills,mieel,metals,textiles.Vangerhadbeehereallybigfishinhisday,utationforbeinganhonourable,old-fashioriarchwhowouldnotbendinastrongwind.AerstoneofSwedishindustry,ohetwenty-pointstagsoftheoldschool,alongwithMattsCarlgrenofMoDoandHahénattheoldElectrolux.Thebaeofindustryinthewelfarestate,etcetera.
ButtheVangerpaillfamily-owned,hadbeenrackeditwenty-fiveyearsbyreanisations,stock-marketcrises,icrises,petitionfromAsia,deingexports,andothernuisanceswhichtakeherhadsighenameVahebackwater.ThepanywasruntodaybyMartinVanger,whosenameBlomkvistassociatedwithashort,plumpmanwiththickhairwhooasionallyflickeredpastoVs.Hedidnotknowmuchabouthim.HenrikVangerhadbeenoutofthepictureforatleasttwentyyears.
“WhydoesHenrikVangerwanttomeetme?”
“I’vebeenHerrVanger’swyerformanyyears,buthewillhavetotellyouhimselfwhathewants.Oherhand,IsaythatHerrVangerwouldliketodiscussapossiblejobwithyou.”
“Job?Idon’thavetheslightestiionofgoingtoworkfortheVangerpany.Isitapresssecretaryyouneed?”
“ly.Idon’tknowhowtoputitotherthantosaythatHerrVangerisexceedinglyanxioustomeetyouandsultwithyouonaprivatematter.”
“Youcouldmoreequivocal,couldyou?”
“Ibegyourpardonforthat.ButisthereanypossibilityofvingyoutopayavisittoHedestad?Naturallywewillpayallyourexpensesandareasonablefee.”
“Yourcallesatratheraninveime.Ihavequitealottotakecareofand…Isupposeyou’veseentheheadlinesaboutmeifewdays.”
“TheWer?maffair?”Frodechuckled.“Yes,thatdidhaveacertainamusementvalue.Buttotellyouthetruth,itwasthepublicitysurroundirialthatcausedHerrVaakenoticeofyou.Hewantstoofferyouafreenceassig.I’monlyamessenger.Whatthemattersissomethingonlyheexpin.”
“ThisisoheoddercallsI’vehadinalongtime.Letmethinkaboutit.HowIreachyou?”
Blomkvistsatlookingatthedisorderonhisdesk.HecouldnotimagisortofjobVangerwouldwanttoofferhim,butthewyerhadsueededinarousinghiscuriosity.
HeGoogledtheVangerpany.Itmightbeinthebackwatersbutitseemedtobeinthemediaalmostdaily.HesavedadozenpanyanalysesandthensearchedforFrode,andHenrikandMartinVanger.
MartinVangerappeareddiligentinhiscapacityasCEOoftheVangerCorporation.Frodekeptalowprofile;hewasontheboardoftheHedestadtryClubandactiveiaryClub.HenrikVangerappeared,withoneexception,onlyinarticlesgivingthebackgroundofthepany.TheHedestadCourierhadpublishedatributetothefnateoiethbirthdaytwo,anditincludedashortsketch.Heputtogetherafolderoffiftypagesorso.Thenfinallyheemptiedhisdesk,sealedthecartons,and,havingnoideawhetherhewouldeback,wenthome.
SanderspentChristmasEveatthe?ppelvikenNursingHomeinUppnds-V?sby.Shehadbroughtpresents:abottleofeaudetoilettebyDiorandanEnglishfruitcakefrom?hlémentstore.Shedrankcoffeeasshewatchedtheforty-six-year-oldwomanwhowithclumsyfingerswastryingtouheknotontheribbon.Sanderhadtendernessinhereyes,butthatthisstrangewomanwashermotherneverceasedtoamazeher.Shecheslightestresembnlooksornature.
Hermaveupthestruggleandlookedhelplesslyatthepackage.Itwasnotoneofherbetterdays.Sanderpushedacrossthescissorsthathadbeeninpinsightoableahersuddenlyseemedto.
“YoumustthinkI’mstupid.”
“No,Mum.You’renotstupid.Butlifeisunfair.”
“Haveyouseenyoursister?”
“Notinalongtime.”
“Sheneveres.”
“Iknow,Mum.Shedoesn’tseemeeither.”
“Arey?”
“Yes.I’mdoingfine.”
“Wheredoyoulive?Idon’tevenknowwhereyoulive.”
“IliveinyouroldapartmentonLundagatan.I’velivedthereforseveralyears.Ihadtotakeoverthepayments.”
“InthesummertimemaybeIeandseeyou.”
“Ofcourse.Inthesummertime.”
HermotheratstgottheChristmaspresentopenandshearoma,ented.“Thankyou,Camil,”shesaid.
“Lisbeth.I’mLisbeth.”
Hermotherlookedembarrassed.SandersaidthattheyshouldgototheTVroom.
BlomkvistspentthehouroftheDisneyspecialonChristmasEvewithhisdaughterPernilatthehomeofhisex-wife,MonidhernewhusbandinSollentuna.AfterdiscussionswithhermothertheyhadagreedtogivePernilaniPod,anMP3pyerhardlybiggerthanamatchboxwhichcouldstoreherhugeCDcolle.
Fatheranddaughterspeimetogetherinherroomupstairs.Pernil’sparentsweredivorcedwhenshewasfive,andshehadhadahersinceshewasseven.Pernilcametoseehimaboutonceamonthandhadweek-longholidayswithhiminSandhamheyspenttimetogethertheyusuallygotalongwell,butBlomkvisthadlethisdaughterdecidehowofteedtoseehim,themoresoafterhermotherremarried.Therehadbeenacoupleofyearsinherearlyteenswhentactalmoststopped,anditwasonlyitwoyearsthatsheseemedtowanttoseehimmoreoften.
Shehadfollowedthetrialinthefirmbeliefthatthingswerejustasherfathersaid:hewasi,buthecouldnotproveit.
Shetoldhimaboutasort-ofboyfriendwhowasinanothercss,andshesurprisedhimbysayingthatshehadjoinedachurch.Blomkvistrefrainedfromment.
HewasiostayfordiheectedwithhissisterandherfamilyoutintheyuppiesuburbofSt?ket.
ThatmhehadalsohadaninvitationtocelebrateChristmasEvewiththeBesinSaltsj?baden.Hesaidno,butthankyou,certainthattherewasalimittoBe’sindulgendquitesurethathehadnoambitiontofindoutwhatthatlimitmightbe.
InsteadhewasknogonthedoorwhereAnnikaBlomkvist,nowAnnikaGiannini,livedwithherItalian-bornhusbandawochildren.toonofherhusband’sretives,theywereabouttocarvetheChristmasham.Duringdinnerheansweredquestionsaboutthetriandreceivedmuchwell-meaningandquiteuselessadvice.
Theonlyonewhohadnothingtosayabouttheverdictwashissister,althoughshewastheonlywyerintheroom.ShehadworkedasclerkofadistrictcourtandasanassistantprosecutorforseveralyearsbeforesheandthreecolleaguesopenedawfirmoftheirownwithoffiKungsholmen.Shespecialisedinfamilyw,andwithoutBlomkvisthavingtakenstockofitshappening,hislittlesisterbegantoappearinneersasrepresentingbatteredorthreatenedwomen,andonpaneldiscussionsonTVasafeministandwomen’srightsadvocate.
Ashewashelpingherpreparethecoffee,sheputahandonhisshoulderandaskedhimhowwashedoioldherhefeltaslowashehadinlife.
“Getyourselfarealwyerime,”shesaid.
“Itprobablywouldn’thavehelpedinthiscase.Butwe’lltalkitallthewaythrough,Sis,someothertimewhenallthedustissettled.”
ShegavehimahugandkissedhimonthecheekbeforetheycarriedouttheChristmascakeandthecoffee.ThenBlomkvistexcusedhimselfandaskedtousethetelephohekit.Hecalledthewyeriadandcouldheartheretoothebuzzofvoithebackground.
“MerryChristmas,”Frodesaid.“DareIhopeyouhavemadeupyourmind?”
“Ireallydon’thaveanyimmediatepnsandIamcurioustoknowmore.I’lleupthedayafterChristmasifthatsuitsyou.”
“Excellent,excellent.Iamincrediblypleased.Youwillfiveme,I’vegotchildrenandgrandchildrenvisitingandhardlyhearmyselfthink.Icallyoutomorrowtoagreeonatime?WhereIreachyou?”
Blomkvistregrettedhisdecisionbeforeeveforhome,butbythenitwastooawkwardtodcel.SoonthemofDecember26hewasorainheadingnorth.Hehadadriver’slise,buthehadneverfelttheoownacar.
Frodewasright,itwasnotalongjourney.AfterUppsacamethestringofsmallindustrialtownsalongtheNorrndcoast.Hedestadwasohesmallerones,alittlemorethananhournorthofG?vle.
OnChristmasnighttherehadbeenabigsnowstorm,buttheskieshadnowclearedandtheairwasice-coldwhenBlomkvistalightedatHedestad.Herealisedatohewasn’twearingenoughclothesforwinterinNorrnd.FrodeknewwhathelookedlikeandkindlycollectedhimfromtheptformandledhimstraighttothewarmthofhisMercedes.IreofHedestad,snowclearingwasinfullswing,andFrodewovehiscarefulwaythroughthenarrowstreets.HighbanksofsnowpresentedapicturesquetrasttoSto.Thetownseemedalmostlikeanotherp,yethewasonlyalittlemorethanthreehoursfrelsTindowntownSto.Hestoleaghewyer:anangurfacewithsparse,bristlywhitehairandthickgssesperchedonanimpressivenose.
“Firsttimeiad?”Frodesaid.
Blomkvistnodded.
“It’sanoldindustrialtownwithaharbour.Poputionofonly24,000.Butpeoplelikelivinghere.HerrVangerlivesinHedeby—atthesoutherhetown.”
“Doyouliveheretoo?”
“Idonow.IwasborninSk?nedownsouth,butIstartedwferrightafterIgraduatedin1962.I’macorporatewyer,aheyearsHerrVangerandIbecamefriends.TodayI’mofficiallyretired,andHerrVangerismyonlyt.He’sretiredtoo,ofcourse,aneedmyservicesveryoften.”
“Onlytoscrapeupjournalistswithruiations.”
“Don’tsellyourselfshort.You’renotthefirstooloseamatchagainstHans-ErikWer?m.”
BlomkvistturoFrode,uoreadthatreply.
“DoesthisinvitatiohingtodowithWer?m?”hesaid.
“No,”saidFrode.“ButHerrVangeriselyinWer?m’scircleoffriends,andhefollowedthetrialwithi.Hewantstomeetyoutodiscussawhollydifferentmatter.”
“Whichyoudon’twanttotellmeabout.”
“Whichitisn’tmypcetotellyouabout.WehavearrasothatyouspendthenightatHerrVanger’shouse.Ifyouwouldrathernotdothat,weyouaroomintheGrandHotelintown.”
“ImightbetakingtheeveningtrainbacktoSto.”
TheroadintoHedebywasstillunploughed,andFrodemanoeuvredthecardownfrozes.TheoldtowresistedofhousesalongtheGulfofBothnia,andaroundthemrger,moremoderhetownbeganonthemainndandspilledacrossabridgetoahillyisnd.Onthemainndsideofthebridgestoodasmall,whitestonechurdacrossthestreetglowedanold-fashionedneonsignthatreadSUSANNE’SBRIDGECAFéANDBAKERY.Frodedroveaboutahundredyardsfartherandturontoanewlyshovelledcourtyardinfrontofastonebuilding.Thefarmhousewastoosmalltobecalledamanor,butitwassiderablyrgerthaofthehousesilement.Thiswasthemaster’sdomain.
“ThisistheVangerfarm,”Frodesaid.“Owasfulloflifeandhubbub,buttodayonlyHenrikandahousekeeperlivethere.Thereareplentyofguestrooms.”
Theygotout.Frodepointednorth.
“TraditionallythepersonwholeadstheVangerliveshere,butMartinVangerwantedsomethingmoremodern,sohebuilthishouseonthepointthere.”
BlomkvistlookedaroundandwonderedwhatinsaneimpulsehehadsatisfiedbyaeptingFrode’sinvitation.HedecidedthatifhumanlypossiblehewouldreturntoStothatevening.Astoairwayledtotheentry,butbeforetheyreacheditthedoorened.HeimmediatelyreisedHenrikVangerfromthephotographpostedoer.
Iurestherehewasyounger,buthelookedsurprisinglyvigorousfhty-two:awirybodywitharugged,weather-beatehickgreyhairbedstraightback.Heworelypresseddarktrousers,awhiteshirt,andawell-wornbrowncasualjacket.Hehadanarrowmoustadthinsteel-rimmedgsses.
“I’mHenrikVanger,”hesaid.“Thankyreeingtovisitme.”
“Hello.Itrisinginvitation.”
“einsidewhereit’swarm.I’vearrangedaguestroomforyou.Wouldyouliketofreshenup?We’llbehavingdinneralittleter.AndthisisAnnaNygren,wholooksafterme.”
Blomkvistshookhandswithashort,stoutwomaninhersixties.Shetookhiscoatandhungitinahallcupboard.Sheofferedhimapairofslippersbecauseofthedraught.
MikaelthankedherauroHenrikVanger.“I’mnotsurethatIshallbestayingfordidependsonwhatthisgameisalbout.”
VangerexgedaghFrode.TherewasaandiweewomenthatBlomkvistcouldnotinterpret.
“IthinkI’lltakethisopportunitytoleaveyoutwoalone,”saidFrode.“Ihavetogohomeanddisciplihegrandkidsbeforetheytearthehousedown.”
HeturoMikael.
“Iliveontheright,justacrossthebridge.Youwalkthereinfivemihethirdhousetowardsthewaterdownfromthebakery.Ifyouneedme,justtelephone.”
Blomkvistreachedintohisjacketpocketandturnedonataperecorder.HehadnoideawhatVangerwanted,butafterthepasttwelvemonthsofhavocwithWer?mheneededapreciserecordofallstrangeourrenywherenearhim,andanunlooked-forinvitatioadcameintothatcategory.
VatedFrodeontheshoulderinfarewelndclosedthefrontdoorbeforeturninghisattentiontoBlomkvist.
“I’llgetrighttothepointinthatcase.Thisisnogame.IaskyoutolistentowhatIhavetosayandthenmakeupyourmind.You’reajournalist,andIwanttogiveyouafreenceassig.Annahasservedcoffeeupstairsinmyoffice.”
Theofficewasaregleofmorethan1,300squarefeet.Onewallwasdominatedbyafloor-to-ceilihirtyfeetlongtainingaremarkableassortmentofliterature:biographies,history,businessandindustry,andA4biheswerearrangedinnoapparentorder.Itlookedlikeashelfthatwasused.Theoppositewallwasdominatedbyadeskofdarkoak.Onthewallbehindthedeskwasargecolleofpressedflowersimeticulousrows.
Throughthewindowinthegablethedeskhadaviewofthebridgeandthechurch.Therewasasofaandcoffeetablewherethehousekeeperhadsetoutathermos,rolls,andpastries.
Vangergesturedtowardsthetray,butBlomkvistpretetosee;insteadhemadeatouroftheroom,firststudyingtheshelfahewallofframedflowers.Thedeskwasorderly,onlyafeersinoneheap.Atitsedgewasasilver-framedphotographofadark-hairedgirl,beautifulbutwithamischievouslook;ayoungwomanonherwaytobeingdangerous,hethought.Itarentlyafirmationportraitthathadfadedovertheyearsithadbeenthere.
“Doyourememberher,Mikael?”Vangersaid.
“Remember?”
“Yes,youmether.Andactuallyyouhavebeeninthisroombefore.”
Blomkvistturnedandshookhishead.
“No,howcouldyouremember?Iknewyourfather.IhiredKurtfirstasaninstallerandmaistseveraltimesiiesandsixties.Hewasatalentedman.Itriedtopersuadehimtokeepstudyingandbeeanengineer.Youwereherethewholesummerof1963,whenewmaeryinthepapermilliad.Itwashardtofindapceforyourfamilytolive,sowesolveditbylettingyouliveinthewoodenhouseacrosstheroad.Youseeitfromthewindow.”
Vangerpickedupthephotograph.
“ThisisHarrietVanger,granddaughterofmybrotherRichard.Shetookcareofyoumanytimesthatsummer.Youweretwo,goingonthree.Maybeyouwerealreadythreethen—Idon’trecall.Shewasthirteen.”
“Iamsorry,butIdon’thavetheleastrecolleofwhatyou’retellingme.”BlomkvistcouldnotevenbesurethatVangerwastellih.
“Iuand.ButIrememberyou.YouusedtorunaroundeverywhereonthefarmwithHarrietintorememberIgaveyouatoyonce,ayellow,sheet-metaltractorthatIhadpyedwithmyselfasaboy.Youwerecrazyaboutit.Ithinkthatwasthecolour.”
Blomkvistfeltachilliheyellowtractorhedidremember.Whenhewasolderithadstoodonashelfinhisbedroom.
“Doyourememberthattoy?”
“Ido.Andyouwillbeamusedtoknowthatthetractorisstilliveandwell,attheToyMuseuminSto.Theyputoutacallforinaltoystenyearsago.”
“Really?”Vangerchuckledwithdelight.“Letmeshowyou…”
Theoldmaovertotheshelfandpulledaphotographalbumfromohelowershelves.Blomkvistnoticedthathehaddifficultybendingoverandhadtobracehimselfontheshelfwheraightenedup.Heidthealbumonthecoffeetable.Heknewwhathewaslookingfor:abd-whitesnapshotinwhichthephotographer’sshadowshowediomlefter.Inthefroundwasafair-hairedboyinshorts,staringatthecamerawithaslightlyanxiousexpression.
“Thisisyou.Yourparentsaresittingonthegardenbenthebackground.Harrietispartlyhiddenbyyourmother,aotheleftofyourfatherisHarriet’sbrother,Martin,whorunstheVangerpanytoday.”
Blomkvist’smotherwasobviouslypregnant—hissisterwasontheway.HelookedatthephotographwithmixedfeelingsasVangerpouredcoffeeandpushedoverthepteofrolls.
“Yourfatherisdead,Iknow.Isyourmotherstillive?”
“Shediedthreeyearsago,”Blomkvistsaid.
“Shewasanian.Irememberherverywell.”
“ButI’msureyoudidn’taskmetoeheretotalkaboutoldtimesyouhadwithmyparents.”
“Yht.I’vebeenwonwhatIwaosaytoyouforseveraldays,butnowthatyou’reactuallyhereIdon’tquiteknowwheretobegin.Isupposeyoudidsomeresearch,soyouknowthatIoncewieldedsomeinfluenSwedishindustryandthejobmarket.TodayI’manoldmanwhowillprobablydiefairlysoon,ahperhapsisanexcellentstartingpointforourversation.”
Blomkvisttookaswallowofbckcoffee—pinlyboiledinapanintrueNorrndstyle—andwonderedwherethiswasgoingtolead.
“Ihavepaininmyhipandlongwalksareathingofthepast.Onedayyou’lldiscoverforyourselfhthseepsaway,butI’mhermorbidnorsenile.I’mnotobsessedbydeath,butI’matanagewhenIhavetoaeptthatmytimeisaboutup.Youwanttoclosetheaountsandtakecareofunfinishedbusiness.DoyouuandwhatImean?”
Blomkvistnodded.VangerspokeinasteadyvoidBlomkvisthadalreadydecidedthattheoldmanwashersenilenorirrational.“I’mmostlycuriousaboutwhyI’mhere,”hesaidagain.
“BecauseIwanttoaskforyourhelpwiththisclosingofaounts.”
“Whyme?WhatmakesyouthinkI’dbeabletohelpyou?”
“BecauseasIwasthinkingabouthiringsomeone,yournamecroppedupinthenews.Iknewwhoyouwere,ofcourse.Andmaybeit’sbecauseyousatonmykneewhenyouwerealittlefellow.Don’tmisuandme.”Hewavedthethoughtaway.“Idon’tlooktoyoutohelpmeforsealreasons.ItwasjustthatIhadtheimpulsetotactyouspecifically.”
Mikaelgaveafriendlyugh.“Well,Idon’trememberbeingperchedonyourkhowcouldyoumakethee?Thatwasintheearlysixties.”
“Youmisuoodme.YourfamilymovedtoStowhenyourfathergotthejobastheworkshopforemanatZarinder’sMeical.Iwastheonewhogothimthejob.Iknewhewasagoodworker.IusedtoseehimovertheyearswhenIhadbusinesswithZarinder’s.Weweren’tclosefriends,butwewouldchatforawhile.ThesttimeIsawhimwastheyearbeforehedied,aoldmethenthatyouhadgotintojournalismschool.Hewasextremelyproud.Thenyoubecamefamouswiththestoryofthebankr.I’vefollowedyourcareerandreadmanyofyourarticlesovertheyears.Asamatteroffact,IreadMillenniumquiteoften.”
“OK,I’mwithyou,butwhatisitexactlythatyouwaodo?”
Vangerlookeddownathishands,thensippedhiscoffee,asifheneededapausebeforehecouldatstbegintobroachwhathewanted.
“Befetstarted,Mikael,I’dliketomakeanagreementwithyou.Iwantyoutodotwothingsforme.Oneisapretextaherismyrealobjective.”
“Whatformofagreement?”
“I’mgoingtotellyouastoryintwoparts.ThefirstisabouttheVangerfamily.That’sthepretext.It’salong,darkstory,andI’lltrytosticktotheunvarruth.Thesedpartofthestorydealswithmyactualobjective.You’llprobablythinksomeofthestoryis…crazy.WhatIwantisforyoutohearmeout—aboutwhatIwantyoutodoandalsowhatIam—beforeyoumakeupyourmihertotakeonthejobornot.”
Blomkvistsighed.ObviouslyVangerwasnotgoingtolethimgoiocatchtheafternoontrain.HewassurethatifhecalledFrodetoaskforalifttothestation,thecarwouldsomehowrefusetostartinthecold.
Theoldmanmusthavethoughtlongandhardhowhewasgoingtohookhim.Blomkvisthadthefeelingthateverystthingthathadhappenedsincehearrivedwasstaged:theintroductorysurprisethatasachildhehadmethishost,thepictureofhisparentsinthealbum,andtheemphasisothathisfatherandVangerhadbeenfriends,alongwiththeftterythattheoldmanknewwhoMikaelBlomkvistwasandthathehadbeenfollowinghiscareerforyearsfromadistanodoubtithadacoreoftruth,butitrettyelementarypsychology.Vangerractisedmaniputor—howelsehadhebeeoneofSweden’sleadingindustrialists?
BlomkvistdecidedthatVangerwantedhimtodosomethingthathewasnotgoingtohavetheslightestdesiretodo.Hehadonlytowrestfromhimwhatthiswasandthensaynothankyou.Andjustpossiblybeiocatchtheafternoontrain.
“Fiveme,HerrVanger,”hesaid,“I’vebeenherealreadyfortwentyminutes.I’llgiveyouexactlythirtyminutesmoretotellmewhatyouwant.ThenI’mcallingataxiandgoinghome.”
Foramomentthemaskofthegood-naturedpatriarchslipped,andBlomkvistcoulddetecttheruthlesscaptainofindustryfromhisdaysofpowerfrontedbyasetback.Hismouthcurledinagrimsmile.
“Iuand.”
“Youdon’thavetobeataroundthebushwithme.Tellmewhatyouwaodo,sothatIdecidewhetherIwanttodoitornot.”
“SoifI’tvinceyouinhalfanhourthenIwouldn’tbeabletodoitinamoher—that’swhatyouthink.”
“Somethingalongthatline.”
“Butmystoryislongandplicated.”
“Shortenandsimplifyit.That’swhatwedoinjournalism.Twenty-nineminutes.”
Vangerheldupahand.“Enough.Igetyourpoint.Butit’snevergoodpsychologytoexaggerate.Ineedsomebodywhodoreseardthinkcritically,butwhoalsohasiy.Ithinkyouhaveit,andthat’snotfttery.Agoodjournalistoughttopossessthesequalities,andIreadyourTheKnightsTemprwithgreati.It’struethatIpickedyoubecauseIknewyourfatherandbecauseIknowwhoyouare.IfIuoodthemattercorrectly,youleftyazineasaresultoftheWer?maffair.Whichmeansthatyouhavenojobatthemoment,andprobablyyou’reinatightfinancialspot.”
“Soyoumightbeabletoexploitmypredit,isthatit?”
“Perhaps.ButMikael—ifImaycallyouMikael?—Iwon’tlietoyou.I’mtoooldforthat.Ifyoudon’tlikewhatIsay,youtellmetojumpihenI’llhavetofindsomeooworkwithme.”
“OK,tellmewhatthisjobinvolves.”
“HowmuchdoyouknowabouttheVangerfamily?”
“Well,onlywhatImaoreadonthesinceFrodecalledmeonMonday.InyourdaytheVangerCorporationwasohemostimportantindustrialfirmsinSweden;todayit’ssomewhatdiminished.MartinVangerrunsit.Iknowquiteabitmore,butwhatareyougettingat?”
“Martinis…he’sagoodmanbutbasicallyhe’safair-weathersailor.He’sunsuitedtobethemanagingdirectorofapanyincrisis.Hewantstomoderniseandspecialise—whichisgoodthinking—buthe’tpushthroughhisideasandhisfinancialmaisweaktoo.Twenty-fiveyearsagotheVangerwasaseriouspetitortotheWallenbergGroup.WehadfortythousandemployeesinSweden.TodaymanyofthesejobsareinKoreaorBrazil.Wearedowntoabouttenthousandemployeesandinayearortwo—ifMartigetsomewindintohissails—we’llhavefivethousand,primarilyinsmallmanufacturingindustries,andtheVangerpanieswillbesighescrapheapofhistory.”
Blomkvistnodded.Hehadethlythisclusiononthebasisofthepieceshehaddownloaded.
“TheVangerpaniesarestilmongthefewfamily-heldfirmsinthetry.Thirtyfamilymembersareminorityshareholders.Thishasalwaysbeerengthofthecorporation,butalsreatestweakness.”Vangerpausedandthensaidinatoneofmountingurgency,“Mikael,youaskquestionster,butIwantyoutotakemeatmywordwhenIsaythatIdetestmostofthemembersofmyfamily.Theyareforthemostpartthieves,misers,bullies,andis.Iranthepanyforthirty-fiveyears—almostallthetimeinthemidstofrelentlessbickering.Theyweremyworstenemies,farworsethaingpahegover.
“IsaidthatIwaomissionyoutodotwothings.First,IwantyoutowriteahistraphyoftheVangerfamily.Forsimplicity’ssake,wecallitmyautobiography.Iwillputmyjournalsandarchivesatyourdisposal.Youwillhaveaesstomyinnermostthoughtsandyoupublishallthedirtyoudigup.IthinkthisstorywillmakeShakespeare’stragediesreadlikelightfamilyeai.”
“Why?”
“WhydoIwanttopublishasdaloushistoryoftheVangerfamily?OrwhydoIaskyoutowriteit?”
“Both,Isuppose.”
“Totellyouthetruth,Idon’tcarewhethertheiseverpublished.ButIdothinkthatthestoryshouldbewritten,ifonlyinasinglecopythatyoudeliverdirectlytotheRoyalLibrary.IwantthisstorytobethereforposteritywhenIdie.Mymotiveisthesimplestimaginable:revenge.”
“Whatdoyouwanttorevenge?”
“I’mproudthatmynameisabywordforamanwhokeepshiswordandremembershispromises.I’veneverpyedpoliticalgames.I’veneverhadproblemsiatingwithtradeunions.EvenPrimeMinisterErnderhadrespeeinhisday.Formeitwasamatterofethics;Iwasresponsibleforthelivelihoodsofthousandsofpeople,andIcaredaboutmyemployees.Oddlyenough,Martinhasthesameattitude,eventhoughhe’saverydifferentpersooohastriedtodhtthing.SadlyMartinandIarerareexceptionsinourfamily.TherearemanyreasonswhytheVangerCorporationisontheropestoday,butohekeyoheshort-termismandgreedofmyretives.Ifyouaepttheassig,I’llexpinhowmyfamilywentabouttorpedoingthefirm.”
“Iwon’tlietoyoueither,”Blomkvistsaid.“Researgandwritingalikethiswouldtakemonths.Idon’thavethemotivationortheeodoit.”
“IbelieveItalkyouintoit.”
“Idoubtit.Butyousaidthereweretwothings.Theisthepretext.Whatistherealobjective?”
Vaoodup,boriouslyagain,andtookthephotographofHarrietVangerfromthedesk.HesetitdowninfrontofBlomkvist.
“WhileyouwritethebiographyIwantyoutoscrutihefamilywiththeeyesofajournalist.Itwillsogiveyouanalibiforpokingaroundinthefamilyhistory.WhatIwantisforyoutosolveamystery.That’syourreassig.”
“Whatmystery?”
“HarrietwasthegranddaughterofmybrotherRichard.Therewerefivebrothers.Richardwastheeldest,bornin1907.Iwastheyou,bornin1920.Idon’tuandhowGodcouldcreatethisflockofchildrenwho…”ForseveralsedsVangerlostthethread,immersedinhisthoughts.Theonwithnewdecisiveness.“LetmetellyouaboutmybrotherRichard.ThinkofthisasasmallsamplefromthefamilyicleIwantyoutowrite.”
Hepouredmorecoffeeforhimself.
“In1924,een,Richardwasafanatiationalistandae.HejoiheSwedishNationalSocialistFreedomLeague,ohefirstNazigroupsinSweden.Isn’titfasatingthatNazisalwaysmaoadoptthewordfreedom?”
Vangerpulledoutanotheralbumandleafedthroughituntilhefoundthepagehewaslookingfor.“Here’sRichardwiththeveterinarianBirgerFurug?rd,sooheleaderoftheso-calledFurug?rdmovement,thebigNazimovementoftheearlythirties.ButRicharddidnotstaywithhim.Hejoined,afewyearster,theSwedishFascistBattleanisation,theSFBO,andtherehegottokndahndotherswhowouldbethedisgraceofthenation.”
Heturhepageinthealbum:RichardVangerinuniform.
“Heenlisted—againstourfather’swishes—anddurihirtieshemadehiswaythroughmostoftheNazigroupsinthetry.Anysispiratoriassociationthatexisted,youbesurehisnamewasontheirroster.In1933theLindholmmovementwasformed,thatis,theNationalSocialistWorkers’Party.HowwelldoyouknowthehistoryofSwedishNazism?”
“I’mnohistorian,butI’vereadafews.”
“In1939theSedWorldWarbegan,andin1940theWinterWarinFinnd.ArgeheLindholmmovementjoinedasFinndvolunteers.RichardwasohemandbythenacaptainintheSwedisharmy.HewaskilledinFebruary1940—justbeforethepeacetreatywiththeSovietUnion—andtherebybecameamartyrintheNazimovementandhadabattlegrouperhim.EvennowahandfulofidiotsgatheratacemeteryinStoontheanniversaryofhisdeathtohonourhim.”
“Iuand.”
“In1926,whenhewasnieen,hewasgoingoutwithawomancalledMargareta,thedaughterofateacherinFaluinsomepoliticaltextandhadaretionshipwhichresultedinason,Gottfried,whowasbornin1927.Thecouplemarriedwhentheboywasborn.Duringthefirsthalfofthethirties,mybrothersenthiswifeandchildheretoHedestadwhilehewasstatiohhisregimentinG?vle.InhisfreetimehetravelledaroundanddidproselytisingforNazisfterthatRichardhadtomakehisownliving.HemovedwithhisfamilytoStoandlivediivepoverty.”
“Hehadnomoneyofhisown?”
“Theiancehehadinthefirmwastiedup.Hecouldn’tselloutsidethefamily.Worsetharaitenedcircumstances,Richardwasabrutaldomestic.Hebeathiswifeandabusedhisson.Grewupcowedandbullied.HewasthirteenwhenRichardwaskilled.Isuspectitwasthehappiestdayofhislifeuptothatpoint.MyfathertookpityonthewidowandchildandbroughtthemheretoHedestad,wherehefoundanapartmentfaretaandsawtoitthatshehadadetlife.
“IfRichardpersohefamily’sdark,fanaticalside,Gottfriedembodiedtheione.WhenhereachedtheageofeighteenIdecidedtotakehimundermywing—hewasmydeadbrother’sson,afterall—andyouhavetorememberthattheagediffereweenGottfriedandmewasnotsogreat.Iwasonlysevenyearsolder,butbythenIwasonthefirm’sboard,anditwasclearthatIwastheonewhowouldtakeoverfrommyfather,whileGottfriedwasmoreorlessregardedasanoutsider.”
Vahoughtforamoment.
“Myfatherdidn’treallyknowhowtodealwithhisgrandson,soIwastheonewhogavehimajobinthepany.Thiswasafterthewar.Hedidtrytodoareasonablejob,buthewaszy.Hewasacharmerandgood-timeCharlie;hehadaomen,andtherewereperiodswhenhedranktoomuch.Itisodescribemyfeelingsforhim…hewasn’tagood-for-nothing,buthewasnottheleastbitreliableaendisappointedmedeeply.Overtheyearsheturoanalcoholidin1965hedied—thevictimofaaldrowning.ThathappeheotherendofHedebyIsnd,wherehe’dhadabuilt,andwhereheusedtohideawaytodrink.”
“Sohe’sthefatherofHarrietandMartin?”Blomkvistsaid,pointingattheportraitonthecoffeetable.Relutlyhehadtoadmitthattheoldman’sstorywasintriguing.
“CorrethetefortiesGottfriedmetaGermanwomanbythenameofIsabelKoenig,whohadetoSwedehewar.Shewasquiteabeauty—ImeanthatshehadalovelyradiancelikeGarbridBergman.HarrietprobablygotmoreenesfromhermotherratherthanfromGottfried.Asyouseefromthephotograph,sherettyevenatfourteen.”
BlomkvistandVangerptedthepicture.
“Butletmetinue.Isabelwasbornin1928andisstillive.Shewaselevehewarbegan,andyouimagiitwasliketobeateenagerinBerlinduringtheaerialbombardments.ItmusthavefeltasifshehadarrivedinparadiseohwhenshendedinSwedetablyshesharedmanyofGottfried’svices;shewaszyandpartiedincessantly.ShetravelledagreatdealinSwedenandabroad,andckedallsenseofresponsibility.Obviouslythisaffectedthechildren.Martinwasbornin1948andHarrietin1950.Theirchildhoodwaschaotic,withamotherwhowasforeverleavingtheman**therwhowasvirtuallyanalcoholic.
“In1958I’dhadenoughanddecidedtotrytobreaktheviciouscycle.Atthetime,GottfriedandIsabelwerelivingiad—Iinsistedthattheymoveouthere
Strangelyenough,Beseemedtoaepttheirretionship.BergerhadalwaysbeenopenaboutherfeelingsforMikael,aoldherhusbandassoonastheystartedhavingsexagain.Maybeittookthesoulofanartisttohandlesuchasituation,someonesoedupinhisowivity,orpossiblyjustedupinhimself,thathedidnotrebelwhenhiswifesleptwithanotherman.SheevendividedupherholidaysoshecouldspendtwoweekswithherloverinhissummeratSandhamn.BlomkvistdidnotthinkveryhighlyofBe,andhehadneveruoer’sloveforhim.Buthewasgdthatheaeptedthatshecouldlovetwomenatthesametime.
Blomkvistcouldnotsleep,andat4:00hegaveup.Hewenttothekitahecourtjudgementonemoretimefrombeginningtoend.HavingthedotinhishandhehadasetherehadbeehingalmostfatefuboutthemeetingatArholma.HecouldneverbesurewhetherLindberghadtoldhimthedetailsofWer?m’sswindlesimplyforthesakeofagoodstorybetweentoastsintheprivacyofhisboat’sorwhetherhehadreallywahestorytobemadepublic.
Heteobelievethefirst.ButitmayhavebeenthatLindberg,forhisownpersonalorbusinessreasons,hadwaodamageWer?m,andhehadseizedtheopportunityofhavingacaptivejournalistonboard.LindberghadbeensoberenoughtoinsistonBlomkvisttreatinghimasananonymoussource.FromthatmomentLindbergcouldsaywhatheliked,becausehisfriendwouldneverbeabletodisclosehissource.
IfthemeetingatArholmahadbee-up,thenLindbergcouldnothavepyedhisrolebetter.Butthemeetinghadtohavehappenedbyce.
LindbergcouldhavehadnonotionoftheextentofBlomkvist’sptforpeoplelikeWer?m.Forallthat,afteryearsofstudy,herivatelyvihattherewasnotasinglebankdirectororcelebritycorporateexecutivewhowasn’talsoacretin.
BlomkvisthadneverheardofLisbethSanderandilyiofherreportdeliveredearlierthatday,buthadhelisteoithewouldhavenoddedinagreementwhenshespokeofhisloathingforbeanters,sayingthatitwasnotamaionofhisleft-wingpoliticalradicalism.Mikaelwasnotuedinpolitics,buthewasextremelyscepticalofpolitical“isms.”Hehadvotedonlyonaparliamentaryele—in1982—andthenhehadhesitantlyplumpedfortheSocialDemocrats,therebeingnothinginhisimaginationworsethanthreeyearsmorewithG?staBohmanasfinanisterandThorbj?rnF?lldinasprimeminister.SohehadvotedforOlofPalme,andgotiheassassinationofhisprimeministerplustheBoforssdandEbbeCarlsson.
Hisptforhisfellowfinancialjournalistswasbasedohingthatinhisopinioninasmorality.Theequationwassimple.Abankdirectorwhoblowsmillionsonfoolhardyspecutionsshouldnotkeephisjob.Amanagingdirectorwhopysshellpanygamesshoulddotime.Aslumndlordwhoforcesyoungpeopletopaythroughthenoseanduhetableforaone-roomapartmentwithsharedtoiletshouldbehungouttodry.
Thejobofthefinancialjournalistwastoexamihesharkswhocreatedicrisesaedawaythesavingsofsmalliors,toscrutinisepanyboardswiththesamemercilesszealwithwhichpoliticalreporterspursuethetiepsoutoflineofministersandmembersofParliament.Hecouldnotforthelifeofhimuandwhysomanyiialfinancialreporterstreatedmediocrefinancialwhelpslikerockstars.
Theserecalcitrantviewshadtimeaftertimebroughthimintoflictwithhispeers.B,forone,wasgoingtobeanenemyforlife.HistakingonaroleofsocialcritichadactuallytransformedhimintoapricklyguestonTVsofas—hewasalwaystheoneiomentwheneveranyCEOwascaughtwithagoldenparachuteworthbillions.
Mikaelhadnotroubleimaginingthatchampagleshadbeenuncorkedinsomeneers’basthatevening.
Erikahadthesameattitudetothejournalist’sroleashedid.Eveheywereinjournalismschooltheyhadamusedthemselvesbyimaginingamagazihjustsuchamissionstatement.
ErikawasthebestbossMikaelcouldimagine.Shewasananiserwhocouldhandleemployeeswithwarmthandtrustbutwhoatthesametimewasn’tafraidoffrontationandcouldbeverytoughwhennecessary.Aboveall,shehadanicygutfeelicametomakingdecisionsaboutthetentsoftheupingissue.SheandMikaeloftenhaddifferingviewsandcouldhavehealthyarguments,buttheyalsohadunwaveringfideneachother,andtogethertheymadeaableteam.Hedidthefieldworkoftragdowory,whileshepackagedandmarketedit.
Millenniumwastheirmutualcreation,butitwouldneverhavebeerealitywithouthertalentfingupfinang.Itwasthew-cssguyandtheupper-cssgirliifulunion.Erikacamefromoldmoney.Shehadputuptheinitialseedmoneyaalkedbothherfatherandvariousacquaintaoiingsiderablesumsintheproject.
MikaelhadoftenwonderedwhyErikahadsethersightsonMillennium.True,sheartowhemajoritypartner,infadeditorinchiefofherownmagazine,whichgaveherprestigearoloverpublicitythatshecouldhardlyhaveobtainedinanyotherjob.UnlikeMikael,shehadtratedontelevisionafterjournalismschool.Shewastough,lookedfantastiera,andcouldholdherownwiththepetition.Shealsohadgoodtathebureaucracy.Ifshehadstucktoit,shewouldundoubtedlyhavehadamanagerialjobatoheTVelsatasiderablyhighersarythanshepaidherselfnow.
BergerhadalsovincedChristerMalmtobuyintothemagazine.Hewasanexhibitionistgaycelebritywhosometimesappearedwithhisboyfriendin“athomewith”articles.TheiinhimbeganwhenhemovedinwithArnoldMagnusson,anactorwithabackgroundattheRoyalDramaticTheatrewhohadmadeaseriousbreakthroughwhenhepyedhimselfinadocu-soap.ChristerandArnhadthenbeeamediaitem.
Atthirty-six,Malmwasasought-afterprofessionalphotographeranddesignerwhogaveMillenniumamodernlook.HeranhisbusinessfromanoffithesamefloorasMillennium,andhedidgraphicdesignoneweekineverymonth.
TheMillenniumstaffsistedofthreefull-timeemployees,afull-timetrainee,andtwopart-timers.Itwasnotalucrativeaffair,butthemagazinebrokeeven,andthecircutionandadvertisingrevenuehadincreasedgraduallybutsteadily.Untiltodaythemagazinewasknownforitsfrankandreliableeditorialstyle.
Nowthesituationwouldinallprobabilitybeging.BlomkvistreadthroughthepressreleasewhichheandBergerhaddraftedandwhichhadquicklybeenvertedtoawireservicestoryfromTTthatwasalreadyuponAfto’swebsite.
VICTEDREPORTERLEAVESMILLENNIUM
Sto.JournalistMikaelBlomkvistisleavinghispostaspublisherofthemagazineMillennium,reportseditorinchiefandmajorityshareholderErikaBerger.
BlomkvistisleavingMillenniumofhisownchoice.“He’sexhaustedafterthedramaofretmonthsaimeoff,”saysBerger,whowilltakeovertheroleofpublisher.
BlomkvistwasohefoundersofMillennium,startedin199erdoesnotthinkthatthemagazinewillsufferinthewakeoftheso-called“Wer?maffair.”
Themagazinewilleoutasusualmonth,saysBerger.
“MikaelBlomkvisthaspyedamajorroleinthemagazine’sdevelopment,buturninganewpage.”
BergerstatesthatsheregardstheWer?maffairastheresultofaseriesofunfortunatecircumstances.Sheregretsthenuisaowhis-ErikWer?mwassubjected.Blomkvistcouldnotbereachedforment.
“Itmakesmemad,”Bergersaidwhenthepressreleasewasemailedout.“Mostpeoplearegoingtothinkthatyou’reanidiotandI’mabitchwho’stakingtheopportunitytosackyou.”
“Atleastourfriendswillhavesomethioughabout.”Blomkvisttriedtomakelightofit;shewasnottheleastamused.
“Idon’thaveapnB,butIthinkwe’remakingamistake,”shesaid.
“It’stheonlywayout.Ifthemagazinecolpses,allouryearsofworkwillhavebeeninvain.We’vealreadytakeingontheadsrevenue.Howdiditgowiththeputerpany,bytheway?”
Shesighed.“Theytoldmethismthattheydidn’twanttotakespatheissue.”
“Wer?mhasakofstothatpany,soit’snoaident.”
“Wescareupsomenewts.Wer?mmaybeabigwheel,buthedoesn’towhinginSweden,andwehaveourtacts.”
Blomkvistputanarmaroundherandpulledherclose.
“Somedaywe’regoingtonailHerrWer?msohardWallStreetisgoingtojumpoutofitssocks.ButtodayMillenniumhastogetoutofthespotlight.”
“Iknowallthat,butIdon’tlikeingacrossasafugbitdyou’rebeingfortoadisgustingsituatioendthatthere’ssomesortofdivisioweenyouandme.”
“Ricky,aslongasyouandItrusteachotherwe’vegotace.Wehavetopyitbyear,andrightnowit’stimetoretreat.”
Sherelutlyadmittedthatthereressinglogictowhathesaid.
CHAPTER4
Monday,December23–Thursday,December26
Bergerstayedovertheweekend.Theygotuponlytogotothebathretsomethi,buttheyhadnotonlymadelove.Theyhadiofootforhoursandtalkedaboutthefuture,weighingupthepossibilities,andtheodds.WhendawnondaymitwasthedaybeforeChristmasEveandshekissedhimgoodbye—untilime—anddrovehome.
BlomkvistspentMondaywashingdishesandingtheapartment,thenwalkingdowntotheoffidclearingouthisdesk.HehadnoiionofbreakihthemagazihehadeventuallyvincedBergerthathehadtobeseparatedfromthemagazineforatime.Hewouldworkfromhome.
TheofficewasclosedfortheChristmasholidaysandallhiscolleaguesweregone.Hewasweedingthroughtraysofpapersandpagsincartonstotakeawaywheeleph.
“I’mlookingforMikaelBlomkvist,”saidahopefulbutunfamiliarvoitheline.
“Speaking.”
“Fivemeforbyoulikethisunannounced,sotospeak.MynameisDirchFrode.”Blomkvisthehetime.“I’mawyer,andIrepresentatwhowouldverymuchliketohaveatalkwithyou.”
“That’sfine,pleaseaskyourttocallme.”
“Imeanthathewantstomeetwithyouinperson.”
“OK,makeanappoiandsendhimuptotheoffice.Butyou’dbetterhurry;I’mclearingoutmydeskrightnow.”
“Mytwouldlikeyoutovisithimiad—it’sonlythreehoursbytrain.”
Blomkvistpushedafilingtrayaside.Themediahavetheabilitytoattractthecraziestpeopletocallinperfectlyabsurdtips.EverynewsroominthewetsupdatesfromUFOlogists,graphologists,stologists,paranoiacs,everysortofspiracytheorist.
BlomkvisthadoeoalecturebythewriterKarlAlvarNilssonattheABFhallontheanniversaryofthemurderofPrimeMinisterOlofPalme.Thelecturewasserious,andintheaudiencewereLennartBodstr?mandotherfriendsofPalme’s.Butasurprisingnumberofamateuriigatorshadturnedup.OhemwasawomaninherfortieswhtheQandAhadtakentheprofferedmicrophohenloweredhervoicetoabarelyaudiblewhisper.Thisaloneheraldedaingdevelopment,andnobodywassurprisedwhenthewomanbeganbyg,“IknowwhomurderedOlofPalme.”FromthestageitwassuggestedsomewhatironicallythatifthewomanhadthisrmatiowouldbehelpfulifsheshareditwiththePalmeiigationatonce.Shehurriedtoreply:“I’t,”shesaidsosoftlyitwasalmostimpossibletohear.“It’stoodangerous!”
BlomkvistwonderedwhetherthisFrodewasanotherohetruth-sayerswhocouldrevealthesecretmentalhospitalwhereS?po,theSecurityPolice,ranexperimentsonthoughttrol.
“Idon’tmakehousecalls,”hesaid.
“IhopeIviomakeaion.Mytishty,andforhimitwouldbetooexhaustingtoedowntoSto.Ifyouinsist,wecouldcertainlyarrangesomething,buttotellyouthetruth,itwouldbepreferableifyouwouldbesokind…”
“Whoisyourt?”
“ApersonwhosenameIsuspectyouhaveheardinyourwork.HenrikVanger.”
Blomkvistleanedbasurprise.HenrikVanger—ofcoursehehadheardofhim.AnindustrialistandformerheadoftheVangerpanies,onowhefieldsofsawmills,mieel,metals,textiles.Vangerhadbeehereallybigfishinhisday,utationforbeinganhonourable,old-fashioriarchwhowouldnotbendinastrongwind.AerstoneofSwedishindustry,ohetwenty-pointstagsoftheoldschool,alongwithMattsCarlgrenofMoDoandHahénattheoldElectrolux.Thebaeofindustryinthewelfarestate,etcetera.
ButtheVangerpaillfamily-owned,hadbeenrackeditwenty-fiveyearsbyreanisations,stock-marketcrises,icrises,petitionfromAsia,deingexports,andothernuisanceswhichtakeherhadsighenameVahebackwater.ThepanywasruntodaybyMartinVanger,whosenameBlomkvistassociatedwithashort,plumpmanwiththickhairwhooasionallyflickeredpastoVs.Hedidnotknowmuchabouthim.HenrikVangerhadbeenoutofthepictureforatleasttwentyyears.
“WhydoesHenrikVangerwanttomeetme?”
“I’vebeenHerrVanger’swyerformanyyears,buthewillhavetotellyouhimselfwhathewants.Oherhand,IsaythatHerrVangerwouldliketodiscussapossiblejobwithyou.”
“Job?Idon’thavetheslightestiionofgoingtoworkfortheVangerpany.Isitapresssecretaryyouneed?”
“ly.Idon’tknowhowtoputitotherthantosaythatHerrVangerisexceedinglyanxioustomeetyouandsultwithyouonaprivatematter.”
“Youcouldmoreequivocal,couldyou?”
“Ibegyourpardonforthat.ButisthereanypossibilityofvingyoutopayavisittoHedestad?Naturallywewillpayallyourexpensesandareasonablefee.”
“Yourcallesatratheraninveime.Ihavequitealottotakecareofand…Isupposeyou’veseentheheadlinesaboutmeifewdays.”
“TheWer?maffair?”Frodechuckled.“Yes,thatdidhaveacertainamusementvalue.Buttotellyouthetruth,itwasthepublicitysurroundirialthatcausedHerrVaakenoticeofyou.Hewantstoofferyouafreenceassig.I’monlyamessenger.Whatthemattersissomethingonlyheexpin.”
“ThisisoheoddercallsI’vehadinalongtime.Letmethinkaboutit.HowIreachyou?”
Blomkvistsatlookingatthedisorderonhisdesk.HecouldnotimagisortofjobVangerwouldwanttoofferhim,butthewyerhadsueededinarousinghiscuriosity.
HeGoogledtheVangerpany.Itmightbeinthebackwatersbutitseemedtobeinthemediaalmostdaily.HesavedadozenpanyanalysesandthensearchedforFrode,andHenrikandMartinVanger.
MartinVangerappeareddiligentinhiscapacityasCEOoftheVangerCorporation.Frodekeptalowprofile;hewasontheboardoftheHedestadtryClubandactiveiaryClub.HenrikVangerappeared,withoneexception,onlyinarticlesgivingthebackgroundofthepany.TheHedestadCourierhadpublishedatributetothefnateoiethbirthdaytwo,anditincludedashortsketch.Heputtogetherafolderoffiftypagesorso.Thenfinallyheemptiedhisdesk,sealedthecartons,and,havingnoideawhetherhewouldeback,wenthome.
SanderspentChristmasEveatthe?ppelvikenNursingHomeinUppnds-V?sby.Shehadbroughtpresents:abottleofeaudetoilettebyDiorandanEnglishfruitcakefrom?hlémentstore.Shedrankcoffeeasshewatchedtheforty-six-year-oldwomanwhowithclumsyfingerswastryingtouheknotontheribbon.Sanderhadtendernessinhereyes,butthatthisstrangewomanwashermotherneverceasedtoamazeher.Shecheslightestresembnlooksornature.
Hermaveupthestruggleandlookedhelplesslyatthepackage.Itwasnotoneofherbetterdays.Sanderpushedacrossthescissorsthathadbeeninpinsightoableahersuddenlyseemedto.
“YoumustthinkI’mstupid.”
“No,Mum.You’renotstupid.Butlifeisunfair.”
“Haveyouseenyoursister?”
“Notinalongtime.”
“Sheneveres.”
“Iknow,Mum.Shedoesn’tseemeeither.”
“Arey?”
“Yes.I’mdoingfine.”
“Wheredoyoulive?Idon’tevenknowwhereyoulive.”
“IliveinyouroldapartmentonLundagatan.I’velivedthereforseveralyears.Ihadtotakeoverthepayments.”
“InthesummertimemaybeIeandseeyou.”
“Ofcourse.Inthesummertime.”
HermotheratstgottheChristmaspresentopenandshearoma,ented.“Thankyou,Camil,”shesaid.
“Lisbeth.I’mLisbeth.”
Hermotherlookedembarrassed.SandersaidthattheyshouldgototheTVroom.
BlomkvistspentthehouroftheDisneyspecialonChristmasEvewithhisdaughterPernilatthehomeofhisex-wife,MonidhernewhusbandinSollentuna.AfterdiscussionswithhermothertheyhadagreedtogivePernilaniPod,anMP3pyerhardlybiggerthanamatchboxwhichcouldstoreherhugeCDcolle.
Fatheranddaughterspeimetogetherinherroomupstairs.Pernil’sparentsweredivorcedwhenshewasfive,andshehadhadahersinceshewasseven.Pernilcametoseehimaboutonceamonthandhadweek-longholidayswithhiminSandhamheyspenttimetogethertheyusuallygotalongwell,butBlomkvisthadlethisdaughterdecidehowofteedtoseehim,themoresoafterhermotherremarried.Therehadbeenacoupleofyearsinherearlyteenswhentactalmoststopped,anditwasonlyitwoyearsthatsheseemedtowanttoseehimmoreoften.
Shehadfollowedthetrialinthefirmbeliefthatthingswerejustasherfathersaid:hewasi,buthecouldnotproveit.
Shetoldhimaboutasort-ofboyfriendwhowasinanothercss,andshesurprisedhimbysayingthatshehadjoinedachurch.Blomkvistrefrainedfromment.
HewasiostayfordiheectedwithhissisterandherfamilyoutintheyuppiesuburbofSt?ket.
ThatmhehadalsohadaninvitationtocelebrateChristmasEvewiththeBesinSaltsj?baden.Hesaidno,butthankyou,certainthattherewasalimittoBe’sindulgendquitesurethathehadnoambitiontofindoutwhatthatlimitmightbe.
InsteadhewasknogonthedoorwhereAnnikaBlomkvist,nowAnnikaGiannini,livedwithherItalian-bornhusbandawochildren.toonofherhusband’sretives,theywereabouttocarvetheChristmasham.Duringdinnerheansweredquestionsaboutthetriandreceivedmuchwell-meaningandquiteuselessadvice.
Theonlyonewhohadnothingtosayabouttheverdictwashissister,althoughshewastheonlywyerintheroom.ShehadworkedasclerkofadistrictcourtandasanassistantprosecutorforseveralyearsbeforesheandthreecolleaguesopenedawfirmoftheirownwithoffiKungsholmen.Shespecialisedinfamilyw,andwithoutBlomkvisthavingtakenstockofitshappening,hislittlesisterbegantoappearinneersasrepresentingbatteredorthreatenedwomen,andonpaneldiscussionsonTVasafeministandwomen’srightsadvocate.
Ashewashelpingherpreparethecoffee,sheputahandonhisshoulderandaskedhimhowwashedoioldherhefeltaslowashehadinlife.
“Getyourselfarealwyerime,”shesaid.
“Itprobablywouldn’thavehelpedinthiscase.Butwe’lltalkitallthewaythrough,Sis,someothertimewhenallthedustissettled.”
ShegavehimahugandkissedhimonthecheekbeforetheycarriedouttheChristmascakeandthecoffee.ThenBlomkvistexcusedhimselfandaskedtousethetelephohekit.Hecalledthewyeriadandcouldheartheretoothebuzzofvoithebackground.
“MerryChristmas,”Frodesaid.“DareIhopeyouhavemadeupyourmind?”
“Ireallydon’thaveanyimmediatepnsandIamcurioustoknowmore.I’lleupthedayafterChristmasifthatsuitsyou.”
“Excellent,excellent.Iamincrediblypleased.Youwillfiveme,I’vegotchildrenandgrandchildrenvisitingandhardlyhearmyselfthink.Icallyoutomorrowtoagreeonatime?WhereIreachyou?”
Blomkvistregrettedhisdecisionbeforeeveforhome,butbythenitwastooawkwardtodcel.SoonthemofDecember26hewasorainheadingnorth.Hehadadriver’slise,buthehadneverfelttheoownacar.
Frodewasright,itwasnotalongjourney.AfterUppsacamethestringofsmallindustrialtownsalongtheNorrndcoast.Hedestadwasohesmallerones,alittlemorethananhournorthofG?vle.
OnChristmasnighttherehadbeenabigsnowstorm,buttheskieshadnowclearedandtheairwasice-coldwhenBlomkvistalightedatHedestad.Herealisedatohewasn’twearingenoughclothesforwinterinNorrnd.FrodeknewwhathelookedlikeandkindlycollectedhimfromtheptformandledhimstraighttothewarmthofhisMercedes.IreofHedestad,snowclearingwasinfullswing,andFrodewovehiscarefulwaythroughthenarrowstreets.HighbanksofsnowpresentedapicturesquetrasttoSto.Thetownseemedalmostlikeanotherp,yethewasonlyalittlemorethanthreehoursfrelsTindowntownSto.Hestoleaghewyer:anangurfacewithsparse,bristlywhitehairandthickgssesperchedonanimpressivenose.
“Firsttimeiad?”Frodesaid.
Blomkvistnodded.
“It’sanoldindustrialtownwithaharbour.Poputionofonly24,000.Butpeoplelikelivinghere.HerrVangerlivesinHedeby—atthesoutherhetown.”
“Doyouliveheretoo?”
“Idonow.IwasborninSk?nedownsouth,butIstartedwferrightafterIgraduatedin1962.I’macorporatewyer,aheyearsHerrVangerandIbecamefriends.TodayI’mofficiallyretired,andHerrVangerismyonlyt.He’sretiredtoo,ofcourse,aneedmyservicesveryoften.”
“Onlytoscrapeupjournalistswithruiations.”
“Don’tsellyourselfshort.You’renotthefirstooloseamatchagainstHans-ErikWer?m.”
BlomkvistturoFrode,uoreadthatreply.
“DoesthisinvitatiohingtodowithWer?m?”hesaid.
“No,”saidFrode.“ButHerrVangeriselyinWer?m’scircleoffriends,andhefollowedthetrialwithi.Hewantstomeetyoutodiscussawhollydifferentmatter.”
“Whichyoudon’twanttotellmeabout.”
“Whichitisn’tmypcetotellyouabout.WehavearrasothatyouspendthenightatHerrVanger’shouse.Ifyouwouldrathernotdothat,weyouaroomintheGrandHotelintown.”
“ImightbetakingtheeveningtrainbacktoSto.”
TheroadintoHedebywasstillunploughed,andFrodemanoeuvredthecardownfrozes.TheoldtowresistedofhousesalongtheGulfofBothnia,andaroundthemrger,moremoderhetownbeganonthemainndandspilledacrossabridgetoahillyisnd.Onthemainndsideofthebridgestoodasmall,whitestonechurdacrossthestreetglowedanold-fashionedneonsignthatreadSUSANNE’SBRIDGECAFéANDBAKERY.Frodedroveaboutahundredyardsfartherandturontoanewlyshovelledcourtyardinfrontofastonebuilding.Thefarmhousewastoosmalltobecalledamanor,butitwassiderablyrgerthaofthehousesilement.Thiswasthemaster’sdomain.
“ThisistheVangerfarm,”Frodesaid.“Owasfulloflifeandhubbub,buttodayonlyHenrikandahousekeeperlivethere.Thereareplentyofguestrooms.”
Theygotout.Frodepointednorth.
“TraditionallythepersonwholeadstheVangerliveshere,butMartinVangerwantedsomethingmoremodern,sohebuilthishouseonthepointthere.”
BlomkvistlookedaroundandwonderedwhatinsaneimpulsehehadsatisfiedbyaeptingFrode’sinvitation.HedecidedthatifhumanlypossiblehewouldreturntoStothatevening.Astoairwayledtotheentry,butbeforetheyreacheditthedoorened.HeimmediatelyreisedHenrikVangerfromthephotographpostedoer.
Iurestherehewasyounger,buthelookedsurprisinglyvigorousfhty-two:awirybodywitharugged,weather-beatehickgreyhairbedstraightback.Heworelypresseddarktrousers,awhiteshirt,andawell-wornbrowncasualjacket.Hehadanarrowmoustadthinsteel-rimmedgsses.
“I’mHenrikVanger,”hesaid.“Thankyreeingtovisitme.”
“Hello.Itrisinginvitation.”
“einsidewhereit’swarm.I’vearrangedaguestroomforyou.Wouldyouliketofreshenup?We’llbehavingdinneralittleter.AndthisisAnnaNygren,wholooksafterme.”
Blomkvistshookhandswithashort,stoutwomaninhersixties.Shetookhiscoatandhungitinahallcupboard.Sheofferedhimapairofslippersbecauseofthedraught.
MikaelthankedherauroHenrikVanger.“I’mnotsurethatIshallbestayingfordidependsonwhatthisgameisalbout.”
VangerexgedaghFrode.TherewasaandiweewomenthatBlomkvistcouldnotinterpret.
“IthinkI’lltakethisopportunitytoleaveyoutwoalone,”saidFrode.“Ihavetogohomeanddisciplihegrandkidsbeforetheytearthehousedown.”
HeturoMikael.
“Iliveontheright,justacrossthebridge.Youwalkthereinfivemihethirdhousetowardsthewaterdownfromthebakery.Ifyouneedme,justtelephone.”
Blomkvistreachedintohisjacketpocketandturnedonataperecorder.HehadnoideawhatVangerwanted,butafterthepasttwelvemonthsofhavocwithWer?mheneededapreciserecordofallstrangeourrenywherenearhim,andanunlooked-forinvitatioadcameintothatcategory.
VatedFrodeontheshoulderinfarewelndclosedthefrontdoorbeforeturninghisattentiontoBlomkvist.
“I’llgetrighttothepointinthatcase.Thisisnogame.IaskyoutolistentowhatIhavetosayandthenmakeupyourmind.You’reajournalist,andIwanttogiveyouafreenceassig.Annahasservedcoffeeupstairsinmyoffice.”
Theofficewasaregleofmorethan1,300squarefeet.Onewallwasdominatedbyafloor-to-ceilihirtyfeetlongtainingaremarkableassortmentofliterature:biographies,history,businessandindustry,andA4biheswerearrangedinnoapparentorder.Itlookedlikeashelfthatwasused.Theoppositewallwasdominatedbyadeskofdarkoak.Onthewallbehindthedeskwasargecolleofpressedflowersimeticulousrows.
Throughthewindowinthegablethedeskhadaviewofthebridgeandthechurch.Therewasasofaandcoffeetablewherethehousekeeperhadsetoutathermos,rolls,andpastries.
Vangergesturedtowardsthetray,butBlomkvistpretetosee;insteadhemadeatouroftheroom,firststudyingtheshelfahewallofframedflowers.Thedeskwasorderly,onlyafeersinoneheap.Atitsedgewasasilver-framedphotographofadark-hairedgirl,beautifulbutwithamischievouslook;ayoungwomanonherwaytobeingdangerous,hethought.Itarentlyafirmationportraitthathadfadedovertheyearsithadbeenthere.
“Doyourememberher,Mikael?”Vangersaid.
“Remember?”
“Yes,youmether.Andactuallyyouhavebeeninthisroombefore.”
Blomkvistturnedandshookhishead.
“No,howcouldyouremember?Iknewyourfather.IhiredKurtfirstasaninstallerandmaistseveraltimesiiesandsixties.Hewasatalentedman.Itriedtopersuadehimtokeepstudyingandbeeanengineer.Youwereherethewholesummerof1963,whenewmaeryinthepapermilliad.Itwashardtofindapceforyourfamilytolive,sowesolveditbylettingyouliveinthewoodenhouseacrosstheroad.Youseeitfromthewindow.”
Vangerpickedupthephotograph.
“ThisisHarrietVanger,granddaughterofmybrotherRichard.Shetookcareofyoumanytimesthatsummer.Youweretwo,goingonthree.Maybeyouwerealreadythreethen—Idon’trecall.Shewasthirteen.”
“Iamsorry,butIdon’thavetheleastrecolleofwhatyou’retellingme.”BlomkvistcouldnotevenbesurethatVangerwastellih.
“Iuand.ButIrememberyou.YouusedtorunaroundeverywhereonthefarmwithHarrietintorememberIgaveyouatoyonce,ayellow,sheet-metaltractorthatIhadpyedwithmyselfasaboy.Youwerecrazyaboutit.Ithinkthatwasthecolour.”
Blomkvistfeltachilliheyellowtractorhedidremember.Whenhewasolderithadstoodonashelfinhisbedroom.
“Doyourememberthattoy?”
“Ido.Andyouwillbeamusedtoknowthatthetractorisstilliveandwell,attheToyMuseuminSto.Theyputoutacallforinaltoystenyearsago.”
“Really?”Vangerchuckledwithdelight.“Letmeshowyou…”
Theoldmaovertotheshelfandpulledaphotographalbumfromohelowershelves.Blomkvistnoticedthathehaddifficultybendingoverandhadtobracehimselfontheshelfwheraightenedup.Heidthealbumonthecoffeetable.Heknewwhathewaslookingfor:abd-whitesnapshotinwhichthephotographer’sshadowshowediomlefter.Inthefroundwasafair-hairedboyinshorts,staringatthecamerawithaslightlyanxiousexpression.
“Thisisyou.Yourparentsaresittingonthegardenbenthebackground.Harrietispartlyhiddenbyyourmother,aotheleftofyourfatherisHarriet’sbrother,Martin,whorunstheVangerpanytoday.”
Blomkvist’smotherwasobviouslypregnant—hissisterwasontheway.HelookedatthephotographwithmixedfeelingsasVangerpouredcoffeeandpushedoverthepteofrolls.
“Yourfatherisdead,Iknow.Isyourmotherstillive?”
“Shediedthreeyearsago,”Blomkvistsaid.
“Shewasanian.Irememberherverywell.”
“ButI’msureyoudidn’taskmetoeheretotalkaboutoldtimesyouhadwithmyparents.”
“Yht.I’vebeenwonwhatIwaosaytoyouforseveraldays,butnowthatyou’reactuallyhereIdon’tquiteknowwheretobegin.Isupposeyoudidsomeresearch,soyouknowthatIoncewieldedsomeinfluenSwedishindustryandthejobmarket.TodayI’manoldmanwhowillprobablydiefairlysoon,ahperhapsisanexcellentstartingpointforourversation.”
Blomkvisttookaswallowofbckcoffee—pinlyboiledinapanintrueNorrndstyle—andwonderedwherethiswasgoingtolead.
“Ihavepaininmyhipandlongwalksareathingofthepast.Onedayyou’lldiscoverforyourselfhthseepsaway,butI’mhermorbidnorsenile.I’mnotobsessedbydeath,butI’matanagewhenIhavetoaeptthatmytimeisaboutup.Youwanttoclosetheaountsandtakecareofunfinishedbusiness.DoyouuandwhatImean?”
Blomkvistnodded.VangerspokeinasteadyvoidBlomkvisthadalreadydecidedthattheoldmanwashersenilenorirrational.“I’mmostlycuriousaboutwhyI’mhere,”hesaidagain.
“BecauseIwanttoaskforyourhelpwiththisclosingofaounts.”
“Whyme?WhatmakesyouthinkI’dbeabletohelpyou?”
“BecauseasIwasthinkingabouthiringsomeone,yournamecroppedupinthenews.Iknewwhoyouwere,ofcourse.Andmaybeit’sbecauseyousatonmykneewhenyouwerealittlefellow.Don’tmisuandme.”Hewavedthethoughtaway.“Idon’tlooktoyoutohelpmeforsealreasons.ItwasjustthatIhadtheimpulsetotactyouspecifically.”
Mikaelgaveafriendlyugh.“Well,Idon’trememberbeingperchedonyourkhowcouldyoumakethee?Thatwasintheearlysixties.”
“Youmisuoodme.YourfamilymovedtoStowhenyourfathergotthejobastheworkshopforemanatZarinder’sMeical.Iwastheonewhogothimthejob.Iknewhewasagoodworker.IusedtoseehimovertheyearswhenIhadbusinesswithZarinder’s.Weweren’tclosefriends,butwewouldchatforawhile.ThesttimeIsawhimwastheyearbeforehedied,aoldmethenthatyouhadgotintojournalismschool.Hewasextremelyproud.Thenyoubecamefamouswiththestoryofthebankr.I’vefollowedyourcareerandreadmanyofyourarticlesovertheyears.Asamatteroffact,IreadMillenniumquiteoften.”
“OK,I’mwithyou,butwhatisitexactlythatyouwaodo?”
Vangerlookeddownathishands,thensippedhiscoffee,asifheneededapausebeforehecouldatstbegintobroachwhathewanted.
“Befetstarted,Mikael,I’dliketomakeanagreementwithyou.Iwantyoutodotwothingsforme.Oneisapretextaherismyrealobjective.”
“Whatformofagreement?”
“I’mgoingtotellyouastoryintwoparts.ThefirstisabouttheVangerfamily.That’sthepretext.It’salong,darkstory,andI’lltrytosticktotheunvarruth.Thesedpartofthestorydealswithmyactualobjective.You’llprobablythinksomeofthestoryis…crazy.WhatIwantisforyoutohearmeout—aboutwhatIwantyoutodoandalsowhatIam—beforeyoumakeupyourmihertotakeonthejobornot.”
Blomkvistsighed.ObviouslyVangerwasnotgoingtolethimgoiocatchtheafternoontrain.HewassurethatifhecalledFrodetoaskforalifttothestation,thecarwouldsomehowrefusetostartinthecold.
Theoldmanmusthavethoughtlongandhardhowhewasgoingtohookhim.Blomkvisthadthefeelingthateverystthingthathadhappenedsincehearrivedwasstaged:theintroductorysurprisethatasachildhehadmethishost,thepictureofhisparentsinthealbum,andtheemphasisothathisfatherandVangerhadbeenfriends,alongwiththeftterythattheoldmanknewwhoMikaelBlomkvistwasandthathehadbeenfollowinghiscareerforyearsfromadistanodoubtithadacoreoftruth,butitrettyelementarypsychology.Vangerractisedmaniputor—howelsehadhebeeoneofSweden’sleadingindustrialists?
BlomkvistdecidedthatVangerwantedhimtodosomethingthathewasnotgoingtohavetheslightestdesiretodo.Hehadonlytowrestfromhimwhatthiswasandthensaynothankyou.Andjustpossiblybeiocatchtheafternoontrain.
“Fiveme,HerrVanger,”hesaid,“I’vebeenherealreadyfortwentyminutes.I’llgiveyouexactlythirtyminutesmoretotellmewhatyouwant.ThenI’mcallingataxiandgoinghome.”
Foramomentthemaskofthegood-naturedpatriarchslipped,andBlomkvistcoulddetecttheruthlesscaptainofindustryfromhisdaysofpowerfrontedbyasetback.Hismouthcurledinagrimsmile.
“Iuand.”
“Youdon’thavetobeataroundthebushwithme.Tellmewhatyouwaodo,sothatIdecidewhetherIwanttodoitornot.”
“SoifI’tvinceyouinhalfanhourthenIwouldn’tbeabletodoitinamoher—that’swhatyouthink.”
“Somethingalongthatline.”
“Butmystoryislongandplicated.”
“Shortenandsimplifyit.That’swhatwedoinjournalism.Twenty-nineminutes.”
Vangerheldupahand.“Enough.Igetyourpoint.Butit’snevergoodpsychologytoexaggerate.Ineedsomebodywhodoreseardthinkcritically,butwhoalsohasiy.Ithinkyouhaveit,andthat’snotfttery.Agoodjournalistoughttopossessthesequalities,andIreadyourTheKnightsTemprwithgreati.It’struethatIpickedyoubecauseIknewyourfatherandbecauseIknowwhoyouare.IfIuoodthemattercorrectly,youleftyazineasaresultoftheWer?maffair.Whichmeansthatyouhavenojobatthemoment,andprobablyyou’reinatightfinancialspot.”
“Soyoumightbeabletoexploitmypredit,isthatit?”
“Perhaps.ButMikael—ifImaycallyouMikael?—Iwon’tlietoyou.I’mtoooldforthat.Ifyoudon’tlikewhatIsay,youtellmetojumpihenI’llhavetofindsomeooworkwithme.”
“OK,tellmewhatthisjobinvolves.”
“HowmuchdoyouknowabouttheVangerfamily?”
“Well,onlywhatImaoreadonthesinceFrodecalledmeonMonday.InyourdaytheVangerCorporationwasohemostimportantindustrialfirmsinSweden;todayit’ssomewhatdiminished.MartinVangerrunsit.Iknowquiteabitmore,butwhatareyougettingat?”
“Martinis…he’sagoodmanbutbasicallyhe’safair-weathersailor.He’sunsuitedtobethemanagingdirectorofapanyincrisis.Hewantstomoderniseandspecialise—whichisgoodthinking—buthe’tpushthroughhisideasandhisfinancialmaisweaktoo.Twenty-fiveyearsagotheVangerwasaseriouspetitortotheWallenbergGroup.WehadfortythousandemployeesinSweden.TodaymanyofthesejobsareinKoreaorBrazil.Wearedowntoabouttenthousandemployeesandinayearortwo—ifMartigetsomewindintohissails—we’llhavefivethousand,primarilyinsmallmanufacturingindustries,andtheVangerpanieswillbesighescrapheapofhistory.”
Blomkvistnodded.Hehadethlythisclusiononthebasisofthepieceshehaddownloaded.
“TheVangerpaniesarestilmongthefewfamily-heldfirmsinthetry.Thirtyfamilymembersareminorityshareholders.Thishasalwaysbeerengthofthecorporation,butalsreatestweakness.”Vangerpausedandthensaidinatoneofmountingurgency,“Mikael,youaskquestionster,butIwantyoutotakemeatmywordwhenIsaythatIdetestmostofthemembersofmyfamily.Theyareforthemostpartthieves,misers,bullies,andis.Iranthepanyforthirty-fiveyears—almostallthetimeinthemidstofrelentlessbickering.Theyweremyworstenemies,farworsethaingpahegover.
“IsaidthatIwaomissionyoutodotwothings.First,IwantyoutowriteahistraphyoftheVangerfamily.Forsimplicity’ssake,wecallitmyautobiography.Iwillputmyjournalsandarchivesatyourdisposal.Youwillhaveaesstomyinnermostthoughtsandyoupublishallthedirtyoudigup.IthinkthisstorywillmakeShakespeare’stragediesreadlikelightfamilyeai.”
“Why?”
“WhydoIwanttopublishasdaloushistoryoftheVangerfamily?OrwhydoIaskyoutowriteit?”
“Both,Isuppose.”
“Totellyouthetruth,Idon’tcarewhethertheiseverpublished.ButIdothinkthatthestoryshouldbewritten,ifonlyinasinglecopythatyoudeliverdirectlytotheRoyalLibrary.IwantthisstorytobethereforposteritywhenIdie.Mymotiveisthesimplestimaginable:revenge.”
“Whatdoyouwanttorevenge?”
“I’mproudthatmynameisabywordforamanwhokeepshiswordandremembershispromises.I’veneverpyedpoliticalgames.I’veneverhadproblemsiatingwithtradeunions.EvenPrimeMinisterErnderhadrespeeinhisday.Formeitwasamatterofethics;Iwasresponsibleforthelivelihoodsofthousandsofpeople,andIcaredaboutmyemployees.Oddlyenough,Martinhasthesameattitude,eventhoughhe’saverydifferentpersooohastriedtodhtthing.SadlyMartinandIarerareexceptionsinourfamily.TherearemanyreasonswhytheVangerCorporationisontheropestoday,butohekeyoheshort-termismandgreedofmyretives.Ifyouaepttheassig,I’llexpinhowmyfamilywentabouttorpedoingthefirm.”
“Iwon’tlietoyoueither,”Blomkvistsaid.“Researgandwritingalikethiswouldtakemonths.Idon’thavethemotivationortheeodoit.”
“IbelieveItalkyouintoit.”
“Idoubtit.Butyousaidthereweretwothings.Theisthepretext.Whatistherealobjective?”
Vaoodup,boriouslyagain,andtookthephotographofHarrietVangerfromthedesk.HesetitdowninfrontofBlomkvist.
“WhileyouwritethebiographyIwantyoutoscrutihefamilywiththeeyesofajournalist.Itwillsogiveyouanalibiforpokingaroundinthefamilyhistory.WhatIwantisforyoutosolveamystery.That’syourreassig.”
“Whatmystery?”
“HarrietwasthegranddaughterofmybrotherRichard.Therewerefivebrothers.Richardwastheeldest,bornin1907.Iwastheyou,bornin1920.Idon’tuandhowGodcouldcreatethisflockofchildrenwho…”ForseveralsedsVangerlostthethread,immersedinhisthoughts.Theonwithnewdecisiveness.“LetmetellyouaboutmybrotherRichard.ThinkofthisasasmallsamplefromthefamilyicleIwantyoutowrite.”
Hepouredmorecoffeeforhimself.
“In1924,een,Richardwasafanatiationalistandae.HejoiheSwedishNationalSocialistFreedomLeague,ohefirstNazigroupsinSweden.Isn’titfasatingthatNazisalwaysmaoadoptthewordfreedom?”
Vangerpulledoutanotheralbumandleafedthroughituntilhefoundthepagehewaslookingfor.“Here’sRichardwiththeveterinarianBirgerFurug?rd,sooheleaderoftheso-calledFurug?rdmovement,thebigNazimovementoftheearlythirties.ButRicharddidnotstaywithhim.Hejoined,afewyearster,theSwedishFascistBattleanisation,theSFBO,andtherehegottokndahndotherswhowouldbethedisgraceofthenation.”
Heturhepageinthealbum:RichardVangerinuniform.
“Heenlisted—againstourfather’swishes—anddurihirtieshemadehiswaythroughmostoftheNazigroupsinthetry.Anysispiratoriassociationthatexisted,youbesurehisnamewasontheirroster.In1933theLindholmmovementwasformed,thatis,theNationalSocialistWorkers’Party.HowwelldoyouknowthehistoryofSwedishNazism?”
“I’mnohistorian,butI’vereadafews.”
“In1939theSedWorldWarbegan,andin1940theWinterWarinFinnd.ArgeheLindholmmovementjoinedasFinndvolunteers.RichardwasohemandbythenacaptainintheSwedisharmy.HewaskilledinFebruary1940—justbeforethepeacetreatywiththeSovietUnion—andtherebybecameamartyrintheNazimovementandhadabattlegrouperhim.EvennowahandfulofidiotsgatheratacemeteryinStoontheanniversaryofhisdeathtohonourhim.”
“Iuand.”
“In1926,whenhewasnieen,hewasgoingoutwithawomancalledMargareta,thedaughterofateacherinFaluinsomepoliticaltextandhadaretionshipwhichresultedinason,Gottfried,whowasbornin1927.Thecouplemarriedwhentheboywasborn.Duringthefirsthalfofthethirties,mybrothersenthiswifeandchildheretoHedestadwhilehewasstatiohhisregimentinG?vle.InhisfreetimehetravelledaroundanddidproselytisingforNazisfterthatRichardhadtomakehisownliving.HemovedwithhisfamilytoStoandlivediivepoverty.”
“Hehadnomoneyofhisown?”
“Theiancehehadinthefirmwastiedup.Hecouldn’tselloutsidethefamily.Worsetharaitenedcircumstances,Richardwasabrutaldomestic.Hebeathiswifeandabusedhisson.Grewupcowedandbullied.HewasthirteenwhenRichardwaskilled.Isuspectitwasthehappiestdayofhislifeuptothatpoint.MyfathertookpityonthewidowandchildandbroughtthemheretoHedestad,wherehefoundanapartmentfaretaandsawtoitthatshehadadetlife.
“IfRichardpersohefamily’sdark,fanaticalside,Gottfriedembodiedtheione.WhenhereachedtheageofeighteenIdecidedtotakehimundermywing—hewasmydeadbrother’sson,afterall—andyouhavetorememberthattheagediffereweenGottfriedandmewasnotsogreat.Iwasonlysevenyearsolder,butbythenIwasonthefirm’sboard,anditwasclearthatIwastheonewhowouldtakeoverfrommyfather,whileGottfriedwasmoreorlessregardedasanoutsider.”
Vahoughtforamoment.
“Myfatherdidn’treallyknowhowtodealwithhisgrandson,soIwastheonewhogavehimajobinthepany.Thiswasafterthewar.Hedidtrytodoareasonablejob,buthewaszy.Hewasacharmerandgood-timeCharlie;hehadaomen,andtherewereperiodswhenhedranktoomuch.Itisodescribemyfeelingsforhim…hewasn’tagood-for-nothing,buthewasnottheleastbitreliableaendisappointedmedeeply.Overtheyearsheturoanalcoholidin1965hedied—thevictimofaaldrowning.ThathappeheotherendofHedebyIsnd,wherehe’dhadabuilt,andwhereheusedtohideawaytodrink.”
“Sohe’sthefatherofHarrietandMartin?”Blomkvistsaid,pointingattheportraitonthecoffeetable.Relutlyhehadtoadmitthattheoldman’sstorywasintriguing.
“CorrethetefortiesGottfriedmetaGermanwomanbythenameofIsabelKoenig,whohadetoSwedehewar.Shewasquiteabeauty—ImeanthatshehadalovelyradiancelikeGarbridBergman.HarrietprobablygotmoreenesfromhermotherratherthanfromGottfried.Asyouseefromthephotograph,sherettyevenatfourteen.”
BlomkvistandVangerptedthepicture.
“Butletmetinue.Isabelwasbornin1928andisstillive.Shewaselevehewarbegan,andyouimagiitwasliketobeateenagerinBerlinduringtheaerialbombardments.ItmusthavefeltasifshehadarrivedinparadiseohwhenshendedinSwedetablyshesharedmanyofGottfried’svices;shewaszyandpartiedincessantly.ShetravelledagreatdealinSwedenandabroad,andckedallsenseofresponsibility.Obviouslythisaffectedthechildren.Martinwasbornin1948andHarrietin1950.Theirchildhoodwaschaotic,withamotherwhowasforeverleavingtheman**therwhowasvirtuallyanalcoholic.
“In1958I’dhadenoughanddecidedtotrytobreaktheviciouscycle.Atthetime,GottfriedandIsabelwerelivingiad—Iinsistedthattheymoveouthere