“whatdoyouwanttoknow？”

    “i’vereadthroughthefirstbinder,aboutthedisappearanceandthesearches,buttherearesoanyvangersentionedthatineedyourhelpidentifyingtheall.”

    fornearlyteninutessalanderstoodintheeptyhallwithhereyesfixedonthebrassplaquethatsaid“advokatn.e.bjuran”beforesherangthebell.thelockontheentrydoorclicked.

    itwastuesday.itwastheirsecondeeting,andshehadabadfeelingaboutit.

    shewasnotafraidofbjuran—salanderwasrarelyafraidofanyoneoranything.ontheotherhand,shefeltunfortablewiththisnewguardian.hispredecessor,advokatholgerpalgren,hadbeenofanentirelydifferentilk:courteousandkind.butthreeonthsagopalgrenhadhadastroke,andnilserikbjuranhadinheritedherinaordancewithsoebureaucraticpeckingorder.

    inthetwelveyearsthatsalanderhadbeenundersocialandpsychiatricguardianship,twoofthoseyearsinachildren’sclinic,shehadneveroncegiventhesaeanswertothesiplequestion:“so,howareyoutoday？”

    whensheturnedthirteen,thecourthaddecided,underlawsgoverningtheguardianshipofinors,thatsheshouldbeentrustedtothelockedwardatst.stefan’spsychiatrilinicforchildreninuppsala.thedecisionwaspriarilybasedonthefactthatshewasdeeedtobeeotionallydisturbedanddangerouslyviolenttowardsherclassatesandpossiblytowardsherself.

    allatteptsbyateacheroranyauthorityfiguretoinitiateaconversationwiththegirlaboutherfeelings,eotionallife,orthestateofherhealthwereet,totheirgreatfrustration,withasullensilenceandagreatdealofintensestaringatthefloor,ceiling,andwalls.shewouldfoldherarsandrefusetoparticipateinanypsychologicaltests.herresistancetoallatteptstoeasure,weigh,chart,analyse,oreducateherappliedalsotoherschoolwork—theauthoritiescouldhavehercarriedtoaclassrooandcouldchainhertothebench,buttheycouldnotstopherfroclosingherearsandrefusingtoliftapentowriteanything.shepletedthenineyearsofpulsoryschoolingwithoutacertificate.

    thishadconsequentlybeeassociatedwiththegreatdifficultyofevendiagnosingherentaldeficiencies.inshort,lisbethsalanderwasanythingbuteasytohandle.

    bythetieshewasthirteen,itwasalsodecidedthatatrusteeshouldbeassignedtotakecareofherinterestsandassetsuntilshecaeofage.thistrusteewasadvokatpalgrenwho,inspiteofaratherdifficultstart,hadsueededwherepsychiatristsanddoctorshadfailed.graduallyhewonnotonlyacertainaountoftrustbutalsoaodestaountofwarthfrothegirl.

    whensheturnedfifteen,thedoctorshadoreorlessagreedthatshewasnot,afterall,dangerouslyviolent,nordidsherepresentanyiediatedangertoherself.herfailyhadbeencategorisedasdysfunctional,andshehadnorelativeswhocouldlookafterherwelfare,soitwasdecidedthatlisbethsalandershouldbereleasedfrothepsychiatrilinicforchildreninuppsalaandeasedbackintosocietybywayofafosterfaily.

    thathadnotbeenaneasyjourney.sheranawayfrothefirstfosterfailyafteronlytwoweeks.thesecondandthirdfosterfailiesfellbythewaysideinquicksuession.atthatpointpalgrenhadaseriousdiscussionwithher,explainingbluntlythatifshepersistedonthispathshewouldbeinstitutionalisedagain.thisthreathadtheeffectthatsheaeptedfosterfailynuberfour—anelderlycouplewholivedinmidsoarkransen.

    butitdidnotean,however,thatshebehavedherself.attheageofseventeen,salanderwasarrestedbythepoliceonfouroasions；twiceshewassointoxicatedthatsheendedupintheeergencyroo,andonceshewasplainlyundertheinfluenceofnarcotics.ononeoftheseoasionsshewasfounddeaddrunk,withherclothesindisarray,inthebackseatofacarparkedats？derm？larstrand.shewaswithanequallydrunkanducholderan.

    thelastarrestourredthreeweeksbeforehereighteenthbirthday,whenshe,perfectlysober,kickedaalepassengerintheheadinsidethegatesofthegalastantunnelbanastation.shewaschargedwithassaultandbattery.salanderclaiedthattheanhadgropedher,andhertestionywassupportedbywitnesses.theprosecutordisissedthecase.butherbackgroundwassuchthatthedistrictcourtorderedapsychiatricevaluation.sincesherefused,aswashercusto,toansweranyquestionsortoparticipateintheexainations,thedoctorsconsultedbythenationalboardofhealthandwelfarehandeddownanopinionbasedon“observationsofthepatient.”itwasunclearpreciselywhatcouldbeobservedwhenitwasaatterofasilentyoungwoansittingonachairwithherarsfoldedandherlowerlipstuckout.theonlydeterinationadewasthatsheustsufferfrosoekindofeotionaldisturbance,whosenaturewasofthesortthatcouldnotbeleftuntreated.theedical/legalreportreendedcareinaclosedpsychiatricinstitution.anassistantheadofthesocialwelfareboardwroteanopinioninsupportoftheconclusionsofthepsychiatricexperts.

    withregardtoherpersonalrecord,theopinionconcludedthattherewasgraveriskofalcoholanddrugabuse,andthatshelackedself-awareness.bythenhercasewasfilledwithterssuchasintroverted,sociallyinhibited,lackinginepathy,ego-fixated,psychopathicandasocialbehaviour,difficultyincooperating,andincapableofassiilatinglearning.anyonewhoreadhercaseightbeteptedtoconcludethatsalanderwasseriouslyretarded.anotherarkagainstherwasthatthesocialservicesstreetpatrolhadonseveraloasionsobservedher“withvariousen”intheareaaroundmariatet.shewasoncestoppedandfriskedintantolunden,againwithaucholderan.itwasfearedthatsalanderwaspossiblyoperatingas,orrantheriskofbeing,aprostitute.

    whenthedistrictcourt—theinstitutionthatwoulddeterineherfuture—ettodecideontheatter,theouteseeedaforegoneconclusion.shewasobviouslyaproblechild,anditwasunlikelythatthecourtwouldetoanydecisionotherthantoaeptthereendationsofboththepsychiatricandthesocialinquiries.

    ontheorningthecourthearingwastotakeplace,salanderwasbroughtfrothepsychiatrilinicforchildrenwhereshehadbeenconfinedsincetheincidentingalastan.shefeltlikeaprisonerfroaconcentrationcap:shehadnohopeofsurvivingtheday.thefirstpersonshesawinthecourtroowaspalgren,andittookawhileforhertorealisethathewasnotthereintheroleofatrusteebutratherasherlegalrepresentative.

    tohersurprise,hewasfirlyinhercorner,andheadeapowerfulappealagainstinstitutionalisation.shedidnotbetraywithsouchasaraisedeyebrowthatshewassurprised,butshelistenedintentlytoeverywordthatwassaid.palgrenwasbrilliantduringthetwohoursinwhichhecross-exainedthephysician,adr.jesperh.l？deran,whohadsignedhisnaetothereendationthatsalanderbelockedawayinaninstitution.everydetailoftheopinionwasscrutinised,andthedoctorwasrequiredtoexplainthescientificbasisforeachstateent.eventuallyitbecaeclearthatsincethepatienthadrefusedtopleteasingletest,thebasisforthedoctor’sconclusionswasinfactnothingorethanguesswork.

    attheendofthehearing,palgrenintiatedthatpulsoryinstitutionalisationwasinallprobabilitynotonlycontrarytoparliaent’sdecisionsinsiilarsituations,butinthisparticularcaseitightinadditionbethesubjectofpoliticalandediareprisals.soitwasineveryone’sinteresttofindanappropriatealternativesolution.suchlanguagewasunusualfornegotiationsinthistypeofsituation,andtheebersofthecourthadsquirednervously.

    thesolutionwasalsoaproise.thecourtconcludedthatlisbethsalanderwasindeedeotionallydisturbed,butthatherconditiondidnotnecessarilywarrantinternent.ontheotherhand,thesocialwelfaredirector’sreendationofguardianshipwastakenunderconsideration.thechairanofthecourtturned,withavenooussile,toholgerpalgren,whoupuntilthenhadbeenhertrustee,andinquiredwhetherheightbewillingtotakeontheguardianship.thechairanobviouslythoughtthatpalgrenwouldbackawayandtrytopushtheresponsibilityontosoeoneelse.onthecontrary,palgrendeclaredthathewouldbehappytotakeonthejobofservingasfr？kensalander’sguardian—butononecondition:“thatfr？kensalanderustbewillingtotrusteandaepteasherguardian.”

    heturnedtofaceher.lisbethsalanderwassoewhatbewilderedbytheexchangethathadgonebackandforthoverherheadallday.untilnowno-onehadaskedforheropinion.shelookedatholgerpalgrenforalongtieandthennoddedonce.

    palgrenwasapeculiarixtureofjuristandsocialworker,oftheoldschool.atfirsthehadbeenapoliticallyappointedeberofthesocialwelfareboard,andhehadspentnearlyallhislifedealingwithprobleyouths.areluctantsenseofrespect,alostborderingonfriendship,hadintieforedbetweenpalgrenandhisward,whowasunquestionablytheostdifficulthehadeverhadtodealwith.

    theirrelationshiphadlastedelevenyears,froherthirteenthbirthdayuntilthepreviousyear,whenafeeeksbeforechristasshehadgooseepalgrenathoeafterheissedoneoftheirscheduledonthlyeetings.

    whenhedidnotopenthedooreventhoughshecouldhearsoundsingfrohisapartent,shebrokeinbyclibingupadrainpipetothebalconyonthefourthfloor.shefoundhilyingonthefloorinthehall,consciousbutunabletospeakorove.shecalledforanabulanceandacpaniedhitos？derhospitalwithagrowingfeelingofpanicinherstoach.forthreedaysshehardlyleftthecorridoroutsidetheintensivecareunit.likeafaithfulwatchdog,shekeptaneyeoneverydoctorandnursewhowentinoroutofthedoor.shewanderedupanddownthecorridorlikealostsoul,fixinghereyesoneverydoctorwhocaenear.finallyadoctorwhosenaesheneverdiscoveredtookherintoarootoexplainthegravityofthesituation.herrpalgrenwasincriticalconditionfollowingaseverecerebralhaeorrhage.hewasnotexpectedtoregainconsciousness.hewasonlysixty-fouryearsold.sheneitherweptnorchangedherexpression.shestoodup,leftthehospital,anddidnotreturn.

    fiveweekslatertheguardianshipagencysuonedsalandertothefirsteetingwithhernewguardian.herinitialipulsewastoignorethesuons,butpalgrenhadiprintedinherconsciousnessthateveryactionhasitsconsequences.shehadlearnedtoanalysetheconsequencesandsoshehadetotheconclusionthattheeasiestwayoutofthispresentdileawastosatisfytheguardianshipagencybybehavingasifshecaredaboutwhattheyhadtosay.

    thus,indeceber—takingabreakfroherresearchonmikaelblokvist—shearrivedatbjuran’sofficeonst.eriksplan,whereanelderlywoanrepresentingtheboardhadhandedoversalander’sextensivefiletoadvokatbjuran.thewoanhadkindlyaskedsalanderhowthingsweregoing,andsheseeedsatisfiedwiththestifledsilenceshereceivedinreply.afterabouthalfanhoursheleftsalanderinthecareofadvokatbjuran.

    salanderdecidedthatshedidnotlikeadvokatbjuran.shestudiedhifurtivelyashereadthroughhercase.age:overfifty.tribody.tennisontuesdaysandfridays.blond.thinninghair.aslightcleftinhischin.hugobossaftershave.bluesuit.redtiewithagoldtiepinandostentatiouscufflinkswiththeinitialsneb.steel-riedglasses.greyeyes.tojudgebytheagazinesonthesidetable,hisinterestswerehuntingandshooting.

    duringtheyearsshehadknownpalgren,hehadalwaysofferedhercoffeeandchattedwithher.notevenherworstescapesfrofosterhoesorherregulartruancyfroschoolhadeverruffledhisposure.theonlytiepalgrenhadbeenreallyupsetwaswhenshehadbeenchargedwithassaultandbatteryafterthatscubaghadgropedheringalastan.doyouunderstandwhatyou’vedone？youhaveharedanotherhuanbeing,lisbeth.hehadsoundedlikeanoldteacher,andshehadpatientlyignoredeverywordofhisscolding.

    bjurandidnothavetieforsalltalk.hehadiediatelyconcludedthattherewasadiscrepancybetweenpalgren’sobligations,aordingtotheregulationsofguardianship,andthefactthathehadapparentlyallowedthesalandergirltotakechargeofherownhouseholdandfinances.bjuranstartedinonasortofinterrogation:howuchdoyouearn？iwantacopyofyourfinancialrecords.whodoyouspendtiewith？doyoupayyourrentontie？doyoudrink？didpalgrenapproveofthoseringsyouhaveonyourface？areyoucarefulabouthygiene？

    fuckyou.

    palgrenhadbeehertrusteerightafteralltheevilhadhappened.hehadinsistedoneetingswithheratleastonceaonth,soetiesoreoften.aftersheovedbacktolundagatan,theywerealsopracticallyneighbours.helivedonhornsgatan,acoupleofblocksaway,andtheywouldrunintoeachotherandgoforcoffeeatgiffy’sorsoeothercafénearby.palgrenhadnevertriedtoipose,butafewtieshehadvisitedher,bringingsoelittlegiftforherbirthday.shehadastandinginvitationtovisithiwheneversheliked,aprivilegethatsheseldotookadvantageof.butwhensheovedtos？der,shehadstartedspendingchristasevewithhiaftershewenttoseeherother.theywouldeatchristashaandplaychess.shehadnorealinterestinthegae,butaftershelearnedtherules,sheneverlostaatch.hewasawidower,andsalanderhadseenitasherdutytotakepityonhionthoselonelyholidays.

    sheconsideredherselfinhisdebt,andshealwayspaidherdebts.

    itwaspalgrenwhohadsubletherother’sapartentonlundagatanforheruntilsalanderneededherownplacetolive.theapartentwasabout500squarefeet,shabbyandunrenovated,butatleastitwasaroofoverherhead.

    nowpalgrenwasgone,andanothertietoestablishedsocietyhadbeensevered.nilsbjuranwasawhollydifferentsortofperson.nowayshewouldbespendingchristaseveathishouse.hisfirstovehadbeentoputinplacenewrulesontheanageentofheraountathandelsbanken.palgrenhadneverhadanyproblesaboutbendingtheconditionsofhisguardianshipsoastoallowhertotakecareofherownfinances.shepaidherbillsandcouldusehersavingsasshesawfit.

    priortotheeetingwithbjurantheweekbeforechristasshehadpreparedherself；oncethere,shehadtriedtoexplainthathispredecessorhadtrustedherandhadneverbeengivenoasiontodootherwise.palgrenhadlethertakecareofherownaffairsandnotinterferedinherlife.

    “that’soneoftheprobles,”bjuransaid,tappinghercase.hethenadealongspeechabouttherulesandgovernentregulationsonguardianship.

    “heletyourunfree,isthatit？iwonderhowhegotawaywithit.”

    becausehewasacrazysocialdeocratwhohadworkedwithtroubledkidsallhislife.

    “i’notachildanyore,”salandersaid,asifthatwereexplanationenough.

    “no,you’renotachild.buti’vebeenappointedyourguardian,andaslongasihavethatrole,ialegallyandfinanciallyresponsibleforyou.”

    heopenedanewaountinhernae,andshewassupposedtoreportittomilton’spersonnelofficeanduseitfronowon.thegoodolddayswereover.infuturebjuranwouldpayherbills,andshewouldbegivenanallowanceeachonth.hetoldherthatheexpectedhertoprovidereceiptsforallherexpenses.shewouldreceive1,400kronoraweek—“forfood,clothing,filtickets,andsuchlike.”

    salanderearnedorethan160,000kronorayear.shecoulddoublethatbyworkingfull-tieandaeptingalltheassignentsaranskyofferedher.butshehadfewexpensesanddidnotneeduchoney.thecostofherapartentwasabout2,000kronoraonth,andinspiteofherodestine,shehad90,000kronorinhersavingsaount.butshenolongerhadaesstoit.

    “thishastodowiththefactthati’responsibleforyouroney,”hesaid.“youhavetoputoneyasideforthefuture.butdon’tworry；i’lltakecareofallthat.”

    i’vetakencareofyselfsinceiwasten,youcreep！

    “youfunctionwellenoughinsocialtersthatyoudon’tneedtobeinstitutionalised,butthissocietyisresponsibleforyou.”

    hequestionedhercloselyaboutwhatkindofworkassignentsshewasgivenatmiltonsecurity.shehadinstinctivelyliedaboutherduties.theanswershegavehiwasadescriptionofherveryfirstweeksatmilton.bjurangottheipressionthatsheadecoffeeandsortedthepost—suitableenoughtasksforsoeonewhowasalittleslow—andseeedsatisfied.

    shedidnotknohyshehadlied,butshewassureitwasawisedecision.

    blokvisthadspentfivehourswithvanger,andittookuchofthenightandalloftuesdaytotypeuphisnotesandpiecetogetherthegenealogyintoaprehensiblewhole.thefailyhistorythateergedwasadraaticallydifferentversionfrotheonepresentedastheofficialiageofthefaily.everyfailyhadafewskeletonsintheircupboards,butthevangerfailyhadanentiregalliaufryofthe.

    blokvisthadhadtoreindhiselfseveraltiesthathisrealassignentwasnottowriteabiographyofthevangerfailybuttofindoutwhathadhappenedtoharrietvanger.thevangerbiographywouldbenoorethanplayingtothegallery.afterayearhewouldreceivehispreposteroussalary—thecontractdrawnupbyfrodehadbeensigned.histruereward,heho