hewentupthenarrowstairsandlookedaroundthesleepingloft.therewasadoublebedwithabareattress,abedsidetable,andachestofdrawers.

    blokvistspentawhilesearchingthroughthecabin.thebureauwaseptyexceptforsoehandtowelsandlinensellingfaintlyofould.inthewardrobethereweresoeworkclothes,apairofoveralls,rubberboots,apairofworntennisshoes,andakerosenestove.inthedeskdrawerswerewritingpaper,pencils,ablanksketchpad,adeckofcards,andsoearks.thekitchencupboardcontainedplates,ugs,glasses,candles,andsoepackagesofsalt,teabags,andthelike.inadrawerinthetabletherewereeatingutensils.

    hefoundtheonlytracesofanyintellectualinterestsonthecaseabovethedesk.mikaelbroughtoverachairandgotuponittoseewhatwasontheshelves.onthelowestshelflayissuesofse,rekordagasi,tidsf？rdriv,andlektyrfrothelatefiftiesandearlysixties.therewereseveralbildjournalenfro1965and1966,mattlivsnovell,andafewics:the91,phantoen,androans.heopenedacopyoflektyrfro1964andsiledtoseehowchastethepin-upwas.

    ofthes,abouthalfwereysterypaperbacksfrowahlstr？’smanhattanseries:mickeyspillanewithtitleslikekissme,deadlywiththeclassioversbybertilhegland.hefoundhalfadozenkittys,soefaousfivenovelsbyenidblyton,andatwinmysterybysivarahlrud—themetromystery.hesiledinrecognition.threesbyastridlindgren:thechildrenofnoisyvillage,kalleblokvistandrasus,andpippilongstocking.thetopshelfhadaaboutshort-waveradio,twosonastronoy,abirdguide,acalledtheevilepireonthesovietunion,aonthefinnishwinterwar,luther’scatechis,theofhyns,andthebible.

    heopenedthebibleandreadontheinsidecover:harrietvanger,may12,1963.itwasherconfirationbible.hesadlyputitbackontheshelf.

    behindthecabintherewereawoodandtoolshedwithascythe,rake,haer,andabigboxwithsaws,planes,andothertools.hetookachairontotheporchandpouredcoffeefrohistheros.helitacigaretteandlookedacrosshedestadbaythroughtheveilofundergrowth.

    gottfried’scabinwasuchoreodestthanhehadexpected.herewastheplacetowhichharrietandmartin’sfatherhadretreatedwhenhisarriagetoisabellawasgoingtothedogsinthelatefifties.hehadadethiscabinhishoeandherehegotdrunk.anddownthere,nearthewharf,hehaddrowned.lifeatthecabinhadprobablybeenpleasantinthesuer,butwhentheteperaturedroppedtofreezingitusthavebeenrawandwretched.aordingtowhatvangertoldhi,gottfriedcontinuedtoworkinthevangercorporation—interruptedbyperiodswhenhewasonwildbinges—until1964.thefactthathewasabletoliveinthecabinoreorlessperanentlyandstillappearforworkshaven,washed,andinajacketandtiespokeofasurvivingpersonaldiscipline.

    andherewasalsotheplacethatharriethadbeentosooftenthatitwasoneofthefirstinwhichtheylookedforher.vangerhadtoldhithatduringherlastyear,harriethadgoneoftentothecabin,apparentlytobeinpeaceonweekendsorholidays.inherlastsuershehadlivedhereforthreeonths,thoughshecaeintothevillageeveryday.anitavanger,cecilia’ssister,spentsixweekswithherhere.

    whathadshedoneouthereallalone？theagazinesmittlivsnovellandroans,aswellasanuberofsaboutkitty,usthavebeenhers.perhapsthesketchpadhadbeenhers.andherbiblewashere.

    shehadwantedtobeclosetoherlostfather—wasitaperiodofourningsheneededtogetthrough？ordidithavetodowithherreligiousbrooding？thecabinwasspartan—wasshepretendingtoliveinaconvent？

    blokvistfollowedtheshoreliothesoutheast,butthewaywassointerruptedbyravinesandsogrownoverwithjunipershrubsthatitwasallbutipassable.hewentbacktothecabinandstartedbackontheroadtohedeby.aordingtotheaptherewasapaththroughthewoodstosoethingcalledthefortress.ittookhitwentyinutestofinditintheovergrownscrub.thefortresswaswhatreainedoftheshorelinedefencefrothesecondworldwar；concretebunkerswithtrenchesspreadoutaroundaandbuilding.everythingwasoverrunwithlonggrassandscrub.

    hewalkeddownapathtoaboathouse.nexttotheboathousehefoundthewreckofapetterssonboat.hereturnedtothefortressandtookapathuptoafence—hehadeto？sterg？rdenfrotheotherside.

    hefollowedtheeanderingpaththroughthewoods,roughlyparalleltothefieldsof？sterg？rden.thepathwasdifficulttonegotiate—therewerepatchesofarshthathehadtoskirt.finallyhecaetoaswapandbeyonditabarn.asfarashecouldseethepathendedthere,ahundredyardsfrotheroadto？sterg？rden.

    beyondtheroadlaythehill,s？derberget.blokvistwalkedupasteepslopeandhadtoclibthelastbit.s？derberget’ssuitwasanalostverticalclifffacingthewater.hefollowedtheridgebacktowardshedeby.hestoppedabovethesuercottagestoenjoytheviewoftheoldfishingharbourandthechurchandhisowncottage.hesatonaflatrockandpouredhiselfthelastofthelukewarcoffee.

    ceciliavangerkeptherdistance.blokvistdidnotwanttobeiportunate,sohewaitedaweekbeforehewenttoherhouse.shelethiin.

    “youustthinki’quitefoolish,afifty-six-year-old,respectableheadistressactinglikeateenagegirl.”

    “cecilia,you’reagrownwoan.youhavetherighttodowhateveryouwant.”

    “iknowandthat’swhyi’vedecidednottoseeyouanyore.ican’tstand…”

    “please,youdon’toweeanexplanation.ihopewe’restillfriends.”

    “iwouldlikeforustoreainfriends.butican’tdealwitharelationshipwithyou.ihaven’teverbeengoodatrelationships.i’dlikeitifyouwouldleaveeinpeaceforawhile.”

    chapter16

    sunday,june1–tuesday,june10

    aftersixonthsoffruitlesscogitation,thecaseofharrietvangercrackedopen.inthefirstweekofjune,blokvistuncoveredthreetotallynewpiecesofthepuzzle.twoofthehefoundhiself.thethirdhehadhelpwith.

    afterberger’svisitinmay,hehadstudiedthealbuagain,sittingforthreehours,lookingatonephotographafteranother,ashetriedtorediscoverwhatitwasthathehadreactedto.hefailedagain,soheputthealbuasideandwentbacktoworkonthefailychronicleinstead.

    onedayinjunehewasinhedestad,thinkingaboutsoethingaltogetherdifferent,whenhisbusturnedontoj？rnv？gsgatananditsuddenlycaetohiwhathadbeengerinatinginthebackofhisind.theinsightstruckhilikeathunderboltoutofaclearsky.hefeltsoconfusedthathestayedonthebusallthewaytothelaststopbytherailwaystation.therehetookthefirstbusbacktohedebytocheckwhetherhehadreeberedcorrectly.

    itwasthefirstphotographinthealbu,thelastpicturetakenofharrietvangeronthatfatefuldayonj？rnv？gsgataninhedestad,whileshehadbeenwatchingthechildren’sdayparade.

    thephotographwasanoddoohaveincludedinthealbu.itwasputtherebecauseitwastakenthesaeday,butitwastheonlyoneofthephotographsnotoftheaidentonthebridge.eachtieblokvistandeveryoneelsehadlookedatthealbu,itwasthepeopleandthedetailsinthepicturesofthebridgethathadcapturedtheirattention.therewasnodraainthepictureofacrowdatthechildren’sdayparade,severalhoursearlier.

    vangerusthavelookedatthephotographathousandties,asorrowfulreinderthathewouldneverseeheragain.

    butthatwasnotwhatblokvisthadreactedto.

    itwastakenfroacrossthestreet,probablyfroafirst-floorwindow.thewide-anglelenshadcaughtthefrontofoneofthefloats.ontheflatbedwerewoenwearingglitteringbathingsuitsandharetrousers,throwingsweetstothecrowd.soeoftheweredancing.threeclownswerejupingaboutinfrontofthefloat.

    harrietwasinthefrontrowofthecrowdstandingonthepaveent.nexttoherwerethreegirls,clearlyherclassates,andaroundandbehindthewereatleastahundredotherspectators.

    thisiswhatblokvisthadnoticedsubconsciouslyandwhichsuddenlyrosetothesurfacewhenthebuspassedtheexactsaespot.

    thecrowdbehavedasanaudienceshould.theireyesalwaysfollowtheballinatennisatchorthepuckinanicehockeyrink.theonesstandingatthefarleftofthephotographwerelookingattheclownsrightinfrontofthe.theonesclosertothefloatwerealllookingatthescantilycladgirls.theexpressionsontheirfaceswerecal.childrenpointed.soewerelaughing.everyonelookedhappy.

    allexceptone.

    harrietvangerwaslookingofftotheside.herthreefriendsandeveryoneelseinhervicinitywerelookingattheclowns.harriet’sfacewasturnedalost30°to35°toherright.hergazeseeedfixedonsoethingacrossthestreet,butbeyondtheleft-handedgeofthephotograph.

    mikaeltooktheagnifyingglassandtriedtoakeoutthedetails.thephotographwastakenfrotoogreatadistanceforhitobeentirelysure,butunlikeallthosearoundher,harriet’sfacelackedexciteent.herouthwasathinline.hereyeswerewideopen.herhandshungliplyathersides.shelookedfrightened.frightenedorfurious.

    mikaeltooktheprintoutofthealbu,putitinastiffplasticbinder,andwenttowaitforthenextbusbackintohedestad.hegotoffatj？rnv？gsgatanandstoodunderthewindowfrowhichthepictureusthavebeentaken.itwasattheedgeofwhatconstitutedhedestad’stowncentre.itwasatwo-storeywoodenbuildingthathousedavideostoreandsundstr？’shaberdashery,establishedin1932aordingtoaplaqueonthefrontdoor.hewentinandsawthattheshopwasontwolevels；aspiralstaircaseledtotheupperfloor.

    atthetopofthespiralstaircasetwowindowsfacedthestreet.

    “mayihelpyou？”saidanelderlysalesanwhenblokvisttookoutthebinderwiththephotograph.therewereonlyafewpeopleintheshop.

    “well,ijustwantedtoseewherethispicturewastakenfro.woulditbeokifiopenedthewindowforasecond？”

    theansaidyes.blokvistcouldseeexactlythespotwhereharriethadstood.oneofthewoodenbuildingsbehindherinthephotographwasgone,replacedbyanangularbrickbuilding.theotherwoodenbuildinghadbeenastationerystorein1966；nowitwasahealthfoodstoreandtanningsalon.blokvistclosedthewindow,thankedthean,andapologisedfortakinguphistie.

    hecrossedthestreetandstoodwhereharriethadstood.hehadgoodlandarksbetweenthewindowoftheupperfloorofthehaberdasheryandthedoorofthetanningsalon.heturnedhisheadandlookedalongharriet’slineofsight.asfarashecouldtell,shehadbeenlookingtowardsthecornerofthebuildingthathousedsundstr？’shaberdashery.itwasaperfectlynoralcornerofabuilding,whereacrossstreetvanishedbehindit.whatdidyouseethere,harriet？

    blokvistputthephotographinhisshoulderbagandwalkedtotheparkbythestation.therehesatinapaveentcaféandorderedalatte.hesuddenlyfeltshaken.

    inenglishtheycallit“newevidence,”whichhasaverydifferentsoundfrotheswedishter,“newproofaterial.”hehadseensoethingentirelynew,soethingno-oneelsehadnoticedinaninvestigationthathadbeenarkingtieforthirty-sevenyears.

    theproblewasthathewasn’tsurewhatvaluehisnewrationhad,ifindeeditcouldhaveanyatall.andyethefeltitwasgoingtoprovesignificant.

    thesepteberdaywhenharrietdisappearedhadbeendraaticinanuberofways.ithadbeenadayofcelebrationinhedestadwithcrowdsofseveralthousandinthestreets,youngandold.ithadbeenthefaily’sannualasseblyonhedebyisland.thesetwoeventsalonerepresenteddeparturesfrothedailyroutineofthearea.thecrashonthebridgehadovershadowedeverythingelse.

    inspectormorell,henrikvanger,andeveryoneelsewhohadbroodedaboutharriet’sdisappearancehadfocusedontheeventsathedebyisland.morellhadevenwrittenthathecouldnotridhiselfofthesuspicionthattheaidentandharriet’sdisappearancewererelated.blokvistwasnowconvincedthatthisnotionwaswrong.

    thechainofeventshadstartednotonhedebyislandbutinhedestadseveralhoursearlier.harrietvangerhadseensoethingorsoeoofrightenherandpropthertogohoe,gostraighttoheruncle,whounhappilydidnothavetietolistentoher.thentheaidentonthebridgehappened.thentheurdererstruck.

    blokvistpaused.itwasthefirsttiehehadconsciouslyforulatedtheassuptionthatharriethadbeenurdered.heaeptedvanger’sbelief.harrietwasdeadandhewashuntingforakiller.

    hewentbacktothepolicereport.aongallthethousandsofpagesonlyafractiondealtwiththeeventsinhedestad.harriethadbeenwiththreeofherclassates,allofwhohadbeeninterviewed.theyhadetattheparkbythestationat9:00.oneofthegirlswasgoingtobuysoejeans,andherfriendswentwithher.theyhadcoffeeintheepadepartentstorecafeteriaandthenwentuptothesportsfieldandstrolledaroundaongthecarnivalboothsandfishingponds,wheretheyranintosoeotherfriendsfroschool.atnoontheywanderedbackintotowntowatchtheparade.justbefore2:00intheafternoonharrietsuddenlytoldthethatshehadtogohoe.theysaidgoodbyeatabusstopnearj？rnv？gsgatan.

    noneofherfriendshadnoticedanythingunusual.oneofthewasingerstenberg,theonewhohaddescribedharriet’stransforationoverthepastyearbysayingthatshehadbee“ipersonal.”shesaidthatharriethadbeentaciturnthatday,whichwasusual,andostlyshejustfollowedtheothers.

    inspectormorellhadtalkedtoallofthepeoplewhohadencounteredharrietthatday,eveniftheyhadonlysaidhellointhegroundsofthefailyparty.aphotographofherwaspublishedinthelocalnewspaperswhilethesearchwasgoingon.aftershewentissing,severalresidentsofhedestadhadcontactedthepolicetosaythattheythoughttheyhadseenherduringthedayoftheparade,butno-onehadreportedanythingoutoftheordinary.

    thenextorningblokvistfoundvangerathisbreakfasttable.

    “yousaidthatthevangerfailystillhasaninterestinthehedestadcourier.”

    “that’sright.”

    “i’dliketohaveaesstotheirphotographicarchive.fro1966.”

    vangersetdownhisglassofilkandwipedhisupperlip.

    “mikael,whathaveyoudiscovered？”

    helookedtheoldanstraightintheeye.

    “nothingsolid.butithinkweayhaveadeaistakeaboutthechainofevents.”

    heshowedvangerthephotographandtoldhiwhathewasthinking.vangersatsayingnothingforalongtie.

    “ifi’right,wehavetolookasfaraswestillcanatwhathappenedinhedestadthatday,notjustatwhathappenedonhedebyisland,”blokvistsaid.“idon’tknowhowtogoaboutitaftersuchalongtie,butalotofphotographsusthavebeentakenofthechildren’sdaycelebrationswhichwereneverpublished.thosearetheonesiwanttolookat.”

    vangerusedthetelephoneinthekitchen.hecalledmartin,explainedwhathewanted,andaskedwhothepictureseditorwasthesedays.withinteninutestherightpeoplehadbeenlocatedandaesshadbeenarranged.

    thepictureseditorofthehedestadcourierwasmadeleinebloberg,calledmaja.shewasthefirstwoanpictureseditorblokvisthadetinjournalis,wherephotographywasstillpriarilyaaleartfor.

    sinceitwassaturday,thenewsroowasepty,butmajablobergturnedouttoliveonlyfiveinutesaway,andsheetblokvistattheofficeentrance.shehadworkedatthehedestadcourierforostofherlife.shestartedasaproof-readerin1964,changedtophoto-finisherandspentanuberofyearsinthedarkroo,whileoasionallybeingsentoutasaphotographerwhentheusualresourceswereinsufficient.shehadgainedthepositionofeditor,earnedafull-tiepostonthepicturedesk,andtenyearsago,whentheoldpictureseditorretired,shetookoverasheadofthedepartent.

    blokvistaskedhowthepicturearchivewasarranged.

    “totellyouthetruth,thearchiveisratheraess.sincewegotputersanddigitalphotographs,thecurrentarchiveisoncds.we’vehadaninternherewhospentsoetiescanninginiportantolderpictures,butonlyasallpercentageofwhat’sinthestackshavebeencatalogued.olderpicturesarearrangedbydateinnegativefolders.they’reeitherhereinthenewsrooorintheatticstoreroo.”

    “i’interestedinphotographstakenofthechildren’sdayparadein1966,butalsoinanyphotographsthatweretakenthatweek.”

    fr？kenbloberggavehiaquizzicallook.

    “youeantheweekthatharrietvangerdisappeared？”

    “youknowthestory？”

    “youcouldn’tworkatthecourieryourwholelifewithoutknowingaboutit,andwhenmartinvangercallseearlyintheorningonydayoff,idrawyownconclusions.hassoethingnewturnedup？”

    bloberghadanosefornews.blokvistshookhisheadwithalittlesileandgaveherhiscoverstory.

    “no,andidon’tsupposeanyonewilleverfindthesolutiontothatpuzzle.it’sratherconfidential,butthefactisthati’ghostwritinghenrikvanger’sautobiography.thestoryoftheissinggirlisanoddtopic,butit’salsoachapterthatcan’treallybeignored.i’lookingforsoethingt

    11

    hathasn’tbeenusedbeforethatightillustratethatday—ofharrietandherfriends.”