thenextsecondmikaelstraightenedup,hardlyabletobelievehiseyes.salanderhadwrittenabriefpassagegivingherassessentofwhatwouldhappenafterthetrial.shehadreproducedvirtuallywordforwordthepressreleasethatheandbergerhadsubittedafterheresignedaspublisherofmillenniu.

    butsalanderhadusedhisoriginalwording.heglancedagainatthecoverofthereport.itwasdatedthreedaysbeforeblokvistwassentenced.thatwasipossible.thepressreleaseexistedtheninonlyoneplaceinthewholeworld.inblokvist’sputer.inhisi,notonhisputerattheoffice.thetextwasneverprintedout.notevenbergerhadacopy,althoughtheyhadtalkedaboutthesubject.

    blokvistputdownsalander’sreport.heputonhisjacketandwentoutintothenight,whichwasverybrightoneweekbeforemidsuer.hewalkedalongtheshoreofthesound,pastceciliavanger’spropertyandtheluxuriousotorboatbelowmartinvanger’svilla.hewalkedslowly,ponderingashewent.finallyhesatonarockandlookedattheflashingbuoylightsinhedestadbay.therewasonlyoneconclusion.

    “you’vebeeninyputer,fr？kensalander,”hesaidaloud.“you’reafuckinghacker.”

    chapter18

    wednesday,june18

    salanderawokewithastartfroadrealesssluber.shefeltfaintlysick.shedidnothavetoturnherheadtoknowthatmiihadleftalreadyforwork,butherscentstilllingeredinthestuffyairofthebedroo.salanderhaddrunktooanybeersthenightbeforewiththeevilfingersatthemill.miihadturnedupnotlongbeforeclosingtieandehoewithherandintobed.

    salander—unlikemii—hadneverthoughtofherselfasalesbian.shehadneverbroodedoverwhethershewasstraight,gay,orevenbisexual.shedidnotgiveadanaboutlabels,didnotseethatitwasanyoneelse’sbusinesswhoshespenthernightswith.ifshehadtochoose,shepreferredguys—andtheywereinthelead,statisticallyspeaking.theonlyproblewasfindingaguywhowasnotajerkandonewhowasalsogoodinbed；miiwasasweetproise,andsheturnedsalanderon.theyhadetinabeertentatthepridefestivalayearago,andmiiwastheonlypersonthatsalanderhadintroducedtotheevilfingers.butitwasstilljustacasualaffairforbothofthe.itwasnicelyingclosetomii’swar,softbody,andsalanderdidnotindwakingupwithherandtheirhavingbreakfasttogether.

    herclocksaiditwas9:30,andshewaswonderingwhatcouldhavewokenherwhenthedoorbellrangagain.shesatupinsurprise.no-onehadeverrungherdoorbellatthishour.veryfewpeoplerangherdoorbellatall.shewrappedasheetaroundherandwalkedunsteadilytothehalltoopenthedoor.shestaredstraightintotheeyesofmikaelblokvist,feltpanicracethroughherbody,andtookastepback.

    “goodorning,fr？kensalander,”hegreetedhercheerfully.“itwasalatenight,isee.caniein？”

    withoutwaitingforananswer,hewalkedin,closingthedoorbehindhi.heregardedwithcuriositythepileofclothesonthehallfloorandtherapartofbagsfilledwithnewspapers；thenhepeeredthroughthebedroodoorwhilesalander’sworldstartedspinninginthewrongdirection.how？what？who？blokvistlookedatherbewilderentwithauseent.

    “iassuedthatyouwouldnothavehadbreakfastyet,soibroughtsoefilledbagelswithe.igotonewithroastbeef,onewithturkeyanddijonustard,andonevegetarianwithavocado,notknowingyourpreference.”hearchedintoherkitchenandstartedrinsinghercoffeeaker.“wheredoyoukeepcoffee？”hesaid.salanderstoodinthehallasiffrozenuntilsheheardthewaterrunningoutofthetap.shetookthreequickstrides.

    “stop！stopatonce！”sherealisedthatshewasshoutingandloweredhervoice.“danitall,youcan’tebarginginhereasifyouownedtheplace.wedon’tevenknoweachother.”

    blokvistpaused,holdingajugandturnedtolookather.

    “wrong！youknowebetterthanalostanyoneelsedoes.isn’tthatso？”

    heturnedhisbackonherandpouredthewaterintotheachine.thenhestartedopeninghercupboardsinsearchofcoffee.“speakingofwhich,iknowhowyoudoit.iknowyoursecrets.”

    salandershuthereyes,wishingthatthefloorwouldstoppitchingunderherfeet.shewasinastateofentalparalysis.shewashungover.thissituationwasunreal,andherbrainwasrefusingtofunction.neverhadsheetoneofhersubjectsfacetoface.heknowswhereilive！hewasstandinginherkitchen.thiswasipossible.itwasoutrageous.heknowswhoia！

    shefeltthesheetslipping,andshepulledittighteraroundher.hesaidsoething,butatfirstshedidn’tunderstandhi.“wehavetotalk,”hesaidagain.“butithinkyou’dbettertakeashowerfirst.”

    shetriedtospeaksensibly.“youlistentoe—ifyou’rethinkingofakingtrouble,i’nottheoneyoushouldbetalkingto.iwasjustdoingajob.youshouldtalktoyboss.”

    hehelduphishands.auniversalsignofpeace,orihavenoweapon.

    “i’vealreadytalkedtoaransky.bytheway,hewantsyoutoringhi—youdidn’tanswerhiscalllastnight.”

    shedidnotsenseanythreat,butshestillsteppedbackapacewhenhecaecloser,tookherarandescortedhertothebathroodoor.shedislikedhavinganyoouchherwithoutherleave.

    “idon’twanttoaketrouble,”hesaid.“buti’quiteanxioustotalktoyou.afteryou’reawake,thatis.thecoffeewillbereadybythetieyouputonsoeclothes.first,ashower.vaoose！”

    passivelysheobeyed.lisbethsalanderisneverpassive,shethought.

    sheleanedagainstthebathroodoorandstruggledtocollectherthoughts.shewasoreshakenthanshewouldhavethoughtpossible.graduallysherealisedthatashowerwasnotonlygoodadvicebutanecessityafterthetuultofthenight.whenshewasdone,sheslippedintoherbedrooandputonjeans,andat-shirtwiththesloganarmageddonwasyesterday—todaywehaveaseriousproblem.

    afterpausingforasecond,shesearchedthroughherleatherjacketthatwasslungoverachair.shetookthetaseroutofthepocket,checkedtoseethatitwasloaded,andstuckitinthebackpocketofherjeans.thesellofcoffeewasspreadingthroughtheapartent.shetookadeepbreathandwentbacktothekitchen.

    “doyounevercleanup？”hesaid.

    hehadfilledthesinkwithdirtydishesandashtrays；hehadputtheoldilkcartonsintoarubbishsackandclearedthetableoffiveweeksofnewspapers；hehadwashedthetablecleanandputoutugsand—hewasn’tjokingafterall—bagels.ok,let’sseewherethisisheading.shesatdownoppositehi.

    “youdidn’tansweryquestion.roastbeef,turkey,orvegetarian？”

    “roastbeef.”

    “theni’lltaketheturkey.”

    theyateinsilence,scrutinisingeachother.whenshefinishedherbagel,shealsoatehalfofthevegetarianone.shepickedupacrupledpackofcigarettesfrothewindowsillanddugoneout.

    hebrokethesilence.“iaynotbeasgoodasyouatinvestigations,butatleasti’vefoundoutthatyou’renotavegetarianor—asherrfrodethought—anorexic.i’llincludethatrationinyreport.”

    salanderstaredathi,buthelookedsoausedthatshegavehiacrookedsile.thesituationwasbeyondallrhyeorreason.shesippedhercoffee.hehadkindeyes.shedecidedthatwhateverelseheightbe,hedidnotseetobeaaliciousperson.andtherewasnothinginthepishehaddohatwouldindicatehewasaviciousbastardwhoabusedhisgirlfriendsoranythinglikethat.shereindedherselfthatshewastheonewhokneweverything.knowledgeispower.

    “whatareyougrinningat？”shesaid.

    “i’sorry.ihadnotinfactplannedtoakeyentranceinthisway.ididn’teantoalaryou.butyoushouldhaveseenyourfacewhenyouopenedthedoor.itwaspriceless.”

    silence.tohersurprise,salanderfoundhisuninvitedintrusionaeptable—well,atleastnotunpleasant.

    “you’llhavetothinkofitasyrevengeforyourpokingaroundinypersonallife,”hesaid.“areyoufrightened？”

    “nottheleastbit,”salandersaid.

    “good.i’notheretoaketroubleforyou.”

    “ifyoueventrytohurtei’llhavetodoyouaninjury.you’llbesorry.”

    blokviststudiedher.shewasbarelyfourfootelevenanddidnotlookasthoughshecouldputupuchresistanceifhewereanassailantwhohadforcedhiswayintoherapartent.buthereyeswereexpressionlessandcal.

    “well,thatwon’tbenecessary,”hesaidatlast.“ionlyneedtotalktoyou.ifyouwantetoleave,allyouhavetodoissayso.it’sfunnybut…oh,nothing…”

    “what？”

    “thisaysoundcrazy,butfourdaysagoididn’tevenknowyouexisted.thenireadyouranalysisofe.”hesearchedthroughhisshoulderbagandbroughtoutthereport.“itwasnotentertainingreading.”

    helookedoutofthekitchenwindowforawhile.“couldibuacigarette？”sheslidthepackacrossthetable.

    “yousaidbeforethatwedon’tknoweachother,andisaidthatyes,wedo.”hepointedatthereport.“ican’tpetewithyou.i’veonlydonearapidroutinecheck,togetyouraddressanddateofbirth,stufflikethat.butyoucertainlyknowagreatdealaboute.muchofwhichisprivate,dait,thingsthatonlyyclosestfriendsknow.andnowhereia,sittinginyourkitchenandeatingbagelswithyou.wehaveknowneachotherhalfanhour,butihavethefeelingthatwe’vebeenfriendsforyears.doesthatakesensetoyou？”

    shenodded.

    “youhavebeautifuleyes,”hesaid.

    “youhaveniceeyesyourself,”shesaid.

    longsilence.

    “whyareyouhere？”shesaid.

    kalleblokvist—shereeberedhisnicknaeandsuppressedtheipulsetosayitoutloud—suddenlylookedserious.healsolookedverytired.theself-confidencethathehadshownwhenhefirstwalkedintoherapartentwasnowgone.theclowningwasover,oratleasthadbeenputaside.shefelthistudyingherclosely.

    salanderfeltthatherposurewasbarelyskin-deepandthatshereallywasn’tinpletecontrolofhernerves.thistotallyunlooked-forvisithadshakenherinawaythatshehadneverexperiencedinconnectionwithherwork.herbreadandbutterwasspyingonpeople.infactshehadneverthoughtofwhatshedidforaranskyasarealjob；shethoughtofitoreasaplicatedpastie,asortofhobby.

    thetruthwasthatsheenjoyeddiggingintothelivesofotherpeopleandexposingthesecretstheyweretryingtohide.shehadbeendoingit,inonefororanother,foraslongasshecouldreeber.andshewasstilldoingittoday,notonlywhenaranskygaveheranassignent,butsoetiesforthesheerfunofit.itgaveherakick.itwaslikeaplicatedputergae,exceptthatitdealtwithreallivepeople.andnowoneofherhobbieswassittingrighthereinherkitchen,feedingherbagels.itwastotallyabsurd.

    “ihaveafascinatingproble,”blokvistsaid.“tellethis,whenyouweredoingyourresearchoneforherrfrode,didyouhaveanyideawhatitwasgoingtobeusedfor？”

    “no.”

    “thepurposewastofindoutallthatrationaboutebecausefrode,orratherhiseployer,wantedtogiveeafreelancejob.”

    “isee.”

    hegaveherafaintsile.

    “oneofthesedaysyouandishouldhaveadiscussionabouttheethicsofsnoopingintootherpeople’slives.butrightnowihaveadifferentproble.thejobiwasoffered,andwhichinexplicablyiagreedtodo,iswithoutdoubttheostarreassignenti’veeverundertaken.beforeisayoreineedtobeabletotrustyou,lisbeth.”

    “whatdoyouean？”

    “aranskytellseyou’re100percentreliable.butistillwanttoaskyouthequestion.canitellyouconfidentialthingswithoutyourtellingthetoanyoneelse,byanyeans,ever？”

    “waitainute.you’vetalkedtodragan？ishetheonewhosentyouhere？”i’goingtokillyou,youfuckingstupidarenian.

    “notexactly.you’renottheonlyonewhocanfindoutsoeone’saddress；ididthatallonyown.ilookedyouupinthenationalregistry.therearethreelisbethsalanders,andtheothertwoweren’tagoodatch.butihadalongtalkwitharanskyyesterday.hetoothoughtthatiwantedtoaketroubleoveryourferretingaroundinyprivatelife.intheendiconvin

    12

    提供

    cedhithatihadalegitiatepurpose.”

    “whichiswhat？”

    “asitoldyou,frode’seployerhiredetodoajob.i’vereachedapointwhereineedaskilledresearcher.frodetoldeaboutyouandsaidthatyouwereprettygood.hehadn’teanttoidentifyyou,itjustslippedout.iexplainedtoaranskywhatiwanted.heok’dthewholethingandtriedtocallyou.andhereia.callhiifyouwant.”

    ittooksalanderainutetofindherobileaongtheclothesthatmiihadpulledoffher.blokvistwatchedherebarrassedsearchwithinterestashepatrolledtheapartent.allherfurnitureseeedtobestrays.shehadastate-of-the-artpoweronanapologyforadeskinthelivingroo.shehadacdplayeronashelf.hercdcollectionwasapitifultotaloftencdsbygroupshehadneverheardof,andtheusiciansonthecoverslookedlikevapiresfroouterspace.musicwasprobablynotherbiginterest.

    salandersawthataranskyhadcalledherseventiesthenightbeforeandtwicethisorning.shepunchedinhisnuberwhileblokvistleanedagainstthedoorfraeandlistenedtotheconversation.

    “it’se…sorry…yes…itwasturnedoff…iknow,hewantstohiree…no,he’sstandingintheiddleofyfuckinglivingroo,forchrist’ssake…”sheraisedhervoice.“dragan,i’hungoverandyheadhurts,soplease,nogaes,didyouokthisjobornot？…thanks.”

    salanderlookedthroughthedoortothelivingrooatblokvistpullingoutcdsandtakingsofftheshelf.hehadjustfoundabrownpillbottlethatwasissingitslabel,andhewasholdingituptothelight.hewasabouttounscrewthetop,soshereachedoutandtookthebottlefrohi.shewentbacktothekitchenandsatdownonachair,assagingherforeheaduntilhejoinedher.

    “therulesaresiple,”shesaid.“nothingthatyoudiscusswitheorwitharanskywillbesharedwithanyoneatall.therewillbeacontractwhichstatesthatmiltonsecuritypledgesconfidentiality.iwanttoknohatthejobisaboutbeforeidecidewhetheriwanttoworkforyouornot.thatalsoeansthatiagreetokeeptoyselfeverythingyoutelle,whetheritakethejobornot,providedthatyou’renotconductinganysortofseriouscriinalactivity.inwhichcase,i’llreportittodragan,whointurnwillreportittothepolice.”

    “fine.”hehesitated.“aranskyaynotbepletelyawareofwhatiwanttohireyoufor…”

    “soehistoricalresearch,hesaid.”

    “well,yes,that’sright.iwantyoutohelpetoidentifyaurderer.”

    ittookblokvistanhourtoexplainalltheintricatedetailsintheharrietvangercase.heleftnothingout.hehadfrode’sperissiontohireher,andtodothathehadtobeabletotrustherpletely.

    hetoldhereverythingaboutceciliavangerandthathehadfoundherfaceinharriet’swindow.hegavesalanderasgoodadescriptionofhercharacterashecould.shehadovedhighuponthelistofsuspects,hislist.buthewasstillfarfrobelievingthatshecouldbeinanywayassociatedwithaurdererwhowasactivewhenshewasstillayoungwoan.

    hegavesalanderacopyofthelistinthedate:“magda—32016；sara—32109；r.j.—30112；r.l.—32027；mari—32018.”andhegaveheracopyoftheversesfroleviticus.

    “whatdoyouwantetodo？”

    “i’veidentifiedther.j.,rebeckajacobsson.”hetoldherwhatthefive-figurenubersstoodfor.“ifi’right,thenwe’regoingtofindfourorevictis—magda,sara,mari,andr.l.”

    “youthinkthey’reallurdered？”

    “whatithinkisthatwearelookingforsoeonewho—iftheothernubersandinitialsalsoprovetobeshorthandforfourorekillings—isaurdererwhowasactiveinthefiftiesandaybealsointhesixties.andwhoisinsoewaylinkedtoharrietvanger.i’vegohroughbackissuesofthehedestadcourier.rebecka’surderistheonlygrotesquecriethaticouldfindwithaconnectiontohedestad.iwantyoutokeepdigging,alloverswedenifnecessary,untilyouakesenseoftheothernaesandverses.”

    salanderthoughtinexpressionlesssilenceforsuchalongtiethatblokvistbegantogrowipatient.hewaswonderingwhetherhehadchosenthewrongpersonwhensheatlastraisedherhead.

    “i’lltakethejob.butfirstyouhavetosignacontractwitharansky.”

    aranskyprintedoutthecontractthatblokvistwouldtakebacktohedestadforfrode’ssignature.whenhereturnedtosalander’soffice,hesawhowsheandblokvistwereleaningoverherpower.hehadhishandonhershoulder—hewastouchingher—andpointing.aranskypausedinthecorridor.

    blokvistsaidsoethingthatseeedtosurprisesalander.thenshelaughedoutloud.

    aranskyhadneveronceheardherlaughbefore,andforyearshehadbeentryingtowinhertrust.blokvisthadknownherforfiveinutesandshewaspracticallygigglingwithhi.hefeltsuchaloathingforblokvistatthatoentthathesurprisedhiself.heclearedhisthroatashestoodinthedoorwayandputdownthefolderwiththecontract.

    blokvistpaidaquickvisittothemillenniuofficeintheafternoon.itwashisfirsttieback.itfeltveryoddtoberunningupthosefailiarstairs.theyhadnotchangedthecodeonthedoor,andhewasabletoslipinunnoticedandstandforaoent,lookingaround.

    mille