thenpastorfalkseeedtofetallaboutblokvistandstartedtalkingwiththeotherpatients.

    hegotbacktohedebyislandjustafter2:00.hewalkedovertoceciliavanger’sandknockedonthedoor,butwithoutsuess.hetriedherobilenuberagainbutnoanswer.

    heattachedonesokealartoawallinthekitchenandonenexttothefrontdoor.heputonefireextinguishernexttothewoodstovebesidethebedroodoorandanotheronebesidethebathroodoor.thenheadehiselflunch,whichconsistedofcoffeeandopensandwiches,andsatinthegarden,wherehewastypingupthenotesofhisconversationwithpastorfalk.whenthatwasdone,heraisedhiseyestothechurch.

    hedeby’snewparsonagewasquiteanordinaryoderndwellingafewinutes’walkfrothechurch.blokvistknockedonthedoorat4:00andexplainedtopastormargaretastrandhthathehadetoseekadviceonatheologicalatter.margaretastrandhwasadark-hairedwoanofabouthisownage,dressedinjeansandaflannelshirt.shewasbarefootandhadpaintedtoenails.hehadrunintoherbeforeatsusanne’sbridgecaféonacoupleofoasionsandtalkedtoheraboutpastorfalk.hewasgivenafriendlyreceptionandinvitedtoeandsitinhercourtyard.

    blokvisttoldherthathehadinterviewedottofalkandwhattheoldanhadsaid.pastorstrandhlistenedandthenaskedhitorepeatitwordforword.

    “iwassenttoservehereinhedebyonlythreeyearsago,andi’veneveractuallyetpastorfalk.heretiredseveralyearsbeforethat,butibelievethathewasfairlyhigh-church.whathesaidtoyoueantsoethingonthelinesof‘keeptoscripturealone’—solascriptura—andthatitissufficientiascripturae.thislatterisanexpressionthatestablishesthesufficiencyofscriptureaongliteralbelievers.solafideeansfaithaloneorthetruefaith.”

    “isee.”

    “allthisisbasicdoga,sotospeak.ingeneralit’stheplatforofthechurchandnothingunusualatall.hewassayingquitesiply:‘readthebible—itwillprovidesufficientknowledgeandvouchesforthetruefaith.’”

    mikaelfeltabitebarrassed.

    “nowihavetoaskyouinwhatconnectionthisconversationourred,”shesaid.

    “iwasaskinghiaboutapersonhehadetanyyearsago,soeonei’writingabout.”

    “areligiousseeker？”

    “soethingalongthatline.”

    “ok.ithinkiunderstandthecontext.youtoldethatpastorfalksaidtwootherthings—that‘josefwillcertainlyexcludethe’andthat‘theywereneveraeptedintothecanon.’isitpossiblethatyouisunderstoodandthathesaidjosefusinsteadofjosef？it’sactuallythesaenae.”

    “that’spossible,”blokvistsaid.“itapedtheconversationifyouwanttolistentoit.”

    “no,idon’tthinkthat’snecessary.thesetwosentencesestablishfairlyunequivocallywhathewasalludingto.josefuswasajewishhistorian,andthesentence‘theywereneveraeptedintothecanon’ayhaveeantthattheywereneverinthehebrewcanon.”

    “andthateans？”

    shelaughed.

    “pastorfalkwassayingthatthispersonwasenthralledbyesotericsources,specificallytheapocrypha.thegreekwordapokryphoseans‘hidden,’andtheapocryphaarethereforethehiddenswhichsoeconsiderhighlycontroversialandothersthinkshouldbeincludedintheoldtestaent.theyaretobias,judith,esther,baruch,sirach,thesofthemaabees,andsoeothers.”

    “fiveyignorance.i’veheardaboutthesoftheapocryphabuthaveneverreadthe.what’sspecialaboutthe？”

    “there’sreallynothingspecialabouttheatall,exceptthattheycaeintoexistencesoewhatlaterthantherestoftheoldtestaent.theapocryphaweredeletedfrothehebrewbible—notbecausejewishscholarsistrustedtheircontentbutsiplybecausetheywerewrittenafterthetiewhengod’srevelatoryworkwasconcluded.ontheotherhand,theapocryphaareincludedintheoldgreektranslationofthebible.they’renotconsideredcontroversialin,forexaple,theroancatholihurch.”

    “isee.”

    “however,theyarecontroversialintheprotestantchurch.duringthereforation,theologianslookedtotheoldhebrewbible.martinlutherdeletedtheapocryphafrothereforation’sbibleandlatercalvindeclaredthattheapocryphaabsolutelyustnotserveasthebasisforconvictionsinattersoffaith.thustheircontentscontradictorinsoewayconflictwithclaritasscripturae—theclarityofscripture.”

    “inotherwords,censoreds.”

    “quiteright.forexaple,theapocryphaclaithatagianbepractisedandthatliesincertaincasesaybeperissible,andsuchstateents,ofcourse,upsetdogaticinterpretersofscripture.”

    “soifsoeonehasapassionforreligion,it’snotunthinkablethattheapocryphawillpopupontheirreadinglist,orthatsoeonelikepastorfalkwouldbeupsetbythis.”

    “exactly.encounteringtheapocryphaisalostunavoidableifyou’restudyingthebibleorthecatholicfaith,andit’sequallyprobablethatsoeonewhoisinterestedinesotericaingeneralightreadthe.”

    “youdon’thappentohaveacopyoftheapocrypha,doyou？”

    shelaughedagain.abright,friendlylaugh.

    “ofcourseido.theapocryphawereactuallypublishedasastatereportfrothebibleissionintheeighties.”

    aranskywonderedwhatwasgoingonwhensalanderaskedtospeaktohiinprivate.heshutthedoorbehindherandotionedhertothevisitor’schair.shetoldhithatherworkformikaelblokvistwasdone—thelawyerwouldbepayingherbeforetheendoftheonth—butthatshehaddecidedtokeeponwiththisparticularinvestigation.blokvisthadofferedheraconsiderablyhighersalaryforaonth.

    “iaself-eployed,”salandersaid.“untilnowi’venevertakenajobthatyouhaven’tgivene,inkeepingwithouragreeent.whatiwanttoknowiswhatwillhappentoourrelationshipifitakeajobonyown？”

    aranskyshrugged.

    “you’reafreelancer,youcantakeanyjobyouwantandchargewhatyouthinkit’sworth.i’justgladyou’reakingyourownoney.itwould,however,bedisloyalofyoutotakeonclientsyoufindthroughus.”

    “ihavenoplanstodothat.i’vefinishedthejobaordingtothecontractwesignedwithblokvist.whatthisisaboutisthatiwanttostayonthecase.i’devendoitfornothing.”

    “don’teverdoanythingfornothing.”

    “youknohatiean.iwanttoknoherethisstoryisgoing.i’veconvincedblokvisttoaskthelawyertokeepeonasaresearchassistant.”

    shepassedtheagreeentovertoaransky,whoreadrapidlythroughit.

    “withthissalaryyouightaswellbeworkingforfree.lisbeth,you’vegottalent.youdon’thavetoworkforsallchange.youknowyoucanakeahellofalotorewitheifyoueonboardfull-tie.”

    “idon’twanttoworkfull-tie.but,dragan,yloyaltyistoyou.you’vebeengreattoesinceistartedhere.iwanttoknowifacontractlikethisisokwithyou,thattherewon’tbeanyfrictionbetweenus.”

    “isee.”hethoughtforaoent.“it’s100percentok.thanksforasking.ifanyoresituationslikethiscropupinthefuturei’dappreciateitifyouaskedesotherewon’tbeanyisunderstandings.”

    salanderthoughtoverwhethershehadanythingtoadd.shefixedhergazeonaransky,sayingnotaword.insteadshejustnoddedandthenstoodupandleft,asusualwithnofarewellgreeting.

    shegottheanswershewantedandinstantlylostinterestinaransky.hesiledtohiself.thatshehadevenaskedhiforadvicearkedanewhighpointinhersocialisationprocess.

    heopenedafolderwithareportonsecurityatauseuwhereabigexhibitionoffrenchipressionistswasopeningsoon.thenheputdownthefolderandlookedatthedoorthroughwhichsalanderhadjustgone.hethoughtabouthowshehadlaughedwithblokvistinherofficeandwonderedifshewasfinallygrowinguporwhetheritwasblokvistwhowastheattraction.healsofeltastrangeuneasiness.hehadneverbeenabletoshakeoffthefeelingthatlisbethsalanderwasaperfectvicti.andhereshewas,huntingaadanoutinthebackofbeyond.

    onthewaynorthagain,salandertookonipulseadetourbywayof？ppelvikennursinghoetoseeherother.exceptforthevisitonmidsuereve,shehadnotseenherothersincechristas,andshefeltbadforsoseldotakingthetie.asecondvisitwithinthecourseofafeeekswasquiteunusual.

    herotherwasinthedayroo.salanderstayedagoodhourandtookherotherforawalkdowntotheduckpondinthegroundsofthehospital.herotherwasstilluddlinglisbethwithhersister.asusual,shewashardlypresent,butsheseeedtroubledbythevisit.

    whensalandersaidgoodbye,herotherdidnotwanttoletgoofherhand.salanderproisedtovisitheragainsoon,butherothergazedafterhersadlyandanxiously.

    itwasasifshehadapreonitionofsoeapproachingdisaster.

    blokvistspenttwohoursinthegardenbehindhiscabingoingthroughtheapocryphawithoutgainingasingleinsight.butathoughthadourredtohi.howreligioushadharrietvangeractuallybeen？herinterestinbiblestudieshadstartedthelastyearbeforeshevanished.shehadlinkedanuberofbiblequotestoaseriesofurdersandthenhadethodicallyreadnotonlyherbiblebutalsotheapocrypha,andshehaddevelopedaninterestincatholicis.

    hadshereallydohesaeinvestigationthatblokvistandsalanderweredoingthirty-sevenyearslater？wasitthehuntforaurdererthathadspurredherinterestratherthanreligiosity？pastorfalkhadindicatedthatinhiseyesshewasoreofaseeker,lessagoodchristian.

    hewasinterruptedbybergercallinghionhisobile.

    “ijustwantedtotellyouthatgregerandiareleavingonholidaynextweek.i’llbegoneforfourweeks.”

    “whereareyougoing？”

    “newyork.gregerhasanexhibition,andthenwethoughtwe’dgotothecaribbean.wehaveachancetoborrowahouseonantiguafroafriendofgreger’sandwe’restayingtheretwoweeks.”

    “thatsoundswonderful.haveagreattie.andsayhitogreger.”

    “thenewissueisfinishedandwe’vealostwrappedupthenextone.iwishyoucouldtakeoveraseditor,butchristerhassaidhewilldoit.”

    “hecancalleifheneedsanyhelp.how’sitgoingwithjannedahlan？”

    shehesitated.

    “he’salsogoingonholiday.i’vepushedhenryintobeingtheactinganagingeditor.heandchristerareindingthestore.”

    “ok.”

    “i’llbebackonaugustseventh.”

    intheearlyeveningblokvisttriedfivetiestotelephonececiliavanger.hesentheratextaskinghertocallhi.buthereceivednoanswer.

    heputawaytheapocryphaandgotintohistracksuit,lockingthedoorbeforehesetoff.

    hefollowedthenarrowpathalongtheshoreandthenturnedintothewoods.hegroundhiswaythroughthicketsandarounduprootedtreesasfastashecouldgo,eergingexhaustedatthefortresswithhispulseracing.hestoppedbyoneoftheoldartillerybatteriesandstretchedforseveralinutes.

    suddenlyheheardasharpcrackandthegreyconcretewallnexttohisheadexploded.thenhefeltthepainasfragentsofconcreteandshrapneltoreadeepgashinhisscalp.

    forwhatseeedaernityblokviststoodparalysed.thenhethrewhiselfintotheartillerytrench,landinghardonhisshoulderandknockingthewindoutofhiself.asecondroundcaeattheinstanthedived.thebulletsackedintotheconcretefoundation.

    hegottohisfeetandlookedallaround.hewasintheiddleofthefortress.totherightandleftnarrow,overgrownpassagesayarddeeprantothebatteriesthatwerespreadalongalineof250yards.inacrouch,hestartedrunningsouththroughthelabyrinth.

    hesuddenlyheardanechoofcaptainadolfsson’siniitablevoicefrowinteranoeuvresattheinfantryschoolinkiruna.blokvist,keepyourfuckingheaddownifyoudon’twanttogetyourarseshotoff.yearslaterhestillreeberedtheextrapractisedrillsthatcaptainadolfssonusedtodevise.

    hestoppedtocatchhisbreath,hisheartpounding.hecouldhearnothingbuthisownbreathing.thehuaneyeperceivesotionuchquickerthanshapesandfigures.moveslowlywhenyou’rescouting.blokvistslowlypeekedaninchoverthetopedgeofthebattery.thesunwasstraightaheadandadeitipossibletoakeoutdetails,buthecouldseenooveent.

    hepulledhisheadbackdownandranontothenextbattery.itdoesn’tatterhowgoodtheeney’sweaponsare.ifhecan’tseeyou,hecan’thityou.cover,cover,cover.makesureyou’reneverexposed.

    hewas300yardsfrotheedgeof？sterg？rdenfar.soe40yardsfrowhereheknelttherewasanalostiperablethicketoflowbrush.buttoreachthethickethewouldhavetosprintdownagrassslopefrotheartillerybattery,andhewouldbepletelyexposed.itwastheonlyway.athisbackwasthesea.

    hewassuddenlyawareofpaininhistepleanddiscoveredthathewasbleedingandthathist-shirtwasdrenchedwithblood.scalpwoundsneverstopbleeding,hethoughtbeforeheagainconcentratedonhisposition.oneshotcouldjusthavebeenanaident,buttwoeantthatsoebodywastryingtokillhi.hehadnowayofknowingifthearksanwaswaitingforhitoreappear.

    hetriedtobecal,thinkrationally.thechoicewastowaitortogetthehellout.ifthearksanwasstillthere,thelatteralternativewasassuredlynotagoodidea.ifhewaitedwherehewas,thearksanwouldcallywalkuptothefortress,findhi,andshoothiatcloserange.

    hecan’tknowifi’vegootherightorleft.rifle,aybeaooserifle.probablywithtelescopicsights.whichwouldeanthatthearksanwouldhavealiitedfieldofvisionifhewaslookingformikaelthroughthesights.

    ifyou’reinatightspot—taketheinitiative.betterthanwaiting.hewatchedandlistenedforsoundsfortwoinutes；thenheclaberedoutofthebatteryandraceddowntheslopeasfastashecould.

    hewashalfwaydowntheslopeasathirdshotwasfired,butheonlyheardavaguesackbehindhi.hethrewhiselfflatthroughthecurtainofbrushandrolledthroughaseaofstingingtles.thenhewasonhisfeetandovingawayfrothedirectionofthefire,crouching,running,stoppingeveryfiftyyards,listening.heheardabranchcracksoewherebetweenhiandthefortress.hedroppedtohisstoach.

    crawlusingyourelbowswasanotherofcaptainadolfsson’sfavouriteexpressions.blokvistcoveredthenext150yardsonhiskneesandtoesandelbowsthroughtheundergrowth.hepushedasidetwigsandbranches.twiceheheardsuddencracksinthethicketbehindhi.thefirstseeedtobeveryclose,aybetwentypacestotheright.hefroze,layperfectlystill.afterawhilehecautiouslyraisedhisheadandlookedaround,buthecouldseeno-one.helaystillforalongtie,hisnervesonfullalert,readytofleeorpossiblyakeadesperatecounterattackiftheeneycaeathi.thenextcrackwasfrofartheraway.thensilence.

    heknowsi’here.hashetakenupapositionsoewhere,waitingforetostartoving,orhasheretreated？

    blokvistkeptcrawlingthroughtheundergrowthuntilhereachedthe？sterg？rden’sfence.

    thiswasthenextcriticaloent.apathraninsidethefence.helaystretchedoutontheground,watching.thefarhousewas400yardsdownagentleslope.totherightofthehousehesawcowsgrazing.whyhadn’tanyoneheardtheshotsandetoinvestigate？suer.maybenobodyisathoerightnow.

    therewasnoquestionofcrossingthepasture—therehewouldhavenocoveratall.thestraightpathbesidethefencewastheplacehehiselfwouldhavepickedforaclearfieldoffire.heretreatedintothebrushuntilhecaeoutontheothersideintoasparsepinewood.

    hetookthelongwayaround？sterg？rden’sfieldsands？derbergettoreachhoe.whenhepassed？sterg？rdenhecouldseethattheircarwasgone.atthetopofs？derbergethestoppedandlookeddownonhedeby.intheoldfishingcabinsbythearinathereweresuervisitors；woeninbathingsuitsweresittingtalkingonadock.heselledsoethingcookingonanoutdoorgrill.childrenweresplashinginthewaternearthedocksinthearina.

    justafter8:00.itwasfiftyinutessincetheshotshadbeenfired.nilssonwaswateringhislawn,wearingshortsandnoshirt.howlonghaveyoubeenthere？vanger’shousewaseptybutforanna.haraldvanger’shouselookeddesertedasalways.thenhesawisabellavangerinherbackgarden.shewassittingthere,obviouslytalkingtosoeone.ittookasecondforblokvisttorealiseitwasthesicklygerdavanger,bornin1922andlivingwithherson,alexander,inoneofthehousesbeyondhenrik’s.hehadneverether,buthehadseenherafewties.ceciliavanger’shouselookedepty,butthenmikaelsawaoveentinherkitchen.she’shoe.wasthearksanawoan？heknewthatceciliacouldhandleagun.hecouldseemartinvanger’scarinthedriveinfrontofhishouse.howlonghaveyoubeenhoe？

    orwasitsoeoneelsethathehadnotthoughtofyet？frode？alexander？tooanypossibilities.

    heclibeddownfros？derbergetandfollowedtheroadintothevillage；hegothoewithoutencounteringanyone.thefirstthinghesaasthatthedoorofthecottagewasajar.hewentintoacrouchalostinstinctively.thenheselledcoffeeandsawsalanderthroughthekitchenwindow.

    sheheardhieinthefrontdoorandturnedtowardshi.shestiffened.hisfacelookedterrible,searedwithbloodthathadbe