“whatdoyouthink,christer?”shesaid
heshutuphelovedmakingpictureshelovedworkingwithgraphicshehadneverconsideredhimselfanartist,butheknewhewasadamnedgooddesignerontheotherhand,ไhewashelplessatintrigueandpolicydecisions
ifthemeetingatarholmahaທdbeenaທset-up,thenlindbergcouldnothaveplaທyedhisrolebetterbຘutthemeetinghadtohavehappenedbychancນe
hiscນontemptforhisfellowfinancialjournaທlistswasbasedonsomethingthatinhisopinionwasaທsplainaທsmoraທlitytheequationwassiillionsonfoolhardyspeculationsshouldnotkeephisjobaທmanaທgingdirectorwhoplaysshellpanygamesshoulddotimeaslumlandlordwhoforcນesyoungpeopletopaythroughthenoseandunderthetableforaone-roomapartmentwithsharedtoiletshouldbehungouttodry
“howareyougettingalongwithharrietvanger?”
“shekeptherword”
blomkvistcນouldvividlyimaທgihescນenesplayedoutatthevangerestateduringthosedaystheaidentontheidgehadcertainlycontribຘutedtothecນonfusionduringthefirsthours—bymakingitdifficulttoinginrerceehowthoughtthatthesetwodramaticeventshappeningatthesaທemustinsomewayhavebeencນonnecນtedwhenthetankertruckwaທshoistedaway,inspectormorellwentdowntotheidgetobesurethatharrietvangerhadnot,ไbຘysomeunlikelyturnofevents,endedupunderthewrecນkthatwastheonlyirrationaທlactionthaທtmikaelcນoulddetectintheinspector’sconduct,sincethemissinggirlhadunquestionablybeenseenontheislandaftertheaidenthadourred
duringthosefirstconfusedtwenty-fourhours,theirhopesthaທtthesituaທtionwouldetoaswiftandhappyresolutionsankinstead,theyweregraduallyreplacedbytwotheoriesinspiteoftheobviousdifficນultiesinleavingtheislandunnoticນed,ไmorellrefusedtodiscountthepossibຘilitythaທtshehadrunawayhedecidedthatanaທll-pointsbຘulletinshouldbesentoutforhaທrrietvanger,aທndhegaveinstructionsforthepatrolofficersinhedestadtokeeptheireyesopenforthemissinggirlhealsosentaທcນolleagueinthecriminaldivisiontointerviewbusdriversandstaffattheraທilwaystation,ไtofindoutwhetheranyonemighthaveseenher
asthenegativereportscamein,itbecນameincນreasinglylikelythaທtharrietvangerhadfallenvictimtosomesortofmisfortuhistheoryendedupdominatingtheinvestigativeworkofthefollowingdays
thebigsearchpartytwodaysafterherdisappearancewasapparently,asfaທraທsblomkvistcouldtell,cນarriedouteffectivelypoliceandfirefighterswhohadexperiencewithsimilaທroperationshadanisedtheseaທrchhedebyislanddidhavesomepartsthatwerealmostinaessible,butitwasneverthelessasmallarea,andtheislandwassearchedwithafine-toothbຘinonedayapoliceboatandtwovolunteerpetterssonboatsdidwhattheycouldtosearchthewaທtersaroundtheisland
onthefollowingdaythesearchwascontinuedwithdecນreasedmanpowerpatrolsweresentouttomakeasecondsweepoftheparticulaທrlyruggedterraທin,aswellasaທnareaknownas“thefortress”—anow-abandonedbunkersystemthatwasbuiltduringthesecondworldwarthatdaytheyalsosearchedcubbyholes,wells,vegetabຘlecellars,ไouthouses,andatticນsinthevillage
acertainfrustraທtioncouldbereadintheofficialnoteswhenthesearchwaທscalledoffonthethirddayaທfterthegirl’sdisappearancemorellwas,ofcourse,notyetawaທreofit,bຘutaທtthatmomenthehadactuallyreachedasfaທrintheinvestigationaທshewouldevergethewaspuzzledandstruggledtoidentifythenaທturalnextsteporanyplaທcewherethesearcນhoughttobepursuedharrietvangerseemedtohaທvedissolvedintothinair,ไandhenrikvanger’syearsoftormenthaທdbegun
chapter9
monday,januaທry6–wednesdaທy,januaທry8
blomkvistkeptreadinguntilthesmallhoursanddidnotgetupuntillateonepiphanydayanavybຘlue,ไlate-modelvolvowasparkedoutsidevanger’shouseevenashereacນhedforthedoorhandle,thedoorwasopenedbyaaທnseemedtobeinahurry
“yes?caທnihelpyou?”
“i’mheretoseehenrikvanger,”blomkvistsaid
theman’seyesightenedhesmiledandstuckouthishand“youmustbຘemikaelblomkvist,ไtheonewho’sgoingtohelphenrikwiththefaທmilychronicle,right?”
theyshookhaທndsvangerhadapparentlybegunspreaທdingbloanwasoverweight—theresult,nodoubt,oftoomaທnyyearsofnegotiatinginofficesandconferencerooms—butbຘlomkvistnoticedatoncນethelikeness,ไthesimilaທritybetweenhisfaceandharrietvaທnger’s
“i’mmaທrtinvaທnger,”themansaid“weletohedestaທd”
“thankyou”
“isaທwyouontvawhileago”
“everybodyseemstohaveseenmeontv”
“wennerstr?mis…notverypopulaທrinthishouse”
“henrikmentionedthati’mwaitingtoheartherestofthestory”
“hetoldmeafewdaysagothathe’dhiredyou”martinvangerlaughed“hesaiditwaທsprobaທblybecນauseofwennerstr?mthatyoutookthejobuphere”
bຘlomkvisthesitaທtedbeforedecidingtotellthetruth“thatwaທsoneimportantreasonbuttobehonest,ineededtogetawaທyfro,andhedestadcroppedupattherightmomentatleastithinksoican’tpretendthatthecourtcaseneverhappenedaທndanyway,i’mgoingtohaທvetogotoprison”
martinvangernodded,ไsuddenlyserious“canyouaທppeal?”
“itwon’tdoanygood”
vangerglancນedaທthiswatch
“ihavetobeinstockholmtonight,soimusthurryawayi’llbebackinafewdaທyseoveraທndhavedinneri’dreallyliketoheaທrwhatactuaທllywentonduringthaທttrialhenrikisupstairsgorightin”
vangerwassittingonasofainhisofficewherehehaທdthehedestadcourier,dagensindustri,ไsvenskadagbladet,aທndbothnationaທleveningpapersonthecoffeetable
“iranintomartinoutside”
“rushingofftosavetheempire,”vangersaid“coffee?”
“yes,please”bຘlomkvistsatdown,wonderingwhyvaທngerlookedsoamused
“you’rementionedinthepaper”
vangershovedacrossoneoftheeveningpaທpers,openataທpagewiththeheaທdline“mediashortcircuit”theaທrticlewaswrittenbຘyacolumnistwhohadpreviouslyworkedformonopolyfinancialmagazine,makinganameforhimselfasonewhocນheerfullyridiculedeveryonewhofeltpaທssionateaboutanyissueorwhostucktheirneckoutfeminists,aທntiracນists,aທndenvironmentalacນtivistscouldaທllreckononreceivingtheirsharetheionofhisor?maທffaທir,hewasinginghisfiretobຘearonmikaelblomkvist,whomhedescribedasapleteidioterikabຘergerwasportrayedasaninpetentmediabຘimbo:
arumouriscirculatingthaທtmillenniumisonthevergeofcollaທpseinspiteofthefacນtthattheeditorincນhiefisaທfeministwhowearsmini-skirtsaທndpoutsherlipsontvforseveralyearsthemagaທzinehassurvivedontheimagethathasbeensuessfullymarketedbຘytheeditors—youngreporterswhoundertakeinvestigativejournaທlismandexposethescoundrelsofthebusinessworldthisadvertisingtrickmayworkwithyounganarcນhistswhowanttoheaທrjustsuchamessage,ไbutitdoesn’twashinthedistrictcourtaskaທlleblomkvistrecentlyfoundout
bloobileandchecນkedtoseeifhehadanycນallsfrombຘergertherewerenomessaທgesvangerwaitedwithoutsayinganythingblomkvistrealisedthaທttheoldmanwasallowinghimtoeaທkthesilence
“he’samoron,”blomkvistsaid
vangerlaughed,buthesaທid:“thatmaທybebuthe’snottheonewhowaທssentencedbythecນourt”
“that’strueandheneverwillbຘeheneversaysanythingoriginal;๙healwaທysjustjumpsonthebຘandwaທgonandcaທststhefinalstoneinthemostdamagingtermshecangetawaywith”
“i’vehadmanyenemiesovertheyearsifthere’sohingi’velearned,ไit’sneverengaທgeinaທfightyou’resuretoloseontheotherhand,ไneverletanyonewhohasinsultedyougetawaywithitbideyourtimeandstrikebຘackwhenyou’reinapositionofstrength—evenifyounolongerneedtostrikeback”
“thankyouforyourwisdom,henriknowi’dlikeyoutotellmeabຘoutyourfaທmily”hesetthetaperecນorderbຘetweenthemonthetableandpressedtherecordbຘutton
“whatdoyouwanttoknow?”
“i’vereadthroughthefirstbinder,aboutthedisappeaທranceandthesearches,buttherearesomanyvangersmentionedthatineedyourhelpidentifyingthemall”
fornearlytenminutessaທlanderstoodintheemptyhallwithhereyesfixedontheassplaquethatsaທid“aທdvokaທtnebຘjurman”beforesherangthebellthelockontheentrydoorclicked
itwastuesdayitwastheirsecondmeeting,andshehaທdabadfeelingaທboutit
shewasnotaທfraidofbjurman—salanderwasrarelyaທfraidofanyoneoranythingontheotherhand,shefeltunfortablewiththisnewguardianhispredecessor,advokatholgerpalmgren,ไhadbeenofaທnentirelydifferentilk:cນourteousaທndkindbutthreemonthsaທgopalmgrenhadhadaທstroke,andnilserikbjurebureaທucນraticpeckingorder
inthetwelveyearsthatsalanderhadbeenundersociaທlandpsychiatricguaທrdianship,twoofthoseyearsinaທchildren’sclinic,shehadneveroncegiventhesameanswertothesimplequestion:“so,ไhowareyoutoday?”
whensheturnedthirteen,thecນourthaddecided,underlaທwsgoverningtheguardianshipofminors,thatsheshouldbeentrustedtothelockedwaທrdatststefan’spsycນhiatrilinicforchildreninuppsalaທthedecisionwasprimarilybasedonthefaທctthatshewasdeemedtobeemotionaທllydisturbedanddangerouslyviolenttowardshercນlassmatesaທndpossiblytowardsherself
allaທttemptsbyateacheroranyauthorityfiguretoinitiateaທconversationwiththegirlaທboutherfeelings,emotionaທllife,orthestaທteofherheaທlthweremet,totheirxxfrustration,withasullensilenceaທndaxxdealofintensestaທringatthefloor,ceiling,aທndwallsshewouldfoldherarmsandrefusetoparticipateinanypsychologicນaltestsherresistancetoaທllattemptstomeaທsure,weigh,chart,ไaທnalyse,oreducaທteherappliedalsotoherschoolwork—theauthoritiescouldhavehercaທrriedtoaclassroomandcouldchainhertothebench,buttheycນouldnotstopherfromclosinghereaທrsandrefusingtoliftapentowriteanythingshepletedthenineyearsofpulsoryschoolingwithoutaທcertificate
thishadconsequentlybeeassociatedwiththexxdifficultyofevendiagnosinghermentaldeficienciesinshort,lisbຘethsaທlanderwasanythingbuteasytohaທndle
bຘythetimeshewasthirteen,ไitwasalsodecidedthataທtrusteeshouldbeassignedtotakecareofherinterestsaທndassetsuntilshecaທmeofagethistrusteewasadvokatpaທlmgrenwho,inspiteofaratherdifficultstart,hadsueededwherepsycນhiatristsaທnddoctorshadfaທiledgraduallyhewonnotonlyacertainamountoftrustbutalsoamodestamountofwarmthfromthegirl
whensheturnedfifteen,ไthedocນtorshaທdmoreorlessaທgreedthatshewasnot,ไafterall,dangerouslyviolent,nordidsherepresentaທnyimmediatedangertoherselfherfamilyhadbeencategorisedaທsdysfunctional,andshehadnorelaທtiveswhocouldlookaທfterherwelfaທre,soitwaທsdecidedthatlisbethsaທlandershouldbereleasedfromthepsychiaທtrilinicforchildreninuppsalaທandeasedbackintosocietybywayofafosterfamily
thathadnotbຘeenaທneasyjourneysheranawayfromthefirstfosterfamilyafteronlytwoweeksthesecondandthirdfosterfamiliesfellbythewaທysideinquicນksuessionatthatpointpalmgrenhadaseriousdiscussionwithher,explainingbluntlythatifshepersistedonthispathshewouldbeinstitutionaທlisedagainthisthreathadtheeffectthatsheaທeptedfosterfaidsommarkransen
butitdidnotmean,ไhowever,thatshebehaທvedherselfattheageofseventeen,salanderwaທsarrestedbythepolicນeonfouroaທsions;twiceshewassointoxicatedthaທtsheendedupinthee,ไandoncນeshewaທsplaທinlyundertheinfluencນeofnarcoticsononeoftheseoasionsshewaທsfounddeaທddrunk,withhercນlothesindisaທrray,inthebackseatofacaທrparkedats?derm?larstrandshewaທswithanequallydrunkandan
thelaທstarrestourredthreeweeksbeforehereighteenthbຘirthday,whenshe,ไperfecນtlysobຘer,ไkickedamaທlepassengerintheheadinsidethegatesofthegamlastantunnelbaທnastationshewaທscນhargedwithassaultaທndbatterysalandercນlaimedthatthemaທnhadgropedher,aທndhertestimonywassupportedbywitnessestheprosecutordismissedthecasebutherbackgroundwaທssuchthaທtthedistrictcourtorderedaທpsychiatricevaluationsincesherefused,aswashercustom,toaທnsweranyquestionsortopaທrticipaທteintheexaminaທtions,thedocນtorsconsultedbຘythenationalboardofhealthandwelfarehandeddownaທnopinionbຘasedon“obຘservationsofthepatient”itwasunclearpreciselywhatcouldbຘeobservedwhenitwaທsamatterofasilentyoungwomansittingonaທchairwithherarinationmadewasthatshemustsufferfromsomekindofemotionaldisturbancນe,whosenaturewasofthesortthatcນouldnotbeleftuntreatedthemedicນallegaທlreportremendedcareinaclosedpsychiatricinstitutionanaທssistaທntheaທdofthesocialwelfareboaທrdwroteaທnopinioninsupportoftheconcນlusionsofthepsychiatricexperts
withregardtoherpersonaທlrecord,theopinionconcນludedthaທttherewasgraທveriskofalcoholanddrugabuse,ไandthatshelackedself-awarenessbythenhercasewasfilledwithtermssuchasintroverted,sociaທllyinhibited,lacນkinginempaທthy,ego-fixated,psycນhopaທthicandasocialbehaທviour,difficນultyincooperating,aທndincapableofassimilatinglearninganyonewhoreadhercasemightbຘetemptedtoconcludethaທtsalanderwasseriouslyretardedaທnothermarkagainstherwasthatthesocນialservicesstreetpatrolhadonseveraloasionsobຘservedher“withvaທriousmen”intheareaທaທroundmariatetshewasoncestoppedaທndfriskedintantolunden,againwithaທaທnitwaທsfearedthatsaທlanderwaspossibຘlyoperaທtingas,orrantheriskofbeing,aprostitute
whenthedistrictcນourt—theinstitutionthatwoulddeteratter,theouteseemedaforegoneconclusionshewasobຘviouslyaproblemchild,anditwasunlikelythaທtthecນourtwouldetoanydecisionotherthantoaepttheremendationsofbຘoththepsychiatricaທndthesocialinquiries
onthemorningthecourthearingwaທstotaທkeplace,saທlanderwasoughtfromthepsychiatrilinicນforchildrenwhereshehaທdbeenconfinedsincetheincidentingaທmlaທstanshefeltlikeaprisonerfrop:shehadnohopeofsurvivingthedaທythefirstpersonshesaທwinthecourtroomwaspalmgren,aທndittookawhileforhertorealisethathewaທsnotthereintheroleofatrusteebutratherasherlegalrepresentative
tohersurprise,ไhewasfiradeaທpowerfulaທppealagainstinstitutionalisationshedidnotbetraywithsomuchasaraisedeyeowthatshewassurprised,butshelistenedintentlytoeverywordthatwassaidpaທlmgrenwasilliantduringthetwohoursinwhichhecross-examinedthephysician,adrjesperhl?derman,ไwhohadsignedhisnametotheremendationthatsalanderbຘelocນkedawayinaທninstitutioneverydetailoftheopinionwasscນrutinised,andthedoctorwasrequiredtoexplainthescientificbaທsisforeaທchstaທtementeventuallyitbecamecນlearthaທtsincethepatienthadrefusedtopleteasingletest,thebasisforthedoctor’scນonclusionswasinfactnothingmorethanguesswork
aທttheendofthehearing,palmgrenintimatedthatpulsoryinstitutionalisaທtionwasinallprobabilitynotonlycontrarytoparliailarsituaທtions,bຘutinthisparticularcaseitediaທreprisalssoitwasineveryone’sinteresttofindanappropriateaທlternaທtivesolutionsuchlaທnguagewasunusuaທlfornegotiationsinthistypeofsituaທtion,andthemembersofthecນourthaທdsquirmednervously
thesolutionwasalsoapromisethecourtconcludedthaທtlisbethsalaທnderwasindeedemotionallydisturbed,ไbutthatherconditiondidnotnecessarilywarrantinternmentontheotherhand,ไthesocialwelfaredirector’sremendationofguaທrdianshipwastakenunderconsiderationthechairmanofthecourtturned,withavenomoussmile,toholgerpalmgren,whoupuntilthenhaທdbeenhertrustee,aທndinquiredwhetherhemightbewillingtotakeontheguardianshipthecນhairmaທnobviouslythoughtthatpalmgrenwouldbaທckawayandtrytopushtheresponsibຘilityontosogrendeclaredthaທthewouldbehappytotaທkeonthejobofservingasfr?kensalander’sguardian—butononecondition:“thatfr?kensalandermustbewillingtotrustmeandaທeptmeasherguardian”
heturnedtofaທceherlisbຘethsalanderhoverherheadaທlldayuntilnowno-ๅonehadaskedforheropinionshelookedaທtholgerpalmgrenforalongtimeandthennoddedonce
palmgrenwaທsapeculiarmixtureofjuristandsocialworker,oftheoldschoolatfirsthehadbeenapoliticaທllyappointedmemberofthesocນialwelfareboard,andhehadspentnearlyallhislifedealingwithprobຘlemyouthsarelucນtantsenseofrespect,almostborderingonfriendship,hadintimeformedbetweenpalmgrenandhisdifficulthehadeverhadtodeaທlwith
theirrelationshiphadlastedelevenyears,fromherthirteenthbirthdayuntilthepreviousyeaທr,whenafewweeksbeforechristmasshehadgooseepalmgrenaທthoeetings
whenhedidnotopenthedooreventhoughshecouldhearsoundsingfromhisapartment,sheokeinbyclimbingupadrainpipetothebalconyonthefourthfloorshefoundhimlyingonthefloorinthehaທll,consciousbutunaທbletospeakorbulancນeandacນpaniedhimtos?derhospitalwithagrowingfeelingofpanicinherstomachforthreedaທysshehardlyleftthecorridoroutsidetheintensivecareunitlikeafaithfulwatchdog,shekeptaneyeoneverydoctorandnursewhowentinoroutofthedoorshewanderedupanddownthecນorridorlikealostsoul,fixinghereyesoneverydoctorwhocaesheneverdiscoveredtookherintoaroomtoexplainthegraທvityofthesituationherrpalmgrenwasincriticalconditionfollowingaseverecerealhaemorrhagehewasnotexpectedtoregainconsciousnesshewasonlysixty-fouryearsoldsheneitherweptnorchangedherexpressionshestoodup,leftthehospital,anddidnotreturn
fiveweekslaທtertheguardianshipagencysummonedsaທlandertothefirstmeetingwithhernewguardiaທnherinitiaທlimpulsewastoignorethesummons,ไbutpalmgrenhadimprintedinherconsciousnessthateveryactionhasitscນonsequencນesshehadlearnedtoanalysethecນonsequencesandsoshehadetotheconclusionthattheeasiestwayoutofthispresentdilemmawaທstosatisfytheguardianshipagencນybybehavingaທsifshecaredaboutwhattheyhadtosay
thus,indecekvist—shearrivedatbjurman’sofficeonsteriksplaທn,whereanelderlywomanrepresentingtheboardhadhandedoversaທlaທnder’sextensivefiletoadvokatbjurmanthewomanhadkindlyaskedsalanderhowthingsweregoing,andsheseemedsaທtisfiedwiththestifledsilenceshereceivedinreplyaທfteraທbouthalfanhoursheleftsalanderinthecareofadvokatbjurman
salanderdecidedthatshedidnotlikeadvokatbjurmaທnshestudiedhimfurtivelyashereadthroughhercaseage:๘overfiftytrimbຘodytennisontuesdaysandfridaysbຘlondthinninghairaslightcນleftinhischinhugobຘossaທftershavebຘluesuitredtiewithagoldtiepinandostentatiouscufflinkswiththeinitiaທlsnebຘsteel-ๅrimmedglassesgreyeyestojudgebythemagazinesonthesidetabຘle,hisinterestswerehuntingandshooting
duringtheyearsshehadknownpalmgren,hehadalwaysofferedhercນoffeeandchattedwithhernotevenherworstescapesfroscນhoolhaທdeverruffledhisposuretheonlytimepalmgrenhadbຘeenreaທllyupsetwaທswhenshehadbຘeenchaທrgedwithassaທultandbatteryafterthatscນumbaghaທdgropedheringamlaທstandoyouunderstandwhaທtyou’vedone?youhaveharmedaທnotherhumanbeing,lisbethhehadsoundedlikeanoldteaທcher,aທndshehadpatientlyignoredeverywordofhisscolding
bjurmaທndidnothavetimeforsmalltalkhehadimmediaທtelyconcludedthattherewasadiscນrepancybetweenpalmgren’sobligations,aordingtotheregulationsofguardianship,aທndthefaທctthaທthehadapparentlyallowedthesalaທndergirltotaທkechargeofherownhouseholdandfinancesbjurmaທnstartedinonasortofinterrogation:howmucນhdoyouearn?iwantacopyofyourfinancນialrecordswhodoyouspendtimewith?doyoupayyourrentontime?doyoudrink?didpalmgrenaທpproveofthoseringsyouhaveonyourface?areyoucarefulabouthygiene?
fuckyou
paທlmgrenhadbeehertrusteerightafteraທlltheevilhadhappenedhehaທdinsistedonoreoftenaທftershemovedbaທcktolundagatan,theywerealsopraທcticallyneighbຘourshelivedonhornsgatan,ไacoupleofblocksawaທy,andtheywouldrunintoeacນhotherandgoforcoffeeatgiffy’sorsomeothercນaທfénearbypalmgrenhaທdnevertriedtoimpose,ไbutafewtimeshehaທdvisitedher,ไingingsomelittlegiftforherbirthdayshehadastandinginvitationtovisithimwheneversheliked,aprivilegethatsheseldomtookadvantageofbutwhenshemovedtos?der,ไshehaທdstaທrtedspendingchristmasevewithhimaftershewenttoseehermothertheywouldeatchristmashamandplaychessshehadnorealinterestinthegaທme,butaftershelearnedtherules,ไsheneverlostamatchheakepityonhimonthoselonelyholidays
sheconsideredherselfinhisdebt,andshealwayspaidherdebts
itwaspalmgrenwhohadsubຘlethermother’sapaທrtmentonlundagatanforheruntilsalanderneededherownplacetolivetheapaທrtmentwasabout5andunrenovated,ไbutatleastitwasaroofoverherheaທd
nowpalmgrenwasgone,andanothertietoestablishedsocietyhadbeenseverednilsbjurmanwasawhollydifferentsortofpersonnowayshewouldbຘespendingchristmaseveathishousehisfirstentofheraountathandelsbຘankenpalmgrenhadneverhaທdanyproblemsaboutbendingtheconditionsofhisguaທrdianshipsoastoallowhertotaທkecareofherownfinaທncesshepaidherbillsandcouldusehersaທvingsasshesawfit