Histonewasnotunpleasant.Theyallkneweachother,moreorless,andBlomkvist’smostviciouscriticshadnotethatmorning.Oneofthejournaliststherehadatoimeworkedwithhim.Andatapartysomeyearsagohehadnearlysueededinpickinguponeofthereporters—thewomanfromSheonTV4.
“Youtookarealhitintheretoday,”saidtheonefromDagensNyheter,clearlyayoungpart-timer.“Howdoesitfeel?”
Despitetheseriousnessofthesituation,neitherBlomkvistnortheolderjournalistscouldhelpsmiling.HeexchangedglanceswithTV4.Howdoesitfeel?Thehalf-wittedsportsreportershoveshismicrophoneinthefaceoftheBreathlessAthleteonthefinishingline.
“Icanonlyregretthatthecourtdidnotetoadifferentconclusion,”hesaidabitstuffily.
“Threemonthsingaoland150,000kronordamages.That’sprettysevere,”saidShefromTV4.
“I’llsurvive.”
“AreyougoingtoapologisetoWennerstr?m?Shakehishand?”
“Ithinknot.”
“Soyoustillwouldsaythathe’sacrook?”DagensNyheter.
ThecourthadjustruledthatBlomkvisthadlibelledanddefamedthefinancierHans-ErikWennerstr?m.Thetrialwasoverandhehadnoplanstoappeal.Sowhatwouldhappenifherepeatedhisclaimonthecourthousesteps?Blomkvistdecidedthathedidnotwanttofindout.
“IthoughtIhadgoodreasontopublishthermationthatwasinmypossession.Thecourthasruledotherwise,andImustaeptthatthejudicialprocesshastakenitscourse.Thoseofusontheeditorialstaffwillhavetodiscussthejudgementbeforewedecidewhatwe’regoingtodo.Ihavenomoretoadd.”
“Buthowdidyouetofetthatjournalistsactuallyhavetobackuptheirassertions?”ShefromTV4.Herexpressionwasneutral,butBlomkvistthoughthesawahintofdisappointedrepudiationinhereyes.
Thereportersonsite,apartfromtheboyfromDagensNyheter,wereallveteransinthebusiness.Forthemtheanswertothatquestionwasbeyondtheconceivable.“Ihavenothingtoadd,”herepeated,butwhentheothershadaeptedthisTV4stoodhimagainstthedoorstothecourthouseandaskedherquestionsinfrontofthecamera.Shewaskinderthanhedeserved,andtherewereenoughclearanswerstosatisfyallthereportersstillstandingbehindher.Thestorywouldbeintheheadline