ngtoMilton’sofficeroutines.ThisputArmanskyinadifficultspot.
Hewouldnothaveputupwithanyotheremployeeingandgoingatwill,andundernormalcircumstanceshewouldhavedemandedthatshechangeorgo.ButhehadahunchthatifhegaveSalanderanultimatumorthreatenedtofirehershewouldsimplyshrughershouldersandbegone.
Amoreseriousproblemwasthathecouldnotbesureofhisownfeelingsfortheyoungwoman.Shewaslikeanaggingitch,repellentandatthesametimetempting.Itwasnotasexualattraction,atleasthedidnotthinkso.Thewomenhewasusuallyattractedtowereblondeandcurvaceous,withfulllipsthatarousedhisfantasies.Andbesides,hehadbeenmarriedfortwentyyearstoaFinnishwomannamedRitvawhostillmorethansatisfiedtheserequirements.Hehadneverbeenunfaithful,well…somethingmayhavehappenedjustonce,andhiswifemighthavemisunderstoodifshehadknownaboutit.ButthemarriagewashappyandhehadtwodaughtersofSalander’sage.Inanycase,hewasnotinterestedinflat-chestedgirlswhomightbemistakenforskinnyboysatadistance.Thatwasnothisstyle.
Evenso,hehadcaughthimselfhavinginappropriatedaydreamsaboutLisbethSalander,andherecognisedthathewasnotpletelyunaffectedbyher.Buttheattraction,Armanskythought,wasthatSalanderwasaforeigncreaturetohim.HemightjustaswellhavefalleninlovewithapaintingofanymphoraGreekamphora.Salanderrepresentedalifethatwasnotrealforhim,thatfascinatedhimthoughhecouldnotshareit—andinanycasesheforbadehimfromsharingit.
OnoneoasionArmanskywassittingatacaféonStortetinGamlaStanwhenSalandercamesaunteringupandsatatatableashortdistanceaway.Shewaswiththreegirlsandaboy,alldressedinmuchthesameway.Armanskyhadwatchedherwithinterest.Sheseemedtobejustasreservedasshewasatwork,butshehadactuallyalmostsmiledatastorytoldbyoneofherpanions,agirlwithpurplehair.
Armanskywonderedhowshewouldreactifonedayhecametoworkwithgreenhair,worn-outjeans,andaleatherjacketcoveredwithgraffitiandrivets.Sheprobablywouldjustsmirkathim.
Shehadbeensittingwithherbacktohimanddidnotturnaroundonce,obviouslyunawarethathewasthere.Hefeltstrangelydisturbedbyherpresence