stheVangerconcernliveshere,butMartinVangerwantedsomethingmoremodern,sohebuilthishouseonthepointthere.”
BlomkvistlookedaroundandwonderedwhatinsaneimpulsehehadsatisfiedbyaeptingFrode’sinvitation.HedecidedthatifhumanlypossiblehewouldreturntoStockholmthatevening.Astonestairwayledtotheentry,butbeforetheyreacheditthedoorwasopened.HeimmediatelyrecognisedHenrikVangerfromthephotographpostedontheInter.
Inthepicturestherehewasyounger,buthelookedsurprisinglyvigorousforeighty-two:awirybodywitharugged,weather-beatenfaceandthickgreyhairbedstraightback.Heworeneatlypresseddarktrousers,awhiteshirt,andawell-wornbrowncasualjacket.Hehadanarrowmoustacheandthinsteel-rimmedglasses.
“I’mHenrikVanger,”hesaid.“Thankyouforagreeingtovisitme.”
“Hello.Itwasasurprisinginvitation.”
“einsidewhereit’swarm.I’vearrangedaguestroomforyou.Wouldyouliketofreshenup?We’llbehavingdinneralittlelater.AndthisisAnnaNygren,wholooksafterme.”
Blomkvistshookhandswithashort,stoutwomaninhersixties.Shetookhiscoatandhungitinahallcupboard.Sheofferedhimapairofslippersbecauseofthedraught.
MikaelthankedherandthenturnedtoHenrikVanger.“I’mnotsurethatIshallbestayingfordinner.Itdependsonwhatthisgameisallabout.”
VangerexchangedaglancewithFrode.TherewasanunderstandingbetweenthetwomenthatBlomkvistcouldnotinterpret.
“IthinkI’lltakethisopportunitytoleaveyoutwoalone,”saidFrode.“Ihavetogohomeanddisciplihegrandkidsbeforetheytearthehousedown.”
HeturnedtoMikael.
“Iliveontheright,justacrossthebridge.Youcanwalkthereinfiveminutes;thethirdhousetowardsthewaterdownfromthebakery.Ifyouneedme,justtelephone.”
Blomkvistreachedintohisjacketpocketandturnedonataperecorder.HehadnoideawhatVangerwanted,butafterthepasttwelvemonthsofhavocwithWennerstr?mheneededapreciserecordofallstrangeourrencesanywherenearhim,andanunlooked-forinvitationtoHedestadcameintothatcategory.
VangerpattedFrodeontheshoulderinfarewellandclosedthefrontdoorbeforeturninghisattentiontoBlomkvist.