owouldnotbendinastrongwind.AcornerstoneofSwedishindustry,oneofthetwenty-pointstagsoftheoldschool,alongwithMattsCarlgrenofMoDoandHansWerthénattheoldElectrolux.Thebackboneofindustryinthewelfarestate,etcetera.
ButtheVangerpanies,stillfamily-owned,hadbeenrackedinthepasttwenty-fiveyearsbyreanisations,stock-marketcrises,interestcrises,petitionfromAsia,decliningexports,andothernuisanceswhichtakentogetherhadconsignedthenameVangertothebackwater.ThepanywasruntodaybyMartinVanger,whosenameBlomkvistassociatedwithashort,plumpmanwiththickhairwhooasionallyflickeredpastontheTVscreen.Hedidnotknowmuchabouthim.HenrikVangerhadbeenoutofthepictureforatleasttwentyyears.
“WhydoesHenrikVangerwanttomeetme?”
“I’vebeenHerrVanger’slawyerformanyyears,buthewillhavetotellyouhimselfwhathewants.Ontheotherhand,IcansaythatHerrVangerwouldliketodiscussapossiblejobwithyou.”
“Job?Idon’thavetheslightestintentionofgoingtoworkfortheVangerpany.Isitapresssecretaryyouneed?”
“Notexactly.Idon’tknowhowtoputitotherthantosaythatHerrVangerisexceedinglyanxioustomeetyouandconsultwithyouonaprivatematter.”
“Youcouldn’tgetmoreequivocal,couldyou?”
“Ibegyourpardonforthat.ButisthereanypossibilityofconvincingyoutopayavisittoHedestad?Naturallywewillpayallyourexpensesandareasonablefee.”
“Yourcallesatratheraninconvenienttime.Ihavequitealottotakecareofand…Isupposeyou’veseentheheadlinesaboutmeinthepastfewdays.”
“TheWennerstr?maffair?”Frodechuckled.“Yes,thatdidhaveacertainamusementvalue.Buttotellyouthetruth,itwasthepublicitysurroundingthetrialthatcausedHerrVangertotakenoticeofyou.Hewantstoofferyouafreelanceassignment.I’monlyamessenger.Whatthematterconcernsissomethingonlyhecanexplain.”
“ThisisoneoftheoddercallsI’vehadinalongtime.Letmethinkaboutit.HowcanIreachyou?”
Blomkvistsatlookingatthedisorderonhisdesk.HecouldnotimaginewhatsortofjobVangerwouldwanttoofferhim,butthelawyerhadsueededinarousinghiscuriosity.
HeGoogledtheVangerpany.Itmightbeinthebackwater