t’ssomewhatonhold.”
Blomkvisthadnoanswertothat.
“Iwanttobuyayearofyourlife.Giveyouajob.Thesalaryisbetterthananyofferyou’llevergetinyourlife.Iwillpayyou200,000kronoramonth—that’s2.4millionkronorifyouaeptandstaythewholeyear.”
Blomkvistwasastonished.
“Ihavenoillusions.Thepossibilityyouwillsueedisminimal,butifagainstalloddsyoushouldcrackthemysterythenI’mofferingabonusofdoublepayment,or4.8millionkronor.Let’sbegenerousandrounditofftofivemillion.”
Vangerleanedbackandcockedhishead.
“Icanpaythemoneyintoanybankaountyouwish,anywhereintheworld.Youcanalsotakethemoneyincashinasuitcase,soit’suptoyouwhetheryouwanttoreporttheiothetaxauthorities.”
“Thisis…nothealthy,”Blomkviststammered.
“Whyso?”Vangersaidcalmly.“I’meighty-twoandstillinfullpossessionofmyfaculties.Ihavealargepersonalfortune;IcanspenditanywayIwant.IhavenochildrenandabsolutelynodesiretoleaveanymoneytorelativesIdespise.I’vemademylastwillandtestament;I’llbegivingthebulkofmyfortuotheWorldWildlifeFund.Afewpeoplewhoareclosetomewillreceivesignificantamounts—includingAnna.”
Blomkvistshookhishead.
“Trytounderstandme,”Vangersaid.“I’mamanwho’sgoingtodiesoon.There’sohingintheworldIwanttohave—andthat’sananswertothisquestionthathasplaguedmeforhalfmylife.Idon’texpecttofindtheanswer,butIdohaveresourcestomakeonelastattempt.Isthatunreasonable?IoweittoHarriet.AndIoweittomyself.”
“You’llbepayingmeseveralmillionkronorfornothing.AllIneedtodoissignthecontractandthentwiddlemythumbsforayear.”
“Youwouldn’tdothat.Onthecontrary—you’llworkharderthanyou’veeverworkedinyourlife.”
“Howcanyoubesosure?”
“BecauseIcanofferyousomethingthatyoucan’tbuyforanyprice,butwhichyouwantmorethananythingintheworld.”
“Andwhatwouldthatbe?”
Vanger’seyesnarrowed.
“IcangiveyouHans-ErikWennerstr?m.Icanprovethathe’saswindler.Hehappened,thirty-fiveyearsago,tobeginhiscareerwithme,andIcangiveyouhisheadonaplatter.Solvethemysteryandyoucanturnyourdefeatincourtintot