vedinthecourseoftheday.Alongwithservantsandresidents,thereweresixty-fourpeopleeitherhereornearthefarm.Someofthem—theoneswhoweregoingtospendthenight—werebusygettingsettledinneighbouringfarmsoringuestrooms.
“Harriethadpreviouslylivedinahouseacrosstheroad,butgiventhatneitherGottfriednorIsabellawasconsistentlystable,andonecouldclearlyseehowthatupsetthegirl,underminedherstudiesandsoon,in1964,whenshewasfourteen,Iarrangedforhertomoveintomyhouse.Isabellaprobablythoughtthatitwasjustfiobesparedtheresponsibilityforherdaughter.Harriethadbeenlivinghereforthepasttwoyears.Sothisiswhereshecamethatday.WeknowthatshemetandexchangedsomewordswithHaraldinthecourtyard—he’soneofmyolderbrothers.Thenshecameupthestairs,tothisroom,andsaidhellotome.Shesaidthatshewantedtotalktomeaboutsomething.RightthenIhadsomeotherfamilymemberswithmeandIcouldn’tsparethetimeforher.ButsheseemedanxiousandIpromisedI’detoherroomwhenIwasfree.Sheleftthroughthatdoor,andthatwasthelasttimeIsawher.Aminuteorsolatertherewasthecrashonthebridgeandthebedlamthatfollowedupsetallourplansfortheday.”
“Howdidshedie?”
“It’smoreplicatedthanthat,andIhavetotellthestoryinchronologicalorder.Whentheaidentourred,peopledroppedwhatevertheyweredoingandrantothescene.Iwas…IsupposeItookchargeandwasfeverishlyoupiedforthenextfewhours.Harrietcamedowntothebridgerightaway—severalpeoplesawher—butthedangerofanexplosionmademeinstructanyonewhowasn’tinvolvedingettingAronssonoutofhiscartostaywellback.Fiveofusremained.ThereweremyselfandmybrotherHarald.TherewasamannamedMagnusNilsson,oneofmyworkers.TherewasasawmillworkernamedSixtenNordlanderwhohadahousedownbythefishingharbour.AndtherewasafellownamedJerkerAronsson.Hewasonlysixteen,andIshouldreallyhavesenthimaway,buthewasthenephewofGustavinthecar.
“Atabout2:40Harrietwasinthekitchenhereinthehouse.ShedrankaglassofmilkandtalkedbrieflytoAstrid,ourcook.Theylookedoutofthewindowatthemotiondownatthebridge.
“At2:55Harrietcrossedthecourtyard.ShewasseenbyIsabella.Aboutaminutelatersheranin