huggedeachotherandwentbacktotheircorners.Ortobed.Lastautumnhadnotbeenfun,andnowitwasasifagreatgulfhadopenedupbetweenthem.MalmwonderedifhewaswatchingthebeginningoftheendofMillennium.
“Idon’thaveachoice,”Blomkvistsaid.“Wedon’thaveachoice.”
Hepouredhimselfacoffeeandsatatthekitchentable.Bergershookherheadandsatdownfacinghim.
“Whatdoyouthink,Christer?”shesaid.
Hehadbeenexpectingthequestionanddreadingthemomentwhenhewouldhavetotakeastand.Hewasthethirdpartner,buttheyallknewthatitwasBlomkvistandBergerwhowereMillennium.Theonlytimetheyaskedhisadvicewaswhentheycouldnotagree.
“Honestly,”Malmsaid,“youbothknowperfectlywellitdoesn’tmatterwhatIthink.”
Heshutup.Helovedmakingpictures.Helovedworkingwithgraphics.Hehadneverconsideredhimselfanartist,butheknewhewasadamnedgooddesigner.Ontheotherhand,hewashelplessatintrigueandpolicydecisions.
BergerandBlomkvistlookedateachotheracrossthetable.Shewascoolandfurious.Hewasthinkinghard.
Thisisn’tanargument,Malmthought.It’sadivorce.
“OK,letmepresentmycaseonelasttime,”Blomkvistsaid.“ThisdoesnotmeanI’vegivenuponMillennium.We’vespenttoomuchtimeworkingourheartsoutforthat.”
“Butnowyouwon’tbeattheoffice—ChristerandIwillhavetocarrytheload.Can’tyouseethat?You’retheonemarchingintoself-imposedexile.”
“That’sthesecondthing.Ineedabreak,Erika.I’mnotfunctioninganymore.I’mburnedout.ApaidsabbaticalinHedestadmightbeexactlywhatIneed.”
“Thewholethingisidiotic,Mikael.Youmightaswelltakeajobinacircus.”
“Iknow.ButI’mgoingtoget2.4millionforsittingonmybacksideforayear,andIwon’tbewastingmytime.That’sthethirdthing.RoundOnewithWennerstr?misover,andheknockedmeout.RoundTwohasalreadystarted—he’sgoingtotrytosinkMillenniumforgoodbecauseheknowsthatthestaffherewillalwaysknowwhathe’sbeenupto,foraslongasthemagazineexists.”
“Iknowwhathe’sdoing.I’veseenitinthemonthlyadsalesfiguresforthelastsixmonths.”
“That’sexactlywhyIhavetogetoutoftheoffice.I’mlikearedragwavingathim.He’spa