caninterviewyouandgathermaterialforyourbiography.WhenIstarthavingquestionsaboutHarrietwhichIneedtodiscusswithyou,I’llletyouknow.”
“Thatsoundssensible.”
“I’mgoingtorequireafreehandtodomywork,andIwon’thaveanysetworkhours.”
“Youdecideforyourselfhowtheworkshouldbedone.”
“Isupposeyou’reawarethatIhavetospendacoupleofmonthsinprison.Idon’tknowexactlywhen,butI’mnotgoingtoappeal.It’llprobablybesometimethisyear.”
Vangerfrowned.“That’sunfortunate.We’llhavetosolvethatproblemwhenitesup.Youcanalwaysrequestapostponement.”
“Ifit’spermittedandIhaveenoughmaterial,Imightbeabletoworkonyourinprison.Onemorething:I’mstillpartownerofMillenniumandasofnowit’samagazineincrisis.IfsomethinghappensthatrequiresmypresenceinStockholm,IwouldhavetodropwhatI’mdoingandgothere.”
“Ididn’ttakeyouonasaserf.IwantyoutodoathoroughjobontheassignmentI’vegivenyou,but,ofcourse,youcansetyourownscheduleanddotheworkasyouseefit.Ifyouneedtotakesometimeoff,feelfreetodoit,butifIfindoutthatyou’renotdoingthework,I’llconsiderthatabreachofcontract.”
Vangerlookedovertowardsthebridge.Hewasagauntman,andBlomkvistthoughtthathelookedatthatmomentlikeamelancholyscarecrow.
“AsfarasMillenniumisconcerned,weoughttohaveadiscussionaboutwhatkindofcrisisit’sinandwhetherIcanhelpinsomeway.”
“ThebestassistanceyoucanofferistogivemeWennerstr?m’sheadonaplatterrighthereandnow.”
“Ohno,I’mnotthinkingofdoingthat.”TheoldmangaveBlomkvistahardlook.“TheonlyreasonyoutookthisjobwasbecauseIpromisedtoexposeWennerstr?m.IfIgiveyouthermationnow,youcouldstopworkonthejobwheneveryoufeltlikeit.I’llgiveyouthermationayearfromnow.”
“Henrik,fivemeforsayingthis,butIcan’tbesurethatayearfromnowyou’llbealive.”
Vangersighedandcastathoughtfulgazeoverthefishingharbour.
“Fairenough.I’lltalktoFrodeandseeifwecanworksomethingout.ButasfarasMillenniumisconcerned,Imightbeabletohelpinanotherway.AsIunderstandit,theadvertisershavebeguntopullout.”
“Theadvertisersaretheimmediateproble