uldnotseeanyoneinsidethehouse.HaraldVanger’shousewasdark.Around9:00acardroveacrossthebridgeanddisappearedtowardsthepoint.Atmidnightthelightsonthefacadeofthechurchwereturnedoff.ThatwasapparentlythefullextentoftheentertainmentinHedebyonaFridaynightinearlyJanuary.Itwaseerilyquiet.
HetriedagaintocallBergerandgothervoicemail,askinghimtoleavehisnameandamessage.Hedidsoandthenturnedoffthelightandwenttobed.Thelastthinghethoughtaboutbeforehefellasleepwasthathewasgoingtorunahighriskofgoingstir-crazyinHedeby.
Itwasstrangetoawaketouttersilence.Blomkvistpassedfromdeepsleeptototalalertnessinafractionofasecond,andthenlaystill,listening.Itwascoldintheroom.Heturnedhisheadandlookedathiswristwatchonastoolnexttothebed.Itwas7:08—hehadneverbeenmuchofamorningperson,anditusedtobehardforhimtowakeupwithouthavingatleasttwoalarmclocks.Todayhehadwokenallbyhimself,andheevenfeltrested.
Heputsomewateronforcoffeebeforegettingintotheshower.Hewassuddenlyamusedathissituation.KalleBlomkvist—onaresearchtripinthebackofbeyond.
Theshowerheadchangedfromscaldingtoice-coldattheslightesttouch.Therewasnomorningpaperonthekitchentable.Thebutterwasfrozen.Therewasnocheeseslicerinthedrawerofkitchenutensils.Itwasstillpitchdarkoutside.Thethermometershowed6belowzero.ItwasSaturday.
ThebusstopforHedestadwasovertheroadfromKonsum,andBlomkviststartedoffhisexilebycarryingouthisplantogoshoppingintown.Hegotoffthebusbytherailwaystationandmadeatourofthecentreoftown.Alongthewayheboughtheavywinterboots,twopairsoflongunderwear,severalflannelshirts,aproperthigh-lengthwinterjacket,awarmcap,andlinedgloves.AttheelectronicsstorehefoundasmallportableTVwithrabbitears.ThesalesclerkassuredhimthathewouldatleastbeabletogetSVT,thestateTVchannel,outatHedeby,andBlomkvistpromisedtoaskforhismoneybackifthatturnedoutnottobethecase.
HestoppedatthelibrarytogethimselfacardandborrowedtwomysteriesbyElizabethGee.Heboughtpensandnotes.Healsoboughtarucksackforcarryinghisnewpossessions.
Finallyheboughtapackofcig