entwasabout500squarefeet,shabbyandunrenovated,butatleastitwasaroofoverherhead.
NowPalmgrenwasgone,andanothertietoestablishedsocietyhadbeensevered.NilsBjurmanwasawhollydifferentsortofperson.NowayshewouldbespendingChristmasEveathishouse.HisfirstmovehadbeentoputinplacenewrulesonthemanagementofheraountatHandelsbanken.Palmgrenhadneverhadanyproblemsaboutbendingtheconditionsofhisguardianshipsoastoallowhertotakecareofherownfinances.Shepaidherbillsandcouldusehersavingsasshesawfit.
PriortothemeetingwithBjurmantheweekbeforeChristmasshehadpreparedherself;oncethere,shehadtriedtoexplainthathispredecessorhadtrustedherandhadneverbeengivenoasiontodootherwise.Palmgrenhadlethertakecareofherownaffairsandnotinterferedinherlife.
“That’soneoftheproblems,”Bjurmansaid,tappinghercase.Hethenmadealongspeechabouttherulesandgovernmentregulationsonguardianship.
“Heletyourunfree,isthatit?Iwonderhowhegotawaywithit.”
Becausehewasacrazysocialdemocratwhohadworkedwithtroubledkidsallhislife.
“I’mnotachildanymore,”Salandersaid,asifthatwereexplanationenough.
“No,you’renotachild.ButI’vebeenappointedyourguardian,andaslongasIhavethatrole,Iamlegallyandfinanciallyresponsibleforyou.”
Heopenedanewaountinhername,andshewassupposedtoreportittoMilton’spersonnelofficeanduseitfromnowon.Thegoodolddayswereover.InfutureBjurmanwouldpayherbills,andshewouldbegivenanallowanceeachmonth.Hetoldherthatheexpectedhertoprovidereceiptsforallherexpenses.Shewouldreceive1,400kronoraweek—“forfood,clothing,filmtickets,andsuchlike.”
Salanderearnedmorethan160,000kronorayear.Shecoulddoublethatbyworkingfull-timeandaeptingalltheassignmentsArmanskyofferedher.Butshehadfewexpensesanddidnotneedmuchmoney.Thecostofherapartmentwasabout2,000kronoramonth,andinspiteofhermodestine,shehad90,000kronorinhersavingsaount.Butshenolongerhadaesstoit.
“ThishastodowiththefactthatI’mresponsibleforyourmoney,”hesaid.“Youhavetoputmoneyasideforthefuture.Butdon’tworry;I’lltakecareofallthat.”
I