etotheremendationthatSalanderbelockedawayinaninstitution.Everydetailoftheopinionwasscrutinised,andthedoctorwasrequiredtoexplainthescientificbasisforeachstatement.Eventuallyitbecameclearthatsincethepatienthadrefusedtopleteasingletest,thebasisforthedoctor’sconclusionswasinfactnothingmorethanguesswork.
Attheendofthehearing,PalmgrenintimatedthatpulsoryinstitutionalisationwasinallprobabilitynotonlycontrarytoParliament’sdecisionsinsimilarsituations,butinthisparticularcaseitmightinadditionbethesubjectofpoliticalandmediareprisals.Soitwasineveryone’sinteresttofindanappropriatealternativesolution.Suchlanguagewasunusualfornegotiationsinthistypeofsituation,andthemembersofthecourthadsquirmednervously.
Thesolutionwasalsoapromise.ThecourtconcludedthatLisbethSalanderwasindeedemotionallydisturbed,butthatherconditiondidnotnecessarilywarrantinternment.Ontheotherhand,thesocialwelfaredirector’sremendationofguardianshipwastakenunderconsideration.Thechairmanofthecourtturned,withavenomoussmile,toHolgerPalmgren,whoupuntilthenhadbeenhertrustee,andinquiredwhetherhemightbewillingtotakeontheguardianship.ThechairmanobviouslythoughtthatPalmgrenwouldbackawayandtrytopushtheresponsibilityontosomeoneelse.Onthecontrary,PalmgrendeclaredthathewouldbehappytotakeonthejobofservingasFr?kenSalander’sguardian—butononecondition:“thatFr?kenSalandermustbewillingtotrustmeandaeptmeasherguardian.”
Heturnedtofaceher.LisbethSalanderwassomewhatbewilderedbytheexchangethathadgonebackandforthoverherheadallday.Untilnowno-onehadaskedforheropinion.ShelookedatHolgerPalmgrenforalongtimeandthennoddedonce.
Palmgrenwasapeculiarmixtureofjuristandsocialworker,oftheoldschool.Atfirsthehadbeenapoliticallyappointedmemberofthesocialwelfareboard,andhehadspentnearlyallhislifedealingwithproblemyouths.Areluctantsenseofrespect,almostborderingonfriendship,hadintimeformedbetweenPalmgrenandhisward,whowasunquestionablythemostdifficulthehadeverhadtodealwith.
Theirrelationshiphadlastedelevenyears,fromherthirteen