;afireplacestoodinthemiddleofthesidewall.
Thecabinhadnoelectricity;insteadtherewereseveralkerosenelamps.InonewindowwasanoldGrundigtransistorradio.Theantennawasbrokenoff.Blomkvistpressedthepowerbuttonbutthebatteriesweredead.
Hewentupthenarrowstairsandlookedaroundthesleepingloft.Therewasadoublebedwithabaremattress,abedsidetable,andachestofdrawers.
Blomkvistspentawhilesearchingthroughthecabin.Thebureauwasemptyexceptforsomehandtowelsandlinensmellingfaintlyofmould.Inthewardrobethereweresomeworkclothes,apairofoveralls,rubberboots,apairofworntennisshoes,andakerosenestove.Inthedeskdrawerswerewritingpaper,pencils,ablanksketchpad,adeckofcards,andsomemarks.Thekitchencupboardcontainedplates,mugs,glasses,candles,andsomepackagesofsalt,teabags,andthelike.Inadrawerinthetabletherewereeatingutensils.
Hefoundtheonlytracesofanyintellectualinterestsonthecaseabovethedesk.Mikaelbroughtoverachairandgotuponittoseewhatwasontheshelves.OnthelowestshelflayissuesofSe,Rekordmagasi,Tidsf?rdriv,andLektyrfromthelatefiftiesandearlysixties.TherewereseveralBildjournalenfrom1965and1966,MattLivsNovell,andafewics:The91,Phantomen,andRomans.HeopenedacopyofLektyrfrom1964andsmiledtoseehowchastethepin-upwas.
Ofthes,abouthalfweremysterypaperbacksfromWahlstr?m’sManhattanseries:MickeySpillanewithtitleslikeKissMe,DeadlywiththeclassioversbyBertilHegland.HefoundhalfadozenKittys,someFamousFivenovelsbyEnidBlyton,andaTwinMysterybySivarAhlrud—TheMetroMystery.Hesmiledinrecognition.ThreesbyAstridLindgren:TheChildrenofNoisyVillage,KalleBlomkvistandRasmus,andPippiLongstocking.Thetopshelfhadaaboutshort-waveradio,twosonastronomy,abirdguide,acalledTheEvilEmpireontheSovietUnion,aontheFinnishWinterWar,Luther’scatechism,theofHymns,andtheBible.
HeopenedtheBibleandreadontheinsidecover:HarrietVanger,May12,1963.ItwasherConfirmationBible.Hesadlyputitbackontheshelf.
Behindthecabintherewereawoodandtoolshedwithascythe,rake,hammer,andabigboxwithsaws,planes,andothertools.Hetookachairontothep