derboltoutofaclearsky.Hefeltsoconfusedthathestayedonthebusallthewaytothelaststopbytherailwaystation.TherehetookthefirstbusbacktoHedebytocheckwhetherhehadrememberedcorrectly.
Itwasthefirstphotographinthealbum,thelastpicturetakenofHarrietVangeronthatfatefuldayonJ?rnv?gsgataninHedestad,whileshehadbeenwatchingtheChildren’sDayparade.
Thephotographwasanoddoohaveincludedinthealbum.Itwasputtherebecauseitwastakenthesameday,butitwastheonlyoneofthephotographsnotoftheaidentonthebridge.EachtimeBlomkvistandeveryoneelsehadlookedatthealbum,itwasthepeopleandthedetailsinthepicturesofthebridgethathadcapturedtheirattention.TherewasnodramainthepictureofacrowdattheChildren’sDayparade,severalhoursearlier.
Vangermusthavelookedatthephotographathousandtimes,asorrowfulreminderthathewouldneverseeheragain.
ButthatwasnotwhatBlomkvisthadreactedto.
Itwastakenfromacrossthestreet,probablyfromafirst-floorwindow.Thewide-anglelenshadcaughtthefrontofoneofthefloats.Ontheflatbedwerewomenwearingglitteringbathingsuitsandharemtrousers,throwingsweetstothecrowd.Someofthemweredancing.Threeclownswerejumpingaboutinfrontofthefloat.
Harrietwasinthefrontrowofthecrowdstandingonthepavement.Nexttoherwerethreegirls,clearlyherclassmates,andaroundandbehindthemwereatleastahundredotherspectators.
ThisiswhatBlomkvisthadnoticedsubconsciouslyandwhichsuddenlyrosetothesurfacewhenthebuspassedtheexactsamespot.
Thecrowdbehavedasanaudienceshould.Theireyesalwaysfollowtheballinatennismatchorthepuckinanicehockeyrink.Theonesstandingatthefarleftofthephotographwerelookingattheclownsrightinfrontofthem.Theonesclosertothefloatwerealllookingatthescantilycladgirls.Theexpressionsontheirfaceswerecalm.Childrenpointed.Somewerelaughing.Everyonelookedhappy.
Allexceptone.
HarrietVangerwaslookingofftotheside.Herthreefriendsandeveryoneelseinhervicinitywerelookingattheclowns.Harriet’sfacewasturnedalmost30°to35°toherright.Hergazeseemedfixedonsomethingacrossthestreet,butbeyondtheleft-ha