veredthathewasapassablepokerplayer,buthestilllostafewfifty-?recoinseveryday.Regulationspermittedplayingformoneyifthetotalpotdidnotexceedfivekronor.
Hewastoldofhisreleaseonlyonedaybefore.Sarowskysummonedhimtohisofficeandtheysharedatoastwithaquavit.
BlomkvistwentstraightbacktothecabininHedeby.Whenhewalkedupthefrontstepsheheardameowandfoundhimselfescortedbythereddish-browncat.
“OK,youcanein,”hesaid.“ButIhavenomilkyet.”
Heunpackedhisbags.Itwasasifhehadbeenonholiday,andherealisedthatheactuallymissedthepanyofSarowskyandhisfellowprisoners.Absurdasitseemed,hehadenjoyedhistimeatRull?ker,buthisreleasehadesounexpectedlythathehadhadnotimetoletanyoneknow.
Itwasjustafter6:00intheevening.HehurriedovertoKonsumtobuygroceriesbeforetheyclosed.WhenhegothomehecalledBerger.Amessagesaidshewasunavailable.Heaskedforhertocallhimthenextday.
Thenhewalkeduptohisemployer’shouse.HefoundVangeronthegroundfloor.TheoldmanraisedhiseyebrowsinsurprisewhenhesawMikael.
“Didyouescape?”
“Releasedearly.”
“That’sasurprise.”
“Formetoo.Ifoundoutlastnight.”
Theylookedateachotherforafewseconds.ThentheoldmansurprisedBlomkvistbythrowinghisarmsaroundhimandgivinghimabearhug.
“Iwasjustabouttoeat.Joinme.”
Annaproducedagreatquantityofbaconpancakeswithlingonberries.Theysatthereinthediningroomandtalkedforalmosttwohours.Blomkvisttoldhimabouthowfarhehadgotwiththefamilychronicle,andwheretherewereholesandgaps.TheydidnottalkatallaboutHarriet,butVangertoldhimallaboutMillennium.
“Wehadaboardmeeting.Fr?kenBergerandyourpartnerMalmwerekindenoughtomovetwoofthemeetingsuphere,whileDirchstoodrmeatameetinginStockholm.IreallywishIwereafewyearsyounger,butthetruthisthatit’stootiringformetotravelsofar.I’lltrytogetdownthereduringthesummer.”
“Noreasonnottoholdthemeetingsuphere,”Blomkvistsaid.“Sohowdoesitfeeltobeapartownerofthemagazine?”
Vangergavehimawrysmile.
“It’sactuallythemostfunI’vehadinyears.I’vetakenalookatthefinances,