rm.ThearticleendedwiththeusuallihatBlomkvisthaddeclinedtomenttotheHedestadCourier.Everyself-respectingresidentofHedestadwasputonnoticethatanOlympic-classshitfromStockholmwasskulkingaroundthearea.Noneoftheclaimsinthearticlewaslibellous,buttheywereslantedtopresentBlomkvistinanunflatteringlight;thelayoutandtypestylewasofthekindthatsuchnewspapersusedtodiscusspoliticalterrorists.Millenniumwasdescribedasamagazinewithlowcredibility“bentonagitation,”andBlomkvist’sonfinancialjournalismwaspresentedasacollectionof“controversialclaims”aboutothermorerespectedjournalists.
“Mikael…Idon’thavewordstoexpresswhatIfeltwhenIreadthisarticle.It’srepulsive.”
“It’saput-upjob,”Blomkvistsaidcalmly.
“IhopeyouunderstandthatIdidn’thavetheslightestthingtodowiththis.IchokedonmymorningcoffeewhenIreadit.”
“Thenwhodid?”
“Imadesomecalls.ThisTorssonisasummerworkexperiencekid.HedidthepieceonordersfromBirger.”
“IthoughtBirgerhadnosayinthenewsroom.Afterall,heisacouncillorandpoliticalfigure.”
“Technicallyhehasnoinfluence.ButtheeditorinchiefoftheCourierisGunnarKarlman,Ingrid’sson,who’spartoftheJohanVangerbranchofthefamily.BirgerandGunnarhavebeencloseformanyyears.”
“Isee.”
“Torssonwillbefiredforthwith.”
“Howoldishe?”
“Totellyouthetruth,Idon’tknow.I’venevermethim.”
“Don’tfirehim.Whenhecalledmehesoundedlikeaveryyoungandinexperiencedreporter.”
“Thiscan’tbeallowedtopasswithoutconsequences.”
“Ifyouwantmyopinion,thesituationseemsabitabsurd,whentheeditorinchiefofapublicationownedbytheVangerfamilygoesontheattackagainstanotherpublicationinwhichHenrikVangerisapartownerandonwhoseboardyousit.Youreditor,Karlman,isattackingyouandHenrik.”
“Iseewhatyoumean,andIoughttolaytheblamewhereitbelongs.Karlmanisapartownerinthecorporationandhasalwaystakenpot-shotsatme,butthisseemsmorelikeBirger’srevengebecauseyouhadarun-inwithhimatthehospital.You’reathorninhisside.”
“Ibelieveit.That’swhyIthinkTorssonisthelastpersontoblame.It