wnafactory,confidenceinthepanyisfurtherundermined.”
“Martinisunderpressure.”
“He’spullingtheloadofanoxandwalkingoneggshells.”
BlomkvistwentbacktohiscottageandcalledBerger.Shewasnotattheoffice,sohespoketoMalm.
“Here’sthedeal:ErikacalledwhenIwasinNorsj?.MartinVangerhasbeenafterherandhas,howshallIputit,encouragedhertoproposethatIstarttotakeoneditorialresponsibility.”
“Ithinkyoushouldtoo,”Malmsaid.
“Iknowthat.Butthethingis,IhaveacontractwithHenrikVangerthatIcan’tbreak,andMartinisactingonbehalfofsomeoneupherewhowantsmetostopwhatIamdoingandleavetown.Sohisproposalamountstoanattempttogetridofme.”
“Isee.”
“SayhitoErikaandtellherI’llebacktoStockholmwhenI’mfinishedhere.Notbefore.”
“Iunderstand.You’restarkravingmad,ofcourse,butI’llgiveherthemessage.”
“Christer.Somethingisgoingonuphere,andIhavenointentionofbackingout.”
BlomkvistknockedonMartinVanger’sdoor.EvaHasselopeneditandgreetedhimwarmly.
“Hi.IsMartinhome?”
Asifinreplytothequestion,MartinVangercamewalkingoutwithabriefcaseinhishand.HekissedEvaonthecheekandsaidhellotoMikael.
“I’monmywaytotheoffice.Doyouwanttotalktome?”
“Wecandoitlaterifyou’reinahurry.”
“Let’shearit.”
“Iwon’tbegoingbacktoMillennium’seditorialboardbeforeI’mfinishedwiththeassignmentthatHenrikgaveme.I’mrmingyouofthisnowsothatyouwon’tcountonmebeingontheboardbeforeNewYear’s.”
MartinVangerteeteredbackandforthforabit.
“Isee.YouthinkIwanttogetridofyou.”Hepaused.“Mikael,we’llhavetotalkaboutthislater.Idon’treallyhavetimetodevotetomyhobbyonMillennium’sboard,andIwishI’dneveragreedtoHenrik’sproposal.Butbelieveme—I’mgoingtodomybesttomakesurethatMillenniumsurvives.”
“I’veneverhadanydoubtaboutthat,”Blomkvistsaid.
“IfwemakeanappointmentforsometimenextweekwecangooverthefinancesandIcangiveyoumyviewsonthematter.ButmybasicattitudeisthatMillenniumcannotactuallyaffordtohaveoneofitskeypeoplesittinguphereonHedebyIslandtwiddlinghisthumbs.Ilik