Armansky,sayingnotaword.Insteadshejustnoddedandthenstoodupandleft,asusualwithnofarewellgreeting.
ShegottheanswershewantedandinstantlylostinterestinArmansky.Hesmiledtohimself.Thatshehadevenaskedhimforadvicemarkedanewhighpointinhersocialisationprocess.
HeopenedafolderwithareportonsecurityatamuseumwhereabigexhibitionofFrenchImpressionistswasopeningsoon.ThenheputdownthefolderandlookedatthedoorthroughwhichSalanderhadjustgone.HethoughtabouthowshehadlaughedwithBlomkvistinherofficeandwonderedifshewasfinallygrowinguporwhetheritwasBlomkvistwhowastheattraction.Healsofeltastrangeuneasiness.HehadneverbeenabletoshakeoffthefeelingthatLisbethSalanderwasaperfectvictim.Andhereshewas,huntingamadmanoutinthebackofbeyond.
Onthewaynorthagain,Salandertookonimpulseadetourbywayof?ppelvikenNursingHometoseehermother.ExceptforthevisitonMidsummerEve,shehadnotseenhermothersinceChristmas,andshefeltbadforsoseldomtakingthetime.Asecondvisitwithinthecourseofafewweekswasquiteunusual.
Hermotherwasinthedayroom.Salanderstayedagoodhourandtookhermotherforawalkdowntotheduckpondinthegroundsofthehospital.HermotherwasstillmuddlingLisbethwithhersister.Asusual,shewashardlypresent,butsheseemedtroubledbythevisit.
WhenSalandersaidgoodbye,hermotherdidnotwanttoletgoofherhand.Salanderpromisedtovisitheragainsoon,buthermothergazedafterhersadlyandanxiously.
Itwasasifshehadapremonitionofsomeapproachingdisaster.
BlomkvistspenttwohoursinthegardenbehindhiscabingoingthroughtheApocryphawithoutgainingasingleinsight.Butathoughthadourredtohim.HowreligioushadHarrietVangeractuallybeen?HerinterestinBiblestudieshadstartedthelastyearbeforeshevanished.ShehadlinkedanumberofBiblequotestoaseriesofmurdersandthenhadmethodicallyreadnotonlyherBiblebutalsotheApocrypha,andshehaddevelopedaninterestinCatholicism.
HadshereallydohesameinvestigationthatBlomkvistandSalanderweredoingthirty-sevenyearslater?Wasitthehuntforamurdererthathadspurredherinterestratherthanreligiosity?PastorFalkhadindicated