hquestionshecouldnotanswer.
Falkwassittingonabenchinthegardenwiththreeotherpatientsandamalenurse.Blomkvistspentanhourtryingtoengagehiminconversation.
HerememberedHarrietVangerquitewell.Hisfacelitup,andhedescribedherasacharminggirl.ButBlomkvistwassoonawarethatthepastorhadfottenthatshehadbeenmissingtheselastthirty-sevenyears.HetalkedaboutherasifhehadseenherrecentlyandaskedBlomkvisttosayhellotoherandurgehertoeandseehim.Blomkvistpromisedtodoso.
Heobviouslydidnotremembertheaidentonthebridge.ItwasnotuntiltheendoftheirconversationthathesaidsomethingwhichmadeBlomkvistprickuphisears.
ItwaswhenBlomkviststeeredthetalktoHarriet’sinterestinreligionthatFalksuddenlyseemedhesitant.Itwasasthoughacloudpassedoverhisface.FalksatrockingbackandforthforawhileandthenlookedupatBlomkvistandaskedwhohewas.Blomkvistintroducedhimselfagainandtheoldmanthoughtforawhile.Atlengthhesaid:“She’sstillaseeker.Shehastotakecareofherselfandyouhavetowarnher.”
“WhatshouldIwarnherabout?”
Falkgrewsuddenlyagitated.Heshookhisheadwithafrown.
“Shehastoreadsolascripturaandunderstandsufficientiascripturae.That’stheonlywaythatshecanmaintainsolafide.Josefwillcertainlyexcludethem.Theywereneveraeptedintothecanon.”
Blomkvistunderstoodnothingofthis,buttookassiduousnotes.ThenPastorFalkleanedtowardshimandwhispered,“Ithinkshe’saCatholic.ShelovesmagicandhasnotyetfoundherGod.Sheneedsguidance.”
Theword“Catholic”obviouslyhadanegativeconnotationforPastorFalk.
“IthoughtshewasinterestedinthePentecostalmovement?”
“No,no,no,notthePentecostals.She’slookingfortheforbiddentruth.SheisnotagoodChristian.”
ThenPastorFalkseemedtofetallaboutBlomkvistandstartedtalkingwiththeotherpatients.
HegotbacktoHedebyIslandjustafter2:00.HewalkedovertoCeciliaVanger’sandknockedonthedoor,butwithoutsuess.Hetriedhermobilenumberagainbutnoanswer.
Heattachedonesmokealarmtoawallinthekitchenandonenexttothefrontdoor.Heputonefireextinguishernexttothewoodstovebesidethebedro