uidedhimtotheleft,intoastorageroomwitholdfurnitureandboxes,atthebackofwhichwasasteelsecuritydoorwithadeadboltlock.
“Here,”Martinsaid,tossingakeyringtoBlomkvist.“Openit.”
Heopenedthedoor.
“Theswitchisontheleft.”
Blomkvisthadopenedthedoortohell.
Around9:00Salanderwenttogetsomecoffeeandaplastic-wrappedsandwichfromthevendingmachineinthecorridoroutsidethearchives.Shekeptonpagingthrougholddocuments,lookingforanytraceofGottfriedVangerinKalmarin1954.Shefoundnothing.
ShethoughtaboutcallingBlomkvist,butdecidedtogothroughthestaffnewslettersbeforeshecalleditaday.
Thespacewasapproximatelytenbytwentyfeet.Blomkvistassumedthatitwassituatedalongthenorthsideofthehouse.
MartinVangerhadcontrivedhisprivatetorturechamberwithgreatcare.Ontheleftwerechains,metaleyeletsintheceilingandfloor,atablewithleatherstrapswherehecouldrestrainhisvictims.Andthenthevideoequipment.Atapingstudio.Inthebackoftheroomwasasteelcageforhisguests.Totherightofthedoorwasabench,abed,andaTVcornerwithvideosonashelf.
Assoonastheyenteredtheroom,MartinVangeraimedthepistolatBlomkvistandtoldhimtolieonhisstomachonthefloor.Blomkvistrefused.
“Verywell,”Martinsaid.“ThenI’llshootyouinthekneecap.”
Hetookaim.Blomkvistcapitulated.Hehadnochoice.
HehadhopedthatMartinwouldrelaxhisguardjustatenthofasecond—heknewhewouldwinanysortoffightwithhim.HehadhadhalfachanceinthepassageupstairswhenMartinputhishandonhisshoulder,buthehadhesitated.AfterthatMartinhadnoteclose.Withabulletinhiskneecaphewouldhavelosthischance.Helaydownonthefloor.
Martinapproachedfrombehindandtoldhimtoputhishandsonhisback.Hehandcuffedhim.ThenhekickedMikaelinthecrotchandpunchedhimviciouslyandrepeatedly.
Whathappenedafterthatseemedlikeanightmare.Martinswungbetweenrationalityandpurelunacy.Foratimequitecalm,thenextinstanthewouldbepacingbackandforthlikeananimalinacage.HekickedBlomkvistseveraltimes.AllBlomkvistcoulddowastrytoprotecthisheadandtaketheblowsinthesoftpartsofhisbody.