ForthefirsthalfhourMartindidnotsayaword,andheappearedtobeincapableofanysortofmunication.Afterthatheseemedtorecovercontrol.HeputachainroundBlomkvist’sneck,fasteningitwithapadlocktoametaleyeletonthefloor.HeleftBlomkvistaloneforaboutfifteenminutes.Whenhereturned,hewascarryingalitrebottleofwater.HesatonachairandlookedatBlomkvistashedrank.
“CouldIhavesomewater?”Blomkvistsaid.
Martinleaneddownandlethimtakeagoodlongdrinkfromthebottle.Blomkvistswallowedgreedily.
“Thanks.”
“Stillsopolite,KalleBlomkvist.”
“Whyallthepunchingandkicking?”Blomkvistsaid.
“Becauseyoumakemeveryangryindeed.Youdeservetobepunished.Whydidn’tyoujustgohome?YouwereneededatMillennium.Iwasserious—wecouldhavemadeitintoagreatmagazine.Wecouldhaveworkedtogetherforyears.”
Blomkvistgrimacedandtriedtoshifthisbodyintoamorefortableposition.Hewasdefenceless.Allhehadwashisvoice.
“Iassumeyoumeanthattheopportunityhaspassed,”Blomkvistsaid.
MartinVangerlaughed.
“I’msorry,Mikael.But,ofcourse,youknowperfectlywellthatyou’regoingtodiedownhere.”
Blomkvistnodded.
“Howthehelldidyoufindme,youandthatanorexicspookthatyoudraggedintothis?”
“YouliedaboutwhatyouweredoingonthedaythatHarrietdisappeared.YouwereinHedestadattheChildren’sDayparade.Youwerephotographedthere,lookingatHarriet.”
“WasthatwhyyouwenttoNorsj??”
“Togetthepicture,yes.ItwastakenbyahoneymooncouplewhohappenedtobeinHedestad.”
Heshookhishead.
“That’sacrasslie,”Martinsaid.
Blomkvistthoughthard:whattosaytopreventorpostponehisexecution.
“Where’sthepicturenow?”
“Thenegative?It’sinasafe-depositboxatHandelsbankenhereinHedestad…Youdidn’tknowthatIhaveasafe-depositbox?”Heliedeasily.“Therearecopiesinvariousplaces.Inmyputerandinthegirl’s,ontheserveratMillennium,andontheserveratMiltonSecurity,wherethegirlworks.”
Martinwaited,tryingtoworkoutwhetherornotBlomkvistwasbluffing.
“Howmuchdoesthegirlknow?”
Blomkvisthesitated.Salander