ndofthecrashwasterrible.
Salanderbraked.Shesawthetrailerstarttojackknifeacrossherlane.Atthespeedshewasgoing,ittooktwosecondsforhertocoverthedistanceuptotheaidentsite.Sheaeleratedandsteeredontothehardshoulder,avoidingthehurtlingbackofthetruckbytwoyardsassheflewpast.Outofthecornerofhereyeshesawflamesingfromthefrontofthetruck.
Sherodeon,brakingandthinking,foranother150yardsbeforeshestoppedandturnedaround.Shesawthedriverofthetruckclimboutofhiscabonthepassengerside.Thensheaeleratedagain.At?kerby,aboutamilesouth,sheturnedleftandtooktheoldroadbacknorth,paralleltotheE4.Shewentupahillpastthesceneofthecrash.Twocarshadstopped.BigflameswereboilingoutofthewreckageofMartin’scar,whichwaswedgedunderneaththetruck.Amanwassprayingtheflameswithasmallfireextinguisher.
Shewassoonrollingacrossthebridgeatalowspeed.SheparkedoutsidethecottageandwalkedbacktoMartinVanger’shouse.
Mikaelwasstillfumblingwiththehandcuffs.Hishandsweresonumbthathecouldnotgetagriponthekey.Salanderunlockedthecuffsforhimandheldhimtightasthebloodbegantocirculateinhishandsagain.
“Martin?”hesaidinahoarsevoice.
“Dead.HedroveslapintothefrontofatruckacoupleofmilessouthontheE4.”
Blomkviststaredather.Shehadonlybeengoneafewminutes.
“Wehaveto…callthepolice,”hewhispered.Hebegancoughinghard.
“Why?”Salandersaid.
FortenminutesBlomkvistwasincapableofstandingup.Hewasstillonthefloor,naked,leaningagainstthewall.Hemassagedhisneckandliftedthewaterbottlewithclumsyfingers.Salanderwaitedpatientlyuntilhissenseoftouchstartedtoreturn.Shespentthetimethinking.
“Putyourtrouserson.”
SheusedBlomkvist’scut-upT-shirttowipefingerprintsfromthehandcuffs,theknife,andthegolfclub.ShepickedupherPETbottle.
“Whatareyoudoing?”
“Getdressedandhurryup.It’sgettinglightoutside.”
Blomkviststoodonshakylegsandmanagedtopullonhisboxersandjeans.Heslippedonhistrainers.Salanderstuffedhissocksintoherjacketpocketandthenstoppedhim.
“Whatexactlydidyoutouchdownhere?”