edinthesixties.”
HarrietVangerseemedtobethinkingsomethingover.Shestaredoutatthedark.Mikaelonceagainhadanuneasyfeelingthathewasinavulnerablesituation,andheremindedhimselfthatHarrietVanger’sownriflewasonacampbedthreepacesaway.Thenheshookhimselfandstoppedimaginingthings.Hechangedthesubject.
“ButhowdidyouetobeasheepfarmerinAustralia?IalreadyknowthatAnitasmuggledyouoffHedebyIsland,presumablyinthebootofhercarwhenthebridgere-openedthedayaftertheaident.”
“Actually,Ilayonthefloorofthebackseatwithablanketoverme.Butno-onewaslooking.IwenttoAnitawhenshearrivedontheislandandtoldherthatIhadtoescape.YouguessedrightthatIconfidedinher.Shehelpedme,andshe’sbeenaloyalfriendalltheseyears.”
“WhyAustralia?”
“IstayedinAnita’sroominStockholmforafewweeks.Anitahadherownmoney,whichshegenerouslylentme.Shealsogavemeherpassport.Welookedalmostexactlylikeeachother,andallIhadtodowasdyemyhairblonde.ForfouryearsIlivedinaconventinItaly—Iwasn’tanun.Thereareconventswhereyoucanrentaroomcheap,tohavepeaceandquiettothink.ThenImetSpencerCochran.Hewassomeyearsolder;he’djustfinishedhisdegreeinEnglandandwashitchhikingaroundEurope.Ifellinlove.Hedidtoo.That’salltherewastoit.‘Anita’Vangermarriedhimin1971.I’veneverhadanyregrets.Hewasawonderfulman.Verysadly,hediedeightyearsago,andIbecametheownerofthestation.”
“Butyourpassport—surelysomeoneshouldhavediscoveredthatthereweretwoAnitaVangers?”
“No,whyshouldthey?ASwedishgirlnamedAnitaVangerwho’smarriedtoSpencerCochran.WhethershelivesinLondonorAustraliamakesnodifference.TheoneinLondonhasbeenSpencerCochran’sestrangedwife.TheoneinAustraliawashisverymuchpresentwife.Theydon’tmatchupputerfilesbetweenCanberraandLondon.Besides,IsoongotanAustralianpassportundermymarriedname.Thearrangementfunctionedperfectly.TheonlythingthatcouldhaveupsetthestorywasifAnitaherselfwantedtogetmarried.MymarriagehadtoberegisteredintheSwedishnationalregistrationfiles.”
“Butsheneverdid.”
“Sheclaimsthatsheneverfoundanyone.ButIknowthatshediditform