umtobeinvolvedinanyway.”
“You’remakingmeawfullynervous.”
“Staycool,Christer,andtellErikathatthestoryisgoingtobeabigone.Reallybig.”
“Erikawillinsistonknowingwhatyou’reworkingon…”
Mikaelthoughtforasecond.Thenhesmiled.
“TellherthatshemadeitverycleartomeinthespringwhenshesignedacontractwithHenrikVangerbehindmybackthatI’mnowjustanordinarymortalfreelancerwhonolongersitsontheboardandhasnoinfluenceonMillenniumpolicy.WhichmeansthatInolongerhaveanyobligationtokeepherrmed.ButIpromisethatifshebehavesherself,I’llgiveherfirstoptiononthestory.”
“She’sgoingtogothroughtheroof,”Malmsaidcheerfully.
BlomkvistknewthathehadnotbeenentirelyhonestwithMalm.HewasdeliberatelyavoidingBerger.Themostnaturalthingwouldhavebeentocontactheratonceandtellheraboutthermationinhispossession.Buthedidnotwanttotalktoher.Adozentimeshehadstoodwithhismobileinhishand,startingtocallher.Eachtimehechangedhismind.
Heknewwhattheproblemwas.Hecouldnotlookherintheeyes.
Thecover-upinwhichhehadparticipatedinHedestadwasunfivablefromaprofessionalpointofview.Hehadnoideahowhecouldexplainittoherwithoutlying,andiftherewasohinghehadneverthoughtofdoing,itwaslyingtoErikaBerger.
Aboveall,hedidnothavetheenergytodealwiththatproblematthesametimeashewastacklingWennerstr?m.Soheputoffseeingher,turnedoffhismobile,andavoidedtalkingtoher.Butheknewthatthereprievecouldonlybetemporary.
Rightaftertheeditorialmeeting,MikaelmovedouttohiscabininSandhamn;hehadn’tbeenthereinoverayear.HisbaggageincludedtwoboxesofprintoutsandtheCDsthatSalanderhadgivenhim.Hestockeduponfood,lockedthedoor,openedhisi,andstartedwriting.Eachdayhetookashortwalk,boughtthenewspapers,andshoppedforgroceries.Theguestmarinawasstillfilledwithyachts,andyoungpeoplewhohadborrowedtheirfather’sboatwereusuallysittingintheDivers’Bar,drinkingthemselvessilly.Blomkvistscarcelytookinhissurroundings.Hesatinfrontofhisputermoreorlessfromthemomentheopenedhiseyesuntilhefellintobedatnight,exhausted.
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