dedalmostatoncethatshelikedit.Itwasrightnexttoajetty,withthewaterthreepacesfromthedoor.Itwasonlyfifteenbyeighteenfeetbutithadsuchahighceilingthattherewasspaceforasleepingloft.Shecouldstandupstraightthere,just.Blomkvistwouldhavetostoop.Thebedwaswideenoughforbothofthem.
Thecabinhadonelargewindowfacingthewater,rightnexttothefrontdoor.Thatwaswherehiskitchentablestood,doublingashisdesk.OnthewallnearthedeskwasashelfwithaCDplayerandabigcollectionofElvisandhardrock,whichwasnotSalander’sfirstchoice.
Inacornerwasawoodstovemadeofsoapstonewithaglazedfront.Therestofthesparsefurnishingsconsistedofalargewardrobeforclothesandlinenandasinkthatalsofunctionedasawashingalcovebehindashowercurtain.Nearthesinkwasasmallwindowononesideofthecabin.UnderthespiralstairstotheloftBlomkvisthadbuiltaseparatespaceforapostingtoilet.Thewholecabinwasarrangedlikethecabinonaboat,withclevercubbyholesforstowingthings.
DuringherpersonalinvestigationofMikaelBlomkvist,Salanderhadfoundoutthathehadremodelledthecabinandbuiltthefurniturehimself—aconclusiondrawnfromthementsofanacquaintancewhohadsentMikaelanemailaftervisitingSandhamnandwasimpressedbyhishandiwork.Everythingwasclean,unpretentious,andsimple,borderingonspartan.ShecouldseewhyhelovedthiscabininSandhamnsomuch.
AftertwohoursshemanagedtodistractMikaelenoughthatheturnedoffhisputerinfrustration,shaved,andtookheroutforaguidedtour.Itwasrainingandwindy,andtheyquicklyretreatedtotheinn.Blomkvisttoldherwhathewaswriting,andSalandergavehimaCDwithupdatesfromWennerstr?m’sputer.
Thenshetookhimuptotheloftandmanagedtogethisclothesoffanddistracthimevenfurther.Shewokeuplatethatnighttofindherselfalone.Shepeereddownfromtheloftandsawhimsittinghunchedoverhisputer.Shelaythereforalongtime,leaningononehand,watchinghim.Heseemedhappy,andshetoofeltstrangelycontentwithlife.
SalanderstayedonlyfivedaysbeforeshewentbacktoStockholmtodoajobforArmansky.Shespentelevendaysontheassignment,madeherreport,andthenreturnedtoSandhamn.Thestackofprintedpagesne