shadsuddenlyturneddark.
“Onemoremanwhohateswomen,”shemutteredatlast.
SheborrowedtheCDsandspentthenextfewdaysreadingthroughWennerstr?m’semailsandotherdocuments.WhileBlomkvistkeptworking,SalanderwasupinthesleepingloftwithherPoweronherknees,ponderingWennerstr?m’speculiarempire.
Anideahadourredtoherandshecouldnotletitgo.Mostofallshewonderedwhyithadnotourredtohersooner.
InlateOctoberMikaelturnedoffhisputerwhenitwasonly11:00inthemorning.HeclimbeduptothesleepingloftandhandedSalanderwhathehadwritten.Thenhefellasleep.Shewokehimthateveningandgavehimheropinionofthearticle.
Justafter2:00inthemorning,Blomkvistmadethelastbackupofhiswork.
Thenextdayheclosedtheshuttersonthewindowsandlockedup.Salander’sholidaywasover.TheywentbacktoStockholmtogether.
HebroughtupthesubjectastheyweredrinkingcoffeefrompapercupsontheVaxholmferry.
“WhatthetwoofusneedtodecideiswhattotellErika.She’sgoingtorefusetopublishthisifIcan’texplainhowIgotholdofthematerial.”
ErikaBerger.Blomkvist’seditorinchiefandlong-timelover.Salanderhadnevermetherandwasnotsurethatshewantedtoeither.Bergerseemedlikesomeindefinabledisturbanceinherlife.
“Whatdoessheknowaboutme?”
“Nothing.”Hesighed.“ThefactisthatI’vebeenavoidinghereversincethesummer.She’sveryfrustratedaboutthefactthatIcouldn’ttellherwhathappenedinHedestad.Sheknows,ofcourse,thatI’vebeenstayingoutatSandhamnandwritingthisstory,butshedoesn’tknowwhatit’sabout.”
“Hmm.”
“Inacoupleofhoursshe’llhavethemanuscript.Thenshe’sgoingtogivemethethirddegree.Thequestionis,whatshouldItellher?”
“Whatdoyouwanttotellher?”
“I’dliketotellherthetruth.”
Salanderfrowned.
“Lisbeth,ErikaandIarguealmostallthetime.Itseemstobepartofhowwemunicate.Butshe’sabsolutelytrustworthy.You’reasource.Shewouldratherdiethanrevealwhoyouare.”
“Howmanyotherswouldyouhavetotell?”
“Absolutelyno-one.ItwillgotothegravewithmeandErika.ButIwon’ttellheryoursecretifyoudon’twantmeto.Ontheotherhand,