船说 “HarriettalkedwithareporterfrotheCourier.Herstoryisthatsheranawayfrohoebecauseshedidntgetalongwithherfaily,butthatsheobviouslyhasdonewellintheworldsinceshestheheadofaverysubstantialenterprise.”
Blokvistwhistled.
“IdiscoveredthattherewasoneyinAustraliansheep,butIdidntknowthestationwasdoingthatwell.”
“Hersheepstationisgoingsuperbly,butthatisntheronlysourceofine.TheCochranCorporationisinining,opals,anufacturing,transport,electronics,andalotofotherthingstoo.”
“WowSowhatsgoingtohappennow”
“Honestly,Idontknow.Peoplehavebeentuingupallday,andthefailyhasbeentogetherforthefirsttieinyears.TheyreherefrobothFredrikandJohanVangerssides,andquiteafewfrotheyoungergenerationtootheonesintheirtwentiesandup.ThereareprobablyaroundfortyVangersinHedestadthisevening.HalfoftheareatthehospitalwearingoutHenrik；theotherhalfareattheGrandHoteltalkingtoHarriet.”
“Harrietustbethebigsensation.HowanyoftheknowaboutMartin”
“Sofaritsjuste,Henrik,andHarriet.Wehadalongtalktogether.Martinandyouruncoveringofhisunspeakablelife,itsovershadowingjustabouteverythingforusattheoent.Ithasbroughtanenorouscrisisforthepanytoahead.”
“Icanunderstandthat.”
“Thereisnonaturalheir,butHarrietisstayinginHedestadforawhile.Thefailywillworkoutwhoownswhat,howtheinheritanceistobedividedandsoon.Sheactuallyhasashareofitthatwouldhavebeenquitergeifshehadbeenherethewholetie.Itsanightare.”
Mikaelughed.Frodewasnotughingatall.
“Isabelhadacolpseatthefuneral.Shesinthehospitalnow.Henriksayshewontvisither.”
“GoodforHenrik.”
“However,AnitaisingoverfroLondon.Iatocalfailyeetingfoextweek.Itwillbethefirsttieintwentyfiveyearsthatshesparticipated.”
“WhowillbethenewCEO”
“Birgerisafterthejob,buthesoutofthequestion.WhatsgoingtohappenisthatHenrikwillstepinasCEOprotefrohissickbeduntilwehireeithersoeonefrooutsideorsoeonefrowithinthefaily”
Blokvistraisedhiseyebrows.
“HarrietYoucantbeserious.”
“WhynotWeretalkingaboutanexceptionallypetentandrespectedbusinesswoan.”
“ShehasapanyinAustraliatolookafter.”
“True,buthersonJeffCochranisindingthestoreinherabsence.”
“Hesthestudsanageronasheepranch.IfIunderstoodtheattercorrectly,heseestoitthatthecorrectsheepatewitheachother.”
“HealsohasadegreeineconoicsfroOxfordandawdegreefroMelboue.”
Blokvistthoughtaboutthesweaty,uscuranwithhisshirtoffwhohaddrivenhiintoandthroughtheravine；hetriedtoiaginehiinapinstripesuit.Whynot
“Allofthiswilltaketietoworkout,”Frodesaid.“ButshewouldbeaperfectCEO.Withtherightsupportteashecouldrepresentawholenewdealforthepany.”
“Shedoesnthavetheexperience”
“Thatstrue.Shecantjustpopupoutoforeorlessnowhereandstarticroanagingthepany.ButtheVangerCorporationisinteational,andwecouldcertainlyhaveanAericanCEOwhodoesntspeakawordofSwedishitsonlybusiness,whenallssaidanddone.”
“SoonerorteryouregoingtohavetofaceuptotheprobleofMartinsbaseent.”
“Iknow.ButwecantsayanythingwithoutdestroyingHarrietIgdInottheonewhohastoakethedecisionaboutthis.”
“Danit,Dirch,youwontbeabletoburythefactthatMartinwasaserialkiller.”
“Mikael,Iinaveryunfortableposition.”
“Telle.”
“IhaveaessagefroHenrik.Hethanksyoufortheoutstandingworkyoudidandsaysthatheconsidersthecontractfulfilled.ThateansheisreleasingyoufroanyfurtherobligationsandthatyounolongerhavetoliveorworkhereinHedestad,etc.So,takingeffectiediately,youcanovebacktoStockhonddevoteyourselftoyourotherpursuits.”
“Hewantsetovanishfrothescene,isthatthegistofit”
“Absolutelynot.Hewantsyoutovisithiforaconversationaboutthefuture.HesayshehopesthathisinvolveentontheboardofMillenniucanproceedwithoutrestrictions.But”
Frodelookedevenoreunfortable,ifthatwaspossible.
“Donttelle,DirchhenolongerwantsetowriteahistoryoftheVangerfaily.”
DirchFrodenodded.Hepickedupanote,openedit,andpusheditovertoMikael.
“Hewroteyouthisletter.”
DearMikael,
Ihavenothingbutrespectforyourintegrity,andIdontintendtoinsultyoubytryingtotellyouwhattowrite.Youaywriteandpublishwhateveryoulike,andIwontexertanypressureonyouwhatsoever.
Ourcontractreainsvalid,ifyouwanttocontinue.YouhaveenoughaterialtofinishthechronicleoftheVangerfaily.
Mikael,Iveneverbeggedanyoneforanythinginyentirelife.Ivealwaysthoughtthatapersonshouldfollowhisoralsandhisconvictions.ThistieIhavenochoice.
Ia,withthisletter,beggingyou,bothasafriendandaspartownerofMillenniu,torefrainfropublishingthetruthaboutGottfriedandMartin.Iknowthatswrong,butIseenowayoutofthisdarkness.Ihavetochoosebetweentwoevils,andinthiscasetherearenowinners.
IbegyounottowriteanythingthatwouldfurtherhurtHarriet.Youknowfirsthandwhatitsliketobethesubjectofaediacapaign.Thecapaignagainstyouwasofquiteodestproportions.YoucansurelyiaginewhatitwouldbelikeforHarrietifthetruthweretoeout.Shehasbeentorentedforfortyyearsandshouldnthavetosufferanyoreforthedeedsthatherbrotherandherfatheritted.AndIbegyoutothinkthroughtheconsequencesthisstoryighthaveforthethousandsofeployeesinthepany.Thiscouldcrushherandannihiteus.
Henrik
“Henrikalsosaysthatifyourequirepensationforfinanciallossesthatayarisefroyourrefrainingfropublishingthestory,heisentirelyopentodiscussion.Youcansetanyfinancialdeandsyouthinkfit.”
“HenrikVangeristryingtoshuteup.TellhithatIwishhehadnevergivhisoffer.”
“ThesituationisjustastroublesoeforHenrikasitisforyou.Helikesyouveryuchandconsidersyouhisfriend.”
“HenrikVangerisacleverbastard,”Blokvistsaid.Hewassuddenlyfurious.“Hewantstohushupthestory.HespyingonyeotionsandheknowsIlikehitoo.AndwhathesalsosayingisthatIhaveafreehanublish,andifIdosohewouldhavetorevisehisattitudetowardsMillenniu.”
“EverythingchangedwhenHarrietsteppedontothestage.”
“AndnowHenrikisfeelingoutwhatypricetagightbe.IdontintendtohangHarrietouttodry,butsoebodyhastosaysoethingaboutthewoenwhodiedinMartinsbaseent.Dirch,wedontevenknowhowanywoenhetorturedandsughtered.Whoisgoingtospeakupontheirbehalf”
Sanderlookedupfroherputer.HervoicewasalostinaudibleasshesaidtoFrode,“Isntthereanyoneinyourpanywhosgoingtotrytoshuteup”
Frodelookedastonished.Onceagainhehadanagedtoignoreherexistence.
“IfMartinVangerwerealiveatthisoent,Iwouldhavehunghiouttodry,”shewenton.“WhateveragreeentMikaedewithyou,Iwouldhavesenteverydetaibouthitothenearesteveningpaper.AndifIcould,Iwouldhavestuckhidowninhisowntortureholeandtiedhitothattableandstuckneedlesthroughhisballs.Unfortunatelyhesdead.”
ShetuedtoBlokvist.
“Isatisfiedwiththesolution.NothingwedocanrepairtheharthatMartinVangerdidtohisvictis.Butaninterestingsituationhaseup.YoureinapositionwhereyoucancontinuetoharinnocentwoenespeciallythatHarrietwhoyousowarlydefendedinthecaronthewayuphere.Soyquestiontoyouis:whichisworsethefactthatMartinVangerrapedheroutinthecabinorthatyouregoingtodoitinprintYouhaveafinedilea.MaybetheethicsitteeoftheJoualistsAssociationcangiveyousoeguidance.”
Shepaused.Blokvistcouldnoteethergaze.Hestareddownatthetable.
“ButInotajoualist,”shesaidatst.
“Whatdoyouwant”DirchFrodeasked.
“Martinvideotapedhisvictis.Iwantyoutodoyourdanedesttoidentifyasanyasyoucanandseetoitthattheirfailiesreceivesuitablepensation.AndthenIwanttheVangerCorporationtodonate2illionkronorannuallyandinperpetuitytotheNationanisationforWoensCrisisCentresandGirlsCrisisCentresinSweden.”
Frodeweighedthepricetagforainute.Thenhenodded.