“So what were you thinking about?”
“I just can’t tell you. And then you arrived.”
Cecilia blushed. She avoided Berger’s gaze and went out to put on some coffee.
It was a warm and sunny day. New green shoots were appearing, and Blomkvist
caught himself humming the old song of spring, “Blossom Time Is Coming.” It was
Monday and Berger had left early.
When he had gone to prison in mid-March, snow still covered the land. Now the
birches were turning green and the lawn around his cabin was lush. For the first
time he had a chance to look around all of Hedeby Island. At 8:00 he went over and
asked to borrow a thermos from Anna. He spoke briefly with Vanger, who was just
up, and was given his map of the island. He wanted to get a closer look at
Gottfried’s cabin. Vanger told him that the cabin was owned by Martin Vanger now
but that it had stood mostly vacant over the years. Occasionally some relative
would borrow it.
Blomkvist just managed to catch Martin before he left for work. He asked if he
might borrow the key. Martin gave him an amused smile.
“I presume the family chronicle has now reached the chapter about Harriet.”
“I just want to take a look...”
Martin came back with the key in a minute.
“Is it OK then?”
“As far as I’m concerned, you can move in there if you want. Except for the fact that
it’s stuck right at the other end of the island, it’s actually a nicer spot than the
cottage you’re in.”
Blomkvist made coffee and sandwiches. He filled a bottle with water before he set
off, stuffing his picnic lunch in a rucksack he slung over one shoulder. He followed a
narrow, partially overgrown path that ran along the bay on the north side of
Hedeby Island. Gottfried’s cabin was on a point about one and a half miles from the
village, and it took him only half an hour to cover the distance at a leisurely pace.