not that they’re in it together. The murderer could have died years ago, while our
nemesis just wants us to drop the whole thing and go home.”
“But why, in that case, put a mutilated cat on our porch? It’s an unmistakable
reference to the murders.” Blomkvist tapped Harriet’s Bible. “Again a parody of the
laws regarding burnt offerings.”
Salander leaned back and looked up at the church as she quoted from the Bible. It
was as if she were talking to herself.
“Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall present the
blood, and they shall throw the blood round about against the altar that is the door of
the tent of meeting. And he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces.”
She fell silent, aware that Blomkvist was watching her with a tense expression. He
opened the Bible to the first chapter of Leviticus.
“Do you know verse twelve too?”
Salander did not reply.
“And he shall...” he began, nodding at her.
“And he shall cut it into pieces, with its head and its fat, and the priest shall lay them in
order upon the wood that is on the fire upon the altar.” Her voice was ice.
“And the next verse?”
Abruptly she stood up.
“Lisbeth, you have a photographic memory,” Mikael exclaimed in surprise. “That’s
why you can read a page of the investigation in ten seconds.”
Her reaction was almost explosive. She fixed her eyes on Blomkvist with such fury
that he was astounded. Then her expression changed to despair, and she turned on
her heel and ran for the gate.
“Lisbeth,” he shouted after her.
She disappeared up the road.