dramathathadbeenpyingoutaroundMillennium.
    Theyhadlunchtogether.BlomkviststoleasidelonggnceatPernil.HehadnotseenhisdaughtersincesheturneduptovisithiminHedestad.HerealisedthathehadfailedtodiscusshermaniaforthatsectinSkellefte?withhermother.Hecouldnottellthemthatitwashisdaughter’sobviouslyprofoundknowledgeoftheBiblethathadsethimontherighttrackregardingHarrietVanger’sdisappearance.Hehadnottalkedtohisdaughtersincethen.
    Hewasnotagoodfather.
    HekissedhisdaughtergoodbyeafterthelunchandmetSanderatSlussen.TheywentouttoSandhamn.TheyhadnotseenmuchofeachothersincetheMillenniumbombexploded.TheyarrivedteonChristmasEveandstayedfortheholidays.
    Blomkvistwasentertainingpany,asalways,butSanderhadanuneasyfeelingthathewaslookingatherwithanespeciallyoddexpressionwhenshepaidbacktheloanwithachequefor120,000kronor.
    TheytookawalktoTrovilndback,hadChristmasdinnerattheinn,andwentbacktothecabinwheretheylitafireinthewoodstove,putonanElvisCD,anddevotedthemselvestosomepinoldsex.WhenSanderfromtimetotimecameupforair,shetriedtoanalyseherfeelings.
    ShehadnoproblemwithBlomkvistasalover.Therewasobviouslyaphysicattraction.Andhenevertriedtotutorher.
    Herproblemwasthatshecouldnotinterpretherownfeelingsforhibequitehonest,hehadatryingabilitytoperateherdefencesandtogethertotalkaboutpersonalmattersandprivatefeelings.Eventhoughshehadenoughsensetoignoremostofhisquestions,shetalkedaboutherselfinawaythatshewouldnever,evenunderthreatofdeath,haveimagineddoingwithanyotherperson.Itfrightenedherandmadeherfeelnakedandvulnerabletohiswill.
    Atthesametime—whenshelookeddownathisslumberingformandlistenedtohimsnoring—shefeltthatshehadneverbeforeinherlifehadsuchatrustinanotherhumanbeing.SheknewwithabsolutecertaintythatMikaelwouldneverusewhatheknewabouthertohurther.Itwasnotinhisnature.
    Theonlythingtheyneverdiscussedwastheirretionshiptoeachother.Shedidnotdare,andBlomkvistneverbroachedthesubject.
    Atsomepointonthemorningoftheseconddayshecametoaterrifyingrealisation.Shehadnoideahowithadhappenedorhowshewassupposedtocopewithit.Shewasinloveforthefirsttimeinherlife.
    Thathewasalmosttwiceheragedidnotbotherher.NordidthefactthatatthemomenthewasoneofthemostnewsworthypeopleinSweden,andhispicturewasevenonthecoverofNewsweek—thatwasalljustsoapopera.ButBlomkvistwasnoeroticfantasyordaydreauldnotpossiblyworkout.Whatdidheneedherfor?Maybeshewasjustawaytopassthetimewhilehewaitedforsomeonewhoselifewasnotafuckingrathole.
    Whatshehadrealisedwasthatlovewasthatmomentwhenyourheartwasabouttoburst.
    WhenBlomkvistwokeuptethatmorning,shehadmadecoffeeandbeenouttobuybreakfastrolls.Hejoinedheratthetableandnoticedatoncethatsomethinginherattitudehadchanged—shewasabitmorereserved.Whenheaskedherifanythingwaswrong,shegavehimaneutral,unprehendinglook.
    OnthefirstdaybetweenChristmasandNewYear’s,BlomkvisttookthetrainuptoHedestad.HewaswearinghiswarmestclothesandhisproperwintershoeswhenFrodemethimatthestationandquietlycongratutedhimonthemediasuess.ItwasthefirsttimesinceAugustthathehadvisitedHedestad,anditwasalmostexactlyoneyearagosincehehadvisiteditforthefirsttime.Theychattedpolitely,buttherewasalsoagreatdealthathadgoneunsaidbetweenthem,andBlomkvistfeltunfortable.
    Everythinghadbeenprepared,andthebusinesswithFrodetookonlyafewminutes.Frodeofferedtodepositthemoneyinaconvenientforeignbankaount,butBlomkvistinsistedthatitshouldbepaidlikeanormal,legitimatefeetohispany.
    “Ican’taffordanyothertypeofpayment,”hesaidcurtlywhenFrodepersisted.
    Thepurposeofhisvisitwasnotsolelyfinancial.Blomkvisthadleftclothes,s,andanumberofhisownthingsinthecottagewhenheandSanderhadabandonedHedebyingreathaste.
    Vangerwasstillfraifterhisillness,buthewasathome.Hewasbeinglookedafterbyaprivatenurse,whorefusedtoallowhimtotakelongwalks,orwalkupstairs,ordiscussanythingthatmightupsethim.Duringtheholidayshehadalsoedownwithaslightcoldandwasorderedtobed.
    “Besideswhich,she’sexpensive,”Vangerpined.
    Blomkvistknewthattheoldmancouldaffordanysuchexpense—consideringhowmanykronorhehadwrittenoffhistaxesallhislife.Vangergavehimasullenlookuntilhestartedughing.
    “Whatthehell,youwerewortheverykrona.Iknewyouwouldbe.”
    “Totellyouthetruth,IneverthoughtI’dsolveit.”
    “Ihavenointentionofthankingyou,”Vangersaid.
    “Ididn’texpectyouwould.I’mjustheretotellyouthatIconsiderthejobdone.”
    Vangercurledhislips.“Youhaven’tfinishedthejob,”hesaid.
    “Iknowthat.”
    “Youhaven’twrittentheVangerfamilychronicle,whichwasagreed.”
    “Iknowthat.I’mnotgoingtowriteit.Infact,Ican’twriteit.Ican’twriteabouttheVangerfamilyandleaveoutthemostcentraleventofthepastdecades.HowcouldIwriteachapteraboutMartin’speriodasCEOandpretendthatIdon’tknowwhat’sinhisbasement?Ialsocan’twritethestorywithoutdestroyingHarriet’slifealloveragain.”
    “Iunderstandyourdilemma,andI’mgratefulforthedecisionthatyou’vemade.”
    “Congratutions.You’vemanagedtocorruptme.I’mgoingtodestroyallmynotesandthetaperecordingsI’vemadeofourconversations.”
    “Idon’tthinkthatyou’vebeencorrupted,”Vangersaid.
    “That’swhatitfeelslike.AndIthinkthat’swhatitis.”
    “Youhadtochoosebetweenyourroleasajournalistandyourroleasahumanbeing.Icouldneverhaveboughtyoursilence.AndI’mquitecertainthatyouwouldhaveexposedusifHarriethadturnedoutinsomewaytohavebeenimplicated,orifyouthoughtIwasacretin.”
    Blomkvistdidnotreply.
    “We’vetoldCeciliathewholestory.FrodeandIwillsoonbegone,andHarrietisgoingtoneedsupportfromsomeoneinthefamily.Ceciliawillpyanactiveroleontheboard.SheandHarrietwillbeinchargeofthefirmfromnowon.”
    “Howdidshetakeit?”
    “Shewasveryshaken.Shewentabroadforawhile.Iwasevenafraidshewouldn’teback.”
    “Butshedid.”
    “MartinwasoneofthefewpeopleinourfamilythatCeciliaalwaysgotalongwith.Itwasveryhardforhertofindoutthetruthabouthim.Shealsoknowsnowwhatyoudidforthefamily.”
    Blomkvistshrugged.
    “Sothankyou,Mikael,”Vangersaid.
    “Besides,Icouldn’twritethestorybecauseI’vehadituptoherewiththeVangerfamily.Buttellme,howdoesitfeeltobeCEOagain?”
    “It’sonlytemporary,but…IwishIwereyounger.I’monlyworkingthreehoursaday.Allthemeetingsareheldinthisroom,andDirchhassteppedinagainasmyenforcerifanyoneactsup.”
    “Thejuniorexecutivesmustbequakingintheirboots.IttookmeawhiletorealisethatDirchwasn’tjustanoldsweetieofafinanciadviserbutalsosomeonewhosolvesproblemsforyou.”
    “Exactly.ButalldecisionsaremadewithHarriet,andshe’stheonewho’sdoingthelegworkintheoffice.”
    “Howarethingsgoingforher?”
    “Sheinheritedbothherbrother’sandhermother’sshares.Shecontrolsabout33percentofthecorporation.”
    “Isthatenough?”
    “Idon’tknoxanderhasseenthathehasachancetomakeanimpactandhasalliedhimselfwithBirger.MybrotherHaraldhascancerandwon’tlivemuchlonger.Hewastheonlyremainingpersonwithrgeshareholdingsof7percent,whichhischildrenwillinherit.CeciliaandAnitawillbeonHarriet’sside.”
    “Thentogetheryou’llcontrol,what,45percent.”
    “Thatkindofvotingcartelhasneverexistedwithinthefamilybefore.Plentyofshareholderswithoneandtwopercentwillvoteagainstus.HarrietisgoingtosueedmeasCEOinFebruary.”
    “Thatwon’tmakeherhappy.”
    “No,butit’snecessary.Wehavetotakeinsomenewpartnersandnewblood.WealsohavethechancetocolboratewithherpanyinAustralia.Therearepossibilities.”
    “Where’sHarriettoday?”
    “You’reoutofluck.She’sinLondon.Butshewouldverymuchliketoseeyou.”
    “I’llseeheratourboardmeetinginJanuaryifshe’sgoingtotakeyourpce.”
    “Iknow.”
    “IthinkthatsherealisesthatIwillneverdiscusswhathappenedinthesixtieswithanyoneexceptforErikaBerger,andIdon’tseewhyErikaneedstoknow.”
    “Shedoes.You’reapersonwithmorals,Mikael.”
    “Butalsotellherthateverythingshedoesfromnowoncouldendupinthemagazine.TheVangerCorporationwon’thaveafreepassfromscrutiny.”
    “I’llwarnher.”
    BlomkvistleftVangerwhenhestartedtodozeoff.Hepackedhisbelongingsintotwosuitcases.Asheclosedthedoortothecottageforthesttime,hepausedandthenwentovertoCecilia’shouseandknocked.Shewasnothome.Hetookouthispocketcalendar,toreoutapage,andwrote:Iwishyouallthebest.Trytofiveme.Mikael.Heputthenoteinherletterbox.AnelectrihristmascandleshoneinthekitchenwindowofMartinVanger’semptyhouse.
    HetookthesttrainbacktoStockholm.
    DuringtheholidaysSandertunedouttherestoftheworld.Shedidnotanswerhertelephoneandshedidnotturnonherputer.Shespenttwodayswashingundry,scrubbing,andcleaningupherapartment.Year-oldpizzaboxesandnewspaperswerebundledupandcarrieddownstairs.Shedraggedoutatotalofsixbckrubbishbagsandtwentypaperbagsfullofnewspapers.Shefeltasifshehaddecidedtostartanewlife.Shethoughtaboutbuyinganewapartment—whenshefoundsomethingsuitable—butfornowheroldpcewouldbemoredazzlinglycleanthanshecouldeverremember.
    Thenshesatasifparalysed,thinking.Shehadneverinherlifefeltsuchalonging.ShewantedMikaelBlomkvisttoringthedoorbelnd…whatthen?Liftherofftheground,holdherinhisarms?Passionatelytakeherintothebedroomandtearoffherclothes?No,shereallyjustwantedhispany.Shewantedtohearhimsaythathelikedherforwhoshewas.Thatshewassomeonespecialinhisworldandinhislife.Shewantedhimtogivehersomegestureoflove,notjustoffriendshipandpanionship.I’mflippingout,shethought.
    Shehadnofaithinherself.Blomkvistlivedinaworldpoputedbypeoplewithrespectablejobs,peoplewithorderlylivesandlotsofgrown-uppoints.Hisfriendsdidthings,wentonTV,andshapedtheheadlines.Whatdoyouneedmefor?Sander’sgreatestfear,whichwassohugeandsobckthatitwasofphobicproportions,wasthatpeoplewouldughatherfeelings.Andallofasuddenallhercarefullyconstructedself-confidenceseemedtocrumble.
    That’swhenshemadeuphermind.Ittookherseveralhourstomobilisethenecessarycourage,butshehadtoseehimandtellhimhowshefelt.
    Anythingelsewouldbeunbearable.
    Sheneededsomeexcusetoknockonhisdoor.ShehadnotgivenhimanyChristmaspresent,butsheknewwhatshewasgoingtobuy.Inajunkshopshehadseenanumberofmetadvertisingsignsfromthefifties,withembossedimages.OneofthesignsshowedElvisPresleywithaguitaronhishipandacartoonballoonwiththewordsHEARTBREAKHOTEL.Shehadnosenseforinteriordesign,butevenshecouldtellthatthesignwouldbeperfectforthecabininSandhamn.Itcost780kronor,andonprincipleshehaggledandgotthepriceknockeddownto700.Shehaditwrapped,putitunderherarm,andheadedovertohispceonBellmansgatan.
    AtHornsgatanshehappenedtogncetowardsKaffebarandsawBlomkvistingoutwithBergerintow.Hesaidsomething,andsheughed,puttingherarmaroundhiswaistandkissinghischeek.TheyturneddownBr?nnkyrkagataninthedirectionofBellmansgatan.Theirbodynguageleftnoroomformisinterpretations—itwasobviouswhattheyhadinmind.
    ThepainwassoimmediateandsofiercethatLisbethstoppedinmid-stride,incapableofmovement.Partofherwantedtorushafterthem.ShewantedtotakethemetalsignandusethesharpedgetocleaveBerger’sheadintwo.Shedidnothingasthoughtsswirledthroughhermind.Analysisofconsequences.Finallyshecalmeddown.
    “Whatapatheticfoolyouare,Sander,”shesaidoutloud.
    Sheturnedonherheendwenthometohernewlyspotlessapartment.AsshepassedZinkensdamm,itstartedtosnow.ShetossedElvisintoadumpster.
    ANOTEABOUTTHEAUTHOR
    StiegLarssonwastheeditorinchiefoftheantiracistmagazineExpo,andfortwentyyearsthegraphicseditorataSwedishnewsagency.Aleadingexpertonantidemocratic,right-wingextremistandNazianizations,hediedin2004.
    THISISABORZOI
    PUBLISHEDBYALFREDA.KNOPF
    Transtioncopyright?2008byRegKeend
    Allrightsreserved.PublishedintheUnitedStatesbyAlfredA.Knopf,adivisionofRandomHouse,Inc.,NewYork.
    aaknopf.
    OriginallypublishedinSwedenasM?nSomHatarKvinnorbyNorstedts,Stockholm,in2005.PublishedwithagreementofNorstedtsAgency.Copyright?2005byNorstedtsAgency.ThistranstionoriginallypublishedinGreatBritainbyMacLehosePress,animprintofQuercus,London.PublishedbyarrangementwithQuercusPublishingPLC.
    Knopf,Borzois,andthecolophonareregisteredtrademarksofRandomHouse,Inc.
    LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
    Larsson,Stieg,1954–2004.
    TheGirlwiththedragontattoo/byStiegLarsson;transtedfromtheSwedishbyRegKeend.
    —1stAmericaned.
    p.cm.
    Originallypublished:Stockholm:Norstedt,2005.
    eISBN:978-0-307-27211-9
    I.Title.
    PT9876.22.A6933M362008
    839.73-8—dc222008017771
    Thisisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,pces,andincidentseitheraretheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictiously.Anyresembncetoactualpersons,livingordead,events,orlocalesisentirelycoincidental.