‘Besides, he’s someone who roams around in that milieu,’ Lars went on. ‘He’s always involved when something big happens. Always has the official championship clothing. They think that’s terrific, those boys. They stamp their authority in that way. Show that they belong. That they’re on the inside.’

He grinned.

‘You’ll have to ask other folk about Jan Morell. But when it comes to the situation in the Crystal Palace …’

He tossed his head. In the wrong direction, Selma noticed.

‘… I could keep going all day long. Apart from creating fucking brilliant cross-country skiers, which isn’t to be sneezed at, I have to admit, things are in a pretty sorry state up there.’

He took a deep breath and raised his hands.

‘We’ll take it point by point,’ he said. ‘A combination of formal and informal power.’

He held one finger up in the air.

‘Fear-based leadership culture.’

Two fingers.

‘Devoid of competence within the organization and its finance, including a total lack of understanding of the need for transparency and openness.’

Three fingers up in the air. This anecdote was obviously one he had told many times, and he spoke as if he was reading from a script.

‘There you have the Federation’s three main problems. Bloody hell, there you have Norwegian sport’s three main problems! With a few honourable exceptions.’

‘What’s the worst?’

‘Worst?’

‘Yes, if you were in a position to change anything, what would be the most important aspect to tackle?’

‘The informal structure of authority,’ he answered after a brief pause for thought. ‘Informal power is really dangerous. Nepotism, the old pals act. It exists everywhere, of course, probably in every workplace, and it’s always negative. But in some locations it’s more dangerous than others.’

‘Oh? And then you mean …’

‘Power is a gift that gives you confidence. Through appointments or votes. If this is not to be misused, it has to be visible. There have to be mechanisms in the organization that make it possible to examine it. Look at it, control it and take it back if it is misused.’

Selma nodded. He now had the bit between his teeth.

‘When configurations arise that are fuzzy or invisible, we lose that opportunity. Power is hidden. Power shouldn’t be.’

He looked at her coffee cup.

‘Don’t you want that?’

Selma smiled and pushed the untouched cup towards him.

‘Can you name some examples?’ she asked.

Immediately the man grew slightly wary. The cup, halfway to his mouth, stopped for a second before it was put down again.

‘What are you really after?’ he asked.

‘Since you don’t know much about Jan Morell,’ Selma said, ‘what about Sølve Bang?’