‘Amazing.’ MacSwain’s green eyes seemed to search for something in Fabel. ‘What can I do for you, Herr Fabel?’

‘We are investigating a case – a murder case – that involves a highly ritualised form of killing. The ritual, we believe, may be related to Norse mythology, to Odinism or … As …’ Fabel searched for the name Otto had mentioned.

MacSwain helped Fabel out. ‘Asatru. It means belief in the Aesir. Or, if you want to be truly correct and authentic, Forn Siar, which means the “Ancient Way”.’

‘Thank you, yes, Asatru. It came to our attention that you are something of an expert in this area, so we wondered if you could help us with some background to these beliefs.’

MacSwain kept his green gaze on Fabel, silently, for a moment before answering. ‘Herr Fabel, I am an information-technology consultant, not an Odinist high priest.’

‘But you are interested in the subject?’

‘I’m interested in a lot of subjects. The occult is one of them. I am not a member of any Asatru group, or anything. Anyway, wouldn’t you be better getting your information from a more authoritative source. The medieval-history department of the university, for example.’

‘We are looking into that. In the meantime we need all the help we can get.’

Werner gave a loud and artificial cough. Fabel got the message: the conversation had taken place entirely in English up until now.

‘I’m sorry –’ Fabel reverted to German, ‘I think we should speak German for Oberkommissar Meyer’s benefit.’

‘Of course. You say this is a murder inquiry?’

‘Yes. The victims have been murdered in a way that is almost identical to the Viking “Blood Eagle” ritual.’ Fabel watched MacSwain’s face. The only emotion that registered was interest.

‘Has he been tearing their lungs out, or carving the outline of an eagle on their backs?’

‘I didn’t realise there were two forms.’

MacSwain stood up and walked over to a large floor-to-ceiling bookcase that was made out of the same beech as the floor, but unpolished. It acted as a sort of divider in the open-plan space. He removed two books: one was the book Fabel had seen in Otto’s shop. MacSwain was either playing it very cool or he had nothing to hide.

MacSwain flicked through the other volume until he found what he was looking for. ‘Actually, there’s a possibility that neither form of ritual ever took place.’

‘Oh?’

‘Some historians believe that the whole Blood Eagle story was negative propaganda invented by the victims of Viking raids. Examples are cited in the historical record, but they tend to conflict … some say the victim was eviscerated while others state that an eagle was cut out of the flesh of their backs. And just because they are there in the record doesn’t mean to say that the accounts are true.’

‘What about Asatru? I can’t imagine it has a big following.’

MacSwain smiled a perfect smile. ‘Then you’d be wrong, Herr Fabel. Asatru is very popular these days. The Americans are big on it. Officially it’s classed as a neo-Paganist religion. It’s all very sanitised now, but Hitler incorporated a lot of its mythology and symbolism into Nazism. To be honest it’s been chucked into the New Age stew along with Buddhism, Native American Shamanism, Wicca and the rest.’