‘I’d never have believed that you would be on Agla’s side.’

María sighed. Not all that long ago she wouldn’t have believed it herself. There was no way to explain it or excuse herself other than with the plain truth.

‘To be completely open with you, Marteinn, she’s paying me a pile of money for this and I couldn’t see any way of turning her down because it’s what’s keeping The Squirrel and me from bankruptcy.’

‘So you’re for sale like everyone else?’ Marteinn yelped, hardly holding back his sobs of frustration.

‘I’m truly sorry to disappoint you,’ María said, and meant it.

‘My disappointment doesn’t mean a lot when you’re working for the corporate giants fighting for ownership of metals. And metal is the only thing that will be recognised as currency once the magnetic storm hits.’

As often happened during conversations with Marteinn, María was failing to keep track.

‘Magnetic … what?’

‘Look back at all economic systems and you can see the pattern. First banknotes replaced metal as currency, and from banknotes we went to plastic cards, from electronic to digital and when the magnetic storm hits us and all digital records are destroyed, nobody will be able to prove they own anything. There’s a new world order coming and they will control it with magnetic pulses and blame it on solar activity.’

The words tumbled out of Marteinn’s mouth as he went into an even more convoluted explanation of his latest conspiracy theory. He spoke so quickly, María struggled to follow what he was saying. The only thing she understood was that those who would end up with the world in their hands were the same people who now had warehouses stacked high with metal.

‘Marteinn, I have to go now,’ she said as gently as she could.

The truck was indicating that it was about to turn right.

48

The counsellor stared at Agla with concern.

‘Are you sure this is a good idea?’ she asked, her brow furrowed and two deep grooves appearing between her eyebrows.

‘I don’t know,’ Agla said. ‘We’ll find out. I’ve owned this house for almost six years and have never used it.’

‘But you’re aware she’s an addict?’

‘Yes. I know that.’ Agla was fighting to maintain her composure in the face of this complete stranger’s interfering attitude. She had never met this counsellor before and couldn’t see that it was any of her business who she was letting live in her own house. ‘It wouldn’t worry me if she wrecks the place. I’ve no attachment to it.’

That wasn’t strictly true; there were plenty of emotions tied to this house, but they were all negative ones. She could see herself, childishly cheerful as she painted the living room, Sonja having changed her mind about the colour after the painters had finished. They had lain in bed after making love, ordering furniture online. And then she saw herself sitting in despair on a box as she read Sonja’s farewell message again and again.