‘I could really do with a cup of tea right now,’ Violet said, and sighed, and he nodded as he turned the car out of the parking lot behind the cathedral. He’d take her home, make some tea, try to talk things over, and then he’d make his excuses and go to bed early. Now he wished that Violet wasn’t his house guest, and had to admit to himself that he had invited her to stay in the vague hope that it would bring him closer to Áróra.

Once Violet had gone to bed, Daníel went out in the garden and did star jumps on the soft grass. He was wearing only a pair of jeans, so the fine night mist blended with the sweat that ran down his chest. He switched to squats and did forty before going back to star jumps. He was breathless and his heart pounded, but he still longed for more exercise that would clear the image of the drunk Áróra in another man’s arms from his thoughts.

‘The view looks good,’ said Lady, appearing at her door and lighting a cigarette. She dragged the smoke deep while her eyes lingered on Daníel’s bare chest. ‘I’m almost tempted to invite you into my garage.’

71

Áróra didn’t dare trust that she’d be woken for her night-time mission by the sunshine, which had roused her during the last few nights. She had so much alcohol flowing through her veins, she was sure she’d be knocked out as soon as she lay down and wouldn’t wake until well into the morning. She told Hákon that she was going to take a shower and that he should go to sleep, and she would crawl into his bed soon.

She stood for a long time under the shower, turning it alternately hot and cold in the hope that it would sober her up. Her mind was cloudy, and she couldn’t understand how her mother and Daníel had appeared suddenly in front of her, bringing the whole Ísafold baggage with them. It demonstrated how her world had been compartmentalised over the last few days, with Hákon and his treasure in one box, and Daníel, her mother and Ísafold’s disappearance in another. Now, as these two realities collided, she was left with some very odd feelings.