‘Could I take a look at the largest suitcase you have?’ he said, looking at the three he had pulled from the shelves, none of which he felt would be large enough. At least, not when he saw the girl standing next to them.

‘Is it the Superlight case you have in mind? A spinner, I suppose?’ the girl asked.

He looked back at her, failing to understand. It was a long time since he had last bought a suitcase.

‘It needs to be strong,’ he said. ‘Very strong.’

The assistant smiled understandingly, as if she realised that he wasn’t up to date with the latest fashions in luggage.

‘The spinners are the ones that have four wheels and they’re 148easily the most convenient. You just push them along next to you, so there’s no weight on your shoulders.’

He nodded. That sounded good. The case was going to be pretty heavy.

‘If you’re really looking for a case that will take some punishment, then you’ll probably want a box.’

‘Box?’

‘Yes. One of the rigid cases made from plastic or reinforced canvas, but not ordinary fabric.’

She fetched two cases to show him. They seemed to be lovely pieces of luggage, but the plastic didn’t look like it would withstand a great deal of weight.

‘Won’t that just break?’ he asked.

‘That could happen,’ she admitted. ‘If there’s something very heavy in the case, or if someone sits on it.’

Grímur shook his head.

‘That’s no good. Strength is vital.’

‘The largest cases we have are guaranteed up to thirty-five kilos. Of course, they can take more than that, but they aren’t guaranteed for anything more, because airlines don’t accept anything heavier.’

‘It has to take more than that,’ Grímur said, and looked around. He was reluctant to order anything specially, as that would create a trail that could be followed. He knew exactly what the suitcase would need to take, and he reckoned that was around eighty kilos. But he couldn’t say that to this girl.

‘The guarantee doesn’t matter,’ he added. ‘I’m only going to be using it here in Iceland. I need to move equipment and stuff. I’m a roadie.’

The girl looked at him with interest.

‘Wow,’ she said. ‘For which band?’

Grímur hadn’t thought out the lie in advance so he turned aside and muttered, ‘Loads of bands.’

He went further into the shop and could hear the click of the 149girl’s heels as she followed him. He noticed a row of cases right at the back, behind the counter, and pointed.

‘How about those?’ he said. ‘They look huge.’

‘I forgot about those,’ the assistant said. ‘They’re the old US standard type, but they aren’t spinners.’

‘That’ll have to do,’ he said. ‘Could I look at the grey one?’