Frikk was right beside her, staring at the stranger with his ears perked. A quick look in her backpack and she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the computer wasn’t damaged.

Ninni then picked up the bike and examined it. Everything worked. She scowled at the driver again.

‘You’re lucky there’s no damage. This is an antique bike.’

‘I didn’t see you,’ he said again.

‘And that’s why you shouldn’t drive,’ Ninni said.

‘Listen, I’m sorry. Are you sure you’re all right?’

‘You are really lucky,’ she said when she limped back to the bike. ‘If you had hurt my dog I would have reported you to the police in a second.’

‘You’re limping.’ He finally looked worried.

‘It’s just a scratch. I’ll live. But you should return that car to the rental company and walk to wherever you are going.’ She refused to show him that it hurt. ‘Idiot,’ she said again.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said.

‘You should be. Learn to drive on the right side of the road and the correct way through a roundabout!’ she said.

Ninni pushed the bike across the street and locked it in the stand by the entrance to Bystasjonen, the main bus terminal. Her father would pick it up later and take it to the bookshop. It would be safe there.

She looked across the street. The driver was standing next to the car, talking on his mobile. Should she have offered to help him contact the car rental company? She thought about it, then decided no. He was unhurt and more than capable of handling it on his own.

The bus that would take her and Frikk south along the coast already waited outside the station. Cigarette smoke wafted towards them. Ninni spotted the driver, leaning against the side of the bus. He frowned at Frikk, who was shaking himself.

‘He’s filthy,’ he said, shielding the cigarette with his other hand. ‘And so are you. What did you do? Roll in the mud before you got here?’

Ninni touched Frikk’s head. ‘I have a ticket for him. He’ll be no bother.’

The driver shrugged. ‘You’re the only passengers. Hop in.’

Ninni found a seat for them at the back. Frikk crawled under the seat and promptly fell asleep. The trip to Haugesund, the only place where they could take the ferry to the island, would take at least three hours, more if the roads were busy.

Ninni rubbed her eyes and leaned back. As soon as the bus left the station, she fell asleep and dreamed of Karl.

***

It was midday when they finally arrived on the island. Ninni grabbed the end of a hawser from the deckhand and jumped down onto the pier. She fastened the thick rope like an expert and grinned at the man.

‘You’re putting me out of work,’ he said.

‘Just protecting my island from pirates,’ she said, laughing at him now.

‘Have a good stay,’ the deckhand said.

‘Thank you. I will.’