Lina was always lying in water when he found her, cold and ashen under the black surface. Her thin body was swollen when he got her on to land. It was always the same procedure: he ripped off his jumper and wrapped it round her wet body, but water continued to stream from her scalp, her mouth and her eye sockets. Lelle tried to cover the leaking cavities, but it was no good, the water gushed out of her like a river swollen with meltwater. She drained away from him every time. And when he woke up the bedding was damp around him.

It was the thunder that dragged him out of the dream. In the flashes of lightning he saw his wounds: scratches and bruises from nights in the forest, and swollen mosquito bites around his ankles and hairline, bloody from where he had scratched them in his sleep. His whole body itched and stank. In the shower, memories from the day before came back to him, how he had held the gun to Mikael Varg’s ribcage and been ready to shoot. The image made him shiver, despite the hot water. He leaned against the tiles and sobbed uncontrollably. He didn’t stop crying until the power cut off and he had to feel his way to the kitchen for a candle, the water dripping from him. He had only just found the candles when his mobile rang.

As always, Anette’s husky voice hit him hard in the stomach. ‘I phoned the landline, but there was no answer.’

‘I was in the shower.’

‘I see.’

There was a heavy silence that didn’t bode well. Lelle lit a candle with his free hand, walked to the table and sat down. He could hear her breathing.

‘I phoned because I have something to tell you, and it might come as a shock to you – God knows it was a shock to me – I was almost sure I was too old by now, but obviously not…’

‘Just say what you’ve got to say.’

‘I’m pregnant.’

A deafening crash of thunder distorted her words. Lelle pressed the mobile closer to his ear. ‘What’s that you said?’

‘I’m pregnant. Thomas and I are having a baby.’

‘You and Thomas are having a baby?’

‘Yes.’

Lelle gave a laugh, even though there was nothing at all funny about it. Lightning flashed around him and threw flickering shadows over Lina’s chair. He looked towards the office. In the light he saw the door was ajar. How long ago was it they had made love in there, he and Anette?

‘Are you sure it’s Thomas’s child?’

‘Of course I’m sure.’

‘Because if I remember correctly we happened to…’

‘That’s all over and done with, Lelle. What we did that day doesn’t matter.’

‘Oh, right. I see.’

The candle flickered and shadows moved across the wall.

‘What about Lina?’

‘What do you mean?’