The boy got up immediately and almost ran to the kitchen. He smacked the lid onto the butter, yanked the fridge door open and put the milk and butter in. Shook the bread into its bag and closed it. Pulled out the cutting board and raked the crumbs into the sink. All with a haste that surprised Anders. He stared at his son. His fine, ash-blonde hair was stiff after a day of being flattened under a hat. A widespread growth of angry red spots fanned across one of his cheeks while the other was largely untouched. As though his face were divided into different growing zones. Or was maturing unevenly. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. The boy avoided his eyes and seemed frightened.

‘What’s with you?’

‘Nothing.’

‘I know you worry about me, William. But you shouldn’t. I’ll be better soon. It’s just been a difficult few months. But since I started working, I feel much better already.’

‘You’re working?’

‘Of course.’

‘Where?’

‘What do you mean, where? In the same place I’ve worked the last thirty years, of course.’

The boy scowled at the floor.

‘Hey. What’s with you?’

‘Nothing.’

The front door slammed shut and moments later Johanna entered the kitchen. She was carrying two paper bags bursting with groceries. She had on a puff-sleeve blouse; her upper arms were red. She put the bags down on the floor and looked from the boy to Anders and back to the boy.

She brought William back out with her to fetch the rest of the bags; when they came back, Anders was standing by the sink, eating pepper salami straight out of the packet.

‘Sit down,’ she said.

She sat down at the kitchen table and studied him while rubbing her forehead, which was shiny with perspiration.

‘Anders. You don’t work at Grimsö any more.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The research station. You don’t work there any more.’

The salami slices were stuck together; he pulled them apart and crumpled them into his mouth one after the other with trembling fingers.

‘You don’t work there and you can’t go there. Are you listening to me? They’re going to report you to the police if you go there again.’

Anders stared ravenously at the packet while he chewed.

‘I haven’t had anything to eat all day.’

Lennart opened the door…