Black Seconds Read Online Free PDF Page A

go out to the garage and have a look?" she asked.
    "There's no need," he said in a tired voice. "I've talked to Willy. He'll help me repair it. I haven't got any money, but he says he can wait."
    "Willy?" Ruth frowned. "Are you still friends with him? I thought you were going over to Bjørn's?"
    "I was," Tomme said. "But Willy knows about cars. That's why I drove over to his place. Willy has the tools and a garage. Bjørn doesn't have anything like that."
    He started moving the cat again. Why won't he look at me? Ruth wondered. An awful thought struck her.
    "Tomme," she said breathlessly, "you haven't been drinking, have you?"
    He spun around in his chair and gave her an irate look. "Are you out of your mind? Of course I don't drive when I've been drinking. Are you saying I drink and drive?"
    He was so genuinely outraged that she felt ashamed. His face was white as chalk. His longish hair was unkempt, and in the midst of everything that was going on, Ruth noticed that it could do with a wash.
    She lingered in the doorway for a while. She could not calm herself down, she did not feel tired; all the time she was listening for the telephone in case it should ring. She sensed how shocked she would be if it actually did ring. She imagined the moment when she would lift up the receiver and wait. Standing at the edge of the void. She would either fall into it or be pulled back from the edge and into the comforting reassurance of a happy ending. Because this had to have a happy ending. She could not imagine the alternative, not here, in this peaceful place, not for Ida.
    "I'm going over to Helga's early tomorrow morning," she said. "You've got to give Marion breakfast and help her get ready. I want you to walk her to the school bus. And don't just walk her there," she added. "I want you to wait until she's found her seat. Do you hear me? I need to be with Helga in case anything happens. Uncle Anders is there at the moment," she said quietly.
    She sighed forlornly and told her son to go to bed. Left him and went outside. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. She opened the door to the double garage. She was surprised to see that her son had covered the Opel with a tarpaulin. He never did that. I suppose he can't bear to look at it, she thought. She turned on the garage light. Lifted up the tarpaulin. On the right-hand side she found what she was looking for. A dent, a broken front light, and some damage to the paintwork. It was scarred by long gray and white scratches. She shook her head and replaced the tarpaulin. Went back outside. Stood there pondering. Felt the rain on her neck, raw and cold. She glanced quickly up at the window of her son's bedroom, which overlooked the drive. There she saw his pale face, partly hidden by the curtain.

CHAPTER 3
    Helga woke with a jolt. She sat up in bed. For a brief second everything was as usual. She was Helga waking up to a new day.
    Then she remembered. Reality hit her and forced her back down on the mattress. At the same time she heard the slamming of a car door and subdued, murmuring voices. Someone was coming to the house. She lay very still as if lying on a bed of needles, listening. They were moving very quietly, she could hear that. No hasty steps, no eager voices. She remained curled up in her bed. She was going to lie like this until Ida came home again. She would not move, eat, or drink. If she stayed there long enough, the miracle would happen. And if it never happened she would let the mattress swallow her up. Lose herself in its stuffing. People could sleep on top of her, they could come and go as they pleased; she would not notice them. She would never feel anything ever again.
    She heard Anders's voice. Feet dragging across the floor. The front door being closed ever so gently. If the worst had happened, Anders would be standing in the doorway looking at her. He would not have to say a single word, just stare at her with a silent cry. His eyes, his wide brown eyes, which Ida had