Grendel's Game Read Online Free PDF

theories about the writer’s age, literacy, and lack of a record.
    â€œYes, I think you’re right about all that. Certainly, he’s intelligent. It seems to me he’s not going to have a record that would make him easy to find. Let’s also assume for now he’s somewhere between twenty-five and fifty.”
    â€œIs there anything else you can say?”
    â€œOh, there’s quite a bit more. The letter is revealing. You’re dealing with a ‘hollow man,’ a psychopath. He feels his emptiness and wants to fill this inner void with some humanity . . . literally.” Karlsson gave Ekman a thin smile.
    â€œHe sets himself apart from other humans. He’s cleverer than anyone, including the famous Chief Superintendent Ekman.”
    â€œWhat would he seem like to the casual observer?”
    â€œOr even to those who think they’re close to him. Of course, no one is. He’s probably single, although he may have casual intimate relationships with women . . . or men. He’s isolated inside, always focused only on his own needs. But on the surface, as he’s told you, he’s ‘charming, handsome,’ very likable, and may have friends who think the world of him. This is often typical of the psychopath. He wears what some psychiatrists call ‘the mask of sanity.’ ”
    â€œBut he has rules about killing . . . no children . . . and how painlessly he does it, or will do it. If he can be believed,” said Ekman.
    â€œHe may be trying to throw you off. Psychopaths are typically deceptive and manipulative. So it might be best not to exclude children as possible victims. But perhaps he’s telling the truth, because everyone, even a psychopath, will attempt to justify his actions, no matter how terrible. It’s part of his rationale for what he’s compelled to do by inner drives he doesn’t understand and can’t control.
    â€œHe may boast of not killing children, but again, notice he says he’s tempted. As far as painless killing goes, he gives no thought . . . it totally escapes him . . . that there will be an enormous burden of psychological pain for others. He doesn’t think about the grief of the families and friends of his victims.
    â€œHe justifies his actions as no more immoral than those of any person of normal appetites. Walther, haven’t you found that evil often boasts of superior moral virtue? He said he considers himself less a monster than you.”
    â€œMany people think the same,” Ekman said, grinning.
    â€œHis letter to you makes this personal in other ways. This is someone who presents himself as a misunderstood Grendel. He’s singled you out. That, of course, makes you his Beowulf, though I can’t say you look the part.” There was a faint smile on his face.
    â€œHe wants to humiliate you personally, not just the police. You’ve become the opposition. He’s not simply warning you, but issuing a direct challenge.” He paused for a moment.
    â€œAt the very end of the letter, he says ‘You’ are to his taste. That ‘You’ could mean people generally, but it could also mean ‘You, Walther Ekman.’ ” Karlsson looked at his friend. “You’d make wonderfully hearty meals for several weeks,” he said, straight-facedly.
    â€œYou’re not serious?” said Ekman, taken aback.
    â€œUnfortunately, I’m quite serious, Walther. This could become extremely personal. You know where to begin looking for him?”
    â€œWe’re going to check missing-person cases for the last few years for leads. Any suggestions?”
    â€œYou’re right to think he’s already killed. His letter is evidence of a later stage of his disease. He’s committed perfect crimes and has never been found out. Now he wants his genius known. More than that, he wants to see if he can be caught. Maybe he even wants to be caught, so he can bask