Let the Old Dreams Die Read Online Free PDF Page A

sign of being angry or offended on this occasion either. He sat down opposite her.
    ‘First of all,’ said Tina, ‘I would like to offer my sincere apologies. Again. I must also inform you that you have every right to make a complaint against us. You can—’
    ‘Why would I do that?’
    ‘Because of the way we’ve treated you.’
    ‘We can forget about that. What else did you want to say?’
    ‘Well…’ Tina’s fingers began to twist themselves around each other under the desk, where he couldn’t see them. ‘…I was just wondering. Who you are. This is purely…private.’
    The man looked at her for such a long time that she had to lower her gaze. She shouldn’t be doing this. To begin with, she was completely on the back foot after what had happened. A position she hated. In addition, it was against regulations to have any personal contact with those she was supposed to be investigating. She shook her head.
    ‘Forgive me. You’re free to go. We’re done.’
    ‘I’m in no hurry,’ said Vore. ‘Who am I? That’s something I’m not too sure about, like most people I suppose. I travel. I stay somewhere for a while. Then I continue my journey.’
    ‘And you study insects?’
    ‘Among other things, yes. Although perhaps your question is mostly concerned with my…physical attributes?’
    Tina shook her head. ‘No. Not at all.’
    ‘And what about you? Do you live locally?’
    ‘Yes. In Gillberga.’
    ‘I don’t know it, unfortunately. But perhaps you know the ramblers’ hostel here in…Riddersholm, I think it’s called. Would you recommend it?’
    ‘Absolutely. It’s good. Beautiful surroundings. Are you thinking of staying there?’
    ‘Yes. For a while, anyway. So we might see one another.’ He stood up and held out his hand. ‘Goodbye for now.’
    She took his hand. His fingers were thick, strong. But so were hers. A strange excitement was growing in her stomach. She led the way to the door. As she stood there resting her fingers on the handle, she said, ‘Otherwise I have a cottage that I rent out.’
    ‘In…Gillberga?’
    ‘Yes. There’s a sign by the side of the road.’
    Vore nodded. ‘In that case I’ll call round one day and…have a look. That would be nice.’
    She stayed where she was, looking at him. The moment was exactly the same as last time. Perhaps it was a desire to pre-empt him, to regain control. Perhaps it was something else altogether. It was impossible to say, it was beyond everything she was capable of knowing or determining. She quickly leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
    This time it was her lips that were pricked by his sharp beard, and the moment they touched his skin a hammer of regret struck her on the forehead, making her jerk backwards.
    She quickly opened the door, refusing to look him in the eye. He went out, picked up his suitcase and disappeared.
    As soon as she was sure he had gone, she scurried off to the toilets, locked herself in a cubicle, sat down and hid her face in her hands.
    Why did I do that how could I do that what’s the matter with me?
    Something had fallen apart inside her head. The mistake had made her confused. The ground had been snatched away from beneath her feet, and she wasn’t responsible for her actions.
    What’s the matter with me?
    She rocked back and forth, whimpering to herself. What would he think of her? She! What would
she
think of her?
    Why…why?
    But somewhere she knew the answer. When she had calmed down and managed to stop her hands shaking, she got up and pulled down her trousers and her panties.
    It was difficult to turn her head so far, it was just on the edge of her field of vision, but it was still clearly visible. It was years since she had last looked at it in a mirror: the big red scar just above her tailbone.
    She rinsed her face and dried it with a paper towel.
    There was a better reason why she had invited Vore to her home.
    Robert could think what he liked, and the information about Vore’s