We Shall Inherit the Wind Read Online Free PDF Page B

than in any marriage, I assume.’
    When he didn’t follow up, I said: ‘You don’t have a close relationship with Ranveig, do you.’
    ‘She’s not my mother. Let me put it like that.’
    ‘But there were disagreements between them?’  
    He gesticulated. ‘Not as far as I know, as I said. Bit of door-slamming. That’s not unusual in most homes.’
    ‘But he didn’t say anything to you? About going away, I mean.’
    ‘No, no, he didn’t.’ After some reflection he added: ‘You have to understand: Dad’s considering pulling out of the company. And leaving everything to me.’
    ‘To you alone?’
    ‘Yes, and the other staff, of course.’
    ‘But what about your sister?’
    ‘Else? She has her shares and can keep them, but she’s still young and has never had any interest in what we do.’
    ‘What does she do?’
    ‘She’s a student.’ And then he added, ‘History of Art,’ in a tone that made it sound rather suspect.
    ‘So what’s the company’s main activity?’
    ‘Property and project management, basically. We’re not primarily after profit, but we try to add value and be forward-thinking.’
    This was something he had learned off by heart. But I wasn’t there to buy anything, and the projects I had in mind were not of the value-adding and forward-thinking variety. Mine were more of the keeping-my-head-above-water kind.
    ‘That’s why you’re investing so heavily in wind power?’
    He regarded me with respect. ‘So you’ve heard about it?’
    ‘Ranveig told me.’
    ‘Right. Yes. In co-operation with a company called Norcraft Power we’re planning a wind farm at the edge of Gulen, on an island called Brennøy.’
    ‘Yes, I’m aware of that. You’re going there to do a survey on Wednesday, I understand.’
    ‘Did she tell you that, too?’ He looked almost impressed.
    ‘No, we found a letter addressed to your father confirming the arrangement.’
    ‘Yes, he’s been involved in – how shall I put it? – the practical side of things: he knows Brennøy well, you see.’  
    ‘I see?’
    ‘Yes. My father’s mother is from Brennøy, and they used to spend their holidays with the family there. That was how he got to hear about the property. An old boy put it on the market – he died straight afterwards, in the late 80s – and Dad made an offer.’
    ‘And this survey with Norcraft Power, was he going to attend it on his own?’
    ‘No, the idea was that we would both … but …’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Well, I was thinking. He might just have gone out there in advance.’
    ‘Without telling you?’
    ‘No, that does sound strange.’
    ‘He’s not answering his mobile if he has. And Ranveig said you don’t have a house there.’
    ‘No, that’s right. But there’s always Naustvik.’
    ‘Which is …?’
    ‘Somewhere to stay. After the bridge was built to the island things have livened up, and for those keen on adventure holidays they’ve got the ocean straight ahead. German tourists are especially crazy for that. I know he’s spent the night there.’
    ‘Great. I’ll check that out. Have you any other ideas?’
    ‘Ideas about what?’
    ‘About where he might be.’
    ‘No, that’s …’
    ‘He’s probably got his laptop with him. You haven’t heard from him?’
    ‘Not since the weekend. My understanding was they’d had a row on Saturday. Anyway, even if he’s got his laptop with him he still needs a connection somewhere.’
    ‘Don’t you get worried if you don’t hear from him for a few days?’
    He looked away. ‘Worried? We … Even though we work together we … We’re a bit of an unusual family, Veum. My sister and I, we lost our mother when we were children.’
    ‘Yes, so I’ve heard.’
    ‘Although Mum had her problems and there were difficult periods inour lives, it was as if a wall had collapsed in our house. One of the load-bearing ones. And the way it happened … I don’t know …’ He looked at me and shook his head.
    ‘Yes, I know what