Betrayal Read Free Page B

other side of the globe would make her start petition drives and organise demonstrations. Now that she was grown up and really could do something, she was grateful if she managed to get to a day-care parents’ meeting that affected her own son. The desire to change the world had been precipitately transformed into a hope that there would be enough hours in the day – her outrage into a deep sigh and some guilty spare change in the Red Cross collection box at the grocery store. All to silence her guilty conscience. Always new decisions to make. What telephone plan to sign up with, which electrical company would be most advantageous, where to invest the pension money, which school was the best, which family doctor, the lowest interest on the mortgage. And they all affected her little world: what was best and most beneficial for her and her family. Endless decisions to make, and you still never knew if you had made the right ones. Everyone thinking of themselves first. When all mandatory decisions had been made, there was no energy left to make a stand on the issues that really should matter. The ones that could change what really should be changed. She remembered the ironic sticker she had had on her notice-board in her bedroom when she was a girl: ‘Of course I take a stand on all the injustices in the world. I’ve said ‘bloody hell’ many times!’ She would never be like that. Or so she had thought back then.
    ‘Are you angry today?’
    Axel didn’t answer Kerstin’s question, and Eva went over and squatted down by his side.
    ‘It wasn’t a good morning. Isn’t that right, Axel?’
    Filippa and her mother came in the door and Kerstin’s attention was diverted to them instead.
    Eva pulled Axel close and held him tight.
    Everything’s going to be all right. You don’t have to be afraid. I promise I’ll work this out.
    ‘Hey Axel, the meeting’s starting now, everyone else is already inside. Come on, let’s go in. Today it’s your turn to get the fruit from the kitchen.’
    Kerstin reached out her hand to him, and he finally gave in, went over to his corner and hung up his jacket. Eva stood up.
    ‘Henrik will pick him up at four.’
    Kerstin smiled and nodded, took Axel by the hand, and went into the play-room. Eva followed along behind. Actually she might be the one who was having the hardest time saying goodbye today. Axel let go of Kerstin’s hand and ran over to Linda, one of the other day-care teachers, and climbed up on her knee.
    Gratefully she felt the worst of her worries recede. It was Axel’s everyday world she saw before her, and until she fixed all the problems at least he was having a good time here. Linda stroked Axel’s hair and gave her a quick smile.
    Eva smiled back.
    Here he was safe.

J onas got to his appointment with Dr Sahlstedt early. He had been waiting for more than fifteen minutes when the doctor came hurrying down the corridor and opened the door to his office.
    ‘Sorry you had to wait, I had to look at a patient down in intensive care. Come in.’
    He closed the door behind them and went over to sit down at his desk.
    Jonas just stood there. Anna’s calm seemed to be blown away, the compulsion was well aware that he was defenceless now, and soon it would grow strong enough. Now he would have to pay for last night’s peace and quiet. He had felt the signals even when he was waiting in the corridor. A creeping unrest that had begun during the morning rounds. The looks from the staff over Anna’s sleeping body. No specific word, but rather a new tone of voice, a vague insinuation.
    ‘Please have a seat.’
    He felt the pressure growing, taking over bit by bit.
    Four steps forward to the visitor’s chair. Not three or five. Or else he would have to go back to the door and start over. Three and five had to be avoided at all costs.
    Without touching the chair’s armrest he sat down and followed Sahlstedt’s hand with his gaze, the wayit pulled over a brown folder but then