I tried to see her through the sun dance, but all I saw was a reflection in her round glasses. ‘Ce-cilie?’
She turned away, her face a white pallor. ‘Ring for an ambulance! Do you hear me, Hans? You ring! Now!’
‘What’s going on? What are you doing here?’ I heard the echo of my own voice.
‘It’s all a terrible misunderstanding. I thought Hans was seriously worried about you.’
‘But…’
‘It wasn’t until this evening that I realised who I… what sort of person I have… You have to believe me, Varg! I had no idea what he was doing on the side!’
‘Doing… you don’t mean… you and Hans…’
She nodded vigorously. ‘Hans and I have been together since we met again in Oslo. He convinced me that Johnny boy was a danger to you and him, and that was why I… but when I overheard the conversation about where he would meet you two…’
‘Overheard…’
‘And overheard him say that on no account must either of you escape alive… I demanded to go with him, but he refused point blank! He just shoved me away, refused to let me come. It was then I realised how completely he had pulled the wool over my eyes… I’ve rung the police, too…’
‘The police?’
‘Yes, it’s over now, Varg. It’s all over…’
I tried to focus on her. But she seemed to float slowly up and away. It was becoming harder to see her. The pain inside me was growing. It filled the whole of my body now. I felt something hot and wet against my cheek. At first I thought it was blood. Later I realised it was tears. But they were hers, not mine.
‘How’s Jan Egil?’ I mumbled, but she didn’t answer.
Now I could hear the sirens, a long way off. But they had nothing to do with me. I was beginning to sink, slowly, calmly, as if I was lying and floating on an upward airstream. I was being lowered into a vast, dark void. I rolled over and lay face down. The pain was receding, and everything felt nice and cosy. Far below I saw the circular light, glittering silver water, which I was on my way towards in the first, and only, perfect swallow dive of my life.