The Snowman ( PDFDrive )

as you could. Minor skirmishes which you could win. Then go home, bandage your wounds and try
again. He had done it, he had been alone in the cellar many times, he had needed to be, of course, to
make sure his skates were kept cold.
He grabbed the garden chair, dragged it after him for the noise to drown the silence. He checked
that the cellar door was in fact locked. Then he wedged the chair under the handle and made sure it
could not move. There we are. He stiffened. What was that? He looked up at the small window in
the door. He couldn’t hold back the thoughts any longer, now they flooded in. Someone was
standing outside. He wanted to run away, but forced himself to stand his ground. Fought against the
thoughts with other thoughts. I’m on the inside, he told himself. I’m as secure here as up there. He
breathed in, felt his heart pounding like a runaway bass drum. Then he leaned forward and peered at
the window. He saw the reflection of his own face. But above that he saw another face, a distorted
face that was not his. And he saw hands, monster hands being raised. Oleg backed away, terrified.
Bumped into something and felt hands close around his face and mouth. He was unable to scream.
For he wanted to scream. He wanted to scream that this was not in his mind, this was the monster,
the monster was inside. And they were all going to die.
‘He’s in the house,’ Harry said.
The other officers looked at him with incomprehension as Harry pressed the redial button on the
phone. ‘I thought it was Japanese music, but it was metal wind chimes. The kind Jonas has in his
room. And which Oleg has, too. Mathias has been there all the time. He told me himself, didn’t he
?’
‘What do you mean?’ the officer at the back ventured to ask.
‘He said he was at home. And that’s the house on Holmenkollveien now, of course. He even said he
was on his way down to see Rakel and Oleg. I should have known. After all, Holmenkollen is up in
relation to Torshov. He was on the first floor in Holmenkollveien. On his way down. We have to
get them out of the house now. Answer for Christ’s sake!’
‘Perhaps she’s not near –’
‘There are four telephones in the house. He’s just cut the connection now. I have to get there.’
‘We can send another patrol car,’ the driver said.
‘No!’ Harry snapped. ‘It’s too late anyway. He’s got them. And the only chance we have is the final
pawn. Me.’
‘You?’
‘Yes. I’m part of his plan.’
‘You’re not part of his plan, you mean, don’t you?’
‘No. I am part. He’s waiting for me.’
The two policemen exchanged glances as they heard the bleat of a motorbike worming its way
forward between the stationary cars behind them.
‘You think he is?’