The Snowman ( PDFDrive )

‘He was all wild-eyed and asked if Lund-Helgesen was still alive! As though he was terrified the
guy had died. As though that was the worst thing that could have happened. And when I said yes
and that he was being taken away in the ambulance he yelled that we had to remove Lund-
Helgesen’s shoelaces and belt and make sure he didn’t commit suicide. Have you ever heard
anything like it? Showing that much care for a guy who’d just tried to snuff your ex?’
37
DAY 22.
Dad.
JONAS THOUGHT HE HAD HEARD THE METALLIC JANGLE of the wind chimes, but had
gone back to sleep. It was only when he heard the choking sounds that he opened his eyes. There
was someone in the room. It was Dad; he was sitting on the edge of his bed.
And the choking sounds were him crying.
Jonas sat up in bed. He placed a hand on his father’s shoulder and felt it shaking. It was odd; he had
never noticed that his father had such narrow shoulders.
‘They they’ve found her,’ he sobbed. ‘Mum’s ’
‘I know,’ Jonas said. ‘I dreamt it.’
The father swivelled round in surprise. In the moonlight seeping through the curtains Jonas could
see the tears running down his cheeks.
‘It’s just us now, Dad,’ he said.
His father opened his mouth. Once. Twice. But nothing came out. Then he stretched out his arms,
wrapped them around Jonas and drew him close. Held him tight. Jonas laid his head against his
father’s neck, felt the hot tears wetting his scalp.
‘Do you know what, Jonas?’ he whispered through the tears. ‘I love you so much. You’re the
dearest thing I have. You’re my boy. Do you hear? My boy. And you always will be. We’ll manage,
won’t we? Don’t you think?’
‘Yes, Dad,’ Jonas whispered. ‘We’ll manage. You and me.’
38
DECEMBER 2004.
The Swans.
IT WAS D ECEMBER AND THE FIELDS OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL windows lay bare and
brown under a steel-grey sky. On the motorway, studded tyres crunched on dry tarmac and
pedestrians scuttled across the footbridge with coat collars turned up and closed faces. But inside
the walls of the building people huddled closer. And on the table in the ward the two candles