Weve been in an accident, Bjorn says. We have to notify the police.
I see, Ossian says indifferently. I only have a cell phone here.
Thats okay. Please, we need to borrow it. Were desperate.
Ossian takes out his cell phone, looks at it, and then closes it again.
What are you doing? Penelope practically yells.
I do whatever I want to do, Ossian replies.
Look, we really need to borrow your phone, she says.
Then youll need my PIN number. Ossian smiles.
What game are you playing?
Ossian leans on the doorjamb and observes them for a while.
Just think, a pair of drug addicts have found their way to little old me.
Were not-
No one cares, says Ossian.
Lets go, Penelope tells Bjorn.
But Bjorn seems incapable of moving. His cheeks and lips are white and he supports himself with one hand on the wall.
Sorry that we broke into your house, he says. Well pay for everything we took. But really, we have to use your phone right now. Like she said, its a desperate situation-
And whats your name? Ossian interrupts, smiling.
Bjorn.
Youre looking handsome in my jacket, Bjorn, but why not the tie as well? Ive got a tie that matches the suit perfectly.
Ossian walks to his wardrobe and takes out a blue leather tie. Playing along, Bjorn submits to having it tied around his neck.
You should call the police! Penelope says. Tell them that two drug addicts have broken into your house and you caught them in the act.
Thats no fun, Ossian replies.
So what do you want? Penelope asks desperately.
Ossian steps back and studies his intruders.
I dont like her, he says to Bjorn. But you, on the other hand, you have style. My jacket really looks good on you. Let her keep that ugly sweater, right? She looks like Helge the Owl. She doesnt even look Swedish. She looks like a-
Cut it out, Bjorn says.
Ossian walks close to Bjorn and shakes his finger in his face.
Be good, he teases.
I know who you are, Penelope says.
Im glad, Ossian says with a smile.
Bjorn looks at her and then back at Ossian. Penelope collapses onto the edge of the bed and tries to breathe calmly.
Wait a minute, Ossian says. I know you, too Ive seen you on TV. I recognize you.
Ive been on some political debates-
And now youre dead. Ossian smiles.
Her entire body tenses. What strange words. She tries to understand what hes talking about while she looks for a way to escape. Now Bjorn slides down along the wall to the floor, completely white and unable to say a word.
If you dont want to help us, Penelope says, then well just leave and find someone who will.
Of course I want to help you! Of course!
Ossian walks out into the hallway and returns with a grocery bag from which he takes a carton of cigarettes and an evening newspaper. He tosses the paper on the bed and leaves for the kitchen with the cigarettes. On the front page, Penelope sees a picture of herself, a larger picture of Viola, and one of Bjorn. Over Violas picture is the word DEAD and over their pictures is the word MISSING.
BOAT DRAMA-THREE FEARED DEAD! screams the headline.
Penelope can see her mother in her minds eye: terrified and broken by sorrow-perhaps completely frozen, her arms wrapped around her body, just as shed done when they had been arrested.
The floor creaks as Ossian returns.
Lets play a game!
What are you talking about?
Im really in the mood for a game! A competition!
A competition? Bjorn whispers uncertainly.
You cant tell me that you dont know what a competition is?
Of course, but-
Penelope studies Ossian and realizes theyre in a precarious position. No one knows that theyre still alive. He could even decide to kill them, since everyone else believes theyre already dead.
Hes testing his power over us, Penelope says.
Hes testing his power over us, Penelope says.
Will you hand over your phone and your PIN number if we play? asks Bjorn.
Only if you win, Ossian answers, and smiles at them with glittering eyes.
What happens if we lose? asks Penelope.
52
Axel Riessen walks to his kitchen window and looks out over the rosebushes, past the iron fence, down the street, and toward the wide staircase of Engelbrekt Church.
The instant hed signed his name to the employment contract, hed taken over all of the late Carl Palmcronas duties and responsibilities.
It felt very good, it felt right. First thing I do, he told himself, is begin a collaboration with the United Nations as regards the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
He smiles to himself and marvels at how life can take strange turns. Then he remembers Beverly. His stomach flutters with worry. One time shed told him that she was going to the store, but four hours later, she still hadnt returned. Hed gone out to search for her. Hed finally found her sitting in a wheelbarrow outside of the Observatory Museum. She was confused, smelled like alcohol, and her underwear was missing. Someone had stuck gum in her hair.
She said shed run into some boys in the park.
They were throwing stones at an injured dove, Beverly explained. So I thought that Id give them my money so theyd stop. But I only had twelve crowns. That wasnt enough. They wanted me to do something else instead. They told me they would stomp the dove to death if I didnt.