is on Vatnajokull.’
‘And it’s still live and extremely dangerous,’ Wesson added.
Chapter 28
VATNAJOKULL GLACIER,
SATURDAY 30 JANUARY, 2300 GMT
They were well equipped with powerful torches, good climbing boots and warm winter overalls provided by Jon but the temperature had risen after the earlier storm, turning the snow soft underfoot and making every step a struggle. The moon dipped in and out of the clouds, shedding a pale light on the rim of the glacier. The temperature was falling again.
In the end they had not managed any sleep but the rest had done them good. Before setting off, Kristin had tried once more, unsuccessfully, to reach her father, then had finally gathered enough courage to call the police. She was put through immediately to the detective investigating the city centre shooting. He listened attentively to her detailed account of the improbable events that had occurred and her explanation of why she had not contacted the police sooner. She concluded by telling him that she was now at the foot of Vatnajokull.
‘So the man we found in your flat – Runolfur – had no connection with any of this,’ the detective commented when Kristin had finished speaking. Far from disputing her account, he went out of his way to give the impression of taking what she said seriously. He did not want to risk making her hang up by arguing with her. It was late and the entire force was working round the clock on the shooting and murder.
‘No connection at all,’ Kristin confirmed; she had tried to give as clear and impartial an account as possible. ‘In fact, I think he saved my life.’
‘They told me at the ministry that you might have killed him and gone into hiding as a result. They thought it was plausible. But that, if so, you would have been acting in self-defence. They said this Runolfur bloke had been threatening you.’ His voice, friendly, steady and sensible, had a calming effect on Kristin. She sensed she could trust this man and tried to put a face to the voice but somehow could not imagine what he would look like.
‘That’s why I didn’t know where to turn. And because the men who attacked me referred to a conspiracy. They murdered a man in my flat. Don’t you see, I was desperate?’
He absorbed this information. Kristin’s account, crazy as it was, nevertheless tied in with what he had found out so far, and he could see no reason to disbelieve her. Her willingness to work with the police was obvious but he sensed the extreme difficulty of her situation.
‘We detained the man from the Irish pub briefly,’ the detective continued, ‘but the embassy insisted he be moved to the US military hospital on the base. The Icelandic government conceded to their wishes, on condition that he doesn’t leave the country.’
‘That’s insane. He’ll be halfway across the Atlantic by now,’ Kristin said.
‘I agree. First Class.’
‘And what about the other one?’
‘We know nothing about the other man. We went to the embassy which is, as you say, crawling with soldiers, and talked to a general, some kind of stand-in ambassador, but couldn’t prise anything out of him. We know they have something to hide; we need your help to find out what it is.’
Her manner was so convincing that he had decided to take a gamble and trust her, at least more than he trusted the Americans.
‘I know what it is,’ Kristin said. ‘It’s to do with the wreck of a plane on Vatnajokull and I’m on my way there now. I’ve only got a single name, Ratoff. That’s all. Maybe he’s in charge of the operation.’
‘We’ve heard nothing about any plane wreck,’ the detective commented.
‘My brother saw it.’
There was a pause while the man on the phone thought.
‘Why don’t you come and see us in town and we’ll try to sort it out from here.’
‘It’ll be too late. It would be better if you sent some of your people here. And why don’t you get in touch with the rescue team on the glacier? The man in charge is called Julius. He can confirm what I’ve told you about Elias and Johann.’
‘You know that a travel ban has just been announced for the Vatnajokull area due to a volcanic eruption alert? There have been newsflashes on all channels. They’ve declared a state of emergency.’
‘Eruption alert? What bullshit! What do you think American soldiers are doing there if there’s a risk of an eruption? What you mean is that the spineless, arse-licking government has kowtowed to the Yanks yet again.’
The detective suppressed a laugh. He was beginning to like her. ‘I believe the term is “fostering positive relations”.’
‘I’m on my way,’ Kristin said again.
‘You really ought to come in to the station and tell me more. What’s this plane you keep talking about?’
‘I haven’t got time to go into it but there’s something inside the wreckage that they’re determined to hide. I don’t know what. It could be anything.’
‘And that’s the big secret?’
‘Exactly. It’s up to you what you do, but I’m going to the glacier,’ Kristin repeated, and ended the conversation. Part of her wanted to trust the detective, who seemed a decent man, but she knew the only way for her to uncover the whole truth was to go and find it out for herself.
Steve was four metres behind her and the gap between them was growing. The weather was still but cold. Their overalls creaked, the snow creaked and she felt as if her lungs were creaking too. Jon had given them very precise directions as to the best way to access the glacier, yet she was surprised to find how easy the route was, in spite of everything. The only thing holding them back was their lack of fitness. She could hear Steve puffing and blowing behind her, swearing profusely every now and then. She was out of breath herself, every footstep she took in the snow an effort.
Kristin did not know what to expect when she reached the glacier. Hopefully she would find Julius there and possibly even members of the Coast Guard. Besides notifying the police, she had called an acquaintance on the national TV news desk to ensure that the media would quickly start following up the rumours of American troops on Vatnajokull and the possible presence of a German World War II plane on the glacier. The Yanks would not be able to cover it up much longer and she had every intention of being on the spot when the story broke.
She had barely slept a wink since she woke up at the crack of dawn two days ago, dreading a confrontation with Runolfur at the office, and exhaustion was beginning to take its toll as she laboured up the steep slope to the ice cap.
‘Do you know what I saw in you?’ Steve had asked as they lay in bed at Jon’s farm.
‘Saw in me?’
‘The first time I met you.’
‘At that reception?’
‘You seemed a bit lonely, as if you didn’t know many people.’
‘Receptions are not my favourite…’
‘I’ve never had such a powerful response to anyone.’
‘What do you mean?
‘I’m not sure what it was. It’s hard to explain.’
‘What response?’
‘I saw… I knew at once that I… I wanted to get to know you, to find out who you were, hear you speak, see you laugh and smile, be with you, just you and me.’
Kristin smiled. ‘You’re not very good at this, are you?’
‘No, I guess not,’ he replied, smiling. ‘I’m just trying to tell you how I felt the first time I saw you.’
