appearances and clothing was like night and day. Thora always tried to dress smartly: in tasteful jeans and a sporty outdoor jacket that had cost far, far too much, while her secretary looked more as if she were on her way to the stage to act in a play about the Baader-Meinhof terrorist gang. To make matters worse, the girl’s make-up made her look like a vampire. Thora stepped closer to the car.
‘Hello,’ said the man, and reached over to open the passenger door. ‘My name is Leifur, I’m Markus’s brother. He called me and said that you were on your way, so I thought I’d come and pick you up.’
‘Thanks,’ replied Thora immediately. ‘My secretary is here with me, is that all right?’
‘Yes, of course,’ replied Leifur, as he stepped out of the car and put their suitcases in the back.‘You’re staying at Thorshamar Hotel, I expect?’ he said, after they’d all piled in.
‘Yes,’ replied Thora, and she took the opportunity to examine the man better. She could see a distinct resemblance between the brothers, and thought they must both have been very handsome in their younger years. Leifur was slightly older than Markus, probably in his fifties. He carried his age well, like his brother, and had the air of someone who is used to being in charge and getting his own way. She wasn’t attracted to much older men, but she could see that the brothers were good-looking. Leifur’s smart clothing suggested he was a man who appreciated good quality, and this fitted with his choice of car, although Thora knew that clothing did not tell the whole story. Bella, for example, was neither a terrorist nor a fat vampire, although people might be forgiven for thinking otherwise.
‘The hotel is in an excellent location,’ said Leifur as they drove off. ‘In the centre of town, not far from the harbour.’
‘That’s good to hear,’ said Thora, and wondered what she should say next. She had no idea how much he knew about the case, and wanted to avoid telling him anything he didn’t already know. It wouldn’t look good if he started quoting her at police interrogations. She glanced around in search of something to talk about. ‘Great weather,’ she said, and then reproached herself for the cliche. ‘Is it always so nice here?’
Leifur turned towards her and smiled.‘Sure, I guess so.’
Much to Thora’s regret, no lively discussion of the weather ensued. No one said anything for a few moments and she used the time to look around. There was little or no traffic on the roads, just like last time she had been here. The landscape was just as magnificent, and she was about to mention this when Leifur started speaking again, now less upbeat than before: ‘It’s terrible, this thing with the bodies,’ he said, glancing over at Thora. ‘I presume it’s okay to talk about it in front of your secretary?’
‘Of course,’ said Thora.‘Nonetheless, I’m unable to discuss details of the case with you. At least, details that you don’t know about already.’
‘No, I’m not going to try to get anything out of you,’ replied the man. ‘That’s not what I meant. I was just so shocked that they were found in our house. My family has enough to deal with right now.’
Thora’s ears pricked up.‘Oh?’ She looked around the jeep and recalled how Markus also seemed to have quite enough to get by on. Financial concerns could hardly be overburdening the family.
‘Ah, well,’ replied Leifur, sounding dejected. ‘It’s a lot of little things combined with a few larger problems. Dad’s illness is the biggest.’
‘Yes, Markus told me about it,’said Thora. She always found it difficult to speak to strangers about illness or death. ‘You have my sympathies. It’s a terrible disease.’
‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘No, you needn’t worry about me. Markus told me his side of the story and I have to admit that although it might sound improbable, I trust him. It was a bit odd how he chased after Alda all those years ago. She stood head and shoulders above the rest of the girls in those days, but still. He would have done anything for her – actually, he did enough stupid things even without her.’
‘Yes, it’s all very peculiar,’ Thora said. ‘I was hoping I could find something that would shed light on the subject while I’m here, but perhaps that’s unrealistic. Too much time has passed.’
‘Yes and no,’ musedLeifur. ‘The eruption, and the time that followed, are still fresh in the memories of those who experienced it. It was a terrible ordeal.’
‘I can only imagine,’ said Thora. She pointed at the stone arch over the entrance to the cemetery.‘Isn’t this the gate that was in the famous photo?’ She was referring to a picture taken during the eruption. In it the cemetery was completely covered in ash and the only thing standing out from the pitch- black blanket was the arch, with the Biblical inscription I live and you will live. In the background a column of fire stretched up into the sky. It was a very stirring image, and the photographer had managed to tell an incredible story. ‘I didn’t realize the cemetery had been dug out.’
‘A lot of things were dug out of the ash after the eruption. For a while they were removing nearly ten thousand cubic metres of ash from the town every day. Landa Church was partly buried,’ said Leifur, pointing in the direction of the imposing but unostentatious chapel standing next to the cemetery. ‘A few houses were dug up, next to the ones where the current excavation is taking place.’ It was clear to Thora that she had to learn more about the eruption if she didn’t want to waste all her time uncovering facts that were already common knowledge. She had brought the book Gylfi got from the library, and could start reading it in her hotel room that evening. Leifur continued: ‘I actually don’t know why the houses on our street weren’t uncovered then. I’m sure there was a logic to it, as with anything else. They’d doubtless been considered ruined, and quite rightly. I can’t imagine anyone bothering to try to make the ruins they’ve already dug up inhabitable again.’
‘I know I couldn’t be persuaded to live in any of those houses,’ said Thora. ‘My trip the other day was enough, even without what was found in the basement.’
‘My wife and I were thinking of inviting you to dinner tomorrow night,’ said Leifur as they pulled up at the hotel entrance. ‘Both of you, I mean,’ he added when he realized that he’d forgotten Bella. ‘Nothing fancy, but easier than you having to trek off to a restaurant. There actually aren’t many places to eat in town, so I expect you’ll be glad of the change.’
Thora looked back at Bella, who shrugged indifferently. She turned again to Leifur. ‘That would be lovely,’ she replied. ‘What time?’
When everything was settled regarding dinner, Thora and Bella said goodbye, but Leifur insisted on carrying their suitcases into the hotel and took his leave only after each of them had received the keys to their separate rooms. ‘Don’t hesitate to get in touch if I can help in any way,’ he said. ‘I know this place like the back of my hand and I can help you out if you need it. As you can imagine, I want to do everything I can for my brother.’ He handed Thora his mobile number, turned and walked away.
‘There’s something strange about that man,’ said Bella, as she and Thora stood by the large window in the hotel foyer and watched him get into his car.
‘Why do you say that?’ asked Thora in surprise. She had found him extremely pleasant, if a little distant.
‘There’s just something spooky about him,’ said Bella, and walked towards the stairs without any further explanation.
Adolf turned onto his side and his stomach churned. Without opening his eyes, he knew what he would see in his bed. The odour that filled his nostrils was a blend of perfume and sour alcohol. The turbulence in his stomach grew but he fought against it, breathing through his mouth so that he wouldn’t throw up. When the discomfort had almost passed he wished he had just puked over the woman in his bed, whose name he couldn’t remember for the life of him, and thus ensured that he would never see or hear from her again. He looked at her and tried to recall what he had found attractive. It wasn’t her nose, which from close up he could see was completely covered with blackheads. Her thick black mascara had run, making it look as if he’d woken up next to Alice Cooper. Adolf considered pulling the covers down carefully to look at the rest of her naked, because it was still possible she had a great body. The shape under the duvet didn’t seem to suggest she was very fat, rather the opposite: she seemed to be very thin. It actually didn’t matter whether she was fat or thin, though – it had been a stupid mistake to bring her home. It had never been more important that he kept himself to himself. He screwed his eyes shut, full of self-loathing. Why couldn’t he ever stick to the plan? Have two beers, then stop. Go home. Alone.
The girl shifted in her sleep, and Adolf held his breath in case she woke up. He
