C9 Chapter 9

As the landscape of the demons was bathed in the light of dawn, Tula stood on the stairway, surrounded by her four demons, taking leave of all her guests. Everybody laughed at the memory of the wonderful night and thanked her.

“We’ll see each other again when the struggle is over,” she shouted. “Unless it turns out to be a fiasco, and we never meet again. In the meantime, you know that Linden Avenue will be our meeting place. Old Linden Avenue will have its dignity restored and become the centre and true home of the Ice People. After all, we’ve had to hide ourselves from Tengel the Evil for many years. Now we’ll no longer conceal who we are, because we’ve declared unequivocal war on him. You can rest assured that Linden Avenue won’t be left open and unprotected. From now on, the abandoned ones will be known as Trond’s platoon, and their duty will be to guard and protect Linden Avenue. Each of you will have your own helper, but as a place to stay Linden Avenue will be under the surveillance of Trond’s platoon.”

“It makes you feel safe,” said old Benedikte, smiling at some of Trond’s crowd, who were standing on a ledge over the gate. They didn’t exactly return her smile but they didn’t snort at her either, which was always a good sign.

Ulvhedin, whom Gabriel hadn’t had time to see much of during the night, signalled to him that he should join him. Karine, his mother, was already waiting for him with Niklas.

In the quiet, echo-filled morning, all those from the main parish passed through the gates inbetween adventure and reality. The grotesque guards with their black, spidery limbs greeted them without a word.

Then they were back in the mist once more.

At first they walked in silence, but then André said: “What a magnificent supper. I’m still filled up.”

“Yes,” replied Rikard. “And I would like to know the name of that wine. So light and yet so full-bodied. It didn’t make you feel woozy at all.”

“No, not at all,” said Mali. “Did you notice how smoothly the farewell went? You would think that a lot of tears would be shed, but everybody was so optimistic. Everybody believed that we would meet again.”

“We’ll see,” murmured Jonathan.

Gabriel didn’t say anything. He was still full of solemnity after the extremely interesting night, and was thinking about the task that lay ahead. He would need to take along plenty of paper and pens ...

Mali’s voice interrupted his planning: “I thought it was so wonderful meeting everybody. It was truly a meeting of the entire clan!”

“Nobody else can experience anything like this,” said Jonathan. “So even if it’s sometimes a strain being a member of the Ice People, it also makes me proud.”

“We’re remarkable,” Benedikte said. “And privileged.”

They all agreed on that.

“Yes, and this is where we take leave of Gabriel and his mother,” said Targenor, Vetle’s helper and mentor. “See you!”

The crowd was gone in the raw mist.

“The goodbye was painless,” said Gabriel. He and Karine were left alone with Ulvhedin and Niklas.

“I wonder how many lives it will cost,” said Karine pensively. “The struggle, I mean.”

“We’ll just have to hope for the best,” replied Ulvhedin.

“Perhaps Marco knows the answer,” suggested Gabriel.

“Nobody knows what Marco thinks,” said Niklas.

Karine didn’t say what she thought. She was deeply concerned for her only son. Why exactly had he been chosen, he who wasn’t even a chosen one? After all, he was so small! And he would he heading to the dangerous Valley of the Ice People.

But she didn’t want to be an overprotective mother. After all, Gabriel would be under special protection all the time – Ulvhedin would be his protector. That was what they had told her. And they had Marco as well. And Rune. But Tova was bound to be of no help at all.

Oh, Gabriel, I love you so much. How will things turn out for you? How am I to endure the months when you’re gone?

Suddenly, the mist had lifted. Ulvhedin and Niklas weren’t there anymore. Only the familiar house at home.

They trudged through the garden. The gravel crunched under their shoes.

Gabriel thought how nice it was to be out so early. So exciting! It was only five-thirty – he wasn’t often up at that time of the morning. A cock crowed far away and the small birds were twittering like mad. Gabriel saw a fox crouch at the end of the forest and the new grass was coming up like a soft, soft green mist in the garden.

“Ugh, I must clear up all the treasures that Peik has buried during the winter,” said Karine, matter-of-fact. “What the snow hides will be revealed when the thaw sets in. We must go inside quietly so as not to wake up Joakim.”

“I suppose Peik will bark.”

“Hold his nose so that he can’t.”

Easier said than done, Gabriel thought as they stood outside trying to unlock the door. Mum is so stupid sometimes.

Life, the ordinary, everyday, humdrum life, had resumed.

Joakim cleared his throat and turned sleepily as Karine crept into the double bed.

“Have you been up?” he muttered.

“Yes, my usual early morning trip to the bathroom.”

He shuddered loudly. “I seem to feel a cold draught from you?”

“I just stood on the front step, enjoying the spring morning.”

“Hmm,” said Joakim and fell asleep again.

“They’re back home at Linden Avenue.”

“Yes, I saw that. I’ll give Number One a call and report it. Better give him all the particulars. Otherwise he’ll be grumpy.”

He started at his own words, looking about nervously as if he suspected that the intimidating Number One might be standing in a corner, eavesdropping.

“Well, have you seen the others?” he said brusquely, to conceal his momentary weakness.

“The Voldens are also back,” said another.

A third said: “And the Brinks and the Gards. I’m blowed if I know where they were yesterday evening. They all disappeared. As if swallowed by the earth. Does it make sense to you, Number Two?”

Number Two would never admit defeat. “Surely, it can’t be so difficult to sniff out. No, we can’t just sit here and drink coffee anymore. The others need to be relieved. Off you go, everybody. The boss can’t stand dithering!”

They got up, and the legs of the chairs shrieked against the floor in the café.

“The boss?” said one of them. “Do you mean Number One or ... the one who stands above him?”

All the men shuddered at these words.

Number Two replied curtly: “Number One’s enough. Don’t think beyond that because it won’t be good for you.”

“No, I see what you mean.”

They sauntered out of the café, a small group of men and women. No more than could all sit around two tables next to each other.

One of the women lisped: “This is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever experienced in my whole life. We have a job that needs to be done, don’t we? Generally, nobody gives a damn about us or what we’re up to. Now we’ve got some dignity, right?”

Although the others showed a slight outward disdain, many agreed with her inwardly. They were all quite proud of their task.

True, it was a pretty dubious task, but it was just their cup of tea.

“When do you think we can begin to shoot them down or knife them?”

“Soon, Number One said. It’s just not quite clear yet.”

“What’s not clear?”

“I’ve no idea,” snarled Number Two. He hated it when they asked questions he couldn’t answer. It diminished his position of unconditional power in the gang. He was number three from the top, which generated immense respect. “Now, get cracking!”

Gabriel inspected his pack. He had put everything into a small rucksack because they would be doing quite a lot of walking in the mountains. Karine had told Joakim that their son was on his way to a summer camp.

Because they had to be quick about everything, they were flying to Trondheim. Gabriel was very excited. He had never flown before. For the umpteenth time, he asked Karine whether he had remembered to pack this, that or the other. A new item every time. Or something he had asked about before.

Tova was to come and fetch him. Her father, Rikard, would drive them to the airport. That was where they were to meet Nataniel and Ellen.

During all these years, Marco had hidden himself from Tengel the Evil. Gabriel thought that he couldn’t very well go on doing that now. He had no idea where and when they were to meet Marco. He was a man who went his own ways and appeared when they least expected him.

Gabriel sat down on his bed. He was agitated. Oh God, had he remembered everything? Would he be able to tackle this task?

His mother came back into the room. “Come on, Gabriel, just relax! You’re not leaving until the day after tomorrow!”

Tengel the Evil had received his report. “Fools!” he thought. “I know perfectly well that they’re back. My senses are shockingly sharpened now that I know that I’m awakening. My infantry is good. They’re loyal, obedient and willing to work.”

This is what people will be like once I get out. And that will be quite soon because I can feel it in every single nerve. Somebody is working their way towards my flute signal. I know it will be successful this time. This is something the great Tan-ghil senses.”

His abominable face looked uneasy. His eyes wandered in his light state of hibernation. “What’s this, what’s going on ...?”

Tengel the Evil’s ubiquitous glance searched and searched across the planet. He had felt the warning – Danger, danger! – in his soul.

His spiritual force searched.

The Valley of the Ice People – calm.

Nevertheless, he felt a neurotic anxiety at the thought of the valley. Wasn’t it safe any longer? Was it threatened?

If so, by whom?

His thoughts wandered, searched, vibrated, and found nothing.

Linden Avenue ...?

Three old people were sitting there. The infantry had reported that everything was calm there since the inhabitants had returned from their unknown and unfathomable absence.

But what were they talking about?

Tan-ghil’s ears, which picked everything up, listened. He had been soundly asleep ever since that damned Wanderer had lulled him into hibernation, but his senses were sharpened now. Of course, he couldn’t listen to everything that happened in the world. So far, his sphere of interest had been drastically reduced, focusing on himself and his most essential needs. For instance, knowing where the Ice People were and what they were up to. And waiting for the signal to awake, which was undoubtedly about to come. Somebody was practising, working his way towards the tones. Splendid. This was the first time that anybody had truly approached his tones.

Now his focus was on the Ice People ... listening to what they were saying at Linden Avenue.

His unease changed to anxiety.

One of the three men was saying: “They must take along the bottle.” Was that André? Somebody with a name that sounded like André?

The bottle, the bottle? What bottle? That sounded dangerous! Surely not that bottle? The bottle that was feared across the world?

That horrible old cow, Benedikte, said: “I believe that each of them has taken a bottle. So that one of them is bound to reach the destination.”

A bottle each? Then it couldn’t be the dangerous one. It had to be something else.

Tengel the Evil moaned in his light hibernation. But if it happened to be that bottle, her horrible bottle with the water which he couldn’t even bear to name, then it was high time that Tan-ghil woke up!

Infantry, infantry, where are you? My right-hand man!

New orders!

What about the Voldens?

His searching thoughts reached them.

No, there was nothing apart from an agitated, somewhat hectic mood, which he didn’t care for at all, but it didn’t tell him much.

The Brinks?

There!

Tengel the Evil’s half-drugged conscience was shocked.

There was a general exodus!

The ugly girl, the one who so resembled Hanna ... that girl who had once been Tan-ghil’s slave, but who had let him down so appallingly, lured by the other idiots! Her name was Tova or something. She who had embarked on such a dangerous and definitely forbidden journey in the past. He almost had her then, had caught her during the epochs because she was a deserter back then. But several people that he couldn’t get a grip on had saved her. He had managed to track down one of them. He was one of the Gards ...

I must go there. Must search for him. If he is also playing a part in all this ...

Tengel urged his spiritual force on. It spread like long, horrible tentacles until it found and concentrated itself on Abel Gard’s house.

Yes, he was at home. The abominable Nataniel was his name. His men had told him so.

And they had hidden him for so long? A nonentity, a coward, who would be powerless against Tan-ghil? It was ridiculous! Who did they think they were? If this Nataniel was all they could muster in the way of defence, then there was no reason to worry. So Tan-ghil would take it easy.

Nataniel didn’t seem to be on his way anywhere, so probably Tova was journeying for some personal reason. This one was resting now. He was holding something in his hand and looking in it.

Tengel the Evil had no idea about books. Of course, he had seen them over the centuries, but he just couldn’t see the point. What was the use of books?

He continued his search, entering all the houses owned by the Ice People. He found nothing in particular apart from a hectic mood everywhere. Not until he came to the house where a very small family lived. Mother, father and child.

What was it? The boy? He was about to go on a journey! Oh, well, he was just a kid, they would never dream of sending him off to the Valley of the Ice People.

Tengel the Evil found yet another house full of excitement before a journey. The family of his slave, Erling Skogsrud, lived there. It was the young girl who would be leaving by the look of it.

None of the three he had seen getting ready to travel – Tova, Gabriel or Skogsrud – whatever-her-damn-name-happened-to-be – was anything to fear. As far as he was concerned, they could go where the hell they wanted.

Tan-ghil let the families be and sank into his own thoughts. He dreamt maliciously about what he would do once he got out of this damn hole!

Soon, soon ...

Nevertheless, his thoughts kept on focusing with the utmost unease on the Ice People. Where had they been? Why were they so agitated? Where were those three Ice People off to? Taking bottles with them ...?

Oh, well, he would easily find out if only he ...

Soon, soon ...

Two days later, Tova and Gabriel sat in Rikard Brink’s car, chatting away so excitedly that everything they said was just nonsense.

“I didn’t get a bottle,” Gabriel said in a deliberately offended voice.

“But I did. I’ve fastened it to a belt inside my clothes where nobody can take it away from me!”

Gabriel said proudly: “I’ve brought twenty pencils with me. I’ve already begun to keep a diary.”

“May we hear what you’ve written, please?”

He pulled a small notebook out of his pocket. “Got up at a quarter past five. Washed and brushed my teeth and went to the toilet. Then I ate ... No. Oh, bother. It sounds rather stupid.”

“Yes, if you have to write down each time you go to the bathroom,” said Tova. “Never mind. You’re certainly conscientious.”

Rikard, who was driving, said: “I don’t think you should speak so much about the bottle, Tova. The fewer people who know about it the better.”

“Gabriel already knows about it. Anyway, I’ll take your advice and keep quiet. Heavens, is this the rush hour already? We’ll be late. Switch on the siren, Dad!”

“You must be joking! Certainly not! You have a spare two hours at Fornebu. You’ll be bored stiff by the time you board your plane.”

“At an airport? Never, ever. Now Tova Brink is going to become a woman of the world.”

“Well, if it’s that easy, a lot more people ought to go there. But I’d like to keep the child of nature you are.”

“Thank you, Dad. That’s the sweetest thing you’ve said since your speech at my confirmation.”

“I had to then. I’ve never seen a more reluctant candidate for confirmation.”

“Well, that was because Mum absolutely insisted that I be confirmed. Actually, she had doubts herself. In fact, so much so that she told the vicar children ought to be seventeen before they were confirmed so that they would know what they were getting into. Do you know what the vicar answered? ‘But then they ask so many questions.’ What? What sort of an answer is that? What sort of a church is it that doesn’t dare ...”

Rikard interrupted her. “Tova, now you’re talking nonsense! Anyone would think that you’re nervous.”

“You bet I am!” Tova moaned, leaning back in her seat.

When they entered the terminal at Fornebu, Tova let out a long and solemn sigh. “Ooohhh! I feel so continental! Look at all the people squeezing their way back and forth with their suitcases with their arms stretched out and with flight times expressed in their faces! Look at all those exciting signs. Ooohhh!”

A loudspeaker said something unintelligible, probably a departure announcement.

“Heavenly!” Tova said.

She went on being euphoric while Rikard found the right desk – but it was too early to check in – so they ate open sandwiches they didn’t really want in the cafeteria. Gabriel didn’t say anything. He sat silently and stiff-faced, wondering where the toilet was. He was one of those people who had his nerves in his bladder.

Now and then he would make little notes in his diary. “The lady at the next table has to lift the veil on her hat each time she takes a bite. Seems suspicious!” Or “Tova is taking this journey much more lightly than I am.” (Which wasn’t true). “I wish I were as quick at repartee as her.” “Now I know where the toilets ...” The last entry was erased energetically. After all, Tova had teased him about it.

Then Nataniel and Ellen appeared. Tova shrieked with joy at seeing them.

Nataniel felt a bore when he had to remind her: “This is no Sunday outing, Tova!”

“I’ve been trying to tell her that all morning,” said Rikard.

He and Nataniel were old colleagues, having co-operated on numerous police investigations.

“Don’t you feel the way I do?” Tova said. “That you’re virtually invincible? Nothing seems daunting anymore!”

Ellen and Gabriel nodded.

“That’s true,” Ellen said. As usual, she was sweet and alert, with her heart-shaped face and eyes that changed from shyness to undisguised joy. You often forgot that Ellen was a happy, lively girl, because in Tova’s company she had to represent sense. She and Nataniel. “You’re right, Tova. One can’t help feeling able to conquer the whole world.”

“I’m absolutely sure that this is because of that brew you drank,” said Nataniel bitterly. “I didn’t get any, and I certainly don’t feel happy.”

“What do you mean?” Rikard asked quietly. After all, he understood Nataniel’s reactions. Nataniel looked around slowly. Ah, Gabriel thought, he’s noticed the lady with the veil, but his uncle didn’t seem to be interested in her.

Finally, Nataniel said: “Oh, I don’t think it means anything. Just a bit of excitement before our journey. Gabriel, if you’re thinking of giving up on that sandwich, let’s go over to the check-in desk now and drop off our baggage.”

They had brought as little as possible, but they didn’t mind checking in their rucksacks.

“What about Marco?”

“Take it easy, Tova. Marco is bound to appear, but hardly here. You know that he wants to avoid publicity.”

I’ve tried to crane my neck just to catch a glimpse of him, thought Tova. But I know that Nataniel is right. Marco is so gorgeous that everybody stares at him. Including me. I’m a fool, I know that. But anyway, it would have been nice to have him with us on the flight.

Now Tova would have to make do with Gabriel.

Sweet, innocent little Gabriel.

“Then I’ll leave you in charge, Nataniel,” said Rikard. “I must get back to work. Take good care of each other!”

He said it in a light tone so as not to show how concerned and touched he was. He said a hasty goodbye to them all and gave his daughter, Tova, a big hug.

“We’ll tackle this easily, Dad,” she told him, but her voice trembled slightly, which they all noticed.

Rikard walked away quickly.

There was already a queue at the check-in desk. Gabriel looked anxiously at his watch and wondered whether they would make it in time.

Nataniel was also uneasy. Ellen, who knew him, could feel it, but he was anxious for other reasons.

“What is it?” she murmured.

“I don’t know, Ellen,” he whispered back. “But there’s something wrong here.”

“Do you feel any danger?”

“Yes.”

He’s been feeling this way all the time, Ellen thought. Ever since he came to pick me up.

Being with Nataniel is just so wonderful. It doesn’t matter if he sees ghosts everywhere; he probably does that every time we’re together.

No, not now. We won’t focus on ghosts now. Nataniel’s glancing back and forth along the queue. I can’t imagine ghosts standing in a line!

Tova and Gabriel were chatting excitedly, and Ellen felt inclined to ask them to lower their voices so that Nataniel could concentrate better. But this would seem stupid and cause friction with the two young people; Ellen was just about to say children. Tova was so shockingly childish even if she was a year older than Ellen.

In front of them stood a family with two children; both the father and the mother looked completely harmless. The type who air their bedclothes every day and can quarrel about a few shillings.

Behind them ...? A woman on her own from the top echelons of society, a couple of businessmen with knife-edge creases; another family with children, this time with an infant. Then a group of noisy schoolchildren. The queue was moving all the time, and now there was only the family with the two children in front of Ellen and her friends and relatives.

A man squeezed past to the desk and asked if he could just send a suitcase to his son’s home in Trondheim. The lady referred him kindly to another desk nearby.

Nataniel regarded the man with a somewhat impatient look, as if he couldn’t collect his thoughts. He followed the whole process: the man dropping off the baggage, being handed a receipt and then quickly departing from the hall. Tova’s glance followed Nataniel’s, challenging and summing up. An ordinary man, nicely dressed, quite nondescript. Then he walked out.

Then they had suddenly reached the check-in desk.

Ellen had opened her mouth to speak to the lady behind the desk and Gabriel had placed his rucksack on the weighing belt when Nataniel suddenly pulled it back and shouted to Tova: “Run outside and see if Rikard’s car is still there. Get him in here, quick!”

Tova reacted immediately.

“Shouldn’t we ...?” Ellen began to say.

“No, we’re not getting on this plane.”

He turned to the lady at the desk. “I may be an idiot, but there’s a chance that there’s a bomb in the suitcase that was dropped off at the next check-in desk.”

The lady at the desk stood stock-still, staring at Nataniel for a moment; then she reacted and pressed the alarm button. The queue stopped and she ran to the security room.

“Come on,” said Nataniel. “The others will take care of this. We’ll take my car to Trondheim.”

Gabriel’s first reaction was immense disappointment at not getting on a plane, but Nataniel probably knew best. They were confused as they ran with their baggage towards the exit. There they met Rikard. Despite the fact that Nataniel hadn’t explained anything to Tova, she had picked it up nevertheless, and Rikard knew what it was all about.

“Where?” he asked curtly.

Nataniel pointed. “The man was ...”

Rikard interrupted him: “Tova gave me a description.”

The security guard appeared and Nataniel and Rikard saw them rush to the check-in desk where the baggage had been dropped. The staff stood there, paralysed.

“Where’s Tova?” Nataniel shouted.

“She’s coming,” answered Rikard.

But Tova didn’t come.