I Am Behind You by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Marlaine Delargy Read Free Book Online Page B

Olof’s son, and Gunilla is Lennart’s daughter. An independent observer might easily conclude that the reverse is true. Lennart is always the first to praise Ante’s all-round ability and skill with the animals, while Olof cannot say enough about Gunilla’s financial wizardry and her willingness to pitch in when necessary.
    Not that Lennart or Olof would wish for things to be different, but they find it easier to praise each other’s child rather than their own. They have discussed the phenomenon and decided that it is probably only natural, and if it isn’t, there is nothing they can do about it.
    ‘Cynthia fifteen is due to calve in a couple of days,’ Olof says.
    ‘Ante will be fine.’
    ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘I’m sure.’
    They sit in silence for a while, with Olof’s pen doing the most scratching since Lennart is tackling the most difficult puzzle. After a few minutes Olof puts down his pen and says: ‘Do you think something might happen? Between them? During our absence, so to speak?’
    ‘Time will tell.’
    ‘Yes. It would be a great help, though.’
    ‘It would.’
    Lennart smiles and strokes the back of Olof’s hand. Then he taps his teeth with his pen as he stares at his crossword. His face clears as he suddenly sees the solution to one clue, which in turn unlocks a couple more, and he sets to work with renewed enthusiasm. Olof gazes out of the scratched plexiglas window, which distorts the view. Not that it matters, since all there is to see is the grass and the sky, the sky and the grass. He thinks about the other people who are seeing the same thing, and says: ‘Things could get a bit tricky before long.’
    ‘In what way?’
    ‘I don’t know, but most people aren’t capable of dealing with a situation like this. And that could lead to…trouble.’
    ‘You’re probably right. The question is how much trouble.’
    Olof’s gaze is once again drawn to the window. The empty sky, the empty field that would make him feel utterly abandoned if Lennart wasn’t here beside him. He says: ‘Quite a lot, I should imagine. A hell of a lot, in fact. Trouble.’
    Lennart also looks out of the window. He nods. ‘You’re probably right. Unfortunately.’
    *
    Stefan connects the stove and heats up a pan of water so that he can make himself and Carina a cup of instant coffee. Fortunately the refrigerator also works on gas, and the milk carton is cold against his fingers. He pours a generous splash into his coffee and a dash into Carina’s, then carries the cups over to the table and sits down opposite his wife. He takes a sip, then says: ‘We have a bit of a problem.’
    ‘Oh?’
    ‘I was going to ring the supplier today. They’ve been sending the same amount of herring since midsummer.’
    ‘Why is that a problem?’
    ‘Well, we’re going to be stuck with half a pallet that nobody wants to buy.’
    ‘If we get back.’
    ‘Yes, but I’m sure we will. Sooner or later.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘What’s the alternative?’
    Stefan knows what the alternative is, but has decided that it is pointless to acknowledge it until they know more, until Peter returns. It’s no good assuming the worst, nor brooding unnecessarily about what has happened; that can only lead to unpleasantness.
    If he avoids looking out of the window, there is nothing strange about the situation. Quite the reverse. He and Carina are sitting herewith their hands around their coffee cups chatting about the minor problems of everyday life. Nothing could be more natural.
    ‘We’ll have to run some kind of campaign,’ Carina says.
    Stefan has been working so hard to imagine that everything is normal that he has lost the thread.
    ‘Sorry? Campaign?’
    ‘To get rid of the herring. A sales campaign.’
    ‘Absolutely,’ Stefan says. ‘Good idea.’
    *
    Peter gets back in the car, starts the engine and gently depresses the accelerator. His perception of isolation is so complete that even his inner voice has fallen silent, and is