Part 6 (2/2)

Fine. Im busy, but its good to know that what you do matters. This week alone weve had requests from Buenos Aires and Rome, as well as from New York and Brussels, though thats not unusual. Lots of other inquiries too. And the project leader who takes most of the calls was away lecturing on a couple of occasions, and so I was the one who Henrik said the other women dont always you know, treat you right.

He said what?

Well, that it could be hard at times.

What exactly did he say?

Please nothing special. Just that sometimes you were fed up when things didnt go well.

I see. And was that all?

Mette glances apologetically at Henrik, whos looking alarmed.

It was like this, she says, speaking more rapidly than before. I was telling Henrik about one of my superiors who is being difficult. Hes out to get me, you know. And Henrik said that its normal to have problems with people at work. At some point when we were talking about how common it is, he said that, to him, your colleagues seem extremely unpleasant. He also said that youre very, very good at your work and have always treated them as pleasantly as you can, but they dont talk to you.

It isnt that bad, you know.

Anne-Lise looks at Mette, and then at Henrik. Shes unable to organize her thoughts enough to let her sister-in-law know that she hasnt said anything wrong. Instead she stays very quiet. She smiles at Mette but can feel the corners of her mouth start to stiffen into a grimace.

She knows what has happened. It is the office atmosphere its sheer nastiness; she has dragged it home and is inflicting it on these innocent people.

She has to get away.

Henrik hurries after her and catches up with her at the top of the stairs. She pulls him into the bedroom and slams the door.

Everyone judges each other by how well they do in their jobs. And they believe its your own fault if youre doing badly. I dont need my friends to think that I cant get on with my colleagues.

Of course they dont think that.

No? Ill tell you, they do! Right now some of them are wondering if it isnt Anne-Lise who is being difficult, Anne-Lise who is trouble. Shes an oddball.

Im sure youre wrong.

And Im sure Im right. I trusted you and confided in you and now youve betrayed that trust. Why dont you tell everyone your own secrets instead?

Anne-Lise She throws herself on the bed and buries her head in her pillow, though no tears come. All I want is just one place where Im free to be myself, where Im not marked down as a lousy, boring librarian.

n.o.body ever called you anything of the sort.

If people dont respect you they start treating you like dirt.

She feels Henrik stroking the back of her head and neck.

Darling, calm down. Please forgive me for mentioning it. Ill never, ever look down on you. Neither will our children, nor our friends. That just wont ever happen.

chapter 8.

two policemen stop Anne-Lise when she steps into the lobby of the DCIG building the following morning.

Where are you headed, madam?

The policemen seem so serious, she thinks someone in the building has died. Their manner affects her.

I work in the Danish Center for Information on Genocide.

Do you have any identification?

Of course. But could you tell me what this is about?

The men speak without emotion: there have been threats against the employees of the Center.

Is anybody hurt?

Nothing like that. But youd better speak to our colleagues. Theyre in your office right now.

They let Anne-Lise pa.s.s. She hurries along to the elevator and phones Henrik on the way up, but hes not in his office.

No policemen on the landing. No guard at the door to the Center. Anne-Lise steps into the Winter Garden. Camilla is just coming out of Pauls office, and when she sees Anne-Lise her face lights up as if she were about to hug her colleague out of sheer relief.

Oh, Anne-Lise! There you are! We had no idea where you were.

I only Come in here! Were all in Pauls room.

The others are seated around Pauls conference table. Two police officers are at the head. One of them has a sensitive face that reminds her of a teacher in Claras nursery school, and the other one looks older and is presumably more senior. Iben makes room for Anne-Lise by s.h.i.+fting a pile of folders with data on East Timor.

We tried to get in touch with you last night. We phoned several times, but you werent in and you hadnt turned your answering machine on. And then when you didnt turn up at your usual time I was just a little delayed. Im so sorry, I had no idea.

Now Paul takes the lead. You see, we were quite worried about you, afraid that something might have happened. Listen, did you get one of the e-mails?

Anne-Lises colleagues are all staring at her with interest. Thats new.

E-mails? No. What do you mean? Anyway, I was at home last night.

You were?

Yes. It was Henriks birthday.

Anne-Lise sits down. Iben flips through her address book and realizes that she has the wrong number for Anne-Lise.

Iben turns to the policemen. Well, so far it looks like only Malene and I have received these messages.

Anne-Lise pours herself a cup of coffee while Paul explains what happened and Iben elaborates.

<script>