Part 24 (1/2)

It takes less than a week for the others to get their revenge, in an act crueler than Anne-Lise could have imagined. One morning she discovers a brown powder all over her hands. She has managed to stain her blouse with it, and smudge her face with brownish red streaks.

Anne-Lise observes Malenes face. That woman knows something; it feels just like the time when Malene humiliated her in front of Frederik Thorsteinsson a few days earlier. But Anne-Lise still cant figure out what the substance is. She searches her office area. When she knocks over a box file on the top shelf, the fluid inside it splashes out. She closes her eyes instantly, leaps backward, and hears the box crash to the floor.

She screams and opens her eyes. Thick, viscous fluid is spattered everywhere. Her clothes are covered in spots and stains. It is blood. Her skin is sticky with blood. It is so awful that her mind blanks out. All she can do is look at Malene, who has appeared in the doorway. Malene acts as if she is truly shocked, but shes not convincing enough. Theres a smug little smile lurking behind her frown.

Anne-Lise wants to leave and go home, and accepts Pauls offer of a taxi even though her car is parked right outside.

Only when shes home and has taken a shower does she call Henrik. While she talks to him, she wanders from room to room in her white dressing gown with her damp hair wrapped in a white towel. Something significant happened today. She feels deeply uneasy, but after the hot bath it all seems rather remote.

Henrik is shouting into the phone. Thats it! Youve got to stop working there! Theyll kill you next!

But, you know, when they saw me covered in blood, they were so upset. They felt genuinely sorry for me. At least, Iben and Camilla did.

Anne-Lise is on her way to the kitchen. I think they regretted it. Maybe theyve got their anger out of their system now. Maybe this will be the end of it.

Anne-Lise, it will not be the end.

But they helped me clean up, you know. I think they felt shocked at what theyd done.

Anne-Lise try to get it into your head. They. Will. Not. Stop.

Anne-Lise doesnt answer him.

Henrik takes a deep breath. For a moment he cant think of what to say. Then he makes up his mind. Im coming home now. Ill tell everyone that Im not feeling well. Ill be with you in twenty minutes.

In the kitchen, Anne-Lise makes a cheese roll. She drifts about, bare feet on the parquet, while she eats.

Maybe it is not just the others who have rid themselves of their anger. She too has purged herself of something only she doesnt yet know what it is.

chapter 26.

anne-Lise hears the engine of Henriks Audi outside. He storms into the hall.

Anne-Lise, youre coming with me. Ive told Yngve what youve had to put up with and he says he can see you right away. Lets go. Henrik would have liked to drag Anne-Lise to the car at once, but she has to get dressed and tidy herself up.

Yngve is their family doctor. They have been with him for years, long before they moved to Holte. When Henrik had trouble with his knee after a car accident, Yngve was more helpful than the orthopedic consultant. Later, when they were trying for a baby and Anne-Lise initially failed to get pregnant, Yngve again impressed them more than the gynecologist she had been referred to.

Yngve is now in his fifties, but people still seem to find him exceptionally attractive. He wears his dark hair cut short and keeps his powerful, square chin clean-shaven. His voice is deep and melodious.

Somehow Anne-Lise always has the impression that he is a lonely man. She wonders if he is gay. Theres definitely something different about him.

The receptionist shows them into his consultation room. It smells faintly of soap and the medicinal scents of bandages and antiseptics. Henrik and Anne-Lise settle into the two cheap black plastic chairs. Yngve has never bothered to refurbish his offices.

He comes into the room, sits down, and puts his large hands on the desk, palms down. Then he turns to Anne-Lise and asks her why she has come today.

She doesnt get very far before he interrupts her. Sorry, Anne-Lise. I want to make it clear from the start that any kind of systematic bullying is deadly more dangerous than drinking or smoking. The victims sometimes think they can hold out and deal with the situation, but its impossible.

Yes.

I see quite a few people who have been bullied in my practice. Sometimes they commit suicide, or they contract illnesses. Some die. Some become unemployable; others start drinking or doing drugs. One way or another, being bullied does enormous damage.

Henrik straightens up and turns to Anne-Lise. For the moment he thinks that he and Yngve are of one mind. You see. You have to go on sick leave. Tell them tomorrow and resign. Not one more day in that place.

Yngve taps a small notebook on the desktop. Right. That certainly is one solution. But Im afraid I believe its the wrong one.

Anne-Lise casts a sidelong glance at Henrik. His only reaction is to stay perched on his flimsy chair, smiling and waiting, curious to hear why the doctor thinks that hes wrong.

Anne-Lise wants to have her say. Ive installed a program on my office computer that deletes any evidence of Internet searches. Now I can spend time at work checking job seekers sites and sending off applications.

Yngve smiles at her. Good idea. Have you applied anywhere yet?

Over the last six months Ive applied twenty-two times, but I wasnt called for an interview even once. Ive followed up each one and I phoned to ask what was wrong, as you should. But they get so many applications and always seem to pick someone younger.

Henrik adds, Which is why weve stopped applying for a bit.

Yes. Just for a bit. I needed a break. For now.

Yngve puts his hands together. Anne-Lise, you have three options. One, you allow yourself to be pushed out of your job and, the way the market operates now, you might never work again. Two, you stay and let the others carry on bullying you. But you have a third option: stay on and make the others stop persecuting you.

Henrik is surprised. I thought that the experts agreed that when youre being bullied, the best thing to do is get out as quickly as possible? Because its a battle you cant win?

Thats what they say.

Conventional wisdom doesnt influence Yngve. As he speaks, its clear that he is indifferent to the experts. His calm brown eyes rest first on Anne-Lise, then on Henrik.

Anne-Lise, if you resign, you will spend the rest of your life thinking of yourself as a loser, and of the world as an evil place. Its destructive. But if you let them work you over, they will destroy you. My advice is to confront them. Can you do that?

At first Anne-Lise couldnt see the point of Henriks insistence on seeing their doctor. Now she feels it was a very good idea.

Yes.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Excellent. Im glad to hear you say that. Having gotten to know you over all these years, Im sure you can. And Im convinced youll be able to change your working conditions.

There is something about the doctors manner, the way he speaks in his deep voice, that makes Anne-Lise trust him implicitly. Now hes smiling at her.

Do you believe me when I say you can change things at work?

Yes yes, I do.

Good.

Anne-Lise observes Yngves large hands. He is leaning forward in his chair, poised to go on to the next item on the agenda.