Part 24 (2/2)

I want you to know that no one has been able to demonstrate any common personality traits in people who have been subjected to bullying at work. It has been studied, of course. The usual theory is that bullies go for people who are socially maladjusted in some way introverts or slackers or incompetents or whatever. None of this turns out to be true. On the contrary, its often the more able members of staff who are picked on. But there does seem to be one recurring aspect in the victims personality, which is that they, to a greater extent than their colleagues, dislike being confrontational. They are rather pa.s.sive, hoping that their tormentors will stop. Which doesnt happen, of course. So, there you are, Anne-Lise. Are you afraid of standing up to your colleagues?

Anne-Lise thinks about what a special person the doctor is. Coming from someone else, his paternal tone would be almost offensive, but from Yngve it seems completely desirable and convincing.

I wasnt scared in my previous job. But what is important to me right now is being included in their group, so naturally I avoid making waves. Theres something else: I always feel that something dreadful will happen if I do express my opinion about anything at all.

Theres a crash outside the office a tray or something but Yngves face doesnt register a thing.

Yes, I see. It makes it easier to push you around. Listen.

Yes?

These characters will become more and more aggressive as time goes by. The essential thing is to make them realize there are limits. This far and no farther.

Yngve seems more pensive than usual. Could it be that he was once bullied too, perhaps long ago? She cannot ask him.

Bullying is very common among children, both at school and in afterschool clubs and so forth. Teachers spend hours telling the kids not to be bullies and devising punishments for them if they are found out. Political initiatives are aimed solely at putting an end to bullying, all doomed to fail, or so it seems. Now and then bullied children have been brought to see me. Almost invariably they suffer from serious illnesses or psychological trauma, rooted in their victimization.

He picks up a pen, balances it on the palm of his hand, and stares at it for a moment. Then he looks up at them. Adult bullying is less well recognized, but it is also common. Maybe you think Im being melodramatic, but I take bullying as seriously as heart disease or cancer. I do and I should.

Anne-Lise wonders whether Yngve has a lover. If he really is gay, that is.

The fact is, people kill each other. Regardless of whatever action is taken and whatever we are taught, victimizing others is part of human nature.

What Yngve says is quite different from the views of the genocide researchers Anne-Lise is familiar with. At the DCIG she has read articles about ordinary people killing other ordinary people, but the investigators always argue that the circ.u.mstances were exceptional, and start with the premise that, for human beings, cooperation and kindness are the norm. None of these research papers has ever said that murder is an unavoidable outcome of human nature, yet Yngves view has resonance.

We eat, we reproduce, we protect those closest to us. And we reject those who are different from us and kill our rivals. Human beings try, more or less effectively, to exert control over our instincts. We are different from animals in that we have exceptional willpower. For instance, in no other species is there an entire community where no one has s.e.x. Just think of the Vatican.

But most people give in to temptation at some point. Your concentration slips for just a moment and there you are: being unfaithful, eating fattening foods, or slowly torturing a colleague to death. The latter, of course, is forbidden, so a person may prefer not to be conscious of what theyre doing like a form of self-deception.

Consider your colleagues states of mind, Anne-Lise. They feel a little like you would if you were alone one evening, watching television and feeling hungry with a large bowl of chips sitting in front of you. Youre determined not to eat them and stick to your resolve, but if the program captures your attention, you forget and start reaching for the chips. Before you realize it, theyre gone. You may not even be able to recall having eaten them.

Thats what you are to your colleagues: a temptation. At the outset they may well have decided to be pleasant toward you. Or maybe they never did. Either way, they still see you as a rival and, without their planning to, there will be times when they cant resist going after you. The reaction is so instinctive that afterward theyll hardly remember.

Yngve is very persuasive, but his arguments upset Anne-Lise. Still, something about the man makes her sit calmly and listen. Henrik has also been very quiet. She can hear Yngves receptionist rummaging about on the other side of the door, no doubt cleaning up whatever was spilled. Anne-Lise considers how she has always thought of Yngve as being lonely, even though she knows absolutely nothing about his private life. Does it have something to do with his intelligence, or was she responding intuitively to the faintly depressed tone that never quite leaves his voice?

They agree that Anne-Lise shouldnt accuse the others of having rigged the blood trap. Without proof, she would be fighting a losing battle, and it would expose her even more to her colleagues anger.

Anne-Lise, can you think of something theyve done that was clearly wrong? Or an argument youre certain to win if theres a confrontation?

Im not sure. I make wrong decisions all the time and I do stupid things. My head is bursting with how horrible it all is. Im not my normal self.

Of course, thats understandable. But things will change. Look forward to that, even though its hard for you now.

The receptionist comes in to say the next patient is waiting. She speaks quickly, as if she is scared of Yngve. He answers pleasantly enough and turns back to Anne-Lise.

Havent you witnessed anything theyve done that goes against the Centers interests?

Anne-Lise reflects carefully. One of the users, a man called Erik Prins, told me that Malene had given him false information about library searches, just to keep him away from me. That could be Would you have put up with that in your previous job?

Not for a moment.

There you are! Be confident. Its unacceptable now as well. He flattens his hands on the tabletop again. This is a battle you can win, isnt it?

Yes.

Do you really believe that?

Yes, I do.

Excellent. He gets up and shakes their hands, first Henriks and then Anne-Lises. I want to see you again. Its my job to deal with any issue thats seriously threatening your well-being, whether it be physical or psychological. You are not going to let your colleagues push you into unemployment. You will fight them.

Yes. Yes, I will.

Very good. Now lets decide when you should come back and tell me how things have progressed. Maybe in about three weeks time?

Yes.

Good. Just ask for an appointment at reception.

When Anne-Lise and Henrik step outside, theyre both surprised that it is still bright. It feels as if it should be evening by now, but the incident at the DCIG was only a few hours ago. They have several hours before they need to collect the children.

Anne-Lise keeps her promise to Yngve, but afterward her life at work doesnt get any better. It has done her no good to confront Malene about Erik Prins. Malene simply s.h.i.+fts the blame and demands to know who the user is. Anne-Lise is more at fault than ever.

The Winter Garden seems quieter now that the door is always open. They speak in low voices, or e-mail each other, or wander off to talk in the kitchen or the meeting rooms. A few times Anne-Lise has surprised them while they are using a made-up sign language and giggling a lot.

During lunch Iben gives little lectures, often based on the books she reads when she cant sleep. These days she seems to be sticking to psychiatry textbooks. While Iben goes on about mental health problems, she watches Anne-Lise. Its plain for all to see that Iben thinks Anne-Lise must be suffering from dissociative ident.i.ty disorder.

One evening after yet another hostile day of pointed remarks and hints that shes somehow deranged, Anne-Lise is reading Little House in the Big Woods to her children. Ulrik and Clara are both in Ulriks room. Clara is lying on her back in the lower bunk, balancing her Barbie doll on her tummy. Sometimes her lips form soundless words; sometimes she mumbles. She seems not to be listening, but the next day she will remember everything that happened in the story.

Ulrik is in the upper bunk. He has pushed the duvet away and rests his head on the edge of the bed.

Claras mumbling is getting louder.

Ulrik leans forward. Shut up! Stop making that noise!

Clara carries on playing with her doll and seems not to notice.

The bedroom air is warm and smells slightly of toothpaste. Anne-Lise can pick up sounds from Henriks study. He is trying to do something new with his two computers.

Ulrik shouts at Clara more crossly than before. Shut up! Shut up!

Anne-Lise reads on about Lauras father, who is walking in the forest and sees a doe with its fawn. Claras voice fades and becomes inaudible again. Without warning, tears well up in Anne-Lises eyes. The fawn doesnt run away. It stands quite still, looking wide-eyed at Lauras father. The tears are running quietly down Anne-Lises cheeks. They keep coming even though there is nothing sad about the story.

After a while, Ulrik notices. Mommy? Whats the matter?

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