Part 30 (1/2)

Iben is shuffling her feet, searching for something like a lost shoe. Next she starts looking under the table, sending an unmistakable signal that the whole thing is beginning to bore her.

Malene becomes distracted too. She looks across the desk at Iben. Whats under the table? What are you looking for?

Anne-Lise glances at Camilla, who appears to be completely absorbed in her work.

Camilla behaves as if she werent there at all. Anne-Lise feels like crossing the floor and shouting in her ear: Are you aware of whats going on? Do you even care? Would you be pleased if I died too? But Anne-Lise doesnt dare provoke her.

Maybe Camillas inertia is a survival strategy that she learned to save herself. Maybe Camilla would have a breakdown if someone were to force her to take notice of what is going on in the office right under her very nose. Maybe her unstable mind would give way to lethal rage awaken a personality capable of e-mail death threats.

Camilla and the others look away from Anne-Lise, and she returns to the library.

Later that afternoon, the DCIG board member Tatiana Blumenfeld has arranged to come and pick up some reference material Anne-Lise has found for her. Tatiana knows everyone in human rights research in Denmark. It matters if she takes you seriously, regardless of which organization you work for. She is also one of the few academics who make use of Anne-Lises expertise.

Tatiana is a tiny woman in her sixties with jet black hair. She arrives at the board meetings wearing tight black trousers and vivid, unique sweaters. She dashes along the corridors with remarkably long strides for such a small person. The machine-gun clatter of her smart, extremely high-heeled shoes can be heard from afar. Although Anne-Lise has never seen Tatiana with a cigarette, her skin is that of a lifelong chain-smoker.

When Tatiana was a student of psychoa.n.a.lysis, she laid the foundations for a theory about the therapeutic management of children who had been imprisoned in concentration camps and subjected to torture or forced to watch their close relatives being tortured or murdered. Tatiana developed her theory from her a.n.a.lyses of camp childrens drawings and her research led first to a doctorate and then to a tenured post in the Department of Psychology at Copenhagen University. She has also become an a.s.sociate of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, or IRCTV, a highly regarded organization.

Anne-Lise still doesnt feel close to Tatiana. What she knows about her she learned mostly through Tatianas friend and a.s.sistant, Lea. Anne-Lise and Lea met at the Bosnia conference and, during a lunch together, Lea spoke glowingly about her boss.

The doorbell rings. The image on their computer screens shows Tatiana waiting outside on the landing. Anne-Lise keys in the security code and goes to meet her visitor; she wants to usher her to the library before the others have a chance to descend upon her. But no sooner does Tatiana step into the Winter Garden than Malene and Iben are by her side.

You must come and see the new photos weve put up, Iben says, smiling.

They turn and lead the way to the notice board, Tatiana between them. She steps forward, catches sight of Anne-Lise, and calls out: Anne-Lise! Im just going to have a peek at their crazy pictures!

Of all the people she has met in this place, Anne-Lise has found Tatiana to be the nicest. Her impulse is to protect Tatiana from her venomous colleagues, but then, she knows that Malene and Iben wont want to show their ill will in front of the esteemed guest.

Tatiana exclaims at one of the new pictures. Oh, look! Its your old librarian! How sweet of you! Do you miss her?

She is looking at a photograph of the woman whose e-mails showed just how intensely she detested working at the DCIG. Sometime last week, Iben had scanned an old photograph of their ex-librarian and printed an enlarged version to pin up on the wall.

We do. But have a closer look. We have lots of pictures of our favorite people.

Tatiana takes Malenes prompt and moves closer to the board. She puts on her reading gla.s.ses. No its me! I look so odd. Its Rome, isnt it?

Thats right. Ole gave it to us. He was there too.

Tatiana is amused. She puts her coat on Malenes chair and leans forward to examine the picture.

It was at the conference. G.o.d, I look completely sozzled.

At this, she glances quickly at Anne-Lise, apparently alarmed, but with a hint of compa.s.sion. Anne-Lise doesnt understand what her expression means.

Iben comes closer to Tatiana. Never! You wouldnt drink too much at work!

She smiles at Anne-Lise now, but continues to address Tatiana. No one would ever think that about you. Its just the heat and the bright light. You look a bit flushed, thats all. And your smile is great. Everyone can see youre happy.

Anne-Lise tries to get a word in with Tatiana too. She finds it hard to sound relaxed and friendly, sensing Iben and Malenes intense desire for her to disappear.

Iben is very good at entertaining visitors and Malene is excellent. A quarter of an hour later, the little group is still chatting in front of the notice board.

Iben mentions the plan to merge the DCIG and DIHR, sounding troubled as she explains.

Tatiana is sympathetic. Yes, I see. Such a shame. Are you really worried about it?

Yes, we are.

Tatiana nods with concern. I understand, believe me. This is such an efficient office and so very pleasant too. Its a great pity. But dont worry, youre sure to keep your present jobs inside the new organization too. She goes on to talk about her experience of other inst.i.tutional mergers. I suspect Paul will be the most put out. After all, h.e.l.l have someone else as his boss.

Iben keeps stepping from one foot to the other. We were wondering about Frederiks role on the board once his senior post in Human Rights is announced. Now that its no longer in his interest to keep this place independent, it could be problematic, couldnt it?

Anne-Lise doesnt think they should be discussing this with another member of the board, but Iben is so much more knowledgeable about the rules and whats acceptable in terms of the politics of the organization.

Tatiana, however, sounds surprised. Iben, its not problematic in the slightest. Frederik can easily put on different hats at different times. We all do, you know. And hes very professional.

Malene looks intently at Tatiana and edges forward until she is in front of Anne-Lise. So you dont think there will be a conflict of interests?

No, I dont. Absolutely not. Tatiana picks up her coat, ready to get on with library business. I wouldnt worry about that. Truly. Trust me. But have you spoken to Paul about it?

Anne-Lise cant think what the correct way of dealing with this straight question about the Centers director might be.

But Malene doesnt hesitate. No, we havent raised it with him. Youre right, we should.

Yes, you really ought to. Paul attends the board meetings and can tell you how everything works. Im sure he will confirm that theres no problem.

Then, at last, Anne-Lise gets to escort Tatiana into the library. She shows her the results of her search, a collection of reports from the Portuguese Foreign Office staff, written in Portuguese and full of details about the Indonesian genocide of 200,000 civilians, roughly a third of the population of occupied East Timor.

Looking through books with someone else brings a special sense of intimacy, like having your hair washed by the hairdresser.

Later Anne-Lise and Tatiana sit at Anne-Lises computer and search for references to East Timor in international online magazines. The library also holds French investigations that are not yet entered into the database and Tatiana wanders off in search of archive material. Anne-Lise sends an overview of the articles they have selected to the small printer in the Winter Garden.

When she goes to collect the printouts, Iben and Malene are talking. They clearly know that Tatiana can no longer hear them, and Ibens voice is low and relaxed.

Malene, we simply havent had time to finalize the texts you need for the exhibition posters. So much has been going on these last few weeks, since Anne-Lise sent us those e-mails. Her tone is so matter-of-fact.

Anne-Lise would prefer to say nothing and retreat to her own s.p.a.ce, but she realizes that the remark will be left hanging in the air, ready to hurt her later. Once more they have forced her to join their little game.

She sighs, because she knows what will come next, and speaks quietly. I didnt send the e-mails.

The antic.i.p.ation of the hunt makes their eyes s.h.i.+ne. Malene takes over. Oh, yes, you did.

You know it wasnt me. It was that Serb. The one the CIA arrested.

Iben sounds amused. Youve sent lots of e-mails, to us and other people.

Anne-Lise tries to be firm. Of course Ive sent e-mails, but not threatening ones.

But I wasnt talking about them.