Part 27 (1/2)

I remember when I was...yes, even when I was only...thirteen or fourteen. I started thinking about these things.

What it was really like.

The actual experience. It's much more central than we are really prepared to admit, in fact. Here in Sweden, at any rate.

What?

Yes, they'll get half of what you get. Their task is also quite... unpleasant, after all.

There is one thing I'm wondering about.

Do you find any form of...how shall I put it...moral satisfaction in this?

No. I don't mean it like that.

I mean...

When you're a child. And you're pretending to be someone else. You're pretending to be...Robin Hood. And while you're that person, you can...

No. That's a different matter.

Have you never wondered?

No. Most people don't, after all. Not even in my profession.

You must understand that this is something that has preoccupied me all through my life. In a way which is perhaps...unhealthy. But there's nothing I can do about that. We are how we are.

Some people are driven down into the depths of the sea. Others up to the peaks of mountains. Some study the stars. All their lives. In order to understand. Whatever that means.

For my part...

I saw a man pierced by a scythe when I was eleven years old. In through his stomach and out through his back.

I mean, you might think that would be...enough.

But he died immediately.

What?

No, it wasn't anybody I knew.

Do you have anyone...particularly close?

Why is that, then?

No, I suppose it's these...what are they called...pimples, in that case. Otherwise I think you have a nice face.

No, don't drink any more.

This project...

Right. It's seven o'clock. The others will be here at any moment.

This project has been on my mind for quite a while.

The fact is, I wish I had done it a long time ago.

As things stand now...

Well, it will be more like a last wish.

Not something from which I will be able to...gain any benefit.

And I suppose that's how it should be, in some way.

It's a bell-headed nail. It's used for fixing tin roofs, normally.

Nails with the kind of head you really need for this...you can't buy them. Not any more.

There. That was the doorbell. It's time.

Can you go and answer it, I can't get up.

I think it's best if you...don't get to know each other.

Majken.

My friends.h.i.+p with Majken began with a telephone call.

I'd been annoyed with the Konsum supermarket chain for a long time; they make such a big thing out of being environmentally friendly, but they wrap their turnips in plastic. I can understand them doing that with peppers, or Spanish cauliflowers. But to wrap plastic around whole local turnips and then to call themselves 'Green Konsum' just isn't acceptable. It's hypocrisy, and nothing less.

I'm no expert when it comes to dealing with vegetables, but one thing I do know: turnips keep just as well as potatoes if you treat them the right way. And they don't use plastic on potatoes. So every time I came home with a turnip and had to peel off a layer of thin plastic film before I could use it, I got annoyed.

The earth's finite resources, fossil fuels, oil, plastic. You know all that stuff. I always have a couple of cotton bags with me when I go shopping. Little things, insignificant you might say. But many drops make a huge river, and a few tonnes of plastic will undeniably turn into a mountain eventually. A mountain of plastic. And what do we do with that?

So I made a phone call.

We really want to hear what you think, it says on their blue and white packaging. KF customer services, and the telephone number.

'Majken,' replied a voice on the other end.

I explained why I was ringing, expecting cool approval, an a.s.surance that we are working to make our stores more environmentally friendly, thank you for ringing, your views are important to us. Something along those lines. I've done this before.