Part 53 (1/2)

Sat.u.r.day 18 December The sound reached her in the middle of a bizarre s.e.xual dream. She was lying on a bed of gla.s.s on a s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p, Thomas was on top of her. Three presenters from the radio programme Studio Six were standing alongside them, watching expressionlessly. She was desperate for a pee.

'You can't go to the toilet now, we're on our way into s.p.a.ce,' Thomas said, and, looking through the big panoramic window, she saw he was right.

The second ring tore the cosmos to shreds, leaving her sweaty and thirsty in the darkness. The ceiling loomed above her in the gloom.

'Answer the b.l.o.o.d.y thing before it wakes the whole house,' Thomas grumbled from the mess of pillows.

She twisted her head to see the time: 03.22. The excitement of the dream vanished in a single breath. Her arm, heavy as lead, reached for the phone on the floor. It was Jansson, the night-editor.

'The Victoria Stadium's gone up. Burning like f.u.c.k. Our reporter's out there for the night edition, but we need you for the next edition. How soon can you get there?'

She took several breaths, letting the information sink in, feeling adrenalin rolling like a wave through her body and up into her brain. The Olympic Stadium, she thought. Fire, chaos. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l. South of the city centre. Should she take the southern bypa.s.s or the Skanstull bridge?

'How are things looking in town, are the roads okay?'

Her voice sounded rougher than she would have liked.

'The southern bypa.s.s is blocked. The exit by the stadium has collapsed, but that's all we know. The Sodermalm tunnel is shut off, so you'll have to go above ground.'

'Who's doing pictures?'

'Henriksson's on his way, and the freelancers are already there.'

Jansson hung up without waiting for a reply. Annika listened to the dead crackle on the line for a few seconds before letting the phone fall to the floor.

'So what is it this time?'

She sighed silently before replying.

'Some sort of explosion at the Olympic Stadium. I've got to go. It'll probably take all day.'

She paused before adding: 'And all evening.'

He muttered something inaudible.