Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest, The - Stieg Larsson [102]
“Yes.”
“What I learned at Millennium tells me that I can say without a doubt that this story is a lie, and its purpose is to damage Salander before the trial.”
“It would be hard to do her any more damage, considering all the revelations that have already come out about her.”
“Revelations that are largely lies and distortions. Hans Faste is one of the key sources for the claims that Salander is a paranoid and violence-prone lesbian devoted to Satanism and S. & M. And the media as a whole bought Faste’s propaganda simply because he appears to be a serious source and it’s always cool to write about S. & M. And now he’s trying a new angle which will put her at a disadvantage in the public consciousness, and which he wants S.M.P. to help disseminate. Sorry, but not on my watch.”
“I understand.”
“Do you? Good. Then I can sum up everything I said in two sentences. Your job description as a journalist is to question and scrutinize most critically. And never to repeat claims uncritically, no matter how highly placed the sources in the bureaucracy. Don’t ever forget that. You’re a terrific writer, but that talent is completely worthless if you forget your job description.”
“Right.”
“I intend to kill this story.”
“I understand.”
“This doesn’t mean that I distrust you.”
“Thank you.”
“So that’s why I’m sending you back to your desk with a proposal for a new story.”
“Alright.”
“The whole thing has to do with my contract with Millennium. I’m not allowed to reveal what I know about the Salander story. At the same time I’m editor-in-chief of a newspaper that’s in danger of skidding because the newsroom doesn’t have the information that I have. And we can’t allow that to happen. This is a unique situation and applies only to Salander. That’s why I’ve decided to choose a reporter and steer him in the right direction so that we won’t end up with our trousers down when Millennium comes out.”
“And you think that Millennium will be publishing something noteworthy about Salander?”
“I don’t think so, I know so. Millennium is sitting on a scoop that will turn the Salander story on its head, and it’s driving me crazy that I can’t go public with it.”
“You say you’re rejecting my article because you know that it isn’t true. That means there’s something in the story that all the other reporters have missed.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s difficult to believe that the entire Swedish media has been duped in the same way …”
“Salander has been the object of a media frenzy. That’s when normal rules no longer apply, and any drivel can be posted on a billboard.”
“So you’re saying that Salander isn’t exactly what she seems to be.”
“Try out the idea that she’s innocent of these accusations, that the picture painted of her on the billboards is nonsense, and that there are forces at work you haven’t even dreamed of.”
“Is that the truth?”
Berger nodded.
“So what I just handed in is part of a continuing campaign against her.”
“Precisely.”
Frisk scratched his head. Berger waited until he had finished thinking.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Go back to your desk and start working on another story. You don’t have to stress out about it, but just before the trial begins we might be able to publish a whole feature that examines the accuracy of all the statements that have been made about Salander. Start by reading through the clippings, list everything that’s been said about her, and check off the allegations one by one.”
“Alright.”
“Think like a reporter. Investigate who’s spreading the story, why it’s being spread, and ask yourself whose interests it might serve.”
“But I probably won’t be at S.M.P. when the trial starts. This is my last week.”
Berger took a plastic folder from a desk drawer and laid a sheet of paper in front of him.
“I’ve extended your assignment by three months. You’ll finish off this week with your ordinary duties and report in here on Monday.”
“Thank you.”
“If you want to keep