The Demon of Dakar - Kjell Eriksson [69]
She despised herself. This was about Viola and nothing else. She could ask at the desk if Viola had any visitors. She pressed the elevator call button for the third time and this time the doors opened at once.
Viola was sitting in a wheelchair by the window. Ann coughed but the old woman did not move. The silver white hair stood on end. Her right hand was tapping lightly on the armrest. This was the same old Viola, restless, eager to get away, Ann thought.
“Hi Viola,” she said and the old woman turned her head and stared at Lindell without displaying in gesture or expression that she recognized her visitor. Lindell took several steps into the room.
“It’s me, Ann.”
“Do you think I’m blind?” Viola said. “No, you think I’m completely senile.”
For a second or two Ann was incapable of replying, her hand went up to her face as if to ward off Viola’s searching gaze. She masked her gesture by pulling back a few strands of hair.
“Dear me, you poor thing,” Viola said softly, and they were the most tender words that Ann had ever heard her say.
“I heard that you had taken a fall,” Ann said, fighting to keep the tears back. If only she were my mother, was a thought that came flying, and it made her feel guilty.
“Things are as they are,” Viola said. “The damned chicken coop tripped me up.”
“Are you in pain?”
Viola shook her head.
“When will you get to go home?”
“They say next week, but there’s so much talk here you don’t know what to make of it all.”
Ann pulled out a chair and sat down beside her.
“How is everything with Victor?”
“As usual, a bit frail in the winter but he perks up when the sun comes.”
Ann didn’t know what else to ask about. As in the beginning of their relationship, Ann felt self-conscious and awkward.
“And you?” Viola said.
“I’m doing well, thanks. Working and busy. Right now we have an unpleasant murder case.”
“You have always been involved in unpleasantries. And the boy?”
“Erik is fine. He’s at day care.”
Ann swallowed. Go on, she thought, looking at Viola’s face, ask me.
“Edvard was up here yesterday,” Viola said. “He had an errand to run.”
Lindell nodded.
“He is working with Gottfrid as usual. They are working so hard, you wouldn’t believe it.”
The note of pride in her voice was unmistakable. She studied Ann with amusement. The old woman hasn’t changed a bit, she thought. She is a miracle.
“That’s wonderful,” Ann said.
“Yes, but of course it’s far too much,” Viola said grumpily, and in this way annulled her earlier contentment.
This was typical of her. Nothing was allowed to remain really good. On the other hand things were certainly allowed to be thoroughly awful. She had no difficulties with that.
“I’ve never spent this long in Uppsala. I usually make do with the town,” Viola said, and Ann gathered she was referring to Öregrund. “During my entire life I’ve been to Uppsala perhaps twenty or so times, but never for this long.”
She fell silent and looked out the window.
“They are building so much,” she said, and took on a look of satisfaction. Ann sensed that she was thinking of Edvard.
What joy she had received from Edvard. She must have thanked her lucky stars countless times for that evening when Edvard had come knocking and asked if he could rent a room.
“It’s time for me to leave,” Ann said. “Are you sleeping well?”
Viola chuckled.
“That was a question,” she said. “Go on, get out here and catch some thieves.”
Ann put her chair back and walked to the door, turning when she was halfway. The old woman was looking at her. Ann quickly went back, leaned down, and gave her a clumsy hug. Then she left without saying anything else and without turning back.
She felt that it was the last time she would see Viola. “Go on, get out here and catch some thieves.” At the start of their friendship Viola