‘If the individual concerned knew nothing about
the other personality, yes. With people who have
only a superficial knowledge of the MPD patient,
the change in gestures and body language can be
enough for them to sit in the same room and not
recognise the person.’
‘Could someone with an MPD keep it hidden
from those closest to them?’
‘It’s feasible, yes. How frequently the other
personalities appear is an individual matter and
patients can to some degree control the changes
themselves, too.’
‘But then the personalities would have to know
about each other?’
‘Yes, indeed, but that’s not unusual either. And,
just as in the novel about Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,
there can be bitter clashes between the
personalities because they have different goals,
perceptions of morality, sympathies and antipathies
with respect to the people around them and so on.’
‘What about handwriting? Can they mess around
with that too?’
‘This is not messing around, Harry. You aren’t
the same person all the time, either. When you get
home from work a whole load of imperceptible
changes take place in you too: your voice, body
language and so on. It’s odd that you should
mention handwriting because somewhere here I’ve
got a book with a picture of a letter written by an
MPD patient with seventeen totally different and
totally consistent handwriting styles. I’ll see if I
can find it one day when I have more time.’
Harry noted down a few reminders on his pad.
‘Different menstrual cycles, different
handwriting; it’s just absolutely insane,’ he
mumbled.
‘Your words, Harry. I hope that helped because
I’ve got to run.’
Aune ordered a taxi and they went out on to the
street together. As they stood on the pavement
Aune asked Harry if he had any plans for
Independence Day on 17 May. ‘Wife and I are
going to have a few friends round for a meal.
You’re very welcome.’
‘Kind of you, but the neo-Nazis are planning to
“take” the Muslims who celebrate Eid on the
seventeenth and I’ve been instructed to coordinate
surveillance round the mosque in Grønland,’ Harry
said, both happy and embarrassed at the surprise
invitation. ‘They always ask us singles to work on
such family celebration days, you know.’
‘Couldn’t you just drop in for a while? Most of
the people who come have something of their own
to go to later on in the day.’
‘Thanks. Let’s see what happens and I’ll give you
a ring. What are your friends like anyway?’
Aune checked his bow-tie to make sure it was
straight.
‘They’re like you,’ he said. ‘But my wife knows a
few respectable people.’
At that moment the taxi pulled into the kerb. Harry
held the door open while Aune scrambled in, but
as he was about to shut it he suddenly remembered
something.
‘What are MPDs caused by?’
Aune bent over in his seat and looked up at
Harry. ‘What’s this actually about, Harry?’
‘I’m not quite sure, but it might be important.’
‘Alright. MPD cases have often been subject to
abuse in their childhood. But a disorder could also
be caused by extremely traumatic experiences later
in life. Another personality is created to flee from
problems.’
‘What sort of traumatic problems might that be if
we’re talking about an adult male?’
‘You just have to use your imagination. He might
have experienced a natural disaster, lost someone
he loved, been a victim of violence or lived in fear
for a protracted period of time.’
‘Like being a soldier at war, for example.’
‘War could certainly be a trigger, yes.’
‘Or guerrilla warfare.’
Harry said the latter to himself, as the taxi taking
Aune was already on its way down Thereses gate.
‘Scotsman,’ Halvorsen said.
‘You’re going to spend 17 May in the Scotsman
pub?’ Harry grimaced, putting his bag behind the
hatstand.
Halvorsen shrugged his shoulders. ‘Any better
suggestions?’
‘If it has to be a pub, at least find one with a bit
more style than the Scotsman. Or better still,
relieve one of the fathers here and do one of the
watches during the children’s parade. Double pay
and zero hangover.’
‘I’ll think about it.’
Harry slumped down into the chair.
‘Aren’t you going to get it fixed soon? It sounds
decidedly out of sorts.’
‘It can’t be fixed,’ Harry said sulkily.
‘Sorry. Did you find anything in Vienna?’