The Redbreast(154)

‘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?’