The Redbreast(92)

– they are purely social events to commemorate the

dead, and there is a ban on talking politics. No, if I

were hunting for an Eastern Front man with

revenge on his mind, this is the place I would

start.’

‘Has your wife been to any of these, what did you

call them . . . gatherings of comrades-in-arms?’

Juul stared at Harry in surprise. Then he slowly

shook his head. ‘Just an idea,’ Harry said.

‘Wondered if she might have anything to tell me?’

‘She hasn’t,’ Juul said curtly. ‘Fine. Is there any

connection between those you call the “old

incorrigibles” and the neo-Nazis?’

‘Why do you ask?’

‘I’ve had a tip-off which suggests that Uriah used

a middleman to get hold of the Märklin rifle,

someone who moves in arms circles.’

Juul shook his head.

‘Most ex-Eastern Front men would be annoyed to

hear you put them in the same category. Even

though neo-Nazis generally hold them in very high

regard. For them, fighting at the front is the ultimate

dream – protecting their country and race with a

firearm in their hand.’

‘So if one of these old soldiers wanted to acquire

a weapon he could reckon on support from the neo-

Nazis?’

‘He would probably meet with goodwill, yes. But

he would have to know who to approach. Not just

anyone would be able to provide him with such an

advanced weapon as the one you are after. It’s

fairly indicative that the police in Hønefoss, during

a raid on a neo-Nazi garage, found a rusty old

Datsun full of home-made clubs, wooden spears

and a couple of blunt axes. The majority of these

people are literally Stone Age types.’

‘So where do I begin to look for a person in this

milieu who has contacts with international arms

dealers?’

‘The problem is not that the milieu is particularly

large. In fact, Fritt Ord, the nationalists’

newspaper, claims that there are approximately

fifteen hundred national socialists and national

democrats in Norway, but if you call the Monitor,

the voluntary organisation which keeps an eye on

fascist nests, they’ll tell you that there are fifty

active members at most. No, the problem is that the

wealthy backers who really hold the reins are

invisible. They don’t wear boots or have swastikas

tattooed on their upper arms, let’s put it like that.

They may have a position in society they can

exploit to serve the cause, but to do that they have

to keep a low profile.’

A deep voice rumbled behind them: ‘How dare

you come here, Even Juul.’

49

Gimle Cinema, Bygdøy Allé. 7 March

2000.

‘SO WHAT DO I DO?’ HARRY ASKED ELLEN, NUDGING

HER forward in the queue. ‘I’m just sitting

wondering whether I should go and ask one of the

old moaners if they know anyone who might be

entertaining assassination plans and has purchased

a rifle priced way above the norm for this special

occasion. And at that very instant one of them

comes over to our table and says in a funereal

voice: How dare you come here, Even Juul. ’

‘So what did you do?’ Ellen asked.

‘Nothing. I just sit there and see Even Juul’s face

drop. He looks as if he’s seen a ghost. It’s obvious

the two of them know each other. By the way, that

was the second person I’ve met today who knows

Juul. Edvard Mosken also said he knew him.’

‘Is that so strange? Juul writes for the

newspapers, he’s on TV, he’s high profile.’

‘You’re probably right. At any rate, Juul stands

up and simply marches out. I have to run after him.

Juul’s face is ashen when I catch up with him in the

street. But when I ask what happened, he claims he

doesn’t know the man. Afterwards I drive him

home and he barely says goodbye before leaving.

He looks totally stunned. Is row ten alright?’

Harry stooped at the box-office window to buy

two tickets.

‘I have my doubts about this film,’ he said.

‘Why?’ Ellen asked. ‘Because it was my choice?’

‘I heard a gum-chewing girl on the bus say to her

friend that Todo sobre mi madre was nice. As in

naaiice.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘When girls say that a film is nice, I get this Fried Green Tomatoes feeling. When you girls are

served up some schmalz with even less content

than The Oprah Winfrey Show you think you’ve

seen a warm, intelligent film. Popcorn?’

He nudged her forward in the popcorn queue.

‘You’re a damaged human being, Harry. A

damaged human being. By the way, do you know