The Girl Who Had No Face

Chapter I

15 January

The truck stopped a few blocks from the Riksdagshuset* in a cool night. Otto put his eyes directly to the building surrounded by the storm. Inside the truck there was not a single sound. The other four men were silent as tombs, not moving a muscle at all, just staring at each other and thinking, giving more importance than they should to the task. They were trying to look serious and professionals, but the fear was there in their eyes. She, on the other hand, was better concealing her feelings. She was just there, looking to the other side of the street and smoking. Like nothing of that was her business. She was afraid of course, but not by the same thing like the other guys. Perhaps it was in part that reason for them to choose her for the task. There were many hackers out there, some of more confidence than her. But most of them were too accustomed to work from home, safe and warm, and their idea of adventure was just to sit and play. She was perfect to the job, her confidence and cool head makes her all a bit easy.

Otto took her hand and tried to look serious and supportive. He didn't give a shit about attitude; he gave his thumb up for her to join just because he wanted to know her a little better. She looked at him with cool eyes and he released her hand. He knew what happens to people who touched her without her permission. This was not the first time she declined his advances. Otto cleared his throat.

-It's time.

All the men got out of the truck quietly. She did the same.

The group had no particular name other than the group. Nothing was planned, things just happened. At first it was just reunions with some beer, talking about their problems, how the government ruined their lives, and all the injustices out there. Some words were said; again, some things just happened. And now, they were out there, in a storm instead of their beds, or couches, watching TV. But they were too important to be doing those idiotic stuff, live like the common men, watching TV and being stupid. No, they were better, intelligent and almost wise. They were able to see the true. So, they were freezing in a storm.

Lisbeth Salander was accepted by the group a few months ago, after some small works to prove her skill and loyalty. Of course, the main reason for they to accept Lisbeth was just her name. Everyone in Stockholm, if not all Sweden, knew about Lisbeth Salander: the girl who kicked the hornets' nest and lived to tell the story. Or at least she could do it, if she talked more than two words. So, her name was the first step to get inside. Her skill with computers was not as impressive as rumors said. Of course, she was able to hack some systems using programs like the Asphyxia, but not so good to hack from a distance. That was the reason for her to be present. About her loyalty, she was unable to talk about anything of the group. And in the weeks of her test, nothing happened that may be understood as an act of betray. The final step was, as mentioned before, Otto's desire for her. Help from someone…

The group entered the building with relative ease. The sound of their clothes was the only one to be heard. They did not show their relief to be inside and warm.

-We move as planed –said Otto in a quiet voice. Everyone but her agree with a movement of heads. Otto and Salander took their way, while the other four men went a different way.

The main mission for Salander was the computer room. It was proved almost impossible for her to install the Asphyxia from a remote position, so her job was to install the program in all computers of the parliament. Otto opened the door of the computer room quietly and carefully, trying to leave as less clues as possible. The room was full of computers, monitors and other devices. Salander put her backpack at the side and turned on the machines at the same time as Otto's cellphone received a call. Salander tried to ignore the call but then Otto said the name Alvar, her head turned just a bit. Otto noticed it. Salander attempted to be focused in her job, so she looked into the monitors: there was something wrong. Instead of the system asking for a password, there was just an image of a blue screen with white letters informing an error. It was like a human common knowledge to associate that blue screen with something really wrong. Computers are not supposed to show that strange words unless you screw something. For Salander, this was even more significant: the blue screen of death. Suddenly, Otto talked.

-The plan changed, the program is no longer necessary.

-What are you talking about? –Asked Salander, looking at him with her blue beautiful, beautiful eyes.

-Alvar is not coming, he no longer needs the info from us, he took it this morning.

Otto searched his bag for something Salander didn't know it was there: a bomb. After all, she was not entirely of the trust of the group.

-Are you going to blow this up, after weeks of planning? –Asked Salander, trying really hard to stay calm.

-Everyone knew this could happen.

"Everyone but you".

-We plant the bombs and leave, that's all.

-That's all –Salander repeated. Otto looked at her seriously.

-Yes, that's all.

There was a brief moment of an uncomfortable silence, almost tense. But Salander finally turned off the computers and reached her bag to leave. She looked angry, but Otto imagined it was normal for a person like her to react to something like what just happened.

-Let's go –said Otto, and turned around. He stopped before giving a step.

The sound of a mechanism he was familiar with reached his ears: a gun.

-Not so fast –Said Salander behind him.

Otto looked back only to see Salander pointing a Walther P99 to him. She was holding the pistol with both hands, diagonally, like in a Center Axis Relock position, like a professional. This surprised him a little more than the gun itself.

-What the hell are you going to do with that shit? –Asked Otto with a calmed voice. He knew she wasn't playing.

-Give me the detonator –she demanded.

-It's in my pocket.

-Give it to me!

Otto hesitated a moment, but finally put his hand inside his jacket's pocket. Salander was ready in case he tried to pull out a weapon. For a moment, she would have preferred to see a gun. Otto took a small device out; it was like a little remote control of a TV. Salander looked at the thing for a moment, her big mistake. Otto noticed her fear for the little gadget, just for a moment, it made her really nervous. He decided to put her fear in a test and held the thing with the tip of his index and thumb, like it would fall any time.

-Careful! –She demanded, pushing her P99 on Otto's back.

He got her.

The man threw the control as if it was a used smoke. Salander opened her eyes wide and tried to catch the device. For a moment, the gun was separated from the target, and Otto did not let that opportunity to go. He moved his elbow and hit Salander in the face. The blow caused the girl to split some blood. Her nose began to bleed and the pain was so hard that, for a moment, her mind was in white and she let her pistol to go from her hand, but she didn't care at all. She stepped back a few steps, reaching the computer's table, barely staying up, holding from the furniture. Her other hand was on her face, trying in vain to stop the pain.

-Bitch –said Otto angry, but in a calmed way, almost like disappointed.

The girl looked at him with eyes full of wrath. He just dared to touch her, to hurt her. Her knees shook just a little for the fury. Otto looked at the gun on the floor and then at the girl again. He wanted to ask what was going on with her, but, in his experience, she wasn't the talkative type.

Suddenly, Otto began to attack her. He advanced to her, with a calmed way while Salander started to go back, trying to avoid him. The man threw punches at her, marking his distance, sometimes hitting her arms, sometimes hitting her head. Short and controlled punches while he smiled, like a cat playing with the mouse. He was in control at last. But, of course, this didn't last with Salander.

In a moment, tired of the humiliation, she showed her teeth while snorting like a furious animal. Salander graved Otto's wrist and pulled it with the whole weight of her body, even as few as it would be. The man was so surprised that he did not notice the kick on his ribs until the pain forced him to go back. He released himself and held his torso, bending over. He looked at the girl but he only saw a strange black shape coming at him. The second kick smashed his face and a sound like a twig being broken echoed all over. Otto fell on the floor, holding his ribs. He tried to stand up, but the pain was terrible. Salander watched him for a moment, breathing fast. She touched her upper lip and saw her finger covered with blood. The girl put her eyes again at the man responsible for the damage on her face. As a result of hurting her, he was on the floor, unable to stand or breathe properly. She was deciding to kill him or not. No one could blame her, it would be self-defense any way. Otto looked how she got her P99 back and pointed at him. Her black hair was all over her face and covering it all but her right eye and the blood in her lips. He wondered for a moment if one of his punches made her bleed in her head, as he could see some red hairs under the black. Salander hated him so much that she looked like a weird Japanese vengeful ghost. Suddenly, she smiled… she was so fucking beautiful.

*Sweden Parliament House