Chapter 15
Rasmus sits on the bench in front of me on the school boat. Hanna is sitting next to him and jabbering in his ear, but I can’t hear their conversation from here. He sits up straight, and I feel a vibration in my pocket.
I carefully pull out my phone and look.
see you at lunch?
I glance at Rasmus’s back again. I tap reply and type:
okay
I watch until I see him take his phone out again. He must have seen it.
Frost glistens on the edge of the jetty as ?sterman brings the boat in to dock by the school. The low hum of the engine stops.
A police boat is already moored some distance away, and two serious-looking uniformed police officers I’ve never seen before are talking to Axel’s parents and a couple of teachers.
I can see Marianne’s face from here. Her lips are pinched tightly together.
She doesn’t say a word. I’ve never seen her stay quiet for so long.
She’s wearing a glove on one hand but the other is bare, despite the freezing cold.
Her hands clench into fists and then unclench, again and again, as if they have minds of their own.
I lower my head and hurry into school with the others. I take my usual spot in the classroom, in the back corner. I can’t help but sneak a peek out the window to see if Axel’s parents are still standing out there with the police.
Mrs. Lindgren is waiting at the blackboard with a piece of chalk in her hand.
She wears rings on most of her fingers and has the kind of face you forget as soon as it’s out of sight. She has a long nose, which should be memorable but isn’t for some unknowable reason.
Mrs. Lindgren clears her throat to get the class to quiet down.
“I know it’s been a really tough couple of days,” she says. “A lot of people are very sad and frightened. You’re all missing Axel and wondering where he is.”
Her voice falters as she says his name. She has to look down at the floor before she can continue. “So am I.”
Her eyes are moist when she looks up again. Hanna lets out a sob.
“You should know that the police and many volunteers have been searching tirelessly, and the search will continue over the weekend. If anyone can think of any information that might be of help, you must tell me or the police.”
For a moment I think she’s about to look right at me, but she doesn’t.
“Two police officers are coming in on Monday to talk to some of you about Axel’s disappearance. I’ve emailed your parents about it. If you have any questions, you are welcome to come and talk to me during recess.”
Mrs. Lindgren pauses for a moment, but no one says anything. There isn’t a single sound in the classroom, not even a chair leg scraping the floor.
“I also want to remind you that everybody has a checkup with the school nurse today. You’ll go in alphabetical order.”
She clasps her hands in front of her.
“Ms. Granberg has a duty of confidentiality, so if you want to talk about Axel, you can do so with her. She won’t tell anyone, not even your parents.”
Mrs. Lindgren twists the ring around her middle finger, which has a large turquoise stone. Her eyes moisten even more.
“This is a terrible situation for me too. It’s difficult for all of us. So can we please try to behave ourselves today? I don’t want to have to shout at anyone.”
I see my classmates nod and realize I should too.
“Good,” Mrs. Lindgren says and attempts to smile.
“Arvid,” she says presently. “You’re up first to see Ms. Granberg. The rest of you can take out your grammar books.”