Fireraiser
Page 13
He knew how to get her to say more. Abruptly he bent and lifted her up.
– What are you up to now? she whimpered.
– You’ll find out.
It was colder in the bedroom; the window was wide open. He dropped her on to the bed, closed the window, closed the curtains.
– Don’t go making me nervous now, she said, as if that was the last thing in the world she wanted.
There was a dressing gown draped across the back of a chair; he pulled out the belt.
– I’m freezing, she complained in a thin, little-girl voice, pulling the duvet half round her.
– It’ll pass, he told her, taking hold of her hand and squeezing it round the shaft of his penis, holding it there until he went hard. Then he dragged her up to the head of the bed, pulled her hands together and tied them to the wrought iron.
– Not so tight, she pleaded, but he didn’t loosen the knot.
– Just so you don’t run off, he told her as he opened the wardrobe in search of what else he could use. He found a belt and, on the floor near the wall, a blue and white striped tie.
– Hope he doesn’t turn up looking for his fashion accessories, he grinned.
She shook her head. – He’s at work all day.
He fastened the tie around her ankle, drew it tight. – You’ve always got the latest news. Does he call you up at lunchtime to tell you what’s he up to?
She nodded. – He tells me everything.
– And now you’re going to pass it all on to me.
She shook her head. – I promised not to say anything.
He fastened the tie around her ankle to the edge of the bed. – We’ll see how long you hold out for.
He pulled the other leg to one side, leaving her wide open. – Sooner or later you’ll talk, when it gets dangerous enough.
She looked up into his eyes. – How dangerous are you?
– You have no idea.
He lowered himself over her. – There was someone else there who nearly got killed.
She gave a slight nod. He stopped his movement.
– The night watch at that place. It says in the paper that he’s being treated at Ahus. Have they spoken to him yet?
Now she shook her head, acting serious and sad. – He’s unconscious.
He put his hands around her throat. – How bad is he?
– I’m not saying anything.
He waited a while before releasing his hold on her throat and let her breathe.
– Smoke inhalation, she groaned.
– And now your boyfriend’s hanging around up there waiting for him to wake? he said as he pulled out of her.
She jerked at the belt, pressed her groin up against his. – They’re waiting. But I hate waiting.
16
Jasmeen wasn’t at school. At first it was a relief not to have to sit three metres away from her and act as though nothing had happened. But as the morning progressed, the relief grew heavier and heavier, and by the time the mid-morning break came, it was so weighty that Karsten chose to stay seated in the classroom. He picked up a book and looked at the physics problems. If she was ill, she could have sent him a message. He was pleased she hadn’t. If nothing at all happened, the problem would disappear of its own accord.
– Hallo, Karsten, earth calling, do you receive?
Tonje was standing in front of his desk waving both hands. He recalled that she had cropped up in one of the half-dreams he had had earlier that morning, as he lay dozing and waiting for the alarm clock to go off. Wearing nothing more than a tiny pair of panties, she had disappeared into a room with Adrian.
– Are you so fascinated by your physics book that no one can get through to you?
He blinked a few times, the flush burning along his forehead and down through his cheeks. – I was just sitting here thinking.
She leaned a hand on his desk. Round the wrist was a broad gold bracelet that looked as though it was woven out of a number of fine strands. Karsten knew it was a Christmas present Thomas had given her. She hadn’t been wearing it for the past few weeks. There were rumours flying about that Thomas had been invited to train with the elite team at Easter, but Karsten refused to believe that that was the reason she had started wearing it again.
– A few of us are having a get-together at Martin’s Pub this Friday evening. You want to come? I mean, it’s not really an official arrangement, she added. – Just celebrating that it’s the Easter holidays.
He scratched his neck. It was the first time Tonje had ever offered him this kind of invitation. Maybe it was meant as a joke. Maybe it was another challenge, to win a knot for her cap: ask a nerd to go out with you and see how long you can stay awake?
– Aren’t you going away for Easter?
She shook her head. – Got a lot of catching-up to do. Especially in maths and physics. And we’ve got lots of practice matches lined up.
– Did you say Martin’s?
– Just to have somewhere to meet. Afterwards we’ll go back to someone’s place, watch a film or something, don’t know what yet.
He could’ve stood up and lifted her little body into the air and danced round with it.
– Think about it, eh? she said, heading for the door.
– Who else is coming? he managed to compose himself enough to ask. – Apart from you?
She turned, tossing the thin braid behind her back. – Priest and a few others. Maybe Inga.
Thomas? he nearly asked, but managed to keep his lip buttoned.
The headmaster was standing out on the landing. – A word, please, he said as Karsten walked past.
He turned and walked ahead, up the stairs to his office, closing the door behind them.
– Sit down. He pointed a finger. Karsten did as he was told, and the headmaster sat at his desk, behind documents of all sorts arranged in piles that were surprisingly symmetrical.
– How well do you know Jasmeen Chadar?
Karsten looked over at him. – Jasmeen in my class?
The headmaster studied him. The lenses of his spectacles magnified not only his eyes but also the surrounding areas. Small bluish veins were visible just beneath the skin. They looked like tiny worms about to crawl on to his eyeball to feed.
– The fact is, her father telephoned me last night. And I want this to remain just between you and me, Karsten.
The headmaster removed his spectacles and scratched the back of his head with one of the arms. – They’re talking about taking her away from school. For the time being they’re going to keep her at home until after Easter. Do you understand why I’m telling you this?
– Sort of.
– Now I’m asking you straight out, Karsten. Have you been with her?
– Been with whom?
The counter question gave him a breathing space, but it was one he didn’t really want. What mattered was to get this over with and get out of there. There was one day left until the Easter holidays. And then ten days off school. Go running, study, play chess. Maybe go to the cabin after all. Far away from here. And by the time he came back, it would be all over. He didn’t know how, but it must be over by then, and no one would talk about it again. And then he would need never think about it any more.
– Jasmeen’s father says she has been harassed. That someone has assaulted her. And he mentioned your name.
The headmaster’s words whirled around the room, smashed into the wall, crashed into one another, dissolved into meaningless sound. Karsten realised that he was staring at a point on the headmaster’s forehead, just above one eyebrow, where there was a brown patch that resembled a coin.
– Assaulted her? He fidgeted with one of the straps on his rucksack. – Assaulted her? he said again, struggling to understand the meaning of the words.
The headmaster rose and walked round the desk. He bent slightly over him. – I have great difficulty in imagining that you have done any such thing, he assured him. – But her father maintains that you have been pursuing her for some
time now. And that is why I want to hear your answer to the question I have just asked you. Have you been with her in such a way as to …
He straightened up, stood in front of the window, put his arms behind his back and stared out across the schoolyard.
– If something has taken place that was entirely consensual, such as citizens in our society are at complete liberty to do, then that is an end to the matter. So to speak. But where conflicting moral visions come up against one another, things tend to get a little more complicated.
He turned again and peered down at Karsten before embarking on a lengthy explanation of what he meant. It was just as well, because Karsten was still in no state to give any answer at all.
– I’ve talked to her a few times, he managed to say once the headmaster was finished.
– Out of school?
– Met her at the public library.
At this the headmaster seemed to breathe more easily. It was as though the words public library were better than any other words that could have been said at such a time, as though they explained everything and put the matter in its proper perspective. – I thought it was probably something like that. I’m sure we’ll manage to sort this out. If we invite her and her family to sit down and talk things through.
Karsten kept his mouth shut. He didn’t trust what might come out if he opened it. He could have told the headmaster that the world wasn’t the kind of place where you all sat round a table and talked to Muslims whose honour had been compromised. He could have told him they weren’t living in Toytown any more.
– And if, as seems unlikely, things are still unresolved, the headmaster reasoned, – then of course there is always the mediation board.
As Karsten descended the staircase from the headmaster’s office, Adrian was standing outside the staffroom talking to one of the other teachers.
– I’d like a word with you, Karsten said as calmly as he could.
Adrian nodded. – Two minutes. Wait outside for me.
When he came out, he looked pleased. – So you had an audience with the head himself. Let’s walk together and you can tell me what you were talking about. They headed towards Storgata. Karsten struggled to explain the content of the conversation.
The mediation board, Adrian exclaimed with a big grin. – There, you see.
– I’m sure it’s not Jasmeen who’s making all this fuss, Karsten stammered, and tried not to pursue the thought any further.
– Not Jasmeen, but the rest of the Chadar family, Adrian announced in a surprisingly firm voice. – They’ve changed tactics. We’ll try to find out what’s going on.
It was a relief to hear him use the word ‘we’.
– Any fool knows that you don’t get anywhere by involving the police.
– My mum and dad mustn’t know anything about this, Karsten burst out.
That was the thought that had tightened around his chest up in the headmaster’s office and was still squeezing and squeezing. He couldn’t bear to think about how they would react, especially his dad, who was repelled by anything embarrassing; he slipped out of the room the moment people on TV started snogging, even if it was a film that even Synne was old enough to watch.
– You think that’s the most important thing?
A warm wind blew along the street, but Karsten was still feeling cold. – Dunno. Maybe.
– Actually that’s very interesting, Karsten. You meet a Pakistani girl, and before you can get your flies zipped up, her whole family is involved. Whereas whatever happens, you want to deal with it alone. Your family’s not to know anything about it. That’s something to think about, it really is.
Karsten couldn’t bear the idea of thinking about anything at all. – What are we going to do? he muttered.
Adrian stopped and looked round. – Good question. He seemed satisfied, and the sense of calm he exuded was contagious. – Actually, as things stand at the moment, it’s the only question you need to ask.
– One thing’s for sure, I have to stay well away from her.
Adrian drew two fingers across his chin, smoothing down his short beard. – I’m not so sure about that. He looked to be thinking something through. – We’ve got to keep one step ahead. I have a suggestion to make to you, Karsten.
– Okay.
– I know several people who’ve been giving a lot of thought to what’s happening.
Karsten looked at him quizzically.
– We meet up now and then to discuss what’s going on around us. Things we have to have an opinion on, whether we like it or not. I can get you in. Next meeting is this evening.
– Get me in? Karsten looked at him. – Is it secret?
Adrian shrugged. – For the time being it’s best that as few people as possible know about it. There’s no need to go round shooting your mouth off about it.
– Don’t think I can make it tonight.
– You mean you don’t like the sound of it? Without even knowing any of the details?
– Maybe.
– I’ll call in on my way there, Adrian decided. – In the meantime, you can think about it.
Karsten speeded up, running down Fetveien. The slush splashed up his legs; his trainers were soaking wet. The fine rain plastered his hair flat across his forehead. He forced himself into a last sprint, heading up towards Erleveien. Then an easy jog home, stopping in the driveway until he’d got his breath back before pulling out his phone. Squatted down behind the corner of the garage and called directory enquiries, got what had to be her home number.
– Who is this?
A child’s voice answered, sounded like a boy.
– I’m calling from Lillestrøm Secondary School, he said. – I’d like to talk to Jasmeen Chadar, is this the right number?
He heard the boy shout something or other in a different language. People talking together somewhere in the room. Then suddenly her voice.
– Jasmeen.
– It’s me. I have to talk to you.
A brief pause, then she said politely: – It’s difficult, but I’ll see what I can do. I’ll call you back in about fifteen minutes.
He couldn’t stay still, walked down the street again. Had just passed Dan-Levi’s house when his phone rang. He grabbed it from his pocket.
– You mustn’t ring me at home, Karsten.
– You don’t answer my messages, he protested.
– I don’t have my mobile phone. They’ve taken it.
– Where are you calling from? he asked, immediately suspicious.
– Just somebody that’s helping me. Don’t ask any more, I only have a few minutes.
– You’re going to report me for harassment and assault, he informed her. – I’ve got a right to talk to you about that.
– Assault?
He told her what the headmaster had said.
– Is that true?
– Think I’d lie about something like that?
She was silent at the other end.
– Are you still there? he asked, relieved that she obviously knew nothing about the accusation.
– I hate them.
He was startled at the anger in her voice. It sounded as if she had started crying, and that made him even more relieved.
– How can they do something like that without you knowing anything about it? he asked nevertheless.
– You don’t know them! You’ve no idea what they want me to do.
He didn’t want to know either.
– My dad shouts at me and calls me a bad person and even worse things than that. Somebody’s scratched his car and I even get the blame for that.
Karsten stiffened. – Scratched it?
She was now clearly crying.
– If we don’t meet any more, he began, – everything will just blow over of its own accord.
– You don’t know them, she repeated, and suddenly her voice was gone.
Karsten had to set off on another run. Past the Statoil station, past Åråsen Stadium. Could’ve kept
on running along Fetveien; it stretched for kilometres on end towards the river Glomma. Carry on across the bridge at Fetsund and on through the forest into Sweden. He could keep on running until he collapsed and was unable to think any more.
When he returned home an hour later, a blue Peugeot was parked right outside the drive. As Karsten passed, the window slid down.
– You don’t look ready, said Adrian.
Karsten stopped in his tracks. – Ready?
– Have you forgotten the meeting we talked about?
– Someone’s scratched their car too, he burst out.
Adrian looked at him completely straight faced. – Whose car?
– Jasmeen’s.
– She has a car?
– Shit, Karsten panted. – Her dad’s. You know what I’m talking about.
He looked around. No one within hearing distance, but a window in the house next door was wide open.
– Did you go over there and …?
– Calm down, Karsten. Adrian got out of the car. He was wearing the same leather combat jacket, but his dark hair looked as if it had just been cut, a lock of it hanging over his forehead. – Calm down, he repeated, not raising his voice. – Someone has obviously had a word with them. It wasn’t me, but that doesn’t matter. He rested a hand on Karsten’s shoulder. – It’s the kind of language they understand. You won’t have any more trouble from the Chadar family. Trust me. Are you alone in the house?
Karsten looked over. – Think so. Maybe my sister’s home.
– Then I’ll wait inside while you have a shower.
Karsten realised that Adrian was still trying to get him to go along to the meeting.
– Forgot about it, he apologised. – Maybe you should just go without me.
– No worries. How long do you need?
Karsten hesitated. – Who else is going?
– Some people with an opinion on what’s happening in this country.
– So not some kind of political party or anything like that?
– We’ve got enough of those already.
Karsten abandoned any thought of getting out of going to the meeting. He let them into the hallway, heard Synne playing music up in her room. When he emerged from the shower fifteen minutes later, his sister was sitting in the living room with the guest.