‘Pappahas our copy,’ Henrik said earnestly. ‘He’s going throughBesta’sold papers to find it.’
‘And are you all clear on the specific terms of the agreement or is it more of a word-of-mouth situation, passed down through generations?’ Even if they knew but wouldn’t say, it might help us understand their position.
‘It was what the English would call a gentlemen’s agreement between my great-great-grandfather and Tore’s great-great-grandfather, and they shook on it so long ago that I don’t imagine there’s any record of it left. And even if there was it wouldn’t be legally binding.’
‘When do you think you’ll make a decision?’ Henrik asked, clearly scared of the answer.
‘Two days,’ Bjorn said, glaring at Nina, who started clearing the plates.
‘More coffee? Cake?’ she asked manically, then turned to me. ‘Would you prefer a tea?’
I shook my head.
‘We’re fine,tante. We should head back before it gets dark. I’m working the evening shift and Sara is supposed to be on holiday.’
‘Of course.’ Nina looked like she might cry.
‘If we could get you the money from somewhere else, would you be open to a different kind of deal?’ I asked, to try and keep the conversation open.
Bjorn laughed. ‘Absolutely. Money is money.’
Henrik nodded. ‘Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish caught and the last river poisoned, will we realise we can’t eat money.’
He paused for effect.
‘Beautiful,’ Nina said, tearing up. ‘Your mother would be very proud of you.’
Bjorn puffed on his pipe then snorted out the smoke. ‘We’re not planning to eat the money, Henny, we’ll buy food with it and eat that.’
