Hans Lahlum - The Human Flies

I agreed, but added quickly: ‘On the condition that it is of no relevance to the murder. And that you now give me a better account, which is more honest than the last one!’

He nodded vehemently. It appeared that Kristian Lund had no problems talking about deeply personal things. My impression that he was somewhat egocentric but also an intelligent and socially gifted person was reinforced.

‘I realize that the fact that I am having an extramarital affair with a woman who lives next door does not inspire confidence. Especially as I have such an attractive, good wife and a sweet little boy. I am afraid the explanation may take some time.’

I indicated that I was in no rush. Kristian Lund’s life was something that interested me more and more. He nodded gratefully, leaned back in his chair and thought for a few moments before starting.

‘It started sometime last year with a rather generous dose of good old-fashioned desire.’

He sat in silence for a moment. Then his face tightened before he carried on in a self-pitying vein once again.

‘But in fact it all goes back to my mother and my childhood. For many years I was the boy who none of the girls wanted to touch or admit that she liked. By the time I turned seventeen, I had still not kissed a girl. One experience in particular left its mark, even though it was completely innocent. When I was fourteen, we went on a school trip and all the boys in the class got a goodnight hug from one of the girls. Except me. “There are limits. Even for hugs,” she said with a cold, sarcastic smile. Everyone laughed. I cried all night and swore that one day I would be a success. Then when I was eighteen, everything suddenly changed. I played in a band and was the star of the football team. I had accumulated such a vast lack of intimacy that I exploited my advantage for all it was worth. The girl who refused to give me a hug when we were fourteen was one of several who then lay moaning under me when she was nineteen.’

He broke into a smile. It was obvious that this episode was one of the better memories from his youth.

‘I am certain there was an underlying need for self-vindication and revenge on my part, but also physical desire. I was an active young man with a strong libido. Young women soon excited me more than football matches. But then I got older and wiser, and my hormones settled. The atmosphere at business school was more mature and serious, and after I met Karen, I never touched anyone else. Until…’

The word hung in the air for a moment before he finished.

‘Until Sara stood there one day, glimmering on the stairs, and said that she had just moved in. I felt a surge of excitement and desire stronger than ever before.’

He leaned over the table towards me.

‘You are further from those days than I am, but you must at least once have stood slightly too close to one of those annoyingly beautiful temptresses between seventeen and twenty-three… who appears to have unwittingly tightened her belt too much, undone three buttons on her blouse and be standing a bit too close. With a provocative smile that seems to say that you can see this much whenever you like, but no more.’

I waved him on without answering. I indeed had stood too close to at least one young lady who fitted that description. And I noted that we were now on very familiar terms.

‘No girl provoked me or turned me on more when I was a lad. Sometimes I lied and made promises that I had no intention of keeping, even when I was sober. I believed that if a girl was giving out mixed messages, she had to accept that the opposite party might do the same. So I played the game, and gained more than I lost, I would say. Certainly, more than once they got a taste of their own medicine and were left crying in their own trap. Sara gave exactly that impression when she stood there in front of me. She was older, taller and more dignified in a way, in her long black dress with only two buttons open at the neck. But her smile had the same teasing, tempting effect, and the impact was all the greater because she otherwise appeared so respectable and intelligent. Her smile seemed to say that no one had been here before and being the first would not be easy. It felt like an open challenge as she stood there no more than an arm’s length from me, with her perfect curves under wraps. I have always been attracted to tall, dark women, and suddenly here I was facing my dream woman who was taller and darker than any I had met before. So I fell hopelessly in love, right there on the stairs, with her soft hand in mine. I found myself thinking, as I had in my youth, That smile is going to change and that dress is coming off!’

Talking about his conquests obviously put Kristian Lund in a better mood and he continued his story briskly. I saw no reason to interrupt him as yet.

‘A couple of hours after that first encounter, the worst of the shock had died down. But when my wife fell asleep, I lay awake beside her for hours thinking about the beautiful and tantalizing Sara. The following morning, when I was about to drive to work, she so happened to come out at the same time as me. So I played it instinctively, asked where she was going and said that I needed to pop by somewhere close to the university, so perhaps she would like a lift. Her smile was even more provocative than the day before and she immediately got into the car. We hit it off straightaway and had more to talk about than expected. I extended what was already a very long detour by adding a couple of extra turns, so I was almost half an hour late to work. I blamed the unexpected heavy traffic, which was as close to the truth as I could get. The next morning, I left home twenty minutes earlier in the hope that she would pop up again. An unusually beautiful young woman was waiting impatiently for me by my car. Two long, slim feminine legs dressed in tight denim trousers that emphasized her great shape, stamping on the pavement to keep warm. She nodded and gave me the most irresistible smile when I appeared by the car. I smiled back, got in behind the wheel and indicated that she should get in beside me. And off we drove together – as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I think it was when I saw her standing there on the second day that I knew that I would win – if I wanted to win and played my cards right. So I carried on playing the game, inspired. I drove her to the university and mentioned when I would be leaving the next morning. The second day, I got a hug, and on the third, a kiss on the cheek.’

He fell abruptly silent, but then continued happily when I asked him what had happened on the fourth day.

‘It all started as a bit of fun and a way of switching off during a very difficult period when I had too much to think about. It was only a few months since my mother had died. I was probably annoyed with my wife, who only thought about our boy and not about me. It was also a busy time with long days at work. The idea that a woman as beautiful as Sara might be interested in me gave me a boost. So a few days later, I let slip that my wife was taking our son to visit a friend in Bygdøy that afternoon. Sara gave me a knowing smile and suggested that I take the opportunity to come by and have a coffee with her. I am still not sure how far we had thought of going, but the invitation to coffee was our last chance to turn back in time. Sitting in the car, I could have said that it might not be appropriate. Or I could have not knocked on Sara’s door after I had driven my wife out to Bygdøy. But once I had crossed the threshold, and she stood there with her enticing smile, wearing the same dress as the first time we met… there was no going back. We had some coffee and then some wine and we sat on the sofa, but soon we were intoxicated by each other. Somehow we managed to lose our inhibitions after only two glasses of wine. I remember that she sat on my lap and I tried to whisper that we had to stop this now or her dress would end up on the floor and I would be on top of her before we knew it, but my intention was hardly to warn her off. The next thing I remember is that both her dress and the smile had disappeared and she was lying almost naked, moaning on the bed. I had no awareness of anything other than the two of us, and my only desire was to get her knickers off. And when they slid down her thighs…’