Trond: I agree with you in principle, but I think that psychologically the Storting is better. A mass mobilization there would put pressure on the politicians who are warming to the idea of demanding a change in the Vietnam policy. A good many Labour Party politicians are pushing in that direction and pressure on the government is mounting. No one in the American Embassy is up for election, and no one there is sympathetic to our calls.
Kristine: I see advantages in both, but Falko always said that the American Embassy was the root of all evil in both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Storting. So I think that the first demonstration after the second anniversary of his disappearance should be there. Marie: I support Anders.
Trond: Then I accept. Should we send invitations to the Labour Party and SPP youth leagues, or just to the Vietnam Committee and other contacts left of SPP? Don’t get me wrong, I am sceptical of any flirtations with the Labour Party, and even more sceptical of any pandering to the SPP. But I do think we should send invitations to both as I think that would make the situation harder for them both, tactically.
Anders: Well-meaning members of the Labour Party and SPP are welcome to join us, but we will not invite them. It’s important to show the Americans how strong the far-left radicals in Norway really are. Clear slogans and committed participation are more important than numbers here.
Marie: I agree with that.
Kristine: I also agree. Reminds me of what Falko used to say: that few can become many if they are just patient and stand united.
Trond: Well, I will back down then. It is easy to compromise on the choice of method as long as the goal is fixed. And what about our other plans for the autumn? I have to look after my practice and my duty to my patients, who have all suffered in some way under the heavy yoke of capitalism. But I have a flexible timetable and will keep patient numbers at a level that allows time for meetings and agitation.
Anders: I have cleared my timetable and work schedule for a very activist autumn. A few daytime lectures are obligatory, but I’ll get a sick note if the good cause so requires.
Kristine: Same here, a few obligatory lectures that I can skip if necessary. But it would be good if I knew about important activities a few weeks in advance.
Marie: Concurred. I don’t quite know what’s happening with my course this winter yet, but I have to get on with my masters. Whatever the case, it shouldn’t be a problem for the first part of the autumn, and I’ll be there for whatever we decide to take part in.
Trond: Excellent. Then our conscience is still clear, in terms of both Falko and society’s repressed masses.
Anders: Agreed. We should also note the good news from China, where new advances in Mao’s Cultural Revolution have been reported. The progress continues, and in sharp contrast to the situation in the USA, it is of benefit to the entire population. A united nation celebrates in the streets in Mao’s China, whereas there are more and more demonstrations against the war in Richard Nixon’s USA. There is no doubt which country and which ideology is on the offensive. We still have the present against us here in Norway, but the future is behind us. In just the same way that the heroes of the Resistance are now honoured for their stand against Hitler’s Nazism in the Second World War, we and other likeminded people will be honoured in the next century by future generations in a new and fairer Norway. The great awakening will reach the sleeping masses in our country within the next few years.
[Applause]
Marie: Thank you for your uplifting words. When shall we meet again to continue our struggle?
Trond: What about the Tuesday before the anti-Vietnam demonstration? There may be a need for more preparations by then, and it’s free in my diary at the moment.
Anders: Suits me very well. I can, if everyone is happy, volunteer to open with a few minutes on communism’s development in China and neighbouring countries. There is exciting news that communism is now advancing fast in Cambodia under the charismatic leadership of the young general secretary Pol Pot, and it would seem that the USA’s lackeys there are on the verge of collapse.
Marie: That sounds like a very interesting theme. And Tuesday is good for me too.
Kristine: And for me. So let’s close then by reiterating our hope that Falko will be back by then to take his seat and place at the rally outside the American Embassy.
[Applause]
Trond: So that concludes the meeting. I’ve got my new car outside. Does anyone need a lift somewhere?
Anders: No thanks, I am becoming more and more environmentally aware and prefer to cycle.
Kristine: I’ll be home by the time you’ve got in the car, but thank you.
Marie: And I’m on the train, as usual.
Trond: Have you got enough time before the next train? Otherwise, I’m happy to give you a lift.
Marie: There’s plenty of time. Thank you for a good meeting and see you soon. No doubt we’ll have a lot to talk about this autumn.
It was a poignant conclusion to the meeting and the recording, to hear Marie Morgenstierne say that she looked forward to seeing more of the others during the autumn. Her voice was just as calm and even as it had been at the start of the meeting.
But a few minutes later, I had seen her running for her life in sheer panic. As I stopped the tape, I wondered more than ever what had happened on the way from the meeting to the station. Patricia had now finished her main course, and was staring at me across the table with an expression that was unusually sharp and concentrated.
IX
‘Well, did you get anything out of that?’
Patricia nodded and rubbed her hands.
‘Yes, absolutely. Lots of interesting things. What did you think was most important?’
This question put me in an awkward position, as I had not immediately recognized that the tape contained anything important to the murder investigation. There was nothing in the recording to indicate that there was any conflict between Marie Morgenstierne and the others, or that her life was in danger. So I mumbled that the ending was quite interesting, but it gave no reason to believe that she had any idea of the danger that waited outside. If that had been the case, she would obviously have accepted the offer of a lift to the station. It was strange to think now how different the story might have been, had she accepted.
Patricia nodded impatiently.
‘But it was hardly accidental, and it is also odd that Marie Morgenstierne lied about having plenty of time to catch the train. And then proceeded to walk slowly, even though she should really have got a move on if she was going to catch it. It is clear that she did not want to go with Trond Ibsen – without us yet being able to say anything as to why. Otherwise, the others in the group appear to have given a pretty truthful account of the meeting. And even though there does not appear to be any open conflict, one can detect an obvious tension between Anders Pettersen’s principled, sectarian line and Trond Ibsen’s more pragmatic approach. Marie Morgenstierne consistently supports Anders and goes against Trond, as does Kristine Larsen. So there may be some opposition, even suspicion, levelled at Trond Ibsen. But there are many other interesting things here as well. There is something that Kristine Larsen does that Marie Morgenstierne does not, even though they always seem to concur.’
I thought furiously, but looked at Patricia in desperation.
She let out a heavy sigh.
‘Dear detective inspector… it is perfectly possible to hear that right from the start it is Kristine who constantly talks about Falko, and expresses her hope and belief that he will come back. Given that Marie is Falko’s fiancée, she is remarkably defensive and almost sceptical.’