The Girl in the Ice aka A Price for Everything

CHAPTER 57

Pauline Berg was alone in the bunker. Andreas Falkenborg had killed Jeanette Hvidt before her eyes and buried the body in the concrete floor of the bunker. But her brain refused to process what she had seen. Gradually as she slipped into a state of exhaustion and dehydration, she felt certain that Jeanette was still sitting by her side. She patiently instructed her fellow prisoner.

“Try chewing on your gag. Many times but carefully, without hurrying. Then finally you can force it out with your tongue. You mustn’t give up, do you understand?”

She had a hard time making out the reply.

“Remember, you’re going to be a doctor. You will be a good doctor.”

Finally she sensed how Jeanette’s mouth slowly worked the gag, just as she herself had done it. The sound calmed her until another sound blended in-an extended scraping sound that made tears leak from her eyes without her knowing why. She concentrated on not remembering, resumed the encouragement to Jeanette Hvidt, again and again, then recited the days of the week, the months, the planets-all to divert her thoughts. Then suddenly the darkness was broken and again she saw Falkenborg, with a finishing trowel, smoothing the wet concrete over Jeanette Hvidt’s grave, so that it was level with the floor of the bunker. Other gruesome sounds and horrible images forced their way in, and she heard her screams die against the walls in a dull distortion, which better than anything else jolted her into awareness. Desperately she shook and tore at her chains, until fatigue forced her to give up and sit sobbing impotently for her parents to come and rescue her. Then the darkness once again became her friend. For a brief, clear moment she realised that time was running out, but that basically did not concern her. Then she excused herself to the woman no longer sitting by her side for her panic, and fell into a troubled sleep.