'Good. I am glad. I followed him up from the hotel. Then I lose him in the snowstorm. He will arrive soon, I think.' He lowered his rucksack on to the table and went over to the fire, rubbing his withered hand. 'So, you have arrived, eh?' was his greeting to Lovaas.
'Ja. I have arrived and I have lost one of my men.'
'How did you lose him? There has been trouble, eh?' He glanced quickly from Lovaas to me. 'Who has been hurt?'
I did not reply.
'Where is Sunde?' he asked. 'Did he not go with you Mr Gansert?'
'He is at Steinbergdalen,' I replied.
'So.' He looked up at Lovaas, cocking his head on one side like a curious raven. 'Where's Farnell?'
'I do not know,' Lovaas replied in a surly voice. It was clear he did not like Dahler. But faced by the cripple his bluster left him. It was as though he were afraid of the man.
'I do not know!' Dahler mimicked. 'Well, you should discover what has happened. Jorgensen will be here soon. Then there will be trouble. He is not a forgiving man, Kaptein Lovaas. You may have got in his way. And the police are with him.'
'The police?' Lovaas growled. 'Coming up here?'