[pause]
You’re not talking about Marteinn Einarsson, are you?
Yes, those are my books.
Good grief. I thought it was the best-kept secret in publishing.
It is. Not many people know. Now you’re part of that select group. And one day your readers will be too. I’m pleased with the books, and I’m not ashamed to say so.
I believe you. But why the pseudonym, Elín?
I was happy with the original series, ten books in twenty years. No reason to complicate matters. This was a different sort of venture, initially undertaken for fun, because, take it from me, you should only write books as long as it gives you pleasure.
Did it never occur to you to reveal your secret?
No, not until now.
Why now?
It’s time. You see, the thing is, Kristín, all secrets have a way of coming out in the end.
2012
Monday, 5 November
‘Yes, I’ve heard of Marteinn. His books, that is,’ Helgi said, beginning to have his suspicions. ‘What’s his connection to Elín?’
Rut didn’t immediately answer. She looked almost sheepish.
‘Marteinn’s books, they’re by Elín, you see.’
This theory had of course been aired at times over the years, along with various others – for example that a former prime minister had written them – but Helgi was completely unprepared to hear it confirmed as the truth. Sometimes, he reflected, the obvious solution was quite simply the right one.
‘Elín S. Jónsdóttir and Marteinn Einarsson,’ he said slowly. ‘I see.’
Then he added, trying not to betray how annoyed he was: ‘And it didn’t occur to you to tell me this before?’
‘I just couldn’t. It’s such a big secret. Those in theknow can be literally counted on the fingers of one hand. Me and my husband, of course, and Lovísa. And Elín’s lawyer, Baldur. He helped her with some of her contracts with foreign publishers. I couldn’t see how these books could have anything to do with Elín’s disappearance, so I wanted to put off telling anyone for as long as possible. The more people who know, the more likely the secret is to get out.’
‘I see,’ Helgi said, though he didn’t have much sympathy with this view. He would have preferred to have been put in the picture on day one. Rut should have trusted him with the information. ‘Then why are you telling me now?’ he asked. ‘Why have you been sitting on this manuscript?’
‘What? No, I haven’t been sitting on it. Sorry, I haven’t explained properly… The thing is, I’ve only just received it.’
‘What?’
‘Yes, it was left outside my office this morning. In a bag.’
‘And it’s a new book by… Marteinn?’
Rut nodded.
‘Now you’ve really astonished me,’ Helgi said.
‘Yes, that’s understandable.’
‘Were you expecting this book?’
‘To be honest, yes, but not necessarily straight away. We had discussed publishing a new book next year, but no one else knew that, not even my husband. Elín said she was writing it and that she was making good progress. I think we last talked about it in the summer. Anyway, she’s clearly finished the book.’
