The Hidden Dead by Tracy Whitwell

Author:Tracy Whitwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Macmillan

ACCIDENTAL TOURIST

Thor’s ‘car’ is a four-wheel-drive Jeep and the snow seems to mean absolutely nothing to it, as we whizz along the mostly empty roads. Thor is not a tall man, he’s probably just a couple of inches taller than I am, but he has such an easy assurance about him, you can’t help but feel safe.

‘Thor, how does someone as capable as you are remain such good friends with a big ball of chaos?’

He laughs heartily at this and offers me a mint from a little tin, then takes one himself.

‘I knew Einar at school. I don’t like to reinforce stereotypes but we really are a small population in Iceland and around Reykjavík, people are either related or they have friends in common. Not everyone likes everyone, but in Einar’s case, I’ve known him a long time and he still makes me laugh. As you may have noticed we have a very healthy drinking culture here, and no one is more fun than him when he’s drunk. He just tends to take it further than everyone else. He’s a big guy so he can take a lot of alcohol, plus the cocaine helps him stay up all night.’

‘Cocaine?’

‘Oh yes, of course. You cannot drink as much as he does and stay awake and functioning almost every day and night without at least a bit of “help”. I think that’s why he gets himself into so much trouble these days. The coke has fried his brain somewhat.’

‘Oh my GOD, Thor, how the living fuck did I not see that straight away?’

‘Because he’s charming and fun and says the right things. Did you come here thinking you guys would be a couple?’

I suck on my mint thoughtfully. These Icelandic lads are very direct.

‘I don’t know, you know. I sort of had someone at home, but Einar made me feel free. It was all a bit dangerous and spontaneous. I’d begun feeling stale, so . . .’

‘So he reflected what you wanted right back at you. Danger and spontaneity in someone you just met is all very well but that’s all you’re going to get. Late nights and passionate arguments get really fucking boring after a while, when maybe you just want to chat with your person and eat some food and make love then go to sleep. Einar doesn’t sleep. That’s when his demons come.’

‘Jesus. First off, what a shitty, knackering life, avoiding demons all of the time. Plus, his poor girlfriend, and all the other poor women he pulls in. Secondly, though . . . how are you so emotionally intelligent? You’re a bloke.’

He shakes his fist playfully.

‘Don’t be sexist! I dated a narcissist when I was younger. I watched a lot of videos on YouTube about it when I was trying to decompress from the pain and damage. They were in English and I know all the terms now. She was a “grandiose narcissist”; they’re the fucking worst because they’re so sexy and alluring that you get addicted. Einar’s not totally that, he does have feelings for others, I promise you.

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