Normally seven minutes of another person's company was enough to give her a headache so she set things up to live as a recluse. She was perfectly content as long as people left her in peace. Unfortunately society was not very smart or understanding.

He felt that he had to find Salander and hold her close. She would probably bite him if he tried.

Sometimes they were together so often that it felt as though they really were a couple; sometimes weeks and months would go by before they saw each other. But even as alcoholics are drawn to the state liquor store after a stint on the wagon, they always came back to each other.

Zalachenko...you're just an ordinary asshole who hates women.

It doesn't matter how good the enemy's weapons are. If he can't see you, he can't hit you. Cover, cover, cover. Make sure you're never exposed.

Take "no" as an encouragement to redouble his efforts, so it was easier to say "yes" right away.

But she wished she had had the guts to go up to him and say hello. Or possibly break his legs, she wasn't sure which.