Down in the grave a foot sticks out through the soil. While Brogeland pins down Gunhild Dokken, Emil Hagen jumps in, landing softly next to the foot and quickly removes the earth covering Henning Juul’s face. Brogeland leaves Dokken to his officers‚ but resists the urge to leap into the grave as well because the space is limited. He sees Hagen find Juul’s mouth and nose, and soon the rain helps wash the soil off his face. Hagen places two fingers on Juul’s neck.
‘There is no pulse,’ Hagen calls out.
‘Call an ambulance,’ Brogeland shouts.
A voice next to him replies that it is already on its way. Four, five minutes, Brogeland estimates and it will be there. He can see that Juul has sustained a heavy blow to the side of his head, probably with the spade, but with the flat side, not the edge. If that had been the case Hagen’s resuscitation attempts would very likely have been in vain. Hagen takes a deep, controlled breath before he gets to work starting with thirty heart compressions, then he blows into Henning’s nose and mouth twice. He repeats this routine several times, but there is no sign of life. They hear the sound of sirens. Hagen carries on with his desperate attempt to revive Henning Juul, who continues to lie there with his eyes closed and an almost serene expression on his face as the rain pelts him.
The sound of a roaring engine comes closer and stops nearby. Shouts and orders ensue, then the hole in the ground is filled with another man who takes over the resuscitation. Hagen is asked to leave to make room for more people in red-and-green fluorescent uniforms and he does as he is told. He jumps, gets hold of the edge and pulls himself quickly out of the grave. Still panting, Hagen joins Brogeland, and together they watch the backs of the ambulance crew. Behind them a stretcher is being prepared. Brogeland takes a step to the side and bumps into Nora, who is gnawing her fingers without blinking.
Then something happens in the grave. One of the uniformed men calls out, and Henning is hoisted up. He is coughing, first deep in his throat then higher up in his mouth. His face contorts. Someone puts their hand on his back to support him, and he sits up, leans forwards while saliva and damp soil dribble from his mouth. At the edge of the grave Nora cries out and covers her mouth with her hands. Then she closes her eyes.