The Dinosaur Feather

hesitation.
    Anna wrinkled her nose.
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘I don’t know why Lars thought it was his job to push Erik Tybjerg like that. Dr Tybjerg is extremely talented, there’s no doubt about it, but if you ask me, he’s completely unsuited to the University of Copenhagen and acts primarily as Helland’s errand boy. For years it has been a mystery why Helland drags Tybjerg with him everywhere, even sending Tybjerg in his place. This will stop now, obviously. A Chair is the public face of a department and Tybjerg’s clearly unsuitable. He was once allowed to teach “Form and Function” for one term here because Helland assured us that he could. It was a complete disaster; the students complained about him. He spoke far too quickly, as if he was chanting, and when the students couldn’t understand what he said, he lost his temper and walked out.’
    ‘But he’s my supervisor,’ Anna said miserably. ‘My only supervisor.’
    ‘Honestly, Anna.’ Professor Ewald put on her glasses and said gently, ‘At the time you began your dissertation, some of us did wonder why you had been lumbered with those two. However, it seems to have worked out all right, so—’
    ‘But I still think Dr Tybjerg’s a good supervisor,’ Annaprotested. ‘A thousand times better than Professor Helland – no, a million times better.’
    Professor Ewald gave her a neutral look.
    ‘Is that right?’ she said eventually. ‘But you must agree that he’s a bit peculiar? And the University of Copenhagen is a respected state institution, not a madhouse.’
    Professor Ewald got up and poured coffee into the flasks.
    Nearly thirty people had gathered in the senior common room. Dr Tybjerg was standing at the far end, his hands folded, and he was staring at the floor. Anna was relieved to see him and tried to catch his eye, but he didn’t look up. Johannes rushed in at the last minute and squeezed in behind Anna, just as the door was closed. She turned to look at him. He smelled of fresh air and frost and his wild messed-up ginger hair gave him a haggard appearance. They had both spent the previous day working in the study and something of a toxic atmosphere had reigned. Johannes had made several attempts to strike up a conversation, but Anna had cut him dead. She had things to do. Twice, he had asked if she was still mad at him for what he had said to the police. She had denied it. He had begun making yet another apology and she had held up her hand to stop him. ‘What’s done is done,’ she said, ‘forget it.’ The truth was, she was hurt. Johannes was the last person she had imagined would let her down. When he flashed her a tentative smile in the senior common room, she intended to smile back, but instead she turned around to look at Professor Ravn.
    The Head of Department started by lamenting the death and sending his condolences to Professor Helland’s widow,Birgit, and their daughter, Nanna. It was a terrible loss to the department. Helland had worked there full-time since 1979 and published countless papers; a huge loss to the department, he said again, a loyal colleague. Anna was only half-listening as she stared at Dr Tybjerg, trying to make him look up, but to no avail. Professor Ewald sobbed noisily. Helland’s funeral would take place at Herlev Church this Saturday at 1 p.m. and the department would send flowers.
    What was wrong with Tybjerg? Anna couldn’t catch his eye, and he was standing absolutely still. Then Professor Ravn cleared his throat and said he would like to take this opportunity to ask for everyone’s help with ending the rumour that Professor Helland had been murdered. He had been in close contact with the police, as he put it, and according to the information he had been given, there was every reason to think that Professor Helland had died of a heart attack. He fell silent and an eerie unease spread. The gathering started to dissolve and, out of the corner of her eye, Anna spotted Tybjerg heading straight for the exit. She went after him, but didn’t catch up with him until far down the corridor leading to the museum.
    ‘Dr Tybjerg!’ Anna called out. ‘Hey, Dr Tybjerg. Wait. Have you got a minute?’
    Tybjerg turned around, looked at her, but carried on walking. Finally Anna was level with him.
    ‘Hey,’ she exclaimed, irritated. ‘You got a train to catch or what?’
    Tybjerg gave her a fraught look.
    ‘No,’ he snapped.
    ‘I’ve e-mailed you, called you and dropped by your office.