The Varberg Lighthouse Key

In the autumn of 1907, a rust-colored iron key was discovered beneath the floorboards

of a lighthouse on Sweden’s western coast. No records mention it,

yet every attempt to trace its origin leads to the same dead end.

The Varberg Lighthouse had stood for barely a decade, its stone tower battered by the

North Sea’s winds. Keepers described it as a quiet place, straightforward work,

routine patrols, and predictable storms. But on a fog-drenched morning, Henrik Malmberg found

the key wedged between two planks in the watchroom. It was wrapped in an oilcloth

that didn’t match any equipment issued by the maritime authority. The key was