达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第20章

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〃No；　sir。　Any　message　for　you　would　be　handwritten　in　our　services　department。　What　was　your　name　again？〃
But　the　man　had　hung　up。
　
Bezu　Fache　felt　dumbstruck　as　he　paced　the　banks　of　the　Seine。　He　was　certain　he　had　seen　Langdon　dial　a　local　number；　enter　a　three…digit　code；　and　then　listen　to　a　recording。　But　if　Langdon　didn't　phone　the　embassy；　then　who　the　hell　did　he　call？
It　was　at　that　moment；　eyeing　his　cellular　phone；　that　Fache　realized　the　answers　were　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。　Langdon　used　my　phone　to　place　that　call。
Keying　into　the　cell　phone's　menu；　Fache　pulled　up　the　list　of　recently　dialed　numbers　and　found　the　call　Langdon　had　placed。
A　Paris　exchange；　followed　by　the　three…digit　code　454。
Redialing　the　phone　number；　Fache　waited　as　the　line　began　ringing。
Finally　a　woman's　voice　answered。　〃Bonjour；　vous　êtes　bien　chez　Sophie　Neveu；〃　the　recording　announced。　〃Je　suis　absente　pour　le　moment；　mais。。。〃
Fache's　blood　was　boiling　as　he　typed　the　numbers　4。。。　5。。。　4。
　
CHAPTER　26

Despite　her　monumental　reputation；　the　Mona　Lisa　was　a　mere　thirty…one　inches　by　twenty…one　inches—smaller　even　than　the　posters　of　her　sold　in　the　Louvre　gift　shop。　She　hung　on　the　northwest　wall　of　the　Salle　des　Etats　behind　a　two…inch…thick　pane　of　protective　Plexiglas。　Painted　on　a　poplar　wood　panel；　her　ethereal；　mist…filled　atmosphere　was　attributed　to　Da　Vinci's　mastery　of　the　sfumato　style；　in　which　forms　appear　to　evaporate　into　one　another。
Since　taking　up　residence　in　the　Louvre；　the　Mona　Lisa—or　La　Jaconde　as　they　call　her　in　France—had　been　stolen　twice；　most　recently　in　1911；　when　she　disappeared　from　the　Louvre's　〃satte　impénétrable〃—Le　Salon　Carre。　Parisians　wept　in　the　streets　and　wrote　newspaper　articles　begging　the　thieves　for　the　painting's　return。　Two　years　later；　the　Mona　Lisa　was　discovered　hidden　in　the　false　bottom　of　a　trunk　in　a　Florence　hotel　room。
Langdon；　now　having　made　it　clear　to　Sophie　that　he　had　no　intention　of　leaving；　moved　with　her　across　the　Salle　des　Etats。　The　Mona　Lisa　was　still　twenty　yards　ahead　when　Sophie　turned　on　the　black　light；　and　the　bluish　crescent　of　penlight　fanned　out　on　the　floor　in　front　of　them。　She　swung　the　beam　back　and　forth　across　the　floor　like　a　minesweeper；　searching　for　any　hint　of　luminescent　ink。
Walking　beside　her；　Langdon　was　already　feeling　the　tingle　of　anticipation　that　acpanied　his　face…to…face　reunions　with　great　works　of　art。　He　strained　to　see　beyond　the　cocoon　of　purplish　light　emanating　from　the　black　light　in　Sophie's　hand。　To　the　left；　the　room's　octagonal　viewing　divan　emerged；　looking　like　a　dark　island　on　the　empty　sea　of　parquet。
Langdon　could　now　begin　to　see　the　panel　of　dark　glass　on　the　wall。　Behind　it；　he　knew；　in　the　confines　of　her　own　private　cell；　hung　the　most　celebrated　painting　in　the　world。
The　Mona　Lisa's　status　as　the　most　famous　piece　of　art　in　the　world；　Langdon　knew；　had　nothing　to　do　with　her　enigmatic　smile。　Nor　was　it　due　to　the　mysterious　interpretations　attributed　her　by　many　art　historians　and　conspiracy　buffs。　Quite　simply；　the　Mona　Lisa　was　famous　because　Leonardo　da　Vinci　claimed　she　was　his　finest　acplishment。　He　carried　the　painting　with　him　whenever　he　traveled　and；　if　asked　why；　would　reply　that　he　found　it　hard　to　part　with　his　most　sublime　expression　of　female　beauty。
Even　so；　many　art　historians　suspected　Da　Vinci's　reverence　for　the　Mona　Lisa　had　nothing　to　do　with　its　artistic　mastery。　In　actuality；　the　painting　was　a　surprisingly　ordinary　sfumato　portrait。　Da　Vinci's　veneration　for　this　work；　many　claimed；　stemmed　from　something　far　deeper：　a　hidden　message　in　the　layers　of　paint。　The　Mona　Lisa　was；　in　fact；　one　of　the　world's　most　documented　inside　jokes。　The　painting's　well…documented　collage　of　double　entendres　and　playful　allusions　had　been　revealed　in　most　art　history　tomes；　and　yet；　incredibly；　the　public　at　large　still　considered　her　smile　a　great　mystery。
No　mystery　at　all；　Langdon　thought；　moving　forward　and　watching　as　the　faint　outline　of　the　painting　began　to　take　shape。　No　mystery　at　all。
Most　recently　Langdon　had　shared　the　Mona　Lisa's　secret　with　a　rather　unlikely　group—a　dozen　inmates　at　the　Essex　County　Penitentiary。　Langdon's　jail　seminar　was　part　of　a　Harvard　outreach　program　attempting　to　bring　education　into　the　prison　system—Culture　for　Convicts；　as　Langdon's　colleagues　liked　to　call　it。
Standing　at　an　overhead　projector　in　a　darkened　penitentiary　library；　Langdon　had　shared　the　Mona　Lisa's　secret　with　the　prisoners　attending　class；　men　whom　he　found　surprisingly　engaged—rough；　but　sharp。　〃You　may　notice；〃　Langdon　told　them；　walking　up　to　the　projected　image　of　the　Mona　Lisa　on　the　library　wall；　〃that　the　background　behind　her　face　is　uneven。〃　Langdon　motioned　to　the　glaring　discrepancy。　〃Da　Vinci　painted　the　horizon　line　on　the　left　significantly　lower　than　the　right。〃
〃He　screwed　it　up？〃　one　of　the　inmates　asked。
Langdon　chuckled。　〃No。　Da　Vinci　didn't　do　that　too　often。　Actually；　this　is　a　little　trick　Da　Vinci　played。　By　lowering　the　countryside　on　the　left；　Da　Vinci　made　Mona　Lisa　look　much　larger　from　the　left　side　than　from　the　right　side。　A　little　Da　Vinci　inside　joke。　Historically；　the　concepts　of　male　and　female　have　assigned　sides—left　is　female；　and　right　is　male。　Because　Da　Vinci　was　a　big　fan　of　feminine　principles；　he　made　Mona　Lisa　look　more　majestic　from　the　left　than　the　right。〃
〃I　heard　he　was　a　fag；〃　said　a　small　man　with　a　goatee。
Langdon　winced。　〃Historians　don't　generally　put　it　quite　that　way；　but　yes；　Da　Vinci　was　a　homosexual。〃
〃Is　that　why　he　was　into　that　whole　feminine　thing？〃
〃Actually；　Da　Vinci　was　in　tune　with　the　balance　between　male　and　female。　He　believed　that　a　human　soul　could　not　be　enlightened　unless　it　had　both　male　and　female　elements。〃
〃You　mean　like　chicks　with　dicks？〃　someone　called。
This　elicited　a　hearty　round　of　laughs。　Langdon　considered　offering　an　etymological　sidebar　about　the　word　hermaphrodite　and　its　ties　to　Hermes　and　Aphrodite；　but　something　told　him　it　would　be　lost　on　this　crowd。
〃Hey；　Mr。　Langford；〃　a　muscle…bound　man　said。　〃Is　it　true　that　the　Mona　Lisa　is　a　picture　of　Da　Vinci　in　drag？　I　heard　that　was　true。〃
〃It's　quite　possible；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Da　Vinci　was　a　prankster；　and　puterized　analysis　of　the　Mona　Lisa　and　Da　Vinci's　self…portraits　confirm　some　startling　points　of　congruency　in　their　faces。　Whatever　Da　Vinci　was　up　to；〃　Langdon　said；　〃his　Mona　Lisa　is　neither　male　nor　female。　It　carries　a　subtle　message　of　androgyny。　It　is　a　fusing　of　both。〃
〃You　sure　that's　not　just　some　Harvard　bullshit　way　of　saying　Mona　Lisa　is　one　ugly　chick。〃
Now　Langdon　laughed。　〃You　may　be　right。　But　actually　Da　Vinci　left　a　big　clue　that　the　painting　was　supposed　to　be　androgynous。　Has　anyone　here　ever　heard　of　an　Egyptian　god　named　Amon？〃
〃Hell　yes！〃　the　big　guy　said。　〃God　of　masculine　fertility！〃
Langdon　was　stunned。
〃It　says　so　on　every　box　of　Amon　condoms。〃　The　muscular　man　gave　a　wide　grin。　〃It's　got　a　guy　with　a　ram's　head　on　the　front　and　says　he's　the　Egyptian　god　of　fertility。〃
Langdon　was　not　familiar　with　the　brand　name；　but　he　was　glad　to　hear　the　prophylactic　manufacturers　had　gotten　their　hieroglyphs　right。　〃Well　done。　Amon　is　indeed　represented　as　a　man　with　a　ram's　head；　and　his　promiscuity　and　curved　horns　are　related　to　our　modern　sexual　slang　'horny。'　〃
〃No　shit！〃
〃No　shit；〃　Langdon　said。　〃And　do　you　know　who　Amon's　counterpart　was？　The　Egyptian　goddess　of　fertility？〃
The　question　met　with　several　seconds　of　silence。
〃It　was　Isis；〃　Langdon　told　them；　grabbing　a　grease　pen。　〃So　we　have　the　male　god；　Amon。〃　He　wrote　it　down。　〃And　the　female　goddess；　Isis；　whose　ancient　pictogram　was　once　called　L'ISA。〃
Langdon　finished　writing　and　stepped　back　from　the　projector。
AMON　L'ISA
　
〃Ring　any　bells？〃　he　asked。
〃Mona　Lisa。。。　holy　crap；〃　somebody　gasped。
Langdon　nodded。　〃Gentlemen；　not　only　does　the　face　of　Mona　Lisa　look　androgynous；　but　her　name　is　an　anagram　of　the　divine　union　of　male　and　female。　And　that；　my　friends；　is　Da　Vinci's　little　secret；　and　the　reason　for　Mona　Lisa's　knowing　smile。〃
　
〃My　grandfather　was　here；〃　Sophie　said；　dropping　suddenly　to　her　knees；　now　only　ten　feet　from　the　Mona　Lisa。　She　pointed　the　black　light　tentatively　to　a　spot　on　the　parquet　floor。
At　first　Langdon　saw　nothing。　Then；　as　he　knelt　beside　her；　he　saw　a　tiny　droplet　of　dried　liquid　that　was　luminescing。　Ink？　Suddenly　he　recalled　what　black　lights　were　actually　used　for。　Blood。　His　senses　tingled。　Sophie　was　right。　Jacques　Saunière　had　indeed　paid　a　visit　to　the　Mona　Lisa　before　he　died。
〃He　wouldn't　have　e　here　without　a　reason；〃　Sophie　whispered；　standing　up。　〃I　know　he　left　a　message　for　me　here。〃　Quickly　striding　the　final　few　steps　to　the　Mona　Lisa；　she　illuminated　the　floor　directly　in　front　of　the　painting。　She　waved　the　light　back　and　forth　across　the　bare　parquet。
〃There's　nothing　here！〃
At　that　moment；　Langdon　saw　a　faint　purple　glimmer　on　the　protective　glass　before　the　Mona　Lisa。　Reaching　down；　he　took　Sophie's　wrist　and　slowly　moved　the　light　up　to　the　painting　itself。
They　both　froze。
On　the　glass；　six　words　glowed　in　purple；　scrawled　directly　across　the　Mona　Lisa's　face。
　
CHAPTER　27

Seated　at　Saunière's　desk；　Lieutenant　Collet　pressed　the　phone　to　his　ear　in　disbelief。　Did　I　hear　Fache　correctly？　〃A　bar　of　soap？　But　how　could　Langdon　have　known　about　the　GPS　dot？〃
〃Sophie　Neveu；〃　Fache　replied。　〃She　told　him。〃
〃What！　Why？〃
〃Damned　good　question；　but　I　just　heard　a　recording　that　confirms　she　tipped　him　off。〃
Collet　was　speechless。　What　was　Neveu　thinking？　Fache　had　proof　that　Sophie　had　interfered　with　a　DCPJ　sting　operation？　Sophie　Neveu　was　not　only　going　to　be　fired；　she　was　also　going　to　jail。　〃But；　Captain。。。　then　where　is　Langdon　now？〃
〃Have　any　fire　alarms　gone　off　there？〃
〃No；　sir。〃
〃And　no　one　has　e　out　under　the　Grand　Gallery　gate？〃
〃No。　We've　got　a　Louvre　security　officer　on　the　gate。　Just　as　you　requested。〃
〃Okay；　Langdon　must　still　be　inside　the　Grand　Gallery。〃
〃Inside？　But　what　is　he　doing？〃
〃Is　the　Louvre　security　guard　armed？〃
〃Yes；　sir。　He's　a　senior　warden。〃
〃Send　him　in；〃　Fache　manded。　〃I　can't　get　my　men　back　to　the　perimeter　for　a　few　minutes；　and　I　don't　want　Langdon　breaking　for　an　exit。〃　Fache　paused。　〃And　you'd　better　tell　the　guard　Agent　Neveu　is　probably　in　there　with　him。〃
〃Agent　Neveu　left；　I　thought。〃
〃Did　you　actually　see　her　leave？〃
〃No；　sir；　but—〃
〃Well；　nobody　on　the　perimeter　saw　her　leave　either。　They　only　saw　her　go　in。〃
Collet　was　flabbergasted　by　Sophie　Neveu's　bravado。　She's　still　inside　the　building？
〃Handle　it；〃　Fache　ordered。　〃I　want　Langdon　and　Neveu　at　gunpoint　by　the　time　I　get　back。〃
　
As　the　Trailor　truck　drove　off；　Captain　Fache　rounded　up　his　men。　Robert　Langdon　had　proven　an　elusive　quarry　tonight；　and　with　Agent　Neveu　now　helping　him；　he　might　be　far　harder　to　corner　than　expected。
Fache　decided　not　to　take　any　chances。
Hedging　his　bets；　he　ordered　half　of　his　men　back　to　the　Louvre　perimeter。　The　other　half　he　sent　to　guard　the　only　location　in　Paris　where　Robert　Langdon　could　find　safe　harbor。
　
CHAPTER　28

Inside　the　Salle　des　Etats；　Langdon　stared　in　astonishment　at　the　six　words　glowing　on　the　Plexig