达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第44章

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〃Leigh；〃　Langdon　whispered；　〃we　know　where　it　is。〃
Teabing's　balance　seemed　to　falter　a　bit。
Rémy　now　marched　stiffly　across　the　room。　〃Leave　at　once！　Or　I　will　forcibly—〃
〃Rémy！〃　Teabing　spun；　snapping　at　his　servant。　〃Excuse　us　for　a　moment。〃
The　servant's　jaw　dropped。　〃Sir？　I　must　protest。　These　people　are—〃
〃I'll　handle　this。〃　Teabing　pointed　to　the　hallway。
After　a　moment　of　stunned　silence；　Rémy　skulked　out　like　a　banished　dog。
In　the　cool　night　breeze　ing　through　the　open　doors；　Teabing　turned　back　to　Sophie　and　Langdon；　his　expression　still　wary。　〃This　better　be　good。　What　do　you　know　of　the　keystone？〃
　
In　the　thick　brush　outside　Teabing's　study；　Silas　clutched　his　pistol　and　gazed　through　the　glass　doors。　Only　moments　ago；　he　had　circled　the　house　and　seen　Langdon　and　the　woman　talking　in　the　large　study。　Before　he　could　move　in；　a　man　on　crutches　entered；　yelled　at　Langdon；　threw　open　the　doors；　and　demanded　his　guests　leave。　Then　the　woman　mentioned　the　keystone；　and　everything　changed。　Shouts　turned　to　whispers。　Moods　softened。　And　the　glass　doors　were　quickly　closed。
Now；　as　he　huddled　in　the　shadows；　Silas　peered　through　the　glass。　The　keystone　is　somewhere　inside　the　house。　Silas　could　feel　it。
Staying　in　the　shadows；　he　inched　closer　to　the　glass；　eager　to　hear　what　was　being　said。　He　would　give　them　five　minutes。　If　they　did　not　reveal　where　they　had　placed　the　keystone；　Silas　would　have　to　enter　and　persuade　them　with　force。
　
Inside　the　study；　Langdon　could　sense　their　host's　bewilderment。
〃Grand　Master？〃　Teabing　choked；　eyeing　Sophie。　〃Jacques　Saunière？〃
Sophie　nodded；　seeing　the　shock　in　his　eyes。
〃But　you　could　not　possibly　know　that！〃
〃Jacques　Saunière　was　my　grandfather。〃
Teabing　staggered　back　on　his　crutches；　shooting　a　glance　at　Langdon；　who　nodded。　Teabing　turned　back　to　Sophie。　〃Miss　Neveu；　I　am　speechless。　If　this　is　true；　then　I　am　truly　sorry　for　your　loss。　I　should　admit；　for　my　research；　I　have　kept　lists　of　men　in　Paris　whom　I　thought　might　be　good　candidates　for　involvement　in　the　Priory。　Jacques　Saunière　was　on　that　list　along　with　many　others。　But　Grand　Master；　you　say？　It's　hard　to　fathom。〃　Teabing　was　silent　a　moment　and　then　shook　his　head。　〃But　it　still　makes　no　sense。　Even　if　your　grandfather　were　the　Priory　Grand　Master　and　created　the　keystone　himself；　he　would　never　tell　you　how　to　find　it。　The　keystone　reveals　the　pathway　to　the　brotherhood's　ultimate　treasure。　Granddaughter　or　not；　you　are　not　eligible　to　receive　such　knowledge。〃
〃Mr。　Saunière　was　dying　when　he　passed　on　the　information；〃　Langdon　said。　〃He　had　limited　options。〃
〃He　didn't　need　options；〃　Teabing　argued。　〃There　exist　three　sénéchaux　who　also　know　the　secret。　That　is　the　beauty　of　their　system。　One　will　rise　to　Grand　Master　and　they　will　induct　a　new　sénéchal　and　share　the　secret　of　the　keystone。〃
〃I　guess　you　didn't　see　the　entire　news　broadcast；〃　Sophie　said。　〃In　addition　to　my　grandfather；　three　other　prominent　Parisians　were　murdered　today。　All　in　similar　ways。　All　looked　like　they　had　been　interrogated。〃
Teabing's　jaw　fell。　〃And　you　think　they　were。。。〃
〃The　sénéchaux；〃　Langdon　said。
〃But　how？　A　murderer　could　not　possibly　learn　the　identities　of　all　four　top　members　of　the　Priory　of　Sion！　Look　at　me；　I　have　been　researching　them　for　decades；　and　I　can't　even　name　one　Priory　member。　It　seems　inconceivable　that　all　three　sénéchaux　and　the　Grand　Master　could　be　discovered　and　killed　in　one　day。〃
〃I　doubt　the　information　was　gathered　in　a　single　day；〃　Sophie　said。　〃It　sounds　like　a　well…planned　décapiter。　It's　a　technique　we　use　to　fight　organized　crime　syndicates。　If　DCPJ　wants　to　move　on　a　certain　group；　they　will　silently　listen　and　watch　for　months；　identify　all　the　main　players；　and　then　move　in　and　take　them　all　at　the　same　moment。　Decapitation。　With　no　leadership；　the　group　falls　into　chaos　and　divulges　other　information。　It's　possible　someone　patiently　watched　the　Priory　and　then　attacked；　hoping　the　top　people　would　reveal　the　location　of　the　keystone。〃
Teabing　looked　unconvinced。　〃But　the　brothers　would　never　talk。　They　are　sworn　to　secrecy。　Even　in　the　face　of　death。〃
〃Exactly；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Meaning；　if　they　never　divulged　the　secret；　and　they　were　killed。。。〃
Teabing　gasped。　〃Then　the　location　of　the　keystone　would　be　lost　forever！〃
〃And　with　it；〃　Langdon　said；　〃the　location　of　the　Holy　Grail。〃
Teabing's　body　seemed　to　sway　with　the　weight　of　Langdon's　words。　Then；　as　if　too　tired　to　stand　another　moment；　he　flopped　in　a　chair　and　stared　out　the　window。
Sophie　walked　over；　her　voice　soft。　〃Considering　my　grandfather's　predicament；　it　seems　possible　that　in　total　desperation　he　tried　to　pass　the　secret　on　to　someone　outside　the　brotherhood。　Someone　he　thought　he　could　trust。　Someone　in　his　family。〃
Teabing　was　pale。　〃But　someone　capable　of　such　an　attack。。。　of　discovering　so　much　about　the　brotherhood。。。〃　He　paused；　radiating　a　new　fear。　〃It　could　only　be　one　force。　This　kind　of　infiltration　could　only　have　e　from　the　Priory's　oldest　enemy。〃
Langdon　glanced　up。　〃The　Church。〃
〃Who　else？　Rome　has　been　seeking　the　Grail　for　centuries。〃
Sophie　was　skeptical。　〃You　think　the　Church　killed　my　grandfather？〃
Teabing　replied；　〃It　would　not　be　the　first　time　in　history　the　Church　has　killed　to　protect　itself。　The　documents　that　acpany　the　Holy　Grail　are　explosive；　and　the　Church　has　wanted　to　destroy　them　for　years。〃
Langdon　was　having　trouble　buying　Teabing's　premise　that　the　Church　would　blatantly　murder　people　to　obtain　these　documents。　Having　met　the　new　Pope　and　many　of　the　cardinals；　Langdon　knew　they　were　deeply　spiritual　men　who　would　never　condone　assassination。　Regardless　of　the　stakes。
Sophie　seemed　to　be　having　similar　thoughts。　〃Isn't　it　possible　that　these　Priory　members　were　murdered　by　someone　outside　the　Church？　Someone　who　didn't　understand　what　the　Grail　really　is？　The　Cup　of　Christ；　after　all；　would　be　quite　an　enticing　treasure。　Certainly　treasure　hunters　have　killed　for　less。〃
〃In　my　experience；〃　Teabing　said；　〃men　go　to　far　greater　lengths　to　avoid　what　they　fear　than　to　obtain　what　they　desire。　I　sense　a　desperation　in　this　assault　on　the　Priory。〃
〃Leigh；〃　Langdon　said；　〃the　argument　is　paradoxical。　Why　would　members　of　the　Catholic　clergy　murder　Priory　members　in　an　effort　to　find　and　destroy　documents　they　believe　are　false　testimony　anyway？〃
Teabing　chuckled。　〃The　ivory　towers　of　Harvard　have　made　you　soft；　Robert。　Yes；　the　clergy　in　Rome　are　blessed　with　potent　faith；　and　because　of　this；　their　beliefs　can　weather　any　storm；　including　documents　that　contradict　everything　they　hold　dear。　But　what　about　the　rest　of　the　world？　What　about　those　who　are　not　blessed　with　absolute　certainty？　What　about　those　who　look　at　the　cruelty　in　the　world　and　say；　where　is　God　today？　Those　who　look　at　Church　scandals　and　ask；　who　are　these　men　who　claim　to　speak　the　truth　about　Christ　and　yet　lie　to　cover　up　the　sexual　abuse　of　children　by　their　own　priests？〃　Teabing　paused。　〃What　happens　to　those　people；　Robert；　if　persuasive　scientific　evidence　es　out　that　the　Church's　version　of　the　Christ　story　is　inaccurate；　and　that　the　greatest　story　ever　told　is；　in　fact；　the　greatest　story　ever　sold〃
Langdon　did　not　respond。
〃I'll　tell　you　what　happens　if　the　documents　get　out；〃　Teabing　said。　〃The　Vatican　faces　a　crisis　of　faith　unprecedented　in　its　two…millennia　history。〃
After　a　long　silence；　Sophie　said；　〃But　if　it　is　the　Church　who　is　responsible　for　this　attack；　why　would　they　act　now？　After　all　these　years？　The　Priory　keeps　the　Sangreal　documents　hidden。　They　pose　no　immediate　threat　to　the　Church。〃
Teabing　heaved　an　ominous　sigh　and　glanced　at　Langdon。　〃Robert；　I　assume　you　are　familiar　with　the　Priory's　final　charge？〃
Langdon　felt　his　breath　catch　at　the　thought。　〃I　am。〃
〃Miss　Neveu；〃　Teabing　said；　〃the　Church　and　the　Priory　have　had　a　tacit　understanding　for　years。　That　is；　the　Church　does　not　attack　the　Priory；　and　the　Priory　keeps　the　Sangreal　documents　hidden。〃　He　paused。　〃However；　part　of　the　Priory　history　has　always　included　a　plan　to　unveil　the　secret。　With　the　arrival　of　a　specific　date　in　history；　the　brotherhood　plans　to　break　the　silence　and　carry　out　its　ultimate　triumph　by　unveiling　the　Sangreal　documents　to　the　world　and　shouting　the　true　story　of　Jesus　Christ　from　the　mountaintops。〃
Sophie　stared　at　Teabing　in　silence。　Finally；　she　too　sat　down。　〃And　you　think　that　date　is　approaching？　And　the　Church　knows　it？〃
〃A　speculation；〃　Teabing　said；　〃but　it　would　certainly　provide　the　Church　motivation　for　an　all…out　attack　to　find　the　documents　before　it　was　too　late。〃
Langdon　had　the　uneasy　feeling　that　Teabing　was　making　good　sense。　〃Do　you　think　the　Church　would　actually　be　capable　of　uncovering　hard　evidence　of　the　Priory's　date？〃
〃Why　not—if　we're　assuming　the　Church　was　able　to　uncover　the　identities　of　the　Priory　members；　then　certainly　they　could　have　learned　of　their　plans。　And　even　if　they　don't　have　the　exact　date；　their　superstitions　may　be　getting　the　best　of　them。〃
〃Superstitions？〃　Sophie　asked。
〃In　terms　of　prophecy；〃　Teabing　said；　〃we　are　currently　in　an　epoch　of　enormous　change。　The　millennium　has　recently　passed；　and　with　it　has　ended　the　two…thousand…year…long　astrological　Age　of　Pisces—the　fish；　which　is　also　the　sign　of　Jesus。　As　any　astrological　symbologist　will　tell　you；　the　Piscean　ideal　believes　that　man　must　be　told　what　to　do　by　higher　powers　because　man　is　incapable　of　thinking　for　himself。　Hence　it　has　been　a　time　of　fervent　religion。　Now；　however；　we　are　entering　the　Age　of　Aquarius—the　water　bearer—whose　ideals　claim　that　man　will　learn　the　truth　and　be　able　to　think　for　himself。　The　ideological　shift　is　enormous；　and　it　is　occurring　right　now。〃
Langdon　felt　a　shiver。　Astrological　prophecy　never　held　much　interest　or　credibility　for　him；　but　he　knew　there　were　those　in　the　Church　who　followed　it　very　closely。　〃The　Church　calls　this　transitional　period　the　End　of　Days。〃
Sophie　looked　skeptical。　〃As　in　the　end　of　the　world？　The　Apocalypse？〃
〃No。〃　Langdon　replied。　〃That's　a　mon　misconception。　Many　religions　speak　of　the　End　of　Days。　It　refers　not　to　the　end　of　the　world；　but　rather　the　end　of　our　current　age—Pisces；　which　began　at　the　time　of　Christ's　birth；　spanned　two　thousand　years；　and　waned　with　the　passing　of　the　millennium。　Now　that　we've　passed　into　the　Age　of　Aquarius；　the　End　of　Days　has　arrived。〃
〃Many　Grail　historians；〃　Teabing　added；　〃believe　that　if　the　Priory　is　indeed　planning　to　release　this　truth；　this　point　in　history　would　be　a　symbolically　apt　time。　Most　Priory　academics；　myself　included；　anticipated　the　brotherhood's　release　would　coincide　precisely　with　the　millennium。　Obviously；　it　did　not。　Admittedly；　the　Roman　calendar　does　not　mesh　perfectly　with　astrological　markers；　so　there　is　some　gray　area　in　the　prediction。　Whether　the　Church　now　has　inside　information　that　an　exact　date　is　looming；　or　whether　they　are　just　getting　nervous　on　account　of　astrological　prophecy；　I　don't　know。　Anyway；　it's　immaterial。　Either　scenario　explains　how　the　Church　might　be　motivated　to　launch　a　preemptive　attack　against　the　Priory。〃　Teabing　frowned。　〃And　believe　me；　if　the　Church　finds　the　Holy　Grail；　t