达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第45章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


f　the　Church　finds　the　Holy　Grail；　they　will　destroy　it。　The　documents　and　the　relics　of　the　blessed　Mary　Magdalene　as　well。〃　His　eyes　grew　heavy。　〃Then；　my　dear；　with　the　Sangreal　documents　gone；　all　evidence　will　be　lost。　The　Church　will　have　won　their　age…old　war　to　rewrite　history。　The　past　will　be　erased　forever。〃
Slowly；　Sophie　pulled　the　cruciform　key　from　her　sweater　pocket　and　held　it　out　to　Teabing。
Teabing　took　the　key　and　studied　it。　〃My　goodness。　The　Priory　seal。　Where　did　you　get　this？〃
〃My　grandfather　gave　it　to　me　tonight　before　he　died。〃
Teabing　ran　his　fingers　across　the　cruciform。　〃A　key　to　a　church？〃
She　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃This　key　provides　access　to　the　keystone。〃
Teabing's　head　snapped　up；　his　face　wild　with　disbelief。　〃Impossible！　What　church　did　I　miss？　I've　searched　every　church　in　France！〃
〃It's　not　in　a　church；〃　Sophie　said。　〃It's　in　a　Swiss　depository　bank。〃
Teabing's　look　of　excitement　waned。　〃The　keystone　is　in　a　bank？〃
〃A　vault；〃　Langdon　offered。
〃A　bank　vault？〃　Teabing　shook　his　head　violently。　〃That's　impossible。　The　keystone　is　supposed　to　be　hidden　beneath　the　sign　of　the　Rose。〃
〃It　is；〃　Langdon　said。　〃It　was　stored　in　a　rosewood　box　inlaid　with　a　five…petal　Rose。〃
Teabing　looked　thunderstruck。　〃You've　seen　the　keystone？〃
Sophie　nodded。　〃We　visited　the　bank。〃
Teabing　came　over　to　them；　his　eyes　wild　with　fear。　〃My　friends；　we　must　do　something。　The　keystone　is　in　danger！　We　have　a　duty　to　protect　it。　What　if　there　are　other　keys？　Perhaps　stolen　from　the　murdered　sénéchaux？　If　the　Church　can　gain　access　to　the　bank　as　you　have—〃
〃Then　they　will　be　too　late；〃　Sophie　said。　〃We　removed　the　keystone。〃
〃What！　You　removed　the　keystone　from　its　hiding　place？〃
〃Don't　worry；〃　Langdon　said。　〃The　keystone　is　well　hidden。〃
〃Extremely　well　hidden；　I　hope！〃
〃Actually；〃　Langdon　said；　unable　to　hide　his　grin；　〃that　depends　on　how　often　you　dust　under　your　couch。〃
　
The　wind　outside　Chateau　Villette　had　picked　up；　and　Silas's　robe　danced　in　the　breeze　as　he　crouched　near　the　window。　Although　he　had　been　unable　to　hear　much　of　the　conversation；　the　word　keystone　had　sifted　through　the　glass　on　numerous　occasions。
It　is　inside。
The　Teacher's　words　were　fresh　in　his　mind。　Enter　Chateau　Villette。　Take　the　keystone。　Hun　no　one。
Now；　Langdon　and　the　others　had　adjourned　suddenly　to　another　room；　extinguishing　the　study　lights　as　they　went。　Feeling　like　a　panther　stalking　prey；　Silas　crept　to　the　glass　doors。　Finding　them　unlocked；　he　slipped　inside　and　closed　the　doors　silently　behind　him。　He　could　hear　muffled　voices　from　another　room。　Silas　pulled　the　pistol　from　his　pocket；　turned　off　the　safety；　and　inched　down　the　hallway。
　
CHAPTER　63

Lieutenant　Collet　stood　alone　at　the　foot　of　Leigh　Teabing's　driveway　and　gazed　up　at　the　massive　house。　Isolated。　Dark。　Good　ground　cover。　Collet　watched　his　half…dozen　agents　spreading　silently　out　along　the　length　of　the　fence。　They　could　be　over　it　and　have　the　house　surrounded　in　a　matter　of　minutes。　Langdon　could　not　have　chosen　a　more　ideal　spot　for　Collet's　men　to　make　a　surprise　assault。
Collet　was　about　to　call　Fache　himself　when　at　last　his　phone　rang。
Fache　sounded　not　nearly　as　pleased　with　the　developments　as　Collet　would　have　imagined。　〃Why　didn't　someone　tell　me　we　had　a　lead　on　Langdon？〃
〃You　were　on　a　phone　call　and—〃
〃Where　exactly　are　you；　Lieutenant　Collet？〃
Collet　gave　him　the　address。　〃The　estate　belongs　to　a　British　national　named　Teabing。　Langdon　drove　a　fair　distance　to　get　here；　and　the　vehicle　is　inside　the　security　gate；　with　no　signs　of　forced　entry；　so　chances　are　good　that　Langdon　knows　the　occupant。〃
〃I'm　ing　out；〃　Fache　said。　〃Don't　make　a　move。　I'll　handle　this　personally。〃
Collet's　jaw　dropped。　〃But　Captain；　you're　twenty　minutes　away！　We　should　act　immediately。　I　have　him　staked　out。　I'm　with　eight　men　total。　Four　of　us　have　field　rifles　and　the　others　have　sidearms。〃
〃Wait　for　me。〃
〃Captain；　what　if　Langdon　has　a　hostage　in　there？　What　if　he　sees　us　and　decides　to　leave　on　foot？　We　need　to　move　now！　My　men　are　in　position　and　ready　to　go。〃
〃Lieutenant　Collet；　you　will　wait　for　me　to　arrive　before　taking　action。　That　is　an　order。〃　Fache　hung　up。
Stunned；　Lieutenant　Collet　switched　off　his　phone。　Why　the　hell　is　Fache　asking　me　to　wait？　Collet　knew　the　answer。　Fache；　though　famous　for　his　instinct；　was　notorious　for　his　pride。　Fache　wants　credit　for　the　arrest。　After　putting　the　American's　face　all　over　the　television；　Fache　wanted　to　be　sure　his　own　face　got　equal　time。　Collet's　job　was　simply　to　hold　down　the　fort　until　the　boss　showed　up　to　save　the　day。
As　he　stood　there；　Collet　flashed　on　a　second　possible　explanation　for　this　delay。　Damage　control。　In　law　enforcement；　hesitating　to　arrest　a　fugitive　only　occurred　when　uncertainty　had　arisen　regarding　the　suspect's　guilt。　Is　Fache　having　second　thoughts　that　Langdon　is　the　right　man？　The　thought　was　frightening。　Captain　Fache　had　gone　out　on　a　limb　tonight　to　arrest　Robert　Langdon—surveillance　cachée；　Interpol；　and　now　television。　Not　even　the　great　Bezu　Fache　would　survive　the　political　fallout　if　he　had　mistakenly　splashed　a　prominent　American's　face　all　over　French　television；　claiming　he　was　a　murderer。　If　Fache　now　realized　he'd　made　a　mistake；　then　it　made　perfect　sense　that　he　would　tell　Collet　not　to　make　a　move。　The　last　thing　Fache　needed　was　for　Collet　to　storm　an　innocent　Brit's　private　estate　and　take　Langdon　at　gunpoint。
Moreover；　Collet　realized；　if　Langdon　were　innocent；　it　explained　one　of　this　case's　strangest　paradoxes：　Why　had　Sophie　Neveu；　the　granddaughter　of　the　victim；　helped　the　alleged　killer　escape？　Unless　Sophie　knew　Langdon　was　falsely　charged。　Fache　had　posited　all　kinds　of　explanations　tonight　to　explain　Sophie's　odd　behavior；　including　that　Sophie；　as　Saunière's　sole　heir；　had　persuaded　her　secret　lover　Robert　Langdon　to　kill　off　Saunière　for　the　inheritance　money。　Saunière；　if　he　had　suspected　this；　might　have　left　the　police　the　message　P。S。　Find　Robert　Langdon。　Collet　was　fairly　certain　something　else　was　going　on　here。　Sophie　Neveu　seemed　far　too　solid　of　character　to　be　mixed　up　in　something　that　sordid。
〃Lieutenant？〃　One　of　the　field　agents　came　running　over。　〃We　found　a　car。〃
Collet　followed　the　agent　about　fifty　yards　past　the　driveway。　The　agent　pointed　to　a　wide　shoulder　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　road。　There；　parked　in　the　brush；　almost　out　of　sight；　was　a　black　Audi。　It　had　rental　plates。　Collet　felt　the　hood。　Still　warm。　Hot　even。
〃That　must　be　how　Langdon　got　here；〃　Collet　said。　〃Call　the　rental　pany。　Find　out　if　it's　stolen。〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃
Another　agent　waved　Collet　back　over　in　the　direction　of　the　fence。　〃Lieutenant；　have　a　look　at　this。〃　He　handed　Collet　a　pair　of　night　vision　binoculars。　〃The　grove　of　trees　near　the　top　of　the　driveway。〃
Collet　aimed　the　binoculars　up　the　hill　and　adjusted　the　image　intensifier　dials。　Slowly；　the　greenish　shapes　came　into　focus。　He　located　the　curve　of　the　driveway　and　slowly　followed　it　up；　reaching　the　grove　of　trees。　All　he　could　do　was　stare。　There；　shrouded　in　the　greenery；　was　an　armored　truck。　A　truck　identical　to　the　one　Collet　had　permitted　to　leave　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich　earlier　tonight。　He　prayed　this　was　some　kind　of　bizarre　coincidence；　but　he　knew　it　could　not　be。
〃It　seems　obvious；〃　the　agent　said；　〃that　this　truck　is　how　Langdon　and　Neveu　got　away　from　the　bank。〃
Collet　was　speechless。　He　thought　of　the　armored　truck　driver　he　had　stopped　at　the　roadblock。　The　Rolex。　His　impatience　to　leave。　I　never　checked　the　cargo　hold。
Incredulous；　Collet　realized　that　someone　in　the　bank　had　actually　lied　to　DCPJ　about　Langdon　and　Sophie's　whereabouts　and　then　helped　them　escape。　But　who？　And　why？　Collet　wondered　if　maybe　this　were　the　reason　Fache　had　told　him　not　to　take　action　yet。　Maybe　Fache　realized　there　were　more　people　involved　tonight　than　just　Langdon　and　Sophie。　And　if　Langdon　and　Neveu　arrived　in　the　armored　truck；　then　who　drove　the　Audi？
　
Hundreds　of　miles　to　the　south；　a　chartered　Beechcraft　Baron　58　raced　northward　over　the　Tyrrhenian　Sea。　Despite　calm　skies；　Bishop　Aringarosa　clutched　an　airsickness　bag；　certain　he　could　be　ill　at　any　moment。　His　conversation　with　Paris　had　not　at　all　been　what　he　had　imagined。
Alone　in　the　small　cabin；　Aringarosa　twisted　the　gold　ring　on　his　finger　and　tried　to　ease　his　overwhelming　sense　of　fear　and　desperation。　Everything　in　Paris　has　gone　terribly　wrong。　Closing　his　eyes；　Aringarosa　said　a　prayer　that　Bezu　Fache　would　have　the　means　to　fix　it。
　
CHAPTER　64

Teabing　sat　on　the　divan；　cradling　the　wooden　box　on　his　lap　and　admiring　the　lid's　intricate　inlaid　Rose。　Tonight　has　bee　the　strangest　and　most　magical　night　of　my　life。
〃Lift　the　lid；〃　Sophie　whispered；　standing　over　him；　beside　Langdon。
Teabing　smiled。　Do　not　rush　me。　Having　spent　over　a　decade　searching　for　this　keystone；　he　wanted　to　savor　every　millisecond　of　this　moment。　He　ran　a　palm　across　the　wooden　lid；　feeling　the　texture　of　the　inlaid　flower。
〃The　Rose；〃　he　whispered。　The　Rose　is　Magdalene　is　the　Holy　Grail。　The　Rose　is　the　pass　that　guides　the　way。　Teabing　felt　foolish。　For　years　he　had　traveled　to　cathedrals　and　churches　all　over　France；　paying　for　special　access；　examining　hundreds　of　archways　beneath　rose　windows；　searching　for　an　encrypted　keystone。　La　clef　de　vo？te—a　stone　key　beneath　the　sign　of　the　Rose。
Teabing　slowly　unlatched　the　lid　and　raised　it。
As　his　eyes　finally　gazed　upon　the　contents；　he　knew　in　an　instant　it　could　only　be　the　keystone。　He　was　staring　at　a　stone　cylinder；　crafted　of　interconnecting　lettered　dials。　The　device　seemed　surprisingly　familiar　to　him。
〃Designed　from　Da　Vinci's　diaries；〃　Sophie　said。　〃My　grandfather　made　them　as　a　hobby。〃
Of　course；　Teabing　realized。　He　had　seen　the　sketches　and　blueprints。　The　key　to　finding　the　Holy　Grail　lies　inside　this　stone。　Teabing　lifted　the　heavy　cryptex　from　the　box；　holding　it　gently。　Although　he　had　no　idea　how　to　open　the　cylinder；　he　sensed　his　own　destiny　lay　inside。　In　moments　of　failure；　Teabing　had　questioned　whether　his　life's　quest　would　ever　be　rewarded。　Now　those　doubts　were　gone　forever。　He　could　hear　the　ancient　words。。。　the　foundation　of　the　Grail　legend：
Vous　ne　trouvez　pas　le　Saint…Graal；　c'est　le　Saint…Graal　qui　vous　trouve。
You　do　not　find　the　Grail；　the　Grail　finds　you。
And　tonight；　incredibly；　the　key　to　finding　the　Holy　Grail　had　walked　right　through　his　front　door。
　
While　Sophie　and　Teabing　sat　with　the　cryptex　and　talked　about　the　vinegar；　the　dials；　and　what　the　password　might　be；　Langdon　carried　the　rosewood　box　across　the　room　to　a　well…lit　table　to　get　a　better　look　at　it。　Something　Teabing　had　just　said　was　now　running　through　Langdon's　mind。
The　key　to　the　Grail　is　hidden　beneath　the　sign　of　the　Rose。
Langdon　held　the　wooden　box　up　to　the　light　and　examined　the　inlaid　symbol　of　the　Rose。　Although　his　familiarity　with　art　did　not　include　woodworking　or　inlaid　furniture；　he　had　just　recalled　the　famous　tiled　ceiling　of　the　Spanish　monastery　outside　of　Madrid；　where；　three　centuries　after　its　construction；　the　ceiling　tiles　began　to　fall　out；　revealing　sacred　texts　scrawled　by　monks　on　the　plaster　beneath。
Langd