达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第54章

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The　revelation　made　him　gasp。
The　armored　car　driver。
With　the　fake　Rolex。
Collet　now　understood　why　the　banker　had　hung　up　so　quickly。　Vernet　had　remembered　the　name　Lieutenant　Collet—the　officer　he　blatantly　lied　to　earlier　tonight。
Collet　pondered　the　implications　of　this　bizarre　development。　Vernet　is　involved。　Instinctively；　he　knew　he　should　call　Fache。　Emotionally；　he　knew　this　lucky　break　was　going　to　be　his　moment　to　shine。
He　immediately　called　Interpol　and　requested　every　shred　of　information　they　could　find　on　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich　and　its　president；　André　Vernet。
　
CHAPTER　80

〃Seat　belts；　please；〃　Teabing's　pilot　announced　as　the　Hawker　731　descended　into　a　gloomy　morning　drizzle。　〃We'll　be　landing　in　five　minutes。〃
Teabing　felt　a　joyous　sense　of　homeing　when　he　saw　the　misty　hills　of　Kent　spreading　wide　beneath　the　descending　plane。　England　was　less　than　an　hour　from　Paris；　and　yet　a　world　away。　This　morning；　the　damp；　spring　green　of　his　homeland　looked　particularly　weling。　My　time　in　France　is　over。　I　am　returning　to　England　victorious。　The　keystone　has　been　found。　The　question　remained；　of　course；　as　to　where　the　keystone　would　ultimately　lead。　Somewhere　in　the　United　Kingdom。　Where　exactly；　Teabing　had　no　idea；　but　he　was　already　tasting　the　glory。
As　Langdon　and　Sophie　looked　on；　Teabing　got　up　and　went　to　the　far　side　of　the　cabin；　then　slid　aside　a　wall　panel　to　reveal　a　discreetly　hidden　wall　safe。　He　dialed　in　the　bination；　opened　the　safe；　and　extracted　two　passports。　〃Documentation　for　Rémy　and　myself。〃　He　then　removed　a　thick　stack　of　fifty…pound　notes。　〃And　documentation　for　you　two。〃
Sophie　looked　leery。　〃A　bribe？〃
〃Creative　diplomacy。　Executive　airfields　make　certain　allowances。　A　British　customs　official　will　greet　us　at　my　hangar　and　ask　to　board　the　plane。　Rather　than　permitting　him　to　e　on；　I'll　tell　him　I'm　traveling　with　a　French　celebrity　who　prefers　that　nobody　knows　she　is　in　England—press　considerations；　you　know—and　I'll　offer　the　official　this　generous　tip　as　gratitude　for　his　discretion。〃
Langdon　looked　amazed。　〃And　the　official　will　accept？〃
〃Not　from　anyone；　they　won't；　but　these　people　all　know　me。　I'm　not　an　arms　dealer；　for　heaven's　sake。　I　was　knighted。〃　Teabing　smiled。　〃Membership　has　its　privileges。〃
Rémy　approached　up　the　aisle　now；　the　Heckler　Koch　pistol　cradled　in　his　hand。　〃Sir；　my　agenda？〃
Teabing　glanced　at　his　servant。　〃I'm　going　to　have　you　stay　onboard　with　our　guest　until　we　return。　We　can't　very　well　drag　him　all　over　London　with　us。〃
Sophie　looked　wary。　〃Leigh；　I　was　serious　about　the　French　police　finding　your　plane　before　we　return。〃
Teabing　laughed。　〃Yes；　imagine　their　surprise　if　they　board　and　find　Rémy。〃
Sophie　looked　surprised　by　his　cavalier　attitude。　〃Leigh；　you　transported　a　bound　hostage　across　international　borders。　This　is　serious。〃
〃So　are　my　lawyers。〃　He　scowled　toward　the　monk　in　the　rear　of　the　plane。　〃That　animal　broke　into　my　home　and　almost　killed　me。　That　is　a　fact；　and　Rémy　will　corroborate。〃
〃But　you　tied　him　up　and　flew　him　to　London！〃　Langdon　said。
Teabing　held　up　his　right　hand　and　feigned　a　courtroom　oath。　〃Your　honor；　forgive　an　eccentric　old　knight　his　foolish　prejudice　for　the　British　court　system。　I　realize　I　should　have　called　the　French　authorities；　but　I'm　a　snob　and　do　not　trust　those　laissez…faire　French　to　prosecute　properly。　This　man　almost　murdered　me。　Yes；　I　made　a　rash　decision　forcing　my　manservant　to　help　me　bring　him　to　England；　but　I　was　under　great　stress。　Mea　culpa。　Mea　culpa。〃
Langdon　looked　incredulous。　〃ing　from　you；　Leigh；　that　just　might　fly。〃
〃Sir？〃　the　pilot　called　back。　〃The　tower　just　radioed。　They've　got　some　kind　of　maintenance　problem　out　near　your　hangar；　and　they're　asking　me　to　bring　the　plane　directly　to　the　terminal　instead。〃
Teabing　had　been　flying　to　Biggin　Hill　for　over　a　decade；　and　this　was　a　first。　〃Did　they　mention　what　the　problem　is？〃
〃The　controller　was　vague。　Something　about　a　gas　leak　at　the　pumping　station？　They　asked　me　to　park　in　front　of　the　terminal　and　keep　everyone　onboard　until　further　notice。　Safety　precaution。　We're　not　supposed　to　deplane　until　we　get　the　all　clear　from　airport　authorities。〃
Teabing　was　skeptical。　Must　be　one　hell　of　a　gas　leak。　The　pumping　station　was　a　good　half　mile　from　his　hangar。
Rémy　also　looked　concerned。　〃Sir；　this　sounds　highly　irregular。〃
Teabing　turned　to　Sophie　and　Langdon。　〃My　friends；　I　have　an　unpleasant　suspicion　that　we　are　about　to　be　met　by　a　weling　mittee。〃
Langdon　gave　a　bleak　sigh。　〃I　guess　Fache　still　thinks　I'm　his　man。〃
〃Either　that；〃　Sophie　said；　〃or　he　is　too　deep　into　this　to　admit　his　error。
Teabing　was　not　listening。　Regardless　of　Fache's　mind…set；　action　needed　to　be　taken　fast。　Don't　lose　sight　of　the　ultimate　goal。　The　Grail。　We're　so　dose。　Below　them；　the　landing　gear　descended　with　a　clunk。
〃Leigh；〃　Langdon　said；　sounding　deeply　remorseful；　〃I　should　turn　myself　in　and　sort　this　out　legally。　Leave　you　all　out　of　it。〃
〃Oh；　heavens；　Robert！〃　Teabing　waved　it　off。　〃Do　you　really　think　they're　going　to　let　the　rest　of　us　go？　I　just　transported　you　illegally。　Miss　Neveu　assisted　in　your　escape　from　the　Louvre；　and　we　have　a　man　tied　up　in　the　back　of　the　plane。　Really　now！　We're　all　in　this　together。〃
〃Maybe　a　different　airport？〃　Sophie　said。
Teabing　shook　his　head。　〃If　we　pull　up　now；　by　the　time　we　get　clearance　anywhere　else；　our　weling　party　will　include　army　tanks。〃
Sophie　slumped。
Teabing　sensed　that　if　they　were　to　have　any　chance　of　postponing　confrontation　with　the　British　authorities　long　enough　to　find　the　Grail；　bold　action　had　to　be　taken。　〃Give　me　a　minute；〃　he　said；　hobbling　toward　the　cockpit。
〃What　are　you　doing？〃　Langdon　asked。
〃Sales　meeting；〃　Teabing　said；　wondering　how　much　it　would　cost　him　to　persuade　his　pilot　to　perform　one　highly　irregular　maneuver。
　
CHAPTER　81

The　Hawker　is　on　final　approach。
Simon　Edwards—Executive　Services　Officer　at　Biggin　Hill　Airport—paced　the　control　tower；　squinting　nervously　at　the　rain…drenched　runway。　He　never　appreciated　being　awoken　early　on　a　Saturday　morning；　but　it　was　particularly　distasteful　that　he　had　been　called　in　to　oversee　the　arrest　of　one　of　his　most　lucrative　clients。　Sir　Leigh　Teabing　paid　Biggin　Hill　not　only　for　a　private　hangar　but　a　〃per　landing　fee〃　for　his　frequent　arrivals　and　departures。　Usually；　the　airfield　had　advance　warning　of　his　schedule　and　was　able　to　follow　a　strict　protocol　for　his　arrival。　Teabing　liked　things　just　so。　The　custom…built　Jaguar　stretch　limousine　that　he　kept　in　his　hangar　was　to　be　fully　gassed；　polished；　and　the　day's　London　Times　laid　out　on　the　back　seat。　A　customs　official　was　to　be　waiting　for　the　plane　at　the　hangar　to　expedite　the　mandatory　documentation　and　luggage　check。　Occasionally；　customs　agents　accepted　large　tips　from　Teabing　in　exchange　for　turning　a　blind　eye　to　the　transport　of　harmless　organics—mostly　luxury　foods—French　escargots；　a　particularly　ripe　unprocessed　Roquefort；　certain　fruits。　Many　customs　laws　were　absurd；　anyway；　and　if　Biggin　Hill　didn't　acmodate　its　clients；　certainly　peting　airfields　would。　Teabing　was　provided　with　what　he　wanted　here　at　Biggin　Hill；　and　the　employees　reaped　the　benefits。
Edwards's　nerves　felt　frayed　now　as　he　watched　the　jet　ing　in。　He　wondered　if　Teabing's　penchant　for　spreading　the　wealth　had　gotten　him　in　trouble　somehow；　the　French　authorities　seemed　very　intent　on　containing　him。　Edwards　had　not　yet　been　told　what　the　charges　were；　but　they　were　obviously　serious。　At　the　French　authorities'　request；　Kent　police　had　ordered　the　Biggin　Hill　air　traffic　controller　to　radio　the　Hawker's　pilot　and　order　him　directly　to　the　terminal　rather　than　to　the　client's　hangar。　The　pilot　had　agreed；　apparently　believing　the　far…fetched　story　of　a　gas　leak。
Though　the　British　police　did　not　generally　carry　weapons；　the　gravity　of　the　situation　had　brought　out　an　armed　response　team。　Now；　eight　policemen　with　handguns　stood　just　inside　the　terminal　building；　awaiting　the　moment　when　the　plane's　engines　powered　down。　The　instant　this　happened；　a　runway　attendant　would　place　safety　wedges　under　the　tires　so　the　plane　could　no　longer　move。　Then　the　police　would　step　into　view　and　hold　the　occupants　at　bay　until　the　French　police　arrived　to　handle　the　situation。
The　Hawker　was　low　in　the　sky　now；　skimming　the　treetops　to　their　right。　Simon　Edwards　went　downstairs　to　watch　the　landing　from　tarmac　level。　The　Kent　police　were　poised；　just　out　of　sight；　and　the　maintenance　man　waited　with　his　wedges。　Out　on　the　runway；　the　Hawker's　nose　tipped　up；　and　the　tires　touched　down　in　a　puff　of　smoke。　The　plane　settled　in　for　deceleration；　streaking　from　right　to　left　in　front　of　the　terminal；　its　white　hull　glistening　in　the　wet　weather。　But　rather　than　braking　and　turning　into　the　terminal；　the　jet　coasted　calmly　past　the　access　lane　and　continued　on　toward　Teabing's　hangar　in　the　distance。
All　the　police　spun　and　stared　at　Edwards。　〃I　thought　you　said　the　pilot　agreed　to　e　to　the　terminal！〃
Edwards　was　bewildered。　〃He　did！〃
Seconds　later；　Edwards　found　himself　wedged　in　a　police　car　racing　across　the　tarmac　toward　the　distant　hangar。　The　convoy　of　police　was　still　a　good　five　hundred　yards　away　as　Teabing's　Hawker　taxied　calmly　into　the　private　hangar　and　disappeared。　When　the　cars　finally　arrived　and　skidded　to　a　stop　outside　the　gaping　hangar　door；　the　police　poured　out；　guns　drawn。
Edwards　jumped　out　too。
The　noise　was　deafening。
The　Hawker's　engines　were　still　roaring　as　the　jet　finished　its　usual　rotation　inside　the　hangar；　positioning　itself　nose…out　in　preparation　for　later　departure。　As　the　plane　pleted　its　180…degree　turn　and　rolled　toward　the　front　of　the　hangar；　Edwards　could　see　the　pilot's　face；　which　understandably　looked　surprised　and　fearful　to　see　the　barricade　of　police　cars。
The　pilot　brought　the　plane　to　a　final　stop；　and　powered　down　the　engines。　The　police　streamed　in；　taking　up　positions　around　the　jet。　Edwards　joined　the　Kent　chief　inspector；　who　moved　warily　toward　the　hatch。　After　several　seconds；　the　fuselage　door　popped　open。
Leigh　Teabing　appeared　in　the　doorway　as　the　plane's　electronic　stairs　smoothly　dropped　down。　As　he　gazed　out　at　the　sea　of　weapons　aimed　at　him；　he　propped　himself　on　his　crutches　and　scratched　his　head。　〃Simon；　did　I　win　the　policemen's　lottery　while　I　was　away？〃　He　sounded　more　bewildered　than　concerned。
Simon　Edwards　stepped　forward；　swallowing　the　frog　in　his　throat。　〃Good　morning；　sir。　I　apologize　for　the　confusion。　We've　had　a　gas　leak　and　your　pilot　said　he　was　ing　to　the　terminal。〃
〃Yes；　yes；　well；　I　told　him　to　e　here　instead。　I'm　late　for　an　appointment。　I　pay　for　this　hangar；　and　this　rubbish　about　avoiding　a　gas　leak　sounded　overcautious。〃
〃I'm　afraid　your　arrival　has　taken　us　a　bit　off　guard；　sir。〃
〃I　know。　I'm　off　my　schedule；　I　am。　Between　you　and　me；　the　new　medication　gives　me　the　tinkles。　Thought　I'd　e　over　for　a　tune…up。〃
The　policemen　all　exchanged　looks。　Edwards　winced。　〃Very　good；　sir。〃
〃Sir；〃　the　Kent　chief　inspector　said；　stepping　forward。　〃I　need　to　ask　you　to　stay　onboard　for　another　half　hour　or　so。〃
Teabing　looked　unamused　as　he　hobbled　down　the　stairs。　〃