达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第58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！


〃I　searched　the　plane　myself；〃　the　inspector　insisted；　〃and　there　was　no　one　inside。〃　His　tone　turned　haughty。　〃And　I　should　add　that　if　Sir　Leigh　Teabing　presses　charges　against　me；　I　will—〃
〃Did　you　interrogate　the　pilot？〃
〃Of　course　not。　He　is　French；　and　our　jurisdiction　requires—〃
〃Take　me　to　the　plane。〃
Arriving　at　the　hangar；　Fache　needed　only　sixty　seconds　to　locate　an　anomalous　smear　of　blood　on　the　pavement　near　where　the　limousine　had　been　parked。　Fache　walked　up　to　the　plane　and　rapped　loudly　on　the　fuselage。
〃This　is　the　captain　of　the　French　Judicial　Police。　Open　the　door！〃
The　terrified　pilot　opened　the　hatch　and　lowered　the　stairs。
Fache　ascended。　Three　minutes　later；　with　the　help　of　his　sidearm；　he　had　a　full　confession；　including　a　description　of　the　bound　albino　monk。　In　addition；　he　learned　that　the　pilot　saw　Langdon　and　Sophie　leave　something　behind　in　Teabing's　safe；　a　wooden　box　of　some　sort。　Although　the　pilot　denied　knowing　what　was　in　the　box；　he　admitted　it　had　been　the　focus　of　Langdon's　full　attention　during　the　flight　to　London。
〃Open　the　safe；〃　Fache　demanded。
The　pilot　looked　terrified。　〃I　don't　know　the　bination！〃
〃That's　too　bad。　I　was　going　to　offer　to　let　you　keep　your　pilot's　license。〃
The　pilot　wrung　his　hands。　〃I　know　some　men　in　maintenance　here。　Maybe　they　could　drill　it？〃
〃You　have　half　an　hour。〃
The　pilot　leapt　for　his　radio。
Fache　strode　to　the　back　of　the　plane　and　poured　himself　a　hard　drink。　It　was　early；　but　he　had　not　yet　slept；　so　this　hardly　counted　as　drinking　before　noon。　Sitting　in　a　plush　bucket　seat；　he　closed　his　eyes；　trying　to　sort　out　what　was　going　on。　The　Kent　police's　blunder　could　cost　me　dearly。　Everyone　was　now　on　the　lookout　for　a　black　Jaguar　limousine。
Fache's　phone　rang；　and　he　wished　for　a　moment's　peace。　〃Allo？〃
〃I'm　en　route　to　London。〃　It　was　Bishop　Aringarosa。　〃I'll　be　arriving　in　an　hour。〃
Fache　sat　up。　〃I　thought　you　were　going　to　Paris。〃
〃I　am　deeply　concerned。　I　have　changed　my　plans。〃
〃You　should　not　have。〃
〃Do　you　have　Silas？〃
〃No。　His　captors　eluded　the　local　police　before　I　landed。〃
Aringarosa's　anger　rang　sharply。　〃You　assured　me　you　would　stop　that　plane！〃
Fache　lowered　his　voice。　〃Bishop；　considering　your　situation；　I　remend　you　not　test　my　patience　today。　I　will　find　Silas　and　the　others　as　soon　as　possible。　Where　are　you　landing？〃
〃One　moment。〃　Aringarosa　covered　the　receiver　and　then　came　back。　〃The　pilot　is　trying　to　get　clearance　at　Heathrow。　I'm　his　only　passenger；　but　our　redirect　was　unscheduled。〃
〃Tell　him　to　e　to　Biggin　Hill　Executive　Airport　in　Kent。　I'll　get　him　clearance。　If　I'm　not　here　when　you　land；　I'll　have　a　car　waiting　for　you。〃
〃Thank　you。〃
〃As　I　expressed　when　we　first　spoke；　Bishop；　you　would　do　well　to　remember　that　you　are　not　the　only　man　on　the　verge　of　losing　everything。〃
　
CHAPTER　85

You　seek　the　orb　that　ought　be　on　his　tomb。
Each　of　the　carved　knights　within　the　Temple　Church　lay　on　his　back　with　his　head　resting　on　a　rectangular　stone　pillow。　Sophie　felt　a　chill。　The　poem's　reference　to　an　〃orb〃　conjured　images　of　the　night　in　her　grandfather's　basement。
Hieros　Gamos。　The　orbs。
Sophie　wondered　if　the　ritual　had　been　performed　in　this　very　sanctuary。　The　circular　room　seemed　custom…built　for　such　a　pagan　rite。　A　stone　pew　encircled　a　bare　expanse　of　floor　in　the　middle。　A　theater　in　the　round；　as　Robert　had　called　it。　She　imagined　this　chamber　at　night；　filled　with　masked　people；　chanting　by　torchlight；　all　witnessing　a　〃sacred　munion〃　in　the　center　of　the　room。
Forcing　the　image　from　her　mind；　she　advanced　with　Langdon　and　Teabing　toward　the　first　group　of　knights。　Despite　Teabing's　insistence　that　their　investigation　should　be　conducted　meticulously；　Sophie　felt　eager　and　pushed　ahead　of　them；　making　a　cursory　walk…through　of　the　five　knights　on　the　left。
Scrutinizing　these　first　tombs；　Sophie　noted　the　similarities　and　differences　between　them。　Every　knight　was　on　his　back；　but　three　of　the　knights　had　their　legs　extended　straight　out　while　two　had　their　legs　crossed。　The　oddity　seemed　to　have　no　relevance　to　the　missing　orb。　Examining　their　clothing；　Sophie　noted　that　two　of　the　knights　wore　tunics　over　their　armor；　while　the　other　three　wore　ankle…length　robes。　Again；　utterly　unhelpful。　Sophie　turned　her　attention　to　the　only　other　obvious　difference—their　hand　positions。　Two　knights　clutched　swords；　two　prayed；　and　one　had　his　arms　at　his　side。　After　a　long　moment　looking　at　the　hands；　Sophie　shrugged；　having　seen　no　hint　anywhere　of　a　conspicuously　absent　orb。
Feeling　the　weight　of　the　cryptex　in　her　sweater　pocket；　she　glanced　back　at　Langdon　and　Teabing。　The　men　were　moving　slowly；　still　only　at　the　third　knight；　apparently　having　no　luck　either。　In　no　mood　to　wait；　she　turned　away　from　them　toward　the　second　group　of　knights。
As　she　crossed　the　open　space；　she　quietly　recited　the　poem　she　had　read　so　many　times　now　that　it　was　mitted　to　memory。
In　London　lies　a　knight　a　Pope　interred。
His　labor's　fruit　a　Holy　wrath　incurred。
You　seek　the　orb　that　ought　be　on　his　tomb。
It　speaks　of　Rosy　flesh　and　seeded　womb。
　
When　Sophie　arrived　at　the　second　group　of　knights；　she　found　that　this　second　group　was　similar　to　the　first。　All　lay　with　varied　body　positions；　wearing　armor　and　swords。
That　was；　all　except　the　tenth　and　final　tomb。
Hurrying　over　to　it；　she　stared　down。
No　pillow。　No　armor。　No　tunic。　No　sword。
〃Robert？　Leigh？〃　she　called；　her　voice　echoing　around　the　chamber。　〃There's　something　missing　over　here。〃
Both　men　looked　up　and　immediately　began　to　cross　the　room　toward　her。
〃An　orb？〃　Teabing　called　excitedly。　His　crutches　clicked　out　a　rapid　staccato　as　he　hurried　across　the　room。　〃Are　we　missing　an　orb？〃
〃Not　exactly；〃　Sophie　said；　frowning　at　the　tenth　tomb。　〃We　seem　to　be　missing　an　entire　knight。〃
Arriving　beside　her　both　men　gazed　down　in　confusion　at　the　tenth　tomb。　Rather　than　a　knight　lying　in　the　open　air；　this　tomb　was　a　sealed　stone　casket。　The　casket　was　trapezoidal；　tapered　at　the　feet；　widening　toward　the　top；　with　a　peaked　lid。
〃Why　isn't　this　knight　shown？〃　Langdon　asked。
〃Fascinating；〃　Teabing　said；　stroking　his　chin。　〃I　had　forgotten　about　this　oddity。　It's　been　years　since　I　was　here。〃
〃This　coffin；〃　Sophie　said；　〃looks　like　it　was　carved　at　the　same　time　and　by　the　same　sculptor　as　the　other　nine　tombs。　So　why　is　this　knight　in　a　casket　rather　than　in　the　open？〃
Teabing　shook　his　head。　〃One　of　this　church's　mysteries。　To　the　best　of　my　knowledge；　nobody　has　ever　found　any　explanation　for　it。〃
〃Hello？〃　the　altar　boy　said；　arriving　with　a　perturbed　look　on　his　face。　〃Forgive　me　if　this　seems　rude；　but　you　told　me　you　wanted　to　spread　ashes；　and　yet　you　seem　to　be　sightseeing。〃
Teabing　scowled　at　the　boy　and　turned　to　Langdon。　〃Mr。　Wren；　apparently　your　family's　philanthropy　does　not　buy　you　the　time　it　used　to；　so　perhaps　we　should　take　out　the　ashes　and　get　on　with　it。〃　Teabing　turned　to　Sophie。　〃Mrs。　Wren？〃
Sophie　played　along；　pulling　the　vellum…wrapped　cryptex　from　her　pocket。
〃Now　then；〃　Teabing　snapped　at　the　boy；　〃if　you　would　give　us　some　privacy？〃
The　altar　boy　did　not　move。　He　was　eyeing　Langdon　closely　now。　〃You　look　familiar。〃
Teabing　huffed。　〃Perhaps　that　is　because　Mr。　Wren　es　here　every　year！〃
Or　perhaps；　Sophie　now　feared；　because　he　saw　Langdon　on　television　at　the　Vatican　last　year。
〃I　have　never　met　Mr。　Wren；〃　the　altar　boy　declared。
〃You're　mistaken；〃　Langdon　said　politely。　〃I　believe　you　and　I　met　in　passing　last　year。　Father　Knowles　failed　to　formally　introduce　us；　but　I　recognized　your　face　as　we　came　in。　Now；　I　realize　this　is　an　intrusion；　but　if　you　could　afford　me　a　few　more　minutes；　I　have　traveled　a　great　distance　to　scatter　ashes　amongst　these　tombs。〃　Langdon　spoke　his　lines　with　Teabing…esque　believability。
The　altar　boy's　expression　turned　even　more　skeptical。　〃These　are　not　tombs。〃
〃I'm　sorry？〃　Langdon　said。
〃Of　course　they　are　tombs；〃　Teabing　declared。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
The　altar　boy　shook　his　head。　〃Tombs　contain　bodies。　These　are　effigies。　Stone　tributes　to　real　men。　There　are　no　bodies　beneath　these　figures。〃
〃This　is　a　crypt！〃　Teabing　said。
〃Only　in　outdated　history　books。　This　was　believed　to　be　a　crypt　but　was　revealed　as　nothing　of　the　sort　during　the　1950　renovation。〃　He　turned　back　to　Langdon。　〃And　I　imagine　Mr。　Wren　would　know　that。　Considering　it　was　his　family　that　uncovered　that　fact。〃
An　uneasy　silence　fell。
It　was　broken　by　the　sound　of　a　door　slamming　out　in　the　annex。
〃That　must　be　Father　Knowles；〃　Teabing　said。　〃Perhaps　you　should　go　see？〃
The　altar　boy　looked　doubtful　but　stalked　back　toward　the　annex；　leaving　Langdon；　Sophie；　and　Teabing　to　eye　one　another　gloomily。
〃Leigh；〃　Langdon　whispered。　〃No　bodies？　What　is　he　talking　about？〃
Teabing　looked　distraught。　〃I　don't　know。　I　always　thought。。。　certainly；　this　must　be　the　place。　I　can't　imagine　he　knows　what　he　is　talking　about。　It　makes　no　sense！〃
〃Can　I　see　the　poem　again？〃　Langdon　said。
Sophie　pulled　the　cryptex　from　her　pocket　and　carefully　handed　it　to　him。
Langdon　unwrapped　the　vellum；　holding　the　cryptex　in　his　hand　while　he　examined　the　poem。　〃Yes；　the　poem　definitely　references　a　tomb。　Not　an　effigy。〃
〃Could　the　poem　be　wrong？〃　Teabing　asked。　〃Could　Jacques　Saunière　have　made　the　same　mistake　I　just　did？〃
Langdon　considered　it　and　shook　his　head。　〃Leigh；　you　said　it　yourself。　This　church　was　built　by　Templars；　the　military　arm　of　the　Priory。　Something　tells　me　the　Grand　Master　of　the　Priory　would　have　a　pretty　good　idea　if　there　were　knights　buried　here。〃
Teabing　looked　flabbergasted。　〃But　this　place　is　perfect。〃　He　wheeled　back　toward　the　knights。　〃We　must　be　missing　something！〃
　
Entering　the　annex；　the　altar　boy　was　surprised　to　find　it　deserted。　〃Father　Knowles？〃　I　know　I　heard　the　door；　he　thought；　moving　forward　until　he　could　see　the　entryway。
A　thin　man　in　a　tuxedo　stood　near　the　doorway；　scratching　his　head　and　looking　lost。　The　altar　boy　gave　an　irritated　huff；　realizing　he　had　forgotten　to　relock　the　door　when　he　let　the　others　in。　Now　some　pathetic　sod　had　wandered　in　off　the　street；　looking　for　directions　to　some　wedding　from　the　looks　of　it。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　called　out；　passing　a　large　pillar；　〃we're　closed。〃
A　flurry　of　cloth　ruffled　behind　him；　and　before　the　altar　boy　could　turn；　his　head　snapped　backward；　a　powerful　hand　clamping　hard　over　his　mouth　from　behind；　muffling　his　scream。　The　hand　over　the　boy's　mouth　was　snow…white；　and　he　smelled　alcohol。
The　prim　man　in　the　tuxedo　calmly　produced　a　very　small　revolver；　which　he　aimed　directly　at　the　boy's　forehead。
The　altar　boy　felt　his　groin　grow　hot　and　realized　he　had　wet　himself。
〃Listen　carefully；〃　the　tuxedoed　man　whispered。　〃You　will　exit　this　church　silently；　and　you　will　run。　You　will　not　stop。　Is　that　clear？〃
The　boy　nodded　as　best　he　could　with　the　hand　over　his　mouth。
〃If　you　call　the　police。。。〃　The　tuxedoed　man　pressed　the　gun　to　his　skin。　〃I　will　find　you。〃
The　next　thing　the　boy　knew；　he　was　sprinting　across　the　outside　courtyard　with　no　plans　of　stopping　until　his　legs　gave　out。
　
CHAPTER　86

Like　a　ghost；　Silas　drifted　silently　behind　his　target。　Sophie　Neveu　sensed　him　too　late。　Before　she　could