达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第68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！


Please；　make　yourself　fortable。〃
Aringarosa　sat；　sensing　something　was　wrong。
〃I　am　not　skilled　in　small　talk；　Bishop；〃　the　secretariat　said；　〃so　let　me　be　direct　about　the　reason　for　your　visit。〃
〃Please。　Speak　openly。〃　Aringarosa　glanced　at　the　two　cardinals；　who　seemed　to　be　measuring　him　with　self…righteous　anticipation。
〃As　you　are　well　aware；〃　the　secretariat　said；　〃His　Holiness　and　others　in　Rome　have　been　concerned　lately　with　the　political　fallout　from　Opus　Dei's　more　controversial　practices。〃
Aringarosa　felt　himself　bristle　instantly。　He　already　had　been　through　this　on　numerous　occasions　with　the　new　pontiff；　who；　to　Aringarosa's　great　dismay；　had　turned　out　to　be　a　distressingly　fervent　voice　for　liberal　change　in　the　Church。
〃I　want　to　assure　you；〃　the　secretariat　added　quickly；　〃that　His　Holiness　does　not　seek　to　change　anything　about　the　way　you　run　your　ministry。〃
I　should　hope　not！　〃Then　why　am　I　here？〃
The　enormous　man　sighed。　〃Bishop；　I　am　not　sure　how　to　say　this　delicately；　so　I　will　state　it　directly。　Two　days　ago；　the　Secretariat　Council　voted　unanimously　to　revoke　the　Vatican's　sanction　of　Opus　Dei。〃
Aringarosa　was　certain　he　had　heard　incorrectly。　〃I　beg　your　pardon？〃
〃Plainly　stated；　six　months　from　today；　Opus　Dei　will　no　longer　be　considered　a　prelature　of　the　Vatican。　You　will　be　a　church　unto　yourself。　The　Holy　See　will　be　disassociating　itself　from　you。　His　Holiness　agrees　and　we　are　already　drawing　up　the　legal　papers。〃
〃But。。。　that　is　impossible！〃
〃On　the　contrary；　it　is　quite　possible。　And　necessary。　His　Holiness　has　bee　uneasy　with　your　aggressive　recruiting　policies　and　your　practices　of　corporal　mortification。〃　He　paused。　〃Also　your　policies　regarding　women。　Quite　frankly；　Opus　Dei　has　bee　a　liability　and　an　embarrassment。〃
Bishop　Aringarosa　was　stupefied。　〃An　embarrassment？〃
〃Certainly　you　cannot　be　surprised　it　has　e　to　this。〃
〃Opus　Dei　is　the　only　Catholic　organization　whose　numbers　are　growing！　We　now　have　over　eleven　hundred　priests！〃
〃True。　A　troubling　issue　for　us　all。〃
Aringarosa　shot　to　his　feet。　〃Ask　His　Holiness　if　Opus　Dei　was　an　embarrassment　in　1982　when　we　helped　the　Vatican　Bank！〃
〃The　Vatican　will　always　be　grateful　for　that；〃　the　secretariat　said；　his　tone　appeasing；　〃and　yet　there　are　those　who　still　believe　your　financial　munificence　in　1982　is　the　only　reason　you　were　granted　prelature　status　in　the　first　place。〃
〃That　is　not　true！〃　The　insinuation　offended　Aringarosa　deeply。
〃Whatever　the　case；　we　plan　to　act　in　good　faith。　We　are　drawing　up　severance　terms　that　will　include　a　reimbursement　of　those　monies。　It　will　be　paid　in　five　installments。〃
〃You　are　buying　me　off？〃　Aringarosa　demanded。　〃Paying　me　to　go　quietly？　When　Opus　Dei　is　the　only　remaining　voice　of　reason！〃
One　of　the　cardinals　glanced　up。　〃I'm　sorry；　did　you　say　reason？〃
Aringarosa　leaned　across　the　table；　sharpening　his　tone　to　a　point。　〃Do　you　really　wonder　why　Catholics　are　leaving　the　Church？　Look　around　you；　Cardinal。　People　have　lost　respect。　The　rigors　of　faith　are　gone。　The　doctrine　has　bee　a　buffet　line。　Abstinence；　confession；　munion；　baptism；　mass—take　your　pick—choose　whatever　bination　pleases　you　and　ignore　the　rest。　What　kind　of　spiritual　guidance　is　the　Church　offering？〃
〃Third…century　laws；〃　the　second　cardinal　said；　〃cannot　be　applied　to　the　modern　followers　of　Christ。　The　rules　are　not　workable　in　today's　society。〃
〃Well；　they　seem　to　be　working　for　Opus　Dei！〃
〃Bishop　Aringarosa；〃　the　secretariat　said；　his　voice　conclusive。　〃Out　of　respect　for　your　organization's　relationship　with　the　previous　Pope；　His　Holiness　will　be　giving　Opus　Dei　six　months　to　voluntarily　break　away　from　the　Vatican。　I　suggest　you　cite　your　differences　of　opinion　with　the　Holy　See　and　establish　yourself　as　your　own　Christian　organization。〃
〃I　refuse！〃　Aringarosa　declared。　〃And　I'll　tell　him　that　in　person！〃
〃I'm　afraid　His　Holiness　no　longer　cares　to　meet　with　you。〃
Aringarosa　stood　up。　〃He　would　not　dare　abolish　a　personal　prelature　established　by　a　previous　Pope！〃
〃I'm　sorry。〃　The　secretariat's　eyes　did　not　flinch。　〃The　Lord　giveth　and　the　Lord　taketh　away。〃
Aringarosa　had　staggered　from　that　meeting　in　bewilderment　and　panic。　Returning　to　New　York；　he　stared　out　at　the　skyline　in　disillusionment　for　days；　overwhelmed　with　sadness　for　the　future　of　Christianity。
It　was　several　weeks　later　that　he　received　the　phone　call　that　changed　all　that。　The　caller　sounded　French　and　identified　himself　as　the　Teacher—a　title　mon　in　the　prelature。　He　said　he　knew　of　the　Vatican's　plans　to　pull　support　from　Opus　Dei。
How　could　he　know　that？　Aringarosa　wondered。　He　had　hoped　only　a　handful　of　Vatican　power　brokers　knew　of　Opus　Dei's　impending　annulment。　Apparently　the　word　was　out。　When　it　came　to　containing　gossip；　no　walls　in　the　world　were　as　porous　as　those　surrounding　Vatican　City。
〃I　have　ears　everywhere；　Bishop；〃　the　Teacher　whispered；　〃and　with　these　ears　I　have　gained　certain　knowledge。　With　your　help；　I　can　uncover　the　hiding　place　of　a　sacred　relic　that　will　bring　you　enormous　power。。。　enough　power　to　make　the　Vatican　bow　before　you。　Enough　power　to　save　the　Faith。〃　He　paused。　〃Not　just　for　Opus　Dei。　But　for　all　of　us。〃
The　Lord　taketh　away。。。　and　the　Lord　giveth。　Aringarosa　felt　a　glorious　ray　of　hope。　〃Tell　me　your　plan。〃
　
Bishop　Aringarosa　was　unconscious　when　the　doors　of　St。　Mary's　Hospital　hissed　open。　Silas　lurched　into　the　entryway　delirious　with　exhaustion。　Dropping　to　his　knees　on　the　tile　floor；　he　cried　out　for　help。　Everyone　in　the　reception　area　gaped　in　wonderment　at　the　half…naked　albino　offering　forth　a　bleeding　clergyman。
The　doctor　who　helped　Silas　heave　the　delirious　bishop　onto　a　gurney　looked　gloomy　as　he　felt　Aringarosa's　pulse。　〃He's　lost　a　lot　of　blood。　I　am　not　hopeful。〃
Aringarosa's　eyes　flickered；　and　he　returned　for　a　moment；　his　gaze　locating　Silas。　〃My　child。。。〃
Silas's　soul　thundered　with　remorse　and　rage。　〃Father；　if　it　takes　my　lifetime；　I　will　find　the　one　who　deceived　us；　and　I　will　kill　him。〃
Aringarosa　shook　his　head；　looking　sad　as　they　prepared　to　wheel　him　away。　〃Silas。。。　if　you　have　learned　nothing　from　me；　please。。。　learn　this。〃　He　took　Silas's　hand　and　gave　it　a　firm　squeeze。　〃Forgiveness　is　God's　greatest　gift。〃
〃But　Father。。。〃
Aringarosa　closed　his　eyes。　〃Silas；　you　must　pray。〃
　
CHAPTER　101

Robert　Langdon　stood　beneath　the　lofty　cupola　of　the　deserted　Chapter　House　and　stared　into　the　barrel　of　Leigh　Teabing's　gun。
Robert；　are　you　with　me；　or　against　me？　The　Royal　Historian's　words　echoed　in　the　silence　of　Langdon's　mind。
There　was　no　viable　response；　Langdon　knew。　Answer　yes；　and　he　would　be　selling　out　Sophie。　Answer　no；　and　Teabing　would　have　no　choice　but　to　kill　them　both。
Langdon's　years　in　the　classroom　had　not　imbued　him　with　any　skills　relevant　to　handling　confrontations　at　gunpoint；　but　the　classroom　had　taught　him　something　about　answering　paradoxical　questions。　When　a　question　has　no　correct　answer；　there　is　only　one　honest　response。
The　gray　area　between　yes　and　no。
Silence。
Staring　at　the　cryptex　in　his　hands；　Langdon　chose　simply　to　walk　away。
Without　ever　lifting　his　eyes；　he　stepped　backward；　out　into　the　room's　vast　empty　spaces。　Neutral　ground。　He　hoped　his　focus　on　the　cryptex　signaled　Teabing　that　collaboration　might　be　an　option；　and　that　his　silence　signaled　Sophie　he　had　not　abandoned　her。
All　the　while　buying　time　to　think。
The　act　of　thinking；　Langdon　suspected；　was　exactly　what　Teabing　wanted　him　to　do。　That's　why　he　handed　me　the　cryptex。　So　I　could　feel　the　weight　of　my　decision。　The　British　historian　hoped　the　touch　of　the　Grand　Master's　cryptex　would　make　Langdon　fully　grasp　the　magnitude　of　its　contents；　coaxing　his　academic　curiosity　to　overwhelm　all　else；　forcing　him　to　realize　that　failure　to　unlock　the　keystone　would　mean　the　loss　of　history　itself。
With　Sophie　at　gunpoint　across　the　room；　Langdon　feared　that　discovering　the　cryptex's　elusive　password　would　be　his　only　remaining　hope　of　bartering　her　release。　If　I　can　free　the　map；　Teabing　will　negotiate。　Forcing　his　mind　to　this　critical　task；　Langdon　moved　slowly　toward　the　far　windows。。。　allowing　his　mind　to　fill　with　the　numerous　astronomical　images　on　Newton's　tomb。
You　seek　the　orb　that　ought　be　on　his　tomb。
It　speaks　of　Rosy　flesh　and　seeded　womb。
　
Turning　his　back　to　the　others；　he　walked　toward　the　towering　windows；　searching　for　any　inspiration　in　their　stained…glass　mosaics。　There　was　none。
Place　yourself　in　Saunière's　mind；　he　urged；　gazing　outward　now　into　College　Garden。　What　would　he　believe　is　the　orb　that　ought　be　on　Newton's　tomb？　Images　of　stars；　ets；　and　planets　twinkled　in　the　falling　rain；　but　Langdon　ignored　them。　Saunière　was　not　a　man　of　science。　He　was　a　man　of　humanity；　of　art；　of　history。　The　sacred　feminine。。。　the　chalice。。。　the　Rose。。。　the　banished　Mary　Magdalene。。。　the　decline　of　the　goddess。。。　the　Holy　Grail。
Legend　had　always　portrayed　the　Grail　as　a　cruel　mistress；　dancing　in　the　shadows　just　out　of　sight；　whispering　in　your　ear；　luring　you　one　more　step　and　then　evaporating　into　the　mist。
Gazing　out　at　the　rustling　trees　of　College　Garden；　Langdon　sensed　her　playful　presence。　The　signs　were　everywhere。　Like　a　taunting　silhouette　emerging　from　the　fog；　the　branches　of　Britain's　oldest　apple　tree　burgeoned　with　five…petaled　blossoms；　all　glistening　like　Venus。　The　goddess　was　in　the　garden　now。　She　was　dancing　in　the　rain；　singing　songs　of　the　ages；　peeking　out　from　behind　the　bud…filled　branches　as　if　to　remind　Langdon　that　the　fruit　of　knowledge　was　growing　just　beyond　his　reach。
　
Across　the　room；　Sir　Leigh　Teabing　watched　with　confidence　as　Langdon　gazed　out　the　window　as　if　under　a　spell。
Exactly　as　I　hoped；　Teabing　thought。　He　will　e　around。
For　some　time　now；　Teabing　had　suspected　Langdon　might　hold　the　key　to　the　Grail。　It　was　no　coincidence　that　Teabing　launched　his　plan　into　action　on　the　same　night　Langdon　was　scheduled　to　meet　Jacques　Saunière。　Listening　in　on　the　curator；　Teabing　was　certain　the　man's　eagerness　to　meet　privately　with　Langdon　could　mean　only　one　thing。　Langdon's　mysterious　manuscript　has　touched　a　nerve　with　the　Priory。
Langdon　has　stumbled　onto　a　truth；　and　Saunière　fears　its　release。　Teabing　felt　certain　the　Grand　Master　was　summoning　Langdon　to　silence　him。
The　Truth　has　been　silenced　long　enough！
Teabing　knew　he　had　to　act　quickly。　Silas's　attack　would　acplish　two　goals。　It　would　prevent　Saunière　from　persuading　Langdon　to　keep　quiet；　and　it　would　ensure　that　once　the　keystone　was　in　Teabing's　hands；　Langdon　would　be　in　Paris　for　recruitment　should　Teabing　need　him。
Arranging　the　fatal　meeting　between　Saunière　and　Silas　had　been　almost　too　easy。　I　had　inside　information　about　Saunière's　deepest　fears。　Yesterday　afternoon；　Silas　had　phoned　the　curator　and　posed　as　a　distraught　priest。　〃Monsieur　Saunière；　forgive　me；　I　must　speak　to　you　at　once。　I　should　never　breach　the　sanctity　of　the　confessional；　but　in　this　case；　I　feel　I　must。　I　just　took　confession　from　a　man　who　claimed　to　have　murdered　members　of　your　family。〃
Saunière's　response　was　startled　but　wary。　〃My　family　died　in　an　accident。　The　police　report　was　conclusive。〃
〃Yes；　a　car　accident；〃　Silas