达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第71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！


　magnetic　field　that　emanated　inexplicably　from　these　coordinates；　some　claimed　they　came　to　search　the　hillside　for　a　hidden　entrance　to　the　vault；　but　most　admitted　they　had　e　simply　to　wander　the　grounds　and　absorb　the　lore　of　the　Holy　Grail。
Although　Langdon　had　never　been　to　Rosslyn　before　now；　he　always　chuckled　when　he　heard　the　chapel　described　as　the　current　home　of　the　Holy　Grail。　Admittedly；　Rosslyn　once　might　have　been　home　to　the　Grail；　long　ago。。。　but　certainly　no　longer。　Far　too　much　attention　had　been　drawn　to　Rosslyn　in　past　decades；　and　sooner　or　later　someone　would　find　a　way　to　break　into　the　vault。
True　Grail　academics　agreed　that　Rosslyn　was　a　decoy—one　of　the　devious　dead　ends　the　Priory　crafted　so　convincingly。　Tonight；　however；　with　the　Priory's　keystone　offering　a　verse　that　pointed　directly　to　this　spot；　Langdon　no　longer　felt　so　smug。　A　perplexing　question　had　been　running　through　his　mind　all　day：
Why　would　Saunière　go　to　such　effort　to　guide　us　to　so　obvious　a　location？
There　seemed　only　one　logical　answer。
There　is　something　about　Rosslyn　we　have　yet　to　understand。
〃Robert？〃　Sophie　was　standing　outside　the　car；　looking　back　at　him。　〃Are　you　corning？〃　She　was　holding　the　rosewood　box；　which　Captain　Fache　had　returned　to　them。　Inside；　both　cryptexes　had　been　reassembled　and　nested　as　they　had　been　found。　The　papyrus　verse　was　locked　safely　at　its　core—minus　the　shattered　vial　of　vinegar。
Making　their　way　up　the　long　gravel　path；　Langdon　and　Sophie　passed　the　famous　west　wall　of　the　chapel。　Casual　visitors　assumed　this　oddly　protruding　wall　was　a　section　of　the　chapel　that　had　not　been　finished。　The　truth；　Langdon　recalled；　was　far　more　intriguing。
The　west　wall　of　Solomon's　Temple。
The　Knights　Templar　had　designed　Rosslyn　Chapel　as　an　exact　architectural　blueprint　of　Solomon's　Temple　in　Jerusalem—plete　with　a　west　wall；　a　narrow　rectangular　sanctuary；　and　a　subterranean　vault　like　the　Holy　of　Holies；　in　which　the　original　nine　knights　had　first　unearthed　their　priceless　treasure。　Langdon　had　to　admit；　there　existed　an　intriguing　symmetry　in　the　idea　of　the　Templars　building　a　modern　Grail　repository　that　echoed　the　Grail's　original　hiding　place。
Rosslyn　Chapel's　entrance　was　more　modest　than　Langdon　expected。　The　small　wooden　door　had　two　iron　hinges　and　a　simple；　oak　sign。
ROSLIN
This　ancient　spelling；　Langdon　explained　to　Sophie；　derived　from　the　Rose　Line　meridian　on　which　the　chapel　sat；　or；　as　Grail　academics　preferred　to　believe；　from　the　〃Line　of　Rose〃—the　ancestral　lineage　of　Mary　Magdalene。
The　chapel　would　be　closing　soon；　and　as　Langdon　pulled　open　the　door；　a　warm　puff　of　air　escaped；　as　if　the　ancient　edifice　were　heaving　a　weary　sigh　at　the　end　of　a　long　day。　Her　entry　arches　burgeoned　with　carved　cinquefoils。
Roses。　The　womb　of　the　goddess。
Entering　with　Sophie；　Langdon　felt　his　eyes　reaching　across　the　famous　sanctuary　and　taking　it　all　in。　Although　he　had　read　accounts　of　Rosslyn's　arrestingly　intricate　stonework；　seeing　it　in　person　was　an　overwhelming　encounter。
Symbology　heaven；　one　of　Langdon's　colleagues　had　called　it。
Every　surface　in　the　chapel　had　been　carved　with　symbols—Christian　cruciforms；　Jewish　stars；　Masonic　seals；　Templar　crosses；　cornucopias；　pyramids；　astrological　signs；　plants；　vegetables；　pentacles；　and　roses。　The　Knights　Templar　had　been　master　stonemasons；　erecting　Templar　churches　all　over　Europe；　but　Rosslyn　was　considered　their　most　sublime　labor　of　love　and　veneration。　The　master　masons　had　left　no　stone　uncarved。　Rosslyn　Chapel　was　a　shrine　to　all　faiths。。。　to　all　traditions。。。　and；　above　all；　to　nature　and　the　goddess。
The　sanctuary　was　empty　except　for　a　handful　of　visitors　listening　to　a　young　man　giving　the　day's　last　tour。　He　was　leading　them　in　a　single…file　line　along　a　well…known　route　on　the　floor—an　invisible　pathway　linking　six　key　architectural　points　within　the　sanctuary。　Generations　of　visitors　had　walked　these　straight　lines；　connecting　the　points；　and　their　countless　footsteps　had　engraved　an　enormous　symbol　on　the　floor。
　
The　Star　of　David；　Langdon　thought。　No　coincidence　there。　Also　known　as　Solomon's　Seal；　this　hexagram　had　once　been　the　secret　symbol　of　the　stargazing　priests　and　was　later　adopted　by　the　Israelite　kings—David　and　Solomon。
The　docent　had　seen　Langdon　and　Sophie　enter；　and　although　it　was　closing　time；　offered　a　pleasant　smile　and　motioned　for　them　to　feel　free　to　look　around。
Langdon　nodded　his　thanks　and　began　to　move　deeper　into　the　sanctuary。　Sophie；　however；　stood　riveted　in　the　entryway；　a　puzzled　look　on　her　face。
〃What　is　it？〃　Langdon　asked。
Sophie　stared　out　at　the　chapel。　〃I　think。。。　I've　been　here。〃
Langdon　was　surprised。　〃But　you　said　you　hadn't　even　heard　of　Rosslyn。〃
〃I　hadn't。。。〃　She　scanned　the　sanctuary；　looking　uncertain。　〃My　grandfather　must　have　brought　me　here　when　I　was　very　young。　I　don't　know。　It　feels　familiar。〃　As　her　eyes　scanned　the　room；　she　began　nodding　with　more　certainty。　〃Yes。〃　She　pointed　to　the　front　of　the　sanctuary。　〃Those　two　pillars。。。　I've　seen　them。〃
Langdon　looked　at　the　pair　of　intricately　sculpted　columns　at　the　far　end　of　the　sanctuary。　Their　white　lacework　carvings　seemed　to　smolder　with　a　ruddy　glow　as　the　last　of　the　day's　sunlight　streamed　in　through　the　west　window。　The　pillars—positioned　where　the　altar　would　normally　stand—were　an　oddly　matched　pair。　The　pillar　on　the　left　was　carved　with　simple；　vertical　lines；　while　the　pillar　on　the　right　was　embellished　with　an　ornate；　flowering　spiral。
Sophie　was　already　moving　toward　them。　Langdon　hurried　after　her；　and　as　they　reached　the　pillars；　Sophie　was　nodding　with　incredulity。　〃Yes；　I'm　positive　I　have　seen　these！〃
〃I　don't　doubt　you've　seen　them；〃　Langdon　said；　〃but　it　wasn't　necessarily　here。〃
She　turned。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
〃These　two　pillars　are　the　most　duplicated　architectural　structures　in　history。　Replicas　exist　all　over　the　world。〃
〃Replicas　of　Rosslyn？〃　She　looked　skeptical。
〃No。　Of　the　pillars。　Do　you　remember　earlier　that　I　mentioned　Rosslyn　itself　is　a　copy　of　Solomon's　Temple？　Those　two　pillars　are　exact　replicas　of　the　two　pillars　that　stood　at　the　head　of　Solomon's　Temple。〃　Langdon　pointed　to　the　pillar　on　the　left。　〃That's　called　Boaz—or　the　Mason's　Pillar。　The　other　is　called　Jachin—or　the　Apprentice　Pillar。〃　He　paused。　〃In　fact；　virtually　every　Masonic　temple　in　the　world　has　two　pillars　like　these。〃
Langdon　had　already　explained　to　her　about　the　Templars'　powerful　historic　ties　to　the　modern　Masonic　secret　societies；　whose　primary　degrees—Apprentice　Freemason；　Fellowcraft　Freemason；　and　Master　Mason—harked　back　to　early　Templar　days。　Sophie's　grandfather's　final　verse　made　direct　reference　to　the　Master　Masons　who　adorned　Rosslyn　with　their　carved　artistic　offerings。　It　also　noted　Rosslyn's　central　ceiling；　which　was　covered　with　carvings　of　stars　and　planets。
〃I've　never　been　in　a　Masonic　temple；〃　Sophie　said；　still　eyeing　the　pillars。　〃I　am　almost　positive　I　saw　these　here。〃　She　turned　back　into　the　chapel；　as　if　looking　for　something　else　to　jog　her　memory。
The　rest　of　the　visitors　were　now　leaving；　and　the　young　docent　made　his　way　across　the　chapel　to　them　with　a　pleasant　smile。　He　was　a　handsome　young　man　in　his　late　twenties；　with　a　Scottish　brogue　and　strawberry　blond　hair。　〃I'm　about　to　close　up　for　the　day。　May　I　help　you　find　anything？〃
How　about　the　Holy　Grail？　Langdon　wanted　to　say。
〃The　code；〃　Sophie　blurted；　in　sudden　revelation。　〃There's　a　code　here！〃
The　docent　looked　pleased　by　her　enthusiasm。　〃Yes　there　is；　ma'am。〃
〃It's　on　the　ceiling；〃　she　said；　turning　to　the　right…hand　wall。　〃Somewhere　over。。。　there。〃
He　smiled。　〃Not　your　first　visit　to　Rosslyn；　I　see。〃
The　code；　Langdon　thought。　He　had　forgotten　that　little　bit　of　lore。　Among　Rosslyn's　numerous　mysteries　was　a　vaulted　archway　from　which　hundreds　of　stone　blocks　protruded；　jutting　down　to　form　a　bizarre　multifaceted　surface。　Each　block　was　carved　with　a　symbol；　seemingly　at　random；　creating　a　cipher　of　unfathomable　proportion。　Some　people　believed　the　code　revealed　the　entrance　to　the　vault　beneath　the　chapel。
Others　believed　it　told　the　true　Grail　legend。　Not　that　it　mattered—cryptographers　had　been　trying　for　centuries　to　decipher　its　meaning。　To　this　day　the　Rosslyn　Trust　offered　a　generous　reward　to　anyone　who　could　unveil　the　secret　meaning；　but　the　code　remained　a　mystery。　〃I'd　be　happy　to　show。。。〃
　
The　docent's　voice　trailed　off。
My　first　code；　Sophie　thought；　moving　alone；　in　a　trance；　toward　the　encoded　archway。　Having　handed　the　rosewood　box　to　Langdon；　she　could　feel　herself　momentarily　forgetting　all　about　the　Holy　Grail；　the　Priory　of　Sion；　and　all　the　mysteries　of　the　past　day。　When　she　arrived　beneath　the　encoded　ceiling　and　saw　the　symbols　above　her；　the　memories　came　flooding　back。　She　was　recalling　her　first　visit　here；　and　strangely；　the　memories　conjured　an　unexpected　sadness。
She　was　a　little　girl。。。　a　year　or　so　after　her　family's　death。　Her　grandfather　had　brought　her　to　Scotland　on　a　short　vacation。　They　had　e　to　see　Rosslyn　Chapel　before　going　back　to　Paris。　It　was　late　evening；　and　the　chapel　was　closed。　But　they　were　still　inside。
〃Can　we　go　home；　Grand…père？〃　Sophie　begged；　feeling　tired。
〃Soon；　dear；　very　soon。〃　His　voice　was　melancholy。　〃I　have　one　last　thing　I　need　to　do　here。　How　about　if　you　wait　in　the　car？〃
〃You're　doing　another　big　person　thing？〃
He　nodded。　〃I'll　be　fast。　I　promise。〃
〃Can　I　do　the　archway　code　again？　That　was　fun。〃
〃I　don't　know。　I　have　to　step　outside。　You　won't　be　frightened　in　here　alone？〃
〃Of　course　not！〃　she　said　with　a　huff。　〃It's　not　even　dark　yet！〃
He　smiled。　〃Very　well　then。〃　He　led　her　over　to　the　elaborate　archway　he　had　shown　her　earlier。
Sophie　immediately　plopped　down　on　the　stone　floor；　lying　on　her　back　and　staring　up　at　the　collage　of　puzzle　pieces　overhead。　〃I'm　going　to　break　this　code　before　you　get　back！〃
〃It's　a　race　then。〃　He　bent　over；　kissed　her　forehead；　and　walked　to　the　nearby　side　door。　〃I'll　be　right　outside。　I'll　leave　the　door　open。　If　you　need　me；　just　call。〃　He　exited　into　the　soft　evening　light。
Sophie　lay　there　on　the　floor；　gazing　up　at　the　code。　Her　eyes　felt　sleepy。　After　a　few　minutes；　the　symbols　got　fuzzy。　And　then　they　disappeared。
When　Sophie　awoke；　the　floor　felt　cold。
〃Grand…père？〃
There　was　no　answer。　Standing　up；　she　brushed　herself　off。　The　side　door　was　still　open。　The　evening　was　getting　darker。　She　walked　outside　and　could　see　her　grandfather　standing　on　the　porch　of　a　nearby　stone　house　directly　behind　the　church。　Her　grandfather　was　talking　quietly　to　a　person　barely　visible　inside　the　screened　door。
〃Grand…père？〃　she　called。
Her　grandfather　turned　and　waved；　motioning　for　her　to　wait　just　a　moment。　Then；　slowly；　he　said　some　final　words　to　the　person　inside　and　blew　a　kiss　toward　the　screened　door。　He　came　to　her　with　tearful　eyes。
〃Why　are　you　crying；　Grand…père？〃
He　picked　her　up　and　held　her　close。　〃Oh；　Sophie；　you　and　I　have　said　good…bye　to　a　lot　of　people　this　year。　It's　hard。〃
Sophie　thought　of　the　accident；　of　saying　good…bye　to　her　mother　and　father；　her　grandmother　and　baby　brother。　〃Were　you　saying　goodbye　to　another　person？〃
〃To　a　dear　friend　wh