The Lost Symbol Chapter 40-43

CHAPTER 40Whats taking Trish so languish?Katherine Solomon check her watch again. Shed forgotten to warn Dr. Abaddon ab divulge the bizarre commute to her lab, only if she couldnt imagine the darkness had slowed them down this very much. They should adopt arrived by now.Katherine walked over to the publication and heaved open the lead-lined limen, staring out into the void. She listened for a moment, still heard nonhing.Trish? she c on the wholeed out, her illustration swallowed by the darkness.Silence.Puzzled, she closed the verge, took out her booth phone, and called the stilltonhole. This is Katherine. Is Trish out there?No, maam, the lobby guard said. She and your guest betokened put up round ten proceeding ago. au accordinglytically? I dont think theyre even inside Pod Five still. subscribe to on. Ill check. Katherine could hear the guards fingers clicking on his computer linchpinboard. Youre right. According to Ms. Dunnes key-card logs, she has non yet cl ear the Pod Five door. Her last access event was nearly octette minutes ago . . . at Pod Three. I guess shes bounteous your guest a little tour on his fashion in.Katherine frowned. Apparently. The intelligence information was a bit homophile(a), but at least she knew Trish wouldnt be wide in Pod 3. The smell in there is terrible. Thanks. Has my brother arrived yet?No, maam, not yet.Thank you.As Katherine hung up, she felt an unexpected twinge of trepidation. The tense feeling do her pause, but only for a moment. It was the same necessitate disquiet shed felt earlier when she stepped into Dr. Abaddons house. Embarrassingly, her feminine intuition had failed her there. Badly.Its nothing, Katherine told herself.CHAPTER 41Robert Langdon examine the pock profit. This isnt possible.An ancient encoded phraseology, Sato said without run acrossing up. Tell me, does this qualify?On the newly exposed face of the benefit, a series of sixteen characters was simply engraved into the smooth treasure. Beside Langdon, Andersons embouchure now gaped open, mirroring Langdons own shock. The security honcho looked like he had just exitn some kind of alien keypad. professor? Sato said. I assume you can read this?Langdon deviateed. Why would you assume that?Because you were brought here, Professor. You were chosen. This roll appears to be a code of some sort, and considering your reputation, it seems obvious to me that you were brought here to trace it.Langdon had to admit that after his experiences in capital of Italy and Paris, hed received a veritable(a) flow of requests asking for his help deciphering some of historys great unsolved codesthe Phaistos Disk, the Dorabella Cipher, the clannish Voynich Manuscript.Sato ran her finger over the inscription. Can you tell me the meaning of these icons?Theyre not icons, Langdon thought. Theyre symbols. The language was one he had recognized immediatelyan encrypted cipher language from the 17th century. Langdon knew very(prenominal) well how to break it. Maam, he said, feeling hesitant, this profit is incisions private property.Private or not, if this code is indeed the reason you were brought to Washington, I am not giving you a choice in the matter. I deprivation to agnize what it says.Satos blackberry bush pinged loudly, and she yanked the device from her pocket, studying the incoming message for several(prenominal) moments. Langdon was amazed that the Capitol Buildings internal wireless network provided service this far down. Sato grunted and elevated her eyebrows, giving Langdon an odd look. caput Anderson? she said, turning to him. A word in private, if I may? The director motioned for Anderson to join her, and they disappeared into the pitch-black residenceway, leaving Langdon a lonely(prenominal)(predicate) in the flickering candlelight of gibes Chamber of Reflection.Chief Anderson wondered when this night would end. A severed ease up in my Rotunda? A death shrine in my basement? Bizarre engravings on a stone pyramid? Somehow, the Redskins patch no longer felt significant.As he followed Sato into the darkness of the hall, Anderson flicked on his flashlight. The beam was weak but better than nothing. Sato led him down the hall a few yards, out of sight of Langdon.Have a look at this, she whispered, handing Anderson her BlackBerry.Anderson took the device and squinted at the illuminated screen. It displayed a black-and-w producee word picturethe X-ray of Langdons bag that Anderson had requested be sent to Sato. As in all X- rays, the objects of greatest density appeared in the noctilucentest white. In Langdons bag, a lone item outshone everything else. Obviously extremely dense, the object glowed like a conspicuous jewel in a murky jumble of other items. Its constellation was unmistakable.Hes been carrying that all night? Anderson looked over at Sato in surprise. Why didnt Langdon computer address this?Damned good question, Sato whispered.The shape . . . it cant be coincidence.No, Sato said, her tone angry now. I would say not.A faint rustle in the corridor drew Andersons attention. Startled, he pointed his flashlight down the black passageway. The dying beam revealed only a deserted corridor, lined with open doors.Hello? Anderson said. Is somebody there?Silence.Sato gave him an odd look, apparently having heard nothing.Anderson listened a moment longer and then shake it murder. Ive got to get out of here.Alone in the candlelit chamber, Langdon ran his fingers over the sharply carven edges of the pyramids engraving. He was curious to know what the message said, and yet he was not about to intrude on beam of light Solomons privacy any more than than they already had. And why would this lunatic care about this pocket-sized pyramid anyway?We have a problem, Professor, Satos voice declared loudly posterior him. Ive just received a new piece of information, and Ive had enough of your lies.Langdon turned to see the OS dir ector marching in, BlackBerry in hand and fire in her eyes. Taken aback, Langdon looked to Anderson for help, but the chief was now rest guard at the door, his expression unsympathetic. Sato arrived in front of Langdon and thrust her BlackBerry in his face.Bewildered, Langdon looked at the screen, which displayed an inverted black-and-white photograph, like a ghostlike film negative. The photo looked like a jumble of objects, and one of them shone very brightly. Though askew and off center, the brightest object was clearly a little, pointed pyramid.A tiny pyramid? Langdon looked at Sato. What is this?The question seemed only to incense Sato further. Youre computer simulation you dont know?Langdons temper flared. Im not pretending anything Ive neer seen this forward in my lifeBullshit Sato snapped, her voice baseball swingting with the musty air. Youve been carrying it in your bag all nightI Langdon s statuesqueed midsentence. His eyes moved late down to the daybag on his ge t up. Then he raised them again to the BlackBerry. My perfection . . . the package. He looked more closely at the image. Now he proverb it. A ghostly cube, enclosing the pyramid. Stunned, Langdon realized he was face at an X-ray of his bag . . . and also of nibs mysterious cube-shaped package. The cube was, in fact, a hollow box . . . a small pyramid.Langdon opened his mouth to speak, but his words failed him. He felt the breath go out of his lungs as a new revelation struck him.Simple. Pure. Devastating.My God. He looked back at the truncated stone pyramid on the desk. Its apex was two-dimensionala small square areaa blank set symbolically awaiting its final examination piece . . . that piece which would transform it from an Unfinished profit into a True Pyramid.Langdon now realized the tiny pyramid he was carrying was not a pyramid at all. Its a capstone. At that instant, he knew why he all could unlock the mysteries of this pyramid.I hold the final piece.And it is indeed . . . a amulet. When Peter had told Langdon the package contained a amulet, Langdon had laughed. Now he realized his friend was right. This tiny capstone was a talis valet de chambre, but not the magic kind . . . the far older kind. Long in front talis gentleman had magical connotations, it had another meaning completion. From the Greek telesma, meaning complete, a talisman was any object or idea that completed another and made it whole. The finishing element. A capstone, symbolically speaking, was the ultimate talisman, transforming the Unfinished Pyramid into a symbol of completed perfection.Langdon now felt an eerie convergence that forced him to accept one very strange truth with the exception of its size, the stone pyramid in Peters Chamber of Reflection seemed to be transforming itself, bit by bit, into something vaguely resembling the Masonic Pyramid of offsetend.From the brightness with which the capstone shone on the X-ray, Langdon venture it was made of metal . . . a very dense metal. Whether or not it was solid gold, he had no way of knowing, and he was not about to let his mind start playing tricks on him. This pyramid is too small. The codes too easy to read. And . . . its a myth, for heavens sakeSato was watching him. For a bright man, Professor, youve made some dumb choices this night. Lying to an intelligence director? by choice obstructing a CIA investigation?I can explain, if youll let me.You leave alone be explaining at CIA headquarters. As of this moment, I am detaining you.Langdons body went rigid. You cant possibly be serious.Deadly serious. I made it very clear to you that the stakes tonight were high, and you chose not to cooperate. I strongly suggest you start thinking about explaining the inscription on this pyramid, because when we arrive at the CIA . . . She raised her BlackBerry and took a close-up snapshot of the engraving on the stone pyramid. My analysts will have had a head start.Langdon opened his mouth to protest, but Sato was already turning to Anderson at the door. Chief, she said, put the stone pyramid in Langdons bag and carry it. Ill storage area taking Mr. Langdon into custody. Your weapon, if I may?Anderson was stone-faced as he advanced into the chamber, unsnapping his shoulder holster as he came. He gave his gun to Sato, who immediately aimed it at Langdon.Langdon watched as if in a dream. This cannot be happening.Anderson now came to Langdon and removed the daybag from his shoulder, carrying it over to the desk and scene it on the chair. He unzipped the bag, propped it open, and then hoisted the healthy stone pyramid off the desk and into the bag, along with Langdons notes and the tiny package. Suddenly there was a rustle of causal agency in the hallway. A dark outline of a man materialized in the doorway, rushing into the chamber and approaching fast merchant ship Anderson. The chief never saw him coming. In an instant, the stranger had lowered his shoulder and crashed into Anders ons back. The chief launched forward, his head cracking into the edge of the stone niche. He fell hard, crumpling on the desk, move bones and artifacts flying. The hourglass shattered on the floor. The candle toppled to the floor, still burning.Sato reeled amid the snake pit, raising the gun, but the intruder grabbed a femur and lashed out with it, striking her shoulder with the leg bone. Sato let out a cry of pain and fell back, displace the weapon. The newcomer kicked the gun away and then wheeled toward Langdon. The man was tall and slender, an attractive African American whom Langdon had never seen before in his life. puss the pyramid the man commanded. Follow meCHAPTER 42The African American man leading Langdon through the Capitols subterranean maze was clearly someone of major power. beyond knowing his way through all the side corridors and back rooms, the elegant stranger carried a key ring that seemed to unlock every door that blocked their way.Langdon followed, quickly running up an un well-known(prenominal) staircase. As they climbed, he felt the leather strap of his daybag cutting hard into his shoulder. The stone pyramid was so heavy that Langdon feared the bags strap might break.The past few minutes defied all logic, and now Langdon found himself moving on instinct alone. His goats rue told him to trust this stranger. Beyond saving Langdon from Satos arrest, the man had taken dangerous accomplish to encourage Peter Solomons mysterious pyramid. Whatever the pyramid may be. objet dart his motivation re primary(prenominal)ed a mystery, Langdon had glimpsed a telltale shimmer of gold on the mans handa Masonic ringthe double-headed phoenix and the number 33. This man and Peter Solomon were more than trusted friends. They were Masonic brothers of the highest degree.Langdon followed him to the top of the stairs, into another corridor, and then through an unmarked door into a utilitarian hallway. They ran past hang on boxes and bags of garbage, veering off suddenly through a service door that deposited them in an utterly unexpected worlda plush photograph theater of some sort. The older man led the way up the side aisle and out the main doors into the light of a extended atrium. Langdon now realized they were in the visitor center through which he had entered earlier tonight. Unfortunately, so was a Capitol police officer.As they came face-to-face with the officer, all three men stopped, staring at one another. Langdon recognized the teen Hispanic officer from the X-ray machine earlier tonight. incumbent Nunez, the African American man said. Not a word. Follow me.The guard looked dying(p) but obeyed without question.Who is this guy?The three of them hurried toward the southeast corner of the visitor center, where they arrived at a small foyer and a set of heavy doors blocked with orange pylons. The doors were sealed with masking tape, apparently to keep the circularize of whatever was happening beyond out of the visi tor center. The man reached up and peeled off the tape on the door. Then he flipped through his key ring as he spoke to the guard. Our friend Chief Anderson is in the subbasement. He may be injured. Youll want to check on him.Yes, sir. Nunez looked as baffled as he did alarmed.Most important, you did not see us. The man found a key, took it off the key ring, and used it to turn the heavy dead bolt. He pulled open the steel door and tossed the key to the guard. Lock this door behind us. Put the tape back on as best as you can. Pocket the key and say nothing. To anyone. Including the chief. Is that clear, Officer Nunez?The guard eyed the key as if hed just been entrusted with a unprecedented gem. It is, sir.The man hurried through the door, and Langdon followed. The guard locked the heavy bolt behind them, and Langdon could hear him re-applying the masking tape.Professor Langdon, the man said as they strode briskly down a modern-looking corridor that was obviously under construction. My name is Warren Bellamy. Peter Solomon is a dear friend of mine.Langdon shot a startled peek at the stately man. Youre Warren Bellamy? Langdon had never met the designer of the Capitol, but he certainly knew the mans name.Peter speaks very highly of you, Bellamy said, and Im sorry we are clashing under these dreadful circumstances.Peter is in terrible trouble. His hand . . .I know. Bellamy sounded grim. Thats not the half of it, Im afraid.They reached the end of the lit section of corridor, and the passageway took an disunited left. The remaining length of corridor, wherever it went, was pitch-black. Hold on, Bellamy said, disappearing into a nearby electrical room from which a tangle of heavy-duty orange lengthiness cords snaked out, running away from them into the darkness of the corridor. Langdon waited while Bellamy rooted slightly inside. The Architect must have located the switch that sent power to the extension cords, because suddenly the route before them became illu minated.Langdon could only stare.Washington, D.C.like Romewas a city laced with secret passageways and underground tunnels. The passage before them now reminded Langdon of the passetto tunnel connecting the Vatican to Castel SantAngelo. Long. Dark. Narrow. Unlike the ancient passetto, however, this passage was modern and not yet complete. It was a slender construction zone that was so long it seemed to narrow to nothing at its distant end. The only lighting was a string of intermittent construction bulbs that did little more than accentuate the tunnels unthinkable length.Bellamy was already heading down the passage. Follow me. Watch your step.Langdon felt himself choke into step behind Bellamy, wondering where on earth this tunnel led.At that moment, Malakh stepped out of Pod 3 and strode briskly down the deserted main corridor of the SMSC toward Pod 5. He clutched Trishs key card in his hand and piano whispered, Zero-eight-zero-four.Something else was cycling through his mind as well. Malakh had just received an imperative message from the Capitol Building. My contact has run into unforeseen difficulties. Even so, the news remained encouraging Robert Langdon now possessed both the pyramid and the capstone. Despite the unexpected way in which it had happened, the crucial pieces were falling into place. It was almost as if destiny itself were directional tonights events, ensuring Malakhs victory.CHAPTER 43Langdon hurried to keep pace with Warren Bellamys brisk footsteps as they moved without a word down the long tunnel. So far, the Architect of the Capitol appeared far more intent on putting distance mingled with Sato and this stone pyramid than he did on explaining to Langdon what was going on. Langdon had a evolution apprehension that there was far more going on than he could imagine.The CIA? The Architect of the Capitol? Two Thirty-third-degree Masons? The shrill sound of Langdons cell phone cut the air. He pulled his phone from his jacket. Uncertain , he answered. Hello? The voice that spoke was an eerie, familiar whisper. Professor, I hear you had unexpected company.Langdon felt an icy chill. Where the hell is Peter? he demanded, his words reverberating in the enclosed tunnel. Beside him, Warren Bellamy glanced over, looking concerned and motioning for Langdon to keep walking.Dont worry, the voice said. As I told you, Peter is somewhere safe.You cut off his hand, for Gods sake He needs a secureHe needs a priest, the man replied. But you can deport him. If you do as I command, Peter will live. I delve you my word.The word of a madman means nothing to me.Madman? Professor, sure enough you appreciate the reverence with which I have adhered to the ancient protocols tonight. The Hand of the Mysteries command you to a portalthe pyramid that promises to unveil ancient acquaintance. I know you now possess it.You think this is the Masonic Pyramid? Langdon demanded. Its a testicle of rock.There was silence on the other end of the line. Mr. Langdon, youre too alacrity to play dumb. You know very well what youve uncovered tonight. A stone pyramid . . . hidden at the core of Washington, D.C. . . . by a goodly Mason?Youre chasing a myth Whatever Peter told you, he told you in fear.The Legend of the Masonic Pyramid is fiction. The Masons never built any pyramid to protect secret wisdom. And even if they did, this pyramid is far too small to be what you think it is.The man chuckled. I see Peter has told you very little. Nonetheless, Mr. Langdon, whether or not you choose to accept what it is you now possess, you will do as I say. I am well aware that the pyramid you are carrying has an encrypted engraving. You will decipher that engraving for me. Then, and only then, will I return Peter Solomon to you.Whatever you believe this engraving reveals, Langdon said, it wont be the superannuated Mysteries.Of course not, he replied. The mysteries are far too vast to be written on the side of a little stone pyramid.The answer caught Langdon off guard. But if this engraving is not the old-fashioned Mysteries, then this pyramid is not the Masonic Pyramid. Legend clearly states the Masonic Pyramid was constructed to protect the Ancient Mysteries. The mans tone was condescending now. Mr. Langdon, the Masonic Pyramid was constructed to preserve the Ancient Mysteries, but with a twist youve apparently not yet grasped. Did Peter never tell you? The power of the Masonic Pyramid is not that it reveals the mysteries themselves . . . but rather that it reveals the secret location where the mysteries are buried.Langdon did a double take. rewrite the engraving, the voice continued, and it will tell you the hiding place of mankinds greatest treasure. He laughed. Peter did not entrust you with the treasure itself, Professor.Langdon came to an abrupt halt in the tunnel. Hold on. Youre saying this pyramid is . . . a map? Bellamy jolted to a stop now, too, his expression one of shock and alarm. Clearly, the calle r had just hit a raw nerve. The pyramid is a map.This map, the voice whispered, or pyramid, or portal, or whatever you choose to call it . . . was created long ago to fancy the hiding place of the Ancient Mysteries would never be forgotten . . . that it would never be lost to history.A grid of sixteen symbols doesnt look much like a map.Appearances can be deceiving, Professor. But regardless, you alone have the power to read that inscription.Youre wrong, Langdon fired back, picturing the simplistic cipher. Anyone could decipher this engraving. Its not very sophisticated.I suspect there is more to the pyramid than meets the eye. Regardless, you alone possess the capstone.Langdon pictured the little capstone in his bag. Order from chaos? He didnt know what to believe anymore, but the stone pyramid in his bag seemed to be getting heavier with every passing moment.Malakh pressed the cell phone to his ear, enjoying the sound of Langdons anxious breathing on the other end. accountabilit y now, I have business to attend to, Professor, and so do you. assure me as soon as you have deciphered the map. We will go together to the hiding place and make our trade. Peters life . . . for all the wisdom of the ages.I will do nothing, Langdon declared. Especially not without proof Peter is alive.I suggest you not test me. You are a very small cog in a vast machine. If you disobey me, or attempt to find me, Peter will die. This I swear. For all I know, Peter is already dead.He is very much alive, Professor, but he desperately needs your help.What are you really looking for? Langdon shouted into the phone.Malakh paused before answering. Many people have pursued the Ancient Mysteries and debated their power. Tonight, I will prove the mysteries are real.Langdon was silent.I suggest you get to work on the map immediately, Malakh said. I need this information today.Today? Its already after nine oclockExactly. Tempus fugit.