danbrown.thedavincicode-第51部分

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　And　tonight；　incredibly；　the　key　to　finding　the　Holy　Grail　had　walked　right　through　his　front　door。
　　
　While　Sophie　and　Teabing　sat　with　the　cryptex　and　talked　about　the　vinegar；　the　dials；　and　what　the　password　might　be；　Langdon　carried　the　rosewood　box　across　the　room　to　a　well…lit　table　to　get　a　better　look　at　it。　Something　Teabing　had　just　said　was　now　running　through　Langdon's　mind。
　The　key　to　the　Grail　is　hidden　beneath　the　sign　of　the　Rose。
　Langdon　held　the　wooden　box　up　to　the　light　and　examined　the　inlaid　symbol　of　the　Rose。　Although　his　familiarity　with　art　did　not　include　woodworking　or　inlaid　furniture；　he　had　just　recalled　the　famous　tiled　ceiling　of　the　Spanish　monastery　outside　of　Madrid；　where；　three　centuries　after　its　construction；　the　ceiling　tiles　began　to　fall　out；　revealing　sacred　texts　scrawled　by　monks　on　the　plaster　beneath。
　Langdon　looked　again　at　the　Rose。
　Beneath　the　Rose。
　Sub　Rosa。
　Secret。
　A　bump　in　the　hallway　behind　him　made　Langdon　turn。　He　saw　nothing　but　shadows。　Teabing's　manservant　most　likely　had　passed　through。　Langdon　turned　back　to　the　box。　He　ran　his　finger　over　the　smooth　edge　of　the　inlay；　wondering　if　he　could　pry　the　Rose　out；　but　the　craftsmanship　was　perfect。　He　doubted　even　a　razor　blade　could　fit　in　between　the　inlaid　Rose　and　the　carefully　carved　depression　into　which　it　was　seated。
　Opening　the　box；　he　examined　the　inside　of　the　lid。　It　was　smooth。　As　he　shifted　its　position；　though；　the　light　caught　what　appeared　to　be　a　small　hole　on　the　underside　of　the　lid；　positioned　in　the　exact　center。　Langdon　closed　the　lid　and　examined　the　inlaid　symbol　from　the　top。　No　hole。
　It　doesn't　pass　through。
　Setting　the　box　on　the　table；　he　looked　around　the　room　and　spied　a　stack　of　papers　with　a　paper　clip　on　it。　Borrowing　the　clip；　he　returned　to　the　box；　opened　it；　and　studied　the　hole　again。　Carefully；　he　unbent　the　paper　clip　and　inserted　one　end　into　the　hole。　He　gave　a　gentle　push。　It　took　almost　no　effort。　He　heard　something　clatter　quietly　onto　the　table。　Langdon　closed　the　lid　to　look。　It　was　a　small　piece　of　wood；　like　a　puzzle　piece。　The　wooden　Rose　had　popped　out　of　the　lid　and　fallen　onto　the　desk。
　Speechless；　Langdon　stared　at　the　bare　spot　on　the　lid　where　the　Rose　had　been。　There；　engraved　in　the　wood；　written　in　an　immaculate　hand；　were　four　lines　of　text　in　a　language　he　had　never　seen。
　The　characters　look　vaguely　Semitic；　Langdon　thought　to　himself；　and　yet　I　don't　recognize　the　language！
　A　sudden　movement　behind　him　caught　his　attention。　Out　of　nowhere；　a　crushing　blow　to　the　head　knocked　Langdon　to　his　knees。
　As　he　fell；　he　thought　for　a　moment　he　saw　a　pale　ghost　hovering　over　him；　clutching　a　gun。　Then　everything　went　black。
　　
　CHAPTER　65
　
　Sophie　Neveu；　despite　working　in　law　enforcement；　had　never　found　herself　at　gunpoint　until　tonight。　Almost　inconceivably；　the　gun　into　which　she　was　now　staring　was　clutched　in　the　pale　hand　of　an　enormous　albino　with　long　white　hair。　He　looked　at　her　with　red　eyes　that　radiated　a　frightening；　disembodied　quality。　Dressed　in　a　wool　robe　with　a　rope　tie；　he　resembled　a　medieval　cleric。　Sophie　could　not　imagine　who　he　was；　and　yet　she　was　feeling　a　sudden　newfound　respect　for　Teabing's　suspicions　that　the　Church　was　behind　this。
　〃You　know　what　I　have　e　for；〃　the　monk　said；　his　voice　hollow。
　Sophie　and　Teabing　were　seated　on　the　divan；　arms　raised　as　their　attacker　had　manded。　Langdon　lay　groaning　on　the　floor。　The　monk's　eyes　fell　immediately　to　the　keystone　on　Teabing's　lap。
　Teabing's　tone　was　defiant。　〃You　will　not　be　able　to　open　it。〃
　〃My　Teacher　is　very　wise；〃　the　monk　replied；　inching　closer；　the　gun　shifting　between　Teabing　and　Sophie。
　Sophie　wondered　where　Teabing's　manservant　was。　Didn't　he　hear　Robert　fall？
　〃Who　is　your　teacher？〃　Teabing　asked。　〃Perhaps　we　can　make　a　financial　arrangement。〃
　〃The　Grail　is　priceless。〃　He　moved　closer。
　〃You're　bleeding；〃　Teabing　noted　calmly；　nodding　to　the　monk's　right　ankle　where　a　trickle　of　blood　had　run　down　his　leg。　〃And　you're　limping。〃
　〃As　do　you；〃　the　monk　replied；　motioning　to　the　metal　crutches　propped　beside　Teabing。　〃Now；　hand　me　the　keystone。〃
　〃You　know　of　the　keystone？〃　Teabing　said；　sounding　surprised。
　〃Never　mind　what　I　know。　Stand　up　slowly；　and　give　it　to　me。〃
　〃Standing　is　difficult　for　me。〃
　〃Precisely。　I　would　prefer　nobody　attempt　any　quick　moves。〃
　Teabing　slipped　his　right　hand　through　one　of　his　crutches　and　grasped　the　keystone　in　his　left。　Lurching　to　his　feet；　he　stood　erect；　palming　the　heavy　cylinder　in　his　left　hand；　and　leaning　unsteadily　on　his　crutch　with　his　right。
　The　monk　closed　to　within　a　few　feet；　keeping　the　gun　aimed　directly　at　Teabing's　head。　Sophie　watched；　feeling　helpless　as　the　monk　reached　out　to　take　the　cylinder。
　〃You　will　not　succeed；〃　Teabing　said。　〃Only　the　worthy　can　unlock　this　stone。〃
　　
　God　alone　judges　the　worthy；　Silas　thought。
　〃It's　quite　heavy；〃　the　man　on　crutches　said；　his　arm　wavering　now。　〃If　you　don't　take　it　soon；　I'm　afraid　I　shall　drop　it！〃　He　swayed　perilously。
　Silas　stepped　quickly　forward　to　take　the　stone；　and　as　he　did；　the　man　on　crutches　lost　his　balance。　The　crutch　slid　out　from　under　him；　and　he　began　to　topple　sideways　to　his　right。　No！　Silas　lunged　to　save　the　stone；　lowering　his　weapon　in　the　process。　But　the　keystone　was　moving　away　from　him　now。　As　the　man　fell　to　his　right；　his　left　hand　swung　backward；　and　the　cylinder　tumbled　from　his　palm　onto　the　couch。　At　the　same　instant；　the　metal　crutch　that　had　been　sliding　out　from　under　the　man　seemed　to　accelerate；　cutting　a　wide　arc　through　the　air　toward　Silas's　leg。
　Splinters　of　pain　tore　up　Silas's　body　as　the　crutch　made　perfect　contact　with　his　cilice；　crushing　the　barbs　into　his　already　raw　flesh。　Buckling；　Silas　crumpled　to　his　knees；　causing　the　belt　to　cut　deeper　still。　The　pistol　discharged　with　a　deafening　roar；　the　bullet　burying　itself　harmlessly　in　the　floorboards　as　Silas　fell。　Before　he　could　raise　the　gun　and　fire　again；　the　woman's　foot　caught　him　square　beneath　the　jaw。
　　
　At　the　bottom　of　the　driveway；　Collet　heard　the　gunshot。　The　muffled　pop　sent　panic　through　his　veins。　With　Fache　on　the　way；　Collet　had　already　relinquished　any　hopes　of　claiming　personal　credit　for　finding　Langdon　tonight。　But　Collet　would　be　damned　if　Fache's　ego　landed　him　in　front　of　a　Ministerial　Review　Board　for　negligent　police　procedure。
　A　weapon　was　discharged　inside　a　private　home！　And　you　waited　at　the　bottom　of　the　driveway？
　Collet　knew　the　opportunity　for　a　stealth　approach　had　long　since　passed。　He　also　knew　if　he　stood　idly　by　for　another　second；　his　entire　career　would　be　history　by　morning。　Eyeing　the　estate's　iron　gate；　he　made　his　decision。
　〃Tie　on；　and　pull　it　down。〃
　　
　In　the　distant　recesses　of　his　groggy　mind；　Robert　Langdon　had　heard　the　gunshot。　He'd　also　heard　a　scream　of　pain。　His　own？　A　jackhammer　was　boring　a　hole　into　the　back　of　his　cranium。　Somewhere　nearby；　people　were　talking。
　〃Where　the　devil　were　you？〃　Teabing　was　yelling。
　The　manservant　hurried　in。　〃What　happened？　Oh　my　God！　Who　is　that？　I'll　call　the　police！〃
　〃Bloody　hell！　Don't　call　the　police。　Make　yourself　useful　and　get　us　something　with　which　to　restrain　this　monster。〃
　〃And　some　ice！〃　Sophie　called　after　him。
　Langdon　drifted　out　again。　More　voices。　Movement。　Now　he　was　seated　on　the　divan。　Sophie　was　holding　an　ice　pack　to　his　head。　His　skull　ached。　As　Langdon's　vision　finally　began　to　clear；　he　found　himself　staring　at　a　body　on　the　floor。　Am　I　hallucinating？　The　massive　body　of　an　albino　monk　lay　bound　and　gagged　with　duct　tape。　His　chin　was　split　open；　and　the　robe　over　his　right　thigh　was　soaked　with　blood。　He　too　appeared　to　be　just　now　ing　to。
　Langdon　turned　to　Sophie。　〃Who　is　that？　What。。。　happened？〃
　Teabing　hobbled　over。　〃You　were　rescued　by　a　knight　brandishing　an　Excalibur　made　by　Acme　Orthopedic。〃
　Huh？　Langdon　tried　to　sit　up。
　Sophie's　touch　was　shaken　but　tender。　〃Just　give　yourself　a　minute；　Robert。〃
　〃I　fear；〃　Teabing　said；　〃that　I've　just　demonstrated　for　your　lady　friend　the　unfortunate　benefit　of　my　condition。　It　seems　everyone　underestimates　you。〃
　From　his　seat　on　the　divan；　Langdon　gazed　down　at　the　monk　and　tried　to　imagine　what　had　happened。
　〃He　was　wearing　a　cilice；〃　Teabing　explained。
　〃A　what？〃
　Teabing　pointed　to　a　bloody　strip　of　barbed　leather　that　lay　on　the　floor。　〃A　Discipline　belt。　He　wore　it　on　his　thigh。　I　took　careful　aim。〃
　Langdon　rubbed　his　head。　He　knew　of　Discipline　belts。　〃But　how。。。　did　you　know？〃
　Teabing　grinned。　〃Christianity　is　my　field　of　study；　Robert；　and　there　are　certain　sects　who　wear　their　hearts　on　their　sleeves。〃　He　pointed　his　crutch　at　the　blood　soaking　through　the　monk's　cloak。　〃As　it　were。〃
　〃Opus　Dei；〃　Langdon　whispered；　recalling　recent　media　coverage　of　several　prominent　Boston　businessmen　who　were　members　of　Opus　Dei。　Apprehensive　coworkers　had　falsely　and　publicly　accused　the　men　of　wearing　Discipline　belts　beneath　their　three…piece　suits。　In　fact；　the　three　men　did　no　such　thing。　Like　many　members　of　Opus　Dei；　these　businessmen　were　at　the　〃supernumerary〃　stage　and　practiced　no　corporal　mortification　at　all。　They　were　devout　Catholics；　caring　fathers　to　their　children；　and　deeply　dedicated　members　of　the　munity。　Not　surprisingly；　the　media　spotlighted　their　spiritual　mitment　only　briefly　before　moving　on　to　the　shock　value　of　the　sect's　more　stringent　〃numerary〃　members。。。　members　like　the　monk　now　lying　on　the　floor　before　Langdon。
　Teabing　was　looking　closely　at　the　bloody　belt。　〃But　why　would　Opus　Dei　be　trying　to　find　the　Holy　Grail？〃
　Langdon　was　too　groggy　to　consider　it。
　〃Robert；〃　Sophie　said；　walking　to　the　wooden　box。　〃What's　this？〃　She　was　holding　the　small　Rose　inlay　he　had　removed　from　the　lid。
　〃It　covered　an　engraving　on　the　box。　I　think　the　text　might　tell　us　how　to　open　the　keystone。〃
　Before　Sophie　and　Teabing　could　respond；　a　sea　of　blue　police　lights　and　sirens　erupted　at　the　bottom　of　the　hill　and　began　snaking　up　the　half…mile　driveway。
　Teabing　frowned。　〃My　friends；　it　seems　we　have　a　decision　to　make。　And　we'd　better　make