danbrown.thedavincicode-第65部分

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！


　〃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　turn；　Silas　pressed　the　gun　barrel　into　her　spine　and　wrapped　a　powerful　arm　across　her　chest；　pulling　her　back　against　his　hulking　body。　She　yelled　in　surprise。　Teabing　and　Langdon　both　turned　now；　their　expressions　astonished　and　fearful。
　〃What。。。？〃　Teabing　choked　out。　〃What　did　you　do　to　Rémy！〃
　〃Your　only　concern；〃　Silas　said　calmly；　〃is　that　I　leave　here　with　the　keystone。〃　This　recovery　mission；　as　Rémy　had　described　it；　was　to　be　clean　and　simple：　Enter　the　church；　take　the　keystone；　and　walk　out；　no　killing；　no　struggle。
　Holding　Sophie　firm；　Silas　dropped　his　hand　from　her　chest；　down　to　her　waist；　slipping　it　inside　her　deep　sweater　pockets；　searching。　He　could　smell　the　soft　fragrance　of　her　hair　through　his　own　alcohol…laced　breath。　〃Where　is　it？〃　he　whispered。　The　keystone　was　in　her　sweater　pocket　earlier。　So　where　is　it　now？
　〃It's　over　here；〃　Langdon's　deep　voice　resonated　from　across　the　room。
　Silas　turned　to　see　Langdon　holding　the　black　cryptex　before　him；　waving　it　back　and　forth　like　a　matador　tempting　a　dumb　animal。
　〃Set　it　down；〃　Silas　demanded。
　〃Let　Sophie　and　Leigh　leave　the　church；〃　Langdon　replied。　〃You　and　I　can　settle　this。〃
　Silas　pushed　Sophie　away　from　him　and　aimed　the　gun　at　Langdon；　moving　toward　him。
　〃Not　a　step　closer；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Not　until　they　leave　the　building。〃
　〃You　are　in　no　position　to　make　demands。〃
　〃I　disagree。〃　Langdon　raised　the　cryptex　high　over　his　head。　〃I　will　not　hesitate　to　smash　this　on　the　floor　and　break　the　vial　inside。〃
　Although　Silas　sneered　outwardly　at　the　threat；　he　felt　a　flash　of　fear。　This　was　unexpected。　He　aimed　the　gun　at　Langdon's　head　and　kept　his　voice　as　steady　as　his　hand。　〃You　would　never　break　the　keystone。　You　want　to　find　the　Grail　as　much　as　I　do。〃
　〃You're　wrong。　You　want　it　much　more。　You've　proven　you're　willing　to　kill　for　it。〃
　　
　Forty　feet　away；　peering　out　from　the　annex　pews　near　the　archway；　Rémy　Legaludec　felt　a　rising　alarm。　The　maneuver　had　not　gone　as　planned；　and　even　from　here；　he　could　see　Silas　was　uncertain　how　to　handle　the　situation。　At　the　Teacher's　orders；　Rémy　had　forbidden　Silas　to　fire　his　gun。
　〃Let　them　go；〃　Langdon　again　demanded；　holding　the　cryptex　high　over　his　head　and　staring　into　Silas's　gun。
　The　monk's　red　eyes　filled　with　anger　and　frustration；　and　Rémy　tightened　with　fear　that　Silas　might　actually　shoot　Langdon　while　he　was　holding　the　cryptex。　The　cryptex　cannot　fall！
　The　cryptex　was　to　be　Rémy's　ticket　to　freedom　and　wealth。　A　little　over　a　year　ago；　he　was　simply　a　fifty…five…year…old　manservant　living　within　the　walls　of　Chateau　Villette；　catering　to　the　whims　of　the　insufferable　cripple　Sir　Leigh　Teabing。　Then　he　was　approached　with　an　extraordinary　proposition。　Rémy's　association　with　Sir　Leigh　Teabing…the　preeminent　Grail　historian　on　earth…was　going　to　bring　Rémy　everything　he　had　ever　dreamed　of　in　life。　Since　then；　every　moment　he　had　spent　inside　Chateau　Villette　had　been　leading　him　to　this　very　instant。
　I　am　so　close；　Rémy　told　himself；　gazing　into　the　sanctuary　of　the　Temple　Church　and　the　keystone　in　Robert　Langdon's　hand。　If　Langdon　dropped　it；　all　would　be　lost。
　Am　I　willing　to　show　my　face？　It　was　something　the　Teacher　had　strictly　forbidden。　Rémy　was　the　only　one　who　knew　the　Teacher's　identity。
　〃Are　you　certain　you　want　Silas　to　carry　out　this　task？〃　Rémy　had　asked　the　Teacher　less　than　half　an　hour　ago；　upon　getting　orders　to　steal　the　keystone。　〃I　myself　am　capable。〃
　The　Teacher　was　resolute。　〃Silas　served　us　well　with　the　four　Priory　members。　He　will　recover　the　keystone。　You　must　remain　anonymous。　If　others　see　you；　they　will　need　to　be　eliminated；　and　there　has　been　enough　killing　already。　Do　not　reveal　your　face。〃
　My　face　will　change；　Rémy　thought。　With　what　you've　promised　to　pay　me；　I　will　bee　an　entirely　new　man。　Surgery　could　even　change　his　fingerprints；　the　Teacher　had　told　him。　Soon　he　would　be　free…another　unrecognizable；　beautiful　face　soaking　up　the　sun　on　the　beach。　〃Understood；〃　Rémy　said。　〃I　will　assist　Silas　from　the　shadows。〃
　〃For　your　own　knowledge；　Rémy；〃　the　Teacher　had　told　him；　〃the　tomb　in　question　is　not　in　the　Temple　Church。　So　have　no　fear。　They　are　looking　in　the　wrong　place。〃
　Rémy　was　stunned。　〃And　you　know　where　the　tomb　is？〃