danbrown.thedavincicode-第76部分

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　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　said；　baiting　the　hook。　〃The　man　I　spoke　to　said　he　forced　their　car　off　the　road　into　a　river。〃
　Saunière　fell　silent。
　〃Monsieur　Saunière；　I　would　never　have　phoned　you　directly　except　this　man　made　a　ment　which　makes　me　now　fear　for　your　safety。〃　He　paused。　〃The　man　also　mentioned　your　granddaughter；　Sophie。〃
　The　mention　of　Sophie's　name　had　been　the　catalyst。　The　curator　leapt　into　action。　He　ordered　Silas　to　e　see　him　immediately　in　the　safest　location　Saunière　knew…his　Louvre　office。　Then　he　phoned　Sophie　to　warn　her　she　might　be　in　danger。　Drinks　with　Robert　Langdon　were　instantly　abandoned。
　Now；　with　Langdon　separated　from　Sophie　on　the　far　side　of　the　room；　Teabing　sensed　he　had　successfully　alienated　the　two　panions　from　one　another。　Sophie　Neveu　remained　defiant；　but　Langdon　clearly　saw　the　larger　picture。　He　was　trying　to　figure　out　the　password。　He　understands　the　importance　of　finding　the　Grail　and　releasing　her　from　bondage。
　〃He　won't　open　it　for　you；〃　Sophie　said　coldly。　〃Even　if　he　can。〃
　Teabing　was　glancing　at　Langdon　as　he　held　the　gun　on　Sophie。　He　was　fairly　certain　now　he　was　going　to　have　to　use　the　weapon。　Although　the　idea　troubled　him；　he　knew　he　would　not　hesitate　if　it　came　to　that。　I　have　given　her　every　opportunity　to　do　the　right　thing。　The　Grail　is　bigger　than　any　one　of　us。
　At　that　moment；　Langdon　turned　from　the　window。　〃The　tomb。。。〃　he　said　suddenly；　facing　them　with　a　faint　glimmer　of　hope　in　his　eyes。　〃I　know　where　to　look　on　Newton's　tomb。　Yes；　I　think　I　can　find　the　password！〃
　Teabing's　heart　soared。　〃Where；　Robert？　Tell　me！〃
　Sophie　sounded　horrified。　〃Robert；　no！　You're　not　going　to　help　him；　are　you？〃
　Langdon　approached　with　a　resolute　stride；　holding　the　cryptex　before　him。　〃No；〃　he　said；　his　eyes　hardening　as　he　turned　to　Leigh。　〃Not　until　he　lets　you　go。〃
　Teabing's　optimism　darkened。　〃We　are　so　close；　Robert。　Don't　you　dare　start　playing　games　with　me！〃
　〃No　games；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Let　her　go。　Then　I'll　take　you　to　Newton's　tomb。　We'll　open　the　cryptex　together。〃
　〃I'm　not　going　anywhere；〃　Sophie　declared；　her　eyes　narrowing　with　rage。　〃That　cryptex　was　given　to　me　by　my　grandfather。　It　is　not　yours　to　open。〃
　Langdon　wheeled；　looking　fearful。　〃Sophie；　please！　You're　in　danger。　I'm　trying　to　help　you！〃
　〃How？　By　unveiling　the　secret　my　grandfather　died　trying　to　protect？　He　trusted　you；　Robert。　I　trusted　you！〃
　Langdon's　blue　eyes　showed　panic　now；　and　Teabing　could　not　help　but　smile　to　see　the　two　of　them　working　against　one　another。　Langdon's　attempts　to　be　gallant　were　more　pathetic　than　anything。　On　the　verge　of　unveiling　one　of　history's　greatest　secrets；　and　he　troubles　himself　with　a　woman　who　has　proven　herself　unworthy　of　the　quest。
　〃Sophie；〃　Langdon　pleaded。　〃Please。。。　you　must　leave。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Not　unless　you　either　hand　me　the　cryptex　or　smash　it　on　the　floor。〃
　〃What？〃　Langdon　gasped。
　〃Robert；　my　grandfather　would　prefer　his　secret　lost　forever　than　see　it　in　the　hands　of　his　murderer。〃　Sophie'