danbrown.thedavincicode-第77部分

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　〃What？〃　Langdon　gasped。
　〃Robert；　my　grandfather　would　prefer　his　secret　lost　forever　than　see　it　in　the　hands　of　his　murderer。〃　Sophie's　eyes　looked　as　if　they　would　well　with　tears；　but　they　did　not。　She　stared　directly　back　at　Teabing。　〃Shoot　me　if　you　have　to。　I　am　not　leaving　my　grandfather's　legacy　in　your　hands。〃
　Very　well。　Teabing　aimed　the　weapon。
　〃No！〃　Langdon　shouted；　raising　his　arm　and　suspending　the　cryptex　precariously　over　the　hard　stone　floor。　〃Leigh；　if　you　even　think　about　it；　I　will　drop　this。〃
　Teabing　laughed。　〃That　bluff　worked　on　Rémy。　Not　on　me。　I　know　you　better　than　that。〃
　〃Do　you；　Leigh？〃
　Yes　I　do。　Your　poker　face　needs　work；　my　friend。　It　took　me　several　seconds；　but　I　can　see　now　that　you　are　lying。　You　have　no　idea　where　on　Newton's　tomb　the　answer　lies。　〃Truly；　Robert？　You　know　where　on　the　tomb　to　look？〃
　〃I　do。〃
　The　falter　in　Langdon's　eyes　was　fleeting　but　Leigh　caught　it。　There　was　a　lie　there。　A　desperate；　pathetic　ploy　to　save　Sophie。　Teabing　felt　a　profound　disappointment　in　Robert　Langdon。
　I　am　a　lone　knight；　surrounded　by　unworthy　souls。　And　I　will　have　to　decipher　the　keystone　on　my　own。
　Langdon　and　Neveu　were　nothing　but　a　threat　to　Teabing　now。。。　and　to　the　Grail。　As　painful　as　the　solution　was　going　to　be；　he　knew　he　could　carry　it　out　with　a　clean　conscience。　The　only　challenge　would　be　to　persuade　Langdon　to　set　down　the　keystone　so　Teabing　could　safely　end　this　charade。
　〃A　show　of　faith；〃　Teabing　said；　lowering　the　gun　from　Sophie。　〃Set　down　the　keystone；　and　we'll　talk。〃
　　
　Langdon　knew　his　lie　had　failed。
　He　could　see　the　dark　resolve　in　Teabing's　face　and　knew　the　moment　was　upon　them。　When　I　set　this　down；　he　will　kill　us　both。　Even　without　looking　at　Sophie；　he　could　hear　her　heart　beseeching　him　in　silent　desperation。　Robert；　this　man　is　not　worthy　of　the　Grail。　Please　do　not　place　it　in　his　hands。　No　matter　what　the　cost。
　Langdon　had　already　made　his　decision　several　minutes　ago；　while　standing　alone　at　the　window　overlooking　College　Garden。
　Protect　Sophie。
　Protect　the　Grail。
　Langdon　had　almost　shouted　out　in　desperation。　But　I　cannot　see　how！
　The　stark　moments　of　disillusionment　had　brought　with　them　a　clarity　unlike　any　he　had　ever　felt。　The　Truth　is　right　before　your　eyes；　Robert。　He　knew　not　from　where　the　epiphany　came。　The　Grail　is　not　mocking　you；　she　is　calling　out　to　a　worthy　soul。
　Now；　bowing　down　like　a　subject　several　yards　in　front　of　Leigh　Teabing；　Langdon　lowered　the　cryptex　to　within　inches　of　the　stone　floor。
　〃Yes；　Robert；〃　Teabing　whispered；　aiming　the　gun　at　him。　〃Set　it　down。〃
　Langdon's　eyes　moved　heavenward；　up　into　the　gaping　void　of　the　Chapter　House　cupola。　Crouching　lower；　Langdon　lowered　his　gaze　to　Teabing's　gun；　aimed　directly　at　him。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Leigh。〃
　In　one　fluid　motion；　Langdon　leapt　up；　swinging　his　arm　skyward；　launching　the　cryptex　straight　up　toward　the　dome　above。
　　
　Leigh　Teabing　did　not　feel　his　finger　pull　the　trigger；　but　the　Medusa　discharged　with　a　thundering　crash。　Langdon's　crouched　form　was　now　vertical；　almost　airborne；　and　the　bullet　exploded　in　the　floor　near　Langdon's　feet。　Half　of　Teabing's　brain　attempted　to　adjust　his　aim　and　fire　again　in　rage；　but　the　more　powerful　half　dragged　his　eyes　upward　into　the　cupola。
　The　keystone！
　Time　seemed　to　freeze；　morphing　into　a　slow…motion　dream　as　Teabing's　entire　world　became　the　airborne　keystone。　He　watched　it　rise　to　the　apex　of　its　climb。。。　hovering　for　a　moment　in　the　void。。。　and　then　tumbling　downward；　end　over　end；　back　toward　the　stone　floor。
　All　of　Teabing's　hopes　and　dreams　were　plummeting　toward　earth。　It　cannot　strike　the　floor！　I　can　reach　it！　Teabing's　body　reacted　on　instinct。　He　released　the　gun　and　heaved　himself　forward；　dropping　his　crutches　as　he　reached　out　with　his　soft；　manicured　hands。　Stretching　his　arms　and　fingers；　he　snatched　the　keystone　from　midair。
　Falling　forward　with　the　keystone　victoriously　clutched　in　his　hand；　Teabing　knew　he　was　falling　too　fast。　With　nothing　to　break　his　fall；　his　outstretched　arms　hit　first；　and　the　cryptex　collided　hard　with　the　floor。
　There　was　a　sickening　crunch　of　glass　within。
　For　a　full　second；　Teabing　did　not　breathe。　Lying　there　outstretched　on　the　cold　floor；　staring　the　length　of　his　outstretched　arms　at　the　marble　cylinder　in　his　bare　palms；　he　implored　the　glass　vial　inside　to　hold。　Then　the　acrid　tang　of　vinegar　cut　the　air；　and　Teabing　felt　the　cool　liquid　flowing　out　through　the　dials　onto　his　palm。
　Wild　panic　gripped　him。　NO！　The　vinegar　was　streaming　now；　and　Teabing　pictured　the　papyrus　dissolving　within。　Robert；　you　fool！　The　secret　is　lost！
　Teabing　felt　himself　sobbing　uncontrollably。　The　Grail　is　gone。　Everything　destroyed。　Shuddering　in　disbelief　over　Langdon's　actions；　Teabing　tried　to　force　the　cylinder　apart；　longing　to　catch　a　fleeting　glimpse　of　history　before　it　dissolved　forever。　To　his　shock；　as　he　pulled　the　ends　of　the　keystone；　the　cylinder　separated。
　He　gasped　and　peered　inside。　It　was　empty　except　for　shards　of　wet　glass。　No　dissolving　papyrus。　Teabing　rolled　over　and　looked　up　at　Langdon。　Sophie　stood　beside　him；　aiming　the　gun　down　at　Teabing。
　Bewildered；　Teabing　looked　back　at　the　keystone　and　saw　it。　The　dials　were　no　longer　at　random。　They　spelled　a　five…letter　word：　APPLE。
　　
　〃The　orb　from　which　Eve　partook；〃　Langdon　said　coolly；　〃incurring　the　Holy　wrath　of　God。　Original　sin。　The　symbol　of　the　fall　of　the　sacred　feminine。〃
　Teabing　felt　the　truth　e　crashing　down　on　him　in　excruciating　austerity。　The　orb　that　ought　be　on　Newton's　tomb　could　be　none　other　than　the　Rosy　apple　that　fell　from　heaven；　struck　Newton　on　the　head；　and　inspired　his　life's　work。　His　labor's　fruit！　The　Rosy　flesh　with　a　seeded　womb！
　〃Robert；〃　Teabing　stammered；　overwhelmed。　〃You　opened　it。　Where。。。　is　the　map？〃
　Without　blinking；　Langdon　reached　into　the　breast　pocket　of　his　tweed　coat　and　carefully　extracted　a　delicate　rolled　papyrus。　Only　a　few　yards　from　where　Teabing　lay；　Langdon　unrolled　the　scroll　and　looked　at　it。　After　a　long　moment；　a　knowing　smile　crossed　Langdon's　face。
　He　knows！　Teabing's　heart　craved　that　knowledge。　His　life's　dream　was　right　in　front　of　him。　〃Tell　me！〃　Teabing　demanded。　〃Please！　Oh　God；　please！　It's　not　too　late！〃
　As　the　sound　of　heavy　footsteps　thundered　down　the　hall　toward　the　Chapter　House；　Langdon　quietly　rolled　the　papyrus　and　slipped　it　back　in　his　pocket。
　〃No！〃　Teabing　cried　out；　trying　in　vain　to　stand。
　When　the　doors　burst　open；　Bezu　Fache　entered　like　a　bull　into　a　ring；　his　feral　eyes　scanning；　finding　his　target…Leigh　Teabing…helpless　on　the　floor。　Exhaling　in　relief；　Fache　holstered　his　Manurhin　sidearm　and　turned　to　Sophie。　〃Agent　Neveu；　I　am　relieved　you　and　Mr。　Langdon　are　safe。　You　should　have　e　in　when　I　asked。〃
　The　British　police　entered　on　Fache's　heels；　seizing　the　anguished　prisoner　and　placing　him　in　handcuffs。
　Sophie　seemed　stunned　to　see　Fache。　〃How　did　you　find　us？〃
　Fache　pointed　to　Teabing。　〃He　made　the　mistake　of　showing　his　ID　when　he　entered　the　abbey。　The　guards　heard　a　police　broadcast　about　our　search　for　him。〃
　〃It's　in　Langdon's　pocket！〃　Teabing　was　screaming　like　a　madman。　〃The　map　to　the　Holy　Grail！〃
　As　they　hoisted　Teabing　and　carried　him　out；　he　threw　back　his　head　and　howled。　〃Robert！　Tell　me　where　it's　hidden！〃
　As　Teabing　passed；　Langdon　looked　him　in　the　eye。　〃Only　the　worthy　find　the　Grail；　Leigh。　You　taught　me　that。〃
　　
　CHAPTER　102
　
　The　mist　had　settled　low　on　Kensington　Gardens　as　Silas　limped　into　a　quiet　hollow　out　of　sight。　Kneeling　on　the　wet　grass；　he　could　feel　a　warm　stream　of　blood　flowing　from　the　bullet　wound　below　his　ribs。　Still；　he　stared　straight　ahead。
　The　fog　made　it　look　like　heaven　here。
　Raising　his　bloody　hands　to　pray；　he　watched　the　raindrops　caress　his　fingers；　turning　them　white　again。　As　the　droplets　fell　harder　across　his　back　and　shoulders；　he　could　feel　his　body　disappearing　bit　by　bit　into　the　mist。
　I　am　a　ghost。
　A　breeze　rustled　past　him；　carrying　the　damp；　earthy　scent　of　new　life。　With　every　living　cell　in　his　broken　body；　Silas　prayed。　He　prayed　for　forgiveness。　He　prayed　for　mercy。　And；　above　all；　he　prayed　for　his　mentor。。。　Bishop　Aringarosa。。。　that　the　Lord　would　not　take　him　before　his　time。　He　has　so　much　work　left　to　do。
　The　fog　was　swirling　around　him　now；　and　Silas　felt　so　light　that　he　was　sure　the　wisps　would　carry　him　away。　Closing　his　eyes；　he　said　a　final　prayer。
　From　somewhere　in　the　mist；　the　voice　of　Manuel　Aringarosa　whispered　to　him。
　Our　Lord　is　a　good　and　merciful　God。
　Silas's　pain　at　last　began　to　fade；　and　he　knew　the　bishop　was　right。
　　
　CHAPTER　103
　
　It　was　late　afternoon　when　the　London　sun　broke　through　and　the　city　began　to　dry。　Bezu　Fache　felt　weary　as　he　emerged　from　the　interrogation　room　and　hailed　a　cab。　Sir　Leigh　Teabing　had　vociferously　proclaimed　his　innocence；　and　yet　from　his　incoherent　rantings　about　the　Holy　Grail；　secret　documents；　and　mysterious　brotherhoods；　Fache　suspected　the　wily　historian　was　setting　the　stage　for　his　lawyers　to　plead　an　insanity　defense。
　Sure；　Fache　thought。　Insane。　Teabing　had　displayed　ingenious　precision　in　formulating　a　plan　that　protected　his　innocence　at　every　turn。　He　had　exploited　both　the　Vatican　and　Opus　Dei；　two　groups　that　turned　out　to　be　pletely　innocent。　His　dirty　work　had　been　carried　out　unknowingly　by　a　fanatical　monk　and　a　desperate　bishop。　More　clever　still；　Teabing　had　situated　his　electronic　listening　post　in　the　one　place　a　man　with　polio　could　not　possibly　reach。　The　actual　surveillance　had　been　carried　out　by　his　manservant；　Rémy…the　lone　person　privy　to　Teabing's　true　identity…now　conveniently　dead　of　an　allergic　reaction。
　Hardly　the　handiwork　of　someone　lacking　mental　faculties；　Fache　thought。
　The　information　ing　from　Collet　out　of　Chateau　Villette　suggested　that　Teabing's　cunning　ran　so　deep　that　Fache　himself　might　even　learn　from　it。　To　successfully　hide　bugs　in　some　of　Paris's　most　powerful　offices；　the　British　historian　had　turned　to　the　Greeks。　Trojan　horses。　Some　of　Teabing's　intended　targets　received　lavish　gifts　of　artwork；　ot