danbrown.thedavincicode-第101章

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we　ever　had　to　do。　Jacques　and　I　saw　each　other　only　very　infrequently；　and　always　in　the　most　secret　of　settings。。。　under　the　protection　of　the　Priory。　There　are　certain　ceremonies　to　which　the　brotherhood　always　stays　faithful。〃
　Langdon　had　sensed　the　story　went　far　deeper；　but　he　also　sensed　it　was　not　for　him　to　hear。　So　he　had　stepped　outside。　Now；　gazing　up　at　the　spires　of　Rosslyn；　Langdon　could　not　escape　the　hollow　gnaw　of　Rosslyn's　unsolved　mystery。　Is　the　Grail　really　here　at　Rosslyn？　And　if　so；　where　are　the　blade　and　chalice　that　Saunière　mentioned　in　his　poem？
　〃I'll　take　that；〃　Marie　said；　motioning　to　Langdon's　hand。
　〃Oh；　thank　you。〃　Langdon　held　out　his　empty　coffee　cup。
　She　stared　at　him。　〃I　was　referring　to　your　other　hand；　Mr。　Langdon。〃
　Langdon　looked　down　and　realized　he　was　holding　Saunière's　papyrus。　He　had　taken　it　from　the　cryptex　once　again　in　hopes　of　seeing　something　he　had　missed　earlier。　〃Of　course；　I'm　sorry。〃
　Marie　looked　amused　as　she　took　the　paper。　〃I　know　of　a　man　at　a　bank　in　Paris　who　is　probably　very　eager　to　see　the　return　of　this　rosewood　box。　André　Vernet　was　a　dear　friend　of　Jacques；　and　Jacques　trusted　him　explicitly。　André　would　have　done　anything　to　honor　Jacques's　requests　for　the　care　of　this　box。〃
　Including　shooting　me；　Langdon　recalled；　deciding　not　to　mention　that　he　had　probably　broken　the　poor　man's　nose。　Thinking　of　Paris；　Langdon　flashed　on　the　three　sénéchaux　who　had　been　killed　the　night　before。　〃And　the　Priory？　What　happens　now？〃
　〃The　wheels　are　already　in　motion；　Mr。　Langdon。　The　brotherhood　has　endured　for　centuries；　and　it　will　endure　this。　There　are　always　those　waiting　to　move　up　and　rebuild。〃
　All　evening　Langdon　had　suspected　that　Sophie's　grandmother　was　closely　tied　to　the　operations　of　the　Priory。　After　all；　the　Priory　had　always　had　women　members。　Four　Grand　Masters　had　been　women。　The　sénéchaux　were　traditionally　men…the　guardians…and　yet　women　held　far　more　honored　status　within　the　Priory　and　could　ascend　to　the　highest　post　from　virtually　any　rank。
　Langdon　thought　of　Leigh　Teabing　and　Westminster　Abbey。　It　seemed　a　lifetime　ago。　〃Was　the　Church　pressuring　your　husband　not　to　release　the　Sangreal　documents　at　the　End　of　Days？〃
　〃Heavens　no。　The　End　of　Days　is　a　legend　of　paranoid　minds。　There　is　nothing　in　the　Priory　doctrine　that　identifies　a　date　at　which　the　Grail　should　be　unveiled。　In　fact　the　Priory　has　always　maintained　that　the　Grail　should　never　be　unveiled。〃
　〃Never？〃　Langdon　was　stunned。
　〃It　is　the　mystery　and　wonderment　that　serve　our　souls；　not　the　Grail　itself。　The　beauty　of　the　Grail　lies　in　her　ethereal　nature。〃　Marie　Chauvel　gazed　up　at　Rosslyn　now。　〃For　some；　the　Grail　is　a　chalice　that　will　bring　them　everlasting　life。　For　others；　it　is　the　quest　for　lost　documents　and　secret　history。　And　for　most；　I　suspect　the　Holy　Grail　is　simply　a　grand　idea。。。　a　glorious　unattainable　treasure　that　somehow；　even　in　today's　world　of　chaos；　inspires　us。〃
　〃But　if　the　Sangreal　documents　remain　hidden；　the　story　of　Mary　Magdalene　will　be　lost　forever；〃　Langdon　said。
　〃Will　it？　Look　around　you。　Her　story　is　being　told　in　art；　music；　and　books。　More　so　every　day。　The　pendulum　is　swinging。　We　are　starting　to　sense　the　dangers　of　our　history。。。　and　of　our　destructive　paths。　We　are　beginning　to　sense　the　need　to　restore　the　sacred　feminine。〃　She　paused。　〃You　mentioned　you　are　writing　a　manuscript　about　the　symbols　of　the　sacred　feminine；　are　you　not？〃
　〃I　am。〃
　She　smiled。　〃Finish　it；　Mr。　Langdon。　Sing　her　song。　The　world　needs　modern　troubadours。〃
　Langdon　fell　silent；　feeling　the　weight　of　her　message　upon　him。　Across　the　open　spaces；　a　new　moon　was　rising　above　the　tree　line。
　Turning　his　eyes　toward　Rosslyn；　Langdon　felt　a　boyish　craving　to　know　her　secrets。　Don't　ask；　he　told　himself。　This　is　not　the　moment。　He　glanced　at　the　papyrus　in　Marie's　hand；　and　then　back　at　Rosslyn。
　〃Ask　the　question；　Mr。　Langdon；〃　Marie　said；　looking　amused。　〃You　have　earned　the　right。〃
　Langdon　felt　himself　flush。
　〃You　want　to　know　if　the　Grail　is　here　at　Rosslyn。〃
　〃Can　you　tell　me？〃
　She　sighed　in　mock　exasperation。　〃Why　is　it　that　men　simply　cannot　let　the　Grail　rest？〃　She　laughed；　obviously　enjoying　herself。　〃Why　do　you　think　it's　here？〃
　Langdon　motioned　to　the　papyrus　in　her　hand。　〃Your　husband's　poem　speaks　specifically　of　Rosslyn；　except　it　also　mentions　a　blade　and　chalice　watching　over　the　Grail。　I　didn't　see　any　symbols　of　the　blade　and　chalice　up　there。〃
　〃The　blade　and　chalice？〃　Marie　asked。　〃What　exactly　do　they　look　like？〃
　Langdon　sensed　she　was　toying　with　him；　but　he　played　along；　quickly　describing　the　symbols。
　A　look　of　vague　recollection　crossed　her　face。　〃Ah；　yes；　of　course。　The　blade　represents　all　that　is　masculine。　I　believe　it　is　drawn　like　this；　no？〃　Using　her　index　finger；　she　traced　a　shape　on　her　palm。
　
　〃Yes；〃　Langdon　said。　Marie　had　drawn　the　less　mon　〃closed〃　form　of　the　blade；　although　Langdon　had　seen　the　symbol　portrayed　both　ways。
　〃And　the　inverse；〃　she　said；　drawing　again　on　her　palm；　〃is　the　chalice；　which　represents　the　feminine。〃
　
　〃Correct；〃　Langdon　said。
　〃And　you　are　saying　that　in　all　the　hundreds　of　symbols　we　have　here　in　Rosslyn　Chapel；　these　two　shapes　appear　nowhere？〃
　〃I　didn't　see　them。〃
　〃And　if　I　show　them　to　you；　will　you　get　some　sleep？〃
　Before　Langdon　could　answer；　Marie　Chauvel　had　stepped　off　the　porch　and　was　heading　toward　the　chapel。　Langdon　hurried　after　her。　Entering　the　ancient　building；　Marie　turned　on　the　lights　and　pointed　to　the　center　of　the　sanctuary　floor。　〃There　you　are；　Mr。　Langdon。　The　blade　and　chalice。〃
　Langdon　stared　at　the　scuffed　stone　floor。　It　was　blank。　〃There's　nothing　here。。。。〃
　Marie　sighed　and　began　to　walk　along　the　famous　path　worn　into　the　chapel　floor；　the　same　path　Langdon　had　seen　the　visitors　walking　earlier　this　evening。　As　his　eyes　adjusted　to　see　the　giant　symbol；　he　still　felt　lost。　〃But　that's　the　Star　of　Dav…〃
　Langdon　stopped　short；　mute　with　amazement　as　it　dawned　on　him。
　
　The　blade　and　chalice。
　Fused　as　one。
　The　Star　of　David。。。　the　perfect　union　of　male　and　female。。。　Solomon's　Seal。。。　marking　the　Holy　of　Holies；　where　the　male　and　female　deities…Yahweh　and　Shekinah…were　thought　to　dwell。
　Langdon　needed　a　minute　to　find　his　words。　〃The　verse　does　point　here　to　Rosslyn。　pletely。　Perfectly。〃
　Marie　smiled。　〃Apparently。〃
　The　implications　chilled　him。　〃So　the　Holy　Grail　is　in　the　vault　beneath　us？〃
　She　laughed。　〃Only　in　spirit。　One　of　the　Priory's　most　ancient　charges　was　one　day　to　return　the　Grail　to　her　homeland　of　France　where　she　could　rest　for　eternity。　For　centuries；　she　was　dragged　across　the　countryside　to　keep　her　safe。　Most　undignified。　Jacques's　charge　when　he　became　Grand　Master　was　to　restore　her　honor　by　returning　her　to　France　and　building　her　a　resting　place　fit　for　a　queen。〃
　〃And　he　succeeded？〃
　Now　her　face　grew　serious。　〃Mr。　Langdon；　considering　what　you've　done　for　me　tonight；　and　as　curator　of　the　Rosslyn　Trust；　I　can　tell　you　for　certain　that　the　Grail　is　no　longer　here。〃
　Langdon　decided　to　press。　〃But　the　keystone　is　supposed　to　point　to　the　place　where　the　Holy　Grail　is　hidden　now。　Why　does　it　point　to　Rosslyn？〃
　〃Maybe　you're　misreading　its　meaning。　Remember；　the　Grail　can　be　deceptive。　As　could　my　late　husband。〃
　〃But　how　much　clearer　could　he　be？〃　he　asked。　〃We　are　standing　over　an　underground　vault　marked　by　the　blade　and　chalice；　underneath　a　ceiling　of　stars；　surrounded　by　the　art　of　Master　Masons。　Everything　speaks　of　Rosslyn。〃
　〃Very　well；　let　me　see　this　mysterious　verse。〃　She　unrolled　the　papyrus　and　read　the　poem　aloud　in　a　deliberate　tone。
　The　Holy　Grail　'neath　ancient　Roslin　waits。
　The　blade　and　chalice　guarding　o'er　Her　gates。
　Adorned　in　masters'　loving　art；　She　lies。
　She　rests　at　last　beneath　the　starry　skies。
　　
　When　she　finished；　she　was　still　for　several　seconds；　until　a　knowing　smile　crossed　her　lips。　〃Aah；　Jacques。〃
　Langdon　watched　her　expectantly。　〃You　understand　this？〃
　〃As　you　have　witnessed　on　the　chapel　floor；　Mr。　Langdon；　there　are　many　ways　to　see　simple　things。〃
　Langdon