danbrown.thedavincicode-第41章

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　sensed　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich　was　a　firm　with　little　sense　of　humor。　The　building　was　a　windowless　rectangle　that　seemed　to　be　forged　entirely　of　dull　steel。　Resembling　an　enormous　metal　brick；　the　edifice　sat　back　from　the　road　with　a　fifteen…foot…tall；　neon；　equilateral　cross　glowing　over　its　facade。
　Switzerland's　reputation　for　secrecy　in　banking　had　bee　one　of　the　country's　most　lucrative　exports。　Facilities　like　this　had　bee　controversial　in　the　art　munity　because　they　provided　a　perfect　place　for　art　thieves　to　hide　stolen　goods；　for　years　if　necessary；　until　the　heat　was　off。　Because　deposits　were　protected　from　police　inspection　by　privacy　laws　and　were　attached　to　numbered　accounts　rather　than　people's　names；　thieves　could　rest　easily　knowing　their　stolen　goods　were　safe　and　could　never　be　traced　to　them。
　Sophie　stopped　the　taxi　at　an　imposing　gate　that　blocked　the　bank's　driveway…a　cement…lined　ramp　that　descended　beneath　the　building。　A　video　camera　overhead　was　aimed　directly　at　them；　and　Langdon　had　the　feeling　that　this　camera；　unlike　those　at　the　Louvre；　was　authentic。
　Sophie　rolled　down　the　window　and　surveyed　the　electronic　podium　on　the　driver's　side。　An　LCD　screen　provided　directions　in　seven　languages。　Topping　the　list　was　English。
　INSERT　KEY。
　　
　Sophie　took　the　gold　laser…pocked　key　from　her　pocket　and　turned　her　attention　back　to　the　podium。　Below　the　screen　was　a　triangular　hole。
　〃Something　tells　me　it　will　fit；〃　Langdon　said。
　Sophie　aligned　the　key's　triangular　shaft　with　the　hole　and　inserted　it；　sliding　it　in　until　the　entire　shaft　had　disappeared。　This　key　apparently　required　no　turning。　Instantly；　the　gate　began　to　swing　open。　Sophie　took　her　foot　off　the　brake　and　coasted　down　to　a　second　gate　and　podium。　Behind　her；　the　first　gate　closed；　trapping　them　like　a　ship　in　a　lock。
　Langdon　disliked　the　constricted　sensation。　Let's　hope　this　second　gate　works　too。
　This　second　podium　bore　familiar　directions。
　INSERT　KEY。
　　
　When　Sophie　inserted　the　key；　the　second　gate　immediately　opened。　Moments　later　they　were　winding　down　the　ramp　into　the　belly　of　the　structure。
　The　private　garage　was　small　and　dim；　with　spaces　for　about　a　dozen　cars。　At　the　far　end；　Langdon　spied　the　building's　main　entrance。　A　red　carpet　stretched　across　the　cement　floor；　weling　visitors　to　a　huge　door　that　appeared　to　be　forged　of　solid　metal。
　Talk　about　mixed　messages；　Langdon　thought。　Wele　and　keep　out。
　Sophie　pulled　the　taxi　into　a　parking　space　near　the　entrance　and　killed　the　engine。　〃You'd　better　leave　the　gun　here。〃
　With　pleasure；　Langdon　thought；　sliding　the　pistol　under　the　seat。
　Sophie　and　Langdon　got　out　and　walked　up　the　red　carpet　toward　the　slab　of　steel。　The　door　had　no　handle；　but　on　the　wall　beside　it　was　another　triangular　keyhole。　No　directions　were　posted　this　time。
　〃Keeps　out　the　slow　learners；〃　Langdon　said。
　Sophie　laughed；　looking　nervous。　〃Here　we　go。〃　She　stuck　the　key　in　the　hole；　and　the　door　swung　inward　with　a　low　hum。　Exchanging　glances；　Sophie　and　Langdon　entered。　The　door　shut　with　a　thud　behind　them。
　The　foyer　of　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich　employed　as　imposing　a　decor　as　any　Langdon　had　ever　seen。　Where　most　banks　were　content　with　the　usual　polished　marble　and　granite；　this　one　had　opted　for　wall…to…wall　metal　and　rivets。
　Who's　their　decorator？　Langdon　wondered。　Allied　Steel？
　Sophie　looked　equally　intimidated　as　her　eyes　scanned　the　lobby。
　The　gray　metal　was　everywhere…the　floor；　walls；　counters；　doors；　even　the　lobby　chairs　appeared　to　be　fashioned　of　molded　iron。　Nonetheless；　the　effect　was　impressive。　The　message　was　clear：　You　are　walking　into　a　vault。
　A　large　man　behind　the　counter　glanced　up　as　they　entered。　He　turned　off　the　small　television　he　was　watching　and　greeted　them　with　a　pleasant　smile。　Despite　his　enormous　muscles　and　visible　sidearm；　his　diction　chimed　with　the　polished　courtesy　of　a　Swiss　bellhop。
　〃Bonsoir；〃　he　said。　〃How　may　I　help　you？〃
　The　dual…language　greeting　was　the　newest　hospitality　trick　of　the　European　host。　It　presumed　nothing　and　opened　the　door　for　the　guest　to　reply　in　whichever　language　was　more　fortable。
　Sophie　replied　with　neither。　She　simply　laid　the　gold　key　on　the　counter　in　front　of　the　man。
　The　man　glanced　down　and　immediately　stood　straighter。　〃Of　course。　Your　elevator　is　at　the　end　of　the　hall。　I　will　alert　someone　that　you　are　on　your　way。〃
　Sophie　nodded　and　took　her　key　back。　〃Which　floor？〃
　The　man　gave　her　an　odd　look。　〃Your　key　instructs　the　elevator　which　floor。〃
　She　smiled。　〃Ah；　yes。〃
　　
　The　guard　watched　as　the　two　newers　made　their　way　to　the　elevators；　inserted　their　key；　boarded　the　lift；　and　disappeared。　As　soon　as　the　door　had　closed；　he　grabbed　the　phone。　He　was　not　calling　to　alert　anyone　of　their　arrival；　there　was　no　need　for　that。　A　vault　greeter　already　had　been　alerted　automatically　when　the　client's　key　was　inserted　outside　in　the　entry　gate。
　Instead；　the　guard　was　calling　the　bank's　night　manager。　As　the　line　rang；　the　guard　switched　the　television　back　on　and　stared　at　it。　The　news　story　he　had　been　watching　was　just　ending。　It　didn't　matter。　He　got　another　look　at　the　two　faces　on　the　television。
　The　manager　answered。　〃Oui？〃
　〃We　have　a　situation　down　here。〃
　〃What's　happening？〃　the　manager　demanded。
　〃The　French　police　are　tracking　two　fugitives　tonight。〃
　〃So？〃
　〃Both　of　them　just　walked　into　our　bank。〃
　The　manager　cursed　quietly。　〃Okay。　I'll　contact　Monsieur　Vernet　immediately。〃
　The　guard　then　hung　up　and　placed　a　second　call。　This　one　to　Interpol。
　　
　Langdon　was　surprised　to　feel　the　elevator　dropping　rather　than　climbing。　He　had　no　idea　how　many　floors　they　had　descended　beneath　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich　before　the　door　finally　opened。　He　didn't　care。　He　was　happy　to　be　out　of　the　elevator。
　Displaying　impressive　alacrity；　a　host　was　already　standing　there　to　greet　them。　He　was　elderly　and　pleasant；　wearing　a　neatly　pressed　flannel　suit　that　made　him　look　oddly　out　of　place…an　old…world　banker　in　a　high…tech　world。
　〃Bonsoir；〃　the　man　said。　〃Good　evening。　Would　you　be　so　kind　as　to　follow　me；　s'il　vous　plait？〃　Without　waiting　for　a　response；　he　spun　on　his　heel　and　strode　briskly　down　a　narrow　metal　corridor。
　Langdon　walked　with　Sophie　down　a　series　of　corridors；　past　several　large　rooms　filled　with　blinking　mainframe　puters。
　〃Voici；〃　their　host　said；　arriving　at　a　steel　door　and　opening　it　for　them。　〃Here　you　are。〃
　Langdon　and　Sophie　stepped　into　another　world。　The　small　room　before　them　looked　like　a　lavish　sitting　room　at　a　fine　hotel。　Gone　were　the　metal　and　rivets；　replaced　with　oriental　carpets；　dark　oak　furniture；　and　cushioned　chairs。　On　the　broad　desk　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　two　crystal　glasses　sat　beside　an　opened　bottle　of　Perrier；　its　bubbles　still　fizzing。　A　pewter　pot　of　coffee　steamed　beside　it。
　Clockwork；　Langdon　thought。　Leave　it　to　the　Swiss。
　The　man　gave　a　perceptive　smile。　〃I　sense　this　is　your　first　visit　to　us？〃
　Sophie　hesitated　and　then　nodded。
　〃Understood。　Keys　are　often　passed　on　as　inheritance；　and　our　first…time　users　are　invariably　uncertain　of　the　protocol。〃　He　motioned　to　the　table　of　drinks。　〃This　room　is　yours　as　long　as　you　care　to　use　it。〃
　〃You　say　keys　are　sometimes　inherited？〃　Sophie　asked。
　〃Indeed。　Your　key　is　like　a　Swiss　numbered　account；　which　are　often　willed　through　generations。　On　our　gold　accounts；　the　shortest　safety…deposit　box　lease　is　fifty　years。　Paid　in　advance。　So　we　see　plenty　of　family　turnover。〃
　Langdon　stared。　〃Did　you　say　fifty　years？〃
　〃At　a　minimum；〃　their　host　replied。　〃Of　course；　you　can　purchase　much　longer　leases；　but　barring　further　arrangements；　if　there　is　no　activity　on　an　account　for　fifty　years；　the　contents　of　that　safe…deposit　box　are　automatically　destroyed。　Shall　I　run　through　the　process　of　accessing　your　box？〃
　Sophie　nodded。　〃Please。〃
　Their　host　swept　an　arm　across　the　luxurious　salon。　〃This　is　your　private　viewing　room。　Once　I　leave　the　room；　you　may　spend　all　the　time　you　need　in　here　to　review　and　modify　the　contents　of　your　safe…deposit　box；　which　arrives。。。　over　here。〃　He　wal