danbrown.thedavincicode-第44章

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　Sophie　reached　down　and　pressed　the　ENTER　key。
　Nothing　happened。
　At　least　nothing　they　could　detect。
　　
　At　that　moment；　beneath　them；　in　the　bank's　cavernous　subterranean　vault；　a　robotic　claw　sprang　to　life。　Sliding　on　a　double…axis　transport　system　attached　to　the　ceiling；　the　claw　headed　off　in　search　of　the　proper　coordinates。　On　the　cement　floor　below；　hundreds　of　identical　plastic　crates　lay　aligned　on　an　enormous　grid。。。　like　rows　of　small　coffins　in　an　underground　crypt。
　Whirring　to　a　stop　over　the　correct　spot　on　the　floor；　the　claw　dropped　down；　an　electric　eye　confirming　the　bar　code　on　the　box。　Then；　with　puter　precision；　the　claw　grasped　the　heavy　handle　and　hoisted　the　crate　vertically。　New　gears　engaged；　and　the　claw　transported　the　box　to　the　far　side　of　the　vault；　ing　to　a　stop　over　a　stationary　conveyor　belt。
　Gently　now；　the　retrieval　arm　set　down　the　crate　and　retracted。
　Once　the　arm　was　clear；　the　conveyor　belt　whirred　to　life。。。。
　　
　Upstairs；　Sophie　and　Langdon　exhaled　in　relief　to　see　the　conveyor　belt　move。　Standing　beside　the　belt；　they　felt　like　weary　travelers　at　baggage　claim　awaiting　a　mysterious　piece　of　luggage　whose　contents　were　unknown。
　The　conveyor　belt　entered　the　room　on　their　right　through　a　narrow　slit　beneath　a　retractable　door。　The　metal　door　slid　up；　and　a　huge　plastic　box　appeared；　emerging　from　the　depths　on　the　inclined　conveyor　belt。　The　box　was　black；　heavy　molded　plastic；　and　far　larger　than　she　imagined。　It　looked　like　an　air…freight　pet　transport　crate　without　any　airholes。
　The　box　coasted　to　a　stop　directly　in　front　of　them。
　Langdon　and　Sophie　stood　there；　silent；　staring　at　the　mysterious　container。
　Like　everything　else　about　this　bank；　this　crate　was　industrial…metal　clasps；　a　bar　code　sticker　on　top；　and　molded　heavy…duty　handle。　Sophie　thought　it　looked　like　a　giant　toolbox。
　Wasting　no　time；　Sophie　unhooked　the　two　buckles　facing　her。　Then　she　glanced　over　at　Langdon。　Together；　they　raised　the　heavy　lid　and　let　it　fall　back。
　Stepping　forward；　they　peered　down　into　the　crate。
　At　first　glance；　Sophie　thought　the　crate　was　empty。　Then　she　saw　something。　Sitting　at　the　bottom　of　the　crate。　A　lone　item。
　The　polished　wooden　box　was　about　the　size　of　a　shoebox　and　had　ornate　hinges。　The　wood　was　a　lustrous　deep　purple　with　a　strong　grain。　Rosewood；　Sophie　realized。　Her　grandfather's　favorite。　The　lid　bore　a　beautiful　inlaid　design　of　a　rose。　She　and　Langdon　exchanged　puzzled　looks。　Sophie　leaned　in　and　grabbed　the　box；　lifting　it　out。
　My　God；　it's　heavy！
　She　carried　it　gingerly　to　a　large　receiving　table　and　set　it　down。　Langdon　stood　beside　her；　both　of　them　staring　at　the　small　treasure　chest　her　grandfather　apparently　had　sent　them　to　retrieve。
　Langdon　stared　in　wonderment　at　the　lid's　hand…carved　inlay…a　five…petal　rose。　He　had　seen　this　type　of　rose　many　times。　〃The　five…petal　rose；〃　he　whispered；　〃is　a　Priory　symbol　for　the　Holy　Grail。〃
　Sophie　turned　and　looked　at　him。　Langdon　could　see　what　she　was　thinking；　and　he　was　thinking　it　too。　The　dimensions　of　the　box；　the　apparent　weight　of　its　contents；　and　a　Priory　symbol　for　the　Grail　all　seemed　to　imply　one　unfathomable　conclusion。　The　Cup　of　Christ　is　in　this　wooden　box。　Langdon　again　told　himself　it　was　impossible。
　〃It's　a　perfect　size；〃　Sophie　whispered；　〃to　hold。。。　a　chalice。〃
　It　can't　be　a　chalice。
　Sophie　pulled　the　box　toward　her　across　the　table；　preparing　to　open　it。　As　she　moved　it；　though；　something　unexpected　happened。　The　box　let　out　an　odd　gurgling　sound。
　Langdon　did　a　double　take。　There's　liquid　inside？
　Sophie　looked　equally　confused。　〃Did　you　just　hear。。。？〃
　Langdon　nodded；　lost。　〃Liquid。〃
　Reaching　forward；　Sophie　slowly　unhooked　the　clasp　and　raised　the　lid。
　The　object　inside　was　unlike　anything　Langdon　had　ever　seen。　One　thing　was　immediately　clear　to　both　of　them；　however。　This　was　definitely　not　the　Cup　of　Christ。
　　
　CHAPTER　45
　
　〃The　police　are　blocking　the　street；〃　André　Vernet　said；　walking　into　the　waiting　room。　〃Getting　you　out　will　be　difficult。〃　As　he　closed　the　door　behind　him；　Vernet　saw　the　heavy…duty　plastic　case　on　the　conveyor　belt　and　halted　in　his　tracks。　My　God！　They　accessed　Saunière's　account？
　Sophie　and　Langdon　were　at　the　table；　huddling　over　what　looked　to　be　a　large　wooden　jewelry　box。　Sophie　immediately　closed　the　lid　and　looked　up。　〃We　had　the　account　number　after　all；〃　she　said。
　Vernet　was　speechless。　This　changed　everything。　He　respectfully　diverted　his　eyes　from　the　box　and　tried　to　figure　out　his　next　move。　I　have　to　get　them　out　of　the　bank！　But　with　the　police　already　having　set　up　a　roadblock；　Vernet　could　imagine　only　one　way　to　do　that。　〃Mademoiselle　Neveu；　if　I　can　get　you　safely　out　of　the　bank；　will　you　be　taking　the　item　with　you　or　returning　it　to　the　vault　before　you　leave？〃
　Sophie　glanced　at　Langdon　and　then　back　to　Vernet。　〃We　need　to　take　it。〃
　Vernet　nodded。　〃Very　well。　Then　whatever　the　item　is；　I　suggest　you　wrap　it　in　your　jacket　as　we　move　through　the　hallways。　I　would　prefer　nobody　else　see　it。〃
　As　Langdon　shed　his　jacket；　Vernet　hurried　over　to　the　conveyor　belt；　closed　the　now　empty　crate；　and　typed　a　series　of　simple　mands。　The　conveyor　belt　began　moving　again；　carrying　the　plastic　container　back　down　to　the　vault。　Pulling　the　gold　key　from　the　podium；　he　handed　it　to　Sophie。
　〃This　way　please。　Hurry。〃
　When　they　reached　the　rear　loading　dock；　Vernet　could　see　the　flash　of　police　lights　filtering　through　the　underground　garage。　He　frowned。　They　were　probably　blocking　the　ramp。　Am　I　really　going　to　try　to　pull　this　off？　He　was　sweating　now。
　Vernet　motioned　to　one　of　the　bank's　small　armored　trucks。　Transport　s？r　was　another　service　offered　by　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich。
　〃Get　in　the　cargo　hold；〃　he　said；　heaving　open　the　massive　rear　door　and　motioning　to　the　glistening　steel　partment。　〃I'll　be　right　back。〃
　As　Sophie　and　Langdon　climbed　in；　Vernet　hurried　across　the　loading　dock　to　the　dock　overseer's　office；　let　himself　in；　collected　the　keys　for　the　truck；　and　found　a　driver's　uniform　jacket　and　cap。　Shedding　his　own　suit　coat　and　tie；　he　began　to　put　on　the　driver's　jacket。　Reconsidering；　he　donned　a　shoulder　holster　beneath　the　uniform。　On　his　way　out；　he　grabbed　a　driver's　pistol　from　the　rack；　put　in　a　clip；　and　stuffed　it　in　the　holster；　buttoning　his　uniform　over　it。　Returning　to　the　truck；　Vernet　pulled　the　driver's　cap　down　low　and　peered　in　at　Sophie　and　Langdon；　who　were　standing　inside　the　empty　steel　box。
　〃You'll　want　this　on；〃　Vernet　said；　reaching　inside　and　flicking　a　wall　switch　to　illuminate　the　lone　courtesy　bulb　on　the　hold's　ceiling。　〃And　you'd　better　sit　down。　Not　a　sound　on　our　way　out　the　gate。〃
　Sophie　and　Langdon　sat　down　on　the　metal　floor。　Langdon　cradled　the　treasure　wadded　in　his　tweed　jacket。　Swinging　the　heavy　doors　closed；　Vernet　locked　them　inside。　Then　he　got　in　behind　the　wheel　and　revved　the　engine。
　As　the　armored　truck　lumbered　toward　the　top　of　the　ramp；　Vernet　could　feel　the　sweat　already　collecting　beneath　his　driver's　cap。　He　could　see　there　were　far　more　police　lights　in　front　than　he　had　imagined。　As　the　truck　powered　up　the　ramp；　the　interior　gate　swung　inward　to　let　him　pass。　Vernet　advanced　and　waited　while　the　gate　behind　him　closed　before　pulling　forward　and　tripping　the　next　sensor。　The　second　gate　opened；　and　the　exit　beckoned。
　Except　for　the　police　car　blocking　the　top　of　the　ramp。
　Vernet　dabbed　his　brow　and　pulled　forward。
　A　lanky　officer　stepped　out　and　waved　him　to　a　stop　a　few　meters　from　the　roadblock。　Four　patrol　cars　were　parked　out　front。
　Vernet　stopped。　Pulling　his　driver's　cap　down　farther；　he　effected　as　rough　a　facade　as　his　cultured　upbringing　would　allow。　Not　budging　from　behind　the　wheel；　he　opened　the　door　and　gazed　down　at　the　agent；　whose　face　was　stern　and　sallow。
　〃Qu'est…ce　qui　se　passe？〃　Vernet　asked；　his　tone　rough。
　〃Je　suis　Jérome　Collet；〃　the　agent　said。　〃Lieutenant　Police　Judiciaire。〃　He　motioned　to　the　truck's　cargo　hold。　〃Qu'est…ce　qu'ily　a　là　dedans？〃
　〃Hell　if　I　know；〃　Vernet　replied　in　crude　French。　〃I'm　only　a　driver。〃
　Collet