danbrown.thedavincicode-第67章

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　his　eyes。　〃Hold　on；　aren't　you　supposed　to　be　in　Paris　this　week？〃
　〃I　am　in　Paris。〃
　Faukman　sat　upright。　〃You　called　me　collect　from　Paris？〃
　〃Take　it　out　of　my　royalties；　Jonas。　Did　you　ever　hear　back　from　Saunière？　Did　he　like　the　manuscript？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　haven't　yet　heard　from　him。〃
　〃Well；　don't　hold　your　breath。　I've　got　to　run；　but　this　explains　a　lot　Thanks。〃
　〃Robert…〃
　But　Langdon　was　gone。
　Faukman　hung　up　the　phone；　shaking　his　head　in　disbelief　Authors；　he　thought。　Even　the　sane　ones　are　nuts。
　　
　Inside　the　Range　Rover；　Leigh　Teabing　let　out　a　guffaw。　〃Robert；　you're　saying　you　wrote　a　manuscript　that　delves　into　a　secret　society；　and　your　editor　sent　a　copy　to　that　secret　society？〃
　Langdon　slumped。　〃Evidently。〃
　〃A　cruel　coincidence；　my　friend。〃
　Coincidence　has　nothing　to　do　with　it；　Langdon　knew。　Asking　Jacques　Saunière　to　endorse　a　manuscript　on　goddess　worship　was　as　obvious　as　asking　Tiger　Woods　to　endorse　a　book　on　golf。　Moreover；　it　was　virtually　guaranteed　that　any　book　on　goddess　worship　would　have　to　mention　the　Priory　of　Sion。
　〃Here's　the　million…dollar　question；〃　Teabing　said；　still　chuckling。　〃Was　your　position　on　the　Priory　favorable　or　unfavorable？〃
　Langdon　could　hear　Teabing's　true　meaning　loud　and　clear。　Many　historians　questioned　why　the　Priory　was　still　keeping　the　Sangreal　documents　hidden。　Some　felt　the　information　should　have　been　shared　with　the　world　long　ago。　〃I　took　no　position　on　the　Priory's　actions。〃
　〃You　mean　lack　thereof。〃
　Langdon　shrugged。　Teabing　was　apparently　on　the　side　of　making　the　documents　public。　〃I　simply　provided　history　on　the　brotherhood　and　described　them　as　a　modern　goddess　worship　society；　keepers　of　the　Grail；　and　guardians　of　ancient　documents。〃
　Sophie　looked　at　him。　〃Did　you　mention　the　keystone？〃
　Langdon　winced。　He　had。　Numerous　times。　〃I　talked　about　the　supposed　keystone　as　an　example　of　the　lengths　to　which　the　Priory　would　go　to　protect　the　Sangreal　documents。〃
　Sophie　looked　amazed。　〃I　guess　that　explains　P。S。　Find　Robert　Langdon。〃
　Langdon　sensed　it　was　actually　something　else　in　the　manuscript　that　had　piqued　Saunière's　interest；　but　that　topic　was　something　he　would　discuss　with　Sophie　when　they　were　alone。
　〃So；〃　Sophie　said；　〃you　lied　to　Captain　Fache。〃
　〃What？〃　Langdon　demanded。
　〃You　told　him　you　had　never　corresponded　with　my　grandfather。〃
　〃I　didn't！　My　editor　sent　him　a　manuscript。〃
　〃Think　about　it；　Robert。　If　Captain　Fache　didn't　find　the　envelope　in　which　your　editor　sent　the　manuscript；　he　would　have　to　conclude　that　you　sent　it。〃　She　paused。　〃Or　worse；　that　you　hand…delivered　it　and　lied　about　it。〃
　　
　When　the　Range　Rover　arrived　at　Le　Bourget　Airfield；　Rémy　drove　to　a　small　hangar　at　the　far　end　of　the　airstrip。　As　they　approached；　a　tousled　man　in　wrinkled　khakis　hurried　from　the　hangar；　waved；　and　slid　open　the　enormous　corrugated　metal　door　to　reveal　a　sleek　white　jet　within。
　Langdon　stared　at　the　glistening　fuselage。　〃That's　Elizabeth？〃
　Teabing　grinned。　〃Beats　the　bloody　Chunnel。〃
　The　man　in　khakis　hurried　toward　them；　squinting　into　the　headlights。　〃Almost　ready；　sir；〃　he　called　in　a　British　accent。　〃My　apologies　for　the　delay；　but　you　took　me　by　surprise　and…〃　He　stopped　short　as　the　group　unloaded。　He　looked　at　Sophie　and　Langdon；　and　then　Teabing。
　Teabing　said；　〃My　associates　and　I　have　urgent　business　in　London。　We've　no　time　to　waste。　Please　prepare　to　depart　immediately。〃　As　he　spoke；　Teabing　took　the　pistol　out　of　the　vehicle　and　handed　it　to　Langdon。
　The　pilot's　eyes　bulged　at　the　sight　of　the　weapon。　He　walked　over　to　Teabing　and　whispered；　〃Sir；　my　humble　apologies；　but　my　diplomatic　flight　allowance　provides　only　for　you　and　your　manservant。　I　cannot　take　your　guests。〃
　〃Richard；〃　Teabing　said；　smiling　warmly；　〃two　thousand　pounds　sterling　and　that　loaded　gun　say　you　can　take　my　guests。〃　He　motioned　to　the　Range　Rover。　〃And　the　unfortunate　fellow　in　the　back。〃
　　
　CHAPTER　69
　
　The　Hawker　731's　twin　Garrett　TFE…731　engines　thundered；　powering　the　plane　skyward　with　gut…wrenching　force。　Outside　the　window；　Le　Bourget　Airfield　dropped　away　with　startling　speed。
　I'm　fleeing　the　country；　Sophie　thought；　her　body　forced　back　into　the　leather　seat。　Until　this　moment；　she　had　believed　her　game　of　cat　and　mouse　with　Fache　would　be　somehow　justifiable　to　the　Ministry　of　Defense。　I　was　attempting　to　protect　an　innocent　man。　I　was　trying　to　fulfill　my　grandfather's　dying　wishes。　That　window　of　opportunity；　Sophie　knew；　had　just　closed。　She　was　leaving　the　country；　without　documentation；　acpanying　a　wanted　man；　and　transporting　a　bound　hostage。　If　a　〃line　of　reason〃　had　ever　existed；　she　had　just　crossed　it。　At　almost　the　speed　of　sound。
　Sophie　was　seated　with　Langdon　and　Teabing　near　the　front　of　the　cabin…the　Fan　Jet　Executive　Elite　Design；　according　to　the　gold　medallion　on　the　door。　Their　plush　swivel　chairs　were　bolted　to　tracks　on　the　floor　and　could　be　repositioned　and　locked　around　a　rectangular　hardwood　table。　A　mini…boardroom。　The　dignified　surroundings；　however；　did　little　to　camouflage　the　less　than　dignified　state　of　affairs　in　the　rear　of　the　plane　where；　in　a　separate　seating　area　near　the　rest　room；　Teabing's　manservant　Rémy　sat　with　the　pistol　in　hand；　begrudgingly　carrying　out　Teabing's　orders　to　stand　guard　over　the　bloody　monk　who　lay　trussed　at　his　feet　like　a　piece　of　luggage。
　〃Before　we　turn　our　attention　to　the　keystone；〃　Teabing　said；　〃I　was　wondering　if　you　would　permit　me　a　few　words。〃　He　sounded　apprehensive；　like　a　father　about　to　give　the　birds…and…the…bees　lecture　to　his　children。　〃My　friends；　I　realize　I　am　but　a　guest　on　this　journey；　and　I　am　honored　as　such。　And　yet；　as　someone　who　has　spent　his　life　in　search　of　the　Grail；　I　feel　it　is　my　duty　to　warn　you　that　you　are　about　to　step　onto　a　path　from　which　there　is　no　return；　regardless　of　the　dangers　involved。〃　He　turned　to　Sophie。　〃Miss　Neveu；　your　grandfather　gave　you　this　cryptex　in　hopes　you　would　keep　the　secret　of　the　Holy　Grail　alive。〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Understandably；　you　feel　obliged　to　follow　the　trail　wherever　it　leads。〃
　Sophie　nodded；　although　she　felt　a　second　motivation　still　burning　within　her。　The　truth　about　my　family。　Despite　Langdon's　assurances　that　the　keystone　had　nothing　to　do　with　her　past；　Sophie　still　sensed　something　deeply　personal　entwined　within　this　mystery；　as　if　this　cryptex；　forged　by　her　grandfather's　own　hands；　were　trying　to　speak　to　her　and　offer　some　kind　of　resolution　to　the　emptiness　that　had　haunted　her　all　these　years。
　〃Your　grandfather　and　three　others　died　tonight；〃　Teabing　continued；　〃and　they　did　so　to　keep　this　keystone　away　from　the　Church。　Opus　Dei　came　within　inches　tonight　of　possessing　it。　You　understand；　I　hope；　that　this　puts　you　in　a　position　of　exceptional　responsibility。　You　have　been　handed　a　torch。　A　two…thousand…year…old　flame　that　cannot　be　allowed　to　go　out。　This　torch　cannot　fall　into　the　wrong　hands。〃　He　paused；　glancing　at　the　rosewood　box。　〃I　realize　you　have　been　given　no　choice　in　this　matter；　Miss　Neveu；　but　considering　what　is　at　stake　here；　you　must　either　fully　embrace　this　responsibility。。。　or　you　must　pass　that　responsibility　to　someone　else。〃
　〃My　grandfather　gave　the　cryptex　to　me。　I'm　sure　he　thought　I　could　handle　the　responsibility。〃
　Teabing　looked　encouraged　but　unconvinced。　〃Good。　A　strong　will　is　necessary。　And　yet；　I　am　curious　if　you　understand　that　successfully　unlocking　the　keystone　will　bring　with　it　a　far　greater　trial。〃
　〃How　so？〃
　〃My　dear；　imagine　that　you　are　suddenly　holding　a　map　that　reveals　the　location　of　the　Holy　Grail。　In　that　moment；　you　will　be　in　possession　of　a　truth　capable　of　altering　history　forever。　You　will　be　the　keeper　of　a　truth　that　man　has　sought　for　centuries。　You　will　be　faced　with　the　responsibility　of　revealing　that　truth　to　the　world。　The　individual　who　does　so　will　be　revered　by　many　and　despised　by　many。　The　question　is　whether　you　will　have　the　necessary　strength　to　carry　out　that　task。〃
　Sophie　paused。　〃I'm　not　sure　that　is　my　decision　to　make。〃
　Teabing's　eyebrows　arched。　〃No？　If　not　the　possessor　of　the　keystone；