danbrown.thedavincicode-第76章

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spector；　who　moved　warily　toward　the　hatch。　After　several　seconds；　the　fuselage　door　popped　open。
　Leigh　Teabing　appeared　in　the　doorway　as　the　plane's　electronic　stairs　smoothly　dropped　down。　As　he　gazed　out　at　the　sea　of　weapons　aimed　at　him；　he　propped　himself　on　his　crutches　and　scratched　his　head。　〃Simon；　did　I　win　the　policemen's　lottery　while　I　was　away？〃　He　sounded　more　bewildered　than　concerned。
　Simon　Edwards　stepped　forward；　swallowing　the　frog　in　his　throat。　〃Good　morning；　sir。　I　apologize　for　the　confusion。　We've　had　a　gas　leak　and　your　pilot　said　he　was　ing　to　the　terminal。〃
　〃Yes；　yes；　well；　I　told　him　to　e　here　instead。　I'm　late　for　an　appointment。　I　pay　for　this　hangar；　and　this　rubbish　about　avoiding　a　gas　leak　sounded　overcautious。〃
　〃I'm　afraid　your　arrival　has　taken　us　a　bit　off　guard；　sir。〃
　〃I　know。　I'm　off　my　schedule；　I　am。　Between　you　and　me；　the　new　medication　gives　me　the　tinkles。　Thought　I'd　e　over　for　a　tune…up。〃
　The　policemen　all　exchanged　looks。　Edwards　winced。　〃Very　good；　sir。〃
　〃Sir；〃　the　Kent　chief　inspector　said；　stepping　forward。　〃I　need　to　ask　you　to　stay　onboard　for　another　half　hour　or　so。〃
　Teabing　looked　unamused　as　he　hobbled　down　the　stairs。　〃I'm　afraid　that　is　impossible。　I　have　a　medical　appointment。〃　He　reached　the　tarmac。　〃I　cannot　afford　to　miss　it。〃
　The　chief　inspector　repositioned　himself　to　block　Teabing's　progress　away　from　the　plane。　〃I　am　here　at　the　orders　of　the　French　Judicial　Police。　They　claim　you　are　transporting　fugitives　from　the　law　on　this　plane。〃
　Teabing　stared　at　the　chief　inspector　a　long　moment；　and　then　burst　out　laughing。　〃Is　this　one　of　those　hidden　camera　programs？　Jolly　good！〃
　The　chief　inspector　never　flinched。　〃This　is　serious；　sir。　The　French　police　claim　you　also　may　have　a　hostage　onboard。〃
　Teabing's　manservant　Rémy　appeared　in　the　doorway　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　〃I　feel　like　a　hostage　working　for　Sir　Leigh；　but　he　assures　me　I　am　free　to　go。〃　Rémy　checked　his　watch。　〃Master；　we　really　are　running　late。〃　He　nodded　toward　the　Jaguar　stretch　limousine　in　the　far　corner　of　the　hangar。　The　enormous　automobile　was　ebony　with　smoked　glass　and　whitewall　tires。　〃I'll　bring　the　car。〃　Rémy　started　down　the　stairs。
　〃I'm　afraid　we　cannot　let　you　leave；〃　the　chief　inspector　said。　〃Please　return　to　your　aircraft。　Both　of　you。　Representatives　from　the　French　police　will　be　landing　shortly。〃
　Teabing　looked　now　toward　Simon　Edwards。　〃Simon；　for　heaven's　sake；　this　is　ridiculous！　We　don't　have　anyone　else　on　board。　Just　the　usual…Rémy；　our　pilot；　and　myself。　Perhaps　you　could　act　as　an　intermediary？　Go　have　a　look　onboard；　and　verify　that　the　plane　is　empty。〃
　Edwards　knew　he　was　trapped。　〃Yes；　sir。　I　can　have　a　look。〃
　〃The　devil　you　will！〃　the　Kent　chief　inspector　declared；　apparently　knowing　enough　about　executive　airfields　to　suspect　Simon　Edwards　might　well　lie　about　the　plane's　occupants　in　an　effort　to　keep　Teabing's　business　at　Biggin　Hill。　〃I　will　look　myself。〃
　Teabing　shook　his　head。　〃No　you　won't；　Inspector。　This　is　private　property　and　until　you　have　a　search　warrant；　you　will　stay　off　my　plane。　I　am　offering　you　a　reasonable　option　here。　Mr。　Edwards　can　perform　the　inspection。〃
　〃No　deal。〃
　Teabing's　demeanor　turned　frosty。　〃Inspector；　I'm　afraid　I　don't　have　time　to　indulge　in　your　games。　I'm　late；　and　I'm　leaving。　If　it　is　that　important　to　you　to　stop　me；　you'll　just　have　to　shoot　me。〃　With　that；　Teabing　and　Rémy　walked　around　the　chief　inspector　and　headed　across　the　hangar　toward　the　parked　limousine。
　　
　The　Kent　chief　inspector　felt　only　distaste　for　Leigh　Teabing　as　the　man　hobbled　around　him　in　defiance。　Men　of　privilege　always　felt　like　they　were　above　the　law。
　They　are　not。　The　chief　inspector　turned　and　aimed　at　Teabing's　back。　〃Stop！　I　will　fire！〃
　〃Go　ahead；〃　Teabing　said　without　breaking　stride　or　glancing　back。　〃My　lawyers　will　fricassee　your　testicles　for　breakfast。　And　if　you　dare　board　my　plane　without　a　warrant；　your　spleen　will　follow。〃
　No　stranger　to　power　plays；　the　chief　inspector　was　unimpressed。　Technically；　Teabing　was　correct　and　the　police　needed　a　warrant　to　board　his　jet；　but　because　the　flight　had　originated　in　France；　and　because　the　powerful　Bezu　Fache　had　given　his　authority；　the　Kent　chief　inspector　felt　certain　his　career　would　be　far　better　served　by　finding　out　what　it　was　on　this　plane　that　Teabing　seemed　so　intent　on　hiding。
　〃Stop　them；〃　the　inspector　ordered。　〃I'm　searching　the　plane。〃
　His　men　raced　over；　guns　leveled；　and　physically　blocked　Teabing　and　his　servant　from　reaching　the　limousine。
　Now　Teabing　turned。　〃Inspector；　this　is　your　last　warning。　Do　not　even　think　of　boarding　that　plane。　You　will　regret　it。〃
　Ignoring　the　threat；　the　chief　inspector　gripped　his　sidearm　and　marched　up　the　plane's　gangway。　Arriving　at　the　hatch；　he　peered　inside。　After　a　moment；　he　stepped　into　the　cabin。　What　the　devil？
　With　the　exception　of　the　frightened…looking　pilot　in　the　cockpit；　the　aircraft　was　empty。　Entirely　devoid　of　human　life。　Quickly　checking　the　bathroom；　the　chairs；　and　the　luggage　areas；　the　inspector　found　no　traces　of　anyone　hiding。。。　much　less　multiple　individuals。
　What　the　hell　was　Bezu　Fache　thinking？　It　seemed　Leigh　Teabing　had　been　telling　the　truth。
　The　Kent　chief　inspector　stood　alone　in　the　deserted　cabin　and　swallowed　hard。　Shit。　His　face　flushed；　he　stepped　back　onto　the　gangway；　gazing　across　the　hangar　at　Leigh　Teabing　and　his　servant；　who　were　now　under　gunpoint　near　the　limousine。　〃Let　them　go；〃　the　inspector　ordered。　〃We　received　a　bad　tip。〃
　Teabing's　eyes　were　menacing　even　across　the　hangar。　〃You　can　expect　a　call　from　my　lawyers。　And　for　future　reference；　the　French　police　cannot　be　trusted。〃
　With　that；　Teabing's　manservant　opened　the　door　at　the　rear　of　the　stretch　limousine　and　helped　his　crippled　master　into　the　back　seat。　Then　the　servant　walked　the　length　of　the　car；　climbed　in　behind　the　wheel；　and　gunned　the　engine。　Policemen　scattered　as　the　Jaguar　peeled　out　of　the　hangar。
　　
　〃Well　played；　my　good　man；〃　Teabing　chimed　from　the　rear　seat　as　the　limousine　accelerated　out　of　the　airport。　He　turned　his　eyes　now　to　the　dimly　lit　front　recesses　of　the　spacious　interior。　〃Everyone　fy？〃
　Langdon　gave　a　weak　nod。　He　and　Sophie　were　still　crouched　on　the　floor　beside　the　bound　and　gagged　albino。
　Moments　earlier；　as　the　Hawker　taxied　into　the　deserted　hangar；　Rémy　had　popped　the　hatch　as　the　plane　jolted　to　a　stop　halfway　through　its　turn。　With　the　police　closing　in　fast；　Langdon　and　Sophie　dragged　the　monk　down　the　gangway　to　ground　level　and　out　of　sight　behind　the　limousine。　Then　the　jet　engines　had　roared　again；　rotating　the　plane　and　pleting　its　turn　as　the　police　cars　came　skidding　into　the　hangar。
　Now；　as　the　limousine　raced　toward　Kent；　Langdon　and　Sophie　clambered　toward　the　rear　of　the　limo's　long　interior；　leaving　the　monk　bound　on　the　floor。　They　settled　onto　the　long　seat　facing　Teabing。　The　Brit　gave　them　both　a　roguish　smile　and　opened　the　cabinet　on　the　limo's　bar。　〃Could　I　offer　you　a　drink？　Some　nibblies？　Crisps？　Nuts？　Seltzer？〃
　Sophie　and　Langdon　both　shook　their　heads。
　Teabing　grinned　and　closed　the　bar。　〃So　then；　about　this　knight's　tomb。。。〃
　　
　CHAPTER　82
　
　〃Fleet　Street？〃　Langdon　asked；　eyeing　Teabing　in　the　back　of　the　limo。　There's　a　crypt　on　Fleet　Street？　So　far；　Leigh　was　being　playfully　cagey　about　where　he　thought　they　would　find　the　〃knight's　tomb；〃　which；　according　to　the　poem；　would　provide　the　password　for　opening　the　smaller　cryptex。
　Teabing　grinned　and　turned　to　Sophie。　〃Miss　Neveu；　give　the　Harvard　boy　one　more　shot　at　the　verse；　will　you？〃
　Sophie　fished　in　her　pocket　and　pulled　out　the　black　cryptex；　which　was　wrapped　in　the　vellum。　Everyone　had　decided　to　leave　the　rosewood　box　and　larger　cryptex　behind　in　the　plane's　strongbox；　carrying　with　them　only　what　they　needed；　the　far　more　portable　and　discreet　black　cryptex。　Sophie　unwrapped　the　vellum　and　handed　the　sheet　to　Langdon。
　Although　Langdon　had　read　the　poem　several　times　onboard　the　jet；　he　had　been　unable　to　extract　any　specific　location。　Now；　as　he　read　the　words　again；　he　proc