按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
； shall we say。。。 intriguing introduction。〃
She held up a copy of Boston Magazine。
Langdon cringed。 Where the hell did she get that？
The hostess began reading choice excerpts from the inane article； and Langdon felt himself sinking lower and lower in his chair。 Thirty seconds later； the crowd was grinning； and the woman showed no signs of letting up。 〃And Mr。 Langdon's refusal to speak publicly about his unusual role in last year's Vatican conclave certainly wins him points on our intrigue…o…meter。〃 The hostess goaded the crowd。 〃Would you like to hear more？〃
The crowd applauded。
Somebody stop her； Langdon pleaded as she dove into the article again。
〃Although Professor Langdon might not be considered hunk…handsome like some of our younger awardees； this forty…something academic has more than his share of scholarly allure。 His captivating presence is punctuated by an unusually low； baritone speaking voice； which his female students describe as 'chocolate for the ears。' 〃
The hall erupted in laughter。
Langdon forced an awkward smile。 He knew what came next—some ridiculous line about 〃Harrison Ford in Harris tweed〃—and because this evening he had figured it was finally safe again to wear his Harris tweed and Burberry turtleneck； he decided to take action。
〃Thank you； Monique；〃 Langdon said； standing prematurely and edging her away from the podium。 〃Boston Magazine clearly has a gift for fiction。〃 He turned to the audience with an embarrassed sigh。 〃And if I find which one of you provided that article； I'll have the consulate deport you。〃
The crowd laughed。
〃Well； folks； as you all know； I'm here tonight to talk about the power of symbols。。。〃
The ringing of Langdon's hotel phone once again broke the silence。
Groaning in disbelief； he picked up。 〃Yes？〃
As expected； it was the concierge。 〃Mr。 Langdon； again my apologies。 I am calling to inform you that your guest is now en route to your room。 I thought I should alert you。〃
Langdon was wide awake now。 〃You sent someone to my room？〃
〃I apologize； monsieur； but a man like this。。。 I cannot presume the authority to stop him。〃
〃Who exactly is he？〃
But the concierge was gone。
Almost immediately； a heavy fist pounded on Langdon's door。
Uncertain； Langdon slid off the bed； feeling his toes sink deep into the savonniere carpet。 He donned the hotel bathrobe and moved toward the door。 〃Who is it？〃
〃Mr。 Langdon？ I need to speak with you。〃 The man's English was accented—a sharp； authoritative bark。 〃My name is Lieutenant Jerome Collet。 Direction Centrale Police Judiciaire。〃
Langdon paused。 The Judicial Police？ The DCPJ was the rough equivalent of the U。S。 FBI。
Leaving the security chain in place； Langdon opened the door a few inches。 The face staring back at him was thin and washed out。 The man was exceptionally lean； dressed in an official…looking blue uniform。
〃May I e in？〃 the agent asked。
Langdon hesitated； feeling uncertain as the stranger's sallow eyes studied him。 〃What is this all about？〃
〃My capitaine requires your expertise in a private matter。〃
〃Now？〃 Langdon managed。 〃It's after midnight。〃
〃Am I correct that you were scheduled to meet with the curator of the Louvre this evening？〃
Langdon felt a sudden surge of uneasiness。 He and the revered curator Jacques Saunière had been slated to meet for drinks after Langdon's lecture tonight； but Saunière had never shown up。 〃Yes。 How did you know that？〃
〃We found your name in his daily planner。〃
〃I trust nothing is wrong？〃
The agent gave a dire sigh and slid a Polaroid snapshot through the narrow opening in the door。
When Langdon saw the photo； his entire body went rigid。
〃This photo was taken less than an hour ago。 Inside the Louvre。〃
As Langdon stared at the bizarre image； his initial revulsion and shock gave way to a sudden upwelling of anger。 〃Who would do this！〃
〃We had hoped that you might help us answer that very question； considering your knowledge in symbology and your plans to meet with him。〃
Langdon stared at the picture； his horror now laced with fear。 The image was gruesome and profoundly strange； bringing with it an unsettling sense of déjà vu。 A little over a year ago； Langdon had received a photograph of a corpse and a similar request for help。 Twenty…four hours later； he had almost lost his life inside Vatican City。 This photo was entirely different； and yet something about the scenario felt disquietingly familiar。
The agent checked his watch。 〃My capitaine is waiting； sir。〃
Langdon barely heard him。 His eyes were still riveted on the picture。 〃This symbol here； and the way his body is so oddly。。。〃
〃Positioned？〃 the agent offered。
Langdon nodded； feeling a chill as he looked up。 〃I can't imagine who would do this to someone。〃
The agent looked grim。 〃You don't understand； Mr。 Langdon。 What you see in this photograph。。。〃 He paused。 〃Monsieur Saunière did that to himself。〃
…
CHAPTER 2
…
One mile away； the hulking albino named Silas limped through the front gate of the luxurious brownstone residence on Rue La Bruyère。 The spiked cilice belt that he wore around his thigh cut into his flesh； and yet his soul sang with satisfaction of service to the Lord。
Pain is good。
His red eyes scanned the lobby as he entered the residence。 Empty。 He climbed the stairs quietly； not wanting to awaken any of his fellow numeraries。 His bedroom door was open； locks were forbidden here。 He entered； closing the door behind him。
The room was spartan—hardwood floors； a pine dresser； a canvas mat in the corner that served as his bed。 He was a visitor here this week； and yet for many years he had been blessed with a similar sanctuary in New York City。
The Lord has provided me shelter and purpose in my life。
Tonight； at last； Silas felt he had begun to repay his debt。 Hurrying to the dresser； he found the cell phone hidden in his bottom drawer and placed a call。
〃Yes？〃 a male voice answered。
〃Teacher； I have returned。〃
〃Speak；〃 the voice manded； sounding pleased to hear from him。
〃All four are gone。 The three sénéchaux。。。 and the Grand Master himself。〃
There was a momentary pause； as if for prayer。 〃Then I assume you have the information？〃
〃All four concurred。 Independently。〃
〃And