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〃Rémy； you needn't worry；〃 Teabing assured。 〃Just because I am returning to the Queen's realm does not mean I intend to subject my palate to bangers and mash for the rest of my days。 I expect you will join me there permanently。 I'm planning to buy a splendid villa in Devonshire； and we'll have all your things shipped up immediately。 An adventure； Rémy。 I say； an adventure！〃
Langdon had to smile。 As Teabing railed on about his plans for a triumphant return to Britain； Langdon felt himself caught up in the man's infectious enthusiasm。
Gazing absently out the window； Langdon watched the woods passing by； ghostly pale in the yellow blush of the fog lights。 The side mirror was tipped inward； brushed askew by branches； and Langdon saw the reflection of Sophie sitting quietly in the back seat。 He watched her for a long while and felt an unexpected upwelling of contentment。 Despite his troubles tonight； Langdon was thankful to have landed in such good pany。
After several minutes； as if suddenly sensing his eyes on her； Sophie leaned forward and put her hands on his shoulders； giving him a quick rub。 〃You okay？〃
〃Yeah；〃 Langdon said。 〃Somehow。〃
Sophie sat back in her seat； and Langdon saw a quiet smile cross her lips。 He realized that he too was now grinning。
Wedged in the back of the Range Rover； Silas could barely breathe。 His arms were wrenched backward and heavily lashed to his ankles with kitchen twine and duct tape。 Every bump in the road sent pain shooting through his twisted shoulders。 At least his captors had removed the cilice。 Unable to inhale through the strip of tape over his mouth； he could only breathe through his nostrils； which were slowly clogging up due to the dusty rear cargo area into which he had been crammed。 He began coughing。
〃I think he's choking；〃 the French driver said； sounding concerned。
The British man who had struck Silas with his crutch now turned and peered over the seat； frowning coldly at Silas。 〃Fortunately for you； we British judge man's civility not by his passion for his friends； but by his passion for his enemies。〃 The Brit reached down and grabbed the duct tape on Silas's mouth。 In one fast motion； he tore it off。
Silas felt as if his lips had just caught fire； but the air pouring into his lungs was sent from God。
〃Whom do you work for？〃 the British man demanded。
〃I do the work of God；〃 Silas spat back through the pain in his jaw where the woman had kicked him。
〃You belong to Opus Dei；〃 the man said。 It was not a question。
〃You know nothing of who I am。〃
〃Why does Opus Dei want the keystone？〃
Silas had no intention of answering。 The keystone was the link to the Holy Grail； and the Holy Grail was the key to protecting the faith。
I do the work of God。 The Way is in peril。
Now； in the Range Rover； struggling against his bonds； Silas feared he had failed the Teacher and the bishop forever。 He had no way even to contact them and tell them the terrible turn of events。 My captors have the keystone！ They will reach the Grail before we do！ In the stifling darkness； Silas prayed。 He let the pain of his body fuel his supplications。
A miracle； Lord。 I need a miracle。 Silas had no way of knowing that hours from now； he would get one。
〃Robert？〃 Sophie was still watching him。 〃A funny look just crossed your face。〃
Langdon glanced back at her； realizing his jaw was firmly set and his heart was racing。 An incredible notion had just occurred to him。 Could it really be that simple an explanation？ 〃I need to use your cell phone； Sophie。〃
〃Now？〃
〃I think I just figured something out。〃
〃What？〃
〃I'll tell you in a minute。 I need your phone。〃
Sophie looked wary。 〃I doubt Fache is tracing； but keep it under a minute just in case。〃 She gave him her phone。
〃How do I dial the States？〃
〃You need to reverse the charges。 My service doesn't cover transatlantic。〃
Langdon dialed zero； knowing that the next sixty seconds might answer a question that had been puzzling him all night。
CHAPTER 68
New York editor Jonas Faukman had just climbed into bed for the night when the telephone rang。 A little late for callers； he grumbled； picking up the receiver。
An operator's voice asked him； 〃Will you accept charges for a collect call from Robert Langdon？〃
Puzzled； Jonas turned on the light。 〃Uh。。。 sure； okay。〃
The line clicked。 〃Jonas？〃
〃Robert？ You wake me up and you charge me for it？〃
〃Jonas； forgive me；〃 Langdon said。 〃I'll keep this very short。 I really need to know。 The manuscript I gave you。 Have you—〃
〃Robert； I'm sorry； I know I said I'd send the edits out to you this week； but I'm swamped。 Next Monday。 I promise。〃
〃I'm not worried about the edits。 I need to know if you sent any copies out for blurbs without telling me？〃
Faukman hesitated。 Langdon's newest manuscript—an exploration of the history of goddess worship—included several sections about Mary Magdalene that were going to raise some eyebrows。 Although the material was well documented and had been covered by others； Faukman had no intention of printing Advance Reading Copies of Langdon's book without at least a few endorsements from serious historians and art luminaries。 Jonas had chosen ten big names in the art world and sent them all sections of the manuscript along with a polite letter asking if they would be willing to write a short endorsement for the jacket。 In Faukman's experience； most people jumped at the opportunity to see their name in print。
〃Jonas？〃 Langdon pressed。 〃You sent out my manuscript； didn't you？〃
Faukman frowned； sensing Langdon was not happy about it。 〃The manuscript was clean； Robert； and I wanted to surprise you with some terrific blurbs。〃
A pause。 〃Did you send one to the curator of the Paris Louvre？〃
〃What do you think？ Your manuscript referenced his Louvre collection several times； his books are in your bibliography； and the guy has some serious clout for foreign sales。 Saunière was a no…brainer。〃
The silence on the other end lasted a long time。 〃When did you send it？〃
〃About a month ago。 I also mentioned you would be in Paris soon and suggested you two chat。 Did he ever call you to meet？〃 Faukman paused； rubbing his eyes。 〃Hold on； aren't you supposed to be in Paris this week？〃
〃I am