danbrown.thedavincicode-第36节

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nspire。
　Aringarosa　entered　slowly；　regally　even。　He　could　see　the　shapes　of　three　men　at　a　long　table　on　the　far　side　of　the　room。　The　silhouette　of　the　man　in　the　middle　was　immediately　recognizable…the　obese　Secretariat　Vaticana；　overlord　of　all　legal　matters　within　Vatican　City。　The　other　two　were　high…ranking　Italian　cardinals。
　Aringarosa　crossed　the　library　toward　them。　〃My　humble　apologies　for　the　hour。　We're　on　different　time　zones。　You　must　be　tired。〃
　〃Not　at　all；〃　the　secretariat　said；　his　hands　folded　on　his　enormous　belly。　〃We　are　grateful　you　have　e　so　far。　The　least　we　can　do　is　be　awake　to　meet　you。　Can　we　offer　you　some　coffee　or　refreshments？〃
　〃I'd　prefer　we　don't　pretend　this　is　a　social　visit。　I　have　another　plane　to　catch。　Shall　we　get　to　business？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　the　secretariat　said。　〃You　have　acted　more　quickly　than　we　imagined。〃
　〃Have　I？〃
　〃You　still　have　a　month。〃
　〃You　made　your　concerns　known　five　months　ago；〃　Aringarosa　said。　〃Why　should　I　wait？〃
　〃Indeed。　We　are　very　pleased　with　your　expediency。〃
　Aringarosa's　eyes　traveled　the　length　of　the　long　table　to　a　large　black　briefcase。　〃Is　that　what　I　requested？〃
　〃It　is。〃　The　secretariat　sounded　uneasy。　〃Although；　I　must　admit；　we　are　concerned　with　the　request。　It　seems　quite。。。〃
　〃Dangerous；〃　one　of　the　cardinals　finished。　〃Are　you　certain　we　cannot　wire　it　to　you　somewhere？　The　sum　is　exorbitant。〃
　Freedom　is　expensive。　〃I　have　no　concerns　for　my　own　safety。　God　is　with　me。〃
　The　men　actually　looked　doubtful。
　〃The　funds　are　exactly　as　I　requested？〃
　The　secretariat　nodded。　〃Large…denomination　bearer　bonds　drawn　on　the　Vatican　Bank。　Negotiable　as　cash　anywhere　in　the　world。〃
　Aringarosa　walked　to　the　end　of　the　table　and　opened　the　briefcase。　Inside　were　two　thick　stacks　of　bonds；　each　embossed　with　the　Vatican　seal　and　the　title　PORTATORE；　making　the　bonds　redeemable　to　whoever　was　holding　them。
　The　secretariat　looked　tense。　〃I　must　say；　Bishop；　all　of　us　would　feel　less　apprehensive　if　these　funds　were　in　cash。〃
　I　could　not　lift　that　much　cash；　Aringarosa　thought；　closing　the　case。　〃Bonds　are　negotiable　as　cash。　You　said　so　yourself。〃
　The　cardinals　exchanged　uneasy　looks；　and　finally　one　said；　〃Yes；　but　these　bonds　are　traceable　directly　to　the　Vatican　Bank。〃
　Aringarosa　smiled　inwardly。　That　was　precisely　the　reason　the　Teacher　suggested　Aringarosa　get　the　money　in　Vatican　Bank　bonds。　It　served　as　insurance。　We　are　all　in　this　together　now。　〃This　is　a　perfectly　legal　transaction；〃　Aringarosa　defended。　〃Opus　Dei　is　a　personal　prelature　of　Vatican　City；　and　His　Holiness　can　disperse　monies　however　he　sees　fit。　No　law　has　been　broken　here。〃
　〃True；　and　yet。。。〃　The　secretariat　leaned　forward　and　his　chair　creaked　under　the　burden。　〃We　have　no　knowledge　of　what　you　intend　to　do　with　these　funds；　and　if　it　is　in　any　way　illegal。。。〃
　〃Considering　what　you　are　asking　of　me；〃　Aringarosa　countered；　〃what　I　do　with　this　money　is　not　your　concern。〃
　There　was　a　long　silence。
　They　know　I'm　right；　Aringarosa　thought。　〃Now；　I　imagine　you　have　something　for　me　to　sign？〃
　They　all　jumped；　eagerly　pushing　the　paper　toward　him；　as　if　they　wished　he　would　simply　leave。
　Aringarosa　eyed　the　sheet　before　him。　It　bore　the　papal　seal。　〃This　is　identical　to　the　copy　you　sent　me？〃
　〃Exactly。〃
　Aringarosa　was　surprised　how　little　emotion　he　felt　as　he　signed　the　document。　The　three　men　present；　however；　seemed　to　sigh　in　relief。
　〃Thank　you；　Bishop；〃　the　secretariat　said。　〃Your　service　to　the　Church　will　never　be　forgotten。〃
　Aringarosa　picked　up　the　briefcase；　sensing　promise　and　authority　in　its　weight。　The　four　men　looked　at　one　another　for　a　moment　as　if　there　were　something　more　to　say；　but　apparently　there　was　not。　Aringarosa　turned　and　headed　for　the　door。
　〃Bishop？〃　one　of　the　cardinals　called　out　as　Aringarosa　reached　the　threshold。
　Aringarosa　paused；　turning。　〃Yes？〃
　〃Where　will　you　go　from　here？〃
　Aringarosa　sensed　the　query　was　more　spiritual　than　geographical；　and　yet　he　had　no　intention　of　discussing　morality　at　this　hour。　〃Paris；〃　he　said；　and　walked　out　the　door。
　　
　CHAPTER　42
　
　The　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich　was　a　twenty…four…hour　Geldschrank　bank　offering　the　full　modern　array　of　anonymous　services　in　the　tradition　of　the　Swiss　numbered　account。　Maintaining　offices　in　Zurich；　Kuala　Lumpur；　New　York；　and　Paris；　the　bank　had　expanded　its　services　in　recent　years　to　offer　anonymous　puter　source　code　escrow　services　and　faceless　digitized　backup。
　The　bread　and　butter　of　its　operation　was　by　far　its　oldest　and　simplest　offering…the　anonyme　Lager…blind　drop　services；　otherwise　known　as　anonymous　safe…deposit　boxes。　Clients　wishing　to　store　anything　from　stock　certificates　to　valuable　paintings　could　deposit　their　belongings　anonymously；　through　a　series　of　high…tech　veils　of　privacy；　withdrawing　items　at　any　time；　also　in　total　anonymity。
　As　Sophie　pulled　the　taxi　to　a　stop　in　front　of　their　destination；　Langdon　gazed　out　at　the　building's　unpromising　architecture　and　sensed　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich　was　a　firm　with　little　sense　of　humor。　The　building　was　a　windowless　rectangle　that　seemed　to　be　forged　entirely　of　dull　steel。　Resembling　an　enormous　metal　brick；　the　edifice　sat　back　from　the　road　with　a　fifteen…foot…tall；　neon；　equilateral　cross　glowing　over　its　facade。
　Switzerland's　reputation　for　secrecy　in　banking　had　bee　one　of　the　country's　most　lucrative　exports。　Facilities　like　this　had　bee　controversial　in　the　art　munity　because　they　provided　a　perfect　place　for　art　thieves　to　hide　stolen　goods；　for　years　if　necessary；　until　the　heat　was　off。　Because　deposits　were　protected　from　police　inspection　by　privacy　laws　and　were　attached　to　numbered　accounts　rather　than　people's　names；　thieves　could　rest　easily　knowing　their　stolen　goods　were　safe　and　could　never　be　traced　to　them。
　Sophie　stopped　the　taxi　at　an　imposing　gate　that　blocked　the　bank's　driveway…a　cement…lined　ramp　that　descended　beneath　the　building。　A　video　camera　overhead　was　aimed　directly　at　them；　and　Langdon　had　the　feeling　that　this　camera；　unlike　those　at　the　Louvre；　was　authentic。
　Sophie　rolled　down　the　window　and　surveyed　the　electronic　podium　on　the　driver's　side。　An　LCD　screen　provided　directions　in　seven　languages。　Topping　the　list　was　English。
　INSERT　KEY。
　　
　Sophie　took　the　gold　laser…pocked　key　from　her　pocket　and　turned　her　attention　back　to　the　podium。　Below　the　screen　was　a　triangular　hole。
　〃Something　tells　me　it　will　fit；〃　Langdon　said。
　Sophie　aligned　the　key's　triangular　shaft　with　the　hole　and　inserted　it；　sliding　it　in　until　the　entire　shaft　had　disappeared。　This　key　apparently　required　no　turning。　Instantly；　the　gate　began　to　swing　open。　Sophie　took　her　foot　off　the　brake　and　coasted　down　to　a　second　gate　and　podium。　Behind　her；　the　first　gate　closed；　trapping　them　like　a　ship　in　a　lock。
　Langdon　disliked　the　constricted　sensation。　Let's　hope　this　second　gate　works　too。
　This　second　podium　bore　familiar　directions。
　INSERT　KEY。
　　
　When　Sophie　inserted　the　key；　the　second　gate　immediately　opened。　Moments　later　they　were　winding　down　the　ramp　into　the　belly　of　the　structure。
　The　private　garage　was　small　and　dim；　with　spaces　for　about　a　dozen　cars。　At　the　far　end；　Langdon　spied　the　building's　main　entrance。　A　red　carpet　stretched　across　the　cement　floor；　weling　visitors　to　a　huge　door　that　appeared　to　be　forged　of　solid　metal。
　Talk　about　mixed　messages；　Langdon　thought。　Wele　and　keep　out。
　Sophie　pulled　the　taxi　into　a　parking　space　near　the　entrance　and　killed　the　engine。　〃You'd　better　leave　the　gun　here。〃
　With　pleasure；　Langdon　thought；　sliding　the　pistol　under　the　seat。
　Sophie　and　Langdon　got　out　and　walked　up　the　red　carpet　toward　the　slab　of　steel。　The　door　had　no　handle；　but　on　the　wall　beside　it　was　another　triangular　keyhole。　No　directions　were　posted　this　time。
　〃Keeps　out　the　slow　learners；〃　Langdon　said。
　Sophie　laughed；　looking　nervous。　〃Here　we　go。〃　She　stuck　the　key　in　the　hole；　and　the　door　swung　inward　with　a　low　hum。　Exchanging　glances；　Sophie　and　Langdon　entered。　The　door　shut　with　a　thud　behind　them。
　The　foyer　of　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich　employed　as　imposing　a　decor　as　any　Langdon　had　ever　seen。　Where　most　banks　were　content　with　the　usual　polished　marble　and　granite；　this　one　had　opted　for　wall…to…wall　metal　and　rivets。
　Who's　their　decorator？　Langdon　wondered。　Allied　Steel？
　Sophie　looked　equally　intimidated　as　her　eyes　scanned　the　lobby。
　The　gray　metal　was　everywhere…the　floor；　walls；　counters；　doors；　even　the　lobby　chairs　appeared　to　be　fashioned　of　molded　iron。　Nonetheless；　the　effect　was　impressive。　The　message　was　clear：　You　are　walking　into　a　vault。
　A　large　man　behind　the　counter　glanced　up　as　they　entered。　He　turned　off　the　small　television　he　was　watching　and　greeted　them　with　a　pleasant　smile。　Despite　his　enormous　muscles　and　visible　sidearm；　his　diction　chimed　with　the　polished　courtesy　of　a　Swiss　bellhop。
　〃Bonsoir；〃　he　said。　〃How　may　I　help　you？〃
　The　dual…language　greeting　was　the　newest　hospitality　trick　of　the　European　host。　It　presumed　nothing　and　opened　the　door　for　the　guest　to　reply　in