danbrown.thedavincicode-第43节

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ath；　there　were　three　sénéchaux　who　also　possessed　the　secret　and　therefore　guaranteed　the　Priory's　security。　Why　would　Saunière　take　such　an　enormous　risk　giving　his　granddaughter　the　keystone；　especially　when　the　two　of　them　didn't　get　along？　And　why　involve　Langdon。。。　a　total　stranger？
　A　piece　of　this　puzzle　is　missing；　Langdon　thought。
　The　answers　were　apparently　going　to　have　to　wait。　The　sound　of　the　slowing　engine　caused　them　both　to　look　up。　Gravel　crunched　beneath　the　tires。　Why　is　he　pulling　over　already？　Langdon　wondered。　Vernet　had　told　them　he　would　take　them　well　outside　the　city　to　safety。　The　truck　decelerated　to　a　crawl　and　made　its　way　over　unexpectedly　rough　terrain。　Sophie　shot　Langdon　an　uneasy　look；　hastily　closing　the　cryptex　box　and　latching　it。　Langdon　slipped　his　jacket　back　on。
　When　the　truck　came　to　a　stop；　the　engine　remained　idling　as　the　locks　on　the　rear　doors　began　to　turn。　When　the　doors　swung　open；　Langdon　was　surprised　to　see　they　were　parked　in　a　wooded　area；　well　off　the　road。　Vernet　stepped　into　view；　a　strained　look　in　his　eye。　In　his　hand；　he　held　a　pistol。
　〃I'm　sorry　about　this；〃　he　said。　〃I　really　have　no　choice。〃
　　
　CHAPTER　49
　
　André　Vernet　looked　awkward　with　a　pistol；　but　his　eyes　shone　with　a　determination　that　Langdon　sensed　would　be　unwise　to　test。
　〃I'm　afraid　I　must　insist；〃　Vernet　said；　training　the　weapon　on　the　two　of　them　in　the　back　of　the　idling　truck。　〃Set　the　box　down。〃
　Sophie　clutched　the　box　to　her　chest。　〃You　said　you　and　my　grandfather　were　friends。〃
　〃I　have　a　duty　to　protect　your　grandfather's　assets；〃　Vernet　replied。　〃And　that　is　exactly　what　I　am　doing。　Now　set　the　box　on　the　floor。〃
　〃My　grandfather　entrusted　this　to　me！〃　Sophie　declared。
　〃Do　it；〃　Vernet　manded；　raising　the　gun。
　Sophie　set　the　box　at　her　feet。
　Langdon　watched　the　gun　barrel　swing　now　in　his　direction。
　〃Mr。　Langdon；〃　Vernet　said；　〃you　will　bring　the　box　over　to　me。　And　be　aware　that　I'm　asking　you　because　you　I　would　not　hesitate　to　shoot。〃
　Langdon　stared　at　the　banker　in　disbelief。　〃Why　are　you　doing　this？〃
　〃Why　do　you　imagine？〃　Vernet　snapped；　his　accented　English　terse　now。　〃To　protect　my　client's　assets。〃
　〃We　are　your　clients　now；〃　Sophie　said。
　Vernet's　visage　turned　ice…cold；　an　eerie　transformation。　〃Mademoiselle　Neveu；　I　don't　know　how　you　got　that　key　and　account　number　tonight；　but　it　seems　obvious　that　foul　play　was　involved。　Had　I　known　the　extent　of　your　crimes；　I　would　never　have　helped　you　leave　the　bank。〃
　〃I　told　you；〃　Sophie　said；　〃we　had　nothing　to　do　with　my　grandfather's　death！〃
　Vernet　looked　at　Langdon。　〃And　yet　the　radio　claims　you　are　wanted　not　only　for　the　murder　of　Jacques　Saunière　but　for　those　of　three　other　men　as　well？〃
　〃What！〃　Langdon　was　thunderstruck。　Three　more　murders？　The　coincidental　number　hit　him　harder　than　the　fact　that　he　was　the　prime　suspect。　It　seemed　too　unlikely　to　be　a　coincidence。　The　three　sénéchaux？　Langdon's　eyes　dropped　to　the　rosewood　box。　If　the　sénéchaux　were　murdered；　Saunière　had　no　options。　He　had　to　transfer　the　keystone　to　someone。
　〃The　police　can　sort　that　out　when　I　turn　you　in；〃　Vernet　said。　〃I　have　gotten　my　bank　involved　too　far　already。〃
　Sophie　glared　at　Vernet。　〃You　obviously　have　no　intention　of　turning　us　in。　You　would　have　driven　us　back　to　the　bank。　And　instead　you　bring　us　out　here　and　hold　us　at　gunpoint？〃
　〃Your　grandfather　hired　me　for　one　reason…to　keep　his　possessions　both　safe　and　private。　Whatever　this　box　contains；　I　have　no　intention　of　letting　it　bee　a　piece　of　cataloged　evidence　in　a　police　investigation。　Mr。　Langdon；　bring　me　the　box。〃
　Sophie　shook　her　head。　〃Don't　do　it。〃
　A　gunshot　roared；　and　a　bullet　tore　into　the　wall　above　him。　The　reverberation　shook　the　back　of　the　truck　as　a　spent　shell　clinked　onto　the　cargo　floor。
　Shit！　Langdon　froze。
　Vernet　spoke　more　confidently　now。　〃Mr。　Langdon；　pick　up　the　box。〃
　Langdon　lifted　the　box。
　〃Now　bring　it　over　to　me。〃　Vernet　was　taking　dead　aim；　standing　on　the　ground　behind　the　rear　bumper；　his　gun　outstretched　into　the　cargo　hold　now。
　Box　in　hand；　Langdon　moved　across　the　hold　toward　the　open　door。
　I've　got　to　do　something！　Langdon　thought。　I'm　about　to　hand　over　the　Priory　keystone！　As　Langdon　moved　toward　the　doorway；　his　position　of　higher　ground　became　more　pronounced；　and　he　began　wondering　if　he　could　somehow　use　it　to　his　advantage。　Vernet's　gun；　though　raised；　was　at　Langdon's　knee　level。　A　well…placed　kick　perhaps？　Unfortunately；　as　Langdon　neared；　Vernet　seemed　to　sense　the　dangerous　dynamic　developing；　and　he　took　several　steps　back；　repositioning　himself　six　feet　away。　Well　out　of　reach。
　Vernet　manded；　〃Place　the　box　beside　the　door。〃
　Seeing　no　options；　Langdon　knelt　down　and　set　the　rosewood　box　at　the　edge　of　the　cargo　hold；　directly　in　front　of　the　open　doors。
　〃Now　stand　up。〃
　Langdon　began　to　stand　up　but　paused；　spying　the　small；　spent　pistol　shell　on　the　floor　beside　the　truck's　precision…crafted　doorsill。
　〃Stand　up；　and　step　away　from　the　box。〃
　Langdon　paused　a　moment　longer；　eyeing　the　metal　threshold。　Then　he　stood。　As　he　did；　he　discreetly　brushed　the　shell　over　the　edge　onto　the　narrow　ledge　that　was　the　door's　lower　sill。　Fully　upright　now；　Langdon　stepped　backward。
　〃Return　to　the　back　wall　and　turn　around。〃
　Langdon　obeyed。
　　
　Vernet　could　feel　his　own　heart　pounding。　Aiming　the　gun　with　his　right　hand；　he　reached　now　with　his　left　for　the　wooden　box。　He　discovered　that　it　was　far　too　heavy。　I　need　two　hands。　Turning　his　eyes　back　to　his　captives；　he　calculated　the　risk。　Both　were　a　good　fifteen　feet　away；　at　the　far　end　of　the　cargo　hold；　facing　away　from　him。　Vernet　made　up　his　mind。　Quickly；　he　laid　down　the　gun　on　the　bumper；　lifted　the　box　with　two　hands；　and　set　it　on　the　ground；　immediately　grabbing　the　gun　again　and　aiming　it　back　into　the　hold。　Neither　of　his　prisoners　had　moved。
　Perfect。　Now　all　that　remained　was　to　close　and　lock　the　door。　Leaving　the　box　on　the　ground　for　the　moment；　he　grabbed　the　metal　door　and　began　to　heave　it　closed。　As　the　door　swung　past　him；　Vernet　reached　up　to　grab　the　single　bolt　that　needed　to　be　slid　into　place。　The　door　closed　with　a　thud；　and　Vernet　quickly　grabbed　the　bolt；　pulling　it　to　the　left。　The　bolt　slid　a　few　inches　and　crunched　to　an　unexpected　halt；　not　lining　up　with　its　sleeve。　What's　going　on？　Vernet　pulled　again；　but　the　bolt　wouldn't　lock。　The　mechanism　was　not　properly　aligned。　The　door　isn't　fully　closed！　Feeling　a　surge　of　panic；　Vernet　shoved　hard　against　the　outside　of　the　door；　but　it　refused　to　budge。　Something　is　blocking　it！　Vernet　turned　to　throw　full　shoulder　into　the　door；　but　this　time　the　door　exploded　outward；　striking　Vernet　in　the　face　and　sending　him　reeling　backward　onto　the　ground；　his　nose　shattering　in　pain。　The　gun　flew　as　Vernet　reached　for　his　face　and　felt　the　warm　blood　running　from　his　nose。
　Robert　Langdon　hit　the　ground　somewhere　nearby；　and　Vernet　tried　to　get　up；　but　he　couldn't　see。　His　vision　blurred　and　he　fell　backward　again。　Sophie　Neveu　was　shouting。　Moments　later；　Vernet　felt　a　cloud　of　dirt　and　exhaust　billowing　over　him。　He　heard　the　crunching　of　tires　on　gravel　and　sat　up　just　in　time　to　see　the　truck's　wide　wheelbase　fail　to　navigate　a　turn。　There　was　a　crash　as　the　front　bumper　clipped　a　tree。　The　engine　roared；　and　the　tree　bent。　Finally；　it　was　the　bumper　that　gave；　tearing　half　off。　The　armored　car　lurched　away；　its　front　bumper　dragging。　When　the　truck　reached　the　paved　access　road；　a　shower　of　sparks　lit　up　the　night；　trailing　the　truck　as　it　sped　away。
　Vernet　turned　his　eyes　back　to　the　ground　where　the　truck　had　been　parked。　Even　in　the　faint　moonlight　he　could　see　there　was　nothing　there。
　The　wooden　box　was　gone。
　　
　CHAPTER　50
　
　The　unmarked　Fiat　sedan　departing　Castel　Gandolfo　snaked　downward　through　the　Alban　Hills　into　the　valley　below。　In　the　back　seat；　Bishop　Aringarosa　smiled；　feeling　the　weight　of　the　bearer　bonds　in　the　briefcase　on　his　lap　and　wondering　how　long　it　would　be　before　he　and　the　Teacher　could　make　the　exchange。
　Twenty　million　euro。
　The　sum　would　buy　Aringarosa　power　far　more　valuable　than　that。
　As　his　car　sped　back　toward　Rome；　Aringarosa　again　found　himself　wondering　why　the　Teacher　had　not　yet　contacted　him。　Pulling　his　cell　phone　from　his　cassock　pocket；　he　checked　the　carrier　signal。　Extremely　faint。
　〃Cell　service　is　intermittent　up　here；〃　the　driver　said；　glancing　at　him　in　the　rearview　mirror。　〃In　about　five　minutes；　we'll　be　out　of　the　mountains；　and　service　improves。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃　Aringarosa　felt　a　sudden　surge　of　concern。　No　service　in　the　mountains？　Maybe　the　Teacher　had　been　trying　to　reach　him　all　this　time。　Maybe　something　had　gone　terribly　wrong。
　Quickly；　Aringarosa　checked　the　phone's　voice　mail。　Nothing。　Then　again；　he　realized；　the　Teacher　never　would　have　left　a　recorded　message；　he　was　a　man　who　took　enormous　care　with　his　munications。　Nobody　understood　better　than　the　Teacher　the　perils　of　speaking　openly　in　this　modern　world。　Electronic　eavesdropping　had　played　a　major　role　in　how　he　had　gathered　his　astonishing　array　of　secret　knowl