danbrown.thedavincicode-第58节

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　〃Sir？〃　The　agent　pointed　down　the　length　of　the　stalls。
　The　barn's　rear　slider　was　wide　open；　giving　way　to　a　dark；　muddy　slope　of　rugged　fields　that　stretched　out　into　the　night　behind　the　barn。　Collet　ran　to　the　door；　trying　to　see　out　into　the　darkness。　All　he　could　make　out　was　the　faint　shadow　of　a　forest　in　the　distance。　No　headlights。　This　wooded　valley　was　probably　crisscrossed　by　dozens　of　unmapped　fire　roads　and　hunting　trails；　but　Collet　was　confident　his　quarry　would　never　make　the　woods。　〃Get　some　men　spread　out　down　there。　They're　probably　already　stuck　somewhere　nearby。　These　fancy　sports　cars　can't　handle　terrain。〃
　〃Um；　sir？〃　The　agent　pointed　to　a　nearby　pegboard　on　which　hung　several　sets　of　keys。　The　labels　above　the　keys　bore　familiar　names。
　DAIMLER。。。　ROLLS…ROYCE。。。　ASTIN　MARTIN。。。　PORSCHE。。。
　　
　The　last　peg　was　empty。
　When　Collet　read　the　label　above　the　empty　peg；　he　knew　he　was　in　trouble。
　　
　CHAPTER　67
　
　The　Range　Rover　was　Java　Black　Pearl；　four…wheel　drive；　standard　transmission；　with　high…strength　polypropylene　lamps；　rear　light　cluster　fittings；　and　the　steering　wheel　on　the　right。
　Langdon　was　pleased　he　was　not　driving。
　Teabing's　manservant　Rémy；　on　orders　from　his　master；　was　doing　an　impressive　job　of　maneuvering　the　vehicle　across　the　moonlit　fields　behind　Chateau　Villette。　With　no　headlights；　he　had　crossed　an　open　knoll　and　was　now　descending　a　long　slope；　moving　farther　away　from　the　estate。　He　seemed　to　be　heading　toward　a　jagged　silhouette　of　wooded　land　in　the　distance。
　Langdon；　cradling　the　keystone；　turned　in　the　passenger　seat　and　eyed　Teabing　and　Sophie　in　the　back　seat。
　〃How's　your　head；　Robert？〃　Sophie　asked；　sounding　concerned。
　Langdon　forced　a　pained　smile。　〃Better；　thanks。〃　It　was　killing　him。
　Beside　her；　Teabing　glanced　over　his　shoulder　at　the　bound　and　gagged　monk　lying　in　the　cramped　luggage　area　behind　the　back　seat。　Teabing　had　the　monk's　gun　on　his　lap　and　looked　like　an　old　photo　of　a　British　safari　chap　posing　over　his　kill。
　〃So　glad　you　popped　in　this　evening；　Robert；〃　Teabing　said；　grinning　as　if　he　were　having　fun　for　the　first　time　in　years。
　〃Sorry　to　get　you　involved　in　this；　Leigh。〃
　〃Oh；　please；　I've　waited　my　entire　life　to　be　involved。〃　Teabing　looked　past　Langdon　out　the　windshield　at　the　shadow　of　a　long　hedgerow。　He　tapped　Rémy　on　the　shoulder　from　behind。　〃Remember；　no　brake　lights。　Use　the　emergency　brake　if　you　need　it。　I　want　to　get　into　the　woods　a　bit。　No　reason　to　risk　them　seeing　us　from　the　house。〃
　Rémy　coasted　to　a　crawl　and　guided　the　Range　Rover　through　an　opening　in　the　hedge。　As　the　vehicle　lurched　onto　an　overgrown　pathway；　almost　immediately　the　trees　overhead　blotted　out　the　moonlight。
　I　can't　see　a　thing；　Langdon　thought；　straining　to　distinguish　any　shapes　at　all　in　front　of　them。　It　was　pitch　black。　Branches　rubbed　against　the　left　side　of　the　vehicle；　and　Rémy　corrected　in　the　other　direction。　Keeping　the　wheel　more　or　less　straight　now；　he　inched　ahead　about　thirty　yards。
　〃You're　doing　beautifully；　Rémy；〃　Teabing　said。　〃That　should　be　far　enough。　Robert；　if　you　could　press　that　little　blue　button　just　below　the　vent　there。　See　it？〃
　Langdon　found　the　button　and　pressed　it。
　A　muted　yellow　glow　fanned　out　across　the　path　in　front　of　them；　revealing　thick　underbrush　on　either　side　of　the　pathway。　Fog　lights；　Langdon　realized。　They　gave　off　just　enough　light　to　keep　them　on　the　path；　and　yet　they　were　deep　enough　into　the　woods　now　that　the　lights　would　not　give　them　away。
　〃Well；　Rémy；〃　Teabing　chimed　happily。　〃The　lights　are　on。　Our　lives　are　in　your　hands。〃
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Sophie　asked。
　〃This　trail　continues　about　three　kilometers　into　the　forest；〃　Teabing　said。　〃Cutting　across　the　estate　and　then　arching　north。　Provided　we　don't　hit　any　standing　water　or　fallen　trees；　we　shall　emerge　unscathed　on　the　shoulder　of　highway　five。〃
　Unscathed。　Langdon's　head　begged　to　differ。　He　turned　his　eyes　down　to　his　own　lap；　where　the　keystone　was　safely　stowed　in　its　wooden　box。　The　inlaid　Rose　on　the　lid　was　back　in　place；　and　although　his　head　felt　muddled；　Langdon　was　eager　to　remove　the　inlay　again　and　examine　the　engraving　beneath　more　closely。　He　unlatched　the　lid　and　began　to　raise　it　when　Teabing　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　from　behind。
　〃Patience；　Robert；〃　Teabing　said。　〃It's　bumpy　and　dark。　God　save　us　if　we　break　anything。　If　you　didn't　recognize　the　language　in　the　light；　you　won't　do　any　better　in　the　dark。　Let's　focus　on　getting　away　in　one　piece；　shall　we？　There　will　be　time　for　that　very　soon。〃
　Langdon　knew　Teabing　was　right。　With　a　nod；　he　relatched　the　box。
　The　monk　in　back　was　moaning　now；　struggling　against　his　trusses。　Suddenly；　he　began　kicking　wildly。
　Teabing　spun　around　and　aimed　the　pistol　over　the　seat。　〃I　can't　imagine　your　plaint；　sir。　You　trespassed　in　my　home　and　planted　a　nasty　welt　on　the　skull　of　a　dear　friend。　I　would　be　well　within　my　rights　to　shoot　you　right　now　and　leave　you　to　rot　in　the　woods。〃
　The　monk　fell　silent。
　〃Are　you　sure　we　should　have　brought　him？〃　Langdon　asked。
　〃Bloody　well　positive！〃　Teabing　exclaimed。　〃You're　wanted　for　murder；　Robert。　This　scoundrel　is　your　ticket　to　freedom。　The　police　apparently　want　you　badly　enough　to　have　tailed　you　to　my　home。〃
　〃My　fault；〃　Sophie　said。　〃The　armored　car　probably　had　a　transmitter。〃
　〃Not　the　point；〃　Teabing　said。　〃I'm　not　surprised　the　police　found　you；　but　I　am　surprised　that　this　Opus　Dei　character　found　you。　From　all　you've　told　me；　I　can't　imagine　how　this　man　could　have　tailed　you　to　my　home　unless　he　had　a　contact　either　within　the　Judicial　Police　or　within　the　Zurich　Depository。〃
　Langdon　considered　it。　Bezu　Fache　certainly　seemed　intent　on　finding　a　scapegoat　for　tonight's　murders。　And　Vernet　had　turned　on　them　rather　suddenly；　although　considering　Langdon　was　being　charged　with　four　murders；　the　banker's　change　of　heart　seemed　understandable。
　〃This　monk　is　not　working　alone；　Robert；〃　Teabing　said；　〃and　until　you　learn　who　is　behind　all　this；　you　both　are　in　danger。　The　good　news；　my　friend；　is　that　you　are　now　in　the　position　of　power。　This　monster　behind　me　holds　that　information；　and　whoever　is　pulling　his　strings　has　got　to　be　quite　nervous　right　now。〃
　Rémy　was　picking　up　speed；　getting　fortable　with　the　trail。　They　splashed　through　some　water；　climbed　a　small　rise；　and　began　descending　again。
　〃Robert；　could　you　be　so　kind　as　to　hand　me　that　phone？〃　Teabing　pointed　to　the　car　phone　on　the　dash。　Langdon　handed　it　back；　and　Teabing　dialed　a　number。　He　waited　for　a　very　long　time　before　someone　answered。　〃Richard？　Did　I　wake　you？　Of　course；　I　did。　Silly　question。　I'm　sorry。　I　have　a　small　problem。　I'm　feeling　a　bit　off。　Rémy　and　I　need　to　pop　up　to　the　Isles　for　my　treatments。　Well；　right　away；　actually。　Sorry　for　the　short　notice。　Can　you　have　Elizabeth　ready　in　about　twenty　minutes？　I　know；　do　the　best　you　can。　See　you　shortly。〃　He　hung　up。
　〃Elizabeth？〃　Langdon　said。
　〃My　plane。　She　cost　me　a　Queen's　ransom。〃
　Langdon　turned　full　around　and　looked　at　him。
　〃What？〃　Teabing　demanded。　〃You　two　can't　expect　to　stay　in　France　with　the　entire　Judicial　Police　after　you。　London　will　be　much　safer。〃
　Sophie　had　turned　to　Teabing　as　well。　〃You　think　we　should　leave　the　country？〃
　〃My　friends；　I　am　far　more　influential　in　the　civilized　world　than　here　in　France。　Furthermore；　the　Grail　is　believed　to　be　in　Great　Britain。　If　we　unlock　the　keystone；　I　am　certain　we　will　discover　a　map　that　indicates　we　have　moved　in　the　proper　direction。〃
　〃You're　running　a　big　risk；〃　Sophie　said；　〃by　helping　us。　You　won't　make　any　friends　with　the　French　police。〃
　Teabing　gave　a　wave　of　disgust。　〃I　am　finished　with　France。　I　moved　here　to　find　the　keystone。　That　work　is　now　done。　I　shan't　care　if　I　ever　again　see　Chateau　Villette。〃
　Sophie　sounded　uncertain。　〃How　will　we　get　through　airport　security？〃
　Teabing　chuckled。　〃I　fly　from　Le　Bourget…an　executive　airfield　not　far　from　here。　French　doctors　make　me　nervous；　so　every　fortnight；　I　fly　north　to　take　my　treatments　in　England。　I　pay　for　certain　special　privileges　at　both　ends。　Once　we're　airborne；　you　can　make　a　decision　as　to　whether　or　not　you'd　like　someone　from　the　U。S。　Embassy　to　meet　us。〃
　Langdon　suddenly　didn't　want　anything　to　do　with　the　embassy。　All　he　could　think　of　was　the　keystone；　the　inscription；　and　whether　it　would　all　lead　to　the　Grail。　He　wondered　if　Teabing　was　right　about　Britain。　Admittedly　most　modern　legends　placed　the　Grail　somewhere　in　the　United　Kingdom。　Even　King　Arthur's　mythical；　Grail…rich　Isle　of　Avalon　was　now　believed　to　be　none　other　than　Glastonbury；　England。　Wherever　the　Grail　lay；　Langdon　never　imagined　he　would　actually　be　looking　for　it。　The　Sangreal　documents。　The　true　history　of　Jesus　Christ。　The　tomb　of　Mary　Magdalene。　He　suddenly　felt　as　if　he　were　living　in　some　kind　of　limbo　tonight。。。　a　bubble　where　the　real　world　could　not　reach　him。
　〃Sir？〃　Rémy　said。　〃Are　you　truly　thinking　of　returning　to　England　for　good？〃
　〃Rémy；　you　needn't　worry；〃　Teabing　assured。　〃Just　because　I　am　returning　to　the　Queen's　realm　does　not　mean　I　intend　to　subje