danbrown.thedavincicode-第73节

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！


　The　monk's　red　eyes　filled　with　anger　and　frustration；　and　Rémy　tightened　with　fear　that　Silas　might　actually　shoot　Langdon　while　he　was　holding　the　cryptex。　The　cryptex　cannot　fall！
　The　cryptex　was　to　be　Rémy's　ticket　to　freedom　and　wealth。　A　little　over　a　year　ago；　he　was　simply　a　fifty…five…year…old　manservant　living　within　the　walls　of　Chateau　Villette；　catering　to　the　whims　of　the　insufferable　cripple　Sir　Leigh　Teabing。　Then　he　was　approached　with　an　extraordinary　proposition。　Rémy's　association　with　Sir　Leigh　Teabing…the　preeminent　Grail　historian　on　earth…was　going　to　bring　Rémy　everything　he　had　ever　dreamed　of　in　life。　Since　then；　every　moment　he　had　spent　inside　Chateau　Villette　had　been　leading　him　to　this　very　instant。
　I　am　so　close；　Rémy　told　himself；　gazing　into　the　sanctuary　of　the　Temple　Church　and　the　keystone　in　Robert　Langdon's　hand。　If　Langdon　dropped　it；　all　would　be　lost。
　Am　I　willing　to　show　my　face？　It　was　something　the　Teacher　had　strictly　forbidden。　Rémy　was　the　only　one　who　knew　the　Teacher's　identity。
　〃Are　you　certain　you　want　Silas　to　carry　out　this　task？〃　Rémy　had　asked　the　Teacher　less　than　half　an　hour　ago；　upon　getting　orders　to　steal　the　keystone。　〃I　myself　am　capable。〃
　The　Teacher　was　resolute。　〃Silas　served　us　well　with　the　four　Priory　members。　He　will　recover　the　keystone。　You　must　remain　anonymous。　If　others　see　you；　they　will　need　to　be　eliminated；　and　there　has　been　enough　killing　already。　Do　not　reveal　your　face。〃
　My　face　will　change；　Rémy　thought。　With　what　you've　promised　to　pay　me；　I　will　bee　an　entirely　new　man。　Surgery　could　even　change　his　fingerprints；　the　Teacher　had　told　him。　Soon　he　would　be　free…another　unrecognizable；　beautiful　face　soaking　up　the　sun　on　the　beach。　〃Understood；〃　Rémy　said。　〃I　will　assist　Silas　from　the　shadows。〃
　〃For　your　own　knowledge；　Rémy；〃　the　Teacher　had　told　him；　〃the　tomb　in　question　is　not　in　the　Temple　Church。　So　have　no　fear。　They　are　looking　in　the　wrong　place。〃
　Rémy　was　stunned。　〃And　you　know　where　the　tomb　is？〃
　〃Of　course。　Later；　I　will　tell　you。　For　the　moment；　you　must　act　quickly。　If　the　others　figure　out　the　true　location　of　the　tomb　and　leave　the　church　before　you　take　the　cryptex；　we　could　lose　the　Grail　forever。〃
　Rémy　didn't　give　a　damn　about　the　Grail；　except　that　the　Teacher　refused　to　pay　him　until　it　was　found。　Rémy　felt　giddy　every　time　he　thought　of　the　money　he　soon　would　have。　One　third　of　twenty　million　euro。　Plenty　to　disappear　forever。　Rémy　had　pictured　the　beach　towns　on　the　C？te　d'Azur；　where　he　planned　to　live　out　his　days　basking　in　the　sun　and　letting　others　serve　him　for　a　change。
　Now；　however；　here　in　the　Temple　Church；　with　Langdon　threatening　to　break　the　keystone；　Rémy's　future　was　at　risk。　Unable　to　bear　the　thought　of　ing　this　close　only　to　lose　it　all；　Rémy　made　the　decision　to　take　bold　action。　The　gun　in　his　hand　was　a　concealable；　small…caliber；　J…frame　Medusa；　but　it　would　be　plenty　deadly　at　close　range。
　Stepping　from　the　shadows；　Rémy　marched　into　the　circular　chamber　and　aimed　the　gun　directly　at　Teabing's　head。　〃Old　man；　I've　been　waiting　a　long　time　to　do　this。〃
　　
　Sir　Leigh　Teabing's　heart　practically　stalled　to　see　Rémy　aiming　a　gun　at　him。　What　is　he　doing！　Teabing　recognized　the　tiny　Medusa　revolver　as　his　own；　the　one　he　kept　locked　in　the　limousine　glove　box　for　safety。
　〃Rémy？〃　Teabing　sputtered　in　shock。　〃What　is　going　on？〃
　Langdon　and　Sophie　looked　equally　dumbstruck。
　Rémy　circled　behind　Teabing　and　rammed　the　pistol　barrel　into　his　back；　high　and　on　the　left；　directly　behind　his　heart。
　Teabing　felt　his　muscles　seize　with　terror。　〃Rémy；　I　don't…〃
　〃I'll　make　it　simple；〃　Rémy　snapped；　eyeing　Langdon　over　Teabing's　shoulder。　〃Set　down　the　keystone；　or　I　pull　the　trigger。〃
　Langdon　seemed　momentarily　paralyzed。　〃The　keystone　is　worthless　to　you；〃　he　stammered。　〃You　cannot　possibly　open　it。〃
　〃Arrogant　fools；〃　Rémy　sneered。　〃Have　you　not　noticed　that　I　have　been　listening　tonight　as　you　discussed　these　poems？　Everything　I　heard；　I　have　shared　with　others。　Others　who　know　more　than　you。　You　are　not　even　looking　in　the　right　place。　The　tomb　you　seek　is　in　another　location　entirely！〃
　Teabing　felt　panicked。　What　is　he　saying！
　〃Why　do　you　want　the　Grail？〃　Langdon　demanded。　〃To　destroy　it？　Before　the　End　of　Days？〃
　Rémy　called　to　the　monk。　〃Silas；　take　the　keystone　from　Mr。　Langdon。〃
　As　the　monk　advanced；　Langdon　stepped　back；　raising　the　keystone　high；　looking　fully　prepared　to　hurl　it　at　the　floor。
　〃I　would　rather　break　it；〃　Langdon　said；　〃than　see　it　in　the　wrong　hands。〃
　Teabing　now　felt　a　wave　of　horror。　He　could　see　his　life's　work　evaporating　before　his　eyes。　All　his　dreams　about　to　be　shattered。
　〃Robert；　no！〃　Teabing　exclaimed。　〃Don't！　That's　the　Grail　you're　holding！　Rémy　would　never　shoot　me。　We've　known　each　other　for　ten…〃
　Rémy　aimed　at　the　ceiling　and　fired　the　Medusa。　The　blast　was　enormous　for　such　a　small　weapon；　the　gunshot　echoing　like　thunder　inside　the　stone　chamber。
　Everyone　froze。
　〃I　am　not　playing　games；〃　Rémy　said。　〃The　next　one　is　in　his　back。　Hand　the　keystone　to　Silas。〃
　Langdon　reluctantly　held　out　the　cryptex。　Silas　stepped　forward　and　took　it；　his　red　eyes　gleaming　with　the　self…satisfaction　of　vengeance。　Slipping　the　keystone　in　the　pocket　of　his　robe；　Silas　backed　off；　still　holding　Langdon　and　Sophie　at　gunpoint。
　Teabing　felt　Rémy's　arm　clamp　hard　around　his　neck　as　the　servant　began　backing　out　of　the　building；　dragging　Teabing　with　him；　the　gun　still　pressed　in　his　back。
　〃Let　him　go；〃　Langdon　demanded。
　〃We're　taking　Mr。　Teabing　for　a　drive；〃　Rémy　said；　still　backing　up。　〃If　you　call　the　police；　he　will　die。　If　you　do　anything　to　interfere；　he　will　die。　Is　that　clear？〃
　〃Take　me；〃　Langdon　demanded；　his　voice　cracking　with　emotion。　〃Let　Leigh　go。〃
　Rémy　laughed。　〃I　don't　think　so。　He　and　I　have　such　a　nice　history。　Besides；　he　still　might　prove　useful。〃
　Silas　was　backing　up　now；　keeping　Langdon　and　Sophie　at　gunpoint　as　Rémy　pulled　Leigh　toward　the　exit；　his　crutches　dragging　behind　him。
　Sophie's　voice　was　unwavering。　〃Who　are　you　working　for？〃
　The　question　brought　a　smirk　to　the　departing　Rémy's　face。　〃You　would　be　surprised；　Mademoiselle　Neveu。〃
　　
　CHAPTER　87
　
　The　fireplace　in　Chateau　Villette's　drawing　room　was　cold；　but　Collet　paced　before　it　nonetheless　as　he　read　the　faxes　from　Interpol。
　Not　at　all　what　he　expected。
　André　Vernet；　according　to　official　records；　was　a　model　citizen。　No　police　record…not　even　a　parking　ticket。　Educated　at　prep　school　and　the　Sorbonne；　he　had　a　cum　laude　degree　in　international　finance。　Interpol　said　Vernet's　name　appeared　in　the　newspapers　from　time　to　time；　but　always　in　a　positive　light。　Apparently　the　man　had　helped　design　the　security　parameters　that　kept　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich　a　leader　in　the　ultramodern　world　of　electronic　security。　Vernet's　credit　card　records　showed　a　penchant　for　art　books；　expensive　wine；　and　classical　CD's…mostly　Brahms…which　he　apparently　enjoyed　on　an　exceptionally　high…end　stereo　system　he　had　purchased　several　years　ago。
　Zero；　Collet　sighed。
　The　only　red　flag　tonight　from　Interpol　had　been　a　set　of　fingerprints　that　apparently　belonged　to　Teabing's　servant。　The　chief　PTS　examiner　was　reading　the　report　in　a　fortable　chair　across　the　room。
　Collet　looked　over。　〃Anything？〃
　The　examiner　shrugged。　〃Prints　belong　to　Rémy　Legaludec。　Wanted　for　petty　crime。　Nothing　serious。　Looks　like　he　got　kicked　out　of　university　for　rewiring　phone　jacks　to　get　free　service。。。　later　did　some　petty　theft。　Breaking　and　entering。　Skipped　out　on　a　hospital　bill　once　for　an　emergency　tracheotomy。〃　He　glanced　up；　chuckling。　〃Peanut　allergy。〃
　Collet　nodded；　recalling　a　police　investigation　into　a　restaurant　that　had　failed　to　notate　on　its　menu　that　the　chili　recipe　contained　peanut　oil。　An　unsuspecting　patron　had　died　of　anaphylactic　shock　at　the　table　after　a　single　bite。
　〃Legaludec　is　probably　a　live…in　here　to　avoid　getting　picked　up。〃　The　examiner　looked　amused。　〃His　lucky　night。〃
　Collet　sighed。　〃All　right；　you　better　forward　this　info　to　Captain　Fache。〃
　The　examiner　headed　off　just　as　another　PTS　agent　burst　into　the　living　room。　〃Lieutenant！　We　found　something　in　the　barn。〃
　From　the　anxious　look　on　the　agent's　face；　Collet　could　only　guess。　〃A　body。〃
　〃No；　sir。　Something　more。。。〃　He　hesitated。　〃Unexpected。〃
　Rubbing　his　eyes；　Collet　followed　the　agent　out　to　the　barn。　As　they　entered　the　musty；　cavernous　space；　the　agent　motioned　toward　the　center　of　the　room；　where　a　wooden　ladder　now　ascended　high　into　the　rafters；　propped　against　the　ledge　of　a　hayloft　suspended　high　above　them。
　〃That　ladder　wasn't　there　earlier；〃　Collet　said。
　〃No；　sir。　I　set　that　up。　We　were　dusting　for　prints　near　the　Rolls　when　I　saw　the　ladder　lying　on　the　floor。　I　wouldn't　have　given　it　a　second　thought　except　the　rungs　were　worn　and　muddy。　This　ladder　gets　regular　use。　The　height　of　the　hayloft　matched　the　ladder；　so　I　raised　it　and　climbed　up　to　have　a　look。〃
　Collet's　eyes　climbed　the　ladder's　steep　incline　to　the　soaring　hayloft。　Someone　goes　up　there　regul