danbrown.thedavincicode-第85节

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ouched　a　nerve　with　the　Priory。
　Langdon　has　stumbled　onto　a　truth；　and　Saunière　fears　its　release。　Teabing　felt　certain　the　Grand　Master　was　summoning　Langdon　to　silence　him。
　The　Truth　has　been　silenced　long　enough！
　Teabing　knew　he　had　to　act　quickly。　Silas's　attack　would　acplish　two　goals。　It　would　prevent　Saunière　from　persuading　Langdon　to　keep　quiet；　and　it　would　ensure　that　once　the　keystone　was　in　Teabing's　hands；　Langdon　would　be　in　Paris　for　recruitment　should　Teabing　need　him。
　Arranging　the　fatal　meeting　between　Saunière　and　Silas　had　been　almost　too　easy。　I　had　inside　information　about　Saunière's　deepest　fears。　Yesterday　afternoon；　Silas　had　phoned　the　curator　and　posed　as　a　distraught　priest。　〃Monsieur　Saunière；　forgive　me；　I　must　speak　to　you　at　once。　I　should　never　breach　the　sanctity　of　the　confessional；　but　in　this　case；　I　feel　I　must。　I　just　took　confession　from　a　man　who　claimed　to　have　murdered　members　of　your　family。〃
　Saunière's　response　was　startled　but　wary。　〃My　family　died　in　an　accident。　The　police　report　was　conclusive。〃
　〃Yes；　a　car　accident；〃　Silas　said；　baiting　the　hook。　〃The　man　I　spoke　to　said　he　forced　their　car　off　the　road　into　a　river。〃
　Saunière　fell　silent。
　〃Monsieur　Saunière；　I　would　never　have　phoned　you　directly　except　this　man　made　a　ment　which　makes　me　now　fear　for　your　safety。〃　He　paused。　〃The　man　also　mentioned　your　granddaughter；　Sophie。〃
　The　mention　of　Sophie's　name　had　been　the　catalyst。　The　curator　leapt　into　action。　He　ordered　Silas　to　e　see　him　immediately　in　the　safest　location　Saunière　knew…his　Louvre　office。　Then　he　phoned　Sophie　to　warn　her　she　might　be　in　danger。　Drinks　with　Robert　Langdon　were　instantly　abandoned。
　Now；　with　Langdon　separated　from　Sophie　on　the　far　side　of　the　room；　Teabing　sensed　he　had　successfully　alienated　the　two　panions　from　one　another。　Sophie　Neveu　remained　defiant；　but　Langdon　clearly　saw　the　larger　picture。　He　was　trying　to　figure　out　the　password。　He　understands　the　importance　of　finding　the　Grail　and　releasing　her　from　bondage。
　〃He　won't　open　it　for　you；〃　Sophie　said　coldly。　〃Even　if　he　can。〃
　Teabing　was　glancing　at　Langdon　as　he　held　the　gun　on　Sophie。　He　was　fairly　certain　now　he　was　going　to　have　to　use　the　weapon。　Although　the　idea　troubled　him；　he　knew　he　would　not　hesitate　if　it　came　to　that。　I　have　given　her　every　opportunity　to　do　the　right　thing。　The　Grail　is　bigger　than　any　one　of　us。
　At　that　moment；　Langdon　turned　from　the　window。　〃The　tomb。。。〃　he　said　suddenly；　facing　them　with　a　faint　glimmer　of　hope　in　his　eyes。　〃I　know　where　to　look　on　Newton's　tomb。　Yes；　I　think　I　can　find　the　password！〃
　Teabing's　heart　soared。　〃Where；　Robert？　Tell　me！〃
　Sophie　sounded　horrified。　〃Robert；　no！　You're　not　going　to　help　him；　are　you？〃
　Langdon　approached　with　a　resolute　stride；　holding　the　cryptex　before　him。　〃No；〃　he　said；　his　eyes　hardening　as　he　turned　to　Leigh。　〃Not　until　he　lets　you　go。〃
　Teabing's　optimism　darkened。　〃We　are　so　close；　Robert。　Don't　you　dare　start　playing　games　with　me！〃
　〃No　games；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Let　her　go。　Then　I'll　take　you　to　Newton's　tomb。　We'll　open　the　cryptex　together。〃
　〃I'm　not　going　anywhere；〃　Sophie　declared；　her　eyes　narrowing　with　rage。　〃That　cryptex　was　given　to　me　by　my　grandfather。　It　is　not　yours　to　open。〃
　Langdon　wheeled；　looking　fearful。　〃Sophie；　please！　You're　in　danger。　I'm　trying　to　help　you！〃
　〃How？　By　unveiling　the　secret　my　grandfather　died　trying　to　protect？　He　trusted　you；　Robert。　I　trusted　you！〃
　Langdon's　blue　eyes　showed　panic　now；　and　Teabing　could　not　help　but　smile　to　see　the　two　of　them　working　against　one　another。　Langdon's　attempts　to　be　gallant　were　more　pathetic　than　anything。　On　the　verge　of　unveiling　one　of　history's　greatest　secrets；　and　he　troubles　himself　with　a　woman　who　has　proven　herself　unworthy　of　the　quest。
　〃Sophie；〃　Langdon　pleaded。　〃Please。。。　you　must　leave。〃
　She　shook　her　head。　〃Not　unless　you　either　hand　me　the　cryptex　or　smash　it　on　the　floor。〃
　〃What？〃　Langdon　gasped。
　〃Robert；　my　grandfather　would　prefer　his　secret　lost　forever　than　see　it　in　the　hands　of　his　murderer。〃　Sophie's　eyes　looked　as　if　they　would　well　with　tears；　but　they　did　not。　She　stared　directly　back　at　Teabing。　〃Shoot　me　if　you　have　to。　I　am　not　leaving　my　grandfather's　legacy　in　your　hands。〃
　Very　well。　Teabing　aimed　the　weapon。
　〃No！〃　Langdon　shouted；　raising　his　arm　and　suspending　the　cryptex　precariously　over　the　hard　stone　floor。　〃Leigh；　if　you　even　think　about　it；　I　will　drop　this。〃
　Teabing　laughed。　〃That　bluff　worked　on　Rémy。　Not　on　me。　I　know　you　better　than　that。〃
　〃Do　you；　Leigh？〃
　Yes　I　do。　Your　poker　face　needs　work；　my　friend。　It　took　me　several　seconds；　but　I　can　see　now　that　you　are　lying。　You　have　no　idea　where　on　Newton's　tomb　the　answer　lies。　〃Truly；　Robert？　You　know　where　on　the　tomb　to　look？〃
　〃I　do。〃
　The　falter　in　Langdon's　eyes　was　fleeting　but　Leigh　caught　it。　There　was　a　lie　there。　A　desperate；　pathetic　ploy　to　save　Sophie。　Teabing　felt　a　profound　disappointment　in　Robert　Langdon。
　I　am　a　lone　knight；　surrounded　by　unworthy　souls。　And　I　will　have　to　decipher　the　keystone　on　my　own。
　Langdon　and　Neveu　were　nothing　but　a　threat　to　Teabing　now。。。　and　to　the　Grail。　As　painful　as　the　solution　was　going　to　be；　he　knew　he　could　carry　it　out　with　a　clean　conscience。　The　only　challenge　would　be　to　persuade　Langdon　to　set　down　the　keystone　so　Teabing　could　safely　end　this　charade。
　〃A　show　of　faith；〃　Teabing　said；　lowering　the　gun　from　Sophie。　〃Set　down　the　keystone；　and　we'll　talk。〃
　　
　Langdon　knew　his　lie　had　failed。
　He　could　see　the　dark　resolve　in　Teabing's　face　and　knew　the　moment　was　upon　them。　When　I　set　this　down；　he　will　kill　us　both。　Even　without　looking　at　Sophie；　he　could　hear　her　heart　beseeching　him　in　silent　desperation。　Robert；　this　man　is　not　worthy　of　the　Grail。　Please　do　not　place　it　in　his　hands。　No　matter　what　the　cost。
　Langdon　had　already　made　his　decision　several　minutes　ago；　while　standing　alone　at　the　window　overlooking　College　Garden。
　Protect　Sophie。
　Protect　the　Grail。
　Langdon　had　almost　shouted　out　in　desperation。　But　I　cannot　see　how！
　The　stark　moments　of　disillusionment　had　brought　with　them　a　clarity　unlike　any　he　had　ever　felt。　The　Truth　is　right　before　your　eyes；　Robert。　He　knew　not　from　where　the　epiphany　came。　The　Grail　is　not　mocking　you；　she　is　calling　out　to　a　worthy　soul。
　Now；　bowing　down　like　a　subject　several　yards　in　front　of　Leigh　Teabing；　Langdon　lowered　the　cryptex　to　within　inches　of　the　stone　floor。
　〃Yes；　Robert；〃　Teabing　whispered；　aiming　the　gun　at　him。　〃Set　it　down。〃
　Langdon's　eyes　moved　heavenward；　up　into　the　gaping　void　of　the　Chapter　House　cupola。　Crouching　lower；　Langdon　lowered　his　gaze　to　Teabing's　gun；　aimed　directly　at　him。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Leigh。〃
　In　one　fluid　motion；　Langdon　leapt　up；　swinging　his　arm　skyward；　launching　the　cryptex　straight　up　toward　the　dome　above。
　　
　Leigh　Teabing　did　not　feel　his　finger　pull　the　trigger；　but　the　Medusa　discharged　with　a　thundering　crash。　Langdon's　crouched　form　was　now　vertical；　almost　airborne；　and　the　bullet　exploded　in　the　floor　near　Langdon's　feet。　Half　of　Teabing's　brain　attempted　to　adjust　his　aim　and　fire　again　in　rage；　but　the　more　powerful　half　dragged　his　eyes　upward　into　the　cupola。
　The　keystone！
　Time　seemed　to　freeze；　morphing　into　a　slow…motion　dream　as　Teabing's　entire　world　became　the　airborne　keystone。　He　watched　it　rise　to　the　apex　of　its　climb。。。　hovering　for　a　moment　in　the　void。。。　and　then　tumbling　downward；　end　over　end；　back　toward　the　stone　floor。
　All　of　Teabing's　hopes　and　dreams　were　plummeting　toward　earth。　It　cannot　strike　the　floor！　I　can　reach　it！　Teabing's　body　reacted　on　instinct。　He　released　the　gun　and　heaved　himself　forward；　dropping　his　crutches　as　he　reached　out　with　his　soft；　manicured　hands。　Stretching　his　arms　and　fingers；　he　snatched　the　keystone　from　midair。
　Falling　forward　with　the　keystone　victoriously　clutched　in　his　hand；　Teabing　knew　he　was　falling　too　fast。　With　nothing　to　break　his　fall；　his　outstretched　arms　hit　first；　and　the　cryptex　collided　hard　with　the　floor。
　There　was　a　sickening　crunch　of　glass　within。
　For　a　full　second；　Teabing　did　not　breathe。　Lying　there　outstretched　on　the　cold　floor；　staring　the　length　of　his　outstretched　arms　at　the　marble　cylinder　in　his　bare　palms；　he　implored　the　glass　vial　inside　to　hold。　Then　the　acrid　tang　of　vinegar　cut　the　air；　and　Teabing　felt　the　cool　liquid　flowing　out　through　the　dials　onto　his　palm。
　Wild　panic　gripped　him。　NO！　The　vinegar　was　streaming　now；　and　Teabing　pictured　the　papyrus　dissolving　within。　Robert；　you　fool！　The　secret　is　lost！
　Teabing　felt　himself　sobbing　uncontrollably。　The　Grail　is　gone。　Everything　destroyed。　Shuddering　in　disbelief　over　Langdon's　actions；　Teabing　tried　to　force　the　cylinder　apart；　longing　to　catch　a　fleeting　glimpse　of　history　before　it　dissolved　forever。　To　his　shock；　as　he　pulled　the　ends　of　the　keystone；　the　cylinder　separated。
　He　gasped　and　peered　inside。　It　was　empty　except　for　shards　of　wet　glass。　No　dissolving　papyrus。　Teabing　rolled　over　and　looked　up　at　Langdon。　Sophie　stood　beside　him；　aiming　the　gun　down　at