达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第39章

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！


Wasting　no　time；　Sophie　unhooked　the　two　buckles　facing　her。　Then　she　glanced　over　at　Langdon。　Together；　they　raised　the　heavy　lid　and　let　it　fall　back。
Stepping　forward；　they　peered　down　into　the　crate。
At　first　glance；　Sophie　thought　the　crate　was　empty。　Then　she　saw　something。　Sitting　at　the　bottom　of　the　crate。　A　lone　item。
The　polished　wooden　box　was　about　the　size　of　a　shoebox　and　had　ornate　hinges。　The　wood　was　a　lustrous　deep　purple　with　a　strong　grain。　Rosewood；　Sophie　realized。　Her　grandfather's　favorite。　The　lid　bore　a　beautiful　inlaid　design　of　a　rose。　She　and　Langdon　exchanged　puzzled　looks。　Sophie　leaned　in　and　grabbed　the　box；　lifting　it　out。
My　God；　it's　heavy！
She　carried　it　gingerly　to　a　large　receiving　table　and　set　it　down。　Langdon　stood　beside　her；　both　of　them　staring　at　the　small　treasure　chest　her　grandfather　apparently　had　sent　them　to　retrieve。
Langdon　stared　in　wonderment　at　the　lid's　hand…carved　inlay—a　five…petal　rose。　He　had　seen　this　type　of　rose　many　times。　〃The　five…petal　rose；〃　he　whispered；　〃is　a　Priory　symbol　for　the　Holy　Grail。〃
Sophie　turned　and　looked　at　him。　Langdon　could　see　what　she　was　thinking；　and　he　was　thinking　it　too。　The　dimensions　of　the　box；　the　apparent　weight　of　its　contents；　and　a　Priory　symbol　for　the　Grail　all　seemed　to　imply　one　unfathomable　conclusion。　The　Cup　of　Christ　is　in　this　wooden　box。　Langdon　again　told　himself　it　was　impossible。
〃It's　a　perfect　size；〃　Sophie　whispered；　〃to　hold。。。　a　chalice。〃
It　can't　be　a　chalice。
Sophie　pulled　the　box　toward　her　across　the　table；　preparing　to　open　it。　As　she　moved　it；　though；　something　unexpected　happened。　The　box　let　out　an　odd　gurgling　sound。
Langdon　did　a　double　take。　There's　liquid　inside？
Sophie　looked　equally　confused。　〃Did　you　just　hear。。。？〃
Langdon　nodded；　lost。　〃Liquid。〃
Reaching　forward；　Sophie　slowly　unhooked　the　clasp　and　raised　the　lid。
The　object　inside　was　unlike　anything　Langdon　had　ever　seen。　One　thing　was　immediately　clear　to　both　of　them；　however。　This　was　definitely　not　the　Cup　of　Christ。
　
CHAPTER　45

〃The　police　are　blocking　the　street；〃　André　Vernet　said；　walking　into　the　waiting　room。　〃Getting　you　out　will　be　difficult。〃　As　he　closed　the　door　behind　him；　Vernet　saw　the　heavy…duty　plastic　case　on　the　conveyor　belt　and　halted　in　his　tracks。　My　God！　They　accessed　Saunière's　account？
Sophie　and　Langdon　were　at　the　table；　huddling　over　what　looked　to　be　a　large　wooden　jewelry　box。　Sophie　immediately　closed　the　lid　and　looked　up。　〃We　had　the　account　number　after　all；〃　she　said。
Vernet　was　speechless。　This　changed　everything。　He　respectfully　diverted　his　eyes　from　the　box　and　tried　to　figure　out　his　next　move。　I　have　to　get　them　out　of　the　bank！　But　with　the　police　already　having　set　up　a　roadblock；　Vernet　could　imagine　only　one　way　to　do　that。　〃Mademoiselle　Neveu；　if　I　can　get　you　safely　out　of　the　bank；　will　you　be　taking　the　item　with　you　or　returning　it　to　the　vault　before　you　leave？〃
Sophie　glanced　at　Langdon　and　then　back　to　Vernet。　〃We　need　to　take　it。〃
Vernet　nodded。　〃Very　well。　Then　whatever　the　item　is；　I　suggest　you　wrap　it　in　your　jacket　as　we　move　through　the　hallways。　I　would　prefer　nobody　else　see　it。〃
As　Langdon　shed　his　jacket；　Vernet　hurried　over　to　the　conveyor　belt；　closed　the　now　empty　crate；　and　typed　a　series　of　simple　mands。　The　conveyor　belt　began　moving　again；　carrying　the　plastic　container　back　down　to　the　vault。　Pulling　the　gold　key　from　the　podium；　he　handed　it　to　Sophie。
〃This　way　please。　Hurry。〃
When　they　reached　the　rear　loading　dock；　Vernet　could　see　the　flash　of　police　lights　filtering　through　the　underground　garage。　He　frowned。　They　were　probably　blocking　the　ramp。　Am　I　really　going　to　try　to　pull　this　off？　He　was　sweating　now。
Vernet　motioned　to　one　of　the　bank's　small　armored　trucks。　Transport　s？r　was　another　service　offered　by　the　Depository　Bank　of　Zurich。
〃Get　in　the　cargo　hold；〃　he　said；　heaving　open　the　massive　rear　door　and　motioning　to　the　glistening　steel　partment。　〃I'll　be　right　back。〃
As　Sophie　and　Langdon　climbed　in；　Vernet　hurried　across　the　loading　dock　to　the　dock　overseer's　office；　let　himself　in；　collected　the　keys　for　the　truck；　and　found　a　driver's　uniform　jacket　and　cap。　Shedding　his　own　suit　coat　and　tie；　he　began　to　put　on　the　driver's　jacket。　Reconsidering；　he　donned　a　shoulder　holster　beneath　the　uniform。　On　his　way　out；　he　grabbed　a　driver's　pistol　from　the　rack；　put　in　a　clip；　and　stuffed　it　in　the　holster；　buttoning　his　uniform　over　it。　Returning　to　the　truck；　Vernet　pulled　the　driver's　cap　down　low　and　peered　in　at　Sophie　and　Langdon；　who　were　standing　inside　the　empty　steel　box。
〃You'll　want　this　on；〃　Vernet　said；　reaching　inside　and　flicking　a　wall　switch　to　illuminate　the　lone　courtesy　bulb　on　the　hold's　ceiling。　〃And　you'd　better　sit　down。　Not　a　sound　on　our　way　out　the　gate。〃
Sophie　and　Langdon　sat　down　on　the　metal　floor。　Langdon　cradled　the　treasure　wadded　in　his　tweed　jacket。　Swinging　the　heavy　doors　closed；　Vernet　locked　them　inside。　Then　he　got　in　behind　the　wheel　and　revved　the　engine。
As　the　armored　truck　lumbered　toward　the　top　of　the　ramp；　Vernet　could　feel　the　sweat　already　collecting　beneath　his　driver's　cap。　He　could　see　there　were　far　more　police　lights　in　front　than　he　had　imagined。　As　the　truck　powered　up　the　ramp；　the　interior　gate　swung　inward　to　let　him　pass。　Vernet　advanced　and　waited　while　the　gate　behind　him　closed　before　pulling　forward　and　tripping　the　next　sensor。　The　second　gate　opened；　and　the　exit　beckoned。
Except　for　the　police　car　blocking　the　top　of　the　ramp。
Vernet　dabbed　his　brow　and　pulled　forward。
A　lanky　officer　stepped　out　and　waved　him　to　a　stop　a　few　meters　from　the　roadblock。　Four　patrol　cars　were　parked　out　front。
Vernet　stopped。　Pulling　his　driver's　cap　down　farther；　he　effected　as　rough　a　facade　as　his　cultured　upbringing　would　allow。　Not　budging　from　behind　the　wheel；　he　opened　the　door　and　gazed　down　at　the　agent；　whose　face　was　stern　and　sallow。
〃Qu'est…ce　qui　se　passe？〃　Vernet　asked；　his　tone　rough。
〃Je　suis　Jérome　Collet；〃　the　agent　said。　〃Lieutenant　Police　Judiciaire。〃　He　motioned　to　the　truck's　cargo　hold。　〃Qu'est…ce　qu'ily　a　là　dedans？〃
〃Hell　if　I　know；〃　Vernet　replied　in　crude　French。　〃I'm　only　a　driver。〃
Collet　looked　unimpressed。　〃We're　looking　for　two　criminals。〃
Vernet　laughed。　〃Then　you　came　to　the　right　spot。　Some　of　these　bastards　I　drive　for　have　so　much　money　they　must　be　criminals。〃
The　agent　held　up　a　passport　picture　of　Robert　Langdon。　〃Was　this　man　in　your　bank　tonight？〃
Vernet　shrugged。　〃No　clue。　I'm　a　dock　rat。　They　don't　let　us　anywhere　near　the　clients。　You　need　to　go　in　and　ask　the　front　desk。〃
〃Your　bank　is　demanding　a　search　warrant　before　we　can　enter。〃
Vernet　put　on　a　disgusted　look。　〃Administrators。　Don't　get　me　started。〃
〃Open　your　truck；　please。〃　Collet　motioned　toward　the　cargo　hold。
Vernet　stared　at　the　agent　and　forced　an　obnoxious　laugh。　〃Open　the　truck？　You　think　I　have　keys？　You　think　they　trust　us？　You　should　see　the　crap　wages　I　get　paid。〃
The　agent's　head　tilted　to　one　side；　his　skepticism　evident。　〃You're　telling　me　you　don't　have　keys　to　your　own　truck？〃
Vernet　shook　his　head。　〃Not　the　cargo　area。　Ignition　only。　These　trucks　get　sealed　by　overseers　on　the　loading　dock。　Then　the　truck　sits　in　dock　while　someone　drives　the　cargo　keys　to　the　drop…off。　Once　we　get　the　call　that　the　cargo　keys　are　with　the　recipient；　then　I　get　the　okay　to　drive。　Not　a　second　before。　I　never　know　what　the　hell　I'm　lugging。〃
〃When　was　this　truck　sealed？〃
〃Must　have　been　hours　ago。　I'm　driving　all　the　way　up　to　St。　Thurial　tonight。　Cargo　keys　are　already　up　there。〃
The　agent　made　no　response；　his　eyes　probing　as　if　trying　to　read　Vernet's　mind。
A　drop　of　sweat　was　preparing　to　slide　down　Vernet's　nose。　〃You　mind？〃　he　said；　wiping　his　nose　with　his　sleeve　and　motioning　to　the　police　car　blocking　his　way。　〃I'm　on　a　tight　schedule。〃
〃Do　all　the　drivers　wear　Rolexes？〃　the　agent　asked；　pointing　to　Vernet's　wrist。
Vernet　glanced　down　and　saw　the　glistening　band　of　his　absurdly　expensive　watch　peeking　out　from　beneath　the　sleeve　of　his　jacket。　Merde。　〃This　piece　of　shit？　Bought　it　for　twenty　euro　from　a　Taiwanese　street　vendor　in　St。　Germain　des　Prés。　I'll　sell　it　to　you　for　forty。〃
The　agent　paused　and　finally　stepped　aside。　〃No　thanks。　Have　a　safe　trip。〃
Vernet　did　not　breathe　again　until　the　truck　was　a　good　fifty　meters　down　the　street。　And　now　he　had　another　problem。　His　cargo。　Where　do　I　take　them？
　
CHAPTER　46

Silas　lay　prone　on　the　canvas　mat　in　his　room；　allowing　the　lash　wounds　on　his　back　to　clot　in　the　air。　Tonight's　second　session　with　the　Discipline　had　left　him　dizzy　and　weak。　He　had　yet　to　remove　the　cilice　belt；　and　he　could　feel　the　blood　trickling　down　his　inner　thigh。　Still；　he　could　not　justify　removing　the　strap。
I　have　failed　the　Church。
Far　worse；　I　have　failed　the　bishop。
Tonight　was　supposed　to　be　Bishop　Aringarosa's　salvation。　Five　months　ago；　the　bishop　had　returned　from　a　meeting　at　the　Vatican　Observatory；　where　he　had　learned　something　that　left　him　deeply　changed。　Depressed　for　weeks；　Aringarosa　had　finally　shared　the　news　with　Silas。
〃But　this　is　impossible！〃　Silas　had　cried　out。　〃I　cannot　accep