达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第58章

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ood　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　subject　my　palate　to　bangers　and　mash　for　the　rest　of　my　days。　I　expect　you　will　join　me　there　permanently。　I'm　planning　to　buy　a　splendid　villa　in　Devonshire；　and　we'll　have　all　your　things　shipped　up　immediately。　An　adventure；　Rémy。　I　say；　an　adventure！〃
Langdon　had　to　smile。　As　Teabing　railed　on　about　his　plans　for　a　triumphant　return　to　Britain；　Langdon　felt　himself　caught　up　in　the　man's　infectious　enthusiasm。
Gazing　absently　out　the　window；　Langdon　watched　the　woods　passing　by；　ghostly　pale　in　the　yellow　blush　of　the　fog　lights。　The　side　mirror　was　tipped　inward；　brushed　askew　by　branches；　and　Langdon　saw　the　reflection　of　Sophie　sitting　quietly　in　the　back　seat。　He　watched　her　for　a　long　while　and　felt　an　unexpected　upwelling　of　contentment。　Despite　his　troubles　tonight；　Langdon　was　thankful　to　have　landed　in　such　good　pany。
After　several　minutes；　as　if　suddenly　sensing　his　eyes　on　her；　Sophie　leaned　forward　and　put　her　hands　on　his　shoulders；　giving　him　a　quick　rub。　〃You　okay？〃
〃Yeah；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Somehow。〃
Sophie　sat　back　in　her　seat；　and　Langdon　saw　a　quiet　smile　cross　her　lips。　He　realized　that　he　too　was　now　grinning。
　
Wedged　in　the　back　of　the　Range　Rover；　Silas　could　barely　breathe。　His　arms　were　wrenched　backward　and　heavily　lashed　to　his　ankles　with　kitchen　twine　and　duct　tape。　Every　bump　in　the　road　sent　pain　shooting　through　his　twisted　shoulders。　At　least　his　captors　had　removed　the　cilice。　Unable　to　inhale　through　the　strip　of　tape　over　his　mouth；　he　could　only　breathe　through　his　nostrils；　which　were　slowly　clogging　up　due　to　the　dusty　rear　cargo　area　into　which　he　had　been　crammed。　He　began　coughing。
〃I　think　he's　choking；〃　the　French　driver　said；　sounding　concerned。
The　British　man　who　had　struck　Silas　with　his　crutch　now　turned　and　peered　over　the　seat；　frowning　coldly　at　Silas。　〃Fortunately　for　you；　we　British　judge　man's　civility　not　by　his　passion　for　his　friends；　but　by　his　passion　for　his　enemies。〃　The　Brit　reached　down　and　grabbed　the　duct　tape　on　Silas's　mouth。　In　one　fast　motion；　he　tore　it　off。
Silas　felt　as　if　his　lips　had　just　caught　fire；　but　the　air　pouring　into　his　lungs　was　sent　from　God。
〃Whom　do　you　work　for？〃　the　British　man　demanded。
〃I　do　the　work　of　God；〃　Silas　spat　back　through　the　pain　in　his　jaw　where　the　woman　had　kicked　him。
〃You　belong　to　Opus　Dei；〃　the　man　said。　It　was　not　a　question。
〃You　know　nothing　of　who　I　am。〃
〃Why　does　Opus　Dei　want　the　keystone？〃
Silas　had　no　intention　of　answering。　The　keystone　was　the　link　to　the　Holy　Grail；　and　the　Holy　Grail　was　the　key　to　protecting　the　faith。
I　do　the　work　of　God。　The　Way　is　in　peril。
Now；　in　the　Range　Rover；　struggling　against　his　bonds；　Silas　feared　he　had　failed　the　Teacher　and　the　bishop　forever。　He　had　no　way　even　to　contact　them　and　tell　them　the　terrible　turn　of　events。　My　captors　have　the　keystone！　They　will　reach　the　Grail　before　we　do！　In　the　stifling　darkness；　Silas　prayed。　He　let　the　pain　of　his　body　fuel　his　supplications。
A　miracle；　Lord。　I　need　a　miracle。　Silas　had　no　way　of　knowing　that　hours　from　now；　he　would　get　one。
　
〃Robert？〃　Sophie　was　still　watching　him。　〃A　funny　look　just　crossed　your　face。〃
Langdon　glanced　back　at　her；　realizing　his　jaw　was　firmly　set　and　his　heart　was　racing。　An　incredible　notion　had　just　occurred　to　him。　Could　it　really　be　that　simple　an　explanation？　〃I　need　to　use　your　cell　phone；　Sophie。〃
〃Now？〃
〃I　think　I　just　figured　something　out。〃
〃What？〃
〃I'll　tell　you　in　a　minute。　I　need　your　phone。〃
Sophie　looked　wary。　〃I　doubt　Fache　is　tracing；　but　keep　it　under　a　minute　just　in　case。〃　She　gave　him　her　phone。
〃How　do　I　dial　the　States？〃
〃You　need　to　reverse　the　charges。　My　service　doesn't　cover　transatlantic。〃
Langdon　dialed　zero；　knowing　that　the　next　sixty　seconds　might　answer　a　question　that　had　been　puzzling　him　all　night。
　
CHAPTER　68

New　York　editor　Jonas　Faukman　had　just　climbed　into　bed　for　the　night　when　the　telephone　rang。　A　little　late　for　callers；　he　grumbled；　picking　up　the　receiver。
An　operator's　voice　asked　him；　〃Will　you　accept　charges　for　a　collect　call　from　Robert　Langdon？〃
Puzzled；　Jonas　turned　on　the　light。　〃Uh。。。　sure；　okay。〃
The　line　clicked。　〃Jonas？〃
〃Robert？　You　wake　me　up　and　you　charge　me　for　it？〃
〃Jonas；　forgive　me；〃　Langdon　said。　〃I'll　keep　this　very　short。　I　really　need　to　know。　The　manuscript　I　gave　you。　Have　you—〃
〃Robert；　I'm　sorry；　I　know　I　said　I'd　send　the　edits　out　to　you　this　week；　but　I'm　swamped。　Next　Monday。　I　promise。〃
〃I'm　not　worried　about　the　edits。　I　need　to　know　if　you　sent　any　copies　out　for　blurbs　without　telling　me？〃
Faukman　hesitated。　Langdon's　newest　manuscript—an　exploration　of　the　history　of　goddess　worship—included　several　sections　about　Mary　Magdalene　that　were　going　to　raise　some　eyebrows。　Although　the　material　was　well　documented　and　had　been　covered　by　others；　Faukman　had　no　intention　of　printing　Advance　Reading　Copies　of　Langdon's　book　without　at　least　a　few　endorsements　from　serious　historians　and　art　luminaries。　Jonas　had　chosen　ten　big　names　in　the　art　world　and　sent　them　all　sections　of　the　manuscript　along　with　a　polite　letter　asking　if　they　would　be　willing　to　write　a　short　endorsement　for　the　jacket。　In　Faukman's　experience；　most　people　jumped　at　the　opportunity　to　see　their　name　in　print。
〃Jonas？〃　Langdon　pressed。　〃You　sent　out　my　manuscript；　didn't　you？〃
Faukman　frowned；　sensing　Langdon　was　not　happy　about　it。　〃The　manuscript　was　clean；　Robert；　and　I　wanted　to　surprise　you　with　some　terrific　blurbs。〃
A　pause。　〃Did　you　send　one　to　the　curator　of　the　Paris　Louvre？〃
〃What　do　you　think？　Your　manuscript　referenced　his　Louvre　collection　several　times；　his　books　are　in　your　bibliography；　and　the　guy　has　some　serious　clout　for　foreign　sales。　Saunière　was　a　no…brainer。〃
The　silence　on　the　other　end　lasted　a　long　time。　〃When　did　you　send　it？〃
〃About　a　month　ago。　I　also　mentioned　you　would　be　in　Paris　soon　and　suggested　you　two　chat。　Did　he　ever　call　you　to　meet？〃　Faukman　paused；　rubbing　his　eyes。　〃Hold　on；　aren't　you　supposed　to　be　in　Paris　this　week？〃
〃I　am　in　Paris。〃
Faukman　sat　upright。　〃You　called　me　collect　from　Paris？〃
〃Take　it　out　of　my　roy