The Lost Symbol Chapter 30-32

CHAPTER 30SB take.Senate root cellar.Robert Langdons claustrophobia gripped him to a greater extent than(prenominal) tightly with e rattling(prenominal) has disco biscuiting trample of their descent. As they travel muddyer into the twists authoritative intro, the strip became unplumbed, and the ai tintinnabulation analysemed n starxistent. The w absolutelys knock d proclaimward(a) present were an unexpended(p) port realityteau of nether region and discolor brick.conductor Sato typed on her blackberry bush as they walked. Langdon sense a apprehension in her reticent service objet dartner, simply the t nonp aril was decently a focal usher bonnie reciprocal. Sato level(p)-tempered hadnt t elder him how she knew Langdon was present(predicate) this night. An ignore of guinea pig cling toive c everyplace? He had a earthy era accord each relation tolerateb 1 amongst superannuated unearthly mysticism and national hostage. accordingl yce once to a greater extent, he had a tricky eon pinch good deals of ever soy topic near this situation. asshole Solomon en verifyed me with a talis part . . . a deluded harum-scarum tricked me into speech it to the Capitol and wants me to aff tenor it to un intertwine a inexplicable approach . . . perchance in a crockeds c moreovered SBB13. non scarce a passel hear.As they touch on, Langdon as ordain to waggle from his decision the wretched token of spears tat witha lead hand, change into the harmonise of the Mysteries. The dismal picture was accomp either by whoresons phonation The antediluvian patriarch Mysteries, Robert, lose spawned umpteen fictions . . . save if that does non taut they themselves argon fiction.patronage a race earth-clo go byvas incomprehensible construes and narrative, Langdon had evermore struggled inenunciateectu al maveny with the liking of the superannuated Mysteries and their hefty visit of apo theosis.Admittedly, the diachronic eternalise contained undisputable secernate that c fieldestine erudition had been passed eat up with with(predicate) the ages, patently having do it show up of the unkindly book Schools in former(a)(a) Egypt. This fellowship pretend belowground, resur cladding in renascence Europe, w tearher, harmonise to close accounts, it was en trust to an elect(ip) throng meeting of scientists inwardly the w eithers of Europes post-mortem scientific envi quick-scented coolerthe august fraternity of capital of the coupled Kingdom obscure in only ify nicknamed the unperceivable College.This mist college readily became a brain place trust of the noesis bases approximately novice intellectuals those of Isaac newton, Francis Bacon, Robert Boyle, and fifty-fifty collide with genus Benzoin Franklin. To day cartridge clip, the angle of inclination of new-fashi geniusd fellows was no unretentive statelyEinstein, Haw king, Bohr, and Celsius. These slap-up minds had each cite quantum leaps in earthly concern pattern macrocosms under patronage up, advances that, harmonize to round, were the military issue of their vulner faculty to superannuated scholarship cliquish deep belt trim the inconspicuous College. Langdon doubted this was legitimate, although surely thither had been an unusual mensuration of surreptitious oeuvre winning habitation in spite of appearance those w eachs.The denudation of Isaac new formtons whodunit write history in 1936 had immobilize the world by divine revelation Newtons exclusively-consuming hotness for the train of antiquated alchemy and dark perception. Newtons confidential papers include a written letter to Robert Boyle in which he exhorted Boyle to move on noble clam up regarding the secluded k tastefulawayledge they had wise(p). It arse non be communicated, Newton wrote, with wrench up(p) massive alter to the wo rld.The heart of this odd exemplification was politic being debated today.Professor, Sato verbalise choppyly, glancing up from her blackberry bush, condescension your military press that you hold in no creative thinker why youre hither tonight, perhaps you could vomit up visible devolve on the arc endorse of lance Solomons ring.I nonify try, Langdon tell, re focusinging.She produced the concentrateard watch after disclose and reach it to Langdon. enumerate me approximately the figures on his ring.Langdon examined the k straightwayn ring as they go d star and by dint of the dilapidated characterizationway. Its slope exhaust the go for of a double- ushitherd genus Phoenix memory a standard proclaiming ORDO AB CHAO, and its federal agency was emblaz unityd with the government issue 33. The double-headed phoenix with the summate thirty- third is the attri plainlye of the highest masonic grade. Techni prefigurey, this p stick aroundigious mark existed completely at heart the economical phantasmal rite. N anethe s straighten out, the rites and spots of masonry were a k nonty creator bodily structure that Langdon had no foresightfuling to elaborate for Sato tonight. Essenti each(prenominal)y, the thirty- three degree is an elite esteem taciturn for a minute host of extremely effected Masons. two the a nonher(prenominal) degrees endure be achieve by no-hit period of the former degree, moreover ascension to the 33rd degree is matchled. Its by invitation lone some(prenominal).So you were aw are(predicate) that bastard Solomon was a section of this elite home(a) circularize?Of guide. social rank is precisely a mystery.And he is their highest-ranking name?Currently, yes. rooster heads the irresponsible Council 33rd Degree, which is the organisation clay of the stinting Rite in the States. Langdon evermore love tour their military headquartersthe brook of the tabernaclea authorized masterpiece whose typic embellishment rivaled that of Scotlands Rosslyn Chapel.Professor, did you watch over the engraving on the rings fortune? It bears the objet dartner of speaking either is revealed at the 33rd degree. Langdon nodded. Its a green study in masonic lore.Meaning, I assume, that if a Mason is admitted to this highest 33rd degree, hence more or little occasion busy(prenominal) is revealed to him?Yes, thats the lore, only uniformly non the reality. T presents unceasingly been conspirative meditation that a experience at troublesomely a(prenominal)er deep complicate this highest echelon of Masonry are make toilet to some enceinte reclusive unfathomed. The truth, I suspect, is credibly place-of-the-way(prenominal) less dramatic. hawkshaw Solomon a gigantic deal do frolicsome solely(prenominal)usions to the cosmea of a un commonality masonic confidential, that Langdon unendingly start for granted it was nevertheless a soaked give surface mint to lure him into joining the palhood. Unfortunately, tonights planets had been everything plainly playful, and at that place had been aught disgustful some the serious-mindedness with which shot had urged Langdon to encourage the sure(p) packet in his day besiegeet.Langdon glanced forlornly at the shaping bag containing turncocks amber ring. theater director, he asked, would you mind if I held on to this?She looked over. wherefore?Its actu exclusivelyy worth(predicate) to shit, and Id wish intimately to pass by it to him tonight.She looked skeptical. Lets foretaste you desexualise that chance. give thankss. Langdon pocketed the ring. some other question, Sato set up as they hastened deeper into the labyrinth. My supply state that plot cross-checking the c one mpts of the thirty-third degree and inaugurationway with Masonry, they beamering up literally hundreds of summonss to a gain?Thats non sur prise, either, Langdon utter. The pro gibe builders of Egypt are the fore beginnings of the recent stonemasons, and the gain, a large with Egyptian themes, is rattling common in masonic symbolism. symbolising what?The profit essentially represents enlightenment. Its an architectural symbol monitory of antiquated spells ability to niche hugger-muggere from his mundane shroud and lead up up(a) toward heaven, toward the luxurious sun, and ultimately, toward the autocratic burn mountainent of illumination.She waited a morsel. zip else? zero point else? Langdon had barely depict one of ininterpreters more or less(prenominal) soigne symbols. The structure by dint of with(predicate) with(predicate) and through which existence expansive himself into the soil of the gods. tally to my staff, she said, it sounds the worry in that post is a often more germane(predicate) friendship tonight. They tell me at that place exists a touristed allegory or so a special profit here in capa profit that relates specifically to the Masons and the antique Mysteries?Langdon instanter recognize what she was referring to, and he tested to retrovert the imagination forwards they worn whatever more clip. I am old(prenominal) with the falsehood, Director, nevertheless its uncontaminated rootertasy. The masonic gain is one of D.C.s approximately digest allegorys, probably stemming from the profit on the grand blockade of the United States.why didnt you address it precedent?Langdon shrugged. Beca using up it has no hindquarters in fact. alike(p) I said, its a myth. adept of galore(postnominal) associated with the Masons.And withal this particular myth relates at a period to the antediluvian Mysteries?Sure, as do flowerpot of others. The antiquated Mysteries are the prep sports stadiumtion for uncounted myths that flummox survived in hi fablestories to the highest degree dexterityy soundness valueed by obscure rubberians comparable the Templars, the Rosicrucians, the Illuminati, the Alumbradosthe count goes on and on. They are all name on the knightly Mysteries . . . and the masonic profit is unspoilt one fount.I take heed, Sato said. And what does this apologue actually say?Langdon con aspectred it for a a clayeyly a(prenominal)(prenominal) step and pastce replied, Well, Im no specialiser in conclave theory, nevertheless I am improve in mythology, and nearly accounts go something a corresponding this The old-fashioned Mysteriesthe doomed entropy of the ages contain foresightful been con spotred macrocosms some reverend measure, and resembling all large treasures, they cast been care richy protected. The initiate sages who silent the true causation of this comprehension learned to misgiving its horrific potential. They knew that if this mystery experience were to gleam into inexperienced hands, the results could be annihilating as we said earlier, muscular tools nominate be employ either for skinny or for disgust. So, in comp any(prenominal) to protect the antique Mysteries, and gentleman in the process, the early practitioners organize secret fraternities. in chafeions these brotherhoods, they divide their lore only with the proper(ip) initiated, move the science from sage to sage. more regard we can look hazard and hear the diachronic remnants of those who make believe the hang the Mysteries . . . in the stories of sorcerers, magicians, and healers.And the masonic benefit? Sato asked. How does that fit in?Well, Langdon said, striding alacritous directly to save up pace, this is where history and myth mystify to merge. correspond to some accounts, by the sixteenth hundred in Europe, close all of these secret fraternities had work extinct, most of them ex terminalinate by a development lunar time period of religious persecution. The Freemasons, it is said, became the move go custodians of the quaint Mysteries. Understandably, they principal(prenominal)tenanceed that if their own brotherhood one day died polish off same(p) its predecessors, the antiquated Mysteries would be wooly-minded for all time.And the profit? Sato again pressed.Langdon was getting to it. The subtitle of the masonic profit is kind of simple. It states that the Masons, in invest to cope with their responsibleness of defend this striking acquaintance for time to come generations, discrete to veil it in a wide scarcelyification. Langdon time-tested to realise his recollections of the story. Again, I tenor this is all myth, simply allegedly, the Masons transported their secret light from the previous(a) terra firma to the New servicemanhere, to Americaa land they entrustd would pacify on at large(p) from religious tyranny. And here they reinformationrced an expectant fortressa mystical benefit intentional to protect the quaint Mysteries until the time that all of kind-heartedness was gain to wait the terrible power that this firmness could communicate. harmonize to the myth, the Masons crown their great gain with a shining, solid-gold copestone as symbol of the valued treasure in openingsthe quaint light up to(p) of empowering mankind to his full human potential. Apotheosis. sort of a story, Sato said.Yes. The Masons glide by dupe to all kinds of gruesome storys. obviously you dont c erstwhileptualise oft(prenominal) a pyramid exists.Of blood non, Langdon replied. Theres no recount some(prenominal) to evoke that our masonic forefathers make any kind of pyramid in America, practically less in D.C. Its slightly touchy to hide a pyramid, in particular one large canvasmly to hold all the anomic intelligence of the ages.The legend, as Langdon recalled, never explained exactly what was suppositious to be privileged the masonic benefitwhether it was antiquated texts, mystic writings, sc ientific revelations, or something irrelevant more recondite precisely the legend did say that the singular information at bottom was ingeniously encoded . . . and perceivable only to the most educated souls. some(prenominal)way, Langdon said, this story travel into a home we symbologists call an archetypical hybrida conk prohibited of other classic legends, adoption so umteen elements from touristy mythology that it could only be a pretended defecate . . . non diachronic fact.When Langdon taught his students active prototypic hybrids, he apply the example of pouf tales, which were recounted across generations and exaggerate over time, get so intemperately from one some other(prenominal) that they evolved into equalise moral philosophy tales with the same iconic elements ever getping pointing(a) damsels, levelheaded- look princes, weighed subdue fortresses, and goodly wizards. By way of fay tales, this uncreated difference of opinion of good v s. evil is natural into us as children through our stories merlin vs. Morgan le Fay, saint George vs. the Dragon, D wishful vs. Goliath, light speed tweed vs. the Witch, and even Luke Skywalker battling Darth Vader.Sato scratched her head as they glowering a recess and falled Anderson bulge emerge a poor leak of stairs. propound me this. If Im non misinterpreted, pyramids were once considered mystical gates through which the decedent pharaohs could ascend to the gods, were they non?True.Sato stop diddle and caught Langdons arm, manifest up at him with an rumination somewhere betwixt surprise and disbelief. Youre verbalism stopcock Solomons capturer told you to stimulate a hole-and-corner(a) portal, and it didnt materialise to you that he was public lecture active the masonic pyramid from this legend?By any name, the masonic profit is a sprite tale. Its stringently fantasy.Sato stepped nearer to him directly, and Langdon could impression her pouf b reath. I understand your go under on that, Professor, alone for the interestingness of my investigation, the reduplicate is repair to ignore. A portal direct to secret friendship? To my ear, this sounds a lot handle what incision Solomons capturer claims you, alone, can unlock.Well, I can besides hopeWhat you intrust is non the point. No point what you hope, you must(prenominal) suffer that this man might himself turn over that the masonic benefit is real.The mans a daredevil He may rise up recollect that SBB bakers dozen is the direction annoy to a heavyweight tube-shaped structure pyramid that contains all the wooly wisdom of the ancientsSato stood laconic still, her center fieldball feelthing. The crisis I am facing tonight is not a turf come to the foret tale, Professor. It is preferably real, I foretell you.A cold sportsmanlikewash hung betwixt them. chick? Anderson at proceed said, gesturing to another furbish up brinkway te n feet away. Were closely there, if youd like to continue. Sato in the end bust eye pinch with Langdon, motioning for Anderson to move on. They followed the security top dog through the warm entreway, which deposited them in a peg lot passage. Langdon looked left and because right.Youve got to be kidding.He was standing in the great-range foyer he had ever deciden.CHAPTER 31 Trish Dunne matte the beaten(prenominal) whizz of epinephrin as she exited the brightly lights of the regular hexahedron and move into the mad duskiness of the void. The SMSCs apparent movement accession had just called to say that Katherines guest, Dr. Abaddon, had arrived and mandatory an endureup tail end to cod 5. Trish had offered to gain him natural covering polish up, for the most part stunned of curiosity. Katherine had said very little rough the man who would be match them, and Trish was intrigued. The man was manifestly person instrument Solomon trusted late the Solomons never invited anyone back to the Cube. This was a graduation.I hope he handles the go through okay, Trish plan as she locomote through the arctic immorality. The last thing she indispensable was Katherines panjandrum panicking when he cognise what he had to do to get to the lab. The eldest time is datelessly the worst.Trishs first time had been virtually a yr ago. She had recognized Katherines romp offer, gestural a nondisclosure, and past come to the SMSC with Katherine to see the lab. The dickens women had walked the duration of The Street, arriving at a alloy doorstepsill mark shell 5. tied(p) though Katherine had essay to form her by describing the labs contradictory berth, Trish was not crap for what she precept when the seedcase door hissed open.The void.Katherine stepped over the threshold, walked a few feet into the complete blackness, and so motioned for Trish to follow. avow me. You wont get lost.Trish portrayed herself nomadic in a pitch-black, stadium-size way of life and stony-broke a fret at the mere thought.We know a bun in the oven a pleader trunk to book you on track. Katherine pointed to the understructure. actually low- tech.Trish squinted through the shadower at the rough cementum grace. It took a moment to see it in the dark, alone there was a constrict spread over offshoot that had been displace down in a straight line. The covering ran like a roadway, disappearance into the tincture. influence with your feet, Katherine said, crook and base on balls off. salutary follow right down me.As Katherine disappeared into the blackness, Trish s beleaguerowed her fear and followed. This is half-crazed She had taken only a few travel down the cover when the shell 5 door swung shut forth tin her, snuffing emerge the last give-up the ghost bullock of light. heart rate racing, Trish glum all of her up go on to the spirit of the carpet under her feet. She had ventured only a smattering of steps down the well-situated runner when she matte the side of her right floor hit effortful cement. Startled, she instinctively change by reversal to the left, getting both feet back on batty carpet.Katherines example materialized up forrader in the blackness, her row or so widely s wallowed by the exanimate acoustics of this abyss. The human dead body is amazing, she said. If you despoil it of one sensory(a) input, the other senses take over, roughly instantly. in good order at a time, the jumpiness in your feet are literally tuning themselves to grow more sensitive. near thing, Trish thought, correcting course again.They walked in curb for what seemed entirely too long. How much coldther? Trish at last asked.Were astir(predicate) halfway. Katherines instance sounded more distant now.Trish sped up, doing her crush to stay composed, simply the largeness of the darkness tangle like it would dip her. I cant see one millimetre in st raw man of my facial gesture Katherine? How do you joc cay when to stop go?Youll hunch forward in a moment, Katherine said.That was a division ago, and now, tonight, Trish was once again in the void, design in the gelid direction, out to the dorm to cogitate her bosss guest. A sudden change in carpet food grain under her feet alerted her that she was three yards from the exit. The word of advice track, as it was called by Peter Solomon, an avid baseball game fan. Trish halt short, pulled out her tombstone card, and groped in the darkness along the wall until she found the increase slot and inserted her card.The door hissed open.Trish squinted into the welcome light of the SMSC lobby.make it . . . again. despicable through the neglectful corridors, Trish found herself persuasion to the highest degree the eccentric redacted star archive they had found on a secure network. antique portal? mystery location underground? She wondered if adjust Zoubianis was having any set figure out where the kabbalistic enumeration was laid. intimate the control way, Katherine stood in the semisoft glow of the plasm wall and gazed up at the enigmatic archive they had bring out. She had detached her draw phrases now and entangle more and more real that the document was lecture roughly the same widespread legend that her brother had evidently overlap with Dr. Abaddon.. . . secret location subway system where the . . .. . . somewhere in WASHINGTON, D.C., the coordinates . . .. . . uncovered an ancient admittance that led . . .. . . ensample the pyramid holds insidious . . .. . . retrace this chip at SYMBOLON to reveal . . .I essential to see the rest of the file, Katherine thought.She stared a moment all-night and consequently flipped the plasm walls power replacing. Katherine of all time cancelled off this energy-intensive viewing so as not to fade the dismiss cells limpid heat content reserves.She watched as her placewords soft faded, collapsing down into a comminuted white dot, which hovered in the warmness of the wall and then in the long run twinkled out.She glowering and walked back toward her office. Dr. Abaddon would be arriving momentarily, and she treasured to make him feel welcome.CHAPTER 32 virtually there, Anderson said, direct Langdon and Sato down the plain endless corridor that ran the entire length of the Capitols easterly foundation. In Lincolns day, this passage had a low-down floor and was change with rats.Langdon snarl gratifying the floor had been tile he was not a risky fan of rats. The assort go along on, their footfalls go up an eerie, rummy counter in the long passageway. Doorways lined the long hallway, some closed entirely some ajar. many another(prenominal) of the retinue down on this level looked abandoned. Langdon sight the poesy on the doors were now descend and, after a while, seemed to be running play out.SB4 . . . SB3 . . . SB2 . . . SB1 . . .T hey proceed past an unstarred door, simply Anderson halt short when the military issues pool began go up again.HB1 . . . HB2 . . .Sorry, Anderson said. baffled it. I near never come down this deep.The group okay up a few yards to an old surface door, which Langdon now cognise was fixd at the hallways ab superior pointthe raising that divided the Senate root cellar (SB) and the business firm basement (HB). As it dour out, the door was so marked, exactly its engraving was so faded, it was almost imperceptible.SBB here we are, Anderson said. Keys result be arriving any moment.Sato frowned and canvass her watch.Langdon look the SBB marker and asked Anderson, wherefore is this aloofness associated with the Senate side even though its in the nitty-gritty?Anderson looked puzzled. What do you mean?It says SBB, which begins with an S, not an H.Anderson shake his head. The S in SBB doesnt stand for Senate. It old geezer? a moderate called out in the distance. He came carry on up the hallway toward them, animationing out a underlying. Sorry, sir, it took a few minutes. We couldnt locate the main SBB chance upon. This is a save up from an assistant box.The original is scatty? Anderson said, sound impress. belike lost, the reserve replied, arriving out of breath. nonentity has quest access down here for ages.Anderson took the make. No petty(a) key for SBB long dozen?Sorry, so far were not finding keys for any of the dwell in the SBB. MacDonalds on it now. The book pulled out his tunercommunicationcommunication receiver and speak into it. bottle cork? Im with the question. Any special info soon enough on the key for SBB long dozen?The safes radiocommunication crackled, and a go replied, Actually, yeah. Its fantastic. Im comprehend no entries since we computerized, and the hard logs indicate all the remembering suite in the SBB were cleaned out and abandoned more than twenty dollar bill age ago. Theyre now li sted as sassy space. He paused. wholly drop for SBB bakers dozen.Anderson grabbed the radio. This is the chief. What do you mean, all except SBB long dozen?Well, sir, the vocalise replied, Ive got a handwritten distinction here that designates SBB bakers dozen as private. It was a long time ago, that its written and initialed by the decorator himself.The term interior decorator, Langdon knew, was not a reference to the man who had designed the Capitol, only rather to the man who ran it. standardised to a building manager, the man appointed as Architect of the Capitol was in overbear of everything including maintenance, restoration, security, hiring personnel, and delegate offices.The strange thing . . . the congresswoman on the radio said, is that the Architects note indicates that this private space was set past for the use of Peter Solomon.Langdon, Sato, and Anderson all exchange galvanise looks.Im guessing, sir, the voice continued, that Mr. Solomon has our sim ple key to the SBB as well as any keys to SBB Thirteen.Langdon could not believe his ears. Peter has a private room in the basement of the Capitol? He had always know Peter Solomon had secrets, only when this was surprising even to Langdon.Okay, Anderson said, clear unamused. Were hoping to get access to SBB Thirteen specifically, so keep looking at for a second-string key. impart do, sir. Were to a fault operative on the digital image that you call forThank you, Anderson interrupted, urgent the babble out handout and carving him off. That leave alone be all. transfer that file to Director Satos BlackBerry as soon as you have it.Understood, sir. The radio went silent.Anderson reach the radio back to the have got in front of them. The guard pulled out a bolt out of a approach pattern and turn over it to his chief. Sir, the SBB is in gray, and weve notated with an X which room is SBB Thirteen, so it shouldnt be hard to find. The area is preferably small.Anderson than ked the guard and move his focus to the traffic pattern as the childlike man travel off. Langdon looked on, surprised to see the amazing number of cubicles that make up the funny inner ear infra the U.S. Capitol.Anderson canvas the intention for a moment, nodded, and then stuffed it into his pocket. bout to the door marked SBB, he raised(a) the key, but hesitated, looking noisome approximately opening it. Langdon matte alike(p) misgivings he had no intellection what was scum bag this door, but he was quite an certain that whatever Solomon had hidden down here, he treasured to keep private. truly private.Sato clear her throat, and Anderson got the message. The chief took a deep breath, inserted the key, and attempt to turn it. The key didnt move. For a shatter second, Langdon matte wannabe the key was wrong. On the second try, though, the lock turned, and Anderson heaved the door open.As the heavy door creaked outward, discover air speed out into the corridor .Langdon peered into the darkness but could see nobody at all.Professor, Anderson said, glancing back at Langdon as he groped blindly for a light switch. To set your question, the S in SBB doesnt stand for Senate. It stands for sub. paladin? Langdon asked, puzzled.Anderson nodded and flicked the switch just inner the door. A single electric-light bulb lighted an alarmingly occupy stairway go down into ink-black blackness. SBB is the Capitols subbasement.