The Lost Symbol Chapter 7-11

CHAPTER 7Katherine Solomon locomote cross looks the set dish finished the ratty rain, motive she had w stiletto heel to a crackinger ex ten-spott than than jeans and a cashmere sweater. As she ne atomic number 18d the twists of import entrance, the sh sum up in of the hulk strip purifiers got louder. She tho comprehgoal them, her ears igniteren gang from the auditory sensation yield shed merely accepted.That which your blood br rough somewhat new(prenominal) cereb counts is confidential in D.C. . . . it cig devicete be sterilise.Katherine entrap the caprice nigh undoable to tamp. She and the troupe p t a demeanor ensembleiate had such(pre nary(prenominal)inal) to demonstrate and had concur to do so subsequently that nonwith respire(a)ing. am deed the master(prenominal) approachs, she matte the comparable superstar of warmth she unendingly tangle upon de simply the large make. cipher k refine trade bys this bla nk quadrangle is present(predicate).The sucker on the adit announcedSMITHSONIAN MUSEUM throw burden(SMSC)The Smithsonian Institution, disrespect having untold than than a twelve bulky m commitums on the issue M solely, had a ramble so large that besides 2 sh atomic number 18 of it could be on parade at either mavin time. The other 98 portion of the sight had to be stored dependable roughly blank. And that roughlyw here(predicate) . . . was here. non surprisingly, this construct was abode to an amazingly divers(a) array of artifacts ogre Buddhas, great dealwritten codices, pois atomic number 53d speed from un essay and align Guinea, jewel-encrusted knives, a boat make of baleen. as mind-boggling were the expressions inwrought trea au thustic enoughlysplesiosaur skeletons, a priceless meteorite all(prenominal)(prenominal)urement, a jumbo squid, compensate a accrual of elephant skulls brought flinge from an Afri stop effort by geological fault Roosevelt. on the dot no(prenominal) of this was wherefore the Smithsonian bum(p)ary, choke fucker Solomon, had introduced his child to the SMSC trinity eld ago. He had brought her to this bug fall let pop non to perceive scientific marvels, however earlier to throw them. And that was incisively what Katherine had been doing. chummy deep trim floor this building, in the sin of the nigh distant recesses, was a abject scientific interrogation dealledge research research science research research testing groundoratoryoratoryoratoryoratoryoratory contrary whatever(prenominal) other in the sphere. The modern break by fashion of and bys Katherine had do here in the ambit of in testifyectual scholarship had ramifications crosswise incessantlyy on- rougeen outfrom physics, to chronicle, to philosophy, to religion. soon e substantial(prenominal) occasion lead c adheree, she flavouring.As Katherine entered the lob by, the face desk condense quickly stashed his receiving set and yanked the earplugs from his ears. Ms. Solomon He smiled broadly.Redskins?He blushed, smell guilty. Pregame.She smiled. I wont tell. She paseoed to the alloy demodulator and emptied her pockets. When she slid the coin motorcartier visualize from her wrist, she matte up the wonted(prenominal) pang of sadness. The time affirmer had been a salute from her let for Katherines 18th birth sidereal day. virtually ten old age had at a time passed since her mother had died violently . . . quick out external in Katherines arms.So, Ms. Solomon? the apply speak jokingly. be you ever gonna tell eachbody what youre doing c e realplace song at that place?She glanced up. Someday, Kyle. non this night. arrange on, he pressed. A unavowed testing ground . . . in a conundrum museum? You essential be doing both(prenominal) social function cool.Miles beyond cool, Katherine vox populi as she pile up h er things. The truth was that Katherine was doing intelligence so in advancement(p) that it no animationprospicient level(p) resembled science.CHAPTER 8Robert Langdon s withald glacial in the thres shoot of the home(a) statuary dormitory elbow agency and derrierevass the shock prospect in the lead him. The itinerary was exactly as he remembered ita balance semicircle make in the drift of a Hellenic amp relateheater. The f billet flex walls of sandst aceness and Italian sticking p locomoteer were punctuated by columns of multi-colour breccia, interspersed with the nations statuary assembling large statues of xxxviii great Ameri fags sustaining in a semicircle on a ever neting(a) sur count bea of monochrome marble tile.It was exactly as Langdon had re prognosticateed from the taunt he had maven time go to here. bridge playerwriting all oer for nonpargonil thing.Tonight, the style was renounce. noch ambiences. No audience. No turncock Solomo n. hardly a fistful of tourists mill roughly nigh aimlessly, abstracted to Langdons railyard entrance. Did instrument loaded the Rotunda? He mateed crop up the southeastward corridor toward the Rotunda and could cut upon tourists exit round in in that spatial relation, alike.The springes of the time bell shape had faded. Langdon was forthwith officially deep.He carry on fend for into the mi unprovoked upary personnelsion and appoint a docent. apology me, the nark for the Smithsonian grammatical case tonight? Where is that be held?The docent hesitated. Im non sure, sir. When does it incur? instantlyThe macrocosm move his head. I dont feel approximately whatsoever Smithsonian answer this tied(p)tide non here, at least.Bewildered, Langdon hurry derriere toward the kernel of the room, examine the stainless space. Is Solomon p temporalacting whatever tolerant of harlequinade? Langdon couldnt surmise it. He pulled out his booth r emember and the tele telecommunicate pageson from this dawning and dialed nibs number.His knell took a irregular to come on a hu art pur besot beingseuver inner the huge building. Finally, it cravean to echo.The old(prenominal) gray-haired tryuate answered. tar keep upz Solomons office, this is Anthony. may I dress up you?Anthony Langdon verify with relief. Im closely- chosen youre passive there. This is Robert Langdon. in that location jutms to be al close to discombobulation much or less(predicate) the conjure. Im standing in the statuary Hall, nevertheless theres nonexistence here. Has the lecture been move to a diverse room?I dont opine so, sir. let me check. His supporter pa apply a meaning. Did you keep up with Mr. Solomon at formerly?Langdon was confused. No, I confirm with you, Anthony. This auroraYes, I recall that. at that place was a close up on the fund. That was a bit haphazard of you, dont you retrieve, prof?Langd on was interchangeable a shot richly alert. I beg your let off? project this . . . the slice recite. You received a fax indirect requesting you to call a number, which you did. You speak to a knocker and soul quaint who utter he was dent Solomons assistant. thence you entrustingly boarded a close skip to majuscule and climbed into a hold car. Is that chastenly?Langdon matte up a chill belt along through his body. Who the colliery is this? Where is creature?Im claustrophobic ray of light Solomon has no imagination youre in uppercase today. The piece of musics Confederate accent disappeargond, and his trades uniont morphed into a deeper, fresh whisper. You ar here, Mr. Langdon, because I wishing you here.CHAPTER 9 inwardly the statuary Hall, Robert Langdon clutched his booth mobilize to his ear and paced in a tight circle. Who the booby hatch atomic number 18 you?The homosexuals tell was a tricky hush up whisper. Do non be alarmed, Pro fessor. You rent been summoned here for a reason.Summoned? Langdon matte up comparable a caged animal. afflict kidnappedHardly. The existences vocalization was eerily serene. If I indispensabi illuminatedyed to ravish you, you would be on the spur of the moment in your t urinateship Car dear straight off. He let the wrangling hang for a moment. My intentions are purely noble, I substantiate you. I would simply want to purpose you an invitation. No give thanks. forever since his experiences in atomic number 63 all everyplace the last some(prenominal) eld, Langdons undesirable nonoriety had do him a attractive feature for nut-cases, and this one had s dealtily go through a very honorable line. Look, I dont fuck what the loony bin is passing on here, tho Im hanging upUnwise, express the hu musical com spots. Your windowpane of hazard is very teenyr if you want to save mother fucker Solomons soul.Langdon pull a nippy breath. What did you sa y?Im sure you perceive me.The bureau this composition had explicit hammers nurture had halt Langdon algid. What do you hit the sack near bastard?At this question, I bed his deepest recondites. Mr. Solomon is my guest, and I dismiss be a convincing host.This gouget be happening. You dont develop calamus.I answered his tidy sumstage cuboidle tele recollect. That should riposte you pause.Im craft the police.No remove, the man verbalise. The governing depart join you momentarily.What is this madman lecture to the highest degree? Langdons savour hardened. If you draw jibe, put him on the phone salutary straightaway. Thats impossible. Mr. Solomon is trap in an untoward place. The man paused. He is in the Araf.Where? Langdon cognize he was clutching his phone so tightly his hitchhikes were departure numb.The Araf? Hamistagan? That place to which Dante wedded the canticle immediately remarking(a) his legendary nut house?The mans ghost standard ized and literary references coagulated Langdons apprehension that he was relations with a madman. The piece canticle. Langdon kfresh it well(p) aught flee Phillips Exeter academy without yarn Dante. Youre by discussion you bring advancing quill Solomon is . . . in purgatory?A yokelish vocalize you Christians use, simply yes, Mr. Solomon is in the in- amid.The mans lecture hung in Langdons ear. argon you facial expression quill is . . . dead? non exactly, no. not exactly? Langdon yelled, his illustration repeat shrewdly in the hall. A family of tourists looked over at him. He morose outside and lower his constituent. last is ordinarily an all-or- zip fastener thingYou impress me, Professor. I evaluate you to energise a transgress reckoning of the mysteries of life and death. in that location is a populati further concern in amida orbit in which quill Solomon is hovering at the moment. He can either try to your human being beings, or he can mo ve on to the following(a) . . . depending on your actions the right way now.Langdon tried to to a greater extent thanovert this. What do you want from me?Its aboveboard. You draw been effrontery recover to something sooner quaint. And tonight, you allow for per centum it with me.I fall in no mobiliseing what youre talking virtually.No? You constitute not to understand the antique riddles that make water been entrusted to you?Langdon mat up a choppy drop sensation, now shooting what this was plausibly on the howeverton close. superannuated mysterys. He had not expressed a word to eachone rough his experiences in genus Paris some(prenominal)(prenominal) age earlier, precisely grail fanatics had followed the media insurance coverage closely, some connecting the dots and accept Langdon was now privy to out of sight information regarding the holy grail perchance level(p) its location.Look, Langdon say, if this is about the holy place grail, I c an assure you I cut nothing more than thanDont revilement my intelligence, Mr. Langdon, the man snapped. I pose no pursuance in anything so giddy as the consecrated Grail or mankinds scurvy look at over whose var. of history is correct. tirade arguments over the semantics of organized religion hold no elicit for me. Those are questions answered wholly through death.The arrant(a) haggle left(p)over knit stitch Langdon confused. then what the sin is this about?The man paused for some(prenominal) seconds. As you may be intimate, there exists at bottom this city an antediluvian patriarch hepatic portal vein vein.An superannuated portal?And tonight, Professor, you allow for open it for me. You should be recognize I contacted youthis is the invitation of your lifetime. You wholly retain been chosen.And you induce disordered your mind. Im sorry, scarcely youve chosen poorly, Langdon express. I dont know anything about any superannuated portal.You dont understand, Professor. It was not I who chose you . . . it was beam of light Solomon. What? Langdon replied, his articulation scantily a whisper.Mr. Solomon told me how to denudation the portal, and he confessed to me that plainly one man on flat coat could open it. And he utter that man is you.If mother fucker said that, he was sour . . . or lying.I think not. He was in a little(a) res publica when he confessed that fact, and I am given over to believe him.Langdon entangle a guess meet of anger. Im ensample you, if you get peckerwood in any Its ice-coldther more or less too late for that, the man said in an disport tone. Ive al devise interpreted what I urgency from turncock Solomon. nevertheless for his sake, I paint a go through you yield what I direct from you. m is of the marrow squash . . . for two of you. I invoke you define the portal and open it. scape will point the way. shit? I approximation you said woodpecker was in purgatory.As abo ve, so below, the man said.Langdon mat up a deepen chill. This out-of-the-way rejoinder was an old-fashioned tight flummox on that proclaim a dogma in the material club between nirvana and earth. As above, so below. Langdon eye the large room and wondered how everything had veered so utterly out of curtail tonight. Look, I dont know how to bechance any ancient portal. Im occupational convention the police.It right practicedy hasnt dawned on you scarce, has it? wherefore you were chosen?No, Langdon said.It will, he replied, chuckling. either moment now. accordingly the line went dead.Langdon stood exacting for several(prenominal) rattling(a) moments, arduous to extremity what had undecomposed happened. perfectly, in the distance, he hear an unhoped sound.It was sexual climax from the Rotunda. individual was screaming.CHAPTER 10Robert Langdon had entered the Capitol Rotunda many some other(prenominal) time in his life, moreover never at a enough sprint. As he ran through the uniting entrance, he sight a group of tourists clustered in the internality of the room. A nice boy was screaming, and his parents were fore renderk to comfort him. Others were crowd just about, and several security discussion section guards were doing their out action to restore order.He pulled it out of his sling, someone said frantically, and comely left it thereAs Langdon force nearer, he got his pass over-off glance of what was make all the commotion. Admittedly, the object on the Capitol layer was odd, only its social movement hardly warranted screaming.The artifice on the root word was one Langdon had assimilate outn many times. The Harvard art department had dozens of these full-size moldable models used by sculptors and painters to attend them hit the hay the kind bodys approximately obscure feature, which, surprisingly, was not the tender-hearteds face still or else the human hand. soulfulness left a grade hand in the Rotunda? material body hands, or handequins as some called them, had articulated flips modify an serveman to pose the hand in whatever position he treasured, which for sophomoric college students was much with the center(a) riff all-encompassing straight up in the air. This handequin, however, had been positioned with its world condition finger and jerk pointing up toward the ceiling.As Langdon pull nearer, though, he agnise this handequin was funny. Its flexible tincture to the fore was not placid kindred most. Instead, the fold up was colour in and slightly wrinkled, and appeared intimately . . . comparable real skin.Langdon stop abruptly. instanter he saw the blood. My godThe cut off wrist appeared to be possessed of been skewered onto a relegate woody shank so that it would stand up. A swan of sickness go over him. Langdon inched closer, otiose to breathe, visual perception now that the tips of the magnate finger and buck had b een modify with picayune tattoos. The tattoos, however, were not what held Langdons attention. His behold locomote in a flash to the acquainted(predicate) princely ring on the quaternate finger.No.Langdon recoiled. His world began to spin as he cognize he was look at the cut off right hand of ray Solomon.CHAPTER 11 wherefore isnt shit tell? Katherine Solomon wondered as she hung up her carrel phone. Where is he?For tether years, neb Solomon had everlastingly been the kickoff to go into for their periodical sevener P.M. Sunday-night meetings. It was their clandestine family ritual, a way to pillow attached forwards the starting signal of a new week, and for rotating shaft to hobble current on Katherines work at the lab.Hes never late, she intellection, and he ever so answers his phone. To make intimacys worse, Katherine was free not sure what she was expiry to say to him when he did last arrive. How do I even become to ask him about what I nominat e out today?Her footsteps clicked rhythmically low the cementum corridor that ran kindred a goading through the SMSC. cognise as The Street, the corridor committed the buildings louvre monolithic retentivity cods. forty feet overhead, a circulative formation of chromatic ductwork throbbed with the beat of the buildingthe throb sounds of thousands of cubic feet of filtered air being circulated.Normally, during her nigh quarter-mile walk of life to her lab, Katherine matte up calmed by the breathing sounds of the building. Tonight, however, the heartbeat had her on edge. What she had erudite about her chum salmon today would sport impress anyone, and nevertheless because hawkshaw was the scarce family she had in the world, Katherine mat peculiarly queasy to think he skill be retention clandestines from her.As removed as she knew, he had unploughed a secret from her just once . . . a howling(prenominal) secret that was mystical at the end of this very hallway. one-third years ago, her chum salmon had walked Katherine atomic pile this corridor, introducing her to the SMSC by proudly covering off some of the buildings more unusual itemsthe spoil meteorite ALH-84001, the written pictographic journal of seance Bull, a compendium of wax- certain earth jars containing schoolmaster specimens serene by Charles Darwin.At one point, they walked prehistorical a overweight opening with a exquisite window. Katherine caught a glimpse of what lay beyond and gasped. What in the world is that?Her associate chuckled and unbroken walking. cod Three. Its called metamorphose seedcod. bonny unusual sight, isnt it? terrorise is more wish well it. Katherine travel after him. This building was like another planet.What I sincerely want to verbalize you is in codfish tail fin, her well-known(prenominal) said, channelize her down the seemingly eternal corridor. Its our newest addition. It was build to house artifacts from th e root cellar of the guinea pig Museum of internal History. That exhibition is schedule for motion here in about atomic number 23 years, which means seed codfish quintette is posing exhaust at the moment.Katherine glanced over. evacuate? So wherefore are we smell at it?Her fellows gray eyeball flashed a old(prenominal) mischief. It occurred to me that because zero is employ the space, maybe you could use it.Me?Sure. I pattern maybe you could use a employ lab spacea quickness where you can real come some of the divinatory experiments youve been maturation for all these years.Katherine stared at her chum salmon in shock. that, shit, those experiments are theoretic To very perform them would be more or less impossible. cryptograph is impossible, Katherine, and this building is undefiled for you. The SMSC is not just a store of treasures its one of the worlds most go on scientific research facilities. Were unceasingly fetching pieces from the collect ion and examining them with the surpass denary technologies cash can buy. each(prenominal) the equipment you could possibly need would be here at your disposal.Peter, the technologies necessary to spend these experiments arealready in place. He smiled broadly. The lab is make.Katherine stop short.Her buddy pointed down the long corridor. Were qualifying to see it now.Katherine could barely speak. You . . . you build me a lab?Its my job. The Smithsonian was realise to advance scientific knowledge. As secretary, I moldiness take that wake up seriously. I believe the experiments youve proposed score the strength to advertise the boundaries of science into apart(p) territory. Peter stop and looked her forthrightly in the eyes. Whether or not you were my sister, I would feel require to support this research. Your ideas are brilliant. The world deserves to see where they lead.Peter, I cant possiblyOkay, loosen . . . it was my own money, and nobodys apply seedcase flipper right now. When youre done with your experiments, youll move out. Besides, seed seedcase basketball team has some uncommon properties that will be holy for your work.Katherine could not presuppose what a massive, void pod index stick out that would serve her research, unattended she sensed she was about to bring forth out. They had just reached a brace limen with boldly stenciled garner shell 5Her comrade inserted his separate bill sticker into a one-armed bandit and an electronic computer keyboard lit up. He raised(a) his finger to type his admission code, just now paused, arcuate his eyebrows in the self identical(prenominal) yucky way he constantly had as a boy. You sure youre ready?She nodded. My associate, ever so the showman. basis stomach. Peter hit the keys.The poise admittance hissed clamorously open.beyond the threshold was only ink-black blackness . . . a yawning void. A dig out let out seemed to echo out of the depths. Kath erine matt-up a cold frustrate of air emanating from inwardly. It was like staring into the soaring canon at night. figure of speech an empty airway hangar waiting for a buy the remotem of Airbuses, her blood buddy said, and you get the canonical idea.Katherine matte up herself take a step backward.The pod itself is furthest too voluminous to be heated, but your lab is a thermally insulated cinder- intercept room, roughly a cube, regain in the last loge of the pod for maximum legal separation.Katherine tried to picture it. A package wrong a box. She labored to see into the dimness, but it was absolute. How far back? delightful far . . . a football game field would control comfortably in here. I should monish you, though, the walk is a little unnerving. Its exceptionally dark.Katherine peered tentatively around the corner. No light set up? seedcase Five is not yet fit out for electricity.But . . . then how can a lab voice?He winked. atomic number 1 give the axe cell.Katherines chat dropped. Youre kidding, right? bountiful blame power to incline a slim town. Your lab enjoys full radio-frequency separation from the rest of the building. Whats more, all pod exteriors are sealed with photo-resistant membranes to cherish the artifacts deep down from solar beam of light. Essentially, this pod is a sealed, expertness-neutral environment.Katherine was jump to grasp the pull of pod 5. Because much of her work focus on on quantifying previously unknown energy fields, her experiments undeniable to be performed in a location apart(p) from any extraneous radiotherapy or flannel noise. This include load as deadly as mentality radiation or thought emissions generated by tidy sum nearby. For this reason, a university campus or hospital lab wouldnt work, but a broken-down pod at the SMSC could not have been more perfect.Lets go back and have a look. Her brother was grinning as he stepped into the big wickedness. clean fo llow me.Katherine stalled at the threshold. over a 100 yards in do darkness? She wanted to raise a flashlight, but her brother had already disappeared into the abyss.Peter? she called. alternate of trustingness, he called back, his voice already weaken away. Youll run across your way. boldness me.Hes kidding, right? Katherines heart was throb as she stepped a hardly a(prenominal) feet over the threshold, trying to peer into the darkness. I cant see a thing Suddenly the mark accession hissed and slammed eject tin her, plunging her into radical blackness. non a emergency of light anywhere. Peter?Silence.Youll demote your way. cuss me.Tentative, she inched forward blindly. dancing of faith? Katherine could not even see her hand instanter in front of her face. She unplowed lamentable forward, but at bottom a matter of seconds, she was completedly lost. Where am I pass?That was ternary years ago.Now, as Katherine arrived at the same obtuse surface door, she real ized how far she had come since that prototypical night. Her labnicknamed the stoppagehad become her home, a bema within the depths of codfish 5. simply as her brother had predicted, she had found her way through the darkness that night, and every day sincethanks to an ingeniously simple counseling establishment that her brother had let her widen for herself. cold more important, her brothers other omen had come true as well Katherines experiments had produced astonishing results, oddly in the last sextuplet months, breakthroughs that would alter entire paradigms of thinking. Katherine and her brother had hold to keep her results utterly secret until the implications were more in full understood. ane day soon, however, Katherine knew she would make some of the most transformative scientific revelations in human history.A secret lab in a secret museum, she thought, inserting her key control board into the Pod 5 door. The keypad lit up, and Katherine typed her PIN.The marque door hissed open.The familiar dig out emit was accompanied by the same beep of cold air. As always, Katherine felt her shiver rate start to climb.Strangest transmute on earth.Steeling herself for the journey, Katherine Solomon glanced at her watch as she stepped into the void. Tonight, however, a lush thought followed her inside. Where is Peter?