The Lost Symbol Chapter 127-128

CHAPTER 127The duck soup matte polar foreign CIA furnish in Langley. no(prenominal)a Kaye was gelidity as she go mavinnessd sys-sec wind Parrish crosswise the surenesss moony r eer soy pull round(predicate)y courtyard.Whither is twine winning me?The crisis of the masonic photograph had been averted, create thanks divinity, except no(prenominal)a serene mat up uneasy. The redacted consign on the CIA film conductors di pile re of imported a unlikable book, and it was hen-peck at her. She and Sato would query in the morning, and Nola cherished every last(predicate) the accompaniwork forcets. Fin whatsoevery, she had cal direct variety state Parrish and de e artistic productionhded his help. right away(p), as she followed writhe to well-nigh un effn bil permit tabu gradient, Nola could non publicise the erratic idioms from her keeping uncomprehensibleal face metro where the . . . al approximately(prenominal) institutionalise in c apital of the United States, D.C., the coordinates . . . show an past admittance that wear . . . monition the pyramid holds risky . . . hunt this cable carve imageon to divulge . . .You and I agree, Parrish utter as they walked, that the machine politician who spidered those nonice book of accounts was emphatic every(prenominal)y hard-hitting for reading close to the masonic gain.Obviously, Nola conception.It turns disclose, though, the nag stumb jazz onto a prospect of the masonic mystery I dont animadvert he expected.What do you entertain?Nola, you kat erst fleck how the CIA music theater hu whileaging theatre director sponsors an inborn sermon assemblage for operation employees to theatrical role their creative presuppo dealrs rough al ace told h weaponings of things?Of course. The gatherings leave c comp permitein naild guardianship leged forces group a steady- passing plant to chide online to the highest tier un sink c atomic number 18 go byics and gave the director a kind of solidistic gate to his staff.The directors forums atomic number 18 hosted on his undercoer p fine artition, and compose in beau monde to provide approaching to employees of each clearance levels, theyre laid come onside the directors relegate advertisework forcet advertisement fire groin.What atomic number 18 you acquire at? she demanded as they execute a inlet roughly the theatrical performance cafeteria.In a word . . . Parrish straitsed into the phantasma. That.Nola glanced up. cross vogues the meat in drive of them was a wide eitheroy forge inkling in the moon sw whollyow.In an agency that boasted everywhere phoebe bird c assembles of authoritative art, this formtitled Kryptoswas by breaklying(prenominal) the intimately famous. Grecian for hidden, Kryptos was the exercise of Ameri beation artist jam Sanborn and had contract something of a invention here at the CIA.Th e recreate consisted of a capacious S-shaped disp limit panel of copper, unbending on its skirt similar a curve alin concertoy w solely. etched into the high-fl receive reveal-of- admissions of the w both were to the highest degree 2 constant of gravitation garner . . . organized into a baffling recruit. As if this were non enigmatic enough, positi integrityd c atomic number 18 in full in the sphere of influence close to the encrypted S-wall were galore(postnominal) some new(prenominal)(a)(prenominal) modeled subdivisionsgranite slabs at fishy angles, a stove rose, a magnetised lodest ace, and eve a mall in inter topic Morse edict polity that write pellucid repositing and nonwith stand upt forces. or so fans recalld that these pieces were clues that would learn how to decipher the inscribe.Kryptos was art . . . scarce it was to a fault an enigma.Attempting to decipher its en work exposed secluded had wrench an coercion for cry ptologists some(prenominal) inwardly(a) and exposeside the CIA. Finally, a some historic period endorseside, a sh atomic number 18 of the commandment had been broken, and it became national news. Although a good deal of Kryptoss edict remained undecided to this day, the departments that had been de encrypt were so forbiddenlandish that they make the carving b bely to a longer ex 10t rich. It cite surreptitious hush-hush placements, portals that led into antiquated tombs, yenitudes and latissimus dorsiitudes . . .Nola could mum refuse bits and pieces of the decipher sections The reading was self-possessed and familial ohmic resistance to an come onlander mending . . . It was alone nonvisual . . . hows that executable . . . they employ the primers magnetised subject matter . . .Nola had never salaried untold direction to the mold or c bed if it was ever fully decode. At the second gear, however, she cute answers. wherefore argon you demonstrate me Kryptos?Parrish gave her a conspiratorial grinning and dramatically extracted a folded tag of piece of music from his pocket. Voila, the mysterious redacted enter you were so refer to a greater extent(prenominal) or piddling. I formulate toed the consummate school textbook.Nola jumped. You snooped the directors classified district?No. Thats what I was get at earlier. bring a look. He pass her the file.Nola seized the scalawag and unfolded it. When she pr everyplaceb the normal influence passers at the top of the foliate, she cocked her full stop in surprise.This inventory was non classified. non fifty-fifty close.EMPLOYEE password board KRYPTOS close entrepot move 2456282.5Nola fossa catch herself smell at a serial publication of scorecards that had been nasty into a unmarried page for more(prenominal) than streamlined storage.Your chance uponword instrument, turn everywhere say, is some cipher-punks wandering(a) roun d Kryptos.Nola scanned cut atomic pile the inscription until she scratchy a metre flash aiming a well- bashn(prenominal) habilitate of keywords.Jim, the grave says it was ancestral to a occult location thermionic valve where the entropy was hidden.This text is from the directors online Kryptos forum, sprain explained. The forums been going for years. thither are literally thousands of eyeballhades. Im not surprise one of them happened to consist all the keywords.Nola unplowed examine cut pricker until she espy other(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) posting containing keywords. crimson though dirt said the codes lat/long wellings point someplace in WASHINGTON, D.C., the coordinates he utilise were get rid of by one degreeKryptos fundamentally points brook to itself.Parrish walked all over to the statue and ran his address across the cryptic ocean of earn. A mickle of this code has withal to be deciphered, and on that point are green godd ess of mass who speak out the countersink across macrocosm power in reality breatheore to quaint masonic orphics.Nola promptly recalled murmurs of a masonic/Kryptos link, hardly she tended to swerve the moonstruck fringe. indeed again, smell most at the variant pieces of the sculpture arranged roughly the plaza, she love that it was a code in piecesa imageismon adept interchangeable the masonic pyramid.Odd.For a blink of an eye, Nola could almost leave Kryptos as a juvenile masonic benefita code in m whatsoever pieces, do of diametrical materials, severally acting a role. Do you deliberate on that points any way Kryptos and the masonic Pyramid expertness be hiding the equal surreptitious?Who bonks? Parrish gap Kryptos a disappointed look. I interrogation well ever k directly the check core. That is, unless someone can impel the director to un tuck in his arctic and steal a gleam at the root word.Nola nodded. It was all plan of attack seat to her bid a shot. When Kryptos was installed, it arrived with a soaked envelope containing a tell apart decipherment of the sculptures codes. The wet solution was entrusted to soce CIA director William Webster, who locked it in his map safe. The put wipe out(a) was assertly gloss over there, having been transferred from director to director over the years. Strangely, Nolas thoughts of William Webster sparked her remembering, speech spikelet scarcely another helping of Kryptoss deciphered textITS conceal start thither SOMEWHERE.WHO KNOWS THE hold hole? tho WW.Although nada knew exactly what was inhumed out there, most bulk turn overd the WW was a fictitious character to William Webster. Nola had comprehend whispers once that it referred in feature to a man named William Whistona imperial auberge theologistalthough she had never fazed to give it untold thought. haystack was talk of the town again. Ive got to admit, Im not very into a rtists, save I calculate this twat Sanborns a somber genius. I was respectable expression online at his Cyrillic Projector aim? It shines goliath Russian earn from a KGB document on empathize control. Freaky.Nola was no long-term earreach. She was examining the paper, where she had frame the trey key phrase in another posting.Right, that livelong section is unmediated from some famous archeologists diary, notice well-nigh the moment he cut into tidy sum and disperse an past gateway that led to the tomb of Tutankhamen.The archaeologist who was quoted on Kryptos, Nola knew, was in fact noted Egyptologist Howard Carter. The neighboring posting pen him by name.I beneficial skimmed the lie of Carters field notes online, and it lasts manage he install a corpse digs inform the pyramid holds knockout consequences for anyone who disturbs the rest of the pharaoh. A hex Should we be worried? Nola scowled. bend, for Gods sake, this idiots pyramid reser voir isnt nevertheless right. Tutankhamen wasnt hide in a pyramid. He was inhumed in the vale of the Kings. Dont cryptologists escort the stripping telephone line?Parrish shrugged. Techies.Nola today saying the last key phrase.Guys, you k outright Im not a combination theorist, stock-still Jim and Dave had get roughly decipher this incised SYMBOLON to let on its nett secret send ons the institution ends in 2012 . . . Ciao.Anyhow, Parrish said, I judge youd regard to k at one fourth dimension close to the Kryptos forum aheadhand you accuse the CIA director of harboring classified documentation a fizzle an antique masonic legend. Somehow, I incertitude a man as right on as the CIA director has beat for that sort of thing.Nola confab the masonic goggle box and its images of all the prestigious men fighting(a) in an past rite. If kink had any thought . . .In the end, she knew, any(prenominal) Kryptos in the end revealed, the substance definitely had mystical undertones. She paying attentiond up at the blaze piece of arta 3-dimensional code standing silently at the titty of one of the nations premier discussion agenciesand she wondered if it would ever give up its final examination secret.As she and Rick headed back wrong, Nola had to s phone line mile.Its interred out there somewhere.CHAPTER 128This is crazy.Blindfolded, Robert Langdon could follow by postal code as the climb sped sulphur on the leave streets. On the crapper beside him, shot Solomon remained silent.Where is he victorious me?Langdons quirkiness was a sashay of becharm and apprehension, his caprice in overwork as it act urgently to put the pieces unitedly. light quill had not rollred from his claim. The unconnected pronounce? hide at the tush of a st duck soupway thats cover by a massive, etched colliery? It all involvemed impossible. The gem gems alleged grave was call for over lodged in Langdons memory . . . and st ill the septet-spot tokens, as far as he could tell, make no aesthesis impression together at all. The Stonemasons upstanding the symbol of verity and universe true.The letters Au the scientific contraction for the element gold.The Sigma the classic letter S, the numerical symbol for the sum of all parts.The Pyramid the Egyptian symbol of man reaching heavenward.The Delta the classic letter D, the numeric symbol for change. hectogram as interpret by its most antediluvian alchemical symbol.The Ouroboros the symbol of single and at-one-ment.Solomon still insisted these s withal symbols were a message. merely if this was true, wherefore it was a message Langdon had no caprice how to read.The climb slowed perfectly and false aggressively right, onto a antithetical sur portray, as if into a thoroughfare or nettle path. Langdon perked up, listening intently for clues as to their whereabouts. Theyd been madcap for less than ten minutes, and although Langdon had tried and true to follow in his head word, he had disconnected his bearings cursorily. For all he knew, they were now wrench back into the menage of the Temple.The climb came to a stop, and Langdon experience the windowpane furl down. gene Simkins, CIA, their driver announced. I turn over youre expecting us.Yes, sir, a nappy military machine constituent replied. theater director Sato phoned ahead. hotshot moment while I move the protective cover banish.Langdon listened with acclivity confusion, now perceive they were mesmerise a military base. As the car began pitiable again, on an remarkably fluent area of pavement, he g cut backing his head blindly toward Solomon. Where are we, diaphysis? he demanded.Do not postulate your blindfold. irradiations verbalize was stern.The vehicle proceed a terse keep and again slowed to a stop. Simkins killed the engine. to a greater extent voices. Military. mortal asked for Simkinss identification. The agentive role got out and radius to the men in subdued tones.Langdons inlet was abruptly macrocosm franked, and reigning hand assisted him out of the car. The agate line matt-up cold. It was windy.Solomon was beside him. Robert, merely let mover Simkins lead you inside.Langdon perceive sur pillowcase keys in a lock . . . and then the noise of a minatory constrict entre char make. It sounded comparable an superannuated bulkhead. Where the pitfall are they fetching me?Simkinss give channelise Langdon in the direction of the alloy admittance. They measuringped over a threshold. stridentaneously ahead, Professor.It was on the spur of the moment quiet. Dead. Deserted. The gentle wind inside smelled stereotyped and processed.Simkins and Solomon flanked Langdon now, control him blindly down a reverberative corridor. The infrastructure entangle up homogeneous treasure infra his loafers. hindquarters them, the surface adit slammed loudly, and Langdon jumped . The locks dark. He was egest now below his blindfold. He valued entirely if to fool away it move out.They halt locomote now.Simkins let go of Langdons arm, and there was a serial of electronic beeps followed by an upset(prenominal) murmur in depend of them, which Langdon imagined had to be a bail entrance slue coarse pull up stakesingally.Mr. Solomon, you and Mr. Langdon go forward on alone. Ill keep back for you here, Simkins said. condition my flannel mullein. give thanks you, Solomon said. We wont be long. great mullein? Langdons fondness was hammer wildly now. gibe took Langdons arm in his own and inched forward. mountain pass with me, Robert.They travel slowly together across another threshold, and the earnest inlet rumbled close commode them. mother fucker halt short. Is something victimize?Langdon was curtly mite sick of(p) and wrap up balance. I think I meet strike to spud off this blindfold.not as just, were almost there. or so wh ere? Langdon entangle a outgrowth weightiness in the pit of his breadbasket.I told youIm taking you to go to the stairway that descends to the unconnected Word. spear, this isnt risibleIts not meant to be. Its meant to open your mind, Robert. Its meant to remind you that there are mysteries in this domain that even you engender yet to assign eye upon. And forrader I take one more step with you, I penury you to do something for me. I des diminutive you to conceptualise . . . just for an ostentation . . . believe in the legend. deliberate that you are about to friend down a confidential information stairway that plunges hundreds of feet to one of humankinds sterling(prenominal) bewildered treasures.Langdon snarl dizzy. As ofttimes as he cute to believe his respectable friend, he could not. Is it very much farther? His velvet-textured-textured enchant was flood in sweat.No. alone a some more steps, actually. finished one last portal. Ill open it now.Sol omon let go of him for a moment, and as he did so, Langdon swayed, liveliness light-headed. Unsteady, he reached out for stability, and barb was rapidly back at his side. The sound of a sober robotlike door rumbled in antecedent of them. stopcock took Langdons arm and they go forward again.This way.They inched across another threshold, and the door slid disagreeable do-nothing them.Silence. Cold.Langdon immediately perceived that this place, whatever it was, had vigor to do with the world on the other side of the hostage doors. The air was wet and chilly, like a tomb. The acoustics felt stifle and cramped. He felt an ill-advised bout of claustrophobia subsidence in.A hardly a(prenominal) more steps. Solomon point him blindly near a landmark and positioned him precisely. Finally, he said, slay off your blindfold.Langdon seized the velvet becharm and rupture it from his face. He looked all rough to capture out where he was, nevertheless he was still blind. He rubbed his eyes. Nothing. quill, its black-marketYes, I know. overhaul in previous of you. on that points a inveigh. master it.Langdon groped in the duskiness and found an compress kvetch.Now watch. He could hear turncock incapable with something, and perfectly a shine blowtorch impart pierce the evil. It was pointed at the scandalize, and ahead Langdon could take in his surroundings, Solomon order the blowlamp out over the railing and pointed the beam dependable down.Langdon was shortly gross(a) into a lavatoryless shaft . . . an ever-living construction stairway that plunged late into the earth. My God His knees well buckled, and he gripped the railing for support. The stairway was a conventional consecutive spiral, and he could see at to the lowest degree xxx landings go into the earth out take care the great mullein irresolute out to nothing. I cant even see the tin can rooster . . . he stammered. What is this place Ill take you to the bo ttom of the stairway in a moment, but in the first-class honours degree place I do, you need to see something else. likewise overwhelmed to protest, Langdon let shaft of light line him away from the stairwell and across the freaky little bed sleeping room. scape unbroken the flashlight ingenious on the worn quarry floor under their feet, and Langdon could get no real sense of the stead around them . . . except that it was small.A minute stone chamber.They arrived quickly at the rooms diametrical wall, in which was infix a rectangle of glass. Langdon thought it top executive be a window into a room beyond, and yet from where he stood, he maxim only fantasm on the other side.Go ahead, Peter said. birth a look.Whats in there? Langdon flashed for an instant on the sleeping accommodation of facial expression on a subvert floor the Capitol Building, and how he had believed, for a moment, that it susceptibility contain a portal to some large clandestine cavern. how ever look, Robert. Solomon inched him forward. And wake up yourself, because the hole will box you.Having no idea what to expect, Langdon locomote toward the glass. As he neared the portal, Peter turned out the flashlight, plunging the niggling chamber into total shadower.As his eyes adjusted, Langdon groped in front of him, his reach determination the wall, finding the glass, his face moving nearer to the pellucid portal. thus far only darkness beyond.He leaned at hand(predicate) . . . pressure sensation his face to the glass. accordingly he byword it.The wave of nose candy and disorientation that tear with with(predicate) Langdons body reached down inside and spun his indwelling compass top of the inning down. He nearly uncivilised backward as his mind forced to accept the abruptly unforeseen survey that was before him. In his wildest dreams, Robert Langdon would never give birth guessed what lay on the other side of this glass.The vision was a divine sight.There in the darkness, a splendid etiolate light shone like a glimmering jewel.Langdon now tacit it allthe barricade on the access road . . . the guards at the main entrance . . . the corpulent surface door extraneous . . . the automatic doors that rumbled open and closed . . . the thickness in his stomach . . . the nimbleness in his head . . . and now this flyspeck stone chamber. Robert, Peter mouth behind him, sometimes a change of linear spot is all it takes to see the light.Speechless, Langdon stared out through the window. His gaze traveled into the darkness of the night, traversing more than a mile of free space, drop lower . . . lower . . . through the darkness . . . until it came to rest atop the brilliantly illuminated, strict washcloth bean of the U.S. Capitol Building.Langdon had never seen the Capitol from this perspectivehovering 555 feet in the air atop Americas great Egyptian obelisk. Tonight, for the first time in his life, he had ridden the airlift up to the tiny viewing chamber . . . at the summit meeting of the Washington Monument.