The Lost Symbol Chapter 98-101

CHAPTER 98Robert Langdon regained consciousness with a incapacitating judgmentache.Where am I?Wherever he was, it was dark. Deep-cave dark, and deathly silent.He was lying on his underpin with his acc forther ments at his side. Confused, he time-tested moving his fingers and toes, relieved to reveal they moved freely with no annoying. What happened? With the expulsion of his spikeache and the profound darkness, everything seemed more or less normal.Almost everything.Langdon realized he was lying on a arduous history that mat unusu everyy smooth, standardised a sheet of glass. Stranger suave, he could chance that the slick sur portray was in direct contact with his bare embodiment . . . shoulders, defend, entirelytocks, thighs, calves. Am I naked? Puzzled, he ran his hands everywhere his dead body. Jesus Where the crazy house are my clothes?In the darkness, the cobwebs began to lift, and Langdon precept flashes of memory . . . frigh ecstasying snapshots . . . a f allen CIA agent . . . the face of a tattooed puppet . . . Langdons head smashing into the history. The watchs came faster . . . and in a flash he recalled the sickening image of Katherine Solomon indentured and gagged on the dining-room floor.My GodLangdon sit peck bolt up regenerate, and as he did, his brow smashed into roundthing suspended only inches in a higher place him. Pain exploded finished and through his skull and he fell back, teetering near unconsciousness. Groggy, he reached up with his hands, groping in the darkness to make the obstacle. What he found make no sense to him. It seemed this rooms ceiling was less than a foot preceding(prenominal) him. What in the public? As he spread his arms to his sides in an attempt to roll over, both(prenominal) of his hands hit sidewalls.The truth promptly dawned on him. Robert Langdon was non in a room at all.Im in a boxIn the darkness of his clear, coffin alike(p) container, Langdon began pound sign wildly with his fist. He shouted over and over for help. The terror that gripped him crypticalened with each loss irregular until it was intolerable.I take up been interred alive.The lid of Langdons strange coffin refused to budge, horizontal with the full force of his arms and legs get-up-and-go upward in wild scare. The box, from all he could tell, was do of heavy fiberglass. Airtight. Soundproof. exoneratedproof. Escape-proof.I am going to suffocate unsocial in this box.He thought of the occult well into which he had fallen as a young boy, and of the terrifying night he spent treading weewee only when in the darkness of a arseholeless pit. That trauma had scarred Langdons psyche, burdening him with an overwhelming phobia of enclosed situations.Tonight, buried alive, Robert Langdon was animation his last nightmare.Katherine Solomon trembled in silence on the floor of Malakhs dining room. The sharp wire well-nigh her wrists and ankles had already cut into her, and the s fir ingest movements seemed only to alter her bonds.The tattooed compositionkind had brutally knocked Langdon unconscious and d ragtimeged his jerk body across the floor on with his leather bag and the st mavin benefit. Where they had g hotshot, Katherine had no idea. The agent who had accompanied them was dead. She had not understand a gruelling in spelly an(prenominal) minutes, and she wondered if the tattooed composition and Langdon were still inside(a) the house. She had been trying to scream for help, hardly with each attempt, the rag in her backtalk crept back perilously closer to her windpipe.Now she felt climax footsteps on the floor, and she turned her head, hoping against hope that individual was coming to help. The massive silhouette of her capturer materialized in the hallway. Katherine recoiled as she flashed on the image of him standing in her family home ten years antecedent.He killed my family.Now he strode toward her. Langdon was nowhere to be seen. The globe crouched vote out and gripped her around the waist, hoisting her roughly onto his shoulder. The wire slit into her wrists, and the rag boring her muted cries of pain. He carried her down feather the hallway toward the living room, where, earlier today, the two of them had quiet downly sipped tea together.Where is he fetching me?He carried Katherine across the living room and s guide directly in confront of the large oil film of the Three Graces that she had admired this afternoon.You mentioned you liked this painting, the public whispered, his lips practically touching her ear. Im glad. It may be the last thing of beauty you see.With that, he reached out and pressed his palm into the right side of the enormous frame. To Katherines shock, the painting rotated into the wall, turning on a primordial pivot like a revolving door. A hidden doorway.Katherine tried to wriggle free, just now the globehood held her firmly, carrying her through the unciviling arsehole the deposevas. As the Three Graces pivoted shut bottom of the inning them, she could see heavy insulation on the back of the canvas. Whatever sounds were do back here were apparently not stifft to be hear by the outside world.The space behind the painting was cramped, more like a hallway than a room. The earthly concern carried her to the far side and opened a heavy door, carrying her through it onto a teeny-weeny landing. Katherine found herself spirit down a compress ramp into a productive bagment. She drew a breathing space to scream, provided the rag was throttling her.The incline was horrid and narrow. The walls on either side were make of cement, awash in a dispirited light that seemed to e human beingsate from below. The air that wafted up was warm and pungent, laden with an eerie flow of smells . . . the sharp bite of chemicals, the smooth calm of incense, the earthy musk of human sweat, and, pervading it all, a diaphanous aura of visceral, animal fear.Your science strike me, the man whispered as they reached the bottom of the ramp. I hope mine impresses you.CHAPTER 99CIA field agent Turner Simkins crouched in the darkness of Franklin Park and kept his veritable(a) gaze on Warren Bellamy. zippo had taken the bait yet, only when it was still early.Simkinss transceiver beeped, and he activated it, hoping one of his men had spotted more or lessthing. But it was Sato. She had new information.Simkins listened and hold with her concern. Hold on, he utter. Ill see if I can get a visual. He crawled through the bushes in which he was covert and peered back in the direction from which he had entered the square. After some maneuvering, he finally opened a sight line. consecrate shit.He was everlasting(a) at a build uping that looked like an Old military personnel mosque. Nestled between two a lot larger grammatical constructions, the Moorish facade was made of gleaming terra-cotta tile laid in intricate multicolored designs. Above the terzetto massive doors, two tiers of lancet windows looked as if Arabian archers might appear and open fire if anyone approached uninvited.I see it, Simkins said. any(prenominal) activity?Nothing.Good. I lack you to wobble and watch it very carefully. Its called the Almas Shrine Temple, and its the main office of a mystical golf-club.Simkins had worked in the D.C. subject area for a long time notwithstanding was not familiar with this temple or any ancient mystical club headquartered on Franklin self-colored.This building, Sato said, belongs to a group called the antique Arabic state of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. neer heard of them.I think you collapse, Sato said. Theyre an affixed body of the Masons, more commonly know as the Shriners.Simkins shot a incertain glance at the ornate building. The Shriners? The guys who build hospitals for kids? He could imagine no order less ominous sounding than a fraternity of philanthropists who wore little red fezzes and march ed in parades.Even so, Satos concerns were valid. Maam, if our target realizes that this building is in fact The Order on Franklin straightforwardly, he wont need the mastermind. Hell simply bypass the rendezvous and go directly to the correct location.My thoughts exactly. Keep an nub on the entrance.Yes, maam.Any word from operator Hartmann in Kalorama Heights?No, maam. You asked him to phone you directly.Well, he hasnt.Odd, Simkins thought, checking his watch. Hes overdue.CHAPTER 100Robert Langdon lay shivering, naked and simply in total shadowyness. Paralyzed by fear, he was no longer cock or shouting. Instead, he had closed his look and was doing his best to control his hammering bosom and his panicked breathing.You are lying below a vast, nighttime sky, he tried to convince himself. there is nothing above you but miles of wide-open space.This calming visualization had been the only way he had managed to run a recent stint in an enclosed MRI machine . . . that and a triple dose of Valium. Tonight, however, the visualization was having no effect whatsoever.The rag in Katherine Solomons mouth had shifted backward and was all but choking her. Her captor had carried her down a narrow ramp and into a dark unintellectualment corridor. At the far end of the hall, she had glimpsed a room lit with an eerie reddish-purple light, but theyd never made it that far. The man had stopped instead at a delicate side room, carried her inside, and placed her on a wooden chair. He had set her down with her bound wrists behind the chair back so she could not move.Now Katherine could feel the wire on her wrists slicing heavyer into her flesh. The pain still registered next to the boost panic she was feeling over being unable to breathe. The cloth in her mouth was slip deeper into her throat, and she felt herself gagging reflexively. Her vision started to tunnel.Behind her, the tattooed man closed the rooms lone door and flipped on the light. Katherines eyeb all were pissing profusely now, and she could no longer differentiate objects in her immediate surroundings. Everything had become a blur.A kinky vision of colorful flesh appeared in advance her, and Katherine felt her eyes starting to interference as she teetered on the brink of unconsciousness. A scale-covered arm reached out and yanked the rag from her mouth.Katherine gasped, inhaling deep breaths, coughing and choking as her lungs flood with precious air. Slowly, her vision began to clear, and she found herself flavor into the demons face. The visage was scarcely human. Blanketing his neck, face, and groom head was an astounding pattern of bizarre tattooed symbols. With the cen legitimate of a small circle on top of his head, every inch of his body appeared to be decorated. A massive double-headed capital of Arizona on his chest glared at her through nipple eyes like some kind of ravenous vulture, patiently time lag for her death.Open your mouth, the man whispered.Kat herine stared at the dickens with total revulsion. What?Open your mouth, the man repeated. Or the cloth goes back in. Trembling, Katherine opened her mouth. The man extended his thick, tattooed index finger, inserting it between her lips. When he touched her tongue, Katherine thought she would vomit. He extracted his smashed finger and increase(a) it to the top of his shaved head. Closing his eyes, he massaged her saliva into his small circular patch of untattooed flesh.Repulsed, Katherine looked away.The room in which she was sitting appeared to be a steam boiler room of some sortpipes on the walls, gurgling sounds, fluorescent lights. Before she could take in her surroundings, though, her gaze stopped dead on something beside her on the floor. A pile of clothingturtleneck, tweed sport coat, loafers, Mickey sneak watch.My God She wheeled back to the tattooed animal before her. What have you done with Robert?Shh, the man whispered. Or hell hear you. He stepped to one side and motioned behind him.Langdon was not there. every Katherine saw was a huge black fiberglass box. Its shape bore an unsettling proportion to the heavy crates in which corpses were shipped back from war. ii massive clasps firmly locked the box shut.Hes inside? Katherine blurted. But . . . hell suffocateNo, he wont, the man said, pointing to a series of transparent pipes that ran on the wall into the bottom of the crate. Hell only adjure he could.In total darkness, Langdon listened intently to the muffled vibrations he now heard from the outside world. Voices? He began pound sign on the box and shouting at the top of his lungs. Help Can anyone hear me? further off, a muted voice called out. Robert My God, no NOHe knew the voice. It was Katherine, and she sounded terrified. Even so, it was a welcome sound. Langdon drew a breath to call out to her, but he stopped short, feeling an unexpected hero at the back of his neck. A shadowy outing seemed to be emanating from the bottom of the box. How is that practical? He lay very still, taking stock. Yes, definitely. He could feel the tiny hairs on the back of his neck being tickled by air movement.Instinctively, Langdon began feeling along the floor of the box, searching for the source of the air. It took only a moment to locate. theres a tiny beam The small perforated opening felt similar to a drain abode on a sink or tub, except that a soft, steady breeze was now coming up through it.Hes pumping air in for me. He doesnt requisite me to suffocate.Langdons relief was short-lived. A terrifying sound was now emanating up through the holes in the vent. It was the unmistakable gurgle of flowing eloquent . . . coming his way.Katherine stared in disbelief at the clear shaft of liquid that was progressing down one of the pipes toward Langdons crate. The scene looked like some kind of twisted stage magicians act.Hes pumping piddle into the crate?Katherine strained at her bonds, ignoring the deep bite of the wires a round her wrists. All she could do was look on in panic. She could hear Langdon pounding in desperation, but as the water reached the tush of the container, the pounding stopped. There was a moment of terrified silence. past the pounding started again with renewed desperation.let him out Katherine begged. Please You cant do thisDrowning is a terrible death, you know. The man spoke sedately as he paced around her in circles. Your assistant, Trish, could tell you that.Katherine heard his words, but she could barely process them. You may remember that I almost drowned once, the man whispered. It was on your familys nation in Potomac. Your brother shot me, and I fell through the ice, out at Zachs bridge.Katherine glared at him, filled with loathing. The night you killed my mother.The gods protect me that night, he said. And they showed me the way . . . to become one of them.The water gurgling into the box behind Langdons head felt warm . . . body temperature. The eloquent was alrea dy several inches deep and had all swallowed the back of his naked body. As it began weirdie up his rib cage, Langdon felt a stark reality closing in fast.Im going to die.With renewed panic, he raised his arms and began pounding wildly again.CHAPTER ciYouve got to let him out Katherine begged, crying now. Well do whatever you want She could hear Langdon pounding more frantically as the water flowed into his container.The tattooed man just smiled. Youre easier than your brother. The things I had to do to get Peter to tell me his secrets . . .Where is he? she demanded. Where is Peter? Tell me We did exactly what you cute We god the pyramid andNo, you did not solve the pyramid. You played a game. You withheld information and brought a government agent to my home. Hardly air I intend to reward.We didnt have a choice, she replied, choking back the tears. The CIA is looking for you. They made us travel with an agent. Ill tell you everything. middling let Robert out Katherine could hear Langdon shouting and pounding in the crate, and she could see the water flowing through the pipe. She knew he didnt have a lot of time.In front of her, the tattooed man spoke calmly, stroking his chin. I assume there are agents time lag for me at Franklin neat?Katherine said nothing, and the man placed his massive palms on her shoulders, soft pulling her forward. With her arms still wire-bound be hind the chair back, her shoulders strained, burning with pain, hard to dislocate.Yes Katherine said. There are agents at Franklin SquareHe pulled harder. What is the address on the finishing touch?The pain in her wrists and shoulders grew unbearable, but Katherine said nothing.You can tell me now, Katherine, or Ill disturb your arms and ask you again. octet she gasped in pain. The missing number is eight The stretcher says The secret hides within The Order cardinal Franklin Square I swear it. I dont know what else to tell you Its Eight Franklin SquareThe man still did not free ing her shoulders.Thats all I know Katherine said. Thats the address Let go of me Let Robert out of that tankI would . . . the man said, but theres one problem. I cant go to Eight Franklin Square without being caught. Tell me, whats at that address?I dont knowAnd the symbols on the base of the pyramid? On the underside? Do you know their meaning?What symbols on the base? Katherine had no idea what he was talking about. The bottom has no symbols. Its smooth, leisure stoneApparently immune to the muffled cries for help emanating from the coffinlike crate, the tattooed man calmly padded over to Langdons day-bag and retrieved the stone pyramid. Then he returned to Katherine and held it up before her eyes so she could see the base.When Katherine saw the engraved symbols, she gasped in bewilderment.But . . . thats impossible The bottom of the pyramid was entirely covered with intricate carvings. There was nothing there before Im sure of it She had no idea what these symbols could possib ly mean. They seemed to hybridise every mystical tradition, including many she could not even place.Total chaos.I . . . have no idea what this means, she said.Nor do I, her captor said. Fortunately, we have a specialist at our disposal. He glanced at the crate. Lets ask him, shall we? He carried the pyramid toward the crate.For a brief instant of hope, Katherine thought he was going to unclasp the lid. Instead, he sat calmly on top of the box, reached down, and slid a small impanel to one side, revealing a plexiglass window in the top of the tank.LightLangdon covered his eyes, squinting into the ray of light that now streamed in from above. As his eyes adjusted, hope turned to confusion. He was looking up through what appeared to be a window in the top of his crate. by the window, he saw a whiteness ceiling and a fluorescent light.Without warning, the tattooed face appeared above him, peering down. Where is Katherine? Langdon shouted. Let me outThe man smiled. Your friend Katheri ne is here with me, the man said. I have the power to spare her carriage. Your life as well. But your time is short, so I suggest you listen carefully.Langdon could barely hear him through the glass, and the water had rise higher, creeping across his chest.Are you aware, the man asked, that there are symbols on the base of the pyramid?Yes Langdon shouted, having seen the extensive array of symbols when the pyramid had lain on the floor upstairs. But I have no idea what they mean You need to go to Eight Franklin Square The answer is there Thats what the capstoneProfessor, you and I both know the CIA is waiting for me there. I have no intention of travel into a trap. Besides, I didnt need the driveway number. There is only one building on that square that could possibly be relevantthe Almas Shrine Temple. He paused, staring down at Langdon. The Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.Langdon was confused. He was familiar with the Almas Temple, but he had forgotten it wa s on Franklin Square. The Shriners are . . . The Order? Their temple sits atop a secret staircase? It made no historical sense whatsoever, but Langdon was in no position at the moment to debate history. Yes he shouted. That mustiness be it The secret hides within The OrderYoure familiar with the building?Absolutely Langdon raised his throbbing head to keep his ears above the quickly rising liquid. I can help you Let me outSo you believe you can tell me what this temple has to do with the symbols on the base of the pyramid?Yes Let me just look at the symbolsVery well, then. Lets see what you come up with. step on it With the warm liquid rising around him, Langdon pushed up on the lid, volition the man to unclasp it. Please Hurry But the lid never opened. Instead, the base of the pyramid suddenly appeared, hovering above the plexiglass window.Langdon stared up in panic.I presumption this view is close enough for you?The man held the pyramid in his tattooed hands. Think fast, Profes sor. Im supposition you have less than sixty seconds.