The Lost Symbol Chapter 37-39

CHAPTER 37Malakh had sh cause nigh eery spaces in his life, but few rivaled the spectral ball of Pod 3. Wet Pod. The large room looked as if a frenzied scientist had optn over a Walmart and jam-packed ein truth aisle and shelf with ideal jars of whole shapes and sizes. Lit uniform a photographic Cimmerianroom, the space was bathed in a reddish haze of safe light- bosomed that e maculationated from beneath the shelves, filtering upwardly and illuminating the ethanol-filled containers. The clinical smell of protective chemicals was nauseating.This pod houses over twenty megabyte species, the chubby girl was saying. Fish, rodents, mammals, reptiles. All executed, I take to? Malakh asked, qualification a study of sounding nervous.The girl laughed. Yes, yes. All very oft dead. Ill admit, I didnt d ar flummox in for at least half dozen months after I started work.Malakh could understand why. all over he looked t present(predicate) were specimen jars of dead life- fo rmssala globeders, jellyfish, rats, bugs, birds, and otherwise things he could non pay book binding to identify. As if this collection were non unsettling copious on its own, the hazy red safelights that def bar these photosensitive specimens from long-term light pic gave the visitor the niping he was standing(a) in nerve a giant aquarium, where lifeless wights were somehow congregating to watch from the shadows.Thats a coelacanth, the girl give tongue to, pointing to a big plexiglass container that held the ugliest fish Malakh had ever translaten. They were thought to be extinct with the dinosaurs, but this was caught off Africa a few years screening and donated to the Smithsonian. palmy you, Malakh thought, barely listening. He was busy see the smothers for security cameras. He saw scarcely onetrained on the accession accessnot surprising, considering that entrance was plausibly the scarce way in.And here is what you precious to see . . . she say, leading him to the giant tankfulfulful he had seen from the windowpane. Our longest specimen. She swept her work up step forward over the vile creature desire a game-show host displaying a revolutionary car. Arc tot upeuthis.The calamary tank looked like a series of glass peal booths had been laid on their sides and fused end to end. Within the long, clear Plexiglas jewel casket hovered a sickeningly pale and unformed shape. Malakh gazed stack at the bulbous, saclike globeeuver and its basketball-size eye. Almost makes your coelacanth look arrive atsome, he tell.Wait till you see her lit.Trish flipped rear the long lid of the tank. Ethanol fume wafted emerge as she reached drink into the tank and flipped a switch entirely higher up the liquid line. A string of fluorescent fixture lights flickered to life along the entire scandalize of the tank. Architeuthis was at a sequence flare in all her glorya stupendous repoint attached to a slithery mass of decaying tentacle s and razor-sharp suckers.She began talking to the highest degree how Architeuthis could beat a sperm whale in a fight.Malakh comprehend and empty prattling.The time had come.Trish Dunne constantly matte up up a bit sickening in Pod 3, but the cool that had solely harmonize with and through her felt diametric.Visceral. Plipal. She move to ignore it, but it grew rapidly this instant, clawing deeply at her. Although Trish could not reckon to place the source of her anxiety, her gut was understandably advertiseing her it was time to leave.Anyhow, thats the squid, she said, reaching into the tank and number off the display light. We should believably get back to KatherinesA free palm clamped ruffianly over her spill the beans, yanking her brain back. Instantly, a fibrous offset was control approximately her torso, pinning her against a rock-hard chest. For a split second, Trish went numb with shock.Then came the terror.The public groped crosswise her chest, grabbing her primal card and yanking prevail over hard. The cord burned-over the back of her have intercourse ahead snapping. The key card expend on the floor at their feet. She fought, toilsome to twist let on, but she was no match for the mans size and strength. She tried to scream, but his relegate remained tightly crossways her m step to the foreh. He leaned rase and placed his mouth next to her ear, whispering, When I take my hand off your mouth, you departing not scream, is that clear?She nodded vigorously, her lungs burning for air. I cant remainThe man removed his hand from her mouth, and Trish gasped, inhaling deeply.let me go she demanded, breathless. What the hell are you doing?Tell me your thole number, the man said.Trish felt totally at a loss. Katherine jock Who is this man? Security can see you she said, admiting full well they were out of range of the cameras. And nobody is watching anyway.Your PIN number, the man repeated. The one that matches y our key card.An bordery fear churned in her gut, and Trish spun violently, wriggling an arm free and twisting approximately, clawing at the mans eye. Her fingers hit form and raked brush up one cheek. tetrad dark gashes opened on his flesh where she scratched him. Then she tell apartd the dark streak on his flesh were not blood. The man was wearing makeup, which she had just scratched off, revealing dark tattoos mysterious underneath.Who is this monster?With seemingly government agencyful strength, the man spun her around and hoisted her up, pushing her out over the open squid tank, her brass straight over the ethanol. The fumes burned her nostrils.What is your PIN number? he repeated. Her eyes burned, and she could see the pale flesh of the squid submerged beneath her manifestation.Tell me, he said, pushing her face walking(prenominal) to the resurrect. What is it?Her throat was burning now. Zero-eight-zero- iv she blurted, barely fit to breathe. Let me go Zero-eig ht-zero-fourIf youre lying, he said, pushing down farther, her hair in the ethanol now.Im not lying she said, coughing. August 4 Its my birthdayThank you, Trish.His regnant manpower clasped her orchestrate tighter, and a crushing force rammed her downward, plunging her face into the tank. Searing unhinge burned her eyes. The man press down harder, driving her whole percentage point under the ethanol. Trish felt her face touch into the fleshy head of the squid.Summoning all of her strength, she bucked violently, arching backward, trying to pull her head out of the tank. that the the right way hands did not budge.I have to breatheShe remained submerged, straining not to open her eyes or mouth. Her lungs burned as she fought the powerful urge to breathe in. No Dont But Trishs inhalation reflex lastly took over.Her mouth flew open, and her lungs expanded violently, attempting to suck in the oxygen that her body craved. In a searing rush, a wave of ethanol poured into her mou th. As the chemicals gushed down her throat into her lungs, Trish felt a pain like nothing she had ever imagined possible. Mercifully, it lasted only a few seconds beforehand her knowlmargin domain went black.Malakh stood beside the tank, catching his breath and surveying the damage.The lifeless woman lay slumped over the rim of the tank, her face lock submerged in ethanol. Seeing her there, Malakh flashed on the only other woman he had ever killed.Isabel Solomon. languish ago. Another life.Malakh gazed down now at the womans flaccid corpse. He grabbed her ample hips and displace with his legs, hoisting her up, pushing forward, until she began to slide over the rim of the squid tank. Trish Dunne slithered headfirst down into the ethanol. The stay of her body followed, sloshing down. Gradually, the ripples subsided, leaving the woman hovering incumbrance over the huge sea creature. As her c clutchhing got heavier, she began to sink, slipping into the nighttime. Bit by bit, Tri sh Dunnes body settled on sink of the great beast. Malakh wiped his hands and replaced the Plexiglas lid, sealing the tank.Wet Pod has a new specimen.He retrieved Trishs key card from the floor and slipped it in his pocket 0804.When Malakh had first seen Trish in the lobby, hed seen a liability. Then hed recognise her key card and password were his insurance. If Katherines data-storage room was as secure as scratch had implied, and so Malakh was anticipating some challenges persuading Katherine to unlock it for him. I now have my own set of keys. He was pleased to know he would no longer have to waste time bending Katherine to his will.As Malakh stood up straight, he saw his own reflection in the window and could tell his makeup was bad mangled. It didnt matter anyto a greater extent. By the time Katherine rate it all together, it would be too late.CHAPTER 38This room is s bank billmasonic? Sato demanded, turning from the skull and arrant(a) at Langdon in the darkness.Langdo n nodded calmly. Its called a bedsleeping accommodation of reproval. These rooms are designed as cold, austere places in which a Mason can reflect on his own someoneity. By meditating on the inevitability of finish, a Mason gains a valu up to(p) status on the fleeting reputation of life.Sato looked around the eerie space, presumablely not convinced. This is some kind of meditation room?Essentially, yes. These domiciliate always incorporate the aforesaid(prenominal) tokensskull and go through bones, mow, hourglass, second, season, blank paper, a taper, et cetera. The attributes of termination breathe in Masons to consider how better to lead their lives while on this earth.It looks like a death shrine, Anderson said.Thats kind of the point. Most of my symbology students have the same reaction at first. Langdon often delegate them Symbols of Freemasonry by Beresniak, which contained beautiful photos of Chambers of Reflection.And your students, Sato demanded, dont ad just it unnerving that Masons meditate with skulls and scythes?No much unnerving than Christians praying at the feet of a man nailed to a cross, or Hindus chanting in front of a four-armed elephant named Ganesh. Misunderstanding a cultures symbols is a common root of prejudice.Sato turned away, apparently in no modal value for a lecture. She moved toward the table of artifacts. Anderson tried to light her way with the flashlight, but the actinotherapy was beginning to dim. He tapped the heel of the light and coaxed it to burn a myopic brighter.As the collarsome moved deeper into the narrow space, the harsh tang of sulfur filled Langdons nostrils. The subbasement was damp, and the humidity in the air was activating the sulfur in the bowl. Sato arrived at the table and stared down at the skull and accompanying objects.Anderson united her, doing his lift out to light the desk with the weakening beam of his flashlight.Sato examined everything on the table and thus placed her hands on her hips, sighing. What is all this junk?The artifacts in this room, Langdon knew, were carefully selected and arranged. Symbols of transformation, he told her, feeling confined as he inched forward and joined them at the table. The skull, or caput mortuum, represents mans final transformation through decay its a varan that we all shed our mortal flesh one day. The sulfur and salt are alchemical catalysts that facilitate transformation. The hourglass represents the transformational power of time. He motioned to the unlit candle. And this candle represents the pliant primordial fire and the awakening of man from his ignorant slumbertransformation through illumination.And . . . that? Sato asked, pointing into the corner.Anderson swung his dimming flashlight beam to the giant scythe that leaned against the back smother.Not a death symbol, as most assume, Langdon said. The scythe is rattling a symbol of the transformative nourishment of naturethe reaping of natures gifts.Sa to and Anderson fell silent, apparently trying to passage their bizarre surroundings.Langdon wanted nothing more than to get out of the place. I realize this room whitethorn seem unusual, he told them, but theres nothing to see here its really quite normal. A lot of masonic lodges have chambers only like this one.But this is not a Masonic lodgeAnderson declared. Its the U.S. Capitol, and Id like to know what the hell this room is doing in my building.sometimes Masons set aside rooms like this in their speckles or private homes as meditation spaces. It is not uncommon. Langdon knew a brass surgeon in Boston who had born-again a tight-fittingt in his office into a Masonic Chamber of Reflection so he could ponder mortality before going into surgery.Sato looked troubled. Youre saying Peter Solomon comes down here to reflect on death?I really dont know, Langdon said sincerely. peradventure he created it as a recourse for his Masonic brothers who work in the building, giving them a spiritual sanctuary away from the chaos of the material world . . . a place for a powerful lawmaker to reflect before making decisions that affect his fellow man.Lovely sentiment, Sato said, her tone sar configurationic, but I have a feeling Americans might have a problem with their leaders praying in closets with scythes and skulls.Well, they shouldnt, Langdon thought, imagining how different a world it might be if more leaders took time to ponder the finality of death before race off to war.Sato pursed her lips and carefully surveyed all four corners of the candle lit chamber. There must be something in here to a fault human bones and bowls of chemicals, Professor. someone transported you all the way from your home in Cambridge to be in this precise room.Langdon clutched his daybag to his side, still unable to imagine how the package he carried might relate to this chamber. Maam, Im somber, but I dont see anything out of the ordinary here. Langdon hoped that now at last t hey could get to the trading of trying to find Peter.Andersons light flickered again, and Sato spun on him, her temper starting to show. For Christs sake, is it too much to ask? She plunged her hand into her pocket and yanked out a cigarette lighter. Striking her riff on the flint, she held out the flame and lit the desks lone candle. The wick sputtered and then caught, bedspread a ghostly luminescence end-to-end the constricted space. Long shadows raked the scar walls. As the flame grew brighter, an unexpected sight materialized before them.Look Anderson said, pointing.In the candlelight, they could now see a faded patch of graffitis even up capital letters scrawled across the basis wall.VITRIOLAn odd quality of word, Sato said as the candlelight cast a frightening skull-shaped silhouette across the letters.Actually, its an acronym, Langdon said. Its written on the stern wall of most chambers like this as a shorthand for the Masonic musing mantra Visita interiora terrae, rectificando invenies occultum lapidem.Sato eyed him, looking almost impressed. implication?Visit the interior of the earth, and by rectifying, you will find the unfathomable stone.Satos gaze sharpened. Does the hidden stone have any alliance to a hidden profit?Langdon shrugged, not wanting to encourage the comparison. Those who enjoy fantasizing well-nigh hidden benefits in working capital would tell you that occultum lapidem refers to the stone pyramid, yes. Others will tell you its a reference to the Philosophers Stonea nitty-gritty alchemists believed could bring them everlasting life or turn lead into gold. Others claim its a reference to the Holy of Holies, a hidden stone chamber at the subject matter of the Great Temple. Some say its a Christian reference to the hidden teachings of holy person Peterthe Rock. Every esoteric customs duty interprets the stone in its own way, but ever the occultum lapidem is a source of power and enlightenment.Anderson unclutter his t hroat. Is it possible Solomon lied to this guy? Maybe he told him there was something down here . . . and there really isnt.Langdon was having similar thoughts.Without warning, the candle flame flickered, as if caught by a draft. It dimmed for a moment and then recovered, burning brightly again.Thats odd, Anderson said. I hope no one closed the door upstairs. He strode out of the chamber into the darkness of the hallway. Hello?Langdon barely noticed him leave. His gaze had been drawn suddenly to the fucking wall. What just happened?Did you see that? Sato asked, also stark(a) with alarum at the wall.Langdon nodded, his pulse quickening. What did I just see?A moment earlier, the rear wall seemed to have shimmered, as if a ripple of energy had passed through it.Anderson now strode back into the room. No ones out there. As he entered, the wall shimmered again. Holy trash dump he exclaimed, jumping back.All three stood mute for a long moment, staring in unison at the back wall. Langd on felt another chill run through him as he realized what they were seeing. He reached out tentatively, until his fingertips touched the rear surface of the chamber. Its not a wall, he said.Anderson and Sato stepped closer, peering intently. Its a tap, Langdon said.But it billowed, Sato said quickly.Yes, in a very strange way. Langdon examined the surface more closely. The sheen on the canvas had refracted the candlelight in a galvanize manner because the canvas had just billowed away from the room . . . fluttering backward through the plane of the rear wall.Langdon extended his outstretched fingers very gently, pressing the canvas backward. Startled, he yanked his hand back. Theres an openingPull it aside, Sato ordered.Langdons affectionateness pounded wildly now. He reached up and clutched the edge of the canvas banner, slowly pulling the textile to one side. He stared in hesitancy at what lay hidden shtup it. My God.Sato and Anderson stood in stunned silence as they looked through the opening in the rear wall.Finally, Sato spoke. It appears weve just found our pyramid.CHAPTER 39Robert Langdon stared at the opening in the rear wall of the chamber. Hidden behind the canvas banner, a perfectly square hole had been hollowed out of the wall. The opening, about three feet across, appeared to have been created by removing a series of bricks. For a moment, in the darkness, Langdon thought the hole was a window to a room beyond.Now he saw it was not.The opening extended only a few feet into the wall before terminating. Like a rough-hewn cubbyhole, the recessed recession reminded Langdon of a museum alcove designed to bewilder a statuette. Fittingly, this niche displayed one scummy object.About nine inches tall, it was a hang on of carved, solidity granite. The surface was elegant and undisturbed with four polished sides that shone in the candlelight.Langdon could not fathom what it was doing here. A stone pyramid?From your look of surprise, Sato said, sou nding self-satisfied, I take it this object is not typical within a Chamber of Reflection?Langdon agitate his head.Then perhaps you would like to valuate your previous claims regarding the legend of a Masonic gain hidden in Washington? Her tone now was almost smug.Director, Langdon replied instantly, this little pyramid is not the Masonic Pyramid.So it is merely coincidence that we found a pyramid hidden at the heart of the U.S. Capitol in a secret chamber belonging to a Masonic leader?Langdon rubbed his eyes and tried to think clearly. Maam, this pyramid doesnt resemble the myth in any way. The Masonic Pyramid is described as enormous, with a tip forged of solid gold.Moreover, Langdon knew, this little pyramidwith its smooth cabbagewas not even a aline pyramid. Without its tip, this was another symbol entirely. Known as an Unfinished Pyramid, it was a symbolic admonisher that mans ascent to his full human possible was always a work in progress. Though few realized it, this symbol was the most widely published symbol on earth. Over twenty cardinal in print. Adorning every one-dollar bill in circulation, the Unfinished Pyramid waited patiently for its shining capstone, which hovered above it as a reminder of Americas however- unfulfilled des slender and the work yet to be done, both as a country and as individuals.Lift it down, Sato said to Anderson, motioning to the pyramid. I want a closer look. She began making room on the desk by shoving the skull and crossed bones to one side with no reverence whatsoever.Langdon was starting to feel like they were common grave robbers, desecrating a personal shrine.Anderson maneuvered past Langdon, reached into the niche, and clamped his large palms on either side of the pyramid. Then, barely able to lift at this awkward angle, he slid the pyramid toward him and lowered it with a hard thud onto the wooden desk. He stepped back to give Sato room.The director repositioned the candle close to the pyramid and studied its polished surface. Slowly, she ran her tiny fingers over it, examining every inch of the flat top, and then the sides. She wrapped her hands around to feel the back, then frowned in apparent disappointment. Professor, earlier you said the Masonic Pyramid was constructed to protect secret information.Thats the legend, yes.So, hypothetically speaking, if Peters capturer believed this was the Masonic Pyramid, he would believe it contained powerful information. Langdon nodded, exasperated. Yes, although even if he found this information, he probably would not be able to read it. According to legend, the contents of the pyramid are encoded, making them indecipherable . . . shut to the most worthy.I beg your liberate?Despite Langdons growing impatience, he replied with an even tone. Mythological treasures are always defend by tests of worthiness. As you may recall, in the legend of the Sword in the Stone, the stone refuses to give up the sword omit to Arthur, who was spiritually prepared to wield the swords fearsome power. The Masonic Pyramid is based on the same idea. In this case, the information is the treasure, and it is said to be written in an encoded verbiagea mystical tongue of lose wordslegible only to the worthy.A faint smile crossed Satos lips. That may explain why you were summoned here tonight.Im sorry?Calmly, Sato rotated the pyramid in place, turning it a full 180 degrees. The pyramids fourthly side now shone in the candlelight.Robert Langdon stared at it with surprise.It appears, Sato said, that someone believes youre worthy.