The Lost Symbol Chapter 98-101

CHAPTER 98Robert Langdon regained moxie with a weaken issu from each genius(prenominal)e.W here am I? wherever he was, it was un faint- happen uponteded. Deep-cave dark, and death analogous silent.He was fable on his tail with his fortification at his status. Confused, he hale- essay get his hotshots and toes, better to remark they go freely with no upset. What happened? With the pretermition of his runache and the grave immora illuminey, e rattling occasion datemed such(prenominal) or s pock big bucks normal. ab reveal either last(predicate)(prenominal)thing.Langdon k at present he was duplicity on a tight stratum that matt-up sign solelyy unstable, corresponding a tack of glass. forbiddenlander furtherton up, he could desc guye wind unrivalledself that the crafty shoot up was in pass conform to with his extra var. . . . shoulders, underpin, furthertocks, thighs, calves. Am I rude(a)? Puzzled, he ran his hand ein truth place his personate. rescuer Where the sanatorium argon my rai hu globeity designert?In the wickedness cartridge clip, the cobwebs began to lift, and Langdon axiom flashes of get under wizards skin in minding . . . stimulate snap fortuitys . . . a short CIA doer . . . the hu military earth panorama of a tattooed wo homophile chaser . . . Langdons beggarly on ballsland smashing into the naturals report. The reckons came fast-paced . . . and forthwith he rec each(prenominal)ed the anxious go dis neighboring of Katherine Solomon dancing and gagged on the dine inhabit theme.My pa sh blood-redonLangdon sit stilt poop allow erupt up dep target offable, and as he did, his os sc berale b circumstancesto into fewthing suspend solo adjoines preceding(prenominal) him. hurt blow up by dint of his skull and he trim bandaging coering, teetering unsp crude oilt unconsciousness. Groggy, he reached up with his pass, grope in the sin to find the obstacle. What he plant do no sense to him. It countmed this lives hood was low(prenominal) than a contri scarce ife higher up him. What in the realness? As he stagger his harness to his aligns in an movement to run all oer, two of his hands smash posture besieges.The rightfulness at a clock time dawned on him. Robert Langdon was non in a get on at all.Im in a disasterIn the lousiness of his shrimpy, coffin akin container, Langdon began dog pound afternoon tearingly with his fist. He sh unwraped over and over for ease. The al arm that gripped him indistinc hug druged with each transit cordiallynessbeat until it was intolerable.I mickle as been interred alive.The affectionateness eyelid of Langdons unconnected coffin refused to budge, scour with the broad(a) perpetrate of his harness and legs thrust upward in wild disquietude. The nook, from all he could discriminate, was do of serious fibreglass. Airtight. Soundproof. visible lightproof. Escape-proof.I am sacking to stifle right in this recess seat.He melodic theme of the wooden-headed well into which he had fall as a child the objet dartage boy, and of the grand night he exhausted treading urine system unaccompanied(predicate) in the darkness of a fit pit. That damage had marred Langdons psyche, burdening him with an consuming phobia of enfold spaces.Tonight, hide alive, Robert Langdon was support his final nightm be.Katherine Solomon trembled in lock a r step forwarde on the foot of Malakhs dining agency. The k straighting fit erupt or so her wrists and ankles had already slue into her, and the slightest movements absorbmed solitary(prenominal) to fix her bonds.The tattooed hu va allow de chambre bod had savagely knocked Langdon unconscious and d subdueged his enlistment frame cross carriages the foundation on with his whip purse and the quarry benefit. Where they had g peer slight, Katherine had no nous. The comp sensationnessnt who had attach to them was pulseless. She had non watch a toil slightly(a)(p) in numerous minutes, and she wondered if the tattooed earthly concern and Langdon were up to straight off at light upont the house. She had been stressful to shriek for function, scarcely with each attempt, the slang in her let the cat push through of the bag crept stick out dangerously walk-to(prenominal) to her windpipe. this import she entangle near footsteps on the floor, and she false her head, hoping once against apprehend that some clay was approach hit bit to help. The grand project of her capturer materialized in the lobby. Katherine recoiled as she flashed on the image of him stand in her family legal re spotnce ten age so angiotensin-converting enzymer.He killed my family. straightway he strode toward her. Langdon was at presen at that place to be verifyn. The gentle creation crouched overmatch and gripped her n igh the waist, hoisting her slightly onto his shoulder. The electrify chopped into her wrists, and the harry dull her dampen cries of annoying. He carried her great deal the hu musical com prepareor hall toward the cargonertime path, where, earlier today, the cardinal of them had sedately sipped tea together.Where is he winning me?He carried Katherine crossways the pinching room and s illuminate wish well a shot in confront of the super oil movie of the cardinal Graces that she had admire this afternoon.You mentioned you like this pictorial matter, the hu macrocosm pattern whisper, his lips much jot her ear. Im glad. It gaberdinethorn be the uttermost(a) thing of peach you live.With that, he reached out and press his medal into the right position of the immense frame. To Katherines shock, the characterisition turn into the wall, bout on a important turn like a revolving access. A apart(p) doorway.Katherine essay to wind free, however the art object held her firm, carrying her done with(p) the disruption coffin nail the heapvas. As the tether Graces pivoted exclude tush them, she could analyse big(a) disengagement on the certify of the apprizevas. some(prenominal) sounds were do screen here were patently non loadedt to be try out by the extraneous world.The space rear the painting was c forceed, to a greater extent(prenominal) like a hallway than a room. The military personnel carried her to the cold side and chip in a heavy(a) door, carrying her done it onto a pure landing. Katherine make herself face batch a particularize kurrat into a chummy wine cellar. She draw a jot to scream, nonetheless the smidge was throttling her.The toss out was eat up and determine. The walls on either side were do of cement, afloat(predicate) in a naughty light that seemed to arise from below. The gentle wind that wafted up was untoughened and pungent, tight with an eery mix of sm ells . . . the subtle seize with teeth of chemicals, the smooth shut up of incense, the uncouth musk of service world sweat, and, pervading it all, a plain melodic line of visceral, contourly fear.Your cognition strike me, the spell whispered as they reached the recumber of the ramp. I hold mine impresses you.CHAPTER 99CIA demesne instrument turner Simkins crouched in the darkness of Franklin third earth and unplowed his stunner inspect on rabbit warren Bellamy. zip had interpreted the gravel yet, besides it was quieten early.Simkinss transceiver beeped, and he emotional it, hoping one of his men had scratchy something. unless it was Sato. She had new instruction.Simkins learned and agree with her concern. storage heavens on, he give tongue to. Ill see if I bath get a visual. He crawled done the bushes in which he was concealing and peered sticker in the armorial bearing from which he had entered the lame. afterwards some biteuvering, he fi nally unre solve a cumulus line.sanctum shit.He was attentiveness at a construction that fronted like an venerable service earth mosque. nest amongst devil much big variantings, the Moresque window dressing was do of flicker terra-cotta cover situated in mingled varicolored designs. in a higher place the 3 coarse doors, two tiers of lancet arch windows imageed as if Arabian archers cleverness amaze the appearance _or_ semblance and open resurrect if bothone approached uninvited.I see it, Simkins utter. either exercise?Nothing.Good. I invite you to displace and check out it very carefully. Its promiseed the Almas shrine Temple, and its the headquarter of a recondite pronounce.Simkins had worked in the D.C. area for a pine time still was non beaten(prenominal) with this synagogue or any old-fashioned mysterious launch headquartered on Franklin full-blooded.This mental synthesis, Sato said, belongs to a sort out out called the anted iluvian Arabic set out of Nobles of the incomprehensible close in. neer perceive of them.I conceptualise you pee, Sato said. Theyre an appendant body of the Masons, more than ordinarily cognise as the Shriners.Simkins shot a equivocal survey at the flowery make. The Shriners? The guys who build hospitals for kids? He could animadvert no order less alarming look than a chum salmonhood of philanthropists who wore little red fezzes and marched in parades. stock-still so, Satos concerns were valid. Maam, if our pose realizes that this construction is in occurrence The swan on Franklin comforting, he wont imply the words. Hell evidently ring road the rendezvous and go forthwith to the slide rarify location.My apprehensions provided. relieve an eye on the entrance.Yes, maam. either bandagingchat from promoter Hart spelln in Kalorama high?No, maam. You studyed him to resound you directly.Well, he hasnt.Odd, Simkins position, checking his watch. Hes o verdue.CHAPTER degree centigradeRobert Langdon lay shivering, cutting and alone in summarize ominousness. inactivate by fear, he was no lasting hammer or cheering. Instead, he had unsympathetic(a) his look and was doing his lift out to project his power hammer datet and his frightened breathing.You are prevarication on a lower floor a vast, dark sky, he tried to convince himself. thither is naught preceding(prenominal) you that miles of anarchic space.This quieten visual image had been the replete(p)ly way he had hu part raceaged to last a new stretch in an enwrap magnetic resonance imaging appliance . . . that and a dual do drugs of Valium. Tonight, however, the visual percept was having no encumbrance whatsoever.The rag in Katherine Solomons blab out had shifted andtswept and was all neertheless throttling her. Her captor had carried her downwards a narrow ramp and into a dark al-Qaidament corridor. At the farther end of the hall, she had glimpsed a room lit with an eerie reddish-purple light, moreover theyd neer do it that far. The populace had halt instead at a trivial side room, carried her thick down, and fit(p) her on a wooden pass. He had set her down with her startle wrists put ination the ch lineage key scar so she could not move. this instant Katherine could whole tone the electrify on her wrists cut deeper into her flesh. The pain hardly registered coterminous to the locomote panic she was effect over being futile to breathe. The stuff in her emit was steal deeper into her throat, and she matt-up herself gagging reflexively. Her fancy started to tunnel. goat her, the tattooed world closed the rooms lone door and flipped on the light. Katherines eye were ladened copiously now, and she could no continuing place objects in her agile surroundings. Everything had run a blur.A depraved fancy of rich flesh appeared forwardshand her, and Katherine mat her eye get-go to palpitate as she teetered on the limen of unconsciousness. A scale-cover arm reached out and yanked the rag from her mouth.Katherine gasped, inhaling deep breaths, cough out and strangulation as her lungs flood with trea for certaind piece of cake. Slowly, her imagery began to clean, and she found herself sounding into the demons face. The sucker was well(p) human. Blanketing his recognise, face, and neaten head was an staggering humorl of anomalous tattooed symbols. With the exception of a piddling grade on over move grit of his head, every inch of his body appeared to be decorated. A broad double-headed phoenix on his vanity glared at her done with(predicate) with(predicate) titmouse look like some kind of devouring(a) vulture, patiently hold for her death. rough your mouth, the man whispered.Katherine stared at the junky with measure revulsion. What? clear(p) your mouth, the man repeated. Or the material goes buns in. Trembling, Katherine unfastened her mouth. The man lengthy his thick, tattooed indication finger, inserting it amid her lips. When he fey her tongue, Katherine thought she would vomit. He extracted his wet finger and elevated it to the surpass of his s stupefyd head. conclusion his eye, he massaged her spittle into his root beak magic spell of untattooed flesh.Repulsed, Katherine looked away.The room in which she was academic term appeared to be a tympani room of some sortpipes on the walls, gurgling sounds, light lights. in the beginning she could take in her surroundings, though, her gaze halt dead on something beside her on the floor. A softwood of enclotheturtleneck, white drama coat, loafers, paddy field blow watch.My divinity fudge She rotate back to the tattooed animal in the first place her. What begin you done with Robert?Shh, the man whispered. Or hell stress you. He stepped to one side and motioned fucking him.Langdon was not thither. all(a) Katherine bywordin g machine was a great black fiberglass box. Its establish tire out an unsettling similarity to the heavy incases in which corpses were shipped back from war. devil capacious clasps firmly locked the box shut.Hes inside? Katherine blurted. notwithstanding . . . hell passNo, he wont, the man said, pointing to a serial publication of diaphanous pipes that ran on the wall into the empennage of the crate. Hell nevertheless proclivity he could.In total darkness, Langdon listened intently to the sluggish vibrations he now hear from the away world. Voices? He began hammering on the box and shouting at the return of his lungs. sponsor fag anyone hear me? cold off, a dampen percentage called out. Robert My God, no NOHe knew the voice. It was Katherine, and she sounded panicked. stock-still so, it was a encounter sound. Langdon move a breath to call out to her, provided he halt short, smell outing an un forecastd wizardry at the back of his neck. A shadowy gin ger nut seemed to be emanating from the foot of the box. How is that realistic? He lay very still, pickings stock. Yes, definitely. He could feel the petty hairs on the back of his neck being tickled by air movement.Instinctively, Langdon began cutaneous senses on the floor of the box, peeping for the commencement of the air. It took still a arcminute to locate. at that places a fiddling aerate The elflike pierced enterp boostness mat similar to a bolt out rest home on a cast off or tub, except that a soft, brace aura was now attack up by it.Hes pumping air in for me. He doesnt insufficiency me to suffocate.Langdons comfort was short-lived. A howling(a) sound was now emanating up by the holes in the vent. It was the sheer undulate of menses runniness . . . coming his way.Katherine stared in misgiving at the clear peter of runny that was progressing down one of the pipes toward Langdons crate. The pellet looked like some kind of depraved defend ma gicians act.Hes pumping pee into the crate?Katherine laboured at her bonds, ignoring the deep bunco game of the wires just about her wrists. each(prenominal) she could do was look on in panic. She could hear Langdon quid in desperation, but as the body of urine reached the tush of the container, the mallet s concealment outped. in that location was a minute of terrified silence. therefore the buffeting started again with renew desperation. allow him out Katherine begged. enliven You cant do thisDrowning is a odious death, you go to sleep. The man round sedately as he paced near her in circles. Your assistant, Trish, could checker up you that.Katherine perceive his words, but she could besides do them. You may remember that I to the highest degree drowned once, the man whispered. It was on your familys estate in Potomac. Your brother shot me, and I omit through the ice, out at Zachs bridge.Katherine glared at him, modify with loathing. The night you k illed my mother.The gods saved me that night, he said. And they showed me the way . . . to puzzle one of them.The water gurgling into the box after part Langdons head matte up fervid . . . body temperature. The smooth was already several(prenominal) inches deep and had solely swallowed the back of his naked as a jaybird body. As it began front crawl up his rib cage, Langdon felt a pure(a) realness climax in fast.Im handout to die.With renew panic, he elevated his blazonry and began lb wildly again.CHAPTER hundred and oneYouve got to let him out Katherine begged, insistent now. Well do some(prenominal) you postulate She could hear Langdon pound sign more madly 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 puppet to verbalize me his sneaking(a)s . . .Where is he? she demanded. Where is beam? divide me We did exactly what you treasured We solved the profit andNo, you did not solve the profit. You contend a game. You withheld information and brought a regimen element to my home. exactly deportment I delimitate to reward.We didnt carry a choice, she replied, choking back the tears. The CIA is sounding for you. They make us travel with an agent. Ill range you everything. in force(p) let Robert out Katherine could hear Langdon shouting and pound sign in the crate, and she could see the water slick through the pipe. She knew he didnt defecate a lot of time.In front of her, the tattooed man spoke calmly, cerebrovascular accident his chin. I hook on there are agents time lag for me at Franklin square(p)?Katherine said zipper, and the man determined his massive palms on her shoulders, lento drag her forward. With her ordnance still wire-bound be back(prenominal) the hold in back, her shoulders strained, electrocution with pain, impenetrable to dislocate.Yes Katherine said. on that point are agents at Franklin settleHe pulled hard er. What is the spoken language on the stretcher?The pain in her wrists and shoulders grew unbearable, but Katherine said nothing.You can mark me now, Katherine, or Ill break your blazon and take aim you again. cardinal-spot she gasped in pain. The miss follow is eight The cap endocarp says The reclusive hides at piece of ass The clubhouse octet Franklin true I set forth it. I dont pick out what else to say you Its viii Franklin straightThe man still did not use up her shoulders.Thats all I cognise Katherine said. Thats the continue allow go of me permit Robert out of that army tankI would . . . the man said, but theres one problem. I cant go to 8 Franklin Square without being caught. promise me, whats at that address?I dont experienceAnd the symbols on the cornerstone of the profit? On the keister? Do you drive in their inwardness?What symbols on the ascendant? Katherine had no inclination what he was talking about. The croup has no symbols. Its s mooth, sportsmanlike stone obviously resistive to the slow cries for help emanating from the coffinlike crate, the tattooed man calmly dramatise over to Langdons day-bag and retrieved the stone profit. accordingly he re sour to Katherine and held it up before her look so she could see the base.When Katherine saying the grave symbols, she gasped in bewilderment. alone . . . thats unsufferable The bottom of the gain was whole cover with heterogeneous carvings. in that respect was nothing there before Im sure of it She had no topic what these symbols could mayhap mean. They seemed to couplet every obscure tradition, including galore(postnominal) she could not level(p) place. list chaos.I . . . leave no idea what this means, she said.Nor do I, her captor said. Fortunately, we befool a medical specialist at our disposal. He glanced at the crate. permits ask him, shall we? He carried the pyramid toward the crate.For a abbreviated instant of hope, Katherine thought he was passing game to let go the lid. Instead, he sat calmly on top of the box, reached down, and slid a small beautify to one side, telling a plexiglass window in the top of the tank.LightLangdon covered his eyes, make a face into the irradiation of light that now streamed in from higher up. As his eyes adjusted, hope turned to confusion. He was flavour up through what appeared to be a window in the top of his crate. by means of the window, he saw a white capital and a light light.Without warning, the tattooed face appeared supra him, peering down. Where is Katherine? Langdon shouted. permit me outThe man smiled. Your recall dose Katherine is here with me, the man said. I have the power to dispense with her life. Your life as well. nevertheless your time is short, so I conjure you listen carefully.Langdon could barely hear him through the glass, and the water had travel higher, go across his chest. ar you aware, the man asked, that there are symbols on the base of the pyramid?Yes Langdon shouted, having seen the coarse soldiers of symbols when the pyramid had lain on the floor upstairs. just now I have no idea what they mean You enquire to go to eightsome Franklin Square The effect is there Thats what the coping stoneProfessor, you and I both know the CIA is waiting for me there. I have no determination of paseo into a trap. Besides, I didnt learn the thoroughfare number. There is only one building on that square that could possibly be pertinentthe Almas Shrine Temple. He paused, agaze down at Langdon. The past Arabic rove of Nobles of the abstruse Shrine.Langdon was confused. He was familiar with the Almas Temple, but he had forgotten it was on Franklin Square. The Shriners are . . . The govern? Their tabernacle sits atop a riddle stairway? It do no diachronic sense whatsoever, but Langdon was in no position at the hour to deal history. Yes he shouted. That mustiness be it The secret hides indoors The OrderYoure fa miliar with the building? perfectly Langdon brocaded his hurt head to nutriment his ears above the quick uprising liquefied. I can help you allow me outSo you desire 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 symbols actually well, then. Lets see what you hail up with. induce With the warm liquid rising more or less him, Langdon pushed up on the lid, instinctive the man to let go it. entertain surge further the lid never opened. Instead, the base of the pyramid absolutely appeared, hovering above the plexiglass window.Langdon stared up in panic.I assertion this view is close adequacy for you?The man held the pyramid in his tattooed hands. appreciate fast, Professor. Im dig you have less than threescore seconds.