before, but I canada goose bomber never had any idea why they were there. Youre not alone, Langdon thought, imagining the thousands of people every day, including famous lawmakers, who strode across the center of the Rotunda having no idea there was once a day when they would have plunged down into the Capitol Cryptthe level beneath the Rotunda floor. The hole in the floor, Langdon told them, was eventually covered, but for a good while, canada goose bomber those who visited the Rotunda could see straight down to the fire that burned below. Sato turned. Fire? In the U.S. Capitol? More of a large torch, actuallyan eternal flame that burned in the crypt directly beneath us. It was supposed to be visible through the hole in the floor, making this room a modern Temple of Vesta. This building even had its own vestal virgina federal
Langdon was here tonight. An issue of national security? He had a hard time understanding any relation between ancient mysticism and national security. Then again, he had a hard time understanding much of anything about this situation. Peter Solomon entrusted canada goose bomber me with a talisman . . . a deluded lunatic tr canada goose bomber icked me into bringing it to the Capitol and wants me to use it to unlock a mystical portal . . . possibly in a room called SBB13. Not exactly a clear picture. As they pressed on, Langdon tried to shake from his mind the horrible image of Peters tattooed hand, transformed into the Hand of the Mysteries. The gruesome picture was accompanied by Peters voice: The Ancient Mysteries, Robert, have spawned many myths . . . but that does not mean they themselves are fiction. Despite a career
this tunnel led. At that moment, Malakh stepped out of Pod 3 and strode briskly down the deserted main corrido canada goose bomber r of the SMSC toward Pod 5. He clutched Trishs key card in his hand and quietly whispered, Zero-eight-zero-four. Something else was cycl canada goose bomber ing through his mind as well. Malakh had just received an urgent message from the Capitol Building. My contact has run into unforeseen difficulties. Even so, the news remained encouraging: Robert Langdon now possessed both the pyramid and the capstone. Despite the unexpected way in which it had happened, the crucial pieces were falling into place. It was almost as if destiny itself were guiding tonights events, ensuring Malakhs victory. CHAPTER 43 Langdon hurried to keep pace with Warren Bellamys brisk footsteps as they moved without a word down
understand your duty to Peter Solomon. Yes, I have a duty to help him, Langdon thought. I dont need you to believe in the power this pyramid can unveil. Nor do I need you to believe in the staircase it supposedly leads to. But I do need you to believe that you are morally obliged to protect this secret . . . whatever it may be. Bellamy motioned to the little cube-shaped package. Peter entrusted the capstone to you canada goose bomber because he had faith you would obey his wishes and keep it secr canada goose bomber et. And now you must do exactly that, even if it means sacrificing Peters life. Langdon stopped short and wheeled around. What?! Bellamy remained seated, his expression pained but resolute. Its what he would want. You need to forget Peter. Hes gone. Peter did his job, doing the best he could to protect the pyramid.
hundred yards from the Capitol Building and was technically part of the Capitol Complex. I run this place! Bellamy now realized it was his own key fob that was giving them access. Powerful arms pushed him through canada goose bomber the doorway, leading him down a familiar, winding walkway. The heavy, damp warmth of this place usually felt comforting to him. Tonight, he was sweating. What are we doing here?! Bella canada goose bomber my was halted suddenly and seated on a bench. The man with the muscles unhooked his handcuffs only long enough to reaffix them to the bench behind his back. What do you want from me? Bellamy demanded, heart pounding wildly. The only response he received was the sound of boots walking off and the glass door sliding shut. Then silence. Dead silence. Theyre just going to leave me here? Bellamy was
reverend. Langdon and Katherine watched as the old mans frail hands examined every inch of the stonethe engraved side, the smooth base, and the truncated top. When he was finished, he held out his hands again. And the capstone? Langdon retrieved the small stone box, set it on the desk, and opened the lid. Then he removed the capstone and placed it into the old mans waiting hands. The dean performed a similar examination, feeling every inch, pausing on the capstones engraving, apparently having some trouble reading the small, elegantly inscribed text. ‘The secret h canada goose bomber ides within The Order, Langdon offered. And the words the and order are capitalized. The old mans face was expressionless as he positioned the capstone on top of the pyramid and aligned it by sense of touch. He seemed to pause a canada goose bomber
that instant, Langdon also realized the voices he heard in the house were nothing but a television blaring in the direction of the dining room. Wheeling in slow motion, Langdon shouted down the hallway. Katherine, wait! But as he turned, he could see that Katherine Solomon was no longer running. She was airborne. CHAPTER 95 Katherine Solomon knew she was falling . . . but she couldnt figure out why. She had been running down the hall toward the security guard in the dining room when suddenly her feet had become entangled in an invisible obstacle, and her entire body had lurched forward, sailing through the ai canada goose bomber r. Now she was returning to earth . . . in this case, a hardwood floor. Katherine crashed down on her stomach, the canada goose bomber wind driven violently from her lungs. Above her, a heavy coat tree
was the first to spot the black Escalade parked haphazardly on a lawn in front of one of the mansions. The driveway gate was closed, and the house was dark and quiet. Sato gave the signal to touch down. The aircraft landed hard on the front lawn amid several other vehicles . . . one of them a canada goose bomber security sedan with a bubble light on top. Simkins and his team jumped out, drew their weapons, and dashed up onto the porch. Finding the front door locked, Simkins cupped his hands and peered through a window. The foyer was dark, but Simkins could make out the faint shadow of a body on the floor. Shit, he whispered. Its Hartmann. One of his agents grabbed a chair off the porch and heaved it through the bay window. The sound canada goose bomber of shattering glass was barely audible over the roar of the helicopter behind