hand! My point exactly. That is hardly the act of an uncommitted or uncertain individual. More important, Professor, this man obviously believes you can help him. He brought you all the way to Washingtonand he must have done it for a reason. He said the only reason he thinks I can unlock this ‘portal is that Peter told him I can unloc canada goose vest k it, Langdon countered. And why would Peter Solomon say that if it werent true? Im sure Peter said no such thing. And if he did, then he did so under duress. He was confused canada goose vest . . . or frightened. Yes. Its called interrogational torture, and its quite effective. All the more reason Mr. Solomon would tell the truth. Sato spoke as if shed had personal experience with this technique. Did he explain why Peter thinks you alone can unlock the portal? Langdon shook
interrupted without looking up from her BlackBerry. Just take us there, please. Anderson clenched his jaw and guided them on in silence through what was now feeling like a hybrid self-storage facility and epic labyrinth. On almost every wall, directional signs pointed back and forth, apparently attempting to locate specific office blocks in this network of hallways. S142 to S152 . . . ST1 to ST70 . . . H1 to H166 & HT1 to HT67 . . . Langdon doubted he could ever find his way out of here alone. This place is a maze. From all he could gather, canada goose vest office numbers began with either an S or an H depending on whether they were on the Senate side of the building or the House s canada goose vest ide. Areas designated ST and HT were apparently on a level that Anderson called Terrace Level. Still no signs for SBB. Finally
Langdons bag that Anderson had requested be sent to Sato. As in all X-rays, the objects of greatest density appeared in the brightest white. In Langdons bag, a lone item outshone everything else. Obviously extremely dense, the object glowed lik canada goose vest e a dazzling jewel in a murky jumble of other items. Its shape was u canada goose vest nmistakable. Hes been carrying that all night? Anderson looked over at Sato in surprise. Why didnt Langdon mention this? Damned good question, Sato whispered. The shape . . . it cant be coincidence. No, Sato said, her tone angry now. I would say not. A faint rustle in the corridor drew Andersons attention. Startled, he pointed his flashlight down the black passageway. The dying beam revealed only a deserted corridor, lined with open doors. Hello? Anderson said. Is somebody there?
bottom and the jamb. At the threshold, he carefully laid the canister on its side and slid the flexible rubber tube beneath the door. It took him a moment to remove the safety seals and access the cylinders valve, but once he did, ever so gently, he uncocked the valve. Through t canada goose vest he Plexiglas, he could see the clear, bubbling liquid begin drai canada goose vest ning out of the tube onto the floor inside the storage room. Malakh watched the puddle expand, oozing across the floor, steaming and bubbling as it grew. Hydrogen remained in liquid form only when it was cold, and as it warmed up, it would start to boil off. The resulting gas, conveniently, was even more flammable than the liquid. Remember the Hindenburg. Malakh hurried now into the lab and retrieved the Pyrex jug of Bunsen-burner fuela viscous, highly
found carved on the exterior of the box, near the bottom corner of one side. Fifteen-fourteen A.D., she said, pointing into the box. Sure enough, the carving depicted the number 1514, followed by an unusual canada goose vest stylization of the letters A and D. This date, Katherine was saying, sounding suddenly hopeful, maybe its the link were missing? This dated cube looks a lot like a Masonic cornerstone, so maybe its pointing to a real cornerstone? Maybe to a building built in 1514 A.D.? Langdon barely canada goose vest heard her. Fifteen-fourteen A.D. is not a date. The symbol , as any scholar of medieval art would recognize, was a well-known symbaturea symbol used in place of a signature. Many of the early philosophers, artists, and authors signed their work with their own unique symbol or monogram rather than their name.
him. Why not?! Id prefer not to share that, as the information is classified, Sato sai canada goose vest d, patience clearly waning. I am asking you to trust me on this. Well, I dont! Satos eyes were like ice. She turned suddenly and shouted across the Jungle. Agent Hartmann! The briefcase, please. Bellamy heard the hiss of the electronic door, and an agent strode into the Jungle. He was carrying a sleek titanium briefcase, which he set on the ground beside the OS director. Leave us, Sato said. As the agent departed, the door hissed again, and then everything fell silent. Sato picked up the metal case, laid it across her la canada goose vest p, and popped the clasps. Then she raised her eyes slowly to Bellamy. I did not want to do this, but our time is running out, and youve left me no choice. Bellamy eyed the strange
Everyone fell silent. Okay, Mr. Bellamy, Sato said. Dont blow it. You know the stakes. Bellamy took a deep breath and exhaled. Then he reached down and pressed the speakerphone button to connect the call. Bellamy here, he said, speaking loudly toward the phone on the coffee table. The voice that crackled back through the speaker was familiar, an airy whisper. It sounded like he was calling from a hands- canada goose vest f canada goose vest ree speakerphone inside a car. Its past midnight, Mr. Bellamy. I was about to put Peter out of his misery. There was an uneasy silence in the room. Let me talk to him. Impossible, the man replied. Were driving. Hes tied up in the trunk. Langdon and Katherine exchanged looks and then began shaking their heads at everyone. Hes bluffing! He no longer has Peter! Sato motioned for Bellamy to
scale contraption. Peters eyes widened. What the . . . ? The capsules transparent lid was open, and a very old man in an oxygen mask lay inside. His elderly wife and a hospice worker stood beside the pod. The mans breathing was labored, and his eyes were closed. The man in the capsule was a science teacher of mine at Yale, Katherine said. He and I have kept in touch over the years. Hes been very ill. He always said he wanted to donate his body to science, so when I explained my idea for this experiment, he immediately wanted to be a part of it. Peter was apparently mute with shock as he stared at the scene unfolding before them. canada goose vest The hospice worker now t canada goose vest urned to the mans wife. Its time. Hes ready. The old woman dabbed her tearful eyes and nodded with a resolute calm. Okay. Very gently, the