达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第101部分

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acefully　over　dizzying　expanses；　and　then　shooting　back　down　to　the　stone　floor。　Before　them；　the　wide　alley　of　the　north　transept　stretched　out　like　a　deep　canyon；　flanked　by　sheer　cliffs　of　stained　glass。　On　sunny　days；　the　abbey　floor　was　a　prismatic　patchwork　of　light。　Today；　the　rain　and　darkness　gave　this　massive　hollow　a　wraithlike　aura。。。　more　like　that　of　the　crypt　it　truly　was。
〃It's　practically　empty；〃　Sophie　whispered。
Langdon　felt　disappointed。　He　had　hoped　for　a　lot　more　people。　A　more　public　place。　Their　earlier　experience　in　the　deserted　Temple　Church　was　not　one　Langdon　wanted　to　repeat。　He　had　been　anticipating　a　certain　feeling　of　security　in　the　popular　tourist　destination；　but　Langdon's　recollections　of　bustling　throngs　in　a　well…lit　abbey　had　been　formed　during　the　peak　summer　tourist　season。　Today　was　a　rainy　April　morning。　Rather　than　crowds　and　shimmering　stained　glass；　all　Langdon　saw　was　acres　of　desolate　floor　and　shadowy；　empty　alcoves。
〃We　passed　through　metal　detectors；〃　Sophie　reminded；　apparently　sensing　Langdon's　apprehension。　〃If　anyone　is　in　here；　they　can't　be　armed。〃
Langdon　nodded　but　still　felt　circumspect。　He　had　wanted　to　bring　the　London　police　with　them；　but　Sophie's　fears　of　who　might　be　involved　put　a　damper　on　any　contact　with　the　authorities。　We　need　to　recover　the　cryptex；　Sophie　had　insisted。　It　is　the　key　to　everything。
She　was　right；　of　course。
The　key　to　getting　Leigh　back　alive。
The　key　to　finding　the　Holy　Grail。
The　key　to　learning　who　is　behind　this。
Unfortunately；　their　only　chance　to　recover　the　keystone　seemed　to　be　here　and　now。。。　at　the　tomb　of　Isaac　Newton。　Whoever　held　the　cryptex　would　have　to　pay　a　visit　to　the　tomb　to　decipher　the　final　clue；　and　if　they　had　not　already　e　and　gone；　Sophie　and　Langdon　intended　to　intercept　them。
Striding　toward　the　left　wall　to　get　out　of　the　open；　they　moved　into　an　obscure　side　aisle　behind　a　row　of　pilasters。　Langdon　couldn't　shake　the　image　of　Leigh　Teabing　being　held　captive；　probably　tied　up　in　the　back　of　his　own　limousine。　Whoever　had　ordered　the　top　Priory　members　killed　would　not　hesitate　to　eliminate　others　who　stood　in　the　way。　It　seemed　a　cruel　irony　that　Teabing—a　modern　British　knight—was　a　hostage　in　the　search　for　his　own　countryman；　Sir　Isaac　Newton。
〃Which　way　is　it？〃　Sophie　asked；　looking　around。
The　tomb。　Langdon　had　no　idea。　〃We　should　find　a　docent　and　ask。〃
Langdon　knew　better　than　to　wander　aimlessly　in　here。　Westminster　Abbey　was　a　tangled　warren　of　mausoleums；　perimeter　chambers；　and　walk…in　burial　niches。　Like　the　Louvre's　Grand　Gallery；　it　had　a　lone　point　of　entry—the　door　through　which　they　had　just　passed—easy　to　find　your　way　in；　but　impossible　to　find　your　way　out。　A　literal　tourist　trap；　one　of　Langdon's　befuddled　colleagues　had　called　it。　Keeping　architectural　tradition；　the　abbey　was　laid　out　in　the　shape　of　a　giant　crucifix。　Unlike　most　churches；　however；　it　had　its　entrance　on　the　side；　rather　than　the　standard　rear　of　the　church　via　the　narthex　at　the　bottom　of　the　nave。　Moreover；　the　abbey　had　a　series　of　sprawling　cloisters　attached。　One　false　step　through　the　wrong　archway；　and　a　visitor　was　lost　in　a　labyrinth　of　outdoor　passageways　surrounded　by　high　walls。
〃Docents　wear　crimson　robes；〃　Langdon　said；　approaching　the　center　of　the　church。　Peering　obliquely　across　the　towering　gilded　altar　to　the　far　end　of　the　south　transept；　Langdon　saw　several　people　crawling　on　their　hands　and　knees。　This　prostrate　pilgrimage　was　a　mon　occurrence　in　Poets'　Corner；　although　it　was　far　less　holy　than　it　appeared。　Tourists　doing　grave　rubbings。
〃I　don't　see　any　docents；〃　Sophie　said。　〃Maybe　we　can　find　the　tomb　on　our　own？〃
Without　a　word；　Langdon　led　her　another　few　steps　to　the　center　of　the　abbey　and　pointed　to　the　right。
Sophie　drew　a　startled　breath　as　she　looked　down　the　length　of　the　abbey's　nave；　the　full　magnitude　of　the　building　now　visible。　〃Aah；〃　she　said。　〃Let's　find　a　docent。〃
　
At　that　moment；　a　hundred　yards　down　the　nave；　out　of　sight　behind　the　choir　screen；　the　stately　tomb　of　Sir　Isaac　Newton　had　a　lone　visitor。　The　Teacher　had　been　scrutinizing　the　monument　for　ten　minutes　now。
Newton's　tomb　consisted　of　a　massive　black…marble　sarcophagus　on　which　reclined　the　sculpted　form　of　Sir　Isaac　Newton；　wearing　classical　costume；　and　leaning　proudly　against　a　stack　of　his　own　books—Divinity；　Chronology；　Opticks；　and　Philosophiae　Naturalis　Principia　Mathematica。　At　Newton's　feet　stood　two　winged　boys　holding　a　scroll。　Behind　Newton's　recumbent　body　rose　an　austere　pyramid。　Although　the　pyramid　itself　seemed　an　oddity；　it　was　the　giant　shape　mounted　halfway　up　the　pyramid　that　most　intrigued　the　Teacher。
An　orb。
The　Teacher　pondered　Saunière's　beguiling　riddle。　You　seek　the　orb　that　ought　be　on　his　tomb。　The　massive　orb　protruding　from　the　face　of　the　pyramid　was　carved　in　basso…relievo　and　depicted　all　kinds　of　heavenly　bodies—constellations；　signs　of　the　zodiac；　ets；　stars；　and　planets。　Above　it；　the　image　of　the　Goddess　of　Astronomy　beneath　a　field　of　stars。
Countless　orbs。
The　Teacher　had　been　convinced　that　once　he　found　the　tomb；　discerning　the　missing　orb　would　be　easy。　Now　he　was　not　so　sure。　He　was　gazing　at　a　plicated　map　of　the　heavens。　Was　there　a　missing　planet？　Had　some　astronomical　orb　been　omitted　from　a　constellation？　He　had　no　idea。　Even　so；　the　Teacher　could　not　help　but　suspect　that　the　solution　would　be　ingeniously　clean　and　simple—〃a　knight　a　pope　interred。〃　What　orb　am　I　looking　for？　Certainly；　an　advanced　knowledge　of　astrophysics　was　not　a　prerequisite　for　finding　the　Holy　Grail；　was　it？
It　speaks　of　Rosy　flesh　and　seeded　womb。
The　Teacher's　concentration　was　broken　by　several　approaching　tourists。　He　slipped　the　cryptex　back　in　his　pocket　and　watched　warily　as　the　visitors　went　to　a　nearby　table；　left　a　donation　in　the　cup；　and　restocked　on　the　plimentary　grave…rubbing　supplies　set　out　by　the　abbey。　Armed　with　fresh　charcoal　pencils　and　large　sheets　of　heavy　paper；　they　headed　off　toward　the　front　of　the　abbey；　probably　to　the　popular　Poets'　Corner　to　pay　their　respects　to　Chaucer；　Tennyson；　and　Dickens　by　rubbing　furiously　on　their　graves。
Alone　again；　he　stepped　closer　to　the　tomb；　scanning　it　from　bottom　to　top。　He　began　with　the　clawed　feet　beneath　the　sarcophagus；　moved　upward　past　Newton；　past　his　books　on　science；　past　the　two　boys　with　their　mathematical　scroll；　up　the　face　of　the　pyramid　to　the　giant　orb　with　its　constellations；　and　finally　up　to　the　niche's　star…filled　canopy。
What　orb　ought　to　be　here。。。　and　yet　is　missing？　He　touched　the　cryptex　in　his　pocket　as　if　he　could　somehow　divine　the　answer　from　Saunière's　crafted　marble。　Only　five　letters　separate　me　from　the　Grail。
Pacing　now　near　the　corner　of　the　choir　screen；　he　took　a　deep　breath　and　glanced　up　the　long　nave　toward　the　main　altar　in　the　distance。　His　gaze　dropped　from　the　gilded　altar　down　to　the　bright　crimson　robe　of　an　abbey　docent　who　was　being　waved　over　by　two　very　familiar　individuals。
Langdon　and　Neveu。
Calmly；　the　Teacher　moved　two　steps　back　behind　the　choir　screen。　That　was　fast。　He　had　anticipated　Langdon　and　Sophie　would　eventually　decipher　th