达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第40部分

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Sophie　raised　her　eyes　to　the　enormous　departure　board　overhead。　The　black　and　white　tabs　reshuffled；　ruffling　downward　as　the　information　refreshed。　When　the　update　was　finished；　Langdon　eyed　the　offerings。　The　topmost　listing　read：　LYON—RAPIDE—3：06
〃I　wish　it　left　sooner；〃　Sophie　said；　〃but　Lyon　will　have　to　do。〃　Sooner？　Langdon　checked　his　watch　2：59　A。M。　The　train　left　in　seven　minutes　and　they　didn't　even　have　tickets　yet。
Sophie　guided　Langdon　toward　the　ticket　window　and　said；　〃Buy　us　two　tickets　with　your　credit　card。〃
〃I　thought　credit　card　usage　could　be　traced　by—〃
〃Exactly。〃
Langdon　decided　to　stop　trying　to　keep　ahead　of　Sophie　Neveu。　Using　his　Visa　card；　he　purchased　two　coach　tickets　to　Lyon　and　handed　them　to　Sophie。
Sophie　guided　him　out　toward　the　tracks；　where　a　familiar　tone　chimed　overhead　and　a　P。A。　announcer　gave　the　final　boarding　call　for　Lyon。　Sixteen　separate　tracks　spread　out　before　them。　In　the　distance　to　the　right；　at　quay　three；　the　train　to　Lyon　was　belching　and　wheezing　in　preparation　for　departure；　but　Sophie　already　had　her　arm　through　Langdon's　and　was　guiding　him　in　the　exact　opposite　direction。　They　hurried　through　a　side　lobby；　past　an　all…night　cafe；　and　finally　out　a　side　door　onto　a　quiet　street　on　the　west　side　of　the　station。
A　lone　taxi　sat　idling　by　the　doorway。
The　driver　saw　Sophie　and　flicked　his　lights。
Sophie　jumped　in　the　back　seat。　Langdon　got　in　after　her。
As　the　taxi　pulled　away　from　station；　Sophie　took　out　their　newly　purchased　train　tickets　and　tore　them　up。
Langdon　sighed。　Seventy　dollars　well　spent。
It　was　not　until　their　taxi　had　settled　into　a　monotonous　northbound　hum　on　Rue　de　Clichy　that　Langdon　felt　they'd　actually　escaped。　Out　the　window　to　his　right；　he　could　see　Montmartre　and　the　beautiful　dome　of　Sacré…Coeur。　The　image　was　interrupted　by　the　flash　of　police　lights　sailing　past　them　in　the　opposite　direction。
Langdon　and　Sophie　ducked　down　as　the　sirens　faded。
Sophie　had　told　the　cab　driver　simply　to　head　out　of　the　city；　and　from　her　firmly　set　jaw；　Langdon　sensed　she　was　trying　to　figure　out　their　next　move。
Langdon　examined　the　cruciform　key　again；　holding　it　to　the　window；　bringing　it　close　to　his　eyes　in　an　effort　to　find　any　markings　on　it　that　might　indicate　where　the　key　had　been　made。　In　the　intermittent　glow　of　passing　streetlights；　he　saw　no　markings　except　the　Priory　seal。
〃It　doesn't　make　sense；〃　he　finally　said。
〃Which　part？〃
〃That　your　grandfather　would　go　to　so　much　trouble　to　give　you　a　key　that　you　wouldn't　know　what　to　do　with。〃
〃I　agree。〃
〃Are　you　sure　he　didn't　write　anything　else　on　the　back　of　the　painting？〃
〃I　searched　the　whole　area。　This　is　all　there　was。　This　key；　wedged　behind　the　painting。　I　saw　the　Priory　seal；　stuck　the　key　in　my　pocket；　then　we　left。〃
Langdon　frowned；　peering　now　at　the　blunt　end　of　the　triangular　shaft。　Nothing。　Squinting；　he　brought　the　key　close　to　his　eyes　and　examined　the　rim　of　the　head。　Nothing　there　either。　〃I　think　this　key　was　cleaned　recently。〃
〃Why？〃
〃It　smells　like　rubbing　alcohol。〃
She　turned。　〃I'm　sorry？〃
〃It　smells　like　somebody　polished　it　with　a　cleaner。〃　Langdon　held　the　key　to　his　nose　and　sniffed。　〃It's　stronger　on　the　other　side。〃　He　flipped　it　over。　〃Yes；　it's　alcohol…based；　like　it's　been　buffed　with　a　cleaner　or—〃　Langdon　stopped。
〃What？〃
He　angled　the　key　to　the　light　and　looked　at　the　smooth　surface　on　the　broad　arm　of　the　cross。　It　seemed　to　shimmer　in　places。。。　like　it　was　wet。　〃How　well　did　you　look　at　the　back　of　this　key　before　you　put　it　in　your　pocket？〃
〃What？　Not　well。　I　was　in　a　hurry。〃
Langdon　turned　to　her。　〃Do　you　still　have　the　black　light？〃
Sophie　reached　in　her　pocket　and　produced　the　UV　penlight。　Langdon　took　it　and　switched　it　on；　shining　the　beam　on　the　back　of　the　key。
The　back　luminesced　instantly。　There　was　writing　there。　In　penmanship　that　was　hurried　but　legible。
〃Well；〃　Langdon　said；　smiling。　〃I　guess　we　know　what　the　alcohol　smell　was。〃
　
Sophie　stared　in　amazement　at　the　purple　writing　on　the　back　of　the　key。
24　Rue　Haxo
　
An　address！　My　grandfather　wrote　down　an　address！
〃Where　is　this？〃　Langdon　asked。
Sophie　had　no　idea。　Facing　front　again；　she　leaned　forward　and　excitedly　asked　the　driver；　〃Connaissez…vous　la　Rue　Haxo？〃
The　driver　thought　a　moment　and　then　nodded。　He　told　Sophie　it　was　out　near　the　tennis　stadium　on　the　western　outskirts　of　Paris。　She　asked　him　to　take　them　there　immediately。
〃Fastest　route　is　through　Bois　de　Boulogne；〃　the　driver　told　her　in　French。　〃Is　that　okay？〃
Sophie　frowned。　She　could　think　of　far　less　scandalous　routes；　but　tonight　she　was　not　going　to　be　picky。　〃Oui。〃　We　can　shock　the　visiting　American。
Sophie　looked　back　at　the　key　and　wondered　what　they　would　possibly　find　at　24　Rue　Haxo。　A　church？　Some　kind　of　Priory　headquarters？
Her　mind　filled　again　with　images　of　the　secret　ritual　she　had　witnessed　in　the　basement　grotto　ten　years　ago；　and　she　heaved　a　long　sigh。　〃Robert；　I　have　a　lot　of　things　to　tell　you。〃　She　paused；　locking　eyes　with　him　as　the　taxi　raced　westward。　〃But　first　I　want　you　to　tell　me　everything　you　know　about　this　Priory　of　Sion。〃
　
CHAPTER　36

Outside　the　Salle　des　Etats；　Bezu　Fache　was　fuming　as　Louvre　warden　Grouard　explained　how　Sophie　and　Langdon　had　disarmed　him。　Why　didn't　you　just　shoot　the　blessed　painting！
〃Captain？〃　Lieutenant　Collet　loped　toward　them　from　the　direction　of　the　mand　post。　〃Captain；　I　just　heard。　They　located　Agent　Neveu's　car。〃
〃Did　she　make　the　embassy？〃
〃No。　Train　station。　Bought　two　tickets。　Train　just　left。〃
Fache　waved　off　warden　Grouard　and　led　Collet　to　a　nearby　alcove；　addressing　him　in　hushed　tones。　〃What　was　the　destination？〃
〃Lyon。〃
〃Probably　a　decoy。〃　Fache　exhaled；　formulating　a　plan。　〃Okay；　alert　the　next　station；　have　the　train　stopped　and　searched；　just　in　case。　Leave　her　car　where　it　is　and　put　plainclothes　on　watch　in　case　they　try　to　e　back　to　it。　Send　men　to　search　the　streets　around　the　station　in　case　they　fled　on　foot。　Are　buses　running　from　the　station？〃
〃Not　at　this　hour；　sir。　Only　the　taxi　queue。〃
〃Good。　Question　the　drivers。　See　if　they　saw　anything。　Then　contact　the　taxi　pany　dispatcher　with　descriptions。　I'm　calling　Interpol。〃
Collet　looked　surprised。　〃You're　putting　this　on　the　wire？〃
Fache　regretted　the　potential　embarrassment；　but　he　saw　no　other　choice。
Close　the　net　fast；　and　close　it　tight。
The　first　hour　was　critical。　Fugitives　were　predictable　the　first　hour　after　escape。　They　always　needed　the　same　thing。　Travel。　Lodging。　Cash。　The　Holy　Trinity。　Interpol　had　the　power　to　make　all　three　disappear　in　the　blink　of　an　eye。　By　broadcast…faxing　photos　of　Langdon　and　Sophie　to　Paris　travel　authorities；　hotels；　and　banks；　Interpol　would　leave　no　options—no　way　to　leave　the　city；　no　place　to　hide；　and　no　way　to　withdraw　cash　without　being　recognized。　Usually；　fugitives　panicked　on　the　street　and　did　something　stupid。　Stole　a　car。　Robbed　a　store。　Used　a　bank　card　in　desperation。　Whatever　mistake　they　mitted；　they　quickly　made　their　whereabouts　known　to　local　authorities。
〃Only　Langdon；　right？〃　Collet　said。　〃You're　not　flagging　Sophie　Neveu。　She's　our　own　agent。〃
〃Of　course　I'm　flagging