达芬奇密码 作者: 美 丹·布朗(英文版)-第74部分

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en　box。　The　inlaid　Rose　on　the　lid　was　back　in　place；　and　although　his　head　felt　muddled；　Langdon　was　eager　to　remove　the　inlay　again　and　examine　the　engraving　beneath　more　closely。　He　unlatched　the　lid　and　began　to　raise　it　when　Teabing　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　from　behind。
〃Patience；　Robert；〃　Teabing　said。　〃It's　bumpy　and　dark。　God　save　us　if　we　break　anything。　If　you　didn't　recognize　the　language　in　the　light；　you　won't　do　any　better　in　the　dark。　Let's　focus　on　getting　away　in　one　piece；　shall　we？　There　will　be　time　for　that　very　soon。〃
Langdon　knew　Teabing　was　right。　With　a　nod；　he　relatched　the　box。
The　monk　in　back　was　moaning　now；　struggling　against　his　trusses。　Suddenly；　he　began　kicking　wildly。
Teabing　spun　around　and　aimed　the　pistol　over　the　seat。　〃I　can't　imagine　your　plaint；　sir。　You　trespassed　in　my　home　and　planted　a　nasty　welt　on　the　skull　of　a　dear　friend。　I　would　be　well　within　my　rights　to　shoot　you　right　now　and　leave　you　to　rot　in　the　woods。〃
The　monk　fell　silent。
〃Are　you　sure　we　should　have　brought　him？〃　Langdon　asked。
〃Bloody　well　positive！〃　Teabing　exclaimed。　〃You're　wanted　for　murder；　Robert。　This　scoundrel　is　your　ticket　to　freedom。　The　police　apparently　want　you　badly　enough　to　have　tailed　you　to　my　home。〃
〃My　fault；〃　Sophie　said。　〃The　armored　car　probably　had　a　transmitter。〃
〃Not　the　point；〃　Teabing　said。　〃I'm　not　surprised　the　police　found　you；　but　I　am　surprised　that　this　Opus　Dei　character　found　you。　From　all　you've　told　me；　I　can't　imagine　how　this　man　could　have　tailed　you　to　my　home　unless　he　had　a　contact　either　within　the　Judicial　Police　or　within　the　Zurich　Depository。〃
Langdon　considered　it。　Bezu　Fache　certainly　seemed　intent　on　finding　a　scapegoat　for　tonight's　murders。　And　Vernet　had　turned　on　them　rather　suddenly；　although　considering　Langdon　was　being　charged　with　four　murders；　the　banker's　change　of　heart　seemed　understandable。
〃This　monk　is　not　working　alone；　Robert；〃　Teabing　said；　〃and　until　you　learn　who　is　behind　all　this；　you　both　are　in　danger。　The　good　news；　my　friend；　is　that　you　are　now　in　the　position　of　power。　This　monster　behind　me　holds　that　information；　and　whoever　is　pulling　his　strings　has　got　to　be　quite　nervous　right　now。〃
Rémy　was　picking　up　speed；　getting　fortable　with　the　trail。　They　splashed　through　some　water；　climbed　a　small　rise；　and　began　descending　again。
〃Robert；　could　you　be　so　kind　as　to　hand　me　that　phone？〃　Teabing　pointed　to　the　car　phone　on　the　dash。　Langdon　handed　it　back；　and　Teabing　dialed　a　number。　He　waited　for　a　very　long　time　before　someone　answered。　〃Richard？　Did　I　wake　you？　Of　course；　I　did。　Silly　question。　I'm　sorry。　I　have　a　small　problem。　I'm　feeling　a　bit　off。　Rémy　and　I　need　to　pop　up　to　the　Isles　for　my　treatments。　Well；　right　away；　actually。　Sorry　for　the　short　notice。　Can　you　have　Elizabeth　ready　in　about　twenty　minutes？　I　know；　do　the　best　you　can。　See　you　shortly。〃　He　hung　up。
〃Elizabeth？〃　Langdon　said。
〃My　plane。　She　cost　me　a　Queen's　ransom。〃
Langdon　turned　full　around　and　looked　at　him。
〃What？〃　Teabing　demanded。　〃You　two　can't　expect　to　stay　in　France　with　the　entire　Judicial　Police　after　you。　London　will　be　much　safer。〃
Sophie　had　turned　to　Teabing　as　well。　〃You　think　we　should　leave　the　country？〃
〃My　friends；　I　am　far　more　influential　in　the　civilized　world　than　here　in　France。　Furthermore；　the　Grail　is　believed　to　be　in　Great　Britain。　If　we　unlock　the　keystone；　I　am　certain　we　will　discover　a　map　that　indicates　we　have　moved　in　the　proper　direction。〃
〃You're　running　a　big　risk；〃　Sophie　said；　〃by　helping　us。　You　won't　make　any　friends　with　the　French　police。〃
Teabing　gave　a　wave　of　disgust。　〃I　am　finished　with　France。　I　moved　here　to　find　the　keystone。　That　work　is　now　done。　I　shan't　care　if　I　ever　again　see　Chateau　Villette。〃
Sophie　sounded　uncertain。　〃How　will　we　get　through　airport　security？〃
Teabing　chuckled。　〃I　fly　from　Le　Bourget—an　executive　airfield　not　far　from　here。　French　doctors　make　me　nervous；　so　every　fortnight；　I　fly　north　to　take　my　treatments　in　England。　I　pay　for　certain　special　privileges　at　both　ends。　Once　we're　airborne；　you　can　make　a　decision　as　to　whether　or　not　you'd　like　someone　from　the　U。S。　Embassy　to　meet　us。〃
Langdon　suddenly　didn't　want　anything　to　do　with　the　embassy。　All　he　could　think　of　was　the　keystone；　the　inscription；　and　whether　it　would　all　lead　to　the　Grail。　He　wondered　if　Teabing　was　right　about　Britain。　Admittedly　most　modern　legends　placed　the　Grail　somewhere　in　the　United　Kingdom。　Even　King　Arthur's　mythical；　Grail…rich　Isle　of　Avalon　was　now　believed　to　be　none　other　than　Glastonbury；　England。　Wherever　the　Grail　lay；　Langdon　never　imagined　he　would　actually　be　looking　for　it。　The　Sangreal　documents。　The　true　history　of　Jesus　Christ。　The　tomb　of　Mary　Magdalene。　He　suddenly　felt　as　if　he　were　living　in　some　kind　of　limbo　tonight。。。　a　bubble　where　the　real　world　could　not　reach　him。
〃Sir？〃　Rémy　said。　〃Are　you　truly　thinking　of　returning　to　England　for　good？〃
〃Rémy；　you　needn't　worry；〃　Teabing　assured。　〃Just　because　I　am　returning　to　the　Queen's　realm　does　not　mean　I　intend　to　subject　my　palate　to　bangers　and　mash　for　the　rest　of　my　days。　I　expect　you　will　join　me　there　permanently。　I'm　planning　to　buy　a　splendid　villa　in　Devonshire；　and　we'll　have　all　your　things　shipped　up　immediately。　An　adventure；　Rémy。　I　say；　an　adventure！〃
Langdon　had　to　smile。　As　Teabing　railed　on　about　his　plans　for　a　triumphant　return　to　Britain；　Langdon　felt　himself　caught　up　in　the　man's　infectious　enthusiasm。
Gazing　absently　out　the　window；　Langdon　watched　the　woods　passing　by；　ghostly　pale　in　the　yellow　blush　of　the　fog　lights。　The　side　mirror　was　tipped　inward；　brushed　askew　by　branches；　and　Langdon　saw　the　reflection　of　Sophie　sitting　quietly　in　the　back　seat。　He　watched　her　for　a　long　while　and　felt　an　unexpected　upwelling　of　contentment。　Despite　his　troubles　tonight；　Langdon　was　thankful　to　have　landed　in　such　good　pany。
After　several　minutes；　as　if　suddenly　sensing　his　eyes　on　her；　Sophie　leaned　forward　and　put　her　hands　on　his　shoulders；　giving　him　a　quick　rub。　〃You　okay？〃
〃Yeah；〃　Langdon　said。　〃Somehow。〃
Sophie　sat　back　in　her　seat；　and　Langdon　saw　a　quiet　smile　cross　her　lips。　He　realized　that　he　too　was　now　grinning。
　
Wedged　in　the　back　of　the　Range　Rover；　Silas　could　barely　breathe。　His　arms　were　wrenched　backward　and　heavily　lashed　to　his　ankles　with　kitchen　twine　and　duct　tape。　Every　bump　in　the　road　sent　pain　shooting　through　his　twisted　shoulders。　At　least　his　captors　had　removed　the　cilice。　Unable　to　inhale　through　the　strip　of　tape　over　his　mouth；　he　could　only　breathe　through　his　nostrils；　which　were　slowly　clogging　up　due　to　the　dusty　rear　cargo　area　into　which　he　had　been　crammed。　He　began　coughing。
〃I　think　he's　choking；〃　the　French　driver　said；　sounding　concerned。
The　British　man　who　had　struck　Silas　with　his　crutch　now　turned　and　peered　over　the　seat；　frowning　coldly　at　Silas。　〃Fortunately　for　you；　we　British　judge　man's　civility　not　by　his　passion　for　his　friends；　but　by　his　passion　for　his　enemies。〃　The　Brit　reached　down　and　grabbed　the　duct　tape　on　Silas's　mouth。　In　one　fast　motion；　he　tore　it　off。
Silas　felt　as　if　his　lips　had　just　caught