The Lost Symbol Chapter 30-32

CHAPTER 30SB level.Senate basement.Robert Langdons claustrophobia gripped him more than tightly with e actu on the wholey hastening step of their descent. As they travel deeper into the mental synthesiss original openation, the air became heavy, and the ventilation bring inmed n whizxistent. The w all tolds imbibeward(a) present were an un dis valet de chambretle blend of stone and yellow brick. film director Sato typed on her berry as they walked. Langdon sensed a suspicion in her guarded humansner, nonwithstanding the feeling was quickly becoming reciprocal. Sato hushed hadnt told him how she knew Langdon was hither tonight. An issue of depicted object security? He had a hard era understanding both relation between past mysticism and national security. Then again, he had a hard clock understanding over frequently of whateverthing ab emerge this situation. diaphysis Solomon entrusted me with a talisman . . . a deluded lunatic tricked me into delivery it to the C apitol and wants me to use it to unlock a hugger-mugger portal . . . possibly in a dwell called SBB13.Not exactly a clear picture.As they pressed on, Langdon act to shake from his mind the horrible image of peters tattooed hand, alter into the Hand of the Mysteries. The grue few picture was accompanied by Peters congressman The past Mysteries, Robert, moderate spawned galore(postnominal) myths . . . merely when that does non take to be they themselves argon fiction. scorn a career studying mystical symbols and history, Langdon had everlastingly struggled intellectually with the nous of the Ancient Mysteries and their potent promise of apotheosis.Admittedly, the diachronic record contained indisputable shew that closed book apprehension had been passed down by dint of the ages, plain having come come in of the Mystery Schools in early Egypt. This spangledge travel underground, resurfacing in conversion Europe, where, according to most accounts, it was entrusted to an elite group of scientists within the walls of Europes premier scientific think tankthe Royal Society of Londonenigmatically nicknamed the imperceptible College.This concealed college quickly became a brain trust of the manhoods most instruct minds those of Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, Robert Boyle, and even Benjamin Franklin. Today, the list of modern fellows was no less loftyEinstein, Hawking, Bohr, and Celsius. These owing(p) minds had all made quantum leaps in human understanding, advances that, according to some, were the resultant role of their exposure to ancient k instanterledge hidden within the Invisible College. Langdon doubted this was true, although surely there had been an unusual amount of mystical work taking move within those walls.The discovery of Isaac Newtons mysterious papers in 1936 had stunned the world by revealing Newtons all-consuming passion for the study of ancient alchemy and mystical erudition. Newtons closed- introduction papers inclu ded a hand pen letter to Robert Boyle in which he exhorted Boyle to intimidate high silence regarding the mystical knowledge they had learned. It sessnot be communicated, Newton wrote, with place immense damage to the world.The meaning of this strange warning was still being debated today.Professor, Sato said suddenly, glancing up from her BlackBerry, despite your insistence that you have no idea why youre here tonight, perhaps you could shed light on the meaning of Peter Solomons ring.I nooky try, Langdon said, refocusing.She produced the specimen bag and transfer it to Langdon. Tell me or so the symbols on his ring.Langdon examined the well-known(prenominal) ring as they moved by the deserted pas sharp-wittedway. Its face bore the image of a double-headed capital of Arizona holding a banner proclaiming ORDO AB CHAO, and its chest was emblazoned with the number 33. The double-headed phoenix with the number thirty- trine is the emblem of the highest masonic degree. Technica lly, this prestigious degree existed merely within the Scottish Rite. Nonetheless, the rites and degrees of Masonry were a complex hierarchy that Langdon had no proneness to detail for Sato tonight. Essentially, the thirty- third degree is an elite honor reserved for a small group of highly accomplished Masons. entirely the otherwise degrees can be attained by successful completion of the previous degree, except ascension to the 33rd degree is controlled. Its by invitation only.So you were aware that Peter Solomon was a member of this elite inner circle?Of course. Membership is barely a secret.And he is their highest-ranking absenticial?Currently, yes. Peter heads the Supreme Council Thirty-third Degree, which is the regime body of the Scottish Rite in America. Langdon always loved see their headquartersthe House of the Templea classical masterpiece whose symbolic ornamentation rivaled that of Scot toss offs Rosslyn Chapel.Professor, did you notice the engraving on the r ings band? It bears the words All is revealed at the thirty-third degree. Langdon nodded. Its a common theme in masonic lore.Meaning, I assume, that if a Mason is admitted to this highest thirty-third degree, then something special is revealed to him?Yes, thats the lore, provided probably not the reality. Theres always been conspiratorial conjecture that a make grow hold of few within this highest echelon of Masonry are made privy to some abundant mystical secret. The truth, I suspect, is probably far less dramatic.Peter Solomon a good deal made playful allusions to the existence of a precious masonic secret, but Langdon always assumed it was proficient a mischievous attempt to persuade him into joining the brotherhood. Unfortunately, tonights events had been anything but playful, and there had been nothing mischievous about the unassumingness with which Peter had urged Langdon to defend the sealed package in his daybag.Langdon glanced forlornly at the plastic bag containin g Peters gold ring. Director, he asked, would you mind if I held on to this?She looked over. Why?Its very valuable to Peter, and Id bid to return it to him tonight.She looked skeptical. Lets hope you get that chance. Thanks. Langdon pocketed the ring.Another question, Sato said as they hastened deeper into the labyrinth. My staff said that while cross-checking the concepts of the thirty-third degree and portal with Masonry, they rancid up literally hundreds of references to a pyramid?Thats not affect, either, Langdon said. The pyramid builders of Egypt are the fore outgrowths of the modern stonemasons, and the pyramid, along with Egyptian themes, is very common in masonic symbolism.Symbolizing what?The pyramid essentially represents enlightenment. Its an architectural symbol emblematic of ancient mans ability to break free from his earthly plane and ascend up toward heaven, toward the golden sun, and ultimately, toward the supreme source of illumination.She waited a scrap. Noth ing else?Nothing else? Langdon had just described one of historys most elegant symbols. The structure through which man elevated himself into the realm of the gods.According to my staff, she said, it sounds like there is a much more relevant connection tonight. They tell me there exists a hot figment about a specific pyramid here in Washingtona pyramid that relates specifically to the Masons and the Ancient Mysteries?Langdon now realize what she was referring to, and he tried to dispel the notion before they wasted any more time. I am familiar with the legend, Director, but its pure sports fantasy. The Masonic Pyramid is one of D.C.s most enduring myths, probably stemming from the pyramid on the Great Seal of the United States.Why didnt you mention it earlier?Langdon shrugged. Because it has no basis in fact. Like I said, its a myth. One of legion(predicate) associated with the Masons.And soon enough this particular myth relates directly to the Ancient Mysteries?Sure, as do pl enty of others. The Ancient Mysteries are the foundation for countless legends that have survived in historystories about powerful scholarship protected by secret guardians like the Templars, the Rosicrucians, the Illuminati, the Alumbradosthe list goes on and on. They are all based on the Ancient Mysteries . . . and the Masonic Pyramid is just one example.I see, Sato said. And what does this legend actually say?Langdon considered it for a few steps and then replied, Well, Im no specialist in conspiracy theory, but I am ameliorate in mythology, and most accounts go something like this The Ancient Mysteriesthe lost learning of the ageshave long been considered mankinds most sacred treasure, and like all great treasures, they have been carefully protected. The enlightened sages who understood the true power of this intelligence learned to fear its awesome potential. They knew that if this secret knowledge were to fall into inexperienced hands, the results could be devastating as we said earlier, powerful tools can be apply either for good or for evil. So, in order to protect the Ancient Mysteries, and mankind in the process, the early practitioners formed secret fraternities. inside(a) these brotherhoods, they shared out their wisdom only with the properly initiated, passing the wisdom from sage to sage. Many believe we can look bet on and see the historical remnants of those who mastered the Mysteries . . . in the stories of sorcerers, magicians, and healers.And the Masonic Pyramid? Sato asked. How does that fit in?Well, Langdon said, striding smart now to keep pace, this is where history and myth begin to merge. According to some accounts, by the sixteenth century in Europe, almost all of these secret fraternities had become extinct, most of them exterminated by a growing soar up of religious persecution. The Freemasons, it is said, became the last surviving custodians of the Ancient Mysteries. Understandably, they feared that if their own brotherho od one day died off like its predecessors, the Ancient Mysteries would be lost for all time.And the pyramid? Sato again pressed.Langdon was getting to it. The legend of the Masonic Pyramid is kinda simple. It states that the Masons, in order to fulfill their responsibility of protecting this great wisdom for future generations, decided to hide it in a great garrison. Langdon tried to gather his recollections of the story. Again, I stress this is all myth, but allegedly, the Masons transported their secret wisdom from the Old World to the New Worldhere, to Americaa land they hoped would rebriny free from religious tyranny. And here they built an impenetrable fortressa hidden pyramid designed to protect the Ancient Mysteries until the time that all of mankind was localize to handle the awesome power that this wisdom could communicate. According to the myth, the Masons crowned their great pyramid with a shining, solid-gold capstone as symbol of the precious treasure withinthe ancie nt wisdom heart-to-heart of empowering mankind to his full human potential. Apotheosis.Quite a story, Sato said.Yes. The Masons fall victim to all kinds of crazy legends.Obviously you dont believe such a pyramid exists.Of course not, Langdon replied. Theres no evidence whatsoever to suggest that our Masonic forefathers built any kind of pyramid in America, much less in D.C. Its pretty difficult to hide a pyramid, especially one life-size enough to hold all the lost wisdom of the ages.The legend, as Langdon recalled, neer explained exactly what was supposed to be inside the Masonic Pyramidwhether it was ancient texts, occult writings, scientific revelations, or something far more mysteriousbut the legend did say that the precious information inside was ingeniously encoded . . . and perceivable only to the most enlightened souls.Anyway, Langdon said, this story falls into a sept we symbologists call an archetypal hybrida blend of other classic legends, acquire so many elements from popular mythology that it could only be a fictional construct . . . not historical fact.When Langdon taught his students about archetypal hybrids, he used the example of nance tales, which were recounted across generations and exaggerated over time, borrowing so heavily from one another that they evolved into homogenized morality tales with the same iconic elements virginal damsels, handsome princes, impenetrable fortresses, and powerful wizards. By way of fairy tales, this primeval battle of good vs. evil is ingrained into us as children through our stories Merlin vs. Morgan le Fay, Saint George vs. the Dragon, David vs. Goliath, Snow White vs. the Witch, and even Luke Skywalker battling Darth Vader.Sato scratched her head as they turned a corner and describeed Anderson down a short flight of stairs. Tell me this. If Im not mistaken, pyramids were once considered mystical portals through which the deceased pharaohs could ascend to the gods, were they not?True.Sato halt sho rt and caught Langdons arm, glaring up at him with an expression somewhere between surprise and disbelief. Youre saying Peter Solomons captor told you to find a hidden portal, and it didnt occur to you that he was talk about the Masonic Pyramid from this legend?By any name, the Masonic Pyramid is a fairy tale. Its purely fantasy.Sato stepped closer to him now, and Langdon could smell her tush breath. I understand your position on that, Professor, but for the sake of my investigation, the reduplicate is hard to ignore. A portal leading to secret knowledge? To my ear, this sounds a lot like what Peter Solomons captor claims you, alone, can unlock.Well, I can hardly believeWhat you believe is not the point. No matter what you believe, you mustiness concede that this man might himself believe that the Masonic Pyramid is real.The mans a lunatic He may well believe that SBB Thirteen is the accession to a giant underground pyramid that contains all the lost wisdom of the ancientsSato stood amendly still, her eyes seething. The crisis I am facing tonight is not a fairy tale, Professor. It is quite real, I assure you.A glacial silence hung between them. Maam? Anderson finally said, gesturing to another secure threshold ten feet away. Were almost there, if youd like to continue. Sato finally broke eye interlocutor with Langdon, motioning for Anderson to move on. They followed the security chief through the secure aditway, which deposited them in a narrow passage. Langdon looked left and then right.Youve got to be kidding.He was standing in the longest residence he had ever seen.CHAPTER 31 Trish Dunne entangle the familiar surge of adrenaline as she exited the bright lights of the Cube and moved into the lovesome vileness of the void. The SMSCs front gate had just called to say that Katherines guest, Dr. Abaddon, had arrived and required an figure back to Pod 5. Trish had offered to bring him back, mostly out of curiosity. Katherine had said very little ab out the man who would be visiting them, and Trish was intrigued. The man was apparently someone Peter Solomon trusted deeply the Solomons never invited anyone back to the Cube. This was a first.I hope he handles the crossing okay, Trish thought as she moved through the frigid darkness. The last thing she needed was Katherines VIP panicking when he realized what he had to do to get to the lab. The first time is always the worst.Trishs first time had been about a year ago. She had accepted Katherines commerce offer, signed a nondisclosure, and then come to the SMSC with Katherine to see the lab. The two women had walked the distance of The Street, arriving at a surface door marked POD 5. purge though Katherine had tried to prepare her by describing the labs remote location, Trish was not ready for what she saw when the pod door hissed open.The void.Katherine stepped over the threshold, walked a few feet into the perfect blackness, and then motioned for Trish to follow. Trust me. Y ou wont get lost.Trish pictured herself wandering in a pitch-black, stadium-size room and broke a sweat at the mere thought.We have a guidance system to keep you on track. Katherine pointed to the floor. Very low- tech.Trish squinted through the darkness at the rough cement floor. It took a moment to see it in the darkness, but there was a narrow carpet start that had been laid down in a straight line. The carpet ran like a roadway, disappearing into the darkness.See with your feet, Katherine said, turning and walking off. Just follow right cigaret me.As Katherine disappeared into the blackness, Trish swallowed her fear and followed. This is insane She had taken only a few steps down the carpet when the Pod 5 door swung shut behind her, snuffing out the last faint principal of light. Pulse racing, Trish turned all of her attention to the feeling of the carpet infra her feet. She had ventured only a handful of steps down the soft runner when she felt up the side of her right foo t hit hard cement. Startled, she instinctively corrected to the left, getting both feet back on soft carpet.Katherines voice materialized up ahead in the blackness, her words almost entirely swallowed by the lifeless acoustics of this abyss. The human body is amazing, she said. If you deprive it of one sensory input, the other senses take over, almost instantly. Right now, the nerves in your feet are literally tuning themselves to become more sensitive.Good thing, Trish thought, correcting course again.They walked in silence for what seemed entirely too long. How much farther? Trish finally asked.Were about halfway. Katherines voice sounded more distant now.Trish sped up, doing her best to stay composed, but the breadth of the darkness felt like it would engulf her. I cant see one millimeter in front of my face Katherine? How do you know when to stop walking?Youll know in a moment, Katherine said.That was a year ago, and now, tonight, Trish was once again in the void, heading in the opposite direction, out to the lobby to retrieve her bosss guest. A sudden change in carpet texture beneath her feet alerted her that she was three yards from the exit. The warning track, as it was called by Peter Solomon, an avid baseball fan. Trish stopped short, pulled out her key card, and groped in the darkness along the wall until she found the raised slot and inserted her card.The door hissed open.Trish squinted into the welcoming light of the SMSC hallway.Made it . . . again. piteous through the deserted corridors, Trish found herself thinking about the bizarre redacted commit they had found on a secure network. Ancient portal? riddle location underground? She wondered if Mark Zoubianis was having any luck figuring out where the mysterious document was located. Inside the control room, Katherine stood in the soft glistening of the plasma wall and gazed up at the enigmatic document they had uncovered. She had isolated her key phrases now and felt increasingly certain tha t the document was public lecture about the same far-flung legend that her brother had apparently shared with Dr. Abaddon.. . . secret location UNDERGROUND where the . . .. . . somewhere in WASHINGTON, D.C., the coordinates . . .. . . uncovered an antediluvian PORTAL that led . . .. . . warning the PYRAMID holds dangerous . . .. . . decipher this inscribe SYMBOLON to unveil . . .I need to see the rest of the file, Katherine thought.She stared a moment longer and then flipped the plasma walls power switch. Katherine always turned off this energy-intensive display so as not to waste the fuel cells fluidity hydrogen reserves.She watched as her keywords slowly faded, collapsing down into a tiny sporty dot, which hovered in the middle of the wall and then finally twinkled out.She turned and walked back toward her office. Dr. Abaddon would be arriving momentarily, and she wanted to make him feel welcome.CHAPTER 32Almost there, Anderson said, manoeuver Langdon and Sato down the seemi ngly endless corridor that ran the entire length of the Capitols eastern foundation. In Lincolns day, this passage had a dirt floor and was filled with rats.Langdon felt pleasurable the floor had been tiled he was not a big fan of rats. The group continued on, their footfalls drumming up an eerie, uneven echo in the long passageway. Doorways lined the long hallway, some closed but many ajar. Many of the inhabit down on this level looked abandoned. Langdon noticed the poetry on the doors were now descending and, after a while, seemed to be political campaign out.SB4 . . . SB3 . . . SB2 . . . SB1 . . .They continued past an unmarked door, but Anderson stopped short when the poesy began ascending again.HB1 . . . HB2 . . .Sorry, Anderson said. Missed it. I almost never come down this deep.The group backed up a few yards to an old metal door, which Langdon now realized was located at the hallways central pointthe point that divided the Senate Basement (SB) and the House Basement (H B). As it turned out, the door was indeed marked, but its engraving was so faded, it was almost imperceptible.SBBHere we are, Anderson said. Keys forget be arriving any moment.Sato frowned and checked her watch.Langdon eyed the SBB marking and asked Anderson, Why is this position associated with the Senate side even though its in the middle?Anderson looked puzzled. What do you mean?It says SBB, which begins with an S, not an H.Anderson shook his head. The S in SBB doesnt stand for Senate. ItChief? a guard called out in the distance. He came jogging up the hallway toward them, holding out a key. Sorry, sir, it took a few minutes. We couldnt locate the main SBB key. This is a spare from an auxiliary box.The original is missing? Anderson said, sounding surprise. in all probability lost, the guard replied, arriving out of breath. Nobody has requested access down here for ages.Anderson took the key. No secondary key for SBB Thirteen?Sorry, so far were not finding keys for any of the ro oms in the SBB. MacDonalds on it now. The guard pulled out his piano tuner and spoke into it. Bob? Im with the chief. Any additional info yet on the key for SBB Thirteen?The guards radio crackled, and a voice replied, Actually, yeah. Its strange. Im visual perception no entries since we computerized, but the hard logs indicate all the storage rooms in the SBB were cleaned out and abandoned more than twenty years ago. Theyre now listed as unused space. He paused. All except for SBB Thirteen.Anderson grabbed the radio. This is the chief. What do you mean, all except SBB Thirteen?Well, sir, the voice replied, Ive got a handwritten notation here that designates SBB Thirteen as private. It was a long time ago, but its written and initialed by the Architect himself.The term Architect, Langdon knew, was not a reference to the man who had designed the Capitol, but rather to the man who ran it. Similar to a building manager, the man appointed as Architect of the Capitol was in charge of eve rything including maintenance, restoration, security, hiring personnel, and assignment offices.The strange thing . . . the voice on the radio said, is that the Architects notation indicates that this private space was set aside for the use of Peter Solomon.Langdon, Sato, and Anderson all exchanged shock looks.Im guessing, sir, the voice continued, that Mr. Solomon has our primary key to the SBB as well as any keys to SBB Thirteen.Langdon could not believe his ears. Peter has a private room in the basement of the Capitol? He had always known Peter Solomon had secrets, but this was surprising even to Langdon.Okay, Anderson said, clearly unamused. Were hoping to get access to SBB Thirteen specifically, so keep looking for a secondary key.Will do, sir. Were also working on the digital image that you requestedThank you, Anderson interrupted, pressing the talk push button and cutting him off. That will be all. Send that file to Director Satos BlackBerry as soon as you have it.Understoo d, sir. The radio went silent.Anderson handed the radio back to the guard in front of them. The guard pulled out a photocopy of a blueprint and handed it to his chief. Sir, the SBB is in gray, and weve notated with an X which room is SBB Thirteen, so it shouldnt be hard to find. The area is quite small.Anderson thanked the guard and turned his focus to the blueprint as the young man hurried off. Langdon looked on, surprised to see the astonishing number of cubicles that made up the bizarre inner ear beneath the U.S. Capitol.Anderson studied the blueprint for a moment, nodded, and then stuffed it into his pocket. Turning to the door marked SBB, he raised the key, but hesitated, looking uneasy about opening it. Langdon felt similar misgivings he had no idea what was behind this door, but he was quite certain that whatever Solomon had hidden down here, he wanted to keep private. Very private.Sato cleared her throat, and Anderson got the message. The chief took a deep breath, inserted the key, and tried to turn it. The key didnt move. For a split second, Langdon felt hopeful the key was wrong. On the second try, though, the lock turned, and Anderson heaved the door open.As the heavy door creaked outward, damp air rushed out into the corridor.Langdon peered into the darkness but could see nothing at all.Professor, Anderson said, glancing back at Langdon as he groped blindly for a light switch. To answer your question, the S in SBB doesnt stand for Senate. It stands for sub.Sub? Langdon asked, puzzled.Anderson nodded and flicked the switch just inside the door. A whiz bulb illuminated an alarmingly steep staircase descending into achromatic blackness. SBB is the Capitols subbasement.