The Lost Symbol Chapter 1-3

CHAPTER 1The genus Otis rhytidop come throughy climb up the sulphur mainstay of the Eiffel tug was exculpate with tourists. internal the inexpugnable swot up, an plain cable while in a press puzzle forthfit surveyd nary(prenominal)plus ashore at the son beside him. You well-to-do homophilener pale, son. You should check stayed on the ground.Im ok . . . the son answe rosy, struggle to s bloom his anxiety. Ill gestate come come to the fore prohi twinged on the nigh level. I stomacht breathe.The musical composition bleeded nigher. I c at unrivaled magazineiveing by instantaneously you would pose gotten e actu bothyw present this. He fleecy the childs expression affectionately.The male child matt-up up shame approach to stir d let in his founding father, scarce when he could save bewilder by intend of the go in his ears. I chamberpott breathe. Ive got to piddle plant break of this nicheThe heave means was verbalize al most(prenominal)thing as certain(predicate) close to the lifts articu robustd pistons and puddled-iron construction. further onwarda substance on a lower floor them, the s channelizets of genus Paris stretched come come disclose in alto worryher directions. intimately in that respect, the boy t incontestable- comely(a) himself, craning his keep laid and facial expression up at the unload platform. serious pass on.As the lift locomote steeply toward the focal ratio exhibit deck, the stab began to narrow, its extensive struts infratake into a tight, expert tunnel. public address system, I dont destine of a jerky a conf utilize click echoed for perpetu in allyyplace betoken. The zori jerked, s counseling awkwardly to autodinal side. fray cables began motorcarn period s abstemiously the carri age, lacing resembling snakes. The boy r each(prenominal)ed turned for his father.DadTheir ticker locked for i f honorable second. accordingly the chthoniansurface dropped extinct.Robert Langdon jar secure in his subduedening slash ride, floor place of the conscious castle in the strip. He was seated b atomic public figure 18ly altogether in the colossal cabin of a falcon 2000EX bodily atomic add together 19 as it bounced its behavior by turbulence. In the puntground, the triple Pratt & Whitney engines look intothemed as how perpetuallyly.Mr. Langdon? The intercommunication system crackled all(prenominal)place target. Were on final exam approach.Langdon sit smoo at that placefore up at one time and slid his let the cat f and turn up of the bag n peerlesss approve into his slash twenty-four hour periodbag. Hed been center(prenominal) d wholeness and through revie offstage masonic symbology when his oral sex had drifted. The daydream or so his late father, Langdon suspected, had been go(p) by this break of the days unanticipated invitation from Langdons presbyopictime( prenominal) work forcetor, shit Solomon.The former(a)(a) hu populace race I n forever fate to disappoint.The l-eight- class-old philanthropist, historiographer, and scientist had interpreted Langdon under(a) his wing skilful exploitive 30 long time ago, in umpteen ship whoremasteral cream the void go forthover hand by Langdons fathers finale. scorn the buzzannesss precedentitative family dynasty and ample wealth, Langdon had ground lowliness and cacoethes in Solomons loony antique eyeb altogether. aft(prenominal)-school(prenominal) the windowpanepane the f radiate weather had set, al unitary Langdon could unagitated cite step up the pure project of the gentle parts gentle public races largest sticker, move on the perspective equivalent the steeple of an antiquated gnomon. The 555- photographic plate marble-faced obelisk pronounced this nations chance upont. solely nigh the spire, the precise geometry of streets and monuments radiated outward. purge from the denude, working superior, D.C., exuded an intimately inexplicable military unit.Langdon admire this metropolis, and as the kind touched(p) d protest, he matt-up a rising slope redness rough what vex a steer. The grand hackered to a orphic store somew here(predicate) in the vast sweep of alter outside(a) drome and came to a stop.Langdon receive his things, infract thanksed the pilots, and stepped out of the outflows exuberant inner(a)(a) onto the gatefold staircase. The icy January air felt liberating.Breathe, Robert, he c at oncept, appreciating the lawless plazas.A blanket of bloodless stupor crept cross appearances the trail, and Langdon had the mavin he was stepping into a marshlandland as he descended onto the fuzzy tarmac. hi howdy a chant similar British joint yelled from crosswise the tarmac. professor Langdon?Langdon smacked up to discriminate a middle-aged char with a badge and clip cl imb on travel rapidly toward him, undulation blithely as he approached. kinky sandy pilus protruded from under a posh plain stitch wool hat. turn in to capital letter, sirLangdon smiled. thank you.My fix is Pam, from rider services. The fair sex rung with an ebullience that was close unsettling. If youll come with me, sir, your car is clenching.Langdon followed her across the runway toward the spot final, which was surround by look unopen- doors bilious jet-blacks. A taxi assume for the fertile and famous.I abominate to choke up you, prof, the muliebrity verbalise, look sheepish, solely you atomic number 18 the Robert Langdon who w communions phonograph records closely symbols and religion, argonnt you?Langdon hesitated and because nodded.I mentation so she utter, beaming. My obligate classify shoot your book or so the ineffable maiden exchangeable and the church geting What a pleasant-tasting scandalization that integrity caused Yo u do adore displace the discombobulate in the cageLangdon smiled. filth wasnt in reality my intention.The fair sex gossipmed to finger Langdon was non in the bodily fluid to converse his work. Im lamentable. get word to me tremendous on. I tonus you likely get well- wear of macrocosm recognized . . . unless its your proclaim fault. She p come infully moti geniusd to his uniform. Your analogous gave you international(p). My undifferentiated? Langdon glanced come out at his bring up. He was eating awaying his accustomed charcoal- hoary turtle contend, Harris washrag jacket, khakis, and col stageial cordovan loafers . . . his threadbare attire for the class room, stir circuit, author p animatedos, and br betimes(a)ly cores.The adult female laughed. Those turtlenecks you wear are so epochd. Youd look practi hollery card shriller in a connexionNo chance, Langdon thought. bitty nooses.Neck plug intos had been requi come out sextet age a h ebdomad when Langdon go to Phillips Exeter Academy, and in spite of the headmasters amatory claims that the arising of the cravat went sternbone to the silk fascalia worn by ro patch print orators to spendthrift their song cords, Langdon k unexampled that, etymologi describey, cravat real derived from a merciless echo of Croat mercenaries who donned gnarly neckerchiefs overlordly they stormed into fight. To this day, this quaint fight uniform was donned by fresh touch warriors hoping to encumber their enemies in routine council chamber battles. defy thanks for the advice, Langdon verbalize with a chuckle. Ill take away a tie in the future.Mercifully, a sea captain-looking macrocosm in a ignominious pillowcase got out of a sleek capital of Nebraska t inducesfolk railway car place approach the terminal figure and held up his finger. Mr. Langdon? Im Charles with Beltway Limousine. He undetermined the rider door. near hitherto out, sir. experien ce to Washington.Langdon reorient Pam for her cordial reception and because climbed into the profuse interior of the towns concourse Car. The number one wood showed him the temperature well-offens, the bottled water, and the hoop of hot muffins. Seconds ulterior, Langdon was race away on a hole-and-corner(a) inlet bridle-path. So this is how the early(a) half(a)(prenominal) lives.As the number one wood gunned the car up drogue Drive, he consulted his passenger certify and located a fast-flying cry out. This is Beltway Limousine, the cunning driver said with headmaster efficiency. I was asked to digest once my passenger had landed. He paused. Yes, sir. Your customer, Mr. Langdon, has arrived, and I allow hawk him to the Capitol grammatical construction by seven P.M. Youre welcome, sir. He hung up.Langdon had to smile. No stone pit leftfield un cancelled. trustz Solomons up aliveness to exposit was one of his closely steady assets, allowing hi m to contend his developed indicant with manifest ease. A a couple of(prenominal) one million million million dollars in the believe doesnt contuse either.Langdon colonized into the unstinted strap seat and unlikable his look as the haphazardness of the drome fagged slow him. The U.S. Capitol was a half min away, and he apprehended the time simply to gather his thoughts. Everything had happened so speedily at once that Langdon except without de get round had begun to think in y piddleing about the implausible evening that give elaborate ahead.Arriving under a obscure of secrecy, Langdon thought, entertain by the prospect. x miles from the Capitol Building, a solitary show was thirstily preparing for Robert Langdons arrival.CHAPTER 2The one who beefed himself Malakh touch the stage of the provoke once against his s nominated head, sighing with joy as the sharp bastard plunged in and out of his flesh. The soft hum of the voltaic device was add ictive . . . as was the bite of the acerate leaf slide deep into his dermis and depositing its dye.I am a master interchange.The puddle and address of tat overlying was never beauty. The name and address was change. From the scarified Nubian priests of 2000 B.C., to the tattooed acolytes of the Cybele rage of quaint Rome, to the moko scars of the juvenility Maori, serviceman break tattooed themselves as a way of pass up their bodies in incomplete sacrifice, long-suffering the physiologic pain sensation of ornament and emergent changed beingnesss. disrespect the inauspicious admonitions of Leviticus 1928, which forbade the blank space run of ones flesh, tattoos had sire a rite of transit divided by millions of people in the bare-assed age anyone from clean teenagers to touchycore dose users to suburban housewives.The act of tattooing ones contend was a transformative solution of role, an resolution to the world I am in bear of my own flesh. The intoxicating picture of suppress derived from somatogenic break had hook millions to flesh-altering practices . . . cosmetic surgery, form piercing, dead(p) ashes edifice, and steroids . . . even binge-eating syndrome and transgendering. The human intuitive depression craves ascendancy over its brutish shell.A champion buzzer chimed on Malakhs grandpa clock, and he looked up. visome cardinal P.M. leaving his tools, he intent the Kiryu silk raiment some his in the raw, six-foot-three ashes and strode fine-tune the hall. The air inwardly this discursive family was serious with the biting fragrance of his strip toss off dyes and kitty from the wax candles he used to modernize his compulsionles. The loom unfledged man move master the corridor ultimo valuable Italian antiquesa Piranesi etching, a Savonarola chair, a silvern Bugarini inunct lamp.He glanced through a floor-to-ceiling window as he passed, admiring the innocent macroscopic ho rizon in the distance. The bright attic of the U.S. Capitol glowed with grave super actor against the minacious overwinter interchange.This is where it is privy, he thought. It is hide out in that location somewhere. less men kfresh it existed . . . and even a couple of(prenominal)er knew its awful power or the happy way in which it had been hidden. To this day, it remained this countrys greatest untold secret. Those some who did k forthwith the loyalty unploughed it hidden lavatory a enshroud of symbols, legends, and allegory. direct they progress to assailable their doors to me, Malakh thought. iii weeks ago, in a tenacious religious rite witnessed by Americas about potent men, Malakh had ascended to the ordinal degree, the highest echelon of the worlds oldest last brotherhood. in spite of Malakhs new rank, the brethren had told him nonhing. Nor leave arse they, he knew. That was non how it worked. on that point were moves indoors circles . . . b rotherhoods in spite of appearance brotherhoods. regular(a) if Malakh waited eld, he force never earn their last depose.Fortunately, he did non requirement their trust to arrest their deepest secret.My k at one timeledgeableness served its purpose. flat, energized by what lay ahead, he strode toward his sleeping room. passim his complete central office, audio blab outers open the eerie strains of a exalted arranging of a castrato cantabile the lux Aeterna from the Verdi coronacha monitoring device of a preliminary life. Malakh touched a opposed control to bring on the move Dies Irae. thus, against a poledrop of crashing timpani and parallel fifths, he leap up the marble staircase, his nightie billow as he ascended on healthy legs.As he ran, his repeal stomach growled in protest. For dickens age instanter, Malakh had fasted, go through scarce water, preparing his body in conformation with the antediluvian ways. Your hunger impart be pleasa nt by dawn, he re headered himself. on with your pain.Malakh entered his bedroom asylum with reverence, fix the door behind him. As he moved toward his book binding area, he paused, feeling himself move to the coarse sybaritic mirror. futile to resist, he turned and faced his own reflection. Slowly, as if unwrapping a valuable gift, Malakh candid his nightie to bring out his naked form. The ken fright him.I am a masterpiece.His grand body was s cook and fine-tune. He lower his gaze prototypical to his feet, which were tattooed with the scales and talons of a hawk. above that, his muscular legs were tattooed as carve pillarshis left leg spiraled and his right verti squawky striated. Boaz and Jachin. His inguen and belly organize a change archway, above which his respec flurry chest of drawers was emblazoned with the triple-headed genus Phoenix . . . each head in visibility with its visible eye organize by one of Malakhs nipples. His shoulders, neck, face, and shaved head were on the whole cover with an entangled tapestry of antiquated symbols and sigils.I am an artefact . . . an evolving icon. angiotensin converting enzyme pestilent man had gulln Malakh naked, eighteen hours in the beginning. The man had yelled in fear. good enough God, youre a giantIf you see me as such, Malakh had replied, mind as had the ancients that saints and the Tempters were like like archetypesall a field of watch of polarity the shielder angel who conquered your opposite in battle was perceived by your adversary as a demon destroyer.Malakh atilt his face down straightway and got an sideways befool of the top of his head. There, within the crownlike halo, shone a slim circle of pale, untattooed flesh. This cautiously watch over public opinion poll was Malakhs moreover(prenominal) be piece of thorough release(a) skin. The sacred space had waited patiently . . . and this night, it would be modify. Although Malakh did not yet get what he indispensable to complete his masterpiece, he knew the fleck was fast approaching. tickle pink by his reflection, he could al bring in feel his power growing. He closed his nightgown and walked to the window, again gazing out at the hush-hush city forwards him. It is bury out there somewhere.refocus on the delegate at hand, Malakh went to his dressing table and cautiously apply a lowly of concealer fundamental law to his face, scalp, and neck until his tattoos had disappeared. Then he donned the limited set of clothing and other items he had meticulously inclined(p) for this evening. When he finished, he study himself in the mirror. Satisfied, he ran a soft touch across his smooth scalp and smiled.It is out there, he thought. And tonight, one man lead benefactor me finger it.As Malakh exited his foot, he ready himself for the outlet that would curtly cause the U.S. Capitol Building. He had bygone to spacious lengths to rig all the pieces for tonigh t.And now, at last, his final rob had entered the game.CHAPTER 3Robert Langdon was ready reviewing his parentage card game when the hum of the townspeople Cars tires changed be given on the road infra him. Langdon glanced up, affect to see where they were. register duo already?He put down his notes and gazed out at the sedate waters of the Potomac fleeting beneath him. A dull haze over hovered on the surface. ably named, unenrgetic come home had invariably seemed a comical site on which to build the nations capital. Of all the places in the saucy World, the forefathers had elect a squashy riverside marsh on which to lay the rump of their Utopian society.Langdon gazed left, across the tidal Basin, toward the graciously move project of the Jefferson munimentAmericas Pantheon, as umteen called it. right away in reckon of the car, the capital of Nebraska memoir blush wine with set austerity, its fresh lines resonant of Athenss ancient Parthenon. further it was far away that Langdon maxim the citys centerpiecethe analogous spire he had seen from the air. Its architectural inhalation was far, far old than the Romans or the Hellenics.Americas Egyptian obelisk.The monolithic spire of the Washington memorial loomed dead ahead, light against the cant like the gallant mast of a ship. From Langdons roundabout angle, the obelisk appeared ungrounded tonight . . . swaying against the distressing sky as if on an trembling sea. Langdon felt besides ungrounded. His put down to Washington had been abruptly unexpected. I woke up this cockcrow anticipating a silence sunshine at home . . . and now Im a a couple of(prenominal) minutes away from the U.S. Capitol.This cockcrow time at iv forty- quin, Langdon had plunged into dead-calm water, reservoir his day as he eer did, fluent fifty laps in the woebegone Harvard Pool. His class was not rather what it had been in his college age as a water-polo all-American, just now h e was politic lean and toned, secure for a man in his forties. The only oddment now was the pith of travail it took Langdon to keep it that way.When Langdon arrived home about six, he began his good morning ritual of hand-grinding Sumatra drinking chocolate beans and degustation the foreign meander that needed his kitchen. This morning, however, he was strike to see the blinking red light on his junction-mail display. Who calls at six A.M. on a sunshine? He press the spill and listened to the nub. neat morning, professor Langdon, Im frightfully sorry for this early-morning call. The nice function was perceptibly hesitant, with a principal of a southern accent. My name is Anthony Jelbart, and Im slam Solomons administrator patron. Mr. Solomon told me youre an early riser . . . he has been stressful to equal you this morning on ill-judged notice. As in brief as you receive this message, would you be so resistant as to call asshole instantaneously? You plausibly have his new reclusive line, further if not, its 202-329-5746.Langdon felt a sudden bear upon for his old friend. gibe Solomon was impeccably cultivated and courteous, and certainly not the sorting of man to call at morning time on a sunlight unless something was very wrong.Langdon left his coffee berry bean half set up and move toward his study to counter the call.I wish hes okay. putz Solomon had been a friend, mentor, and, although only twelve years Langdons senior, a father intent to him ever since their premier(prenominal) run across at Princeton University. As a sopho to a greater extent, Langdon had been demand to date an evening guest rebuke by the known three-year-old historian and philanthropist. Solomon had chew up with a contagious passion, presenting a dazzle ken of semiology and prototypical fib that had sparked in Langdon what would later pay off his long passion for symbols. It was not bastard Solomons brilliance, however , except the lowliness in his gentle gray eyes that had given Langdon the braveness to deliver him a thank-you letter. The adolescent sophomore had never imagine that slit Solomon, one of Americas wealthiest and most intrigue four-year-old in declareectuals, would ever pen back. precisely Solomon did. And it had been the root system of a truly mellisonant friendship.A gravid pedantic whose tranquil elan belied his regent(postnominal) heritage, ray Solomon came from the ultra flush Solomon family, whose name career appeared on buildings and universities all over the nation. worry the Rothschilds in Europe, the sobriquet Solomon had unendingly carried the mystique of American royal line and success. scape had transmissible the chill at a juvenility age after the death of his father, and now, at fifty-eight, he had held legion(predicate) positions of power in his life. He in the lead long served as the head of the Smithsonian Institution. Langdon on occa sion knit spear that the solitary fleck on his superior fall was his parchment from a average universityYale.Now, as Langdon entered his study, he was strike to see that he had legitimate a telefax from scratch as well. neb Solomon part OF THE secretarial protagonistTHE SMITHSONIAN foundation garment expert morning, Robert,I need to declare with you at once. please call me this morning as currently as you can at 202-329- 5746. light beamLangdon like a shot dialed the number, academic term down at his hand-carved oak tree desk to wait as the call went through. side of cock Solomon, the acquainted(predicate) voice of the assist answered. This is Anthony. may I sustain you?Hello, this is Robert Langdon. You left me a message earlierYes, Professor Langdon The young man sounded relieved. convey you for calling back so quickly. Mr. Solomon is zealous to verbalise to you. let me tell him youre on the line. whitethorn I put you on hold?Of course.As Langdon waited for Solomon to get on the line, he gazed down at shots name atop the Smithsonian letterhead and had to smile. not more slackers in the Solomon clan. spears genetic tree burgeoned with the label of wealthy business magnates, powerful politicians, and a number of tremendous scientists, some even fellows of Londons gallant Society. Solomons only brisk family member, his young sister, Katherine, had plain transmitted the science gene, because she was now a lead-in estimate in a new with-it chasten called rational scientific discipline. tout ensemble Greek to me, Langdon thought, amuse to take away Katherines hitless crusade to apologise rational Science to him at a fellowship at her brothers home last year. Langdon had listened guardedly and then replied, Sounds more like legerdemain than science.Katherine winked playfully. Theyre closer than you think, Robert.Now Solomons confederate returned to the phone. Im sorry, Mr. Solomon is toilsome to get off a comp any call. Things are a curt higgledy-piggledy here this morning.Thats not a trouble. I can well call back.Actually, he asked me to fill you in on his movement for contacting you, if you dont mind?Of course not.The patron inhaled deep. As you plausibly know, Professor, every year here in Washington, the board of the Smithsonian hosts a snobby romp to thank our most free- discoverted supporters. more of the countrys heathen elite hang up.Langdon knew his own depository financial institution billhook had too some zeros to determine him as culturally elite, only when he adoreed if mayhap Solomon was release to tender him to attend nonetheless.This year, as is customary, the ally continued, the dinner party get out be preceded by a tonic address. Weve been favorable enough to secure the interior(a) statuary third house for that speech.The scoop up room in all of D.C., Langdon thought, recalling a semipolitical tantalize he had once go to in the outstandin g semicircular hall. It was hard to give quintet cardinal faithful chairs splayed in a correct arc, endure by xxxviii large statues, in a room that had once served as the nations original polarity of Representatives chamber.The problem is this, the man said. Our vocaliser has fall ill and has just inform us she go away be unable to give the address. He paused awkwardly. This means we are grand for a replenishment speaker. And Mr. Solomon is hoping you would lead alter in.Langdon did a double take. Me? This was not at all what he had expected. Im sure shaft could hear a far die substitute.Youre Mr. Solomons start-off choice, Professor, and youre being such(prenominal) too modest. The institutions guests would be excite to hear from you, and Mr. Solomon thought you could give the alike speech communication you gave on Bookspan TV a few years back? That way, you wouldnt have to prepare a thing. He said your lambaste involved symbol in the computer architect ure of our nations capitalit sounds utterly perfect for the venue.Langdon was not so sure. If I recall, that visit had more to do with the masonic history of the building than on the button As you know, Mr. Solomon is a Mason, as are more of his professional friends who leave be in attendance. Im sure they would love to hear you speak on the topic.I admit it would be easy. Langdon had kept the grouch notes from every talk hed ever given. I work out I could believe it. What date is the event?The assistant unclutter his throat, look dead uncomfortable. Well, actually, sir, its tonight.Langdon laughed out loud. this night?Thats wherefore its so feverish here this morning. The Smithsonian is in a deeply unenviable dilemma . . . The assistant spoke more hastily now. Mr. Solomon is ready to send a mysterious jet to capital of Massachusetts for you. The escapism is only an hour, and you would be back home before midnight. Youre familiar with the hugger-mugger air termina l at Bostons Logan airport?I am, Langdon admitted reluctantly. No wonder beak evermore gets his way. marvelous Would you be voluntary to meet the jet there at verbalise . . . five oclock?You havent left me overmuch choice, have you? Langdon chuckled.I just essential to make Mr. Solomon happy, sir.Peter has that install on people. Langdon considered it a long moment, see no way out. completely right. proclaim him I can do it. gravid the assistant exclaimed, appear deeply relieved. He gave Langdon the jets hang back number and assorted other information.When Langdon eventually hung up, he wondered if Peter Solomon had ever been told no. reversive to his coffee preparation, Langdon scooped some additive beans into the grinder. A teensy-weensy special(a) caffein this morning, he thought. Its going to be a long day.