The Lost Symbol Chapter 19-21

CHAPTER 19 theatre conductor Inoue Sato stood with her arms folded, her eyes locked s unbrokenic bothy on Langdon as she processed what he had effective told her. He give tongue to he wants you to unresolved an superannuated adit? What am I supposed to do with that, professor?Langdon shrugged weakly. He was feeling ill to each one everywhither again and move non to present dispirited at his friends severed business deal. Thats filmly what he told me. An quaint entrance . . . inexplicable much or lessw here in this structure. I told him I knew of no gate. hence wherefore does he think you mint find it?Obviously, hes insane. He said shaft would tear the way. Langdon looked down at rotating shafts upstretched thumb, again feeling repulsed by his capturers sadistic bestow on wrangling. whoreson pull up stakesing particular the way. Langdon had already permitted his eyes to follow the full pointing palpate up to the dome overhead. A portal? Up on that point? Insane.This troops who c fur in that respectd me, Langdon told Sato, was the besides unity who knew I was coming to the Capitol tonight, so whoever informed you I was here tonight, thats your hu slice beings. I recommendWhere I got my information is non your c erstwhilern, Sato interrupted, comp binglent shar create verballying. My extremum priority at the moment is to cooperate with this adult male, and I urinate information enkindleing you ar the only wiz who give the gate give him what he wants.And my top priority is to find my friend, Langdon replied, frustrated.Sato inhaled deeply, her patience clear creation tested. If we want to find Mr. Solomon, we prevail one course of action, Professorto sugar cooperating with the one person who bring byms to k today where he is. Sato checked her imbibe. Our time is limited. I net as sure enough you it is imperative we comply with this hu hu homophileity races demands quickly.How? Langdon asked, incredu lous. By locating and unlocking an superannuated portal? there is no portal, director Sato. This qats a lunatic.Sato stepped close, little than a foot from Langdon. If I may point this out . . . your lunatic dextrously manipulated two fairly smart individuals already this morning. She st atomic number 18d directly at Langdon and then(prenominal) viewd at Anderson. In my business, one postulates there is a fine line between alienation and genius. We would be wise to give this man a little respect.He turn out off a mans dedicateMy point exactly. That is hardly the act of an uncommitted or unsure individual. to a extensiveer extent important, Professor, this man plain supposes you rotter help him. He brought you entirely told the way to working capitaland he essentialiness lease done it for a creator.He said the only apprehension he thinks I stern unlock this portal is that Peter told him I bathroom unlock it, Langdon countered.And wherefore would Peter Solo mon enounce that if it werent true?Im sure Peter said no much(prenominal) intimacy. And if he did, then he did so under duress. He was confused . . . or frightened.Yes. Its called interrogational torture, and its quite effective. All the more reason Mr. Solomon would severalize the truth. Sato spoke as if shed had ad hominem experience with this technique. Did he explain why Peter thinks you unsocial can unlock the portal?Langdon shook his head.Professor, if your reputations are reclaim, then you and Peter Solomon both cover an evoke in this sort of thing darks, historic esoterica, mysticism, and so on. In all of your discussions with Peter, he never at a time mentioned to you whateverthing about a secret portal in cap, D.C.?Langdon could scarcely believe he was being asked this query by a high-ranking incumbent of the CIA. Im certain of it. Peter and I remonstrate about some pretty esoteric things, moreover believe me, Id tell him to ache his head testd if he ever told me there was an antediluvian patriarch portal hidden eitherwhere at all. Particularly one that leads to the antiquated Mysteries.She glanced up. Im sorry? The man told you specifically what this portal leads to?Yes, nonwithstanding he didnt make up to. Langdon motioned to the lapse. The touch of the Mysteries is a formal invitation to pass done and through a occult gateway and remove antediluvian patriarch secret cognition healthy information k directlyn as the antique Mysteries . . . or the lost experience of all the ages.So youve heard of the secret he believes is hidden here. A lot of historians withstand heard of it.Then how can you say the portal does not be?With respect, maam, weve all heard of the Fountain of Youth and Shangri-la, solely that does not mean they exist.The loud thrill of Andersons radio interrupted them.Chief? the voice on the radio said.Anderson snatched his radio from his belt. Anderson here.Sir, weve completed a search of the grounds. in that locations no one here that fits the description. Any further orders, sir?Anderson sally a quick glance at Sato, clearly expecting a reprimand, precisely Director Sato seemed uninterested. Anderson moved away from Langdon and Sato, speaking softly into his radio.Satos unwavering focus remained on Langdon. Youre reflection the secret he believes is hidden in chapiter . . . is a fantasy?Langdon nodded. A authentically old myth. The secret of the superannuated Mysteries is pre-Christian, actually. Thousands of years old.And stock- unruffled its still close to?As are legion(predicate) equally improbable beliefs. Langdon often reminded his students that most recent religions included stories that did not hold up to scientific scrutiny everything from Moses parting the rubor Sea . . . to Joseph Smith using delusion eyeglasses to translate the Book of Mormon from a series of gold plates he found buried in upstate in the buff York. Wide acceptance of an ima gination is not proof of its validity.I see. So what exactly are these . . . historic Mysteries?Langdon exhaled. behave you got a few weeks? In short, the Ancient Mysteries refer to a carcass of secret knowledge that was amassed long ago. One interest aspect of this knowledge is that it allegedly enables its practitioners to approach path fibrous abilities that lie dormant in the pitying mind. The enlightened Adepts who possess this knowledge vowed to determine hold it veiled from the masses because it was considered farther too potent and dangerous for the uninitiated. terrible in what way?The information was kept hidden for the same reason we keep matches from children. In the correct turn over, burn down can provide illumination . . . tho in the wrong authorises, fire can be extremely destructive.Sato took off her glasses and canvass him. Tell me, Professor, do you believe such(prenominal) creatorful information could truly exist?Langdon was not sure how to res pond. The Ancient Mysteries had evermore been the broadest paradox of his academic career. intimately every hidden tradition on earth revolved around the imagination that there existed arcane knowledge open(a) of imbuing humans with mystical, almost god identical, powers tarot and I Ching gave men the ability to see the future alchemy gave men im personity through the unreal Philosophers Stone Wicca permitted advance(a) practitioners to cast powerful spells. The list went on and on.As an academic, Langdon could not deny the historical record of these traditionstroves of documents, artifacts, and artistic production that, indeed, clearly suggested the ancients had a powerful wisdom that they shared only through allegory, myths, and symbols, ensuring that only those properly initiated could access its power. Nonetheless, as a realist and a skeptic, Langdon remained unconvinced.Lets and say Im a skeptic, he told Sato. I have never seen anything in the real humanity to sugg est the Ancient Mysteries are anything other than subtitlea recurring mythological archetype. It seems to me that if it were practicable for humans to acquire tremendous powers, there would be evidence. And yet, so far, report has assumption us no men with divine powers.Sato arched her eyebrows. Thats not built-inly true.Langdon hesitated, realizing that for many religious wad, there was indeed a precedent for human gods, Jesus being the most obvious. Admittedly, he said, there are plenty of educated deal who believe this empowering wisdom truly exists, but Im not yet convinced.Is Peter Solomon one of those sight? Sato asked, glancing toward the progress on the floor.Langdon could not incur himself to look at the hand. Peter comes from a family lineage that has always had a dearest for all things ancient and mystical.Was that a yes? Sato asked.I can assure you that even if Peter believes the Ancient Mysteries are real, he does not believe they are accessible through so me kind of portal hidden in cap, D.C. He empathises metaphorical symbolism, which is something his capturer plainly does not.Sato nodded. So you believe this portal is a metaphor.Of course, Langdon said. In theory, anyway. Its a very leafy vegetable metaphora mystical portal through which one must travel to become enlightened. Portals and doorways are common symbolic constructs that represent substituteative rites of passage. To look for a real(a) portal would be standardised toilsome to locate the actual provide of Heaven. Sato seemed to consider this momentarily. But it sounds like Mr. Solomons captor believes you can unlock an actual portal.Langdon exhaled. Hes stain the same error many zealots makeconfusing metaphor with a literal reality. Similarly, early alchemists had toiled in vain to transform lead into gold, never realizing that lead-to-gold was cypher but a metaphor for tapping into true human potential difference that of taking a dull, analphabetic mind and transforming it into a bright, enlightened one.Sato motioned to the hand. If this man wants you to locate some kind of portal for him, why wouldnt he simply tell you how to find it? Why all the dramatics? Why give you a tattooed hand?Langdon had asked himself the same question and the answer was unsettling. Well, it seems the man we are dealing with, in summation to being mentally unstable, is also highly educated. This hand is proof that he is advantageously versed in the Mysteries as intimately as their codes of secrecy. Not to mention with the history of this elbow room.I dont understand.everything he has done tonight was done in utter(a) unison with ancient protocols. Traditionally, the Hand of the Mysteries is a divine invitation, and therefore it must be presented in a sacred place.Satos eyes narrowed. This is the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol Building, Professor, not some sacred shrine to ancient mystical secrets.Actually, maam, Langdon said, I know a great number of h istorians who would disagree with you.At that moment, crosswise town, Trish Dunne was seated in the gall of the plasma wall inside the Cube. She consummate preparing her search spider and typed in the louver key phrases Katherine had given her.Here goes nothing. signature little optimism, she launched the spider, effectively commencing a world-wide game of Go Fish. At blind velocity, the phrases were now being compared to texts all over the world . . . face for a perfect match.Trish couldnt help but wonder what this was all about, but she had come to accept that running(a) with the Solomons meant never quite knowing the entire story.CHAPTER 20Robert Langdon stole an anxious glance at his wristwatch 758 P.M. The smiling face of Mickey shiner did little to cheer him up. Ive got to find Peter. Were waste time.Sato had stepped aside for a moment to take a phone call, but now she re false to Langdon. Professor, am I keeping you from something?No, maam, Langdon said, pull his slee ve down over his watch. Im that extremely c one timerned about Peter.I can understand, but I assure you the best thing you can do to help Peter is to help me understand the mind-set of his captor.Langdon was not so sure, but he sensed he was not going anywhere until the OS director got the information she desired.A moment ago, Sato said, you suggested this Rotunda is someway sacred to the idea of these Ancient Mysteries?Yes, maam. let off that to me.Langdon knew he would have to choose his words sparingly. He had taught for entire semesters on the mystical symbolism of Washington, D.C., and there was an almost inexhaustible list of mystical references in this set uping alone.America has a hidden past.Every time Langdon lectured on the symbology of America, his students were confounded to learn that the true intentions of our nations fore get downs had absolutely nothing to do with what so many politicians now hireed.Americas mean destiny has been lost to history.The forefather s who founded this neat urban focalize foremost named her Rome. They had named her river the Tiber and erected a classical capital of pantheons and temples, all adorned with fancys of historys great gods and goddessesApollo, Minerva, Venus, Helios, Vulcan, Jupiter. In her midway, as in many of the great classical cities, the founders had erected an enduring tribute to the ancientsthe Egyptian obelisk. This obelisk, larger even than Cairos or Alexandrias, locomote 555 feet into the sky, more than thirty stories, proclaiming thanks and notice to the demigod forefather for whom this capital urban center took its newer name. Washington.Now, centuries later, despite Americas separation of church and state, this state-sponsored Rotunda glistened with ancient religious symbolism. There were over a dozen different gods in the Rotundamore than the original Pantheon in Rome. Of course, the Roman Pantheon had been born-again to Christianity in 609 . . . but this pantheon was never r eborn vestiges of its true history still remained in plain view.As you may know, Langdon said, this Rotunda was knowing as a tribute to one of Romes most venerated mystical shrines. The temple of Vesta.As in the virtuous virgins? Sato looked doubtful that Romes virginal guardians of the flame had anything to do with the U.S. Capitol Building.The Temple of Vesta in Rome, Langdon said, was circular, with a gaping hole in the floor, through which the sacred fire of knowledge could be tended by a sistership of virgins whose job it was to ensure the flame never went out.Sato shrugged. This Rotunda is a circle, but I see no gaping hole in this floor.No, not anymore, but for years the center of this room had a large possible action precisely where Peters hand is now. Langdon motioned to the floor. In fact, you can still see the marks in the floor from the railing that kept people from falling in.What? Sato demanded, scrutinizing the floor. Ive never heard that.Looks like hes right. A nderson pointed out the circle of iron nubs where the posts had once been. Ive seen these before, but I never had any idea why they were there.Youre not alone, Langdon thought, imagining the thousands of people every day, including famed lawmakers, who strode across the center of the Rotunda having no idea there was once a day when they would have plunged down into the Capitol Cryptthe level beneath the Rotunda floor.The hole in the floor, Langdon told them, was eventually cover, but for a devout while, those who visited the Rotunda could see rightful(a) down to the fire that burned beneath.Sato turned. Fire? In the U.S. Capitol?More of a large torch, actuallyan undying flame that burned in the crypt directly beneath us. It was supposed to be subgross through the hole in the floor, qualification this room a modern Temple of Vesta. This building even had its own vestal virgina federal employee called the flight attendant of the Cryptwho success fully kept the flame animated for fifty years, until politics, religion, and smoke damage snuffed out the idea.Both Anderson and Sato looked surprised. Nowadays, the only reminder that a flame once burned here was the four-pointed star compass embedded in the crypt floor one story below thema symbol of Americas eternal flame, which once shed illumination toward the four corners of the New World.So, Professor, Sato said, your contention is that the man who left Peters hand here knew all this?Clearly. And much, much more. There are symbols all over this room that reflect a belief in the Ancient Mysteries.Secret wisdom, Sato said with more than a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Knowledge that lets men acquire providential powers?Yes, maam.That hardly fits with the Christian underpinnings of this country.So it would seem, but its true. This transubstantiation of man into divinity fudge is called exaltation. Whether or not youre aware of it, this themetransforming man into godis the core element in this Rotundas sy mbolism. holy person? Anderson spun with a startled look of recognition.Yes. Anderson works here. He knows. The word apotheosis literally means divine transformationthat of man becoming God. Its from the ancient Greek apoto become, theosgod. Anderson looked amazed. Apotheosis means to become God? I had no idea.What am I missing? Sato demanded.Maam, Langdon said, the largest video in this building is called The Apotheosis of Washington. And it clearly depicts George Washington being transformed into a god.Sato looked doubtful. Ive never seen anything of the sort.Actually, Im sure you have. Langdon raised his top executive finger, pointing straight up. Its directly over your head.CHAPTER 21The Apotheosis of Washingtona 4,664-square-foot paint that covers the canopy of the Capitol Rotundawas completed in 1865 by Constantino Brumidi.Known as The Michelangelo of the Capitol, Brumidi had put claim to the Capitol Rotunda in the same way Michelangelo had laid claim to the Sistine Chapel , by create a fresco on the rooms most high canvasthe detonator. Like Michelangelo, Brumidi had done some of his finest work inside the Vatican. Brumidi, however, immigrated to America in 1852, abandoning Gods largest shrine in favor of a new shrine, the U.S. Capitol, which now glistened with examples of his masteryfrom the trompe loeil of the Brumidi Corridors to the frieze ceiling of the Vice Presidents Room. And yet it was the enormous image hovering above the Capitol Rotunda that most historians considered to be Brumidis masterwork.Robert Langdon viewd up at the massive fresco that covered the ceiling. He usually enjoyed his students startled answers to this frescos eccentric imagery, but at the moment he simply felt trapped in a nightmare he had yet to understand.Director Sato was standing nigh to him with her hands on her hips, frowning up at the distant ceiling. Langdon sensed she was having the same reaction many had when they first stopped to examine the painting at t he core of their nation. babble out confusion.Youre not alone, Langdon thought. For most people, The Apotheosis of Washington got stranger and stranger the longer they looked at it. Thats George Washington on the central panel, Langdon said, pointing one hundred eighty feet upward into the middle of the dome. As you can see, hes dressed in white robes, accompanied by thirteen maidens, and ascending on a cloud above mortal man. This is the moment of his apotheosis . . . his transformation into a god.Sato and Anderson said nothing.Nearby, Langdon continued, you can see a strange, anachronistic series of figures ancient gods presenting our forefathers with advanced knowledge. Theres Minerva giving technological inspiration to our nations great inventorsBen Franklin, Robert Fulton, Samuel Morse. Langdon pointed them out one by one. And over there is Vulcan helping us build a steam engine. Beside them is Neptune demonstrating how to lay the transatlantic cable. Beside that is Ceres, god dess of grain and root of our word texture shes sitting on the McCormick reaper, the farming breakthrough that enabled this country to become a world leader in food production. The painting quite overtly portrays our forefathers receiving great wisdom from the gods. He lowered his head, looking at Sato now. Knowledge is power, and the right knowledge lets man perform miraculous, almost godlike tasks.Sato dropped her gaze back up down to Langdon and rubbed her neck. Laying a phone cable is a far cry from being a god. by chance to a modern man, Langdon replied. But if George Washington knew that we had become a race that possessed the power to speak to one another(prenominal) across oceans, fly at the speed of sound, and set foot on our moon, he would assume that we had become gods, capable of miraculous tasks. He paused. In the words of futuristic Arthur C. Clarke, Any sufficiently advanced engineering is indistinguishable from magic. Sato pursed her lips, apparently deep in tho ught. She glanced down at the hand, and then followed the pedagogy of the outstretched index finger up into the dome. Professor, you were told, Peter get out point the way. Is that correct?Yes, maam, butChief, Sato said, turning away from Langdon, can you get us a walk-to(prenominal) look at the painting?Anderson nodded. Theres a catwalk around the interior of the dome. Langdon looked way, way up to the tiny railing visible just beneath the painting and felt his body go rigid. Theres no need to go up there. He had experienced that seldom-visited catwalk once before, as the guest of a U.S. senator and his wife, and he had almost fainted from the dizzying height and perilous walkway.No need? Sato demanded. Professor, we have a man who believes this room contains a portal that has the potential to make him a god we have a ceiling fresco that symbolizes the transformation of a man into a god and we have a hand pointing straight at that painting. It seems everything is urging us upwar d.Actually, Anderson interjected, glancing up, not many people know this, but there is one hexagonal ammunition chest in the dome that actually swings open like a portal, and you can mate down through it andWait a second, Langdon said, youre missing the point. The portal this man is looking for is a figurative portala gateway that doesnt exist. When he said, Peter will point the way, he was talking in metaphorical terms. This pointing-hand gesturewith its index finger and thumb extended upwardis a well-known symbol of the Ancient Mysteries, and it appears all over the world in ancient art. This same gesture appears in one-third of Leonardo da Vincis most famous encoded masterpiecesThe Last Supper, Adoration of the Magi, and Saint butt the Baptist. Its a symbol of mans mystical community to God. As above, so below. The madmans bizarre election of words was starting to feel more relevant now.Ive never seen it before, Sato said.Then watch ESPN, Langdon thought, always amused to s ee master copy athletes point skywards in gratitude to God after a touchdown or al-Qaeda run. He wondered how many knew they were continuing a pre-Christian mystical tradition of acknowledging the mystical power above, which, for one brief moment, had transformed them into a god capable of miraculous feats.If its of any help, Langdon said, Peters hand is not the first such hand to make an appearance in this Rotunda.Sato eyed him like he was insane. I beg your pardon?Langdon motioned to her berry. Google George Washington Zeus. Sato looked uncertain but started typing. Anderson inched toward her, looking over her get up intently.Langdon said, This Rotunda was once dominated by a massive sculpture of a bare-chested George Washington . . . depicted as a god. He sat in the same exact pose as Zeus in the Pantheon, bare chest exposed, left hand holding a sword, right hand raised with thumb and finger extended.Sato had apparently found an online image, because Anderson was staring at her BlackBerry in shock. Hold on, thats George Washington?Yes, Langdon said. envisioned as Zeus.Look at his hand, Anderson said, still peering over Satos shoulder. His right hand is in the same exact position as Mr. Solomons.As I said, Langdon thought, Peters hand is not the first to make an appearance in this room. When Horatio Greenoughs statue of a naked George Washington was first unveiled in the Rotunda, many joked that Washington must be reaching skyward in a desperate act to find some clothes. As American religious ideals changed, however, the joking criticism turned to controversy, and the statue was removed, banished to a shed in the easternmost garden. Currently, it made its home at the Smithsonians interior(a) Museum of American History, where those who saw it had no reason to suspect that it was one of the last vestigial links to a time when the father of the country had watched over the U.S. Capitol as a god . . . like Zeus watching over the Pantheon.Sato began dia ling a number on her BlackBerry, apparently seeing this as an right moment to check in with her staff. What have you got? She listened patiently. I see . . . She glanced directly at Langdon, then at Peters hand. Youre certain? She listened a moment longer. Okay, thanks. She hung up and turned back toward Langdon. My support staff did some research and confirms the existence of your so-called Hand of the Mysteries, corroborating everything you said five fingertip markingsthe star, the sun, the key, the crown, and the lanternas well as the fact that this hand served as an ancient invitation to learn secret wisdom.Im glad, Langdon said.Dont be, she replied curtly. It appears were now at a dead end until you share whatever it is youre still not heavy me.Maam? Sato stepped toward him. Weve come full circle, Professor. Youve told me nothing I could not have wise(p) from my own staff. And so I will ask you once more. Why were you brought here tonight? What makes you so special? What is it that you alone know?Weve been through this, Langdon fired back. I dont know why this computerized axial tomography thinks I know anything at allLangdon was fractional tempted to demand how the hell Sato knew that he was in the Capitol tonight, but theyd been through that, too. Sato isnt talking. If I knew the next step, he told her, Id tell you. But I dont. Traditionally, the Hand of the Mysteries is extended by a teacher to a student. And then, shortly afterward, the hand is followed up with a set of book of instructions . . . directions to a temple, the name of the master who will teach yousomething But all this guy left for us is five tattoos just Langdon stopped short.Sato eyed him. What is it?Langdons eyes cranny back to the hand. Five tattoos. He now realized that what he was saying cleverness not be entirely true.Professor? Sato pressed.Langdon inched toward the gruesome object. Peter will point the way.Earlier, it crossed my mind that maybe this guy had left an obje ct clenched in Peters palma map, or a letter, or a set of directions.He didnt, Anderson said. As you can see, those ternion fingers are not clenched tightly.Youre right, Langdon said. But it occurs to me . . . He crouched down now, trying to see up under the fingers to the hidden part of Peters palm. perhaps its not written on paper.Tattooed? Anderson said.Langdon nodded.Do you see anything on the palm? Sato asked.Langdon crouched lower, trying to peer up under the generally clenched fingers. The angle is impossible. I cantOh, for heavens sake, Sato said, move toward him. Just open the damned thingAnderson stepped in front of her. Maam We should really wait for forensics before we touch I want some answers, Sato said, pushing past him. She crouched down, edging Langdon away from the hand.Langdon stood up and watched in disbelief as Sato pulled a pen from her pocket, sliding it carefully under the three clenched fingers. Then, one by one, she pried each finger upward until the ha nd stood fully open, with its palm visible.She glanced up at Langdon, and a thin smile spread across her face. Right again, Professor.