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Sophie felt a knot tighten in her stomach。 She was certain of it too。 For ten years she had tried to forget the incident that had confirmed that horrifying fact for her。 She had witnessed something unthinkable。 Unforgivable。
〃The fleur…de…lis；〃 Langdon said； 〃bined with the initials P。S。； that is the brotherhood's official device。 Their coat of arms。 Their logo。〃
〃How do you know this？〃 Sophie was praying Langdon was not going to tell her that he himself was a member。
〃I've written about this group；〃 he said； his voice tremulous with excitement。 〃Researching the symbols of secret societies is a specialty of mine。 They call themselves the Prieuré de Sion—the Priory of Sion。 They're based here in France and attract powerful members from all over Europe。 In fact； they are one of the oldest surviving secret societies on earth。〃
Sophie had never heard of them。
Langdon was talking in rapid bursts now。 〃The Priory's membership has included some of history's most cultured individuals： men like Botticelli； Sir Isaac Newton； Victor Hugo。〃 He paused； his voice brimming now with academic zeal。 〃And； Leonardo da Vinci。〃
Sophie stared。 〃Da Vinci was in a secret society？〃
〃Da Vinci presided over the Priory between 1510 and 1519 as the brotherhood's Grand Master； which might help explain your grandfather's passion for Leonardo's work。 The two men share a historical fraternal bond。 And it all fits perfectly with their fascination for goddess iconology； paganism； feminine deities； and contempt for the Church。 The Priory has a well…documented history of reverence for the sacred feminine。〃
〃You're telling me this group is a pagan goddess worship cult？〃
〃More like the pagan goddess worship cult。 But more important； they are known as the guardians of an ancient secret。 One that made them immeasurably powerful。〃
Despite the total conviction in Langdon's eyes； Sophie's gut reaction was one of stark disbelief。 A secret pagan cult？ Once headed by Leonardo da Vinci？ It all sounded utterly absurd。 And yet； even as she dismissed it； she felt her mind reeling back ten years—to the night she had mistakenly surprised her grandfather and witnessed what she still could not accept。 Could that explain—？
〃The identities of living Priory members are kept extremely secret；〃 Langdon said； 〃but the P。S。 and fleur…de…lis that you saw as a child are proof。 It could only have been related to the Priory。〃
Sophie realized now that Langdon knew far more about her grandfather than she had previously imagined。 This American obviously had volumes to share with her； but this was not the place。 〃I can't afford to let them catch you； Robert。 There's a lot we need to discuss。 You need to go！〃
Langdon heard only the faint murmur of her voice。 He wasn't going anywhere。 He was lost in another place now。 A place where ancient secrets rose to the surface。 A place where forgotten histories emerged from the shadows。
Slowly； as if moving underwater； Langdon turned his head and gazed through the reddish haze toward the Mona Lisa。
The fleur…de…lis。。。 the flower of Lisa。。。 the Mona Lisa。
It was all intertwined； a silent symphony echoing the deepest secrets of the Priory of Sion and Leonardo da Vinci。
A few miles away； on the riverbank beyond Les Invalides； the bewildered driver of a twin…bed Trailor truck stood at gunpoint and watched as the captain of the Judicial Police let out a guttural roar of rage and heaved a bar of soap out into the turgid waters of the Seine。
CHAPTER 24
Silas gazed upward at the Saint…Sulpice obelisk； taking in the length of the massive marble shaft。 His sinews felt taut with exhilaration。 He glanced around the church one more time to make sure he was alone。 Then he knelt at the base of the structure； not out of reverence； but out of necessity。
The keystone is hidden beneath the Rose Line。
At the base of the Sulpice obelisk。
All the brothers had concurred。
On his knees now； Silas ran his hands across the stone floor。 He saw no cracks or markings to indicate a movable tile； so he began rapping softly with his knuckles on the floor。 Following the brass line closer to the obelisk； he knocked on each tile adjacent to the brass line。 Finally； one of them echoed strangely。
There's a hollow area beneath the floor！
Silas smiled。 His victims had spoken the truth。
Standing； he searched the sanctuary for something with which to break the floor tile。
High above Silas； in the balcony； Sister Sandrine stifled a gasp。 Her darkest fears had just been confirmed。 This visitor was not who he seemed。 The mysterious Opus Dei monk had e to Saint…Sulpice for another purpose。
A secret purpose。
You are not the only one with secrets； she thought。
Sister Sandrine Bieil was more than the keeper of this church。 She was a sentry。 And tonight； the ancient wheels had been set in motion。 The arrival of this stranger at the base of the obelisk was a signal from the brotherhood。
It was a silent call of distress。
CHAPTER 25
The U。S。 Embassy in Paris is a pact plex on Avenue Gabriel； just north of the Champs…Elysées。 The three…acre pound is considered U。S。 soil； meaning all those who stand on it are subject to the same laws and protections as they would encounter standing in the United States。
The embassy's night operator was reading Time magazine's International Edition when the sound of her phone interrupted。
〃U。S。 Embassy；〃 she answered。
〃Good evening。〃 The caller spoke English accented with French。 〃I need some assistance。〃 Despite the politeness of the man's words； his tone sounded gruff and official。 〃I was told you had a phone message for me on your automated system。 The name is Langdon。 Unfortunately； I have forgotten my three…digit access code。 If you could help me； I would be most grateful。〃
The operator paused； confused。 〃I'm sorry； sir。 Your message must be quite old。 That system was removed two years ago for security precautions。 Moreover； all the access codes were five…digit。 Who told you we had a message for you？〃
〃You have no automated phone system？〃
〃No； sir。 Any message for you would be handwritten in our services department。 What was your name again？〃
But the man had hung up。
Bezu Fache felt dumbstruck as he paced the banks of the Seine。 He was certain he had seen Langdon dial a local number； enter a three…digit code； and then listen to a recording。 But if Langdon didn't phone the embassy； then who the hell did he call？
It was at that moment； eyeing his cellular phone； that Fache realized the answers were in the palm of his hand。 Langdon used my phone to place that call。
Keying into the cell phone's menu； Fache pulled up the list of recently dialed numbers and found the call Langdon had placed。
A Paris exchange； followed by the three…digit code 454。
Redialing the phone number； Fache waited as the line began ringing。
Finally a woman's voice answered。 〃Bonjour； vous êtes bien chez Sophie Neveu；〃 the recording announced。 〃Je suis absente pour le moment； mais。。。〃
Fache's blood was boiling as he typed the numbers 4。。。 5。。。 4。
CHAPTER 26
Despite her monumental reputation； the Mona Lisa was a mere thirty…one inches by twenty…one inches—smaller even than the posters of her sold in the Louvre gift shop。 She hung o