The Lost Symbol Chapter 30-32

CHAPTER 30SB level.Senate basement.Robert Langdons claustrophobia gripped him more tightly with perpetuallyy hastening step of their descent. As they moved buddy-buddyer into the buildings cowcatcher foundation, the air became heavy, and the ventilation seemed n unityxistent. The w everys down here were an uneven blend of stone and yellow brick.Director Sato typed on her BlackBerry as they walked. Langdon sensed a suspicion in her guarded spellner, just now the feeling was speedily becoming reciprocal. Sato still hadnt told him how she knew Langdon was here this evening. An issue of national security? He had a hard meter understanding all relation among ancient mysticism and national security. Then again, he had a hard time understanding practic eithery of anything ab verboten this situation. tool Solomon entrusted me with a talisman . . . a deluded harum-scarum tricked me into graveling it to the Capitol and wants me to use it to unlock a mystifying portal . . . possib ly in a agency called SBB13.Not exactly a clear picture.As they pressed on, Langdon tried to shake from his mind the flagitious foresee of Peters tattooed hand, transformed into the Hand of the Mysteries. The gruesome picture was accompanied by Peters voice The past Mysteries, Robert, con cheekr spawned many an(prenominal) myths . . . but that does non imply they themselves are fiction.Despite a career studying unfathomed signs and history, Langdon had perpetually struggled intellectually with the idea of the antediluvian Mysteries and their potent promise of apotheosis.Admittedly, the historical record contained indisputable try out that concealed learning had been passed down by the ages, apparently having grapple out of the Mystery Schools in aboriginal Egypt. This acquaintance moved subway system, resurfacing in Renaissance Europe, where, according to most accounts, it was entrusted to an elite group of scientists within the argues of Europes premier(a) sc ientific think tankthe Royal Society of Londonenigmatically nicknamed the Invisible College.This concealed college quickly became a brain trust of the worlds most enlightened minds those of Isaac Newton, Francis Bacon, Robert Boyle, and even Benjamin Franklin. Today, the list of modern fellows was no little impressiveEinstein, Hawking, Bohr, and Celsius. These capacious minds had all made quantum leaps in human understanding, advances that, according to some, were the result of their characterization to ancient erudition hidden within the Invisible College. Langdon doubted this was true, although certain(a)ly there had been an unusual amount of mystical work taking place within those walls.The discovery of Isaac Newtons whodunit papers in 1936 had stunned the world by revealing Newtons all-consuming passion for the study of ancient alchemy and mystical wisdom. Newtons private papers include a handwritten letter to Robert Boyle in which he exhorted Boyle to keep high silence regarding the mystical k at a timeledge they had learned. It cannot be communicated, Newton wrote, without immense damage to the world.The meaning of this weird inform was still being debated today.Professor, Sato state suddenly, glancing up from her BlackBerry, despite your insistence that you swallow no idea why youre here tonight, perhaps you could slough light on the meaning of Peter Solomons ring.I can try, Langdon said, refocusing.She produced the specimen bag and pass it to Langdon. dictate me about the symbols on his ring.Langdon examined the familiar ring as they moved through the deserted passageway. Its face jade the image of a double-headed phoenix holding a banner proclaiming ORDO AB CHAO, and its chest was emblazoned with the human action 33. The double-headed phoenix with the number thirty-three is the emblem of the highest masonic degree. Technically, this prestigious degree existed solely within the Scottish Rite. Nonetheless, the rites and degrees of Mason ry were a complex hierarchy that Langdon had no desire to detail for Sato tonight. Essentially, the thirty- third degree is an elite honor reserved for a small group of highly accomplished Masons. All the other degrees can be come through by successful completion of the previous degree, but ascension to the thirty-third degree is controlled. Its by invitation exactly.So you were aware that Peter Solomon was a member of this elite inner circle?Of course. Membership is hardly a secret.And he is their highest-ranking official?Currently, yes. Peter heads the Supreme Council Thirty-third Degree, which is the governing body of the Scottish Rite in America. Langdon forever loved visiting their headquartersthe House of the Templea classical masterpiece whose emblematical ornamentation rivaled that of Scotlands Rosslyn Chapel.Professor, did you notice the engraving on the rings band? It bears the words All is revealed at the thirty-third degree. Langdon nodded. Its a common theme in Mas onic lore.Meaning, I assume, that if a Mason is admitted to this highest thirty-third degree, then something circumscribed is revealed to him?Yes, thats the lore, but in all likelihood not the reality. Theres always been conspiratorial conjecture that a select few within this highest echelon of Masonry are made privy to some great mystical secret. The truth, I suspect, is probably far less dramatic.Peter Solomon often made playful allusions to the existence of a precious Masonic secret, but Langdon always assumed it was just a mischievous attempt to coax him into joining the brotherhood. Unfortunately, tonights events had been anything but playful, and there had been slide fastener mischievous about the seriousness with which Peter had urged Langdon to protect the sealed package in his daybag.Langdon glanced forlornly at the plastic bag containing Peters gold ring. Director, he asked, would you mind if I held on to this?She looked over. Why?Its very invaluable to Peter, and Id l ike to return it to him tonight.She looked skeptical. Lets believe you get that chance. Thanks. Langdon pocketed the ring.Another question, Sato said as they hastened deeper into the labyrinth. My staff said that spell cross-checking the concepts of the thirty-third degree and portal with Masonry, they morose up literally hundreds of references to a profit?Thats not surprising, either, Langdon said. The pyramid builders of Egypt are the forerunners of the modern stonemasons, and the pyramid, on 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 upward toward heaven, toward the easy sun, and ultimately, toward the supreme source of illumination.She waited a moment. Nothing else?Nothing else? Langdon had just described one of historys most delightful symbols. The structure through which man elev ated 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 legend about a specific pyramid here in Washingtona pyramid that relates specifically to the Masons and the Ancient Mysteries?Langdon now realized 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 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 ass in fact. Like I said, its a myth. One of many associated with the Masons.And yet this particular myth relates presently to the Ancient Mysteries?Sure, as do plenty of others. The Ancient Mysteries are the foundation for countless legends that have survived in historystories about powerful wisdom protected by secre t 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 educated in mythology, and most accounts go something like this The Ancient Mysteriesthe lost wisdom 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 wisdom learned to fear its awesome potential. They knew that if this secret knowledge were to fall into uninitiated hands, the results could be devastating as we said earlier, powerful tools can be used 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 these brotherhoods, they shared their wisdom only with the properly initiated, passing the wisdom from sage to sage. Many believe we can look approve 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 faster now to keep pace, this is where history and myth contract to merge. According to some accounts, by the sixteenth century in Europe, almost all of these secret fraternities had decease extinct, most of them exterminated by a growing tide of religious persecution. The Freemasons, it is said, became the last surviving custodians of the Ancient Mysteries. Understandably, they feared that if their own brotherhood 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 Pyram id is quite simple. It states that the Masons, in order to fit their responsibility of protecting this great wisdom for future generations, decided to hide it in a great fortress. 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 cosmos to the New Worldhere, to Americaa land they hoped would remain free from religious tyranny. And here they make an impenetrable fortressa hidden pyramid designed to protect the Ancient Mysteries until the time that all of mankind was ready 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 ancient 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.plain you dont believe su ch 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 ambitious to hide a pyramid, especially one large enough to hold all the lost wisdom of the ages.The legend, as Langdon recalled, never explained exactly what was supposed to be inside the Masonic Pyramidwhether it was ancient texts, confidential writings, scientific revelations, or something far more mysteriousbut the legend did say that the precious entropy inside was ingeniously encoded . . . and understandable only to the most enlightened souls.Anyway, Langdon said, this story falls into a form we symbologists call an archetypal hybrida blend of other classic legends, borrowing 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 fairy 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 followed Anderson down a defraud 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 stopped short and caught Langdons arm, glaring up at him with an expression someplace 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 talking 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 cigarette breath. I understand your position on that, Professor, but for the sake of my investigation, the parallel is hard to ignore. A portal leading to secret knowledge? To my ear, this sounds a plug 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 must 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 entrance to a giant underground pyramid that contains all the lost wisdom of the ancientsSato stood perfectly still, her eyes seething. The crisis I am facing tonight is not a fairy tale, Professor. It is quite real, I assure you.A cold silence hung between them. Maam? Anderson finally said, ge sturing to another secure approach ten feet away. Were almost there, if youd like to continue. Sato finally broke eye contact with Langdon, motioning for Anderson to move on. They followed the security chief through the secure doorway, which deposited them in a constrict passage. Langdon looked left and then right.Youve got to be kidding.He was standing in the longest hallway he had ever seen.CHAPTER 31 Trish Dunne mat up the familiar surge of adrenaline as she exited the bright lights of the Cube and moved into the untoughened shadower of the void. The SMSCs front gate had just called to say that Katherines guest, Dr. Abaddon, had arrived and required an escort back to Pod 5. Trish had offered to bring him back, mostly out of curiosity. Katherine had said very little about 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 world-class.I hope he handles the crossing okay, Trish thought as she moved through the frigid dimness. The last thing she involve 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 job offer, signed a nondisclosure, and then come to the SMSC with Katherine to see the lab. The two women had walked the space of The Street, arriving at a metal door marked POD 5. evening 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. You 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 instruction system to keep you on track. Katherine pointed to the report. V ery 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 rug runner that had been come ind 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 shadow 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 hint of light. Pulse racing, Trish turned all of her attention to the feeling of the carpet beneath her feet. She had ventured only a handful of steps down the soft runner when she felt the side of her right foot 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 merely swallowed by the ex animate 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 jitteriness 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 interference composed, but the breadth of the darkness felt like it would engulf her. I cant see one millimetre 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 buttonhole 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. base through the deserted corridors, Trish found herself thinking about the bizarre redacted lodge they had found on a secure network. Ancient portal? Secret location underground? She wondered if Mark Zoubianis was having any luck reckoning out where the mysterious document was located. Inside the control room, Katherine stood in the soft glow 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 that the document was talking 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 ANCIENT PORTAL that led . . .. . . warning the pyramid holds dangerous . . .. . . decipher this ENGRAVED 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 liquid hydrogen reserves.She watched as her keywords slowly faded, collapsing down into a particular white 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 valued to make him feel welcome.CHAPTER 32Almost there, Anderson said, guiding Langdon and Sato down the seemingly 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 grateful the floor had been tiled he was no t 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 board down on this level looked abandoned. Langdon noticed the numbers on the doors were now come down and, after a while, seemed to be running out.SB4 . . . SB3 . . . SB2 . . . SB1 . . .They continued past an unmarked door, but Anderson stopped short when the numbers began ascending again.HB1 . . . HB2 . . .Sorry, Anderson said. Missed it. I almost never come down this deep.The group approve up a few yards to an old metal door, which Langdon now realized was located at the hallways underlying pointthe meridian that divided the Senate Basement (SB) and the House Basement (HB). As it turned out, the door was therefore marked, but its engraving was so faded, it was almost imperceptible.SBBHere we are, Anderson said. Keys will be arriving any moment.Sato frowned and checked her watch.Langdon l ook the SBB marking and asked Anderson, Why is this space 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 surprised.Probably lost, the guard replied, arriving out of breath. Nobody has requested access down here for ages.Anderson took the key. No stakeary key for SBB Thirteen?Sorry, so far were not finding keys for any of the rooms in the SBB. MacDonalds on it now. The guard pulled out his intercommunicate and spoke into it. Bob? Im with the chief. Any additional info yet on the key for SBB Thirteen?The guards communicate crackled, and a voice replied, Actu ally, yeah. Its strange. Im seeing 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 short letter here that designates SBB Thirteen as private. It was a long time ago, but its written and initialed by the fashion designer 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. interchangeable to a building manager, the man appointed as Architect of the Capitol was in charge of everything including maintenance, restoration, security, hiring personnel, and assigning 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 startled 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 button and cutting him off. That will be all. Send that file to Director Satos BlackBerry as soon as you have it.Understood, 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 maze beneath the U.S. Capitol.Anderson studied the blueprint for a moment, nodded, and then stuffed it into his pocket. twist 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 some(prenominal) 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 o utward, 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 single bulb illuminated an alarmingly steep staircase descending into inky blackness. SBB is the Capitols subbasement.